Equipment

The Port of Los Angeles said Wednesday it plans to cancel a controversial contract with a Chinese company to buy an X-ray unit designed to scan cargo for dangerous devices. Port officials said the $2.4-million Mobile Linear Accelerator X-ray Scanning Unit failed field tests during the 6-month period specified in the April 2008 contract with Beijing-based Nuctech Inc. As a result, the unit, which is currently installed on a diesel truck, will be returned to the manufacturer.

California regulators want to expand a pilot program under which utilities offer interest-free loans to small businesses that want to buy energy-efficient gear. The three big utilities that tried the program last year are on board to enlarge the effort.

The travel, the adventure, the fitness. Bike touring, currently enjoying a renaissance, is the same body-and-mind journey of discovery it's been since the Jack Kerouac era, with one exception: The gear's a lot better. The top-of-the-line cargo carriers here -- heavy-duty, waterproof, huge -- let you lug along all the creature comforts you can't live without . . . for decades. They even do the job if you're not into touring any farther than the end of your neighborhood.

INFRARED burners are a hot option on gas barbecues, but are we merely buying marketing sizzle instead of cooking a better steak? The intense heat of infrared energy, the pitch goes, allows backyard grillers to sear meat the way steakhouse chefs do.

NASA said Friday that it terminated its contract with a Houston company selected in June to supply the space agency's next-generation space suit. NASA said it determined that an unspecified compliance issue required it to halt its contract with Oceaneering International Inc., best known for providing deep-water services and products to the oil and gas industry.

Computer systems and telecommunications equipment used by federal agencies for security operations at Los Angeles International Airport are vulnerable to theft, tampering and failure, according to a new report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

A ski vacation or other cold-weather outing can be less chilling when using the following new products. All items have been tested by the author. --- Toasty tootsies Once you've slipped on Sierra Designs' new DriZone Down Booties, you may never want to take them off. The soft nylon ripstop booties are filled with thick featherweight down up to the calf. A thick-ridged rubber sole lets you venture outside -- perhaps to an informal dinner or a gathering around a campfire.

Ah, the joys of the tropics: warm weather, clear skies, sunburned faces. We tested several products that advertise they'll help buyers avoid overexposure to the sun's rays. Some -- like a sunbrella (an umbrella that supposedly blocks 98% of the sun's rays) -- were more bothersome than beneficial. But a couple of new hats made our wish list. Besides looking fun, both have high sun-protective ratings.

Time is of the essence, especially when ignoring it means you'll miss a plane or a chance to seal a business deal. Hotel alarm clocks are not always easy to set, and you know what can happen when you rely on a wake-up call. Cellphones have alarms -- but batteries die at the worst times. So travel clocks are still vital. --- THE SOFT TOUCH First look: Sharper Image's Travel Sound Soother 20 (SI601TNM) was a hit with the Travel staff.

One of the highlights of any camping trip is sitting down to a meal cooked over an open grill, the scent of flame-broiled vittles wafting through a pine canopy. To eliminate the hassle of hauling a bulky, heavy campfire grill into the backcountry, outdoor-gear makers offer various models of portable, collapsible grills -- some so small they can fit into a backpack. We tested three versions in a camp-like setting. OK, so we cooked burgers on them in the backyard.