| Smooth Ride For Electronic Bikes Posted: 24 Jul 2011 10:00 PM PDT 
A bicycle going 20 mph is bound to attract some attention. However, if it is moving at that pace without pedaling, it will definitely turn heads. Dave Martin grabs everyone’s attention on purpose, reports Bellaire Examiner. After all, he is the owner of an electronic bicycle shop, RevolutionE. The shop is Martin's encore career. He has a background in manufacturing, an industry he left recently to develop the electric bike market in Texas. His brother had purchased one about a year ago and Martin saw potential for LEV (light electric vehicles) and their clean, green and efficient qualities. Powered by a battery pack about the size of a lunchbox that slides onto the back fender, an e-bike can reach up to 20 miles per hour with a range of 13 to 30 miles per charge, Martin said. His customers report using the power pedal about 30 percent of the time. Electric bikes have a "profound effect on how you experience transportation and cycling," he said, attributing part of that to the equipment itself and part to the scenic routes taken. Martin said the electric bike industry stateside has tipped "from fad to trend" as cycling has expanded from a recreational pursuit to a viable transportation mode. Even in Houston, where commuters face heat not hills? For those wanting a greener ride to work but don't want to arrive in a lather, Martin said, motorized wheels are a solution that kicks up a breeze to work, then allows a workout for the rider pedaling home.
Photo from RevolutionE 
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| Inventor Invests In Pool Safety Posted: 24 Jul 2011 09:55 PM PDT 
What are some of the most popular attractions during a hot summer? The pool. It also has the potential to be dangerous. In 2002, a young girl drowned in a hot tub and that grabbed the attention of the government. They quickly implemented new rules that public pools, spas, and whirlpools would have to follow. While a drain cover was one important tool, some other safety precautions came into place. That is where Steve Beckham comes in. According to Bradenton.com, Steve and his company, Play It Safe Technologies LLC, have created an automatic pool pump shut off system that will stop people from becoming trapped in pool drain outlets. Beckham is convinced that the [system] he invented is superior to other shut-off systems already out there. "For most of them, every time you have a power outage or clean your pool filter, you have to recalibrate them," he says. "But once the APS-120 is installed, there's no additional maintenance or calibration required. Beckham began working on the APS-120 in 2008 at the encouragement of his business partner, Rex Cowan, and says a basic lawn irrigation system inspired him to use a switchable neutral, which ensures external electrical wiring does not pose a danger of electrocution. Beckham's company has invested $50,000 in the invention, which is manufactured by a plant in the Midwest. Just this week, he began marketing it on Amazon and launched the Play It Safe Technologies website. "Now we're waiting for that good news/bad news situation for a start-up company," Beckham says, "which is, 'I've got 100 orders; how will I get them all built?'"
Photo by Chad Jones 
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| Need A Job? Start A Business Posted: 24 Jul 2011 09:50 PM PDT 
Kristen Trautman was lucky enough to have an employer willing to teach her the various skills needed to run a boutique. However, when she found herself in need of a job, she found it nearly impossible to find the right position to fit her knowledge. So, she reached out to family members and started K. Marie & Company, reports The Sentinel. “I talked to both my parents, and my dad said come up with a business plan,” Kristen said. “I decided to take a risk and go for it.” While Kristen finished college, she and her family, especially her mother, worked to get the boutique off the ground. “We came to people with a full-blown business plan that Kristen put together that they weren’t expecting from her,” Debbie said. “I definitely could not have done this without the help of my family,” Kristen said. “My family over the past six months have been a huge part in the reason that this store is open. “While I was not able to be here getting our license and things like that – I was taking finals and graduating – my mom was able to help me.” “I just think it’s a great opportunity for Kristen,” Debbie said. “I’m excited to help her kick off her dream and make it work and put the blood, sweat and tears into it at the beginning.”
Photo from K. Marie & Company 
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