MIT student and DIYer crreed shows us how to build a grappling hook out of a fire extinguisher and a nerf gun.
The gun is actually not that complicated to build; the hardest part, crreed says, is finding all the materials. Most you can probably find at a store like Home Depot, but others you might have to search for online. It's a lot of hoses and clamps, but the main power behind the gun is a dry chemical fire extinguisher and an N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS 35 Nerf Gun (seriously). You'll need some heavy duty tools, like a dremel, a hack saw, and a propane torch for soldering, but nothing a Batman wannabe wouldn't already have in his or her tool chest. Check out the video above to see it in action, and hit the link below for the full how-to. And, as always, be careful?this can be a little dangerous, so everything is at-your-own-risk.
Grappling Hook Launcher | Instructables via Nerd Approved
You can contact Whitson Gordon, the author of this post, at whitson@lifehacker.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page. ?
Fuji's X100 is amazing. (Hint: review coming soon.) But at $1200, it costs more than an entry-level DSLR. Enter the X10 X50: A rumored $600 follow-up that's stripped down, with a slightly smaller 2/3-inch sensor—more like an LX5 fighter, but still retro and awesome. More »
There is lot of medicines and products came to keep your Pets away from Fleas and Ticks. But are they branded?? Are they approved from any concerns? You need to be sure while getting all those medicines for your pets. Fleameds4less.com is the only place you can get all those medicines for your pets to keep away from Fleas.
They only sell U.S. EPA-Approved Frontline, Advantage and Program Flea Control. Illegal Flea Control products, including foreign-labeled, unregistered versions of Advantage and Frontline, have been illegally imported and sold throughout the U.S. Though registered for use in other countries, some foreign-labeled versions have omitted important warnings, especially those pertaining to children that are required in the United States. Versions imported from such countries as England, Australia and Canada often give doses in metric units, which can cause Americans to accidentally over-dose or under-dose pets.
The pesticide products are sold in a carton. It is difficult to distinguish counterfeit products from EPA-registered products because they look very much alike. To determine if the product you have purchased is legitimate, check to see if it meets the following criteria. If the product fails any one of these criteria, it most likely is an illegitimate product and should be disposed of properly.
This is to prevent Fleas and Ticks from your pets. The reason behind is whenever your pet snaps at a flea and swallows it, it has exposed itself to Dipylidium caninum, a tapeworm that attaches to the small intestine where it sucks up nutrients. In a few weeks, you?ll find dried, tan, rice-like tapeworm segments attached to the pet?s rectum or in the feces. These tapeworm segments carry eggs and can eventually infect humans and other pets.
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NEW YORK (Reuters) ? Late-night American TV comedian David Letterman shrugged off a death threat made against him by a Muslim militant, joking on his show that his audience could "shield" him.
Last week, the U.S.-based SITE intelligence monitoring group said a death threat against Letterman was posted on a website used by militants.
The militant who made the threat, and was apparently angered by a joke Letterman made about the death of a leading member of al Qaeda killed in an air strike in Pakistan, called on Muslims in the United States to "cut the tongue" of the comedian and "shut it forever."
While taping an episode of CBS network's "Late Show with David Letterman" on Monday, the comedian addressed the threat during his opening monologue.
"Tonight, you people are more, to me, honestly, more than an audience ... you're more like a human shield," Letterman joked in front of audience members at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York where the show is produced.
"I'm so sorry, I'm a little late coming out. Backstage, I was talking to the guy from CBS. We were going through the CBS life insurance policy to see if I was covered for jihad," Letterman said.
Letterman went on to jokingly suggest the threat really originated from late night rival Jay Leno.
Letterman's comedic take on the death threat will air on the "Late Show" on Monday night.
An FBI spokesman said last week that the agency was looking into the militant threat against Letterman.
