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Monthly Archives: March 2010

How To: Report An Ad

We pride ourself on being the most family-friendly classified site on the Internet. How do we do it? Well first, we have a crack team of moderators that scan the site for anything that violates our Terms of Use (basically, anything that would be deemed unsavory by the general public). As proficient as they are, it would be impossible to sift through every single ad that’s posted in Canada on any given day, so we’re enlisting you. If you care about keeping the site clean and accessible to everyone, take a quick look at our Terms of Use and let us know if you see an ad that conflicts with it. If you come across an ad that is inappropriate, you can flag it for our moderators by following the steps below. First, make sure you are on the ad’s page (the page with pictures and a description of the item or service in question).


Step 1) Above the ad photot to the left of the sellers information there is a section called “Share Listing” Click on the “Report This Ad*” link.
Step 2) You will be directed to a form where you can enter your email address and your reason for flagging the ad. Click on the drop-down box that says “No Reason”

Step 3) You will then be presented with a number of options. Choose the one that best applies to your reason for flagging (ie: Why is this ad against the UsedEverywhere.com Terms of Use?) and enter a short description in the “Message” field below.

Step 4) Once you’ve selected a reason and commented on it, click on the “Send Report” button at the bottom of the page.

A moderator will be notified and will evaluate the ad to ensure that it violates our Terms of Use. If it does, the ad is pulled off the site. Four easy steps and you’ve just helped us keep the site family-friendly!

Michael & Nick’s Top Ten Things To Turn Off and Unplug


To officially opt in to Earth Hour, all you have to do is turn off your lights. Easy enough, but what about the other 364 days and 23 hours of the year? As important as it is to show your support for Earth Hour, there’s more you can do to save the world. Here’s a list of 10 household items that all environmental stewards should keep an eye on:
10) Your Television
The last thing you want is to negate the valiant effort you made to turn off the lights by watching your television at full brightness. When you’re not watching the tele, make sure to turn off the power. Most new TVs do a pretty good job of conserving power when they’re off, and only use a negligible amount when they’re plugged in to save your settings. You might want to scan your basement for any “instant-on” televisions though. Their ability to turn on in an instant really means that they’re sucking almost as much power when they’re off as when they’re on.
9) Your Computer Set-up
Computers are notoriously left on and forgotten about. They’re energy suckers! Shut them down every night for the environment (and you will be rewarded with an extended computer life span) and ensure that you’re power saver settings are environmentally friendly.
8) Your Toaster Oven
Here’s a myth buster for you: toasters, blenders, panini makers, and other appliances do not use energy when they’re plugged in unless they have some sort of digital display (if they keep track of time, for example). It only takes a second to unplug your unusables, but you might as well leave them be if they’re energy friendly.
7) Your Lights and Lamps
6) Your Space Heater

Depending on where you are, giving up heat is the ultimate sacrifice. Get out your winter jackets and blankets and unplug any heaters you have around the house.

5) Your Vibrating Bed

Are you going to bed before 9:30? If not, you’re not going to be using it anyway, why not set it and forget it, until bedtime that is.

4) Your Stereo System

If you’re an audiophile, then this is a tough one to do. Make sure that you’ve got your iPod fully charged for the hour, so that you don’t loose tunage during the outage. Or, if you have records laying around the house, you could always make you’re own record player.

3) Your Train Set

With the TV, and the Stereo and the computer unplugged, unplugging the train set will be a sad moment. What would you do? I guess it’s time to pull out some books.

2) Your Cellphone Charger

Cellphone chargers are nasty energy culprits. They use almost as much energy when they’re sitting idle on your counter as when they’re pumping your phone full of juice. With a little foresight, you may not even give this a second though. But if you’re charging your phone, pull it from the wall, and hope you don’t drop below 10% battery.

1) Your Basement Clock

It’s probably plugged in the corner of the deepest darkest recesses of your house. It might not just be in the basement, other places include the garage, or a storage room, or the laundry room.

Don’t worry about the Electric Fence… it’s solar
We’re unplugging the website for Earth Hour. Join us in turning off your top ten electricity bugs on Saturday from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

New Category Suggestions


Have you ever tried to post or search for an item on your local UsedEverywhere.com, only to find that there are no categories that describe the item in question? We’re in the process of revising our category list. You know, the specific sections of our site that you browse through to find your favorite stuff? Categories like “Electronics > Video > TVs” are pretty straight forward if you’re searching for or selling a television, but maybe you’ve been looking for a Marine Equipment section to offload your boat or find sonar equipment on the cheap. Whatever your disposition, we want your feedback. Take part in the site’s evolution and tell us what categories you would like to see. If you’d like to be extra helpful, tell us of an instance where you wanted to buy or sell a particular item (or service) but weren’t able to find it on our site.

We want to make your life easier! Post your thoughts on Facebook, Twitter, or in the comments box below.

Earth Hour


Earth Hour is a yearly, one hour event organized by the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) that aims to create awareness around climate change and what we can do to curb it. All you have to do is turn your lights off and unplug your electronics at 8:30 pm on Saturday, March 27th. It’s a call to arms for anyone who wants to take part in a small, but meaningful act that will reduce CO2 emissions around the world and spread the word about the impacts of climate change affecting all of us today and in the future. Skeptics will argue that we’re not going to save the world in an hour, and they’re right, but who can really argue against an effort to direct people’s attention to a pressing environmental issue? Below are five facts key facts about Earth Hour, make sure to check out the official website and help spread the word if it’s a cause you believe in.

1) We can solve 3/4 of climate change by changing the energy we use.
First step is cutting down our use. Do those lights really have to be on? Can the computers be turned off at night? Think before you switch on.
2) 10 millions Canadians care about leadership on climate change.
Every person who participates in Earth Hour is sending a clear and inspiring message to our leaders to take further action needed to help our planet.
3) We’re in the hot seat this summer.
Canada is hosting the G8 and G20 Summits in Hunstville and Toronto in June, and climate change is on the agenda. Let’s show the world what we’re capable of.
4) Wildlife’s best hope is avoiding 2 degrees Celsius.
Global warming is already threatening our coral reefs, the base of ocean life. If we can limit the warming, we can stop 1/3 of species from risking extinction.
5) WWF wants to make every hour Earth Hour.
There’s a big growing community of people wanting to do more and looking for support. Join them at http://community.wwf.ca.
Remember to turn off and unplug this Saturday!

Michael’s Top Ten Green Things

Today’s post is dedicated to a weekend of post St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and all things eco-friendly. It may seem like an odd marriage, but they share a common theme that is so central to both Irish culture and environmentalism that it absolutely must be recognized. That crucial link is the color green, and it is on display in each of the items below.
10) Men’s Suit Coat
No one likes it when an excuse to celebrate falls during the work week. You’re faced with a difficult choice: do you go out and enjoy yourself, knowing that tomorrow will be H E double hockey sticks, or do you miss out on the fun for the sake of responsibility? Thankfully, we’re all in the same boat, and to remedy the problem we can collectively decide to push the celebration to the following weekend. Seeing as most of us missed out on Wednesday’s St. Patrick’s Day, the de facto celebration will take place this Friday and Saturday, so grab a green coat and get ready for the party.
9) Ty Beanie Babies
Remember these? Beanie Babies swept the country in the late 90′s with their cute exteriors, beanie insides, and incredible resale value. They may not be worth a thousand dollars anymore, but optimistic investors with a flair for St. Paddy’s may want to invest in the Shamrock Bears and hope for a resurgence in popularity. It happened to Pogs, right?
8) Campfire Nightlight
It’s the perfect centerpiece for your Irish party and the perfect nightlight for your kid’s jungle themed room. Though, if you plan on watching Leprechaun you may want to use it as a nightlight yourself. Just sayin’.
7) iPod Nano
What’s more important to a celebration than music? Not a lot, I’d wager. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or relaxing at home, show your Irish love when you plug in your playlist to the nearest speakers by ensuring that your hardware matches the balloons.
6) Peridot Ring
Celebrations are often accompanied by gifts, and while St. Patrick’s Day may not lend itself to extravagance, it’s always an option. If giving is your style, we’ve got you covered with a peridot ring.
5) Leather Sofa
Sofas are an essential ingredient to any household. They help to create a comfortable forum for conversation and appies, and are perfect for watching your favorite film. Make sure you have a comfy one this weekend when you’re serving up green cupcakes or watching The Boondock Saints.
4) Green Cheeke Conure
If you’re not into the party scene you may want to spend the weekend at home, but that doesn’t mean you want to spend it alone. You could always curb your loneliness while adhering to the green theme by investing in a parrot. You better be serious though. They’re quick to fall in love, so don’t come running to me when it clings to you like Pepé le Pew.
3) Beach Dress
Check your local forecast because it’s almost that time of year when you can comfortably don your beach attire. Spread the green love with a dress that’s time relevant on St. Paddy’s, Earth Day, and every afternoon this Summer.
2) DJ Laser
What could be a more fitting addition to a list of green things than a machine that makes green itself. Great for raves and Usher music videos, this laser will project Irish environmentalism on anything you fancy.
1) Monkey Puzzle Tree
Yup, the #1 green thing is a tree. They’re certainly not unique to Ireland, but they do a pretty good job of converting carbon dioxide into oxygen, which is cause for celebration in itself.
Have a great weekend!

