And the Finale!

I have absolutely no idea how to read music. I look at the sheet and know that the notes and lines mean something but am bemused.

I can draw the little squiggly thing at the start but am not sure totally what it means!

People who read music leave me in awe. My partner sat down on a piano one day and unbeknown to me started reading sheet music and playing. I was jealous but amazed.

I did learn a little at school and do wish that I had continued so that I could play an instrument and Making Music was a normal thing for me.

Make Music, Inc. is a world leader in software and systems for musicians and educators. They offer a great suite of products including Finale notation software and SmartMusic (a world best seller), which is a complete music practice system and come with the world's largest interactive accompaniment library.

A pretty impressive solution for people who want to be teach or produce music.

Their cheapest product is only $99.95 and is perfect for the individual singer / songwriter as well as teachers, band leaders and many others. The software lets you record instruments right into it or use your keyboard or the mouse to place notes and have them played back to you with human sounding quality.

Splendor

Harvey Peker was a man with issues. He worked a boring day job as a files admin in a hospitaland hated pretty much everyone.

So what did he do? He decided to start making comics about everyday boring life. Strangely he also could not draw so he started by scribbling his comics in his crappy way.

Eventually he got noticed and guest artists started drawimg for him.

The comics are hilarious and a film made about him which is part documentary and part acted film is great.

This article on wikipedia gives a detailed account of the whole saga.

Vehicles for handicapped peoples

Does anyone remember in the 1980's when handicapped people were given horrible light and bright blue cars to drive around? They did not have much choice in the matter as these were one of the only wheelchair accessible vehicles readily available. I am not sure if this was something only in the UK but my point is that things have moved on dramatically.

Now you can an almost full range of vehicles tailored for wheelchair use meaning that handicap people no longer have to drive around in stupid vehicles around, feeling awkward or embarrassed. I think this is an important step.

Mobility Works have dealerships throughout the US. They deal in new handicap vans, used handicap vans, and used handicap conversion minivans and more. Modeled on the traditional dealership format they offer a professional and comfortable surrounding in which to purchase a wheelchair friendly vehicle.

Their website is simple but offers an advanced search so you can see the range of vehicles and contact them before traveling all the way to the dealership. Good quality images are available of all the vehicle types and you can also sign up for an industry news newsletter.

It's good to see companies offering such a service in a normal environment without the need to highlight disability as a bad thing.

Bad blood

This is the brand new video for Bad Blood, the latest offering from Supergrass. Who I must add are one of my favorite bands.

The cool thing I found about this video was the way they managed to convincingly make the camera follow the movements of certain objects, such as the pendulum and the drum peddle.

As usual this new song does not sound much like Supergrass, apart from the trademark voice, but the style is different and my verdict is a thumbs up.

Blinding

I remember as a child we had a roller blind in our kitchen. I used to get up on the counter top and pull the strings back and forth watching it roll up and down and also seeing how fast i could make it release and come down. It was a pretty poorly made roller blind though and it often used to break and come down from it's mount so I would have to reach up and get it to fit back into it's plastic slots.

I had one of these blinds, and it was similarly poorly made, in one of my houses that I stayed in as an adult. Admittedly I still used to see how fast I could make it come down!

I have always liked the nice wooden blinds with thin slats. As you turn the litle metal handle then swivel and let the light in as desired. A very cool invention.

I am sure I could find just what I would want at Just Blinds. They have a very large range including aluminum blinds, wood blinds and fabric blinds in various shapes, sizes and styles.

Their website is very straightforward with easy on the eye colors and nice clean imagery. The contact phone number and when you will be able to speak to a member of staff is displayed in view at the top of the page, always an important and good thing in my view.

As they deliver your blinds and they are self install you will have to measure and install them but this is not a problem as they supply videos for each type of blind. Both for measuring and installing.

They also have a live chat, quick online quote and say that they are devoted to genuinely offering hugely discounted prices.

So if you need some blinds, check them out.

The gym, again

Ok so yesterday I went to the gym again.

I am trying to get to the gym 3 times a week normally with a rest in between but the week worked out in a way that I had to go yesterday.

I planned to concentrate on doing a 3mile run again without the emphasis on time, just on getting it done.
I did not really want to worry about the weights side of things too much.

After a 7min light bike warm up I made sure that stretches for most muscles were done and then made my way over to the treadmill.

I put it on manual and just for the hell of it started it quite fast. I ended up doing the 3miles in 21:30 minutes, meaning I ran at 7:10 per mile. Pretty good I though!

My record in the summer was around 20:30 and it has excited me that I am heading back to the same speeds so quickly. I would love to take it sub 20:00 but we will see.

Hopefully I can eventually make my run 4 miles all at around 7mins each.

Even after the run, as I felt OK, I went and did enough weights to make me ache like hell today. All in all it was a good workout leaving me feeling very satisfied.

Loans for peope with bad credit: Complete Loan Source

Complete Loan Source are a company specializing in Loans for Bad Credit.

They offer a large range of loans including payday, cash advance, personal and bad credit loans to suit many needs.

They also offer Car Loans. This is something I have never had to use but a few friends of mine have been in the situation where they have been stuck with bad credit but would like to borrow money to get a new car. Now as long as you are in a steady job and are realistic with your loan deals then borrowing for a car could be a good thing. A friend of mine went crazy and purchased a car way above his means. He paid for it when he sold it and was left with huge debt. So just be realistic and the loan will be perfect.

Complete Loan Source have an easy to understand website. It's not the most fancy site I have seen but it does have everything you need including online applications, detailed explanations and a contact at easy reach.

They are definitely worth some more research if you are in need of a loan.

Pringles, once you pop.... yeah you know.

Last night whilst watching a few more episodes of Lost I decided I was a little peckish.

I had nothing at home as I don't usually buy snacks so I got my winter clothes on, tied my boots up tight and braved my way to the corner store.

Looking through the array of chocolates, cookies and crips I saw the dreaded Pringles section.

I don't buy Pringles often as I know what happens but last night I did. I got the reduced far red pack. The regular salted flavour.

As you well know when such a thing happens, there are none left this morning.

It was an accident, but that does not mean it could not have been prevented!

Compensation culture is a strange subject. In some ways it has gone too far, most people think. That is until something happens to you personally and then..... it feels like you don't have enough rights.

I think we need to find a decent middle ground. If you injure yourself at work or in the street and you lose your ability to support yourself for a short while or longer then the peoples / company responsible should be financially supporting you.

I remember being ill one day at college (it was actually a very bad hangover, but don't tell anyone!) and the teacher saying to me that I could go home. I was so desperate to get home (and quite probably still drunk) that I went running down the street.

