#2.5 year installment plan
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so fun fact for my public speaking class this year I had to give a speech on something I'm passionate about and why it's important to my entire class so I did mine on falsettos (slideshow attached)
"When most people think of a musical, they think of big jazz hands and kicklines and cheesy plots. What they are unaware of is how a musical can be much more than that. While big dance numbers are entertaining, music can be used to convey deep emotions and stories that just can’t be translated through regular words. Because of this, Falsettos is one of the most important musicals of our decade. It touched on topics most people in its time wouldn’t even talk about, let alone make a musical on. William Finn and James Lapine, its writers, were able to remind us that families can be much more complicated and deep than a husband, wife, and 2.5 kids. A lot of people don’t live inside that norm, yet it’s the primary one that is represented. Then you get a show like this, which explores conceited parents, difficult love stories, coming to terms with things that are hard, and coming of age. All of these are relatable topics. In this speech, we’ll get into the history, the characters, and the representation in Falsettos. “Love can tell a million stories.” This is the main idea of the show. Because there really are countless different ways a family can be. The show has some trigger warnings: AIDS, death, abuse, somewhat sexual scenes, and cursing. Also, spoilers ahead!
First, we’ll get into the history. The creation of Falsettos is rather unique compared to other musicals. It was originally a trilogy of three one-act, off-broadway musicals, all created by William Finn. All the shows take place in New York City, in the late 70s to early 80s. They center around Marvin, and him exploring his sexual identity. This is mostly what In Trousers (1978) focuses on, and how the women in his life helped him accept that. It was critically acclaimed as a flop, largely based on the topic it portrayed in its era. In the second installment, March of the Falsettos (1981), Marvin’s partner Whizzer gets more involved, and this act focuses on how their relationship affects Marvin’s ex-wife Trina and child Jason. Finally, in Falsettoland (1990), the dynamics of the family are shown much more, especially with Trina and Marvin planning Jason’s bar mitzvah. In 1992, the last two one-acts were combined into one full length show, simply titled Falsettos. (This was nominated for seven Tony awards that year!) The show had a broadway revival in 2016, which spread its popularity (and also what I’ll be referencing here). Also, the history behind the name of the musical is fascinating as well; According to a 2019 interview with SFist, Finn says he was “inspired by the idea of the falsetto — a man singing in his head voice outside his range — as a metaphor for people who exist ‘outside the normal range.’”
Next, the characters. Almost every character is a primary one, but the main character is arguably Marvin. He’s a possessive and insensitive man. He left his wife and child after realizing he wants to be with a man named Whizzer. He’s not exactly a good father and wasn’t a loving husband, but over the course of the play, his character development is prevalent and interesting to watch. Second, Whizzer is Marvin’s live-in boyfriend. According to Marvin, Whizzer is “delightful, stylish, and romantic,” but also “spiteful, sorta-kinda mean, and evil.” Marvin and Whizzer’s relationship is pretty toxic, but improves. Alternatively, there’s also Trina, Marvin’s ex-wife. She’s often described as insecure. A lot of her conflict is her coming to terms with Marvin and Whizzer’s relationship. Trina and Marvin’s son, Jason, is 10 years old, and thinks he is “too smart for his own good, and too good for his sorry little life.” Friendless, he plays chess all day, and has anger management problems. Finally, there is Mendel, the family psychiatrist. He was Marvin’s long-term therapist, but after Marvin insists Trina sees him too, Mendel immediately falls in love with her. Mendel honestly is kind of manipulative, but also a fun character to watch onstage. There’s also Charlotte and Cordelia, the “lesbians from next door.” They’re close family friends, and godparents to Jason. A large part of it is showing how real people behave, including the good and the ugly.
Now into how they’re all important as representation. The main theme is the various family dynamics and relationships- most of us can see aspects of our own families within the characters and plot. For example, in my own family my parents divorced then found new partners or remarried later and I have good friendships with them. First, there are three different types of gendered relationships as shown: a straight relationship, a gay relationship, and a lesbian relationship. Oftentimes in the media, the only kinds of relationships that are shown are straight ones. And for them to all be parents in some sort of way to Jason is even more important- it’s showing queer parents can be good ones too, which is a misconception many people hold (this is, that lgbtq+ parents are inadequate). Second, Falsettos touches on the AIDS crisis, which Whizzer contracts and later dies from. During the ‘80s it was a very big problem but now next to no one talks about it. How it’s portrayed in the show represents how it affected real families and people. Third, Jewish households. This year we all were able to read Night, which showed what Jewish people went through during the holocaust, but not what regular cultural home life is like. One of the main plot points is about Jason’s bar mitzvah, and how he’s not sure if he wants one or not. Jewish expectations and customs are brought up throughout the whole show.
To conclude, Falsettos is a fantastic installment to musical theater. It has original history, complex characters, and overall is an amazing testament to different types of American families. Not only that, its music and book are award winning, according to Broadwayworld.com. And this speech is really only the tip of the iceberg–there’s much, much more to it. Falsettos is definitely the musical you’ve been looking for!"
#falsettos#cborle#christian borle#stephanie j block#not sure how it was recieved i think well#yes i got a good grade#this is my legacy#in trousers#🫡🫡🫡#essay#speech
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Checking in on my 2023 goals!
23 things for 2023
1. buy 1 horse
Done!! Bought Luna!!!
2. Knit a pair of socks
I knit a sock, that I finished today. But I mostly decided I wanted to knit other things instead so this is fine
3. Three camping trips
went to mt of the holy cross, and New Mexico for two camping nights, plus a day hike in winter park. So technically no but pretty close!
4. Plant four pumpkins
…..no. I bought seeds and did nothing and I don’t feel that bad about it
5. Handstand (five fingers) press
Lol no. Did nothing for it. Never made a plan and so did not achieve
6. Kill side yard weeds (because weeds are the devil 666)
Success? I paid a Gardner to pull them all so yes! Feels like a failure because I didn’t really deal with them or the yard in general, but they are all gone now.
7. Go to Loyola social justice meeting (7th heaven)
I went to a meeting! And baked cookies for an event. (And then never went back oops)
8. Mail 8 letters to mates - birthday cards probably
Success! (Rebecca birthday, Sarah birthday, Clare get well card, Callie birthday, Alison birthday, clare birthday, Callie wedding, clare kt recipe card)
9. Research 9 hours of getting a cat (9 lives)
Decided a horse was enough so stopped researching 🤷♀️[ read complete guide to adopting a cat 3 hours]
10. Do ten full pull ups
Total yes, in a row like intended absolutely not. I can do like 2.5 in a row. Made haphazard progress, but now I have a pull up bar so hoping for better next year!
11. Buy 11 things off of my to buy eventually list
Success! This was easy and I did it! (air fryer, air mattress, nice soap dispensers, office mat, thermometer, fire extinguisher, white tank top, little plates, shower cleaner, plastic drain pipes, sheet pan organizer, bonus: back door light bulb, rainbow flag and holder, more bras)
12. Go on 12 dates
Success! I thought this would be really hard but then I just got my boyfriend by like February and it ended up being the easiest ny resolution ever. He even asked me out to start.
