Safe Eyes Software

I've been using SafeEyes software for a couple of years and it does a very nice job protecting our information and keeping info we don't want out of our house (read computers).  We've got it installed on all of our computers (Mac/PCs) and each family member has their own account, which auto loges them in when they log on to their computer (or their side on the shared computer).  It logs everywhere everyone goes, its very configurable but very easy to use.  We use it in conjusction with opendns.org which is a free DNS filter and together they do a very nice job.  We even have a timer setup in SafeEyes to limit the amount of time each child has available to them, and the hours they are allowed on the internet, cause we all know what mom says, " nothing good ever happens after midnight!" :o)  If you're interested they have a FREE 30 day trial. 

Marketing: Study Says Most Brands Still Irrelevant on Twitter - Advertising Age - Digital

Image via Wikipedia

I've always thought that the media and companies over-hyped Twitter. It works for them cause its a one place for information gathering but its not great for marketing if only 7% of the consumers are even on twitter(of course they don't say 7% of what, could be 7% of all people on earth and that would be completely different than 7% of the US popluation with computers).

Marketing: Study Says Most Brands Still Irrelevant on Twitter - Advertising Age - Digital

PSI - Software Security Scanner

Image via Wikipedia

This software by security firm Secunia, and recommended by security professional Steve Gibson, from GRC.com, is FREE for home use.  The software looks at your installed software and will notify you of old, vulnerable software so that you can patch it or remove it if you don't use it any longer.  Just one more tool in the toolbox for protecting your self from bad software and/or identity theft.

PSI - Consumer - Products

Spicy peppers may hold a key to weight loss...

Image via Wikipedia

I've always liked hot peppers but not for weight loss.  I've used 'em to fight off colds and just for the joy of it.  Back in college we used to buy those cheap frozen burritos and the hottest peppers we could find.  Then at the first signs of a cold we'd pile on the peppers and sweat and burn the cold out!  Seemed to work, but we always paid for it the next day (if you know what I mean :).   

Spicy peppers may hold a key to weight loss, scientists say | Booster Shots | Los Angeles Times

Beekeeping - An Introduction and a Different Approach

Image via Wikipedia

Introduction:
This is a great site to learn the basics about Beekeeping if you're interested or even just curious.  They put together short beekeeping lessons that are useful and easy to read.  They also have a site where you can buy beekeeping equipment from.

Different Approach:
Last Tuesday I went to the Holland Beekeeping association and heard Mel Disselkoen  talk about an alternative method of beekeeping.  Not a different type of hive just a different philosophy on what to do with the bees and when to do it.  It was very interesting and I'm going to do some more reading on his site:  http://www.mdasplitter.com/

Tour de France 2010

Image via Wikipedia

Watch the le Tour on Sat. for the time trials where we'll know for sure if Contador can keep his yellow jersey, of if Schleck will surprise everyone and pull off a surprise ride!


Tour de France 2010

Keystone Bike Park

Check out this sweet video of a couple downhillers going thru the Keystone bike park.  I'd love to learn how to do this with out risking my life to learn it!

Insulin Signaling Helps Make Queen Bees

Image by Max xx via Flickr

This is from an email I got from the American Bee Journal. It will eventually show up here:  ABJ Ertra Archives

There has for always been a question of how a female bee larva becomes a queen vs a worker bee.  We've known that the bees feed a larva royal jelly and place the larva in a special cell but they've never know why this causes the larva to develop into a queen, until now:

