Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category
How Does a GPS Work?
February 2nd, 2010 |How Does a GPS Work?
A GPS works by using satellites to send signals to devices here on the planet’s surface to indicate where we are. A compute with a database of driving directions usually provides directions based on the information that’s being received from the satellites.
The GPS system in my car is my lifeline. It gets me to lunch meetings, important dates, and around traffic when I’m traveling. I’ve never stopped to think how it works before, and the process by which GPS guides people around the world is fascinating.
What is GPS?
GPS,…
How Does Electricity Work?
February 1st, 2010 |How Does Electricity Work?
Electricity works using three forces:
- Voltage
- Amps
- Resistance
These three forces work as a unit inside of a given electrical circuit to allow the free flow of electricity from one place to another.
Electricity and the process of transferring electricity begins when an atom’s electrons are excited into action and start to move in what we call a “current” or flow. Different items are better or worse at conducting an electrical force due to this atomic action. If an atom holds tight to its electrons (meaning the electrons are really close to the nucleus)…
Kindle Deals, Discounts, and Best Prices
January 25th, 2010 |Kindle Deals, Discounts, and Best Prices
Amazon’s eBook reader Kindle features an electronic paper display, a super-thin body, and hundreds of thousands of book titles available for download from the Kindle store. Amazon’s asking price, as of January 2010, is $259 for the Kindle 2. The most popular books cost $9.99 to download too. So who could blame you for searching for Kindle deals, Kindle discounts, and best prices on Kindles?
The Original Kindle
Amazon no longer sells their original Kindle reader, but that doesn’t mean you can’t buy one. The first-generation Kindle was a good device and even featured…
The Kindle Pricing Strategy & The Kindle Pricing History
January 20th, 2010 |The Kindle Pricing Strategy & The Kindle Pricing History
Some people criticized the original price of the Kindle 2 after accusations surfaced about the device’s production cost. More questions have come up about the feasibility of Amazon’s business model concerning their Kindle store and the selling of eBooks online, especially when many of the titles are completely free. Amazon has since decreased the price of the Kindle 2 device and refined the pricing strategy of their Kindle store.
The Kindle Pricing History
The original Kindle, which was so hotly anticipated it sold out online in a matter of hours, was…
Kindle Covers and Cases
January 18th, 2010 |Kindle Covers and Cases
Amazon’s Kindle is popular. If you got your hands on one, the first thing you’ll probably want to do is get a good Kindle case, or cover. You want to protect your investment, and a cover is the best way to keep the dings and scratches at bay. (Please note that all of the Kindle covers and cases mentioned in this post were available at these prices as of January, 2010, but those prices and availability could have changed since then.)
Not only are Kindle covers and cases important for protecting the device, you can express…
How Do You Make the Kindle Read Aloud Function Work?
January 16th, 2010 |How Do You Make the Kindle Read Aloud Function Work?
Amazon’s Kindle 2 eBook reader promises to revolutionize the act of reading. Amazon hopes the Kindle will do for books what the iPod did for music. To this end, the Kindle and Kindle 2 devices boast features to entice users to use the Kindle for all their reading, kind of like how iPods became everyone’s “default” music player a few years ago.
The Kindle 2′s dictionary function allows users to look up unfamiliar words without interrupting the reading time, and with the bookmark function, you can mark a page for…
What Are Some Kindle Alternatives?
January 16th, 2010 |What are some Kindle alternatives?
The two Amazon Kindle devices are the best known eBook readers on the market, but the two Kindles aren’t the only fish in the eBook reader sea. As with any major tech purchase, you should shop around before plunking down hundreds of books on a Kindle.
What are some Kindle alternatives? Listed here are five options to consider if you’re looking for an eBook reader but aren’t sure the Kindle is right for you.
