Sunday, February 10, 2008
Friday, February 08, 2008
Make your family disaster plan
Disasters, whether natural (hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, for example) or man-made (i.e. fires, nuclear accidents, or terrorist attacks) can strike at any time, whether we're ready for them or not. Even with advance warning, a disaster can be overwhelming, and it's not always possible to communicate with family members who may be at work or school when an emergency strikes. A little planning and practice before you're in danger can help you and your family survive even the worst disasters.
Steps
- Determine what disasters your area is susceptible to. If you live in Kansas, you don't need to prepare for a hurricane, but you'd better be ready for tornadoes. While some disasters, such as fire, can happen anywhere, the hazards you might encounter vary widely from place to place. Check with your local emergency management or civil defense office, Red Cross chapter, or the National Weather Service to get an idea of what emergencies you should prepare for.
- Find out what you should do in case a disaster strikes. The organizations above will likely be able to advise you what to do in an emergency. They may be able to provide you with evacuation maps and information about local warning systems and emergency plans. If you can't get all the information you need from officials, research your local hazards on your own. Figure out, for example, what preparations you should make for a tornado or hurricane (you can find information on many disaster situations right here on wikiHow) and how to survive if you're caught in a disaster, and determine the best evacuation routes on your own if need be. Remember, when push comes to shove, it's your responsibility to ensure your family is well prepared.
- Pick a meeting spot and a way to get in contact with your family members. There's a good chance that all your family members won't be in the same place when disaster strikes, so it's important to have a predetermined rendezvous point. Choose a spot that will likely be safe and that is well away from your neighborhood, as you might not be able to make it back to your home. In addition designate a friend or relative as a contact person that you, your spouse, and your children can call if you can't meet up. In order to minimize the chance that the contact person will also be affected by the disaster, choose someone who lives in a distant town or in a different state. Make sure that all your family members have the contact person's phone number with them at all times.
- Discuss disaster scenarios with your family and make sure everyone knows what to do in all the likely emergency scenarios. It's important to educate yourself on how to respond to likely hazards, but what happens to your family if they are away from you or if you're killed or injured? It's not enough for one person in the family to know what to do--everybody should know the plan.
- Fix potential hazards in your home. Once you've identified potential disaster scenarios, thoroughly inspect your house and try to make it as safe as possible. Here are just a few examples:
- Every home should have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. Test smoke detectors at least once a month, and replace their batteries yearly or as needed. Fire extinguishers should be recharged according to the manufacturer's instructions, and family members should learn how to use them. Everyone should also know how to escape the house in the event of a fire.
- If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, you wouldn't want a tall, heavy bookcase sitting right next to the baby's crib, as it could be knocked over in a quake.
- If you live near woods with the possibility of forest fires, you should clear your property of brush and high grass to create a buffer zone between your home and the fire.
- Teach your family basic life-saving techniques. Everyone who can learn CPR and first aid should take a certification class and keep their certification current. Adults and older children should know how to turn off gas, electricity and water if the house is damaged, and everyone should know how to detect a gas leak. Emergency numbers should be posted near phones, and even small children should be taught how to call 9-1-1 or the corresponding emergency number in your country.
- Assemble a disaster kit. Be prepared for emergencies with at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and potable water, prescription medications, first aid supplies, and other things you might need if you have no utilities and no way to purchase supplies. Keep a smaller kit in the trunk of your car. See the related wikiHow for more details on building a disaster kit.
- Practice your plan. Practice makes perfect, and in a life-or-death situation, you want to respond perfectly. Periodically go over your emergency plans with your family, and update them as needed. Quiz and drill your family on important safety concepts.
Tips
- If your workplace, school, or town hasn't developed an emergency plan, take the initiative to start planning one. Go to meetings of local officials and request assistance, and collaborate with your neighbors and coworkers to help make your whole community safer.
