What's New This Week? As we do every month we have posted a new recipe on our RunnerDuck Kitchen web page. We hope you enjoy these recipes as well as the ones we send you every week. If you have a favorite recipe that you would like to share with us and our readers please send it along with a little history of it to marilyn@runnerduck.com. We only have so many of our own recipes to share so it would truly be nice to hear from you.
One of the things we've mentioned in the past is how bad it is to pass along emails that are hoaxes. Sometimes it's difficult to tell whether an email is real or bogus. If you get an email that says something like "be sure to forward this to all your friends" be suspicious.
We've added a new link to our home page that will make checking to see if it's a hoax or not very easy. Just go to www.runnerduck.com, click on Quick Links and on the right side of the page is a big pink banner with a link to HoaxBusters.
Be sure to spread the word about this to all your friends! Woops, I just said don't do that, now what do I do? Ah go ahead and tell your friends, you really will be doing them a favor.
DigiTalk
A friend of ours, Gordy, just upgraded to a Windows XP computer. As he's finding out there are quite a few changes between it and some of the older Window programs. One of the things he has been struggling with is how to clean up the temporary Internet files that build up on a computer.
There are a couple of ways but the easiest is to clean them up from within Internet Explorer its self. On the tool bar select "Options" and then "Internet Options". In the middle of the box that opens you should find a section called "Temporary Internet Files".
Within that box there should be three buttons. "Delete Cookies" will delete the cookies written to your hard drive. "Delete Files" will clean up all those temporary files that take up so much space. If it's been a while since you've cleaned out this file the computer may grind away for a couple of minutes.
The third button, "Settings", allows you to set the amount of space you want to allocate to temporary files. I would recommend setting this to a low number like 72. You can also tell the program where you want these temporary files stored. If you don't like them filling up your C: drive you can designate a different drive and folder.
Once you removed all these temporary files it's a good idea to defrag your hard drive. All of this should help keep your computer running fast and smooth.
SITE OF THE WEEK
Have you every bought or sold anything on eBay or other auction site? How good of luck did you have? Did you get what you ordered or did you get the money for what you sold? If not you are not alone. Just like everywhere there are scammers out there trying to take advantage of us poor unsuspecting soles.
There are way too many variations on the schemes to rip people off to mention here but there are some things you can do to protect yourself. The Federal Trade Commission is attempting to crack down on the worst offenders and have provided some guidelines to follow.
For the latest information we would encourage you to visit www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/04/bidderbeware.htm. Do this before you begin dealing with online auctions. Our State Attorney General Christine Gregoire added three more things to the list, use your credit card, use your credit card and use your credit card.
Money orders and draft deposits are really hard to cancel if you don't get your merchandise but with just a phone call you can stop payment with a credit card.
Be ever vigilant and your buying experience should be a good one. Have fun buying and selling good luck on your next bid.
MARILYN'S CORNER
Window Picture Frame
This weeks project can be used a couple of ways. First of all you can make it look like a window going out into the world. It's great for an office or room with no windows. Secondly it's a really cheap way to make a multiple picture frame. With Mother's Day just around the corner this might just be the perfect gift.
Here is a list of the things you will need.
- Four cheap wood picture frames
- Carpenters glue.
- Paint
- Pictures
Glue and clamp four picture frames together into a large square.
If you want to paint them remove all the glass and backing and paint them.
You can put a different picture in each frame or find a large picture that will cover all four frames. This makes it look like you are looking out a window. You can find pictures from calendars or print one of your own.
Add a picture hanger in the middle along the top edge and you are good to go.
These really make nice gifts for mothers or grandmothers.
We hope you enjoy Marilyn's Corner and look forward to all the fun things she brings you each week. If you have a fun project that would be suitable for our newsletter we'd love to share it with our readers. Just contact marilyn@runnerduck.com and we'll do the rest.
Remember we have all of our past projects archived on our web site at www.runnerduck.com. Just click on the Projects or Kids Only Eggs.
