#chrome plating cost

[denial-permanente]

You often mentioned that to start off Etsy/ Amazon etc offer cheap Chinese copies of devices which are good to get an idea of what fits.

My thought has always gone to the health risk that there is in buying anything that comes from China and is cheap. Do you have any advice on how to avoid stuff made of harmful plastics/covered in toxic chemicals?

🔏 Okay, buckle in, we're going for a ride.

Very few people in our consumer society know how anything is made. I'm not joking. Even the simplest items most of us buy are mass produced. When I was growing up, most kids had been to "the factory in town" on a class trip to see things produced. I have seen dozens of different kinds of things being made, from baked goods, to bottled soft drinks, to wine, and of course, to manufactured goods (consumer and industrial products). Now, nobody sees these anymore, and no body gets to have any underlying k edge of how things are made, or how good, ie, quality products differ from crappy consumer items. Hell, most schools no longer have regular shop class anymore (I'm told it's a liability 🙄).

All that is a lead up to this: most consumer driven products (like plastic chastity cages) coming from China are cheap because a) they did not have to so k any mo ey I to development costs, and b) the products are cheap enough so that most people don't care if it breaks, and c) most people can't tell the difference between an okay product and a high end one. A $10 crappy product might have sharp edges and burrs, while an okay $30 product won't. But few people will notice or care about the difference between the $30 cage and the $130 or even the $300 cage.

Now, that said, I am wearing a Chinese made A272 cage that I bought about seven or eight years ago, and have been wearing steadily (and now permanently) since. Did I get lucky? Maybe. I've bought other Chinese stainless steel cages just to test them out, and most were junk. And even this particular cage came with a crappy knockoff Burg Wachter ME/2 barrel lock. I ended up buying a few more, better quality locks as backups.

Okay, I got that off my chest. 😅

Here's the problem with buying those cheap Chinese cages: you can't tell what you're getting. The Cobra knockoffs have been reported to have color dye that irritates some people. The locks will probably need to be replaced with decent ones. The molds will probably leave the cages with sharp edges that could irritate sensitive skin. And don't even get me started on the quality of the plastic. Many years ago I bought a cage that was advertised as stainless steel. The cage was, but the rings were cheap metal with chrome plating. That would have been a major reaction for a lot of other guys.

So while I do suggest that some people experiment with the cheap cages in order to get a feel for what works, I also follow that up with suggesting that when they figure out what works, to use that information to help pick out a quality cage. A few months in and out of a crappy cage will probably not poison you; the harmful chemicals in those plastics are fairly well bound up.

And until Consumer Reports starts reviewing them, then about the best you can hope for is reading the various discussion groups to glean whatever information you can.

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1969-71 Continental Mark III

Iacocca’s Lincoln: The Inside Story of the 1969-71 Continental Mark III

Lee Iacocca is remembered as the father of the Ford Mustang and the Chrysler Minivan, but there was another Iacocca vehicle that changed the Motor City: the Lincoln Continental Mark III. 

In auto industry lore, the design studio guys hate it when the people from upper management start fooling around with their work. Nothing good can come from that, or so the story goes. But there’s at least one instance that cuts against the grain of that familiar Motor City tale. It was Ford senior executive Lee Iacocca who originated the two signature styling features of the Lincoln Continental Mark III: the classic stand-up grille and the faux tire bustle in the deck lid.

It’s no exaggeration to note that these visual features created a design theme and defined the Lincoln Mark Series brand for decades. Years later, lead designer L. David Ash would recall that neither he nor Styling VP Gene Bordinat had conceived these two now-famous design gadgets; no, in fact it was all Iacocca. “Neither one of us would have done it on our own, I’m sure,” Ash remembered. “I have to give Lee credit for that.”

As vice president of the Ford Motor Company’s car and truck group—top product boss, among other duties—Lido Anthony “Lee” Iacocca had at least two problems on his plate in the autumn of 1965. First, sales of the Ford Thunderbird had flattened out after a promising start years earlier. Meanwhile, Ford’s flagship Lincoln division wasn’t setting the world on fire, either. While the Elwood Engel-designed 1961 Lincoln was a style maker of the decade, it was nearing the end of its product cycle. Actually, Lincoln was a perennial problem for Ford senior management. According to Bordinat, it had never turned an actual profit since Henry and Edsel Ford acquired the company from the Lelands in 1922.

So a plan was hatched to build a new, small Lincoln on the same platform as the Thunderbird, which was switching to body-on-frame construction for 1967 (in part due to limited production volume). This would help the Thunderbird fill out production capacity at the Wixom, Michigan plant, and it would give Lincoln an entry in the rapidly expanding personal-luxury category, joining the Buick Riviera, Cadillac Eldorado, Olds Toronado, et alia.

The original body design by Ash and his staff, at one point named the Lancelot, was clean and elegant but lacked visual punch, one could argue. Iacocca’s fake-Rolls grille shell and spare-tire bump fixed that, creating a distinctive and memorable look. It was said that the chrome grille shell was the most expensive such piece in the industry, with a unit cost nearing $200. Ash and crew completed the theme by hiking up the rear quarters and deck lid two inches, scrunching the roof down into the body for a classic ’30s profile.

From its exterior appearance, you might never know that the finished design shared its greenhouse with the Thunderbird coupe, or its floorpan, black metal, and 117.2-inch wheelbase with the T-Bird four-door. When Henry Ford II saw the clay model in the studio, he reportedly said, “I’d like to drive that home.” With the Ford family’s seal of approval secured, the new car was christened the Continental Mark III, establishing its lineage with Edsel Ford’s original 1939 Continental and the Continental Mark II of 1956-57. At that point the previous Mark III, IV and V models of 1958-60 were conveniently forgotten—today it would be called a reboot.

Introduced in April 1968 as a 1969 model, technically (Lincoln division downplayed model year designations, trying to present the car as “timeless”) the Mark III was panned by the critics but embraced by the car-buying public. “The buffs may not like it but the people with money will,” Bordinat wisely predicted. The Mark wasn’t big for an American luxury car at just over 216 inches long and 4,800 lbs, but it was big enough, with solid road manners and a comfortable ride. Interior specialist Herman Brunn covered the seats with rich, pre-creased leather, like the easy chairs in a men’s club. Noteworthy technical features included an all-new 460 CID V8 and Sure-Track, an early form of antilock braking developed by Kelsey-Hayes.

With a base price of $6,758 compared to $4,807 for its Thunderbird cousin, the Mark III was quite a moneymaker for the Motor Company, spawning an even more popular and profitable successor, the Mark IV (shown with Iacocca below). The Mark series, which comfortably outsold the Eldorado and effectively doubled the Lincoln division’s volume at times, continued on all the way to 1998 and the Mark VIII, and Iacocca would to on to further glories, including the Chrysler Minivan.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Researchers establish commercially viable process for manufacturing with promising new class of metals

Nanostructured high entropy alloys—metals made from a chaotic mix of several different elements—show a lot of promise for use in industries such as aerospace and automotive because of their strength and stability at high temperatures compared with regular metals. But they are expensive and energy-intensive to produce. Now, researchers working with the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have found a much cheaper and easier way to make them, opening the door for commercial applications. Michel Haché, a materials engineer at the University of Toronto, and colleagues confirmed that electrodeposition is a cost-effective and easily scaled way to create these alloys. Electrodeposition—which involves dissolving metal ions in water and then using an electric current to pull them out of the liquid and form solid materials—is the same process that is used to make chrome-plated motorcycle parts. The findings are published in the journal Surface and Coatings Technology.

Read more.

[atonalginger]

Stowaway Savior

The first day of the latest story starring Goose and Ruby is now live on ao3. The first day is covered by 10 (short) chapters. The story is rated E for graphic depictions of violence.

Ruby always has a good read on people and situations. So when her older brother, Goose, decides to help a Rook she doesn't trust, Ruby decides to tag along, whether her family likes it or not. After she was proven right Ruby must get her and her brother to safety and wait for their family to find them, not knowing the UC has thrown a wicked curve ball into the mix.

You can start reading by clicking here

A preview:

Everyone was gathered around the war table, not a single butt in a chair. Somehow Ashta managed to stand still next to his pastel queen, though the restless energy radiated off of him like a thick fog. Jazz and Voss stood at either end of the table, tablets and slates detailing everything they’d found with the Freestar intel spread out in front of them. The lieutenant was posted up on the wall near the door, his closed off body language telling Delgado that the young pilot did not want to be there. He wanted to be out there searching.  

“He just gave himself up?” Atomic asked, glancing over to Voss.   

“As soon as the alert that we had moles hit our system,” Voss held out his wrists like he was waiting for chrome plated bracelets, “said he was already trying to find a way to come clean and swore he was hampering the team’s efforts, which I buy only because this team is responsible for a lot of previously clean ops with no detection.”  

“He was also able to tell my crew exactly where to look on Stone’s ship,” Jazz added, “and that we found one of their team on her ship was another big misstep for them. Rookie mistakes for such an experienced team.”  

