Latest news with #Remington
Tom's Guide
13 hours ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Don't wait for Prime Day — these 5 Amazon deals under AU$25 are already too good to miss
There are just three weeks to go until Prime Day, but while that may signal we're not far away from a deluge of deals, it doesn't mean there aren't plenty of bargains already available on everyone's favourite online retailer, Amazon. Buying anything for less than AU$50 on Amazon is a win, especially when you can snag a couple of items that you'll actually use instead of wasting valuable funds on something that doesn't bring you any joy. Right now, the online giant has some fantastic bargains for well under AU$50, and these 5 Amazon deals are excellent finds, if I do say so myself. From discounted personal care items to smart home gadgets, these deals offer genuine value for money. While there are plenty of great deals on Amazon for AU$25 and under, such as grocery items and household essentials, this round-up will focus exclusively on tech and lifestyle products. If you're keen on unearthing more bargains for under AU$25, you can check out the complete list of Amazon's daily deals. So, without further ado, here are my top five Amazon deals for AU$25 worth shopping right now. Now, this deal is technically over AU$25, but it comes in close to the target price. If you're constantly on the go, be it commuting or travelling, there's no better accessory to have than a portable power bank for your devices. Our colleagues over at TechRadar give it top marks in their best power banks guide, as it can fast charge your phone or your laptop with ease, and still have extra juice left over. Hitting your fitness goals can be tricky, and it always helps to have the right tools in your arsenal to get you there faster. The Homebuds Digital Scales provide accurate results every time, thanks to the in-built auto calibration and weight sensors. The scales come with batteries included and a bright LED screen for displaying results. If you need a new hairdryer, but don't require all the bells and whistles of a Dyson Supersonic or Shark Speedstyle, then this Remington Aero 2000 is a great option. For under AU$20, this Remington dryer packs a 2000W motor that's ideal for fast drying and styling if you're in a hurry. It comes with two styling attachments and has 3 different heat settings, including a cool shot for setting your blowout. Keep track of your keys, bag, or wallet with Ugreen's FineTrack smart tracker. Now just AU$18.89 on Amazon, the tracker has a built-in buzzer that can play up to 80dB of sound to find your item and can be tracked through the "Find My" App for iOS users. Transform any small appliance into a smart device with this TP-Link Tapo Mini smart plug. Simply plug in your preferred appliance, like a lamp or kettle, and control it using the app or via Google or Alexa voice commands. You can also set schedules, timers, and more, all depending on the connected device.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Friend of Carlow gunman Evan Fitzgerald admits possessing semi-auto pistol
Daniel Quinn-Burke, of Allendale Lawns, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Remington semi-automatic pistol. A friend of tragic gunman Evan Fitzgerald has pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a semi-automatic pistol. Apprentice mechanic Daniel Quinn-Burke (22) today admitted having a gun that was seized when gardai stopped a car in Kildare last year. Mr Fitzgerald (22) had been facing trial alongside him over the same weapons seizure but took his own life in a shooting in a Carlow shopping centre earlier this month. The shotgun he used was not connected to the weapons seizure the friends were charged over. Judge Elva Duffy adjourned Quinn-Burke's case at Naas Circuit Court this afternoon, for sentencing on a later date. Another co-accused, Shane Kinsella (22), appeared in the same court today on similar charges but has yet to enter a plea. Evan Fitzgerald. Photo: PA Quinn-Burke, of Allendale Lawns, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Remington semi-automatic pistol at Ponsonby Bridge, Straffan, Co Kildare on March 2, 2024. When the case was called, Quinn Burke's barrister Aisling Murphy said her client could be arraigned on one of the charges in the indictment. The court registrar read the single count out to Quinn-Burke, who replied: 'guilty.' Judge Duffy remanded him on continuing bail to appear in court again on October 7. She said the charges were 'very serious' and ordered a pre-sentence probation report. Daniel Quinn-Burke. Mr Kinsella's barrister, Mark Gibbons sought a further adjournment for his client. Mr Kinsella, from Tynnock, Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, was remanded on continuing bail to July 18. An outline of the proposed prosecution evidence was given at a previous district court hearing. Detective Gavin Curran had said gardai were investigating firearms trafficking when they performed a 'controlled stop' of a car at Ponsonby Bridge and found the weapons. Daniel Quinn-Burke. News in 90 Seconds - June 18th The court was told Quinn-Burke was driving the car and both he and Mr Kinsella had allegedly known what was being carried in it. It was alleged the firearms and ammunition had been purchased on the dark web, with Mr. Fitzgerald using a proton email account. Det Gda Curran said it was not believed the firearms were connected with organised crime and the defendants were not part of an organised crime group. It was alleged the guns were to be used for shooting in woods. 'Mr Fitzgerald has a fascination with firearms. He is big time into firearms,' Det Gda Curran said. Mr Fitzgerald, from Portrush, Kiltegan, Wicklow, worked at a steel yard while Quinn-Burke was an apprentice mechanic and Mr Kinsella was studying mechanical engineering. That court hearing was told investigations were ongoing into who sold the guns. Gardaí withdrew initial bail objections and consented to the accused's release with strict conditions. On June 1 this year, while on bail, Mr Fitzgerald went to Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow with a shotgun and opened fire in the air before fatally wounding himself. The gun he used was legally owned by someone else. In the wake of the shooting, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said a review of bail laws was underway. Daniel Quinn-Burke (22). After Mr Fitzgerald's death, his charges over the March 2024 weapons seizure were formally withdrawn at Naas District Court. At that hearing, Judge Desmond Zaidan pointed out that he had had no power to overrule gardai when they had not objected to bail being granted to Mr Fitzgerald. The circumstances of the case were raised at a Dáil Justice Committee where Drew Harris, the outgoing Garda Commissioner, confirmed that Mr Fitzgerald had got the guns subject to the charges from undercover gardai in a 'controlled delivery'.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Perth Now
