Locks and Locksters

When you are hoping to maximize your travel security, one of the most obvious places to start is with buying a lock. But how secure are luggage locks? The disturbing truth is that luggage locks are terribly insecure.

What does the insecurity of these locks mean for your luggage security? How does that affect the protection of your property? In order to investigate these issues, we will have to venture deep into the terrifying truth about luggage locks.

What security do TSA locks offer your luggage?
TSA locks are not secure. The shackles can be cut by most low-quality diagonal cutting pliers, the lock cylinders can be picked open with very little skill, and the schematics for the master keys have been revealed to the public. If you are using a TSA lock, you are getting the illusion of security.

The biggest benefit to using TSA locks is that the TSA can open your bag without having to lock change service. This still might not keep your lock from being cut off, as many travelers report having TSA cut locks off regardless of having been TSA approved. But at least there is a chance that your insecure lock will not be broken open.

A TSA approved padlock is the next step up from a zip tie. It provides the same amount of initial security if you are worried about criminal tampering. However, a TSA lock can potentially be taken off and relocked on the bag, where a zip tie cannot be reattached once removed. With a TSA approved lock, after a lawful search, there is a chance that your luggage can maintain its same level of “security”.

1. The TSA Can Remove Any Luggage Lock Without Cause
If you are checking luggage, the TSA reserves the right to open your baggage by the means required to properly carry out the search. In case you have not received a “Notice Of Baggage Inspection” letter in your checked luggage, it reads as follows:

To Protect you and your fellow passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is required by law to inspect all checked baggage. As part of this process, some bags are opened and physically inspected. Your bag was among those selected for physical inspection.

During the inspection, your bag and its contents may have been searched for prohibited items. At the completion of the inspection, the contents were returned to your bag.

If the TSA security officer was unable to open our bag for inspection because it was locked, the officer may have been forced to break the locks on your bag. TSA sincerely regrets having to do this, however TSA is not liable for the damage to your locks resulting from this necessary security precaution.

The note goes on to suggest that the recipient of the inspection notice refer to www.tsa.gov to find “packing tips and suggestions on how to secure your baggage during your next trip…” Is it ironic for a note telling you what you just read to recommend that you use better security next time you fly? It may seem that way, but the spirit in which it is intended is that locks are not security, knowing what is going to get your bag flagged is the security you need for avoiding TSA attention.

2. Every Luggage Lock Can Be Opened
It is true that every lock can be picked, even locks that have not been picked yet can still be opened. Opening methods that travel security professionals use are almost always destructive. There is no lock that exists that can withstand every type destructive entry method given an unlimited amount of time with the lock.

Not even the best padlocks in existence can hold up to the highest level of pressure that can be applied to them. Do not expect that your security can keep out any law enforcement. Even though you may be hoping to avoid criminally minded baggage checkers, they are within their right to open your luggage at all costs.

Though there are documented cases where strong enough security has been enough to have TSA give up on trying to open it. I don’t fully understand the implications of security that has law enforcement give up, but I would not expect to be the exception to the rule that if the opening of your bag a legally sanctioned it will be carried out.

In terms of criminal threats without the full force of the law behind them, your locks can still be opened. However, when it comes to standard criminals you have to consider every aspect of luggage security and not just the security of your luggage locks.

3. No Luggage Lock Can Protect a Zipper
Any luggage lock that is placed to secure a zipper is completely useless. Anyone with a ballpoint pen can puncture the zipper track (aka teeth). This gives anyone access to the contents of your bag in seconds. Once a person has rooted around in your belongings, they can then move the zipper’s pull tab over the open teeth and reseal the bag without any sign of entry.

If you have an anti-puncture zipper, then your zipper is safe, but a lock can never protect the zipper. When you want a lock to matter at all, you have to use luggage that has hasps, not a zipper. Hasps are common on hard shell cases, which are intended to protect the contents of the luggage.

It is also unlikely that you will end up with a bag that has an anti-puncture zipper if you do not go out of your way to purchase one. This feature is not common, in spite of the fact that the method of entry is extremely popular for criminals all over the world.

