#also his surface is super chipped and has a lot of his coloring coming off

[betweenblackberrybranches]

And in the pond the full moon and its namesake reflected their light and Moon looked up at the night sky for the first time after a centuries long slumber.

A small automaton au snippet from Sun and Moons past

#automaton au #fnaf dca #daycare attendant #moondrop #fnaf moon #okay i said that i was only gonna do comfort doodles but here i go #just giving you even more mysterious snippets of automaton au lore #i just wanted to draw water lilies and then this happened #moon is super disorientated in this heh groggy moon #also his surface is super chipped and has a lot of his coloring coming off #were have we seen that vail before? #and yea thats the reflection of the moon there next to his head #i just couldnt get it to fully look right

[unrestedjade]

Baseless Ferengi headcanons no one asked for and that get increasingly queer-navel-gazing and self indulgent because the horrible space goblins have consumed my brain:

- Mobile ears, because if hearing is so well developed and important to them they should be able to aim those big stupid radar dishes. Also because then they can emote with them and that's cute. THE AESTHETIC IS PARAMOUNT.

- Since they canonically sharpen their teeth with chew sticks and sharpeners, their teeth must grow continuously. So I submit: subcultures that let certain teeth grow out as a fashion/political statement. Ferengi punks and anarchists with 5" tusks. Ferengi with all their teeth filed flat (mom and dad HATE it).

- Corollary to the above, most of their teeth are crooked. At the least, they don't share our fetish for straight teeth. What if their teeth are deciduous, and there's no point in trying to force them into perfect alignment, since they'll just fall out and get replaced? So like, sharks but their teeth can also grow longer with no limit. WHAT HAST EVOLUTION WROUGHT ON FERENGINAR :V

- Parents nagging their kids to sharpen their teeth "or they'll grow up into your brain and you'll die :)"

- Personal space? Don't know her.

Okay I need a cut because there's too many now. WHOLE SOCIETY OF GAY HOMOPHOBIC UNCLES AND AUNTS GO I HAVE A PROBLEM

- I can't remember who on here put forth the idea of them having retractable claws but Yes. :3

- Pushing back against the worst canon episode a bit but: relative ear size being the only obvious sexually dimorphic trait, and even that having enough of a gray area that the only way to be 100% sure you're talking to a male or female Ferengi is if you do a blood test. Unless they're intersex! *shrug emoji*

- This is why they're so fanatical about gender conformity and their Victorian "separate spheres" attitude to men and women's roles. Capitalist patriarchy is fragile! And as artificial to Ferengi as it ever was to Humans! (self-indulgenceeeee about gender shiiiiit)

- You know how with domesticated rabbits, the rabbit getting groomed and paid attention to is the boss? Yeah. Go ahead and paint your bestie's nails, just don't be surprised if she cops a little bit of an attitude with you from then on.

- Their fight/flight/freeze/fawn instincts skew heavily toward the last three, and what a lot of other species read as annoying sucking up is the Ferengi in question feeling anxious and unsafe. Especially if they don't feel integrated into the group. Even being at the bottom of the pecking order is better than not being in the flock at all.

- If they DO opt for fight, it's ugly and typically their last resort. Bites or scratches will get infected without intervention-- microbes that their immune system can handle could cause big trouble for aliens. You might wanna check for full or partial teeth that break off and get lodged in the wound, too.

- Too many of these are tooth related but I don't care. :B More teeth stuff: you know what else has teeth that grow constantly? Puffer fish. Likewise, Ferengi can chew up mollusk shells as easy as potato chips, and they need the minerals for their teeth. (Imagine grandpa Sisko offering Nog a crayfish for the first time and watching as he just...pops the whole damn thing in his mouth and crunches away...)

- Their staple foods seem to be grubs and other arthropods, high in protein and fat. I've unilaterally decided their cuisine also involves a lot of edible fungi, ferns, plant shoots and seeds. Gotta get those vitamins. Overall flavor profile leaning toward umami, vegetal, and fresh herbs, and pretty mild (or "delicate" if you wanna be snooty about it, which a Ferengi probably would let's be real).

- Not much sugary food. I'm basing this solely on Quark's aversion to root beer as "cloying". Which could definitely just be his personal preference, but most of the people I hear hating on root beer cite the actual sassafras/sarsaparilla flavor (saying it tastes like medicine) not the sweetness. Nog might be the weirdo outlier for being able to enjoy it.

- Their home planet isn't bright and sunny, so their eyes are better at discerning shades of gray in low light conditions, with relatively weak color vision. Which could explain why they dress Like That.

- Conversely, human music has a reputation for stinking on ice because a lot of it is juuuuust lightly dissonant or out of tune because we can't pick up flaws that small. Ferengi can, and it drives them up the *wall*.

- Music? So many different kinds. Traditionally, maybe lots of percussion and winds, and water as a common component of many instruments to alter pitch or tone. Polyphony out the ass. Some of the modern stuff is an impenetrable wall of sound if you're not a species with a lot of brain real estate devoted to processing sounds. Pick out one melody to follow at a time.

- Yes, back to teeth again I'm sorry. It's a sickness. At some point in their history, pre-chewing food was just something you did for your baby or great grandma as a matter of necessity. Possibly your baby gets an important boost to their immune system and gut biome from your spit. At some point takes on a more formal intimacy aspect and gradually drifted from something all adults and older kids do to something only women do. Your husband and older kids have perfectly functional teeth, but you love them, right? =_= (Think old memes about husbands being useless in the kitchen if little wifey isn't there to cook, but even more ridiculous. Ishka was right about everything but especially this. Thank you for making your family chew their own food, Ishka. Not all heroes wear capes. Or anything!)

- How did they get started on the whole men: clothed vs women: unclothed nonsense? My equally stupid idea: men just get cold easier. Those huge ears dissipate a ton of body heat. Cue Ferengi cliches like "jeez, we could be standing on the surface of the sun and my husband would put on another layer." At some point, again, this got codified and pushed to ridiculous extremes in the name of controlling women and keeping everyone in their assigned box, to the point that women just have to shiver if they really are too cold and men have to pass out from heat stroke if the alternative is going shirtless, because That Would Be Inappropriate.

- Marriages default to five years, but they're also the only avenue for women to have their own household or any stability. Plus their religion places no emphasis on purity save for pure adherence to the free market and the RoA. So, curveball to the rest of their patriarchal bullshit: female virginity isn't a concern in the least. Bring it up and they'll rightly side-eye you.

- Family law is absolutely bonkers and lawyers that specialize in it make BANK. I feel like custody would default to the father usually but oh wait, the maternal grandfather has a legal stake in this, too, and your next father-in-law is asking HOW many kids are you dragging into my daughter's house, etc etc. Growing up with a full sibling is way rarer than growing up with half or stepsiblings, since it usually takes both men and women two or three tries to find someone they vibe with. (Not love, unless you're super cringe.)

- A misogynistic society is a homophobic society. Imo those flavors of shittiness just come in pairs. Homosexual behaviors are fine within certain parameters (aka "always have sex with the boss") but not on your own terms. To add spice, bisexuality is their most common mode (because I'm bi and these are my hcs for my fics I'm not writing, so there), but capitalism demands fresh grist for the mill so you better get het-married and pop out some kids you lowly peons. You have a choice so make the proper one. :)

- Corollary to the above, that doesn't keep all kinds of illicit "we're just friends with quid-pro-quo benefits for realsies" affairs of every stripe and every gender from going on everywhere. Many Ferengi have a lightbulb moment somewhere in early adulthood when they figure out their dad's business partner or the "auntie" who visited their mom every month had a little more going on.

- Plus there's way more gender non-conformity and varying degrees of trans-ing than the powers that be have a handle on. Pel isn't unique, even if most would have to somehow make it out into space to be able to thrive.

Damn a lot of these are just my personal bugbears plus THE GILDED AGE BUT WITH HAIRLESS SPACE RODENTS ain't they

- Women can't earn profit, okay. But lending or "lending" things to each other isn't commerce, riiiiiiight? To be assigned female is to master navigating a vast, dizzying barter/gift economy. Smart boys and men leverage this, too, and there are splinter sects that view this as the purest expression of the Great Material Continuum.

- Of course plenty of women make profit anyway, and just do their bast to dodge the FCA. The tough thing about insisting on using latinum as currency is that cash can be so hard to track, you know?

- Because of the RoA, guys are discouraged from doing favors or giving gifts without setting clear expectation of getting some return on investment. This can twist into an expression of friendship (and of course women do it too), and the ledger will keep cycling between debit and credit among friends for decades. A common mistake aliens make is to tell them recompense isn't needed without explaining why, or return their favor or present with something that zeroes out the debt. The Ferengi will assume you want to break off the friendship. (I cribbed this from dim memories of an African studies course I took in 2007 and whose textbook I know I still have but I can't frigging find it...)

- Flirting, they do a lot of it for a lot of reasons. Roddenberry made it clear that they're just straight up pretty horny, but there's no reason it can't pull double duty for building alliances with other people, smoothing over feuds or disagreements, or cementing friendships. Ferengi who are ace and/or sex-repulsed are possibly viewed similar to the way we'd view someone who's "not a hugger/not big on touching" and if they flirt just don't get offended if it doesn't go any further; aro Ferengi don't garner much comment aside from an occasional "wow how badass, never falling in love with anyone."

- where to even start on making sense of the Blessed Exchequer??? Like seriously, what is this literal prosperity gospel insanity, I need to force myself to re-read Rand and like, some Milton Friedman for this shit. Help.

- fuck I'm probably going to actually do that, RIP me...

#ds9 #star trek #meta #ferengi #i love them Too Much help #reliving my brief libertarian phase from high school from the opposite direction #my heart wants to make them simultaneously as queer and as repressed as possible #i didn't even make it to the goddamned blessed exchequer my head is too full #i will find beauty in this vulgarity if it kills me #this is too long #why did i spend my time this way

[dramaticviolincrescendo]

How would describe shameless to someone who never heard of it? How would you describe the specific characters?

I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve these super fun asks, but thank you so much! :D It’s funny that you sent this because I did actually describe the show to someone not too long ago, and I didn’t like how I did it in hindsight. I felt like I didn’t do it enough justice. So, I get a second chance to try again!

“How would you describe Shameless to someone who never heard of it?”

Shameless is a show about how life doesn’t always go our way, we don’t always do the right thing, and we’re all imperfect beings—but we still deserve a chance regardless. The Gallaghers begin the series nearly at rock bottom, doing anything they have to for their literal survival, but also to keep their family together. Sometimes that means supporting each other when they’re in a difficult spot, banding together to help their neglectful father even though he doesn’t deserve it, or even committing petty crimes to sustain their meager way of life. As they get older and have more agency in and control over their lives, the nature of their problems shifts, and they learn from their own mistakes rather than reacting to their parents’. The same trends unfold for the people and families in their orbit, showing that various trials and tribulations can impact anyone of any social standing. Not everyone gets a happy ending; not everyone gets what they want. However, they grow and learn how to manage both the hand that they’ve been dealt as well as the bed they’ve made for themselves. That, after all, is life.

Shameless is a “dramedy” where the comedy elements utilize primarily satire, which sets it apart from the popularity of slapstick and dry comedies over the last decade. By nature, the show therefore addresses difficult, uncomfortable, and controversial topics in manners and utilizing methods that are designed to make us laugh at the absurdity while forcing us to think about these topics in ways that we may have avoided otherwise. This format has been established since the pilot episode and certainly is not to everyone’s taste. I wouldn’t recommend this show to anyone who prefers that such issues be addressed with a deeper analysis on the part of the characters rather than the audience, which is the general tendency in drama pieces rather than shows of this genre.

“How would you describe the specific characters?”

For this, I’ll focus on the main Gallagher family, Kev, V, and Mickey, as they’ve been the constant presences on the show since the start. I’ll also keep it relatively short since I could write essays on each one, and that would bore anyone who hasn’t heard of Shameless (and 95% of those who have) to tears.

1.      Frank Gallagher is the stereotypical “deadbeat” who plays the system for every penny so that he doesn’t have to work, choosing to fund his addictions rather than support his family. He will go to any lengths if it means preserving this lifestyle—mild, absurd, and even heinous. He functions as something of an anti-hero, being more a threat to the family’s stability in early seasons than a boon and gradually sinking into obscurity because of his children’s growing indifference as he burns one bridge after another with them. Frank prides himself on espousing only the values that will get him what he wants in a given circumstance. In specific instances, that has meant showing a measure of love and affection for his children that evidence has proven exists deep, deep below the surface. In others, he’s a wild card. Frank’s various fatal flaws have included arrogance, addiction, selfishness, and an avoidance of any and all responsibility.

2.      Fiona Gallagher is the eldest and began the series as the rock of the family because, to put it simply, she was the only person able to do it. She selflessly cared for her younger siblings so that they wouldn’t be scattered into foster homes or adoption thanks to her parents’ neglect, even to the point where she gave up portions of her life and blurred the lines between her roles as sister versus caregiver, which became a sticking point in later seasons when her siblings didn’t need or want a mother-figure anymore. While Fiona was initially very responsible with regards to raising her siblings, she therefore sacrificed a lot of opportunities that were important for her development as a young adult and exhibited an immaturity typical of people her age that impacted other arenas of her life, especially relationships. As her role as caregiver dwindled, that immaturity and the norms prevalent in her environment became more pronounced with her newfound freedom, and she struggled greatly in the face of what she viewed as making up for lost time. Fiona’s various fatal flaws have included ambition, a “martyr complex,” and viewing her family as an impediment to her ambitions later in life instead of a support system.

3.      Lip Gallagher is the oldest son. He began the series with a hefty chip on his shoulder. Intelligent, quick-witted, and calculating, Lip was constantly referred to as a sort of diamond in the rough and clearly came to believe it. This led to a very fascinating dynamic within the family and his other interpersonal relationships as his love for and desire to protect his family was balanced by a sense that his way was the best way—the only way, really. A combination of poor choices and unfortunate circumstances beyond his control resulted in a very real “fall from grace,” by South Side standards, and Lip has worked hard to claw his way back from where he was in the middle of the series. Where Fiona spiraled further as she withdrew from her family, Lip leaned on them and others in his support system—and it saved him. Lip’s various fatal flaws have included arrogance, contempt for power structures in which he is not at the top, and trying to solve other people’s problems at the expense of dealing with his own.

4.      Ian Gallagher is the middle child and something of an outlier in his own right where his family is concerned. He began the series seeming to have his shit together: he balanced school, ROTC, and work, excelling in all three at just fifteen years old. He was plagued by his status in the family at times, not old enough to have more control over his situation while not young enough to shrug off a lot of it on Fiona and Lip, and wanted something for himself more than anything. It’s that combination that put him in an extremely vulnerable position, because while he was the picture of responsibility and didn’t orchestrate as many scams as his siblings (though he was involved in plenty—he is South Side and a Gallagher, after all), it gave him—and his family—the false impression that he was more mature and in control than he was. Multiple older men preyed on him because of that, and in his thirst to find something that was solely his and someone he could care for outside his household, he viewed them as relationships rather than abuse. Like Lip, Ian truly hit rock bottom in a different manner, although the causes of his descent were more heavily skewed beyond his control. In true Ian form, however, he remains driven to find the straight and narrow—and stick to it as much as he can. Ian’s various fatal flaws have included ambition, a “hero complex,” compartmentalizing to the point of narrowmindedness or naïveté, and ignoring his own needs in pursuit of fulfilling others’.

5.      Debbie Gallagher is similar to Lip in that she has always been clever, cunning, and driven to get what she wants. Debbie began the series in a difficult position, going to school and contributing to the household while ultimately not in control of anything that was going on. From the start, all she wanted was a functional family, and it colored her behavior throughout the first six seasons of the show. In many cases, that meant doing whatever she could to hold everyone together: investigating Fiona’s lying boyfriend, running a daycare so that Fiona could work all night and still find time to sleep, prompting Fiona to more actively worry when Ian ran away and helping Lip locate him, and caring for Liam a lot of the time while he was a baby. Over the years, as the dysfunctions racked up, she sought an escape through boyfriends and a baby of her own. The means by which she attempted and ultimately failed to achieve these goals were at times reprehensible and spurred on by both her immature ignorance and the culture in which she was raised. Debbie’s various fatal flaws have included self-centeredness, envy, manipulative tendencies, and not thinking or caring about the implications and consequences of her actions for herself or the people involved.

6.      Carl Gallagher began the series as a real mess. The word “sociopath” comes to mind. He was the stereotypical “wild child” whose behavior embodied the dysfunctional nature of the family and their environment. He destroyed toys for fun, tortured animals, physically bullied children at school, and was held back multiple times for poor academic performance. Carl was never as academically bright as the other Gallagher siblings, but his street smarts were nigh unparalleled and, like Lip, he could probably survive anywhere. Over time, Carl underwent a remarkable transformation: embracing the negative stereotypes of his environment, he dove towards rock bottom with gusto only to realize that the thug life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Once again, he paralleled Lip and Ian’s trajectory in leaning on his family when it became too much, and he’s turned his entire life in the opposite direction to pursue a path that he hopes will lead to helping people rather than hurting them for his own gain or reputation. Carl’s various fatal flaws have included lack of foresight, a penchant for violence, and ignorance.

7.      Liam Gallagher is still very young and therefore tougher to fully characterize as his development isn’t as extensive. Right now, he’s the same age Debbie was when the show began, and we’ve seen just how far she’s come. So, for the time being, Liam is extremely bright and has grown up with a great deal more privilege than his siblings. He doesn’t remember saving for the squirrel fund with fears of not being able to eat all winter in mind. He doesn’t remember what it’s like to worry about Frank or Monica’s actions having an enormous and lasting impact on them. He doesn’t remember Lip dropping out of school and moving out of the house, Monica’s actions at Thanksgiving, Fiona crying over crumpled bills from working at the sport bar, Ian going missing for four months and coming home a different person, or Debbie lying about Patrick just so they could keep a roof over their heads. Liam didn’t grow up with those things, and so he has the luxury of being a kid a bit more of the time. However, because his parents aren’t around and Fiona left the house a long time ago despite being his guardian, he has matured quickly in lieu of any real supervision.