Bang, I felt a huge sharp pain run across my head and face and I was on my back on the floor with a workman looking over me. What happened? I asked. The workman had just opened a metal shutter as I was running past.

My immediate reaction was to sue, especially since my glasses were bent. I never did. The fact that I was drunk made me feel bad. However it was not my fault. The workman had not made the area safe before throwing the metal shutter open out onto the street where anyone, sober or drunk, could have walked (or ran) into it.

So I think there is a place for the compensation culture but it needs to be a genuines claim and reason.

Keypoint Legal Services deal with Accident Claims. If you have been genuinely injured at work or have a long term condition related to your work then they can help. You can file your claim online and their website looks very friendly.

Just make sure your claim is genuine before you go ahead with such a move. I am sure if it is then an accident claims company could be very helpful and get you the monies that you deserve.

Slipping

I recently purchased a pair of walking boots, well I say recently, just after Christmas.

They have been doing me pretty good in Montreal but they still are not perfect for all conditions a I found out.

I was scurrying down the road and i felt my legs slipping due to black ice. I carried on thinking I could handle it and then, my legs went out from underneath me and I did a full on comedy fall.

A man walked past and laughed, then carried on. I laughed too, it was funny.

About 10 meters ahead out of no where the man did the same as me. Naturally as walked past and laughed...

Can't wait to get paid

How many times have you been trying to fight your way through to the next payday and have had something bad happen right at the wrong moment?

I used to find that I would go away for a few days or just a weekend and deplete my funds for the rest of the month. A perfectly planned budget would be set up and my path to the next pay day would be perfectly planned out. Then bang something requiring money would turn up. It could be as simple as losing your travel card or forgetting an important night out or birthday celebration. It's only a little amount of money you need, maybe £100 or maybe £300.

Possibly an easy way to get through this is to look at payday loans. As with all loans you must be sure you are in the right position to pay it off and not harm yourself long term but in the right situation they could be for you.

They work by allowing you to quickly apply and instantly receive small loans of money up to £750. Now the interest is very high but you pay back in one lump sum on your pay day. For example, right now if you borrow £200 over a 30 day period you pay back £250 in a lump sum. If you use then when really needed and do not abuse the system then it could be put to get use.

Payday UK are a specialist UK pay day loans company and here are some simple Q&A's related to their service.

How do yo get a payday loan?
Borrowing from Payday loans requires a simple online application. Once submitted and accepted you just supply your bank and direct debt details. You agree to the loan terms and conditions and then the money is wired the same day. Some banks may require an additional 48 hours for clearing but it's still pretty instant.

How do you repay a payday loan?
When you apply you give your direct debit details. On the agreed date tgelump sum is direct debited from your bank account, simple and with no hassle.

So if you are in a pickle and you know you know this is right for you they could really be a help. All I advise is that you use these loans respectfully and do not become reliable on them. They can be great as a saviour but I would never advice them to be a monthly thing.

Bad habits with sleep patterns and water

I am actually up pretty early today, considering.

I have been getting into the bad habit of sleeping until midday or later and going to bed around three... or later.

Last night I didn't sleep until late but I decided to force myself awake today.

I have also been very bad when it comes to drinking water. For some reason I get dehydrated very easy and feel thirsty a lot. However I seem to ignore it.

Hopefully I can keep a conscious pattern with water drinking and if I keep forcing myself up early hopefully I will start to sleep earlier.

Lost is partly to blame!

Have you ever had any problems like this?

Bak from the gym

I have been finding it hard to go to the gym recently. No real reason just always another excuse.

Sometimes along the lines of "I have work to do" or "I still hurt from last time". I am trying to remedy that though and spent this afternoon treading away and pushing some weights.

In the summer I had a 3mile run down to about 20:30 but today that took me 24:20 so I have slipped a fair bit. This is the one activity I get really competitive with myself about so hopefully it will give me the motivation I need to keep going on a regular basis.

What fitness goals do you set yourself?

Fertility help

Many are trying for a children. Sadly due to various circumstances many of these couples are unable to have children without professional help.

After trying various natural methods many couples seek that professional help and IVF is a popular and can be a very successful choice.

A basic explanation of IVF is: The joining of sperm and egg in a lab, which is then reintroduced back into the female body and treatments are then administered to begin and aid pregnancy.

IVF1 is an in vitro fertilization and PGD (pre-implantation genetic diagnosis) center located in Chicago and Naperville, Illinois.

Dr. Randy Morris, is a specialist that can help couples understand and diagnose infertility.

Their website is easy to use and you will find phone numbers and contacts easy to obtain meaning that you can speak with a real person to discuss your needs.

Always carry a condom!

Have you ever been lost in the woods, no civilization in sight and only a can of baked beans to keep you going.

You remembered your pocket knife so opening the can or killing wild boars is no problem. But how are you going to cook them? Hours of watching survival shows and you can't remember the type of wood you need to rub together.

Do you have a condom in your wallet?

Yes.... you do! Well you know that it will get cold when the sun goes down so you better get that condom out now and get a fire going.

Just take a look at this video...


Use Condom To Make Fire! - For more funny movies, click here

Pocket money isn't what it used to be!

According to a story found on Magicloans.co.uk a recent Scottish Widows survey says that parents are giving huge amounts of their retirement money to their children.

On average parents are giving £12,610 to their grown up children, meaning that collectively parents are loaning £67 billion to their adult children. This is also known as a 'sap fund'. I guess it's because it's sapping retirement funds as this is what most parents say the money was going to be used for.

The adults children are using the money mainly to pay off loans, many of that being college loans I suspect! Or to pay for property or deposits on property.

I don't really know what to make of this. Parents are giving huge amounts to their children but surely it has always been that way. It is just that things are more expensive now? Compared to earnings, property used to be much more affordable now you hear rumors that people are borrowing 9 times their salary. I borrowed a huge amount when I purchased my apartment and now that it is sold I am still living with the consequences of not being able to save any money during that time and not making enough money on the sale to be in a good financial position.

I think parents should think twice before handing over their money. They need a retirement and if they have the option to live that comfortably then they should. Obviously if a child is desperate and a parent can help then this is a different matter.

The details of this story was found on Magicloans.co.uk. They offer Secured Loans and at present are offering an interest rate of 10.9%. You will also find up to date news and commentary from the financial and loans industry.

Their site offer a nice orange colored interface and easy to use loan calculators as well as access 24 hours to their customer services via an 0800 number.

Spaced

For those of you who love Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Spaced is a must see.


Written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright and also directed by Edgar Wright, Spaced is created by the same team of the above movies and i in a very similar vein.

