Cutting the Tree Before Hurricane Coming – Part 1

Our state, Louisiana is one of states hit most by hurricanes. Totally 54 hurricanes since 1851 with categories range from 3 to 5.

Fig- 01- Busted and broken tree.

We have 3 trees in front of our house. Squirrels, birds and some other critters use these trees as their:

- shelter

- play areas (branches)

- site for reproduction (nesting for birds)

- resting

- hiding from predators

- source of foods

Fig 02- An insect on the leave

We love to observe these critters, usually in the morning or afternoon while drinking a cup of coffee or tea.

Fig- 03- Falling part of broken tree

Unfortunately, the trees seem have been “decayed” due to fungi diseases, and even one of them busted and destroyed recently.

We got hurricane Ida last year. Our neighborhood not really in good shape yet like before disaster.

Then, we decided to cut all these trees down, the day before hurricane Ida “visit” our areas.

This Hurricane was estimated as category 3, where the wind could reach 115 mph (185 km per hour). Deadly wind actually.

# To be continued to Part 2

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Hay Stacks in the Small Farmer Market

I know that hay is food for livestock such as cows, horses and sheep in the winter or during long drought.

Fig 01- Look heavier stacks of hay

But, I just get new knowledge that other function of hay stacks is for erosion control or for landscaping called as a straw hay.

Hay for food has two types:

- lighter

- and heavier

In my opinion that both types are fairly cheap in respect for price.

The heavier ones contain higher protein. In addition to nutritious value, people look for dryness of hay.

Fig 02- Public area in our neighborhood

Fig 03- Lighter hay in the farmer market

Dryness relates to quality, since wet hay means easy to be destroyed or rotten by mold.

To be easy to be dried and stored, many people choose round than square bales. Round bales also easier to wrap with plastic.

I saw in the small farmer market not in great number of hay stacks, may be not sold for farmers or ranchers, but for individuals who feed their pets such as rabbit and deer or for decoration purposes only.

I found square hay only, no round bales. The size might be 40 pounds (20 kg), not that big and heavy. It might be due to storage capacity of market.

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Small Business at Nearby our Neighborhood – Part 1

No surprise for me that about 60 million people work in the small business. It is about 47% of private workforce in the USA.

Fig 01- A sign of donuts shop.

We see many small businesses nearby our neighborhood, and it seems growing well in recent years. I think you may guess why.

Sure, we are a subscriber of car services, a small business with local labors in our neighborhood, the services include:

- car washing

- oil changes

- tires replacement

- and windshield repair.

Fig 02- A homemade cake

Fig 03- Purple bell peppers, a local produce

Fig 04- A lawn care service

Other service from neighbors that we have been using, just few examples of them are:

- Tax Preparation and Bookkeeping

- Cleaning Services

- Online Tutoring

- Catering Services, Mobile Hairdresser Services and Small engines repair

Local produces are sold in small groceries, ethnic shops, and farmer markets. They are cheap and fresh.

# To be continued to Part 2

# Previous postings:

- Do People Keep a Pig as a Pet? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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Are Rattan End Products Expensive than Plastic?

We talked about Rattan End Products in the USA Market at previous posting:

- Rattan End Products Sold in the USA Market | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Another end product of rattan

Compared to plastic, sure, price of rattan end product is expensive. Just for an example:

- small plastic baskets cost less than US$1

- whereas rattan material (with almost the same size and shape) could reach more than US$ 15.

Fig 02- Pride of Barbados or Mexican lantana

Fig 03- Rattan dining patio set sold by Walmart

People said that some of the reasons why rattan end products quite expensive than other materials:

- strong and durable

- workmanship standard

- quality

If we look after and avoid from outdoor elements (such as rain or wet), rattan furniture may last from 5 years to 10 years.

However, in many cases, rattan furniture just survive around 5 years.

Do you have rattan end products at your home?

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Finnish Nightmare in the Eyes of Far Eastern Countries - Part 2

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Finnish Nightmare in the Eyes of Far Eastern Countries - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Image 1- Matti decided to buy than take a free sample

(credit to Karoliina Korhonen).

