An everglades food web

The Greek side of reddit

2008.01.26 23:53 The Greek side of reddit

News, questions and fun related to Greece
[link]

2020.04.21 06:47 BongpriestMagosErrl SoilFoodWeb

A place to discuss and share natural, organic and regenerative farming practices with an emphasis on the Soil Food Web system established by Dr. Elaine Ingham
[link]

2010.02.18 19:44 tomatohs Rutgers University

The official subreddit for Rutgers University RU RAH RAH
[link]

2024.05.14 14:07 lyannelovestowrite The copywriter who can make your brand POP!

HI THERE!
I'm a freelance writer who helps entrepreneurs and business owners jazz up their marketing content. If you're looking for someone who can take your jargon-filled, wordy texts and turn them into something light, playful, and easy on the eyes, then you've come to the right place!
I won't sugarcoat it, I'm a generalist writer. But I've had some great experiences writing for clients in the following industries:
As for my list of services, here you go:
Here's my writing portfolio, it includes samples from some of my favorite projects.
My background and credentials (in chronological order):
Last but not least, my rates:
Sounds good to you? Let's chat! Connect with me on LinkedIn or reach out to me here!
Have a lovely day!
submitted by lyannelovestowrite to HireaWriter [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 14:04 Jhonjournalist Before Federal Budget Speech Jim Chalmers’ Question Time is to Happen

Before Federal Budget Speech Jim Chalmers’ Question Time is to Happen
https://preview.redd.it/1z128y20ud0d1.jpg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=92c146e78ede2a7408a316474bda8809681112bb
  • The lock-up is generally for the public authority’s advantage.
  • It is the main season that the public authority has some control over how data is delivered.
  • Senate question time is likewise on today while a large portion of the press display is locked away with the government spending plan.
  • It’s been a moderately happy time so far contrasted with the typical violence of the upper house.
The Senate president, Sue Lines, stops inquiries from the floor briefly to invite a designation from New Zealand. But it’s not the appointment, as Greens congressperson Peter Whish-Wilson brings up.
There’s a great deal of chuckling from all sides of the chamber, especially on the resistance side. At last, the right designation comes in and Lines accurately notes it this chance to certain laughs.

2024 Federal Budget of Australia

Try not to misunderstand me, there’s positively still some punching between the significant gatherings happening down there, however with fewer eyes on them, the vain behaviors appear to be to some degree dialed down.
With the press exhibition for the most part secured in their workplaces now — indeed, they get latrine breaks, and the espresso truck toward the finish of the press display foyer will be open and taking requests (paid for by the writer), and they can address Depository boffins who are standing prepared to take their inquiries, and indeed, there is food (no, the citizen doesn’t pay for it, the news association does) — it very well may merit taking a gander at how everything functions.
The spending plan drops in the number one spot up to the spending plan that the public authority would like some reasonable air for, in front of the spending plan being conveyed. Consider it the titles the public authority needs.
News associations go with choices on the most proficient method to treat that data — you could have seen a great deal of The Watchman’s inclusion filled in the holes (where conceivable) of what wouldn’t be in that frame of mind simultaneously (and that can take a ton of work).
Once in the lock-up, a Depository official makes everybody sign an explanation recognizing that breaking the ban with any of the data they are going to get is exacting wrongdoing.
Telephones are taken, the web is turned off (and this is looked at a few times during the lock-up), and keeping in mind that there is an intranet to empower Canberra departments to speak with their Sydney motherships, most news associations need to send their tech masters to ensure everything is managed without violating any regulations.
Before Coronavirus, the media (and endorsed partners) would be generally secured in parliament‘s board rooms — so media associations would wind up in a room with their rivals. This all turned out great since everybody was dealing with similar records, and generally, it resembled an open-book test, where various associations are centered around various test questions.
However, since Coronavirus, authorities are secured in their singular workplaces. Depository authorities set up in a space of the press display and writers can head down, state what region they are posing inquiries about, and be sent toward the master.
Learn More: https://worldmagzine.com/australia/before-federal-budget-speech-jim-chalmers-question-time-is-to-happen/
submitted by Jhonjournalist to u/Jhonjournalist [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 13:22 lazymentors Marketing & Social Media News you should care about today!

Top 6 Updates of last Week:

Trending

TikTok 🎶

Meta 😅

X (Twitter) 🕹️

Youtube 🕹️

Google 🔦

Agency News

Brands & Ads 🏓

My Fav; Liquid Death’s latest campaign ‘The Adventures of Murder Man’ is a creative masterpiece as usual and a corporate parody.

AI 🤨

Reddit & Pinterest

Microsoft & LinkedIn

Marketing & AdTech

I hope this helps to plan your week ahead. All the sources can be found in the newsletter archive post.
submitted by lazymentors to Marketingcurated [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 13:20 lazymentors Marketing News you should care about today!

Top 6 Updates of last Week:

Trending

TikTok 🎶

Meta 😅

X (Twitter) 🕹️

Youtube 🕹️

Google 🔦

Agency News

Brands & Ads 🏓

My Fav; Liquid Death’s latest campaign ‘The Adventures of Murder Man’ is a creative masterpiece as usual and a corporate parody.

AI 🤨

Reddit & Pinterest

Microsoft & LinkedIn

Marketing & AdTech

I hope this helps to plan your week ahead. Follow for more.
submitted by lazymentors to Entrepreneur [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 13:16 lazymentors Advertising & Agency News you should care about today!

Top 6 Updates of last Week:

Trending

TikTok 🎶

Meta 😅

X (Twitter) 🕹️

Youtube 🕹️

Google 🔦

Agency News

Brands & Ads 🏓

My Fav; Liquid Death’s latest campaign ‘The Adventures of Murder Man’ is a creative masterpiece as usual and a corporate parody.

AI 🤨

Reddit & Pinterest

Microsoft & LinkedIn

Marketing & AdTech

I hope this helps to plan your week ahead.
submitted by lazymentors to advertising [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 13:15 lazymentors Marketing News you should care about today!

Top 6 Updates of last Week:

Trending

TikTok 🎶

Meta 😅

X (Twitter) 🕹️

Youtube 🕹️

Google 🔦

Agency News

Brands & Ads 🏓

My Fav; Liquid Death’s latest campaign ‘The Adventures of Murder Man’ is a creative masterpiece as usual and a corporate parody.

AI 🤨

Reddit & Pinterest

Microsoft & LinkedIn

Marketing & AdTech

I hope this helps to plan your week ahead. Follow for more.
submitted by lazymentors to marketing [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 06:13 Expensive_Catch_3547 My mother / my abuser

Well I guess that I have to start somewhere, so why not the end! I’ve been disowned for the umpteenth time by my parents (or rather by my mum because over the years, Dad has just learned to go along with whatever she says out of duress!) This has all been as a result of my having visited them in Hay ( a 700 kilometre round trip might I add) because my Dad’s brother passed away this week and it was Mother’s Day. I thought that I’d go to show my condolences and to wish my mother and sister who also lives there a happy Mother’s Day and bring them all some hand made gifts, I’m a bit sentimental like that.
I have taken to the craft of making pebble art. The gift that I made for my mother was of an image depicting my family with my parents, my sister and I and my brother who’s passed away, as he is handing my mum a bunch of flowers. I made one for my dad depicting he and my Nan (his mother) fishing at their favourite fishing spot; my Nan passed away just last month as well and I thought it’d be a nice gesture, then I gave my sister one as well with a quote about sisters being joined by the heart.
The first day, Friday, that my husband, daughter and I came there was okay. It always is especially when I’ve not seen them for six months or more! We catch up, mum talks about her very many health conditions, she then complains a little bit about everything and everyone but it’s not over the top at this point because she and my dad are kept busy opening gifts and seemingly happy to see us! But we had decided before coming that we were going to stay in separate accommodation for the weekend with the knowledge that things with my mother usually go sour very quickly! And if we’re not having to stay at their home when it does then we can at least retain some mental stability throughout our trip! This would normally be a point in which I’d let out a bit of a chuckle or if I’m texting or writing a social media post, that I’d add the LOL at the end of that statement, simply due to the stupid realisation that unfortunately it is so very true that it’s almost comical, remembering in my mind the very many times that her very predictable unstable behaviour kicks in at around the 24 hour mark and doesn’t often dissipate until well after we’ve left if not months later! I have no clue as to why I’m still surprised by this occurrence?! Perhaps it’s because it is so unbelievably erratic and shocking to anyone that witnesses it that still even now it’s hard not only to watch unfold but to believe!
But sadly as a result of these personally flips, she lashes out in anger, she can become nasty and callous, her comments are cold and uncaring, she can become physically aggressive, and the damage done during these times can be hard to ever overcome, especially if she aims any comment or remark at you! It is during these times that you know in your soul that she has not a single care for you, not an ounce, and that the only attention or compassion shown towards you as her child or friend is one of obligation out of her need to keep up appearances with those who are still weaved in her web of “social media” deception! She wouldn’t dare lift a finger for anyone in person! But just the fact that we pre decided to obtain alternative accommodation was possibly one of the triggers I was already prepared would set her off, as we would usually choose to stay with her and dad in their spare room over crowded with belongings of the past and present, not unlike the rest of their home.
With this alone, one would see that she has an overwhelming need to retain old memories, be them bad or good. She still literally keeps every ounce of clothing I’ve ever passed on to her since well before I had children which was 27 years ago! Looking in her wardrobe, there are outfits there I remember her wearing when I was a teenager! Her bathroom still retains the $2 gifts (still in their packaging) that us kids bought for her from school Mother’s Day stalls, and the Mary Kay makeup I used to steal when I was attending high school!
Her kitchen still holds the Amway cookware she purchased for hundreds of dollars before I can remember! And to make matters worse, even some of the food in her pantry is from supermarkets no longer operating! Over the years, her hoarding has been a bit of a thorn in dad’s side, having lived a life of drifting from house to house, town to town, moving around as often as they have, having to cart it all along with them and something us kids (myself, my brother and sister) have always found funny to pick on her about, but in writing this, it is easy to see that her need to keep the past fresh in her mind and under her nose is a sickness all In itself.
Whilst we were visiting, we visited my sister in her little unit. It’s like walking back into the 70s and equally as much as a step back in time like my mother’s house! My sister has been diagnosed with schizophrenia which when first diagnosed was apparently drug induced, however; going from the lifestyle we were forced to live as the children to my parents and their lifestyle choices plus my brother and I having been diagnosed with conditions and disorders of our own, putting the puzzle pieces together as to how we’ve all accumulated mental health diagnoses isn’t that difficult taking into consideration that neither one of my parents exerted any kind of maternal instincts at all! And not even as us kids have grown and struggled through our lives, we had always been told by them that once we turned 18 we’d no longer be their “problem” anymore!
My sister’s name is Julie. She moved in with my mum and dad after one of her countless admissions to the psychiatric hospital in Bendigo, having absconded from their independent living facility which is meant to be a monitored introduction back into society after a mental health admission, but she always left before she gave the chance for them to find her accommodation that wasn’t with her abusive ex husband and 4 children.
Sitting down with her in her home, hearing all about the time she’s lived in Hay both with and near my parents, how our mum would bail her up sometimes (which had happened recently) even physically, how she’s thrown dishes at her and how she abuses her denying her food for being overweight on a daily basis… how she calls her fat and crazy… there’s literally a Myriad of abuse in all its forms being dished out to Julie, and yet, because she has nowhere else to go, like the situation my brother was in living with them on and off before he passed away (under questionable circumstances in my opinion) she has no choice but to endure it… and it saddens me to hear about it all let alone see it going on right before my eyes! Especially when the exact same denigrating comments about being useless, overweight, a waste of a life and criticism about the way she’s living her life, the choices she’s making and what she chooses to eat etc etc was also drilled into my brother by my parents and whispered to all that they spoke too for many many years before by brother lost his life.
I know through my own experience having lived with her that her poisonous mouth can lead a person to questioning your mere existence, your reason for living and remove all self esteem in a single spat with her! In 2013 I took an overdose due to a gross level of mental health issues and past trauma which I couldn’t deal with. My parents were living with us at the time and my youngest daughter exhibited some challenging behaviours… my mum found it difficult to cope with her however she made no attempt at patience or compassion and so in a fleeting moment she’s said to my daughter “if I was your mother I would’ve killed myself a long time ago!”
Wow! Just WOW! The above mentioned examples of how toxic my mother is… after only explaining to you the very tip of the iceberg in these few paragraphs, even I am second guessing writing this at all, and I’m finding it hard to fathom how I can rehash the past and get into more detail about the really bad situations! Not to mention, go into my life right from childhood until now with her and my father which is yet to come!
Writing this down, whether I share it here or not is going to be a huge journey for me that’ll take a lot of courage and open some really raw emotions… bring back old memories that I’ve suppressed and disassociated myself from… there will undoubtedly be many trigger points that I will go into which some people might become affected by, including me, but mine is a life that was, is and continues to be a challenge day in and day out… it’s something I’ve had to survive, a life and reality that I still struggle so much with but least attempt to cope with and in some way, I hope that my story will be able to shine a light on just how the importance of love, attention, affection and nurturing in our childhood really do mould the person we eventually become…
submitted by Expensive_Catch_3547 to abusesurvivors [link] [comments]

