Sacred Facts

Self Balancing Scooters: Hot New Celebrity Trend

 

They are all the rave, even if no one really knows what to call them. Whether you use the term self balancing scooter, hoverboard or one of the many brand names on the market, the word that most people use with these fun new technological marvels is FUN.

Celebrity Name Game

No matter which celebrity you follow at the moment, there is a pretty good potential that they have been seen riding around on a self balancing scooter. The furor started when Justin Bieber started posting short clips of himself riding a self balancing scooter. With his massive social media following, the clips quickly went viral and everyone wanted to know what this fun new toy was and where they could get one. While hundreds of celebrities began piling on for their minute of fame with the cool new gadget, one of the most memorable was Kendall Jenner riding a PhunkeeDuck version of the board for it to blow up. Now, a PhunkeeDuck self balancing scooter is one of the top brands, and mostly because of Kendall’s photograph on instagram.

Fun and Fast Fails

Another reason the self balancing scooters have become such a trend recently is because of the quick way that people can fail on the boards - either with a spectacular wipe-out or just a general crash into a wall when they miscalculate their turn radius. These videos make for quick and amusing pieces of micro-content that people love to watch and share. The fact that the technology that drives the self balancing scooters has not yet been widely shared also drives the aura of mystery and mystique. For that reason it's a good idea to read some guides and reviews first before entering into this new tech, you find reviews of the best self balancing scooters here.

Cool Factor

Let’s face it, the self balancing scooters are just awesome looking! Between cool colors, neat racing lights and fun hubcap designs, these scooters look futuristic and interesting. Anyone can feel like they are riding a hoverboard just like in the movie Back to the Future when they have their own self balancing scooter! They are making their way through social media for tweens, teenagers and young adults as the toy to have; even though they are a bit more expensive than what you would generally consider a toy. 

No matter if you can see yourself riding one or not, self balancing scooters have taken the world by storm and are becoming quite the trend. With the wide range of colors and styles available, you are sure to find your perfect hoverboard, or self balancing scooter. 

How the world can change with the rise of drones

You may have heard a lot in the media about drones or quadcopters recently and have probably seen somebody in your neighbourhood flying one around. Those ones are for home use and some of the best quadcopters can be very fun such as those at QuadcopterCloud. However you may not have considered how the use of drones can change the world as we know it for the better. Many companies have seen an extreme amount of potential in the use of drones for delivering items as well as for use in journalism. Not only is it a safer option but could really help people for the better as well as create more job possibilities.

Deliveries

 

Drones have been thought of in terms of delivering things to people’s homes such as groceries or products that have been ordered online. Amazon as well as a few other companies have already begun to consider this possibility and aim to launch a service called Prime Air. There are other benefits in using drones to make deliveries, it can be dangerous delivering medical supplies as well as food and care packages to people who need them in hostile areas. The use of drones can not only make it safer for those who want to help, but it can also get these supplies to the people who need them quicker.

Journalism

 

The use of drones in journalism can help get journalists closer to the action without them having to put themselves in danger in the process. This could also be useful for people who want to provide news about natural disasters as well since they won’t have to venture into harm’s way to get their story out. Drones can be used for both photographs and video footage and many journalism schools have already begun teaching the viability of drones for this purpose.

Oil Rig Inspections

 

We all know that oil is a crucial resource that is necessary for survival in today’s day and age. It can be an extremely dangerous job inspecting an oil rig, as there is always a possibility that danger can strike at any moment. Drones have already been used to ensure that oil rigs are in great condition and functioning properly, however it is not common practice as of yet.

Saving Lives

 

An Austrian graduate has already put the world’s emergency services to shame by developing a system that would allow medics to get equipment and medicine to other medics who are assisting victims. This idea may sound a little far-fetched, but it is very much a possibility. Others have come up with similar ideas for drones to save people from burning buildings as well as assist in search and rescue attempts. Since drones can give rescuers a bird’s eye view it can help narrow down the search efforts more quickly and easily.

Farming

 

Another possibility is for drones to be used as a tool for farming. Drones can easily be equipped to spray crops with pesticides as well as analyze the crop from the air. This can lower the risks to people who live nearby farmland and the damage that can be done by pesticides being dropped from crop dusters. There has even been discussion of using drones in the harvesting of crops to make farmer’s lives a little easier. Other uses for drones in farming would be herding cattle and sheep as well as transporting feed and other supplies around the farm.

A Look at the Early Rave Scene in the UK

The rave scene has become more and more mainstream these days, in part due to the popularization of music that has its origins in the rave scene, and in part due to the increased ease of communication that has come with increasingly easy access to the Internet -- especially these days, what with the popularity and ubiquity of smartphones. Despite the sometimes negative connotations of the word ‘rave’, it’s an interesting history that’s had a significant influence on modern-day culture, primarily through its influence on the way its changed the way we see parties as a culture and the music that’s come from the movement.

Early Rave Culture: The Music, the Dancing

Despite the connotations of the word rave, the first events to bear the name were, in fact, legal. These were executed by organizations such as Fantazia, Raindance, and Amnesia House, in large warehouses or open fields throughout the country. These events were typically very, very large, with hundreds of attendees -- and, sometimes, into the thousands. One party, the now-famous One Step Beyond, attracted thirty thousand partygoers! This was impressive, but not entirely unique. The Vision festival, held at Popham’s field in ‘92, had forty thousand in attendance -- quite a number

Raves came to be known for the music that was played, and the energetic dance styles that grew around them. These styles were largely electronic, and included such slow and somewhat dark styles as jungle; the faster, and more upbeat, happy hardcore; and other mixed styles of what came to be known in general as electronica. These days, music festivals are known for an interestingly reflective variety of electronic music styles -- dubstep, trap, and other genres are popular with the youth these days, but have their origins way back in these early, legal parties.