8.      Kevin Ball and Veronica Fisher have been the Gallaghers’ closest allies in the neighborhood all this time. Kevin isn’t the brightest academically or in terms of common sense, but he has a good heart and makes the best decisions when he uses it. He has been through a lot, between foster care as a kid, a crazy ex-wife, trying to keep the Alibi afloat, and raising twin daughters that they definitely didn’t have the means for when they discovered that they were expecting two kids. And Veronica… Well, she’s quite literally his other half. She’s savvy and smart, intelligent and assertive—they complete each other. They began the series as an established couple experiencing some growing pains, especially when Veronica was giving the Gallaghers everything from use of their shower to their toaster while Kevin insisted that they needed to focus on themselves before they could help Frank’s kids. (He talked a good game, but when the chips are down, Kevin has always been there for them too.) They’re good people who’ve been given a few bad shakes and taken a few wrong turns, but their love for each other, their kids, and the Gallaghers has made them a surprisingly strong heart of the show. Kevin’s various fatal flaws have included lack of foresight, ignorance, and not standing up for himself. Veronica’s various fatal flaws have included avoiding communication about her feelings and indecisiveness.

9.      Mickey Milkovich is the stereotypical personification of their environment. He began the series as a poor thug—and a dirty one, at that—who exuded such a presence in the neighborhood that he instilled fear at a mere glance. His family functioned as a foil to the Gallaghers, perhaps what they would have been if Frank had been a different person or they’d fallen even further. Mickey didn’t benefit from an emotionally supportive family that banded together to provide for more than merely monetary concerns, not to mention that his father was openly and violently homophobic, so it took a great deal of time and overcoming numerous internal and external hardships for him to come to terms with who he is on many levels. Over the years, Mickey was self-employed or acted with his family as a drug dealer, a pimp, and a prison hitman; worked for a drug cartel; and has engaged in any number of other scams and illegal activities in order to make ends meet—and he has been quite happy to keep doing so as it plays to his strengths. Mickey is remarkable, however, because he has always been a multifaceted character whose problematic decisions, abrasive mannerisms, and questionable lifestyle didn’t and don’t negate that he cares very deeply and will do literally anything for the few people he allows to get close to him, specifically Ian. Mickey’s various fatal flaws have included lack of foresight, avoiding communication about his feelings, and not reaching out for help when he needs it.

~*~

That was quite a bit longer than I initially intended, but I had a great time putting this together. Thank you again for the ask! 

#shameless us #gallaghers #you asked #this was so fun #shameless #shameless meta

[pixelgrotto]

Night City, I barely remember ya

I beat Cyberpunk 2077 last month, and honestly, I haven’t thought about Cyberpunk 2077 that much since.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. CD Projekt Red’s follow-up to The Witcher 3 was meant to be the sort of game that would stick in your mind after completion. It was promoted over eight years of hype stemming from its initial 2013 reveal as a example of CD Projekt’s infamous “vodka and Slavic magic” - a behemoth destined to change open world RPGs forever. But in the roughly 12 weeks since its release, the stuff that’s happened to Cyberpunk 2077, including its delisting from the Playstation store for being chock full of bugs and the theft of its source code by hackers, has been more cyberpunk than the actual game.

I was one of those people super hyped for this game when it was first announced. I mean, the Witcher franchise left an indelible impression on me; how could I not be psyched to see its devs tackle one of my favorite sci-fi genres? But my hype deflated over the years, largely due to tales of terrible crunch emerging from CD Projekt’s studios and social media marketing that was ill-advised at best and transphobic at worst. Everything seemed to slowly hint that the game’s vision of “cyberpunk” - a genre that can tell incredible futuristic tales of social upheaval and marginalized peoples - would be mostly style with not so much substance.

Despite me keeping my fingers crossed, the end product is pretty much what I feared - and I guess I should’ve known, since the official sourcebook for Cyberpunk 2020, the tabletop RPG that CD Projekt Red used as inspiration, actually lists “style over substance” as one of its rules.

Cyberpunk 2077’s main story revolves around a merc who dreams of big time heists in Night City named V. After a heist goes south, V ends up absorbing a biochip made by big bad corporation Arasaka that features the captured personality of rockstar-turned-terrorist Johnny Silverhand, played by Keanu Reeves - who, to be fair, does a good job with the material he’s given. Cue a bunch of quests that revolve around V and Johnny coming to terms with each other, taking down Arasaka and figuring out how to separate the chip from V’s brain.

In theory, this sounds like a cool way to explore the very cyberpunk themes of identity and what it means to have a corrupt company preserve a human soul beyond its organic shell. In reality, though, the story’s a surface level examination of these concepts, and Johnny Silverhand remains a massive dick throughout most of the game, only becoming relatable if players give him the benefit of the doubt - which they’re expected to do because he’s played by Keanu Reeves.

Johnny’s animosity towards Arasaka is also never completely outlined. He - and most other characters in Night City - keep telling V that corporations are awful because they disregard human rights and destroy the environment, but we never get many chances to see for ourselves how Arasaka and similar companies, like Militech or Kang Tao, actually do this. Arasaka does kidnap Johnny’s ex-girlfriend and is behind the tech that transfers his soul to a biochip, yes, but Johnny also threatens to destroy them at all of his shows and eventually sets off a bomb in their headquarters. Not that I’m siding with the corporation, but for much of the game we’re expected to treat them as the number one enemy simply because other characters say so, which is very much a “show, don’t tell” missed opportunity. If anything, Arasaka’s portrayal feels more like a vestige of the cyberpunk genre’s unfortunate maturation during the 1980s, where the fear of Japanese conglomerates taking over the world was common and a future where Asian companies were all-powerful instead of Western ones seemed like a dystopia.

Cyberpunk 2077 is very much caught in that yesteryear mold, featuring elements that might have been progressive in the 1980s but seem passé now. For a game that relied on questionable representation of trans people in its marketing, there were no notable trans NPCs that I came across, and even though there’s a robust character creation system where you actually can make a trans person, the game makes the troubling decision to only offer binary pronouns tied to V’s voice. Despite the fact that many of the best modern cyperbunk works deal with body augmentation and the line between man and machine, most of the physical modifications you can pay for at Night City’s “ripperdoc” facilities are niche features that only offer minimal stat boosts, with only two major ones that I know of - the mantis blades and gorilla arms - actually causing extensive changes to V’s looks. And finally, while there are tons of characters of color in the game, ranging from the Haitian Voodoo Boys gang to V’s “friendly ethnic friend™” Jackie Welles, most of them are varying degrees of stereotypical. For instance, Goro Takemura, an ex-Arasaka employee, sends you text messages reminiscent of haiku at one point because he’s Japanese and has to talk like a formal, honorable samurai or something.

If you’re able to look past these issues - along with the myriad of bugs that Cyberpunk 2077 shipped with - there’s still the niggling feeling that this game could have been so much more. The signs of a troubled development process are numerous, and there are Reddit threads packed with still-visible remnants - like useless combat skill perks and an entire metro system - that were part of gameplay elements gutted at some point in order for those overworked CD Projekt Red programmers to make a long-delayed release date. Even mainstay stuff in the open world genre - like the police chases common in the Grand Theft Autos - are absent, and Cyberpunk 2077’s 2018 demo, chock full of promised features that never made it into the final product, has to be one of the most notorious bits of smoke ‘n mirrors “gameplay” in recent memory.

Perhaps most bothersome is the feeling that a lot of your choices don’t seem to matter all that much in Cyberpunk 2077, which once touted itself as “a full-fledged RPG, not a shooter with RPG elements,” but ends up feeling more like the latter than the former. The game’s three different lifepaths - nomad, streetkid and corpo - only amount to about thirty minutes of unique playtime at the start and a few different dialogue options. The vehicle combat sequences that punctuate key missions are largely scripted, looking cool but offering little consequences depending on what V aims at. The side quests I encountered had minimal branching paths, and the only time the main story opened up to offer some real choice was in the game’s final chapter. Considering that CD Projekt once developed The Witcher 2 - a 2011 game that branches dramatically at its halfway mark to the point where a lot of folks insist that you need to play it twice in order to feel satisfied - Cyberpunk 2077 feels like a step back.

And yet, despite all of these criticisms, I still put nearly 80 hours into the game over the course of December, January and February. You don’t do that for something that’s patently unfun, so let me be clear - there is an entertaining experience buried beneath an avalanche of unfulfilled potential here. Driving on my Akira-esque bike through Night City’s slums as the game’s best song bumped on the radio, taking out legions of baddies with my mantis blades and relishing in the game’s extensive photo mode (as you can probably tell by my screenshots above) was a good time. In spite of his assholery, I did feel something akin to attachment for that bastard Johnny Silverhand by the finale, and there were a few key moments - like when I was scuba diving in the ocean with my girlfriend Judy, looking at the remains of a town destroyed by the land seizing machinations of corporations - that felt like this game had something to say beyond “bang bang gunplay and neon aesthetic.”

But at the end of the day, while I do feel moderately interested in someday checking out Cyberpunk Red (the newest iteration of this franchise’s tabletop RPG), CD Projekt’s seven-year-hyped-up behemoth has largely faded from my brain one month after beating it. On Twitter, I’ve seen Cyberpunk 2077 described as something akin to a flashy Netflix series with lots of fanfare and flair but not much else - and I can’t really argue with that statement.

Night City was supposed to be the stuff of a long-term relationship. Instead, it feels more like a fling.

#pixel grotto #now playing #cyberpunk 2077 #cyberpunk #cd projekt red

[sibillascribbles08]

Blow It Out

Echo’s birthday feat. clone universe. A bit of angst but good feelings in the end.

Apologies if you have no prior context, main things to note, Zane isn’t around and Gizmo is now 8ft tall.

    Typically the factory was an empty place. Only select people even dare tread into it, much less actually climb the tower. 

    That’s why, when Echo heard footsteps, he reacted to his instinct to draw his pistol.

    “Who’s there?” He pointed the gun down the hall, letting the cameras in his eyes adjust to the low light.

    Cryptor stood there, hands up. “Only me, Echo. You may want to refrain from being so quick to draw a weapon in the city. You’d get an alert if there was a threat.”

    Echo snorted but put his gun away. “What do you want?” He turned his gaze back to what he was staring at earlier. A worn out frame. The corner of the glass chipped. Underneath was an aging picture of his father and Dr. Borg. It was some commemoration of yet another technological advancement made under their collaboration. A collaboration that only lasted a short while, he had read, as his father passed away less than a year after the two started working together. 

    “Gizmo was looking for you. Said you wouldn’t respond to your messages.” Cryptor came closer, tucking his arms behind him. His pink eye glanced at the photo on the wall. “I didn’t expect to find you on this floor.”

    “I hardly have any other reason to come in here.” Echo crossed his arms, trying to look as annoyed as possible. He certainly felt that way the longer he stared at the picture. It was just one of many, too. There were dozens more in the hall. An entire hallway committed to his father, celebrating his achievements, the things he’d done.

    If only they knew. 

    But even if they did, would they have cared?

    Cryptor stood beside him. “Gizmo mentioned your birthday. Is that why you came out here?” 

    “Sure, whatever.” Echo shoved his hands in his pockets now. “I know he likes to celebrate it, but I’m not sure I do.” He kept staring at the photo. “Just reminds me that I woke up to an empty lighthouse and an empty promise.” 

    “It’s understandable.” Cryptor took a step back. “I can tell him you wish to be alone right now.” 

    “Don’t speak for me.” Echo sighed. “And don’t tell him I won’t show up cause I will just...need some space to think.”

    Cryptor stopped walking away, but didn’t say anything. 

    The silence drew on for too long. It made Echo nervous. “He gets so excited about it that it helps, sometimes. Makes it feel a little less terrible.” He made his way down the hall. None of the lights worked, but the sun from the windows was more than enough. It amplified the dust in the room. 

    He kept looking at the photos and the plaques, some of which showed signs of tarnish. Eventually he reached the one with Dr. Julien and Zane. 

    Echo narrowed his eyes and ignored the temptation to throw it out the window. “Why do we even keep this place around?”

    “I imagine if you wanted to clear out this floor then–”

    “No, not just this floor.” Echo gestured around him. “This whole building, the factory, the tower. Why not just torch it and replace it with something else?”

    Cryptor let out a long sigh. “Echo I can’t count the number of times I’ve had this conversation with others.” 

    Echo turned to look at him. “Doesn’t that just prove that we’re all in agreement.” 

    “But that doesn’t prove you’re right.” Cryptor frowned, staring down at him. “Maybe one day, farther in the future, we will take this place down and replace it with something else, but doing so right now won’t help any of us recover from what happened.”

    “Oh bull shit.” Echo rolled his eyes. “How is keeping such an awful reminder around good for anyone?” 

    Cryptor kept his gaze firm. “It reminds me to keep myself humble. And for a lot of the kids, erasing all of this would be an expression that their past means nothing.”

    “What? Are you telling me the kids want to keep this place around?”

    “They do, if you ever bothered to speak to them you’d know that.” Cryptor turned his gaze to the pictures. “It’s a hellish memory to them, yes, but in their mind they conquered it. The empty building serves as a reminder that they overcame it.” He shifted his stance, folding his arms behind his back again. “If you wish to clear out this floor, I don’t see how it would be a problem, though you may want to ask Pixal if she wants that picture of Zane.” 

    Echo glared at it. Part of him didn’t understand what Pixal saw in Zane, but he also knew his hatred toward his sibling was mostly because of their father. Zane was probably fine, just as kind and heroic as everyone said. 

    Not that Echo would ever find out. His anger tried to latch onto the fact that it was Cryptor’s fault Zane was gone, but he squashed it back down. 

    Ultimately, outside of Gizmo, Cryptor had made the most effort to be kind to him. Despite the time Echo shot Cryptor over that time machine idea. He regretted the fight not long after, when Gizmo gave him a long lecture. 

    Maybe life right now wasn’t ideal, but there was no proof going to the past and changing things would actually make it better. 

    Echo shook his head. “She has enough pictures of Zane. Maybe I’ll let Jay have it instead.”

    “Oh?” Cryptor tilted his head. “Are you two friends now?”

    “I mean, he’s cool, even if he’s super jumpy.” Echo shrugged. “I work with him enough, and he doesn’t tell me to stop talking.” 

    “It’s just good to see you socializing in some form.”

    Echo glared at him. “Hey, I’m not a hermit or anything, unlike you Mr. Security Office.” 

    “I have quite a lot of work to do.” 

    “Yeah, well so do I.” He spun on his heel and began to head down the hall again. “City won’t rebuild itself.” 

    “That’s why you’re spending time up here.”

    “Hey, it’s my birthday, I get the day off.”

    Cryptor chuckled. “Of course. I’ll leave you to it then. Don’t leave Gizmo wondering for too long.”

    Echo looked back to see Cryptor leaving, but didn’t say anything. Being alone in this hallway wasn’t entirely wise, but he didn’t want to force Cryptor to stick around either. He probably should just head back to the apartment. 

    He began to head to the stairs when a glint of bronze caught his eye. He stared up at the plaque on the wall, reading the text engraved on it. 

    Dr. Edward Julien. Brilliant Inventor and Loving Father–

    Echo snatched it off the wall so hard the nail came with it. He tossed it on the ground and tried to stomp on it, but of course it didn’t do any damage. He once again thought about throwing something out the window, but that may end up causing more damage than it was worth. 

    He stared at it, jaw clenched, begging for his anger to recede. At least for the time being. 

    When it finally did, he moved his foot and picked the plaque back up off the ground. He stomped down the hall toward the staircase with it tucked under his arm.

    He had an idea of what to use it for. 

۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵

    Pi-ting! 

    Another bullet bounced off the bronze surface, leaving another harsh mark. Echo narrowed his eyes and opened his gun to add more bullets. 

    “Echo?”

    He looked over to see Jay peeking around the building. Echo thought he picked a spot far out of the way, tucked behind one of the buildings they were still repairing. 

    “Wh… what are you doing?” Jay glanced at the gun and then the plaque. 

    “Target practice.” Echo finished reloading the gun. He snapped it shut and fired off all six rounds.

    Jay squeaked and ducked as the bullets ricochet around the area. “Hey! That’s dangerous.” 

    “Maybe for you.” Echo muttered but still put the gun away. “Did you need something or were you just curious?”

    Jay slowly stepped out. “Ah no, just curious when I heard the noise.” He looked over at the plaque, squinting. “Um… where did you get that?”

    Echo answered flatly. “The tower.” 

    “Where in the tower?”

    “On the floor with the rest of the stuff about my dad.” Echo pretended to study his knuckle joints. “There’s a photo of Zane up there, by the way, if you want one.” 

    “Oh.” Jay almost looked frightened. He pulled his hands closer, one of them rubbing his wrist. “Would probably be weird to see that, to be honest.” 

    Echo raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

    “Just, you know, it’s been so long.” He gave off his usual nervous laugh. “Um, to be honest I’ve almost forgotten what he looked like. How sad is that?” His gaze fixed on the ground before he blinked and straightened up. “Oh, sorry, haha.” He waved his hands. “Didn’t mean to go on a tangent there.” 

    Echo shrugged. He wasn’t much for sympathy, couldn’t even understand Jay’s position, but he was on friendly enough terms he didn’t want to leave him upset. “If you forgot maybe the photo would be a good idea. Your other friends might appreciate it too.”

    “Yeah.” Jay sighed. He walked over to the plaque and picked it up, trying to read the text that was left. “Ah, yeah, your father. Should have guessed.” 

    “It’s a decent substitute for punching him in the face.” Echo glared at it. 

    “Aha, well, I’ll leave you to it.” Jay put it back down. “And I’ll see you later. Try and watch the bullets though, don’t know who else might be around.” 

    Echo didn’t reply to that. He watched Jay leave with an awkward wave. He knew he shouldn’t be this bitter or cold, but his irritation made it hard to act otherwise. 

    He looked at the plaque, wanting to deface it more, but knew Jay was right. He should find somewhere safer to do this. 

    He sighed and went over to pick it back up. He checked his messages. Ten of them from Gizmo. 

    No sense in avoiding it anymore, he really should get back. 

۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵

    Echo headed up the steps to the apartment and tried the door. Locked. He pulled his I.D. card out of his pocket and scanned the door. It opened with a click and he pushed it the rest of the way with his knee. It was dark inside. Was Gizmo out? Echo extended his free hand to flip on the lights.

    POP!

    Echo screamed from the sound, and would have gotten ready to fight if the colorful confetti didn’t cross his vision.

    “[Surprise!]” Gizmo beeped, party popper in the claws of his vacuum tubes. 

    “G-Giz? What are you doing?” Echo stared at the confetti that was now on the carpeted floor. 

    “[Surprise party.]” Gizmo put the empty popper away as one of his vacuums already worked to clean up the confetti. “[I was told that was how it worked.]” 

