#Slewing Bearing Market

[marketwire]

The global Slewing Bearings market is estimated to surpass $4,105.9 million by 2024, growing at CAGR 3.03% during the forecast period 2018-2024,

[srilatha]

Slewing Bearings Market - Forecast(2023 - 2028)

The global Slewing Bearings market is estimated to surpass $4,105.9 million by 2024, growing at CAGR 3.03% during the forecast period 2018-2024, majorly driven by the increasing focus on renewable energy and growing infrastructure sector. Urbanization in emerging economies has also led to an increase in commercial and office construction market which is driving the global slewing bearings market.

[j4gm]

SPOILERS!!! REFERENCES AND EASTER EGGS IN F&C ep. 3: Cake the Cat

The dungeon that Finn and Jake are crawling in the opening scene looks very similar to the Temple of Thorogon from an unproduced episode that would have been part of season one of the original show. Spotted by @digamma-f-wau.

This is the Finn and Jake we saw in the trailer! They are indeed from an alternate universe where Jake survived.

Minerva makes a cameo. She arrived in Ooo during the montage in the finale of the original series.

This is the two-headed duck from the original show's title sequence.

This is the butterfly from the credits of Simon Petrikov, the second episode, where it was resting on the mask of the bear that Finn slew.

The non-flying squirrel and the other animals who try to kidnap him and bring him back to their cult are from Up a Tree. Finn also ate the same kind of cursed apple in that episode as Cake.

The Ice Thingdom already looks a lot like it does in the 1000+ scenes.

These kinds of universal translators were first seen in My Two Favorite People. This one has more voices and seems more advanced, but the three voices from that episode can briefly be heard; demon, alien, and old man.

There are lots of returning species in the market scene; hot dog knights, soft people, wood people, rock people, spiky people, slime people, cuties, berry people, goblins, cloud people, and several of the characters from Memories of Boom Boom Mountain. The girl playing the guitar is Rainy from the episode Another Way and it's possible the tree stump playing the woodblock is meant to be the one from that same episode.

There's a worm here who appears for like five frames and looks like Shelby.

I'm not sure why the hot dog knight got Prismo-teleported away.

Astrid mentions she was born in the new human city, which means she is twelve or younger, and means it didn't take long for the city to be constructed after the humans arrived in Ooo.

The dream in this episode's credits is a truck full of apples with a wheel missing. I wonder if these mean anything.

[konnorhasapen]

I'm so nervous-

Treading Water — Introduction

[notes at the bottom :)]

Find Chapter 1 here! And Chapter 2 here!

Also on ao3!

——

The Mage's Damnation—formerly known as The Rainfall Voyager—was a ship of grandeur Captained by the sly escapee, Freelancer. Having been locked away in the dungeons of the Rainfall palace when they slapped the Prince across the face and told him they would tear off his baby-maker and shove it so far up his nether regions that he'd be able to taste his own filth. It had only taken them a day and a half to shave their broken fork tine against the pavement of their cell to get it small enough to use as a pick. Or at least, to make it seem like they used it as a pick. The King of Rainfall was going to use a fake accusation of magic as an excuse to execute them, but the accusation would not have been fake. A damn lucky guess, though. They had made their grand escape, pulling Prince Kody's reluctant handmaid Lasko along with them and the two set off, a few other members of the Rainfall ship's crew following along happily despite their new Captain had a knack for abilities beyond the veil. After all, it was pretty cool.

Vincent Solaire; a solo sailor, he likes to call himself, even given the feminine company of his sister Alexis, who was tasked by King William Solaire, their father, with tagging along with him to ensure he doesn't run into too much trouble. While searching for the thrill of adventure, his sister was none the wiser to his hunt for Adam as well; a fugitive that had embedded himself into their home under the guise of abandonment and used the Solaire name as a shield to his heinous crimes that circled a black market of his own making. Though Alexis was in the dark of Vincent's hunt, the both of them have been sailing across the waters for so long that neither were aware of the tragedy that struck not only their Estate in Wonder Wharf, but all of Dahlia.

David Shaw, Captain of The Wallowing Wolf with his First Mate and best friend Asher O'Connell stood at the helm beside him. His crew is family, this ship now their home after the disaster, forced to flee the catching fires and bounties pinned to their heads in the wide country of Dahlia. The fall of William Solaire was just the gloom overcast on the darkness of his father's declared death, a wound still so fresh that the very air stung the surface and sent a pain to flood his heart—so strong it could cripple warriors. Even without the blindness of grief, David Shaw could not foresee an unexpected arrival; one that, even on such a clear sky as the one they sailed beneath, would bring a storm relentless enough to capsize any ship no matter the gall.

An infamous Bounty Hunter bearing 'Tanker' as their title, struggling to leave their past behind while they keep the weight of guilt on their shoulders and regret heavy in their caged heart.

A royal runaway with a want for thrill that thrums in the blood of their veins, heart pounding at the thought of finding and rescuing damsels—or Davids—in distress, daydreaming of epic novel-worthy chases through towns and across rooftops, wondering, with a twinkle in their eyes, if their heart would find its other half along the way—all while making decisions on impulse that lead to some narrow getaways.

A loyal guard tested with a question of where their loyalty lies that they only have so much time to answer as they follow a plot of daring adventure under the cover of the night.

A kind Innkeeper who takes no hesitation in sheltering a trio of weary pirates that had been separated from their tight-woven family, feeling such a sense of bittersweet familiarity to their situation that when unwanted company comes knocking, they already have their gun drawn and the end of the barrel pointed at the jewels of the Head Guard, determined to let those they've sheltered not lose each other as the Innkeeper had lost their own.

A slew of Merfolk who wish to see more than the land below waters has to offer; the one who finds himself being demonized and banished as a Siren houses a heart of gold not many get to see.

