Waterproof GPS

For those ten or twelve of you who bothered to send me any feedback, yes, I am still a P.A. for a B-list actor in this Tinseltown of lost and faded lives. Yes, it’s another semi-sad tale from Hollywood, complete with a vague sampling of dish. Punch in your coordinates, calibrate your GPS tracking system and set course for stun.

Here’s a news flash: actors are a fickle, capricious lot. You can’t expect a human being to bleed his or her heart on stage or screen and not expect that they may be wired into a more immature emotional system. Now, the sad part is the minor celebrity I tend to has two kids and happens to be terrified of not getting a gig. A mortgage in the Hollywood Hills is no laughing matter. And so, as always, guess who gets to be the release valve for all this neurosis and anxiety? You guessed it.

I took the job thinking it’d be a great way of getting passed the velvet rope. I wanted to get behind the glittering wall that separates the norms and the special people. The norms are normal people like you and me. Though, I wonder if I still qualify as a norm, given that I’ve been registered in so many minor celebrity memory banks. Did I mention Anthony Kiedis once hit on me at my client’s kid’s birthday party? Yes, it was awkward. No, nothing came of it.

While Rome burns, guess who gets to watch Nero fiddle? Poor little old wine-drinking me. Whatever celebrity collateral she had accrued over the years of B-grade TV and infomercials? If either of the little lads starts wailing or pitching a fit, her glaring eyes fall on me. Can I help it that they’re raised like borderline feral children? The job description says personal assistant, not day care provider.

Approaching 45 with nothing lined up can’t be easy for her, I imagine. What bills that do get paid, including my paltry salary, come from the syndication residuals. Let’s just say it was a really big show in the late Eighties. If I say anything more I run the risk of having this article rank on the SERPs and jeopardize my non-disclosure agreement.

Yes, dear readers, calibrate your GPS tracking system, set your phasers to stun, and make sure your lattes are extra hot, with two Equals and no foam. Babylon awaits.

I am an old Cold Warrior. Yes, I lived through the Cold War, I can’t help but feel there is something missing these days without the Soviet Menace. I mean, the Soviets, despite being the alleged evil empire, did prompt us to shift into gear on more than one occasion. Before the Eagle had landed, the Soviets had already sent a satellite and an astronaut into space. Not bad. Anything that could whip Ike into a tizzy is worth mentioning. He quickly called for the creation of both NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) in 1958.

With its motto declaring “For the Benefit of All,” NASA moved quickly, launching the Explorer 1 satellite on January 31, 1958. Led by the former head of the German rocket program, Wernher von Braun, NASA immediately began to explore the possibility of sending human beings into space. Dubbed Project Mercury, this program involved seven original astronauts, of whom, Alan Shepard became the first American into space, while John Glenn would become the first American to orbit the earth.

With the Space Race underway, NASA began implementing a new tracking system, called the Global Positioning System (GPS). The system involved the use of satellites to track the position and location of both spacecraft and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Initially developed by the Navy, the first successful GPS tracking system was dubbed Transit, and used five satellites to triangulate positions around the globe.

Though GPS systems had been used exclusively by the military and government, all that changed in 1983. In that year, a Soviet interceptor aircraft shot down the civilian Korean Air airliner KAL 007, killing all 269 people on board. The plane had strayed into Soviet airspace and although the Soviet had probable cause to destroy the perceived threat, it was determined had the airliner had accurate navigational systems, the tragedy could have been avoided. President Ronald Reagan subsequently announced that civilians and civilian agencies should have access to the GPS tracking systems.

From the Space Race to racing down the highway, a GPS system is guiding us. Not only has it become the preeminent navigational system for cars, but the scientific community has used it to track wild and domestic animals and migration patterns. Law enforcement uses GPS tracking to find stolen cars and keep tabs on criminals on bail or probation. Now, not only can someone find where they are on a city grid, but also he or she can find nearby businesses and restaurants. The uses, and the wonders, never end.

If you are keen on finding a useful GPS tracking system, you need look no further than sub-orbital space — and the Internet.

Global positioning systems — referred to as GPS tracking systems — were the invention and exclusive tool of the U.S. military. They initially consisted of a series of satellites that would triangular the location, speed and distance of inbound and outbound intercontinental ballistic missiles. Yes, GPS systems were our nuclear tracking devices. If you’re a fan of movies like DR. STRANGELOVE or WAR GAMES, then you’re familiar with the convention of blinking missile on a screen being tracked to their target. That’s GPS.

