How To Make a Tsunami Prediction

A tsunami is the Japanese term for a tidal wave. It is characterized by a wave train that happens when a large volume of water is displaced. Tsunamis can be caused by a number of factors. Earthquakes, underwater explosions, meteorite impacts, landslides and volcanic eruptions can produce a tsunami. Because of its huge water volume and its immense energy, tsunamis can cause huge damages to a lot of coastal areas. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was the worst tsunami ever recorded. It was triggered by a 9.1 – 9.3 moment magnitude earthquake and killed as many as 300,000 people. It is considered one of the deadliest natural disasters in history. Because of this, prediction of a tsunami is a field of science that has gained importance over the years. Scientists have been constantly forming strategies and methods to predict these killer waves. Here is how you can predict a tsunami.

    Watch out for earthquakes. Earthquakes usually cause tsunamis. When a high-magnitude earthquake occurs, it can be expected that tsunamis can be generated elsewhere. The possibility of such an occurrence is intensified when an earthquake is generated in an area that is surrounded by a body of water. Since an earthquake needs to happen first before a tsunami can be expected, the best thing that people can do is to warn people living in areas that are located an hour or even a number of hours away from where the earthquake happened. Tsunamis move fast. An efficient warning system is needed because by the time that the nearest area has been warned, that same area may have already been damaged and devastated by the tsunami.

    Watch out for volcanic eruptions. Explosive eruptions can displace a large amount of water through debris avalanches, pyroclastic flows and landslides. Formation of calderas because of collapsing volcanoes can also suddenly displace water. When any of these disasters happen, you can expect that a tsunami can be generated. Hence, you need to always watch out for news for explosive eruptions in order to be warned of the risk of tsunami generation.
    Watch out for tsunami warnings from monitoring stations. In the Pacific Ocean, a warning system called the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has been set up in order to monitor tsunami occurrences. It uses a network of seismographic and tidal stations strategically located in the Pacific basin in order to get and process data to predict whether a tsunami can be generated. Warning signals are sent out to coastal areas in the Pacific when a tsunami is detected.
    Know if the area where you live in has been visited by tsunamis in the past. Some places are more prone to tsunamis than others. Tokyo, Hawaii, California and Singapore are some of these. In case you are living in an area where there is a great threat of a tsunami occurrence, be aware of some of the tsunami safety rules and make sure that you follow all of them.


Take note of all of these ways to predict a tsunami since a tsunami knows no concept of time. It can occur at any time, on any day so you should be prepared at all times.

How To Protect your Plants from your Cat

Cats like playing around with stuff they can get their paws on including your plants. They are most especially drawn to green and leafy plants and will not hesitate to nip at your plants given the opportunity. Your cat is not different from all other cats so expect the same behavior. Short of banning your cat from the premises of your home or before it even gets to the point where you put your cat up for adoption, there are ways to approach this problem before it really gets out of hand.

Here are some suggestions on keeping your cat off your plants.

    Pile on some rough stones. Your cat will dig through the soil surrounding your plants before actually moving on to the leaves or flowers. Provide a deterrent by placing rough stones around the soil of your plants. Once you are done with this task, observe how your cat will go about the new addition. If you see that he is still able to dig his way through. Go to the next suggestion.
    Sprinkle used coffee grounds on the soil. Coffee grounds are also great for soil fertilization so by sprinkling these on the soil, not only will your turn your cat off from playing with your plants, you also promote healthier soil.
    Elevate your plants. Get someone to make hanging shelves for you to place your plants on. By elevating your plants you are essentially solving the problem and nipping it in the bud. Just make sure your cat wouldn’t be able to find your way to the shelves by climbing through steel bars or steel enclosures near the shelves.

    Place your potted plants in a cart or barrel. It will make it difficult for your cat to climb through either to get to your plants.
    Sprinkle cayenne pepper on the soil and the leaves of your plants. The sting alone will make your cat leave your plants well alone.
    Buy plants that cats don’t like. Thorny plants and plants that give off a repugnant smell (for animals like cats) are one of the best deterrents for your cat.
    Make a green patch of grass. Here’s something you might not know: cats love grass and prefer it to plants. Maybe your cat attacks your plants because you don’t have a patch of green grass in your garden? Well, it’s time to get one in your garden. Buy the fast-growing variety of green grass. For sure, your cat will hang out on the grass more often than he would on your plants. However, you have to be aware of the fact that it will take a transition period from plants to grass but your cat will wise up eventually.
    Place lemon peels on the soil. The citrus scent of lemon and other citrus fruits for that matter turn cats off. It will also keep insects off your plants. Again – dual purpose.
    Tie tea bags on the stems of your plants. Tea bags also work against your cat’s instinct of nipping your plants. The green tea variety is particularly repugnant to your house feline.