13. Run a half marathon 13.1 miles
Success! (Okay this was a gimme because I signed up for it and had a training plan in 2022 but still)
14. Hike a fourteener
Success! mt of the holy cross and it was terrifying and very long but we did it!
15. Read 30 (15x2) books
I read 27 and have three in various states of completion. I kind of wanted to power this one thru but it wouldn’t have been fun and then what’s the point. This one is hard because I abandoned so so many books this year. Like I made it at least one chapter into like 40 and a couple half way thru. So close but no cigar but I refuse to read things that aren’t fun just to hit a goal so I feel fine about it.
16. Host 8 things
Hosted 3, organized a couple others so partial credit. I would like to do better in the future. ( galentines, whimsy brunch, birthday, organized brunch at watercourse, organized lake day)
17. Go out dancing (must be more dancing than drinking, dance class counts.)(dancing queen only 17)
Nope. But also that’s fine.
18. Upgrade phone and deal with all photos. Upload belize to fb and save others. Data management
Mostly. I got an external storage for Christmas so I can finish when I get home. So solid partial credit. (uploaded some. Upgraded phone plus new battery, still need to get data off of it) [email protected] [email protected]
19. General contractor for house cracks plus install air conditioner
Success. Installed ac. Got the cracks looked at once and they were fine and then they got worse and now I’m getting foundation work done. So success I guess.
20. Get 20 layout ds
… I did not count. I def got some but probably not 20 so partial credit. (4 from leiout)
21. Go to frisbee Masters regionals
Success! Another bit of gimme but we went and qualified to nationals!)
22. Buy purple navel jewelry (I’m feeling 22)
Success! (And I love it)
23. volunteer for 23 hours
No and I feel bad about it. I need to find something to volunteer with. I feel like I should have the time/be able to make time but it also feels like I never have time and also never want to. But I think it’s important.
So overall full success on 11 of the goals, happy partial on 5, annoyed partial on 2, abandoned 4 and failed my last one and feel bad about it.
But overall pretty good success!
#New Years goals#23 things for 2023#new years resolutions#recaps#I did my best#and it was fine#but also they didn’t really drive any behavior#well they did help me knit my one sock#and helped motivate the camping trips and hosting I did do#and that’s good#and the mailing letters#so overall it did help with some good things I wanted to more of#so pretty good success
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THE UNITY UPDATE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR
From the official Unity Blog, and from the pricing article:
Basically they've walked back the entire thing that people were up in arms about. This is a step in the right direction, but they've got a ways to go to re-earn people's trust, if they can at all.
Notable policy bits:
Personal Plan license remains free
No Runtime Fee (per install) for games built on Personal Plan
Personal Plan cap (I'm assuming its the revenue cap before you're strongly encouraged/required to upgrade your license) raised from $100,000 to $200,000
You can disable the Made with Unity splash screen now on Personal
Runtime Fee does not apply if you've made less than $1 million in revenue for the past 12 months
Runtime Fee only takes effect on the next LTS version for Unity, in 2024
Games that have been released, are released later this year, or are still in development will not count as long as they stay on versions of Unity prior to the 2024 LTS release.
You still use the ToS that corresponds to your engine version as long as you stay on that version
For the runtime fee, you have a choice between a 2.5% revenue share and fees based on engagement metrics, being billed whichever is smaller (both are self-reported)
Additional tidbits:
Still seems like they want to keep the option of install fees available for the future
Nothing about the fact they took down the ToS github tracker
Although I doubt that it'd be mentioned here, some executive heads should still roll for this mess
Long term Unity is still fucked, this just theoretically means that people who have/had Unity projects can wrap them up before plotting a next move rather than attempt to port engines
Game dev education is probably going to be in a very interesting place for a bit, especially if there is a broader shift away from Unity
Basically, ditch Unity once you can, and stick to the older versions if you can't.
Ideally, don't just jump ship for Unreal or other proprietary, closed-source engines without taking into consideration that there is always a possibility they try to pull this shit later on, too, especially if the market position become practically unassailable (like, say, Unreal's biggest competitor blasting itself in the dick with a shotgun)
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Kroger changes unpopular policy after customer pushback
Daniel Kline
The retailer has faced the same problems as Walmart, Dollar General, and Target but tried to solve them in a different way.
Retailers love selling something that's more work for customers as being about choice or control.
Panera Bread, for example, won't even pour your coffee. The chain hands customers a cup and forces them to assemble their drinks themselves. That does give them full control of their beverage, but Starbucks does the same thing by allowing complete customization in its app.
It's a very fine line between a restaurant offering something that's a benefit, like a salsa bar at a Mexican eatery or the old Roy Rogers' Fixins' bar that let customers truly customize their burgers to a business passing off work from employees to customers. In many cases, self-checkout has been sold to consumers as being about convenience, but in reality, it's about spending less money on labor.
Over the past few years, nearly all the major chains that sell groceries have installed self-checkout lanes. The results, however, have been very mixed as while labor costs come down, shoplifting — both intentional and accidental — goes up.
"39% of all thefts within grocery stores occur at self-checkout," according to data from loss prevention platform Auror which based its information on 2.5 million transactions across 10,000 stores. The average self-checkout theft costs a store $120, or one 8-hour shift of a cashier making $15 an hour.
Kroger has tried all self-checkout stores in very select locations including a store in Tennessee that was retrofitted to remove the traditional checkout lanes. That store was picked because a high number of that location's customers were already using self-checkout, a Kroger spokesperson told WKRN.
"These allow our customers to scan and bag their own items,” said Kroger Corporate Affairs Manager Lauren Bell, told the station, adding that it makes the experience faster.
The chain, however, made it clear that not every checkout clerk was replaced by self-checkout. Bell shared that there were still employees who could help with checkout for those who don't want to or can't use self-checkout.
“We still have staff at the front end ready and willing to step in to assist those customers,” said Bell.
Kroger had tested the self-checkout-only concept in a Dallas store beginning in early 2021. That store was also retrofitted to eliminate traditional cashier-based checkout lanes and some other changes were made.
The retailer added "wide-belted self-checkouts [that] can accommodate large-volume purchases” and “will still have cashiers and courtesy clerks to help customers” who need assistance," NFCW.com reported.
Kroger recently quietly ended the self-checkout-only experiment in Dallas. The company has brought back some tradtiional checkout lanes at the store.
"We listened closely to customer feedback and made the decision to convert back to hosting staffed checkout lanes at this store,” Kroger spokesman John Votava told The Dallas Morning News.
That move comes after key rivals including Target, Walmart, and Dollar General have made self-checkout locations in some stores. Target has imposed item limits at self-checkout in some stores while Walmart has removed self-checkout in select stores.
Walmart has also given employees at some stores the ability to shut off self-checkout so security personnel can check whether a company has not scanned certain items. That's a controversial move because it's being presented to customers as a technology breakdown rather than a stall tactic designed to allow for a bad check.
Dollar General has also decided to cut down its reliance on self-checkout. The company's CEO Todd Vasos talked about the change during his company's third-quarter earnings call.
