Monthly Archives: May 2018

Cryptocurrency, Technology

Scrypt Asic Currency Mining

Scrypt Asic Currency Mining

Scrypt Asic

Are you interested in still cryptocurrency investment? How about scrypt asic currency mining? Currently, Bitcoin is a hot potato. It is among the most sought-after cryptocurrency products worldwide.

There was even a previous post on celebrities giving them endorsements.  And that’s even while there have been concerns in regards to its regulations.

Anyway, many people do not know how to venture into this vastly profitable business. If you are interested in investing in cryptocurrency, then consider yourself lucky.

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Asic Miner

Scrypt Asic 2

How Does To Start?

1.    Get A Mining Rig
Bitcoin mining has become very competitive since its demand is enormous and growing. To start off, get a bitcoin mining calculator. Enter the data of the Bitcoin miner you intend to buy. This gives you a projection of the profits likely to be realized and the duration. Go through various Bitcoin mining hardware reviews from Amazon.com to choose a suitable one.

2.    Get A Bitcoin Wallet
Bitcoin is an Internet-based currency, so you’ll need a place to keep your Bitcoins. This is what your Bitcoin wallet is. Subsequently, get a wallet address, a long sequence of letters and numbers. It is worth noting that the address is public.  You may sign up here to acquire one.

3.    Find A Mining Pool.
A mining pool is a group of Bitcoin miners that combine their computing power to make more Bitcoins. It’s advisable that you don’t do it alone because Bitcoins are awarded in blocks, usually 12.5. You can’t quickly get these alone unless you’re fortunate and very hardworking.
When choosing a mining pool to consider the following:
•    The Method of Reward: Is it scoring based, proportional, pay per share or any other way?
•    The Charges for mining and withdrawal of funds
•    The frequency of the blocks (being rewarded)
•    The process of funds withdrawal
•    The Stability of the pool

4.    Get A Mining Program For Your Computer
You’re almost there, ready to mine. At this point, you will need a mining client on your computer so that you’ll be able to control and monitor your rig. Many mining pools have their software while some don’t. In case of the latter, you can check out different mining software (BFGMiner, 50 Miner and much more.)

5.    Start Mining
With everything set, you need to do is connect your miner to a power outlet and start. Of course, you ought to connect the miner to your computer (mostly via USB) and open your mining software. Enter your mining pool, username, and password, mine!

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Pros and Cons of Solo Mining

If you want to venture solo, you need a few tricks and risks to avoid. It’s an investment, and you need to make profits.

Pros
•    If you find a block, 99.5% of the block reward is sent directly to your address; you share it with nobody.
•    There is no need to log in and input all those details, for instance, passwords, withdrawals, authentication or pool wallet hacks.
•    You remain anonymous apart from your Bitcoin address. All that you confirm is that you’re mining to your address.
Cons
•    If you do not find a block, you do not earn. Why? Unlike in a pool where a pool member may find a block, and all members get a share; going solo does not have the advantage.
Pool mining has its benefits and flipside.
•    It generates steadier income as compared to solo.
•    It can generate 1-2% higher income (before any charged fees) because of the long polls providing the pools.
Factors to Consider when Purchasing Mining Rigs
In mining Bitcoin, you need miners commonly referred to as mining rigs. There are factors to consider before settling on a particular miner.

a)    Hash Rate

This is the speed at which the miner can perform mining calculations. Device performance is measured in Terahashes for every calculation executed per second. The count gives you a rough estimate of the machine performance.

b)    Electricity

Electricity consumption is also something you should consider before settling on a machine. Unless you’re going to get electricity for free, the power consumption of a rig should not be too high as it will cut your profit margin.
c)    Device Cost
One of the most important figures is the cost of the machine you intend to purchase. Pre-manufactured rigs cost between $500 and $2,000, depending on the performance and whether it’s new or second-hand.
d)    Time and Maintenance
Bitcoin mining takes time. But before mining sometime is taken in setting up the machine, and maintaining them throughout the entire process. Just like any other machine, parts can malfunction, and as a result, Bitcoin miners need to replace them. Fans are often replaced.