(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Peter Bohan)
Accidental injury lawyer cases are generally a great deal more widespread than many of us may believe. A majority of these personal injuries create a number of physical, emotional and also mental ramifications for the affected person. Despite the fact that not any volume of financial settlement will ease all the pain and suffering endured by the injury sufferer as well as their relatives, an injury case will help acquire money to ease finance pressure and also get legal justice to the party responsible for the actual accident. Therefore it can be recommended to employ the service of a personal injury lawyer if an individual is injured as the result of another person?s actions. In the perfect planet, the one who caused the damage will admit responsibly plus fairly pay the hurt person. Unfortunately, this is rarely the truth. To make things worse, insurance providers controlling the case for the individual leading to the particular damage make revenue on settling cases for a significant amount less than the damage is normally worth. That is why it happens to be good for the seriously injured party to get lawyer well before agreeing to any settlement for the injury. Personal injury lawyers happen to be qualified in settling the case with the insurance corporation to guarantee the seriously injured party is fairly payed. They?re able to help fight for settlement based on the cost of medical costs, lost salaries, along with pain and suffering. Lawyers also can defend the injured person from doing unneeded statements which can be used to damage the case in case it ends up going to trial. They can be gurus in dealing with all aspects of the personal injury case. The easiest method to look for a personal injury legal professional is certainly by means of referrals. Acquaintances, family members, and also other attorneys might be wonderful resources for finding a professional personal injury lawyer. In case referrals are not obtainable, the yellow pages plus world-wide-web are usually good solutions. Consider organizing a list of probable applicants and then narrowing this list down simply by asking appropriate questions. Some legal professionals merely handle several areas of injury law, so it could be essential search for the professional attorney. Medical related malpractice is actually an example that may involve the need for the specific legal professional. Initial visits with legal representatives are a simple method to make up your mind if the injury attorney will be a decent match. When selecting one particular just be sure you would employ the most beneficial to be able to claim what you ought to get. The consultation is the time for you to ask questions about the experience, costs, methods of communication, and availability. This is often as well a good time to become acquainted with the office employees, as many matters usually are handled by the paralegals. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency grounds. They will receive fee following the case settles, and the service fees come right from the settlement amount of money. If the attorney is a great match, the attorney is appointed simply by signing agreements. The lawyer will then go to work on receiving relevant info concerning the personal injury as well as the claim. Choosing the best attorney is critical for you to acquire the very best settlement deal achievable. With that said, a lawyer is just not likely to take on a case they believe they can?t profit.
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There are programs to automate nearly any task imaginable. Some disciplines have been quick to adopt these computer aided solutions while other have not. With each passing year, the capability of computers increases. Today's desktop computers are many more times more powerful then the computers which took humankind to the moon. Most people have more power at their fingertips than did entire universities of yesteryear. Programs have grown in like manner. Operating systems have become complex pieces of engineering marvel. All of these advances in hardware and software have made entire new industries possible. Computer graphics have risen to become a full-fledged industry. Perhaps the most impressive segment of this industry is that of 3D modelling software.
3D modelers as they are sometimes called, come with wide differences in capacity. Some are made to build simple models. Some can be used to design entire scenes. There are others of these programs that can be used to model people. A number of them can only produce static images, or struggle with anything beyond simple animation. The most robust modelers can be used to create and animate entire movies, building scene after scene.
Many people are aware of the film industry's extensive use of these amazing programs to create fantastic visual effects. What many people do not know, however, is that there is a greater demand for modelers in other disciplines. Some surveys indicate that the largest demand for artists is in the medical field. These folks create complex models of the human body and all of its intricate internal organs. These models allow medical scientists to research the effects of disease and allow them to work toward cures.
A high-growth area for jobs for these artists is the sciences. Chemists sometimes utilize the power of these models to create complex models of chemical chains and compounds. In addition, many earth scientists are turning to this technology in an effort to better study the earth. Geo-chemists can make three dimensional models of many of the earths compounds. These models can be used to study how compounds interact and combine with each other. Geophysicists can study the interaction of various forces, such as gravity and inertia. Geologists can build models of very complex formations, such as tectonic plates to further study seismic activity.
These complex modelers can be used to create interactive maps of the earth. A really great feature of one of these models is that the surface can be removed to show what is going on underneath the ground. Volcanic formation theory can be tested.
3D modelers uses a variety of tools and techniques to achieve the finished image. One technique is to start with a basic shape or primitive. The surface of this shape is subdivided into lines and points. Each point can be moved about, reshaping the primitive. A second technique involves creating a series of lines which form the outside boundaries of the model. These frames are then manipulated until a final shape is reached. A final method for creating solid models is through the use of mathematical formulas called NURBS. Smoke, dust, and other particles are created through additional tools, referred to as particle systems. Creating water usually takes some combination of several methods.
Upon completion, the model is ready to be rendered. Some kind of light must be provided. The image must be constructed with some kind of camera angle.