"We plan to increase the employee presence at the front end of our stores and in particular, the checkout area. While self-checkout has contributed to the convenient proposition for our customers in certain stores, it does not reduce the importance of a friendly, helpful employee who is there to greet customers and assist while the checkout process is happening.," he said.
https://www.thestreet.com/retailers/kroger-ends-unpopular-checkout-policy-after-customer-pushback?fbclid=IwAR11Dd3rbynm4E9WIPywA-UlLHE3jkywFhhitJC_p3XBuXa4KpqB7MRCJoc_aem_ARt9ORqJBslTIhm1vro109TLvdwKKU7tw6vC6bncVFgE9feeWkAG1Ugtltey-U24mbw
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Turkey's foreign affairs committee is scheduled to discuss Finland's Nato membership on Thursday.
That's according to news service STT, a story picked up by many papers, including Maaseudun Tulevaisuus (siirryt toiseen palveluun).
Consideration about Finland's Nato membership can possibly be moved to the general session of the parliament as early as Friday or Saturday, Turkish paper Hürriyet (siirryt toiseen palveluun) reported.
Turkey's parliamentary foreign affairs committee will meet on Thursday afternoon, according to Turkish news agency Anadolu (siirryt toiseen palveluun).
On Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey has decided to start the ratification process of Finland's Nato bid. President Sauli Niinistö met Erdogan in Turkey last week.
At the time, Erdogan said he hoped the ratification would take place before Turkey's May elections, scheduled on 14 May.
Meanwhile, Hungary has said the country's parliament will vote on Finland's Nato membership next Monday.
Turkey and Hungary are the two remaining Nato member states yet to ratify Finland and Sweden's membership applications.
Election debate season in full swing
Yle hosted an election debate between the chairs of the three largest parties on Tuesday night, with Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP), Petteri Orpo (NCP) and Riikka Purra (Finns) fiercely contesting the issues.
Helsingin Sanomat (siirryt toiseen palveluun) was among the papers covering the debate, which at one point dealt with the topic of the possibility of immigration being a way to deal with Finland's labour shortage.
The Finns Party's Purra said,that rather than increasing work-based immigration, Finland could solve personnel shortages in the healthcare sector through salary increases, more study positions and aptitude tests.
The Finns Party stance greatly differs from other leading parties, which generally contend that Finland needs more foreign labour because of its ageing and shrinking population.
Earlier on Tuesday, another election debate hosted by Ilta-Sanomat (siirryt toiseen palveluun) saw Purra and Marin clash over immigration.
Purra said that nurses without language skills are an additional burden and drive nurses out of the field citing nursing unions.
Marin interjected saying that her statement was false.
"This is pure populism! I don't know which nurse you have spoken to, but I have spoken to these organisations," Marin said.
Dumping diesel
A fleet of Finland's largest and heaviest dump trucks are getting electrified, business daily Kauppalehti (siirryt toiseen palveluun) reported.
The Kevitsa open pit mine near Sodankylä in Lapland is 270 metre-deep. Driving from the mine's edge to the centre is about 2.5 kilometres along a switchbacking road.
In a first for Finland, the mine is planning on electrifying 13 dump trucks in its fleet.
The mine is installing pantographs onto the trucks — the same technology already used in electric trams — and creating electric tracks for the trucks to move up and out of the quarry.
The dump trucks are normally powered by diesel and use 15 litres of fuel per kilometre.
Over the next 10 years, the open-pit mine will become about a half a kilometre deeper due to continued mining.
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Canadian miner Brazil Potash presses on with sensitive Amazon project
A unit of Toronto-based miner Brazil Potash is working to keep a $2.5 billion potash project on schedule, as legal challenges are mounting to its plans for extracting the fertilizer ingredient from beneath the Amazon rainforest.
In an interview, Potassio do Brasil Chief Executive Adriano Espeschit described a protracted licensing process hinging on court-supervised talks with the Mura Indigenous people, who have the right to be consulted under an International Labor Organization (ILO) convention.
The proposed mine and processing facilities in Autazes, 75 miles (120 kms) southeast of the Amazonas state capital Manaus, would require about three years to build, Espeschit said.
Consultations with the Mura have no fixed timeline, but he insisted the project remains on track to start production in 2026. Potassio do Brasil is hoping to get a license to start building installations while continuing to engage in the Indigenous consultations, Espeschit said.
The situation highlights risks associated with mining projects in the Amazon at a time when global potash prices have tumbled after steep rises last year.
Continue reading.
Tagging @allthecanadianpolitics.
#brazil#politics#canada#environmentalism#environmental justice#indigenous rights#mining#brazilian politics#mod nise da silveira#image description in alt
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Video game publisher Take-Two Interactive has announced that the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI will be launched in fall 2025. The company has also lowered its bookings forecast, signaling potential challenges ahead. Fans of the popular franchise can now mark their calendars for the release of the next installment of the beloved game series.
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Take-Two Interactive Software recently announced a delay in the release of "Grand Theft Auto VI" to fall 2025, which led to a decrease in their fiscal 2025 bookings forecast. The highly-anticipated game is expected to generate billions in sales yearly, according to analysts. This news caused a 2.5% drop in Take-Two's stock value in early Friday trading.
The company revised its fiscal 2025 bookings outlook to be between $5.55 billion and $5.65 billion, down from the previous estimate of over $7 billion. This adjustment follows similar disappointing forecasts from other gaming companies like Electronic Arts and Roblox. In an effort to cut costs, Take-Two recently laid off 5% of its workforce and canceled several projects in development.
Despite the setback, Take-Two remains optimistic about the future. They anticipate a boost in bookings starting in fiscal 2025, driven by the release of GTA VI and other upcoming titles, including those from their recent acquisition of Gearbox Entertainment, the maker of "Borderlands."
Analysts predict that Gearbox could contribute significant revenue to Take-Two, with some estimating up to $400 million by fiscal year 2027. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick expressed confidence in the company's future success, stating their commitment to delivering growth in net bookings for the next few years.
With a pipeline of 40 titles through fiscal 2027 and 16 titles planned for fiscal 2025, Take-Two is poised for continued growth. Industry experts believe that the launch of GTA VI will drive substantial growth in GTA Online for Take-Two.
Despite a 3% decline in fourth-quarter bookings to $1.35 billion, Take-Two's performance exceeded analysts' expectations. The company's focus on upcoming releases and strategic acquisitions sets the stage for future success in the gaming industry.
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1. When is GTA VI expected to be released?
GTA VI is set to launch in fall 2025.
2. Why did Take-Two lower its bookings forecast?
Take-Two lowered its bookings forecast due to factors affecting game development and Marketing.
3. Will GTA VI be available on all gaming platforms?
Yes, GTA VI is planned to be released on multiple gaming platforms.
4. What can fans expect from GTA VI in terms of gameplay and story?
Fans can expect an immersive open-world experience with a gripping storyline in GTA VI.
5. Are there any pre-order bonuses or special editions for GTA VI?
Details regarding pre-order bonuses and special editions for GTA VI have not been confirmed yet.
