Fabulous Shopping For You & Your Little Ones

Lou Lou's Corner is a place to shop for young and old alike. Whether you're looking for something for a newborn or something for a grown up girl, this is the place for you. They call themselves "a toy box for the whole family". Located in Hickory, North Carolina, they're known by their red awning. One of the fun brands Lou Lou's Corner carries is Barefoot Dreams where many of the products are made from eco-friendly bamboo. You can choose from women's hoodies, cozychic robes and infant gowns and more. There's also the adorable "puppy pocket buddie".

Lou Lou's Corner also carries the Jellycat line of soft and cuddly stuffed animals including bunnies, cats, lambs, bears, sheep and cows. Their Appaman line features long and short sleeve T's, skirts and more.

LouLou's Corner offers gift wrapping for a minimal additional charge. There's a gift registry so you can buy the perfect gift for someone or set up your own wish list and you can even note the size and color you want. All gifts are mailed directly to the recipient with your gift card enclosed. Orders can be place online or over the telephone. Major credit cards are accepted and the cost of shipping is based on your order total.

Get An Advantage: Improve Your Interview Skills

Are you a doctor who has been going on job interviews but haven't received any offers for jobs? When you leave an interview do you thing of things you wish you had said or do you think of things you wish you hadn't said? In these difficult economic times, you need all the help you can get so that your next interview will be your last on. If you're in the medical field, there's a web site that can help you with a medical management course for doctors.

Oxford Medical is a training company that teaches a medical management course for doctors. This course will give doctors skills they need for interviews so that they will have an advantage. Oxford Medical is one of the largest companies that offers medical interviewing courses. Their career development courses for doctors also include instruction in teach the teacher course for doctors.

There are many questions to be asked and answered before enrolling in the spr medical management course for doctors for both the doctor and his/her current or future employees. These would include questions such as management/training experience to date and who would you like to have do the training in the future. Other important questions that need to be recognized are "What is clinical governance?" and "Should protocol always be followed"? For these and other questions, either log onto the Oxford Medical web site or call the number given their web site.

Show Your Green Thumb All Year 'Round

Do you like to have flowers and plants on the outside of your house as well as inside? Do you have cats, dogs, squirrels and other creatures that like to dig them up as soon as you plant them (squirrels especially like juicy bulbs)? Then window flower boxes are just the thing to help solve your problem.

Window boxes are available in many shapes, styles and materials. Vinyl, wood, metal and fiberglass boxes are options. There are several ways that they can be mounted and accessories can be purchased at the same time. Accessories include brackets, deck rails and replacement liners. WindowboxPlanters.com can be contacted online, by telephone at their toll free number or by using their "live help" feature (a green button on the top right of the page).

Many garden window boxes are shipped free (see notations about shipping on product pages) within the 48 contiguous United States. They're shipped by UPS Ground Service and orders can be tracked with a shipping confirmation tracking number. WindowboxPlanters.com is your one-stop-shopping center for all you plant and flower planter boxes.

Get Yourself Out Of Debt

How well did you survive the holidays financially? Are you in debt "over your head"? Are you using one credit card to pay off another? Have you run out of friends and relatives to borrow money from? Are you still out of work with no hope in sight? If you answered "yes" to any of the questions, help with credit counseling services to individuals and families to help them regain a secure financial footing is just a phone call or a mouse click away.

A New Horizon is a non-profit national company specializing in helping people get out of debt by provide counseling services and financial education. Debt consolidation is the first step towards regaining a secure financial footing. After analyzing your true (no point in not disclosing everything about the situation you're in) financial situation, they will help you get your financial responsibilities under control. Defining a realistic budget and living within it is the key to success.

Debt consolidation means keeping a budget and learning how to keep track of money and where it has been spent (another aspect that has to be approached honestly). Managing repayment of your previous debts while not incurring new ones will let you meet your goal of financial security. Solving money management problems through education, counseling and motivation are what A New Horizon is all about.

Is Your Hip Replacement Helping Your Mobility?

