4 Deadly Mistakes About Web Hosting Services

By: Andres Berger

If you open up Google and do a search on the word "Hosting", more than 400 million web pages come up as a result. With that much competition, is it fairly easy to get lost while searching for a hosting provider and evaluating which are the most important things to consider.

The most important things first:

1. The hosting company must control their servers.
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Most of the hosting industry is based on reselling server space of someone else. If the company you select don't own his space, it could happen that when you need to move to another company for any reason, you depend on their willingness to help you. This actually happened me some years ago when the hosting company with which I was working was very helpful, but was sold and after that, when I needed to move a client to another host, the company don't even replied my emails.

It is very difficult to move a complex site without having root access, but I had to do it. Although I lost many days and it was very painful, the migration even wasn't perfect. Now I own a VPS (and root access to it) and my life is much better. If you are really on a budget and can't afford a VPS, go for a shared host like HostGator, which is a reputable company.

2. Don't let your hosting company own your domain.
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Your domain is your brand on the Internet. Moreover, when you acquire links to your website you get traffic from them to your domain, not to your web host. If you lose your domain, all the traffic that came from those hard earned links are lost in an instant. If the hosting company gives you a domain name for free, make sure that the email of the administrative contact is an email that you control and you have a control panel where you can see the ownership of your domain.

3. Avoid Free Hosting Of Any Kind
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Free hosting is good for your resume or to tell the history of your dog, but when you are starting a business, even a little one, it is very important to have your own domain because if your page is hosted at someone's else domain, when you acquire links to your page, you become dependant on your hosting provider because if later you choose to have your own domain, all the links you got will still be pointing to the hosting provider which will get all the traffic that should have been yours.

4. Seek a Host With Good Support
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It takes many YEARS to fully understand all the issues of the hosting platforms. Even many Internet business experts with 10 years+ in business don't fully understand all the options they have in their control panel. So, if you are a newbie, you could be in big trouble almost all the time if your host doesn't give you manuals, advice or help you to complete technical tasks. Remember that you bought a web host to make money, not to lose your time with technical things.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Making USB Devices Even More Convenient

By: Sammy Garf

USB (Universal Serial Bus) has revolutionized the way we connect peripherals to our computers. Replacing standard serial connections, USB has become the standard for connecting everything from printers to fans to toys to memory drives. With advancements in modern operating systems, USB devices are almost always easy to install. These devices are low power, reliable, and versatile.

In this article, we will explore some of the benefits of USB devices and how to make using USB devices even more convenient.

Ever since Windows 98, USB devices have been automatically detected when plugged in. The computer’s operating system will automatically try to find the drivers needed for the device and install them. If the drivers can not be found, a simple google search will often pull up what is needed.

The devices you choose are up to you and what you are trying to accomplish. Many people have very standard USB devices like printers, a mouse, keyboard, etc. These are great, but what if you want to do more with that little rectangular port? Fortunately, there are a lot of options out there.

One thing many people find useful is a USB snake light. These flexible lights plug right in and can provide your nighttime work area with a little light to help you see the keyboard and your work area. Getting even more wacky, USB toys such as small anti-coworker missile launchers, shavers, and more.

If you plan on having many USB devices at once, it is a good idea to get a hub. Not only will this give you more ports than what your computer provides on its own, but it will allow you to provide your devices with more reliable power. This is because many USB hubs are externally powered. With many USB devices hooked up to your computer, sometimes you can get power surges or other power problems, and these are never good for the delicate electronics inside USB devices. A powered hub alleviates this problem and makes sure your devices are getting clean, constant power - especially power hogs like USB-connected disk drives.

Sometimes you may want to share one USB device with many computers. There are several ways that you can accomplish this. One way is to use a device server. Device servers make your USB device available to anyone on a network. This a great solution for a printer that is used by more than one person in an office or home.

The main drawback of USB device servers is their cost. These servers are not cheap as they combine a USB hub and network connectivity in one box. Still, despite the cost they are the best choice for some people.

Another solution is to use a USB peripheral switch. These switches work locally between two or more computers and allow you to switch your devices between those computers. You could, for example, connect a printer to a peripheral switch and then connect the peripheral switch to two computers. Computer “A” can print transparently through the switch without any problems. When computer “B” is ready to print, the switch is simply activated and now that station is connected to the printer.

A switch is great for people who don’t need the solution of a full blown server, but still need to share USB devices. They are expandable and reliable. Many switches are even automatic. They will switch between the connected computers whenever one tries to access the USB device and the user will never need to touch a thing.

USB peripheral switches are a good choice because they are inexpensive and reliable. They start at around a third of the price as a USB device server and often solve the same problems. USB peripheral switches are also available with ports for several devices or several computers, depending on what is needed.

No matter what you situation, there are always solutions out there for you. USB peripheral switches and USB device servers will help you solve many USB device sharing problems around the home, home office, or small business.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Comcast Will Provide You With Plenty Of Bonus Features

By: Julia Hall

The pursuit of the perfect blend of TV entertainment, Internet access, and phone service for your home can be fraught with frustration, but when you entrust Comcast in with all of your telecommunications needs that pursuit becomes a lot easier. That's because while other companies promise the convenience and savings of having all of your home telecommunications needs bundled together in a single bill, no one else does a better job of fulfilling that promise.

That's because while other companies promise bundled services, in reality they farm them out to other companies. This may make sense to these companies and it may provide some savings for you, but it also decreases the quality of your customer service. With Comcast though, you'll get all three of these great services - cable TV, high speed internet, and a home phone line - from the same great company. This really increases the reliability and the high level of quality customer service that you expect.

High speed Internet has become a necessity in today's modern households in much the same way that TV and telephones have in decades past. This is understandable given the fact that the Internet increasingly presents the preferred way for people to communicate and share information. Fortunately Comcast High Speed Internet provides the best technology to help you to get on the Internet and get the most out of all that it has to offer. That's because, it provides a broad band cable Internet connection that's not only more reliable than any other kind of residential connection, but also faster. It's up to one hundred times faster than dial up, six times faster than DSL, and up to four times faster than satellite! This difference in speed makes a huge difference when it comes to what you can download. For example, with dial up you have to avoid websites that feature Flash presentations, music, and any video. You're pretty much limited to text and the occasional digital photo. DSL does okay with audio downloads and digital photos, but is problematic when it comes to larger video files. Satellite Internet is a little bit better than DSL, but has a built in lag time that makes it awful for VoIP, online gaming, or anything else that requires quick response. Comcast 's broad band cable Internet access solves all of these problems. It's fast enough for downloading video and doesn't have any built in lag time!

Besides tons of speed, Comcast in will also provide you with plenty of bonus features along with your high speed Internet service. For example, you'll get a cable modem, a wireless router, a copy of McAfee VirusScan and free updates, and access to lots of great online content. Comcast can even provide you with a firewall to help keep your computer network safe from hackers!

For those times when you just want to relax and let the information and entertainment come to you, Comcast also provides digital cable TV service. This type of cable TV service is a huge improvement on the cable TV of decades passed. Not only does it provide almost three hundred channels, but it also brings the best entertainment technology right into your living room. You'll get to enjoy digital video recording, video on demand, and of course HDTV!

No home would be complete without a phone line and Comcast can provide that as well. Comcast's digital voice goes way beyond a simple phone line by providing advanced calling features and unlimited domestic long distance!

Comcast is the company that can supply you with the best technology, the best customer service, and the best values!

