Almost one million home improvement books have been pulled from the shelves due to "errors in the technical diagrams and wiring instructions." That's according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The publisher, Oxmoor House of Birmingham, Alabama, has acknowledged that the books contain inaccurate information that could result in electrical shock or a fire hazard. The name Oxmoor may not ring many bells, but the the names Sunset Books and Lowe's are the very recognizable public faces involved and the names that appear on most of the books.
It isn't often that a book is deemed a safety hazard. But nine home-improvement titles, to be exact, are on a list of voluntary recalls just announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Oxmoor House Inc. That would be nine titles and approximately one million books published and / or for sale from 1975 to late 2009.
What could be the culprit lurking among those pages for 35 years? Noxious fumes from the printers' ink that have grown more lethal with time? A cryptic-though-offensive photo of someone in the buff installing patio pavers, perhaps?
Michael Sauers blogs as The Travelin' Librarian, and, as the name might suggest, he owns quite a few books. He also has a home office, which he recently remodeled. The old office had lots of freestanding bookcases, a big desk taking up a bunch of floor space and boxes stacked high.
Michael decided he could make better use of the space, while also creating a much more efficient storage system. So he opted for something I've been preaching for many years -- he put everything on the wall. Books, movies, computer . . . virtually everything now rests on shelves resting on brackets att...
Valentine's Day is right around the corner. But, unfortunately, many sweethearts are still keeping their New Year's resolutions. Which means that a large box of Valentine's chocolates may not be the best gift. Fortunately, there's plenty of eye candy to go around in books sure to please your favorite foodie sweetheart, and they won't cause a dietary disaster. Here are my top picks for cooking and entertaining books filled with eye candy photography. This collection is truly a feast for the eyes.
Yes, we are quickly running out of things that can't be done with an iPhone. MyDoorOpener has joined the party with an app that lets you control your garage door with your phone.
The product is available in two configurations, one for WiFi and another for ethernet wired operation. Either requires just under $100 worth of parts, and assembly instructions are provided on the company's Web site. You will need to attach the parts to your garage door opener, then download the software onto your computer and iPhone. Be sure to take a look at the instructions before buying, though...
For serious readers, books are a large part of the décor in a room, and potentially a source of clutter. This post from Shelter Pop got me thinking about flipping your books so the seam faces away and the white pages face you - basically, backwards books. I recently saw the concept in person while shopping in West Elm (I finally purchased my first Parsons Desk in white), and I have to admit, it made the bookcase more serene and neat.
Another trick? My friend Michelle vis...
