May. 9, 2007 - Experts describe homes of the future

New homes have changed dramatically over the past five decades. Small one-story bungalows with less than 1,000 square feet, two bedrooms and a single bathroom have given way to two-story homes topping 2,400 square feet with three or more bedrooms and two or more bathrooms. Along the way, new homes have evolved to levels of comfort and sophistication that were virtually unimaginable even a generation ago.

Given the rapid evolution of design, configuration and products in new homes, even a professional futurist might be hard-pressed to determine what the next five decades hold for housing. But a new study by the National Association of Home Builders provides a telling look at the homes buyers can expect to purchase in the nearer future – 2015.

“The Home of the Future” study, introduced at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando, was conducted in 2006 by NAHB’s Economics Group. Based on polls of architects, designers, marketers and manufacturers, it provides a detailed view of what buyers can expect to find in an “average” home and an “upscale” home in 2015.

Here are some of the highlights of the NAHB’S predictions for the 2015 American home:

• Homes will be significantly “greener” and more resource efficient
• Increasing emphasis on universal design/handicap access
• Home size will not increase, but stay in the range of today’s 2,400 square feet
• Homes are increasingly likely to be two-story rather than one-story.
• Kitchens and bathrooms will continue to feature upgraded materials and appliances
• Focus on garages will increase, with more consumers preferring three-car garages, and door openings on garages will be larger to accommodate larger vehicles
• More homes will feature recessed lighting and wood floors
• Communities will feature open space and amenities such as walking and jogging trails and are also likely to be close to public transportation

The typical new single-family home in 2005 will feature:

• 2,330-square-feet, divided into a two-story home with 2½ to 3½ bathrooms and 4 bedrooms
• One-story entry foyer
• One-story family room (no loft or volume ceilings, etc.)
• Living room vanishing into parlor/retreat/library
• Nine-foot ceilings on first floor; eight- to nine-foot ceilings on second floor
• Exterior walls of vinyl or fiber cement siding or brick
• Staircase located in foyer
• Front porch
• Fiber optic network, programmable thermostat, structured wiring system, multi-line phone system
• Both shower stall and tub in master bathroom
• Toilet in master bath will have separate enclosure

The typical upscale single-family home in 2015 will feature:

• More than 4,000 square feet
• Two-story home with 3½ to 4½ bathrooms and 4 or more bedrooms
• Two-story entry foyer
• One- or two-story family room
• Likely to have formal living room, but living room may be replaced by parlor/retreat/library
• Nine-foot ceilings on first floor; nine- to ten-foot ceilings on upper floors
• Exterior of stone, brick, stucco or fiber cement siding
• Stairs in the back or side of the house
• Front porch, rear porch, patio and deck
• Two master bedroom suites
• Outdoor kitchen with grill, sinks, refrigerator, cooking island
• Outdoor fireplace, pool/spa, audio/tv equipment, lighting
• Programmable thermostat, structured wiring, multiline phone system, multi-zone HVAC, remote control fireplaces, instant hot water in bathrooms/kitchens, lighting control system, monitored burglar/fire/toxic gas alarm system

Source: National Association of Home Builders

Apr. 1, 2007 - Dump Cake

I know that we all lead hectic lives.  Below is the dessert I make when I need a dessert in a hurry.  It is so easy to make and so yummy.  It is my son's favorite dessert.  This was the dessert I had waiting for him when he got back from Iraq.

ENJOY!!

1 Package Yellow Cake Mix

1 can 20 oz. Crushed pineapple

21 oz. Cherry pie filling

1 cup chopped pecans

½ cup butter

Grease pan.  Drain pineapple and spread on bottom, dump pie filling, dump dry cake mix. Sprinkle with pecans dot butter all over the top.  Bake at 350 for 48 to 52 minutes.

Feb. 4, 2007 - FREE 411 INFORMATION CALLS

Jan. 28, 2007 - Email forwarding

Do you really know how to forward e-mails? 50% of us do; 50% do NOT. Do you wonder why you get viruses or junk mail? Do you hate it? Every time you forward an e-mail there is information left over from the people who got the message before you, namely their e-mail addresses & names. As the messages get forwarded along, the list of addresses builds, and builds, and builds, and all it takes is for some poor sap to get a virus, and his or her computer can send that virus to every E-mail address that has come across his computer. Or, someone can take all of those addresses and sell them or send junk mail to them in the hopes that you will go to the site and he will make five cents for each hit. That's right, all of that inconvenience over a nickel! How do you stop it? Well, there are two easy steps: 
 
(1) When you forward an e-mail, DELETE all of the other addresses that appear in the body of the message. That's right, DELETE them. Highlight them and delete them, backspace them, cut them, whatever it is you know how to do. It only takes a second. You MUST click the "Forward" button first and then you will have full editing capabilities against the body and headers of the message.
 
If you don't click on "Forward" first, you won't be able to edit the message at all.
 
(2) Whenever you send an e-mail to more than one person, do NOT use the To: or Cc: columns for adding e-mail address. 
 
Always use the BCC: (blind carbon copy) column for listing the e-mail addresses. This is the way that people you send to only see their own e-mail address. If you don't see your BCC: option click on where it says To: and your address list will appear. Highlight the address and choose BCC: and that's it, it's that easy. When you send to BCC: your message will automatically say "Undisclosed Recipients" in the "TO:" field of the people who receive it. 
 
Have you ever gotten an email that is a petition? It states a position and asks you to add your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15 people or your entire address book. The email can be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of names and email addresses. A FACT: The completed petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and email addresses contained therein. If you want to support the petition, send it as your own personal letter to the intended recipient. Your position may carry more weight as a personal letter than a laundry listname and email address on a petition.

Jan. 19, 2007 - Three funerals to dwell upon