Fake Reviewers Caught

Ever see a review that sounds too good to be true? Over the years, I have come across quite a few of these. Unless you are Mr. Wiffle or Flo the Progressive Insurance spokeswoman, it is hard to find people that enthusiastic in the real world. In a major crackdown, Amazon is now suing users that were paid to place positive reviews on their site. The culprits evaded detection by using different accounts and IP addresses. While Amazon claims to have found roughly 1,000 such reviewers, they are not alone. Yelp and TripAdvisor have also discovered fake reviewers. In fact, virtually all sites that allow reviews at some point or another find they have the same problem.

Unless we are talking about an exceptional cause like the AbilityOne program or green / biobased alternatives, few people will be so thoughtful as to write a review. Even with biobased or green alternatives, I cannot recall anyone ever bothering to give us a recommendation after making such a purchase. The person may be a strong advocate for utilizing biobased solutions or helping people with major disabilities but you are lucky just to get the sale let alone a review.

Most products are simply not that interesting. While it may not come as a surprise that a toilet paper or #2 pencil review is fake, many people do not realize that it isn't illegal (at least yet) for a product reviewing service to sell "legitimate reviews" to different sites that sell those products. Although technically not illegal, to me this is a little deceptive because it may give the impression the product was sold by a different party. Moreover, when someone does actually bother to write a review, many site owners would prefer to give the person the benefit of the doubt. Small companies do not have the resources to properly vet each review and big companies may only make a token effort to protect their reputations. Ultimately, it is up to the consumer to use proper judgement as no computer program will catch everything and disclaimers provide a convenient scapegoat to circumvent corporate liability.

Why are we Still Wasting Helium?

Helium may be greatly abundant throughout the universe but we have a very limited supply here on Earth. Why is this so important? Helium is crucial for medical devices like MRI machines and has no real substitute when it comes to certain industrial, medical and military applications. Once it is gone that is it and yet we still allow airships, blimps, floats and party balloons like it was as abundant as the grass in our yards. One day it will be gone and we'll look back at how wasteful we were.

Unlike hydrogen, helium is a noble gas meaning its inert properties make it stable and ideal for scientific research. While it may be fun to see how it affects our voices, there is no practical way to produce the element in a laboratory environment. Helium is normally produced through the nuclear reactions that occur in stars. When two hydrogen atoms collide at super high speed and pressure, nuclear fusion occurs and we get helium. Although a nuclear fusion reactor can produce the element, it always takes more energy to produce than what we get out of it. Moreover, it is extremely expensive to extract helium from air in the trace amounts that are available as opposed to hydrogen which can be stripped from H²O.

On a recent The Big Bang Theory episode, Leonard and Sheldon mirror the reality of the situation as they cannot prove their theory with a liquid helium shortage. When liquefied, helium produces the coolest temperature of any element (-452.2 degrees Fahrenheit) making it ideal for scientific and medical applications. Every time I see a blimp now or my neighbor buying helium filled balloons, I truly cringe. In a world where anything can be bought for the right price, I guess this should not surprise me. Nevertheless, the days of the Goodyear Blimp may very well soon come to an end.

Learn more about the science behind our world and other human interest stories at http://roberthaskell.blogspot.com/.

Dangers of Chiropractors

There once was a time I believed in going to chiropractors regularly. My views on this practice evolved after a documentary on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) hosted by Alan Alda aired in which ex-chiropractor John Badanes discussed why he changed his profession. On the show Scientific American Frontiers, Badanes claimed roughly 400 people a year ended up paralyzed after visiting chiropractors. Alarmed, I asked my chiropractor about the statistic. Although she did not dispute the claim, she did say there are many kinds of chiropractors and that injuries often result from hacks with no real medical training claiming they can fix back problems. Unfortunately, there are still plenty of documented cases where well experienced chiropractors also have had their mishaps.

Case in point, a friend of a friend became temporarily paralyzed after a chiropractor messaged his back. As it turns out, he messaged broken bone fragments into his muscles. To be fair, most chiropractors will insist on an x-ray before beginning treatment. A caveat must be noted though because many of those same chiropractors will often make a judgment call and skip the x-ray for existing clients. This happened to me once and I ended up far worse after the visit. If the injury is really due to nothing but inflamed tissue, sometimes the treatment will irritate the nerves even more. A conventional doctor would likely take an x-ray and prescribe a muscle relaxant and cold compress. In many cases, an over-the-counter drug such as an Ibuprofen would do the trick. Heating pads as I learned the hard way must be used with extreme precaution because the heat can cause greater inflammation of the nerves.

John Badanes also notes that many of the reasons why people go to chiropractors are based on false premises. For starters, the notion that the popping sound you hear is produced by bones moving back into alignment is incorrect. If this were true, you would literally fall apart. The bones move no more here than when a person cracks his or her knuckles. Likewise, in side by side x-rays where one scan depicts a spinal curvature and the other does not, he remarked there is no evidence that the person with the curvature cannot lead just as good of a life as the person without it.

Badanes is not alone in his criticism of chiropractors. Physician Robert S. Baratz asserts that the neck manipulations often performed in such treatment may lead to increased stroke risk. "Rapid torque applied to a kinked blood vessel stretched over a bony prominence can cause a tear in the innermost lining layer of the vessel. Once this lining is disrupted the underlying connective tissue (collagen) is exposed. Exposed collagen causes platelets to stick. When the platelets stick they begin the process of forming a clot. The clot can then propagate. It can also break off and travel, causing a stroke when it eventually reaches and blocks a smaller branch of the vascular tree in the brain. The percentages of people who saw chiropractors that had a stroke were higher for their age group than the people who never saw a chiropractor." While some medical professionals claim the dangers of chiropractic therapy are overstated, the evidence of increased stroke risk and paralysis is hard to dispute.

Note: The author of this post is not a doctor and makes no claim to be an expert on health related issues. Views expressed here and in other posts on this blog are merely the opinions of the author. Always check with your doctor before making any decisions concerning your health.

Beware of Store Closing Sales

Recently, the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (a.k.a., A&P) declared bankruptcy and the closing of its remaining stores. Outside the retail outlet, "Store Closing" banners entice people that never even shopped there before. The implication is clear; this is a great opportunity to save on many common household goods or is it? Naturally like many people, I thought I would save but the prices on the shelves told a very different story.

What many people do not realize is that few retail outlets normally sell their products at the full M.S.R.P. (manufacturer's suggested retail price). If they did not offer some form of discount, they would be out of business. Sure A&P is on its way out but they survived since 1859! Not many businesses have had that much longevity so they must have been doing something right before ShopRite, Whole Foods, Costco and others overtook them. Product discounts vary greatly by product type. Bananas and other produce may be offered at a nice discount because they are perishable but products that have a long shelf life may be listed for significantly less. Ever notice two for one sales? If the item is perishable, it pays to check the expiration date as it is not uncommon to find such products sold near their expiration. Even if the product will likely not go bad for several days after the expiration, if it is unlikely you will use that product before it expires, it is probably not such a good deal. Likewise, if the store normally offers yogurt at 30% off, you may actually find yourself paying more for the same item in a store liquidation sale as few people will even realize the discount was more before the sale! Ten percent is not much of a discount and if they increase the list price as well, you may find yourself really paying through the nose!