The ability to create complex animated models has lead to an increased use of 3D modelling software. This has in turn led to an increased demand for skilled artisans to create usable models. A wealth of information is available on the world wide web of anyone interested in learning the necessary skills.
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1) Narrowly define your client 2) Go after them agressively
I?ve always been inspired by small business and now I?m in business to help them.
A little about me ? I?ve worked for some of the most recognized organizations in the world. Some of these include?CitiGroup (AVP), Freddie Mac (Trader), GE Medical Systems (Analyst), JPMorgan (Analyst), SunTrust Robertson Humphrey (Associate), Harvard University (Visiting Fellow) and Intel Corporation (Sr. Analyst).? Most of these organizations have similar practices regarding financial operations, the difference is always more apparent in the dominant business model.
What exactly is a business model?? Here are a few definitions on the Web:
The plan a company uses to generate revenue. www.netc.org/openoptions/appendices/glossary.html
The combination of factors that describe the business, including the market the business will serve, the perceived value delivered to the customer, which determines profitability per unit of sale, and the sustaining factors that allow the company to thrive over the long term. www.milestonegrowth.com/financing/glossary.html
A model of a business organization or process. www.bethesda.med.navy.mil/Patient/HIPAA/Glossary.asp
In financial or investor terms a business model is your financial model.? It can also be narrowly defined as gross profit (revenues ? cost of goods sold).? This is how I was taught to define it as an investment banking analyst.? When comparing business models bankers will likely jump straight to your financial model and your gross margin projection.? A company with a high gross margin (gross profit/revenues) has a ?good? business model and the company within an industry with the highest gross margin is said to have the best.? Larger companies are perceived to have better business models as they are able to benefit from economies of scale.? Is there a way to break this perception with your clients??
It?s easy to start thinking you are doomed as a small business, that the cards are inherently stacked against you and there?s absolutely no way of competing with your larger more well established competitors. ?This is what they want you to think, but it?s only correct if you use the same business model.? ?Woman, veteran, minority and disabled owned organizations are especially vulnerable to ?small business tilt?.? The challenge is to find your edge.??
Regardless of size, your business model MUST be compelling and define your edge.? As a contract manager at Harvard, one of the hardest parts of my job was convincing small business partners to try something new.? Some of them only had to change a few minor areas to boost market share in the community.? One small business took my advice and landed a contract with a national chain through our partnership.? If you try to compete with larger organizations using ?their? business model you?re not maximizing your options. ?Listen to what your customers need; they can help to define your edge.?
There are numerous types of business models. Some of these include:
i) Manufacturing (Direct Model) ? A direct model which allows the manufacturer to speak directly to the consumer like a license or lease. ii) Advertiser Model ? Extension of traditional broadcast model. Search engines (portals) and classifieds (like Craigslist) that request a listing fee or user registration.
iii) Data Model ? Data provided about consumer behavior. Examples include audience measurement services like Nielson or www.Alexa.com.
iv) Merchant Model ? Wholesalers or retailers of goods. Examples include brick and mortar shops with a web interface or a Catalog exchange with mail order.
v) The Brokerage Model ? Marketplace exchange. Investment banks are the best example of this.
vi) Affiliate/Commission Model ? Similar to an advertising model, but thrives from purchases and not traffic.
vii) Forum Model ? Blog or community forum. Examples are Twitter and blog sites.
viii) Subscription Model ? Users are charged a periodic fee for service. Examples include Netflix and Internet services.
ix) PPV Model ? Pay per view; On-demand model. Metered usage or subscriptions.
According to a study by Peter Wiell, et al, of the Sloan School of Management at MIT, entitled,? Do Some Business Models Perform Better than Others? A Study of the 1000 Largest US Firms, some buisness models do perform better than others.? The study goes on to say that, ??business models are a better predictor of financial performance than industry classifications and that some business models do, indeed, perform better than others. Specifically, selling the right to use assets is more profitable and more highly valued by the market than selling ownership of assets. [http://ccs.mit.edu/papers/pdf/wp226.pdf, p.2]
There are four basic labels for business models as defined by the study:??Creator, Distributor, Landlord and Broker?[p.25].?? The labels are fairly intuitive.? ?Landlord and Broker both exist because of the Creator and Distributor; they are the ?derivatives? of the business modeling world.??? These models reach success on good asset management.? Subsequently, both Brokers and Landlords have significantly higher operating incomes and market capitalizations than Creator or Distributor business models [p.22].?? The market has effectively assigned more risk to these models, likewise the reward is proportionately higher.?? As to be expected (or not) there were no significant differences among any of the four models regarding ROIC (return on invested capital) [p.24].? If a certain business model generated higher returns on investment we would all be using that model, theoretically.? ?I highly recommend reading this paper.? (I am trying to get my hands on the latest version)?