- It is a good idea to pick two or three emergency contacts, one who lives outside of your local area code in addition to one who lives within and also someone who can receive text messages. In major disasters one can often call a number outside your area code but not within. In extreme cases, people have had to rely on text messaging when phone lines and towers were decimated in the disaster. After Hurricane Katrina cell phones were just about useless to make calls in the affected areas, but they saved many lives and helped reunite families thanks to their text messaging capabilities that survived.
- Besides the resources mentioned above, you might also want to check with your insurance company for ways to make your house safer. Insurers have an interest in minimizing the risk of injury or damage to your home in the event of a disaster, so they will usually be happy to provide you with information. Many insurance policies also require certain precautions in order for a loss to be covered.
- Be serious about your emergency planning, but be careful not to irrationally frighten children or to become obsessed with disaster yourself. Planning makes you safer, and it should make you and your family feel safer, too.
- If you are having difficulty with any of these steps, there are many resources on the internet to assist in this process. Check out these sites: Ready.gov, operated by the US Department of Homeland Security and Prepare.org, operated by the American Red Cross.
How to get pregnant
For some people, avoiding pregnancy is difficult; but for others, conceiving a child can be elusive and frustrating. There are only six days per monthly cycle during which a woman can conceive[1] and there are many factors which can affect fertility and conception. Here's how to increase the likelihood of pregnancy.
Steps
- Understand how conception works. About 14 days from the first day of menstruation, the ovaries release an egg, and this is the only time when the egg can be fertilized. In order to increase the chances of pregnancy, you must know how to predict when this happens.
- Discontinue any form of birth control. Some birth control methods have a longer "readjustment" period after stopping than others, so the time it takes for a woman's body to be again ready to become pregnant varies. For example, women using Depo-Provera, an injectable contraceptive, usually do not get pregnant until 9-10 months after their last injection.[2] On the other hand, ceasing to use barrier methods has an immediate effect.
- Make healthy lifestyle choices. Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, and keep stress under control. Illness and stress can both affect the timing of ovulation, making it difficult to predict.[3]
- Both partners should eat a well-balanced diet, including foods high in anti-oxidants (e.g. fruits and vegetables) and vitamins, and consider eating less seafood, as it is associated with increasing blood levels of mercury, which has been linked to fertility problems.[4] Consumption of pesticides may also be linked to pregnancy difficulties[5] so now may be a good time for couples to choose organic foods. For women, taking folic acid (vitamin B-12) supplements before trying to conceive to reduce the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.[6]
- Visit a doctor for preconception planning to identify any necessary lifestyle changes, as well as to check if any of the medications either partner is taking can decrease chances of pregnancy or damage a developing fetus. There may also be vaccines needed to prevent illness or defects in an unborn child.
- Stop smoking. Tobacco affects cervical mucous in ways that may obstruct fertilization.[7] Smoking also reduces sperm count and sperm health.[8] Exposure to second-hand smoke can be just as counterproductive.[9]
- Sleep better. Sleep deprivation results in lower levels of the hormone leptin, without which ovulation may be affected.[10]
- Record the first day and the length of menstruation every month.
- If menstruation consistently starts every 28 days, you can reasonably assume that ovulation occurs 14 days after the first day of menstruation.[11]
- If menstrual cycles are more than 28 days long but are consistent, subtract 18 from the average number of days in your cycles. For example, if menstruation begins reliably every 35 days, the difference is 17. On that day in the cycle is when ovulation can be expected to take place.[12]
- If cycles are short, irregular or unpredictable, this method won't work.[13] Move on to the next steps.
- Record your basal body temperature (BBT) daily. BBT is your body's temperature when you're fully at rest and can be measured with a thermometer specifically labeled for basal temperature.
- Make a graph on graph paper or on the computer, with dates on the bottom and basal temperature on the side. You can find and print fertility charts online, as well as sign up for a fertility charting service.
