Michael Peterson

Family Life & Pets

Do all dogs love to swim?

Metro ServiceWater and dogs may seem like a natural fit, but individuals should test their dogs’ swimming abilities and exercise precaution whenever their pets are around water. Dogs have solidified their places in many families. Nowadays, more and more dogs accompany their pet parents on trips to the store, vacations and various recreational pursuits – including trips to the lake, beach or the backyard pool. Many people assume all dogs can swim and swim well. But AnimalPlanet.com advises, “When it comes to swimming, canines generally fall into one of three categories. There are those that can swim, those that can be taught to swim and those that should steer clear of (more…)

March 21, 2019
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Technology

Explaining the spinning color wheel

written by Michael Peterson

Metro ServiceThe spinning color wheel can wreak havoc on a workday or frustrate Mac users while they’re shopping online or using their computers in their downtime. Mac users dread the sight of it, recognizing that whatever they’re doing is about to slow down or potentially even disappear. The spinning color wheel can wreak havoc on a workday or frustrate Mac users while they’re shopping online or using their computers in their downtime. But why does it appear? And what can be done to fix it? According to Setapp, a website designed to give Mac users easy access to great apps, the spinning color wheel appears when an application is trying to (more…)

February 21, 2019
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Technology

Simple tricks to extend the life of your smartphone battery

written by Michael Peterson

Metro ServiceMany battery issues can be addressed with a few simple tricks designed to ensure phones aren’t needlessly consuming battery power. At one point or another, all smartphone users have reached for their phones to look up directions or use an app only to find the phone’s battery power is very low or completely wiped out. Such incidences play out each day, frustrating smartphone users, especially on those occasions when they haven’t used their phones enough to seemingly merit a drained battery. Some smartphone battery issues can only be remedied by replacing the battery or even the phone itself. But many issues can be addressed with a few simple tricks designed (more…)

February 21, 2019
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Real Estate

How agents and sellers can work together

written by Michael Peterson

Metro ServiceIn many cases, homeowners choose to work with real estate agents to facilitate the process of listing, showing and selling their homes. Selling a home can be stressful. Despite this, 5.51 million existing U.S. homes were sold in 2017, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS. In many cases, homeowners choose to work with real estate agents to facilitate the process of listing, showing and selling their homes. Real estate agents are valuable assets. Agents have neighborhood knowledge, are educated in pricing trends, can filter phone calls or emails from buyers who aren’t serious, and can organize all of the people necessary for a closing. Real estate agents (more…)

February 21, 2019
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Automotive

Tips for staying safe with keyless systems

written by Michael Peterson

Metro ServiceKeyless entry and ignition systems might be convenient, but they require caution and common sense. Auto manufacturers have long embraced technology that can streamline the automotive experience for drivers. For example, several years ago keyless entry and ignition systems were introduced, initially on high-end vehicles before they became standard on many other models. Keyless entry systems require a fob, which sends a signal to the receiver inside the vehicle. The fob transmits a low-frequency code to the car’s internal computer system, which engages the locks and will allow the driver to push a button on the dashboard or console to start the vehicles. The fob can be stashed away in (more…)

February 21, 2019
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Automotive

Tax returns and your car

written by Michael Peterson

Greetings from the Hemet Car Guy, All year long, you shell out money to keep your car rolling. But as you file your federal tax return this year, your car-related expenses could actually save you some money. I’m not a tax preparer nor do I play one on TV, so that’s why I investigated the following. Tax professionals and a spokesperson for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) say there are at least five main areas car owners should consider when preparing their returns. People can only claim these deductions if they file the more complicated tax forms where they list itemized individual deductions. The deductions reduce taxable income, and the net (more…)

February 21, 2019
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Family Life & Pets

Pet poisons that may be lurking in your home

written by Michael Peterson

Metro ServicePets are often vulnerable to common household items that may not pose a threat to adults. One of the best things prospective pet owners can do before welcoming new pets into their families is to conduct a poison audit throughout their homes. Pets are often vulnerable to common household items that may not pose a threat to adults. That’s especially true for curious pets anxious to explore their new surroundings. The Pet Poison Helpline, a licensed animal poison control center dedicated to preventing poison-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities to pets, offers this room-by-room breakdown to help existing and potential pet owners find items around the house that could pose a (more…)

February 14, 2019
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Family Life & Pets

Want healthier kids? Get a pet

written by Michael Peterson

Metro ServicePets can contribute to cognitive, physical and emotional wellness in children. If youngsters have been eyeing fuzzy kittens or boisterous puppies at nearby shelters or pet stores, parents may want to give in to those cries for a family pet. Pets are added responsibilities, but the health benefits associated with pet ownership may be well worth the investment of time and effort. Caring for a pet is sometimes viewed as a childhood rite of passage, but there’s much more to the experience than just learning responsibility. Experts say a child’s emotional, cognitive, physical, and social development can be enhanced through interaction with a family pet. Studies continue, but the effects (more…)

February 14, 2019
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Real Estate

Keep the radon outside

written by Michael Peterson

Metro ServiceYour builder can make a huge difference in protecting you from radon Home buyers can build to protect their families As the world has changed, so, too, have home buyers. The home buyers of today typically want homes that support how we live our lives in the 21st century. That definitely means extra outlets for all of our devices and homes pre-wired for high speed internet access. And sometimes more. Housing starts, which refers to the number of new residential construction sites, reflect the demand for newly built homes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were slightly more than 1.2 million housing starts nationwide in September 2018, which marked (more…)

February 14, 2019
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Automotive

The evolution of global positioning systems

written by Michael Peterson

Metro ServiceNavigation tools have evolved over the years, and the world has long been on the precipice of something more accurate and intuitive. Global positioning systems can now be found in many devices and have transformed the way that people interact with their environments. Navigation tools have evolved over the years, and the world has long been on the precipice of something more accurate and intuitive. Many people believe GPS started with the launch of the Russian satellite Sputnik. Scientists at MIT noticed that the frequency of the radio signals transmitted by the satellite increased as it approached Earth and decreased when it moved away. Satellites could be tracked by measuring (more…)

February 14, 2019
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