The Wall Street Journal-20080128-Consumer Technology- Blog Watch
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Consumer Technology; Blog Watch
Full Text (805 words)HOME REMODELING AND REPAIR
HOMEOWNER'S BLOG
CatskillHouse.us/blog
The start of the new year is a time when many homeowners take a hard look at that sagging ceiling or half-finished basement and vow to tackle long-delayed repair or renovation jobs. One place to turn for inspiration and advice is the Homeowner's Blog, written by Paul Thurst, an engineer who chronicles his renovation of a 1965 "run-down ranch house" in New York's Catskill Mountains that he bought in 2004.
There are posts, comments and compilations of tips on plumbing, electrical and carpentry projects, among others, along with some how- to videos. Mr. Thurst talks about lessons learned on projects such as building a deck and installing a solar hot-water system.
BUILDERS SHARE: DIY TIPS, TRICKS, AND KNOW-HOW
BuildersShare.com
This site goes a step further, charting the gutting and restoration of a 19th-century farmhouse in central New Hampshire, including wiring, plastering and many other major projects.
The blogger, who calls himself Handyman, writes that one of his first tasks was to spot details that gave the old house its charm. "I knew that by gutting the house, we risked ripping the soul right out of the thing we fell in love with, so I was careful in saving the tiniest of elements that might preserve its qualities. Maybe too careful," he writes. The antique wood stove was one of the elements he and his wife decided to preserve, but now "one of the popular indoor winter sports" for the family is trying to equalize the temperature in the house, which can vary by 10 degrees even on different sides of the same room.
CALFINDER HOME IMPROVEMENT BLOG
CalFinder.com/blog
CalFinder.com allows users to search for certified remodeling contractors, but it also offers a blog that culls helpful remodeling news and tips from around the Web, with an environmental focus.
For example, a recent post provides information on landscaping guidelines developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit group that promotes environmentally friendly construction. There's advice on much more, organized into categories including roofing, flooring, windows, and bathroom and kitchen remodeling, among others.
HOUSEBLOGS.NET
HouseBlogs.net
Go to this site and click on the "Blogs" tab near the top of the home page for access to thousands of blogs on home renovation and repair. Links to blogs are displayed 20 at a time, each with the headline and a snippet of text from the blog's latest posting, so you can decide which ones to explore.
DOG TRAINING
DROP THAT SOCK
DropThatSock.com
For many families, Christmas means a puppy under the tree but not necessarily a realistic plan for how to take care of the new pet. Training can make all the difference in a family's ability to enjoy their pooch and in the likelihood that they'll keep it.
On this fun and well-organized site, dog trainer Marlene Sarli writes about training techniques and reviews products designed to help with training. For example, she reviews a gentle choke collar that is good for puppies.
Ms. Sarli takes questions from frustrated readers about housebreaking and dealing with aggression or bad behavior.
On a lighter note, she also posts humorous articles she finds about dogs misbehaving -- like the one that ripped apart a collection of rare teddy bears at a children's museum -- or just acting strangely. She includes plenty of photos and short film clips.
DOG-LI-NESS
Dogliness.blogspot.com
Dog-Li-Ness is written by "Lisa B." of Durham, N.C., who teaches at a local dog-training facility. The blog offers advice about how to use treats to train dogs and how to build enthusiasm for dog sports. The author suggests incorporating play into training, because it helps the dog see the "work" of training as part of a fun game.
In one post, she describes how she keeps the family dog from snatching bits of food off the kitchen counter -- by positioning a toy buffalo as sentinel.
"Of course, it would be much better if we had never allowed Gomey to develop a counter-surfing habit to begin with," she writes. "The best way to prevent a counter-surfing habit is to keep a dog from ever being rewarded for it. But we dog owners are far less perfect than we expect our dogs to be."
ABOUTDOGS
Maryland-Dog-Training.com
Patrick Nolan, a professional dog trainer since 1975, launched this blog with a focus on training retrievers. But he offers advice for any dog owner, including lots of video instruction and the use of some unconventional training aids. One clip shows a retriever working a child's ring-stacking toy.
Mr. Nolan also discusses the problem of motivating a dog. "I am always looking for better ways . . . to motivate an animal's desire to learn," he writes.
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Ms. Bright is an editor for The Wall Street Journal Online in New York. She can be reached at [email protected].
