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Archive for 2013

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

So you lost your keys, or maybe you locked them your car. You could call a locksmith, but why pay for a service that you may be able to do yourself? We have some ideas on how to open locked car door – but only if the car you’re opening is yours!

The Coat Hanger Method

1. Fully uncoil the coat hanger. Make one side of the long piece of metal into a hook about the size of your finger. Make the hook into a U or V shape.

2. You will want to slide the hooked side in between the glass of the window and the protective rubber that is pressed against the glass. By pulling the rubber back, you will have an opening to stick the hook through.

3. Slide the hook inside the window and push it down 2-3 inches, then you will want to rotate the hook so that it is facing the inside of the car.

4. Feel around for the mechanism that controls the lock. If you do not succeed at first, continue trying. It may take several attempts until you successfully get under the lever and unlock the door.

The Suction Method

1. To use a plunger, apply some cream around the edge of the plunger, giving the plunger extra suction.

2. Place the plunger over the key hole so that the keyhole is directly in the middle of the plunger. With one forceful and direct pump, the lock should pop open. This takes time to perfect, so continue trying until you successfully unlock the lock.

You can also use a tennis ball for the suction method.

1. The tennis ball should have a small hole in it. This can be done by heating up a key or screw driver over the stove.

2. Once the metal object is hot enough, stick it into the ball and rotate the ball around it to try to shred the ball and make a hole.

3. Place the hole in the tennis ball directly over the keyhole. Hold the ball with one hand, and use your stronger hand to pump the hard to unlock the car door. The air pressure created from the suction of the ball can unlock the car door.

The String Method

1. First, you will need approximately 3-5 5 feet of sturdy string, such as paracord. You can purchase paracord for as low as $3.29 from Amazon as of April 18, 2016. Make a slip knot in the middle of the string, creating a 1 to 2-inch loop. (Ensure that the knot is tight. You want it to close but not too easily.)

2. Pry the door apart with a screwdriver or similar object just enough for you to slip the knot inside the car. You may be able to do this with your hands as well, depending on your strength.

3. Once you slip the knotted string through the hole, line up the loop with the top of the lock. Lower the string so that the lock is inside of the loop. Pull the legs of the string to close the loop. Make sure that the knot is taut.

4. As you pull one leg of the string taut, pull the other leg of string straight up. Voila! Your car door is unlocked.

The string method only works on car doors that have the pull-up style locks, such as this one.

Professional Help

A insurance provider or AAA might assist you in situations like this. If you personally do not have AAA, you can ask a friend to call for you. Most of the time, the professional will not ask for your name or policy number, however you may want your friend to be with you just in case. You could also take the easy way out and just break the window, but then you have a broken window to deal with.

If you are not comfortable breaking into your own car, or you don’t want to be accused of breaking into cars in a parking lot, call in the cavalry. TalkLocal will find you a locksmith in your area who is ready to help. Use TalkLocal today!

Posted in Locksmiths | No Comments »

How to Remove Tree Stumps

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

Although you can utilize a tree stump as a table or a chair to add value to your yard, it may be better to remove a tree stump. We have some tips for you on how to remove tree stumps. The main idea behind removing tree stumps is to not try to pry it from the ground head on (as this would be disastrous unless you had the proper tools), but to let it rot and soften until you can easily break it.

How to Remove Tree Stumps

1. Drill holes into the stump – do it from the top of the stump downwards to the base of the stump. Do not drill the holes perfectly vertically – slant them so that the big holes you drill intersect with the natural linings of the tree along the stems. The point of this is to aerate the holes – the more the insides of trees are exposed to air, the faster it will rot.

2. Purchase a stump remover from your local home improvement store. This is the chemical that will begin to rot the stump. Pour the chemical into the holes in the stump generously, but do not clog up the air holes.

3. The whole rotting process takes about three to six weeks depending on the humidity of the environment and the number of holes you drill. The rotting process is much faster under hot, humid conditions.

If you absolutely cannot wait for the stump to rot away, then you need to remove it by force. Do not try to tether the stump to a car and pull it out – doing so can severely injure you or your car. Rent a stump grinder. Under proper supervision or after learning how to use the tool properly, remove the stump with extra care.

Additional Help

If you feel like you do not know how to remove tree stumps properly and safely, just use TalkLocal. We will connect you with up to three, high-quality tree removal services in your area.

