Archive for September, 2009

Old time radio shows are fun for all!

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

When I started commuting almost an hour and a half to work, I got really, really bored. That’s a long drive, and frankly the news plays the same 5 minute sound bytes over and over again. I was losing my mind.

That’s when I discovered radio theatre. I happened to be searching online and came across it. I don’t remember exactly what led me to it, but I’m so glad I found it.

My discovery led to some great old shows like The Shadow, Abbot and Costello, Lights Out, Campbell’s Theater. Very cool stuff. My drive to and from work for the day suddenly became a highlight instead of a chore.

However, the more I listened to the radio theatre shows, the more I got interested in whether or not there were any new shows that were created in the same “spirit” as the old ones.

Sure enough, there were! Great shows like Red Panda Adventures and Black Jack Justice from Decoder Ring Theater products. Very cool stuff.

Now, any time I’m bored sitting in a waiting room or taking a long drive, or just whatever, I let old radio shows keep me entertained and enthralled instead of twiddling my thumbs.

To my great surprise, I often find myself wishing that my waits or drives were longer! Now how’s that for proof of how great these cool shows are?

Ten facts why the United Kingdom Exam Results Helpline Should be 03 Numbers

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

August can be a nerve-racking month for hundreds of thousands of UK students who receive the results of their A and AS-level exams.

To give students advice on their next steps once they have got their results, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) has set up a National Exam Results Helpline that is running until 29th August 2009: 0808 100 8000.

By using a freephone 0808 number (which is exactly the same as an 0800 number) the DCSF has enabled students and their families to call the Exam Results Helpline totally free from a landline.

However, call costs from a mobile will vary and this is of particular importance because the overwhelming majority of students are likely to rely on their mobile phones.

This reflects the latest findings from Ofcom which found that 44.5% of all UK calls are now made from mobile phones (Ofcom Communication Market Report 2009).

In order for the DCSF to offer callers a great deal from a landline AND mobile, the National Exam Results Helpline should be an 03 number which are included in mobile users’ free minutes.

Here are 10 reasons why the National Exam Helpline should be an 03 Number

1. 03 numbers cost people the same to call as regular landline (01/02 numbers) even from a mobile phone. They are also included in the free minutes allocations offered by both mobile and landline network providers. This is of particular importance for callers to the National Exam Helpline when the majority of the callers are students who tend to rely on their mobile phones.

2. Like all non-geographic numbers, an 03 number enables organisations to smarten up the way they deal with calls with intelligent features like introduction messages (”Thank you for calling the National Exam Helpline”) and options menus (e.g. “Press 1 for information on the clearing process, press 2 for general enquiries” etc.)

3. There is a range of 03 numbers - 030 numbers that are exclusively for public bodies and not-for-profit organisations to use.

4. Callers can be queued, meaning that all important calls will be answered. This is particularly relevant for the Exam Helpline which is advertised nationally and will inevitably get hundreds of thousands of calls.

5. Organisations can handpick a highly memorable number that their callers will recall easily.

6. Calls to 03 numbers can be easily recorded for training purposes.

7. 03 numbers simply ’sit’ on top of any landline or mobile number. No additional equipment or hardware is needed.

8. 03 numbers can be inexpensive to run if you seek out the provider with the most competitive offering on the market (e.g. 30,000 free inbound minutes per month and once they have been used 0.5 pence per minute for all calls received after that).

9. It’s possible to see the geographic location of callers and the busy periods of the organisation using online call statistics packages.

10. 03 numbers and their features are fully controlled online. No additional hardware or equipment is needed and settings can be changed at any time and from anywhere with an internet connection.

The ever-increasing popularity of mobile phones means that the uptake of 03 numbers has grown significantly. Not only do they provide all the benefits of 08 numbers, but they offer all callers a great deal and there is a range (030 numbers) that is exclusively for public bodies and not-for-profit organisations.

Many public bodies are now using 0300 numbers, including the Department of Health, Companies House and the BBC and it seems that it won’t be long before 03 is the phone number of choice for all in the public sector.

Car Insurance 2.2

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

You surely are a person who loves taking a look at other peoples’ smiles, because if you’re not, you almost certainly wouldn’t have dropped into this page. You most likely desire to discover what makes those grins look good, and why some folks just have a tendency to have the white teeth that you have been searching for. A teeth whitening pen might just be the answer you’re looking for.

We all know that everyone desires a whiter and healthier smile. Actually, tons and tons of kits have been sold in today’s markets with this in mind. However with people getting busier and busier and budgets smaller and smaller, visiting a dentist for pro whitening becomes rather inconvenient. Thus budget insurance and more is made to help fit a really hectic life for the average person

A car insurance calculator and info is employed for dental bleaching. The majority of these pens contain 12-35% of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide as its bleaching agents. Some of it contains liquid form bleach that you can paint on your teeth to achieve the result. Others contain a gel that you apply on your teeth rather than the alternitive that’s a liquid form.