You have to remember that cats don’t automatically focus on your plants as a plaything to destroy. In fact, this is the last resort when they are bored. Aside from using the suggestions listed on this page, you can buy toys or create home-made catnip that cats like playing with.

How To Troubleshoot your Refrigerator

Your refrigerator can be considered a heavy-duty appliance since it works all day round. However, there are cases in which problems arise. Before you consider replacing your refrigerator, do some troubleshooting and investigation first. Learning how to troubleshoot your refrigerator can save you time, effort, and a good amount of money. Here are some easy-to-follow tips in solving common refrigerator woes.

    Check the power cord and plug. Before you end up whining, check if the cord is properly plugged in. If the cord is plugged in but the refrigerator is not working at all, the circuit breaker may have been tripped. Most house designs have a separate circuit breaker for heavy-duty appliances like HVAC and refrigeration. Check your fuse box, or use a voltage tester to see if the power outlet is working.
    Move the appliance away from the wall. Never position the appliance too close to the wall. Instead, leave at least four inches from the wall in order for the coils on the back to circulate properly. Some refrigerators have internal coils at the side, so consider your ref’s design in positioning it relative to the wall.
    Check the bulb or the bulb switch. Your fridge bulb should light up whenever the door is open. If it doesn’t turn on, this might indicate that either the bulb or the fridge is not working. Sometimes, though, the bulb remains turned on even when the door is shut, and this will result in cooling problems. Press on the kill switch along the door to check if the light is going off as intended. The light should turn off when you press the button. Change the switch if it is not functioning properly.

    Adjust the thermostat controller. The normal temperature inside a refrigerator is between 1 to 5 degrees Celsius. If you feel that your fringe is giving off warm air, then you have to check the thermostat setting. Simply adjust the thermostat controller located inside the refrigerator to a higher level.
    Check the fan and the condenser coils. If adjusting the temperature does not make any difference, then the problem may be in the fan or condenser coils. Their location will depend on the model of your fridge. Remove the fan and condenser coil cover and clean the inside with a vacuum cleaner or brush. Wash these with soap and water if the particles have thickened and have become greasy.
    Defrost the fridge. Defrosting involves removing the ice or frost from inside the freezer and the cooling elements. While some refrigerator models are self-defrosting, some will require manual defrosting on a regular basis. Remove all of the perishable foods and other items from the fridge and freezer. Turn off the refrigerator and leave the doors open overnight for the ice to melt. In the morning, make sure that you remove the remaining water first before replacing the items.

    Switch on the refrigerator and set the thermostat to its medium setting. Open the refrigerator after six hours and check if the temperature is back to normal. Some refrigerators offer a one-touch defrost setting, in which you just press a button, and the fridge turns off. It will automatically turn on when all the ice in the freezer has melted. After defrosting check the backside of the refrigerator for any accumulated water in the water receptacle. This is usually where the melted frost goes.


Most minor fridge problems can be solved on your own. However, if the issue is in the coolant or power supply, then you will have to ask for professional help.

How To Unscrew a Bathtub Stopper

Unscrewing your bathtub stopper is necessary in order to replace it and to have your drain unclogged. Some people hire a plumber to do this but doing this yourself will actually save you money. You will also be able to acquire experience in maintaining and fixing your bathtub. This is actually a very easy task. Just make sure you know what type it is and you’ll be able to do it in no time. Just follow the simple instructions below and you will be able to successfully remove your bathtub stopper.

    Remove foot-lock plug. Remove your tub’s foot-lock plug. To do so, just unscrew it by simply turning it around in a counterclockwise manner. You shall find out if this is the type of your plug through the manner in which the drain is plugged. If the drain is sealed and unsealed by the foot pushing toward the plug, then it is a foot-lock plug.
    Remove roller-ball-type plug. If it is a roller-ball-type plug, unscrew it by simply turning it around in a counter-clockwise manner. If in the case you get the push and pull variant of this plug, know that you will need to either push or pull on its drain knob in order to have its seal changed.
    Remove lift-and-turn drain. If you have this type, look for its set screw. It should be underside. Unscrew it. You can now remove the plug. If you rotate its drain plug to have it sealed or unsealed, then it is a lift-and-turn drain.

