Someone sent me one of those jokes: You know you are a Canadian if you understand all four seasons as : almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction. So happy cold new year, and just rejoice that the days are getting longer.
:: In this Issue: FROZEN PIPES | FREE DVDS | OLD TOOLS | NEW TOOLS :: FROZEN PIPES We have many indicators of a cold winter -- such as more ships getting stuck in the St. Laurent River needing help from the ice breakers, and more people with frozen pipes in their homes. There is not much that is clear cut in this world and pipes that have never frozen before might have been right on the verge of freezing but always made it by. A cold spell that goes a little longer or a little colder, or a bit of wind mixed in with it -- or simply a new TV cable installation -- and bang, your pipes are frozen. I have had so many questions about this on my radio program and since winters don't look like they will be getting warmer any time soon, I have written up a special database entry to help understand, and solve the frozen pipe problem. To read the whole story, click here.
I WILL TRADE YOU FREE DVDS FOR YOUR OPINION Although I have sold several thousand of my DVDs, other than a few letters of thanks, I have received only three letters with constructive critiques and suggestions for upcoming DVD productions. I really do want and need that feedback because I am experimenting with this medium -- how to best communicate project details. Should I give less detail or more? Does the navigation work well? Could it be organized differently? What have I missed? Too fast, or too slow? These are all the kinds of questions that we ask every hour as we plan, shoot and edit something like the upcoming Building Decks DVD. So I have decided to bribe you to give me feedback.
For the first 50 people who respond -- if you agree to write me a letter with comments and suggestions about the Installing Drywall DVD, I will send you a free copy of that DVD. If you already own Installing Drywall, send me your comments and I will send you a free copy of the Building Decks DVD when it is released. So reply to this newsletter to let me know you want to participate and I will start the first 50 counter going. OLD TOOLS Pipes are not the only thing freezing this winter, so are our city streets and the municipal crews are even having to change their formulas for salting and sanding the sidewalks. Anti-slip slip-ons for shoes and boots are no longer just for the elderly -- we all are falling down and breaking things. They have existed for a long time but are getting better and better, as well as easier to find. I have received so many questions about this that I have researched and written a special database entry on the topic of Speciality Soles. Now there is a variety available in drug stores, as well as in shoe repair stores and speciality accessibility stores for the elderly and handicapped -- but for many of you the web is the easiest place to find them so I have included direct hot-links to the sources in the database entry. I have looked at and tried many of them and have found myself regularly using two very different pairs.
 For heavy work or active sports you can get solid undersoles that attach to shoes and boots with heavy Velcro straps and have replaceable cleats that really bite into the ice. There are two surprisingly similar brands commonly available: the ICERS and the STABLICERS. These are rock solid on ice, but slippery on smooth concrete (and become skates in a shopping center, take them off before entering!).
For just walking around you are better off with lighter stretch on cleats. The STABLICERS LITE have a very nice feature of rubber cleats around the outside edge that simply bend when on ice, but grip the surface when on that smooth concrete. Now you can safely walk all the way to the bench in the shopping centre to sit down and take them off. (Tip: stuff a plastic sac into your pocket for carrying the dirty undersoles while shopping.) NEW TOOLS For those of you who are familiar with Lee Valley Tools, you know that their catalogue is an addiction. Because of glowing letters from several of you I had to send for and try out the ClampTite tool you see in the photo. It is hidden in the Assorted Tools section of the LeeValley.com site. This gadget quickly makes very tight strap clamps, with any wire but they supply a small roll of stainless steel wire, to clamp absolutely anything. It is fantastic for hose clamps and avoids that extra part of the regular screw on straps that always sticks out and catches your fingers months later. In fact I think it makes a better clamp than the screw on ones we are used to because it clamps evenly all the way around the hose -- and one size fits all (you just use more or less wire). This is a must buy for a stocking stuffer (yes I do buy stocking stuffers all year long, and relax at Christmas time).
| 