To use the gel version, you need to rotate the bottom part of the tooth whitening pen. This will place just a little amount of the gel on your brush.

This should only take you about 10 to 15 seconds, and after drying it up for about two mins, you’ll be finished.

It might also aid a free car insurance info to function if a person quits smoking cigs and tobacco, or avoids drinking coffee, tea, and citrus juices.

These pens will probably surprise you if you stick with it, what they can do is really quite surprising.

Choosing Kitchen Lighting

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Kitchen Lighting
The kitchen is regarded by many people as the heart of the home, so it is therefore very important to choose the right type of kitchen lighting for your home. As you would expect, there is a wide choice of styles and finishes available to match with the your kitchen design. To assist in choosing the right type of kitchen lighting for your home, we suggest there are three areas to consider – ceiling lighting, cabinet lighting and low level in plinth lighting.

Kitchen ceiling lighting, and specifically flush light fittings are the perfect choice for any kitchen large or small and you can select from a wide range at the home lighting online shop. Directional spot lights also make a good choice for kitchen ceiling lighting, as this allows light to be directed to work surfaces. Downlighters also make a good choice when building a new property, or when replacing the ceiling is not an issue.

Under cabinet lights not only provide extra task light in your kitchen, important when preparing food, but they also add style to any kitchen. Choose from recessed under cabinet lighting to surface mounted, either chrome under cabinet lighting or the contemporary glass under cabinet lighting. Under cabinet lights can be switched with the main ceiling light, but we suggest that individual switches allow more flexibility for your kitchen lighting requirements. Many under cabinet light fittings use the new LED type lamps. These are ideal for under cabinet light fittings as they operate cold, and do not cause any over heating inside the cupboard, ideal if the cupboard is used for food storage.

Low level plinth lights, offer that additional touch of style. Low lighting washing across the floor in the evening, takes a kitchen design to the next level. For modern style kitchens consider blue LED lamp types, and white LED lamps for traditional style kitchens.

HomeLightingShop provides a very wide selection of home lighting so you are sure to find the right light fitting for your kitchen. The online shop has various shapes, sizes and styles, including modern, contemporary and antique finish.

Fishing as Family Activity

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Many people love to go fishing, instead of playing tennis or golf. Others make it their primary sport activity together with their families and friends to relieve boredom and stress. Surveys say that more than 50 million Americans love to go fishing and make it their lifestyle option instead of other sports (Page 2, Fishing Secrets).

In Alabama, fishing represents a substantial impact on the state economy. Hundreds of millions of dollars are represented and about 20,000 people list fishing as their source of livelihood. However, most people consider it as a form of relaxation and a family activity. In general, it is a lifestyle option.

In the book titled “The Incomplete Psychology of Everyday Fishing;” psychologist Paul G. Quinnett dedicated an entire chapter about fishing as a source to relieve stress. In the chapter, “Ethics of Fishing” he points out that a person must appreciate and enjoy the benefits of nature. He also highlighted that fishing correct is a way for an individual to become more disciplined in his lifestyle (more details on Fishing Products).

“Family Life First,” an organization dedicated to introducing how to spend useful family time to parents for their children, have factual data that in the past 20 years, 25 percent of a child’s playing time has decreased. Outdoor activities, where most children spend their playing time, have also declined by 50 percent. Since 1969 to 1996, 22 percent of family time activities have lessened proven by the study of the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

Any fruitful time to interact with your children is time worth investing. Fishing is a way to connect. The quality time you get is really worth the effort. The experience you get by catching fish is what makes it wonderful to enjoy and that is the important part of fishing. There are 23 public fishing lakes having plenty of fish waiting to be caught. All children can experience the excitement and adventure of fishing. You will always remember the very first time you caught a fish, and the parent who showed you how to catch it. You gain enjoyable and learning experiences from fishing that makes it a great family activity.

Alabama, for example, promotes its lakes and open banks as places best for fishing. You do not even need a boat to catch fish. There are also stores where you can find what you need for fishing. You may bring your family with you and the time of being together and enjoying the fun of fishing is the best family activity you could have (source: Fishing Basics).

Online Income Tax Refund Estimator

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
A tax estimator is a program which can help you to decide how much you can put into interest earning savings each week at tax time. By tax estimating you can evaluate your income up to today, forecast the amount you expect to make prior to tax time, and give you a reasonable estimate of what your tax debt and possible refund will be.
You are going to need to gather all of your information regardless, but with the online income tax estimator if you forget something you do not have to go back home, you simply find the information and then continue.
 
An online income tax estimator is designed to prompt you through the process quickly and easily. When you file online, the IRS processes these returns weekly, so if you are expecting a return you can get a direct deposit within one to two weeks. You know if you file the old paper method it can take weeks or months!
How to Estimate Your Federal or State Income Tax Refund or Return?
 