SAVE UP TO 60%
Do you like to play games and put together puzzles? Better yet do you like to save money? We think you are going to like some of the great deals awaiting you at the Toys Outlet. Just click on the banner below to check out these great deals.
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The Tempos
News and CD of the Week
On the off chance that you have a big swing band like the Tempos we have found a great source for big band arrangements. Douglas Smink in Gaithersburg, MD has a huge selection of really wonderful arrangements of many old standards. He sells them at a really reasonable price and the copies are very well done. If you are interested his email address is dismink@aol.com.
You can check out our summer schedule at the Tempos web site www.thetempos.com/jobs.htm. If you are making plans to visit Seattle this summer try to fit in one of our fun concerts.
Don't forget that The Tempos big swing band is available for hire. If you have a special event that could use the wonderful music of a classic big band be sure to contact thetempos@runnerduck.com.
There are some artists that are timeless and Dave Brubeck is one of those. He first came to popularity in the 50's but his piano playing has endured every decade since. His latest CD is another winner from his keyboard.
“This album of music performed so superbly by Bobby Militello, Michael Moore and Randy Jones closely reflects the kind of program the quartet gives in concert, a mix of the familiar and the new, in what we hope you will find to be a stimulating brew (no pun intended) recorded live at Starbucks." —Dave Brubeck, from the liner notes.
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Remember, we have a link on our web site, www.runnerduck.com, to our ever popular Grammy® Shopper site. If you haven't been there yet just click HERE to see all the 2003 Grammy® winners complete with links to purchase any one of them.
Questions and Answers
Welcome to our Q&A center.
Got questions? We've got answers.
Got answers? We've got questions.
Q: Curt writes "I think your Toy Rubber Band Gun is terrific. I just learned about it and am trying to make one. I got stumped when I went to attach the clothes pin.
If I drill holes in both pieces of the clothes pin the screws that I put through those holes will hold the clothes pin stationary and not allow it to work as the "trigger." There must be a simple solution, but I do not see it. Please tell me how to fasten the clothes pin properly.
A: If I understand your question correctly we just drilled holes in one half of the close pin, the half that attaches to the gun handle. You can pull the clothes pin apart, mount the bottom half with two screws and glue. Then slide the two halves, with the spring, back together.
JOKE OF THE WEEK
SURE GLAD WE LIVE WHERE WE DO!
A guy was sitting in an airplane when another guy took the seat beside
him. The new guy was an absolute wreck, pale, hands shaking, biting
his nails, and moaning in fear.
"Hey, pal, what's the matter?" asked the first guy.
"Oh my God...I've been transferred to California," the second guy
answered. "There are crazy people in California, and they have
shootings, gangs, race riots, drugs, the highest crime rate...."
"Hold on," said the first. "I've been in California all my life, and
it's not as bad as the media says. Find a nice home, go to work, mind
your own business, enroll your kids in a good school, and it's as safe
as anywhere in the world."
The second guy relaxed and stopped shaking for a moment and said, "Oh,
thank God. I've been worried to death, but if you live there and say
it's OK, I'll take your word for it. By the way, what do you do for a
living?"
"Me? I'm a tail gunner on a bread truck."
CONSERVATION TIP
It's time to grease up the bike chain and put some air in those tires. May 16th through June 13th is National Bike To Work Month. Now there's a real opportunity to conserve some fuel and wear and tear on the car. Not to mention how good it will be for your body. Start making plans now to participate in this great event.
If you have a conservation tip please send it to conservation@runnerduck.com
and we'll post it in our newsletter.
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THIS WEEK'S FREE RECIPE
Chocolate Pound Cake
There are a bazillion chocolate pound cake recipes out there but we think this is one of the best. We think you will agree once you've tired it.
- 1 Cup Butter
- 1/2 Cup Shortening
- 3 Cups Sugar
- 3 Cups Cake Flour
- 4-5 Tablespoons Cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 5 Eggs
- 1 Cup Milk
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
Cream the Butter, Shortening, and Sugar.
Sift Flour, Cocoa, Baking Powder and Salt.