It wasn’t until’83 that the system, which had been in place since the ’60s, was made available to the private sector. Now, GPS is as ubiquitous as cellphones and email. People are smitten with using the system to navigate, find directions, and even find their friends. Various companies have made the technology available by means of our automobiles, cell phones, even our watches. Additionally, meteorologists use the GPS system to predict, and make it possible to alert people to evacuate certain areas well in advance of approaching storm systems.

In’39, a viable global positioning system was already in use. Of course it did not utilize satellites, rather it used a series of radio relays to pinpoint ships at sea. By’43, a German scientist, Karl Hans Janke, patented the idea of using two satellites positioned at certain points could send electromagnetic signals, using screen vectors, and determine the direction of an object. Each satellite was proposed to send messages at the speed of light to receivers, which would then convert the messages into latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates.

Now, there are some obstacles GPS cannot surmount. Natural phenomenon, like sunspots, meteor showers, and earth-based storms can adversely affect reception. Often, the interference has a more unremarkable culprit. Car defrosters can interrupt the GPS signaling as well as the grade of tint on some windows. Of course, the industry is always troubleshooting and perfecting their signaling systems to circumvent these problems.

Among the first GPS providers in the U.S. were Verizon, Nextel, and Sprint. Soon, services like OnStar and TomTom were folded into the automobile market. The speed with which these GPS advances are developed, and the speed with which companies are incorporating these advances into everyday life, paints a very bright picture for GPS.

Access to an advanced GPS tracking system is as easy as turning your cellphone on. Find directions, find places to eat, and don’t get lost again.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has become the de facto navigation system for the entire world. While it wasn’t always available to the public, it has quickly evolved as the favorite means of navigation by nearly everyone. Today, you can find a GPS system in almost every new car model, on cell phones, and several other devices. Where did the GPS system come from and how does it work?

Developed by the United States military, the GPS system was used to trace the flight and routes of intercontinental ballistic missiles. In 1983, after a Korean passenger flight was shot down by Russia jet fighters for inadvertently violating Russian airspace,Ronald Reagan made it available to the private sector. He was convinced, perhaps rightly so, that it could be used to prevent future catastrophes. It has since evolved into more than a military positioning device.

The theory behind global positioning is simple, but its implementation is rather complex. The U.S. government has approximately 30 satellites in orbit at any given moment. These satellites send out a constant stream of microwave signals back down towards the earth. A GPS tracking system on the ground receives the signal from the satellite. It then calculates the exact position, direction, and speed of itself based on these signals. Each time the receiver gets a signal from the satellite, the new calculations are made immediately then relayed as coordinates.

Today, a great number of cars are equipped with GPS tracking systems. They tend to be reasonably priced and easy to install. They can all provide turn-by-turn directions to any contiguous location. Most are even voice enabled, telling you to “turn at the next right” so you can keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. One of the newest devices to get GPS capabilities is the iPhone. Having detailed maps in your cell phone opens up a world of possibilities for everyone.

To say global positioning technology is useful is about as insightful as saying a hammer is useful. Indeed, GPS is extraordinarily useful. If you’re lost, you will certainly be grateful for it. GPS devices are affordable conveniences that are now poised to become as ubiquitous as hammers. Navigate your way home, no matter where life takes you.

Drivers, parents, and companies that need GPS tracking systems as a matter of course are encouraged to find the right model for the right occasion.

Being a personal assistant to a “B” actor has its ups and downs. The ups come right after I get off work and the downs come when I walk in her Hollywood Hills mansion. Sometimes the downs come ringing to life at 3 AM with a shopping list. What does a bag of Kettle chips, band aids, Windex, and detachable erasers have in common? It boggles the mind. Try punching in an address into your GPS tracking device at 3 AM and see if you can stay awake.

I know actors are fickle and capricious, but my boss’s behavior is light years beyond that stage. She’s a single parent with two kids and is always afraid of getting a gig. That’s understandable if you’ve got to make the mortgage on a mansion in the Hills. I just wish she wouldn’t use me as her personal, emotional punching bag.

