A while back our keyless entry and door locks spontaneously stopped working on our 2005 Dodge Caravan.  With a little research, I found that if one disconnects the negative battery terminal for five minutes or longer (if you leave it off less than 5 minutes it won’t completely drain the computer of power), the locks and keyless entry will work again.  Apparently there is a computer-chip program hiccup or glitch that needs to be cleared out by shutting off its power supply.  This normally won’t happen often, but when it does, I have found it much cheaper and handier to quickly get the keyless entry and locks working in this way than with a trip to the mechanic.  You may feel that a >$200.00 trip to the dealership/mechanic is better for you; by all means, go.  However, this DIY method can get one out of a jam, and may hold for months at a time. 

Some say another quick solve is to remove the 20 amp fuse on the lower left of the fuse box.  If there are two, one vertically oriented and one horizontally, remove both for five minutes.   One of these is supposed to be the fuse for the Body Control Module, and removing it to have the same effect as the negative battery cable;  I have had consistent success with removing the cable.  The Body Control Module, referred to as BCM (as is the acronym for the Battery Control Module), controls electrical items like power windows, door locks, the instrument panel cluster, all sensors and troubleshooting or engine fault, fail or error code generation, etc.  Some automotive website forum participants say that dealers may tell you a new BCM is needed for $400.00 after they bill you for “finding it out.”   Others say dealers may tell you a downloaded code fix will resolve the issue, and charge up to $250.00 for that.  Personally, I would rather remove the cable or the fuses, which some find simpler than removing the negative battery cable.

Generally, a wrench size from 10 mm. (3/8 in.) to 13 mm. (1/2 in.) will fit the nut holding the cable end to the battery terminal; simply loosen to remove, safely setting the cable away from the battery terminal for five minutes or longer, then firmly push the cable end down to retighten and secure the negative battery cable again.   “Voila”!  Your keyless entry and electric door locks work again.  Remember to correctly reset your vehicle’s clock and radio selections.

Moen’s products have proved to me to be long-lasting and relatively simple to install or repair.  Below I have outlined the symptoms of a faulty single-handle shower control, the cost, method and instructions for repairing it, to save you a significant amount of money and trouble compared (or contrasted) with what a plumber would charge you in parts and labor to do the same thing.  Terms like “splash guard” instead of “escutcheon,” and “key” instead of “retainer clip” describing parts are used because they are, in this writer’s view, functionally descriptive.  This is by no means a unique article, but I thought it might be helpful to some DIY non-plumbers.

We had recently replaced a water heater, and it was quite corroded.  After the new water heater was installed, we noticed that the temperature adjustment in both our Moen shower controls had now become difficult to control.  In the position we would normally turn the handle to receive a nice, hot shower, it was cold.  If we turned the now-stiff-control just a small degree, the water would suddenly come through too hot.  Try to turn it back where it was to even it out, and it would become even colder again. 

Oddly, although it may have become too hot at one point, turning it further to the left would yield cooler water, and turned all the way to the left would not be as hot as it should be.  One check I performed was to try the nearby sink faucet; it adjusted properly, providing higher-temperature water than the shower control.  We then knew our water heater was not at fault; we were getting 120-degree hot water there (measured with a candy or deep-fry thermometer).  I noticed that the controls had become stiff to pull out or push back in.  With a bit of research I found that the cartridge might need changing, although no leaks were present.  Many times cartridges are replaced because of leaking.  This experience gave me some leading indicators of shower control cartridge failure.  

If your shower control used to be easy to adjust but recently has become stiff to operate, or your hot/cold temperature control does not provide consistent, continuous temperature change from cold to hot as it used to give, or setting the water temperature has become a tricky operation, where small turns may produce either freezing or scalding hot water, your shower control cartridge may need replacing (and soon!).  As it turns out, mineral deposits and corrosion are generally the culprits.  

Moen uses either a 1225B plastic cartridge which normally sells for around $20 at a major DIY store (but one may find lower prices on the internet), or a 1200 brass cartridge which sells for around $22.  You may pay more at a plumber’s supply but they normally will give you more information about the products they sell you.  After you learn, you can buy at places like major DIY warehouses which are less expensive, but generally don’t always have the most knowledgeable salespeople, since they are discount parts suppliers (although a few may prove to be quite informative).   The plastic cartridge is extremely easy to adjust and is cheaper than the brass, which gives a more solid feel (slight continuous resistance) to the shower adjustment.  I repaired the guest bathroom shower control using the plastic and brass Moen 1225B cartridge, and the master bath with the Moen brass 1200.  

The instructions that come with the cartridges are in the universal language of pictures; very small, but step-by-step nonetheless.  Find photos below for every step of the repair process. 

