#Gas supply and maintenance

[oceangas]

Gas pipeline repair is a critical task to maintain safety, prevent accidents, and ensure the efficient functioning of the gas supply system. Recognizing common issues, understanding repair methods, and prioritizing professional expertise are crucial steps for stakeholders involved in gas pipeline maintenance.

[furnacerepair7]

DIY Pool Furnace Repair: A Step-by-Step Guide

Pool Heater Not Working: Identifying the Problem When your pool heater is not working, it can be frustrating, especially when you’re looking forward to a warm swim. The first step in addressing this issue is identifying the problem. There are several reasons why your pool heater might not be functioning properly. These can range from simple issues like a tripped circuit breaker to more complex…

[phoenixyfriend]

Do you think "Daphne is the one handling the budget" is at all a popular headcanon for the Mystery Gang?

I like the idea of Daphne pulling out some reading glasses to do the gang's bookkeeping in the shotgun seat on long drives. The bankrolling is definitely Daphne and Shaggy (they're the ones that come from money), but it's probably still a pretty limited amount of money to work with just based on how young they are.

I want to say that Shaggy's money is in some kind of trust until he's 25. Meanwhile, Daphne does have an allowance, which is pretty big since her parents know she's traveling and they may not approve of the company she keeps, but they DO want her to be safe... but it's not enough to just spend willy nilly, considering she's the bulk of the funds for four people and one dog.

Someone has to plan out what they spend on, like... food and hygiene. Trap supplies. Laundromat usage. The occasional motel night if the elements are making 'sleep in the van' a bad idea. Phone plans, depending on the era. Health insurance if their parents don't have them on-plan (depends on the year). Car insurance (legally required). The van is old enough to require maintenance and have a pretty crappy mpg, so the gas budget is pretty high. Yearly inspections and other "let's not get stopped by the cops" stuff. Vet visits (vaccinations, teeth cleaning) for Scooby. Medication for various chronic conditions they may have. Replacing Velma's glasses when they get broken or her prescription changes. Fred's hair gel, which I assume he has. Shaggy's weed stipend. So much sunscreen. Etc.

Like they do have homes to go back to in case they truly run out of money, but it's still a lot to cover, and emergencies on the road do happen.

Modern setting Daphne just does an accounting course online and gets a CPA degree all in service of: 1. Managing the team's money 2. Catching bad guys via audit

(I'd suggest a correspondence course for an older setting but they're always on the move so idk how effective that would be.)

[alex99achapterthree]

Phantom Friday...

... on the ramp.

USAF F-4E Phantom gets some maintenance on the ramp at Spangdahlem AB, Germany.

The small (relatively) piece of ramp gear connected to the aircraft with a wire is a Type A/M32-60B Gas Turbine Air Start Cart. Using a compressor powered by a small gas-turbine engine, it provides high-pressure air (via that hose rolled up on top of it) to jet aircraft to start the engines. It also supplies 115 volt/400 cycle electrical power to the aircraft and other equipment allowing systems to be operated without the aircraft engines running. In this case it looks like it is also powering the other larger piece of gear, a hydraulic "mule" that can put pressure on the aircraft hydraulic system. The aileron on the left wing is extended and there is a workstand behind it, so I'd say that is what they are working on.

[probablyasocialecologist]

‘Powering Injustice’ examines how foreign trade and investment in Israel’s energy sector may contribute to grave violations of international law being perpetrated by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in Gaza. It considers the obligations of states and the responsibilities of companies involved in the supply of energy to Israel.

[...]

Energy, or fuel to produce energy, plays a significant role in Israel’s military operations and unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Israeli military vehicles, including jets and tanks, which have been used in the commission of crimes under international law in Gaza, require substantial amounts of fuel to operate. Israel has considerable dependency on imports of fuel, particularly military jet fuel and crude oil, which is refined in Israel and supplied to the military, amongst other end users. SOMO identified deliveries of crude oil, and liquid fuel, such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, to Israel involving the United States (U.S.), Brazil, and Azerbaijan amongst the largest suppliers. Data also shows deliveries from Greece, Albania, and Kazakhstan, amongst others, with military jet fuel coming from the U.S. Israeli settlements are one component of what the ICJ has declared as Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory. Israel’s electricity grid directly incorporates illegal Israeli settlements located in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan. Nearly all of Israel’s electricity comes from gas, coal or renewable energy. Gas is the main fuel, accounting for more than 70% of electricity generated. Most gas comes from Israel’s offshore gas fields, several of which are operated by foreign oil and gas companies. Israel imports coal, with Russia and South Africa being major source countries. Coal contributed 17.5% to the grid in 2023. Wind and solar power contributed just over 10% in the same year. Multiple renewable energy projects in Israel involve foreign companies and investment. As a matter of policy, Israel’s electricity grid does not differentiate between civilian infrastructure within its 1948 borders and illegal settlements. The fact that the provision of electricity services to settlements is done through the national grid reinforces the view expressed by some Israeli policymakers that the settlements are part of Israel. SOMO’s analysis makes the case that foreign investments in the generation of electricity for Israel’s grid, and specifically trade in coal and investment in gas extraction and renewable energy projects that supply the grid, constitute trade and investment relations that “assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israeli in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” 

17 December 2024

[catenary-chad]

Early uses of electric trains (that may surprise you)

This doesn’t explicitly apply about any canon characters, though you could use it to expand on/reinterpret Electra, the Nationals, or make OCs. I’ve just noticed a lot of people in the Stex fandom, and even just general railfans, that don’t realize that electrification historically has had waaaay more uses than environment friendliness and high speeds. Here are some other things it was used for in the days before global warming was on anyone’s radar and smoke was considered a sign of prosperity (the early-mid 20th century)

TUNNELS- burning things in enclosed spaces is a pretty well known way to get carbon monoxide poisoning. Even open-ended but long, slow-speed tunnels had issues with smoke and exhaust from steam and even diesel engines lingering and blocking vision/suffocating people, leading to gas masks or cab forward engines being used. So these became some of the first places to require electrification. And it wasn’t just subways, you also had underground mines and long tunnels through the mountains like the Cascades Tunnel.