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Bluetooth GPS and PDA Explained

By: Rainer Cassell

Have you ever tried to find your way across town (or across the country) using an old-fashioned road map? The only thing trickier than deciphering the directions, is figuring out how to re-fold the map! Today's travelers are finding it much easier to find their way with GPS receivers, PDA devices and Bluetooth technology.

Since GPS devices hit the market a few years ago, traditional navigation devices and roadmaps have been left in the dust. Travelers these days can glance at a GPS screen right in the car, and get clear directions on where to go and how to get there.

A GPS receiver is a small electronic device that can actually calculate your precise location on earth. The GPS is able to decode signals sent from satellites in outer space, and use those signals to tell you where you are at any given time. When combined with specialized software and electronics, the GPS is able to pinpoint an exact location on a map, and give you instructions on how to get there. This fascinating technology becomes even more incredible when you discover that it can be had for a relatively small price.

For increased convenience and usefulness, GPS receivers are often paired with other mobile devices. The PDA is one of the most popular mobile products used for this purpose. With a colored screen that can clearly display maps, and some hard drive space for map storage, PDAs are wonderful partners to GPS receivers. Consider the small size and light weight of a PDA as compared to other options like notebook and laptop computers, and it's easy to see why PDAs have become the first choice of modern navigators.

There is sometimes a problem with the integration of GPS receivers with PDAs. Connection between the two units is usually made using either conventional USB wires, or a CompactFlash (CF) CARD. The size of the GPS and PDA units together, and added to the added bulk of the CF card, can create a cumbersome traveler's tool. On the other hand, using USB wires is inconvenient and limits the overall usability of the navigation device. Many people, therefore, are turning to Bluetooth technology as the perfect traveler's companion.

Bluetooth to the Rescue

Bluetooth wireless technology has become the open standard for wireless communication. Using Bluetooth technology, two electronic devices are able to communicate with each other, sending a receiving signals and transferring data, from up to ten meters away. The beauty of this technology is that the information is transmitted completely wire-free.

Bluetooth GPS Receivers

A Bluetooth GPS receiver is a device that uses wireless Bluetooth technology or Bluetooth electronics to transmit GPS data to a second mobile device that is capable of handling the same technology. In other words, a Bluetooth GPS receiver can only send data to a PDA that is also enabled with built-in Bluetooth capabilities.

In addition to the ease and convenience of avoiding bulky CompactFlash cards and messy wires, there are other benefits to using Bluetooth technology with your GPS/PDA combination:

Wireless Connection

Many drivers prefer to have the GPS mounted securely positioned, while keeping the PDA where it can be clearly viewed. Bluetooth allows this wire-free convenience. You are able to position your Bluetooth GPS receiver in a spot where it can clearly pick up signals from the sky, while your PDA is mounted on the dashboard in front of you. There are no wires to hamper your driving or obstruct your view.

CompactFlash Slot Space

If you are using Bluetooth technology to transmit data, you'll have no need to plug in a CompactFlash card. The empty CF slot, therefore, can be used as a storage space for software or maps to further optimize the results of your GPS.

Many travelers are able to get even greater benefits from their GPS receivers. Some units come with handy companion features like pre-stored maps, route re-calculation (perfect in the case of road detours) and POI (points of interest) databases that show you popular tourist attractions en route.

So, whether your travels are taking you to the next neighborhood or another country, don't leave home without your GPS and PDA bundled with Bluetooth technology.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Things to Consider When Choosing a Web Hosting Company

By: IC

If you're a beginner just putting up a simple site that uses no programming; you can probably do fine with the starter package offered by most companies. Service, support, reliability and value added features like free PHP modules are most important to you. However if you're site is for business and/or involves programming languages and/or ecommerce features ,you need to be concerned with other issues:

- do you need shared or dedicated hosting? If you expect very large amounts of traffic, or you need a lot of administrative control over your web site, or your site involves a complex setup of scripts, databases, multimedia content etc then you may need a web hosting company with dedicated hosting.

- do you want windows or unix hosting ? If you site is written in ASP or .net you definitely need windows hosting. Same if you use Microsoft databases like SQL Server or Access. Otherwise you are probably ok with either platform. Most companies have both available.

- disk space and bandwidth - make sure you have a good idea of the space requirements for your site as well as bandwidth. Usually disk space isn't a big issue since the typical web hosting company usually offers lots of space with even the starter web hosting plans. However if you're storing lots of data or video, audio files etc. than this will be something to look out for.

- how many domains and subdomains do you need ? companies all differ in the amount of domains and subdomains you can have within your web hosting plan. Think carefully about whether this is or will become important to you. Its nice to have room for expansion for your web activities without having to get another web hosting plan if you decide to host a new domain, for example.

- do you need ecommerce and other advanced features like shopping carts or credit card processing ? These differ by hosting provider, as does whether there's an extra charge involved.

- are you interested in custom PHP modules ? Some companies offer a selection of very useful PHP modules for no extra charge, typically with an easy installation menu. This can be great if you want to add a blog, MYSQL database, or other PHP feature to your site.

Other Issues

- Reliability - do they claim 99.5% or greater uptime ?
- Support - are there lots of resources available to you to help you out ? Can you reach a live person at the web hosting company for no-extra-charge help ?
- Speed - If the hosting company's home page takes a while to load - your site probably will to ! Take that as a bad sign and move on.
- Make sure that you can use and can setup fairly easily any CGI scripts you need.
- Email services - think of your needs and make sure you use a hosting company that provides you with the email solutions you want.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Find a Good Web Hosting Company

By: IC

Choosing a web hosting company can be bewildering. You type 'web hosting' in a search engine and you are presented with literally millions of web sites. Some are actual web hosting sites but most are probably 'review' sites and other 'best web hosting companies' type of listings. There are so many of these review / directory sites because many web hosting companies pay a commission to the site owner if they get a sale from someone coming from that site.

This does not mean that you should disregard review sites. They can be very helpful.

First of all, there is definitely the odd review site out there that is not driven by commission. Secondly, most hosting review site owners do not list companies with bad reputations anyways. Bad hosting companies quickly get a reputation on the net among webmasters; and nothing makes someone disregard a web hosting review site more, than seeing a known 'problem' company with a high rating. Review site owners need some credibility to continue making commissions!

Thirdly, web hosting companies that can afford to pay relatively high commissions to review sites usually must be doing well to afford to pay these commissions. Cheap web hosting companies; or ones that are losing a lot of customers, typically cannot pay high commissions.

I will explain how simple it is to see if a web hosting company has a good or bad reputation among those 'in the know':

First, look at a bunch of review sites and note down the companies which are consistently in the top 10 and offer the features you want (that's worthy of another article!) and are in your price range. Then bring up Google or any other search engine and type in the name of the first web hosting provider on your list as well as the word 'forums'. This will bring up any mentions of that web hosting company among internet message boards; where unlike review sites, most information is just people's honest opinions. You will typically find messages posted on webmaster and other specialty sites where the users usually know what they are talking about. Although finding positive posts about the particular web hosting company you are interested in is the best outcome - its also true that no news is good news. If people are not posting messages about that web hosting company...then at least you know they don't have a bad rep. Compared to happy customers posting positive messages, people are much more likely to post negative messages if they are disappointed in the service they received; since pissed off people like to vent!