The young one has an impeccable knack for finding the bright side of every storm and a love for helping others see it too.

The curious one who was swept away from their brother and caught within the clutches of a slimy black market dealer.

And the one who was cursed so long ago, closing himself off to the company of others after losing too much. Though he finds himself before a rare hunter who values morals over money and offers their expertise if he offers his, admitting they know of who he was before.

With enough introductions out of the way, we can officially begin this story.

——

I DID IT🎉

And here I thought my first ao3 fic was gonna be a oneshot- turns out it's gonna be a whole book :> I don't know how many chapters there will be, but I do know I'm already working on chapter 1!

Special thanks to everyone who became immediately obsessed with the dumb posts I made literally yesterday about Siren Gavin and Captain FL, Mermaid Sam and Bounty Hunter Darlin' and whatnot lol. You guys encouraged this and helped make it happen! Thank you all for giving me the confidence to finally put something on ao3 :) <33

Also, I forgot it was Snippet Saturday, so I suppose I could give a little look-see at the next chapter? Perhaps mayshlaps?? Or would y'all just want to wait?

💫TAGS LIST💫

@morgansplace @sri-rachaa @epsi-l0n @whatalovelymae @sealriously-sealrious @slushrottweiler @friendlyfaded @star-sheeps @anthrokiaera @shiningkeyoflife @the-gender-bending-squid

[leviathanlazarus]

Smother the Flame in Your Heart - Part VI

Read previous parts here or read on Ao3

Pairing: Danny Wagner x Sam Kiszka

Word Count: ~2800

Warnings: none, just a little angst

<3 (or maybe </3)

---

Getting through the rest of the holidays posed a real challenge for Danny. He knew it would be–he’d mentally prepared as best he could, but the balancing act between being a normal boyfriend and a blood-thirsty monster continued to rock his world with each passing day, each passing event. In the spirit of being a normal boyfriend, he planned as many fun, festive things for him and Sam as he could–a trip to the big Christmas village for more last minute shopping before the official Christmas day rolled around, a snow sleigh ride through the park, hot apple cider and feeding goats and alpacas at a local farmer’s market. 

The last thing was extra special–Sam meeting Danny’s family at their annual New Years Eve game night. It was no Kiszka party, it was just Danny, his parents and his sister and a whole bunch of board and card games, which made Sam extra nervous. He had to face his own challenge–there weren't a slew of strangers to act as any kind of buffer. No, it was just him and the Wagners and he was left to suddenly worry about being judged, something he didn’t often do.

But he knew the risk of being judged was a lot different than the risk of Danny going a little insane and not being able to contain himself, which was what he’d beautifully done a couple weeks prior. Since then, Sam realized Danny had very obviously made a point to interact with his brothers as little as possible. No going inside when he picked Sam up, no group hang outs, nothing at all, really. Sam felt like he understood. Yet, the understanding didn’t make the seething jealousy that soaked his insides any less palpable. It all felt so juvenile and stupid–it wasn’t like Danny could control his instincts or those base desires. It was all hormones and pheromones and Sam thought that, in a way, he should actually be flattered. Something in the Kiszka bloodline was apparently very appealing to Danny. 

But then, Sam thought, if he hadn’t been the one to run into Danny on Halloween and one of his brothers had, would Danny be with one of them instead? That thought was too much to bear whenever it assaulted his mind so, each time it did when he was around his boyfriend, Sam lunged from wherever he was sitting or standing and planted a big wet one on his boyfriend’s face to remind him who they both belonged to.

After the vibrant festivities of Christmas and New Years, it had quickly become the season of capitalizing on romance. Danny and Sam were perusing through Walmart on a bitter cold Wednesday night and Sam hooked their arms together to explore the Valentine’s Day aisles together. It was a little morbid, in a way, how much red and pink there was everywhere, all the heart-shaped things, when his poor boyfriend had the unfortunate, relentless urge to bite into stranger’s hearts and drink their blood until it ran red down his chin. Well, Sam silently corrected, that was a bit much. Danny was the sweetest boy he’d ever known–his gleeful adoration of the cheesy Valentine’s Day decor and toys was testament to that. 

“I bet you went all out for Valentine’s Day with your girlfriends,” Sam said, coming up behind him, who was inspecting a lavender-colored rabbit with hearts stamped on its feet. “You definitely seem like the type.”

“It’s cute. Girls like it,” Danny told him, turning around to shove the rabbit in Sam’s face. “You want him? Or her?”

Sam grabbed it and pulled it down, freeing his field of vision to survey the other choices of plushies. “I like this one,” he said, retrieving a baby pink stuffed dog with floppy ears from the top shelf. “Which one do you like?”

Danny plucked the one right next to it, the crimson dog of the same plushie breed, and tapped its nose against the one in Sam’s hands. “This guy. They go together.”

“God, we’re so gay,” Sam scoffed, smirking. He tucked both plushies under one arm and took a look at the next aisle which was full of red, pink and purple bags of sweets. “We should get some candy though. I like those little conversation hearts.”

Danny scoffed next. “Sam, those are so gross. Don’t tell me you got your girlfriends boxes of those things for Valentine’s Day.”

“They loved them!”

Danny chuckled and grabbed a box, just for Sam. “I bet they only told you that to be polite.” It was such an honor to be Sam’s first–and hopefully only–boyfriend that Danny was more than willing to put up with anything. Chalky conversation heart candies, not-so-tasty vegan dinners, Sam’s refusal to ever clean his bong, talking with his mouth full, his snoring–there wasn’t a single thing that could turn Danny off. 

“Alright, so tell me–what’s your favorite candy from this fine selection?” Sam asked, waving a hand over the aisle. 

Danny tapped a bag of sugared cherry wedges. “These bad boys. I could eat the whole bag in one sitting.”

