How do you fill the void in your life? Instead of living in a vacuum, my goal is knowledge and the acquisition of as much as possible. This leads me into a myriad of different areas. One minute I'm studying mathematics, the next I'm learning about how to propagate different plants.

Life is far too precious and short for us to sit idly by. Before we know it, our candle will almost be at an end. My advice? Do something productive. Your purpose doesn't have to be the same as mine.

The Internet is a vast and limitless cyber-space. I'm filling my tiny quadrant with some of the different things I've learned over the recent years. The purpose is simply as an electronic diary by and for myself.

Somethings Never Change

It still surprises me what men assume about woman these days. Especially when it comes to us girls shopping for electronics. It was just the beginning of my academic year and I decided to buy a new printer.  I knew more or less what I was looking for. I decided to find a multifunctional printer that had a scanner and a copy machine.  Based on my previous experiences, I knew which brand I was looking for as well.

I went to a few shops to do some research and then came back to the shop which had the best offer available. I asked a few questions about the functionality and decided to buy the chosen model and the salesman disappeared for about 15 minutes. He started to chat with me and explained to me that he prefers to sell printers to women than to sell gold to a king and later on I understood why.  I became somewhat suspicious when I saw the box looking a little worn but I was assured that it was normal. Well I believed him and came back home . I opened the box and to my surprise, saw that the printer was missing one element and the cartridges were already installed.  I angrily packed the printer back even though I shouldn’t have and went back to the shop. I furiously explained to the manager that just because I am a woman it does not mean that that I will not notice when someone sells me a used and uncompleted printer with unpacked cables.  I managed to get my money back and have never returned to the shop. A similar event happened to my friend who happens to be a telecommunications engineer. Men always want to teach us how to deal with electronics when we can do it ourselves.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: , ,
Categories: Musings, Uncategorized

Can telephony get better than this?

Not very long ago, a telephone was considered to be perhaps the biggest innovation. It helped people communicate with their family and friends over long distances with ease. This basic purpose of a telephone has now become almost insignificant considering the various other features and uses the modern age telephones – the mobile phones, provide. I, sometimes think if we can really go back to the times when mobile phones did not exist. Unimaginable times, weren’t they?

telephony Today, innovation is the key. With many companies launching their products every now and then, it is only the innovative products that will make their presence felt. I believe this innovation logic applies to just about everything – whether it is a high end smart phone or a simple kitchen tool like the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender.

Mobile phones have become the most essential part of everybody’s lives. There is hardly a person, young or old, who does not own one. I got my first mobile phone when I was in my high school and since then, my subsequent mobile phones have only gone better. A gadget freak that I’m, I recently bought myself the iPhone 4S Siri. This mobile phone offers a unique application – Siri, which is interactive voice recognition software.

This software is in fact termed as a virtual personal assistant for the functions it performs and the features it offers. With a virtual assistant with me in the form of my phone, that can not only take voice instructions to perform various functions but also guide me with its intelligence, I wonder if there can be anything better than this?

 

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

Business Strategy: Personal Blogs for Monetary Purposes

Now it is well-known how the Internet has liberated the art of writing for personal expression, which has now become a large avenue for profit for people. A personal blog might be more than just a “diary”, if you will, but it might also just be a kind of untapped business strategy that could lead to online success.

Blogs, whether they are written by famous people or not, can be an interesting source of information for people who like to read on the Internet. Blogs can feature a variety of topics that range from the hottest trends and the newest in the market. Bloggers can share their activities, inspirations and ideas through their general personal blog. People also now have such a wide audience to share some interesting news with.

How do you get started on general personal blogs? First and foremost, it is a good business strategy development to learn how to define the purpose of your blog and who the people you want to reach are. Most people with successful blogs have a definite audience they would like to target. They also lead great roles in their lives and have clear intentions as to where their lives are headed- thus a blog with definite direction. A blogger is also a good writer so learn how to write with your unique voice and style.

Once you have the content of your blog spelled out, develop your knowledge on designing your website. A good web designer could also do that for you. You may know someone who could recommend a reliable web designer to give you exactly what you need for an eye-catching website. A good web design allows you to update easily and provides several interesting features for your website, such as feedback, organized links, multi-media and interaction among readers.

Improve your SEO through video, podcasts and other multi-media. Get rid of spam and nasty comments from ill- spirited readers. Spam is clearly not a good indication for your website, and relays a message that your site is unreliable. Get some tips on how to use online social networking to boost site traffic, and encourage your readers to leave comments, and to interact with each other! This will get your website up and about. A general personal blog is not only a way of self-expression, but also an avenue to create communities with healthy interactions amongst themselves. A personal blog is also a way to fulfill business strategies and marketing strategies, so that you can open up doors for income at the tip of your fingers.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: , , ,
Categories: Musings

2012: My Year Of Being Location Independent

Have you heard the phrase “location independent?”  I’m certainly noticing the concept being discussed more and more.  It basically describes people who do not have a fixed abode but spend their time traveling to different countries.  Some may spend several months in the different locations, others perhaps even more.  These are not vacation trips per se - most location independent folks also work.  It’s just a different way of living.

There’s a whole load of very glamorous aspects to being location independent: experiencing new cultures, meeting new people, getting out of the daily grind, having new adventures – but there’s also quite a lot of logistical organization that needs thinking through.  Otherwise your life can turn into an enormous hassle.

2012 will see me spend three months in Central America (mostly Nicaragua where I am looking for real estate) but also a little time in Belize.  Then staying in the same hemisphere I’ll head further south to get a bit of city living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  After that I’ll head to South East Asia and then to Australia staying for two months in each location.

I earn most of my income online, so the key for me is to ensure I have a solid internet connection wherever I go.  But really when it comes down to it, that’s all I need to keep my earnings up.

It’s going to be hard to live out of two suitcases for a year, but I’ve got my packing list nicely organized.  I’ve also calculated that I should be able to live very frugally.  Getting long term rentals is of course always much cheaper than short stay hotel rates.  I’m looking forward to this and will report back on my adventures.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Uncategorized

Information is the Key

I have been trawling through the internet for years trying to fill in the great gaping voids in my knowledge. I have looked at sites for a plethora of subjects and tried to understand and join in the discussion groups therein. However, this has often been a false dawn as many of the postings simply degenerate away from the subject matter and get lost in a wave of misdirected thought and tangential sub topics.

So when I came across a kindred spirit in this quest, this thirst for knowledge and understanding of social processes and natures dominance in our lives on the web site alcatelvacuum.com I was quite taken by the content. I had been on only one other site that offered a tightly focused line of discussion and looking at this website opened up many lines of very interesting discussion and important information that allowed me to regain hope that all was not lost.

I am not just talking about debates on the meaning of life or other highly esoteric topics, rather the more mundane things that can ease our way through our daily routines were opened to scrutiny and helpful advice. I corresponded with like minded people from across the globe who gave me invaluable insights into areas of their expertise that I could never hope to match by myself.

I now go straight to that site everyday and look forward eagerly to the exchange of information which is generated by its users. I often simply read the notes and will only add my tuppence worth if I feel that I will offer some useful input. On alcatelvacuum.com I am able to look at deeper and more meaningful debates that stimulate my continuing interest in self improvement.

