Stock Market

Ever fancied your chances on the stock market? I have often thumbed through the Financial Times thinking to myself - if only I had £100,000 to play with, I could make a fortune. Or could I?

Luckily I didn't need to sell my house to find out that it is not as easy as it looks!

At www.inspectd.com you can play the real market with imaginary moolah as you are presented with a series of historical stock graphs and asked if you would buy, sell or pass.

Each trade assumes a one month period, unless you click the link to Advanced Trading where you can control your portfolio day by day.

I have managed to lose more than half my money in just 60 trades.

I don't really know what the graphs mean - some form of explanation would have really helped make this site complete. But none the less it's an entertaining way to pass the lunch hour.

Be Wise

Do you ever wonder what your purpose is? If you’re struggling to answer some of life’s biggest questions, visit wisdomology.com. This is a place where users can come together and have meaningful conversations about their mind, body and souls.

You might not agree with what some people have to say but at least you’ll get a chance to express your own opinions

Easy Pics

When you need to source photos for a project or website, don’t take the copyright-infringing approach and visit snapvillage.com instead.

This new site features more than 160,000 high-quality images which you can license for about 50p per shot.

Other users can tag and comment on pictures to make the best ones easy to find, while search results can be sorted by date, relevance and price.

You can also earn money through the site by posting your own pictures and earning royalties each time one is purchased.

Prepare For A Fright

Halloween might be months away, but if you can’t wait for a scary fix visit www.everythingscary.com. This site will keep you up-to-date with all the latest horror movie releases as well as a league of the best scary films of all time. And if you want a fright before bedtime, just take a look at the haunted folklore section.

Women Repoublic

womenrepublic.co.uk is dedicated to everything a woman needs to know. This site holds information on a huge range of topics including travel, health, relationships and dieting. Their aim is to provide honest help and advice for women of all ages and positions in life.

Beyond Baked Beans

Eating healthily and on a budget might not seem possible but that’s why www.beyondbakedbeans.com is here to help. This handy site is full of recipes suitable for students, singletons or anyone with limited funds. There’s also plenty of tips to help you become the next Delia or Gordon.

Star Wars Day

Today is National Star Wars Day. May the 4th be With you…. Geddit.

Insanity Test

Have you ever worried that you might be going a bit mad? Well you can find out once and for all at www.penddraig.co.uk/pen. Simply click on the ‘online tests’ link and take the ‘insanity test’. With 176 questions in all, you’ve got to be pretty crazy to even attempt it in the first place. But at least you’ll know for sure.

Wot Artist

www.wotartist.com is an easy-to-use, non-profit online gallery that showcases work by artists from across the globe.

There are a variety of styles featured, from abstract art to illustrations and photography. Each piece of work is displayed with links to the artists’ own websites so interested visitors and buyers can contact them directly.

The permanent collection is constantly refreshed with new work as new artists are actively sought out and added to the site daily.

Greenfingers

www.doctorgreenfingers.co.uk is an infectiously enthusiastic site that insists that gardening is ‘sensual, fun and trendy!

The site’s medically-inspired sections include the Accident & Emergency Department for expert queries and the Record Department for interesting facts.

The Family Planning section and Maternity Ward are useful for new gardeners but the most informative section is Operating Theatre, where you can find gardening calendars and advice on many elements of indoor and outdoor plant care.

Round The Piano

www.pianoworld.com. This site holds lots of information on where to get piano lessons, how to tune a piano and all the latest piano news. There’s also a links section to sites where you can download free sheet music.
Doctor Green Fingers

Mistakes And Errors

Bob Monkhouse famously said ‘We all make mistakes. That’s why they put rubbers at the end of pencils’. But if you like to laugh at other people’s mistakes, visit www.regrettheerror.com. This site holds hundreds of mistakes that broadsheets have made and the retractions they’ve had to make.

Taxi Route and fare checks

Have you ever wondered how much a taxi fare should cost you? Now you can easily find out. No matter where you are in the UK you can go from point A to B using your own local licencing authorities rates and find out how much the fare should costs you.

A quick chat with the author of the website and he says this...

Basically, I have written and launched a Taxi Fare Calculator site for the UK. The idea was borne out of the confusion I had over consistently getting different taxi prices when using the same route. I never understood why they were so different so sat down to do some calculations myself... and so www.taxiroute.co.uk was born!