HILLS: Due to electric motors being strongest at low speeds (and steam engines being strongest at full speed) and much better power to weight ratio, electric trains are REALLY good on steep, long inclines, especially if there’s any stopping involved. The Milwaukee Road’s Pacific Extension, the Virginian Railway, and basically the entire country of Switzerland are fun examples of early electric lines on rugged mountainsides where even very large steam engines struggled. On top of that, running downhill with regenerative brakes dramatically axes the amount of total power used. And as an added weird bonus, extreme low temperatures and lower oxygen at high altitudes impaired the performance of combustion engines on parts of the Milwaukee Road but electric engines saw no losses or even outright benefits due to enhanced motor cooling (cooling traction motors is a big deal and why a lot of older electric engines have such loud fans)

ACCELERATION: Electric engines and EMUS especially are great at stopping/starting quickly, making them great for commuter trains with frequent stops. This allows greater train frequency without increasing tracks, and is a major benefit of electrification even today (see Caltrain’s electrification project). Also see the GER Class A55 for how extreme steam engineering had to get to compete at the turn of the century.

SHEER POWER: It’s hard to overstate just how much more powerful individual electric engines can be vs diesel or even steam, not having to carry their own power source allows them to access a lot more. Just take a look at the “most powerful locomotives” wikipedia list, and that one actually leaves off a LOT of mostly older electric engines that would outclass steam/diesel ones included. There are a surprising number of huge early electric engines like the PRR FF1 with a similar tractive effort to later large steam engines (albeit a lot of these were slooow due to the aforementioned trait of motors being strongest at lowest speeds). This is also why high speed trains are almost all electric, their monstrous HP numbers are more to pull moderate loads at 200+ mph.

HYDROELECTRICITY: Using hydroelectric power was a practical and not environmental choice in the early 20th century and where it was readily available (especially where fossil fuels weren’t), electrification became very lucrative. Switzerland is the most extreme example, without much of a domestic supply of coal but a lot of hydropower. The Milwaukee Road and Pennsylvania Railroad also used dams as a major power source

MAINTENANCE AND LABOR COSTS: This was a bigger advantage in the steam era because the gap between them and steam engines in terms of maintenance and availability was so wide, and you can run multiple electric engines with one crew but double/triple heading steam engines requires one for each engine. They’re still competitive if not cheaper than diesel power today, especially on high-frequency routes, and especially when the costs of pollution are included. Electric trains are generally the lowest maintenance and most reliable of all traction, and tend to last longer due to fewer moving parts (50+ year lifespans are not rare). Now it’s more a matter of paying more up front and less on maintenance vs less up front and more on maintenance. The actual wires and infrastructure are a BIG up front cost that’s very hard for private businesses to do alone without government help (just see how many lines got bankrupted by these projects in the US in the early 20th century)

BONUS: this is technically a promo by the company itself, but it’s relatively willing to admit their faults, The Milwaukee Electrification

Goes into a lot of the points made above in a pretty fun and concise package

[galaxygolfergirl]

Watcher's Expenses

I didn't major in accounting: I took three classes and it grinded my brain to a fine powder. However, after graduating with a business admin degree, being a former eager fan of their videos, and from a cursory glance over their socials, there's a lot to consider in their spending behavior that really could start racking up costs. Some of these things we've already noticed, but there are other things I'd like to highlight, and I'll try to break it down into the different categories of accounting expenses (if I get something wrong, let me know. I was more concentrated in marketing 🤷‍♀️). I'm not going to hypothesize numbers either, as that would take out more time than I'm willing to afford-- you can assume how much everything costs. Anyways, here's my attempt at being a layman forensic accountant:

Note: All of this is assuming they're operating above board and not engaging in any illegal practices such as money laundering, tax evasion, not paying rent, etc.

Operating Expenses

Payroll: 25+ staff salaries and insurance

Overhead Expenses

CEO/founder salaries

Office space leasing or rent (In L.A, one of the most expensive cities in the US)

Utilities (water, electricity, heating, sanitation, etc.)

Insurance

Advertising Costs

Telephone & Internet service

Cloud Storage or mainframe

Office equipment (furniture, computers, printers, etc.)

Office supplies (paper, pens, printer ink, etc.)

Marketing costs (Social media marketing on Instagram, Youtube, SEO for search engines, Twitter, etc. Designing merchandise and posters, art, etc. )

Human Resources (not sure how equipped they are)

Accounting fees

Property taxes

Legal fees

Licensing fees

Website maintenance (For Watchertv.com, Watcherstuff.com, & Watcherentertainment.com)

Expenses regarding merchandising (whoever they contract or outsource for that)

Inventory costs

Potentially maintenance of company vehicles

Subsequent gas mileage for road trips

Depreciation (pertains to tangible assets like buildings and equipment)

Amortization (intangible assets such as patents and trademarks)

Overhead Travel and Entertainment Costs (I think one of the biggest culprits, evident in their videos and posts)

The travel expenses (flights, train trips, rental cars, etc. For main team and scouts)

Hotel expenses for 7-8 people at least, or potentially more

Breakfasts, lunches and dinners with the crew (whether that's fully on their dime or not, I don't know; Ryan stated they like to cover that for the most part)

Recreational activities (vacation destinations, amusement parks, sporting activities etc.)