“Our turncoat said the group viewed this job as a cakewalk.” Voss rolled his eyes, “and now they’re in cells.”  

“It was a fucking cake walk for them,” Delgado snapped, “they got balls deep into our systems, sending fuck knows what back home and managed to get the jump on at least one of our captains!”  

Voss shrank back from the table a bit, avoiding eye contact with Del. Jazz simply sighed, shuffling slates around on the table.  

“What are we going to do?” the Freestar pilot asked, “we’re just wasting time while the UC could be tailing them.”  

“We don’t know where they went,” Jazz turned her head to acknowledge him, “I agree with Ashta, no way she actually scatter jumped. Hell most our experienced pilots don’t do it because it costs a lot of helium 3 and can be exhausting.”  

“But then where?” Voss asked, “none of her coordinates make sense. I’d assume she was hiding something in them but right now the data is too corrupted to piece that together.”  

“I already sent a team to orbit Andraste III,” Del looked to Ashta and Atomic, “Samina sent her assistant with them. They’ll wait a few UT week and then return if no one shows up.”  

“I think for now we need to operate like she did attempt the maneuver,” Atomic said as her head dropped, “Ruby is a little stickler for protocol and that’s been the rule since she’s been here: flit through the starfield to shake UC tracking and then make your way home once you’re confident you’re free.”  

“You mean search the systems she listed?” Jazz asked.  

“Yup, scan each rock and comb every series of rings we find to see if we find the Golden Squid.” Lila was staring at the table, the four systems already pulled up.

[thoughtportal]

undefined

Once You See the Truth About Cars, You Can’t Unsee It https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/15/opinion/car-ownership-inequality.html

By Andrew Ross and Julie Livingston

Mr. Ross and Ms. Livingston are professors at New York University, members of its Prison Education Program Research Lab and authors of the book “Cars and Jails: Freedom Dreams, Debt, and Carcerality.”

In American consumer lore, the automobile has always been a “freedom machine” and liberty lies on the open road. “Americans are a race of independent people” whose “ancestors came to this country for the sake of freedom and adventure,” the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce’s soon-to-be-president, Roy Chapin, declared in 1924. “The automobile satisfies these instincts.” During the Cold War, vehicles with baroque tail fins and oodles of surplus chrome rolled off the assembly line, with Native American names like Pontiac, Apache, Dakota, Cherokee, Thunderbird and Winnebago — the ultimate expressions of capitalist triumph and Manifest Destiny.

But for many low-income and minority Americans, automobiles have been turbo-boosted engines of inequality, immobilizing their owners with debt, increasing their exposure to hostile law enforcement, and in general accelerating the forces that drive apart haves and have-nots.

Though progressive in intent, the Biden administration’s signature legislative achievements on infrastructure and climate change will further entrench the nation’s staunch commitment to car production, ownership and use. The recent Inflation Reduction Act offers subsidies for many kinds of vehicles using alternative fuel, and should result in real reductions in emissions, but it includes essentially no direct incentives for public transit — by far the most effective means of decarbonizing transport. And without comprehensive policy efforts to eliminate discriminatory policing and predatory lending, merely shifting to electric from combustion will do nothing to reduce car owners’ ever-growing risk of falling into legal and financial jeopardy, especially those who are poor or Black.

By the 1940s, African American car owners had more reason than anyone to see their vehicles as freedom machines, as a means to escape, however temporarily, redlined urban ghettos in the North or segregated towns in the South. But their progress on roads outside of the metro core was regularly obstructed by the police, threatened by vigilante assaults, and stymied by owners of whites-only restaurants, lodgings and gas stations. Courts granted the police vast discretionary authority to stop and search for any one of hundreds of code violations — powers that they did not apply evenly. Today, officers make more than 50,000 traffic stops a day. Driving while Black has become a major route to incarceration — or much worse. When Daunte Wright was killed by a police officer in April 2021, he had been pulled over for an expired registration tag on his car’s license plate. He joined the long list of Black drivers whose violent and premature deaths at the hands of police were set in motion by a minor traffic infraction — Sandra Bland (failure to use a turn signal), Maurice Gordon (alleged speeding), Samuel DuBose (missing front license plate) and Philando Castile and Walter Scott (broken taillights) among them. Despite widespread criticism of the flimsy pretexts used to justify traffic stops, and the increasing availability of cellphone or police body cam videos, the most recent data shows that the number of deaths from police-driver interactions is almost as high as it has been over the past five years.

In the consumer arena, cars have become tightly sprung debt traps. The average monthly auto loan payment crossed $700 for the first time this year, which does not include insurance or maintenance costs. Subprime lending and longer loan terms of up to 84 months have resulted in a doubling of auto loan debt over the last decade and a notable surge in the number of drivers who are “upside down”— owing more money than their cars are worth. But, again, the pain is not evenly distributed. Auto financing companies often charge nonwhite consumers higher interest rates than white consumers, as do insurers.

Formerly incarcerated buyers whose credit scores are depressed from inactivity are especially red meat to dealers and predatory lenders. In our research, we spoke to many such buyers who found it easier, upon release from prison, to acquire expensive cars than to secure an affordable apartment. Some, like LeMarcus, a Black Brooklynite (whose name has been changed to protect his privacy under ethical research guidelines), discovered that loans were readily available for a luxury vehicle but not for the more practical car he wanted. Even with friends and family willing to help him with a down payment, after he spent roughly five years in prison, his credit score made it impossible to get a Honda or “a regular car.” Instead, relying on a friend to co-sign a loan, he was offered a high-interest loan on a pre-owned Mercedes E350. LeMarcus knew it was a bad deal, but the dealer told him the bank that would have financed a Honda “wanted a more solid foundation, good credit, income was showing more,” but that to finance the Mercedes, it “was actually willing to work with the people with lower credit and lower down payments.” We interviewed many other formerly incarcerated people who followed a similar path, only to see their cars repossessed.

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LeMarcus was “car rich, cash poor,” a common and precarious condition that can have serious legal consequences for low-income drivers, as can something as simple as a speeding ticket. A $200 ticket is a meaningless deterrent to a hedge fund manager from Greenwich, Conn., who is pulled over on the way to the golf club, but it could be a devastating blow to those who mow the fairways at the same club. If they cannot pay promptly, they will face cascading penalties. If they cannot take a day off work to appear in court, they risk a bench warrant or loss of their license for debt delinquency. Judges in local courts routinely skirt the law of the land (in Supreme Court decisions like Bearden v. Georgia and Timbs v. Indiana) by disregarding the offender’s ability to pay traffic debt. At the request of collection agencies, they also issue arrest or contempt warrants for failure to appear in court on unpaid auto loan debts. With few other options to travel to work, millions of Americans make the choice to continue driving even without a license, which means their next traffic stop may land them in jail.

The pathway that leads from a simple traffic fine to financial insolvency or detention is increasingly crowded because of the spread of revenue policing intended to generate income from traffic tickets, court fees and asset forfeiture. Fiscally squeezed by austerity policies, officials extract the funds from those least able to pay. This is not only an awful way to fund governments; it is also a form of backdoor, regressive taxation that circumvents voters’ input.

Deadly traffic stops, racially biased predatory lending and revenue policing have all come under public scrutiny of late, but typically they are viewed as distinct realms of injustice, rather than as the interlocking systems that they are. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it: A traffic stop can result in fines or arrest; time behind bars can result in repossession or a low credit score; a low score results in more debt and less ability to pay fines, fees and surcharges. Championed as a kind of liberation, car ownership — all but mandatory in most parts of the country — has for many become a vehicle of capture and control.

Industry boosters promise us that technological advances like on-demand transport, self-driving electric vehicles and artificial intelligence-powered traffic cameras will smooth out the human errors that lead to discrimination, and that car-sharing will reduce the runaway costs of ownership. But no combination of apps and cloud-based solutions can ensure that the dealerships, local municipalities, courts and prison industries will be willing to give up the steady income they derive from shaking down motorists.

Aside from the profound need for accessible public transportation, what could help? Withdraw armed police officers from traffic duties, just as they have been from parking and tollbooth enforcement in many jurisdictions. Introduce income-graduated traffic fines. Regulate auto lending with strict interest caps and steep penalties for concealing fees and add-ons and for other well-known dealership scams. Crack down hard on the widespread use of revenue policing. And close the back door to debtors’ prisons by ending the use of arrest warrants in debt collection cases. Without determined public action along these lines, technological advances often end up reproducing deeply rooted prejudices. As Malcolm X wisely said, “Racism is like a Cadillac; they bring out a new model every year.”

Andrew Ross and Julie Livingston are professors at New York University, members of its Prison Education Program Research Lab and authors of the book “Cars and Jails: Freedom Dreams, Debt, and Carcerality.”