It took a long time to write the code, build the databases, build the website and compile the fare tariffs from the various Licensing Authorities in the UK but it's almost there now! Feedback is good from the people who use it both from a usability and an accuracy point of view, so I intend to keep going with it!

Hopefully, when some of my other ideas get built into the website it will be a sort of "compare-the-taxi.com" type of site. It will have both a web front end as well as a Pocket PC and an iPhone version.

Both taxi users AND taxi companies seem to be using the site a lot. The taxi companies love it because not all of them have the money to pay their software suppliers for a quotation system. Some companies have told me they have been quoted as much as £8,000 for a system that does nothing more than mine!

Anyway, just wondered if you might like a look and possibly feedback any thoughts you might have on it?

Thanks

Trev
Taxiroute.co.uk

Tiny Pocket People

When you’re a long way away from your loved ones sometimes a phone call just doesn’t suffice. That’s why www.tinypocketpeople.com have decided to print the faces of the one you miss onto a tiny doll for you to carry around. Take a look at the site and decide for yourself whether it’s cute or creepy.

Useless Old Phones

When you buy a new mobile phone it’s always hard to know what to do with the old one. But the people at www.whatgoodisyouroldphone.com have come up with ingenious ways to dispose of their broken mobiles. There are tens of videos of people barbequing, running over and shooting their old phones. If you’ve got rid of your mobile in an usual way make sure you upload your footage onto the site.

That’s Entertainment

www.blinkbox.com is an entertainment hub that combines the best elements of YouTube, Facebook and LoveFilm. It lets you watch and share video clips from a wide variety of films and TV shows. As it’s all legal and above board, the quality is fantastic and each clip is accompanied by an option to buy or rent the whole movie or programme.

Blinks can be shared via email, web link or your profile, and customised with tag, comments and ratings. The site also offers fun quizzes, contacts lists and many other interactive tools.

Spot The Difference

As the name suggests, www.spotthedifference.com is home to hundreds of those ’spot the difference’ games you used to love playing as a child. So spot away to your heart’s content, although you may give yourself a bit of a headache as some of them are very tricky

Comparing Phones

There are lots of sites that let you compare the latest mobile phone deals, but few are as quick and easy to use as phoneslimited.co.uk. Simply select the handset you’re interested in from a drop-down menu for an instant list of current offers. Results include contract, pay-as-you-go and SIM-free options, and are accompanied by images and product descriptions that help confirm you’ve picked the right phone.

Fuel For Thought

If you love your car but want to do your bit for the environment, visit ecomodder.com. This energy-saving community is more concerned with fuel economy than power and speed, but it doesn’t mean you can’t still love your motor. The site is packed with driving techniques and common sense to help you squeeze every penny out of the pumps.

So Embarrassing

Have you ever done something so embarrassing that when you think about it you cringe and turn bright red? If you have visit www.embarrassing.us and share your shameful story online. There are hundreds of people’s excruciating moments already on the site, which are sure to make you feel better about your own embarrassing incident.

St Georges Day

PATRIOTISM will be promoted across Furness on Thursday as a whole host of events are planned to mark St George’s Day.

An afternoon of celebrations will take place in Barrow town centre, focusing around Forum 28.

England flags will be handed out and Barrow Tourist Information Centre will promote holidaying in this country.

Staff at Forum 28 will be offering people a traditional English lunch menu of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding followed by apple pie.

Magician Joel Dickinson will entertain crowds while pianist Noel Kennetts plays a variety of patriotic tunes. Ann Taylforth, town centre and festivals manager for Barrow Borough Council, said: “We have over many years celebrated St George’s Day in Barrow. This year we arefeaturing traditional English holidays, food and entertainment.

“The patron saint of England is honoured in our town and the St George’s walk explores the area around St George’s Square.

“I am sure everyone will enjoy this celebration of St George’s Day and the opportunity to celebrate England’s national day.”

A number of events will take place at St George’s Church, St George’s Square, Barrow, throughout this week. Reverend Jane Nattrass, vicar for the South Barrow Ministry, said: “On St George’s Day the church bell will be rung and the flag will be flying.”

There will be a concert from Barrow Male Voice Choir at St George’s Church tomorrow and a lunch club on Thursday.

There will be a service for people from St George’s, St Luke’s, St Perran’s and St Aidan’s on Sunday, followed by a parade.

(Taken from North West Evening Mail. Click to find out more)

Am I Right ??

If you’re a fan of strange jingles and misheard lyrics take a look at www.amiright.com. This online music forum holds a large collection of funny albums and song parodies for you to laugh out loud and sing along to. To put it simply: any silly song is welcome here.

