Choosing a surround sound system

Advantages: Good cinema sound
Disadvantages: Many systems "mis-sold"

...with the standard in what you should and shouldn't put on surround speakers and is used on a few films which ILM produced effects for. It's not really a format in it's own right as it is decoded by DTS decoders I believe. ----------------------------- Choosing a system ----------------------------- If you watch lots of TV's, VCR's and only a couple of DVD's and don't care too much about surround quality then go for a pro-logic decoding TV when you buy a TV. This will give you a nice surround effect. But if you want some proper sound then you simply must go for a proper decoder. Most will do DTS and AC-3. If you want to be a little future proof then try getting one with DD6.1 (and the DTS equivalent) as well but like I said, I don't think the format is going anywhere and you're not missing out on much. I would strongly suggest you either...

C_W_Monkey 30.08.2005 · Read review
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Review of Member Advice on Choosing a Hi-fi

Help on choosing a Childminder

Advantages: Normally only 3 children at max, Family Environment, You get to know the person looking after your child,Childminder recognised and checked by OFSTED regularly
Disadvantages: Not always cover when Childminder ill/holiday, Child can't attend when ill

...used to. The parents are aware of the activities we do during the day, number of nappies changed, meals etc. as I keep a day diary for each child that goes home with them. Being in the NCMA means that I get easy access to help, advice and further courses/workshops which enable me to keep up to date as well as further myself in my career. Just to give you an idea of fee's, in my area the average cost is between £2.50 and £3.00 per hour. Choosing a Childminder... Back to the subject, you need to contact the Childcare Information Service (0800 096 0296) who will give you the local number or go to www.childcarelink.gov.uk where you will be able to get a list of the local Childminders and they should be able to give you an idea of the average rates charged. If you are using the website you enter your postcode and it will bring up all...

Katie-Jane 08.10.2002 (08.05.2003) · Read review
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Review of Member Advice on Choosing Childcare

Why choose a childminder?

Advantages: Able to have a hand in nuturing a childs development and skills
Disadvantages: Can be very long hours

...a childminder and it really makes you think about whether you can offer children a service that they deserve and require. Once you have made that decision then you have to complete and application pack. This includes Criminal Record Bureau forms for you and each member of your family over the age of 16. You need to have an enhanced check (highest level) to ensure your suitability as a childminder. This is actually the longest process; mine took 2 months to come through. Then, you need to complete a medical form and have this verified by your doctor, who will add his own comments on your answers and medical history as well as his thoughts on your suitability as a childminder. Doctors surgeries do charge for this service, approx £30 which you pay for. So, all the forms have now been received and Ofsted will call to arrange a visit! The most...

cheekychunkychops 02.10.2005 (13.10.2005) · Read review
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Review of Member Advice on Choosing Childcare

Choose it carefully

Advantages: exciting times,
Disadvantages: could follow the wrong path

...This decision should never be taken lightly, it will influence the rest of your life, and that is why you should weigh up all options, and leave yourself room for change if you want to pursue a different career in the future. I always found my careers advisors a great help, but in a way when you 17-18 you know what you want to do. Choosing A-levels, is important as if you decide to go to university, Universities only take certain subjects. And if would be a great shame to miss out because you didn’t have the right subjects. I think your parents and teachers should have an imput but the final decision should be yours, as you should know what course you want to do. However you may not, so it’s best to think of what kind of area’s you would like to go in, and chose a course that will help you get their. When I was...

sam123 26.04.2001 · Read review
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Review of Member Advice on Choosing a course

Choosing the perfect gym for you

Advantages: Get fit, increase self-esteem, fun (yes really!)
Disadvantages: NONE!

...such as the massages and the manicurists. They are cheaper than the exclusive gyms and more a 'work out and go' gym rather than the one where you could spend all day being pampered after your workout. Women only gyms Obviously great for those self conscious among us! A gym I used to work in also used to run special classes for over 50s so you should ask about this if you think this would be good for you. 'Bog standard' gyms! These are the ultimate 'work out and go' gyms with all the essential equipment but none of the extras such as the TVs to keep you going that extra mile. These are for the ultra motivated amongst us who do not need that little bit of distraction but who concentrate on their workout the entire time and still perform it to their best and do not give up through boredom etc. Choosing the right gym for you...

