How To Fix An AC Leak In Your Car

Air conditioning system failure is a common problem in many older automobiles. As an air conditioning system ages, systems can begin to lose pressure due to the failure of dried out gaskets or corroded metal. When the freon in the system leaks out, the air conditioning system will not be able to properly cool the air and eventually the system will stop working altogether.

Physical Inspection
When an air conditioning system begins to fail, the system should be physically inspected for problems. With the engine off and cool, a car owner should visually inspect all aspects of the system for problems. There are 3 major parts to an air conditioning system: the evaporator, the pulley driven compressor and the condenser which resembles a small radiator. These three major parts are connected by a series of metal tubes and hoses. All of these should be inspected for damage. Significant damage may indicate that the parts need to be replaced.

Leak Detection
If no serious physical damage is found, the system pressure should be checked with a pressure gauge and compared against the manufacturer's recommended system pressure. If the system is found to be low, then there is a leak in the system. Auto part stores sell numerous leak detection products that contain a dye that will mark the location of the leak. Once the leak detection dye has been added and the system has been allowed to operate, a UV light is used to find the location of the leak. Any UV light can be used, but small ones are made for this purpose that can be used in the tight spaces around the air conditioning system components.

Stop Leak
When the leak has been found, there are two primary ways of fixing it: mechanical repair or a stop leak product. Mechanical repairs are often time consuming and costly as after the part is replaced, the system pressure has to be brought to vacuum by specialized equipment to remove moisture. Stop leak products are much easier to use. These products are injected into the system and allowed to work internally. For example, BlueDevil's Red Angel AC Stop Leak is a stop leak product that will seal leaks due to damaged gaskets as well as leaks from corroded metal. When used according to manufacturer directions, stop leak products are safe to use and can result in significant time and financial savings.

Frequently Asked Dental Questions

How do dentists number teeth? 

The most widely used system for numbering teeth is the Universal Numbering System.

The number 1 tooth is located in the back-right side of your mouth on the upper jaw. The numbering continues on the upper jaw, from the right to left side, which is numbered 1 through 16. The numbering then continues by dropping down from the left side to number 17. Your teeth are then numbered from left to right on your bottom jaw, ending in 32. If you are missing your third molar, your teeth will be numbered starting with 2 instead of one, and If you are missing any other teeth, they will still be numbered. 

What material is used to fill a cavity?

Gold fillings are often seen as the best cavity solution. They do not harm the gums and can last up to 20 years. The downside of gold fillings is that they are expensive and can require many dental visits.

Amalgam fillings or silver fillings are used commonly because of their cheap price, and resistance to wear. They are more noticeable than other cavity treatment options which are why many people will only use them for their back teeth. 

Composite resins are widely used when people are looking for something that will match their natural tooth color. Unfortunately, composite resins do not last very long and can easily stain from coffee, tea, etc. 

To fill a root canal dentists typically use a rubbery material called gutta-percha. To fill the canal space, gutta-percha is heated and compressed to seal the walls of the root canal. With cement as an adhesive seals the canal space and prevents it from becoming infected once again. 

How do dentists attach braces?

Dentists cannot attach traditional braces but can apply ClearCorrect braces, which are used for patients who only need mild tooth correction. Your dentist will take impressions and x-rays of your teeth to find the perfect fit. You will be able to preview your projected results to give yourself an idea of what your future teeth will look like. After digitally mapping and molding your aligners, you will then be able to wear your braces.

What do dentists use to numb your mouth?

The most commonly used way to numb teeth is anesthesia, which is injected into a patient’s inner cheek or gums. The typical anesthetic that dentists use is called lidocaine. In addition to lidocaine, drugs such as vasoconstrictor as often used to narrow the blood vessels, making the numbness last longer. Sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride may be used as well to assist the numbing drug.

Numbing injections work in two ways. The first is a blockinjection which numbs a portion of your mouth, such as you one side of your upper jaw. The second option is an infiltration injection, which numbs a small area of your mouth where the injection was given.

Before injecting the numbing agent, your dentist will dry your mouth with a cotton ball or air. Your dentist will then apply a gel to numb the skin.

Next your dentist will inject the local anesthesia, which will give you a sting. This mild sting is not from the needle puncturing the skin, but from the anesthesia moving through the tissue. Once injected, the anesthesia will last several hours. 