2024.05.14 06:07 Expensive_Catch_3547 My mother / my abuser

Well I guess that I have to start somewhere, so why not the end! I’ve been disowned for the umpteenth time by my parents (or rather by my mum because over the years, Dad has just learned to go along with whatever she says out of duress!) This has all been as a result of my having visited them in Hay ( a 700 kilometre round trip might I add) because my Dad’s brother passed away this week and it was Mother’s Day. I thought that I’d go to show my condolences and to wish my mother and sister who also lives there a happy Mother’s Day and bring them all some hand made gifts, I’m a bit sentimental like that.
I have taken to the craft of making pebble art. The gift that I made for my mother was of an image depicting my family with my parents, my sister and I and my brother who’s passed away, as he is handing my mum a bunch of flowers. I made one for my dad depicting he and my Nan (his mother) fishing at their favourite fishing spot; my Nan passed away just last month as well and I thought it’d be a nice gesture, then I gave my sister one as well with a quote about sisters being joined by the heart.
The first day, Friday, that my husband, daughter and I came there was okay. It always is especially when I’ve not seen them for six months or more! We catch up, mum talks about her very many health conditions, she then complains a little bit about everything and everyone but it’s not over the top at this point because she and my dad are kept busy opening gifts and seemingly happy to see us! But we had decided before coming that we were going to stay in separate accommodation for the weekend with the knowledge that things with my mother usually go sour very quickly! And if we’re not having to stay at their home when it does then we can at least retain some mental stability throughout our trip! This would normally be a point in which I’d let out a bit of a chuckle or if I’m texting or writing a social media post, that I’d add the LOL at the end of that statement, simply due to the stupid realisation that unfortunately it is so very true that it’s almost comical, remembering in my mind the very many times that her very predictable unstable behaviour kicks in at around the 24 hour mark and doesn’t often dissipate until well after we’ve left if not months later! I have no clue as to why I’m still surprised by this occurrence?! Perhaps it’s because it is so unbelievably erratic and shocking to anyone that witnesses it that still even now it’s hard not only to watch unfold but to believe!
But sadly as a result of these personally flips, she lashes out in anger, she can become nasty and callous, her comments are cold and uncaring, she can become physically aggressive, and the damage done during these times can be hard to ever overcome, especially if she aims any comment or remark at you! It is during these times that you know in your soul that she has not a single care for you, not an ounce, and that the only attention or compassion shown towards you as her child or friend is one of obligation out of her need to keep up appearances with those who are still weaved in her web of “social media” deception! She wouldn’t dare lift a finger for anyone in person! But just the fact that we pre decided to obtain alternative accommodation was possibly one of the triggers I was already prepared would set her off, as we would usually choose to stay with her and dad in their spare room over crowded with belongings of the past and present, not unlike the rest of their home.
With this alone, one would see that she has an overwhelming need to retain old memories, be them bad or good. She still literally keeps every ounce of clothing I’ve ever passed on to her since well before I had children which was 27 years ago! Looking in her wardrobe, there are outfits there I remember her wearing when I was a teenager! Her bathroom still retains the $2 gifts (still in their packaging) that us kids bought for her from school Mother’s Day stalls, and the Mary Kay makeup I used to steal when I was attending high school!
Her kitchen still holds the Amway cookware she purchased for hundreds of dollars before I can remember! And to make matters worse, even some of the food in her pantry is from supermarkets no longer operating! Over the years, her hoarding has been a bit of a thorn in dad’s side, having lived a life of drifting from house to house, town to town, moving around as often as they have, having to cart it all along with them and something us kids (myself, my brother and sister) have always found funny to pick on her about, but in writing this, it is easy to see that her need to keep the past fresh in her mind and under her nose is a sickness all In itself.
Whilst we were visiting, we visited my sister in her little unit. It’s like walking back into the 70s and equally as much as a step back in time like my mother’s house! My sister has been diagnosed with schizophrenia which when first diagnosed was apparently drug induced, however; going from the lifestyle we were forced to live as the children to my parents and their lifestyle choices plus my brother and I having been diagnosed with conditions and disorders of our own, putting the puzzle pieces together as to how we’ve all accumulated mental health diagnoses isn’t that difficult taking into consideration that neither one of my parents exerted any kind of maternal instincts at all! And not even as us kids have grown and struggled through our lives, we had always been told by them that once we turned 18 we’d no longer be their “problem” anymore!
My sister’s name is Julie. She moved in with my mum and dad after one of her countless admissions to the psychiatric hospital in Bendigo, having absconded from their independent living facility which is meant to be a monitored introduction back into society after a mental health admission, but she always left before she gave the chance for them to find her accommodation that wasn’t with her abusive ex husband and 4 children.
Sitting down with her in her home, hearing all about the time she’s lived in Hay both with and near my parents, how our mum would bail her up sometimes (which had happened recently) even physically, how she’s thrown dishes at her and how she abuses her denying her food for being overweight on a daily basis… how she calls her fat and crazy… there’s literally a Myriad of abuse in all its forms being dished out to Julie, and yet, because she has nowhere else to go, like the situation my brother was in living with them on and off before he passed away (under questionable circumstances in my opinion) she has no choice but to endure it… and it saddens me to hear about it all let alone see it going on right before my eyes! Especially when the exact same denigrating comments about being useless, overweight, a waste of a life and criticism about the way she’s living her life, the choices she’s making and what she chooses to eat etc etc was also drilled into my brother by my parents and whispered to all that they spoke too for many many years before by brother lost his life.
I know through my own experience having lived with her that her poisonous mouth can lead a person to questioning your mere existence, your reason for living and remove all self esteem in a single spat with her! In 2013 I took an overdose due to a gross level of mental health issues and past trauma which I couldn’t deal with. My parents were living with us at the time and my youngest daughter exhibited some challenging behaviours… my mum found it difficult to cope with her however she made no attempt at patience or compassion and so in a fleeting moment she’s said to my daughter “if I was your mother I would’ve killed myself a long time ago!”
Wow! Just WOW! The above mentioned examples of how toxic my mother is… after only explaining to you the very tip of the iceberg in these few paragraphs, even I am second guessing writing this at all, and I’m finding it hard to fathom how I can rehash the past and get into more detail about the really bad situations! Not to mention, go into my life right from childhood until now with her and my father which is yet to come!
Writing this down, whether I share it here or not is going to be a huge journey for me that’ll take a lot of courage and open some really raw emotions… bring back old memories that I’ve suppressed and disassociated myself from… there will undoubtedly be many trigger points that I will go into which some people might become affected by, including me, but mine is a life that was, is and continues to be a challenge day in and day out… it’s something I’ve had to survive, a life and reality that I still struggle so much with but least attempt to cope with and in some way, I hope that my story will be able to shine a light on just how the importance of love, attention, affection and nurturing in our childhood really do mould the person we eventually become…
submitted by Expensive_Catch_3547 to u/Expensive_Catch_3547 [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 22:58 bigchives Comparing GrapheneOS with Stock Android: What's Different?

GrapheneOS and stock Android are both OS options for phones. GrapheneOS focuses on keeping your info safe. Stock Android, on the other hand, offers many handy features. Let's dive into how these two differ in privacy, security, and what you can do. This way, you can pick the one that suits your needs best.

Key Takeaways:

GrapheneOS Features

GrapheneOS is known for its strong focus on privacy and security. This makes it perfect for those who want to keep their data safe. Now, let's look at what makes GrapheneOS stand out from the rest.

Sandboxed Google Play Services

One of GrapheneOS's key features is sandboxed Google Play services. This means apps can't freely access your private data. They're limited to a safe area. This helps prevent data leaks and stops apps from seeing more than they should.

Regular Updates for Security Maintenance

GrapheneOS keeps devices safe by offering frequent security updates. These updates fix any new vulnerabilities that might arise. This way, the system is always up-to-date, keeping your device secure.

Attack Surface Reduction Measures

GrapheneOS uses techniques to reduce the chances of different types of attacks. It limits how much apps can interact with the system, blocking some attacks right at the start. It also includes special features that make it harder for attackers to exploit the system.

Enhanced Heap Memory Corruption Defense

Heaps are a common target for hackers, but GrapheneOS strengthens against this. It uses its own memory management system to protect against heap corruption. This includes special memory handling to make attacks harder.

Robust Memory Exploit Detection and Prevention

GrapheneOS is ahead of the game in detecting and stopping memory exploits. It has tools that spot and fix important memory bugs. This helps keep your device safe from complex attacks that target memory use.

Official Production Support for Pixel Devices

GrapheneOS supports many Pixel devices officially. This includes the Pixel 8 Pro and other new Pixel devices. Users of Pixel devices can get the added security and privacy GrapheneOS offers.
After learning about GrapheneOS, it's time to look at Stock Android's setup and features in the next section.

Stock Android Setup and Features

Setting up Stock Android on your device is simple. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy. When you turn on your device, you'll follow some steps to make it yours. This includes picking a language, connecting to Wi-Fi, and signing in to Google.
Stock Android works perfectly with Google's many services. Thanks to Google Play services, you get millions of apps and games from the Play Store. Just sign in with your Google account to start downloading your favorite apps, from work tools to social apps.
Stock Android also brings you Google Maps. It gives you precise directions and updates on traffic in real time. It's great for finding your way in a car or on foot, showing you the best routes and interesting places nearby.
With Google Keyboard, typing is easier and better. It guesses your next words, lets you swipe to type, and supports different languages. This means typing on your phone is faster and more accurate.

Key Features of Stock Android:

Features Stock Android
User-friendly setup ✓
Google Play Store access ✓
Google Maps integration ✓
Enhanced typing experience with Google Keyboard ✓

Functionality Comparison

GrapheneOS and stock Android are much alike in basic phone tasks. Yet, they have key differences.

GrapheneOS Functionality

GrapheneOS values substance over flashy marketing. It cares deeply about privacy and security. By not including Google services, it focuses more on protecting users.
Its main goal is making your device safe from attack. It does this by limiting what attackers can do and safeguarding the core part of the operation system.
It also stops attackers from taking full control even if they somehow get in. This is done through a feature called verified boot.
By removing unneeded code, GrapheneOS makes attacks from far away, close by, or online less likely. It adds layers of protection to apps and the system, making them much harder to exploit.
GrapheneOS Functionality Features Description
Sandboxed Play Services A sandboxed Play Services feature that provides better app compatibility, functionality, and security compared to MicroG.
Push Notifications without Play Services GrapheneOS allows push notifications to work fine without Play Services for many apps.
Privacy-Focused Network Toggle GrapheneOS offers a network toggle without leaks and prefers fine-grained VPNs for enhanced security.
GrapheneOS finds a sweet spot between being private, easy to use, and secure. It designs features to challenge any threats.

Stock Android Functionality

Stock Android, made by Google, aims for everyone. It has many features that cater to diverse needs.
One highlight is Android Auto, making your phone and car work together. This way, you keep your hands off the phone while driving yet enjoy many useful features.
Another cool feature is Now Playing. It shows what song is playing without you needing to open your phone. This is handy for finding new music.
Stock Android Functionality Features Description
Android Auto Android Auto provides seamless integration between Android devices and compatible vehicles for hands-free access to navigation, communication, and entertainment features.
Now Playing Now Playing feature The identifies and displays the currently playing song on the lock screen.
Such features make stock Android attractive for those who want a versatile system. It's packed with tools and tricks to make your life easier.
Remember, GrapheneOS and stock Android are both good for getting things done. Yet, GrapheneOS shines in protecting your privacy. This might mean fewer but more secure features.

Privacy and Security

When you pick a system for your phone, think about privacy and safety. GrapheneOS and stock Android protect your data in unique ways.

GrapheneOS Privacy and Security Features

GrapheneOS focuses heavily on keeping your data safe. It offers many tools to boost your privacy and security. These include limiting data collection and secure updates.

Stock Android Privacy and Security Considerations

Stock Android, made by Google, has its security perks. But it's heavily tied to Google's services. This can lead to less privacy.
Both GrapheneOS and stock Android care about security. However, GrapheneOS's special focus on privacy sets it apart. It's great for anyone who really values their data privacy.

Comparison Table: GrapheneOS vs. Stock Android Privacy and Security

Privacy and Security Features GrapheneOS Stock Android
Data Collection Minimizes data collection May collect user data through Google services
Updates Regular secure updates Regular updates to address security vulnerabilities
Google Services Access Restricted access to Google services System-level integration with Google services
Permission Controls Strict permission controls Permission customization options
Table: A comparison of privacy and security features offered by GrapheneOS and stock Android
In summary, if you're big on privacy, you'll like what GrapheneOS offers. It's a top choice. But if Google's services matter a lot to you, stock Android might be the way to go. It's not as privacy-focused, but it's great for those that love Google's features.

App Compatibility

GrapheneOS and stock Android both excel in app compatibility, but GrapheneOS faces challenges with some banking apps. These apps need special access. Yet, GrapheneOS aims for the highest privacy and security, sometimes making these needs clash.
Many apps are compatible with GrapheneOS, and the project actively works with developers. It encourages them to make their apps work with GrapheneOS. This allows users to enjoy the operating system's enhanced privacy and security safely.
Stock Android, on the other hand, has superior compatibility with all apps, including those from banks. It works across many devices and is chosen by developers. Its wide use makes it easier for developers to ensure app compatibility.
To make the app experience smoother on GrapheneOS, users can choose alternative apps that work well with the system. Also, the project is always updating to boost app compatibility through community efforts.

Recommended Banking Apps for GrapheneOS

Many banking apps face issues on GrapheneOS. Still, several banking apps perform well on this system:
Remember, although these apps are compatible with GrapheneOS, it's wise to confirm with your bank or financial institute for the latest compatibility updates.
As GrapheneOS grows, its app compatibility, including banking apps, is expected to get better. The project is dedicated to offering an experience that values security and privacy while ensuring apps work well.

User Feedback and Experience

GrapheneOS is great for privacy and security, which users love. They feel their data is safer and that Google tracks them less. Plus, it works well with most Android apps. This means users can still do what they want while keeping their privacy a top priority.
Some say that stock Android is smoother and has more useful features than GrapheneOS. They think that GrapheneOS focuses too much on privacy and misses out on some key features. For example, it doesn't work as closely with Google services and apps.
GrapheneOS users share their thoughts in forums, social media, and by talking to the team. They give detailed advice, like how to make permission prompts even safer. They also want the Auditor feature to be better explained, especially to journalists.
Users often request a better way to know when there are system updates. They want to be able to choose when to update, so it doesn't disrupt their day. They also ask about how to use the app pinning and auto-reboot timer, looking for more info.
Users also need more info about the Android Recovery system in GrapheneOS. They want to know more about its role in updating the system. And they worry about any issues the updates might bring.
Some users find features in GrapheneOS that remind them of Google. They want clearer information about these features. This way, they can understand them better.
App compatibility is an issue for some. A few apps won’t work on GrapheneOS because they fear security risks. Some just crash. This is why some users carry a second phone for specific apps, like banking or gaming.

User Profile Usage on GrapheneOS

GrapheneOS encourages the use of separate profiles for different apps. This keeps your privacy and security levels high. Users should have profiles for general use, social media, work, and private matters.

GrapheneOS Installation Ease

Installing GrapheneOS is known for being easy among custom OSes. The web interface makes the process straightforward. However, installing it on various computers might need extra steps sometimes.

GrapheneOS Benefits and Drawbacks

Why do people like GrapheneOS? It's great with most apps, makes you more secure, and doesn't let Google track you much. Plus, it backs up your apps very safely.
But it's not perfect. Some apps, like Facebook Messenger, have issues. The fingerprint sensor on the Google Pixel 6 isn’t the best. And sometimes you might face problems with internet when using a VPN.

Google Pixel 6 User Experience

The Google Pixel 6 is seen as a good buy by users. It offers good features and performance for its cost. However, the fingerprint sensor and the size of the phone get mixed reviews. The camera's quality also varies among users.

Overall Recommendation

Despite some issues, GrapheneOS is recommended by many for its strong privacy and security. It's a good choice for those who worry about Google spying on them.

User Feedback Overview

Feedback Request/Suggestion
Implementation of safeguards in on-demand permission prompts Enhancing permission controls for improved security
Better explanation and marketing of the Auditor feature Targeting investigative journalists as potential users
Proposal for a notification system for system updates Allowing manual installation of updates
Inquiry about the functionality of app pinning with auto-reboot timer Clarification on how the feature works
Request for clarification on Android Recovery system Understanding its role and potential issues with OTA updates
Identification of features resembling "Googlisms" Clear explanations and disclosures for informed usage
Challenges with app compatibility on de-googled version Issues with banking apps, food delivery apps, Uber, and mobile gaming

Future Development and Updates

GrapheneOS gets better thanks to the hard work of gifted developers. They're always updating it to make it safer and easier to use.
Updates bring new security patches, app changes, and more. For instance, new kernel updates might change to versions like 5.15.151 or 6.1.80. Apps like Vanadium might jump to new versions like 124.0.6367.159.0.
They use tags to give updates for certain devices. For example, a tag like 2024040100 might mean a special update for certain phones. These updates are meant to make your experience even better.
Recently, they made sure that VPN apps can't accidentally leak your web requests. They also update apps like PDF Viewer to make sure they run smoother. These updates are all about making your phone more enjoyable to use.
GrapheneOS also pays special attention to certain phones. For example, the Pixel Fold might receive updates specific to its design. This keeps your device running well and safe.
They change settings to make your phone safer and easier to use. For security, a new memory tag setting is available. You might see different settings based on what phone you have, making everything more user-friendly.
Improving apps is just as important to GrapheneOS. Apps like TalkBack, which helps by reading the screen, might get better with version 14.1. These changes aim to make using your favorite apps a smoother experience.
They also make technical updates to stay cutting-edge. A recent kernel update, like 5.15.149, makes your device more secure and faster.
Even the Camera app and GmsCompatConfig (used for Google services) get updated. This ensures your phone is more dependable and full of new features.

