We’ve seen foldable cardboard speakers before by MUJI and others, but the lively patterns on these OrigAudio versions caught our eyes (or should that be ears?). The foldable, self-powered speakers (no batteries or external power required) come in designs with names like Cityscape, Lake, Daydream, and Surf Break. You can even create custom artwork, but you’ll have to order 500 units to go that route, so…

Perhaps best of all, they’re recycled, made from old newspapers, phone books, and the like. The speakers, which are 3.15 inches on each side, cost $16 a pop, with a six-pack going for $60, and are universally compatible with any device that has a headphone jack (MP3 players, laptops, cell phones, CD players).

As for sound quality, don’t count on using the 1-watt device at your next big house party. The company stresses that they’re best used for more modest auditory applications, such as travel, the beach, dorm rooms, and cubicles.

Full article at CNET.

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Lok’nStore Manor House Avenue Southampton

80-800 sqft From £10 per sqft. Fully inclusive of rates and utilities. Free parking. Free wireless internet. Available on Weekly terms, long or short.

Call Nicola direct on 02380 783388 or email southampton@loknstore.co.uk

SO you’re moving house and need to think about estate agents, removals or van hire, self storage or cardboard boxes. It’s an exciting prospect but can also be very stressful.

Choosing the property that’s right for you is an important process and it’s essential that you decide what you’re really looking for in a property. It’s important that the estate agents regard you as a serious applicant, show willing and be eager to view, and you’ll be top of the list when something new comes on the books.

To make it easier for yourself it can help to write down everything you’re looking for in your ideal home, considering factors like location, price, number of bedrooms, garden and whether you want a modern or traditional property.

• Location is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a house. So do your homework and make sure you thoroughly research the area you’re interested in before making an offer on a property. Find out what amenities, transport links, shops and schools are nearby and visit the area several times - in both the daytime and evening - to get a feel for what it would be like to live there.

• Think long and hard about what type of home are you looking for. Do you want a modern apartment, a terrace you can renovate or a semi-detached family home with a garden? Do you need a garage? Is outside space a deciding factor? Do you want somewhere you can move straight into or would you rather renovate somewhere and put your own stamp on it?

• To prevent time being wasted looking at unsuitable properties, give estate agents a comprehensive list of your requirements. This should include a purchase price, the area you want to live in, the type of property you’re looking for, your financial status, your position in the property market plus whether you have children or elderly dependents.

Here are some useful tips to keep in-mind when looking for the house of your dreams:

·        Check out local newspapers, property magazines and websites - not everyone sells their house through local estate agents. View the properties as soon as soon as possible. Leave it too long and you could lose the house.

·        Make good use of your lunch hours or make appointments with estate agents, mortgage brokers or to view properties on your way to and from work.

·        Find out what you’re letting yourself in for and check the history of the house. If it has been rented it may have had the bare minimum in repair and upkeep. Likewise, if a property has been on the market for a long time, try to find out why - is the asking price unrealistic compared to other similar properties in the area? Does it need more work doing to it than it first appears?

·        New carpets, bathrooms and kitchens can be signs of a superficial renovation that’s hiding more serious work to be done.

·        Ideally you should visit the property several times to see what the traffic, lighting and neighbours are like at different times of day.

·        Buy only when you’re sure you’ve found the house that suits your needs fully

To read the full article visit the Liverpool Echo. 

Lok’nStore Archive Self Storage can improve the management and confidentiality of your business records by storing all your archives in one highly secure location - never lose track of a document or file again.

Lok’nStore Archive Self Storage puts you back in control.

Reclaim valuable office space from boxes of paperwork and walls of filing cabinets.

Control your archive costs with just one single monthly storage charge, no service costs and no long term contracts. Lok’nStore Archive Self Storage offer individual document storage rooms.  They come fully racked and are highly secure, with you being the only key-holder. They come in all sizes, whether you have 10 or 10,000 boxes there is an archive to match your requirements.  Lok’nStore Archives are available at over 20 locations in south east England. Retaining and managing business data in a correct manner is not only a legal requirement it also just makes good business sense.   Lok’nStore Archive Self Storage can provide you with the perfect low cost solution. Over 600 organisations, from both the private and public sector, use Lok’nStore Archive Self Storage.

Confidentiality and Legal Compliance

Organisations create many records that need to be retained.  Whether they are confidential business sensitive documents or financial records being kept to meet statutory legal requirements, Lok’nStore Archives can provide the ideal storage solution. 

Centralising your Records Storage

With a Lok’nStore Archive Self Storage, you can centralise and consolidate your records storage.  Create one central database for all your records, making it easier to identify and access your documents.  Create retention schedules and destruction dates in order to keep your storage costs to a minimum.

Business Continuity

It is vital that every company has a Business Continuity or Disaster Recovery Plan - many insurers now insist upon it. All businesses need to hold copies of certain business critical documents and data, away from the office and at a secure location. Lok’nStore Archive Self Storage can provide your organisation with the perfect off-site storage location.  It Just Makes Sense

Rather than take on more expensive office space our customers use their local Loknstore to house their business archives. By relocating documents and filing cabinets to your local Loknstore you can free up office space to accommodate more staff or just improve your working environment.  Loknstore customers can save £1000s a year by replacing costly office space with Lok’nStore Archive Self Storage. 

Lok’nStore doesn’t only store business records. At Lok’nStore you can rent units to store excess office furniture, stationery that is cluttering up your office, or pretty much anything else that businesses and organisations need to store. 

Lok’nStore is a listed company with 15 years experience in the storage business.  All our buildings have 24 hour security, CCTV and are staffed by helpful and friendly staff.  Call Lok’nStore on 0800 587

If your relocating your business and need storage for archive’s, records or stock give Lok’nStore Business & Household Self Storage a call.  Lok’nStore can solve all your storage space problems today on 0800 587 3322.  Or visit loknstore.co.uk for more information on storage. 

But if you think relocating is a hassle, how about these guys who have to move Crocodiles!

THE carefree days of sunbaking were over for hundreds of young saltwater crocodiles at a popular Territory tourist park as they were moved to the “grow-out pens” yesterday.

Scores of volunteers signed legal agreements with Crocodylus Park, in Berrimah, before relocating about 400 potential man-eaters.

While many Territorians didn’t dare to be part of the blitz, others enjoyed the unusual experience.

Geoff Fenton, 44, said he joined for his father David, who wanted to spice up his life as a pensioner.

“This is what he wanted to do in his retirement, so I encouraged him,” he said.

Others, including Jaysen Lee from Los Angeles in California, wanted to learn from the close-up experience.

“I’m just new in town and wanted to experience it,” he said.

The salties, all about three years old, were taken from the display pens to the farm area.

The annual removals started off with an 110V electric shock to paralyse each animal for about 10 minutes.

“That’s basically all that it does,” field supervisor David Ottway said.

“It’s very much for the safety of the people. You don’t really want the volunteers to jump on the back of those things.”

Crocodile handler Nathan Trevena got to feel the sharp fangs of the beasts while pulling them out of the pens.

“I get scratched all the time,” he said.

Asked if he received enough pay for the high injury rate, he said: “Probably not.”

NADJA HAINKE

http://www.ntnews.com.au/