While A&P of course did provide some higher discounts at its store closing event, the average discount saved was actually less than their membership card previously offered from my experience. Somehow the decimal moved so that instead of saving several dollars on many items, now it appears the average was more in pennies. Worse yet, they did not even total how much you saved because they know it is minuscule. At OfficeSalesUSA.com, we offer some products as high as 70% off on just our normal pricing. The average discount may be far less but it is extremely unusual for anything to be sold at the full M.S.R.P. let alone above this. Yes buyer beware as the price you pay for not understanding how the retail world works may leave you short in cash just when you thought you were being smart taking advantage of a store closing event.

New Hope for Diabetics

I know I'm not alone when I say the thought of taking any kind of daily injection is a terrifying prospect. For insulin dependent diabetics, this is a fact of life. With type II diabetes, losing weight may actually eliminate such need. However, in the case of type I diabetes, the immune system attacks its own insulin producing cells making the situation even more precarious. Pills may help some people but the longer a person relies on them, the more likely that individual will need injections later. Likewise, pumps that deliver insulin without needles also have their disadvantages. In theory, they are painless but if you hit a bone, the pain can be far worse than a needle.

Several new alternatives provide hope for individuals living with insulin dependence. Edible wafers that rest on the inner cheek of the mouth allows insulin to be quickly absorbed by the body via tiny blood vessels known as capillaries. Even more amazing is the fact that insulin is actually absorbed faster than an injection. Unlike pills that must go through the digestive system, the wafers actually go directly to the source. So far the only downside discovered is that it may take a higher dose to ensure enough insulin makes it to where it is needed. Nevertheless, it sure beats being a human pin cushion!

Another great idea being tested is stem cell research. With the capacity to mold themselves into any kind of cell, stem cells really are the fountain of youth. We could treat the condition or we can repair it. Stem cells are thus in a class by themselves. Although more research needs to be conducted, a breakthrough here could actually solve an endless number of ailments.

In Israel, they have also developed a device that can detect the amount of glucose level in the body through a noninvasive sensor that does not require any form of skin penetration. The device uses optical sensors to measure changes in skin color as opposed to traditional finger prick methods. The product is available in Europe but will require a human trial here before it is allowed.

Certainly these are not the only breakthroughs in diabetes research but they are groundbreaking and offer the possibility that maybe someday needless will become a thing of the past. Until then, no need to despair as many researchers have double incentive to find a cure because they themselves are diabetics too.

See more human interest and health news articles at http://roberthaskell.blogspot.com/. Making the everyday not so ordinary!

Improper Glove Removal Causing Contamination

Ever get frustrated trying to remove latex gloves? Just getting them on can be quite a chore but removing them properly is essential to avoid cross contamination. In a recent study conducted by Dr. Curtis J. Donskey of the Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, medical practitioners were up to 60% likely to contaminate their skin and clothing after improperly removing examination gloves. However, when given proper direction on how to remove the exam gloves and surgical gear, only 19% failed to prevent cross contamination.

Better medical training facilities teach how to properly remove examination gloves and surgical equipment. Somehow, the message is not always getting through. Buying powdered gloves may help as they are easier to put on and remove but some people have allergies or prefer non-powdered gloves. Regardless of personal preference, following protocol is a must and failure to follow guidelines completely defeats the purpose of even wearing gloves.

Microsoft Spying on You

Microsoft is up to their old tricks again. As reported by Forbes, the company is automatically installing tracking software on Windows 7 and Windows 8 devices. By re-branding certain updates as critical, computers that automatically receive system critical updates for security purposes fall trap to this scheme.

Over the years, Microsoft has tried many tricks to maintain its market share around the home and office including even downloading Windows 10 installs without permission. Each time they lower themselves this way, they invite distrust among their loyal following. If my computer was not loaded with Windows-based software I need everyday for the job, I would think twice before buying another PC.

Is Microsoft Dead?

With Windows 10 now installed on 110 million devices, the company is hardly down for the count. Their strategy to offer Windows 10 as a free upgrade to most Windows 7 and 8 users has clearly paid off ensuring that Microsoft will continue to be a major player in the future. Microsoft also just released its first laptop. Whether it can successfully market laptops against an ever competitive field that includes not only Windows-based devices but also ultra-affordable options like Chromebook and higher end Apple products remains to be seen. Nevertheless, Microsoft is aggressively pushing tablets, phones and Xbox to cover its bases. Although the ride with Microsoft has been bumpy at times, the company continues to innovate and no effort this large will likely go unrewarded.

Discrepancies in Weather Models

With conflicting weather models showing very different trajectories for Hurricane Joaquin last week, many people were understandably confused. Knowing the European model is typically more accurate, I assumed the storm would go out to sea. In the meantime, business was slow as many people stayed home. Although indirect affects of the hurricane did reach shores and mixed with a nor'easter to produce historic flooding in some areas, the European model still proved correct. So why is the European model better than ours? It all comes down to investment.

If anything, you would think the United States with all its hurricanes and tornadoes would have the best system. The U.S. does upgrade its hardware from time to time to ensure it has the necessary computing power but there is much more to producing accurate weather forecasts than supercomputers. Europe spends more on the logistical end driving its models and the role of software engineers is thus paramount to a reliable forecast. Nevertheless, as with the LCH (Large Hadron Collider), Europe invested well in science and America has a way still to catch up.

When asked about the discrepancy in weather models and which is superior, I was surprised to see a local news source actually downplay somewhat Europe's model. Are we so egotistical that we cannot accept the possibility that Europe is clearly ahead in certain regards? I'm as patriotic as the next person but the reality is we are not making the investment in science that we should and the human cost we pay could very easily make the difference in life or death for those who choose to follow the wrong model.

See Also:

Discover more human interest articles on home, business, science, technology, health, humor, etc. at http://roberthaskell.blogspot.com/.

Flatscreens Falling on Kids

Yes watching television can be hazardous to your health. Today's lightweight screens are inherently unstable and have been known to cause many accidents. As the Examiner notes, "Between 2011 and 2013 more than 15,000 kids a year were treated for injuries involving TVs or TVs and furniture in the nation’s hospital emergency rooms." This number does not even include all the accidents involving adults. So how can this be avoided? Teaching your kids not to climb on furniture can reduce some injuries but that alone is not enough. The #1 reason why TVs fall is collision. Climbing is the second most common reason. In addition, accidentally pulling cables is often cited along with tipping hazards.

Another issue often not considered is how well secured wall TVs are. The average household contains numerous code violations from do-it-yourself armatures. Wall brackets must be properly secured in studs using the correct mounting brackets and recommended screws for the load. Not following this advice can cost you greatly. No home is ever 100 percent safe but one can never assume that the unlikelihood of an event occurring is just cause for ignoring known hazards.

How Can we Reduce Drug Costs?

Recent outrage by a pharmaceutical company that sent the price of an important medication through the roof has sparked debate on everything that is wrong with this industry. "The price of Daraprim, a drug used to treat a life-threatening parasitic infection, increases from $US13.50 per tablet to $US750, after being acquired by a start-up ...". Outraged, many people are asking, how can they get away with this and what can be done to stop it? For starters, lobbyists have successfully blocked most attempts to regulate this industry. To complicate matters more, it costs so much just to develop and test a new drug that the incentive is not there unless consumer prices are raised. According to the California Biomedical Research Association, "On average, it will cost a company $359 million to develop a new drug from the research lab to the patient." Then there is always that sticky little matter of lawyers. With class action lawsuits sometimes costing billions of dollars, high risks demand greater rewards.

