Toys and Games – Reviews and News

This coming weekend, 3rd, 4th and 5th of July, its time for the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed – and I can’t wait. The weather is promising to be excellent which will mean maximum crowds so be sure to arrive early.

Modelzone, the UK’s largest model retailer, will have a stand at this year’s festival and they’ve told me that lucky festival goers will have the chance to snap up some festival-only motoring related model bargains.

Now I am something of a RC Car enthusiast (RC stands for radio control) so I shall be first in the queue to grab a bargain or three.

Read more in the Modelzone Blog.

There is a great discount offer available from modelzone.co.uk between the 15th and 21st of June. You can get 5% off all products available from their online store if you enter this discount code: MZFD5

A nice little deal if you are looking for scalextric, radio control or die-cast models.

The sun is out, the sky is blue, there’s not a cloud to spoil the view…. But an increasing number of people in the UK are contracting skin cancer.

As we enter the sunny summer months it is important that parents and carers ensure that the children they look after are thoroughly protected from the sun’s harmful rays. Statistics published by Cancer Research UK clearly show the effects of the fashion for what was once described as ‘a healthy tan’.

Many people who were sun worshippers in their twenties and thirties are now regretting having exposed their skin to the ravages of the sun’s rays. Ensuring that children are protected is one thing, but setting a good example is equally important. A child who sees their mother baking themselves on the patio is far more likely to do the same themselves when they get older.

The answer is using adequate and effective sun protection. Apply a good quality, high factor sun screen before venturing out doors and then re-apply, particularly if children are swimming or playing in water. Ideally avoid going outdoors during the peak mid-day hours. This is far easier said than done, I know, so try to keep yourself and your children covered up with good hats and long sleeved shirts.

I know from my own experience how difficult this can be. My own children are now old enough to head off to the beach without me and I always tell them to put on more sun screen after they have been swimming. But I know that this will often slip their minds. If they are playing in the back garden I’ll go out and chase them around with a big bottle of factor 16 sun cream but when they go off to the beach on their own I must rely upon them.

So do try to ensure that you and your children don’t become Cancer Research statistics. Get yourself some good quality sun protection and use it.

Helen Phillips has just been crowned the winner of Biggest Loser after shedding an incredible 140 lbs. She started out at 257 lbs and finally weighed in at an incredible 117 lbs at the finale, and she looked sensational.

A key element in her weight loss programme has been exercise. Something we could all do with more of. If you, like me, have a gaggle of sedentary youngsters who think that picking up a towel from the bathroom floor is hard work then you will know how hard it can be to encourage them to get their essential sixty active minutes a day.

I’ve tried everything from buying them a really expensive play system, taking them swimming three times a week and visiting the park as often as possible. Sometimes I am the only one waving my legs on the swing set while my offspring lounge around laughing at me. In fact I’ve been losing weight with all the exertion.

Great news for real radio control enthusiasts and those who are secretly still just big kids inside. Modelzone are offering a fantastic 10% discount on all their radio control products this May bank holiday weekend! The offer runs from the 2nd to the 4th of May and includes all radio control models and accessories at www.modelzone.co.uk.

This is a brilliant offer both for serious RC anoraks and anyone just looking to have a bit of fun this summer. There’s a huge selection of great radio control cars, aircraft, boats, helicopters and tanks to choose from on the site as well as loads of useful accessories and parts, and even some pretty impressive robots!

Anyone can take part in Modelzone’s May Bank Holiday Special Offer on radio control products. Simply choose your RC goodies, then enter the promotional code MAYRC10 at the checkout and your 10% discount will be deducted. Then all you need to do is sit back and wait for the delivery, just in time for the summer!

We all know that buying video games is not cheap. At around £40 each for games, going even higher if you buy the limited editions, because of this, making a game last as long as possible and keeping it fresh is becoming ever more important. This is where downloadable content pops up. Many games these days are releasing additional content for you to buy and download. Here are just a few to be aware of it you are continuously looking at your games looking for something new.

If you can’t get enough of the Halo games, but you’re getting bored of the multiplayer maps, maybe it’s time for you to buy some of the new content that’s available. There are currently 3 downloadable packs with new maps, there is the Cold Storage Map which is a single map and this one is free, then there is the Heroic Map Pack and the Legendary Map Pack which both cost 800 Microsoft Points. Both of the packs that cost 800 MS points come with some brand new achievements for you to unlock. However, if you already have these, then you’ll be pleased to know that there is a brand new pack coming out on April 9th which yet again will cost 800 MS points.