How To: Share Your Ad on Twitter and Facebook


Everyone seems to be flocking to social media applications like Facebook and Twitter, and for good reason. They’re a great way to stay in touch with friends, keep up with community events, and spread the word about your latest endeavor. They’re also an excellent medium to advertise your latest ad on UsedEverywhere.com. If you’re not quite up to speed with the social media buzz, worry not… just follow these simple steps and you’ll be publicizing your goods in no time.

Step 1) Find your ad. You can search for your ad in the top right hand corner of your local UsedEverywhere.com site using keywords or the ID number that was emailed to you when your ad was posted.
*Steps 2 through 4 describe how to share your ad on Twitter. Skip to Step 5 if you want to share your ad on Facebook.
Step 2) Below the picture of your item there is a heading that reads “Share via.” Click on the Twitter link.
Step 3) You will then be asked to log in to your Twitter account, or register for one if you do not have an account already. Fill in the appropriate boxes with your username/email and password, and click the “Sign In” button.
Step 4) Once logged in to Twitter, a message similar to the one shown below will automatically be posted into your message box. Either click the “Tweet” button to post the message as is, or personalize the Tweet by adding your own message. Once you’ve clicked the “Tweet” button your message will be posted for all to see!
Step 5) If you’d like to post your ad on Facebook for all of your friends to see, click the “Share via Facebook” button on your ad’s page.
Step 6) A new window will then open which will ask you to log in to your Facebook account (if you do not have a Facebook account you can click the “Sign up for Facebook” link on the bottom right of the pop up).
Step 7) Once logged in, you will have the option to personalize your post with a message of your own. Facebook will automatically include a link and picture in your post, so once you are ready to post your ad, click on the “Share” button at the bottom of the window.
You’ve done it! Your ad is now surfing the social media wave for all of your friends, family, and coworkers to see.

The EcoStar Community Environmental Awards


Are you an advocate for environmental change? Do you support recycling, water conservation, and waste reduction? If saving the the Earth is right up your alley (and you live on the southern tip of Vancouver Island), you may want to nominate yourself for the Capital Regional District’s (CRD) 2010 EcoStar Community Environmental Awards, which aim to recognize outstanding environmental achievements and contributions by individuals, organizations, and businesses alike.

