Well, OK, that was a few days ago. But I’m still glad it’s here. A lot of crazy things have happened in the last year and it only looks like it will get crazier.

Let’s see, we’ve currently got the Israelis whupping up on Hamas. That’s a crazy situation. Sad, but crazy. I’m all for peace, but if someone kept lobbing rockets at my house, I’d eventually say, “ENOUGH!”

Not long ago, OJ Simpson was sentenced for armed robbery and kidnapping. He say’s with a weepy voice, “I never wanted to hurt anyone. (sniff, sniff)” Wonder what planet he’s been living on? Oh now I remember, it’s that planet where gloves don’t fit…

Next up, we’ll have Obama’s signing in to the Presidential office. That’s going to be an interesting administration. Eventually he’s going to have to really formulate plans rather than just talk generalities. I am surprised that he’s letting Hillary into the inner circle. Not because of her; but because now he’s going to have to keep kicking Bill off his trouser cuffs. The man from Hope doesn’t have it in his nature not to be in control.

But I digress; I’ve been writing about different topics lately knowing that most folks won’t be selling their homes and moving, but rather doing some home repair when they get that tax rebate or the next stimulus package package.

I think the smart money will go to taking energy conservation measures, and in many cases, it’s a case of taking a few smaller steps to lower utility bills rather than one big one.

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I finally got so many requests for a definition of the 3-4-5 rule that I quote so often in the lay-out part of many of my articles that I decided to post an article on it.

Other trades use it as well, but we carpenters depend on it like we do our 4 foot levels. The 3-4-5 rule is really just a practical extension of the Pythagorean theorem.

We use it when laying out post holes for a backyard deck (you know you want one), building a concrete form, or laying a finish floor.

What did Pythagoras have in mind when he published his mathematical proofs? Legend tells us that being a mathematician and philosopher, he considered this to be a huge deal. So much that he sacrificed some oxen to the Gods. I’m glad we don’t do that now!

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Anyhow, this is a basic thing for you to know before you build anything. The results are accurate, no expensive equipment is needed, and recall that all finish work rests solely on the shoulders of the prep work. So say I.

I Can Fix Up My Home Logo

I’ve just received a DeWalt Track Saw from one of their PR reps to review here on the Tools and Woodworking page at my site.

First I have to test it out and put it through its paces. I’m also going to write it up on my Suite101.com Home Improvement page. The concept of this tool is pretty innovative. It seems it can do the work of both a circular saw and a table saw as well as being portable enough to haul around to any part of the house or to any work site.

Of course, nothing like this was available when I was out in the field as a carpenter, which made set up for finish work all that much more difficult.

There were no airless nail guns either. And we had to walk ten miles to school every day. In the snow. Both ways. Everyday

So here’s the deal: in an effort to get as much information as possible regarding the Track Saw, please email me at admin@icanfixupmyhome.com with opinions, pros and cons, etc., if you have experience with this tool.

Thanks in advance for your help and go here to read free home improvement and repair articles!

Dripless Caulk Gun

Lots of folks cringe at the thought of caulking their DIY projects, whether it’s exterior trim, bathroom remodeling, etc. But believe me, you can caulk like a pro if you follow a few simple rules and put in the effort. The first, and most important thing, is to buy a high-quality, dripless caulking gun. Will you pay more? Sure, but it’s worth it.

“Dripless” simply means that the caulk will stop oozing out the second you take your finger off the trigger. Nobody needs that headache, especially if you’re working on a ladder or in a tight corner. The gun should have a swing-out “wire” for puncturing the tube seal and a cutter for snipping the nozzle.

Ready for some tips?

• Know in advance if the project needs paintable caulk or not.
• Cut the nozzle off at the size appropriate for the bead.
• Avoid stops and starts. Lay a bead for as long as you can reach comfortably.
• Apply the minimum size bead. You’ll save money and have fewer problems.
• Gently smooth the bead with a wet fingertip.

Follow these tips faithfully and you’ll be caulking like a pro in no time rather than cursing like a sailor!

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Bamboo is a Green, Sustainable Building Material

Bamboo is fast becoming one of the hottest green flooring materials. Why green? There are at least two reasons. First and foremost, it’s sustainable.

If you’ve ever had any in your backyard, you know how hard it is to contain. Even worse if you don’t want it, but it’s an under-the-fence gift from a neighbor!

Yes, I know there are non-spreading varieties. But the point is, compare the renew rate to hardwood. The second green building aspect of bamboo is that it’s a natural product.

Carpet usually has a lot of synthetics in it, and that means petrochemicals and gas-off issues. Formaldehyde may also be an ingredient. Yuck.

There’s a variety of choices for installing bamboo flooring. It requires a dry floor and a membrane or layer of felt. Other than that, it can be nailed, glued, or installed like floating laminate floors. There’s something for whatever kind of subfloor you have!

The Energy Star Label

I made a change on the site the other day. As the body of articles continues to grow, I’ve been stumbling over some articles that “kind of” fit into the electric article category, and “kind of” don’t.

The solution? I rolled out another category called Green Building & Energy Efficiency. I think about that energy thing every time I get my monthly electricity bill. Granted, it’s not as bad as some folks, but it makes me cringe anyway.

Even though prices at the gas pump have been dropping, the peak that they hit over the summer serves as a wake-up call if you ask me. Don’t be fooled; they will rise again. Speaking of pumping gas, here’s some tips:

• Buy gas early in the morning when the temperature is cooler. Gasoline is a volatile hydrocarbon. It’s also subject to the laws of physics. When it’s cool, it contracts. There’s more to a compact gallon, at least as far as the pump is concerned.
• Don’t buy gas when or soon after that big tanker truck is filling the underground tanks. There is always some junk in those tanks and filling them up stirs it up. You don’t need to put it in your tank.

Speaking of energy efficiency, I posted an article on spray foam insulation from soy beans. No, I’m not jesting you. It comes in both open-cell and closed-cell forms and it’s very efficient. What will they think of next?

Well, December is here and that means Christmas will soon be upon us. Since it is a new month, I figured it’s as good a time as any to bite the bullet and move the ICFUMH blog to the WordPress platform. Been meaning to do it for a while now.

Why? To automate the process. I’ve been doing it all manually forever and it’s just too time consuming. Not that I’m lazy, I’ve just got too much work to do. The old blog is still available and I might look into migrating the posts over here if I get the time and/or the inclination.

For example, I just finished up ghostwriting a batch of sports nutrition articles for a client who has a motocross site. Also, during November I posted a lot of articles over at my home renovation and repair feature page at Suite101.com.

What else? Writing about great DIY Christmas gifts. I have gotten requests from significant others for suggestions for hand tool Christmas presents for the target DIYer.

But what will happen with this holiday shopping season is pretty much a mystery at this point. I mean, the taxpayers bailed out the financial sector and they’re withholding credit and jacking up the rate on existing credit.

The coming New Year will bring a lot of changes with President-elect Obama and his new cabinet. Can’t wait.