Justin Erickson | A Pietro Media

Four Preparations for a House Fire

13/11/202123/01/2022 Justin Erickson

House fire is becoming more and more prevalent ever since the temperature stars rising significantly due to global warming. There are over 10.000 cases of wildfires so far in 2021, and we don’t see the number going down because the planet’s temperature is reaching an all-time high. Furthermore, you should know more about the preparations for a house fire below:

Call the Fire Department

In the event of a major house fire with flames that reached the ceiling, quickly realizing that the blaze is too big and you’re out of your league is the number one thing that should appear in your mind, then proceed to notify the fire department to get help immediately. Remember that every second you waste, the fire eats up another inch of the house, and if you want to minimize the damages done to your properties and assets, you should never dilly-dally and call the fire department.

Buy Multiple Types of Fire Extinguishers

Having a single fire extinguisher might not make the cut when you’re dealing with a type of fire that your extinguisher does not cover. For example, a water fire extinguisher won’t extinguish a grease fire and it will only make the situation worse since the water sprouted from the nozzle will only spread the grease fire in the direction of the aim. So, if you want to be prepared for everything, it’s best that you get every type of fire extinguisher ready for action.

Keep Important Things on the Ground Floor

While many consider storing important items like family heirlooms, precious artifacts, jewelry, foreign currencies, passports, and essential documents on the ground floor to be a stupid move since robbers and burglars usually enter the house from the first floor, it is actually not. House fires are more likely to happen than robberies, and in the event of one, you won’t have enough time to run upstairs and crack open the save to bring everything downstairs while inhaling smoke and avoiding falling debris. Keep the crucial stuff below and store them in a fireproof safe.

Install Fire Alarms and Smoke Detectors

Having your house equipped with fire prevention technology like a fire alarm, smoke detector, and fire sprinkler system could save your family lives and properties from loss. The technology is dependable and automatic, but most don’t want them since they are rather sensitive; even a small candle could start the sprinkler system, which will make the entire floor wet. However, suppose you value your life and family over materialistic things. In that case, you should know the technology could give you a head-start to escape and act immediately when a fire emergency occurs in your residence!…

Five Tips to Make Your Computer Safer

19/05/201928/11/2023 Justin Erickson

Cybersecurity is a serious topic that every computer user must learn about. Each day, hackers get more and more creative in breaching security systems and have managed to do so. In fact, only recently, Whatsapp encouraged their users to update to the latest version because the previous one was vulnerable. If you still think this is an unimportant topic, today, you might be safe, but tomorrow? If you do not apply the right safety procedures when you are browsing or making a transaction, such recklessness will claim its price sooner or later.

Have a Cloud Backup

Even if you use your computer for entertainment only, having a reliable data backup will save you from a lot of problems and wasting time. As for Windows users, there are plenty of cloud platforms that are compatible with the OS, but it is tough to find the right cloud backup for mac. Therefore, you should do browse around first to find the right providers.

Regardless of the cloud storage’s names, here are four criteria that you must look for:

1. Security

Data security of a cloud storage service is usually in the form of encryption. You should browse for the history of your picked provider and see if any breaches have ever happened to the company.

2. Sharing Flexibility

Not all cloud storage is sharing-friendly. Most of the time, a provider will ask the receiver of the link to make an account first. Although it may not be an issue to some, it will definitely slow down the data sharing flow.

3. The Benefits of the Plans

Cloud storage services often offer their packages in the forms of subscription plans. And to calculate which company offers you the most maximum benefits, you have to browse through several products by yourself.

Do Not Postpone Updates

If you are a Windows 10 user, you should have known how annoying it is to have an update notification popping up when you are in the middle of your work. However, those updates are not without purposes. They are meant to fix bugs, enhance some features, and strengthen the protection of the OS against malware. Therefore, the next time you get that notification, you should save your work, and let the update do its work.

