Technology

Top Gear – Hitting it on the tarmac

That is all. The race of your life. Head to head. Nose to nose Flag to flag for the world championship. And only your best friend, or worst enemy, stands in your way as you chase yourself down 32 devilishly complicated race tracks spread out from Paris to Rio.

Then there was the SNES trilogy known as “Top Gear” (or “Top Racer” as it was known in Japan). The aftermaths after the first TG became more advanced in terms of racing options, cars, designs, and “money” required to purchase parts and accessories won at the top of a race. The original Top Gear is valued for the fact that it was simplistic in nature – pick your name, pick your transmission (automatic or manual), pick your driver and car layout, and just run!

Each of you choose your car carefully for speed. handling and power. Grab the controls and hit it on the asphalt. This is an incredible split-screen race at its finest, and it takes all your skill, courage and split-second time to stay on the road, day after day, night after night, passing obstacles, barriers and pit stops. . So prepare yourself. Start your engine. And go for the nitro. There is only room in the winner’s circle for one!

Graphics:

The graphics in this game do their job well, a neat opening screen is followed by a well-designed options screen that includes an impressive digitized photo (by SNES standards) behind the text. In the game itself, the graphics are quite good and the cars themselves are well drawn. One effect on top gear that I’ve never seen anywhere else is the way that during some races the day changes to night and vice versa, making your visibility better or worse.

Also, the backgrounds are unique for each track, you can see the leaning tower of Pisa in Pisa, the Eiffel tower in Paris, etc. The pit lane is also well animated and the speedometer, timer. I also liked the little speech bubbles that pop out of the side of the car every time you crash into another car or use a nitro. For example, if you get caught in a group of cars and you keep hitting them, the driver will say something like “get out of my way” or “you’re blind.”

The controls:

The controls are, in a word, flawless. You have 4 control options, including a left-handed option, in which you keep the SNES pad face down. Maneuvering your car is as simple as taking a curve. Overtaking in high-speed curves is not a problem, as you can speed on the outside or take a small drop in speed and pass on the inside. In manual gear mode, a simple touch of the R or L buttons will move you up or down one gear.

Music and sound effects:

I must say that I think Top Gear has the best music in any of the previous racing games. The title track is a classic (it is also the ending music of lotus1 in genesis) and the tracks in the game are also perfect and always seem perfect for whatever track you are on, the high notes seem to coincide with sharp turns and generally , the music. it has a pace that manages to get the adrenaline pumping as you go through hairpin turns. Car sound effects (skidding, engine noise, etc.) are also perfectly recovered.

How to Play:

Top Gear’s strong point is its exciting gameplay. The fact that its permanently split screen (like Mario Kart) will always have you compete against another “human” player is its trump card. If you play in single player mode, the second player’s car is controlled by SNES and he will have to refuel like you. In two player mode, player 2 will control this car. In each race there are 20 cars and your position on the starting grid is determined by your finishing position in the previous race, for example, if you finished first, you start the next race at 20th, 2nd = 19th and so on.

When you finish first on any track in a country, you earn 20 points, second place wins 15 points, third place wins 12, fourth place wins 10, and fifth place wins 8. However, that’s the cutoff point, because yes If you do not finish a given track in fifth place or better (out of 20 cars), you will not advance to the next track. Also, you must finish at least third or better in any country or continent to advance to the next country.

There are 32 tracks in eight areas around the world: United States, South America (mainly in Brazil, but interestingly includes a track in Mexico), Italy, Germany, Japan, France (including a track in Monaco), United Kingdom. and Scandinavia (Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark).

In addition, you can choose one of four cars, most of which are in stark contrast to each other. The white car is better for fuel consumption, but on average it registers the lowest speed, while the red car is the fastest on average, but it drinks gasoline like water. The blue and purple cars share a similar speed and gas usage rate, but the blue car handles cornering better than the purple car.