4. Your Bag Undermines the Security of a Luggage Lock
Security is not the main concern for standard baggage manufactures. Unless the luggage has been designed with security in mind, the lock you place on it is not going to matter much at all. Besides zipper protection, you have to be concerned about more brash criminals that will not care about surreptitiously or even covertly open your bag.

A very common method of entry that criminals will use is to cut your bag. You made need something like a Pelican case. With a light slice from a sharp knife, a thief now has access to everything in your luggage. Unless your bag can resist cutting, having a lock on your bag is not going to truly protect the property inside.

Most likely your bag is always going to be easier to break than an incredibly strong lock. It does not make sense to have an extremely powerful lock if the case it is securing is itself insecure. Be aware of the level of protection provided by the bag before you make any investment in a lock.

5. Built-in Luggage Locks Are Not Secure
Built In Luggage Lock

This is a guiding principle more than a hard and fast rule, but it is important to think about the fact that almost any piece of luggage you buy is not going to have high-security locks. This might be something that the case claims, but you need to know better than to believe the advertising.

Even if the brand of security being used is not notorious for manufacturing subpar locks, it might still be something cheap and ineffective. A lot of times locks on cases and luggage will claim to be high-security, but they are just using a novel lock type. Such lock types that are used as built-in luggage locks include tubular locks, cruciform locks, and disk detainer locks.

If a lock is poorly made, it does not matter what kind of internal components it has. Poorly made locks are not secure. They break easier because of the lower quality metal, and that means they can be broken open easier. Mass production required to place them on luggage also lost home key very simple to the point where most of these locks can be opened with bypasses or improvised keys.

What is the best way to protect luggage?
As you may have learned from the article about protecting your beach bag, the best possible way to protect any luggage is to keep your eyes on it. This is not going to be possible at every point of your trip, especially if you have to check your bags. The important thing is to take advantage of the instances where you can watch over your property.

Your locks need to take as long to open without permission as the average time you will leave them unmonitored. As has already been established, flying in the United States will be the exception to this rule. Law enforcement will have too much time with your luggage, and they will have the authority to open the lock. But for deterring criminals, this type of security assessment is a must.

Final Thoughts
It doesn’t matter if you are in one of the most dangerous countries in the world, or you are sleeping over at a friends house in the next town over, when you have luggage, you will attract the attention of criminals. Luggage locks are not going to do much to protect your bag. You need to consider a lot more than just luggage locks.

SunJack USB Battery Charger for Rechargeable Batteries

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SunJack USB Battery Charger for Rechargeable AA/AAA Ni-Mh and Ni-Cd Batteries

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RECHARGES AA AND AA NI-MH/NI-CD BATTERIES from most USB power sources: US battery banks, most cellphone USB chargers and laptops. Works well with SunJack battery packs: SunJack 4000 mAh Fast-Charge Battery or SunJack 8000 mAh Quick-Charge Battery.
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Works great, though I use it with an Anker power bank rather than trying to have it live up to its name with my solar chargers, and packs away nicely to fit in with my battery operated things without hogging all of the space in the bag.

Another great thing about it is that batteries are charged individually rather than in pairs or completely full like some other compact chargers, With this one you can charge a single battery, or four of them, and mix AA and AAA cells. SunJack USB Battery Charger is just great.

The only bad thing about it, minus the constant input requirement that makes it useless for charging from a solar panel, is that it charges slower than any of my other chargers. It'd be nice if they were able to draw more power when it is available and speed up the charge time,

Denon DJ SC5000 Prime Review

It makes sense to give first impressions of this unit against the Pioneer DJ CDJ-2000NXS, which is the player the Denon DJ SC5000 is gunning for, and which is a comparison that will most clearly demonstrate how Denon DJ has gone about its attempt to usurp the sitting giant in the pro DJ booth.