In reality, and in a time when more and more customers?prefer freeze dried over slow cooked,? small business has the edge on big business -? you have the luxury and gift of agility.? Your organization is able to respond to changes in demand faster.? ?If you haven?t applied this to you business model, stop here and process it.? If you have and you?re still looking for ways to improve operations through your business model follow these steps.?
1. Review and align your business model with your mission. Everyone in the organization should be directly connected to increasing your profitability. If they are not, transfer them to a project that is. Everyone in your organization should be thinking about ?how to decrease costs and increase revenues while improving quality (and staying legal)?. Your mission must include some measure of this principle.
2. Find the optimal model. There are dozens of ways to increase your revenue while reducing costs. Finding the optimal model for your consumer base is key.
a. Create a financial model and play around with the variables that influence the model the most. A good financial model will help you to focus your attention on critical success ratios. Instead of guessing which areas to focus on or making a random to do list, you will know the top three areas to work on in order to improve your margin.
b. Operational costs are more than simply control functions in today?s virtual world. In many cases a $12/month website can take the place of a fully staffed brick and mortar office space. What?s the lesson here? If you?re a small business, use the Internet as a way to disenfranchise big business. If you?re a large business, use the Internet as a way to create a segment of your organization that can react to changes in market demand faster. There?s a reason why recent academic studies in competition, strategy and organizational behavior are almost completely dominated by research on Internet models that revolutionized traditional business.
3. Stress test your model. Make sure you know what the implications of a decision are before you make any strategic changes. This is what your model is for. Most people think it?s a tool just for investors, but investors also want to see if you know how decisions will effect the flow of cash in your organization andwill appreciate your ability to do this using your financial model. A sensitivity analysis makes broad changes to accounts within the model. A scenario analysis shows the effects of different scenarios on your business. Guess which one investors really want to see?
4. Treat marketing as an asset. I believe marketing is so fundamental to your business that it must be a part of your business model.
a. Most MBAs are taught that marketing is an operating expense, but for start-ups marketing is an essential part of product revenue that might take several years to recoup. Should advertising expense be capitalized, or expensed? Well, I personally think marketing should be capitalized.
b. What exactly does capitalization mean? It means that large business items can be recorded on assets resulting in a depreciation expense rather than taking the full cost against current revenues. This means that assets are debited (usually long term or fixed assets) and liabilities are credited. As expenses are realized through depreciation, liabilities are debited and revenue is credited as an expense. Instead of reducing gross margin calculations, capitalized expenses increase assets and liabilities to balance.
c. While capitalization will cost a little more in bookkeeping fees there are also several advantages; some of these include 1) less volatility in gross profit, 2) increased equity investment, and 3) potential tax benefits.
5. Do a Little Six Sigma Dance ? Determine the 10 most crucial processes in your organization and map them out from end to end. I guarantee you will find redundant processes, duplicate services, etc. In manufacturing they pay people hundreds of thousands of dollars to do this. This is also a necessary step in most corporate quality initiatives such as Six Sigma or LEAN. The former helps to reduce errors and the latterhelpsinreducing redundant or unnecessary costs (waste). When tasked with mapping out Intel?s equipment supply chain I found control issues and redundant processes. Intel is one of the most control oriented organizations I?ve ever worked for. You WILL find areas for improvement in your organization if you do this properly.
6. Acknowledge working capital. First of all, what is working capital?
a. The definition of working capital is (current assets) ? (current liabilities). It?s a measure of the liquid (ready) assets in the organization. For this reason, analysts refer to it as ?working?. Financial theory is full of ideas on this subject. While corporate bankers might use a surplus as a ?cushion of protection? against a loan, investment bankers might see it is as an inefficient use of short term leverage. Some might even see a surplus as a sign of poor financial leadership. Ultimately, it will depend on the industry.
b. Implicit in working capital considerations are your revenue recognition policies. If you?ve squeezed everything out of your turnover ratios consider developing easier ways for your customers to pay. How can you help them to facilitate credit if needed? Can you create a package deal? Payment models are particularly important for serviceorganizations.
