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Archive for 2013

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

Seva Call is finally here in Jacksonville, Florida! Amazing tourist attractions aside- this is real life made simple; and, like the Winn Dixie Open, it’s not a game. Car problems, cavities, and tax questions emerge and threaten to ruin the day; but have no fear (you know the rest).

“Seva Call helps you avoid hours of research, countless phone calls, and long waits when its time to find a local service professional”, Seva Man says proudly. Just by entering a few details, including your location and a description of your need, you can hear from up to three local businesses that are ready to help and already know how.

So if you’re Jacksonville, Florida and need help on your own time, get it in the least amount of time by going to www.talklocal.com. Businesses can register for free as well. Real life made simple, it’s almost unreal!

Posted in Seva Call | No Comments »

Best Dog Food for Puppies

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

It is very important that your puppy is given the proper nutrients during the first stages of his or her life. Below are some tips on how you can determine the best dog food for puppies.

Elements of the Best Dog Food for Puppies

– You should make sure you are giving you puppy food that is made for puppies. When you buy dog food, make sure you purchase a package that explicitly says it is for puppies. Also, make sure that you giving your puppy correct food for his or her breed. Dog foods are engineered to be most beneficial for different stages of a dog’s life, as well as different breeds or sizes of dogs. Pay attention to these labels when buying food for your puppy.

– Make sure that the dog food you feeding your puppy is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). AAFCO sets regulations in store-bought animal foods in order to best protect the health of the animals.

– You want to be giving you puppy food that is the same in each bag. Your puppy may experience digestive issues if his or her diet is in a constant state of change, so choose an appropriate dog food and stick with it. It may be unhealthy for your puppy if its digestive system constantly has to readjust to new food.

– The dog food that you are feeding your puppy should include the best quality ingredients. Also, be aware of which foods dogs are commonly allergic to. Below is a list of the most ideal ingredients in puppy food. In general, natural food is the healthiest for your puppy.

Best Ingredients for Puppy Food

– Low in carbohydrates.

– High in proteins from meat.

– No by-products from vegetables or animals.

– No artificial flavoring or coloring.

– No preservatives.

– High in natural oils and fats.

– All essential vitamins and minerals.

– Specified animal source.

– If your puppy is a large breed, low in calcium.

Choosing the Best Brand for Your Puppy

– Read the packages of all appropriate puppy foods. Choose a brand that says, “Formulated to meet the AAFCO dog food Nutrient Profile for Puppies.” Also, check out the ingredients label to see if it contains the suggested ingredients above.

Get Brand Recommendations from A Veterinarian

You can get the best advice on the best dog for puppies from an expert. If you do not have a veterinarian, you can use TalkLocal to be on the phone within minutes with up to three, high-quality veterinarians in your area. We will connect you with veterinarians who can help you when you need it most.

Posted in Veterinarians | 1 Comment »

Video Card Not Detected

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

Is your video card not detected by your computer? The video card is important for viewing images on your monitor, especially when playing games with higher graphics resolutions. A higher-powered video card can also help your computer run faster. If the computer is not detecting the video card, you can try the following steps to fix the issue.

Video Card Not Detected

1. Make sure the video card is hooked up to your computer properly. Check all the cables and see that they are plugged into the correct slots. Also, plug the PSU PCI-e cable into your video card. This step is only recommended if you are familiar with computer hardware.

2. The motherboard could be malfunctioning and not detecting the graphics card. Older motherboards do not allow the computer to see that the video card is present. Ensure that your video card is compatible with your computer’s motherboard by reading the hardware specifications of the video card or by checking with your computer’s manufacturer.

3. The issue could also be the monitor. If you are having difficulty seeing images on your screen, then your monitor may not be rendering the data correctly.

4. The video card itself could be the problem. It may have become too worn out, and simply needs to be replaced.

Contact a Professional

If you believe any of these issues is causing your video card to malfunction, then you may want to contact a professional computer technician. TalkLocal will connect you with up to three, reputable computer professionals in your area, who will be better equipped to handle a hardware malfunction in your computer. Try it out for free!

Posted in Computer Repair | No Comments »

At What Age Can A Child Stay Home Alone

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

For working parents or single parents there may come a time when your child needs to be at home alone. These children must be mature and ready to handle being left alone. It requires a lot of strength and trust on behalf of the parent to leave their child at home alone. So, at what age can a child stay home alone? The specific age a child can stay at home is highly debated.