Given the situation, how can we actually reduce the costs of pharmaceutical drugs? Certainly some limits should be set on the amounts that can be asked in class action lawsuits but this alone is not enough. Why does it cost so much to develop new drugs? Much of the cost actually occurs during the human testing phase. To even be considered, the drug company must raise hundreds of millions of dollars. For this reason, many good medications never even make it this far even after they have been developed. Fear of litigation has set the bar so high that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has to be strict. Some would argue innovation has been stifled because standards are set too high. In their defense, the FDA has been criticized for being wrong in the past letting some medications with dangerous side effects slip through the cracks. Personally, I think the whole system is at fault. Human drug trial costs are excessively high and could probably be reduced if overzealous mandates were eased. This does not excuse inefficiency, wasteful spending, greedy investors or improper testing but unless a coordinated effort is made to both reduce development costs and corporate liabilities, the likelihood is that no real progress will be made.

Find more health related articles on this blog and our company website OfficeSalesUSA.com.

Is America's Nuclear Deterrent Obsolete?

During the Cold War, the United States rigorously maintained its nuclear arsenal. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, some have argued the need for such weapons is no longer justified. Recent actions by the Russian Federation call into question this reasoning. Increasingly, Russia has been building up its military at an alarming pace. The United States may still spend more than all other countries combined on military defense but are we really putting that spending into the right areas?

Today, satellite technology makes it possible to target the exact locations of our nuclear missile silos and history has shown that nothing remains secret very long so if any are still hidden, their positions may have already been discovered. Moreover, tactical nuclear weapons can penetrate deep below the surface suggesting that anything stationary is vulnerable. In contrast, Russia moves its ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles) regularly to prevent an enemy from taking out its defenses in an attack. With Vladimir Putin recently commenting that he could potentially destroy the United States in a half hour, there would be no time to respond if they waged a preeminent attack on our missile defenses. This leaves only our nuclear submarines, international bases and remnants of undestroyed local capabilities as our only deterrents. Would 12 nuclear powered submarines equipped with multiple warheads on each missile be sufficient against Russia's less updated but vastly superior in number submarines and newer subs capable of attacking even aircrafts? Even more disturbing is that Russia is now building drones to attack our subs. This should be a wake up call to our president and congress but do they really understand how vulnerable we are? Hopefully someone out there reading this could suggest something I'm missing because right now, I'm not feeling very comfortable about our defenses.

See Also: Similar articles listed on http://roberthaskell.blogspot.com/.

Household Pesticides Linked to Childhood Cancers

It was a hot summer day back in the 90's when we found large ants invading our home. Our family abandoned ship and headed for the shore house. An exterminator took care of the problem but when we returned, the house had a horrendous pesticide smell for two weeks! Having already lost a sister due to cancer, the safety of my godchild living with us was a great concern. The exterminator assured us though that the insecticide was safe for humans. A new study now calls into question just how safe these indoor pesticides really are.

According to the New York Times blog, "Exposure to indoor, but not outdoor, residential insecticides was associated with a 47 percent increased risk for childhood leukemia and a 43 percent increased risk for childhood lymphomas". In addition, outdoor weed killers resulted in a 26% increased risk of brain tumors. Although the study was limited to a small data set, the research though not fully scientific is alarming. People living with extreme disabilities in particular already have enough problems and do not need anything else working against them. Just how much industry lobbyists are able to bypass medical concerns is not clear but I know spraying anything inside my home deemed poisonous is not something I would ever want around a pet let alone an infant if I felt I had a choice.

Vitamin D Deficiency Greatly Increases Cognitive Function Decline

Yes your mother was right! Milk really is that important and if you can't bear it, perhaps a product made from milk or other Vitamin D source would be in order. Joint research conducted at the University of California-Davis and Rutgers University found that people with Vitamin D deficiency declined three times faster than people without the deficiency. So what does this mean for people who are lactose intolerant or prefer milk substitutes in their coffee like Silk?

According to Spokeswomen/Author Kathy Freston, an "8-ounce serving [of Silk] contains 45 percent of the daily recommended value of calcium and at least 25 percent of the daily recommended value of Vitamin D". Hmm, that still leaves 75 percent of the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances) unaccounted for. A multivitamin would be cheap insurance provided the body can metabolize it completely. If not, Silk and other alternative Vitamin D sources are probably a good bet. Examples of other sources of Vitamin D include:

• fish oils and fatty fish
• egg yolks
• cheese
• beef liver
• some mushrooms
• sunlight

It should be noted that certain Vitamin D sources like beef liver and mushrooms may not contain sufficient quantities of Vitamin D. If you are lactose intolerant, have food allergies or have other medical conditions or concerns, be sure to speak with your doctor or a qualified nutritionist.

In addition to cognitive decline, Vitamin D has been linked to other serious ailments. According to thehealthyhomeeconomist.com "Vitamin D deficiency is strongly related to the development of diabetes, autism, psoriasis, tuberculosis, osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease and cancer, even hypertension and psoriasis." While some of this like the autism link might be controversial, it is clear that Vitamin D is certainly a nutrient we cannot live without and any nutritional deficiency has potential for grave consequences.

Lesson that Should be Learned from HP Failure

Once again, Hewlett-Packard has announced plans to cut another 33,300 jobs over the next three years in addition to the previous 55,000 layoffs already taking place. What does this say about the industry and are there any lessons that should be learned?

Both Apple and Microsoft continue to dominate in their respective niches. In addition, Google's Android operating system though free is challenging both companies for market share. In response, Hewlett-Packard has tried multiple strategies including the marketing of its own operating system HP ThinPro. The Linux based OS may lessen HP's dependence on Windows but once again, a tech company missed a crucial point that could have set them apart. Virtually all computing devices have one significant disadvantage; they all rely on bloated operating systems that waste battery life maintaining. While wireless / Bluetooth can make charging less painful, the need to constantly stop and recharge is extremely annoying and inconvenient to say the least.

If most people use only a tiny fraction of the capabilities of an operating system, why are these operating systems overloaded with features that can be downloaded as separate apps? HP's ThinPro may seem less overburdened in this respect but truthfully, anything that relies on Linux is bloatware in my opinion. In the old days, an operating system could fit on a single floppy. If the code is truly optimized, the constant need to defend against attacks on what proportionally amounts to the Great Wall of China would be diminished and users could enjoy their devices longer without interruption. Until someone is able to both develop and successfully market such an OS, consumers will be forced to bear the burden of a vicious cycle of constant security updates and background processes made worse by an enormous operating system that may actually be working more against users than for them.

For ideas on how to create an ergonomic work environment for your business, please visit OfficeSalesUSA.com. We enjoy interacting with our customers and are always just a call or click away.

