Wrong.  Nothing is ever easy.  Ever.  Especially when it comes to home improvement.

Granted, it's probably the easiest of the types of flooring to install.  But, there are still some "gotchas" you want to watch out for.

Here are some tips that other instructions don't include that will make your job easier:

1.  Use a chalk line to snap a straight line along your starting wall, allowing for the expansion gap (usually 1/4 to 1/2 inch).  Use the line as a guide to line up your first few rows.

2. There may be some confusion as to which part is the "tongue" and which part is the "groove".  This is important since the directions from various manufacturers tell you to start with either the tongue-side or the groove-side facing the wall.  But rather than traditional tongue-and-groove, which has the tongue in the middle of the thickness of the board, newer laminate has the top part of the thickness "shifted" to the side of the bottom part.  So, you somewhat have a tongue on both sides and the groove on both sides.  As a rule of thumb, use the unfinished (bottom) part that sticks out as the tongue.

3. Lay your first row completely.  Then start the second row, staggered, of course, so there are no seams that line up from one row to the next.  In the second row, you will insert the long edge onto the first row, then lay the board flat.  The next piece of the second row will attach by inserting the long edge (just like the first piece), and sliding the board along the row up into place.  And it should just lay down on top of the first piece.  IF the short side of the new board does not simply lay onto the short side of the first piece, then you are laying the floor in the wrong direction (regardless of the directions).  Change from left-to-right or right-to-left and see if that doesn't make a difference!

4.  Make sure you are ending in a closet, if possible, so you can use up odd or short pieces of flooring.

5.  Buy a pull bar.  Don't try to get away without one.  They are cheap, and the last few rows are impossible to do without one.

6.  Do NOT try to cut the floor around trim pieces (like molding around doors).  Because you need to leave the gap, and because the board is tough to cut, it will be much more difficult.  Again, spend the money on one of those offset saws that lets you cut the trim pieces up higher.  You will not regret it.

We hope these tips help you when you install laminate wood flooring.

Linda - http://how.best-free-information.com - The "How" Blog

Sometimes you just want to see the unread messages in gmail.

The trick is simple. Use this "search" in your gmail:

label:unread label:inbox

That will only display all of the unread messages in your inbox.

Drop the "label:inbox" if you just want to see all of your unread messages in all of your labels.

Hope that helps!

Well...almost seamless.

One of the common complaints is that only SOME of your outbound calls are going through Google Voice, EVEN IF you have the Droid configured to always dial using GV.

Notice two things:

1. on calls that do not use Google Voice, you will see the normal droid logo and the normal hangup button.
2. on calls that DO use GV, you will see a little notice telling you that it is being used, and showing you a number. It might not be your GV number...don't worry about the person you're calling not recognizing your number. Your GV number will still show.

Here's the usual culprit: Area Codes!

If you have contact phone numbers that are stored as 7 digit, Google Voice does not know how to dial them. They do not yet have a default area code to prefix the call if it does not have a 10-digit number in the contact list.

So, even if your Droid is set to dial using Google Voice every time, for contacts without 10-digits (the area code + number), the call will go through your normal phone.

Hope this helps some of you who may be facing this frustration! I love my Droid Incredible, but it was a pain trying to figure out why it wouldn't dial with Google Voice every time.

Linda - http://how.best-free-information.com - The "How" Blog

Then I got a Droid Incredible. Tons of options on how to dial folks, but nothing like what I wanted.

I wanted one-touch dialing to my top 25 favorite people.

Well, it took me a while, but I finally figured a way. It's a bit clunky to setup, but once it's done, it works beautifully.

First, create a folder by touching a blank spot on one of your home screens and holding it. After a few seconds, you will get a menu pop up. Choose Folder, then New Folder. This adds a blank folder to that home page.

Oddly, you can't create Direct Dials within the folder. You have to create them outside the folder and drag them in.

From the page with the folder, find a blank spot, and touch the screen and hold it again. This time, select Shortcut, then Direct Dial. Choose the person you want to create the shortcut, then select which contact number. This will add a one-touch dial to the spot on your page.