Official Device Support

GrapheneOS officially supports many Pixel models including the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 5a. These devices let you make the most of GrapheneOS's features.
Some Pixel phones, like the Pixel 5, won't get any more updates. Yet, the Pixel 4a and 4 XL keep getting support, like better security. This means you can still use these devices safely.
The 8th generation Pixel devices offer top security levels. They're supported for 7 years from their launch with features custom-tailored to protect your device.
Pixel devices get different levels of support based on their generation. The 8th generation has a longer 7-year support compared to 6th and 7th generation models, which gets 5 years. This shows GrapheneOS's focus on lasting security and usability.

Future Focus and Community Support

The team behind GrapheneOS aims to make major improvements in device, system, and software security. Their focus isn't on supporting every device but on ensuring profound security.
GrapheneOS has a strong community that loves its security. This community's dedication to privacy drives the project's advancement and success.

Related Alternatives

CalyxOS, RattlesnakeOS, DivestOS, and Ubuntu Touch offer different privacy and security features. Exploring these options can help you find the right system for your needs.

Benefits and Drawbacks of GrapheneOS

GrapheneOS offers big benefits for privacy and security. It keeps your data safe and lets you control your online world better. But, there are drawback to consider too.

Benefits of GrapheneOS

Drawbacks of GrapheneOS

Deciding on GrapheneOS means balancing privacy with how easy your phone is to use. It's great for keeping your data safe. But, you might not find all the apps and features you're used to.

Conclusion

After using GrapheneOS for a year on a Google Pixel 6A, its focus on privacy and security shines. It updates quickly, in about 5 minutes, keeping your phone safe. Occasionally, small graphical glitches happen but are easy to fix.
Most day-to-day apps work well from the Google Play Store and Neo Store. The battery life is outstanding, lasting days even with lots of use.
It integrates well with Google's main products like the Play Store and Calendar. Yet, using these services means thinking about your privacy trade-offs.
When making privacy choices, think about how you use technology and what you're comfortable with. The author has used Apple phones for privacy extensively, which informs this perspective.
GrapheneOS makes Android more secure by adding extra permission controls, reminiscent of iOS. It lets users manage apps' accesses like location and storage.
A Google Pixel phone is a good choice for GrapheneOS because it supports other operating systems. Though some users find the user interface a bit challenging, they like its simple design.
To get push notifications working, the author installed Sandboxed Play Services. Going without Google Play Services can be hard due to its deep ties to Google.
With Android 12, apps start to adapt to your phone’s colors, which looks great, especially on the Pixel 7 Pro. This new look makes the home screen feel personalized and clean.
GrapheneOS takes security and privacy seriously, stepping beyond regular Android. Its multiple profiles help keep your data isolated, enhancing privacy.
Setting up GrapheneOS is easy, thanks to a user-friendly web interface. Most apps work well, giving users a satisfying experience, even with compatibility.
Battery life and performance are as good as regular Android systems, showing it can be just as efficient, with better privacy controls.
With GrapheneOS, users have less tracking and more privacy, surpassing typical Android’s privacy. Yet, there are issues with some specific apps and services.
GrapheneOS with a VPN sometimes has connectivity problems, possibly due to app compatibility. Generally, using it on a Google Pixel 6 is a good experience, despite minor issues.
GrapheneOS Stock Android
+ Strong focus on privacy and security + Wide range of features and convenience
+ Streamlined updates with quick completion time + Regular updates and feature additions
+ Smooth app compatibility for day-to-day apps + Better compatibility with all apps
+ Impressive battery life + Similar battery life and performance
+ Seamless integration with Google products - System-level integration with Google services
+ Additional privacy controls and permissions toggles - Limited privacy control over Google services
+ Multiple user profiles for enhanced privacy + Standard user profile and features

Considerations for Choosing an Operating System

When you compare GrapheneOS and stock Android, think about what matters most. If you are very concerned about privacy and security, GrapheneOS is great. It keeps your data safe and your device secure. However, if you like having many features, stock Android might suit you better.
GrapheneOS is especially good for Pixel devices. It promises many years of support. For example, 8th generation Pixels get 7 years, while older models get 5 years. GrapheneOS might not work with Android Auto or some banking apps. But it's very secure and focuses on keeping your privacy safe.
Stock Android works well with Google apps and has lots of features. You can use Google Maps and Google Keyboard easily. But, if you switch to GrapheneOS, you lose things like Google Pay and some unique Google features.
Choosing between GrapheneOS and stock Android is all about what you need and like. Think about your privacy wishes and how much you value convenience. Then, you can make a smart choice that meets your needs.

FAQ

What are the key distinctions between GrapheneOS and Stock Android?

GrapheneOS focuses on keeping your data safe and private. Stock Android, on the other hand, comes with many useful features.

What are some of the features provided by GrapheneOS?

GrapheneOS gives you a more private and secure playground. It does this by keeping Google Play services separate. It also keeps your phone updated regularly.

How is the setup process and what features does Stock Android provide?

Stock Android is easy to get started with. It includes popular Google services like the Play Store, Maps, and Keyboard.

What are some of the functionalities offered by GrapheneOS and Stock Android?

Both operating systems let you do the basic stuff. But GrapheneOS skips Android Auto and Stock Android has a cool Now Playing feature.

What distinguishes GrapheneOS and Stock Android in terms of privacy and security?

GrapheneOS works hard to make sure your information stays private. It does this by not sharing much with Google. Stock Android, however, is closely tied with Google services, which might affect your privacy.

How is the app compatibility for GrapheneOS and Stock Android?

GrapheneOS might not work with every app. Some banking apps might not fully function on it. Stock Android usually works well with all apps.

What is the user feedback and experience for GrapheneOS and Stock Android?

Users really like GrapheneOS for its commitment to privacy and security. Stock Android is preferred by those who want a smooth experience with lots of features.

How are the future development and updates for GrapheneOS and Stock Android?

GrapheneOS depends on donations to improve with new features. Both systems get updated regularly. Stock Android gets these updates from a bigger team.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of using GrapheneOS?

Using GrapheneOS means your data is more protected. But you might miss out on using some popular apps and features.

What should I consider when choosing between GrapheneOS and Stock Android?

Think about what matters most to you. If privacy and security are top concerns, GrapheneOS is a great choice. Stock Android is better if you want a smoother experience with many features.
submitted by bigchives to AndroidRootPokemonGo [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 22:51 adventurepaul E-commerce Industry News Recap 🔥 Week of May 13th, 2024

Hi - I'm Paul and I follow the e-commerce industry closely for my Shopifreaks E-commerce Newsletter. Each week I post a summary recap of the week's top stories, which I cover in depth with sources in the full edition. Let's dive in...
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STAT OF THE WEEK: Kohl's sales have shrunk by $2.3B since 2019. During that same period of time, the company lost 1.3M customers who no longer shop with the retailer.
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BigCommerce is exploring a sale after attracting takeover interest, according to sources who chose to remain anonymous due to the confidentiality of the information. The sources said that BigCommerce asked investment bank Qatalyst Partners to solicit interest from potential buyers that include private equity firms, but that the discussions are at an early stage and no deal is certain.
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Squarespace announced that it will be going private in a $6.9B all-cash deal with private-equity firm Permira, who agreed to pay $44 per share (a roughly 30% premium). Although Squarespace never lost 90% of its share price like BigCommerce, it has experienced a tumultuous time on the market since its IPO in May 2021 — opening around $49.50 and at times trading in the low $20s. Shares rose nearly 13% to $43 in pre-market trading upon release of the news.
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ByteDance filed a lawsuit in US federal court seeking to block the new law that would force the sale or ban of the app within the country. The lawsuit challenges the law on constitutional grounds, also citing commercial, technical, and legal hurdles, as well as opposition from Beijing. Legal experts say the legal battle will play out in the courts in coming months and likely will reach the Supreme Court.
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OpenAI unveiled its newest model, GPT-4o, designed to turn ChatGPT into a digital personal assistant that can engage in real-time, spoken conversations and interact with users using text, screenshots, photos, documents, and charts. The new version of ChatGPT also has memory capabilities, which means it can learn from previous conversations. It will be available to both unpaid and premium customers alike. OpenAI also announced that it would be launching a desktop app with the GPT-4o capabilities, giving users another platform to interact with the technology outside of a web browser.
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Amazon launched in South Africa last week, marking its first marketplace in sub-Saharan Africa, and bringing its total number of marketplaces worldwide to 22. To launch the new marketplace, Amazon is offering free delivery on first orders and on subsequent orders above R500 (about $27), access to 3,000 pick-up points, status updates via WhatsApp to track orders, 30 day refunds, and 24/7 customer support. The marketplace was supposed to launch in the country in 2023, but got delayed due to changes in priorities within Amazon.
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In an unlikely partnership, Instacart is partnering with Uber Eats to expand into the restaurant delivery business. Instacart will add a new tab for restaurant delivery to its app in the coming weeks, the listings will be provided by Uber, and the food will be picked up and delivered by Uber Eats drivers. Customers will receive the same prices on both apps and Instacart will receive an affiliate commission on orders. It's a strange partnership though given that Instacart and Uber Eats actively compete on grocery delivery. Are they planning to merge? Uber says no.
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Apple's advertisement for its latest iPad Pro sparked criticism for showing an animation of musical instruments, paint cans, cameras, record players, and other symbols of creativity being crushed by a giant machine, with the output being the new iPad Pro, which the company says is the thinnest Apple product ever. In this context, “crushing” was supposed to symbolize “consolidating” and “compacting” — with the visuals meant to showcase how the new iPad Pro puts the power of all these tools into the hands of creators in one thin device. However online commenters criticized the ad as insensitive and as symbolizing a “destruction of the human experience.” The ad hit the web on Tuesday, and by Thursday, Apple issued a mea culpa and apologized for the campaign.
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Google is encouraging merchants to enable conversion annotations on their Google Shopping ads, which offer social proof that highlight a product's popularity. Conversion annotations like “best selling” or “3K shopped here recently” would provide visual cues about a product’s popularity or sales performance directly in the ad unit. Annotations like these are par for the course with e-commerce retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and Temu, which all employ similar tactics. They can provide valuable info for shoppers and also help with conversions. However they also open data privacy concerns, given that Google is not the actual retailer or marketplace selling the items, so a merchant would have to share this purchase history data from their e-commerce platform with Google — which technically most already do by giving access to GA4.
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Shein is attempting to join the National Retail Federation as it pursues regulatory approval to go public in the US. The company believes that NRF membership would boost its chances of receiving SEC approval. However so far, Shein has been rejected numerous times. An anonymous source familiar with the matter said someone with heavy influence at the NRF is strongly against the Shein's admittance. However board members who spoke to CNBC said that Shein's membership application hadn't come up in meetings, and that they aren't involved in deciding which companies are granted access.
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Amazon is leading the way with selling home goods, capturing 18.8% of consumer home furnishings spending, compared to Walmart's 7.3% market share. Notably, Amazon’s gains in the furniture category come in spite of the company’s decision to phase out two of its three furniture brands last year.
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Stanley, which is projected to do $750M in sales this year, up from $73M in 2019, after seeing its water bottles become a status symbol thanks to TikTok, is now expanding into trendier accessories. The company is launching a line of bags called the All-Day Collection which include a mini cooler, backpack cooler, and Quencher Carry-All, designed for someone to sling their Stanley over their hip.
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Jack Dorsey left the Bluesky board and deleted his account on the service he helped kickstart, claiming that Bluesky was “literally repeating all the mistakes” he made while running Twitter. Dorsey says he never intended Bluesky to be an independent company, but rather, an open source protocol that Twitter was supposed to be the first client of. He also confirmed that he is financially backing Nostr, another decentralized Twitter-like service popular among crypto enthusiasts and run by an anonymous founder.
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Amazon is deploying 50 electric trucks in California, which it claims is the largest EV fleet in the country, as part of its mission to eliminate pollution from its global operations. The trucks will be integrated into first-mile operations, moving goods from container ships at the ports to fulfillment centers, as well as middle-mile operations, transporting packages from fulfillment centers to delivery centers.
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Wix launched a new tool called AI Portfolio Creator, which allows a user to upload and organize large-scale image collections, select the type of portfolio they want, and then have the AI tool sort and generate a portfolio with clustered images, recommended titles and descriptions, and personalized layout options.
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Amazon is now requiring all dietary supplements to be verified by a third-party testing, inspection, and certification organization — which is something that not even the FDA requires. Amazon is the largest supplement retailer in the US ahead of Walmart and Target, and its new requirements are expected to put more pressure on the industry, which is being scrutinized more than ever.
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Alibaba is revamping its flagship retail website Taobao for the first time in seven years with a focus on providing a smoother search and buying process. The website overhaul comes ahead of the 618 sales event, China's second-largest annual shopping event. A few weeks ago I reported that Eddie Wu, the CEO of Alibaba Group, would now be directly overseeing its domestic e-commerce arm which includes Taobao and Tmall Group, and it sounds like he's hitting the ground running with his new responsibilities.
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Amazon is hosting its first-ever Amazon Book Sale, a new shopping event starting on May 15th that offers up to 50% off print best sellers and up to 80% off Kindle Books. The six day shopping event will exclusively run in the US, and Prime-membership is not required to take advantage of the deals.
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FTX reported that nearly all of its customers will receive the money back that they are owed, two years after the cryptocurrency exchange imploded. The company owes about $11.2B to its customers and estimates that it has between $14.5B and $16.3B to distribute to them. The caveat is that customers will receive the USD value of their holdings at the time of the exchange collapse, and not the actual crypto holdings themselves, which means that they'll miss out on all gains during the past two years during which BTC went from around $16k to now over $60k. Better than nothing though, that's for sure.
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800,000 consumers in Europe and the US were duped into sharing card details and other sensitive personal data with a network of fake online designer shops operated from China, which comprised one of the largest scams of its kind with 76,000 fake websites created. The scammers used expired domains to host its fake shops in order to help avoid detection by websites or brand owners, and more than 1M orders were processed in the past three years alone.
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Beyond Inc, which owns Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, and Zulily, reported that its Q1 net loss swelled to $72M from $10M a year ago, while its operating loss widened to $58M from $8M. The company's active customers grew to 6M, up 26% from nearly 5M a year ago, however, its average order value dropped to $173 from $220 a year earlier.
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TikTok will begin automatically labeling AI generated content when it is uploaded from certain platforms like DALL.E 3, Adobe Firefly, Photoshop, and Microsoft Copilot. TikTok will also start attaching Content Credentials to content, which will remain on the media when downloaded, allowing other platforms to read the metadata.
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eBay is testing an Add To Cart button in search results that opens a Quick View window, allowing buyers to skip the listing page. Technically the button should probably not be labeled “Add To Cart” since it doesn't perform that action, but rather, displays a quick view window with three buttons: Buy It Now, Add To Cart, View All Details. Sellers are worried that buyers will miss crucial details in the product description that may lead to increased returns and negative feedback.
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Amazon is planning to launch its fleet of drones in Tolleson, Arizona, but the city's extreme temperature is hampering its efforts. Drones can't operate in temperatures exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that Tolleson crosses for a full three months of the year.
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A US district judge dismissed X's lawsuit against Bright Data, a data-scraping company accused of improperly accessing X system and violating X terms and state laws when scraping and selling data. The judge basically said that if X owned the data, it could perhaps argue that it has exclusive rights to control it, but then X wouldn't be able to enjoy the safe harbor of Section 230, which allows the platform to avoid liability for third-party content. Can't have it both ways!
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Nintendo is discontinuing its X integration for the switch on June 10th, which means users will no longer be able to post screenshots or videos to the platform from their device. The drop in support also affects games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which had game-specific options to send out tweets. Microsoft Xbox dropped support for X in April 2023 and Sony Playstation dropped the service in October 2023 due to the increase in X's API access fees.
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Amazon claimed that its recordable incident rate — a metric that comprises all injuries requiring “more than basic first-aid treatment” — at its US warehouses has improved by 24% since 2019. However the National Employment Law Project challenged Amazon's injury data in a report last week, claiming that Amazon's overall injury rate in 2023 was 71% higher than that of other employers in the sector at 6.5 cases per 100 workers.
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Amazon Ads announced three new advertising formats for streaming TV including shoppable carousel ads, interactive pause ads, and interactive trivia ads. Amazon did not say when the new ad types would officially launch, but noted that it will formally present them at a presentation on May 14th.
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Meta is rolling out an expanded set of generative AI ad tools that can create full image variations with text overlays, expand images to fit across different aspect ratios, and generate alternate versions of headlines and other ad text. The features will become available globally to advertisers by the end of the year.
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Square introduced a tool called Square Kiosk to allow self-service ordering at fast food restaurants. The device is a combined software, hardware, and payment solution that allows customers to select exactly what they want with customization options, upgrades, and add-ons.
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The European Parliament announced new measures to make packaging more sustainable and reduce packaging waste in the EU, including reduction targets of 15% by 2040 — which sounds far away but is only 16 years away?! As part of the new rules, the EU will set maximum empty space ratios for e-commerce transportation, ban certain single-use plastic packaging types, and beverage distributors and take-away food will have to offer consumers the option of bringing their own container.
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Indians who pre-ordered Teslas in 2016 are giving up and seeking refunds of their deposits after Elon Musk canceled another visit to the country last month. Disillusioned Tesla enthusiasts in India say they will now buy a car from the company only if they see it in a showroom, or they'll buy a different electrical vehicle from a company that actually exists in the country.
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Target is limiting its Pride Month collection to select stores this year instead of rolling out the merchandise nationwide like it typically has for the past decade, due to backlash the retailer experienced last year. Last May customers in certain stores knocked down LGBTQ+ merchandise displays, angrily approached store employees, and posted threatening videos on social media from inside the stores.
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E-commerce spending from Jan 1 to April 30, 2024 rose 7% YoY to $331.6B, according to Adobe Analytics. One trend Adobe identified during the period is a shift of online spending to purchasing the cheapest goods across personal care, electronics, apparel, home & garden, furniture, and grocery.
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Plus 7 seed rounds, IPOs, and acquisitions of interest, including Shopify's acquisition of Peel, a tool that integrates with a merchant's tech stack including Klaviyo and Recharge and helps them analyze their sales data to improve customer retention.
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I hope you found this recap helpful. See you next week!
PAUL Editor of Shopifreaks E-Commerce Newsletter
PS: If I missed any big news this week, please share in the comments.
submitted by adventurepaul to ecommerce [link] [comments]