You've had your hip replaced and expected that you would be able to do the things you used to do being free from pain. But your surgery was not the success that you had hoped for. Recently there have been many issues on Zimmer Durom cup replacements used for hip surgeries. Defective hip replacement devices are going into litigation across the country due to specific manufacturing defects.

Many people who have had a Durom Cup hip replacement are experiencing problems due to failures with the hip cup. In 2008, an orthopedic surgeon saw that a high percentage of those that had the cup implanted needed to have surgery within two years of receiving the implant. Usually within the first year there were no problems. As time went by, the cups began developing "radiolucent lines".

In July, 2008, Zimmer suspended (temporarily) sales of the Zimmer Durom cup types and urged surgeons and patients to monitor the devices. Many people who are suffering are seeking attorneys for litigation against the manufacture (not the surgeon). Attorneys need to be experienced with medical liability issues and will obtain surgical records to see if your replacement was one of the suspended products based on the product and lot number. As the Zimmer Company continues to blame the failure rate on surgeons, the number of patients with problems is increasing.

Affordable Internet Services

Have you tried several Internet services and been frustrated every step of the way? Do you suffer from constant disconnects and freeze ups? Is the line always busy? Can you speak directly with someone to help you with your problems or do you have to submit an email and hope someone gets back to you within a reasonable amount of time with a solution to your problem? Now, there's a company that can help with all your Internet needs including dial-up and DSL services. Copper.net is an American owned and operated company providing affordable services with free customer service, virus protection, pop-up blocker and spam blocker.

If you're looking for inexpensive dial-up service, then Copper.net is the site for you. Packages start at $9.95 a month and give you the ability to surf the net faster with an "always on" connection and the ability to use your telephone while you're online. You can also set up 5 Copper.net email accounts. There's toll free U.S. based support with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Besides DSL service that starts at $19.95 a month, there are many other services that Copper.net offers. One service is "call alert" which notifies you when you're online that someone is trying to call you so that missed phone calls are a thing of the past. CopperArchive helps with email backup, storage, retrieval and recovery. HughesNet Satellite Internet is available for broadband Internet when other options are not available. Web hosting and design is offered through Copperhosting.

Copper.net is definitely your one-stop shopping web site for all your Internet needs at affordable prices.

The Legend of Santa Claus

Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Time and Kris Kringle is a legendary figure who brings gifts to the homes of children on Christmas Eve (December 24th) or on his Feast Day: Saint Nicholas Day (December 6th).

The early pictures had Santa Claus in bishop's robes while today's Santa is plump, jolly, white bearded and wearing a red coat with a white collar and cuffs white cuffed red pants and a black belt and boots. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century (based on the images of cartoonist Thomas Nast).

Santa is associated with living in the far north. The American version says he lives at a house in the North pole while Father Christmas is said to reside in the mountains of Korvatunturi (Lapland). Santa lives with his wife and magical elves and flying reindeer. One legend says that Santa makes lists of children who have been :naughty" or "nice". Presents and gifts are given to the good children and lumps of coal are given to the naughty children.

Some Christian religions say that teaching children about Santa Claus detracts from the religious origins and purpose of Christmas. Some feel that it's a lie and it's unethical for parents to teach children to believe in his existence. Still others say that Santa is a symbol of commercialization.

Invest In Your Future With Gold

Here's an astounding fact that will make you wish you had invested in gold a few years ago. $25,000.00 of gold bullion purchased in the 70's would be worth $524,999.00 today. Inflation, the oil crisis, the Internet and more have not effected the value of gold in the long term.

Gold is also a great investment for an IRA. Besides being the oldest form of money and the ultimate asset, governments can not devalue it and it can help offset market fluctuations in investment portfolios. Gold is often referred to as the "crisis commodity" and why investors put it into a 401k or traditional and Roth IRA's. Quite often, the price of gold rises when the economy is depressed.

Aurum Advisors has experience working with and delivering gold. Advisors are available to recommend the best investments to increase your portfolio with coins such as the gold Australian nugget pictured. It's one of the most popular coins created by the Perth Mint. There are 8 denominations minted with new designs each year.