 

This work is something that I will encourage and recommend to others as a way of keeping in touch with the ever changing social technological dichotomies that are now a part of our daily lives.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags:
Categories: Musings

Getting Away from the Computer

When I can drag myself away from browsing the interwebs, one thing I love to do is make myself a fresh fruit and vegetable juice. There are so many recipes to make and unlike cooking, you don’t have to be all that skilled to make something that tastes fantastic. I should know!

When fruit starts to get that look where you don’t really want to eat it, stick it through your juicer and enjoy what it makes for you. I’m not that big a fruit fan but I can tell you one thing, I love sweet things. Sometimes, fruit just seems a bit too healthy for me to enjoy. But a fruit juice is just a drink, and we’ve all got to drink, right? Sometimes I even add some vegetables in there. You’d be surprised how sweet carrots actually are.

Obviously I bought my juicer online, what else would you expect? A good source for more information is: http://www.applelaneinn.com/best-juicer/

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

Kids Electronic Diaries

I remember the old days, when you had just a notebook or journal to be your diary. There were no electronic diaries, and maybe there was not really a need for one. Either you locked yours up pretty good or people somehow got to read it. But that was part of the fun of a diary in a way.

You knew of the possibilities of people reading it because you committed it to paper. The danger had to be part of the reason we wrote anything down anyway. I was looking for gifts for a cousin of mine. I realized that she did not have her own diary and she has begun to write well enough for one.

I decided to take a look at the Kmart nearby my house, and it was there that I saw the infamous idea of the electronic diary. And it was 21 bucks! I nearly got whiplash reading that tag! Voice-activated lock and a hidden compartment costs too much these days. At that price, I would let everyone read my 10-year old thoughts.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: ,
Categories: Musings

How Does the Neato XV-11 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Navigates a Room?

The Neato XV-11‘s Room Positioning System – RPS – uses a laser to scan the room.  It then creates a highly accurate and very detailed map of the room precisely knowing the dimensions of the room and also exactly where all the obstacles are.  This enables it to avoid bumping into furniture and chairs.  It then determines the best cleaning path and starts the job methodically cleaning in straight lines.  First it cleans the perimeter of the room and then it cleans in an up-and-down movement, going round obstacles until the room is done.

When the Neato runs low on power, it will return to its docking station to recharge.   When fully recharged it will return to the exact point where it left off and resume vacuuming.  Once the whole room has been vacuumed, the Neato will return to its docking station, recharge if it needs to, and wait for the next job.

When scanning the room the XV-11 will know where the doorway is.  It will finish the cleaning in one room before it moves through the doorway to repeat the scanning, mapping and cleaning process.  It will move from room to room until it has completed all the rooms it has access to, effectively cleaning all types of floors – carpet, hardwood, vinyl, linoleum and tile.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Uncategorized

Understanding How Interest Compounds

Both interest and the interest calculator is used in a number of different sectors these days. Interest is more or less one of the applications which makes the financial world go around. Banks and other financial institutions will use it frequently and therefore it is possible to find out just how important it within the world of accounting and mathematics. It is important to keep a trap of one’s rates, however, especially if one is in debt to a particular institution or indeed, if a person owes the individual money.

Usually this is going to be calculated in a number of different ways depending on what one is doing. There are many different types and of course there are some accounts which will gather quite a lot of it. Those who store their money in the banks will gather a lot over time, and therefore a lot of money can made from this. There is a clear example seen which a lot of wealthy people will do.

Millionaires will often keep a lot of their money in a single bank account. Within the space of a year, a huge amount of interest can be made from this and therefore it becomes an incredibly valuable asset. The credit which has grown over time can be so large that it will enable that individual to live very comfortably for a year, and therefore by simple having money in the bank they can earn a considerable income.

When buying a home, a lot of people are required to take out a mortgage. These are usually loans which are given to individuals who are interested in investing in property and therefore they are quite common. House prices tend to be incredibly high these days and therefore people who buy them might improve them to make sure they get a good price for it, and in turn sell the home on.

So if one is going to go down this particular path, it is vital that one is aware of what the different rates are going to be on the mortgage, because these need to be paid back as well. The interest calculator will allow one to figure out just how much money it is that the bank will be requiring back. There are different applications where this can be found.

The most obvious one would be a regular calculator, but this will depend on how complicated the whole story is. Therefore some people will go onto the various applications which can be found on the Internet. Here one will be able to take a look at how much money they are going to owe their creditors within the next few years and make a plan from then on.

Usually payment plans are made when it comes to taking out a mortgage. These need to be stuck to, as this is often a huge investment that most people will take out. Owning a property comes with a lot of responsibility and this cannot be shied away from.

Most people will have their own interest calculator, particularly accountants, who are always concerned with the financial affairs of their clients. They will therefore be using them in order to give advice to the people that they serve.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Uncategorized

3 Guidelines to Consider: Buying Any Electronics

We can’t help it, our present generation is aided mostly with the use of modern technology particularly the electronic gadgets. Our day to day activities are greatly affected with the type of electronics we use. They make our lives easier by helping us do things and other duties with enough speed and in an effortless manner. Here are 3 guidelines for your convenience when buying any electronic equipment for your home or office:

  • Main purpose

When we decide to purchase a particular electronic appliance for our homes like the refrigerator, we assess first its main purpose before buying it. The purchase of a refrigerator would mean bigger savings on our food allowance, since the refrigerator will prevent any spoilage of food when kept properly inside the fridge. Other benefit of having a refrigerator is you can already buy in bulk for your weekly food supply, so lesser trips to the grocery stores and more money saved on gas or fuel.

  • What it does to your life

This question always pops right into our minds when making a decision on whether to purchase a new appliance for your home or office. For example, buying a bigger and wider screen television, what benefit can you get from this purchase? Of course, when you watch your favorite tv shows or movies, you have a better view with a wider screen tv, thus, giving you such comfort, happiness and pure enjoyment as you watch. So, the beneficial features exceed with the amount you are going to spend for that electronic appliance.

  • Stress reliever

People sometimes shop for new gadgets or electronics for themselves or for their families whenever they are totally stressed out from work. The mere action that you are rewarding yourself from all those overtime hours you have spent as an ultrasound technician by buying that latest electronic appliance like a complete package of the latest game console is one factor you consider most.

Take note that when you make that next electronic purchase, assess first your need for that particular gadget or item. Remember, you want to be sure that whatever you are buying will eventually reward you greatly in the end. Make use of the above guidelines and for sure you will never be disappointed with any of your purchase, either it is a new electronic appliance for your home or office. Be wise always and spend those hard earned income in favor of you.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Uncategorized

Why Not Get Your Own Personal Barista?

If you wake up in the morning  half an hour early to make sure you have time to stop by your local coffee shop, why not skip the trip and invest in one of the new breed of coffee machines such as the Delonghi Magnifica ESAM4200.  It is common to believe that it is virtually impossible to brew a cup of espresso like the professionals do when you are using consumer-grade coffee machines.  The Magnifica is a professional-grade machine that is available at a consumer-grade price.  If you are not familiar with all of the features of the Magnifica ESAM4200, review the features now so you can see what everyone is raving about.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Uncategorized

Growing Herbs in Your Greenhouse is a Great Time Filler

Growing herbs is a brilliant way to improve your salads and to add lots of flavour to your cooking.  Some herbs are best grown in pots or containers which can be kept outside in the garden from March onwards.