Allyalcock 14.09.2005 · Read review
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Review of Member Advice on Choosing a Gym

Member Advice On Budgies

Advantages: In Opinion
Disadvantages: In Opinion

...I have now had my budgie for over a month now. My sister received the 9 week year old budgie as a birthday present complete with a cage and equipment. She was happy to receive the budgie. Taking care of a budgie is not that difficult as you think. The first few weeks are quite difficult. In this opinion I will give members advice on looking after budgies. °Brief History° ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I do not now that much about budgies but from my knowledge I think budgies were found and originally came from Australia while they were living in flocks and searching for food. The common name for a budgie is "Budgerigar" I am not sure what the actual scientific name is. It is long indeed. Today budgies are found in a vast number of colours, the one we have got is a green and yellow budgie. The general one. ºColoursº ^^^^^^^^ The colours...

fromthedarkside 27.08.2001 · Read review
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Review of Member Advice On Budgies

Gym'll fix it.

Advantages: See text.
Disadvantages: See text.

...I understand that I have written a very similar review to this one that is actually on working out, however I would just like to now write a review on choosing a gym - as you can, in fact work out anywhere (well, within reason as I doubt the manager at Tesco would be best pleased somehow!). I have just changed gyms, I used to go to one that was on the outskirts of Plymouth (it was on the same site as the hospital that I worked in). This one I paid £27 a month for all in, so this was unlimited use of the actual gym in itself; the sauna or steam room (it was a case of either/ or for a week and then change but I never used them), and the classes that were on offer. You also got your own programme included should you wish, which I did as I had never been to a gym before. Just to mention, the £27 a month was a special rate for NHS staff...

dynamicnurse 16.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Member Advice on Choosing a Gym

Choosing Childcare

Advantages: Knowing they are being looked after by a capable person
Disadvantages: Loosing out on them growing up

...that she was starting to charge us more and more money as the time went by, even though we had a contract with her. After a time she became ill so we had to search for another one and within a week found one, also with a young son and this is the childminder they have had for the past 6 months. Fees for childminding vary from person to person. An after school charge can differ substantially from a full day. A full school week for me is £70 which I think is very reasonable. Also for further details of childminding and childminders go to a website called www.ncma.org.uk. This is the National Childminding Association's website which offers informative advice on choosing a childminder and what to expect. If I had the choice obviously I'd like to stay at home with my children but needs must and having a childminder you can rely on is...

MitchellandAimeesMum 08.02.2006 · Read review
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Review of Member Advice on Choosing Childcare

Smart Advice on Operating Systems

Advantages: N/A
Disadvantages: N/A

...is the old Windows NT, which is generally built to support those who run more than one PC on a network. Windows Millenium Edition (ME) is very much a domestic users product. It's great for gamers and those who are mulitmedia orrientated. However, I know for a fact that Cubase VST (a music production package) will not run on Windows ME so be careful! Most people stick with what they receive when they buy there PC. Others choose to upgrade their operating system to keep 'up with the times'. There is a rule I have, and one that I wish you to remember - 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. I'll say no more about that. There of course is the new windows version XP. I don't know much about it, it sounds very good but they may be the effective marketing from microsoft that is making me think that. My advice on that part is, wait...

darrenloud 05.08.2001 (20.08.2001) · Read review
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Member Advice on Ciao Addiction.

Advantages: Strange challenges get to me
Disadvantages: None

...and you have to "want" to get better, as in smoking and other addictions, plus you have to actually get to the stage where you admit your addiction. The best medicine is a hot toddy, because it relaxes the brain and lets you chill a little. Onother known medicine for this type of addiction is rabbit interferon. What this involves is letting your rabbit get near to the telephone line and chew until the problem goes away. REALITY CHECK TREATMENT So, we admit we have an addiction, but admitting it, and doing nothing about it is destructive. We believe everything we read, we weep when things are sad, laugh when things are joyous, but we carry on trawling through guestbooks, amazed at new members that tell us things that new members could not possibly know, and going back into life thinking about friends that we have online and how we...

thingywhatsit 08.08.2003 (29.10.2004) · Read review
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Review of Member Advice on Ciao Addiction