Jim's Articles

Month: June 2019

Professional roofers for all repairs

Posted on by Marie Poppins

Lets talk about Roofing contractor in Colorado Springs. The cost of roof replacement on your home or business is second only to the cost of buying the building itself. That’s why roof maintenance is critical. Simple maintenance and prevention can extend the life of your roof and prevent costly replacement before its time.

A key piece of advice when it comes to maintaining a shingle roof is to wash it. At some point, your roof will start to look dirty, with long, dark streaks flowing from peak to eave. This is algae growing on your house. Algae won’t cause any immediate damage, but if you leave it long enough it can slowly rot your shingles. To get rid of these little plant-like critters, spray your roof with a 50 percent mix of water and bleach. The bleach will kill the algae fairly quickly, but you’ll also want to install copper strips just beneath your roof’s peak. When it rains, the copper molecules will stream down your roof, killing any algae fixing for a comeback.

Leaves are easy to remove and there’s no excuse to have them on your roof. Leaves collecting in roof valleys or near the chimney will collect and retain moisture, something you don’t want for your roof’s lifespan—not to mention your house beneath it. Clear the leaves off with a leaf rake or leaf blower, and again, make sure a friend is spotting you from the ground below. There are some jobs that are best left to the professionals, and in this case, it’s an annual roof inspection. While there are definitely things you can do on your own to maintain your roof, like check for obvious physical damage, clean your gutters and keep debris off of your roof, there are other aspects of a roof that to an untrained eye can go amiss. A professional roof inspector will be certified in certain tests and examinations of your roof that can detect underlying damages. You can hire an inspector by calling your trusted, local roofing company, searching online for certified inspectors, or even asking your friends and family who they use. See extra info at Replacing your roof in Colorado Springs.

Migrating from Drupal 7 to Drupal 8

Posted on by Marian Vasilescu

Migrating a website script version is one of the highest risk task a webmaster has to deal with when managing a website. Drupal 8 Upgrade? Here is a small guide with various details. Let’s start with general info : How to see the NID of a node. If the node is in ‘edit’ mode, you can see the nid in the URL. (A node, in case you’re wondering, is a page like an article or a forum posting. You can design what fields it has and how they is displayed. Typically a node will consist of a heading, some body text, maybe an image, etc. Drupal assigns two URL addresses to each node, a human-friendly one made of words, and a nid, or node id.)

First of all, make a list of all the contributed modules on your current website. Next, check whether these modules have a Drupal 8 compatible version. In case of unavailability of the Drupal 8 version, the migration process will suffer. Fortunately, Drupal 8 has come a long way and many of the major modules now do support Drupal 8. You can check all the available update paths through the Migrate UI modules. Though not yet perfect, the upgrade procedure in Drupal has come quite a long way. As you can see in this tutorial, the upgrade process is now very streamlined and is an integral part of the Drupal Core. If you liked this blog post, then give a read to another blog post by us on, How To Update Drupal 8 Core.

If you’re importing data from a non-Drupal datastore, start with Set up Migrate Demo Site and Source Data . We’ll walk through the process of connecting the migrate system to an external data source, writing custom migration paths, using custom process plugins to transform data during import, and best practices for executing your custom migrations. We’ll primarily look at using an external MySQL database as our data source, but the techniques learned will apply to any data source. We’ll also discuss how to extract data from CSV, JSON, and XML sources.

Update your site to the latest version of Drupal 6 (core and contributed modules). Before upgrading to Drupal 7, disable and uninstall modules you know you won’t be using in the new site. To help determine which modules to uninstall, you could review the list of modules included in the distribution, which often are found in the download in the directory profiles/[distribution_name]/modules. If a given module is not in the distribution and you don’t foresee needing its functionality on your new site, you may choose to uninstall it.

The steps above outline how to get a distribution minimally installed on an existing site. But you’ll still have a lot of work to do to reconcile your existing site content and structure with what has been created by the distribution. Here are a few tips to get you started–but you should begin with the assumption that there will be lots more you’ll discover and need to fix. Roles. Many distributions will create one or more custom roles. Examples include contributor, editor, and administrator. If any of these roughly correspond to existing roles on your site, delete the roles created by the distribution and rename the existing ones to use the distribution role names. For example, if your site has a role called “site administrator” and the distribution has created a role called “administrator”, delete the newly created “administrator” role and rename “site administrator” to “administrator”. After adjusting the role names, visit admin/config/people/accounts, ensure the “administrator” role is selected as the “Administrator role”, and save the form. Consolidating the roles in this way will get you the functionality of the distribution’s roles and permissions while maintaining your existing users’ role allocations. Read extra info on Upgrading to Drupal 8.

