#air quality seattle

[getambee]

Get real-time information about air quality in Seattle with Ambee's interactive map. Analyze and monitor air pollution levels with our powerful tool to help you make informed decisions . Try Ambee's Air Quality Map for Seattle today.

[delicatelysublimeforester]

World Environment Day Every Species Counts!

[navree]

Not northern Cáceres burning when the House of the Dragons go there💀 They really brought the fire with them

As long as they're sucking that fire out of Canada and Washington so I don't have to deal with another instance of last year's "there's wildfire smoke blowing into Seattle and it's turning the sun red and no one should go outside" event, I'll allow it

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Google reneged on the monopolistic bargain

I'm on tour with my new novel The Bezzle! Catch me TONIGHT in SALT LAKE CITY (Feb 21, Weller Book Works) and TOMORROW in SAN DIEGO (Feb 22, Mysterious Galaxy). After that, it's LA, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix and more!

A funny thing happened on the way to the enshittocene: Google – which astonished the world when it reinvented search, blowing Altavista and Yahoo out of the water with a search tool that seemed magic – suddenly turned into a pile of shit.

Google's search results are terrible. The top of the page is dominated by spam, scams, and ads. A surprising number of those ads are scams. Sometimes, these are high-stakes scams played out by well-resourced adversaries who stand to make a fortune by tricking Google:

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/phone-numbers-airlines-listed-google-directed-scammers-rcna94766

But often these scams are perpetrated by petty grifters who are making a couple bucks at this. These aren't hyper-resourced, sophisticated attackers. They're the SEO equivalent of script kiddies, and they're running circles around Google:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/24/passive-income/#swiss-cheese-security

Google search is empirically worsening. The SEO industry spends every hour that god sends trying to figure out how to sleaze their way to the top of the search results, and even if Google defeats 99% of these attempts, the 1% that squeak through end up dominating the results page for any consequential query:

https://downloads.webis.de/publications/papers/bevendorff_2024a.pdf

Google insists that this isn't true, and if it is true, it's not their fault because the bad guys out there are so numerous, dedicated and inventive that Google can't help but be overwhelmed by them:

https://searchengineland.com/is-google-search-getting-worse-389658

It wasn't supposed to be this way. Google has long maintained that its scale is the only thing that keeps us safe from the scammers and spammers who would otherwise overwhelm any lesser-resourced defender. That's why it was so imperative that they pursue such aggressive growth, buying up hundreds of companies and integrating their products with search so that every mobile device, every ad, every video, every website, had one of Google's tendrils in it.

This is the argument that Google's defenders have put forward in their messaging on the long-overdue antitrust case against Google, where we learned that Google is spending $26b/year to make sure you never try another search engine:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-27/google-paid-26-3-billion-to-be-default-search-engine-in-2021

Google, we were told, had achieved such intense scale that the normal laws of commercial and technological physics no longer applied. Take security: it's an iron law that "there is no security in obscurity." A system that is only secure when its adversaries don't understand how it works is not a secure system. As Bruce Schneier says, "anyone can design a security system that they themselves can't break. That doesn't mean it works – just that it works for people stupider than them."

And yet, Google operates one of the world's most consequential security system – The Algorithm (TM) – in total secrecy. We're not allowed to know how Google's ranking system works, what its criteria are, or even when it changes: "If we told you that, the spammers would win."

Well, they kept it a secret, and the spammers won anyway.

A viral post by Housefresh – who review air purifiers – describes how Google's algorithmic failures, which send the worst sites to the top of the heap, have made it impossible for high-quality review sites to compete:

https://housefresh.com/david-vs-digital-goliaths/

You've doubtless encountered these bad review sites. Search for "Best ______ 2024" and the results are a series of near-identical lists, strewn with Amazon affiliate links. Google has endlessly tinkered with its guidelines and algorithmic weights for review sites, and none of it has made a difference. For example, when Google instituted a policy that reviewers should "discuss the benefits and drawbacks of something, based on your own original research," sites that had previously regurgitated the same lists of the same top ten Amazon bestsellers "peppered their pages with references to a ‘rigorous testing process,’ their ‘lab team,’ subject matter experts ‘they collaborated with,’ and complicated methodologies that seem impressive at a cursory look."