- Look for a gradual or sudden rise in temperature (between 0.5 and 1.6 degrees F).[14] Fertility is highest during the two to three days before your basal temperature rises[15] so if you can observe any month-to-month patterns in when your temperature rises, you can predict the best time to conceive.
- Observe changes in cervical mucous daily. At the beginning of a menstrual cycle, it's sparse, tacky, and dense; when ovulation is near, it starts becoming more slippery and plentiful, resembling raw egg white.[16] It gets like this in order to help the sperm reach the egg.[17] To check your cervical mucous, wash your hands, rub some toilet paper or your fingers over the opening of the vagina, examine the color and consistency of the mucous, and write it down.[18]
- Checking cervical mucous can reinforce observations about ovulation gathered in other steps. 22 out of 100 women practicing only this method for one year will get pregnant. It'll be less effective for women who naturally do produce very little mucous, or who use feminine hygiene products and douches.[19] Checking right after showering, bathing, swimming, or intercourse can also make this method less accurate.[20]
- If you're comfortable with it, you can also observe the position of your cervix to determine whether you are ovulating. Wash your hands, insert two fingers, and feel the end of the cervix. If it's hard and dry, like the tip of a nose, you haven't ovulated yet. During ovulation, the cervix will shift higher and feel softer and wetter.[21]
- Test your urine with an ovulation monitoring kit. These can be purchased over the counter and work by detecting the surge in hormones that takes place right before ovulation. Follow the instructions that come with the kit carefully. This method can be expensive, and is best used after the previous steps have been followed (see Warnings below) but have the benefit of giving you advance notice.
- Try to conceive based on predicted ovulation. Have intercourse at least once a day in the days leading up to and during ovulation.[22] Have intercourse at least 2-3 times per week when ovulation is not predicted, just in case.[23] Don't refrain from intercourse because of concerns over sperm counts being depleted. While sperm count may be lowered by increased frequency of intercourse, there is still statistically a better chance of pregnancy if the couple tries to conceive more often.[24]
• Get in position. While it hasn't been scientifically proven, it's generally thought that positions which place the sperm close to the cervix are more conducive to pregnancy, specifically the "missionary position" with a pillow under the woman's hips. Remaining in bed for at least a half hour after intercourse may also increase the chances of sperm reaching the egg.[25]
• Enjoy your time together. Trying too hard to get pregnant, especially by strictly following a schedule, can cause stress and reduce physical and emotional intimacy between you and your partner. Many couples recommend being creative with intercourse and keeping it lighthearted and fun.[26] - Take a pregnancy test if you miss a period. Wait at least 28 days from the day you were supposed to get your period before using a home pregnancy test, or else you may get a false negative result.[27] A blood test administered by a doctor, however, can be taken as soon as a period is missed without any sacrifices in accuracy. Consult a doctor if both partners are in their early 30s or younger and in good health have not conceived after a year[28] plus the expected recovery time from a birth control method. Those who are older, experience menstruation cycles that are longer than 35 days, or have reason to suspect fertility issues may wish to visit a doctor sooner.
Tips
- Just because a previous child was conceived quickly doesn't mean any following pregnancies will be just as easy to come by. As a woman gets older, the likelihood of conception decreases.[29]
- Avoid the following:[30]
- vaginal sprays and scented tampons can result in a pH imbalance in the vagina
- artificial lubricants, vegetable oils, and glycerin can kill off sperm
- douching alters the normal acidity of the vagina and may wash away the cervical mucus that is required to transport the sperm
- Drinking coffee is not proven to decrease rates of conception. However, a recent study indicates that drinking too much caffeine during pregnancy may increase the risk of a miscarriage.[32]
- Cough medicine will not increase your chances of getting pregnant.
- A man can wear briefs without decreasing his sperm count.
Warnings
- Ovulation monitoring kits can be so specific about timing that you may miss the mark by concentrating your conception efforts into a very narrow time defined by the kit.[33] The pressure associated with using these kits can also result in stress, which will not help the chances of pregnancy.[34]
- Make sure that your partner is disease and infection free before stopping any barrier methods of birth control.