So Much for "Climate Change"

First it was "global warming". Then when that didn't pan out "global warming" became "climate change". This safer argument claims man's actions are responsible for more severe whether. Unfortunately for its proponents, now comes this news:

"This is the first September 12 without a major cyclone since 1977, says Philip Klotzbach, a meteorologist at Colorado State University in Fort Collins."

source: https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-ticker/earth-just-had-its-first-storm-free-hurricane-peak-38-years?tgt=nr

Also interesting to point out is that we now have a lot more storm monitoring sites and more accurate temperature and atmospheric readings. Today, weather extremes tend to be reported much more and few weather anomalies go unreported. That was not always the case in the past. Basically what this means is that older monitoring systems were less accurate and occasionally excluded important data. The result, even if a person is not deliberately trying to skew the data now, the potential for misinterpreting and overestimating various climate factors remains well within the margin of error thus suggesting the real story is that what we are experiencing is actually far more normal than the media typically presents.

Is an Aspirin Regiment Really Advisable?

For years, doctors have been telling us that a daily regiment of Aspirin can reduce the likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke. New evidence casts doubt on its effectiveness for some people and the risks may not outweigh the benefits.

It is no secret that Aspirin can cause stomach bleeding and even bleeding in the brain. Yow! Despite these risks, doctors still promote Aspirin as one of the few healthcare supplies that if taken as directed can potentially save your life. While evidence of less chance of having a coronary issue may exist between the ages of 50 to 59, after that, the benefits are reduced. At what point does the reduction in benefits become less worth the risk exactly? This is not clear but I've never been crazy about the idea of taking any medication that can cause internal bleeding. However, these days, they put everything on the label except your last rites!

Cisco Router Attacks

If you own a Cisco router, pay close attention. Implanted software in Cisco routers emulates normal router functions while covertly spying on networks. The effected Cisco made routers are models 1841, 2811 and 3825. Only a handful of countries have the capability to wage such attacks including China, Russia, Britain, Israel and the United States. This is particularly troubling since routers tend to be beyond the threshold of most firewall and virus detection software. Once infected, even routers made by other manufacturers can potentially be infected. Read more at http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/15/us-cybersecurity-routers-cisco-systems-idUSKCN0RF0N420150915

Hazardous Unmarked Speed Bumps

A very disturbing trend occurring in some areas are covert speed bumps. These unmarked protrusions that appear as nothing more than raised asphalt a few inches high with no paint warnings or signs may technically not be speed bumps as they are small but they are extremely dangerous to motorcyclists and hazards to other vehicles. On a road with a 50 mile an hour speed limit like Route 70 in NJ, this could mean death for some and yet the state somehow believes it's okay to place these by traffic lights. Since there is a good chance the vehicle may have a green light, one cannot assume a slow approach. I'd call the town but they always say it's not their road. Calling the state is even more futile. I guess not enough people were seriously injured or killed by the obstacles to warrant more intelligent road planning.

Microsoft Forcing Windows 10 Downloads

Without consent, Microsoft has allegedly been downloading Windows 10 upgrades on many computers. If true, that would take a great deal of audacity especially considering how big the download is. Compressed, Windows 10 is over 3 gigabytes! Although it downloads in the background, the potential for slowing a computer down is certainly there. The claim is that a folder called $Windows.~BT occupying 6 gigabytes of storage has been appearing on many machines even if they chose not to download the update. According to the Inquirer, a Microsoft spokesman was quoted as saying:

"For individuals who have chosen to receive automatic updates through Windows Update, we help upgradable devices get ready for Windows 10 by downloading the files they’ll need if they decide to upgrade. When the upgrade is ready, the customer will be prompted to install Windows 10 on the device."

Source: http://betanews.com/2015/09/10/microsoft-forcibly-downloads-windows-10-whether-you-want-it-or-not/

Haskell New York Inc. could not independently verify this claim.

See Also: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/analysis/2425886/windows-10-updategate-microsoft-stays-tightlipped-as-the-world-rages

Donald Trump the Invincible

"The Donald" has done it again calling Ben Carson an "okay doctor" and exclaiming he's so low key that "...frankly, he makes [Jeb Bush] look like the Energizer Bunny". But didn't he attach two heads or something? In a recent Rolling Stone interview, Trump also insinuated that Carly Fiorina was unelectable because of her appearance. So I guess that rules out his beauty pageants also? Despite all this and more, Trump continues to rise in the poles. How could this possibly be? Even getting caught outright contradicting himself  does not seem to slow his progress and if anything, he seems to be gaining in certain key demographics but why?

After remarking that the Bible was his favorite book, some have criticized Donald Trump claiming he could not even site a single collection in the work. In all fairness, they didn't go into all that detail in the Charlton Heston movie. He lies, dances around issues and somehow always seems to come out on top. So what could be driving his success? A large number of republicans, independents and crossover democrats are looking for a strong leader that can't be bought and is shrewd enough to get the job done. People have already factored in the type of person Trump is and they may even get offended at times but at the end of the day, there are always some redeeming qualities about his candidacy that set him apart.

Poles also show an uptick in enthusiasm for Ben Carson's campaign but Washington is tough and being low keyed is probably not an asset. Likewise, Carly Fiorina's time at Hewlett Packard calls into question her business sense. What's different about Trump is that he's unscrupulous, knows how to control people and it may take someone that ruthless in business to break the stalemate in Washington. If something is not done soon about the deficit, this country is going to be in very big trouble and voting for someone just because they are a woman or minority is not going to fix this. Personally, I don't know if anyone could solve a 19 trillion dollar debt even with two terms but with a problem this big, it may take the most brazen of all to stand half a chance.

Unfair Video Depicts Many Pets as Not Good for Security

A recent video depicts three families with pets that disappointed their owners after undercover surveillance showed staged intrusions in which the pets were more friend than foe. What the test failed to consider was that these same pets might react very differently if their owners were around. While it's true some pets might misconstrue the intentions of a burglar, it can be quite a different story if the animal sees the owner in distress. Just the fact that the man who made the video trains guard dogs should be enough to also call into question his bias as well. Dogs can smell fear. Let's see him be so fearless without the bite suite! Since most burglaries actually occur during the daytime, he would be less likely to try wearing that outfit in the middle of summer as it would definitely arouse suspicion. Moreover, many burglars would panic upon hearing let alone seeing a dog on the premises causing a different reaction that would not likely end well for the intruder. Full video here:

http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/10476-how-to-test-if-your-dog-will-wimp-out-during-a-burglary

Why Are we Still Wasting Money on Russian Built Rockets?

With a cost of around 75 million dollars per mission that the US pays Russia to deploy astronauts to the I.S.S. (International Space Station), you would think by now we would have the sense to stop this non-sense. How much more money do we have to waste building their economy that we could use here? I can understand the space shuttle was nearing the end of its useful lifetime and commitments to the I.S.S. program required us to deliver cargo but how long is this going to continue? Private enterprise was supposed to be NASA's answer which has worked to a certain degree but relying on Russia does not help us and makes the country that has mostly dominated the space industry since the 60's now look pretty ridiculous.

If this is not bad enough, then you have private companies here also utilizing Russian built rocket engines because they are relatively cheap and generally reliable. That may make things convenient for them but does it really help us? Today, businesses are hurting and we're giving a country that is selling missiles to Iran and threatening to build 40 new nuclear weapons 75 million dollars a mission! How many jobs would that of created right here if someone was at least considerate enough to let American companies bid on the rockets? That is not smart business or good for national security.

