Itâ??s fair to say smartphones are pretty cool. The ability to access the internet and various smartphone apps whenever we want has made a lot of things easier.
When you are on-the-go and see a pair of mens cufflinks that would be perfect for a Christmas gift you can easily see if you can get a better deal online before you make your purchase. If you’re waiting for an important email you don’t have to stay glued to your computer screen. Even if you’re just bored on a train you can check the news, browse online or play a few games of angry birds.
One of the few downsides to smartphones is the sinking feeling you get when you see your battery is running dangerously low. Battery almost dead again already?! Use these tips to make your smartphone battery as long-lasting as possible.
Charge it Properly
When you first get your smartphone you may be tempted to play with it immediately. However, that can harm your future battery life.
Instead, you should turn it off and charge it for a good 8 hours to condition the battery. Most smartphones use newer Lithium ion batteries â?? charge them before they are fully drained to keep them in prime condition. Older advice for Nickel-Cadmium batteries advised letting the battery run down completely before charging, but this can damage Lithium-ion batteries!
Turn it Off
If you won’t be using your smartphone for an hour or more you should turn it off. Turning your phone on and off does use battery, so it’s not worth it for a ten minute subway ride; however, hours or more of no use is still using your battery, so if you are heading in to the cinema, opt for off rather than silent.
Deny Data
When your smartphone is looking to connect to a wifi signal or data connection it’s using your precious battery. If you’re on the subway or in an area without signal, send your phone into airplane mode. Turn off wifi when you are not using it.
Close Your Apps
Simply exiting from an app doesn’t necessarily mean it is shut down completely. It could be lurking in the background, sucking up energy from your battery. Avoid these needless drains by getting into the habit of closing all apps from the task manager when you are done with them.
Check Your Settings
Take a look through your phone’s settings and see if you have left the high-energy options on. Vibrations are more battery draining than a simple ring, and if your screen light could serve as a lantern you should probably dim it down a tad.
Post by guest blogger CJ, a writer who enjoys blogging about everything from shopping for mens cufflinks to the latest gadgets.
The ability to print from a portable device brings huge implications for both domestic and professional life.
Whether you’re working in graphic design and have a constant need to print from various places or simply want to make life easy at home, the wide range of printing apps now available for the iPhone and other smartphones and tablet computers is extensive.
Here, we take a look at six of the most impressive printing apps on the market right now:
Epsom iPrint
This app is great for working from home. It allows you to send documents to your Epsom printer across a local Wi-Fi network, as well as giving you the ability to receive scanned files from your all in one printer and save them to your iPhone. The app also allows access to popular services such as Dropbox, enabling you to send and receive files remotely. You are also given the option to configure your printer using your iPhone.
Air Photo
What is truly great about this app is its simplicity. While the on-board tools are fairly limited â?? not extending far beyond scaling and rotating â?? the app is so easy to use it is a great one for kids or those who are not tech savvy but still wish to have the ability to send files to print remotely.
Print Bureau
This app is where things get a little more advanced. Here, you are able to communicate with a vast amount of printer models. The real beauty of this app is that it allows you to do so via 3G, which means that you can print documents at work or home from elsewhere. The interface is simple to use and pleasing to the eye.
Print It Up
Here we have an app which is designed specifically for use with photographs, rather than text documents. Rather than giving you the option to communicate with your own printers at work or home, this app allows you to send your photographs to professional printing services for an affordable fee.
Doc Printer
Where Print It Up offers user the chance to get great results for their photograph collection, Doc Printer focuses on text documents. The app allows you to browse through file collections easily, using both cloud and local network services. The connectivity is great, working well with most printing devices.
ePrint
What’s fantastic about the ePrint application is that it allows users to print their photographs as cards or calendars. The app also offers advanced communication options which are tailored to the printer you are connecting to, such as quality, paper size and tray options. The interface is relatively plain but the functionality is superior to many other printing apps.
This is a guest post by Phoenix Direct who sell ink cartridges and printer supplies. Printing apps are worthless without a working printer!
This is a guest post by James from Phoenix Direct who sell ink cartridges and printer suppliers. Â He enjoys blogging about the latest printing technologies and reviewing printers
Throughout history, important documents have set events in motion that literally changed and shaped the world we live in today.
Some of these documents, although hundreds of years old, have been preserved for their historical value and impact, and serve as timeless reminders for how they changed the world.