What Makes you a Candidate for Laser Spine Surgery?

If you have pain in your back or legs when you stand or walk for an extended, you may be a candidate for laser spine surgery. Although, there is a lot more to it than that. Laser spine surgery can treat many conditions, some of which can be self-diagnosed by doing a little research, but most conditions will need to be examined by a doctor after clinical evaluation. If you are unsure whether the symptoms you are experiencing are severe enough for laser spine surgery, here is a list of injuries that may make you a candidate.

What happens to trash at sea?

Everyone has read a story of someone marooned on a remote island somewhere in the ocean. They throw a bottle with a message into the water hoping it will float to a location where someone will read it and respond with a rescue.

That message in a bottle is subject to an unbelievable number of factors that determine if it will reach a destination, float aimlessly in circles for years, or sink to the bottom of the sea. The same fate happens to unwanted and discarded trash that is dumped into the ocean. Wether it's random, or deliberately dumped, ocean trash is a huge problem that threatens ecosystems and destroys the beauty of one of the earth's greatest resources. Eco-friendly vessels use marine compactors to compact waste and manage it before coming back to land. Unfortunately, not everyone on the seas takes such precautions.

Trash in the ocean becomes virtual “flotsam and jetsam” tossed around according to the ocean's warm and cool current behavior. A great deal of waste finds its way to the ocean floor, but an even greater amount stays afloat and collects in huge synthetic islands. There are floating, mobile trash islands in some of the world's oceans that are as big as some states! Prevailing conditions like currents and winds do little to direct trash to places that it can be managed. Special ocean-going equipment must be used to filter ocean trash from the water and deliver it to locations where it can be recycled, or disposed of completely.

These specialized marine vessels use elastic and metal filtration units that skim ocean water at the surface, or at varying depths. The filtration systems can collect items as small as cigarettes butts, or as large as discarded packing containers, and compact them for transport and processing. Most of the material that is collected is non-biodegradable and can be hauled to recycling plants near a vessel's dock of origin.

There are very few international laws on the books regulating the disposal of trash in ocean water, so these marine trash collection service boats provide a much needed service to the international community.

• Image credit: By Gerry & Bonni (Trash on beach) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Best Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Westby, WI

Westby is a small town in Wisconsin with a population of around 2,200 people. Named after a local man who served his country during the Civil War and later established the first general store in town, the city has a charming look. You can walk down Main Street and feel completely at home as you shop for antiques and check out the local scene. While the town doesn't have any restaurants specifically devoted to vegetarian and vegan dishes, you will find a few restaurants that offer healthy and delicious meals for those who don't eat meat.

Borgens Cafe

Make your first stop in town at Borgens Cafe, which is a locally owned restaurant that is popular among residents of Westby and neighboring towns. The restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. When you tuck into a plate of thick and fluffy Belgian waffles, you won't mind if those sitting nearby dine on bacon or sausage. Borgens Cafe has a full service soup and salad bar available for lunch and dinner guests. You'll find plenty of soups that don't feature meats on the bar. Make sure you stick around for dessert too. The restaurant offers homemade cookies, pies, muffins and even scones.

Westby House Inn & Restaurant

One of the best places to eat in town is the Westby House Inn & Restaurant, which also operates as a bed and breakfast. Its menu features some great dishes for those who don't eat meat. You can opt for the soup and salad combination that comes with homemade rolls that are fluffier and softer than any you had in the past. The Asian garden salad is another top choice. This salad features savoy cabbage, carrots and other large vegetables mixed with sliced almonds and topped with a slightly sweet and spicy dressing,

Westby Central Express Restaurant

The Westby Central Express is something of a one stop shop for residents of this little community. It functions as a gas station, convenience store, motel and restaurant. While house specialties include fried cheese curds and other deep fried items, there are a few vegetarian and vegan friendly options on the menu like a vegetable omelet served with toast, bagels, large salads and even sundaes with homemade ice cream. If you eat fish, you'll find even more options on the menu.

Though Westby, WI doesn't have any specialized vegan or vegetarian restaurants, it is home to restaurants with some veggie dishes on the menu.

Winter Fun in Healdsburg, CA

 

There are number of fun winter things to do in Healdsburg, CA for everyone to enjoy. View our suggestions below!

