Hidden Talents

If you’ve got a talent that you’re desperate to share with the world, visit www.log.tv. This site is aimed at being a talent broadcasting network, and users are encouraged to upload film, TV, comedy and music, giving anyone the opportunity to become a star. Everything that’s submitted will be screened, so if you are broadcast on the site you know that you’ve got talent.

Soul Train

If you’ve got a passion for classic soul and funk, visit www.soulandfunkmusic.com. With information on legends like Marvin Gaye, Prince and Aretha Franklin you can spend hours searching through their album releases, interviews and reviews. There’s even an online station that is sure to please old school fans

Puppy Love

If you’re a dog lover, www.doggysnaps.com is the website for you. With hundreds of photographs, this website does exactly what it says on the tin. You can also upload pictures of your favourite pooch for the world to enjoy.

20 Days And Counting...

If you’ve ever felt like there’s not enough hours in the day, now’s the time to take a step back and think things through. www.20days.co.uk works out how many days the average Brit has off work each year, including holidays and weekends, and comes up with inventive ways to spend your time. So how will you spend your 132 days this year?

Off Road Parking

www.parkatmyhouse.com is an interesting and helpful site dedicated to helping you find affordable and fine-free parking.

The service works by letting homeowners rent out their empty driveways, garages and car parks to drivers needing somewhere to park.

You can arrange to use the space on a one-off or regular basis depending on whose parking spot your renting.

Full Of Flavour

If you consider yourself to be a bit of a Nigella or Jamie in the kitchen, visit www.eattheseasons.co.uk. This simple but effective website does exactly what it says on the tin, and tells you what foods are in season this month.

In February try eating bananas, oranges, parsnips and rhubarb.

One for the girls

With a plethora of great gadgets and tech available, girls these days are into much more than just dolls and dressing up.

www.wambie.com is a young girls' paradise, as it is all pink and sparkly, with horoscopes, games, stories and even a spattering of celebrity gossip.

This really is a very stereotypically girly girl site, with its cooking and skill games, so not one for the tomboys.

But if your little one loves princesses and fashion and cooking and makeup she will have a ball.
The only downside is the abundance of adverts, but I guess the site's creators are entitled to earn money for its upkeep.

Somehow you do not even need to register to play, plus they do not actually interfere with the gameplay at all.

MovieStorm

Even though the web reviews are finished on the radio for now I have been asked by numerous people to keep this blog going so theres more websites for you to try out.
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The more technology develops, the more it opens the doors of creativity to a wider audience. This website will turn even the most technically inept of you into an animated movie master.

You just need a little time and patience and a decent script. Take a look at www.moviestorm.co.uk

Take a wander around the site and check out the movies posted by people who are already using this software. There are some really cool little films. But do bear in mind they are posted by the public, so you may occasionally come across something which is not to your taste. Once you are hooked on the idea you need to register and download the software.

The first time you launch the application, it will check your hardware to see which settings you can run, and then download the standard core library of sets, models and props.

There is a reasonably extensive free library for you to play around with, and of course the obligatory extra packs you can pay for.

Some more experienced animators can even add their own elements. The software is quite complicated, but if you follow the step-by-step guide when making a template-based movie it should not take you too long to get the hang of it.

This is a great piece of free software worth persevering with, so start small and work your way up.

Rest In Peace

Have you ever had a pet that you loved so much that you want to cherish their memory forever? Well now you can at www.thepetcemetary.com, where you can upload photographs and memories that you have of your beloved pet.

Visitors to the site are also given the chance to leave their own personal messages on your pet’s grave, making it the perfect tribute.

Safe As Houses

We all want to protect ourselves and our families as much as we can, and now there’s a website that can help. Security. www.tipcentral.net is a website dedicated to ensuring your safety at home, work and on the move. It has ten categories including personal, travel, financial and computer safety so you can sleep easy knowing that you’re being looked after

Fashion Police

In the New Year most of us want to change our look. If you want to try a different style, try visiting www.thefashionpolice.net. This website will tell you what’s hot and what’s not, as well as which celebrity’s fashion sense you should be following. A good way to spend your lunchtime!

Cook By Numbers

If you’re more of a disaster than a Delia in the kitchen, visit www.legourmet.tv. This handy site stores video recipes so you can watch and pause them while you’re cooking. They update the site with four new creations every week so you can continually score brownie points with your other half, friends or flatmates.

Burns Night

It’s Burns Night coming up, a festival that’s aimed at celebrating the life and work of Scotland’s best-loved bard, Robert Burns. But how much you do know about the great man? Well you can find out all about him at www.rabbie-burns.com, where you can also read a selection of his poems, learn how to through a traditional Burns Night Supper and read up on the history of Burns’s beloved haggis.

Cancertalk Week

Cancertalk Week is this week and it's aimed at helping schools raise children and young peoples' awareness of cancer using free teaching resources.

Macmillan Cancer Support is asking schools across the UK to use the Cancertalk packs to plan a special assembly and hold a series of lessons on cancer, or just take part in fundraising for Macmillan.

To find out more visit www.macmillan. org.uk.

A Way With Words

Whether you’re declaring your undying love, or just can’t find the right words www.quoteland.com will help you always sound articulate. You can search by topic or keyword, making it easier to pass off these words of wisdom as your own. It’s also handy for any student trying to finish off an essay.

Bizarre Experiments

If you love hoaxes and strange experiments, then you’ll love this site. Log on to www.museumofhoaxes.com and click on the link on the right hand side and you’ll be transported to a list of the Top 20 Most Bizarre Experiments Of All Time.

The list of experiments here are truly bizarre and be warned that the faint of heart may want to stay away from some of the more peculiar entries.

Read all about elephants on acid, bulls controlled by remote, and housewives unintentionally subjecting themselves to beneficial brainwashing.