Strength Where You Need it Most

If you're involved with construction of bridges, tunnels building highways or doing marine construction, then BACO Enterprises is the industrial bolt/fastener/washer distributor you need.

Located in Bronx, NY, they are the leading distributors of A325 and A490 Structural Bolts. With a huge inventory of every size needed, BACO Enterprises also has the capability of manufacturing special sizes and lengths needed for any job. Custom made or off-the-shelf, their fasteners can arrive with fast delivery service. The east coast (New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts, lower NY, Long Island and the New York Metro area) will receive next day delivery for standard washers.

BACO Enterprises has experts who can help with questions and special requests. Distribution and manufacturing fasteners of different sizes and lengths of products give flexibility for various construction project. Whether the washers are plate, USS flat, structural, ogee, toothed or clipped, your construction needs will be met. You can also request information directly through their electronic request form.

Insomnia and Bedding

Are you one of those people who have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? Many new technologies are being introduced to try and reduce or eliminate this problem. Recently, there was a trade show in Las Vegas that introduced some of the advances.

A homeopathic mattress with essential oils like lavender, chamomile, rose and calendula (long popular in Europe) was shown at the trade show. These are natural relaxing scents and some have anti-bacterial properties. When you lie down on the mattress, some of the micro capsules break down releasing the fragrance.

Organic bedding can help people with allergies. Eco-friendly wool, cotton, solid wood and natural rubber latex are also available.Some beds are available with iPod docking stations.

Sleep tips from the National Sleep Foundation include:

*Use a supple, comforting mattress rather than one that's too firm.
*Don't sleep with animals. Let them have a bed nearby.
*Our biological clocks are influenced by light. Keep the bedroom dark.
*Sleep on the "cool" side rather than the "warm" side (body temperatures drop at night so a cool room is better.)
*Get rid of annoying noises . Using "white noise" is not a problem.

source:Associated Press

Old Man On A Hill

There was an Old Man on a hill,
Who seldom, if ever, stood still;
He ran up and down,
In his Grandmother's gown,
Which adorned that Old Man on a hill.

Beautiful Skin Can be Yours

Everyone wants to look their best and procedures are important if you're seeking skin help from professionals. Celibre.com and the American Academy of Dermatology are where you can start your research. Celibre focuses on laser treatment of the skin with custom treatments based on individual skin types and conditions. Whether it's acne, unwanted hair or birthmarks, there is a treatment that will help. Visiting their web site will show all the options available.

One of the procedures that many people are seeking is tattoo removal. Fading tattoos, age, changes in professions and just plain remorse are some of the reasons people want to have a tattoo removed. Celibre laser tattoo removal is done using FDA approved lasers. They break down the pigment used to make the tattoo. Their state-of-the-art-q-switched lasers target only the tattoo, not the surrounding skin.

Laser hair removal Los Angeles helps those who have hair growing in the "wrong" places. Shaving and waxing are not helping and are not a permanent solution. Laser hair removal done with FDA approved lasers can remove hair on all skin types. Using these lasers helps remove the hair more effectively. As with all procedures, the amount of hair to be removed will determine how many treatments are necessary.

Kyanite: An Unusual Crystal

I'm always fascinated by the origin of words. Having been to Greece twice, I was pleased to find out that the name of the beadsofcambay.com's Kyanite is from the Greek word "kyanos". Kyanite is usually blue but is also available in white, grey or green. The color varies throughout the crystal and due to its origin in metamorphic rock. The piece at the left is made up of green Kyanite faceted elongated Marquis crystals.

Mined in Brazil, North Carolina, Switzerland, Russia, Serbia, India and Kenya, Kyanite can be transparent and/or translucent. The piece at the right is made up of Kyanite crystals that are of a brilliant quality with a smooth exterior. They are well matched in their dark true blue color, size and luster. They would be an asset to any jewelry designer's collection and fun to create pieces with.