But these grandiose claims – like the 67 air purifiers supposedly tested in Better Homes and Gardens's Des Moines lab – result in zero in-depth reviews and no published data. Moreover, these claims to rigorous testing materialized within a few days of Google changing its search ranking and said that high rankings would be reserved for sites that did testing.

Most damning of all is how the Better Homes and Gardens top air purifiers perform in comparison to the – extensively documented – tests performed by Housefresh: "plagued by high-priced and underperforming units, Amazon bestsellers with dubious origins (that also underperform), and even subpar devices from companies that market their products with phrases like ‘the Tesla of air purifiers.’"

One of the top ranked items on BH&G comes from Molekule, a company that filed for bankruptcy after being sued for false advertising. The model BH&G chose was ranked "the worst air purifier tested" by Wirecutter and "not living up to the hype" by Consumer Reports. Either BH&G's rigorous testing process is a fiction that they infused their site with in response to a Google policy change, or BH&G absolutely sucks at rigorous testing.

BH&G's competitors commit the same sins – literally, the exact same sins. Real Simple's reviews list the same photographer and the photos seem to have been taken in the same place. They also list the same person as their "expert." Real Simple has the same corporate parent as BH&G: Dotdash Meredith. As Housefresh shows, there's a lot of Dotdash Meredith review photos that seem to have been taken in the same place, by the same person.

But the competitors of these magazines are no better. Buzzfeed lists 22 air purifiers, including that crapgadget from Molekule. Their "methodology" is to include screenshots of Amazon reviews.

A lot of the top ranked sites for air purifiers are once-great magazines that have been bought and enshittified by private equity giants, like Popular Science, which began as a magazine in 1872 and became a shambling zombie in 2023, after its PE owners North Equity LLC decided its googlejuice was worth more than its integrity and turned it into a metastatic chumbox of shitty affiliate-link SEO-bait. As Housefresh points out, the marketing team that runs PopSci makes a lot of hay out of the 150 years of trust that went into the magazine, but the actual reviews are thin anaecdotes, unbacked by even the pretense of empiricism (oh, and they loooove Molekule).

Some of the biggest, most powerful, most trusted publications in the world have a side-hustle in quietly producing SEO-friendly "10 Best ___________ of 2024" lists: Rolling Stone, Forbes, US News and Report, CNN, New York Magazine, CNN, CNET, Tom's Guide, and more.

Google literally has one job: to detect this kind of thing and crush it. The deal we made with Google was, "You monopolize search and use your monopoly rents to ensure that we never, ever try another search engine. In return, you will somehow distinguish between low-effort, useless nonsense and good information. You promised us that if you got to be the unelected, permanent overlord of all information access, you would 'organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.'"

They broke the deal.

Companies like CNET used to do real, rigorous product reviews. As Housefresh points out, CNET once bought an entire smart home and used it to test products. Then Red Ventures bought CNET and bet that they could sell the house, switch to vibes-based reviewing, and that Google wouldn't even notice. They were right.

https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/welcome-to-the-cnet-smart-home/

Google downranks sites that spend money and time on reviews like Housefresh and GearLab, and crams botshittened content mills like BH&G into our eyeballs instead.

In 1558, Thomas Gresham coined (ahem) Gresham's Law: "Bad money drives out good." When counterfeit money circulates in the economy, anyone who gets a dodgy coin spends it as quickly as they can, because the longer you hold it, the greater the likelihood that someone will detect the fraud and the coin will become worthless. Run this system long enough and all the money in circulation is funny money.

An internet run by Google has its own Gresham's Law: bad sites drive out good. It's not just that BH&G can "test" products at a fraction of the cost of Housefresh – through the simple expedient of doing inadequate tests or no tests at all – so they can put a lot more content up that Housefresh. But that alone wouldn't let them drive Housefresh off the front page of Google's search results. For that, BH&G has to mobilize some of their savings from the no test/bad test lab to do real rigorous science: science in defeating Google's security-through-obscurity system, which lets them command the front page despite publishing worse-than-useless nonsense.

Google has lost the spam wars. In response to the plague of botshit clogging Google search results, the company has invested in…making more botshit:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/16/tweedledumber/#easily-spooked

Last year, Google did a $70b stock buyback. They also laid off 12,000 staffers (whose salaries could have been funded for 27 years by that stock buyback). They just laid off thousands more employees.