Parsley, chives, coriander, mint and basil are among the most popular.  Rosemary is another favourite which can be grown in the garden as rosemary bushes can become quite large.

When the weather is colder you can grow herbs in pots and keep them in greenhouses or next to a window in the house.  Fresh herbs are very good for you and contain many nutritional benefits as well as being extremely tasty.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: ,
Categories: Uncategorized

Buying The Right Gift For The Man In My Life

I am usually very well organized but in the months and weeks leading up to Christmas I had a serious crisis at work and it took up all my available time.  This is not usually a problem as my husband is a very supportive man and he puts up with a lot.  I have quite a high pressure and high powered job and he works for himself from his home office.  It always seems to be me stressed out and him as cool as a cucumber, trying to calm me down. He really is my rock!  Anyway, I wanted to make sure that I bought him a lovely gift at Christmas, just to show him how much he means to me and how important he is in my life, but I had this crisis which meant no time to think and no time to go shopping.

I did however manage to grab myself half an hour at lunchtime so I got on the internet and came across a site called Oslosa Mens Store.  It was a great site with loads of ideas for what to buy my husband for a gift at Christmas.  It had all sorts of things from exercise equipment, to boys toys to craft items but I decided on buying hubby an electric scooter! He is so young at heart and his face on Christmas day was an absolute picture!  I am so glad I came across that site as I had no clue before on what to get him but it all worked out in the end!

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

Marketing a Business by an Internet Marketing Company

This morning, I went to a bookshop and saw the owner immersed with his computer. When I peeked at what he was doing, I saw that he was taking orders online from customers. When he saw me looking at him, he smiled. I asked him how many customers he was getting a day and he said, he made more money with online customers than with the walk-in customers. When he saw my puzzled look, he said it was all because of the seo agency he hired.

The bookstore owner explained everything when I asked him to clarify what he said. He said that nowadays, the best way for a business to promote its products or services is through an online marketing company. However big or small a business is, it can be known worldwide with such a company. The best part he said was the minimal expenses spent for a global campaign.

The bookstore owner said that various advertising tools are used by an online company to promote a business website. The company is able to place the business in the top result pages of search engines for target customers to immediately see. Traffic is therefore driven to the website and the company will then perform methods to convert traffic to sales.

As I headed back to my car, I could not help but think about what the bookstore owner said. The internet has brought the world closer. Selling to people you do not see in person has become a reality. The important thing is to hire an internet marketing company for an online business to earn huge profits from all over the world.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags:
Categories: Musings

How Purchasing a Home Can Change your Life

I recently was fortunate enough to purchase my first home.  It has been an experience of a life time planning, finding, purchasing and moving into this new abode.  Although it was certainly life-changing, it definitely was not easy.  The amount of planning alone took quite a bit of time, research and effort.  One thing I learned was the importance of understanding how the finance portion of the process works.  Mortgage amortization, using a mortgage amortization calculator is an absolutely essential step.

An amortization calculator is a very important instrument for anyone that is planning to purchase a home. This tool can help one find the right loan to suit their needs. The calculator works in a very interesting way that makes loan calculations appear simple. Just within a few seconds of using it you will be able to know how much a loan would cost you together with interest. Calculating a mortgage loan can sometimes prove to be tough however, with the help of this vital tool, your work is made much easier.

Bottom line:  this has been an amazing experience and I hope that everyone could feel the sheer joy that I feel today!

 

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Uncategorized

Watch TV to fill the void in your life

Yes, that is the piece of advice I would give you when you need to fill in a vacuum in your life and for sure there are shows on TV today which will enlighten you, entertain you and enrich you. In fact, some shows on the TV are really good and you will be fill that void in your life. Well. it is definitely not the same thing as having a close companion or friend however given the times we live this is the best thing.

I would suggest that you go for good LCD TV or LED TV. The TV technology has improved over the years and that has meant that you will be able to get slim TV’s, bigger in size and better resolution at significantly lower prices. The new generation TV’s in fact are better in the size range of 32” or more. The most common LED TV’s are being sold are in the size of 50 inches and above.

For a better viewing experience I would recommend that you should have a separate TV viewing room. The TV should be wall mounted. Yes gone are the days when the TV stands were in vogue. The current trend is for articulating wall mounts. These can tilt or move horizontally. In fact, for TV such as 50 inches or more there are heavy duty TV wall mounts from companies such Cheetah, OmniMount which are good, durable and sturdy.

The entire setup with the TV mount would be such that it will give you a feel of the theater at home. Also make sure that room is quiet and cosy. It helps when you are viewing the TV all alone in the home. Get a nice couch or TV viewing reclining sofa as those would help you enjoy the TV all the more.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Uncategorized

Free Yourself From Apple with an iPad 2 Jailbreak

For iPad and iPad 2 owners, there is exciting and wonderful news regarding iPad software. This is the release and availability of the jailbreak program. This software promises to provide great features to your device and improve its performance. For those who are not in the know, this is a software that allows iPad users to gain access to the myriad of applications that is either downloaded thru iTunes at a certain price, or those applications which are not supported by Apple.

The Apple Company is somewhat strict with third party applications and the available applications for iPad 2 and its related products are somewhat expensive to download from iTunes. With iPad 2 jailbreak, the third party applications as well as other paid applications become available to iPad users for free.  Now, iPad users have full control of their applications as well as where they can access those applications. Downloading videos from YouTube, capturing and storing photos in iPad as well as file transfer to and from iPad is now possible, thanks to iPad 2 jailbreak.

Aside from the examples mentioned above, iPad 2 jailbreak allows for the optimal performance of the device. With the availability of Fakeclockup, the iPad 2 and its related device will run up to 10 times faster. This application will can now be downloaded with the help of this program.  No wifi connection? No problem! When iPad 2 jailbreak is installed in the device, it allows the device to tether on computers or laptops that has internet connection. What’s more, iPad 2 jailbreak allows users to customize not only the applications but also the designs and the springboard of the iPad device. The Jailbreak software also makes it easier to organize the device.

Installing this program is easy and hassle free. All one has to do is go to any website and follow the instructions on how to download and install jailbreak. Once installed, there is nothing to do but to enjoy the many benefits of the program. The program does not harm the device in any way, but installing and running the application still is at the device owner’s risk.

With the many features and rewards iPad 2 jailbreak has, along with the ease in use and installation, there is no doubt that many iPad owners will take advantage of the mentioned program.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: , ,
Categories: Musings

Heating Up Winter the Right Way

I like nothing better than a nice roaring fire in the winter but damp wood has always been a problem and starting a fire, in the past, used to take hours.

This of course was actually entirely my own fault as I have been storing the firewood I purchase incorrectly for years. Leaving it in stacked piles in the yard was easy, but not very good for the firewood, or my chances of lighting a fire with ease.

So this year I decided to do things the right way and go out and buy a firewood rack. It was not that I had not thought of doing this before, just that I never got around to it. It was not high on my list of exciting things to do!

In the end I purchased a firewood rack that is large enough to hold a ¼ cord of wood. That amount of wood is more than enough and the firewood rack itself only takes up about four feet of ground space whereas the stacks of logs used to take up half the backyard. Things look a lot neater out there now!

