#kaiture

[blackrosebooks]

#BoutDatLife AvailableNow@BlackRoseBooks BlackRoseBooksPDX.net Michael@BlackRoseBooksPDX.net $15.00 *BoutDatLife* 48hr Processing&Shipping "This book is bold in how it treats the reader as an insider to the reality of American blackness. It can be, in turns, lyrically poignant, cynical, hilarious, and infuriating." --Foreword Reviews, Starred Review "In this comic debut novel, lawyer Marcus Hayes careens through the racially divisive 1990s while trying to manage his compulsive anger, chaotic love life, and economic misfortunes...Smyer gives Marcus a sardonic and hilarious voice reminiscent of a Paul Beatty protagonist and endows him with a troubled psychology that plumbs the nuances of black male identity." --Kirkus Reviews "Marcus is an intelligent, acerbic, and often hilarious narrator, bringing a fresh, biting perspective to the social and racial tensions of the time that, as debut novelist Smyer makes clear, are not particularly different from today." --Library Journal "While not strictly a crime novel, Smyer's debut Knucklehead does contain a whole lot of guns, violence, and rage, as well as plenty of love and sadness. A black lawyer in the late 80s through the mid-90s deals with micro and macro aggressions from a society determined to treat him as a criminal. Also, there are cats. Lots of cats." --Literary Hub, included in the Most Anticipated Crime, Mystery, and Thriller Titles of 2018 "While the provocative subject material will take readers to a sometimes-uncomfortable place, this brilliant debut is also deeply, darkly funny...This is one of those books that simply has to be discussed, as it managed to tackle difficult topics with unexpected humor and pathos. While Marcus is a troubled character, his journey and the choices he makes will provide rich meat for discussion about race in America and how justifiable anger can turn toxic." --IndiePicks Magazine "[A] masterpiece...In this, his debut narrative, Smyer dramatically encapsulates the ancestral trauma, the collective guilt and suffering of tens of millions of people. Indeed he has scored big. Real big...A must buy." --Kaitur News (Guyana) "From page one, Knucklehead is a literary punch in the face. Adam Smyer's exploration of rage is unflinching, brave, and absolutely brilliant. There's so much energy in this debut you could put it in your tank and drive on it." --Mat Johnson, author of Loving Day "Adam Smyer is an incendiary new voice who announces himself with the force of a Category 5 hurricane. With refreshing honesty and rip-roaring, wipe-the-tears-from-your-eyes humor, Knucklehead prefigures our deranged times through the prism of the 1990s, forever debunking the illusory promise of that era by turning the mirror to our collective failures and deficiencies. A staggering, unforgettable debut." --Arthur Nersesian, author of The Fuck-Up In Knucklehead we meet Marcus Hayes, a black law student who struggles, sometimes unsuccessfully, with the impulse to confront everyday bad behavior with swift and antisocial action. The cause of this impulse is unknown to him. When Marcus unexpectedly becomes involved with the brilliant and kind Amalia Stewart, her love and acceptance pacify his demons. But when his demons return, he is no longer inclined to contain them.

[saigonnezumi]

The Xiaomi Air Purifier 2 currently seems to be one of the most popular air purifiers in Vietnam. Costing only 2.6 million VND, this makes the Xiaomi Air Purifier 2 a good value. Replacement filters are around 600,000 VND. My personal air purifier, a BlueAir 203, cost me about $500 USD in Shanghai a year ago. I can see why many would gravitate towards the Xiaomi. I even bought one for myself.

  Unfortunately, the Xiaomi Air Purifier 2 has some issues especially if you leave it on auto mode. Since the software seems to follow China’s Air Quality Index standards, the air in your room will be bad. Set to auto mode, the fan will run higher to purify the air until the room air meets safe levels by Chinese standards. US safe air levels for PM2.5 is 12 micrograms. In China, this is set at 35 micrograms, nearly three times higher than the US standards. For reference, WHO standards is set at 25 micrograms for PM2.5 in a 24 hour period.