[munsonology]

So I’m on sephora.com because I can’t keep a dime in my purse to save my life while watching reviews of products on youtube

Anyway somebody in the comments said the brush this girl was using was $60+ from la mer and it got me thinking about that expensive prank of tiktok

imagine you set up your phone to record and he’s in the kitchen making lunch and he overhears you, “ok you guys I bought this eyeshadow palette on sale for $399”

And he chokes on his drink because yeah he said you could use his credit card but that much for makeup?

“Baby! You spent $400 on eyeshadow?”

And you pause. Looking between him and the camera for full effect. “No Stevie it was on sale for $399”

“I—what does it do that the others don’t?”

“Stevie I’m filming. And it has duo chrome shadows”

“What?”

“…anyway you said I could use your Amex,” you pout.

“Yeah baby i did. I just want you to tell me. No secrets between us, especially with finances. Didn’t know makeup could cost so much. Maybe next time I can help you look for a coupon though”

You watch him come over with two plates of food. He doesn’t even know Sephora has no coupons. He’s still taking care of you all these years later.

He’s so sweet you give up on the prank and come clean. He kisses your forehead, not even bothered by your trickery. You’ll have to up your game for the Gucci ostrich bag prank 🤭

[cybernexus]

"At Any Cost"

The ripper doc sat across from the sprawled patient on her table, seemingly stable after clotting agents had been applied. The bullets hadn't hit anywhere vital, thanks to the dermal plating just under the skin. This was light armor one could wear even if they were naked, the only disadvantage was it was a highly invasive procedure. This Dahlia was familiar with, although she worked more so with the mechanical bits rather than the fleshy ones. This dermal plating was of course kit typical of Edgerunners, her usual clientele. The pink-haired doctor sighed. "Look." She locked eyes with the other runner.

"I know I'm not supposed to ask questions, but that briefcase is clearly no milk run. They wanted it back bad, so bad your pal here is only barely alive, despite being almost as chrome as I am. You been messing with the big corps?" She raised a brow in judgement, suddenly pulling from nowhere a scathing big sister demeanor. She had a right to know; as it could lead corpo goons to her doorstep if they weren't careful.

The green-haired Edgerunner, who was green in more ways than one, shifted nervously in the folding chair, biting his cybernetic fingers.

[nicklloydnow]

“Vincent died July 6 at a clinic in Switzerland. She was 53. Her death, which was not reported at the time, was confirmed Thursday by Justine Hardy, a friend. The death, she said, was medically assisted, or what is known as a voluntary assisted death.

Vincent was a lesbian. She was not transgender or gender-fluid. She was, however, interested in gender and identity. As a freelance contributor to The Los Angeles Times, The Village Voice and The Advocate, she had written essays on those topics that inflamed some readers.

(…)

She was suffering, she wrote, for the same reason that many of the men she met were suffering: Their assigned gender roles, she found, were suffocating them and alienating them from themselves.

(…)

She studied philosophy at Williams College in Massachusetts, where at 21 she realized she was a lesbian, she told the Times in 2001, when her contrarian freelance columns began drawing fire. She spent 11 years as a graduate student in philosophy at Boston College and worked as an assistant editor at the Free Press, a publishing house that before it folded in 2012 put out books on religion and social science and had, in the 1980s, a neoconservative bent. Vincent's first work of fiction was "Thy Neighbor" (2012), a dark, comic thriller about an unemployed alcoholic writer who begins spying on his neighbors while trying to solve the mystery of his parents' murder-suicide: voyeurism as a means to self-knowledge.”

“There is no time. That is what I tell everyone who asks, and sooner or later everyone asks (it was my psychiatrist’s first question); why I didn’t call them, or someone, anyone for help on that March evening in 2014 before I took the largest carving knife from the kitchen drawer, locked myself in the bathroom, climbed in the tub, ran the water, and set about slicing my radial and femoral arteries. I soon saw that the knife would not accomplish this quickly—it had been dulled by overuse—and so I turned my attention elsewhere. Near the front rim of the tub, there was a large rectangular chrome plate that operated the drainstop. When sitting, you could see your face in it clearly. It was in this close and unexpected mirror that I fixed myself, eye to eye, scried the throb of the right carotid, and drew the blade across my throat.

I say that ‘I’ did these things, because I must use the first person pronoun if I am to take full responsibility both for what happened that night, and for the toll it took on those around me. But ‘I’ is not quite the right word, because the person who did these things, mechanically and without pause, and with a calm determination, was not me. Or at least that is not how it felt at the time. Someone—‘she,’ call her—took over—and this is the crucial detail—she did so in an instant without my knowledge or consent. She simply acted, without feeling, without judgment, and without thought.

Before I fully understood this, I used to say that she did what she did because I wasn’t trying to commit suicide. I was merely trying to get myself out of a situation I couldn’t handle. This is not altogether untrue. Actions almost always have more than one cause, and that night, mine were no exception. Some part of me knew that doing something so drastic while another person was at home, and doing the most indicative part of it—the march from the kitchen to the bathroom with a knife—in that person’s full view, would bring the police in a matter of minutes. They would then take me away and lock me away for a significant period of time. This is precisely what happened.

But, now that I am on the other side of the event, with the insight of afterthought, I realize that the way I once explained my behavior leaves out a large portion of the truth. It would be more accurate to say that ‘she’ did what she did because she was not thinking, and because there was no time. And though suicidal events are far too personal and varied to epitomize, this suspension of time and thought does, I believe, lie at the heart of the particular type of self-harm that I and so many other writers and creative people throughout history have felt driven to commit. It is also the main reason why those, like myself, who survive an attempt, often do so only out of what is so appositely called dumb luck.

My attempt to kill myself did not happen when it did by coincidence. It was a direct result of a process and a mindset that I had been steeping in for months. I began to understand this only when a close friend, who read the manuscript I’d been working on before I tried to kill myself said: “Whenever someone commits suicide, we always ask: Why? In Adeline, you’ve given us an answer.” She said ‘an’ answer, not ‘the’ answer, because there is not one answer. But there is, I believe, one answer to the more particular question that has pervaded the lives and legacies of so many artists, especially Virginia Woolf: Why has there always been such a close and obstreperous association between creativity and mental illness? A clash that too often results in death.

The previous summer I had been through an obliterating depression. After months of dementing torpor, I accepted the need for new medication, took it, and by late September I began climbing out of hell. By October I had begun writing a novel about the mental illness, artistry and suicide of Virginia Woolf. The reason I did so has become as obvious to me as it must now be to you. I was not only writing but enacting what I knew: suicidal depression and its seemingly inextricable entanglement with making art. I called it Adeline, which, though it was never used, had been Virginia Woolf’s, or Virginia Stephen’s, as she was then known, given name.

(…)

The novel begins with Woolf (in the bathtub) conceiving of To the Lighthouse in the summer of 1925, and proceeds through the next 16 years of her life. It explores other themes, but it focuses throughout on this nexus of creativity and suicide, both as Woolf discussed it with others; notably Dora Carrington, on the day before Carrington killed herself, and years later, with her friend and personal physician, Octavia Wilberforce, again, on the day before Woolf drowned herself in the River Ouse. All of this—except for the meetings themselves, and some of the stranger details surrounding them, which are documented both by Woolf and her best biographer, Hermione Lee—I created out of whole cloth. Out of myself.

Though I did not know it then, Adeline was not just a work of fiction, or an act of literary ventriloquism. It was my suicide note. Had I succeeded in taking my life, this would have been clear.

My first hint of this came from a friend who knows me well and never prevaricates or hyperbolizes about my work. He read the manuscript one weekend in early March, and said: “It’s astonishing, truly, but, I have to ask: You’re not of Virginia’s persuasion are you?” “No,” I scoffed. Yet even then, though I understood little else of what was happening to me, I knew this was a lie.

Or, I knew and I didn’t want to know—and there is a very good reason for this. When you have spent the better part of your adult life vigorously entertaining and just as vociferously disavowing thoughts of self-harm, because you know that acknowledging them can be used as a pretext for committing you to a locked psychiatric facility against your will, over time, something very odd happens to those thoughts. In your mind they constitute a substantial portion of the decor, like well-worn wallpaper, so familiar as to be invisible. They are always there, and you never talk about them with anyone—not honestly.

(…)

Albert Camus once said that a novel is never anything but a philosophy put into images. Virginia Woolf fulfilled and exceeded this dictum. Her most difficult and arguably greatest novels, To the Lighthouse and The Waves, are autobiographical, versions of her lived experience. But because so much of that experience was phantasmagorical, so beyond the norm, her fiction became, to use Camus’s terms, not just philosophy, but metaphysics put into images. To the Lighthouse is a memoir of the childhood summers Woolf spent with her family in St. Ives, but rendered in the dream language of what her friend Aldous Huxley would later call psychedelic apperception. Huxley achieved and described this condition more than a decade after Woolf’s death, but he did so by taking mescaline and LSD. Woolf did so naturally. It was simply how she perceived the world.

As I learned while channeling Adeline, this hallucinatory frame of mind is often both the essence and the compulsion of artistic experience; the chief reason why creativity and madness are so often treacherously intertwined.