So, we placed the Denon DJ SC5000 Prime alongside the latest Pioneer DJ media player (the CDJ-2000NXS2). Before even plugging it in, the most striking thing initially is the similarity, not the difference, between the units. Frankly, barring the brand name, the non-DJ would be hard pushed to spot anything.

They both have a big, raised platter. They both have a decent-sized screen, raised at the back (the Denon DJ’s screen is slightly bigger). They’re both black. They’re almost exactly the same size (the Denon unit appears wider, but it’s only because the raised section at the back is full-width, whereas the NXS2’s raised section is narrower; the Denon unit is also slightly higher at the back). And they both have those slightly kitsch, oversized silver feet, that in modern media players don’t actually do an awful lot apart from – presumably – nod to a continuity of function between digital players and record decks.Side by side, they’re actually more or less exactly the same size, but the SC5000 appears slightly bigger.

Heck, when Denon DJ first gave me a hands on with these units back in December 2016, it took me till the end of the (admittedly bleary eyed, early morning) session to realise that the SC5000 Prime has no CD slot! These are purely digital players, designed to work with computers, software and portable media storage such as USBs and SD cards.
The big differences

Look a little more, and apart from the styling differences (Denon DJ has gone for square cue and play/pause buttons, not round; the “grips” on the sides of the jogwheels are different), there are only three big notable breaks in layout from pro media player convention:
The Denon DJ player has its USB and SD card slots at the front of the unit, tucked in where the CD slots are on Pioneer CDJs, and set back to keep USBs and SDs out of harm’s way
The SC5000 Prime has performance pads situated under its platter, positioned where any controller DJs would expect to find them, albeit in a single row of eight (plus associated control/function keys in a smaller row above), as opposed to two rows of four, which is of course the “controller” paradigm (these replace the less user-friendly hot cue buttons, laid out top left and vertically on the Pioneer player)
The SC5000 Prime has two sets of analogue/digital audio outputs at the back, not one; these (and the inconspicuous “layer” button to the left of the screen) being the only clues to the fact that it is capable of simultaneously playing two tracks through two channels of a mixer, meaning a pair of these give you full four-deck playback – something, of course, enjoyed by controller/software DJs for many years

If anything, the Denon player appears overall simpler and “cleaner” than the Pioneer; the removal of Pioneer DJ’s all of a sudden convoluted-feeling looping and legacy cue/loop memory sections in favour of simpler controller-type loop functions, plus a cleaner area around the screen (the Denon DJ unit has half the buttons of the CDJ-2000NXS in this area), in conjunction with the moving of the media slots out of sight, mean that even with the new performance buttons, the Denon DJ unit somehow appears a little less intimidating.

More on this later – but as you’re going to see, actually the biggest innovations are associated with workflow and usability, not the somewhat cunningly similar layout.

Top Stub Checks - The Business Check

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In order to be effective in this process, you need to pay attention to little details. 1 simple approach to ensure that you're creating the right image for your company is to use professional looking business paystub generator. In my view, the best create pay stub format for business use is your top check stubs. Whether you're operating a company or not, top check stub offer you a good deal of benefits.

When used for business, a top realpay stubs becomes an advertisement for your company. By create pay stubs, and not a debit card, then you have to put your organization name and information in front of present and possibly new clients. However, you ought to be certain that you choose a design that portrays your company in the right light. Stick to simple, professional layouts, unless you're trying to create a different image.

Security is also improved. By using tests, not a card, you restrict the amount personnel with access to your account and sensitive company information. This also permits you to handle cash flow better.

Last, the biggest advantage to a business proprietor, definitely, is the thorough record keeping function of real check stubs. The real pay stubs features offer instant, ongoing record keeping of transactions. Let's face it, if you don't record the information immediately, it will not get listed. And, by having instant access to previous transaction data and balance information, you make certain that cash flow does not become a problem with each new transaction.

If your company is going to create a pay stub, get the most of them. It is possible to order top pay stub generator online and also get them for less than you want through your bank.

Panasonic Joins Push to Put Photovoltaics on More Car Roofs

Panasonic Corp. sees the future of solar GOAL ZERO SHERPA 50 POWER PACK  on car rooftops.