The location fees

Extraneous Overhead costs (not sure exactly where these fall under, but another culprit, evident in videos and posts)

Paying for guest appearances

Expensive filming & recording equipment (Cameras, sound equipment, editing software subscriptions, etc.)

The overelaborate sets for Ghost files, Mystery Files, Puppet History, Podcasts etc. (Set dressing: Vintage memorabilia, antiquated tech, vintage furniture, props, etc.)

Kitchen & Cooking supplies/equipment

Office food supply; expensive food and drink purchases for videos

Novelty items or miscellaneous purchases (ex. Ghost hunting equipment, outfits, toys, etc.)

Non-Operating Expenses

These are those expenses that cannot be linked back to operating revenue. One of the most common examples of non-operating expenses is interest expense. This is because while interest is the cost of borrowing money from a creditor or a bank, they are not generating any operating income. This makes interest payments a part of non-operating expenses.

Financial Expenses

Potential loan payments, borrowing from creditors or lenders, bank loans, etc.

Variable Expenses

Hiring a large amount of freelancers, overtime expenditure, commissions, etc.

PR consultations (Not sure if they had this before the scandal)

Extraordinary Expenses

Expenses incurred outside your company’s regular business activities and during a large one-time event or transactions. For example, selling land, disposal of a significant asset, laying off of your employees, unexpected machine repairing or replacement, etc.

Accrued Expenses

When your business has incurred an expense but not yet paid for it.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(If there's anything else I'm missing, please feel free to add or correct things)

To a novice or a young entrepreneur, this can be very intimidating if you don't have the education or the support to manage it properly. I know it intimidates the hell out of me and I'm still having to fill in the gaps (again, if I've mislabeled or gotten anything wrong here, please let me know). For the artistic or creative entrepreneur, it can be even harder to reconcile the extent of your creative passions with your ability to operate and scale your business at a sustainable rate. That can lead to irresponsible, selfish, and impulsive decisions that could irreparably harm your brand, which is a whole other beast of its own.

My guess at this point is that their overhead and operation expenses are woefully mismanaged; they've made way too many extraneous purchases, and that they had too much confidence in their audience of formerly 2.93 million to make up for the expenses they failed to cover.

It almost seems as if their internal logic was, "If we make more money, we can keep living the expensive lifestyle that we want and make whatever we want without anyone telling us we can't, and we want to do it NOW, sooner rather than later because we don't want wait and compromise our vision." But as you can see, the reality of fulfilling those ambitions is already compromised by the responsibility of running a business.

And I wrote this in another post here, but I'll state it again: Running a business means you need to be educated on how a business can successfully and efficiently operate. Accounting, marketing, social media marketing, public relations, production, etc; these resources and internet of things is available and at your disposal. If they had invested more time in educating themselves on those aspects and not made this decision based on artistic passion (and/or greed), they would have not gotten the response they got.

Being a graphic designer, I know the creative/passionate side of things but I also got a degree/got educated in business because I wanted to understand how to start a company and run it successfully. If they’re having trouble handling the responsibility of doing that, managing production costs, managing overhead expenses, and especially with compensating their 25+ employees, then they should hire professionals that are sympathetic to their creative interests, but have the education and experience to reign in bad decisions like these.

Anyways, thanks for coming to my TedTalk. What a shitshow this has been.

[lulu2992]

Uncovering the unreleased Far Cry 5 in-game Encyclopedia

The almost complete but unused in-game encyclopedia, reconstructed thanks to the oasisstrings file.

Please note that it’s still cut content, so some information might not be relevant anymore.

You can read the oasisstrings file here. Pictures from this encyclopedia were also extracted and posted by @xbaebsae here.

Part 2: Locations - Holland Valley

Gardenview Packing Facility

The last facility added to the Hadlers' apple empire. They shipped their apples throughout Hope County and beyond. When the cult went red state, the Hadlers stopped their legal threats and resorted to violence.

Silver Lake Trailer Park

A community of people just trying to do their best.

Gardenview Orchards

A part of Doug and Debbie Hadler’s apple empire. After their ciderworks facility, they expanded to a second, larger orchard: Gardenview Orchards. Then they opened the Gardenview Packing Facility.

Rae-Rae's Pumpkin Farm

Fiery matriarch Rae-Rae Bouthillier cares about two things: Prize-winning pumpkins and her dog Boomer.

Gardenview Ciderworks

The first major facility owned by Doug and Debbie Hadler. Ten years ago, they had a dream: an empire made of apples. They nearly achieved it too, until the cult forcibly took over everything they had worked for.

Bridge of Tears

It was called the Mišihrew Bridge when the railroad was still active. It’s now a rickety old train bridge and John Seed's ideal location to send a warning message to all sinners.

Frobisher's Cave

In 1970, a cougar, named "Frobisher" by the locals, killed the star pitcher of a rival baseball team. The Hope County Silver Foxes won that year and changed their name to the Cougars in Frobisher's honor.

Howard Cabin

Home of Niesha Howard, an extreme rock climber from Canada who moved to Montana to be a prepper.

Copperhead Rail Yard

Copperhead Rail was created in the late 1800s by Emmet Reaves. It was shut down in the early 70s and a lot got left behind. It became a place for kids to get drunk or bums to find shelter, then the cult bought it.

Lincoln Lookout Tower

It’s the last working fire tower in the county. A man who worked here promised to help the Strickland family fight off the cult if ever their farm was under attack.

Sergey’s Place

A hobo historian calls this place home. Nobody's seen him in a while though.

Boyd Residence

Will Boyd lives here, or at least he did. No one in the valley talks about him. And for good reason.

Strickland Farm

Property owned by the Strickland family of farmers. No friends to Eden’s Gate.

U.S. Auto

A scrap yard containing trashed cars, broken farm equipment, and even a few busted planes. Eden's Gate uses the garage to build and maintain their convoys.

Doverspike Compound

Les Doverspike was a militia nut and he built himself a bunker. Nobody in the prepper community liked him. Despite that, he was anti-cult and pro-Resistance.

Harris Residence

Mike and Deb Harris were preppers with a cunning plan to keep themselves fed after the end of the world.

Reservoir Construction Yard

Deep North Water wanted to build a new reservoir for the Holland Valley. The company ran out of funding and was chased away by Eden’s Gate.

Dodd’s Dumps

Colin Dodd used to run garbage disposal for the whole Holland Valley, and his business lot shows it. The cult intimidated him into leaving but has yet to sort through all he left behind.

Davenport Farm

The remains of a run-down farm. Local farmers let their cows graze here. Can't let good land go to waste.

Hilgard Electric Power Station

The Holland Valley's power supply is reliant on this transformer station which is controlled by Eden's Gate.

Golden Valley Gas

Once the kind of gas station that gave out free bubble gum to kids, Golden Valley is now a strategic point of gasoline and auto maintenance for the Project at Eden's Gate.

Green-Busch Fertilizer Co.

Facing a decline in business, the Green-Busch family said “yes” and sold the place to John Seed on the condition that locals could keep their jobs and work alongside Eden's Gate.

St. Isidore School

Once a religious boarding school, it was forced to close its doors by Eden's Gate.

Dodd Residence

Home of Colin Dodd, hoarder and DIY enthusiast. He never throws anything out. His granddaughter Nadine's been known to lurk here.

Roberts Cabin

Home of Joe Roberts, a hunter. He's gone missing. He loved hunting deer above all else.

Hope County Clinic

Dr. Kim Patterson provides medical services to Hope County's farmers and low-income residents, many of whom would never receive care in such a remote area.

Holland Valley Station

In the days that it was up and running, Copperhead Rail used to stop here. Eden’s Gate uses this station to catch people who try to escape the region.

Grain Elevator

As the farmlands started to collapse, the grain elevator was the first casualty. Too expensive to maintain.

Henbane River Rail Bridge

Copperhead Rail was created in the 1880s during a mining boom, and shut down in the early 70s after the industry collapsed.

Flatiron Stockyards

Bobby Budell established the stock yards in 1946, and has proudly provided farm and ranch auction services since. The economic and community base employed over 25 people at its height.

Fillmore Residence

Home of Doug Fillmore. Not much is known about him.

Dupree Residence

Home of Tommy Dupree, an idiot who used to work at Green-Busch Fertilizer Co. He got fired by Eden's Gate because he was as dumb as the crap he bagged.

Catamount Mines

Fall’s End owes its existence to the gold Orville Fall discovered here in 1865. The mine brought a generation of prosperity to the region until a suspicious accident entombed 100 men within it, forcing its closure in 1912.

Sunrise Farm

Sunrise Farm was going under, so owners Mike and Chandra Dunagan reluctantly sold it to Eden's Gate. Big mistake.

Deep North Irrigation Reservoir

Originally designed to irrigate farms, the reservoir became a liability when the cult began putting Bliss in the water supply. The Resistance sealed it up to buy themselves time.

Red’s Farm Supply

The Redler family has run this place for 4 generations, and earned a reputation for honest business. Wendell did his best to keep it out of cult hands.

Purpletop Telecom Tower

In the 1950s, Purpletop Telecom built this tower, blessing people with the wonders of AM radio. As time and technology marched forward, they were also given the American splendor of a local TV station.

Woodson Pig Farm

This place has been in the Woodson family since 1943. Current owners Andrew and Frances Woodson used their wealth to try to stand up to John Seed and fight him in court. They lost, and joined the Resistance.

Sawyer Residence

Don Sawyer came from out of town to join the Project at Eden's Gate. He restores canoes, but isn't very good at it. Visitors have sworn they've heard him swearing in Russian over those boats.

Hyde Barn

Kenny Hyde's a poor man in Holland Valley, but that doesn't stop him from loving deep fried balls. He's the proud keeper of Fall’s End Testy Festy decorations, stashing them at his barn until they're needed.

Kupka Ranch

Zip Kupka's the only one who really knows what's going on in the Holland Valley.

John’s Gate

A missile silo long decommissioned and abandoned. The locals used to call it "Area 68." Eden's Gate bought it in secret and turned it into a bunker that is in John Seed's safekeeping until the Collapse.

Security Gate

Formerly the entrance to the missile silo, it's now the gateway to John Seed's bunker. Everything taken in the Reaping passes through this checkpoint.