Mascot Stalker

We all have days where we hate everybody and everything. If you’re feeling wound up today, log on to www.ihate.org.uk and tell the world what’s getting on your nerves. Or, if you just can’t find the words to express how you’re feeling, take a look at what’s getting other people’s goat.

Up To The Minute

It’s never great being the last to know what’s going on in the world, so to keep your knowledge of national and international events up to date log on to www.newsnow.co.uk.

This site automatically searches over 30,000 websites every five minutes to give you the very latest information from around the globe.

Paper Planes, Trains and Automobiles

www.papertoys.com gives you a chance to relive your childhood days of making paper aeroplanes but on a much more grand stage.

This site shows you how to make everything from the Eiffel Tower to a Jimi Hendrix guitar with their easy-to-use guidelines. This is site is great for kids and big kids alike!

Top Secret

No matter what you do for a career, it’s more than likely that you dreamt about being a spy when you were a kid.

You can now live out your childhood fantasies at www.topspysecrets.com. This is a site full of spy tricks and secrets, including how to make your own invisible ink. A good excuse to release your inner child!

Classic Clips

Have you ever trawled the web for funny clips and thought, ‘there’s got to be a better way to sift through all this rubbish?’ Well you’ll be pleased to know that there is.

www.classicshowbiz.blogspot.com gives you nothing but the best US TV clips. Perfect if you’re in need of a bit of light relief on a grey winter’s day!

Our House

If you’re looking to relocate to a new area, www.upmystreet.com can help find the perfect place for you. Just type in the postcode of where you’re thinking of moving to, and the website will generate a complete profile of your chosen area. It will even go as far as to tell you what newspapers the people in your area read!

Lost Dog

A dog is not just for Christmas, it’s for life, which is why it can be devastating when you lose your canine companion. www.doglost.co.uk is the place to go when your pooch has gone missing. You can upload photographs and details free of charge within minutes and it’s also helpful if you’ve found a puppy you want to return to its rightful owner.

Ideas Machine

The first website review of 2009 on the show.


If you’ve got a great idea you’re desperate to share with the world, look no further than www.idea-a-day.com. This website let’s you post your idea, and if they think it’s good enough, they’ll display it as their idea for the day. And for those of you who are in need of inspiration, you can also look back through their archives at other people’s strokes of genius

Browsing the web

If you have a little time on your hands over the New year then I`ve added a few sites for you to take a look at.

• A DRIVE (www.adrive.com)

  How would you like 50GB of free online storage space with the option to share?

  To get your 50GB adrive.com - just click the big black button to sign-up and then click the link in the activation e-mail which you are sent to complete.

  Once logged in, managing your files is really simple, though the downloader/uploader runs on java so you will need to have that function activated to work successfully.

  Click on My Files at the top then use the Upload feature to begin backing-up data from your hard drive. You can also automatically back up all the files on your computer.

  Once your files have uploaded you will see a link giving you the option to share them. Click this link to add the file to your shared drive, and a URL will be generated for others to click on to access that file.

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• ANIMOTO (http://animoto.com)

  Picture sharing sites are all the rage, but do you wish you could add a little more pizzazz to your album distribution?

  How about adding a banging rock tune and having the pictures animate on and off in a video you can post on YouTube? But that would be far too much work, right? Wrong.

  Click Get Started to begin using this brilliant site. You will need to register to make either a 30 second short, which is completely free, or full-length film, which you have to pay for.

  Next, choose to upload pictures from either your computer or a photo sharing site. Fifteen shots is ideal for a 30 second short.

  Uploading them might take a few minutes, depending on your connection speed, how many pictures you have chosen and what resolution they are. Once they have uploaded, use the buttons at the bottom to rotate, spotlight or add more pictures from another location.

  Then add a banging tune. Click the Music tab at the side and choose either from their selection or a track off your own computer.

  Now you are almost done. The next screen asks you to enter a name and some details about your video, then just click Create Video and wait while the website does the fancy bit.

  You can start working on your next video while you wait, then click My Videos at the top to review your work. After playing the video you can choose to do a remix, altering the pictures and the music. A link to view your creation will also be e-mailed to you.

  Finally, use the buttons at the bottom to distribute your film either straight to YouTube or e-mailing your friends.

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• JOOCE (www.jooce.com)

  According to online application Jooce, 500 million people access the internet from cybercafes each day. And if you happen to be one of those people, or you just want a consistent experience when browsing the web from multiple locations, consider this place.

  The idea of this site is to bring the functionality of your personal computer at home to any computer you might happen to sit down at - even if you do not actually have a machine at home.

  You will be able to access files, e-mail, instant messaging, storage and lots of other applications.

  The first step is to register and reserve your own private space on their servers.

  Next up, enter your instant messenger account details and click the green arrow to confirm.

  Be warned, when you want to talk to a contact, Jooce will send them a message inviting them to sign-up every time you text them through their ordinary instant messenger client.

  Next, click the forward arrow to run through all the options and set up your desktop how you want. There is a useful tips run-through when you first start up, teaching you everything you can do with this application.

  As well as being able to use this virtual desktop in exactly the same way as a normal desktop - storing files, making folders and chatting to your friends - there is also a public desktop (known as a Joocetop) accessible through the green desktop icon at the bottom.

  Here you can allow friends to access and share files you have placed on it.

  It works in exactly the same way as the regular desktop, but through your Jooce instant messenger client, contacts can open up your Joocetop, and vice versa - making sharing files and information a breeze.

  As well as being a really useful tool, I love the way the interface looks and works. Though if you are stuck using an older machine on a low bandwidth connection, you might find all the animations make it slow to load.

National Transplant Trust

This is the last website review beofre New Year as things tend to change around a bit at Christmas and New year time with different presenters covering each others shows so that we can all gbet a bit of a break.