Dear Anyone

If you think you would make a great agony aunt you can share your opinions at www.dearanyone.com. This site will keep you a real-life problem to solve and give your advice on. And if you’ve got a question that you need answering you can even leave your own dilemma.

Easy As ABC

Even young children now are finding it difficult to resist the lure of the computer, but it need not be a bad thing. Encourage your kids to read more by visiting www.lovereading4kids.co.uk. The site allows you to download and print off opening extracts of hundreds of children’s books, and encourages kids to discover new authors through their recommendation service.

Bright Spark

You can’t move on the internet for sites about the supernatural, but if you don’t subscribe to that world view, there’s now a home for you too. If the prospect of ghosts and gods sounds like hogwash, head for www.the-brights.net. There you’ll find a movement of like-minded people who believe in nothing but science and evolution. So if you’re an atheist, humanist, or just a skeptic, check it out.

The Young Ones

Being a student can be one of the best times of your life when you stay out all night with your friends and don’t have to get up for work in the morning. And if you’re just about to leave for university you need www.thestudentroom.co.uk. This site is a great place to help you decide which university to go to, how to survive a long-distance relationship and money saving advice. There’s also a message board where you can chat to other freshers.

A Million Stories

There are a million untold stories in the world and one of them is yours. www.amillionstories.co.uk is a collection of personal true stories from people all over the world. These pieces range from heart-warming love stories to hilarious anecdotes, so you’re bound to find something no matter what mood you’re in.

Sweet Dreams

We’ve all had strange dreams, but if you want to know what yours mean, visit www.askfreud.org. Just type in a brief description of your dream into the Freud machine to see what the psychologist makes of your unconscious thoughts.

Bored To Death

The internet can be a powerful tool for finding information and communicating with your friends. But sometimes you can find yourself bored of searching through unexciting web pages. That’s why www.boredtodeath.co.uk is packed with pictures, videos, jokes, puzzles and games to keep you amused for hours.

My Pet Peeves

Sometimes its good to get things off your chest. And if you need a platform to shout from visit www.mypetpeeves.com. Just write a post on your biggest pet peeve and leave it online for other people to agree or disagree with. You can also leave your own comments on other people’s biggest irritations.

Library Of Sounds

www.soungle.com is what you get when you combine sound with Google. It’s a free and fun sound search engine that helps you root out all manner of noises and effects. It looks and works very much like Google, except that it searches its own database of sounds rather than the whole web. Soungle is a fantastic time-waster, letting you listen to short audio clips from, for example, nature and around the home. You can preview all the sounds, download them or upload noises you’ve recorded yourself.

Work Hard, Relax Hard

Paperwork strewn all over your desk and the constant demand of attention from the computer screen can fry your brain. But www.mandolux.com offers a digital deluge of harmonious images that will soothe your mind in between tasks. The site features computerised graphics, abstract photographs and stylised images that will help calm you while keeping you at your screen and productive.

Invention Inspiration

If you’re full of good ideas and want to get one of them off the ground, then www.nesta.org.uk is the site for you. This site helps would-be inventors launch their ideas by giving them support and guidance. What’s more, if you’re struggling to think up a good idea for your next innovation the site also offers creativity inspiration and encouragement.

Overheard In The UK

The funniest conversations can sometimes be the ones you overhear. That’s why www.overheardintheuk.com have put together a collection of quotes overheard on buses, trains and streets from across the UK. Old ladies talking in the hairdressers make some of the funniest lines on
the site.

Game Of The Day

If you’re a computer game addict you’ll love www.gameoftheday.net. This easy to use site uploads a different game every day, from retro puzzles to state of the art graphic games. It’s a great way to unwind and spend a couple of hours.

The Nappy Lady

When you have your first baby you might be left feeling like you don’t know what you’re doing. But don’t panic - just visit www.thenappylady.com. This handy site tells you everything you need to know about how to change your baby and all the products you need. You can even leave questions for the Nappy Lady to answer.

Pen To Paper

Getting your big break as a writer isn’t always easy, but if you want to share your talents with the world, go to www.yousaid.com. This online writing competition will give you a list of topics to choose from, you write a short piece and then enter it for the judges to read. You can enter as many times as you like and you could end up winning some great prizes.

Keep Calm

If you’re off on your summer hols soon, the last thing you want is to be feeling stressed before you go. So do something that helps you relax, be it mediation, reading or walking.

