Digital radio

Old radio. (Photo by currybet)

When the news broke about the closure of BBC Radio 6 Music, half of the re:new office wondered what on earth Radio 6 was. The other half, however, were slightly more enlightened and told us about the digital radio station.

But what is digital radio?

Digital radio is actually a simpler way to listen to the radio. Instead of tuning FM frequencies, digital radio enables you to locate the stations with a push of a button, showing exactly what you’re listening to. With easier access to various radio stations across the country, digital radio also improves the sound quality, removing all the hisses and crackles associated with FM/AM radios.                                          

How to get one?

In order to receive digital radio signal, you need a digital radio. Unlike with digital TV, there aren’t any further fees, such as subscription, attached to it.

When buying digital radios, which are widely available in stores and online shops nation-wide, make sure it has the DAB logo.

To find out more about buying digital radios, check UK Digital Radio’s website.

The April issue of re:new will be giving you tips on which digital radio stations to listen.

re:new issue 2 now online

Naturists, running and the right to die – welcome to re:new‘s second issue. Click on the pic above to have a look through the online magazine and if you have any thoughts, comments or queries, get in touch! Leave a comment or contact us on enquiries.renew@googlemail.com.

Good news for coffee addicts

You may have read our “Are you addicted to coffee?” article in our first issue (pg 13) and felt a relief when learning that as long as you’re not exceeding seven instant coffees a day – the maximum daily intake recommended by the Department of Health - then you should be ok.

Four cups of coffee a day keeps the doctor away, scientists say

 

Well, more good coffee news has arrived at the re:new office, probing us to pop to the kitchen and pour another cup of Kenco. Scientists revealed yesterday that drinking four cups of coffee per day may protect the heart.Although the traditional belief is that a high intake of  coffee can set your heart rate into sprint mode, the study, presented at the American Heart Association in San Francisco, reveals that drinkers who curb their coffee needs between four and seven cups a day may be at lower risk of experiencing heart palpitations.

 

More than 130,000 people took part in the study, which concluded that those drinking four or more cups of coffee a day had an 18 per cent lower risk of going to hospital for heart disturbances. Those who reported drinking one to three cups each day had a 7 percent reduction in risk. 

About 2 per cent were hospitalised for rhythm disturbances; 50 per cent of those were for atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm problem. 

Daily Mail website quotes lead investigator Dr Arthur Klatsky, a cardiologist at the Kaiser Permanente health insurance company as saying, “Coffee drinking is related to lower risk of hospitalisation for rhythm problems, but the association does not prove cause and effect, or that coffee has a protective effect.” 

He added that a controlled intake of coffee may block the action of the chemical adenosine, which can block the heart and lead to palpitations. However, the study did not take into consideration the exercise habits and eating diets of the people involved, so it’s wise not to get too excited about the results. But, re:new‘s mantra continues to be, ”A few cups of coffee a day keeps the doctor away.”

Leica Cameras; from film to digital

A Leica D-Lux 4. Photo (Photo by leica-camera.com)

For decades Leica has been the first name in premium photography. The German company was founded over 50 years ago and has made leading cameras, geosystems and microscopes ever since. Their original film cameras have been long considered as the best in the business, with their lenses being widely described as the sharpest and finest in the industry.

These days, not only does Leica produce digital cameras, they produce them with the same care and features of the original film versions; not only updating them, but improving them.

Take the Leica D- Lux 4 for example. This beautiful camera was the first of its kind to be reincarnated into its digital form. Despite its compact size, it offers top Leica quality and gives the photographer plenty of artistic freedom. Although a digital camera, the D-Lux 4 offers many things often unique to analog cameras, including manually overiding the shutter speed, focus and exposure.

The Leica M8 (Photo by leica-camera.com)

More iconic is the company’s M System. Originally created in the early 50s, Leica describe the tranformation of their durable M8 as an evolution, not a remake, their site states, “50 years of M evolution has concentrated on development, rather than change for its own sake. So M’s are not burdened with over-complication. There are no gadgets. No unnecessary electronic trickery. Nothing to confound the act of photography. Just the most evolved optical performance. And utter mechanical reliability.”

The cameras in Leica’s M System collection are the only digital cameras to incorporate a rangefinder system with its advantages of discreet and quiet operation, speed and precision within the digital structure of the camera.

Leica lenses are widely considered the best in the industry. (Photo by camerahobbies.com)

With their solid aluminium and brass bodies, and the clear and precise lenses, it is not surprising that Leicas come with a rather hefty price tag. Yet if you are serious about photography and have a bit of money saved up then there really is no better, or more luxurious camera out there, especially if you are after digital images that look and feel as though they were taken by a traditional film camera.

