#Sources of Import-Export Data

[globaltradedataproviders]

Unlocking Global Trade Opportunities: The Importance of Import-Export Data Providers

In today’s highly interconnected global economy, having access to accurate and real-time import-export data is crucial for businesses, investors, and governments aiming to stay competitive and make informed decisions. Import-export data provides insights into the flow of goods across borders, offering a clear view of market trends, trade patterns, and the health of global economies. This article explores the importance of import-export data providers, the sources of this data, and how businesses can leverage it to gain a strategic edge in the marketplace.

The Significance of Import-Export Data

1. Driving Business Decisions

Import-export data is a valuable tool for businesses engaged in global trade. By understanding the volume, frequency, and direction of trade flows, companies can make informed decisions about where to expand, which markets to enter, and how to optimize their supply chains. Access to comprehensive trade data enables businesses to anticipate demand, reduce costs, and increase profitability in international markets.

2. Informing Investment Strategies

Investors heavily rely on import-export data to assess market potential and identify lucrative investment opportunities. This data provides key insights into economic trends, the performance of specific industries, and potential risks associated with global trade. With the right data, investors can make more informed choices about where to place their capital, whether in emerging markets or established global trade hubs.

3. Shaping Economic Policies

Governments and policymakers depend on accurate import-export data to assess economic health, set tariffs, negotiate trade agreements, and implement regulatory policies. By understanding trade imbalances and identifying economic trends, policymakers can devise strategies that foster growth, reduce trade deficits, and strengthen national economies.

Sources of Import-Export Data

1. Government Agencies and National Statistical Offices

Many countries collect and publish detailed import-export data through national statistical offices. These agencies compile data on exports, imports, trade balances, and tariffs, offering a detailed picture of a country’s trade dynamics. These insights are essential for businesses seeking to expand internationally, as they provide a granular view of trade patterns and industry-specific trends.

2. International Trade Organizations

Organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) provide comprehensive, global trade data. These organizations aggregate data from member countries and publish reports on worldwide trade flows, offering a macroeconomic view of global commerce. This data helps businesses and policymakers understand how different regions and industries are interconnected.

3. Private Import-Export Data Providers

Private companies that specialize in trade data have emerged as crucial players in the global marketplace. These data providers use advanced technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence to collect and analyze trade data in real-time. They offer businesses customized reports, market forecasts, and predictive analytics that give a competitive edge in international trade.

The Impact on Global Supply Chains

1. Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience

Import-export data is a vital tool for businesses looking to build resilient supply chains. By analyzing trade data, companies can monitor potential disruptions, such as changes in import/export regulations, natural disasters, or geopolitical instability. Early insights into these challenges allow businesses to adapt their supply chains to minimize disruptions and ensure continuity of operations.

2. Streamlining Operations

Businesses can optimize their operations by using import-export data to identify reliable suppliers, negotiate better deals, and streamline logistics. Data insights enable companies to reduce transportation costs, find alternate suppliers in case of disruptions, and ensure that inventory levels align with market demand. These efficiency improvements can enhance competitiveness in an increasingly globalized market.

Challenges and Future Trends

1. Data Accuracy and Standardization

One of the biggest challenges with import-export data is ensuring its accuracy and standardization. Differences in reporting standards between countries and industries can lead to discrepancies in the data, making it difficult to draw reliable conclusions. To overcome this, businesses must work with trusted data providers that adhere to high standards of data integrity and transparency.

2. The Role of Blockchain Technology

As global trade becomes more digitized, the potential for blockchain technology to enhance the accuracy and security of import-export data is significant. Blockchain’s decentralized nature allows for secure, transparent transactions, reducing the risk of fraud and ensuring the reliability of trade data. With the rise of blockchain, businesses and governments alike can benefit from more trustworthy and efficient trade data solutions.

Conclusion

Import-export data is a cornerstone of international business success, influencing decision-making, investment strategies, and supply chain operations. Accessing high-quality, accurate data from reliable sources empowers businesses to thrive in the global marketplace. As technology continues to evolve, the role of import-export data providers will only grow in importance. Embracing advanced data analytics and emerging technologies like blockchain will help businesses unlock new opportunities, streamline operations, and navigate the complexities of global trade. With the right data at your fingertips, the world’s markets are within reach, and the opportunities are endless.

[ms-demeanor]

Maybe I should wait for the PDF, but I’ve been thinking about password managers lately and might forget to check for that. My problem is that if there’s one thing I want to never ever put on the cloud to potentially get compromised, it’s my password information. But if there’s one thing I don’t want to lose access to, it’s also my password information. This seems to rule out both local options like KeePassXC and remote ones like Bitwarden.

I've started to become somewhat annoyed by the "there is no cloud, there is only someone else's computer" thing (this is a general thing, not specifically directed at you but you reminded me of it).

The risks of putting things on the cloud are that the internet or the provider will go down and you'll lose access to your data OR that the data will be compromised because the information is essentially public because it's on someone else's device.

Losing access because the provider crashes and burns or because there is a global internet outage is a distinct possibility, however with most password managers it is very very easy to download a copy of your data, which you can then store as an encrypted file on your desktop.

With companies like Bitwarden and Proton, which have open source encrypted cloud storage, your risk of compromise from being on someone else's computer is essentially zero. It IS important to make sure that you're finding a provider who is actually encrypting your shit and is not holding onto your password, which is why Bitwarden and Proton are the providers I keep recommending (privacyguides.org has recommendations here; bitwarden, protonpass, and keepassxc are all on the list, all of these are extremely safe options).

And that's where I have the problem with the "other people's computer" thing. I would have zero problems with storing a properly encrypted file in the comments of a facebook page. If a document had good encryption I would post it on livejournal and not worry about people getting into it. If you are working with good encryption, there is zero risk of compromise when keeping your shit on someone else's computer.

So I actually think the solution for either side of this conundrum is the same: If you're worried about losing access to your password manager because a service shuts down or the internet blows up, download a copy of your data to your desktop and store it in an encrypted folder on your computer. If you're worried about losing access to your password manager if your physical hardware is damaged in a disaster, export a copy of your data, save it as an encrypted file, and upload your encrypted file to gmail for all it matters - they will straight up not be able to get into it.

But that's also all kind of beside the point because a major feather in Bitwarden's cap is that you can self-host. It doesn't need to go on someone else's cloud, you can put it on your own server and never worry that someone else is going to tinker with your password manager.

Either way, you are sort of worrying beyond your means because if you're not using a password manager right now you are almost certainly at greater risk of credential stuffing attacks than anything else and need to put out that fire.

Anyway if you're at Harvey Mudd have you tried Dr. Grubbs across from where Rhino used to be? Everything on the menu is great but there is this jalapeño garlic sauce they've got to go with their mains that is so good that I want like two gallons of it.

[simlicious]

CC Creation Tutorial: Smooth Seams in Blender

In this tutorial, I will show you how to make your mesh seams smooth inside Blender (no Milkshape required!) and walk you through the process step by step. We will make a perfectly smooth mesh and transfer the normal data from that mesh to our main mesh using the Data Transfer modifier.

I am using Blender 3.6 in this tutorial (though you should be able to follow along using other versions as well)

You do not need to have much previous knowledge to follow this tutorial, but I assume you know some basics in Blender like how to select, things, navigate around, etc, and know how to import the meshes and put them into Blender.

For this tutorial, I exported the Sims 3 afbodyEP4DressPromBigBow mesh with TSR Workshop. You can use any clothing mesh you like though, and works on any meshes, not just Sims 3 ones.

This is our mesh. You can already tell that it has the dreaded seams on the neck and the rest of the body.

First, we need to make a copy of the mesh (in Object mode, select the mesh and hit Ctrl+D Shift+D to duplicate it, then hit Esc to stop it from moving around).

Rename the mesh (I added Seamless to the mesh name).

Make sure the original mesh is hidden (click the eye symbol) and select the Seamless mesh.

Press the Tab key to go into Edit Mode.

Now we select the parts that we want to have smooth seams. Let's select everything that is skin (you can select a litte piece of the mesh and then press Ctrl+L to select the entire piece)!

Now, press M and in the menu, choose By Distance. (in older versions, this is called Remove Doubles).

This will remove all double vertices at the seams on the selection we made.

It will show you how many vertices it removed. The skin looks nice and smooth!

Let's switch back to our original mesh: Make sure you deactivate the eye on the Seamless mesh and activate the eye again on the main mesh. Then, select the main mesh.

Now, let's add a data modifier to our main mesh. Click the blue wrench icon in the vertical list of the properties panel and then onto Add Modifier, then choose Data Transfer from the list.

As the source, we choose our Seamless mesh.

Also toggle on Face Corner Data and click the Custom Normals button.

Hold on, there is a message saying that we should enable Auto Smooth in Object Data Properties. Let's do that next! (if the message does not appear for you, maybe Auto Smooth is already on).

Click the green inverted triangle button and in the Normals section, toggle on Auto Smooth.

