After arriving in Ecuador earlier this month, the National Geographic Islander II is departing on its inaugural cruise today.

Acquired by Lindblad Expeditions in 2021, the vessel is now set to offer year-round expeditions in the Galpagos Archipelago.

Replacing the 1995-built National Geographic Islander, the ship will offer two different itineraries, the seven-day Wild Galpagos Escape and the ten-day Wild Galpagos & Peru Escape which also includes a land-based tour to Cusco, Machu Pichu, Lima and the Sacred Valley.

In the Galpagos, both itineraries sail to several islands, including Santa Cruz, Darwins, Espaola and more.

Formerly known as the Crystal Esprit, the 32-guest cruise ship was transformed into Lindblad Expeditions' new National Geographic Islander II during a major refurbishment in Europe.

The 22-day drydock included a top-to-bottom refit of all public areas and cabins aiming, according to the company, to elevate the guest experience to an entirely new level.

Among the highlights are the 26 suites, all equipped with large windows, convertible king/twin beds, sofas, marble double-sink bathrooms, stocked mini-bars, Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and ample closets.

The vessel also received the new Science Hub, a laboratory outfitted with an interactive video display, lab benches and seating.

Designed to connect guests to the Lindblad-National Geographic legacy of supporting conservation and research, the area is complemented with Cabins for Conservation Suites.

To be used exclusively by Galpagos community members, local and international researchers, educators, storytellers, and other experts, the accommodations provide guests a deeper connection to people and place.

In addition to the hotel improvements, the 1989-built yacht saw work on its technical features as well, with the introduction of key environmental and fuel-efficient upgrades. Among them are reduced outdoor lighting, special hull paint, and recycled water from new air conditioning systems.

In addition to the Islander II, Lindblad also operates the National Geographic Endeavour II in the Galpagos.

The 96-guest expedition ship offers year-round sailings around the Ecuadorian archipelago since being acquired by the company in 2016.

Read more:
Lindblad's National Geographic Islander II Debuts in the Galapagos - Cruise Industry News

Amazon is now offering the Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug for $17.99 with free shipping for Prime members or in orders over $25. Be sure to clip the $2 on-page coupon. Regularly $25, todays deal is nearly 30% off the going rate, matching the second best price of the year, and the lowest total we can find. This no hub-required outlet extension delivers a pair of smart plugs to your outdoor space to provide smartphone control and voice command action to yard and holiday lighting all year round (among many other things). The independently-controlled outlets are IP64 weather-resistant and work with both Alexa and Google Assistant-ready gear as well as the Kasa app for remote control alongside scheduling and countdown settings. More details below.

A more affordable solution comes by way of this meross Outdoor Smart Plug. While arguably not quite as modern-looking, the feature set is nearly identical as the model above alongside the slightly lower price tag at just under $17 Prime shipped.

But speaking of smart home gear, be sure to dive into todays roundup of Anker security and SoloCam deals. Offers start from $33 shipped today via its official Amazon storefront and range from full-on home security bundles to individual cameras for keeping an eye on things while youre not home. Browse through all of the deals right here as well as its ongoing smartphone accessory sale.

Subscribe to the 9to5Toys YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!

Link:
Save nearly 30% on Kasas dual outdoor weather-resistant smart plug down at $18 - 9to5Toys

HOUSTON (CW39) According to Texas by Nature, Lights Out Texas is a campaign of education, awareness, and action that focuses on turning out lights at night during the spring and fall migrations to help protect the billions of migratory birds that fly over Texas annually.

This effort was originally launched in2017 by Houston Audubon and American National Insurance Companyfollowing a major bird collision event involving 400 birds in Galveston. Right around this time, Cornell Lab of Ornithology developed theirBirdCastmigration forecast maps using historical radar data. Later, Lights Out Texas took hold in Dallas-Fort Worth, led by Texas Conservation Alliance, The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and Dallas Zoo with The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Colorado State University supporting efforts and Texan by Nature helping with outreach in Fall 2020.

In 2021, Texan by Nature collaborated with these leading organizations to facilitate Lights Out Texas at the statewide level in order to standardize the approach to messaging, communication, and volunteer efforts across all Texas organizations.

