Tahun 2020 tahun Pandemi Corona

Sejarah mencatat, pada tahun 2020 terjadi pandemi corona di hampir seluruh negara di dunia, dimulai pada sekitar Nov 2019 dari kota Wuhan di salah satu kota di negara China, entah dari mana dan bagaimana virus corona itu menyebar ke manusia, kota Wuhan mengalami wabah corona yg berimbas ke kota" lain di negara" lain di dunia.

.

mulai ke Korsel, Jepang, Iran, Spanyol, Prancis, Jerman, Inggris, Arab Saudi dan jg ke Singapura yg akhir nya ke Malaysia dan pada sekitar awal Maret 2020, virus corona itu sampai jg ke Wilayah Indonesia, yg di tandai dengan mulai tertular nya seorang warga Depok, hingga akhir nya menjelang Ramadhan, wabah corona yg di namai Covid19 sdh merata di 34 Provinsi d Indonesia.. dan jg hampir merata di seluruh dunia..



pada saat saya menulis ini, pada hari Rabu 17 Juni 2020, msh berlangsung wabah ini, dgn jg blm di temukan nya vaksin yg sdh di anggap sempurna utk memusnahkan pandemi virus tsb

Tahun 2020 tahun Pandemi Corona

Sejarah mencatat, pada tahun 2020 terjadi pandemi corona di hampir seluruh negara di dunia, dimulai pada sekitar Nov 2019 dari kota Wuhan di salah satu kota di negara China, entah dari mana dan bagaimana virus corona itu menyebar ke manusia, kota Wuhan mengalami wabah corona yg berimbas ke kota" lain di negara" lain di dunia.

.

mulai ke Korsel, Jepang, Iran, Spanyol, Prancis, Jerman, Inggris, Arab Saudi dan jg ke Singapura yg akhir nya ke Malaysia dan pada sekitar awal Maret 2020, virus corona itu sampai jg ke Wilayah Indonesia, yg di tandai dengan mulai tertular nya seorang warga Depok, hingga akhir nya menjelang Ramadhan, wabah corona yg di namai Covid19 sdh merata di 34 Provinsi d Indonesia.. dan jg hampir merata di seluruh dunia..



pada saat saya menulis ini, pada hari Rabu 17 Juni 2020, msh berlangsung wabah ini, dgn jg blm di temukan nya vaksin yg sdh di anggap sempurna utk memusnahkan pandemi virus tsb

Jatnika, Swordsman Bamboo Cimande

Jatnika, Swordsman Bamboo Cimande



Rose Kusuma ( Mawar Kusuma )
Grown up in the bamboo forest, living Jatnika Nanggamiharja (54) was separated from the plant. He has built more than 3,000 bamboo houses in and outside the country. He set aside his business profits to the greening of the river bank.

At 5,000 square meters of land owned by Yayasan Bambu Indonesia on Earth Cibinong Bambu Indah, Bogor, West Java, Jatnika trained experts manufacture bamboo house. They were equipped with martial arts skills Cimande martial arts. Martial arts typical of West Java this gives the power supplies so that they are able to build strong ties bamboo house and durable.

Jatnika has trained more than 20 armed bamboo experts, each of which consists of 25 people. They are trained to be able to bind stronger every ten kinds of bamboo with rope fibers. They could assemble betung bamboo, bamboo gombong, bamboo rope, until the black bamboo can reach 20 centimeters in diameter.

Bamboo home products for export. For quality, Jatnika only agreed two export demand bamboo house knock down assembly (disassembly) per year. The process of construction of bamboo houses abroad also only be done by experts who are educated Jatnika. Export demand bamboo houses, among others, came from Malaysia, Brunei, and Saudi Arabia.

Construction of each house of bamboo usually takes three months. Since 1985, Jatnika said, it has built more than 3,000 bamboo houses.
Jatnika peg the cost of construction of houses between Rp 1.2 million to Rp 2.5 million per square meter and the average one house of 50 square meters.

Jatnika simple life in his bamboo house that blends with the Bamboo Foundation of Indonesia. The advantages gained from the construction of bamboo is also used for the procurement of seeds, which is then planted as reforestation efforts. "I spread back to planting. Happiness does not always lie in the matter, "said Jatnika.

Greening mainly done around the river as a barrier cliff. Bamboo is planted already thickened on the banks of the River Ciliwung, Cisadane and Ciluwer. In his hometown, Jatnika planted more than 10 hectares of bamboo on the banks of the river Cimande. Bamboo plant is not just a river to prevent erosion, but also provide for the welfare of local people.
In addition to the house, also built schools Jatnika his bamboo. If built 10 mosques or prayer room of bamboo, Jatnika donate a prayer room for free. His dream is to see a bamboo house main characteristic when people enter the region of West Java.

Prabu Haur Kuning ( King Haur Kuning )
Jatnika believe, bamboo fatwa first raised by King Haur Kuning. Prabu Haur Kuning  is the son of the wife of King Siliwangi-11. Prabu Haur Kuning only has jurisdiction of 1,200 fathoms able to realize the welfare of planting bamboo.
Three bamboo fatwa that said, if Nusantara want peace, no infectious disease infestation, and not colonized, so that each family must have at least 1000 plant bamboo groves. Through the planting of bamboo, will create prosperity, health, and defense.

Jatnika deeply felt personal well-being because of the bamboo pieces. From planting bamboo betung 1000 was five years old, for example, he can harvest 20,000 bamboo rod. With a selling price of Rp 30,000 per stem, Jatnika was able to collect $ 600 million per harvest, once a year.

The sale value will be higher after being touched with expertise, such as made into fans, cage birds, and a variety of kitchen tools.
Each year, Jatnika said, at least five sticks of bamboo clump of bamboo must be cut so that growth is not hampered.

One bamboo clump consisting of 50 rods capable of storing 2,000 liters of water. No wonder the common people in rural areas to make a well near a bamboo grove.
Living in a bamboo house, according Jatnika also able to give comfort. Resonance long drone sounds of bamboo cavity able to cultivate tranquility for the residents.
"We are brothers with bamboo. Nggg sound ... The same can we hear when closing ears with her hands. That is why very comfortable sleeping in a bamboo house, "said Jatnika.

Starting as a weaver
Since in elementary school, Jatnika already weaving bamboo for sale. Her parents worked as bamboo craftsmen. Every night, when I was wearing a uniform high school, his friends Jatnika also taught how to weave bamboo and martial arts training Cimande.

Having completed his studies in 1981, his business development Jatnika bamboo house while working in a publishing company. Bamboo handicraft exports ranging fro to Taiwan in 1985, and since then he's focused efforts to cultivate bamboo. Bamboo handicraft business was then developed with five studio in Jakarta.

As for a show at Banteng Square bamboo house in 1995, Chairman of the National Crafts Council at the time, Mrs. Tri Sutrisno, establishing him Bamboo Foundation of Indonesia. Since then Jatnika expand export bamboo house. Bamboo Foundation of Indonesia is still actively educating experts makers bamboo house.

Jatnika admitted until now have developed 41 models of traditional bamboo houses typical of West Java. Working with PT Angkasa Pura II, he has patented rights to semi-permanent bamboo houses in 2006.

Indonesia is rich with 105 endemic species of native bamboo which 95 were found in West Java. However, Jatnika felt uneasy because bamboo is considered a wild plant, in the absence of a fixed investment.

