Top 5 Defensive Driving Techniques to avoid a Car Accident

My wife once hit three cars at once whilst parking her car.  I once nudged the rear-end of a stationary bus, brakes squealing hard. Everyone has one of these stories, albeit perhaps not as Mr Magoo like involving stationary vehicles, but it's a bit of a worry hey? Hehehe!

I saw a car accident today, happened right in front of my eyes.  Wasn't just a fender bender either, it was a full blown, right up the arse, up on two wheels, power pole smacking smash-up!

Quite a scary crash!

Everyone involved walked away from their cars fine though.  A little shaken up, but fine.  Their cars were pretty wrecked though, so they were lucky it wasn't worse.

It did have me thinking though, what would have happen if it was me driving and my son was in the car with me? We're so fragile as humans and all it takes is one person to not concentrate behind a powerful machine to smack you up the backside and squash you flat.

It was a timely reminder today that you never know when a crash might happen.

We all forget to be more wary.  We've got to be putting our mobile phones out of site when driving, staying within the speed limit and keeping our cars serviced for issues.

Some people need to look at themselves too.  Is it really worth it, to be supe-ing up their car for extra oomph in a vehicle also used to transport children!

I've seen this people do this. It's just not worth it.

Even if you think you are a good driver, this infographic is worth the few minutes it takes to read it. It might just save you from having an accident one day.

The folks at Sinnamon Lawyers have written these tips.  They can help you out if you ever do have a car accident (knock on wood that you don't need it).

Have a read, soak the defensive driving tips in and remember to be careful out there on our roads.

So take care out there on the roads.  Enjoy your journeys and reach your destination safely.

- tork

Is solar power for you?

This is a guest post from Australian Solar Quotes, a one stop solar information source to learn the basics about solar panel technology and solar energy.

It's safe to say that with electricity costs hitting the roof, seemingly with no end in sight, there's been a question on our minds: Is solar power right for me? There’s so much attention on renewable energy and reducing our carbon footprint, and it may seem like everyone's doing it, but in actual fact, it's not always the right solution. There are a number of factors you need to take into account in order to figure out if solar power is right for you.

Is there enough sun in your area?

Every state is different, and each area within a state is different! The amount of sunlight obviously differs between areas. Even in QLD, the Sunshine State, there are areas that believe it or not, don't have as much sun as other parts. However, it’s aptly named the Sunshine State because it really does get more sun on average than other states. NSW was pretty pitiful in terms of how much sun they got over the last two years - they had more overcast days than sunny ones. Therefore, residents of NSW may be poor candidates for solar energy. Certain areas of VIC may also not be quite suited to solar power. Other states like WA and SA have sunlight stats that are more evenly spread, so they’re moderately good candidates for solar power. Enough said.

Does your state offer you an incentive?

Depending on which state you live in, there may be some incentives for you to switch to solar. The Australian Government for a time did provide a rebate of up $8,000 for installation of solar panels on homes. This has since been replaced by another program, The Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (STCs). Basically, if you purchase an eligible solar power or solar hot water system, you’re entitled to a number of STCs (credits) depending on the size of your system and where you’re located. Each city has different STCs – for example, if you’re in Brisbane, you’ll get 31, if you’re in Melbourne 26.6 and so forth. These credits can be put towards the cost of the system, meaning you have a reduced up-front cost! You can find more info on the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator website.

Are you already practicing energy-efficient living?

It’s no secret that going solar is expensive. In order to truly benefit from a renewable energy system, you should already be trying to reduce your consumption. A clever way to remember to save is L.A.W – Lights, Appliances and Waste. A lot of these measures should be carried out already, but many of us still don’t – not because we’re being silly, but sometimes, it just doesn’t occur to us! The more you save on energy, the smaller the system you’ll have to install, which means lower upfront costs!

You should already have switched either partially or wholly to CFL bulbs. They only use 20 per cent of electricity that their incandescent cousins do. Heavy-duty appliances like dishwashers, washing machines and dryers should be run when they’re full. When you purchase big appliances, it’s worth forking out the extra dollars for those with more energy-efficient stars (if you can afford to, that is). And by now, your whole family wastes less by becoming accustomed to turning off lights and appliances when they’re not in use.

