ElectricMan Inc. is one of Dallas’ most trusted electricians. Nick Schaeffer, Mr. ElectricMan himself, has quite the resume for a master electrician. He started the company by himself in 2004 and hasn’t looked back since! For more information about Electricman’s list of electrical repair services, please visit www.ElectricManInc.com

What are electric bikes? A lot of people may be surprised at the mere fact that electric bikes even exist, but their history goes back even to the late 1890s. Different U.S. patents dating back to the 1890s actually mention the existence of said bikes! Sometimes also referred to as e-bikes, this special bicycle is actually a bicycle that features an electric motor that is normally utilized to power up an ordinary vehicle. These kinds of bicycles actually rely on a rechargeable battery and can even attain speeds as high as 15 miles per hour or 20 miles per hour. Of course, this all depends upon the specific laws of the country in which these kinds of bicycles are sold!

The good thing about these electric bikes is that they can be utilized as an alternative form of transportation to cars and even normal bikes! Believe it or not, these kinds of bicycles are actually quite good for people who are suffering from heart problems, but still are told to get more exercise into their lives. According to an entry on Wikipedia, these types of bicycles require a lot less cardiac exertion, which is good news to people who already have established heart problems.

When it comes to the cost issues of an electric bike versus the costs behind cars, you can bet your bottom dollar that choosing these types of bikes is more cost-effective than buying or maintaining a car. Let’s look at just one aspect of this consideration, which is in regard to the price of gas to operate either kind of vehicle. With electric bikes being limited to just 20 miles per hour according to American law, you do not even need to pay for a special registration, insurance or license, unlike a car! Further, according to the website called Eco Wheelz, it takes just about 10 cents to charge a battery for this bicycle! With gas prices in the U.S. hovering near $4 already, and with most cars getting just 25 miles on the gallon, it is obviously a lot more expensive to buy, own and maintain your car.

On the issue of safety, electric bikes have a little bit farther to go before they can be considered totally safe. Take for instance China, which is the world’s biggest market for these kinds of bicycles. There is road traffic safety concern in general over these kinds of bikes because they oftentimes use the same lanes as slower-moving normal bicycles and even pedestrians.

As you can see, electric bikes are an alternative to cars and regular bicycles. They are allowed in the U.S. and are more cost-effective than cars, although there may well be some safety concerns attached to this type of bicycle.

Adequate surge protection does not begin and end with point-of-use power strips. Multiple layers of protection are necessary to safeguard your sensitive appliances and electronic devices. You’ve invested a great deal of money in them - now you need to protect them.

Whole house surge protection, installed between street power lines and your home, or between your meter and breaker box, offer your appliances the protection they need against today’s common but unexpected spikes and surges. Diverting excess power to ground, these devices protect both your electronics and your wallet from the dangers of spikes and surges that could leave you with smoking gear and a hefty replacement bill.

Because a whole house surge protector cannot handle 100 percent of surges, you need backup. That’s where point-of-use surge protection devices with power conditioners come in. Installed at individual outlets in your home, these devices also shed excess voltage through ground in the event a spike or surge overcomes your whole house surge protector. They also have the added benefit of noise filtering. There are two types: less expensive models that are destroyed internally – but preserve your gear – in the event of a surge, and more expensive models that can handle all but the most extreme surges without destruction.

Have you ever been watching TV or listening to the radio when someone in an adjacent room operates a blender or vacuum? Oftentimes the result will be static on your TV or an annoying buzz emitting from speakers courtesy of “noise” transmitted through the electrical lines in your home. That’s where a power conditioner comes in.

Those cheap $20 power strips from your local retail store are not the same as a surge protector with a power conditioner. While cheaper, this is definitely an instance where you get what you pay for - a couple extra outlets and some minor surge protection. In the event of a major event, however, they can fail your appliances and sometimes catch fire. Premium, point-of-use surge protection with power conditioning not only adequately protects your appliances from surges, but also:

Protect your gear and run at peak performance with help from the perfect team. Have surge protection and power conditioning equipment installed in your home with the help of Mr. Electric® today.

Do me a favor and imagine that you are in need of suggestions for a Fourth of July party. You head to via Wikipedia

Of course, I’m not talking about snap pops, black cats, m-80s, or even those cool little paper cars that gush sparks, travel four feet, and then burn to death in a microblaze reminiscent of a 1970s action film.

I am talking about the ones that explode up there, the ones you have to tilt your head back to see. That the fireworks explode in the night sky is important because the very act of looking up immediately takes you out of the mundanity that the rest of the holiday will surely deliver – the planning, the decorating, the complications. No more overflowing trashcan with wing sauce-smeared cocktail napkins. No more ordinary stuff.

At the heart of the Fourth of July is a spirit of independence that is, actually, a big deal. When your eyes are on what’s going on at ground level, it can be hard to realize how big a deal ideas like independence and sacrifice are. Once your attention is arrested by the spectacle of fireworks happening up there in the sky, you’re taken out of the everyday and able to reflect on these things, which is important, I think.

2. They are glorious.

“And the rockets’ red glare/ The bombs bursting in air,” goes the song. Did you know that the word “rocket,” in the sense of the combustion-fueled projectile, dates all the way back to 1566? The Oxford English Dictionary notes that rockets have historically been “used for signalling, in maritime rescue, for entertainment, and as a weapon.” Fireworks symbolize communication, violence, and entertainment: A strangely fitting mix for the complex human heart.

The red glare of the rockets in “The Star-Spangled Banner” refers to the bombardment of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. That the fort was not taken during the battle is indeed glorious, and fireworks are a reminder of the fortitude of the people who fought and suffered to keep America independent in 1776 and again in 1812. Boom. (Literally: boom!)

3. They are beautiful.

So, those are my three reasons that fireworks are the most important part of any holiday festivity: They happen above you; they are glorious; and they are beautiful. I think these are pretty good reasons for making sure you see some fireworks this Fourth of July.

Take a moment out of the hectic festivities to reflect on the spirit of rebellion, creativity, and inspiration that is involved in claiming and defending independence from parties eager to exploit the vulnerable. This is about more than just us. This unites us across time and space. Fireworks reflect the beauty of standing together for what is right, even when it hurts.