Renew Your Passwords

Saving your bank account’s pin/password on a browser may be practical, but actually, you put those sensitive data at risk. Browsers often work with some installed extensions, and among them, there might be a malicious program that can send your password to a third party. If you casually purchase goods online, you have to clear your passwords from your browser and change them regularly.

Prefer a Safe Network

If you want to make a purchase, never use a public domain network. A third person can hijack the data and steal your information to get unauthorized access to your bank account. What is worse about this method is that the hacker will not take your money directly in an obvious manner. You will realize only when it’s too late.

Be Careful with Email Attachments

If you receive an email from an unknown sender, it would be better not to open any links attached there because they may redirect your browser to a harmful webpage that contains malware. The same thing goes with a download link. Do not trust a sketchy email that asks you to download a particular file unless you can identify the sender.…

Things to Consider When Buying a Cooler with Wheels

27/11/201803/02/2020 Justin Erickson

Are you planning to for a holiday camping, hold a backyard party? Well, you know it is time to invest in a cooler with quality wheels and handles. There are very many different types of cooler with different features and capacity not to forget the degree of cooling. Even at home having a cooler is very much essential. New buyers find the buying process pretty much overwhelming because they lack the necessary information. Having a guide that is resourceful like this article will help you make an investment that is worth your hard-earn cash. A good cooler provides excellent functionality for very many items and not only cooling drinks.

Coolers are being improved from time to time to give the buyers more efficiency and convenience. One of the improvements is the addition of wheels to the coolers. You do not have to carry them around even when they are fully loaded. The work has been lessened since the new coolers have an ergonomically friendly handle and wheels for easy movement.

Handle Height

Make sure you look at the height of the handle before making up your mind. Always think about it and choose a handle that is either adjustable or sizable for various heights. When a taller person is going to buy a cooler for a child, he or she may make a poor choice when it comes to the height of the handle. Everybody who pushes the cooler around must have a certain amount of comfortability. Therefore, ensure the height is average for all users to push the cooler with easy without hurting the back and hands.

Quality of the Wheels

When you go out to buy a cooler with wheels, the main thing here is the wheels. Therefore, ensure the choice of wheels is marvelous. A cooler should have wheels that are made of a quality material that will serve you for a long period. The wheel should also roll swiftly for easy movement. You should as well consider the size of the wheels. Always ensure that they are sizable and proportional to the cooler. The design should also be eye appealing. Other things to consider when it comes to the wheel of the cooler are spare parts availability, maintenance, and versatility.

Capacity

When considering the capacity of a cooler make sure you reflect on your personal or group requirements. You should always know the amount of bulk you will need to store in the cooler and the number of people it will serve. The more you can fit in the cooler the, more the bulkiness of the wheeled cooler increases. If you are planning to travel with the cooler, ensure you consider the dimensions of the wheeled cooler before investing. Also, ensure that the cooler can accommodate various bottle sizes.

Cooler Terrain

Finally, consider the terrain of the wheeled cooler. A good cooler for a sand beach party is one that is streamlined. A car like cooler will move swiftly on the sand, gravel, and other abrasive terrains. When considering the terrain of the cooler, ensure you look at the size, shape, material and the ground surface.…

Considerations When Choosing Professional Mowing Services

25/09/201821/11/2018 Justin Erickson

Maintaining the lawn is difficult because it requires specialized equipment and skills. Most of the homeowners lack one or both of the powers which make it difficult to keep the healthy lawns.

This is one of the reasons why many people typically prefer to hire the professional mowing services. Choosing the right professional mowing company is difficult because of the many companies offering the services out there. However, with the right approach, you will be able to select the right mowing company.

Reputation

Before you hire a lawn mowing company, make sure that you do a background check to establish their reputation. Different lawn mowing companies have different approaches and thus have various reputations.

You can utilize the search engines to have a quick idea of the reputation of the said companies. If the company has lots of negative feedback, then it means that it is not the right company. You can also ask your neighbors to suggest some of the lawn mowing companies with an excellent reputation.