The National Transplant Trust is a UK organisation set up to support those who have had, or are waiting for a transplant. Take a look at www.thetxspace.com

There is something for everyone on this website, whether you are a patient, or a supporter or carer, or you know someone who has become a donor, or even if you work in the transplant sector.

On the site like-minded people discuss their experiences and offer support and advice to those going through a tough time.

Once you sign up, you will get an invitation e-mail to join the network. Check your spam folder as this is where the mail ended up for me.

Accepting the invitation and filling out your personal details gives you access to the groups and forums, or you can start your own network.

You get 20MB of free storage space for photos or anything you want to share. The site itself is simply presented and very functional and provides a very valuable resource to anyone who is affected by transplant.

80's Movies

This website offers a little bit of retro chic with an 80s movies tribute site. Thinking about it, can anything from the 1980s really be considered chic? .... You decide.

Log onto www.fast-rewind.com and you will notice straight away on the website that its styling is very much in keeping with the 80s theme.

There is a lot of really neat stuff on it, despite the slightly unsophisticated look of it. The information goes really in-depth and the site's creator has obviously put a lot of time into compiling it.

There is a featured movie trailer on the opening page with the sections easily accessed in a navigation panel on the left.

Once you have selected a movie, use the new navigation panel on the left to switch between reviews. These include the trailer, music and soundtrack, behind the scenes, trivia, locations and even bloopers and goofs.

If you are inspired to start watching some of these old classics there is impartial information on where to get them. There is even a guide to which releases have been given the HD and Blu-ray treatment.

It is a brilliant resource for all of us who cannot get enough of big hair and even bigger shoulder pads.

Gadget Blog

With the holiday season fast approaching you might want to know precisely what gift to get a gadget-mad relative.

Or you might just be interested in knowing what not to get them. Either way, www.gadgetblog.co.uk will provide the answers you seek.

According to the site's introduction, this is the 143rd best gadget site in the world. But who is counting?

I am not quite sure where they got that statistic, but it surely is a great read, stuffed full of fun and funky gadgets for you to feast your eyes on.

The in-your-face banner at the top of the page leads you to the top 10 gadgets you do not want for Christmas.

It features such wonders as the electronic snore stopper which shocks the poor sleeper every time it goes off.

The bathroom-ready "potty putter" offers keen golfers an interesting way to pass the time as they do their business.

On the plus side, there are many great gadgets featured too. Take a look at the "previously on gadget blog" panel on the opening page to jump to the features.

This site is well written, although the layout could do with a little more thought, but definitely one to bookmark if you like to keep up with what is hot in the gadget world.

Hassle-Free Christmas

With Christmas very close upon us you might be starting to feel the pressure of unwrapped presents and visiting relatives. So if you’re one of the thousands of people who have left everything a little late – help is at hand at www.worldofchristmas.net It’s packed with party ideas, recipes and decoration tips to make sure you have a cool yule this year

Family Tree

On www.ancestry.co.uk you cvan find out all about your family tree and ancestors. With access to government records and census reports dating back to 1841. It is perfect for anyone with an interest in tracing their family tree. You can build and save your own tree on the site
The Host(ess) with the Most(ess)

Be the best host around with the help of www.bartendersguide.com. It has an index of thousands of cocktail recipes with a featured drink each day, plus wine basics and popular recipes featured.
There is also a useful entertaining guide with ‘How To…’ guides on a variety of different party themes (obviously including a cocktail party!) plus poker rules, tips for playing Monopoly and Cleudo and many drinking games.

It’s a hosting godsend.

Serious Dieting

www.caloriesperhour.com is a useful tool for those very serious about losing weight. It has calories-burned calculators, where you enter an activity and your weight and find out how many calories you burn an hour doing it.

But it isn’t just limited to sports, there are literally hundreds of activities to choose from, from playing accordion to yoga, via applying make up and feeding the dog. There are also hundreds of useful tips and articles for the dedicated dieter.

Weekend web review - The Host(ess) with the Most(ess)

As Christmas is on the way in just over a week I thought I`d squeeze in a weekend website review that may help with the Christmas drinks

Be the best host around with the help of www.bartendersguide.com. It has an index of thousands of cocktail recipes with a featured drink each day, plus wine basics and popular recipes featured.
There is also a useful entertaining guide with ‘How To…’ guides on a variety of different party themes (obviously including a cocktail party!) plus poker rules, tips for playing Monopoly and Cleudo and many drinking games. It’s a hosting godsend.

Teachers.tv

Whether you are a teacher, student, or just someone who wants to learn more about the world we live in, you will find it at www.teachers.tv.

Based on content from the free to air digital channel called teachers tv. Here you can find hundreds and hundreds of great educational features that will help your children learn what they need to be successful in school.

The opening page highlights featured films and articles, but as soon as you enter any section you will find a handy navigation panel on the left which splits the films up into key stages or subject categories.

There is a short description below each film when you select it, which tells you what the content and target audience is. There is something here for everyone at every stage including documentaries about how some schools are overcoming education hurdles.

Whilst the channel is aimed at a UK audience the content is relevant the world over and really genuinely interesting. I strongly advise you take a look.

The Darwin Awards

www.Darwinawards.com is a site dedicated to the weirdest ways in which people have either accidentally or intentionally shuffled off this mortal coil.

There’s also a fascinating section on urban myths and tall tales.

Visitors to the site can also tell other readers about their first-hand accounts of the bizarre. However, you may want to take some of these with a rather large pinch of salt.

Small Talk

You need never be lost for small talk at parties again, after you’ve visited www.unkno.com. Here you’ll learn some priceless gems like:

“Did you know that the giraffe can store more water than a camel?”

and:

“Did you know that you are two inches taller when you wake up than when you go to bed?”