In 2022, the management of Lights Out Texas for Spring of 2022 was co-facilitated by Texan by Nature andAudubon Texas, with a total transition of the statewide initiative to Audubon Texas in the Summer of 2022. Learn more and see the latest Lights Out Texas Resources attx.audubon.org/urbanconservation/lights-out-texas

Fall Migration Dates*

Key Timing

We encourage everyone to turn off non-essential lights at night from 11 pm 6 am during the full fall and spring migration periods, and where conflicts apply, prioritize lights out during the critical peak migration periods.

Guidelines for Everyone

Additional Guidelines for Buildings Taller Than 3 Stories

See the article here:
Lights out Texas begins with the start of fall migration - CW39 Houston

Light at night can disrupt sleep patterns and contribute to obesity, diabetes, and more

Ensuring your bedroom is pitch black at nightwithout light exposure from a television, window, cellphone, or even your alarm clockis a simple way to reduce your risk of chronic disease. It was only about 130 years ago that electric light was invented, bringing with it drastic changes in the way humans function on a daily basis.

Now that were able to work, eat, and play well after the sun sets, artificial lighting has had immense benefits for us, but our endogenous circadian clocks havent fully adjusted. The fact is, exposure to unnatural electric light, including light at night (LAN), disrupts sleep and many other biological processes.

The full effects of exposure to light at night are only beginning to be understood, but astudy published in Sleep in June has demonstrated that exposure to any amount of LAN has detrimental effects on the health of older adults, increasing the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

For millennia, humans were exposed to light from the sun during the day and near complete darkness at night, except for light from the moon, stars, and fire. Now, its difficult for humans to avoid light exposure at night, which comes from televisions, computers, cellphones, light pollution, and a multitude of other sources.

Whether it be from ones smartphone, leaving a TV on overnight, or light pollution in a big city, we live among an abundant number of artificial sources of light that are available 24 hours of a day, Dr. Minjee Kim, lead author of the new study and assistant professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine physician, saidin a statement.

Kim and colleagues conducted a real-world study involving 552 men and women between the ages of 63 and 84. They wanted to determine if exposure to LAN increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease, so they measured light exposure using wrist-worn devices over a seven-day period.

Compared to adults who werent exposed to LAN, those who did experience light exposure at night were significantly more likely to be obese or have high blood pressure or diabetes. Specifically:

Those exposed to LAN were also more likely to wake after falling asleep, and the researchers suggested more studies should be conducted to understand the long-term effects of light exposure at night on cardiometabolic risks.

Why You Should Turn Off the TV Before Going to Sleep

Past research has also highlighted the health risks of not sleeping in complete darkness. In March, a study of 20 healthy young adults published inPNAS,a journal of the National Academy of Sciences, revealed that even one night of sleep with moderate light exposure increased nighttime heart rate, decreased heart rate variability, and increased next-morning insulin resistance.

These results demonstrate that a single night of exposure to room light during sleep can impair glucose homeostasis, potentially via increased SNS [sympathetic nervous system] activation, the researchers noted. In 2019, JAMA Internal Medicine published a study involving 43,722 women that also found that exposure to artificial light at night while sleeping was significantly associated with an increased risk of weight gain and obesity.

The link was particularly strong for women who slept with the television or a light on in their bedroom, and the researchers suggested incorporating strategies to reduce nighttime light exposure in public health recommendations for obesity:

Given the association found between exposure to ALAN [artificial light at night] while sleeping and subsequent weight gain and obesity in our study and the cross-sectional evidence from other studies, public health strategies to decrease obesity might consider interventions aimed at reducing ALAN while sleeping.

Compared with women who had no exposure to artificial light at night, sleeping with a television or light on in the room was associated with a greater risk of gaining about 11 pounds (5 kilograms) or more, a body mass index increase of 10 percent or more, incident overweight, and incident obesity over the course of the follow-up period.

There were notable differences in weight gain depending on the type of light exposure. While sleeping with a small nightlight wasnt associated with weight gain, sleeping in a room with light coming from outside the room was associated with a modest weight increase. However, women who slept with a light or television on were 17 percent more likely to have gained about 11 pounds or more.

Study co-author Chandra Jackson, head of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Social and Environmental Determinants of Health Equity Group, explained that the study could have implications for people living in urban areas, where sources of artificial light such as streetlights and neon signs could interfere with the sleep hormone melatonin.