The Gutenberg Bible
Printed by Johannes Gutenberg in the 1450s, the Gutenberg bible was the first major book to be produced by a printing press. Dozens of incomplete and complete copies are housed in museums today, and they are still seen as ushering in the printing press revolution, which led to mass production of books and the easier circulation and movement of information and ideas. Scientific and academic movements are particularly indebted to Gutenberg, as his device enabled the easy communication of new studies and breakthroughs. The printing press had an immeasurable impact on the spread of knowledge and learning since the 15th Century.
The English Bill of Rights
Passed by parliament on 16 December 1689, the English Bill of Rights is one of the most important documents relating to the rise of parliamentary importance. It prohibited certain acts of the monarchy, such as interfering with the law and election of members of parliament, and led to the decline of the rights (and power) of the British monarchy. The bill was also a breakthrough in giving Englishmen new political and civil rights.
United Nations Charter
The Charter of the United Nations was signed on 26 June 1945. Its aim was to create an international body to promote and respect human rights and freedoms without discrimination. Participating member countries were legally obligated under international law to agree to the charter (and future declarations and commissions) and the formation of such an international co-operative force was unheard of and, in the wake of the Second World War, much needed. Today, the United Nations still convenes for international diplomacy and co-operation.
Inter Gravissimas of February 24 1582
Inter Gravissimas was a papal bull (a type of charter) decreed by Pope Gregory XIII calling for the reformation of the Julian calendar. The accumulated 10 day errors of the Julian calendar due to inaccurate leap years were corrected, and all future leap years would be correctly identified. This new calendar would eventually be called the Gregorian calendar, and is still used in most countries today.
Geneva Convention
In the aftermath of the Second World War, international bodies sought to update (and ultimately impose) the original Geneva Convention from 1864. The original treaty had tried to protect those who had been wounded in conflict and warfare, but was mostly ignored during wartime. In 1949, an updated from of the treaty was adopted and enforced by international law to protect civilians and establish rights for prisoners of war and wounded soldiers. The treaty is still used as a standard by which modern warfare and conflicts should be conducted.
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important papers in the history of the United States. Adopted by congress on July 4 1776, the document decreed that the thirteen American colonies were independent states and no longer part of the British Empire. The Declaration was the foundation to the independence of the country that would one day become one of the great superpowers. The Civil Rights Act Instated in 1964, the Civil Rights Act was a major turning point in the history of the United States and had massive political and civil impact. The legislation sought to abolish discrimination against women and racial and religious minorities, and the act made racial segregation illegal. It was a landmark document seeking equal and fair rights for many who had suffered from discrimination for decades, and it was a huge victory for the civil rights movement.
Apparently you can rewrite history! Several previous historical â??factsâ? that we always knew to be true have proven faulty, as theyâ??ve been modified over time to either represent the actual truth that always was, or a more accurate one as time has changed certain circumstances.
We always thought we could rely on textbooks, but unfortunately, it looks like youâ??ll have to add those to your list of not always reliable sources. Prepare to be shocked at these three seemingly true pieces of knowledge that have changed before our eyes. (One of them has validated itself yet again though, yay!)
1. A type of dinosaur that never was
I donâ??t know about you, but when I think of dinosaurs, the first one that comes to mind is the gentle giant who was known as the Brontosaurus. It was even my favorite dinosaur as a kid. A simple Google search of the name yields hundreds of images of the supposedly legitimate dinosaur. We know now that the â??Brontosaurusâ? was actually just confused with the Apatosaurus. Way back in 1877, Othniel Charles Marsh, a Paleontology Professor at Yale University, described the Apatosaurus based on findings of its skeleton. Two years later Marsh announced the discovery of a new, more complete set of bones of the Apatosaurus. Because these bones were significantly larger and different, Marsh believed they belonged to a completely new dinosaur which became known as the Brontosaurus. (Fun fact: scientific name was Brontosaurus excelcus, which means â??thunder lizard.â?) But over time, Marshâ??s theory proved to be false, and our beloved Brontosaurus was really just an Apatosaurus all those years we thought otherwise. Youâ??ll still live on in our hearts forever, Bronty.
2. Astrological sign changes
If you follow astrology at all, you may have found yourself in an astrological identity crisis when astronomer Parke Kunkle announced there is a new 13th astrological sign Ophiuchus, which caused a shift in all of the dates that defined the previous 12 signs because of the change of the starsâ?? alignment due to the moonâ??s gravitational pull on the Earth. For example, if youâ??re a Scorpio, under this new astrological system you would actually now be a Libra. You would basically be changed to whichever sign comes before yours. A little irritating, considering your whole life you were bursting with Scorpio pride and now suddenly you have to completely re-learn your astrological identity.