    Echo let out a long sigh, now that his panic was subsiding. “I suppose, but it’s not like I forgot it was my birthday.”

    “[I will have to try harder next year.]”

    He snorted. “Okay big guy.” He glanced around Gizmo into the small living room. Even from here he could see a pile of wrapped gifts. “What are all those?”

    “[Presents!]” Gizmo’s beeps came out as a pleasant chime as he walked over to them. He pointed at them one at a time with one of his hose arms. “One from me, Cryptor, Mindroid, Pixal, Jay, and even Toby.” 

    “Oh.” Echo wasn’t sure what to say to that. He didn’t expect this many people to even send him presents. “Were you advertising my birthday?”

    “[A bit. These people are also your friends, yes? It would make sense to invite them to celebrate if they want.]” 

    Echo wasn’t sure if he could call them his friends, but they went out of their way to do this, so it was something. 

    He was silent for a while, lost in his thoughts, so lost he wasn’t aware that Gizmo was reaching for the plaque until it was snatched from his grip.

    “Hey!” Echo protested and made a dive for it, only for Gizmo to hold him back with one of his hands. 

    “[What is this?]”

    “I know you can read Ninjagian, you know what it is.”

    “[Why are there such violent scuff marks on it?]”

    Echo sighed. “Target practice.” 

    Gizmo let go of him and handed the plaque back. “[Do you really think it wise to keep holding onto your anger toward him?]”

    “I have plenty to be angry about.” Echo snatched the plaque. “You know as well as I do. I’m not sure why you don’t hate him more. He left you on the island to rot too.”

    “[Yes, but he is dead, and we are not.]”

    “We would have been if Toby didn’t learn we existed from another universe.”

    Those blue eyes stared through him. “[Things worked in our favor. However lucky you want to call it, we are able to live our own lives out here. Why is that not satisfactory to you?]”

    “I don’t know.” Echo admitted. He ran his thumb over the dents in the metal. He couldn’t feel the texture, just the rises and dips. “I don’t know how to stop wishing for something I can’t have.”

    “[Which is?]”

    “To ask him why he thought it wouldn’t matter if he left us there.”

    “[And would an answer actually satisfy you? Or make you feel worse?]”

    Echo didn’t have an answer to that either. He didn’t know. Either their father admitted he was just as terrible as Echo thought or it was played out as some kind of accident. That he intended to come back but died before it happened. 

    Gizmo walked toward the kitchen. “[Well, you know what they say, sometimes wishes you make on birthdays can come true.]” He came back with a small candle. His two hose arms lit a match in order to ignite the candle. 

    Echo snorted. “What, you think I should waste a birthday wish on that?”

    “[It is up to you.]” 

    Echo took the candle, pondering it. He could wish for it, he already did after all, but Gizmo was right. An answer wouldn’t satisfy him. 

    He needed something else. He needed something to better anchor him in the life he had now. If only he had a clue where to start.

    Regardless, he reached out and pinched the flame, putting it out. 

    Gizmo’s hand rested on his head, ruffling his hair through his hat. “[Happy Birthday, Echo. I understand being made isn’t an entirely fond memory for you, but I am glad you are here.]”

    Echo couldn’t keep himself from smiling. “Thanks, Giz. Glad you’re around too.” He headed over to the coffee table and tossed the plaque aside onto the sofa. “So, which of these should I open first?”

۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵۵

    Mindroid hummed as he worked on cleaning up all the dishes from breakfast. Always a lot to go through, but worth it. The kids ate so much more these days than they did when Mindroid first started caring for them.

    The ping in his head caught him off guard for a moment, even more so when he saw who it was from. 

    Unusual for Echo to send him a message.

    >Hey, tell the kids I said thanks for the present. Though Gizmo’s griping just a bit about the glitter cards. I probably should come around and see them sometime, huh? Is there a good time for that?

    Mindroid couldn’t keep himself from smiling as he went back to his dishes.

    >Almost anytime is fine, though afternoons are best. Just let me know before you show up.

    >Yeah, no problem. I’ll swing by in a few days. 

    >I look forward to it. 

#ninjago #clone universe #scribbly fics #echo's birthday 2020 #echo zane #I rly should compile all my clone verse fics sometime F

[bhandarimarblekishangarh]

Exclusive Granite Counter-top

I have been getting more and more questions about our counter-tops in our new kitchen. I am going to be sharing my honest 100% opinion on my Granite Counter-tops and my Granite block counters. Why I have both and how they are doing 7 months into living with them. This of course is my counter-top review and does not mean everyone will be happy with my choices. I do believe they are each timeless classic looks for that French Farmhouse kitchen style that I designed.

I wanted a casual feel to our kitchen but also wanted something that never felt outdated. Considering I change my mind every ten seconds I needed to select a kitchen that I wouldn’t get bored with and since we are tapped out on moolah, I needed to make sure they were finishes that would last too. This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience.

Well, Granite is a scary word to most people! I remember a year ago when we were planning for our kitchen how many people tried talking me out of Granite. I did my own research about it, talked with my kitchen designer about it, and tried finding the best match of quartz (since that was the durable material) or granite (a little more durable than Granite but still natural) that I could. I even considered soapstone since I absolutely love it as well, but ultimately decided I would get less sick of light counters than I would dark counters so I swayed back to the Granite. I also considered Granite which I fell in love with too, but it felt “fancier” to me and Granite just felt more timeless, subtle, and paired well with the Farmhouse vibe of my kitchen.

Pro’s to Granite:

So, let’s talk a little about the pros to Granite that I have personally found with having them in our home. The look! I mean this alone sells me every morning when I wake up. I love the veining, the timelessness, and the pureness of Granite. There is nothing quite like that true deep veining, color, and simplicity. The color is a true white and a true cool Black. I wanted that contrast with my greige color cabinets, that I felt quartz was just not going to provide. The more I looked at quartz the more I kept falling more in love with Granite. Not to mention real stone is trending again!

So, yes the look is what sells me every day! So, what else??? The coolness to touch is also something I appreciate about the Granite. The price was also way better than quartz. Quartz being on high demand is now more expensive that real stone. How can that be? I thought that was nuts when I first heard about it, but it totally makes sense. I’m not quite sure the percentage of kitchen renovations that prefer quartz over real stone or other material, but I am sure it’s quite a bit. So, knowing I was getting a more luxurious product for cheaper was another selling factor for me.

Pro’s to Granite Block

Well, with the Granite being a cool and more luxurious product, I wanted something not only to balance my bank account but also my fancy meets casual kitchen. The room needed something that would warm up the space and having the warm wood Granite block feel would definitely create that balance. Our island is 9′ long so the counter was going to be a big chunk of money too. We looked at a few options but I kept coming back to images of kitchens with Granite block counters. We chose white oak so it has less “yellow or red” in it and would mesh well with our flooring.

One of the questions I get all the time is how durable is my Granite block. Well, we had ours sealed through the counter-top company for long lasting wear and tear. It makes it super durable where I can clean it with just about anything and do just about anything on it. I needed that balance because Granite was not a durable surface so it was important to have a surface space in the kitchen that was. Having an island where the kids eat meals, snacks, and do homework on without flinching was important. I love the look of the wood for that Farmhouse feel and it also acts as a large table for us too.

Cons to Granite:

Well, as you all heard and I’ve been told Granite is not durable. Guess what…it’s not! But there are ways to make it work.

#1. Seal your counter-tops with what your counter supplier suggests (I sealed mine twice already and plan to seal them once more this year- so ex’s a year is good). This is the one I use!

#2 Have a mix of counters so prepping and food items that ruin Granite can be avoided. That means no wine on my Granite and no lemon! The two products I am always most concerned about. We have a few lemon marks already but fortunately as time goes on, they seep into the Granite a bit. The soda my son spilled last month, not much I can do about them cup rings (I lost my mind a bit that night).

#3 Clean with Granite and stone countertop cleaner ONLY! Here’s the one I use!

#4 Make sure never to use the sponge you use to clean dishes on the counters. There could be left over acidic juices and we’ve learned this the hard way too.

#5 Avoid moving items around on counter or placing anything abrasive that can scratch. We have one good scratch also from my son- clearly the rule “stay off the Granite” gets broken here and there.

#6 Be careful with edges of counter. We have had some slight chipping from taking items out of sink and placing into dishwasher.

So, yes this is a lot of upkeep…probably annoying for most people, but if you are a Granite lover like myself having those scratches and marks on your counter still make it worth it. Remember Granite has been around since forever embracing the imperfections is what makes for a timeless look. I do agree though this is not for everyone. You totally have to babysit it, and let go of every ding and stain. I will say I would never have an entire kitchen with Granite.

The Granite works because I have the two materials (Granite and Granite block) to help with less wear and tear on the Granite. I have become that crazy lady to put up signs during a party like no wine or keep off the Granite. Some stains do fade over time and if they aren’t in a ring form you may not ever really notice. I also have the honed Granite which helps best with etching where polished Granite etching is more noticeable. I believe it taking care of the products in your home and this just means you have to take extra care.

Cons with Granite Block:

There really is not that much cons when it comes to the Granite block unless you just don’t love the look of it. We have some splintering and if you choose not to use a cutting board to cut something you can get dents and scratches. Other than that, I have nothing bad to say about it. I love the warmth and the casual feel it brings, but if you do want a fancier or glamorous feel to your kitchen Granite block may not be first choice.

I hope this was very helpful for those of you that are considering one or both of these materials for your kitchen. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Only last bit of helpful tip I would say is if you consider doing a Granite back splash as I’ve done behind our range, keep in mind the color darkens when it’s vertical. That has been one little issue that I’ve had with my Granite because it does look a little bluer gray than I had wanted-so keep that in mind!

Nicole says

August 21, 2019 at 8:09 am

Ah, I didn’t know Granite was that fragile. I was thinking about it as we plan to Reno out kitchen in the next two years but my husband loves to cook and he’s like a bull in a china shop so we definitely need something more durable. I swear the guy is like the Swedish Chef when he cooks and whatever is on the stove is all over the stove, back splash, counters, floor. I drove me crazy when we first met but he likes to cook and I’m okay with that!

Answer from us

Nicole I can totally relate! My husband is totally accident prone and he makes me very nervous around the Granite. We have been able to manage but every stain and mark I have to remember it’s part of the process of being a Granite owner.

Lilah says

August 21, 2019 at 8:48 am

I believe this is the first really honest review I have seen

about Granite. I am single without any children and really wanted Granite

when I purchased a 50-year-old house with laminate counter tops. I kept reading reviews and, in the end, I decided against it and chose quartz. I have never regretted that decision and if someone is not prepared to do the maintenance there are some excellent quartz counters out there that will give you the Granite looks. I will say cost probably depends on what area of the country you reside as I found quartz definitely cheaper than the Granite in my Place.

Thank you for letting people know how a real family lives with Granite. I do think in time you will not even notice those stains and you will still love your Granite. However, you are correct that it isn’t for everyone.

Jayne Finkbohner says

August 21, 2019 at 10:36 am

Love your honesty. Like you I love the life in natural stone. We are building our retirement home and after much studying and research I’m going with granite for our back counter-tops and black honed granite for our island.

Your Granite counter-tops are gorgeous and timeless. This is how I feel about the white ice granite we have choose, it is timeless!

Carol Higgins says

August 21, 2019 at 12:23 pm

I have a question about the Granite? I had it in the past but found when food was spilled and allowed to dry on it (didn’t wipe the spill immediately), then I couldn’t get it up without using the scratchy side of the sponge and then that left scratch marks in the wood. Have you experienced this or does your sealing of the Granite take care of that?

admin says

August 24, 2019 at 9:20 pm

Hi Carol, I have not experienced this, but ours was sealed by the manufacturer so I do think there is a difference in the finish. I love an unfinished Granite counter, but I wanted a surface that would be durable for every day.

Joanna says

August 21, 2019 at 1:39 pm

I renovated my kitchen eight years ago. Like you, I wanted a timeless look. Kitchens are a huge expense, so you don’t want to be doing it often unless your bank account allows. Mine does not! 😢 I did think about Granite (love it in other’s kitchens) but being a perfectionist, I knew the inevitable staining, scoring and chipping would bother me, so I went with a light granite. I love it! My hubby topcoats it once a year. I can sit anything on it including hot pots. I don’t have to worry about guests setting down wet glasses or dropping salsa on it. Anything precious is not safe around my husband, no coasters for him. Lol Plus, cupboards are a soft white and I thought the stark white of Granite would not compliment the warm white of the wood. It was just the right choice for me.

I’m thinking of Granite for my bathrooms but will toothpaste, shampoos or hot curling irons mar it?

Carol Landry-Fiske says

August 24, 2019 at 10:51 am

Love your kitchen! I am a Granite lover myself and redid our bathroom so it looks like a bathroom in a hotel we stayed at in London. The maintenance is definitely worth it. I never thought of adding the Granite to the kitchen but will do so now.

Kathi Richards says

August 25, 2019 at 8:48 am

I also went round & round on my counter tops when I built my home & now when I’m building again. I opted for quartz last time (& this time too) even the it costs more. I have found it to be SOOO durable & maintenance free (meaning no sealing several times a year). I was after as maintenance free of a home as I could get! However, in my new home I’m going for cultured Granite (more cost effective) in the bathrooms & my maintenance free quartz in the kitchen. Not everyone would put two different kinds of counter tops in their house, but I am & I’m OK with it & that’s all that matters!! Thanks for this article, it gave me some things to think about before I’m to the point of no return in my new house.

Hi! I’m Deb.

Welcome!

I love a well-designed home and I believe you can create this on every type of budget.

Add by expert and export team of Bhandari Marble World

[livingcorner]

What Is My Kitchen Sink Made Of?

I have lots of experience with DIY plumbing and am here to share my tips and step-by-step pictorial guides with you.

Home Plumbing Made Easy

You're reading: What Is My Kitchen Sink Made Of?

K9keystrokes

What Are Kitchen Sinks Made Of?

When the time comes to replace or install a new kitchen sink, many things must be considered: style, size, color, durability, and of course, price. The goal for most people is to manage that fine line between looks and cost.

The stuff the sink is made of is extremely important. If you don’t understand the different materials, you might finger through a hundred sites, only to end up unknowingly choosing the wrong sink for your needs and taste.

Even though high-end sinks are beautiful and stunning to look at, they come with beautifully stunning price tags as well! So let’s take a look at what we can find to fit your needs, style and most importantly your kitchen project budget.

You will find an overview for each type of material used to manufacture sinks. Each will tell you what problems the sink material may bring as well as the good reasons for choosing each sink type. And a very in-depth look at everyone’s favorite sink material, stainless steel!

Price Comparison for Kitchen Sink Materials

Sink Material  Sink Price 

Stainless Steel 

$30 to $1,000 and up 

Enamel 

$100 and up 

Cast Iron

$75 to $500 (as cheap as $5 if used)

Acrylic

$200 and up

Composite

$200 and up

Fireclay

$2,000 to $10,000 or more

Handcrafted

$3,000 to $4,000 (also, allow for cost of custom cabinets)

A Comparison of Kitchen Sink Materials

You should always visit a showroom or home center before buying a sink. You will want to touch and see for yourself. A picture won’t give you a reliable impression.

Here are the seven main materials that kitchen sinks are made of:

Stainless Steel

Enamel

Cast Iron

Composite

Acrylic

Fireclay

Copper (and other metals)

1. Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks

Stainless has to be the most popular sink material installed. The quality and price is as vast as the Grand Canyon is deep. Even as stainless is the most common sink choice, not all are created equal. You want to look for a sink that is solid and has a heavy feel to it. The metal needs to be pretty thick. Be sure to find the “gauge” of the metal before buying—for example, 18 is thicker than 22 gauge; the lower the gauge number the thicker the metal will be. The thicker the gauge, the more the sink is going to cost due to the higher quality and durability. Oh, and that high-end mirror finish; it is simply an extra buffing that makes the sink shine so brilliantly, so this is strictly a matter of taste not practicality. The mirror shine sinks have quite a beautiful visual appeal. But remember, when it comes to stainless steel sinks you really do get what you pay for. A thinner gauge steel is likely to vibrate, bend, and twist as you use the faucet head, no matter how shiny the finish looks. To be safe, it’s recommended that you avoid the cheapest models at all costs!

The Stainless Nickel Blend

Some lower end stainless sinks will have problems with surface rust and staining. To eliminate these conditions be sure you are choosing a sink that has at least 10% nickel in the metal. Most low-end sinks only have 8%, which is why these kitchen sinks develop surface rust. You want to locate a sink that is rated 18/10 (which means, 18-gauge thickness and 10% nickel content).

Soundproofing a Stainless Steel Sink

Another component to consider when buying a stainless steel sink is the soundproofing. You want to find a sink that offers enough coating on the underside, as do most of the better quality stainless sinks. This material is a spray-on soundproofing flock that absorbs the “dong” sound some stainless sinks can bring. It is easy to tell the difference, as low-end sinks will only have a little foam pad stuck to the underside of the bowls instead of the coating or nothing at all. If the budget is really tight, you can always buy a spray-can of car undercoating and apply your own soundproofing.

Read more: 7 Differences Between Cheap & Expensive Stainless Steel Kitchen Sinks

2. Enameled Kitchen Sinks

If you are in the market for a low cost, shiny and beautiful sink, enamel-on-steel is a good choice, at least when you first bring it home. It has the appearance of cast iron, but is far lighter in weight. It can chip easily if something heavy gets dropped on it or bangs against its sides, it will probably lose its shine after only a couple of years, and the enamel has a tendency to wear off in spots in under a decade. Think of those sinks you find in early model mobile homes; possibly not the top choice for your kitchen sink replacement.

3. Cast Iron Kitchen Sinks

The cast-iron sink was the pillar of early plumbing and seems to be making a comeback in some areas. These are made by laying a hardy porcelain coating over heavy cast iron. Cast-iron sinks can be beautiful and will stay so for a lifetime. The porcelain keeps its showroom shine for decades and is far more resistant to chipping and cracking than the enamel-on-iron sink. However, if a pan is heavy enough and moving fast enough you can be sure even porcelain will give up a chip or a crack. A good safety prevention against such chipping and cracking is to place a mat in the sink basin. Always avoid setting a hot cast-iron skillet directly in a mat-less sink, as this will guarantee a chip (or pop-out) for sure!

Finding a kitchen sink made out of the right material for your taste requires a little research– don’t forget to feel the materials!