It was 2 series each comprising of 6 episodes that the comedy duo created before the movies.

Set in North London due to various circumstances Tim ends up meeting Daisy in a cafe. Both are looking for somewhere to live and when they see the prefect place but are required to be a couple they fake their relationship in order to rent the place.

The house is owned by a crazy, heavy drinking, chain smoking landlady by the name of Marsha and an eccentric artist names Brian lives downstairs. Throw in Tim's best friend, Mike, a veteran of the territorial army and Colin the dog and you can see a madcap and intelligent show awaits.

I suggest you look it up and then search high and low for the DVDs.

Affordable furniture, Az

When I first moved away from home all of my furniture was hand me downs from family members.

After a while you start to want your own stuff so you start shopping around. Luckily I found a few local shops where I could buy decent furniture at decent prices and I started to get a few pieces of my own. When I moved I had to get rid of it all so next time I have my own place I will be starting from scratch.

If you live in Phoenix / Tempe, Az or nearby then Mitch’s Furniture & Bedding Liquidation may be worth checking out. They offer a wide range of bedding and furniture at rock bottom prices. furniture Tempe, Az and Mitch all go well together.

I want to be a door

I don't know how big The Stone Roses were in the USA or Canada but they were huge and a quite important band in the UK. I was a little young to appreciate them first time round but fell in love with them in my indie loving teens.

Around the same time as the Smiths these guys knocked out some amazing songs and the one above is probably my favourite.

It's called "I want to be Adored" but I can't help but thinking he is saying e wants to a door!

Oh well, what do you think?

Wheelfire

A good friend of mine owned a great bright yellow Skoda Felicia Fun. It was a pickup truck style of a normal Skoda salon and it was also a limited edition run.

Everything on the vehicle that could be was yellow. Including the rims. Sadly as cool as they were! They had to go.

He got some new ones from Ebay but after the hassle of getting them delivered.... they didn't quite fit. So he resold them to someone who could make use of them. Eventually he managed to track down a very cool set and it managed to take away the tacky feeling that the bright yellow rims were giving the truck.

It always pays to go to a professional when you don't have full knowledge of the thing you are doing. And if it's custom wheel rim and tire packages for your car, 19 inch rims, or indeed any sized rims, you need then Wheelfire.com are worth a visit.

Their site boasts a very cool design and easy access to their products. Real person customer support is offered and they have a great link to a tool that allows you to get an image of your car and try out different rims to see how they look.

I have never had to buy rims before so I have no idea how the prices compare but it looks like they are offering everything at a huge discount and they also supply free shipping and a mounting / balancing kit.

I can't get no motivation

Well this is not strictly true.

I am very motivated to do my work. I just can't motivate myself to wake up at a sensible time in the morning and start working.

Today I woke around 10 and did a little work and then back to sleep.

I just got up a little while back and made some breakfast and now am back to work.

This is fine by me as I can work into the evening but around 6 my partner will be wanting my attention so I really need to make sure I motivate myself into getting up early and getting all this work done.

Secure Connectivity...Done Right

Pragma Systems is a provider of secure, fast, scalable, and reliable solutions for telnet and ssh connectivity needs.

Their software is in use in many Fortune 500 companies in the USA and 2100 other companies throughout the world in over 62 countries.

They have a large amount of high profile customers including: Target, McKesson, Food Lion, Micron, Dell, Intel, IBM, NTT, Sony, Coca-Cola, Symbol, Daimler Benz, Boeing, HP, Siemens, Motorola, Bank of America, and many more.

If you need Secure FTP, remote access and security software for Microsoft Windows platforms or any telnet or SSH needs then Pragma may have what you need.

Watching the world

John Lennon was amazing.

I know it's hardly a revelation but I just wanted to throw my comment onto the pile.

Watching the wheels is classic Lennon and his haunting lyrics and the way he used his voice like an instrument make me almost sad to hear his songs.

Sadly some of his songs suffered from bad, cheesy late 70's early 80's videos but we can forgive him for that, right?

Finding an apartment

When I first arrived in Montreal I had nowhere to live. Crashing on floors was not something I wanted to do and staying with my partner all then time was not, at that time, an option.

So I ended up going through all the newspapers and listing I could find desperately seeking somewhere to live.

I found a place that I thought would be perfect. Sadly my decision was rushed and I should have thought more clearly.

I should have know it was not a good place when I went to see the building manager and he was surrounded by smoke and what I assume were prescription drugs all over the table. When I left he forgot to give the letter to the landlords office and I nearly faced legal problems! It's all sorted now and luckily I live with my partner.

In the past I have used agencies to help me find a property and this has many benefits as you have some standards that they guarantee.

If you are looking for Chicago IL condos then www.connectedrentals.com may be able to help. They are Chicago apartment finders and offer a free resource to help you find the Apartments in Chicago that you have been looking for.

Apartments Chicago IL are not something I am in the market for right now but like all big cities I would love to spend some time there one day.

Have you been?

Pot Luck

Last night I attended a Pot Luck.

A pot Luck is where a group of friends gather around someones house / apartment and they each bring a food item for the meal.

I ended up with a fantastic meal of paella, curry, pitta bread, ciabatta, cheese, olives, bean salad and chocolate oatmeal cookies.

Yum, yum. I love the fact that no communication between people leads to the best fushion. I would have never dreamt of the spanasian concoction of paella and curry until last night.

For only $9.95 you can have.....

We all know the infomercials that offer you an amazing array of items and then right at the end throws in a few more. Well we also all know that at times we love watching them.

I remember waking up early to specifically watch them and although generally I was laughing at the old man who endorsed the exercise machines I was often actually sucked in by the products.

Infomercials have moved on somewhat now. With computer graphics and high end production available at a much lower budget people are able to produce slightly more professional looking affairs. Companies are also wising up to the fact that the public recognizes quality in production far more these days too.

If you have ever needed to get a direct TV ad produced then I am sure that you have approached many companies and Hawthorne Direct may have been one of them.

Hawthorne Direct is an advertising agency specializing in DRTV (direct response television), infomercial production, commercial production, and media buying.

They will take your product or service and create a full across the board advertising program and then actually buy the TV slots or magazine pages for your advertisements to be shown. A very good all round service.

Their website shows that they are a forerunner in this field and the clean futuristic layout hopefully shows the quality and care that is put into their productions.

It would be great to produce a commercial for my webiste The Random Forest.

Once upon a time in an Oscar...

I watched a bit of the Oscar ceremony last night and was thrilled to see the film Once win a few awards.

