The OwnerIQ Blog http://blog.owneriq.net Get the most out of the products you own Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:22:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 en Dealing with a Home Kitchen Fire http://blog.owneriq.net/dealing-with-a-home-kitchen-fire.html http://blog.owneriq.net/dealing-with-a-home-kitchen-fire.html#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:21:51 +0000 amabley http://blog.owneriq.net/dealing-with-a-home-kitchen-fire.html Oven FireAccording to the U.S. Fire Administration, in 2008 there were over 1.5 million fires in the USA and almost 2800 civilians lost their lives in home fires that year. As well, it is estimated that approximately two thirds of the fires in a home start in the kitchen. (more…)

]]> http://blog.owneriq.net/dealing-with-a-home-kitchen-fire.html/feed Stay in Touch with Walkie-Talkies http://blog.owneriq.net/stay-in-touch-with-walkie-talkies.html http://blog.owneriq.net/stay-in-touch-with-walkie-talkies.html#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:28:21 +0000 amabley http://blog.owneriq.net/stay-in-touch-with-walkie-talkies.html Walkie TalkieWhether you’re hiking, bicycling, camping, or at an event, walkie-talkies (two-way radios) enable you to inexpensively stay in touch with friends and family. Unlike cell phones, two-way radios do not operate on a network, so you don’t have to worry about picking up a signal or experiencing dropped calls. Communicating is free with walkie-talkies-another advantage over cell phones. (more…)

]]> http://blog.owneriq.net/stay-in-touch-with-walkie-talkies.html/feed Cell Phone Gaming http://blog.owneriq.net/cell-phone-gaming.html http://blog.owneriq.net/cell-phone-gaming.html#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:37:45 +0000 amabley http://blog.owneriq.net/cell-phone-gaming.html Cell Phone GameCell phones and the features they offer have come a long way in just a few years. Initially people were happy just to be able to talk without being constrained by telephone wires and cables; however, expectations grew and people began demanding more from their phones. Manufacturers responded by adding more and more functionality and now on most cell phones you can talk, take and transmit pictures, send text messages, surf the net and play games. (more…)

]]> http://blog.owneriq.net/cell-phone-gaming.html/feed Understanding Home Soldering Irons http://blog.owneriq.net/understanding-home-soldering-irons.html http://blog.owneriq.net/understanding-home-soldering-irons.html#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:07:08 +0000 amabley http://blog.owneriq.net/understanding-home-soldering-irons.html You may think a soldering iron is a single purpose tool only used to solder electrical connections and circuit boards. However, a home soldering iron is actually a handy little device you can use for lots of little jobs around the house. For example, besides electronic work, you can use a soldering iron to create crafts or small sculptures from metal, use it to burn designs into wood, ‘weld’ pieces of plastic together, cut foam into decorations or even make jewelry with metals other than gold and silver. (more…)

]]> http://blog.owneriq.net/understanding-home-soldering-irons.html/feed Recall by Sony on Computer AC Adapters: Shock Hazard http://blog.owneriq.net/recall-by-sony-on-computer-ac-adapters-shock-hazard.html http://blog.owneriq.net/recall-by-sony-on-computer-ac-adapters-shock-hazard.html#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:24:00 +0000 amabley http://blog.owneriq.net/recall-by-sony-on-computer-ac-adapters-shock-hazard.html new recall iconName of Product: Sony VAIO Computer AC AdaptersUnits: About 69,000

Manufacturer: Sony Electronics Inc. of San Diego, Calif.

Hazard: Insulation inside the AC adapter can fail over time, posing an electrical shock hazard to consumers. (more…)

]]> http://blog.owneriq.net/recall-by-sony-on-computer-ac-adapters-shock-hazard.html/feed EPA Raises the Bar for Energy Star Televisions http://blog.owneriq.net/epa-raises-the-bar-for-energy-star-televisions.html http://blog.owneriq.net/epa-raises-the-bar-for-energy-star-televisions.html#comments Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:17:31 +0000 amabley http://blog.owneriq.net/epa-raises-the-bar-for-energy-star-televisions.html Energy Star TVAccording to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy, here are about 275 million TVs currently in use in the U.S., consuming over 50 billion kWh of energy each year - or 4 percent of all households’ electricity use. This is enough electricity to power all the homes in the state of New York for an entire year.

The Environmental Protection Agency has revised the qualifications for televisions to achieve the Energy Star label, requiring TVs to be 40 percent more energy efficient than conventional models. (more…)

]]> http://blog.owneriq.net/epa-raises-the-bar-for-energy-star-televisions.html/feed Ideas for a Safe and Healthy Halloween http://blog.owneriq.net/ideas-for-a-safe-and-healthy-halloween.html http://blog.owneriq.net/ideas-for-a-safe-and-healthy-halloween.html#comments Sat, 24 Oct 2009 18:03:09 +0000 amabley http://blog.owneriq.net/ideas-for-a-safe-and-healthy-halloween.html

Kids HalloweenHalloween’s almost here! To help you prepare, this article offers safety tips, candy substitutes, and fun alternatives to trick-or-treating.

Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treating
Here are just a few of the many safety tips for Halloween:

  • Increase your child’s visibility by adding reflective tape to her costume and bag. Choose a white or other lightly colored bag for treats. Also give your child a flashlight to carry, so he will be seen.
  • Keep costumes short to prevent tripping. Make sure the eye holes of masks are big enough to see through. Since masks have the potential to move, consider painting your child’s face instead. When selecting costume accessories like pretend swords, choose soft and flexible products.
  • Be sure to remind your child to walk from house to house, not run. And, only let him go to houses that are known and well lit.
  • Always have an adult or trusted teenager go trick or treating with your child.

