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charliemwrites · 3 months ago

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Men At Work - Part 3

I know this has been a little slow to start, but things should progress a little more quickly from here. I wanted to establish some of the groundwork for this weird dynamic they all have but unfortunately, these men don't know the meaning of slow, even in my own head.

No Content Warnings

“How are the repairs going?” you ask.

It’s just Nikto today, returning your Tupperware from dinner the other night. He’s covered head to toe once again, all that’s visible are those glass blue eyes. One way mirrors - hiding everything beneath the surface.

They remind you of… something.

Hmm. When you figure it out, they’re sure to make an appearance in your next novel.

“On track,” he answers in that sharp, staccato way you’re learning is just his way.

Unfortunately for him, that just makes you more curious. You know it’s a bit obnoxious - you’re not entitled to information, you know that. And most of the time you curb the inquiries tapping at the back of your teeth. But he’s in your house, snuggling your traumatized cat. If he’s got a problem answering casual questions, you’re certain he’ll have no problem letting you know.

“You’re redoing the whole thing?”

“Most of it. Foundation is good. The rest - дерьмо.”

You don’t know a lick of Russian, but you can guess.

“Good bones,” you hum in understanding. As if you know anything about construction. “That helps. When do you think it will be done?”

He shifts, sharp eyes flicking between your busy hands, the door, and Rasputin holding him lovingly hostage.

Little guy is currently perched on your shoulder, face buried against your collar in abject despair that his bestest friend hasn’t come to visit. Shithead is poaching (or attempting to, anyway) the sandwiches you’re assembling. So far, she’s only swishing her tail, biding her time. You’re keeping an eye on her.

“Two months. Three if any of us are called.”

You hum, reach for the tomatoes. It’s only because you’re looking at him that you notice the slightest twitch around his eyes. Beneath his mask, you’d bet he’s scrunching his nose.

“No?”

“I will eat.”

You leave the tomatoes off. Guy mews sadly, you tilt your head to press a kiss to his little ear.

“So, two or three months. Krueger said you’ll move in then.”

“Da.”

You top the sandwiches with a final slice of bread and turn to the oven. Spin back just in time to catch Shithead’s paw reaching for Krueger’s designated sandwich. Nikto eyes the plate of brownies in your free hand; you bite the corner of your mouth to keep from grinning.

“What about the yard?”

Nikto tilts his head. If he didn’t give the impression of a particularly large predator, you’d call it cute. As it is, even spiders and snakes endear themselves to you somehow.

“What about yard?”

“Any plans for it?” You sneak an extra brownie onto Nikto’s plate. Reward and apology for wrenching conversation out of him. “Grass? Trees? Flowers?”

He blinks. Just once. Some sort of intuition tells you that even that behavioral tic is a big social step for him.

“No.”

“Oh, uh… gravel then?”

“We mean no plans,” he corrects.

“Oh! Alright, I suppose that’s a long way off anyway. There’s still so much work to do on the inside.”

But it does get you thinking. What even goes into fixing a house? And how do they know all this stuff? The electric, the insulation, the… whatever else goes into a home. Is it just Weird Things they picked up from the military?

You stare contemplatively at the house’s exterior as you walk the plates across the street with Nikto. (Ras is riding on his shoulder and Guy refused to detach his claws from yours. You fear for the state of your home with Shithead left behind, but neither you nor Nikto had a spare hand to wrangle her with.)

Nikto practically kicks the door in, shouting for the others as he goes. Guy chooses that moment to start crying - uncanny sense for appearing pathetic as possible.

Konig must hear him halfway down the stairs, because the steady boot steps get faster after a moment.

“Oh, bubchen! Why are you sad? What has happened?” Konig coos, nearly running to your side.

Of course, now that he’s gotten what he wanted, Guy’s volume lowers. He makes a pleased little “mrow” and slinks off your shoulder and into Konig’s reaching hands. You’d call him a traitor but you’re a damn sucker for a big man with a cute animal.

“You two are ridiculous,” you laugh, setting the plates on the counter.

It’s already been replaced since last you saw it. Black granite, very sleek. You like it. (Which of them installed it? Nikto? You usually catch glimpses of him on the ground floor.)

“He is a baby, Biene,” Konig protests, “he must be treated like one.”

“He’s already five!” You reply, like you don’t have a papoose for when your hands are too full to snuggle him.

“Did I stutter? I do not think so. This is a baby.”

You have to turn away to hide your laughter, pretending that taking the foil off the lunches requires your full attention.

Krueger steps up behind you while you’re not looking. The heat of him is what alerts you, the only reason you don’t jump when his rough voice comes by your head.

“Where is the Shithead.”

“Hello to you too, Krueger. How is your day?”

He grunts and reaches past you, trying to snatch up a brownie. Without a thought, you slap at his hand - balk at the sharp whack sound it makes. He jerks his hand back in shock.

“You deny me my dearest friend and you attack me in my own home.”

You spin on your heel, mouth already open. False start as you realize he’s even closer than you expected. The height difference doesn’t seem like much until you’re eye level with his neck. You untangle your tongue and ignore the smirk growing at the corner of his scarred mouth.

“This is barely a house, never mind a home,” you scoff.

He snorts - that smirk turns to a full blown grin. A little crazed. Unfortunately, that makes it more attractive. (And the bastard probably knows it too.)

“You insult me too, now.”

“Sure, but I brought you food.”

He flicks his eyes to the plate behind you and arches a brow.

“Bring me the little Sheisskerl and I will forgive you.”

You tilt your head to the side. “Go get her yourself.”

What the hell did you just say? Inviting a man into your house unaccompanied?! You may not be a true crime writer, but you know better.

You still don’t take it back.

He locks eyes with you, gives the distinct impression that he knows exactly what you just thought and he’s amused by your obstinance.

“Fine.” He reaches past your hip. Smells like sweat and something that reminds you of heat. Solder? Certainly not anything you’re used to. “Behave, eh? Konig is easy to take advantage of.”

You snort and glance at Konig over his shoulder, who’s glaring now. (Somehow no less intimidating even with Guy nuzzling at his mask.)

As Krueger turns, he takes a big bite of brownie, humming appreciatively under his breath. You shake your head, then turn to Konig.

“If you want to steal one of his sandwiches, I’ll look the other way.”

Konig barks a short, sharp laugh of surprise. It startles you a bit, but not enough to wipe the grin from your face. You know he really means it when he sounds like that.

“How are the bathroom repairs going?” you ask.

“They are going well!” he answers. Then launches into an in-depth explanation of all the ongoing projects. Replacing walls, rewirings, outlet and light installations. What doesn’t go over your head is almost too fast to understand as his accent thickens with excitement. You nod along anyway, because you asked, and he’s stupidly endearing - big muscular man getting a bit squeaky while he rambles about pipes.

He barely even notices Guy’s little paw reaching until it’s shoved into his open mouth. He sputters as you burst into laughter, gently tucking Guy’s arm against his chest.

“Why would you do this?!” he asks, only to receive a slow blink in response.

“He’s saying you need to eat,” you giggle, nudging Konig’s plate.

“Oh, that’s right! Thank you for the lunch!”

Barely a couple bites in and you hear the door open again. Krueger stomps in with Shithead bundled in his arms, one hand under her bottom, the other around her tummy. She’s got her head tilted all the way back to chirp and chitter at him.

“Why are you carrying her like that?” you ask, choking back a giggle.