Kindle App for PC / iPhone / iPod Touch
What if you’ve already got one fancy gadget you use on a…
Good Books Available on the Kindle
January 14th, 2010 |Good Books Available on the Kindle
Amazon’s Kindle eBook reader transforms the experience of reading. Imagine carrying your entire library in a device as slender as a ballpoint pen and lighter than your average paperback.
The Kindle can download titles in less than a minute. Books on the Kindle cost anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars depending on the title.
The Kindle is a great device, but even the best eBook reader in the world is useless if there aren’t good titles available to read. Which good books are available on the Kindle?
Not only is the…
How Does the Kindle Work in Australia?
January 12th, 2010 |How Does the Kindle Work in Australia?
The first Kindle device released by Amazon was not compatible for use in Australia. In fact, the Kindle 1 was for Americans and Americans only.
Late last year Amazon released the Kindle 2 which works with multiple wireless networks like 3G and others. The Kindle is now available to people in over 100 countries, including Australia.
But how does the Kindle work in Australia? Before you rush out and buy a Kindle down under, consider the following..
How To Find the Australian Kindle
In order to purchase a Kindle for shipment to Australia…
How Does the Kindle Work in Canada?
January 12th, 2010 |How Does the Kindle Work in Canada?
Amazon’s Kindle eBook reader is one of the most popular new gadgets this decade. The first group of Kindles sold out within hours and was out of stock for months.
Despite their popularity, the original Kindle had a major flaw — it was available only in the United States. International customers were out of luck.
The Basics
In October of 2009, Amazon released the international version of the Kindle 2. The Kindle 2 is an improvement on the original Kindle for many reasons, the most relevant to those outisde of the USA is…
How Does the Amazon Kindle 2 Work?
January 11th, 2010 |Amazon Kindle 2 Review
Amazon’s Kindle, released in 2007, was a hardware device designed for the purchasing, reading, and storage of e-books through the online bookseller’s retail store. The device proved so popular that Amazon released the Kindle 2 in late February 2009. Like it’s predecessor (which is no longer available, although you can still get a great deal on one at places such as eBay or Craigslist), the Kindle 2 uses the E ink brand electronic paper display to mimic the look of text on regular paper rather than a screen.
Users purchase e-book files over Amazon’s Whispernet Internet…
What Is an Aztak EZ Reader, and How Does It Work?
January 1st, 2010 |What is an Aztak EZ Reader, and how does it work?
The Aztak EZ Reader is an eBook reader device that is relatively low-cost and very user friendly. These devices stand in contrast to Amazon’s Kindle (the EZ Reader is over $100 cheaper) which throws in a lot of features that many people don’t mind sacrificing for a lower price.
The EZ Reader is known for being the energy efficient and affordable version of popular eBook readers.
Aztak EZ Reader Pluses
There’s a lot to love about the Aztak, especially considering it is a piece of “budget technology”.
The EZ…
What Is an iRex Digital Reader, and How Does It Work?
December 30th, 2009 |What is an iRex Digital Reader, and how does it work?
The iRex Digital Reader, aimed at the businessman or business professional, is a feature-packed alternative to the Amazon Kindle.As a matter of fact, the iRex Digital Reader is the only other eBook reader I’d want after the latest version of the Kindle.
The iRex Digital Reader is as small as the newer versions of the Kindle without losing many of the features.
The Good Points
The iRex’ newest version has an 8.1 inch touch screen (that’s right — touchscreen functionality) that uses the same E Ink tech
…
What Is a Sony Portable Reader, and How Does It Work?
December 30th, 2009 |What is a Sony Portable Reader, and how does it work?
Portable Reader is the result of Sony tossing their hat into the eBook reader ring. The full name is the Sony PRS-500 Portable Reader, but most people drop the nerdy “PRS-500″ label when discussing the device.
The price of Sony’s reader is equivalent to similar devices from Amazon and Barnes and Noble–around $300, though it must be said that Amazon’s Kindle averages about $40 cheaper. The big knock on Sony’s eBook reader is the slightly higher cost compared to the features offered by the device. You’d think if you’re…
What Is Barnes & Noble’s Nook, and How Does It Work?