The Osaka-based electronics maker has started producing a 180-watt array of solar cells that can be fixed to the roof of an automobile. In February, Panasonic announced that its photovoltaic module would be used on the roof of Toyota Motor Corp.’s latest Prius plug-in hybrid.

Cars represent a potentially lucrative new outlet for solar cells in an industry where intense competition from Chinese manufacturers has pushed down prices sharply. That’s prompting some manufacturers to adapt solar cells for everything from home roofing tiles and the outer skins of buildings to backpacks and tents.

“Car roofs have the potential to become a new market for solar panels,” Shingo Okamoto, the general manager at Panasonic who was in charge of developing the technology, said. “We made history in the auto industry and in the solar industry with the sun powering mass-produced cars for the first time in the world.”

New Market

Cars could hold the promise of a giant new market for solar panels from Panasonic, which also is partnered with Tesla Inc. in making batteries at its Gigafactory outside Las Vegas. There are 264 million cars and light trucks in operation in the U.S., according to the National Automobile Dealers Association.




Others are noticing the potential. Tesla Chairman Elon Musk tweeted in November that his company’s Model 3 car may come with a solar roof. He’s also beginning to sell a type of roof tile for homes featuring embedded photovoltaics. Nissan Motor Co. offers an add-on solar panel option for its Leaf electric cars, giving extra charge to systems such as the air conditioners and radios, according to Nicholas Maxfield, a spokesman for the company.

Hanergy Holding Group Ltd. unveiled four concept solar cars last year but has yet to begin commercial production. It’s seeking to develop car roofs using thin-film solar chips with Fuyao Glass Industry Group.

As of the end of April, Toyota had sold 1,350 units in Japan of the new Prius plug-in equipped with solar panels, nearly 9 percent of the total, according to the car maker.

Range Estimates

The latest Prius is the first mass-produced model to be outfitted with solar panels that provide juice for the car’s main battery, according to Toyota. Because of seasonal variations in sunlight, the amount of charge will fluctuate, meaning the average distance traveled on a single charge will range from an average of 2.9 kilometers (1.8 miles) to 6.1 kilometers depending on the time of year.

“That means you get about 10 percent of annual mileage from solar just by letting your car sit,” Okamoto said in an interview in Tokyo.

While that’s modest, developers say the amount of charge will improve over time and that the range could be extended by adjusting a car body’s design and the amount of surface upon which the panels can be affixed.

“We are aware that the panels are supplying only a small amount of electricity,” said Shoichi Kaneko, chief engineer for Prius. “But this system is still a breakthrough as we are making use of the energy we would be wasting otherwise. By filling all available space with cells, it is possible to extend the range easily to 10 kilometers.”

In its current iteration, the solar rooftop represents a step forward for Toyota as it aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from new cars by 90 percent by 2050 from 2010 levels.

Main Battery

This is Toyota’s second attempt to outfit a Prius with a solar roof. A Prius released back in 2009 had the option of a solar panel capable of producing 56 watts of power, but it was only used to charge the ventilation systems.

To come up with the panels needed for the new Prius, Panasonic engineers first began compiling a set of conditions and constraints they figured solar panels would face when affixed to the roof of a car instead of a house.

The list included constant vibration, the unpredictable appearance of shadows, and the limited amount of space for installation. Engineers also considered how to make panels fit the contours of a car’s roof instead of the flat surfaces found on residential rooftops.

To handle the variable sunlight expected from shade, Panasonic also adjusted the way bypass diodes are configured in the solar panels to ensure a smooth flow of electric current, according to Panasonic’s Okamoto.

“You’ll see panels become more common as an option, particularly on high-end electric sedans and SUVs,” said Colin McKerracher, an analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance. “But the range benefits are always going to be limited. This is mostly about feeling smug.”

©2017 Bloomberg News

Lead image: Solar panels on the roof of Toyota Motor’s Prius plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHV). Credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi | Bloomberg

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