Guide

In optical systems, a mirror plays an important role. It is responsible in redirecting light with the purpose of making an optical system more compact. Optical mirror is quite different from household mirror. Basically, optical mirrors are used I applications where a front-surface mirror is needed. This is because the reflective surface is subject to degradation of the environment even though it is normally placed in an environment that is not exposed to harsh conditions.  Hence, providing a durable front-surface mirror, which is clean and stable is one of the essential and crucial part of a mirror technology. 

Metal Mirror Coatings

If you are looking for the most common and yet the simplest form of mirror coating, then metal mirror coatings are certainly the best deal. Technically speaking, what makes a great reflector for the visible spectrum is a 100-nm layer of silver or aluminum. Silver has the ability to reflect about 95 percent of the light across the visible spectrum while aluminum has the ability to reflect 90 percent only. According to experts, silver is considered to be the most reflective visible spectrum. However, Aluminum is usually used in the application of astronomical telescope mirrors, UV applications and others compared to silver. 

Other metals like gold and copper are also useful in the IR spectral regions. Generally, shiny metals would suffice situations that have higher durability. 

Aluminum is considered to be stable as a mirror but what quickly tarnishes is silver. 

All-dielectric mirror coatings

Another coatings for mirror are the dielectric mirror coatings. Mirrors can also be created through depositing a stack of alternate high-and-low index dielectric layers on a glass substrate. If you want to create a mirror for a given light wavelength, the thickness of every layer is selected in order for the product of the thickness and the index of refraction of the layer is supported. 

But overall, aluminum and silver are the most common mirror coatings used in different applications. Aluminum has properties that make it one of the most ferrous metals that can be utilized in an array of applications. While aluminum can be weak in its pure form, the process of chemical treating and alloying drastically increase its strength. Aluminum mirrors are commonly used in applications such as optics, aerospace, defense and medicine. 

On the other hand, silver mirror coatings are considered ti be low cost substitute for aluminum. It has properties that provide advantage in heat absorption, tensile strength, conductivity and corrosion resistance. This is the reason why silver is also considered as an excellent metal to use for plating and a good alternative for gold plating. For more information, you can visit https://www.evaporatedcoatings.com/optical-mirror-coatings/ to learn more about optical mirror coating. Knowing the best optical mirror coating will certainly help you to use the right materials and component. So whatever application you are working on, whether it is medicine, optics, aeronautics and others, choosing and using the right mirror coating will help you be successful on it.

If you aspire to be a firefighter it is really important that you keep in mind the fact that it is going to be really difficult. Being a firefighter is not about the fire fighting gear or wearing the best wildland firefighting boots. There are tons of things that you should keep in mind as you start with the process of becoming a firefighter. In this article, we are going to take a look at the most important things that you need to keep in mind as you begin your journey.

• In order to prepare yourself as a firefighter, it is really important that you pass the EMT exam. As most of the firefighting departments are looking for candidates that have some medical experience with them so that it would save them some time with the training process.  Moreover, as a firefighter, this knowledge is really vital and essential for any firefighter to work efficiently.  This is why if you are interested in becoming a firefighter you should learn more about EMT as soon as possible.

• It is also important that you volunteer to community services as firefighting departments are interested in choosing candidates that are motivated and are interesting in working for their community. If possible, you can also volunteer for programs that will improve your skills and knowledge as a future firefighter. This is where you will find the American Red Cross a really credible source.
• This organization is always looking for volunteers and CPR instructors. This way not only you do community service but you also learn and gain more experience in this field.
• If you are serious about becoming a firefighter it is recommended that you take fire technology classes so that you can learn more about the firefighting duties, injury factors, and factors that are responsible for a line of duty deaths.
• This is not essential, but these classes are going to improve your knowledge and experience with firefighting significantly. Moreover, this will show your commitment and dedication to this field.
• As you apply as a candidate, it is really important that you maintain a clean track record. Along with your resume, the firefighting departments are going to take a look at the previous records, for instance, your accidents, anger management issues, arrests, traffic tickets, etc.

