This is the “Real Deal”

Hello Dyson Enthusiast,

As a member of the unofficial Dyson Forums, we just wanted to take an opportunity to bring you up to date with a few happenings, a few special offers and a handful of other things that may be of interest to you.

Do you have a Dyson repair shop in the US or Australia? If so, you are welcome to place an informational post about yourself in the “Worldwide Dyson Resources” section. Use where you are in the title. For example: “Jackson’s Dyson Repairs in Idaho.” All we ask in return is that you look around our forums and answer a few questions when you can.

Can you help out our new member Lawrie7062? He has a problem with his DC14. The topic is here: My DC14 “backfiring”.

Those in the UK have likely never have seen a DC04/DC07/DC14 brush roll and belt removal tool. We are the sole UK stockists of these tools. You can see a tutorial and read all about them here: Dyson Belt & Brush Bar Removal Tool (Belt Lifter Tool) Tutorial.

Do you own a DC07? Our member Angus Black has released a Dyson DC07 workshop manual. It is only available in paperback, and you can get one directly from his site here: The Unofficial Dyson DC07 Workshop Manual.

Do you have a favourite Dyson? Did you vote in our poll? Here is the link: Poll — Which is your favourite Dyson? Vote Now! Up to now, the DC07 is in the lead with 32.5% of votes. If you havent voted already, we want your vote!

And last but not least, we work quite hard to make sure people can find us on Google. But we like to know how you found us originally. Was it a link from another site? Was it from Google? Was it from an email or a recommendation? Tell us. Here is the topic: New Members – How did you find us?

Thanks for reading. You are receiving this newsletter as a member of the Dyson Forums. Don’t worry, you wont be getting three a week; nor will your details be passed to any other organisation or entity. But, we would love to see you as an active partcipant on our forums. Why not drop by and say hello?

Regards,
The Dyson Forum – Dyson Advice – Dyson Discussion Board – Dyson Talk Team.

Looking for a local number for DPD Geopost? Here they are:

Delivery firm DPD is doing very nicely, judging by its latest accounts says the Daily Mirror.

It’s owned by Geopost UK (ultimate parent company is La Poste in France), which last year made a £34million profit, £20m was trousered by shareholders, and the top director got £465,000

They don’t publish local phone numbers except a dratted 0844 number. I hate those, so here they are:

Customer Services: Dont ring 0845 930 0100 – Try: 0121 569 1390 or 0121 525 4065.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 0113 292 5600- – Leeds depot. Also: 0113 292 5643.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01622 714606- – Maidstone depot. Also: 01622 714630 /643 /646.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 0116 250 1606- – Leicester depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 0141 305 3600- – Glasgow depot. Also: 0141 305 3643.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 0161 956 5640- – Salford depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01745 357800- – Abergele depot. Also: 01745 357843.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01772 662600- – Preston depot. Also: 01772 662643 /646.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01933 414606- – Rushden depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01904 527606- – York depot. Also 01904 527643 & 01904 476606.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01733 842643- – Peterborough depot. Saville Road, Westwood, Peterborough, PE3 7PR. Also: 01733 842606 /646.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 023 8025 8600- – Southampton depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 0115 977 7600- – Nottingham depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 0161 777 4606- – Manchester depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 020 8498 8600- – Woodford Green depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01392 449600- – Exeter depot. Also: 01392 449643.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 020 8453 9500- – Park Royal depot.
Frogmore Industrial Est, Acton Lane, Acton, NW10 7NQ.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 0191 402 5600- – Newcastle upon Tyne depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01582 470600- – Dunstable depot. Also: 01582 470606 /643.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01322 625600- – Dartford depot. Also: 01322 625643 /646.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01245 232056- – Chelmsford depot. Montrose House, Montrose Road, Dukes Park Ind Est, CM2 6TE.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01925 605600- – Warrington depot. Also: 01925 605606 /646 /647.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 0118 923 2600- – Reading depot.

*DPD- – 0844 824 0505- 01- 313354043- Edinburgh depot.

*DPD- – 0844 824 0505- 01- 215002500- Edinburgh customer service.

*DPD- – 0844 824 0505- 0141 305 3643- – This is the Cambuslang branch at Glasgow.

