Showing posts with label Top 5s. Show all posts
Posted by Stuff Blogger in Technology, Top 5 Energy-efficient Computers, Top 5s on Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Top 5 Energy-efficient Computers
5: Dell Studio Hybrid
Dell calls the Studio Hybrid its greenest consumer desktop, and both Energy Star and EPEAT give it the thumbs up. The Studio Hybrid's 87-percent-efficient power supply meets Energy Star's 4.0 green computing standards, and EPEAT gives the system its highest rating, gold.
The Studio Hybrid is 80 percent smaller than a typical desktop computer and uses about 70 percent less power than most standard desktop computers. The computer's packaging is made from 95-percent-recyclable materials and comes with less printed documentation -- 75 percent less by weight (all documentation is made available online instead) [source: Dell].
For an additional charge, you can personalize it with a bamboo sleeve. And when you're ready to upgrade, the Studio Hybrid comes with its own system recycling kit.
4: Dell OptiPlex
Dell's OptiPlex line is a solid choice for professionals looking for an expandable, scalable desktop. It's also an energy-efficient workhorse -- the OptiPlex is Energy Star 4.0 compliant and carries an EPEAT gold rating.
It's not only the computers that are going green at Dell -- the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks Dell in the top five in the latest EPA Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge [source: EPA]. Dell is committed to reducing its desktop and laptop energy consumption by up to 25 percent by 2010 through the use of integrated Energy Smart technologies, including energy-optimized hardware and software. Since 2005, the OptiPlex's energy efficiency has improved by about 50 percent [source: Business Wire].
3: Lenovo ThinkCentre M58 / M58p
Like their green brethren, ThinkCentre desktops are Energy Star 4.0 compliant and have earned the EPEAT gold rating.
What makes the ThinkCentre especially green? Systems using their power-management tools can reduce energy consumption by 69 percent [source: Lenovo]. Lenovo estimates that energy savings translate into a cost savings of $40 on your yearly electricity bill. And it's not just dollars saved, it's CO2 emissions reduced, too. The ThinkCentre is designed to reduce CO2 emissions by 575 pounds (261 kilograms) per desktop every year, which is about the same as if 185 gallons (703 liters) of gasoline went unused [source: Lenovo].
2: Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro
For those in the market for something small and shiny -- and green -- take a look at Apple's 17-inch MacBook Pro. This laptop boasts Energy Star 5.0 compliance and a gold EPEAT rating. The MacBook shines when it comes to reducing environmental impact. It's made out of glass and aluminum (both recyclable materials); is free from mercury, arsenic, PVC and brominated flame retardants; and it uses 35 percent less consumer packaging than its predecessor.
Apple estimates that the 17-inch MacBook uses about 1,499 pounds (680 kilograms) of CO2e (Carbon Dioxide Equivalence, which measures the CO2 emissions potential during a specific period of time) total through its entire lifespan, from production and transportation to consumer use and recycling [source: Apple].
Prefer to work on something larger than a laptop? Apple's iMac is an integrated desktop -- an all-in-one system -- that also rates the Energy Star label and EPEAT gold. When you're ready to upgrade, take advantage of Apple's product take back and recycling programs.
1: Toshiba Portege R600
The Toshiba Portégé laptop line has earned Energy Star 4.0 compliancy and EPEAT's gold rating -- not only did it receive EPEAT's highest rating, the Portégé R600 ranks No. 1 in the gold category. Additionally, Greenpeace named the Portégé R600 the greenest laptop computer in 2009 in its second annual "Green Electronics: The Search Continues" survey.
Toshiba rates its products against an idea it calls Factor T, a mathematical formula the company created to assess a computer's consumer value against its environmental impact over its expected lifetime. High consumer value and low environmental impact equal the biggest energy efficiency.
Toshiba itself has set a company goal to double its environmental efficiency by 2010. Toshiba uses components with low-power consumption technology. Component and part suppliers that want to work with Toshiba must comply with a 22-point environmental performance survey before collaborating with the company.
Posted by Nirav Ashara in 5 Ways to Avoid Overheating Your Truck, Top 5s on Friday, July 17, 2009
5 Ways to Avoid Overheating Your Truck
Have you ever had the frustration of being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on a hot summer day? Chances are that you have. Sure, it may be hot and humid outside, but you'd better believe that the temperatures under the hood of your truck ar e even worse. That's bad. And if it gets too hot, well, cross your fingers and hope you'll make it home. Why? Quite simply, because heat is the enemy of your truck's engine.
The cooling system in your truck is your engine's front line of defense when it comes to the ongoing battle against heat. If you properly maintain your truck's cooling system and take a few other preventative measures, you're ensuring that your engine won't experience the added stress of operating under extreme high temperatures. But how do you keep your truck's engine running cool under most normal driving conditions? Is there anything that you can do to prevent your truck from overheating?
As it turns out, there's actually quite a bit that you can do. We thought we'd put together a short list of some of ways we discovered. So here are, in no particular order, the top five ways to avoid overheating your truck.
5: Watch Your Temperature Gauge
This may seem like rather elementary advice, but it does warrant a mention because so few drivers actually make a habit of monitoring their truck's engine temperature gauge. Understandably, the fuel gauge is critical for most drivers on a daily basis, as is the speedometer and possibly even the tachometer. But the instrument cluster of your truck can tell you so much more; you simply need to know where to look. Alongside the temperature gauge, you may be able to find an engine oil pressure reading, a battery charge indicator and maybe even a boost and vacuum gauge (if your truck has a turbocharged engine).