The real world, as some philosophers have observed, is not what it seems, and though mystics have taught this for thousands of years, now even physicists are bolstering this view with hard data. Our world is the version of reality that our limited brains, bodies and capacities can assimilate. We can only take it, if we take it at all, in very small doses. Otherwise, we are liable, as we so often say of the mentally ill, to lose touch with reality; to go mad with overstimulation in the transport.

The artist, however, sees through the veil of illusion, beyond the mirage that constitutes the so-called real world, and entertains the wondrous, yet terrifying spectacle that lies beneath, and it is this liminal consciousness that the artist must induce and cultivate if he is to practice his art. Yet, doing so, as became so abundantly clear in the life and work of Virginia Woolf, means balancing on the high wire of sanity. Many fall; many jump, and this is not only because the practice is inherently decompensating to human beings, but also because, harrowing and intoxicating by turns as this awareness so often is, once you have partaken of something that feels so meaningful and so real, the everyday world just can’t compare. It becomes harder and harder to come back to drudgery, and at some point many decide that they either won’t or can’t.

Woolf differentiated these two types of consciousness when she wrote of what she called ‘moments of being’ and ‘moments of non-being.’ Moments of non-being were everyday events, the humdrum duties and chores you performed to get through the day (think of Mrs. Dalloway); your share of the collective agreement that all human beings make with each other and the world we inhabit to live by the rules, because we understand that abiding on this planet means staying in bounds—or else. Moments of being, by contrast, were the visionary, mystical, heightened flights of perspicuity that Woolf experienced and transcribed in her novels, or, as she once put it, the eternity she saw peeking through skirts and waistcoats.

* * * *

But—and this is a critical addendum—courting this domain need not always be fatal. Not by a long stretch. There are many artists, philosophers, mystics, seekers and other visionaries who have lived long, productive, contented lives well into old age, and died of natural causes. Samuel Beckett, for instance, who contemplated some of the grimmest visions of the human condition since Dante, and who withstood the ravages of debilitating depression and anxiety all his life, died of emphysema and a degenerative neurological disorder at the age of 83. Many of Beckett’s characters express some version of what for him had become a personal conviction: “You must go on. I can’t go on. I’ll go on.”

And yet, living so long and not dying by his own hand does not in and of itself make Beckett or anyone else a hero or a success, any more than succumbing to suicide makes Woolf or anyone else a failure. It bears remembering something that Robin Williams mentioned in an interview that he had given years before he committed suicide in August, 2014. He was discussing addiction, but the import of what he said, which was wisely cautionary and profound, applies equally to depression and suicidal intent. It never goes away. It lies in wait for the moments when we are weakest. Managing it is a constant battle. We must be ever vigilant. Even so, we do not always prevail.”

““I suspect people will go into this thinking oh, it’s written by a lesbian, she’s going to be male-bashing all the way down the line,” Vincent says by phone from Manhattan. “But my experience was one that made me feel very vulnerable and made me feel a lot of pain and difficulty. While all of us in the post-feminist movement are convinced that women have always had it worse and men have always had it better, it took me stepping into their shoes to realize that that’s not true at all.”

(…)

“You find yourself suddenly in a situation where all the social rules are different,” Vincent says by phone from Manhattan. “I likened it to suddenly hearing sounds that only dogs can hear.” Case in point: when Norah would walk through her neighborhood, the guys hanging outside the bodegas would ogle her; when Ned walked by, they would completely ignore him.

“It was really astounding the difference when I walked by those same places as a man and nobody would look me in the eye; it was a concerted looking-away. Even if you were a good-looking guy, women would check you out in a very surreptitious way that isn’t confrontational. There was a relief in that invisibility,” she says.

(…)

The rejection that Ned experiences in the dating scene had a powerful impact on Norah. “It’s awful. I think most women don’t have any idea how much guts it takes, how much emotional energy and confidence it takes to approach a woman,” she says. “Men need ego because they don’t get to show weakness and they don’t get to show need, they have to compensate for it by a sense of, I can do this, I’m entitled, because that’s all they have.”

While guys may appear brutish, undemonstrative and unfeeling on the surface, Vincent found that inside they’re as victimized as women by their gender socialization, the “straitjacket of the male role.” What’s more, although it won’t please many feminists, Vincent concludes that women, not men, actually call the shots, at least where hooking up is concerned.

“When you see it from a guy’s point of view, you really realize that, if nothing else, at the most basic sexual level, women can really take it or leave it most of the time,” she says. “Just that aspect alone already gives us a leg up because we get to choose; we get to say, I’ll take you but I won’t take you. That’s a lot of power.”

(…)

But the daily commute between man and woman eventually took its psychological toll on Vincent, and it took her months to recover from the ordeal.

“That was hard. I had learned to present myself in a more male way mentally—not just in how I looked—and I needed to step away from that, to slowly undo that. I had to reclaim myself.”

Vincent admits she didn’t particularly care for Ned: “I wish I’d been a cooler guy, which maybe was a great thing because it was a typical male experience. I felt a little bit geeky and inadequate. I wish I’d been more of a stud.”

That said, did she hold on to any part of Ned’s character?

“Yeah. I don’t know if you can print this, but I certainly held on to a piece of his balls (laughs). As Hamlet would say, probably the strongest remaining male advantage is ‘thinking makes it so.’ It’s that feeling that, when I’m feeling afraid of something I have to do or I’m feeling unequal to it, I say to myself, just do it. Don’t think about it, just get up and do it. There is a way in which that is a gift that men have that compensates for all the things they don’t have.””

“Transsexuality, it seems, is fast becoming emblematic of our age, and this is not a good thing. It is to the new millennium what homosexuality was to the previous two. Sodomy did, after all, round out the Anno Domini rather nicely when you think about it, having come to poetical apotheosis before its beginning, in the classical age of Greece and Rome, and having come to political fruition after its end, in the postmodern age. Yes, you heard right, its end. For the years of our Lord are well and truly over, and have been for some time. Remember? Nietzsche declared God dead more than a century ago.

But it has taken the likes of Foucault, Derrida, and their imitators to kill something that is, arguably, far more precious. Namely, the self. And that, I submit, is what the rise of transsexuality indicates, or—to use the thoroughly fashionable term—”signifies.” It signifies the death of the self, the soul, that good old-fashioned indubitable “I” so beloved of Descartes, whose great adage “I think, therefore I am” has become an ontological joke on the order of “I tinker and there I am.”

(…)

Now, this is an enormous leap. It changes entirely what we mean when we say “Just be yourself.” Being yourself used to be metaphysical. It had nothing to do with what you wore or which set of genitals you had. It was sexless, and genderless, and classless. It just was, and always had been since the day you were born. What’s more, medical insurance didn’t cover it. But if you consider the implications of San Francisco’s new policy—that is, medical coverage being part and parcel of becoming a person—then metaphysics is thrown to the winds. If you take seriously the idea that a person cannot be himself without the intervention of modern technology, then you have lost the notion of a self altogether. What you are left with is a literally constructed self—a thoroughly superficial identity that someone has built with a scalpel.

And this is a notion that has its roots in philosophies that are all too trendy in academia today, those very Foucaldian and Derridian philosophies I just mentioned. The ones that would have us believe that there is no such thing as objective reality, facts, or real people. Instead, there are just constructions, perceptions, and cultural norms that have nothing to do with such quaint anachronisms as God or the soul.

The Board of Supervisors’ decision to insure transsexuals means not only that dubious and pernicious postmodern conceits have seeped out of the academy and into the minds of public officials and other average folk, but that they have translated themselves into unfair fiscal policies. As a consequence, the unfavored “normal” majority is financing the self-proclaimed entitlements of the newest ordained minority—transsexuals.

This is not fair, and should not be allowed to happen. Because there is a big difference between an equal-opportunity society in which people of all persuasions are allowed to pursue their own happiness—at their own expense—and an ideologically skewed culture in which special-interest groups are merely piggybacking on the latest trendy philosophies. And getting special treatment.”

[brightsteelcentre]

Understand the Benefits of Carbon Steel Pipes

What are carbon steel pipes?

Carbon steel pipe is one of the most trustworthy and durable pipe types used in many industrial applications. Since it is both light and strong, it can move solids, gases, and liquids. Bright Steel Centre is a recognised corporation that manufactures, offers, exports, and trades an impressive and top-quality approved range of industrial pipes, plates, and pipe fittings.

We provide stainless steel pipe fittings, plates made of stainless steel and high nickel.Bright Steel Centre has a buffer stock of essential items,pipes, and pipe fittings sizes 1/2 to 24, to satisfy the off-hand needs of our clients. Customers' requests for particular items are quickly fulfilled while maintaining the highest quality requirements.

Benefits of carbon steel pipes

A specific kind of pipe that is made of carbon steel pipe consists mostly of iron with a little amount of carbon. It is among the most often used types of pipes because of its benefits over other materials like PVC or stainless steel. Carbon steel pipes are strong, durable, and corrosion-resistant. They are also very cost-effective since they are far less expensive than other kinds of pipes.