Sustainable living is an investment. It’s an investment for yourselves and the environment as a whole. As long as you’ve researched and asked all the questions under the sun (no pun intended) that you can think of, only you will know if it’s right for you! For more advice, visit www.australiansolarquotes.com.au.

Five tips for unwinding after a big day

This is a guest post from Chiropedic, an Australian-owned mattress factory specialising in factory direct mattresses at cheap prices.


It’s been a long day at the office, or with the kids and their friends at the local theme park. You’ve finally made it home and all you want to do is to chill out and let the stress of the day fade away. These five simple tips will help you unwind and prepare for a great night’s sleep.

A comfortable bed

Let’s start with the basics. To unwind, you need a good night’s sleep. And for a good night’s sleep, you need a great bed. The most important part of a bed is a mattress that is comfortable and suits your individual needs. There are a variety of mattresses on the market, each boasting various attributes for different body types and conditions. A good option is to look for a chiropedic mattress for your bed frame. Once you’ve found it, spend a little extra cash on some fine cotton sheets. The higher the thread count, the better the sleep! Now that the bed is sorted out, here are a few other things you can do at the end of the day to ease into a restful night.

Soothing music does the trick

Music calms the savage beast, or for that matter relaxes the tired and stressed worker. Classical or ballad-type music can have a calming effect on the most stressed person. So once you are home, turn on the music and let its calming attributes flow over you. Just make sure your choice of CD isn’t too stimulating, such as rock, punk or pop music. You might enjoy them while driving the car, but they won’t have the soothing effect you need at this quiet time of the day.

Smell the roses and relax

We’ve all at one time or another been told to ‘stop and smell the roses’. This is as much about the positive effect of a sweet and pleasant smell on your senses and mood as it is about urging people to slow down. The aroma of coffee from a restaurant is likely to stimulate hunger in passers-by; and real estate agents often encourage house sellers to bake bread to generate an inviting smell before prospective buyers make an inspection. So too can the perfume generated by rose, vanilla or other scented beeswax candles create a relaxing atmosphere for your end-of-day chill-out session.

Soak and sooth

‘I’m going to soak that day right out of my skin’. Okay, that’s not exactly how the 1950s musical number goes, but it’s what we’re trying to achieve here. It’s time to make the most of your music and aromatic scent and climb into a warm bubble bath. Any brand or quality of bubble bath will do, just as long as it fluffs right up, surrounds you with soft suds and lets you slip under the water for an hour of doing, well, nothing.

A bit of mindless entertainment

Once you’ve taken a bath and filtered fine aromas through your house but before you’re ready for bed, it’s time for some mindless entertainment. Select your favourite movie from the DVD collection or choose a nice TV show to watch. This is a great way to simply let the mind relax. Don’t choose anything too action-packed or a show that takes a great deal of concentration. The idea here is to relax, not get the heartbeat racing or to prep for an upcoming chemistry exam.

So there you have it. Next time you have a big day and need wind down, follow these simple steps for a pleasant and relaxing evening.

Tork goes NSFW with We-Vibe 4 Sex Toy Review

Howdy folks!

I've been excited to be a little bit different today with a review for partners.

So, I'm going to be blunt.  This is a Sex Toy review!

Taboo?  It's 2014 here people!  Nothing is taboo any more now, is it?  Sex is giggled at on a daily basis.  Between friends the other night, the wife and I laughed about all our bedroom relationships at a restaurant dinner table! Something forbidden decades ago.

Maybe it was just because at the dinner table we've all been friends for many years.  Well, I consider my readers good friends, so let's hold back the inhibitions and talk about sex baby!

Today I'm reviewing the We-Vibe 4, a naughty little device specifically and strategically designed to produce pleasure for both him and her during sex.

Now, here's the review!

We-Vibe 4 - Couples Vibrator

Let's get down to business. *giggle*

To get the tech specs out the way, the device isn't a whoppingly big, scary monster that you might be thinking it is.

I consider it to be a pocket rocket that, by the way, is remotely controlled. Bit naughty, having the bloke in full control.

It's also USB chargeable. Who would have thought, that when the computer was invented that it would be used to power such a device!

The We-Vibe has vibration levels of many different speeds and pulses, oh and it is also waterproof.

This little bugger has everything going for it! But it's all about doing what you feel comfortable in the bedroom and these sorts of products can be either embarrassing to buy or awkward to ask your partner to use. But you shouldn't be ashamed, especially when no one really has to know about them now, do they?

