What Is a Party Bus?

Thursday, August 15th, 2013

Bus parties are organized to celebrate different special occasions, like for instance bachelor/bachelorette parties, weddings, personalized city tours, proms, or birthdays. Despite the fact that this is not a new concept, a lot of people are most likely asking themselves the following question: What is a party bus, and how could I find and join the best one in my area?

1) Things you should know about bus parties

Love bus rides and parties? In this case, you should definitely attend a bus party as soon as possible. These events are organized in a party bus (also known as a limo bus or party ride), which is basically a custom bus decorated to match the theme of the party, big enough to accommodate at least 10 people (usually up to 50 passengers), and driven by a friendly chauffeur. The route is established by the people who pay for the bus party.

While some passengers might prefer to spend their time in the bus partying, dancing, and listening to music, others might want to get off the luxury bus and go to clubs, bars, and different other places. A party bus is equipped with a wide range of first-class amenities, like lasers, disco lights, last-generation audio and video systems, mini-bars, and even stripper poles. Before renting one, it is advisable to talk to the driver and inspect the custom bus yourself to see if you could easily decorate it to match the theme of your party.

2) Profit from the best custom bus rental services in your area

So what is a party bus? It could be one of the greatest, most unconventional ideas for your next event. Want to enjoy a fabulous party without having to worry about annoying driving problems? In this case, decide to celebrate in style by organizing a fabulous bus party. Choose your destination, set a theme for your event, invite your guests, and rely on a truly convenient bus rental service to make the most of a unique recreational experience.

Want to Take a Ride?

Are you having a hard time trying to find the best bus party organizer in your area? Consult TalkLocal, your trusted source of information, to discover top-rated companies offering you memorable, luxury bus rides exceeding your highest expectations. The best parties you’re ever going to attend are just a few clicks away.

Posted in Bus Rental, talklocal | 2 Comments »

Benefits of Thinning Trees

Thursday, August 15th, 2013

Is your yard or property looking a little like an enchanted forest lately? You may be reluctant to cut down some of your trees, but don’t let that reluctance stop you from thinning your trees. Just like weeding your garden, thinning trees in your yard can actually help your other trees thrive and live longer, healthier lives, not to mention making your property more beautiful. Let’s take a moment to review a few of the benefits of thinning trees.

Healthier Trees

Tree thinning has been shown to allow the trees left behind to thrive in ways they were unable to before. Fewer trees drawing moisture and nutrients from the soil means that the individual trees remaining have greater access to the things they need to survive, not to mention better access to the all-important sunlight, if your trees’ canopies overlapped. Better nutrition means your trees will grow larger and more beautiful and become more resistant to insects, disease, and the perils of drought conditions.

Healthier Lawn & Plants

Fewer trees means more sunlight reaches the ground, and that means your shrubberies and flower gardens will benefit from the change, as well as your grass and vegetable and fruit gardens. If you love being outdoors, thinning your trees could mean more time gardening than ever before for you!

Increased Property Value

Choosing to thin the trees on your property means that you can choose only the most visually and aesthetically appealing trees to remain. A more beautiful lawn means better curb appeal, and that means increased property value for your efforts.

Need Help with Your Trees?

Do you have trees you’d rather be rid of? Don’t take on the task of cutting and disposing of those trees by yourself. Let the experts at Talk Local help you find a professional landscaper to thin those trees for you. TalkLocal has a free concierge service that can connect you with professionals in your local area today.

Posted in Landscapers | No Comments »

Where to Recycle Electronics for Cash

Thursday, August 15th, 2013

The world of modern technology is incredibly fast paced, with the twin demons of built-in obsolescence and ever-evolving innovations rendering most of our gadgets outdated before they’re even a few years old. In houses and storage rooms across the country, old tablets, obsolete cell phones, and long-dead computers are taking up space and gathering dust. You know it’s time to get rid of them, but finding a good way to do it is a bit difficult.

In the past, people thought nothing of throwing their old electronics in the trash, but our more sophisticated understanding of the environment has made this an unviable method of disposal. However, there are other options available, especially if you look on the Internet for where to recycle electronics for cash.

Look Online

There are many online businesses that will buy your used electronics for cash, and if you’re looking for where to recycle electronics for cash, this is probably the best way to go. Just make sure that you have chosen a company that will deal with your particular item. For instance, some companies only handle cell phones, while others handle a wide range of electronic goods.

It is also important to note that not all of these cash for electronics companies will pay you for non-functional items. However, they typically handle your shipping costs and will state their terms of acceptance and payment clearly.

Local Options?

Another option when looking for where to recycle electronics for cash is to consider your local waste management and recycling facilities. This will take a little more research on your part, as you will need to figure out which facilities in your area will accept used electronics and which, if any, will pay you. Fair warning – a lot of them won’t pay you a dime, but you might be pleasantly surprised, so it is certainly worth a try. Your city Public Utilities Department website and the websites of local garbage removal companies are good places to start.

