Can you have an IRA and TSP at the same time?

Sure, as long as you're eligible for both.  A Thrift Savings Plan, or TSP, is a special retirement account available to federal government employees.  An Individual Retirement Account, or IRA, is available to anyone with the cash to open one (there are IRAs, Roth IRAs, and a few other varieties, but that's for another kyooenay).  TSP.gov says if you want to have both a TSP and IRA, Uncle Sam is more than happy to allow it. 

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Can you insert a pellet stove in a fireplace?

Sure can!  There are a number of pellet stove manufacturers that make pellet stove inserts for fireplaces.  For instance, there''s the Accentra from Harman Home Heating, a pellet stove fireplace insert that sits partly in the fireplace, and turns it into an efficient source of home heating. 



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How much does it cost to hire a home health aide?

A home health aide is just what it sounds like -- a professional to help out at home with someone who needs assistance caring for themselves. Home health aides typically earn about $10-12 an hour if hired directly, though wages are higher in some areas.  If you hire an aide through an agency, expect the cost to about double. 

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Can I Buy a Baby Monitor With a Camera?

The concept of a baby monitor has evolved from a hard wired transmitter/receiver system in the 1970's to the ultimate, battery operated, color video monitor system that not only provides a 7 inch color LCD screen which can be mounted under a kitchen cabinet or allowed to sit unobtrusively on an office bookshelf or workbench but, it includes a 1.8 inch hand held unit to monitor baby from poolside, back yard or while you run to the mailbox.

Who makes the EWC Whole-House Steam Humidifier?

EWC Controls, Inc. in Englishtown, NJ is the manufacturer of the EWC Ultra-Zone steam humidifier.  EWC began life making electric transformers, but now makes and markets a variety of goods, including whole-house humidifiers.  




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What company makes the Duramax diesel engine?

Duramax diesels are big truck engines made by DMAX in Moraine, Ohio.  DMAX is a joint venture (JV) between GM and Isuzu Motors.  It was shut down for a time during GM's bankrupcty restructuring, but nowadays, DMAX is back in action.

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Can you get a federal job even if you have a criminal record?

Yes you can. (In fact, some folks think there are too many crooks working in government, but that's another story).  Uncle Sam has no general prohibition against hiring ex-offenders.  Each individual's history is taken into account during the hiring process.  However, there are a few specific jobs, such as those involving firearms, where some types of criminal history will disqualify you for the job.

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How Can I Clean Glass Shower Doors Without Harsh Chemicals?

If you want to clean glass shower doors without using harsh chemical cleaners try this natural method.  Next time you slice up a lemon, save one half and put it in a plastic baggie.  When you're ready to shower, take the lemon into the shower with you.  Before you do your body wash, take the half a lemon out of the baggie and use it like a scouring pad on the glass shower doors.  Press firmly against the glass, rubbing the lemon until you don't feel the 'drag' of the soap scum any longer.  Rinse the glass and continue your shower

Is Bottled Wine Any Better Than Boxed Wine?

While you may never find your $30 vintage wine in a box, that doesn’t mean that boxed wines are any less enjoyable than the same wine stored in a bottle.  In fact, for many casual table wines, the box is frequently much more economical.  Fear not the box - it's the same joy juice that's in the bottle.  You do have to be more careful with the box as it is easy to pierce the plastic bag while assembling the spigot apparatus.  On the other hand, you just can't squeeze that glass bottle to get the last drop like you can with the box.

How much will I earn with a Bachelor's Degree?

That depends of course on whether you're flipping burgers at McDonalds, or flipping houses on the real estate market.  But on average, people 25 years old or older with a Bachelor's degree earn $1,024 a week --  $53,248 a year -- at least according to the latest wages and earnings info from the Bureau of Labor Statistics over at the US Department of Labor. 

Don't spend it all in one place now.


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How Can I Exercise Without Having the Exercise Equipment at Home?

There is exercise equipment all around you if you look carefully.

Start with your steps, they are great for aerobic workouts.Just stand at the bottom with your feet apart and step up with one foot and then the next. Step down to your starting place, one foot then the next, change the starting foot after 20 times and do 20 more. This is good for your hips and thighs.-Take a walk outdoors. This is good for your heart and your circulation. Just go around the block or to the park at a good pace and it's better than any treadmill.-Do some jumping jacks during commercials while watching tv. Excellent way to lose some weight and keep your heart pumping strong.

