Hi there. I know I've been quite quiet this past while, but I just had to jump in to this thread. I found the following quote and link after doing a quick Google search. The quote is from another forum that asked the same question: "The official word on LCD cleaning in Apple manuals is to use a solution of diluted isopropyl alcohol, no more than a 50% solution. Usually the rubbing alcohol you buy at a drugstore that is either 90% or 98% pure but 98% is pretty hard to get (you don't need it anyway). I mix 1 part water and 1 part 90% isopropyl alcohol, which works out to... um.. something just under a 50% solution. Be absolutely sure to use a very VERY soft cloth. I use a piece of soft flannel. Do NOT use paper towels or anything more abrasive than an old worn out cotton Tshirt. Absolutely do NOT use windex or anything with ammonia in it, it can etch the screen surface and can cause the plastic to go cloudy. You don't want that to happen! BTW, there is a commercial cleaning solution called something like Klear-Screen, it's pretty expensive. It is merely a 50% solution of isopropyl alcohol and water. Just like I make, for a fraction of the cost." Here's the link. http://jeremy.zawodny.com/blog/archives/000666.html The link below seems to have some good info, too. I've been avoiding cleaning my monitor for the same reason--not knowing what to use. Thanks for starting this thread, Sharon. Here is a link that might be useful: How do I clean my flat-screen monitor?

The discussion reminds me again how personal these choices are. I remember a wonderful phrase from a book (by Booth Tarkington, I think) which went something like this: a mild unpleasantness for one young man may seem the sheer brink of hell to another. That's applicable here as you can see from the posts above. For some of us, a self-cleaning oven is on the list of stove "must-haves." A stove won't even be considered without it. For others, like me, it was on my list of "wanna-haves" rather than "must-haves." (IOW, I miss having a self-cleaning oven but think I can live without it). Others, such as Nunya, are completely indifferent to self-cleaning; seemingly, he wouldn't use it if he had it. I say all of this because opinions here at GW can sometimes sound like dogma -- because I think X, you should, too, and your contrary thoughts are mere subjective preferences. It has to be said that subjective preferences are important. They are none-the-less valuable for being subjective. Your own preference absolutely must be part of the process of choosing a stove. Just because I find manual oven cleaning is "not too bad" does not mean you should find it that way, too. So, hopefully, the range of opinions is taken as helping you sort out our preferences rather than as telling you what to so. There is only way to get better informed than this exchange of opinions and that is by actually cleaning an oven in a stove you are considering. But, even if you live someplace where dealer showrooms have operating stoves you can test out, do you think they'll be demonstrating that aspect anytime soon? ;>) When I bought my NXR, I really had no idea how easy or how onerous "myself-cleaning" would be. That's one of the reasons I bought it from Costco. If "myself-cleaning" turned out to a royal PITA, I could simply return the stove for a full refund and get the self-cleaning induction range that I otherwise would have purchased. So, when you go shopping, it may be helpful to be up-front with the vendors about your uncertainty on this issue and to have a back-up candidate.

Check your current spices first ... if you see movement among a couple, it probably indicates the presence of livestock ... ... which, if you choose to use them for their usual purpose, will add a little extra protein to you diet, that day. On the other hand, if you spread them on a tray and put them in the oven on low for a while, the unwanted residents'll likely desert the place. It may work if you put the tray out into strong sunlight, as well, especially if you cover some pieces of cardboard with sheet aluminum and have the reflected sunlight shine on the tray, as well. Probably a good idea to drop them into a sieve and give them a shake, after the livestock 's departure, to get rid of their offloaded material, as well. I have a dim view of the claim that spices expire ... especially after a specified date. It depends on how they've been stored. I suggest that you try them to see whether they have retained at least a measure of their potency and be guided largely by that standard. As to the future regarding the ones that you decide to discard, here's what you do. Gather a dozen neighbours ... friends ... relatives ... ... well, not "gather" ... but contact them. Ask their opinion, especially of the ones that use quite a lot of spices, as to the validity of the "expiry date" project ... whether they've used old ones and what results they've had. See if they need some spices, of the kinds that you feel that you need to replace. Check out a place that you can buy them in bulk: as Linda said, they come a lot cheaper, that way. Buy some and share them with the other needy folks. While you're at it ... possibly some of your contacts may know some spicy stories which they may be willing to share ... you could pass them on ... and gain a reputation (of sorts). ole joyfuelled ... fuelled partially also by spicy stories ... but fresh out of fresh ones, at the moment P.S. If you end up with some empty bottles - they're great for holding small screws, map pins, regular pins, thumbtacks, paper clips, etc. (a bit too small to store store teeth, though). o j

The eye-catcher in the front garden and the moment is the Huldine clematis on the iron tuteur. There are lots of other things of interest out there at this time of year but the Let's Dance Starlight hydrangea is also looking particularly pretty I think - it is a relatively young plant and this is its first really good bloom year. Looking at Huldine from the driveway: Through the arbour: Huldine surfing on the way-too-big daphne (I thought daphnes were supposed to die frequently for no obvious reason.... This one just keeps getting bigger and bigger! I need the space back - die please.... :-) A closer look at Lets Dance Starlight hydrangea by the arbour: