#Powder Coating Company North Carolina

[furnituremanufacturingguide-blog]

Great Outdoor Furniture Manufacturers

It is certain that your porch will from time to time tend to attract great aesthetic as well as functional value. This is why it will be prudent for you to consider buying great outdoor furniture. It is imperative to mention that we have numerous furniture brands that you can take into consideration in this respect. You will get to discover more about the furniture brands that you will find quite reliable as you keep on reading. You will note that we have companies that specialize in high-end furniture and those that focus more on affordable yet attractive furniture. This will ensure that you make a more informed decision in the long run. We have Cast Classics that is in New Jersey. It is imperative to mention that they will from time to time pay attention to cast iron as well as wicker outdoor furniture. You will learn that they will often manufacture tables, chairs and even fire pits. This company will certainly assure you of great style. This will often be coupled up with a sense of functionality. The sturdiness as well as strength of their furniture can hardly be questioned. You will also note that they will hardly be vulnerable to wear and tear. We also have Woodward. This is one of the pioneering furniture brands. You will note that they will often use materials like aluminum and wrought iron to make their furniture. This company will often sell their furniture at a relatively more affordable price. This furniture is also known to be quite durable. Then comes Brown Jordan which is located in Florida. This company is known for making furniture that has the ability to flourish under the outdoor conditions. You will witness that they will from time to time use reliable materials. This furniture will from time to time come in different styles. They are durable and quite weather-resistant. This furniture is in a position to withstand so much. Feel free to opt for Castelle. Its popularity came about as a result of the great patio furniture it makes. These pieces are usually powder-coated. As such, they will easily withstand wear and tear. Castelle is a high-end brand. You will however note that buying their furniture will be a great decision. Then comes the Tommy Bahama Outdoor. It is located in North Carolina. You will find that its deck furniture will often be the best. It usually makes a wide variety of furniture. You will also be assured of a range of materials and fabrics to choose from. This is what will improve the chances of easily getting what you desire more. Discover more about the best furniture manufacturer.

[healthcareandwellness-blog]

Seed Treatment Fungicides Market: Introduction

Seed treatment can be defined as treating seeds with additionally required chemicals such as Imidaclorpid 48% FS, Metalaxyl 35 WS, and others, that are used to biologically improve the seeds quality and protect the seeds. This process is used in order to control diseases and infections caused owing to soil borne infections, false smut, fungal disease, blight and root rot, termite bunt, and loose smut, among others. Fungicide seed treatments aids in protecting seedlings from getting effected due to both seed pathogens and soil. Seed-borne pathogens are those accommodated on the seed surface, or those located in the inner part of the seed. Soil-borne pathogens contaminates the seed or seedling, which is the main cause of the growth of both non-parasitic and parasitic diseases.

 Request for a sample copy of this report @ https://www.insightsandreports.com/request-sample/226

 Market Dynamics

Some of the major factors driving the seed treatment fungicides market include the increasing demand for genetically modified seeds, coupled with rising use of fungicides for crop protection is fueling the market growth. As the fungicides ensure high farm yields, and also improve the protection from harmful organisms, the demand for seed treatment fungicides is expected to grow. Moreover, increasing demand for feedstock such as farming seeds will further enhance the product demand over the projected period.

The market is expected to restrain due to the increasing use of treated seeds among farmers. According to Agricultural Health Study (AHS), more than 90% of farmers in North Carolina and Iowa use seed treated seeds only, while very few farmers are using fungicides for seed treatment. Moreover, according to FAO stats, Iowa led the U.S. corn production in 2015, which was followed by Nebraska and Illinois. Both these states produced over 2 billion corn crop bushels in 2015, while states such as Indiana and Minnesota produced only 1 billion corn bushels in 2015.

 Market Segmentation

The seed treatment fungicides market has been categorized into crop type, product type, process, form and geography. On the basis of crop type the market is segmented into integrated cereals & grains, oil seeds, fruits & vegetables, flowers & ornaments Seed. Based on product type the market is categorized into captan, difenoconazole, biological agents, carboxin, and PNCB among others. Seed treatment fungicides market based on process is divided into seed coatings fungicides, seed dressing fungicides and seed pelleting fungicides among others. Form segment is segmented into powder and liquid. Seed dressing fungicides is the most regularly used technique, this is majorly due to easy procedure and low cost when compared to others. Economical earthen pots are used for mixing chemicals with seeds otherwise seed can be spread on a polythene sheet and essential quantity of chemical can be sprinkled over the seeds and mixed automatically by the farmers with the help of machinery. Seed dressing fungicides technique is basically a biological process, which is being used in various crop types such as in pigeon pea, sugarcane, chilies and tomatoes among others.

 Regional Analysis

North America accounted for the largest market share in 2017. Strict government regulations towards curbing and reducing the use of agrochemicals such as pesticides along with growing consumer awareness regarding the presence of fertilizer remains in the produce, has resulted in a substantial growth in demand for seed treatment fungicides. As per the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA); seedling-blight diseases and smuts caused in barley, wheat, oats, and others can be controlled by seed treatment fungicides, that helps to kill the infections causing diseases inside the seed during germination. Asia Pacific market is anticipated to be experience a swift growth in the seed treatment fungicides market over the forecast period. According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in 2017, India and China are the key producers of wheat globally. As per a article published by FAO in 2017 India produced 93.34 million tons of wheat in 2017.

 For more information about this report @ https://www.insightsandreports.com/industry-reports/seed-treatment-fungicides-market

  Seed Treatment Fungicides Market: Competitive Landscape

The key players in seed treatment fungicides market are BASF SE, Du Pont, Monsanto Company, Novozymes, Sumitomo Corporation, Bayer Corpscience AG, Syngenta Ag, Nufarm Limited, FMC Corporation, Platform Specialty Products Corporation, and Adama Agricultural Solutions Ltd. among other key players. For instance, in August, 2017, BASF launched the first strobilurin fungicides in the market to provide more control over the fungal pathogens.

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[exactlydeafeningdeer]

Preventing Films from Marking Powder Coated Surfaces

Lignin is a natural broad-spectrum sun blocker due to its UV-absorbing functional groups, e.g., phenol units. UV absorbers can protect materials such as paints and plastic from sun damage.

Richard Venditti, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA, and colleagues have developed sustainable, biodegradable, and transparent cellulose-lignin films that absorb UV radiation. The team functionalized cellulose with azide groups and lignin with propargyl groups and used a copper-catalyzed click reaction to form covalent bonds between them. They added between 0.5 wt% and 2 wt% lignin to the cellulose. The team cast the solution of the bonded product onto glass plates to produce the cellulose-lignin films.

The films are transparent in the visible region of the spectrum, are flexible, and remain stable up to temperatures of 120 °C. They are prepared from renewable resources and have good UV protection properties. The material with 2 wt% lignin blocks 100 % of UV-B rays and over 90 % of UV-A rays.

Newly developed space instruments are increasingly efficient and accurate. One of the main drawbacks is that they are consequently more and more sensitive to contamination. Once integrated, optics are continuously exposed to cleanroom environment. Most of the time, cleaning operations are risky or even impossible considering coatings fragility or accessibility constraints. Thus even in cleanrooms, with the use of specific covers and/or the implementation of purging, inducing altogether stringent operational constraints, molecular and particulate contamination deposition appears to be unavoidable. Hence, the use of a windshield film on the most critical optics during manufacturing assembly and tests would allow a significant reduction of the overall contamination levels or the release of the operational constraints to reach the same cleanliness target. This study presents the results obtained in the frame of a test campaign aiming at identifying and evaluating the most promising protection films (including varnishes, adhesive tapes and electrostatic films) dedicated to space instruments optics. Impacts on both molecular and particulate contamination were investigated together with associated effects on protected substrates (aspect, spectral properties, …). The best solution has been qualified at Airbus and is currently implemented on flight hardware.

NEW YORK, July 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --  The global Paint Protection Film Market is forecasted to reach USD 461.7 Million by 2027. Paint safety film is a thermoplastic coating that cures when added to painted surfaces. The product is commonly used in the automotive industry to cover certain parts that are more vulnerable to abrasion or harm. Paint safety film is used in various parts of the vehicle, such as a door panel, bonnet, front bumper, rear bumper, side panel, side skirt, etc. The product prevents the car from soil, wax, mud, bugs, etc. induced by surface stains. It also gives a long period to maintain the vehicle surface to finish flawless. In effect, increasing demand for lightweight automobiles and hybrid cars will boost the market for color safety films in the coming years. Improvement in the electronic industry would increase the growth in the market size of paint safety film due to its usage in different electronic equipment such as mobile phones, LED displays, household appliances, etc. Consequently, growing development in the consumer electronics business will render the Asia Pacific an essential region in the coming years.

The sector of Aerospace & Defense is expected to rise in the coming years at a growing CAGR due to widespread usage of the substance to cover the surfaces of the aircraft. It helps to shield the glass-made pieces from debris, high impact abrasion, and scratches. The material is used both for aircraft interiors and exteriors. In 2018, the operating global commercial fleet was projected at about 26,000 aircraft, which is expected to rise to about 37,000 over the next ten years. Thanks to the involvement of many component suppliers, North America is a significant area in the paint film industry. Another growth enabler on the business will be growing aircraft and vehicle demand in the domain. The U.S. now has more than 3,600 combat aircraft, which, due to its increasing defense expenditure, will increase more in the coming years. Due to its proliferating electronics industry, Asia Pacific is another crucial market with a growing CAGR. As the product is commonly used in the electronics industry to maintain the surface of electrical devices, growing development in this sector in the coming years would result in increased demand for the paint safety window films market.

The demand for paint protection film is extremely competitive because of the stable commodity prices and paint protection film variety provided by various local films and international players. Besides, raw material quality is one of the main reasons for producers to follow the specific market requirements for the manufacture of protective films for broad applications. Projected to fuel global demand growth is the launch of these goods on the online e-commerce website, which renders them user-friendly for consumers across the globe. Also, numerous measures taken by major industry players to accommodate installation services through company-owned service stations and third-party installers will generate potential opportunities during the forecast period for global business development.

Products such as 3M Clear Bra and XPEL Ultimate Plus will have a consistent edge over its competitors because of the regular technological upgradations and superior quality and after sales service.

The global paint protection film market size was valued at USD 297.15 million in 2020 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4% from 2021 to 2028. The growing application scope of the product and the development of high-performance films are expected to boost the product demand over the coming years. Furthermore, innovations in technology to offer sustainable products with minimal environmental impact are projected to propel the demand in the forecast period. Product variation concerning performance and quality to resist stains, abrasions, and scratches is also anticipated to be one of the key factors defining the demand for Paint Protection Films (PPFs). Furthermore, the introduction of novel technologies to produce long-lasting films with greater resistance against adverse atmospheric conditions is expected to drive the market over the forecast period.

Technological advancements, such as color variations and superior adhesiveness, in safety films are estimated to draw consumer attention. In North America, automotive and transportation films accounted for a prominent market share, with most of the demand from the U.S. ceramic coating technologies. These technologies are likely to be utilized as an alternative to PPFs due to their superior performance against scratches and abrasions, thus negatively influencing the market growth.

However, the low cost associated with PPFs is poised to offer them a competitive advantage over the forecast period. Market players invest in R&D to improve product durability, as these decoration films are installed for a longer duration. Initiatives taken by producers to manufacture flexible films, which could be applied on unique shapes and are compatible with diverse qualities of paints that are applied on surfaces, are projected to unfold growth opportunities for the market.

The selection of raw materials is a key factor for manufacturers to meet the industry standards for the production of PPFs for different applications. The availability of these products on online platforms is anticipated to boost market growth. In addition, initiatives taken by industry players to offer installation services through company-owned service stations and third-party installers can bode well for market growth during the projected period.

The automotive & transportation sector accounted for the largest revenue share of over 72% in 2020 and is anticipated to continue its dominance over the forecast years. Rapid industrialization coupled with the rising need for transportation has been stirring up the demand for passenger and commercial vehicles, thus fueling the market growth. In addition, increasing awareness about vehicle maintenance is predicted to support the segment growth in the near future.

The aerospace & defense segment is poised to record the fastest CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period on account of increasing air transportation coupled with growing defense practices by several countries. The rapidly growing aircraft producing segment, wherein PPFs are utilized to defend vessels from oxidation and corrosion, is predicted to boost the product demand.

Consumers across the globe are investing in paint protection products for the maintenance of daily-use electronic gadgets including computers, laptops, tablets, television sets, and refrigerators. Improving living standards coupled with increasing demand for miniature electronic devices is anticipated to bolster the product demand from the electrical & electronics segment.

The rising demand for the product from the energy, medical devices, and construction industries is also estimated to propel the market growth. The product is also utilized in several marine applications, such as offshore oil and gas production, maritime safety and security, deep-sea mining and exploration, and offshore wind energy. Marine applications are expected to escalate the demand for PPFs for protection against UV rays, wear and tear, toxic airborne pollutants, and scratches on boats, yachts, and ships.

[fortunebusiness]

Kaolin Market Report by Technology, Industry Share and Size Expansion to 2027 | Fortune Business Insights™

The global kaolin market size is projected to reach USD 5,833.5 million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period. Rising awareness about the benefits of china clay in skincare applications will be a prominent growth determinant for this market, states Fortune Business Insights™ in its report, titled “Kaolin Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Application (Paper, Ceramic & Sanitary Ware, Fiberglass, Paints & Coatings, Rubber, Plastics, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027”. For ages, clay has been known to fight skin-harming developments, such as acne. The increasing pollution levels, adoption of unhealthy diet regimes, and constant stress have had severe impacts on general health and skin in particular. Kaolin, or china clay, has emerged as one of the potent acne and oily skin-fighting formulations in recent times. For example, according to experts at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, china clay can absorb excess oil without drawing away too much of the skin’s moisture. Thus, people with inherently dry skin or sensitive skin can apply it without worrying about dryness. Further, research at Mount Sinai also showed that green kaolin clay, derived from plant matter and iron oxide, sucks out the dirt and bacteria that cause acne while removing excess oil. With the cosmetics & personal care industry growing rapidly worldwide, the employment of china clay in skincare products is likely to rise in the near future.