Visit www.relaxationforliving.co.uk for some ideas on how to keep calm

Find Your Friend A Job

What could be better than finding a job for a friend and getting paid for the privilege? www.zubka.com has hit upon the novel idea of rewarding people who find the best candidates for job vacancies. If your recommendation is successful you are entitled to between 6 and 8% of the salary. So if a job pays £50k, the successful referrer will be entitled to a whopping £3,600.

To start referring you have to sign up, which is free and easy to do, and then download the Zubka widget to keep you informed of new jobs.

Access From Anywhere

www.jooce.com is a must-see for anyone who can only access the web from internet cafés and miss the customisability of a home PC. The site bundles all your chat and email accounts into one easy-to-use virtual desktop. You can upload files, videos, photos, music and access it all from any computer, whether you’re trekking through South America or sat in a cyber café in Warsaw.

The Whole Truth

Politicians aren’t known for being the most reliable individuals, which is why www.crooksandliars.com is such a popular website. The site is updated daily with political news from around the globe and is packed with video and audio clips of politicians on radio and TV. You can also leave a comment on the news of the day or share your own conspiracy theory.

A New Venture

Take a look at www.taxistorys.blogspot.com. Think its self explanatory. full details at http://taxistorys.blogspot.com/2009/03/guest-blogger.html

Bad Gifts

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. And you can now swap your rags for riches at badgiftemporium.com. This site lets you trade the worst presents you’ve ever been given for somebody else’s. It can also be quite addictive to see the dreadful gifts other people receive.

These Boots Were Made For Walking

Going for a long walk might be the last thing on your mind. But there's one website that wants you to step out of your car and go for a stroll. Walkit.com lets you pick a start and an end location in your chosen city, and then tells you the quickest way to walk from A to B. It also gives you an estimate of how long your journey will take you.

Kosmix

Searching the Internet can be a bit of a bind. Trust me, I do it for a living, and it never gets any easier wading through page after page of text and links.

Well, finding something of interest became easier after I came across the little gem www.kosmix.com

The idea behind this search facility is that it takes your query and returns information in the form of a bespoke webpage, including text summaries, pictures and links.

This website was originally created as a vertical search engine for information about health, automobiles and travel.
But it has now been transformed into a universal search engine for all subjects in the Internet cosmos.

Data is sourced from a wide range of places, such as Flickr, Google, Wikipedia, TheFind, Yahoo Answers, Amazon, Truveo, and YouTube.

This gives you an incredibly diverse selection of reading and watching material, and it is all laid out in a really palatable format.

My Pet Peeves

Sometimes its good to get things off your chest. And if you need a platform to shout from visit www.mypetpeeves.com. Just write a post on your biggest pet peeve and leave it online for other people to agree or disagree with. You can also leave your own comments on other people’s biggest irritations.

BRITISH SUMMER TIME BEGINS - Clocks go forward

Find out more about British Summertime together with a list of Bank Holidays and more at www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/LivingintheUK/DG_073741

Dont forget to put clocks forward 1 hour at 1am

Ask For Advice

If you’re considering making some life-changing decisions in the near future, why not pay a visit to www.freshties.com.

This site lets you chat to other people and get advice on a range of things from career moves to parenting and travelling. It’s free to use, you need to register to join, and you can also create a blog on the site to tell other members what you are up to.

Smash Your Screen

Have you ever felt so angry at work that you wanted to smash your computer screen? Well www.brokenself.com is just as satisfying and a lot less messy and expensive. Keep clicking and watch the cracks appear on your screen, very satisfying!

Hoaxes

I am sick and tired of my email inbox being bombarded with emails from friends who innocently send me virus warnings that are hoaxes. Why cant people by arsed to check their validity before forwarding loads of unneccessary emails to everyone in their address book.

For example the LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL VIRUS. biggest load of bullshit I`ve heard this week.




Take a look at http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/lifeisbeautiful.asp I really do wish people would follow up any virus email they get to see if its genuione and this one is another bloody hoax and it ends up in my inbox cos the people that forward ity on are either too bloody idol to check it out or they panic and cos they panic then they like to pass it on and cause everyone else to panic. Its like hearing a rhumor in the street and it gets passed on to someone else. Does no one ever stop to check out the truth.. Another bloody hoax. Theres loads of them.

Karaoke Party

www.karaokeparty.com is a web based version of the playstation game “SingStar”.

Karaokeparty lets you croon along to your favorite tracks. You don’t need a microphone but if you do use one then the site will automatically rate your performance provided that you have registered.