“God! Such a grandpa,” Sam said, but he grabbed the package for his boyfriend just as Danny had done for him. “Let’s just say we both have shit taste in candy.”

“I should probably get something for my mom,” Danny mused, moving over to the boxes of chocolates. “And Josie.”

That was something Sam totally loved about his boyfriend–Danny was constantly thinking about other people. Sam felt like he was still working on that himself, though he did think about Danny all the time. All the damn time. Now he was thinking about Danny’s family again and had to wonder out loud, going back in time, “So they really liked me?”

“My parents? Josie?” Danny asked while he scanned the back of a big box of Godiva truffles. “Yeah, they really did. Josie thinks you’re hilarious. My dad does too.”

“Well, what about Mama Wagner? I gotta get in good with your mom.”

Danny smiled. “She loves you, Sam. She said you’re very witty and sharp.”

“Fuck yeah, love that,” Sam said, bursting with pride, and snuck an arm around Danny’s waist. “You’re really never planning on telling them?”

Danny sighed, putting the box of Godiva chocolate back. “How would I ever tell them? It’s too unbelievable.”

“I believed you and I’m not even related to you.”

“Yeah, but I proved it to you. I bit you.”

Sam sighed next. “It just makes me kinda sad that you feel like you can’t ever tell them. Like it’s gonna eat away at you for the rest of your life.”

“Maybe not,” Danny replied, optimistic. “We all keep secrets from our families. It’s not like my family actually knowing my secret would do any good.” He also really didn’t want them to think his boyfriend was just his own personal juice box–that couldn’t be further from the truth. Danny was doing everything in his power to keep Sam as far removed from that role as possible; in fact, and unfortunately, his hunger was stirring deep in his belly today, and there was no way that chocolates and sweets would curb it. 

Sam said nothing, keeping his arms looped around his boyfriend while he watched him read the back of another box of chocolates. He appreciated that Danny trusted him so much that his darkest–and really, because he ultimately was such a good boy, his only–secret was kept just between them. Still, he knew what a family man Danny was. He could imagine how it must have sucked to not be totally honest with his family even just about how he felt. Sam didn’t expect Danny to ever tell his family that he was headed out of town to suck some poor sap dry, but he felt his boyfriend deserved to be able to open up about what was going on in his heart and head all the time with the people who loved him unconditionally. But that conversation would be another losing battle. Sam had learned a few things in his few months with Danny and one of them was that pushing him never truly worked out. Danny had to do things in his own time. 

Sam also knew that bringing Mama Wagner and Josie flowers and chocolates alongside Danny would do his reputation wonders. After they dropped off the goodies for the girls, Sam was able to entice Danny back to his house since the twins were out for the night.

“This is good,” he said while he laid himself across Danny’s lap, a box of those chalky yet still somehow delightful conversation hearts in his hands. He smiled up at his boyfriend, who smiled back down at him wide enough to expose his fangs–the sight made Sam’s heart skip.

“Sam, do you even like romance movies?” Danny questioned, instinctively lacing his fingers through Sam’s hair that was draping across his hips. Sam had agreed to watching Romeo and Juliet but Danny was sure it was just to placate him–it didn’t take much for Danny to admit that he had a soft spot for that part of pop culture. 

“I told you–I never watch them,” Sam said, chewing on a white heart. “So I don’t know.”

“Wait.” Danny gave a gentle tap to Sam’s forehead with the remote. “You’ve never seen this? You’ve never seen Romeo and Juliet?”

“Nooo,” Sam said, pinching Danny’s side. “But I read the play in high school so cut me some slack, man.”

“Okay, so, we’re definitely watching it now,” Danny concluded, clicking the play button and moving the remote aside, using his newly freed hand to grab the bag of cherry slices Sam had bought him. He was really banking on the movie and candy distracting him enough to get him through the night, but Sam in his lap and the scent of all three Kiszka boys so thick in the house was tormenting. Danny could smell all the other normal things normal people would more easily pick up on–incense, vinegar, coffee grounds, toasted bread���but nothing diminished the scent of the guys enough to make things easy. 

“For you,” Sam said, holding his hand up to give Danny a little pink candy heart while he munched on a green one. 

Danny plucked it from Sam’s palm–it said “BE MINE” in red dye. “I’m already yours,” he said, brushing his hands through Sam’s hair again, and popped the heart in his mouth. It didn’t taste very good, but Sam’s lips, when Danny bent down to kiss him after he swallowed, certainly did. When Sam sat up and leaned against him, nuzzling the side of his face into his shoulder, Danny said, “I didn’t think I’d spend Valentine’s Day with anyone ever again.”

“Vampires deserve love too,” Sam said. “Someone else besides me would’ve come along.”

Danny made a sour face, not because of the candy. “No way. Besides, it wouldn’t have worked.”

“Why not?”

“‘Cause I’m pretty sure you’re the only one for me.”

Sam smiled and kissed Danny’s cheek. “Duh.” He tried to move his focus to the movie for Danny’s sake, but he felt restless–restless because he could feel Danny was restless. The non-stop bouncing of his leg kept Sam gently vibrating throughout the film and no matter how much he wished his own relaxed, warm body would soften Danny’s muscles, he could feel the unyielding tension in his boyfriend. 

When the credits were rolling, Danny eased away and stood up, stretching. Sam moved to the edge of the couch, watching, and asked, “You’re sleeping over, right?” It wasn’t even late enough for bedtime really, but he knew the twins would be home soon–Danny would want to get away, and Sam would prefer he stayed as close to him as possible even while getting away. 

Danny turned around and smiled, easy and beautiful as ever. “Yeah. I just gotta take a leak.”

In the dim solitude of his bedroom, Sam rolled a joint while Danny lounged next to him on the bed, watching him work. Despite the relentless tension he felt in his bones just existing in the world–and perhaps especially in the Kiszka house–he always felt at ease with Sam. Everything he did was fascinating in Danny’s eyes, even just the simple, perfected act of rolling a joint and sparking it to life. The smoke around Sam’s face was whisked away by a sudden and sharply cold breeze through the open window, then Danny was reaching to take the smoke for himself, the hazy curls moving from Sam’s fingers to his. 

While Danny was taking a hit, Sam laid one hand over his restless leg. “You’re thirsty, aren’t you?”

Danny coughed into his arm and passed the joint back. “Is it that obvious?”

“Yes, it is.”

With another cough, then a sigh, Danny leaned back more against the headboard. “Yeah. But it’s okay. I can wait.”

Sam wanted to say that Danny didn’t have to wait, that Sam could take care of him. That Danny was his and vice versa and that meant in terms of everything. But it was a tired conversation. Instead, Sam reminded himself of his earlier thought–that Danny needed to do things in his own time and part of being a partner was acceptance. It was never easy for Sam but he knew that he really was trying. 

Instead of going down that road again, Sam tried to keep it light. “If you weren’t a vampire, what would you wanna be?” he asked, cuddling up against his vampire. “And you can’t say a normal human. I mean like, what mythological creature would you wanna be?”

“Hmm.” Danny took the joint back as it was offered, thinking. When he and Josie were little, they’d play outside and pretend to be all sorts of things–members of a royal court, elves, pirates, witches and warlocks, great adventurers. Never vampires though, and Danny still grappled constantly with what exactly he was beyond that word. Josie had even made him watch the Twilight movies with her when they’d come out and Danny spent an embarrassing amount of time reflecting on them after his change. He’d achieved no supernatural or outstanding abilities, no outlandishly heightened beauty, nothing special at all. Nothing good. It was so weird to just essentially be, as he’d eventually resigned to calling it, diseased and not be able to talk about it. 

At least there was Sam now. Ultimately, that was all he needed. 

“I’m not sure,” Danny finally said. “Something awesome though. Something super strong and fast. Something that can fly.”

“A dragon,” Sam offered, stamping the joint out and shoving the window down. He curled tighter against Danny’s side, tucking his feet beneath the blankets. 

“Being a dragon would be super cool,” Danny agreed, pulling the blankets up over both of their legs. “Or a phoenix.”

“I could see that.”

Danny chuckled. “What about you?” He stroked Sam’s hair, looking at the angles of his pretty face. “I think you’d be an elf. Some kind of fairytale creature, you know? That suits you.”

“An elf?” Sam replied, craning his neck to eye Danny. “Would I at least be a badass elf with weapons and shit?”

“Sure, of course. A bow and arrow. Some daggers.”

“So I’m Legolas.”

Danny laughed; the sound made Sam’s whole body grow warmer. “You love The Lord of the Rings. So why not?”

That night, sheathed in thick blankets and Danny’s strong, comforting body, Sam didn’t dream about elves or fairies or dragons or phoenixes. He slept so deeply and so soundly he didn’t remember any of his dreams. It was the waking that was disjointed and unpleasant, like a bad dream–Danny wasn’t in his bed anymore. 

Sam sat up, exhaling, bringing the blankets up to his chin. He could feel that his room was warm with the heat through the vents but he still felt cold. Cold and abruptly alone. He knew why, and the note left on the spare pillow confirmed it–Danny had left because he had to. Soon enough, he’d be full and more at ease–all would be well. But for now, Sam had to deal with the emptiness that came along with letting Danny be Danny. By not pushing him. By trying to be patient. Two things that didn’t come naturally to him at all. 

Quickly, sadness turned into anger–it was a transition impossible to avoid when Sam’s mind brought him images of Danny with someone else. It didn’t matter that it didn’t mean anything to him–it meant something to Sam. But throughout all his tearing the bed apart and violently hauling himself off it, he still saved the note. Only because Danny wrote it. 

---

Tagging: @mackalah @sparrowofrhiannon @starbuggie @lightsofthe-living-gvf @sanguinebats @clairesjointshurt @bizzielisteningtogreta

You can go here to be tagged in any of my fics or DM me <3

[clarktooncrossing]

Giraffe's Eye View: Christmas Specials Special (2023) | Care Bears Nutcracker

Chestnuts are roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost is nipping at your nose. Mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again. All the dogs in the neighborhood somehow learned to bark Jingle Bells in sync. Yet retail workers are still more annoyed with Mariah Carey. Snow is getting shoveled, tossed, and formed into sentient beings leading parades without permits. It makes for an excellent distraction as the Krampus abducts children for bad behavior. Fruitcake is exchanged only to find its permanent home in the garbage. Terrorists have hijacked the Holiday office party right before your boss can give you a Jelly of the Month Club membership as your bonus. And of course, the Turducken has returned to wreak its fiery vengeance upon an unsuspecting world! If all this doesn’t put you in the Christmas spirit, perhaps these following Holiday specials will!

Greetings people of today and robots of tomorrow! It is I, Santa Clark, your geeky giraffe friend with a deep love of Christmas! My obsession for the yuletide is rivaled only by Maleficent’s hatred for it, which is saying a lot considering she once teamed up with Mad Madam Mim to kidnap the literal Spirit of Christmas. Yes, that really happened. I know this due to my annual pilgrimage to the Island of Misfit Specials, home to obscure or nerdy festive media ranging from movies, TV episodes, and comics. It’s no easy journey. Constantly I find myself confronted by sinister snowmen, genocidal gingerbread men, and worst of all, crappy commercials. Getting stabbed in the foot by a candy-cane wielding cookie is one thing, but I swear I’ve seen that ad for Wilbur’s White Elephant Gift Emporium more times than I’ve seen Miracle on 34th Street! Sometimes at night I catch myself reciting that jingle. Wilbur’s White Elephant Gift Emporium: Where Christmas meets Convenience! Huh, maybe Maleficent had a point.

