Advantages: Fascinating, well-written, broadly drawn
Disadvantages: none

...'Mystics of the Christian Tradition' by Steven Fanning is a great primer to the mystical traditions of Christianity. As the use of the plural implies, there are in fact many different, divergent traditions of mysticism and mystical knowledge in history and family of Christendom. Fanning looks at many of the major traditions, and some of the lesser known, too. Fanning’s approach is rather interesting. Many texts on mysticism, Christian or otherwise, tend to look at the philosophy, the practices, or the primary textual sources as being the focus of consideration. While these are certainly not absent in this text, Fanning in fact uses a method of looking at the mystics themselves, rather than the traditions, philosophies, etc. of which they are a part. ‘There are two ways of knowing Christ: one can either know all about him... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Compact, At a Glance Evening Planner
Disadvantages: Film reviews not in full, no radio listings.

...~~Listing History~~ When I was growing up it was traditional to see the Radio Times and the TV times sat under the coffee table. One was for BBC and the other for ITV and later to include C4. The Radio Times was first published in September 1923 listing the official programmes of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It was, and still is published by BBC magazines. Following the arrival of ITV in 1955, TV Times, published its first issue - in black & white - covering the new commercial stations. This was Originally published by the ITV companies, but acquired by IPC in 1989 in the run-up to the deregulation of the TV listings market. The deregulation came in 1991. This came about because the government, headed by Margaret Thatcher at the time, decided that there needed to be some competition and the consumers deserved... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: In my opinion they look good
Disadvantages: Difficult for those with arthritis or poor hand control.

...I was discussing taps with my daughter a month or two ago as she was having a new bathroom fitted. A few years ago now we had new taps fitted and I investigated all types of tap trying to get the perfect tap .We looked at the various kinds of taps, their ease of use their looks their price. I remember talking about traditional chrome taps with her. Chrome taps are a good choice as they go with most bathroom and sink colour choices they are the standard silver colour. Traditional taps are the ones with a cross top handle that you twist to turn the water on. You can buy mixer traditional style taps but I prefer individual hot and cold taps They will have an H or a C printed in the centre of the cross handle. There are many tap designs nowadays so I do not think these traditional cross top ones are really that popular... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Traditional but stylish
Disadvantages: A bit on the noisy side.

...Stainless steel traditional kettle from ONN. ONN seems to be the new name in manufacturing. Stainless steel, with black thick handle. Black swivel base. Swivel base turns 306 degrees, suitable for left and right-handed people. Boil dry safety cut out, stops elements from burning out. 1.7 capacity, for larger quantities of water. Transparent water gauge, for quick and easy measuring. Height 9ins It says this kettle is traditional, it is and it isn't. Do you remember the kettle that went on to the gas ring, that was round and made a noise through the spout when boiled, well it is very similar to this. It is round but has a length the roundness, it has your chunky handle, and the lid has a chunky round knob. The spout is not very long, but wide. This is handy for me and I never like filling a kettle up from the tape, so... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: It makes nearly everything else in the listings look good.
Disadvantages: It should never have been commisioned.

...The first episode in a new sketch show on BBC1. Sketch shows have traditionally been relegated to the minority channels, e.g. BBC2 and Channel 4, and so to see one on BBC's primary channel is certainly a step in the right direction. Following a very strong pilot, featuring the talents of Bill Bailey and Sean Lock among others, TV To Go (formerly Freerange TV) returns with it's full run of six parts. I sat in great anticipation. I was more than disappointed. I thought the first episode was suprisingly terrible, given the long list of great writers evident in the credits. The sketches rambled past, each competing with each other for title of 'worst sketch in the show', and the competition was high. As for the cast - Hugh Dennis was great, Mackenzie Crook was good, Pauline McLynn was off form (aka terrible). Bailey and Lock... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Reasonable value for money
Disadvantages: Compulsory, and terrifying if you can't afford it !

...TV or not TV…? That is the question .Wether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows, of the tv licensing spies, for not having a licence...or just cough up and be done with it ! I received a reminder today informing me that my TV licence was due, which prompted me to puzzle the positive pros and cons of this seemingly antiquated licensing system, which is after all an unfair tax on the British public, The 2006/2007 colour TV licence costs £10.96 per month - about 36p per day for each household. It is free if you are over 75, half-price if you are registered blind. They must have worked out that half the enjoyment comes from the pictures and half the pleasure comes from the sound ? The annual cost (set by the Government) is currently £131.50. A black and white TV licence is £44. THERE IS NO RADIO LICENSE... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Access to an extra 30+ free TV Channels
Disadvantages: My receiver has gone wrong, likely to need digital aerial

...I have read a few excellent reviews on the Thompson DT1000 digital receiver which have covered the product in praise and glory. My experience has been slightly different, so I thought there may be some value in making my contribution. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FREEVIEW SERVICE/ DIGITAL TV ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ You may already have access to digital TV or have seen adverts for it on your normal analogue service. For those not yet aware, Freeview is a digital TV service which gives you access, free of charge, to over 30 TV channels and radio stations. The most popular channels are BBC3, BBC4, ITV2 - extra football, CBBC - childrens channel for over 5s, CBeebies - childrens channel for under 5s.Other channels available include ones for auctions, travel, gardening, radio, history and cooking. The service offers teletext... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Portable(ish), cheap, good value
Disadvantages: Needs an external aerial, viewing software is buggy

... The Unit - Overview & Appearance Built by probably the best known PC TV tuner producer, the Hauppauge WinTV USB is essentially a glasses-case sized box of magic which allows you to transform your PC or laptop into a TV.. Executed in translucent turquoise plastic, the unit features a 2 foot long USB lead at one end for connection to your computer and a standard coaxial port for connection to an external aerial at the other. On the side of the box are three further ports; two 3.5mm audio jacks for connecting external audio sources and an S-Video port for connecting a video recorder or DVD player or the like. There is also the mandatory red LED to indicate power set into the plastic on the upper face of the unit. Also included in the box is a CD with the WinTV... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Ecellent picture quality & ease of use
Disadvantages: Bit pricy

...Win TV PVR2, okay!! What is it I hear you ask?. Same question I asked myself. I had got some money at Christmas and wanted to buy a piece of external hardware for my computer, that would allow me to transfer my analogue (pre digital) film, from my camcorder, into my computer for editing. Simple task I thought, go to the appropriate area of video editing, and look for something which can do the job and within the budget I had. Well for a start there were various selections of external and internal hardware available which were able to do the job. However, there was only a few at or around the price I had in mind. So after spending about and hour deciding, I lifted the item of my choice and proceeded towards the checkout area. Ah ha!! What is this I see? Walking towards the checkout, I noticed an item on a shelf in a bright... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Space saving, crystal clear picture and cheap.
Disadvantages: Sometimes loses signal in bad weather.

...Having bought my iMac, my printer and various other bits and bobs recently I thought I was in heaven. But something was still missing... What? I have a very fast, sexy computer with all the software I could ever need, movies, music, photos,email and so much more. My little office is comfortable and a haven from others in the flat. Hang on a minute, I don't have a TV. For the first time in my life, I don't have private access to a TV. I have access to the TV in the lounge but I can't decide what I want to watch and can't keep the noise levels down when I really want to take something in. Not good! And then, one day I was having a look at the Apple website and I saw the solution to my problem... EyeTV for Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT). What's that I hear you say. Well hold on a minute and I'll tell you... EyeTV for DTT allows you... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful