The Differences Between Luge And Bobsledding

The winter sports of luge and bobsledding have a lot in common. Both are featured prominently in the winter Olympics. Both are extremely dangerous for the participants. Both consist of plummeting feet first down the same slippery track at top speeds. Both sports require nerves of steel and reflexes of lightning. However, there are a lot of subtle difference between these two sports that test the limits of how humans relate to gravity.

Bobsledders work in groups of up to four people, whereas luge racers either go solo or work in teams of two. Lugers face the elements head on, whereas bobsledders enjoy some protection with their equipment.

A bobsled is shaped sort of like a canoe with an extended opening. Although the riders are most exposed to the elements, the low front and sides of a bobsled offer the athletes some level of defense from both the force of the wind when they race and from the possibility of serious injury if they crash. The bobsled itself is designed to absorb at least some of the impact of a collision, offering the racers a modicum of protection.

By contrast, a luge is a small piece of equipment roughly the size of a couple of skateboards. Racers cling to this tiny surface to protect themselves from the friction of the track, but in the event of a crash a luge racer?s body is entirely exposed and vulnerable.

Bobsleds accommodate either two or four riders, and much of the athletes training before a bobsled race centers on learning to work together as a team. With top race speeds over one hundred kilometers per hour, it is absolutely essential that a bobsledding team function as though they were many limbs attached to the same brain. Being even a few fractions of a second out of sync in their movements can send a bobsled team rolling into a major crash instead of flying past the finish line. It can be very difficult for teams to accomplish the kind of precise group coordination that they need in order to excel on the track.

Luging is a sport undertaken by individuals and by teams of two. Without having to worry about coordinating four people to move as one, luge racers are free to focus their training on other aspects of downhill sled racing. Lugers work to improve everything from their position on the sled to their ability to anticipate the nerve-shattering hairpin turns of the track. Luge racers need to be in peak physical condition in order to be able to respond instantaneously to unexpected twists and turns.

In addition to learning how to handle the track, athletes who pursue excellence in the world of luging need to become experts at protecting themselves in the event of a crash. Because luges go at such fast speeds, the difference between reacting immediately to a bump in the road and reacting a few fractions of a second later can be the difference between walking away from a spill and being carried away on a stretcher.

About the Author:

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for Lugear.com. To learn more about ice luge and street luge, visit us.

Read More

Are Women Taking Over The World?

It was Memorial Day week-end, and something I've enjoyed for many years, is to watch the Indianapolis 500 race! I'm not, necessarily, a racing fan, but I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it is home to the famous Unser racing family. Between them, they have NINE Indy 500 wins...four victories for Al Unser, Sr who is tied with A.J. Foyt and Rick Mears for most Indy wins; three wins for his brother Bobby Unser; and two wins for Al's son...Little Al. Because of this, I watched the race, to pull for the Unser family of racers!

There has always been a woman in the race for the past several years, and that's the way it should be. If a woman and her team can qualify, give her the wheel. But, this year was different! All 33 drivers in this field were women...that's right, women! Scary, eh?

I watched on television, as so many other racing fans did across the country...and I couldn't believe my eyes. I must have looked like a ree full of owls, watching television! Not only the 33 drivers were women, but all the pit crews were women, too! The 300,000 fans in the stands were all women; the broadcasters were women; the reporters were women; there was a peanut girl; a popcorn girl; a soft drink girl...NOT A MAN IN SIGHT! What's going on here? I thought to myself! There were no men anywhere to be seen!

My eyes were glued to the television set, as I could not imagine 33 women drivers, racing at the Indy 500...all doing over 200 miles per hour! I DIDN'T WANT TO WATCH...but I had to!

Nothing like this had ever happened before, so I went to the newspaper the day of the race, to read more about it, and to get the starting line-up. One of the headlines in the sports page read, Record speed set at Indianapolis 500 of 287.5 miles per hour! WOW! We've got some lead-foots out there! There was not even e man in the stands...nowhere to be seen! Could women be taking over the world...I thought to myself! As I read the newspaper, the Indy field of the 33 drivers went like this:

Row 1; (Pole) Robyn Hood; Carole Carroll; Kitty Litter

Row 2; Elaine Mulhane; Candice Piper; Billie Goat

Row 3; April Showers; Tiffiny Holbrooke; Savannah Georgia

Row 4; Kandy Barr; Heidi Smith; Madison Avenue

Row 5; Carmen Sanchez; Crystal Ball; Pat Ludwig

Row 6; Sparkle Plenty; Phyliss Acherman; Penny Arcade

Row 7; Misty Moonlight; Gloria Campos; Angela Johnson;

Row 8; Joanne Kellogg; Susan SuranWrap; Billie Marten

Row 9; Heather Stratton; Mia Culpa; Georgia Onmymind

Row 10; Kim Singleton; Theresa Rodrigues; Betty Krocker

Row 11; Brooke Trout; Jennifer Wright; Monica Raynor

LADIES...START YOUR ENGINES!