Electric power generation from walking
Last month, the journal Science reported that a Swedish company was planning on using the body heat generated by commuters in a Stockholm train station to warm a nearby office building. If that sounds too…personal, they're not the only ones thinking about ways to reuse wasted energy. A team of scientists from Ann Arbor, Pittsburgh and British Columbia have come up with a way to tap pedestrian power. They've created a device, which straps onto your knees, that can harvest energy from your stride the same way hybrid electric vehicles recycle power during braking.
Their report, which appears in the February 8 issue of Science, shows that walkers can generate about five watts of power without so much as breaking a sweat. That's enough energy to run 10 cell phones or two computers at once, which could be good news for people who live in countries where access to electricity is spotty. The bad news is: the device could enable commuters to talk on the phone, listen to music, email their friends, play video games, check their stock quotes, and photograph themselves doing it, just by pacing back and forth waiting for their morning latte. We beseech them not to—on bended knee.
Nokia E61i review by gadgeteer
Every time I decide to buy a new mobile phone, I get excited that it might become my new favorite. I'm really anxious for a new favorite. A phone that has all the features of my current favorite (Treo 680), but with enough new features that takes me to my gadgeteer happy place. If the Treo works for me, why do I want to chuck it for something new? Because I get bored easily and am never satisfied. :o) Will the Nokia E61i transport me to mobile phone nirvana? Let's see...
Hardware Specifications
Operating system: Symbian S60 3rd Edition
Memory: Approximately 60 MB of available user memory
Hot swappable microSD memory card support up to 2 GB
Quad-band GSM/EDGE coverage for international usage (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
2.8" QVGA landscape active-matrix color display supporting up to 16 million colors (320 x 240 pixels) with an active area of 56.9 x 42.7 mm
WLAN: 802.11b, 802.11g
Bluetooth 1.2 specification
2 megapixel camera
Weight: 5.29 oz
Dimensions: 4.61 x 2.76 x 0.55 in
Package Contents
Nokia E61i
Battery BP-4L
Travel charger
Wired headset
Connectivity Cable
The E61i has a serious / business style to it. The design seems a bit straight laced and stuffy... at least to me. Now I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but it might cause some people to look the other way.
The casing is a combination of brushed aluminum and charcoal colored plastic. The front is almost entirely comprised of the 2.8 inch display and QWERTY keyboard. Above the display there is new email status LED / ambient light sensor and a small power button. The LED is supposed to blink for a missed call, text message, email, and multimedia message. You have the ability to turn on or off any of these options. During my review period with this phone, I never was able to get this to work reliably and never for a missed call. I think one time I saw it blinking for a text message.
On the back you will find the easy to remove battery cover and the 2 megapixel camera lens.
The only other physical buttons on the E61i are located on the Left side. Here you will find the up/down volume buttons and a voice recorder / voice command button. Pressing the voice recorder button once will launch the recording application. To begin a recording, you must press the center select button on the front of the phone. Holding the side button in for several seconds will launch the voice command application and cause it to listen for your command.
Along the bottom edge of the phone, you'll find the power port, data / proprietary headset port and IR port. That's right, there isn't a regular headphone jack built into this smartphone.
I'll admit that the Treo has spoiled me. Now I feel like I must have a smartphone that has a QWERTY keyboard. Without one I feel a bit lost and all thumbs. As a result, I get along relatively well with the E61i's keyboard. The keys are a bit larger than the Treo's, but are flatter and have less tactile feedback. They are also backlit, but only light up when the ambient light sensor detects that your are in low light. I had no problems getting used to the keyboard layout for texting or calling. I did have more trouble getting used to the navigation buttons located above the keyboard. The 5-way nav button in the center is too small in my opinion. The surrounding buttons are also too cramped.
As you can see in the image above, the Nokia E61i is wider than the Treo 680.
