Most people are fed up with the radio programs available in their area (I vented my feelings about this dismal situation under "WSNJ Eulogy"), so they buy satellite radio subscriptions with monthly fees. These have the advantage that you can listen in the car as well as at home, but there are many - perhaps thousands of free listening options on the Internet.  Those who don't own a computer or still use analog (dial-up) modems would have difficulty receiving these, but if you have a broadband connection, you can listen to Internet Radio for no extra charge. The biggest downside to this is that the computer has to be on and you need to stay near enough to hear what is playing or to change channels.

In recent months, several firms have developed receivers which can connect "streamed" Internet programs to your home stereo system. Normally, these are connected via a wireless router, which you probably already have installed.

The Roku Soundbridge is probably the best on the market and unlike some of the others, your computer doesn't need to be on to get Internet radio. You can change stations as with a normal radio with the remote.

The SoundBridge 1001 connects to your home stereo system, so the sound quality depends on what you have available. ROKU also has a "standalone" SoundBridge Radio that has its own speaker and receives normal AM/FM broadcasts as well as Internet Radio. That model costs more, but has the added advantage of mobility. You can place it anywhere your router can send a signal including out by the pool or in the garage.

Every SoundBridge has 19 station presets plus a "Favorites" menu where you can scroll through an unlimited number of other stations. Because you can make up your own list, you can include anything you like: classical music, hundreds of Christian broadcasts including one that plays great accapella 24/7, bluegrass, or whatever. You don't need to program any rock or jazz stations because they are a dime a dozen on regular FM radio!  That is more than your present has to offer!

We can now tune in to our favorite music any time and from all over the world and even listen to the local German station we used to hear in Austria. If you have moved and miss your home-town station, chances are, it streams over the Internet. FM radio stations cost millions of Dollars, but just about anyone can operate their own Internet Radio station. This trend may soon take the world by storm. My wife, who is not computer savvy at all, loves this technical marvel. She listens to it all day while I type away on the computer undisturbed. By the way, I get no honorariums for this commercial!

http://www.rokulabs.com/products_soundbridge.php

GILLETTI FUSION RAZOR

A free testimonial for Gillette!

I am one of those die-hards who insists that electric razors give inferior results, and I am also a tightwad, so I always buy the cheapest products that give satisfactory results.

Bic razors are cheap, so that is what I have used for years. Bic had two styles; one for light beards and another for heavy beards. The only difference seemed to be the lifespan of the razor. You could use a heavy duty razor on a light beard with the same results but it lasted up to a week. Apparently too many people with light beards discovered this fact and that was not good for Bic, so you can no longer find the heavy duty variety in stores.

I was deliberating what to do about this when I got a free sample razor in the mail from Gillette. It is called a Gilletti Fusion. I tried it and loved it immediately. The handle is sturdy and attractive, but the replaceable end piece with five sharp blades is the best part. You get a very clean shave with no nicks or cuts day after day. My sample razor gave me good shaves for a month and I have a tough beard.

I believe in lauding the good things as well as condemning bad stuff. Gilletti has an excellent product and believes in it enough to send us free samples. I can heartily recommend it to all the millions of dissatisfied Bic users.