7. Close the funding gap. You must come up with ways to raise capital if you don?t have it, and you must be sure to scrutinize every project with a fine tooth comb if you do. Large and small businesses alike have difficulty obtaining funds when they really need them. What does that tell you? Well when it comes to business survivability the ability to ?create? value is at the top of the list no matter who you are. And it?s not an easy thing to do, but here are some best practices?.
a. Big business has known about ?structuring deals? for a long time. If we can bring loans to the microcredit sector why can?t we bring investment banking product to start-up enterprise? I?ll come back to this in a minute.
b. CEO vs CFO vs CPA (Visionary/Leader vs. Translation Specialist vs. Editor). Investors want you to be able to validate assumptions with certainty.As a CEO you?re probably great at selling your product. You?re passionate about it, but don?t care about all the details. That?s ok. You?re supposed to have this approach, but your CFO should be different (and your CPA should not be your CFO or your Admin Assistant). Your CFO or business consultant should be more concerned with providing the sell to investors. They translate your energy and enthusiasm into a presentation investors and bankers want to hear. Your CPA will edit (audit). Your ability to do this literally builds value into your product. Value iscreated by credibility and your business model will be your most relied upon tool when speaking to investors.
c. Detail the investment opportunity and come up with the best way to sell it. Give your investors a combo meal; make it easy for them to see a return. I have yet to meet someone with money to invest that turned down a well thought outinvestment opportunity.
d. Exchange houses make investing easier by providing a guarantee. The average investor assumes that trading on the NASDAQ is safe. That is, the NASDAQ is a safe betting house. If you go to Vegas and you have $50k, you want to know you?re dealing with some trustworthy bookies. The House only helps you to make good on your bet, they don?t have anything to do with your decision to bet, or what you place your money on. Does that sound safe? You must create the sanctity of the stock market and provide a return that beats 12%. That?s it! Personally I would rather do business with someone I know and can touch over someone with a ticker symbol that I?ve never met; I?m referring to private deals and your opportunity to sell yourself by being safer than an exchange bet.That?s why investors love theprivate ?structured? deals I was talking about in point (a). Read up on how these deals are structured by doing research on private equity offerings. For instance, you can develop 3 different stages of funding. Request money for stage 1, define your deliverables and pay these people back. Do the same thing for Stage 2 and 3. I?m in the process of writing an article about this subject now so check the website for updates!
8. Finally, consider your buying power. According to Porter?s Five Forces of Profitability, profitability is defined as a function of 5 different forces: 1)the threat of new entrants, 2) bargaining power of suppliers, 3) threat of substitute products or services,4) rivalry among existing competitors ; and 5) the bargaining power of buyers.http://hbr.harvardbusiness.org/2008/01/the-five-competitive-forces-that-shape-strategy/ Call the contract manager up.
a. Ask if you can set up a meeting to discuss your product.
b. Tell them what you offer andshow them your cost model. What can you do for them?You need to know what distinguishes you from both the incumbent and the competition.
c. Ask them if they actually make the purchases or if they maintain the contracts and if it?s a mandated community?
d. Prove that you know the challenging nuances of the organization you want to sell to.
e. Also be sure to mention any relevant purchasing buzz words like sustainability, low energy, value added, CRM Analytics, minority programs, e-purchasing, community connections, etc. Anything that can make the contract manager seem brilliant for choosing your product.
f. Even if you?re just starting out, you?ll be better for this exchange. The more you do it, the easier it will become and the better you will be.
About the Author
Biba Bryant, MBA www.bibabryant.com
Regional Bank Stocks to Watch: Fifth Third Bancorp, Key Corp, SunTrust Banks, Regions Financial
There are programs to automate nearly any task imaginable. Some disciplines have been quick to adopt these computer aided solutions while other have not. With each passing year, the capability of computers increases. Today's desktop computers are many more times more powerful then the computers which took humankind to the moon. Most people have more power at their fingertips than did entire universities of yesteryear. Programs have grown in like manner. Operating systems have become complex pieces of engineering marvel. All of these advances in hardware and software have made entire new industries possible. Computer graphics have risen to become a full-fledged industry. Perhaps the most impressive segment of this industry is that of 3D modelling software.