Some Common Mining Rigs

  •  AntMiner L3+ 504MH/s 1.6/MH ASIC Litecoin Miner (504 MH)
  • Aluminium 6 GPU Mining Case Rig Open Air Frame for ETH/ETC/ZCash
  • 6 GPU Miner Aluminium Stackable Open Air Mining Case Computer ETH Frame Rig for Bitcoin Miner Kit Unassembled Ethereum
  • GekkoScience Compact USB Stick Bitcoin Miner 8gh/s (May or may not be available as of the date of this writing)
  • Gridseed Blade Scryptic Asic
Scrypt Asic3
Scrypt Asic mining is the talk of the town among the tech savvy and novice investor alike!
Other Mining Rigs  (Some may be hard to find online as of this writing)
  •  DualMiner USB 2 Gridsed Litecoin, Dogecoin, Scrypt Miner
  • ASCIMiner Block Erupter
  • Gaw Miners Fury
  • Gridseed ASIC Miner for Litecoin and Bitcoin Mining
Conclusion

Scrypt Asic currency mining remains a lucrative venture, but it needs time, dedication and teamwork. Although many of the products mention may come up unavailable, there are several other options to choose from on Amazon.

As mentioned earlier, making a kill as a solo miner is not an easy task. If you’re considering the venture, follow these steps, and you will make it.

However, if it proves too complicated, there is another way, buying and selling Bitcoin.

Business, Entertainment, Technology

Nas Business Ventures

Nas Business Ventures

 

Nas Business Ventures

There’s nothing out of the ordinary to learn about Nas’ business ventures. After all, it’s not uncommon for celebrities to use their status to endorse brands or new trends.

Previously, I’ve posted content of the famous giving praise to cryptocurrency.

However, a game changer has been for celebs, especially for Hip Hop artists, to invest in ventures that could earn them millions, most notably in technology.

Who can forget Dr. Dre getting a big check from his Apple deal? Or even Jay Z’s streaming platform, Tidal. And then there’s Hip Hop legend, Russell Simmons, founder of Global Grind (which was bought out by Interactive One).

The point being, there’s opportunities this generation can take advantage of.

 

Queensbridge Venture Partners Investments

QBVP, a venture capitol group investing in next generation technology companies in Silicon Valley, was founded in 2014. Since then, co partner Nas  currently made the news, even while staying low key.

According to Vibe publication, the recent among the Nas business ventures was Ring Smart Doorbell and it’s buyout by Amazon.

What Is Ring?

Reducing crime, as per their website, has been a mission statement of The Ring. These battery-powered doorbells connect to smartphones, PCs and tablets. Additionally,  anyone can answer from anywhere.

And now that the company was recently acquired by Amazon Key,  shoppers can expect to take advantage of the keyless mobile technology.

In the past, Amazon Key users needed an Amazon camera in the homes for delivery. However, with The Ring, there’s no longer a needed for separate surveillance.

Side note: I wrote a blog post titled, Uses Of Internet In Our Daily Life. There’s a section regarding the use of IoT technology and how it relates to home security.

 

Otherwise, to view a list of Queensbridge Venture Partners Investments’ ventures,  this page from Crunchbase.

Technology, The World, Travel

Portable wifi Devices That Work Anywhere

In my last post, I spoke of my trip to Ethiopia and the challenge of staying connected.  This caused me to look into searching for wifi devices that work anywhere.

wifi Devices

And interestingly, out of all the WiFi devices seen, I’ve taken an interest in Skyroam.  If you’re not interested in reading my perspective, you may visit their site here.

Advertisement for Skyroam. 

Otherwise continue below.

Mobile Hotspots No Contract

Isn’t it nice to utilize  wifi devices without any contracts? That’s what’s great about Skyroam’s pay-as-you-go feature. Users can pay for what they intend to use whether abroad or locally.

After all, what’s the point of paying for packages on services when there’s a surplus on unused days and minutes?!

Skyroam Solis Reviews Below

I’ve had this problem while staying in hotels in the Atlantic City area. Buying 24 hours and only using less than 16.

With Skyroam, subscribers can go and use their options without the commitments.  These choices are either to Buy Or Rent. Frequent travelers are able to own their wifi devices outright, while others prefer to rent.

Again, customers pay for the days they use, and without the use of a SIM card.