Based Jatnika records, nearly 1,000 hectares of bamboo forests in Bogor felled in the past five years. In fact, he said, the life of the people of Indonesia can not be separated from the bamboo culture, ranging from the need of raw materials to the food home.
Jatnika Nanggamiharja

• Born: Cikidang, Sukabumi, October 2, 1956 • Wife: Marsidah (33) • Children: 1. Samsul Fajri 2. Sundari (deceased) 3. Ratu Pertiwi 4. Charisma Nusanagara 5. Salmah Maksum 6. Banjar Kaspaya •
Education: - SD IV in Cibadak, Sukabumi - SMP I Cibadak, Sukabumi - SMA 424 Cibadak, Sukabumi - Corporate Leadership Academy Lecture Jakarta • Experience Organization: - Chairman of the Society of Craftsmen Bamboo roe Kencana (1974-present) - business or Chairman Daily Indonesia Bamboo Foundation (1995-present) - Chairman of Trustees Gymnastics Pencak Silat Cimande Hijaiah (2010-present) • Awards (among others): Makers of traditional bamboo houses most of the Indonesian Institute of Architects (2009)

Jatnika, Pendekar Bambu Cimande

Jatnika, Pendekar Bambu Cimande

Selasa, 12 April 2011 | 04:13 WIB

Dibaca: 2477

Mawar Kusuma

Tumbuh dan besar di hutan bambu, hidup Jatnika Nanggamiharja (54) tak terpisahkan dari tanaman itu. Ia telah membangun lebih dari 3.000 rumah bambu di dalam dan luar negeri. Ia sisihkan keuntungan bisnisnya untuk penghijauan tebing sungai.

Di lahan seluas 5.000 meter persegi milik Yayasan Bambu Indonesia di Bumi Cibinong Indah, Bogor, Jawa Barat, Jatnika melatih tenaga ahli pembuatan rumah bambu. Mereka dibekali kemampuan olahraga bela diri

pencak silat Cimande. Ilmu bela diri khas Jawa Barat ini memberi bekal kekuatan sehingga mereka mampu membangun rumah bambu yang ikatannya kuat dan tahan lama.

Jatnika telah melatih lebih dari 20 angkatan tenaga ahli bambu yang masing-masing terdiri atas 25 orang. Mereka dilatih untuk mampu mengikat kuat setiap bambu dengan sepuluh macam ikatan tali ijuk. Mereka sanggup merakit bambu betung, bambu gombong, bambu tali, hingga bambu hitam yang diameternya bisa mencapai 20 sentimeter.

Produk rumah bambu itu menjadi komoditas ekspor. Demi kualitas, Jatnika hanya menyanggupi dua permintaan ekspor rakitan rumah bambu knock down (bongkar pasang) per tahun. Proses pembangunan rumah bambu di luar negeri juga hanya dilakukan dengan tenaga ahli yang sudah dididik Jatnika. Permintaan ekspor rumah bambu, antara lain berasal dari Malaysia, Brunei, dan Arab Saudi.

Pembangunan tiap rumah bambu biasanya memakan waktu tiga bulan. Sejak tahun 1985, kata Jatnika, pihaknya telah membangun lebih dari 3.000 rumah bambu.

Jatnika mematok biaya pembangunan rumah antara Rp 1,2 juta hingga Rp 2,5 juta per meter persegi dan luas satu rumah rata-rata 50 meter persegi.

Jatnika hidup sederhana di rumah bambu miliknya yang menyatu dengan kawasan Yayasan Bambu Indonesia. Keuntungan yang diperolehnya dari pembangunan rumah bambu juga dimanfaatkan untuk pengadaan bibit, yang kemudian ditanam sebagai upaya penghijauan. ”Saya sebar kembali untuk penanaman. Kebahagiaan tidak selamanya terletak di materi,” kata Jatnika.

Penghijauan terutama dilakukan di sekitar sungai sebagai penahan tebing. Bambu yang ditanamnya sudah merimbun di bantaran Sungai Ciliwung, Cisadane, dan Ciluwer. Di kampung halamannya, Jatnika menanam lebih dari 10 hektar bambu di tepian sungai Cimande. Tanaman bambu tersebut tak sekadar mencegah erosi sungai, tapi juga memberi kesejahteraan bagi warga sekitar.

Selain rumah, Jatnika juga membangun pesantren miliknya dari bambu. Jika membangun 10 masjid atau mushala dari bambu, Jatnika menyumbangkan satu mushala secara gratis. Impiannya adalah menyaksikan rumah bambu menjadi ciri khas utama ketika orang memasuki wilayah Jawa Barat.

Prabu Haur Kuning

Jatnika meyakini, fatwa bambu yang dulu dilontarkan oleh Prabu Haur Kuning. Prabu Haur Kuning adalah putra Prabu Siliwangi dari istri ke-11. Prabu Haur Kuning yang hanya memiliki wilayah kekuasaan seluas 1.200 depa mampu mewujudkan kesejahteraan rakyatnya dari penanaman bambu.

Tiga fatwa bambu itu menyebutkan, jika Nusantara ingin sejahtera, tidak dihinggapi penyakit menular, dan tidak dijajah, maka tiap keluarga minimal harus menanam 1.000 rumpun bambu. Melalui penanaman bambu, akan tercipta kesejahteraan, kesehatan, dan pertahanan negara.

Jatnika pribadi mengaku sangat merasakan buah kesejahteraan karena bambu. Dari penanaman 1.000 rumpun bambu betung berumur lima tahun, misalnya, dia bisa memanen 20.000 batang bambu. Dengan harga jual Rp 30.000 per batang, Jatnika sudah bisa memperoleh Rp 600 juta per panen, setahun sekali.

Nilai jual tersebut akan semakin tinggi setelah disentuh dengan keahlian, seperti dibuat menjadi kipas, sangkar burung, dan beragam alat dapur.

Tiap tahun, kata Jatnika, minimal lima batang dari serumpun bambu harus ditebang agar pertumbuhan bambu tak terhambat.

Satu rumpun bambu yang terdiri dari 50 batang mampu menyimpan 2.000 liter air. Tak heran jika orang di pedesaan biasa membuat sumur di dekat rumpun bambu.

Tinggal di rumah bambu, menurut Jatnika, juga mampu memberi kenyamanan. Resonansi dengung panjang berbunyi dari rongga bambu mampu menumbuhkan ketenangan bagi penghuninya.

”Kita ini bersaudara dengan bambu. Bunyi nggg... yang sama bisa kita dengar ketika menutup telinga dengan tangan. Itulah kenapa sangat nyaman tidur di rumah bambu,” ujar Jatnika.

Mulai sebagai penganyam

Sejak duduk di bangku SD, Jatnika sudah menganyam bambu untuk dijual. Orangtuanya berprofesi sebagai perajin bambu. Tiap malam, ketika masih memakai seragam SMP dan SMA, kepada teman-temannya Jatnika juga mengajar cara menganyam bambu serta melatih pencak silat Cimande.

Setelah kuliahnya selesai tahun 1981, Jatnika menekuni bisnis pembangunan rumah bambu sembari bekerja di perusahaan penerbitan. Ekspor kerajinan bambu mulai dijalaninya tahun 1985 ke Taiwan, dan sejak saat itu dia fokus menggeluti usaha bambu. Usaha kerajinan bambunya kala itu berkembang dengan lima sanggar di Jakarta.

Ketika ikut pameran rumah bambu di Lapangan Banteng tahun 1995, Ketua Dewan Kerajinan Nasional kala itu, Nyonya Tri Sutrisno, mengajaknya mendirikan Yayasan Bambu Indonesia. Sejak itulah Jatnika melebarkan sayap ekspor rumah bambunya. Yayasan Bambu Indonesia hingga kini masih aktif mendidik para ahli pembuat rumah bambu.

