HOW TO: Entertainment

Make muscle pain a memory with ginger

When Danish researchers asked achy people to jazz up their diets with ginger, it eased muscle and joint pain, swelling and stiffness for up to 63 percent of them within two months. Experts credit ginger’s potent compounds called gingerols, which prevent the production of pain-triggering hormones. The study-recommended dose: Add at least 1 teaspoon of dried ginger or 2 teaspoons of chopped ginger to meals daily.

Cure a toothache with cloves

Got a toothache and can’t get to the dentist? Gently chewing on a clove can ease tooth pain and gum inflammation for two hours straight, say UCLA researchers. Experts point to a natural compound in cloves called eugenol, a powerful, natural anesthetic. Bonus: Sprinkling a ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves on meals daily may also protect your ticker. Scientists say this simple action helps stabilize blood sugar, plus dampen production of artery-clogging cholesterol in as little as three weeks.

Heal heartburn with cider vinegar

Sip 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 ounces of water before every meal, and experts say you could shut down painful bouts of heartburn in as little as 24 hours. “Cider vinegar is rich in malic and tartaric acids, powerful digestive aids that speed the breakdown of fats and proteins so your stomach can empty quickly, before food washes up into the esophagus, triggering heartburn pain,” explains Joseph Brasco, M.D., a gastroenterologist at the Center for Colon and Digestive Diseases in Huntsville, AL.

Erase earaches with garlic

Painful ear infections drive millions of Americans to doctors’ offices every year. To cure one fast, just place two drops of warm garlic oil into your aching ear twice daily for five days. This simple treatment can clear up ear infections faster than prescription meds, say experts at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Scientists say garlic’s active ingredients (germanium, selenium, and sulfur compounds) are naturally toxic to dozens of different pain-causing bacteria. To whip up your own garlic oil gently simmer three cloves of crushed garlic in a half a cup of extra virgin olive oil for two minutes, strain, then refrigerate for up to two weeks, suggests Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., co-author of the book, Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy. For an optimal experience, warm this mix slightly before using so the liquid will feel soothing in your ear canal.

Chase away joint and headache pain with cherries

Latest studies show that at least one in four women is struggling with arthritis, gout or chronic headaches. If you’re one of them, a daily bowl of cherries could ease your ache, without the stomach upset so often triggered by today’s painkillers, say researchers at East Lansing’s Michigan State University. Their research reveals that anthocyanins, the compounds that give cherries their brilliant red color, are anti-inflammatories 10 times stronger than ibuprofen and aspirin. “Anthocyanins help shut down the powerful enzymes that kick-start tissue inflammation, so they can prevent, as well as treat, many different kinds of pain,” explains Muraleedharan Nair, Ph.D., professor of food science at Michigan State University. His advice: Enjoy 20 cherries (fresh, frozen or dried) daily, then continue until your pain disappears.

Fight tummy troubles with fish

Indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases...if your belly always seems to be in an uproar, try munching 18 ounces of fish weekly to ease your misery. Repeated studies show that the fatty acids in fish, called EPA and DHA, can significantly reduce intestinal inflammation, cramping and belly pain and, in some cases, provide as much relief as corticosteroids and other prescription meds. “EPA and DHA are powerful, natural, side effect-free anti-inflammatories, that can dramatically improve the function of the entire gastrointestinal tract,” explains biological chemist Barry Sears, Ph.D., president of the Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead, MA. For best results, look for oily fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel, trout and herring.

Prevent PMS with yogurt

Up to 80 percent of women will struggle with premenstrual syndrome and its uncomfortable symptoms, report Yale researchers. The reason: Their nervous systems are sensitive to the ups and downs in estrogen and progesterone that occur naturally every month. But snacking on 2 cups of yogurt a day can slash these symptoms by 48 percent, say researchers at New York’s Columbia University. “Yogurt is rich in calcium, a mineral that naturally calms the nervous system, preventing painful symptoms even when hormones are in flux,” explains Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a professor of gynecology at Yale University.