The comic got hit in China, especially to millennial generations, because they “dream” of privacy as one of reasons.

Finland has huge space compare to crowd cities in China. However, Matti, male Finnish in the cartoon respects:

- peace

- quiet

- personal space

Young Chinese who was born as a kid under China’s single child policy identified themselves as Finnish nightmare.

Image 2- Flowers in the garden

Image 3- A street in the morning

Image 4- A corner of the park

They believe that their characters similar to Matti in many terms, some of them are:

- avoids talking to others

- live alone happily

- hide from neighbors

- inconvenient to work in pairs

- do not like to be single out

- a kind of social phobia.

Do you know about Finnish Nightmare? What do you think?

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Rattan End Products Sold in the USA Market

We saw plenty of rattan end products sold in the supermarkets at our city, Baton Rouge, LA recently.

Fig 01- End product of rattan

As you might know that rattan is like a bamboo, but solid material. Its can be twisted or model for many purposes.

After certain processing, rattan canes which is more durable and strength be used as material in a wicker weave.

Rattan plant is a vine like plant which grow well in tropical forests. There are about 600 species of rattan worldwide.

South East Asian countries are well known as rattan producers and play an important role in global trade.

Fig 02- Rattan table lamp, sold in Walmart

Fig 03- Rattan basket

Those South East countries include:

- Indonesia

- Philippine

- Myanmar

- Vietnam

- Malaysia.

The global trade of rattan and bamboo is estimated US$ 60 billion per year. The trade is between producers in South East Asia, and mainly to buyers in Europe.

Quite surprising to find plenty of rattan products in the USA Markets nowdays.

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Finnish Nightmare in the Eyes of Far Eastern Countries - Part 1

When I was a student in Denmark in 1990’s, sure, I met students or people from other Scandinavian, and even from many foreign countries. No less than 20 countries as I can remember.

Fig 01- Sunlight, just for illustration

As you know the Scandinavian consist of following countries:

- Denmark
- Finland
- Sweden
- Norway
- Iceland

I did not notice “awkward behavior” called as “Finnish Nightmare.” The socially awkward was depicted in a webcomic by Karoliina Korhonen.

Fig 02- Polar bear, illustration only

Fig 03- Matti, the comic figure, feels awkward to sit to next other people

(credit to Karoliina Korhonen)

The webcomic was translated in Asian (far eastern) countries:

- China
- Japanese
- Korea (South Korea off course)

In Japan, the book got Gaiman award in 2017. The award is designed to make Japanese aware of the best comic outside Japan.

The award was given first time in 2011 and sponsored by 3 institutions in Japan: Meiji University, Kyoto International Mangga Museum and Kitayushu Museum.

# To be continued to part 2

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Is Suicide Based on Individual Decision Only?

From previous posting (Increasing of Suicide Rate in America | Tanza Erlambang Update), then we may have a question that is whether suicide based on individual decision only?

Fig 01- Links of suicide (Source from slideshare)

The answer to this question could be found in the book written by McIntyre (2011. p.29-33: The Practical Skeptic: Core Concepts in Sociology 5th edition).

The author described about suicide from sociology perspective. Suicide is not only triggered by individual decision, but also by lack of social integration or social solidarity.

Fig 02- Elderberry tree

In case of married couple that increasing of divorce rate could increase social isolation or feel lonely, thus unmarried persons more likely to die due to suicide. 

Fig 03- Rainbow in the evening

Then, in case of teenage girl’s suicide, the cause could be many factors or very complex.

Fig 04- Summer is coming

As said by Cornwell (2017: Suicide rate in teen girls reaches 40-year high) that some reasons for girls to suicide are over access to social media and an ongoing lack of mental-health resources.

It is need for parents, educators, communities, and relevant policy makers to address the stigma of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Sadly, suicide is immediate or eventual death accomplished by the victims themselves.

The suicide is at alarming rate in the USA. People with social impaired is the most vulnerable to commit suicide.

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