Once you've located your truck's temperature gauge, pay attention to what the gauge displays as a normal operating temperature for your engine. The easiest way to do this is to simply take a mental note of the reading on several different occasions after the truck's engine has had a chance to run for a while. If your engine's cooling system is operating properly, you'll find that the temperature should remain fairly stable or at least consistently fall within a certain range. If you see the temperature reading begin to increase rapidly, you may have a problem. Ignoring it won't make it go away, either. It's wise to diagnose and repair an engine cooling issue as soon as possible. If the worst case scenario plays out, you just may be able to avoid a potentially catastrophic engine failure. As you could probably guess, major engine repair or even replacement isn't cheap.
So there you have it: Something as simple as glancing at your temperature gauge could end up saving you a significant amount of money in the long run. Up next, we have another bit of straightforward advice -- nevertheless, it's equally important.
4: Look for Obvious Leaks
One clear indicator of a problem under the hood (or really anywhere on your vehicle) is the presence of fluid beneath your parked truck. But how do you determine if you're seeing coolant and not some other type of fluid? Typically, it's fairly easy to determine the specific type of fluid your truck is losing based on the fluid color and location of the puddle. In years past, all vehicles used engine coolant that was the same bright green color, and it had a very sticky-sweet smell. Now, coolant comes in a variety of colors ranging from the familiar bright green to red, orange and even pink. Different manufacturers have different standards when it comes to the fluids they fill their vehicles with.
At this point, the color of your truck's coolant doesn't matter quite as much as the fact that you've got a leak somewhere in your cooling system. The various fluids that circulate throughout your vehicle's many different sealed systems -- such as your cooling system, engine, transmission, brake system, transfer case and so on -- are meant to stay trapped inside until they're intentionally drained and replaced. Fluids lubricate and cool moving parts within your vehicle, and your truck's cooling system is no exception. To put it in the simplest terms: If you see a puddle of coolant beneath your truck, you have a leak. And if you have a leak, that means you're in danger of running low on (or running out of) engine coolant, which would definitely cause your engine to run hot or even overheat. So, don't delay in getting that leak repaired, or you could end up with a hefty repair bill.
In the next section, we'll find out why it might not be a good idea to add too much water (or too much coolant) to your truck's cooling system.
3: Use the Proper Coolant-to-Water Mixture
Your truck's cooling system doesn't operate on coolant alone, and it can't operate on just water, either. In fact, your truck's cooling system actually requires a mixture of coolant and water to provide just the right level of protection for your engine. If you skew the manufacturer's suggested coolant-to-water mixture by adding only water or adding only coolant, you could risk damaging your truck's engine.
The balance between coolant boil-over temperature and freeze-up temperature actually hinges on the proper mixture of coolant and water. For instance, a mixture that consists of 60 percent water and 40 percent coolant can provide boil-over protection all the way up to 259 degrees Fahrenheit (126 degrees Celsius) and freeze-up protection all the way down to minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 23 degrees Celsius). If you were to change that mixture to 30 percent water and 70 percent coolant, you would have boil-over protection up to 270 degrees Fahrenheit (132 degrees Celsius) and freeze-up protection down to minus 62 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 52 degrees Celsius).
As a general rule, you'll find that a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water is sufficient for most driving conditions. However, to ensure that you're using the proper mixture, it's a good idea to take a look at your owner's manual.
On the next page, we'll discuss a situation that could easily cause your truck to overheat -- one that a lot of truck owners are guilty of.
2: Don't Overload Your Truck
Seems like a simple rule to follow, doesn't it? But it happens all the time. Just take a look around if you don't believe us. In fact, the next time you're at one of those home improvement warehouse stores, pay attention to how much lumber some people stack in the back of their pickup trucks. Or the next time you're at a landscape supply store, watch how much topsoil or mulch some owners request to be dumped in the bed of their truck. By the time they're ready to drive away, the rear bumper is practically dragging on the ground. But what does that have to do with an overheated engine?
While it may look funny to see a grossly overloaded truck making its way down the road, the damage that driver is likely causing to his or her truck's engine is anything but. As you can probably guess, every part of the truck's powertrain (including the engine) has to work significantly harder to get all of that extra weight rolling down the road -- and keep it in motion, too. All of this extra work means extra heat created by the truck's engine. If the cooling system can't keep up with the demand -- you guessed it, potential severe engine damage.
One simple way to avoid overloading your truck -- and overheating your engine in the process -- is by familiarizing yourself with the manufacturer's suggested weight limits or weight ratings for your specific vehicle. These can be found in the owner's manual or on a decal or plate located on the inside edge of your truck's door frame.
Don't stop now. There's just one more tip that we want to share with you for beating the heat in your truck's engine.
1: Perform Routine Maintenance
Keeping your truck in proper working order is one of the best ways to avoid having your engine overheat. That makes perfect sense, right? To be honest, if you properly maintain your vehicle from bumper to bumper, you'll prevent a lot more than just engine heat issues. However, since that's the main focus here, what areas or components will require special attention to help you avoid an unwanted rise in engine temperature?
As we mentioned earlier, it's a good idea to watch for indicators of a problem in the cooling system, such as sudden jumps in normal engine operating temperature or leaks in the system. You should also regularly inspect your truck's coolant hoses for damage or deterioration. It's also a good idea to inspect any clamps that attach the hoses to the radiator and to your engine. Other areas that you'll want to keep an eye on under the hood include the engine belt (or belts, in some cases), the radiator itself, the radiator cap, the overflow container, the cooling fan and your engine's thermostat, just to name a few.
So there you have it, five relatively simple ways that you can avoid overheating your truck's engine.
Posted by Nirav Ashara in 5 Tips for Restoring Old Furniture, Top 5s on Thursday, July 16, 2009
5 Tips for Restoring Old Furniture
Professional furniture restorers and hobbyists alike all have one thing in common -- the desire to pluck a piece of furniture off the side of the road and restore it to its former glory. And what's not to like? Not only are you saving something from a landfill, but you're breathing life into something that's long been forgotten. All the former owner knows is that the legs of the table are busted, the surface is marred by water rings and it doesn't sit evenly on the floor. What's more, it's taking up valuable space where that new Ikea dining table should go. But what many might see as a space-consuming relic from days gone by, furniture restorers see as a possibility.
