TAGGED TIME: Building Free Backlinks

Another tag from my Lovely wife Shela. Thank you baby! 143444!!

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To participate:
1. Copy this post starting from the ***Start Copy Here*** to ***End Copy Here***
2. Add your blog to the list below. If you have more than one blog, do the same to all of your blogs so your other blogs will be listed to the master list as well.
3. Post a comment on the original post here so that I can update the list with your link.
4. Be sure to come back and copy the master list back to your site.This process will allow late-comers to get as much link benefit as the first ones in. Enjoy and God bless!

Participants:1. Nita’s Random Thoughts 2. Nita’s Corner 3. Nita’s Ramblings 4. My Wandering Thoughts 5. Batuananons 6. Bohol Paradise 7. Thomas Travel Tales 8. Thomas Web Links 9. Great Finds and Deals 10. Make Money Online 11. Filipino Online Community 12. Arts and Entertainment Center 13. Erlinda’s Wandering Thoughts 14. Entertainment News and Beyond 15. Gagiers Striking Zone 16. Gagiers Amazing World 17. Kusina ni Gagiers 18. My Life, My Fashion, My World 19. Caroland's Breathtaking Adventure 20.SuperNova & SweetPain 21. There's no place like home 22. SheLa'S TiMeOuT 23. The Handy Man's Blog 24 Your URL here!

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Passing this to all who visited me here, lets build up traffics guys!

Brillante Award!

My Beautiful wife Shela and my wonderful sis in law Anniniput awarded me the Brilliante Award. Thank you both guys!! Since I don't have much blogroll yet i will pass this to all who feels like it!


1. Put the logo on your blog


2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.


3. Nominate at least seven other blogs


4. Add links to those blogs on your blog


5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog

The below recipients of the Brillante Weblog are welcomed to put the Logo on their personal blogs and have the honor of passing this award to seven other bloggers.

Bookkeeping Software

*Click to Enlarge Picture *

In the past few years we have been working on a software package at work for Small Business people, called "It's Your Business". It's an Accounting or Bookkeeping program that is very simple and easy to use. We all know gas prices are getting really high and we hate to drive to our Tax Preparer or Bookkeeper to give them our information, so we have incorporated into our software and e-mail service. All you have to do is e-mail your information. No more driving to them! When the information is sent to us, it is encrypted or scrambled and unreadable, except by us. It is available NOW for purchase at our website!

Please check out our website and our new software page and let us know what you think. Thanks!

A-1 Tax Service, Inc.
Tullahoma, TN 37388
http://www.a-1taxservice.com/

Engine Rebuilding

Soon, I am going to partially rebuild and repaint the engine in my 1972 Chevy truck. I have been buying a few parts here and there and I am finally close to doing it. The reason I am rebuilding it is mainly for more power. I use it alot for pulling heavy loads like tractors and such, so more power is a really good thing, as it doesn't stress the motor and transmission parts as much. The main part of the engine is the cylinder block (middle picture) which actually makes the power by burning a mix of gas and air in a combustion chamber (the cylinder). The piston goes down pulling in more air/fuel mixture and then going up to compress and ignite the gases, thus causing an explosion which creates power. On top of the block are cylinder heads (left picture) that have 2 valves for each cylinder. In my case, it is a V8 or 8 cylinders. These valves have a simple job of opening and closing to let in air/fuel mixture and let burnt gases out. There is a intake valve and an exhaust valve which are opened and closed with a spring. This spring is compressed by a piece called a rocker arm which "rocks" back and forth on top of the valve and a piece called a pushrod. Another main part of the cylinder block is the camshaft (right picture), which has several raised spots that push a lifter up and down, which pushes the pushrod and all of that makes the valves open and close. It sounds complicated, but it is actually pretty simple when you see it operate. Basically, as the camshaft turns, it causes the valves to open and close.

The cylinder heads that I bought are called Vortec's and they are some of the best ones you can buy for a chevy truck. They are really good for making power because the way the head is made is very good for allowing the air/fuel mixture to get into the cylinders faster and more efficiently, thus making for more power. A turbo charger works in a similar way, but it forces the air/fuel mix into the cylinders very quickly. Also, the cooler the mix is, the more power you can get, because it is denser and burns better. On top of the cylinder heads is called the intake manifold. It's job is to funnel the air/fuel mix into the cylinder heads. Some brands are better than others becuase they can get the mix into the heads faster and more effieciently also. If you are looking for more power at a slower speed, then you want a "Dual Plane" intake manifold. It is actually a 2 (two) level intake, splitting off for each cylinder. A "Single Plane" intake manifold is better for higher speeds and it is just a 1 (one) level manifold which mixes all together and then is pulled into each cylinder. One of the most important pieces is the carburetor or fuel injection system. It is the one that actually mixes the air and fuel together. If the mix isn't right, the engine will not run as good. So, all of the parts of the engine must run in harmony with each other in order to get the most power out of it. Here's a good site showing just how the components work together - http://auto.howstuffworks.com/engine1.htm. Enjoy!