December 29th, 2009 |What is Barnes & Noble’s Nook, and how does it work?
The battle for eBook reader dominance is raging on. Though Amazon was the first company to put an eBook reader in wide release (the first Kindles came out in 2007 and completely sold out nationwide within fifteen minutes) there is one company whose reader is fighting for some of that company’s market share.
Barnes and Noble, whose bookstores pepper the American shopping mall landscape, put out an eBook reader this year called the Nook. Fortunately for Amazon (and unfortunately for the eggheads at B&N) the Nook is receiving the…
What Is an EBook Reader, and How Does It Work?
December 28th, 2009 |What is an eBook reader and how does it work?
This is the first in a week-long series of articles on eBook readers, from Amazon’s Kindle to newer models like Barnes and Noble’s “Nook”. We’ll be looking at each device in detail and talking about how various types of eBook readers work.
What is an eBook Reader, how much does an eBook reader cost, and how does an eBook reader work?
To get started on the right foot, let’s describe what an eBook reader is, how much it costs, and how it works.
An “eBook reader” is a device used…
What Is Blue Ray?
November 9th, 2009 |What Is Bluray Disc Storage?
“Blue Ray” is what people often called Blue-Ray disc storage, which is simply an optical disc storage technology meant to supercede DVD.
Though the Blu-Ray disc is exactly the same size as CD and DVD discs, Blue Ray stores more information and displays it better. Blue Ray technology is used with high-definition televisions and with the Playstation 3 game system.
Blu-Ray storage is an upgrade from the existing technology, because it allows the disc to store roughly six times the information a standard DVD could store. Data retrieval requires a shorter wavelength ray compared to…
How Do I Buy the Best GPS Navigation System for My Car
October 27th, 2009 |Buying an Affordable GPS System Suited to Your Needs
Buying the best GPS navigation system for your car situation often comes down to deciding how much you want to spend on a GPS navigation unit. There are a few particulars about the GPS systems that work better for one customer than others, such as in-dash GPS or portable GPS units.
There are a few frills that some people have to have (like voice-activated GPS), while others only want a GPS unit that gives them the information they need. So buying the best GPS system for you is getting a piece…
Will the Swine Flu Vaccine Be Ready in Time?
August 28th, 2009 |Will the swine flu vaccine be ready in time?
Amid reports that suggest that millions of Americans could be “hospitalized” in the coming flu season due to the convergence of swine flu and more traditional influenzas — some bad news.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, swine flu vaccine won’t be available to anyone in America until the middle (or end) of October, probably too late for the earliest onset of swine flu and more traditional flu cases.
In fact, news today suggests that President Barack Obama’s science advisers are begging the President and his cabinet…
How Did Hacker Albert Gonzales Steal Over 130 Million Credit Cards?
August 20th, 2009 |How did hacker Albert Gonzales steal over 130 million credit cards?
Recently, the US government announced the capture of one of the web’s most wanted hackers. Albert Gonzales, a Cuban American, is accused of running what is believed to be the largest credit card scam in history. Unfortunately for corporate America and law enforcement nationwide, the questions and trouble didn’t end when handcuffs went around Gonzales’ wrists.
Major US businesses and cops from Miami to Seattle are trying to come up with answers today — how did a single man perpetrate this widespread scam right under their noses? it…
Who Is Ray Kurzweil?
August 19th, 2009 |Who is Ray Kurzweil?
My first exposure to Raymond Kurzweil, better known as Ray, came while reading Rolling Stone magazine earlier this year. In the January 2009 issue, Kurzweil appeared in David Kushner’s article “When Man and Machine Merge”. Kurzweil’s words in that article stuck with me. Ray Kurzweil said in Rolling Stone that he wanted to clone his dead father via an exact genetic copy obtained from DNA in the father’s grave. That’s right — Kurzweil expressed an honest desire to build a copy of his dead dad by inventing special nanorobots that could enter his father’s grave…
Is Gardasil Safe?