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2024.05.13 22:46 adventurepaul What's new in e-commerce? 🔥 Week of May 13th, 2024

Hi - I'm Paul and I follow the e-commerce industry closely for my Shopifreaks E-commerce Newsletter. Each week I post a summary recap of the week's top stories, which I cover in depth in the newsletter. Let's dive in...
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STAT OF THE WEEK: Kohl's sales have shrunk by $2.3B since 2019. During that same period of time, the company lost 1.3M customers who no longer shop with the retailer.
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BigCommerce is exploring a sale after attracting takeover interest, according to sources who chose to remain anonymous due to the confidentiality of the information. The sources said that BigCommerce asked investment bank Qatalyst Partners to solicit interest from potential buyers that include private equity firms, but that the discussions are at an early stage and no deal is certain.
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Squarespace announced that it will be going private in a $6.9B all-cash deal with private-equity firm Permira, who agreed to pay $44 per share (a roughly 30% premium). Although Squarespace never lost 90% of its share price like BigCommerce, it has experienced a tumultuous time on the market since its IPO in May 2021 — opening around $49.50 and at times trading in the low $20s. Shares rose nearly 13% to $43 in pre-market trading upon release of the news.
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ByteDance filed a lawsuit in US federal court seeking to block the new law that would force the sale or ban of the app within the country. The lawsuit challenges the law on constitutional grounds, also citing commercial, technical, and legal hurdles, as well as opposition from Beijing. Legal experts say the legal battle will play out in the courts in coming months and likely will reach the Supreme Court.
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OpenAI unveiled its newest model, GPT-4o, designed to turn ChatGPT into a digital personal assistant that can engage in real-time, spoken conversations and interact with users using text, screenshots, photos, documents, and charts. The new version of ChatGPT also has memory capabilities, which means it can learn from previous conversations. It will be available to both unpaid and premium customers alike. OpenAI also announced that it would be launching a desktop app with the GPT-4o capabilities, giving users another platform to interact with the technology outside of a web browser.
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Amazon launched in South Africa last week, marking its first marketplace in sub-Saharan Africa, and bringing its total number of marketplaces worldwide to 22. To launch the new marketplace, Amazon is offering free delivery on first orders and on subsequent orders above R500 (about $27), access to 3,000 pick-up points, status updates via WhatsApp to track orders, 30 day refunds, and 24/7 customer support. The marketplace was supposed to launch in the country in 2023, but got delayed due to changes in priorities within Amazon.
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In an unlikely partnership, Instacart is partnering with Uber Eats to expand into the restaurant delivery business. Instacart will add a new tab for restaurant delivery to its app in the coming weeks, the listings will be provided by Uber, and the food will be picked up and delivered by Uber Eats drivers. Customers will receive the same prices on both apps and Instacart will receive an affiliate commission on orders. It's a strange partnership though given that Instacart and Uber Eats actively compete on grocery delivery. Are they planning to merge? Uber says no.
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Apple's advertisement for its latest iPad Pro sparked criticism for showing an animation of musical instruments, paint cans, cameras, record players, and other symbols of creativity being crushed by a giant machine, with the output being the new iPad Pro, which the company says is the thinnest Apple product ever. In this context, “crushing” was supposed to symbolize “consolidating” and “compacting” — with the visuals meant to showcase how the new iPad Pro puts the power of all these tools into the hands of creators in one thin device. However online commenters criticized the ad as insensitive and as symbolizing a “destruction of the human experience.” The ad hit the web on Tuesday, and by Thursday, Apple issued a mea culpa and apologized for the campaign.
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Google is encouraging merchants to enable conversion annotations on their Google Shopping ads, which offer social proof that highlight a product's popularity. Conversion annotations like “best selling” or “3K shopped here recently” would provide visual cues about a product’s popularity or sales performance directly in the ad unit. Annotations like these are par for the course with e-commerce retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and Temu, which all employ similar tactics. They can provide valuable info for shoppers and also help with conversions. However they also open data privacy concerns, given that Google is not the actual retailer or marketplace selling the items, so a merchant would have to share this purchase history data from their e-commerce platform with Google — which technically most already do by giving access to GA4.
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Shein is attempting to join the National Retail Federation as it pursues regulatory approval to go public in the US. The company believes that NRF membership would boost its chances of receiving SEC approval. However so far, Shein has been rejected numerous times. An anonymous source familiar with the matter said someone with heavy influence at the NRF is strongly against the Shein's admittance. However board members who spoke to CNBC said that Shein's membership application hadn't come up in meetings, and that they aren't involved in deciding which companies are granted access.
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Amazon is leading the way with selling home goods, capturing 18.8% of consumer home furnishings spending, compared to Walmart's 7.3% market share. Notably, Amazon’s gains in the furniture category come in spite of the company’s decision to phase out two of its three furniture brands last year.
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Stanley, which is projected to do $750M in sales this year, up from $73M in 2019, after seeing its water bottles become a status symbol thanks to TikTok, is now expanding into trendier accessories. The company is launching a line of bags called the All-Day Collection which include a mini cooler, backpack cooler, and Quencher Carry-All, designed for someone to sling their Stanley over their hip.
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Jack Dorsey left the Bluesky board and deleted his account on the service he helped kickstart, claiming that Bluesky was “literally repeating all the mistakes” he made while running Twitter. Dorsey says he never intended Bluesky to be an independent company, but rather, an open source protocol that Twitter was supposed to be the first client of. He also confirmed that he is financially backing Nostr, another decentralized Twitter-like service popular among crypto enthusiasts and run by an anonymous founder.
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Amazon is deploying 50 electric trucks in California, which it claims is the largest EV fleet in the country, as part of its mission to eliminate pollution from its global operations. The trucks will be integrated into first-mile operations, moving goods from container ships at the ports to fulfillment centers, as well as middle-mile operations, transporting packages from fulfillment centers to delivery centers.
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Wix launched a new tool called AI Portfolio Creator, which allows a user to upload and organize large-scale image collections, select the type of portfolio they want, and then have the AI tool sort and generate a portfolio with clustered images, recommended titles and descriptions, and personalized layout options.
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Amazon is now requiring all dietary supplements to be verified by a third-party testing, inspection, and certification organization — which is something that not even the FDA requires. Amazon is the largest supplement retailer in the US ahead of Walmart and Target, and its new requirements are expected to put more pressure on the industry, which is being scrutinized more than ever.
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Alibaba is revamping its flagship retail website Taobao for the first time in seven years with a focus on providing a smoother search and buying process. The website overhaul comes ahead of the 618 sales event, China's second-largest annual shopping event. A few weeks ago I reported that Eddie Wu, the CEO of Alibaba Group, would now be directly overseeing its domestic e-commerce arm which includes Taobao and Tmall Group, and it sounds like he's hitting the ground running with his new responsibilities.
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Amazon is hosting its first-ever Amazon Book Sale, a new shopping event starting on May 15th that offers up to 50% off print best sellers and up to 80% off Kindle Books. The six day shopping event will exclusively run in the US, and Prime-membership is not required to take advantage of the deals.
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FTX reported that nearly all of its customers will receive the money back that they are owed, two years after the cryptocurrency exchange imploded. The company owes about $11.2B to its customers and estimates that it has between $14.5B and $16.3B to distribute to them. The caveat is that customers will receive the USD value of their holdings at the time of the exchange collapse, and not the actual crypto holdings themselves, which means that they'll miss out on all gains during the past two years during which BTC went from around $16k to now over $60k. Better than nothing though, that's for sure.
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800,000 consumers in Europe and the US were duped into sharing card details and other sensitive personal data with a network of fake online designer shops operated from China, which comprised one of the largest scams of its kind with 76,000 fake websites created. The scammers used expired domains to host its fake shops in order to help avoid detection by websites or brand owners, and more than 1M orders were processed in the past three years alone.
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Beyond Inc, which owns Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, and Zulily, reported that its Q1 net loss swelled to $72M from $10M a year ago, while its operating loss widened to $58M from $8M. The company's active customers grew to 6M, up 26% from nearly 5M a year ago, however, its average order value dropped to $173 from $220 a year earlier.
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TikTok will begin automatically labeling AI generated content when it is uploaded from certain platforms like DALL.E 3, Adobe Firefly, Photoshop, and Microsoft Copilot. TikTok will also start attaching Content Credentials to content, which will remain on the media when downloaded, allowing other platforms to read the metadata.
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eBay is testing an Add To Cart button in search results that opens a Quick View window, allowing buyers to skip the listing page. Technically the button should probably not be labeled “Add To Cart” since it doesn't perform that action, but rather, displays a quick view window with three buttons: Buy It Now, Add To Cart, View All Details. Sellers are worried that buyers will miss crucial details in the product description that may lead to increased returns and negative feedback.
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Amazon is planning to launch its fleet of drones in Tolleson, Arizona, but the city's extreme temperature is hampering its efforts. Drones can't operate in temperatures exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature that Tolleson crosses for a full three months of the year.
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A US district judge dismissed X's lawsuit against Bright Data, a data-scraping company accused of improperly accessing X system and violating X terms and state laws when scraping and selling data. The judge basically said that if X owned the data, it could perhaps argue that it has exclusive rights to control it, but then X wouldn't be able to enjoy the safe harbor of Section 230, which allows the platform to avoid liability for third-party content. Can't have it both ways!
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Nintendo is discontinuing its X integration for the switch on June 10th, which means users will no longer be able to post screenshots or videos to the platform from their device. The drop in support also affects games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which had game-specific options to send out tweets. Microsoft Xbox dropped support for X in April 2023 and Sony Playstation dropped the service in October 2023 due to the increase in X's API access fees.
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Amazon claimed that its recordable incident rate — a metric that comprises all injuries requiring “more than basic first-aid treatment” — at its US warehouses has improved by 24% since 2019. However the National Employment Law Project challenged Amazon's injury data in a report last week, claiming that Amazon's overall injury rate in 2023 was 71% higher than that of other employers in the sector at 6.5 cases per 100 workers.
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Amazon Ads announced three new advertising formats for streaming TV including shoppable carousel ads, interactive pause ads, and interactive trivia ads. Amazon did not say when the new ad types would officially launch, but noted that it will formally present them at a presentation on May 14th.
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Meta is rolling out an expanded set of generative AI ad tools that can create full image variations with text overlays, expand images to fit across different aspect ratios, and generate alternate versions of headlines and other ad text. The features will become available globally to advertisers by the end of the year.
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Square introduced a tool called Square Kiosk to allow self-service ordering at fast food restaurants. The device is a combined software, hardware, and payment solution that allows customers to select exactly what they want with customization options, upgrades, and add-ons.
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The European Parliament announced new measures to make packaging more sustainable and reduce packaging waste in the EU, including reduction targets of 15% by 2040 — which sounds far away but is only 16 years away?! As part of the new rules, the EU will set maximum empty space ratios for e-commerce transportation, ban certain single-use plastic packaging types, and beverage distributors and take-away food will have to offer consumers the option of bringing their own container.
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Indians who pre-ordered Teslas in 2016 are giving up and seeking refunds of their deposits after Elon Musk canceled another visit to the country last month. Disillusioned Tesla enthusiasts in India say they will now buy a car from the company only if they see it in a showroom, or they'll buy a different electrical vehicle from a company that actually exists in the country.
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Target is limiting its Pride Month collection to select stores this year instead of rolling out the merchandise nationwide like it typically has for the past decade, due to backlash the retailer experienced last year. Last May customers in certain stores knocked down LGBTQ+ merchandise displays, angrily approached store employees, and posted threatening videos on social media from inside the stores.
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E-commerce spending from Jan 1 to April 30, 2024 rose 7% YoY to $331.6B, according to Adobe Analytics. One trend Adobe identified during the period is a shift of online spending to purchasing the cheapest goods across personal care, electronics, apparel, home & garden, furniture, and grocery.
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Plus 7 seed rounds, IPOs, and acquisitions of interest, including Shopify's acquisition of Peel, a tool that integrates with a merchant's tech stack including Klaviyo and Recharge and helps them analyze their sales data to improve customer retention.
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I hope you found this recap helpful. See you next week!
For more details on each story and sources, see the full edition: https://www.shopifreaks.com/bigcommerce-for-sale-openai-gpt-4o-instacarts-unlikely-partnership/
What else is new in e-commerce? Share stories of interesting in the comments below (including in your own business) or on shopifreaks.
-PAUL Editor of Shopifreaks E-commerce Newsletter
PS: Want the full editions delivered to your Inbox each week? Join free at www.shopifreaks.com
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2024.05.13 22:01 SuperIntHuman From Cook to Freelancer: Navigating the Transition to a Virtual Assistant in the Food Industry

Transitioning from being a cook to an online virtual assistant or freelancer in the food industry can be an exciting journey. Here are some top opportunities and tips to help you navigate this shift:

Top 10 Opportunities in the Food Industry as a VA/Freelancer

  1. Recipe Development Assistant - Assist chefs and food bloggers by developing and testing new recipes.
  2. Food Photography and Videography - Capture appealing food images and videos for clients’ websites and social media.
  3. Nutritional Analysis Services - Offer macro and calorie calculations for recipes for health-focused blogs or meal prep businesses.
  4. Cooking Class Coordinator - Organize and manage online cooking classes or workshops.
  5. Food Blogger’s Assistant - Help with blog management, content creation, and social media management.
  6. Menu Planner - Provide meal planning services for busy individuals or health and wellness websites.
  7. Social Media Manager for Food Brands - Manage social media platforms by creating and scheduling food-related content.
  8. Culinary Content Writer - Write articles, blog posts, and e-books about cooking techniques, food trends, and recipes.
  9. Customer Support for Food Tech Companies - Provide online support for startups that offer food-related apps or websites.
  10. Food Market Researcher - Conduct surveys and gather data on food products for market research firms.