Now we can switch back to the modifier tab by clicking the blue wrench icon again.

But hang on, what happened to our mesh? There are now black spots over the dress and shadows on the legs!

This is due to the Data transfer modifier's Mapping setting. If we change it to Topology, our mesh goes back to normal again. Phew!

Now that the normals look good, we can start the transfer of our new smooth normals from the seamless mesh to our main mesh. To do that, we hit the Generate Data Layers button. This button works destructively, so you cannot undo what it did, just FYI.

Note: On newer versions of Blender, Generate Data Layers may not be enough to transfer the normals and you may need to apply the modifier instead.

You can toggle the modifier's visuals on and off with the little screen icon to see the results after you click Generate Data Layers to see if it stuck. If it did not (and you see the seams of your base mesh when toggling it off), try to apply it instead.

I switched from textured to solid shading because the differences are just more noticeable in this mode. This is how our mesh looks now with the modifier turned off.

Because we clicked the transfer button, the normals have been permanently applied to our mesh. The skin is smooth now, and so is the dress (even though we did not smooth that one, hmm...)

If we toggle the modifier back on, suddenly the dress has seams again! What's going on there? I'm not exactly sure why, but Auto Smooth seems to be doing some smoothing on the dress mesh as well.

I am not sure if this is normal behavior or not, but let's pretend that this did not happen and the modifier in fact did not smooth the dress.

Maybe we just forgot to smooth some areas on the Seamless mesh that we noticed only later on. That's no problem. We simply modify our Seamless mesh again!

So let's swap back to the seamless mesh and select it (remember to click the eye icons so only the Seamless mesh is visible).

Let's select the main dress parts and press M -> merge by distance on them. We cannot smooth the whole dress all at once, because then that would remove some seams that we want (like those for the backfaces and the middle section of the dress where the bow is attached).

If we remove the wrong seams, we ruin our normals and will have black splotches.

Now, let's select the backfaces and areas we left out before and repeat this process: M -> merge by distance.

Look at how perfect our Seamless mesh is looking now! Now, let's transfer those beautiful normals to our main mesh.

Select the main mesh and toggle the eye icons again, to hide our Seamless mesh and reveal our main mesh.

Once again, we will use the Generate Data Layers button in our Data Transfer modifier. If you have previously applied the modifier, just add the modifier again to the main mesh and use the settings shown here.

And that's it, you are done! You have a perfectly smoothed mesh that you can export now.

Final Note: it is best to transfer the normals at the very end of your meshing process because any action that recalculates the normals can reset our custom-made smooth normals again.

Of course, you can simply use the Generate Data Layers button again to re-add them, but it saves you time to only do this step at the end.

I almost forgot to say: You still have to use Mesh Toolkit to fix the seams on the edges of your mesh and do the usual shenanigans.

[centrally-unplanned]

How do they define which country a thing got made in for tariff purposes? Can you distribute to the US via a 10% country? If not, how much value-add has to be done before it is a new thing? And who audits that (considering that exporter govt's may wish to turn a blind eye to noncompliance)?

Oh this is why Trade Lawyers get paid the big bucks, the level of "It Depends" is very extreme here. Typically this the kind of stuff trade agreements define, very heavily, with a lot of text and addendums - for each good it is gonna have its own rules in practice. A normal approach is something like a value-added threshold, where you have to increase the cost-of-production by X% in a country for it to count as being made in that country.

Bypassing tarrifs via shipping it to a middleman country is a tactic as old as trade, and a constant source of political discourse. We have had a decade+ of people arguing a lot of production in Vietnam & Mexico is just China using middlemen, though I found the typical case there to be weak.

Everyone is involved in this - typically the tariff-imposer has the "fundamental" obligation to make that determination, but as part of that they compel companies to provide data on trade flows and product costs, and the other involved nations will have trade agreement obligations to facilitate the accurate collection of that data, police their borders for illicit imports, etc.

[reasonsforhope]

"The amount of electricity generated by the UK’s gas and coal power plants fell by 20% last year, with consumption of fossil fuels at its lowest level since 1957.

Not since Harold Macmillan was the UK prime minister and the Beatles’ John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time has the UK used less coal and gas.

The UK’s gas power plants last year generated 31% of the UK’s electricity, or 98 terawatt hours (TWh), according to a report by the industry journal Carbon Brief, while the UK’s last remaining coal plant produced enough electricity to meet just 1% of the UK’s power demand or 4TWh.

Fossil fuels were squeezed out of the electricity system by a surge in renewable energy generation combined with higher electricity imports from France and Norway and a long-term trend of falling demand.

Higher power imports last year were driven by an increase in nuclear power from France and hydropower from Norway in 2023. This marked a reversal from 2022 when a string of nuclear outages in France helped make the UK a net exporter of electricity for the first time.

Carbon Brief found that gas and coal power plants made up just over a third of the UK’s electricity supplies in 2023, while renewable energy provided the single largest source of power to the grid at a record 42%.

It was the third year this decade that renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, hydro and biomass power, outperformed fossil fuels [in the UK], according to the analysis. Renewables and Britain’s nuclear reactors, which generated 13% of electricity supplies last year, helped low-carbon electricity make up 55% of the UK’s electricity in 2023.

[Note: "Third year this decade" refers to the UK specifically, not global; there are several countries that already run on 100% renewable energy, and more above 90% renewable. Also, though, there have only been four years this decade so far! So three out of four is pretty good!]

Dan McGrail, the chief executive of RenewableUK, said the data shows “the central role that wind, solar and other clean power sources are consistently playing in Britain’s energy transition”.

“We’re working closely with the government to accelerate the pace at which we build new projects and new supply chains in the face of intense global competition, as everyone is trying to replicate our success,” McGrail said.

Electricity from fossil fuels was two-thirds lower in 2023 compared with its peak in 2008, according to Carbon Brief. It found that coal has dropped by 97% and gas by 43% in the last 15 years.

Coal power is expected to fall further in 2024 after the planned shutdown of Britain’s last remaining coal plant in September. The Ratcliffe on Soar coal plant, owned by the German utility Uniper, is scheduled to shut before next winter after generating power for over 55 years.

Renewable energy has increased sixfold since 2008 as the UK has constructed more wind and solar farms, and the large Drax coal plant has converted some of its generating units to burn biomass pellets.

Electricity demand has tumbled by 22% since its peak in 2005, according to the data, as part of a long-term trend driven by more energy efficient homes and appliances as well as a decline in the UK’s manufacturing sector.

Demand for electricity is expected to double as the UK aims to cut emissions to net zero by 2050 because the plan relies heavily on replacing fossil fuel transport and heating with electric alternatives.

In recent weeks [aka at the end of 2023], offshore wind developers have given the green light to another four large windfarms in UK waters, including the world’s largest offshore windfarm at Hornsea 3, which will be built off the North Yorkshire coast by Denmark’s Ørsted."

-via The Guardian, January 2, 2024

[gffa]

PLANET: ILUM Astronavigation Data: Ilum system, 7G sector, Unkonwn Regions Orbital Metrics: 1,078 days per year/66 hours per day Goverment: None Population: 5,200 (support crew 45%, temporary researchers 30%, military 20%, other 5%) Languages: None Terrain: Frozen lakes, mountains, ice steppes Major Cities: None Areas of Interest: Holenesh Canyon, Jedi Temple, excavation sites, various ruins Major Exports: Ilum crystals [Source: Star Wars - Force and Destiny - Nexus of Power - Force Worlds] BACKGROUND: Ilum is a small, obscure world located far out in the Unknown Regions. The fifth planet of the Ilum system, it orbits an exceedingly bright blue dwarf star called “Asar.” Surveys of the system by ancient Jedi scouts show a handful of uninhabited, inhospitable worlds that are either heavily ir­radiated, completely covered in ice, or both. The rest of the system is largely empty, with no asteroid belt and few navigation hazards. Due to its location in the Unknown Regions and its isolation from charted hyperspace lanes, nothing was known of the Ilum system until a wandering Jedi discovered it in the earliest days of the Republic.

Roughly equidistant from Asar and the system’s com­etary cloud, Ilum is the only world in the system that can support life. “Support” may be too strong a word for the relationship between Ilum and its flora and fauna, however. It is a large, terrestrial world orbited by two small moons and encircled by a wide set of rings made mostly of ice crystals. It is a land of broad continents, towering mountain ranges, and shallow seas locked in a perpetual ice age. Huge glaciers scour the planet’s face, slowly grind­ing the land flat. Where the glaciers have passed, deep snows or sheets of ice dozens of meters thick entomb the surface, making agriculture impossible. Ilum's few seas are shallow and broad, their waters choked with great floating ice mountains and thick sheets of drift ice. In addition to its frozen, snowbound landscape, Ilum has an atmosphere that is a near-constantly churning vortex of storms. High winds, sleet, thick snow, and freezing rain are to Ilum what gentle winds and soft rains are to Naboo.

Life, where it can survive, does so primarily along Ilum's equatorial region. Here, at least, the temperatures are only in the double digits below freezing, which has allowed a small number of native plants and animals to evolve. A few eke out an existence on the planet’s frozen surface, but most live either in the icy seas or deep beneath the ground in the uncounted thousands of kilometers of caverns and tunnels that worm through the planet’s crust. Savage gorgodons, cunning asharl panthers, and the terrifying razhak call Ilum home, along with hardy species of small rodents, birds, and worms. Alongside these are tough plants and fungi adapted to sub-zero temperatures, many of them completely undocumented.

LIFE ON ILUM: To date, no evidence has been found to suggest that sentient life ever evolved on Ilum. There are no ruins, nothing in the fossil record, and nothing recorded in the galaxy’s various ancient data­bases to suggest that Ilum was ever anything more than an obscure, uninhabited frozen rock. Indeed, the planet would have stayed that way until Asar burned itself out if the Jedi hadn’t come along and stumbled onto a discovery that would make it one of the most important places in the galaxy to that ancient order.

ILUM'S HISTORY: Ilum's recorded history begins tens of thousands of years ago with its discovery by a Jedi scout whose name is lost to history, performing Force-assisted hyperspace navigation. As the scout moved through the hyperspace lanes, she was drawn to the Unknown Regions by a particularly powerful resonance in the Force. Following the siren call of the Force resonance, the scout eventually discovered a lonely, hith­erto uncharted system in the far reaches of the Unknown Regions, centered around a bright, blue-white star. The Force was strong throughout the system, but there was something powerful, something special, on the fifth planet, and that's where the Jedi scout focused her attentions.

The first scout's initial reports, as well as those from sub sequent survey teams, reported a barren, windswept world of tall, jagged mountains and shallow, frozen seas locked away beneath dozens of meters of ice. No settlements or ancient ruins were discovered, and all evidence pointed to the world being devoid of sentient life. What the teams did find was a world that, despite its inhospitable environment, managed to support some plant and animal life. Packs of large felinoids stalked the planet's steppelands; huge, slow moving aquatic mammals thrived in the icy seas; powerful and aggressive humanoid reptiles haunted the many mountain chains; and plants and fungi clung to life in shel­tered spots away from the constant wind. These animals and plants didn't explain the planet's strong Force shadow, however. Its presence in the Force was enormous, a fact that the surveyors could not explain until one team was chased into a mountain cavern by dangerous creatures and discovered Ilum's real wealth.

Beneath Ilum's ice sheets and permafrost, the planet's crust is honeycombed by countless kilometers of interlock­ing cave systems. Within these caves, the escaping survey team discovered a motherlode of pontite, mephite, and other kyber crystals—the heart of a Jedi's lightsaber. The discovery of Ilum's mineral wealth quickly changed the char acter of Ilum's exploration from one of curiosity to one of grave importance to the Jedi Council. Upon receipt of the news that Ilum possessed an incredible wealth of kyber crys­tals, the Council immediately dispatched teams of scholars, artisans, and warriors to secure the world and to further study its natural wealth and importance to the Force. To pro tect the crystals, the Council made a decision to keep Ilum's existence a secret from the galaxy at large, and a number of steps were taken to ensure that it stayed that way. Hyperspace surveyors mapped out an uninterrupted, dedicated hyperspace lane from Metellos, a world in the Core region, straight to Ilum's orbit. The navigation of this route was so complex that a ship’s pilot needed to be at least sensitive to the Force, if not a fully trained Jedi Master, to even attempt it. In addition, all references to Ilum in official reports were quashed, and the world was even kept from local, sector­ wide, and galaxy star charts.

DARK LEGENDS: For thousands of years, the Jedi Order kept Ilum and its bounty secret and safe from harm. Generations of Jedi, from the greenest Padawans to the most ancient masters, traveled from all across the galaxy to search for crystals, study the planet and its connection to the Force, and enjoy the mental quiet of the uninhabited world. There is a nearly forgotten legend that speaks of a dark and violent time in the planet’s past, however. Ancient sources suggest that the Sith may have laid siege to the world, eventually taking possession of it for a time.

ENTWINED WITH THE JEDI: With Ilum secure, the exploration of the world and its con­nection to the Force was begun in earnest. Numerous settle ments were founded over the subsequent decades, typically near the sites of important scientific or Force-related dis­coveries. At places with a particularly powerful connection to the Force, the Jedi erected temples that served as train­ing centers or pilgrimage sites where members of the order could go to meditate and heal. In addition, thanks to the abundance of kyber crystals on the planet, the Jedi Council established a massive, baroque temple over the entrance to the largest and richest cavern complex the survey teams had discovered. Once it was completed, the council began sending Padawans to Ilum to harvest the crystal for their lightsaber and to undergo the important training rituals associated with lightsaber construction.

Countless Jedi over the millennia traveled there to build their first lightsaber or to find crystals to build new ones. Eventually, as other sources of kyber crystals were exhaust ed or became otherwise unavailable, Ilum became the Jedi’s sole source of these precious crystals. While the planet remained a place of great importance, the Jedi Council recalled those members who were living on Ilum and shuttered all their settlements and temples save for the main temple used for lightsaber construction. With the world’s inhabit­ants gone, its glaciers and ice sheets quickly consumed the Jedi settlements and research sites, burying them beneath dozens or hundreds of meters of ice. By the beginning of the Clone Wars, there were no permanent residents on Ilum, nor any real evidence that there ever had been, and the main temple stood empty, save for the occasional Jedi pilgrim there to find a new kyber crystal.

CRYSTAL CAVES: Home to perhaps the largest deposit of kyber crystals any­ where in the galaxy, Ilum’s crystal caves were said to be the Jedi’s most sacred place by none other than Jedi Master Yoda himself. Winding for countless kilometers through and beneath Ilum’s largest mountain range, the crystal caves were first explored in the ancient past. Within the labyrinth of corridors, shafts, tunnels, and chambers is a staggering wealth of the kyber crystals—mainly mephite and pontite— that make up the searing heart of every Jedi’s lightsaber. Within a few short years of the crystal caves’ discovery, the Jedi Order erected a temple over the entrance to protect the caverns from trespass and to provide shelter and train­ing facilities for visiting Jedi. The caves eventually became a pilgrimage destination for Jedi seeking crystals for new lightsabers and were incorporated into a Padawan coming-of-age ceremony called “the Gathering.”

The stone from which the crystal caves are carved is a smooth, black, basalt-like volcanic rock that absorbs light and is surprisingly easy to work with. The crystals themselves grow unimpeded from the walls and ceilings of the caverns and can occasionally be found littering the floors of corridors and chambers. In many places, the crystals can be removed from the surrounding stone by hand, and even the most stubborn, inaccessible crystal veins require only basic hand tools to excavate. It was this ease of excavation as much as the sheer quantity of crystal deposits that made the crystal caves so valuable to the Jedi.

Despite the millennia in which the Jedi lived and worked on Ilum and the planet’s importance to the order, surprisingly little of the crystal caves’ total area has been explored. Most of the known caverns lie within the boundaries of the temple’s training area, and those few charted areas outside of the temple’s footprint are a warren of dead-end caves, tunnels that turn in on themselves and either come to abrupt ends or plunge thousands of meters into dark cracks, and a confusion of chambers, side caves, and strange rock forma­tions. The sheer size of the cave complex is staggering, with some ancient survey records suggesting thousands or even tens of thousands of kilometers of tunnels and caves stretching deep into the bowels of the planet. In addition, the Force tends to have a distressingly disorienting effect on visitors to the caverns. So powerful is the presence of the Force in the crystal caves that it causes vivid hallucinations in even the most guarded mind. This has led many an explorer astray; countless Jedi have wandered into the uncharted portions of the crystal caves in pursuit of some phantom, never to be heard from again.

JEDI RUINS: The Jedi worked and lived on Ilum for almost as long as they existed as an order. While they never established cit­ies there—it was too remote, too hard to reach, and too sacred to the Jedi for that—they did build scattered small settlements, research stations, temples, observation posts, and other structures on and beneath the planet’s surface. These abandoned sites lie scattered all across Ilum in various states of ruin.

Some are still intact, seemingly awaiting the return of their inhabitants; others are little more than rubble. Most, however, have been buried deep beneath the shifting gla­ciers and massive, slow-moving ice sheets that cover most of Ilum’s surface. Nevertheless, a number of interesting sites can still be found here and there in sheltered mountain passes, at the bottoms of valleys, or within Ilum’s labyrinthine cave systems. One such ruin is the settlement at Holenesh Canyon.

HOLENESH CANYON: Located some five hundred kilometers from the main Jedi Temple at the mouth of the crystal caves, Holenesh Canyon is a deep, sheer-sided cleft in the planet’s surface over a ki­lometer deep that runs for roughly ten kilometers through one of Ilum's vast mountain ranges. The settlement, once home to around one hundred sentients, was built near the canyon’s end in the shadow of the mountain range’s highest peaks. It was established millennia ago to study a strange fluctuation in the Force that seemed to occur only once every few hundred years. Named for the Jedi who first record­ed the anomaly, this small, isolated outpost stood for cen­turies before being destroyed in an avalanche triggered by a massive groundquake coinciding with the reappearance of the Force anomaly. Many of the settlement’s inhabitants were killed as they slept, but some managed to escape with little more than the clothes on their backs or what they could grab in their flight. Further seismic disturbances, combined with freak storms, prevented the mounting of a proper rescue mission, and by the time the Jedi were able to return to the canyon, the settlement was completely covered in snow and countless tons of fallen stone.

In the millennia since the destruction of the settlement, parts of it have been exposed through erosion and seismic activity. While the buildings are barely recognizable as such, their contents were surprisingly well preserved. Thanks to the remoteness of the ruined settlement and the difficulty of reaching it, precious little has been removed from the site. Anyone possessing the skills and courage to excavate the site might unearth any number of ancient Jedi relics.

CREATURES AND CHALLENGES: Ilum's climate is exceptionally harsh. Its land and most of its surface water are locked away beneath glaciers and permanent sheets of ice. Temperatures, even in what are usually considered temperate or tropical zones on other worlds, can sink to dozens of degrees below freezing. These temperatures are typically accompanied by howling gales and blizzards full of driving snow and ice shards. Few creatures, and even fewer plants, live on Ilum. To survive in these brutal conditions, Ilum's creatures and plants are both extremely hardy and extremely dangerous.

ASHARL PANTHER [RIVAL]: Asharl panthers are one of the more common predators on Ilum. They are large, aggressive, territorial felines that make their homes in Ilum's high northern and southern latitudes. Adult asharl panthers average between two and three meters long and stand roughly one meter high at the shoulder. Their four powerful legs end in two-toed feet equipped with nonretractable claws. The creatures’ bodies are covered in dense, smooth fur in shades of white, gray, and blue that holds their body heat in to protect them from the cold and driving wind. They have broad, earless heads with pronounced brow ridges, and their faces are remark­ ably expressive, with short, blunt snouts and golden eyes. The most noticeable feature is a pair of long, tentacle-like sensory organs that grow from their shoulders. Asharl panthers live in small family groups and typically hunt in pairs or in groups of four.

BLISMAL [MINION]: Blismal are small, furry, inoffensive rodents who live in the tunnels and caverns deep beneath Ilum's surface. About the size of a grown human’s hand, blismal have four legs; sharp featured faces with small black eyes, round ears, and long snouts; and short, hairless tails. Their bodies are covered in thick, luxurious, silvery fur that keeps them warm and sheds water and dirt. They feed mostly on cave fungus and insects, and they are happy to be left alone in the dark to live out their lives.

Like the harmless snowfeathers, which live on the surface, blismal have few natural predators. This is largely due to their speed and cautious natures, although they do have a frighteningly effective defense mechanism. When frightened, blismal make a shrill, painful, and sustained shrieking noise to ward off attackers and call for assistance from other blis­mal. When three or more blismal join in, they create a howl loud enough to shatter crystals and cause cave-ins, an ability that Jedi experienced firsthand long ago. The Jedi attributed this ability to the blismal’s close connection to the Force, and were able to counter the effects of the shrieking by manipulating the Force around the creatures. In doing so, Jedi exploring Ilum's cavern system were able to capture blismal, which turned out to be relatively easy to domesticate.

GORGODON [RIVAL]: Gorgodons are, perhaps, the most famous creatures to live on frozen Ilum. They are massive, non-sentient, thick-skinned reptilian creatures with long, powerful arms, short legs, and an axe-shaped head. A thick, shaggy coat of dark gray fur covers them from their shoulders to their feet, leaving only their head, which is a sickly orange color, bare to the elements. Gorgodons are incredibly strong and can with­ stand almost any punishment. It is said that they can even shrug off blaster bolts. They are a dangerous combination of dumb, aggressive, and brutal, and are one of the few animals that attack for no good reason. When the Jedi first arrived on Ilum, the gorgodons were the creatures that gave them the most trouble. Throughout the Jedi Order, the name of this creature was used in threats and curses, such as “thick as a gorgodon” or “as angry as a gorgodon’s mother.”

RAZHAK [NEMESIS]: Among the most fearsome predators on Ilum, these massive creatures are as agile as they are deadly. Averaging around eight meters in length, razhak-are armored, segmented, wormlike creatures that propel themselves using rippling muscle ridges. Their bodies are broad and flat, covered with thick, chitinous plates in shades of white and blue. While they have no apparent eyes, their heads are topped with long, segmented antennae that serve as sensory organs. Their huge mouths feature multiple rows of serrated teeth.

Aggressive and solitary, razhak live in the endless tunnel systems beneath Ilum's surface. They are deceptively fast and, when they attack, they rear up like a serpent and at­ tempt to swallow prey whole. Anything they can’t eat in one bite they tear into pieces by grasping it in their mouth and shaking it violently. In addition to possessing great speed and a savage de­meanor, razhak also can generate intense heat strong enough to rapidly melt solid ice and cause serious burns to exposed flesh. This ability allows them to tunnel through ice as though it were soft sand. Razhak usually build their nests inside of ice walls or densely packed snow, typically leaving the nest only to eat or mate.

Thankfully, while they are terrifying to behold and extremely dangerous, razhak are also easily distracted and creatures of minimal intelligence. Keeping this in mind, a clever opponent can easily outflank them, lead them into traps, or make them lose interest in attacking altogether.

SNOWFEATHER [MINION]: Snowfeathers are small, clever, flightless birds native to Ilum. Their bodies are covered in a dense layer of oily, white feathers that protects them from Ilum's bone-chilling cold and vicious weather. Relatively harmless creatures, they live in nesting colonies built into ice shelves or cliff faces.

Despite their inoffensive nature and inability to fly, snowfeathers have few natural predators, for two reasons. First, their meat tastes terrible and is mildly poisonous, causing painful cramps, bloating, and loosening of the bowels in those unfortunate enough to eat them. Second, they have a connection to the Force that gives them the ability to project an illusion that makes them seem larger and more formidable than they really are. These characteristics have allowed them to survive and even thrive on an inhospitable planet full of savage creatures like gorgodons and asharl panthers.

[inspofromancientworld]

Caral-Supe Civilization

By Ontrvet - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18736804

The Caral-Supe, also known as the Caral or Norte Chico, are a group of people that lived along the north-central coast of modern-day Peru from 3500-1800 BCE, contemporary to the building of the Egyptian pyramids. They also lived along the Fortaleza, Pativilca, and the Supe rivers. They are considered to be the oldest-known civilization in the Americas, predating cultures like the Olmecs by nearly 2000 years.

By I, KyleThayer, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2441867

Though there was a complex culture, the Caral-Supe people did not leave any ceramics or evidence of other visual arts behind. They did grow cotton with irrigation, which was a very important crop for clothing and nets as their animal protein sources were marine, even among those who lived inland. This reliance on marine protein sources lead to the hypothesis called the "Maritime Foundations of Andean Civilizations' hypothesis (MFAC), in which the culture began on the coast and then moved inland to find and then cultivate cotton to support those on the coast.

By I, Xauxa, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2503267

In addition to maritime protein, the Caral-Supe people also ate squash, beans, guava, and sweet potato, adding avocado and achira in northern areas. More recent studies also show that maize was also grown. Prior to about 2013, it was thought that the Caral-Supe didn't have a staple food that they grew. According to Evidence for maize (Zea mays) in the Late Archaic (3000–1800 B.C.) in the Norte Chico region of Peru published in 2013, 'New data drawn from coprolites, pollen records, and stone tool residues, combined with 126 radiocarbon dates, demonstrate that maize was widely grown, intensively processed, and constituted a primary component of the diet throughout the period from 3000 to 1800 BC.'

By I, Xauxa, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=222037

Without an artistic or written record, it's difficult to know a lot about the Caral-Supe culture. They did leave behind a vast wealth of buildings, including large pyramids. They also built settlements close together, making it perhaps the most densely populated area area during the 3rd millennium BCE, with the possible exception of Northern China. Quipu have been found, though exactly how or why they were used is uncertain, as it is with later Andean civilizations.

Credit: Caral Archaeological Zone – Ministry of Culture of Peru

Efforts have been made to extrapolate what type of government the Caral-Supe people had, including the economy, ideology, and physical bases of power would have been. Evidence for a central government include some of the structures being built in one or two large pushes and large warehouses left behind. Other economic evidence include the trade relationships between the inland and maritime groups as well as those living else where as evidenced by 'Caral] exported its own products and those of Aspero to distant communities in exchange for exotic imports: Spondylus shells from the coast of Ecuador, rich dyes from the Andean highlands, hallucinogenic snuff from the Amazon.'

source: https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-americas/unique-artifacts-shed-light-daily-life-5000-year-old-city-caral-002019

The ideology is harder to pin down because they didn't decorate their buildings. A gourd was found with what appears to be the Staff God, a depiction of a human-like figure holding instruments of power, this one being 'a leering figure with a hood and fangs' and it is the oldest such depiction. As this type of depiction is common among other pre-Colombian Andean societies, it is thought that access to deities and the supernatural was a part of the purpose of government.

By I, Xauxa, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2488467

Physical evidence includes a lack of damage due to warfare, including a lack of bodies that were injured in warfare, nor are there walls around the settlements. The complexity of Caral-Supe culture without the evidence of warfare or need for defense driving kin groups into larger societies is unique among those ancient societies that have been studied. Most complex cultures came about as a way to defend against others.

Further Reading:

Pyramidal structure unearthed in Chupacigarro, Peru

[mesetacadre]

On Spain, Palestine, and socialdemocracy

I'm sorry to my spanish-speaking friends but this post is mostly meant for the various people who aren't that familiar with Spanish politics so they fully understand the context of Spain's recognition of Palestine, so it'll be written in English instead of Spanish.

Ever since the Spanish government decided to recognize Palestine, amongst other events, I've seen many friends celebrating. This is normal, of course, but the over-enthusiasm makes me think some of you are lacking context.

First, the arms trade. At least since 1995, Spain has sold arms, munitions, explosives, and vehicles to Israel, according to the government's own sources. The total value of arms and munitions exports since 1995 amounts to 36,616,066.21€ ($39,730,901) and 800,417.6kg (1,764,616.6 pounds). The total of "airships and spatial vehicles" amounts to 233,622,074.13€ ($253,495,704.46). Officials have repeatedly stated that, since Oct 7 2023, there have been no arms sales to Israel. However, in November of 2023, this website shows an arms export worth 987,000€ ($1,070,961.56) in the subcategory of "bombs, grenades, torpedoes, missiles". In December of 2023 there is another export with the same category as the last one worth 125,240€ ($135,893.85). The government has stated that the November export was made up of "medium caliber munitions without explosives" (which is weird that it was classified under bombs, grenades, torpedoes and missiles but whatever) and that it had already been agreed upon before Oct 7th. I'm sure that the Palestinians appreciate the munitions they are being killed with do not explode, and that the 552kg (1,216.95 pounds) of "gunpowder and explosives" exported in 2023 will also go very well with those non-explosive munitions. And, regardless, we all know that the Palestinian genocide did not start last October. This is also just the publicly available data, but I think we can trust them to be honest :)

For some context on the political situation. In July of 2023 we had general elections in which a coalition government was formed. The biggest party in this coalition is the PSOE, the president's (Pedro Sánchez) party, a socialdemocratic party that has governed on-and-off since the establishment of the current liberal democracy in 1978, this will be important later. The other member of this coalition is Sumar, a further-left socialdemocratic party that is itself a broader coalition of almost all parliamentarty "leftist" groups, such as IU (United Left) and the PCE (Spanish Communist Party, don't get too caught up on the name because their eurocommunist turn in the 60s has rendered then just another socdem party). The election was very closed and the coalition was almost not formed, and in the end PSOE had to reach an agreement with the pro-Catalan independence parties. All of this means that it has been a weak government without much cohesion, which in turns means every member of the coalition has been doing everything they can to reinforce their position. One example of this was Pedro Sánchez's letter contemplating resigning because of the verbal attacks he and his wife had been recueveing from the opposition. That letter forced every entity in the parliamentary and even some in the extra-parliamentary left to express support for Sánchez, and after announcing he would not be resigning, polling shows support for his government increased, though this is disputed by some and I'm suspicious of it myself.

Anyhow, this is important because the parties that make up the government are being very conscious about their support, more than usual. The decision to finally recognize Palestine (and I'm not even getting into the Palestinian National Authority, which is what they're actually recognizing) comes in this context of insecurity regarding their support, and comes after weeks of encampments and other protests in universities across the entire country. The continued arms exports, the delay in taking the decision and the context of the decision makes it quite obviously an opportunistic move to garner support. But is the recognition actually meaningful for Palestinians suffering a genocide? Barely. It might pave the way for Palestine's inclusion in the UN (the US will veto anyway) (and it's not like the UN can do more than stern condemnations). What does not change is the continuous arms exports since at least when export data was first published, and the commercial relations the government and Spanish monopolies have with Israel, all of which allow Israel to carry out genocide. And even if Spain had never sold even a grain of gunpowder to Israel, and even if no economic relations had ever been established, Spain is an important member of NATO and the EU.

A few days ago it was 43 years since Spain officially joined NATO in 1982 without a referendum, since polling showed only 18% supported joining NATO, and 52% outright opposed it. It was only 4 years later, in 1986, when PSOE carried out a referendum on remaining in NATO (note: the PSOE had gone from fully opposing NATO membership when they were in the opposition to defending it after winning the elections). The question was "Do you consider Spain remaining in the Atlantic Alliance under the terms agreed upon by the Nation's Government to be convenient". This question did not actually say "NATO" (OTAN in Spanish) and it did not make clear what people were actually voting on. 52.24% voted yes. One of the unwritten prerequisites for joining the EU in 1985 was to also be a member of NATO.

NATO is an imperialist alliance that has always defended the continuity of Israel, and its member states have always supplied it with the resources necessary to displace, opress, and kill the Palestinian people. The economic benefits of this fact permeates the economy of every NATO member state. The same goes for the EU, which is one of the most significant trade partners of Israel. And the increase of intensity in the genocide Israel commits is happening parallel to the EU's turn towards a military economy. For example, the European Stability Mechanism, founded in 2011, has given the EU member states 400,000,000,000€ ($434,059,923,120) to invest in the "defense" industry and the "green transition". The European Commissioner Thierry Breton said in early April of this year that "we need to change the paradigm and transition to the mode of war production", amongst other warmongering statements by European leaders. Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany have already expanded military service. This is all, of course, driven by the interimperialist war in Ukraine, but the investment in the war industry will undoubtedly continue to fuel Israel's occupation.

There is no group within the Spanish parliament (and very few outside the parliament) that even begins to question NATO and EU membership. The government can get away with this apparent pro-Palestine (more like two-state solution but that's beyond the point) posturing because regardless of Spain's own exports and positions, its membership in NATO and the EU will be the most relevant factor in its ties with Israel. Recognition of a nation as a "legitimate" country does not have a material effect on the Palestinians' situation, and the unquestioned participation in these imperialist alliances does. PSOE's slogan for next week's European elections is "More Europe". Do not let empty actions distract you from the real facts of Spain's unbroken complicitness in this genocide

[mariacallous]

If there's one word on your mind this week, it's probably tariffs. Last week, President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on foreign goods imported into the US, setting the stage for a global trade war and stoking fears of a recession. A blanket 10 percent tariff on all imports kicked off on Saturday, April 5, with additional reciprocal tariffs on 60 countries to take effect by April 9.

It's a wildly dynamic situation that's changing by the day, but you might wonder how this affects you. The first thing to know is that tariffs are paid by the company importing a product into the country. In short, that fee affects their bottom line, so companies often pass those costs on to consumers by increasing the price of the goods.

Here's an example from Jason Miller, a professor of supply chain management at Michigan State University: Let’s say a laptop costs $400 at import in the US. A retailer would then add an average gross margin rate of 30 percent—how much revenue the retailer retains after deducting the cost to produce or acquire the item—and that laptop will now cost $571. That's the price you'll pay at a big box store.

China exports a lot of laptops to the US, and as of April 9, you'll have to factor in the 104 percent tariff, according to the latest figures. Based on historical data that suggests 95 percent of the tariff is absorbed by the importer, the import price jumps by $395 to $795, and if the retailer passes those costs to you, the new total you'll pay at the store is $966. That represents 69 percent inflation, and the retailer's gross margin rate is lowered to 18 percent. Basically, you pay more, and the retailer earns less.

Every country has been affected by Trump's tariff salvo. While many product categories will likely see prices rise, electronics is a big one. "There’s not any major electronics-producing nation that’s not substantially affected by tariffs," Miller says, including Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan, and India. He believes tariffs will be negotiated for many countries, but expects the tariffs on China to stay.

That will heavily impact the prices of goods like smartphones, laptops, and video game consoles. Smartphones are the largest import from China, with laptops sitting in second. Miller says it's important for consumers to understand that while there were tariffs on some goods from China before, there were zero tariffs on electronics like smartphones and laptops as of January 2025.

His advice? If you were planning on upgrading your laptop, tablet, or smartphone soon—maybe the battery is lackluster or it's just too old—do it now. “Buy it now. Do not wait, it makes no sense to do that,” he says. You likely won't see prices rise for a few months as companies have stocked up on goods ahead of the impending trade war, but if nothing changes in the coming weeks, Miller expects to see prices soar starting in June or July.

Miller rattled off various categories outside of electronics that would also be affected, specifically from China, which is the second largest source of imports to the US behind Mexico:

Furniture

Shoes and apparel

Microwave ovens

Silverware, plates

Blinds, linens, and curtains

Toys

Solar panels

Building materials, like vinyl flooring

Cashews

Candles

Fans

Air conditioner parts

Golf clubs

Exercise equipment

Keyboards

Auto parts

Christmas ornaments and Home Decor

Toilets

Food blenders

Seafood

Outside of higher prices, Miller says consumers should expect less product variety. “What importers are going to do is they're only going to import their most profitable, best-selling items for which they know they can still make a profit under these tariff regimes.” Apple will still import its iPhones, but a smaller smartphone maker that doesn't sell many units of a specific model may skip the US market entirely. It will also negatively impact any product where there's already a lot of consumer sensitivity to price increases.

How Are Companies Reacting?

A few companies have already made tariff-related announcements on their products. Nintendo canceled the original April 9 preorder date for the Switch 2 video game console and has yet to provide a new date, though its June 5 launch window hasn't changed.

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive is pausing auto shipments to the US this month. And Framework, known for making repairable laptops, is also pausing sales on a few models of its base Framework Laptop 13. Razer seems to have paused direct sales of its laptops in the US, though the company hasn't responded to our request for comment. Fujifilm announced a new Instax 41 camera today, but says it “has not yet determined the camera's pricing for the US market.”

WIRED reached out to more than 70 companies, from electronics manufacturers to coffee companies, asking if they could share any details about potential price increases on imported products. The vast majority, like Garmin, Oura, Amazon, Logitech, OnePlus, and Steelcase, declined to comment, while others said it was too early to discuss pricing. Still, some companies responded.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Popular home office furniture brand, Branch, says it has been preparing for trade policy changes for some time, finding efficiencies in its supply chain to absorb the impact of tariffs with minimal increases to pricing. The company says there's a lot of uncertainty: “Candidly, we may need to adjust some prices in the coming months, particularly for products sourced from countries where tariff rates came in significantly higher than we anticipated.” Branch says if there is a price change, it will be to protect margins rather than to expand them. It's worth noting that Branch's Ergonomic Chair, long recommended in WIRED's Best Office Chairs guide, used to be $339 but is now $359, though Branch says the price was adjusted before tariffs were announced.

Drip coffee maker Moccamaster says it may absorb “some short-term pressures at the US level," though it's too early to confirm whether prices will increase. Portland-based coffee machine maker Ratio says it's holding prices steady through April, but “tariffs this high will unequivocally compel higher retail prices—potentially much higher. We are a small business that was already struggling with increasing costs.”

Moment, which makes camera bags and photo equipment, says it will increase prices on “most items” by $5 to $10 next week, though the company says some prices will stay the same and some will go down. “Unfortunately, these tariffs make it impossible for us to continue without cheapening the quality, laying off the team, or forcing our mom-and-pop suppliers out of business,” the company says in a newsletter it sent out to subscribers.

Supernote, a company that makes digital notebooks, pointed to a statement it made on Reddit. It's implementing a price increase in the US by the end of April: “We are actively adjusting our supply chain to mitigate the long-term impact of these tariffs," the company says on Reddit. ”These adjustments take time, especially with the new tariffs hitting everything from people to penguins, which makes the situation more complicated. It's going to be a tough time."

The company behind smart bird feeders from brands like Harymor and Sehmua, says it's exploring strategies to absorb costs internally, with no price adjustments—"We are facing rising expenses that directly affect our profit margins. … We recognize the competitive nature of the market and the price sensitivity of our customers."

Meanwhile, Samsung hasn't responded to our request for comment yet, but the company told Reuters the tariffs don't affect its TVs as much since most are produced in Mexico.

We'll keep adding information from brands as we receive it. While it's too early to make a definitive statement on an ever-evolving situation, we can probably expect higher prices on almost everything if the tariff situation remains unchanged. The last thing we want is for everyone to panic buy, but if you need a new phone, a mechanical keyboard, or an air purifier, you should probably start looking now.

[frightmaresandscreamscapes]

Tariffs

i asked elon musks ai to explain this to me, so i would be getting my information from what everyone is calling an unbiased source. so this is per GROK collection of data on the subject have fun......

Canada is a significant supplier of energy to the United States. According to various sources:

Crude Oil: Canada supplies about 60% of the U.S.'s crude oil imports.

Natural Gas: Canada is the source of nearly all (98% or 99%) of the U.S.'s natural gas imports.

Electricity: Canada exports a considerable amount of electricity to the U.S., with figures indicating around 33 terawatt-hours in 2023, which constitutes about 90% of the U.S.'s annual electricity imports.

Uranium: Canada also supplies 25% of the U.S.'s uranium imports.

This overview shows that the U.S. heavily relies on Canada for various forms of energy, making Canada one of the largest energy suppliers to the U.S.

So the government just taxes it's constituents by way of tariffs

Yes, in essence, tariffs can be seen as a way for the government to tax its constituents, but the mechanism and impact are more nuanced:

Direct Payment: Importers pay the tariff directly to the government when goods enter the country. These importers might be domestic companies or individuals.

Indirect Impact: The burden often gets passed on indirectly. Here's how:

Consumers: If importers increase the price of goods to cover the cost of tariffs, consumers end up paying more for these products. This is effectively a tax on consumption.

Businesses: Companies might absorb part of the tariff cost to remain competitive, impacting their profit margins or leading them to find cost-saving measures elsewhere, which could indirectly affect employees or other business decisions.

Revenue Collection: The government collects this revenue, which can be used for public expenditure, reducing other taxes, or paying down national debt. However, the primary goal of tariffs might also include protecting domestic industries, which can lead to higher prices for goods in general, not just imports.

Market Dynamics: Tariffs can alter market dynamics, sometimes leading to higher prices for both imported and domestic goods if domestic producers raise their prices due to less competition.

Economic Theory: Economists often discuss tariffs in terms of "tax incidence," which looks at who ultimately bears the economic burden. The incidence can split between consumers and producers based on how sensitive demand and supply are to price changes (elasticity).

So, while tariffs are a form of taxation that directly affects importers, the economic burden or "tax" can be shared among consumers, domestic producers, and importers in various proportions, depending on many factors including the specifics of the tariff, the type of goods, and market conditions.

Why does Donald trump think tariffs will pay America via foreign countries if it's the importer is the one that pays it

Donald Trump's rhetoric on tariffs, particularly during his campaigns and presidency, often emphasized the notion that tariffs are paid by foreign countries, which would, in turn, benefit the U.S. economy. Several reasons might explain this perspective:

Misunderstanding or Simplification for Political Messaging:

Trump might have simplified or misrepresented how tariffs work to fit into a political narrative. By saying that foreign countries pay tariffs, he could appeal to those who view trade as a zero-sum game where the U.S. should "win" against other countries. This simplification might be intended to resonate with voters by portraying him as tough on trade with nations perceived as economic adversaries, particularly China.

Negotiation Strategy:

Trump often used tariffs as leverage in trade negotiations. His claim that foreign countries pay might have been part of a strategy to pressure those countries into making concessions, assuming that they would see the tariffs as a direct cost they must bear to maintain access to the U.S. market.

Revenue Focus:

He emphasized the revenue aspect of tariffs, stating that they would fill the U.S. Treasury with money from foreign countries. This view overlooks the fact that while tariffs do generate revenue for the government, the economic cost is borne domestically by importers and consumers. Trump might have focused on the revenue collection aspect to highlight his plan to reduce the national deficit or fund his tax cuts without directly increasing domestic taxes.

Economic Nationalism:

Trump's economic policy was often framed under the banner of "America First," where tariffs were seen as a tool to protect and revive American industries. By suggesting that other countries pay, he could frame tariffs as a means to correct trade imbalances, even if economically, it's the domestic importers and consumers who bear the cost.

Public Perception and Media:

Trump's communication style frequently involved bold claims and straightforward messages over nuanced explanations. This approach might cater to public perception or media narratives where complex economic concepts are reduced to soundbites.

However, from an economic standpoint, as numerous analyses and expert opinions have pointed out, tariffs are typically paid by domestic importers, who then might pass on these costs to consumers or absorb them, affecting the price of goods or profit margins:

Economists' View: Studies and statements from economists, including those from institutions like the Peterson Institute for International Economics, have consistently shown that while tariffs generate revenue for the U.S. government, the economic burden largely falls on American businesses and consumers through higher prices or reduced profits.

Public Discourse on X: Posts on X have highlighted the misunderstanding, with users clarifying that tariffs are not paid by the exporting country but by U.S. importers, indirectly affecting U.S. consumers.

These sources emphasize that while the government collects the tariff revenue, it's the domestic market that feels the economic impact.

[applythaivisa]

Thailand Board of Investment

The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) is a pivotal government agency tasked with promoting investment in Thailand, both from domestic and foreign sources. Established in 1966, the BOI plays a crucial role in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and enhancing Thailand's competitiveness in the global market. By offering a range of incentives, streamlined services, and strategic support, the BOI attracts high-value investments across various sectors. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the BOI, covering its legal framework, incentive schemes, application process, and strategic considerations for investors.