The fact that such a small budget film gives hope to every small budget but passionate operation is fanatastic.

We as bloggers are in a similar boat. The big guns are out there patting each other on the back but we need to keep going and maybe the best of us will make a difference.

John Stewart, even though sometimes badly reading his auto-cue, was making me laugh hard and pushed things a little more politically than I expected.

Surgery and Obesity

Weight loss is a thing on the mind of many of us. Almost everyone feels they have at least a few pounds to shed but for some people it can get serious.

I have always been a little overweight but make sure I exercise on a regular basis and try to eat well for the most part. Obviously there are times when things all falls apart.

Sadly some people are in the zone known as obesity and this is a growing problem throughout all major countries.

Surgery is something I have always been skeptical about.

So when I was given the opportunity to look at healthierweight.co.uk I wanted to find out what it actually is.

They offer a few services including Doctor monitored weight loss programs and something called a gastric band . The gastic band is the surgery option. It basically involves an operation to install an adjustable device (their new model requires no re-entry to adjust, it's all done electronically) that will be able to change the size of your stomach. A little scary but pretty simple and I am sure in many cases effective.

They say that some people have problems with appetite that is mental but serious enough that they can't control so surgery may be the best opetion to stop the disease of obesity taking hold.

Their website is a little cluttered but informative and friendly. They have a PR3 so Google trusts them a little and what won me over was the fact that assessing yourself and non-surgery options were available first so it seems as if they are trustworthy.

I hope I never need surgery but it may be right for many people who are dying and could become common place.

Week 2, horray!

I have just completed my first week being a freelance blogger.

It's been fun but very hard to manage the time properly. I thought I would start this week better but sadly I woke up late, oops!

I didn't make much money last week and and not sure how I will do this week but I will start work on some new projects and see where that starts to take me.

I also need to start with promotion methods to try and raise visitors to all my sites.

Zimm, Zimmer....

I'm not the biggest car person in the world but sometimes I do have to be impressed with the shear time, effort and money that some people put into modifying their standard machine and turning it into a mark of their own personality.

A good friend of mine spent thousands on his little car, chopping, bending, molding, adjusting and adding to make something that barely resembled the original. It's an obsession with amazing results.



If you are looking for anything from BMW Tail Lights to full modification kits then My Hot Bimmer is a great site to visit. Their 110% lowest price guarantee means that these should be good prices and it seems that pretty much everything you need is easily available with easy to see info and clear photographs.

Now.... go create.... or just fix your tail light!

Kinky

The kinks are a great band as far as I am concerned. They are one of them under rated bands from years gone by and everyone forgets how many great songs they sung.

For example: All day and all of the night, Lola, Sunny Afternoon (see video above), You Really Got Me Going and Waterloo Sunset.

What a great legacy. Also if you ever get the chance to listen to Ray Davis (the lead singer) in his single career then you will see that he has continued with creative, solid and fun songwriting and performing.

If I had the space

What would I do with a Concrete Shed?

When I owned my flat I had a very small garage that was barely enough for a car and had no electricity. I used it as a very small gym space and actually had to light it with candlelight until I purchased a very large flashlight.

If I had a larger area to play with and the money then I would firstly run wires safely from the house and make sure that electricity is all wired up. Then water would be my next step.

Once I had that space and the amenities then I would get to work on building myself a nice gym space with a multi purpose weights bench and a running machine. Oh and I would also have to have a rowing machine too!

Or maybe I would just store my tools and car in there!

If you are looking for one of these or something similar then Lidget.co.uk are a UK supplier with many different shapes and sizes to choose from. The simple assembly means that they are very reasonable in price and can be easily delivered.

Wait though.... that's the gymnasium part. I would also put in a small stove and kitchen top for basic cooking. Then the comfort zone would be created. Nothing too fancy. Just a nice big old sofa, lot's of plants draping all over the place and purifying the oxygen. I would have a simple TV, DVD and games system set up too.

I would make it my get away. The house would obviously have most of this but assuming I would live with my family then it would be my own special space away from the daily life.

Run, run as fast as you can

Recommended:
If you're interested in nutrition and weight loss, this low carb diet may be just what you're looking for to help get in shape!

I used to run as a hobby most days but sadly with all my traveling this year and then the cold Montreal winter it has gone by the wayside.

I do still try and get to he gym a few times a week and do a bit of running but nothing like I used to.

Running on a treadmill does not give you the same feeling. I am looking forward to the warmer weather so that I can put on my shoes, shirt and shorts and go for a light run. I know the first few times back out on the street will be hard and maybe not even that fun but still I know once I break past that it will be as good as ever.

Nutrition is also very important for getting into shape and I will be making sure that I keep a close eye on this. Watch this space for updates.

I bet you....

Betting can be a shady business. With dodge online casinos and the internet being such an easy way for some people to access their habit of over gambling.

I do believe that you can gamble and not be excessive. I have never really bet more than a few pounds on anything and I believe that honesty and control are the key to making sure that you never get too sucked in, even after a win.

It's the same with poker too. Take away the money aspect and it is jst another game. Play with the human mind....'There is something at stake here!" and it becomes one of the most interesting ways to spend a few hours.

So I believe you should always watch yourself and if you do play set a solid budget, if you go over that you know you will not be able to keep control and you should stop.

You always have to use a trusted online betting website and Bet Fair is one I have used in the past.

They have smartened up a hell of a lot in recent years too. The design has become very sleek and modern, taking away the sleezy and somewhat scary edge associated with the old smokey shops I passed in my youth.

With various sign up offers including a £25 bet and many others and adjusted rules to make the games more fun it's defintely one of the better ones to join.

You will also find (and very importantly) a link to GambleAware.co.uk at the bottom of their page.

Sunday again

It's Sunday again and it's also my first week of working away as a full time blogger. Sadly I need to work every day to bring in the cash. Being small time in the blogging world means that one day missed is a big problem but it is giving me some discipline.

I have a full day today, with blogging this morning, ball hockey this afternoon and a potluck this evening and I'm already tired!

Oh well, I know it will be fun and can't wait to get out and play some hockey. It feels great to open up the lungs..... even though it's freezing cold!

Trust your assets

At the moment my assets include a handful of domain names my wonderful blogs. Sadly I don't have any cash or businesses to deal with so management is done by myself.

However if I become successful then I am sure that the management of my cash and who I trust to deal with everything will become an important issue.

Northern Trust have been doing this for over a century. They provide banking, asset management and asset servicing to families, individuals and leading institutions worldwide.

Their trustee services seem like top of the range and as the site explains their track record is very good.