*DPD- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 020 8978 3843- – Park Royal/Acton Depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01792 704640- – Swansea depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01872 574643- – Truro (Goonhaven) depot. Also: 01872 574606 /642.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01452 727150- – Gloucester depot. Also: 01452 727193 /196.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01293 893646- – Crawley depot. Also: 01293 893647.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01635 812643- – Newbury depot. Also: 01635 812606.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 020 8243 3606- – Croydon depot. Also: 020 8243 3643.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01202 850300- – Bournemouth depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01228 829606- – Carlisle depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01698 811235- – Glasgow 2 depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 0131 335 4000- – Edinburgh depot. Also: 0131 335 4043 /4045.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 0117 941 5600- – Bristol depot. Also: 0117 941 5643.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01782 578646- – Stoke on Trent depot. Also: 01782 578605.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 020 7394 3926- – London Bridge depot. Mandela Way, London, SE1 5SE. Also: 020 7394 3949.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 020 7391 8643- – King’s Cross depot. Also: 020 7391 8606.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 0114 257 2643- – Sheffield depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 020 8601 7643- – Wembley depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 029 2077 2600- – Cardiff depot. Also: 029 2077 2643.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01224 878686- – Aberdeen depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01842 855643- – Thetford depot. Also: 01842 855646.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 028 9044 9700- – Belfast depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01698 811235- – Glasgow 2 depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 020 8243 3641- – London South (Croydon) depot. Also 0208 243 3643.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 020 8978 3843- – Park Royal depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01726 892600- – Roche, Cornwall depot.

*DPD (GEOPOST)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 01224 216143- – ABERDEEN DEPOT.

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 0191 402 5643- – Newcastle upon Tyne depot.

*DPD (Geopost)- – 0844 824 0505- 0117 937 3474- – Yate Depot.

*DPD Crawley Depot (for Brighton & Hove)- – 0844 824 0505- 01293 893647

*DPD (Geopost)- 0871 244 4442- 0844 824 0505- 028 8772 9306- – OMAGH DEPOT.

*DPD (Geopost)- – 0844 824 0505- 01726 892643- – St Austell branch.

Do you know any other DPD telephone numbers? Add them below using the comment box.

If you are seeking a satellite navigation device, you could do far better than buying a TomTom Start 20 model. I bought one today and it is a big thumbs down already. I do not recommend you buy one.

Fundamentally, the product is not fit for purpose as it is sold. Here is why.

I got the version with 45 European maps on. I actually wanted one with world maps (or USA at least as I visit there). However, I couldn’t find such a version online at reasonable money, and the guy in Halfords (yes, I know) said they could be downloaded from the TomTom website in exchange for money. All well and good up to now.

So I waste an hour or two clowning around on the TomTom website, downloading crap to make sure my computer can talk to my new TomTom Start 20. Then you need another programme – not really very straightforward (and I am not dumb with this stuff). A lesser mortal would struggle – trust me. Anyway, eventually they are talking to each other.

So I buy the US maps to be downloaded to my device – £35. So on top of the £140 it cost, we are now up to £175. Why they don’t sell them with US maps installed is anyone’s guess, but I digress……

The update screen tells me that in addition to the American maps I just bought, various speed camera updates are available, a set of newer EU maps and an operating system upgrade too. Fine, lets just do the lot and be bang up to date eh? Rock ‘n’ Roll. Um…… No.

It seems the TomTom Start 20 comes with a paltry 3 or 4 MB of internal memory. The European map it came with was something like 2.7. The newer version was 2.8. A few European map updates and the memory will be totally obsolete. Cute huh? This also means that there is no room to install the USA maps they just stung me £35 for. One must choose which map set one wants to use, install it and use that. Later you can revert it back. Well, how crap is that? Why isn’t there enough memory for both? I must start downloading and updating stuff every time I get on or off a plane to the US? A suitable sized chip would have added what £3 to the price? Meh!

The map download takes an agonising two hours as it loads only direct to the device. Two hours? Every time I go to or from the US? Oh dear!

Time to quiz TomTom [lack of] support. By phone it is a pay-for 0845 number. I don’t do those. I don’t need to pay to talk to someone in Waziristan who likely unconvincingly calls himself Michael instead of Gupta.