August 19th, 2009 |Is Gardasil safe?
Gardasil is a somewhat controversial vaccine. Gardasil promises to protect girls and young women from cervical cancer. Why is this drug considered controversial? Because Gardasil doesn’t actually protect against “cervical cancer” — rather, it is a vaccination against the most common types of Human papilloma virus, or HPV. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, by some reports the most common STD in America, that can cause many symptoms, the deadliest of which is cervical cancer.
You can see where this is going. Many people suggest that an education in abstinence (and the practice of abstinence itself)…
When Will Digital Music Sales Overcome CDs?
August 19th, 2009 |When will digital music sales overcome CDs?
I’m guilty.
In this era, where digital seems to dominate every other format, I am still a sucker for purchasing a physical CD. Something about holding the album art in my hand, turning the shiny music disc over and over, sliding the device into the drive — I just don’t get the same satisfaction from a digital download. Call me a Luddite, call me what you will. I just can’t accept that I may never own a physical piece of music again. This is the same attitude that keeps me from joining…
Why Is the Swine Flu Vaccine Creating Controversy?
August 18th, 2009 |Why is the swine flu vaccine creating controversy?
Flu season is approaching, and fear is riding along. Many people are aware that the H1N1 virus could re-emerge with a vengeance once the time for seasonal flu is upon us. Thankfully, a vaccine is currently being tested for potential release before “traditional” flu and the H1N1 virus or “swine flu” have a chance to hit us with a double whammy.
However, there are still other people who are afraid of the vaccine itself. In fact, fears surrounding the swine flu vaccine are growing by the day. First we heard from…
What Is Google’s New Search Engine Technology?
August 11th, 2009 |What is Google’s new search engine technology?
Google’s ubiquitous search engine, a feature of the Internet that many businesses depend on for revenue, is getting a bit of a makeover. Or, to put it more plainly, a shot of caffeine. In a major announcement late last week, Google decided to show the world a bit of the “next gen” search functions it has been hard at work on for the past few months.
Soon we’ll have a web preview of the new search system and design, known in the industry as “Caffeine”. Google said the new code will help…
What Are the Best IPhone Apps for Killing Time?
August 10th, 2009 |What are the best iPhone apps for killing time?
Some people use their iPhones for conducting business or keeping in touch with friends and family. Still others, it has been reported this week, use iPhones as a hacking tool, lugging the benign looking device into sensitive areas so they can break the law covertly.
Personally, I prefer using the iPhone as a time killer. Any app that I can add to my phone that will distract me from my everyday routine will do just fine. Luckily the iPhone offers a seemingly infinite number of solutions for boredom. Here are…
Are Mercury Dental Fillings Safe?
July 29th, 2009 |Are mercury dental fillings safe?
Mercury is well known as one of the most dangerous metals on earth. One of only four metals that are in liquid form at room temperature, mercury (also known as quicksilver) is a poison that can cause sickness and even death. So how does it make sense that we get mercury-based fillings in our teeth?
Though people have been petitioning the government for answers for years, a definitive answer has only recently been offered by the FDA.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced this week that the silver colored dental fillings containing mercury…
Are Tanning Beds a Cancer Risk?
July 29th, 2009 |Are tanning beds a cancer risk?
International cancer experts have determined, once and for all, that the use of tanning beds and any other device that transmits any kind of ultraviolet or UV radiation do cause cancer. How have they done this? By moving up tanning beds, sun lamps, and similar devices to “the highest risk category”, the same as very dangerous poisons, such as mustard gas.
The new classification for these devices is more than just a symbolic gesture. It means that there is now medical support for the belief that tanning beds and UV rays definitely cause…
Is Texting While Driving Dangerous?
