Sunday 28 December 2014

FB Undergoes Gender Transformation

Representatives from social media site Facebook have announced that they are adding several new site options, which will allow users to effectively customize their gender.

This action was taken after Facebook employees consulted members of 5 leading gay and transgender advocacy groups.

There will now be around 50 new options, including ‘bi-gender’, ‘transgender’ and ‘androgynous’. It will also be possible for users to choose whether the site refers to them as ‘he’, ‘she’ or ‘they’.

Facebook engineer Brielle Harrison told the press that, “There's going to be a lot of people for whom this is going to mean nothing, but for the few it does impact, it means the world," However, as of 2011, there were an estimated 700,000 transgender adults in the US, so this decision is likely to positively effect a sizeable amount of people.

Gender is not the same concept as sex, or even sexuality, yet the general public erroneously considers all of them to be interchangeable. Whilst a person’s sex simply refers to their sexual organs, the term ‘gender’ actually describes their social role within a broader cultural context.

For example, a person who considers him/herself to be bi-gender can often feel trapped when forced to conform to a culturally enforced ‘male’ or ‘female’ gender role. Bi-gender people generally exhibit traits indicative of multiple sexes, or occasionally create alternate personas for both their male and female sides.

People who describe themselves as transgender feel that a sex-based description is an incomplete one. They do not appreciate the rigid definition of ‘male’ or ‘female’ being thrust upon them and prefer instead to define themselves. This is, of course, totally independent of a person’s sexual orientation. It is possible for a heterosexual male to identify as a female (and vice versa).

For another example, intersex individuals are people born with a variation in their sex characteristics, making them neither male nor female in terms of biology. Often, these people find our cultural enforcement of gender roles to be stifling and deeply emotionally unsettling.

As of this week, Facebook’s English-speaking users will have the option to define themselves by these, or a multitude of other gender-based characteristics. The decision will allow users "to express themselves in an authentic way" according to Facebook.

This move reflects the growing exposure that LGBT groups and individuals are getting within contemporary culture. The Transgender Law Center in San Francisco stated that they were “thrilled” by the news. They are likely not alone.

you can find more info from this website here

How To Wear a Radio Earpiece

Radio earpieces look really cool. They are generally used for surveillance but some enthusiasts also wear them just for fun. Secret agents and spies in the movies have made these accessories really cool to wear.

Putting on a radio earpiece is not a tough job. To put on an earpiece, first of all you need to take that earpiece and microphone clip in your hand. The microphone is to be put where you are most comfortable with it. It can be put on your hands, specifically on your wrist. You must have seen Spies or Secret Service agents in movies lifting their wrists talk. This is where they are speaking into the mouthpiece on their wrists.

If you're not comfortable with the mouthpiece on the wrist, you can also put it on the tie or on the shirt, on your chest. Once you have clipped on the mouthpiece, it is time to put on the radio. Take the wire dangling from the mouthpiece and put it inside your shirt. Take this wire out from the top of the shirt. This way the dangling wires will be completely hidden. Take the earpiece and put it on your ears. Make sure, that it fits tightly and would not fall off when you start to walk. You can put it on either ear. If you are wearing the mouthpiece on the wrist, you will find it comfortable to put the earpiece on the same side ear.

Once you are comfortable with the mouthpiece and the earpiece, it is the turn of the end which goes into the radio. Take this dangling wire connecting that end with earpiece and mouthpiece and put it inside your shirt. Take out the wire from the bottom of the shirt. Put it in the radio and clip the radio in its place on your pants. Once you have that these wires inside your shirt completely, you need to tuck in your shirt inside your pants so that none of the wires are visible.

Once everything is fixed, switch on the said radio and test the settings. If everything is working as it should be then you have put on the radio earpiece correctly.

Wait, you are not done yet!

Once you have tucked in your shirt inside your pants and put on your jacket, you need to test the comfort level of this piece by walking around a few paces up and down. If you're comfortable with the earpiece and the mouthpiece and are able to talk on radio, then you are set for the job. If any of the wires are the earpiece or the mouthpiece is making you uncomfortable, you need to reset your wires.