If you've never tackled a furniture restoration project, you should know the difference between refinishing and restoring a piece. Refinishing can be as simple as stripping off the top layer of varnish, sanding and applying a new one. Project done. Restoring can involve refinishing, but it can also require a whole lot more -- fixing broken legs, replacing hardware, repairing cracks, replacing trim pieces and fabrics with period detail. Basically anything that's required to get the piece of furniture as close to the original condition as possible is called restoration. Often, it's more than just a facelift -- it has to do with making the item usable again and possibly even adding value. Here are five tips that can help you make the old new again.
5: Research and Inspect
The first step is to do a little research to determine its value, so you know whether or not you should try and restore it yourself. Inspect the piece for marks or labels that may indicate its origin. Even if the piece isn't old but it was made by a master craftsman, it could be valuable. If you suspect that it's worth some money, it's best to consult a professional before proceeding with any work. The library is an excellent resource to help you identify certain periods and styles of furniture, or find a furniture restoration shop and seek out their advice. Take photos of any markings or tags for your records. Removing a collectible antique's finish could lessen or void its value, so hold off on stripping or sanding for now.
There are a few things the novice can look for to determine its age. Feel underneath. If the interior corners are sharp, then it's probably not an antique. Take out a screw and look at the threads. If they have inconsistent widths between them, then it's probably pretty old. These are just a couple of tips -- valuing antique furniture is a much more complicated process that should be performed by a professional appraiser. If you do find that a piece is valuable, you should not only hold off on restoring it, but you also should insure it as soon as possible.
4: Clean Before You Start
Before whipping out your sandpaper and paintbrush, you should give the piece a thorough cleaning. After years of neglect, it's likely to have a patina of dirt and grime. Removing the buildup can reveal a nice finish underneath, so a good cleaning and buffing may be all that old chair needs to sit stately in your living room.
A good place to start is to give it a good scrub with a sponge and some vegetable-based oil soap in warm water. A lot of older furniture is detailed, so you can use a soft toothbrush to get in the nooks and crannies. It's a good idea to remove hardware so you can clean behind it, as well as give the hardware a good shine. Toothpicks are handy for getting between tight spots, but here's a tip -- get a wooden dowel the size of a pencil and buy a pencil sharpener. It's much more solid than a toothpick, and you can keep it nice and sharp for digging out grime. If you need to use steel wool on some stubborn wax buildup, go with No. 0000 and use a light hand. Too much pressure can dull the finish.
3: Repair
The next step is to repair or replace any broken parts. You may luck out and stumble across a comparable leg or knob at an antique store or estate sale, but don't count on it. In most cases, if you want to match what already exists, you may have to get parts custom made. The auction Web site eBay is another option with its robust antiques trade. If you do find or order a new piece of hardware, you may want a professional's help with installation, unless you feel good about your skills as a craftsman. Most people can manage handles and pulls or a drawer in disrepair, but if you're replacing legs or dealing with the structural integrity of the piece, you might need some help.
If the table or chair wobbles, it may simply need some screws tightened. Find the culprit by turning the piece over and inspecting each leg where it meets the body. If it shakes, check out the screws, and if they're in good shape, tighten them down. If they're rusted out, carefully remove and replace them. Small breaks can be joined with wood glue, and if you have any small cracks, use like-colored wood putty. And if you plan to use stain as your finish, make sure you buy a putty that can be stained.
2: Refinishing or Painting
Refinishing the piece means taking off the old finish and creating a new one. It's physically demanding, so be prepared to use some elbow grease. Stripping is a messy and cumbersome job, but the result is rewarding. For a do-it-yourselfer, it's best to use a combination of chemical strippers and sanding. Patience is definitely a virtue during this phase of restoration because some finishes can be stubborn. If you get frustrated and try to speed up the process, you can gouge the wood with a putty knife, leading to more repair work.
There are many different kinds of stain, and each works best with different woods, so be sure to thoroughly research your options before proceeding. If you determine that the wood underneath isn't worthy of staining, you can always paint the surface. Just be very sure it's not a valuable piece, because it sure won't be once you paint it. If you do decide to paint, just sand the finish to smooth out any bumps before you start. Whether you're painting or staining, once you finish stripping and sanding, you'll want to give it another good cleaning. A clean surface is key to creating a professional finish.
1: Tools of the Trade
If you green-light a furniture restoration project, you'll need some tools to make it all happen. Take a trip down the sandpaper aisle first and get a variety of grits. Start with the rough stuff (80-120) and work your way up to the finer grits (400). Get a couple of putty knives, one plastic and one metal. There are all kinds of other furniture scrapers in the same section and you can always give one a try if it feels good in your hand. Grab some No. 0000 steel wool and a liquid stripping gel, and you're on your way to the refinishing department.
You'll need screwdrivers to tighten up any loose joints, both Phillips head and flat head. You should also have a small hammer and a rubber mallet, which will allow you to give the wood gentle reminders without leaving a mark. If you're serious about restoring your piece, you may need to invest in some wood clamps as well. You can buy a variety pack or wait and see what your needs are and buy them individually.
You should also have the following items on hand:
- Wood glue
- Wood putty
- Oil soap
- Measuring tape
- Gloves
- Respirator
- Two to three inch (5.08 to 7.62 centimeters) angled paint brush
- Toothbrush
- Toothpicks
Now that your toolbox is full and you're armed with these tips, you're ready to begin restoring your furniture to its former glory.