Lake Clifton wildlife carer kept gun handy for intruders
A Lake Clifton wildlife carer who left a loaded rifle within easy reach in case of intruders was slapped with a fine last Tuesday. Patricia June Brown pleaded guilty at Mandurah Magistrates Court to a charge of failing to take reasonable precautions to ensure the safekeeping of a firearm. The maximum penalty for this offence is a $5000 fine. Police attended Brown's property on April 30 to seize a Remington rifle after her firearms licence was cancelled. Police prosecutor Snr Const. Jess Anderson told the court officers found the gun with live ammunition loaded in the barrel and 23 ammunition rounds in a bag hanging from a cabinet. Brown told police she kept it loaded in case people came onto the property. Duty lawyer Dan Jones said the 84-year-old lived on a substantial property on her own and had a gun licence due to the nature of her work as a wildlife carer. He said Brown needed to shoot a kangaroo stuck on a fence earlier and stored the gun behind a door for convenience. Mr Jones applied for a spent conviction as this was Brown's first criminal conviction. Magistrate Leanne Atkins denied Brown a spent conviction and said it was important for people with firearms licences to comply with the law to the letter. 'You know full well how firearms should be stored,' Ms Atkins said. Brown was fined $900 and ordered to pay $357 in costs.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
When even Downton's Mrs Hughes turns to cosy crime, we are in TV hell
Now, despite this disliking of the soft crime genre, Logan is set to star in her own series Murder Most Puzzling. This suggests two things. She fancies the idea of fronting a telly series for the first time more than she dislikes the conceit. And you don't need to be a TV sleuth to work out that having your name on top of the titles guarantees a nice little earner. Phyllis Logan in Downton Abbey with Jim Carter (Image: free)We don't know the specific reasons why the one-time head housekeeper Mrs Hughes in Downton doesn't like cosy crime drama, as she said in the Radio Times, but surely she suspects the genre to be an oxymoron. As we all know, crime isn't cosy at all. It's horrific, often featuring acts of evil. Yet, television insists on re-producing nonsensical daftness, knowing that some (OK, some millions) of viewers buy into a formula that's older than Agatha Christie's Remington. What is the formula? First, find yourself a nice location. Beaches are always good. A paradise island even better. But then nice libraries in upstate New York can work well, as can a country cottage in the Cotswolds. What you will never, ever see is a cosy crime series set in a Glasgow close, just a few yards away from the shooting gallery, or in an Edinburgh housing scheme in which triple glazed windows can't keep out the sound of feral teenagers revving stolen motorbikes. Second, the central character has to be rather odd, eccentric. And never, ever sexy. (Ashley Jensen however is such a good actor she was able to suggest a hint of sexiness in Agatha Raisin.) That's why the cosy crime series are fronted by the likes of unkempt priests, (Father Brown) strident nuns (Sister Boniface), duffel-coated curly-haired magicians (Jonathan Creek) and chubby head chefs turned shamus (Pie in the Sky). Cosy crime also has its own murdering preferences. Such as poison. Blowdarts are popular, or bullets fashioned from ice. And one episode saw a woman off her husband with a head blow, using a leg of lamb. (Which was then cooked and served up to investigating police officers). TV companies know of course they are serving up silliness. But so often they argue that these marshmallow-soft crime series are actually good for the public health. Read more No, honestly. They tell us that by accepting the idea of some old biddy with a twinset and a typewriter being able to solve the mysteries that leave professional detectives clueless, this is actually good for our mental health. It offers the chance to wild swim in a world that doesn't exist; yes, a world of criminality, but it never ever asks us to view a bloody or battered body (far less a dismemberment). Sure, there are murderers, but they are very often tidy, middle-aged men with a butterfly collection, who wear Roger Moore polo necks and enjoy an exclusive gym membership, and are married to community artist Penny, who is having a secret affair with her pickleball coach. And these cosy crime stories always feature storylines that are tied up in a bow so cute it could have been worn by Elton's wedding chihuahua as it clipped up the aisle with the couple's wedding rings inside the little bejewelled box on its back. The storylines may feature the odd tale about catfishing, or Ponzi schemes or crypto currency, but they almost never feature the backdrop to the real world we're facing, tales, for example of frozen pensioners who have to choose between food or one bar on the electric fire. Indeed, when viewers switch on to watch the likes of Hetty or Agathy, they can escape into a nice uncluttered clear space far from reality, a space that exists only between the ears of TV commissioning editors. Remember the daft, absurd alternative universe that was Bergerac, with its running storyline whereby an island's top cop was daft about a known diamond thief? Unbelievable. Even though the jewel snatcher was played by Liza Goddard. Phyllis Logan in Lovejoy with Ian McShane (Image: free) So, Phyllis is right to open up about her lack of love for the genre. But let's go further. It should be deemed a crime to continue to reproduce cosy crime. Any writer who even contemplates the creation of a series in which the central character wears cardigans, Bermuda shirts, drives a Triumph roadster or tippy taps at a vintage typewriter should be taken in for questioning. Yes, yes. I know I once wrote a TV crit singing the praises of Ludwig. But that wasn't a cosy crime drama, was it? Okay, I know, that like Logan's new character he was also a puzzle solver. But his twin brother, whom he impersonated, was a cop. So that made it all right, didn't it. Oh, come on. It can't be a crime to watch any series which features Anna Maxwell Martin. Can it?