Factors to Consider

1) Legal Restrictions: States like Illinois and Maryland have guidelines as to what the minimum possible age is for a child to stay home alone. You should research the laws in your state, county, or city to make sure you are abiding all of the laws. If you leave your child alone at home and they are not legally considered old enough, then you could face charges for child abuse or neglect.

2) Age: You also need to consider the age of your child. According to generally accepted guidelines no child under the age of 6 should be left alone for extended periods of time. Even kids older than this need to be considered on a serious level before being left alone.

3) Maturity: Maturity plays a big role in deciding when it is acceptable to leave your child alone at home. Some children can handle themselves with more responsibility at a younger age than others. Many people feel as though girls are more adept to take care of themselves at younger ages than boys. While girls in general mature faster than boys, it is important to consider the maturity of the individual child.

4) Circumstances: One last thing you should think about when deciding whether or not to leave your child at home alone is the circumstances. You should consider how long you will be gone, if there is someone close who could check in on them, and if there are emergency plans set. Leaving your child at home alone is a personal choice so you should weigh your options and think about it seriously.

Further Questions?

If you have more questions about leaving your child alone at home you could speak to a reputable lawyer. A family lawyer will be able to give you all of the legal details you need to make the best decision for your family. TalkLocal can find a lawyer for you! We’ll connect you with up to three lawyers in your area, so you can get the help you need, when you need it.

Posted in Lawyers - Family | 2 Comments »

Apartment Moving Checklist

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

Moving can be a very stressful process. You have to pack up all of your belongings, find somewhere new to live, clean up behind yourself, and make sure everything is in order. But don’t freak out! Stay calm and collected if you want to be able to pull off the entire process without everything going crazy. We have put together a detailed apartment moving checklist to help you stay organized and stress-free!

The Month Before You Move:

– Fill out a change of address at the post office, and notify your friends and family that you are moving.

– Decide what you don’t want to take with you, and then and donate or sell it.

– Create a list of what items you want to move.

– Look into getting movers or get the supplies (such as boxes, packing tape, etc,) you will need.

– Mark boxes clearly by room or type of item (such as “clothes,” “kitchen,” or “dishes,”).

– You can also start gathering items into a designated area to prepare for packing.

The Week Before You Move:

– Pack all of your important documents. It is better to have these packed safely away than to lose them in the clutter of the moving process.

– Arrange to have all of your utilities canceled.

– Make sure there are utilities at your new residence.

– Start cleaning and packing. Pack items into their appropriate boxes.

– Make decisive travel plans for moving. Who is helping you? How are you getting to your new place?

– Notify your landlord on the specific date you plan to move. Also arrange to drop off your keys, or have them be picked up by your landlord.

The Day Before You Move:

– Defrost and clean out your refrigerator.

– Clean your house completely. Vacuum, sweep, mop, wash, and wipe down any remaining furniture, windows, appliances, and flooring.

– Get a good night’s sleep. You’ll need a lot of energy for the moving process!

The Day You Move:

– Pack up the very last items (ideally only the bare essentials, like toiletries and a couple days’ worth of clothes).

– Load the moving truck or car.

– Go through your apartment one last time, looking for any leftover items or last minute cleaning needs.

Need A Helping Hand?

While it is not impossible to move out of an apartment by yourself, it can be stressful. Why go at it alone when you could hire professionals to help you (or at least rent a moving van)? TalkLocal will help you find reputable, professional movers. We will connect you with up to three professionals in your area, within minutes!

Posted in Moving and Storage | No Comments »

Composite vs Amalgam Fillings

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

Composite vs amalgam fillings. That is a back and forth debate within many people as they decide whether composite or amalgam fillings are best for filling cavities in teeth. There are key differences between the two types of fillings. Appearance along with cost are the main factors that divide the two categories. We provide you the following article in hopes of informing you throughout the decision making process as you select the best type of filling for your situation.

How do composite and amalgam fillings differ in appearance?

Amalgam fillings are what people commonly call “silver fillings.” They are a combination of different metals and usually have a silver appearance. Due to the silver appearance, most people prefer to have silver fillings on the back teeth or their upper teeth so that others do not see the fillings as easily.

On the other hand, composite fillings are commonly known as “white fillings.” White fillings can be matched to the color of your surrounding teeth. In this case, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the composite filling and the surrounding teeth.

What is the price difference?