Posted by Nirav Ashara in 5 Popular Plastic Surgery Procedures, Top 5s on Thursday, July 2, 2009
5 Popular Plastic Surgery Procedures
5: Botox
In cosmetic surgery, as in cardiology and other fields, the trend is toward less invasive approaches. Topical applications such as chemical facial peels, lasers and wrinkle creams are often effective supplements to surgery. Botox, a toxin made by botulism bacteria, is used to temporarily paralyze facial muscles that cause wrinkling. In areas of constant motion -- think smile lines around the eyes or frown lines in the center of the brow -- these muscles cause repetitive creases, which lead to permanent wrinkles.
Patients typically receive pretreatment with a prescription-strength cream to numb the skin, and Botox is administered with very small-gauge needles. The plastic surgeon uses knowledge of the anatomy of the facial muscles to systematically inject them with tiny amounts of Botox. This paralyzes the muscle for anywhere from 4 to 6 months, reducing the extent to which it can pull on the skin. While the treatments may make you less able to move your eyebrows to show the full extent of your surprise or anger, people still generally get the message. Botox causes a temporary softening of fine lines and has a smoothing effect on fine wrinkles.
4: Filler Injection
Receiving injections every several months may not seem non-invasive, but other techniques definitely go a step further. One such option is injection of fillers. These fillers range from gels that are available off the shelf (such as hyaluronic acid) to your own fat, which can be harvested and injected to fill wrinkles in the face. Fillers such as hyaluronic acid are temporary and can fill deeper wrinkles that Botox may not work well on. However, these fillers are foreign materials and can sometimes lead to adverse reactions. They can be injected in the physician's office with minimal or no anesthesia.
Fat injection is slightly different. On the one hand, fat is the ideal filler (because it is from your own body and may be a permanent filler), but it also has a significant drawback. To obtain the fat to inject, your plastic surgeon will have to give you sedation or anesthesia and harvest the fat from another part of your body. The stomach and thighs are frequent donor sites. Regardless of the material, fillers can soften the effects of wrinkles but cannot correct looseness of the cheeks, eyelids or neck.
3: Skin Removal
Surgery is often needed to address areas of loose skin in the face and neck. Removal of extra skin and tightening of the muscles and tissues below is often referred to as a facelift (rhytidectomy) or necklift (cervicoplasty or platysmaplasty). A necklift can correct the turkey-gobbler appearance that people often complain about. Redraping of the skin of the neck as well as disruption of vertically-oriented muscle bands can give a more youthful appearance. A necklift takes anywhere from one to two hours and needs to be done in an operating room with some form of anesthesia.
The facelift procedure is similar: Facial skin is lifted up. The deeper tissues are tightened with sutures, and the skin is redraped after any excess is removed. Scars are usually hard to detect after healing since they're hidden near the hairline and along the ears. Facelifts require an operating room and anesthesia of some sort, and operative time can vary from more than one hour to several hours. The effect is usually dramatic, though the best surgeons will get a rejuvenated but natural result. Results will vary but should last a number of years, unlike Botox or fillers.
Other procedures can be combined with facelifts to raise the eyebrows to a more youthful level (they can droop with age), to rejuvenate wrinkly eyelids, to reduce jowls or to fill and plump the lips. Facelifts are still very popular but cost more than many other procedures and are more invasive.
2: Breast Augmentation
Other than a facelift, the procedure that people most commonly associate with cosmetic surgery is breast augmentation, or breast implants. Breast augmentation is a close cousin to another procedure plastic surgeons do commonly: breast reconstruction after cancer. As with other cosmetic surgeries, breast augmentations leave scars. Plastic surgeons try to hide these scars in the armpits, along the margin of the nipple or in the skin crease where the breast meets the abdomen. However, what most patients are more interested in are the type and size of implant.
Two main types of breast implants are available. These are saline (saltwater) filled implants and silicone implants. The big difference between the two types is their consistency or feel. Silicone more closely matches the feel of breast tissue and may appear more natural as well. Also, to aid in the natural appearance, most implants are now placed under the chest muscles, against the ribs. Even here, they can make mammogram exams difficult. For that reason, breast surgeons often suggest regular MRI exams to rule out breast malignancies.
Also, no implant will last forever. There is a small but definite risk of rupture, which increases with time. Despite these concerns, breast implants remain very popular, not only in Hollywood, but also in society in general. Breast implants take an hour or two to insert and may require other tailoring of the breast to ensure symmetry. This is done in an operating room with anesthesia.
1: Tummy Tucks
In the last decade, certain cosmetic procedures such as tummy tucks, or abdominoplasty, have become vastly more popular. A major reason is society's acceptance of the tummy tuck, especially in women who have finished having children.
Tummy tucks can make a huge difference in a person's appearance and self-image. You can imagine the effect of being able to see one's belt again after many years, as well as being able to fit in new, slimmer clothes. As part of the procedure, most of the redundant fat around the waist is removed. The abdominal "six-pack" muscles (the rectus abdominis muscles), which may have been long-hidden by excess fatty tissue, are tightened as well. In some cases, a modest amount of liposuctioning to the sides of the hips (aka the flanks) is performed as well. This helps to smooth the curves of the tissues in the area, and can add to the slimming effect of the tummy tuck.
But with all of these benefits, there are risks as well. Tummy tucks are associated with the highest number of complications of any cosmetic surgical procedure. These can include blood clots in the legs, though this is rare. Also, females who decide to have a child after the surgery can stretch out the muscle repair and render it ineffective. The procedure takes two to three hours and does require anesthesia and a visit to the operating room.
Posted by Nirav Ashara in Top 5 Furniture Restoration Jobs You Should Leave to a Professional, Top 5s on Monday, June 29, 2009
Top 5 Furniture Restoration Jobs You Should Leave to a Professional
5. Wood Furniture
It's not uncommon for beginner do-it-yourselfers to make mistakes restoring wood furniture because many things can go wrong. You must use the right technique, clean with solvents, remove finishes, correctly identify the wood type, sand, match colors and more. Other things that make wood restoration projects tricky are physical strength demands on the laborer, the need for a number of tools, an ideal workspace with natural lighting, storage space if you don't complete it immediately and time (some finishes can take months to dry). Professionals stress that amateurs avoid restoring complex wood furniture such as items that are too heavy to lift, are missing parts or veneer, require upholstery removal, are valuable or have intricate carvings.
