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Bamboo Flooring

Wood floors are gorgeous, but hardwoods traditionally used in flooring take decades to grow, and can be harvested irresponsibly in rain forests. The solution is bamboo flooring. Although bamboo is technically a grass, it grows like a tree -- only faster. Since it matures in three years and regenerates itself, bamboo doesn't contribute to global deforestation. (Most material used in flooring comes from controlled bamboo forests in China.) When laminated into boards, bamboo is as tough as oak or maple, and has a richly patterned grain enlivened by tiny "nodes" -- the bamboo equivalent of knotholes. It installs much like hardwood flooring and costs about the same. Be sure to finish it with a water-based urethane, which is less toxic than solvent-based finishes. For more information, you can visit plyboo.com or teragren.com.

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“ To clean a toilet, work from the top down. Start with the tank, move to the seat, clean inside the bowl, and then clean the base. The dirtiest part of the bowl�and the last place you want your rag to touch�is the base. ”

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After drilling his platoon in the hot sun, the sergeant barked out a final order: "All right, you idiots, fall out!" The men dispersed, but one rookie stood firm.

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