Eye on Earth

11.30pm Monday to Thursdays I review a website of the day on the show and tonights is described in such a way that a visit to http://www.eyeonearth.eu/ is a must if you are planning on taking a beach trip to anywhere in the EU. It will help you find your way to the cleanest spots in Europe.

Made by the European Environment Agency (EEA), the website allows users to check the EU water quality ratings for over 21,000 swimming spots in beaches, rivers and lakes around Europe.

It is laid out in a familiar click and zoom map style, so it is really easy to find the watery spot you are heading to marked on the map. You can switch between a graphical and satellite image version of the map by clicking between Road and Ariel.
The flags on the map represent either the EEA rating, or a user vote. See the key on the left for the options.

Once you zoom right in, you will see a tiny satellite picture of the location together with an option to leave your own vote.

As time goes by, this site should build into a really nice resource for beach lovers everywhere looking for a clean and safe spot to swim.

Ballroom Dancers

Tonights website review is about Ballroom Dancing.

Ballroom dancing is enjoying a bit of a renaissance in the UK just now, thanks to televisions shows like Strictly Come Dancing, where celebrities battle it out on the dance floor.

If you want to waltz your way through life, or do a little foxtrot after work, take a look at www.ballroomdancers.com

This website is stuffed to the seams with videos stepping you, quite literally, through the moves. Use the navigation panel on the left to open the dance styles.

Each dance has an overview of the foot placings, a text description of both the male and female role in the dance, and then a video to help you piece it all together.

Once you click the video icon, you will need to choose between a Flash or Quicktime player before watching the no-nonsense films. Watch them again and again until you get the hang of it.

The website is simple and easy to navigate, and without many frills, so you will have to save the artistic impressions for the dance floor.

qik.com

Have you been at a family event, like a wedding or birthday party, and thought to yourself: I wish so-and-so could be here? Well, now they can, as long as you have a mobile videophone.

It is really simple to sign up to this ingenious website. Just pop your mobile number in, and everything you need to stream live video to the net, will be sent to your phone.

It is still fairly new so the list of supported phones is modest but growing. Check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section for more information.

If your phone works, you can start streaming video straight away to the www.qik.com site, or even direct it to a Twitter account.

Capture all those magical moments and send them out live on the internet to your loved ones around the world. Streams are recorded and stored in your profile section so you can look at them time and again.

But do remember that others can watch them too, unless you choose to make them private.

Buying And Selling

www.FindsYou.com is a useful new service that aims to match online buyers with suitable sellers.

So if, for instance, you need a pair of tickets to a Premier League game, stick up your details and the site will find someone who is offering them for sale. Likewise, if you have something you want to flog the site will quickly track down prospective customers.

Great Care

www.iwantgreatcare.org is a new, independent website that lets patients rate and review their doctors.

Its two primary uses are either to read the opinions submitted by other users or to write a review of your own local doctor or health specialist.

The site isn’t just confined to GPs but a whole raft of medial professionals. Reviews are short and based on three caring categories: trust, listening and recommendation.

Weekend web review - Free Directory Enquires

Don`t normally do this but since its the weekend and the end of the month I thought I would chuck a quick website review in for you.

Take a look at www.192.com and also www.thephonebook.bt.com

Both sites are free to use to obtain telephone numbers and it saves you paying out those extortionate rates to your phone company just to get a telephone number.

Find The Perfect Wine

Looking for the perfect wine for your dinner party? www.lovethatwine.co.uk has a powerful search feature where you can search for wine by colour, country, supermarket price, occasion and food type.

It has wine reviews and information provided by a team of enthusiasts and it also publishes honest, unbiased reviews from everyday wine drinkers. There is also information on over 10,000 wines available on UK shelves

Ask Cupid

Do you have a love problem that you need advice on?

Well log onto www.dearcupid.com where you can post a problem and get advice from other users. There are thousands of questions on just about every possible quandary of the heart. Alternatively, if you’re feeling wise, you can offer your pearls of wisdom and try your hand at being an agony aunt or uncle.

Say Bye to Migraines

Migraines can be seriously painful and lay sufferers up for days.

At www.migraine.org.uk you can identify what triggers your migraine, recognise early warning signs, find information on tried and tested treatments as well as those in development and from comp0limentary medicine.

There are also discussion forums so you can discuss your condition with other sufferers

Love Food Hate Waste

You might be surprised to learn that the average family wastes around £420 a year by wasting food that goes straight in the bin but now you can learn to love food and hate waste at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com You can download some great recipes from here.

Hospital Radio

Barrows Furtness General Hospital has its own hospital radio station and is looking for volunteers. Its a great oppertunity if you want to get involved in radio and its also the basis where a lot of presenters around the world have started out.

If you fancy a tatse of working in radio, chatting to people and presenting your own show or reading the news then this is a good starting ground.

Check out their website for more info. Have a look at www.radio-lonsdale.co.uk

Local Websites

It comes round quick. A couple of locally based websites for you t5o take a look at and I am responsible for them all being the webmaster. If you live in the Furness and South Cumbrian area then you may find these sites useful

www.southlakes-uk.co.uk over 3000 photos of the area from mid 19th century to modern day and a very busy message forum for ex locals who want to stay in touch with their roots

www.barrowpubs.co.uk is a potted look at the history of every pub and hotel thats ever stood in Barrow In Furness

www.838383.co.uk is a local taxi firm that I also work for

www.talkandchat.co.uk is a great chat forum to talk about anything you like,no matter where you are or who you are. Check it out and tell my moderators that I sent you.

Party Planner

www.eventful.com helps you plan your free time with precision.

You fill in your musical likes and dislikes and it notifies you when your favourite band is coming to town.

You can see whats going on in your area. You need never miss out on your favourite band again.