Steele Farm

The Steele family managed to get their kids out of Hope County, but stayed behind to try and defend their home from Eden's Gate.

Lamb of God Church

A Lutheran church. Its elderly priest was overshadowed by Pastor Jerome’s charismatic sermons. John once asked the priest to say “yes.” Not a chance. Then, the priest was gone. He had taken a “long vacation.”

Lamb of God Sacristy

The Project at Eden's Gate has turned the Lamb of God Church's sacristy into a holding place for everything they need to baptize people at the water's edge.

Armstrong Residence

The Project at Eden's Gate targeted the Armstrong family early, burning their home to the ground when Grace Armstrong refused to devote her sharpshooting skills to the Father's cause.

Bradbury Tractor Shed

A shed for tractors.

Hope County Jail Bus

Prisoners hijacked this bus but were run off the road. The wreck was left to rot in the woods. When Eden's Gate brought prohibition to Hope County, some enterprising moonshiners set up shop behind the cult’s back.

Parker Laboratories

Home and workshop of Dr. Laurence Parker, and the origin of many mysterious noise complaints.

Seed Ranch

The power of yes gave John Seed this dream ranch overlooking the Holland Valley. it has commanding views, a private air strip, and secluded soundproofed rooms for his most invigorating religious pursuits.

Bradbury Farm

The home of the Bradbury family, hay farmers for generations. The strange pattern of dead hay in the field does not impact the quality of the final product. That's the Bradbury guarantee.

Bradbury Hay Field

Bradbury Farm's hay is baled and stored here before being sold to clients looking to feed their livestock with quality hay.

Laurel Residence

Laurel family honey was a local market favorite until their bee colony collapsed and jeopardized the business. It also spooked the Laurels who sunk money into a bunker and became preppers overnight.

Eden’s Gate Greenhouse

Bliss plants are found throughout the Henbane River, but they're also found here. John Seed takes the flowers he receives by boat from the east and plants them in his greenhouse.

Seed Boat Launch

Once a favorite spot for summer frolickers, this boat launch is used by John Seed for receiving shipments of Bliss and other supplies from elsewhere in Hope County.

Rye & Sons Aviation

This plot of land was first settled in 1920 by Willard Rye. He started a crop dusting business. His sons inherited both and it now belongs to the current generation of Ryes: Nick & Kim.

Kellett Cattle Co.

The Kellett family supplied beef for 3 generations. These proud Republicans thought they recognized the American spirit in Eden’s Gate, but when John Seed asked them to serve the Project, they said “no.”

Fall’s End

After prospector Orville Fall struck gold, his small mining camp quickly grew. Decades later, his rival, rail baron Emmett Reaves, shot him dead in the streets, giving the town its official name.

Old Silo

Welcome to the middle of it.

Kay-Nine Kennels

The owner, Kay Wheeler, loved her dogs more than life itself. She bred and trained hunting and guard dogs. When Eden’s Gate showed up, the local demand for guard dogs tripled. John Seed noticed and took action.

Sunrise Threshing

A silo and shed complex attached to Sunrise Farm. Rumor has it that Mike Dunagan's stashed a lot of cool shit around here somewhere.

Redler Residence

Home of Wendell Redler, local businessman and Vietnam veteran.

Adams Ranch

Jules Adams lost her husband in an "accident" after saying no to John Seed. Her family's struggled to keep the cattle ranch out of cult hands ever since.

Miller Residence

Despite financial hardship, the Miller family refused the cult’s invitations, prepping for doomsday all on their own. When the reaping came, Jerry Miller was out working.

Wellington Residence

The Wellington family mine is an urban legend, supposedly stuffed with gold, explosives, or both depending who you ask. Generations of Wellingtons (possibly inbred) have tried and failed to strike it rich here.

[ym-loreposting]

Who are the Elysians?

Elysia is one of the multiple planets visited in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. It is a gas giant in whose atmosphere floats the mechanical city of SkyTown, which was created by the Chozo about 1500 years before the events of the Metroid series. 50 years later, the Chozo also created the first of the Elysians: sapient robots made to help with the upkeep of SkyTown. 400 years after that, these Chozo left Elysia to live on Tallon IV (the setting of the first Metroid Prime game). Elysia was left in the care of the Elysians.

During Metroid Prime 3, Samus visists Elysia and encounters many robots there as enemies, because they have been corrupted by Phazon. It is never specified which robots are Elysians however, and which are some of the robots created by the Elysians to maintain SkyTown as they entered a deep slumber.

"By the year 600, we of Elysia were low on critical supplies and fuel. We created smaller mechanoids to process fuel from the atmosphere of Elysia, but they proved unable to produce a sufficient supply. Unable to secure the necessary resources to sustain ourselves, we entered a state of hibernation to preserve our remaining stores of energy and parts." -SkyTown Data entry: "Slumber"

This is the case in the English version at least. In the Japanese version, the scans of the robot enemies fought on Elysia does specify what counts as an Elysian and what doesn't. In the English versions, all inhabitants of Elysia are called "Mechanoid" at the start of each scan. For example, with the Tinbot enemy:

"Tinbot Mechanoid: Tinbot" -Tinbot scan

However, the Japanese version has this equivalent:

"ティンボット エリシアン：ティンボット" "Tinbot Elysian: Tinbot" -Japanese Tinbot scan

Elysians and Drones

The enemies described as "エリシアン" (Elysian) in the scans of Metroid Prime 3 are Tinbots, Steambots, Steamlords and Helios (the boss fought inside Elysia's Leviathan), which are pictured below.