Just like Halo 3, the guys over at Epic have released a number of maps for the Gears of War 2 multiplayer. Gears of War 2 has 3 different map packs on the Marketplace and the first is the Flashback Multiplayer Map pack which contains 5 new maps for you to fight across, all for a small fee of 400 MS points. The next 2 packs both costs 800 Microsoft Points and they are called the Combustible Multiplayer Map Pack which contains 3 new maps and also the brand new Snowblind Multiplayer Map Pack.

If first person shooter games are not really your thing, then how about some extra content for the best skating game out there, Skate 2. There are 5 different packs available to buy and they cover things from new skate areas to new filming features. First there is the San Van Classic Pack which allows you to skate in 3 areas from the first game, there is also some new achievements to unlock in each of these areas, this pack will cost you 800 MS points. The next one is the Drydek’s Fantasy Plaza Pack, this pack costs 400 MS points and allows you to skate around the course for Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory show. The final packs don’t come with any maps, however, you may fancy buying them. The first one is the Filmer Pack, this costs 600 MS points and it allows you to use new angles, views and add new finishing touches to your films. If you fancy changing the look of your skate then this next pack is for you, it’s called the Throwback Pack and it’s free, so no reason not to get it and it basically comes with new apparel for your skater. The final pack is called Time is Money Pack and costs 400 MS points, this pack allows you to unlock all the skaters, areas and gear for your skater.

Almost at the end of the post here, but not quite yet. The next game up is Mirror’s Edge, so if running across building tops against the clock is your sort of thing, then you should get your hands on this new pack. It’s called the Pure Time Trials Pack and will cost you 800 MS points, and what you get for your money is 9 new time trials across 7 whole new areas, there are no cops and no guns to slow you down, just pure agility maps that push you to the limit and get you playing at your best. Yet again, there are some new achievements designed for this pack aswell.

The final game is Fallout 3. This game has 2 packs which allow ou to continue the campaign in new areas and against new foes. Both of these packs cost 800 MS points, the first one is The Pitt, this one requires you to travel to Pittsburgh, now called The Pitt, and uncover the secret that has caused the people of The Pitt to be attacked by disease and mutation. The second pack is the Operation: Anchorage pack which takes you into the military campaign where you have to fight against Chinese Communist Invaders, but you can leave your old weapons behind as you can get your hands on some of the new gear available like the Gauss Rifle.

That’s all I’m going to inform you about at the moment, just make sure you watch the various marketplaces to get the latest content when it comes out. Also, I hope this blog post helps you get playing some of your older games.

For even more video game news and a whole bunch of video game reviews, check out ScroobyOnline.

I am a frequent flyer who has to visit Europe often four or five times a month and the United States around five or six times a year. Keeping myself entertained while waiting in airport lounges has become something I am very good at.

I’ve tried pretty much every portable entertainment device on the market but I have yet to find another travel game that compares to Sudokube. It’s like a cross between Rubiks cube and Suduko and it’s incredibly addictive.

On a recent return trip from Stockholm I went to retrieve my car from the Gatwick parking lot and thought that I’d just spend a few minutes relaxing with my Sudokube before hitting the M23 for the drive home. Two hours later, I reallised that I’d become completely immersed in the little numbered cube and hadn’t been able to tear myself away. That’s how addictive this little beast can be.

At only £3.49 a Sudokube is a very affordable little travel companion.

Mandarin is the official language of China and Taiwan. It is the dialect of the majority in Mainland China and the Chinese overseas. Cantonese is not as commonly used since Britain’s turnover of Hong Kong to China. It may become a dialect that is used among family and friends, or for business purposes, Mandarin is more practical to learn. ChildBook has also carried Cantonese products in the past that took forever to sell.

Language coursed were offered to students when they were 12 years old in 1980s America. When to 2000, children are way ahead of the game in this ten years. Schools across America have made foreign language a requirement to graduate and also start the students as young as 5 years old. Beyond that, they aren’t just offering the usual French, Spanish, Italian and German they’re offering the language of the present, and certainly the future – Mandarin Chinese.

Learning Chinese at an early age has shown that children grasp the language more readily. Beacause the brain can compart various languages correctly when at a young age. This makes it easier for the child to attain the native pronunciation and grammar. Not only has research shown that learning a foreign language enhances cognitive development, but overall basic skills performance in elementary school children as well.

People will lack self-consciousness when they learn a language at an earlier age. When there is the tendency to be afraid of pronouncing the words incorrectly, children are more apt to try out new words and phrases then when they are older. The spontaneity leads to learning to speak Chinese with a quicker fluency.

If you’re looking for additional ways to assist your child in learning Chinese, new types of technology which weren’t available in the past can help students outside the classroom. The Nintendo DS, for example, has a product which guides you through a Chinese language tutorial. And with the innovation of the web, it’s become easier to learning Chinese online.

