oke Smart MagazineS

The Global Positioning System, or GPS is a constellation of twenty four (24) active satellites and three (3) additional backup satellites. The GPS system was developed and implemented by the United States Air Force (USAF) for operational reasons, and has since become world wide phenomenon, used by hikers, outdoors men, and a vast array of commercial uses.

GPS works on the principals of Triangulation. Satellites send signals down to the earth, which are triangulated by the GPS receiver unit giving you your current location. In order to acquire your current location a receiver unit requires at least three satellite signals to extrapolate your location, though more is desirable. It is not uncommon to have your receiver pickup four to seven signals in any given location.

The GPS Satellites send out two signals:
1575.42 MHz – The Course Acquisition Signal (CA) 1227.6 MHz – Precision Signal (P)

All users, military or civilian are allowed to use the Course Acquisition signal, however the Precision signal is only used by the military, and gives much greater accuracy. The signals are closely monitored and audited by several stations, however the master station for GPS is located in Colorado Springs, USA, at Falcon Air Force Base (AFB).

Problems with the GPS System: Unfortunately due to the very low signal strength (around -127 dBm) GPS receiver units are often unable to acquire a good signal if you are in an area of dense foliage or under a heavy tree canopy. The GPS signal is also unable to penetrate most solid items, and requires a view of the sky to be effective. Use in deep canyons, or inside large cities with tall buildings will cause reduced satellite acquisitions and thus less accuracy or no triangulation at all.

Since GPS receivers have become so mainstream people seem to have thrown away the map and compass which could be a dangerous mistake. GPS receivers are an electronic unit and have the potential to fail, cold climates, batteries, dropping it could leave you lost. A GPS is a wonderful tool, however it shouldn’t be a replacement for the old map and compass.

Fun and Games:
There are a lot of great uses for GPS receivers, from marking your favorite fishing spot, to GeoCaching! A standard GPS receiver is between 100-250 dollars and can be used to give you your speed, average speed, set waypoints (mark your favorite spots), record tracks where you have been and can be loaded maps of different regions around the world. They are a great tool for hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts and can help foster a healthy outdoor activity for you and your family.

Ken Dennis http://KenDennis-RSS.homeip.net/

Why is pet grooming important? Whether you have a cat of dog, pet grooming is an important part of the hygiene and emotional well being of your animal. Doesn't feel good when you get your hair cut or nails done? Imagine not having the luxury of choosing how and when you clean yourself. Your pets don't have that advantage. Sure they groom themselves with their tongue and paws, but without an opposing thumb they cannot grab a scrub brush and wash their back or the ability to reach hard to get at places. They need the care and love of their caregivers and pet grooming lets them know that they are getting their needs met.

Even when you get a new puppy or kitten, pet grooming is important way to develop the bonding practices. As you brush or wash your pet, the constant touching and soothing gives the young animal a sense of well being. The relationship between caregiver and animal becomes stronger as more attention is given to the pet. The early interaction of pet grooming also prepares the animal for a professional pet groomer as hair or nails become to unmanageable for the untrained owner. The pet will have a more of a sense of security as they are left at a pet groomer for a day and will deal with less stress as they are touched and groomed by a stranger.

Pet grooming at a young age also allows the animal to get used to the tools and apparatus used in the pet grooming experience. Scissors and brushes can be scary things to a novice puppy or kitten. Initial reaction of the animal is to bite or claw at the brush. They have a strange tool pulling and brushing their hair and their natural reaction is to defend themselves. By going slow and using soothing sounds, the owner can slowly introduce the new animal to the process. As the grooming goes on and the animal feels more comfortable, stronger strokes can be applied. As confidence and bonding builds the entire pet grooming process can be utilized.

Another aspect of pet grooming is cutting or trimming the nails of your animal. Especially for inside pets, if the nails are not trimmed properly they will have a tendency to grow around within themselves and be painful for the animal to walk upon. Also the nails will split easier if left unattended leaving unsightly cracks and an irritating feeling in their paws. If proper pet grooming is initiated early enough, the pet will grow in emotional maturity and you will have a stable animal that will have the benefits of good hygiene and good health. Pet grooming will become a habit that both the pet and the owner will anticipate their time together on a daily basis. The importance of pet grooming will spread to be a family experience as spouses and siblings will pick up brush and spend time with the family pet. The emotional security will spread throughout the family and pet and family will become one.

Can cell phones really give you brain tumors? While I may not be an expert on the subject, this question has undoubtedly plagued people’s minds since cell phones were invented.

Both sides of the argument make valid points, and it may be true that if you are susceptible to cancer (tumors) or have it in your gene pool you run a greater risk. Such a brain tumor is extremely rare, however. I believe in order to really examine how you might get a tumor from a mobile, we should first delve into a little electrical engineering knowledge, coupled with some biochemistry.

It has been known for some time that every electrical device produces EMI. EMI is electrical magnetic interference. It is also believed that the body has it’s own bio-electric field, and EMI pierces this field, contorting and twisting cells in the body. I may not be a doctor – but if this is true, would we all not have cancer? And, if someone did receive a brain tumor from using a mobile, would they not have sued mobile companies? I mean, honestly. In the United States of America, you can sue anyone for just about anything. And you usually win, too. People who got cancer from smoking cigarettes filed against tobacco companies and won, and websites like http://ash.org/sue-tobacco-companies.html encourage people to sue tobacco companies.

Because we are subjected to EMI everyday, and most of us are fine, this theory begs for research done on the subject. You may notice that if you place your cell phone next to your computer monitor and let it ring, your monitor will flicker (may not be the same for all phones). This is the electromagnetic radiation I speak of. While the spectrum may be broad enough to disrupt your monitor, it is highly unlikely it can pierce your skull and your brain. It is yet to be clinically, better yet scientifically proven that an electromagnetic radiation spectrum can disrupt higher or lower brain functions.