Jatnika mengaku hingga kini sudah mengembangkan 41 model rumah tradisional bambu khas Jawa Barat. Bekerja sama dengan PT Angkasa Pura II, dia telah mematenkan hak cipta untuk rumah bambu semi permanen pada 2006.

Indonesia kaya dengan 105 spesies endemik asli bambu yang 95 di antaranya ditemukan di Jawa Barat. Namun, Jatnika merasa resah karena bambu masih dianggap tanaman liar, tanpa adanya penanaman yang terprogram.

Berdasar catatan Jatnika, hampir 1.000 hektar hutan bambu di Bogor ditebang dalam kurun lima tahun terakhir. Padahal, katanya, kehidupan masyarakat Indonesia tidak lepas dari budaya bambu, mulai dari keperluan bahan baku rumah hingga makanan.

Jatnika Nanggamiharja

• Lahir : Cikidang, Sukabumi, 2 Oktober 1956 • Istri : Marsidah (33) • Anak :1. Samsul Fajri2. Sundari (almarhum)3. Ratu Pertiwi4. Karisma Nusanagara5. Salmah Maksum6. Banjar Kaspaya • Pendidikan : - SD IV di Cibadak, Sukabumi - SMP I Cibadak, Sukabumi - SMA 424 Cibadak, Sukabumi - Kuliah Akademi Pimpinan Perusahaan Jakarta • Pengalaman Organisasi : - Ketua Paguyuban Perajin Bambu Kidang Kencana (1974-sekarang) - Pengelola atau Ketua Harian Yayasan Bambu Indonesia (1995-sekarang) - Ketua Pembina Senam Pencak Silat Cimande Hijaiah (2010-sekarang) • Penghargaan (antara lain) :Pembuat rumah bambu tradisional terbanyak dari Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia (2009)

Jatnika, dengan Bambu Menembus Dunia

Penulis : | Jumat, 18 Februari 2011 | 15:32 WIB

Dibaca: 884

TERKAIT:

KOMPAS.com - Dari bambu, Undagi Jatnika Nagamiharja yang juga Ketua Yayasan Bambu Indonesia mampu melanglang buana, mulai dari ke hampir seluruh wilayah Indonesia hingga mancanegara. Lelaki kelahiran Sukabumi, Jawa Barat ini populer dengan rumah bambu buatannya. Ia sudah membangun 3.441 rumah bambu di Indonesia dan negara lain.

Bambu sudah menjadi bagian hidup dari Undagi Jatnika Nagamiharja. Dari tanaman rumpun ini, namanya terkenal sampai ke mancanegara. Dari bambu pula, ia memperoleh sumber penghidupan.

Jatnika memulai bisnis bambu sejak 1996. Dia mewarisi ilmu sang ayah yang berprofesi sebagai perajin anyaman dan mebel bambu. Pertama kali menjalankan usaha, Jatnika hanya membuat anyaman dan mebel bambu.

Sekarang, Jatnika juga membuat rumah bambu. "Saya masih memproduksi mebel untuk desain interior rumah bambu yang saya buat," katanya.

Mebel-mebel bambu buatan Jatnika sudah menembus pasar ekspor, seperti Spanyol, Amerika Serikat, Taiwan, dan Jerman. Begitu juga dengan rumah bambu bikinannya.

Itu sebabnya, Jatnika mengatakan, rumah bambu punya prospek yang cerah. Selain memiliki pangsa pasar luas, perajin rumah bambu masih sedikit. Makanya, pesanan rumah bambu yang terus mengalir.

Sampai saat ini, Jatnika sudah membangun 3.441 rumah bambu di seluruh Indonesia. Mulai dari rumah tinggal, rumah peristirahatan, rumah makan, gazebo, sampai musala. Di pasar ekspor, rumah bambu buatan Jatnika sudah berdiri di Malaysia, Brunei Darusssalam, Arab Saudi, serta Uni Emirat Arab.

Salah satu faktor yang menyebabkan banyak orang memesan rumah bambu ke Jatnika adalah daya tahan buatannya. Aneka rumah bambu buatan Jatnika bisa bertahan hingga 30 tahun.

Keawetan rumah bambu bikinan Jatnika berkat proses penebangan hingga perendaman bambu. Karakteristik rumah bambu yang tahan gempa juga menjadi alasan orang berminat memiliki bangunan tersebut.

Setiap bulan, pesanan yang datang ke Jatnika sebanyak 20 rumah bambu. Namun, ia hanya mengerjakan dua pesanan setiap bulan. Tujuannya untuk menjaga kualitas rumah bambu buatannya. "Kalau hanya memikirkan keuntungan, bisa saja saya ambil semuanya, tapi nanti kualitasnya tidak bagus," ujarnya.

Jatnika memang tidak hanya mengejar keuntungan semata, namun juga kepuasan batin. Apalagi, sejak 1995, dia dipercaya menjadi Ketua Harian Yayasan Bambu Indonesia yang didirikan oleh istri mantan Wakil Presiden Try Sutrisno.

Selain untuk melestarikan bambu, yayasan ini juga dibentuk untuk mengembangkan dan memanfaatkan bambu Indonesia. Para perajin pun dilatih untuk mengenal produk-produk kerajinan yang bisa dihasilkan dari bambu.

Sebab, banyak sekali produk kerajinan yang bisa dibuat dari bambu. "Ada ribuan jenis. Untuk alat musik saja ada sekitar 41 jenis yang bisa dibuat dari bambu, seperti angklung dan suling," kata Jatnika.

Makanya, pelestarian bambu wajib hukumnya. Pada 1997, Yayasan Bambu Indonesia melakukan penanaman bambu di lahan seluas 11,5 hektare milik Pemerintah Kabupaten Bogor, Jawa Barat. Bambu yang ditanam tak hanya satu jenis, namun beraneka macam. Karena, lahan ini juga berfungsi sebagai museum bambu.

Yayasan ini juga giat melakukan penyuluhan penanaman bambu di lahan milik warga yang ada di daerah Pelabuhan Ratu, Sakawayana, dan Cikedang, Kabupaten Sukabumi. Yayasan Bambu Indonesia pun menjadi pelopor dalam upaya penanaman anggota subfamilia rumput ini di sepanjang bantaran Kali Ciliwung Cisadane, Krukut, Grogol, dan Pesanggrahan. Soalnya, "Bambu bisa sebagai penahan tebing, penahan erosi serta juga penghimpun air," ungkap Jatmika. Selain semua manfaat itu, penulis buku Rumah Bambu: Aksitektur Khas Jawa Barat ini menambahkan, bambu bisa menjadi obat untuk bermacam penyakit termasuk penyakit liver. (Dharmesta/Kontan)

BIODISC - ENERGY PENYEMBUHAN

QNET INDONESIA – BIODISC

Energi Penyembuhan | Biodisc Indonesia

Setelah udara (oksigen), air adalah penunjang utama kehidupan. Tubuh manusia terdiri atas sekitar 80% air. Kandungan air pada otak mencapai sekitar 80%, sedangkan kandungan air pada darah sekitar 90%. Umumnya air yang didapatkan tubuh berasal dari minuman dan makanan. Secara normal, rata-rata konsumsi air yang diperlukan adalah sekitar 2 liter per hari, atau setara dengan 8-10 gelas per hari. Maka sangatlah penting untuk memberikan tubuh dengan asupan air  yang berkualitas sesuai kebutuhan sel-sel dalam tubuh.

BIO DISC, alat penghasil Energi alami, yaitu energi yang sama dengan resonansi energi yang biasa ditemukan pada air-air alami penyembuh di dunia (healing spring water) . Pengujian level energi dilakukan dengan menggunakan mesin penguji Prognos dan Medec.

