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Care of Paint Brushes Paint Brush Care Always dampen brushes BEFORE use unless they are specified dry brushes. If you load a dry brush with wet colour, the colour begins to dry in the centre of the bristles down close to the ferrule. Dampening the bristles reduces paintability to dry in the centre. But do not just dip the brush into the water and then go into the colour, the moisture needs to be worked into the hair/bristles of the brush. Working the brush on the palm of your hand and forcing the moisture into the bristles helps, it also transfers some of the oil from your hand and helps to condition the brush. Following that, dab the brush on a towel to remove excess moisture before dipping into the colour. ​ Never place brushes loaded with paint aside and allow them to dry in the hair/bristles. It is better to wash the brush immediately when done using them, even if the brush is only going to be inactive for a few minutes. When rinsing brushes, it is not advisable to scrape the brush around the bottom of the cleaning jar/container. Firstly, paint pigment drops to the bottom of the container, secondly, doing this can damage the hair/bristles. Some cleaning containers have drainage sieves or coils at the bottom so that any brush washed is kept away from the pigment sediment at the bottom, but rigorous cleaning on these can still damage hair/bristles. Gently swish the brush back and forth in the bowl and allow it to brush against the sides or bottom. Brush basins with rounded, textured bottoms are perfect for aiding the process. It is good practice to change the water on a regular basis and to have separate containers to wash different paint types. Being mostly involved in model kit builds, and do a great amount of airbrushing, I only use De-Ionised water. I have washpot/rinse pots for: ​ Acrylic paints an initial wash in between paint colour changes. Acrylic paints second rinse, following finishing with a particular colour, before proper cleaning and conditioning of paintbrush before putting away. Metallics. Decal brush, Washes, or Glazes. ​ Do not leave any brush in water for extended periods because with wooden brushes the wetness can cause the handle to swell, resulting in cracking paint and unstable ends. Synthetic brush hair is glued into position, and prolonged standing in water can break down the glue making the hair loose. ​ After rinsing, brushes do not allow them to dry with the bristles/hair face upward or flat on a rack or table, as this can damage the ferrule and can possibly soften the glue them as mentioned above. Drip drying racks are plentiful, these allow users to place brushes with their bristles/hair face facing downward, allowing the moisture to drain away. After washing the brush, check to see if any colour remains in the hair by brushing across a paper towel, do not push forward, as this will damage the bristles/hair. If the colour appears on the towel, rinse again. Cleaning materials advised are: ​ Brush Paint Cleaner or Purger Brush Conditioning Soap Brush Conditioner Gel ​ When storing natural haired brushes for long periods use a brush conditioner soap to thoroughly clean them. Brush Conditioning Soap or Gel can also be used to reshape the bristles/hair and stored in this way. ​ With Brush Conditioning Soap, moisten the dip the bristles/hair and gently work the bristles/hair into the soap, rinse and when no further paint pigment is visible in the Conditioning Soap, either twist into its original shape or use a Conditioning gel to do the same. ​ When storing brushes do not store them in confined containers where the hairs can get pushed out of shape or break.