DJ Equipment Used in the Rave Scene

DJs back then, just like those today, would set up sets on stages and perform for their audiences, who would stroll from stage to stage or stick by this or that set to watch their favorite artists rotate through. Older disk jockeys used analog equipment -- that is, they used devices that played actual phonograph records, which they would mix and scratch by hand on stage. This is obviously a difficult skill to learn, and most DJs back in the day took quite a long time to develop their chops with the analog machines. 

Today, DJs use digital equipment and software with which they can mix tracks, adjust tempo and pitch, and perform other such tasks with without the need to adjust the revolution speed of a physical disk, scratch it by hand, or otherwise go through the process of manually altering the characteristics of the record itself. This is not, of course, to suggest that the talent required to DJ has in any way diminished over the years; in fact, there is a legitimate argument to be made for it being more complicated, more versatile, and thus, more difficult these days as compared to in the past.

How Journalists Stay Awake When the Story Never Sleeps

Breaking news can and does happen around the clock. Natural disasters do not simply affect lives from 9 to 5, scandals do not wait until Monday morning to be exposed, and major world events continue to unfold whether or not the timing is convenient for you. For a journalist, this often means working long hours and skipping much needed beauty rest, even if you’re in front of a camera.

So, how do journalists not only stay awake, but also remain alert, fresh, and able to do their jobs effectively when events keep them up for hours upon hours? This is no simple task and, depending upon the nature of the events being covered, success and/or safety may rely on readiness. Below are some of the tips and tricks used by the professionals.

Hitting the Coffee Stand

There are many instances in the field when journalists may need a pick-me-up, and fast. Perhaps it is time to conduct an interview or enter an area where alertness is key. A cup of coffee can have your adrenaline levels increased and your mind and body energised in minutes. All coffee is not made equal though, and it's a good idea to invest in a great coffee maker.

Getting Oxygen To the Brain and Muscles

While coffee can provide immediate bursts of energy, caffeine is not great at providing long, sustainable vitality. A simple and easy way reporters in the field can wake themselves up is by getting plenty of oxygen to their brains and muscles.

Increasing oxygen levels in the body can lower blood pressure, slow the heart rate, and improve circulation. While this can reduce stress and tension in the body – definitely a plus for journalists – it can also improve mental alertness and energy levels.

Feeling more awake can be achieved by taking a few moments to breathe deeply. It can be helpful to take slow, even breaths, in through the mouth and out through the nose.

Light stretching and exercise can help to get this oxygen to the muscles throughout the body. This can mean stretching your arms above and/or behind your back or going for a brisk 10-minute walk. Even when covering a round-the-clock story, it is likely that there will be time to stretch your legs.

Drink More Water and Drink It Continuously

Many people do not realize that thirst is one of the later symptoms caused by dehydration. Among the first are hunger, headaches, and fatigue. Especially if you are out in the field having coffee – which is a diuretic – every chance you get, there is a good chance that dehydration could slow you down. Having water on hand and drinking it regularly can play a large part in preventing dehydration and preventing tiredness.

Give Your Body the Right Fuel

In addition to plenty of water, your body needs food and calories to burn for energy. Instead of candy bars that provide sugar rushes and crashes, journalists should have snacks that provide more sustainable energy. This includes nuts, fruits, vegetables, and granola bars, which can all be conveniently carried and eaten, even when covering a fast-paced story on the go.  

The Longest Mile

Five days ago I had the pleasure of participating in a small fundraiser in various countries throughout the world, including Tanzania and Namibia.

Although I am not a terribly physically-fit person, (and thought that I was, in fact, the polar opposite), my daughter's friend persuaded her to participate in what was called the "One More Mile" walk. I did make an attempt to get into shape by purchasing one of the best rowing machines on the market. Like other fundraisers based on walks or runs, we were able to elicit contributions from friends and other supporters on a per mile basis. Unlike similar fundraisers, there was no limit on the number of miles we were allowed to hike.

To my great surprise, not only did my colleagues generously promise to donate five dollars for every mile I walked (perhaps they had little confidence in my abilities), but three friends, all journalists, opted to participate in the hike with me and my daughter.

Firstly, I made sure to get a good nights sleep on my new mattress, one of the best memory foam ones as rated on ChooseMattress After, undaunted by the somewhat dreary weather, bearing water and trail mix, and wearing some nice hiking boots, we set out to do our part for this project.

The first mile was, admittedly, tough. But the weather improved, we took short breaks to rehydrate and nourish, and. at the end of the first mile we did as we had been instructed and asked each other "One more mile?" Nods all around, and so we continued another mile. By the end of the second mile, my daughter, the youngest of the bunch and the inspiration for our participation, opted to stop because she was developing blisters on her feet. I had told her to wear a good pair of hiking boots and two pairs of socks to avoid that potential, but she is a teenaged girl, so that advice fell on deaf ears (and blistered feet).

The rest of us looked at each other and queried "One more mile?" And so it went, mile by mile, and hour by hour, as we fell into a comfortable stride and a little conversation.

By the time we reached the end of our seventh mile, one more casualty had befallen us. Tracy had to bow out because her husband needed something urgently from the store. (I am not sure what, and did not ask, but she was sincere, and I was grateful for both her company and her endurance thus far in our journey.)

Before I left for the fundraiser, I would have guessed that I would have raised something less than five dollars per sponsor, and certainly less than ten. I had thought that walking beyond two miles was nigh impossible.

But the countryside was picturesque, the walk was not intense, we shared good conversations and peaceful moments of quietude. And by the end of the day, I had earned fifty dollars per sponsor, and was quite satisfied with the efforts that I had made to help this charitable organization continue to do its good work around the world.

Perhaps next time, my daughter will listen to me about the hiking boots.