The biggest advantage of the new firewood rack is of course that it keeps my firewood in great shape. No more damp, moldy wood and lighting a fire at night is a lot easier. In fact I actually purchased two firewood racks in the end. Apart from the large one outside I now also have an attractive fireside model. This little firewood rack allows me to keep enough wood at hand for a few days, a real help as that reduces the number of trips I have to make out into the cold to fetch more wood. All in all great purchases – if only I had got around to making them sooner!

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

Wine and Your Life

Personally speaking, I never want to feel like I have missed out on anything.  Life is so short and so common most of the time that I look for quality experiences whenever possible.

For those reasons and a few others (namely, I like it!) I am a member of a wine of the month club.

My wine club sends me a series of wine bottles, each of them highly scored by major wine critics.  It’s the quality level that makes it interesting for me, since I can buy cheap wine more easily at my local grocery store on Tuesday night….if I wanted to do that.  Personally, I like to enjoy my life so I choose to drink better wine.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Uncategorized

So As It Turns Out Cholesterol Can Be Good

Cholesterol levels of the body are categorized assuming the amount combined with proteins. Cholesterol is wax like substance and cannot mix with the blood stream, for proper work it needs to combine with triglycerides and proteins to make lipoproteins. Lipoproteins then move in blood stream and collect debris and other substances from arteries and then take it back to liver for process. Liver remove such substances from lipoproteins and send them back to the body. The determination of good cholesterol level or bad cholesterol level is based on the amount of lipoprotein available in the blood stream.

Good cholesterol level:

HDL cholesterol is termed as good cholesterol levels. HDL stands for high-density lipoprotein. Cholesterol is a fatty substance and cannot mix into blood stream. Lipoprotein covers them as a shell and makes them move into blood stream. Without lipoprotein cholesterol, it self becomes separate from blood as oil separates from water. If the amount of lipoprotein is high, it means cholesterol and triglycerides particles are safe and hence they perform their work properly. That is why it is termed as good cholesterol level.

Normal level of HDL:

A good level of HDL means at the same time you are having a low level of LDL or low-density lipoprotein. For women, normal HDL level is 50mg/dL and above and LDL level of 100mg/dL or low, for men the numbers are slightly changed by 40mg/dL or above for HDL level and 100mg/dL or lower for LDL level of cholesterol.

Advantages of HDL cholesterol:

HDL level of cholesterol is very good and make you safe from many health risks.

  • Good cholesterol levels are minimizing the risk of heart diseases like heart attacks, coronary artery diseases.
  • Studies have shown that it is also beneficial in controlling brain damages and strokes.
  • The risk of Alzheimer’s disease is also reduced with HDL level of cholesterol.
  • It is also helping in lowering blood pressure.

How to increase HDL level:

High HDL level is very good for health so always try to increase your HDL level. You can easily do this by following certain steps.

  • By avoiding smoking you can increase your HDL level about 20%.
  • Increase the intake of apple as it not only increasing your HDL level but at the same time reducing your LDL level.
  • Increase in take of whole grains like oat meal, wheat grains and brown rice.
  • Avoid unsaturated fats in your diet.
  • Increase the habit of exercise.

In this way, you can increase the level of HDL.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

The Lady Foot Locker Difference

These days women are every bit as active in sports of all kinds as the guys are, which is why Lady Foot Locker stores were created.

There are now 415 Lady Foot Locker stores located all over the United States and they all offer the same wide range of products and great customer service as regular Foot Locker stores, just with a very definite feminine atmosphere.

Lady Foot Locker stores do not just carry athletic shoes though. The stores also offer a wide range of clothing – both athletic and casual wear and even high fashion street wear – as well as a great many sporting and lifestyle accessories, including things like wights, yoga mats and other gym must haves. Lady Foot Locker stores  even carry all kinds of DVD exercise programs and books, making it a great one stop shop for athletic ladies everywhere, whatever the sports they like to play.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags:
Categories: Uncategorized

Broaden Your TV Horizons

It sounds kind of corny but we are fully in the new age of media and the world is a whole lot smaller because of it.  The internet and TV have allowed us to glimpse into the lives of people across the planet.  Take it from me if you’re sitting looking through your bank statements bemoaning your lack of cash – just fire up a news broadcast from across the planet in the depths of Africa or a poor country in Asia.

Any old news broadcast will do as you’ll get an insight of the relative prosperity we still enjoy compared to other countries.  But wow it’s interesting seeing TV shows and News broadcast without a Western veneer applied to everything we watch in the US.

For instance I used to be amazed that Turkish TV would routinely film the corpses in any murder or disaster – something normally most New shows would avoid.  Of course the language can be a barrier but it’s still fascinating just by watching the images.

So how can you access all these News channels across the globe – well it may not surprise you to hear it’s the internet again.  You can watch hundreds of News channels online, but you’ll need a couple of tools.  The problem is that most National Broadcasters and private companies restrict access to the country they are broadcast from.  So you’ll have to hide your location to watch them.  For example in order to access IPlayer abroad you’ll need to use a proxy or VPN that’s based in the UK.

There’s loads of these services but to really expand your access you’ll need to find the ones with the most servers globally.  That means when you want to watch M6 Replay from Paris you connect to your French proxy, want Australian news then use the Sydney VPN.  Many companies supply connections in a multitude of locations, some stick to US and UK but there are others with servers in  the most surprising locations.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: , , ,
Categories: Musings

My Search For a Good Vacuum Cleaner

I need to purchase a new vacuum cleaner, and as such I have been doing quite a bit of research lately.  I’ve read review after review on countless sites and have come to a conclusion – there are too many different vacuum models for sale.   Really, does Bissell need to have over 40 different models currently for sale?  Does Hoover need over 30 different ones?  Man, when my wife asked me to sit down and figure out which was the best vacuum for our needs I thought it would be a simple one or two hour task.  Instead, I’ve spent the last week diving into the world of vacuums and surprisingly have found some interesting things I thought I would share.

First of all, hardly any manufacturers provide the most important information about their vacuums.  You would think that finding something on how powerful a vacuum is would be easy, as there are two different ways to measure suction power (CFM for airflow, and Air-watts for suction power).  I’m not going to dive into the details on why these are important and which one is better.  However, I will ask – why don’t any of the lower end vacuums have this information provided on the box so I can make a wise decision?  Honestly, I even called the manufacturers and spoke with their engineers and they couldn’t tell me.

So what did I learn from this?  That lower-end, less expensive vacuums are cheaper for a reason – they most likely produce less airflow and suction (i.e. cleaning power).  All the high end vacuum makers give this information:  Dyson provides Air-watts, Sebo and Miele provide CFM.  Why do they provide this?  Because they know they are better and it will help them sell.

Bottom Line:

When it comes to buying a vacuum, make sure you find a good vacuum cleaner review to base your decision on.  A good starting point – see if it provides either Airwatt or CFM numbers, because if it does then you know the reviewer did their research and knows what they are talking about.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags:
Categories: Musings

What is the meaning of life without love?

According to an old US President Thomas Jefferson: “the price of liberty is eternal vigilance” and as how I tend to interpret this is that in order to cherish and protect our loved ones, we need to invest time and energy in it. Old Thomas Jefferson probably had a different interpretation, I actually know the real interpretation, but that isn’t important at the moment. What is important to find the loved one in life, wouldn’t you agree with me?

