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The Global Positioning System is a group of 24 satellite that were first put into orbit by the federal government for the U.S. Department of Defense. Originally intended to help soldiers find their way around in the battlefield, the devices were soon picked up for use in consumer products and their influence is far-reaching! First, drivers were able to get control of their poor sense of direction. Not long after, the sports world began to take notice. Here’s a few of the best (and most feature-rich) devices we found to improve your game!

Suunto T3 and GPS Pod

Track and field enthusiasts, bikers, runners, and joggers alike will love this GPS product. The Suunto Pod, which is the GPS device, clips to your arm, or straps in to a belt, pack, or bike handle. Then, its versatility shines. It tracks speed and distance while you enjoy whatever outdoor sport turns you on. If you’re into cycling or mountain biking, cross-country skiing, hiking, inline skating, or maybe kayaking, check it out.

As you are participating in the sport, the GPS device tracks your speed and training routines for later analysis. The watch/computer gives you real-time feedback on your performance. Another good thing about this particular GPS tracking device is that it also is compatible with Suunto’s T4 and T6 heart rate monitors! This is a must for the top athlete looking to improve his or her stride during their favorite sport activity.

GolfLogix GPS

Recently the USGA and R&A developed rules allowing the use of satellite-based yardage measuring devices during golf competitions. Many golfers now use these devices to increase their shot confidence, lower their scores, and generally have a better time while golfing.

This awesome device is durable and ergonomic with golf-oriented GPS capabilities. First, you head to the internet to download golf course maps, from a database of more than 15,000 golf courses. This database is being added to daily! If you can’t find the map you want, just request it and within days it will be added. You can download up to ten golf course maps on the device at one time. What’s more, because hole positions can change, the GPS device provides measurements to the front, center, and back of the green. It’s extremely user-friendly with simple instructions to navigate through the software that’s included. (note – the hardware for this unit is made by Garmin)

Garmin Wrist-Mounted GPS

This device, strapped to the wrist, is actually a heart rate monitor as well as a GPS fitness computer. Some cool features of this device are that it’s waterproof, wireless, and can alert you with time, distance, pace, and heart rate alerts.

It’s quite a bit bigger than a sports watch, and probably would lose you a few cool points if walking around town wearing it, but it delivers so many neat features! The simple button layout has good pressure response and easily walks you through the device’s interface. The display can analyze a number of factors such as: calories burned, distance, elevation, grade, and multiple lap and pace modes. There’s even a mode to set up virtual racing companions if you’re the highly competitive type. In this way, it pushes you to do your best and pits you against a virtual challenger or even your own best time from previous workouts.

With the GPS data that is collected by the device, you can connect your data to the internet and share your course, maps, workouts, and performance data with others. If you’re serious about training, this is a device definitely worth looking into!

Final note – as with all radio frequency receivers, some are better at harvesting a signal than others. And this signal comes from quite a ways away! In my experience, the larger receivers with antennas tend to hold the signal better than the smaller ones, especially the wrist-mount products. There‘s just going to be a tradeoff between convenience and function.

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Ultimate Explorer

Could robots ever be equals amongst humans? It’s a topic that’s been brought to discussion over the last several decades, with films like I, Robot, A.I. and Centennial Man whose plots in one form or another all center around the humanity of robots.

While Hollywood’s vision of robotics doesn’t quite line up with the practical versions in existence now, built by students of physics and electronics, there is one thing on which both types of experts can agree. Robots are coming.

Far from the polished, life-like robots of the silver screen, pulleys, gears, pins, sensors, wheels, and blocks that look a bit like Legos are the foundation for modern robotics. Still, robots have been designed that can do some pretty neat tricks. Some robots can travel to a specific coordinate, even moving to manipulate obstacles in their path. Robots can make coffee, bartend, help with the house cleaning, dance (alright, so they aren’t winning any awards), follow directions, and plenty more.

The science of robotics is becoming more accessible as well. There are basic sets that children can put together, just like model cars or other do-it-yourself educational toys. Many high schools now host robotics clubs that work toward a specific goal as a team, building and programming robots.

