Away from the Office

Away from the Office

Compiled by Jason Dehart

TECHNOLOGY Danger, Will Robinson

For the 40-something corporate executive who has absolutely everything else, here is a cool new toy for home or office: a fully-functioning, full-size, remote-controlled replica of the B-9 Robot from the classic 1960s TV science-fiction series “Lost in Space.”

For only $24,500, you can amaze, amuse or intimidate all of your employees with this technological wonder, constructed of fiberglass, acrylic, aluminum and steel parts. Every detail of this machine has been painstakingly re-created using archival molds, patterns and blueprints. The 6-foot, 6-inch-tall animatronic machine has a rotating torso, blinking lights, animated ear sensors and clawed arms. A 240-watt sound system plays 511 prerecorded phrases spoken by Richard Tufeld, the robot’s original, iconic voice actor.

The robot is offered through the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog, online at hammacherschlemmer.com and at the landmark store on East 57th Street in New York City.

HEALTH
Exotic Diseases Await Careless Travelers

Protect your health while away on that long-distance trip to the Amazon with these helpful tips from businessmobile.com.

Check out the kind of health care available at your chosen destination, especially if you have a chronic condition that requires ongoing treatment or medication. Also, investigate the fees of local medical facilities.

When taking out health insurance, check for factors such as annual and lifetime policy limits, exclusions applicable to you and your family, limitations to specific types of health care providers and coverage for emergency evacuation.

Before leaving, find out which inoculations or health certificates are necessary for entry, and ask about any specific health risks in the country you are visiting. Diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, Hepatitis A and B, typhoid and cholera are common in many countries. However, the infection risk may vary considerably in different regions.

DID YOU KNOW? The Importance of Small Businesses

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, small firms represent 99.7 percent of all employer companies, they employ half of all private-sector employees, they pay more than 45 percent of total U.S. private payroll and they have generated from 60 percent to 80 percent of net new jobs annually over the last decade.