Wireless Network System Wireless LANs WLAN technologies tend to follow one of the three Wi-Fi communication standards and the advantages of wireless networking depend on the standard employed: ​ 802.11b - was the first standard to be used in WLANs. ​ 802.11a - the standard is faster but was more expensive than the 802.11b, because of this it was used in business networks, but it is now widely used in the public sector. ​ The 802.11g, endeavored to combine the best of both 802.11a and 802.11b. ​ The latest in Wi-Fi technology is the 802.11ac. 802.11ac connectivity, makes previous standards look like snails and makes the aggravation from slow connection speeds and load times a thing of the past. ​ The latest in Wi-Fi technology is the 802.11ad. 802.11ad connectivity, makes previous standards look like snails and makes the aggravation from slow connection speeds and load times a thing of the past. ​ The 802.11ad pushes routers, computers, servers, and printers in your home network into the next level. Because of this, an entire family can use an incredible amount of data without impacting anyone else on the network. ​ List of standards: ​ 802.11-1997 (802.11 legacy) 802.11a 802.11b 802.11g 802.11-2007 802.11n 802.11-2012 802.11ac 802.11ad ​ Installation Wi-Fi networks can be configured in two different ways: The Ad hoc approach allows wireless devices to communicate in a peer-to-peer manner. The infrastructure method allows wireless devices to communicate with a central connection that in turn communicates with wired connections on that LAN. ​ Most LANs require an infrastructure method to access the Internet, a printer, or other wired items, whereas Ad hoc mode only supports basic file sharing between the wireless devices. Both Wi-Fi approaches require a wireless network adapter/s, sometimes called WLAN cards. Infrastructure mode WLANs also need a central device called the access point. ​ The access point must be installed in a location where wireless signals can reach it with minimal interference. Although Wi-Fi signals typically reach 100 feet (30 m) or more depending on your router, obstructions like walls can greatly reduce their range, especially in an old Victorian house like mine where the walls are three feet thick. ​ Cost Most routers are wireless compatible so cost somewhat less than wired Ethernet products and most internet providers provide the router, filter, and a CAT 45 cable as part of the service. These days costs are minimal for a wireless network. ​ Reliability Wireless LANs suffer more reliability problems than wired LANs, nevertheless, perhaps not enough to be a significant concern. Older 802.11b and 802.11g wireless signals were subject to interference from home appliances including: ​ Microwave ovens Cordless telephones Electronic garage doors Fridges ​ But with the newer standards, this has all but disappeared. I will discuss setting up a wireless network later, along with port-forwarding so that you can login to your server, computer, or printer when away from home. Port-forwarding can be a challenge, so I will go through it in detail. ​ Performance These days the performance of Wireless LANs is great compared with the older 802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11g WLANs. But Wireless systems are not as fast as their wired counterparts. Additionally, Wi-Fi performance is distance sensitive, meaning that maximum performance will degrade on a computer farther away from the access point and the more wireless devices used the WLAN performance degrades more. ​ Nowadays, the Wireless option is more than adequate for a home Internet connection for sharing files, printing, gaming, and media downloads and connecting additional devices like the iPhone and iPad. ​ Security Wireless LANs are less secure than wired LANs because wireless communication signals travel through the air and can be intercepted. ​ Many people have been through the courts for hacking into on to un-secure Wireless networks while out in their cars or sitting on a park bench. Known as war-driving it involves traveling through a residential area with their Wi-Fi equipment scanning the airwaves for unprotected WLANs. So, beware! ​ I cannot emphasize enough to set your Wireless network up securely, using the firewall and strong passwords. Using the Privacy (WEP) encryption standard WLANs improves security greatly, but not as wired networks. However, no computer network is completely secure, and you should ensure: Home is Internet firewall is properly configured. ​ Household is acquainted with the danger of Internet ‘spoof emails’ and how to recognise them. Household is aware of ‘spyware’ and how to avoid it. Use anti-virus software and keep it updated. ​ To help protect your computer from Intrusion, Trojans, and Viruses you will need antivirus and firewall software installed on your computer. I use ESET and Malwarebytes, there are free alternatives, but I find the free options significantly less secure and reliable. Nearly all the infected computers I worked on in the industry had free versions and the removal of the risk and preventing data loss always cost more than purchasing the paid anti-virus and malware software combined. ​ Although Broadband routers have firewalls installed, these are not reliable so do not rely on this alone to protect your computers. ​ KEEP the antivirus and malware software updated on a regular basis, as new threats come onto the web daily.