Most of the other robots found in SkyTown are Drones (ドローン) created by the Elysians. These include the Repair Drones and Aerial Repair Drones created for maintenance work, Transportation Drones to carry resources, Databots to store the history of Elysia, Elysian Shriekbats, Swarmbots, Steamspiders built to carry out tasks in groups in hard to reach places, and finally "Dragoon" Battle Drones built to defend the city.

[ranarana1234]

Hot tapping services in Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain - TotalCal

Looking for reliable hot tapping services in Ajman, Fujairah, or Umm Al Quwain? TotalCal offers professional hot tapping solutions across the UAE, ensuring safe, efficient, and uninterrupted pipe connections without shutdowns.

✅ What is Hot Tapping?

Hot tapping is a live pipeline intervention technique that allows for connection or modification to pressurized pipelines without stopping the flow. It’s ideal for industries that need continuous operation, including oil & gas, water supply, and industrial utilities.

📍 Our Services Are Available In:

Ajman

Fujairah

Umm Al Quwain

🛠 Why Choose TotalCal?

UAE-approved hot tapping specialists

Fast response in northern emirates

Precision-engineered tapping tools and equipment

No system shutdown required

Safe and certified procedures

🔩 Applications:

Installing new pipeline branches

Adding bypass connections

Pipeline maintenance and repair

🏆 Trusted by Industries:

Our services are trusted by major sectors across the UAE including:

Oil & Gas

Fire Protection

Water & Wastewater

Industrial Plants

[imperialchem]

How pour point depressants improve oil flow in cold conditions

The global oil and gas industry faces numerous challenges when operating in extreme weather conditions.  One such issue is the formation of wax crystals in crude oil and petroleum products at low temperatures, which hinders flow and transportation.  This is where pour point depressants (PPDs) play a crucial role.  Designed to enhance oil flow by lowering its pour point, PPDs are an indispensable solution for cold environments.

As a leading pour point depressant manufacturer in India, Imperial Oilfield Chemicals Private Limited specializes in providing high-performance solutions that ensure smooth oil transport even in freezing conditions.  This blog explores the importance of pour point depressants, how they work, and why choosing the right supplier is essential for oilfield operations.

Understanding the Role of Pour Point Depressants

Crude oil contains wax molecules that tend to crystallize when exposed to low temperatures.  These wax crystals form a network, increasing oil viscosity and obstructing its flow.  The pour point is the lowest temperature at which oil remains fluid before becoming solidified.

A pour point depressant modifies the crystallization behavior of wax molecules, preventing them from aggregating into larger clusters.  This ensures the oil remains pumpable even in cold conditions, thereby reducing operational downtime and maintenance costs.

How Do Pour Point Depressants Work?

Pour point depressants act as flow improvers by modifying the size and shape of wax crystals in crude oil.  Their mechanism involves:

Wax Crystal Modification – PPDs interact with paraffin molecules, disrupting their regular structure and preventing the formation of large, interlocking networks.

Dispersion Effect – They disperse wax molecules evenly throughout the oil, reducing their ability to form solid masses.

Lowering Pour Point – By inhibiting the solidification process, PPDs help lower the temperature at which oil remains fluid, improving flowability.

These mechanisms make PPDs indispensable for regions where temperatures plummet, ensuring a seamless oil supply chain.

Benefits of Using Pour Point Depressants

Companies in the oil and gas sector benefit significantly from using pour point depressants, particularly in extreme weather conditions.  Some of the major advantages include:

1.  Improved Oil Flowability

PPDs enhance the flow properties of crude oil and refined products, preventing blockages in pipelines and storage tanks.

2.  Reduced Operational Costs

By preventing wax deposition, PPDs minimize the need for frequent maintenance, reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs.

3.  Enhanced Pipeline Efficiency

Ensuring smooth oil transportation reduces pumping pressure and extends the lifespan of pipelines.

4.  Prevention of Equipment Damage

Cold conditions can lead to the accumulation of wax deposits in pumps, valves, and storage tanks, causing mechanical failures.  PPDs mitigate this risk, ensuring equipment longevity.

5.  Eco-Friendly Solution

Using PPDs reduces the need for thermal heating in pipelines, decreasing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Industries That Benefit from Pour Point Depressants

Several industries rely on pour point depressants to maintain efficiency in cold environments:

Oil & Gas Exploration – Ensuring crude oil remains pumpable during extraction and transportation.

Petroleum Refining – Enhancing the flow of refined products such as diesel and lubricants.

Pipeline Transportation – Reducing blockages and enhancing efficiency in long-distance oil transport.

Fuel Storage & Distribution – Preventing fuel solidification in storage tanks during winter.

Choosing the Right Pour Point Depressant Supplier in India

Selecting a reliable pour point depressant supplier in India is crucial to ensuring the efficiency and performance of your oilfield operations.  Here is why Imperial Oilfield Chemicals Private Limited stands out:

High-Quality Products – As a trusted oilfield chemicals manufacturer and exporter in India, we provide advanced chemical formulations that deliver optimal performance in extreme conditions.

Global Reach – Recognized as a pour point depressant exporter in India, we serve clients worldwide, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted oil flow in different climates.

Customized Solutions – Our team of experts develops tailored solutions to meet the specific requirements of different crude oil compositions.

Commitment to Excellence – As the best oilfield chemicals company in Gujarat, we prioritize quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

Why Choose Imperial Oilfield Chemicals Private Limited?