Tame chronic pain with turmeric

Studies show turmeric, a popular East Indian spice, is actually three times more effective at easing pain than aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen, plus it can help relieve chronic pain for 50 percent of people struggling with arthritis and even fibromyalgia, according to Cornell researchers. That’s because turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, naturally shuts down cyclooxygenase 2, an enzyme that churns out a stream of pain-producing hormones, explains nutrition researcher Julian Whitaker, M.D. and author of the book, Reversing Diabetes. The study-recommended dose: Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of this spice daily onto any rice, poultry, meat or vegetable dish.

End endometrial pain with oats

The ticket to soothing endometriosis pain could be a daily bowl of oatmeal. Endometriosis occurs when little bits of the uterine lining detach and grow outside of the uterus. Experts say these migrating cells can turn menstruation into a misery, causing so much inflammation that they trigger severe cramping during your period, plus a heavy ache that drags on all month long. Fortunately, scientists say opting for a diet rich in oats can help reduce endometrial pain for up to 60 percent of women within six months. That’s because oats don’t contain gluten, a trouble-making protein that triggers inflammation in many women, making endometriosis difficult to bear, explains Peter Green, M.D., professor of medicine at Colombia University.

Soothe foot pain with salt

Experts say at least six million Americans develop painful ingrown toenails each year. But regularly soaking ingrown nails in warm salt water baths can cure these painful infections within four days, say scientists at California’s Stanford University. The salt in the mix naturally nixes inflammation, plus it’s anti-bacterial, so it quickly destroys the germs that cause swelling and pain. Just mix 1 teaspoon of salt into each cup of water, heat to the warmest temperature that you can comfortably stand, and then soak the affected foot area for 20 minutes twice daily, until your infection subsides.

Prevent digestive upsets with pineapple

Got gas? One cup of fresh pineapple daily can cut painful bloating within 72 hours, say researchers at California’s Stanford University. That's because pineapple is natually packed with proteolytic enzymes, digestive aids that help speed the breakdown of pain-causing proteins in the stomach and small intestine, say USDA researchers.

Relax painful muscles with peppermint

Suffering from tight, sore muscles? Stubborn knots can hang around for months if they aren’t properly treated, says naturopath Mark Stengler, N.D., author of the book, The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies. His advice: Three times each week, soak in a warm tub scented with 10 drops of peppermint oil. The warm water will relax your muscles, while the peppermint oil will naturally soothe your nerves -- a combo that can ease muscle cramping 25 percent more effectively than over-the-counter painkillers, and cut the frequency of future flare-ups in half, says Stengler.

Give your back some TLC with grapes

Got an achy back? Grapes could be the ticket to a speedy recovery. Recent studies at Ohio State University suggest eating a heaping cup of grapes daily can relax tight blood vessels, significantly improving blood flow to damaged back tissues (and often within three hours of enjoying the first bowl). That’s great news because your back’s vertebrae and shock-absorbing discs are completely dependent on nearby blood vessels to bring them healing nutrients and oxygen, so improving blood flow is essential for healing damaged back tissue, says Stengler.

Wash away pain injuries with water

Whether it’s your feet, your knees or your shoulders that are throbbing, experts at New York’s Manhattan College, say you could kick-start your recovery in one week just by drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. Why? Experts say water dilutes, and then helps flush out, histamine, a pain-triggering compound produced by injured tissues. “Plus water is a key building block of the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones, your joints’ lubricating fluid, and the soft discs in your spine,” adds Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D., author of the book, The Good Mood Diet. “And when these tissues are well-hydrated, they can move and glide over each other without causing pain.” One caveat: Be sure to measure your drinking glasses to find out how large they really are before you start sipping, she says. Today’s juice glasses often hold more than 12 ounces, which means five servings could be enough to meet your daily goal.