Tomato Soup Cooking your own tomato soup is easy and rewarding. There are many benefits from making your own tomato soup, such as, you know what ingredients have gone into it and the lack of additives, like colourants, stabilizers, and preservatives that are used in commercially produced products. ​ This is my recipe; it makes enough for 4 large meals for two people (we freeze unused). You can vary the ingredients to vary your own needs, likes, or dislikes, so, feel free to experiment. Recipe ​ 1000 grams of sweet tomatoes 3 x large carrots 3 x large onions 4 x sticks of celery 2 x whole garlics 6 x fresh mint leaves (or a tablespoon of dried mint) 1 Litre of vegetable stock (either you own, or I use 2 x Knorr vegetable stock pot (112g)) 2x tablespoons of Tomato Puree 20 grams Extra Virgin Olive Oil 8 grams granulated sugar 2g table salt 2g pepper

Canmore Alberta’s Rockies Canmore is between Calgary and Banff. It took about 1½ hours to get the 50 miles (81 kilometres) from Calgary International Airport. ​ Canmore is only minutes away from Banff National Park, Kananaskis Country and Bow Valley Provincial Parks where 5 famous ski resorts and 6 breath-taking golf courses are located. ​ Canmore is situated in the Bow Valley within Alberta’s Rockies, it is an old mining town; because of this, it went relatively unnoticed for a great number of years, unlike Banff. ​ However, Canmore is more than a ski resort base. It offers over 70 kilometres of trails, a Nordic centre, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, and scrambling provide an endless assortment of outdoor activities. ​ To enhance your experience of the Rockies, visit the Rafter 6 ranch resort (currently up for sale), this ranch has a colossal variety of activities and the location is second to none. While there I was lucky enough to view the white buffalo, a herd of elk and some precious wolves. Being an ardent photographer, I was lucky enough to get some great photographs of the white buffalo, elk, wolves, and landscape in and around Canmore and Banff National Park. ​ Canmore's town’s elevation is 4296 feet (1309 metres) with the surrounding summits extending to heights of 9,633 feet (2936 metres). The Bow River flows through the town linking it to a network of wildlife corridors and trails. An abundance of local wildlife, wildflowers and mountains provide boundless opportunities to experience nature and take photographs of the wildlife, flora and The Three Sisters. The Three Sisters ​ The Three Sisters are a trio of peaks near Canmore. They are known individually as Big Sister (Faith), Middle Sister (Charity), and Little Sister (Hope). ​ Albert Rogers, a nephew of Major Rogers who discovered ‘Rogers Pass’ in the Selkirk Mountains named the three peaks in 1883. ​ Albert Rogers recollected, ‘there had been a heavy snowstorm in the night, and when we got up in the morning and looked out of the tent, I noticed the three peaks had a heavy veil of snow on the north side, and I said to the boys, ‘Look at the Three Nuns.’ They were called the Three Nuns for quite a while but later were called the ‘Three Sisters’ and first appeared on George Dawson’s map in 1886. ​ Heights: Big Sister (Faith) – 9,632 feet, (2,936 metres) Middle Sister (Charity) - 9,084 feet, (2,769 metres) Little Sister (Hope) - 8,840 feet, (2,694 metres) Out of gallery History In 1884 Donald Smith the director of the Canadian Pacific Railway officially named Canmore. In 1886, Queen Victoria granted a coal mining charter to the town, and the first mine was opened a year later. In the 1890s a North-West Mounted Police barrack had been built on Main Street, but it was vacated in 1927 and was restored in 1989. It still remains in the main street. ​ By the 1970s the market for coal had diminished and in 1979 the Canmore mines ceased operations. Unfortunately because of safety and reclamation policies initiated by the province of Alberta, most of the mining structures were demolished and today, only the lamphouse and a few mine entrances remain. Canmore’s commercial future seemed gloomy until the announcement in the 1980s that Calgary would be hosting the 1988 Winter Olympics. This opened the door for Canmore, as it would host the Nordic events, resulting in increased tourism.