Licensing

Licensing is another critical factor that you ought to consider when choosing a lawn mowing company. Before you hire a particular service provider, make sure that they are licensed by the relevant government authority to provide the service in your area.

This is essential as it will prevent you from getting into trouble with the authorities. Most of the companies that are licensed are typically professional.

Insurance

Lawn mowing is typically a risky activity. Some damage or injury might happen during the lawn mowing process. When this happens, it will be important for someone to take responsibility.

Make sure that the lawn mowing company is insured so that if anything goes amiss during the lawn mowing process, then you will be able to be compensated.

Local Company

As we had mentioned earlier, we have different types of lawn mowing companies. Others are found locally whereas the others are located thousands of miles away. When you are choosing the ideal company.

Make sure that you make use of the local companies. It is easier to deal with the local companies as compared to the companies that are found in the other states.

Pricing

Last but not least look at the pricing of the lawn mowing company. Some companies have fair prices while others charge exorbitant rates for similar services.

You need to have a budget which will guide you on the ideal lawn mowing company to choose based on your budget.…

Histoplasmosis, a Silent Killer Disease Caused by Bats

09/06/201803/02/2020 Justin Erickson

Bats are a shy animal. They live by lurking in the dark and moist corners and avoid having contacts with humans. When the day comes, they sleep. And when the night falls, they feed.

If you have never read scientific articles about bats, the chances are that you get the image of the animal from pop-culture reference. Batman and Dracula are two famous figures that strongly associate with bats. Batman may give you the sense that living in a bat cave is okay for humans. Dracula represents bats as devil creatures preying on their victim’s blood.

In reality, those images are all false. First, only three species of bats feed on blood. They are Desmodus rotundus, Diphylla ecaudata, and Diaemus youngi. And all of them are living in Americas. Second, living in a bat’s case is a terrible idea. Histoplasmosis is a deadly disease caused by bat’s droppings that can infect human without causing an alarming symptom until it is severe.

Guanos at Your Home

The worst news about Histoplasmosis is that you do not have to live in a bat’s cave to catch the disease. In fact, house’s ceiling is the most favorite place for the bats. As long as there is a population of bats in a region, the houses nearby have the chances to have groups of bats nesting in there.

Guanos are the other name of bat’s droppings. And as stated in the third paragraph, they are the source of histoplasmosis disease. When the bats live in their natural habitat, guanos will not be a threat unless you are in close proximity. The disease is caused by a species of fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum. The fungus releases airborne spores that can enter a person’s respiratory system.

Check your house for every three months. If you encounter a foul and rancid smell from the roof or ceiling, investigate the source. However, observe it by keeping a distance. Remember that the disease is spread through the air. Without a proper mask and skin protection, you can suffer from skin rash and respiratory infection.
Read more about how professionals remove a bat infestation on Bat Exclusion Process – Get Rid Of Bats. You will learn that it would be better to call a pest control than to handle things on your own.

The Insidious Symptoms

Histoplasmosis is a silent killer because the symptoms are not unique. They can resemble the ones of Tuberculosis, Acute Respiratory Infection, or allergic reactions. Consequently, the doctors often give incorrect prescriptions. Here is a list of those symptoms:

Fever
Shortness of breath
Drastic weight loss
Extortion
Seizure
Confusion

Histoplasmosis can be more aggressive when it attacks babies. Humans in growth spurts have not yet developed strong immunity. If they get infected by a disease like Histoplasmosis, they will be prone to suffer from organ failures.

People with autoimmune disorders also experience the worst consequences from Histoplasmosis. Skin rashes, brain damage, and lungs failure can happen to them even faster than babies.

The Prevention

Besides improving the house’s hygiene and doing a regular inspection, you should also be very careful when entering a cave or other places with possible bat’s infestation. Now that you have realized the health risk which guano can impose, wearing an air mask in an exploration no longer seems too much, does it?