Nah, my deep-rooted appreciation for this time of year can weather even the most moronic marketing! It helps that most of the merry media I’ve seen have put me in the perfect Holiday mood! Examples include the time a Ninja Turtle found himself trapped in a truck full of stollen toys, a drunk department store Santa stumbling onto a wish-granting magic bag, Big Bird nearly becoming a popsicle, Gwenpool waking up in a world where Galactus took the place of jolly ol’ Saint Nicholas, a terrifying tree stump trying to slaughter some saps over a stupid ship war, and the year when Death gave the Little Match Girl the greatest gift of all. Needless to say, I thought I had seen it all. That is, until I took my friends on a trip to the Island, tasking them to find me new, strange, seasonal specials to review! Some of them were fair, finding me festive favorites as comforting as coco in front of the fireplace. Others were fiendish, wanting to feed off my misery like Gremlins after midnight. Regardless of how naughty or nice my companions were, I’ve compiled all of their suggestions into a makeshift advent calendar! So stay tuned everyday until Christmas to see how badly my buddies can shred what little sanity I have left.

On the second day of Christmas, my buddies gave to me...

For the record, it says something when nobody's even made a GIF for what I'm about to review.

Malicious as Molly was, she may have set the bar too high with Barbie. For along comes the fairy Claire (YourClairyGodmother), set on proving that the ‘all Canadians are friendly’ claim is a myth. Having recently reviewed a slew of their work herself, she saw fit to share her suffering with me by burdening me with a Care Bears Christmas caper of my choice. Oh how nice, my executioner allowed me to pick how I get to die! Mirroring Grumpy Bear’s dour attitude, I scoured the Care Bears Wiki to make my selection, all the while wondering how this franchise is still alive after all this time. Starting out in 1981 as greeting card characters, these bears became a beloved series of plush toys parents killed each other over at Black Friday’s. Not gonna lie, having Sinbad and Arnie fight over Funshine Bear would’ve made Jingle all the Way that much funnier. It’d certainly be more entertaining then what I ended up picking, that being Care Bears Nutcracker Suite. Dear Santa, I don’t remember asking for endless torment. At this rate getting my nuts cracked probably wouldn’t be as excruciating. Still, perhaps I’m being pessimistic. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and jump right in! After all, these bears beat out Black Cauldron at the box office. Surely they have something special to offer here.

Like terrible child voice actors. We’ve got those in spades here! Okay, I know it’s not nice to call out kids who are only here because of parental peer pressure, but A Charlie Brown Christmas set the bar so high two decades prior! Though to be fair, maybe this is like Hayden Christensen regaling Padme about sand. You can only do so much when the script serves you verbal fruitcake on a platter. Such as when one of the kids, tricked into portraying the Rat King in an elementary production of the ballet by his sister, rightfully laments how lame the show is. Seeing one of her students complaining, our blonde ballet instructor halts class in order to tell a self-insert fanfiction where she herself is Clara. Whoa, deja vuh.

For all of you fearful that this is going to get repetitive, put your worries at ease. The writers made no effort to make the narrative comprehensive here. Instead of a mysterious family member, our Young Clara stand-in Anna (Tara Strong) is visited by Funshine Bear (Susan Roman) and Grumpy (Bob Dermer). Right as they tumble down the chimney ready to help this privileged dork with whatever first world problem she has, a dimensional rift abruptly appears in her room, dropping out the titular Nutcracker (Michael Beattie) and an army of rats. Sadly this time they’re not led by Tim Curry and they’re even less intimidating than before. Whereas previously they at least had swords, now they rush forward into battle with nothing but the clothes on their back. As if that wasn’t idiotic enough, they’re easily frightened off by the two bears and Anna’s younger brother Peter (Stuart Stone) in a trench coat. Wow, I was wondering how they’d top the Mouse King getting taken out by a shrunken woman’s flimsy footwear. You fail at failing to disappoint, Care Bears. Good to know I don’t need to take any of the villains seriously. By chance is it too late to bring back that creepy book lady from the movie? She’d be a better foe than the Vizier (Don Francks), a Jafar wannabe decked out in purple that commands the cowardly vermin. He’s after the Nutcracker so he can, you guessed it, take over the world and ruin Christmas. How he’d ruin Christmas is never explained, though I doubt whatever logic they presented would’ve made sense anyway.

Regardless of the reason, our heroes elect to help Nutcracker in his quest to stop the Vizier, enlisting some Care Bears Cousins to help. Though really I assume it’s to expose kids to more toys they can buy, since Funshine and Grumpy managed to make an entire armada run away in fear. Why else bring in Brave Heart Lion (Dan Hennessey) or Lotsa Heart Elephant (Luba Goy) if not for promotional purposes? Remember kiddies, pester your parents into buying these new friends or else you’ll be a sad loser! Together with Baby Tugs (Melleny Brown) and Hugs (Tracey Moore), they leap into the dimensional portal to restore order to Toyland. Along the way they encounter a bunch of cranky citizens blaming the Vizier’s rise to power on a prince named Alan. Whoa, deja vuh times two. Before anybody asks, yes, once again the Nutcracker is clearly the missing monarch. The rest of our heroes only find out after battling more rodents on a runaway train, meeting a magical fairy that’s as useless as the owl, and getting turned into wood by the Vizier. Our story ends with the titular toy’s humanity easily being restored, the villains being beheaded for war crimes, and the ballet class from earlier never really putting on their pageant as their teacher Anna walks off with her boi toi. Whoa, deja vuh times three. All while the Care Bears watch on from the raptors, waiting to pick the kids off one by one for sport.

