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High and Low Tech Travel Gadgets

High and Low Tech Travel Gadgets to Add to Your Pack

When traveling, making sure that you’re prepared for any situation is one of the most important things you can do. Especially if you’re in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language, as a traveler, you need to be prepared for any situation. Even if you’re traveling domestically, having the ability to take care of surprise situations as they occur will make traveling less stressful and more efficient says Dev Randhawa.

One thing that every traveler should have stashed away is a multitool. Multitools come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but they all pack a surprising number of tools into a very compact case. Typically, they might have a small knife, a screwdriver, a tiny pair of scissors, a bottle or can opener, and many other useful implements. If you plan to fly and carry-on a bag, be sure to check that the multitool is TSA-approved so that it doesn’t get taken away from you! Multitools contain all sorts of tools you never think of until you actually need, so they’re incredibly useful to have on hand.

Losing your gadgets is a terrible experience no matter where you are, but if you’re traveling, it’s even worse. When traveling, it makes sense for travelers to invest in a small “Finder” gadget. Sold by multiple different brands, these typically include small keychains or tiles that stick to easy-to-lose items – phones, wallets, keys – and sync wirelessly to alert you to their location if they happen to be lost or stolen. Some even have alarm functions that you can activate remotely, enabling you to find it in your home.

Wherever you’re headed, make sure you’re prepared.

Kickstarter? Why More Filmmakers are Seeking Independent Funding

You might have heard how many successful indie films and video games have had Kickstarters raise enough money to fund production. The biggest example is probably the Veronica Mars movie, which raised more than $5 million to fund its production, but there are several examples of small and medium sized movies making their goals and seeing the light of day.

With all of this crowdfunding, you might think that engaging with private investors has gone the way of the Dodo.  That’s not so. In fact, many up and coming filmmakers are still seeking out private investment even when they have a successful Kickstarter. Here’s more of the lowdown behind how tech plays a role in film investing, and why traditional investing is making a comeback.

Funding Portions

The reality for many filmmakers today is that Kickstarter funds usually only cover a fraction of the costs. Private investors will carry the costs of music rights, post production and other important investments that come with even the simplest of productions. Kickstarters are often a good sign there is interest in the film, and a way to either secure that little bit extra to make it special, or provide a way to recoup some of the potential losses if the film bombs.

Traditional Funding

Traditional film funding has gotten much more accessible. Many cities across the United States have a film bureau setup to help you figure out taxes, and other potential incentives you can use to acquire investors. You may even be able to find an investor directly through that organization. It’s always helpful to find someone local, and there are more resources around the US today than ever before.

Bio: Omar Amanat is a film investor and philanthropist who donates funds from the films he produces to charities of his choice.

Server room air conditioning choices

There is no perfect choice when it comes to air conditioning for a server room. The two primary determinants are the size of the server room and the thermal load of the equipment (the demand in BTU). Here are a few of the choices available for data center cooling:

Window air conditions

Although listed here, this is not really an option. The problem with window units is a lack of reliability and the inability for technicians to service the units easily. It might be the cheapest option, but it does not belong in the data center. It does not fit any of the requirements of industrial cooling.

Wall mounted split types

These are the most common types used for smaller server rooms or areas with the limited thermal load. These are meant for public spaces and not really designed for server rooms. As a result, they lack a humidifier.

Ceiling mounted air conditioners

These are designed for server rooms. However, they are limited to thermal capacity and can handle loads of up to 40Kw. Placement of these units is critical for servicing and to avoid any chance of liquid dripping onto equipment.

In-row cooling

These units, used in conjunction with hot aisle containment are purpose-built for server room rack units. These are extremely efficient and do not require raised floors or any other special data center setup. They can even be purchased in ready made sets.

A Brief Look at the History of Sputter Deposition

Sputter deposition dates all the way back to the mid 1800s.

When it comes to the history of sputter deposition, it should be noted that it dates all the way back to a century ago. The idea of thin film deposition was first conceived back in 1852 by Grove. This style of thin film production became commonly used in the 1920s when it came to the preparation of reflective coatings. Then, the major company Western Electric started utilizing sputter deposition to deposit gold on wax masters. This was only the beginning for deposition as new methods began to emerge and replace older styles of thin film production.

