Latest Inventions

posted by admin on Dec 4

To be honest, I am a bit fed up with wandering around stores for Christmas looking for gifts for people I know, but who never seem to really appreciate their gifts.  I almost end up buying them something that they either specifically told me to buy (great surprise) or getting vouchers.

But my ideas are changing.

If they aren’t going to really love my gifts - and it is estimated that over 50 million UK pounds worth of Christmas gifts are thrown away each year (!!!!!!!!!!!) then I am going to buy them something I want, or something that cannot be discarded - something that will make a difference.

And I don’t care if that difference is to someone else entirely - even someone I don’t know, or someone on a completely different continent infact!

What Gifts Are They?
Well, they are the gift of wildlife sponsorship, domestic animals such as a goat, pencils for 100 children, training teachers for schools, etc.  They are not the non-convincing offers of buying a tree in a rain-forest that you can’t verify - these are serious gifts that will really make a difference with companies that are known world wide 

Now these types of gifts have been around for a while, but they were always a bit dull sounding or were very expensive - but times are changing and there is a lot more to choose from and at more reasonable prices.

Why These?
Well, there are many benefits to these gifts, and not just to the cause they are supporting.

1) These gifts are good for the environment - they will be supporting communities around the world who are ‘in charge’ of wildlife or environmental areas that should be preserved and cared for.

2) They cannot be thrown away and wasted.  The money you spend on these gifts will instantly go to work on your chosen cause whether your friends or family like it or not!

3) There is no wrapping involved, so less sticky tape, shiny non-recyclable wrapping paper and bows, etc are required, therefore even less waste and less time and energy spent on the whole thing.

4) They are totally different - a talking point.  Get others to think about the causes that interest you across the globe, and maybe get your charity or cause more support.

5) They really will make a difference - a positive one.  Rather than just lining big high street retail stores pockets with your reasonably impulsive purchases of gifts and wrapping, create a safe, healthy environment for people and animals in another country.

6) Feel good about yourself and the moeny you have invested.

Below are a few websites to get your search started.   There is still time to get these to your friends before last post! 

www.goodgifts.org- supporting African schools
www.worldlandtrust.org- protecting rain-forests
www.presentaid.com - supporting farmers worldwide
www.oxfamunwrapped.com - everything you could imagine

Alternatively, think of your favourite charity and just visit their site - I’m sure they are offering something as a gift.

posted by admin on Oct 19

STUFF LIVE - The UK’s Leading Technology Show

Here is your chance to see the newest technology and computer games around today.

See exclusive gadgets

Play the latest video games

Quiz the experts

Chill out in the STUFF lounge

Hear the worlds best Hi-Fi

Touch tomorrows technology

Play Guitar Hero on stage

And win loads of great prizes

All at:

ExCel, LONDON - 31 October - 2nd November 2008

Book now to avoid the queues……

WWW.STUFFLIVE.CO.UK

posted by admin on Sep 13

Powered by a Hydrogen fuel cell - meet the new Ford Edge.

There is another car on the road that runs off of the same element that keeps the sun shining. So far though, it has only been let out for testing, but the insight is something to really consider.

Without the cylinders and pumps of standard fuel cars, this one is silent. And without the burning of fossil fuels either: this one leaves only water behind - pure enough to drink if you wanted to try it!

Is is truly an Eco Vehicle?
No, not yet. Like all electric and hybrid cars, it is still reliant on fossil fuels and therefore still emits huge amounts of carbon waste at somewhere along the production line. But it opens up hope for the future.

Although it is currently as heavy as some of the larger cars already on the road and still pollutes the atmosphere like all other road users, Ford are looking to the next decade to really make the savings. Apparently, they say, there will be a chain of nuclear power stations creating pollution-free hydrogen that they can use to power their Edge.

10 years is a long time away, but then, it will take that long to build up all the ‘hydrogen service stations’ along interstates and in superstore car parks. You’ll need them, as with a driving range of only 100 miles (225 with over night charging with a lithium-ion battery) you won’t be driving to your destination, you will be driving to the next top-up point!