Sudah banyak pengguna BIODISC yang sehat, bugar dan sembuh dari penyakit: asam lambung, migrain, batu ginjal, diabetes, kolesterol tinggi, asam urat, gangguan jantung, darah tinggi, kanker, stroke, demam, sakit kulit, asma dan berbagai jenis gangguan tubuh lainnya…

Manfaat BIODISC :

• Menyeimbangkan dan harmonisasi energi dalam tubuh
• Meningkatkan sistem kekebalan tubuh
• Meningkatkan kadar oksigen dalam darah
• Meningkatkan penyerapan nutrisi dan metabolisme tubuh
• Melancarkan peredaran darah
• Meningkatkan energi CHI Life
• Menyeimbangkan 7 cakra tubuh
• Meningkatkan stamina
• Mengurangi stress
• Menyegarkan kulit wajah
• Membantu meningkatkan kualitas tidur
• Meningkatkan kualitas air & makanan menjadi lebih berenergi  di bantu oleh alat yang  di sebut  BIODISC  Lisensi dari PROGNOS, di mana alat ini bisa merubah struktur molekul & cairan  menjadi berkualitas (positif) karena dalam alat ini terdapat mineral2 yang memancarkan energi positif, untuk anda yang dalam masa penyembuhan sangat  membantu untuk bisa mempercepat proses penyembuhan anda, sudah banyak sekali pengalaman dari orang2 penderita : anak autis, kanker, diabetes, batu  ginjal, jantung koroner, stroke, asam urat, demam berdarah, sakit kulit, asma, dll yang telah SEHAT & BUGAR kembali karena diterapi dengan BIODISC.

Orang-orang yang Memerlukan BIODISC adalah :

1. Anda yang ingin memiliki  Hak BISNIS QNET- BIODISC –> income sampai $ 15.000/minggu !
2. Anda yang ingin SEMBUH dari segala macam penyakit.
3. Anda yang ingin SEHAT dan BUGAR selamanya…
4. Anda yang punya kenalan ingin SUKSES dan merubah hidup !!!
5. Anda yang punya kenalan sedang sakit.
6. Anda yang punya kenalan dari kriteria 1-5 diatas.

Salam,

- Insan QNET Biodisc -

Untuk info lebih detil hubungi saya di 087774433255 | email: nurinsan@yahoo.com

Kantor pusat PT. QNET Indonesia – BIODISC | Gedung World Trade Center 1, lantai 12, Sudirman, Jakarta

Garage Organizers

If you are like the majority of people with a garage, then you know how easily and quickly things can become disorganized. Most often, you get to working on a project or two and before you know it, things are everywhere. Not only do disorganized garages look terrible but they also make it almost impossible to find anything, which is extremely frustrating. The good news is that you can do a number of things to get your garage in better shape and keep it that way.

First, do not overlook the extra storage space you have above your car. Most often, this space is simply not used, which is too bad considering that there is a lot of space there to work with. Taking angle brackets and a few short pieces of 2x4 lumber, you can build a rack that would be perfect for storing certain items that are long and narrow. Just a few examples would include pipe, molding, mops, brooms, fishing poles, and so on.

Second, wall-mounted shelves are excellent for holding all types of items. You can install the lowest shelf at about 72 inches from the ground, which is plenty of room for people to walk underneath. These shelves would be excellent for storing extra gardening pots, cans of car oil, antifreeze, and other such items. Additionally, wall pegs and hooks are great for attaching things. You can find hooks in all different sizes and shapes so that a variety of items can be stored out of the way. For example, the larger hooks and pegs could easily hold a ladder, bike, snow shovel, garden rake, and so on. For smaller items such as a hammer, screwdriver, and other hand-held tools, you can use Velcro straps or magnetic strips.

Next, slot walls are very popular in that they can take an entire wall and turn it into a storage wall. Typically, these walls are constructed from composition board that is 3/4-inch thick and will have t-shaped, horizontal grooves that can hold shelves, brackets, and hooks. Sold in 4x8-foot sheets, you can cut the slot wall to fit any size or design you need. In addition to varying size, you can also choose from a number of colors and finishes.

Yet another great solution is perforated hardboard, which is also made from composition board and comes in both 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch thicknesses. These hardboards are screwed or nailed into wall studs over a finished wall and then special hooks are used to fit into the perforated holes. These holes are just 1-inch apart, which means you can store many more things. Another benefit of perforated hardboard over slot walls is that they are very affordable.

You can also buy actual shelving units designed just for garage storage. These units come in a number of materials, finishes, and sizes and are excellent for setting up in a corner or a wall that is just wasted space. Although you could store anything you like, the shelves are perfect for cans of paint, tools, and canning materials.

Fence Types

It used to be that you had a choice of just a few fence types but today, the market is flooded with the old standards as well as new options designed with high technology. As you will see from the following, choosing a fence system depends on the purpose. For example, some fences are installed for containment in keeping children and animals in, some are built to provide privacy from neighbors, and some are installed simply for aesthetics.

Chain Link

Also known as hurricane fencing, many people enjoy this type of fence in that it is so versatile and affordable. You can choose chain link in rolls ranging from 25 to 100 feet long and heights from four to six feet. With a chain link fence, you can add a gate or two for easy access and today�s options include fencing that is vinyl coated in a brown or green color. For keeping the pets and children contained while allowing access to see, a chain link fence is perfect.

Chicken Wire

Almost everyone has heard of chicken wire and of all fencing material, this is the most affordable. Chicken wire is not used as a permanent fence but one that can be used to contain small animals and keep wild animals out of a garden or flowerbed.

Electric Fence

While an electric fence used to be used only for livestock, today�s homeowners have found that this is a great way to keep the family pet safe inside the yard and wild animals outside the property. This type of fencing comes in a number of options that can produce a mild shock to one with more powerful. The electric fences made specifically for residential use also have controls that allow the strength of the shock to be controlled from a convenient control panel located inside the house.

Post/Rail Fences

This type of fence is most often used in rustic or country settings. Many times, people will put up a post and rail fence system to define a specific area of the yard. This might be a place for the family pet or your beautiful flower garden. Rails come in round or split and range from eight to eleven feet. The posts are available in three to five feet and designed to accommodate two or three rails. Just remember that if you want to use this type of fence for your pet, you will need to add wire fencing or some type of chicken wire to the back of the fence so the little pet does not slip through the rails.

Vinyl Fence

This type of fence has only been on the market a short time but has captured the attention of homeowners in that it is maintenance free. You can choose from a number of options that resemble rail and wood panel fences. The huge benefit of vinyl fencing is that it will not rot like wood. Therefore, if you are looking for a type of fence that is aesthetically pleasing and easy to maintain, the vinyl fence is a great choice.

Welded Wire

Welded wire is most often used as a temporary fencing system for gardens or animals. Similar to chain link fence, this too comes in rolls, ranging from 25 to 60 feet rolls and from three to six feet high.

Wood Fences

A wood fence is often installed for privacy while also providing a nice aesthetic. If you have a charming cape cod, you could buy a four-foot food fence to create some privacy, contain the yard, while also enhancing the look of the home. If you need a fence to block out neighbors, noise, or an unsightly view completely, then an eight-foot wood fence would be a great choice. The nice thing about wood fencing is that it comes in a number of woods and it can be stained or painted to create whatever look you want.

Awnings

Awnings have been a way of providing shade for patios and decks for years. With an awning, you can block both sunlight and heat from beating down through a patio door or provide you with shade while relaxing outside on a lazy Saturday afternoon. You will also find that awnings can make a great window topper and used as a way of protecting furniture and rugs from directly sunlight, which can cause fading.