What does a PFC (E3) make in the National Guard?

A Private First Class in the National Guard with an E3 designation earns baseline pay of $3,957 a year -- about $3,000 of drill pay and a bit under $1,000 for training pay.  It's possible to add to those earnings from bonuses and educational stipends. 

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Where can I see the live video from the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?

Oh, the poor Gulf of Mexico.  What an unholy mess from the collapse of BP's oil rig, the Deepwater Horizon.  This is easily the worst oil spill in history, far surpassing the Exxon Valdez.  But this being the internet age, you can watch oil gushing from a mile deep in the ocean, robot submarines attempting repairs, nuts and bolts and wrenches drifting in the deep, and even the occasional sea creature swimming by.  See it all at BP's live Deepwater video feed, or head to the main BP site for more information.

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What is the largest endangered land animal?

I'm sorry to say it, but the elephant is the largest land animal, and quite endangered. Of the two species of elephants, both endangered, there are only half a million African elephants remaining in the wild, and the population of Asian elephants living in the wild is almost near extinction.

How can I buy a used FEMA camper or trailer?

Remember all those emergency shelter trailers after Hurricane Katrina?  Miles and miles of them.  Well guess what?  A lot of them are now up for sale, pretty cheap.  So is a lot of other surplus government equipment, like campers, cars and vans, and even houses.  You can see what's available in your neighborhood, and put in a bid at government auction websites.

What are cow horns made of?

That's right, cowpokes.  Some cows have horns, just like bulls. But whether we're talking cows or bulls, all cattle horns are made from the same stuff, bone and keratin.  Bone forms the inner core of the horn.  Keratin -- the material that human hair and fingernails is made of -- forms the outer layer of the horn.

How many people work for the health insurance industry?

Luckily for us, Uncle Sam counts up stuff like this.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics (known to most, simply, as BLS) reports, in its survey of Current Employee Statistics, that health insurance companies employ 440,400 workers as of spring 2010.  And surprise, surprise!  The industry has grown quite a bit in recent years, up from 327,700 employees in 2000. 





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What is a wire crimper?

Well, d'uh.  A wire crimper is a tool for crimping wire!  But what does that mean, exactly?  A wire crimper makes a firm connection between individual strands of wire or cable.  It does this by compressing, indenting, and twisting wires around one another.  A crimper joins wires without the need for solder or heat, and is known as cold-working the wire. 




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What is the size of a standard cinder block?

You get your choice of three sizes.  Large cinder blocks are 8 inches x 8 inches x 16 inches.  Medium sized blocks are 8x4x16 and smaller still are 8x4x12.  If you measure your cinder block, it will be slightly smaller than its nominal size, since dealers leave a bit of room for the layer of mortar used to cement the blocks together. 

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Who said "Life is made of choices"?

This quote, which is getting a lot of mileage these days, was first penned in 1929 by a fellow named William Yerington, in "Emerson and Beyond: Essays Toward a Philosophy."  Yerington wrote the words in an essay he called "The New Supernaturalism", in which he takes Nietzsche to task for...something...but to tell the truth, it's a bit hard to tell exactly what.


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Is the rate of violent crime rising or falling?

Falling, I'm happy to say.  According to the FBI's report, Crime in the United States, there were 454.5 violent crimes (per 100,000 population) in 2008. This is a decrease from the recent high of 758.2 violent crimes per 100,000 that was reported in 1991. 

By the way, there were 3,212.5 property crimes (per 100,000 people) in 2008. 


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What is wheat bran used for?

Wheat bran is made from the outer shell (the husk, I'd guess you call it) of the wheat plant.  It's got a ton of dietary fiber which is good stuff to have in your diet.  Fiber aids digestion and bowel movement.  It has also been shown to help prevent certain types of diseases, especially cancer of the colon and stomach.  Wheat bran is used as a food supplement as well as a medical supplement. 



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How hot is the flame of a butane torch?

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Hot.  Blazing hot!  But not as hot as you think.