The real advantage of a concealed earpiece is that others wouldn't notice when you are talking on a concealed earpiece. If you're uncomfortable wearing these or with the wires,you lose the advantage of a hidden radio earpiece. Therefore it is very important to check the complete settings by walking around.

Congratulations, you have successfully put on a radio earpiece. Now, enjoy talking like a secret service agent.

Wednesday 24 December 2014

Could we have found possibilities of life from another planet?

A team of Uk scientists believe that they've revealed organisms in earth’s atmosphere that originate from outer space.



As demanding as that could be to believe, Professor Milton Wainwright, the team’s leader, insists that this is certainly the case.

The team, out of the University of Sheffield, discovered the little organisms (misleadingly referred to as ‘bugs’ by quite a lot of persistent journalists) living on a research balloon that was sent 16.7 miles into our environment throughout last month’s Perseids meteor shower.

According to Professor Wainwright, the microscopic creatures couldn’t have been carried into the stratosphere on the balloon. He said, "A lot of people will presume that these biological particles should have just drifted up to the stratosphere from Earth, but it is usually accepted a particle of the size found cannot be lifted from Earth to heights of, for example, 27km. The only known exception is by a violent volcanic explosion, none of which occurred within 3 years of their sampling trip."

Wainwright maintains that only salient conclusion is that the organisms originated from space. He went on to say that “life is not restricted to the planet but it almost definitely didn’t originate here”

However, not everyone seems to be so convinced. Dr. Seth Shostak, senior astronomer for the SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) project said, “I’m very skeptical. This claim has been made before, and dismissed as earthly contamination." The team responds to that by saying that they were thorough as they readied the hot-air balloon before the experiments begun.

However, they do acknowledge that there could be an unknown reason for those organisms to reach such altitudes. It should also be well-known that microbal organisms discovered in the 1980’s and 1990’s and named ‘extremophiles’ surprised the scientific community by living in environments that would instantaneously kill the bulk of life on earth.

These creatures have always been observed living deep under Glacial ice and even 1900 feet below the sea floor. In March of that year, Ronnie Glud, a biogeochemist at the Southern Danish Uni in Odense, Denmark was quoted as saying "Inside the most secluded, inhospitable places, you are able to even have higher motion than their surroundings," which "You can find microbes in all places - they are extremely malleable to circumstances, and survive where they're," so this indicates more plausible that any the team is in error, or that this is simply one more case of microscopic life showing up in an unusual place.

Furthermore, it is not the 1st time this particular team has come under fire for making such statements, either. Back in January of this year, astrobiologist Dr. Chandra Wickramasinghe reported that ‘fossils’ found inside a Sri Lankan meteorite were evidence ofextraterrestrial life, an assertion that was widely criticized by the scientific community.

Other scientists have complained that there simply isn’t enough evidence to make such a claim, as the theory this important would want a sizable body of evidence to prove its validity.

What that says to this reporter is that microorganisms can live almost anywhere and that it simply isn’t good science to leap to wild conclusions like aliens each time a more plausible explanation is most certainly present. Science should not be subject to such wild leaps of fancy. Imagination is a superb aid to science, it also isn't a science in and of by itself. Sadly, Dr. Wainwright and his group appear to be seeing exactly what they need to see.

the origin of the post is here

Tuesday 23 December 2014

City faces decision on radio infrastructure

When we found this article we were so excited, having searched for over a year for this, finding it on this site was an exciting day for yours truly.

The City of Edmond faces a decision about whether to replace or upgrade public safety radio infrastructure to the tune of about $6 million, said Matt Stillwell, director of Public Safety Communications and Emergency Management.

Edmond purchased a 7-channel Motorola MHz SmartNet radio system in 1998. Seven years ago, the system interfaced with a different Motorola system operated by the state, Stillwell said.

“Our technology is going to be 20 years old in four short years,” Stillwell said. “… Think of your cell systems and how they have changed since the 1990s. The same dynamics affect radio systems.”

Changes in technology, governance and an aging infrastructure will inform what system changes the city should choose within seven years, Stillwell said.