Finland Ylläs, Finland, well what can I say. If it is good skiing you want, it is not the best location to consider. I skied one day in two weeks if you can call it skiing. I eagerly made my way to the first slope in a thirty mile an hour wind and a blistering -42° (without the wind-chill) that froze my eyelids, I got off the lift and…waited, waited, and waited. At least a forty-degree incline and I was still stuck to the snow like glue to wood and ended up poling myself down the slope and worked up a greater sweat than running a marathon. Needed a drink after that run, not tea or coffee either. Meanwhile, my two mates were skiing one of the other three slopes. There are more than four runs, but most were closed because of the high winds. Out of gallery However, I can recommend the scenery, hospitality, husky safaris, and ski bike tours. Make sure you shop around as prices vary considerably. I managed to get a husky ski bike tour to a husky site and then a husky safari for the afternoon. We left at 1030 hours and arrived back about 1900 hours, so a full day for less than other companies was charging for a four-hour husky ride. The food was fantastic, if expensive, but once your there they have you, so you must cough up or stay in your accommodation all evening. Pete and I eat out every evening, but Chris tended to eat in. There is a nice supermarket, and the prices are good so if you’re on a budget eat in. The three of us found a fantastic chapel where Chris recited one of his compositions on the piano much to the pleasure of the locals. Pete and I talked to the woman who looked after the chapel. She was rightly proud of Saint Laurent chapel. It is a modern wooden design that hosts Christmas concerts with its innovative architecture and acoustic resonance. The chapel bell has its own structure outside of the chapel, an innovative design. We went in March and the temperature varied from -32 to -46. Our log-cabin had under-floor heating and a great log burner, so we were more than comfortable. It even had a clothing and ski boot warmer.

Diodes Dioden sind Halbleiterkomponenten, die als Einwegschalter für Strom dienen. Dioden lassen den Strom leicht in eine Richtung fließen, behindern jedoch den Stromfluss in die entgegengesetzte Richtung erheblich. Dioden haben eine Polarität, die durch eine Anode (positive Leitung) und die Kathode (negative Leitung) bestimmt wird. Viele Dioden lassen nur dann Strom fließen, wenn eine positive Spannung an die Anode angelegt wird. . Sie werden auch als Gleichrichter bezeichnet, da sie Wechselstrom (AC) in pulsierenden Gleichstrom (DC) umwandeln. Dioden werden nach Typ, Spannung und Stromkapazität bewertet. Dioden sind in vielen Konfigurationen erhältlich, z. Metallgehäuse Bolzenhalterung Kunststoffkoffer mit Band Kunststoffgehäuse mit Fase Glaskasten Dioden sind in Vorwärtsrichtung vorgespannt, wenn sie einen Stromfluss zulassen. Wenn sie in Rückwärtsrichtung vorgespannt sind, können keine Ströme fließen und wirken als Isolator. . Ein Pfeilpfeil des Diodenschaltbilds zeigt gegen die Richtung des Elektronenflusses. Die an die Anode angelegte Spannung ist in Bezug auf die Kathode positiv. Außerdem ist die Spannung in der Diode höher als die Schwellenspannung, so dass sie als Kurzschluss wirkt und Strom fließen lässt. Wenn die Kathode in Bezug auf die Anode positiv gemacht wird, ist die Diode in Sperrrichtung vorgespannt. Es wird dann als offener Stromkreis wirken; Daher fließt kein Strom. Wofür werden Dioden verwendet? . Rückstromschutz Sperrdioden werden in einigen elektronischen Schaltkreisen zum Schutz verwendet, z. B. bei einem versehentlichen Problem mit der umgekehrten Verbindung: Anschließen einer Gleichstromversorgung falsch Polaritäten umkehren Da der Stromfluss in die falsche Richtung andere Schaltungskomponenten beschädigen kann. Einfacher Spannungsregler Spannungsregler werden verwendet, um die Eingangsspannung auf das erforderliche Niveau zu senken und sie trotz Schwankungen in der Versorgung stabil zu halten. Sie können auch die Ausgangsspannungen regeln. Zenerdioden werden normalerweise als Spannungsregler verwendet, da sie für den Betrieb in umgekehrter Vorspannung ausgelegt sind, sich aber auch in Vorwärtsvorspannung wie normale Signaldioden verhalten.