Is this a dark day for the BBC?

When Rupert Murdoch attacked the BBC in August last year for its “chilling” domination of the media industry, it was difficult to sympathise.  Why should Murdoch, chairman of the giant News Corporation that owns the Times and The Sun, worry about a bit of competition? He argues that because the BBC’s income is guaranteed it’s a competitor that’s expanding on an unfair playing field.

Well, apparently he’s right. Today BBC director general Mark Thompson not only signalled an end to an era of BBC expansion, but a dramatic scale down too. His recommendations included: making the BBC website smaller, selling off all their magazines plus the closures of Radio 6 Music, the digital radio station Asian Network in addition to  BBC Switch and Blast.

Is this a recognition that the BBC has become too big? Thompson argues that instead it is a desire to produce the best journalism in the world, under clearer limits. The BBC wishes to focus on providing specialist analysis; strengthening their commitment to international newsgathering (especially in neglected areas such as China and Brazil) and provide a greater scrutiny of local politics.

Yet despite the BBC putting a positive spin on this decision, it does spell a dark day on what has been years of positive growth and expansion. Today the BBC’s future has changed dramatically, and if the Conservative Party is elected in May there’s no knowing what restrictions they may face under a license fee freeze.

But as a license fee payer it is your views that count. Do you think that have a right to the in-depth cross-media that the BBC provides? Or do you feel that they should concentrate on quality rather than quantity?

Share your views by commenting below.

Thompson’s proposals will now go to the BBC Trust for further consideration. It is holding its own public consultation on the future direction of the BBC which closes on May 25. For more information visit the Press Gazette

Best foot forward

Taking care of your feet should be a regular part of your healthcare regime. Be it from charging around a supermarket doing the weekly shop, taking the dog for a walk or doing a spot of gardening, your feet go through a lot.

While a pedicure is not everyone’s cup of tea, your feet still do need the same level of TLC. Moisturisers, bed socks, gel insoles, nail management kits – there are a lot of products on the market to revive tired tootsies.

Before you go booking a chiropodist appointment or rushing to the shops, there are many things you can start doing now to prevent getting swollen and sore feet.

• Wash your feet daily and make sure you dry them properly
• When you’re going to bed check over your feet – are there any blisters, red patches or cuts that you didn’t know were there?
• Keep toenails in check by trimming regularly and shaping so they do not rub the side of the toe
• Moisturise your feet by using a regularly using a moisturiser – there are many available from Boots and The Body Shop which are specifically for your feet

File A Foot from the Body Shop (Photo by PR shots)

File A Foot from The Body Shop costs £4.50 and is used to exfoliate dry, hard skin. Simply smooth from side to side over the soles of your feet.

Peppermint Purifying Foot Mask from the Body Shop (Photo by PR shots)

Peppermint Purifying Foot Mask from The Body Shop costs £8 and is a clay-based wash-off mask to deeply cleanse and soothe the feet. Kaolin clay works to draw impurities from the skin.

Instructions from The Body Shop say to: apply to feet, relax and allow the product to dry. Simply wash-off to reveal refreshed and deeply cleansed feet with softer, smoother skin.

Teepee chic

Teepee chic is the kookiest way to go camping this summer.

The snow is (hopefully) over now and April showers are prematurely starting to kick in so we at re:new don’t think it’s too early to start planning for warmer days.

The effects of last year’s economic strife saw many people opting for Britain-bound escapes. Coastal seaside resorts, summer festivals and the perennial favourite – camping - all capitalised on the lack of capital floating about and if you’re considering any of these breaks this year, the teepee is the way to do it in style.

Teepees are the luxury alternative to mildewed caravans and damp groundsheets. Also, thanks to the Cath Kidston contingent, they seem to come in rather attractive styles complete with spiralling flags on the top and stacks of cushions on the inside.  If you enjoy the practical side of “putting the tent up” though, you could always buy a yurt. These circular contraptions are more spacious and much less likely to collapse in adverse weather conditions.

These wigwam alternatives operate in the same way as tents but have a bit more class to them. They are especially great if you’re planning to take the grandchildren away for the weekend. Camp Bestival, the family orientated music festival in the grounds of Lulworth Castle in Devon, reserves fields of teepees to rent out. You can also get less heavy duty wigwams to erect yourself and use as wind shelters on the beach.

If you buy one now you’ll be able to decorate it in time for the holiday season and you could even set it up in the garden as an extention of the conservatory or a drinks area during parties.