Speaking of travel, my Mom has been traveling in Asia for close to a month now--mostly in Burma (aka Myanmar), where my sister is a school teacher. While Burma, which is controlled by a dictator, places tight controls on outside communication (particularly the Internet), we have been able to squeeze a few blog posts and pictures out during her visits. I thought you all might be interested in seeing them--there are some truly beautiful pictures in her blog, and it sounds like a really interesting place to visit.
Check it out by going to http://carolyns-world-travels.blogspot.com
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
The SunCell™ Solar Powered Battery Charger
A good friend of mine who knows the founder of EcoPowered Solutions here in Colorado recently lent me a SunCell Solar Charger recently to try out, and I am very impressed both with the product as well as the company. In fact, I will have a hard time giving it back--I may just have to buy one of my own!
The SunCell Solar Charger
The SunCell is, at its core, a rechargeable battery that can be used to recharge any number of devices, including virtually any USB device (like cell phones, iPods/MP3 playe
rs, digital cameras, etc), plus a number of other devices with proprietary connectors (like Motorola and Nokia phones, for example). The battery holds enough juice to fully recharge a typical mobile phone three times. Unfortunately, it can't recharge laptops, as they generally require much higher voltages to recharge, and some (like Dell) also have proprietary charging mechanisms. The device comes with a selection of 16 "power tips" that can accommodate a wide variety of gadgets. The device is small and lightweight: 5.5 inches x 4 inches x 1.4 inches and 0.5 pounds in weight, and it's available in a number of colors.
The product's "Inspector Gadget" feature is that it can be recharged using a number of methods, the coolest of which is two solar panels that are included with the unit (it opens using a 'clamshell design' to expose the panels. The SunCell can also be recharged using an external USB port (e.g. from a computer or a USB wall charger). It works as advertised--the internal battery fully recharges in 3-5 hours from an electrical outlet or a laptop and will recharge using solar energy (strong sunlight--outside is best) in 8-12 hours, depending on how depleted the battery cell is. The SunCell's battery capacity is 3600 maH (about what a laptop battery holds) and the solar panels can output a peak of 1.5 watts. The device has selectable output voltages that are sure to accommodate virtually any device, including 4.8v, 5.8v, 8.4v and 9v.
The SunCell retails for $125 US, including a full selection of power tips, and you can purchase the units directly from the EcoPowered website.
In addition to being very impressed with EcoPowered Solutions' product, I am equally impressed with their mission. As one might guess, they are very much into promoting renewable energy, which is admirable in itself, but they also have a higher calling--providing their technology, free of charge, to organizations that utilize it to save lives and increase the quality of life in the areas they serve. Currently, donations to their program go directly to providing SunCells to Partners in Health, which is an international health services organization. SunCells are currently being used by Partners in Health in many of the countries it has operations in such as Haiti and Malawi. They are used by the communities they work in to power cell phones in remote areas and they can be used as lighting systems for people that have no electricity. If you're interested in donating to this program, click this link.
The SunCell Solar ChargerThe SunCell is, at its core, a rechargeable battery that can be used to recharge any number of devices, including virtually any USB device (like cell phones, iPods/MP3 playe
rs, digital cameras, etc), plus a number of other devices with proprietary connectors (like Motorola and Nokia phones, for example). The battery holds enough juice to fully recharge a typical mobile phone three times. Unfortunately, it can't recharge laptops, as they generally require much higher voltages to recharge, and some (like Dell) also have proprietary charging mechanisms. The device comes with a selection of 16 "power tips" that can accommodate a wide variety of gadgets. The device is small and lightweight: 5.5 inches x 4 inches x 1.4 inches and 0.5 pounds in weight, and it's available in a number of colors.The product's "Inspector Gadget" feature is that it can be recharged using a number of methods, the coolest of which is two solar panels that are included with the unit (it opens using a 'clamshell design' to expose the panels. The SunCell can also be recharged using an external USB port (e.g. from a computer or a USB wall charger). It works as advertised--the internal battery fully recharges in 3-5 hours from an electrical outlet or a laptop and will recharge using solar energy (strong sunlight--outside is best) in 8-12 hours, depending on how depleted the battery cell is. The SunCell's battery capacity is 3600 maH (about what a laptop battery holds) and the solar panels can output a peak of 1.5 watts. The device has selectable output voltages that are sure to accommodate virtually any device, including 4.8v, 5.8v, 8.4v and 9v.
The SunCell retails for $125 US, including a full selection of power tips, and you can purchase the units directly from the EcoPowered website.
In addition to being very impressed with EcoPowered Solutions' product, I am equally impressed with their mission. As one might guess, they are very much into promoting renewable energy, which is admirable in itself, but they also have a higher calling--providing their technology, free of charge, to organizations that utilize it to save lives and increase the quality of life in the areas they serve. Currently, donations to their program go directly to providing SunCells to Partners in Health, which is an international health services organization. SunCells are currently being used by Partners in Health in many of the countries it has operations in such as Haiti and Malawi. They are used by the communities they work in to power cell phones in remote areas and they can be used as lighting systems for people that have no electricity. If you're interested in donating to this program, click this link.
This is a point to ponder. In addition to assisting organizations like Partners in Health, this device could very well save your own life one day. 15 years ago, I was an Emergency Medical Technician and volunteer fire fighter in a ski resort in the Colorado mountains. I also served on the local search-and-rescue, helping to locate and rescue people that had become lost in the wilderness.