Your score will be visible to other users and you can attempt to secure a place on the leader board. You can also make friends and chat to other singers.

Broadband Speeds

Just been checking the speed of my Broadband connection as it seems very slow lately and a good site with eay to understand results is www.speedtester.bt.com I`m getting 4 and half meg out of a possible 8. Not too happy with that as I used to get around 6 meg.

The Over 50s

If you believe that the older you get the wiser you get, you’ll love www.the50plus.co.uk. This site helps you to avoid flash young cowboys by finding a mature handyman to help you out. It will provide you with experienced, reliable workers for plumbing, electrical work, gardening and carpentry jobs.

Computer Advice

If you’re a bit of a technophobe, you might want to take a look at www.helpwithpcs.com. This site has lots of useful information on how to keep your PC running smoothly, plus handy tips and tricks.

Photos by Rosie

Abbey FM head of News Rosie Hillman has set up her own photography business after the demise of Abbey FM. She is a photographer based in Barrow in Furness in Cumbria and is ready to take photos of your band, your baby, your dog or your wares! She is not just limited to work in Furness and will travel anywhere in the country/world! She offers an alternative to that dated concept of the stiff studio family portrait session. Instead, if you like walking the dog on the beach as a family, she will come along with you and take pictures of the wind in your hair and the sand between your toes! She says. If you're a footy-mad family, then we'll go for a kick about in the park and I'll capture the goals you score and the smiles on your faces. You get the idea! For businesses or bands, organisations or groups, I'm passionate about helping you get the perfect images to promote yourself! Please do get in touch for availability and prices. on 01229 831569.

Contact Info

Email:
Website:	http://www.flickr.com/hillmanpix

Free Stuff

It’s always nice to get something for free, which is why www.free-stuff.co.uk is the gift that keeps on giving. This site is full of free offers for you to choose from including make up, supermarket vouchers and free wines.

Recycling Revolution

You hear a lot of talk these days about the environment - and the need to recycle in order to preserve precious resources. Sounds easy. But how much do you really know about recycling and how to live in harmony with the planet?

www.recycling-revolution.com is a website I've found that offers a really down-to-earth introduction to all things recycle related. And it's not as simple as you might imagine.

There are all sorts of rules and guidelines to adhere to if you want to make your recycling the most efficient, and ways to recycle you might not have thought about before - such as selling old clothes and toys in a yard sale or carboot sale.

This site was created by a lady trying to educate her husband on what can and cannot be recycled. It's plain and to the point and emphasises the fact that every little counts.

Samurize

One of those 'must have' tools if you are a gamer, overclocker or desktop modder.

www.samurize.com provides all the information you need about all your computers in one central location in the form of a "config," similar to a widget or gadget, that can be placed anywhere on your desktop.

To this you can add information such as CPU usage, disk utilisation, network traffic, system temperatures, top processes, memory information and loads more.

There are scripts or plugins which can display weather reports, news headlines, music controllers - you can even use the scripts to create a text file to be displayed on your desktop - for example a to-do list.

Combine this with an autohotkey command to update the list when you think of something new to do and you are well on your way to calling yourself a serious desktop modder!
This is for total tech heads only. It is designed for use on Windows XP and 2000, with Vista fixes due out in the next build.

If you fancy having a go and need more help than the rather dry text tutorial on the website, checkout

Publish Post

YouTube as there are plenty of great visual guides if you search for Samurize.

Autohotkey

RSI is a common complaint for regular computer users. In the case of computing it is caused by repeating the same keystrokes or mouse movements over and over again.

www.autohotkey.com is the URL where you can download a custom macro script writer which sits in your system tray and overrides Windows' default hotkeys so that you can design your own.
This looks incredibly complicated - but once you have stepped through the quick start tutorial you will realise it is really not that hard at all.

By loading up your script files with instructions to do pretty much anything you would want to do regularly, you can not only preserve your body from the strains of RSI but you can also save valuable time.

Want to open your favourite search engine? Write a macro so that you can do it on one keystroke.

Need to write your signature and contact details in an email or on a letter?

Yet again you can easily create a hotkey that performs this task at the press of a button.

A New Language

Learning a foreign language can be very difficult. And if you know someone who’s trying to get to grips with English, send them to www.my-english-dictionary.com. This site let’s you learn new words by showing you how it’s spelt, a picture of it and how to say the word.

