Posts Tagged ‘gadget’

Top Reasons Why Not All Pepper Pens Work

Pepper pens are some of the top selling self-defense gadgets in the market.  Many people prefer them because they are handy, easy to hide and carry and can blend in with other everyday objects.  But pepper pens are not created equal.  Here are reasons why not all pepper pens work and what you can do to resolve it:

The pepper pen has a limited range of use
Manufacturers and self-defense experts often recommend that users be aware of the range of their pepper sprays.  Some of the best in the market can be used at a range of about 10 to 15 feet, with some types even stopping an attacker from as far away as 20 feet, depending on wind direction.  A pepper pen spray generally has a shorter range of about 5 to 8 feet.

So why doesn’t this range always work?  There are certain circumstances that may make it dangerous for the user who only has a pepper pen spray and little else.  If an attacker is coming on fast or running towards you, he or she should be able to cover a good 3 to 5 feet in as little as 2 seconds.  Although you could use the pepper pen by then, the momentum will have carried your attacker through the 5 or 8 feet distance in order to topple you.

You could remedy this by being aware at all times and to learn how to avoid an oncoming attack.  That way, you would be able to protect yourself and allow the pepper spray to work its magic so you can make your escape.

The pepper pen spray may be a bit difficult to use
Although quite effective, the shape and size of the pepper pen may sometimes make it difficult for some people to use.  Some people even find that their grip is a bit awkward and that aiming can be a bit challenging particularly during a surprise attack.

The pepper pen spray contents may not suffice during an attack
The key to the efficacy of the pepper spray is to always keep in mind that its main power is in providing a distraction to the attacker.  The effects of the spray is only temporary, which means the user is expected to either physically bring down the attacker after the spray has been used or to run away.

A pepper pen spray may contain only a limited amount of the substance.  Due to the small size of the container (the body of the pen), a pepper pen may contain only a few ounces of spray.  In an ideal situation, such as when the user is confident and is gripping the spray correctly, the pen may be effective enough.  If the user is panicking, he may have more difficulty aiming and firing such a small device.

Hangover Teaches Self-Defense

The 2009 movie The Hangover is a familiar misanthropy of stock characters just like the movies Wedding Crashers, Anchorman and Dodgeball. The funny story all started with four friends: Doug (Justin Bartha), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis), and Phil (Bradley Cooper). The four take a drive to Las Vegas in a red Mercedes Benz to celebrate Doug’s upcoming marriage. The bachelor party goes very, very wrong when Doug suddenly disappears when the three guys wake up in Vegas with the groom missing. They were so drunk the night before that they couldn’t recall a single thing about what happened. The story revolves around how they tried to recall the events of the night before in an attempt to find the groom in time for the wedding.

In the movie, each of the four main characters has their own stories. Phil was a perfect jerk like what Bradley Cooper is known for. Stu was the type of boyfriend who gets beaten up by his girlfriend while Alan was an idiot anyone would love. Doug, on the other hand, was the very responsible, soon-to-be-wed boyfriend.Just like other male-centered movies, Doug is the type that everyone would like to have as a friend. Phil is a school teacher whose regular thing is to steal from his students’ field trip fund. Meanwhile, Stu doesn’t have the guts to stand up to his girlfriend as she beats him up. This led to him being panicky all the time. Alan, is weirdly not allowed within 200 feet of any school.

Overall, the movie is really funny. There are just some scenes that are somewhat unacceptable to some audiences. For one, there is one scene where the main characters are nailed with tasers as some cops and school children just and watch and laugh at them. Even the kids used the cops’ tasers on the three funny heroes. It appeared funny to some but to some, it made them queasy because of the taking in of torture in the taser scene.

You won’t believe how the movie can get the viewer confused. So many crude moments that you can’t forgive yet it also has a lot of softhearted moments that makes your forget the crude moments. The confusion and the speed of events were really hilarious. The only flaw that critics have found is the tasteless taser scene. This has led them to name the movie as the “Self-defense movie of the year.” Tasers are supposed to be a defense of victims against attackers. Using tasers on the characters in the movie wasn’t exactly funny to all viewers.