A butane torch burns at very close to 5,000 °F (4,995 °F, to be exact). While that's way hotter than your oven, it's not quite hot enough for a lot of jewelry and metal work, which is why crafty and construction-type folks tend to prefer a 6,000+ degree acetylene torch, or even a 5,000+ degree propane torch.


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Who owns GMAC?

Ownership in Corporate America used to be pretty straightforward.  No more!  General Motors Acceptance Corporations -- GMAC -- used to be owned by...ta da!...General Motors.  These days, though its owned by a diverse group.  Thanks to Uncle Sam's bailout dollars, the US Treasury owns 56% of GMAC.  Other shareholders include investment firm, Cerebus (15%), Cerebus 'co-investors' (12%), and something called GM Independent Trust (10%).



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What was the lowest the stock market has ever been?

You've heard of the Great Depression, no doubt.  That was the low point of the stock market, as measured by the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The Dow hit its all-time low of $42.84 on April 1, 1932.  Since then, with a lot of fits and starts and slumps, it has still climbed pretty steadily to its current value of more than $10,000.

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What the @#$%&* is a 'shower cartridge'?

A shower cartridge is a filter, plain and simple.  It may be a filter that screws in just behind the shower head, or the cartridge may actually be integrated with the plumbing.  Shower cartridges can be designed to remove a vareity of contaminants from water, such as chlorine, or particulates. 
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Do I need a license in California to be a private mortgage lender?

Yep, sure do.  California state government requires mortgage lenders to obtain a license from the Department of Corporations. Mortgage lenders are also required by recent federal law to register with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS&R).

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What is MRO procurement?

MRO procurement or purchasing is a common industry phrase for buying maintenance, repair and operation (MRO) supplies. MRO supplies are the things a company needs to keep equipment and facilities running smoothly: spare parts, lubricants, degreasers, cleaning supplies, and so on. 




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What is the chemical composition of the mineral aquamarine?

The blue/blue-green mineral known as aquamarine is one form of the common mineral called beryl.  Beryl is a combination of the elements beryllium, aluminum, silica and oxygen (BeAl2SiO6), and sometimes includes other elements such as lithium, sodium or cesium.  Aquamarine is closely related to emerald, and is a semi-precious gemstone in its own right. 



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Is it okay to delete a file with an EPG extension?

I  wouldn't recommend it, unless you're really sure the file is no longer needed.  Files with an EPG extention are created by assistive software from Dynavox which is designed to provide computer-assisted communication for the disabled.  The software is used directly by the disabled, as well as by educators, parents and caregivers.  So like I said, don't delete it, unless you're sure no one needs it any longer. 

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How many people immigrate to Canada?

More than you might think!  Canada hosts about a quarter of a million new immigrants every year.  In 2008, Canada accepted 247,243 immigrants, according to the Facts and Figures provided by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.  In recent years, 2005 was a peak year for immigration to Canada, with 262,241 new arrivals. 


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Can you copyright a company name?

'Fraid not!  Company names are not subject to copyright protection,  In fact, copyright isn't really meant for any names or other short phrases, slogans, or titles.  Check with the US Copyright Office for more details.  By the way, there are other intellectual property protections for a company name or commercial products, such as trademarks or service marks. 


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How many atoms are there?

There are about 10 ^ 80 atoms in the universe (that's 10 to the 80th power...a really big number).  Of course, that's give or take a few orders of magnitude.  According to one estimate, the range varies from 10 ^ 78 to 10 ^ 82.  However many there are though, there are only 112 different kinds of atoms, one for each element of the periodic table. 

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How much does it cost to charter a plane or jet?

Better up the limit on your credit card account.  Hiring a jet plane is expensive.  A large-cabin executive jet can set you back about $8,000 an hour.  A small, fancy turbo-prop and pilot can be had for about $1,000 an hour. 

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Can it get too cold to snow?

In a nutshell, no.  Snow can fall even at extremely cold temperatures, although the quality of the snow changes as the temperature plunges.  When it gets really, really cold out -- around -40 °F or colder -- the air can be too cold to hold enough water vapor to create snow.  But under ordinary weather conditions, snow can fall no matter how low the thermometer drops.  Read a bit more about whether (weather?) it can be too cold to snow. 

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