Gadget17

Not got a great deal to specifically right about, but thought I would write about a few different things here.

Firstly, my friend jw has started a blog jw³ otherwise known as “jw’s cube on this interweb thing…”. Welcome to the world of Blogging jw.

Also made a few changes to my blog.

• Twitter Feed added
• Debt Free Countdown updated
• Updated Wordpress to version 2.6

Will be adding some photos soon from my short trip to Isle of Wight. Don’t think I took many, but I had fun drinking 3 out of 4 evenings with my Dad. I came back early as the day I was planning to return there was torrential rain. Glad I left early.

I know this is short, but hopefully next post will be a bit longer.

As I come to the end of over 7 years of paying back money on debts, I thought I would make a list of ways to avoid problems as a reminder for me and maybe others who read this.

• Do Not use Credit Cards
  • Possibly get a pre-pay one
• Do Not get Personal Loans without a goal
  • Buying a Car for example fine, but just to have money or to clear debt no.
• Do Not have an overdraft
  • Especially, do not live in your overdraft
• Do Not use check cashing services
  • The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) could be near 1,500% mark (not a typo)
• Start a saving account, maybe an ISA
• Pay for things with Cash
  • This is also a way to avoid problems with possible credit card fraud

I may add more items to this in the future, and please feel free to add your tips.

I want to avoid future debt.

That may seem to be a big statement, and I have only had the Slingbox a week or two and wouldn’t want to get rid of it now.

So what is the Slingbox?? It’s a device that can stream your TV over local network and the internet, even on a PDA or phone (mobile software costs £20 currently).

Cable or Satellite boxes?? No problem.
DVD, Video, Hardisk Players/Recorders?? No problem.
Digital TV?? No problem. (not on Solo)
High Definition TV?? No Problem. (not on Classic)

Why did I choose the Slingbox?? I purchased a Video Sender prior to this and as operated on 2.4GHz interence was caused by my Wifi. Also couldn’t change channels as VirginMedia (ex-Telewest) remote uses IRDA signals.

It soon went back to the shop I purchased it from and eBayed a Buy-It-Now Slingbox Classic for £75.00. Bargain.

The photo is of my Slingbox in situ with a DVD temporarily above it to show it’s size.

I currently have a Cable Box and DVD player connected (although one cable for sound has to be manually changed if I switch via the software), and a Digital TV freeview antenna.

If you have local network at home, Cat5 or Wifi, I would advise to look at the Slingbox as a seriously cool Gadget. Visit the Slingmedia home page www.slingmedia.com.

OK, not sure how this will affects my sites, but I have finally been moved to a Dreamhost Private Server.

I am starting at the lowest level, hoping this is all my sites need. But if I need more resources I can easily add from the Dreamhost web panel.

Was a few hiccoughs during the setup as DH network was slow running, but they were sorting the move. All sorted now.

Any problems noticed, please use my contact form.