Being the best oilfield chemical products provider in the world, Imperial Oilfield Chemicals Private Limited is dedicated to delivering superior solutions for the oil and gas industry.  Here is why clients trust us:

State-of-the-Art Manufacturing – Our advanced production facilities ensure high-purity and effective chemical solutions.

Stringent Quality Control – We adhere to international quality standards, ensuring consistency and reliability.

Strong Customer Support – Our dedicated team offers expert guidance to help clients optimize their oilfield operations.

Conclusion

Pour point depressants are a game-changer in ensuring smooth oil flow in cold conditions.  By preventing wax crystallization, they enhance pipeline efficiency, reduce maintenance costs, and improve overall operational efficiency.

As a leading oilfield chemicals exporter Gujarat, Imperial Oilfield Chemicals Private Limited takes pride in offering high-quality pour point depressants that meet global industry standards.  Whether you need a reliable pour point depressant manufacturer in India or a pour point depressant supplier in India, we have the expertise and technology to deliver the best solutions for your oilfield needs.

For more information on our products and services, contact us today!

[thornsent]

I genuinely hate it here it is making my mental health so much worse.

bc I had to get rid of all my furniture when I moved (I was quite literally forced to<3) I still haven't been able to fully unpack and we moved back in july. I can't unpack my art supplies bc now I have nowhere for them to go and I haven't been able to find something to replace what I lost... so making art becomes a very frustrating process. I can't even just go dig through boxes because I had to bring my bike in for the winter so it wouldnt rust so now it's in the closet blocking access to everything and bc it is an ebike it's heavy so it's just. not an option to "just work around it"

I have to keep my curtains closed most of the time because the gas station is loud and bright, so I don't get "real" nights. It was darker when I lived in the city. the machines and maintenance they do on them will keep me up at night. I can't really use my own living room without having a misophonic crisis, because on one side is my neighbor who is an abusive shrieking bitch and on the other side are two old people so I go down there and have to hear my neighbors and yes I have a sound machine but it doesn't help. "wear earplugs" I get blisters inside of my ears if I wear them as often as I would need to. "wear headphones" it gives me migraines. so realistically I'm cooped up in my room with the curtains closed and literally nothing to do but deal with bureacracy, fight not to have my benefits taken away, and stare at a screen.

I can't take a bath because they haven't repaired the tub, and the water is so hard it's given me severe eczema for the first time in my life. I have to buy distilled water and I bathe out of a fucking bucket, guys. My joints hurt and I'm tired and I don't bathe as much as I want or need to because having to do it this way is so fucking exhausting, but if I don't, the eczema immediately worsens and spreads. In october I had painful eczema on my eyelids and sometimes I couldn't fully open my eyes because of the pain. My right hand is being overtaken by it, because I still have to wash my hands with this shitty water.

Also we don't have ANY control over the water temperature, it reaches over 166 degrees and my gf and I have both been scalded many many times but even though the health department measured the temp at 166 they basically went "well just don't turn it up all the way silly!" despite us repeatedly telling them we can't control it the temperature spikes at random

My mental health legitimately has not been this bad and not taken this shape since I was living in my abusive parent's house and I don't know what to even do about it anymore. I don't have the energy to plan to move, I feel constantly sick. Constantly. It's probably the mold exposure, but I had the health department gaslight me about it, gaslight me about our sagging ceiling, just. Completely make me and my partner look fucking crazy. "What mold" they say as if literally the first day we moved in I was not calling to complain about the fact that my apartment was overrun with mold.

[bigoldeels]

asking here bc more people know me irl on twitter and I am very embarrassed but. does anyone know what to do when you have a car you can't afford?

it is paid off but I don't have a regular enough income source to manage maintenance and insurance, the back windshield is broken and needs around $350 in repairs, and I owe hundreds of other dollars in late fees and taxes and overdue paperwork etc and I'm really scared of getting legally penalized over it (my city does do this haha)

even if I could sell it, which I can't because of said out of date paperwork, we don't have good public transit here and the only store I can walk to is a gas station (my partner works full time and I do most of the shopping for food and pet supplies and everything else). like legit I lose sleep over this every night what do I do about it

[i-identify-tanks-in-posts]

Less of an ID here, but what are your thoughts on the AbramsX, both as a platform as whole, and what technologies from it do you think will show up on future upgrades to the Abrams?

Oh boy, the Abrams X tech demo.

AKA: "Oh, so that's what the FCS program was for."

I have a lot of thoughts on the Abrams X, so, if you don't care to read all that, I'll leave a tl;dr at the bottom, in case someone wants to know my opinion without wanting to know why I have that opinion (for some reason.)

The Abrams X incorporates a lot of technology that excites me an awful lot. However, there are three things that stick out the most, so I'm gonna talk about them:

#1. The engine. The Abrams X uses a hybrid diesel engine (designed by Cadillac, if I remember correctly), which is a massive improvement over the current Abrams' gas turbine, which is less fuel efficient than just about every other MBT around. The new engine solves this problem by both switching to a hybrid design, which has greater performance, lesser noise, and lesser fuel consumption.

2. The turret/gun. It's remotely controlled, and miles better than the current m256, being lighter and even further integrated into optics/targeting. While I expect the real next-gen tanks to be equipping larger bore guns (in response to Russia and China looking to up-gun their next-gen MBTs), this Cannon is a fantastic intermediate step, and a great test bed/proof of concept for a remote-operated, auto-loading turret. This also drops the required crew down to 3, which may not seem like a big deal, but actually represents some pretty big stuff.