It is a sad state of affairs when a senior citizen finds that his or her identity has been stolen through a scam. Perhaps they were not educated on preventing identity theft because they did most of their business and personal transactions in person. But with more turning to the internet to stay connected, they are left open. Even sadder than that are the children who have had their identities stolen from institutions that are supposedly safe. Identity theft prevention has to cover children now just as much as adults and senior citizens.

Lifelock Identity Theft Protection

Identity theft prevention for children starts at the education level. Preschools, elementary schools and high schools always ask for the child’s social security number as a means of verification and to keep track of the child’s education. But you will often have to fill out sheets for the teacher’s classroom as well. You do not have to give your child’s social security number to his or her teacher. If they ask for it, then ask them why they need it. This same principle applies to daycare centers, activity groups and organizations.

Lifelock Identity Theft Prevention

If the group claims that they need it for identification purposes, then you can always go to your local Department of Motor Vehicles and ask for an identification card. Just explain to the organization that preventing identity theft is of great importance to you. There are countless news stories of an identity thief using a child’s information to create a new identity for themselves. The information provided to the organization could be easily stolen. You can do your part to stop identity theft before it begins by just using this little bit of common sense.

If you are worried that your child’s information has been compromised by a loved one or a care giver, then you need to report identity theft right away to the proper authorities. The identity thief needs to be caught and then appropriately punished for his or her actions. This will help you correct all of the information on the credit reports. Yes, even children who have had their identity stolen will have a credit report.

Identity theft prevention begins at home. Your job is to protect your child from danger and identity thief is definitely a danger to your child’s future. Keep your their information private and be careful about who has access to it. The more you do now; the better off the child will be later down the road when it comes to their financial future.

LifeLock Protection

Introduction

Ionic air purifiers hold the promise of clean air, purified of all known harmful contaminants that threaten our health. Naked eyes cannot see these harmful contaminants. Invisible ions battling invisible contaminants appears to make perfect sense. I am drawn to this intuitive logic. Yet, even before an hour of internet research has lapsed, a whole deluge of controversy is thrown up by google. Even though I am tempted to quickly get an ionic air purifier to clean the air I breathe, it is clear that more time and effort is needed. Product safety must take precedence over effectiveness in choosing an ionic air purifier.

The recent China melamine saga that killed infants also serves as a reminder to us that in buying into any technology or any product, all claims by manufacturers and distributors must be examined to the fullest extent that our resources permit. This is especially so where the key reactive agent is invisible to the naked eye. Investigating ionic air purifier technologies falls within this ambit as the reactive agents are invisible ions.

This article is an overview of existing ionic air purifier technology in the marketplace. Trying to understand the science behind the technologies seems to be the logical place to begin searching for the ideal ionic air purifier. The creation of a powerful invisible defence shield against airborne molecular contaminants is increasingly taking centrestage. The dominant global health threat under the scrutiny of scientists is the avian flu virus.

Types of Ionic Air Purifier Technologies

Broadly speaking, air purification technologies can be deployed in either passive or active modes. Under passive technology modes, reactive agents are contained in the air purifier whilst impure air is drawn in for cleansing before being pushed back to the environment. Active mode depicts the proactive process of bringing the purifying reactive agents into the surrounding impure air. Savvy marketeers often seek to cover all the bases by combining both passive and active modes in many ionic air purifiers.

In the global market today, ionic air purifier technologies include the following categories:

(A) Ion generator – positive and negative ions
(B) Ion generator – negative ions only
(C) Photocatalytic Oxidation (POC)
(D) Electrostatic filter
(E) Combos

Ion Generator – Positive and Negative Ions

This combination of positive and negative ions appears to show the most promise for the future of ionic air purifier technology. Pioneered by the Japanese corporate giant, Sharp Corporation, they are known as plasmacluster ions.

Sharp Corporation’s marketing efforts focus on the ability of plasmacluster ions to surround and cling on to harmful airborne bacteria and viruses. When this happens, hydroxyl is produced. Hydroxyl, also known as nature’s detergent, is a powerful reactive species that plucks out hydrogen molecules from the organic structure of these airborne particulates thereby destroying them. The by-products of this chemical reaction, mainly water, are harmless.

A differential ion generator is used in this technology, comprising a positive and a negative ion generator which can be powered in alternate cycles to control the type of ions generated.

Advocates of the positive and negative ions combination claim that a balance of both these ion types is to be found in places like waterfalls and pristine forests, i.e. this is the actual state in nature. Proponents of negative ions believe that negative ions dominate the environment in these natural habitats and even insist that positive ions are harmful. In this regard, I have yet to find independent scientific studies as evidence for the contradictory claims of both camps.