Humans are genetically adapted to a natural environment consisting of sunlight during the day and darkness at night,she said in a 2019 National Institutes of Health article. Exposure to artificial light at night may alter hormones and other biological processes in ways that raise the risk of health conditions like obesity.

Disrupted sleep may partly explain why LAN increases obesity risk, and previous studies have also linked sleep disruptions to obesity and diabetes. A study published in Diabetes Care in 2019 that followed 2,003 men and women for a mean of six years found irregular sleep patterns increased the risk of metabolic syndrome by 23 percent for each one hour of sleep difference, while chronic one-hour loss increased the risk by 27 percent.

The research revealed that irregular sleep, including day-to-day variability in sleep duration and timing, is associated with metabolic abnormalities. Not sleeping enough has also been linked to similar health risks. The study reads:

Modern environment and lifestyle, such as increased light exposure and activities during night and widespread use of electronic media and mobile devices, not only deprive humans of sufficient sleep but also considerably disturb the regularity of sleep behaviors.

An adequate amount of sleep, which is essential for global rejuvenation of the human body, plays a central role in normal functioning of metabolism and energy homeostasis. As a result, reduced quantity of sleep has been associated with higher risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes in numerous previous studies.

Exposure to light leads to advances or delays in your circadian rhythm, known as phase shifts. Typically, exposure to light early in the morning causes a phase advance, which leads to earlier waking. Light exposure at bedtime will lead to a phase delay, or later wakening.

Nighttime exposure to light inhibits the secretion of melatonin, which can cause circadian disruptions that play a role in cancer, notes a study published in the journal Cancer in 2021. The same study found evidence that suggests LAN may increase thyroid cancer risk, too, as thyroid function is regulated by circadian rhythm.

Another study published in the International Journal of Cancer in 2020 found that higher exposure to outdoor light at night may increase the risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.

A study published in the journal Cancer followed 464,371 participants in the National Institutes of HealthAmerican Association of Retired Persons Diet and Health Study for an average of 12.8 years. Satellite data were used to estimate nighttime light exposure, which was then linked to residential addresses, while thyroid cancer cases were followed via state cancer registries.

A positive association was found between light exposure at night and thyroid cancer risk, in astudy published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2017. Those in the highest quintile of nighttime light exposure had a 55 percent increased risk of thyroid cancer compared to those in the lowest quintile. Aside from helping you sleep, melatonin may help prevent cancer, acting as a full service anti-cancer agent, inhibiting the initiation, progression, and metastasis of cancer.

The suppression of melatonin that occurs during exposure to light at night is one explanation for LANs detrimental effects. According to a review by NIEHS researchers:

Potential adverse health effects from light-induced circadian disruption are mediated in part by melatonin suppression. Light at night of sufficient level and duration, appropriate wavelength, and appropriate timing can shift the timing and/or reduce the amplitude of the nighttime melatonin signal, as may happen in night-shift workers.

This may contribute to sleep changes and circadian disruption, which in turn affect a host of cellular mechanisms (such as metabolism and cell cycling) and neurobehavioral processes (such as mood regulation and cognitive outcomes). These disturbances may potentially lead to adverse health outcomes.

Because it involves exposure to artificial light at night, shift work has been categorized as a probable carcinogen that induces circadian disorganization, which, in turn, is linked to elevated rates of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular risks, obesity, mood disorders and age-related macular degeneration, notes a review published in Life Sciences in 2017.

Making a conscious effort to eliminate light in your bedroom can go a long way toward protecting your health. If your bedroom is affected by light pollution, be sure to use blackout shades to keep light out, or wear an eye mask when you go to sleep. Remove all sources of light from your bedroom, including a digital alarm clock or cellphone.

You should also swap out LED lights with incandescent bulbs, which are less efficient at suppressing melatonin, particularly in areas where you spend most of your time during the day and evening, such as your kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Leave the LEDs for areas such as hallways, closets, garages, and porches, where your exposure to them is minimal.

When it gets to be late afternoon and evening, wear amber-colored glasses that block blue light, and turn off electronicsor at least be sure to wear the glasses while youre using them. You can also install blue light-blocking software, such as Iris, on your computer, cellphone, and tablet. Many devices have built-in blue light reduction modes you can turn on or even schedule for certain times of the day.

