John M

Is there a payment card that can only be used at a named merchant, but looks to that merchant like a normal Visa or MasterCard number? I need a solution that doesn't require a large merchant to change anything on their end, but I can be certain the card number can only be used to purchase something where the payment goes through that merchant's account. If the card number is used anywhere else that does any form of validation, the card would be rejected. Thanks!

I would like to use a full size keyboard and monitor with my Droid 2 for internet browsing. I tested a product a while back that ran on the PC and got its internet access via a USB cable to the phone, but it wasn't very pleasant to use. Anything new out there, in software or hardware, that allows a better browsing experience on the Droid 2 using the full sized keyboard and monitor? I see there are newer 4G phones with some hardware and software combinations to make it better, but I'm not ready for a phone upgrade yet.

Thanks

I'm hoping to get some advice on an idea I have about moving some water uphill from a fast moving river. I'd like to make something simpler than a hydraulic ram, basically a series of gradually smaller diameter pipes, to move some water from the river up to a cabin, about 20' above the river and maybe 40' in from the faster moving current. Would the physics of something like that work, creating enough force to move a smaller stream of water out of the river and up to the cabin, ending in 1" or even a 1/2" pipe at the cabin? I want to fill the dog's water dishes, boil water for cleaning up, and have a flow of water for rinsing things off. I don't need much pressure at the cabin, just enough to get a flow of water to fill containers would be great.

My physics on this are rusty. Any ideas?

I'm trying to set up a pipe in a river that will lift a small volume of water uphill about 20' in elevation. The river has a good rate of flow, and I am thinking that a gradually tapered set of pipes, ending in a garden hose or even smaller diameter hose might provide enough force to lift the water into a sink in the cabin. Anybody know if this is practical? I recall enough of my physics classes to think it might or might not work. I was thinking in terms of a 4 or 5" diameter cast iron pipe under the water, lifted up a bit to avoid silt. I'd have a coarse screen on the end to allow good water flow but keep out the larger pebbles. Then after 3 or 4 feet a reducer down an inch to PVC, another two feet, a reducer, a foot more, etc. until I'm down to the diameter I can attach to a hose and lift the water 20' in vertical, and maybe 50' horizontal to the cabin. Think it will work?

I have a trek 2100 ZX carbon fiber road bike I am looking to sell. How do I go about pricing it? I don't know the year, but I have it at home with me and can get any serial numbers of the frame and components etc. Thanks! Here is a pic link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53143122@N00/55639319...

Thanks!

The middle class in America is losing ground rapidly. Would a tax credit to businesses designed to provide an incentive to pay it's workers higher wages cause a net positive or negative impact on the need to boost consumption to stimulate the economy? What are the pros and cons of a credit that would be large enough to be effective, but small enough to result in a net increase in revenue in the long run?

When I shut off the engine, I hear a high pitched whine, kind of sounds like a fuel pump. It lasts about 5 seconds or so, then stops. Any idea what it is? I've owned the car a long time and just started noticing this recently, so its a new condition.

Thanks. It's a 2000 Seville SLS

I have a gibson front load washer that won't fill with water. I checked the water lines, both hot and cold are on and available to the inlet hoses. What do I check next? Any troubleshooting sources for this? I assume it could be the switch or the valves. Need some model specific guidance if its available. Thanks!

I have a 2000 Cadillac Seville that has a funky smell every morning. There is nothing in the interior that I can find to explain it. I have heard that you can get a clogged drain line where water runs off the windshield under the cowl and it can get stinky there, but I can't find a drain anywhere under the hood. Any other ideas? Would flushing the heater core be effective?

I pay 25% of my gross income in Child support through a stipulated agreement enforced by a divorce decree. When applying for a mortgage, will the entire 25% be considered debt? It seems like that wouldn't be fair, given that any family with children certainly pays some significant percentage of their income toward the care of their children, yet in those cases children are not part of the underwriting process. I also see the need for the lender to consider the Child Support expense in some manner, since it is not normally something a person can adjust in a given month if unexpected expenses come up.

Seems to me it would be fair to consider some portion of child support payment obligations as a debt when underwriting mortgages, but not the entire amount.

Does anyone know what the actual practice is?

It's my understanding that mortgage underwriting considers child support payments to be like consumer debt. They are added to any other monthly payments you may have along with the proposed new mortgage payments and divided into your monthly income to get a debt to income ratio. This ratio must be 41% to 47% to qualify for a normal mortgage, depending on the loan program.

I am suprised to see the full amount of child support included as a debt, since the single or married parents of children who neither pay nor receive child support would be allowed a much larger loan, yet face 100% of the costs of raising the children. Do I understand this correctly, and is there any recourse for what appears to be an unfair business practice? It seems to me that some if not all of the support would simply be considered the same expenses that any family with children face, alongside the mortgage and any other loans they may have. I assume the fact that it's harder to adjust support downward when you have a financiall setback contributes to this issue, but why include the entire amount?

Anyone know of people having success making items from wood at home and selling them for a reasonable return on the time and materials invested? If so, what kinds of things are they making and to whom do they sell? Thanks!

I'd like to do some side jobs trimming and taking down medium and small trees. What kind of insurance do I need and how expensive is it likely to be for a part time venture. I'd probably take down a few trees a week, mostly on the weekends. I need some liability and property damage coverage, because trees and limbs don't always fall where you expect them to fall. :)

I live in Wisconsin.

Thanks!

How hard is it to replace the wheel bearings on the right front wheel of a 2000 Cadillac Seville SLS? Anywhere I can get the instructions without having a subscription to a service?

Can anyone recommend a good chainsaw for fairly heavy use around a home that heats primarily with wood? We don't cut for others, but we do need a few cords of wood each year. Trees are a mix of species, dead for a few years before we cut them down and into logs. Looking for a saw that is reasonably well made, pretty durable, but need not be an all day every day kind of machine. Price is an important concern, but not at the expense of reliability.

Thanks!

I'm looking for a way to leverage my interests, expertise and experience on a few different topics into a fairly steady supplemental income stream. I don't need big money, just something to supplement the day job. I'd be able to do some research, but nothing involving a lot of travel or a ton of extra time. So it would be awesome to hear about any methods others might have found, to find ready buyers for freelance non-fiction on whatever topics match up with the publisher's needs and my knowledge or abilities.

Thanks!

What kind of tax liability would my father have for cashing in a 15k life insurance policy? He's 75, has a modest pension and investments, and collects social security. Are there any options he should consider in terms of when he cashes this in? We checked with the company and its just a matter of filling out a form to get the proceeds of the policy, so the main issue remaining is are there any tax angles to consider. Thanks!

Anyone have any ideas for what might make a hot tub trip the GFI breaker when there is no water anywhere near the electrical circuit? I ran three wire 220 from my panel out to the hot tub in the back yard. Again, bone dry everywhere except inside the spa. no leaks. Is there a typical point of failure? Its a 4 person older spa, I think the brand is polynesian spas or something like that.

Thanks!

I have an inboard/outboard boat that was winterized about three years ago. I put a fresh battery in it and tried to turn it over. It sounded like it moved the cylinders for a second, and then stuck. The starter is drawing plenty of juice, the terminals get very hot, but the engine won't turn. It should not have any serious problem, as it was professionally winterized. Is there something normally done to a boat that must be undone before the starter will turn the engine over?

Thanks!

Know where I can find a how-to on replacing the turn signal mechanism on a 95 Dodge ram pickup?