Fun Alternatives for Trick-or-Treating
Children can still fill up their treat bags without going door to door. Consider these fun activities:

Malls
Contact your local mall. They may have a time scheduled for kids to come in and collect treats from all the stores. You won’t have to worry about automobiles or bundling up your children for a chilly October night.

Neighborhood Halloween Parties
Organize a party for the kids in your neighborhood. You can set up fun games like bobbing for apples or Halloween bingo. You can set up a trick-or-treating time in your neighborhood. Ask trusted neighbors to have treats ready for a certain time. Before the party, all the kids can go door to door together.

Nursing Homes/Senior Centers/Community Organizations
Spread the Halloween cheer by visiting a nursing home or senior center. Some senior citizens enjoy seeing kids dressed in their costumes and passing out treats. Check with your local organization for any planned events.

Your local YMCA or Boys and Girls Clubs may also have safe Halloween events planned.

Substitutes for Candy
Here’s a list of candy alternatives:

Arts and Crafts Supplies
Encourage creativity by handing out any of these materials: crayons, play dough, markers, coloring books, Halloween-themed pencils and erasers, or miniature notebooks.

Games and Puzzles
Make your own crossword puzzles or word searches online. Then print them out on cardstock for a fun alternative to candy. Or hand out playing cards with instructions for simple games like “Go Fish” or “Old Maid.”

Healthier Treats
With the abundance of single-serving packaged foods, there are plenty of candy substitutes to hand out on Halloween. Consider mini boxes of raisins, small bags of pretzels, organic fruit snacks, single-serving animal crackers, or granola bars.

Other Giveaways
You could also hand out popular party favors like bubbles, bouncy balls, noisemakers or temporary tattoos.

Sharing candy
Decrease your child’s sugar intake and do a good deed. If she usually collects a lot of Halloween candy, ask her to donate half of it to a homeless shelter, food pantry or nursing home.

Happy Halloween!

]]> http://blog.owneriq.net/ideas-for-a-safe-and-healthy-halloween.html/feed Recall on Wooden Toys by Daiso: Choking Hazard http://blog.owneriq.net/recall-on-wooden-toys-by-daiso-choking-hazard.html http://blog.owneriq.net/recall-on-wooden-toys-by-daiso-choking-hazard.html#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:29:13 +0000 amabley http://blog.owneriq.net/recall-on-wooden-toys-by-daiso-choking-hazard.html new recall iconName of Product: Wooden Toys

Units: About 430

Importer: Daiso California LLC, of Burlingame, Calif.

Hazard: The toys have small parts that can break and detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. (more…)

]]> http://blog.owneriq.net/recall-on-wooden-toys-by-daiso-choking-hazard.html/feed Recall on Daiso Children’s Toys, Purses, Pen Cases: Violation of Lead Paint & Phthalate Limits http://blog.owneriq.net/recall-on-daiso-childrens-toys-purses-pen-cases-violation-of-lead-paint-phthalate-limits.html http://blog.owneriq.net/recall-on-daiso-childrens-toys-purses-pen-cases-violation-of-lead-paint-phthalate-limits.html#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:29:03 +0000 amabley http://blog.owneriq.net/recall-on-daiso-childrens-toys-purses-pen-cases-violation-of-lead-paint-phthalate-limits.html new recall iconName of Product: Children’s Toys, Purses and Pen Cases

Units: About 130

Importer: Daiso California LLC, of Burlingame, Calif.

Hazard: The surface paint on the balancing toys and zippers of the purses and pen cases contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint ban. The inflatable baseball bat toys contain excessive levels of DEHP, violating the federal phthalate standard. (more…)

]]> http://blog.owneriq.net/recall-on-daiso-childrens-toys-purses-pen-cases-violation-of-lead-paint-phthalate-limits.html/feed Guardian Full-Face Diving Masks Recalled by Ocean Technology: Visor Separation Hazard http://blog.owneriq.net/guardian-full-face-diving-masks-recalled-by-ocean-technology-visor-separation-hazard.html http://blog.owneriq.net/guardian-full-face-diving-masks-recalled-by-ocean-technology-visor-separation-hazard.html#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:23:52 +0000 amabley http://blog.owneriq.net/guardian-full-face-diving-masks-recalled-by-ocean-technology-visor-separation-hazard.html new recall iconName of Product: Guardian Full-Face Masks

Units: About 900

Manufacturer: Undersea Systems International Inc., dba Ocean Technology Systems, of Santa Ana, Calif.

Hazard: If significant pressure is applied vertically to the top and bottom of the visor clamp, the clear plastic visor may dislodge causing the mask to flood.

Incidents/Injuries: Ocean Technology Systems has received three reports of visors dislodging. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves the Guardian full-face mask which is a scuba diving mask that incorporates the second stage regulator into the mask allowing it to cover the diver’s full face.

Sold by: Direct sales and diving equipment retailers nationwide from March 2009 through August 2009 for $800.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the diving masks and contact Ocean Technology Systems to receive a free repair. Ocean Technology Systems is providing consumers stainless steel clamps to secure the plastic visor.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Ocean Technology Systems toll-free at (877) 270-1984 anytime, or visit the Ocean Technology Systems Web site. Consumers also can email the firm at OTSrecall@otscomm.com

Note:  View Health Canada’s press release.

For a complete listing of all October 2009 recalls to date, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

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