World of Ease

Archive for June, 2011

Not long ago Michelin Tire Company began selling their new Protek Max bicycle inner tubes. What’s different about the Michelin’s new Protek Inner Tubes is that they have a unique design which Michelin claims will reduce the chance of losing air pressure from punctures. Despite the fact that Continental released their ContiSeal tires that contain a fluid which permanently seals punctures up to 5mm in diameter in early 2008, the Protek Max Inner Tubes still represent a huge breakthrough for the industry.

Like many achievements Michelin’s latest success is built upon the work of others; Michelin has taken the best aspects of run-flat tires and Continental’s ContiSeal tires and combined it to form their Protek Max Inner Tubes.

The new Protek Inner Tubes are designed with textured surface which cause it to compress when fully inflated – normal inner tubes expand. Both the outer and inner edge of the the inner tubes are textured: the outer edge features a square shaped texture that helps the tubes properly align with bicycle tires, and the other edge consists of a series of small raised circular bumps. It’s these small circular bumps that cause the air pressure in the inner tube to form a compressive force.. Since the inner tubes are essentially shrinking rather than expanding any existing hole contract rather than enlarge. Additionally, all of the Protek Max Inner Tubes also come with a sealant that spreads out to close any existing puncture holes as well.

While traditional auto tires don’t have inner tubes like bicycle tires perhaps Michelin can still bring this technology over to standard vehicle tires one day. If Michelin were to adapt standard tires with the Protek Max technology then it’s likely that it could still be found in relatively cheap tires, as it only seems to require changing the tread, or lining, of the tire instead of implementing a completely new manufacturing process. Lastly, Michelin also claims that their new inner tubes are capable of maintaining regular pressure (i.e not leaking) longer than standard inner tubes. Michelin’s ProTek Max Inner Tubes are on sale now for about $9 for standard sized bicycle tires.

Via Michelin & GizMag

Photos by David Huang and jeff_golden

Kids tend to learn better and retain the knowledge longer if they care about and are actively engaged in the subject. Many teachers have learned that the trick is to try to frame information and skills in a context that appeals to the child. Parents who want to give young children an understanding of the world at large may want to employ a similar tactic.

Rather than just buying a world map and attempting to teach geography to their kids, parents need to place the map in a context that the child will care about. If the kid is interested in history or explorers, then using a map to trace historical events or the routes taken by early explorers will make the map more meaningful. Another example is associating the map with geography — a child that is intrigued by volcanoes or earthquakes or loves the desert or the ocean will be drawn to those features on a map.

Think of it as teaching the child to use the map as a tool for investigating a subject they already love. Avid readers may want to plot the birthplaces of their favorite authors as well as the locations where books were set. Parents can also turn a map of georgia into a treasure hunt, giving kids a list of places to identify on the map and a reward for each one that they locate, perhaps with extra points for any information they can relate about the place.

Every year thousands of teenagers in Canada move out into their first home away from home. Many are university students who don’t want to live in the dorms and decide to get an apartment off campus. Others have begun building their life by getting a job and moving out with friends or on their own. As young people, they have special considerations when it comes to renting. There are a few companies that specialize in helping students with getting their first apartment. TransGlobe Property Management is a good example of this type of company.

All property management companies are going to offer a choice of rental units in different neighborhoods. They will have apartments of different sizes, rent ranges, and amenities. What sets Transglobe and others like them apart from the field is their dedication to tenant education . They provide resources and information on the process of finding and applying for an apartment as well as the responsibilities associated with being a good tenant. They will explain how to read a lease and encourage prospective tenants to take a tour of a property and to ask lots of questions.

Another advantage to working with these types of companies is that they understand that young people won’t have an established rental history or credit rating. They will work with the students and their parents to make sure the tenants understand their financial obligations and will be able to make their rent payments using wages, scholarships , or stipends from their parents.

To find these companies, simply type something like Management property TransGlobe or property management city into a web browser and start looking for companies that offer the services outlined above.