The first real bicycle design that we can prove exists was designed by a Frenchmen named Elie Richard who planned as early as 1690 to make a wooden two wheeler. He never actually made the bike and it was not until about 100 years later when another Frenchman named Comte de Sivrac invented and marketed the first popular bike. His machine was incredibly popular because it was cheap and was much faster than walking but it was not exactly a refined bicycle. It lacked any pedals or gears and was propelled by the rider pushing his feet along the ground. It was basically a wooden beam that had wheels attached on either end. It also lacked any mean or form of steering. Who needs to steer or brake anyway?

It was not until KirkPatrick Macmillian invented a pedaling system for the bicycle that the bike began to take a more modern form. Steering was invented by a man named Niepce and Macmillian invented a system of two platforms that were connected to a rear up by a very long arm and propelled the bike along. Macmillian rode in history's first bike race when he challenged a mail coach driver to a race to prove how fast and tough his invention was.

Finally in 1861 an inventor Perre Michaux invented the first real modern bicycle. He called his bike the Velocipede and it was front wheel drive. It was propelled like a child s tricycle is today where the pedaling drives the front wheel rather than the back.

His front wheel drive method quickly caught on with other bike builders and launched the famous "high wheeler" era of bicycling.



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Ceiling mounted lead shields are x-ray protection devices designed to protect patients and medical personnel during x-ray radiation procedures. Although x-ray imaging techniques are an indispensable medical tool, there is also a certain amount of risk involved for both patient and technician, when an x-ray procedure is conducted. Prolonged or highly repeated exposure to x-ray radiation can cause harmful physical side effects including cancer and other dangerous health conditions. In order to reduce the risk of harmful effects of x-ray imaging, overhead x-ray shields are useful protective options.

Lead acrylic shields are able to absorb a large amount of the harmful electromagnetic waves that are produced by x-rays. By using mobile overhead lead shields, both patients and medical staff alike can have the peace of mind knowing that quality x-ray images can be produced while still maintaining a safe medical environment.

Overhead radiation shields are constructed from durable stainless steel material and are available in several different configurations that accommodate a variety of procedure settings. Adjustable overhead lead shields can be arranged in different positions for optimum protection. Many overhead x-ray shields are ceiling mounted. Many overhead radiation shields are mobile and can be moved and repositioned with the aid of rolling casters.

The use of ceiling lead shields helps to enable x-ray imaging to remain a usable technology in medicine. Overhead radiation shields can block a large amount of damaging waves and greatly reduce the harmful physical risks that are associated with x-ray radiation. The country's finest hospitals and healthcare facilities are often equipped with cardiac overhead lead shields and similar overhead radiation shield devices. It is recommended for all x-ray imaging centers to make use of the protective benefits that lead acrylic shields provide.



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If you were ever disappointed in your IQ or SAT scores, take heart. These tests, although revered by the general community as measures of intelligence, may not provide a complete picture of how smart you are. In fact, if you're not linguistically talented, skilled at math, or able to commit obscure facts to memory, you may not perform very well on these traditional tests.

But that doesn't mean you aren't smart. In 1983, Dr. Howard Gardner, a professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education, proposed the revolutionary "Theory of Multiple Intelligences" in his book Frames of Mind. Gardner's theory is that we all exhibit, to some degree, seven different types of intelligence including:

* Linguistic intelligence (as in a poet)
* Logical-mathematical intelligence (as in a scientist)
* Musical intelligence (as in a composer)
* Spatial intelligence (as in a sculptor or airplane pilot)
* Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence (as in an athlete or dancer)
* Interpersonal intelligence (as in a salesman or teacher)
* Intrapersonal intelligence (exhibited by individuals with accurate views of themselves)

Source: Intelligence in Seven Steps by Howard Gardner, Ph.D.

Gardner's theory can easily be witnessed. We've all known people who are "book-smart" and others who are gifted athletes. Other examples can be found on the TV show "American Idol"--many contestants can carry a tune, but how many possess the ability to write their own songs, which takes a tremendous amount of musical intelligence? And don't forget the few unfortunates who are lacking in the intrapersonal intelligence area--the ones who should know better than to sing anywhere but the shower!

In the context of experiential education, many educators have adopted Gardner's theory in the classroom by updating their lessons to appeal to different types of intelligence. Not only does it make learning more interesting and fun, there is anecdotal evidence that it improves both comprehension and retention.

Consider the story of Smarty Pants, a learning aid at Fort Craig School of Dynamic Learning in Maryville, TN. Fort Craig is a public school of choice, based on a teaching model of Integrated Thematic Instruction. The students there have never heard of Howard Gardner. But in every classroom, there are "Smarty Pants."

The pants actually feature eight smarts: word smart, picture smart, body smart, people smart, number smart, music smart, nature smart and self smart. The kids know each of the smarts, and they know which ones describe their strengths. When a teacher compliments a child, it is usually about a smart they are showing the class.

At Fort Craig, the intent is to teach every topic using at least four of the smarts, which broadens comprehension of the subject. For example, when first and second graders learn about ants, they participate in a variety of activities designed to appeal to different smarts. They add and subtract ant larvae. They read books about ants and how they structure their colonies. They sing songs about ants ("Head, shoulders, knees and toes" becomes "Head, thorax, abdomen"). They sculpt ants in art class, and cultivate ant farms in the classroom. They even write and perform ant plays (think picnic scenes). And all the while, they use their smarts to learn in different ways.

When I first saw this method, I thought it was interesting but I wondered how much the kids would retain when they spent such a short amount of time learning in lots of different ways. But I have had many conversations with my kids about ants, and other topics they have learned at Fort Craig, and they not only remember the different activities they did, they usually recall many interesting facts about the subject. So, in my experience, Smarty Pants is a winner.

If you're an educator, you don't have to hang a pair of decorated jeans in your classroom (although that might be fun). But you may consider changing up your curriculum to accommodate the different kinds of smarts. By focusing on all the smarts, you have a better chance of reaching every student, making their training experience more effective and memorable.

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