All of beadsofcambay.com 's wholesale beads have free shipping for orders over $100.00 within the continental U.S. There is a huge selection of semi-precious and precious gemstones and freshwater pearls to choose from. Their one-of-a-kind beads make a designer's heart beat faster as do their special beads. There are beading articles and tips and help from a customer friendly staff and the is a new feature: "staff picks".

Online Tutoring

Are the nightly fights getting to you and your children when it's time to do homework? Is your child timid about asking his teacher for precalculus help? You can now get online math tutoring with just a click of your computer mouse. With TutorNext.com help is available 24/7.

TutorNext is online tutoring for student from K to college age students. They'll get tutoring and help with assignments and get a better understanding of concepts to help prepare for tests and quizzes. The tutors are experienced in their subject area.

Whether your child is looking for help with math problems or how to arrive at math answers, this one-to-one supplemental education with the online assignment help will make a difference. Topics covered include fractions, functions, ratios and equation solving.

Chemistry help is also a click away. Assignments are uploaded. The tutors work on it and within 48 hours email a step-by-step explanation for completion of the assignment.

Studying statistics is hard but with help from TutorText.com's statistics help given by experienced tutors at all levels, the frustration is quickly overcome. Learn the basics from mean, median, mode and random variables and then onto more advanced concepts.

Affordable Luxury

Everyone is looking to get the most for their money especially in these difficult economic times. You'll definitely get the best when you shop online at beautysak.com. There are many product lines to choose from including a full line of Molton Brown items which are not tested on animals. From their Naran Ji Fine Liquid Hand Wash to their Heavenly Gingerlily Body Cream , you'll get top quality.

Liquid Keratin is a safe purified protein fraction isolated from New Zealand wool. Using Liquid Keratin products help nourish curly, frizzy or unmanageable hair for up to 30 days making it longer, softer and less frizzy. One of the top products is the Sealing Shine Serum. There is also a line of Keratin Complex products by Coppola.

Kai Body products uses natural fragrances and essences to capture a light scent as seen in their perfume oil. You'll love their full line of perfume oils and body products in the light tropical fragrance. Julia Roberts and Naomi Watts are fans of these products and they have been featured on Oprah's Favorite Things. As always, orders over $50.00 ship free and free samples are included with every order.

Help Your Child Learn Math Quickly

Are you tired of the nightly battles with your child over math homework assignments? Can't afford a tutor? Here's an easy and cost effective way to help your child. With Guaranteach's approach, both you and your child will be amazed at how quickly math concepts are learned. Affordable online tutoring is just a computer click away.

Guaranteach was started in 2008 by two teachers and is one of the best Internet sources for math help. In a classroom, the ratio of students to teachers is very high so getting the extra help your child might need is difficult. Online video lessons cover all math topics including counting and calculus. You can try out the site with a free fractions video to get a feel for how the material is presented. There are also practice math questions.

With over 20,000 teacher-reviewed lessons, Algebra help and Algebra tutoring is available 24/7. As with all the lessons each math concept is taught in a variety of ways. An assessment quiz shows your child's learning style and which videos would be the best match for them. There are also reports that track your child's progress. There's nothing to lose and everything to gain by looking at and reviewing the site.

In Time For The Holidays: White Pearls

With the holidays just 2 weeks away, there's not much time left to get beadsofcambay.com's white pearls. The pearls are the ideal item for designers to use for creating necklaces, rings and earrings. They measure approximately 10-11 mm in diameter and have a high luster. Pearls, which are very much admired and valued are usually used for jewelry, but may also be sewn onto clothing.

Beadsofcambay.com also has copper beads in many shapes and designs including charms, toggles, cones, caps, clasps, headpins, jump rings and spacer beads. The high quality of these beads lend themselves well to a designer's creativity.

Unusual, one of a kind beads are also available with beadsofcambay.com's wholesale beads. Some of the unusual beads are: pink sapphire pear briolettes, red orange Shongia sapphire faceted rondelles and multi colored tourmaline tumbled nuggets. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary, set up an account and receive additional savings with wholesale orders. As always, orders over $100.00 ship free within the lower 48 states either by Fed Ex or USPS. Shipping is also available internationally (including Canada) and customer service is a top priority for the company.