In fact, during the hot summertime, by using an awning to block out heat, you can save as much as 65% off your energy bill on windows facing south and as high as 77% on windows facing east and west. Awnings are also great protectors for woodwork around windows. Typically, as the sun shines down on the wood day after day along with the rain and snow, the wood can become warped and rot. However, by using an awning, the woodwork is protected.

An awning will also add protection for outdoor furniture on your patio or deck, let you open your windows during a mid-summer rainstorm, reduce glare on computer screens and televisions, and best of all, they add a nice decorative touch to the aesthetics of the home.

You will discover that awnings are typically made from fabric or aluminum. The awnings made from fabric do require a little more maintenance than an aluminum awning but also offer a better variety of color and shape. Aluminum awnings are low maintenance, sturdy, and provide a retro look.

The nice thing about awnings regardless of material is that they are both designed to withstand high winds and harsh weather. Although a tornado or hurricane may be too much, you can feel confident that most high winds will not damage the awning. When deciding the size of awning to buy, it really boils down to your personal preference. However, you also want to consider the amount of energy you want to save.

For example, if you will be adding an awning on windows facing east or west, you want to have a drop ranging from 65% to 75%. For awnings going up on south-facing windows, you want the drop to be shorter, ranging from 45% to 60% coverage. Just remember that window and door canopies are versatile in that they can be installed with or without side panels.

Additionally, rollup and retractable awnings are an excellent choice in that they block out the sun during the hot, summer months but then allow the warm sun to shine in during the winter. The larger the awning, the more protection you will achieve and if you plan to install the awning on your patio or deck, the retractable model is the most convenient.

Retaining Wall

Retaining walls are built for a number of reasons although generally, it is to protect property and improve appearance. Whenever a cut occurs on the side of a hill, moisture escaping from that opening will lead to erosion of that hill. A retaining wall helps prevent this type of erosion by keeping the moisture in the ground.

If you need or want a retaining wall built, this is a project that you could do yourself but keep in mind that this is a very challenging project. Building a retaining wall requires solid workmanship, compliance with building codes, and good old-fashioned muscle power. In many cases, retaining walls are built to be no higher than three foot, which is what will be used for the sake of this example. With the help of some friends or family members, and by following the instructions listed below, you will soon have your retaining wall complete.

For tools, you will need:

Brick Layer's Trowel	Broom (stiff bristled)	Framing Square
Garden Hose	Garden Rake	Hammer
Mason's Hand Level	Mason's Pointing Tool	Mason's String
One 2-inch and 4-inch Hand Level	Shovel	Wheelbarrow
Wooden Float

For materials, you will need:

1310 Brick 3 3/4" x 2 1/4" x 8" per 100 square feet of wall	4.4 Brick 3 3/4" x 2 1/4" x 8" per foot of wall length	20 Cubic feet of Mortar per 100 square feet of wall
2.33 Cubic feet of Concrete per foot of wall length	3/8" Steel reinforcing bars, 52" long, bent 9" from one end at a 90-degree angle, one for every 3 1/2 feet of wall length	Two 10" pieces of prefabricated joint reinforcement for 8" wide wall, for every 9 1/2 feet of wall length
3/8" Steel reinforcing bars, 18" long, one for every 3 1/2 feet of wall length	1/2" Steel bars for length of footing (allow 10" lapping splice)	1" diameter Plastic tubing
Asphalt (small amount)

Start by digging excavation and then use loose brick to lay on the bottom of the reinforcing bars that have been placed at the bottom of your hole. The vertical bar will be wired to the bottom bar and then propped up in place. Next, insert the remaining bars at the top of the footing while the concrete is being poured. This concrete footing will need to dry (season) for a minimum of one week. Once dry, lay the brick and with the shoved joints, insert the prefabricated steel joint reinforcement. Keep in mind that sometimes brick must be cut for the "weep holes," which is where the one-inch plastic tubing will be inserted. These weep holes will be made every four inches along the wall, allowing any moisture to seep out safely without damaging the property.

Before you cap the wall off by laying a solid row of brick laying on edge, you will need to pour some mortar into the gap located between the brick. This helps the brick bond securely to the reinforcing bars. Once the retaining wall is built, brush the asphalt along the base of the wall on the ground to make the base waterproof. Finally, place gravel behind the wall down to the weep hole, keeping this open. Once you have done this, your wall is complete!

Kitchen Remodeling - Flooring

If you want to give your kitchen a fresh, new look, changing out the flooring can make a huge difference. The great thing about changing flooring is that you can replace it at any time. In other words, it can be a stand-alone project or something you do as a part of changing the entire kitchen. Regardless, your kitchen will look amazing and the value of your home will benefit.

In most cases, a new floor can be placed over an old floor as long as the sub-flooring is in good condition. Just keep in mind that if the flooring will be connecting to other rooms, there would be issues with imbalance. Therefore, while this is an option, the better choice would be to tear out the old floor and have new flooring installed, especially if the new floor is hardwood.

Let us say you wanted to install vinyl flooring. For this type of flooring, the best option is to buy sheets. Just be sure that you use the type of adhesive recommended by the manufacturer in that it is different from other adhesives. You should first create a template made of paper of the floor�s perimeter and measurements. Roll the paper along the edges of the room and then tape it into place any place where there would be a seam or a place where the tile would turn a corner.

Using the template you created, you can then cut the sheet of vinyl, making sure you allow a minimum of 5% more than the actual room size for cutting and waste. Depending on the pattern, you may need to allow even more so you can match the pattern up correctly.

Before you actually put adhesive down on the floor, be sure you do a test fit with all the pieces. Once you know that pieces are cur correctly, you can then use the adhesive, starting with a small section of the floor and working the piece of vinyl down before moving on to the next section. Do this for all of the cut pieces, allowing overlap on the first piece at the area where the seam will be.

You then want to lay a straight edge down along the overlap and line it up with the seam. Cut down both pieces of the vinyl from one end to the other end. Once all the pieces are in place, you want to remove any of the scrap pieces. Then apply adhesive to the edges using a roller and then press the seams together to fully bond.

Keep in mind that some of the vinyl may only need some perimeter bonding at the seams and edges. In that case, you should lay a sheet of vinyl down so it fits into the corners well. Once in place, cut the seam, spread some adhesive under the seam and then put pressure on the edges to make it seal.

If you are more interested in hardwood or ceramic flooring, you can follow the instructions by the manufacturer. However, with these types of floors, there is a bit more work involved and some level of expertise is helpful. Therefore, if you have never put hardwood or ceramic flooring down, you should expect to get some help or hire a professional.

Outdoor Lighting Installation

Home Improvement is the complete home improvement resource. Our collection of home improvement tips and articles include articles on kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, outdoors, decks and patios, and bedrooms. The list of home improvement articles are set up to be easy to find and easy to read.

Outdoor Lighting Installation

Outdoor lighting is not only a beautiful addition for your backyard but functional. For enhancing landscaping, you can install lighting that is low voltage to provide illumination. Other benefits of outdoor lighting include safety, and overall ambience. Low voltage kits are sold at many hardware and home improvement stores and come with a built-in transformer that has a timer. This feature allows you to choose when to have the lights turn on and off, adding convenience.

The transformers are able to use a household 120-volt and make it safe to run 12 volts. To install low lighting for your outdoors, a GFCI receptacle will be required on the exterior of your home. If you do not presently have on, an electrician will need to install one. Most importantly, always contact your local gas and electric company before you start to dig to ensure there are no underground cables or pipes.