See Also:

http://roberthaskell.blogspot.com/2015/08/is-nasa-making-making-historic-blunder.html
http://roberthaskell.blogspot.com/2015/07/americas-contributions-to-space-race.html
http://roberthaskell.blogspot.com/2015/07/why-sputnik-was-not-beginning-of-space.html

Be Careful What You Wish For

An old trick in politics goes something like this; you view a political candidate as too strong so you attack that threat by pumping up the opponent's rival on the same ticket. Despite a successful attempt to brand Hillary Clinton as untrustworthy, many of her supporters don't seem to care and if a legal suit does not bring her campaign down, the likelihood is she will still win her party's nomination. To combat this, some pundits have taken to building up her rival, Bernie Sanders. Considering the fact that Sanders is a self-professed socialist, this strategy could easily backfire.

Like many socialists, Bernie Sanders supports breaking up big companies. Although no one likes a monopoly, I don't think waging war on corporate America is going to substantially improve my life. Likewise, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour may sound great to our youth until you realize what goes around comes around. Increasing the minimum wage would hurt many small businesses already struggling and in all probability, lead to inflation, more failed businesses and higher unemployment. Moreover, if you try to reduce college costs by levying a new tax on Wall Street, will that help the next generation or just lead to more transaction fees that we all end up paying for?

Of course there will always be some causes worthy of more progressive views. The AbilityOne™ program for example, helps people living with extreme disabilities and provides a way to support our veterans. However, even great ideas often go awry when over-regulation makes it nearly impossible for companies that support institutions like AbilityOne™ to maintain compliance with the program. In light of this, maybe the solution should not be to change the system but to improve it. Ergo, virtually all government agencies could use some overhaul to streamline services. The concept of the "emod" (electric modification) request for instance is outdated and could be eliminated entirely by simply adding a field to a GSA (General Services Administrations) schedule that marks with a code the exact change requested on each product. If the changes are all approved, accept the new schedule in SIP (Schedule Input Program), otherwise reject it. Similarly, why force vendors to upload all their graphics in SIP before the new schedule is 100% approved? This makes absolutely no sense and wastes both corporate and government resources that could be put to better use. It is this kind of disorganization and wastefulness that increases the program's costs and makes it hard to support even the best of causes.

You Don't Have to be a Brain Surgeon

You don't have to be a brain surgeon to see the appeal of non-establishment candidates for the 2016 presidential election. At the end of President Bush's second term, the country owed 12 trillion dollars. Today, under Obama, that debt is nearly at 19 trillion and the interest payments alone are enough to kill us. Regardless of your position politically, one thing is hard to dispute, it is unlikely either party will be able to break the stalemate. Unless the major parties are able to work together to reduce the national deficit, this may be the last generation before America slips into an abyss from which there is no escape.

So how did we get into this mess and is there any possible hope now to eliminate our debt before our credit is completely destroyed? According to Donald Trump, our leaders may be good at winning elections but are unqualified at handling the country's finances. Can a business tycoon not in bed so much with large donors, lobbyists and political PACs actually make a better negotiator? Possibly but what about a brain surgeon? Yes I'd trust him more getting inside my head than Ted Cruz but is he really qualified? The notion of someone with no experience in business running the country is scary but an individual with no political experience is hard to swallow as well. Yet this seems to be the direction the country is going as Dr. Ben Carson now ties or beats Trump in two recent poles and establishment candidates are sinking ever further. People are dissatisfied for a good reason with the status quo and though unconventional, it may actually take an outsider to rescue the country from an almost certain loss of power, prestige and control in worldly affairs.

What the Ashley Madison Hack Reveals About all Social Networks

When recently revealed that only 1,492 female users on Ashley Madison even checked their messages, it became clear that faking social activity is a phenomenon many people are susceptible to. Although despicable, the Ashley Madison site does teach us some lessons about social media participation. With Facebook, users are undoubtedly real for the most part though the company admits having found a multitude of fake profiles. The same cannot be said about every social network. Moreover, all social networks are greatly susceptible to a particular scam that goes something like this:

A user makes believe he or she has interest in your posts by following your blog, Google+ page, etc. Flattered, you either follow that user back or at least try to give that person a few +1s or "likes". After reciprocating, the user that followed you originally either unfollows you or mysteriously stops paying attention to your posts though you continue to see their posts. This scam is especially prevalent with attractive women that use the trick to create a large following. For all we know, these girls may not even be real.

Although Google does warn people about following strangers, it's human nature to be social. Fortunately, being somewhat antisocial, I don't have that problem much. Nonetheless, it is nice when someone actually reads my posts for a change.

Beware of Lump Sum Payments

Everyone dreams about winning the lottery and how they would spend the money. Would you take the jackpot in one lump sum payment or opt for structured monthly payments? What most people don't realize is that many lottery winners actually go bankrupt in a few years because it is human nature to overspend. The situation becomes more critical when money is awarded from a malpractice or similar lawsuit. To protect recipients who have medical conditions resulting from another party's actions, the concept of structured settlements was born.

Structured settlements pay the settlement over time usually in fixed monthly payments. While the system works for many, some prefer a single upfront or lump sum payment even if that payment is less than the original amount paid over time. For people in severe debt, sometimes this appears to be the only viable option. Sounds fair right? Buyer beware, where money is involved, predators will always find a way to steal what you have coming.

When a settlement is made with an insurance company, that settlement can be purchased by a third party to supply all the money upfront in a single payment. In return, the investor will typically offer less for the settlement to reduce risk in case the person dies and the payments stop. This seems reasonable until you find out just how much less some companies offer and the deceptive practices used to lure in victims.

In cases of lead poisoning for example, an alarming trend targets people considered "competent" enough by law to sign away their structured settlements in favor of lump sum payments. The word "competent" is murky at best as some individuals even with minor brain damage find themselves caught by legal loopholes where just having a drivers license can work against the person. Proponents argue that if the individual managed to make it through high school and has a drivers license, learning disabilities are insufficient grounds for incompetence. With legal agreements often hard to decipher even by people without disabilities, foul play cannot be ruled out. Moreover, in many cases, the lump sum payment often works out to paying only a tiny fraction of the original structured settlement. Suspiciously, minorities with less education are often targeted the most. Although one cannot assume every company that offers such services is shady, being aware of this practice is the best defense against those that prey on unsuspecting victims.

Help people living with major disabilities by purchasing SKILCRAFT® products. A portion of each sale supports the AbilityOne™ program.

Hong Kong - Your Taxpayer Dollars Hard at Work

The China Project: American Taxpayer Dollars Hard at Work!

I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figure this one out. Our uneven trade agreements more often than not seem to benefit other countries more than us. Hedge fund managers of course don't mind because they have the money and means to manipulate foreign markets. That's great for them! I hope they all get rich at our expense.

Is NASA Making a Historic Blunder with Europa?

"After walking away from a previously planned joint mission to Jupiter, NASA has asked the European Space Agency if it can furnish a lander or ice-penetrating probe for a rejuvenated U.S.-led robotic spacecraft to visit Jupiter’s moon Europa."

source: http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/10/nasa-invites-esa-to-build-europa-piggyback-probe/

Translation: Once again, we'll put up most of the money and build the rocket to get them there so Europe can steal the glory again just as they did with Titan. Most of the time when you hear about the Huygens probe, it's a great achievement for the ESA (European Space Agency) and if NASA's involvement with Cassini is even mentioned, we're lucky to get a footnote. When the ESA discovers life on Europa, that will be a great moment for them. Why don't we just put a Russian rocket on the mission to make our humility complete?