The city maintains ownership of its seven channels and the state added 10 more channels to local sites, Stillwell said. All local governments use this system, but not everybody has paid for its maintenance. Only six municipalities help pay for the system.

“The citizens of Edmond are paying for a system of any (yearly) infrastructure maintenance, while other users of the same sites are not,” Stillwell said.

The City of Edmond joined the state’s system in 2007. A lot of other communities join the system through grant dollars, he said. The upgrade was paid for by state dollars and cost the city nothing, he said.

Questions are unanswered as to how many radios for police, fire and emergency management would be impacted by a new system, Stillwell told The Edmond Sun.

“We won’t have to replace all of the hand-held radios that are out in the field,” Stillwell said. “Most of the radios we have been purchasing for the last five years are digital capable and P-25 capable.”

The P-25 is a radio standard that all of the public safety radio vendors use, Stillwell added.

Directors of city departments recently identified $143.6 million worth of unfunded city projects they say the city needs. The Edmond City Council heard presentations about these needs, such as the public safety radio infrastructure, at a public workshop. (For coverage of other capital improvement projects discussed by the city, look at www.edmondsun.com.)

A funding source to pay for these infrastructure improvements is in the first phases of discussion, said Larry Stevens, city manager. There are concerns that the 2000 Capital Improvement 3/4-cent sales tax will not provide adequate funding for major capital projects, Stevens said.

The city welcomes public input by Edmond residents and future recommendations by the Capital Projects and Financing Task Force, Stevens added.

http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x1760083917/City-faces-decision-on-radio-infrastructure#sthash.bqDBsfhK.dpuf

Monday 22 December 2014

Whats's a Covert Earpiece?

I don't know how you came here because you read it on social media, twitter, facebook, google +, stumble upon or somewhere else. thankyou for coming and I trust you like reading this as much as I did.

A covert earpiece is a miniature earpiece worn by an individual while being effectively hidden from plain view. It operates as a radio accessory in times when a user does not want other people to know she or he is communicating with others using radio earbuds. Also known as an invisible earpiece or a surveillance earpiece, a covert earpiece is often worn by government agents, corporate security personnel, undercover law enforcement officers and corporate as well as government spies.

covert earpiece

While many occupations require the use of a radio headset for communication, a covert earpiece is primarily used in instances where communication is of an extremely private and sensitive nature. This is common in cases of private security details and surveillance projects. Sometimes people also use a covert earpiece to defraud businesses and others. Examples of such instances would include someone using an invisible earpiece to cheat on an exam or to defraud a casino by receiving remote information while playing a game.

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On-air television personalities may also use a covert earpiece, which is not distracting to viewers, but allows the person to hear relevant feedback from producers and engineers in order to make sure a taping or live appearance flows smoothly. Individuals may also wear a covert earpiece when making a public speech. By doing so, the speaker can receive important cues or changes in a speech without the audience even being aware that communication is taking place between someone located behind the scenes and the individual delivering the speech.

Some covert earpieces are accompanied by a discreet microphone, which enables two-way communication. These are commonly used by security forces with a need for such communication, particularly during surveillance operations. These types of accessories are not only convenient because they feature hands-free operation, but also because they allow undercover security forces to blend in with crowds without having to use a visible walkie-talkie system of communication.

A covert earpiece does not contain any visible wires and is designed to fit inside the ear without being noticeable to the general public. Some devices are even designed to fit on a pair of eyeglasses while amplifying sound inside a person’s ear. An inductive wire is sometimes worn around the person’s neck, but is covered by clothing so as not to be discovered by onlookers. This wire is not connected to the covert earpiece, but connects to a separate radio device that helps modulate sound.

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Essential Services, essential Technology, Radios from Oil & Fuel Plants

Oil and gas are natural resources, but obtaining them isn’t as simple as planting a seed in a patch of arable land. Today, hundreds of thousands of miles of oil and gas pipeline run all over the world, sometimes covering some of the most inhospitable environments known to man.