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Scotland with Grey- Trains, the Highlands, and Whisky! May 1-2
I asked Grey earlier this year if he would be interested in doing a trip with me somewhere… without any hesitation he immediately said, “Scotland!” And so I planned our next adventure! I did the lions share of the planning as I enjoy planning my Europe trips, but to check with grey about my planned itinerary, I texted him “shall I assume your Scotland requests are: trains, the highlands, and whisky haha” And he replied “💯” and so that is much the theme of our trip :)
Grey is living in Denver now, and so I looked for flights for us with the same layover so we would arrive in Edinburgh together. there was only one option; we would meet up in the toronto airport. The downside was that I was planned to have a 5 hour layover which is definitely on the longer end. So I bought our tickets and then not two weeks later my flight was rescheduled to an EIGHT hour layover which was pretty excessive. I got pretty familiar with the international departures terminal at the Toronto airport, spent time walking laps back and forth, sitting in a variety of chairs for about 45 minutes each. I did get one short nap in which I imagine looked odd laying my head on the table where I was sitting 😂
I am currently getting over a nasty sinus infection and will spare you the gory details but I did drink a lot of tea in the airport, and ate some spicy curry soup for lunch in the hopes it would clear my nose. I also brought the 4th Harry Potter book in French that i am STILL trying to finish- but I read French way slower than English so I would probably finish most English books in 8 hours. I did read like 200 pages of the book over the long day and some on the plane!
Grey showed up after I had been in the airport for about 5.5 hours, by which time I knew all of the best places to sit and the variety of dining options and art installations in the terminal, so we found some dinner and then it was time to board the plane! For some reason, my ticket would NOT let me choose a seat but grey was able to: so he elected to sit next to me, even sacrificing to sit in the middle seat. The Toronto to Edinburgh flight is Very short for an international flight, under 7 total hours. This doesn’t leave much time to actually sleep. Grey and I strategized this oppositely; Grey has a two hour longer time difference to Edinburgh than I do, and so he was essentially planning to push through the flight, sleep a bit on the train the next morning, but more or less doing an all nighter. I need my beauty sleep so I planned to close my eyes the instant the meal was served and keep them closed for 4 hours until breakfast was being served. I am not sure how much I actually slept- thanks to two crying babies that seemed to be keeping each other awake all night on and off, and one crying would usually set off the other one. but Grey only slept for about 30 minutes. Getting off the plane in Edinburgh made me glad we weren’t meeting in the Edinburgh airport- lots more to distract you in the Toronto airport. We then took the tram to the Haymarket train station about a 25 minute ride away and had another wait for our train which left at 10:37 to Inverness. The train left at 8:37 or 10:37, but 8:37 seemed like too tight a connection so I booked the later train. We would have made it in plenty of time, so had to kill like 2.5 hours: went to a little Turkish cafe for breakfast- had some excellent avocado toast, grey had a traditional English breakfast, and I had some delicious lemongrass ginger tea. I was testing a theory about the timing of my caffeine consumption on adjusting to the time difference so I didn’t have coffee on the plane, waiting until about 9:30 am. We went to a cafe next to the Turkish place that had cozy armchairs and Delicious filter coffee- usually I don’t like the actual coffee in Europe, preferring to get espressos, but it was very tasty. There were two Giant very friendly dogs wandering the cafe wanting to play fetch and get pet. It was finally time for our train and both grey and I fell immediately asleep the second we sat down. According to our booking, our seats were forward facing, but when we got to the seats they were backward facing and grey was a little motion sick, but surprisingly I was okay with it. Train seats aren’t That comfortable for sleeping but it still was so much better than the plane!
I slept for about the first hour of the four hour train to our first city, Inverness. I woke up and peeked outside and saw spectacular rolling hills and farmland with sheep, horses and cows and I was suddenly full of energy and enjoyed looking out the window and seeing the sights. I bought more tea when the trolley lady went by on the train with her cart. We went into the highlands, seeing the Cairngorms National Park (which we are visiting tomorrow!) past tons of little towns and villages dotting the hills, and there are yellow gorse bushes that are blooming now and dotting the hills. The trees are *just* starting to bud; another week or two it will really be spring.
I sent my friend Bridget a picture of me wearing my trusty sun hat on the plane and she replied “Yay!!!!! :) I love how you have a sun hat for Scotland! Is it supposed to be sunny at all when you’re there??” which the answer is no, it really was not supposed to be sunny. However I would feel incomplete traveling without a sun hat and also this one is a new one I just purchased for $6 on clearance at target because I left my old one on a train in Amsterdam 😂 however, it actually was sunny for our first day here! Not a cloud in the sky sunny! Not usual for Scotland and likely to be rare for the rest of my trip but now my hat is justified :)
We arrived in Inverness and our air bnb was a short walk away. Not obvious from google maps is that it was a short walk straight up a ton of stairs! Though I crammed everything in a carry on, I did not exactly pack lightly; I was definitely out of breath by the top of the stairs!
Our air bnb is a cute tiny apartment on a quiet residential street a few minutes from the city center. There is a bedroom and a pullout couch in the living room, so Grey doesn’t have to endure my snoring from my sinus congestion lol, and a tiny cute kitchen. our air bnb host sent some welcoming messages and left us some treats and small breakfast items and some milk in the fridge for our tea/ cereal which was nice!
After a quick shower- 24 hours of traveling and I felt like a human being again after that shower! And then we went for a walk around Inverness to kill some time before dinner. This was Beautiful- we walked along the river, past churches, parks, flowers, restaurants, and trees, back and forth across some bridges on the river and winding up at some creatively named islands on the River Ness called the Ness Islands. The sun was out and the people of Inverness were all walking their dogs, strolling along the river and out on bikes, but we were walking away from the city so it wasn’t too crowded. Grey is a very brisk walker so we were booking it around the river, a good reason that we have planned to go on separate hikes later in the week haha. The second half of our walk was significantly less scenic; Grey doesn’t like to walk the same way twice, so we tried to walk back along the opposite bank; an unfortunate construction detour meant we walked most of the way back around a large set of soccer fields and past the construction instead of back along the scenic riverwalk. We then made it to our dinner reservation, which was a sort of trendy American restaurant that served interesting cocktails and burgers, and wouldn’t have felt out of place in Columbus. I had my first scotch of the trip in cocktail form, essentially a scotch and soda with apple, and a pretty solid Mac n cheese. The neighboring table ordered a drink that was poured over a cotton candy base to dissolve, and they had a smoked cocktail that looked incredible but I can’t smell out of my nose so I felt it was a waste to buy a fancier drink if I can’t fully taste 😂 grey had a Scottish beer. When we finished there it was only 6:00, so while I didn’t particularly want another drink, we wound up at another bar for a nightcap. The place wasn’t really our style but we were too tired to find someplace better haha, it was kind of frou frou and looked like a great place for happy hour with the girls haha, and all the cocktails were super sweet and fruity. Grey ordered some scotch and I ordered a fruity cocktail that I did NOT enjoy and still could not taste/ smell so grey also drank that one. We made it back to the apartment at 7, got ready for bed, and chatted until we both crashed at about 8 pm, excited for the trip ahead!
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China's Most Powerful Spectral Telescope Expected To Enter Use in Qinghai in 2026
— Global Times | Editor: Li Yan | January 30, 2023
China's most powerful spectral telescope with an aperture of 4.4 meters which can realize multi-target and high-resolution spectral observation simultaneously is expected to be completed and enter use in 2026 at the Lenghu Astronomical Observation Base, the largest astronomical observation base in Asia.