The Right Attitude toward the Bats

Although bats can cause histoplasmosis, their existence in the wild creates a balance in the ecosystem. If you happen to encounter them in the wild, it is important that you should not disturb them. If you find them in your house, do not exterminate but control them. Professional pest control knows the best about handling bat infestation. They can remove the bats and release them to their proper habitat.…

Tips on buying a showerhead

16/04/201803/02/2020 Justin Erickson

Buying a shower head can be a challenging venture keeping in mind that there are many shower heads available in the market. A good shower head can transform your showering experience, and it will affect the way you use water and energy in the home. There are two types of shower heads available; the fixed shower head and the hand held shower head. However, apart from the basic types of shower heads, there are other features that you should consider when buying a shower head. For instance, buying a shower head with a sensational look is an important consideration. Here are some of the things that you should check when buying a shower head.

How to buy a good shower head

Stream of water and coverage

When buying a shower head, the stream of water produced is an important consideration. You need to buy a shower head that will be able to produce a powerful stream of water. A shower head with a powerful stream of water is important so that you can remove all the soap from your body. Apart from producing a powerful stream of water, the shower head should also be able to provide good coverage of water when taking a shower. For a good showering experience, getting a good stream of water and proper coverage is important.

Keeping the water hot

Many people love a shower head with a powerful stream of water, but this comes with some disadvantages. When the water is a high pressure, then there are chances that the water gets cold before it reaches your body. It is important to keep the balance when choosing a shower head. The good news is that now it is possible to get a shower head that keeps the water warm but still has that powerful stream of water.

Easy to install

A shower head that is easy to install should be a top priority when buying. You need purchase a shower head that you can install well in your home. Some shower heads will require you to call a professional to do the installation for you, and this will cost you money. A shower head that is easy to install is the best especially if you will be required to take it to another location at some point.

Easy to adjust

At some point you might be required to adjust the stream and pressure of water and the shower head should allow you to make the necessary adjustments. Some shower heads have fixed streams of water while others will allow adjusting the stream of water.…

Tips on managing your finances

18/03/201817/03/2021 Justin Erickson

Financial management helps you gain control of your finances. There are several financial tips that you need to learn so that you can plan your finances well. Financial management is not an event. It is the small changes that have a big impact in the long run. For instance, if you are stuck in debt, the first step is to clear your debt and gain financial freedom. You also need to learn basic skills like budgeting and also saving. These are the small steps that you take to ensure sustainability of your finances.

How to manage your finances

Determine your financial position

The first step when managing your finances is determining your financial position. It is important to have a clear understanding of your income, spending and also your debts. When you have a clear understanding of all these factors, financial management will be very easy for you. You can never know how to manage your finances if you are not organized. Determining your financial position is the best way to know how to manage your finances.

Come up with a clear budget

Budgeting is a great way to manage your finances. This might sound cliché but if it is possible to make sure that you sit down and write all your expenses, debts and everything that will require money. A clear budget will always help you to avoid overspending. A budget gives you a clear expenditure, and you will stick to it and avoid getting into debt. The best way to come up with a budget is to sit down with a pen and paper and list them down.

Pay all the bills on time

Paying bills on time is the best way to manage your finances every month. If you pay your bills on time, you will be sure that you avoid any penalties that come with a delay. Paying hefty penalties just because you did not pay your bills on time is the worst thing that can happen on your journey towards financial management.

Savings and retirement

Remember to keep separate savings and also retirement plan. You need to remember that the money that you keep now will be able to help you in future. The earlier you realize the importance of keeping the money for your future, the better for you. Knowing how to manage your finances when you are young is a good way to enjoy your retirement.…

Different types of programs a media house should air

30/01/201827/01/2018 Justin Erickson

A media house runs its operations to meet two main objectives. One, to give unbiased news to the citizens of the country and second to run its operation is such a way that it earns profits to the owners. Profit is derived from advertisements and promotion done by media houses. The more the ad, the more the profits. A client will pay the media houses that are known to be watched by many people their commercials to advertise.