Laying rubber and smoke everywhere...these women meant business, as the race got started! And, I must have looked like a ree full of owls, as I watched the race on television! Thirty three women race car drivers...all in one place, doing over 200 miles! I was scared to death! I had to look away at the start! But, unlike the men, who would have transmissions, radiators and fuel pumps in the stands at the start, and tires bouncing off the clouds...the women were doing pretty good! They didn't drive like the men drivers, and there were no accidents...and everything ran smoothly!

I've never seen paint jobs like this on racing cars...pink; lavender; purple; gold, etc. One car was painted pink, with dollar signs all over it; one light yellow car, with pictures of the woman's kids all over it; one purple car with diamonds all over it...W-O-O-O-O-O-O-W! Talk about creative! And, I saw NO ads on the cars for auto parts; gas and oil companies, etc. All the ads I saw on the women's cars were for: credit card companies; diamond/jewelry stores; shopping malls; hair coloring companies; cosmetic companies; powder puff companies; finger-nail polishing companies...baby food companies...W-O-O-O-O-W!

Smoke and tire marks all over the race track, as the race went on and on for over three hours, and finally, the last lap...and it boiled down to a race between Candy Barr and Susan Suranwrap. This was a fight to the finish...they were neck and neck turning the fourth corner! One driver would take the lead...and then the other...and then the other...back and forth they went...the crowd was going wild! Down the stretch they came, as they were now side by side, almost touching wheels...as they screamed past the finish line in a cloud of smoke! The crowd was loving it!

Three hundred thousand women, were on their feet rooting them on...and by a few tenths of a second...the 87th running of the Indianapolis 500 race was won by ...Susan SuranWrap...who took the pink and white checkered flag! People in the stands were jumping up and down; screaming and yelling...going crazy! What a day!

A drive to the winner's circle, was unusal because the traditional black and white winners flag/markings were gone, and replaced with a pink and white flag...splashed with a touch of lavender! Gone, too, was the traditional drink of milk for the victory, as it would now be champagne! On her win, Susan SuranWrap took a swig of champagne...sprayed the bottle of champagne all over everyone around her...high fives for everyone...as she accepted the trophy! Finishing at a distant third was Kitty Litter...and Robyn Hood, and Sparkle Plenty rounded out the top five!

Boy...what a terrible night I was having! I couldn't get to sleep...I tossed and turned all night! I was huffing and puffing, as sweat poured down my face...as I sat up in bed! I was having a nightmare about women taking over the world...women taking over the the Indy 500, too! As I sat up in bed...I wiped my brow...and, I was relieved that was only a BAD DREAM!

My Author's Den: Here, you can get additional information about where my articles have been published (35+ websites), and the latest news, etc. http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewnews.asp?AuthorID=10885&id=14589 - Website name; humordoctormd - Over 200 colorful pages; over 500 graphics http://www.humordoctormd.homestead.com email; humordoctor@aol.com - humordoctormd@yahoo.com

Copyright Jerry L. Aragon (The Humor Doctor); 2006

Read More

Esky Honeybee 4CH RC Helicopter

Well, where to start with this one... This has got to be one of the coolest yet frustrating things anyone has ever bought me. Let me explain... My girlfriend bought me this for Christmas from Buzzflyer.co.uk for around ?110, as soon as I opened it I was like a kid at 10 years old again. On the box it said for indoor/outdoor flight so naturally the box was flung open and the battery was straight on charge ready for a bout of flying round the living room.