Their website is laid out pretty much like most financial institutions but this isn't a bad thing. Clean and crisp layout offers instant access to all the data and info you could need about them and leads to your being able to contact them or sign up with ease.

These guys know the business and are a huge institution so you can assume that you can trust as much as possible to deal with your assets.

I like squirrels, do you?

I know the can carry disease and I know they ravage bird feeders but I like the little blighter's.

In the autumn I caught one of them eating pizza!

I also remember a very entertaining TV program from the BBC where the buggers were given time to work out the most amazingly complex assault course.... and of course, they did.

I know they are rodents but they have their very own perosnality and ways. The way they neaurotically bury the winters nuts and hide from people yet keep an eye on them from distance just amazes me.

The Real "Estate" deal!

Every time I see a film featuring the towering heights of good old New York I long to be sitting sipping a nice cold beer in one of those high up apartments.

I used to long to have the apartment that Tom Hanks had in Big and love the idea of towering high up above the bustling streets.

Maybe one day I will have enough money to visit a New York real estate broker and get my own tiny piece of NY, but this may be a while off.

Prudential Douglas Elliman is New York's Largest Real Estate Company so maybe one day I will pay them a visit! They have 60 offices serving 350 communities from Manhattan to Montauk so you can be sure they will have some great properties to view.

Their website immediately shows you the kind of classy places they have to offer and the sea view apartments immediately had been dreaming of alternatives to the high rise option. They also offer a price estimator, up to date news and mortgage advice to help you along your way.

We all know that renting or buying property is a big deal so it's always a great idea to deal with a professional and well established agency.

What is the act called?

The Aristocrats!

Last night I watched a documentary of the above name.

Apparently there is a huge in-joke amongst the comedians of the USA. It's a comedians joke that comes in many forms and is barely unleashed on the public.

All you need to tell the joke is...... a beginning something like:

A man walked into an agency and he says to the agent "I heard that you are looking for acts, I have an act, in fact it's a family act". The agent requests to hear what the act is and.....

This is the part where each individual puts their own spin on the joke. The idea is to create the most un-PC, disgusting offensive content to describe the act involving the whole family and sometime a dog, poo, pee, blood, sexual acts. Totally gross out and disgust everyone and not repeat yourself.

The agent then asks.... "What's the act called?"

And there comes the punchline......... Yes you worked it out.

In itself the joke is not funny and very unappealing. That is the appeal to the comedians I guess! And the documentary looks at the legend of the joke whilst allowing you to pretty much hear 100 versions of it.

Not the best doc ever but worth checking out www.thearistocrats.com.

Cruise control

OK the Montreal weather is starting to get to me a little. Today provided a little relief as it was sunny and moderately warm or rather not cold.

I know spring is coming but I wish I could take a brake now and slip of to somewhere warm, even if just for a few days.

Sadly it's just not going to happen for me right now.

If you are looking for a vacation, be it a nice beach holiday, some sight seeing or a Hawaii travel cruise then TravelStoreUSA.com or Cruiselocators.com could be a place to visit.

The sights over clean and friendly interfaces to help you through the searching and booking process. Easy to find detailed travel info and great testimonies shows that this site is as good as any and worth giving some attention.

I would love to go on a cruise one day. The idea of waking up in a different city every day is very alluring.

Do you miss fish and chips?

I know that I miss them.

It's taken me being away form the UK to realize how nice the pile of deep fried starch and greasy fish can actually be.

Quebec fries tend to be overcooked and very thin which leaves me longing for the long fat unevenly cut of chip that you find in your typical grease stained yellow ceilinged chip shop. The older and more dirty the oil the better. The older and more nicotine stained the server.... the better.

If they serve them in newspaper and you get the print all over your hands.... well that's a bonus.

I miss fish and chips!

Bolanzo Handbags

Being a man in my mid twenties I don't often have a need for a handbag :). However being someone who appreciates design I do notice an exceptional amount of amazingly, interestingly designed handbags amongst the women of this modern world. Just a quick walk down the high street and you feel like you have been to a fashion parade. People are conscious of how they are look and accessories are a big part of their fashion statements.

Bolzano Handbags has recently unleashed it's range of designer handbag and leather accessories onto the USA market.

They have taken the International market by storm and now offer the US market their full range of quality standards.

Their website shows a sleek collection of modern, creatively designed bags to suit most moods and occasions. Chic is an overused word but again a word that is appropriate for these great products.

Solid thought has been given to the design of the website itself. Giving you easy access to imagery and a comfortable cool feel to view at your leisure. Like an online boutique that oozes simplicity and style.

Freelove Freeway

Something the Brits do best is pure and utter sarcasm. It may be the lowest form of wit but it's also one of the funniest.

The original version of the Office was a master at this and if you watched the video above you can see it in full swing.

Sadly I don't enjoy Ricky Gervais so much in his latest incarnations. I thought that in Night at the Museum and The Golden Compass he just played the same old crappy character.

To enjoy him at the top of his game you need to watch Extras.

Would you buy a house from an amateur?

When I sold my flat in London last summer I had various agents around to value and talk me through the process of what they would do for me to sell my property.

Frankly most of these guys were very amateur and unbelievable. The feeling of comfort I required and the thought that they would sell my house was not something I got.

After a long process the flat was sold and gladly it's all wrapped up and gone now. I was however left with animosity for the realters and really wish I found some with a far more professional and efficient approach.

Key Realty school offer Nevada real estate appraisal courses to help you become a professional. As they say:

Key Realty School has administered education to over 30,000 students. With its experience and quality of instruction, Key Realty School, located in Las Vegas Nevada, remains the leader in real estate and business education. The real estate school offers interactive classroom settings, correspondence and online work, allowing for the most flexible educational course work available.

Key Realty School is committed to offering only the best education in all areas surrounding real estate and business practices. The instructors are all regarded as some of the most knowledgeable and effective in their field of expertise. Key Realty School of Las Vegas, Nevada owns its own publishing company, allowing for the most up to date and accurate educational materials in the country. All courses include the Key Realty School guaranteed pass policy so you can be assured that you are always receiving the best in education.

The website is well laid out and list of all the courses they provide are within easy reach. You can also enroll an pay online and a simple Q&A page is up to answer most of your needs.

I am all for this kind of education as I think it is important that you deal with professionals that fully understand and care about every aspect of the business when selling your property.

Keep your head on your shoulders.... actually not essential....

"Mike's will to live remains an inspiration. It is a great comfort to know you can live a normal life, even after you have lost your mind."

One bored rainy night a few years ago I decided to sit down and use the internet for one of it's best possible usages. I was going to read up on conspiracy, legends and anything that was seen against the norm.