Global Wifi

Staying connected has become a top priority for most travelers. And that equally includes those looking to browse from many countries in the world. Therefore, it’s important that most wifi devices work wherever you’re located

However, there’s no promise they provide coverage to a particular country one’s traveling to. In fact, Ethiopia, my favorite country, was not listed.

Advertisement banner. Skyroam offers two different wifi devices. The SOLIS being the newest addition.

Anyway, customers who intend to travel anywhere in the world can easily look up which part of the globe they’re able to use their wifi device. The How It Works page provides an extensive list of countries available. Just scroll down to the areas that says “PORTABLE WIFI IN 120+ COUNTRIES” .

SkyRoam Solis Companion Additionals

As per their website, Wifi devices come with some great features. These additions include:

  • WiFi 4G LTE – Reliable speed worldwide for connections to any device
  • Power Bank – Charge multiple devices such as phones, Bluetooth headsets and other items
  • Sharing – Connect up to 5 devices at once to browse. Good for if and when a traveler meets up with other friends locally or abroad.
Conclusion

Traveling and staying connected go hand in hand. But doing both at an affordable rate makes a huge difference.  With Skyroam WiFi devices, travelers can use 4G LTE speeds in over 150+ countries.

Consider using their device for your travel needs where ever you may wish to stay!

PS, if you’re interested in signing up, I’ve worked out with Skyroam to offer a discount. Upon checkout, you may use this coupon code: MOBILEI95. 

Advert banner for wifi devices offering unlimited global access

*Links to Skyroam are affiliate pages. Click here to learn more.

General, Technology

Stem Projects And Ideas for Middle School

Stem Projects And Ideas for Middle School

Stem Projects And Ideas for Middle School

 

Most of the previous posts submitted to this website have dealt with the internet and how it can benefit us in many ways.

This entry however focuses on the STEM projects.

Looking for some fun and exciting science projects to present at a science fair? Or maybe your looking to keep your STEM skills sharp over break. Whatever your reason these science projects are perfect for any middle school student looking for a bit of fun, active learning!

2 Fun Science Projects Guaranteed Perfect for Middle Schoolers

Stem Projects And Ideas for Middle school 2

 

1. Purify Water with the Power of the Sun

Science isn’t just something teachers force you to read about everyday. Here’s a really practical science experiment that could save your life one day.

According to the United States Geological Survey, about 71 percent of the world is covered by water. Unfortunately for us humans nearly 97 percent of that water is salt water in the ocean and therefore not drinkable. Or is it? After your done building your very own solar still you’ll be able to drink from the saltiest sea.

First let’s grab a couple things from the kitchen. It’s probably a good idea to ask your family if you can borrow them first. Here’s what you’ll need to grab:

  • A very wide glass or clear plastic bowl
  • A glass that’s smaller than the bowl
  • Some plastic wrap
  • Rubber band or string big enough to fit around bowl
  • Stone or something heavy like it
  • Salt
  • Water
  • A sunny place to put bowl

Now that you have all the ingredients for your experiment let’s get down to business!

  1. Take your water–it can be tap water from the sink–and your salt and mix them together. Make sure it’s good and salty!
  2. Pour your salt water
  3. Place your cup in the middle of the bowl. Make sure the top of the cup is higher than the water, but not higher than the top of the bowl. If necessary you can pour some of the water out.
  4. Take your plastic wrap and place it over the bowl. Pull it tight! Secure it using your string or rubber band to create a solid seal.
  5. Put your stone or heavy object on top of the plastic wrap right above your cup.
  6. Gently place your contraption in a place that will get plenty of sunshine for the next hour and a half.
  7. Go play or read for an hour and half. When asked be sure to tell people that this is a vital part of your science experiment.
  8. After the hour and a half is up go check your solar still. Note the little drops of water on the inside of your plastic wrap. Remove the weighted object and wrap and grab your cup. Is there water in the cup? If there is, then taste it. Is it salty? It shouldn’t be!

So what happened to make the water in your cup drinkable? The simple answer is evaporation and condensation.