Scatter Brain

Learning a foreign language can be very difficult. And if you know someone who’s trying to get to grips with English, send them to www.my-english-dictionary.com. This site let’s you learn new words by showing you how it’s spelt, a picture of it and how to say the word.

Magic Taxi

We all need to use search engines, whether it’s for work or play. And www.magictaxi.co.uk claims to be the web’s happiest website, because it donates 50% of its advertising revenue to charity. So next time you need to find an answer, log on and you could be doing your good deed for the day.

Pop Music

If you love to be kept up to date with the latest pop gossip, click on www.popjustice.com. This site gives you a daily account of what’s going on in the showbiz world, and insider news on what your favourite celebrities have been getting up to. There’s also news on the latest releases and upcoming gigs.

Expert Village

Need an expert? We cannot all know everything so it is good to know there is a place on the web where you can find someone who does.

Take a look at www.expertvillage.com as this site has lots of great instructional videos to help you accomplish a variety of tasks from using a block plane to applying the perfect mascara for your wedding day.

Click the categories tab to browse through the content by subject. Most films are placed in a series, allowing you to step through the various stages of a topic in small bites.
You must remember that these people are experts, not presenters, so a lot of the content is quite dry.

But the level of detail and knowledge contained in them is very impressive - and it is all totally free to watch.

Start Killer

At www.tordex.com you can download Start Killer which does exactly what it says on the tin.

If like me you often have a lot of programs and documents open at the same time, your task bar can get very crowded. This makes it hard to find what you are looking for.

Start Killer is a simple but effective tool to free up a little more valuable real estate at the bottom of your screen. After downloading and installing, when Start Killer is launched, it starts ridding your screen of the Start button.
When you close the program, your button comes back. And if you want occasional access to the Start button while you are working just use CRTL and Escape, or the Windows key on your keyboard.

GoodSync

Have you backed up your data this week? How about that laptop or PDA you so nearly left on the bus last night? Despite being simply lost without the data on our computing technology, so many of us just do not bother to back it up. This product makes it so simple to do this that there really is no excuse.

At www.goodsync.com you will find the excellent programme designed to give you a quick and easy way to keep all your information regularly synced up, so you need never lose it again.
This application is really quick and easy to use, whether you are synchronising the data between a laptop or PDA and your desktop machine. Or transferring folders onto a memory stick to take out on the road with you, or backing up your folders to an online storage facility

You need to state the two locations you want to sync up, including a URL if you want to work with an online source, and then just click analyse to have the programme review and mark up any changes to the data.

Nosy Neighbours

If you’re in the process of selling your house, it’s good to know how much other properties are going for in your area. Mypropertyspy.co.uk gives you access to property sale prices, dating back as far as 2000. Just type in your postcode and sit back for hours of compulsive viewing.

Around The World

If you’re off on your holidays you might want to take a look at worldtimeengine.com and find out what the time is at your chosen destination. Just type in any country, city, point of interest or postcode and picture that you’re there already.

Award Yourself

If you’re having one of those days where you feel insignificant, visit www.partycubicle.com. This site lets you print off certificates to make yourself feel important. So today you could just be an office worker, but by tomorrow you can be The World’s Greatest Love Machine. Just be careful where you hang up your certificate, because people at your work might not agree.

Funny Names

It might be childish, but most of us laugh when we see a funny name in a telephone directory. www.funnyname.com lists hundreds of hilarious names from the yellow pages for you to browse through. Some of the best names include, Lunatic Fringe and Running Waters.

PokeTalk

There are many great websites offering stuff for free these days. So how do you fancy a free 10-minute phone call to anywhere in the world? Try www.poketalk.com

At first glance Poketalk.com seems too good to be true, but aside from any incoming charges such as roaming fees for using your mobile abroad, these calls are totally free and you do not need a microphone or headset to proceed.

Calls are paid for by the sites advertising and all you have to do is sign-up and put in a request giving the number you are calling from and the one you want to connect to.

Within a very short while - it took about five seconds for me - you will hear your phone ring. Pick up and you will hear a dialling tone as you are connected to your call.

You are limited to 10 minutes, and not every country is covered, although the list is quite impressive. Check out the destinations tab to learn more.

It is worth noting too that in some countries you can only make calls to and from landlines. But altogether this is an astoundingly simple and useful service.

Finer day

Everyone is talking about social networking sites. There are oodles and oodles to choose from - but for some people the internet is a complicated and sometimes frightening place.