Airbrush Troubleshooting Airbrushing comes with some inherent issues, these problems and troubleshooting them vary and can be experienced at any time no matter how experienced the user, here are a few. Bubbling in the gravity cup or suction bottle. ​ Can be caused by air pressure entering the paint reservoir. There are several reasons, most common are. ​ An air leak in the air cap or nozzle area. Solution – Tighten the loose Air Cap or Head. ​ Needle tip dry is dry and has blocked the nozzle. Solution - Clean or Replace the Tip Dry or Blocked Nozzle. ​ The air cap or head is loose. Solution – Replace worn or damaged nozzle seal. ​ The airbrush nozzle has a split. Solution – Replace the Split Nozzle. The spray pattern is off-centre . ​ Normally caused by a bent needle tip. The paint or fluid exits the airbrush and follows the bend on the tip of the needle. ​ Straighten the Needle Tip – This can be achieved with a flat sharpening stone or two pieces of 1” x 2” wood. I use a SharpenAir , which is a hand-held device designed specifically for repairing bent and damaged airbrush fluid needles. ​ Replace the Needle. Airbrush does not spray paint. ​ There are a few that can cause this, the most common are. A blocked nozzle often caused by poor cleaning. The solution for a Blocked Nozzle is to soak and clean the nozzle. ​ For a loose needle chucking nut when the needle is not moving with the trigger action. Solution - Check and tighten the needle chucking or locking the nut. ​ The paint consistency is too thick. Solution - Thin paint with appropriate thinner, reducer, water to a milky consistency. ​ Inappropriate low air pressure. Sometimes the paint can be slightly too thick, and the pressure is too low to atomize. Increase the air pressure accordingly. Airbrush sprays paint when the trigger is depressed for air. Caused because the needle is not sitting flush inside the nozzle or you have the wrong nozzle attached for the size of the needle. Otherwise, if the airbrush only sprays a blob of paint when the trigger is depressed then follow the Air On – Air Off method - first depress the trigger, then pull the trigger back for paint flow and then after spraying return the trigger forward before releasing the trigger/airflow. Shutting the paint flow off before the airflow will spray any residue paint off the tip of the needle. ​ Unscrew the needle locking nut. ​ Gradually push the needle forward until it rests inside the nozzle. ​ Tighten the needle-locking nut. Air pressure remains on when the trigger is released. Often due to many several reasons, like residue paint or solvents entering the air valve and affecting the air valve seal to swell or become sticky. A slack air valve closure or guide screw will not compress the air valve spring enough to fully return and shut off airflow. Disassemble internal air valve components and lubricate with airbrush lube and re-assemble. ​ Replace air valve seals if they appear eroded by solvents. ​ Tightening the air valve closure or guide screw will compress the air valve spring and shut off airflow. Poor spray or splattering of paint. There are several reasons, ranging from. Paint consistency. Solution - Reduce to a milky consistency. ​ Low air pressure. Increase air pressure until paint atomizes. ​ Damaged needle. Replace needle or repair using the SharpenAir device. ​ Tip dry or a partially blocked nozzle. Remove the needle and clean with a Q-Tip or cloth dampened using an airbrush cleaner (always wipe away, airbrush needles are very sharp). ​ Residue paint build-up in the needle cap, nozzle, or air cap. Clean and replace if indicated. Spray Spidering. Often caused if the paint has been over-thinned. Solution 1 - Add paint to the mix or reduce air pressure. ​ Solution 2 - Do not draw the trigger back so far or increase the distance from the surface. ​ Also, caused by spraying the paint too heavily on a non-porous surface. Solution - having the air pressure too high. Solution - Add paint to the mix or reduce air pressure.