    Remove pop-up drains. If you have this type, use pliers in order to hold down the stem underneath its cap. Unscrew this cap in order to have the plugged removed. You have this type if plug the drain by using the trip lever controlling the plug.


Now that you know the basics, the job should be easy enough, but if you are still unsure, you might want to ask your plumber about it. You should also take note that the instructions may change depending on the material of your bathtub stopper. Just remember the quick guidelines. Usually, bath tubs already come with a stopper. It is very simple especially if you already know the drain plug that you have. If the tub doesn’t have its trip lever, then it means that it’s a foot lock, lift-and-turn, or roller ball. If it has a smooth stopper, with no handle at the center, then it’s a foot-lock drain. If there is a handle at the center and it needs pushing and pulling, yours is a roller-ball drain. The twist-and-turn kinds of drains are similar to the roller-ball drains. However, they will require twisting the stopper along different directions in order to open it or close it. If the tub has its own trip lever allowing the stopper to be raised or lowered from its overflow plate, then it makes use of either a plunger or a pop-up drain. There are metal bathtub stoppers so you must want to ask your plumber about that.

If you are about to purchase your bath tub, it would be convenient for you in the future if you already ask questions while you are at it. You can also consult with your local handyman and bathroom fixture stores.

How To Use Hand Truck Straps

A hand truck is a very practical aid used for moving items from one place to another easily and in very little time. You are able to load items such as furniture and cargo, stack them up on the hand truck’s frame, and transport them to wherever you need to without having to exert much effort.

To ensure the safety of your items, most hand trucks feature a cargo strap, which keeps items securely in place so that they do not move around during transport. This is also a way of making sure that these items are not damaged either in spite of the trucks movements. Here’s how to use the hand truck straps so you need not worry about your things falling off and breaking into pieces or getting damaged.

    Determine the item that you need to load on the hand truck. Assess the item you need to transport. If it is a breakable item, make sure it is packaged properly. It’s easier to load, secure and transport items on a hand truck when it is boxed properly.
    Carefully load your items onto the hand truck. When you load any particular item on your hand truck, try to push it as far back into the truck as you can. Make sure that you keep it well balanced too. If you are loading a box, allow its backside to have contact with the back area of the truck. Although it may not be as easy with items that are not box-shaped, it is still easier to keep them balanced for as long as they are situated all the way back.

    Use a moving blanket if needed. If you are transporting breakables, it’s a good idea to use fabric or something soft to add as a cushion. Simply place the moving blanket over the item you are transporting before securing with the strap.
    Locate the hand truck straps. There are two types of straps you can make use of, one with a buckle for fastening, and another that is simply tightened and then tied. Buckled straps are a lot easier to secure, as you simply need to tighten and adjust the strap according to the size of your item to keep it in place.
    Wrap the strap around the item. Place the strap around the center of the item you are transporting. To begin, get one side of the hand truck strap and move it around your item so that it is completely surrounded. Locate the buckle of the strap on the side of the truck and insert the strap into it.
    Adjust the strap to tighten. You can now begin to adjust the strap. Pull it as far as it can go so that your item does not have any space to wobble or move around. With boxes, keep the strap as tight as possible. For breakables, tighten as you wish but make sure that the tautness on the strap does not damage or break anything.


Do not take these straps for granted, as they are your insurance of getting all of your items to where you are taking them safely and good as new.

How To Strengthen Carpenter's Glue for Woodworking Projects

If you’re working on a woodworking project, one of the essential materials that you will need is carpenter’s glue. How durable your wood project will be will depend a lot on how well you choose your glue, and how strong it is. Here are some of the ways to ensure that your carpenter’s glue is sufficiently tough to withstand the test of time:

    Know if you need to use carpenter’s glue. Carpenter’s glue, also known as yellow glue, is very inexpensive and generally strong enough for most woodworking projects, which gives it its high popularity (over other types of wood glue such as epoxy glue and polyurethane glue). It is polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and it is non-toxic, water-resistant and highly easy to work with. You could use carpenter’s glue for most types of wood projects; however, it could be better to use other types of glue for some particular conditions. For example, if you are using lightweight wood and you want a liberal working time (meaning, you need glue that doesn’t dry up too fast), it might be better for you to use white glue. If you are working on a wood project that will spend most of its time outdoors, or a wood project that needs very, very strong glue, you might be better off using polyurethane glue.
    Begin with a reliable brand of carpenter’s glue. Some of the most-used brands of carpenter’s glue include Elmer’s Wood Glue and Dap.