Heal sinus problems with horseradish

Latest studies show sinusitis is the nation’s number one chronic health problem. And this condition doesn’t just spur congestion and facial pain, it also makes sufferers six times more likely to feel achy all-over. Horseradish to the rescue! According to German researchers, this eye-watering condiment naturally revs up blood flow to the sinus cavities, helping to open and drain clogged sinuses and heal sinus infections more quickly than decongestant sprays do. The study-recommended dose: One teaspoon twice daily (either on its own, or used as a sandwich or meat topping) until symptoms clear.

Beat bladder infections with blueberries

Eating 1 cup of blueberries daily, whether you opt for them fresh, frozen or in juice form, can cut your risk of a urinary tract infection (UTIs) by 60 percent, according to researchers at New Jersey’s Rutgers University. That's because blueberries are loaded with tannins, plant compounds that wrap around problem-causing bacteria in the bladder, so they can’t get a toehold and create an infection, explains Amy Howell, Ph.D. a scientist at Rutgers University.

Heal mouth sores with honey

Dab painful canker and cold sores with unpasteurized honey four times daily until these skin woes disappear, and they’ll heal 43 percent faster than if you use a prescription cream, say researchers at the Dubai Specialized Medical Center in the United Arab Emirates. Raw honey’s natural enzymes zap inflammation, destroy invading viruses and speed the healing of damaged tissues, say the study authors.

Fight breast pain with flax

In one recent study, adding 3 tablespoons of ground flax to their daily diet eased breast soreness for one in three women within 12 weeks. Scientists credit flax’s phytoestrogens, natural plant compounds that prevent the estrogen spikes that can trigger breast pain. More good news: You don’t have to be a master baker to sneak this healthy seed into your diet. Just sprinkle ground flax on oatmeal, yogurt, applesauce or add it to smoothies and veggie dips.

Cure migraines with coffee

Prone to migraines? Try muscling-up your painkiller with a coffee chaser. Whatever over-the-counter pain med you prefer, researchers at the National Headache Foundation say washing it down with a strong 12- ounce cup of coffee will boost the effectiveness of your medication by 40 percent or more. Experts say caffeine stimulates the stomach lining to absorb painkillers more quickly and more effectively.

Tame leg cramps with tomato juice

At least one in five people regularly struggle with leg cramps. The culprit? Potassium deficiencies, which occur when this mineral is flushed out by diuretics, caffeinated beverages or heavy perspiration during exercise. But sip 10 ounces of potassium-rich tomato juice daily and you'll not only speed your recovery, you'll reduce your risk of painful cramp flare-ups in as little as 10 days, say UCLA researchers.

Convert your wall power outlet to a USB charger

I can't tell you how many times we have come across USB chargers that can be plugged into an outlet, so why not cut out the middleman and simply convert the outlet to USB?

Not only that, the guy behind the hack claims it can be done in 30 minutes on a budget as small as $10. In a nutshell, he just inserted two apple mini usb plugs into the outlets and tucked them back in the wall, but you could soldier the wires to the chargers if you have the skills to go that route. Yeah, you could just keep the chargers plugged in to the regular outlet, which is even easier and seems like less of a fire code violation, but this certainly looks a whole lot better

Thursday, 26 May 2011

iPad crowned as preferred e-book reader, beating Kindle

U.S.-based cable news channel MSNBC conducted a survey in November where 2,800 people were asked which e-reader device would they prefer to purchase. The Apple iPad took the lead in the results with 42 percent approval. Next came Amazon's Kindle with 33 percent votes. The Barnes & Nobles' Nook scored a low 4 percent, while Sony's e-reader device touched the flat-line at just 1 percent.

The Amazon Kindle is a device dedicated for reading thanks to its e-ink electronic paper screen, which makes content look a lot like printed material. This screen technology also allows the device to run much longer than LCD powered displays found in tablets. Amazon also takes pot-shots at the readability of traditional LCD displays under sunlight as compared to e-ink displays (that have no reflection issues). Then there's the vast 7,50,000 books available on Amazon.com. Lastly, comparing it directly to the iPad, the 9.7-inch screen sized Kindle DX is a good $120 cheaper in U.S.

