Maine's Own Off Topic Thread - Part 4 (Hope: garden, great)

[Elcarim]

Children under 16 seem to be exempt from the passport law, even after the changes in June. It appears that the difference is HOW you travel. Air travel has different laws.

On June 1, 2009 all U.S. and Canadian citizens who are 16 and older traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), will be required to present a valid passport or other alternative documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. U.S. and Canadian citizens who are 15 years old or younger will still be allowed to travel with just a copy of their birth certificate, as will teens between the age of 16-18 if they are part of an adult supervised school, religious, cultural or athletic group.

[Casper1212]

It's not the air travel that's different. It's the destination. People don't usually travel off continent except by air. At the website you noted, it tells you which countries require what for US citizens to travel there. One of the reasons that kids under sixteen don't need a passport is (just guessing here) because of things like age of consent, too young to get a DL, parental responsibility, etc. The feds aren't big on explaining themselves for these things. And it doesn't matter if we agree with their decisions or not, we gotta live with them. The guys at the ports aren't even allowed to use their own discresion on certain things anymore. It has become very cut and dried, with no wiggle room. But believe me, entry into the US and air travel have become very high security issues that are anything but unjustified.

[Elcarim]

It seems logical to me that sun coming through a window, regardless of how cold it is outside, will bring warmth into a room. Is it wise to cover windows during the day? I just noticed the bright sunlight peeking around the blankets hung on the windows in our new house. I'm wondering why they'd want to keep the sun out.

[Bydand]

While the sun may bring in some warmth, if the window isn't sealed up tight or is single pane glass, the cold it lets in is greater than the warmth the sun brings during the winter.

[msina]

The passive solar heat from windows can help warm a room but, if it's windy, and the windows are a bit drafty I would think keeping them "blanketed" might be a good idea on the side of the house the wind is hitting. I prefer to use the clear plastic on windows that need it.

[7th generation]

When replacing windows in your house, make sure to spend the extra on E glass- it works mint!
Low E Glass - It Really Works!

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

It seems logical to me that sun coming through a window, regardless of how cold it is outside, will bring warmth into a room. Is it wise to cover windows during the day? I just noticed the bright sunlight peeking around the blankets hung on the windows in our new house. I'm wondering why they'd want to keep the sun out.

In olden days the idea of opening ans closing the curtains was common to address this issue.

Our new windows are the triple pane, argon filled, low-E, blah blah blah windows. But if your windows were anything less if might be a problem.

[RANGER.101ST]

lust thought id jump in to say hi. i dont get a whole lot of time now. so how are things with every one.??

[Elcarim]

Hey, Ranger! How are you and the fam? Hope things are going well. We're movin' right along.

[Elcarim]

Just noticed that MsIna is "still here." I'm so glad! Don't go anywhere!

I also just saw your post from last June about house hunting. Have you moved? I missed SO much last summer.