For decades mechanics have been telling us to change our oil every 3,000 miles. Interestingly, no automotive manufacturer agrees with this maintenance schedule – not in the last 20 years any way. So why are we being told to change our oil every 3,000 miles if it’s unnecessary?

First, let’s look at the auto industry’s argument. It makes 5 primary points.

1) Oil breaks down after 3000 miles

2) Oil changes are great preventative maintenance

3) 3,000 miles is an easy number for the car repair customer to remember

4) The 3,000 mile interval is traditionally viewed as best by mechanics

5) It’s necessary due to the elements, driving patterns, and weather conditions.

It’s important to note that those telling us to change our oil every 3,000 miles (the automotive industry) are the same folks who will profit most. This is not to say that oil changes aren’t important – they are. They’re just not as frequently needed as we’re made to believe.

Here are the 5 truths about the 3,000 mile oil change

1) Quality motor oil recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer does not break down after 3,000 miles

2) Yes, changing your oil is great preventative maintenance, but it needs to be done in accordance with manufacturer service intervals

3) The easy-to-remember 3,000-mile interval actually creates more confusion as to the real maintenance needs of your vehicle. Thus, it is easier to follow factory guidelines, more economical, and more appropriate.

4) The traditional view that 3,000 miles is best for your car is old school, wasteful, and fails to appreciate today’s mechanical and oil technologies

5) Unless you’re in a constant high-speed police change in the dead of winter – your oil will be just fine

How often do you really need to change your oil? While it depends on the year, make, and model of your vehicle, it’s clear that for today’s vehicles it’s not every 3,000 miles. 20 years ago this was true of many vehicles. However, this is virtually obsolete as most vehicle have 5,000, 7500, 10,000, and even 15,000 mile oil service intervals.

So just what is motivating the auto industry to push 3,000 mile oil changes? Let’s look at it in real life. If you change your oil every 3,000 miles, and like most, you average 15,000 miles per year, then you’ll be in the repair shop 5 times in only 12 months. Do you really need to perform maintenance on your car 5 times per year? Seems excessive doesn’t it?

The average oil change price is $30.00. $30.00 X 5 = $150.00. If you changed your oil every 5,000 miles, you’d only need 3 oil changes per year = $90. That’s a $60 savings.

For the most part oil changes are cheap, as it’s a very competitive market. They’re also not very profitable for repair shops (see the article “Why an Oil Change is Never Just an Oil Change @ RepairTrust.com). However, the more times your vehicle is in the shop, the more chances said

shop has the opportunity to sell you something else – an alignment, tires, wiper blades, brakes, shocks, fuel cleaning services, transmission services…etc – these are money-makers. This is not to say that these services aren’t needed, but they should be performed according to manufacturer guidelines only.

A detailed manufacturer’s maintenance schedule (this is separate from your manual) is the best and most accurate guide. You may stumble across one in all the unnecessary paperwork you find in your glove box, but ask your repair shop or dealer for a detailed print out of your entire maintenance schedule. If the service center can’t produce one quickly – you’re in the wrong place for your car’s needs.

Finally, have a little fun: the next time your local mechanic tells you to change your oil every 3,000 miles, ask him what the manufacturer recommends. It’s fun to watch him stumble through the answer or tell you, straight-faced, the wrong answer.



By: Theodore Olson

About the Author:

Do you desire a carefree sort of living situation in which immovable walls and preset distinctive rooms do not define your space for you? Do you feel the need to have every aspect of your life set into a pattern? Do you crave the wide-open floor plans of a loft style apartment, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows revealing a full, panoramic view, or do you prefer the structured living style of a more traditional apartment? If you’re unsure of the direction that your living arrangements are heading, continue reading to hear the best (and worst) of loft-style and traditional apartments.

To sum it up, a traditional apartment has definitive rooms separated by floor-to-ceiling walls and accessible through doorways with or without a door. The square footage of such a home varies upon the number of rooms, such as a one or two bedroom with or without a den or office. Bathrooms are always separate and are not included in the overall square footage.

On the other hand, a classic loft-style apartment is one grand space with an average living space of 1,000 to 2,000 square feet. High ceilings (with windows to match), worn wooden floors and exposed building elements such as brick, pipes, beams and duct-work with cavernous spaces beyond the reach of the average resident are just a few of the aspects that lure tenants to the city-life, industrial-chic abode.

