Hermetic seal

A hermetic seal is the quality of something—a container, structure, etc.—being airtight (excluding passage of air, oxygen, or other gases). Used technically, it is stated in conjunction with a specific test method and conditions of use.

Etymology

The word hermetic comes from the Greek god Hermes, via the vocabulary of alchemy. The alchemists invented a process for making an airtight glass tube, which they used for distillation. The process used a secret seal, whose invention was attributed to the legendary inspiration of alchemy, Hermes Trismegistus.

Uses

Some kinds of packaging must maintain a seal against flow of gases: foods, pharmaceuticals, some chemicals, and some consumer goods. The term can describe food preservation practices, such as vacuum packing and canning. Barrier packaging includes containers such as glass, aluminum cans, metal foils, and high barrier plastics.

Buildings designed with sustainable architecture principles use airtight technologies to conserve energy. Under low energy building, passive house, low-energy house, self-sufficient homes, zero energy building, and superinsulation standards, structures must be more air-tight than previously. Air barriers, careful sealing of construction joints and service penetrations (holes for pipes, etc.) achieve this. Airtightness minimizes the amount of warm (or cool) air that can pass through the structure, so the mechanical ventilation system can recover the heat before discharging air externally. Green buildings may include windows that combine triple-pane insulated glazing with argon or krypton gas to reduce thermal conductivity and increase efficiency. In landscape and exterior construction projects, airtight seals protect general service and landscape lighting electrical connections and splices. Many other specific applications must meet airtight standards to be waterproof or vapor-proof for human safety and proper function.

Airtight (G.I. Joe)

Airtight is a fictional character from the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, comic books and cartoon series. He is the G.I. Joe Team's hostile environment specialist and debuted in 1985.

Profile

His real name is Kurt Schnurr and his rank is that of corporal E-4. Airtight was born in New Haven, Connecticut.

Airtight was a misfit kid, who was known for his collection of plastic dinosaurs, and being able to hold his breath the longest. He grew up into the type of adult, who would wade into a cloud of toxic gas strong enough to dissolve lung tissue with one whiff. He is a trained expert in chemical weaponry, and is able to detect, identify, neutralize and contain viruses and poisons. His primary military specialty is CBR (Chemical, Biological and Radiological Warfare), and his secondary military specialty is ordnance. He is noted for being a practical joker, but his actions during battle make up for this reputation.

When the G.I. Joe team temporarily disbanded, Airtight returned to duty in the US Army as a CBR Warfare Specialist, and was eventually promoted to Sergeant E-5. He has been called back to active reserve status upon reinstatement of the team, in the event his skills are needed for a future mission.

Airtight (film)

Airtight is an upcoming American drama thriller film written, produced and directed by Derek Estlin Purvis. A riveting psychological thriller set in a NY mansion and an homage to Alfred Hitchcock, Airtight is based on the true events that inspired a play in the 1920s, an adaptation by Hitchcock in the 1940s and this feature film from 2013. Airtight made good on its attempt to complete the film in fewer shots than Hitchcock did with his, capturing it in full in just 4 shots. A 38-minute single shot anchors the center of the film and is believed to be in the top ten longest single shots in American Film history .

Plot

Bradley and Connor are intellectual elitists who've secretly been planning to murder a former college classmate and close friend, Ronald. Ronald has gathered all of his family and friends to make a big announcement. What Ronald doesn't know is that he will become the victim when Bradley and Connor decide that natural selection is no longer doing its job. It's up to them to force Ronald to defend himself and prove that only the strong survive. Unfortunately, he is physically overpowered, bound, gaged and put into an airtight, soundproof chest in the middle of the living room that will be the stage for the night's festivities. Once they've sealed the chest, there is only one hour's worth of air. He will slowly suffocate right beneath his closest friends and family without them ever knowing.

Ballroom

A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding large formal parties called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms. In other large houses, a large room such as the main drawing room, long gallery, or hall may double as a ballroom, but a good ballroom should have the right type of flooring, such as hardwood flooring or stone flooring (usually marble).

Ballrooms are generally quite large, and may have ceilings higher than other rooms in the same building. The large amount of space for dancing, as well as the highly formal tone of events have given rise to ballroom dancing. The largest balls are now nearly always held in public buildings, and many hotels have a ballroom. They are also designed large to help the sound of orchestras carry well throughout the whole room.

A special case is the annual Vienna Opera Ball, where, just for one night, the auditorium of the Vienna State Opera is turned into a large ballroom. On the eve of the event, the rows of seats are removed from the stalls, and a new floor, level with the stage, is built.

Ballroom dance

Ballroom dance is a set of partner dances, which are enjoyed both socially and competitively around the world. Because of its performance and entertainment aspects, ballroom dance is also widely enjoyed on stage, film, and television.

Ballroom dance may refer, at its widest definition, to almost any type of partner dancing as recreation. However, with the emergence of dancesport in modern times, the term has become narrower in scope, and traditionally refers to the five International Standard and five International Latin style dances (see dance categories below). The two styles, while differing in technique, rhythm and costumes, exemplify core elements of ballroom dancing such as control and cohesiveness. Developed in England, the two styles are now regulated by the World Dance Council (WDC) and the world dancesport federation. (Wdsf). In the United States, two additional variations are popular: American Smooth and American Rhythm, which combine elements of both traditional Latin and Ballroom dances.

Ballroom (musical)

Ballroom is a musical with a book by Jerome Kass and music by Billy Goldenberg and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.

Based on Kass's teleplay for the 1975 Emmy Award-winning television drama Queen of the Stardust Ballroom, the plot focuses on lonely widow Bea Asher, who becomes romantically involved with Alfred Rossi, a mail carrier she meets at the local dance hall. Her dream of a happily-ever-after relationship is shattered when she discovers Alfred hasn't been as honest about his personal life as she thought.

After eleven previews, the Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett, opened on December 14, 1978 at the Majestic Theatre, where it ran for 116 performances. The cast included Dorothy Loudon as Bea and Vincent Gardenia as Alfred. The sets were by Robin Wagner, and Theoni V. Aldredge designed the costumes.

The production was Bennett's first project following A Chorus Line three years earlier.

Song list