• All these will significantly affect your position during the interview.
• Now that you are ready with the basics, you should begin by learning more about the firefighting hiring process and the different stages it has. For that, you can get in touch with your local fire authorities as the selection process changes with regions.
• It is important that you get yourself familiarize with this process so that you can prepare yourself accordingly.
• Thereafter, you can start with the firefighting tests that are available online. This way you will be able to hone your skills and gain more experience quickly. There are various online websites that are offering you free online tests as well. Besides that, you can also participate in the firefighting tests that are organized by different departments as well.

These are the most important things that you need to keep in mind as you aspire on becoming a firefighter.

When I was growing up my sisters and I used to swim competitively. Every summer we would swim for the Elks Club against other local swim teams and little did I know that I would later enjoy it just as much as I did when I was a kid. As I got older and settled into a desk job, the weight started creeping on. I knew I had to start exercising, so I joined a gym. A few years ago, I moved to be closer to my job and found an apartment with some great amenities. It has a workout room with a treadmill, a weight lifting machine, stationary bike and a stair stepper.

The apartment complex also has two pools which I thought was great. So, I started going down to the pool before work to get in a good swim workout and sometimes in the evening. I thought, well, why I am paying for a gym membership, when during the summer I can just swim and save myself some money.

So last year, I was thinking of some ways to save money and that’s when it hit me. I could stop my gym membership that was around $45 a month for about 4 months and just utilize the fitness room and the pool at my apartment. I saved about $180.00, not bad huh? We all know that with the economy the way it is, I think we are all looking for a few ways to save a little money here and there and this is a great way. Now if you don’t live in an apartment complex or have a pool in your backyard, it might be a little tough. Maybe you have a friend or know someone that has a pool or lives in an apartment and you could go workout with them. Let them know they could save a little money too and you might just move right on up on their friend’s list.

We all know swimming is a great exercise and it burns tons of calories. What more could you want, when you are either trying to lose weight or stay in shape? One important fact that Bucknell University states is the resistance water offers you versus working out on land. The water offers 12%-14% more resistance than when you exercise on land. Even if you don’t like to swimming laps, you can walk laps in the water or tread water, both burn a lot of calories. With that being said, swimming is great for everyone, from the elderly, to the obese, to the athlete and everyone in between. I love it so much that sometimes I forget I am actually exercising and let me tell you from experience, you will never be consistent if you hate what you are doing. So this summer, maybe try to cut your expenses and go for a swim. You can whittle your waist while you save some money!

One thing I’m always contemplating when beginning a new website project is whether a turnkey script is the best solution in starting out. I mean, the fact that there are so many other website’s out there operating off of the same exact script kind of deters me a bit. But starting a turnkey site can have its benefits though.

Let’s face it, we all don’t have thousands of dollars to shed out for a custom website script. We all know this and face this each and every day, especially the small business owners. So what do we have to rely on until enough income is generated to have such a custom script made? Turnkey scripts is the answer.  

What exactly is a turnkey script? Its nothing more then a website script designed to operate on auto-pilot for the most part. Or at least this is what I was taught the definition of it was. No matter how you look at it, its just software that you can setup and be on your way.

Let me give you an example. Have you ever wanted to start up an auction site so you can make a little bit of additional income? Surely you couldn’t compete with eBay and I don’t say this to discourage you. But no matter the cause, in my opinion, there is one script out there that is the elite amongst other auction software. Its called PHP Pro Bid and although it runs around $215.00USD for a license (as of the writing of this article) – it is feature packed.

Now I won’t go into details about it because I don’t want to turn this into a promotional article. But none-the-less, with the many features it has, it is an absolute “set it and forget it” software.

But if its one piece of input I can apply to this article before going any further, I wouldn’t suggest using a turnkey script should you start gaining credibility. That is why I’m going to make the suggestion here that when you start profiting and your serious about taking your “turnkey site” big, use some of those funds to pay for a custom script.

It’ll cost a bit but in the end, you’ll have a much more stable system to rely on in the form of a custom script.

But back to the original topic. The main question is why start off with a turnkey script? Simply because it allows you the ability to see whether you can be successful or not without investing thousands into a custom script that won’t be used. Some people use turnkey scripts to simply setup a website and make a small monthly profit from it.

That’s good and all but no matter what the case need be, some work is required. Don’t let others fool you with saying that a turnkey script is a FULLY set it and forget it script. Every website should have some kind of work needed to be done to it or some kind of operations management.