Do I even have to say it? Honestly, what point is there in me picking out the flaws? It’d be like stating how pretty Christmas lights are, there’s no purpose in proclaiming something so patent. For the sake of keeping you all from searching up this sugary-coated crap though, I’ll list off my reasons. The pacing was painfully slow, making this extended episode feel like the director’s cut of a Peter Jackson movie. Replacing the charismatic, complex characters of those works are cardboard cutouts who are criminally one-dimensional. Even Grumpy, who I maintain is the best character in this series, feels so one-note. Worst of all is the animation. Much as I dogged out Barbie Nutcracker, I can applaud the ambition on display. Somebody clearly put some effort into the final product. At no time did I feel the same could be said for this. This was some paycheck for an animator who clearly wanted nothing to do with these blasted bears. And if all the behind the scenes stories Claire told me are any indication, I might not be too far off. Needless to say, I did not care for this special. I also didn’t care for you suggesting it to me, Claire! So when Seerius dumps something rotten into your stocking, just know that’s from me! For now though, I need a better Holiday special featuring a character voiced by Tara Strong. 

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[nicklloydnow]

“Is China about to have its ‘Lehman’ moment? After Chinese property developer Evergrande filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S., that’s been the question some have whispered. The country’s debt crisis that’s rumbled on for two years is coming to a head, with China’s shadow bank sector now defaulting on payments.

(…)

Last week, Evergrande filed for protection in the U.S. under Chapter 15 of the bankruptcy code, which helps keep creditors at bay when a company is restructuring. Evergrande’s debt is held mainly by Western investors, hence filing in Manhattan.

It’s been at the center of the Chinese property sector’s debt crisis, which first unfolded in 2021 and has reared its head again this summer. Nearly two years ago, Evergrande defaulted on making interest payments on bonds, which sparked a set of failures across the Chinese property sector.

Companies accounting for roughly 40% of China’s home sales have now defaulted on debt since the crisis first unfolded. This has led to unfinished homes and ‘ghost cities’, supply chain disruptions and institutional investors out of pocket.

(…)

It’s not the only property developer struggling this week. China’s Country Garden Holdings is looking to restructure its bond repayments totaling $535 million over three years to stave off financial trouble.

(…)

Given real estate is estimated to make up 30% of China’s GDP, there are fears the contagion in China’s real estate market could spread and create a downward spiral of the property market depressing growth.

Last week, there were rare protests in Beijing after bank subsidiary Zhongrong defaulted on several investment products without immediate plans to repay its clients. Its parent company, Zhongzhi, manages $138 billion in assets, 10% of which are exposed to the real estate market.

Moody’s has previously stated that the increased amount of defaults from property developers has raised Chinese banks’ non-performing loan rate to 4.4% by the end of last year, up from 1.9% in 2020. China’s property sector is also considered the world's largest asset class, worth around $62 trillion, so any further signs of trouble could lead to the Chinese government intervening.

(…)

As for the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong, it’s officially entered a bear market. Around half the stocks on the index are now oversold, and it’s lost 11% of its value in August so far, which sets the scene for the Hang Seng’s worst performance since October.

The fear has spread to the U.S. markets in August, with the S&P 500 suffering three straight weeks of decline. The Nasdaq lost 5.5% in value in the same period, while the Dow Jones has seen a 3.2% decline.

Several banks have also downgraded China’s GDP growth outlook, which was previously estimated at 5% for 2023. Nomura now predicts 4.8% growth, with the likes of Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and Barclays all following suit.”

“Country Garden Holdings Co., the distressed Chinese developer that earlier this month missed interest payments on some dollar bonds, is leaving investors in the dark about the exact date the grace period ends.

That’s adding to signs of opaqueness in the nation’s offshore junk debt market, which has lost $87 billion in the past two years.

One of China’s biggest developers, Country Garden must repay a combined $22.5 million in two coupons within the grace period, otherwise creditors could call a default that would be the developer’s first on such debt. That would threaten even worse impact than defaulted peer China Evergrande Group given Country Garden has four times as many projects.

(…)

China’s worsening property debt crisis has prompted a slew of developers including Evergrande to use grace periods in recent years. In many cases, doing so has only bought time before they eventually went on to default, adding to record debt failures.

Growing concerns that the same fate could strike Country Garden, which had 1.4 trillion yuan ($192 billion) of total liabilities at the end of last year, have dragged Chinese junk dollar bonds deeper into distress under 65 cents. The market value of Bloomberg’s index for the securities, mostly issued by builders, has shrunk to only about $44.7 billion from some $131.8 billion two years ago.”

[alexracheltravel]

Interlude: Cambodia → Thailand

Cambodia’s airport is bright, and the walls bear the Indochina style and form. Outside, the airport runway, and beyond, rows upon rows of jungle. Siem Reap is a small city. By New York standards, it is not much of a city at all. It more closely resembles the tourist-laded springs of the Caribbean, where every resident speaks multiple languages, and holds multiple currencies. In some ways, it is representative of Khmer culture, but in other ways, it is a space for Westerners (or Australians) to embrace just a touch of history that they had never seen before. While this is a space for tourists, it is far from a “trap.” We leave Cambodia feeling better than when we entered. These temples carry a significant spiritual meaning, and although we do not practice Hindu nor Buddhist rituals, we understand the models of the cleansing of the spirit, the connections between heaven and earth, mind and soul. This comes from engaging with people who are passionate about their craft, their culture, their love of the world, and Angkor Wat, the carvings pictures, and stonework, is proof that art, in all its forms, is an expression of believing in one’s purpose and significance in the world.