Many times the price difference is the make it or break it point for some people. Amalgam fillings can cost up to 25% less than their counterpart, composite fillings. This can add up if you need to have multiple fillings. Typically this will lead people to splurge on the composite fillings for front teeth, for example, and then use amalgam fillings for back teeth.

Do You Need Fillings?

Are you ready to see a dentist or would you like to gather some more information first? If so, check out TalkLocal. You will be connected directly to local, high-quality dentists who can work with you at the time that is most convenient for your schedule. Check it out!

Posted in Dentists | No Comments »

Best Time to Trim Trees

Monday, March 25th, 2013

All trees grow at different rates, and the best time to trim trees depends on the climate of the area you live in, the type of tree you are cultivating, and the degree of pruning you wish to do. Essentially, the best time to trim trees depends entirely on that tree’s unique situation.

The Best Time to Trim Trees

There are certain ages, months, and periods during which it is better to trim trees. A good time to trim a tree is when the tree is in its younger stages and there is less pruning to be done. At this point, the tree is small enough that you can easily cut the bottom branches. If you want to prune a tree, doing so when it is young is the best time, as the branches can heal more quickly, and a younger tree has a better chance to adjust to the trimming.

Another rule of thumb for pruning trees is that the best time to prune living wood is when the tree is dormant. If you prune the tree in early spring or when the tree is still budding out, you can inflict damage to the tree at a time when it is most vulnerable. Instead, a good time to trim the tree is during the late summer months or even in late winter. For mature trees, less is better, meaning you should avoid removing limbs that have a diameter greater than 6 inches because this can cause the tree to start decaying.

As all trees are not the same, certain trees need to be trimmed before others. Trees of varieties such as dogwoods and crabapples should be trimmed as soon as they begin blooming, usually during the spring. However, you need to be careful to not cut too much or else you may subject the tree to decay when it is devoting its energy towards growth.

For trees that have dead branches, any time is a good time to trim the tree. You can identify dead tree branches by scratching through a layer of bark. If the inside is green, it is still alive and you shouldn’t cut them unless the time is optimal. If the inside is brown, the branch is dead and they can be removed at any time.

Find the Right Tree Trimmers

Knowing when to prune your trees is an important step in maintaining healthy trees. If you would prefer help from a professional, consider using TalkLocal to find a capable tree removal service for you. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, landscaping and tree removal contractors in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.

Posted in Tree Removal | No Comments »

North American Poisonous Spiders

Monday, March 25th, 2013

The two most dangerous spiders in North America are the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse. A third fear-inciting one is the tarantula, although its venom is not the cause of human fatalities. Here is an overview of the two most common North American poisonous spiders.

Brown Recluse

Most commonly found in Tennessee, the brown recluse spider is one of the most venomous in the world. The brown recluse has recognizable patterns of a violin or fiddle shape on its back (hence, the common nicknames such as Fiddleback Spider, Brown Fiddler, or Violin Spider). Brown recluses also have six pairs of eyes, instead of four pairs of eyes as in most other types of spiders, and this trait is the easiest way to tell it apart from other spiders.

Treat a brown recluse bite by applying ice packs to control the inflammation and aloe vera to soothe it. Seek medical care immediately and if possible bring the spider along to the hospital in a clear container for diagnosis. While most brown recluse bites do not cause death, a small number of bites have resulted in serious effects – flesh around the wound may die (necrosis), and in very rare cases the venom may cause red blood cells to die.

Brown recluses live in attics, storage boxes, sheds, garages, rock piles, and stacks of lumber, which are all easy to accumulate in and around the home. To get rid of brown recluse spiders you can vacuum up the spider, web and egg sacs and make sure you seal the vacuum bag before throwing it into the dumpster.

Black Widow

Black widow spiders (pictured above) are both poisonous (don’t touch it!) and venomous (don’t let it bite you). As such, it is one of the most dangerous spiders in the world. While only the females bite, the males are still poisonous to the touch. There are two types of black widows in North America – one type that lives in the north and another which lives in the south. You can recognize the northern black widow by the shiny red hourglass shape on its black, shiny back. The southern widow is characterized by a row of bright red, white, or yellow dots on the top and two perpendicular bars on its underside, with brown or red legs.