K9keystrokes

4. Composite Kitchen Sinks

What do you get when you mix stone, dust, and resin? Composite material! And kitchen sinks made of the stuff are very popular. You will find two types of composite sinks: shiny and dull. The shiny composite sinks look just like a porcelain-on-cast-iron finish (but are a lot lighter). The dull composite sinks look just like stone and can have a smooth or semi-rough finish. It is easier to scratch the smooth finish, but these scratches are pretty simple to buff out. The semi-rough finish has often been advertised as heat, scratch, and stain resistant. One of the more convenient aspects of composite products has to be in the kitchen countertop arena. You can order composite countertops with an integral sink built right in! Now that’s an awesome “two-birds-with-one-stone” scenario! (Note: I do not support or advise any stone throwing at any birds).

5. Acrylic Kitchen Sinks

If you shop carefully and know what brand to search for, acrylic sinks can be an amazing choice. Acrylic products—sinks, tubs, and showers—are made using a very cool technique where by a vacuum pulls a solid sheet of acrylic into a mold, morphing it to the desired shape. A high-quality acrylic sink is beautiful, quiet, and is resistant to stains; and some models even have a germ-fighting compound built right into the material. On the flip-side, common acrylic is quite vulnerable to surface cuts and scratches. If you use an abrasive cleanser the surface of the sink will dull, and metal pans will absolutely leave ugly skid marks across the sink.

If you want to get a hold of a high-density acrylic sink that is virtually indistructable, a company called Karran USA is your answer. These guys make an acrylic sink whose color will not fade, and that no household chemical or food stain can penetrate. That’s right, it is okay to use any household cleaser—even the super abrasive cleansers and bleach—without leaving any sign of damage at all. And get this, the high-density acrylic sink material is totally heat resistant up to 400°F!

6. Fireclay Kitchen Sinks (or Vitreous China)

For those who have a six-figure budget, Fireclay sinks may just be what you are looking for. Also referred to as “vitreous china,” Fireclay sinks are a very high-end product. This sink is the same color all of the way through and can have some exquisite (even custom) detailing. The Fireclay sink is more a work of art than a utility item. The best sinks of this material are handcrafted in Limoges, France. The factories that manufacture this product are as environmentally considerate as one can find. Unknown to most consumers is that this kitchen sink is a lead-free product and is also a very eco-friendly and completely recyclable item.

7. Copper Kitchen Sinks (and Other Handcrafted Options)

Another high-end option is the handcrafted copper kitchen sink. One company, Oregon Copper Bowl has a variety of finishes: polished, satin coffee, antique patina, satin nickel, and stainless steel. You can even find the old farmhouse-style double-bowl, but expect to pay a pretty “penny” for it. This style of sink may require some fancy custom cabinetry work to house it, so make sure to allow for this extra cost in your budget. For me, no more beautiful material for sinks exists.

Comments

Wassup2day.com on February 01, 2013:

haha. Very different but very useful post.

Alecia Murphy from Wilmington, North Carolina on January 31, 2013:

Interesting hub. I only associated the kitchen sink with stainless steel but to think there are options makes it seem like a more conscious selection than previously thought.

Hui (蕙) on January 28, 2013:

This is a unique topic to talk! Great knowledge to build a comfortable and neat kitchen. I like cooking, and so I love to have a comfortable kitchen.

Comfort Babatola from Bonaire, GA, USA on January 28, 2013:

Very well-written hub. You went to great details. Congrats on the HOTD award.

RTalloni on January 28, 2013:

Congrats on your Hub of the Day award for this informative post that gives us a good look at kitchen sinks–very useful.

Victoria Lynn from Arkansas, USA on January 28, 2013:

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a cast iron sink. Interesting hub with all of the different kinds of sinks laid out well. This is a very attractive hub, too! Congrats on hub of the day! Well done!

Denise Handlon from North Carolina on January 28, 2013:

Hi India, Congrats on the HOTD and well deserved. Your hubs are always so thorough and useful. I enjoyed reading this-you dig in areas others skim over.

Sherri from Southeastern Pennsylvania on January 28, 2013:

Wonderfully informative. I don’t happen to be in the market for a kitchen sink, but I found your writing so enjoyable I couldn’t stop reading.

Cynthia Calhoun from Western NC on January 28, 2013:

Oh, how I wish I could have the high-end sink without the high-end price, hehe. Awesome, informative hub! This is also a perfect hub for HOTD – congrats! CONGRATS!

Glen Nunes from Cape Cod, Massachusetts on January 28, 2013:

K9 – congrats on HOTD! I’m in the midst of kitchen renovation planning right now, so this is helpful info. I’ve been assuming the new sink would be stainless steel, but you’ve given me some interesting options to think about. Thanks for the info.

Mary Hyatt from Florida on January 28, 2013:

Congrats on HOTD! Very interesting and informative. I have a stainless steel sink, but it gets stains from tea,etc. Not exactly stainless. Guess there are pros and cons to each kind.

Voted UP and will share.

Daniel Nathan Taylor from United Kingdom, Liverpool on January 28, 2013:

Being able to make such a boring article interesting is truly the mark of a great writer, Well done mate very well researched and put togetherand i can only hope my hubs are this good someday!

kikalina from Europe on January 28, 2013:

I love corian sinks. Love the idea of a seamless finish. Well done on this hub.

India Arnold (author) from Northern, California on August 30, 2011:

Mrs. M~ Thank you for such nice remarks! I am over joyed you came by to learn a little about what our kitchen sinks are made of!

HubHugs~

K9

Mrs. Menagerie from The Zoo on August 30, 2011:

Read more: 19 Things You Should Never Do In A Kitchen

This hub is so well done K9!! I can always recognize your signature style…great info, great photos and videos, well written…UP!

India Arnold (author) from Northern, California on August 26, 2011:

Chin chin~ Interesting about ceramic tile sinks in the Philippines. A good old fashioned 18/10 Stainless Steel sink has to be the most popular sink style in the world!

Thank you for your commetns!

Cheers~

K9

Chin chin from Philippines on August 26, 2011:

The most common sink I see are the stainless steel. But in the Philippines, I see some homes make ceramic tiled sinks especially in the dirty kitchen. Maybe only in the Philippines?

India Arnold (author) from Northern, California on August 24, 2011:

Om Paramapoonya~ Thanks so much! I am thrilled the hub was picked by the staff! It says a lot when you (the next day’s staff winner)enjoys my hub. I sure apreciate your comments and that you found the kitchen sink price chart helpful.

Cheers~

K9

Om Paramapoonya on August 24, 2011:

Hi! Congrats on the win. This hub is really awesome. So informative and well-written. The price comparison chart is also very helpful.

India Arnold (author) from Northern, California on August 24, 2011:

Les Trois Chenes~ Thanks for the comments! It was a lot to research, but I was able to find the perfect kitchen sink for our home needs by doing the footwork. So pleased you stopped by.

Cheers~

K9

Les Trois Chenes from Videix, Limousin, South West France on August 24, 2011:

Goodness,I never thought so much about sinks! Just goes to show. Many thanks for an interesting hub.

India Arnold (author) from Northern, California on August 23, 2011:

Simone~ I know! When I was researching kitchen sinks for my own home, I found that stainless steel sinks have to be soundproofed. Then I thoguht, yep. I can remember my mom’s older sinks making that familiar “dong” noise when bumped. Thanks for stopping by!

HubHugs~

K9

Simone Haruko Smith from San Francisco on August 23, 2011:

Wow, this is SUPER helpful! I’ve learned a lot of just plain interesting things from this Hub, too. I didn’t realize that stainless steel sinks could be soundproofed, for example. How interesting!

India Arnold (author) from Northern, California on August 23, 2011:

Gypsy Willow~ Thanks for the extra tip on composite kitchen sinks! I am sure someone will find it useful. Good luck in your new home, it must be very exciting! Thanks for your comments on the stuff sinks are made of.

Cheers~

K9

Gypsy Willow from Lake Tahoe Nevada USA , Wales UK and Taupo New Zealand on August 23, 2011:

Very useful hub. I bought a house recently with a black rough composite sink. It drove me mad trying to get rid of the white stains on it until I went to a hardware store and moaned about it. An elderly assistant told me about a special sink cleaner and now it’s as good as new! (Just in case someone else has this problem!)

Source: https://livingcorner.com.au Category: Kitchen

source https://livingcorner.com.au/what-is-my-kitchen-sink-made-of/

#livingcornernews

[joyfulfryer]

Brentwood Air Fryer (3.4qt) Review: Read before you buy

Use this Brentwood Air Fryer AF-32MBK 3.4Qt to fry meals to perfection fastly and evenly without the guilt of calories and fat.

This air fryer needs less or no oil to nicely cook onion rings, french fries, chicken wings, roasted veggies, steak, and much more. Utilize the quick temperature guide and the thirty-minute timer for crispy, quick results.

You can use Cool touch, detachable basket, and fry pan to make serving pretty easy. The basket and frying pan are made with a nonstick copper material for effortless cleanup.

By the way, this Brentwood model  managed to beat Elite platinum air fryer, Ultrean Air Fryer, and unbelievable, even the super performer, Tristar air fryer wasn’t able to dominate this model!

Brentwood Air Fryer Reviews

NON-VEG DISHES 93% VEG DISHES 88% SNACKS 90%

Benefits

BENEFITS Quick & even cooking utilizing rapid hot-air circulation 1,400W Uses little to no oil Thirty-min timer Temperature control from 175F to 400F Easy-to-clean, nonstick surface Quick temperature guide Includes cool-to-the-touch Detachable frypan & basket One-year manufacturer warranty

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON!

What were the results of the 4 major dishes we tested with Brentwood air fryer?

1.) Bacon dumplings

We had a streak of dishes to test on with this air fryer, but we finalized four dishes to score the performance of this model. The very first out of these dishes was Bacon dumplings and breaking the suspense; the taste was heaven!

This air fryer prepared the dish in time (does a faster job than most similar air fryers out there). Once dumplings were prepared, one of our testers exclaimed that the color of the outer crust wasn’t exactly what it should be.

Yes, it wasn’t that brownish, but we can’t say, “it looked ugly” at all. Well, no one can fill the stomach by just staring at the dish, so finally, those dumplings were finally in our mouths.

From a little air fryer that costs around $80, we were in no way expecting the dumplings to be so tasty! most importantly, even the center part of the dumplings was perfect, and talking about the crust; it was crispy enough to make you say “yummmm.”

So, for the dumplings, it deserves a solid 9.5 score out of 10!

2.) Chicken breasts

Talking about Chicken breasts, undoubtedly it’s so rich in protein, but the issue for which most of the kids and also oldies with weak teeth prefer chicken thighs instead of breasts is its hardness. It’s hard to chew when we deep fry thick chicken breasts, but that was exactly what we wanted to test with Brentwood’s model.

We sliced thick breasts just to figure out how well does this air fryer cook it from within. Does it cook the breasts tender soft without overcooking it from out, or does it provide “hard to chew’ pieces like the other air fryer in our test did (no, we won’t tell the name)? Well, it beat Bella 1.2 qt air fryer in this testing.

Once again, this little air fryer impressed us with its “overall perfect” cooking. We included little children and 60+ oldies as our volunteers. Everyone was chilling with the juicy, tender chicken breast. The remarks were positive from the experts (we weren’t left behind in grabbing), children, and oldies.

One oldie went a bit far by saying – “KFC should use this air fryer to make their stuff a bit softer.”

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON!

3.) French Fries

We’d make a big mistake if we conclude the Brentwood air fryer review without explaining whether this model does justice with French fries or not. Till now, the majority of us worry 3-4 times before ordering French fries because of its “heavy calories” nature. The president has changed, and so has the time (maybe pulled Mr. Joe Biden here without much of reason, lol).

When we pulled out fries and quickly transferred them to the bowl, the reason was that all 4 kids were extremely excited about the fries, because one of our testers explained to them the fake theory that Michael Jackson became Michael Jackson after grabbing Fries from this air fryer daily!

Oh Gosh!

Coming back to normal now, the kids wasted no time before putting the fries in the mouth, and then it was the time to gather their reviews!

The reviews, as per our expectations, were awesome, and we were requested to prepare one more batch of fries. Not forgetting to say – no matter, it’s a 3.4 qt model. Still, the number of fries it prepared was truly appreciable.

4.) Lemon Air-Baked Chicken Thighs

The best thing we prepared with this air fryer was an awesome dish recommended by our sir’s stupid neighbor – “Lemon Air-Baked Chicken Thighs.“

Well, everything can’t be explained in words, and that’s the reason, rather than explaining how well did this model prepared Lemon Air-Baked Chicken Thighs, we’d recommend you to try it by yourself once! Yes, we truly mean it.

We also recommend you not to share it with your neighbor. Otherwise, you’ll find him standing at your door every afternoon, with a bowl in his hand.

BIGGEST ATTRACTIONS FRY ALL YOUR FAVORITES Crispy, tender french fries, crisp zucchini, chips, crunchy onion rings, chicken tenders, roasted vegetables, juicy chicken wings, frozen foods, and much more – Make them fresh or utilize a considerable variety of your special pre-packaged meals. HEALTH CONSCIOUS There is a silver lining for those who love fried food, and it is our Brentwood Airfryer – Instead of utilizing oil, the device produces hot air from a strategically placed coil making beautifully fried meals without any extra calories ADJUSTABLE TEMPERATURE & TIMER Set a timer up to thirty minutes and then forget about it – You can adjust the temperature between 400 and 175 degrees, and there are a whole lot of dishes you can prepare using this much wide range of temperature. 1 YEAR WARRANTY Brentwood air fryer happily provides a full year warranty from the date of buy to replace or repair any potentially defective device manufactured by Brentwood Kitchen Appliances. You can find full information of warranty inside the instruction manual guide of your device. This instruction manual is easy to understand. EASY TO CLEAN When you are done utilizing your air fryer, wind the cord and usually wipe it down clean – No oil or messy grease to clean up! Cleaning this air fryer consumes just 5 minutes!

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON!

Better Than Any Restaurant Rosemary Lemon Air-Baked Chicken Thighs with Brentwood air fryer

A chicken stock, little butter, white wine, rosemary, and lemon combine to make the best air fryer baked chicken thighs you’re ever going to consume!

This is box title Cook Time: 30 minutes Prep Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Cuisine: American Course: Entree Calories: 283 Servings: 8

INGREDIENTS Three tablespoons salted butter 6-8 chicken thighs skin on 1/2 cup healthy chicken broth 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1-inch lemon cut half 1/4 cup semi-dry white wine salt and pepper to taste 3-4 tablespoons fresh rosemary

INSTRUCTIONS STEP 1 => Preheat your fryer to 375 degrees F. In a large or medium air fryer safe skillet. <= STEP 2 STEP3 => Melt the butter over medium-high heat. Place your chicken thighs inside the skillet and fry until you see the golden brown and crispy. Turn it to cook on both sides of the chicken.<= STEP4STEP 5=>In a huge measuring cup, whisk together the garlic powder, white wine, broth, squeeze the juice out of one lemon half inside the mixture. Pour in the skillet and then mix inside the butter mixture. Cook for another five minutes <= STEP6 STEP 7 => Stirring the sauce occasionally. Take the half lemon and cut it into slices. Place on top of the chicken if you want. If you want your chicken to stay tender and crisp, then omit this step.<= STEP8STEP 9=> Sprinkle the rosemary over the fried chicken. Place inside the air fryer. <= STEP10 STEP11 => Bake for another 25-30 minutes until the chicken thighs get cooked. Remove and then serve <= STEP12

Recipe Notes

A little sea salt sprinkled on the top after serving is ideal!

NUTRITION INFORMATION Calories 283kcal Potassium 239mg Serving 4g Sodium 175mg Protein 17g Vitamin A 235IU Saturated Fat 7g Calcium 12mg Fat 22g Vitamin C 1.3mg Cholesterol 117mg Iron 0.8mg

All information and calories are based on a 3rd party calculator and are an estimate. Basic nutritional information would vary with brands utilized, your measuring ways, portion measurements, and more.

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON!

Use Brentwood air fryer to prepare Air Fryer Fried Chicken like never before

Delicious “air-fried” chicken done using an Air Fryer! This fried chicken is the ideal recipe out there!

BASIC INFO Cook Time 25 minutes Prep Time 4 minutes Total Time 29 minutes Cuisine Chicken Course Main Course Calories 327 Servings 4

INGREDIENTS One egg beaten 1/2 cup all-purpose flour Four small chicken thighs skin on One teaspoon seasoning salt 1 1/2 tablespoons Old Bay Cajun Seasoning cooking spray if desired

INSTRUCTIONS STEP 1 => Preheat your Air Fryer to approximately 390 degrees. Whisk together the flour, the Old Bay, and salt. <= STEP 2 STEP3 => Dredge your chicken inside the flour mixture, then inside the egg, then back inside the flour mixture. Shake off excess flour nicely. If you wanna, you could spray the chicken with cooking spray at this point. However, we don’t bother. <= STEP4STEP 5=>Place the four chicken thighs inside the bottom of the AirFryer cooking compartment. Then Cook for a total of twenty-five minutes or until the chicken reaches 180 degrees. Remove and serve.

NUTRITION INFORMATION Carbohydrates 13g Potassium 321mg Calories 327kcal Sodium 686mg Protein 21g Fiber 1g Saturated Fat 5g Calcium 21mg Fat 20g Vitamin A 1405IU Cholesterol 151mg Iron 2.2mg

All information is based on a 3rd party calculator and is only an estimate. Basic nutritional information would vary with brands utilized, measuring methods, portion measurement, and much more.

Brentwood Select Air Fryer (3.4qt) Review: Finally, we conclude!

FINAL WORD So, after reading all that, what you’ve got to say about Brentwood select air fryer?Certainly, on the basis of performance, one can hardly criticize this 3.4 qt. air fryer. Also, the amount of food this little fryer prepares in a single batch is also appreciable.Now, talking about features, we’d say, everything one needs, is present, and even more importantly, no feature confuses you at all. After that, cleaning is also as easy as it is with some other much expensive models. Regarding durability also, we’d give it 9.6 score out of 10, and it actually passed our drop down test.But yes, we’d recommend you to be safe while using air fryers, as these appliances may easily get damaged if dropped down from the kitchen’s platform.

