The company I work for has fleet of I/C powered forklifts. In 1989 & '90, we switched from diesel engines to LPG fueled engines (which are gasoline engines converted to propane). A few years later, the company selected a "test group" of forklifts to run in an extended oil change evaluation. The test was conducted in alliance with an "oil testing laboratory". The lab had to agree to use the same test procedure on "our" oil samples for the duration of the test. We did not know how long we would be testing. Our previous oil change interval was "Every 750 hours" (using the OEM hourmeter). This interval was in place when we ran diesel and gasoline powered I/C 'lifts. We wanted to determine how long we could safely run the oil between changes without harming the engine. The guidelines for the test were pretty simple on our part, the forklifts in the test group would not have their oil changed "Until further notice". Instead, we were only to "top off" the oil level when we drew an oil sample for the lab every 750 hours. Our 'lifts operate 24/7 with an average daily run time of 18 hours per 'lift, so we were pulling an oil sample about every 6 weeks (where this would have been an "oil change" prior to the test). The lab reported the test results of each sample to our corporate headqurters. Corporate only told us whether or not, to continue the testing of each 'lift, based on the report. At about 20 months into the test, we submitted a sample to the lab that had 10,000 (ten thousand) hours on it. Corporate headqurters informed us at that time to remove that 'lift from the test and change the oil based on the lab report that the oil "was degrading" and it's continued use was not recommended. We were instructed place the unit on a "tentative" 3000 hour oil change interval until the testing was ended on all 'lifts. By 24 months since the onset of the test, the oil in all the 'lifts had reached the 10,000 hour mark. The lab reports on a 10,000 hour old sample was very near the same for all 'lifts. The company ordered each 'lift that was part of the test to be placed on the same "tentative" 3000 hour oil change interval until further notice. It took the company almost a year from the end date of the testing to make all the changes to the inspection forms (for our PMs) and put the new standard of 3000 hours between oil and filter changes into effect. Our 'lifts remain in service at the "large distribution centers" for about 6 years (from the "new vehicle in service" date) at which time they will have accumulated from about 30,000 to 36,000 hours. At that time they are transferred out to "small town" locations where they may only get 2 to 4 hours run time per day. On these 'lifts we change the oil annually by the calender instead of going by the hourmeter. When a 'lift reaches 12 years old, it is sold on the public market. We have yet to "wear out" an engine. In fact, the only engine failure our location has had was due to the forklift operator continuing to run the 'lift after the water pump/alternator belt broke. We periodically check compression on our engines (24 month intervals) and I see engines near the 36,000 hour mark with 160 to 170 P.S.I. readings on all cylinders. Each owner of any equipment must decide what kind of oil change interval they want to use for their machines. I think it is safe to say that most of us can change the oil in our L&G equipment annually without worrying "if I'm doing it enough". I prefer to change the oil at the end of the season. I don't want that "contaminated" oil just sitting there in contact with the works of the engine for 6 months. I drop the oil (and filter where applicable), put in the fresh oil and run the engine for about 10 minutes (to make sure I get the oil "hot", gets rid of the moisture from the cold start up) before putting the machine away for the "off season". I feel that the fresh oil clings better to the engine parts than the old oil for the duration of storage. No matter what the "Oil experts" may say, some of us will continue with our own practices. For the people who lament that we are changing the oil "too often", well......there are some people out there who "never change their oil", so don't their habits offset the overall consumption average??

Two25acres, sorry it took so long to get back to you. My gang came over today. Thank goodness my son got my internet up and running again. So you are thinking about being a coder. It's not a short or easy process to become a medical coder. First of all medical coding is a profession and not a clerical position. Usually type A personalty, detail oriented, problem solver, and self disciplined. It is defiantly not boring, brain frying yes, but not boring. It is constantly changing and you are in constant education mode. There is and always was a shortage of coders that I know of, but a lot of want to be coders. Coding is very hard to get a job in. It's a catch 22. Coders are in demand, but employers only want experienced credentialed coders with at least 3 years or more of experience in a specialty. There is two kind of medical coders, inpt and outpt. Both use the same reference material and principles ,but the coding itself is a whole different ball game. Outpt is more in demand. First ignore all those ads that says "become a coder in 6 or what ever months". What a joke. 99% of coders I worked with had a coding certificate or degree from a college or university. At my college students in the RN and the coding program took most of the same basic courses and then they split. The RNs started their student nursing rotations and the coders only then started the actual coding courses. There is two reputable credentialing associations. AAPC and AHIMA. Both credential inpt and outpt coders, but AAPC is geared more to outpt and AHIMA is geared more to inpt coders. I don't know how AHIMA works, I am credentialed with AAPC. You have to intern for 2 years before you can take the test to become certified. It was a 5 hour on site timed intense test when I took it. The problem is most people out of school can't find a job coding to get your 2 years of internship. So if your very very lucky to get a coding job out of school your looking at least 2 years before you can be certified and start making any kind of real money. When I was invited to speak at mixers of current, and past students of my college, the most asked question was how do I get coding job. I would tell them to get their foot in a door doing any kind of job in the medical field - medical record, billing, office receptionist, etc and work your way up from there. And if you are offered any kind of coding job even if you hate coding that specialty, grab on to it for the experience. I hope I helped some and if you have any more questions feel free to ask.

We haven't done a kitchen in 25 years. It was a much larger project than our current kitchen remodel- back then we added on to the back of our 1912 house, adding a half bath, period appropriate windows, matching existing (small, weird profile) cedar siding, semi-custom cabinets and high end appiances. There was a lot of concrete and wood involved. Felt like we spent a lot back then - $40k, if my memory serves. We've budgeted over double that (includes the 15% buffer for cost overruns/unexpected issues) for a simple removal of existing and not changing the footprint or the windows in this kitchen. We are doing a floor, but this 100-year old house deserves the right wood and the right width, so we bit the bullet and worked that in to our costs. Had to have it milled. We're semi-competent DIYers- always passed inspections on the first round for what we do (moving/installing beams when needed, electrical, insulation, finish trim work). We also do our own demo, which allows us to really get to know any issues up close and personal. These things save us money (or show us where we need to redirect our funds). I don't think costs will go down appreciably. Either put it off a bit longer and save some more or choose different options. Try different cabinet shops. (I'd avoid open shelves - I hate to dust already so I'm not adding to that chore.) RTA cabinets? I'd go that route if I was short on cabinetry funds, but only if one is handy. Other than computers, microwaves and calculators, I'm hard pressed to think of when costs went down on items. Demand is still there.

beaglesdoitbetter I didn't say there was anything wrong with wanting a larger piece of the pie. I used a discount broker to sell my own home. Paid a flat $500.00 fee to a broker and I offered the 3% fee to the buyers agent. I knew that buyers agents wouldn't show my home if I offered 2% and my neighbor was offering to pay them 3%. I did not feel bad about taking the 3% (less $500) for doing the same work that I would have done when selling real estate and charging 3%. I knew I was making more money than someone using a listing broker. I also knew I could write a better description, take better pictures and could evaluate the fair market value better than 90% of the realtors in my area. When I worked in a real estate office I charged the other agents to do their pricing research, to re-write their descriptions and get good pictures of their listings. My argument is that no one (you, me or any other seller) is going to say "Fair market value of my home was $500,000.00 when we were paying a listing agent 6% commission, so now I should be selling my home for $470,000.00." This law suit will not have the impact that people are talking about. It will not reduce housing prices, but it will hurt the first time home buyers and will benefit the current class of home owners.