There are huge differences between each car and playing the game with a different car makes each game feel like a different game as depending on your car you could have a very maneuverable machine or something that handles like a brick on wheels. (Driving the blue or red car makes it much more difficult to pass and avoid objects). Or you may have a vehicle that needs to be refueled once, twice, or not at all on a particular track.

Also, acceleration varies, which is crucial when you are starting out or right after a major accident or pit stop. Nitro power also varies from car to car, which also affects duration and overall speed increase. Also, top speed comes into play and some cars maintain speed better than others and don’t seem to slow down as much after a nitro boost or a steep hill.

When you are low on fuel you will have to pit stop to do this, just head to the pit lane and when your fuel level is sufficient, drive again. Pit stops require tactics, as early in the race you will have more time to catch up. If you run out of fuel it doesn’t mean you are out of the race as your car drifts forward for a while and if another car hits you it will start to move again.

Because of this, it is possible to do a full lap without fuel until you can finish or get to the pits. Although most likely you will lose a lot of positions waiting to be hit or stop in a lane where not even other cars pass. However, in 2 player mode you can have the other give you a push.

The tracks are well laid out and on longer runs it is possible to have many different tactics on when to refuel or nitro. Some tracks like the black forest are true to life as this track is full of steep hills just like the real place. The speed in Top Gear is phenomenal, not unacceptably fast but devastatingly fast and smooth compared to the likes of F-Zero and Mario Kart, which are slow and seem slow in comparison.

Challenge factor:

Top Gear has three difficulty levels, higher levels make computer cars faster and more aggressive and also add more obstacles to the course. Although completing the game is not too difficult, you should try to finish first in each race as any loser can finish fifth. You should also try to beat the record for the course displayed on the pre-race screen.

On top of that, you should try to complete the game with all the cars, as in the red car, you cannot afford to crash and you can reach speeds of around 240mph if you are good. The red car also consumes fuel like there is no tomorrow, but it goes much faster than the blue and white. In short, the white car is for beginners, the blue and purple cars for intermediate players, while the red is for professionals.

Final thoughts:

Top Gear doesn’t carry much weight in racing game history because it doesn’t have the super fancy options, features, and add-ons like its sequels did, or other games that would follow on other systems. And that’s a shame, because not only is Top Gear’s simplicity at its most compelling when it comes strictly to racing, but it also paved the way for other games to copy the system it implemented and make it even better. , solely from a gameplay. fulcrum.

If you own an SNES and want to relive a glorious era of pre-shattered racing games, Top Gear would be one of the ones you’ll want to get your hands on. The experience will give you possibly one of the best racing games in your collection.

Home Kitchen

Interior Design Training: Principles of the Four Basic Style Categories

If you are starting your course work or self training to become an interior designer, you want to have a firm understanding of the basics. Whether you’re decorating a bedroom or an entire home, bungalow or attic, you’ll find that many specific design styles fit into four broad generic categories. This general guide will define the Casual, Formal, Traditional, and Contemporary styles so that you can continue your studies and career with an understanding of the design principles of each category.

Formal

Formal is the look of the elegant Ritz-Carlton hotels and public government buildings like the White House. While homes today are not typically built with 12 “tall baseboard trim, hand-placed herringbone wood floors, or elaborate carved plaster decorations on ceilings and walls, there are elements of the formal style of decoration that you and your clients may want to use in a project.

Symmetry is one of the key characteristics of the interiors and exteriors of homes designed in a formal style. The windows, the furniture, the paintings are elements that are usually arranged in pairs with a straight axis that dominates each room. A central focal point will define a room, and it could be a beautiful window-wall overlooking a perfect lawn, a large stone fireplace centered on a key wall, or exquisite piece of furniture. A formal decorating style suits a home with high ceilings, large tall windows, and architectural features such as beautifully paneled walls, columns, and pilasters.

Formal-style interiors are decorated to attract attention and display richness, including highly polished woods, gleaming mirrors, polished brass window and door hardware, sparkling crystal chandeliers and wall sconces, and unique and interesting pieces of fine wood and upholstered furniture.

