Naily Makangu

Author: Naily Makangu

  • Genious or Annoying Alarm Clocks?

    Genious or Annoying Alarm Clocks?

    In the beginning there was a standard beep-beep alarm. Fast forward to the present, did you know that you could be donating money using your alarm clock? This article contains 5 of the best innovative alarm clocks you can buy. Some of them might even rescue your relationship.

    Wifi Donation Alarm clock

    You snooze, you definitely lose. It is as simple as that. Whenever you snooze, a certain amount of money, taken from your bank account, is donated to a charity of your choice. To make this even more challenging, you are encouraged to pick a charity that you hate. The choice is yours. What is it going to be?

    Wifi Donation Alarm Clock

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  • Random Facts: Snails

    Random Facts: Snails

    Have you ever wondered why there are so many snails on rainy days? How do snails reproduce? Did you know that snails are used in beauty shops as part of anti-ageing treatment. Here are more interesting facts about the slimy creatures. (more…)

  • Pub Quiz Origins and Challenges

    Pub Quiz Origins and Challenges

    Pub quiz was invented by Burns & Porter Associates in the late 1970s as a mean for pubs to increase their revenue on their quiet nights. With the rise of mobile phone and technology, pub quiz faces its toughest challenge yet. How do you prevent cheating? Let’s start with a little bit of history. (more…)

  • Eating meditation

    I woke up today wondering about things that we take for granted. My list is long and exhaustive. Sometimes, we get lost in the business of life that we do not take the time to appreciate the simplest pleasure in our everyday life. How many times do you eat per day? Eating is one of the activities that we do without being aware of it. Eating has become as mechanical as chewing gum. Many of us do not take the time to appreciate what we eat, to realise how grateful we are that we even have something to eat. I eat most of my meals in front of a screen, either at work or at home.

    If happiness in life comes from doing more of what you love, how about enhancing the experience of those activities that we do very often. Have you ever heard of eating meditation? (more…)

  • Say No To Jet Lag

    Have you ever wondered how to prevent jet lags? Did you know that, following a long flight, your body needs about a day per time zone crossed to readjust to the new environment? In addition, fatigue, insomnia, irritability, indigestion and disorientation are just some of the symptoms you might experience. What a way to start your holidays! Do not fear, you are not alone. This is a topic that even NASA takes very seriously.

    NASA’s fatigue-management team is constantly working on ways to help their astronauts recover quickly. As astronauts regularly travel to space agencies in Germany, Japan and Russia, combatting jet lags will result in an increase in concentration and performance.

    So, what is jet lag? Is it possible to eliminate it?

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  • “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”

    Michelangelo

  • Random Facts: Bungee Jumping

    Random Facts: Bungee Jumping

    Have you ever wondered how bungee jumping started? Before writing this article, I didn’t even know about its connection to the UK. If you had to hazard a guess, what other materials do you think could be used to create a bungee cord?

    • Bungee jumping is a sport invented in the UK by the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club. Despite its name, the club was formed of a group of amateur sportsmen who were in fact engineers. They pioneered other sports such as Zorbing, Microlight flying and BASE jumping.
    • The first bungee jump took place in April 1979 from the Clifton Suspension bridge in Bristol. It was considered so dangerous that the members of the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club who took part in the jump were arrested. Undeterred, the team continued honing their crafts and jumping in the US. Bungee jumping has since been adopted worldwide with people jumping off cranes, buildings, bridges and sights like the “Eiffel Tower”.
    • Bungee jumping is actually safer than you would think. Bungee operators have to adhere to strict guidelines and standards to provide a safe and exciting experience to participants. The most common cause of accidents is using a cord that is too long.
    • In April 2008, Carl Mosca Dionisio jumped off a 100 ft tower attached to a bungee cord made entirely of 18,500 condoms.

  • Happy Sunday

    As it’s Sunday today, I thought I’ll share with you an interesting inspirational quote. No, sorry to disappoint you it is not from the Bible but from our very own Madonna.

    “No matter who you are, no matter what you did, no matter where you’ve come from, you can always change, become a better version of yourself.” Madonna

  • Extreme Ironing

    Extreme Ironing

    What is the worst possible way to spend your Sunday night? If you say ironing, then Phil Shaw might have a solution for you. Have you ever considered Extreme Ironing?

    Extreme Ironing is a British sport invented by Phil Shaw in 1997. He started out by combining rock climbing and ironing to create an exhilarating experience. The sport has evolved ever since to include: base jumping ironing, bungee jumping ironing, ironing on top of a cliff, parachuting ironing and even scuba diving ironing. There are plenty more variety out there. Don’t take my words for it, have a look for yourself here.

    The first extreme ironing world championship was held in Germany in 2002. According to the Extreme Ironing Bureau, extreme ironing is “the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt.” You don’t say!

    In addition to that, there is now a Urban Housework group that is working on an extreme experience based around vacuum-cleaning.

    If you had a chance to come up with another version of extreme ironing, what would it be? I am already thinking of combining cycling and ironing. This will definitely make my winter rides more exciting.

  • When is my 4th of July?

    The 4th of July is for Americans a day of celebration as they commemorate their independence. On the menu, the lavish 4th of July parade and, most importantly, a day off from work.

    Have you ever wondered why we do not have a British national day? Unlike many countries around the world, in the UK, national days are based on the patron Saints of the constituents countries: (more…)

  • Look after the pennies…

    Look after the pennies…

    Have you ever wondered what you would do if the cash machine did not deliver the cash you requested? What’s the likelihood of that happening? Pretty slim. As a software engineer, I am too familiar with software glitches, aka “bugs”. This thought always crosses my mind. I always feel nervous during those precious seconds between retrieving my card and my money coming out of the machine. Phew! So far, so good.

    Seriously, think about it! Most people do not bother with a receipt. You virtually have no proof that the money did not even come out. However, do not panic. The law is on your side.

    According to the Financial Services Authority, it is up to the bank to prove that you have received your cash. This rule is stipulated in the 2009 Payment Services Directive.

    Contact your bank as soon as possible. They should be able to investigate this issue and credit your account.

    Emily Spaven article provides even more information about what should be aware of, and the process used by banks to determine whether the right amount of money was dispensed from the cash machine.