Archive for: ‘February 2012’

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.

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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It’s a common mistake among consumers to refer to vintage refrigerators as “outdated” or “old-fashioned” in terms of design and technical functions.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.

 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

 

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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.

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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/

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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