Competitive advantage in a media house can be gained by the ability of a media house to air different programs that are watched by many people. Which are the main program that a media house can achieve a significant competitive advantage other media houses?

Unbiased political news

The main reason why people watch the television is to understand the political temperatures in the country. The problem with many media houses is that they are biased in their presentation of political news. Citizens of a country what to know what the government is doing as well as the opposition. They are concerned with the achievement of the government as well as the failure of the government.

Many media houses don’t cover the failures and shortcoming of the government in their news. If the trend is observed by a citizen, they shy away from such media houses. A good media house should cover unbiased political stories. They should condemn the government when it goes wrong. They should also congratulate the opposition on its achievements.

International news coverage

A media house should not only concentrate on the news of the mother country. The world is changing, the world is changing and almost becoming a global village. Events in a far country now affect the whole world. For a media house to gain a competitive advantage over other house, it should cover news from the whole world.

The best way to go about this is placing different correspondent all over the world. Employ journalist who works in other stations to work for you. They will report news in their home country that affects and important to the whole world. Political news in any country is some worthy news to broadcast in any country.

Cover health matters

Health issues affect every person in the world. They are eye-catching, and many people will want to know how to avoid diseases. In your coverage be sure to cover chronic diseases like cancer. Invite professional doctors to talk about diseases openly. Cover stories of people who have lived with these diseases. In your coverage don’t scare people. Air the content in such a way that it will give hope to the sick. Don’t make the diseases and conditions look unmanageable. Advocate for good lifestyle. Advice on the viewer’s habits that can lead to poor health conditions. Talk to the views about the kinds of foods they should take in the morning, lunch and breakfast.…

Different types of dog food

30/01/201817/03/2021 Justin Erickson

Feeding your dog is something you have to do daily, and buying it has already become a part of your grocery list. You probably know dry and wet dog food but did you know that a specific type dog food is great for a particular breed? Here we have listed several types of dog food that you can choose depending on your dog’s breed, while also filling their nutrition balance. A breakdown of the types of dog food is based on kiddle (dry food), home-cooked meal, and a canned wet food.

Dry dog food

Kibble or dry dog food is probably the most affordable dog food you can buy online, while also making it easy to feed as you don’t have to refrigerate or cook it, all you need to do is pour it on the bowl, and it’s all ready for your dog to eat. Kibble also has a crunch to it, which can keep your dog’s teeth healthy, which also reducing the tartar buildup. Kibble is perfect for those who don’t want to go through the hassle of preparing the dog food, be it cooking or refrigerating it.

Tip: make sure get the dog food that fits your breed, usually, the divide it by the size of your dog, but some have the product for a specific breed of a dog.

Home-cooked meal

If you have a lot of free time and wants to cook your meal for your dog, you can, and it also has some benefits that kibble and wet canned food doesn’t have. First of all, you’re the one cooking that means you know what goes into the food, what goes into your dog’s diet. Although you know everything that goes into the food, you need to be careful as well, as too much salt on the meal might cause your dog to shed a lot, which is something that you wouldn’t want.

Tip: research on what you’re going to cook, some ingredients can be dangerous for your dog, which can affect it’s health, shedding and even it’s mood.

Canned wet food

This dog food is probably the most expensive and took more time to prepare compared to the dry dog food. But it has long shelf life, while also having higher protein than the other dog foods. Always consult with your vet whether your dog needs to eat canned wet food or not.

Tip: always look for the label “100% nutritionally complete” which will assure that your dog is getting the nutrition, not just some food with high water content.