Without being a massive expert on the sex toy industry, I would say the best sellers are the ones that work to titillate both the men and the women, which this one is specifically built to do.

Without getting into the nitty gritty details of how it works, let me show you this video that best shows the results of getting it on with the We-Vibe.

Let's just say, guys/girls.. don't be shy and visit their site to find out for yourself!  Even if you aren't in a relationship, they work solo as well.
Visit the folks at We-Vibe at their Facebook or Instagram pages and spice things to level "Double Vibration" in the bedroom.
Jokes aside, you seriously won't regret it! Paying for quality products like these gives you top notch results, if you know what I mean.
*high five*
- tork

Saviour Glass Screen Guardian Phone Protector Review

Mums and Dad! Here is a wicked product that might just be a must have if you have kids that always steal your mobile phones.

The Saviour Glass Screen Guardian.

This product is currently selling at Big W and is a fantastic way to protect your iPhone or Samsung Galaxy.

From my experience, the iPhones are an easily scratched/smashed phone.  I've lost count with the number of times we have replaced my wife's phone a with scratched or cracked screen.  Always dropping it, our son whacking it, putting it in the washing machine (yes, she actually did this once). So having an iPhone, in my opinion, a screen protector is a must have.

The Screen Guardian doesn't protect against washing machine idiocy, but it sure does protect scratches!

The guard isn't plastic.  It is described on the box as "9H anti-shatter and anti-scratch". Now, whether this is true or not is something above my knowledge, with a quick Google I found that 9H is also known as tempered glass.

Whatever it is, it is a layer that you can place on top of your phone that fits perfectly and protects your mobile from handbag or pocket scratches, as well as those sneaky phone stealing kids (just like my three year old).

Here is a quick demo on the Saviour Glass Screen Guardian and how to install it.


When I saw this video above, I was pretty amazed at how it actually works!  Taking the item out of the box, I thought, "ohh, is that all it is?". Putting the screen protector on my wife's phone though, it's kind of like the guard isn't even there. Kind of like my wife's brain wasn't there when she put her mobile phone on the back of our car, drove out the driveway, heard a bang and yelled 'OH NO! MY PHONE!".  Then, she drove forward over the phone and cracked it more.  Yes, she did this. Or the time she left her phone on a seat and someone sat on it, cracking the screen.  Yep, that happened too. I can be a little less worried about replacing my wife's phone now with the Screen Protector installed, the product looks really good. Please note however, driving a car over your phone will still smash it even using this item! HAHA! So give the protector a try.  With little tackers these days using them, your phone is something you definitely want to protect. Current Saviour Glass Screen Guardian range:

• Apple iPhone 4S
• Apple iPhone 5/5c/5s
• Samsung Galaxy S4
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3

- tork

5 Tips to Maximise Space in Your Home

This is a guest post from Additions, specialist patio and deck builders in Brisbane.

Even if your home is small, there are ways to maximise and capitalise on the space available. Sometimes, creative, and insightful thinking, as well as the expert guidance of a specialist builder such as www.additions.com.au, will reveal effective ways to use the space in your home.

Think vertically

When we want to increase space in our homes, most of us think horizontally. This means, we look for features and pieces that are positioned on the floor.

A clever and effective way to maximise space and create more storage is to think vertically by using features like custom-built units, and floating shelves. With these features in place, the eye is drawn upwards while space is simultaneously saved.

Create and use multi-purpose spaces

There are many ways to use a space for a range of purposes. Many experts know that built in features (such as benches) rather than free-standing furniture enables greater flexibility and versatility in the way that a space is used. For example, a built-in bench may double as a day bed offering much needed and appreciated additional storage space.

Avoid walls and dividers

To maximise space in your home and create a sense of spaciousness, try to avoid walls and other dividers. The main drawback of walls and other features that divide up a space is that they can obscure light and impose visual limitations.

Instead, try to define the particular areas within a space with rugs, furniture and lighting. To do this effectively, choose pieces that sit above the floor so that the surface beneath the furniture can be seen.

Use décor and other art to make the room seem bigger than it is

To make a space seem larger than it actually is, there are some clever tricks to use. Drapery that hangs from floor to ceiling not only creates length through vertical lines but also gives the impression that the ceilings are higher than they are in reality.