Yet, all these advantages put together haven't put any visible dents on the acceptance rate of the iPad. Possibly because Apple's tablet can portray books, magazines, websites and newspapers with all color shades splattered as you please. Plus the iOS has more than 3,00,000 apps to work and play with. Many believe in the Kindle's e-ink display being less strenuous due to the absence of a back-light. But that doesn't seem to bother the 42 percent people wanting to read on the iPad's brightly backlit screen.

Wireless spy camera hidden in a toy

One of my minor complaints about Scarlett Johansson's latest movie, The Nanny Diaries, is that a nanny cam hidden in the eyes of a teddy bear is such a painful cliche that you don't even have to see it in the trailer to know it's there.

You would think that a wealthy family on the Upper East Side of Manhattan would at least have something a bit less obvious, like this $149 Puppy Wireless Camera Set by Brando, for example. The camera is hidden inside the puppy's nose and can transmit both video and audio over a 2.4GHz frequency so as not to interfere with certain wireless routers or cordless phones (neither of which would be in a palatial apartment like the one in the movie, anyway).

This little pooch is way cuter than that raggedy old teddy bear, too. And you know that appearances are no small thing to the well-to-do.

Now get back your lost or stolen mobile phones

When I lost a phone a few years ago my biggest concern wasn't the cost of replacing the handset, but instead with losing all the personal information that was inside. Despite repeated calls to the number, my phone was gone for good and I called my carrier and had the phone disabled. But by disabling it, I was told the chances of someone returning it greatly decreased because any finder of the phone would not be able to call me.

Now the Yougetitback service might make retrieving a lost phone a little easier, while ensuring that a stolen phone doesn't give away the goods. Once a user determines that a phone is lost or stolen, it can be remotely locked by accessing an online account. No outgoing calls can be made, except to the Yougetitback service, while all other sensitive data including e-mails, contact details, text messages and photos are locked from viewing or use.

This service is also includes other electronic devices and accessories. Users can purchase adhesive security tags that can be affixed to phones, PDAs and laptops. People can also buy the software for $20 per year, while tags are $10 for three-years, and there is even a premium service that will provide a full replacement of a digital device if the software and tag are not successful. Losing a phone sucks, but getting it back is really priceless!

Dell’s Solar Parking Lot

Think about how hot your car gets on a sunny day. Dell decided to harvest all that wasted energy by installing these solar panels in their parking lot. Now they're keeping cars cool and putting that sunlight to good use.

The structure generates 130 kilowatts of solar power, enough to offset 145,000 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions annually. There are even charging terminals available for electric cars, but only two can be charged at a time. Seems like a pretty smart way to keep drivers comfortable and harvest some spare energy on the side.

Telephone Company Ripping You Off? Get Revenge With This Lamp

Somehow it doesn't seem like landline providers would be happy about people using the tiny bit of electricity coming through phone-jacks to power lamps, but this thing is so kitschy looking that it'd be hard to resist. Plus it's cheeeeeeap.

Less than five bucks for an 8-LED lamp that won't even be a blip on your electricity bill? Why not grab one, especially if it somehow pisses off your teleco?

This $250 Flashlight Has a 20 Year Battery

Search Amazon.com for flashlight

The mPower Emergency Illuminator combines a beautiful design (courtesy of the Porsche Design Studio) with new battery technology. One tube holds two CR123 batteries, while the other stores a Lithium Reserve Battery that has a minimum shelf-life of 20 years.

"The mPower Reserve Battery offers an unprecedented minimum shelf life of 20 years and has an immediate activation to full power. Through an intricate battery design, mPhase developed a way to eliminate power dissipation before initial activation."