“It is how she wishes to be carried.”

You blink at her - but sure as shit, she’s perfectly content being held like a child’s toy.

“Well good luck eating like that.”

“You won’t feed me?” he leers.

“I don’t want rabies if you bite me.”

His laughter is even harsher than Konig’s. You like it instantly.

All that’s left is to hear Nikto’s.

Agatha is outside when Nikto walks you back home.

(Krueger huffed that he had too much work to do for the day, but he would see you for dinner. While you were still blinking in shock at his self-invite, Konig transitioned Little Guy back into your arms. All the while grumbling at Krueger’s impatient German.)

She scowls as she notices your two-person parade. Nikto’s juggling Little Guy and Rasputin; you’ve got a firm grip on Shithead and the stack of dirty plates. You snort a bit just thinking of her paranoid comments about them being bad men. Sure, they might be in some ways, but it’s a hard sell when Ras is trying to lick at the edge of the mask around Nikto’s eyes.

“Afternoon, Agatha,” you call, just to be petty.

“When is your fiance coming by again?” she calls back. “Such a lovely young man.”

Your mirth dries up in an instant. “I broke up with my boyfriend four months ago. I thought I told you.”

You did. You know you did. Because she’s a nosy pain in the ass that was asking about your Easter plans with him (trying to invite you to church once again) when you told her that you left him. She’d even fussed about it at the time, saying that there’s hardly anything that can’t be healed with time and understanding.

(It was only your commitment to your own privacy that kept you from asking how much time it takes to smooth over someone cheating with your cousin.)

At your side, Nikto grunts. You glance sideways at him, wondering what he must think.

But his eyes are on Agatha. Even Rasputin has paused the grooming routine to narrow his one eye at her.

“Is this the one that looks in mailbox?” he asks, louder than you’ve ever heard.

Loud enough that she hears. And flushes redder than the poppies in your flowerboxes.

“That’s her husband, actually,” you answer. She sputters, and an incredibly immature bolt of satisfaction suffuses you.

He grunts again. Eyes her up and down. “Maybe we leave surprise for him next time, da?”

You press your lips together, but it does nothing to prevent you from grinning. He’s deadly serious, though, which somehow makes it even funnier to you.

“Maybe!” you reply in a tone that really means absolutely.

Nikto shuts the door on her face before Agath can get out a threat to call the police.

“You’ve got a petty streak,” you say, grinning at him.

He tilts his head. “You like.” He doesn’t even sound sure if it’s a question or a statement.

“Yeah,” you giggle, “I like it.”

He grunts and takes the plates from your hand. “We wash. You think about dinner and revenge. Da?”

You plop yourself onto a stool by the kitchen counter. “Da.”

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Masterlist

#cod #my writing #fanfiction #reader fic #dark fic #men at work fic #neighbor au #nikto cod #cod krueger #cod konig #polyamory

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bonefarm · 2 years ago

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There’s a lot of posts going around by well meaning northerners telling people in the south how to deal with cold but like.. the thing is our houses are not built like yours.

So I’d like to start a thread of stuff that’s actually useful by southerners, for southerners.

-black out curtains or heavy blankets on the windows make a huge amount of difference - but if you can lower your blinds, put a piece of foam board or that reflective roll insulation in the window and then hang black out curtains in front of it that is ideal.

-take your window units out of the window and close the window. TAKE YOUR WINDOW UNITS OUT OF THE WINDOW AND CLOSE THE WINDOW. TAKE 👏 YOUR 👏 WINDOW 👏 UNITS 👏 OUT 👏 OF THE WINDOW 👏 AND 👏 CLOSE 👏 THE 👏 WINDOW 👏

- If you have windows inset into your doors cover them. They’re little baby bitch glass 99% of the time.

- rugs on the wall that faces into the wind if you live somewhere unbearably windy.

- close doors to rooms you aren’t using, hang blankets if you don’t have doors. Pick a room or two you’re going to spend most of your time in and concentrate most of your efforts there.

-if you have a well/pump house you can typically run a little outlet there for about $30 in material from the hardware store and run a little tiny space heater or radiator to keep it from freezing. If you don’t have the electrical know-how to do that it is worth the couple hundred in labor to have someone do it rather than repairing it year after year.

- if you have an RV and it’s not adequately heated please for the love of fuck drain the water heater and turn the water off.

Please feel free to add.

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takami-takami · 1 year ago

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Roost and Repair.

includes— hawks x reader. minors dni. comfort.

warnings— anxiety (could be from anything). keigo taking care of you.

If someone were to ask you what your plans are this Saturday afternoon, you'd internally answer, "rotting away, probably."

Externally, you'd say, "not much, how about you?"

It's a sickening twist of the tongue to utter such falsities; you never did enjoy burying the truth. But you'll be damned if you let the tides of others' perceptions and social regulations singe your exposed nerve endings; like cheap wiring, frayed and alight with the most unpleasant sparks at the utterance of a word or glance your way.

It's a lot easier to simply shut and latch all three locks on your bedroom door instead, to cover your body with the heaviest comforter you can find in order to insulate your raw wiring in at least some capacity.

It's fucking June. You can see the waves of heat eminating from the light of the sun through your open window, hot rays fractured through the glass; yet here you are, bundled up like it's the peak of December.

You would be sweating from the adrenaline regardless, you remind yourself.

You swear to God, if a single soul decides to lift a knuckle against your door, you'd lose what little grasp you have on—

Tap, tap, tap-tap, tap, goes the glass of your window; and it sounds like a lifeline, instead.

Cloaking yourself in your quilt, your bare feet hop off the matress and meet the carpet. You drag the hem of the blanket behind you along the floor as you make your way to unlatch the lock.

"Heyo," Keigo sings, clutching the pane above his head with both hands and swooping in feet first. He lands in your room like he just finished a somersault. Waltzing inside, he pops the joints of his neck as he stretches like a cat.

"Got off patrol early on a Saturday, can you believe it? Flew straight over to see my favorite— oh."

He blinks at you, studying the stiff way you tremble as you look at him; like a sad, wet dog.

"Baby. It's burning up outside," he reminds you, tone taking a stark shift. "Are you sick? You don't look so good."

Gloved palms tap up your arms while he looks you over, removing one glove so he can place the back of his hand against your forehead to check your temperature.

You snort. "Not sick, Kei."

His eyes trail down. Your thumbs are working themselves into a frenzy against your cuticles.

Realization falls over Keigo's face and he mouths a silent oh. His right hand darts down to his coat pocket, pulling out some fidget toys and placing them with reverence in your palm. He closes your hands around it.

"Thank you, Kei," you squeak out, twisting the plastic this and that way, wringing your irritability dry against the faux little outlet instead.

"I gotcha, sweetpea," he says. Two palms, one gloved and one bare, reach out before him to make grabby hands in a silent request; and just as his feathers twitch with hope, you spring forward into Keigo's arms, wrapping your legs snug across the small of his back.

He coos, nuzzling against your neck while he walks you back to bed. Three feathers dart their way past while he walks. One retrieves two bottles of water from the kitchen, another turning on the AC. The third feather pauses in your bedroom, taking care in its selection of the perfect plushie for you to hold on to.

"Don't gotta put up a front around me. I can see right through you," Keigo teases, pulling his head back to poke once at your nose.

You scrunch it in mock offense, sending a jolt right through his beating heart.

"I know I don't," you assert.