My sister in need!

The other day my sister stopped at my house early in the morning. She was on her way to a friends house that lived about an hour from where she lives. When she pulled up, I noticed her van was wrecked in the front! She was following a car too close and the car suddenly stopped and she hit them. It did at least $1000 in damage! She has 3 daughters and her husband doesn't know how to to much auto repair, so she asked if I could help her. Naturally, I said "Of course, you are family!" Her radiator cap had been broken off and the radiator, transmission cooler and the A/C condenser had all been sandwiched together and bowed back like a smiley face. It broke her bumper cover ,passenger side headlight and both electric cooling fans were busted and hitting the alternator. Fortunately, it was just pushed against it and didn't hurt the engine at all.

We searched around for parts and found a few used cooling fans from a junkyard for about $100. The other parts were about as cheap new as the used ones, so we got the new ones. The bumper cover and other parts totalled about $700-$800. Several parts came from Ebay and were just like the original parts, which is sometimes the best way to go, unless it is a performance part. But, for a van, it's not needed. Anyways, when all the parts finally arrived, I started putting the pieces of her van back together. Vans are a little harder to work on, because everything is so packed into the front, that makes it very tight on working room. After everything was put back together, the coolant and transmission fluid was added and was tested for leaks while the engine was running. The bumper cover came as a black primer, so I found some cans of spray paint at Advance Auto Parts that matched the original color, which was a goldish color. The paint is actually made for touch ups, but 4-5 of the small cans was enough to finish the bumper cover pretty well. In a day or so, I'll put the clearcoat on to give it the shine. The new headlight still needed a little adjusting to match the old one. They just have a screw usually that moves them up and down. It's easiest to do it at night while the lights are shining on a wall or garage door, that way both headlights are the same level. After all of that, the van was taken to an A/C man to have the A/C recharged and refilled with the oil, which was another $110. She has her van back now and she is glad to have it back. I am glad to be done with it also!! On to my next project, haha!

Music - God's Gift To The Heart

Music has power. It can calm us, stir us and lift our spirits. It can express both our joys and our sorrows. Common to virtually all cultures, past and present. Music is a language of both the mind and the heart. Yes, music truly is a gift from God. From the time we were born, we likely heard some form of music. Perhaps our mother sang lullabies to help us fall asleep. During our teenage years, we may have developed a fondness for music that stirred our heart. Even as adults, many of us enjoy relaxing music while driving or at home, at the end of a busy day. The lyrics of a song may embody certain aspects of a country's culture of history.

All of us can make music by means of our voice. Thanks to the versatility of this built-in instrument, nearly everyone can make music, to some extent, with or without other instruments. All you have to do is open your mouth and sing. When you do, do not pay attention whether or not your singing voice will win you and prizes or cheers. If you practice, you should improve. The voice is directly in contact with the seat from which our deepest emotions spring, and it is the most efficient instrument for expressing them. Singing is exciting and I would recommend that anyone who feels like expressing himself or herself, to do so freely and spontaneously. Because music can have a powerful influence on the heart, we should be selective. Beautiful melodies, for instance, may sugarcoat ugly lyrics that make light of or even promote hatred, immorality or even violence. Our choices of music is no minor matter. Let us all enjoy music and all of it's many forms!

Termite Mound Ventilation

Was it designed??

Termite mounds have been called marvels of engineering, and for good reason. These imposing structures, made of soil and saliva, can stand as high as 20 feet. Their 18 inch walls are baked by the sun until they are as hard as concrete. Some mounds have literally been built overnight.

Near the center of the mound resides the queen, which may lay several thousand eggs each day. Wingless and blind "worker termites" carry off the eggs to specially constructed cells. There they care for the larvae as they hatch. Perhaps the greatest marvel of the mound, though, is it's ventilation system.

Consider this:

A series of chambers and galleries keep the interior of the mound at a constant temperature, despite varying conditions outside. For example, in Zimbabwe, Africa, the outside temperature can fluctuate from 35 degrees Fahrenheit at night to over 100 degrees during the day. Yet, the temperature inside the mound remains constant at 87 degrees. Why?

Strategically placed ventilation holes at the bottom of the mound allow fresh air to enter, while hot stale air is forced out the top. Cooler air enters the mound from an underground chamber and the air circulates through the passages and cells. Termites open and close the holes to adjust the temperature as needed. A constant temperature is essential in order for the termites to farm the fungus that is their primary food.