As a student math I realize that time is of the utmost essence to success in my studies as studying one day more or less can mean the difference in either passing or failing a course that was given during past semester. Life is beautiful and we should not forget this important fact. So, why should I also invest time in love as I have done on online dating sites such as gratis datingsites, which I really liked to visit and meet all those beautiful ladies which for some strange reason I am not able to meet during my math classes. Am I surprised? No, absolutely not as girls that study mathematics are very scarce, so they tend to be popular with the guys as we have at least 20 times as many guys as we have girls. So I prefer taking my chances online as the odds are much better. I believe it also helps that I am fluent in the French language of love as I love mesmerizing girls with how I can read love poems to them in a serenade style in French. Okay, it helps that I am from France.

Well, enough philosophizing about life and love for today. I hope you liked my post and will come back more often and read my newer ramblings about other things in life or math.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

Sitting next to somebody else in class: how can we analyze this behavior mathematically?

I think I could start crunching some numbers in Mathlab (if you are enrolled in a technical study), Wolfram Mathematica (only viable for us Math Uber Geeks) or in Excel for you commoners reading my blog, which I have done with my classmates in class this morning and how we could unravel this human hording behavior. To start with this question: have you ever wondered this happening and see some patterns? I always tend to sit next to the love of my life: my Dell AlienWare gaming laptop, no just kidding, But I did had to take a personal loan to buy this fancy hardware while studying in Amsterdam. At the bank in Holland they called it an persoonlijke lening which actually resembles how we call it; a personal loan. With this loan I could choose to pay an of course mathematically chosen interest rate calculating if could pay it and the possibility of me repaying the bank.

Back to the question I have raised: how do we calculate this? I think it has less to do with pure theoretical mathematics in the form of game theory but more a combination of behavioural mathematics in which we in the same way as we calculate loans give the person some points based on their personal appearance, history and way of life. I am quite interested in the opinion of you learned readers, please share your opinion here and I will definitely reply as I really love philosophize about life. I will await your reactions with much joy!

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

Changing My Life One Step At A Time

Over the years I have been trying to change my life one step at a time, some steps are quicker than others as well as being far easier. I needed to set myself up with the right frame of mind to achieve the goals I wanted to reach. The first thing for me was to look at what I was currently doing in my life that was a waste of my time or detrimental to my health and well-being.

One thing I needed to change (the easy step) was to be more active, I don’t mean going to the gym and working out as if I was training for a marathon, I mean simple things like going out for a walk everyday for half an hour, going for a swim once a week. Nothing too major but something to start me off, I am sick of days passing me by and i haven’t so much as left the house!

The next thing was to control what I take into my body (this is the hard step). I decided to not only watch my diet and cut back on alcohol but also to try and quit my 20-a-day smoking habit, which I have discussed before. This was easier than I had actually imagined after hearing horror stories about going cold turkey and chewing nicotine gum. I found a website that introduced me to a thing called the e cigarette, I used the Green Smoke discount code they supplied and have never looked back, well on my way to quitting nicotine for good. I actually found it easier to stop smoking than it was to clean up my diet though, I am not massively overweight but I do love food, takeaways in particular. With a bit of self control though this is being brought under control!

Overall by addressing all these things I have managed to get my other goals set out in a fashion that I know will be easy to achieve. Things are looking good.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags:
Categories: Musings

Ways to Control Your Blood Pressure

It is said that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. There are numerous ways to keep your circulatory system healthy and reduce your chances of having high blood pressure or hypertension (see this blood pressure chart). But if you already have the condition, fret not because there are certain things which you may do to keep it under control and prevent complications.

Quit smoking if you’re a smoker. Smoking can wreak havoc to the health as it can increase one’s chances of having emphysema, chronic bronchitis, certain cancer types, peripheral vascular disease, stroke and heart attack. Of course it can also cause hypertension, or worsen it if you already have such. Many people will find it hard to go cold turkey, so the best approach is to gradually reduce the number of sticks consumed weekly.

Lose weight if you carry excess pounds as this is a great way to control this dreaded health condition. One way of knowing if you’re overweight is by getting your body mass index or BMI. A result of 18.5 to 24.9 means you have a desirable body weight. But in case you get more than that, you need to try to lose some weight for your own good.

Exercising is a great way to help you lose weight and at the same time strengthen your lungs and your heart. The best types of exercises to stick to are those cardiovascular ones. There really is no need to hit the gym as you can simply do some walking, bicycling, swimming and dancing. Do at least 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercises not less than 5 times a week to be effective. It’s possible to divide your routines into shorter periods daily and still enjoy the benefits.

It’s important to mind what you put in your mouth. Have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as they’re loaded with fiber which can help reduce your bad cholesterol levels. A lot of them are also loaded with antioxidants as they can help combat hypertension. Consume foods that are rich in good fats such as walnuts, avocados, tofu, soymilk, salmon, tuna and sardines.

While there are foods you should include in your diet, there are also those which you have to limit. Salt is something that can worsen hypertension as it pulls water into the bloodstream. It’s not advisable to restrict salt in your diet as it’s needed by the cells. However, you should try to limit your daily intake of it to 2.4 grams, which is about just a teaspoon.

Make sure you read food packaging labels when doing your grocery shopping. Canned and processed foods are often loaded with salt, so be careful what you place in your shopping cart. If you can’t avoid having fast food, pick your orders wisely and stick to items that have low sodium contents for the sake of your health.

In case you can’t give up drinking alcohol all together, it pays to limit your regular intake of it. For men, it’s recommended to limit themselves to a couple of 12 oz servings of beer or 5 oz servings of wine. Women should have no more than a serving of alcohol per day. Also, limit intake of caffeinated beverages, such as coffee, as it can cause your blood pressure to spike.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

The Internet Has Empowered Stock Investors

Every young investor has to go through the learning steps of figuring out what the stock market is all about. That means they have to get familiar with the risks that come with buying stocks and learn how they are going to pick the stocks that are right for them. They have to decide upon a goal for their money such as whether they are looking for quick gains or long term profits.

One thing that all stock investors need to be able to do is to research the companies they are interested in. They need access to information to be able to make informed choices. Before the Internet, an investor had to rely on their stock brokers for that data and sometimes had to pay a lot of money for it. Full service brokers that provide extensive stock analysis are still around today but fewer people have to use them because of the power of the Internet.

There is no doubt that the Internet has its pluses as well as its minuses. The good and the bad are always present but one thing is for sure: it is great for the inexpensive dissemination of information. The Internet gives everyday people all over the world access to things that they never had access to before.

Every regular Joe can now get his hands on all sorts of data, often for free, that will help him make more informed stock picking decisions. It is the same kind of information that only the “pros” used to have access to and undoubtedly, that is a good thing. It is often said that information is power and that is most definitely true with the stock market and being able to get up to date statistics and analysis about almost any company you are looking to invest in.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: ,
Categories: Musings

My Thoughts On The Electronic Cigarette

Being a long time smoker I’ve tried to quit nicotine unsuccessfully a number of times. Recently I came across a product which has really helped me kick the habit and I thought I might talk about it here so that anyone else looking to get off nicotine might benefit.

A friend of mine who runs the web site ecigaretteshop.com introduced me a tobacco replacement product called the electronic cigarette. It’s a nicotine delivery system which gives the smoker a dose of nicotine without many of the poisons you would find in tobacco. It sounds like something which is too good to be true, but it’s actually working out for me.