"And I know you won't," he answers.

A pause drapes over the room as you reach your bed.

"Anything you need from me, dove," he asks, not bothering to pry your body from his when he sits down.

"Mm. Just you being here s'good... It's awful today, Kei," you explain easily, letting your shoulders down.

Keigo hums. It's a low, empathetic sound that drums against your ears and rumbles within the cavity of your chest. You can practically feel it insulating the exposed wires, can feel his voice soothing the ache with its warm timbre.

Keigo, more than anyone else, knows you don't want to be percieved. You want to be seen.

With a single kiss atop the crown of your head, he sighs in contentment.

He'll always be grateful for the opportunity to protect you.

#kei immediately calling to light when he senses something is wrong. immediately talking about it. immediately going protective mode. wah.#🖋 writing #🍧 sugar #hawks x reader #keigo takami x reader #bnha x reader #bnha imagines #mha x reader #mha imagines

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ifridiot · 1 year ago

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Help a Disabled Trans Man Repair His House

Back in 2020, my sister and I bought a cheap house through a first-time homebuyers grant in Pontiac, MI. I'm so glad we got to do this because our previous living situation was untenable and difficult due to my physical disabilities. Ever since moving in, we've been slowly working to improve the house, because the previous owner took a lot of shortcuts that we've had to spend time and money on fixing.

Some of these have included:

Replacing a broken bathroom window, which used to let in freezing air in the winter and had clear instead of frosted glass.

Replacing all the external doors, which were falling apart and very drafty.

Replacing the roof, which previously leaked and was structurally unsound.

Unfortunately, there is still loads that needs to be done just to make it livable, and while my sister works fulltime, I am visually impaired, physically disabled, and unable to work, so our income is very limited.

Some of the work that still needs doing includes:

Renovating the entire bathroom to make it accessible, to reduce the risk of falls and make it so I can use a shower seat.

Replacing the floors because the loose boards are a constant trip hazard.

Blowing insulation into the loft, so the house is better at retaining heat during the winter and we can reduce our energy bills.

Any money you can donate will seriously improve our living conditions and help ensure a safer, healthier future for the both of us

#mutual aid #trans mutual aid #please boost #fundraiser #go fund me

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seat-safety-switch · 1 year ago

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Great civilizations made their houses out of the things they had lying around. Clay for bricks. Snow for igloos. Glass for nudist colonies. With all the microplastics floating throughout the ether, why can't I make a house out of Bondo®?

Bondo has a lot of benefits: for one, it's easy to sculpt. It provides some decent insulative qualities. Animals can't peck holes in it and live inside, unlike my friend Sylvester Raccoon, who it turns out is actually a kind of wood-pecking bird. You can paint over it in any colour you like. Tools are widely available to sculpt it And, unlike the cars we use it on, it won't rust. In fact, there's really no reason we shouldn't be using it for all of our homes. I'm sort of a futurist, in my rad kind of bluey-white polyester resin home.

Of course, there is the cost issue. Buying just a little can of the stuff will now set you back approximately the GDP of New Mexico (Old Mexico is still somewhat more profitable.) I didn't let this stop me, though, and I knew that the local auto body shop would chuck it into the dumpster out back only a few weeks after its expiry date had passed. I also knew that zapping said Bondo in the microwave for a few minutes would make it pliable again. Sure, doing so also totals the microwave, but that's why Best Buy has a return policy.

Ultimately, the only real downside to the whole thing is the smell. Even when top-coated with the finest Rustoleum Shitbox Gray that I could find at the hardware store, a really hot day will make it smell like I just repaired some rust. And that makes me feel guilty about not having used all this body filler on any number of my sad, hole-filled cars. They can wait until I'm living in them, I figure, which might be any day now, if Sylvester finds his way to shorting out the breaker panel again.

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taanoir · 4 months ago

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Milo's boredom got the best of him. He did a full top to bottom, inside and out remodel of the house in 2028/2029. Aside from Melody's room they hadn't made any real changes since 2013. It was time for a big change. They started by having the siding repaired and repainted. They also had the single pane glass windows replaced with double pained insulating windows. They moved from the slate tile roof to a metal roof, which was supposed to last longer and require less repairs. Some of the rails and gingerbread work that made the house so unique was rotted through. Gene was not happy to see Milo had it replaced with modern rails.

That's not to say the house was devoid of color but it was more grey than Gene was happy with.

Melody's room received another makeover. She was quickly approaching her teens and the pink overload she loved as a little girl had outstayed it's welcome.

Jen finally let Milo give her room a make over.

Gene and Milo's room was as cozy as ever

Milo found a green malachite tile that he adored and designed their bathroom around the tile.

River's room received a make over that would hopefully last to his teens.

Milo even had the basement remodeled

The biggest change was moving their yoga studio out of the attic. Milo had the basement expanded and added a mineral bath and studio.

Milo also gave his paint studio a make over.

Milo was happy with the redesign even if everyone else needed some adjustment.

#ts4 gameplay #historychallenge #childrenofcalisto #gen 10

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randomliverpool · 7 months ago

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A large fire was witnessed by residents of Liverpool Student Lettings accommodation in the early hours on January 27 2024. #LiverpoolEcho

Village of the damned: Inside the Fox Street fire

Special investigation: For years, Matt O'Donoghue was told about major problems at a controversial development in Everton. Then the dire predictions came true. By Matt O’Donoghue.

“Block D is an inferno right now”, the first message reads. “Look what’s been torched.” More follow. “Not sure how other blocks are faring, they’ve been evacuated.” Some have video or photos attached. “Seen this. I feel sick.” One simply reads: “Fox Street’s final chapter.”

Block D at the stalled residential development of Fox Street Village sits on the edge of Everton. It is ablaze, and a lot of people want me to know. As the firefighters battle to hold back the flames that threaten to leap from block to block, frantic calls, dramatic videos, and heartbreaking messages light up my phone screen. Many of those getting in touch are people I met over the past five years I’ve been reporting on the sorry saga of Fox Street Village. They’re all saying the same thing: “It was only a matter of time.”

“Something like this had to happen,” says Chris Burridge, who owns one of the Fox Street Village apartments as he surveys the damage. It’s Sunday, January 28th and the day after the fire. Steel girders are bent and buckled like roller coaster tracks; the metal cools and creaks, and loose material flaps in the wind. “There’s been no decent perimeter fence for some time, even though we’ve been reporting incidents. We were lucky Block B didn’t go up. The flames and heat were ferocious. Mersey Fire saved those buildings.”

Lucky indeed. Fox Street Village was originally intended to be a 400 apartment complex spread across four blocks that were to be four or five stories tall. But Block D was never completed and has remained an unfinished shell for the past five years. The rest of the site, on the other hand, is home to a number of residents. Had the fire spread there, it would have been catastrophic. Letting agents are on-site to support tenants and help with the clean up, while insurance brokers and risk assessors mill about around them. Lifts, heating, and water are soon back on. Black debris litters the ground and the flat roofs of the adjacent blocks, while clumps of burnt insulation and wood continue to drift from above.

A team from Residence 365, the company that manages the Village’s interior communal areas, is helping to get residents back into their homes. “Unfortunately, as the fire started to take hold, many residents in Block A failed to evacuate,” says Carolyn Delaney, Residence 365’s managing director. “Police had to force their way into every apartment to make sure that building was clear and everyone was safe. Those doors and frames will have to be repaired.”