Read through a bunch of these messages, and you'll get a good idea of the reputation the web hosting company has. Do that for all the companies on your list; and you can feel confident that you are in a better position to pick a web hosting company that really does have a good reputation.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Planters Are Good For All Seasons

By: Kathy Moran

One of the best ways to add variety, color, and interest to your garden is to use planters. With these versatile containers, you can cultivate plants that are not indigenous to your area, displaying them in your yard during the summer months, and, if you wish, taking them indoors when the weather gets cold. You can also use them to add structure and height in places that need a little extra zest. Whichever way you choose to use your garden planter, the first thing that you have to do is to make sure that you’re starting with good soil. You can go to any garden center or department store, and find many commercial brands, most of which contain blends of peat, perlite, sand, soil, and vermiculite. If you wish to make your own, simply combine two parts peat, one part vermiculite, and one part coarse sand, all of which can be purchased by the bag, with the ingredients sterilized for use in planters. Never use soil that you dig from your backyard, as it can be filled with harmful insects and toxins, and is generally too heavy for most container plants. When selecting your planter, choose durable materials, especially for those that will be left outside during the winter. Ceramic, stone, and terra cotta, can all be susceptible to damage from the cold, so your best choices are planters made from decay-resistant woods, metal, and synthetic materials. You should always make sure that the planter has adequate drainage as well, even though, before you plant your flowers, you should cover the bottom with a layer of drainage material, such as broken pottery, stones, or non-biodegradable packing peanuts. Remember that lighter material is better for the planters that you will be moving from place to place, as it will not add as much weight. CedarStore.com has one of the largest selections of planters, planter tubs, planter benches, fern stands, and tree boxes, all of which are designed to endure harsh weather for years. Their wood planters include cedar, which has natural oils that make it resistant to decay, insects, and warping, and teak, which is infused with oils and minerals that not only keep it free from rot, insects, and warping, but make it practically maintenance-free. At CedarStore.com, you’ll also find thermo-plastic coated steel and polywood planters, which are immune to temperature extremes, impervious to water, maintenance-free, and virtually indestructible. These planters are available in a wide variety of vibrant colors as well. CedarStore.com also has radiant cherry and elegant wrought iron planters and plant stands, which, like the rest of their containers, can be used indoors as well as outside. In addition, they have arbors, trellises, pergolas, and scores of other accessories that will help to make your garden spectacular. To see the entire collection of planters, as well as their amazing gallery of outdoor furniture, visit CedarStore.com. To contact a customer service professional or design consultant, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail contact@cedarstore.com.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Discourse Can Be Main Course at Picnic Tables

By: Kathy Moran

If you’re like most Americans, you’ll be spending a lot of time this summer sitting at a picnic table, mouth watering, waiting for the food to cook. As hungry as you may be, however, it’s impossible to deny that the anticipation of the outdoor meal is as important a part of the picnic ritual as the food itself. Indeed, savoring the aroma of succulent burgers, hot dogs, chicken, or steaks on a grill is almost as delicious as eating them. Another significant part of the tradition is passing the time in conversation with your fellow picnickers, which serves, not only as a bonding experience, but as a way to take your minds off the hunger pangs as well. The more stimulating the subject, the more effectively it distracts from growling stomachs, perhaps because it gives everybody something to (ahem!) chew on. The next time you’re sitting around a picnic table with other ravenous revelers, give them a morsel that’s more than a mouthful, by telling them that the father of the automobile, Henry Ford, is also the founder of their feast – in a way. You see, the grills on his cars were not the only ones that concerned him. In the early 1920’s, as scrap wood from components of his Model T was piling up, and simply being discarded, Ford began looking for an efficient way to use it. Along with a relative, E.G. Kingsford, a lumberman and owner of one of his first dealerships, Ford set up a charcoal manufacturing plant next to the assembly line. There, the charcoal was ground, combined with starch, formed into briquettes, and sold, under Ford’s name, in his dealerships, touted as "the perfected fuel with a hundred uses." It was around 1950 that the charcoal was renamed for Kingsford. Now, that conversation should be enough to keep everyone occupied until the food is ready. Just as you do your part, by bringing juicy tidbits like this to the table, AllPicnicTables.com does its part by bringing quality to the table. Devoted to giving their customers the ultimate outdoor dining experience, year after year, AllPicnicTables.com offers hundreds of tables in every shape, size, and color, to fit any porch, deck, gazebo, patio, yard, décor, occasion, lifestyle, and budget. Besides decay-resistant cedar, oak, and pine, AllPicnicTables.com features practically indestructible aluminum, thermo-plastic, vinyl, and polywood tables. Along with the classic rectangular ones, you’ll also find hexagonal, octagonal, square, round, and oval picnic tables, with benches attached or detached. There’s also a great collection of cherry and teak dining sets that are suitable for the most elegant outdoor affairs. Whatever your preference, you’ll find it at AllPicnicTables.com. If you’re craving a table that you don’t see on the site, contact one of their design consultants or customer service representatives, at 1-888-293-2339, or contact@allpicnictables.com, to have it customized. If you’re still famished for table talk, here’s a bonus bite: Ford’s charcoal assembly plant was designed by his good friend, Thomas Alva Edison.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Gazebos Great for Gazing

By: Kathy Moran

Once used chiefly as a decorative structure, or a shady retreat, from which one could enjoy a lovely garden, the residential gazebo has undergone a complete makeover. Outfitted with an almost endless list of options, including screened and glass doors and windows, sealed walls and floors, electricity, plumbing, hot tubs, and special lighting, the gazebo is enjoying a new status, as anything from a home office, to a summerhouse, to an entertainment pavilion. Many people, in fact, are getting gazebos instead of putting additions onto their houses, and finding them to be superior alternatives, as they lend themselves to many more uses than would an extra room indoors. There are some, however, who still treasure their gazebos mainly as places from which they can gaze upon the beauty of their gardens, in peaceful solitude. These are often the ones who have painstakingly cultivated these gardens, orchestrating all of the flowers, trees, plants, shrubs, and ornaments, to create a picture-perfect scene. They just seem to have a knack for it. For some reason, their gardens even have more color than ours do; and it’s not all because of the flora. Why? Because they have found a way to lure some delightful guests to their backyards – and away from ours! If you, too, would love to relax in your gazebo and revel in the company of such charming visitors as hummingbirds and butterflies, you can easily plant the seeds for future visits from them. All you have to do is to roll out a red carpet – of flowers, that is – and their wings will be furiously beating a path to your garden. Since hummingbirds are particularly attracted to bright red and orange flowers, especially the trumpet-shaped varieties, petunias are a good choice for drawing them, as well as butterflies, which also love these colors. The aptly-named Butterfly Bush, which produces long clusters of white, pink, and violet flowers, is a surefire way to get more than one butterfly to flutter by. With their breath-taking, two-toned, pendant-style flowers, fuchsias, in red, hot pink, and purple, are also irresistible invitations for these colorful and fascinating creatures. Whether you have elaborate plans for your gazebo, or you simply want to have a secluded spot to enjoy the your flowers and whatever wildlife comes calling, you’ll find just what you’re looking for, at GazeboCreations.com. GazeboCreations.com has a sensational collection of gazebos, made from treated pine, cedar, and vinyl. You can choose one of their pre-designed gazebos, or customize one, using the Gazebo Wizard. In a few easy steps, you can select the material you want for your gazebo, the size, the style, and any of dozens of options, including the type of flooring, roofing, railings, wiring, stain, and much more. You can create as many gazebos as you wish, save them to your personal gallery, and change them any time you like. To see the entire assortment of gazebos, visit GazeboCreations.com today. To contact a customer service professional or design consultant, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail cs@gazebocreations.com.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Outdoor Furniture Shopping Made Easy