For installation, choose the type of lights you prefer and keep in mind the areas you want to illuminate. Generally, you will find lights in four or seven watt so if you plan to brighten a large area you may need more lights than expected. Make sure the transformer has adequate wattage where additional lights could be added in the future. Be sure you have a diagram from which to work, which will help you stay on track of where you want the lighting to be installed. In addition, make good notes so you are reminded of problem areas, or specifics as to what you want to be illuminated. For example, you may have numerous types of plants and flowers on the south side of the house but in particular, you want your prized roses to shine.

After you have purchased the correct number of lights, position them to coordinate with your diagram. Typically, lights will come with a stake that can be driven into soft dirt easily. For this reason, the evening before you do the installation, water the ground thoroughly and then the morning of, sprinkle it with water so the ground is soft. Lay the lights down where the will be installed and then starting at the GFCI receptacle, lay out the cable so it runs to where the lights have been laid out. The cable above ground will be buried so no need to worry about anything being unsightly. Make sure you leave enough excessive cable at the transformer for each of the lights, which will allow you to move your lights later on. Each light has two wires with a metal tip. By putting one tab on each side of the cable and snapping it together, the light is installed. When the tip is pierced into the cable, the electrical connection is created. If the light does not come on, make sure these tabs are secured together.

You will then separate the wires at the end of the electrical cable and strip �-inch of insulation. The two screws on the transformer will be loosened and the bare wires you just stripped slid under the correct terminal. Once complete, plug in the transformer, and turn it on. Look at each light to ensure it is working. Keep in mind that if the day is bright and sunny, it may be difficult to tell if they are on so you may need to shield the light from the sun or recheck when it starts to get dark. With a small shovel, you need to dig down 5 inches to bury the cable. Once the cable is buried, cover it with dirt and compact it down. Finally, set the timer to come on, go off at the desired time, and enjoy your new lights.

Home Improvement TV series

Home Improvement is an Emmy-Winning American television sitcom starring actor/comedian Tim Allen, which ran from 1991 to 1999. The show was created by Matt Williams, Carmen Finestra (who both produced The Cosby Show) and David MacFadzean. The show's title is a double entendre, because it is about both physical improvement of houses, as well as improving life with family, friends, work, and school.

Contents

1 Plot details and storylines
1.1 Early seasons
1.2 Jonathan Taylor Thomas's departure
1.3 Tool Time the show
1.3.1 The relationship between Tim and Al
1.3.2 Special guests and cameos
1.4 Character honors
2 Running gags
3 Show background
4 Characters
4.1 The Taylor Family
4.2 Friends of the family
5 Series finale
6 Awards and Nominations

Plot details and storylines
The series centered on the antics of the Taylor family, including Tim (Tim Allen), his wife Jill (Patricia Richardson) and their three sons. The oldest is the popular and athletic Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan); a year younger is comedian and intellectual Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas); and finally the socially awkward youngest son, Mark (Taran Noah Smith). The show is set in Metro Detroit, as evidenced by the many references to the area in the show (especially Michigan colleges, whose shirts are worn by Tim in the show).

Early seasons
In the first four seasons, sons Brad and Randy would torment their youngest brother Mark (and each other) in ways that consistently presented a challenge to Tim and Jill. Mark always believed what his siblings told him (for example, that the whole family but Mark were aliens and that Mark was not Tim and Jill's natural son), until Jill explained all.
Mark was initially presented as slightly naive and in constant admiration of his father. Brad was presented as a character who often engaged fist before thinking, a tendency which regularly landed him in trouble. Randy was the comedian of the pack-- the quick-thinking, sarcastic son who had more common sense than Brad but wasn't immune to trouble.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas's departure
As the series progressed, however, Mark grew into a teenage outcast who dressed in dark clothing, while Brad became interested in cars like his father and took up soccer. Randy joined the school newspaper, before leaving for Costa Rica in the eighth season episode "Adios." This was done since Jonathan Taylor Thomas wanted to take time off to focus on academics. He attended Harvard University. His last appearance on Home Improvement was the 1998 Christmas episode, with Thomas unwilling to return to the show for the series finale.

Tool Time the show
Focus was also given to Tim's job as a television personality on his own home improvement show, called Tool Time. Tim was the host of this "meta-program," or show-within-a-show, originally called Hammer Time, however Tim and the producers felt that name would be confused with MC Hammer (TVography: Home Improvement). Tim was joined by his friend and mild-mannered assistant Al Borland (Richard Karn), and a "Tool Time girl" — first Lisa (Pamela Anderson) and later Heidi (Debbe Dunning) — who assisted the pair by bringing them tools, for example. Although an excellent salesman and TV personality, Tim was spectacularly accident-prone as a handyman, often causing hilarious disasters on and off the set to the consternation of his co-workers and family. Many of Tim's accidents were caused by his devices designed in application of his mantra, "More power!"

The relationship between Tim and Al
Though ultimately good friends, there was a tense relationship between Tim and Al. Al was portrayed as a slightly geeky character, usually having more knowledge, skill, and audience popularity than Tim. His catchphrase, as an opposition to Tim's ill-advised ideas or jokes, was "I don't think so, Tim." He also came up with many puns and giggles and snorts when a joke is made at Tim's expense. The cautious, insecure, brighter Al always bore the brunt of Tim's jokes and constant put-downs. Al is frequently taunted by Tim because of his weight, beard, in Tim's eye bland personality, poor sense of humor and his preference of flannel shirts (and often other flannel items such as an oversized pair of flannel briefs in the episode "The Karate Kid Returns"). Tim typically uses his television show to vent about numerous problems he is having in his personal life, and Al is usually very annoyed by this. A running joke for Tim was commenting on Al's overweight mother, who was often referred to but was never fully seen throughout the series (in the penultimate episode of the series, "Dead Weight", she died, and the characters were shown paying their respects at her extra-wide coffin which showed her body but not her face; in another episode, she can be seen in a picture on the Tool Time set, but only from the back side).

Special guests and cameos
Many "special guests" made "cameo" appearances on Tool Time. These guests included race car drivers Johnny Rutherford, Robby Gordon, Mario and Michael Andretti, Al Unser, Sr./Jr./III, actress and model Jenny McCarthy, country artist Alan Jackson, golfer Payne Stewart, and The Beach Boys. Numerous NASA astronauts appeared on the series, the most notable being Ken Bowersox, who made three separate appearances. Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, then Detroit Pistons star Grant Hill (the season 7 episode "Believe It or Not"), former boxers Evander Holyfield (the season 3 episode "Eve of Construction") and George Foreman (the season 1 episode "Unchained Malady"), and former President Jimmy Carter all appeared on the series. Carter made an appearance during an episode which focused on Habitat for Humanity, which was the season three episode "Eve of Construction." Jay Leno appears with his car collection in the fourth season episode "Brother, Can You Spare a Hot Rod?" He plays a mechanic who is cleaning Papa Mia's (the Detroit pizza magnate) cars. Bob Vila also appeared on several episodes, with Tim seeing him as a rival (he appears in Season One's "What About Bob?" Season Two's "The Great Race," and Season 3's "The Great Race II".) He also appears in the one-hour season 4 episode "Tool Time After Dark," but that appearance was just recycled Tool Time footage from earlier episodes.
A then-unknown Dave Chappelle and Jim Breuer guest-starred in the Season 4 episode, "Talk to Me", as two of the men Tim gives advice to and almost destroying their relationships with their respective girlfriends.
Other famous guests include Drake Bell in episode "Swing Time", Ron Eli, Jack Elam, Ernest Borgnine, the latter who appeared in the first season episode "Birds of a Feather Flock to Taylor."