The use of artwork and rugs that are oversized can deliver a sense of a space being bigger than it truly is. Large pieces serve as a focal point and will distract and draw attention away from the closeness of the walls of a room.

Because they reflect light within a room, mirrors provide a wonderful way to add depth and make a room brighter. When a mirror is positioned thoughtfully and in a clever way, an illusion can be created of the room extending further than it really does.

Consult a building professional

While there is a range of strategies that can be used to make a space seem bigger, a specialist, experienced and skilled builder is best positioned to provide expert guidance on effective ways to use and create space in your home. Professionals can provide you with examples of work they have previously done, and offer ways of maximising space that you may never have considered.

Many people crave more space in their homes and, with expert guidance and the use of some clever strategies, it is possible to maximise space and create a sense of spaciousness.

Australia's Bill Paying Habits

Some interesting info on Australia's Bill Paying Habits care of Fox Symes.

What are the bills like in your house?  Who pays them?  I honestly would have no idea how bills would get paid in my house if I wasn't around to do them. My wife would have no idea!

These infographics are really interesting sometimes! Check it out:

3 Most Memorable Wildlife Encounters on the Gold Coast for Your Kids

This is a guest post from Theme Parks, your one-stop site for your Theme Park needs.


Australia’s unique birds and animals are splendidly showcased on the Gold Coast. Indeed, once you have had your fill of adrenaline at the Gold Coast theme parks, head off for a fix of nature’s extraordinarily wildlife. It’s great for kids to see these iconic creatures.

Children love these parks. See the stunning lorikeets at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, or the inspirational work at David Fleay Wildlife Park, or perhaps the cuddly koalas and farm animals at Paradise Country Aussie Farm Tour. The choice of wildlife is yours.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Formerly called Currumbin Bird Sanctuary, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary was founded in 1947. It is somewhat of a rite of passage for Australian families, and is captured in faded family photo albums the country over: the feeding of the lorikeets. Or rather, the photos capture faces filled with delight or tension, nearly hidden by hordes of bright-green lorikeets with their distinctive red, yellow and blue feathered highlights.

Founder Alex Griffiths began feeding the area’s wild lorikeets to stop them from eating his prized flowers. Originally a beekeeper and flower grower, his colourful feeding rituals drew curious locals, then developed into a tourist attraction, which grew alongside the Gold Coast’s burgeoning tourism industry.

Today, the park is a world leader in preserving Australia’s natural heritage. It has more than 1,000 birds and animals in natural habitat, as well as commando training, safaris and survival trips. To date, millions of visitors have passed through its gates.

David Fleay Wildlife Park

A must-see experience for kids is David Fleay Wildlife Park, founded back in 1952. David Fleay was a remarkable man: after leading an expedition in the early 1930s looking for thylacines (Tasmanian Tigers) in Tasmania and photographing and filming the last thylacine in the Hobart Zoo in 1933, he went on to successfully breed platypus in captivity. Yes, this is the only wildlife park on the Gold Coast with a platypus.
Nowadays the park is run by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services, with a focus on breeding programs and threatened species. It has three distinct wildlife habitats: wetland, rainforest and open eucalypt forest.
Explore the park on your own – there’s plenty of space for kids to run off some energy – or join one of the daily presentations on wildlife. There is a range of environmental educational programs for schools. Visitors can see eagles, brolgas and cassowary, crocodiles, koalas, kangaroos, snakes, gliders and butterflies.

Paradise Country Aussie Farm

A fabulous farm experience for the family: see sheep being sheared, cows being milked and, while you’re at it, organise a photogaph of yourself cuddling a koala. This is the ultimate farm fantasy for kids, adults, corporate groups or international tourists.

At the stockman and sheepdog show, watch these amazingly clever dogs herd sheep and see how to show a boomerang, milk a cow and crap a whip. Or take in the traditional Australian sheep shearing show, or catch the stock horse arena, where the actions of skilled horsemen will impress with whip-cracking and riding demonstrations.

From farm animals, to perhaps a glimpse of a platypus and the feeding of the fabled lorikeets, checking out wildlife provides a great family day. And don’t forget – it’s the photos you take with these iconic birds and animals that will stay in the kids’ memories forever.