10 Inventions That Gave High-living A New Meaning

10 Inventions That Gave High-living A New Meaning

TV Remote control (1955)

It marks the official end of humanity’s struggle for survival and the beginning of a really relaxing afternoon, or night. The first wireless remote, designed by Eugene Polley, is essentially a flashlight. When Zenith discovered that direct sunlight also can change channels on the remote-receptive TVs, the company came out with a model that used ultrasound… which lasted till the ’80s and then we discovered infrared.

Microwave Oven (1955)

In 1945 Raytheon’s Percy Spencer stood in front of a magnetron (the power tube of radar) and felt a candy bar start to melt in his pocket: he tries placing popcorn kernels in front of the magnetron and the kernels explode all over the lab. Ten years later Spencer patented a ‘radar range’ that cooked with high-frequency radio waves. And gave women the time to discover the real meaning of a night of partying…

Jet Airliner (1958)

The Boeing 707-120 debuts as the world’s first successful commercial jet airliner, ushering in the era of accessible mass air travel. The four-engine plane carries 181 passengers and cruises at 600 mph for up to 5,280 miles on a full tank. The first commercial jet flight takes off from New York and lands in Paris… and gives the rich and the famous a high-flying, fashionable lifestyle statement – the jetsetter is born!

Laser beam (1958)

Whitens teeth, removes tattoos, corrects vision, erases wrinkles, reduces weight… gives cosmetic beauty a new meaning altogether. And all this while trying to track missiles too!

The computer (1959)

The phrase ‘dot com’ became a part of our lingo only in the 1990s, but the sequence of innovations that leads to the Internet goes back at least 40 years. In 1989, Sir Tim Berners-Lee created Hypertext Markup Language’ (HTML) to make Web pages and the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to identify where information is stored. Two phrases that has ever since shrunk the world, brought friends closer, increased efficiency, improved communication, and brought the world to our bedroom at the click of a button.

Cordless devices (1961)

Black and Decker release its first cordless drill. A simple tool that becomes a keyword for easy living – cordless phones, radios, computers.

Digital Music (1970)

James Russell, a scientist, invents the first digital-to-optical recording and playback system. Something that today, makes us dance to the tunes of rap, remix, club and lounge music.

ATM (1969)

On September 2, our bank will open at 9 am and never close again! Read a Long Island branch of Chemical Bank advertisement in 1969. And today, who goes to a bank when in need of cash?

MP3 player (1998)

Depending on who you ask, the MP3 is either the end of civilization (record companies) or the dawn of a new world (everyone else). The korean company Saehan introduces its MPMan in 1998, long before Apple asks, “Which iPod are you?”

Video games (1962)

MIT programmers write Spacewar and 44 years later, 89 per cent of school-age kids, and 63 per cent adult professionals own video games.

HOW WE’LL LIVE IN 2025

If technology keeps its current pace, then we’ll live in snap-together houses, play soccer with robots, drive cars with four motors and vacation in orbit – all in a custom-designed, easy-to-repair world of tomorrow…

Garden Fountain Lighting

Garden Fountain Lighting

You can create amazing effects with garden-fountain lighting. You can make a fountain glow, illuminate an entire pond from within, highlight an attractive statue, or heighten the reflection of a particularly beautiful tree.

Garden-fountain lights are available for installation as either inside-water or outside for water lighting. All, however, should be connected to a GFI for safety, and those used in the water should be made specifically for underwater use.

Before you shop for garden fountain lights, experiment with different effects from a powerful flashlight or a spotlight on an extension cord (never place either in the water). Aim for restraint and subtlety. Don’t let yourself get carried away with an effect that’s more amusement park than understated elegance.

There are several types of in garden fountain lights, and each creates its own special effect, depending on how you position it Most designs call for lights that have dark, subdued casings. Stainless steel or white casings can be obtrusive, especially during daytime.

Garden fountain lights, either in white or colors, add drama to a spray. Some garden fountain lights also come equipped with transparent wheels of several colors. Colored light, however, should be used sparingly-it can easily become garish.

Many garden fountain lights include built-in timers that allow you to automatically turn the lights on and off. You can also install an independent timer in the lighting setup. Timers not only save you the trouble of regulating the light, they also save energy costs.