Lets try “live chat” instead. You are 7 in the queue, then 5, then 3 then……………. No operators available. Hmm. Probably a glitch; lets try again. This happens four times.

Google is your friend. Lets Google for some info. Google tells me the TomTom Start 20 has a micro SD card slot for memory expansion. Great! I check it and there is a sneaky slot I hadn’t seen by the power plug. I do another £6 on eBay for a 4GB card, so we are now up to £181 from £140 and I haven’t even used it yet.

Lets try the “support forums” and see who is talking about the dire memory issue, US maps, SD cards and the like. They are full of people complaining that although the micro SD slot exists, it doesn’t bloody work until TomTom do an “update” sometime in the summer [of 2011]. However, the forums are still full of people complaining that this promised update hasn’t yet arrived in October. When will it arrive? Who knows. There is no official response to that question.

So, does the SD card slot work yet? Nobody seems to know. Will my SD card purchase have been pointless? Who knows? When it arrives I will try it and see.

Right now, after spending an agonising 2 hours downloading the newer European maps, ist another hour and twenty minutes to “install” them.

I should devote an entire day to this probably.

Is it so much to ask to buy a satellite navigation device with world maps already installed? For TomTom, yes.

People – do what I wish I had done. Spend your money elsewhere!

Which Dating Site is featured in J-Lo’s Video Papi? Planet Love Match actually.
Anyone who has watched the new Jennifer Lopez video “Papi” may have noticed at 1:50 into the video there is a guy sitting in a cafe, on a laptop, viewing a dating site.
Right after that, he gets up and leaps through the window. The blogs and forums have been going wild speculating which dating website it actually is that features in the J-Lo video. Well, as usual here at Real Deal, we have the scoop straight from the horses mouth.
Yes, the site featured is indeed Planet Love Match. Here is the still from the video.

Planet Love Match is set to become the worldwide dating site over the next two years. It has already taken off in Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe. It is spreading across the UK already and is crossing the USA like wildfire collecting new members!
How cool would it be to tell folks you met your next love on the site that was on J-Lo’s video?
In case you are one of those who haven’t seen J-Lo’s video, you can watch it right here before you rush off to join Planet Love Match.

If you have an HP printer and enjoy the free Image Zone software that comes with it, beware of upgrading to Windows 7.

HP Image Zone does not work on Windows 7. There is no fix, no workaround and no Windows 7 driver. HP doesn’t support the software any more, and has no intention of writing updated drivers for it. There is no later programme they offer that offers anything near the functionality.

I Googled this subject to death recently and this is the cast iron result. MS knows all about these type of issues and has something called an “XP Compatibility Pack” that is supposed to solve these problems. Unfortunately, with most versions of Windows 7 this is a paid-for add on. I dunno about you, but I think Bill Gates has enough money and doesn’t need any more of mine!

I love my new Windows 7. I also love my HP Image Zone. But the two never shall be together.

I got around it by rebuilding an old machine running XP that I only use for anything I want to do in Image Zone. That’s all I could do. I tried various alternative programs and none were as clean or as simple as Image Zone. Jeeze….. it was like losing a close member of the family I had used it for so long!

However, there was light at the end of the tunnel — of sorts. The basic “Paint” program in Windows 7 is well ahead of, and totally different to, any previous version. Its pretty cool actually. The only thing it doesn’t do is allow you to flick to black and white. But it also has some great features easily allowing you to insert arrows, text, speech bubbles and all kinds of stuff that Image Zone was lacking.

I dunno about you, but I find Photoshop far too complicated. It takes a couple of dozen clicks to convert an image to black and white for example. If you just want to resize images, add arrows and do simple stuff as you will want to do with many images for websites, etc., the “Paint” in Windows 7 is the one for you.

The loss of Image Zone will not feel so bad once you have gotten used to the all new “Paint” program.

What else doesn’t work on Windows 7? Well my old Dymo 320 Label Writer didn’t — no drivers for that either. So I had to spring for a newer 450 Label Writer from Amazon (which again, is streets ahead of the old 300 series ones).

So in synopsis, changing to the rather superb Windows 7 is not without its drawbacks if you are set in your ways with some old programmes and hardware. But having had my new Windows 7 for a few months now, I am thoroughly enjoying it. Windows XP feels somewhat archaic now and I wouldn’t go back. Yes, it was inconvenient losing a superb old programme or two and having to replace an otherwise OK label writer because of driver issues, but it is a small price to pay in the face of progress.