4. Ornate, Carved Pieces
Restoring wood furniture can be time-consuming and challenging, especially ornate carvings or intricately shaped features like Barley twist legs on a table. Mistakes made to ornate work can mean damage to the piece or compromising its design and value. According to Mitchell Kohanek with The National Institute of Wood Finishing, accurate restoration involves the understanding of organic chemistry and a mastery of wood-working and wood-finishing skills. It takes Kohanek nine months to prepare someone for a profession in the finishing of wood. He likens the work done by an amateur versus professional to an essay written by a high school student verses English graduate student.
3. Upholstered Gems
If an upholstered furniture piece is of sentimental or financial value to you, perhaps it's worth having restored, rather than trying to conserve original materials and rebuild it yourself. Why? You need about 20 tools to do the job, which can be expensive to rent or purchase. Also, the techniques employed are often tiring, difficult or lengthy. In fact, it's not unusual for the restoration of an upholstered chair to take about 18 hours to complete. There are many cumbersome steps involved, including stripping off old upholstery, cleaning framing and upholstery, repairing frames, finishing, replacing cushion fillings, applying trimming and more.
2. One-of-a-kind Antiques
A furniture piece must be at least 100 years old to qualify as an antique. Museum-quality items should always be restored by a professional. By refinishing common antiques at home, you risk making a mistake that can lower its value, damage the patina that gives it an old look and proves its age, overdo the restoration by replacing more than necessary, or harm the wood's aging process or finish. If you don't know what to look for, you can sand or scrape away desirable marks of age like small, concave grooves created by jack planes used a century ago or numbers chiseled into items in a furniture set to mark their order.
"No inexperienced person should try to restore antique furniture. Period," says Clinton Howell, a member of the National Antique and Art Dealers Association of America, "How many people feel that they could do as good a job defending themselves as their lawyer?"
1. Expensive Furniture
Expensive furniture is costly for a reason. Whatever the reason -- noteworthy design, exceptional durability of materials and construction or rarity in the marketplace -- restoration can also be pricey. So can mistakes. Steer clear of refinishing a costly furniture piece if you can't afford to buy a replacement that's identical or similar in quality if you botch the job. Consequences of an uncorrectable mistake can be hundreds of thousands of dollars. Also, if that piece is no longer for sale, or if it would be difficult to find (and you don't have the time or resources to track it down), consider turning it over to a professional for restoration.
Posted by Nirav Ashara in Top 5 Ways We'll Have Fun in 2050, Top 5s on Monday, June 8, 2009
Top 5 Ways We'll Have Fun in 2050
5: Bird Watching
While you may have hoped for some futuristic gossip in this article, you'll be very familiar with one activity: bird watching. In 1997, Newsweek published a list of outdoor activities and their expected rate of growth by 2050, and bird watching far outpaced the rest. In fact, back then, bird watching was estimated to grow faster than the projected population of the United States, with a growth rate of about 58 percent. By 2050, there may be as many as 127.8 million birders.
When bird enthusiasts spot a new find in the future, it will be a pretty big deal. That's because by 2050, the existence of about 400 to 900 species of land birds will be threatened thanks to climate change and habitat destruction. So if you relish in the excitement of a rare find, then you have lots of exciting opportunities to await you.
If you consider bird watching to be too much of a fuddy-duddy hobby, consider the fact that the population will be fairly elderly in 2050; in fact, seniors will make up a quarter of all Americans. There's a large number of baby boomers, and they're aging during a time in which we're discovering life-elongating technologies every day. With more years to fill, it may be time now to invest in a good pair of binoculars.
4: Jellyfish Restaurants
It's hard to imagine a time when friends and family won't meet up for a bite to eat, so of course we're including dining out on our list. However, don't plan on heading to a local steakhouse or burger joint. Because of factors including land use, population and water supply, the American diet will undergo some changes by 2050. We'll be eating a lot more grains and beans and a lot less meat and dairy. We'll still eat our veggies, of course, but we won't have the wide array to choose from that we enjoy today. Futurists estimate that about 15 percent of our diet will be from animal products, and the rest will be from plants; the United States as a whole may have to stop exporting food by 2025.
If a juicy burger isn't an option, where will those animal products come from? One possibility is that we'll eat more fish, but we certainly won't be eating the tuna and cod that we're accustomed to. According to reports published in the journal Science in 2006, commercial fish stocks could be completely decimated by 2050 because of overfishing and pollution. Our fishing throws aquatic ecosystems off balance in irreparable ways; for example, by fishing for tuna, marlin and swordfish, we eliminate the major predators of jellyfish. As a result, jellyfish numbers are increasing rapidly, which may mean that we'll have to develop a taste for jellyfish sushi. Jellyfish have been eaten for thousands of years in Asian countries, but its taste may require some getting used to -- one biology professor described it as "tough strips of cucumber". One slightly more palatable option we might have in 2050 is squid, which unfortunately are very high in cholesterol.
3: Robot Soccer Games
It's difficult to even comprehend all the ways we might interact with robots by 2050. It's possible that robots will be conducting routine surgeries or piloting our airplanes. They could be conducting search and rescue missions or fighting in wars. One researcher even predicts that by 2050, we could be having sex with and marrying robots.
But when it comes to having fun either now or in 2050, you'd be hard pressed to find a better way to spend a Saturday or Sunday than outside in the beautiful sun, enjoying a sporting event. What might change by 2050, though, is who's playing. Roboticists predict that by 2050, they will have developed autonomous robots that will be able to beat the best soccer players in the world. That's right, by 2050, we could see Robots vs. Humans in the contest for the World Cup. Now that will fill some bars and basements!