Furniture and accessories in formal interiors are often antique or fine reproductions. The woods used are generally dark and rich in appearance, but lighter woods are often used for decoration and inlays. Imported oriental rugs cover the polished hardwood floors. Original works of art are often elaborately framed in hand-carved gilt frames and figurative stone or bronze sculptures will be displayed on pedestals.

Contemporary

Contemporary decor is for those who like to keep up with the latest styles and enjoy today’s stuff. While modern interiors have been thought of as cool and minimalist, contemporary interiors today are often comfortable and inviting without being cluttered and dark. It is a style that is equally appropriate for offices and homes, lofts and shops.

A contemporary-style home can be calm and serene, and it can give the appearance of an Asian meditation space. Simplicity, subtle sophistication, texture, and clean lines help define contemporary interiors. The focus of each room is a quiet space rather than furniture. By focusing on color, dimension, and shape, contemporary interiors are suggestive, elegant, and fresh.

Neutrals, white and black are the main colors in contemporary interiors. The palette is often accented with bright, bold colors and, within a few style variants, ornate patterns and dazzling ornamentation. Black is often used to ground and define a room. With walls painted in a basic neutral, it has a backdrop for bold colored accessories.

The line is a key element of the design. It is found in the architectural details and is defined by the use of bold color blocks, high ceilings, and bare windows. Geometric shapes are used in wall art and sculpture. The empty space is left on the walls, between the furniture and above in the upper areas, and it becomes just as important as the areas filled with objects.

In contemporary interiors, less is more, as space creates perspective and dimension. Each piece of furniture stands out for being individual and unique. The contemporary style takes advantage of the structural elements as decoration. Air ducts can hang from the ceiling, fabric and bricks provide texture and stability. Structural details can be painted in bold contrasting colors, or simply exposed and painted the same color as the wall to lessen their significance.

Casual

A casual style room is homey, warm, comfortable and inviting. For television viewers, it is like walking on the set of Friends gold Big Bang Theory. Who doesn’t want to be comfortable in their own home? If you want to put together a room in a casual style, learn the basics that go together to create a casual and unpretentious room. Casual rooms have simple details, textured elements in fabrics and accessories, soft upholstery in neutral colors, low-gloss surfaces, structural elements, and furniture arrangements that avoid perfect symmetry.

The details are simple and the elements are rectangular or gently curved. A room decorated in a casual style has simple details, but is the perfect place to add an unexpected touch of whimsy, such as an old reconstructed birdhouse or bowling alley as a lamp base. Casual decor is easily incorporated into specific styles such as Rustic, Cottage, Beach, French, Shabby Chic, or American.

With people who enjoy more relaxed lifestyles, today many homes are fully decorated with casual decor items. But any home can incorporate the elements into a guest room, rustic kitchen, TV room, or bathroom. The elements of the informal style of decoration can infiltrate almost any room and make it feel comfortable.

Traditional

The traditional decor is calm, orderly, and predictable. You may have grown up in a home decorated with traditional-style furniture. The furnishings are classic and can look dated, so nothing is a surprise. The pieces fill a room and match and are consistent.

Furniture is often reproductions. They are part of dining room sets, living room sets, and bedroom sets, and all bedroom sets are similar in furniture styles. Furniture and accessories are arranged in pairs and tend to be centered in each room. There is nothing out of place or very different in style.

Traditional rooms are not flashy, but rather casual, making traditional-style homes comfortable for any age group. It’s a familiar look seen in magazines or furniture showrooms.

Upholstered furniture in a traditional room shows classic lines and understated details. They may have decorative details, but they are functional, simple, and relaxing in appearance. The edges are soft, smooth and blend in with the whole. Fabrics are usually neither too shiny nor too textured. Solid colors, florals, muted plaid, inconspicuous stripes, geometries, tone-on-tone, and small patterns throughout the garment are common.