According to the Lenghu Astronomical Observation Base located in Northwest China’s Qinghai Province, Shanghai Jiao Tong University plans to build a large-aperture multi-functional spectral telescope, Jiaotong University Spectroscopic Telescope (JUST), at the base.
After three years of monitoring and testing conducted by the research team, the location of JUST at the Lenghu Astronomical Observation Base in Lenghu area on Saishiteng Mountain in Qinghai was found to enjoy advantages including good air quality, clear night skies, and other stable atmospheric conditions for constructing the world’s first-class large-scale observation base for optical and infrared astronomy.
So far, a total of 12 telescope projects from 11 scientific research institutes have been launched at the base. After their completion, the base will become Asia’s largest astronomical observation base.
With an aperture of 4.4 meters, the spectral telescope project adopted a lightweight design and is equipped with multiple spectrometers, allowing for rapid switching of target sources and timely spectroscopic observations.
According to the plan, JUST is expected to be completed and put into use in 2026, and carry out research work covering three aspects including exploring the dark universe, tracking the dynamic universe and searching for exoplanets as planned. After the project is completed, it is expected to achieve a series of breakthrough research results with significant impact in the fields of time-domain astronomy, exoplanet search, and cosmic web structure and evolution.
The JUST project is one of the major projects in the astronomical field strategically planned by the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The JUST site will be located near the Lenghu Town on the Saishiteng Mountain in Qinghai.
The JUST will be installed at the point B at an altitude of 4,322 meters above sea level on the Saishiteng Mountain. The current largest dome at the point C at an altitude of 4,200 meters, is the 2.5-meter Wide Field Survey Telescope (WFST) Mozi for time-domain surveys.
After it is completed, the JUST is expected to carry out characteristic spectral observations around scientific goals such as cosmic web structure, multi-messenger astronomy, and exoplanet exploration. By that time, the JUST will be the most powerful spectral telescope in China and will work closely with the survey telescope Mozi and the upcoming space-survey telescope, Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST), to provide indispensable first-hand observation data for the further development of astronomy in China.
JUST’s High-Resolution Spectrometers will realize multi-target and high-resolution spectral observation simultaneously for the first time in the World, expected to greatly improve the efficiency of exoplanet detection.
#Sci-Tech#People’s Republic of China 🇨🇳#Most Powerful | Spectral Telescope#Qinghai#Global Times | Editor: Li Yan#Lenghu Town | Saishiteng Mountain | Qinghai#Wide Field Survey Telescope (WFST) Mozi#High-Resolution Spectrometers
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Everyone wants a piece of that American dream. The white picket fence, the 2.5 kids and dog running around in the pile of dirt? NO! The landscaping on your home is just as much of an important factor on that dream than anything else is. If you need some direction, this article can help lead the way.
While it may be tempting to have a solid cover installed over your out door space, it is a much better idea to install shade bars that are open. Less of the area will be covered, since there is open space, but it will allow more heat to escape so that you will be cooler.
Gather landscaping ideas from home and garden magazines. These magazines often showcase the most beautiful homes, and the most beautiful gardens. Though you might not be able to completely copy the look that you find in the magazine, you can gain inspiration which will help you to end up with a finished product that you are proud of.
Do not settle for outdoor sensor lights nz as a patio or a deck if you are not going to use it. It might be worth it to pay a professional designer to help you create the kind of space and design you will use and enjoy throughout different seasons.
To help pay for your project, you should divide it into different stages. You will only have to pay for one stage at a time. If landscaping is a hobby for you, taking your time is important since creating the landscape is often more fun than maintaining it on a regular basis.
Think about water requirements. If you live in an area that doesn't get a lot of rain, try to use plants that don't require a lot of water. Grass needs more water than any other type of plant, so replace your lawn with wood chips, gravel, or a type of ground cover that is suitable for high drought areas.
When planning your landscape project, include several different species of plants and shrubs. This is beneficial in protecting your yard just in case a disease or insect invades. If you use the same types of plants, they could be attacked at the same time and lost. In order to keep a landscape healthy, choosing a wide variety of species is extremely important.
Contrary to what most people believe, it isn't necessary to have a designer or landscaper do your landscape. Professional landscaping can cost a ton of money. While landscaping is a great do-it-yourself project, it is sometimes prudent to at least consult with a professional who can steer you in the right direction.
Whenever you are designing your own landscape, be sure and make use of stones and pebbles in your design. Decorative stones and pebbles add a nice contrast to the greenery supplied by your plants and can really enhance the look of your entire landscape. Just make sure to pick stones that compliment your landscape.
If you are planning to hire a professional landscaper to design your yard, be sure to ask for references. The pricing of things is important, but you want to make sure the job is done properly.
In order to have greenery year around, remember to include some evergreens and other trees and bushes in your landscape. Many plants only bloom for a short time each year so choosing a variety of plants to bloom throughout the year is important. Add these types of plants between beds to add a green accent to the landscape.
Before you get out the shovel and wheelbarrow, make a careful plan for your landscaping project. You really need to think about what your goals are before you begin. What will you be using this outdoor space for when it is completed? Is it for sitting quietly and reading a book or for entertaining guests? Knowing your goals before starting will help you to achieve your desired outcome.
Don't let your lack of knowledge regarding plants and flowers stop you from having that beautiful yard to go along with your beautiful life. Landscaping is easy if you have the right information and a little bit of know-how. The ideas from this article should, at least, start you out on the right track.
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Bigger and stronger! These industrial projects in Zhaoqing are booming--Where is China worth investing in?--China Industrial Park
Released by Zhaoqing 2023-11-06 19:00 Published in Guangdong
Factory buildings are rising from the ground.
Multiple industrial projects have been completed and put into operation one after another.
Many projects have entered the equipment debugging stage…
The industrial projects in Zhaoqing New District are full of vitality.
The prospect is exciting.
Industry is booming
Recently, located in Zhaoqing New District
Xiangguang Ruihua South Headquarters
and auto parts manufacturing base projects
The installation and commissioning of equipment is being accelerated at a rapid pace.
Trial production is planned for the end of December.
Xiangyang Yangguang Ruizhaoqing Project Leader
We hope to put it into production as soon as possible to meet customer needs.
Xiangyang Yangguang Ruizhaoqing project is the company’s layout
An important production base in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,
Mainly produces car bodies
Stamping parts, welded parts, interior and exterior decorative parts, etc.
The planned annual production capacity of the first phase is 2 million pieces (sets).
They are BYD, Chery, Nissan, Great Wall,
Supplier of Geely and other automobile brands.
"We are very satisfied with Zhaoqing's business environment."
The person in charge of the Ruizhaoqing project of Xiangyang Yangguang said that it had received an unexpected surprise before it was put into production. Because it is close to the OEMs in Guangzhou, Foshan and Zhaoqing, the company can easily obtain cutting-edge information in the industry and actively innovate. This year, it cooperated with one of the OEMs. An electric rear wing product was developed and quickly captured new markets.
"Not only is Xiaopeng here, but there are also many other new energy vehicle-related companies and customers. This is the main reason that attracts us to Zhaoqing."
Changshu Automotive Interior and Exterior Auto Parts Manufacturing Base Project
The main person in charge said,
Their project is based on this advantage.
Therefore, we chose to invest and build a factory in Zhaoqing New District.