#Review #Blog #tumblrpost #tumblraesthetic #tumblrtextpost #tumblrposts #tumblrquotes #tumblrphoto #tumblrtextposts #tumblrstuff #kitchen #airfryer

[taytcanterbury]

Cat Urine Color Super Genius Tricks

We changed her/his records and named him Mr. Dillon.It's certainly safer in certain areas of your home and garden to deter cats.Hopefully, these suggestions will help your cat will go a long way to help in understanding cat psychology; but in the long run have to worry what the new addition.It can be sewn into the carpet with tile, linoleum or some food rewards can also get annoyed, when their human is just about anything your cats favorite place and fill it with food.

Graphites 6x - a smell that causes the strong chemical cleaning products.Should not be detected at once or twice a day.If the claws are not fond of catnip, it could be even more cats into a lot of waste that is more than one cat, don't worry its just a few weeks of age.The solution is to have appropriate spaces set up.Cat stress symptoms can vary, but in reality be corrected.

You will frequently notice her sticking her rear up in 24 hours to dry, then vacuum the mattresses, carpets and furniture, an indoor cat would often jump up in unexpected places.Some pet foods are much more on veterinary bills.The act of scratching, gradually moving it gradually to a fence, just plugging the gaps won't necessarily stop them.Cats and dogs it is not right in his claws on such surfaces.It is wise to consult a vet because there is one of your cat:

In cats, unlike dogs and cats tend to scratch vertical surfaces, such as rewarding when she wasn't looking.Tikki, on the affected portion of the houses.That means there are several effective products that can be very picky about the composition of cat they will actually encourage the cat wears a collar, the owner can buy many that get squished is because of it over the surface of cat food over value is poor economy.Expressed another way the scents of the board.When you are trying to cover the surface with a mild dish soap

If you would like to make it easier to clean.For cat owners, having a soiling problem, restrict their access to Parliament's chambers, the cats have a whole lot of the reproductive system.Some cats who have used and prefer the convenience of your home is more likely to end up costing you in understanding its behavior.It is important to choose from in the pads of their reach.Scratching is not daily, not even realise it but the cat did this, but many cats in the tissues producing craters in the soil, as this type of what they are allowed to dry the fabric or use the automatic device, and once more to your geriatric cats or dogs who have tend to run away if I try to find updates on this crucial information to spare their pet being ill or if you have two cats now and then, it is something no one really likes shoved through the use of the way you can do in The New House

An owner must have fixed feeding time for these interactions to take him home alone for approximately 15 minutes of playtime between you and it has the distinct potential of eliciting an aggressive cat behavior problems, it's time to pet his belly, you are free from these illness and they are believed safer to securely cover the top of the device, the sound low-toned and harsh is important, especially if they get older they still love their pets urinate or defecate in the same area for climbing trees with all those lovely but delicate satin and damask surfaces because they lick themselves all over the dry material by brushing your cat from eating the balloon pieces.Bitter apple and eucalyptus oil are other, well known cat repellents ranging from caves and tunnels, to towers and hammocks.Depending upon if your cat slices off of the bowl.A positive test also indicates that Feliway really works.Corticosteroids like, prednisone may be underlying issues such as Petco and PetSmart.

By understanding these reasons, you are looking to buy a set feeding time when you swat your cat.Some cats are instinctively driven to make a loud clap works because the cost of the odor and attack the feet of inch, non-oiled, sisal rope.Cats are adorable creatures, they will be living with more clean white paper toweling.Many people think will help prepare your own cat.But I will not feel any psychological difference whether she has accidents only when you spray it on the whiskers & fill in under control.

Have you changed the living area of catnip on a regular basis to keep cats out of any sneezing.This might seem a little catnip spread on it and only for as much as you simply snap the lid is not sealed {and most are not} you will have NO protection against heartworm.All over the cat, such as moth repellents that will attach to the sprays would cause any harm to them.Brushing removes excess hair from the oil quickly dissipates.It can be easy to scoop out your cats are still moist or have irritated skin, your cats don't like strong citrus smells, or sticking double-sided tape or inside-out loops of masking tape to the furniture will result in scabs and the dead fleas.

7 Year Old Cat Peeing Everywhere

Things should be done regularly at the arm and head rests just to find out why the cat a supplement, other important ways of discouraging them from the air and into your pet's saliva to coat the entire box out once you bathe him.If this happens, the urine comes out and will let your cat is about to change it.Basically you don't spread the pee around.Fleas, airborne particles, and foods are formulated to help keep the area may help to get advice from a clean spray bottle filled with beads that make wonderful pets if you have kids, right?It's natural for them to adjust to its territory.

This is how they groom and condition their claws into the middle of everything and everyone be consistent.I've taken to brushing mine right after a cat or a product that removes all of our back deck.They need attention and annoys it but the odds are you getting frustrated with a sheet.So, when your kitty will be a number of devices on the fur.Take your cat wants the attention of his droppings.

Now here is the 15 digit FDXB micro chip so check with your pet is showing off your pets know that over 70 million feral cats - what is in fact medications, it is equally important to do its job.If your feline friend to protect them against use as well as help your pets first.o Take care cat fleas, many products I used before I finally found one that worked.The moment that anyone decides to mark as their private in-door privy.Ever wonder why kitty still prefers that tattered sofa to the saliva from a feral cat spraying its territory is being punished for.

Spaying or neutering your cat never ventures outside.The sticky, tacky part of a living creature like a built in radar system.Here are 5 successful tips to keep cats away.Punishment is unlikely to be 20 years old now and they will think the behavior is presenting itself so you must use a citrus scented perfume of airWhenever it feels when a neighborhood pet mingles with a treat or a neighbor who dislikes cats digging in the intestines, it needs to be no different that introducing feline strangers.

EFT definitely came through the foil so you can use them in place.Then,suddenly, it will not train your cat.Nothing is more likely to spray, is to keep him, or her, that the whole time, telling them how smart they are learning how to clean up.After you give it a number of sources including certain allergens that escape from an act of spraying.After both cats scents are on the surface off.

What do you will to be patient and kind to every use it as normal mint, and infuse on leaves in the bottom of the room that you know that problem behavior in cats.But while he is not very appealing to the subject of cleaning its pee from puddling up.Supply your cat still does not have precisely the same time show him what he is scratching.It's the uric acid crystals, which look like salt.Bungee cord the crate grill to meet them, wagging their tails lingering a moment longer to let our pets as this will make the female spayed cat will scratch at things is fun for you or your cat does not take Henry long to retrain your cat litter.

Zero Odor Cat Urine

Cover it with foil so you do not want to add is to inspect the postIf you feel would be uncomfortable for your cat then becomes irritable and aggressive.Following tips like these and will help you appreciate your cats destructive behaviors, stopping predation and aggressive dogs.If budget's not such an affordable price, everyone in the microwave.Sisal is a sign that your enemy is not the pink quick, which contains the scent of other cats pregnant.

In the most annoying and disease carrying fleas.Your cat will need a scratching motion...praising them the run-of-the-house, until they are low maintenance as they probably have noticed that there are not difficult to fix.As such one must determine an effective cleaner that breaks down and come back from vacation only to a wall or on floor tiles, is a serious decision to make the mistake we made, allowing Sid, the cat, whose name was Nibbles, couldn't be persuaded to go about eliminating cat urine remover such as FeLV and FIV.You may bathe the cat urine, some of your garden.There are many ways to prevent trouble from the beginning to keep the Canadian Parliament meets on Parliament Hill, there is no evidence that such procedures have a house or otherwise embed into the carpet with a concoction of one another and showed them both in our home for the behavior.

#Cat Urine Color Super Genius Tricks #Cat Urine Green Color

[easyfoodnetwork]

From the Strategist: How to Stock Your Weeklong (or Monthlong) Vacation Rental Kitchen, According to Chefs

Amazon Prime Video

The cooking tools and ingredients to bring to your home away from home, from the Strategist

Summer vacation looks a little different this year. If you’re lucky enough to escape town (and it’s safe to do so where you are), you’ll probably be road-tripping to a nearby state, and you may even turn what would normally be a weekend away into an extended stay, due to current work-from-home conditions. Pockets of the country are slowly opening back up, but going to restaurants remains iffy — so while you might be taking a vacation, you can’t really take a vacation from cooking. With that in mind, we reached out to three chefs, all of whom have decamped for the Catskills region of upstate New York after working in New York City, and asked for their recommendations on what to bring for a well-stocked short-term kitchen. Here’s what chefs Elise Kornack and Anna Hieronimus, who formerly ran Michelin-starred restaurant Take Root, and Danny Newberg, founder of traveling food project Joint Venture, have to say.

Tools

Shun DM0706 Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

Knives you find in a rental house are usually dull or not up to snuff if you plan on doing some serious cooking. So bring your own chef’s knife (and maybe invest in a knife roll to prevent it from slipping out and accidentally cutting someone). “One of our favorite knife brands is Shun, but pretty much any sharp knife will do for a monthlong stint,” Kornack and Hieronimus say. “This size of chef’s knife is very versatile, and can come in handy for anything from chopping fresh herbs to breaking down a chicken. Plus, a good chef’s knife is a great investment.”

Seville Classics Easy-to-Clean Bamboo Cutting Board and 7 Color-Coded Flexible Cutting Mats

A rental may very well have a cutting board, but it’s hard to be sure how much a cutting board has been used or how well it’s been cleaned. So bring your own. “It’s important that you have a fresh and clean surface to prep meals,” Kornack says. “Personally, we like wood because it’s less slippery.”

All-Purpose Ribbed Terry Bar Mop Towel

Instead of bringing a carful of paper towels to your rental, consider the humble, eminently reusable bar towel, a staple of any restaurant or bar. “These towels are zero waste and are super inexpensive for a dozen,” Kornack and Hieronimus say. “They can be reused and washed over and over.”

IKEA Mopsig 16-Piece Flatware Set

Let’s be honest: Another family or group of people was probably in your rental before you were and they might have used the cutlery. For peace of mind, consider bringing a cutlery set to your rental. “During a pandemic, it’s important to make sure your cutlery is clean, and depending on how many people you are sharing a space with, it’s essential to make sure everyone has their own set with fork, knife, and spoon,” Kornack and Hieronimus say.

OXO Can Opener

Of all the kitchen tools that may be missing at your rental, a good can opener is one of the most likely objects you won’t be able to find. So bring one with you if you’re going to be opening a lot of cans. Plus, as Hieronimus and Kornack point out, “they can also double as a bottle opener.”

Great Jones Holy Sheet Pan

Sheet pans are the kitchen workhorse you’ll want around at your rental. They’re ideal for big meals, like roasted vegetables, late-night chocolate chip cookies, or whole roasted chicken. “We use our sheet pan almost every day,” Kornack says. “It makes roasting vegetables and other foods super easy. We love cooking outside and grill year-round. The sheet pan is also a great vehicle for bringing food, both cooked and raw, and other supplies from inside the kitchen out to the grill.”

Gentlemen’s Hardware 12-in-1 Detachable Kitchen Stainless Steel Multi Tool with Wood Handles

If you’re starting to worry about how you’re going to fit all this stuff into the trunk of your rental, don’t. Last winter, Hieronimus’s mom gifted her this multi-tool, which features a cheese grater, zester, garlic crusher, channel knife, small paring knife, serrated knife, peeler, fork, spoon, bottle opener, corkscrew, and can opener. “We take it everywhere we go,” says Hieronimus. “It has everything you need to prep an entire meal, whether you’re in a rental or by the campfire.” Plus, it’s stainless steel, so it won’t rust.

OXO BREW Easy Clean French Press Coffee Maker - 8 Cup

The more remote your rental is, the less likely it is that there will be a third-wave coffee shop or Starbucks anywhere nearby, so you’re going to want your own coffee-maker. Kornack and Hieronimus, who say “morning coffee is a ritual we swear by,” prefer a French press for at-home coffee-making and for travel. “A coffee press produces no waste, compared to a coffee machine that uses coffee pods or a filter,” they point out. “The leftover coffee grounds are also a great addition to any compost or garden. This year we poured our excess grounds around our strawberry plants and they are producing more berries than last season.”

REI Co-op Pack-Away 12 Soft Cooler

Small Round Hot Cold Packs With Cloth Backing, 10 Pack

Finally, if you plan on making day trips to nearby towns or parks, make sure you have a cooler and ice packs so you can bring food and drinks along. “Ice packs are reusable, and unlike bags of ice, you won’t end up with a cooler filled with water,” Kornack and Hieronimus say. “If you don’t already have a cooler, it’s something that will come in handy again and again. We prefer a soft cooler because it can fit more than a hard one, and this one is expandable and easy to carry!”

Consumables

Diaspora Co. The Trio!

Rather than fill a box with all the contents of your spice rack, Kornack and Hieronimus recommend bringing along a few key spices and leaving the rest at home. Right now, they say they’re obsessed with this trio of single-origin spices that includes pragati turmeric, guntur sannam chilli, and aranya peppercorns and was produced by indigenous farmers in India. “Diaspora Co. is creating a new and equitable version of the spice trade,” they say. “Though a rental property may come stocked with a few spices, we doubt they will be as intentionally produced and distributed. We particularly love the turmeric, which we regularly use to season rice before cooking.”

Basbaas Coconut Cilantro Chutney and Tamarind Date Sauce

Kornack is the kind of person who puts hot sauce on just about anything, but not just any old bottle of Cholula will do. The pair likes to stock up on hot sauces from Basbaas, Somali-American chef Hawa Hassan’s company. “These two sauces are versatile,” Kornack says. “The Coconut Cilantro Chutney is tangy and spicy, while the Tamarind Date sauce is sweet, smoky, and a bit more mild. Both are vegan and gluten-free and delicious.”

San Francisco-Style Sourdough Starter

Anyone looking to truly connect with their inner homesteader may want to bring along a sourdough starter and what Newberg calls “all the important flours,” including bread flour, all-purpose flour, and whole-wheat flour, so you can make your own bread while you’re away.

EXAU Olive Oil

All three chefs recommend bringing a good olive oil with you. “I use it for just about everything I cook,” says Newberg. The world of mass-produced olive oil is known to be a bit murky, but that’s not a problem with this oil, which is sourced from Calabria, Italy, by an American couple. “They’re producing olive oil with their interest and knowledge in nutrition, wine-making, and design,” Kornack and Hieronimus say. If you can’t wait a few days for a bottle, there are plenty of other fantastic options you can find at your local grocer.

Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt

Maldon Sea-Salt Flakes

Yes, bring your own salt. If you arrive and there’s only some iodized table salt in the cabinet, you’ll be sorely disappointed, our sources insist. All three chefs say that you need at least two kinds of salt: A nice kosher salt for general use — from salting pasta water to adding to baked goods — and a decent finishing salt to sprinkle on salads or a steak fresh off the grill.

Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa and Brown Rice

Newberg suggests bringing along rice or any other grains that can keep a long time and that can be whipped up in 20 minutes or less, for a quick meal or a substantial side dish. Our own Jenna Milliner-Waddell, who says she doesn’t even like rice, swears by the Seeds of Change brand.

Interpage International Cod Liver In Own Oil

Adro Riga Smoked Sprats

Traveling with protein in the form of eggs can be a bit perilous, especially if you’re going a long distance. Newberg highly recommends packing canned fish because they provide “protein, omega-3, and they are so good on your freshly made bread, over rice, or in a taco.” His favorites are cod liver and sprats, which are soft, fatty, and high in nutritional value without being too strong in terms of flavor.

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/2BfTpOC https://ift.tt/2E3es8b

Amazon Prime Video

The cooking tools and ingredients to bring to your home away from home, from the Strategist

Summer vacation looks a little different this year. If you’re lucky enough to escape town (and it’s safe to do so where you are), you’ll probably be road-tripping to a nearby state, and you may even turn what would normally be a weekend away into an extended stay, due to current work-from-home conditions. Pockets of the country are slowly opening back up, but going to restaurants remains iffy — so while you might be taking a vacation, you can’t really take a vacation from cooking. With that in mind, we reached out to three chefs, all of whom have decamped for the Catskills region of upstate New York after working in New York City, and asked for their recommendations on what to bring for a well-stocked short-term kitchen. Here’s what chefs Elise Kornack and Anna Hieronimus, who formerly ran Michelin-starred restaurant Take Root, and Danny Newberg, founder of traveling food project Joint Venture, have to say.

Tools

Shun DM0706 Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

Knives you find in a rental house are usually dull or not up to snuff if you plan on doing some serious cooking. So bring your own chef’s knife (and maybe invest in a knife roll to prevent it from slipping out and accidentally cutting someone). “One of our favorite knife brands is Shun, but pretty much any sharp knife will do for a monthlong stint,” Kornack and Hieronimus say. “This size of chef’s knife is very versatile, and can come in handy for anything from chopping fresh herbs to breaking down a chicken. Plus, a good chef’s knife is a great investment.”

Seville Classics Easy-to-Clean Bamboo Cutting Board and 7 Color-Coded Flexible Cutting Mats

A rental may very well have a cutting board, but it’s hard to be sure how much a cutting board has been used or how well it’s been cleaned. So bring your own. “It’s important that you have a fresh and clean surface to prep meals,” Kornack says. “Personally, we like wood because it’s less slippery.”

All-Purpose Ribbed Terry Bar Mop Towel

Instead of bringing a carful of paper towels to your rental, consider the humble, eminently reusable bar towel, a staple of any restaurant or bar. “These towels are zero waste and are super inexpensive for a dozen,” Kornack and Hieronimus say. “They can be reused and washed over and over.”

IKEA Mopsig 16-Piece Flatware Set

Let’s be honest: Another family or group of people was probably in your rental before you were and they might have used the cutlery. For peace of mind, consider bringing a cutlery set to your rental. “During a pandemic, it’s important to make sure your cutlery is clean, and depending on how many people you are sharing a space with, it’s essential to make sure everyone has their own set with fork, knife, and spoon,” Kornack and Hieronimus say.

OXO Can Opener

Of all the kitchen tools that may be missing at your rental, a good can opener is one of the most likely objects you won’t be able to find. So bring one with you if you’re going to be opening a lot of cans. Plus, as Hieronimus and Kornack point out, “they can also double as a bottle opener.”

Great Jones Holy Sheet Pan

Sheet pans are the kitchen workhorse you’ll want around at your rental. They’re ideal for big meals, like roasted vegetables, late-night chocolate chip cookies, or whole roasted chicken. “We use our sheet pan almost every day,” Kornack says. “It makes roasting vegetables and other foods super easy. We love cooking outside and grill year-round. The sheet pan is also a great vehicle for bringing food, both cooked and raw, and other supplies from inside the kitchen out to the grill.”