The Reemergence of Sputter Deposition

Sputter deposition started to fade into the distance after thermal evaporation became available. It was a new and improved type of process, at the time, and proved that it can still provide an outstanding film with the use of thermal energy. Now, this doesn’t mean that sputter deposition became completely obsolete. In the 1950s, sputter deposition began hitting the main stage yet again when Bell Laboratories developed tantalum hybrid circuit technology through the use of sputter deposition. Once again, sputter deposition proved that it was here to stay.

Today’s Outlook on Thin Film Deposition

Fast forward to today’s deposition techniques, there are a variety of different methods and tactics when it comes to the production of thin films. New vacuum coating systems have been created that provide all of the benefit that your standard system would, but within a vacuum environment, and other products have made their mark on society.

How APUs Play a Significant Role in Airport Emissions

APUs are being used in a dysfunctional fashion, and the environment is being ignored.

The use of Auxiliary Power Units (APU) in airports is becoming excessive, environmentally harming, and costly. Furthermore, the amount of time that the plane’s jet engines are idling is adding more fuel to the fire. The push to replace the use of these APUs for ground power units (GPU) instead could effectively improve a variety of areas.

Breaking Down the Issue with APUs

The APU is designed to perform three essential functions: starting the airplane’s main engines, providing adequate power to the plane when the main engines aren’t running, and providing compressed air to the plane’s air conditioning unit. Now, if you break it down, the ground power and air conditioning unit can be easily replaced by the use of electrical equipment, which in turn will reduce emission levels. Now, this isn’t the only concern that many airports are facing today. There are also numerous issues that revolve around economics, ramp congestion, and fuel savings. There are problems that a ground power unit can fix, if utilized in conjunction with an APU correctly.

Understanding Ground Power Units

These ground power units come in a variety of electrical power levels. For instance, many smaller airports have 28 volt power supplies attached to a cart that drives out to the airplane when it is taxied. However, due to financial constraints, the push to switch to electrical power has left many ground power units operating solely on diesel. This just adds to the environmental issues that airports are currently facing.

Now, let’s move on to the problems created by APUs. The overall issue of emissions at airports are becoming a serious concern all across the country. And, APUs are playing a significant role in adding to this problem. APU usage generates three sources of emission: carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxide. Consider the amount of flights that go on in one day – that’s one huge cluster of gas being pumped out every second. You can see why red flags are being raised all over the place.

The solution itself isn’t an easy one. There are numerous factors and limitations that must be considered. However, with the right push, and funding, there could potentially be a substantial change coming in the future. These current problems can be fixed, and hopefully there will be significant changes with the development of new technologies.


Basic devices in a computer network

A computer network is made of multiple devices that are connected physically and logically to enable communication between each other and devices outside the network. When designing a network for a workplace or for a home it is important to understand the basics of designing a network and the various components. Here is a basic rundown of the various devices.

Router

This is the device that provides a connection to an external network like the internet. Every home and office with an internet connection will connect their network to a router.

Firewall

This device sits between the router and the rest of the internal network. It provides several levels of protection for the devices and is also used to control access to certain resources. For example, a router could allow certain users to use certain services and bar others from doing so. In addition, some higher-level firewall will detect malware and other problematic traffic and block them.

Switches

Any network that requires access to physical network ports will also need a switch. A switch routes traffic internally between computers and to other devices like the firewall. A gateway is defined on each of the computers (that is usually the firewall) and that is the destination for traffic that is considered to be external to the network.

Access point

Wireless network access has become a necessity in any environment. Some organizations no longer have a physical network and access only using Wi-Fi. Access points are the physical devices that provide that access to the network.

Avoid Scams When You Shop Online

Shopping online is becoming more and more popular, especially with the convenience of smartphones and tablets. When looking for online shopping deals, consumers often turn to less traditional websites that they might not be familiar with because they advertise prices at largely reduced rates when compared to large retailers. This method can be disastrous if you’re not careful.

Avoid scams when shopping online by implementing the following tips:

Only Shop Securely

One of the most important factors to consider when discount shopping is whether or not you’re using a secure website.

Secure websites will always start with “https” instead of just “http”. The additional “s” at the end signifies that the website uses an SSL certificate to ensure that your information is being protected when you shop and when you check out.