At a Store

You can also try recycling your old electronics at the store where you originally bought them. Some of the bigger retail stores are trying to bring their operational processes in line with new, environmentally sensitive standards. They might have a recycling program available to their customers, although they might not pay you in cash for your used goods.

While online businesses that specialize in recycling electronics are the best option, the other choices are viable as well. They might not offer you a large cash payout, but they do allow you to safely dispose of your used electronics, which is frankly priceless in terms of our environmental health.

Need to Get Rid of Old Junk?

If you need help finding a recycling facility near you that accepts old electronics, check out the experts at TalkLocal. We can help you find the resources you need in your area at no extra charge – it’s all part of our free referral program.

Posted in Garbage Removal | No Comments »

Chapter 14 Bankruptcy

Thursday, August 15th, 2013

Chapter 14 bankruptcy is not an established law as yet, but it might be only a matter of time until it appears on the law books as part of the bankruptcy codes. Chapter 14 bankruptcy was proposed in July, 2009, as an amendment to the existing Chapter 11 bankruptcy code. The bill was originally introduced by Rep. Bachus, a republican from Alabama, and currently has the backing of the Republican Party.

What is Chapter 14 Bankruptcy?

The main focus of the chapter 14 bankruptcy bill is to create a legal recourse for major multinational or national corporations that are in dire financial straits, but do not want to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy. The bill defines these companies as those that cannot be allowed to fail for the good of the general economy. If passed into law, chapter 14 bankruptcy would allow a company to restructure and reorganize its finances with the goal of finding a way to service its debt and pay off its creditors before taking the irreversible step of filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In Support

The proponents of this bill argue that it will mitigate the need for major bailouts, such as the infamous auto company bailouts that deepened the looming recession and furthered the economic crisis in this country. Seen as a reaction to the failure of major companies like Lehman Brothers in 2009, the bill seeks to ensure that in the future the collapse of such big financial players does not affect the rest of the economy in such a dire way. In part, the bill is viewed as a purely Republican reaction to a Democratic administration that is seen as being responsible for providing the notorious bailout plans of the last few years, thereby significantly weakening the national economy.

Opposing Parties

Opponents of this bill, primarily Democrats, argue that while the principle of preventing major, economically detrimental bailouts in the future is sound, the existing chapter 11 bankruptcy code is flexible enough to allow for the same measures as those proposed in the chapter 14 bankruptcy bill.

The chapter 14 bankruptcy bill has been in existence since 2009, but still has not cleared the House. If it does, which is likely, given that the House is currently Republican-heavy, the bill will then pass on to the Senate. Even if this does happen, it is unlikely that the bill will be passed into law, given the fact that the Senate is primarily composed of Democrats. However, only time will tell if the chapter 14 bankruptcy bill will become actual law.

Need More Information?

If you need more information about this pending bill or would like assistance with filing for bankruptcy, TalkLocal can help. Our free online service allows you to request bankruptcy lawyers in your area who can help you resolve your legal issues. We will then connect you directly with the right professional who can help you.

Posted in Lawyers - Bankruptcy | No Comments »

The Cost of Running A Dehumidifier

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Having a dehumidifier in your own home is sometimes a necessity. Dehumidifiers help keep your home comfortable and healthy. There are certain costs associated with running a dehumidifier. The cost of running a dehumidifier depends on the size and model of your home, as well as the model of the dehumidifier.

Electricity Use

While a dehumidifier can be small, you must never underestimate the electricity it uses up. For instance, you should look into how to save energy in your home before purchasing a dehumidifier, especially if you are concerned about electric bills.

Remember, the cost of running a dehumidifier will also depend on how and when you use it. Running a dehumidifier during only the wet months will lower costs.

How to Lower the Cost

Checking the draining tank of your dehumidifier at least once a day will also bring down costs. Most dehumidifiers use electricity even when on auto-shutoff mode, while being filled with water. Empty the draining tank at least once a day or, in more humid times, at least twice a day.

Manually emptied units also use only 3.7 kW/h of electricity, less than direct drain units. These are the things you should consider before purchasing and maintaining a dehumidifier. The same principle applies to air-conditioning units. You have to compute the higher cost of an energy-saving unit vs. the cost of ordinary ones. A dehumidifier is an essential in more humid places, and budgetary constraints are always a factor. This is why you should invest in knowing more.

Have More Heating and Cooling Questions?

Contact TalkLocal today and find out the many ways in which we can help you! Your problems with home maintenance are our specialty. We will connect you with the right professional in just minutes, finding you the help you need, when you need it.

Posted in Heating and Cooling | No Comments »

Can Physical Therapy Help Sciatica?