These robots won't just be wired with the steps for winning a soccer game. Rather, roboticists are working now to train robots how to play soccer by using human models. The robots are presented with data that shows how humans respond to a series of soccer plays, so that when the robot is presented with the same setups, they have choices in how to respond. These robots will be able to perceive the play and act accordingly. If you want a glimpse of the future, check out the RoboCup games, in which researchers test out their current "players" and share information with one another. So far, there are no robotic concession workers for these events.
2: Oral Storytelling
Currently, many of us spend our spare time using social media like Twitter and blogs, mediums that allow us to type up a quick message to let our friends know what we're doing. However, writing and reading those messages may not be how we communicate with our pals in the future. In fact, we may not read or write at all, a future that many dying newspapers are already confronting.
Futurist William Crossman believes that spoken language will replace written communication in the coming years, meaning that we won't need to teach children how to read and write, but rather how to use computers and think creatively [source: Naisbitt]. Crossman envisions a world in which we all use voice-in, voice-out (VIVO) computers. Everything we need to communicate will be handled by these machines. Rather than writing our memoirs, for example, we'd sit down in front of a webcam and tell our story. As the recent rise of reality television and YouTube superstars bears out, there are many people who would happily sit and watch a complete stranger spin a tale.
Crossman's future means that vast swaths of the population will be illiterate, but should those people need to read something, their computer could scan and read it to them. In some ways, this may make communication more democratic, and with the explosion in populations that are predicted, it may even be necessary. Computers would have instantaneous translation services, making it easier for an urban resident to connect with a rural resident a world away.
1: Virtual Reality Entertainment
Your flat-screen television may represent the epitome of entertainment right now, but by 2050, it will seem hopelessly outdated. In 2050, we'll likely demand that our entertainment not be contained by the screen -- we'll want to interact with it via virtual reality. Imagine playing a video game about World War II: You and your friends will have the option of hopping off the couch and storming the beaches of Normandy with everybody else. With this technology, your children will be able to interact with their favorite fuzzy friends by inviting them into the living room to dance around.
Entertainment won't be the only way we'll use virtual technology, however. Likely, we'll be able to meet up with friends and family around the world thanks to hologram technology. Let's say you have a business meeting with colleagues from New York, Seattle and Beijing -- all of you can meet up in one office to discuss the matter at hand. Long-distance relationships will become a little more manageable because of virtual visits, and all of your pals can show up to your destination wedding, no matter where they live.
Posted by Nirav Ashara in 5 Extravagant Car Amenities, Top 5s on Friday, May 29, 2009
5 Extravagant Car Amenities
5: Televisions
Granted, mini built-in TVs are becoming more and more common as backseat babysitters in minivans for families with impatient kids. But the TVs we're talking about are meant for adults with chauffeurs. The quality of these TVs might surmount those you have at home. Take Bentley's Arnage RL, which includes not one, but two 15-inch, flat-screen LCD televisions -- one built into the back of each front seat.
And what's a TV without something to watch? As if built-in DVD players weren't enough, Rolls Royce even offers broadcast TV via an antenna that picks up the local signal. Satellite radio company Sirius also started offering Sirius Backseat TV, a TV feed of various networks meant for viewing in the car.
4: Over-the-top Sound Systems
There's nothing like turning up the music in the car and rocking out to your favorite songs. But for some, this experience needs to be so powerful and high-quality that the minimum, factory-installed speakers are simply not enough. We've all been stopped at red lights next to a car equipped with a trunk full of speakers, exuding deafening bass and blasting music loudly enough to be heard hundreds of feet away in all directions.
But for those who want to keep the space in their backseats and trunks for groceries and suitcases instead of filling it with monolithic speakers, there are more luxurious options. Audi, for instance, offers a Bose surround sound system with 14 speakers, including a subwoofer. There's even a microphone that picks up on the noise level in the car so that it can automatically adjust the volume louder to compensate for background noise [source: Audi]. And, not to be outdone, Lincoln even started incorporating THX-certified (basically, movie-theater quality) audio systems in their luxury cars.
3: Expensive and Unique Paint Jobs
Every fashion-savvy woman knows that color-coordinating accessories are the key to a great ensemble. And, of course, well-chosen colors can express your personality. The same goes for your car. Those buying a 2009 Maybach 57 can request the color of the car to match a particular color of a purse, pair of shoes or just about anything else for nearly $20,450 on top of the price of the car.
Those with the money to get a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano might also be interested in coughing up a cool $22,000 for a red paint job. But this isn't just any red: it's an exclusive Rossa Monza paint of deep red known as Rossa Corsa.
Those looking for less sport but more splash might be interested in Volvo's C30, which comes in the special print of your choice. While the option is available only in Sweden right now, stylish drivers can select a protective appliqué film with their choice of several designs. Whether you choose zebra print, rainbow strips or some other pattern, it'll cost you around $3,150.
2: Liquor Cabinets
For those who can't wait until they get to the party to break out the champagne, many luxury cars come complete with coolers for chilling wine. The Bentley Arnage R includes a wine cooler behind the center armrest in the backseat. Some models include a custom wood veneer cocktail cabinet attached to the back of the front seat. One model includes in this cabinet a complete set of shot glasses and flask.
These luxury carmakers have thought of everything -- even what to do with the champagne flutes between sips. To solve this dilemma, Bentley provides a foldout table as well. Maybach, who includes electric wine coolers in some of its models and provides champagne flutes to boot, has specially designed cupholders for champagne flutes. We should note that these alcohol features are for the backseat exclusively, meant for those with enough money to hire a chauffeur to take care of the whole driving thing.
1: Massage and Climate-controlled Seats
Feeling stressed? Let the chauffeur take the wheel and you can relax in the reclining backseat. Still not relaxed enough? How about a shiatsu massage? N o, this amenity isn't a beautiful Japanese masseuse in person, but it's the next best thing. How does a reclining backseat with massage capabilities sound? The backseat of the Lexus LS 600h L includes the option of a shiatsu or a shoulder massage, capabilities built into seats that function like electric massage chairs.