The Innocence of a Child

Go "Way" South of The Border

Now is the time to plan your dream vacation in Argentina. The sluggish economy will help you get fabulous deals on lodging and tours that might not have been available in the past. Tours in Argentina can be planned for as many days as you want and can be tailored to fit any budget.

ExploreArgentina.com, established in 2001, specializes in tourism in Argentina and Latin-America. Tours and hotels in Argentina can be previewed for wherever your destination happens to be. Open 24 hours a day, their tourism office is staffed with knowledgeable professionals who have access to the latest technology to help you plan that special vacation.

Hotel in Buenos Aires and hotels in El Calafate offer luxurious accommodations with many ammenities. To get started with your research, log into the ExploreArgentina.com web site, select a destination, enter dates of arrival and departure and the type/size room that you want. It's as easy as that.

When you travel to Argentina, you'll have the vacation of a lifetime. The tourism staff will help you with your completely personalized vacation and give you insights into out-of-the-way places that you might otherwise miss.

Take Your Business or Trade Show Booth To The Next Level

In the present economy, you need to get the most "bang for your buck" now more than ever. With shrinking budgets, the time and money you spend to participate in a trade show, conference or convention has to bring you the most value. You have to stand out in the crowd from the other exhibitors in order to attract potential customers. The use of a logo canopy will help you do this. It can be as ornate and decorative as you want and it puts your company name out there for everyone to see. Outdoor use is possible also because of the construction using 500 denier vinyl-coated polyester and a heavy duty aluminium frame. These canopies are also great for outdoor events such as fairs and fund-raisers.

The use of logo mats and trade show carpet are additional things that will help set you apart from your competition and help attract visitors. Many businesses also use logo floor mats. Portable and economical, they are made of high quality materials. Many items can be used both indoors and outdoors and are easy to put together and maintain.

Trade show flooring comes in a variety of styles and shapes. Again, logos can be added to always keep your name out in front of the public. Some of the flooring includes portable vinyl or hardwood floors, printed, interlocking and floor tiles.

Ceiling Fans = Fashion & Function

Is this what you look and feel like when the weather gets hot and uncomfortable? Not a nice feeling or look is it? After the hot, unpredictable summer weather I had, I started looking into something to help alleviate this problem that is both cost effective and practical and found a web site for Hansen Wholesale Ceiling Fans. I was amazed at the styles, types and statements that can be made with a ceiling fan. My thinking about them seemed to still be in the age of the dinosaurs.

At this web site, I found a huge selection of ceiling fans from many major manufacturers including: Hunter, Minka Aire, Casablanca, Emerson and Fanimation. There were many ceiling fan thems including bamboo, baseball, African and Tiffany. I was also surprised at the many ways that fans can be mounted other than from the ceiling.

I'm usually wary of change and really appreciated the answers for purchasing and maintaining a ceiling fan that I found at the Hansen Wholesale Ceiling Fans site. One question that I've had trouble with over the years is "Which direction should the fan turn during summer and winter" and another is "What are the advantages of using a fan"? Many answers including what size fan to buy for room size and what to look for in a ceiling fan are also found at this site.

A Cat's View of Life

Where's The Nearest McDonalds?

Astronauts don't have the option of grabbing something to eat while in outer space. Their food has always been of concern. One of the favorite foods of the astronauts is "mac and cheese" stored in a shrink-wrapped brick. According to NASA, this is the comfort food they crave most. But when they blast off for Mars in 2030, this won't be available as the see-through package traps moisture and oxygen so it would spoil before eaten.

The manager of NASA's advanced food technology says this is one of the issues she and her staff of 15 have to consider when they make up menus for missions.. The menu needs to be light and nutritious, tasty and durable enough to withstand the years-long mission to Mars.

Missions of that length have enough food for 6,759 breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks (enough food to feed 6 people for more than 3 years). Each person is allowed 3.2 pounds of food per day with each dish needing a five year shelf life.