By: Kathy Moran

If you’re thinking about buying new outdoor furniture, you may be dreading the prospect. That’s understandable, because, for most people, furniture shopping is not an enjoyable experience. Just ask anyone who has ever spent a day going from store to store, comparing prices, looking at swatches, and listening to sales pitches. Even when you find a group of furniture that you really like, it often turns out to be more than you can afford, so you have to decide whether to give up the rocking chair, or the recliner. Naturally, the very understanding salesperson, sympathizing with your plight, offers to go to the manager and try to get some percentage off the price. After all of the money you’re spending, you deserve a break, right? From there on, it’s like buying a car. The salesperson keeps going back and forth between you and the manager, pretending to be fighting to get a few dollars off for you, the beleaguered consumer, and sometimes even returning with rolled-up sleeves, to signify the intensity of the struggle. Right. Well, if you’re approaching your outdoor furniture shopping with trepidation, fear not. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that it can be fun – as long as you know where to go. Actually, one of the things that makes it so much fun is that you don’t really have to go anywhere, except to your computer, and CedarStore.com. At CedarStore.com, you’ll be amazed at the colossal assortment of outdoor, patio, porch, and garden furniture, in a wide range of styles, colors, and materials. If you’re looking for classic wood furniture, you’ll love their durable, hand-crafted cedar, pine, oak, cherry, and teak chairs, tables, garden benches, porch swings, gliders, lounges, and rocking chairs, available in designs from the most rustic, to the ultimate in elegance and sophistication. For those who prefer metal or synthetic furniture, CedarStore.com has beautiful aluminum outdoor furniture, available in a rainbow of colors, that won’t rust, bend, fold, break, chip, or crack, even if it’s left outside all year long. There’s also a selection of gorgeous, maintenance-free polywood and vinyl furniture that’s virtually indestructible. At CedarStore.com, you’ll also find a variety of breath-taking dining sets, bar and bistro tables and chairs, picnic tables, accent tables, coffee tables, and ottomans, along with accessories, such as cushions, umbrellas, planters, birdbaths, and more. With outdoor furniture to fit every style, size, and motif of any porch, patio, gazebo, deck, and backyard, CedarStore.com has just what you’re looking for. If you wish to contact a design consultant or a customer service representative, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail contact@cedarstore.com. By the way, you can also buy CedarStore.com favorites sold as furniture groups, and save big – without having to negotiate.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Porch Furniture Can Boost Curb Appeal

By: Kathy Moran

We all know that the term, “curb appeal,” is used to refer to the desirability of a home, when viewed by passersby, especially prospective buyers. For many, a house’s first impression influences the decision about whether or not to look inside. That’s understandable. What’s puzzling is why some people never think about the way that their homes appear to the rest of the world, until it’s time to sell them. Then, it’s a race against time to turn the house, and its grounds, into a showplace, as everything, from the shingles to the shutters, to the plants, to the porch furniture, is given a makeover. To avoid this last-minute rush, it’s a good idea to keep the house looking great from the beginning. Although most of us are pretty good about the maintenance of things that regularly have to be changed, cleaned, and cut, there are many little things that sneak up, unnoticed. Keeping up with these things will give you a great head start, if you ever decide to sell your home, a place that will be gorgeous forever, if that’s how long you intend to live there, or a landlord who will love you, if you’re a renter. One of the reasons that things catch us by surprise is that, seeing our homes and yards every day, we get used to the way that they look. So, that tiny spot of mildew that was hardly noticeable when you first moved in, can grow so gradually, that you may not pay attention to it until it has gotten out of hand. To see your house in the same way that a potential buyer would, park across the street, every so often, and approach it, as if for the first time. Take note of the best and worst exterior features, and how you can enhance, improve, or eliminate them. Suddenly, you will notice the mildew, the dirty windows, the dingy siding, the cluttered porch, the sagging gutters, and all of those extra garden tools lying in the yard. You will clearly see what needs to be cleaned, painted, and repaired, in order to boost your home’s curb appeal. When sprucing up the front of your house, don’t forget that the porch furniture is just as important as the porch itself. Even with a fresh paint job, new gutters, and hanging plants, run-down furniture can make it look shabby. The good news is that there’s a simple way that you can permanently eliminate the worry of having dilapidated porch furniture. All you have to do is to go to CedarStore.com, and choose a stunning group of porch furniture that’s designed to retain its strength and beauty for decades. CedarStore.com has an incredible selection of porch and patio chairs, tables, gliders, swings, benches, lounges, rockers, bar and bistro tables and chairs, dining sets, coffee tables, end tables, ottomans, and more. Available in durable, decay-resistant woods, such as cedar, pressure-treated pine, oak, cherry, and teak, there is also a fantastic assortment of virtually indestructible metal and synthetic patio furniture, in aluminum, wrought iron, polywood, and vinyl, available in a rainbow of colors. With a beautiful set of outdoor furniture from CedarStore.com, you’ll always be ready – and willing – to show off your porch. For more information, or to contact a design consultant or a customer service professional, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail contact@cedarstore.com.

10 Steps you should follow when building a church website

By: IC

Churches have always been a fundamental parts of every society, they influence people's life in several ways. In today's world Churches face many obstacles when trying to deliver the right message to people, and many times that very same message might be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Not only that, but creating and maintain a well informed and organized church society has become increasingly important.

It is widely known that the internet can help people connect and share ideas with each other, so the best way to build a church community is to build a church website.

Church webmasters need to keep in mind 10 important steps when building a church website:

Keep an attractive and professional design

Churches just like any other organization require a certain degree of formality when presenting its ideals and information. That is why a professional looking site is important. Remember that the aspect of a site says a lot about an organization but do not overdo it since it is also important to keep it attractive to church members.

It needs to be useful and interactive

There are millions of sites on the web. The reason one site is more popular others is due to the usefulness of the site to a certain community. People look for topics relevant to their interests, that is why the site must be properly organized and presented so that the church community can make the most out of it. Making a site "interactive" also important if you want to create a constantly aware and updated church organization.

Choose a company which offers great support for your church site

This is an important and yet often overlooked step. Many people like the "do it yourself" kind of approach to many things in life, but what happens when something goes wrong?. Don't let a great community down by not being able to solve technical problems!. That's why having a great support team, backing you up every step of the way, is an unvaluable asset you should not overlook when building a church site.

Choose a company which offers the best church site features

Getting the right church site features can make a webmaster's life a bit easier. Useful features like site statistics can come in handy if you want to track the community growth over a certain period. Weekly backups can prevent headaches if for some reason you loose important data. WYSIWYG editors can help you design and give you a real feel of what the final product will look like. Alway look for the company who offers the most features.

Plans

Work with a company which will offer different plans according to your community needs, regardless of its size.

Upfront Pricing

Avoid hidden charges, choosing a company which shows everything the way it is gives you the power to keep proper accountability which is required in every church community.

Management Tools

This is a required an essential step. Get the right set of management tools and make sure you become familiar with the term CMS or content management system. This system lets you effectively manage and organize content in order to deliver relevant messages at the right time. So as you can see it "is a must have" feature for every church webmaster.

Hosting Information

You need to have a good estimate of how much bandwidth your community will require or you can work with a company which will let you choose the bandwidth, disk space, amount of pages, email accounts and editors such project utilizes. Remember that church communities grow so you should always plan ahead.