Legal Framework and Mission of the BOI

The BOI operates under the Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520 (1977), which grants it the authority to provide incentives and support to qualified investments. The BOI's mission is to:

Promote Investment: Attract domestic and foreign investment in targeted industries and regions.

Enhance Competitiveness: Strengthen Thailand's position as a regional hub for trade and investment.

Foster Innovation: Support research and development (R&D), technology transfer, and sustainable practices.

Facilitate Business: Streamline regulatory processes and provide comprehensive support services to investors.

The BOI is governed by a board chaired by the Prime Minister, with members from key ministries and private sector representatives, ensuring a balanced approach to investment promotion.

Key Incentives Offered by the BOI

The BOI offers a range of incentives to attract and support investments in targeted industries. These incentives are designed to reduce costs, enhance competitiveness, and facilitate business operations. Key incentives include:

1. Tax Incentives

Corporate Income Tax (CIT) Exemptions: Projects may receive CIT exemptions for up to 8 years, with possible extensions for projects in advanced technology or R&D.

Import Duty Exemptions: Exemptions on import duties for machinery, raw materials, and components used in production.

Dividend Tax Exemptions: Dividends paid from exempted profits are also exempt from taxation.

2. Non-Tax Incentives

Land Ownership: Foreign investors may own land for promoted projects, subject to BOI approval.

Work Permits and Visas: Simplified procedures for obtaining work permits and visas for foreign executives, experts, and technicians.

Repatriation of Funds: Permission to repatriate investment capital, profits, and dividends.

3. Sector-Specific Incentives

Targeted Industries: Enhanced incentives for industries such as biotechnology, digital technology, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing.

Special Economic Zones (SEZs): Additional incentives for investments in SEZs, including infrastructure support and reduced regulatory requirements.

4. Additional Benefits

Investment Promotion Zones: Incentives for investments in designated zones, such as the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).

Green Initiatives: Additional benefits for projects that promote environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.

Targeted Industries and Strategic Sectors

The BOI focuses on promoting investments in industries that align with Thailand's economic development goals. Key targeted industries include:

Advanced Technology and Innovation:

Biotechnology, nanotechnology, and advanced materials.

Digital technology, including software development, data centers, and cybersecurity.

Sustainable Industries:

Renewable energy, such as solar, wind, and biomass.

Environmental management and waste-to-energy projects.

High-Value Manufacturing:

Automotive and aerospace industries.

Electronics and electrical appliances.

Services and Infrastructure:

Tourism and hospitality, including medical tourism.

Logistics and transportation, particularly in the EEC.

Agriculture and Food Processing:

High-tech agriculture and food innovation.

Halal food production and export.

Application Process for BOI Promotion

The process of applying for BOI promotion involves several steps, each requiring careful preparation and adherence to regulatory requirements. Below is a detailed breakdown:

1. Determine Eligibility

Identify the appropriate BOI category and incentives based on your business activities and investment plans.

Ensure that your project aligns with the BOI's targeted industries and strategic goals.

2. Prepare Required Documents

Business Plan: Detailed plan outlining the project's objectives, scope, and financial projections.

Financial Statements: Audited financial statements for existing companies or pro forma financials for new ventures.

Technical Specifications: Details of machinery, technology, and production processes.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): For projects with potential environmental impacts.

3. Submit the Application

Submit the application through the BOI's online portal or at a BOI office.

Pay the application fee, which varies depending on the project size and complexity.

4. Review and Approval

The BOI reviews the application, including the project's feasibility, economic impact, and compliance with regulations.

Additional information or clarifications may be requested during the review process.

5. Receive BOI Promotion Certificate

If approved, the BOI issues a Promotion Certificate, detailing the incentives and conditions.

The certificate must be registered with the relevant government agencies to activate the incentives.

6. Compliance and Reporting

BOI-promoted projects are subject to periodic reporting and compliance checks.

Ensure that all conditions and requirements are met to maintain the incentives.

Strategic Considerations for Investors

To maximize the benefits of BOI promotion, investors should consider the following strategies:

Sector Alignment:

Align your investment with the BOI's targeted industries and strategic goals.

Research the specific incentives and requirements for your sector.

Comprehensive Planning:

Develop a detailed business plan that outlines the project's objectives, scope, and financial projections.

Consider the long-term impact of the investment and potential for expansion.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance:

Ensure compliance with Thai laws and regulations, including environmental and labor standards.

Seek legal advice to navigate the complexities of BOI promotion and regulatory requirements.

Partnerships and Collaboration:

Form strategic partnerships with local businesses, research institutions, and government agencies.

Leverage local expertise and networks to enhance the project's success.

Sustainability and Innovation:

Incorporate sustainable practices and innovative technologies into the project.

Explore opportunities for R&D and technology transfer to enhance competitiveness.

Recent Developments and Trends

Thailand's investment landscape is evolving, with several trends and developments shaping the BOI's strategies:

Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC):

The EEC is a flagship initiative to develop the eastern region into a hub for advanced industries and innovation.

The BOI offers enhanced incentives for investments in the EEC, including infrastructure support and streamlined regulations.

Digital Transformation:

The BOI is promoting investments in digital technology, including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and fintech.

Digital infrastructure projects, such as data centers and smart cities, are prioritized.

Sustainability and Green Initiatives:

There is growing emphasis on sustainable investments, including renewable energy, waste management, and green manufacturing.

The BOI offers additional incentives for projects that promote environmental sustainability.

Post-Pandemic Recovery:

The BOI is implementing measures to support economic recovery, including incentives for healthcare, biotechnology, and supply chain resilience.

Efforts to attract foreign investment and boost domestic industries are intensified.

Conclusion

The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) is a vital institution for promoting investment and driving economic growth in Thailand. By offering a range of incentives, streamlined services, and strategic support, the BOI attracts high-value investments across various sectors. Understanding the BOI's legal framework, incentive schemes, and application process is essential for investors seeking to capitalize on the opportunities in Thailand. As the country continues to evolve its investment landscape, staying informed and proactive will remain key to achieving long-term success. Whether you are a domestic entrepreneur or a foreign investor, the BOI provides a robust platform for realizing your investment goals and contributing to Thailand's economic development.

[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

China has not imported any liquefied natural gas from the United States since early February, data from Kpler cited by Nikkei has shown. The last LNG cargo that left the Gulf bound for China set off on February 6, the data showed.

The Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods, including energy products, and the broader trade war between the world’s two biggest economies could have long-term consequences on the ability of new U.S. LNG export projects to attract anchor offtake commitments, analysts have warned.

The United States was never a major supplier of LNG to Chinese buyers, but after Beijing slapped retaliatory tariffs on U.S. energy imports, the flow ended completely. Following the tariff exchange, Chinese LNG buyers with long-term supply contracts with U.S. producers started reselling the cargos to Europe, Bloomberg reported in March, citing sources from the trading world. What’s more, Chinese traders have grown cold towards new long-term commitments for future supply from the United States, instead seeking long-term deals with gas producers in the Middle East and the Asia Pacific(..)

[thoughtlessarse]

The Netherlands' growing reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States has led to a sharp increase in the climate impact of its natural gas consumption, according to new data from Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN). Although the U.S. now supplies 27 percent of the gas used in the Netherlands, it is responsible for 66 percent of the total greenhouse gases emitted during gas extraction and transport,Trouw reports. In recent years, the Netherlands has increased its import of LNG after the discontinuation of Russian pipeline gas and the depletion of the Groningen gas field. The majority of this LNG now comes from the U.S., a country that has become a significant exporter of fossil fuels. However, experts caution that the climate consequences of importing U.S. gas are much higher than those of domestic or other foreign sources. "The import of gas has serious consequences that are not being fully acknowledged," said Dion Huidekooper, spokesperson for EBN. "This issue is often overlooked in public and political debates." While burning natural gas for energy emits CO2, the environmental impact is greater earlier in the supply chain. The extraction of shale gas in the U.S. is particularly problematic, as it releases large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Additionally, the liquefaction and transport of the gas requires significant energy, contributing further to CO2 emissions. Jilles van den Beukel, an expert at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS), emphasized that the Dutch government does not fully consider the climate impact of imported gas. "Consumers may make more informed choices when buying products like organic or Fairtrade, but the government does not apply the same scrutiny to its gas imports," he said. Because the emissions from gas extraction in the U.S. do not count toward the Netherlands' national emissions targets, the country can meet its climate goals while ignoring the larger environmental cost of the gas supply chain. "It matters whether the gas comes from Groningen, Qatar, or the U.S.," said van den Beukel.

continue reading

Overlooked? I've mentioned the downsides to importing LNG when the EU pivoted from Russian piped gas to importing LNG from the US, and how Americans, at least those that live within the areas being fracked, will pay for it with declining health and tap water that can be set alight.

[kawaoneechan]

I am given two options in the Switch Toolbox program for model exports: some native format or Collada DAE.