Tips on Transitioning from Cook to Online Worker

  1. Identify Your Skill Set: Reflect on the skills you have developed as a cook that can translate to online work, such as recipe development, attention to detail, and time management.
  2. Learn New Skills: Acquire new skills relevant to online work such as digital marketing, content writing, or basic web design.
  3. Start Small: Begin by taking small freelance gigs that require a mix of your current skills and new ones you are developing.
  4. Network: Connect with others in the food industry online through platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram.
  5. Use Free Resources: Utilize free online tools and platforms to learn and showcase new skills, like using Canva for design or WordPress for blogging.

Creating a Portfolio as a Career Shifter

As you embark on this transition, remember that the skills and experiences you have gained as a cook are invaluable and can differentiate you in the digital world. Embrace continuous learning and stay adaptable to new trends in the food industry. Most importantly, keep your passion for food at the heart of all your endeavors. It’s this passion that will resonate with your future clients and help build a successful online career.
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2024.05.13 20:49 bugmannadam Vivarium Mites: A Guide to the 4 Most Common Types

Vivarium Mites: A Guide to the 4 Most Common Types
I wrote an article about 4 common types of mites for Vivarium Collective, and I thought I'd share it here since I've seen quite a few posts asking about them. Hopefully people find this helpful! Also please comment if you have anything to add or disagree with!
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Mites are an integral part of many ecosystems, including vivariums. While some mites play beneficial roles, others can become unwelcome guests, causing harm to the inhabitants.
Understanding the different types of mites and implementing effective management strategies is crucial for maintaining the health of vivarium ecosystems
In this article, we will explore the most common mites found in vivariums, discuss their characteristics, behaviors, and the impact they can have on the plants, animals, and overall vivarium environment.

Brief overview of mites

Mites are a diverse group of arthropods that belong to the class Arachnida, which includes spiders, scorpions, and ticks. Despite their small size, mites have adapted to various habitats, ranging from terrestrial environments to aquatic ecosystems. With tens of thousands of known species, they display a remarkable range of adaptations and behaviors.
Mites undergo a life cycle consisting of several stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Their reproductive habits can vary among species, but most mites reproduce sexually. Mating occurs during the adult stage, with females laying eggs that develop into the subsequent stages of the life cycle.
Mites have a segmented body divided into two main regions: the cephalothorax and abdomen. Their bodies are covered in a protective exoskeleton, which may be transparent, semitransparent, or pigmented, depending on the species.
They have specialized mouthparts adapted for their specific diets. Some mites are herbivores, feeding on plant tissues or algae, while others are predatory, preying on other small invertebrates. Additionally, certain mites are parasitic, relying on hosts such as reptiles, birds, or insects for nourishment.
Despite their small size, mites can be visible to the naked eye, ranging from as tiny as 0.1 millimeters to a few millimeters in length. Their body shapes vary, from elongated and worm-like to rounded or flattened. Mites may exhibit various colors, including white, red, brown, or black, depending on their species and environmental adaptations.
Understanding the general characteristics and behavior of mites is essential in identifying and differentiating the various types that may be present in a vivarium environment.

Common mites in vivariums

1. Soil mites

https://preview.redd.it/hipfm5y4m80d1.png?width=1826&format=png&auto=webp&s=ea6fd49b4f389b3ed4f4a315dac94a036f92e2fb
Image: Natural Enemies
Soil mites are the most common type of mite found in vivariums. These mites are primarily found on and around soil, leaf litter, and decaying organic matter, playing a crucial role in decomposition and nutrient cycling within vivarium ecosystems.
Soil mites are typically small, ranging from 0.2 to 2 millimeters in length. They have a rounded body shape, and their exoskeletons may appear dark or reddish-brown. Some species have fine hairs or spines covering their bodies.
Soil mites move slowly and are often crawling through the soil or leaf litter, using their specialized mouthparts to feed on organic detritus, fungi, algae, and bacteria. You will often first notice them while they walk on the glass of your enclosure, where they are more visible to the naked eye.
In vivariums, soil mites serve beneficial roles by aiding in the breakdown of organic matter, which contributes to nutrient recycling and the maintenance of soil health. They assist in the decomposition of leaf litter, dead plant material, and other organic debris, facilitating the release of essential nutrients for plants.
Most soil mites are generally harmless or even beneficial. However, in specific circumstances, their populations can experience rapid growth. Although it is unlikely that they will disrupt the balance of the vivarium ecosystem, the presence of large mite populations can become unsightly and potentially stress the inhabitants as they constantly crawl over them.
Prevention and control measures
Managing soil mite populations in vivariums requires a balanced approach to ensure their beneficial functions while preventing overpopulation. Here are some prevention and control measures:
Maintain proper vivarium hygiene: Regularly remove excessive decaying organic matter like rotting plants to minimize the buildup of food sources for mites.
Establish a cleanup crew: Making sure to you have a healthy population of springtails and isopods to complete for resources will help keep a mite population from overpopulating.
A note on predatory mites: I have read that in worst case scenarios, you may want to consider introducing predatory mites to help control populations. However, I personally do not recommend this. While predatory mites will feed on the soil mites and can be effective biological control agents, they can also decimate your springtail population.

2. Spider mites

https://preview.redd.it/h2rwwat9p80d1.png?width=1764&format=png&auto=webp&s=d93b3d6a91fbfce9473df6c1974c13b381005bad
Image: Planet Natural
Spider mites are another type of mite that can be found in vivariums, though they are not as common. These tiny arachnids are known for their ability to inflict damage on a wide range of plants. Spider mites earned their name due to their ability to produce fine silk webbing, which they use for protection and movement.
Spider mites are incredibly small, typically measuring less than 1 millimeter in length. They have oval-shaped bodies and are usually pale yellow or red in color, depending on the species and life stage. Under a magnifying lens, you can observe their eight legs and two body regions—the cephalothorax and abdomen.
Spider mites are notorious plant pests and can cause damage to the foliage of many plants in a vivarium. They feed by piercing plant cells and extracting the sap, which weakens the plant and can lead to discoloration, wilting, and even death in severe infestations. Spider mites tend to thrive in warm conditions, hence why you are less likely to encounter them.
Prevention and control measures
Preventing and managing spider mite infestations in vivariums requires a proactive approach. Here are some preventive measures and control strategies:
Maintain a healthy plant environment: Provide plants in the vivarium with optimal growing conditions, including proper lighting, humidity levels, and air circulation. Healthy plants are less susceptible to spider mite infestations.
Monitor plants closely: Regularly inspect plants for early signs of spider mite presence, such as stippling on the leaves, webbing, or discoloration. Early detection can facilitate prompt intervention.
Quarantine new plants: By quarantining new plants, you create a buffer zone that helps safeguard the health and integrity of your existing vivarium. It provides an opportunity to observe the plants’ overall condition, and address any potential concerns before introducing them to the main vivarium.

3. Grain mites

https://preview.redd.it/k74in85bp80d1.png?width=1762&format=png&auto=webp&s=217be5cd4c619ca41b94f72ed5891a0aab612a61
Image: Reddit
Grain mites are tiny arachnids commonly found near vivariums, particularly those housing poison dart frogs that rely on fruit flies as a food source. These mites are drawn to the moist conditions of fruit fly cultures and thrive on their starchy and carbohydrate-rich food sources.
Measuring between 0.2 to 0.5 millimeters in length, grain mites possess oval-shaped bodies covered in delicate hairs, giving them a soft and fuzzy appearance. Depending on the species, they can appear white, cream, or light brown. You can often spot them crawling on fruit fly cultures and nearby surfaces.
Grain mites can reproduce rapidly and quickly infest your fruit fly cultures. While they primarily feed on fruit fly media, they readily consume various organic materials such as grains, flours, cereals, and other food commonly found in households.
Although generally considered harmless, large populations of grain mites can become unsightly and troublesome. They may emerge from fruit fly cultures, spreading throughout the surrounding environment.
Prevention and control measures
Preventing and managing grain mite infestations requires careful attention to food storage and sanitation practices. Here are some preventive measures and control strategies:
Start fresh with a clean culture: If you encounter an infestation, the best approach is to start over with a clean culture. Place the culture on a tray lined with diatomaceous earth or similar, which will eliminate the mites before they have a chance to infest the new culture. Keep the new culture in a separate area, far away from the infested ones.
Regularly clean the area around cultures: Dispose of any spilled media promptly to minimize available food sources for mites. Clean food bowls or dishes regularly, ensuring there are no remnants of food left behind.
Properly store fruit fly media: Store your culture media in airtight containers to prevent mites from accessing and infesting the food source. Keep the containers clean and free of any residual food particles.

4. Reptile mites

https://preview.redd.it/q1vytllcp80d1.png?width=1760&format=png&auto=webp&s=372ef31a5fd492a4aece7690a78aa40b468c72b7
Image: Everything Reptiles
Reptile mites are a type of mite that can be harmful to your pet if left unchecked. These external parasites are particularly problematic for snakes and lizards. Reptile mites are typically introduced to vivariums by bringing in infested reptiles, or through infested bedding or substrate.
Reptile mites are very small, measuring around 1 to 2 millimeters in length. They have elongated bodies with four pairs of legs and are usually reddish-brown or black in color. These mites are visible to the naked eye and can be observed crawling on the reptile's body. You may also see groups of them lodged between their scales.
Reptile mites pose health risks to the reptiles they infest. They can cause irritation, discomfort, and potential anemia in severe cases. Reptiles infested with mites may exhibit symptoms such as excessive scratching, rubbing against surfaces, restlessness, and skin irritation. Mite infestations can weaken the reptile's immune system, making them more susceptible to secondary infections.
Moreover, reptile mites can quickly multiply, infesting other reptiles and enclosures. Their presence can potentially lead to stress and health issues in other nearby inhabitants. Additionally, mites may act as vectors for diseases, further jeopardizing the well-being of the reptiles.
Prevention and control measures
Preventing and managing reptile mite infestations in vivariums requires a proactive approach to ensure the health and well-being of the reptiles. Here are some preventive measures and control strategies:
Quarantine new reptiles: Before introducing a new reptile into a vivarium, it is essential to quarantine them in a separate enclosure for a period of time. This allows for observation and thorough examination to ensure they are free from mites or other parasites.
Regularly inspect reptiles: Perform routine checks on your reptiles to detect early signs of infestation. Look for mites crawling on the reptile's body, especially around the eyes, mouth, or vent area.
Avoid wild caught reptiles: Animals collected from the wild often already contain parasites and will fail to thrive in captivity. Only purchase reptiles that are captive born and raised unless you are an experienced breeder trying to establish a captive population.
Consult a veterinarian: If a reptile is infested with mites, immediately consult a veterinarian for appropriate treatment options. They can recommend safe and effective treatments, such as topical medications, tailored to the reptile's species and health condition.

General tips for mite prevention in vivariums

https://preview.redd.it/e30dov6ep80d1.png?width=1910&format=png&auto=webp&s=5c04e2f3a953be9697ad1fa9eff26edb50546a41
Image: Smug Bug
Quarantine new additions: Whenever introducing new plants, animals, or materials, quarantine them separately before incorporating them into the vivarium. This helps prevent the introduction of mites and other potential pests or diseases.
Maintain cleanliness: Regularly clean the vivarium and its components to reduce the presence of mites. Remove rotting plants, uneaten food, and waste promptly. Sanitize the exterior and equipment areas.
Visual inspection: Regularly inspect plants, animals, and vivarium components for any signs of mites. Look for crawling mites, webbing, stippling on leaves, or any other indicators of an impending infestation.
Encourage biodiversity: Promote a balanced ecosystem within the vivarium by incorporating a variety of plant species and creating diverse microhabitats. A well-balanced ecosystem with diverse flora and fauna can help regulate mite populations naturally.

Conclusion

Mites can be a common occurrence in vivariums, but with proactive measures, early detection, and appropriate management strategies, their impact can be minimized. With regular cleaning, spot checks, and appropriate storage of foods, we can create a balanced ecosystem that discourages mite proliferation.
It is our responsibility to prioritize the well-being of the animals in our care. By adopting a proactive approach to mite management, we can create a harmonious and thriving vivarium environment, free from the nuisances and risks associated with mite infestations.
—
Please comment if you have anything to add or disagree with!
submitted by bugmannadam to Vivarium [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 20:47 bugmannadam Vivarium Mites: A Guide to the 4 Most Common Types

Vivarium Mites: A Guide to the 4 Most Common Types
I wrote an article about 4 common types of mites for Vivarium Collective, and I thought I'd share it here since I've seen quite a few posts asking about them. Hopefully people find this helpful! Also please comment if you have anything to add or disagree with!
—
Mites are an integral part of many ecosystems, including vivariums. While some mites play beneficial roles, others can become unwelcome guests, causing harm to the inhabitants.
Understanding the different types of mites and implementing effective management strategies is crucial for maintaining the health of vivarium ecosystems
In this article, we will explore the most common mites found in vivariums, discuss their characteristics, behaviors, and the impact they can have on the plants, animals, and overall vivarium environment.