List of the Leading Companies Profiled in the Global Kaolin Market are;

20 Microns (Gujarat, India)

I-Minerals lnc. (Vancouver, Canada)

Quarzwerke GmbH (Frechen, Germany)

Thiele Kaolin Company (Georgia, U.S.)

Sibelco (Antwerp, Belgium)

Ashapura Group(Maharashtra, India)

Imerys S.A. (Paris, France)

W. R. Grace & Co. (Columbia, U.S.)

Sedlecký kaolin a. s. (Božičany, Czech Republic)

LASSELSBERGER Group (Budapest, Hungary)

KaMin LLC (Georgia, U.S.)

EICL Limited (Delhi, India)

BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany)

Restraining Factor

COVID-19 to Negatively Impact the Paper Industry, Stall Market Growth

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has dealt notable blows to the paper industry as a result of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, trade restrictions, and economic downturn. According to a study published by North Carolina State University, certain types of paper products have suffered because of the pandemic. For example, the demand for printing paper and copier paper has noticeably shrunk due to the shutdown of colleges and universities worldwide. In India, the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association stated in August 2020 that since March, paper supply chains have undergone widespread upheavals and are still in recovery mode.

Moreover, the closure of educational institutions and commercial establishments has further diminished the demand for paper, intensifying the downturn of the domestic paper industry. Kaolin is the most widely utilized mineral in the filling and coating of paper, and with the paper industry getting hit by the coronavirus, the growth of this market will inevitably get stalled.

As per the report, the global market value was at USD 4,168.8 million in 2019. The top highlights of the report include:

Detailed examination of the major market trends, drivers, and     constraints;

In-depth evaluation of all segments of the market;

Exhaustive study of the leading players and their strategies; and

Granular analysis of the regional developments influencing the     market. 

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific to Spearhead the Market Supported by Speedy Economic Development

Asia Pacific is expected to lead the kaolin market share during the forecast period owing to the remarkable economic growth displayed by countries such as China and India. This growth has augmented the demand for high-end household consumer goods, where china clay is commonly used. The rapid expansion of the middle-class population in the region will also accelerate the growth of the regional market. In 2019, the Asia Pacific market size stood at USD 1,086.9 million.

In Europe, the heightened demand for packaged food and beverage items amid the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled the uptake of kaolin in the region’s food & beverage industry. On the other hand, in North America, technological advancements in the paper and packaging industries will stoke the regional market.

Competitive Landscape

Rising Costs to Force Key Players to Raise Product Prices

With the demand for high-performance raw materials soaring across various end-user industries, key players in the china clay market are engaged in the development of innovative offerings. However, the costs associated with the production of such materials are escalating worldwide. As a result, several companies are being forced to increase the prices of their products.

Industry Development:

December 2020: KaMin LLC and CADAM SA announced that they would be increasing the price of their kaolin performance minerals by 4% to 9% in the global markets from January 2021. According to the company, the price rise is unavoidable as it needs to offset the growing costs related to logistics and mining operations and to comply with the environmental requirements.

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/kaolin-market-102352

Detailed Table of Content:

 Research Scope

 Market Segmentation

 Research Methodology

 Definitions and Assumptions

 Market Drivers

 Market Restraints

 Market Opportunities

 Key Emerging Trends – For Major Countries

 Key Developments: Mergers, Acquisition, Partnership, etc.

 Latest Technological Advancement

 Insights on Regulatory Scenario

 Porters Five Forces Analysis

 Supply Chain Challenges

 Steps taken by Government/Companies to overcome this impact

 Potential opportunities due to COVID-19 outbreak

   Paper

   Ceramic & sanitary ware

   Fiberglasss

   Paints & coatings

   Rubber

   Plastics

   Others

     North America

   Europe

   Asia Pacific

   Latin America

   Middle East & Africa

  TOC Continued…!

Have a Look at Related Research Insights:

Paints and Coatings Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Resin (Epoxy, Acrylic, Polyester, Alkyd, PU, and Others), By Technology (Waterborne, Solvent Borne, Powder Coating, and Others) By Application (Architectural, Automotive OEM, Marine, Coil, General Industries, Protective Coatings, Automotive Refinish, Industrial Wood, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027

Paints and Coatings Additives Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Dispersing Agent, Rheology Agent, Leveling Agent, Anti-foaming Agent, Adhesion Promoting Agent, and Others), By Application (Automotive, Architectural, Wood, Industrial, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027

Ceramics Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Traditional, Advanced), By Application (Tiles, Sanitary Wares, Abrasives, Pottery, Bricks & Pipes, Others), By End-Use Industry (Building & Construction, Industrial, Medical, Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Pulp and Paper Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Category (Wrapping & Packaging, Printing & Writing, Sanitary, News Print, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027

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[vividracing]

New Post has been published on https://www.vividracing.com/blog/m7-speed-releases-limited-edition-maxx-flo-intake-kit-for-mini-cooper/

M7 Speed Releases Limited Edition MAXX-Flo Intake Kit for MINI Cooper

M7 Speed is the premier and largest aftermarket manufacturer of MINI Cooper performance parts in the world. Originally founded by South California enthusiast Peter Horvath back in 2002, M7 Speed is now located at the epicenter of professional North American motorsports in Mooresville, North Carolina. The company continues its legacy and dedication with the introduction of a Limited Edition MAXX-Flo Intake Kit for all Gen 2 1.6-liter turbocharged MINI Coopers.

Click Here To View M7 Speed Inventory

This limited-edition kit offers the standard MAXX-Flo housing in a custom Hacienda Wrinkle Red powder-coated finish. The new shade has proven to be widely popular among the tuner community and adds a stunning pop of color in the engine bay. It adds that wow factor that MINI owners look for in order to separate themselves from the rest, especially at car shows. The limited-edition MAXX-Flo Intake Kit for the MINI Cooper is currently available in two different configurations: (1) Wrinkle RED housing, RED silicone elbow, RED 2 stage oiled foam filter (2) Wrinkle RED housing, RED silicone elbow, RED 8 ply cotton pleated filter.

The M7 Speed MAXX-Flo (TM) low-restriction intake system is an affordable high-performance aftermarket high-flow intake system for second-generation turbocharged MINI Cooper models. It’s super easy to install as well and can be swapped in just 15 minutes. The kit comes complete with the heavy-duty fabricated aluminum housing, a choice of one of two filters, a red silicone connector elbow, and all necessary hardware and clamps for a seamless install. The intake locates and attaches directly to the MINI Cooper’s existing factory intake mounting points.

The MAXX-Flo Intake from M7 Speed is a proven product with thousands sold since its introduction in 2013. Not only does this limited-edition air intake kit add underhood brownie points, but it also provides an incredible sound, great performance, and newfound power. The system is C.A.R.B. tested and has C.A.R.B. EO D766 exemption. Available while supplies last. 

Features:

Sturdy heavy-gauge aluminum.

TIG-welded construction.

Wrinkle Hacienda RED super durable powder-coated finish.

Laser-cut stainless steel M7 medallion.

RED 12″ long x 5 ” diameter dual-stage super high-flow/low-restriction washable foam filter.

RED 100% silicone 4 ply custom connection elbow.

MAF sensor stays in the stock location. No modifications are necessary.

The air filter element securely mounts to a sturdy metal adapter tube.

Easy 15-minute installation.

100% Made in The USA

C.A.R.B. EO D766 Listed

Fitment:

2007-2016 MINI Cooper

Recommendation: 

Heat is enemy number one under the hood of the R56. Therefore, we recommend adding the M7 turbo heat shield (PN 56-330115) as part of the installation. Sold separately. Get it here. 

Important Note:

If your vehicle is not equipped with a MAF Sensor (most early non-USA models), you will need the optional MAF Spacer Adapter to connect properly to stock components on your car. If using a stock scoop, removal of the factory blocking plate is recommended. This product is C.A.R.B. approved.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Vivid Racing team. You can reach us by phone at 1-480-966-3040 or via email at sales@vividracing.com. 

[thesuperpainter]

Excitement About Can You Paint Vinyl Siding? - Charlotte, North Carolina

Table of ContentsThings about Painting Vinyl Siding: Colors & Tips - EarlyexpertsUnknown Facts About Ecos Exterior Vinyl Siding Paint - Ecos Paints

Vinyl siding is typically thought about to be reasonably maintenance-free. Something that makes it so is the fact that it doesn't require to be painted. It comes with a color combined with the material that is more or less irreversible. But gradually the color can fade, and typically unevenly on various areas of your home, due to various rates of sun exposure.

Fortunately is that you can paint vinyl siding. Simply know that the siding will be just as maintenance-free as the paint itself. Likewise, there are some guidelines and constraints to follow when painting vinyl siding. Prior to getting your heart set on painting your vinyl siding, validate that painting the siding will not void its guarantee if the warranty is still active.

Remove Paint Stains From Vinyl Siding ...

Can Vinyl Siding Be Painted? - Modernize

Paint Vinyl Siding & Pool Shed Makeover ...

There are various schools of idea relating to the primer. Some pros utilize it in practically all cases, while lots of others start with guide only when it's called for by the condition of the siding. For instance, a primer may be advised if the siding is pitted or reveals other signs of wear and tear or severe wear and tear.

How to Paint Vinyl Siding - Bob Vila

Remember that paint stay with the layer directly underneath it, whether that layer is bare siding or primer. If you do use a primer, ensure the paint is created to stay with it. paint my vinyl siding. It's important to comprehend that vinyl siding is designed to be installed so that it slides back and forth a little at its overlapping seams, moving with the growth and contraction of the material.

Every type of vinyl siding is designed for a specific amount of heat absorption. Since dark colors soak up more heat than light colors, you ought to pass by a paint color that is darker than the initial siding color. A darker color may soak up more heat than the vinyl siding was created to handle, potentially causing warping or buckling of the siding.

The Only Guide to Will Paint Adhere To Vinyl? - Hunker

Many paints for vinyl are a blend of urethane and acrylic resins, combining flexibility and outstanding adhesion. You'll require: Garden hose pipe and spray nozzleBucketLaundry detergentGeneral-purpose cleansing powderSoft-bristle brush, sponges, or ragsPainter's tapeMasking materialPaint roller with 1/2-inch nap roller covers or spray paint equipmentPaintbrushes Mix a cleansing service including 1/3 cup of powdered laundry cleaning agent, 2/3 cup of general-purpose powdered household cleaner (such as Spic n' Period or Super Washing Soda), and 2/3 cup of oxygen bleach (such as OxyClean) for each gallon of water.

Work from the bottom up, and wash each area completely right away after scrubbing. Hand-scrubbing does a much better job and is more secure for the siding than pressure cleaning. Let the siding dry entirely. Use painter's tape and masking paper or plastic sheeting to mask off any areas you do not wish to be painted, consisting of doors, windows, trim, and hardware.

How to Inspect Your Own House, Part 3 ...

If you utilize a roller or sprayer, constantly back brushfollowing up the roller or sprayer application with a brush to guarantee complete coverage and remove drips and heavy locations. Let the guide dry as directed. Paint the cleaned up or primed surface areas with an even coat of exterior paint, using the same strategies used for priming.

Apply a 2nd coat, and let it dry (will paint cause vinyl siding to buckle). Get rid of all masking materials, and complete any final information painting and touch-ups with a paintbrush.

The Colors for Vinyl Palette offers a selection of 75 colors to revitalize your house's exterior. Shown listed below, you'll discover 18 colors from the combination including a few of the most popular colors for vinyl siding - house vinyl siding paint.

Homeowners that are looking to paint their vinyl siding but are looking for a top painting company with top painters in the Charlotte and surrounding areas go to Paint Vinyl Siding Charlotte NC to receive a free quote.

[theactivememoir]

This, was the Hardest Fall 11.17.19-2.5.2020

Warning: ~10,600 words, This one is long. And very painful.

My life turned to hell in a matter of months, I left California 1.5 years ago and  ever since then it turned into one big mess, and took all the strength I could muster to change that. But it took waking up. And one day I finally did it, I woke up.

But let me start from how this all got started.

I got broken up with 3 days before my 21st birthday in May of 2018. So I moved states after that to live with my cousin in North Carolina for a time. It was supposed to be a small vacation, just a couple months. It was supposed to be me finding myself as to who I am as an adult, how to be independent from living at home with my parents, how to live life. That’s what it was supposed to be...

But then I met him...

I was walking to the bar, since there were only 3 in this small town of Southern Pines and that’s just what you do on a Wednesday night. I saw someone I knew and gave them a hug and they introduced me to this disheveled skater boy named Josh. I didn’t really think anything of it, I met so many people every single day, I was the new girl in town, I ended up meeting everyone anyways.

I think I was still playing around, enjoying being the new girl since that brought all the attention, which is always fun, but he kept persisting. And persisting, and persisting, until finally I said yes to hanging out with him. We spent 36 hours together awake doing things with each other. It started at the bar on a lazy Sunday night, not many people, I could actually hear him talking across the table from me for once. I enjoyed his company, he was different from the rest, not some small town hick, he was actually pretty gentlemanly, and a Florida boy too. So here we were, the two random ocean children in the middle of a luscious green never-ending forest.

We talked and talked, and walked all around downtown after the bar closed down at 2am. There’s something calming-ly romantic about walking the streets of a lullaby downtown. The streets are lit just for us, window shopping is a must, as merchandise in the windows is the only thing to really look at. The stars shone overhead, and the distant rush of the wind, and a couple just passing the time by enjoying each other's company...

Monday was when he was supposed to take me on a date, and as the hours passed by into 7:30 am on the day of our date, we respectively went our separate ways for maybe 30 mins and he picked me up to go on our date.

And what do the only two Ocean Children do for a date?? Why go to the beach of course, an excruciating three hours away. But music and soft touches are enough to keep one's hopes up until the awaited sound of the sea.

When we got there he first took me to an aquarium, and like I always do, I got a pressed penny to solidify the memory. The aquarium was small, nothing beats the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. “Everything is better in California”

Then we went to the pier, lots of fishing guys out there, we even met a pelican named Frank. We spotted a stingray and a shark so we opted to not touch the water, on my behalf, so we posted up under the pier and laid in my double hammock for God knows how long, resting and snoozing to the crashing waves in the warm August sun. As the night went on and the sunset was breaking, he took me to dinner, and then the drive back home.

It was so calm and relaxing, his soft touches on my skin, drawing random patterns on my arms and neck. I thought I was the only one who did that. He listened to my fusion music and really enjoyed it, at the time he was interested in my dancing and liked how I danced. And he told me how he wrote music and played guitar, he used to surf in the Florida waves, and did construction for the longest time, always stressing his body but never giving up on it. I think that moment in the hammock, when we kissed as the sun hit our faces, our bodies entwined into one in the lightning blue cocoon, that’s when I fell for him. 

I should have known myself, it was only 3 months that I had been single. I should have known better...

“I fall in love too easily, I fall in love too fast, I fall in love so terribly hard for love to ever last…”

I think after that day at the beach we saw each other almost everyday. His sister, who owned Southern Angel Donut Co. offered me a job, which paid way better than my $2.13/hr waitress job. Once I started working there it was all over. We almost never left each other's side. And he kept “calling it” saying working together would ruin our relationship. But I paid it no mind, and enjoyed making light and fluffy donuts with him.

While the rest of the world was sleeping, we were hard at work making the warm, melt in your mouth donuts that Sarah’s recipe was known for. We’d get off work at 10 am, and go to sleep the rest of the day away. A horrible habit that was ingrained into our bones far too early on in our relationship.

I think it was a mere 2.5 weeks that we started dating and seeing each other that I then started working with him at the donut shop. And within that mere 2.5 weeks we made it Facebook official that we were together.

I almost immediately got a phone call from my family members asking about who this person is and that I should be careful since I’m basically on my own and I should ask my cousin for advice about it. I didn’t listen. I was too in love to see that I was moving too quickly, and getting settled too fast.

As I stated before, we almost never left each other’s side. Wake up at 1:30/2 in the morning, go make donuts for 6-8hrs, then come back to his-I mean Sarah’s house, hang out with the kids for a bit, and then go to sleep in his room until around 7pm, or just sleep straight through until we had to work the next day. If memory serves me correctly I went back to my cousin’s house only a handful of times, for new clothes and a breather from Sarah’s gaggle of children.

The weeks blurred by, and the change in lifestyle left my bar friends wondering where the hell I went. My old coworker even reached out to see what the hell I was up to. “Making donuts! It's great!” I would reply. Oh, if only I could go back and tell myself how wrong I was.

No actually that is a lie. Making donuts is great. I’m a baker at heart. I love baking, I used to do it with my mother and so baking things and seeing people's reactions to the delicious delicacies I create for them is something I hold very near and dear to my heart. So yes, the art of making donuts is great. 

First you fill the giant mixing bowl 1.5 liters of warm water, crumble and toss in a block of high quality yeast and whisk together. Then weigh out a top secret amount of top secret donut mix, 2 with all the weight, 1 with one weight off. Followed by attaching the VERY heavy dough hook, turn on the mixer and mix together for 8 minutes.

After the dough is mixed you bring it over to a very well floured baking table, pour out the heavy dough and push it to the back of the table, making sure the edges are fluffed underneath itself so when it rises in about 20mins it will have lovely rounded edges. Then you wait.

After about 20mins, you gently tap the dough, and if it feels right (which is a skill in and of its own) you either let it proof a little longer, or you start cutting donuts.

Now cutting donuts is also an art form, as we made handmade donuts. Each one is a little different from the one before. We cut the donuts with a roller, but each donut was touched by our hands as they were placed onto the frying screens. And then put into the proofer for another 15 mins. 

Once they are proofed, and again, with sight and touching the dough you can tell if they are ready or not. Sometimes they would proof slower or quicker depending on the heat, the humidity, or the weather.

Then bring over to the 365 degree fryer, and drop the donuts in, fry each side for approximately 25-30 seconds, flipping with wooden chopsticks, lift the screen and donuts out of the fry, let drip as you cook the next screen, bring over to the glaze, lift the other screen from the fryer, glaze donuts, let drip, drop another screen, bring glazed donuts to glaze rack, flip donuts, bring screen to glazer, lift donuts, rinse and repeat for 6 -8 hrs.

My favorite part was decorating the donuts, especially when there is a holiday because my fully artistic self got all the pleasure of making themed donuts. But even the regular topped donuts were fun to make. Topping too had an artful skill in creating the perfect topped donut. Which all of the other employees didn’t have one flying fuck to learn to perfect.

There is a certain sheen, a certain drip, a certain way the frosting coats a donut, when melted to the perfect temperature. And no one else besides myself and his Sister cared to figure out what that perfect frosting consisted of. There is also a certain way the donut should look when certain toppings are put onto the donuts.

Sprinkles should, as the name is, be sprinkled, lightly, with carnival sprinkles. All others should be pressed. A maple bacon donut should have the bacon patted off so that the grease doesn't ruin the consistency of the maple frosting, a fruity pebble donut should never have crumbs or crushed pebbles on top, an oreo donut should never have fine oreo powder on top it should be big chunks, and a half and half donut should be vanilla icing first and then chocolate not vice versa. Not to mention cinnamon sugared donuts need to be cinnamon sugared whilst hot and Long Johns are always,always, ALWAYS double filled. If a filled shell has a bubble it should be tossed and if a round has a chopstick hole it too should be tossed because the donut will be too greasy. If the donut doesn’t have a halo it was under proofed and if the donut deflates or cooks too fast it was overproofed. If the donut is light yellow or dark brown it was either undercooked or over fried. A perfect donut is a lovely golden yellow brown, with a heavenly halo all around it, and a perfect thin shiny coating of glaze.

So when I say I enjoyed making donuts, I really did. Truly it was a skill I perfected over the course of a year and a half. I could put down “expert donut maker” on a resume, and I will in fact get laughed at when I say I only made donuts for 1.5 years. But if I showed someone, if I showed how I make donuts, how twists are twisted with minimal flour and second run only, how apple fritters are chopped and rolled, how cinnamon rolls are flattened and fluffed. They would say I really am an expert donut maker.

Three months into my relationship with Josh, it became crunch time for him and his family, as their lease was up at their house and they were going to move. Josh wanted a place of his own and, honestly I don’t know why Sarah moved out of that house in Pinehurst. It was actually a decent size. I think the reasoning was to be closer to the new up and coming second location in Robbins. (I will touch on that later) But honestly where she moved to in Carthage was quite a downgrade. I don’t know what else to call it besides a permanent mobile home? There's a name for it I just can’t remember right now. It had a long length but the width wasn’t very big. A single wide home? There was barely any space for her 6, ahem, 5 children plus one on the way.

Oh I haven’t explained that yet.

Let me backtrack some more.

Josh’s sister, Sarah (32), has been pregnant for most of her life. Her first child, and only daughter, she had when she was fifteen, FIFTEEN. And then right after came baby #2, her first son. Those two were fortunate enough to have the same father, Brandon, who comes into this story later. Her next son was born from a Haitian man. Her next son she won't admit has a different father so she insists the Haitian man is both baby #3 and #4’s father. Even though baby #3 is obviously Haitian, and baby #4 is obviously Mexican. Then comes baby #5, a 3 year old who can’t talk in full sentences, isn't potty trained, can’t dress himself, doesn’t usually put his shoes on the right feet, and has extreme anger and attitude issues, whose father is also in jail. AND THEN Sarah’s boyfriend, Alex (21, yes they are 11 years apart her being the older one) who SARAH AND JOSH KNEW WHEN HE WAS A BABY, is the father of her now baby #6.

So when I say I learned to bite my tongue very early on...I mastered the fucking skill, of biting my tongue and not speaking my mind.

In the moment, it was, oh to each their own. But that too became resentment.

Along with Sarah’s children, there was also their mother, who I liked, she was nice and always thinking of her children, but she too began to wear on me and for reasons I will soon explain.

When Josh and Sarah were 10 and 11 years old, their dad (who was born in the 1920’s) passed away. 6 months later their house burnt down. And soon after that their mother basically ditched them for drugs and also went to jail. So at the young age of 15, Sarah, who I presume was also pregnant at that time too, took custody of Josh. Which I’m sure some psychologist can look at that and explain to me that how I was treated was rooted from not having very good role models as a child and basically immediately into later childhood was put into survival mode and had to grow up in order to survive at the age of 10.

Going back to moving houses. Sarah basically downgraded her living to be directly in the middle of the two locations for her donut shop. Josh wanted a place of his own, but because we spent every waking moment together and I basically never left, he brought up the idea that we should move in together. My family DID NOT like that idea at all, which to my stupidity I withheld the information of our moving in together and kept it a secret until the day before we moved in. Because I knew it was stupid, deep down I knew it was a bad idea. I had free rent, free groceries, a beautiful yard, and a car at my cousins. And I was leaving all of that behind why? For a guy. Yes that sounds like a wonderful idea. 

But there was a part of me that wanted so badly to say that this was my house. To say, welcome to our home, look at my kitchen. Come into my living room. I wanted that title that I was living on my own. Sure we lived together but the space was mine, ours really, but it was mine. 

We found a lovely town-home, 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath, in a small town waaayyyyy out in the boonies for only $800 a month, we didn’t have any furniture so it was definitely bigger than we really needed. We didn’t even have a bed for the first two weeks we lived there. We slept on the floor with layers of blankets as a cushion. My hips were purple from bruises since I slept on my side. It was actually a pretty decently sized space, again, we didn’t have anything to fill it with. It had a large living room, and a nice sized master bedroom. And an enormous backyard, which was shared but who cares, my patio was overlooking a lake. It was a half abandoned golf course, that started losing money when the government had to break the dam to the lake years before when a hurricane blew threw and the water was too much that flooding would occur if they didn’t break the dam. Except they never fixed the dam afterwards, so the lake, which supplied the irrigation for the golf course, mostly dried up. So the original owners took as much money as they could and ran off. Leaving a half developed golf home community to fend for itself. Honestly it was quite beautiful in it's half abandonment. The underdeveloped housing areas made for peaceful trail walks with Forrest, our pit bull. And the lake with bridges that were falling apart made for risky and thrilling adventures to go explore. Or at least they were when we first moved in.

Tell me why is it that when one gets comfortable with their significant other, the romance and the wooing stops? Tell me why is that when the mundane things that used to be made interesting, go back to being mundane, or even a chore?

I wanted to serve him. Show him I was such a great girlfriend compared to his crazy psycho ex. That I could take care of myself and him.

I shouldn’t have so soon. He got used to it far too quickly. 

I loved my little kitchen. I loved to cook, discover new recipes and try them when I got home from work. I loved shopping at the ole Piggly Wiggly and bringing home extremely discounted items and using them right away before they expired. He’d never know they were one day away from expiration if I cooked up a good meal that night. He’d be too busy looking for error coins to add to his growing collection to notice that the chicken I was using was in the fridge for two days, if he knew he wouldn’t eat it. I loved hearing him say, “Damn, you showed out on dinner babygirl. My Latina wifey makes me so happy when she cooks for me.” I craved that so badly. The instant gratification that I was doing a good job. That I was making him happy by doing something that I loved to do.

...until I started hating to do it…

My cooking meals for us, no matter how long my work day was. My taking care of doing the laundry on my days off and cleaning the house. My going grocery shopping and late night gas station runs to get him more cigarettes. It was always me, me, me, every damn time. And I never saw it. Until it was too late, and even then, I still told myself I was doing it to show him I loved him. What a stupid lie that was…

“Babe it's 11pm we should be going to bed.”

“Then go to bed, I’ll be here looking at coins.”

“No Josh, it’s time for bed. C’mon I want to cuddle you, it’s so cold in the bed alone.”

“Alright, alright, just let me smoke this cigarette and I’ll be up there, fuck.”

And still I slept alone. And nothing was ever changed. And that was still North Carolina.

We lived in our town-home in Vass for 7.5 months. We had a folding table and 2 chairs from the donut shop as our dining room table, a twin bed borrowed from their mom as our couch. We had a chest of drawers given to us by a former employee that Josh didn’t even use for clothes, and a queen mattress sent to us from my mother out of pity that we didn’t have a bed yet. For 7.5 months we lived in that home and we never got more things, even though I wanted the cutest matching dish set, the cutest hand towels. The most perfect beach bungalow themed town-home in the middle of evergreen pine needles, and pollen covered lakes, where the occasional cow moo can be heard, from the cow farm just over yonder. I wanted our home to be a reminder of where we came from, the two Ocean Children in the sea of trees. But it was just a reminder of where he came from. Poverty, and not having a home feel like a home.

Once the second donut shop location opened in Robbins, a small middle of nowhere bodunk town with barely any residents, our work schedules changed completely. It actually benefited our relationship slightly. He would go to work at 6pm and be home by 2 or 3am. I became the manager and basically sole employee of Robbins, and would go to work from 5am-3pm. I had only a couple hours to be with him during the days we both worked, and we had one or two days a week where we both had off and enjoyed each others company doing absolutely nothing all day. We even stopped at a gas station a few times, him on his way home and me on my way to work, just for a lovers rendezvous so I could at least be in his arms and kiss him for a min before not seeing him again for another 24 hrs. It almost fixed our already rocky relationship. If anything it just kept it going longer than it should have. Robbins was the beginning of my overworked-ness with Sarah. I was the manager, and main employee. I only got a $2 raise, and was still going in and making donuts 2 nights a week. And occasionally, whilst I was at the shop at 8pm I would get a call saying my employee wasn’t able to go to work the next day. So here I am busting my ass to make donuts for two locations, I wouldn't be getting home until 4am after making donuts for 7 hours, and then would have to rush to go to work by 530 am and work another 10 hours.

That’s when I should have started saying no. That’s when I should have started putting my health and well being on the forefront of my priorities. If anything I put it all on the backburner. That’s when Sarah realized she had full control over me, and could work me like a dog, like her personal slave. And I wouldn’t even argue it. Nor would she act like she was doing it.

This went on for months. Robbins opened early December, and when March rolled around a new development came into play. The owner of Dixie Cream Donuts in Florida called. The owner, was Sarah’s previous partner, Brandon, remember that name from earlier? Yeah Brandon is Sarah’s two older kids' father. He owned the donut shop that Sarah worked for originally for 18years straight. That's how Southern Angel got its recipes, they were from Dixie Cream, because Sarah used to manage Dixie Cream in Florida, where Sarah and Josh are from. Apparently Brandon was planning on moving out of the country, and there was no one else he trusted more to run Dixie Cream Donuts, than the Donut Queen herself. So he struck the deal of a lifetime for her, and sold her the business for Xmillion dollars. Hey guess what guys, we’re moving to Florida!

I was ecstatic, elated, to move to paradise. Crystal clear waters, aqua blue surf. Its summer all year round, sure there’s rain and hurricane season what could possibly have me worried about those? I’m from sunny Southern California where it never rains and all we have to worry about is an occasional wind gust and the earth shaking violently and unexpectedly…

Sure I was scared but I was so excited to move into a new place with the man who I was so in love with. By this time we had expanded our little trio and now had three dogs, making us a family of five. We had Forrest our pitty, and Lola and Luna, twin mut pups from Sarah’s two dogs Princess and Chubby. Luna was my baby, my little puff nut fluff ball. There’s not a day goes by where I don’t think about my fluffy white little cotton ball baby.

But our little family of five was so excited to be moving all the way down to Florida. The move would consist of driving all of us down the coastline in a caravan. One big U HAUL and the rest of us driving all of our vehicles. One overnight stop in Alma Georgia to visit their family and their mother, who left in January due to medical issues and “being cruelly treated and forgotten by Sarah” *shrug, this whole family drama I just started plugging my ears to at this point* In total it took us 2 days to drive from Carthage, North Carolina to Port St. Lucie, Florida. Sarah was able to get a brand new 4 bedroom home, thanks to Brandon helping with money. Josh and I on the other hand were given $2k to work with to get settled. Only problem was, there wasn’t anything on the market that was readily available and up to our standards. (Or who would allow 3 dogs, one being a pit bull mix)

We started our move to Florida on a slightly rocky but wonderful beginning. We had basically two weeks off from work, and let me tell you I was reveling in the fact that I didn’t have to work, I was already overworked and I hadn’t even started to be overworked yet at Dixie Cream. We were stuck in one of the rooms at Sarah's temporarily until we could find a place. It reminded us a lot of when we first started dating. When Josh and I would get sick of being on the back porch or dealing with the kids, or since we didn’t go out much since money was tight, we retreated to our room for naps, cuddles, and quiet but passionate love making. I think we had more sex in those two weeks than the 7 months we lived together. The first week in Vass we did a lot, we had nothing else to do, no wifi, no TV. You wonder why people in the olden days had so many freaking children, there was nothing else better to do to pass the time away, might as well pass it with the most fun activity God created. At least nowadays we have protection or else I’d have been screwed…no pun intended....maybe.

But besides us retreating for a lovers rendezvous, we were incessantly out searching for a new place to live. Even on my birthday. And everyone knows how seriously I take my birthday. I thought my last birthday, getting broken up with was bad enough, no this one he didn’t even get me a birthday present, wanted to go metal detecting at the beach instead of go swimming-and let me tell you it was the most aqua blue crystal clear water you could ever imagine-and then pushed dinner so far back that we went to a restaurant an hour before they closed. I honestly don’t even remember if we went back to our room for birthday sex, I honest to God think I was so upset, of course I didn’t show it, but I think I was so upset I just went straight to bed. I wanted to go out dancing, like real dancing, or go down to Miami and experience the Memorial Day clubbing going on. But nope. And having not gotten me a present...that stuck...that got filed away into the ever growing list of things I could bring up in an argument, the ever growing list of grievances…

We were two weeks into Florida and already I was getting annoyed, resentful, done with all this shit. And shit hadn't even started...

June 1st was when Sarah got full ownership of Dixie Cream Donuts. June 1st is when my life rapidly spiraled downward. June 1st is when I became the most overworked and underpaid dog to ever come into existence in the world of making some goddamn motherfucking donuts. The lure of, you’ll just be baking, there are already employees there, but you will be on salary, and you will also get tips. What absolute maddening bullshit if I ever did hear something. But you know what, I believed it. I believe every single word of poison that came out of both Josh and his sisters mouth. That this donut shop was going to change our lives, we could retire in 10-15years from all the money we will be making from this shop. Josh you get to receive 35% of the company at the end of each month, Alysha you get to be on salary and make tips, it's going to be a huge pay increase compared to North Carolina.

Lies. All of it lies.

One week of being at the shop in Fort Pierce, and we fired everyone except one person who we kept on as our only weekend person. You know who got the other people jobs? Me.

It started off slow, I wasn’t touching dough yet. But I knew. I even told the one employee that we kept, “As soon as I touch dough and learn to cut donuts, he is going to leave me here alone.” And I was right.

Backtracking again, I come from living in Irvine, California. America’s safest city ranked 5 years in a row. We moved down to Florida, which already is a crazy place, but then we work and find a place to live in Fort Pierce, Florida. The ghetto of the ghetto. Take Compton x30, have it meth fuck skid row and the baby it gets out of that add a little bit of Vegas whackados x20. That’s Fort Pierce.

I knew, the instant I learned how to cut donuts, his sheer laziness shrouded in “I trust you baby” would take over and he would leave me at the shop alone.

Take what I explained about the process of making donuts earlier, and now add on top of that selling donuts at the cash register to people, while cleaning up the kitchen, washing all of the trays, sweeping, mopping, and throwing away leftover donuts, AND counting down the register and doing daily paperwork for closeout. We would get to work anywhere between midnight at 2:30 in the morning. He would leave me alone at the shop to finish up the day until 2:30pm. Still to this day I haven’t a single idea as to what he did all day. Maybe he was telling the truth when he said he went home and slept all day. Or maybe it was a lie, because there would be days he would say he went home after work but as soon as I walked in, there was still dog shit on the floor, trash everywhere, and not a single thing picked up. Exactly how I left it that morning. He would say he was driving around town, doing what? I will never know. At that point, I was just happy he answered my phone calls and would come to pick me up at 2:30pm. There were sometimes he would sleep through my phone calls and I wouldn’t get picked up from the shop until 3:30pm. He was such a heavy sleeper. And an angry, angry, aggressive bear if you tried to wake him or ask him a question in his sleep. He was never physically abusive to me. But when I tried to wake him up in his sleep, he punched and kicked me a few times. I cried the most when he would yell at me in his sleep. He was so angry, and all I wanted to do was to get him off the damn couch and into bed with me so I could be wrapped in his arms. Or picked up from work so I could spend time with him. I would be at work all day, thinking of what groceries I needed for the nights meal, or stopping at the laundromat for a few hours to get some fresh work clothes. And it never worked out the way I wanted. We would always end up doing what he wanted to do. Which consisted of either going over to his sisters for way too many hours for paperwork and weed, or his mothers for weed too, and just chilling, when all I wanted was to go home and spend time with my dogs and my lover and not deal with another soul...It was always what he wanted. Even when we would go out on the very RARE occasion we were able to go out late. It was to the same dive bars with old retired people and pool tables; filled with cigarette smoke and lingering eyes on the curly haired girl who absolutely looked like she did not belong in a place of such filth and grimy repetitive routines of karaoke pool halls.

Then the hurricane didn’t happen. Hurricane Dorian, a hurricane so large that even categorizing it as a Cat5 is too small for how large this thing was. A Cat5 maxes out at 150mph, Dorian reached over 200mph. There was no label for this hurricane, and it was headed straight for our humble bungalow that overlooked the marina. Our house was built in the 1940s, a quaint little blue house on the edge of the ghetto, tucked away in a forgotten part of town, since the road was blocked thanks to a dead man who died on the train tracks. Our front door opened up to the marina boat yard, and just over the boats, if you stood on your tippy toes you could see the river and Hutchinson Island. We had an enormous backyard, perfect for our 3 pups. Our backyard was full of lush plant life, and a 100+ year old Banyan tree that gave wondrous shade to all the growing plants and our back porch. We had a mango tree, surinam tree, pineapples, and some wild cabbage. It was, in every sense of the words, a beach bungalow. It was tiny but adorable. And it would have worked out if things hadn’t started falling apart at the seams so early on into moving in. We had so many things, yet barely any furniture. I wanted to get an organized storage space out of the front room, I drew up some mock blueprints as to how to do this. He was the handyman after all. Nothing came about it. We lived out of unlabeled boxes for months. I bought a bedframe and it took 3 months for him to take it out of the box and put it together. Our dining room table was just a table for paint. (I did enjoy our painting nights, I got to teach him that his paintings didn’t have to be perfect, and that slowing down wasn’t a bad thing) My oil paints probably ruined the lovely wooden table we got from our employee. The dogs completely ruined the couch but he still slept on it. I had plans to rearrange the bedroom in order for our clothes to fit better since there was no storage space at all in this house, again nothing came about it, we lived by one single hanging rack and a 9 cube organizer.

And then came Dorian. I had two full trash bins, and we were under evacuation, we only had time to bring everything inside, and put the two trash bins outside. We had only enough time to pack the essentials, left everything else behind. Our quaint 1940s home was even unsafe in tropical storms, let alone an uncategorizable hurricane. I dropped nearly a grand to get all of our supplies in order to survive the aftermath of a giant hurricane coming. I even bought the very last inflatable mattress, which was a queen with lift-able headrests. And an entire carton of cigarettes so he wouldn't go too long without a smoke.

Then the hurricane didn’t happen. We went straight back to work, didn’t even go home, just straight to work from Sarah’s house to make donuts for the rest of Fort Pierce in their fear that we might still get hit. But it never came. It sat over the Bahamas for 24hrs bringing the ever beautiful beaches to ruin. And then moved straight up to hit the coast of South Carolina, and then New York.

I dropped nearly a grand on our survival, I dropped money I really didn’t have just in the off chance we would survive that behemoth in the sky. I never got a single penny in return. 

Even when we went grocery shopping to restock the fridge I emptied in case it would be weeks until we could return, I got no money back from him.

The man I loved, the man who was actually my boss. The man who made $720 a week and 35% of the company at the end of the month and I never saw a cent of his money. And I didn’t get anything in return. But he asked me to go get him a pack of cigarettes for him because he didn’t want to put pants on and was too tired to move, and so I would go and get them for him. And still wouldn’t get anything in return. 

I worked out the math. I worked 7 days a week, on a “salary” of $520 a week “plus tips”. That totals out to $5.77/hr. I was working 7 days a week at $5.77/hr, I paid all of my student loans, my Adobe and Spotify subscriptions, my gym membership (that I went to 4 times in 3 months because he would never take me nor let me drive his truck) I paid our electricity and rent on time, and he would occasionally pay me back in cash immediately. And then I would still shell out $40 for laundry because he would wait until 3 weeks worth of laundry had built up and he had worn the same underwear 3 times already. I still shelled out $150 on groceries that I cooked and cleaned up after for him and I. And everyday I would clean up the garbage that would get torn into because I didn’t have a trash bin because the two bins I had were still in the backyard from when Dorian was going to hit us, still full of trash.

I was on the verge of ending it.

I had a plane ticket.

September 15th.

I had a plane ticket.

I was overworked. Underpaid. Unloved. Unappreciated. Verbally abused. In full isolation. No friends. No family. I wanted out.

I.Had.A.Way.Out. And I STILL held on to this glimmer of hope that it would all work out. I thought the plane ticket would scare him. And it did. For a moment.

“Why? Why get into a relationship if you aren’t going to give effort? We were supposed to be equals and yet I feel like I am the only one giving effort. Why self prophecy that this isn't going to work out, and then not fight your own prophecy to make it work? Why not give such a simple effort to make me happy? I ask for such simple things Josh! I shouldn’t have to beg you to come to bed with me, I shouldn’t have to beg for sex with my own boyfriend, I don’t even care about the sex anymore. I just want to be held by you, to cuddle, to be given affection. I work longer hours and days than you at YOUR company and you cant even wash a dish or two? I can't live like this I'm going home.”

“Don’t go, please don’t go. Stay. We can work this out, I love you, you are the best thing to ever happen to me. I will fight for this relationship if it’s the last thing I do. Please don’t go.”

“....Okay I’ll stay...if you say you will fight and change, even though we have had this argument countless times….if you truly want this...show me….”

If anything it just got worse from there.

I was unemployed for two weeks. Two very long weeks. Honestly Assassin's Creed is what saved my life the last two months I was in Florida.

I was unemployed for two weeks, and every single morning when I would wake up around 9am, like a normal human being not having to work at 2 in the morning, I would pick up the trash littering my house thanks to the dogs ripping into the trash bag that hung from the door handle in the kitchen. I would sit on my phone scrolling through indeed, typing out my new resume with no way to print it. I had to wait for him to come home, and I so wanted to go out and do things, like visit the aquarium, or go to the beach and fall asleep to the waves crashing under the summer sun. But because I was Sarah and Josh’s workhorse, and once I told Sarah I was leaving then the next I wasn’t she didn’t allow me to work back at the shop. And because I did the work of 5 people, even though when I worked there I begged them to hire just one person, just one, to do the cleaning so I wouldn’t have to, they no longer had me there anymore. So Josh stayed longer, worked longer hours, and would come home tired. And sleep 90% of his day off away. So when he came home, I was so excited and wanted to talk about cool things I saw online, or wanted to go grocery shopping, or visit a mall. I got greeted with a heavy sigh, a plop on the couch, Joe Rogan or conspiracy theory videos, and snoring within 30 mins of him coming home. By the last two months of me being in Florida I didn’t talk very much with him. There was nothing to talk about. We stopped talking long before those moments though. I just hadn’t realized until I was home alone all day. What else is there to talk about when you work, live, sleep and breathe with the person you are in love with every single day. You run out of things that spark interest. You lose the feeling of, hey let's try something new, especially when your newfound intrigue is greeted with disgust, a steadfast no, or a blatant slap to the face that we obviously aren't going out tonight because he hasn't moved from his spot on the couch for 3 hours now.

My music is a very deep and obvious sign into my inner thoughts and feelings, whether I am aware of it or not. For the last four months of me being in Florida there were two songs I liked to listen to, specifically when Josh wasn’t home, because I knew he would give me shit if he heard them.

“All I Do is Sit Inside My House All Day” and “Suicidal Thoughts” from Josh A and IamJakeHill. And if that isn’t a blatant window into my soul in those months I don’t know what else is. There was another song, in which I quoted earlier in this piece, “I fall in love too easily, I fall in love too fast, I fall in love so terribly hard for love to ever last…”

Again, I will say, Assassin's Creed saved my life. If I hadn’t started playing AC2 on Josh’s PlayStation 2 and gotten absolutely swept away with Ezio’s story line and the beauty of ancient Italy and being able to sneak around assassinating bad guys, I would have killed myself. And I don't say that lightly. Every day, since September 15th, a little life from my soul faded away. All we would do is fight, and argue, or awkwardly sit on the couch together doing our own thing. I would beg for him to come to bed, ⅖ times I would be successful, and even then it was him on the base of the bed watching his videos, and he would fall asleep the wrong way on the bed. He would hint at wanting to make love to me but by the time he got home he was too tired or too dirty and would end up falling asleep anyways. I gave up thinking I would sleep with him every again. We did here and there but there was always a disconnect. I felt used by that point.

Due to such limiting factors of not having a car, and an unreliable boyfriend who wouldn’t let me drive his truck anyways, my job search was limited to what was within safe walking distance. I still carried two knives on me no matter what. It's the ghetto.

My options were 4 places: A gas station, another gas station, CVS, or a drive thru liquor store. I applied at the liquor store, as it was the closest and I didn’t have to cross a major highway to get to it. I got the job the day of my interview. 3 days a week at $8/hr. And that was, by far, the most whoreorizing and degrading job I have ever had in my entire life. And I was only there for a month.

Disgusting guys rolling up, with an AK47 in the middle console, their bro rolling a blunt in the passenger seat, the driver licking his lips at me saying, 

“Hey mama, what’s your sexy ass doin’ in this window and not doin me? You busy later?” 

To which I had to maintain my composure every single time and lie saying, “Sorry, I’m married, thank you though.”

“Aw c’mon that don’t mean shit. Don’t you want some side n*gga?”

“Here’s your booze. Thank you, have a nice night”

“Whateva gurl I’ll try again next week.”

Abso-fucking-lutely degrading. Luckily I only worked three days...but I also only worked three days. So I was home a lot more than my boyfriend. My job hours were normal, 10am-6pm. I could cross the street to go home with enough light for it to be safe. Come home, and hope on the playstation. Most nights I would either come home to an empty house, he hadn’t been home all day, I could tell. There would be certain signs that would tell me if he had been home at all or not. If the scent of cigarettes was stronger, there were new soda cans with ash on them on the cocktail table, if the remotes had been moved, if there was a new plate that was dirtied by some snack, or if there was a new pile of clothes by the couch… If none of those things were there, I knew he hadn’t been home all day. Our poor dogs stuck inside for at least the 8hrs that I was at work. And no, I would never know what he was up to all day. I know he had a previous gambling problem, but I nipped that early on when we were in NC. But it is legal in FL, and I still wonder if that’s where his money went….or just to weed...or if he really did just drive around all fucking day.

Having my shifts start at 10, I would usually be up until midnight or until he had to go to work in the morning, he would be fast asleep and so I could make private phone calls to my mother about what was going on. They saw it coming faster than I did. My therapist caught on to his behaviour long before I ever did, that he was toxic, verbally abusive, that he was controlling and his sister manipulative. It took a long time for my mom and I to get to the closeness we are now. To have the relationship we have now. It's been rough. But she helped me through this so much. And whenever he would say that she brainwashed me as a child, forced me onto ADD pills when that “shit fucks up your body” and that I was “still under her mind control and she still has power over you” always hurt. To say things like “oh I’m never going to California, I’m never going to visit your family if they are anything like your mother.” It killed me. When all we ever did was spend time doing the things he liked, and spending time with his crazy family. And not want to reciprocate. I played AC2 all the way up until the second week of November, when the PS2 crashed. I was left home alone for 80% of the week. Alone with my thoughts, and my music, and the strong suggestions of my parents that I need to think about my future, and if this is truly what I want for the rest of my life.

To sit at home, wondering why the man I love, the man I gave everything to, all of me, why he doesn’t want to give such simple efforts in return. Why I have to beg for attention and intimacy and never get it in return. Why the man I fell in love with brought me so far from family, and isolated me from everything. Why the man I love wouldn’t want to treat me with such care and love and selfless adoration the way I do for him. Why every morning I wake up wondering if I can even get through the day, or if the blade I keep strapped to my body in case some rando from the ghetto streets outside were to come into my house and hurt me, if the blade I keep on my person will be sharp enough to end my pain. If leaving and starting all over for the third time in a year will be worth it in the long haul. 

November 9th,

I made a call, while the man I loved lay sleeping in bed, after begging him to come watch his show in the bedroom, and him finally falling asleep wrapping me in his arms. I snuck my way outside and called my parents. They were so happy on the phone, spending time with family and friends, like I would have been too if I was with them. But instead was calling, to ask if they could send me home. If there was any way I could come home sooner than 2 weeks from now for thanksgiving. If there was anyway I could come home and try again because I can’t be here anymore, and it’s killing me, and I can’t last 2 weeks.

They gave me a day to think about it. I had to say it for myself, it wasn’t their decision, it was mine. The last time I called like this I cancelled last minute because his words clouded my judgement and I listened to his pleas. I took the day to rule out the pros and cons. I took a day to really think about if this man was really everything I made him out to be. It’s a terrible thing when you realize the man you once loved is now a stranger. It's an even more terrible thing when you know that the man you love, who you know loves you just not in any way shape or form as much as you love him, is going to realize that now you are the stranger, and that you are going to make a very painful and difficult and traumatic event happen in his already traumatized and horrible past. That you are going to add to his already endless pain. That you are the one...that is going to break his heart.

November 10th,

I called in the morning, early CA time, he was already at work making donuts. It had been off between us the past few days. He knew something was up, but I was instructed not to say a word. I barely lasted two days not telling him anything. And the disconnect had already begun.

My dad answered the phone in such a loving and soft way, it was exactly what I needed...

“Hi sweetheart, how are you doing? Have you made up your mind at all or do you still need more time? We are ready for you whenever you are.”

“I…I need to come back home.”

“Is this your decision?”

“Yes ....I can’t stay here any longer…*the tears welled up in my eyes and my voice began to croak* because I know that if I do it will kill me and I can’t live like this. Please bring me home.”

“Okay, okay. I will send mom a text and she will send you flight information as soon as she gets it, okay? Are you already packed up?”

“*sniffles* yeah, I have 2 carry on sized bags, a duffel bag, and a backpack....I wish I could bring more, there's so much stuff I don't want to leave…”

“I know sweetie, I know, but what is most important is that we get YOU safely home. Things can be replaced, you are irreplaceable”

I got a call later that afternoon from Josh, asking if he should even come home because I might be leaving or not. I didn’t give him a direct answer, just if he can come home if he wanted to. He didn’t until late afternoon. And when he did, I got a message from my mother.

“Your shuttle comes to get you at 8:45am, your flight is out of West Palm Beach at 11:30am. We love you, keep us updated. We can’t wait to see you tomorrow boo.” “So that’s it then…” I muttered. “So that’s it what?”

I took a deep breath, and read him the text my mom had sent me. I couldn’t bear to keep it hidden from him any longer. Somehow I thought he deserved to know. That he needed to know.

“So you lied to me this whole time, you knew you were leaving and you didn’t tell me. You just made up that stupid lie that you were thinking things over and had a decision to make? Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

Of course he was angry. And disconnecting. He had already told me days ago that he was going to start hardening his heart towards me to ready himself for me leaving. He saw it coming too, and he knew it.

“I wasn’t lying, I was telling the truth. I had to think things over and I came to a decision this morning.” “And you're leaving tomorrow morning? No that’s a fucking lie, that shit you had planned, YOU'RE NOT LEAVING. YOU CAN'T LEAVE. WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME. I LOVE YOU.”

Again the same argument, over and over again.

“Why? Why get into a relationship if you aren’t going to give effort? We were supposed to be equals and yet I feel like I am the only one giving effort. Why self prophecy that this isn't going to work out, and then not fight your own prophecy to make it work? Why not give such a simple effort to make me happy? I ask for such simple things Josh! I shouldn’t have to beg you to come to bed with me. I just want to be held by you, to cuddle, to be given affection. I do everything for you. EVERYTHING. I HAVE GIVEN YOU ALL OF ME. THERE IS NOTHING OF ME LEFT TO GIVE. MY WELL HAS RUN DRY JOSH. I AM AN EMPTY SHELL. You wanted the old Alysha back? Well guess what Josh, she isn’t here anymore. There is barely any of me left. What more do you want from me? My life?! I don’t even have one here! I’m sorry…”

I went to work in tears that night. Called my manager and told her I was leaving due to a domestic emergency, and also told her I might not work the entire night.

To which I then received a phone call from Josh, crying asking me to dip out on work so that we can spend one last night in each others arms before he never sees me again. And I idiotically said yes. And it is forever ingrained in my mind. The cries of the man I loved. The cries of the man I gave everything to. The pleas of the man who for one last night held me so tightly than he had ever held me before in the hopes it would keep in in Florida. The quiet crying pleas of the man I spent almost 2 years with, wailing in the night for me to not go, to not leave him. And my cries in return just never ending-ly saying I’m sorry. But I have to go. I didn’t even sleep that night. He just held me tighter and tighter and all I can think about is why he couldn't have done this every night? Why couldn't he put as much effort into trying to keep me here, now, why couldn't he do that every night and day? Why give me an excuse to call out of work only to try and keep me from leaving, why not make an excuse for me to call out of work to woo me into loving him again? Why wait for the last hours. The last minutes. The last seconds. And as I'm leaving and getting into the shuttle, he kisses me goodbye, puts on his sunglasses and says goodbye as if I was just leaving on a trip, because he doesn't want to look like such a fool in front of a total stranger…

I wish I could say it ended there at the shuttle...but it didn’t. Before the shuttle came, I was pleading to him that I was sorry, and that I didn’t want to do this but I had to. And somehow his pleas got me on my knees into begging that we could try long distance, see if that could work. Maybe he could come to California and start a new life with me. Somehow that where we left it off...and when I got to CA I was still under his control.

But as I finally got to be in my mother and father's embrace again, a little piece of my soul came back. A little flicker of a hint of a spark came from the ashes. And as I told my extremely summarized story to friends and family I felt that I had made the right choice. I felt like I was back where I needed to be. I had a future here, I had family and friends within an arm's reach, and not half a world away.

And the flicker became sparks, and the ashes began to glow bright, a flame beginning to burn out of the ashes.

I called him...still under his control but breaking free, finally. And ended it. It was too much of a fairy tale, that it would work like this. He was always the one telling me I need to stop living in a fantasy and live in reality. I guess I learned something from him. My dad walked in on our conversation...circulatory argument, really. About the same things over and over again.

“I love you Alysha, you are the greatest thing that ever happened to me. But you’re a bitch for leaving me like this. I'm surrounded by your belongings what the fuck am I supposed to do with this? Just throw it away?! I love you! I want to fight for us to make it work but you fucking abandoned us!”

My father told me he was a dick, and the short phone conversation he overheard from us was a textbook example of abuse from a significant other. I blocked him on every social platform imaginable. And waited patiently and anxiously for the one thing that tied me to them still to come in the mail…..my W2s.

The long and anxious wait ended...finally….and as I opened the letter with all of my documents I was filled with an overwhelming sense of emotion that confused me all to hell. This was it...it was really here...the last piece that was tying me to them and it was finally in my grasp. There is nothing else to bind myself to him anymore. Nothing else from Florida that can bring me pain or suffering or fear. It's over. It’s been over relation-ally for three months now. But legally...it's done.

I’m still processing the pain of it. The sheer torment I went through. I still don't know how I survived everything I went through. My memory is horrible right now with my brain trying to process the trauma, deleting things from memory due to how painful it is, that now I just am terrible at remembering almost everything. It will haunt me for an eternity. Until one day it won’t. And I hope that day is sooner than later...because this truly was hell to have gone through.

I don't trust myself anymore. I don't trust other people. I am terribly, terribly afraid of love. The last 3 relationships I have been in I have jumped into, with barely any time to get to know the person before making it “official.” Never again. Next time will take a long time. Deep established friendship first, before I can even consider beginning to feel again. I don’t know if I will ever love the same way again too...To give absolutely everything I have to the table. To give all of me to the point where there was none of me left...I loved him with all of my heart, soul, and being. And it ruined and broke me, knowing I broke that man, that I crushed his soul and shattered his heart...along with mine....

He called me a liar once for saying I was his ride or die, but I was leaving him. But what he did not realize is that I did die for him. I died every day...for four months...knowing I was going to end my life if I stayed there any longer….killing myself for a man who would never love me...the way I loved him…

[moleasia4-blog]

Three “Real Food” Staples That Aren’t What You Think

This is a guest post from Vani Hari (a.k.a. The Food Babe) and New York Times Best Selling author. She has a new book coming out this week called Feeding You Lies!

I’ve made it my mission to tell people the truth about their food, where it comes from, and how to live healthfully in our processed-food world. My latest book, Feeding You Lies, just hit stores yesterday and exposes the many lies that you’ll find about our food on product packages, advertising, and in the media.

My journey to a real food lifestyle didn’t happen overnight. Just like most people living in this processed-food world, I was easily fooled by deceptive marketing and packaging. I knew nothing about real food or chemically processed ingredients, but I knew I needed to make a change.

First, I started with the obvious stuff. I stopped eating frozen Lean Cuisines and stocking up on “zero calorie” drinks… and I started buying more fresh ingredients so that I could cook at home and stocked my pantry with staples such as spices, cooking oils, and beans.

However, the more I investigated my food and what I was putting in my body, I began to realize that my grocery shopping still needed a makeover! A lot of those “real food” ingredients I was buying weren’t as healthy as I thought and were quietly sabotaging my health.

And let’s face it, with all the millions of dollars that companies spend to persuade us into buying their products, it can be hard to cut through the B.S. and know if you are making the right choices.

Let’s take “real cheese” for example…

With the claim “Off the Block” blazoned on the front of the bag, Sargento is insinuating this cheese is like the kind you’d shred “off the block” of cheese at home. However, flipping it over to read the ingredients list, you’ll find it contains powdered cellulose, an additive made from wood and used as a coating on most pre-shredded cheese to keep it from sticking together. Tests done by Bloomberg News found up to 8.8% of cellulose in some brands of shredded parmesan cheese. Eating cellulose is linked to weight gain, inflammation, and digestive problems. Ever since learning about this additive, I started shredding my own cheese!

Plus, dairy products without the USDA certified organic seal usually come from cows raised on grains and GMO feed, which is not healthy for them and produces less nutritious milk. It may also contain residue of artificial growth hormones, antibiotics, and synthetic pesticides. Any of these things can be in cheese labeled “Natural” and “Real”… so don’t fall for these claims on the package.

A Better Choice: Instead, it’s best to choose organic, raw, 100% grass-fed cheese and shred it yourself. Raw cheese contains enzymes that make it easier to digest and is more nutritious. Goat milk cheese is also an excellent option that can be easier to digest.

Another food to watch out for is cooking oil…

I used to think I was doing the right thing when I cooked with canola oil. It’s “heart-healthy” right? I mean, it says so right on the bottle! What they don’t tell you though is that most vegetable oils such as canola, soybean, and corn oil go through an INSANE amount of processing with chemical solvents, steamers, neutralizers, de-waxers, bleach, and deodorizers before they end up in the bottle. They are so heavily processed and should not be part of a “real food” lifestyle. Avoiding these oils just for that reason alone is a good idea. However, it gets worse. The “solvent” most often used to extract the oil is the neurotoxin hexane–it’s literally bathed in it.

These mass-produced vegetable oils are also too high in omega-6 fatty acids, which fuel chronic inflammation in the body, leading to disease. Thankfully, there are much healthier choices.

A Better Choice: Unrefined coconut oil is one of my favorites to cook with today. It is made up of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which have been shown to reduce cholesterol and obesity. Other unrefined cooking oils, such as Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Hemp Oil, and Ghee all make excellent choices. Choose organic oils because that’s where GMO ingredients and hexane extraction are prohibited.

Growing up we always had this in the fridge…

Land O’ Lakes was a staple in my household. We used the whipped butter like it was nobody’s business—my mom would use it on her infamous parathas (Indian stuffed flatbread), in countless desserts, and to make homemade ghee. Once I found out what was happening at Land O’Lakes, my Mom and I had a little chat. I explained to her that Land O’Lakes is not organic and raises their cows with growth hormones linked to cancer, antibiotics, and harmful pesticide-ridden GMO feed. I told my Mom she had to stop buying Land O’Lakes if we’re going to change this world. Knowing all these facts, my Mom asked, “What butter can I buy?” Well, thankfully there are many brands out there that are light years ahead of Land O’Lakes.

A Better Choice: Today, I choose organic pastured butter. Butter from grass-fed cows has higher amounts of beneficial CLA and healthy omega 3 fatty acids. Also, grass-fed cows produce butter with up to 50 percent more vitamin A and E, and 400 percent more beta carotene (which gives the grass-fed butter a deeper yellow color). You’ll also be avoiding butter laced with residues from antibiotics or hormones as these aren’t used on organic farms.

What you can do

You don’t need to make a full-time career out of investigating food like I have to make better choices at the grocery store. You just need to ask and answer three simple questions about food. In my new book, Feeding You Lies, I walk you through these three simple questions that will dramatically improve your food decisions:

What are the ingredients?

Are these ingredients nutritious?

Where do these ingredients come from?

I believe that if you can select food based on your answers to these three questions, you’ll put yourself—and your loved ones—on the path to a healthy lifestyle right away. Plus, you’ll be fighting back against those guilty parties who are trying to contaminate our foods in the name of profits.

Feeding You Lies is a new kind of diet and health book. It’s a revealing investigation into the food industry’s playbook. You’ll become your own health investigator after reading this book, and stop falling victim to the food industry’s lies that have kept us from feeling our best.

I give you action steps that protect you from cheap, processed, unhealthy foods and the health problems and suffering they cause. My 48-Hour Toxin Takedown at the end of the book will help you rid your pantry of foods that are weighing you down. You’ll end your sugar and processed food addictions, lose pound after pound, never “diet” again, and rejuvenate your energy levels, mental fitness, and overall well-being.

Feeding You Lies is now available in bookstores everywhere. Pick up your copy here.

Named as one of the “Most Influential People on the Internet” by Time magazine, Vani Hari is a food activist, New York Times best-selling author of The Food Babe Way, and co-founder of Truvani. For most of her life, Vani ate whatever she wanted—candy, soda, fast food, processed food—until her typical American diet landed her where that diet typically does, in a hospital. Despite her successful career in corporate consulting, Hari decided that health had to become a priority. Her newfound goal drove her to investigate what is really in our food, how it is grown, and what chemicals are used in its production. The more she learned, the more she changed and the better she felt.

Encouraged by her friends and family, Hari started a blog called foodbabe.com and has led campaigns against food giants like Kraft, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Subway, and General Mills that have attracted more than 500,000 signatures and led to the removal of several controversial ingredients used by these companies. Hari’s drive to change the food system inspired the creation of her new company, called Truvani, where she produces real food without added chemicals, products without toxins, and labels without lies. Hari has been profiled in The New York Times and USA Today and has appeared on Good Morning America, CNN, The Dr. Oz Show, The Doctors, and NPR. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, Finley, and daughter, Harley.

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, your cost will be the same but 100 Days of Real Food will automatically receive a small commission. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps us spread our message!

Source: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/food-babe-feeding-you-lies-book/

[kathleenseiber]

Volcanic glass spray can kill mosquitoes

An indoor residual spray made by combining a type of volcanic glass with water showed effective control of mosquitoes that carry malaria, according to a new study.

The findings could be useful in reducing disease-carrying mosquito populations—and the risk of malaria—in Africa.

Malaria annually kills some 400,000 people in Africa. The use of insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual sprays are the most common and effective methods of reducing mosquito populations in Africa.

Mosquitoes are becoming increasingly resistant to the commonly used insecticides such as pyrethroids, however, so the need for alternative safe chemistry to use in controlling mosquitoes is important.

The lower portion of a mosquito’s leg after contact with a volcanic rock powder. Statically transferred perlite particles dehydrate mosquitoes, killing them. (Credit: Michael Roe/NC State)

The researchers used a volcanic glass material called perlite, an industrial mineral most frequently used in building materials and in gardens as a soil additive. The tested insecticide created from perlite, called Imergard WP, can be applied to interior walls and ceilings—and perhaps even inside roofs—as an indoor residual spray.

The spray contains no additional chemicals, is not toxic to mammals, and will be cost effective. Early results show that mosquitoes do not appear to have resistance to the perlite spray.

In the study, the researchers worked with the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) based at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Imerys Filtration Minerals Inc. to test Imergard WP. They used the spray in experimental huts in the Republic of Benin (West Africa) to test the effects of the spray on both wild and more susceptible strains of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, the primary malaria vector in sub-Saharan Africa.

Researchers used four different tests to verify the efficacy of Imergard WP. Control study huts had no mosquito-prevention spray. In the second group, researchers coated hut walls with a common pyrethroid. They sprayed hut walls with Imergard WP in the third group, while in the fourth group they sprayed a mixture of Imergard WP and the common pyrethroid.

Huts with walls treated with Imergard WP, with and without the pyrethroid, showed the largest mosquito mortality rates. Results showed mortality rates of mosquitos alighting on Imergard WP-treated walls were greater than 80% up to five months after treatments, and 78% at six months. The treatments were effective against both susceptible and wild-type mosquitoes.

“The statically transferred perlite particles essentially dehydrate the mosquito,” says corresponding author Mike Roe, professor of entomology at North Carolina State University. “Many die within a few hours of contact with the treated surface. Mosquitoes are not repelled from a treated surface because there is no olfactory mechanism to smell rock.”

Huts sprayed with only the common pesticide had mosquito mortality rates of around 40 to 45% over five months, with those rates dropping to 25% in month six of the study.

“The processing of perlite as an insecticide is novel,” says coauthor David Stewart, commercial development manager for Imerys, the company that created Imergard WP,. “This material is not a silver bullet but a new tool that can be considered as part of an insect vector management program.”

The study appears in Insects. Additional coauthors are from NC State; the University of New Hampshire; the Centre de Recherche Entomologique de Cotonou in Benin; and Imerys.

Funding for the study came from Imerys and the US Department of Defense’s Deployed War-Fighter Protection Program. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or the policy of the government and no official endorsement should be inferred.

Source: NC State

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[sciencebulletin]

Volcanic glass spray shows promise in controlling mosquitoes

An indoor residual spray made by combining a type of volcanic glass with water showed effective control of mosquitoes that carry malaria, according to a new study. The findings could be useful in reducing disease-carrying mosquito populations—and the risk of malaria—in Africa. Malaria, an infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes, annually kills some 400,000 people in Africa. The use of insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual sprays are the most common and effective methods of reducing mosquito populations in Africa. But mosquitoes are becoming increasingly resistant to the commonly used insecticides such as pyrethroids, so the need for alternative safe chemistry to use in controlling mosquitoes is important. The volcanic glass material used in this new intervention is perlite, an industrial mineral most frequently used in building materials and in gardens as a soil additive. The tested insecticide created from perlite, called Imergard WP, can be applied to interior walls and ceilings—and perhaps even inside roofs—as an indoor residual spray. The spray contains no additional chemicals, is not toxic to mammals and will be cost effective. Early results show that mosquitoes do not appear to have resistance to the perlite spray. In the study, North Carolina State University entomologists worked with the Innovative Vector Control Consortium (IVCC) based at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Imerys Filtration Minerals Inc. to test Imergard WP. Researchers used the spray in experimental huts in the Republic of Benin (West Africa) to test the effects of the spray on both wild and more susceptible strains of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes, the primary malaria vector in sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers used four different tests to verify the efficacy of Imergard WP. Control study huts had no mosquito-prevention spray. In the second group hut walls were coated with a common pyrethroid. Hut walls were sprayed with Imergard WP in the third group, while in the fourth group hut walls were sprayed with a mixture of Imergard WP and the common pyrethroid. Huts with walls treated with Imergard WP, with and without the pyrethroid, showed the largest mosquito mortality rates. Results showed mortality rates of mosquitos alighting on Imergard WP-treated walls were greater than 80% up to five months after treatments, and 78% at six months. The treatments were effective against both susceptible and wild-type mosquitoes. "The statically transferred perlite particles essentially dehydrate the mosquito," said Mike Roe, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Entomology at NC State and the corresponding author of the paper. "Many die within a few hours of contact with the treated surface. Mosquitoes are not repelled from a treated surface because there is no olfactory mechanism to smell rock." Huts sprayed with only the common pesticide had mosquito mortality rates of around 40 to 45% over five months, with those rates dropping to 25% in month six of the study. "The processing of perlite as an insecticide is novel," said David Stewart, commercial development manager for Imerys, the company that created Imergard WP, and co-author of the paper. "This material is not a silver bullet but a new tool that can be considered as part of an insect vector management program." Provided by: North Carolina State University More information: Jean M. Deguenon et al. ImergardTMWP: A Non-Chemical Alternative for an Indoor Residual Spray, Effective against Pyrethroid-Resistant Anopheles gambiae (s.l.) in Africa. Insects (2020). DOI: 10.3390/insects11050322 Image: The lower portion of a mosquito's leg after contact with a volcanic rock powder. Statically transferred perlite particles dehydrate mosquitoes, killing them. Credit: Michael Roe, NC State University. Read the full article

[ppdoordocksystem]

Why Choose a Wayne Dalton - Model 600 Rolling Grille Suitable for Retail Outlets in Angier, NC

Gone are the days when rolling up – rollup doors were the door trends for retail outlets and commercial establishments. Before, rolling up – rollup doors were commonly perceived as a simple security barrier and gateway for entrance and exits, but nowadays engineers and designers built them with multi-functional purposes and use that can provide solutions to the modern demands of the society.

With the advancement of technology, material upgrades, latest marketing design concepts, and cost-effective functionalities, Wayne Dalton who for over 60 years has been servicing and installing, top-quality residential and commercial garage doors, offers its latest product Model 600 Rolling Grille. Specially designed and engineered for retail outlets, commercial establishments, industrial operations warehouses, and high-security facilities.

Why Wayne Dalton?

Wayne Dalton, for six decades, has been servicing and installing, top-quality residential and commercial garage doors. Taking great pride in our customer service, maintenance service and service, and also a new garage door installation. Our goal is to offer quality services at affordable prices. Wayne Dalton offers beautiful, energy-efficient residential & commercial garage doors to fit your busy lifestyle, budget, & engineered for excellence!

What is Model 600 Rolling Grille?

Wayne Dalton Rolling Grilles or Model 600 is the 21st-century modern-day door solution that can offer security, ventilation, and visibility for commercial, retail, and industrial applications. The strong steel, aluminum or stainless steel grilles can offer alternative options to suit your personal or business needs.

Safeguards Investments

Wayne Dalton Rolling Grilles provides protection against burglary and thieves. Our company name speaks for itself Wayne Dalton has the reputation as one of the best high-quality door makers with outstanding performance in the security business, where sneaky thievery eyes would not hesitate from far afar nor attempt to go near your business establishment. Ideally perfect for industrial warehouses and high-security facilities, where requires less security manpower thus saving a lot of money on maintenance cost.

Visibility and Aesthetic Design

Designed with aluminum grille patterns in clear, mill, or bronze anodized finishes that allow visual access through the door opening space, adding visual marketable features for commercial retail establishments where customers can check out your products from a distance. Additionally, Model 600 also provides open space ventilation which helps in preventing any excess build-up of gases or fumes. Wayne Dalton Rolling Grilles offers attractive marketing style and trends with its available 180 colored powder coating options and a variety of grille patterns with finishes. Ideally perfect for retail business establishments, which can speak for the marketing character what the company wants to project.

Safe Features

Model 600 is engineered with an emergency egress grille and operator system that can provide secure access to public space areas, yet it will automatically open fully on detection of power failure or emergency alarm. Safely prevents personnel entrapment on emergency events which allows accessibility for personnel safety. The emergency egress grille is suitable for applications where accessibility and space options are high requirements like hospitals, schools, and office buildings.

Model 600 Rolling Grille

Key Highlight Specifications:

Construction: Max Width: 42′ /Max Height: 20’

Material: Steel/Aluminum/Stainless Steel

Operation: Manual Push-up/Chain/Crank/Motor-operated

Curtain: Galvanized Steel/Stainless Steel

Locking System: Cylinder/Best-Lock/Thumb Turns/EZ-LOK

Available Torsion Springs: 20,000 cycles

Aluminum Grille Pattern: Clear/Mill/Bronze Anodized Finishes

Powder Coating Availability: Over 180 colors

Grille Patterns and Finishes: Available

Call now Passport Door & Dock Systems at Angier: (919) 639-0334 and Farmville: (252) 753-6100, or at https://tinyurl.com/w6m9p2e, our Service Area Offices can help you with our Wayne Dalton Rolling Grille or any commercial rolling steel door inquiries at Wayne Dalton rolling grille Angier NC, Wayne Dalton rolling grille Farmville NC, and Wayne Dalton rolling grille North Carolina.

You can make a Service request at https://tinyurl.com/qn5qqv5, or personally visit our Service Areas: North Carolina, Angier NC & Farmville NC.

[arplis]

Arplis - News: Mooresville Garage

Greetings Garage Journal viewers. I’m making my first post here to share the garage build completed in connection with a new home my wife and I recently built. As an introduction, my name is Jim, I retired after a 35+ year career in Houston, Texas and recently moved to the Mooresville, North Carolina area (north of Charlotte) on Lake Norman (in “The Point”). The home was the culmination of a two-and-a-half-year process of finding a lot, designing and then building the home. The home was a custom-build and began with a blank sheet of paper. The plan from the beginning included my desire for a garage a car and garage enthusiast would appreciate (at least my vision of it). In recent years, I’ve come to enjoy detailing my cars; therefore, the garage design was focused on providing a place to detail cars regardless of weather conditions. I also enjoy working on motorcycles and doing basic maintenance on cars and wanted a workshop area for those purposes. I’m glad to share the results here. Key elements of the garage: - 1,720 ft2, attached - 4 car bays, 1 golf cart bay, workshop area - High ceilings (12-1/2’ in front and back, increasing to 16’ in the middle section) - High lift garage doors (made by C.H.I.), powder coated aluminum frame, ½” insulated and tinted glass panels, 10’W x 8’H on car bays, Liftmaster 8500W Jackshaft WIFI garage door openers) - Porcelain tile floor with center drains (floor slopes toward drains) - Moduline Pro II cabinets - American Custom Lifts Model M1-6.5 single-post car lift - Wash bay on center “utility wall” that houses the equipment (Kranzle K165 water pump, Mosmatic 2-piece folding boom pole and wand, CR Spotless water deionizer, BigBoi car dryer, 2 Cox 30’ electric hose reels, VacuMaid Garage Vac Pro w/50’ hose, Prier hot/cold hose bib, Eley hose reel with 75’ garden hose, Moduline closet and fold-down workbench) - Compressed air system (Jenny J5A-60V air compressor, Prevost piping, fittings and valves, 2 Cox 30’ air hose reels) - Lots of ambient light via glass garage door panels and windows/skylights in the workshop. - Saylite square and linear LED pendants for primary lighting (2 x 8’ Square pendants over wash bay and lift, 2 x 4’ square pendants over other 2 bays, 6 x 8’ linear pendants in workshop and at front of each car bay). Each light fixture provides 4,000 kelvin and is dimmable. The Saylite fixtures are supplemented by 17 x 5” LED can lights throughout the garage. - Wall cladding consisting of a stainless-steel linen lower panel (supplied by Rigidized Metals) with a 3’ row of “Megawall” aluminum slat wall above the lower panel at certain places. - Full HVAC - TV and Audio via Savant home entertainment system I’m very happy with the result. We moved into the house in late June and I’ve enjoyed using the garage and especially the wash bay. Everything worked out as planned and I can’t think of anything I would have done differently. One pleasant surprise was the relative lack of overspray from the wash bay. I had planned to install a curtain (suspended on track from the ceiling) that would be pulled around the wash bay when in use. I’m happy I don’t need it. It took a while before I decided on the porcelain tile floor. I originally intended to use Swisstrax plastic modular flooring (15.75” squares that connect together). I really like the Swisstrax qualities of a clean look, easy maintenance and ease of installation. If you change your mind, it’s easy to take up and do something different. However, as the garage evolved and took shape, some challenges emerged with Swisstrax (in my opinion). The main difficulty is the shape of the garage, with a two 20-degree doglegs (the main one being in the garage center). I couldn’t get comfortable with how the Swisstrax would merge at those junctions. The angled pieces would join with no connection. Swisstrax offers some options to secure the junctions, but I couldn’t get the clarity I wanted on how secure they would be. Besides the junction issue, the design of the garage continued to gravitate towards a more upscale appearance and porcelain tile was the better design match. The tile I selected is from Walker Zanger with a 5 PEI rating (the hardest) and was designed for commercial use, so it conforms with the minimum dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) rating of .42. That means the footing is very secure, wet or dry. I’m glad a went with porcelain tile. The look is phenomenal. It’s expensive to install, but if done right, porcelain tile is among the most durable materials you can have in a garage. As I mentioned, I detail cars in the garage and lighting is very important. I spent a lot of hours looking at lighting options. I ultimately found Saylite and really liked their pendant LED lights. I was blown away by how good they look and work. The Saylite fixtures are supplemented by 5” LED can light. The ambient light in the garage during the day is good enough that lights are optional. At night, the LED lights put out just the right amount of illuminance on cars that I’m detailing, without being too much. A nice feature is a motion detector at the entrance into the house. So, for example, if you’re taking trash from the house to the bins in the garage, the motion will turn on the can lights to light a path to the bins. Selection of the wall cladding was also a long process. I wanted something to give the garage an upscale look and provide a barrier for moisture coming from the wash bay (although that hasn’t been a problem). The Moduline cabinets have a stainless-steel countertop. I thought extending that theme throughout the garage might make sense. I didn’t want something too flashy and over the top though (e.g., no shiny diamond plate). I found a company Rigidized Metals and really like the different stainless-steel textures and finishes they offer. I selected the “linen” texture for it’s rich and nonreflective look. In certain places, we added 3’ of Megawall slat wall above the linen stainless-steel. It matches the theme and adds the functionality of using the wall space to hang things and keep clutter up and off the floor. I use the car lift primarily for parking (to get another vehicle in the garage) and wanted a lift with a small footprint. American Custom Lifts makes a single-post lift that’s perfect for my application. My electrician spliced into the power supply on the lift and added an electrical outlet affixed to the center post. I use the outlet to hook up battery tenders for cars parked on or below the lift, which avoids the need to run extension cords across the floor. I use the compressed air primarily to run pneumatic Rupes polishers. The Jenny compressor has been great. With a 60-gallon tank, it has a lot of range and only takes a couple of minutes to recharge. My vision for the garage was influenced by viewing content on Matt Moreman’s “Obsessed Garage” YouTube channel, website and Facebook group. If you’re familiar with Matt, you may understand. He’s a garage and car enthusiast who has a lot of experience searching out the very best in products and equipment. My vision would have been much narrower if not for the information shared by Matt (and it kept expanding as he pursued new projects). For example, I would never have considered putting a wash bay inside a garage without seeing Matt do it in his. I decided to add a compressed air system after watching Matt install a system in his garage. It opened my eyes to how special a garage space can be, if you have the passion and desire to make it special. Some of the equipment in my garage is commercial-grade and somewhat hard to find since the manufacturers don’t market to the consumer. e.g., The pressure washer (Kranzle) is German made. The boom pole (Mosmatic) is Swiss made. The compressed air tubing and fittings (Prevost) are from a French company. The air and electrical reels (Cox) are American, but not heavily marketed. All are very high quality. Matt introduced me to these products and watching him install the equipment in his garage gave me the ideas and courage to do it in mine. As an added benefit, I was able to source and acquire the equipment through Obsessed Garage and Matt was very helpful consulting with me throughout the project. I feel fortunate I found Matt and Obsessed Garage just as I was beginning the project. It was great timing! The garage turned out fantastic and exceeded all my expectations. I hope everyone has a garage that puts a smile on your face the way mine does every time I go in it! Attached Images D6C8A492-C21C-43F1-9CFE-758CF4206EFC.jpg (110.7 KB) 7119C217-F332-4A28-96CA-EE35017D2F43.jpg (158.2 KB) E7C6AC88-C25C-4093-809A-A633569DE202.jpg (106.4 KB) 4067FEC7-100A-4000-ABD2-CCA5743B1F4C.jpg (96.7 KB) B9F23B89-37EF-4BE1-8976-FC185A006224.jpg (152.4 KB) 19E6FF90-CFC9-439E-873F-FCC7F232111B.jpg (104.8 KB) 93454016-76E0-49EF-BDF7-594428934534.jpg (120.7 KB) #GarageGallery

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=433973&goto=newpost Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/mooresville-garage

[agilenano]