Carbon Steel Seamless Pipes:

For a range of purposes, we develop and distribute carbon steel pipe goods. Iron and carbon make up the majority of carbon steel's composition. Depending on the grades, varied quantities of silicon, manganese, and copper are permitted as traces. The result is, carbon steel seamless pipe is more durable and extremely stress resistant.

Carbon Steel ASTM A335 Pipes:

For flanging (vanstoning), bending, fusion welding, and other comparable forming procedures, ASTM A335 Seamless Steel Pipe ordered in compliance with this requirement must be appropriate. When chrome and molly elements are added, ASTM A335 offers superb tensile strength, fine resistance to high temperatures, and corrosion.

Aluminium Pipes:

Aluminium is a perfect specimen for temperature control applications like solar power, freezers, and air conditioners since it very effectively absorbs heat and forms tubes. Due to their durability and lightweight, aluminium tubes are crucial in hydraulic systems, bracing, fuel lines, and frames.

Mild Steel Pipes:

Pipes made of mild steel (MS) are made of low carbon steel, which has less than 0.25% carbon. Due to the low carbon content, the pipes are easy to use and do not harden. Mild Steel Pipes. Since they are made of mild steel, they can easily be welded and shaped into a range of shapes and sizes for use in pipelining and tubing.

Alloy Steel Pipes:

Applications that call for moderate corrosion resistance, strong durability, and a reasonable price use alloy steel pipes. The two types of alloy steels are high alloy and low alloy steels.

High Nickel Alloy Pipes:

Nickel pipes are made by coating the metal surface with zinc. The nickel alloy pipe is made up of the elements nickel, manganese, carbon, silicon, sulphur, ferrous, and copper. The ability of these pipes to withstand corrosion and oxidation is outstanding. The has excellent mechanical properties, are found in High Nickel Alloy Tube.

Product Source - Carbon Steel Pipes in India

[female-malice]

Once You See the Truth About Cars, You Can’t Unsee It

By Andrew Ross and Julie Livingston

In American consumer lore, the automobile has always been a “freedom machine” and liberty lies on the open road. “Americans are a race of independent people” whose “ancestors came to this country for the sake of freedom and adventure,” the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce’s soon-to-be-president, Roy Chapin, declared in 1924. “The automobile satisfies these instincts.” During the Cold War, vehicles with baroque tail fins and oodles of surplus chrome rolled off the assembly line, with Native American names like Pontiac, Apache, Dakota, Cherokee, Thunderbird and Winnebago — the ultimate expressions of capitalist triumph and Manifest Destiny.

But for many low-income and minority Americans, automobiles have been turbo-boosted engines of inequality, immobilizing their owners with debt, increasing their exposure to hostile law enforcement, and in general accelerating the forces that drive apart haves and have-nots.

Though progressive in intent, the Biden administration’s signature legislative achievements on infrastructure and climate change will further entrench the nation’s staunch commitment to car production, ownership and use. The recent Inflation Reduction Act offers subsidies for many kinds of vehicles using alternative fuel, and should result in real reductions in emissions, but it includes essentially no direct incentives for public transit — by far the most effective means of decarbonizing transport. And without comprehensive policy efforts to eliminate discriminatory policing and predatory lending, merely shifting to electric from combustion will do nothing to reduce car owners’ ever-growing risk of falling into legal and financial jeopardy, especially those who are poor or Black.

By the 1940s, African American car owners had more reason than anyone to see their vehicles as freedom machines, as a means to escape, however temporarily, redlined urban ghettos in the North or segregated towns in the South. But their progress on roads outside of the metro core was regularly obstructed by the police, threatened by vigilante assaults, and stymied by owners of whites-only restaurants, lodgings and gas stations. Courts granted the police vast discretionary authority to stop and search for any one of hundreds of code violations — powers that they did not apply evenly. Today, officers make more than 50,000 traffic stops a day. “Driving while Black” has become a major route to incarceration — or much worse. When Daunte Wright was killed by a police officer in April 2021, he had been pulled over for an expired registration tag on his car’s license plate. He joined the long list of Black drivers whose violent and premature deaths at the hands of police were set in motion by a minor traffic infraction — Sandra Bland (failure to use a turn signal), Maurice Gordon (alleged speeding), Samuel DuBose (missing front license plate), and Philando Castile and Walter Scott (broken taillights) among them. Despite widespread criticism of the flimsy pretexts used to justify traffic stops, and the increasing availability of cellphone or police body cam videos, the most recent data shows that the number of deaths from police-driver interactions is almost as high as it has been over the past five years.

In the consumer arena, cars have become tightly sprung debt traps. The average monthly auto loan payment crossed $700 for the first time this year, which does not include insurance or maintenance costs. Subprime lending and longer loan terms of up to 84 months have resulted in a doubling of auto loan debt over the last decade and a notable surge in the number of drivers who are “upside down”— owing more money than their cars are worth. But, again, the pain is not evenly distributed. Auto financing companies often charge nonwhite consumers higher interest rates than white consumers, as do insurers.

Formerly incarcerated buyers whose credit scores are depressed from inactivity are especially red meat to dealers and predatory lenders. In our research, we spoke to many such buyers who found it easier, upon release from prison, to acquire expensive cars than to secure an affordable apartment. Some, like LeMarcus, a Black Brooklynite (whose name has been changed to protect his privacy under ethical research guidelines), discovered that loans were readily available for a luxury vehicle but not for the more practical car he wanted. Even with friends and family willing to help him with a down payment, after he spent roughly five years in prison, his credit score made it impossible to get a Honda or “a regular car.” Instead, relying on a friend to co-sign a loan, he was offered a high-interest loan on a pre-owned Mercedes E350. LeMarcus knew it was a bad deal, but the dealer told him the bank that would have financed a Honda “wanted a more solid foundation, good credit, income was showing more,” but that to finance the Mercedes, it “was actually willing to work with the people with lower credit and lower down payments.” We interviewed many other formerly incarcerated people who followed a similar path, only to see their cars repossessed.

LeMarcus was “car rich, cash poor,” a common and precarious condition that can have serious legal consequences for low-income drivers, as can something as simple as a speeding ticket. A $200 ticket is a meaningless deterrent to a hedge fund manager from Greenwich, Conn., who is pulled over on the way to the golf club, but it could be a devastating blow to those who mow the fairways at the same club. If they cannot pay promptly, they will face cascading penalties. If they cannot take a day off work to appear in court, they risk a bench warrant or loss of their license for debt delinquency. Judges in local courts routinely skirt the law of the land (in Supreme Court decisions like Bearden v. Georgia and Timbs v. Indiana) by disregarding the offender’s ability to pay traffic debt. At the request of collection agencies, they also issue arrest or contempt warrants for failure to appear in court on unpaid auto loan debts. With few other options to travel to work, millions of Americans make the choice to continue driving even without a license, which means their next traffic stop may land them in jail.

The pathway that leads from a simple traffic fine to financial insolvency or detention is increasingly crowded because of the spread of revenue policing intended to generate income from traffic tickets, court fees and asset forfeiture. Fiscally squeezed by austerity policies, officials extract the funds from those least able to pay. This is not only an awful way to fund governments; it is also a form of backdoor, regressive taxation that circumvents voters’ input.

Deadly traffic stops, racially biased predatory lending, revenue policing have all come under public scrutiny of late, but typically they are viewed as distinct realms of injustice, rather than as the interlocking systems that they are. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it: A traffic stop can result in fines or arrest; time behind bars can result in repossession or a low credit score; a low score results in more debt and less ability to pay fines, fees and surcharges. Championed as a kind of liberation, car ownership — all but mandatory in most parts of the country — has for many become a vehicle of capture and control.

Industry boosters promise us that technological advances like on-demand transport, self-driving electric vehicles and artificial intelligence-powered traffic cameras will smooth out the human errors that lead to discrimination, and that car-sharing will reduce the runaway costs of ownership. But no combination of apps and cloud-based solutions can ensure that the dealerships, local municipalities, courts and prison industries will be willing to give up the steady income they derive from shaking down motorists.

Aside from the profound need for accessible public transportation, what could help? Withdraw armed police officers from traffic duties, just as they have been from parking and tollbooth enforcement in many jurisdictions. Introduce income-graduated traffic fines. Regulate auto lending with strict interest caps and steep penalties for concealing fees and add-ons and for other well-known dealership scams. Crack down hard on the widespread use of revenue policing. And close the back door to debtors’ prisons by ending the use of arrest warrants in debt collection cases. Without determined public action along these lines, technological advances often end up reproducing deeply rooted prejudices. As Malcolm X wisely said, “Racism is like a Cadillac; they bring out a new model every year.”

[danco110]

“Greetings.”

“Whoa!”

The dwarven mechanic stared slack-jawed at the chrome seraph hovering in the bay door.