5 Weird Things You Didn't Know About Tennessee

Here are some things you probably didn't know about the state of Tennessee:

The Benefits Of An Infrared Sauna

An Infrared Sauna is a type of Sauna that will use black carbon, ceramic, or metallic elements in order to heat the area. Infrared Sauna’s make the same rays as the sun; however this type of sauna will filter the UV radiation out. Like magic, the skin absorbs these rays without generating the amount of heat you'd typically expect from a sauna. The temperature in an infrared sauna can reach around 120 to 140 degrees, however in a normal sauna the temperatures can get around 150 to 185 degrees. 

There are many health benefits to using an infrared sauna, a few of which include:

• Lower blood pressure
• Loosen up your muscles
• Eliminate toxins in your body
• Burn calories
• Help with blood flow and circulation throughout your body

One of the key benefits of an infrared sauna is burning unwanted calories. While your body detoxifies, you are also dissipating heat and burning calories the entire time. One session in a sauna can actually burn up to 700 calories without a workout! If you're feeling feeling ill or have a cold an infrared sauna will open up an individual’s chest and help them eliminate toxins from their body. If you are someone who suffers from arthritis and body aches; you can go into a sauna and sit down to help relax your muscles and get rid of aches. If you are someone who is suffering from high blood pressure because of your stress levels, then allow yourself to spend thirty minutes in an infrared sauna and feel the stress slowly melt away. These things really are pretty amazing, and inexpensive as well.

People who decide to use an infrared sauna benefit from the usage, even though a number of people tend to have a negative perspective when it comes to using one. It may not seem like a practical idea having one in your home, and yesterday's wisdom may have you thinking the high heat isn't good for you, but that's simply not the case any longer. The lower humidity in these saunas is also a big help if you struggle to breathe in more standard, excessively steamy saunas as well. Head to a local retailer or just shop for one online and see what you think!

Earn Money As A Freelancer

Society (Photo credit: ultrakml)

It's been awhile since I made any new posts and I didn't post anything about earning money as a freelancer. If you've got some skills working with technology or telecom (read more here), there are a lot of routes you can take. If you have specific design skills, such as if you're skilled in web design, graphic design, web promotion, programming, writing, Java, PHP, ASP, ... you can earn money by doing jobs for others. This is a great way to cash in your knowledge.

There are two ways you can do this:

1. You can either design a site where you offer some services and interested people may hire you.
2. You can use sites that find and offer freelance work.

You may check: GetAFreelancer

There are no upfront fees to join Get A Freelancer. Membership is free. You can also use this site to find other freelancers if you need some work done.

You may also check: Elance

Batteries..Generators...Trailers...Oh My...

Welcome to hurricane season. I'm hoping for the best but I fear for the worst.There's a bit of a frightening thought about FEMA trailers and the problems they may be part cause of during evacuations.

There's no nice way to put this - NOLA (and many of it's just as badly hit surrounding areas) is 100% NOT ready for even a slight slap much less a hit from any sort hurricane this year. If there's even a lil' ol category 2 - the levees are pretty much useless and there's tons of as of yet collected debris, folks are still living in tents, houses with blue roofs and tin cans the gubment likes to call housing. Anyone seen the size of these things and the amount set on one site alone? Now, think about what happens during "forced"evacuation. Scary huh?

People who have had their lives ripped apart and are just now picking up the pieces are supposed to up and go whenever a storm even glances at the Gulf? Just leave all of what they have left behind - in a metal shed on wheels, and pick up the pieces later with a metal detector? Without some sort of fight or less than logical behavior taking place? Um...Yeah.

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Great Directory Website

If you're looking for a great place to submit your website, you should take a look at Directory World. Connect with your customers and have a stronger presence on the Internet.

