Gary Stapp Weblog

**SOME NEAT WEBSITES** 12-25-09

These are some U.S. Government web sites that either auction or sell services or items: (l)BUREAU OF ENGRA VING AND PRINTING = www.bep.treas.gov/store/index.cfm (uncut currency, portraits, videos).

(2) SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM STORES = www.smithsonianstore.com (reproductions of objects from the smithsonian collections).

(3) US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY = http://ask.usgs.gov/products.html (digital maps and data, aerial photography, fact sheets, booklets, satellite imagery, software & atlases).

(4)U.S. MINT = www.usmint.gov/catalog (coins, coinsets, coin jewelry and gifts).

(5) DEFENSE REUTILIZATION AND MARKETING SERVICE = www.drrns.dla.mil/newsales (military goods no longer needed in front-line service, including single-engine aircraft, radar equiptment, radios, ships andtrucks).

(6) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION = www.gsaauctions.gov (aircraft, communications and computer equiptment, electrical components, jewelry, vehicles, watercraft).

(7) OFFICE OF PROPERTY DISPOSAL = www.gsa.gov/pr/prhome.html (properties that are surplus or have been foreclosed).

(8) TREASURY = www.treas.gov/auctions/custorns (auctions of property taken in criminal seizures, including Real Estate, aircraft, automobiles, boats and electronics).

**REPLACING A FENCE - TAKE HEED**

Fences that have been in place for 10 years or more, have more or less marked the property boundaries by a Real Estate rule called ADVERSE POSSESSION. In other words, if your fence is currently encroaching let's say 2 feet onto your neighbor's property and no one has any documentation as to where the property line is and the neighbor has not granted you an easement.. you need to think about this. If you've used the.land as your own for ten years or more, you can probably go to court and claim the land as yours under the ADVERSE POSSESSION rule but, if you tear down the old fence and put up a new one, it could cause a problem if both you and the neighbor disagree on the location and boundaries of the NEW fence. I would suggest you get something in writing between all interested parties and then file that document with the proper agency. If the shoe is on the other foot and the fence has not been up for 10 years .....you MAY grant your neighbor an easement for the fence and let it remain up .....while retaining your property rights. If you find out the 10 years has passed and you just found the discrepancy, I would suggest you try and draw up some sort of amicable agreement with the other party while you are all still friends. Verbal agreements in Real Estate ARE LEGAL, "BUT NOT ENFORCEABLE", remember that.

**HARD TO OPEN LIDS**

We've all had those jars of mayonnaise, peanut butter, pickles or whatever that we just couldn't get open you pound it on top with something, then you turn it upside down and pound it on the counter. That doesn't help so you grab this new invention you bought from Fred Meyer last week that gets a bite on the lid for you then with one hand you try and hold the jar and with the other you try and turn the lid. Finally, after turning blue and pulling two muscles in your arm and shoulder you turn to someone and say.... "here" ..... "can YOU open this?" ..... sound familiar .....well guess what.. ....THOSE DAYS ARE OVER. I don't care if you have arthritis, gout, or you're 90 years old .... .I'm going to make life a little easier for you from now on .....Do you have any idea WHY those jars won't open ..... ? Well I'll tell you .....They're vacuum sealed. I've known for years that if you just take a regular bottle opener and gently pry the lid up until you hear the "whoosh sound" of the air, you could then give the jar to a five-year-old girl to open. I have to admit I was on the verge of designing something myself, but somebody beat me to it. I bought this thing calledthe "Jarpopper" at the Bed Bath & Beyond store at Crossroads Mall (kind of a neat store in case you've never been there) and it is EXACTLY what you need. I believe it was only $2.99 buy one for yourself, or someone you love it'll definitely make life a little easier.. you're welcome .

*** IVY CAN BE COSTLY ***

A lot of us have that nice area of ivy growing on the side of our house or garage and it looks great.. ...but looks can be deceiving. If you have wood siding, that ivy will eventually find a crack and start growing "into and under" the siding, forcing it farther apart and making room for more vines to enter. Then the weather, then the carpenter ants and then more problems, LIKE ROT. If your Ivy has started to do this, you need to get the clippers out.. or your wallet. The cost of repairs can run into the thousands.