Outside, Block B’s walls and windows are warped from where it faced the fire. The cladding is buckled and wavy, like bad icing on an overbaked cake. Most of the glass is cracked and broken, and window frames have bowed out of shape. The fire breaks under the cladding will have activated and expanded. There will need to be a lot of work to put things right.

“The grounds and estate management company are nowhere”, says an exasperated Burridge. The last he was told, a company called Xenia Estates Limited were responsible for looking after the outside areas. “It’s outrageous. They’ve sent nobody down here to help or make things safe.”

Kevin Robertson-Hale is a local campaigner who set up the action group Everton Together. He was shopping at the ASDA on the Breck Road when he first saw the black clouds rising above his community. He knew straight away what was likely to be burning. “It’s just a miracle that nobody’s been hurt,” he says. Although Block D was not a finished building, homeless people have been sleeping there and using it as a shelter. “The way the place went up, someone asleep would never have got out.” Kevin is horrified by what has happened, but certainly not surprised. “We’ve been saying for years that something was going to happen. Either someone was going to fall off and break their neck, or it was going to go up in flames.”

Beneath the debris and behind the spectacular videos, the plumes of smoke billowing out and up from the bare bones of blazing Block D, are hundreds of stories of loss and despair. To properly understand what went wrong at Fox Street Village, to learn why things must be fixed, we have to understand why they were broken in the first place.

Between 1971 and 1991, Everton’s population dropped by 60% as the area’s fortunes and prospects charted exactly the decline of the British Empire. As Liverpool’s docks fell silent, the huge warehouses and the factories like Tate and Lyle and British American Tobacco were closed. Thousands of jobs disappeared and the communities that once relied upon those goods shipped from all corners of the Empire ceased to exist. An urgent need to improve the area’s housing conditions, the crumbling Victorian tenements, led to slum clearance and demolition on a massive scale. Those once solid communities were broken up with families moved out and housed in places like Kirby, Runcorn and Skelmersdale. It was the perfect storm; shops closed, tower blocks were pulled down and the city’s terminal decline was hastened by Margaret Thatcher’s vicious attempts to starve the upstart council controlled by Hatton’s Militant Tendency into surrender.

Fox Street Village followed the same controversial funding model that has dogged similar schemes across the city, known as ‘fractional sales’. Buyers — many based overseas — are enticed with the promise of a good rent and a solid investment in return for paying a large part of the sale price upfront. But as countless investors at other stalled sites in Liverpool have discovered to their detriment, there’s little or no protection should things go wrong.

When Fox Street Village Limited collapsed into administration, in 2019, it owed creditors £10 million and the city council nearly £700,000. The council told us that an invoice for over half a million pounds remains unpaid but that the building’s new owners will have to pick up that tab. Meanwhile, £6 million that investors had paid out for Block D was instead spent on a new fifth building the developers had added to their scheme. A search of records show creditors who had paid for apartments in Block D came from Birkenhead to Beijing and all points in between. With no money left to complete the job, and no cash to settle their bills, the steel frame and internal walls made of wood have remained open to the elements. The freehold to the site was sold to Manchester-based property investment company SGL1 Limited in 2020 for a reported £1.6 million. The site was split and a separate company run by the same two directors as SGL1 but called SGL3, took over the unfinished Block D. A series of complex court cases followed as buyers battled to gain control and finish the scheme. By 2021, the architect’s original drawings for Block D had been rebranded as “Park View” to be marketed at a new group of buyers. A one bed studio in the unfinished wood and steel shell was being advertised for £85,000. The Post is unsure how many people bought into this new scheme or whether their money is protected.

“I bought a three-bedroom apartment that cost £135,000, which was a really good deal. With hindsight, almost too good to be true. I’ve been firefighting one problem after another since day one.” November 8th, 2023 and I am rattling along the M62 with Chris Burridge. “It doesn’t look that good,” Chris says with detached stoicism and monumental understatement as Fox Street Village Block D comes into view. “It would be funny, if it wasn’t so costly and dangerous.” Chris is one of the apartment owners who have been battling over an £80,000 bill to install a transformer that would safely reconnect their electricity to the grid. The builders left a hot-wired connection into the mains, which Chris says the buyers only found out about after they’d secured the right to manage some of the site. It was just the latest in a long line of hidden surprises that have revealed themselves over the five years since tenants moved in. “The biggest block, Block D, is just a shell that should have been finished years ago,” Chris tells me as we pull up alongside what looks like a building entirely made of wood and wrapped in tin foil. “There should have been one large, shared entrance area, an underground car park for 170 vehicles, shops, a cinema room with communal laundry, and a bike store. All of those amenities were what made this site so attractive.”

Chris pauses to re-imagine what could have been, before reality kicks back in. “None of that exists. What we’ve actually got are great apartments next to the rat-infested fire trap of a mess that is Block D.”

By Matt O’Donoghue

Chris Burridge on Fox Street. Photo: Matt O’Donoghue.

The building on Fox Street. Photo: Chris Burridge

Stand on the edge of Fox Street today and look towards the gleaming glass skyscrapers and modern penthouses and it’s obvious, the regeneration that has breathed new life into other parts of Liverpool in recent years seems to run out of steam as it creeps towards this area’s streets. According to the last census, Everton West — where Fox Street Village sits — has the third highest numbers of children on free school meals. This neighbourhood has some of the poorest health indicators, including the lowest life expectancy, across the whole of the city.

As Liverpool’s reputation grew as a great place to study, the last decade has seen residential housing for the influx of students become the city’s short-term planning solution and a way to kickstart Everton’s economy.

Residents in this area have been complaining to me about the rats for as long as I’ve been investigating Fox Street Village. Back in April 2019, I broke my first story on the slow-motion car crash that has taken place here — months of work as part of an ongoing investigation for ITV’s Granada Reports. Back then, tenant Ross Lowey told me on camera: “We don’t feel safe. Every time we come back round that corner, we expect to see flames coming out of it.” He was far from alone in his unhappy prophecy.

Six months before that first ITV News report, in November 2018, I had been on a separate investigation into how developers duck out of paying the millions they owed to their cash-strapped council. It suddenly took an unexpected twist. While I ploughed through a mountain of conflicting planning documents that link to this case, a buyer tipped me off that their building was about to be the first on Merseyside to be shut down and issued with a Prohibition Notice. It was the last-ditch resort for a city council that had run out of ideas on how to make this site safe. “Serious construction issues will contribute to the spread of fire,” the Prohibition Notice reads. “Fire will spread quickly and possibly unnoticed.”

Put simply, the problems that the buyers had uncovered at their completed flats were so severe that they put lives at risk. While Block D remained unfinished, three of the four blocks that people had already moved into were so dangerous that everyone would be forced to move out — immediately. Judge Lloyd would later brand the project “disgraceful” as she fined the developers £3,120 for breaching planning conditions. She expressed sympathy for the residents and investors who had been affected. Planning inspectors said the development was “poorly finished” and failed to meet standards. Those problems have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to put right.

By Matt O’Donoghue

Chris Burridge on Fox Street. Photo: Matt O’Donoghue.

The building on Fox Street. Photo: Chris Burridge

Fox Street after the fire. Photo: Chris Burridge

The author Matt O’Donoghue on ITV. Photo: ITC/IMDb.

