New bike reaffirms value in physical activity in a safer mode on all terrains

Bicycle, the kind that can be good on all terrains

Portland, Oregon is one of those locations where bike is king and dedicated bike lanes are everywhere. So it is a major area for the development of new ways to make biking safe. In fact it is a location where different electric fat bike designs are emerging that can perform well in both snow and sand. The Big Easy is one of them.

Gizmag outlines the newest, safety-minded bicycle. That Big Easy is said to master some of the hardest terrains. That makes it a good choice for biking in Oregon terrain, whether that is along the coast of Oregon, such as Seaside and Astoria where sand reigns supreme, or snow in the state's mountainous areas.

The Big Easy sports those fat tires for safety and also electric power that can be sustained for 20 miles. It's designer - distributor, Defiant, maintains it is the kind of bike that can be used all year. And since Oregon is one of the states with considerable variety in both weather and terrain, it becomes a viable option for those who want a safe and reliable commute all year long.

Some of these bicycles are being made in Portland, but they are not cheap. Expect a price tag of about $4, 495.

New tech gadget combines pen and personal security

[caption id="attachment_15416" align="alignleft" width="180"] Key Chain pocket mace for secuirty[/caption]

If you are one of those folks worried about the possibility of attack when you are out in an unknown area, or a place badly lit or just want that extra feeling of safety, a new tech gadget combines pen and security, in a fashion for multiple use.

According to Gizmag, a magazine that features the latest on gadgets of all types, this pen gadget is a serious conversation piece, besides being very functional for personal security and for writing. UZI Tactical Defender Pen was created by the same company that makes submachine guns.

Think Geek also has looked at this new tech goodie, highlighting its essential features as these: The pen is constructed of aircraft aluminum. It can use Parker or Fisher refills to write. It can break glass and catch DNA. It can also write under water. A photo of this device is on the Think Geek web page.

A number of companies offer personal security devices. Brickhouse Security, for example, offers everything from stun guns to a key chain with mace.

Laws on self-defense can be tricky, as folks have noted in the case of the young man, Trayvon Martin, who was killed during a neighborhood altercation allegedly by George Zimmerman, who is now being held in jail, pending a decision on the case. This case has raised questions about laws that allow for folks to defend themselves away from home in an aggressive way that can even cause death.  So there is a fine line between personal security and self-defense, and what folks can do legally that is now being questioned.

New technology uses human power for physical, financial fitness

[caption id="attachment_14121" align="alignleft" width="284"] pedal-powered generator[/caption]

Carol Forsloff --If you’re sedentary, need exercise and also face occasional power outages or need alternative power sources while camping or traveling,  the latest gadget will solve those problems with human energy.

Gizmag magazine reflects on the newest technical device that includes a small,  set of pedals, one often sees in exercise areas of retail stores, designed to fit under a desk or discreetly in a corner, allowing the user to sit comfortably while pedaling.  Now this same type of system can be used to create the kind of power that can actually recharge a laptop, cell phone or virtually any electronic device.

This pedal-powered generator by  K-Tor is part of a set of electronic gadgets that generate enough power for laptops, cell phones and other small electronic devices.  This latest one with pedals has twice the potential of its handheld device that can be used for cell phones and smaller devices.

David Butcher is one of the early innovators in the use of human power, especially of the pedal or crank type.  He has been on the forefront of innovation, he maintains, since 1976 and outlines a number of uses for the system he has developed.  Much of his work focuses on powering devices that use batteries; however, he also examines the potential for human power to be used for powering an entire house.   He tells us he has saved money by using this pedal power.

The future of technology presents opportunities to develop alternative sources of energy, such as this one.  That human energy may well make the difference in times of emergency,  the kind that has happened frequently across the world during hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and other weather-created disasters.  They can also be useful for the hiker, camper, or the traveler who runs out of gas on a stretch of deserted highway and the phone runs out of power.  So the practical uses are various.

New way to grow food by window farming

[caption id="attachment_11880" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Window Farm - windowfarm.org"][/caption]

Carol Forsloff - It isn’t cheap, but it soon might be as people are experimenting with a number of different concepts involved in window farming.   For those folks wanting to get into gardening and who have just a small space, this new concept might just be the answer.

Window farming is an emerging hydroponic farming that is becoming popular among those people who want the joys of a garden but don’t have the acreage to do it.    Up until now numbers of people have shared their various designs of bottles and rods and timers and other equipment that allow plants to grow in a vertical fashion in a window, which they call window farming.

These same folks are coming up with a standard kit that has all the essentials for window farming.   It is a modular system and can be adapted to fit most windows, according to the description in Gizmag.  The system, it is said, requires very little maintenance and costs about $8/year to run.

A one column Classic Windowfarms kit costs US$119.95,  that includes four plant containers, four net cups, a metal frame, an air pump, plumbing tubes, a hanger and a stand, a timer, a reservoir and cover, and some clay pellets.  A larger system can be had for $269.

Kickstarter is the creator of Window Farms, allowing backers to purchase kits for as little as $99.  The company explains its offer as this:  “Order your windowfarm today, and join our 22,000+ global community members at Windowfarms.org to share your growing experiences. Conversations center on identifying the "micro-climate" of your windows and finding a good match amongst the huge varieties of herbs, greens, vegetables, fruits, and medicinals available. You can also choose a reward that includes nutrients and baby plant delivery of our favorite, well-tested varieties to ensure that your Windowfarms are always producing fresh herbs, greens, and other edibles.

Windowfarms.org lists a number of plants that can grow well in a window.  These include kale, lettuce, basil, strawberries, chamomile, stevia, peas, sage, dill, cress,  Swiss chard, squash, or any other plants without roots.  The organization also offers a community chat and forum as well as instructions on hydroponics.

Those people who live in condominiums and apartments can’t complain they don’t have space for a garden,  as new methods continue to be developed that allow people to enjoy fresh food they raise right under their roof.    Growing a garden in a window is another way to simplify one’s life, get back to basics, go green and save money on groceries too.