The cyberpunk movement started in the early 60s, along with the birth of Space Age and the fascination with the universe, technology, and futuristic ideas. It started as a simple experiment with plastic, synthetic materials, and new ingenuities has turned into a popular dystopian aesthetic, especially after the release of mainstream movies such as the Matrix and Blade Runner. If you are brave enough to embrace this alternative style, here are some trends are taken from this year’s runways that are ideal for creating a modernized version of the cyberpunk aesthetic:

Oversized sneakers

An unavoidable part of the cyberpunk aesthetic for years, the ever-popular platform boots, are slowly starting to be replaced with incredibly fashionable chunky sneakers. An ideal way to take any outfit to the next level and give it an edgy and futuristic vibe, oversized sneakers should be a staple piece in every dystopian closet. For example, a pair of fashionable black Balenciaga sneakers with a chunky platform sole is ideal for pulling an outfit together and giving it a cool cyberpunk twist.

Cargo pants

Cargo pants are perfect for creating cool cyberpunk outfits that are equally trendy as they are alternative. If boiler suits and jumpsuits don’t really fit your personal style, cargo pants are the next best thing. With lots of big pockets to go around, these pants are as practical as they are fashionable, paired with chunky boots or a great pair of sneakers and embellished with some chains and thin belts.

Bike shorts

Comfortable and easy to style, gaining their popularity during the last year, bike shorts have become a staple piece amongst fashion designers and social media influencers alike. It’s no wonder these shorts became such a big trend that even made its way into the cyberpunk community. Having a certain rawness and edge to them, bike shorts are a futuristic piece of clothing that perfectly fits into the cyberpunk aesthetic, and they are an ideal option for anyone who wants to keep a low-key and comfortable vibe.

Boiler suits

Straightforward and easy to style, boiler suits are a great way to achieve dystopian aesthetic, without any need for too many layers or over the top accessories. A new fashion trend we saw all over the runways and street style looks during this year’s fashion month, boiler suits are simple, and very impactful items of clothing that perfectly fit into the cyberpunk category. Although they come in a wide array of different colors and designs, solid black boiler suits with plenty of zippers and pockets are the ideal cyberpunk option.

PVC

From transparent raincoats to vinyl trousers and glossy boots, plastic materials are slowly taking over the fashion world. The original cyberpunk staple, plastic materials are ideal for creating dystopian looks, from impactful clothing items to footwear and accessories. While a black vinyl coat resembling the futuristic movie look is a definite cyberpunk must-have, clear PVC outerwear is not only extremely trendy but also perfect for a modernized version of this alternative style.

Baggy on baggy

Brands such as Yeezy have popularized the ‘baggy combined with baggy’ look with intricate ripped pieces and asymmetrical cuts that slowly became a huge cyberpunk staple, so oversized trend doesn’t really stop with the footwear. It became a big part of the cyberpunk aesthetic. No need to be afraid anymore to lose shape by combining two oversized pieces, but rather embracing this extremely comfortable aesthetic, this chic look became extremely trendy even amongst the Instagram fashion elite.

Fanny packs

Aside from being extremely practical, holding all of your necessities and freeing your hands, fanny packs fit perfectly into the dystopian aesthetic and pair beautifully with anything from cargo pants and boiler suits to bike shorts and chunky sneakers. Among other 90’s trends that are slowly making a comeback, fanny packs have become an unavoidable part of any fashionable outfit. But apart from runway models and Instagram fashionistas, this accessory is also ideal for any cyberpunk enthusiast.

The cyberpunk aesthetic can now be easily achieved since the fashion industry is starting to experiment more with their designs and including futuristic and alternative clothing items into their collections. How? Simply, by incorporating a few trendy items into your outfits.

Technological development can’t be stopped and there are many reasons why we shouldn’t even try. With information becoming globally available, instant communication and many other advantages of today, it’s pretty exciting to look into the future. If we take the audio-visual market, for example, and see how rapidly it’s been developing, we just have to be ready to embrace the new opportunities and make the most of them.

One of the fields that have greatly benefited from technological breakthroughs is definitely medicine. Modern technology plays an increasingly important part of diagnosing and treating patients from all over the world. So, what are the most noticeable trends in medicine that rely heavily upon and almost exclusively on modern technology?

Patients are more aware of procedures

Until not so long ago, surgeons had to have lengthy discussions with their patients before surgeries. They would carefully explain the procedure and most patients were not absolutely clear what to expect. Some argue that it was possible for the best and that the less the patient knows, the less they worry. However, in this day and age, you simply need to be informed, especially when it comes to such important matters as your health.