As space missions got longer over the years, NASA moved away from the toothpaste like containers that held vegetable purees. Meals began to resemble real food: dehydrated sausage patties, fruit cocktail and spaghetti with meat sauce.

Today, food on missions includes freeze-dried shrimp, beef fajitas and cherry-blueberry cobbler.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Style And Design For The Smart Shopper

Are you looking for something unique in furniture? Do you like to shop from the convenience of your own home knowing that you'll get top quality items at very affordable prices? Then mydeco.com is the web site for you. Here, you'll not only see a wide variety of products, styles and designs, you'll also have access to free design tools.

If you are thinking of redesigning your living room with a new look, (whether it's replacing all your furniture for a totally new look with a living room suite or just a new sofa), you can use the free 3D design a room tool . Release your creativity as you use this tool or make up a moodboard. You can also upload your own photo of a room and try various color schemes and see what catches your eye.

If you're addicted to your morning cup of coffee or tea, think of new dining room furniture . Wouldn't it be nice to have that cup in new surroundings? If you're expecting a baby, think in terms of using the 3D designing tool to help you get a head start on the baby's room. With the holidays about a month away, why not buy a few new decorations to make your house a little more festive this year?

Comfort, convenience, style and affordability are key with any piece of furniture or decoration at mydeco.com.

More TV Programs For Your $$$

Are you the type of person who wants to get the most value for your money? Of course you are especially with the present economy. Direct TV is the provider you want. With a huge selection of packages, every one's television favorites are available.

The "Family" package starting at $29.99/mo offers 40+ DirectTV channels. The "premier" package which is the ultimate entertainment package offer 265= channels. When you order (either online or by calling 1-888-409-4351) you may be eligible to receive a FREE HD DVR receiver upgrade (valued at $199.99) which allows you to record, pause and rewind live television. You can record hours of your favorite TV shows also.

For avid sport fans, you can get the NFL Sunday Ticket through Directv and watch the most NFL games offered every week. There are extra features including over 180 games in HD and the RED ZONE CHANNEL.

Buying A New Car?

As a single woman, I'm always interested in web sites that can help me make important decisions. Other than buying a home, purchasing an automobile is one of the most important purchases in a person's life. Safety and dependability are two of the main things I look for and research before buying a vehicle. Transportation has to be reasonably priced and have basic options before I consider them. I found and excellent web site: TheCarConnection.com.

One of the best values I found was a Chevrolet Malibu. It's a strong performing car with good fuel economy, is an excellent ride with comfortable seats and has high crash test results. For 2010, there were very minor changes. The six-speed automatic transmission is now standard on all but the base model which helps improve fuel economy. At TheCarConnection.com, I was able to find out the pros and cars on this specific model with reviews and other valuable info.

While at this site I looked for information on other makes and models and found interesting facts and information about Mercedes Benz cl-class. One of the side facts I learned was that an open-top, dark blue Mercedes-Benz owned by Adolph Hitler was sold to an anonymous Russian billionaire for several million dollars. It was on display for awhile at a Las Vegas car museum.

The Suzuki sx4 is another automobile with many features and options and has received raves about it's interior. After looking at a few different cars and their options and reviews, I decided to look up the history of automobiles in Wikipedia and found out the background of many cars. Wiki cars was interesting reading and noted that Ferdinand Verbiest, a Jesuit in China, built the first steam powered vehicle around 1672. Reading the history of the automobile industry was fascinating.

Be Eco-Friendly: Conserve

Water is something that's been taken for granted ever since the time of the first man. We all assumed it would be there whenever we wanted. Not True. We should all have a rain water barrel as this is the easiest way to conserve water. In a post I did on 5/17/09. I addressed the issue of the shrinking rain forests. They used to cover 14% of the earth's surface and now only cover 6%. This is a scary fact as information like this has only been tracked for the last few decades. Many aspects of our lives are dependant of the activity of the rain forests.