Cambodia began on a rather empty street in Siem Reap. We had heard that COVID decimated tourism, however, we did not realize how empty it actually was. The only signs of life came from “Pub Street,” a western-style row of bars that better resembled New Orleans than anywhere in Cambodia. Khmer food was not wholly familiar to us; we did not expect the earthier flavors in Thai forms. 

Our expectations of the temples of Angkor were high, and we were still blown away by the magnitude of the work, and the divine history involved. Angkor Wat was massive, beautiful, and awesome, in the way that it inspires awe. And that was only one temple out of the many we saw in one day. Our guide, Nak, who we will name forever and ever, was so good. It was clear that he loved his culture, and wanted to share that with us. 

Khmer food tastes like Thai, and there was an array of different restaurants—cheap and pricy—around town. One of the most expensive restaurants only cost $10 per dish. At first we were the only people in the restaurant, and the slew of wait staff huddled around us. But more customers came, and we felt less like the country depended on us, and instead, tourism was returning.

Phnom Kulen (Phnom either means mountain or forest, we can’t remember at the time of writing) had more people. It was our chance to see what nature had to do with Cambodian culture. While it was not crowded, we could tell that tourism had arrived in Siem Reap.

That night, Alex went out to a night market, where felt like he had done some "Anthony Bourdain Cosplay." He was one of the only westerners around in a fairly busy street of nightlife.

Siem Reap is a pilgrimage to locals and believers in the Hindu and Buddhist faith. It is a sacred place. In some ways, it reminded us of Jerusalem. Over these few days, we noticed how the Cambodians' struggle resonates with that of the Jews. Both cultures celebrate a long lost history, keeping the memory and tradition alive. Cambodians, too, have endured a genocide, one possibly greater than the Holocaust. Cambodia is a small country, and beneath the Khmer Rouge, lost over two million people, most were educators, thinkers, doctors, and more. But unlike the Jews, who had America and the UK to help them after the war, and to help establish Israel, the Khmer have had far less assistance from China, the UN or other major groups. Their struggle is still ongoing, and their recovery is slow. Climate change makes their country even more vulnerable. Actions can be made to help Cambodia. Money. Tourism. Eliminating racism. This is not a "your dollar matters" speech, but rather a statement on the importance of honoring a culture before it is lost forever.

In that spirit, we'll remember a lot of amazing parts on this leg of the honeymoon:

Food

Alex

1) Lok Lak - Sambo (pepper sauce is amazing!)

2) Chicken Curry - Tour Lunch Spot Day One

3) Fried crickets - Night Market

4) Beef Stir Fry with Red Ants - Changkhran Khmer

5) TIE: Rice Waffle and Khanom Bueang - Reclining Buddha Temple

Rachel

1) Chicken Curry - Tour Lunch Spot Day One

2) Khanom bueang - Reclining Buddha Temple

3) Amok - Sambo

4) Curry - Changkhran Khmer

5) Eggs, Toast, Fruit - Baby Elephant Hotel (daily passionfruit)

Sights/Experiences

Alex

1) Angkor Wat - specifically bas-reliefs

2) Bayon

3) Banteay Srei

4) Ta Prohm

5) Night Market

Rachel

1) Banteay Srei Temple

2) Angkor Wat

3) Phnom Kulen Waterfall

4) Bayon Temple

5) Hot Air Balloon over Angkor

Key Memory You Will Take With You

Alex - Traversing the grounds of Angkor Wat. It was one thing to see the temple from a distance; that’s like looking at a photograph. As we approached, and the temple became larger, it became more real, and I suddenly realized the age and scope and the existence of this temple.

Rachel - Being at the top of Angkor Wat, and looking down at the rest of the grounds. Being awestruck by its sheer magnitude, and the incredible restoration that is still being done.

Alex: I think we had a very similar key moment we would take with us. These temples are quite important, and unmatched compared to the rest of the world. How does it compare to other historical sites you’ve visited: mayan temples, Great Wall, etc.?

Rachel: I feel like the religious significance of Angkor Wat is much more dominant of a theme than most of the other ancient temples that I’ve seen. Of course, they’re all temples, but the depictions of Hindu gods and Buddhas alike I just found really impactful.

Alex: One difference that I think is part of the reason you and I find this striking is how massive the Khmer Empire was here, compared to the Mayans. Hundreds of thousands of more people lived here than in Guatemala or obviously, Belize, which we visited. Belize was just a few tiny pyramids. Even the smallest temple that we visited was the same size. And there’s like 50 of them, most bigger. I also like Hindu myths as well. I’m not super familiar but I knew some of the stories. How about you?

Rachel: I feel similarly. 

Alex: Like you knew who Ganesha was and who Buddha was?

Rachel: Yes, of course. But I think that the history about the gods and the mythology that surrounds them felt mostly new to me. I really appreciate how detailed our tour guide, Nak, was.

Alex: Yes, I did send his info over to Benny and Julia, and maybe they will get the same experience. I think Julia especially will love it! He was so thrilled at the idea of telling these stories. As a storyteller, lecturer, teacher, I really appreciated the way that education is involved in these cultural heritage sites. We’re talking a lot about the temples, because we didn’t really do much else here. This was a trip where the sites were actually the stars. Not the food, not the nature, but the history.

Rachel: But let’s not forget about that natural park. From the views to the waterfall, it really was incredibly beautiful.

Alex: I almost feel sad to leave Cambodia, but to be honest, there’s not much else for it to offer us. The culture is rich, as is every culture, but the poverty is challenging, and there’s not a lot to do without many risks.

Rachel: It’s certainly a bittersweet ending, but to be honest, I’m ready to move on to Thailand.

Alex: I suppose you’re right.

Rachel: I don’t mean to knock Cambodia, but Thailand will be more our speed. I loved the temples but it’s time to move ahead.