The council say that it was only after the buildings were largely constructed that it became apparent there was a failure to comply with conditions or the plans that had been passed. When the new owners submitted another application to make up for the missing car park, a fresh deal was struck for them to pay towards a cycle route and parking scheme. But planning approval was refused when no money was forthcoming.

Two companies were involved in the development of Fox Street Village: Linmari Construction Limited and Fox Street Village Limited. Both were run by company director, Gary Howard. In 2013, Howard was left as the sole director of Fox Street Student Halls Limited after his business partner, Lee Carroll, was forced to step down. Carroll had been found guilty of being a gang master under legislation brought in to tackle labour exploitation after an investigation into a recruitment company that Carroll ran with John Howard. Carroll was banned from being a company director for 12 years.

While nothing should be inferred from Gary Howard’s previous business history, six companies where he was a director and shareholder have a County Court Judgement against them. Just like Fox Street Village Limited, seven firms that Howard also once helped run have gone into administration owing money to creditors — two of which were also residential developments in Liverpool designed for student living. We’ve been unable to contact Mr Howard for a comment.

“The frameworks that are supposed to deliver safe buildings, protect their owners and keep those inside safe are not up to the job,” says Dr Len Gibbs, whose doctoral thesis focused on the problems with unfinished developments in the Liverpool area.

That regulatory framework — to get a building through from an architect’s drawings to the point of being occupied — can be roughly broken down into two stages: planning and building control. The first part is strictly controlled by rules and regulations that must be met and followed to the letter. A council department controls the planning process, and everything has to be approved by a committee after a rigorous assessment by trained officers. Once it passes and everybody agrees that the buildings are what the council and community needs, the proposals are said to have ‘gained consent’.

When developers have their planning consent, a building control team comes on board to oversee every step of the construction. Site inspectors visit to approve stages such as the foundations and drains, and the relevant paperwork is filed with the city council to confirm everything has progressed according to the plans that were submitted and in accordance with the required regulations. In theory, these two functions operate independently but in support of one another to deliver a building that doesn’t kill the people who move in.

That’s something of a simplification, but these are incredibly complex areas that require years of training to properly understand. Only when every step has been followed can a completion certificate be issued against the building and each individual apartment. These final pieces of paper confirm that everything is up to standard and legally ready for tenants to move in. If all these steps are followed correctly, then a development of buildings that were once judged to be a threat to the lives of residents should never be occupied. Yet they were occupied.

#liverpoolstudentlettings #Liverpool student letting #2024 #fire #Liverpool echo #fox street studios #video #viralpost #liverpool #student #Liverpool students #January 2024 #blaze #merseyside #Fox Street Village #Matt O'Donoghue #itv

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lost-technology · 1 year ago

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Wired A very old, massive acrylic painting on watercolor paper that I did ages ago. Based mainly on the '98 anime, although I may have had some manga-reference. I think I did it in like, 2008? Somewhere around then. It's supposed to be Rem doing ship-repairs. [IMG ID: A young, pale-complexioned woman with long black hair and brown eyes and wearing a teal and white space-suit with gold trim sits on a metallic platform surrounded by computer parts and pipes. There is a rusty "42" on a background panel and a tiny white mouse in the corner. There are insulated wires and cables everywhere. /END IMG ID] I remember scanning this in pieces and having to meld the sections. The actual piece is huge and is in a glass frame stuck in my closet because I don't have a place to hang it.

#trigun #trigun maximum #rem saverem #acrylic painting #acrylic on watercolor #science fiction art #my old art #my partner once commented that she looked like she was sitting on the toilet #and I could never take my own painting seriously after that #I'm sorry rem #sometimes you do look like you're sitting on the can when you're doing involved work #I was in a hitchiker's guide to the galaxy phase at the time #hence 42

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diamondcertified · 1 year ago

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Window Repair services provided by top rated Diamond Certified Companies listed at https://www.diamondcertified.org/category/windows/ca/alameda/

#window replacement #window repair #window screen replacement #window installation #window screen repair #window glass repair #window pane replacement #window seal repair #replacement windows #window awnings #velux skylights #window insulation

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windriverviewcampground · 3 months ago

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Sustainable RV Travel: Eco-Friendly Tips for Visiting Boulder, WY

Welcome to Wind River View Campground, your ideal base for eco-friendly adventures in the heart of Boulder, Wyoming. Nestled by the picturesque Fremont Lake, our campground offers a range of accommodations from full hookup RV sites to unique renovated sheep wagon camps. As you prepare for your stay, embracing sustainable RV travel not only enhances your experience but also helps preserve the stunning landscapes of Wyoming for future generations. Here are some practical tips for maintaining an eco-friendly lifestyle while enjoying the natural beauty around Boulder.

1. Choose Sustainable RV Parks

When selecting long-term RV parks in Wyoming, opt for those with strong environmental practices. At Wind River View Campground, we are committed to sustainability and minimizing our ecological footprint. Look for parks that offer:

Recycling Programs: Ensure the park has facilities for recycling common waste materials like paper, plastics, and glass.

Energy-Efficient Facilities: Choose parks with energy-efficient lighting and water-saving fixtures.

Waste Management: Parks should have clear waste disposal guidelines and provide options for composting organic waste.

2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

The principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling can greatly impact your RV travel experience:

Reduce: Minimize waste by bringing only what you need. Avoid single-use plastics and opt for reusable items like water bottles, shopping bags, and utensils.

Reuse: Invest in durable products that can be used repeatedly. For example, reusable containers and cloth napkins can replace disposable options.

Recycle: Sort your waste into appropriate recycling bins provided by the campground or local facilities.

3. Conserve Energy

Energy conservation is crucial when traveling in an RV. Here are some tips to keep your energy consumption in check:

Use Solar Power: Equip your RV with solar panels to harness renewable energy. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels and can help power your appliances while minimizing your impact on the grid.

Turn Off Lights and Appliances: When not in use, switch off lights, appliances, and electronics. Utilize LED bulbs for energy efficiency.

Optimize Your Air Conditioning and Heating: Use fans and ventilation to reduce the need for air conditioning. When heating, ensure your RV is well-insulated to maintain warmth efficiently.

4. Practice Water Conservation

Conserving water is essential in maintaining the health of natural ecosystems and ensuring a sustainable future. Follow these practices:

Shorten Showers: Limit shower time and consider installing a low-flow showerhead in your RV to reduce water usage.

Fix Leaks: Regularly check for and repair any leaks in your RV’s plumbing system to avoid water waste.

Use Water-Efficient Fixtures: Equip your RV with water-saving fixtures and appliances to minimize consumption.

5. Respect Wildlife and Natural Habitats

While exploring the natural wonders around Boulder, it’s vital to respect the wildlife and their habitats:

Follow Trail Guidelines: Stick to designated trails to prevent habitat destruction and minimize your impact on local flora and fauna.

Keep a Safe Distance: Observe wildlife from a distance to avoid disturbing them. Use binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens for a closer look.

Leave No Trace: Pack out all trash and follow the Leave No Trace principles to ensure you leave the environment as you found it.

6. Support Local and Sustainable Businesses

Enhance your eco-friendly travel experience by supporting local businesses that prioritize sustainability:

Local Farmers and Markets: Shop at farmers' markets and local stores for fresh produce and artisanal goods. This supports the local economy and reduces the carbon footprint associated with long-distance food transport.

Eco-Friendly Eateries: Dine at restaurants that practice sustainable sourcing and waste reduction. Many local eateries in towns like Pinedale and Jackson Hole emphasize environmental responsibility.