But fear not, because in the wake of this â??newâ? discovery, modern astrologists have fired back to prove that there really is no sign change at all. Itâ??s a tad complex, but in a nutshell Kunkleâ??s theory of a new astrological system was based on discrepancies the former signs had with the constellations. However, modern western astrologers say constellations have little to do with the signs. Modern astrology relates signs to movement of the planets, not constellations, so nothing has actually changed. Youâ??re still the same olâ?? Scorpio, Virgo, or Aries you always were. Whew.
3. Salem witches were hung, not burnt
Weâ??ve learned through multiple sources (including textbooks) that the witches of Salem, Massachusetts were burnt at the stake if found guilty. Because of this, vivid imagery of girls being burnt alive has been burned into our minds when thinking of the Salem witch trials. However, this was not actually the case, according to Richard Trask, Town Archivist for the former-Salem (now Danvers), Massachusetts. Trask contends that at the time of the witch trials, English law was followed, which commanded guilty witches to be hung for their crimes, not burnt at the stake. Elsewhere in Europe, the church for the crime of heresy would deem witchcraft punishable by burning at the stake, but English law did not subscribe to this.
Kristen Bright is the social media consultant for Instant Checkmate. Instant Checkmate is a personal criminal background check provider, and does not perform employment screening of any kind.
Whether youâ??re 15 or 50, you may be looking forward to driving for the very first time in the near future. Driving, like everything else in life, takes practice.
Operating a vehicle is a learned skill that doesnâ??t come easy for everyone. To help you get where youâ??re going safely, weâ??ve comprised this list of the five best free apps for new drivers. If youâ??ve got a smartphone or other mobile device, these apps can help you do everything from passing your driversâ?? exam to finding the cheapest gas.
DMV Driver Test â?? Written Exam Prep
If youâ??ll be sitting for your licensing exam soon, this app will help make sure that youâ??re ready to pass it with flying colors. The app offers users practice tests, customizes questions for your state and lets you know when youâ??re ready to take the test. As you take practice tests, you can track your answers and review those that youâ??ve gotten wrong. You can also keep track of how long it takes you to take the test, and can pause the practice exams if necessary.
DriveSafe.ly
We all know that texting while driving is dangerous, yet some of us canâ??t seem to stop ourselves from using our mobile devices in the car. With the DriveSafe.ly app, drivers can program their mobile device to read text messages and emails out loud and in real time. Drivers using this app can keep their hands on the wheel and stay in touch with friends and family in as safe a way as possible.
Driver Feedback
The Driver Feedback app, brought to you by the car insurance provider State Farm, tracks your driving habits and offers you tips on how you can improve your driving. This app is perfect for parents of new teen drivers. Make sure that the app is running on your childâ??s device before they pull out of the driveway and review the information when they get home. The app also gives you the ability to set it for multiple drivers if you need to.
Google Maps
New drivers donâ??t often have the experience to know where theyâ??re going outside of their immediate area. With Google Maps, new drivers never have to worry about getting lost. The app will give you directions, tell you when you can expect to arrive at your destination, and show you how to get back home.
GasBuddy
Even if you donâ??t need to find the cheapest gas, GasBuddy can be useful for finding the closest gas station to your location. The app can help ensure that you never get stranded because youâ??ve run out of gas. If you notice that youâ??re running low on gas, you can open the application and find the next station along your route. The app can take some of the stress out of driving long distances in unfamiliar areas.
If youâ??re new to driving, you should take all of the help that you can get. By downloading these five applications, youâ??ll have a virtual co-pilot with you at all times. No matter which applications you choose to install, remember to always pull over to the side of the road or into a rest area to use your mobile device safely.
Dalia Valdez lives and writes in London. She writes for www.carinsurance.org.uk where you can find more information on car insurance, trips, and tips for saving money when you drive.
Itâ??s a question on the mind of many people these days. The exact amount of the worldâ??s oil reserves is a point debated by many energy companies, geoscientists, engineers, and industry analysts. Alarmists will claim that we only have so much time until the oil reserves run dry, while optimists will reassure us that we have oil reserves sufficient to last for decades yet. This subject is further complicated when countries express a desire to make themselves completely dependent on their own oil reserves, as is the case with the U.S. and many oil-rich nations in the Middle East.