Ion Generator – Negative Ions

The traditional ionic air purifier produces only negative ions. This technology appears to have the main market share currently but is facing a serious challenge from Sharp’s plasmacluster positive and negative ions technology.

It is claimed that nearly all harmful airborne particulates like dust, smoke and bacteria etc have a positive charge. The positive charges are continually attracted to the negative charges of the ions until sheer mass makes them sink to the ground. Vacuuming removes these neutralised impurities and therefore protects us from them. Weighing down the particulates does nothing to destory them, according to critics, and merely walking on them causes the air to be polluted again.

There appears to be several methods of producing negative ions. This has significance as the various methods result in different by-products, some of which are harmful. These methods include:

(1) Water method – this employs what is known as the waterfall or Lenard Effect. Onto a metal plate that is electrically-charged, water droplets are splashed. This splits the water droplets, a process in which large numbers of negative ions are produced. It is claimed that no harmful by-products are produced by the water method.

(2) Electron radiation method – this is based on a single negative discharge electrode needle. Negatively-charged electrons are produced by the millions when a high voltage pulse is applied to the electrode. This method does not result in ozone being produced. This is believed to be due to the application of a “smaller” energy pulse.

(3) Corona discharge method – this is based on a dual electrode model, a sharp metal electrode and a flat electrode. An extremely high voltage is then applied to the two electrodes. This causes the movement of electrons between the electrodes thereby ionising the air in between them. An inherent weakness of this method is the production of harmful by-products like ozone and nitride oxide.

Photocatalytic Oxidation (POC)

This technology is commonly applied in a passive mode. Hydroxyl, nature’s detergent, is the key reactive agent in POC technology.

Germicidal ultraviolet (UV) light is commonly shone on a catalyst (usually titanium oxide) to produce hydroxyl, oxygen and peroxide, all of which are potent oxidising agents that are very effective at destroying the organic structure of micro-organisms and gaseous volatile organic compounds.

Complete and comprehensive action is the pillar of POC technology. Proponents of this technology claim that POC inactivates ALL categories of indoor pollution, including:

(1) airborne particulates i.e. dust, pet dander, plant pollen, sea salts, tobacco smoke, industrial and car pollution, etc

(2) bioaerosols i.e. infectious biological compounds (e.g. viruses and pathogenic bacteria) or non-infectious (e.g. non-pathogenic bacteria, molds, cell debris)

(3) volatile organic compounds (VOCs) i.e. gaseous chemicals or odours – benzene, styrene, toluene, chloroform, hexane, ethanol, formaldehyde and ethylene all common emissions from everyday products of our modern home.

Detractors of POC technology are wary of the inability of hydroxyl to distinguish between the organic structures of molecular contaminants and that of our nose membrane, lung tissue and eye cornea.

Electrostatic Filter

This technology appears to have originated in heavy industries which produced abundant pollutants. In the most common electrostatic filter arrangement, there is a porous dielectric material positioned between two electrodes. Dielectric materials do not conduct electricity while metallic electrodes are excellent conductors that transmit and receive electricity.

As impure air is drawn into the electrostatic purifier, it passes through the dielectric material which acts as a sieve. Electrostatic forces between the electrodes causes airborne particulates i.e.dust, smoke contaminants, etc, to stick to the dielectric surface. Out of the other end of the purifier, cleaned air is recirculated.

Quite often, an ion source is placed before the electrostatic filter to impart an electric charge to the airborne particulates. Charging the impurities make them adhere more effectively to the dielectric material.

Criticism of electrostatic filter technology focuses on ozone as a by-product, commonly assumed to be produced in all ionisation processes.

Combo Ionic Air Purifiers

To cater to the various adherents and critics of the diverse technologies, combos incorporate all or some of the above types of technologies. Combos may include:

(1) adsorptive materials such as activated carbon or oxygenated charcoal (known for its extremely porous large surface area) are added to POC technology to enhance the removal of VOCs;

(2) oxidizing catalysts like titanium oxide are coated on various components of all types of air purifiers to enhance VOC elimination;

(3) reducing catalysts such as manganese dioxide are coated near the exit outlets of many air purifiers to reduce reactive species like ozone and nitric oxide which may be harmful;

(4) generating ions by differing methods such as using microwave, UV light, radio frequency waves, and direct current;

(5) tweaking the specifications of any ionic air purifier technology so as to attain the well-known HEPA status without actually using HEPA filters.

Obviously, the process of selecting the most efficient and effective ionic air purifier involves analysing a deluge of information. And I have not even touched on the safety aspects of each technology. I have also not examined in detail the claims of each technology. So before you put your money down for any air purifier in your homes, offices, schools, etc, check back here for updates as I continue my quest for the ideal ionic air purifier.

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