Screen shots

When you consider working with a company which will help you host, design and maintain your site, it is important that you see what the interfaces and back end look like. You don't want to be stuck with a highly advance interface if you are a beginner, or on the other hand, you don't want to be limited by a simple interface if you are an advanced church webmaster.

Make sure you have Advanced Tools available:

You might be wondering, aside from a CMS what else do I need to get the most out of a church site?. For starters every church site needs advanced tools such as: a News Letter System, Ministries Management System, Members Connect center, Volunteer management system, sermon management system, Photo album, Prayer center and Advance calendar system.

The fact is that church communities grow fast and sooner or later you will need each and every tool mentioned above, so always plan for the future.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Learn more about echurchsites.com/The-News/Latest-News/eChurchSites-Features.html">church website features and provide great flexibility to echurchsites.com/features/features/Members-Connect-Center.html">church members and church volunteers. Visit eChurchSites today!

Making an attractive church website

By: IC

When building a successful church website it is imperative to know the basic steps of online networking and design. A couple of basic questions that arise when planning church websites are:

1. Should you design the site yourself or pay a designer?
2. Will you write the content yourself?, pay a ghost writer or ask your church members to write for you?

To address the first question, you have to realize that if you are not a web designer you will most likely end up with a site you will not be very proud of.

The most important part of a website, is the header. The website header is the graphic you see at the top of every website. In order to create an attractive site header you have to use special design tools such as Adobe Photoshop which will let you manipulate images in order to create a unique an attractive graphic.

Your work doesn't end with the design of a site header. There are several other graphics that require proper design, a few of them are:

Navigation buttons: These are the graphics which define the most important parts of the website. The most popular among church websites are: Home, Site Map, Archives, Volunteers, Donations, Ministry, Church Forum, Blog, Announcements, About, Contact Us, etc.

Page animations: This special kind of graphic plays an important roll if you want to capture your members attention towards a specific page or content. This kind of graphics can be designed with Photoshop, Swish or a Macromedia flash application.

Banners: These are specially useful when you want to advertise your church site in other related church sites, content networks, emails, etc, in order to attract interested prospects.

Attractive CSS (Cascading Style Sheet): This part of the design is not done through an image design tool but through a code editing tool such as Dreamweaver. Cascading style sheets let you specify the size, color, position and the way your text is displayed, making your content more attractive to church members.

Now, to address the second question. There are several ways you can generate good and relevant content for your church website. The first step would be writing down and organizing your church activities. Write a description for each and every activity, collect pictures and show important announcements.

Another way to make your church site even more attractive and useful to members is to include a forum. This tool allows church members to create discussion threads, to communicate with each other and organize events. This is perhaps one of the most important features every church site must have. Forums give a real sense of community to a site.

Add real value to a church site by having useful zones in place, such as:

A Church Membership Application, which will expedite the process of becoming an active member
A Church Volunteer system, which helps the church get more activities done and be more productive.

Taking care of a church site design may seem complicated at first, but it really isn't if you have the right help. There are several companies out there which offer church site building services. You should choose the one which offers the best support during site construction and after the site goes live. eChurchSites is among the best companies which offers custom church website design, a variety of affordable plans, valuable service and support.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Learn more about resources.echurchsites.com/blogsection/applications.html">church online software and applications, eChurchSites providesresources.echurchsites.com/blogsection/church-resources.html"> help for church webmasters and resources.echurchsites.com/church-website-tips/church-website-tips/church-site-design-tool-2007060320.html">church web design. Visit eChurchSites today!

Zen Video Download

By: Guuru

Soon after I began searching for Zen videos, I realized that there are really no sites out there that were actually dedicated to providing us Zen download lovers, with movies, videos, and music to download. So I decided to scour the internet in search of reliable Zen movie download sites. Well, my search has now finally been completed, and the results are quite disappointing.

You see, there are two types of sites out there to download Zen media, I'll speak about these breifly.

Zen Movie Download Site 1 - Pay Per Download

Now, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that this can be very costly, and there are just not that many good Zen downloads available from these sites. If you are thinking about downloading Zen videos , or Zen movies than this type of site is out of the question. However, if you are just going to download a couple of cool MP3's that you heard on the radio, than this type of Zen download site would be a good choice.

Zen Video Download Site 2 - Unlimited Downloads

That's right, for a very reasonable price, you can download unlimited Zen movies, music, and videos. This is by far the best type of site to download Zen Vision movies or videos. The price is very reasonable usually around $35 and you get unlimited downloads, forever. No monthly fees, no pay per download, nothing. Once you sign up, you can get started immediatly downloading Zen videos. You can continue to do this for the life of your Zen, without any more fees. Download as much as you want, whenever you want. There are over 2 million users of these sites, and approximatly 90 million files to choose from. You are sure to find all of the Zen downloads you ever wanted here.

Earlier I mentioned that only a select few Zen download sites are actually worth it. So I guess your asking... "Where do I go to get the unlimited downloads!?" Well, why I didn't find many sites out there, this is the one that saved me from the greedy pay per download sites.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Check out the top Zen Video Download sites. One last word of advice, get the unlimited download pass. You may also want to check out this Zen Videos blog.

5 Facts About The History Of DirecTV Satellite TV You Didn't Know

By: Joe Reed

DirecTV, the #1 Satellite Television provider in the country, first started over 13 years ago. By the end of its first year, there were 320,000 customers enjoying the entertainment services it provided. Now, there are over 16 million customers with another one million new customers forecasted to join by the end of the year. To have such a consistent and growing number of people choosing their Satellite Television services year after year, it is quite clear that DirecTV is a company that will continue to prosper. However, the competition is fierce and to stay on top they must continue to make great offers to new customers.

Cable Television Keeps Losing Ground

Not long ago, the competition between Cable and Satellite Television providers was a bit one-sided in Cable’s favor. That is no longer the case as Satellite providers are able to offer everything Cable does such as local channels and high-speed Internet access. Also, Satelite offers more technological capabilities. You can attach a DirecTV Satelite Dish to your boat or RV in order to watch your favorite programs while on vacation. If severe weather knocks out power to your home, you can power your Direct TV receiver with a generator to receive TV signals and get important weather and safety information. You can’t do that with Cable because it relies on the main power grid to transmit a signal. If you live in a very rural area, a Satelite system is probably your only way to receive high-speed Internet access because many Cable companies don’t provide service to these areas.

Offers That Are Hard To Pass Up

With so much competition out there, Direct TV realizes the necessity of offering great deals to encourage new customers to join. They also know that it takes more than one enticing deal, so they have several.

Equipment To Buy? Nope.

New subscribers do not have to buy any equipment, and they don’t have any start-up costs. Plus, you can get a free standard installation of a 4-Room System that allows you to watch four different programs in four different rooms simultaneously. This is a great option for those constantly fighting over the remote control with their family or housemates.

Free Receiver Upgrades

By signing up, you have the option of a free upgrade to a DVR or HD Receiver. A DVR is a Digital Video Receiver. It allows you pause and rewind live television, then start watching the program from where you rewound to or jump back to where the program is playing in real-time. DVRs can also digitally record and store up to 100 hours of your favorite programs. With the introduction of DVRs, VCRs have become a thing of the past. A HD, or High Definition, Receiver is vital if you have a HD Television and a great sound system. Without a HD Receiver, you cannot take full advantage of the crystal-clear picture quality that your HD Television can provide. Plus, you won’t be able to fully enjoy all the channels that are provided in High Definition.