That night I read about Yeti sightings in WWII and the story of Sweeny Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street. However one story really struck me and is something that comes into my head to this day.

Mike the Headless Chicken literally lost his head when his owner chopped his head off, to prepare him for dinner. Strangely Mike lived for 18 months! Anyway the official website gives you all the gory details of the incident and his career that followed. SO I suggest you visit www.miketheheadlesschicken.org and maybe you will be as sucked into the legend as I was.

Pick a winner

Every year as a child my father would allow me to place a £1 on my choice of horse for the Grand National.

I remember looking down the list of crazy names and choosing the horse that had, what I felt, was the most original or funny. No attention was given to it's quality or previous wins but I still won around £6-9 every so often.

Now gladly I never moved on and became addicted to putting money on horse races but I still think about putting my £1 on the Grand National every year.

www.grand-national.me.uk is a website that gives you all the info you need for the 2008Grand National. Detailed tips for people who understand them or fun from an animated Red Rum.

It;s nicely designed and packed with info so definitely a perfect place to visit.

Lost Revisited

We all remember the hype.

There was a new shoe coming to town, it was going to be like no other. Bill boards displayed the lineup of the prettiest group of people to ever step foot on a plane.

The show was going to be called LOST! And it was going to be amazing.

So, being in he UK and hearing the hype I had to watch the pilot.

Approaching the end of season 4 now the hype has dies and it now runs along like any popular show. Still in some ways innovative in budget and technique and far more inventive then your run of the mill but none the less still just a TV program.



I loved the first series of Lost. Being a cynic I had to ignore the silly fact that everyine was so damn attractive but hey I guess you need to try and please everyone.

I still need to watch the last 3 seasons though but I am sure it isn't going to disappear just yet.

Keep on Trucking: LGI commercial hauling

Driving on the highway as a child always brings the excitement of being passed by huge trucks bearing goods from livestock or melons to portable DVD players or gas.

It's a familiar thought to pump your hand twice in the hope that the friendly driver will blow steam from the top, just for your amusement.

You always imagine the romantic ideal of "life on the open road" and think about the crazy conversations and competitions that these guys partake in over their radios.

The reality of it is that it is a very important and needed job that keeps our stores and businesses supplied so that we can live our local lives without worry.

Logistics Group International (LGI) are a company that provide heavy haul on the road all across USA, Canada and Mexico. They supply Van, flatbed, stepdeck, double drop, removable gooseneck and specialized heavy haul trucking for every commercial need and I guess you can be sure that they will be able to transport just about anything your business needs.

The website greets you with their worldly corporate logo and immediately has a rotating show of their impressive vehicles. With instant Spanish translation and current news instantly accessible as well as a very neat and easy navigation choices they show all the signs of being a serious outfit.

Consonant-ly suprising

On my travels trough the WWW I have come across a huge amount of useless, informative, amazing and scary sites.

But I wanted to share this one with everyone.

The Dictionary of all Consonant Words

Just a quick browse through here threw up such gems as:

qch.
interj. a casual, cough-like utterance meaning oh.
<“How’s Andy,” he asked casually. “Qch, fine,” said the other. —Dorothy L. Sayers, The Five Red Herrings.
hgkh.
n. the sound of someone struggling not to drown in a vat of fresh cream, as in the graphic novella Hearts and Minds by Scott McCloud; see also sppt, blpb.
C-rch.
n. a judicious alien Luminoth who lies silently “in a small corridor within the depths of a high fortress,” in the video game “Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.”

I am not sure of the legitimacy of these words in a Scabble tournament though!

Just keep moving on

Maybe tomorrow, I'll find another home.. dah.. dah.. Maybe tomorrow......

Enough of that!

I have not had to move too much in my life and gladly have not accumulated too much stuff. I probably own about one small van worth of stuff and luckly I was able to have this left with my mother back in the UK.

I moved over here to Canada with just a large case (just traveling around like the Littlest Hobo) but I am sure if I ever manage to find a permanent way to be here I will need the help of a removal company to send me my possessions.

Relocation.com are a company that may be able to help you with your moving. Their site provides a free quote service for pretty much all your your moving including in-country moving, moving to a new country and car shipping. They also have handy guides and services relate to real estate, mortgages, moving and shipping, renting apartments, insurance, careers and home improvement. A huge and friendly site displaying the qualities of a genuine one stop shop.

They say they are your "key to a successful move" and I like their simple, straight forward design and friendly approach. So I think well worth checking out.

Do animals have a sixth sense?

One year, many years ago, my family and I were returning from a short and typical UK beach holiday.

Our dog, Candy had been left in the trust of my Grandma who lived around a mile from our house. Candy had never been to my Grandma's before but she owned some other dogs so loneliness should not have been a problem.

However...

When we stopped by to pick her up my Grandma was frantically telling us that she was gone. She had jumped out of a small window just that afternoon. Of course we were very worried and my parents showed obvious signs of anger.

We drove on home and as we got out of the car Candy was sitting outside the house wagging her tail and panting, just like nothing was wrong.

How did she know we were coming home?

I have no idea either! Do you have any stories like this?

Ello, Delboy.....

For many of us the image of sales and sales persons brings to mind the dodgy car dealers and desperate market traders. I am sure a large amount of our imagery here in the UK is fed from the antics of Del Boy and Co. from Only Fools and Horses (a program I suggest you check out if you have not seen or heard of it).

I also remember playing the first two Monkey Island games as a child and Stan the crazy salesman who would do anything and sell anything still sticks in my min to this day.

Sadly if you are in sales the public has been tainted by these media creations and also, I am sure, by some real life experiences. We have all been mis-sold something or talked into more than we wanted in a very unfair backhanded way. Nowadays working in sales is something that requires real skill and tact. You have to give the right impression and have to shrug off any prejudices before you even try and mention the product. Selling something is not unnecessarily wrong and people know this.

The amount of times someone calls and bumbles on and on without getting to the point or not responding to my clear annoance boggles me so I am a believer that real solid training needs to be put in place.



Sales Training is something that AS-SA specialize in. They provide a number of broad and specific courses to get your sales staff up to scratch and working the strong, ethical and efficient way that you need to boost sales.

I have never been a salesman or have any plans to but I would want to be educated before so. Their website looks very professional and the easy navigation means that you will be able to pick up all the information you need and contact them if you have any additional questions.

Happy Birthday MAMD: Only a few hours left to join the contest

Me and my Drum is one of my regular and favorite reads..... just so happens that MAMD recently turned a grand old one year old recently too!

To celebrate he has set up a compettion which could earn 1000 Entrecard points and a review on MAMD.