…

Foods That Pregnant Individuals Should Not Take

10/04/201703/02/2020 Justin Erickson

It is an exciting moment when you know you are expecting. Coming up with daily routines and safety standards that will help you to keep your baby and you away from danger is important. You should be keen on what you are supposed to take every time even though you are required to take more portions than the usual ones during this period. The following are types of food that you should avoid at this time.

Alcohol And Cigarettes

Alcohol and smoking are known to cause health problems. So it is a must to avoid them, particularly when expecting, to avoid delaying the growth of the baby’s brain. Much alcohol can severely affect the child’s development.

Unripe Papaya:

Fruits and papaya should be cleaned before you have them normally as they are known to be dirty on the outside. Unripe papaya may cause uterine contraction that may hurt the baby, so it is not safe at all. Make sure you eat ripe fruits.

Pineapples:

Pineapples are loaded with vitamins and minerals, with health benefits like healing stomach diseases, but they are not safe during pregnancy. It is thought that they can provoke a miscarriage, particularly in the initial stages of the pregnancy. Moreover, they have an ingredient identified as bromelain that induces diarrhea.

Fish:

Incorporating fish in your regular diet is perfect for the baby and you, but you should avoid sea fish because it has high mercury content. If this Mercury models up in the body, it will hurt not only the unborn baby but also your brain and nerves.

Raw meat:

Taking a well-prepared meat meal is important. Meat contains salmonella and coliform bacteria which is not fit for expecting women. Freshly prepared meat is excellent, but you have to be careful of rewarmed meat since it may contain dangerous Listeria.

Juice And Milk:

Pasteurized yogurt and milk are the best when it comes to which kind of milk should expecting moms take. Cheese and anything with raw milk are not safe foods for consumption during this period. Drink pasteurized juice.

Caffeine:

Take one cup of either chocolate or tea in a day. Taking more may interfere with your sleep which is not good as you need to rest. Too much caffeine can result in abortion and also hinder healthy weight gain for the baby.

When you are pregnant, you should be very careful, and avoid the foods mentioned above by all means. Ensure safety of the child by changing your regular habits and usual routine to healthy ones.…

Tips For Kitchen Remodeling You Should Try

10/04/201703/02/2020 Justin Erickson

The kitchen is the busiest room or the most utilized area in the home. It is the place where people prepare their meals in, and the family gathers together to share the meals or have a talk. So, many people love having a beautiful and functional kitchen which leads to remodeling the kitchen once it is not in good condition or when they want to make it look modern and different. The following are tips to remodel your kitchen.

Repair your old appliances

Cleaning out your old cabinets and drawers is the main event in kitchen remodeling. You can do away with the old rugs, pans, and pots that have been used for long and they are wearing out in your kitchen. Get rid of the items that you don’t utilize in the kitchen to create a cleaner and an appealing look. Buy the modern equipment that you need and remember not to get things you cannot be able to use.

Space

Having adequate space near you stove area is essential. This is the place where make your meals from. It is comfortable and more enjoyable to have enough room. Do a simple but a good looking design on your spacing.

Create more storage facilities to have a clean look as you will have your things organized hence there will be no cluttered countertops. Consider making your cabinets on the ceiling where you can choose to keep the items that you do not need to use more often. This will help to have more space and keep a less cluttered look in your kitchen.

Lighting

There should be more lighting in your kitchen if you added proper windows and painted using bright colors. You should place light fixture one over the sink and others above the stove and also place appropriate windows which allow more natural lighting to your home. Having more lighting in your kitchen is beautiful. Fix a dimmer for a softer environment.

Select The Right Flooring

You should go for a nice and appropriate floor for your kitchen. A wooden floor is a great choice for flooring as it looks beautiful, but it is not a suitable choice for your kitchen as it wears out fast. But if you like it you can use it; however, you should be aware that it needs to be refurbished more often to maintain it. A stone floor is another flooring option, but it requires seasonal resealing. Tiles can be the best choice as they stay longer and are simple to maintain.…