Have you ever gotten up from a car seat and had to peel yourself off the hot stickiness? Or frozen to your leather seat on a wintry day? Leather, despite all its luxuriousness, hardly ever seems to be a comfortable temperature. The people over at Cadillac have crafted a solution to this conundrum that has plagued the pampered for generations. With perforated leather, the seats of the 2008 STS Cadillac-V are ventilated with channels through which air can move, preventing the chair from getting uncomfortably hot. The carmakers also incorporated heating units under that perforated leather for those cold days as well.
Posted by Nirav Ashara in 5 Great iPhone Apps, Top 5s on Wednesday, May 27, 2009
5 Great iPhone Apps
5: Music Making: iShred LE
iPods and iPhones were invented to play music, not make it. Many developers have tried to create apps to help you make music on the iPhone, with limited success. As a result, you can turn your iPhone into any number of musical instruments, including a cowbell, triangle, guitar and even an ocarina. Technically, these apps make music, but in most cases, it's not something you'd want to send off to a recording company in search of a contract. There is one app, however, that could actually make this possible. Well, almost.
iShred LE takes iPhone guitar apps to new levels of reality and utility. Even the best guitar player will appreciate the breadth of sound options available. What truly sets iShred LE apart, however, is that the developers designed the interface so you play it the way the iPhone works. Strum or pick out a tune with one finger and play chords using a series of buttons above the digital fret board. They didn't duplicate a guitar for the iPhone, they created a guitar for the iPhone.
The app uses actual guitar sound samples and passes them through your choice of eight effects pedals and a simulated amplifier. Play with the effects pedals to your heart's content, or choose from several pre-set styles including Heavy Metal, Psychedelic 60s, Surf's Up, Area 51 and New Waver.
For even more capabilities, you can move up to an enhanced version that allows you to create your own chords, select an actual model of amplifier, use multiple effects and more. The fact is, there's a guitar superstar lurking in almost everyone. iShred LE is a fun way to set yours free.
4: Reading: Stanza
Digital reading devices have been around for a long time, but they never really caught on until Amazon introduced the Kindle. This device downloads books from a selection of thousands and displays them in a readable, clean interface. There's a Kindle app for the iPhone and it works extremely well. But, there's another reading program that has legions of dedicated users, can be downloaded for free and includes access to thousands of classic book titles at no charge. This may explain why this application was recently acquired by Amazon.com.
Stanza makes reading on your iPhone easy. While there is nothing the app can do to make the screen larger, the interface gets the most readability out of the space available. You may find that, once you read a few pages and begin getting involved in the book, you completely forget about screen size.
Stanza provides access to more than 50,000 titles for purchase from the Fictionwise eReader store. Prepare to be amazed by the number of books, newspapers and publications available for free. In addition, more than 50,000 items can also be downloaded at no cost from Project Gutenberg, Feedbooks and other sources. A particular favorite is a site called "Now a Major Motion Picture!" Here you'll find dozens of free books that became popular movies.
Install Stanza, download a bunch of good books and curl up with your iPhone.
3: Social Networking: Twitterfon
When it comes to social networking, Twitter is one of the hottest sites around, and has become the online home for celebrities, politicians, sports figures and lots of folks like you and me.
Twitter is a simple concept. The key element of the site is the "tweet," a 140-character answer to the question "what are you doing?" If you care about what a certain person (tweeter?) is up to, you can follow them with a single click. It's a simple and fast way to keep up to date with friends, stars and even the White House.
Twitterfon is an easy to use app that enables you to read other people's tweets and send your own. It includes support for all major Twitter features, such as links and direct messaging. Using the iPhone as a Twitter machine somehow seems right, given the simplicity and speed of the site itself. Launch Twitterfon and see the latest entries instantly. Oh, and did we mention Twitterfon is free?
2: Relaxing: Karma Art
Let's say you've got some time to kill, or things are getting a bit tense. Imagine if your iPhone could help you relax and pass the time. And, you could create something fun to send a friend or your significant other. That's what Karma Art is all about. It's simple, fun and won't tax your tired brain. Not even a little.
Begin by choosing from eight background textures, and then add elements from categories such as transportation, people, animals, scenery, clouds and more. The developer promises many more design elements in future releases.
You can resize and move the design elements to your heart's desire. When you tilt the phone, the image automatically adjusts from portrait to landscape mode. Finally, pop up the on-screen keyboard, add a special message, save your artwork and e-mail it to someone important.
It's fun, it's easy and you don't have to know how to draw. Nice.
1: Reference: The World Factbook '09
What would take an iPhone app from release to number one in less than a week? How about the opportunity to have the world at your fingertips, or the chance to impress your friends with interesting information about Auckland, or a quick satellite view of Gabon? The World Factbook '09 shot up Apple's most popular paid application rankings fast, because it seemingly puts the whole world in your hands.
With detailed information on more than 250 countries and territories, you're sure to discover something interesting every time you launch the app. In addition to the basic information you would expect, such as population, imports/exports and land mass, the World Factbook '09 includes political information, military issues and up-to-date details on specific areas of the world whose status has not been resolved, such as the Middle East.
By linking directly with Google Maps, World Factbook '09 allows you view satellite images and maps of specific areas of interest in any country. This is a great app to have on hand when you're watching the news. And free updates are included, so you'll always have the latest facts on hand.