I pick the one I have any hope to use, DAE, and import it into Blender.

I find the animation data and am given options: native, Maya, SE, Source, or CHR0 whatever that is.

Well, I can find two plugins. The Maya .anim import/exporter is actually only an exporter, but the Source option can in fact do both.

bonk.

Yeah this is worthless.

Kinda makes me wonder how they did that one mod with the dance...

[scotianostra]

William Playfair the Scottish engineer and political economist was born on September 22nd 1759.

I read one article about Playfair that describes him as "a kind of Forrest Gump of the Enlightenment" perhaps a bit harsh, I would say he was a bit of a polymath, another source in my opinion is more accurate, Playfair is without doubt to many of you out there "the most famous man you have never heard of" he rubbed shoulders with the era’s many giants, switching careers at the drop of a hat, and throwing himself headlong into history-changing events, from the storming of the Bastille to the settling of the American West.

William had a lot to live up to, his brothers were architect James Playfair and mathematician John Playfair, his father passed away when he was 13 and it was left to John to lead the family and his education.

After serving his apprenticeship with Andrew Meikle, the inventor of the threshing machine, William Playfair became draftsman and personal assistant to James Watt at the Boulton and Watt steam engine factory in Soho, Birmingham then seems to have just wander from one trade to another, the way Gump wandered through life, so you can see where the analogy comes from.

William, was, during his adult life, (takes a deep breath) a millwright, engineer, draftsman, accountant, inventor, silversmith, merchant, investment broker, economist, statistician, pamphleteer, translator, publicist, land speculator, convict, banker, ardent royalist, editor, blackmailer and journalist.

Okay they are not all jobs, but they do put you in the picture a wee bit on the character of the man I think.

Most interestingly in my opinion was his time as a spy in France during the Revolution and was on the scene during the storming of the Bastille. He even helps trigger the first major political scandal in the newly formed United States, a land speculation gone bad involving Washington, Hamilton, and Jefferson.

To go into all of this man's adventurers would take too long, instead I will just tell you that the one thing he did, that has been a part of all your lives, in one way or another, is he invented the graph. Before William invented the graph you had to read through pages of statistics to find things out, the graph, you "get it" in a glance.

In 1786, he published "The Commercial and Political Atlas" , a compendium of bar and line charts representing different European countries’ imports, exports, wages, and other trends for which he had the data handy. As the man himself explained, “Men of high rank, or active business, can only pay attention to outlines… It is hoped that, with the Assistance of these Charts, such information will be got without the fatigue and trouble of studying the particulars.” he went on “No study is less alluring or more dry and tedious than statistics, unless the mind and imagination are set to work,” in the book’s introduction.

His old boss Watt, was sent a copy of the Commercial Atlas for review, and wasn't impressed, called the book “mere plummery” and its author “a Rascal.”

To finish I must say that he was a rather humble man and actually gave credit for the invention to his brother writing, "John taught me to know that whatever can be expressed in numbers, may be represented by lines,” Playfair wrote much later, in the introduction to one of his books of diagrams. “To the best and most affectionate of brothers, I owe the invention of these Charts.”

He was never a success in his lifetime and was seen as a ditherer by Watt.

William Playfair died in 1823, in poverty and relative obscurity, banned from any good society. Slowly, over the next century or so, the supply of readily available data grew—as did the the public’s appetite for it. Bar, line and pie charts began trickling into newspapers and textbooks. Two hundred years later, as we barrel forward into the Information Age, you can’t click a link without stumbling upon some kind of data visualisation.

The next time you come across a graph, remember, like many other notable inventions in our history, take pride in that it was the work of a Scot that gave us these easy to read information "pictures".

You can find more on William Playfair here https://www.atlasobscura.com/.../the-scottish-scoundrel...

[chemanalystdata]

Ethyl Acetate Prices: Market Analysis, Trend, News, Graph and Demand

Ethyl Acetate is a widely used solvent across various industries such as paints and coatings, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages. Its popularity stems from its low toxicity, pleasant odor, and effective solvency properties. In recent years, the ethyl acetate market has seen dynamic shifts in pricing influenced by multiple factors including raw material costs, supply-demand imbalances, geopolitical developments, and evolving industrial applications. As of 2025, the market for ethyl acetate continues to experience price fluctuations that are closely tied to the global economic environment and the condition of key end-user industries.

One of the primary drivers of ethyl acetate prices is the cost of raw materials, particularly ethanol and acetic acid. These feedstocks are subject to market volatility influenced by crude oil prices, agricultural outputs, and regional production capacities. For instance, any disruption in ethanol supply, such as those caused by adverse weather conditions impacting corn or sugarcane yields, can cause upstream pressure on ethyl acetate prices. Similarly, acetic acid markets are susceptible to supply chain issues and industrial slowdowns, especially in major producing countries like China. As these feedstocks become more expensive or harder to procure, the cost of manufacturing ethyl acetate increases, driving up market prices.

In addition to raw materials, the supply-demand dynamics significantly affect ethyl acetate pricing. Asia-Pacific, particularly China and India, represents the largest market both in terms of production and consumption. Any policy changes in these countries—such as environmental regulations, industrial output restrictions, or trade barriers—can shift the global balance. During periods of strong industrial activity, the demand for ethyl acetate in paints, coatings, and adhesives surges, leading to price hikes. Conversely, during economic downturns or reduced construction activity, demand weakens, often resulting in downward price corrections. These cyclical trends are critical to understanding ethyl acetate price trajectories over the short and long term.

Get Real time Prices for Ethyl Acetate: https://www.chemanalyst.com/Pricing-data/ethyl-acetate-75

Global trade patterns also influence ethyl acetate prices. Tariff structures, logistical disruptions, and freight costs can alter the competitiveness of ethyl acetate exports and imports. For example, if shipping lanes face congestion or if fuel prices rise, transportation costs for ethyl acetate shipments increase, which ultimately reflects in end-user pricing. Additionally, countries with surplus production may choose to offload excess inventory at competitive prices, putting downward pressure on international markets. On the other hand, regions heavily reliant on imports may experience elevated prices during times of restricted global supply.

Environmental and regulatory frameworks are increasingly playing a role in determining ethyl acetate prices. In many developed economies, strict environmental norms are being enforced to control volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. While ethyl acetate is considered a relatively eco-friendly solvent, the regulations governing its production and application still impose additional compliance costs on manufacturers. This, in turn, can influence pricing, particularly if newer technologies or greener alternatives are adopted. Furthermore, sustainability trends are pushing companies to source chemicals responsibly, which may involve higher procurement expenses that affect overall market rates.

Seasonal trends and consumer behavior also contribute to ethyl acetate price fluctuations. During the warmer months, when painting and construction projects are at their peak, demand for solvents like ethyl acetate increases. This seasonal spike can lead to temporary price surges. Similarly, changes in consumer preferences, such as increased demand for low-VOC or bio-based solvents, can impact traditional ethyl acetate consumption patterns and pricing structures. Manufacturers must adapt to these evolving trends to remain competitive, often adjusting pricing strategies to maintain margins and market share.

Technological advancements and capacity expansions have a mixed impact on ethyl acetate pricing. On one hand, improvements in production efficiency and plant automation can help reduce manufacturing costs, allowing producers to offer competitive pricing. On the other hand, new entrants in the market or expanded capacity in low-cost regions can lead to oversupply, causing prices to drop. Strategic investments in research and development are also shaping the future pricing scenario, as companies explore innovative synthesis methods or alternative feedstocks that could make ethyl acetate more cost-effective and sustainable.

Looking ahead, the forecast for ethyl acetate prices remains cautiously optimistic. While short-term volatility may persist due to uncertainties in global economic growth, energy prices, and geopolitical tensions, the long-term outlook is supported by the solvent’s indispensable role in key industries. Growth in emerging markets, particularly in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, is expected to bolster demand. Additionally, the trend toward greener solvents and sustainable industrial practices is likely to support a stable pricing environment for ethyl acetate, especially if producers can successfully navigate regulatory landscapes and adopt efficient production technologies.

In conclusion, ethyl acetate prices are influenced by a complex interplay of factors including feedstock costs, supply-demand dynamics, regulatory changes, and global trade flows. Understanding these variables is essential for stakeholders seeking to navigate the market effectively. As the world moves toward more sustainable and efficient chemical usage, the ethyl acetate market is poised for gradual yet steady evolution, with pricing trends reflecting both challenges and opportunities inherent in this transition. Continuous monitoring of market signals and strategic agility will be key for businesses aiming to capitalize on this essential solvent's role in modern industry.

Get Real time Prices for Ethyl Acetate: https://www.chemanalyst.com/Pricing-data/ethyl-acetate-75

Contact Us:

ChemAnalyst

GmbH - S-01, 2.floor, Subbelrather Straße,

15a Cologne, 50823, Germany

Call: +49-221-6505-8833

Email: sales@chemanalyst.com

Website: https://www.chemanalyst.com