Forward Progress -- With Battery Powered Lawn Equipment

I know this is not exactly high tech, but certainly it is “tech”.  Useful new products that are Green – that is, battery powered using Lithium Ion batteries.  Cordless, gas-free, maintenance free.

I ordered this B&D hedge trimmer from Amazon, tested it this morning and am amazed, impressed that such a tiny battery, only 20 V, Lithium Ion, can be so powerful. I gave out before the battery did.  It is very light, and very easy.  I highly recommend this if you need a trimmer.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00602J27E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also ordered a pole saw, to cut limbs, and bushes.  This time I chose GreenWorks, a new brand to me, but highly recommended on various websites.  It uses a much larger, heavier and more powerful battery.  40 Volt.  It is beautiful to look at, and I am sure will be very powerful based on many reviews on Amazon and other sites.  Take a look if you need a trimming tool, 10 inch chain saw at the end of an adjustable length stick, should be safe and easy.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AW72WR0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

BOTTOM LINE --  battery powered lawn equipment has come a long way, and I will probably never buy one with a cord or a gas engine again.

Identifying Photos in Emails

Have you ever gotten an email with some beautiful photos of places in the world, but no description to tell you where it was taken?  I have, many times.  A friend offers this tip today:

“A computer expert gave me a tip.  If you right click on the image then choose "Search Google for this image" it will get info on the picture."

Give it a try and comment if you find it works.

BPA Health Hazzard Chemical -- New Research

BPA has been banned in Canada (I think) at least in water bottles, and in 12 states here, but is still in wide use in other things, particularly in cash register receipts – a very obscure place to find it.  This was a topic of NPR “Science Friday” (see link below).  It is also in Forbes Magazine in the last 10 days (see link below)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2014/10/22/cash-register-receipts-may-be-a-source-of-bpa-study-suggests/   FORBES story

http://www.sciencefriday.com/segment/10/24/2014/hand-sanitizer-may-increase-bpa-absorption.html     Click on the “Listen Button”.

BPA causes, or makes worse, more than ? 50 diseases ?.  But the focus at the moment is a fairly new discovery.  Using hand sanitizer before touching a typical “thermal” printed cash register receipt (which are quite common) can release a major shot of BNP into your system.

Seems impossible, but listen to the audio above.  I could elaborate but the bottom line is

1.    There is No safe chemical for coating thermal type paper

2.    Stores and restaurants should quit using it and go to normal printing methods

3.    YOU can just say “no” to taking receipts that are thermal printed.  They fade anyway, and thus are not worth much.   

Recyle Clothes And Help The Environment

Consider these facts (partially taken from Sierra Magazine):

The average American throws away 68 lbs of textiles each year.

A single cotton T-shirt takes 700 gallons of water to produce.

And 80 % of items American's own get used less than once a month.

So, why not recycle?  Buy and sell second hand garments?  Recently a few online sources are promoting the sale of used clothing in new ways.  EBay has done that for years (and I have been a customer several times), but these new sites have new ideas to make it easier to sell, or rent.  They should have a bright future, not only to save or make money for normal folks, but also to help the environment. 

One of these is  www.thredup.com   You get a bag in the mail, fill it with your unused (nicer) clothing, and mail it to them.  They sell what they can on their website, and mail you a check. 

Also a big new trend is renting dresses for special occasions, on line, and returning them when your special event is over.  https://www.renttherunway.com/rtr_home  is booming, and does a great job, sizes and cleaning, you can wear a $700 dress for a few days, and return it for a rental that is a tiny fraction of owning it.  And better for the environment as well.   I believe Rent The Runway has well over a million dresses in stock, and they have many sizes and styles. They have perfected the art of fast cleaning and turn-around, it is a logistical nightmare, but they have solved it, and thus own the “first mover” position in the market.

Flu Shots 2014 Update

Made my annual trip to Walgreens today for my Flu shot.  Takes only 6 seconds after you get paperwork done (answering 6 questions) and they are ready for you.  Painless, small needle, and it must be short.  I don’t look.

My local Walgreens is having trouble getting the senior grade of vaccine  so I had to take the normal grade.   Better to have the double-strength if you can get it.

Note that your body starts building immunities immediately after the shot. But you don't get the full immunization  benefit for two weeks.  So it's not wise to wait till flu season to get it because you would need at least two weeks head start.

My Walgreens location has already seen several flu cases but they expect the number of cases to pop up dramatically in the next three or four weeks, so don’t wait.  

My nurse said she hears people say  "well, I got a flu shot, but I got a cold or I got the flu"   She says that could well be because they got the shot and were exposed to flu virus or cold virus in the two weeks following.   

The shot will not make you more susceptible to a cold or flu, so that's nothing to worry about, but it starts protection immediately, but won't fully protect you for two weeks.

Of course the shot is free for all senior citizens under Medicare or maybe just free because we are seniors. Or it might be free to all people with insurance. 

Acandescent™ technology

First there was incandescent, then CFL (spiral), then LED,  now something new Acandescent. TM.    

http://finallybulbs.com/

Replicating the incandescent bulb but claiming to offer

1.     15 X the life of incandescent

2.     lower operating costs

3.     instant on

4.     15,000 hours life

5.     recyclable

6.     shaped like the old incandescent

7.     sends light in all directions like the old incandescent (something I found my latest LED purchase does not do, it throws light only up .. or if you put it in an upside down fixture, mostly down)

Haven’t studied or used this product yet, just saw a news story on it.  It is supposed to sell for $10 retail, for a 60 watt equivalent.  

GoTenna new Smart Phone Product

GoTenna  a new product, about to be released

1.     each person going out in the wilderness carries a stick device about the size of flat carpenters pencil

2.     these “sticks” connect with your smart phones via BlueTooth

3.     the “stick” has a long range radio signal that then connects you with other “sticks” …   so, while you can’t communicate with the broader world, but you can connect with your fellow hikers or adventure friends in the same wilderness (who have sticks).  Range:  About 50 miles in ideal conditions, doesn’t work if you are behind a rock or a mountain from the fellow hiker.

4.     bonus idea, works in foreign countries where you don’t have access to the cell signals --  lets you stay in touch with your friends if you get separated by accident or something

5.     works when all cell towers are out – like in tornado emergencies or whatever

Pre orders now accepted $150 per “stick”….

http://www.gotenna.com/s

Nice video --- shows how easy this might be -- just hook it on your back pack, and suddenly your smart phone (in your pocket?) is now connected with your other hiking friends.  Pretty clever.  You can send text messages via the sticks and yet it seems as if you are just using your smart phone in the normal way.