If you know someone who feels that way about the online world then perhaps www.finrday.com is the place for you to connect?

After logging in for the first time you will be prompted to invite your family or friends to join your closed network. There is a very clear video tutorial to help you do this.

All the buttons and text are presented in large contrasting fonts, making it super easy for those with poor eyesight to find their way around.

In fact the whole website concept was designed by a qualified care home worker who wanted to provide an online networking service for older people to enjoy and feel safe in.

It is early days for the site so some of the services are not yet available but you can send emails and share photos, simplifying the family communication tools into something that even your great grandmother should feel comfortable using.

The site has already been translated into Welsh, Polish and Punjabi

MobileLeap

Mobile connections are the new window to the online world, but not every website creator has done what they can to optimise their site for your roaming viewing. That is where Mobile Leap can help.

Check out http://mlvb.net

The site acts as a portal to all other sites on the web, stripping them out and reformatting them so that you can easily view pages on your handheld device.

Go to Settings when you first launch it to set the dimensions of your screen and how you want the information displayed. This enables you to include as much or as little detail as you think your mobile can take.

As well as having the images re-sized to more mobile-friendly dimensions you can also chose to run text only.

This and having all the ads and excess html stripped out will really help with loading times, especially if you are running a sketchy connection.

Punk At Heart

Who ever said that the spirit of punk is dead? www.punk77.co.uk gives you the complete history of UK Punk Rock. Featuring an A to Z of punk bands, rare record sleeves, fashion and lyrics, you can get lost remembering the days where anarchy ruled the waves.

Top Table

If you burn your toast, and undercook the chicken, now might be the time to seek some culinary help. www.topsecretrecipes.com brings the recipes of your favourite restaurants into your kitchen, by helping you create your own menus and learn the tricks of the trade.

The Queen’s English

Do you ever laugh when a foreigner makes a mistake while using the Queen’s English?

Engrish.com documents the hilarious misuse of English by the Japanese. Favourite include the Woops Hair Salon and Colon Chocolate Bars.

Frixo

www.frixo.com is a road / motorway traffic reporting site and it may be a useful resource for anyone travelling on the roads.

It gives users up to date information as the site gets updated every 3 minutes via feeds from various sources including the government's official Highways Agency site.

Frixo provides current Road Traffic Reports. It's a free service aimed at giving you live traffic news and information. Frixo specialises in traffic news and reports making it easy to use whether you're about to make a journey or out and about using our mobile service.

All you need do is select by city, motorway or a-road you want to travel on followed by the direction, then just click Get Report to get the latest live updates and traffic information. ( any delays, incidents and information will be outlined that will affect your journey).

DJing Tips

If you dream of becoming a DJ, there’s one website that is packed with tips and techniques that are sure to get you hitting the decks. www.djforums.com holds reviews of equipment and online video tutorials for scratching, mixing and maintenance. And if you’ve got any questions, just ask other visitors to the site via the forum.

4 weeks til Summer

Today is 1st March. Exactly 4 weeks today British Summer time begins when the clocks go forward an hour meaning lighter nights.

If only it would bring the good weather with it. I would like to look forward to more barbeques and friends round having a good time but we never get the weather for it.

This leads me nicely onto this site www.weather-forecast.com/locations/BarrowInFurness which will give you the weather fgor the Barrow and Furness area.

If you want the weather for elsewhere then try www.weather-forecast.com

A website a day

Usually I list website reviews on average about 4 days a week but starting 1st March I am going to try and do one every day (7 days a week) due to being inundated with good reviews. Its worth checking back each day.

I will also try and keep you upto date with local live music events and other things happening in my life at the moment.

Sing Your Heart Out

Ali Rigg from local duo Toungue Tide does a regular singing session at Forum 28 in Barrow every Tuesday from 3rd March.

The popular weekly sing your heart out is for anyone aged eight to 108 and takes place from 7pm til 9pm. The cost is £4 with concessions at £2.50

Ali and Jodi from Tongue Tide have appeared as guests of mine on various acoustic slots on the radio and you can find out more about them at www.myspace.com/tonguetideuk

Come Fly With Me

If you’re a bit of a nervous flyer, visit www.seatguru.com. This handy site is the ultimate source for airplane seating, in-flight amenities and airline information. This will you give you a chance to familiarise yourself and ease any of your pre-flight angst.