Only the female black widows bite (and eat their partners after mating), and their bites cause acute pain, which may be followed by muscle cramps in the area, abdominal pains, weakness, and tremors. Some severe cases may result in vomiting, nausea, faintness, dizziness, chest pain, and respiratory difficulties. However, these bites rarely result in death and are usually more severe in children and the elderly. It is difficult to treat the symptoms of the spider bite, and if it is life-threatening, it will be easy to tell early on. In the event of a black widow bite, you should contact emergency medical services immediately. Usually the pain can be treated at home with hot and cold compresses.

Black widows are nocturnal so watch out for them at night. They also prefer dark corners and live outdoors, in and around piles of junk, rocks, logs, or even in the bark of fallen trees. Be careful when reaching out into dark areas in garages and outhouses. You can use insecticide on them, or call an exterminator!

Get Rid of These Biters

If you believe you have poisonous spiders living in or around your home, it may be wise to call in an exterminator. TalkLocal will connect you with up to three pest control technicians in your area, who will be able to help you out. Use TalkLocal today, and be speaking with the right professionals in just minutes!

Posted in Pest Control | No Comments »

Computer Restarts Randomly in XP

Monday, March 25th, 2013

When a computer restarts randomly in XP, it can disrupt anything you are trying to do on your computer. It could even cause you to lose data that was not saved before your computer decided it was going to stop working. Luckily, there are some common problems, as well as solutions, when your computer restarts randomly in XP.

Hardware

One of the most common causes of a computer restarting randomly is overheating. Overheating causes a computer to restart automatically. Failing fans or a faulty power supply are the two most common reasons for overheating. A faulty power supply puts more work on the computer which leads to overheating. Fans cool the computer while it is running. Without the fan, the computer can overheat.

Solution

Check that the fans are running smoothly. Some the computer’s fans are inside of the computer and have to be seen by opening them. Do not open your computer while under warranty. Contact your manufacturer instead. To check the power supply, plug your computer into a different power supply. If the computer is not restarting randomly, replace your power supply.

Software

Recent updates, especially updated device driver software, can lead to random reboots. If random restarts started right after a update, this is a sign it could be the problem. Programs with automatic updaters cause the computer to automatically restart after the update.

Solution

Reinstall updates that were causing the random restarts. For each programs, look in the options section to disable or prompt restarts after an update has been done.

Virus

When hardware and software issues have been checked and passed, then a virus could be the cause of the random restarts. “Blaster” viruses cause restarts around 30 min after the computers has rebooted.

Solution

Use your anti-virus programs to scan possible threats to the computer. If not found, call technical help from your OS provider, computer manufacturer, or a computer repair technician. To find professional help, use TalkLocal. We will connect you with up to three reputable computer repair technicians in your area, in just minutes!

Posted in Computer Repair | No Comments »

Best Conditions For Growing Hydrangeas

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Hydrangeas can be a beautiful addition to any garden with just a little work. From blue to pink to white and shades in between, hydrangeas are a beautiful staple to any landscape. Professional landscapers can help you determine the best area to plant, but here are five of the best conditions for growing hydrangeas.

Sunlight: Hydrangeas grow best in areas where they will receive more sun and afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates.

Temperature: There are many types of hydrangeas, and some are more hardy than others. Your local nursery will likely sell the type best suited for your area, but it doesn’t hurt to double-check.

Soil: Hydrangeas love organic, rich soil. They enjoy lots of nutrients, so when planting them, make sure to add in plenty of compost or organic material to the surrounding soil. Additionally, red or blue hydrangeas can be altered in color depending on the acidity of the soil. A more basic soil will produce a pink to red flower and can be achieved through lime. A more acidic soil will produce a blue flower and can be achieved through adding aluminum sulfate .

Water: Hydrangeas love water. In fact, the name in Greek means “water tub”. This does not mean they cannot be grown in dryer environments, though. The hotter or dryer your environment is, the more you will need to water your hydrangeas.

Fertilization: Because they need a nutrient-rich soil, fertilize hydrangeas often in the spring time, or in June for more northern areas. If a plant looks distressed or sick, do not fertilize as it will stress the plant out and likely kill it.

Get Assistance With Everything In Your Garden Or Lawn

Whether you’re interested in growing one or an entire hedge of them, knowing the best conditions for growing hydrangeas can be very helpful. If you’re still unsure about adding these beautiful, flowing bushes to your garden, try contacting a local landscaper. TalkLocal can put you in touch with a landscaper in your area quickly and for free.

Posted in Landscapers | No Comments »

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