While many people sit glued to their television watching a reality show, there are still a few who enjoy stories about real life in documentaries. Music has always spawned creativity for documentaries; the characters are as entertaining and the stories as captivating as any fictional movie or TV show you could watch. Here are a few you can find on Netflix right now.

Still Bill

This is the story of singer/songwriter Bill Withers. You might not recognize his name, but you will recognize his music. His first song was Ain’t No Sunshine and it garnered him a gold record. He is best known for writing Lean on Me, a song that has been covered many times over the years and is an anthem for many.

Bill’s story is fascinating because he is an untrained musician from a family of six kids born to a coal mining family. He is the kind of person who usually never makes it, which is why his story is so compelling.

Summer is nearly here, which means it’s time to get your pool back into shipshape form. Before you bring out the floats, sunscreen, and other pool accessories, there are a few steps you need to take to get your pool ready for swimming. Whether you kept your pool under a cover, or the water’s turned into a green, leafy soup, the following quick tips can get you well on your way to that first summer swim.

1. Clean the deck

The pool deck area is, aesthetically speaking one of most important aspects of the pool, and it’s been practically abandoned during the cold winter months. Before you pull off the pool cover, be sure to sweep away or hose off any leaves, pine needles, or other debris from the pool deck. 

2. Remove the pool cover

Before you remove the pool cover, be sure to wipe off any leaves or debris that has collected. If water from rain or the hose has collected on the pool, drain it using these instructions before you take off the pool cover. Feeding that water back into the pool is a bad idea, as it could drastically upset the chemical balance of the pool. Once you’ve removed the pool cover, lay it out on the deck and give it a thorough cleaning. Use a mild detergent to remove any dirt stains, and then simply hose it off. 

A shower may be the only time you have alone to get away from everything and unwind. If this is a time you look forward to, you will appreciate some handy gadgets that will enrich the experience. You might even find an excuse to take showers more often!

Utility Shower Curtain

How would you like a shower curtain that does more than just hang there? Instead of adding shelves and suction cups to your shower walls, why not utilize something that is already there? The shower curtain from Wintercheck Factory gives you extra storage space. It’s got pouches with drains to hold your shampoos and body washes, along with loops for toothbrushes and other items. On the outside you will find towel loops. This curtain holds it all.

Waterproof Note Pad

Maybe you don’t just relax in the shower, but use the time to think about things you have to do. Don’t take the chance that you’ll forget an item for your grocery list or a phone call you need to make. This waterproof note pad is just the place to write down things you want to remember later. It is made of recycled materials and soy-based ink, making it environment friendly, too. It works so well, you can even write under water. You can get this from Amazon.com.

Do you blindly stumble into the kitchen early in the morning and fumble for your coffee cup as you wait for your first sip of coffee to get you awake and started for the day?  Maybe you’re one of those people who can’t make it through the day without their usual number of cups or they get a headache if they try to do without.

Caffeine is a stimulant that provides energy for many people and it is found in many foods and drinks that are consumed each day.  However, if you truly feel like you need to extra bolt of energy, there are natural alternatives that have fewer long-term effects than caffeine.

Green Tea

One of the most popular alternatives to coffee is green tea.  Besides having a somewhat lower amount of caffeine in it, it has many other benefits.  It contains nutrients to help fight diseases and it can increase a person’s metabolism to help them lose weight.  Many advocates say that it increases a person’s level of energy, but in a quieter way than coffee.  There isn’t that rush and jitteriness and then drained feeling that you often get with too much coffee.

It’s always a challenge to find new records, what with work, social obligations, children, and life in general getting in the way. Thankfully, online music engines abound on the Internet for the super-busy person. Before you get too overwhelmed with today’s gargantuan music selection, explore some of these helpful sites to discover your new favorite artists. 

1 – Tune into Online Radio Stations

Twenty years ago you may have turned on the radio in your car to discover new music. With online radio sites like Pandora and Last.fm, you can tune into a station that plays music according to your tastes. To use these services, all you have to do is type in one artist, for example, “Prince.” The site will then configure a playlist based on the music styling of the artist or song you chose. It’s is a great way to get introduced to artists you may have never heard of, with very little effort or research on your part.