Placing for Your Garden Fountain Lights

The one rule in placing fountain lights is to never them shine directly on the water because they will create a harsh glare. In-ponds, lights need fairly clear water to be effective. Murky water blocks too much light and diminishes the light’s effectiveness considerably. If you have fish in your water garden, leave dark areas where they can retreat from the light. Fish need plenty of crevices for refuge. And never light up the entire pond, especially all night. Whenever possible, position out-of-water lights to conceal their housings and cord underneath a deck, behind a rock, or tucked into the foliage of a shrub.
Whatever type of lighting you choose, be sensitive to its effect on the neighbors. Don’t let the lights shine in their windows.

Installation of Low Voltage Garden Fountain Lights

Unlike regular 120-volt lights, installation of low-voltage landscape lights is a snap, even for beginners. And they’re fairly safe because of their low voltage. Many low-voltage lighting systems are sold as kits, complete with instructions.

Hooking up a low-voltage system starts with installing a transformer, which reduces the regular household current from 120 volts to 12 volts. Install the transformer near the GFI receptacle closest to the water feature, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Even 12-volt systems should use a GFI unit to prevent shocks. Most transformers are simply mounted next to an outlet and plugged into it.

Hiking Safety

Hiking Safety

Having made my share of mistakes in the wilderness over the years, I have compiled a list of gotcha’s that can be applied to any outdoor adventure. I urge you to print this out and store with your outdoor gear. Hiking can be a most rewarding distraction from the daily grind, but safety should NEVER be taken for granted!

Preparation

1) Plan your hike. You are more likely to have a safe and happy hike if you “plan your hike, and hike your plan”. To rush out on a big hike w/o proper planning is asking for trouble! ALWAYS notify someone close to you where you will be and how long you will be gone.

2) Know your terrain. Use every resource available to get to know your hiking trail before you set out. This will prepare you for the walking conditions. “Are there streams to ford?, Elevation changes?, Is terrain rocky or smooth?”, Just some of the questions that can be answered BEFORE you set out.

3) Know your climate. Hypothermia is real, dangerous, and misunderstood. Hypothermia can strike in relatively warm environments. Hypothermia plain and simple is a rapid cooling of the body. This can be caused by cold, wet or a combination of both. Hypothermia can easily be prevented with proper preparation.

In The Pack Essentials

1) Potable water. Always have fresh water available, on any excursion. It is also a good idea to bring along purification tablets and/or a filtration device. Having the ability to produce drinking water can be just as important as the water you pack in. I also bring along some protein snacks, just in case.

2) First Aid Kit. Although an obvious choice, it is surprising how many folks go in the wilderness without one. Items as simple as pain relief tablets can be a welcome addition when you are far from civilization. Other items are bandages, tweezers, moleskin, antiseptic, needle and thread (for repairs).

3) Fire and light source. Matches and a lighter are essentials for me. I usually pack along a small piece of commercial starter stick for quick fires in moist environments. I also pack a small conventional flashlight and an LED light, as well.

4) Clothing. It is always wise to pack some extra layers. The weight of these items will be dictated by the environment, err to the side of caution, as temps can fluctuate greatly, especially in mountainous environments. An extra pair of socks can be life savers.

5) Orienteering. Packing along a map and compass has gotten me out of a jam more than once. I also carry a cell phone, even though I may not get reception in most places, in a pinch, I may be able to get a call out.

The single most important item to pack on your next hike is common sense. Making sound decisions while on the trail will keep you out of most troubled situations. If you hike with your family members, especially children or seniors, remember that they may not have the stamina handle the same level hike as you, and you ultimately must make the right decision.

What Else Can Ipods Do?

What Else Can Ipods Do?

Ipods have become synomnous with music. However, with its 30 to 60 gigabytes, the iPod can handle more than just music. In addition to listening to your favorite tunes, you can also store up to 25,000 photos as well as 7,500 videos.

Some owners are even using their IPod with Microsoft Outlook Express or Outlook to assist in coordinating their calendar and contacts.

You can transfer files with your iPod. For example, when the memory on your digital camera becomes full, you can upload pictures from your camera to the IPod, freeing up camera space to take more pictures. After uploading pictures to your iPod, your pictures can be viewed as a slideshow. But if you want to view something more exciting, for a nominal fee, you can also download movies and TV shows off the internet.

Although, not up to par with the graphics of Playstation or Xbox, the iPod also has four different games you can play that include Music Quiz, Solitaire, Brick and Parachute.

Need a recorder? If iTalk, BelkinVoice or Podzilla are installed, your iPod can be used as a small audio recorder. Purchase an FM transmitter and you can hear your favorite music from your iPod on your car radio.