Character honors
Starting in Season 4, Jill studied to become a psychologist. In "Is There a Doctor in the House?" an episode from the fifth season, Tim also received an honorary Ph.D. from his alma mater, Western Michigan University. Tim also received an award for "Safety" in season 2's "Dances with Tools" despite his accident record on Tool Time. (The reason was that the people giving the award mistakenly believed that he staged all his accidents and Tim, to keep his reputation, let them.)

Running gags
Scene Transitions - During scene changes, clever transitions were used to comically remove the current image from the screen. For example, the current scene could shatter like glass, fall over like a piece of wood, or deflate like a balloon. These transitions usually (though not always) included something shown or mentioned in the scene before (e.g. heart-shaped balloons inflate and pop to transition from a scene talking about a possible secret admirer in "A Funny Valentine").
Basement Pipe - Tim banged his head on a large metal pipe every time he was walking down the basement steps. He would then do the same thing when he walked back up the steps. This gag is first seen in Season 1, Episode 5, "Wild Kingdom." This never happened to any other character. In one episode, he banged his head on a pipe while walking down the steps of an aircraft carrier, and also banged his head walking down the basement steps in Benny's aunt's house.
Binford 6100 - From Season 3 onwards, every new power tool introduced by Tim on Tool Time was called the Binford 6100. Prior to this, each tool had a unique model number.
Opera - Nearly every time the word opera was mentioned in the Taylor household, either Tim or the boys would scream.
Nanna - Tim's constant jokes of "Nanna", Jill's mother. Jokes from her weight to her driving were included.
Address Card - In the show's early years, Tim would often make remarks (usually involving women) that would cause offense to certain sections of the Tool Time viewership. Al would hold up the address card for viewers to write in and complain. Sometimes Tim would ask Al to destroy the card, but he would always have more. This was first seen in Season 1, on the episode, "Reach Out And Teach Someone".
We'll Be Right Back... - Usually, when something goes wrong on Tool Time (such as in the episode Forever Jung), Tim will say, "We'll be right back after these messages from Binford Tools!".
Salute to... - From the outset of Season 2, Tim and Al would make a theme of a particular home improvement project or item on Tool Time by hosting a week long "salute" to it. This would usually be evident with a banner that said "Salute to ____" or Tim or Al would say "...a salute" followed by a hand salute, thrusting the hand forward, having a sound effect that resembled the particular item being saluted (e.g., if it was a salute to lawn care, the sound effect would be of a mower), finishing with Tim and/or Al saying the particular item being saluted. (Richard Karn would recycle this salute as his sign-off during his tenure as host of Family Feud.)
The Man's... - Similar to the salutes, "Tool Time" often featured "The Man's ____ (Bathroom, Kitchen, etc.)." These skits are the embodiment of Manliness according to Tim.
Wilson's Advice - The character Wilson (Earl Hindman), the Taylor family's sage advice-giving neighbor with many historical, philosophical, and literary works to quote. Tim always confusingly misquoted and re-worded Wilson's advice when speaking to Jill or his sons, often prompting them to say, "Please don't explain" or "I don't want to know". Initially only Tim talked about his problems to Wilson, but as the series progressed, Jill and the boys would also talk with Wilson about their own matters.
Wilson's Face - Perhaps the show's best-known gimmick. Since Wilson was partly inspired by a neighbor that Tim Allen had when he was very little and was too short to see over his neighbor's fence (and therefore unable to see his neighbor), the bottom half of Wilson's face was almost never seen on the show, unless he was playing another role. Instead, it was almost constantly hidden and sometimes blocked by various props, such as fences, grills, masks, plants, or scarfs. In one episode, Mark was papier-macheing his face leaving the bottom half of his face revealed. Also on one Halloween episode, Wilson was seen at a costume party dressed as the Phantom of the Opera, the mask covering the top half of his face and leaving his mouth revealed. On one occasion his entire face was visible, although hidden behind Halloween makeup.) On another occasion his face was covered with clown makeup. On yet another occasion his face was covered with a beard. His face was fully shown following the series finale episode while taking his final bow. During the show, Wilson is usually working on an unusual project of some sort in his backyard. One of his projects included a self portrait, and when Tim asked to see it, Wilson showed it to him, but only the upper half of Wilson's face was completed. The joke was referenced in "The Karate Kid Returns" as he said, "Some of them have never seen my face". Someone else was supposed to play the character 'Wilson'. When he found out that his whole face would never be shown, he refused to do it. The creators of the show held auditions again, and Earl Hindman got the role of Wilson. Once, Wilson's mother visited him, and because she was shorter than Wilson, the only thing of her the audience ever got to see was her right hand.
Jill's Childhood Stories - Jill often told stories about an experience she had when she was a little girl. Tim and the boys always hated those stories and would beg her not to tell them, walk away in the middle of the story, or both. Jill would often try to disguise these stories either by launching straight into it when the boys were off-guard (or willing to listen), or convert them from "when I was a little girl" stories to "when I was a little person" stories. Many times, though, the boys saw straight through this as they matured. One of the most notable examples was when while Jill tried to explain to Randy that older siblings (in Randy's case, Brad) get to do more things earlier, she lamented about how growing up her older sister got to wear a bra while Jill had to wear a "dorky undershirt". Randy replied by saying he understood, and asked Jill "When do you think I get to wear a bra, mom?"
Disney Gags - Some jokes stemmed from Jonathan Taylor Thomas' and Tim Allen's respective roles in other Disney productions. In a Halloween episode, Cooper Karn (Richard's real son) is seen dressed as Lion King character Simba and another child is dressed as Toy Story's Buzz Lightyear. Randy gives two pieces of candy to Buzz and seven pieces to Simba. (Jonathan provided the voice of young Simba in The Lion King). In another episode when Tim's brother Marty's daughter (with her twin over at Tim's mother's) visit, a stuffed Simba toy is displayed, and Thomas makes a comment about it. A similar joke is made by Tim, in the same episode (as an outtake), when he is playing with a Buzz Lightyear doll (the character he voiced in the Pixar film Toy Story). (In addition, there is a scene in the Toy Story film with a toolbox labeled "Binford", referencing the fictional hardware company from the show.) Also, on a Saint Patricks Day episode, two people wearing Toy Story shirts can be seen.
K&B Construction - Throughout the show's tenure, the K&B Construction men would make periodic visits on Tool Time, often providing counters to Tim's macho positioning.
Double Entendres - One infrequent gag was to have Tim (and in one occasion Al) perform or say something with a homosexual double entendre accidentally in front of a recurring extra named Milt, who would reply with, "Hey, I don't go for that sort of thing!" For example, Tim covered Delores' 12-hour diner shift. When he serves two meals to two men, he says, "You're the pancakes, and you must be the fruit."
Al is the Star - Tool Time viewers often had the misconception that Al was the star of the show, probably due to him being more skillful and intelligent than Tim. Tim usually takes these comments with barely restrained annoyance and reminds the viewers that Al is his assistant and not the reverse. He often says "Al is my assistant. He assists me." putting emphasis on the last three words. (Wilson also says this line when playing a mad scientist in the Seventh Season episode, A Night to Dismember.) A related running gag is a fan of the show telling Tim "I'm a big fan of Tool Time. I love Al", to which Tim would always reply with a sarcastic, "We all love Al.". In later seasons, when Tim introduces Al to the Tool Time crowd, he would get an applause from the audience.
Whenever Tim made a joke like, "You think they'd call it...", or advanced an ill-advised plan, Al would say, "I don't think so Tim".
When something would go wrong, Tim would grunt "Oh no".
Whenever Al (or anyone else) would be sarcastic to something Tim said, Tim would hiss at them.
Whenever Tim introduces Al on Tool Time, he added a sarcastic middle name like Al "This land is" Borland.
Al's Mother - Tim frequently cracks jokes about Al's mother, usually about her weight. She was an unseen character in the series in an episode, she can be seen in a picture on the Tool Time set, but only from the back side in the final season, when she passes away she can be partially viewed in the funeral scene.
Power - Tim saying something needed "More power", which was then followed by his trademark "Simian Grunt" Later, characters would suggest that Tim make "the power [blank]" when he expressed dissatisfaction with something's capabilities.
Jill's cooking - Tim and the boys' never-ending wisecracks about Jill's notoriously bad cooking.
How many years? - Whenever Tim mentions how many years he and Jill have been married he's one year short, and whoever he's talking to corrects him instantly. i.e. "We've been together for 14 years-" "15 Years." "We've been together for 15 wonderful years...."
The Grunt - Tim would usually grunt while doing something manly to exert his manliness.
Polish food - Tim frequently orders Polish food from the fictional Stan's Restaurant in Hamtramck even though his stomach can never handle it.
Tim's cell phone - When Tim has a call away from home, he uses a cell phone often with a low signal. As a result, he often walks into other people, disrupting them in an attempt to improve the signal.
Al's "lack of style" - Tim would constantly make jokes about Al's plaid flannel shirt.
Al's datelessness - Some jokes would play off of how Al was not involved in any relationships, such as how Al was good as detecting wood by its scent and Tim sarcastically commenting "Can you believe it ladies, this man is single?". Tim stopped these jokes when he realized Al was seriously troubled by his lack of a woman, and the problem was solved in later episodes when he started dating.
Emergency Room - The personnel at the local emergency room were often on a first name basis with Tim, seeing as how he was frequently a patient in their department. In an episode where Tim brings Randy, who has sprained his wrist, to the ER, a member of the hospital staff brings Tim coffee in a mug with the name "Tim" imprinted on it in big, bold letters.
Christmas Lights - In any of the Christmas episodes, Tim is usually putting up an outrageous assortment of Christmas Lights, and they are usually very bright. Additionally, any decoration is usually oversized or made to resemble Tim, such as the "Three Wise Tool-guys," the Three Wise Men, each with Tim's face.