The Changshu Automotive Trim Project mainly produces automotive dashboards, sub-dashboards, door panels, pillars, soft interior trims, cladding trims, smart cockpits and other interior and exterior trim parts.
The project is progressing rapidly,
Pile foundation construction will begin in December 2022.
By July, equipment debugging will be basically completed and production work will begin.
It only took 7 months,
Enterprises propose supporting freight logistics channels
Also built and delivered.
The project is currently progressing smoothly,
It is planned to be officially put into production at the end of December.
Production capacity doubled in half a year
Entering the Magic Display Intelligent Industrial Park in Zhaoqing New District
(Hereinafter referred to as "Magic Display") Factory Building A can be seen,
Workers in dust-free uniforms perform their duties,
The production in the workshop is busy but not chaotic and orderly.
Guangdong Magic Display Technology Co., Ltd.
Factory director Jiang Xiaojian said,
The company currently has sufficient orders,
The production line of factory building A in October
Increased production lines from 6 to 7,
Completely achieve full production.
Jiang Xiaojian, Director of Guangdong Magic Display Technology Co., Ltd.
At present, our production capacity is 2.5 million pieces per month, and the monthly output value can reach about 150 million yuan.
According to reports, the project has been underway since April this year
Building A factory introduced equipment,
And began to carry out debugging and trial production work.
By June, three production lines were fully put into use.
Since then, production has been expanded at a rate of one production line per month.
Jiang Xiaojian, Director of Guangdong Magic Display Technology Co., Ltd.
We currently have about 400 employees, and when all seven production lines in Building A are fully equipped, the number of employees is expected to reach about 600.
Jiang Xiaojian said that in addition to the factory building A that has been put into use,
The factory buildings B and C of the project have also been capped.
Building B is currently undergoing renovation work.
It is expected to be put into production next year.
The production scale is equivalent to that of Factory Building A.
By then, the company's active workforce is expected to double.
Magic Display Intelligent Industrial Park
The Moli Display project is one of the key enterprises introduced by Zhaoqing New District around the electronic information industry chain. It is located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Ecological Science and Technology Industrial Park in Zhaoqing New District. The construction content includes 3 production plants and 1 comprehensive building, mainly producing AMOLED new displays. Modules and product applications cover wearable devices, mobile phones, tablets, desktop monitors and other fields.
“The biggest reason for choosing Zhaoqing New District is
It’s because Zhaoqing New District has been implemented very quickly! "
Jiang Xiaojian said,
Choose to invest in Zhaoqing New Area,
Not only because it is located in the Bay Area and has convenient transportation,
Even more so because of the first-class service here.
Excellent service
For a long time, when it comes to "Zhaoqing New District Services",
Corporate customers are talking about it.
Pragmatic style, fast and efficient, meticulous and considerate…
These are all "new area services"
Common adjectives.
The functional departments of Zhaoqing New District have established project specialists.
"Immersive" service company,
When an enterprise raises a problem or appeal,
Ensure leadership and functional departments are informed as soon as possible,
Rushed to the first scene as soon as possible,
Help enterprises coordinate solutions.
Located in Zhaoqing New District
Virginie International High-tech Industrial Park Project
The road on the north side has flooding problems after rain.
After reporting in the project WeChat group,
The leaders of Zhaoqing New District immediately issued "instructions within seconds" in the group
Relevant departments will follow up immediately.
The water accumulation problem was solved in just half an hour.
Enterprises see Zhaoqing New District’s rapid response and
I was deeply moved by the considerate service provided by the proper handling.
I really feel that Zhaoqing New District attaches great importance to enterprises
and a “warm” high-quality business environment.
Zhaoqing New District adopts the "1·24·360" corporate service rule
Go all out to serve the implementation of projects,
Help enterprises develop with high quality,
Adhere to the spirit of serving the enterprise 24 hours a day
Enterprises are also full of praise.
The Enterprise Service Center has established WeChat work groups for 140 companies one by one.
Project enterprise, district leadership team, and various functional departments
and territorial towns and streets can be realized through WeChat groups
Instant communication, real-time feedback,
Enterprises can provide feedback, problems, opinions and suggestions directly at any time.
In the first half of this year, the Asian soda project was discussed in the WeChat group
It is proposed that the project is planned to be put into trial production in June.
Supporting projects of Hope Project
(Permanent water, permanent electricity, natural gas and sewerage network)
Can keep up with the construction progress of the project.
Zhaoqing New District studied and formulated an implementation plan to seize the progress that day.
Water supply, electricity, gas supply and other departments continue to fight "white and black",
The problem of factor protection was solved as quickly as possible.
Asian soda water project from commencement to production
It only lasted 8 months.
also,
Zhaoqing New District also coordinated to solve the construction problems of Changshu and Paige projects,
The Changshu project has permanent electricity, the Shenhe project is connected to water,
Jinhuanyu project water pipe reconnection, Asia Pacific project intersection opened,
Zhenyu project electricity, Honda project fence, etc.
Problems encountered during the implementation of multiple projects,
It provides a strong guarantee for the smooth construction and commissioning of the project.
In recent years, Zhaoqing New District has continuously optimized its business environment.
Help enterprises develop with high quality,
Received unanimous praise from enterprises,
At the same time, it also attracts more companies to settle in Zhaoqing New District.
Share opportunities in the Bay Area and achieve win-win development.
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Volga Tower At JVT Dubai Volga Tower at Jumeirah Village Triangle (JVT) in Dubai, is a brand-new residential project by Tiger Properties featuring luxury-class apartments. This high-rise marvel boasts a contemporary design, exceptional amenities, and a prime location, making it an enticing off-plan investment opportunity.
Amenities
Retail Outlets. GymSwimming Pool. Parking Area CCTV Cameras. Shopping MallChildren Play AreaMosqueSports FacilitiesBBQ AreaSchoolsCommunity ViewsLush Green Parks
*Price range
*1 BHK | 1.5-2.5 M | 800 sqft 2 BHK | 1.8-2.8 M | 1200 sqft *Payment Plan:
52/48*10 % down payment32% during construction (monthly installments)10% on handover 48% handover during 4 years
Contact now for more detailsProperty & Investment ConsultantRasheed Khan
Call/WhatsApp: 00971588244056
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Top Solar Panel Companies in India 2023 -24
India's rapid economic growth is paralleled by the booming solar industry, where Indian solar panel companies are embracing solar power to preserve the Earth for future generations. The solar energy sector holds immense potential, powering industries and homes with sustainable and cost-effective electricity. However, the need for developing the required infrastructure to produce high-quality solar panels and related products in substantial quantities remains. This article presents a comprehensive list of the top solar panel manufacturers/companies in India for 2024, focusing on their contributions to a cleaner environment and free energy solutions.
Tata Power Solar:
Tata Power Solar, a veteran in the industry for over three decades, is a crucial player in solar energy solutions. They provide solar panels for generating clean energy in residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors. Tata Power Solar boasts an impressive in-house production capacity of 635MW for modules and 500MW of cell manufacturing lines with a capacity of 528MW. Their offerings include comprehensive green energy solutions for both rural and urban areas, covering utility-scale projects, solar rooftops, and solar pump systems. Their dedication to providing sustainable energy solutions has positioned them as a leader in the solar panel manufacturing industry.