One thing is for certain: one day the worldâ??s oil supply will run out. Oil is by definition a non-renewable resource, meaning that there is a finite amount of it to be extracted and processed. Itâ??s an undeniable fact that we live in a society with technologies and entire industries built around oil, and thatâ??s something that needs to change if we want to continue into the future as a prosperous world. We need to figure out what alternative energy sources we can rely on, and how we can restructure the way we depend on oil.
So Iâ??ll ask the question at the top of this article: what happens when oil supplies run out?
Develop serious infrastructure for renewable energy
Hopefully the worldâ??s most powerful nations will change their tune about viable renewable energy plans for the future. The U.S. in particular has been very slow to address any significant change in its energy policy, which has been all but oil-centric for over a hundred years. There are so many alternative fuel resources to consider: wind energy, hydroelectricity, solar energy, and geothermal energy are just a few of the more promising options. Whenever the worldâ??s oil supply runs out, itâ??s absolutely imperative that nations all over the world have made significant investments in such alternative energy sources. If we donâ??t start investing in them soon, then the world might be terribly unprepared for whenever they deplete the oil supply.
Electric cars will become absolutely necessary
Electric cars have only begun to enter the car market in full force, and theyâ??re already proving to be quite popular. But itâ??ll be quite some time until electric car production matches that of typical gas-powered cars. Electric cars are nice in theory, but the major producers of electric cars attach quite a hefty price tag to their models. If more people are to be expected to purchase electric cars in anticipation of the time when oil becomes obsolete, then theyâ??ll need to be introduced to the car market at a lower price point. We can only hope that electric cars will continue to become more affordable as time goes on.
We have to be prepared
Above all, we need to be prepared for the impending moment when the worldâ??s oil supply has dried up. Energy summits of the worldâ??s greatest nations have occurred to address this very subject, but no substantive change has come of them. Thereâ??s no telling what could happen if we continue to kick the can down the road and ignore the inevitable future of oil shortage. The leading nations of the world need to take a proactive stance towards this problem and acknowledge the fleeting nature of fossil fuels before itâ??s too late to do anything about it. Iâ??m not sure exactly what the correct course of action should be, but that shouldnâ??t stop the powers that be from brainstorming about a viable solution to this very serious and very real problem.
Mariana Ashley is a freelance blogger who primarily writes about how online education and technology are transforming academia. Having spent a good portion of her professional career trying to reform high schools in East St. Louis, Mariana is particularly interested in how online colleges in Missouri make higher education a possibility for students of all backgrounds on the site onlinecolleges.net. Please contact her at [email protected] if you’d like to discuss this article or education in general.
With all the news lately of cannibalism we realize that the zombie apocalypse may be near. So read up on this article to make sure you are prepared for a similar scenario.
The Infection
For our thought experiment we will assume that the zombieâ??s infection is not due to some evil demon possessions. That hasnâ??t happened so far and a scenario like that sounds more like an apocalypse then a zombie attack. We can also expect that the virus will not be due to nanobots because by the time nanotechnology is that advanced there will also be antidotes for such viruses. Instead we are going to have our classic zombie virus. Letâ??s imagine that it is a deadlier strain of AIDS combined with mad cow disease for humans. The virus is not transmittable through the air or to any other species then humans.
The virus can be spread through intimate relationships and is dormant for a couple of months. Once bitten you become a zombie within a day.
The Beginning
5% of the population is carrying the zombie virus which has been spreading the past couple of months. No one knows it exists and there are no symptoms that go with the virus. Suddenly the individuals carrying the virus become infected and hungry for flesh. They still function normal enough to appear uninfected but secretly consume other humans. Eventually all hell breaks loose and zombies start roaming the streets and feeding on humans. Now more than 40% of the population is actively infected and feeding. The urban areas are the worst because almost everyone is infected.
You are an average Joe that has had his fair share of beers and nachos.
Aaron Feldon, average joe.
You donâ??t have a wife anymore but rather a video game addicted son. Although youâ??ve never shot a gun in your life you can pick one up if necessary. You aren’t as equipt as say… a Russian, but you should manage.
Escaping
In most zombie movies the characters like to run around and kill zombies, or barricade themselves and then eventually die. Why would they do that you ask? Well because itâ??s Hollywood and they want to make a good movie. But in real life you would naturally make your way out to the coast and either clean out an entire cruise ship or boat and live on it, or travel to a small isolated island. So that is what your goal will be. For now you need to get as far away as you can.