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Sciatica

Sciatica is a medical condition in the sciatic nerve, which runs the full length of the leg. Muscles in the hip can cause excess pressure on the nerve, leading to excruciating pain. The sciatic nerve’s path, which is from the lumbar region of the lower back to the foot, makes it vulnerable to pressure.

How Sciatica Can Be Helped

Can physical therapy help sciatica? Yes. Orthopedic doctors will typically prescribe physical therapy to relieve the pain associated with this condition. There are two categories of physical therapy for pinched nerves. They are active therapy and passive treatments.

Active therapy involves stretching, aerobics, and strength training. Strength training for the treatment of sciatica involves exercises on the lumbar region in the back, the gluteal muscles, and thigh muscles. Aerobics helps by releasing pain-neutralizing endorphins in the body. Stretching involves relaxing the muscles that pinch the nerves.

The passive approach is through ultrasound, massage, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). TENS can help sciatica by emitting small electrical discharges that, in turn, help the body release endorphins, functioning much like aerobic exercise. Ultrasound helps muscles heal faster and emits a gentle heat that relaxes the muscles, relieving the pressure on the nerve. Massages will help the nerve and the muscles relax.

These treatments have been proven to be very helpful for relieving the pain associated with sciatica. It helps to talk to your pain management doctor about the best physical therapy for you.

Need More Help?

Chiropractors are readily available to help you. If you have problems locating one, give TalkLocal a chance to help. We can assist you in locating the proper therapist for you. Let us manage your pain together. Give us a call now and see the difference professional help can make.

Posted in Chiropractors | No Comments »

McAfee Antivirus Not Installing

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Is your McAfee antivirus not installing the software? Getting virus protection for your desktop or laptop is critical in order to keep your computer functioning well and your private information safe. There are a few things that could be going wrong with your McAfee installation. If you are having trouble installing McAfee antivirus, here are some tips to try get it working.

What to Do If McAfee Antivirus Is Not Installing

1. Make sure that your system meets the minimum requirements for McAfee products. The minimum requirements information can be found on McAfee’s website. Your system must meet these requirements in order to successfully install and run any McAfee software.

2. McAfee provides a pre-installation tool that gets your computer ready for McAfee software to be installed. Download and run this tool.

3. Once it has completed, restart your computer in order for the changes to take effect. Your computer should now be ready and able to successfully install McAfee antivirus.

4. Did you receive a message saying that you have incompatible security software already installed on your system? If so, you will need to remove the incompatible software before McAfee can be successfully installed. Check out this page for a list of incompatible programs that you may have on your computer. Most of them are other anti-virus programs that would cause conflicts with McAfee if they were both installed on a computer at the same time.

Still having issues?

If you are still unable to install McAfee antivirus after trying these steps, it may be time to get some professional help. Use TalkLocal to get in contact with a reliable local computer technician within minutes. Just enter a description of your problem, your availability, and your location, and Talk Local will connect you directly to someone who can help.

Posted in Computer Repair | No Comments »

Seal Up Windows Tight with Metal Weather Stripping

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Weather stripping reduces air infiltration around gaps in your doors and windows, saving energy consumption and bringing down your energy bills. There are several types of materials used for weather stripping including foam, plastic, rubber, and metal. If you have old, non-metal weather stripping on your windows or you’ve just replaced your windows with new ones, consider using metal weather stripping, which effectively blocks air leakage and could last for decades.

Spring Tension Metal Strips

This type of metal weather stripping is made of a V-shaped springy metal that can be stainless steel, brass, bronze, or copper. The strips are folded along their length; hence the V configuration, which is responsible for sealing gaps between window frames and sashes. They usually come in coils and include the necessary brad nails for installation. Usually, the strips are nailed to the channels of the entire window perimeter and on the casements, except the hinges. They are typically used on double-hung windows and sliding windows. Installation is fairly simple and can be done by anyone with enough patience.

Self-adhesive Spring Metal Strips

This is similar to a standard spring tension type of metal weather stripping, except it has a peel-and-stick backing that makes it the easiest option to install. Other than scissors to be used for cutting the strip to length, no tools are needed to install it. Simply remove the backing from the strip and carefully press it in place. It does require a thoroughly clean and dry surface before installation.

Interlocking Metal

This is the most expensive option but produces the most effective results. It is ideal for casement windows and double-hung windows. It consists of two U-shaped metal pieces that are installed along the edges of a window and are designed to fit together to create a seal. As long as the metal pieces fit precisely, interlocking metal weather stripping will provide a very tight seal against drafts. However, this type of metal weather stripping is difficult to install, requiring special tools and precise skills, so hiring a professional is necessary.

Find A Window Professional

If you’re planning to install interlocking metal weather stripping on your windows, you’ve chosen the best weather stripping option. Now, make sure the job gets done right by hiring a professional. Use TalkLocal now, and you’ll be talking to the right professional in minutes.