The awards have been hosted by the CRD since 2004 and have presented awards in conservation and restoration, environmental education, pollution prevention, research and technology, and several other categories. This year, seven environmental achievements are being recognized:
1. Community Environmental Leader
The Community Leader Award honors the work of an individual who has continually gone the extra mile to help steward our environment and engage in conservation. The award winner will have a record of excellence in contributing to the state of the region’s environment, and serve as a positive role model within the community.
2. Youth Leader
The Youth Leader Award celebrates a youth who has contributed to community participation, leadership, emerging initiative and vision within our region.
3. Water Stewardship
The Water Stewardship Award acknowledges individuals, groups, or organizations that have shown a commitment to protecting the water that we use and put back in our environment.
4. Waste Reduction
The Waste Reduction Award acknowledges an individual, group or organization that draws attention to the richness and diversity of the natural world and the importance of working toward ecological sustainability through waste avoidance and resource conservation.
5. Climate Action
The Climate Action Award acknowledges an individual, group or organization who actively works to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and/or adapt to the economic, social, and environmental consequences of climate change.
6. Land Stewardship
The Land Stewardship Award recognizes individuals, groups or organizations working on preserving, enhancing or restoring ecosystems and/or land for local food production, urban forests, or natural parks.
7. Integrated Watershed Management
The Integrated Watershed Management Award recognizes individuals, groups or organizations working on protecting and restoring urban and rural watersheds, educating and practicing rainwater and stormwater management, protecting watershed habitats and ecosystems, and managing water flows to improve watershed functions in developments.


Spread the word if you know someone who would fits the bill! You can nominate yourself, your business, or a friend at the EcoStar website. Applications will be accepted from Monday, March 8th to Sunday, April 11th, 2010 at midnight.

How To: Browse Garage Sales


For some, the coming of Spring isn’t just about warm weather and perennials. It’s about scoring a gently used sofa on the cheap, or finding a vintage lamp that has so many flaws it’s charming. In short, it’s about garage sales.
By now you’ve probably taken note of the junk that’s been accumulating in your house since last Fall, and you may have even printed off a Spring cleaning checklist. So, what now? Well, after you gather together your unnecessaries, you’ll have to put them somewhere, and where better to unload them than the arms of a willing neighbor who has cash to spare?
If you’d rather enjoy the warm sun than sit on your computer posting each and every item to your local classifieds site, then you may want to host a garage sale and advertise it with a single post in the Events and Garage Sales section of UsedEverywhere.com. Below are a few simple steps to make it happen:
Step 1) Click on the “Place Ads” tab of your local UsedEverywhere.com site.
Step 2) Scroll down the page to the “Info Classifieds” heading, and click on “Events and Garage Sales.”
Step 3) Then, click on “Garage, Yard & Moving Sales.”
Step 4) Fill out the form with the appropriate information, and be sure to include your postal code so that your garage sale’s location will show up in your ad (See How To: Map Your Ads for more information).
Step 5) Scroll down and click on the “Place Ad” button on the very bottom of the page.
Conversely, if you would like to browse all of the garage sales in your area, you can scroll down to the “Events & Garage Sales” button on the home page of your local UsedEverywhere.com site.
Hope this helps with your Spring clean out!

Spring Cleaning Checklist


March is the mark of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and as our favorite half of the Earth tilts towards the Sun, we are rewarded with longer days, blossoming trees, and a seemingly endless list of chores that needs tending to. Okay, so that last one isn’t so much a reward as it is a nuisance. But we’re here to help you through the thick of it. We’ve created a list of resources that will guide you through the process of purging the dirt, grime, and excess stuff from your abode. Check them out and let us know what you think in the comments box below this post!

1) FlyLady.net

FlyLady‘s mantra is to “help you get rid of the CHAOS in your life and have fun doing it!” She hosts a radio show on BlogTalkRadio.com and has some great tips and videos on her site to help you declutter.
2) How to Clean Anything

HowToCleanAnything.com has an extensive list of techniques for cleaning everything that gets dirty, from skylights to barbecues. Want to clean your walls? Make sure to start at the bottom and work your way up. This may seem counterintuitive but, as the tipsters at How to Clean Anything point out, it’s much easier to wipe off drips from a clean wall than a dirty one. Who would’ve thunk it?
3) Clean House
Clean House follows a four-person clean-up and renovation crew that takes on the responsibility of helping families who are unable to control household clutter. The show provides some practical tips, and its website even has a Clutter Meter that determines how your space stacks up.
4) Home and Garden Television Network Forums

You may not think community when you hear HGTV, but their Cleaning & Organizing message board says otherwise. Users and viewers like yourself can discuss the day-to-day struggle of keeping clutter to a minimum. Check it out, make some new friends, and learn some new things.
5) Neat Nelson’s Spring Cleaning Checklist
NeatNelson.com provides a cleaning service to the people of Nelson, British Columbia. They’ve also created a handy Spring Cleaning Checklist that will help you get organized, no matter where you are. Print off the PDF file and check the boxes as you go.
I know, it’s daunting, but think of how great you’ll feel when it’s done!