As you continue Your education, knowing the four broad generic categories of Casual, Formal, Traditional, and Contemporary, will lay a good foundation for your career. Once you research them well and broaden your studies to specific styles, history, and resources, you can confidently guide your clients through your various projects to make each one a unique expression of your taste and design ability.

(c) Elizabeth McMillian from 2012

Medicine

How Much Does a Delta Cordless Drill Cost?

Delta Cordless Drill Cost

It is easy to ask the question of how much does a Delta cordless drill cost but one must take into consideration other charges, like gas or electric. If you are thinking of buying one, there are many ways that you can find out information about the cost of this power tool and compare it with others in your household. This can help you to decide whether or not it is within your budget to get one for yourself. A small drill such as this can do some amazing things on both concrete and wood surfaces; however before you consider getting one, you have to think about how much does a Delta cordless drill cost.

One of the many places that you can find this information from is your local hardware store. The sales people should be able to give you an approximation on the price of this cordless drill. You could also ask friends and relatives if they have used these items or want to get some advice from them. There are also many websites online that can give you the same kind of information. You could even find a comparison chart on the internet to compare the Delta drill cost with others.

delta 8 disposables

Another option that you have is to go online and do some shopping. There are many stores that sell high quality tools such as these. However, before you buy anything online, you have to ensure that the site is secure and that you are dealing with a reputable dealer. It would also help if you could get some testimonials from people who have bought this item in the past. This would give you a better understanding of the type of service that you can expect after you make your purchase.

How Much Does a Delta Cordless Drill Cost?

In addition, you should consider buying batteries when you have this drill in order to save money. Most people tend to forget about this step so they never bother to buy rechargeable batteries. If you want to buy new batteries for your drill, then you should try to find one that has a long warranty. This way, you would not have to worry about buying a battery every now and then. Just be sure that you get the right battery for the model of the drill that you have so that it lasts longer.

Another option that you have is to use the Internet to find discounts and cheap prices of this type of tool. There are many companies that sell a delta cordless drill at a cheaper price. All you have to do is search the Internet for their special discounts or cheap prices. Some sites may even allow you to filter your search according to location so you can look up businesses that are close to where you live.

Once you have looked up all the possible ways on how you can get this product for the cheapest price possible, you still might not be satisfied with the amount of money that you have spent. You can use the Internet to find other types of cordless drills. There are ones that are specifically designed for different types of jobs. For example, there are ones that are perfect for drilling holes in hardwood floors while there are those that are ideal for drilling through concrete or asphalt. There are also battery powered cordless drills that are easy to use even for people who do not have access to power outlets. The only thing that you need to do is to look around online for the best deal possible for the type of drill that you want to buy.

Relationship

These kindergarten activities will teach children many things

Kindergarten is the place where the child is introduced to the world. This is the place where they learn everything. There are so many things that a child can learn in kindergarten, such as cooking, painting, writing, playing, etc. to give you an idea of ​​all the things you have to do in your life. If you are a kindergarten teacher and cannot find new productive activities to teach children, then you should give it a try.

Draft activity – Not the simple and boring ones, but the mini with cute and funny images. You can ask the children to decorate something. You can write a name on a sheet and the children had to draw the line with it. You can also get erasers in different shapes and sizes, such as erasers in the form of alphabets. Children will not only find this cute, but will also be able to tell the difference between the shapes through this hands-on experience.

Teaching festival – When a festival is coming up, you can tell stories about the festivals and then ask the children to make cards for it. And not just cards, children can enjoy their time doing many things related to the festival. For example, for next Christmas, children can draw Santa Claus, make Christmas trees out of cardboard, and decorate it with colors. In this way children will learn about the festival and also practice arts and crafts.

Teach Sentence Completion – Here’s another idea. To teach children to complete sentences, you can write small, easy words of a sentence on plastic cups and ask them to put them in the correct order. Other than that, you can teach them to fill in the blanks. Write sentences on the board, but without words. Make a few fragments of the missing words along with a few more and ask them to choose the correct word.