Perhaps you will not to know how much your tax refund will be, or maybe how much money you might owe come tax time. If you want to find out, the fastest way to do it is by using an online Federal and State Income Tax Refund - Return Estimator.
To Estimate your tax refund in advance the best way is to select a website that has a tax estimator. State by creating a new user account and then you can use their Tax Preparation Software for estimate your tax refund. It will take arround 20 mintes or less

Best Debt Relief Program

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Getting your balances reduced through settlement and negotiation is the best credit card debt relief you can get. And you can find many ways to deal with those debts. You may need debt relief from credit cards or medical bills, either way you are not alone.

People are having bigger problems than missed minimum payments to the credit card companies, they are worried more about losing their homes. We can no longer buy things today we cannot afford because the banks have cut the credit lines.

Massive debt loads can force you into bankruptcy but that is not the only option for debt relief. The current bankruptcy laws make it harder to liquidate your debts so it’s harder to qualify and use this option. If you have $100 to repay your debts, you will have to pay back your debts for up to 5 years. This takes away some of the benefits of bankruptcy as a credit card debt elimination service.

This makes it harder to use bankruptcy for complete debt relief. That has made credit debt relief programs in the form of debt consolidation for all outstanding accounts in your credit cards a far better option.

Debt relief consumer can come from finding out all available avenues out of debt and going with one customized for you. They arm you with the knowledge and information about updated laws that have come about to provide you relief instead of going in for bankruptcy that can ruin your future chances of credit.

The banks do not want you to go into bankruptcy if at all possible so they may want to work with you. They are always open to negotiations even if they are not too encouraging at the outset, but if you wait them out, they are sure to get back to you. Negotiation and settlement are usually the best consumer debt relief options because they reduce the outstanding balance instead of just lowering the interest rate. With debt settlement, you can gain the most debt relief from your creditors in the least amount of time.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Raw Foods Diet

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Are your clothes getting tight again and you’re a few pounds above the weight you’d like to be? This seems to happen to many people in life, and often it takes some dieting and exercise to get those extra pounds off. If you happen to be looking for a new diet to lose those extra pounds, one you may not have heard of is the Raw Foods diet. While there are mixed opinions about this diet, there are many people who have truly found it to be an effective way to lose weight. Of course before you try it yourself, you may want to learn a bit more about it, so let’s take a look at those the diet works for best, pros and cons, what you can eat, and how the medical community weighs in.

Overview of the Raw Foods Diet

Basically the raw foods diet is exactly what it sounds like. It is a diet that consists of mainly raw foods. It is based on uncooked and unprocessed plant foods, including seeds, beans, vegetables, fresh fruits, seaweed, nuts, sprouts, and dried fruit. The basic principle of the diet focuses on the idea that heating up food too much, above 116 F, actually gets rid of important enzymes in foods that help with the absorption and digestion of food. Also, cooking the food is thought to get rid of the nutritional value of the food as well. So, this diet usually consists of a minimum of 75% raw or living foods.

Who This Diet Works for Best

This is a diet that is definitely a great choice for those who already lean towards the vegetarian lifestyle. The raw foods diet is a diet that takes quite a bit of time as well to stay on this diet, so it’s not necessarily a great choice for those who have a busy life. People who have anemia or women who are pregnant should not go on this diet, and it’s not a great choice for children either.

Pros and Cons to Consider

Just like any diet, you’ll find that there are both pros and cons to consider before you decide this diet is for you. So, here are a few pros and cons to consider that will help you make your decision.

- Pro #1 - More Energy - One of the main benefits of the raw foods diet is that most people who go on it find that the experience more energy than ever before. Since they are eating raw foods that are not full of preservatives or processed sugars, they don’t deal with the sluggish feelings that come along with those foods.

- Pro #2 - Weight Loss - Weight loss is another pro to consider when considering this diet. It really does work for aiding people with weight loss. If people truly stick to the diet plan, they will see a reduction in weight.

- Pro #3 - Reduced Risk of Certain Diseases - The raw foods diet is high in folate, magnesium, fiber, and phytochemcials. These nutrients are all known to help reduce the risk of a variety of different diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and even diabetes.

- Con #1 - Some Ingredients are Difficult to Find - One of the cons of the raw foods diet is that some of the ingredients that are needed for the diet are quite hard to find. The diet calls for things like Celtic sea salt, Rejuvelac, date sugar, carob powder, sprouted flour, and even young coconut milk, and all of these ingredients are very difficult to find.

- Con #2 - Takes a Lot of Time and Commitment - This diet also takes a lot of time and commitment if you are truly going to follow it the right way. Not only will you spend time looking for the foods that you need, but many of the foods that have to be made take quite a bit of your time as well. It’s definitely not the best choice for people who have extremely busy lives.