Good news for anyone who wins, me thinks.

So how do you enter......?

Go to the post here and the entries are gained by:

1. 5 entries for subscribing to my feed via email. (Comment on this post using the same address so that I can verify.) Subscribed already? Thank you! Just tell me in the comments.
2. 4 entries for making a post about the contest on your blog linking back to this post. If you have more than one blog, that’s cool — you’ll get 4 entries per post per blog (only one post on each blog will be counted; be sure to leave a comment here telling me so with the links).
3. If you like my blog, you can tell others by writing a recommendation on my profile at Entrecard. Doing so earns you 4 entries.
4. Commenting on this post earns you 1 entry (only one comment per contestant excluding the comments you make informing me of other posts you’ve made or for subscribing)

I have entered via all the ways so wish me luck! Oh and good luck to you too.

All the stars are out

Living in a city you don't much think about the stars but after spending my summer in Vermont I realized again that they existed.


To lay back and stare at the sky really is a pleasure that we neglect. Just because we see them everyday, up close and personal, on TV does not mean that the majesty of seeing them for real should be forgotten.

Now starring up at them from the back porch is amazing enough but when you actually start gazing at the planets and stars through a telescope things totally change. Seeing the bumps of the moon and the fiery glow of mars can make you feel daunted and small but still wholly fascinated all at once.

If you need a telescope of any star gazing related stuff then Astromart is a cool place to visit. Astromart.com is a leading portal for astronomy news, classified ads and telescope reviews. They also may be a good place to get used cameras for sale and various other things that you would not immediately relate to astronomy.

Overall the atmosphere there seems very friendly and knowledgeable, and as with lot's of things on the world wide web you are sure to be easier connected with the deal or information you need.

A little talk about my Forest

As many of you know my personal webpage is now situated at www.therandomforest.com. I have just started to use this site more regualrily and it will be the place where you can keep up with all my personal stuff and see how my business plans are progressing.

Just yesterday I jazzed it up a little and played around with the theme, so please mosey on over and let me know what you think..... and maybe subscribe to the feed :)

I am hoping I can get up to 50 subscribers over there in the next few months.

I have big plans for all my other projects too and that will be the place to keep track of them all... Is that enough begging?

The littlest things cause the biggest problems: Cracked windshields

There is nothing worse than driving down a gritty road a seeing the tiniest little bit of grit propelled by your wheel and somehow making it way directly for your forehead.

Luckily most vehicles now come with a handy sheet of protective glass but sadly that little bugger throws itself at such a force that a big shattering chip or crack can run itself right in front of your eyes.

At least your face is saved but the wallet then has to suffer.

Well if you live in Minneapolis then Rapid Glass the St. Paul windshield repair company may be just the help you need.

The say:

Rapid Glass provides the highest quality auto glass replacements and windshield repair in Minneapolis and St. Paul, at affordable prices. At Rapid Glass, we use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts and our installers are certified to ensure your auto glass repair or replacement and windshield repair or replacement meets or exceeds the strictest auto glass industry standards. We are dedicated to satisfying the glass needs of the communities of Minneapolis, St. Paul, and nearby suburbs, and stand behind all of our windshield and auto glass replacements with an industry leading National Lifetime Warranty.

This sounds very reasonable and good but if you need further reason to at least check them out then I suggest you look at their offer of a free box of steaks with auto glass replacement. Sadly I am Vegetarian.... son not so good for me but they seem friendly, and professional enough so I am sure I would be offered some alternative.

The Highlight of my winter.....

I have just found out that the Montreal Highlights Festival is about to start tomorrow.

I don't fully know what goes on but I have been told it is a must see and after seeing this image I can see why!

There website montrealenlumiere.com has all the great info and gives a good heads up, so we can all see what to expect.

Hopefully I will be able to get some great photos and then obviously share them on here.

Have you been to this festival? If so what were your experiences?

The best hosts

When I talk about hosts I don't mean the dashing presenter of UK Strictly Come Dancing, Bruce Forsyth.... or your best friends amazing dinner parties..... I mean web hosting, the old boring subject again!

Well hosting is very important and it is something I will need to be serious about studying for when I purchase new domains in the next few weeks.

Top 10 Web Hosting may be able to help me there, they offer their top 10 list of the best cheap hosts with reviews and simple listing of the services offered.

I think all of the hosting plans come with free domain names and are able to offer support for php, mysql, frontpage, Wordpress, email and all your normal day to day needs.

When you go onto their website you are instantly greeted with their cute little yellow robot logo and a very formal looking grid structure. This may not be the prettiest way to have a website but it does make for a very quick and simple browse with not too much clutter from advertising.

For me Mysql and Wordpress hosting are the most important things and looking for a host that gives me freedom to use what I want and a good price is the key. Top 10 offers the quick kind of list that may be helpful and I will definitely be giving there service a bit of attention in the nxt few weeks.

Cold, Warm, Cold

What do I wear today?

This is a question I am more used to asking myself related to how I would like to look before I step out of the house but being here in Canada it has changed it's intention. It now refers to what the weather will be like and if I shold dress for the worst or for mild conditions.

I am slowly learning that layering is the best tactic so it's easier to deal with different temperatures. They change daily and it is really confusing. Some days it is so cold your spit cracks when it hits the ground. Other days a simple hoodie is a too warm.

Today looks sunny, clear and like a spring day..... that means it's f**king freezing so I better wrap up. :)

Photo borrowed from igougo.com

Domain Registration

As I am now looking at making most of my money from the net I will be looking for more domains so cheap domain registration is something that I will be seriously looking into.

In fact I have already used a domain registration service to cheaply register around 10 names in one hit. The management of these has proved very simple and, in my mind, it's a fairly good idea to find a company that can offer you well priced domains and hosting with flexible user options and a great management system.

Pay Less Domains is such a site. They are Australia's premier domain registration company and provide all your needs from just registration to full hosting, and all this a very competitive rates.
They also offer transfers and renewals and the well designed friendly site offers what looks like a very nice little management panel.

I am not sure if I can purchase from them but next time I am in the market for some new domains I will be sure to fully look into their services and see if they suit my needs.

I'm feeling Fuzzy

In a post earlier today I mentioned Bill Bailey and Hot Fuzz. Hot Fuzz was a hilarious cop movie that really picked on the English way and put t into the format of an American cop movie.

As I went to the website I also happened to stumble upon this fun little time wasting Hot Fuzz game. It in the vein of the old shacks and air guns that you use to play at the local traveling fair grounds. Vey fun, definitely a waste of good time though :)

iphone, do you phone or are you locked?