Posted in Tree Removal | 1 Comment »

What Is A Living Will?

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

If you are looking to get your legal affairs in order, you may be asking, “What is a living will?” A Living Will is a legal document that confirms your wishes about life-support in the situation where life-support will not help improve your quality of life. This document states whether or not you would like life-prolonging intervention, such as artificial feeding, in the event that you are not in an appropriate state to make the decision yourself.

Capacity

In order to create your own Living Will, you must first have the capacity to do so. Capacity is a legal term that denotes the ability to make a legal decision. Every person over the age of 18 is presumed to have capacity, unless otherwise determined by a professional. Persons under 18 are presumed to lack capacity unless they undergo an examination by a doctor and are found to have the capacity to make healthcare decisions. In the healthcare environment, capacity means the ability to:

1. Appreciate the nature and implications of a healthcare decision.

2. Make an informed choice regarding the presented healthcare alternatives.

3. Communicate that choice in an unambiguous manner. (There must be no doubt about what you are trying to express).

The Living Will Document

The law requires that a Living Will must be:

1. In writing.

2. Signed by you or by another person at your direction in your presence.

3. Dated.

4. Signed in the presence of two or more persons who are at least 18 years old.

5. Signed by the people who watch you sign your name. A notary public must be present to acknowledge this.

Living Will templates for each of the 50 states are available at www.doyourownwill.com.

Witnesses

The law requires all Living Will witnesses to be over 18 years old. Additionally, the law says that the following people cannot be a witness to your Living Will:

1. The person who signed your living will on your behalf and at your direction.

2. Anyone who is related to you by blood or marriage.

3. Anyone who will inherit from you.

4. Anyone who is legally obligated to pay for your medical care.

5. Your doctor.

6. The person you have named as your Medical Power of Attorney or the person named as successor Medical Power of Attorney.

The Next Step

After you have made your Living Will you should give a copy to your doctor or caretaker. If you do not have a doctor, you should give a copy to someone else to give to a doctor in case you are not able to do so. It is your responsibility to make sure the doctor knows that you have a Living Will. If you have any questions about the process or particulars of creating a Living Will, it is best to consult a lawyer. TalkLocal will connect you with up to three lawyers in your area who will be able to help you.

Posted in Lawyers - Family | No Comments »

How to Transfer Data from PC to PC

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

Data transfer is one of the most common actions in computer use. There are numerous ways in which you can transfer data between computers. However it is advised to know the risks involved in the different processes of transferring data between computers. Here are some tips on how to transfer data from PC to PC.

Relying on the Internet for Data Transfers

Many websites including Google provide file hosting. File hosting means that the owners of the website will allow you to store files and data up to a certain extent of size on their servers. Google’s Google Drive, for example, lets you store up to 5 GB for free. Any amount above that is premium that you must pay for.

Storing files in an online server gives you flexibility. Since it’s on the internet, you can upload and download the files from any computer that is connected to the internet. But there are also risks involved with this. Viruses present in computers or the servers can penetrate an entire network of computers by attaching itself to a file being uploaded or downloaded in the server.

Exercise caution when downloading a file, even when you had previously uploaded that file. Also make sure that the server or website that is providing the file hosting is credible – there are many websites that plant malware or viruses into the files that you download.

If the file size is small, you may want to consider just emailing the files to yourself. Just set up two email accounts and send the files as attachments from one account to another. You can even send the files to yourself on one email account. Although this process may seem different from uploading a file to an online server, it’s the same thing. Your emails are stored in the server of the email provider.

Relying on Physical Hardware for File Transferring

You can buy and use an external hard drive to store your files and to transfer them between computers. USB drives or re-writable CDs allow for a constant shift of different files between different computers. But one should be advised that using physical hardware for file transferring has risks as well.

A virus may still attach itself to the data. You may also lose the physical hardware used to transfer and store files, thus losing the files in the process if you do not have backups made. Sometimes the physical hardware may be damaged due to environmental conditions.

Need Help?

If your physical hardware gets damaged, you may want to call for help from the local experts. Seva Call can help you find a high-quality computer technician in your area when you need it.

Posted in Computer Repair | No Comments »

Get Rid Of Iron Stain On Clothes

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

There are few things more disheartening than pulling a white T-shirt out of the wash only to realize it is no longer white. Despite our best efforts, sometimes those troublesome stains can rear their ugly heads. Fortunately, there are some home remedies you can try to get rid of an iron stain on clothes before resorting to burning that bothersome piece of clothing!