My Crazy Hat-Loving Cousin

I’ve got a cousin who loves wearing hats. Absolutely loves them. Somehow, he loves Longhorn football even more. This kid has quite an extensive hat collection. It’s pretty unbelievable. He’s got anything from stylish knit hats to eccentric party hats. He does have some athletic hats in his massive collection, but in my opinion, not as many as he ought to, given his huge obsession with football. So my other cousins and I got together and went to Longhorn Planet and browsed their collection of hats. They’ve got quite a bit to choose from! We picked out several and we plan to box them all up separately for Christmas. One of the first University of Texas hats we picked out was very classic style-wise. It’s unique in that it’s a special tribute to the Triple Conference. The UT primary logo is featured on the front of the hat and is beautifully embroidered. It’s made of wool ad acrylic and has an adjustable Velcro back strap. We know it’ll be a warm, durable, stylish addition to his collection. The second of the hats we picked out was very different from the first. This hat features a flat brim and a snapback enclosure instead of Velcro. The interior features a moisture-absorbing sweatband and is 100% cotton, so it’ll be perfect for occasions when he’s more active. It, like the other hat, also features the embroidered logo. The last of the hats we got him is very different from the first two. This hat is a one-fit hat called the “Gray Kicker”. Instead of the typical orange and white Longhorn colors, this hat is a warm gray that blends beautifully with the orange embroidered logo and some burgundy accents. It’s definitely the most unique and different of the three and we bet it’ll be his favorite. Since this was my idea, I’ll make sure this one is from me!

How Headhunters May Help

I'm going to get off task a little bit here from my normal job search tip comment, as the view of "headhunters" has been on my mind for quite some time now. Are "headhunters" "gods"? Are they all pompous and arrogant? Do they hold the keys to your future job search success? Do they provide employers with valuable services? Some people think so. . . employers and job seekers alike.

Headhunters, aka "executive search consultants" or "executive recruiters" or "executive recruiting consultants" whatever terminology you want to use, can often be viewed as such, mainly by employers who hire the headhunter to fill a specific position. The "headhunter" maintains a certain mystique about themselves. Do they deserve that mystique? There are many employers who stand in awe at what a headhunter can accomplish when given a job spec or position to fill after they have tried for months to fill that same position. I have stood in awe at some of the impossible positions we have been asked to fill and have been successful in filling! There are job seekers who may be potential candidates who are afraid to approach any headhunter because they aren't really sure how that headhunter will react. They are put on a pedistal for everyone to admire.

On the flip side of that coin, there are job seekers who aren't afraid to approach a headhunter, but because they don't know what the role of the headhunter is, or, because when they think "headhunter" they think that individual or company can find them a job, they become disillusioned and angry toward the headhunter whom they think should be working on their behalf. For example, they'll look for a specific job role like physician jobs from a site like this: http://leapdoctor.com but headhunters might not specialize in that particular area. I just wanted to throw this idea out there. I have much more to say to finish this thought but that is for another day. I don't want to make this blog too long as I'm sure you have other things to do. But before I go, I'd be interested in knowing what you think about "headhunters"? Remember, whether your comments are positive or negative, keep the comments appropriate!

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Pontoon Boats Know Where to

As I was driving home from work today, I needed to find an alternate radio station, as my beloved go to station decided to shut down its AM signal at sunset, in accordance with FCC regulations. I remembered hearing something about the lefties having some new station/programming to combat the other side of talk radio, so I began working the tuner in search of the signal.

Eventually, I found it, and they were running through the day's headlines during an extended break from that time slot's program. The story I broke in on was of a newly-established wildlife refuge here in the state, the quote at the end of which went something like, "the glaciers did such marvelous work in this region 10,000 years ago, the least Minnesotans can do is to preserve it."

There was a brief station identification, followed by a block of ads, the first of which was a nature company, advertising how their products are great and green, and how you should use products to help out the environment. I think that's pretty smart advertising, it's almost like they knew exactly what would be talked about on the radio show. If I was selling boats, I would certainly want to appear on a radio station about boating and summer, immediately after they talk about the importance of owning a boat or being out on the water next summer.

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Blogs are like Books

Image via CrunchBase

During the early days of the internet, I found myself passing work time through a slow AOL connection and reading discussion groups and usenets. Why did I read these? Because the content on these were submitted by readers and were updated daily.

Fast forward to the introduction of the web in 1994.  Most web pages were static, once you read them that was it.  They were updated maybe once a month.  As the web evolved the news sites like Yahoo & MSN had daily updates.  But reading the news gets old and it’s not really that captivating.

Blogs can be like ongoing TV shows.  They can be the source of many hours of reading.  With the advent of blogs, we became exposed to literally millions of on-going real life stories posted by the everyday person. When reading these blogs, one gets caught in a life story. We get to read about what other people are doing as they do it.  Best of all, we can comment and make suggestions and actually make a difference. It’s like reality TV that interacts with you.