“How can I…help you?”

“I was damaged while fighting the Consulate. My inventor, Adi Thandray, requested that I seek repairs.”

The angel moved one of her four arms to reveal a hole that had been burned into her plating. At once the mechanic startled and grabbed her toolbox.

“Oh! A customer! I can oblige. But, ah, I usually just fix aircraft, so I’m not sure I have any frames your…size. But I can improvise! How about that chair there? Can you…hang your wings over the back, maybe?”

The seraph obliged, and tried to sit down. Sure enough, her wings folded neatly over the back of the chair.

“Cool! Now, just sit tight, and watch a master do her thing!”

The angel did not react at all to the mechanic’s words, eliciting a nervous chuckle from the dwarf.

“R-Right. Angel…”

—

“How’s it feel? Or, I mean-“

“Full functionality restored,” the angel droned. “Thank you for your help.”

“Of course, of course,” muttered the mechanic. “Now, I hate to bring this up, but I believe there’s still the matter of-“

“Payment. Here.” The angel pushed a pouch into the mechanic’s hands. The dwarf untied the string to reveal all manner of glittering gemstones. The gleam brought a sparkle to the mechanic’s eyes as she gasped at the jewels.

“What- But- I can’t accept this…all of this…some of this.”

“You already have,” the angel stated, in a noticeably warmer tone. “My inventor gave me that for payment for the repairs. You performed the repairs. Logically speaking-”

The mechanic quickly pocketed the pouch. “Well, ah, if you insist! Much thanks, Miss…?”

“Platinum.”

The mechanic chuckled. “Your inventor, she came up with that?”

“Yes.”

“She’s, ah, real creative, huh?”

“I like it,” Platinum bristled.

“Oh! Uh, Platinum’s a lovely name!”

“It is.”

[Man, I wish we knew more about Kaladesh angles.

Adi doesn’t get out much. She didn’t know the cost of repairs, so she basically gave Platinum a small fortune and told her “don’t spend it all in one place.”]

[theadvint02]

Electroplating Services: A Comprehensive Overview

Electroplating services are essential in various industries, providing a means to enhance the aesthetic appeal and functional properties of metal surfaces. This process involves the deposition of a metal layer onto a substrate through the application of electric current. The primary goals of electroplating include improving corrosion resistance, increasing wear resistance, and enhancing electrical conductivity.

In the electroplating process, the item to be plated serves as the cathode, while the metal used for plating acts as the anode. The electrolytic solution contains metal ions, which migrate towards the cathode during the process. This method is widely utilized in industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and jewelry, where high-quality finishes are essential.

One of the most common applications of electroplating services is in the automotive industry, where it is used to plate various components, including bumpers, grills, and trim parts. The application of chrome plating, for instance, not only enhances the visual appeal of the vehicle but also provides a layer of protection against environmental factors. Furthermore, in the electronics sector, electroplating services are vital for producing circuit boards and connectors, ensuring optimal electrical performance and durability.

While electroplating services offer numerous benefits, it is crucial to choose the right type of plating for specific applications. Factors such as substrate material, intended use, and environmental conditions should be considered to achieve the best results. Proper surface preparation and post-plating treatments are also essential to ensure strong adhesion and long-lasting performance.

Silicon Controlled Thyristor Rectifiers: Revolutionizing Power Control

Silicon Controlled Thyristor (SCT) rectifiers have emerged as a significant innovation in the realm of power electronics, particularly in applications requiring efficient power control. These devices combine the features of both diodes and transistors, allowing for the regulation of high power with minimal energy loss.

SCT rectifiers operate by controlling the flow of current through a thyristor, which can be turned on and off by applying a gate signal. This capability makes them ideal for applications such as motor control, power supply regulation, and induction heating. Their ability to handle high voltage and current ratings, coupled with their fast switching speed, has made SCT rectifiers a preferred choice in various industries.

In recent years, the demand for energy-efficient solutions has driven advancements in SCT technology, resulting in enhanced performance and reliability. By integrating SCT rectifiers with modern control systems, manufacturers can optimize power usage, reduce operational costs, and minimize environmental impact. As industries continue to seek more efficient energy solutions, the role of SCT rectifiers is expected to expand further.

Metal Plating Services: Enhancing Performance and Durability

Metal plating services play a critical role in enhancing the properties of metal components, allowing them to perform better and last longer. This process involves applying a thin layer of metal onto a substrate to improve its appearance, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties.

Metal plating can be accomplished through various methods, including electroplating, hot-dip galvanizing, and mechanical plating. Each technique has its unique advantages and is suitable for different applications. For instance, electroplating is ideal for achieving a smooth and decorative finish, while hot-dip galvanizing is often used for its excellent corrosion protection in harsh environments.

The applications of metal plating services are extensive, ranging from automotive parts to industrial machinery and electronics. In the aerospace sector, for example, metal plating is crucial for components exposed to extreme conditions, providing the necessary durability and reliability. Additionally, in the electronics industry, metal plating ensures optimal electrical conductivity, which is vital for the performance of electronic devices.

Choosing the right metal plating service involves assessing factors such as the type of substrate, environmental exposure, and desired properties. By collaborating with experienced service providers, businesses can ensure that their components receive the appropriate treatment for enhanced longevity and performance.

Electrowinning Rectifiers: Essential Components for Metal Recovery

Electrowinning rectifiers are vital equipment used in the metal recovery process, particularly in the mining and metallurgical industries. These rectifiers convert alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC), which is essential for the electrowinning process, where metal ions are reduced and deposited onto cathodes.

The electrowinning process is commonly used for recovering valuable metals, such as gold, silver, and copper, from their respective solutions. By utilizing electrowinning rectifier, operators can ensure a consistent and controlled current flow, optimizing the recovery process and enhancing metal purity. The efficiency of the rectifier directly impacts the overall performance of the electrowinning system, making it a crucial component in metal recovery operations.

Advancements in technology have led to the development of more efficient electrowinning rectifiers, capable of handling higher power loads while maintaining precise control over current and voltage. This evolution is essential for meeting the growing demands of the mining industry, where optimizing resource recovery is increasingly critical.

In conclusion, electroplating services, silicon controlled thyristor rectifiers, metal plating services, and electrowinning rectifiers play integral roles in various industries, enhancing the functionality, durability, and efficiency of metal components. As technology continues to evolve, these processes will undoubtedly adapt and improve, paving the way for more innovative solutions in metal treatment and recovery.

[sdbksteelcn]

Unlock the Power of Induction Hardened Chrome Bars: Strength and Durability Redefined

In today's fast-paced industrial world, where machinery and equipment face extreme conditions daily, the materials used in their construction must be able to withstand significant stress and wear. This is especially true in sectors like construction, agriculture, automotive manufacturing, and heavy machinery, where durability and strength are non-negotiable. One such material that has redefined strength and durability is the induction-hardened chrome bar.

At the core of reliable and robust hydraulic systems, precision machinery, and countless other heavy-duty applications lies the induction-hardened chrome bar, a key player in ensuring optimal performance and longevity. The material’s unique combination of surface hardness, tensile strength, and corrosion resistance makes it an industry favorite.

What Are Induction Hardened Chrome Bars?

Induction-hardened chrome bars are steel bars that have undergone two critical processes: induction hardening and chrome plating. Together, these processes give the bars exceptional surface hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion protection, making them ideal for demanding applications.

Induction Hardening: This process involves heating the steel bar using an induction coil, followed by rapid cooling or quenching. The result is a hardened outer layer while retaining a relatively softer core. This provides the bar with a unique balance of surface toughness and internal flexibility.

Chrome Plating: Once the bar is induction-hardened, a layer of chrome is applied to its surface. Chrome plating enhances the bar's resistance to corrosion, increases surface hardness even further, and gives it a sleek, smooth finish. This is especially important in environments where moisture, chemicals, or other corrosive elements may be present.

Together, these processes create a material that can endure harsh conditions while maintaining high performance. Whether you’re dealing with heavy-duty hydraulic systems or precision machinery, induction hardened chrome bars deliver exceptional durability and strength.

Why Induction Hardened Chrome Bars Stand Out?

With so many materials available in the market, why are induction hardened chrome bars considered a top choice for heavy-duty applications? The answer lies in their unique properties and benefits. Let’s explore some of the key advantages that set these bars apart:

1. Superior Hardness and Wear Resistance

The induction hardening process significantly increases the surface hardness of the steel bar. This means that induction hardened chrome bars can withstand friction, impact, and wear much better than standard steel bars. The hardened surface reduces the risk of scratches, dents, and other surface damage, which is critical in industries where equipment is subjected to continuous use and heavy loads.

Furthermore, the chrome plating adds an additional layer of protection, enhancing the bar’s wear resistance even further. This makes it ideal for applications where components must move against each other, such as hydraulic cylinders and precision machinery.