In addition to sleeping in pitch blackness, you can further optimize your circadian rhythm by getting exposure to bright natural light during the day. Ideally, strive for at least 15 minutes of sunlight exposure in the morning hours to help to regulate the production of melatonin, dropping it to normal daytime levels, so you feel awake during the day and can sleep better at night.

Read this article:
Health Risks Linked to Leaving Lights on at Night - The Epoch Times

Whether youre working in your garage, workshop, or construction sites, adequate lighting is essential to complete certain tasks. Regular options normally require wires, which can become another hazard and limit your range of movement. A great alternative would be something like a rechargeable magnetic LED work light.

Professionals would consider it an excellent option given the characteristics like energy efficiency, versatility, and adjustable brightness levels. We suggest that you check out these Hokolite work lightswhich arepacking high-capacity rechargeable batteries that will last for quite some time. Just dont forget to plug these in after use, so theyre ready to go anytime.

The shop offers a wide selection of models geared for various types of applications. Depending on the performance needed, youre sure to find one suited for the job. Before you browse through their catalog, its crucial to understand exactly what specifications will benefit you the most.

Verify if the location is open or enclosed and if there will be mounting points for the work lights and power sources. Furthermore, ensure to account for the estimated number of lumens to adequately illuminate the space.

Once you have all those figured out, its time to move on to selection. Lets not forget to also consider portability, height-adjustability, and maximum brightness level too. You can click here to view some of the best work light options offered by Hokolite.

This 1200-lumen red LED work light combines COB and LED technology, which allows you to switch between the spotlight and floodlight function. There are five lighting modes available, and it maxes out at 1200 lumens. It is also worth mentioning that this work light likewise packs a red flash mode. This is a helpful feature to alert those on the worksite about the potential hazard ahead or act as an early warning device for vehicles.

It has a 360-degree rotating hook on top with a strong magnet for to hold it at a specific angle. This work light is ready for various tasks and is easy to use. The material it uses is durable ABS plastic with TPR. It endows the work light with a measure of water resistance and helps it withstand impacts and falls from heights of up to three meters. Keep one or more handy in case of an emergency.

CHECK LATEST PRICE

Looking for a bright and versatile portable LED work light? Look no further as this 2500-lumen rechargeable work light never fails to impress. It comes with dual COB output module alongside a red hazard feature and a 360-degree rotatable magnetic stand for a convenient carry. This waterproof work light has an integrated 4,000 mAh power bank to conveniently charge your USB-powered devices.

With this in your arsenal, you can continue to work even if there is a power outage. This powerful work light uses a USB-C port, to quickly recharge the unit. It also touts a durable construction and a vibrant colorway, so you can easily spot it in your toolbox.

CHECK LATEST PRICE

Built with a durable ABS plastic housing, a 270-degree rotating magnetic base, and a 2600 mAh power bank, Hokolites 2100-lumen portable work light is a worthwhile investment. It has three lighting modes. Aside from high and low settings, there is also a very useful strobe mode. Due to the design of COB units, this work lamp can light up a bigger area. Although it is compact in size, the maximum output is more than enough for almost any scenario.

This work light has a strong clip system and a collapsible hanging hook. This makes it highly adaptable and can be used in places where traditional lighting is difficult to install. Whether it is an enclosed workshop or a messy garage, this bad boy is ready for action. If youre looking for an outdoor-ready work light with multiple brightness settings, this is a great choice.

CHECK LATEST PRICE

If you want a heavy-duty work light designed to work in almost any condition, this model is an ideal option. You can even dial up the brightness up to 2500 lumens. It is equipped with a 360-degree rotating stand, powerful magnetic handles, and an adjustable zoom. Tweak the lens focus to use it as a spotlight or floodlight. The freestanding capability allows for hands-free illumination in any situation. It can also charge USB-powered devices in an emergency.

Best of all, it has IPX4-rated ingress protection and impact resistance of up to 6 feet. Toggle its five different light modes: COB + LED High, COB + LED Low, Single LED Spotlight, Single COB Flood Light, and Red COB Flash. The highest brightness setting is 2500 lumens and the maximum usage time can exceed 9 hours. These work lights can effortlessly illuminate any area. It is an indispensable tool for your projects and more.

CHECK LATEST PRICE

These LED work lights are some of the best options out there for those who want exceptional brightness, versatile functionality, and impressive usage times. After reading this guide, you should be able to pick out the most suitable work light from Hokolite.