Social Networking crap

Did I mention that I finally got myself on facebook a few months ago and looking at it now it all looks a load of crap and full of bullshit I was debating on leaving it and deleting my account but it seems that everyone else is using it and I am sick of getting bombarded by people offering me stupid things. I couldnt care less.

However, if you want to add me as a friend on facebook then you can do it by searching for this email address bill @ ukradiojock.co.uk and if you do add me then explain in a message who you are otherwise it will get ingnored and treat like spam.

Talking of social networking sites you can also add me on myspace at www.myspace.com/billclarkontheradio

Persoannly I dont rate any but I think Facebook is the worst but thats just my opinion

How To….

Ever wondered how to open a bottle of beer with a bit of paper then www.sclipa.com has “how to” videos on literally everything you could possibly want to do from the very useful to the totally useless depending on what your definition of “useful” is.

The videos are from people from all walks of life from professors to your local yokel with a webcam.

Just Ask

www.askaboutgames.com is a new website that helps parents decide which video games are suitable for their children and handily explains the age rating system.

It also clarifies other information that can be found on games packaging. The advice centre also aims to answer parents concerns on how to that their kids play safe

Get some Skills

www.freeskills.com is online training resource for people who aren’t that confident on a computer. It offers everything from basic tips to advanced computer use and subjects featured include Microsoft products, the Internet and desktop publishing to name but a few. There’s also excellent tutorials and all the information is clear and very easy to read

Magic Eye

As an extra bonus I thought I would throw in this website review for your weekend.

Do you remember a few years ago when every newspaper or magazine you laid your hands on had one of those magic eye images in it? Well, if you’ve been missing them, you can feast your eyes on a whole host of images at www.magiceye.com and if you’re new to magic eye pictures, this site will tell you how they work and how you can train your eyes to see the hidden images.

Get Safe Online

There is always something new and interesting to do on the internet, but some people worry about safety, and quite rightly too. The world wide web gives those with malicious intent a territory without boundaries to work in. But it is incredibly easy to close the door on them if you follow a few basic safety rules.

www.getsafeonline.org tackles this thorny issue in a really palatable style without mess, fuss, or drama. It gives you straight-forward advice and tips about keeping your PC out of the hands of thieves and fraudsters.

A good place to start is the top ten safety tips link on the front page of the website which takes you to a 10-minute guide for beginners. I really like that they have separated the guide into PC, MAC and Linux, as the three operating systems are quite different and deserve to be handled in different ways.

There is advice for home and business users here, plus a handy test to see how safety savvy you are. Look under the highlights section for topic-specific articles, such as online dating and social networking sites like Facebook and Bebo

Parenting Tips

In this modern age of both parents working and not enough hours in the day, raising kids is even harder work than it used to be. But www.parenthacks.com could lend you a hand.

This site gives you daily doses of parenting tips, organised by childrens’ ages, activities, and common dilemmas, all submitted by fellow parents.

You can also learn how to stay organised, save some money, and stay healthy. And if you have any top tips of your own, don’t be afraid to share them!

Talking Pets

Have you ever wished your pet could talk? Well www.talkingpets.org is a place to check out.
Talkingpets.org houses a fun little widget that allows you to upload a picture of your treasured pet and make a fun talking postcard to send on to friends and family.

Just choose a picture, re-size and add an appropriate mouth. Then you can either type an original essage or use one of the pre-loaded passages of text. The voice will change depending on which name you choose.

The voices are a bit scary to say the least, but it is a fun way to send a personal message. And you can even add your creation to your Facebook profile to amuse visitors with a funny message.

Funny signs

If you’re the office prankster who likes to email crazy things to your colleagues, then you’ll love www.funnysign.com. It’s a gallery of more than 100 unintentionally funny American road signs. Some of the funniest are those advertising places of worship, such as: “Seeking a sign from God? This is it!” and “Don’t let worries kill you – let the church help.”

Talking Pets

Have you ever wished your pet could talk?

Well www.talkingpets.org is a place to check out.

Talkingpets.org houses a fun little widget that allows you to upload a picture of your treasured pet and make a fun talking postcard to send on to friends and family.

Just choose a picture, re-size and add an appropriate mouth. Then you can either type an original message or use one of the pre-loaded passages of text. The voice will change depending on which name you choose.

The voices are a bit scary to say the least, but it is a fun way to send a personal message. And you can even add your creation to your Facebook profile to amuse visitors with a funny message.

The Horses Mouth

Starting a new job or college course can be a daunting experience, especially if you are moving into an entirely new field.

Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who has been there before, and that is the premise of www.horsesmouth.co.uk

This social enterprise website is all about connecting people up to mentors who can guide them through the trials and tribulations they will face.

You can either become a mentor and pass on your pearls of wisdom, or you seek the support of an understanding person who knows what you are going through.

There are almost 5,000 mentors registered with the site covering subjects as wide-ranging as family and relationships to vocational training and choosing a career. But if you cannot find a mentor on your subject, the website invites you to send out a call for help.

You can scan the website's categories, or scroll through the available mentors to read their profiles.

To contact a mentor you will need to register, which requires a mobile number for them to send a verification code to.

The service is only available in certain countries, but there is a good global coverage.

Travel Guide

If the autumn is depressing you already, and you fancy booking yourself a holiday to cheer yourself up, never fear travel.co.uk is here. It pools information from hundreds of travel agents to provide you with at least three options for every holiday you choose. There’s also a nifty holiday shortlist feature that lets you store and compare different holidays as you browse the site. And if you’re looking for a last-minute bargain, it’s a great place to start.