Warmth Of The Sun

www.aftersunrise.com is the perfect site for people who feel like they’re carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. You can watch videos of the sunrise on Miami Beach, while soothing sounds and feel good quotes will leave you feeling

Surf The Web

It can be difficult to help your children with their homework without giving them the answers. If you want to teach your kids how to surf the internet safely, use www.kidsclick.org. This is a great search engine designed to help children discover the internet.

Social Networking

Theres loads of social networking sites around such as twitter and facebook, bebo and myspace etc etc.

I havnt tried them all but some that I have tried I find very intruding and personally I canmt be arsed with "Twitter"

However you can find me on facebook just look for my email address and also at www.myspace.com/billclarkontheradio

Fabulous, Darling

If you’re planning on booking your summer break, and only somewhere fabulous will do, visit www.fabsearch.com. This travel site trawls glossy magazines like Vogue, Tatler, and Vanity Fair for their best travel tips and features and archives them online by source and location.

A short month

Its a month away from the start of spring. For me, time seems to have flown by since Christmas and if also like me you have direct debits and other bills to pay by the 1st of the month then don`t forget that February is only a 28 day month so it will soon come round.

Website reviews

I`m now struck deals with a few radio stations around the world who will use the websites reviewed on this blog as part of their station output so keep your website ideas coming and if they are any good then they may be reviewed on here then used on radio and then visitors to the sites will increase. Email me your websites and a short piece about them to the usual address or altenately leave details on 01229 808222

John Little Entertains You

You may well have seen John Little performing locally either as a magician, a singer and guitarist or heard him on the Evening Show on the now defunct Abbey FM.

John is a man of many talents and can put his mind to anything and if you are looking for a vocalist, guitarist, childrens entertainer, voiceover artist just real good entertainment then you cant go wrong with chatting to John little.

Find out more at his website www.johnl.co.uk. You wont be disapointed.

Music Magic

If you want to discover new music but don’t know where to start, visit www.thefilter.com. This lazy guide to building a music collection gets you to enter your three favorite artists, and then the site will generate a playlist of music it thinks you’ll love. You can also read reviews, watch music videos and download albums.

Pocket Rocket

If you’ve got an important website to remember, but no pen and paper, visit netrocket.com. This site stories all your important web addresses so you can view them anytime and from anywhere. You can also set reminders if there’s an important email to send, or file to download.

Hoaxes And Headlines

If you don’t trust what you read in the paper, you’ll love www.truthdig.com. The purpose of this web magazine is to provide you with unbiased and insightful reports on current events and issues. You can also share your own views and opinions through an online discussion group

Supernatural Powers

Some people claim to have supernatural powers, but if you think its all magic and tricks, visit getrue.com. This site gives tricksters and performers a chance to display their talents, and explain the method behind their madness.

A Poem and a Pint

Tongue Tide (Aka Jodi and Ali) have appeared on the show a few times and if you are wondering what they are upto then read on.

Poem And A Pint on Valentines Day
We are performing the musical spot alongside special guest poet Kathleen Jamie on Saturday 14th February at Forum Twenty Eight in Barrow. The evening starts at 7.30pm and costs £6/£4conc We have just the song...!!!

Another evening of 4play
4Play is a full eclectic evening of top quality music from 'up north' (apart from Jodi of course who's a cockney to most of you, even though she's not at all from London; but Ali more than qualifies for us both anyway so go with it 'alright'!)
4Play is an opportunity to see acts that we recommend on the contemporary Northern music scene
4Play is never the same twice & good for the soul.
4Play is about the chemistry & brought to you by Twisted Promotions

www.myspace.com/tonguetideuk
www.myspace.com/liljoeacoustic
www.myspace.com/louisemarymartin
www.myspace.com/kayaherstad

Our second 4play event is set for the 21st February '09 with a great line up from start to finish and all for the great price of just £5.
Our out of town headline act is Kaya hailing from Liverpool, a very lyrical, quirky, Norwegian lady who has had some fantastic reviews one of which is... 'Kaya is the perfect balance of warm, charming & lighthearted and serious, powerful & mesmerizing'

That's all for now except.... the date for our 2nd Twisted Cabaret is 25th July... put it in your diaries now; places will be limited

Friday the Thirteenth

Superstitious or not.... Not me. Don't believe in it all. After all since when did someone walk under a ladder and a black cat lands on them..

Anyway if your superstitious about Friday 13th then normally it would only happen twice a year a few months apart but February and March days and dates are the same when February only has 28 days in it so not to put a damper on it but if you are superstatiotios about Friday 13th then its gonna happen again in exactly 28 days....

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.