See original here:
4 Best Hokolite LED Work Lights: Rechargeable And High-Performance - Men's Gear

ANSAN, South Korea--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ:046890), a leading global innovator of LED products and technology, announced that it has obtained a permanent injunction in patent litigation against Conrad Electronic (Conrad), a large European retailer, for infringement of an LED patent in Germany.

In July 2022, the German District Court of Manheim issued a permanent injunction against certain cell phones and a recall of those products in the patent litigation against Conrad. The accused products relate to flash LEDs for cell phones.

The patented technology in the cell phone flash LEDs serves to efficiently extract light emitted from the LED, significantly improving light intensity and brightness. This patented technology has been widely used for cell phone flashlights, automobile headlamps, UV LED home appliances, horticulture applications, and outdoor lighting.

Seoul has already won several patent litigations based on the asserted patent. For example, in December 2018, the District Court of Dsseldorf ordered a permanent injunction for patent infringement against various LED products and a recall of those products. In addition, the German Federal Court of Justice has declared the validity of this patent.

Seoul and its affiliates have actively engaged in patent enforcement against companies that use cheap infringing products despite claiming ESG compliance. In the past four years, as a result, Seoul has secured seven judgments of permanent injunctions and orders of recall in Europe against infringing products, including cell phones, lighting products, and UV LED home appliances.

About Seoul Semiconductor

Seoul Semiconductor is the worlds second-largest global LED manufacturer, a ranking excluding the captive market, and has more than 18,000 patents. Based on a differentiated product portfolio, Seoul offers a wide range of technologies, and mass produces innovative LED products for indoor and outdoor lighting, automotive, IT products, such as mobile phones, computer displays, and other applications, as well as the UV area. The companys worlds first development and mass production products are becoming the LED industry standard and leading the global market with a package-free LED, WICOP; a high-voltage AC-driven LED, Acrich; an LED with 10X the output of a conventional LED, nPola; a cutting edge ultraviolet clean technology LED, Violeds; an all-direction light emitting technology, filament LED; a natural sun spectrum LED, SunLike; and more. For more information, please visit http://www.seoulsemicon.com/en.

See the original post:
Seoul Semiconductor Obtains Permanent Injunctions and Order for Recall against Cell-Phone Products in Europe - Business Wire

James Owen| Columbia Daily Tribune

If I needed a quick pitch for Halina Reijns Bodies Bodies Bodies, I would call it Agatha Christie set among the TikTok crowd. This in itself is a fun premise what happens when a group of twenty-somethings find themselves offline and facing a mortal threat? but it doesnt quite explain why the film works so well.

For the characters represent particular types of modern personalities, and are roasted mercilessly for their vapid quest for martyrdom. A cruel irony given they now must survive a slasher flick. Which is not to say Bodies has contempt for its characters. Quite the opposite.

A hurricane is coming and a group of mostly bourgeois young people gather at the secluded home of David (Pete Davidson). Or rather, Davids family, as it's not entirely clear what David does other than drugs. The character is a funny play on Davidsons public persona, as theres speculation among the other characters as to why women find him so irresistible. A greater mystery than anything in the film itself.

The storm arrives and the power goes out. Nothing is more ominous in a movie than a pitch-black hallway or stairwell where the audiences mind is left to imagine the worst.

Thenthe worst happens: A brutally-sliced body turns up. Panic ensues. An unseen dispute the night before leaves the gathering with no working vehicle. Theres no reception. Even worse? The wi-fi is out.

More: 'I Love My Dad' is the father of heartfelt cringe comedies

Speculation takes over as to who the killer is. An obvious candidate is Greg (Lee Pace), an older, recently-acquired boyfriend of Alices (Rachel Sennott), who could not be accounted for when an alibi is necessary. But theres also Bee (Maria Bakalova), the exotic girlfriend of Sophies (Amandla Stenberg). Or it could be anyone within the existing circle of friends holding a grudge.

Further carnage ensues. Yet, the films main joke is these characters cannot stop fighting amongthemselves. The crisis brings out the worst in all of them and, true to form ina culture that exists largely on social media, their attention centers on pointing out the worst in each other. A fight breaks out over how the phrase gaslit has been used into oblivion. One character confesses they hate-listen to the others podcast.

As a podcaster, I can assure you there is no great offense.