So the bottom line comes down to whether I believe a turnkey script is really worth it? The answer to that is whatever you respond. I cannot give you a definite answer as in the end, its totally what you believe. If you are working on a budget to begin a new project that you feel will be huge in the future, then maybe a turnkey script for you.

But alternatively, if you have a few thousand dollars to spend on a custom script, then this is your best course of action. No matter what you do, your business is your business. Your opinion is the only one that counts and therefore you should ask yourself the question with the above facts in mind.

I recently wrote a piece drawing into question this product I’d seen advertised called the SpineDok. I drew it into question against the backdrop of my dad’s history of back problems and in a surprisingly bold move, the manufacturer struck back! There was an answer from the depths! They challenged my questions with a question of their own; will your dad try this product and give us his honest opinion? When I conferred with my dad he acquiesced; saying that while back problems had plagued him in the past, he wasn’t nearly as in pain now as he was then. However his wife, Lea, (not my mother but a lovely lady) had horrendous back pain; pain which he felt needed to be probed further. He allowed that they would both use the SpineDok and give back a full report.

That was two months ago; it has been as long that they’ve had the SpineDok. Here is their individual analysis.

My dad: My dad is a pretty physical guy. The son of a coach and gym teacher, inactivity and immobility don’t sit too well with him. Even when he’s got one thing he’s focused in on, he’s usually got a couple of other pots simmering. So activity is a way of life for him. When he first heard about my SpineDok encounter he assured me that his days of intensely ailing back were long since past him. He had lived on a strict regimen of ice, ibuprofen, and mind-over-matter self-healing which was on par with Jedi for some years though.

My dad’s back pains go as far as “occasionally sore” for periods of exertion. His analysis of the SpineDok was instructive to one end. He said that his experience on the SpineDok was that it was not at all painful to use; not painful to get on or get off. He also said that the relief allowed on the occasions that he did use it were well received and he said he would qualify this as “a useful tool” for someone with mild and occasional back pain. He was particularly satisfied with the way the arch of his back was extended following use of the SpineDok.

Lea: Remember, Lea has very bad back pain. Her experience with the SpineDok is particularly useful in another direction. When I fist spoke to Lea about the SpineDok she was rather hopeful and interested, though she did hedge her bets for any undue disappointment. Lea has “always had back issues,” and this is something which has followed her around always. My contact from SpineDok, Tomas, even said to me that while he believes in the utility of the product, “nothing is an end all cure for any kind of pain (and) many people struggle with tight back muscles.” Lea said of the SpineDok that “getting on it and getting off it really hurt.” She was the principal user of the SpineDok and used it exclusively for the duration of her treatment. She said that the unit “Stretched out her back uncomfortably.” However she did make a point to continue on with the trial because she said she would.

Her experience went that for the, “first 10 days (she) had the same issues with getting on and getting off of the SpineDok.” However she did note that after using it, later on in the day, she “began to feel some relief after the fact.” Her use after the first two weeks or so was infrequent just due to the pain. So while this is an encouraging note for someone who is going to use the SpineDok “every single day with continued use,” the pain eventually was too much to combat the relief that the SpineDok did bring.

This is good because Lea said this experience indicated to her that she needed more help. She told me that she has never had an MRI but she’s pretty sure she’s got a bulging disc. I am almost positive that the SpineDok is no substation for surgery; not do they claim to be. Lea has the lifelong problems of a bulging disc; Tomas from SpineDok even said, “Nothing is an end all cure for any kind of pain.”

So I think in the end the SpineDok may do many people an extraordinary amount of good. If you have mild to moderate back pain which comes and goes and you’re trying to find an alternative to a regimen of ice and ibuprofen, the SpineDok may offer you some relief. Moreover, if you use the SpineDok and find no relief; this is a glaring signal that you need to see a specialist. There is nothing worse than letting serious problems linger on too long before permanent damage is done. So to the makers of the SpineDok, I retract my initial suspicions though I am thrilled at your bold response to them.

I am glad that this event took place and can only hope that others are able to find the relief that they need for their ailing back. If the SpineDok can be a part of that program, all the better!