Holiday Homes

www.myholiday.com is a new holiday home rental site that provides details of 40,000 cottages, villas, apartments and houseboats in 21 countries. Once you’ve found a property you like the look of you can book online or add it to a list of potential holiday venues. There are large photos of each property, so you won’t get any nasty surprises, and details of rental rates throughout the year and any extra costs. And if you’ve got a holiday homes of your own, you can list it for free.

Website reviews - Your website on the radio

If you have a good website that you would like reviewed here as well as live on the radio then get in touch by emailing bill @ abbeyfm.co.uk or by leaving details on this blog by clicking on "Comments"

Send as musch detail as you like with the link and I will take a look and reveiew it live on the radio.

Prize Finder

Do you love entering competitions and winning prizes?

Well www.theprizefinder.com is the site for you. It organises competitions by prize as well as closing date, so you can home in on those that offer a particular reward.

You can interact with other competition hounds in the chat room and on the message board, and check out the links to helpful sites - like anagram solvers, crossword hints and tie-breaker suggestions - for assistance in composing winning entries.

How Do You Do It?

Have you ever wondered how to lower your cholesterol, tone up your inner thighs or break the ice on a first date? Well you can find the answer to all these questions plus thousands more at www.ehow.com. It’s the online guide to doing almost anything!

Hot Deals

www.hotukdeals.com is where you can find details of ‘hot deals’ and discount vouchers – but with a twist. These deals and discounts aren’t publicised by the companies, but by visitors to the site.

It’s a great example of how people can use the web to help other people, from the kindness of their penny-pinching hearts.

If you like to do your grocery shopping online you can always find a voucher on this site worth at least as much as the cost of the delivery.

Nutritionally Sound

Nutriprofile.com is a free online service for anyone who wishes to improve their diet. You simply fill in a questionnaire, which takes about 20 minutes, and you get a report back within 24 hours telling you where you have deficiencies in your diet.

And most of us could do with a little help it seems, as research has shown that on average, Brits only consume two and a half portions of fruit and veg a day.

Have A Lie In

A special website review for today. As its the weekend then I don't normally do one on the radio but its the weekend that the clocks go back an hour in the UK which means that everyone gets to spend an extra hour in bed (well most of us). But if you`ve got a lumpy old bed, you might not find your lie in quite so relaxing.

According to www.sleepcouncil.com a good nights sleep and a comfy bed are vital to your health and well being and if your bed is over 10 years old then it might be time for a new one.



Early hours of the morning. Sunday... 2am in the Uk becomes 1am. Dont forget to put your clocks back an hour as British summer Time officially ends at 2am.

Great songs for playing on the radio at 2am.

R Kelly - If I could turn back the hands of time
Spice Girls 2 becomes 1.

Anyone got any others

Mad About Sport

www.sport.co.uk aims to be the most extensive sports website in the UK, which is no simple task. As you’d expect from a serious sports site, it offers a rich range of media, including podcasts, RSS feeds and video exclusives, as well as some excellent, in-depth articles for people with a bit of time.

Forums, polls and blogs offer plenty of scope for interaction, whether you favour football, rugby, cricket, golf or virtually any other sport.

netHACKZ

The internet has so much to do and so little time to do it in. It would be great if there was a place you could go to for down-to-earth tips and tricks on making your life online more productive.

www.nethackz.com is an excellent blog all about internet productivity.
Whether you use the net for work or play, there are hundreds of great ideas and suggestions to ease your online stresses.

I found, for instance, a page listing 25 mobile applications for people on the go and a video by the founder of Wired magazine, Kevin Kelly, talking about the next 5,000 days of the internet.

There is a range of things that is really essential reading if you like to spend a lot of time online.
Content is king on this website which has a typical blog style and layout. You will find recent posts on the main page panel, with a link to categorised sections a little lower on the right.

It has links to some really useful applications and websites thrown in to boot.

Weddings With A Difference

Planning a wedding is one of the most stressful things you can ever embark on, but www.somethingdifferentweddings.co.uk could make the process a lot easier. This site rolls a host of services and products into one handy place. Whether you’re in need of bridal fashion advice, need to hire a flash wedding car or you’re searching for a bespoke photographer, the site is a great source of ideas.

The chamber of Horrors

Been dreading it for a few days and been putting it off but finally plucked up the courage to go to the chamber of horrors today.

Actually, I mean the dentist but it amounts to the same thing.

Had toothache for over a week and couldnt tell which tooth it was in and think that both teeth should have been sorted but he removed one and left the other.

Pain is still there but its in the hole where my tooth was and the cheekbone is still swolen after 5 hours.

No wonder I`m petrified of the dentist and what makes it worse is if the pain don't go then I may have to go back and do it all over again.

Anyway, if I`m sounding a bit strange on tonights show then you know why.

vSide

Life is one big party according to website www.vSide.com So if you want to party like it is 1999, again, point your browser towards the download link and get ready to begin a whole new life, virtually.

VSide is a 3D virtual world where you can listen to music, chat with friends, shop at the shopping centre for clothing and accessories, or just hang out with mates in your apartment. Sounds a lot like real life, which begs the question: why would you need to do this in a virtual way?

Well the answer is fun, plus you will expand your musical tastes and broaden your networking horizons as people from all over the world mingle and chat in an informal atmosphere. The software is all pretty intuitive, with menus and clickies to perform actions like dancing and lounging on the sofa. There are some very funny dances if you scroll through the options. The people I "met" in the clubs and bars have all been pretty friendly and cool.

This is basically just a glorified chatroom, with a definite lean towards people who like music.

Watch out for the live DJ and music events where you can party all night without getting blisters from too much dancing.

One for the Girls

Girls tend to have a sizeable collection of handbags and shoes. www.handbag.com is a site to stuffed with fashion, beauty, celebrity and entertainment.

The site is laid out, with dropdown menus beneath the tabs so you can quickly jump to the content you are interested in.