Keep in Mind

Heat can worsen a stain. If it has already been dried, your odds of getting rid of the stain decrease — but there may be hope, still! Do not iron clothes once you notice a stain. Treat the stain as soon as you notice it to avoid letting it become further engrained in the fabric.

Treatments

Club Soda

This is probably one of the best known home cleaning remedies out there. Club soda can be found in almost any grocery store and usually can get rid of an iron stain on clothes.

1. Soak the stained portion of clothing in the club soda and let it remain there a bit — five minutes or so. The longer you can wait, the better, but no need to wait to excess.

2. When ready, place an absorbent pad under the clothing. If you have nothing else, an old towel will work, too.

3. Begin blotting the stain from the outer part toward the center. These steps ensure the stain won’t spread while wet. Use an absorbent pad or color fast washcloth to do the blotting. Rinse the clothing in cold water and then, if machine washable, wash in the cold cycle.

Vinegar

You can either treat clothing the same as above if the club soda does not work, or if you have many clothes, try making a solution of one gallon of vinegar, two cups of salt and three gallons of water in a tub or sink. Distilled water may work best if your home water supply contains excessive iron. Let the clothes lay out overnight and wash in the morning with a heavy detergent.

Still Need Help?

Ultimately, if you are having issues with iron stains, there is too much iron in your water, and you will continue to have problems until you fix the source. Your best bet is to find a professional handyman or appliance repair professional in your area by searching through TalkLocal. They’re great at connecting people with the right local professionals for the job.

Tags: cleaning, iron stain on clothes, stain removal
Posted in Appliances Repair | No Comments »

Key Turns But Lock Doesn’t Open

Monday, March 18th, 2013

Some signs that a lock is not operating the way it should are obvious. For instance, if you insert your key into the lock, and the key turns but the lock doesn’t open, the lock is clearly busted. You might even find yourself locked out of the home or office in this situation, so remedying the problem quickly is important.

When the key turns but the lock doesn’t open, that indicates a number of potential problems. These issues could range from a locking mechanism that is in severe need of lubricant, to one that is completely broken and in need of repair or replacement.

Some of these are do-it-yourself projects, while others require the watchful eye of a skilled locksmith.

Locking mechanism is broken

Most likely in this situation, the locking mechanism is completely broken. You must remove the lockset and have it either replaced or repaired. Removing the lockset is relatively easy with the right tools

Other Lock Issues

Weather stripping throws off alignment. If your key turns and stops short of locking completely, bulky weather stripping around the door could be throwing off the door’s alignment. Either remove the weather stripping, or adjust the strike plate to accommodate the lock correctly.

Lockset in need of lubricant. If it takes a great amount of effort to turn the key, it might just be in need of some lubricant. Apply lubricant to the lock and see if it allows the key to move more smoothly.

Mortise cut incorrectly. You might be able to turn the key, but it stops short of its full range of motion. If this is the case, the lock’s mortise might not be deep enough. This issue can be settled simply by boring a deeper mortise.

Locksmiths Are A Few Clicks Away

If all else fails, locksmiths are generally accessible and can fix most problems quickly. At TalkLocal, we make finding a locksmith ultra-simple Just type information about your problem, and professionals will be calling you within minutes happy to assist.

Posted in Locksmiths | No Comments »

Leasing Vs. Buying A Car

Monday, March 18th, 2013

If you are ready to upgrade your vehicle and are lost in a sea of price options from dealerships, you may be considering the benefits of leasing vs. buying a car. Here is what you need to know before making that decision.

Buying

Leasing

Which Is Best?

Ultimately, you must consider which option is best for you and what fits your personal budget. Are you more concerned with owning a vehicle for a long period and possibly becoming debt-free for a while? Or, are you more interested in updating your vehicle every two or three years to keep up with technology and safety upgrades?

Risk of major repairs required for your vehicle should also be considered when analyzing leasing vs. buying a car. These will often not be needed until after the two- or three-year period and are another expense to consider. Additionally, it is a good idea to consider how much the vehicle will really depreciate in that time period. A vehicle is worth only what someone is willing to pay. It’s important to research depreciation rates to see if the amount you will pay in a lease is truly the depreciation value or if you are better off buying the vehicle and selling it yourself in two years.