Foundation repair advices

Posted on by Amelia Whitehart

Searching for a foundation contractor in Colorado? You have been putting off calling the foundation repair company even though you’re pretty sure something is wrong with your the structure of your home. Maybe you see cracks in the walls that are getting bigger, or the doors are sticking, or maybe the floors are un-level. But who do you call? If you’re like most homeowners, you really don’t know too much about foundation repair, but you want an honest company.

These inspections should be conducted both inside the home (within the basement) and along all exterior surfaces of the foundation. In order to make absolutely sure your foundation is in the best possible condition, a professional should be the one to conduct the investigation of your foundation and assess the situation. By hiring a professional you are guaranteed a thorough investigation of your foundation. A professional has comprehensive knowledge of what your home foundation repair needs. They will not only fix the problem but give your home a stronger support system.

After the foundation of a house is built, the loose soil is back-filled around the foundation and can sometimes allow water seepage into your basement. As years pass by, this soil can also expand, placing pressure on the foundation and causing problems for the home. Foundation repair companies like the one we will present below, have developed several methods for solving these issues, thereby restoring both price and safety to your home.

We design world class Solutions for our customers. However, these Solutions still need to be looked at and verified by an engineer. We hire third-party engineers who are independent from our firm. Their professional confirmation helps to put your mind at ease and insures that our foundation repair solutions are appropriate for your home’s unique circumstances, whether it’s situated in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, or Denver. See extra details at Colorado contractor fully licensed and insured.

Don’t worry – we aren’t going to expose you to a grueling sales pitch; we’re simply going to be transparent with the cause of your foundation problems and offer you various options for foundation repair. Ultimately, we can only advise you on the best, most cost-effective repairs which maintain your home’s structural integrity.

Divorce support website

Posted on by Patrick Moreau

Divorce is a very serious process and nobody should get through it alone. Do you need divorce support? Actively engage in activities that will generate joy and/improve your self-esteem. “In the months during and after my divorce, I ran my first half marathon, traveled, enrolled in a wilderness basics course, backpacked, and went dancing at least once a month. I did these things even when I didn’t want to, even when I felt low and wanted to crawl into bed. Slowly, with time, I regained my confidence, self-respect, and self-love.”

You are going to need your own money for a divorce. You will have to be able to maintain yourself and your children for a while if you are dependent on your spouse as your spouse may decide to cut off support suddenly. You will also probably need funds to hire a lawyer. If there is any way to start a separate account to guard against future financial contingencies, now is the time to do it. If you have to borrow money from a relative or friend, be sure to sign a promissory note so the court will look at this as a loan that you have to repay and not as a gift.

People who treat their divorce like a business transaction, and to the extent possible, control their emotions so their decisions are based on their best interests and not their hurt feelings, fare much better. For instance, some people might argue endlessly over values of certain assets, when in reality, if they just compromised they would save in attorney’s fees and time. Sometimes people do prioritize what is most important and spend time and energy arguing over assets that might not have a significant value while ignoring the more valuable parts of the marital estate. Sometimes people get hung up over how something is characterized — for example, they might agree to a one-time cash payment to their spouse but balk if that same payment is labeled “attorney’s fees.” Taking a step back, looking at the big picture, and understanding the cost of fighting as well as potential risks and rewards will serve anyone well during a divorce.

Work together with a divorce financial planner or tax accountant to minimize the total taxes you and your spouse will pay during separation and after divorce; you can share the money you save. Don’t forget that both spouses are liable for taxes due as a result of audits on joint returns, so it’s usually in your best interest to work together and minimize possible liabilities. If you’re facing complicated tax issues in your divorce, it’s best to consult with an experienced family law attorney and an accountant. Divorcing spouses usually underestimate living expenses when they produce their initial budget for temporary alimony (also referred to as “maintenance”), and later find that they aren’t able to cover all of their bills. Use a financial professional to help you produce an accurate and complete budget.

What makes us different is our philosophy. We believe that good can and should come out of any situation, particularly divorce. DreamsRecycled is founded on this principle. DreamsRecycled.com was launched after my own divorce and is therefore the quintessential making lemonade out of lemons story. What started out as the only marketplace in the world specializing in divorce items, has grown into “The Ultimate Divorce Resource”. We added a great blog area where our community can find practical information on all aspects of divorce, from 150 expert bloggers. Next, we gave our users what they had been asking for their very own social media area, here they can connect with other like-minded individuals, get support, make new friends, network and even date! We filled our directory with great secondary divorce services providers as we realize that navigating your divorce alone can be hard work. We believe that DreamsRecycled is the biggest, most comprehensive website for the divorce community. See extra info at Divorce community.