Brief overview of mites

Mites are a diverse group of arthropods that belong to the class Arachnida, which includes spiders, scorpions, and ticks. Despite their small size, mites have adapted to various habitats, ranging from terrestrial environments to aquatic ecosystems. With tens of thousands of known species, they display a remarkable range of adaptations and behaviors.
Mites undergo a life cycle consisting of several stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. Their reproductive habits can vary among species, but most mites reproduce sexually. Mating occurs during the adult stage, with females laying eggs that develop into the subsequent stages of the life cycle.
Mites have a segmented body divided into two main regions: the cephalothorax and abdomen. Their bodies are covered in a protective exoskeleton, which may be transparent, semitransparent, or pigmented, depending on the species.
They have specialized mouthparts adapted for their specific diets. Some mites are herbivores, feeding on plant tissues or algae, while others are predatory, preying on other small invertebrates. Additionally, certain mites are parasitic, relying on hosts such as reptiles, birds, or insects for nourishment.
Despite their small size, mites can be visible to the naked eye, ranging from as tiny as 0.1 millimeters to a few millimeters in length. Their body shapes vary, from elongated and worm-like to rounded or flattened. Mites may exhibit various colors, including white, red, brown, or black, depending on their species and environmental adaptations.
Understanding the general characteristics and behavior of mites is essential in identifying and differentiating the various types that may be present in a vivarium environment.

Common mites in vivariums

1. Soil mites

https://preview.redd.it/hipfm5y4m80d1.png?width=1826&format=png&auto=webp&s=ea6fd49b4f389b3ed4f4a315dac94a036f92e2fb
Image: Natural Enemies
Soil mites are the most common type of mite found in vivariums. These mites are primarily found on and around soil, leaf litter, and decaying organic matter, playing a crucial role in decomposition and nutrient cycling within vivarium ecosystems.
Soil mites are typically small, ranging from 0.2 to 2 millimeters in length. They have a rounded body shape, and their exoskeletons may appear dark or reddish-brown. Some species have fine hairs or spines covering their bodies.
Soil mites move slowly and are often crawling through the soil or leaf litter, using their specialized mouthparts to feed on organic detritus, fungi, algae, and bacteria. You will often first notice them while they walk on the glass of your enclosure, where they are more visible to the naked eye.
In vivariums, soil mites serve beneficial roles by aiding in the breakdown of organic matter, which contributes to nutrient recycling and the maintenance of soil health. They assist in the decomposition of leaf litter, dead plant material, and other organic debris, facilitating the release of essential nutrients for plants.
Most soil mites are generally harmless or even beneficial. However, in specific circumstances, their populations can experience rapid growth. Although it is unlikely that they will disrupt the balance of the vivarium ecosystem, the presence of large mite populations can become unsightly and potentially stress the inhabitants as they constantly crawl over them.
Prevention and control measures
Managing soil mite populations in vivariums requires a balanced approach to ensure their beneficial functions while preventing overpopulation. Here are some prevention and control measures:
Maintain proper vivarium hygiene: Regularly remove excessive decaying organic matter like rotting plants to minimize the buildup of food sources for mites.
Establish a cleanup crew: Making sure to you have a healthy population of springtails and isopods to complete for resources will help keep a mite population from overpopulating.
A note on predatory mites: I have read that in worst case scenarios, you may want to consider introducing predatory mites to help control populations. However, I personally do not recommend this. While predatory mites will feed on the soil mites and can be effective biological control agents, they can also decimate your springtail population.

2. Spider mites

https://preview.redd.it/aojwbyidm80d1.png?width=1764&format=png&auto=webp&s=a0f354847bc6058a0a246c5c54ce8c5dbeaf39f8
Image: Planet Natural
Spider mites are another type of mite that can be found in vivariums, though they are not as common. These tiny arachnids are known for their ability to inflict damage on a wide range of plants. Spider mites earned their name due to their ability to produce fine silk webbing, which they use for protection and movement.
Spider mites are incredibly small, typically measuring less than 1 millimeter in length. They have oval-shaped bodies and are usually pale yellow or red in color, depending on the species and life stage. Under a magnifying lens, you can observe their eight legs and two body regions—the cephalothorax and abdomen.
Spider mites are notorious plant pests and can cause damage to the foliage of many plants in a vivarium. They feed by piercing plant cells and extracting the sap, which weakens the plant and can lead to discoloration, wilting, and even death in severe infestations. Spider mites tend to thrive in warm conditions, hence why you are less likely to encounter them.
Prevention and control measures
Preventing and managing spider mite infestations in vivariums requires a proactive approach. Here are some preventive measures and control strategies:
Maintain a healthy plant environment: Provide plants in the vivarium with optimal growing conditions, including proper lighting, humidity levels, and air circulation. Healthy plants are less susceptible to spider mite infestations.
Monitor plants closely: Regularly inspect plants for early signs of spider mite presence, such as stippling on the leaves, webbing, or discoloration. Early detection can facilitate prompt intervention.
Quarantine new plants: By quarantining new plants, you create a buffer zone that helps safeguard the health and integrity of your existing vivarium. It provides an opportunity to observe the plants’ overall condition, and address any potential concerns before introducing them to the main vivarium.

3. Grain mites

https://preview.redd.it/xbuh5ublm80d1.png?width=1762&format=png&auto=webp&s=d3f21917826ed5b37990782902a3748492ec5f07
Image: Reddit
Grain mites are tiny arachnids commonly found near vivariums, particularly those housing poison dart frogs that rely on fruit flies as a food source. These mites are drawn to the moist conditions of fruit fly cultures and thrive on their starchy and carbohydrate-rich food sources.
Measuring between 0.2 to 0.5 millimeters in length, grain mites possess oval-shaped bodies covered in delicate hairs, giving them a soft and fuzzy appearance. Depending on the species, they can appear white, cream, or light brown. You can often spot them crawling on fruit fly cultures and nearby surfaces.
Grain mites can reproduce rapidly and quickly infest your fruit fly cultures. While they primarily feed on fruit fly media, they readily consume various organic materials such as grains, flours, cereals, and other food commonly found in households.
Although generally considered harmless, large populations of grain mites can become unsightly and troublesome. They may emerge from fruit fly cultures, spreading throughout the surrounding environment.
Prevention and control measures
Preventing and managing grain mite infestations requires careful attention to food storage and sanitation practices. Here are some preventive measures and control strategies:
Start fresh with a clean culture: If you encounter an infestation, the best approach is to start over with a clean culture. Place the culture on a tray lined with diatomaceous earth or similar, which will eliminate the mites before they have a chance to infest the new culture. Keep the new culture in a separate area, far away from the infested ones.
Regularly clean the area around cultures: Dispose of any spilled media promptly to minimize available food sources for mites. Clean food bowls or dishes regularly, ensuring there are no remnants of food left behind.
Properly store fruit fly media: Store your culture media in airtight containers to prevent mites from accessing and infesting the food source. Keep the containers clean and free of any residual food particles.

4. Reptile mites

https://preview.redd.it/uv36ng7jm80d1.png?width=1760&format=png&auto=webp&s=ee758e6e7684728d87990394670b258b8c7c3ce5
Image: Everything Reptiles
Reptile mites are a type of mite that can be harmful to your pet if left unchecked. These external parasites are particularly problematic for snakes and lizards. Reptile mites are typically introduced to vivariums by bringing in infested reptiles, or through infested bedding or substrate.
Reptile mites are very small, measuring around 1 to 2 millimeters in length. They have elongated bodies with four pairs of legs and are usually reddish-brown or black in color. These mites are visible to the naked eye and can be observed crawling on the reptile's body. You may also see groups of them lodged between their scales.
Reptile mites pose health risks to the reptiles they infest. They can cause irritation, discomfort, and potential anemia in severe cases. Reptiles infested with mites may exhibit symptoms such as excessive scratching, rubbing against surfaces, restlessness, and skin irritation. Mite infestations can weaken the reptile's immune system, making them more susceptible to secondary infections.
Moreover, reptile mites can quickly multiply, infesting other reptiles and enclosures. Their presence can potentially lead to stress and health issues in other nearby inhabitants. Additionally, mites may act as vectors for diseases, further jeopardizing the well-being of the reptiles.
Prevention and control measures
Preventing and managing reptile mite infestations in vivariums requires a proactive approach to ensure the health and well-being of the reptiles. Here are some preventive measures and control strategies:
Quarantine new reptiles: Before introducing a new reptile into a vivarium, it is essential to quarantine them in a separate enclosure for a period of time. This allows for observation and thorough examination to ensure they are free from mites or other parasites.
Regularly inspect reptiles: Perform routine checks on your reptiles to detect early signs of infestation. Look for mites crawling on the reptile's body, especially around the eyes, mouth, or vent area.
Avoid wild caught reptiles: Animals collected from the wild often already contain parasites and will fail to thrive in captivity. Only purchase reptiles that are captive born and raised unless you are an experienced breeder trying to establish a captive population.
Consult a veterinarian: If a reptile is infested with mites, immediately consult a veterinarian for appropriate treatment options. They can recommend safe and effective treatments, such as topical medications, tailored to the reptile's species and health condition.

General tips for mite prevention in vivariums

https://preview.redd.it/yf72i6epm80d1.png?width=1910&format=png&auto=webp&s=199d0feafa07bf0852c4e717ff6f5cb4b3c1effb
Image: Smug Bug
Quarantine new additions: Whenever introducing new plants, animals, or materials, quarantine them separately before incorporating them into the vivarium. This helps prevent the introduction of mites and other potential pests or diseases.
Maintain cleanliness: Regularly clean the vivarium and its components to reduce the presence of mites. Remove rotting plants, uneaten food, and waste promptly. Sanitize the exterior and equipment areas.
Visual inspection: Regularly inspect plants, animals, and vivarium components for any signs of mites. Look for crawling mites, webbing, stippling on leaves, or any other indicators of an impending infestation.
Encourage biodiversity: Promote a balanced ecosystem within the vivarium by incorporating a variety of plant species and creating diverse microhabitats. A well-balanced ecosystem with diverse flora and fauna can help regulate mite populations naturally.

Conclusion

Mites can be a common occurrence in vivariums, but with proactive measures, early detection, and appropriate management strategies, their impact can be minimized. With regular cleaning, spot checks, and appropriate storage of foods, we can create a balanced ecosystem that discourages mite proliferation.
It is our responsibility to prioritize the well-being of the animals in our care. By adopting a proactive approach to mite management, we can create a harmonious and thriving vivarium environment, free from the nuisances and risks associated with mite infestations.
—
Please comment if you have anything to add or disagree with!
submitted by bugmannadam to bioactive [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 20:38 BBRRE Website for sharing Travel Plans

This is the first big project I've built, I used React and Firebase. This is not fully finished yet, I want to implement more features (semantic search, location API, filtering options, domain and more), for this to happen I would need to invest a lot of time and money and before I do so I want to know if it's an idea worth pursuing. https://journey-3930f.web.app/ I'd appreciate any feedback and if anyone can upload their own travel Log. General Rules: Don't include flight prices but note everything else you can including any transport from your first location, hotel, food...
submitted by BBRRE to SideProject [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 20:27 applejackhero I really hope CA has something cooking for the WH2 factions.

Starting with warhammer 2 dlcs and updates to Beastmen and Wood elves, CA started to put more powerful mechanics and interactivity into their campaign designs. ToD has been a fantastic realization of this, and the Dwarf and Empire reworks breathed new life into these outdated factions. Obviously other Warhammer 1 factions need some love, Vampire Counts and Norsca namely.
But I also think/hope Warhammer 2 factions could use an update. Most factions are in a weird spot- DLC factions like Teheniun, Ikkit Claw, Eltharion, and Malus have unique mechanics as you’d expect from dlc factions, but the base game factions seem left behind. There’s almost no reason to play Queek or Skrolk or Teclis or Krok’gar unless you enjoy their lore or starts (and who tf enjoys Teclis start?).
I really hope CA does another pass at the 4 base WH2 factions, which mostly have a light mechanic (food or geomantic web) combined with their sometimes-useful rites (CA really loved slapping rites on everyone in this era). I understand that the non dlc factions shouldn’t get as much going on as dlc ones,and that we aren’t likely to see factions get the Franz/Gelt treatment.
But I dothink a change to the geomantic web, the court intrigues, Skroks plague, and Dark Elves slaves/raiding system to make them more interactive and less passive would do a lot to make the base warhammer 2 factions feel more at home alongside warhammer 3 factions (and Beastmen and Wood elves, which are in a really good spot and serve as a solid example).
submitted by applejackhero to totalwar [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 19:52 WDKilpackIII Kilpack Launches Dystopian Military Sci-Fi Trilogy with Battle Calm