A Final Thought

It is hard to ignore that 16 million people trust Direct TV Satelite services with their daily entertainment needs. Even more encouraging is that they have been ranked higher in Customer Service than all of the Cable providers.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Joseph Reed delivers consumers the latest satellite TV reviews and deals. A tech writer for over 17 years, Mr. Reed navigates his way through the confusing world of cutting edge entertainment and discovers the best consumer friendly deals out there from companies like Dish Network and DirecTV. If you're thinking about purchasing satellite television make sure you read Joseph Reed's articles first.

car ipod

By: Michael M1

I hope that the following article will help you to better understand this topic.

One of the times when you value your iPod the most is when you need to travel extensively, whether it’s by air, land or sea, and you find that you have a great deal of time on your hands. And when this travel comprises travel by car having your own personal car iPod accessory kit can help you tremendously.

When you talk about a car iPod accessory kit however, there are dissimilar ways to look at it, and unlike types for you to get. These can encompass anything from complete car iPod accessory kits to one or two necessary items to an iPod FM transmitter.

With the latter, and iPod FM transmitter, most people find that they have all the utilities of a complete car iPod accessory kit, without the large cost tag. And since the FM transmitters come in the wireless diversity as well, all that you will really need to take along with you would be your iPod and your FM transmitter.

On the other hand if you want better calibersound than is usable through these FM transmitters and if you can afford the cost mark that goes along with it, a car iPod accessory kit is probably just the thing for you.

Relatively speaking the FM transmitter can deliver good sound, but when push comes to shove you will find when you enter or pass through the larger cities and towns, that the airwaves are so packed full of FM transmissions that your clear sounding songs of a few minutes and miles ago, are not necessarily clear.

If you’re worried about battery time, don’t be. Most of the car iPod accessory kits which are on the market these days include an iPod charger in the kit as well. The problem with having a car iPod accessory kit however, is the fact that you will need to keep all the pieces in one place and together so as not to lose something important to the entire kit...please continue on a site that is all about this topic and other related information for your interest...

Thank you for taking your time to read through this information. If you’re interested in gathering more knowledge please continue to search this site.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Michael Malega presents several car ipod articles for your information. You can visit Michael's web site here car ipod

Plasma TV Hook Up Tips

By: davet

Before installing a plasma TV it is wise to plan where the TV set, its accessories and cables will be located before you make the purchase. It could be as simple as clearing the space needed for installation, to sitting down and drawing out in detail exactly where and how your plasma TV will be installed and hooked up.

Planning for placement of the plasma TV will include the decision of whether or not the Plasma TV screen should be mounted on a good supporting wall, or if the TV screen should be placed on a well-built stand.

Either you should pay a professional to install your plasma TV, or you can install it yourself. Regardless of who does the installation, many things will need attention for a proper hook up of a plasma TV. Taking time now to plan the installation and hook up of a plasma TV will save you time and cut down on problems and expense later.

One of the best tips for hooking up your plasma TV can be found in your owner's manual, take time to read it for helpful advice and instructions of a plasma TV hook up.

When considering cable connections use the highest quality that is within your TV budget.

Use a length of cable that is required for proper connection. Using a cable that is too long can cause problems with receiving a good signal and display while damaging your plasma TV system components.

Never stretch a short cable; this can cause problems with the audio and video interconnections. Instead, add 2 feet of excess cable for any necessary adjustments. This also prevents the possibility of accidentally pulling a cable loose or unnecessarily stretching the cable.

Since power cords can cause a considerable amount of interference to receiving a broadcast signal, it is best to keep signal cables away from power cables.

Always remember to situate any excess cable you may have into a pattern of a figure eight or in an S pattern. This will cut down on interference of electromagnetic energy.

Be sure to label ahead of time any cables extending from other TV components. This helps you make a quicker and easier hook up between your accessories.

As with any other high quality component, having superior surge protectors for your home entertainment unit, and their accessories is always a good invest of a plasma TV budget at work.

Electrical outlets should be close enough for use with out the use of extension cords, which can become a fire hazard. Be sure that there are enough electrical outlets close by to suit your plasma TV hook up needs.

Remember to register your plasma TV warranty and utilize any rebates or special money saving offers. In addition, be sure to keep all paper work, boxes and packing material in case a unit may needs to be sent in for repairs or replacement. Systems are much safer to ship in their original boxes.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

David Tanguay is dedicated in providing research, reviews & helpful information to consumers and businesses. To research, review and purchase your next TV, please visit Plasma TV Reviews at plasmatv-compare.com

How To Defend Your Self From Reverse Phone Look Up

By: Dado Barich

Where ever you look in the planet, citizens are concerned that government could interfere with their individual information. This can be done with lots of techniques, eavesdropping in on personal mobile phone calls and in general by using personal information without approval.

So where do we draw the line, at what point does concern for our countries safety ends and assault on our privacy commences?

Another good question to ask is, is it in fact the government that you are supposed to be alarmed about or should you be more alarmed about corporations with access to your personal information? Maybe the big corporations making billions on gathering and selling this kind of information should be your key concern.

This kind of reasoning portrays reverse phone look up and related services as major privacy concern, in particular for the reason that it can be conducted devoid of personal consent and for the reason that this is the most recent personal info gathering method.

Then again reverse phone look up is a federal government approved and controlled service, identical to all of the other directory assistance services. Also this service presents no more jeopardy to your personal information then any other personal information collection service.

Biggest problem with reverse phone look up, is that cell phones are considered by many people as a quite personal possession. Quite often cell phones are operated as sort of cross link connecting a personal journal and a phone book, with a great deal of the information being believed to be as very personal.

As a result of that the likelihood that someone may perhaps tap into such personal resource compels us to feel quite nervous.

In essence, an typical person cannot discover no more private information by making use of reverse phone look up then by making use of usual directory assistance or searching for info by browsing the web.

Nevertheless, by using mobile phones or normal phones recently, we have the opportunity either to hold back showing our number or to stop the entire information from being displayed, and the possibility that we may well lose that advantage compels a number of us to feel insecure.

reverse phone look up is monitored by the federal government to protects our privilege to privacy. If you are worried that certain devious person may exploit your mobile or conventional phone number to discover your personal information and then to mistreat it, ensure that you opt for unlisted mobile or conventional phone number.

The key danger to the protection of your personal information and the likelihood of identity theft stays more in the option of having your credit card, social security card or drivers license stolen, then it lies with reverse phone lookup.

Make an effort as an alternative to observe reverse phone lookup as a service that any person can benefit from. There are many ways how it can be exploited to help us make our everyday lives more secure and in which we can profit from this service.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Would you like to discover more about reverse phone number lookup free service? Click here: www.reverse-number-lookup.org. Get a hold of free advice, tips and information how to find out all the info you need.

What Information Can Free Reverse Phone Search Dig Up

By: Toni Rok

The main trouble of information collecting technology such as free reverse phone search is that such techniques are very often abused, causing people to be bothered about their privacy and disclosure of personal data to dishonest companies. With the creation of free reverse phone search you must grant even more consideration to protecting your delicate information from it being stolen .

The free reverse phone search technology as it is, is not a risky service. In actual fact it is safer than the standard directory services, since majority of cellular phones continue to be unlisted from the beginning.

But with landlines, you should always state that your number remain unlisted. Whereas you would be wise to each time do that when buying a new cellular account, it is not always essential to insist on this with a cell phone.

It differs from provider to provider and you should ask about it rather than just sign a contract. It is a lot harder to use the free reverse phone search and determine the man behind the unlisted phone.

Still, perhaps you wish to make use of the system yourself. If you wish to do this, all you should have is the phone number.

