TCAPS – that’s Tactical Communication and Protective System – are a sort of combo connected earplug/hearing aid currently being deployed by the US Army to both reduce hearing loss from explosive sounds and enhance perception of quiet tones.
The system, currently priced at a (perhaps unsurprisingly) lofty $2,000, is designed to address the problem of hearing loss in the military, one of the most widely reported disabilities among veterans. The issue has been attributed, in part, to soldiers’ unwillingness to wear traditional foam earplugs for fear of missing commands and enemy sounds.
The smartphone-connected TCAPS both block out loud sounds like explosions and gunfire, and are capable of enhancing whispers. The systems come in a variety of sizes and shapes for different ear canals and can by charged via solar, standard outlets and even vehicle batteries.
At present, the Army has issued 20,000 of the devices.
Gather the kids and blow their minds with this sneak peek at some of the dramatic and action-packed sequences in the upcoming Netflix-exclusive Voltron reboot. You should also check out the team’s transformation sequence here.
Workbenches can make your life a lot easier if you work out of your garage. There are tons of variationsfor building your own, but over on Instructables, gearboxdesigns shows off a simple bench that’s pretty easy to make and comes in at around $65.
There are cheaper designs out there, but gearbox’s is built for stability. Which is to say, this sucker’s going to weigh a ton when it’s done. Still, it uses pine, which will wear down a little quicker, but it also keeps the cost down significantly. Of course, you’ll need a little bit of woodworking skill to make this for yourself, but all told, it’s not a terribly complex project. Head over to Instructables for the full guide.
The popular expression used for taking a break and enjoying the world around you is “stop and smell the roses.” I think a more interesting way to take some time is stopping to take a look up at the sky. There’s a lot going on up there. Constellations, the moon, and other planets in our solar system can be seen with the naked eye, so you don’t even need to an expensive telescope to take in the awesomeness of the universe. Of course, there are some times when looking at the sky is better than others. That’s why this awesome…
After hitting snooze a few times, I started my morning by checking my Twitter feed. I saw #wearorange was trending and orange selfies were popping up all over (no, they weren’t of Donald Trump). I read through the tweets of out of touch celebrities and socialist-leaning politicians whom were promoting the “movement to end gun violence” and literally had to facepalm. I chose a navy dress to throw on for work today because (and call me crazy) I wouldn’t care to point out the fact that I am opposed to guns and therefore likely NOT carrying concealed.
But hey, I could have a whistle or maybe a call box within 100 yards. Beware, criminals.
When I think of the color orange, all that fills my mind are mental images I catalogued first hand ten years ago. I still remember the melodic “clink” of handcuffs as they locked around my rapist’s wrists. It sounded almost as redemptive as hearing “we find the defendant guilty” spoken by the jury foreperson moments beforehand. The prison jumpsuit he had worn since June 3rd of 2006 will forever embody that blazing color to me.
As I walked out my front door into the world that is predictable only in a way that consistently proves evil can lurk around any corner, I reflected on the tangible things I’ve done to help end violence.
I reported my rape.
I testified in court.
I put a rapist in prison.
I suffered through traumatic side effects no person should ever experience.
I released my name.
I spoke out for victims.
I testified in front of legislators.
I confronted the president on gun control measures that chip away at our constitutional rights.
And I had the resolve to know I’d continue to do so.
So no, I didn’t wear orange to magically end gun violence today. I exercised my constitutional right as an American by wearing my Smith & Wesson on my hip, and headed out of the house knowing what I was wearing truly could make a difference.
Mary Meeker, a former Morgan Stanley internet analyst and now partner at venture-capital fund Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, has delivered her annual report that offers critical stats and trends about how technology is evolving. TechCrunch has highlighted the takeaways from the report: 1) The global internet adoption rate was flat year-over-year at 9%, reaching 3 billion users or 42% of the world’s population. 2) Smartphone adoption’s growth is slowing, while Android increases marketshare despite a shrinking average selling price. 3) Video viewership is exploding, with Snapchat and Facebook Live showing the way, though video ads aren’t always effective. 4) Messaging is dominated by Facebook and WeChat, it’s growing rapidly, and evolving from simple text communication to become our new home screen with options for vivid self-expression and commerce. 5) US advertising is growing, with Google and Facebook controlling 76% of the market and rising, but advertisers still spend too much on legacy media rather than new media where the audience has shifted. 6) Meeker predicts the rise of voice interfaces because they’re fast, easy, personalized, hands-free, and cheap, with Google on Android now seeing 20% of searches from voice, and Amazon Echo sales growing as iPhone sales slow.
What are you possibly doing wrong while driving to screw up like that? I’ve passed cars as I’m texting while driving and speeding recklessly at the same time because I’m rushing home so I don’t poop my pants and I’ve still managed not to put my car up in the air.
At this week’s Computex expo, hardware vendor Gigabyte has unveiled a pair of Thunderbolt 3 peripherals, one dock, and one graphics card enclosure. The Thunderbolt 3 dock, dubbed the GP-TBT3, encapsulates nearly every kind of modern wired connector possible, as well as a pair of M.2 SSD interfaces internally….
via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network Gigabyte shows 19-port Thunderbolt 3 dock, PCI-e graphics card chassis
No matter how fast medicine moves us towards treatments, preventive medicine will always be the most effective and cheapest way to keep healthy. Yesterday, we went over the most common screenings for women. Today we’ll look at men’s health screenings, when you should get them, and what kind of experience you’re in for.