I took the job thinking all my Hollywood dreams would come true. I would get to meet famous people and schmooze my way into a film career. The problem is she doesn’t introduce me to anyone. She only refers to me in the third person. “My assistant will get that for you.” Thanks for the big break.

The venom she spews my way is absolutely poisonous. I’m still waiting for Emperor Nero to jump out of the bushes and smash me over the head with his fiddle. If her kids cry about anything, I get blamed. It must be the stress of watching mommy slide down from B actress to C has-been. It’s a rough town, this Hollywood, but its even rougher when you’re playing Hamlet to a has-been’s ghost.

People think of her a “B” actress but her career has been in the gutter for the better part of a decade. She got lucky with a sitcom and hasn’t been able to turn it into some bigger or better. I’ve accepted that I’m her foil — her therapy. I’m her walking, talking punching bag — and nurse. In the city of Angels, you’ve got to start somewhere.

If you want to navigate the choppy waters of Hollywood, be sure you do it with a reliable GPS tracking system. It’s the only thing that’s kept me going in this ridiculous town.

They can help you stay on track when camping, help you arrive at your vacation spot, or even allow you to keep a watchful eye on the kids. The last several years have made these devices popular and they have been used to save lives on more than one occasion. Having one is definitely important. With one, no one is able to hide.

If you are going to purchase a GPS tracking system, you are best to avoid knock off products. Some of them are not durable and they may not be as accurate as better names. You are better to go with a reputable brand when choosing GPS tracking systems so you are sure you have the best when you need it. Let’s take a look at some of the GPS options that are out there for you to choose from.

If you enjoy the outdoors, outdoor GPS devices can come in handy. They can help you ensure you don’t get lost and if you do, they’ll help you find your way out of it. If you are going to use a device outdoors, you’re best to go with one that is water resistant. This way you won’t lose your GPS locater if it happens to get wet.

Automobile GPS devices have really brought the art of traveling by car full circle. Since there are possibilities for your vehicle to break down, having these GPS tracking systems can help out tremendously. Auto accidents, needed directions, and street locators are all important if you need a GPS locator for your car, truck or van.

When choose a system for your vehicle, there are dashboard systems or hand held devices that are both easy to use. The great thing is that you have a variety of different options these days, which allows you to get exactly what you want in a GPS device. Today you’ll even find that most cell phones actually have GPS locators inside of them as well.

The most convenient ones to use are those that are built like watches. You simply wrap it around your wrist and the tracking system starts working immediately. Probably the most convenient one for outdoors, this version allows you to keep track of everything at all times without having to adjust your hunting or camping experience.

So many ways are out there that a good GPS locater can be used to help out. This reason can be different for every single person though. Some may use it to help them find their favorite fishing spot, others use them for hiking, and some use it on road trips. Everyone can definitely find a way that these devices can be very handy and useful.

No matter how you look at it, GPS tracking systems are valuable in so many different ways. You have to decide if one of them is right for your needs. Of course you should take some time to think about the great results that you can enjoy when you own one of these devices yourself. Just take the time to ensure that you get the best product for the money that you spend.

What ever became of the harmony-laden Alan Parsons Project? And who exactly was Alan Parsons? And how is it that Mr. Parsons saw the future and the future was a world encompassed by GPS tracking systems. Madness you say? Great Scott, man, look at the signs, read the clues and be in awe of the genius of bonny old Alan.

First off, Alan Parsons is English. We can draw our own conclusions as far as what forces shaped his upbringing, but the fact is he did make his way as a producer, having worked in some minor capacities on The Beatles’s “Abbey Road” and to a great extent on Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon.” He had become a sought-after producer, having shaped material for the likes of Al Stewart and The Hollies. Popular rumor has it he was very close to being brought into the Pink Floyd fold, but backed out to make his own music, hence The Project.

The Project was born when Parsons partnered with the wordsmith, Eric Woolfson (a Scotsman). This seminal pillar of progressive rock kicked out such classics as “The Raven,” “Time,” and, of course “Eye In the Sky.” The last song is where Parsons’s power of augury comes to bear.

The song, released in 1982, was mean to be something of an ode to George Orwell’s NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR, playing on the notion of Big Brother watching. Parsons commented later that “…I hated the song when we first started recording it — I was quite ready to drop it altogether. Then we hit upon the hypnotic guitar chugs and it all came together.” And so a legend was born and many a heart and head filled with righteous tunes.