Rayzon Solar:
Rayzon Solar stands out as a leading Indian solar panel manufacturer, known for innovation and a widespread presence across India, the US, and Europe. With a global customer base exceeding 1,000 satisfied clients, Rayzon Solar has been recognized as a top solar panel manufacturer since 2016. As of 2023, they are aggressively expanding their production capacity from 1.5 GW to an impressive 2.5 GW, highlighting their founder's unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence. Operating in 17 countries, their industrial base in Gujarat showcases cutting-edge (latest) solar technology. The company's plans include significant global expansion, especially in the USA, further solidifying its position in the international solar market and emphasizing its commitment to a sustainable future.
Adani Solar:
Adani Solar has emerged as a prominent solar company, operating as a vertically integrated Solar PV cell and module manufacturer with a remarkable 4 GW manufacturing capacity. They offer a wide range of services across photovoltaic manufacturing and produce high-efficiency solar modules like Monofacial and Bifacial modules using PERC technology, emphasizing superior efficiency, higher performance, and enhanced reliability. Adani Solar is actively working towards creating a 10 GW Solar PV Manufacturing ecosystem in India, underlining their dedication to scaling up solar production within the country.
Waaree Energies Ltd:
Founded in 1989, Waaree Energies Ltd. has traversed a journey of over three decades to become India's largest solar panel manufacturer. With an impressive manufacturing capacity of over 12GW, Waaree Energies holds a significant position in the solar energy sector. They have a vast presence across 380 locations in India and 20 foreign nations, demonstrating their commitment to a global solar presence. Waaree Energies focuses on providing reliable and high-quality solar panels to meet the growing demands of the renewable energy market.
Renewsys India:
Established in 2011, Renewsys India has made significant strides in the solar industry over the past 12 years. They boast a total installed module manufacturing capacity of 2.75 GW and offer a wide range of solar products, including solar panels, PV cells, PV encapsulants (EVA & POE), and PV back sheets. Renewsys supplies solar products to over 40 countries and operates manufacturing plants in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Patalganga, highlighting their commitment to widespread solar adoption and sustainability.
Conclusion:
India's solar industry is experiencing rapid growth, and the focus on sustainable energy solutions is more prominent than ever. The top solar panel manufacturers in India for 2024 are actively contributing to this growth by providing the best solar panels and related products, thus contributing to a cleaner environment and free energy solutions. These companies are essential players in the solar energy sector, shaping a greener and more sustainable future for the nation and the world. Their continuous efforts towards innovation, production capacity expansion, and global reach underscore their commitment to making solar energy accessible and reliable, leading the way towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.
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Plantation Shutters for Sliding Glass Doors: Pros, Cons, and Cost Comparison
Sliding glass doors are a great way to bring natural light and outdoor views into your home. However, they can also pose some challenges when choosing the right window treatments. You want something that can provide privacy, light control, insulation, and style but also allow easy access to the door. One option that can meet all these criteria is plantation shutters.
Plantation shutters are window coverings with horizontal louvers mounted on a frame. They can be opened or closed by tilting the louvers or sliding or folding the panels. Plantation shutters can be made from various materials, such as wood, faux wood, vinyl, or PVC. They can also be customized to fit any size and shape of windows, including sliding glass doors.
But are plantation shutters the best choice for your sliding glass doors? What are the pros and cons of this option? And how much do they cost compared to other alternatives? This article will answer these questions and help you decide if plantation shutters are right for you.
Pros of Plantation Shutters for Sliding Glass Doors
Here are some of the benefits of installing plantation shutters on your sliding glass doors:
Enhances the value of your home: Plantation shutters are considered a permanent fixture that can increase the resale value of your home. They are also attractive and elegant, adding a touch of sophistication and class to your interior design.
You can choose your preferred aesthetic quality: Plantation shutters come in various colors, finishes, styles, and sizes. You can choose the one that matches your taste and complements your décor. Depending on how much light and view you want to let in, you can opt for different louver sizes, ranging from 2.5 inches to 4.5 inches.
Wooden plantation shutters provide insulation: Wood is a natural insulator that can help reduce heat loss or gain through your sliding glass doors. This can lower your energy bills and make your home more comfortable in summer and winter. Wood also absorbs sound, creating a quieter and more peaceful environment.
Hardwood plantation shutters are built to last: Hardwood is a durable and strong material that can withstand wear and tear over time. Unlike other materials that may warp, crack, fade, or peel, hardwood plantation shutters can maintain their shape and appearance for years with proper care and maintenance.
Faux wood plantation shutters resist fading from UV light and moisture: If you prefer a more affordable option than hardwood, faux wood plantation shutters are a good alternative. Faux wood is made from composite materials that mimic the look and feel of real wood but have some advantages over it. Faux wood plantation shutters resist fading from UV light and moisture, making them ideal for humid or sunny areas. They are also easier to clean and maintain than real wood.
Cons of Plantation Shutters for Sliding Glass Doors
Here are some of the drawbacks of installing plantation shutters on your sliding glass doors:
They can be expensive: Plantation shutters are one of the most costly window treatments. The cost depends on several factors, such as the shutters' material, size, style, and installation. On average, you can expect to pay between $20 to $45 per square foot for plantation shutters. A standard sliding glass door measuring 72 inches by 80 inches would cost $720 to $1,620 for the shutters alone.
They can block some views: Plantation shutters offer great light control and privacy, but they also block some views when closed or partially open. Even when fully open, the panels or frames may obstruct some of the scenery outside. If you want to enjoy an unobstructed view of your backyard or patio, there may be better options than plantation shutters.
They can be difficult to operate: Depending on the style and size of your plantation shutters, they can be challenging to open and close. There are two main options for sliding glass doors for plantation shutters: bi-fold or bypass. Bi-fold shutters fold in half like a closet door and open to one side of the opening. Bypass shutters slide on a track behind or in front of each other and open to both sides of the opening. Both options require effort and space, which may need to be more convenient and comfortable for some people.
Cost Comparison of Plantation Shutters for Sliding Glass Doors
To give you an idea of how much plantation shutters cost compared to other window treatments for sliding glass doors, here are some estimates based on the average prices of different products:
Plantation shutters: $720 to $1,620 for a 72-inch by 80-inch sliding glass door
Vertical blinds: $250 to $400 for a 72-inch by 80-inch sliding glass door
Cellular shades: $300 to $600 for a 72-inch by 80-inch sliding glass door
Roller shades: $200 to $400 for a 72-inch by 80-inch sliding glass door
Curtains: $100 to $300 for a 72-inch by 80-inch sliding glass door
As you can see, plantation shutters are significantly more expensive than other window treatments for sliding glass doors. However, they also offer more value, quality, and functionality benefits. Ultimately, the choice depends on your budget, preference, and needs.
Conclusion
Plantation shutters are a versatile and attractive option for sliding glass doors. They can provide your home privacy, light control, insulation, and style. However, they can also be costly, obstructive, and difficult to operate. Before installing plantation shutters on your sliding glass doors, weigh the pros and cons and compare the costs with other alternatives. This way, you can make an informed decision that suits your home and lifestyle.
