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   <title>On The Level</title>
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   <description>Bob Vila has long been a trusted expert in home renovations and upgrades. Our home improvement blog On the Level keeps you informed on the products and trends that we see in the field. At On the Level, staff from BobVila.com post their views on what's new and newsworthy in home gadgets, tools, and trends.</description>
   <language>en-us</language>
   <pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:14:16 GMT</pubDate>
   <lastBuildDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:14:16 GMT</lastBuildDate>
   <copyright>Copyright BobVila.com 2006</copyright>
   <ttl>5</ttl>

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    <title>On The Level</title> 
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      <item>
    <title>Average Life Expectancy</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Average-Life-Expectancy-3720.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Average-Life-Expectancy-3720.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[I hope I make it to the average life expectancy for an average American male. I exercise, I don't smoke, I do occasionally have too much to drink or eat while watching a sporting event or at a party, but overall I believe I am doing well. I also get regular wellness checkups. I want to live to be 75 or over just to get the most out of my free coffee pass at McDonald's. I don't expect to live forever but with proper care and maintenance (as with other things) I expect to live to about the ...]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Greg)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Average-Life-Expectancy-3720.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>Win 1 of 10 Green Gift Baskets from BobVila.com</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Win-1-of-10-Green-Gift-Baskets-from-BobVila-com-3721.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Win-1-of-10-Green-Gift-Baskets-from-BobVila-com-3721.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[BobVila.com is giving away 10 green gift baskets over 10 days to help homeowners go green this holiday. From water-saving showerheads and faucets to eco-friendly dishwashing detergents and mold killers to energy-saving electricity usage monitors and sensors that detect water leaks, you'll find it in our gift baskets. See all the products we're giving away here.    Go  here to enter. Increase your chance of winning by entering once every day during the contest. Good luck!     ]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Tracy)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Win-1-of-10-Green-Gift-Baskets-from-BobVila-com-3721.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>Interesting Home Listing</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Interesting-Home-Listing-3673.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Interesting-Home-Listing-3673.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[Glancing over the property listings for real estate in Western Australia, I came across this listing. According to the description, it's a nice house that features "everything you require in a modern family home." Running down the list: a new kitchen, formal lounge, updated appliances, and, wait a sec, a what? That's an interesting use for their "large games room." ]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Interesting-Home-Listing-3673.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>Working in the Dark</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Working-in-the-Dark-3707.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Working-in-the-Dark-3707.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[Whether doing plumbing or auto work, contractors and DIYers often find themselves reaching into dark corners. And often this work involves fumbling with a flashlight or lantern. This problem is solved with the new cuff light from Bossco International. The cuff "features elastic fingers to pull over your bare hand or any size work gloves, turning your glove into the most versatile flash light on the market." The light is powered by four LED beams that can be rotated 360 degrees. It's ...]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Working-in-the-Dark-3707.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>I Am Fed Up with Phone Books</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/I-Am-Fed-Up-with-Phone-Books-3672.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/I-Am-Fed-Up-with-Phone-Books-3672.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[Having a phone book land on my doorstep is like receiving 1,000 pieces of junk mail at the same time. A tremendous waste of paper and resources. I try to be green. But I wonder how many trees were taken out of doing their job of producing oxygen for the Earth so I could get a book I put directly in the recycling bin. I often talk about recycling in my blogs and I honestly can't tell if the city is happy or not about phone book day in my town. They collect the recycling and if they sell these ...]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Greg)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/I-Am-Fed-Up-with-Phone-Books-3672.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Sun, 30 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>The Official Bob Vila Google Map Will Rock Your World</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/The-Official-Bob-Vila-Google-Map-Will-Rock-Your-World-3704.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/The-Official-Bob-Vila-Google-Map-Will-Rock-Your-World-3704.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[During the course of his 25-year career on television, Bob Vila has traveled far and wide covering the home improvement industry. Now if you've ever wondered if Bob has ever appeared in your area, you can check using the Official Bob Vila Google Map. The map shows project locations and includes appearances made at various manufacturing plants, museums, gardens and historic buildings across the country. Clicking on each point brings up a summary of the show and a link to the film clip.]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/The-Official-Bob-Vila-Google-Map-Will-Rock-Your-World-3704.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>Word of the Year: Bailout</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Word-of-the-Year-Bailout-3708.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Word-of-the-Year-Bailout-3708.