2. Corrosion Resistance

One of the most important benefits of induction hardened chrome bars is their resistance to corrosion. The chrome plating provides a protective barrier that shields the steel from moisture, chemicals, and other corrosive elements. This is particularly crucial in industries such as agriculture, construction, and marine environments, where equipment is often exposed to harsh conditions.

The corrosion-resistant properties of these bars ensure that they maintain their strength and integrity over time, even in the most demanding environments. This not only extends the lifespan of the equipment but also reduces maintenance costs, making them a cost-effective choice in the long run.

3. Strength and Flexibility

While the surface of the bar is extremely hard, the core remains relatively flexible. This unique combination of hardness and flexibility is one of the key reasons why induction hardened chrome bars are preferred in applications where both strength and resilience are required. The hardened outer layer protects the bar from wear and damage, while the softer core allows it to absorb shock and flex under pressure without breaking.

This makes the material ideal for hydraulic piston rods, where the bar must withstand the constant movement and pressure without losing its structural integrity.

4. Smooth Surface Finish

The chrome plating on these bars not only enhances their strength and durability but also gives them a smooth, polished finish. This is crucial for applications where friction must be minimized, such as in hydraulic systems and other moving components. A smoother surface reduces the risk of friction, which can cause wear and tear over time, leading to equipment failure.

5. Cost-Effectiveness

While induction-hardened chrome bars may have a higher upfront cost compared to standard steel bars, their long-term benefits make them a cost-effective choice. The reduced need for maintenance, repairs, and replacements means that the total cost of ownership is significantly lower over time. Their durability and reliability ensure that your equipment operates smoothly and efficiently, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.

Applications of Induction Hardened Chrome Bars

Thanks to their impressive properties, induction-hardened chrome bars are used in a wide range of industries and applications. Here are some of the most common uses:

1. Hydraulic Systems Hydraulic systems are essential in many industries, from construction and agriculture to manufacturing and transportation. At the heart of these systems are hydraulic cylinders, which rely on piston rods to transfer force and control movement. Induction-hardened chrome bars are often used to manufacture these piston rods, as their strength, wear resistance, and smooth surface make them ideal for this application.

The ability of the bars to withstand high pressures and constant movement without losing their integrity ensures the smooth and reliable operation of hydraulic systems.

2. Construction Equipment In the construction industry, heavy-duty machinery such as excavators, bulldozers, and cranes are subjected to extreme conditions daily. The components used in these machines must be able to handle high loads, impacts, and harsh environmental conditions. Induction-hardened chrome bars are commonly used in construction equipment, particularly in the hydraulic systems that power the machinery.

The bars' durability, strength, and corrosion resistance make them well-suited for the demanding requirements of construction equipment.

3. Agricultural Machinery Agricultural equipment, such as tractors, harvesters, and plows, often operate in tough environments, dealing with moisture, dirt, and heavy loads. Induction-hardened chrome bars are frequently used in the hydraulic systems of these machines, as they can handle the wear and tear associated with agricultural work.

Their corrosion resistance ensures that they continue to perform well even in wet and corrosive environments, extending the lifespan of the machinery.

4. Automotive Industry In the automotive industry, precision and reliability are critical. Induction-hardened chrome bars are used in various automotive components, including shock absorbers, suspension systems, and steering columns. Their strength, durability, and smooth surface make them ideal for these applications, where precise control and movement are essential.

Why Choose Shandong Baokun Metal Material Co. Ltd. for Induction Hardened Chrome Bars?

When it comes to sourcing high-quality induction hardened chrome bars, choosing a reliable supplier is crucial. Shandong Baokun Metal Material Co. Ltd. has established itself as a trusted name in the industry, known for providing top-quality materials that meet the stringent demands of various industries.

Here’s why you should consider Shandong Baokun Metal Material Co. Ltd. for your next project:

1. Commitment to Quality At Shandong Baokun Metal Material Co. Ltd., quality is a top priority. The company ensures that all its induction-hardened chrome bars meet international standards for strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. By using only the highest-grade materials and state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, they guarantee that their products perform reliably in even the most challenging environments.

2. Extensive Industry Experience With years of experience in the metal materials industry, Shandong Baokun Metal Material Co. Ltd. has built a reputation for excellence. Their deep understanding of the unique requirements of different industries allows them to provide customized solutions that meet the specific needs of their clients.

3. Wide Range of Products Shandong Baokun Metal Material Co. Ltd. offers a wide range of induction-hardened chrome bars in various sizes, grades, and specifications. Whether you need bars for hydraulic systems, construction equipment, or any other application, they have the products to meet your needs.

4. Reliable Customer Support The company is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, from the initial inquiry to after-sales support. Their knowledgeable team is always ready to assist you with product selection, technical advice, and any other questions you may have.

The power of induction-hardened chrome bars lies in their unique combination of strength, durability, and corrosion resistance. These bars are engineered to withstand the harshest conditions, making them indispensable in a wide range of industries, from construction and agriculture to automotive manufacturing and heavy machinery. By choosing Shandong Baokun Metal Material Co. Ltd. as your supplier, you can be confident that you are getting top-quality products that deliver exceptional performance and value.

[lllouisblog]

Essential Components for Crushing and Milling Equipment: A Detailed Overview

In the industrial and mining sectors, the efficiency and longevity of machinery depend heavily on the quality of its components. This guide explores key parts and accessories for crushing and milling equipment, including cone crusher parts, jaw crusher parts, impactor blow bars, vertical roller mills rollers or tires, hammer mills hammers, wear blocks, cutting edges, storage shelters, stretch hood tubes, and general crusher parts.

Cone Crusher Parts

Cone crushers are used extensively in various industries for secondary and tertiary crushing. Key parts include the mantle, concave, main shaft, and bushings. These components are essential for the efficient functioning and durability of the machine. High-quality materials and precision engineering ensure that cone crusher parts can withstand the high levels of pressure and abrasion they encounter during operation.

Jaw Crusher Parts

Jaw crushers are primary crushers widely used in mining and aggregate production. Important parts include jaw plates, toggle plates, and cheek plates. These components play a critical role in breaking down large rocks into smaller, manageable pieces. Durability and strength are crucial for jaw crusher parts to handle the constant impact and wear they endure.

Impactor Blow Bars

Impactor blow bars are vital for impact crushers, which are used to crush materials by striking them with high-speed rotating bars. These bars must be tough and wear-resistant to handle the intense impact and abrasion. High-chrome and manganese steel blow bars are commonly used for their durability and ability to provide a consistent crushing performance.

Vertical Roller Mills Roller or Tire

Vertical roller mills are used in the cement and mining industries to grind raw materials. The rollers or tires are critical components that apply pressure to the material being ground. These parts must be made from wear-resistant materials to ensure longevity and efficiency. Proper maintenance and timely replacement of rollers or tires can significantly enhance the performance of vertical roller mills.

Hammer Mills Hammers

Hammer mills are used to crush and pulverize materials in various industries. The hammers, which repeatedly strike the material, must be robust and wear-resistant. Alloy steel or manganese steel hammers are commonly used due to their high impact resistance and durability. Regular inspection and replacement of hammers are essential for maintaining the efficiency of hammer mills.

Wear Blocks

Wear blocks are protective components used in various types of crushing and milling equipment to prevent excessive wear and extend the lifespan of the machinery. They are often made from hardened steel or other wear-resistant materials. Proper installation and regular monitoring of wear blocks can help reduce maintenance costs and downtime.

Cutting Edge

Cutting edges are critical for earthmoving and construction equipment, such as bulldozers and graders. These parts are designed to withstand high levels of stress and abrasion while maintaining a sharp edge. High-carbon steel and carbide-tipped cutting edges are popular choices due to their durability and cutting efficiency.

Storage Shelter

Storage shelters are essential for protecting machinery and equipment from the elements. These structures can significantly extend the lifespan of equipment by shielding it from rain, snow, and UV radiation. Properly designed storage shelters also help in maintaining a clean and organized work environment.

Stretch Hood Tube

Stretch hood tubes are used in packaging to secure and protect products during transportation and storage. They provide a tight and secure cover, which helps in preventing damage and contamination. Stretch hood tubes are widely used in various industries, including construction, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Crusher Parts

General crusher parts encompass a wide range of components used in various types of crushers, including jaw crushers, cone crushers, and impact crushers. These parts include bearings, shafts, liners, and gears. High-quality crusher parts are crucial for the reliable and efficient operation of crushing equipment. Regular maintenance and timely replacement of worn-out parts can prevent breakdowns and extend the service life of crushers.

Understanding the essential components of crushing and milling equipment and their respective roles is crucial for maintaining efficient and reliable operations. Whether it's cone crusher parts, jaw crusher parts, or impactor blow bars, using high-quality materials and ensuring proper maintenance can significantly enhance the performance and longevity of machinery. Additionally, protective measures such as wear blocks and storage shelters play a vital role in safeguarding equipment and reducing operational costs.