Insulin Signaling Key to

Caste Development in Bees

 What makes a bee grow up to be a queen? Scientists have long pondered this mystery. Now, researchers in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University have fit a new piece into the puzzle of bee development. Their work not only adds to understanding about bees, but also adds insights into our own development and aging.The study, which appeared in the June 30 online edition of Biology Letters, shows that a key protein in the insulin signaling pathway plays a strong role in caste development among bees.
A female bee can become either a worker or a queen. Queen bees are larger and live longer than workers. Queen bees are also fertile while workers are essentially sterile. A queen has only one role—to lay eggs—while workers tend the hive, care for the queen and larvae, and forage for food.
"The incredible thing is that both of these types of female honeybees emerge from the same genome," says Florian Wolschin, an assistant research professor in the School of Life Sciences in ASU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is the lead author of the study. "So how does that happen?"
Workers determine the fate of the larvae by what they feed them. The amount and composition of food that the larvae receive determine whether they become workers or queens. People have known this for many years, but exactly what happens inside the cells to create this split isn't completely clear.
Wolschin, Gro Amdam, an associate professor, and Navdeep S. Mutti, a postdoctoral research associate, found that the insulin signaling pathway plays a role in caste development. Insulin is a hormone found in humans and many other animals, and insulin-like peptides have been discovered in bees. Insulin moves glucose—sugar—from the bloodstream into the body's cells where it can be used.
The researchers suppressed one of the key proteins in this pathway in honeybee larvae. The protein, called the insulin receptor substrate (IRS), has been linked to growth, development and reproduction in mice. The researchers fed the altered larvae a queen's diet, but they developed into workers, not queens.
IRS is only one component of the process that decides a bee's ultimate fate. Wolschin says several other molecules are known to play a role, including DNA methyltransferase, juvenile hormone and a protein called TOR.
"Those are all very important and fundamental mechanisms," says Wolschin. "One single part cannot alone be responsible. It has to be the interplay between different mechanisms that finally results in the divergence of queens and workers."
The researchers are now looking at the interconnections between several of these factors. "We want to see if maybe there's a hierarchy involved. Several of the components are probably 'upstream' of other processes. So they serve as mass regulators and switches," says Wolschin.
Honeybees are vitally important to our economy through pollination of crops as well as production of honey, wax and royal jelly. Understanding bee biology is crucial to maintaining this industry in the face of problems like colony collapse disorder.
Wolschin adds that bees also provide an important model system that can help us understand our own biology. For example, scientists have successfully reversed many signs of aging in worker bees.
"That is pretty unique," says Wolschin. "You don't have other model organisms in aging research that can do that."  

Photography – Exposure vs. Brightness

Lightroom – Exposure vs. Brightness | Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Killer Tips
This is a great article which really shows the difference between these two sliders in Photoshop Lightroom. I've always wondered what the difference was but never really tested it out. I have normally used the exposure slider, primary out of ignorance of the differences. I may have to do a little more experimenting next time I need to raise or lower the "brightness" of the image. Take a look.

Sleep Recommendations

How Many Hours Of Sleep Should You Get? | LIVESTRONG.COM

Interesting article, I knew that you needed to get enough sleep but I'd not read that getting too much can be bad for you. Though I suppose if you're mostly sleeping you're not getting any exercise and there are consequences to that, but I'm thinking that too much sleep leading to depression makes less sense and wonder if its not the other way around. Depression will lead to sleeping more so it showed up in the study that way? In any case its good to know I'm getting my 7hrs most of the time which is just right!

Boulder Bike Story

This video talks about how Boulder became one of the top 3 bike friendly cities in the Country and how your community can do it too.  Looks like a great place to ride.  Its motivating me to see what I can do to help my Community (Grand Rapids) to do similar things.  This comes from the Bikes Belong website.

Alzheimer's Study

This article talks about two studies that showed exercise and vitamin D play a big role in risk reduction for Alzheimer's disease. Its funny to me that they say that "its unclear if supplements will help" maybe they didn't study that or maybe they just don't want to promote something they can't make tons of money on like they can with a drug. But if you have a deficiency (and increased risk) and supplementation eliminates the deficiency (and hence the risk) then it seems like common sense that supplementation would help. But they probably need to do a multi-billion dollar study to show that, and even then the drug companies would still try to bury the story somehow. :)

My Review of Serfas Zen Cycling Gloves (For Men)

Originally submitted at Sierra Trading Post

Closeouts . Serfas Zen cycling gloves have a fingerless design for protective coverage and dexterity, and are made with a padded palm and breathable construction for comfort. Lightweight and breathable Padded palm Extra large terry cloth panel on back of thumb Reflective trim Fabric: 45...

Serfas Zen Cycling Gloves (For Men)

Good Glove, esp. for the price

By Chris from Grand Rapids, MI on 7/7/2010

 

3out of 5

Sizing: Feels true to size

Pros: Comfortable Fit, Loops to help in removal, Good Ventilation

Best Uses: Road Biking

Describe Yourself: Avid Cyclist

Fits great and is comfortable, very easy off with the finger loops! Great price, ordered a second pair for when these are worn out.

(legalese)