The historic Soho district of New York City is the proud address of the creation of the loft apartment. Stuck with large manufacturing buildings that couldn’t support modern technology, the building owners of the 1950′s risked losing everything if these colossal buildings remained unoccupied. The art community of the area was struggling to find affordable studio space that was large enough to house their apparatus and spread it out so the atmosphere could compliment that necessary of an artist. The combined efforts lead to the loft-housing boom, as the artists couldn’t afford both an apartment and a studio to work. A series of pulleys and trap doors were installed to hide any domicile items of the resident when a nosey landlord would come around, as it was slightly illegal to live in such a building.

Even though the classic loft apartment is converted from an old manufacturing or warehouse building, more and more contractors are actually meeting the growing demand of loft apartments by creating these buildings from the ground up. These new-fangled reproductions are referred to as “hybrids”.

Both a traditional and loft apartment come in different shapes and attributes, with or without fireplaces and such details. Secured video entry, in-house fitness center and a pool are a just a few of the luxury items that may or may not come with your apartment, no matter which style you choose.



By: Maria Hayden

About the Author:

All types of cats and no matter if they\’re purebred or not make wonderful feline companions. If you have your heart set on getting a purebred cat; below are some of the popular breeds you might want to consider. Some people might be surprised to know that you can find purebred cats and kittens in your local rescue centre. If you\’re looking for a specific breed you might want to call or go by the local rescue centre before looking for a breeder.

British Short Hair

 British short hair cats are one of the oldest English breeds of cats and their ancestry can be traced back to Rome. This breed was first known for its hunting ability due to its physical strength. However, this breed is equally recognized for its calm demeanor and loyalty.

 The British short hair has a short plush coat that is very soft and easy to groom. These cats are larger in size and they prefer to stay on the ground. They make great family pets and are very loyal companions. The original colour of these cats was a grayish blue now you can find these lovable animals in a variety of colours.

 Birman

Birman cats are believed to have originated in Burma and they were considered sacred animals and belonged to the high priests. It is believed that this breed was established in the Western world around 1925. These cats are lovable companions and had very distinctive markings.

Birman cats are usually large long and stocky. They have long silky hair but it is not as thick as the Persian cat and does not mat easily. Their coat is usually light in colour with a golden cast. The points on the face, legs and tail are darker and are similar to the Siamese. They have big broad blue eyes and a strong looking face. The one distinctive thing about the Birman cat that makes them stand out from the others is their very distinctive white feet. These cats have great personalities which make them good family pets and companions.

 Burmese

 Burmese cats get their distinctive colors from selective breeding to Siamese cats. They come in a variety of different colours including stable, champagne, blue and platinum. Their coats are very short and had a silk-like texture which means they need little grooming. Burmese cats are compact and have rounder heads and large expressive eyes.

 These cats are quite lively and like to play even when they are adults. Burmese cats are very intelligent and they each seem to have their own distinct personality. Some people say they have dog-like tendencies because they like to shadow their owner and have a desire to give and receive affection. They love to be around people and our great companions.

 Persian Long Hair

 Persians were named for the country they originated in and their heritage is said to be traced back to 1600 B.C. but no one knows their exact beginnings. They have long flowing coats and very distinctive faces which make them a very popular breed. Persians are sweet and gentle and fit well in any family. They have short heavy legs to support their broad short bodies and like to have their feet firmly planted on the ground. They are not into climbing and jumping. They can be playful but like to lounge around in their favorite chair or a window.

 Persians should be kept indoors due to their long flowing coats. They are high maintenance as far as grooming is concerned. They need to be combed daily to eliminate tangles and hairballs. When most people think of the Persian cat they think of the colour white but actually Persians come in and array of colors including solid colors, , tabby and bicolor.

 These cats can easily live to be 20 years old with proper care and annual visits to the veterinarian. They are beautiful cats to look at and their gentle nature also makes them ideal for any type of family.

 These are just a few of the more popular breeds that work well with families. There are many more types of purebred cats that are just as friendly and popular as those mentioned above including the Manx and the Siamese cat. Purebred cats can be expensive and you need to make sure that they had the proper nutrition and are kept healthy. This can be done by keeping them indoors and taking them annually to your veterinarian.

 To make sure your purebred cat stays healthy and will enjoy a long life, you might want to consider getting cat insurance incase their will be unforeseen medical expenses in the years to come. You have health insurance on the rest of your family and for peace of mind you might want to get cat insurance on your feline companion.



