2012 change for the better...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

Where's Santa?

http://www.noradsanta.org
COUNTDOWN VILLAGE!

10 Unique Home Styles

10 Unique Home Styles

Cyber Monday 2011

Today Only - get the scoop on who's offering great deals.

Gary Vaynerchuk - "The Thank You Economy"

Great speaker, inspiring, powerful and so energetic! Building your business how-to's and incorporating social media all the way. Saw him today in Boston for a ReMax sponsored and Crush it for a cure; Susan B. Komen event.  www.garyvaynerchuk.com

Chris Garner at our RE/MAX convention in Rhode Island MA

 Chris Garner spoke at our RE/MAX convention yesterday about the road to success and life lessons; he speaks so well, is funny, insightful and inspirational.  Chris Gardner is the man whom was portrayed by Will Smith in the movie The Pursuit of Happyness.  Read more about him:

http://www.chrisgardnermedia.com/

Swampscott Flooded.....Humphrey Street partially closed off

From my back window

Due to the fierce and loud rain storm last night we got so much rain that my street is flooded for two blocks. This morning I looked out my back window and saw this. I thought oh my, we are under water and ran to my front window and felt relief....no water. My condo complex was not under water, phew!


But these poor people who have businesses and basements flooded. And, below, these three cars stuck that tried to drive down the street!

Three cars stuck

Outside my front window the sea is calm.

Bella Italy

Traveling to Italy? 

Here is a great site to view a map of Italy, photos and find
guides through Tuscany, Sicily, Campania and Lazio Regions.

Click links above or go to home page: http://www.italyguides.it

Step Aside; an outdoor path guide

Step Aside   

A How To Guide

Hurricane Irene

 "What to do in an emergency"

Looks like the last Hurricane we had here in New England, The Great Hurricane of 1938, was the first major hurricane to strike New England since 1869. The storm formed near the coast of Africa in September of the 1938  becoming a Category 5 hurricane before making land fall as a Category 3 hurricane on Long Island NY on September 21. The hurricane was estimated to have killed between 682 and 800 people,^[2] damaged or destroyed over 57,000 homes, and caused property losses estimated at US$306 million ($ 4.77 billion in 2011).^[3] Even as late as 1951, damaged trees and buildings were still seen in the affected areas.^[4] To date it remains the most powerful, costliest and deadliest hurricane in New England history. See Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1938_New_England_hurricane

A ceiling fan can lower the feel of a room’s temperature

 

By: Laura Fisher Kaiser

Published: January 28, 2011---

A ceiling fan can lower the feel of a room’s temperature by 8 degrees, which means you can raise the thermostat and save on air conditioning bills. 
A ceiling fan doesn’t actually cool a room, but it does make you feel cooler because of the slight wind chill on your skin. That means you can raise the thermostat and feel just as comfortable.

Switching out an existing overhead light fixture for a ceiling fan is a fairly simple project that a handy DIYer can do in a couple of hours.

Cool breezes at low cost

Ceiling fans use just slightly more energy than a 100-watt light bulb, and new Energy Star-rated fans use about half that—saving you up to $165 in energy costs over the life of the fan. For every degree you raise the air conditioning thermostat above 78 degrees, you can save 3% to 8% on cooling costs.

Size does matter

With any ceiling fan, the goal is to move more air—measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM)—with less effort, or fewer revolutions per minute. For example, a fan that’s 36 to 42 inches in diameter might have a top speed of 300 rpm; a 52-inch fan moves the same amount of air at 220 rpm.

Size matters more than the number of blades. Go for the biggest fan that will fit the space. Putting in a dinky fan to make it appear inconspicuous often has the opposite effect—and is a missed opportunity for cooling comfort.

Here are general size guidelines from the American Lighting Association: Continued...

From Dave Valley Home Inspector: www.masscertifiedhomeinspections.com

Five Things That Can't Be Trashed or Recycled
 Wondering what to do with the cans of uneeded paint or your stash of old batteries taking up space in your house and garage? You know you shouldn't throw them out, but it really is time to get rid of them. Resist the temptation to toss them in the trash anyway. The reason: They (and everything on the list below) contain toxic chemicals capable of contaminating the environment if not disposed of properly.
Unlike items that are picked up at the curb, you'll have to make a special effort to unload these ones responsibly. But, with a little advance planning and some good info, you'll see that it's really quite simple to dispose of these seemingly mysterious items. Here's how:
   * Batteries. Recycling rechargeable batteries is fairly easy. Home Depot, Staples, Radio Shack, Best Buy, and other retailers take them back free of charge. There are fewer options for single-use batteries, but look for bins at your local Whole Foods Market, Ikea, or library. Otherwise, your best bet is the local household hazardous waste drop-off site. Where is it and what are your closest drop-off options? 
   * CFLs. These energy-efficient bulbs are becoming easier to get rid of. Just drop old bulbs off...For full article go to: http://www.homehintsenews.com/dbpage.asppage_name=notrashrecycle
**Check out: http://search.earth911.com for a recyling center near you, more articles and info.