Then you can touch and HOLD that icon until it is surrounded by a green circle (and you'll feel a slight vibration), and then you can drag that icon into the folder.

Repeat.

Oh...naming the folder isn't intuitive either. But if you open the folder, then touch-and-hold the title (which says "Folder"), it will give you the option to rename it. This way you can have folders on your home page (like "Clients", "Vendors", "Family"), and have your one-touch direct dial buttons gathered.

One-touch to open the folder, one-touch to dial the person.

This is made easier if they are linked through Facebook...and their picture shows up as the icon. You know exactly who you are dialing!

The Droid Incredible really is incredible, once you figure it out!

Linda - http://how.best-free-information.com - The "How" Blog

The math part is not difficult, and we will explain it in a little bit, but first, let's help with the high-level understanding of fraction addition by using a visual. Picture a piece of pizza sliced evenly into six pieces. Each slice, then, is 1/6. If one person ordered 1 slice (1/6), and a second person ordered 1 slice (1/6), that makes 2/6. You simply add the numerator (the number on top) for fractions that have the same denominator (the number on bottom). EASY!

But what happens when the fractions have different denominators? For example, what if one person orders 1/3 of a pizza, and another orders 1/2 of a pizza?

You MUST convert the fraction into common units.

Two slices would be 1/3, right? (2/6 = 1/3) And three slices is 1/2 (3/6 = 1/2).

So, if one person wanted 1/2 the pizza, and another wanted 1/3 of the pizza, how many slices do you need to give away? OH NO...you have to add fractions! Don't panic! Let's break it down.

How many slices is in the order for 1/2 the pizza? Three. How many slices is order for 1/3 of the pizza? Two. How many slices for both orders? Five. Five slices, or 5/6, since each slice is one-sixth (1/6).

Congratulations...you just added fractions. You added 1/2 to 1/3 and got 5/6. And it wasn't magic.

What you did is find the "common denominator". That's a fancy term for the fraction that works out evenly for both types of orders...in the case of the pizza, the common denominator was 1/6.

To explain it in the math format: to add fractions you must first convert the fractions so they all have the same denominator (the bottom number), then you simply add the numbers across the top. The common denominator between 1/2 and 1/3 is "6". (1/2 = 3/6, and 1/3 = 2/6). Therefore, 1/2 + 1/3 is the same as 3/6 + 2/6 is the same as 5/6.

Before you can be good at adding fractions, you MUST be good at finding common denominators and converting the fraction. Once you do, it is as simple as adding the top numbers together. The last step would be to simplify the fraction (reduce it to the smallest possible denominator).

To summarize: convert the fractions to common denominators, sum the numerators, simplify.

Linda - http://how.best-free-information.com - The "How" Blog

There are four major categories of injuries on a stationary bike: knee, hip, back, and wrist injuries. Knee injuries are usually caused when the seat is incorrectly adjusted or the resistance is set too high. Hip injuries usually occur by using the bike too frequently and exercising too strenuously without slowly increasing the workout intensity. Back injuries can happen by using improper posture during the workout. And wrist injuries develop when fatigue sets which causes a person to lean forward on the handlebars, placing too much weight and strain on the wrists over time.

All of these injuries can be avoided by: properly adjusting the machine, keeping the correct, upright posture during the workout, and using workout routines that are only moderately strenuous.

You do NOT have to push yourself hard on a stationary bike. Low resistance and a slow pace is still a really good workout, even though you may not be feeling it right away. Even though the large muscle groups, such as the thigh muscles, may feel strong to you, and able to push harder, there are many smaller muscle groups that do not get worked out, and you risk injuring these by pushing yourself too hard. If you have been using an upright bike, you may consider switching to a recumbent bike, or vise versa, just to mix it up a bit. Take it slow, and in small doses.

You may not need to wear a helmet to avoid injury on an exercise bike, but you still need to use common sense about the limits of your body.

Linda - http://how.best-free-information.com - The "How" Blog

This is not always best. And if you are using Camtasia Studio to edit the video, it does not read the MP4 format that Flip Video uses.