Pipelines that run above ground offer many advantages to oil & gas companies. They are cheaper to build, easier to repair, far simpler to maintain and a lot safer for the environment. However, that same environment also has no qualms about wreaking havoc on the lines, neither do politically motivated saboteurs or occasional wanton vandals who commonly make their presence felt in such places. A pipeline is a complex and intricate operation, which means that in order for everything to go right, nothing can be allowed to go wrong.

Keeping such sites clean, safe and secure is a demanding job. If you built one in an urban city centre it would be hard enough, but placing a pipeline in an extreme environment is a job so tough that only a very few select people are cut out for it.

For a job like that, communication is key. It is vital that all aspects of the pipeline are monitored, kept safe and guarded by highly trained professionals. So, in order for all functional teams to stay in contact, react, if need be, to technical faults and generally keep pipeline operations running smoothly, two-way radios are needed.



More reliable than a mobile, less clumsy than a net connection, two-way radio technology is tried, tested and true. Durable, strong outward exteriors are perfect for unforgiving environments such as heavy snow or storms at sea, while a simple, easy to use device is always best in cases of emergency.

Then, there’s reliability. Two-way radios are pretty much always reliable. There’s no worrying about signal strength (unless atmospheric conditions are particularly severe) and no ambiguity as to whether of not the user has been heard and understood by the intended recipient. Signal transfer is instantaneous (or, in the case of digital radios, as good as), so you can get direct up-to-the-second information, at any time.



Two-way radios are a massively important factor in the steady, safe and efficient refining of natural oils and gases into vital, everyday products and services. Without two-way radios, obtaining such treasures might prove next to impossible, as well as incredibly dangerous.

the origin of the article is here

Tuesday 16 December 2014

A Personal experience of a doorman using an earpiece

Communication, as you all know is so vital in all aspects of our lives. In any security set up, whether you are protecting high profile personnel or you are carrying out a covert operation or even just working as a doorman, one thing has been clear to me; thatcommunication between you and your team or your bosses is vital as well in ensuring that things run smoothly. However, communication may be interrupted depending on the working environment. Other days you may find yourself in rather noisy crowds. When this happens, it is important that you choose the right communication device and accessories that will make your work easier. An earpiece has been one of my favorite working gadgets for a very long time.

Why Do I like the doorman earpiece

Ever since I started using doorman earpiece, things have really been smooth for me and my work. An earpiece makes it practically simple to communicate and coordinate things between me and my colleagues together with my employers. Among the things that make these earpieces interesting and fun to work with include:

· They are en suite with excellent quality Kevlar cabling and strain relief that are long lasting which protects them from spoiling when pushed to the extreme.

· Doorman earpieces have excellent audio quality that easily neutralise any surrounding noise allowing an operative to hear everything said to them in a very clear and loud manner. In addition, most of them are fitted with microphones making it easier for a two way communication.

· They are compatible with a lot of gadgets and even more comforting is the fact they can easily be replaced at a very affordable price.

· Unlike many electronic gadgets, doorman earpiece is pretty easier to configure and use. It will interest you to know that no skill or knowledge is required to set it up and make it work.

What to look for when purchasing an earpiece

Technology keeps changing from time to time, and so are needs. As a doorman/bouncer, there are specific things you ought to look for when purchasing a doorman earpiece. These are features that are needs to be compatible, rather friendly with your working environment and your preference as a person. For instance, if your work is based in a noisy environment like say a club, you will need very fine audio quality sets that fit properly in your ear preventing any interruption from outside. In addition, you may consider the cords strength if you are working in a hostile environment where people keep getting in fights.

Compatibility is another important thing to look for in a earpiece. Note that there are earpieces that are compatible with nearly all types of gadgets while others are restricted to only specified gadgets. For flexibility be keen to purchase an earpiece is works with wide range of gadgets. Finally, the cost is equally as important. Contrary to what many people believe, expensive doesn’t always mean better, the same way inexpensive doesn’t necessarily mean something is of poor quality. Compare features and always go for one that looks a bit refined for a better experience.