If the mobile or normal number is listed in directory, you can make use of it in lots of info searches online and retrieve the name of the individual using that number, and in some cases even address. Sometimes the numbers are not listed and it is going to be a great deal more difficult, and may require a paid service to examine the number for more information.

Lots of times the free reverse phone search will not help you at all with unlisted number.

At times when looking for more thorough information, such as an email address or landline number, it is helpful to have additional information. In cases when you know the individuals name or address, it can assist to concentrate a search or maybe get a hold of the info centered on this, with the mobile phone number only supplying confirmation of the information rather than being the one and only starting place for the investigation.

Consequently, if you are trying to prevent yourself from being a target or trying to get in touch with someone yourself, the reverse phone lookup has at the same time benefits and negative sides. Despite the fact that the service offers a huge resource of personal information for the seeker, it can as well be annoying within its limits. Of course as we advance towards the the age of digital technology, the service will improve with the growing number of mobile phone customers.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Do you need to discover more regarding reverse number look up? Writer of this article is Toni Rok, owner and publisher of www.reverse-number-look-up.com, a site where you can find full information in relation to cellular phone look up.

Comcast Cable Specials And Services

By: Julia Hall

If you want the best when it comes to how you watch TV, surf the Internet, and talk on the phone; then Comcast is the company that you're looking for. That's because Comcast is the only one that can supply you with all of your telecommunications needs in a bundled package that saves you money and provides you with the convenience of only writing one check every month.

The telecommunication services that Comcast Digital Cable TV can bring into your home are truly impressive. For example, the cable TV service takes advantage of all of the latest technology in order to provide you with the most enjoyable viewing experience possible. For example, you'll enjoy all of the benefits of watching TV programming that's delivered using an all digital signal. These great benefits include a crystal clear picture, the same sound quality that's delivered by compact discs, and the ability to manage what you watch with on screen program guide software and parental control software! You can also enjoy all of the benefits of HDTV through Comcast's HDTV channels that come with the larger programming packages. HDTV is a step beyond digital TV with a higher resolution picture that provides an experience very similar to what you'd find in a commercial movie theater.

One type of technology that Comcast is at the forefront of developing is video on demand. With video on demand, you can choose what to watch out of a library of programming and then watch it when you like. In this case it's the central technology in the ON DEMAND pay per view service and is available through the Premiums On Demand subscription add on.

In addition to the technology, Comcast's programming is also very impressive. That's because while you can choose among a variety of programming packages to meet every preference and financial situation, you can choose to subscribe to over two hundred and seventy five channels! These channels include all of your local stations, over two hundred mainstream national cable TV channels, the HDTV channels, and forty five channels of digital music. That's a lot of entertainment no matter how you measure it!

Comcast's high speed Internet service is also a great investment in your family's entertainment and ability to keep up with technological advances. That's because, not only is it affordable but it's also the best Internet service that money can buy for a private home. It takes advantage of the same cable connection that Comcast uses to deliver all of your TV programming. This makes it extremely reliable and fast without the lag time that plagues some competing technologies.

High speed Internet service from Comcast is so fast that everyone in your house can surf the Web at the same time without slowing each other down. This is made easier by the fact that when you sign up for this great service, you'll be given a free wireless router. A wireless router provides a way to network all of your computers to each other and to the cable modem without having cable strung up all over your house. Besides allowing everyone to be online at the same time, a wireless router will also provide mobility in the sense that you'll be able to access the net from anywhere in your home with a device like a laptop computer.

Add Comcast's digital phone service with all of its great features to high speed Internet access and digital cable, and you'll have all of your telecommunications needs satisfied with a very special deal by a single company.

There has never been a better time to switch. Start now. Join the other happy Comcast customers.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

This article is for consumers looking for information on Comcast services. It provides a resource for finding Comcast Promotions, and any great Comcast offers that are currently available.

Outdoor Furniture Stands On Solid Ground

By: Kathy Moran

When the weather gets warm, and things begin growing again, most of us begin daydreaming about relaxing on our favorite outdoor furniture, enjoying our yards. Perhaps because of our natural propensity for dwelling only on the good times, or because we need time to prepare ourselves mentally, we are inclined to skip over the part about all of the mowing, planting, seeding, and weeding that we will have to do first. We also hate to face the fact that it’s a never-ending project. Eventually, however, we realize that, like death and taxes, lawn and garden maintenance is inevitable. No matter what else we have to do, it will always be there to take a chunk out of our leisure time. Although there are those who enjoy doing yard work, most of us simply resign ourselves to it, as the only way to achieve the beauty of lush, green grass, and a garden of colorful, fragrant flowers. There is a growing number of people, however, who are escaping this landscaping through hardscaping. Ironically, as concern over the “greening” of the environment is at its peak, there is a trend toward bulldozing lawns and plants, and replacing them with concrete and stone. In some cases, it’s because people are simply tired of doing yard work; other times, it’s because they are unable to do it. There are also many who struggle to get things to grow, only to have them eaten up by deer, rabbits, and other animals. In addition to wildlife, people across the country are also weary of battling wild weather, such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes. With all of the colors and textures of stone and concrete available, these new, inorganic yards can be very attractive; but, if you’re considering putting one in, remember that they do have some disadvantages. For one thing, if any underground water, gas, or electrical lines need to be repaired, it’s way more expensive to tear up concrete than sod. You may also experience problems from the runoff of water that will not be absorbed into the ground. Another concern is that cement is likely to crack in cold climates, which may necessitate yearly treatments with special sealants. Whether you prefer old-fashioned grass, trees, and flowers, or a modern, no-mow yard, the easiest part of all is furnishing it. All you have to do is to visit CedarStore.com, where you’ll find an amazing array of outdoor porch, patio, and garden furniture. CedarStore.com has a selection of outdoor furniture that includes chairs, tables, dining sets, swings, benches, bar and bistro tables, stools, and chairs, gliders, lounges, rockers, coffee tables, end tables, ottomans, and more. For those who like the traditional, there are classic favorites, made from cedar, pine, oak, cherry, and teak. Lovers of low maintenance will be happy to see that CedarStore.com also has a huge variety of outdoor furniture made from polywood, vinyl, aluminum, wrought iron, and thermoplastic-coated steel, that’s virtually indestructible. For more information, or to contact a design consultant or customer service professional, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail contact@cedarstore.com.