Add Eggs one at a time alternating with the Milk, Flour and Vanilla.
Put in a pan.
Bake at 325 degrees F for 1 hour 15 minutes. Do Not Open The Oven while it is baking.
Remember, if you have a recipe you'd like to share please send it to marilyn@runnerduck.com.
Every month we post a new recipe on our web page. Be sure and check out the NEW May recipe at the RunnerDuck Kitchen Store.
We'd be happy to post your favorite recipe there or in our newsletter and give you credit. Just drop a line to marilyn@runnerduck.com.
A GREAT DEAL FOR RunnerDuck SUBSCRIBERS
Mother's Day is just around the corner and it's time to start ordering that special gift just for her. Tabletools.com is one of our favorite shopping places for unique kitchen tools at really great prices. If you've never been there before we'd encourage you to check them out. They just may have that perfect gift for mom.
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COOKBOOK
SUGGESTION OF THE WEEK
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"Elizabeth Alston's Best Baking" by Elizabeth Alston
As I mentioned there are lots of great pound cake recipes. Elizabeth Alston has put together some really great ones in this recipe book. One person that bought this book wrote: "I haven't made all the cakes in this book, but I've made over half of them, and all have worked out well.
My primary interest is in the pound cakes and angel food cakes; I've made all of these. In particular, the fresh raspberry and the lemon-vanilla cakes have turned out extremely well. In the pound cakes, I had the best result with the sour cream/chocolate chip and the soaked orange cakes. I've also made almost all the chiffon recipes, with the best results with the orange-and-lemon and the chiffon spice cakes."
Be sure and visit the
RunnerDuck Cookbook Store for other great savings on cookbooks and cooking supplies.
PROJECTS
Cupola, Step 3
Last week we made the base for our cupola and this week we'll make the roof. If you missed last weeks step you can go to www.runnerduck.com/04-25-03.htm to check it out.
The roof turned out to be the toughest part of the project so far. There was an awful lot of fiddling around with the different angles and shingles.
Here's a list of what you'll need for the whole project;
We used Cedar for everything but the plywood. You may want to choose other wood. We felt like Cedar would look the best and last the longest.
- 1/2" plywood 2' X 4', best if it's marine grade.
- (2) 1" X 6" Cedar 6' long
- 1" X 4" Cedar 5' long
- (2) 3/4" X 4" Cedar 8' long
- 2" X 2" Cedar 3' long
- 36" fine screen
- Nails, screws and glue.
- Stain and/or preservative.
The base for the roof is 15" X 15" using 1/2" plywood. I'd suggest marine grade plywood if you don't paint your cupola.
The rafters are from (4) 1" X 6" Cedar 22" long.
Set the table saw miter to 66 1/2 degrees and the blade to 19 degrees. The rafters will go back to back so you'll need to cut each board with a mirror image. Hopefully this picture will help.
Cut a notch in the top of one rafter and the bottom of the other so they will nest with one another.
Glue and attach the rafters to the base by nailing from the back side.
Center the base on the vent section we built last week and screw it down.
Now cut the four pieces of sheeting for the roof.
Use 1/2" plywood. Cut 4 pieces 8 3/4" X 14 15/16".
Set the table saw miter to 40.5 degrees and the blade to 21 degrees.
Cut from the peak to the corners on all four pieces.
Glue and nail all four pieces onto the rafters.
Now the fun part. Start cutting and nailing the Cedar shingles in place. The first course should hang over the edge about 1/2". Each additional course should be about 2 1/2" to 3" from the edge of the previous course.
That will definitely keep you busy for the week.
Next week we'll mount it on the roof and do the final assembly.
If you have a project that you would like to share please drop us a line and we'll help get it published in the RunnerDuck review. We are looking for woodworking, gardening, crafts and kids projects so send us your thoughts at projects@runnerduck.com
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If you want to talk about something just drop us a line at duckmaster@runnerduck.com any time, we like to talk about most anything. We are always looking for content for our newsletter so if you have something to add we'd love to publish it. Assuming it meets our strict family oriented requirements!
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