Before December 2009, Flip Video's software, called FlipShare, used to convert and compress the videos to a WMV or MOV format. However, with the firmware upgrade at that time, they got rid of the conversion. They compress it, but leave it as an MP4 format.

After pestering Flip Video's support staff for a day, I finally got in touch with a knowledgeable tech who explained all of this. And, on the down-low, recommended I use Koyote's free video converter (found at http://www.koyotesoft.com).

I downloaded the converter and saved the video from the MP4 format on the device itself into a host of formats on my local drive. WMV works well, as does AVI (and of course, AVI has better quality).

So, if you're using Camtasia and are extremely frustrated about not being able to edit your Flip Videos, give Koyote's video converter a try, or any other free converter to move it from the MP4 format to a workable one.

Linda - http://how.best-free-information.com - The "How" Blog

There is a wide variety of under cabinet lights. You can get a lightbar with LEDs. LEDs emit little to no heat, and use very little electricity, and yet produce quite a bright amount of light. They also last much longer than incandescent or even fluorescent bulbs.

Another variety is called a "puck light". It is a series of individual, round puck-like lights that are small and can be mounted in a variety of patterns. This makes it easy to illuminate certain, specific sections of your counters, either for a brighter workspace, or to highlight decorative elements. They plug in directly to the wall, which eliminates some of the work of hard-wiring.

As for materials, you will need the lighting kit, screwdrivers, drill with appropriate-sized bits, hammer, pencil, and safety glasses. If you choose to recess the lights, you will need a hole saw, or a keyhole saw. As always, refer to the instructions that come with your specific kit.

Clear both the counter below the cabinet, and remove the contents from the bottom shelf of the cabinets. Next, plan the layout of your lights. Some manufacturers have specific instructions about the spacing of the lights (for heat-emitting reasons), so pay attention to the instructions.

You want to place the lights as close to the front of the cabinet as possible. This gives the best lighting on the counter, and the facing of the cabinet can hide the lights and wires. You want to hide the wires and the unit that will plug into the wall. (Running the wires down behind a refrigerator is a good choice.) However, you may need to drill a small hole into the bottom of the cabinet and have the wires run through the cabinets themselves.

Mark the position of the lights with your pencil. Position the fixture, with the wire pointing toward the back of the cabinet. Mount the lights with either the included screws, or wood screws. Use wire tacks to secure the wires from the power supply to the light fixtures, again, as close as possible to the front of the cabinet. Hide excess cord inside or in between the cabinets. Once all units are installed, connect them to the wires and test.

If you are installing an under counter TV or radio, be sure to place the lights with enough room to allow the TV/radio unit in between the lights.

Linda - http://how.best-free-information.com - The "How" Blog

Wicker is known to be a dust-catcher. All of the tiny nooks and crannies make it difficult to clean.

The best way to clean it is to start with a vacuum cleaner with some kind of brush attachment. Vacuum the entire chair, on all surfaces, top and bottom. Once that is done, take a damp cloth and wipe down the entire chair.

Sometimes it may be helpful to oil the chair (all wood needs oil to help it stay conditioned). You can work the oil into the wicker with a brush, but thin it a bit first by mixing it with thinner. After you brush it on, you can buff out the excess with a dry cloth.

Linda - http://how.best-free-information.com - The "How" Blog

Here are some tips to stay safe:

1. Avoid walking in socks on hardwood stairs. If you must wear socks around the house, then add stair tread rugs to the steps to give you traction.

2. Use the handrail. I know. Basics. But in the event you do slip, which does happen, you can catch yourself before you take a tumble.

3. Slow down. It's not a race. Moving quickly on the steps is asking for trouble.

4. Keep the steps clear of clutter. Many folks place items on the steps "to be carried up next time". But they pose a danger for folks coming down.

5. Turn on the lights! It's easier to avoid falling if you can see where to step.

6. Big feet? Small steps? Turn sideways a bit as you go up and down so you get your entire foot on the stair tread. If you step down with your toes hanging off each stair, you risk falling.

Linda - http://how.best-free-information.com - The "How" Blog