What?s in the box?
1 x Assembled Esky Honeybee Helicopter
1 x 4CH Radio Handset and aerial
1 x AC adapter
1 x 12V Battery lead (to charge the helicopter battery from a 12V car battery etc)
1 x Transformer
1 x Lithium Polymer (LiPo) Battery
1 x Plastic bag of bits and bobs
1 x Instructions

The Esky Honeybee is billed as an RTF helicopter (Ready To Fly, for those not in the know) which means that in theory all it should require is a quick charge and off you go. Naturally being a bloke there was no need to read the instructions so I just plugged the battery into the beast and off I went. It very quickly became apparent that this is definitely NOT an indoor toy, in fact it is not even a toy at all come to mention it.

Obviously what?s the first thing you do when you get a toy helicopter? You got it, stick on maximum revs and see what happens! That?s where this thing went from 0 to lethal in less than a second. It looked so innocent sat on the floor till I whacked the throttle up then I seriously began to fear for my safety. The downdraft from this thing was amazing considering the size, what looked quite small in the beginning now seemed relatively large once the blades were spun up, and what a noise! To put it into context; have you ever seen hypnodisc on robot wars? Now imagine that but flying uncontrollably around your living room at head height, brown pants moment I think you?ll agree! I ducked for cover as the beast ploughed straight into the wall, slid down, and proceeded to have what looked like an epileptic fit on the floor. My first venture and already a broken part (albeit minor and not detrimental to operation). ?Ah? I thought, ?probably better off outside?.

So out I went, only a slight breeze so I thought to myself ?perfect? ? mistake number 2. Full throttle once again (this time from a safe distance). The helicopter took straight off and was instantly carried by the slight breeze at a rate of knots till it was out of sight. I ran over to it only to find it looking like a wet dog on a cold day, all bunched up and twitching. This time I had broken several major parts so I packed up my helicopter and walked home in shame to figure out what I was doing wrong and order some spare bits (which weren?t cheap). ?Suppose I best read the manual? I thought.

Ah... Apparently you have to set the helicopter up first as regards to the balancing of the main rotor, paddles, and the weight distribution so that the centre of gravity is directly beneath the rotor shaft. This is EXTREMELY important if you want any kind of stable flight. Instructions for this can be downloaded here.

The next thing you have to do is set up the gain and trim of the tail rotor; this is so that while throttling up the main rotor the helicopter will remain stable and pointing in the same direction. With these tasks complete I then took the helicopter to an empty squash court with a friend who had also bought a honeybee helicopter (although he opted for the 6 channel collective pitch model, boy did he regret that later).

This time I was dead careful, I slowly increased the throttle until it was very light on the ground then applied a short burst just to get it in the air and out of the ground effect (this is another thing I learned, after experimenting trying to get the honeybee to hover in my kitchen it would constantly drift to the left no matter what controls were applied. After a bit of research I discovered that it?s something to do with the way the air flows when the rotor is so close to the ground that makes it act in this way. Hence the term ?ground effect?. The only way you can get the helicopter into a stable hover is to quickly apply the throttle in a short burst so that it rises out of the ground effect to about knee level where it will become more stable.)

It then became apparent that I was out of my depth, I thought being only a 4 channel helicopter it couldn?t be that hard and I would have become a master of flight before the day was out. That day turned into about a month of practice, several expensive crashes, and 2 body injuries from the main rotor and I?m still not great although I?ve become quite good at a stable hover. Flying a RC helicopter is a lot more difficult than it looks!

On the same day of the first proper maiden flight in the squash court, my friend opted for the same initial response as I had when first getting the heli out of the box (it was the first time he had ever turned it on) only this time he didn?t get away with a minor breakage as with mine. He pushed the throttle to maximum and with the 6 channel Honeybee having more power it took off like a trident missile straight into the squash court wall and folded up like a spring loaded deckchair. It was a write-off. Less than 1 second total flight time and it cost him a fortune (not to mention hours of build time and bleeding thumbs) just to get it back to a reasonable flying condition only to have a similar incident the second time round! He was nearly in tears and I tried to be sympathetic but I couldn?t help crying with laughter, bad I know but the comedy of the situation was hard to ignore!

My advice would be don?t buy this particular RC helicopter if you have never flown one before. The damage caused by learning to fly it will drive you insane not to mention the cost and time to rebuild it. If your serious about it get some advice before you buy one and try to get some proper training from someone who already knows how to fly RC helicopters. Trust me it will save you a lot of headaches not to mention a hefty repair bill. One plus side of the honeybee FP (fixed pitch blades) is that the battery lasts ages. On a full charge the Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery gives a good 30 minutes of continuous ?attempted? flight.

