Have You Planned to Exit Twitter Account?

As you might know that after Elon Musk take over, Twitter seems “chaos” with several reasons.

Image 1- Image of Mastodon and Twitter (credit to Google).

At least, in my thought there are 3 (three) crucial reasons lead to “chaos” in Twitter social media:

1- First, Elon Musk “fired” thousands of Twitter’s employees include who monitors hates, bully and other nonsense speeches which spreading through out Twitter

2- Idea of “absolute freedom of speech” makes many people disagree, include big and important advertisers.

Image 2- Giant sun-gold sunflower

3- US$ 8 monthly fee for subscribers. As far as I know, no social medias have subscribed fee. Yes, there are some social medias have provided “pay” accounts, but not compulsory, just optional.

Image 3- Azalea, illustration

These 3 main reasons drive out not only million Twitter users, but also great number of advisers.

Twitter annual revenue is US$ 5.08 billion, about 90% is coming from advertising. Many big advertisers such as General Motors, Ford, Mondelez, General Mills and many more.

Do you Twitter users? If yes, do you plan exit Twitter?

What is your main reason to stay or exit Twitter?

# Previous postings:

- A Novel of Arian - Then The Fish Swallowed Him - Part 1 – Reading 6
- The Best Tacos which I Love to Consume in Louisiana – Part 2 – Food 10

Commercial Firewood in Our City, Baton Rouge

There is no record the number of households use firewood for heating in our city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Image 1- Commercial firewood

Our state does not include in top 14 states using firewood for any purposes. The most of 6 states using firewood are:

- Vermont
- Maine
- Montana
- Idaho
- Oregon
- New Mexico

Image 2- Small business cutting firewood

However, we may find the places easily which sale firewood, especially during hurricane seasons and winter season.

Image 3- Selling of firewood

The blackout is common if our city hit by natural disasters, in this case is hurricane or storms.

Image 4 – Firewood in the room

More than 5 storms arrive in our state per year. In addition to generators, some people pile up firewood for preparation.

Several people I know said that heating by firewood is cheaper compared to electric bill during cold temperature.

The cost for 1 cord is range between US$ 175 to US$ 300, depend very much to wood quality and size of wood.

One cord consists of 600 to 700 pieces woods with size of 16 x 4 inches. One home may use 1 cord for two to three months.

Electric bill is about US$ 245 per month in Louisiana. So, using of firewood for heating is reasonable cheaper compared to electric bill.

Honestly, we never used firewood for heating. How about you?

Simple Decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving around Our Neighborhood

As you know we are in the USA, have Halloween day at the end of October, then followed by Thanksgiving Day in the third week of November.

Image 1- A girl with pumpkins

In respect to decorations of Halloween and Thanksgiving, there are several types of my neighbors:

- who doesn’t have decoration at all
- who have Halloween decoration only
- who have Thanksgiving decorations only
- who have combined of Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations.

Our house includes in the type of who doesn’t have decoration at all with some reasons. 

Image 2- Halloween decoration at yard

Image 3- A smiling woman

Image 4- A skeleton decoration.

However, we do celebrate both Halloween and Thanksgiving days like other people in the world.

In case of decoration at our neighborhood, I think less and less neighbors have decoration for Halloween.

It might be due to economic constraints. People thinks about other matters than just spending time and money. Actually, I don’t know the exact reasons.

How about celebration of Halloween and Thanksgiving days in your neighborhood?

# Previous postings:

- Lobsters have Good Nutritional Values for Health – Healthy Life 13
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Tax Free Outlets in the Special Area of Our State

I think many cities around the globe have a kind of “mall” composed of outlets which sell many well-known brands, and sometimes not familiar ones but promising.

Image 1- Sign of Tax free outlet

One of this kind of mall called as “Tanger Outlets,” about 40 minutes drive by car from our home, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

We visit Tanger Outlet several times a year, because many things to attract us to come and to shop in outlets:

- more than 65 outlets are available
- discount rate could reach 75%
- special event with special discount for special products
- good place for walking and enjoy

Image 2- Polo outlet

Image 3- Nike outlet

Image 4- Coach handbag, an American brands

In addition to pretty “big” discount rate, Tanger outlets also provide “tax free” for international customers.

The tax free is attractive for foreign tourists to shop. They may refund “tax free” items in places such as:

- airport when they back home
- one of building in the area of Tanger Outlets.

Based data from “Tax Free Shopping website” that international tourists spend about US$ 24 millions to US$ 40 millions per year in the state of Louisiana in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

# Previous postings:

- Local Event Called as “Mardi Gras” In Louisiana, USA
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Young Coconut Water as Folk Remedies – Part2

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- Young Coconut Water as Folk Remedies – Part1

Image 1- Coconut fruits on the tree

In many tropical countries that using young coconut water as part of folk medicine has been practiced now days, where coconut water is given to people who has fever to reduce body temperature.

When children have vomiting or diarrhea, young coconut water will be given too.

Then, pregnant women are encouraged to drink coconut water for good blood (prevent anemia).

Image 2- Three coconut fruits at a grocery

Image 3- A young coconut water

Lately, some of them believe the young coconut water is also prevent Covid-19, so young coconuts are high demand in the market.

I think this kind of believes has no scientific bases. Just belief without any prove at all.

The price of young coconuts is soaring, and the trees are cleaned from their fruits.

It will take a while to produce new coconuts 😄

It takes one year for a coconut to ripe, and six or seven months to get water from the young coconut.