Part 1
You will most likely have about a week of food in your home. Collect as much water and food as you can and bring it to the garage. Bring your T.V. down there, your refrigerator, microwave, radio, any weapons, etc. Make sure all of your doors and windows are locked and lightly blocked by furniture.
You do not want to go out during the first few days of the zombie outbreak. People will be panicking and there is nothing you can do about that. In times of crisis zombies will not be your biggest problem, rather crazy looters with machine guns and grenades.
Preferably your garage
Lock your garage door and listen to any news if there is any. Something you will want to do is spray any smelly substance on your door edges/garage door. WD-40 works well. Zombies can smell humans and you donâ??t want your smell leaking. Iâ??m not some sort of smellentologist but hopefully the WD-40 will break down any human smell escaping through the edges. Pack your car with food, essentials, shovels, hammers, and any weapon you can pick up.
Another thing you could do if the internet is still up is to download as many guides on outdoor surviving and other important information. Print anything out that is really important, such as maps. Look for places the government or other humans are setting up as shelters. Note these places so you know where others are. Do not try going there as the locations will be far away or very crowded and dangerous.
Depending on your food supply you could either wait until zombies are pounding away at your door or your food is low. Put on any leather jacket or jeans as minimal protection from bites and open the garage door when ready. Zombies may come rushing in but just relax, turn on some music, and then when the door is clear drive out.
If you need gas, understand that many other people are trying the same thing you are doing and stores/gas stations may be highly crowded. Assuming that you are in a small suburban town you will have to make your way through a mess of a town, cars, and cadavers. After finding a quiet secluded station youâ??d stack up on gas and food. You may not actually find any food in the gas station so just go back to your car. Pull out a map and start driving towards the nearest coast.
Part Two
Well now youâ??re probably very hungry. If you havenâ??t found a nice quiet place to get guns or food then you are pretty much screwed. Youâ??re going to have to start taking bigger risks for finding food. Remember that you can stop by a farm and load up on corn and vegetables, steal livestock, etc. Always stay on the lookout for guns, ammunition, and explosives.
Part Three
It shouldnâ??t take you longer than a week to arrive to a coast near you. You cannot enter a highly congested area without guns and a better car. Linger around in small towns and search for supplies. Hopefully you can find a car such as a Hummer or SUV. Have your son wait in the car providing an escape vehicle if there are too many zombies for you to handle. Eventually you will find a gun. Donâ??t even pick up a shotgun if you find one. It only takes two bullets at one time; itâ??s very loud, and very hard to reload while running from zombies.
Part Four
Itâ??s been a couple of months. Youâ??re ready to enter the coast in search for boats. You encounter heavy groups of zombies but your car keeps cruising by. The only problem is that there are actually zero boats in harbor. Anyone living on the coast had gotten on a boat the second the zombies broke out. What did you do wrong? Well for starters you could have assumed that getting to the coast wasnâ??t an easy way out. Smart people think alike. Now youâ??re stranded without a boat for being smart.
Part Five
So, you are stuck with two options. Either keep going north or south scanning for boats or head back into your country. There may be a possibility that there are still boats available on rivers connected to the ocean. Keep looking for boats and if you find one take it to the nearest isolated island.
If you canâ??t find a boat you can try making your way up into the north such as Canada or Alaska; where the cold kills off stupid zombies. Eventually the zombies will run out of flesh to consume at which point they will consume each other or starve to death. Zombies cannot reproduce as far as Iâ??m sure, so you could just wait it out. It may take anywhere from 6 months to 6 years but the Zombie populations cannot support themselves for ever.
Part Six
Find a copy of Earth Abides by George R. Stewart and read every single word. Rebuild civilization. If there are other people already doing the same then make sure you play an important role in the new government. Take control of as much land and money as you can so you can get a second shot at life.
Rebuild civilization, and look good while doing it too!
Also donâ??t forget to visit your sonâ??s grave. He was eaten by a lion that escaped from the zoo while you were out searching for boats. The zombie world is a tough world and you may have seen too much. Consider if you would like finding a wife to start reproducing for society or if you will live a quiet and solitary life. Good luck!
