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The Watershed Hotel, Sydney

May 16th, 2013

When I first stepped into the Watershed, I immediately stepped out after I had purchased my drinks because the place to be in the Watershed is actually at the outdoor seating. With its harbour views and diverse atmosphere, the Watershed is definitely the place to be if you want a great evening.

The inside of the Watershed is fairly standard: there’s a bar, TV screens, and tables where people can talk and enjoy their drinks. The DJs spin fairly good music, and the bartenders are quick, efficient, and friendly. However, for a university student like me, a big no-no for any bar or nightclub is expensive drinks…and the Watershed’s drinks – while they are not as expensive as say, The Ivy – are not uni-student friendly. The bar does have a large selection though, and for beer fans: there’s Erdinger beer, which is always a plus.

One of the best things about the Watershed Hotel (and believe me, this is a strange thing) is the size of their bathrooms. Often in bars and nightclubs, the actual bar and dance-floor will be great, but the bathrooms are so small that it becomes impossible to avoid standing in the queue for a ridiculously long time. This isn’t a problem at The Watershed, with its large and clean bathrooms that are always spotlessly maintained. This goes for the rest of the place too: all of the tables are kept clean and floor staff will always collect your empty glasses quickly.

As for the crowd that goes there… it’s a fairly diverse range of people of all ages and all backgrounds, which makes it a great location to meet new and exciting people. Whether you go to the Watershed for a night of watching sport, or to dance and have a raging night, this location is flexible and caters to your needs, and you will always be able to find someone else that has the same interests as you or who you get along with. It’s also a fairly great place to take a potential date for a drink or two, as the waterfront views allow for a romantic and lovely evening.

So regardless of what you’re looking for in a night, you will probably be able to find it at the Watershed Hotel. Just remember to bring a lot of money if you’re there for drinks, because the chances are… you will need it.

Can We Conserve Our Forests?

May 13th, 2013

Forests are mostly celebrated for their timber, fodder, fuel wood and other non-timber forest products that they provide. What is not universally appreciated is just how much forests contribute to crucial ecosystem services.

Forests are indispensable as far as protecting watersheds that are upstream and separating carbon from the atmosphere is concerned. And they must continue intact in order to conserve gene pools and guarantee biodiversity so that future generations will be able to enjoy nature’s bounty and beauty.

Forest environmental services include nutrient recycling, the regulation of the climate and the water cycle, soil formation, and plant pollination.

There is an ever growing demand for the goods that forests provide mankind. That’s quite obvious. What’s not as obvious or as widely recognized is that there is an increased need for the services that forests provide to our ecosystem.

One of the reasons is that society at large has not assigned any financial terms or financial measures to these values. As a result, forest environmental services are usually not included in our national GDP (Gross National Product) statistics. In addition, there are not many established, well developed markets for such services.

Luckily, things are beginning to change.

Our culture is becoming more aware of how we really need to pay more than lip service to these services. Many people are beginning to realize that we need to place a value on these services in order to make better decisions involving land use changes in our nation’s forests.

As a result, decisions will be based on the true long term values that our forests offer instead of just the potential short term profits from the tangible goods that they provide.

In addition, there’s an urgent need to cultivate the appropriate mechanisms, which may or may not be market based, that will facilitate the standardization of these approaches. What has to be done is to formulate a methodology that will offer direct incentives to institutions and communities that actively protect our forests and provide these services.

Amply demonstrating the entire range of the ecosystem and the potential economic benefits are only part of the equation.

Another part is discerning applicable methods to equitably capture the aforementioned values and benefits that our forests provide over the long term. Once this is accomplished various incentives for the private sector, local and national governments, and local communities that focus on promoting sustainable forest management can then be put into place.

It is of the utmost importance that responsible citizens who are truly interested in conserving what our forests have to offer are the people who are given the responsibility for formulating these criteria. That’s because, as has been proven time and time again, economic instruments can be designed to either benefit or to undermine conservation efforts.

Rapid Prototyping Shows Growth In Medical Industry

May 8th, 2013

The Medical Industry is by far the biggest adapter of Additive Manufacturing technology, with the Medical Industry accounting for some 15% of all Rapid Prototyping in 2009. From novel to potentially life saving applications, the Medical Industry will continue as a strong growth sector for Rapid Prototyping as researchers work to uncover new applications and refine existing technologies.

Traditionally a tool of the design verification stage, with early material limitations resulting in brittle, photo-sensitive prototype models. These material limitations meant early prototype models were predominantly used for visual design aids and marketing activities, with limited functionality. As the range of materials available for Additive Manufacturing has increased so too has the range of applications for this technology. Designers can now choose materials that closely simulate production plastics, allowing for fit, form and functional testing. Medical Device designers can find likely production issues before committing to expensive production tooling.

A London-based, Ultrasound Clinic became one of the first UK companies to adapt a their clients the opportunity to buy a 3D printed model of their unborn baby. Doctors at the clinic are also investigating the potential for using 3D ultrasound imaging combined with 3D printing as a tool for the early diagnosis of developmental problems and illness with the aim of improving survival rates for sick babies.