July 28th, 2009 |Is texting while driving dangerous?
Surprisingly, the issue of cell phone usage while driving is a divisive issue. Ask a crowded room how they feel about laws banning the use of handheld cell phones for calling, texting, or any other use, and you’re likely to split the room. On one hand, there are people who will always favor less legislation or “small government”. Those on the other side of the issue feel that it is sometimes the government’s duty to regulate issues related to safety. We’ve all used our phones at inappropriate times — in class, during a movie,…
What Is the ITablet?
July 28th, 2009 |What is the iTablet?
The iTablet is Apple’s next attempt to shake up the entertainment industry — this time with a kind of revamp of some older Mac technology.
Apple’s cult hit Newton was a kind of early PDA. It was hugely popular among a percentage of the population, but is a well known flop in the computing industry. This time around, Apple is introducing a device, known for now as the iTablet, that is portable and lets its users download movies, play games, and read digital books. According to insiders, more and more pieces of entertainment are being…
What Are Vibram Five Fingers?
July 23rd, 2009 |What are Vibram Five Fingers?
When a piece of footwear occupies the top spot in Google’s web search trends, it may be time to pay attention.
I’ve been hearing about Five Fingers shoes for about a week now. First, a friend of mine (who does a lot of cross training) shows up for a short run wearing what look like river shoes. Before I have a chance to ask him what the heck he’s wearing on his feet he offers up an explanation — “They’re Vibram Five Fingers”. He extended his foot and wiggled his toe. The strangest shoes…
How Is the New Swine Flu Vaccine Going to Be Tested?
July 22nd, 2009 |How is the new swine flu vaccine going to be tested?
U.S. health officials announced this morning that trials of the experimental new H1N1 swine flu vaccine will start in August. The trials will take place at eight different university medical centers and some university clinics within the next thirty days. The first two vaccines to be tested are made by two pharmaceutical giants — vaccines made by Sanofi Aventis and CSL Limited will get the first tests.
This vaccine is in rush mode because of the impending flu season, which experts think could give us a resurgance of…
Bill Gates: Hurricane Killer?
July 16th, 2009 |Bill Gates: Hurricane Killer?
It may sound like the twisted plot of a comic book or the ramblings of a James Bond villain, but this week’s oddest tech story is based on a patent filed by Bill Gates himself — controlling the weather. Bill Gates and a litany of other inventors have come together to form a plan to “kill hurricanes” while they’re over open ocean and before they can hit land and wreak havoc.
Gates’ idea sounds simple enough — send barges to pull cold deep ocean water up to the surace to create a virtual road…
What Is the Big Green Egg?
July 10th, 2009 |What is the Big Green Egg?
In the life of every serious backyard chef, there comes a time when you have to break down and get hold of a serious backyard grill.
Some barbecue aficionados prefer dropping thousands of dollars on fancy, sleek, complex backyard kitchens — with grills from here to eternity packed with every feature you could possibly want. DVD players, wine chillers, expensive South American woods, modern styling . . . grills can get so fancy it’d be a shame to cook on them.
For those of you looking to kick up your backyard cookery game…
Why Was Gmail in Beta Release for So Long?
July 9th, 2009 |Why was Gmail in beta release for so long?
Many of us were so used to seeing the cute little “beta” tag attached to the Gmail icon, we assumed it was part of the name. “Gmail Beta”.
The fact is that applications and software, as well as any old invention really, starts life out with the “beta” tag we’ve all come to know and love. A “beta” release of an item means that item is in its infancy, its first stages of release outside of a private organization. In general, a “beta release” of a product implies that product…
Is the H1N1 Flu Scare Over?
July 9th, 2009 |Is the H1N1 flu scare over?
It has been over a month since the end of major news reporting about the so called “Swine flu” — a strain of flu more properly identified as H1N1.