The manner of how the story was told was one of the movie’s strengths. The watcher is kept in suspense the whole time until it gets to the climax. The cast really rolled comedy-style. The punchlines were gratifying for the male watchers as given by its R rating. The actors played their parts nicely while their interaction with each other showed very well in the movie.

Beginner Tips for Using a Digital Phone Recorder

A digital phone recorder may seem like one of those extra gadgets that you really don’t have a use for. What it can offer in terms of function may seem too much, of course, until you actually need it. If you’ve never used one before, it may seem a bit too high-tech. But really, it’s a device that has been designed for easy operation and practical use. If you’re a newbie, here are tips on how to use a digital phone recorder:

Understand the set-up.
The basic digital phone recorder is usually an independent device, sold separately from your phone unit. To give you a basic idea of how it looks like and how it works, imagine your old cassette tape telephone recorder, except that a digital phone recorder is generally a smaller, more compact device. It records your phone conversations electronically, which means that voice files are easily compressed, allowing you longer periods of time for a single recording session.

Decide on what types of conversations you wish to record.
Some digital phone recorders have to be connected to the phone jack, while others only have to be hooked to the phone handset. Models that are attached to the phone jack allow you to make recordings of every call that comes through the line, regardless of which phone it is that will be used for the conversation. With this type of digital phone recorder, you could record a conversation in the dining area even if the recorder is plugged into your bedroom.

A digital phone recorder that is attached to the phone handset, on the other hand, can only record conversations made on that phone unit.

Control the settings.
A digital phone recorder comes with a control feature, usually built into the device itself. This allows you to set and control the settings of the recorder – how it works, for how long it will run a recording, what time the recording will begin, etc.

Check the settings to determine what types of recordings you can do. You can, for example, set the digital phone recorder to automatically make a recording of every call that goes through, regardless of its source. If you prefer, you can also set the control so that the device will only record conversations during a particular period, such as phone calls made during lunch hour, early mornings or evenings.

You might also wish to capture the time and date that calls are made for documentation.

Save your recordings.
Although a digital phone recorder will probably hold your captured voice calls for you, it’s best to transfer them to your computer for more efficient and safe storage. Use a USB port and cable for this purpose. On your computer, you can then store, edit, organize and share these conversations as voice files.

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How to Choose a Cell Phone Stun Gun Model

They look and feel like ordinary cell phones do, but they don’t work like them. They’re stun guns in disguise and they come with its own set of pros and cons.

How Cell Phone Stun Guns Work
Cell phone stun guns are hard to distinguish from actual mobile phones at first glance. They come with their own “fake” LCD screens and they even have their own keypads. But instead of being able to press SEND or dial 911, a cell phone stun gun gives you the upper hand over your attacker, allowing you to take the offense with the element of surprise in you side.

How to Choose a Cell Phone Stun Gun
Here are several factors to consider if you’re shopping around for a cell phone stun gun.

Power
Cell phone stun guns are able to release electrical charges ranging generally from 800,000 to 1,000,000 volts. Models with higher voltage capabilities will cost you more but they are also more effective for subduing your attacker.

Appearance
If you want the element of surprise to be firmly on your side then you need to look for the most realistic-looking model. Cell phone stun guns come in all shapes and sizes and you need to choose one that doesn’t just look like a mobile phone but also looks like the type of mobile phone that suits your personality or lifestyle. You need to purchase a model that people won’t give second glances at because it fits your image perfectly.

Safety
Cell phone stun guns are not only dangerous to would-be attackers but they can also be harmful to you due to negligent handling and lack of safety features. When shopping for a cell phone gun, remember to choose a model that comes with all the safety features necessary for preventing accidental discharge.

Value
Some cell phone stun guns don’t just work as a self-defense weapon. They are also designed to work as flashlights, too. If you want value for your money then choose a model able to serve dual purposes. It’s much more inconspicuous this way, too, as others would be more inclined to think you’re only using a mobile phone with flashlight capabilities.

Battery and Charging
Consider the type of battery used and how long batteries of that type lasts. Is it rechargeable and if it is, what’s the method of recharging? You need to consider these things as they can increase or decrease the level of safety your cell phone stun gun can afford you. after all, what good would a cell phone stun gun do if it’s ran out of power?

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