Theres a lot of resentment between Sophie and the rest of her friends, as she was compelled to enter rehab while the rest of them continued their partying ways. Was that because she was Black and her drug use seems more nefarious to her white friends? Or is Sophie, who is established as having the richest family of any of her peers, trying to overplay her hand as aggrieved?

Instead of a traditional horror film, Bodies becomes more like one of those generational films where the characters finds themselves in close, tense quarters with no desire to continue following traditional social cues. Things get real and become more revealing. If anything, the film plays more like Jane Austen than Christie. If you find that comparison labored, think of Bodies like The Big Chill with more blood.

While all of this sounds funny, the film gets the audience to understand the world in which these characters exist. The dialogue and music, among other touches, gives us a peek into this youthful culture where being a victim is the ultimate sign of status. Regardless, its deliciously diabolical that becoming a victim of this unseen killer is what they wish to avoid.

You dont have to agree with it or even like it to understand it. Feel free to walk out of the theater shaking your head, mutteringThese kids today … Just know someone was just as dismissive of you back in the day,and they were just as wrong.

Although thats hard to do when youve just witnessed a finale as mean as it is uproarious. I squealed with delight.

The film is far from perfect. The scenario easily falls into repetition, and the cast has highs and lows. I will note some standouts. Bakalova, who last dazzled us with her comedic performance as Borats daughter, is a deeply-layered stranger.

Sennott is easily the funniest performance. After ShivaBaby and Tahara, I wondered if she would ever make a movie not centered around a funeral.But she finally does and shes hilarious. I am unsure how anyone could make the line I am body dysmorphic a dizzying punchline, but she pulls it off.

More: How 'Marcel the Shell' becomes an enlightening hero's journey

Bodies has played at Stadium 14 for a week, but starts at Ragtag Cinema this weekend. No one really should be subjected to a theater Regal Cinemas has all but let rot into the ground. If anything, the shoddy outdoor lighting at night causes a particular risk to patrons.

See it at Ragtag, and at least you can imbibe a spirit in the playful style of the film itself. It's fun and smart a perfect anecdote to the dog days of August moviegoing.

In real life,JamesOwen is a lawyer and executive director of energy policy group Renew Missouri. He created/wrote for Filmsnobs.com from 2001-2007 before an extended stint as an on-air film critic for KY3, the NBC affiliate in Springfield. He was named a Top 20 Artist under the Age of 30 by The Kansas City Star when he was much younger than he is now.

Continue reading here:
Horror comedy 'Bodies Bodies Bodies' asks who the real victims are - Columbia Daily Tribune

Modern society requires outdoor lighting for a variety of needs, including safety and commerce. IDA recognizes this but advocates that any required lighting be used wisely. To minimize the harmful effects of light pollution, lighting should

Glossary of Lighting Terms

Are you looking for dark sky-friendly lighting fixtures? Search our Fixture Seal of Approval database.

Most people are familiar with incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs for indoor lighting, but outdoor lighting usually makes use of different, more industrial sources of light. Common light sources include low-pressure sodium (LPS), high-pressure sodium (HPS), metal halide, and, most recently, light emitting diodes (LEDs).

LPS is an old technology that is no longer being manufactured. It was favored for use around observatories and some environmentally sensitive areas. Narrow-band amber LEDs emulate the color.

HPS is commonly used for street lighting in many cities. Although it still emits an orange-colored light, its coloring is more true to life than that of LPS.

In areas where its necessary to use white light, two common choices are metal halide and LEDs. One of the advantages of LED lighting is that it can be dimmed. Thus, instead of always lighting an empty street or parking lot at full brightness, LEDs can be turned down or off when they arent needed and then brought back to full brightness as necessary. This feature both saves on energy and reduces light pollution during the night.

Because of their reported long life and energy efficiency, LEDs are rapidly coming into widespread use, replacing the existing lighting in many cities. However, there are important issues to consider when making such a conversion. See our LED Practical Guide for more information.

It is crucial to control upward-directed light, but we now know that the color of light is also very important. Both LED, and metal halide fixtures contain large amounts of blue light in their spectrum. Because blue light brightens the night sky more than any other color of light, its important to minimize the amount emitted. Exposure to blue light at night has also been shown to harm human health and endanger wildlife. IDA recommends using lighting that has a color temperature of no more than 3000 Kelvins.