Cooking – When it comes to cooking, you can teach children many things that do not require a gas stove such as drinks, smoothies, cotton candy.

If you teach children to plant trees and make them understand how important plants are to us, it will be a good life lesson for them. They will understand the importance of vegetation and will be interested in stringing plants. In this process, they will also understand the difference between the types of trees. So overall it will be a great environmental experience for them.

Teach them to draw the art of shadows – Many children find shadows very interesting since they do not understand the concept of them. You must have seen a child run away from the shade as it is a bad thing. You can use this children’s interest to draw their attention to the art of shadows. Teach them a little physics knowledge about light and how the shadow appears and the child is ready to go.

Health Fitness

Some reasons why you shouldn’t wear running shoes to lift heavy weights

There are many people who go to the gym to lift weights, but they don’t have the right pair of shoes to do the job. I have seen several weightlifters wear sneakers or running shoes while lifting serious weights. This can be very dangerous and significantly reduce performance.

Most of the people who are going to buy their first pair of “gym shoes” generally tend to look at things like appearance and comfort, as they do not know that there are suitable weightlifting shoes available on the market. Weightlifting shoes are designed for a purpose and running shoes or any other type of footwear should not be used for weightlifting for a number of reasons.

First, weightlifting shoes have hard soles that are designed to improve stability and performance. The stability that hard soled shoes provide is much better compared to running shoes. The reason behind this is that while lifting heavy weights, a lifter must bend the knees and ankles to their maximum limit to lower themselves as low as possible. A great deal of force is produced and all that force can cause the weightlifter to lose balance if he doesn’t have a solid base to stand on, especially when bending that far. Try lifting weights on a trampoline and you will see how difficult it is to stay stable. A hard base is crucial for lifting heavy weights without losing your balance.

Another important thing that a hard sole does is that it helps the weightlifter use all the force produced to lift the weights. A running shoe, which always has a soft sole, will not only cause you to lose your balance, but will also dissipate all force to the ground. This greatly reduces the number of weights a weightlifter can lift, as much of the force that is generated to lift the weights is wasted.

Finally, the raised heel of the weightlifting shoe and its benefits should be discussed. While performing a squat (a technique used by weightlifters to lift heavy weights while standing under the bar), a weightlifter should bend the knees and ankles to their maximum capacity, in addition to keeping both feet supported. on the floor. But keeping both feet flat on the ground while bending that far is pretty impossible and instead the feet automatically tend to rest only on the ball and toes. When lifting heavy weights, it is common sense to have both feet flat on the ground. Weightlifting shoes can take care of this due to the raised heel. The raised heel fills the space between the heel of the foot and the ground and allows for maximum stability.

So next time you’re out shopping for a pair of gym shoes, make sure you’re getting the right weightlifting shoes and not running shoes. You may think it’s a waste of money, but once you wear them you will notice the difference right away and you won’t regret spending on your new weightlifting shoes.

Legal Law

Seek out a severance package from a company – What Is Contract & Severance Pay?

Seek out a severance package from a company

A contract and severance pay in Toronto is an attractive employment option for those who wish to supplement their income while taking advantage of employment opportunities that are not immediately available. These benefits are a must-have when one is out of work through lay-offs, voluntary separation, retirement, and other similar events. When one loses his or her job due to company downsizing, reorganization, or other related circumstances, one is not left jobless but rather has to look for new employment. The best option is to look for an alternative employment like a contract and severance pay toronto. The flexibility this option offers cannot be found anywhere else.

When searching for a new job, most people find it hard to decide what to do with their remaining time and energy. If they choose to take up a job that does not fit their profile or pay scales, it will be more difficult to find another job once the set-back is over. On the other hand, if they chose the wrong contract and severance package, they may find themselves without a job in a couple of months or even a few weeks. This is where the flexibility contract comes in handy.