Find Someone To Crunch The Numbers

If you are still unsure, it might be best to talk to a professional accountant about which option is best for your particular situation. TalkLocal can get you in touch with a professional in your area quickly, easily, and best of all, for free!

Posted in Accountants | No Comments »

DVD Drive Won’t Work After Windows 8 Install

Monday, March 18th, 2013

If you have noticed that your DVD drive won’t work after a Windows 8 install, you are certainly not alone. This is a very common issue that users are running into. Unfortunately, it is somewhat common for Windows not to recognize the CD/DVD drive following a Windows 8 install.

When you insert a CD or DVD into the drive, a window should pop up. If this does not happen, and the drive does not show up in File Explorer, that means that Windows 8 does not recognize the CD/DVD drive.

Here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue.

Check for the drive in BIOS

1. Access the computer’s BIOS to see if the drive is recognized there. To do this, first shut down your computer. When you power the computer back on press F10 right away to access the BIOS screen.

2. For a laptop, take the following path: System Configuration > Boot Options > Boot Order > Press Enter.

3. For a desktop: Storage > Device Configuration > Press Enter.

4. The absence of the CD/DVD drive on the BIOS page would indicate that you likely have an issue with your hardware.

Reset Computer’s Power

Occasionally, the drive’s communication with Windows drops out. You may have tried restarting the computer to no avail. Instead, try resetting the power completely. Shut down the computer, and once it is off, unplug the power cord to stop all power from entering.

Wait for a little bit, and reconnect the power cord (or laptop battery) and see if that resolves the issue.

For Desktop Owners

If you own a tower computer, the issue might lie in the physical connection between the CD/DVD drive and the software. Remove the side panel of your computer tower and locate the drive. Detach and reattach all of the cables to ensure that they are properly connected.

Find And Fix Problems

Windows 8 comes equipped with a program that troublehoots hardware issues. To access it, go to your control panel. There, under ‘System and Security’, click on ‘Find and fix problems’. Now, under ‘Hardware and Sound’ select ‘Configure a device’.

Let the program operate. It will bring to your attention any issues it finds and also provide a step-by-step process on how to resolve them.

Still Not Working?

Unfortunately, you can try seemingly every solution and still not fix the problem. That is when you turn to the computer repair professionals. Try finding help through TalkLocal. We know computer problems can be frustrating, but finding someone to fix them doesn’t have to be.

Posted in Computer Repair | 2 Comments »

Why Should I File A Copyright?

Monday, March 18th, 2013

You have worked hard on your creation and it is finally complete. Maybe it is the next Mona Lisa of its time. Maybe it’s the next Harry Potter series of the decade. Whatever it is, you are probably asking yourself, ‘Why should I file a copyright?’ The answer can be summed up in one word: Protection.

Countless people seek out attorneys to help them protect their intellectual property so that others cannot rip it off and benefit financially from that dastardly deed. Here is why you should protect yourself by filing a copyright.

Benefits of a copyright:

What can happen if you don’t file a copyright:

The question you should be asking yourself is not ‘Why should I file a copyright?’ but “How soon?!”

Seek Credible Legal Advice

A licensed professional attorney can provide the answers to all of your questions regarding copyrights. They can even help you determine if the work you created needs a copyright or is infringing on another’s copyright. The best way to get in touch with one of these professionals is through TalkLocal’s free web services. They will find the right attorney for you, in your area, quickly and easily.

Posted in Lawyers - Family | No Comments »

Install Storage Shelves At Home

Monday, March 18th, 2013

Just think of the superior organization you could maintain if you chose to install storage shelves at home. No more would items be strewn about the room, rather, they would be tucked neatly away on these newly-installed space savers.

Regardless of what type of shelves you are looking to install, the process pretty much remains the same. You will need a few simple tools, a little bit of your time, and some patience. The following steps and tips can help make it easier to setup shelves and utilize the space you do have in your home.

Seek A Lending Hand

Learning how to install storage shelves at home can greatly reduce clutter. If you feel that you do not have the time to accomplish this task by yourself, you can count on TalkLocal to connect you with businesses offering handyman services. We have streamlined the entire process to make it quick and easy.

Tags: organize, storage, storage shelves, storage shelves installation
Posted in Handyman | No Comments »

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