I've also addressed the issue of composting in posts I did on 8/27/09 and 10/21/09. Again, this is one of the easiest ways to help the environment. It used to be a very messy and smelly process years ago. Today, there are pieces of equipment that can be purchased very inexpensively to assist in having a more sanitary composting process. In one of the composting posts, I mentioned Leonardo DiCaprio's commitment to the "go green" movement and how he included living green in as many phases of life that he can. I'm sure that he incorporates the use of a rain barrel as part of his involvement. A 8/6/09 post was on eco-friendly packaging materials. A good percentage of the materials were made from recycled materials.

I remember visiting my grandparents when I was little. They made use of rain barrels decades ago. Part of the reason they saved water was due the hard economic times they grew up in and part was due to the fact that clothes washed in rain water kept them very soft. My grandmother also used the rain water to wash her hair. It always smelled good and was very soft to the touch. Her barrel was very different from the ones that are out today. She had the old wooden barrel with the metal staves. It was very tall and always covered to keep debris out.

The Only Choice in Direct TV

There are so many television offers and packages today, that it's often very confusing as to who is the best provider and where can you get the most for your money. With today's economy, you want to get the most out of your dollar and Direct TV provided by mytvoptions.com gives you the most "bang for your buck".

If you're a sports fan, then Satellite Directv is the logical choice. You get a huge select of sports channels that include: ESPN, NFL Network, NHL Center Ice, NBA TV, Goal TV, CBS College Sports, MLB Network and many more.

Lots of movie channels are available and for those of you who are interested in international Direct Satellite TV, there is programming available in Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian and lots of other languages. Speciality programming for southern Asia and the Middle East is also an option. International sports like rugby and cricket are also available.

Fashion, Pollution or BPA?

BE WARY!!! Some of the aluminium bottles that look so fashionable may contain the contaminant BPA.

The plastic bottle industry consumed 8.82 billion gallons of water in 2007 worth $11.7 billion. The United States market for bottled water is the largest in the world. Then information started to come out that plastic bottles were not biodegradable and used vast amounts of oil to produce.

In many plastic bottles the chemical bisphenol A or BPA leached from the bottles. It has been linked to cancer, neurological problems and reproductive disorders. Many switched to a reusable aluminium water bottles made by the Swiss company SIGG. Recently, the CEO of SIGG had to admit that prior to August 2008, the liners of the bottles did contain BPA.

The original SIGG liner inside has a shiny copper bronze finish. The new BPA free liners have a dull, yellow coating.

Source:The Detroit Press (News)

A-tisket A-tasket

A-tisket a-tasket
A green-and-yellow basket
I bought a basket for my mommie
On the way I dropped it

I dropped it, I dropped it
Yes, on the way I dropped it
A little girlie picked it up
And took it to the market

Recently, I was looking to possibly buy a picnic basket as I wanted to do something different and picnics are one of the things I haven't done in years. The song, "A-tisket A-tasket" popped into my mind and it was hard to get it out. Written and sung by Ella Fitzgerald in 1938, it was and still is a popular school bus children's song. It is any easy song to learn due to the pattern of the words. It's a song about a green and yellow basket. I tried to look up the words tisket and tasket but couldn't find them anywhere. Even Wikipedia was no help and they can usually find an answer to virtually any query. This time I struck out.

What really surprised me is the fabulous selection of picnic baskets that are out there. I'm still in the dark ages of thinking picnic baskets are made of basic straw with no frills that you place your plastic containers in (usually of the used Cool Whip type). Boy, was I wrong! The times have certainly changed. You can buy baskets for certain types of food. Baskets for wines or wine and cheese together are available and I learned that if you're eating a hard cheese, red wine should be the choice of what to drink. Soft cheeses call for white wine. I never knew that wines are based on the type of cheese eaten. I had only heard of wines associated with meat and fish.

A gourmet picnic basket or traditional basket is available to fit every one's taste and budget. Basic backpack picnic baskets are all the rage as are children's baskets. Baskets are designed to meet people's needs not only for form but for function also. Made from hand-woven willow and polyester canvas, today's picnic baskets will last for years. The food compartments are insulated, with melamine or ceramic dishes as well as cotton linens, stainless steel silverware and cutting boards all add to the user's enjoyment. Not only are today's picnic baskets convenient, they are made of high quality. I guess it's time for me to "get with the program" when it comes to having a picnic.