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- The Hindu
Why do we use QWERTY keyboards?
Today, almost every keyboard we use — whether it's on your personal computer or phone — follows the QWERTY layout. But did you know this arrangement wasn't the obvious choice when typewriters were first invented? The origins of the typewriter The story of the QWERTY layout begins with the invention of the mechanical typewriter in the 19th Century. In the early 1870s, an American inventor named Christopher Latham Sholes, along with his colleagues, developed one of the first practical typewriters. The earliest versions of their machine had a simple and intuitive layout: the keys were arranged alphabetically from A to Z. This made sense for new users, who could easily find the letters without needing special training. However, while the alphabetical order seemed logical, it soon led to unexpected problems once people started typing faster. The mechanical problem As typewriters became more widely used, a major issue quickly surfaced: key jamming. Early typewriters worked by mechanical arms that struck inked ribbons to imprint letters onto paper. The problem arose when certain letter combinations were typed too quickly — the arms would collide with each other, causing a jam that slowed down the entire process. This issue made it clear that the design of the typewriter would need to be adjusted to avoid such mechanical conflicts. The design solution: QWERTY layout To solve the problem of key jamming, Sholes and his team rearranged the keys in a way that minimised mechanical collisions. They strategically placed commonly paired letters—such as 'T' and 'H' or 'C' and 'K'—further apart, so that typists wouldn't accidentally press them in quick succession. The goal wasn't to speed up typing, but rather to slow it down just enough to reduce the risk of the typewriter's mechanical arms jamming when typed too quickly. The QWERTY layout was designed to optimize the machine's mechanical needs, not necessarily the comfort or speed of the typist. Adoption and standardisation The QWERTY layout became popular when Remington, a major typewriter manufacturer, adopted it on their successful machines. As typing schools and businesses trained people on QWERTY keyboards, it quickly became the standard. Over time, this widespread use created a network effect, making it hard to switch to any other layout — and QWERTY stuck as the global norm. Attempts at alternatives In the 1930s, the Dvorak Simplified Keyboard was introduced. It was designed to be faster, more efficient, and more ergonomic than the QWERTY layout. was introduced. It was designed to be faster, more efficient, and more ergonomic than the QWERTY layout. Despite its potential advantages, the Dvorak layout never gained widespread adoption. The main reason? Network effects — by then, most people were already trained on QWERTY, businesses had standardised it, and retraining was seen as too costly and inconvenient. As a result, QWERTY remained the dominant layout — even if it wasn't the most efficient one available. Fun Fact: How fast can you type? On average, most people type at around 40 words per minute (WPM). Professional typists usually reach speeds of 70 to 100 WPM — and some even faster! The current world record for typing on a QWERTY keyboard is held by Barbara Blackburn, who maintained an astonishing speed of 150 WPM for 50 minutes and peaked at 212 WPM! The story of the QWERTY keyboard shows that the designs we live with today aren't always the most efficient or the best possible options. Sometimes, a design survives simply because it was 'good enough' at the right time and became widely adopted before better alternatives could take hold. Once people, businesses, and institutions invest time and effort into learning and using a system, it becomes difficult to change — even when improvements are available. Take the challenge Now that you know the story behind the QWERTY layout, here's a quick challenge: Try typing the sentence 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog' with your eyes closed! This sentence uses every letter of the alphabet, and thanks to muscle memory built over years of using QWERTY keyboards, you'll probably do better than you expect. Just search online for a free typing speed test. .Can you beat the average speed? Who knows — you might be faster than you think! The QWERTY layout is a lasting reminder that history, habit, and practicality often shape technology just as much as innovation does.