There are a large number of e cigarettes on the Internet these days so it’s obviously an industry which is becoming very popular, and since getting my starter kit I’ve started to read all about the thousands of people have been using them to avoid tobacco. Even though these products are not allowed to be sold as stop smoking devices they do seem to be helping many people to get off tobacco without too much effort.

As it’s quite a new product, and thanks to the fact most of the brands as designed and manufactured in China, you have to be careful that you buy one which is of a good quality if you want to be happy using it instead of your usual cigarettes. E cigarette review web sites are the best place to find out all the latest news about which of the products are worth spending your money on. Do plenty of research and you will find it’s not too difficult to find one which is fun to use, and gives you the nicotine you usually miss when you aren’t smoking.

The only problem with the ecig which I have noticed so far is that you end up addicted to these rather than your old tobacco products. This isn’t such a huge concern over the short term as they are cheaper than the real thing and probably a lot less harmful to your health thanks to the lack of carbon monoxide and tar in the vapor they produce.

Over the long term I’m going to try and cut even the e cigarette out of my life though as I’m sure they aren’t exactly doing my health any good. Inhaling the vapor might not kill me as quickly as tobacco smoke, but it will probably be better if the only thing I’m breathing in throughout my day is the clean sea air of my home town.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

Internet Research – Buying Glass Door Refrigerators and Other Appliances

The internet is a seemingly endless source of information for potential appliance buyers.  Whether you be seeking reviews of a glass door refrigerator, a chest freezer, a dishwasher or a washing machine; there are many great sites packed with useful information.

One site I found particularly useful was the Fridge Freezer site. It contains numerous articles of particular value to anyone shopping for an appliance for their home.  When I was looking for a glass door refrigerator for my wife’s delicatessen, I found their write up on the available offerings very useful.

They presented concise information on the possible uses of these refrigeration appliances, and were very helpful to me in making my purchase decision.  The Frigidaire glass front refrigerator we ended up with was just what the doctor ordered, any my wife has found it to be perfect for her business’s needs.

Of course, there are many other appliances that can be shopped for online.  I’ve also taken advantage of online resources to find quality white goods for my home.  When my clothes dryer went on the fritz, I was able to study reviews for them online, and ended up getting a great quality dryer from Sears based on what I read.

My next major kitchen appliance will be a replacement oven.  My current model – an ancient GE model – has an annoying tendency to overheat, which has disastrous consequences for meal attempts.  Internet research indicates this is a common problem with these units.  I will be sure to choose a replacement brand that has a more reliable reputation, in hopes of avoiding this type of problem in the future.

No matter whether you are researching a purchase for home or business, you should easily be able to locate one or more useful resources online that will assist you in making a wise purchase.  Empower yourself with knowledge before committing to a product, and save yourself many hassles down the road.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

Fact You Should Know About High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure levels need to be kept at an ideal level in order to enjoy better health. This is because high blood pressure can lead to serious health conditions such as heart failure, stroke, coronary heart disease, kidney failure and other health complications.

Blood-pressure

Blood pressure refers to the force used for pushing blood against the artery walls and if this stays at high levels all the time, it damages the body in numerous ways. Though there are several medications for high blood pressure, one of the most reliable options is Cordyceps. People suffering from high blood pressure are advised to seek treatment in advance to ensure that the condition is kept under check.

Blood Pressure Changes

Blood pressure does not remain at the same level at all times. For instance, when you sleep it gets lower and rises whenever you wake up. In addition to this, it can also go up when you get excited, active or nervous. This is okay as long as it does not go above the recommended level. When this occurs, it means that diastolic and systolic numbers are not within the same level and as such, you might not be within the ideal blood pressure level. It is for this reason that it is considered ideal to seek medical help when the need arises in order to ensure that you don’t suffer from high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is a condition that rises as you advance in age. While this is the case, there are several ways through which it can be brought under control. This is by adhering to a healthy lifestyle, following a treatment plan and seeking the appropriate medical care.

Treatment of High Blood Pressure

There are different types of treatments used for patients suffering from high blood pressure and some of these are as highlighted below.

  • Alpha beta blockers
  • Alpha blockers
  • Vasodilators
  • ACE inhibitors
  • Diuretics
  • Alpha blockers
  • Angiotensin Antagonists
  • Cordyceps

When seeking high blood pressure treatment, it is advisable to settle with one that meets your needs as an individual and delivers the best results. This can be done with ease by consulting with your doctor in advance in order to ensure you get the most out of the high blood pressure medication.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

Sleep Apnea Can Be A Life Threatening Condition

Did you know that sleep apnea can be a deadly life threatening condition?  Most people are familiar with the fact that one affect of sleep apnea is loud and obnoxious snoring; however most don’t understand why it causes snoring and how it can be deadly.  The snoring is an affect of the airway collapsing in on itself while sleeping, which causes you to stop breathing, and the air trying to push through creates the snore.  But people have actually died because they stop breathing so much during the night due to severe cases of sleep apnea.  If you are suffering from this condition getting solid treatment should be one of your top priorities.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: ,
Categories: Musings

Credit Card Debt Is A Financial Death Sentence

Credit card debt has been the cause of financial ruin for many people here in the USA.  The interest gauging these credit card companies engage in can be likened to loan sharking.  The majority of people are unaware that they will be trapped in this debt situation for decades if they do what the creditors want and that is pay the monthly minimum payments.  If you are really suffering from a bad debt situation then getting the proper debt relief will be extremely important to getting back on track financially and taking your family out of a very perilous situation.  The more time you waste the more pressing this matter will become.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: ,
Categories: Musings

Fill The Void By Getting A Hobby

I agree we shouldn’t sit around in a ‘void’. It is particularly difficult to occupy oneself just after retirement: there is no need to get up at a certain time, to travel to work; then, at the end of the day, to return home and relax with your family. So I got myself a hobby: I research my family history, including the family coat of arms, and the origins of may name.

The McDonald Clan originated in the ancient Scottish kingdom of Dalrida and what today is the area known as Kintyre. In the 13th century the Clan received the title Lord of the Isles, the Isles being the islands off the coast of Scotland.

The ancient Scots had a reputation of not getting on with each other and the McDonald Clan’s notorious rivals were the Campbells. In the 17th century the Campbells supported the union of the English and Scottish crowns whereas the McDonalds remained loyal to the deposed Stewart king, James VII. Nearly one hundred years of squabbling culminated in the Glencoe massacre of 1692 when 37 McDonalds were killed in their sleep by the Campbells.

A colourful history and a pleasure to spend many hours researching my family’s history.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

Staying at Bang Niang Beach

I recently returned from a short holiday to Thailand. I decided to go in February rather than in March, as I had originally planned, as I was worried there might be a repeat of the freak storms that ravaged the country like in the previous March (2012) that caused mass flooding in the country. I had been to Thailand twice before. The previous times I had stayed in Koh Samui and Koh Tao. This time I wanted to try the other coast, the Andaman Sea side.

I decided to stay in Khao Lak for a few days and then move down to an eco resort in Bor Sean near Phang-Nga Bay. I chose Bang Niang beach in Khao Lak. It’s a few kilometers north of the main beach of Nang Tong. I’ve never liked the most popular beaches in Thailand as they attract too many crowds and tend to have hundreds of sunloungers lined up along the beach.