The principle behind an electric helicopter is a good one and I admire what Esky have tried to do by creating a cheap offering but to me the build quality was a bit lacking, only very slight knocks would cause something to break which means the novelty wears off extremely quickly. If I had to buy one again I would go for the Micron V2 which is a tiny indoor helicopter the advantages of this is that the build quality looks substantially better than the honeybee, and the size is such that you can actually fly it in your living room which means that any major crashes and knocks are likely to be absorbed by soft things such as sofas and carpets.

Conclusion
Great idea in principle, but the build quality is a bit lacking.

John?s Reviews rating
4/10

For more reviews and how to's go John's Reviews

John's Reviews - www.johnsreviews.com

John's Reviews - http://www.johnsreviews.com

Read More

How to Get Your Consumer Invention to Market

So you have an idea for an invention? What do you do now? The most successful hair accessory in history, the TopsyTail, made 100 million dollars. This did not happen by miracle or chance. The key was a well-conceived and executed plan. Following an informed approach will help you turn your invention into a bonanza of extra income.



Getting Started:



The Ideabook

Keep a bound ideabook of your invention idea. Date your entries. Draw it. State what it is, how it's done and for whose use? Examine possible variations. Add and define over time.



Get it Notarized

If your idea still seems brilliant after a month or two, get it officially confirmed that you conceived your invention idea on a particular date, and have your notes notarized. This may help if you, at some point, need to prove that you were 'first to invent' that idea.



Seek and Search

Do your own patent search to ascertain if your invention is original and prospectively patentable. Go on the internet to uspto.gov and study all patents in the product category of your invention to see if something like yours already exists. Better yet, use a professional patent searcher who will do a thorough search and may advise the patentability of your invention. Go to an inventor's association, books on inventing, or websites such as patentsearchinternational.com, to find resources.



Create the Initial Prototype

Use simple materials to rig it up, to see if it works. Some of the most successful consumer inventions today started as pipe cleaner, coat hanger wire or foam rubber embryos.



Get Educated

Educate yourself on the inventing process. Go to a bookstore or inventorhelp.com and review the plethora of books written on the subject. From Patent to Profit by Bob De Matteis is particularly informative.



The Non-Disclosure Form

This is an Agreement signed between you and anyone you reveal your invention to. It states that the information and materials belong to you and cannot be used without your written permission. It allows you to show your invention to parties who might be helpful in bringing your product to market such as prototypers, product evaluation services, manufacturers, packaging designers, licensing agents and marketers. Variations of the Non-Disclosure form are easily accessible in invention books and on the web.



Moving Ahead



Analyze Costs to Produce

Ascertain what the costs will be. Research domestic and foreign resources. Add up all costs to manufacture a unit of your product. Include molds, packaging, naming and trademarking, promotion, marketing, distribution and mark-up. Seek sources through the Thomas Register, libraries, the yellow pages, the web, Chambers of Commerce, foreign trade bureaus and referrals.



The Evaluation Process

Analyze the benefits and features, strengths and weaknesses of your invention.

Can it have longevity in the marketplace?

Is its timing aligned with market trends?

Research the size of the potential market.

Identify your competition. Question why a retailer would buy your product if they can do business with experienced, multi-product, well financed suppliers, who may take back unsold products and replace them with ongoing new items? Visit the marketplace and talk with managers and consumers. If your product represents a significant improvement or simplification in the way that something is currently done, you have a better chance of breaking through to success.



Get a Professional Prototype

Have professional prototypes made, the quality of which can be shown to potential retail buyers. For sourcing suggestions, see 'Analyze Costs to Produce'.



Protect Your Idea

Apply for a provisional patent yourself. This can be done by downloading the application from the patent office website: uspto.gov. The provisional patent will secure patent pending status for the invention for one year during which time you must apply for a non-provisional patent, if desired, or lose the option to get the invention patented. Using a patent attorney to make the application for the provisional patent secures more complete specifications of the invention and lays the groundwork for an effective non-provisional patent application.



The Non-Provisional Patent

Your patent attorney files your non-provisional patent application. If the patent is rejected on examination by the patent office, as most are, the attorney will respond with revisions. This may reoccur several times before your patent is finally granted or rejected. This process can take up to two years. If a patent is issued it becomes your personal asset for twenty years. Like other assets, you can lease or sell it to earn income.



To Market, But How?