Bracketing Shots Bracketing One of the most useful techniques in photography is called bracketing, in other words, taking multiple photos of the same subject with different camera settings. Normally, bracketing is about changing your exposure: one photo at the meter’s recommendation, plus one under and one over. But exposure is not the only variable at play here. ​ Why Bracket Photos? Bracketing means you capture a sequence of photos while changing your camera settings from shot to shot. This means you end up with two or more photos of the same scene, with only a couple of differences in each shot. ​ Exposure bracketing is the most common kind of bracketing in photography, will usually ending up with one photo that is too dark, one that is too bright, and one with a correct exposure. But bracketing the focus distance will resulting in one photo that is front-focused, another that is back-focused, and one that is accurate. Some people consider bracketing takes up memory and wastes time. Especially if one knows what settings needed for an image, so, why bracket shots? There are two important reasons why bracketing is beneficial in photography. ​ 1. Playing it Safe Firstly, no matter how experienced a photographer the camera settings may be wrong. The three planned exposures, an overexposed, an underexposed, and one correct exposure will not always materialise that way. In their place, one may be extremely underexposed, another significantly underexposed photo, and another that is correct. ​ It is difficult to perfectly judge exposure in the field, especially in high-contrast light or other problematic conditions. Bracketing is a way to reduce potential problems by taking safeguards against common errors people generally make. Particularly for important potential one-time shots, it is a low-risk, high-reward procedure. ​ 2. Merging Photos Sometimes, bracketing is the only way to capture the photo required. For example, if shooting an ultra-high-contrast scene, one photo may not achieve the required results. A single image at normal exposure will lead to highlights that are too bright, and resulting in dark, noisy shadows. Occasionally this sort of problem can be rectified using a graduated ND (neutral density) filter, but the more practical option is to do things digitally. Take an underexposed photo so the highlights look good, plus an overexposed photo so the shadows are right. Then, combine the best parts of each photo into an HDR or luminosity blend. ​ Of course, one can go beyond a two-photo blend, by using three photos. For my part, I do not like blending exposures with more than 2/3 stop of exposure between them because the transition areas can look grainy. How to Do Exposure Bracketing The actual process of exposure bracketing is easy. In any semi-automatic mode, change your exposure compensation from shot to shot. In manual mode, change any of the three settings manually: aperture, shutter speed, or ISO. ​ Most decent cameras today allow the setup of automatic bracketing within the menu. When enabled, the camera will automatically change settings from shot to shot rather than making manual modifications. Some cameras only allow exposure bracketing, while others have bracketing options for JPEG settings, white balance, and other camera settings. Although bracketing is found in the menu, most modern cameras frequently assign a custom button to access this option quicker, while others have a specific bracketing button. ​ Which Exposure Setting Should You Bracket? Earlier, I stated that it is important to choose your bracketing setting carefully. Even though you can bracket shutter speed, aperture, and ISO just as easily as one another. ​ Aperture - since aperture affects depth of field it can be the worst setting to bracket. Creating an HDR from f/4 - f/5.6 - f/8 will result in an odd image, with unnatural transitions having blurry to sharp regions looking odd. A five-image bracket can be worse. ​ ISO – neither is adjusting the ISO setting, since each shot at different ISO settings will have distinctive levels of image quality. Anyway, an HDR shot at ISO 400, 800, and 1600 will not be improved over a single ISO 400 image. ​ Shutter Speed - the exposure setting is the setting one considers adjusting first. Especially if shooting from a tripod, and the subject is not moving. However, in scenes with quickly moving subjects and the potential for motion blur, the flexibility of bracketing shutter speed is limited. In action shots, ISO is often the better choice. Focus Bracketing ​ Focus bracketing is easier than exposure bracketing since there is only one setting under consideration: focus distance. Here, the goal comprises of focus stacking the images in post-processing later, like a group photo where everyone needs to be sharp but is unsure where to focus for the best result. Focus bracketing works best when overlapping the depth of field from shot to shot. But, if the steps are too wide, you can end up with an odd: sharp, blurry, sharp, blurry, sharp, etc. ​ So, when bracketing focus manually, take photos with smaller focus increments, and if possible review each photo afterward to check that the transitions are smooth. However, previews on a camera’s rear LCD look different than full-size images on a high-resolution monitor. ​ These days, many cameras today have a built-in focus stack feature to simplify this process. Focus on your nearest subject, tell the camera how many photos to take, and select a step size. I still recommend selecting lower increments than one might expect. It is also a good idea to test these features beforehand so you know how to use them correctly. ​ In theory, bracketing can refer to pretty much any variable in photography. You can bracket white balance, JPEG settings, long exposure noise reduction, flash settings, focal length, and much more. ​ If unsure what depth of field required, it is worth bracketing the aperture. Or, for a Milky Way photograph, consider using different ISO and shutter speed settings to obtain the best combination of noise performance and minimal star trails.