Just because CNN and other big name news outlets have stopped reporting about the H1N1 virus does not mean that the danger has passed. Remember that the “Spanish flu” incident in the 1930s started out very mild in the spring time before becoming a full fledged epidemic later that year, during the more traditional flu season.
In fact, President Obama spoke with governors and…
What Is Chrome OS?
July 8th, 2009 |What is Chrome OS?
The war between Google and Microsoft wages on. And that’s good news for consumers.
The last year of the conflict between the two computing giants has led to the release of Microsoft’s new (and quite popular) Bing search engine, as well as many innovations from Google that have varied in their levels of popularity. For my part, I don’t know where I’d be without Google News Timeline or Google’s outstanding new browser Chrome. The race for dominance on today’s web — as well as the push for top dog in the new “semantic” web —…
How Will New Facebook Policies Affect Users?
July 1st, 2009 |How will new Facebook policies affect users?
Facebook is getting ready to overhaul its users privacy options in an effort to provide transparency and to “simplify the way in which [Facebook] offers privacy to its users.” There are a few other tweaks, but the biggest change for Facebook is in user’s privacy features.
Though Faceook is preparing to alter the landscape of the site (by allowing content published on Facebook to be archived like other info on the web and therefore searchable), they say this new set of policy changes has nothing to do with the massive change planned…
Why Did Kodak Stop Making Kodachrome Film?
June 22nd, 2009 |Why did Kodak stop making Kodachrome film?
Paul Simon’s song about Kodachrome was a huge hit in 1973. In the song, Simon extolled the virtues of the world’s first mass market color film.
“Kodachrome, they give us those nice bright colours / They give us the greens of summers / Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day.”
The world’s a little less sunny today, as the Eastman Kodak Company announces the end of Kodachrome film. Eastman’s Kodachrome film was the first commercially available color film that achieved success. First developed in 1935, Kodachrome film was long the…
Did the FDA Recall the Cold Remedy Zicam?
June 17th, 2009 |Did the FDA recall the cold remedy Zicam?
Shares of Matrixx Initiatives Inc. plummeted 70 percent on Tuesday as the makers of the popular Zicam cold remedy products were slapped with something akin to an FDA recall.
According to the FDA, use of Zicam (the main ingredient of which is zinc) can lead to temporary or even permanent loss of smell. Still, the FDA stopped short of officially recalling the product.
Cold sufferers should stop using Zicam Cold Remedy, both their popular nasal gel and other zinc containing products, because of the threat of permanent loss of the sense…
What Is Hunch?
June 15th, 2009 |What is Hunch?
Hunch.com is another new search engine designed to meet a need that the developers feel isn’t currently met by the wide range of search options now available. What does Hunch do that the other search engines don’t?
According to the brains behind Hunch, the search engine (which has been in development for over a year) helps users search for answers based on the individual making the search. Rather than returning generic results available to anyone who asks a given question, Hunch first learns all about the user’s preferences, dislikes, and internet traffic behavior.
Hunch is launching…
What Can I Do to Prepare for TV’s Digital Transition on Friday?
June 11th, 2009 |What can I do to prepare for TV’s digital transition on Friday?
If you haven’t already worked out a television setup that will allow you to view digital signals, you aren’t quite out of luck.
You may remember that television’s digital transition was supposed to occur this past February. Unfortunately for cable companies, the government stepped in and extended the deadline. The reason? Too many people were simply not prepared. But it wasn’t totally the consumer’s fault.
If you own an analog television, and many of us do, you can still receive televsion through a converter box that sits…
What Is the Impact of Fiat’s Purchase of Chrysler?
June 11th, 2009 |What is the impact of Fiat’s purchase of Chrysler?
Fiat closed its purchase of Chrysler’s assets on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009. Fiat and Chrysler announced the deal that keeps the 84-year old U.S. automaker afloat during tough times for the auto industry. Chrysler had literally been down to its last few dollars before a government intervention in late 2008. This purchase completes an Obama administration-directed reorganization for Chrysler. Other parts of Chrysler will remain in bankruptcy to be sold or outright closed. Remember, Fiat only purchased the “best assets” of Chrysler.
Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne became the new…
What Is the “Cash for Clunkers” Program?
June 10th, 2009 |What is the “cash for clunkers” program?
Even though unemployment numbers are higher than they’ve been in over twenty years, and people are watching their investments lose value faster than ever before, consumers may just get a huge break from the US government when they go to buy their next car.
It may seem counterintuitive to offer consumers a break on an item that the media would have us believe no one is buying, but let’s be real. People will always have a need for a new vehicle. To spark that interest, the Obama administration has invented an incentive,…
What Is the TYM Test?
June 10th, 2009 |What is the TYM test?
British medical researchers have created a new cognitive test that detects Alzheimer’s disease quickly and accurately. The self administered test, known as TYM or “test your memory”, was developed at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Although the mental illness known widely as “dementia” is quite common, with a prevalence of around 13 for every 1000 people aged 65-69 and 122 in 1000 in those over 80, only about half of people affected by this debilitating disease are ever diagnosed. This new test, that evaluates a patient’s cognitive ability, appears to be faster and more accurate than current…
What Is the Harvard Racist Test?
June 3rd, 2009 |What is the Harvard racist test?
Apparently, I’m a little bit racist. That’s right — up until today, I thought I was a fairly even keeled guy with very little in the way of racial preference. Turns out, I’m just another George Wallace in sheep’s clothing. Thanks a lot, Harvard.
A little backstory — I’m a white male in my late 20s. I grew up as a minority — in fact, in the high school I graduated from there were maybe a half dozen other white graduates. I had no problem with this. I’ve never thought of myself as…
What Is Google Wave?
May 28th, 2009 |What is Google Wave?
The engineers at Google have been busy the last couple of years.
First we saw the introduction of the fabulous Google News Timeline program, a useful research tool that shows off just a shred of what the new Web will be like – semantic, interactive, and above all ubiquitous and useful.
Then came news of Google Squared, a semantic search engine being developed for what is known as Web 3.0 – the new era of the internet when search engines will become, well, “smart”.
Now we have Google Wave, introduced today, Thursday May 29, 2009,…
What Is Freecycle.org?
May 21st, 2009 |What is Freecycle.org?
The Freecycle Network is made up of nearly 5,000 member groups with over six and a half million members around the world. It is a grassroots nonprofit ecological movement made up of people who are giving and receiving free stuff right in their own communities. The purpose of freecycle.org is to encourage people to reuse things they may throw away — or as the website puts it, to “keep good stuff out of landfills”.
Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer. Membership is free.
To sign up, find your community on freecycle.org or browse…
What Is a Heel Stick Test?
May 15th, 2009 |What is a heel stick test?
Before you leave the hospital with a newborn baby, your baby will be given what is commonly known as a “heel stick test”. This newborn screening is a blood test for certain inherited metabolic and endocrine disorders. What your baby is specifically tested for will certainly vary from state to state, but all babies nationwide are screened for at least three disorders — phenylketonuria (PKU), hypothyroidism and galactosemia. To find out what your state screens for visit the Natioanl Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center at http://genes-r-us.uthscsa.edu/
Even if you or your family…
Why Did Google Crash on Thursday, May 14th?
May 15th, 2009 |Why did Google crash on Thursday, May 14th?
Those of us who depend heavily on Google and their related programs for our internet activity hit a brick wall on Thursday, as Google services (including search, Docs, Labs, and even Gmail) were slowed to a near standstill — and in some places stopped altogether.
Starting around 9:45 Central Standard Time on the morning of May 14, Google and all of its related services were the talk of the web. Blog posts appeared,wondering “What’s happened to Google?” In the United States, users from NYC, Chicago, Miami, and San Francisco (representing a…