Posted in Window Replacement | No Comments »

Replacing Your Coping Saw Blade

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Coping saw blades are thin, hardened steel blades that can be effectively used to cut shapes and designs inside wood or make coped joints in crown moldings. While these blades are strong and super efficient, they must be replaced from time to time so that you can continue to work more efficiently and less dangerously on your projects.

Why Coping Saw Blades Need Replacing

With continuous use, blades of any kind become dull and lose their edge. This means that firstly, the quality of the cut won’t come out as clean as it should be. Secondly, you will need to put in a lot more effort to perform a task that could be performed much more easily with a sharper blade. Another significant factor here is that having to work too hard means that there is a larger risk of slipping and hurting yourself while working with a dull saw blade.

Understanding when your coping saw blade needs replacement is something only you can do well, based on a judgment of how easy or difficult it is right now for you to use it. Abrasive materials and friction heating can weaken the sharpness of the blade. Sharpening it may not always be a good idea either, especially in the case of carbide tip blades. In fact, a new pack of coping saw blades usually costs just a few dollars, and hence, it is best to replace them when you feel it’s necessary.

How to Replace a Coping Saw Blade

1. Replacing a coping saw blade is a fairly simple process. You must first squeeze the saw so that the blade is sufficiently loosened.

2. You can then unhook it from both the ends.

3. It’s now time to attach the new blade, which can be hooked into the now-free slots and simply twisted to fit in position.

4. The tautness can be adjusted by twisting the handle, and you are all set for your next project.

Taking Care of Your Coping Saw Blade

When not in use, it is best to keep your coping saw blades wrapped in something soft and protective to preserve the sharp edges. Slicing a piece of hose and storing the blades in it can be a neat trick. Also, before you begin cutting something, ensure that there are no nails in the wood, as that could damage the edges of the blade

Get the Right Help for Your Woodwork Project

You don’t have to be an expert at handling a coping saw if you need some woodwork done for your home. You can get in touch with trained and experienced professionals who can do the job to perfection within minimal time. Just drop us a line, and we at TalkLocal will make sure you are connected with the very best professionals in your area.

Tags: coping saw blade, saw
Posted in Handyman | No Comments »

Zombie-Proof Your Home: Perfecting the Getaway Car

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

Written by Steven D’Adamo

Good news Seva Callers! It appears that our collective efforts to root out the zombies and help other survivors has been working; there seem to be less and less undead lurking around the neighborhood every day.

And more good news! We found the remaining founders, previously lost on a Chipotle run. Figures that they were holed up in Chipotle, happily living off of an endless supply of rice, tortilla chips, and Tabasco sauce.

But there is still one key person missing from Fort Seva Call: Seva Man himself! The last we heard from him, he was in Green Bay, where the locals had turned Lambeau Field into Lambeau Castle, evidently taking our protective measures to grand proportions.

Now, we’re preparing to empty Fort Seva Call on a desperate rescue mission to bring our hero back to his now-fortified home. But we can’t just roll out in a used Corolla and expect a high survival rate. So we’re turning a few of the Seva Call commuter cars into zombie-busting vehicles.

If you have finished working to zombie-proof your home, join our convoy rescue mission across the US! But make some modifications to your cars first.

The Roadster

It’s all well and good to transform a truck into a zombie-crushing tank — or to have an actual tank — but you may find a small, zippy road car useful to get in and out of tight spots quickly and quietly.

So find a small sedan or sports coupe with a decent engine, and reinforce the front and back bumpers with some unused garden tools, preferably of the sharp variety. You can even do this all the way around the car.

Then take a page out of the hurricane-proofing book and reinforce the side and rear windows with hurricane film. This peel-and-stick film will keep glass from shattering in your face and allow ample visibility.

The Caravan

It’s not very efficient to have only a few people to a car. If you’re travelling in large groups, use a bus or large van to transport lots of people or supplies at once.

Make those passengers useful by having them deflect oncoming zombies out of drilled holes in the side of the vehicle. You could even build a plywood-reinforced bunker on top of the van for some extra protection and a bird’s-eye view of the action.

Or you could just turn it into a party bus.

The (Zombie) Monster Truck

This is the vehicle you want for traversing rough terrain and bursting through a mosh pit of zombies without a scratch.

Thick-treaded tires, raised suspension, steel bumpers, and tinted, reinforced windows won’t look gaudy when they’re bulldozing through a city’s worth of hungry walkers. You might as well use an actual bulldozer if you can find one.

Go all out with the above modifications. Don’t worry about how fast you can reach 60 mph. This vehicle is for powering through the most dangerous situations.

Load your monster truck with your best fighters and heaviest weapons, and let it charge through the undead masses, clearing a path for the rest of the convoy.

Are you ready? Because we’re moving out! Off to save Seva Man!

Tags: apocalypse, zombie
Posted in Seva Team | No Comments »

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