It seems that some states in the US are already considering this as a viable method, and the state of California has started creating a ‘hydrogen highway’ between it’s 2 main towns to get things started.  But we are still quite some way from this becoming ‘everyday’.

The Future:
Well, thanks to the record-breaking Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 - which last year (2007) broke the land speed record for a fuel-celled car - they are not letting time or the shortage of fuel get in their way.  Other manufacturers are also in the race to designed the first alternate fuel vehicle for the masses, like BMW.

However, Ford have already started making further improvements and obviously the alternative fuel car that we see in 10 years time on the roads will probably be nothing like the one we see today.   It wasn’t long ago that the first fuel cell ‘car’ was pulling a trailer of hydrogen to gets it’s energy!!!!

Ideas change, technologies change, consumer demands change - but I’m sure that fossils fuels will run out before long, leaving us little choice about hydrogen (and nuclear) as the source of our energy.

Source: The Sunday Times
.

posted by admin on Aug 9

The Advent 4211 is certainly different.

With most laptops and notepad computers aiming for smaller and lighter, this aptly names ‘netbook’ could be very popular indeed.

Basically it’s the size of a hardback book and has a very long battery life.  This is ideal if you are on vacation - to keep up with the news and to book trips and accommodation as necessary.

What’s the catch?

This little ‘netbook’ has been specifically designed for Internet users, so it lacks many of the features of larger notepads - it’s a nice little compromise though.

If you mainly want to access the Internet when travelling for work or pleasure, the Advent 4211 has what you need - and not the added weight and processing power you don’t.

It won’t run games and other demanding software that effectively and it doesn’t even have an optical drive for DVD’s - it really has been specifically developed and created for net users.

What’s it Got?

Built around Intel’s new ‘Atom’ chip, it handles Windows XP quickly and reliably, and it’s low power consumption can stretch out the battery time to 3 hours. It is WiFi, Bluetooth and web-cam enabled, and there is 1GB of operating memory to keep things running smoothly.

There is no need to worry about the keyboard on this tiny technology, as it is well spaced and easy to use. Although it comes with little software included, you can easily use free online software like Google Docs if you need to create an immediate document or some business ideas.

Saving them online will also save storage space on the Advent itself for more important information - although it does come with 80GB of hard drive space if needed.

The Advent 4211 is currently for sale for around $560/£280

.

posted by admin on Jul 27

I found a new club that is VERY exclusive…….

It’s not altogether eco-friendly either - but WOW - what a club to be a member of in my book!! 

I absolutely love traveling - however, I am very, very, very short of the membership criteria - about 75 countries short to be honest!

How Do You Join?
Well - as it’s title suggests - you need to have visited 100 countries or more!  In addition there is a Silver Membership for 150+ and Gold Membership for and amazing 250+ countries visited!

The special award for visiting over 300+ countries went to a Mrs C Kloner from NY this year!!!!  Well done to her…..

In perspective - there are 6 ‘countries’ in North America (Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Prince Edward Islands, St Pierre + Miquelon and the US itself) only 7 in Central America, 13 in South America and 29 in the Caribbean - so even if you went to them all, you would still be 45 countries short!!!  Europe has 67 in total - so a train ride around that continent will top up your numbers……

Why??
Well, the club first started in Los Angeles in 1954 by a travel group and has grown in leaps and bounds ever since - there are now 317 currently listed on the site and thousands of members.

The club holds meeting across the globe as discusses all sorts of travel-related topics and locations, and has much information on their site to help with information and maps for all the countries they list as being ‘valid’.

If you have only been to 75 countries - don’t worry!  They will let you attend any of their meetings that haven’t been ’sold out’ to full members!!

Are You Over 100+ Countries???
After filling out their membership form, and proving your claim, you only need to pay $100 to join and $50 yearly dues thereafter ($60 if non-US). Or just use their site to read up about countries: Travelers Century Club

So, all I need to do is travel to another 50 countries and I might got to sit in on the next meeting!!!

How about you??

.