News Archives

10% Off Mother's Day Flowers
And a free box of Belgian chocoloates to boot. Just visit Seranata Flowers, choose your flowers and enter the code EARLYMUM at checkout.

The Unbearable Lightness of Yoga
There's a new kid on the eating disorder block and its name is yogarexia. You see, we in the West have taken the spiritual, mental and emotional values of the ancient oriental practice and mutated them into a new form of body facism. We're good at that.

Security is the Key
Twelve million of us manage our finances over the net, millions more shop online, but 70% say that not enough is being done about security. We are fed up with passwords and can't wait for biometric methods to make it truly safe. Bring it on, we say, but in the mean time use credit cards with an online guarantee and use the shops we list here - it's just as safe as paying a waiter with a card in the real world.

The FBI Are Not Watching You
There's been the Lovebug, there's been Anna Kournakova pictures and now there's a questionnaire from the FBI who say you've been looking at illegal websites. Don't worry, dear, it's a virus.

Dyson Cleaning Up in the US
UK firm Dyson has knocked Hoover off the top spot in vacuum cleaner sales in the US. After just two years selling in America, the bright, bagless wonders control over 20% of the market share as sales have almost tripled during 2004.

Sudan 1 Alert Spreads to Schools
The cancer causing food dye Sudan 1 has been used in pies, sauces and dressings served in school meals. Hospitals, hotels and restaurants are also affected and the number of recalled foods now stands at 427. See the full list here.

UK Shoppers Lead the Way on Fair Trade
UK shoppers spend more on ethical, or Fair Trade, goods than any other country. The market is worth £130 million a year, which is still not very much compared to the overall grocery market, but it's enough for big hitters like Tesco and Starbucks to get in on the act.

Let Them Eat Meat
A leading US nutritionist says that denying children meat and dairy products is unethical. A leading UK musician suspects the fell hand of the livestock lobby. Veggie parents are left to decide for themselves.

£30 Free Gift at the Beauty Room
The Beauty Room is offering a free gift worth £30, including Melatogenine™ day and night moisturiser, winner of France’s prestigious ‘Beauty Oscar.’

Online Shopping Booming
Probably don't need to tell you this one, but shopping on the net is the fastest growth area in the retail sector. One in four of us shop on the internet, with books, music and vids being the most popular items, followed by electrical goods and clothing. And you're in just the place to do some right now.

Sony to Challenge the Ipod
Sony are soon to launch the "Walkman for the 21st century," which turns out to be a portable Playstation2 that combines games, music and video. This could be the make or break product for the Japanese Giant which these days seems to lag behind more vigorous competitors like Apple.

The Future's Bright, the Future's Easy
Mobile phone giant Orange are taking Stelios Haji-Ioannou's Easy Group to court, claiming Easy's new low cost mobile service will be "passing off" Orange by using orange. The colour that is. No, no, it's simple, really. Orange say Easy can't use orange because Orange are orange. I mean...

House Prices Hit £100K UK Wide
A survey by the Halifax Bank has found that average house prices in every UK county are now over £100K. Good news for property developers, not so good for first time buyers.

Kids Eat Free at TGI Fridays
Treat the Kids to a trip to TGI Fridays and you get a free child's meal for every adult meal purchased. Click for voucher.

Carcinogenic Dye Found in Food Products
More than 350 food products have been taken off supermarket shelves because they were cantaminated with an illegal cancer causing dye. The Food Standards Agency chief says there "is no risk to immediate health."

Compensation for Flight Delays
New EU regulations mean that if airlines overbook, cancel or delay your flight then you will receive compensation of at least £167. Don't feel left out, though, if your flights aren't delayed because you'll be funding the compensation in increased ticket prices.

UK Net Users Leading TV downloads
Ever the innovators, we Brits lead the world in illegally downloading American TV programmes and then sharing them using P2P software. "It's now as easy to download a pirate TV show as it is to programme a VCR," says an industry insider. That easy, huh?

Don't Panic!
Check out the trailer to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy at Amazon. Starring Martin Freeman from the Office as Arthur Dent, it looks suitably zany, although Zaphod Beeblebrox appears to have just the one head.

Cold Calls coming to an Election Near You
If you are one of the seven million on the Telephone Preference Service list who think they can't be cold called, think again. Political campaigners have found a way around the rules. Surprise, surprise.

DVD Copy Protection Strengthened
Copy protection company Macrovision is taking on the DVD pirates with its new RipGuard technology. Designed to work in "nearly all" DVD players, it is designed to reduces ripping and burning of DVDs. Hope the results are better than those CDs that you can't play on your computer.

Men Outspend Women in Bargain Hunt
Men spent 41% more than women in the January sales this year, dispelling a popular myth that it's women that flock to the sales. It turns out, though, that the thrifty male of the species waits for the sales before reaching for his wallet, while women spend year round. Naturally.

Inflation Rate Stable
The underlying rate of retail price index inflation was 2.1% in January, down from 2.5% in December. Falling petrol prices and seasonal reductions in clothing and footwear contributed to the reduction.

How Clever are Your Trainers?
Not as clever as these chuffers, that's for sure. Adidas are set to launch the running shoes that change shape and cushioning according to speed and running conditions.

25% off at Beefeaters
If you don't fancy running, a juicy steak might be more your style and Beefeaters have a voucher that gives you 25% off your bill at participating restaurants. Just fill in your details, choose your restaurant and you're done. Click here.

St. John's Wort Matches Seroxat in Treating Depression, Study Finds
A new study has concluded that St John's Wort is at least as effective as paroxetine (trade name Seroxat) in subsiding depression in patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Check out Garden for St John's Wort.

PlayStation 3 processor unveiled
The chip that will power Sony's next generation games console has been unveiled and will run ten times faster than current PC chips according to its designers.

Joss Triumphs
The 17 year girl with the big, big voice stole the show at the Brits, walking away with Best British Female Solo Artist and Best British Urban Act. Check out her album at Play.com.

Shops fail to give women the support they need
59 out of 75 high street bra fitting services recommended poorly fitting bras, a Which report found. The worst fitting was a 'push 'em up, stick 'em out' style moulded bra recommended to a researcher in her eighties.

Unwarranted tactics curbed
The government clamped down last month on the high pressure selling of extended warranties.