Orthopaedic firms too have seen the potential of Rapid Prototyping, with orthopaedic design engineers such as Orchid design integrating 3D printing into the design process to verify design and to prevent costly design errors. Newcastle based Peacocks Medical have taken this one step further, by integrating Selective Laser Sintering into their production process. Using SLS it is possible for Peacocks Medical to create “perfect fit” prosthetics for their clients.

While orthopaedic and prosthetic applications of this technology have proven positive, the true potential of Rapid Prototyping lies within the field of bio-printers. Researchers are working on 3D printing machines, capable of printing human skin, blood and organs. If successful the To date this research has shown positive results, however it is not likely that we will see 3D printers in local hospitals just yet. For burns victims and transplant patients, bio printers hold the potential for life saving treatments.

Rapid Prototyping now offers USP Grade VI and ISO 13485 approved materials which has further strengthened the role of Rapid Prototyping within the Medical industry. Stereolithography material Watershed is suitable for use in preclinical trials while Electron Beam Melting and Direct Metal Laser Sintering have proven popular as a manufacturing process for customised orthopaedic implants. With ongoing investment in materials and research into the field of bio-printing it is likely that the next few years will see further changes in how Rapid Prototyping technologies applies to the Medical Industry.

Fishing in Alaskan Seawaters

May 5th, 2013

Apart from some definite fun that you are going to have in Alaska, fishing is no doubt among the most enjoyable activity that one can go for when he or she is in Alaska. It is also a very relaxing activity. So if you are wondering whether fishing in Alaska is different from other regions then perhaps you are right. It offers you giant halibut in the middle of the water and salmons just before the coast line. In addition to it, the beautiful scenery that you witness there is simply breathtaking. You will not refuse to go back, once you are there.

The climate of Alaska is basically divided into two categories, which are winters, when everything is cooler and summers when everything is moist. Snowy winters are there but they are not as cold as they sound. If you are wondering if weather plays any role in Alaskan fishing then the answer is yes. The salmons usually return to streams of Alaska when the halibut moves in near the shore when the summers arrive. In some cases, there are varieties of shrimps and crabs that you can see in that area.

South central part of Alaska is among the most populated areas of the states and is also a very popular hot spot. You will see salmons running in the flood of great rivers and coastal waters. Meanwhile, halibut can be caught along the coast just like many other fishes that are present in those waters. There are some other varieties of fishes like Dolly Virden, pike, grayling and whitefish that are in the watersheds for the entire duration of the year.

The lakes, oceans as well as the rivers of Alaska are full of many different varieties including halibut, rainbow trout, salmon and char etc. This state is also a home to five species of Pacific salmons. Alaska also holds the record for King salmon fishes.

Fishing is an enough reason for this state to attract people from all over the world. The different varieties of fishes that can be caught here are more than enough reasons why it is a very ideal location for the fishing enthusiasts. Salmon and halibut are among the two most popular fishes thriving in this place. This is one of the major reasons why Alaska has been attracting a lot of fisherman.

Fishing in Alaska is almost a perfect activity if you are looking for some real fun and excitement when you are on a vacation. You can enjoy Alaskan fishing all around the year and there is simply no reason why you should not indulge in it. This is also a recommended getaway since Alaska fishing can come with some special lodges or vacation packages.

If you are facing any problem or if you have any query in mind regarding Alaska fishing, then try to go through various forums and websites on Alaskan fishing. You are surely going to enjoy this experience.

California National Parks

May 2nd, 2013

There are around nine California national parks that are open for tourists to visit. The state is rich in natural resources and has a wide variety of geographical locations including deserts, forests, and volcanoes. The wonders of these parks are witnessed by the many visitors that go there each year. The National Park Service is the entity that handles the preservation of these national treasures, which not shows the historical and cultural experiences of Californians, but also an example of the natural wonders of the planet which can only be seen in the state.

Yosemite National Park

In 1880, it officially became an official park. Located in central California, it covers a vast area of the west Sierra Nevada mountain range and has a range of lakes, forests, and granite summits. Yosemite Valley is at the core of the park wherein ice age glaciers has turned into 3000 foot domes and strong waterfalls, among which are three of the world’s highest. The Merced River runs across the entire Valley. Exploring the park’s beautiful landscape is made easier by an extensive network of trails. There are giant sequoia trees which some are estimated to be approximately 30 centuries old.

Redwood National Park

Established in 1968, the park is where some of the world’s tallest trees can be found as well as the well known Redwood Creek watershed. The area is actually a combination of parks that include the Jedediah Smith Redwoods in the north down until the Prairie Creek Redwoods, Del Norte Coast Redwoods, and Redwood National Park in the south. These parks were given the status of International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site.

Death Valley National Park

It is the lowest, hottest, and driest park in the country which partly extends to neighboring state of Nevada. It consists a range of natural wonders including blistering desert, rock layers, snow-capped mountains, 3 million of acres of wilderness, and canyons, and is the lowest point in the entire North American continent at 282 feet or 86 miles below sea level.

Lassen Volcanic National Park

It is just around 100000 acres in size and features the world’s largest plug dome volcano, Lassen Peak. It is among the few places on the planet where all four types of volcanoes can be found. The park is located 200 miles from San Francisco, in a low-population, hilly place situated in the northern side of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is part of the Cascade Range that stretches all the way to British Columbia in the north.

California national parks offer travelers many opportunities for adventure with some of the most amazing natural wonders on earth that can only be seen in the Golden State.