1. Purchase Moen Cartridge 1200 Brass or 1225B Plastic and Brass at DIY home improvement warehouse or on internet. 

2. Shut off water supply to shower or house.  (If you don’t have a local shutoff control, there are the main and secondary shutoff valves for your house generally located near the street.  Call your local water department if you are unsure.  Many localities frown on your using the primary or curb-side shutoff.  The secondary is usually found nearby the main under a green lid.  A little gentle digging may be necessary to find the valve.  You also may need to find or purchase a knob with an adapter to turn the valve off.) 

1. Moen 1225B Single Handle Plastic and Brass Cartridge

3.  Remove brand-name cap

4. Attachment Screw Beneath Brand Cover

 4. Notice attachment screw, probably phillip’s

5. Remove Attachment Screw w Phillips's Head Screwdriver

6. Splash Plate with Cartridge inside Cartridge Cover

7. Remove Splash Plate Screws with Phillip's Head Screwdriver

8. Pry Loose Splash Plate

9. Cartridge inside Cartridge Cover

10. Slide Cartridge Cover off to Remove

11. Find Key Above Cartridge's Top Center

12. Remove Key with Vise-Grips or Pliers

14. Pull Cartridge Straight out with Pliers/Vise-Grips

 Take note of how the old cartridge looks and at what orientation it was installed.  To set the cartridge in place, push it straight in, fitting it in the same way (depth and angle) as the old cartridge was.   It should look like the picture above.   Likely, your old cartridge appears badly corroded and the washers are flattened and stiff.  The new cartridge may even turn without the handle, so set the control end horizontally, and perform the install in the reverse order as the removal.

I have great regard for video surveillance for several reasons.  It is the one sure way to obtain solid evidence and documentation of a crime in progress or that has taken place.  Secondly, it can determine what or who might pose a threat to life, limb or property in any area under such surveillance.  Thirdly, it can identify whom it is approaching or entering one’s property, to ready oneself for that guest or intruder.   Connected to reliable video recording equipment, cameras can provide invaluable information and evidence allowing authorities to bring to justice those bent on harming others, stealing, vandalism or unlawful entry.  Many cameras can be connected to VHS tape recorders on which a timeline from start to end is easily obtained and followed.

J’ai la grande considération pour video surveillance pour plusieurs raisons.  C’est celui chemin sûr d’obtenir en cours évidence solide et documentation d’une infraction ou cela a eu lieu.  Deuxièmement, il peut déterminer cela qui ou qui peuvent poser une menace à vie, membre ou propriété dans toute région sous telle surveillance.  Troisièmement, il peut identifier qui il approche ou entre sa propriété, préparer soi pour cet invité ou intrus.   Relié à vidéo fiable qui enregistre le matériel, les appareils-photo peuvent fournir information inestimable et évidence qui permettent aux autorités d’apporter à justice ceci déterminées à nuire à autres, en volant, vandalisme ou entrée illégale.  Beaucoup d’appareils-photo peuvent être reliés aux magnétophones VHS sur qui un timeline de commencez à terminer est obtenu facilement et a suivi.

A story on 1-25-10 from Bloomberg press states that “India Fuel Exports to U.S. Doubled in 2009.”

This is bad news for America from many aspects in my opinion.  We should refine oil here, drill our oil resources here in the states, not support a government which competes with free enterprise, and not forfeit American jobs.  I hope this country wakes up to the fact that we can safely extract and transport oil from any of several of our vast resources in the U.S., even the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  The Alyeska pipeline in Alaska has proven since 1977 that we can protect the environment and get the oil we need.  We have resources in the lower 48, too, that we’re not using.  Refining that oil here would save everyone a bundle in the long run.  As we develop alternative energy and fuel-enhancing equipment for vehicles we will use less oil, but we shouldn’t just wait around for that to happen; Americans’ jobs and tons of their money are going out the window in the meantime.  After looking at the Alyeska Pipeline website, you may consider how one seldom, if ever, hears this info in news media reports or discussions.  Why not drill America’s existing fossil fuel resources?  Then motivation for building new refineries here in America would blossom, along with American jobs, while the price of oil went down, making inflation less likely, and we wouldn’t wind up buying gasoline from foreign refineries, or supporting governments that compete with free enterprise.

Our 1998 Grand Voyager 3.3 has been fairly dependable, and finally needed a rebuilt transmission last year.  After the repair it was driven on a 350-mile round trip and became stuck in successively lower gears, then spontaneously was symptom-free for months, until recently. 