Lighting with lower color temperatures has less blue in its spectrum and is referred to as being warm. Higher color temperature sources of light are rich in blue light. IDA recommends that only warm light sources be used for outdoor lighting. This includes HPS and low-color-temperature LEDs. In some areas, the white light of even a low-color-temperature LED can be a threat to the local nighttime environment. In those cases, narrow-spectrum amber LEDs are the preferred choice.

IDA doesnt sell dark sky-friendly lighting, but our Fixture Seal of Approval program makes it easy for you to find the right products. The FSA program certifies dark sky-friendly outdoor lighting these are fixtures that restrict upward-directed light and have low color temperature. Search our database and then check with your local retailer.

Read more here:
Outdoor Lighting Basics - International Dark-Sky Association

Philips is discounting bundles of its outdoor accessories - The Verge Skip to main content clockmore-arrownoyesmobile

Also check out a pair of exclusive deals on Fitbit devices

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval, so if you're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and more, this is the place to be.

Even with Amazon Prime Day 2022 right around the corner, kicking off on Tuesday, July 12th, there are lots of early Prime Day deals to check out, in and out of Amazon. One of the standouts is on Philips Hue smart lights. Theres a promotion thatll knock 15 percent off your total when you buy two or more outdoor lights. This includes outdoor lighting strips, accent lighting, as well as other Hue essentials you may want, like the Hue outdoor sensor and Hue Bridge, the latter of which lets you easily control and coordinate your smart lights through an app. This promotion will go lights out after July 17th.

The Hue Bridge allows you to set lighting routines, control varied scenes, and connect up to 50 lights. Note the 15 percent discount is only available if you buy this as a part of the mix and match bundle.

If youve been itching to invest in a new wearable to get fit and keep closer track of your notifications, Wellbots is offering Verge readers some exclusive discounts that knock the Fitbit Charge 5 and Fitbit Sense down to their lowest prices to date. The Charge 5 normally costs $149.99 but is on sale for $109.95 when you use promo code 40VERGE at checkout. The more capable Sense is also discounted to $179.99 down from its usual price of $299.95 when you use promo code 120VERGE at checkout.

The Fitbit Charge 5 offers essential fitness tracking features in a slim and lightweight design, making it one of our favorite Fitbits in terms of value. However, the lack of physical buttons can sometimes make navigating menus difficult when youre on the go. Read our review.

For something thats great at the basics, plus some, the Fitbit Sense comes equipped with a more robust suite of fitness tracking metrics, allowing you to measure things like your breath rate and skin temperature. The fitness tracker has an Apple Watch-esque design, which may make it a more aesthetically pleasing option for you. While the Sense initially shipped with its share of bugs and performance issues, Fitbits firmware updates have addressed most (but not all) of its pain points. Read our review.

The Fitbit Charge 5 is Fitbits latest fitness tracker, and it offers access to new tools like an EDA Scan app to manage stress as well as a six-month membership to Fitbit Premium.

The Fitbit Sense includes FDA clearance and allows you to track your stress levels in addition to measuring your blood oxygen levels. The watch also includes Google Assistant support as well as built-in Alexa.

The HP Envy x360 13 remains our favorite budget laptop thanks to its moderately powerful hardware and affordable price point, and its even more affordable today at Best Buy. Normally priced at $1,049.99, the 13.3-inch Windows machine is on sale right now for $699.99, matching its lowest price to date.

The Envy features a 1920 x 1080 OLED display with touchscreen support, as well as Intel Iris Xe graphics. The discounted model also offers 8GB of RAM, an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, and 512GB of storage, which can be expanded via a microSD card. The port selection might be somewhat limited, but the laptops extensive battery life, Thunderbolt 4 support, and impressive power, given its size, make it an ultrabook worthy of consideration. Read our review of the 2020 AMD version.

The HP Envy x360 is the best budget laptop you can buy. This 13-inch 2-in-1 is equipped with an Intel Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.

Finding a budget-friendly laptop with decent specs can feel like an uphill battle, but Acers Aspire 5 is one of those rare options that manages to pack in some fairly impressive hardware without breaking the bank. The high-end configuration of the Aspire 5 is currently on sale at Amazon for just $549.99 ($100 off), one of the lowest prices weve seen for this midrange laptop.