The heat from the sun added enough energy to the liquid water to turn it into a gas in a process known as evaporation. When the water turned into a gas, the salt stayed solid and remained suspended in the water that was still liquid. Normally the evaporated water would rise into the sky and then turn into clouds. However, your plastic wrap trapped the water. Instead of condensing into a cloud, your water vapor condensed into water droplets on the plastic wrap. The weighted object forced these tiny droplets to move to the center of the plastic wrap where they formed large drops that fell as fresh water into your cup.And that’s how you got drinkable water out of a bowl of salt water!

2. Play with Your Food While Testing Dish Soaps

Stem Projects And Ideas for Middle school 3

 

If you’ve ever scrubbed a particularly dirty dish for several minutes, then you might have wondered just effective your dish soap really is. If you want to test out some dish soaps while making colorful art from milk, then you have some very specific goals…but also this experiment is handmade for you!

Before you can make milk art you are going to need a few supplies:

  • 3 Slightly dipped paper plates or shallow bowls
  • Whole milk–please note that it must be whole milk!
  • Food coloring
  • 3 Different types of dish soap
  • Q-Tips

Now that you’ve rounded up your supplies–hopefully after you asked an adult if this was ok–you can start the experiment!

Stem Projects And Ideas for Middle school 4
Cool STEM projects for children eager to learn!
  1. Set your three shallow bowls out on a flat surface and pour a layer of your whole milk into them.
  2. Add a couple drops of food coloring to each bowl. For best results try using a few different colors and space the drops out.
  3. Now get out your three different dish soaps and put them next to each bowl.
  4. Grab a Q-tip for each dish soap and squeeze a little soap onto the Q-tip.
  5. Dip the Q-tip into milk near a colored dot and watch the colors go!
  6. Note how quickly and how well each colored dot spreads out and do the same thing for each bowl.

By now you should have three colorful bowls of whole milk, but what do they tell you about your different dish soaps?

 

Well dish soaps work by breaking down fats. When your plate is covered in grease and fat, the soap is suppose to cut through the mess by breaking down these fats. Since your whole milk contains a lot of fat, the dish soap should break it down and thin out the milk. As the fats break down and the milk thins, the colors spread. Thus the faster and further the colors spread in your bowl the better the dish soap is at doing its job of breaking down fats and cleaning your dishes. Now you know which dish soap really is better!

These two experiments are just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to keep your STEM skills sharp, then get out there and find you next experiment!

General, The World, Travel

My Ethiopia Trip

My Ethiopia Trip

Ethiopia Slay

 

I’ve just gotten back from Ethiopia, a country I consider my second home. Anyone who knows me understands this.

Especially since I’ve been for 5 times now.

 

 

Anyway, I decided to jot down some takeaways and how it relates to the Internet and mobile usage.

First off, I want to give a shout out to Mrs. Meseret Azage  of the Meseret Humanitarian Organization  and Mrs. Muday Mitiku from Muday Charity Association for giving me the opportunity to volunteer at their NGOs.

In the blog post on Internet Daily Activity, I suppose I forget to add the convenience of making donations to charities online, to and from anywhere around the world!

Getting Around

There are Apps locals use to get around that comparable to Uber. They are:

Now, I did not use either of these Apps because I was unable to register my mobile from Ethio Telecom. Apparently, you’ll need to submit your passport photo. Unfortunately, I was unable because there were system  failures each time I was there.

Staying Connected

Staying connected in Ethiopia wasn’t necessarily easy due mishaps from Ethio Telecom. I simply used the complimentary WiFi from both of the budget hotels I’ve stayed in (I occasionally stay in different areas while overseas on vacation).

That’s how I found out about the Viber App as means to communicate and send messages so as long as WiFi’s present. Free messaging applies to other Viber users.

On a side note, maybe one day I’ll write up on a company that offers pay as you go WiFi services for travelers.

Traveling around Ethiopia, one has to accept that, although there’s an increase in ATM machines, most businesses primarily accept payments through cash.

As I’ve stated before, this was my 5th time in the country, so I’m used to it. No big deal.

Conclusion

Bottom line, Ethiopia’s my favorite country.  And because they’re making progress in terms of connectivity, it gives me an opportunity to enjoy this nation even more. And thanks to the Internet/Mobile industry, it makes things extremely convenient for world travelers.