Posted by Nirav Ashara in 5 Most Popular Honeymoon Spots in the World, Top 5s on Wednesday, May 6, 2009
5 Most Popular Honeymoon Spots in the World
5. Greece
If you want beautiful blue skies and sandy beaches, but crave a little history as well, then look no further than Greece for your honeymoon destination. Warm summers and mild winters combined with an average yearly rainfall of only 55 inches (1.39 meters) in Athens have made Greece a very popular choice for beachcombers who have been to the Caribbean one too many times [source: Greeka.com]. While you're there, you can book boat trips and overnight stays to some of the Greek Islands like Crete or Mykonos, or tour historic Athens, home t
o the Roman Forum and the Acropolis. Even if you aren't into sports, you'll probably appreciate touring Olympia, site of the first Olympic Games.
If you're into a more adventuresome trip, arrange for an ecotour. Biking and hiking trips are popular excursions, as is rock climbing. For a more relaxed activity, try a wine tour or take in some bird-watching. Greece is home to 11 wetlands and 190 bird-watching areas [source: Destination360.com]. If you want a more traditional trip and the ultimate in relaxation, you can still rent beach villas that are remote and far enough away from the tour buses and crowded beaches that you'll feel like you're in your own private world.
Mexico is a popular honeymoon spot for many Americans because of its proximity to the United States and the value it offers. Because of the location, plane flights to most destinations in Mexico can be had on the cheap with some advanced preparation. One advantage of a honeymoon is that it's usually planned out months in advance so you can take advantage of the best fairs. Mexico has some of the most popular resorts in Central America, so if your goal is to lie around by the pool or on the beach without lifting a finger, then it's a good option to explore.
Americans also get a good value for their dollar in Mexico. There are expensive resorts in areas like Cabo San Lucas and Cancun, but you can also get off the beaten path in Tulum and stay in an eco-resort. Some of these eco-villages house honeymooners in small thatch huts with electricity only available during certain hours of the day. That may sound like roughing it for some, but in return, you get secluded lodgings with the ocean's waves practically lapping at your screen door. Many of these eco-esorts also offer beach massages and excursions to swim in the warm springs or snorkel in some of Mexico's amazing cenotes -- underwater sinkholes popular with divers. Mexico is a varied country, so you can hit the beach, visit the interior jungles and mountains or if you want some nightlife, venture into Mexico City. The country's capital city has five-star luxury accommodations, some of the best food on Earth and plenty of history to take in.
3. Tahiti
Nothing says luxury and relaxation quite like French Polynesia. During the dry season, which runs from April to September, you'll encounter temperatures between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit (20 and 28 Celsius), and it's unlikely you'll see much rain [source: Tahiti.com]. This makes Tahiti an ideal spot for honeymooners who want to enjoy maximum beach time. Like Greece, there are many surrounding islands if you want to plan an overnight boating trip. Bora Bora's famous lagoon is home to some of the best snorkeling in the world.
One reason Tahiti is such a great destination for honeymooners is that it's just far enough off the beaten path to make it less crowded than some of its island counterparts. Consider this -roughly 4.5 million tourists flock to the Hawaiian Islands each year, compared to a scant 200,000 in French Polynesia [source: Tahiti.net]. Tahitians are French citizens, with both French and Tahitian being spoken on the islands. Don't worry, though. Tourism accounts for about one-uarter of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), so you can bet you'll hear plenty of English. If you go to Tahiti, you can most likely use your American dollar, or you can exchange it for the French Pacific Franc (CFP), which has a fixed-exchange rate with the Euro of 119.33 CFP. The exchange rate for the U.S. dollar varies, and as of April 2009 was 89 CFP per one dollar.
2. Hawaii
Even before Hawaii was voted in as the 50th U.S. state in 1959, it was a popular vacation spot for regular folks and honeymooners alike. It held down the top spot in the Modern Brides magazine honeymoon destination poll for a solid decade until being unseeded in 2008. There are hundreds of islands that make up Hawaii over a 1,500-mile (2,400-kilometer) span in the Pacific Ocean, but the most popular three islands are Hawaii (The Big Island), O'ahu and Maui. Hawaii is home to a diverse ecosystem of jungles, mountains and beaches [source: 50states.com]. Like many of its island counterparts, you can have whatever kind of honeymoon you want in Hawaii. Luxurious resorts and beach villas can ensure five-star lodging and dining, or you can get off the tourist trail and rough it in an eco-resort.
Hawaii is also a great place to try out your more adventuresome side. Mountain biking, hiking, sea kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving, parasailing and volcano tours are just a few of the more popular excursions you can take part in on all of the islands. Hawaii is also home to some of the more scenic golf courses in the world, so both husband and wife can hit the links. And no honeymoon in Hawaii would be complete without attending a luau, a traditional Polynesian feast consisting of dance, Polynesian music and plenty of pork, poi and sweet potatoes -- just a few traditional Hawaiian dishes.
1. Italy
As the popular Dean Martin song goes, "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore." Honeymooners eager to take in some of Europe's finest offerings need not look further than Italy. It's got a little something for everyone -- great food, wine, culture, nightlife, romance and history. Italy has enough cities of interest to merit a full few weeks to travel around, if time and your budget permits. You can start in Rome, site of the Colosseum, Spanish Steps, the Vatican and the Trevi Fountain. What's more romantic for a newly-wedded couple than casting a coin and wish into the same fountain that Audrey Hepburn did in the classic film "Roman Holiday"? But that's just one of more than 300 fountains in Rome [source: Independent.ie].
If you really want romance, head up to Venice and take a canal ride in a gondola or tour the cobblestone streets and take in the architecture. If you or your bride is a fashionista, you may want to check out the shopping in Milan. If you want to get off the road most traveled, take the time to head south to the island of Sicily where you can stay in converted farmhouses and eat food that went from garden to table in a matter of hours. Tuscany is another good bet for honeymooners looking for some privacy in a stay at a secluded mountain villa. Art lovers can't beat the museums of Florence, and you're guaranteed to get great food and wine anywhere you travel across Italy. The people of Italy are warm and welcoming -- just one of the many reasons it stands as the number one honeymoon spot.