Kilpack Launches Dystopian Military Sci-Fi Trilogy with Battle Calm
W.D. Kilpack III, a native of West Jordan, Uta., had his sixth novel, Battle Calm, published on Amazon.com. This is the first book in a trilogy called the Battle Calm Cycle, set in a dystopian future. It is Kilpack's first hardcover release, but is also available in eBook and on Kindle Unlimited.
https://preview.redd.it/uypg3kt5f80d1.jpg?width=807&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6106b31b716bafc8414bf53a110d47d85e30e61c
Battle Calm centers around Badger, a Keeper, who is the greatest soldier alive. He knows to never celebrate victories, no matter how hard-won, because the enemy never stops. When Badger succeeded his father, Red Skin, as Keeper Base Leader, he was well prepared, raised to handle anything the enemy threw at him. He was the best killer, and the most respected tactician. He knew Red Skin’s Laws like he wrote them himself. Most importantly, he was always calm, no matter how frenzied the combat. These were only some of the reasons why he still had all his original parts. His two closest friends are Trinity, who would die for him, and Korry, who would follow him without question. They are all Keepers. They fight, they kill, they live to kill another day, even when it means bugging out to another Base ... and another. That is life when life is war. They know nothing else. But even war cannot last forever, regardless of the infallible truth of Red Skin’s Law #35: “Under conditions of peace, men attack themselves; thus, there never has been, and there never will be a time without war. It is the greatest, most perfect thing men can do.”
Kilpack said, "I wrote the very earliest drafts of these books when I was 14. Don't worry, they've been revised many, many times since then. I'm very happy with the state they're in now. The military aspect is much more authentic in a lot of ways, despite being a fictional branch of the military. Research and Q&A with some veterans went into restructuring that aspect of the story both through direct feedback and pointing me to the right places to dig and find out for myself."
Kilpack is an award-winning and critically acclaimed internationally published writer, with works appearing in print, online, radio and television, starting with his first publication credit at the age of nine, when he wrote an award-winning poem. He has since won 23 book awards, including The International Firebird Book Award, The BookFest Award, International Impact Book Award, both Editor's Choice and Top Pick from BooksShelf and Honorable Mention from L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest for his novella, Pale Face, which was recently optioned for development for a Hollywood movie. He has been editor and/or publisher of 19 news and literary publications, both online and in print, with circulations as high as 770,000.
He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Westminster University. As an undergrad, he double-majored in communication and philosophy, while completing the Honors Program. As a graduate student, he earned a master of professional communication with a writing emphasis. He was also a high-performing athlete, qualifying for international competition in Greco-Roman wrestling.
For 25 years, he was a communication professor and a nationally recognized wrestling coach. He is an accomplished cook and has cooked nearly every type of food on a grill. He is happily married to his high-school sweetheart and is father to five children, as well as helping to raise five step-children. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he continues to live, consult and educate. For more information www.Kilpack.net
Praise for Pale Face
Pale Face is "pretty darned good. I like it. I love how [Hector] sees the aliens and the white men in the same light. A nice, brutal, ironic twist ... this is good stuff." — Dave Wolverton, international best-selling author
Praise for Crown Prince: Book One of New Blood
"Author W.D. Kilpack III presents an atmospheric and immersive journey into a richly crafted fantasy world, balancing a strong character-led adventure with a wider web of plots, setting up a highly complex and enjoyable fantasy saga to follow. There’s a clear flair for character, dialogue, and attitude from the start, with Natharr's intense presence affecting all who encounter him and making for some really dynamic clashes. The weightiness of his responsibilities and the depth of the world-building immediately gripped my attention and, as the story unfolded, the way the characters’ attitudes and actions were shaped by the realism of the worldbuilding was totally compelling. This book delivers on every promise of pulse-pounding adventure — thanks to the swift pacing of the plot, coupled with dark storytelling, strong descriptive skills, and captivating character development that balances emotion with duty well. Overall, I would certainly recommend Crown Prince as an incredible opener to an exciting new fantasy series, and I’m all the more eager to continue exploring this fantastical realm." — USA Today best-selling author K.C. Finn
Praise for Order of Light: Book Two of New Blood
"W. D. Kilpack III's Crown Prince captivated me. His vivid descriptions plunged me into a kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, and emotions. I devoured the first book in the New Blood Saga, desperate to see where the tale would lead. So, it was with bated breath that I cracked open Order of Light, the series' second instalment. Kilpack doesn't disappoint. The themes that resonated in Crown Prince deepen and twist in Order of Light. He has a way of making words just flow vividly on the page. On page 106 of my Australian paperback version, a revelation about Natharr, the Guardian of Maarihk, floored me! His journey of self-discovery weaves flawlessly with the Crown Prince's own remarkable growth. New fantastical creatures emerge from Kilpack's boundless imagination. The Quiet One and Bu, meticulously detailed in all their wonder, are testament to his storytelling prowess. But fear not, I won't spoil the magic! Suffice it to say, fans of epic fantasy, your search is over. Kilpack is your new literary lord. From exhilarating battle sequences to poignant moments of reflection, Order of Light is a masterpiece. If I could, I’d give it a six! Both it and Crown Prince deserve a place on your bookshelf. Trust me, you won't regret immersing yourself in Kilpack's world." — Jose F. Nodar, author of Books, Pens & Larceny (South Wales, Australia)
Praise for Demon Seed: Book Three of New Blood
"Demon Seed is the thrilling and fast-paced third book in the New Blood Saga ... Kilpack does not disappoint! Demon Seed is a shocking and brilliant tale that will reintroduce readers to characters we have come to love/be invested in. In this third book, the stakes are as high as ever and the story the reader is taken on will enthrall, captivate and excite its readers ... Kilpack from the beginning hooks his readers and keeps them enchanted to the very end. I have to recommend Demon Seed to readers that love epic fantasy! Demon Seed is one that is full of shocks, thrills, and twists and turns galore that will keep you on edge from beginning to end. [It] is an incredibly suspenseful novel and this is thanks to the wonderful author, whose work I love ... [Demon Seed] did not let me down, this saga has not lost its momentum or uniqueness. Kilpack is an exceptional author [who] knows how to flawlessly transport his readers into the story ... the descriptions are phenomenal ... Demon Seed is a magnificent and entertaining book that will easily entertain its readers for many hours! That is why I of course have to award this incredible book five stars!" — RedHeadedBookLover.com
Praise for Rilari: Book Four of New Blood
"Embark on a captivating journey with W.D. Kilpack III's Rilari: Book Four of New Blood, a tale that expertly weaves tension, mystery, and awe-inspiring heroism. Kilpack's world-building skillfully combines politics, magic, and ancient lore, creating a rich tapestry for readers to explore. The characters, especially Natharr and the Knights of Ril, are well-developed, and the dynamic between Nathan and his summoned companion adds depth and heart to the story. Kilpack successfully incorporates profound themes of resilience and unity into the gripping plot, leaving readers emotionally connected. Riliari is a triumph, offering an enthralling adventure filled with courage and the enduring spirit of humanity." — BooksShelf.com

author #authorlife #authorscommunity #bookaddict #bookworms #dystopian #fiction #FSFWritersAlliance #indieauthor #newbloodsaga #newrelease #kilpack #militaryscifi #postapocalyptic #readers #readersareleaders #readersgonnaread #scifi #sciencefiction #WritingCommunity #ian1 #writerslift

submitted by WDKilpackIII to u/WDKilpackIII [link] [comments]

2024.05.13 19:13 Evanz111 Every single character has an insane amount of effort put into them, yet so much of it entirely optional

Something I loved about classic Final Fantasy 7 was how every character, even the missable/optional ones, would react differently to stuff depending who you bring with you.
This gave it so much replay value, bringing different party members in your limited group of 3 just to see their reactions to stuff. I recently played with the Echo-S mod that added voice acting to every single line of dialogue, including all those optional specific ones, and I was really impressed by the effort to record all those lines which could easily missed by most players.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes does this but on steroids. Over 100+ characters and yet it seems like every cutscene has at least one person I optionally brought along chip in to say something. They even have NPCs respond to them (whereas they’d be ignored in FF7 and the conversation would carry on as if they weren’t there)
Not only that, but every single NPC has an even more complex web of interactions through the castle:
• Fighting them in a card game, with each character having a unique deck and recorded voice lines for victory/defeat/draws. As well as every character having their own card with stunning artwork and unique effects.
• Sending them on dispatch missions and having the leader give a unique line specific to the mission they’re going on (So 100+ characters multiplied by however many dispatch missions there are, which is a crazy amount of lines to write and record)
• Being able to scry into their past and unlock three pieces of their history and lore, as well as stuff like birthdays, birth places (shifty eyes towards Carrie) and favourite foods. Speaking of which..
• Competing in cooking battles, where I think every character can appear as a judge, with a favourite food, and once again recorded dialogue for whether you please or offend them with what you cook.
• Hot springs scenes with unique cutscenes that play depending on who you have in your party, encouraging you to think of which combo of characters might trigger an encounter. Yes, that’s why I visit the hot springs so often ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
• Being able to walk round the castle and have the characters react to current events or recent changes to your stronghold, with new buildings or characters seeming to influence their dialogue.
I’m only at castle level 2 and I estimate about halfway through the game, but I’m incredibly impressed by the amount of work that went into making every character feel like a character, not just someone you recruit, then can use in battle but otherwise you barely interact with them ever again. But hell, here entire minigames or mechanics are missed behind characters you could easily skip.
It reminds me of a day when developers didn’t play their entire hand, and leave a lot of content to be discovered by players gradually. Even the remake of FF7 couldn’t risk having Yuffie be optional anymore, else it would have been too much work or wasted budget on something many players might never see.
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2024.05.13 13:51 xtremexavier15 TMA 6

The logo's 'D' transitioned the scene back to the studio, the shot showing all the former cast members on stage – the six losers on the right, the three guests on the left, and the two hosts in the center.
"Welcome back to the Aftermath show!" Damien said happily to the audience as they gave their applause. "We're currently talking with Izzy about herself and her time on the show!" The crowd cheered.
"Now it's time for Izzy to play Truth or Hammer!" Priya announced and turned to the quirky guest. "Season two started off so well for you. Where did things go wrong?"
“I think it was when I turned down that secret alliance with Chef,” Izzy dropped, causing everyone to gasp.
Damien looked up at the hammer and saw that it didn't lower down at all. “Chef actually tried to form a secret alliance with you?”
“Uh-huh. He said he'd help me win this thing if I shared the money with him,” Izzy answered.
“Whoa,” Geoff spoke out in surprise.
“Totally did not expect that,” Eva added.
Damien then heard something in his earpiece. “Hey, I think we've got a never-before-seen clip!” he mentioned as the camera panned up to the television.
After the static played out, the footage featured Chef and Izzy standing next to a trailer on the film lot. “I'll help you man up and win this thing. We split the prize money fifty-fifty,” Chef negotiated.
Chef held out his hand for a handshake, prompting Izzy to karate kick him out of view as an intern holding a clipboard watched from the background.
“Oh, I don't think so!” Izzy declined the offer, the intern becoming scared as the clip ended.
The shot focused on the hosts shocked by what they saw. “Wow!” Priya said.
“I can't believe Chef did that!” Damien commented.
“The impact was big though!” Priya mentioned as the part of Izzy kicking Chef in the chest was zoomed in and a circle was drawn around Izzy's foot. “Check that out!”
The clip now moved in slow motion as Chef flew away while Izzy bounced away from her impact, causing the camera to focus on the scared-looking intern.
“I'd advise that intern to run away!” Damien said while the intern's head was circled on, earning laughter from the audience.
“I would never hurt that intern,” Izzy claimed, and she back flipped in order to avoid the swinging hammer. “Whoa! Nearly got me that time.” The next shot showed the same intern watching from afar dropping his clipboard and running away due to what Izzy said.
“So then what happened after?” Priya asked Izzy.
“My guess is Chef went and made a demon deal with Brick,” Izzy theorized. “Yeah, I think Chef threw the acting challenge with Justin so Brick's team won and I lost. But, hey, what do I know?”
"Apparently, a lot," Priya remarked.
"How about we hear from another viewer now?" Damien looked down at the display in front of him. "Gluepunks350 asks, "Do you think Brick will get busted?"”
“Well, I don't know about Brick, but I busted my arm once. Yeah, look, now I'm double jointed.” Izzy bent her left arm backwards. “I'm doing it! Backwards!”
Damien felt weirded out. "I think we should move on to our next guest."
"Correct," Priya nodded as the camera panned back up to the hanging television. "Trent being here is quite surprising," she said as footage began to play of Trent talking to Geoff about the latter's tooth and him talking about the sleeping arrangements. "He is a Season 1 fan favorite after all."
"I agree with that," Damien said as the footage moved on to the guitarist offering Sky his toast. "Although he did start to slip up around episode two after seeing Sky and Chase become friends," he continued over Sky picking Chase for her team and Trent looking shocked.
"Not wanting to lose his girlfriend and the game, Trent tried depending on luck, and when that didn't work, he opted to throw the challenges in order to let Sky win thanks to Justin's advice on making her happy," Priya said over Trent attempting to put nine flags on his team's sandcastle, and then purposely tripping over a stick and being talked to by Justin.
“Luckily, Sky was not blind to Trent's subtle attempts to lose deliberately,” Damien spoke as the footage showed Sky getting annoyed over Trent's compliments and him throwing the rope to the ground and then the two of them talking to each other after bathing in a barrel, “and after a much needed talk, the two were able to resolve their problems.”
"Despite all this, Justin was able to gather enough votes to target Trent, and in the end, Trent's time on the show was over!" Priya finished, the clips of Justin talking to the girls about Trent's actions and the guitarist walking into the limo being played.
"Our next guest took down a serial killer and once got poisoned by a blowfish,” Damien recapped. “Please welcome Trent!"
The Aftermath theme played and applause issued from the audience as Trent walked onstage with a smile and his guitar in hand.
“We're live on the TDA Aftermath with Trent, everyone!” Priya announced while Trent waved for the camera and sat down next to Izzy.
“So what happened, Trent?” Damien got the interview started.
“At the start of the season, things were going great until Sky and I were split on different teams,” Trent delved in. “Then she and Chase started hanging out.”
“Jealousy can be quite common,” Topher muttered.
“True,” Sam agreed.
“Then the competition set in,” Trent resumed.
“We know there's something else,” Damien reminded.
“You mean, how stressful things got?” Trent answered.
“Yeah, and no. It mostly applies to you,” Priya stated. “Be careful how you answer this, because a humongous hammer can come down and knock you out of that couch!”
The musician was intrigued by this news before continuing. “Uh, I guess somewhere I decided Sky was more important than the money,” Trent said, and the hammer not coming down proved his honesty.
“I'm surprised you're being really cool with losing out on a million dollars,” Priya said.
“It's Trent. What else did you expect?” Damien told his girlfriend.
“I guess I just lost my game,” Trent sighed. “Really let my team down. Sorry, Grips,” he apologized to the camera, making the audience aww.
“I have to ask you about the number nine thing. Check it out,” Damien pointed up at the television, which was in static before fading to the clips.
“That's right. Nine turrets, nine doors,” Trent instructed as Brick and Jasmine poured more sand.
“Remember, nine of everything!” Trent added in, much to his teammates’ bother.
Sky's attention was caught by the number of sticks he carried. "Not to interrupt," she started to say, "but you're carrying nine sticks."
The focus was now back on Trent. “Dudes, there's a lot more to my number than it being luck!” he protested.
“You did depend on it for challenges because you wanted to win,” Gwen brought up.
“The number nine thing has nothing to do with Sky or the competition,” Trent debunked. “I had this toy train my granddad gave me as a kid. Right before he died. One of the wheels fell off, so there were only nine. I was devastated. So my mom told me nine was now my lucky number.”
After Trent finished his story, the camera showed shots of the hosts, the other guests, and the Peanut Gallery all reacting with sadness.
“Have you ever told Sky about this?” Katie asked.
“She is still your girlfriend,” Sadie pointed out.
“I haven't had time to, but I'll make good on my word,” Trent promised, and the audience applauded for him.
“We've got a lot of emails here,” Priya checked the display. “Snowgirl writes, "Trent, what kind of girl are you not into?"”
“Simple. They'd either have to be stalkers or the kind of girls that'd do anything to humiliate people for no reason,” Trent claimed.
"How about we check in on our web cams?" Damien suggested, leaning over to check the display in front of him. "We've got Ginger from Sudbury," he said before the camera pulled out enough to show the monitor, which flashed from static to a feed of a geeky young white girl with large glasses and her red hair in pigtails. "Hey Ginger!" Damien greeted as the young girl waved.
"Trent, I'd love it if you went psycho crazy over me!" the girl squealed.
“Side note, you've been getting a lot of admirers ever since you got eliminated,” Damien told Trent.
"Uh, yeah," Trent said uneasily.
"Thanks, Ginger," Priya said as Ginger waved once more and her feed cut to static. "We also have Steve," she looked at her display, "the...Yeti? From Vancouver!"
The static on the monitor cut away to show none other than Sasquatchanakwa, or at least something that looked very much like it. "Uh, how's it going?" Priya asked awkwardly.
"Chris McLean," the yeti began to say in a deep and growling voice before it faded into something much more familiar, "is the best host ever! How'd you get your own show?" He leaned towards the camera angrily, his long white teeth bared. "You stink!"
"Yo Chris," Chef's voice said from the yeti's end. "If I wanted to take a hot tub by myself, I-" The yeti smiled sheepishly. "Oh! You on the webcam?"
"Chris?" the two hosts asked in bewilderment as the audience roared in laughter.
Chef then got next to Chris. “Don't believe a word Izzy says,” he advised. “Girl's crazy.”
Priya and Damien looked at each other before the former spoke. "Now it's time for a segment that we like to call, 'That's Gonna Leave a Mark!'"
The crowd cheered as a short introduction was played with clips of various contestants getting hurt throughout the seasons scrolling across a sunburst pattern in a manner similar to part of the Gilded Chris ceremony introduction, albeit with a different theme tune.
Damien sighed happily as the shot cut back to him and Priya. "I do not miss getting humiliated."
"Here's what all of you didn't get to see on the show!" Priya looked back up as the television descended, and cut to the first in a series of clips set to a campy tune comprised primarily of a tuba, drums, and whistling.
The first clip showed Justin and Izzy walking backstage in their costumes during the acting challenge. Just then, a headlight fell and clubbed Justin on the head. "Looks like it's lights out for Justin," Damien said as the crowd laughed and a circle was drawn around the impact.
A bout of static heralded the second clip, in which Eva and Geoff were running through the beach set during the monster movie challenge. "This is a good one," Priya said as the monster stomped across the screen and left Eva and Geoff shaped holes on the ground, earning more laughter.
The third clip focused on Millie patting the sand castle for support until something bit her. She pulled her hand out and saw a crab pinched to her finger. "Ooh!" the hosts winced as a circle was drawn around the crab.
Next was a shot of Anne Maria twirling her lasso around. She threw it forward, but it got wrapped around her legs and pulled her down. "I don't even know what to draw for this," Priya laughed.
The next clip began to play. It consisted of nothing more than Mama Alien Chef walking forward with determination only to slip and fall on a pile of his own slime, his gun flying off-screen before a few shots rained back down on the fallen cook.
"Now that's gonna leave a mark," Damien said as Chef was circled and the scene cut back to the set. "With what's been happening," he said after a bit more laughing, "I am so glad I'm not competing."
“Do you guys think I could sing a song?” Trent asked Damien and Priya and held his guitar. “It's something I wrote after I left the show.”
“I'm not going to stop you,” Priya shrugged.
Trent strummed a beat to start his song, and the Peanut Gallery, Damien, Priya, Izzy, Geoff, and Eva listened attentively.
“We'll be separated for a couple of days,
And I know inside our heads our love stays.
I know I'll be okay, but I also know I'll be in a bad mood…
If I didn't show how much I love you…
And you love me too.”
When the song ended, the audience applauded and cheered heavily for Trent. “Sky, I want you to know that I'll be watching and rooting for you here,” he gave a shout out to his girlfriend, earning an 'Aww' from the audience.
"Now that is true love if I do say so myself," Priya gushed heavily with her arm on Damien's shoulder.
"Don't forget that ours is just as strong, if not more," Damien teased before he leaned in and kissed Priya, the audience oohing as the beginnings of a familiar tune began to play in the background.
“Could we get that hammer out here?” Izzy asked playfully and spoke to the camera. “I guess that's a wrap. Priya and Damien will see you next time!”
"You've got that right," Damien said as the kiss was broken and the Aftermath theme began to play.
"We've got a huge season coming up!" Priya added.
"And we'll be joining you again for another Aftermath!" Damien continued.
"Don't forget to follow Chris next time," Priya said with a smile, "for the next dramatically thrilling episode of Total! Drama! Action!" The audience cheered wildly, and another quick jingle played as the scene cut to the show's title card, the block letters gleaming one last time before fading to black.
(Roll the Credits)
(Bonus Clip)
The scene showed Izzy and Trent inside of the green room. Trent was in the middle of playing on his guitar and Izzy was helping herself to more food.
“So I gotta ask,” Trent said suddenly. “How come you didn't mind being called by your real name instead of “E-Scope”?”
Izzy stopped stuffing herself with crackers as soon as the question was asked. “Say what?”
“I'm talking about how the whole time you were competing, you'd act bratty because you weren't called by the name you wanted to be referred to as,” Trent pointed out.
“Well, I was repeatedly told that it was getting old and grating,” Izzy explained. “That kinda bummed me out cause I just wanted everyone to find it funny.”
“And they didn't,” Trent responded. “No offense.”
“None taken,” Izzy shrugged. “I'm not going to change my personality entirely, but the alter-egos should be taken down a notch. So about those secret admirers...”
“I don't even want to delve into those when I already have a loving girlfriend thank you very much,” Trent finished their conversation.
“Right,” Izzy nodded and returned back to her binge eating.
Eva - 14th
Geoff - 14th
Izzy - 12th
Trent - 11th
Killer Grips: Anne Maria, Brick, Jasmine, Justin, Millie
Screaming Gaffers: Chase, MK, Ripper, Scott, Sky
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2024.05.13 12:29 Mkyhhd Georgia is a magnet for data centers and other cutting-edge industries