Before we can understand why 13 may be considered an unlucky number we should become familiar with the human brain. For example it is believed that during the 1500â??s it was common practice to only bathe once a year. That may seem silly or untrue to you, and it is actually hard to prove this. On the other hand consider that recently Jenny McCarthy thought vaccines gave her son autism. Then she thought she cured her sonâ??s autism through detox and dieting. What Iâ??m trying to say is that humans can sometimes come up with silly ideas and if enough people believe something it will eventually become a fact. Such as the general belief that Chinese citizens can help their economy by smoking more. Some medical workers from China even believe you will get cancer if you stop smoking.
The Number 13
Although no one can really say when humans started associating 13 with misfortune, the superstition is very old. One of the oldest religions, Zoroastrianism, considered number 13 sinister and wicked. The Last Supper had 13 people at the meal. Legend has it that if 13 people sit down for dinner together, one will die within the year. This comes from Norse mythology, where twelve gods were invited to a banquet at Valhalla. Loki, the Evil One, god of mischief, crashed the part and made everyone upset with each other. He offered a spear of mistletoe to Hod which was hurled at Balder, killing him instantly. Jesus was also betrayed by a guest at the Last Supper.
Egyptians believed that life unfolded in twelve stages, and that afterlife was the thirteenth. Some years also contain 13 full moons instead of twelve which posed problems for monks and observers. Also in a Pentagram with a circle ratio of 13, each arm of the star will equal 12.36; the number of lunar months, days, and hours in a solar year. Add the arms together and you get the number of full moons in 5 years.
The pentagram itself features the golden ratio. The golden ratio is interconnected with the Fibonacci sequence which 13 is part of. Itâ??s also believed that the superstition was nonexistent prior to 1907, and that Thomas Lawsonâ??s novel â??Friday the 13thâ? made the number popular. Jesus also died on Friday, so the unlucky day was combined with an unlucky number to form â??Friday the 13th.â?
It also doesnâ??t help that Apollo 13 was the only unsuccessful mission by the United States of America intended to land humans on the moon. The rocket launched on April 11, 1970 at 13:13 CST. An oxygen tank exploded on April 13, 1970.
It is also believed that if you have 13 letters in your name you will have the devilâ??s luck. Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey, Dahmer, Theodore Bundy, and Albert De Salvo.
The fear of the number 13 is called Triskaidekaphobia; although in other cultures 13 isnâ??t a problem number. In Japan for example the number 4 and 9 are not liked because they have the same pronunciation as death and agony. There are many hospitals in Japan that donâ??t have these numbers or floor number. There are also no seats with numbers 4,9 and 13 on passenger planes of All Nippon Airways. No one would want to sit in a plane or room that is pronounced as the words for death or agony.
Numbers are infinite and there are also billions of people on earth/trillions of random occurrences. So any poor number sitting on the number line can be subject to superstitions. Prime numbers such as â??luckyâ? 7 and â??unluckyâ? 13 are easy to be targeted because of their prime nature. We have two legs, two arms, eyes, etc. Prime numbers just donâ??t make sense and they were often interesting to early people. Naturally over time these numbers got more and more bad raps.
Itâ??s easier not to sit in seat 13 on a plane and have peace of mind rather than sitting there and thinking you might die. Also most people tend to remember negative experiences more. You may have come across the number 13 many times, but the one time you get hurt or something bad happens regarding the number, you are more likely to remember it. Similarly how people don’t leave feedback and reviews for products they were happy with; but if they happen to get a bad experience they are likely to tell the world about it and leave 20 bad reviews.
**Warning. Trying to become a real life vigilante will most likely put you on a path to jail, torture, rape, or death. If you have ever had the honor of meeting a psychotic criminal you will hopefully understand that torture, rape, or death are some of the best scenarios that could come out of interfering with a crime. Appreviews4u does not promote or condone illegal activities. It is also not responsible for anything you do or do not do as a result of reading this article.
Now that the boring part is over letâ??s talking about becoming Batman! Naturally you have to understand that being a real life vigilante in its self is fiction. Once you get all the fancy gadgets and suits you would probably never witness a crime, let alone have a chance to step in and stop it. Of course you can suit yourself up with heavy suits and bullet proof helmets but when it comes down to it you wonâ??t be able to run from criminals and the police. Also you wonâ??t even need a bat mobile; real life has something called trafficâ?¦ This is something no one has been able to fix so far without the use of an expensive helicopter…
Instead you will be more of a hardened ex-cop like Max Payne or a lonely depressed man living in Manhattan such as Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) from Taxi Driver. Usually someone chooses a life of crime or a life of law enforcement on the streets. You would have to hate crime and law enforcement so much that you would not want to be part of either side, but rather both. That’s the true essence of a vigilante. Think Punisher and Kill Bill.