Nowadays, you can find recordings of various procedures, which give you an excellent idea about what you’re about to go through. If you are supposed to have a neurosurgical procedure, it would be a great idea to take a look at some of the videos by Dr. Timothy Steel performing surgeries of different kinds. Though you might find the content too graphic to your liking, you’ll surely appreciate the knowledge about what is going to happen to you.

Options are no longer limited

In case you need a second opinion or want to find the most skilled doctor, you’re no longer limited to your town or country. It’s now possible to get in touch with the most renowned medical institutions and experts in the search for the best possible health care. All this is made possible thanks to modern technology.

You can also find comments made by people who have received treatment from various doctors and institutions and see what they think about it. Needless to say, you have to be careful when considering such comments, because no two cases are completely identical.

AI in healthcare

Artificial intelligence is another feature that is becoming more and more prominent. There are still many regulations and compliance issues that limit its application in medicine, but the healthcare industry is definitely taking advantage of AI already. For example, smartphones and AI assistants are used to collect information relevant to our health.

That information is then used by doctors for analysis, which is made much more precise and time-efficient because all the relevant information has been collected by a smart device. Such a big data analysis was not possible before the introduction of modern technology to medicine. Following the analysis, doctors have a much clearer and more precise picture of the patient’s health.

Improved learning

While some future doctors still dissect frogs in order to learn anatomy, those privileged to be studying in technologically more advanced countries have a chance to acquire knowledge assisted by monitors, smartboards, and labs that facilitate virtual dissection. And there is much more! Professors are able to present videos to students in-person or remotely, which means more people can benefit from the state-of-the-art equipment.

Also, medical students can now listen to many lectures given by renowned experts in their respective fields and learn much more than they could if they only focused on the lectures at their universities. By bringing people together, in this case, present and future experts, technology is improving the quality of health care and providing benefits to both doctors and their patients.

Technology is improving all segments of our lives if used appropriately. Medicine is one of the greatest beneficiaries and we can agree that it’s hard to find more valuable benefits than those related to the health of our loved ones. While there are some limitations caused by legislation or lack of resources and know-how, it’s safe to assume that it’s only a matter of time before a wider community is able to benefit from technological breakthroughs used in medicine.

Did you know that every great cup of coffee started with freshly ground coffee? I thought you should know. When am referring to fresh coffee, am talking about coffee that is ground before brewing. If you have a bean-to-cup coffee machine then it’s easy – the coffee machine has integrated coffee grinder, so beans are ground separately for each cup of coffee. But if you don’t – you need to choose and buy a coffee grinder. Most people have a hard time starting with coffee from the initial preparation process simply because they don’t know the tools they need along the way and how they should operate them. This post gives a step by step guide on how to operate a coffee grinder and make sure you use it the right way to give you the best tastes.

However, before we get to the real steps, we have to start by getting a good coffee grinder. It’s not that simple to use any grinder you get in the market for this purpose. Just spare some time and check for the best hand coffee grinder according to DiligentChef.  We will have to start with two types of grinders and the variations that make them the best for coffee grinding.

Blade Grinders

These types of coffee grinders are cheap and produce a lot of sounds. Though these coffee grinders work well, they have a couple of complications. This is the type of grinder that you probably saw in your area. They are perfect but I usually don’t recommend them because they horribly hack and slice beans. What this means is that it may leave an uneven grind with the course. The motor will as well get hot which may compromise the process.

Burr Grinders

These are other grinders that we usually recommend. They are the best but you will have to dig deeper into your pockets for one. They are better for the union of beans and grind. They don’t produce a lot of noise and they also perform their duties without being compromised.

How to operate the grinder: step by step

Set the initial grind

You may have seen some grinders that have a warning on them telling you that you may not adjust them unless they’re running or empty. This is an issue, especially because doing so may move the burrs and trap coffee between the burrs and cause trouble. With all the precautions that you need to watch out for, you have to start by finding the finest setting to start with. The first step here is to turn on your burr lock if your grinder has one. The marks may be indicated with black markings on the black dial. Once you are at the finest point, then you should move o the next step.

Pull a test shot

Use your initial setting to make a shot of espresso on your machine. If you detect that the machine is not running the right way, then you need to make some adjustments. If the machine is clogged and wouldn’t pour as needed, then you are using a too fine grind.