Turn your iPod into a flashlight with iBeam software. Install a program called Podtender onto your iPod, and with more than 900 recipes for mixed drinks, you will become your friends favorite bartender. Install Podgoumet which has 260 recipes, with an additional 277 recipes for vegans, and become a gourmet cook.

iPod Weddings has become a popular way to save money on the wedding reception. Rather than hire a DJ select your own songs to be played in the order that you wish. At the end of the wedding youll have the recordings of all the songs played on your special day.

And the list goes on. You can also use your iPod as an alarm clock and read audio books. With the right software and an abundance of resources on the internet, youll find many exciting things to do with your iPod.

Specific Activities And Strategies To Overcome Writer’s Block

Specific Activities And Strategies To Overcome Writer’s Block

Everyone Deals With Writers Block

‘Writer’s block is a phenomenon involving temporary loss of ability to begin or continue writing, usually due to lack of inspiration or creativity. There are alternative actions or specific strategies you can work with to overcome the blank slate in your head.’ Wikipedia

Alternative Activities

All writer’s experience writer’s block at some time. When you feel yourself getting frustrated or agitated when you can not find the right words, take a break. There are many alternate activities you can do to help clear your mind and relax.

-Taking a shower or bath or sit in a sauna or hot tub. Psychologists do say water has a mentally cleansing and stimulating quality.

- Give yourself a chance to take a quick nap. The moments during your pre- or post-sleep are great for ideas, thoughts and worries to float around in your head.

-Reading other materials unrelated to what you are working on. Look at pictures in or flip backwards through a magazine. Even one word can spark an idea.

-Take a walk around your neighborhood and watch everything that is going on around you, or cut your grass to get you outside and thinking about something else. This will allow your mind to wander and become creative.

- Take a 30-60 minute drive by yourself (remember to bring paper or a tape recorder, just in case). Getting away and listening to the monotonous sounds of your tires on the pavement kicks in the creativity after 30 minutes.

-Although not planned, or maybe not even tolerated by you, when you wake up in the middle of the night some of your best ideas are wanting to come out. Have paper (and a flashlight) by your bed or sneak to your PC. If you don’t write them down they may keep you up all night.

-The old stand-by that will work over and over again – Take a clean sheet of paper or a blank screen and just start writing. it does not matter what you write, just do not stop for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes read everything you wrote. You either came up with an idea to work with or you were able to get all the extra ‘stuff’ out of your head and can start writing again.

Specific Strategies

-Begin at the end. Wherever you are stuck you know where you wanted to get to. Write the end of that thought, chapter, or dialogue and work you way back.

-Talk the paper. Find someone who is willing to talk to you about the topic you are writing about. This is a more spontaneous way to communicate and you will be less stressed. Your listener can ask questions or interject their thoughts. If you can record the conversation so you don’t have to stop and write something down during the conversation.

-Tape the paper. If there is no one to talk with imagine that their is an audience and tape yourself either reading what you’ve written or ramble on about the topic. Transcribe your session and work with the new ideas you came up with.

-Change the audience. This strategy will help you clarify the purpose of what you are writing. Pretend you need to explain your topic slowly and in great detail to a child or someone new to the topic or debate with someone who strongly disagrees with you and defend your ideas. An entire new set of ideas may come out during this strategy.

-Play a role. See your topic from the point of view of someone from an earlier time period, a President of a company defending your topic, or someone who wants your topic to just go away and you need to tell them why it is important. Take yourself out of your comfort zone and see your topic from a different point of view.

-Stop and do more research. Combat the feeling of not knowing what to say by finding more information about your topic. What are other’s saying about it? Doing research is a great way to gather your thoughts, ideas and may even get you to start the entire section, that you were blocked on, from the beginning.

When you find yourself gazing at your PC screen or a sheet of paper and are not writing anything you probably are experiencing writer’s block. You are not alone. It is common to lose focus or be overwhelmed and begin experiencing a creative block. Try these alternative activities and/or strategies for overcoming writer’s block.

3 Easy Tests You Can Use To Tell If Your Horse Has A Brain Injury. And What You Must Do If He Does.

3 Easy Tests You Can Use To Tell If Your Horse Has A Brain Injury. And What You Must Do If He Does.

Yesterday, I told you about your horse’s brain box and how it protects his brain in the event of a forceful head trauma. You also learned that the construction of the brain box makes it unlikely that a head injury will result in a brain injury.

Today, I’m going to give you 3 simple field tests you can perform with your horse in the field. When you learn them, you’ll be able to tell the difference between a minor horse head injury and a real veterinary emergency. You don’t have to be an equine vet to use them. And they could save your horse’s life.