Not only could NASA have easily built the Europa landing/ice-penetrating probes but private enterprise here would have greatly benefited too! But I guess that would make too much sense after spending countless billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars and decades searching for life!

See Also: http://roberthaskell.blogspot.com/2015/07/americas-contributions-to-space-race.html

Frivolous Lawsuits Making Lawyers Richer at the Country's Expense

Life without parole plus fourteen years, no David Sweat. Having already cost the state of NY an estimated $58.6 million in overtime costs in a 23 day epic manhunt, we now get to enjoy the next phase of his folly - racking up legal fees! Is there any point to dragging this on further than it needs to be? Sure the Constitution guarantees the right to a fair trial but how much clearer does it need to be? Do we really need to go through the whole long drawn out process when it's already clear they're going to lock the door and throw away the key?

At best, maybe he could cooperate and spend less time in solitary confinement. Cases like these should be expedited to keep costs down. It may not pay for every lawyer's house in the Hamptons but tough times demand sacrifices on us all. Read more at:

http://pix11.com/2015/08/15/new-york-manhunt-cost-state-nearly-1-million-a-day-in-overtime/

Lice Where you Least Expect it

As reported by CNN, a lice infestation kept reoccurring in a household because of a general failure many of us are susceptible to - we don't always read the directions! Lice can be difficult to control but a simple over-the-counter lice shampoo will often work provided the instructions are at least followed. In the case study, the family looked everywhere but the mother's hair. Regardless of whether a person is the queen or just the queen bee, lice do not care! No one is impervious to parasites and even a good hygiene regimen is not always enough.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/18/health/mutant-lice/index.html

9-1-1 Faces Tough Dilemma

By law, disregarded mobile phones must still provide 9-1-1 assistance. The twenty year old rule was designed to ensure that all people regardless of financial circumstances have access to emergency assistance. The theory is good until 9-1-1 operators find themselves overwhelmed by crank calls that inhibit emergency responses. Although 9-1-1 has the ability to track calls to a certain degree, it is simply impossible to pinpoint every call particularly if that individual does not want to be tracked. With phone carriers reluctant to help narrow the field, federal regulators are left with no choice but to consider changing the regulation.

Law officials argue the change is necessary to free emergency response teams despite the need to help people with disabilities. Regardless of how an individual feels about the issue, the bottom line is that these crank calls cost billions of dollars annually. If 9-1-1 is to continue at the same level of operation, ultimately the benefits we gain from providing greater accessibility may be too high of a cost for the program to remain solvent.

The Future of Warfare

For several decades, missiles were the cutting edge of technology that no modern military could do without. Despite this, missile defense systems do have some serious drawbacks. First, the Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles the U.S. Navy deploys costs millions of dollars. Moreover, once fired, the ship is highly vulnerable with little remaining defense. To counter this threat, the U.S. military is currently testing a new laser system that only costs pennies to fire and is virtually inexhaustible.

The USS Ponce carries an arsenal of laser weapons. Stationed in the Middle East, the ship may also address another threat often employed by Iran - fast, small attack vessels that attempt to overwhelm slower, larger ships. If proven as reliable as missiles, eventually lasers may replace other more conventional weapons and save billions of dollars annually.

Read more at http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/americas-master-plan-crush-iranian-warships-13602

Why do Mutations Occur in our DNA?

We always here about cell mutations that can lead to various ailments but how do these mutations actually occur when DNA is a perfect blueprint that is nearly impossible to circumvent? DNA like anything else is not impervious to damage. When a fragment of a gene becomes damaged through UV radiation, chemical disturbance or other means, the cell is usually able to repair itself correctly because nucleotides have complimentary base pairs that only fit together a certain way. The system is failsafe for the most part until a section of the double helix in your DNA breaks off completely on both ends. Now instead of being nearly impossible to fit a square peg in a round hole, the impossible becomes very possible as there is nothing to pair up to. The result, nucleotides will still only fit together a certain way but the order that the nucleotides appear may be changed. Since the sequence of nucleotides is critical for the blueprint of each species, the slightest mistake can have grave consequences. Usually this is bad for the individual but in extremely rare cases, that mutation will actually be beneficial leading to a survival advantage and a new species is born.

How Duct Tape Helped End World War II

It is often said duct tape has a thousand uses. Add one more to the list - atomic bombs! During the Trinity Test, they couldn't solder the bomb because the plutonium core was wrapped in plastic explosives. Needless to say, this wouldn't be very wise. Instead, duct tape came to the rescue once again. Make that 1,001 uses for duct tape!

Where the Edge Browser Fails

Microsoft took a big step forward with Windows 10 but there are some issues the company has failed to address. In an attempt to deliver speed, the Edge browser defaults to not retrieving graphics on a page every time even if that graphic has changed. The results, many captcha routines fail leaving people unable to sign up and even log in to some sites. Once again, Microsoft missed the point. So determined to impress people with fancy features like browser annotation and reading view that they sidestepped key issues. What users need most is a secure browser that gets the job done - not over the top features that get in the way of usability.

In my tests, I found links at the bottom of the page in the left hand margin hard to click on because tool tips get in the way. Even worse, the Back button does not always bring you back to the point where you were at on the previous page. This extremely annoying quirk means the user has no choice but to constantly scroll down after clicking Back! How Microsoft could have missed such basics is beyond me. However, the one thing they did actually get right is backwards compatibility regarding the way Edge handles file paths with the HTML input type=file option. Although Microsoft addresses some issues correctly, overall the Edge browser is still somewhat awkward and needs to be rethought.

Robert Haskell writes technical reviews for OfficeSalesUSA.com and has over 20 years experience programming, writing and consulting.

Changing Skin Cells to Neurons

A major breakthrough that could help people with an assortment of cognitive dysfunctions and other conditions has been achieved by two research teams in China. Both groups independently discovered a new mechanism for converting ordinary skin cells into neurons using groups of small molecules that can pass right through the nucleus of a cell, deactivate the molecular code that causes the cell to become a skin cell and stimulate the gene required for neuron development. After a few weeks, the transformation was complete and skin cells in petri dishes began to look and behave like fully functional neurons.

In the past, gene insertion has been used to transform cells also but this technique is tedious, time consuming and risky as the introduction of another gene could potentially have unintended side effects such as an increased risk of cancer. The new technique is safer, easier and can utilize the subject's own cells to reduce the risk of rejection by the immune system. The ability to convert cells this way may also prove to be invaluable for non-cognitive ailments such as diabetes, paralysis, visual impairment, etc.

Concerned about stroke risks? Learn the signs of having a stroke at: http://officesalesusa.com/healthcare-supplies.php

Is Donald Trump Really so Bad?