Show background
Based on the stand-up comedy of Tim Allen, Home Improvement made its debut on ABC on September 17, 1991, and was one of the highest-rated sitcoms for almost the entire decade (It even went up to #1 during the 1993-1994 season; that year, Allen also had the #1 book ("Don't Stand Too Close to a Naked Man") and movie (The Santa Clause))[1] Midway throughout the show's run, it was also competed against another highly-rated sitcom, Frasier, which slightly dropped the ratings, however, it remained a top 10 show. The final episode aired on May 25, 1999 with a 90-minute, three-part episode entitled "The Long and Winding Road," which was the fourth highest rated comedy series finale of the 1990s, behind Cheers, The Cosby Show and Seinfeld. Since 1995, due to its popularity, reruns began airing on The Disney Channel and Channel 4 and ABC1 in the UK. At the present time, old episodes are currently on national syndication and on cable television network such as TBS in the U.S., the Seven Network and FOX Classics in Australia, and is currently not airing in the UK due to ABC1 ceasing transmissions as of 26th September. In America, it has began airing on Nick at Nite in 2007 [2]. In Germany, Home Improvement was shown on ARD, RTL, VOX, and reruns are currently shown on the private channel RTL 2. It was also shown on M-Net on South African television, and reruns are showing throughout 2007 on the M-Net Series channel, available to DStv users. In 2007, with the DVD release of Tim Allen's two stand-up specials, he said that Home Improvement was supposed to be a parody of This Old House, where the host does almost nothing and the co-host (Al in this case, Norm on This Old House) does all the work.

Characters
Main article: List of Home Improvement characters

The Taylor Family
Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor (Tim Allen) - Jill's husband and Brad, Randy and Mark's father.
Jillian "Jill" Patterson Taylor (Patricia Richardson) — Tim's wife and Brad, Randy and Mark's mother.
Bradley Michael "Brad" Taylor (Zachery Ty Bryan) — Randy and Mark's older brother.
Randall William "Randy" Taylor (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) — Brad's younger brother and Mark's older brother.
Marcus Jason "Mark" Taylor (Taran Noah Smith) — Brad and Randy's younger brother.
Martin "Marty" Taylor (William O'Leary) — Tim's younger brother.
Jeffrey "Jeff" Taylor (Thom Sharp) — Tim's older brother.
Lucille Taylor (Bonnie Bartlett) --- Tim, Marty and Jeff's mother; Brad, Randy and Mark's paternal grandmother; Jill's mother-in-law.

Friends of the family
Al Borland (Richard Karn) — Tim's assistant and best friend
Wilson W. Wilson Jr. (Earl Hindman) - Tim's neighbor and confidant
Lisa (Pamela Anderson) — Binford's first "Tool Girl"; Ashley Judd auditioned for and won the role of Lisa the Tool Girl. However, her agent urged her to pursue movies instead of a television career, and she pulled out days before the original pilot was to be taped, resulting in the casting of Pamela Anderson. The last-minute change necessitated alterations to the original script, in which Lisa was a major character; she was a college student majoring in psychology who acted as a stand-in on the Tool Time set.
Heidi Keppert (Debbe Dunning) — The second "Tool Girl"
Harry (Blake Clark) — Owner of "Harry's Hardware"
Benny Beroni (Jim Labriola) - One of Tim's buddies who hangs out at the hardware store

Series finale
The series ended in a three-part episode with Tim being displeased at how Tool Time had been changed into something resembling a corporate-sponsored Jerry Springer-like show, and Jill getting a new job offer. The personal conflict revolved around the job being in Bloomington, Indiana, a change that Tim strongly resisted initially.
Of course, after talking to Wilson, he agreed to leave Detroit. Tim ended his Tool Time appearances with a final show that garnered huge ratings. However, Jill realized that they would be moving out of the house the family grew up in. The conclusion was somewhat ambiguous, although Jill seemed adamant about them not moving. The last shot was Tim imagining (a thought balloon was used for emphasis) putting the whole house on a flatbed truck and then on a tugboat, leaving the viewer to decide if they moved or stayed in Detroit.
The three-part series finale was taped twice, once with Wilson's face revealed and another with it hidden. ABC was to decide which version would air in May 1999. Ultimately, they aired the version with Wilson's face hidden, as in the other 200 episodes. This version was released later that fall on VHS, titled Home Improvement: The Series Finale. The finale brought in 35.5 million viewers (34% of all Americans watching TV at that time.)

Awards and Nominations
Home Improvement received numerous awards and nominations in its 8 season run. Notable awards and nominations include:
Golden Globe Awards
1993
Nominated- Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy (Tim Allen)
1994
Nominated- Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Nominated- Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy (Patricia Richardson)
Nominated- Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy (Tim Allen)
1995
Nominated- Best Television Series - Musical Or Comedy
Nominated- Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy (Patricia Richardson)
Win- Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy (Tim Allen)
1996
Nominated- Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy (Tim Allen)
1997
Nominated- Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series - Musical Or Comedy (Tim Allen)
Primetime Emmy Awards
1993
Nominated- Outstanding Comedy Series
Nominated- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Tim Allen)
1994
Nominated- Outstanding Comedy Series
Nominated- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Patricia Richardson)
1996
Nominated- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Patricia Richardson)
1997
Nominated- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Patricia Richardson)
1998
Nominated- Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Patricia Richardson)

(release from : Wikipedia)