Not surprisingly, men and women can look forward to different screening tests throughout their lifetime. In today’s case we can solidly notch a point in the “better to be a man” column: There is only one recommended screening test for men of average risk (i.e. with no personal or family medical history).
That, of course, excludes routine things checked during your annual primary care visit (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, urinalysis, abdominal circumference, physical exam, etc) or behavior related screenings (STIs, lung cancer). Those tests are all absolutely critical to maintaining your health — don’t skimp on them just because you think heart disease doesn’t seem as scary as colon cancer. But in terms of recommended screening for cancer and other diseases, you only have a colonoscopy to look forward to. Sad, I know.
As always, final decisions about your personal care should be made after a conversation between you and your physician. Not after a quick perusal of the internet.
What is it? Most people associate colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopies — a multipurpose test that can screen for colorectal cancer, ulcers, polyps, and bleeding. There are actually a few methods of testing for colorectal cancer, each with a different screening recommendation. The unique advantage of the colonoscopy is that it visualizes the entire colon and allows for tissue sampling and removal of polyps as appropriate.
There are also several screening tests that look for blood in the stool, a possible sign of colon cancer.
What does it feel like? I had to outsource this question. For the colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy prep, the almost universal responses were either “I don’t want to talk about it. There’s just so much poop.” For the colonoscopy itself, most people are sedated so you will have no memory of the experience. Because the sigmoidoscope does not travel as far up the digestive tract, patients are awake through the procedure. This was described “like someone is snaking a pipe…only it’s your rectum.”
For the fecal occult blood screening test (FOBT), your doctor will insert one lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum and test for blood (a digital rectal exam). This feels exactly as it sounds. For the fecal immunochemical test (FIT), you will collect samples of your own stool. This is painless, but kind of gross.
For detection of cancer, ACS recommends either a Guaiac based fecal occult blood test or fecal immunochemical test test every year or a stool DNA test every 3 years. They do not consider tests done based on in office digital rectal exams to be a sufficient means of screening for cancer. Based on research suggesting FIT to be a superior test, it was adopted as the preferred cancer detection test by the ACG.
Prostate Cancer Screening
What is it?Traditionally, men would regularly receive a digital rectal exam (DRE) and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test to screen for prostate cancer in patients without symptoms. During the DRE, the doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to feel for growths or bumps. The PSA is a blood test that looks for a protein produced by the prostate that may be elevated in cases of cancer.
What does it feel like? The doctor will typically have you bend over the table (there are other possible positions if you are are unable to stand that way) and insert their gloved finger into your rectum, probing around for any masses or anything out of the ordinary. The test will usually last under a minute — you may feel some mild discomfort but there shouldn’t be any pain. Awkward small talk may be involved. While they’re up there, many doctors will follow the exam with a FOBT to look for blood in your stool (a possible signifier of other, non prostate cancer, problems)
The PSA is a blood test, so that feels like a finger prick.
When Should I Get It? Previously, PSAs were recommended yearly after 50 years of age, earlier for African American men and those with a family history of cancer. More recently, experts have recognized that the harms of this testing may outweigh the benefits. The PSA test may deliver falsely positive results (level elevated but no cancer)., leading to unnecessary anxiety and additional testing. A positive PSA test may also find small tumors that are not causing symptoms, but this may not reduce the chances of dying from prostate cancer. The resulting overtreatment, which may include surgery or radiation, can result in potential harmful side effects and complications.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and ACS oth recommend that physicians discuss the possible risks and benefits of testing with patients, before making any decisions on testing. The discussion should start at age 50 for men of average risk, age 45 for men of high risk, and age 40 for those of very high risk. Screening is repeated annually or every 2 years, depending on the results. Testing for men with a less than 10 year life expectancy is not recommended by ACS.
The USPTF recommends against PSA testing for prostate cancer (these guidelines are currently being updated). For men who continue to request screening, they recommend doctors fully relay the risks and benefits of the procedure.
Penile Cancer Prevention
This last one is prevention rather than screening, but many men don’t realize that they are eligible for the HPV vaccine so I want to mention it here. It also protects against other forms of cancer,including anus, mouth, and throat. “Penile cancer” just seemed like the most eye-catching header to go with here.
There are vaccines — Gardasil and Cervarix — that protect against the cancer and genital wart causing strains of HPV. While earlier vaccination is ideal (it is recommended after age 11), the vaccine is recommended for women through the age of 26. This is a vaccine that prevents cancer. Man, woman, boy, girl — if you’re eligible and don’t have it, go get it.
Regular screening and early treatment of common medical conditions remains your best bet for reaching (or outliving!) the average American lifespan of 78.74 years (if you don’t live in the US, your average life expectancy can be found here). Insurance coverage in the US is higher than ever, but many still have limited or no access to this kind of preventative care. If you do not have a regular physician or are uninsured, there are programs that can help:
Beyond these, talk to your primary care physician or health care provider. There may be local or community programs that can help find affordable or free resources for these screenings as well.