Alex: Long story short, everyone should visit Cambodia to see these temples. Funnel money into their economy, and help these people prosper.

Rachel: That’s very “Naga” of you, my love.

Alex: For those reading, google “Naga Hindu” and you’ll know what we mean.

[vikassagaar]

Slewing Bearings Market 

🔍 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗹𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁: 𝗔 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴! 🔍

IndustryARC™ updated the market research study on “𝗦𝗹𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁” Forecast (2024-2032)

𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞: 👉 https://tinyurl.com/bde7n9xv

The slewing #bearings market is evolving rapidly, catering to the needs of various industries, from #construction and mining to wind energy and robotics. These specialized bearings #play a pivotal role in supporting heavy loads and allowing for #rotational movement in machinery.

[dh5ryxhgbctgr]

Global Turntable Bearing Market Trends and Growth Pathways 2024 - 2031

The global turntable bearing market is a vital segment of the manufacturing and machinery industries, providing essential support for various applications. This article explores the current trends, market dynamics, challenges, and future outlook of the turntable bearing market.

Overview of the Turntable Bearing Market

The global turntable bearing market is set for a promising future, driven by advancements in technology, rising infrastructure projects, and a growing focus on renewable energy. By addressing challenges and leveraging opportunities, stakeholders can thrive in this dynamic market. 

Turntable bearings, also known as slewing bearings, are large-diameter bearings designed to accommodate axial, radial, and moment loads. They are crucial components in machinery that require rotational movement, such as cranes, excavators, and wind turbines.

Key Features of Turntable Bearings

High Load Capacity: Capable of supporting heavy loads while maintaining smooth rotation.

Versatility: Suitable for a wide range of applications across multiple industries.

Design Variability: Available in various designs, including single-row, double-row, and four-point contact configurations.

Market Dynamics

Drivers of Market Growth

Rising Infrastructure Development: The increasing demand for infrastructure projects, including construction and transportation, is driving the need for heavy machinery that utilizes turntable bearings.

Growth in Renewable Energy: The expansion of wind energy projects is boosting the demand for turntable bearings in wind turbine applications.

Technological Advancements: Innovations in bearing materials and designs are enhancing the performance and durability of turntable bearings.

Challenges Facing the Market

High Production Costs: The manufacturing process of turntable bearings involves sophisticated technology and materials, leading to elevated production costs.

Competition from Alternative Technologies: The emergence of alternative technologies, such as advanced composite materials, poses a threat to traditional bearing solutions.

Economic Fluctuations: Economic instability and fluctuations in raw material prices can impact the growth of the market.

Regional Analysis

North America

North America, particularly the United States, is a significant market for turntable bearings due to a well-established manufacturing sector and ongoing infrastructure projects. The demand for advanced machinery in industries such as construction and mining supports market growth.

Europe

Europe has a strong automotive and manufacturing base, with countries like Germany and the UK leading in the adoption of advanced bearing technologies. Stringent regulations regarding equipment efficiency and sustainability are driving innovation in the turntable bearing market.

Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness substantial growth in the turntable bearing market, fueled by rapid industrialization and urbanization in countries like China and India. The demand for construction equipment and renewable energy solutions is particularly high in this region.

Competitive Landscape

Key Players

Schaeffler Group: A leading global supplier of rolling bearings, including turntable bearings, known for its innovative solutions.

Thyssenkrupp AG: Offers a wide range of high-quality bearing products, including slewing bearings for various applications.

NSK Ltd.: A major player in the bearing industry, providing robust turntable bearing solutions for heavy machinery.

Market Strategies

Product Development: Focus on R&D to create advanced bearing solutions that meet specific industry needs.

Mergers and Acquisitions: Companies are pursuing strategic mergers and acquisitions to expand their product portfolios and enhance market presence.

Geographic Expansion: Targeting emerging markets in Asia and Africa to capitalize on the growing demand for construction and renewable energy projects.

Future Outlook

The global turntable bearing market is poised for growth over the next decade. As industries continue to prioritize efficiency, reliability, and sustainability, the demand for advanced bearing solutions will likely increase.

Trends to Watch

Smart Bearings: The integration of IoT technology into bearing systems for real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance.

Sustainability Initiatives: A shift towards eco-friendly materials and manufacturing processes in response to growing environmental concerns.

Customization: Increasing demand for tailor-made bearing solutions to meet specific application requirements across various industries.

Conclusion

The global turntable bearing market is set for a promising future, driven by advancements in technology, rising infrastructure projects, and a growing focus on renewable energy. By addressing challenges and leveraging opportunities, stakeholders can thrive in this dynamic market. The evolution of turntable bearings will continue to play a crucial role in enhancing the performance and efficiency of machinery across diverse applications.

[maximizeujwal]

https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/market-report/global-slewing-ring-bearings-market/85875/

[mohankunmars]

Slewing Bearings Market - Forecast(2024 - 2030)

Slewing bearing is a rotational bearing component which is usually used in machines that require heavy and bulk handling. These bearings help in developing to and fro movements as well as rotational movements. They are used for simple applications such as to facilitate the movement of winches to complex applications such as in drilling and excavator machines and offshore machines. They work based on the axial and radical forces which results in tilting moments. Slewing bearing has many advantageous over traditional bearings such as the ability to support both horizontal and vertical arrangements.

[eyepool]

Within the next couple of decades, a new generation of contraceptives could hit the American market. … This coming slew of treatments will be notable not only for their imaginative delivery methods, but for their target audience: men. For decades, men hoping to manage their fertility have been limited to just two imperfect options—condoms or vasectomies. But in recent years, researchers have taken massive steps toward developing simple, convenient, and effective contraceptive options for men with virtually zero side effects. Soon, women may not be forced to bear nearly the entire burden of preventing pregnancy.