7. Engage in Eco-Friendly Activities

Make the most of your stay at Wind River View Campground by engaging in activities that align with sustainable travel practices:

Hiking and Biking: Explore the trails around Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park on foot or by bike. These low-impact activities allow you to enjoy the scenery without contributing to pollution.

Fishing and Boating: When enjoying Fremont Lake, follow regulations and guidelines for sustainable fishing and boating. Use environmentally friendly products and avoid disrupting aquatic ecosystems.

Wildlife Observation: Participate in wildlife observation tours that emphasize conservation and responsible viewing practices.

8. Educate and Inspire Others

Share your commitment to sustainable travel with fellow campers and travelers. By raising awareness and setting an example, you can inspire others to adopt eco-friendly practices:

Share Tips and Experiences: Discuss your sustainable travel practices with others and offer tips for reducing environmental impact.

Promote Sustainable Parks: Advocate for parks and campgrounds that prioritize sustainability and encourage friends and family to choose eco-friendly options.

Conclusion

At Wind River View Campground, we are dedicated to providing an exceptional experience while preserving the natural beauty of Boulder, Wyoming. By adopting these sustainable RV travel tips, you can contribute to the protection of our environment and enhance your overall travel experience. From reducing waste and conserving energy to supporting local businesses and respecting wildlife, every small action counts towards a more sustainable future. We look forward to welcoming you to our campground and helping you explore the breathtaking landscapes of Wyoming in an eco-friendly way. Safe travels and happy camping!

#camping #campground #rv #rvlife #travel

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spiritshaydra · 2 years ago

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Made a collection of simple headshots of the major “eras” of Quantum’s character! :} First off we got Prewar (pink) which was when she was under the “employ” of a high caste seeker named Jetset. She wasn’t allowed to have any control over her appearance, and Jetset liked having her accessories being color coordinated… She didn’t have a name of her own, and generally had no freedom over herself, with her slowly taking control of that as things led up to her joining the Decepticons. (First body modification was to insulate the interior of her armor plating, to muffle sound. This made sneaking away easier.) Upon joining the ‘cons, she named herself, destroyed her paintjob, and tore off parts of her plating.

Next is “Hellfire” which was during the war off of Cybertron. Here Quantum had showed enough competence and success as a weapons designer, that she was then allowed to be in charge of her own weapon production plant. This plant was called Hadal Station, and it was located on a molten planet that rained glass. It had a strong barrier to protect itself from the weather, with the weather providing natural protection from any Autobots who wanted to infiltrate the structure. Due to the storms, arrivals and departures had to be timed or else you’d be stuck within the station’s walls until the next clearance. Or you could brave the weather which was known to rip ships to shreds. This particular frame was Quantum’s most monstrous appearance, with it being probably the most intimidating and largest out of her frames over the years. It quite fittingly looked like a beast that had crawled out of the depths of hell, with a color scheme like molten lava, and piercing ice blue optics. The station was eventually destroyed when a team of Autobots were able to time their infiltration with the weather- Quantum toying with them as they tried to steal blueprints. A few survivors had made it to her control room where they thought they had the upper hand finally… Only for her to initiate a self destruct sequence, give them an adieu, and escape with backups of her projects’ schematics.

Finally,, the present day Quantumsnnd (purble) This is Quantum’s Earth appearance with her having a workshop hidden on the planet’s surface. (In an abandoned warehouse in some deep woods in Texas.) She had made a name for herself to the locals in a nearby town as a cryptid, dubbed “The Devil of Whitetail Pointe”. She finds this very amusing and likes to take pictures with cryptid posters while disguised. Whenever she’s not working on weapons of mass destruction and generally being a menace towards any bot unlucky to be graced with her presence, she likes to spend her time collecting various doodads to decorate her workshop with, ranging from stolen license plates, pieces of glass and other garbage turned into sun catchers to hang from the ceiling near the warehouse’s windows, various human tech, and whatever else she’s either stolen or dug out of a dumpster under the cover of darkness. She has a very large array of speakers, and tends to blast the worst music imaginable. (“OHOHOHO WHY ITS CALLED PRIMUS, MY DEAR COMMANDER! ::}”) She also tends to…. “Recycle” various parts she can recover from battlefields… eeehhhhh. Quantum generally doesn’t interact with the Nemesis crew often as (they find her absolutely obnoxious, but too good at her job to get rid of) she doesn’t really like “the drama” onboard the ship- with her only interactions being weapon drop offs, taking new orders, being given junk to repair- mostly turret systems that got shot at, and progress updates done remotely. Had the pleasure of explaining what a hurricane was during one of them as she was trying to keep her roof from leaking during the call. She has absolutely NO intentions on ever returning to Cybertron, and this is probably the most content with life she’s ever been despite… everything.

#Tfp #maccadams #maccadam #transformers oc #tfp oc #transformers prime #Oc #original character #character design #fan character #fan art #mecha oc #mecha design #mecha #decepticon oc #decepticon #digital art #procreate #procreate art

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awellboiledicicle · 1 year ago

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A good mental image from the subgate au is Astarion getting followed around by a cuddlefish.

Out repairing the hull? Hi.

Out getting creepvine clusters and samples? Hiiii.

Fishing? Prrrrp.

Relaxing by a view port bc he can handle sun easier under several feet of water? Mrrp. Taps glass. Prrpt.

Trying to sleep? It's at the window. It wants pets and treats.

Tav hatched the thing and he made the mistake of feeding it 1 time. Now he has a fish son that takes a million years to eat a Peeper bc it tries to share with him.

"You don't have to feed it"

"My dear if I do not hand feed this urchin, he will starve"

"He literally hunts when you sleep, that's why hes pudgy"

"... he needs that fat for insulation."

"You're attached c:"

"How dare you"

#subgate au

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nnglazing · 8 months ago

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Door Replacement: Enhancing Your Home's Security and Style

Are your doors looking a little worse for wear? Maybe they're drafty, outdated, or just not functioning as they should. Whatever the reason, replacing your doors can breathe new life into your home. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about door replacement. From enhancing security to boosting curb appeal, we've got you covered.

Importance of Door Replacement

Your doors are more than just entryways; they're the first impression visitors have of your home. Beyond aesthetics, doors play a crucial role in security and energy efficiency. By investing in door replacement, you can improve both the look and functionality of your home.

Signs That It's Time for Replacement

Difficulty Opening or Closing: If your doors are sticking or jamming, it could be a sign of structural issues that require replacement.

Visible Damage: Cracks, dents, or warping not only detract from your home's appearance but also compromise security and insulation.

Drafts or Energy Loss: Leaky seals and poor insulation around doors can lead to energy inefficiency and higher utility bills.

Choosing the Right Door Material

When selecting a new door, it's essential to consider durability, maintenance, and aesthetics. Common materials include wood, fiberglass, and steel. Each has its advantages and can significantly impact the overall look and feel of your home.

Understanding Door Styles

From classic to contemporary, there's a door style to suit every taste and architectural design. Whether you prefer traditional panel doors or sleek modern designs, understanding the various styles available can help you make the perfect choice for your home.

DIY vs. Professional Installation

While some homeowners may opt for a DIY approach to door replacement, professional installation offers several advantages. Experienced installers ensure proper fitment, sealant application, and hardware installation, minimizing the risk of issues down the road.