Conclusion

It is clear that every one working in security should absolutely have a set of doorman earpieces. It is not only efficient, but also profoundly valuable to this line of work. Take your time, and determine what will work for and get the earpiece that will make your work easier.

Monday 15 December 2014

Book about Jewel Encrusted Skeleton ‘Saints’ released to vast enjoyment

Paul Koudounaris, who’s also identified by his nickname ‘Indiana Bones’ is an author, photographer and leading expert on bone-decorated sites and ossuarys. Earlier this year, Koudounaris released a hardback that includes hd images of that 400-year-old ‘catacomb saints’ of Rome, a group of corpses that had been thoroughly decorated with jewels and finery ahead of being presented as the ruins of here to congregations around Europe.

Throughout the Protestant Reorganization of that 16th Century, Catholic church buildings were routinely stripped of these relics, cryptogram and finery. So they can counter this, The Vatican had very old skeletons removed from the Catacombs of Rome and generously adorned as the remnants of acknowledged saints.

Although regularly forgotten until Koudounaris released his book, the catacomb saints still fascinate interested parties; they may also still inspire religious zeal. In 1977, the township of Ruttenbach in Bavaria labored hard to raise sufficient money to buy back two of their original saints from private collectors, the decorative skeletons had initially been auctioned off in 1803.

The book, that Koudounaris has cautiously titled ‘Heavenly Bodies’ sees its writer try to find and photograph each of the present crypt saints.

In his heyday (a period that lasted over 200 years before conclusively coming to a close in the nineteenth century), the saints traversed far and wide, being transported at great expense by the Church. They were venerated as objects of care, or conduits for prayer.

However the saints may seem strange to modern eyes (one Telegraph reporter described these as ‘ghastly’), it’s crucial that you understand that those that prayed at the feet of the gilded cadavers were a great deal nearer to death than their modern counterparts. In the wake of The Black Death (which recurred repeatedly all through Europe from the 14th to the 17th Centuries), art, literature and even worship had come to embrace such ghoulish, macabre imagery.

The remnants were regularly decorated by nuns and often located in a range of natural poses, before being protected in glass cabinets. Some of the careful decoration took as long as five years to finish, with jewellery and costumes being acutely grand.

Koudounaris’ book, ‘Heavenly Bodies’ is on the market now.

Want to locate the original post look here

Friday 12 December 2014

My Other Computer’s a TARDIS: Virtual Reality Makes Time Travel Possible

A new virtual form of ‘time travel’ could be employed to help victims of traumatic experiences overcome their ordeals.

In a computer generated ‘virtual world’, participants can move about and interact with their environment in a similar manner to how they would in the real world.

Professor Mars are unassailably cool, told BBC news that,

“In virtual reality, the brain's low level perceptual system does not distinguish between the virtual and the real world; the brain takes what it sees and hears in a surrounding environment as given (...) Therefore, if they had an experience with the illusion of time travel, there is implicit learning that the past is mutable, that is: 'my own past decisions don't matter because they're changeable'."

The latest study, published in the journal ‘Frontiers in Psychology’ featured a scenario wherein 32 test subjects witnessed a brutal multiple murder. In the virtual scenario, (presumably designed to induce both a moral dilemma and a controllable level of trauma) a man opened fire in a crowded art gallery and ‘killed’ five people.

Gunman starts shooting in the virtual world

The group then elected to ‘go back in time’ and attempt to prevent the murders.

Half of the group were not allowed to change their actions and simply had to repeat the event, the other half were allowed to intervene, but knew that doing so would result in the death of one person. Essentially, these people had to face the ethical dilemma of forfeiting the life of that one person in order to save five people.

Unsurprisingly, most of the test group chose to sacrifice the one life.

In terms of practical applications, this equipment is expected to allow people suffering with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and other psychological issues to confront their previous actions/inactions and better understand them in order to forgive themselves and move on.

Such technology might also be applied to prisoners undergoing therapy and/or rehabilitation, or even survivors of violent assaults.



