Ski Japan and skip the cherry blossoms

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apan’s winters reveal a quieter magic far from the cherry blossoms — a landscape of deep snow, mountain silence, and steaming hot springs. From Niseko’s legendary powder in Hokkaido to the Olympic slopes of Hakuba and the ancient baths of Nozawa Onsen, Japan offers some of the world’s most sustainable and culturally rich ski experiences. With efficient bullet-train access, renewable-powered resorts, and geothermal onsens under falling snow, this is how to ski Japan responsibly — where tradition, technology, and climate awareness meet on the same mountain.

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Built to Last: How Michael Shanly Turned Five Economic Crises into Enduring Strengths

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Most developers see economic downturns as something to endure. Michael Shanly has consistently seen them as opportunities to strengthen his business for the long term. Across five major crises – from the 1974 property crash to the COVID-19 pandemic – his approach has remained remarkably steady: adapt quickly, stay close to operations, and make decisions that build resilience rather than short-term relief.

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Inflatable concrete homes: a California and Ontario case study

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Across Ontario and California, builders are rethinking concrete housing through inflatable-shell design—an approach that replaces wooden formwork with air and innovation. A 1,000-square-foot low-carbon concrete shell, insulated with hempcrete, can be erected in a day and cost far less than conventional construction. Over time, the savings in energy, materials, and mortgage costs make this model a realistic response to rising living expenses and climate stress. With low-carbon cement, hempcrete walls, and renewable energy, inflatable concrete homes show how even the world’s most carbon-heavy material can become part of a sustainable future—if built smartly, and within local building codes.

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Inflatable Concrete Houses: What Are They & How Much Do They Cost?

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Some small Binishell prototypes have been built for around US $3,500 using sprayed concrete over an inflatable form. Automatic Construction reports shell costs of roughly $10–$30 per square foot for 100- to 200-square-foot prototypes—far below standard homebuilding prices. The Vienna method is described as “quick and cost-saving” for double-curved shell structures, but specific dollar/€ cost numbers are not given in the available sources.

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Sea Moss: The New Superfood, Or Just A Trend?

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Sea moss became the new super-food when Kim Kardashian started talking about blending it into her smoothies. Fans following the trend claim that sea moss gives skin a new glow, raises energy, helps with weight loss, and keeps digestion, er, moving along. While it’s nice to think that a jar of mango or strawberry-flavored sea […]

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