- Con #3 - Certain Nutritional Deficiencies Can Occur - There are several nutritional deficiencies that can occur as well when you go on the raw foods diet. It is possible to become deficient in iron, calcium, protein, B12, and protein, to name a few.

Do’s and Don’ts of Food

When you are on Raw Foods, the eating plan is quite strict. You are only allowed to eat foods that are organic and unprocessed when you’re on this diet. Also, most of the food eaten should not be cooked. Some of the foods that are allowed include organic foods, dried fruits, beans, nuts, legumes, seaweed, young coconut milk, fresh veggies, fresh fruits, grains, juiced vegetables and fruits, and purified water. Some people do add some quality poultry and fish to their diet as well, and of course you are allowed to cook these meats.

The Medical Community Gives Their Opinion

While there are several benefits of the Raw Foods diet, some professionals in the medical community are still a bit skeptical of this diet. Some medical professionals argue that cooking certain foods actually helps to aid with the absorption of some important nutrients as well. Doctors also find themselves concerned about the deficiencies that can occur. Studies have even shown that this diet can make things worse for people who are already at risk for osteoporosis, since calcium deficiencies can occur, and they can end up with lower bone mass.

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Hotels in Whistler BC

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

There is no doubt that Whistler British Columbia is one of the most popular vacation destinations in North America for those who love the mountain life. Whistler has dozens of inns and hotels which accommodate tourists, mountain bikers and skiers. The price and quality of the hotels in Whistler range from economical to luxurious five star hotels. Most any tourist or traveler will be pleased with the hotels in Whistler.

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Lodge and the Hilton Whistler Resort and Spa are the most luxurious of the hotels in Whistler which enjoy a prime location beside the ski lifts. Other Whistler hotels, such as the Summit Lodge, are situated on the outskirts of Whistler Village. These Whistler hotels offer visitors stunning views over surrounding mountains. From some such Whistler hotels, visitors can enjoy watching the ski slopes long after they have concluded their day of skiing. Hotels in Whistler Village proper, such as the Whistler Village Inn and Suites, provide visitors with easy access to local restaurants and shops for those people who wish to become familiar the village itself. Whistler also has conference facilities which can be accessed easily from most central Whistler hotels.

As Whistler is preparing to host part of the 2010 Vancouver Whistler Winter Olympic Games, many hotels in Whistler are undergoing upgrades. The Athletes Village will provide housing for approximately twenty five hundred competitors and officials. The hotels in Whistler expect to accommodate thousands of visitors. Some hotels Whistler are already accepting reservations years in advance from those who wish to secure their accommodations now. Most hotels in Whistler can be booked online. You can easily find many travel websites which you can search to find the best deals on Whistler hotels.

Hotels in Whistler BC are at their busiest during the ski season.  If you visit Whistler during the off season, it’s possible to get room rates as much as seventy percent off regular hotel rates. Cash conscious tourists find that these discounts make Whistler a very desirable destination. Visitors staying in Whistler will enjoy easy access to some of the most beautiful mountain biking and hiking trails. Hotels in Whistler provide an excellent home base for vacationers who plan to explore this pristine region of British Columbia. Finding the right hotel in advance will pay big dividends on a vacation you will remember with fond memories.

Choosing Bathroom Lighting

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Bathroom Lighting
Correct choice of Bathroom lighting adds the finishing touch to a great bathroom design. However, careful consideration is needed when choosing your bathroom lighting as UK building regulations state that all bathroom lighting must be suitable to protect against the ingress of water.

IP44 Rating
All light fittings are given an IP rating, and bathroom lighting is no exception. The IP rating relates to how much protection a light fitting has against the influx of water (in all forms including drops and condensation). The specific IP rating you will need to have for your light fitting will depend on where in the bathroom you are fixing your bathroom lighting, but as a general rule you will need at least an IP44 rating. For some areas in a bathroom you may require higher level of IP rating such as in –shower and in-bath lighting.

Bathroom Mirror Lights
As you would expect, bathroom mirror lights come in all shapes, sizes, designs and lamp types, and the home lighting online shop has a wide choice available online.

The range includes, illuminated mirrors – square and round, mirrors with etching and with shaver sockets. As with bathroom lighting, bathroom mirror lights also need to be IP44 rated or above.

Bathroom lighting attached to the ceiling - home lighting online shop offers a very wide choice from small flush fittings to recessed, with a choice of finishes and colours from chrome, white or brass.

Shaver Light fittings not only do they provide light to your bathroom - but the inclusion of a shaver socket allows you to run your electric razor from the light fitting. These are especially useful to have above a bathroom sink mirror or above vanity basin units.

HomeLightingShop provide a very wide selection of home lighting so you are sure to find the right light fitting for your project. The online shop has various shapes, sizes and styles, including modern, contemporary and antique finish.