Tips for Novice Skiers

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A product development specialist for nearly 30 years, Thomas Allen Disselkamp works for the 3M Company in St. Paul, Minnesota, where the quality of his work has earned him several professional awards. Outside of his job, Thomas Allen (Tom) Disselkamp enjoys a number of outdoor hobbies, including skiing.

If you will be skiing for the first time, keep these tips in mind:

1. Don’t look down at the tips of your skis. When you’re just starting, you may be tempted to look down and make sure you’re doing things correctly. But when you do, you’re not paying attention to the terrain around you. Accidents happen when you don’t pay attention.

2. Dress appropriately. Ski clothing is best worn in layers. Try three separate layers, the first base layer to keep you dry and wick away sweat, the second to keep you warm (think fleece or wool), and a third layer that is waterproof and windproof but breathable.

3. Bend your knees. Squatting for long periods may tempt you to straighten your legs, but this will spoil your form. Try to keep your heel in the heel cup of your boots at all times. If that doesn’t help, try bending your knees more.

A Tangy Grilling Sauce Incorporating Fresh Plums

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Thomas Allen “Tom” Disselkamp is a longtime Minnesota product engineer who works with the Infection Prevention Division at 3M. With a passion for grilling meats and vegetables, Thomas Disselkamp enjoys creating rubs and sauces from scratch.

One of the creative ways of adding flavor to a barbecue sauce is through seasonal elements such as apricots, cranberries, and plums. The last is a key ingredient in a grilling sauce that effectively combines a slight sweetness with tartness designed to bring out the flavor of the meat.

In addition to plums, the recipe incorporates catsup, honey, and red wine vinegar. Adding subtle spice touches are smoked paprika, Dijon mustard, and chopped shallots, with the mixture brought to a boil in a saucepan before being cooked at a simmer for about 20 minutes.

Once the sauce is thick, it is put through a blender to give it a consistency perfect for slathering on meat or veggies. The end result is a distinctively, tangy sauce that can be kept refrigerated for up to two weeks without any issues.

3M’s SoluPrep Film-Forming Sterile Surgical Solution Earns ESP Award

Surgery scissors
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A longtime Minnesota electronic hard goods engineer, Thomas Allen “Tom” Disselkamp is focused on product development at 3M’s Infection Prevention Division. One 3M product created in Thomas Disselkamp’s division, the SoluPrep Film-Forming Sterile Surgical Solution, was recognized in 2018 with an ESP Award in the category of Patient Prep.

As described by ECN Magazine, the product stands as the sole surgical prep product with a sterile solution that has earned FDA approval. Released in 2018, the innovative alcohol- and CHG-based patient skin prep solution is designed to provide “quick kill” of a broad spectrum of bacteria while ensuring antimicrobial persistence over 96 hours.

A key innovation involves using a proprietary 3M Prep Protection Film that incorporates advanced adhesive and polymer technologies. This helps ensure that the CHG active ingredient remains on the skin as it forms a durable, water-insoluble film. In addition, the prep’s high viscosity minimizes runniness, with nurses able to clearly recognize the bright green tint on a full range of skin tones.

Understanding RoHS and WEEE Compliance for Electronics

Thomas “Tom” Allen Disselkamp is an electrical engineer working as a product development specialist at 3M Company. In this role, Thomas Disselkamp ensures all new products meet global safety standards such as RoHS and WEEE. 

RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) is a directive covering the production of electronics and electrical equipment. Developed in the European Union, RoHS limits the use of 10 known hazardous materials, among them cadmium, lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Specifically, it prohibits manufacturers from using more than the allowed quantities of those substances in electronics or electrical equipment.

WEEE (waste from electrical and electronic equipment) is related to RoHS. While the latter restricts usage of hazardous materials, the former provides for means of recovery and recycling of electrical equipment and electronics. WEEE encourages manufacturers to create environmentally safe products and educate end users on appropriate and safe means of disposing those products. Specifically, WEEE requires manufacturers to create user guides for dismantling products, give instructions for removing batteries, and make available to users information on disposal methods. This disposal information includes directions to drop-off and collection points.

Traditional Victorian Parlor Games

Thomas Allen Disselkamp, who also goes by Tom, has served as a product development specialist for the multinational corporation 3M for more than three decades. Outside of his work, Tom Disselkamp pursues multiple interests, including scuba diving, traveling, and playing parlor games. 

Parlor games were a predecessor of board games and gained popularity during the Victorian age. Some of the most commonly played parlor games of that era are described below.

1. Blind Man’s Bluff. Blind man’s bluff was once a popular Christmas-time game. During each round, one blindfolded person is ‘It’ and attempts to catch the other players as they move around the room. If a player is caught, ‘It’ must identify the person by name. If the guess is correct, the caught player is blindfolded and becomes the new ‘It’. If the guess is incorrect, the person must be released and the game continues.

2. Twenty Questions. Still played today, the guessing game twenty questions originated as a Victorian pastime. Players take turns asking yes or no questions to figure out what object, person, or place one player is thinking of. The game ends just after one guess, so players must be certain before they attempt to guess the answer.

3. Snapdragon. This game has since fallen out of favor, but was once a very common tradition during the holiday season. Players gather around a bowl of brandy mixed with raisins or almonds. The bowl is then set on fire. The players would then attempt to grab a raisin from the flaming bowl and often got burned in process.

The Best Day Hike in New Zealand

With more than three decades of experience guiding the creation of computer, electronic, mechanical, and optical systems, Thomas (Tom) Disselkamp serves as a product development specialist at 3M Company in St. Paul, Minnesota. An avid hiker and traveler, Thomas Allen Disselkamp has spent time exploring New Zealand.

Often known for its stunning landscapes seen in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, New Zealand features a variety of spectacular trails for hikers to explore. The Tongariro Crossing, called the “world's greatest day hike,” passes through Tongariro National Park and by three volcanoes, including Mt. Ngauruhoe, which appeared in the films as Mount Doom.

Since the hike covers 12.1 miles one way, hikers will likely wish to arrange transportation by shuttle bus to and from the start and end locations. The most recommended route begins at Mangatepopo car park and ends at Ketetahi car park.

The Tongariro Crossing offers spectacular views of volcanic scenery, including steam vents, as well as alpine desert. Other features along the way include the Emerald Lakes and the Red Crater, the park's highest point.

A Fitness Plan for Beginning Walkers

As a product development specialist, Thomas Allen (Tom) Disselkamp manages senior technical staff in various applications for the 3M Company. Giving back to his community, Thomas Disselkamp also raises funds for the American Diabetes Association.

Recommending regular exercise, the association has created an incremental beginning fitness program for walkers that takes advantage of that activity’s ease, safety, and health benefits.

Inactive persons can start with 10-minute sessions, increasing three to five minutes at a time as they adjust to exertion. You should eventually be walking 30 minutes a day for five days, measuring your progress with a watch or pedometer.

Warm up by walking in place or moving at a slow rate for three to five minutes. Take five to ten minutes to stretch after warm-up or walking. Maintain good posture (chin up, looking forward) and wear walking shoes to reduce the chance of injury and increase comfort. Drinking plenty of water before you go out is always a good idea.

Once this is routine, add on these elements for even greater fitness: speed up for short intervals to boost your heart rate, and lengthen your walks to build endurance, mixing in some hill travel. You can also change things up with a fast, short walk on some days and a long, brisk walk on others. Finally, add some variety by bringing a friend or listening to music.