I wasn’t disappointed with Bang Niang. It was a quiet, idyllic beach. The resorts were well spread out along the beach and so there was plenty of room to get away from the crowds and enjoy the beauty of nature. The beach was a copper color which was different from the white sand on the Gulf of Thailand beaches. I also noticed there was a much bigger tidal difference than I had encountered in Koh Samui or Koh Tao.

I stayed in a?fairly nice hotel called Furama Khao Lak Resort. It was in a hotel block. My room had air-con, TV, hot water etc. and only cost $30 a night. The food in the resort restaurant was expensive but I found plenty of cheap local places to eat back from the beach.

My stay at Bang Niang beach was pleasant without being particularly memorable. Bor Saen lake was more spectacular as was the floating island of Koh Panyi.

Nevertheless, I really liked Phang-Nga province. It has a lot to offer and is neither over-run with older package tourists nor young party monsters.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags:
Categories: Musings

The Art of the Feng Shui Universe

Feng shui is a ancient arts that can be mastered in the west. But because of a few blips of cultural incongruence, it becomes more difficult. There are hundreds of factors that can impact the final Chi that surrounds your living space. The most important aspect of all is the orientation of the bedroom. The head side of the bed must be against a wall, in the center of that wall. It must also be facing east, to meet this sun. These properties are the most difficult to deal with if they are not a part of your apartments at the moment. These are important things to remember when searching for new properties to rent. It will alleviate much tension simply by selecting a proper facing bedroom.

Beyond the bedroom orientation, there are also many design choices that can sabotage proper feng shui. The most critical of which is floor coverings. Rugs and/or carpeting are not always the best thing for your chi. Sometimes cold feet allow you to feel more acutely with them. It has always been my believe that bare feet on cold wood or stone floors is the purest connection to our ancient history. As cave dwellers we toughened feet over years of abuse, barrens or wardens with a comfortable existence in those weather defeat. But today same pampered peds see nothing of the same utility. I think it’s a shame and we should get back to our roots.

Art in the bedroom should be simple and muted. the kind of thing found in a spa. Impressionistic or pointillism. Modern art like cubism is a bit to noisy for a bedrooms proper feng shui. Also, sculpture is a no no, because it takes up too much negative space. It would compromise the overall aesthetic of the room. the most important room in the house, the bedroom.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: , , ,
Categories: Musings

I Love the USA but Not the TV

I was a bit worried about moving to live in the USA for a year with my work.  There was no particular reason, just a few nagging doubts and potentially unfounded fears.  In fact many of them were based on half truths from friends and the media and turned out to be not true.  One of my worries was that I’d have to drive everywhere – I really hate  driving and the idea of being chained to my car all the time was horrible.  This turned out not to be a problem, sure the Americans definitely use their cars more than in Europe – if you pick your place to live carefully it doesn’t need to be the case.

Moving on my next worry was putting on two stone with American style food and portions – both of which I love.  I did wonder about my will power and ability to say no to some of these delights.  However a brief stroll around a local shopping mall and seeing some people who could obviously not say ’no’ to food reinforced my will power.  Just about everything else has been wonderful, people have been friendly, the countryside is amazing and my lifestyle here is great. There’s only one thing that I really do miss!  

It might sound silly but the one thing I really would like to do is watch UK TV - it’s the one thing I really am missing.  Everything from my favorite soaps, UK sport and the news from the BBC.  Don’t get me wrong there are some great US shows, but the constant advertising means it’s difficult to enjoy any of them.   I suggest the average US citizen records all their shows and blasts passed the adverts – but I don’t have aa set up to do this yet. I am sure I can solve this little trivial problem though and make my stay in the good, old USA a great one.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags:
Categories: Musings

Too many templates on the internet?

Most of you are new to be able to internet marketing and also setting up a website could be a real prevent with your advancement. This kind of frequently holds folks again coming from reaching highest results because while you need not possess a website to perform internet marketing, you should have better results should you choose. You will find there’s huge studying contour to become familiar with website building computer software. Learning design, working with photos as well as visuals and creating effective submissions are time consuming whilst still being is probably not interesting or perhaps efficient in case you are inexperienced.

As we all know that internet offers websites that provide web design templates. As you go them over, you will see that you’ll find information common to every one of them. Your document offers the labels involving all parties along with their handles. If you aren’t knowledgeable at producing successful revenue copy or even effective instructional articles then you would be wise to search for internet marketing web templates that has pre filled. You will find templates which may have screened income changing articles on them marketing numerous internet marketing products. You can nevertheless pick a design and color that you prefer or perhaps place your own individualized header graphic and images on the website.

Internet marketing website templates help save the need to discover how to create a nice-looking design and how to current photographs suited for web present. Usually all that you would have to perform is actually adding your own personal internet marketer backlinks. The time and cash you can save utilizing internet marketing website templates can be time and funds that can be invested in obtaining precise traffic in your site making use of free of charge marketing strategies as well as pay for traffic.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags:
Categories: Uncategorized

I Love My Cats!

I am lucky enough to own two wonderful cats, a beautiful tabby called Shelly and a British shorthair named Tommy.  They have been together since they were kittens and absolutely adore one another.  I try and make their lives as stimulated as possible and they love to roam in my large garden amongst all the trees and bushes.  One of their favourite perches is on top of the garden shed where they can survey their whole territory from a raised position.  They spend many a warm summers day up there as it is a perfect sun trap.  It affords them plenty of ’safety’ and allows them to get a bit of heat on their fur which they absolutely adore.

As well as exploring the outdoors, they also have plenty of nooks and cranies to hide in inside of our home.  I have also bought them a cat tree that has different heights of perch and a little room they can nap in.  I was reading recently that cats love a bit of privacy to do their business so I visited http://catlitterboxfurniture.net and bought them a litter tray hider which keeps both them and their dirty litter tray out of view.  This is especially helpful when I have guests around as they don’t get to smell those horrible cat smells.  This, I have found is one of the only downfalls of having a pet cat.  Needless to say, I love so many other factors of having cats in the family, their nasty smells do not really matter one iota!

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

Start By Looking After Yourself

Have you ever thought about things you want to do and places you want to see? Or even thought to yourself how you are going to make more of an effort to spend time with family and friends? I’m sure we all have these thoughts but how many actually act on them? Months or even years pass by and we still haven’t acted on he very things we promised ourselves we must do. This is why I have set myself goals on what I want to accomplish this year. The first is to concentrate on myself, improving my health and fitness and become more active, this also includes stopping smoking. To do this I am using an alternative so I don’t need to go cold turkey! I used this Safe Cig coupon to buy my e cigarettes and I plan to have quit nicotine completely within 6 months.

Once I feel better physically this is when I will plan to complete the rest of my goals, these include traveling to South America, reaching the base camp of Everest and diving with Great White sharks. These are pretty extravagant and I do also have some more ’normal’ things I want to do but they are ultimately the goals that will drive me on to do other things in the mean time. The main thing is that I am making a start and have my goals written down ready to be crossed off, this is also a list I am constantly adding to, after-all what we all need things to work towards an look after.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: No tags
Categories: Musings

Retro Refrigeration Offers Cool Looks

 

It’s a common mistake among consumers to refer to vintage refrigerators as “outdated” or “old-fashioned” in terms of design and technical functions.  But when you think about it, you will realize that vintage refrigerator designs are far more expensive than ordinary, mass-marketed models of refrigerators available today. 