    Prepare the wood. To make sure that the glue works at its fullest efficiency, make sure that the wood you will be joining together is as smooth and clean as possible. Prep them by sanding them thoroughly and getting rid of dirt, chemicals or oils on their surfaces.
    Mix a bit of sawdust with the carpenter’s glue. Sawdust is a great thing to add to ordinary carpenter’s glue to make it even stronger and more durable. Collect sawdust from your woodworking projects and put them in a container.
    Put a bit of the carpenter’s glue that you will use into a small plate or bowl (the disposable kind will do great).Then, lightly sprinkle a bit of the sawdust into the glue. Avoid the temptation of putting in a lot! Too much sawdust will only work to make the glue weaker. Just about a half teaspoonful of the sawdust for every dollop of glue should be okay.
    Mix the carpenter’s glue with the sawdust thoroughly. Use a Popsicle stick for this purpose.
    Apply the mixture onto the wood. The best technique is to apply the glue using an even, zigzag pattern. You could use the Popsicle stick (the one that you used for mixing the glue and the sawdust) to apply the glue, or you could use a putty knife or brush. Just make sure that you spread the glue as evenly as possibly throughout the surface that you want connected, to ensure that the bond will be steady and stable.
    Use a vise or clamp to hold the two pieces of wood together. The clamp should remain steady until the glue manufacturer’s recommended setting time.


There you have it! These are the best ways to strengthen carpenter’s glue for your woodworking project. Working with carpenter’s glue is really pretty simple and straightforward; following these tips will ensure that you will maximize the glue’s strength, so you could produce excellent woodworking projects.

How To Pot an Orchid

In potting an orchid, the type of “home’ or container will be essential in growing healthy orchid plants. You can choose from a variety of pots with varying depths and widths. Plastic and terracotta pots are most common, each with qualities that are ideal for growing orchids.

    Plastic or Terracotta? Your choice of pot material will depend on where you plan on displaying your orchid. Plastic pots are ideal for indoor usage while terracotta plants are more durable, thus better for outside use. You’ll need to know what type of orchid you’ll be growing in order to purchase a pot that is right for it. For example, some types of orchid roots grow in length while others spread out. The former will need a tall pot while the latter will need a pot with broader width. A basket is another option to hold your plant.
    Prepping the pot. To pot a terrestrial orchid, purchase a planter that is larger than the base of the orchid. Clean the pot by rinsing with water. Soak it a bit for a few minutes in lukewarm water before draining. Take some gravel, rocks and/or broken pots and put it at the bottom of the pot to take up 1/3 of the space. Then, take your compost and put it in as the next layer. Your compost should be shaped into the form of a cone, with the tip on the same level as the rim of the pot.

    Potting your orchid. Take your orchid and gently spread the roots over your compost so that it is hugging the cone-shaped compost. Then, add more compost to cover the roots until the whole pot is filled with compost. Do not pack the compost. Let the pot fill firmly with compost but do not manually pack the pot. Fill the pot with water so that the compost is watered completely. The best kinds of pots are ones with holes so that the water drains and prevents orchid drowning. Orchids that are drowned in water tend to die quickly. The solution to this is to put crockery, or broken terracotta pots, in the bottom of the pot.
    More tips for newly potted orchids. Nowadays, clear pots are available in garden stores. This will help with your plant growth because the sunlight directly hits the roots, which is good for your plant growth. Do not repot your plant unless you have a good reason. A good reason includes overgrowth of roots. Some others are decaying medium, root rot, salt build-up and orchids that have outgrown their pots.


In getting into the hobby of growing orchids, do your research. Learn the types of orchids and the available potting materials. If you’ve done some research, you’ll learn that there are aerial and underground roots. Never make the mistake of trying to bury the aerial and exposing the underground. You’ll just end up killing the plant. Be a responsible plant caretaker. Don’t start growing orchids only to tire of the task and leave them to die.