The last tab houses "handbag tv", for those that want to just sit back and watch. It is well filmed and put together, with some great films if you want to look like a fashionista.

Overall the content is as gritty and frank as it gets for a girly rag. If you embarrass easily, you should probably avoid the "sex & life" section where tips are handled tastefully, but are still somewhat forthright.

All Cures

If you’re a bit of a hypochondriac or just can’t be bothered going down the local chemist, log on to www.allcures.com, which is the UK’s first online pharmacy. There are lots of big brands and a wide range of products available, as well as toiletries, beauty and alternative medicine. You can even arrange to have your prescription delivered to your door for no extra cost.

Mozdev.org

Living in the UK I am constantly being caught out by unexpected downpours and cold snaps in the middle of summer. But since I found the following site I know exactly when to stay indoors.

http://forecastfox.mozdev.org is the URL you need for this funky little forecasting tool that lets you see the weather at a glance while you are surfing. Clicking the installation link will punt you over to the Firefox add-ons site which is a familiar haunt if you are a regular Click viewer. It houses some essential tools for the popular browser. Just click to add, set permissions if you need to, and by the magic of the internet this neat little tool will be automatically added for your browsing convenience and pleasure.

When you restart your browser, you will need to set up your preferences, including telling the software where you live and how you want the information displayed and such like. Once you click OK, your forecast toolbar will be embedded in your browser window. It is updated as frequently as you have requested from AccuWeather.com, so you need never be caught without an umbrella again.

Google Moon

Whilst having a surf round the net I came across Google Moon at www.google.com/moon so I thought its time we strapped on our moon boots to take a gander.

Like the rest of the universe of Google sites of this nature, www.google.com/moon really delivers.

The interface will be very familiar if you have toured through Google Earth. The moon's surface is laid out before you with markers of where certain events took place. At the widest magnification click a marker to zoom in and explore other markers, complete with text information, links and point of view photographs from various lunar visits.

There is no download to endure so you can just dive in and have a look round. Use the thumbnails across the bottom to skip through the various entries directly.

A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words

If you like customising your photos, check out www.bubblesnaps.com, where you can upload your pictures and simply add your own comic-book-style speech captions, so your pictures really can speak for themselves. All you need is a photo and a little imagination, and you could be ‘entertaining colleagues’, family and friends with your witty pictures in no time at all.

Hangover Cure

It’s not a myth that your hangovers get worse as you get older, and if you want some relief from the pounding headache and nausea, check out www.hungover.net for a few tips from fellow post-session sufferers. There you’ll find a number of cures, like pouring a glass of water with five Berrocas dissolved through a hole into a small watermelon.

Real Age

Do you want to know how old you really look? If you can handle the truth, log on to GuessMyAge.net. Here you can submit your photo and let other users rate your age. Or if this all sounds a bit too ‘10 Year’s Younger’ for you, why not guess the ages of the site’s members - and you may be surprised at the results!

Sports Sister

www.sportsister.com is a new, online sports magazine for women, packed with useful and engaging news and features. There’s a dedicated health section called ‘clinic’ that offers advice from some of Britain’s top fitness trainers on how to prepare for anything from a charity walk to the London Marathon. Best of all is the comprehensive ‘What’s on’ listing - a weekly guide to women’s sporting events across the UK.

Complain Away!

If you like nothing better than a good rant but are scared you might lose all your friends if you do, www.weeklygripe.co.uk is the place for you. This site allows you to complain incessantly without anyone judging you, and you can say anything you like about anything you like!

Shop And Give

www.froggybank.co.uk is a generous new shopping portal that aims to reward consumers, charities and the environment in one fell swoop. Simply sign up with the site and then click through to the one of the 1,500-plus partner stores to shop.

Froggybank gives you 100% of its referral fee, which you can keep for yourself, donate to a good cause or use to offset your carbon footprint. There’s also a £2.50 reward for referring new members.

Cheat Guide To Winning

If you’re stuck on a particular crossword clue, or have been dealt a bad hand at scrabble, visit www.anagrammer.com. This is an online anagram machine, which will sort out jumbled letters into a point-scoring answer. It’s also got a function which will help you to solve suduko.

Home Videos

Watching home movies can get a bit boring after a while. So if you want yours to stand out from the rest of the crowd’s go to www.flipclips.com. This animated website will turn your home videos into flipbooks. This means you can carry them around with you to show to all your friends.

Cartoon Nostalgia

www.80scartoon.co.uk is a must-see for anyone who grew up in the 1980s. It’s home to a whole host of interesting facts, trivia and information on every cartoon you can remember from your childhood. There’s everything from ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks’, to ‘Will o’ The Wisp’. Go on, embrace your inner child!

DLL-files

Here is a site I found when I was stumped by a missing DLL message.

DLL stands for Dynamic Link Library, and it is a file containing a library of executable functions or data required to run a programme.

But you do not need to worry about that. Take a look at www.dll-files.com

Just note down the name of the missing file from the error message, plug it into the search box on this site, then download and follow the instructions for installation. It could not be simpler.

Surf The Web

It’s easy to worry about what happens to your personal information when you go online.

So if you want to surf the web without disclosing who you are or where you are, log on to www.anonymouse.org.

Then you can visit any site safe in the knowledge that nobody will be snooping on you.

Walk It

The summer is finally here, so there’s no better time to strap on your walking shoes and take a stroll in the fresh air. But if you don’t know where to start, take a look at walkit.com.

This excellent online route-planning site for pedestrians lets you type in any two points in a British city and you’ll get a walking route map. Each route also includes an estimate of the number of calories the walker will burn, a journey time and the amount of carbon saved by not travelling by taxi, car or bus.

The Demotivator

Curbing your spending habits can be difficult, so if you want a bit of demotivation visit moneysavingexpert.com.