Enhancing Security with Modern Features

Today's doors come equipped with advanced security features, such as reinforced frames, multi-point locking systems, and impact-resistant glass. Investing in these upgrades can provide peace of mind knowing your home is protected against intruders.

Maximizing Energy Efficiency

Energy-efficient doors are designed to minimize heat transfer, keeping your home comfortable year-round while reducing energy consumption. Look for ENERGY STAR® certified doors with features like double or triple glazing and thermal breaks for optimal insulation.

Boosting Curb Appeal

Your front door is a focal point of your home's exterior, making it an essential element of curb appeal. Choose a door style and finish that complements your home's architecture and personal aesthetic to create a welcoming entrance that sets the tone for your entire property.

Maintaining Your New Doors

Proper maintenance is key to prolonging the lifespan of your new doors. Regular cleaning, lubricating hinges and hardware, and inspecting for signs of wear or damage can help prevent costly repairs and ensure your doors continue to function flawlessly for years to come.

Cost Considerations

The cost of door replacement can vary depending on factors such as material, style, size, and installation method. While it's tempting to opt for the lowest price, investing in quality doors and professional installation can yield long-term savings through improved energy efficiency and durability.

FAQs about Door Replacement

Q: How long does it take to replace a door?

A: The timeframe for door replacement can vary depending on factors such as complexity, material, and whether professional installation is involved.

Q: Do I need planning permission to replace my door?

A: In most cases, replacing a door within the existing frame does not require planning permission. However, if you're making significant alterations or live in a designated conservation area, it's best to check with your local authorities.

Q: Can I install a new door myself?

A: While DIY installation is possible for those with the necessary skills and tools, professional installation is recommended for optimal fitment and performance.

Q: What is the average lifespan of a door?

A: The lifespan of a door depends on factors such as material, usage, and maintenance. Quality doors can last upwards of 20 years or more with proper care.

Q: Are there any eco-friendly door options available?

A: Yes, many manufacturers offer eco-friendly door options made from sustainable materials and featuring energy-efficient designs to minimize environmental impact.

Conclusion

In conclusion, door replacement is a worthwhile investment that can enhance your home's security, energy efficiency, and curb appeal. By understanding the importance of quality doors, selecting the right materials and styles, and prioritizing professional installation and maintenance, you can enjoy a more comfortable, stylish, and secure living environment for years to come. Don't wait until your doors are beyond repair; upgrade today for a brighter tomorrow!

#door replacement

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wufflesvetinari · 1 year ago

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i need to convince myself i'm making SOME progress with this godforsaken short story so i'm going to post a bit of the draft here. just to say it exists, three friggin weeks later

Red smoke like a sunrise, the air of this strange planet choked in the soot of our victory. The battlefield bright with mech debris: fertilizer drones commandeered from our home colony, reprogrammed, weaponized. Sent with us in the forward dropships; keyed to our command.

We would not have bombs, otherwise. We would not have poison.

We are farmers. We are a gentle people.

Our organic-glass tubing spreads like strawberry runners over the scorched alien terrain, its density determined by algorithm. At home, this latticework would have delivered nutrients and treated the soil. It would have brought life to barren ground, a resource available to all by sacred human right. Enshrined in our charter and constitution: life. The right to it.

But the dose makes the poison. My new compound spreads quickly; contaminates enemy soil.

Some of us have fallen. Our exosuits, designed for solar satellite repair work, apply coagulant and brace bones. Our respirators, meant for deep-sea environmental preservation missions, work to filter out the blight we’ve brought. In this way our fragile psyches are insulated from the shocking scent of death.

But not the topography of it. Not its shape.

We’ve pulled the enemy out by the root. The General told us we didn’t have a choice. They’d tortured our ambassador, destroyed our lunar seed vaults, attempted a blockade. They were coming for us. We had to.

We had to.

The General strides across ruined plains, his body like a scar against the sun. A sharp and sudden light reflects from some piece of him: his exo, his command glove, the clasp of his cape. The light of him drives straight through me.

He is a colossus. He saved us. He needs me and he saved us and I want to go to him, but I can’t even stand.

Smoke plumes rise like distant grain silos. I vomit into my respirator, trapped with the scent of myself; the scum. I fade.

“Can I ask what you’re making, sir?” Lieutenant █████ asks, sitting in the patient bed next to mine. Since the surgeons woke her an hour ago, she’s done nothing but yank on her fingers like she wants them removed: first the right hand, then the left.

“A gown for a newborn,” I croak past a damaged throat. “My wife’s in the third trimester back home.”

“Oh. Is this your first?”

“The first I haven’t carried myself.” I wrap homespun wool around my hook, offered by our neighbors in exchange for my help reprogramming their fertilizer lattice during the last dry season. I brought skeins of it with me in the forward fleet; an entire basket in my quarters. “I owe my older boys new sweaters. They need clothes whether there’s a war on or not.”

█████ giggles, a little manic, as though I’ve told a joke.

Her hemp bag boasts the emblem of the Weather Shaper’s Syndicate: a civilian expertise that earned her a hasty officer rank in my Specialist Corps. Her leg ends just above the knee, but she’ll be fitted with a biosynth soon. The doctors probably completed a full vitamin rebalance when she was under. Probably countered a genetic susceptibility or two, just because they could.

“At least there isn’t anymore,” she says. When I look at her, she clarifies: “A war. We ended it? Just now? Or at least once the talks end.”

When I give her no answer, she goes back to pulling at her fingers. Her sunken eyes dart from my bandaged ribs to the baby’s sleeve taking form under my hands.

The medi-ship’s plant wall generates a cocktail of pristine air and corticosteroids. Beneath us, the wreckage of a planet turns.

She tries again: “It—it was terrible. As inhuman as they tell you in the ethics practicums as a kid, like something out of the old world. I saw—but the General said it was worth it. To protect everyone. Back home?”

Her gaze asks for my authority as a substitute for forgiveness. She looks very young, and I become very angry.

“What was worth it?” I say it calmly. I don’t know why I say it at all.

“I…the General said—”

“Which part do you mean? Specifically.”

Her smile trembles; she presses the button for pain reliever. She doesn’t fully understand it yet, the scale of what we’ve done, but her body feels it like a fever.

I make my voice bright and effusive. “No need to be so modest. Your team did well punching holes in their ionosphere. Between that and the typhoon seeding, how many did you take down before the dropships even landed?”

“Sir?”

“Let’s talk in planetary percentages. Let’s talk in long-term damage.”

Our founding charter, the General’s steel voice says in my head—like he’d said to the Colony Council, two years ago—allows for militia muster in self-defense. It allows for the ethical deployment of minimum effective force. If you grant me the authority—

I smell my own vomit again, its own kind of ghost.

“Sir—Commander ██████,” the weather shaper says faintly. “I carried out your orders.”

“You did.” I rip back a row to fix a dropped stitch. My sheets are hand-sown and clean. “You’re right. He’s right. We had to protect ourselves.”

A gift box looms at the foot of my bed. It had taken me some hours to work up the courage to open it. Inside sits a bottle of wine from my home syndicate—the General knows I like good wine—and some kind of complicated artisan decanter, constructed as a tangle of glass roots as tall as my forearm.

The decanter leans by design, like a lurching soldier. It casts sharp-twisted shadows. It traps the light.

Swift recovery, my friend, the letter says, his cursive a series of slashes across the page. My heart races like a north-rabbit in flight. Like lying in the melting snow of a battlefield, watching his presence eat up the horizon like an Alexander of our own making. Like the line between love and fear.