The Japanese, long considered the front runners in the robotics movement, have announced that researchers at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have completed a robotic exoskeleton for farmers. This innovation comes as a proposed solution to the problems of aging Japanese farmers who lose much of their productivity as their manual labor abilities diminish. The robotic suit will be mass produced at a cost of around 200,000 Yen.

Robots are currently in use in the form of nanosensors, space exploration vehicles, and high-tech toys. The every day use of robotics is still a long way off, but scientists are approaching this inevitability step-by-step every single day. Want to try your hand at building your own automaton? Check out Lego’s Mindstorms line. As technology improves, robots are able to accomplish more and more intricate tasks. Their motions are more life-like and mimic natural movement patterns. Better sensors allow them to collect more precise information to be processed and used in their tasks. Some scientists believe that in the distant future, robots may be capable of reason. Until then, you’ll have to settle for innovations a piece at a time, like those of WT-4, the robot capable of simulating human speech!

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Thanks to Marco for giving us the origins of the video clip…

He writes, “The car is an old Fiat (Italy brand) Uno (One). The video is taken from an old popular italian tv show “Scommettiamo che..” “We bet thah..”.”

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This year my family was in rare form with our gift-giving. The tree was practically buried in presents and then there’s always one or two “secret” presents that don’t come out until all the others are unwrapped! I watched in anticipation as my sister opened her first gift: a Flip video recorder. Eagerly, I scanned my presents looking for a similarly-shaped gift. I opened a crock pot, a necklace, and a treasure chest of scrapbooking supplies. No Flip. I’m happy with my gifts, but seriously! The Flip is one of the coolest video recorder products on the market this year.

So what is the Flip? A while back, it was known as the “Point and Shoot” camera. With the new name, it received new features and software to up its already high coolness factor. Two of these features are extra battery power and better video quality than the original. (Naturally, we all headed outside early Christmas morning see what the gadget could do with outdoor footage. The difference in quality was noticeable, but not enough to really matter.)

There are two versions of this cam: the $125 version captures 30 minutes of video, while for a mere $40 more you can get the 60-minute version. I highly recommend forking over the extra; what if a UFO hovers into view on the 31^st minute? Both versions are sleek and sexy, about the size of the classic iPod, and just as light-weight. It’s a real “bare bones” approach to buttons.

A flip-up USB connector is one of the best features, allowing instant transfer of your video to your computer without fussing with cables. By far one of sweetest additions to the “classic” model is the software installed in the Flip. A plug-and-play type interface prompts you through a dialog that allows for posting the video straight to YouTube and AOL Video. And we all know that’s the real reason you wanted the Flip in the first place, right?

In a “don’t wanna miss a thing” world, the Flip is a necessity! You don’t need to find that just-right light, take a picture with your camera phone, or fiddle with complicated buttons and endless settings. It’s sweet and simple and definitely on the list for my birthday!

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No matter how you feel about the current president, it’s almost time for a new one to step into office. What will the new candidates declare about the war in Iraq? Many Americans disagree with the decision to invade. I certainly did. They want to know: Why are our troops really over there in the first place? Did you know Bush decided to invade Iraq in April 2001, six months before the tragic event of September 11^th? What if, instead of invading other countries for access to their energy resources, we used the technology available to us in alternative fuels? Why do we continue to hear about these “miracle innovations” destined to replace gasoline, but they’re always just on the cusp of being put into commercial use? It’s time to be informed about the alternative fuel choices out there and why they aren’t in the pumps today.

Biodiesel

This form of diesel fuel is made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or grease that has been recycled after restaurants have used it. (There’s plenty of that available, isn’t there?) It is safe, biodegradable, and is much better for the environment than oil-based diesel. While the costs are slightly higher than regular diesel, this is mostly due to the scarcity of processing/filling stations and will decrease as more plants are put in place. The best thing about biodiesel is it can be used in engines with little or no modification. The cons of this type of fuel, like many others, come down to cost. And who will take up that cost? In the end, you and I.