There weren't as many radios and mobile phones then as now, but every time that I hear about people that get lost in the outdoors because 1) they relied on a GPS that lost power, or 2) their radio/mobile phone battery died and they weren't able to call for help, or 3) their camera ran out of juice and they couldn't save themselves by signaling to passing aircraft using the flash (you think that's funny? It works!), I think about this device. If you were to become lost or stranded, you could use the SunCell to recharge those devices that could potentially save your life, over and over. Pretty cool. It also has a built-in LED flashlight that will run non-stop for up to six days on a charge, which can also be used as a signal light. I think it makes a lot of sense to purchase a couple of these units to place in backpacks and car trunks--just in case--it could save your life some day.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
New York City
Hello from New York City! I have been here all week at a trade show, and I'm also making some sales calls in New Jersey today and tomorrow while I'm out here.
Yesterday was a really nice day -- highs in the 60's (!) with just a little rain. I went walking with my camera last night and tried out my new mini-tripod; it helped a lot, particularly with shots of Rockefeller Center and Times Square. A mini-slide show of my pictures is below; you can also view all of them on flickr by clicking here.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Yesterday was a really nice day -- highs in the 60's (!) with just a little rain. I went walking with my camera last night and tried out my new mini-tripod; it helped a lot, particularly with shots of Rockefeller Center and Times Square. A mini-slide show of my pictures is below; you can also view all of them on flickr by clicking here.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Monday, February 4, 2008
My First Experience with CLEAR Registered Travel
As I wrote earlier, I signed up for the CLEAR registered traveler program last August in Orlando and, until today, had yet to use my card. Fortunately, they just opened CLEAR lanes at Denver International Airport (I live in Denver), and I was finally able to use my card this morning.
Overall, the experience was great. Wait times for the "normal" security lines looked to be pretty long--Monday morning and all--probably in the 20-25 minute range. As I approached the CLEAR line, I had my CLEAR card, driver's license, and boarding pass out and ready to go. After the person manning the line determined that I was one of the few actual CLEAR members (there were a lot of people trying to access the line who didn't understand what it was all about), they directed me to one of their biometric scanners. I inserted my CLEAR card, put my finger on the scanner, and was informed that I was "CLEARED" in about 10 seconds.
At that point, one of the major advantages of CLEAR appeared--a "concierge" then guided me to the TSA ID checker, who checked my ID immediately. After the ID stage, the concierge then led me over to the security line (I got to cut ahead of the people queued up in front of the X-ray machine), and then proceeded to help me load my laptop, toiletries, shoes, etc., in the bins! Wonderful service--what a difference another pair of hands makes. After ensuring that all my of luggage made it into the machine, she wished me a "CLEAR day", and I was off to the metal detector. Total time, from entering the CLEAR line to getting my stuff through the X-ray machine: about 5 minutes flat....and it was far less stressful than usual, thanks to the helpful concierge.
All in all, my first CLEAR experience was great. Even though I can cut the security lines at DIA any way due to my United Premier Executive status, it still generally takes around 10 minutes to clear security. With the extra priority that the CLEAR concierge afforded me, I shaved yet another 5 minutes off of that time, plus a bit of stress. For the $128 a year that the service costs, I'm thinking that it will definitely be worth it in terms of a guaranteed security experience and lower stress levels. Plus, it's really, really cool to cut the lines just like the airline crews do!
I give CLEAR an enthusiastic two thumbs-up! Now, if they only were in every airport that I travel through....especially Detroit!
*** Thinking of signing up for Clear??? ***
If you are, please do me a favor and give them my Clear "referral code": SCA70678. This entitles me to some free months of service for everyone that signs up using my code. Thanks!
Overall, the experience was great. Wait times for the "normal" security lines looked to be pretty long--Monday morning and all--probably in the 20-25 minute range. As I approached the CLEAR line, I had my CLEAR card, driver's license, and boarding pass out and ready to go. After the person manning the line determined that I was one of the few actual CLEAR members (there were a lot of people trying to access the line who didn't understand what it was all about), they directed me to one of their biometric scanners. I inserted my CLEAR card, put my finger on the scanner, and was informed that I was "CLEARED" in about 10 seconds.
At that point, one of the major advantages of CLEAR appeared--a "concierge" then guided me to the TSA ID checker, who checked my ID immediately. After the ID stage, the concierge then led me over to the security line (I got to cut ahead of the people queued up in front of the X-ray machine), and then proceeded to help me load my laptop, toiletries, shoes, etc., in the bins! Wonderful service--what a difference another pair of hands makes. After ensuring that all my of luggage made it into the machine, she wished me a "CLEAR day", and I was off to the metal detector. Total time, from entering the CLEAR line to getting my stuff through the X-ray machine: about 5 minutes flat....and it was far less stressful than usual, thanks to the helpful concierge.
All in all, my first CLEAR experience was great. Even though I can cut the security lines at DIA any way due to my United Premier Executive status, it still generally takes around 10 minutes to clear security. With the extra priority that the CLEAR concierge afforded me, I shaved yet another 5 minutes off of that time, plus a bit of stress. For the $128 a year that the service costs, I'm thinking that it will definitely be worth it in terms of a guaranteed security experience and lower stress levels. Plus, it's really, really cool to cut the lines just like the airline crews do!
I give CLEAR an enthusiastic two thumbs-up! Now, if they only were in every airport that I travel through....especially Detroit!
*** Thinking of signing up for Clear??? ***
If you are, please do me a favor and give them my Clear "referral code": SCA70678. This entitles me to some free months of service for everyone that signs up using my code. Thanks!
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