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA["Bailout" was looked up so often at Merriam-Webster's online dictionary site that the publisher named it the 2008 Word of the Year. Defined as "a rescue from financial distress," "bailout" prompted hundreds of thousands of online lookups within just a few weeks. John Morse, Merriam-Webster's president and publisher, told the Associated Press that those who looked it up also seemed to want to know whether it had negative nuances or suggested irresponsibility or blame.Interested in learning ...]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Tracy)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Word-of-the-Year-Bailout-3708.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>Happy Thanksgiving</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Happy-Thanksgiving-3712.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Happy-Thanksgiving-3712.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[All of us here at BobVila.com wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Tracy)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Happy-Thanksgiving-3712.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>Easy Solar Panel Cost Estimator</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Easy-Solar-Panel-Cost-Estimator-3677.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Easy-Solar-Panel-Cost-Estimator-3677.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[Are you curious to know how much it would cost to install solar panels on your roof? If you are in the San Francisco area, a company called Sungevity can give you a cost estimate by viewing the roof of your home from satellite. All you need to do is enter your address at the company's Web site. It's a great idea, and I hope solar panel companies in our area starting doing the same thing soon.]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Easy-Solar-Panel-Cost-Estimator-3677.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>Not Your Everyday Bathroom Renovation</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Not-Your-Everyday-Bathroom-Renovation-3610.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Not-Your-Everyday-Bathroom-Renovation-3610.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[You can't fault artist Christoph Niemann for not being bold. Together with his wife, Lisa, Niemann attempted to recreate a pixilated version of a great work of art in his bathroom using four-by-four-inch tile. Read about his selection process and see the final result on his blog. Personally, I liked his kids' bathroom better where the bathroom tile was laid out to recreate the Berlin subway map.]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Not-Your-Everyday-Bathroom-Renovation-3610.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>The Skills You Need To Know</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/The-Skills-You-Need-To-Know-3671.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/The-Skills-You-Need-To-Know-3671.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[It's been over a year since Popular Mechanics published their ]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/The-Skills-You-Need-To-Know-3671.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>Gift Ideas for Dad</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Gift-Ideas-for-Dad-3675.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Gift-Ideas-for-Dad-3675.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[If you're wondering what to get your dad this holiday, take a hint from what other fathers want. ThisOldHouse.com asked dads "what new tool or workshop accessory is on your wish list?"  they selected eight of the wishes and came up with recommendations.  ]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Tracy)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Gift-Ideas-for-Dad-3675.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>What It's Like to Live in a Mansion</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/What-It-s-Like-to-Live-in-a-Mansion-3674.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/What-It-s-Like-to-Live-in-a-Mansion-3674.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[Writer Michael Lewis recently rented a colossal mansion in New Orleans and reports the experience was not as enjoyable as he thought it might be. In his essay, he uses the experience as a jumping off point for thoughts on the sub-prime crisis, the burning need for Americans to own larger homes and what it's like to live in a truly monstrous home. Among his findings, it's very difficult to locate family members and the utility bills are outrageous. It's a good read, especially if you are ...]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/What-It-s-Like-to-Live-in-a-Mansion-3674.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
   </item>
      <item>
    <title>What the Bailout Means to Homeowners</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/What-the-Bailout-Means-to-Homeowners-3669.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/What-the-Bailout-Means-to-Homeowners-3669.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[Government has been busy bailing out banks and now homeowners want to know, "What about us?" This article in Time is a good overview of the high-level discussions taking place on plans to rescue homeowners in trouble. There are currently two plans. One would involved creating incentives for banks to change the terms of troubled mortgages. In this plan, homeowners would have to show the debt on their loan exceeds 38 percent of their annual income. The second plan "calls for the expansion of ...]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Dave)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/What-the-Bailout-Means-to-Homeowners-3669.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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      <item>
    <title>Bailout Bill Basics</title>
    <link>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Bailout-Bill-Basics-3695.html</link>
    <guid>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Bailout-Bill-Basics-3695.html</guid>
    <description>
     <![CDATA[Are you like most of us and unsure what the "bailout bill" means and, most importantly, how it affects you as a homeowner? Check out "What the Bailout Bill Means to Homeowners, Including Green Incentives" on BobVila.com for the basics of the bailout bill and details on what debt relief may be available. You may also be surprised to learn about that the bailout bill includes several "green" incentives.]]>
    </description>
    <author>blogs@bobvila.com (Tracy)</author>
	 <comments>http://www.bobvila.com/OnTheLevel/Bailout-Bill-Basics-3695.html</comments>
    <pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
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