Michael’s Top Ten Oscar Necessities

This Sunday, the 82nd Annual Academy Awards will grace your television screen. Don’t try to hide your excitement. You’re a movie buff, and this is your chance to show everyone you know how savvy you are by picking out the winners before they’re announced, like you’re some sort of precognitive movie machine. Naturally, you’ll have done your research and stocked up on all of the Oscar necessities, but that doesn’t take away from the glory of it all. Hold that thought… you don’t know what the Oscar necessities are? Well, don’t be too hard on yourself, it’ll only take a moment to explain. Below are my top ten Oscar necessities for this weekend’s focus on films.
10) Chips and Dip Bowl
First things first. Whether you’re catching up on all of the movies you missed or watching the award show itself, you’re going to need some sort of multipurpose munching vessel. Something that can simultaneously hold two substances together and separate (If that’s not “deep,” I don’t know what is). I suggest the army knife of casual snacking, also known as a chips and dip bowl.

9) Portable DVD Player
Now in previous years, we would be given a list of five films that were nominated for the Best Picture award and have no trouble at all watching them ahead of time. Things have changed, for better or worse. This year we were given not five, but ten must-see movies. That’s a collective twenty plus hours that we will have to cash in to keep up with the scene. Who’s got that kind of time? We all do, now that we can watch movies on the bus, at the beach, and during our lunch breaks.

8) 3D Video Converter
Have you heard of Avatar? It’s up for the Best Picture award, among others, and boasts a pretty impressive coat of 3D paint. But why should it have all the fun, right? Check out this 3D video converter that can take any old picture and inject it with depth. I know what you’re thinking… and yeah, I want to see that in 3D too.


7) Home Theatre Projector
Like movies the old fashioned way? Well, this isn’t quite as old fashioned as you might have hoped, but it will create a picture on your wall that you won’t be able to see in a few years, when most movie theatres go digital. Hang on to the golden days with this home theatre projector.
6) Coke Machine
Don’t get your trousers in a twist Pepsi loyalists. I’m not asking you to give up your favorite drink. I’m only suggesting that pop lovers worldwide unite to celebrate the beautiful partnership between pop, chips, dip, and movies. No matter what brand you favor, make sure that you have a readily available supply of cold bevvies at your side before you press Play.




5) Light Repelling Blinds
Movies are meant to be enjoyed in a particular setting, and that particular setting resembles an underground cave. You’re going to need a few things to ensure that your living room can meet this requirement. First, make sure you have blinds that keep the day/moonlight out. Then, close your doors and turn off your lights. You may not want the musty air that caves generally maintain, but you will most certainly want the darkness.
4) Popcorn Machine
You can tell a lot about a person by how they make their popcorn. You don’t want to be one of those microwavable types, do you? Nope, you want the good stuff. Look into grabbing an inexpensive, but highly enjoyable popcorn popper to make your movie experience more authentic.
3) Theatre Seats
The one thing most home theatre set-ups lack: proper seating. I stand by my recommendation to install cinema seating in your living room, no matter how opulent that might seem. Check out the services section of your local UsedEverywhere.com site, find someone willing to reupholster your seats with vinyl, and start watching.

2) High Definition TV
The future is here, and it has a 32″ plasma screen with HDMI input. If you haven’t jumped onto the high definition scene, then you may want to. Movies like The Hurt Locker are blowing minds with the amount of detail they’re projecting through your pupil.

1) Playstation 3 / Blu-ray Player
So, you’ve got your high def TV, and now you need some high def content. If you haven’t heard, Blu-ray is the new DVD. Soon enough you won’t be able visit your local video store without having a player that can read those shiny blue discs. The Playstation 3 may be your economical answer to keeping up with the times. It can store your photos, run your games, and most importantly, play your movies. If you pride yourself on having the latest and greatest, then make sure you have one when you’re renting the Oscar winners.

Hope you enjoy the awards!

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