I don't have an iphone but I do want one. One big drawback seems to the fact that they are locked and you have to commit to ridiculously long contracts to own one.

But as the clever people of this world know, they can now be onlocked and used on any network in the world.

iphone unlocking is a service offered by iphone Unlock UK and they offer DIY unlocking with there software for a very reasonable £39.99. Sure beats staying with the contract and it means that you can find the best deal, possibly from abroad and get the phone you want on your terms.

They are stupidly cool, so I better get saving.

Oh bill

I love thinking about language and the great comedian Bill Bailey talks about Dentists and there stupid use of language in this video.

Bill Bailey is a very clever British comedian that seems like he is managing to push his way into the movies now days with a great recent appearance in Hot Fuzz. I would say more about his role but it will be a spoiler if you have not seen the film.

I only posted a very short video for you to get a taste but hopefully some of you will want to go searching for more of his stuff.

Long distance call cards

When I lived in England and my partner was in Canada I used to use international phone cards nearly every day. Surprisingly they were very easy to use and I found that buying them instantly from the internet became the most convenient thing to do.

Pins Shark is a website that I did not know about back then but they would have been very handy. They offer up to an 80% saving with there rage of over 850 Phone Cards that are delivered instantly online and by email.

The website is very simply laid out and access to the details of each card are very easy to get to. The prices and country listing are very easy to understand and I am sure that payment is easy too.

Like I said, I have not used them but they look like they offer exactly what they say they do without too much hassle from advert populated pages or pushing of specific cards.

Should I?

I have been having some arguments with myself recently. Even though this is an English blog and I am an Englishman most of my visitors seem to be from Canada and USA.

So here is my predicament. How should I spell things. Should I write organising or organizing?

Is it more correct to use North American spelling or should I stay stubborn. Will Google and Co. be unhappy at me or what they may see as misspelling, and let my search engine ranks slip?

I am still confused and will have to let you know when I make my decision. Until then expect mixed spelling.

Help is at hand for us business owners...

I guess being a blogger counts me as being a new business owner so I guess this new website may be of use to me too.

Marketing Minefield hope to cover an area that lacks at present. They offer very much help including business startup articles and a free monthly newsletter with forums and various other things coming very soon.

They say that they are:

The comprehensive resource for business startups and small businesses, offering tips, strategies, ideas and guides on every type of marketing from online marketing strategies to public relations and outdoor advertising.

Oh and did I mention.... everything is free, so you might as well go and take a look.

Free.......

Today is the first day of my new status as a freelance blogger /designer. From now on I will be building various websites and working on my current projects to hopefully earn enough income to survive in this treacherous world.

As you know my main home is therandomforest.com and if you visit there later today you will be able to start following my journey and see how I am organising my new business.

Happy Valentines

I won't be online anymore today as will be swanning around town with my girlfriend, but just thought I would wish everybody a happy Valentines and hope you all have a good day.

Need a blind?

Select Blinds offers a great and easy, affordable way to buy Window Blinds online.

Looking through their site they have a great selection and seem to offer as much help as you need.

My favorite blinds were the Cafe Style shutters as you can see in the image. They remind me of early summer mornings in the countryside with a nice simple homemade breakfast and a glass of fresh orange juice, mmmmmmmm. I don't know how I would integrate them into my home but there are plenty of others to choose from to suite your styles and various projects.

Football, what does t mean to you

I talked about football in my last post and it made me think about something.

Before I left England for Montreal I made a joke promise to a good friend that I would correct people when they use the term 'soccer'. Now if I say football here in Montreal people assume I am talking about the Canadaian Football so I find myself out of principal saying football but having to explain that I mean soccer.

Sometimes though I have noticed that i slip up and do say soccer. I don't want to lose my Englishisms and am scared that as a few people have mentioned that I am starting to lose my accent.

Have any of you experienced accent loss?

Putting your money on the ball

Here in the forest we sometimes all gather around the television to watch football, and sometimes the watching can become very intense.

As all the animals gather we like to snack out of crisps and a few beers before starting the friendly banter sticking up for our respective teams.

Personally my favorite premier league team was Charlton Athletic but sadly they went down a league fairly recently. However when they were there I always dreamed of the day that they would topple the giants and rise to the top of the league.

I would hang onto every pass and every tackle, using a whole host of oh's and ar's and eeeee's to show my frustration and excitment. In fact whilst watching football it is very hard to distinguish me from a chimp.

Now a beer, a TV and a football match is one of the best settings to take your emotions on a roller coaster ride. The sheer exhaustion that I suffer from and intense match leave me drained for at least a day after. The only way to make it more intense is too place a bet on the match.

Every tackle, pass and shot is amplified even if you bet a very small amount. The prospect of turning £2 into £11 brings everything up to an entirely new level and www.betfair.com is a great and easy place to place live betting.

They offer an easy interface to bet and say that they have revolutionised the way you bet on football by allowing betting against each other and not the house. They also offer a £25 sign up bonus and a safe setting to transfer your money.

Bye bye Adsense

I made the decision to remove Adsense from this blog.

I have had a pleasant experience using it here and will continue with it on other sites but just found that their TAC's were a little constricting for me. I use this blog for monetization and Adsense was only bringing me around $1-2 a week at tops.

I may look into using another scheme such as Widgetbucks or Pepperjam but must first see how restrictive they are and if it suits what I do here.

Has anyone else had any experience with Adsense Alternatives?If so I would love to hear your views.

Review: Online Casino Blue Book

There seem to be a fair few of these casino review sites around right now and onlinecasinobluebook.com happens to be one of them.

If you can keep control then I see no problem with using online casinos and as I have said before, if you keep in mind a small budget it can be a lot fun. In the early days there were only a few big online casinos but now with so many around and so many incentives to join how can you tell which ones are genuine and which ones may not be worth your while.

The Online Casino Blue Book does a good job of presenting easy to read information which will hopefully give you and honest and simple way to choose your online casino.

The site presents the required information very quickly and easily utilizing a top 10 review list and showing their incentives. The design is simple and not at all distracting and strangely, for this kind of site, there is a minimal amount of advertising.

All round this site gives straight info and could be very helpful.

Blogging for Bills

As some of you may already know, I will soon becoming a full time freelance and therfore will be concentrating on blogging and online antics for much of my income.

I really have not had much chance this year to really get back into the swing of things and really do want to concentrate on online earning. So going full time was my only real choice.

There are plenty of risks but I have to know if I can do it.

My personal site www.therandomforest.com will be improved greatly and this place will see an increase in the wuality of the reviews and postings. I will also keep you informed of other projects that I will be getting involved with.

Anyway wish me luck....