There's Not Enough Power for America's High-Tech Ambitions; Georgia is a magnet for data centers and other cutting-edge industries, but vast electricity demands are clashing with the newcomers' green-energy goals
Uberti, David. Wall Street Journal (Online); New York, N.Y.. 12 May 2024.
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ATLANTA—Bill Thomson needs power fast. The problem is that many of the other businesspeople racing into Georgia do too.
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Thomson heads marketing and product management at DC Blox, which in recent years built a string of data centers in midsize cities across the fast-growing Southeast. The company more recently set its sights on Atlanta—the would-be capital of the region—joining a slew of tech and industrial firms piling into the state.
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Vying for a piece of one of America's hottest markets, those businesses tend to have two things in common. One is that they represent a U.S. economy increasingly driven by advanced manufacturing, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The other is that they promise to hoover up huge amounts of electricity.
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That combination means Georgia's success in luring this development comes with a side effect: Power is a big source of tension. The clean-energy goals of companies and governments are running up against the need for projects to break ground fast. So far, climate advocates fear the imperatives of growth mean more fossil fuels.
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Georgia's main utility, Georgia Power, has boosted its demand projections sixteen-fold and is pushing ahead on a hotly contested plan to burn more natural gas. Critics warn it will yield higher bills and unnecessary carbon emissions for decades. Some companies are scrambling to secure bespoke renewable-energy deals to power their development.
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One major source of disruption is data centers. The facilities are ballooning in size as people spend more of their waking hours online and companies digitize everything from factory processes to fast-food drive-throughs. All that computing requires power—and for firms like DC Blox to lock it in as quickly as possible.
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"Generally," Thomson said, "we find the guys with the fastest power win."
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Similar quandaries are rippling through other hubs of the new American economy, with utilities in Tennessee and the Carolinas forecasting their own unexpected surges in load growth. U.S. power usage is projected to expand by 4.7% over the next five years, according to a review of federal fillings by the consulting firm Grid Strategies. That is up from a previous estimate of 2.6%.
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The projections come after efficiency gains kept electricity demand roughly flat over the past 15 years, allowing the power sector to limit emissions in large part through coal-plant closures.
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"We haven't seen this in a generation," said Arne Olson, a senior partner at consulting firm Energy and Environmental Economics. "As an industry, we've almost forgotten how to deal with load growth of this magnitude."
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For states like Georgia, the fear is missing out on what could be once-in-a-generation investments. Wall Street is salivating over an artificial-intelligence-fueled tech bonanza, while Washington is throwing billions of dollars into domestic manufacturing.
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The added wrinkle is that it is all happening as many parts of America—corporate America included—are trying to wean themselves off fossil fuels.
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"These companies all have clean-energy goals," said Patty Durand, a Georgia Power critic who is campaigning to be a utility regulator in the state. "Those goals are at risk if Georgia Power gets what it wants."
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The Peach State's energy quandary stems from the type of economic dynamism that many counterparts would envy. Its growth has consistently outpaced the nation's. A smaller portion of Georgians are jobless than the U.S. average, while their incomes tend to be rising faster.
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State and local economic-development teams have courted large businesses to set up shop with sales pitches that have included generous financial incentives. Rail lines, ports and America's largest air hub also provide access to faraway customers.
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Pat Wilson, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said energy is increasingly part of those discussions with newcomers. Officials tout the newly expanded Plant Vogtle, America's largest nuclear power plant , as a sign the state is ready for long-term growth.
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"We have a utility partner to make sure you can meet your energy needs on day one," Wilson said.
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Those needs include affordability, reliability and sustainability for firms like Aurubis, a German metals giant building a recycling plant in the outskirts of Augusta.
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U.S. energy prices are far lower than those in Europe. That is a boon for Aurubis, which uses mammoth equipment to shred old circuit boards and electrical wiring, melt the scraps, and separate copper from other materials.
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David Schultheis is in charge of a new recycling plant being built by German metals giant Aurubis in the outskirts of Augusta. PHOTO: Kendrick Brinson for The Wall Street Journal
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The company also boasts aggressive emissions-reductions targets for its power-intensive smelters. At its roughly $820 million Georgia plant, Aurubis will use up to 31 megawatts of electricity, enough to power thousands of homes.
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"Not every project itself has to reduce carbon emissions," said David Schultheis, president of the Georgia facility. "But the overall set of projects has to guide us there."
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The firm has made strides to that end in Europe by bolstering its usage of wind or solar power in a portfolio stretching from Belgium to Bulgaria. In Georgia, Schultheis pointed to Plant Vogtle, visible just 12 miles away, as a symbol of reliable energy.
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Companies prize nuclear power plants, since they produce carbon-free energy and—unlike wind or solar power—don't depend on the weather. But the projected power needs of new businesses in the state far exceed the expected output of the plant's recently added reactors, the second of which went online last month.
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Despite Aurubis' proximity to Vogtle, which is co-owned by Georgia Power, it is also difficult to trace the source of electricity that reaches the substation on the German company's property nearby. Schultheis instead relies on the utility's overall power production for his carbon accounting, meaning the Georgia site will add more to Aurubis' carbon footprint.
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"We get the full grid—the mix of the grid—of what they produce," he said.
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Many of the battles over that energy mix have been fought in a windowless room in one of the imposing government buildings crammed into Atlanta's South Downtown area. That is home to meetings of the Georgia Public Service Commission, which oversees utilities including Georgia Power.
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The investor-owned utility last fall made an unusual update to its periodic resource proposal to regulators. Citing a boom in new business customers, Georgia Power boosted its projected demand growth over the next seven years from less than 400 megawatts to 6,600 megawatts, or about a third more than the utility's total capacity at the beginning of 2023.
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To make up the gap, the company put forward a plan that includes adding battery storage, buying power from fossil-fuel-burning plants in Mississippi and Florida, and building three new gas-fired turbines in Georgia.
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The Southern Co.subsidiary has since sparred with renewable-energy-minded organizations as divergent as local municipal governments, the Sierra Club and the Pentagon.
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Opponents argued the utility should accelerate demand-side responses, such as allowing customers to dial down energy usage depending on costs. Others proposed more-aggressive use of solar power and batteries, or so-called "virtual power plants" that allow consumers with solar panels to sell energy back to the grid.
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In Georgia Power's view, adding gas is key to providing stable power and quickly ramping up electricity for moments of peak usage on the hottest days of summer and coldest days of winter. That is especially crucial given the utility's gradual retirement of coal-fired plants.
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The state is attracting so many power users, Georgia Power contends, that new investments will actually suppress ratepayers' bills.
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"We anticipate that we will not need to increase rates to cover the costs of these resources that we're adding," said Aaron Mitchell, the company's vice president of pricing and planning.
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A view of the Aurubis recycling plant. PHOTO: Kendrick Brinson for The Wall Street Journal
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Some Georgians are skeptical, noting utilities' previous overestimates of demand growth. Power companies have a financial incentive to pursue capital projects, critics say, and overbuilding now would risk saddling ratepayers with assets that have decadeslong shelf lives.
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The recent history of energy development in the state has also been rocky. The Georgia Power-led project to expand Plant Vogtle, the first U.S. nuclear development in decades, ran up more than $30 billion in costs and lagged years behind schedule.
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Since the project's early stages in 2007, the 12-month moving average of residential power costs for the utility's customers has surged 68%, according to the Georgia Center for Energy Solutions. That outpaced inflation, as well as cost increases for industrial and commercial customers.
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Price pressures and climate fears have pushed communities such as suburban Atlanta's DeKalb County, which has pledged to slash emissions, to lobby regulators for more aggressive oversight of the investor-owned utility. Ted Terry, a DeKalb County commissioner, warned that the state is using a 20th-century energy playbook while trying to attract 21st-century industries.
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The state's energy market "is not working for all of us," Terry said. Regulators approved much of Georgia Power's plan on April 16.
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'Essential to our economy'
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The tension hasn't slowed businesses' rush to the state.
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Alphabet's Google has operated data centers in Georgia for more than two decades, gradually expanding its footprint. In 2021, Microsoft established a new U.S. data-center region emanating from greater Atlanta. An Amazon Web Services spokesman said the firm recently bought land in the Peach State and is evaluating possible server-farm locations.
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All three firms purchase massive amounts of renewable energy to help power their facilities around the world. All three are also members of the Clean Energy Buyers Association, a trade group pushing utilities, including Georgia Power, to go green.
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Priya Barua, the organization's senior director of market and policy innovation, said the added difficulty in much of the Southeast is that traditionally regulated power markets sometimes give firms fewer opportunities to shop around for wholesale electricity.
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"They're more limited in how they can get clean energy," she said.
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Some analysts believe that could change as companies exert more pressure on regulators and developers strike deals with independent power producers. As part of Georgia Power's recent planning update, the utility said it would work with trade groups like Barua's to explore how commercial and industrial customers might build or contract their own clean-energy projects in the future.
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Those setups have been confined in recent years to nonprofit electricity cooperatives that tend to serve rural areas. Instagram-owner Meta, for example, joined with a Georgia co-op and solar developer Silicon Ranch as part of a broader deal to power data centers.
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But even in a more-competitive market, those deals may remain out of reach for most companies, such as DC Blox, the data-center operator building two facilities on opposing outskirts of Atlanta.
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Founded in 2014, the firm constructed its first data center in an old paper plant in Chattanooga. Power usage: one megawatt. DC Blox has since built out a network from Myrtle Beach, S.C., to Huntsville, Ala., leasing space to municipalities, universities and manufacturers.
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Aurubis uses mammoth equipment to shred old circuit boards and electrical wiring, melt the scraps, and separate copper from other materials. PHOTO: Kendrick Brinson for The Wall Street Journal
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Now, the company is big-game hunting for big-tech customers. The larger of its two Atlanta-area sites could reach up to 300 megawatts.
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"The smart states and smart utility commissions are going to figure out how to do this because this isn't going to stop," said Thomson, the DC Blox executive. "AI is coming next."
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DC Blox executives see themselves as part of Atlanta's evolution from logistics center to the digital hub of the Southeast. Nowhere is that more apparent than west of the city in Douglas County, the most sought-after corner of the region's data-center market.
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Local officials including Chris Pumphrey, president of the public-private Elevate Douglas Economic Partnership, began seeking out data centers about a decade ago. While the facilities employ few full-time employees, operators and tenants pour property and sales taxes into public coffers. Another benefit to Douglas County was that the new industry reduced truck traffic to warehouses peppering the area.
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"At that period of time," Pumphrey said, "there wasn't this significant concern about energy."
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These days, Douglas County is home to current or forthcoming data centers by companies including Google, Microsoft, DC Blox, Flexential and Switch. As hundreds of construction workers etch the concrete structures into sides of hills like fortresses, Pumphrey is eagerly awaiting the payoff.
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"They're essential to our economy," Pumphrey said. As for the energy concerns, he added, "We have to figure something out."
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Cooling towers at Plant Vogtle, a nuclear power station, are visible behind the new Aurubis facility. PHOTO: Kendrick Brinson for The Wall Street Journal
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Write to David Uberti at [david.uberti@wsj.com](mailto:david.uberti@wsj.com)
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Credit: By David Uberti
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