The flashlight uses an intense, high-performance LED, and has an accessory USB connection to charge your mobile devices. It's slated to arrive in March, but we hope to get a better look at it at CES in January

Girls Rooms Interior

smartphone can sense dangerous chemicals

Jing Li, a scientist in California's NASA Ames Research Center, has designed a smartphone plug-in device that could sense chemicals from the environment. Current prototype of the device works with the iPhone, and plugs into the handset's bottom connector. The device can detect chemicals in ambient air such as methane, ammonia and chlorine gas. It's designed to connect to a network through WiFi or a regular phone connection in order to send alerts to other phones also equipped with the device. According to Li, a previous prototype of the device was the size of a soda can - this iteration, however, is touted as one of the smallest complete sensing-device in the world.

The device contains a silicon-based sensing chip with 64 nanosensors. Li and colleagues had to work on making a chip that can contain all those nanosensors and yet is compact, high-speed, low-power and low-cost. The chip consumes 5 milliwatts, and can last for 100 hours when ran continuously. Although connected to a bottom connector and draws power through it, data communication is routed through the audio input jack due to restrictions imposed by Apple upon third-party developers. There might be a chance that the second phase of the device's development could be made for a smartphone other than an iPhone. Whether this happens or not, Li envisions future prototypes to be used by fire fighters and other kinds of emergency responders.

HOW TO: Spy on someone during the festive season

If you feel like spying on someone in a festive and fragrant manner, consider getting a GSM listening device hidden in a basket of potpourri. Send it to one of your enemies along with a deceptively cheery card, and then call the bug from anywhere in the world (a SIM card is included) and you’ll be able to hear whatever is going on around the basket for up to two weeks.

To be honest, whenever someone has given me a stinky bag of dead plants, I’ve said something along the lines of “thank you, this is absolutely wonderful!” and then thrown it out as soon as they were gone. I mean, putting a bug in potpourri strikes me as being like trying to feed your kids vitamins by mixing them in with lima beans. It doesn’t help that the GSM bug is about $275, but at least the potpourri and basket are included.

Worlds most expensive MOBILE PHONES

Check out the 10 most expensive mobile phones in the world below. The list starts from the lowest cost to the highest cost models.

Number 10: Lamborghini 8800 Sirocco: Price £500

Lamborghini has partnered with Nokia to provide a mobile telephone for lovers of the Italian car maker. This phone has the famous emblem engraved on the front and back of the phone. It is a limited edition model and only 500 will be made. The phone also comes with Lamborghini wallpapers, screen-savers and ring-tones.

Number 9: Bang & Olufsen Serene: Price £675

Another partnership between a luxury brand and mobile phone manufacturer takes the form of Bang & Olufsen and Samsung with the Serene which is on sale for £675. It has a sleek design with an inbuilt motor to open and close the telephone. There are some design issues however as you have to use a screwdriver to get to the battery and SIM card which is inconvenient.

Number 8: The Gresso: Price £1,000

It seems luxury telephones are becoming more like fashion accessories than actual mobile phones. The Gresso is made of gold and African Blackwood and will come in five models. This particular phone has been designed by a well known Italian designer. The Russian based company also has other models made of crocodile skin.

Number 7: Mobiado Professional EM: Price £1,027

Another wood luxury mobile phone has entered the market with titanium buttons and a host of functions including a camera, FM radio and Bluetooth capability. Apparently they are only making 200 of them which make them very rare.

Number 6: Nokia 8800 Gold Edition: Price £1,500

Nokia has launched a 24 carat gold version of its 8800 mobile phone. The gold edition phone comes with a camera, radio and MP3 player as standard. As well as these features the telephone also has a special edition box and charging dock.

Number 5: Motorola V220 Special Edition: Price: £28,000

Motorola has also decided to release its own ultra expensive mobile phone and commissioned well known jewelery designer Peter Aloisson from Austria, who has also designed several other phones. The phone itself has 1,200 diamonds and its buttons are made of 18 carat gold.