Re-adjust the grinder

I bet that now your grinder is empty or almost empty. At this point in time, you should use a judgment call to see how far your grinder is. After that, check for the adjustment if you are way off. The adjustments should directly match your needs and special considerations. If for any case you end up with no espresso, then you are too fine and you need to do something about it.

Adjust grind time

The goods thing is that most coffee grinders in the market today have dosing control which tells you about the amount of time the grinder should operate. This comes in if you need a single shot or a double shot. To continue with this, you first of all need to check your machine’s manual to get some insights.

Adjust for specific types of coffee

Coffee seeds are not the same. What this means is that you have to make sure that your machine is at the best settings for that specific coffee seeds you are grinding. As a matter of fact, each type of coffee you buy will grind way different. The grinding experience may as well change over time. Consequently, you will have to check the tolerance in the grinding time. There are several other micro adjustments that you should make to see changes in this.

This is a guest post by Stacy Thomas

You have put in lots of hard work and effort to convert the dingy and boring basement into your dreamy man cave. Don’t stop with bar counter and bar stools and add finishing touches to make your bar stylish, sophisticated and cozy place to hang around with your pals. You can request free catalogs for inspiration and ideas for decorating your bar or simply check out the tips given below for the same.

Bar Rail Molding

          Installing bar rail molding makes your bar more functional by providing armrest and also keeps floors safe by preventing spill leakages by restricting them to the bar top. It also incorporates professional polish to your home bar. Bar molding comes in different types of wood varieties like Cherry, Oak, Hard Maple, etc. They can cost around $100 for 8 feet of wooden material. Most of the times they are precut to fit bar top and hence are easy to install with help of nails, hammer, light sanding, and varnish so as to complement the bar.

Refrigeration

Instead of old and worn-out mini-fridge opt for kegerators for your DIY home bar. Kegerators are a good option if you are planning to drink or booze beer at home. They keep drinks fresh, chilled and carbonated for comparatively for long duration. For chilled wines and cold mixers, you can opt for under-the-counter temperature controllable beverage centers which will cost you around $500 and are suitable to provide necessary chilliness to your drinks.

Lighting

The proper amount of light is necessary to set the mood and create an ambiance to unwind and relax at your home bar. Lighting plays a significant role in enhancing visual appeal and increasing functionality of your bar. Use of layering technique with ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting is a popular trend among interior experts. Use unique lighting for shelves and cabinets that showcase glasses and bottles. You can buy simple LED lights to illuminate the backdrop and create an appealing visual effect.

For sitting area track lighting or pendant lighting may do the trick by providing a sufficient amount of light without taking much counter space. You can utilize flexible LED strips that can be easily fitted under cabinets or bar top to give sophisticated look. Give your bar flexibility by installing a dimmer switch that lets you control the ambiance of the room with accordance to the occasions.

Upgrading Drinkware

Buy glasses that match the drink that you intend to serve. Cocktails, beers, and wines are served in a specific and particular type of drinkware. You can upgrade your inventory with cocktail napkins, shakers along with a variety of glassware such as identical cut-glass pieces, quirky antic glasses or unique flea market finds.

Back Bar 

          Back Bar designing is as important as other elements in your bar. If you are going to stock variety of liquor then go for glass cabinets or open shelves. But if your bar mostly consists of keg and beer then choose a single large centerpiece like a large mirror, a vintage map or portrait to fill in the empty space. A good mirror visually expands the space while decorative and artistic elements like map or portrait can become part of the overall design.

You can also add many re-purposed items from barrels to bookcases to beer cans and corks/caps in order to showcase your inventive and creative side to the world.

Three-dimensional wall tiles or panels can give an elegant and striking appearance to your back bar. They come in various colors and texture and can be easily found in any home décor stores and have the ability to uplift the style and appearance of your home bar.

Bar Carts

Instead of stationary bar counter opt for bar carts that can be wheeled around. Bar carts come in a variety of styles and materials like wood, metals, and glass and give you the opportunity to serve drinks indoors as well as outdoors. They are a great alternative to serve a large crowd of people when compared to traditional bar counters.

Conclusion

          With proper bar molding, refrigeration, lighting, drinkware, and eye-pleasing bar décor that matches the overall theme of your bar, you are ready to show off your man cave on upcoming Saturday night.

Author Bio

Stacy Thomas is a freelance writer who has been writing for various blogs for the last few years. In this post, he has written about the benefits of Social Media Marketing, Business, Finance, Fashion, Health as well as the features related to the same.