 

I suspect this is because people see their extraordinary and impressive exterior design as one of a kind and thus priceless.  However, while attractive vintage fridge also impressive is that they can still provide you a great refrigeration cycle for all your food preservation needs.

 

I suspect you will not have any problems at all in integrating a vintage refrigerator into any kitchen that has a predominantly classic design.  In terms of design, you will not see anything else quite like this.  They might not be as dazzling as a modern fridge, but their bold colors look really good to me!

 

Even if most vintage fridges are second hand refrigerators, if they are properly restored they can transform your kitchen into an extraordinary place.  There are many appliance centers offering services like fridge restoration, so if you have a vintage fridge in your home you may want to haul it away and have it done over.

 

If you are looking for a beautiful and attractively designed fridge to suit the traditional architectural scheme of your homes kitchen, then you will find the vintage refrigerator a great choice.

 

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags:
Categories: Musings

Finding a Wine Gift for My Mother in Law

If I were to ask who who the hardest member of your family to buy for was every Christmas, who would you say?

Some might say their significant other (wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, whatever) while those of us whom are married have an easy choice.  Simply put, the hardest person to buy for is your mother in law or father in law, in the event you become responsible for their gift.

I try to avoid that situation at all costs, but my wife is 8 months pregnant so a day fighting the crowds at the mall just isn’t going to happen.

This year, I didn’t fight the mall crowds either.  Luckily, I have a great wine store downstairs from my office so I decided on giving my mother in law a wine gift as her main Christmas present.  Since she spent a couple of summers in France when she was younger, I had the manager track down a few wines from the regions in which she lived.

As far as price, it wasn’t so great for our budget, but it was a gift that she greatly appreciated.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags:
Categories: Musings

Insulation Fills the Void

The void is emptiness, it is absence. It is a powerful metaphor for a bleak psychological state where a person is devoid of joy. For the Hindus and Buddhists the void is freedom from attachment which means an escape from the circle of life involving infinite deaths and rebirths. It is also possible to define a void as a hole or space. For a home owner holes and spaces can lead to higher heating and cooling bills. This is where insulation is useful.

There are several ways you can insulate your home. You can do something as simple as hang curtains or bamboo blinds in a room to improve insulation. Another simple tip is to use draught excluders under doors. This again traps warm or cool air in a room.

More expensive is to fill the void in the roof space with insulation. The most environmentally friendly insulating materials are fiberglass or recycled cotton batts. This action can typically reduce heating bills by as much as 15%.

Another action to reduce both heating and cooling bills is to install uPVC windows with double glazing. This curiously works by creating a gap between the windows that traps air. It is this trapped air that works as an insulating barrier. When considering converting to uPVC windows it is important to shop around for a good price. Don’t be bullied by an uPVC window salesperson into signing on the dotted line until you are certain it is the best deal for you.

Finally, another good idea is to insulate your floor. The most green way to do this is to buy cork underlay. Cork contains millions of air pockets that help to trap heat in a room. Cork is a renewable resource that is why it is considered environmentally friendly.

So until you discover the meaning of life why not make your home more comfortable and more energy efficient by using various methods of insulation.

 

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: ,
Categories: Musings

Best Value Places in Thailand

In the 1970s and 1980s Thailand was a relatively exotic location for most Europeans, Australians and North Americans. In those days anyone ‘brave’ enough to come to the land of smiles was guaranteed to find many bargains and a population that was more than happy to give great service at discount prices. In the Twenty-first century things are very different. Thailand is now one of the most visited countries in the world, especially for package tourists and high-end tourists.

Due to this popularity Thailand has developed rapidly. Places like Phuket, Khao Lak and Koh Samui are unrecognizable to what they were 20 years ago. They are now full of 5 and 4 star hotels and resorts that charge as much (or sometimes more) than places in the developed world. Thailand has learned the economic benefits of placing a high premium on its golden sand beaches, pristine nature and idyllic settings.

For young people on a tight budget or for those looking for the ‘real’ Thailand all is not lost. Even in the most tourist spots it is often possible to turn up and hunt around and find a cheap room. In most cities there are plenty of cheap restaurants, and public transport in Thailand remains cheap.

Phuket and Koh Samui were once idyllic places with tropical beaches that reminded one of heaven. That has mostly gone thanks to over development. Not to worry because Thailand has literally thousands of great beaches, most of which see very few tourists. The island of Koh Tao, for example, has thousands of people visiting each year  to learn how to scuba dive. Most of these tourists stay on Siaree Beach or Chalok Baan Kao. Birds of a feather flock together. This means that other great beaches on Koh Tao such as Mango Bay, Taa Sak and Tanote Bay see few people. It is still possible to find a beach front bungalow with fan and toilet for as little as $13 a night.

Another island worth checking out is Koh Phayam. It is off the Anadaman Coast near Ranong and is destined to be another 5 star destination, but at the moment remains an obscure island frequented by hippies.

Finding such places makes Thailand not only cheaper but also more interesting. You are more likely to encounter Thais who are interested in you and not just your money.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: , , , ,
Categories: Musings

Keeping a Cash Diary

I have tried budgeting before but I was constantly over budget one way or another. So much so I needed to apply for an IVA.  What is an IVA? It is a program to reduce your debt and eliminate creditor phone calls. That is how bad I was at budgeting.

One thing that I found to help myself was keeping an electronic diary.  Not so much of the “Dear Diary” daily event diary, but a step by step coverage of where my money went. It was not long before I realized where all my money was going. It was constant $5 here and $15 there I was needlessly spending every day or week.

It added up so quickly. No wonder why I was unable to keep my budget in check. But thankfully with the IVA I was able to reduce my debt and stop needless spending to work on becoming debt free.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: , ,
Categories: Musings

Fill the Void with an After Party

After parties in Koh Phangan

It is wrong to assume that all knowledge or wisdom comes from books or internet sites. There are a multitude of ways to learn – more now than ever before. You can learn much about the world and yourself from traveling; from talking to people; from watching movies and documentaries; from observing animal behavior; and even from partying. It is a mistake to think that all worth while information must come from laborious effort. Sometimes it can come from fun. Of cause, as the Buddha said – everything in moderation.

Thus, I would like to spend a few words writing about after parties in Koh Phangan. It is the Thai island that has become famous for its Full Moon Party that attracts 20,000 plus people every month to celebrate the moon’s completion. It is a hectic affair spread out over a long beach. I went and discovered that many of the people there cared nothing for Thailand, dance music or the beauty of the natural surroundings. At times during the night I felt surrounded by youths spilling up the contents of their stomachs and polluting the beautiful beach and sea.

I persevered with the party until the sun came up over the sea. This was a spectacular moment. Someone then suggested going to the Backyard Party in Haad Rin Nai. I thought why not?

The after party was much better. Those who had paced themselves or who had only come for the Backyard Party were a much better group of people. Far more dignified in their cups, more respectful of Thailand and more eco-friendly. The music was a lot better as well. The techno breaks just seemed to get more dramatic as the morning rolled on. I ended up chatting to a girl at around noon. We instantly bonded, and still today, 2 years later we are in touch.

My experience of the Full Moon Party and the after party taught me not to give on an event just because my initial reactions were negative. Often good things happen unexpectedly, as do the the deepest relationships.

Read full article |Leave a comment
Tags: , ,
Categories: Uncategorized