Advanced Humanoid
To become a vigilante you will have to have some prerequisites. Any extra languages you can speak, martial arts, meditation (clearness of mind), wittiness, ability to blend in, assume identities, and living a private life will likely help you. Generally there aren’t any specific steps to becoming a vigilante but we shall assume that you will have to be a bit more advanced than the regular human at accomplishing tasks. You will have to be a humanoid.
An Example of a Humanoid 🙂
You will have to keep up with articles relating to new weapons and technologies. Your self-defense must be extraordinary. You will need an understanding of the police system, corrupt drug/prostitution groups, and federal/international laws, etc. Being a professional in a certain field such as forensics, law, science, engineering, or hacking will generally make or break you as a vigilante. You will need to understand the basics of these fields to even consider being a vigilante, and others things such as criminology, anatomy, human psychology, negotiation, and phlebotomy/first aid techniques.
Body
Your body is your most advanced weapon you will have at your disposal. A vigilante will take punches and kicks to the head and groin. If you arenâ??t cut out for getting the snot beat out of you, then the job of being a vigilante is not right for you. Learn hand to hand combat from a qualified teacher, such as someone with Special Forces training. You will have to learn ways to neutralize enemies and possibly kill them if the need be. Become familiar with skills like breaking holds and throws. Your skills will have to be so refined that you can punch a vital organ or cripple someone on reflex if they turn on you.
Practice fighting multiple enemies at the same time. Chances are you will encounter five enemies at one point in the future, how will you neutralize them? Learn how to disarm enemies and always practice with a professional teacher. Your enemies will be fighting to the death. There is no lost pride in using dirty moves and there is no such thing as a dirty move for a criminal. In an enemyâ??s head itâ??s either you or him, and he will do whatever it takes to win. So make sure you practice in similar scenarios.
Tune your body into a specific â??niche.â? Will you be a heavy set man capable of lifting two wounded victims? Will you be a fit runner capable of parkouring and running long distances? Train for a specific niche and make sure you are the best at it. If you arenâ??t chances are you are going to end up in jail, tortured, raped, dead, or even worseâ?¦
Combat Training
You will need to be a professional at using pistols, machine guns, rifles, grenades, etc. Once again it is recommended you learn everything from a hardened wartime veteran with the necessary experience. He will be able to aid you in guerilla warfare that includes silent movement, torture, ammunitions, escape, silent weapons, and ways to neutralize an enemy.
Connections
You will need have to have a network of connections from your previous career. Hopefully you have connections that are able to get you the necessary weapons/training that you require.
Observation and Concentration
Most of the time things are spoken really quickly and people act in certain ways. Make sure to observe everything and find the patterns. Write down any important notes that you should not forget. Save evidence and don’t contaminate anything.
Gear
This is the most important part of your entire vigilante operations. If you are too slow you might get caught, if you are too light you might get shot… Obviously different situations require appropriate gear. Generally you will need armor that fits under normal civilian clothes and does not attract attention. A Kevlar helmet would not really blend in with othersâ?¦ For example these claws would be very helpful but would destroy your mobility and ability to not attract attention.
You will need the best and lightest body armor can buy, Dragon Skin. It is the lightest and most effective Kevlar armor out there that comes with trauma plates built in. You will need to wear this under anything you put on.
Depending on what you will be doing you will most likely need gloves or gauntlets. There are many different alternatives and Kevlar options but you will have to consider mobility over protection.
Also keep in mind that leather gloves are unique and have â??fingerprintsâ? that can be recorded and tracked across scenesâ?¦ Change leather gloves every other day. You will also need an appropriate utility belt or holsters for your equipment.
Kevlar groin protector. That should say it all.
You will need Kevlar boots as well. You know, the type that offer awesome traction and yet are still rough enough to stomp an enemy? You wonâ??t go wrong with jungle combat boots.
As for the classical cape you might want to skip it. Obviously it will give your vigilante status away but also consider that a cape could get stuck in a door. At which moment you would probably be:
Taken to prison
Tortured by angry criminals
Raped by angry criminalsâ?? pet lion
Killed by angry criminals or corrupt cops
All of the above
Although you can buy fire resistant silk which may come in handy; you will probably want to just pass on the cape. Instead you should have all of your clothes custom tailored with fire resistant silk and Kevlar thread so it doesnâ??t tear/catch on fire. Did I mention criminals like soaking people in gasoline and burning them alive?