Did you know your regular phone displaces EMI as well? Perhaps not as much, but it does.

Maybe the whole idea of getting a brain tumor from a mobile is just a scare so people will give the mobile companies (or third party companies) money for a headset/headphones. It worked, didn’t it?

My opinion may be somewhat biased, but if you have heard of someone getting a brain tumor from a cell phone please let me know. This would change my views on the subject. (May God Forbid this happens to someone you know or love).

I am a young, aspiring computer engineer into Internet Marketing, hardware, software, web design, SEO and just about anything related to computers. Please come check out my growing PC forum at http://www.markspcforum.com

Many people drink coffee every day. They drink it with breakfast, lunch, and even dinner. The workplace introduces many people to coffee as they feel it keeps them awake, alert, and more productive. Coffee makers vary from single cup to multi cup but all generally do one thing. Make coffee. You might wonder where to find a coffee maker that is just right for you. There are many places either near you or on line where you can find a coffee maker.

If you ask most people where to find a coffee maker, they will tell you to go to a local retail store. This is usually a good idea because at a retail store they will usually have entire aisles dedicated to various coffee makers. This helps a great deal as you can compare all the options that the various machines have to offer. You will find coffee makers that make a single cup, eight cups, or even as many as twelve cups at a time. Some will make even more but you usually have to order those. Coffee makers are available in many different styles and colors so you should be able to find one that will match your other kitchen appliances.

If you want to make the best purchase possible, you might want to read some reviews. The Internet has thousands of places that are dedicated solely to coffee makers. Many of these have very thorough reviews by many different people. It can be very beneficial to read reviews on coffee makers before you buy them so you know what you are looking for when you go to the store. Nothing can give you a feel for a new coffee maker than knowing what other people's experiences are with that product.

The Internet is also a great place to purchase coffee makers. There are many websites and on line stores that specialize in coffee makers and can give you some amazing deals. A common place to find a run of the mill coffee maker is a site that sells overstocked goods at discounted prices. There are many of these sites so you can search around and find one you like. You can save up to 75% if you look around carefully. Auction sites can also be a good place to look. Not everything up for auction is used and you can find many deals there. Some websites are promoted by a particular brand and for one price, they will send you a coffee maker and enroll you in some type of coffee club. This usually is a new coffee every month at a reasonable price. If you want to experiment, that might be a good choice.

The most important factor in buying a coffee maker is you. What do you want your coffee maker to do? How many people will it be serving? How much am I willing to pay? These are the most important questions you should ask yourself before buying a coffee maker. If you take your time and choose based on your needs, you will find the one you are looking for.

Many pets purchased today are purebred. The elaborate care required for maintaining health and value should be known and the responsible owner will follow these guidelines. A large amount of households, however, still follow tradition and have chosen a mixed-breed house pet. These individuals may feel that the responsibilities for pet ownership are limited to veterinarian care, food, toys and accessories, but the family who is gifted with a "free" puppy or kitten must also consider the necessity of pet grooming when compiling the expenses and responsibilities for the newest family member.

The family, who chooses a short-haired pet, may feel that this will alleviate the obligation for daily grooming; this is however, a mistaken thought process. The shorter haired pet will still require regular brushing to stimulate a healthy coat and reduce loose pet hair. The indoor pet will invariably leave hair throughout their environment, so brushing is essential for a cleaner home. In addition, indoor pets are subjected to the same environmental influences as their human family. Dry, hot, furnace heat and artificial cooling systems dehydrate the skin causing it to flake and slough off. Although perhaps more apparent amongst darker-toned breeds, this same process is occurring in the family pet. Dandruff-like flaking will appear on the dog or cat's coat when stimulated either by hand or brush, indicating dry skin.

Supplements or vitamins may need to be included into the pet's diet for complete relief, but the inclusion of regular baths into the pet grooming routine will provide the greatest improvement. Some individuals may choose to do this themselves, however the local pet groomer will also perform this for a reasonable fee.

Proper pet grooming does not end with the animal's skin and coat, as other needs will require regular attention as well. The home that now includes a domestic cat will need its members to be diligent in training the animal to use a scratching post. Failing this, the decision to de-claw the feline used to be the only option; however, today's pet grooming advances have made it possible to live with the offending talons. A pet groomer can be enlisted to clip the tips of the front claws or soft pads can be applied to the claw, thus keeping the nails from damaging inappropriate surfaces. If started at a young age, the adult cat will readily submit to either of these procedures, however the responsible pet owner should speak to their veterinarian about which options would be the best for the animal and the expense that will be included in the pet's regular grooming routine.

The family, who has chosen to bring a dog into the home, must also realize their responsibilities in regards to nail care. Regardless of size, a dog's nails can be damaging if not kept to a proper length. This damage does not just include the family home and property, but can also extend to the animal itself. Nails that are not clipped may cause the pet to walk awkwardly or lead to other foot problems; therefore this is a maintenance necessity. Some dogs are submissive and do not require any assistance; however, this is not often the case. The veterinarian may be needed to perform this grooming necessity. This could become quite expensive; however, many pet professionals will eagerly train the pet owner to do this job themselves. The pet owner should be aware, though that this is a procedure that is best begun as soon as possible and at regular intervals, as the normally docile family dog may react very adversely to the nail clipping regimen.

Regardless of the initial cost in procuring a family pet, the family needs to be aware and understand the responsibilities that they have now chosen to undertake. The animal's health must be maintained and this will require the procurement of a good medical professional. In addition, though, the family must understand the obligations for regular pet grooming to assure a long and happy life for this family member.