Posted in April 2009

Fascinating Things You Didn't Need to Know

Source: hazel eyes
Wednesday 29th April 2009, 12:48pm

The internet is an amazing beast. It's full of stuff you would just never come across otherwise.

Bizarre Lingerie Innovations

This, er, interesting lingerie collection is some of the weirdest I've ever see. You just couldn't make it up! It seems as though lingerie manufacturers can't decide whether their wares should be displayed for all to see, or made completely invisible. My personal favourite is the frilly black and purple underpants for men. Quite disturbing, but oddly attractive lol.

Recycled Furniture

On a slightly less disturbing topic, innovative ways are being found to utilise recycled materials to make recycled furniture, including dirftwood horses, solar powered dolls houses and tables made from reclained materials too.

If that's all a bit slow for you, there's always the 747 bed, made from an authentic engine nacelle cowling. The bed itself is round, 84" in diameter and features box springs. Now you can prove you eat, drink and sleep aeronautics.

If that lot doesn't make you forget about the recession for a while, I don't know what will!

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Inflation Drops Below Zero

Source: hazel eyes
Tuesday 21st April 2009, 3:52pm

For the first time since 1960, inflation has fallen to -0.4%. Inflation is measured by the Retail Prices Index (RPI).

RPI includes mortgage costs, which, if you are lucky, you will have noticed a significant drop in monthly payments when the Bank of England dropped the interest rates.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) also fell in March to 2.9%, but is still well above the governments target of 2%.

The Office for National Statistics said that lowered oil prices was one of the major drivers in downward inflationas it had prompted lowering of energy prices. Further reductions in April's energy prices could further lower inflation figures next month.

Other factors included lowered vegetable and fuel prices. The price of clothes has risen in comparison to a year ago, along with games and toys.

Negative inflation isn't all good news though as RPI is often the starting point for wage negotiations. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has warned that the negative RPI figure should not be taken as an excuse to freeze wages.

"Although in some workplaces unions have agreed to put pay increases on hold or take cuts in wages to save jobs, many companies are still profitable and able to afford decent pay rises," he said.

"Widespread wage freezes would prompt families to cut back on their spending, which would be the last thing the UK's struggling economy needs right now."

The RPI is also the figure that determines what happens to benefits and the basic state pension. The figure used for pensions will be the one that comes out in September, although there is a minimum increase of 2.5%.

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Climate Change Increases Migration Miles For Birds

Source: hazel eyes
Wednesday 15th April 2009, 4:11pm

Research has been carried out which suggests that climate change could cause tiny birds such as the whitethroat to travel an extra 250 miles, bringing its mileage total up to 3,759.

This extra mileage could mean the difference between life and death for some brids, scientists warn.

The Whitethroat is a warbler, roughly the same size as a great tit, commonly seen in Scotland during the summer where it makes an annual trip, currently 3417 miles from Africa.

The scientists looked at the current migration patterns of European sylvia warblers, a group of birds that are common visitors to Europe.

Dr Stephen Willis, of Durham University who led the research, said that climate change would present the biggest threat to the birds since the last ice age, the Pleistocene era.

Roughly 500 million birds undertake marathon journeys between Europe or Asia and Africa, some birds weighing just 9g, some have to double their body weight in order to store enough energy to make the trip.

Professor Rhys Green, of Cambridge University and the RSPB, added: "These tiny birds make amazing journeys, pushing themselves to the limits of endurance. Anything that makes those journeys longer or more dependent on rare and vulnerable pit-stop habitats used for refuelling on migration could mean the difference between life and death."

The study, by Durham University, the University of Cambridge and the RSPB, was the first to look at the potential impacts of climate change on the breeding and winter ranges of migrant birds.

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Interior Decorating

Source: hazel eyes
Thursday 2nd April 2009, 4:11pm

Interior decorating is an ongoing process. Colours which looked cool a few years ago now look dated (unless you go for magnolia) and furniture starts to get a bit tatty.

Interior decorating is something that never ends. Whether its sprucing up a paint job or washing down conservatory things, there's always something around the house to do. Usually in our house it gets put off as we don't live in London and are therefore unable to call upon the services of the splendid Silver Saints London Handyman Service.

Time For New Furniture

Out with the old and in with the new. We have had our sofa since we moved into the house 12 years ago, so its probably about time it was changed. Its in ok condition, but it would be nice to have a new one, possible a reclining leather affair with a couple of matching chairs also of reclining variety. Reminds me of that scene in Friends.

Other Jobs To Do First

Before we get as far as installing new furniture, however, there is the slight interuption of fitting a new carpet, which will involve the lugging about of various bookcases, CD racks, televisions and the like..... then putting it all back again once its done, makes me tired just thinking about it.

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