Swapping Bicycle Tires for Dummies

Suitable Tire width vs. Rim Width for Bicycle Wheels

We still remember the first mountain bike we ever saw, 'way back in the early '80s – a Specialized Stumpjumper. In the almost 40 years since, mountain bikes have become wildly popular, especially with people who ride very little and often live hundreds or thousands of miles from a mountain. The knobby tires that are one hallmark of the style are, unfortunately, ill-suited to road use, since they're heavy and slow; so many owners who can't afford a second bike try to improve on them with touring or road tires ("slicks"). We just hope they don't find Matthew Ferguson, Trails.com freelancer, when they ask themselves, "How Do I Change from Mountain to Smooth Bicycle Tires?"¹

Door Handles for DIY Dummies

Removing the door rosette

One of our Antisocial Network staffers recently finished a home remodeling job – he gutted the master bath to the studs and replaced almost everything, including the doors and their hardware. Like most of our staffers, he did a little pre- and post-project surfing looking for hints and tips. That's where he ran across an Ezine Article penned by Karen Hughes (probably not Bush 43's advisor, we think) that asked the eternal question, "Changing Door Hardware - Can You Handle it?" Well our staffer could, but we don't think Hughes had the chops...

Attic Catwalks for Dummies

attic catwalk

As the Antisocial Network research staffers wander the 'net in search of candidates for our daily award, they often run across posts that, at first glance, seem to be written by someone who knows what he or she is talking about. Often, however, closer reading reveals that the writer has merely copied verbiage from somewhere else and, in the process, reveals a glaring hole in his or her knowledge. Such is the case of today's DotD nominee, eHow.com's Marilla Mulwane who did little more than reword an "online tip" for her post, "How to Make a Catwalk in the Attic" at HomeSteady.com.

Wood Filler for Woodworking Dummies

Minwax Wood Filler

Among the Antisocial Network staffers we have many a DIY woodworker and home repair type; people who've pulled off projects anywhere from hanging a picture to replacing a porch to building a garage. It tends to be hard to get fake experience past people who've actually done a project, which is why one of them flagged eHowian Darla Ferrara and her bogus "Minwax Wood Filler Directions" at HomeSteady.com.

Posts and Railings for Dummy Porch Builders

Installing concrete anchors

When it comes to DIY projects, almost nothing is intuitive to a beginner; and compared to a professional builder, almost everyone is a rank beginner! That's one reason why there are hundreds, if not thousands, of resources for people tacking a project of the "it's new to me" variety. Unfortunately, one company – Demand Media (now Leaf Group) – decided to make money off DIYers by having "contributors" explain these new procedures. The result, which is why we're here, wasn't always... helpful, like the time Pamela Gardapee attempted to explain to the readers of Hunker.com "How to Attach a Wooden Railing to a Concrete Porch."

Self-Employment Tax for Dummy Freelancers

Paying estimated quarterly taxes

Just about everyone on staff at the Antisocial Network has been self-employed at one time or another, from augmenting their income by writing content for companies like Demand Media to selling stuff on eBay to consulting at three figures per hour rates. The first time we had to pay taxes on self-employment income we were all faced with the same question: "How do I Pay Social Security Self-Employment Taxes?"¹ Thankfully, we had better advice than what eHowian Etch Tabor offered up...

Comparing the Sun and Moon for Dummies

Sun, moon, eclipse

It may seem that we like to make fun of liberal arts graduates here, especially the ones who attempt to describe technical subjects. Well, if they hadn't done such a lousy job solely in search of a few bucks, they would not have incurred the wrath of our research team (who, by the way, aren't doing this in search of money). When they say things as scientifically ignorant as Gwendolen Akard did for eHow.com (now Sciencing.com) in her piece "The Similarities and Differences Between the Sun and Moon," we just can't help ourselves...