So impressive is the design of the termite mound that a similar technology was employed by the architects of an office building in Zimbabwe. The building uses just 10 percent of the energy required by conventional buildings of the same size.

What do you think? Did the termites ability to regulate the temperature inside it's mound come about by chance or is this evidence of design??

Finally, My Cube Case is Done!

Well, I finally finished my cube computer case and it turned out really good I think. There's always a few things you wish you would have done differently, but it's all good! Temperatures are running pretty good for a SLI setup, about 35-40 degrees celcius. Having two video cards put out alot of heat but the front fans are doing a nice job. I love the fact that everything is open and easy to work on. My old mid-tower case was just so cramped and cluttered. This cube case is almost like have 2 mid-towers side by side. It's pretty good size, but worth it! Cya later!!

A Work in Progress- Part 2

Still working on my cube case and it is starting to look really good.
I decided to make it a 16 inch X 16 inch (inside measurement) cube, in order to fit everything and have good airflow.
I have a few parts on the way to finish the front & back .
I still have some to do but I'll keep everyone posted and submit my final pics and specs.

A Work in Progress!

I recently started building my own computer case. It's called a PC Cube because it is shaped like one, as in square, haha. A typical tower computer can only hold a certain amount of fans to keep it cool, unless you spend alot for a special one. A cube case is divided up into 2 sections so that the half that holds the motherboard stays cooler. The other side holds the drives and power supply. I will post more pictures as I do moew work on it. I decided to use some plywood and wood pieces that I had laying around. I still have the sides and top to make and fill in all the imperfections. Once done, I will let dry and sand it smooth. Then I am going to paint it a High Gloss Black. The side facing the motherboard will have a window showing the motherboard and all it's goodness. Why not show it off right??

Whenever you build your own, you either have to use parts from another case or you can buy the parts online at a case parts supplier. I bought my aluminum motherboard tray at a play called Performance-PCs.com. It was about $25.00 which is a really good price. I also got some other supplies at mnpctech.com. They offer some really interesting case modding supplies. If you do a search for case modding supplies, you can find a number of sites with what you need. A site called Mountain Mods has some cases similar to what I am making, but they are all aluminum and the cost between $250 and $500!! That's why I am making my own, alot cheaper! Besides, I can say that I made it, so that adds alot to the coolness factor!

I'll keep you posted on my progress. Cya!

My New Computer

My wife's computer kept locking up on her and getting hot, so I ordered the parts for a new computer and gave her the one I was using. She had an old Intel Pentium 4 running at 2Ghz. That's not a bad CPU for office stuff, but it was getting some age to it. I upgraded her to an AMD X2-3800, which is an AMD Dual Core CPU running at 2.4Ghz. Dual Core means that there are actually 2 CPU's running on the same chip. It allows you to do alot more things at one time and it doesn't slow your computer down. Usually, I have found AMD to be far better than Intel in alot of ways. Intel has their good points, but in my opinion, AMD is hands down the way to go. My new system is an AMD X2-6000 Dual Core, running at 3.0Ghz. It may not look alot faster, but it really is. It has 2Gig of memory, 2-160Gig Hard Drives. One hard drive is for Windows XP and the other is my backup drive for my music and movies. I am current using an Nvidia 7900GS video card which does a good job with most graphics applications like games and photo editing. I am looking at getting a second one for about $30 which will give me a SLI graphics computer. SLI means the 2 video cards are actually linked together to really help with games and graphics intensive applications, as long as they support SLI. I'll see how they work together. My main computer board is an Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe. I usually buy all of my computer parts at Newegg.com as they usually have the best prices and they have the shortest shipping times. Whenever you are building your own computer, just make sure everything is compatible with each other and take your time doing it. Do plenty of research and just have fun. Always remember that computer components are sensitive to static, so always touch something metal BEFORE touching them. I am posting a pic of my main board so you can see what I got.

Experience is Key

I have done alot of things in my life and I am only 35.  Hopefully, I will live many more years and add to my knowledge of things. I started out after High School working for a construction company in Manchester, TN and one day they decided they needed to let some people go. So, once again I was looking for a job. Next I found myself working at a plumbing and electrical supply store/wharehouse. I did the deliveries and all of the shipping/receiving of the merchandise there. Needless to say, I was really busy there! I gained alot of experience from working construction and working with plumbing/electrical supplies. Eventually I ended up building houses for a living. Ever since I was in my teens, my Dad has been working with computers and I would help him alot, so I have also been working with computers (hardware and software), since then and still do. Of course, we also like to build things for around the home, like tables, desks, entertainment centers, kitchen cabinets, etc. I have gained alot of knowledge from doing things like this. One thing that has helped me is knowing that if you really want to learn how to do something, just keep trying until you are good at it. Never say you CAN"T do something, it's just because you don't know how. YOU have the power to change that.