By: Karen Corey

About the Author:

Many gardeners have given up on the idea of a garden because they lack space, time or lots of experience. But if growing plants is an interest of yours container gardening could be your answer. Container gardens will allow you to enjoy “playing in the dirt” without investing a lot of time or money. You can get very creative in container gardening using vegetables, decorative grasses or flowers and herbs. You can plant a container garden with any plant that would grow outside. The trick is to come up with some creative ideas for your container garden.

You should do some research at your local nursery or on the internet to choose the plants you wish to grow to help you come up with some ideas. Try to use plants that complement each other and have the same basic needs for water, air and light.

A container garden idea that has taken off recently is the landscape container. Some people plant a simple evergreen tree in a container with good drainage to place at their front door. Or you could plant an assortment of flowers for a bright and beautiful vista. If you do plant flowers, add plants that spill over the sides of the container to add more visuals and interest. What ever container gardening idea you can come up with can be placed on a deck, patio, and balcony or by the front doors. Put them somewhere that your family and friends can enjoy.

You can grow vegetables in containers but choose wisely. Vegetables like squash and pole beans need lots of space, while tomatoes need a deep pot. When you grow your own vegetables you will have tasty produce not the bland stuff that is in the grocery store. Nothing tastes better than a tomato right off the vine. There are many chefs and good home cooks that grow their own for just this reason. Don’t forget to pot some herbs, they are pretty plants and add zest to your meals.

But don’t just stick to vegetables and herbs; why not add fruit trees too? Instead of using an evergreen tree, pot a fruit tree instead. There are many dwarf varieties available that work best in pots since with pots there is less soil therefore less nutrients to draw from. If you live in a year round warm climate citrus trees are perfect. In other regions, stick to pear, apple and cherry trees. Another good container gardening idea is to grow strawberries. With strawberries climate does not matter since you can bring the container inside. Fresh strawberries are amazingly sweet and delicious. Imagine how good a bowl of fresh strawberries will be, strawberries that you have just picked.

Remember that container gardens dry out more quickly than traditional gardens. Be diligent about watering your plants if you don’t want your container gardening ideas to wither and die. Container gardens must be fertilized too. Keep a small notebook handy so you can write down the needs of your plant so you will always know when to water or feed. Keep an eye out for pests. If you find a container that has an infestation, isolate it immediately and treat it with a natural pesticide. You don’t want harsh chemicals on fruits, vegetables or herbs. A good natural pesticide recipe is:

In a jar, combine 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup vegetable oil. Shake vigorously. In an empty spray bottle, combine 2 teaspoons of this mixture and 1 cup water. Use at ten-day intervals (or more often if needed) to rid plants of whiteflies, mites, aphids, scales, and other pests.

 

So, do some research, come up with your own unique container gardening ideas, gather your materials and get to work. The fruits of your labor will be amazing.

Happy Container Gardening!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.



By: Mary Hanna

About the Author:

Hello, I’m Julius Briner from the University of Berlin in Germany and this article is a primer into building a 3 Tier Architecture in .NET

In this article we are going to look at the simple steps on how to create a 3 tier architecture application in .NET.

Basically three tier architecture needs to 3 distinct layers to be created.

1. UI Layer –  All you UI related stuffs like pages, user controls, CSS and java scripts will go into this.

2. Business Layer – All business rules are performed here.

3. Data Access Layer – All data access code like connecting to database and getting the details are done here.

In this example we will build a simple Employee Application.  The following layers are described as follows:

 

1. Employee.cs

a. This is a base class. Whenever we need to pass and get the employee details, we will be using this class.

2. EmployeeCollection.cs

a. This class is inherited from Collection which will hold the collection of Employee objects.

 

For this project I built the application using VS2005 and ASP.NET 2.0. Make sure you have Web Project Template installed in your machine else, you won’t be able to open this application.

I have attached the demo application of 3 tiers. You can just download it and how a look how exactly we can implement the 3 tier architecture in the projects.

This is basic for n-tier architecture need to think more when you design your project on how to implement the tiered architecture.

 

The example can be downloaded at the following site    http://www.codeproject.com/KB/aspnet/

 

 

Source: Julius Briner, Berlin, Germany

 



By: Julius Briner

About the Author: