Q. I have a small, portable one-room air conditioner that I've used for several years. Now, some of the grease has leaked from the rear of the unit onto the vinyl siding of my house. How do I clean it off?

A. Always try soap and water first or the cleaner that is recommended. Having said that, and because the grease you're describing is probably a petrochemical based material (not silicone), it can probably best be cleaned using something like gasoline or acetone.

First, make sure there are no flames or sparks nearby, and turn off and disconnect any nearby appliances that could spark while you're working. No smoking during this project.

Then, simply put a very small amount of gasoline onto the rag and wipe. The stain will disappear.
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Settings, speakers could improve DVDs' sound

Q: The sound on rented VCR tapes and DVDs is usually so poor, I can barely hear the dialogue, even with my TV sound turned up to the maximum. Sometimes it is impossible to hear across the room, even when the air conditioner is off. Sometimes the background music overpowers the dialogue.

A: Hi-fi videotapes and DVDs are recorded at sound levels meant for the home theater experience. This means they have wide dynamic range, meaning soft sounds are soft and loud sounds can get very loud.

Only 10 of 46 air cons operable at Tamuning Elementary

Just when things were beginning to cool off, things are heating back up at Tamuning Elementary School. Students at the central school are feeling the heat once again, as a majority of the classrooms are without working air conditioning units. (This comes a few months after the units were repaired.) A total of 36 out of 46 classrooms are currently without the services of functional A/C."I told the board I'd challenge them to come to my school, sit in my class and watch my teacher give a lesson, because it's so hot," said Student Body Association president Geawna Hernandez. The outspoken fifth grader had approached the Guam Education Policy Board during its meeting last night, voicing her frustrations. The student says teachers are conducting classes outside because the heat has become unbearable, adding that she doesn't want to return back a modified bell schedule.She explained, "It's really hot and I know that not all of the kids like school, but I kind of like school and I don't want to go back to the 12 o'clock schedule anymore.

United Airlines flight makes safe unscheduled landing at KCI

A United Airlines transcontinental flight made an emergency landing at Kansas City International Airport this morning after officials reported smoke in the cabin.</p><p>No one was injured.</p><p>Flight 871, a Boeing 767 jet traveling from Washington D.C. to San Francisco and then Taiwan, landed safely about 10:10 a.m., said KCI spokesman Joe McBride. There were 226 persons — 215 passengers and 11 crew members — aboard the plane, which was carrying 38,000 pounds of fuel.</p><p>Kansas City fire personnel and equipment gathered near the KCI runway area as the flight landed.</p><p>The plane will remain grounded at KCI as officials conduct a thorough inspection, said United Airlines spokeswoman Megan McCarthy. She said it was uncertain how long the plane would be at KCI.</p><p>After landing, the plane taxied to the United Airlines gate at Terminal A.

Former Scottsdale apartment complex in limbo

A downtown Scottsdale apartment complex that was slated to be razed for a high-rise condo project continues to sit dark and vacant, leading to speculation that the owner is looking to unload the property.

Should the opportunity arise to sell rather than redevelop, well consider it, said James Petersen, ICPs marketing director. But at the present time, we continue to view Orchidtree as an incredibly important redevelopment piece to the future of downtown Scottsdale.

Take it step by step

On the downside, you have to take care of all your own maintenance and improvements, so you have to be able to cover not just the monthly mortgage payment but insurance and repairs and upkeep.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has some great tips for getting ready to buy your first house.