The Aspire 5 features a 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080 display, in addition to 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. While we would normally recommend trying to find a discounted configuration that uses an AMD processor, the 11th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU included with this model can still handle numerous productivity applications without much of a struggle. It also offers a comfortable, backlit keyboard and offers surprisingly powerful speakers for those times youre left without headphones.

As far as connectivity goes, the Aspire 5 features an HDMI port for connecting to an external display, a trio of USB-A ports for peripherals, and a single USB-C connection for data transfer. It also features a 3.5mm audio jack and an Ethernet port. Read our review.

The Acer Aspire 5 is a big-screen budget laptop. This configuration includes an Intel Core i5-1135G7, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.

Subscribe to get the best Verge-approved tech deals of the week.

Read the original post:
Philips is discounting bundles of its outdoor accessories - The Verge

Katy, July 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Katy, Texas -

Blingle! of West Houston, a company based in Katy, TX, wants everyone to know that they are offering year-round luxury lighting and maintenance services for homes in West Houston and surrounding areas. Thus, whether the purpose for the outdoor lighting is for entertaining in the backyard or preparing the home for the holidays, they can provide a lighting solution designed to heighten the cheer and warmth of the celebration and location.

Their West Houston lighting specialists and design team members are always ready to ensure that the clients lighting project will become a reality, from design to installation to on-going support. They will only use professional grade lighting products and technology that will not only ensure the residential home, commercial building, or event will have the desired shine. They will also make sure that the outdoor lights will last for a longer period of time, and that they will be brighter and even more efficient. They are also ready to provide a free consultation when requested by homeowners or business owners from West Houston. They want to emphasize that they are not just committed to providing the best possible outdoor lighting, but they are also committed to offering the best possible customer experience.

Blingle! of West Houston

Speaking for Blingle! of West Houston, Perla Lerma says, Blingle! of West Houston is an independently owned and operated, nationally- backed premier lighting service provider that specializes in landscape, patio, holiday, event, permanent home exterior, and commercial lighting services. Its our mission to turn your next get-together, holiday party, or home into the ideal venue to light up unforgettable memories. We strive for nothing less than excellence when it comes to your Blingle! experience from call to cleanup.

Meanwhile, every lighting project at Bingle goes through a simple step by step process to make sure that customers will be fully satisfied with the results. The first step is the design consultation process. In this particular stage, one of their lighting design experts will collaborate with the customer either in-person or online. The purpose is to assess the clients requirements and preferences and the result of such collaboration will be a visual representation of what the property would look like after the completion of the project.

Story continues

Next, after the design elements of the lighting project have all been decided on, is for them to utilize the photographs they have taken of the home or property in order to develop a computer-based lighting demo for the client. With this demonstration, the client will be able to see how the property would look like with the outdoor lighting. In this stage, the customer will be able to suggest some modifications to the design to ensure precise implementation of the clients vision of what the home would look like.

For the third step, Blingle will provide a written proposal based on what was decided during the previous steps, including the cost estimates, and the specified services. The client can still make some changes if there are any modifications needed before they proceed with the actual installation.

After the client has agreed to the written proposal, they will proceed to the fourth step, which is the scheduling of the installation. And finally, the fifth step is the actual installation that will be done on the time and date indicated by the client. This will be followed by regular maintenance services.

Established by Mike Marlow, Blingle! has a team of experts in offering the installation and maintenance of outdoor lighting with more than 20 years of experience and they have always specialized in making sure that the holiday or entertainment experience of their customers will be memorable. Their team of experts in lighting design can develop creative and amazing outdoor lighting for residential homes and commercial buildings for whatever purpose, whether for an event or for the holidays or for enhancing the landscaping. For more than 20 years, they have been able to provide quality outdoor lighting for thousands of homeowners and business owners. They serve the neighborhoods of West Houston, Brookshire, Katy, Houston, Fulshear, and Pattison.

Those who are in need of a West Houston outdoor lighting company can check out their website, or contact them through the telephone or via email. They are open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, from Monday to Saturday.

###

For more information about Blingle! of West Houston, contact the company here:

Blingle! of West HoustonPerla Lerma281-543-1427plerma@blingle.com3333 Porter Road, Katy, TX, 77493

Link:
Outdoor Lighting Company in West Houston Offers Year-Round Luxury Lighting and Maintenance - Yahoo Finance