Handyman in Charleston and Goose Creek,SC

Posted on by Marie Poppins

Handyman in Charleston and West Ashley,SC gives a few tips about home repair. Make sure that you protective covers on floors and over any items of furniture to limit any damage that may be caused. Any floor coverings that are used will need to be secured to stop any movement or trip hazards that could result in injury. Make people aware that you are there by cordoning of the area to prevent people from entering.

Sometimes a house reveals little quirks only after you’ve lived in them for years. I was surprised to find stripped screw holes in a part of the house one afternoon, so I decided to fix the problem with a toothpick. Yes, just insert a toothpick to fill the hole and screw whatever it is you need to screw onto it. This prevents the hole from creating more cracks when taking in more screwing!

If you’ve ever spent anytime painting, you’ll know that taking the time to lay some painter’s tape before applying color will make your final product look professional and clean. But you can also use this trick for anytime you need to lay down some fresh caulk. But remember that, with caulk, you’ll need to pull the tape up before it dries, unlike with paint. Eventually faucet heads will start to show a reduced flow and may even begin to release water in an uneven spray. This is caused by buildup of tiny grains of sand or other mineral deposits that gum up the aerator—or mesh screen—at the tip of the faucet. Wrap some tape around the aerator to protect it and then twist off (lefty loosey, righty tighty!). Wash out debris and then let it soak in vinegar for about an hour. Scrub it clean and then reassemble.

Check your locks and seals, Open and close all windows and doors. When you secure the lock, is there any gap between the seals? A good way to check is to trap a $1 bill between the seals, lock it, and then try to pull the bill out. If it slips out easily, there’s enough of a gap to leak the heat out, and you may need to either replace the lock or the seals. To tell which part is the problem, firmly grab the handle and try to wiggle the door or window in its frame. If it moves, you may need to replace the locks, which should be tasked to a professional windows and doors fitting company. Note: you can also use the $1 bill method on your fridge to check if the seal has loosened over time!

We offer a full range of services to ensure your home is in good shape. We offer you professional handymen services, at an affordable price. We take pride in ensuring they offer top quality service the first time. Whether you need help with an out-of-place floor board, drywall repair, fixing a deck, or painting a room, we are only a phone call away from offering you the assistance you need. See more info at Charleston Handyman.

Cracked screen repair tips

Posted on by Marie Poppins

Cracked screen repair tips and other mobile phones tips and tricks. Many sites will also give you credit for buying a used phone when you trade yours in. You’ll probably get a better deal if you take credit instead of cash, so keep that in mind. With cash raised, check the web’s most popular online stores for a replacement. The best places to start are eBay and Amazon. You may even find a version of your own phone in used, but otherwise good condition. Just pay attention to the item description. You don’t want to end up buying a damaged phone!

First, assess the damage, and that means getting your phone on a solid surface and in a good light, not just giving it a quick once-over before stuffing it back in your pocket. With a little bit of stress testing and careful prodding you should be able to work out whether the screen is about to fall off or fail completely. In a lot of cases it will stay in place, cracks and all, so you can at least keep tweeting, so long as the screen is still visible and functioning. Finally, unless you’re already accomplished at repairing modern solid-state electronics, you probably lack the specialized tools you’ll need for the job. Luckily, iFixit sells a handy kit that includes pretty much everything you’ll need, with the possible exception of their iOpener, a tube you heat up and apply to the phone to soften its adhesives.

If you are enrolled in a device protection program with your phone company, you may make an insurance claim to have it fixed by a contracted technician. Verizon, for example, contracts from Asurion, which can get your phone fixed within one business day. Otherwise, a quick Internet search should give you a list of phone screen repair stores around your area. The Huffington Post called a repair store in Manhattan for an estimate and learned that the work would take exactly 25 minutes and cost over $100. Just make sure your phone is protected by a password before you hand it off to a stranger.

Toothpaste gives you nice breath AND hides the scratches on your phone. This method can fix a small scratch, or at least hide it. Put a tiny bit of toothpaste on a cotton bud and rub it on the scratch, making sure it doesn’t find its way into headphone sockets, buttons or other vulnerable parts of your device. It will make your phone minty fresh, although it won’t restore it to mint condition. But this is amateur stuff, i recommend to see a professional. Read extra info at Cracked screen repair tips.