It is important to note that a severance pay in Toronto is very much similar to that offered by companies located in the United Kingdom. One can find an appropriate contract from a recruitment agency or can simply search for a suitable contract on the internet. The main difference between a contract and severance pay in Toronto, however, is that the latter is paid only in cases of voluntary separation. If an employee quits his job without notice or is fired, he is entitled to the same amount of severance pay as an employee from the same company would receive upon quitting his job. The only difference between these packages is that the latter does not need to be repaid.

Seek out a severance package from a company – What Is Contract & Severance Pay?

There are many reasons why one may want to seek out a severance package from a company outside Canada. One is that the pay scale can often lead to significant differences. This means that a company located in the United Kingdom can afford to pay a higher rate of severance than a company in Canada or anywhere else in the world. In addition, a Canadian company may be more willing to consider a multi-year contract or a multi-year auto warranty if it means that one will continue working with them.

When searching for a contract in Toronto, one must make sure that the severance package is worth the job. In other words, the prospective employee must be worth it. For example, a person with thirty years of experience in a particular company will most likely receive a bigger pay-out when seeking a severance pay in Toronto than a person with just twenty years of experience. Also, companies usually favor hiring a person who has never been laid off or terminated before. This is because they have less risk of incurring severance pay claims and are less likely to have the person on their rolls go on a trial basis before being fully severance eligible. While companies do not always choose people with clean criminal records, they are more likely to choose a person with a clean work history.

Finally, it is important to remember that contract & severance pay in Toronto are different from employee benefits in that they are often only offered to an existing member of a company for a limited period of time. They can be renewed at any point, but it does depend on the type of contract that one signs. The term of the severance pay also varies – it can be up to one year or unlimited. If one is approaching a limit date, it is imperative that they speak with an attorney or accountant as to the particulars of the contract & severance pay in Toronto.

Pets

5 Rules for Resolving Pet Problems in Your Homeowners Association: A Guide for HOA Board Members

The Joneses have a very friendly golden retriever named Sparky. But he is left off leash in the common areas of his homeowners association and the pooch walks up to the neighbors and jumps on them to greet them. The neighbors like the Joneses and Sparkys, but they have asked you to remind them to follow HOA rules and put their dog on a leash.

Or maybe you’re in a condo association that allows cats, but residents have complained that Mike in unit 249 has 13 of the feline creatures and the smell is becoming noticeable.

If your community association allows pets, but with restrictions, you need a plan for dealing with criminals. Here are five rules for dealing with negligent homeowners in your homeowners association.

1) Enforce the rules. Although you may like pets yourself, people have accepted your HOA in part because they liked the rules governing owner behavior. It’s your job – and fiduciary duty – as a board member of your homeowners association to enforce those rules. It doesn’t matter that Sparky is friendly. If neighbors are breaking the rules, and your neighbors’ ability to live in peace has diminished, put on your enforcement hat and do your job as a member of the HOA board.

2) Document the problem. If the Wilson family lets their dogs out at 6 a.m. every day and allows them to bark until they go to work at 7:30 a.m., start taking notes. Create a record of incidents and document them in as many ways as possible. Take pictures, record the barking, and ask unhappy neighbors in your Homeowner’s Association to write a complaint. Only when you have strong evidence that there is a problem should you approach the owners to resolve it.

3) Request compliance. Before you fall like an anvil on your HOA owners who don’t realize the stress their pets are causing, taste the honey first. Either in person or by letter, explain the problem and ask for it to be corrected. It’s hard for homeowners to get angry or dismissive if you’re in front of them, so a personal discussion can resolve the issue more quickly. However, if you go that route, document the discussion immediately afterward. Be specific in explaining the problem and the actions you need landlords to take, and don’t threaten them with fines or other punitive actions. The time for threats may come, but at this stage they can backfire.

4) Follow-up. After informing the owner of complaints and requesting a resolution, check back to see if the problem has been corrected. If not, get tough. Now is the time to remind homeowners of the rules and the penalties for breaking them. Review the governing documents to make sure you know your options. Then write a letter explaining the problem, your efforts to solve it, and the fact that it has not been fixed. Explain that if the problem is not corrected within a certain time, the HOA process will begin to deal with non-compliant homeowners. Keep that promise and take whatever steps are necessary to keep homeowners compliant.