I ask a nurse to decant the wine for his team as my thanks. The liquid works through branching blown-glass roots. A maze of red, like the fertilizer lattice I programmed to poison a hundred thousand miles of enemy farmland. Like strawberry runners.

I do not want the decanter.

Its complex and scarless surface speaks to the work of a master artisan. At home I would have had to trade a lattice designed from scratch in return for a product so fine. But people—people who meet him, understand him—give the General things for free.

I visit the General’s quarters on the Plethora, my ribs still aching, planning to explain that my dogs would just knock his gift from its shelf. That my boys play rowdy. That the house my great-grandfather built in the first days of the Colony is small, each space designed for function (solar power and a heat pump and green-growing walls). The better to keep to the Charter; give back to the land.

Instead, I stand at his doorway and fail to knock. I’ve found I can’t picture his face anymore, not outside of that one half-conscious moment: the battlefield, the hard red horizon.

A superimposition of my other memories. An invasion.

The door slides open and I jump. His shadow swallows mine. His massive shoulders fill the doorway.

He looks at me and I’m wrung out clean, a piece of fabric on the line. His eyes are deepest green.

“██████,” he greets me softly, and invites me in.

#it's about uhhhh. the slippery state of utopia and also sort of about season one of st:disco lmao #i am thinking of breaking the first scene into bits and seeding it through the second #working title is 'strange decanter'#my writing

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dariyasite · 11 months ago

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Application of bitumen in building

Bitumen has numerous applications in the construction industry, primarily serving as an adhesive and waterproofing material. Its versatile properties make it indispensable in various building-related functions. Here are some key applications of bitumen in construction:

1. Roofing and Waterproofing:

Bitumen 60/70 is extensively used in roofing systems to provide waterproof membranes for flat roofs. Traditional bitumen roofing membranes consist of layers of bitumen sprayed with aggregate, with a carrier fabric made of polyester or glass in between. Polymer-modified bitumen sheets have become the standard for flat roof waterproofing. Bituminous roofing membranes can also be recycled easily, enhancing their sustainability.

2. Wall Sealing:

Bitumen 60/70 plays a crucial role in sealing walls, providing protection against water and moisture intrusion. It is applied to substrates such as bathrooms and toilets, which are constantly exposed to moisture, to prevent water penetration and safeguard the underlying structures.

3. Floor and Wall Insulation:

Bitumen 80/100 insulation is widely employed for building waterproofing, both horizontally and vertically. It effectively prevents water penetration into floorboards and walls, offering reliable protection. Bitumen's chemical and physical properties make it easy to work with and highly durable.

4. Sound Insulation:

Bitumen's sound-absorbing properties find applications beyond construction. It helps reduce noise transmission, such as the sound of footsteps under floor coverings. Special tar mats in cars and elevators utilize Bitumen 80/100 for sound insulation.

5. Electrical Cable Insulation:

Bitumen's low electrical conductivity makes it suitable for use as an insulating material for electrical cables. It helps protect the cables and prevent electrical hazards.

6. Other Uses:

Bitumen 80/100 & bitumen 60/70 finds application in various other areas, such as the paper industry and the manufacturing of paints and varnishes. Its thermal insulation properties are beneficial in different contexts.

From an ecological standpoint, bitumen is highly regarded for its long lifespan. It remains a popular construction material, with significant demand both domestically and in international markets. The producer of bitumen in Iran exports a large percentage of its production to other countries such as Singapore, Dubai, Panama.

In residential construction, plastic-modified bitumen (KMB) coatings are commonly used for insulation. They compete with bitumen-free FPD (Flexible Polymer Disc) seals, which are easier to apply and offer faster repair options.

Overall, the applications of bitumen in the construction industry are extensive, ranging from roofing and waterproofing to sound insulation and electrical cable insulation. Its versatility and durability make it a valuable material in various building-related functions.

Important Considerations Before Using Bitumen:

1. Surface Preparation:

Before applying bitumen, it is crucial to ensure that the surface is clean, dry, and free from any contaminants. Even the presence of dust, dirt, or grease can hinder the adhesion of the bitumen coating and compromise the effectiveness of the seal. Additionally, the surface should be free from frost. If there are old incompatible coatings, they must be removed. In the case of older buildings, previous applications of bituminous paints may not provide a suitable surface for polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) coatings.

2. Repairing Cracks and Unevenness:

Prior to applying bitumen, any cracks or unevenness on the surface should be repaired using appropriate materials like repair mortar or leveling compounds. This ensures a smooth and uniform surface, promoting better adhesion and a more effective seal.

3. Additional Preparatory Measures:

In some cases, additional preparatory measures may be necessary. One option is to use a layer of synthetic resin on the coarse-pored bed or to apply a sealing slurry. A sealing slurry is a waterproof mixture of cement and plastic that allows water vapor to pass through. The advantage of using a sealing slurry is that it can adhere well to old bituminous coatings, providing an ideal substrate for applying a thick new bituminous coating.

By following these steps and ensuring proper surface preparation, you can optimize the adhesion and effectiveness of bitumen coatings in various applications.

What are the suitable means for repairing cracks and unevenness on the surface before applying bitumen?

There are several suitable means for repairing cracks and unevenness on the surface before applying bitumen. The choice of repair method depends on the severity of the damage and the specific requirements of the project. Here are some common methods for repairing cracks and unevenness:

1. Crack Fillers and Sealants:

For smaller cracks, crack fillers or sealants can be used. These materials, such as asphalt-based crack fillers or specialized concrete crack sealants, are designed to fill and seal cracks, preventing water infiltration and further damage. They are typically applied using a caulk gun or trowel.

2. Repair Mortar:

Repair mortars are suitable for filling larger cracks, holes, or areas of unevenness. These mortars are made from a blend of cement, sand, and additives to enhance adhesion and strength. They can be mixed with water to create a workable paste and then applied to the damaged areas using a trowel or other appropriate tools. Repair mortars are commonly used for repairing concrete surfaces.

3. Leveling Compounds:

Leveling compounds, also known as self-leveling underlayments or floor levelers, are used to create a smooth and level surface. These compounds are typically made from a blend of cement, fine aggregates, and additives. They have a fluid consistency that allows them to flow and self-level over uneven areas. Leveling compounds are commonly used to repair uneven concrete or subfloor surfaces before applying flooring materials.

4. Patching Mixtures:

Patching mixtures, such as asphalt patching compounds or repair mixes, are specifically designed for repairing asphalt surfaces. They typically contain a combination of asphalt binder, aggregates, and additives. These mixtures can be applied to fill potholes, repair damaged areas, or smooth out unevenness in asphalt surfaces.

5. Resurfacing:

In cases where the damage or unevenness is more extensive, resurfacing the entire surface may be necessary. This involves applying a new layer of bitumen or asphalt mixture over the existing surface to create a smooth and uniform finish. Resurfacing can help address multiple issues, including cracks, potholes, and unevenness.

It's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions and best practices when using any repair materials. Additionally, proper surface preparation, including cleaning and removing loose debris, is essential before applying any repair method.

ATDM CO is a manufacturer and exporter of Bitumen 60/70, offering three different quality grades available in drums, bags, and bulk quantities. Our products are classified into premium, second, and third types, each with varying production costs and facilities. We provide a wide range of options to accommodate different customer needs and volume requirements.

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