6789. Tik Tok carousel

 

Best practices for creating TikTok carousels

TikTok carousels aren’t just multiple slides in one post. They’re a chance to walk someone through an idea, one swipe at a time. When they work, it’s usually because the content is easy to follow, clearly useful, and gives people a reason to keep going instead of scrolling past. 

To create best-performing carousels, try these best practices:

• Nail the first slide (this is your hook). The first slide should explain the value of the post immediately. Treat it like a headline. Say what the carousel is about and why it’s worth swiping. 
• Build a swipe narrative. Each slide should naturally lead to the next. Think in sequences, not standalone images. This can be chronological (step 1, step 2, step 3) or logical (problem, explanation, solution).
• Keep each slide to one idea only. Don’t overload slides with multiple points. One slide should communicate one message clearly. 
• Optimize for saves. Carousels perform well when people want to come back to them later. Focus on practical content like checklists, tips, comparisons, or short frameworks.
• Turn the carousel into a game. You can increase engagement by giving people a reason to keep swiping. This might mean revealing an answer at the end, or ranking items from worst to best.
• Use TikTok carousels as mini-guides. Carousels work well for explaining small, self-contained topics. Use a carousel next time you create a step-by-step tutorial. Formats like “How to set up X,” “What to fix first,” or “A quick walkthrough” are easy to follow and fit swipe-based behavior well.

Frequently asked questions

How many photos can you include in a TikTok carousel?

You can add between 2 and 35 images to a TikTok carousel when you post directly in the app. If you’re posting through SocialBee, you can add up to 12 images per carousel. 

Do TikTok carousel posts actually do well on the platform?

Yes, carousels tend to perform well because people have to actively swipe instead of just watching. Each swipe is a signal that someone’s interested, and it also increases how long they spend on the post. 

TikTok’s algorithm prioritizes posts that generate engagement and hold attention, so higher interaction and longer watch time increase the chances of a post being pushed to more users.

Based on posting patterns data we analyzed, carousels consistently outperform most formats. They account for 14.8% of all high-engagement posts, beating both video (9.7%) and text (9.1%).

Images still lead overall, making up 44.8% of top-performing posts, while link posts account for 21.5%, showing that external content can perform well with the right framing.

Together, images and carousels drive nearly 60% of all high-engagement content, which is why visual-first formats remain the most reliable option across platforms.

Can you make a carousel with videos?

No, TikTok carousels are image-only posts. You can’t upload separate video clips as slides. If you need motion or sound on every slide, a regular TikTok video is the better option.

What’s the difference between a TikTok carousel and a slideshow?

A TikTok carousel is a post with multiple photos that users swipe through manually. A TikTok slideshow (often referred to as photo slideshows) is an auto-playing video created from images in your camera roll.

6788. Busking

 Singapore has over 90 designated busking spots managed by the National Arts Council (NAC). Performers hold a valid Letter of Endorsement (Busking Card) and book performance slots via an online e-service portal. Acts range from acoustic musicians and guzheng players to bubble artists, magicians, and typewriter poets. [1, 2, 3]

 “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver was first radio released on 12 April 1971. It is 2026 now.

 For performers, what was once a vibrant, communal craft now feels increasingly constrained, squeezed by shrinking crowds, unpredictable weather and tighter regulations.

 Street performance in Singapore is becoming harder to sustain, and some buskers are walking away. Shrinking crowds, unpredictable weaher

 
3. Set up a physical coloured conspicuous laminated sign at your busking booth to communicate your next location and next schedule. 

4. Post the scheduling information on social media as some fans may want to come down to see you live. 

21 Aug 2026. 7.30pm
Norman, Acoustic musician, 60 years, ex-primary school teacher.
must get busking licence. 6 pm to 10pm
Perform at East Coast Park
Shrinking crowds, unpredictable weather and tighter regulations have had reduced the tips received.

Jumbo Seafood Restaurant closes on 29 Sep 2029. Other restaurants will be closed. The place may be boarded up for renovation. He plans to retire.

The strategy to improve is

1. Target neighbourhoods with wealthy older people where their children have left the nest. They have spare time and cash to come and listen to the performance as well as donate. 

2. Don't keep going to the same neighbourhood. Go to different neighbourhoods every few weeks, consider travelling around.

3. Set up a physical coloured conspicuous laminated sign at your busking booth to communicate your next location and next schedule. 