But, it is thinner... Is it better to be thinner or more narrow? For me, the E61i feels too wide to be a phone. It feels awkward to hold up to my ear and talk into it. It's not THAT much larger than the Treo, but in hand, it just doesn't feel nearly as comfortable to me. That said, it does feel very solid and well built. It passes the gadgeteer squeeze test with absolutely no protest.
The display is large and easy to read. I wouldn't say it's wonderful as I'm currently spoiled by the iPhone. But it is crisp and the colors are not washed out. The display is a lot better than it looks in the images I have shown below. All of those images were taken without flash, but they do appear to be a bit washed out for some reason.
Battery life on the E61i is excellent. It is rated for 4-9hrs talk time and 12-17 days of standby. I've used it for what seems like a week without connecting it to the AC adapter for a recharge. Granted, this is during a week that I only used it for an occasional call and text message. But still, that's pretty darned good if you ask me!
The signal strength / reception with this phone is equally impressive. Nokia as a rule seems to make phones that can how to hold a signal better than most phones I try. This phone is no exception. I've been able to use it in places that I've only seen a 'no signal' or 'no service' message on other phones. I've also found that I can drive through areas where my other phones (Treo / iPhone) always drop the call. Not so with this phone.
Sound quality during calls is clear and the volume is very good for both sides of a conversation. No gripes there.
For a lot people, the E61i will disappoint because it isn't a 3G phone. It just has EDGE. This would definitely disappoint me if I actually had 3G in my town... The E61i has built in WiFi which works fine but given the size of the display, surfing on it isn't exactly a great experience.
So, as far as hardware goes, this is a solid phone that performs well, but lacks some pizazz when it comes to style. Now let's take a look at the user interface and built in applications.
This is the home screen. It is functional, although not overly customizable. As you can see, there is an application launch bar to the right of the clock. There are also a few status lines. The phone comes with 2 themes, but you can find many more online.
Pressing the small phonebook button in the navigation bar will bring up the contacts application. From here, you just start typing part of a name. First, Last or even the middle name, and it will filter down the list to just show the correct matches. As you can see, contact records can have images associated with them if you desire.
Incoming and outgoing calls are shown on the home screen, along with missed call status.
The E61i has a very good software bundle built into it. Included is a copy of Quickoffice which gives you the ability to edit Microsoft Excel, Word and Powerpoint files right on the phone.
There are also several media players on the device, including RealPlayer, Flash Player and an MP3 player.
The music player has a simple interface and supports MP3 and AAC formats. You can play music through the built-in speaker or through the proprietary earbud (yes, earbud... not earbuds) included with the phone.
The 2 megapixel camera has a simple interface and takes mediocre pictures. I guess a so-so camera is better than no camera at all. Right?
Click thumbnails to see full size image samples
The web browser is pretty good if you don't mind surfing on a tiny display. You use the 5-way nav button as a pseudo mouse to move to the links that you want to click on.
Image rendering isn't too bad and moving backwards and forwards through pages that you've visited is done through a convenient thumbnail view of the pages.
I didn't find the messaging client to be all that friendly. It's one application that you use for text messaging and email. Accessing email is painfully slow. I used it to access my IMAP account, so maybe that's why it might be slower than with POP. Even though I had it set to pull down full messages, it would only download the headers. Then if I wanted to read a message, it would have to pull that down. It just felt very cumbersome to me.
I also don't love the way this phone handles text messages. The message does not show up on the display when it comes in. Your phone just beeps and tells you that you have a messages waiting. You have to then navigate to the message to read it, which takes too many key presses for my liking.
When I purchased the Nokia E61i, I was hoping to fall in love with it. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened. While I do appreciate some aspects of this phone (namely the great reception), the size, cramped keyboard and overall feel of the OS just don't do it for me. At least this time I can say that I gave a Symbian device a real honest to goodness try. It's time for me to get back to my quest to find my perfect phone. Wish me luck with my next try.
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