  SmartAir Original DIY air purifier in comparison to Xiaomi Air Purifier 2

Start of the Auto mode test

I conducted the following test in my test room located in District 4 of Saigon right on the border of District 1. The AQI reported by the US Consulate was at 159 (roughly 70.9 micrograms). Kaitura recorded the AQI in my test room at 137 AQI or about 57 micrograms at the beginning of the test. I then turned on the Xiaomi Air Purifier 2 on auto mode.

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Ho Chi Minh City PM 2.5 AQI reading start of test

Kaitura app PM 2.5 AQI reading at beginning of test

Room PM 2.5 reading at beginning of test

One hour later, the AQI at the US Consulate increased to 169 (90.3 micrograms). This is one of the highest readings I have experienced in Saigon.

Ho Chi Minh City PM 2.5 AQI reading second hour of test

End of auto mode test

I ran the test for 6 hours on auto mode. As you can see below, in this mode the air cannot get clean. The final reading recorded at 22 micrograms. By Chinese and WHO AQI standards, this is safe. By US AQI standards, this is twice the safe level.

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PM 2.5 reading at the end of the test

Kaiture app PM 2.5 AQI reading at then end of test

For some Expats, this may be acceptable but after living in Shanghai for a year, I prefer to follow the stricter AQI standards. Now granted, I did not run the Xiaomi Air Purifier 2 at the highest fan mode. SmartAir conducted a similar test if you are interested. SmartAir even stated that using auto mode, the air will be unsafe 86% of the time. In the post, they mentioned that after three hours at the highest setting, the Xiaomi Air Purifier 2 reverted back to auto mode. For me, I noticed that the air purifier actually turned off on many occasions after three hours.

Hence, if you are relying on the Xiaomi Air Purifier 2 to keep your room at a safe air level of PM2.5, you either are going to have to get up every three hours or have another air purifier on the side.

DIY SmartAir Original to the rescue

After this test, I decided to give the smaller SmartAir Original DIY air purifier a run again to see if it can get the room to a safe PM2.5 level. Roughly two and a half hours later, the Original got the AQI down to 46 ending at 21 AQI four hours later. That is a safe 6 micrograms. Read  more about my first test of the SmartAir Original air purifier.

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SmartAir Original Fan and SmartAir HEPA filter

Kaitura PM 2.5 AQI one hour running with the SmartAir Original DIY fan and HEPA filter

Kaitura PM 2.5 AQI two and a half hours running with the SmartAir Original DIY fan and HEPA filter

Kaitura PM 2.5 AQI end of test with SmartAir Original

PM 2.5 reading at end of Original test

Conclusions

Does this mean you should throw out your Xiaomi Air Purifier 2? Definitely not, I love it. If I am cooking or the need the air to be cleaned fast, I turn on the Xiaomi at the highest setting. I only use it at highest setting so I tend to turn it off after the air is at a safe level. The Original can be used all day but it will take longer to get the room at a safe level. Side by side, they both work well together and remember, you are going to need at least two air purifiers in an apartment or house.

SEAACT will also provide locally make air purifiers at a lower cost utilizing locally-made fans and imported HEPA filters. In a future blog post, I will test one of the locally made fans that I am actually using today to clean the air in my apartment. We will make these available for purchase by the end of November, 2017.

Until the next test, stay safe and wear your PM2.5 masks.

Kevin Miller, Jr., is one of the co-founders of SEAACT (Southeast Asia Action for Clean Technology), a social enterprise started in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, focusing on promoting clean air, clean water, and solar power technologies. SEAACT will partner with SmartAir to conduct workshops in Hanoi, HCMC, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in late 2017.

Xiaomi Air Purifer 2 Test in Auto mode The Xiaomi Air Purifier 2 currently seems to be one of the most popular air purifiers in Vietnam.