This time the trip was just around town, so getting it home was easier.  When this has occurred it generally requires either driving it in second gear at 50-55 mph, or nursing it home in first gear, in which you approach high rpms at low speeds, it may more easily overheat, and driving in low gear is audible for some distance, so one receives much unwanted attention.  I took it to get a transmission flush, because once before this procedure had resolved a similar problem when the original transmission was apparently stressed by engine overheating.  The fluid was dirty then; this time I found that the level and quality of fluid was good, so flushing was unnecessary.

The place at which I was going to have the flush done asked me about the transmission, since there are nearly 170K miles on the van.  I let them know it had been rebuilt, and they said they could have done it cheaper than the $1900 I paid; they could do it for $1500.  Right away I thought “scam”, but then the manager said to check with the place that did the work, then with his company if it weren’t resolved. 

I have temporarily (lasting from less than a day to several weeks) solved this problem by unhooking the negative battery cable for five (5) minutes and then reattaching it.  This clears the TCM, namely, the transmission control module, and allows the vehicle to drive smoothly in all gears once again.

I had already checked with the place that did the transmission rebuild,  and now knew that the fluid was clean.  The symptoms reminded me of what used to happen when a part called the modulator valve went out.  TCM’s have taken their place.  The “check engine” light had been showing,  so even though this ’98 Grand Voyager was now over ten years old, it still could be checked with a scan tool.  Computers have been on vehicles for more than a couple of decades.  I thought it over and decided to “bite the bullet” and purchase a scan tool.  I bought an Actron.  I found two codes; one, P1776, the other P440.

The P1776 code translates to “solenoid switch latched in L-R (low-reverse) position.”   The P440 code indicates an evaporative emissions, or EVAP, problem.  This can also cause the engine to run roughly, another factor in shifting gears smoothly.  Here is a link to one of the most complete searchable Diagnostic Engine Codes sites available for Chrysler, Plymouth and Dodge vehicles.   I believe that several factors may help cause this “hiccup” in the TCM; spark plug wires that need replacing, and/or EVAP (evaporative emissions) problems, because they make the engine less efficient and cause it to run roughly, and finally perhaps ABS problems, because on several occasions when this problem occured I noticed the ABS light came on and the brakes spontaneously “shuddering”, or quickly and repetitively being applied and released, which would stop or subside to a degree when the brakes were applied.  I had  experienced brake caliper problems just prior to the TCM problem and this also seemed to help trigger not only the TCM hiccup but the ABS problem as well.  All interesting facts (to me), but I was glad to find that unhooking the negative battery cable for a few minutes cleared up the gear-shifting problem each time.  Much cheaper and much less trouble than buying/installing a new solenoid, solenoid switch or Transmission Control Module.

One way to help your PC run as fast as possible is to defragment its files, at least once a month.   New information saved to the hard drive does not necessarily wind up in the vicinity of associated or similar files.  The reason for this is that files are saved to the first available space, regardless of their relationship to a particular program.  Deleted information leaves space for new information to be saved, and since the hard drive will wind up placing that new information in any available space, the deleted spot that may once have been a contiguous program element or file, has different info saved to it, and the original becomes fragmented, not to mention the new info itself.  The hard drive will then need to work increasingly longer and harder over time to find all the fragmented files that open your programs and/or related files.

There are several ways to perform a defragmentation of your hard drive  in Windows XP.   Simply open the Start menu, then Programs, then Accessories.  Click on ”System Tools” then click on the icon for Disk Defragmenter.   Generally Drive or Local Disk C:  will be the one you want to highlight; if it is already highlighted simply click on “Defragment”, and it will analyze your drive, and immediately defragment it if there are no errors Scandisk needs to fix.    A second way to defragment is to locate the My Computer icon, double-click on it and then when its window opens, right-click on the C:  drive.   Go to properties, left-click on it and a window with tabs will open.   Click on the Tools tab, and that will open to reveal both Scandisk (error-checking) and Defragmenter (defragmentation).  Click on “defragment now” and the defragmenter window will appear displaying all existing drives on your computer.   To run Scandisk, which checks your drive for errors and also fixes them, follow the same procedure.  Simply click on “check now” to run error-checking, or Scandisk.

A third way to run Disk Defragmenter, or any executable program, for that matter, is to schedule it to run when it is most convenient, with Task Scheduler.   Left-click on the Start Menu Icon, then go to Accessories, click on System Tools, then on Scheduled Tasks.  Click on an already queued task, or the icon that reads, “Add Scheduled Task,” and follow the directions from the Wizard.

Heb 4:12-16   RSV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Something must be done to limit the influence of speculators on important commodities, like oil and corn, to name only two.  The influences of normal supply and demand would not have caused the wildly absurd “upswing” in oil, from around $20/bbl, to a seven-fold $127 higher.  Corn was going up, as using ethanol as fuel increased in popularity, but then corn initiated a hike in grocery prices that has “stuck”, and added to the inflation initially caused by oil and the minimum wage increase. 

