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The Longest Day of the Year!
Did you know that June 21st is the longest day of the year? Well not technically, because all days are 24 hours long, but it is known as the longest day of the year because the time between sunrise and sunset is at it's maximum. This is because on June 21st, the Summer Solstice, the sun is the farthest north it can be. So plan something fun this June 21st and make the most of the extra sunlight!
Fascination with Bees!
It is believed that bees actual evolved from wasps. There are slightly fewer than 20,000 known species of bees in the world today. The world's smallest bee is approx. 2.1 mm, while the largest bee is approx. 1.5 inches. Bees are found in every continent except Antarctica. Bees play a vital role in the pollination of flowers, as well as providing sweet honey for you to eat.
A queen honeybee may lay up to 2000 eggs per day. However, most of those new bees will simply replace older worker bees that are dying off daily.
Hollywood BUZZ
The top 11 American Idol Contestants will be touring the country this July through September starting in SLC, UT and ending in Rochester, NY.
The Office…It's a big deal trying to replace the comedian of a boss Michael Scott (Steve Carell). Nobody knows who the next boss will be. The official decision will be released at the premiere in September 2011
Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon was bumped up to be released on June 29th this year. Although Megan Fox will not be in it due to a bad relationship between her and director Michael Bay, reviews have said that it is as good as the first Transformers.
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Summer Savings
With the latest increase in fuel prices, everyone is looking for a way to cut down costs and save money. However, with the summer heat quickly moving in, be prepared to spend more money on electricity and air conditioning. Unless, of course, you make use of the following tips:
Close the Damper: You would be surprised how many people forget to close the damper on their fireplace. If you run your air conditioner with an open damper, it will act as a vacuum sucking hot outside air into your home.
Use the Dishwasher Wisely: 1) Skip the drying cycle and instead, open the door and let the dishes air dry. 2) Because running the dishwasher creates additional heat, only use the dishwasher in the evening when the air inside is cooler.
Drink Plenty of Liquids: When you are dehydrated, your body temperature rises making you feel warmer. So, be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of liquids.
Fire up the Barbeque: Instead of using the oven, adding a lot of additional heat into your home, use an outdoor grill. You can use the grill to cook everything from vegetables to meat.
Use Fans Wisely: When using fans at night, have them blow outside the window. This will cause warm air to be blown out of your house. Naturally, cool air will flow in through the window. Contrary to what you may think, this method is much more efficient than having the window fans blowing inside your house.
Block the Sun: If you have window curtains and blinds, use them. Blocking out the sun can reduce the amount of heat that passes into your home by more than 25%.
Change the Filter: Make sure to clean or replace the air conditioning filter. A clean filter will enable your air conditioner to run as efficiently as possible.
Hang a Clothesline: Hang your clothes outside to dry instead of using your clothes dryer. This will save not only energy, but it also will keep your home noticeably cooler.
Freezing Rice: Rice retains cold for a long time. Utilize this by filling a sock with rice and freezing it. Use in between sheets, under pillows etc.
Installing Solar Panels: The cost of installing solar panels has gone down drastically from what it once was. You can install a panel that will produce 200 watts of energy for less than $800.00. The key is, to do what you can yourself and hire a licensed electrician hired to make the final connection.
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