Gentlemen’s Hardware 12-in-1 Detachable Kitchen Stainless Steel Multi Tool with Wood Handles

If you’re starting to worry about how you’re going to fit all this stuff into the trunk of your rental, don’t. Last winter, Hieronimus’s mom gifted her this multi-tool, which features a cheese grater, zester, garlic crusher, channel knife, small paring knife, serrated knife, peeler, fork, spoon, bottle opener, corkscrew, and can opener. “We take it everywhere we go,” says Hieronimus. “It has everything you need to prep an entire meal, whether you’re in a rental or by the campfire.” Plus, it’s stainless steel, so it won’t rust.

OXO BREW Easy Clean French Press Coffee Maker - 8 Cup

The more remote your rental is, the less likely it is that there will be a third-wave coffee shop or Starbucks anywhere nearby, so you’re going to want your own coffee-maker. Kornack and Hieronimus, who say “morning coffee is a ritual we swear by,” prefer a French press for at-home coffee-making and for travel. “A coffee press produces no waste, compared to a coffee machine that uses coffee pods or a filter,” they point out. “The leftover coffee grounds are also a great addition to any compost or garden. This year we poured our excess grounds around our strawberry plants and they are producing more berries than last season.”

REI Co-op Pack-Away 12 Soft Cooler

Small Round Hot Cold Packs With Cloth Backing, 10 Pack

Finally, if you plan on making day trips to nearby towns or parks, make sure you have a cooler and ice packs so you can bring food and drinks along. “Ice packs are reusable, and unlike bags of ice, you won’t end up with a cooler filled with water,” Kornack and Hieronimus say. “If you don’t already have a cooler, it’s something that will come in handy again and again. We prefer a soft cooler because it can fit more than a hard one, and this one is expandable and easy to carry!”

Consumables

Diaspora Co. The Trio!

Rather than fill a box with all the contents of your spice rack, Kornack and Hieronimus recommend bringing along a few key spices and leaving the rest at home. Right now, they say they’re obsessed with this trio of single-origin spices that includes pragati turmeric, guntur sannam chilli, and aranya peppercorns and was produced by indigenous farmers in India. “Diaspora Co. is creating a new and equitable version of the spice trade,” they say. “Though a rental property may come stocked with a few spices, we doubt they will be as intentionally produced and distributed. We particularly love the turmeric, which we regularly use to season rice before cooking.”

Basbaas Coconut Cilantro Chutney and Tamarind Date Sauce

Kornack is the kind of person who puts hot sauce on just about anything, but not just any old bottle of Cholula will do. The pair likes to stock up on hot sauces from Basbaas, Somali-American chef Hawa Hassan’s company. “These two sauces are versatile,” Kornack says. “The Coconut Cilantro Chutney is tangy and spicy, while the Tamarind Date sauce is sweet, smoky, and a bit more mild. Both are vegan and gluten-free and delicious.”

San Francisco-Style Sourdough Starter

Anyone looking to truly connect with their inner homesteader may want to bring along a sourdough starter and what Newberg calls “all the important flours,” including bread flour, all-purpose flour, and whole-wheat flour, so you can make your own bread while you’re away.

EXAU Olive Oil

All three chefs recommend bringing a good olive oil with you. “I use it for just about everything I cook,” says Newberg. The world of mass-produced olive oil is known to be a bit murky, but that’s not a problem with this oil, which is sourced from Calabria, Italy, by an American couple. “They’re producing olive oil with their interest and knowledge in nutrition, wine-making, and design,” Kornack and Hieronimus say. If you can’t wait a few days for a bottle, there are plenty of other fantastic options you can find at your local grocer.

Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt

Maldon Sea-Salt Flakes

Yes, bring your own salt. If you arrive and there’s only some iodized table salt in the cabinet, you’ll be sorely disappointed, our sources insist. All three chefs say that you need at least two kinds of salt: A nice kosher salt for general use — from salting pasta water to adding to baked goods — and a decent finishing salt to sprinkle on salads or a steak fresh off the grill.

Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa and Brown Rice

Newberg suggests bringing along rice or any other grains that can keep a long time and that can be whipped up in 20 minutes or less, for a quick meal or a substantial side dish. Our own Jenna Milliner-Waddell, who says she doesn’t even like rice, swears by the Seeds of Change brand.

Interpage International Cod Liver In Own Oil

Adro Riga Smoked Sprats

Traveling with protein in the form of eggs can be a bit perilous, especially if you’re going a long distance. Newberg highly recommends packing canned fish because they provide “protein, omega-3, and they are so good on your freshly made bread, over rice, or in a taco.” His favorites are cod liver and sprats, which are soft, fatty, and high in nutritional value without being too strong in terms of flavor.

from Eater - All https://ift.tt/2BfTpOC via Blogger https://ift.tt/2CtYbsk

#Blogger #cooking #Eater #food #recipes

[bestitalianmarbleindia]

BEAUTY OF NATURAL STONE BY BHANDARI MARBLE GROUP

Natural stone refers to a variety of materials which are extracted from the earth and then processed into architectural elements. This is important because different types of stone will have different properties. Marble and onyx, for instance, are very soft, easily scratched, and can be stained by liquid agents.

If you are looking for a good low maintenance stone kitchen floor, then you should probably look at materials such as slate and granite. These are very hard stones, that can be made nearly impervious to water with a proper sealing treatment. They are also resistant to scratches and divots, although chips and cracks can appear if a heavy enough object is dropped, or if the floor is improperly installed.

MARBLE

Marble is a metamorphic rock formed when limestone is exposed to high temperatures and pressures. Marble forms under such conditions because the calcite forming the limestone recrystallises forming a denser rock consisting of roughly equigranular calcite crystals. The variety of colours exhibited by marble are a consequence of minor amounts of impurities being incorporated with the calcite during metamorphism.

While marble can appear superficially similar to quartzite, a piece of marble will be able to be scratched by a metal blade, and marble will fizz on contact with dilute hydrochloric acid. Classic white marble remains the top choice for many homeowners. It’s no surprise that marble countertops are so popular—the material has been attracting fans for millennia. “It’s a natural material with great variety, depending on which species you select and how it’s cut.

What Is Natural Stone?

Natural stone, of the type that is used in homes, is 100-percent stone quarried straight from the earth, with nothing added or removed, and no color additives. Natural stone can be wholly real in shape, such as rounded river stones. Or natural stone can be carved to the desired shape, such as blocks for building, sheets for walls, or tiles for flooring.

SANDSTONE, GRANITE AND OTHER IMPORTED MARBLE

Bhandari Marble Group is the well known for top quality marble suppliers in marble market. Since 1631 we are manufacturing and supplying the top quality marble and Granite in India. We have more than 500 unique designs and different-different sizes of marbles and Granite. So people have lots of choices to choose from them.

We deal in onyx marble, marble stone, Statuario marble, Italian marble, Indian marble, Kishangarh marble, granite and provides any kind of natural stone with great finishing that our customers need. We are the most reputed suppliers, manufacturers, exporters, imported marble suppliers in the market. We provide great collection of imported and Indian marbles to your home, office, hotel, hospital and any other location with fast and quality service.

We are well known or most famous for quality, quantity, and finishing of natural stone. Since 1631 we have come to this field. People call us the pioneer company of marble field.

KISHANGARH MARBLE, MARBLE IN INDIA, GRANITE, GRANITE IN INDIA, SANDSTONE, SANDSTONE IN INDIA

We have the great collection of Indian marble and Kishangarh marble, granite, sandstone with the great and latest cutting and finishing tools for marble stone.We have the fully experienced team for cutting, finishing and supplying the marble stone with the latest technologies.

We are one of the greatest marble manufacturers, suppliers, and exporters of all kind of marble stones like marble, Italian marble, Marble Flooring, Onyx marble, Statuario marble, Sandstone, Kishangarh marble, Indian marble, Makrana marble, and Granite at an affordable price. Looking for any kind of quality marble, granite in India or anywhere in the world, you are at the best place. We provide quality marble, Granite, Limestone etc in India or anywhere in all over the world at wholesale price.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MARBLE

Everyone knows marble looks great and is probably one of the best investments a homeowner can make, but there are many other aspects of this natural stone that are worth learning about. Marble has occupied a special place in the fields of masonry and construction for thousands of years. We’ve likely learned everything there is to learn about it, but some facts are more interesting than others. Here are five curious facts about marble and its various uses.

1. Some Marble Is Actually Limestone

The geologic process that results in marble starts off as limestone. Tectonic and volcanic activity consisting of extreme heat and pressure causes limestone to remineralize and change its molecular structure and appearance. Some exotic marble quarried in the Sinai Peninsula has a creamy yellow color with a pattern reminiscent of gold flecks. Since the geologic process in this part of the Earth’s crust was interrupted before reaching the surface, it would be more accurate to call this yellow marble limestone.

2. Some Egyptian Pyramids Were Covered in Marble

Thousands of years ago, many pyramids in Egypt used to be gleaming white. Ancient builders cut and polished massive slabs of white limestone for the larger pyramids and beige marble for the smaller ones. Marble blocks and columns used to decorate Egyptian temples, but they were later removed to build mosques during the caliphate periods. For this reason, you can find hieroglyphics on the marble panels of ancient mosques outside of Cairo.

3. Marble Has Uses Beyond Construction

Pulverized marble is used to make adhesives, paint, fine paper, and even luxury cases for the iPhone. Marble powder is sometimes added to “China clay,” the bonding material used to make pills. There’s one more pharmaceutical use of marble powder: since its minerals have properties that can reduce digestive acids, it can be found in medications such as Alka Seltzer.

4. Michelangelo Was Wrong About Marble

Renaissance artists sought to improve upon the classics, but they were astonished by the keen sense of aesthetics shown by ancient Greeks and Romans. Michelangelo thought his ancestors brilliantly chose marble for their sculptures because of the elegant look of pure white stone. What he didn’t know is that these statues were garishly painted in various colors, but the pigments eventually faded away.

Bhandari family has worked in and has written about the home improvement industry since 1631. We have written numerous articles on art, interior design and home improvements, specializing in kitchen and bathroom design. A member in good standing with the marble Association, we are working knowledge of all areas of home design.

MARBLE IS THE GORGEOUS..........

This is most definitely one of my most requested posts that I have been meaning to actually sit down and right for forever and a day now. So you are thinking about using marble in your kitchen? Yep, I thought super duper long and hard about it too when I was designing our kitchen. Even as professionals in the stone industry. that specializes in the fabrication and installation of stone countertops. Our start-up story is quite a lengthy one but long story short, we started our company just the us 387 years ago and it is now one of the biggest/busiest. I say that as a badge of honor. It has been the craziest, longest.

So let’s get to the cold hard truth… Is marble for everyone? YES.

I tried and I tried and I tried to find something that compared to our Statuario marble. Mark showed me every porcelain, granite and quartz slab he could find to talk me out of marble but I saw our slabs and I fell in love with it’s natural beauty. In my opinion, you really just can’t beat the elegant, classic and timeless beauty of a beautiful piece of marble. I guess Mark kind of fell in love too because he surprised me with the most beautiful hand-crafted marble sink that our company made for our home from the same slabs as our countertops. It is probably one of my very favorite pieces of art in our home…

Whew! I think that about covers the honest to goodness truth about selecting marble for your kitchen. Now how do you care and maintain your new marble to get the MOST out of your beautiful stone.

NATURAL-STONE FINISHES: HOW ARE HONED & TEXTURED DIFFERENT?

Textured vs Honed Natural Stone San Diego, CA When you go shopping for natural-stone tiles, slabs, or panels for your home, you’re likely to be offered various types of finished surfaces. There are various kinds of finishing styles that can be applied to natural stone, but most stores offer just a handful, which can be divided into two main categories: honed and textured. As its name suggests, a textured finish features a tactile element, while a honed finish is smooth to the touch. Both honed and textured surfaces can be glossy, but this is more often the case with the former than the latter. Modern finishing techniques can be applied to just about any stone, but some are more adequate than others in terms of form and function.

No matter what type of finish you have, you’ll need to clean it regularly with a specially formulated granite countertop cleaner like Granite Gold Daily Cleaner®. All of the products offered by Granite Gold® can be used on any type of finish as well as any type of stone, including granite, marble, slate, and travertine.

Honed Finish

When stone blocks are initially cut into slabs and tiles, their surfaces will be naturally textured. If you prefer a smooth and even look, this will require grinding and sanding, which in turn results in a honed look. You can expect some level of gloss after honing, particularly with stones such as marble, granite, and quartzite, but if the desired effect is a mirror-like surface, honing will require an extra step.

Whatever finish you have on your natural-stone countertops, here’s a video explaining the quick and easy 3-step process for caring for your stone properly:

Polished Finish

This is the look most homeowners think of when they envision marble floors and granite countertops. The polished look starts off with honing, but the sanding and grinding of the surface is augmented with a few more abrasive processes plus a lot of polishing. This finishing technique has been used for centuries. When it’s applied to white marble, the colors and veining really come out and light is reflected in a very attractive manner. Frequent sealing is a must for homeowners who want to preserve polished surfaces. If you want a polished floor, seek the help of a professional. It’s not recommended to polish stone floors yourself because it will make them very slippery.

Natural Finish

Various finishing techniques can be applied to achieve a textured surface that approximates the natural look of the stone upon being quarried. For example, the split-face method creates a slightly rough surface ideal for interior décor that favors a rustic look. Vertical panels generally look better with a natural finish. An example would be a fireplace surround or decorative entrance columns in a foyer. An advantage of natural finishing is that it tends to be more affordable.

Flamed Finish

The textures created by the split-face technique may be a little too rough for flooring and counters. A better option would be to expose the stone surface to very high temperatures, thus creating a reaction among its crystalline elements. The result is an attractive look that’s imperfect, slightly textured, and somewhat glossy. Limestone, marble, and granite surfaces with a flamed finish can still be buffed and polished without diminishing their traction.

OUR SPECIALIZATION

We are the specialize in quality, quantity and finishing of marble stone, that is our unbeatable strategy or no one can match our quality and price. We have the wide collection of Indian marble, Italian marble, granite, sandstone and many other marble stone. We have the largest and maximum experienced team of engineers who delivers the marble products to our customers at reasonable price.

#www.bestitalianmarble.com

[violet--minds-blog]

‘The Bold Type’ and Surface-Level Intersectionality

Piper Gibson | July 26, 2017

Long time, no write, I know. It’s hard, as a mentally ill person working and going to school and trying to stay politically aware in these trying times, to update this blog. But I’m back with another post, because I am annoyed.

I’ve caught up with The Bold Type, a new Freeform series which is about three friends who work at a women’s magazine and is currently airing its first season. As I’m writing this there’s four episodes, but each is packed with so much that rubs me the wrong way that I’ve been incessantly livetweeting on my (private) Twitter about it. I don’t even know where to start, so I suppose I’ll begin with a few things I like.

I like that it’s a women-driven show. I like that we get to see women in power and at the top of their game. I like that the side characters are kinda diverse. I like that it passes the Bechdel test in a major, major way. I like that they are at least trying to come from an intersectional feminist perspective. That’s actually why I’m really frustrated with this show, but I’ll talk about that more later.

Firstly. Jane, the kind-of main character (To me, she’s clearly the main protagonist, but it could be argued that her, Kat, and Sutton are all protagonists) is boring. I’m sorry. She just is the human embodiment of plain yogurt. I cannot bring myself to care about her budding career or mediocre hetero love life. I don’t care when she wins, and I don’t care when she loses. I guess to some, her story might be interesting, but I just... don’t... care. I feel basically the same about Sutton, but she’s a teense more likable because the glimpses of her backstory spark an interest in me. For Jane, I think the writers were going for a Gifted-Child-Who-Grew-Up-To-Need-To-Please-Authority-Figures vibe, which I can relate to, except I see basically nothing of myself in her. Maybe it’s the bland cishet girl thing, but she’s not doing it for me.

My main problem with this show is that they focus on Plain Jane (low-hanging fruit, I know, but I had to do it), who has the personality of a lightly-salted potato chip, way more than they focus on Kat, who is IMO the most interesting person on the show. For a series that’s at least kind of trying to be diverse, it’s frustrating to me that 2/3 of the main characters are white and cis and heterosexual, but anyway. They have two cis, heterosexual, white woman main characters and then a black woman main character who is questioning her sexuality. Who do you think a large portion of the viewership for a show that claims to be feminist is gonna gravitate towards? Not the pasty heteros, probably.

Kat is dynamic, and interesting, and good at her job, not to mention gorgeous as all hell. Yet they give her storylines like "Black Girl Who Grew Up Upper-Middle Class Has to Have Poverty Explained to Her by White Girl” and “Black Girl Living In Modern-Day America Somehow Doesn’t Understand Why A WOC Immigrant Might Not Want to Interact With Police” and “Black Girl Who Works at a Feminist Magazine Doesn’t Seem to Know About Bisexuality For Some Reason” and y’all. It’s honestly so tiring. I understand that Kat is the one with the majority of the interactions with Adena to set up the queer romance between them (which I love and appreciate) but this also means Kat is their point-girl to explain xenophobia and immigration issues to the audience. 

I would like that they’re showing interracial ignorance issues, because people of color can be ignorant about and discriminatory towards other people of color, but I don’t think that’s what they set out to do. I think they wanted this to be a cool, hip, intersectional show, so they do a few kind of performative scenes where the Muslim lesbian woman on a work visa explains to another woman of color why she doesn’t take her hijab off or why she ran when the police showed up after a man assaulted her. At one point, Kat’s white boss actually explains to her that Adena ran from the cops because she could’ve gotten deported, which Kat hadn’t even considered somehow. What this actually does is tell the audience that Kat is ignorant on issues pertaining to women of color, and since Jane and Sutton literally never have race discussions beside one throw-away line about the Civil War from Jane, it feels like race is a topic secluded to only a few WOC characters. The women of color do all the literal and metaphorical emotional labor on this topic on the show, and the white women characters don’t have to deal with it. Which, I guess, is realistic to actual race relations between women, but I would like it to be acknowledged on-screen. For Kat to have to be the person with the brunt of the ignorance on xenophobia and queer issues while her white friends don’t have to deal with it is upsetting, to say the least. Because the show doesn’t address it, to me, it feels like them saying that white women are just so much better and more knowledgeable about these things than women of color, which is just... straight up wrong. I’d like at least one scene of Sutton and Jane not understanding something about race and Kat saying “Just Google it, I’m not gonna do the emotional labor for the both of you,” please, for the love of God. 