Hard Drives (HDD) A hard disk drive (HDD) is a storage device used for storing and retrieving digital information (data) HDD retains their data even when powered off, unlike memory RAMs. ​ There are three types of hard drives: SATA , SSD, and NVMe . ​ In 2003, SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) was introduced as the default interface for most desktop and laptop hard drives and referred to as SATA hard drives, but they are rotary hard drives with spinning platters coated with a magnetic material, with a moving needle that writes data to consecutive sectors on each platter. ​ Most computer HDDs are fitted into an internal drive bay in the computer and connect to the motherboard using a SATA cable. ​ HDDs can also be used as external devices these are reasonable as backup drives reducing the risk of data loss if the HDD fails. ​ The two most common form factors for modern HDDs are 3.5-inch for desktop computers and 2.5-inch for laptops. ​ A single drive can range from 80 GB to 16 TB and are reliable drives if you need a lot of cheap storage and do not need extremely high reads or writes. Since data is physically written to a disk, deleted, and re-written numerous times, it can become fragmented, meaning that different sectors can be spread across different areas of the disk, thereby slowing down the drive. HDDs also are vulnerable to shock or sudden movement since there are moving parts in each drive, which makes them a poor choice for laptops. Pros: Low cost. High disk sizes. Cons: Not good for laptops. Requires regular de-fragmentation. SSD stands for Solid State Drive , SSDs do not have moving parts. Instead, the data is stored on non-volatile flash memory. So, there is no needle that must move to read or write data, and this makes them significantly faster than SATA drives. It is difficult to define exact speeds because it varies by manufacturer and form factor, but the lower-performing drives are comparable to SATA drives. ​ The disadvantage is that they are significantly more expensive and do not come in as many sizes. SSD drives generally range from about 80GB to 2 TB. Since there are no moving parts, these drives are also more durable, and there are form factors built specifically for laptops, making them ideal for storage on the go. But they are still prone to failure. Pros: Fast More durable, especially for laptops Cons: More expensive than SATA drives Lower disk sizes Non-Volatile Memory Express, or NVMe Released in 2013, is a type of SSD that is attached to a motherboard fitted with a PCI Express (PCIe) slot. Incredibly fast, PCIe slots were originally designed for graphics cards. Speeds on NVMe drives can reach an interface rate of 32 Gb/s with a throughput of 3.9 GB/s, useful if gaming or high-resolution video editing. ​ Most older BIOS do not support booting from NVMe, so installing an Operating System on an NVMe, a motherboard upgrade may be required. Having worked for a major IT company and saw the distress on customers' faces when their HDDs failed and they lost their data, I always recommend the Cloud Storage option for important data or photographs. Data recovery on failed drives is awfully expensive and not guaranteed. ​ ​ ​ Protect your data, if you scrap an old computer DO NOT throw away your HDDs as they can be connected to your new computer using a USB adapter. Also, the important data stored on them can be retrieved by a second or third party, meaning they could have access to ALL your personal information, including passwords and bank details, so BEWARE! Dealing with HDD Error messages and issues

Greece Out of gallery

Operating Systems An operating system (OS) is the system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. Most computer programs require an operating system to function. Since the early days of Windows 3.0 and 3.1, operating systems for home or business users have evolved into more reliable and complex operating systems capable of undertaking countless tasks. Even so, most operating systems and software programs are upgraded rather than rewritten from the ground up. This lack of commitment and foresight limits operating systems development. What we see in science fiction (SciFi) films is not commonplace in our homes. Yet we have the technology and skills to push operating systems into that age, where: ​ ​ Walls become displays in every room. Desktop computers are integrated systems that communicate with our home and business devices, such as store cupboards, fridges, entertainment, lighting, heating, and security. Voice recognition and instant language translation are commonplace. Contact lenses become the new interfaces and remove the need for mobile phones, tablets, or laptops. ​ The four most common operating systems are: ​ Microsoft Windows Apple’s macOS Linux (Although this is not a commonly used OS for PC manufacturers) Android ​ Methods to identify an OS ​ If you do not know what version of Windows being used, press the Windows key at the bottom of the keyboard, which looks like four squares and the R key at the same time to open the Run dialog box, then, Type in ‘ winver ’, then click Okay . A window should open called About Windows that tells you which operating system you are using. ​ Open the Start menu by clicking the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. If you see a search text box, select it, and then type about or about your pc . If you do not see a search text box, then just start typing about or about your pc . Select About your PC.