Dr. Friedman Doron of the Sammy Ofer School of Communications in Israel, who worked as the study’s lead author, said that, for now, his team’s work is the closest people can get to actual time travel. He told BBC news,

"Highly immersive virtual reality is very visceral. People hide behind the desk when they get shot. Some of the subjects duck down. It's the best thing we can do for time travel until the physicists do their job and come up with a time machine. For now this is the closest thing."

Wednesday 3 December 2014

Have You Tried the Kenwood Radio Earpiece?

You might have heard about the Kenwood radio which is the second most popular gadget in the world. As we watch communication systems surrendering to technology’s prodigies, businesses around the world expand. Various sectors of profession that rely on radio technology can actively communicate without facing any hassles. Kenwood is a renowned brand for producing reliable communication equipments. The Kenwood radio earpiece is no exception, being an ideal preference for this particular audio device. The fundamental kinds of ear pieces used for this kind of radio are the 2 pin and multi-pin connectors. Offering exceptional performance within a reliable framework, customers have shifted to using such models for increased audibility.

Key Features of Kenwood Radio Earpiece

The earpiece offers a clear and discrete source that makes communication easier. Composed of high impact polycarbonate plastic, the earpiece allows individuals to communicate in the noisiest environments. Kenwood radio earpieces therefore are considered to be the best choice that is compatible with the radio device. It is the perfect choice of equipment used for communication by security experts, door staff, and surveillance teams. The 2-pin model features two connector pins whereas the multi-pin model features various connectors. A good example of the multi-pin model is the Kenwood 3 wire earpiece that features has been fabricated into a three wire system design.

kenwood earpiece

The Kenwood earpiece comprises of a 'push to talk' or PTT button which is basically the controller of the device. It allows individuals to rapidly get in touch with clients, associates or team members to discuss and carry out various tasks. The coordination of two way radios with the right earpiece ensures excellent sound quality. One of the key features of the 2 wire earpiece is that it can be attached to a collar, lapel or a tie and slipped inside the clothing easily. The Kenwood 3 wire earpiece is slightly different since it is held in the hand to regulate operation instead of being mounted on the lapel or collar. The PTT allows the recipient to switch on or off the earpiece to relay information across.

Benefits of Buying Kenwood Earpiece

Coordinate the responses of your team at office using the Kenwood earpiece device that has been introduced by a reputable company which has existed since 1946. Attaining years of trust from clients, everyone knows how beneficial the Kenwood radio earpiece is! The ear bud has been fabricated with the idea of giving comfort to the listeners with a fitting frame. The cable of the earpiece is transparent, lightweight and durable with hardwearing. The sound quality is excellent of the earpiece that comes alongside a built-in microphone. Aligned with a clothing clip both the devices feature a surveillance tube and the PTT button.

You can easily replace the plastic clothing clip with a steel clip and add features like swivel ear loop. This is done so as to improve flexibility of usage and comfort. Irrespective of how the environment is, the earpiece has a noise cancelling feature that makes it efficient to use in social events at nightclubs, factor or a public event. It is the choice made by professionals since the device is highly compatible with Kenwood 2 way radios. Imagine days when your communication systems are on a shutdown with extreme interference in sound waves! If you fancy a noise free, discrete and clear sound quality then Kenwood radio earpieces is the ideal pick.

A Kenwood radio customer will never face the problem of compatibility or affordability. Having distinct features makes the earpiece an accommodating communication tool. There are lower priced devices available however lack the durability of Kenwood. The Kenwood earpiece is composed of robust framework that can withstand collision. In fact the earpiece is resistant to high strain making it a long lasting device. The earpiece has been recognized globally to being an apt choice for enhancing sound quality of Kenwood radios. You should ensure that while you’re out buying earpiece for yourself, the kind of radio you have matters a lot. So choose wisely before making a final decision.

Conclusion

Kenwood radio earpiece is a result of proficient technology that assists receiving, sending and regulating information between recipients. It is vital to use competent communication tools to achieve quality proof sound. Kenwood is an economical brand that triggers consistent performance over time. This lightweight device couples with a resilient covering that secures prolonged connectivity. Enjoy the comfort of uninterrupted conversations with Kenwood’s brilliant earpiece technology today.