He comes across like a bull in a china shop. He's brash and quite often an embarrassment to his own party yet there are some redeeming qualities about Donald Trump. Unlike other presidential candidates, Trump is an outsider and comes with a unique perspective that despite his uncouth demeanor, many find refreshing. Likewise, because he also has money, he is not afraid of nor controlled by powerful lobbying forces like the Koch brothers. As an independent, I can support anyone. To me, the top issues are:

• Reducing Federal Deficit: The projected 19 trillion dollar deficit is alarming and if we don't get this under control, there may not even be a country in the future. At minimum, the rate we borrow at will increase as the national deficit spirals out of control to the point where we simply cannot repay our debt.
• Healthcare: Most republicans talk big but fail to state any specifics about how they would replace Obamacare. Although I actually supported the healthcare law because of my family history, I don't have a problem with replacing the legislation provided the new law addresses key healthcare issues. Trump clearly states his support for a single-payer system like Great Britain has despite great opposition from his party. 
• National Security: The image we project around the world must never appear weak and the notion of leading from behind is disturbing to say the least.
• Preserve Social Safety Net: Just because we have to cut costs does't mean we should throw out the baby with the bath water. Social Security and Medicare should be preserved but I'm willing to make compromises if necessary to preserve these institutions for future generations.

Although Trump comes across strong overall on key issues, he still faces an uphill battle winning especially in the general election. He may win the battle being bold but lose the war. However, who would have even thought he would have defied as many expectations as he has so far?

MySQL does not Work on Windows 10

If you recently upgraded to Windows 10 and found MySQL no longer functional, you are not alone. Yesterday, I bravely (code for naively) decided to apply the free Windows 10 upgrade despite the possibility of it messing me up on the job. Although the upgrade went smooth overall, the following error appeared when I tried to connect via MySQL through PHP:

"No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it. "

After writing a simple one line test program, I was able to rule out PHP and Apache Web Server as the culprit(s). Since I opted to install the upgrade on the first day Windows 10 was released, no help was available on the Internet. Nonetheless, I was able to correct the problem by uninstalling MySQL through the .msi install/uninstall utility provided by MySQL. In my case, I had to completely uninstall even the data files - be sure you have a good backup! After reinstalling, MySQL worked like a charm but of course I had to restore the backup first.

On a prior Windows upgrade, the same issue occurred only last time it did not require deleting the MySQL data files. I recommend trying to preserve the database if possible. If you do elect to remove the MySQL data files, be sure you have multiple backups! If you can log in to the MySQL Command Line Client afterwards using the password you chose during the install, the problem has been resolved and it is just a question now of restoring your backup database.

How to Significantly Extend Your Battery Life

A quick search on how to improve battery life on your tablet or other device reveals many options. Screen brightness, system notifications and background processes all consume a great amount of resources. Although reducing screen brightness and disabling system notifications can improve battery life, often these tips fail to significantly extend a battery charge. One way to greatly improve battery life is to power off the device completely when not in use. In a trial period, a Samsung Galaxy III tablet that was constantly losing charge overnight improved dramatically when I began powering off the device after each use. Instead of charging once or twice a week, now the device charge can easily go two months or more!

To be fair, there are plenty of days I don't use the device and when I do, it is often just to do a quick search or get the weather forecast. A less drastic approach would be to try using airplane mode instead which disables WiFi. With little hint as to why the device was losing charge so rapidly, I opted to completely power down in my test. The result to say the least was impressive. I suspect the reason why the device was losing charge before so rapidly was because of excessive background activity probably due to automatic Chrome or Android O/S updates.

While this approach does work, it requires waiting 30 seconds to a minute for the device to power on and WiFi to come back up. I usually turn on the tablet and put the device aside while it boots. It should also be noted that for security purposes, it is best to leave the device on at some point so that critical security updates can be downloaded. Nonetheless, if you are tired of constantly charging, this method will probably work for you.

Why are these Nuts Celebrating Christmas in July?

Like it or not, Christmas is big money. Many retailers promote the season in July to boost sales at a time when business otherwise might slump due to vacation schedules. Savvy consumers take advantage of early bird specials to purchase customized holiday cards at the highest preseason discounts. Businesses also benefit by promoting their brands on personalized holiday cards featuring logo imprinting and custom verses.

While some might find it ridiculous to even think about the holidays now, in just a few short months, promotional cards will have to be mailed. Waiting until the last minute will not only cost more but also leave you unprepared as you may need time to assemble a mailing list, figure out how to print labels and set an appropriate budget for postage and other expenses. Yes, 'tis the season to be merry as a hastily executed plan will not impress anyone and only end up costing you more for less benefit.

Articles You Should Never Read on the Internet

Despite its many shortcomings, the Internet is still overall the best way to find information. Even with occasionally incorrect and deliberately deceptive content, it is hard not to appreciate the tremendous value in being able to find virtually anything at the click of a button. Nonetheless, there are some practices that go too far in my book. One of the most annoying is the concept of list-based articles that lure you in with topics like:

• 10 things you should know about the IRS
• 12 reasons why you should never retire before...
• 100 amazing pictures from Hubble

While list-based articles can be informative, they are often plagued by advertisements and require you to click once and sometimes several times just to see the next part of the list. Do you really have time to wait for 25 slow loading pages that require you to also scroll down each time to see the "Next" button? Even worse, if you do continue to press "Next", will you have to click 25 times again to go back to the referrer page? Sites like answers.com use this trick to lure you away from news sites. If going back to the referrer site is too cumbersome, many visitors will stay on the target site. While this approach may work for advertising firms, it can be a real drag. Personally, I rarely read these types of articles anymore because it just encourages bad presentations that are so slow and annoying, to me it's not even worth it.

Careful analysis of such lists also reveals that often these same articles just provide common information simply repackaged. The author may see a topic like advantages of biobased products and reword it as "7 reasons why you should buy biobased products". In the process, they not only steal content but also turn good presentations into monotonous ad driven presentations. Good sites do not have to employ such awkward tactics and sites that use this practice only diminish the value of their content.

GSA and Green Initiatives

In coordination with GSA (General Services Administration), Fluid Dynamics has developed a system for treating hard water without the use of salt, chemicals or even power. Through their proprietary alloy, calcium deposits are inhibited as water flows through the system. This success demonstrates how the green initiates and mandates of GSA are working to build a safer, greener environment. Now if GSA could just avoid the bottlenecks in their own system, working with the government might not be so painful.

Source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2620697

Arctic Sea Ice Increasing and its Implications

Despite numerous doom and gloom forecasts predicting the catastrophic affects of global warming,
once again a conflicting report sheds doubt on the theory. According to a new study:

"Climate researchers used satellite data to calculate the volume of sea ice in the Arctic between 2010 and 2014, and found that while ice volume decreased by 14 percent between 2010 and 2012, it rose dramatically between 2013 and 2014 – by nearly 33 percent in 2013, and 25 percent in 2014."

Source: http://www.newsquench.com/2015/07/is-arctic-sea-ice-on-the-rebound/

With the mountain of snow finally melting in Boston mid-summer and a new climate model even suggesting the possibility of a much cooler period returning by 2030, one could be forgiven for being skeptical. Critics of the global warming theory argue data is misrepresented, skewed and even filtered completely to favor areas that support the theory. Science is not supposed to be biased but clearly the media seems to favor the notion that man is responsible for the argued "warming trend". Quite simply put, we haven't been studying climate long enough to even know what constitutes normal ice levels during inter-glaciation periods (i.e., between ice ages) and for all we know more abundant temperature readings along with increased media coverage and the human tendency to believe the worst may be responsible for manufacturing an unmerited conclusion that if wrong will only set science back in the future.