5) Be compassionate. If the owners are in a difficult position, perhaps they have too many cats or dogs, but they don’t want to give them up because they fear they will be euthanized, volunteer to help. You may be thinking that’s beyond the call of duty, and you’re probably right. But if you don’t have the time or temperament to help the owners, ask an animal lover from your homeowners association to accept the point. The job may require phone calls to local shelters or posting information about the pets on adoption websites, but the result is likely to be positive. If you take that route, everyone wins.

Real Estate

Cultured marble care

A common bathroom surface material is cultured marble. Cultured marble is actually a surface made up of various materials, including marble dust, limestone, and resin. The material is most common for bathroom vanity tops that have built-in sinks, but it can also be used for showers and bathtubs. No matter what surface is made of cultured marble, it is important to use the proper materials and procedures to keep it clean. Due to its porous nature and its malleable properties, cultured marble is not as resistant to stains and damage as other materials. However, there are steps you can take to ensure that your cultured marble surface will last for many years.

When it comes to cleaning cultured marble, keep one thing in mind. Do not use abrasive cleaners. Most cultured marbles are sealed and any cleaner that contains abrasives or bleach can break the seal. Water-based cleaners work well for basic cleaning purposes. If you have soap scum or similar build-up on the surface, the vinegar can break up the residue without damaging the stamp or cultured marble. If something spills onto the surface, be sure to clean it up as soon as possible to avoid staining. Unlike other surfaces, cultivated marble is susceptible to permanent staining, especially from materials like hair dyes and oil-based products. This is due to variations in sealants used among cultured marble manufacturers. The safest course of action is to clean up all spills immediately after they occur, even if the manufacturer claims the seal will resist staining. Other stain prevention options include placing a thick cloth on the surface while using products that can stain or using such products in areas that do not have cultured marble.

To maintain the finish of your cultured marble surface, consider what the surface looked like when you first installed it. The main finishes available for cultured marble are satin and gloss. Satin, a low-gloss finish, requires little additional maintenance outside of regular cleaning. With glossy finishes, you may want to invest in a polish. Avoid polishes with carnuba wax, as these polishes are designed for less porous materials. Water-based or silicone polishes are good options for this difficult surface. Some people may recommend polyurethane if the finish remains dull after polishing. However, keep in mind that it is difficult to apply polyurethane if you cannot or cannot remove the cultured marble surface from the room. If sealant spills on other accessories, it can cause damage and may not wash off. Also, if the cultured marble has detail work, applying polyurethane to the cracks can be time consuming. This is a project that can work with properly prepared cultured marble, but is not recommended for those who cannot invest a lot of time on the project.

Since cultured marble is more malleable than other kitchen and bathroom surfaces, it is more vulnerable to bumps, scratches, and similar imperfections. Take care when holding heavy objects near or on top of cultured marble. Although it takes a heavy object to do noticeable damage, even a shampoo bottle can dent the surface. Such dents can change the overall texture of cultured marble over time. If you notice a dent or scratch on a solid-colored surface, you can apply a small amount of auto or appliance wax to fill in the gaps. However, if there are multiple flaws or the surface is a single color, have a professional reject it and polish the surface for you. The cost will be higher than doing it yourself, but the finish will be more consistent across the entire surface.

Depending on your budget and ideas for your kitchen or bathroom, cultured marble can give you years of durability. Caring for this material is different from maintaining stone or laminate. Most of the things you can do to maintain your cultured marble surface take little time on your part if you practice them regularly. The key is to keep the seal intact. Once you adjust your cleaning routine to suit this goal, your cultured marble will be available for years to come.