3. The integration. Ah, the "system of systems", come at last. Full integration to a combat network of drones, CAS fighters, other tanks, and in the future, perhaps fully autonomous ground vehicles. This is the thing that excites me most, as it means a truly massive level of integration and cooperation between every element of a combined arms forces, allowing every part to operate at a greater capacity. I've actually spoken with M1 tankers, and they seem most excited about the new Airplane-style helmets, and the level of coordination and targeting and spotting ability supplied by integrated drones.

However, it's not all sunshine and roses. With any massive leap forward in technology, this introduces a thousand thousand new potential points of failure into the system of every Abrams tank, which can cost lives when it counts. In addition, concerns have been expressed over the lowered crew count, saying that three people is not a reasonable number to expect to service and maintain a tank of the Abrams size out in the field, even with the supposed lower maintenance requirements of the Abrams X. Additionally, the smaller crew size and heavier focus on technology could indicate a shift in American tank ideology, towards the tanks being put out by other geopolitical powers, like China, Russia, and others.

So, to summarize, (here's that TL;DR I was talking about.) I think the Abrams is an incredibly promising test bed that is the culmination of the 1999-2009 Future Combat Systems program, and am excited to see how the technology will develop into the next generation of MBTs. However, I am cautious, as I can see several possible downsides to a lower crew size and a heavier reliance on tech.

[darkmaga-returns]

Here’s a few, brief, cliff notes.

The UK plan is to shut down natural gas and so remove the back up to intermittent “renewables”.

Gas and nuclear rely on turbines rotating at 3,000 rpm to produce 50 cycles – renewables produce direct current – requiring an adjustment to convert to the alternating current used by the grid.

From here:

Gas powered electricity accounts for at leas 50% at all times. The Marxist lunatics want to turn it off by 2030.

Here is a 47-minute video:

Will blackouts come to Britain?

On 8 January 2025, wind provided just 2.5 GW (out of the claimed 17 GW) and imports of electricity from overseas interconnectors could only provide 5.7 GW – demand was for 47 GW.

Loss of load probability was 29% - it is usually zero – meaning power blackouts were possible.

NESO = National Energy System Operator - a quasi-autonomous non-government organisation – QANGO – formed when the Marxist Labour government bought out the grid assets from National Grid plc – with taxpayers money a few months ago.

Demark had to defer maintenance in order to supply 700 MW (not GW) from Demark – thy dd the UK a favour – the Danes were under no compulsion to send the electricity over.

[seeyatellite]

Am I a terrible person for feeling hopeful anticipation about my father’s death instead of fearing it?

I will feel liberated by it. He’s the only thing tying me to the things I feel unsafe and disconnected from. I feel no sense of belonging or joy around boats, cars or sports of any kind. Sure, I love high efficiency vehicles and practical cars like the Prius or sort of cool 4-banger hatchbacks with personality and EVs but that’s not what Dad’s about. He engineered the Dodge Viper; a 500hp monster of a 10-cylinder gas hog.

I’ll no longer be burdened by people wanting to see or be on his boat on Lake St. Clair. I’ll no longer carry the shame of being a disappointment who doesn’t watch hockey, want sports cars or fast fuel burners and pointless 2-seaters with more engine than practicality.

I’ll no longer hear people say, “I can teach you.” when I say I can’t drive a stick… I won’t even have to say it. Dad’s Viper will be gone. So will his 32’ boat and I’ll finally be freed from the lifelong hell which has been the Lake St. Clair lifestyle.

I have never been interested in contributing to the massive amount of carbon emissions or fuel runoff and disgusting chemicals used in boating or muscle cars. I think they can be beautiful and as a photographer and videographer, that can be an amazing quality.

Boaters paint the bottoms of their boats with a paint that’s intended to wear off of dust away into the water. There’s a seasonal repaint ritual and insane amounts of plastic used in shrink wrapping boats every year. The winterizing process is a mess of chemical flushes, plastic bottles and non-aerosol cans of paint and oils. Each trip on the boat costs hundreds of dollars to fill 2 500+ horsepower engines with a hundred gallons of fuel… which I think is accurate… 50 on each side… or 40.

I don’t care about boats yet they’ve been shoved down my throat and I’ve been teased and shamed for wanting to do something else since I was a child.

My favorite “sports car” was the Chrysler Crossfire as a 6-cylinder, somewhat practical car with a decent-size trunk and an automatic transmission requiring no significant maintenance or knowledge I couldn’t pawn off on a trusted mechanic.

The closest thing to pride I could feel about a car is if I made a Prius or EV last a lifetime or until I could afford something even less environmentally destructive. I don’t even like putting down lawn chemicals.

I once tried to “man up” and handle 100% of my father’s yardwork, felt good about the day and even saw a little bird nest with freshly hatched babies chilling in a bush near the porch. I finished the day, felt accomplished and said good night to the birds… apparently the chemicals meant to “kill pests” also poisoned the bird’s food supply because I had to bury them within a few days. This, combined with once chopping off a curious gopher or some tiny hole-loving mammal’s head off with a lawnmower… fuck that. I don’t want a house. I’d rather lived in community housing the rest of my life.

I’m a thick black mark of shame on everything my father is and everything he loves. Why wouldn’t I anticipate the departure of that lifestyle from my life?

I’m not hoping for his death… I just don’t want his life.

Does that make me evil?