Potting and Growing Orchids Most vandaceous orchids, a few Phaleanopsis, and Dendrobiums can be grown easily in wooden slatted baskets, without any compost at all, this method requires frequent watering. ​ Cattleya and Cymbidiums do well in a mix of bark chippings, perlite, and charcoal to keep the mixture sweet. ​ Oncidiums , Dendrobiums , Odontoglossums , and Catlias will also be happy in this mixture. Consider the thickness of the chosen orchid roots when deciding to use large, medium, or small bark chippings. ​ Paphiopedilums and Phragmipediums prefer a mixture of Rockwool, bark foam, sphagnum moss, and perlite. ​ Vanda’s and many other species can be placed in a wooden open basket and allow their roots to grow openly in the air – this method requires constant attention to watering and spraying for humidity. ​ Rainwater is the best option; otherwise, endeavour to use water produced by reverse osmosis systems unless you are extremely sure about the quality of your local water supply. Spring and summer ​ I spray my Vanda’s on a daily basis and in the hot summer months (yes I know it’s the UK, but I live in Cornwall), remember these roots are airborne. ​ My potted orchids are plunged in a bucket of water for at least 30 minutes once a week – if the weather is cooler every two weeks will be fine. ​ The pseudobulbs post-winter will be wrinkled and as spring approaches and you start watering the orchids on a more regular basis they will fill out. Start feeding in the new-year and continue every couple of months. Die meisten vandaceous Orchideen, einige Phaleanopsis und Dendrobiums können leicht in Holzlattenkörben ohne Kompost gezüchtet werden. Diese Methode erfordert häufiges Gießen. . Cattleya und Cymbidiums eignen sich gut für eine Mischung aus Rindenschnitzeln, Perlit und Holzkohle, um die Mischung süß zu halten. Oncidiums, Dendrobiums, Odontoglossums und Catasetums werden sich ebenfalls über diese Mischung freuen. Berücksichtigen Sie die Dicke der ausgewählten Orchideenwurzeln, wenn Sie sich für große, mittlere oder kleine Rindenschnitzel entscheiden. . Paphiopedilums und Phragmipediums bevorzugen eine Mischung aus Steinwolle, Rindenschaum, Sphagnummoos und Perlit. Vandas und viele andere Arten können in einen offenen Holzkorb gelegt werden und lassen ihre Wurzeln offen in der Luft wachsen - diese Methode erfordert ständige Aufmerksamkeit für das Gießen und Sprühen auf Feuchtigkeit. . Regenwasser ist die beste Option; Andernfalls bemühen Sie sich, Wasser zu verwenden, das von Umkehrosmoseanlagen erzeugt wird, es sei denn, Sie sind sich über die Qualität Ihrer örtlichen Wasserversorgung äußerst sicher. . Frühling und Sommer . Ich sprühe meine Vanda täglich und denke in den heißen Sommermonaten (ja, ich weiß, dass es Großbritannien ist, aber ich lebe in Cornwall) daran, dass diese Wurzeln in der Luft liegen. . Meine eingetopften Orchideen werden einmal pro Woche mindestens 30 Minuten lang in einen Eimer Wasser getaucht - wenn das Wetter alle zwei Wochen kühler ist, ist das in Ordnung. . Die Pseudobulben nach dem Winter werden faltig und wenn sich der Frühling nähert und Sie die Orchideen regelmäßig gießen, füllen sie sich aus. Beginnen Sie im neuen Jahr mit der Fütterung und fahren Sie alle paar Monate fort. . Herbst bis Winter . Vandas werden gewässert, wenn die Wurzeln weiß erscheinen; Wenn Sie gießen, ändern sie ihre Farbe in hellgrün - Wasser jeden zweiten Tag, aber sprühen Sie täglich. . Topfpflanzen gießen sparsam, ich gieße meine im Winter alle paar Monate, da die Pseudobulben die Orchidee in Ordnung halten. . NIEMALS über Wasser - stellen Sie sicher, dass die Wurzeln trocken sind, nicht die Rinde oder der Boden.