Sports

Great Swan Songs: Five Bands Whose Last Album Was The Best

The term Swan Song, a metaphor for a final gesture or effort, is often used when the year draws to a close. It was actually quite a few months before the New Year in October, when veteran Boston designated hitter David Ortiz enjoyed his swan song as he played his final season with the Red Sox against the Cleveland Indians in the LA Division Series. American League.

A more appropriate use of the swan song occurs when it comes to musicians, to whom it is applied in a literal sense. For example, David Bowie recorded his song of the swan this year, an album called Black Star, released a few days before his death in January.

The album was well received by critics and fans alike, and the track Dollar days It is one of the sweetest songs on his discography. Black Star, Nevertheless, pales in comparison to Bowie’s best albums. The disc Scary Monsters and Super Creeps 35 years ago is still the best, along with Hunky dory since 1972.

Rarely is a band or artist’s swan song the best album of their career, but several groups have made recent albums that surpassed all of their previous releases. Here are five of those bands whose last album was the best in their catalog.

The Hoople by Mott the Hoople

Guitarist and co-founder Mick Ralphs had left before this album, so vocalist Ian Hunter took sole control of the glitter rock quintet. Melodies like Alice, puppet, and Roll away the stone they made this latest album the best of their impressive catalog.

Look? Listen? by 10cc

His greatest successes, such as I’m not in love, Dreadlock Holiday and The things we do for Love, preceded this album. However, the ten songs here could be pop hits as, unlike his other records, there are no rags on either side of this vinyl.

Dandy in the underworld by T. Rex

The title track became an instant classic when, shortly after the album’s release, frontman Marc Bolan was killed in a car accident.

Lost without your love by Bread

David Gates and his hit group parted ways in 1972, but thank God they reunited six years later. The title track became a huge hit and Change of heart It could be the best song about a boy in a love triangle.

good times by the Monkees

Mickey Dolenz, who had an excellent voice in the band’s heyday in the sixties, somehow sounds even better now. The dozen songs here, written by an All-Star cast that includes the boys themselves, make this collection of new material better than any of the band’s previous albums. Those old like Campus They were certainly good but, unlike on this album, they all had a bit of flaws. Even Davy Jones appears posthumously to sing Love takes love, an unreleased song from a session from the sixties.

Arts Entertainments

Erotic Review: American Swing – A Documentary on Plato’s Retirement

The 1970s was a transitional period from the Woodstock years of the 1960s.

There was a sexual revolution that continued to grow and became more evident in New York City.

In 1977, Larry Levinson, a man with very little money, got a loan to start a heterosexual swinger club in New York City called Plato’s Retreat. It was a place to socialize and meet new people. It was also a place to dance to the rhythm of the disco. But what it was most famous for was being a sex club.

American Swing is a documentary that features candid interviews with former club goers, former club employees, and friends (now decades older) of the club’s owner (Larry Levinson). You will also see many real life images of the actual activity that was the norm at the club.

Many of the interviews were extremely heartfelt in one sense, but also hilarious memories of their experiences at the club.

Plato’s Retreat attracted local and national attention from shows like The Phil Donahue Show. Larry seemed to be enjoying the attention and was on top of the world.

Plato’s Retreat was a secret world presented to the public. It was the talk of the town and was a popular place for celebrities to visit. Larry’s vision was to market the swingers club to the mainstream by opening clubs in various cities across the country.

Although his vision was ambitious, the United States was simply not ready.

In the 1980s, Americans began to have different views on sex, especially when AIDS became a concern. The very sad and ridiculous decline of the Retreat of Plato and its owner came to an end. It was the end of an era.

From the point of view of watching an interesting documentary for entertainment and background information about the club, this would be a great documentary to watch. It’s definitely not a family movie, but it’s great to watch it with your significant other or adult friends who you think might be interested in learning about this interesting club.

Don’t expect to be shot down with this documentary. But what I feel is that this movie is a wonderful trail of memories in a very interesting period in time that will never be duplicated.

This movie can be purchased or rented on Amazon. You can also rent this movie on Netflix or Blockbuster.