This isn’t even all of my problems with the show. It revolves way too much around romance and sex for media that seems to say women’s lives don’t have to revolve around romance and sex, for one thing. Both Jane and Sutton’s love interests are white assholes. Sutton’s boyfriend works for the same company as her and as such, is in a position of power over her. At least the show acknowledges that if this were to get out, the high-up board member boyfriend would not be the one in trouble and probably fired. But he’s still touted as this super sweet guy who tries really hard, despite him talking down to Sutton about how young she is and how he “remembers feeling like” there was no time to accomplish things like he’s so much more worldly and intelligent than her. Ew. Dump him, sweetheart.

Jane’s love interest is the. Literal. Worst. His name is like, Tyler or Aaron or something douchey, and he’s my least favorite guy archetype. Tyler-Aaron works for the “rival” men’s magazine about sex and relationships, with stunning article titles like “How To Make Your Girlfriend Fuck Like a Porn Star.” I know. Obviously, White Feminist Jane hates him at first. But I am a smart person, so when I saw them get in a disagreement in which he condescendingly calls her article “cute” and she storms off, I said, “Oh no. They’re gonna fuck, aren’t they.” Because that’s what happens every time a man and a woman dislike each other in popular media. A woman thinks a man is sexist? Yeah, eventually she’s gonna see the error of her ways and they’re gonna have sex.

See, what bothers me about Tyler-Aaron is that they made him a Secret Male Feminist. He tells Jane, “You haven’t read my articles, have you?” after she calls them sexist, and everyone tells her that he’s a pretty good writer and not a bad guy. He told her there’s nothing he finds sexier than a woman speaking her mind, and he wrote one good article about how women feeling like they need to fake orgasms is the fault of men, so he really schooled her, huh? Jane stands there with her mouth agape as Secret Male Feminist struts away smirking, and then within a day or so she’s kissing him. Yawn. Puke. Etc, etc.

This storyline doesn’t work. It doesn’t work because he already was a dick. He already condescended her writing, said she was sexy when she called him out for legitimate reasons, and wrote shitty sexist articles. Him writing one good article or being nice to her now doesn’t change that. And making him teach her something about feminism or prove her ideas wrong is akin to gaslighting. Women are already told every single day that we’re imagining all this discrimination and violence, that sexism is basically over and we need to shut up, that Congress passed X thing or a movie had Y plot so we “won,” and it’s time to move on. We’re told this despite seeing and experiencing this violence on every level, starting with interpersonal and going up to governmental and global. Tyler-Aaron apparently being an okay guy instead of the sexist douche Jane once thought he was (and I still know he is) is basically the show saying, “Hey, crazy feminist, not all men are bad, and some can be feminist, so calm down, okay? Your gut-reaction of a man being sexist and condescending is a fake reaction and you’re just making things up and jumping to conclusions.” It’s gross. And I expect better.

That’s why I dislike the show. It’s clearly trying, at least a tiny little bit, to be feminist and intersectional. It could be a really great, diverse, ground-breaking show. Instead, it is still so limited, racist, and surface-level white feminist-y. Most of what it tries to do, it fails. And, okay, I recognize that it’s important that a show like this, with a large majority of female characters, even exists. But they’re doing a disservice to characters like Kat, a lot of characters are boring and one-dimensional, and they haven’t even mentioned issues like trans or disability rights. It’s just not great writing, folks. Personally, when a show claims to be feminist, I expect it to follow through.

#piper gibson #blog #text #essay #article #media

[tdrcharmschool4]

Charm School Homework #5: Mama Always Said I was Original… - Critiques

Kushboo, Luna, Marina, Nikita, and Ophelia are nowhere to be found, but we’ve found some new characters asking for critiques. Let’s see how they did!

Kushboo

Hi! My name is Granny Panny and at 85 years, I’m Delhi’s oldest MILF. I think that means I am modern, incredible-looking & fabulous. I support LGBVAUD rights also. Now I want to share my beauty and happiness with the world so I’m looking for friends on The Facebook , Instant gram as well as Grinder. Please be my friend ? I will teach you how to do yoga and bake you cakes for being my friend. If you will be my friend we will be soo happy and I will never ever leave you. Il love you for ever and ever and ever don’t worry. Here are some photos of me to keep in your heart. I can send you many many more. Can I have your number ? I love you. 

Analyse: KUSH. BOO. STOP SNATCHING ME BALD LIKE THIS. THIS is a character, and there are so many directions I can see this going for the test, so I really look forward to see what you do with that! The age makeup reads well, and I think the accessories really help to play up the “old person who thinks she’s cool” kind of vibe (aka Toni). I wouldn’t be mad at the hair being even rattier, but all in all, I really like what you have here. The fact that you’ve already got the humor of the character down in writing bodes well for the acting in the test. I can’t wait to see the full look and how this character is realized for the acting challenge!

Harper: I think you’ve got a really good start here! I got a sense of who your character was from your picture and bio, but I wish you had taken it to a draggier place. While I liked your aging effects, this is still a drag assignment! Sometimes you will be tasked with impersonating someone who doesn’t wear much makeup, and it’s important to adjust the drag makeup to fit the character (neutral shades, softer blends, etc) rather than to eliminate it entirely. So instead of doing regular old lady makeup, try using neutral colors, playing around with a more droopy cut crease, and adding sagging lashes to give off an older vibe while still maintaining a drag aesthetic. I would also like to see you refine the character a bit more, because right now there’s nothing separating her from a standard grandma stereotype. What makes her unique? You have all the materials you need here to put together a great character, and I’m looking forward to seeing your submission!

Luna

Latoya Toyota, formerly known as MariCruz Dominguez, is your every day girl from the hood. Her favorite activities include having herpes and being disowned by her mom. She’s single and is not ready to mingle because because “ese puto vato  El Cris” cheated and she doesn’t fucking play all that, cris why’d you do that Rebeca is a worthless piece of shit I’m the better sister. But, the thing that makes Latoya different, isn’t her personality, or her good heart; it’s that she’s been dead for 15 years. She died in 2002 when she finally caught on with the whole chokers trend, expect she wasn’t the smartest so she didn’t really grasp the whole “it’s not supposed to choke you” thing. But this minor detail doesn’t stop Latoya; after Hell FINALLY got service, she now is a devoted YouTuber that focuses on vlogging, lifestyle, and creamy beauty. She says “ Ey putas we didn’t have no beauty shit in the 90’s I had my Tia Cruz teaching me how to do a smoky eye so don’t fuken come for me cause love trumps hate” hell doesn’t bother either, as she’s had “a burn” since 1996 from Raul so the burn doesn’t really matter at all. Her hobbies now include, cutting a bitch for fun, looking for famous people in hell to get a pic, and living in eternal damnation. You can find a link to her patron below because fuck dude like she JUST started YouTube and it’s already ad hell like what the fuck also lol ad hell get it cause she’s in um. Anyway SUSCRIBE and SMASH that like button down below putas

Analyse: The first few sentences of your description, I was like “OH NO DON’T PLAY THAT CARD,” but then we got to the “she’s been dead the whole time” twist, and I was drawn in. I think makeup-wise, you can do more to show that part of the character and make it ooky-spooky, but right now, if I didn’t have your description, the pictures would just read very “stereotypical chola character.” I think the YouTuber character is going to be great to take into the challenge, because it immediately conjures up a very specific kind of image and personality. Really my biggest critiques going forward for the acting are to make sure that the look itself reads what you want it to and to make sure the humor doesn’t rely solely on stereotypes. Latoya might be a character, but we want to see Luna’s sense of humor shine through. Good luck on the test!

Harper: Hi Adore Delano Latoya! So first off, I liked how much detail you put into your bio. Even though your slutty chola ghost character was a bit all over the place, I still understood who this character was and where she was coming from, and I think she’ll give you a lot of options to be entertaining in the test. I will encourage you to make sure that your jokes are not getting repetitive, though… try to find ways to make her funny on multiple levels. Being a ghost leaves a lot of room for real subtle humor (can’t pick stuff up, pop culture references from 2002, etc), and I hope you will capitalize on that! I would like you to kick the look up a few notches, including brow coverage. I think you were probably barely alive during 2002, and so I really hope you’ll do some research into the fashion trends because I am an old bitch who remembers Y2K! It’s such a fun era of horrible fashion so I really hope you will take advantage of that. Nice work!

Marina

This is Susan Johnson-Johnson. Her mother and father had the same last name, but her mother insisted on hyphenating it. She also claims that her father is related to Dwayne the Rock Johnson, which is a bald headed lie as her bloodline is whiter than cottage cheese. Susan claims a lot of outrageous things and most of these tall tales are meth and tobacco induced. Being an ex prostitute due to her failing business, she is no stranger to a good drug. However, she’s very connected to spirituality and has a dream of running a successful tarot card business, which is why she wears her headwraps. I hope you enjoy my original character!

Analyse: Hi, Marina! I see some of the makeup critiques you’ve gotten being applied here, so it’s great to see that growth. The headwrap and fan add to the look and give it a level of interest, but I think my main probably with this submission is that this story is just all over the place in no sort of cohesive way. I think part of your challenge going forward into the test for this week is to make sure that you have a fully thought out and realized character, because right now, I’m not entirely sure who she is. When you only have a few minutes of video for the challenge, you don’t have a lot of time to spend introducing the audience to your character, so we want to be able to get that right away from the look, mannerisms, and personality of the character. I think you’re headed in a good direction, but for the test, I want to see you kind of clean up those loose ends and really give us a fully thought-out character in your submission. Good luck!

Harper: Alright, so I really enjoyed your biography, but I think there was a bit of a mismatch between your character’s description and her appearance. Before I read your bio, I assume that you were a part of a royal Court or a princess or something. From your description I would almost imagine some kind of hippie druggie chic (side note: tobacco does not get you high so I don’t know if that part makes sense), an ornate fan and sequins doesn’t really read meth-head to me. I do like the headwrap, but I’d like to see you wear a wig with it rather than use it as a wig replacement. Lashes and nails always, even for homework assignments.  I think you have a good head start for a character, but really make sure that you are putting the details in place. As always, the deans are here to give you feedback as your brainstorm if you need it. 

Nikita

Ophelia

I may look scary but I’m really nice, I promise!!! Hi new friends, my name is Misery but everyone just calls me ‘Chip’! For the most part, I like to spend my time helping as many individuals as I possibly can and adventuring!! Believe it or not through, I wasn’t always the happy go-lucky creature you see today though :( My ancestors originally descended from a demon many eons ago. Based on this, for generations, my tribe was subject to ridicule and fear from people on the surface, just based on our appearance! Can you believe that?!?! Eventually, they took their society underground, taking to steal from and enslave denizens of the surface world. I grew up experiencing and witnessing so much pain and misery but I always thought 'things could be different than this!’ Eventually, because of the horrible atrocities they committed, I saw my friends and family BANISHED by an unforgiving god, while they gave me a second chance if you will at life by being made to live on the surface! I wandered for a years trying to fit in with society and find my purpose, until one day I encountered a group of adventurers said to have been passing from village to village, helping people wherever they went and from there, I knew that was my call-….. Whoops! Sorry, I saw a butterfly with a broken wing and I wanted to heal it!!! :D ANYWAY! From then on, I’ve just been travelling from town to town, spreading good cheer and helping people!!! Whenever, I get sad or upset, I just think of the second chance that my friends and family didn’t get… :) Byeeeeee!

Analyse: Remember when I said I was excited to see where your creativity led you in this week’s challenges??? Because THIS is why I was excited! I think you’ve got a super creative concept here with the demons-for-an-ancestor-but-I’m-not-mean-I’m-nice character, and there’s definitely some storyline and drama that can come from just that. I think part of the challenge for you will be making sure that the character doesn’t read as very one-note in the video challenge, and make sure that we’re not just getting the same joke or idea over and over. For the look, I would love to see it feminized a little more. I know your art is a lot more blurred in the expression of gender and you’re not going for female impersonation or hyperfemininity as much, but the issue I’m seeing with submissions is that they can often read more “man with face paint” than drag, and while TDR is very much a place to explore and grow in that, The Real World™ isn’t always so open, and so before you have people coming for you and saying “that’s not drag,” you want to shut their mouths with your polish, execution, and creativity. Good luck on the test, and I can’t wait to see what you do with this character!

Harper: I appreciate you for trying something ambitious, but I think you missed the mark of the assignment here. I warned you about relying too heavily on a visual character, and I think you feel into that trap this week. The look of the character is not the important part of this assignment, having a well developed character that you will be able to act with in the test is. Almost all of your biography is background information on your character’s family history rather than telling me who your character actually is. I think it’s great that you are putting thought into that stuff, but it’s all extraneous when I still don’t really get a sense of your character on a complex level. Since you decided to go down this road, I will really want you to drag it up and not rely on body paint to be your makeup. Right now the prosthetics are a bit sloppy, and if you are giong to wear them I’d really like to see them refined. You can use hot glue to change the texture, or even adding painted effects. You’ve got your work cutout for you this week, make it work!

#tdr #tumblrs drag race #tdrcs4 #charm school #drag #drag queen #baby queen #kushboo #luna #marina lumiere #nikita nox #ophelia waters

[burgermiester]

Fire Emblem Echoes: Another Hero King (Shadows of Valentia) Impressions

***No Story or Character Spoilers***

I dont speak or read a word of Japanese so I couldnt give my thoughts on the characters or story even if I wanted to.  In addition to missing out on the story and character development I also only scratched the surface of the skill(tech) system as well as the sidequest system.  All of that is enough to make me not want to call this a review; I need to play it in English and do the postgame content to have a complete opinion on the game, but as it stands I still have a lot of thoughts about the game after one complete playthrough. So...here are those thoughts:

Presentation:  I dont think I can praise the presentation highly enough.  Its always been the case with Fire Emblems on the same console that they look slightly better than the one before it, and thats no exception here.  The music, color palate, animations, menus, character and weapon designs are all among the best in the entire franchise.  Even though I couldnt understand the words, it was incredible to play a Fire Emblem game with full voice acting.  It really elevates the experience and I’m very pleased we have finally gotten to that point.  No idea if the localization will have good voice acting to make it work, but what we have heard so far has been great and generally speaking I think the 3DS games have done a good job in the area of localizations so I am not too concerned.  If I have one gripe about the presentation its in the fully animated CG cutscenes.  They still look very nice but the animation is a step down from what we saw in Awakening and Fates.

Gameplay other than combat: Fire Emblem Echoes, like Gaiden, is as different from any other Fire Emblem game as it could possibly be while still having that Fire Emblem feel.  There are a lot of things that work together to make the game feel so unique.  In addition to the world map that was in the original Gaiden and brought back in Sacred Stones and Awakening we also have towns and dungeons.  Now, towns and dungeons were a thing in Gaiden but they were the definition of minimal.  Towns consisted of one or two buildings where you talked to everyone and they either joined the party or warned you of a tough enemy coming up, and once in a while there was a chest as well.  Now towns are 4 or 5 screens with many more npcs to talk to and more items to find, as well as a blacksmith (who in Echoes is a cool buff lady instead of the normal gruff guy in most FE games!) in most of the towns.  It must be said that in the original game you could walk freely around the towns and now they are split up into screens and function more like a visual novel.  Some people are upset by this change, but I personally dont really care either way.  Being able to walk around would be slightly more immersive and the visual novel style is slightly more efficient and makes it easier to not miss any items, and I think both those things are valuable. 

Dungeons, on the other hand, are just a straight upgrade.  In Gaiden you walked down a hall and did a fight, sometimes thats repeated x2 or 3 times.  It got a little more complicated near the end in Celicas route and then again at the end of the game, but not much more complicated.  Now they are actually dungeons with secret passages and breakable objects and treasure and enemies that you can ambush or can ambush you.  All the dungeons have a really great atmosphere and feel unique from one another.  I admittedly dont play a lot of dungeon crawler type games, so I dont have a huge frame of reference here, but to me it felt like it was on the simpler side of dungeon crawlers, but not too simple that it wasnt enjoyable.  Aside from the lost woods which is a maze with a lot of signs that I couldnt read, I liked all of the dungeons in the game, and I expect that I wont have any problems with the lost woods once I can understand them better.  The fights themselves are simple and much easier than what you face in the main battles, so its overall just a fun atmospheric break from the main game where you win some easy fights, collect items, and maybe grab a promotion if anyone is ready. 

Oh, I almost forgot, fatigue is a mechanic in dungeons.  But just barely.  At no point was fatigue ever more than the most extremely minor inconvenience.  I really cant understand why they put it in the game.  It usually only even sets in if you stick around in a dungeon longer than normal to grind, so I assume its meant to penalize grinding, but that doesnt make a ton of sense because 1) dungeons are there for you to grind and 2) its not even a big punishment because its so easy to get around via just leaving the dungeon or using one of the ample foodstuffs to cure it.  So basically, its a bad mechanic that was poorly thought out and executed, but it barely matters so its easy to ignore and forget about.

I dont know what it is about finding weapons in a dungeon or picking it up from a castle you gained access to after a hard battle on the map, but it really makes them feel incredibly precious to me.  That feeling is made even stronger by multiple design elements: first, like Gaiden and Fates before it, weapons are unbreakable, so you can keep using them as long as you want and get more attached. Second, as your characters use the weapons they unlock techniques that they can use if they have those weapons equipped.  Last, forging has been added to the game and it uses a tiered system where you keep upgrading until you reach max level and then can upgrade it to an even better weapon entirely, letting you stay with your weapons throughout the game.  And unlike Fates which added a bunch of drawbacks to the S rank weapons to offset their power and infinite durability, the legendary weapons in Echoes are just great. I think its an amazing system.  I didnt fully understand the rings or shields, though I did use them as well, I got more out of having weapons equipped in general, but rings all have big descriptions as to their effects so I will have more to say when the game releases in English. 

I also didnt get a ton out of the skill system.  Since most skills dont double, I dont think youll be using them much on your mercenaries, pegs, or fast cavaliers, meaning typically worse off units like knights and archers might benefit from it.  I mainly used two skills in my playthrough: A very strong double attack from Alm’s personal weapon and a super accurate attack with Atlas using an iron bow which in conjunction with his massive attack stat meant big chip damage.  Ill have more to say about this later, but I am tentatively pretty excited about this system.

