James Hurt's Blog

The Origin of Concrete Concrete is one of the materials that most of us don't give much consideration because it is so common. In fact, there is no material that is more widely and completely used than concrete. Where it came from isn't so much a mystery once you start tracing the architectural h...

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a quiet, unscented, and deadly danger that is relevant to every family. In most cases, the gas is leaked from a source such as a furnace that has cracked and is releasing the gas back into the home instead of taking it up and away through the piping.   Carbon monoxide...

The History of Allen, Texas   Prior to 1844 the history of Allen, Texas belonged to the Native American tribes of the Caddo and Comanche. Once the settlers began to enter the picture, a few battles raged but the Native American tribes moved on, settling northward. Development was certainly not fa...

  If you haven't quite gotten the hang of how to sharpen a kitchen knife you'll be very happy to know that there are special gadgets to help out with this problem. While the knife sharpening isn't actually difficult, some people just have a harder time than others with the coordination.   The kit...

The benefit of double payne windows is clear once you have placed your hand near the glass. Double payning is a form of insulation. The single payne windows allow a great deal of air to filter through. All you have to do is place your hand near the middle of the window and you can feel the temper...

A post tension foundation is a new and improved method of creating stronger foundations with less likelihood of eventual cracking. This is done by reinforcing the foundation with steel. The standard reinforcer has typically been rebar. Some builders have used wire mesh in their foundations. While...

What exactly is 7.1 surround sound? The numbers that represent the quality and magnitude of surround sound are dedicated to the easy interpretation of the system you need. The idea is to introduce just enough sound into the room that you're seated in to be able to experience the audio effects as ...

There are some natural differences between the plasma, LCD, LED, and DLP TVs. In many cases the differences can be minimized through the careful selection of brand and model, but certain aspects, such as thickness or thinness may not be all that malleable. Picture quality is often the result of t...

Is there a difference between glue down and nail down hardwood floors? Other than the obvious (one you glue and the other you nail) there are some differences. In reality, the biggest difference in hardwood flooring is more about quality than it is about installation. Cheaper hardwood floors tend...

What is composting and why is it essential? Basically, composting is how nature gets rid of her natural garbage. It is part of the natural cycle of life that takes the old and turns it into a viable source of nourishment for the new. Natural trash, such as waste product, fallen leaves, the clippi...