Planning, preparing for the winter
Autumn brings thoughts of rising utility bills. For some, heating costs aren’t merely an annoyance, but they have instead become a bill that needs to be well-planned-for. Now is a good time to prepare for the upcoming colder temperatures.
Here are some strategies for doing just that:
-- Bulking up — Pull out the flannel or polar fleece sheets, layers of clothing, extra blankets, wool socks or slippers. Electric blankets and mattress pads, hot water bottles, and homemade rice heating pads (by filling a clean tube sock with uncooked rice and heating in the microwave) can be used to warm up, too.
-- Seal out the drafts — Many put up window film, but there are alternatives. You can consider temporary removable weather sealants such as Windjammer by Liquid Nails. It can be applied around doors and windows. Or try window quilts, draft stoppers, space blankets from the sporting goods department, foam insulation, door insulation kits or bubble wrap. Make sure curtains and blinds are closed at night and allow the sun in during the day. If you have a fireplace, consider inflatable draft stoppers.
THE GENERAL'SLAST STAND
Cahill (Dublin) - Aug. 18th 1994. Martin, beloved husband of Frances, Swan Grove, Ranelagh: deeply regretted by his sorrowing wife and family. Funeral arrangements later.Death notice that appeared in Dublin papers.
All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Mathew 26:52.
Well, we’ve all heard that before. But no one said anything about a Magnum .357, the weapon used to blow holes the size of golf balls in Martin Cahill. Whoever shot him wasn’t taking chances. Five bullets, at close range, from a dirty great handgun powerful enough to bring down an elephant. They left him slumped across the front seats of his black Renault 5, blood streaming from his neck, soaking his shirt. Motorcycle courier Niall Keogh, the first witness on the scene, was in no doubt about what he saw. “I looked into the car and he was brown bread,” he told reporters.