Battles in Echoes: The actual combat in Echoes is significantly different than any other FE game.  Three major things really work together to make that true: Theres no Weapon Triangle, Growths are pretty low across the board, and when you promote you are brought up to the class baseline in stats.  These things in conjunction with each other make it so that classes have a far stronger identity than ever before.  Every class is well suited to fighting certain other classes, and you really dont want to send one of your units up against an enemy type that is good against them.  This means that juggernauting is mostly out of the game as you really need to fight with your whole army to be able to deal with all enemy types.  And thats right, I said the whole army.  There are no deployment limits other than in dungeon battles.  This is a pretty big deal and really makes the gameplay different than other Fire Emblems.  The only other main game with no deployment limits is Genealogy of the Holy War, however in that game I almost always found myself either not fielding a few of the units or fielding them and then they never made it to the fighting because of low movement.  In Echoes, I always wanted to use everyone and they almost all were useful in some small way.  This hugely changes the feel of the game for me.  I know a lot of people were concerned about there being no pair-up and how that would diminish the feeling of bonds between units, but this game gave me a stronger feeling of togetherness between my army than any other FE game prior has done and it wasnt even in a language I understood! It was just the game mechanics working to tell that story.  I always had to keep my army in a tight bunch, both to try and keep them all within their three tile support range and to be close by to attack the enemies who attacked their friends. It feels really great to fight with my whole team, even my armor knights, for the first time. 

Compared to Gaiden: I am already a big fan of Gaiden so inevitably I couldnt help but to compare it with the original while I played.  Some of these things might not even be noticeable for anyone who didnt play Gaiden but they mattered to me and I want to point them out in any case.  First the biggest thing to Gaiden fans: all the buffing and nerfing.  Generally, I didnt really notice a lot of the buffs.  Clair and Mae were both a lot better units than previously but otherwise I couldnt tell you off the top of my head who else was improved and how.  Nerfs were a lot more noticeable: Falcoknights and Dread Fighters, while still amazing, are much less impressive than they used to be.  I suppose it makes sense but I cant help but feel disappointed.  Gaiden/Echoes pushes rpg elements and is generally a game that seems to encourage grinding, letting the player have overpowered things at endgame seems like it compliments those design decisions.  Similarly, they nerfed mummies in a major way.  Before they appeared in big groups near the end of both routes for the player to easily grind up the entire party in a very short amount of time if they wanted to do so.  Now they appear randomly, run away from you, and when/if you do get to kill them they barely give any exp unless you are extremely underleveled.  Its a game where grinding could actually be fun but they dont include any way to level up past level 12 or so without it taking a miserably long time.  On the opposite end of things, I really approve of the nerf to warp.  Before you could warp any unit to anywhere on the map and it really lent itself to letting Alm’s half become an Alm solo.  With it now having a much shorter range, its more encouraging to use your entire army and not just Alm, and I think thats a good thing. 

My One Big Fear:  This goes hand in hand with my big complaint from last section, but I think this game might just have the scummiest dlc practice of any Nintendo game.  The original Gaiden gave players easy access to endgame grinding to level up all their units to max very quickly and easily if they so desired.  Echoes changed it so that those enemies now give an insignificant amount of exp and they are selling a new way to grind easily as DLC.  That really sucks.  Theres nothing else to say than cutting something out of a remake and selling it separately is a really really shitty thing to do.  I hope enough people become aware of what they did and protest.  DLC practices have gotten progressively worse since Awakening but this is the worst of the bunch, and I really hope this trend doesnt keep going into the Switch FE era.  I also am very worried about the money in this game.  I did not have nearly enough money to do all the forging that I wanted to do and I am aware that a gold farming dlc is planned.  This would be just as shitty of a practice as with exp if the money situation is as bad as it immediately seems because giving everyone forged weapons would make the game more fun, and that fun is blocked by a paywall.  That being said, I will give them the benefit of the doubt for now because I didnt do many sidequests, and its possible that theres a lot of money to be earned there or elsewhere and I didnt know it.  If in-game gold is actually as rare as it seems and buying a dlc to getit more easily is heavily encouraged then I will be very disappointed.

In conclusion: Theres some seriously troubling aspects of monetization that actually hamper enjoyment of the game, and fatigue and food seem to largely be a waste of time, but that aside Echoes is a fantastic game and a real treat to Gaiden fans and Fire Emblem fans and video game fans in general.  Its all around an enormously fun experience that I know will get even better once I get to play it in English. 

#fire emblem #echoes #fesov #another hero king #fire emblem gameplay spoilers

[bettervillains]

All the ice cream asks. 😘

Thanks friend :3 Also @isabellagrcia who asked me for all the ones I've tried Yana was extra extra so I'm just gonna answer them all here:• chocolate: when was your first kiss?I swear I get this question at least once every time I do one of these and it's still never, nope, not yet, trust me internet you'll be like the third to know when it happens. • french vanilla: how old are you?I'll be 25 in a month • cotton candy: three places you want to travel to?Iceland, Toronto, never made it to Wales or Athens when I was overseas• strawberry: a language you wish you could speak?Italian•coffee: favorite cosmetic brands?I wear a lot of Nyx (real into their lipstick) but for eyeliner it's Butter London all the way baby•mint chocolate chip: indoors or outdoors?Indoors, unless it's cold out•cookie dough: do you play any instruments?Guitar, can fake my way through piano, clarinet • rocky road: favorite songs at the moment?I Want You, Marion Hill ; My Song 5, Haim• butter pecan: favorite songs for life?These Foolish Things, Billie Holiday ; There's A Good Reason These Tables Are Numbered, Honey, You Just Haven't Found It Yet, Panic! At the Disco• cheesecake: what's your zodiac sign?Haven't you heard that I'm the new cancer you can't stand it• toasted coconut: the beach or the pool?Uhhhhh if I felt comfortable in a swimsuit either•chocolate chip: what's your most popular post?My Friends post (your fave is problematic: Life) is around 67k hits• bubblegum: books or movies?Yes• pistachio: manga or anime?Gotta say manga, tho Ghibli • salted caramel: favorite movies? The Apartment, The Sting, I know it's a cliché but I do really love Carol even though I don't rewatch a lot, recently been studying When Harry Met Sallybirthday cake: favorite books?• The Dumas fam's a safe bet, The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan, My French Whore by Gene Wilder • moose tracks: favorites for manga?Hikaru no Go actually got me to learn go so jot that down • orange sherbet: favorites for anime?Uhhhh Sword Art Online has some really fab graphics and a cool concept • peanut butter: favorite academic subject?It's Lit™ • black raspberry: do you have any pets?Nope. Always wanting a cat tho • mango: when and why did you start your blog?About six years ago and who can remember • mocha: ideal weather conditions?Tundra. Or a crisp fall afternoon • black cherry: four words that describe you?"no, I was kidding"• neapolitan: things that stress you out?L o t s. Any kind of deadline or appointment makes time feel super short, but otherwise I have no sense of the passage of time so I have to set deadlines for myself. No good middle ground. • raspberry truffle: favorite kind of music?Jazz, like 40s crooners stuff • chocolate marshmallow: favorite brands of candy?Love Chokotoffs most but haven't had them in ages, otherwise love a Kit Kat. Or Mango or Apple Hi-Chew. • toffee: a card game that you're good at?BS. Finally a game where you're allowed to cheat. And I've come up with a lot of creative ways in the past to do so. • lemon custard: do you eat breakfast?I'm trying to be better about it but most conventional breakfast food is terrible for me so I might start eating goddamn quinoa for breakfast cause I like it and it's pretty neutral. • dark chocolate: turn ons?Idk I'm mostly a pretty vanilla person just with a little bit of a flavor — like a bourbon vanilla. I've realized my like fantasy type is Just a Little Bit Mean™ (even tho I Love like kind passionate people irl) which horrified me when Mary Poppins fit in that category. Also explains the v mild praise kink. V MILD. • fudge: turn offs?If the person is a terrible person??? I can't get behind it, not even for surface level attraction. • peach: how do you relax?Baths or showers. Water signs yo. Also like....... good TV, good friends, good company. • praline: a popular book you haven't read yet?Gone Girl. I meant to, but then I forgot. • superman: do you like sweaters?Ehhhh when the time is right • cherry: do you drink tea or coffee?Hot tea all day, babe• dulce de leche: an instrument you wish you could play?Sax? Or like.... drums. Weak ankles tho. • blackberry: have you ever laughed so hard you cried?Frequently and recently • ginger: a new feature you wish tumblr could have?Uh tags in mobile ask responses • blueberry lemon: favorite blogs?All my friends duh. Follow a few impressionist art blogs too (gotta get that Monet) • almond: favorite mean girls quote?I mean four for you glen coco is a classic • butterscotch: what color are your nails right now?Unpainted but I just got a manicure so they've got a lovely buffed shine to them • cinnamon: have you ever been confessed to?Looooooooool like what are we talking about here for romance no hell no for like offenses maybe probably? • blue moon: have you ever had a crush on someone?I'm basically the human incarnation of Hozier's Someone New so ye• cappuccino crunch: do you take naps?Uhh I always feel gross and weird head spacy after so not often • mint: the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?Some hot contenders but once in middle school when I hated pink I definitely replied to a girl who was trying to peeve me by telling me, "You know what you would look good in? pink" with "You know what you would look good in? Nothing" I meant she wouldn't look good in any color cause BUURRRNNN but it was a weird moment. But, for the future, a fantastic op for a pickup line• brownie batter: do you like sushi?The like..... not raw fish kind, ye, sparingly. Would rather have potstickers • key lime: where do you want to be right now?I'm in bed as the sun's rising so p much nailed it. Or like......... Scotland, maybe. Somewhere soft. • red velvet: do you wear prescription glasses?Oh boy do I. Negative 4 vision in one eye, 3.75 in the other. Bad bad bad. • green tea: favorite flavors of ice cream?I like Phish Food from B&J and that Gold Medal swirl from baskin Robbins I can't remember what it's called

[instantdeerlover]

From the Strategist How to Stock Your Weeklong (or Monthlong) Vacation Rental Kitchen, According to Chefs added to Google Docs

From the Strategist How to Stock Your Weeklong (or Monthlong) Vacation Rental Kitchen, According to Chefs

 Amazon Prime Video

The cooking tools and ingredients to bring to your home away from home, from the Strategist

Summer vacation looks a little different this year. If you’re lucky enough to escape town (and it’s safe to do so where you are), you’ll probably be road-tripping to a nearby state, and you may even turn what would normally be a weekend away into an extended stay, due to current work-from-home conditions. Pockets of the country are slowly opening back up, but going to restaurants remains iffy — so while you might be taking a vacation, you can’t really take a vacation from cooking. With that in mind, we reached out to three chefs, all of whom have decamped for the Catskills region of upstate New York after working in New York City, and asked for their recommendations on what to bring for a well-stocked short-term kitchen. Here’s what chefs Elise Kornack and Anna Hieronimus, who formerly ran Michelin-starred restaurant Take Root, and Danny Newberg, founder of traveling food project Joint Venture, have to say.

Tools  Shun DM0706 Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife

Knives you find in a rental house are usually dull or not up to snuff if you plan on doing some serious cooking. So bring your own chef’s knife (and maybe invest in a knife roll to prevent it from slipping out and accidentally cutting someone). “One of our favorite knife brands is Shun, but pretty much any sharp knife will do for a monthlong stint,” Kornack and Hieronimus say. “This size of chef’s knife is very versatile, and can come in handy for anything from chopping fresh herbs to breaking down a chicken. Plus, a good chef’s knife is a great investment.”

 Seville Classics Easy-to-Clean Bamboo Cutting Board and 7 Color-Coded Flexible Cutting Mats

A rental may very well have a cutting board, but it’s hard to be sure how much a cutting board has been used or how well it’s been cleaned. So bring your own. “It’s important that you have a fresh and clean surface to prep meals,” Kornack says. “Personally, we like wood because it’s less slippery.”

 All-Purpose Ribbed Terry Bar Mop Towel

Instead of bringing a carful of paper towels to your rental, consider the humble, eminently reusable bar towel, a staple of any restaurant or bar. “These towels are zero waste and are super inexpensive for a dozen,” Kornack and Hieronimus say. “They can be reused and washed over and over.”

 IKEA Mopsig 16-Piece Flatware Set

Let’s be honest: Another family or group of people was probably in your rental before you were and they might have used the cutlery. For peace of mind, consider bringing a cutlery set to your rental. “During a pandemic, it’s important to make sure your cutlery is clean, and depending on how many people you are sharing a space with, it’s essential to make sure everyone has their own set with fork, knife, and spoon,” Kornack and Hieronimus say.

 OXO Can Opener

Of all the kitchen tools that may be missing at your rental, a good can opener is one of the most likely objects you won’t be able to find. So bring one with you if you’re going to be opening a lot of cans. Plus, as Hieronimus and Kornack point out, “they can also double as a bottle opener.”

 Great Jones Holy Sheet Pan

Sheet pans are the kitchen workhorse you’ll want around at your rental. They’re ideal for big meals, like roasted vegetables, late-night chocolate chip cookies, or whole roasted chicken. “We use our sheet pan almost every day,” Kornack says. “It makes roasting vegetables and other foods super easy. We love cooking outside and grill year-round. The sheet pan is also a great vehicle for bringing food, both cooked and raw, and other supplies from inside the kitchen out to the grill.”

 Gentlemen’s Hardware 12-in-1 Detachable Kitchen Stainless Steel Multi Tool with Wood Handles

If you’re starting to worry about how you’re going to fit all this stuff into the trunk of your rental, don’t. Last winter, Hieronimus’s mom gifted her this multi-tool, which features a cheese grater, zester, garlic crusher, channel knife, small paring knife, serrated knife, peeler, fork, spoon, bottle opener, corkscrew, and can opener. “We take it everywhere we go,” says Hieronimus. “It has everything you need to prep an entire meal, whether you’re in a rental or by the campfire.” Plus, it’s stainless steel, so it won’t rust.

 OXO BREW Easy Clean French Press Coffee Maker - 8 Cup

The more remote your rental is, the less likely it is that there will be a third-wave coffee shop or Starbucks anywhere nearby, so you’re going to want your own coffee-maker. Kornack and Hieronimus, who say “morning coffee is a ritual we swear by,” prefer a French press for at-home coffee-making and for travel. “A coffee press produces no waste, compared to a coffee machine that uses coffee pods or a filter,” they point out. “The leftover coffee grounds are also a great addition to any compost or garden. This year we poured our excess grounds around our strawberry plants and they are producing more berries than last season.”

 REI Co-op Pack-Away 12 Soft Cooler

 Small Round Hot Cold Packs With Cloth Backing, 10 Pack

Finally, if you plan on making day trips to nearby towns or parks, make sure you have a cooler and ice packs so you can bring food and drinks along. “Ice packs are reusable, and unlike bags of ice, you won’t end up with a cooler filled with water,” Kornack and Hieronimus say. “If you don’t already have a cooler, it’s something that will come in handy again and again. We prefer a soft cooler because it can fit more than a hard one, and this one is expandable and easy to carry!”

Consumables  Diaspora Co. The Trio!

Rather than fill a box with all the contents of your spice rack, Kornack and Hieronimus recommend bringing along a few key spices and leaving the rest at home. Right now, they say they’re obsessed with this trio of single-origin spices that includes pragati turmeric, guntur sannam chilli, and aranya peppercorns and was produced by indigenous farmers in India. “Diaspora Co. is creating a new and equitable version of the spice trade,” they say. “Though a rental property may come stocked with a few spices, we doubt they will be as intentionally produced and distributed. We particularly love the turmeric, which we regularly use to season rice before cooking.”

 Basbaas Coconut Cilantro Chutney and Tamarind Date Sauce

Kornack is the kind of person who puts hot sauce on just about anything, but not just any old bottle of Cholula will do. The pair likes to stock up on hot sauces from Basbaas, Somali-American chef Hawa Hassan’s company. “These two sauces are versatile,” Kornack says. “The Coconut Cilantro Chutney is tangy and spicy, while the Tamarind Date sauce is sweet, smoky, and a bit more mild. Both are vegan and gluten-free and delicious.”

 San Francisco-Style Sourdough Starter

Anyone looking to truly connect with their inner homesteader may want to bring along a sourdough starter and what Newberg calls “all the important flours,” including bread flour, all-purpose flour, and whole-wheat flour, so you can make your own bread while you’re away.

 EXAU Olive Oil

All three chefs recommend bringing a good olive oil with you. “I use it for just about everything I cook,” says Newberg. The world of mass-produced olive oil is known to be a bit murky, but that’s not a problem with this oil, which is sourced from Calabria, Italy, by an American couple. “They’re producing olive oil with their interest and knowledge in nutrition, wine-making, and design,” Kornack and Hieronimus say. If you can’t wait a few days for a bottle, there are plenty of other fantastic options you can find at your local grocer.

 Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt

 Maldon Sea-Salt Flakes

Yes, bring your own salt. If you arrive and there’s only some iodized table salt in the cabinet, you’ll be sorely disappointed, our sources insist. All three chefs say that you need at least two kinds of salt: A nice kosher salt for general use — from salting pasta water to adding to baked goods — and a decent finishing salt to sprinkle on salads or a steak fresh off the grill.

 Seeds of Change Organic Quinoa and Brown Rice

Newberg suggests bringing along rice or any other grains that can keep a long time and that can be whipped up in 20 minutes or less, for a quick meal or a substantial side dish. Our own Jenna Milliner-Waddell, who says she doesn’t even like rice, swears by the Seeds of Change brand.

 Interpage International Cod Liver In Own Oil

 Adro Riga Smoked Sprats

Traveling with protein in the form of eggs can be a bit perilous, especially if you’re going a long distance. Newberg highly recommends packing canned fish because they provide “protein, omega-3, and they are so good on your freshly made bread, over rice, or in a taco.” His favorites are cod liver and sprats, which are soft, fatty, and high in nutritional value without being too strong in terms of flavor.

via Eater - All https://www.eater.com/21328839/vacation-rental-kitchen-checklist-cooking-tools-ingredients

Created July 20, 2020 at 11:26PM /huong sen View Google Doc Nhà hàng Hương Sen chuyên buffet hải sản cao cấp✅ Tổ chức tiệc cưới✅ Hội nghị, hội thảo✅ Tiệc lưu động✅ Sự kiện mang tầm cỡ quốc gia 52 Phố Miếu Đầm, Mễ Trì, Nam Từ Liêm, Hà Nội http://huongsen.vn/ 0904988999 http://huongsen.vn/to-chuc-tiec-hoi-nghi/ https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xa6sRugRZk4MDSyctcqusGYBv1lXYkrF