Use the Demotivator tool to work out how much you spend a year on non-essential treats. It will certainly take the spring out of your step.

Discount Codes

Everyone loves a bargain, and if you’re in the mood to save your cash then log on to sendmediscounts.co.uk. This handy site gives you a cheeky peek at any discount codes available at your favourite online boutiques. The offers range from free delivery to 50% off your total bill.

Save Energy, Save Cash

If you want to do your bit for the environment, and save yourself some cash, visit energysavingtrust.org.uk. By filling in the Energy Saving Trust’s survey you can see how much energy you could be saving in your home, which could reduce your heating bills by up to 15%.

Wafflebox

Monday Nights website review

Social networking sites are all about staying in touch. You can text people, leave messages pinned to their board, or send them pictures of what you are up to at the moment. But would it not be nice if you could just call them up for a quick waffle?

www.wafflebox.co.uk is an awesome idea. It basically allocates users with a voicebox telephone number that people can call to leave short audio messages. Now you can sign up from anywhere in the world.

The number is a UK 0845 number. UK users are charged an 0845 rate, which makes it pretty inexpensive for people to leave messages - and totally free for you to receive them.
You can even embed Wafflebox in your social networking site - such as Friendster or Facebook. It is really easy to do and adds a neat little widget to your profile that should keep your friends and contacts amused for hours.

Website reviews

Monday to Thursdays around 11.30pm I will chat about a website that has been reviewed and promote it on the radio. All sites that are reviewed will be mentioned on this blog so if you don`t quite catch the web address when listening to the show then you can always come here and have a scroll around and find it.

If you have a website that you would like reviewed then just get in touch with meand tell me a little about it and I will have a look and may use it on the show.

Some websites I review don`t always make it onto the show for a number of reasons but if I think they are worth a mention and I cant fit them in on the show then they will still get mentioned on this blog.

Get in touch now if you have a great website you would like reviewed

Friday: I’m Out Of Pocket

It’s a little-known fact that petrol retailers add a couple of pence to the price of petrol and diesel on Fridays, when it’s busiest at the pumps. Stay one step ahead and buy your fuel the day before. And to keep tabs on who’s offering the cheapest, check out petrolprices.com.

Plaxo

With so many ways to communicate it is difficult to keep on top of all your contacts, especially with people moving house and changing e-mail address and telephone numbers so frequently. Losing touch will be a thing of the past if you sign up to Plaxo. (www.plaxo.com)

This is basically a contacts management service which connects you with your friends and family and helps you all keep up to date with each others' changes.

There is so much more to this site, have a good explore of the features. I do want to draw your attention to the option to link up your account with other sites that you subscribe to - such as YouTube, , your blog, or any number of photo sharing and social networking destinations.

Eat For Free

If you need to tighten your purse strings, but you don’t want to give up your luxury lifestyle, sign up to tns-global.com. This mystery shopping agency means you can get free meals in restaurants, stays in hotels and drinks in pubs. All you have to do is fill in a form about your experiences.

Order In

Going to the supermarket can be a nightmare with rocketing food prices, horrendous queues and irritating checkout staff. So if you want to take the hassle out of shopping, visit mysupermarket.com. It will tell you which shops stock the cheapest versions of your favourite foods as well as what offers each supermarket has at the moment.

Make A Mix-Tape

Anyone nostalgic for the days of making mix tapes for friends should appreciate mixtape.com This music-sharing site lets you upload up to 12 tunes from your MP3 collection as if recording them onto an old C60. You can then send a web link to selected people so they can listen to your mix in their browsers, without needing to download anything.

RUSSELL - Barrows Dog Walking Legend

This is something I would have liked to review live on the show but due to circumstances beyond my control I`m sorry but it cant yet be done. However, having known Russell for a number of years I personally feel that the website below is in good taste and is worthy of a mention on my blog at least. Having spoke to Russell he seems more than happy about the website even though it was put together by someone else.



The author of the site is quoted as saying. "It started about three weeks ago when a group of friends were slightly inebriated and discussing our love of this little tin pot, one
horse town called Barrow and we got on to talking about local characters and Russels name cropped up as he is well known locally by just about everyone in the town and is a local legend.

After talking about Russells zest for life and the love of his town and local area. this has given him celebrity status among Barrovians.

So what if he's not George Clooney? He is still that lovable friendly face and voice that we all know This is a man who is happy doing what he does, every day of his life withtotal commitment and a smile. how many of us can say that?

How many people say " I wish i'd done this or that" or "i hate my job".........not Russel.

He is affectionately know him as Mad Russ but you really have to wonder, are we the mad ones?

A facebook group was set up to celebrate and show appreciation

for a truly genuine man, one of the cheekiest and hardest working characters
to go down in Barrovian folklore.A shortcut to his facebook site is at www.southlakes.addr.com/russell

Visit the site and join the group if you have facebook, maybe
leave a russ - related story or perhaps even any photos of the man himself in order to pay homage to a true Barrovian. But please keep it and respectful because we feel that this man aptly sums up the mood and and community spirit of Barrow itself. We do not intend any offence to Russel whatsoever, we are seriously trying to give him the credit he deserves as seeing Russ out and about brightens everybodys day.


Russell - we salute you.

Late Night Phone In and Debate

This coming Sunday we look at the following issues. Email your comments and listen out theis Sunday from 11pm

THIS WEEK WE ASK,SHOULD THE STATE DO MORE TO HELP BRITAINS 6 MILLION CARERS..

WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE GOVERNMENTS NEW “GANG SPOTTER” GUIDE BOOKLET FOR PARENTS AND WE ALSO CARRY ON FROM WHERE WE LEFT OFF LAST WEEK ASKING THE QUESTION “WHO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING OUR DATA SECURE”.