The lyrics are straightforward and evocative, perhaps playing on an egomaniac’s delusional sense of power. What is striking, is how the titular “eye” dovetails nicely with how global satellites are capable of tracking us. Indeed, they have to, especially if we are ever to enjoy our cell phones and GPS tracking systems. They are the eyes in the sky, looking at us, though they cannot read our minds — yet. The brilliance of the Project is available for all to revel in and the eyes are still in orbit.

Try this: ask a passerby if he or she has ever heard of Arthur C. Clarke. Then, watch as his or her face drops into a blank stare. If you then played the opening bars of Strausss Thus Spoke Zarathustra and mentioned Stanley Kubrick, you may actually get a flicker of recognition. If you spoke the famous line, Open the pod bay doors, HAL! you could well get a smile and a Oh, right ” yeah!

To toil in relative obscurity is a fact most science fiction and fantasy writers accept. Often, there will be no fanfare. Although venerated within select circles, authors like Clarke, Philip K. Dick, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov, are seldom celebrated or recognized by the culture at large. Literary or even cultural obscurity is one thing, but to fail to recognize a scientific breakthrough is shameful.

Though more than a few people are aware of Clarke’s brilliance, fewer still are aware of the fact he proposed the concept upon which modern global satellite communication is based. Having served in the Royal Air Force from 1941 through 1946 as a radar instructor and technician, Clarke first proposed the idea of a satellite-based communications system in 1945. He proposed geostationary satellites could be used as telecommunication relays in a paper entitled Extra-Terrestrial Relays, which was published in Wireless World in 1945.

It is hard to fathom the profound affect his simple idea has had on our daily lives, especially with regards to GPS tracking systems. It is easy to take the technology that makes cellphones and instant driving directions possible for granted. By triangulating a receiver on a phone or GPS device, satellites can pinpoint our location and lead us, as it were, to the Promised Land. A bit much to ask of a cellphone? Perhaps.

What makes this idea so radical is that it born before the computer was little more than conjecture. He claimed the idea came from his experience with radar systems, wherein objects and their direction and trajectory can be accessed by the bounce effect of radar waves off metallic objects. GPS tracking systems and wireless telecommunications work on the same principle of deflected and directed waves, all triangulated by the sea of satellites orbiting the earth. A debt is owed to this bold visionary.

Most mobile phones now have access to a GPS system, though few people activate the service. GPS locating systems are really for your own good and protection. Suppose you were on a hiking trip, you did have your cell phone with you, but the GPS system had never been activated; all of a sudden, you have an accident, and you need someone’s help. If you had have activated your GPS system, all you would have to do is call 911, tell them what happened and they could track your location through your GPS signal.

Once it has been activated, you can type in your location and the location that you want to go, and the system will give you a trajectory of how far it is, and which is the best way to go. When there is more than one person in your hiking party, each person should have a mobile phone with an activated GPS tracking signal, just in case one of the party members accidentally gets lost. They can call for help or they can track the rest of the members of their own party, and vice versa.

They are a very big help in helping you keep track of the children, no matter what age they are. You can even have a GPS system installed on your favorite pet’s collar. Or you can have a GPS system installed in your children’s shoes, or on their clothing. So no matter where they wonder off to you can always find them.

Many of the most breathtaking places in the world can only be reached by hiking. Even going on horseback can sometimes come to an end as the terrain becomes too rough to continue on horseback. Although most hiking is very easy and nature trails have been posted for almost all of the parks around the world. Even the safest hiking trail can turn in to a disaster in no time at all. Bad weather could suddenly appear, or the sun could become hot enough that you may get severe sunburn. Or you could accidentally walk upon a wild animal, and instead of it running away, it charges toward you.

Plan your hike well. Take along at least two canteens full of water and a first aid kit. Also take along enough food for at least two hours longer than you plan to stay. A flash light and extra batteries, and just in case you do not smoke, some matches in case you need to light a fire. Also include at least a small knife. Take along a camera and some extra film to capture those special moments and show them to your friends. Enjoy your time hiking, but one thing that every hiker should always do is to “leave the area better than you found it” always clean up the area so that others can see the beauty that you saw. And always remember to use your GPS system. There are so many advantage of having a GPS tracking system that it is astonishing that not everyone uses it.