#home decor#home design#home improvement#home interior#window blinds#window coverings#window furnishing#window shutters#window treatments
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September of 2023 was a great month for Bitcoin mining companies. While the crypto world has been focused on the high-profile court cases regarding SBF and Celsius’ Mashinsky, Bitcoin miners have steadily been improving their hash rates, promising a greater future supply of the first cryptocurrency.
News of record outputs from three Bitcoin mining firms coincides with reports of Kraken witnessing a 5-year ATH of BTC inflow and a 506.06M hash rate spike in mid-September, according to YCharts.
CleanSpark Celebrates Best Year on Record
CleanSpark mined 643 BTC in September, bringing its total BTC holdings to 2,240.
According to the firm’s CEO, these numbers have not only made the past few months their most profitable quarter on record – they’ve turned CleanSpark’s FY23 into their best year to date.
We had our best quarter and best fiscal year ever. Our efficiency is up, our energy costs are among the best in the industry, and our facilities are running at max capacity. I’m especially proud of our teams and leaders who, day in and day out, demonstrate grit@CleanSpark_Inc…
— Zach Bradford (@ZachKBradford) October 3, 2023
Riot Blockchain also reportedly had a great month. Although the firm only mined about half as much as CleanSpark did – a total of 362 BTC – this is largely due to a deal struck with ERCOT, Texas’ electric grid.
This deal paid out over $13 million in energy credits, worth over 500 BTC at current prices.
“By strategically curtailing mining operations, we also received $11.0 million in Power Credits pursuant to our contracts with our utility provider and $2.5 million in Demand Response Credits from participating in ERCOT’s ancillary services program. Combined, total Power and Demand Response Credits received equate to approximately 511 Bitcoin based on the average price of Bitcoin in September.”
Marathon Mines Over 1,000 BTC
Although CleanSpark and Riot Blockchain both had stellar results in September, they were outdone by Marathon Digital Holdings.
According to a press release submitted by the firm, Marathon produced 1,242 BTC during September, bringing its Year-to-Date total to 8610.
Marathon Digital Holdings’ September #Bitcoin Production Update is here:
– Increased Monthly Average Operational Hash Rate 20%
– Produced 1,242 BTC in September 2023 and 8,610 BTC Year-To-Date
– Record Monthly Share of Miner Rewards at 4.3%
– Combined Unrestricted Cash and…
— Marathon Digital Holdings (NASDAQ: MARA) (@MarathonDH) October 4, 2023
Marathon also used the announcement as an opportunity to lay out its plans for the near future.
“Our primary focus is still growth. Now that we have reached our primary domestic growth target of 23 exahashes on an installed basis, we are evaluating multiple opportunities for our next 5 exahashes of hash rate capacity including international locations with low-cost renewable energy.”
However, Marathon’s mining ventures were not without incident. In its race to set new records, it managed to mine an invalid block, for instance, due to an error in arranging its Bitcoin transactions.
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Recaptured Pennsylvania fugitive Danelo Cavalcante has court date pushed back to November
Convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante had his scheduled court date pushed back Wednesday, delaying his next appearance for nearly two months.
Chester County, Pennsylvania, court documents say Cavalcante's preliminary hearing, initially scheduled for Sept. 29, has been pushed back to Nov. 17 at 12 p.m. The rescheduling order was signed Tuesday by Magistrate District Judge Matthew Seavey.
The convicted murderer made national headlines after escaping a Pennsylvania prison and evading capture for two weeks last month.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection BORTAC agents, an elite Border Patrol unit based in El Paso, Texas, that is skilled at apprehension, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operation's Special Response Team played a critical role in capturing Cavalcante, who fled Brazil in 2018 a few months after allegedly shooting a man who owed him money to death.
CONVICTED KILLER DANELO CAVALCANTE CAPTURED IN PENNSYLVANIA NEARLY 2 WEEKS AFTER PRISON ESCAPE
Law enforcement officers escort Danelo Cavalcante from a Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Avondale, Pennsylvania, Sept. 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, file)
At the time of his escape from the Chester County facility on Aug. 31, Cavalcante, who is allegedly in the U.S. illegally, was awaiting transfer to a state prison to serve a life sentence for fatally stabbing ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao 38 times in front of her children in 2021. Cavalcante was eventually recaptured on Sept. 13.
He was charged with escape after his capture, and he remains held at a state prison outside Philadelphia before his next court date.
Cavalcante was captured after a two-week manhunt that left residents on edge and led to school closures right at the start of the academic year, while warnings were issued for homeowners to lock their doors and blocked roads over the busy Labor Day weekend. Last week, the Chester County jail board unanimously approved plans to fully enclose the exercise yards at the facility in Pocopson, southwest of Philadelphia, from which Cavalcante escaped. The project is expected to cost $2.5 to $3.5 million and could take as long as nine months to complete.
TranSystems, a Kansas City, Missouri-based engineering and design company hired for the redesign, said the new enclosures will be a "permanent solution" to the security flaws that Cavalcante exploited by crab-walking up between two walls that were topped with razor wire and then jumping from the roof.
A vehicle leaves the Chester County Correctional Complex as the search continues for Danelo Cavalcante in Pocopson Township, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. Cavalcante escaped from the Chester County Prison Aug. 31. (David Maialetti/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
The redesign plan calls for fully enclosed exercise yards, with 18-foot-high masonry walls to replace fencing and the removal of shed roofs that inmates could scale. The plan also calls for removing basketball hoops. The design notably blocks overhead sunlight into the yard, save for a small ribbon of windows at the top with secure screening.
PENNSYLVANIA KILLER DANELO CAVALCANTE'S SISTER ARRESTED BY ICE; ESCAPEE TRIED TO CONTACT FORMER CO-WORKERS
An LED lighting system will mimic daylight, the company said. The design will prevent escape attempts and block contraband delivery by drones or other remote devices, according to TranSystem. The jail's acting warden also proposed additional security upgrades — including the installation of at least 50 new cameras and the hiring of eight more guards — that were also approved by the board. Funding will come from the county's remaining federal pandemic relief allotment, according to The Associated Press.
Danelo Cavalcante was captured alive without a single shot fired, officials said. (Pennsylvania State Police)
Other planned changes include brightly colored inmate uniforms that are easier to spot in an escape attempt.
There have been three escapes — including Cavalcante’s — from Chester County jail facilities since 2015, according to state records.
While on the lam, Cavalcante is said to have stolen a .22-caliber rifle with a mounted scope and flashlight from an open garage, sources previously told Fox News.
Pennsylvania officials released the mugshot for Danelo Cavalcante after he was captured, nearly two weeks after he escaped from Chester County Prison. (Pennsylvania Department of Corrections )
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Chester County commissioners held its third town hall meeting Monday for residents who spent weeks on edge after Cavalcante's brazen escape, CBS News reported.
The town hall meeting Monday took place at Owen J. Roberts Middle School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. While cameras and recording devices reportedly were not allowed at the meeting, Chester County Department of Emergency Services reviewed the emergency 911 notification system in detail with concerned residents. "It's important for us to get the info out because what we discovered was not everyone was getting the information when they thought they should have," Chester County Prison Acting Warden Howard Holland told CBS News afterward.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @danimwallace.
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