Read Reviews of eCommerce Stores First

If you plan on shopping at an eCommerce store that you’ve never heard of before, try to locate customer reviews first. They’ll tell you whether or not the website is a scam, how good the customer service is, and what type of quality you can expect from the products.

Online stores that have mostly negative reviews should be avoided at all costs.

Stay Clear of Rock Bottom Deal Websites

It might be tempting to buy a purse for $50 from a discount website that normally costs $1,000, but in most cases, you’ll either be buying a fake or you won’t receive anything at all.

Deals that sound too good to be true probably are!

 

 

The Underlying Reason Why Medical Device Coatings Are Needed Today

Medical device coatings are a huge step in today’s advancing field of medicine.

In the world of medicine, catheters and other invasive devices have become the focal point for experimentation. It’s an exciting prospect as device developers and manufacturers incorporate new coating technologies that are improving the way that these devices function within the body. In order to create a safe product, there must be substantial research performed beforehand to ensure that it offers a solution to the patient. Here is a brief rundown on why medical device coatings are created and why they’re utilized in today’s field of medicine.

Why is There a Need for Medical Coatings?

Medical devices are coated through thin film evaporation for many reasons. One of the most common is to provide the device with more properties beyond what its base substrate offers. This can include anything from an easy glide into the body, to attaching drugs or biologically active compounds onto the device itself. This can provide substantial benefits to the human body such as lowering the risk of infection post-insertion, reducing blood clots, and countering the body’s rejection of the invasive device. The human body is naturally designed to reject foreign objects. And, for example, when a catheter is inserted, clots can form and create significant health issues for the patient if left untreated.

To sum it up, medical devices are coated with numerous compounds for health benefits and to provide additional resources for specialists to counter the weight of contraindications. Whether the device is coated or not, depends on the characteristics of the coating, as well as the reason for applying it.


Denton Vacuum, LLC is the leading manufacturer for thin film evaporation. For inquiries on products, please visit Denton Vacuum, LLC online today.

Three Reasons that Nuclear Power Will Continue to Grow

In the next 20 years, the population of the world will explode by more than 2 billion people. In developing nations especially, that surge will put a great strain on the power grid. Fossil fuels are beginning to show their shortcomings, and renewable energy is not yet sustainable. The path forward will involve a hybrid strategy, with nuclear power leading the way.

Power Demands

In addition to the normal demands of the power grid, which are already stressed under a growing population, water shortages are contributing as well. Desalinization is just one method, and it’s incredible power hungry. Nuclear power would be able to provide enough to handle the load of running these plants, while helping to reinforce the power grid of the future.

According to experts like Dev Randhawa, countries like China want to aggressively push into the nuclear power sector. Randhawa points out that countries, like Saudi Arabia, require a baseload. Dev points to the big freeze that occurred in Canada as a good example of what happens when you rely too much on any one power source. Nuclear power is a far more viable option for developing nations, where power consumption is even higher than developed nations like the US and China.

Clean Energy

Coal burning plants use fresh water to cool them off for logistical reasons, but nuclear plants don’t have that problem. They can be relocated to coastlines, using seawater to cool the plant. If Australia moved to nuclear, it would help conserve precious water for more than four million people. It was also estimated that nuclear was the most cost effective option to help restrict rising temperatures through non-carbon energy generation.

How to Buy a Safe for the Home

Purchasing a safe for the home isn’t quite as simple as it might appear. It’s important to understand that safes can have several different ratings related to tool resistance, fire resistance, and construction. The common safe found in sporting goods stores is actually termed a “residential security container” and lacks many of high security safes.

Some safes have a burglary rating. As an example, tl 30 safes are rated against the use of common hand tool, drill, punches, and hammers for a period of 30 minutes. A safe of this rating must also be constructed of 1-inch solid steel.

The most important step is to determine your needs and budget. Are you interested in protecting firearms, jewelry, documents, magnetic media, photos, or cash? Certain types of safes are more appropriate for a particular purpose. A safe designed for firearms wouldn’t be the best choice for protecting photos.

What is your budget? Safes can range from less than $100 to well over $50,000. How much can you afford? How much are the items you want to protect actually worth? Determine a price range and limit your search to safes that fit your budget.

During your search, you’ll undoubtedly find many used safes for sale. While it’s possible to find a bargain, consumers should be cautious. It’s challenging to accurately determine what you’re getting. Most importantly, find a safe that fits your needs and budget.