As you know, oil was priced in the $20′s for a long time, then in 2003 started moving upward out of that range fairly quickly to the $40′s, double its normal range, by ’04.  Oil prices then made their way up to vacillate in the $70′s by Sept 07.  Oil’s price doubled again in less than a year!  In my view, it helped to promote and intensify an economic-damage domino effect from losses created by unethical lending on a massive scale to obviously unqualified and/or speculative house-buyers.  This economic-damage domino effect also dealt a punishing blow to the world economy and shook the world’s confidence in America as a disciplined world market leader. 

An interesting anecdote is that oil/gasoline prices have spiked downward while heading into the Christmas buying season, in ’03, ’04, ’05 and ‘06. The exception was ‘07, as oil moved from $60/bbl to nearly $100/bbl, while gasoline prices also increased.  This year alone, from July to the last part of November, oil prices have gone down as much as $100/bbl!  Here is an often-used link that provides graphing for up to six years of fuel price history in Chicago, but potentially any locale:

http://www.chicagogasprices.com/retail_price_chart.aspx

So, it is clear that speculators have helped drain the economy as the prices went up, and the profits from $147/bbl oil as prices fell.  This is rather disconcerting, since no one seems to be able to quite pin down who these people are, or how they could have been allowed to make such a mockery of free markets, especially America‘s. 

Now, oil’s price (per barrel) is somehow returning to around twice its inflation-adjusted $20-30 range!  Measures must be taken to reign in commodity speculators and whomever their helpers are, before they sap the world economy again.  And drilling vast American fuel resources must take place soon, to further America‘s independence and economic stability.

We need leaders with the guts to at least expose the reasons why speculators were allowed to drain the world economy with impunity.  We need leaders who will focus their energies on changing the laws allowing unethical lending to the unqualified, and unethical commodity manipulation, that really amount to price-gouging, which most people see as just another type of theft. 

Now that everyone under the sun wants part of the TARP, who is going to make certain it is held in trust for only mortgage-backed securities?  Who will put their collective foot down to use Americans’ every tax dollar for their original intended use alone?  After all, it’s our money, not the governments’.  Another major question remains:  Whatever happened to Chapters 11 and 13 for bankrupt companies?  The airlines have repeatedly reorganized, and we all know how crucial they are to the economy.  Why can’t “the big three” reorganize, just like the airlines did, even while fuel prices kept rising far beyond any reason?

There is no security on earth. Only in the One Who made it.

Isa 55:6-9

6 “Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Only God can save.

John 3:16-17

16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Acts 2:36-39
6 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

Phil 3:7-21

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
(from New International Version)

 Click 3 times for full-size

rmnp-summit-at-sundance-mountain-to-estes-park-co.pdf

Our family’s favorite getaway is Colorado, due to its majestic mountain beauty and temperature difference from Texas.  It is such a relief to drive up into the mountains and out of the often over 100-degree heat here in the summers (and occasionally Spring and Autumn).  We normally have occasion to travel during the summer, so when we think of travel then, it is either to visit relatives or get away by ourselves.  Sometimes in June there is still snow left on the slopes near Breckenridge, Colorado, and our kids and we have enjoyed sliding down those slopes on makeshift sleds, throwing snowballs, and other snow frolics.  We like to stay in Frisco, because it is centrally located between Dillon, Silverthorne and Breckenridge. 

Occasionally we will venture up to Estes Park by way of Rocky Mountain National Park.  We did this on our last trip and saw some elk we don’t normally get to see.  They are tame to the point of being a bit pushy or forward about getting a snack from passersby; after all, isn’t that why you came?  My wife used to visit Colorado with her family growing up, and really feels like she’s been to Colorado when she has visited Rocky Mountain National Park.  It is not without its dangers, however, and driving at night during a storm or even clouds can be a little scary.  One time we were traveling with my wife’s parents toward Estes Park at night through RMNP and, as mountain passes can be, the weather changed, and we drove into some thick clouds where it had been raining.  The clouds were so thick we had to slow the car down and hold a flashlight outside the car in order to clearly see the road (no fog lights), and we stayed toward the center line after we had noticed the intermittent guardrail with a steep dropoff to our right. 

Finally, we made it down through the clouds and fog, almost a mile lower in elevation from the 12,300 ft. apex of Rocky Mountain National Park,  down the winding roads and switchbacks, finally able to see the lights of the city, then down into Estes Park where we had motel reservations.  We thanked the Lord for keeping us safe on our trip.  It could have turned out much differently.