Avista Resort for the Time of your Life

For the past several weeks I've been looking into various oceanfront Myrtle Beach resorts as I'm seriously thinking of planning a trip there during the long winter months that are ahead. I have found another excellent one: Avista Resort. This area enjoys the temperature climate of the warm Gulf Stream. Located on North Myrtle Beach, Avista Resort has lots to offer for everyone.

Myrtle Beach resorts have something to suit every one's tastes including fabulous sailing charters. You'll sail on a luxurious 44 foot yacht along the intercoastal waters or go out into the high seas. Your cruise can be both relaxing and exhilarating at the same time.

Other experiences during an Oceanfront Myrtle Beach resort vacation can include fabulous golf courses, horseback riding, leisurely walks along the beach and almost anything else your heart desires.

One Myrtle Beach resort special I found out about, is the "stay 3, get 4th FREE" offer when you stay 3 or more nights. This special includes free breakfast buffet for 2 adults on the 4th day and dinner discounts at Avista's "Just Off Main".

Fun, Luxury, Affordable = Prince Resort

Whether you're looking for a romantic get-away or a family vacation, one of the finest Myrtle Beach accommodations can be found at Prince Resort. You'll find ground floor swimming pools and hot tubs, a mushroom style kiddie pool, fitness rooms (weights and cardio) and 9th floor rooftop hot tubs and swimming pools. The rooms are one, two and 3 bedroom suites with oceanfront balconies and floor to ceiling windows.

At this Myrtle Beach resort, you'll also have high-speed Internet access and televisions in all bedrooms and the living room. Prince Resort, located in North Myrtle Beach has accommodations for those that are looking for a leisurely pace or those who like lots of activities including golf, museums, helicopter tours, sailing cruises and spa treatments. There are eating places to please every one's tastes in food.

Staying at any of the Myrtle Beach resorts ensures you high quality for affordable prices. Look for manager's specials at Prince Resort for even better deals and enter their sweepstakes to win a 4 night stay in a 2 bedroom condo. Drawing for a winner will be held on or about January 1, 2010.

Get Your Business Known

You're in business to make money, but if people don't know about you or how to find you or what you offer, you might as well shut and lock your doors and slink off into the sunset. JustClickLocal.com is there to help you get the word out about what you have to offer. If you're a businessman in Atlanta, GA, then you can be in the forefront of your competition by joining. In these hard economic times, many people like to keep the money they spend within their community and this is a positive way to be sure that it does stay locally.

JustClickLocal.com is an excellent resource when you're traveling. If you're in Buffalo, NY on your first trip there, you'll be able to access places to eat, where to shop, what the local entertainment is and many more services and products. You won't be a "stranger in a strange land" for long. With their easy to use web site, all you have to do is enter the business/ product or whatever it is that you're looking for and several businesses in that category will appear. You'll know the distance to the site and you'll also find easy to follow maps and directions.

St. Louis, MO and other cities are just a click away with reliable information. JustClickLocal.com is fast and easy, so get started on your search.

Lockers Are More Than They Used To Be

Hard to believe that this is a picture of a set of lockers isn't it? These wood lockers are what you might find at an upscale golf or yacht club. The wood grain and hi-tech design gives them a very rich look and they are easy to maintain.

Remember your old gym locker? You'd throw your stinky socks and smelly uniform into it and hope you'd remember to take them home for your mother to wash before your next practice. Most of the time, you forgot to do that, so they were really ripe the next time you put them back on. With vented school lockers, some of this problem was avoided but your clothes were still nasty. The problem wasn't with the locker, it was temporary memory loss that caused this. You probably wanted to put the whole room of lockers for sale and start all over again with new ones.

Your locker was your own personal area and you'd decorate it with whatever was the trend at the time. If it had a combination lock, you'd usually mess up when you were in a hurry to throw a book into it and grab the one for the next class.