You may also want to carry around a folding grappling hook in a bookbag just in case you ever have to rappel off a building.
Gadgets
Smoke and stun grenades are a must. You will also require protective goggles. What will you need those from you ask?
Your very own deadly blinding laser dazzler! You arenâ??t going to bringing along a puny laser attachment for your gun, but instead a military grade laser that can blind enemies for more than twenty minutes (You can permanently blind people as well, but just donâ??t piss off the UN!).
Also make sure you never actually blind yourself. It is quite easy to do so seeing that we live in a world with so much glass and mirrors. The best part about this tool is that you can blind hundreds of enemies in seemingly seconds. Take cover and then stun grenade everyone. Great tactics right?
You will also need heavy-duty cable zip ties to tie down blinded, puking, and delirious enemies.
Another gadget you can never get enough of is bear mace. You could also possibly make a bear mace grenade? Iâ??m not so sure on the details but Iâ??m pretty sure things such as this would come in handyâ?¦
As for a gun you shouldnâ??t really carry more than two pistols and ammunition with you. Honestly if I were to become a real life vigilante I wouldnâ??t stop short of anything but dual 9mm Glocks and two other long range pistols (one silenced). It is reportedly hard to use two Glocks at the same time so you might want to start practicing that:
From what I understand the man using the Glocks in the video above was not experiencing trouble from the high recoil but rather because he didn’t have a good theme song playing (such as Tears from Max Payne 3). Any theme song from Kill Bill should do as well.
Of course we donâ??t actually condone or promote killing anyone but you should always have a failsafe. The least you could do is put yourself out of misery so you donâ??t end up in jail, tortured, raped, or worse.
Also you will need some knives such as the Gerber Mark II, disposable rubber gloves, and cowls/ski masks.
The last tool you will need is a camera which you can use to record illegal activities or fights that occur on your daily adventures. You can pass the information on to police or use it to legally defend yourself. You may also need a cell phone to call the police in the case that something is in over your head. Seeing that you would follow an online article for instructions on becoming a vigilante; you might want to have a good cell phone with you 😀
Appearance
You can make yourself anything you want to be. For a classical investigatorâ??s appearance we would recommend wearing something a little professional, like Hitman. If you are say, trying to infiltrate a drug cartel you might want to go with fake vegetable tattoos and fake scars/brandings. Wear moles and other distractors that people are most likely to remember so they donâ??t remember more important features such as your jawline or ears.
Here the shaved head takes away a witness’ attention from the gun and poison in his mouth…
Generally you would want your face to be covered by a moustache, etc. Think Jason Statham from Transporter (notice the extremely thin stuble hiding his facial features [sarcasm]).
Fighting in a Tux
Finding Crime
A vigilante could in theory just walk around with a police scanner and hunt down criminals; but that will never get you anywhere. If you can tap offical police communications or obtain classified information then you are on your way to kicking criminal butt. You can also try to infiltrate criminal groups which is highly dangerous and not recommended due to the high chances of rape, death, or torture.
Think of the movie Taken, Harry Brown, or the Girl with The Dragon Tattoo to get an idea of a realistic vigilante and how they might find criminals. You could also watch Hitman and The International for further inspiration.
The best scenario is that you are a cop but also do umm… work outside of cop work. Think Black Dynamite.
In the case that you will be cleaning up the streets outside of the law you should probably do it in another city or country. Being a cop and a vigilante is not something you can easily manage. Even if you’re not a cop, you should never perform vigilante activities in your own town. People will quickly catch onto your true identity.
Keeping Motivated
Batman was inspired by the death of his parents, Beatrix Kiddo was motivated by revenge, and in Taken the main character needed to find his abducted daughter. If you are becoming a vigilante chances are you donâ??t really have anything to live for in the first place other than helping people. Try to refrain from drinking, drugs, or hookers because those will deteriorate your body and ability to kick crimeâ??s butt.
Crank High Voltage
Just Become a Cop
Becoming a cop is probably the right choice for anyone looking to be a vigilante. To be a vigilante you most likely want to die helping the world become a better place with no outlook on anything else. Becoming a vigilante is either a scenario where you donâ??t care about life anymore; or you hate working within the law and letting so many bad guys go on for too long. At any rate being a vigilante is risky work. Remember your morals and always be stylish.
Stylish interrogation technique from Crank High Voltage. A shotgun is being used in this case to enter the back orifice of the informant… He complies.
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