PostFinance, the Swiss bank has closed the bank account of Julian Assange the Wikileaks founder. The funding of Wikileaks is the American Government’s latest line of attack against the website. “Follow the money” is the oldest line of attack from governments against those with alternative opinions.

Transfer to a Swiss bank was one of the methods listed on the Wikileaks websites as a method of donating to Wikileaks.

Here is the Swiss banks statement as reported today in the Australian newspaper “The Herald Sun”.

“PostFinance has ended its business relationship with Wikileaks founder Julian Paul Assange. The Australian citizen provided false information regarding his place of residence during the account opening process,”

Wikileaks said:

The closed account included Assange’s defense fund and personal assets worth €31,000 ($42,000)

“The technicality used to seize the defence fund was that Mr. Assange, as a homeless refugee attemptin

MOSCOW, Nov. 26 (UPI) — Ukraine has dropped its application to become a member of NATO, President Viktor Yanukovych said Friday at a news conference in Russia.

Appearing with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Yanukovych said Ukraine has decided to remain a non-aligned country, RIA Novosti reported. Yanukovych said Ukraine hopes to remain a NATO partner while allying itself with Russia as well.

Yanukovych replaced the more Western-oriented Viktor Yushchenko in February. The country applied to join NATO under Yushchenko.

Medvedev praised Ukraine’s decision.

“In our opinion, it is a logical development of events, and we believe that it meets the interests of the existing European security system as well as Russia’s long-term development interests,” Medvedev said.

“We have always maintained a simple view of Ukraine’s accession to NATO — it would destroy European security — it is a sensitive issue for us.”

Information on the Legal Rights Available to Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence in the United States and Facts about Immigrating on a Marriage-Based Visa

Purpose

Immigrants are particularly vulnerable to domestic violence because they may not speak English, are

often separated from family and friends, and may not understand the laws of the United States. For these reasons, immigrants are often afraid to report acts of domestic violence to the police or to seek other forms of assistance. Such fear causes many immigrants to remain in abusive relationships.

This fact sheet will explain domestic violence and inform you of your legal rights in the United States. The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA) requires that the U.S. Government provide foreign fiancé(e)s and spouses immigrating to the United States with information about their legal rights as well as about the criminal or domestic violence histories of their U.S. citizen fiancé(e)s and spouses. One of IMBRA’s goals is to provide accurate information to immigrating fiancé(e)s and spouses about the immigration process and how to access help if their relationship becomes abusive.

Summer has finally arrived in most of Europe, and it is the time many guys traditionally choose to fly out to meet women or visit existing family. Unfortunately, Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano has been disrupting flights across Europe recently due to its floating ash cloud. Aviation authorities introduced relaxed flight safety rules two days ago to minimize future disruptions caused by the eruptions in Iceland, so those of you with imminent travel plans will hopefully not be inconvenienced

Any advice for potential RTIR clients? Don’t be afraid to query and alter the copy they write. They work for you; you are paying them. Work with them and create the copy you think has a decent hook.

Don’t send copies of your book to small AM stations that want to give you 10 minutes on air. Many of them try it on (probably they sell them all on eBay later). Only send review copies to large FM syndicated stations who want to discuss the subject matter at length and maybe give you a long listener phone in.

Read the RTIR list of “shows to avoid”. If you find a new one, tell them. It will help others.

Always Google the host, the station and the location and read up on them before you go to air. Know the host’s style, listen to a previous interview maybe, know the listener demographic and tailor your interview correctly.

Accept phone-in shows willingly. The public will throw you softballs; they are not broadcasting professionals.

Don’t expect sound quality checks or much advance notice of the intended slant before air. Many small stations don’t even have researchers. You will be straight to air.

Some stations are so cheap that they ask you to call them! Yes, really!

Don’t be too eager to accept anything and everything if its not convenient. Cut your teeth on the small shows in order to shine on the big ones. Later you can pick and choose.

Think about your market. We sell a book for men on Russian women. It is pointless for me to be interviewed on housewife central low-watt AM in Idaho at 10am on Tuesday morning. The guys who will buy the Russian Bride Guide are all out working. New Jersey high-watt station on a Friday evening phone in? Yes please!