05 Oct

Posted at 14:22h in General Interest by
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Fire & Water Features

From Landscaping Network

7 ways to add drama to your landscape with fire and water elements

You've probably seen the fabulous pictures across the internet and in design and home magazines featuring firebowls, firepits, and fire strips around swimming pools.  Fire attracts attention, and creates amazing action and drama in any outdoor living design, but especially when combined with water.  Two of the most ancient elements that are associated with mystery, life, and spirituality come together in these amazing swimming pool designs that combine these two elements amazingly.  This post from Landscaping Network showcases these combination features which represent the latest innovation in the ever-changing swimming pool design and outdoor living design arena.

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29 Sep

Posted at 14:58h in General Interest by
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POOL MYTH BUSTERS!

From SwimmingPool.com

If you have ever used a swimming pool and had that familiar urge to go to the bathroom, you've probably heard the myth about a chemical that turns red, blue, or green when contacting urine.  You've also probably heard that swimming immediately after eating is a no-no.  Are these long-standing opinions surrounding swimming pools based on fact, or just wives tales that have been passed down through the generations to discourage certain behaviors?  This post from Swimmingpool.com addresses the most common myths and apocryphal stories surrounding the swimming pool, and tells you once and for all if the myths are based in fact.

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23 Sep

Posted at 14:36h in General Interest by
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How to Teach Autistic Children to Swim

From Wikihow

Swimming and being in and around water can be extremely theraputic for people with all kinds of disabilites.  This is especially the case with children that are stricken with disabilities, as they have a lifetime to attempt to navigate the world with their disability as well as to ameliorate their symptoms whenever possible.  As this post from Wikihow points out, children with autism may have a fear or dislike of water, but they can learn to swim nevertheless.  These children can reap the same theraputic benefits from swimming as anyone else, as long as the teacher understands the disability and is able to work with these children to overcome their natural aversion.

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22 Sep

Posted at 14:12h in General Interest by
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Winterize Your Landscape

From Landscaping Network

If you are one of the fortunate souls who live in the sunbelt, you aren't thinking about the harsh effects of winter.  The freezing temperatures, harsh winds, snow and thaw cycles can literally destroy landscape elements if not planned for.  This post from Landscaping Network tells the homeowner how to properly protect plants, paving, decks, arbors, lighting, furniture, and lawns from the harsh winter conditions.  Proper planning will help the transition back to Spring be much easier and damage-free.

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18 Sep

Posted at 13:45h in General Interest by
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How Using Hot Tubs Can Help With Colds and Flu

From Articles Base

This time of year, colds and influenza infections are running rampant across the U.S.  The changing of the seasons along with intermittenly wetter and colder Fall temperatures bring on these miserable colds and flus to millions.  Usually when infected, the victim runs to the pharmacy or grocery store to buy daytime or nighttime cold medicines to ameliorate the symptoms, try to drink lots of fluids and take their vitamins.  Beyond these measures, getting lots of sleep and foregoing vigorous activities are usually prescribed.  This post from articles base presents a new-age way to deal with these seasonal afflictions, by utilizing the super-heated water of one's hot tub.  Who knew that a hot tub could be theraputic in this manner?

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16 Sep

Posted at 16:00h in General Interest by
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Backyard Parties: The Tiniest Party Guests

From Pools Spas & Patios

The Fall is a great time to utilize your outdoor living space to entertain.  Having a party for your small kids is even more fun, according to this post from Pools Spas & Patios.  Making the party fun and exciting for your smaller guests will give your backyard and home "cool" status, and will make your children want to spend more time around the house.  This post gives some great tips to make a kids party the best that it can be in your backyard.

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14 Sep

Posted at 14:42h in General Interest by
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Yuck! Most Kids Don't Shower Before Using Public Pools

From Live Science

RWI, or Recreational Water Illnesses, are one of the scariest and least understood of dangers that are lurking around inside swimming pools.  While most people find it a normal and appropriate act to take a shower after swimming, says this post from Live Science, a very small percentage of parents consider showering prior to swimming an appropriate act.  These parents consider it the responsibility of the swimming pool staff to ensure the safety of the pool.  This is a dangerous and misguided misconception, and must be rectified to prevent the spread of water-borne illnesses.

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10 Sep

Posted at 16:00h in General Interest by
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Do swimming pool pumps have to run all the time?

From How Stuff Works

Perhaps the biggest surprise for new swimming pool owners is the increased costs for gas, water, and electrical utilities.  Most swimming pools are set up to run 24-hours a day to maintain health and cleanliness, but is this really necessary?  This post from How Stuff Works answers this pressing question, and explains why.

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01 Sep

Posted at 14:02h in General Interest by
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Swimming Pool Safety: Layers of Protection for 'Pool Safely'

From Pool and Patio via About.com

The Consumer Product Safety Commission's "Pool Safely" campaign is the largest swimming pool safety awareness campaign in the history of the world.  The movement began after the passage of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was passed, and has grown into a powerful safety awareness force.  The keys to the movement, according to this post from About.com's Pool and Patio site, is that simple, layered steps will undoubtedly save lives.  Common sense and layers of protection can make the difference between a safe, health environment, or a unmitigated diaster.

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