Agilenano - News: Mooresville Garage

Greetings Garage Journal viewers. I’m making my first post here to share the garage build completed in connection with a new home my wife and I recently built. As an introduction, my name is Jim, I retired after a 35+ year career in Houston, Texas and recently moved to the Mooresville, North Carolina area (north of Charlotte) on Lake Norman (in “The Point”). The home was the culmination of a two-and-a-half-year process of finding a lot, designing and then building the home. The home was a custom-build and began with a blank sheet of paper. The plan from the beginning included my desire for a garage a car and garage enthusiast would appreciate (at least my vision of it). In recent years, I’ve come to enjoy detailing my cars; therefore, the garage design was focused on providing a place to detail cars regardless of weather conditions. I also enjoy working on motorcycles and doing basic maintenance on cars and wanted a workshop area for those purposes. I’m glad to share the results here. Key elements of the garage: - 1,720 ft2, attached - 4 car bays, 1 golf cart bay, workshop area - High ceilings (12-1/2’ in front and back, increasing to 16’ in the middle section) - High lift garage doors (made by C.H.I.), powder coated aluminum frame, ½” insulated and tinted glass panels, 10’W x 8’H on car bays, Liftmaster 8500W Jackshaft WIFI garage door openers) - Porcelain tile floor with center drains (floor slopes toward drains) - Moduline Pro II cabinets - American Custom Lifts Model M1-6.5 single-post car lift - Wash bay on center “utility wall” that houses the equipment (Kranzle K165 water pump, Mosmatic 2-piece folding boom pole and wand, CR Spotless water deionizer, BigBoi car dryer, 2 Cox 30’ electric hose reels, VacuMaid Garage Vac Pro w/50’ hose, Prier hot/cold hose bib, Eley hose reel with 75’ garden hose, Moduline closet and fold-down workbench) - Compressed air system (Jenny J5A-60V air compressor, Prevost piping, fittings and valves, 2 Cox 30’ air hose reels) - Lots of ambient light via glass garage door panels and windows/skylights in the workshop. - Saylite square and linear LED pendants for primary lighting (2 x 8’ Square pendants over wash bay and lift, 2 x 4’ square pendants over other 2 bays, 6 x 8’ linear pendants in workshop and at front of each car bay). Each light fixture provides 4,000 kelvin and is dimmable. The Saylite fixtures are supplemented by 17 x 5” LED can lights throughout the garage. - Wall cladding consisting of a stainless-steel linen lower panel (supplied by Rigidized Metals) with a 3’ row of “Megawall” aluminum slat wall above the lower panel at certain places. - Full HVAC - TV and Audio via Savant home entertainment system I’m very happy with the result. We moved into the house in late June and I’ve enjoyed using the garage and especially the wash bay. Everything worked out as planned and I can’t think of anything I would have done differently. One pleasant surprise was the relative lack of overspray from the wash bay. I had planned to install a curtain (suspended on track from the ceiling) that would be pulled around the wash bay when in use. I’m happy I don’t need it. It took a while before I decided on the porcelain tile floor. I originally intended to use Swisstrax plastic modular flooring (15.75” squares that connect together). I really like the Swisstrax qualities of a clean look, easy maintenance and ease of installation. If you change your mind, it’s easy to take up and do something different. However, as the garage evolved and took shape, some challenges emerged with Swisstrax (in my opinion). The main difficulty is the shape of the garage, with a two 20-degree doglegs (the main one being in the garage center). I couldn’t get comfortable with how the Swisstrax would merge at those junctions. The angled pieces would join with no connection. Swisstrax offers some options to secure the junctions, but I couldn’t get the clarity I wanted on how secure they would be. Besides the junction issue, the design of the garage continued to gravitate towards a more upscale appearance and porcelain tile was the better design match. The tile I selected is from Walker Zanger with a 5 PEI rating (the hardest) and was designed for commercial use, so it conforms with the minimum dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) rating of .42. That means the footing is very secure, wet or dry. I’m glad a went with porcelain tile. The look is phenomenal. It’s expensive to install, but if done right, porcelain tile is among the most durable materials you can have in a garage. As I mentioned, I detail cars in the garage and lighting is very important. I spent a lot of hours looking at lighting options. I ultimately found Saylite and really liked their pendant LED lights. I was blown away by how good they look and work. The Saylite fixtures are supplemented by 5” LED can light. The ambient light in the garage during the day is good enough that lights are optional. At night, the LED lights put out just the right amount of illuminance on cars that I’m detailing, without being too much. A nice feature is a motion detector at the entrance into the house. So, for example, if you’re taking trash from the house to the bins in the garage, the motion will turn on the can lights to light a path to the bins. Selection of the wall cladding was also a long process. I wanted something to give the garage an upscale look and provide a barrier for moisture coming from the wash bay (although that hasn’t been a problem). The Moduline cabinets have a stainless-steel countertop. I thought extending that theme throughout the garage might make sense. I didn’t want something too flashy and over the top though (e.g., no shiny diamond plate). I found a company Rigidized Metals and really like the different stainless-steel textures and finishes they offer. I selected the “linen” texture for it’s rich and nonreflective look. In certain places, we added 3’ of Megawall slat wall above the linen stainless-steel. It matches the theme and adds the functionality of using the wall space to hang things and keep clutter up and off the floor. I use the car lift primarily for parking (to get another vehicle in the garage) and wanted a lift with a small footprint. American Custom Lifts makes a single-post lift that’s perfect for my application. My electrician spliced into the power supply on the lift and added an electrical outlet affixed to the center post. I use the outlet to hook up battery tenders for cars parked on or below the lift, which avoids the need to run extension cords across the floor. I use the compressed air primarily to run pneumatic Rupes polishers. The Jenny compressor has been great. With a 60-gallon tank, it has a lot of range and only takes a couple of minutes to recharge. My vision for the garage was influenced by viewing content on Matt Moreman’s “Obsessed Garage” YouTube channel, website and Facebook group. If you’re familiar with Matt, you may understand. He’s a garage and car enthusiast who has a lot of experience searching out the very best in products and equipment. My vision would have been much narrower if not for the information shared by Matt (and it kept expanding as he pursued new projects). For example, I would never have considered putting a wash bay inside a garage without seeing Matt do it in his. I decided to add a compressed air system after watching Matt install a system in his garage. It opened my eyes to how special a garage space can be, if you have the passion and desire to make it special. Some of the equipment in my garage is commercial-grade and somewhat hard to find since the manufacturers don’t market to the consumer. e.g., The pressure washer (Kranzle) is German made. The boom pole (Mosmatic) is Swiss made. The compressed air tubing and fittings (Prevost) are from a French company. The air and electrical reels (Cox) are American, but not heavily marketed. All are very high quality. Matt introduced me to these products and watching him install the equipment in his garage gave me the ideas and courage to do it in mine. As an added benefit, I was able to source and acquire the equipment through Obsessed Garage and Matt was very helpful consulting with me throughout the project. I feel fortunate I found Matt and Obsessed Garage just as I was beginning the project. It was great timing! The garage turned out fantastic and exceeded all my expectations. I hope everyone has a garage that puts a smile on your face the way mine does every time I go in it! Attached Images D6C8A492-C21C-43F1-9CFE-758CF4206EFC.jpg (110.7 KB) 7119C217-F332-4A28-96CA-EE35017D2F43.jpg (158.2 KB) E7C6AC88-C25C-4093-809A-A633569DE202.jpg (106.4 KB) 4067FEC7-100A-4000-ABD2-CCA5743B1F4C.jpg (96.7 KB) B9F23B89-37EF-4BE1-8976-FC185A006224.jpg (152.4 KB) 19E6FF90-CFC9-439E-873F-FCC7F232111B.jpg (104.8 KB) 93454016-76E0-49EF-BDF7-594428934534.jpg (120.7 KB) #GarageGallery

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=433973&goto=newpost Agilenano - News from Agilenano from shopsnetwork (4 sites) https://agilenano.com/blogs/news/mooresville-garage-1

[trendytechreviews]

Check-in/Check-out Kiosk Market Latest Report with Forecast to 2027

Kiosk is a terminal which displays information and allows entry of information or data which includes specialized hardware and software, for offering access to services and solutions across multiple end-users for the e-check in process. Check-in/check-out kiosks are fully integrated to deliver and provide a wide range of self-service transactions in different industry verticals with all the capabilities and features for collecting consumers’ data or information. Moreover, with the use of check-in/check-out kiosks, invalid and fraudulent documents or ID can be checked easily, so as to help government officials and other agencies maintain security.

Check-in/Check-out Kiosk Market – Competitive Landscape

The check-in/check-out kiosk market is highly fragmented with proliferation of various start-ups, especially in emerging economies. Leading market players are focusing on innovative developments of check-in/check-out kiosks to overcome existing limits and enhance their operational efficiency.

In February 2017, Olea Kiosks, Inc. launched its healthcare kiosk for patient check-ins across the U.S. at HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) in Orlando, Florida.

Want to know the obstructions to your company’s growth in future? Request a brochure here

KIOSK Information Systems Inc.

KIOSK Information Systems Inc. was incorporated in 1993 and is located in Louisville, Colorado. The company has a 115,000-square-foot manufacturing and development campus which facilitates 100% dedicated self-service solution design. The company offers a broad array of kiosks that includes custom, Apex, Benchmark, Paragon, broadcast, windfall, landmark, caddie, stealth, edge Hd, and outdoor kiosks.

Meridian Kiosks LLC  

Incorporated in 1999, Meridian Kiosks LLC is based in North Carolina, the U.S with a 13-acre campus. The company specializes in designing, manufacturing, fabricating, and deploying fully integrated kiosks that supports self-service solutions. The company offers American made interactive kiosks around the globe with all processes i.e. from software development, to powder coating, to quality control completed in-house.

Olea Kiosks, Inc.

Olea Kiosks, Inc. is located in Cerritos, California and was founded in 1975 at a 48,000 sq. ft. campus. The U.S based company started its business designing, manufacturing, and producing different categories of kiosks with high quality and craftsmanship. Moreover, it also provides services and support such as remote monitoring, installation, safety compliance, and on-site service. The company also operates in the markets of Europe, United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Africa.

Some of the key players operating in the global Check-in/Check-out Kiosk Market with significant developments include eKiosk GmbH, Cammax Ltd, Meridian Kiosks LLC, ZIVELO, NCR Corporation, Phoenix Kiosk Inc., Slabb, Inc., RedyRef Interactive Kiosks, Wincor Nixdorf Ag, Olea Kiosks, Inc., Diebold Nixdorf Inc.,  Armodilo Display Solutions Inc., DynaTouch Corporation., Advanced Kiosks, and KIOSK Information Systems Inc.

Check-in/Check-out Kiosk – Dynamics

Rising Demand for Check-in/Check-out Kiosks in the Hospitality Industry

The hospitality industry is one of the fastest growing industries across the world. An evident rise in demand for check-in/check-out kiosks in the hospitality industry is to enhance the customer satisfaction i.e. with the expectations of customer’s loyalty, services and interaction. Apart from it, the Check-in/Check-out kiosks are used in the hospitality industry so as to get the personal details of the patients directly without any human errors. Furthermore, with the use of Check-in/Check-out kiosks the hospitality industry is expected to serve as the boomers that can provide reliable human interface.

Looking for exclusive market insights from business experts? Request a Custom Report here

[transparencym-blog]

Wall Mounted Kiosk Market: Rising Demand For Wall Mounted Kiosks For Advertisement & Promotion Of Products

Kiosk is a terminal which facilitates the entry and display of information through a computer that includes specialized hardware and software within a public exhibit, offering access to applications and information for communication, education, e-commerce, and entertainment. Wall mounted kiosks are flexible and durable and provide space saving solutions i.e. which can be better for providing free space. Furthermore, wall mounted kiosks are fully integrated for delivering and providing a wide range of self-service transactions in different industry verticals with all the capabilities and features.

Moreover, wall mounted kiosks are designed and integrated for electronic directory, digital signage, and interactive applications with support for a host of readers, scanners, keyboards, and other peripheral devices.

Obtain Report Details @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/wall-mounted-kiosk-market.html

Demand for wall mounted kiosks has been on the rise in the light of the competency of the peripheral devices that are highly durable, aesthetic, and last a long time without being prone to damage and provide space saving solutions. Technological leaps leading to high performance of wall mounted kiosks has in turn augmented their use in the retail industry.

Wall Mounted Kiosk Market – Competitive Landscape

The wall mounted kiosk market is highly fragmented with the proliferation of various start-ups, especially in emerging economies. Leading market players are focusing on innovative developments of wall mounted kiosks to overcome existing limits and enhance the operational efficiency.

In May 2019, ZIVELO, a leading world class player in providing kiosks collaborated with Dell Technologies OEM to allow its clients to purchase ZIVELO’s digital solutions to meet the needs of customers across multiple industry verticals that include retail, banking, hospitality, healthcare, and others.  

RedyRef Interactive Kiosks

RedyRef Interactive Kiosks was founded in 1913 and is one of the prominent U.S.-based enclosure manufacturer and designer of digital signage solutions and interactive kiosks, offering cutting edge solutions along with incomparable quality, value, and service across four facilities serving all of North America, totaling more than 250,000 square feet.

Meridian Kiosks LLC

Incorporated in 1999, Meridian Kiosks LLC is based in North Carolina, the US with a 13-acre campus. The company specializes in designing, manufacturing, fabricating, and deploying fully integrated kiosks that support self-service solutions. The company offers U.S. made interactive kiosks around the globe with all processes i.e. from software development, to powder coating, to quality control completed in-house.

Planning to lay down future strategy? Perfect your plan with our report brochure here

Olea Kiosks, Inc.

Olea Kiosks, Inc. is located in Cerritos, California and was founded in 1975 with a 48,000 sq. ft. campus. The U.S based company started its business designing, manufacturing, and producing different categories of kiosks with high quality and craftsmanship. It also provides services and support such as remote monitoring, installation, safety compliance, and on-site service. Furthermore, the company is now also operating in markets of Europe, United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Africa.

Diebold Nixdorf Inc.

Incorporated in 1859, Diebold Nixdorf Inc. is based in North Canton, Ohio with more than 34,000 employees and also operates its business across 180 countries. The U.S based company specializes in financial & retail self-service transaction systems (currency processing systems and ATMs), point-of-sale terminals, security solutions, physical security products, and software and related services for the global retai, and commercial market.

ZIVELO

ZIVELO, a public computing technology company with headquarters in Arizona, USA was founded in 2008 and offers self-service kiosk and digital signage solutions. The company is the third fastest growing company in the U.S., offering sophisticated computer hardware products that have been utilized across different industry verticals that include healthcare, retail, transportation, and business administration.

Some of the key players operating in the global wall mounted kiosk market with significant developments include Cammax Ltd, Meridian Kiosks LLC, ZIVELO, Phoenix Kiosk Inc., Slabb, Inc., RedyRef Interactive Kiosks, Wincor Nixdorf Ag, Olea Kiosks, Inc., Diebold Nixdorf Inc., Armodilo Display Solutions Inc., DynaTouch Corporation., and Advanced Kiosks.

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Benefits of Using Residential Garage Doors for Residential Security in Charlotte, North Carolina

Securing a residential property effectively against trespassers means ensuring that access points are impenetrable. While many property owners realize that steel security screens can take care of windows and keep easily broken panes under wraps and out of sight, just as many overlook tired doors as an obvious point of entry. As padlocks and bolts can easily be vulnerable to determined intruders with the right tools, replacing standard doors with residential garage doors in Charlotte can also benefit your property.

Empty homes and commercial premises are always vulnerable and whether additional security is being sought to protect against metal theft, squatters, vandalism or trespassers intent on illegal or anti-social activity.

Because commercial and residential properties can differ significantly, residential garage doors from Overhead Door Company of Charlotte are offered in a versatile range of sizes as well as produced to custom specifications in order to bring security to any size of doorway or entry point.

Overhead Door Company of Charlotte offer fitting in a range of options to accommodate all types of setting and security needs for additional flexibility and use of space.

Many styles of the contemporary wooden door can be replicated with secured door design, so installing residential garage  doors instead of traditional access doors doesn’t mean having to compromise on looks. Additionally, standard door furniture such as letter boxes, door handles and knobs as well as spy holes can be fitted, both to ensure the natural function of a domestic door and also to uphold the appearance of a residential door.

Looks are, of course, important, and where homes are concerned, low- maintenance products can be particularly time- and money-saving in the long run. As such, another advantage of steel is that it is immensely durable as with no wooden parts to deteriorate, can offer doors which retain their looks and are easy to maintain, as well as being weather and break-in resistant. Yet the industrial, robust qualities of commercial steel doors are hard to spot as a powder-coated finish, available in a range of colors, and completes the appearance of a standard domestic door.

Another important benefit of  residential garage doors for residential security is that purchasing doors means that there is no compromise on the drought-exclusion benefits of traditional double-glazed doors. Our residential garage doors, expertly fitted, can offer both weather and drought-proofing, bringing insulation benefits as well as security to properties.

With custom fitting to eliminate droughts and cracks for smoke to escape through and with steel offering the properties of heat resistance, steel doors also offer significant protection against the spread of fire.

Overhead Door Company of Charlotte's residential garage doors offer the ultimate solution for keeping homes secure when you are out or if you feel vulnerable inside, whilst vacant properties can be fully secured from intruders once it’s time to close up. But whatever the situation, an additional benefit offered by  residential garage  doors from  Overhead Door Company of Charlotte, a Division of DuraServ Corp., is the skilled, professional service that comes with them.

Our expert team can answer any queries and offer advice about the property, security needs and door type anywhere in Charlotte. We can also advise about maximizing your security  at home, so wherever you are and whether your property is empty or lived in, if you need to protect it, contact Overhead Door Company of Charlotte, a Division of DuraServ Corp. 704-594-5094