It’s no wonder that people are addicted to blogs. They have great un-edited content. They have new posts daily. You can interact directly with the author. And there is a blog for every subject in the world.

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When in Oklahoma, do as the Sooners do

I've never been a big fan of Big 12 football, but from a distance I've respected their craft and the devoted fandom. I really thought the loss of Nebraska to the Big 10 last year would have really hit the poor Sooner fans hard, as they have been one of the two chief rivals in Norman for the past decade along with the Texas Longhorns. Turns out, they're very good at redirecting their anger.

I caught a game last year while in Oklahoma, an early season throw away game against someone I can't even recall, and I got to ask a few fans about the rivalry, and it was almost unanimous amongst those rocking Sooners apparel (of which there were many).

They hate Texas. More than before.

So they've got that going for them...which is nice (channeling my inner Bill Murray on that one).

Now, for some QB motivation:

Tom Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots, is highly considered as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. He and quarterback Peyton Manning are compared to each other and are considered two of the top quarterbacks in the NFL today. Brady was a 6th round draft pick in the 2000 NFL draft. He came from Michigan, one of the top football colleges today. He was not expected to be as good as he is today. It’s quite ironic though how Tom, a 6th round draft pick and Peyton, a first round draft pick, are very similar in their stats and both come from very different backgrounds. Peyton of course came from a very advantageous background, having his father, a former NFL quarterback, as a mentor. Peyton was also the first pick of his draft class.

Two men. Different backgrounds. Similar stats.

It goes to show you that anyone can accomplish anything they put their mind to. There are a lot of underdogs in the NFL today. Who knows when the next Tom Brady or Tony Romo will come out of the shadows and get a chance to take what they were never given. Tony Romo wasn’t even drafted. In the end, it doesn’t matter where you came from, whether or not you were a first round draft pick. It just matters if you can play the game. If you have a passion to play the sport you are good at and you don’t give up, you will succeed.

You can look at any sport and you can see a true under dog story. The most common story today would be the 2007-2008 New York Giants football team. They won against all odds. You can win against all odds too. It just depends on how bad you want to achieve it.

Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45928872@N08/4224618540/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Thanks PepsiCo!

New snack food (Photo credit: Telstar Logistics)

It’s no big secret that major snack food companies are in hot water for their role in contributing to the childhood obesity problem. Now, this is fair in a sense, but it’s also extremely unfair too; it is not really all their fault…someone is buying these unhealthy snacks for the children.

At any rate, due to their being under fire, snack food companies are actually trying to do something about it. Now, they are offering low-fat, sugar-free varieties of their products, and even, as far as PepsiCo goes, building playgrounds for children.

I think this is awesome, because in truth, they are doing much more than the parents who are buying the junk are at this point. If there was a collaboration at work, parents and the companies both doing something, maybe we’d actually be getting somewhere; add onto that the children actually exercising, rather than playing video games and we’d really go far!

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Big Medical Breakthroughs

CPR: cardiopulmonary resuscitation (Photo credit: eesti)

Huge advancements have been made within modern human history, and many of them came in the medical arena. Within the past century, the world say many groundbreaking advancements in the medical world. It's exciting to imagine what the future holds for this century.

One of the most important accidents that ever happened, the potential of Penicillin was realized when  Sir Alexander Fleming at the St. Mary's Hospital in London noticed bacterium being dissolved by a bluish green mold. This discovery gave rise to many more antibiotics used today, and undoubtedly have saved millions of lives ever since.

CPR was actually invented in the 1950s by Dr. Peter Safar and has since been the most effective method to revive and/or save an unconscious person's life. Standing for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, it is widely taught in today's world to lifeguards to doctors.

The artificial heart was invented by Willem J. Kolff, a Dutch born medical researcher. Robert Jarvik helped him complete the design, which can beat over 100,000 times a day and sustain a person until they can find a suitable heart transplant. Artificial hearts were not the only rise in artificial equipment used in the medical world. Artificial knees, hips, spines, arms and legs have all made tremendous gains even within the past 50 years, with the help of the development of products like bone screws and phaco handpieces. These advances have also given way to a booming industry of orthopedic manufacturer companies.

Who knows what's in store for our future, but after looking at what's happened in the past, I'm quite optimistic!

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