[hardwarebywilliam]

Chrome Door Hinges: Just What You Need for a Mix of Style and Functionality by HardWareByWilliams

Whatever be your choice regarding door hardware, functionality is prime, but that does not imply sacrificing style. Chrome door hinges strike a perfect balance between them, adding sleek modern looks while smoothing operation and making it reliable. At HardWareByWilliams, we understand how much high-quality door hinges mean to the performance and aesthetics of your doors. These chrome door hinges are designed to meet the needs of the modern homeowner for strength, ease of operation, and a polished finish that works in concert with interior design.

Here's why you should consider HardWareByWilliams for your chrome door hinges in your next project.

1. Durability and Strength

Chrome door hinges will never be fragile. At HardWareByWilliams, we fabricate chrome hinges with heavy types of materials such as stainless steel and brass and overlay them with a durable chrome finish. Due to this reason, these kinds of hinges also resist rust and erosion, even in highly moist areas such as in bathrooms and kitchens. Therefore, you will always find these hinges tough for performance and require less maintenance.

2. Aesthetic Appearance

Chrome has become one of the most popular finishes for modern home designs due to its sleek, reflective look. This chrome door hinge provides a minimalist yet stylistic look that will accentuate the beauty of any room. The bright, shiny, and silvery hue perfectly amalgamates into both modern and traditional interiors, adding a clean and polished look to your doors. Be it a chic, modern space you are designing or upgrading a traditional home, chrome hinges provide that touch of elegance that simply does not go out of style.

3. Smooth Operation

One of the main characteristics of a good door hinge is that it should open and close easily. HardWareByWilliams chrome door hinges are designed to provide frictionless movement in your doors so you don't have to struggle much while opening and closing them. Whether you have light bedroom doors or heavier ones for the entrance, our chrome hinges provide for light and efficient operation. We also offer options like ball bearing hinges, which will allow for even quieter and more durable functionality, especially in high-traffic areas.

4. Resistance to Corrosion

Chrome is not for aesthetics alone; it is also meant for adding extra protection. Chrome-plated door hinges from us are best suited for bathrooms, kitchens, and areas that have high humidity levels or extreme variations in temperature. Chrome plating acts like a shield to keep away moisture from reaching the metal underneath, ensuring that your hinges will never tarnish, rust, or degrade over time.

5. Low Maintenance

Chrome hinges require very little in the way of maintenance. Generally speaking, a quick wipe over with a damp cloth will keep them shiny and new. Because chrome is quite smooth, it does not hold dirt or grime, and that makes it a great option for busy homes wanting to maintain cleanliness.

6. Versatility

Our chrome door hinges come in a variety of designs and types, such as butt hinges, concealed hinges, and ball bearing hinges. Because of this, you can find chrome hinges suitable for application in a broad spectrum-from residential bedroom doors to office or commercial areas. Whatever your door type may be, HardWareByWilliams has a chrome hinge to fit your needs.

7. Cost-Effective Solution

Chrome door hinges are indeed a great trade-off between quality and price. Here at HardWareByWilliams, we sell the best quality chrome door hinges at very reasonable prices compared to others in the market. With durability and requiring little to no maintenance cost, they are truly worth investing in as they will save you money in the longer term.

8. Easy Installation

Whether you are an expert in installations or the determined DIYer, the installation of HardWareByWilliams chrome door hinges is easy. Each of our hinges comes with all the screws and fixtures that may be needed to complete an installation, so it will get up and running in no time. With state-of-the-art engineering, our hinges will perfectly fit most standard-sized doors. Therefore, installing one should present no problems at all.

Conclusion

Choosing the right door hinge is absolutely vital both in functionality and style for your doors. Chrome door hinges are the perfect solution to these issues. HardwareByWilliams chrome door hinges have been designed for durability, smooth operation, and give an elegant look with great modern style that greatly complements any space. Corrosion resistance, easy maintenance, and design varieties are just some of the reasons why our chrome hinges are incomparable for a homeowner and a builder alike.

Add a little class, style, and functionality to your doors with chrome door hinges from HardWareByWilliams, a name synonymous with superior door hardware. From renovation to new projects, our chrome hinges will stand the test of time, adding real value for years to come.

[angiehomes83]

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Bathroom Sets

An efficient, polished bathroom can change your day to day schedules into a sumptuous encounter. One of the simplest ways of lifting your bathroom's look and usefulness is by picking the right bathroom sets. Whether you're planning a spa-like safe-haven or reviving a little visitor bathroom, a planned bathroom set adds both tasteful allure and functional use.

In this aide, we'll walk you through what to consider while picking the best bathroom sets for your space.

What is a Bathroom Set?

A bathroom set is an assortment of fundamental bathroom frill, normally intended to match in variety or style. Most sets incorporate things like:

Cleanser Allocator or Cleanser Dish

Toothbrush Holder

Tumbler

Garbage bin

Shower Drape

Towel Rack

Latrine Brush Holder

Bathroom sets are intended to make a firm and coordinated look while giving important things to day to day schedules. Accessible in different styles, materials, and varieties, bathroom sets can be tweaked to suit any bathroom stylistic theme.

Why Put resources into a Bathroom Set?

1. Consistency and Style

One of the critical benefits of buying a bathroom set is the visual consistency it brings. By choosing a planned set, you guarantee that every one of the embellishments match in style, material, and variety. This consistency gives your bathroom a cleaned and very much planned appearance, regardless of whether you haven't done a total remodel.

2. Accommodation

Bathroom sets make shopping simpler. Rather than purchasing individual pieces, which can be tedious and may not match impeccably, a set gives all that you want in one go. This is especially valuable while setting up another home or redesigning your bathroom without the problem of choosing things independently.

3. Practical

Purchasing a bathroom set is many times more reasonable than buying every thing exclusively. Most sets are bundled at a limited cost, offering better benefit for your cash.

Kinds of Bathroom Sets

1. Essential Bathroom Sets

Essential bathroom sets regularly incorporate things like cleanser dishes, toothbrush holders, and tumblers. These sets are perfect for little bathrooms or visitor bathrooms, where usefulness is vital. They're normally accessible in strong materials like ceramic, plastic, or metal.

2. Extravagance Bathroom Sets

For those hoping to make a top of the line, spa-like insight, extravagance bathroom sets are the best approach. These sets might incorporate things produced using premium materials like marble, cleaned chrome, or glass. They frequently have extra embellishments, for example, cotton ball containers, cream distributors, and vanity plate. Extravagance bathroom sets add a dash of tastefulness and refinement to your bathroom.

3. Themed Bathroom Sets

Need to add a touch of tomfoolery or caprice to your bathroom? Themed bathroom sets arrive in different lively plans, ideal for youngsters' bathrooms or anybody who loves peculiar style. From sea themed sets to flower designs, these sets permit you to communicate your character in a great manner. They frequently come in splendid tones and strong examples that immediately elevate the bathroom's look.

4. Eco-Accommodating Bathroom Sets

For the naturally cognizant, eco-accommodating bathroom sets are turning out to be progressively well known. These sets are produced using economical materials like bamboo, reused plastic, or biodegradable items. Besides the fact that they assist with diminishing waste, however they likewise add a characteristic, hearty tasteful to your bathroom.

The most effective method to Pick the Right Bathroom Set

1. Think about Your Bathroom's Size

Prior to buying a bathroom set, ponder the size of your bathroom. Bigger bathrooms might profit from full sets that incorporate various embellishments, while more modest bathrooms may just need a couple of key things. Guarantee that the set you pick doesn't mess your space yet rather supplements it.

2. Match Your Stylistic layout

Your bathroom set ought to mix consistently with your current stylistic layout. On the off chance that your bathroom has a cutting edge, moderate plan, pick smooth, nonpartisan sets in materials like hardened steel or matte earthenware. For customary bathrooms, consider sets with elaborate subtleties or exemplary materials like porcelain.

3. Material and Toughness

Bathroom adornments are continually presented to dampness, so picking sturdy, water-safe materials is fundamental. Fired and glass sets offer an extravagant look yet can be delicate. Then again, plastic and hardened steel sets are more sturdy and ideal for families with kids.

4. Simplicity of Cleaning

Your bathroom set ought to be not difficult to clean. Things like cleanser containers and toothbrush holders will generally amass soil and cleanser filth over the long haul. Search for materials that are not difficult to wipe down and don't hold water stains. Smooth, non-permeable surfaces like plastic or cleaned metal are simpler to keep up with.

5. Financial plan

Bathroom sets arrive in a large number of costs. While extravagance sets produced using premium materials might be more costly, they offer life span and style. Nonetheless, there are likewise reasonable sets produced using quality materials that can in any case offer a polished move up to your bathroom.

End

Bathroom sets are a fast and powerful method for upgrading both the look and usefulness of your bathroom. With various choices accessible concerning plan, material, and value, you can undoubtedly track down a set that suits your necessities and supplements your stylistic layout. Whether you're going for extravagance, moderation, or a tomfoolery topic, a very much picked bathroom set can transform your bathroom into an efficient and upscale space.