# Previous postings:

- Giveaway and Discount in Time of High Inflation
- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 1
- Visitor My Blogger - 12 Countries in 3 Days
- Cold Morning at My Workplace, Baton Rouge, USA

Young Coconut Water as Folk Remedies – Part1

The weather was warm and nice. It was about 89 F (32 C) degree on that noon in the area.

Image 1- A tropical coconut tree

Scrolling down getaway advertisement for summer vacation, a beach with coconut trees looks like a great place to stay in during vacation.

Enjoy the warm weather, sitting down and leaning on a coconut tree with a book and drinking coconut water from the fresh young coconut.

No doubt about it, a book and coconut water. Coconut water is one of the refreshing beverages.

We know that this water is the liquid endosperm of coconut.

Image 2- Just for illustration

Image 3- Coconuts, sold in Walmart

The liquid is clear. It is not coconut milk. The coconut milk is almost similar to milk (cow milk) in term of its physical appearance.

Honestly, we use both milks for cooking purposes, especially when we didn’t have coconut milk.

Coconut water has nutritious and health benefits. Folks who live around the area with plenty coconut trees use water from young coconut as folk medicines.

They create nutritious beverages by using young coconut water.

# To be continued to Part 2

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- The Royal Ponciana Tree in the Neighborhood – Nature 30

Is America a Wine Exporting Country? - Part 2

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Is America Wine Exporting Country? - Part 1

Image 1- Imported wines from France

I went to a grocery a few days ago, surprising me more that a lot of imported wines come from the countries I never knew as wine exporters such as:

- Israel
- United Kingdom
- Austria
- Spain
- Portugal
- Argentina
- New Zealand

Image 2- Polka dots plant, just for illustration

Why does America Import as well as Export Wine?

First, the simple answer that American demands more wines than supplies it.

Image 3- Wine glasses, just for illustration

Second, some countries love American’s wine due to several factors, include:

- price
- taste
- familiar with some brands of American wines.

Just to let know, the countries which import American wines most are:

- Canada
- United Kingdom, Denmark
- Japan and Hong Kong

Finally, did your country wines exporter or importer or both?

# Previous postings:

- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 1
- The Gloomy in the Beginning of the Year of Rat – Part 2
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- Purple Bell Peppers in the Farmer Market – Food 14

Swap Plants at Our City Botanical Garden

We visit our city botanical garden routinely, just to get “fresh air” and walking (jogging) for several miles.

Image 1- Plants in the botanical garden, seasonal market

Unexpectedly, we saw a lot of people than usual, there was a kind of “market” for plants.

There are plenty types of plants, not all are sold, but generally divided into two sections:

- swap plants
- and price tag plants

Due to curiosity, we try to find out: what are meaning of swap plants in this occasion?

Image 2- Customers look around

Image 3- A huge cactus

Image 04- Plants on the Table

Image 5- Bargaining to swap plants

Swap plants have happened when there is an agreement between sellers and customers to exchange their plants.

The exchange could be based on:

- market price
- type of plants
- sellers and customers just happy to swap their plants.

In addition to swap plants, there are sections of selling plants with price tag. I think the price is quite reasonable from US$ 1 to US$ 15.

Have you experienced to swap plants in the specific market?

# Previous postings:

- Crowned Heron Crawfishing Near Our Neighborhood – Part 1 – Nature 20
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- Colorful Flowers in the Spring – Nature 21
- Parks for Dogs in My City Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Part 2

Is America a Wine Exporting Country? - Part 1

The United States of America has produced wines a long long time ago, it is believed since about 1500s.

Image 1- Two brands of California wines

Then, all of 50 states have their own wine production now days.

Almost 90% of American wines are manufactured in California. Napa is the most famous wine county in this state.

It is related to the fact that California is the state with most wine consumption in the USA.

Then, since higher production, it is not surprising that USA is one of wine exporters in the world, based on report from World’s Top Exports (2021), USA was ranked 6^th.

Image 2- Just for illustration

Image 3- Artwork of glass and bottle of wine

In the 2021, ranking by countries, measured by total export values in US dollars are following:

- France, total export value was US$11 billion
- Italy, total export value was $7.3 billion
- Spain, total export value was $3.5 billion
- Australia, total value was $2.2 billion
- Chile, total value was $2 billion
- United States, total value was $1.4 billion.

# To be continued to Part 2

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- A Bird on the Exit Sign in the Library – Part 2
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- Parks for Dogs in My City Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Part 1
- Can Alzheimer's Disease be Passing Down from Parent to Child? - Part 2 - Alzheimer's 4.

Giveaway and Discount in Time of High Inflation

We just talk about “abnormal” higher price compared to inflation rate (please read at previous posting):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Is Rising Price due to Greedflation?

Image 1- Monthly giveaway at one store.

Last weekend, we went to our city mall, we thought the price will higher like food prices, surprisingly, no, not at all for certain products and brands.

We are happy to find the true facts that:

- there are plenty of discount where many stores provide almost 33% discount rate.
- other interesting deals include buy 3 get 3 free
- thousand dollars of giveaway by several stores.
- and free service such as piercing

Image 2- Accessories at a store

Image 3- Service for free piercing

Image 4- Icing, a store

You might wonder that the “good deal” just for certain items?

Are they for all items?

It is true for beauty relate products such as:

- cosmetic
- shampoo and soap
- cream
- lotion
- accessories and etc

Do you find similar discount or discount rate in your city or place?

# Previous postings:

- Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 4 – Science 10
- A Novel of Arian - Then The Fish Swallowed Him - Part 1 – Reading 6
- The Best Tacos which I Love to Consume in Louisiana – Part 2 – Food 10
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