Fuel cells

Research into fuel cells has been going on in earnest since the 1950s, believe it or not. In fact, this was the way the Apollo astronauts were able to generate enough energy to make it to the moon and back. Conventional fuel cells have relied on hydrogen gas as a fuel source. Recently, scientists have begun to investigate the idea of using bacteria in a fuel cell in order to generate electrical energy. The bacteria can use almost any chemical as a food source. The major expense in research, development, production, and implementation will have to be handed down to the consumer. Can you imagine where we could be if we spent 10% of what we have spent on the Iraq war in advancing this technology? Nevertheless, as long as fuel cells stay so expensive, this isn’t the technology that’s going to get us out of Iraq.

Ethanol

This alcohol-based fuel is created when the (mostly) non-edible parts of some crops have been broken down into simple sugars, fermented, then distilled. In the United States, these crops are primarily corn or sorghum. In Brazil, it is made from sugar cane. It burns cleaner than gasoline, emitting fewer greenhouse gases, but right now since production is basically still in infancy, planting, harvesting, and processing ethanol might take more fuel than is produced. With better research and increasing awareness/use of the fuel, it will become less energy-costly to make.

So why aren’t we pumping ethanol already? For one reason, there’s not nearly as much energy in it as there is in gasoline. Producing it costs almost twice as much energy as is in the final product, creating a net energy loss. And, since machinery used to plant, maintain, and reap the corn burns fossil-fuels…. well, you see the problem. But that’s not the biggest problem. Some scientists estimate the ethanol needed to power a car for a single year would require 11 acres of corn! While those fields replenish themselves, it would leave no usable land for other food crops.

This problem, like so many others, may have a compromising solution: cellulosic ethanol can be made from non-food products like corn stalk, wood chips, and switch grass. Keep an eye out for this product, bound to hit gas stations nearby in the next…… well, whenever scientists can figure it all out. Stay tuned!

Bottom line: In the near future, oil wars will be a thing of the past. Our dependencies upon other countries for oil, and the toll burning it takes on the environment, will hopefully be at an end. In the meantime, become informed about the candidates for the upcoming election and research their stance on the issues of the environment and the war. Then, do your part by walking when it’s possible and investing in the most fuel-efficient vehicle you can that will fit your needs. If we all make a concerted effort to help, we can promote good health for our environment for years to come.

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When was the last time you visited a friend’s house and took a peek into the medicine cabinet just for curiosity’s sake? C’mon you know you have! “I was wondering what the name of that stinky perfume was!” But did you think, “I’ll bet he’s got a bankroll stuffed inside the shaving cream can!” Doubt it!

Decoys work extremely well…just ask a duck! These inexpensive products are called Diversion Safes. They won’t protect your cash and valuables from fire but they do an excellent job guarding against theft. Put the odds in your favor as burglars usually spend less than 10 minutes in a victim’s home and they only have time to check the most obvious places for your valuables. And according to police statistics, the shaving cream or brake fluid can are seldom targeted.

With a diversion can safe everything can be hidden in plain view. Many of these security products are re-manufactured from original containers that look like ordinary household products such as canned food, can drinks and even home household cleaners. Of course the diversion safe idea has been around for a long time (remember the hollowed out book?), but what’s cool about the new generation of products is their realism. Weighted to feel full, with a seamless screw off top or bottom, these products are very easy for a thief to overlook. Items that look like an ordinary book, wall clock, CD case, VHF Video cassette, leftover food container also work just as well as a Diversion Safes. Our favorite is a common electrical wall outlet. And if you have kids, you know they can find anything! Not anymore!

Diversion Safes are the perfect places to hide your mobile phone, credit card, car keys and house keys. Staying at a hotel without a room safe? The maid is probably not interested in your can of Cruex jock itch spray! Whether you are in your car, camping, at the beach, or away on business, use one of these handy gadgets to protect your personal items.

Never worry about being locked out of your house again. Other Diversion Safes allow you or family members to get inside a locked house by hiding a spare key inside a fake rock, outdoor thermometer or in a small fake sprinkler head.

It may not be a whole lot of comfort to walk into the house and find it ransacked, but at least your grandmother’s jewelry and the antique Rolex your dad gave you won’t be gone!

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