4. Post the scheduling information on social media as some fans may want to come down to see you live.

 “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver was first radio released on 12 April 1971. Video of Norman singing this song on Friday 21 August 2026.Norman got song requests 
from some diners from the al-fresco packing the first floor. (see video).Diners in the air-conditioned second floor were unable to appreciate his singing. 

 

 UPDATE:https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2026/08/busking.html

6787. Yellow Carpenter bees

 

Yes, in common species like the Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica), both males and females have a yellow or fuzzy yellow thorax. However, the male is easily told apart by a prominent yellow or white marking on its face, whereas the female has a solid black face. [1, 2]

Male vs. Female Identification

Thorax: Both genders typically feature a yellow, orange, or whitish fuzzy midsection (thorax).
Face: Males have a distinct yellow or white spot/patch on the front of their face. Females have a dark, black face.
Abdomen: Both have a smooth, shiny, and hairless black tail section (abdomen).
Stinger: Only females can sting; males are completely harmless. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

(Note: Depending on the specific regional species, like the Yellow-and-black carpenter bee (Xylocopa flavonigrescens), overall colorations can vary, but sexual dimorphism generally isolates face markings rather than thorax color as the primary gender indicator.) [1, 2, 3]

 

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 Xylocopa flavonigrescens Yellow thorax

 Sides of head without white hairs 

Wings are bluish green 

Xylocopa comes from the Greek word “xylokopos”, meaning woodcutter. ‘Xyl’ as in xylem refers to wood, while ‘kopos’ stems from koptein, which means to cut off. The name refers to the unique ability of Xylocopa bees to excavate and utilize wooden structures as nests. 

Carpenter Bee Starter Facts by Wiki-NUS They can sting multiple times – Unlike honey bees which have hooked stings, many bees including the carpenter bee have straight stings and can therefore sting repeatedly. However, only females have stings and are reluctant even so to sting unless under extreme provocation (for example, in defence of their nesting holes) 

They have 5 eyes in total! – They have 2 compound eyes and 3 simple eyes. The simple eyes are called ocelli (singular ocellus) and are simple light receptors

https://www.singaporegeographic.com/insects/bee-wasp-hornet/yellow-and-black-carpenter-bee

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Yellow carpenter bees (such as species like Xylocopa pubescens or male valley carpenter bees) are large, robust insects known for wood-boring nests. Females typically feature a black body with a bright yellow or golden fuzzy thorax (the middle section), while males are often covered entirely in soft golden-yellow fur. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Key Physical Traits

Size: Large, measuring roughly 15 mm to 24 mm long. [1]
Appearance: Females have a bright yellow fuzzy back (thorax) and a smooth, shiny black belly (abdomen), which separates them from fuzzy-bellied bumblebees. Males look fully golden or yellow-brown. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Sting: Only females have stingers, but they are docile and rarely sting unless heavily provoked. Males buzz loudly and act bold, but they possess no stinger at all. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Behavior and Nesting

Wood Cutters: They use strong jaws to drill clean, perfectly round holes into dead trees, branches, or structural timber to build nest tunnels.
Solitary Life: Unlike honeybees, they live alone or in small groups rather than massive hives.
Pollination: They are valuable local pollinators that perform "buzz pollination" to shake pollen loose from flowers. [1, 2, 3, 4]

If you suspect you have carpenter bees drilling into your home or structure, let me know:

• Where the holes are located (e.g., roof eaves, deck, fence)
• How large the holes or sawdust piles are

I can share safe ways to deter them or protect your wood.

 

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No, standard carpenter bees do not make honey. They are solitary insects that live in wood tunnels rather than large social colonies. They collect nectar and pollen from flowers to feed their young, but they do not store honey or build honeycombs. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Why They Don't Make Honey

No Hives: They do not live in large groups with a queen like honeybees.
Wood Nests: Females drill round holes into wood to make small tunnels for their eggs.
Food Storage: Instead of liquid honey, they pack a mix of pollen and nectar inside the wood to feed their larvae. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

If you are dealing with wood damage around your home, would you like tips on how to spot carpenter bee nests or how to safely get rid of them?

6786. Friendship

  help sustain and build friendships by acting as friendly social magnets that connect owners with other dog lovers in public spaces. [1, 2, 3]

 

 Unique looks: Their short legs and big smiles make strangers stop and say hello.