Article Source: http://www.superfeature.com

Gazebos Stand Their Ground

By: Kathy Moran

Everybody loves a gazebo. Charming, attractive, affordable, and versatile, it can transform an ordinary backyard into a showplace. Many people use their gazebos as quiet sanctuaries for enjoying the beauty of their gardens. Others install extra doors, windows, solid walls and floors, electricity, plumbing, ceiling fans, and special lighting, and turn them into cottages, summerhouses, guesthouses, or home offices. If you’ve been dreaming of having one in your backyard, the best place to get it is at GazeboCreations.com, where you’ll find a selection of the sturdiest, most durable cedar, pine, and vinyl gazebos available. You can choose one of their pre-designed gazebos, or use the Gazebo Wizard to customize your own. In a few easy steps, you can select the material, size, and style that you want, choose from tons of options and accessories, and submit your finished gazebo for a freight quote. You can create as many gazebos as you want, save them to your personal gallery, and change them whenever you wish. With such a huge variety of gazebos, in styles and sizes to fit any space and every budget, there shouldn’t be anything standing in the way of your getting the gazebo that you’ve always fantasized about. If you live in a hurricane-prone area, however, you may be letting that stop you. If that’s the case, you can put your fears aside, because GazeboCreations.com offers a Hurricane Gazebo that can resist winds up to 140 miles per hour! GazeboCreations.com’s Hurricane Gazebo, which meets the hurricane codes in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, and on the Eastern Seaboard, comes with the engineer’s drawings, and a stamp from an engineer who is licensed in your state. The hurricane package gives wooden or vinyl gazebos extra strength, with added braces, brackets, hurricane tie-downs, and anchoring devices, making them capable of withstanding all but the highest category hurricanes, which are also the rarest. The hurricane package is presented as one of the many options available when you use the convenient Gazebo Wizard. Whatever gazebo you choose, GazeboCreations.com has design consultants and customer service professionals who will work with you, helping you to stay within your budget, and advising you on the best material for your gazebo, based on your intended use of it, and your location. They will also assist you in obtaining local permits, and arranging shipping and delivery. All gazebos from GazeboCreations.com will arrive in an easy assembly kit that can be put together over a weekend, or even in an afternoon. Visit GazeboCreations.com today, to see their entire gallery of gazebos, sheds, cabanas, and other backyard structures. For more information, or to contact one of their professional consultants, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail cs@gazebocreations.com.

Picnic Tables Made For Any Occasion

By: Kathy Moran

Summer is the time when people across the country abandon their kitchen tables in favor of their picnic tables. During these few months, we also get a lot of invitations to dine outdoors with others, at events that may be referred to as picnics, cookouts, or barbecues. Although these words are commonly used interchangeably, if you’re asked to a barbecue, and you arrive to find that the fare is simply hot dogs and hamburgers cooked on a grill, you’ve been misled. That’s not usually a big deal to those in attendance, since everyone eats well and has a good time; but to those who take outdoor cooking seriously, the distinction between grilling and barbecuing is everything. If, like a large number of people, you don’t know the difference, a quick definition is that grilling is high and fast, and barbecuing is low and slow. In more detail, that means that grilling, which is usually done over hot coals, or a gas flame, is used when cooking hamburgers, or tender, thinner cuts of meat, at 500° or more, for an hour or less. The intense heat and fast cooking help to seal in the juices, making for more succulent pieces of meat. When grilling, barbecue sauces can be used, but should not be applied until the meat is just about done, so that the sugar in the sauce does not burn. It’s also important to tend the grill for the entire cooking time, because, since the meat cooks so quickly, it can go from juicy to dry in a flash. Another way to keep the meat from drying out is to turn it with tongs, instead of with a fork, as poking holes in it will let the juices run out. Barbecuing, which is usually done over wood or charcoal, is used when cooking larger, tougher cuts of meat, at 225° or less, with smoke, for well over an hour. In fact, in some cases, such as when you’re cooking a pig, you may have to barbecue overnight (but, luckily, you won’t have to stay awake the whole time). When barbecuing, you can brush on the sauce as often as you wish, throughout the process, as it will create a delicious glaze on the meat. You can also give it a wonderful smoky flavor by putting damp wood chips into the fire. The long, slow pace of this method dissolves the connective tissue that makes meat tough, causing it to become tender enough to fall off the bone, which is the goal of all barbecuers. Now that your mouth is watering for some great outdoor eating – grilled or barbecued – all you have to do is to go to AllPicnicTables.com and find your perfect picnic table. AllPicnicTables.com has an incredible assortment of picnic tables and dining sets, in all sizes and shapes, including rectangular, oval, round, square, hexagonal, octagonal, and extra-wide. Besides the classic cedar, pine, oak, teak, and cherry tables, you’ll find aluminum, thermo-plastic coated steel, polywood, and vinyl picnic tables, available in an array of spectacular colors, which are maintenance-free and virtually indestructible. To see all the entire selection, visit AllPicnicTables.com today. If you wish to contact a design consultant or customer service representative, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail contact@allpicnictables.com.

Show Dad You Care – With a Patio Chair

By: Kathy Moran

Ask any man what he wants to do on Father’s Day, and he’ll probably tell you that he’d just love to relax in his favorite patio chair, and not do a single chore around the house. Of course, this answer may be given by any man, father or not, and may apply to any day, Father’s or not; but, in this case, we’re talking about none other than Dear ol’ Dad. Dad has a funny kind of job. Besides being alternately thrilling, challenging, joyful, heart-rending, rewarding, and thankless, it’s also filled with heaping doses of irony. He’ll spend hours, days, and years, teaching you everything from the simplest games, to life’s deepest lessons, only to have it come back and bite him in the you-know-what, like that guinea pig you begged him for, then let loose in the living room. This is not surprising. Parents, since the beginning of time, have been warning their misbehaving children that retribution would come when they someday had kids of their own. However, because children, since the beginning of time, have been certain that their parents are clueless, they have always ignored this warning. By the time they find out that it’s an inescapable truth, it’s too late; and the fact that the requital begins the moment that they become parents makes it seem more than a coincidence that diaper, spelled backward, is repaid! That explains why, after Dad spent all of that time teaching you how to ride a bike, you rode it across the grass seeds that he had just planted, ruining the lawn. It’s also the reason why all of the hours he spent pushing you on the swing only led to your spending years pushing him as far as you could. Moreover, he wound up with ants in his pants – literally – after you dropped and broke the ant farm, which he, to his everlasting regret, had given to you for your birthday! Furthermore, after showing you how to fish, poor Dad caught a hook in the neck, as you practiced casting your line. He taught you how to hit a ball, and got whacked in the head – or someplace even more painful – by your bat. Then, he came to see all of your games and sat on that splintered old bench the whole time, even when you were sitting on the bench as well. He also took you on many picnics, even when your behavior was no picnic! Yes, Dad gave you his all – and you gave him gray hair. The good news is that, if you ask Dad, he’s sure to say that it wasn’t all that bad; in fact, he’ll probably even say that he wouldn’t change a moment of it. Nevertheless, you may feel compelled to make it up to him, especially if you’re facing diapers of your own. If that’s the case, the best way to start is by going to CedarStore.com, where you’ll find the perfect Father’s Day gift for him. For instance, you can repay him – properly, this time – for pushing you on the swing, by selecting one of CedarStore.com’s relaxing porch swings. For that glider that he helped you to build, you can choose from an assortment of spectacular porch gliders that will finally give him the smooth ride that he so richly deserves. In thanks for that great vacation in the Adirondacks, why not get him a gorgeous Adirondack Chair? If you want to make up for the slivers that he got from those ballpark benches, get him a dazzling garden bench from CedarStore.com. Make it a rocking bench, and you can also compensate for all of the times that you drove him off his rocker! Select one of their hundreds of durable picnic tables, and you’ll give him years of stress-free outdoor living enjoyment. CedarStore.com also has tons of outdoor décor items, home accents, and garden structures. Incidentally, if he enjoys gardening, a beautiful potting bench just might help to make amends for that incident with the, er, uh, oh, never mind – let’s just forget about that one! CedarStore.com has the ultimate collection of outdoor furniture, in cedar, pine, cherry, oak, teak, aluminum, wrought iron, vinyl, and polywood; and anything that you choose is sure to make Dad’s day. If you wish, you can even have something customized for him. To contact a design consultant or a customer service representative, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail contact@cedarstore.com. By the way, if you have kids of your own, be sure to bring them along when you visit Dad on Father’s Day. It will make his day that much more special if he can sit back, relax, and watch you get yours.

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