The first 24 hours after a head injury are the most critical. If your horse has, indeed, injured his brain, the next 24 will be the time he’ll show symptoms. That’s why you’ll want to spend as much time with in your horse’s presence during this period as you can.

During this time, you can run a few simple tests to check your horse for a possible brain injury. These are easy observations. You don’t have to be a vet to perform them. Nor do you need any special equipment other than what you probably already have in your own barn.

Before I tell you what they are, I want to give you one important note: if your horse has had a head injury and he is lying down, don’t try to force him to get up. If he attempts it on his own, that’s a good sign, but don’t help him. Even though you desparately want to.

Remember, he’s 10-20 times your weight, and if he does have a brain injury, he may panic, go into convulsions, and become agitated at his inability to stand up. If that happens, he may lose his balance, and fall over on top of you. Then you’ll have 2 injuries to deal with – his and yours, too.

So if you’re on site with your horse who has had a head injury, here’s what to do (and what not to do).

* Vision Test – Hold up one finger about 8 inches away from your horse’s eye. Move it back and forth. If he follows your finger with his eye, you at least know he can still see and his brain is reacting to an external stimulus. This is a good thing.

* Mobility Test – Do this ONLY if he’s already standing. Try to get him to follow you. Horses are herd animals by nature, so this instinct should kick in without his thinking about it. If he does follow you, that’s another good thing. If, however, he can’t put one leg in front of the other without stumbling, that could indicate neurological trauma – call a vet now.

* Consciousness Test – This is perhaps the most important observation you can make. It’s a horse’s nature to be constantly alert for threats from predators. So if your horse is up and alert, he’s probably in no danger at all. If he’s sluggish, but still responds to your handling, he needs to see a vet, but the situation probably isn’t urgent. If, however, he’s comatose and so lethargic that he cannot be aroused, then you do have a medical emergency on your hands. Get a vet out there now.

You’ll also want to check his pupils. When the pupils are really big, we call them dilated. When they’re really small, we call them contracted. You probably already keep a flashlight in your barn. Get one and shine it in your horse’s eyes. His pupils should contract when you do. If they don’t, you’ve got a serious problem, and you need your vet on-site ASAP.

Another indicator is his breathing. If your horse’s breathing becomes very rapid, that is also not a good sign. Call your vet immediately and tell him you’ve got real horse emergency on your hands.

Any of the dangerous signs I’ve described above could mean that your horse has swelling of the brain (the veterinary term is “increased intracranial pressure”). Your horse’s brain box doesn’t allow much room for the brain to swell. So if you your horse fails any of the above tests, you have an emergency situation and you need to take action to save your horse’s life immediately.

Thankfully, horse head injuries seldom result in brain injuries. The brain box offers a lot of protection for your horse. But if the unthinkable should happen, your knowing the warning signs could save your horse’s life.

Yours For Better Horse Care,

Sierra Lynch

Are You Aware Of The Radar Laser Detector Functionality ?

Are You Aware Of The Radar Laser Detector Functionality ?

A radar gun works on the same principle of someone holding a flashlight at night. They turn the flashlight directly in your direction, but the person has to be close enough to see you. Your clothing or something that you are holding has to reflect enough light for him to see you.

However, the flashlight can be seen from a long way away. In the same way, a radar laser detector can see the radar gun before the gun can see the detector. The gun has to be a certain distance from your vehicle, and you have to be directly in line with the gun for it to be able to see you.

When a radar gun is used to try and catch speeding automobiles, a laser light is projected from the gun and the beam bounces off the moving vehicles. If you have a radar laser detector in your vehicle, and you are being targeted by such a gun, then the detector radar unit will alert you that there is such a gun in the area.

While this device cannot help you if the officer that is using the gun is behind you and has already detected your speeding, it can be helpful if you are passing or approaching the gun. However, there is one radar detector you may want to consider, and that is the Cobra XRS, which can give you 360 degree of scanning capabilities.

The law does not differentiate between safe speeders and unsafe speeders. That is the main reason to get the best radar detector you can, such as the Cobra XRS. There are 49 states in the union that allow these types of detectors to be used.

Only in the states of Virginia and Washington D.C. are they not allowed. The authorities still get a lot of ticket revenue from the ones who do not use a radar detector and the small percentage of users who are still caught speeding.

Radar laser detectors serve a purpose in life. There are people who say you do not need one if you do not speed. However, everyone will go over the speed limit at one time or another. Using a radar laser detector system will allow you to be alerted at those times or if you are simply not paying attention to the speed your car is going. In times such as these, you can use a detector radar unit to protect you from a hefty fine.