Plastic May Not be so Bad After All

When plastic first became popular, it was considered a material of the future. Since then, the concept of something being plastic brings to mind the notion of fake or cheap workmanship. While this certainly can be true at times, let's not forget how much safer it is to drop a plastic bottle verses a glass bottle. Likewise, plastic is also lighter and more flexible than many other common building materials. Its durability and other qualities often overlooked are now being reexamined for industrial purposes. A particularly exciting possibility is the use of recycled plastic in building roadways.

Like plastic, asphalt can be recycled. However, asphalt tends to fail at the worst times and can be expensive to replace. In principal, plastic is more durable in temperature extremes. Other benefits include:

• Lasts up to three times longer than asphalt.
• Less susceptible to cracks.
• Can be prefabricated for significantly faster road repair and construction.
• Has hollow interior for easier cabling and pipes.

European construction company VolkerWessel plans to begin testing a "street lab" within three years in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. Although people may have trouble initially grappling with the concept, if major roadways could be built and repaired faster and even last longer, the idea really does have merit. Until then, potholes and sinkholes will supply incentives for finding a more durable substitute for asphalt and concrete that is both eco-friendly and cost effective.

The Coming 2030 Ice Age

A new climate model recently presented to the Royal Astronomical Society suggests that in 2030, an approaching ice age will be upon us. The model uses a new method of analyzing sunspot activity to predict future weather patterns. In 2030, the model shows a similar pattern as that of the Little Ice Age that occurred roughly between 1300 AD and 870 AD. At its worst, the year without a summer (1816) occurred.

So how exactly would this effect us now? With Boston reporting its 75 foot mountain of dirty snow finally melting in mid July from the extreme winter we just had, can you imagine if this occurred throughout the country let alone entire world? With no place to put snow, inevitably the way we've built ourselves into corners would undoubtedly present many challenges. The extreme costs of snow removal, failed crops and inability to respond to emergencies would likely be disastrous on the world economy and people living with extreme disabilities.

Although the model is just theoretical at this point, one can only hope these scientists are wrong. Until then, enjoy a nice hot shower while you can because your pipes may be frozen tomorrow!

America's Contributions to the Space Race Prior to Sputnik

Although often downplayed, America's contributions to the space race prior to Sputnik are far more substantial than most people realize. In fact, Wernher von Braun used quite a few of American rocket scientist's Dr. Robert H. Goddards innovations to achieve the V-2 rocket (the first rocket to reach the Karman line or boundary between Earth and space).

"Wernher von Braun used Goddard's plans from various journals and incorporated them into the building of the Aggregat (A) series of rockets. The A-4 rocket would become well known as the V-2."

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wernher_von_Braun

After the war, the U.S. was also the first to conduct experiments in space including the study of how life is effected by high altitude (above the Karman line) radiation on fruit flies and rhesus monkeys. The U.S. also took the first photos of the Earth's curvature from space and in 1949, the Bumper 5 launch was the first successful multi-stage rocket sent into space. All this occurred well before Sputnik and to even suggest that the Soviet Union really began the space age is as inaccurate as it is naive of the major events and achievements that came before.

See also: http://roberthaskell.blogspot.com/2015/08/is-nasa-making-making-historic-blunder.html

Memory Loss After Visiting Dentist

Despite the fact that few people actually enjoy going to the dentist, most people regard the practice as generally safe. Occasionally though, some patients experience unusual complications. Although extremely rare, memory loss can occur. After visiting the dentist, a 15 year old forgets his age and believes he is 13 again. In a more severe case, a man looses the ability to retain new memories completely. In the later case, a British soldier stationed in Germany wakes up from sedation pale and eyes glazed. After his condition does not improve by 5:00 pm, he is taken to the hospital where it is revealed that his memory is reset every 10 minutes. After three days, his memory improves slightly but he is still only able to retain memories for approximately 90 minutes. So what exactly happened?

For the patient's privacy, the real identity of the man known as "William" has been changed. Typically, events like these can occur from brain damage or traumatic events. With his wife claiming no traumatic incidents occurred and his brain scan showing no signs of any physical damage, an allergic reaction to the anesthesia is one possible cause. Other possibilities include bad anesthesia, a contamination occurring during the procedure or even a rare illness or genetic link coincidentally kicking in. It is even possible the dental visit itself was traumatic enough to cause this if "William" had an undiagnosed phobia.

Research on lab rats have revealed similar effects can occur where new memories are unable to be retained if a certain protein is blocked. In lab experiments, the rodents lost memories as well after about 90 minutes. In the future, scientists hope to find the trigger for this protein deficiency and how it can be reversed. In the meantime, "William" still believes it is 2005 and each day he has an appointment for the same root canal that set his life horribly awry. Talk about nightmares! Imagine thinking each day you needed a root canal!

Find more Robert Haskell technical, health-related and human interest articles at roberthaskell.blogspot.com and officesalesusa.com.

Sources:

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/07/man-who-lost-his-memory-at-the-dentist.html

http://97x.com/15-year-old-forgets-how-old-he-is-after-wisdom-teeth-surgery/

Why Sputnik Was NOT the Beginning of the Space Age

Although most people incorrectly assume the launching of Sputnik began the space age, the truth is far more involved. True the Soviet Union successfully launched the first satellite four months before America launched Explorer 1 but that is only the icing on the cake! The V-2 rocket for starters (the first rocket to cross the Karman line), was heavily based on the designs that American rocket scientist Robert Goddard published. Before Sputnik, America also sent the first animals into space, took the first photos of the curvature of the Earth from space and set a record altitude accomplishment using a hybrid V-2 / American manufactured rocket. According to NASA:

'In 1949, the "Bumper-WAC" became the first human-made object to enter space...'

While today we know the V-2 technically crossed the later defined Karman line first, Bumper 5 (Bumper-WAC) was still the first multistage rocket successfully launched into space and a record setting altitude more than double that of the previous record of 110 miles set by the V-2 on December 17th, 1946. Sadly, these amazing U.S. achievements rarely get mentioned though they occurred many years before Sputnik!

Yes Wernher von Braun was still critically important for providing the first stage of the rocket (a modified V-2) but it was really the combination of the V-2 first stage and WAC corporal missile (second stage) that provided the necessary velocity to finally tear through the brunt of the atmosphere into the almost total vacuum of space. Setting a record 393 kilometers altitude (244 miles), the 1949 Bumper 5 launch deserves its place in history though many fail to grasp its significance. The 1949 launch showed the world what a multistage rocket could achieve and paved the way for deeper space missions to occur. Without this capability, man would have never made it to the moon let alone sent probes to the outer reaches of the solar system.

By and large, U.S. achievements in the space race before Sputnik were quite significant and to suggest that Sputnik was the real beginning is highly erroneous. That is not to say Sputnik wasn't a monumental achievement but American contributions to the space race prior to this were quite significant and have been downplayed far too long.

References:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explorer/bumper.html
http://www.spaceline.org/rocketsum/bumper-wac.html
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explorer/fast-facts.html
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Alpha&Letter=B&Alias=Bumper%20WAC
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/171684main_Bumper8.pdf

http://roberthaskell.blogspot.com/2015/07/americas-contributions-to-space-race.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animals_in_space

See Also:

http://roberthaskell.blogspot.com/2015/08/is-nasa-making-making-historic-blunder.html