Licensing

The inventor has the choice to license the invention to a manufacturer in exchange for a royalty percentage in sales. Typically, an inventor can expect to receive royalties of between 3 to 7 percent of net sales. The most efficient way to secure a licensing agreement is to hire a licensing agent with expertise in the field of your invention. The licensing agent is conversant in the language and varieties of licensing agreements, can advise you on options and help negotiate the agreement. Licensing agents ordinarily charge between one-third and one-half of your royalty fees. Royalties are an excellent way to create supplementary income.



Manufacturing

Manufacturing and distributing your invention entails higher financial risk but can reap greater profits. If you have the time, financing, manufacturing connections, a storage and distribution point, bookkeeping and legal skills or assistance, sales and marketing channels and mainly the desire to be your own boss; this may be the route for you.

Teaming with specialists and hiring outside salesrepresentatives to grow your business can create economies of scale. Successful manufacturing and distribution of a protected product can provide you with active income.


About the Author

Joan Lefkowitz, the marketer of TOPSYTAIL tm, is president of
ACCESSORY BRAINSTORMS, NYC, a licensing agent, consultant and
sales-representative for hair and cosmetic accessory and lifestyle inventions. She writes and gives seminars on 'How to Market Your Invention' and can be reached at 212-971-7300 or on the web at http://www.accessorybrainstorms.com

Read More

The World of Flamingos

Flamingos are not native to North America, but we have had a fascination with them anyway! Starting in the 50's, flamingos have inhabited lawns all across the U.S. There was a 50's doo wop group called by that name and even a move with that title. And there are literally thousands of streets, hotels and other businesses with the name attached.

The name 'flamingo' comes from a Latin word meaning flame. The ancient Greeks worshipped them as the Sun God, Ra. But later Roman cultures just ate them.

Habitat

Flamingos are found from Yucatan and West Indies to the northeastern coast of South America. They are very social birds and live in large groups for protection, called pats, usually of about 70-75 birds. They are the national bird of the Bahamas. They live and breed in areas of standing water, such as lagoons, shallow ponds and hot mud flats. The latter is how they got the name of Firebird.

Breeding

It takes about 3 years for the birds to get their full color and they do not breed until that occurs. Mating dances are performed with head bobbing and grunts and squeaks. They appear to be monogamous, with the male helping to protect the eggs and young chicks.

The female will build a large mud and grass conical shaped nest, often a foot high. At the top of the nest is a shallow depression where she will usually just lay one egg. It takes about 30 days for the egg to hatch.

The mother will feed the chicks for about 75 days even though they are able to eat on their own earlier. There is a dispute about whether this food is reguritated as some think or a special food the mother manufactures.

Flamingos do breed well in captivity and can live about 50 years, somewhat less years in the wild. Their natural predators are few since they live in such harsh environment, but larger birds such as vultures and some species of eagles will attack the eggs and small chicks. Flamingos' worst enemy is humans who are destroying their natural habitat. They have been known to abandon nesting areas because of low-flying planes and water shortages.

Feeding

Flamingos are what is called filter feeders. They dip their heads underwater and scoop backwards with their heads upside down! They have small hair-like feelers called Lamella which catch food while the water drains. Their diet consists of fish, molluses, crustaceans, insect, and algae. Flamingos get their color because their food is rich in alpha and beta carotenoid pigments. Many zoos have been successful in introducing carrots to their flocks.

Physical Characteristics

Adult flamingos reach a height between 50-60 inches and weigh between 5-8 lbs. Their legs are longer than their bodies. They have 19 vertebrae in their necks which help with flexibility. Another boost in flexibility is what some people mistakenly consider their knees. They are actually ankles and allow the bird to fold his legs and sit.

Flamingos have a keen sense of hearing, and although they have poor night vision, it is still better than humans. Just one of their eyes will weigh more than their brain! They can both swim and fly. Their feet are webbed for standing in soft mud and as with all birds will rest on one foot, switching back and forth. All adult flamingos have 12 black flight feathers in each wing.

Classification:

Class: Aves
Order: Phoenicopteriformes
Family: Phoenicopteridae
Genus: Phoenicopterus
Species: Phoenicopterus roseus
Phoenicopterus minor
Phoenicopterus jamesi
Phoenicopterus andinus
Phoenicopterus chilensis
Phoenicopterus ruber

SeaWorldAdventurePark.info is a website filled with photos from SeaWorld, Orlando, Florida, plus revies, show & pricing info, and a poll.

Read More