Ten Excellent Ways To Get Your Child Ready For Summer Camp

Ten Excellent Ways To Get Your Child Ready For Summer Camp

Summer Camp is an exciting thing for parents; as their child is going to learn loads of new thing in the camp. However it could be a nightmare for the child if he or she is not ready for camp. Following are the ten excellent ways to get your child ready for the next summer camp.

# Go through books available in association with camp. These books must be read by both parents and children. After you both finish reading discuss the summer camp experience with your kid and mention some of the issues that were raised in book.

# Talk to people who have gone through such summer camps to get some useful information. You get information of such families from camp director. Get your children talk to other child may in person, email or over phone. Take a chance to ask questions and talk about various concerns.

# Get familiar with camp surroundings. Check out where your child is going to sleep, swim and eat. Also check out daily routine and plan sheet of the activities. Know the evening activities and do visit the camp if permitted.

# Teach your child to take care of themselves. Practice camp is very much necessary. Send your child to spend a long weekend at your relative or friends place, teach them how to pack and unpack and how to make bed, how to set dinning table and more things. Do not call them when they are at your friends place, discuss it later about how they felt without parents involvement in any activity.

# Problem solving with your child is very important. Think about defensive issues, “What if? You drop baseball glove or feel sick.” Give your child different ways where they would have to solve the difficulty at camp. It is dissimilar than at home.

# Do a role-play with your child on how they are going to respond to the camp situations. Walk in the moon light with a flashlight on.

# Communication at most of the camp is generally through letter writing only. Assist your child learn letter writing and practice. Also find out the camp policy on making phone calls.

# Homesickness feelings are common when it comes to adjusting to any fresh environment. Homesick feelings are more common during meals time, free time and also at night. They generally don’t last very long after the child gets well-known and engrossed in camp life.

# You also need to get ready for separation. Parents usually feel anxious about sending their child to summer camp or any other day camp especially if it is for the first time. This is a normal feel; however remember that you have got a safe camp for your kid where he/she will be well cared. Camp is obviously a positive growing experience.

# The camp manager is presented for concerns. Always call them in case of any questions or clarification.

Flashlights , Rechargeable Flashlight

Flashlights , Rechargeable Flashlight

A flashlight

electric torch or simply torch is a hand-held portable electric spotlight. It is known as a flashlight mainly in the United States and Canada and as a torch or electric torch in most Commonwealth countries.

History
An 1899 Eveready flashlight, one of the earliest flashlight models.
In 1896, Joshua Lionel Cowen invented a decorative lighting fixture for potted plants which consisted of a metal tube housing a light bulb and a dry cell battery. It failed commercially, and so Cowen sold his company and patents to Conrad Hubert that same year and turned his attention to building and selling model trains. Hubert renamed Cowen’s company the American Electrical Novelty & Manufacturing Company and, recognizing the true potential of Cowen’s invention, hired David Misell to produce a tubular flashlight for portable use. They donated some models to the New York City police, who responded favorably to it. These early flashlights ran on zinc-carbon batteries, which were poor at providing sustained currents; they would run down after a while and needed to rest before being usable again. Since these early flashlights also used energy-inefficient carbon filament bulbs, this happened rather quickly, and consequently they could only be used in brief flashes.

Get Ready For Bad Weather

Get Ready For Bad Weather

Typhoons can be nasty, more so if youre not prepared. To avoid trouble, here are some tips to weather any storm that comes your way.

Keep your radio on and listen to the latest bulletin and announcements.

Don’t pay attention to rumors.

Stay away from low-lying beaches or other locations that may be swept away by high tides or storm waves. If your only passage to high ground is over a road likely to be underwater during a severe storm, then leave early.

If your house can’t be affected by a high tide and is well-built or anchored, its probably the best place to be during a storm.

Board up and securely fasten windows. Makeshift boarding may do more harm than good.

Get extra food, particularly those that don’t need to be cooked and are easy to prepare. Remember that electric power may be cut off.

If emergency cooking facilities are necessary, be sure they work.

Store water as water service may be cut off.

Always keep a flashlight handy.

Check everything that may be blown away or turn loose. Flying objects are dangerous during typhoons.

If the eye of the typhoon has passed your house, there may be a lull lasting for a few minutes to hall an hour.

Stay in a safe place. Make emergency repairs during the lull if necessary. But remember that the wind will return suddenly from the opposite direction with even greater violence.

Be calm. Your ability to handle an emergency will inspire others and help them.

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