Number 4: Vertu Diamond: Price £50,000

Vertu is a British based company that specialises in luxury mobile phones. The Vertu Diamond is one of its handsets which is made of platinum and encrusted with diamonds. One of the benefits of owning a Vertu telephone is the special concierge button which allows the owner to use the concierge service 24 hours a day to book fine dining and travel whenever they need. Only 200 have been made.

Number 3: Sony Ericsson Black Diamond: Price £162,000

Only 5 of these mobile phones have been made it is a Windows mobile with WIFI, camera and a SD memory card to store photos and other media. Jaren Goh which is a design company based in Singapore created the phone which is made from various materials including diamonds, titanium and polycarbonate.

Number 2: Vertu Signature: Price £167,000

Another Vertu mobile phone this time designed by French jeweller Boucheron. This particular telephone has one pear cut diamond along with two emerald eyes and 439 rubies. Only 8 are being made and if you can not quite afford the £167,000 price tag there is a cheaper version available without the rubies at just £62,000.

Number 1: Goldvish: Price £540,000

The most expensive mobile phone in the world is the Goldvish. It is a one off which has an incredible 120 carats worth of VVS-1 grade diamonds which are very high quality. Emmanuel Gueit had the pleasure of designing this mobile phone who usually designs watches for a living. The specifications of the phone include a radio and 2GB memory for storing media. The phone has already been bought by a Russian businessman for his wife.

Bimota unveils DB8 Biposto sportbike, skirts mainstream

Bimota – an exclusive Italian motorcycle manufacturer that got its name by cribbing two letters from each of its three founding father's last names, the legendary Bianchi, Morri and Tamburini – has made a name for itself by producing high-end chassis components and bodywork using tried-and-true powerplants from the world's finest two-wheeled firms. Now, with its latest bike, the DB8 Biposto (meaning it has two seats), the company edges a bit closer to the mainstream motorcycle market.

Where Bimota's pricier models, such as the drool-worthy DB7, use carbon fiber (bodywork and subframe) or titanium (exhaust system), the new DB8 makes use of simple plastic and chromoly steel. Somewhat lower-spec suspension pieces – though still certainly of high quality and fully adjustable – will be used front and rear to help keep the price out of the stratosphere. The powerplant will be Ducati's top-rung 1198 Testastretta Evoluzione engine, offering up 170 horsepower and 97 pound-feet of torque.

Pricing will reportedly come in at €23,000 (£20,300 or about $33,000 in U.S. currency at today's exchange rates), so this latest Bimota still won't come cheap – more like a wee bit cheaper.

BIMOTA DB8 ENGINE SPECS

Source: Ducati 1198 Testastretta Evoluzione, 4V 90°Twin-Cylinder
Displacement: 1198.4 cc
Cooling System: Liquid Cooled
Compression Ratio: 12.7±0.5:1
Maximum Power: 170 HP @ 9750 rpm
Maximum Torque: 96.9lbs•ft @ 8000 rpm
Exhaust System: 2-1-1, stainless steel

BIMOTA DB8 CHASSIS SPECS

Frame: Welded 39NiCrMo4 Tubing and Machined 6082 Aluminium Alloy Plates
Wheelbase: 1435 mm
Front Suspension: Marzocchi USD forks DLC fully adjustable
Rear Suspension: Extreme Tech Monoshock fully adjustable
Fuel Tank: 4.23 gallons (1.05 gallon reserve)
Total Weight: 178kg (392lbs)
Steering Angle: 25°
Seat Height: 800 mm
Overall Length: 2100 mm
Overall Width: 700 mm
Overall Height: 1115 mm
Ground clearance: 135 mm
Front Brake: Double 320mm Brembo floating disc, 4-pistons radial Brembo callipers, radial pumps
Rear brake: 220mm floating disc, 2-piston Brembo calliper
Front Tire: 120/70 ZR 17 Dunlop Sportmax GP Racer
Rear Tire: 190/55 ZR 17 Dunlop Sportmax GP Racer