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British Inventor Rolls Out “Smart-Floor” Technology
A British entrepreneur wants to turn your footsteps into electricity, and he claims the technology already works. The U.K. startup Pavegen is raising money for the high-tech flooring on a website called Crowdcube, a British crowdfunding service similar to KickStarter. “Pavegen’s technology converts footsteps into electricity to power services in high-footfall locations and provide real-time…
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Fifty-Six Years Later, Hudson Valley Florist Still Doing Well
After more than 50 years in the floral business, Alders Wholesale Florist in Campbell Hall, New York serves as a shining example of the virtues of hard work when it comes to running a family business. The Times Herald-Record reports that Henry Alders, the founder of Alders Wholesale Florist, has been in business for 56…
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Dogs and Humans Have Been Companions For Thousands of Years Longer Than Previously Thought, New Study Suggests
By a 70% to 20% margin, Americans describe themselves as “dog persons” rather than “cat persons,” and why shouldn’t they? Science has found that dog owners are less likely to be depressed than non-pet owners, that dog owners have a lower rate and blood pressure, and that dog owners get plenty of exercise. Obviously, things…
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Salmon Steals Fishing Rod, Only to Be Caught Later With Rod Still Attached
Any experienced angler knows that salmon fishing isn’t just a waiting game, but also a contest of strength. After all, the world record king salmon, which was caught in Alaska in 1985, weighed a whopping 97 pounds. Just ask Arlyn Tietz of Lewiston, Idaho, who recently went fishing on the Clearwater River, about how tough…
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Cell-Related Crashes on the Rise Despite Hands-Free Legislation
Cell phone-related crashes now account for about 27% of all vehicle accidents, according to an estimate released earlier this week by the National Safety Council. This is the third consecutive year that the figure has risen, despite hands-free legislation of some kind being enacted in a growing number of states. The number of crashes involving…
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Florida Lags Behind on Solar Panel Initiatives
Despite the state’s famous moniker, Florida lags behind other states in developing solar energy. The Associated Press reports that the Sunshine State ranks 13th in the country in solar power generated, even though it ranks 3rd in rooftop solar power potential. Recent initiatives in other states, such as California, have promoted solar power for both…
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Louvre Museum Opens New Islamic Art Exhibit
Under the direction of Islamic arts expert İlhan Alemdar, the Louvre Museum in Paris recently open an exhibition on Islamic art and culture, containing some 20,000 drawings, paintings, sculptures, and other works of art acquired from private and corporate owners. The Hurriyet Daily News reports that Alemdar has 25 years of experience in Islamic art…
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Canadians Have Begun Living in Homes Made Out of Old Shipping Containers
Only about 33% of consumers are willing to purchase a car online, despite the incredible growth of online shopping marketplaces and “shopping mall” smartphone apps in the past few years. But maybe more consumers would be willing to purchase homes made out of the shipping containers that were once intended for all those car sales?…
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Greenpeace Praises Apple, Blasts Amazon in Latest Green Data Center Report
Greenpeace recently released its annual “Clicking Clean” report that scores Internet and tech companies on their energy choices and commitment to green energy — and Apple received a perfect score of 100 for the second year in a row. According to a May 12 Apple Insider article, Apple received A’s all across the board; earning…
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Drivers in Paradise Valley, AZ Are Being Watched By Dozens of Cacti
If you drive through the quaint Phoenix, AZ suburb of Paradise Valley, there’s a good chance that your license plate will be scanned more than once by the dozens of traffic cameras lining busy streets — but you probably won’t even see these cameras at all. Why, you ask? Because Paradise Valley officials decided to…