That wasn't the deal. The deal was that Google would get a monopoly, and they would spend their monopoly rents to be so good that you could just click "I'm feeling lucky" and be teleported to the very best response to your query. A company that can't figure out the difference between a scam like Better Homes and Gardens and a rigorous review site like Housefresh should be pouring every spare dime it brings in into fixing this problem. Not buying default search status on every platform so that we never try another search engine: they should be fixing their shit.

When Google admits that it's losing the war to these kack-handed spam-farmers, that's frustrating. When they light $26b/year on fire making sure you don't ever get to try anything else, that's very frustrating. When they vaporize seventy billion dollars on financial engineering and shoot one in ten engineers, that's outrageous.

Google's scale has transcended the laws of business physics: they can sell an ever-degrading product and command an ever-greater share of our economy, even as their incompetence dooms any decent, honest venture to obscurity while providing fertile ground – and endless temptation – for scammers.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/21/im-feeling-unlucky/#not-up-to-the-task

[probablyasocialecologist]

What if Tucson’s million new trees — and the rest of the country’s — didn’t just keep sidewalks cool? What if they helped feed people, too? That’s what Brandon Merchant hopes will happen on the shadeless south side of Tucson, a city where about one-fifth of the population lives more than a mile from a grocery store. He’s working on a project to plant velvet mesquite trees that thrive in the dry Sonoran Desert and have been used for centuries as a food source. The mesquite trees’ seed pods can be ground into a sweet, protein-rich flour used to make bread, cookies, and pancakes. Merchant, who works at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, sees cultivating mesquite around the city and surrounding areas as an opportunity to ease both heat and hunger. The outcome could be a network of  “food forests,” community spaces where volunteers tend fruit trees and other edible plants for neighbors to forage. “Thinking about the root causes of hunger and the root causes of health issues, there are all these things that tie together: lack of green spaces, lack of biodiversity,” Merchant said. (The food bank received half a million dollars from the Biden administration through the Inflation Reduction Act.) Merchant’s initiative fits into a national trend of combining forestry — and Forest Service funding — with efforts to feed people. Volunteers, school teachers, and urban farmers in cities across the country are planting fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, and other edible plants in public spaces to create shade, provide access to green space, and supply neighbors with free and healthy food. These food forests, forest gardens, and edible parks have sprouted up at churches, schools, empty lots, and street corners in numerous cities, including Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Seattle, and Miami. “It’s definitely growing in popularity,” said Cara Rockwell, who researches agroforestry and sustainable food systems at Florida International University. “Food security is one of the huge benefits.” There are also numerous environmental benefits: Trees improve air quality, suck carbon from the atmosphere, and create habitat for wildlife, said Mikaela Schmitt-Harsh, an urban forestry expert at James Madison University in Virginia. “I think food forests are gaining popularity alongside other urban green space efforts, community gardens, green rooftops,” she added. “All of those efforts, I think, are moving us in a positive direction.”

[missywritesfor7]

❤️‍🩹Lifeline | MYG❤️‍🩹

Synopsis: It’s long been controversial for idols to date, but idols dating each other can be really beautiful or a complete nightmare. When Yoongi's relationship with another idol is discovered, he decides maybe it’s time to break the taboo and show people it’s ok for idols to date. Instead, they find themselves caught in the midst of one media frenzy after another and struggle to keep their relationship as strong as it had been the past 2 years. Yoongi finds a self destructive way to cope, and it causes even more problems than it solves. As they fight for their relationship and their careers, they discover that sometimes, the only way to truly be free is to let go.

Pairing: idol!Yoongi x idol!OC

Warnings: nsfw, alcoholism, cheating, depression, anxiety, Yoongi goes through a bisexy ho phase, Yoongi is also in his alcoholic phase, post-military BTS

Previous chapter | Next chapter | Masterlist

Ch. 39: Superstar

The day finally comes for Hyeri’s drama to premiere. The show will air each of its 8 episodes weekly on tv and some streaming platforms. It begins with a red carpet premiere that she finds herself unusually anxious about. Simply knowing that Yoongi would be watching was always enough for her to feel confident and at ease for these types of things, but tonight that’s not the case. The guys are in Seattle and right now Yoongi is deep asleep after another high energy concert as it’s the middle of the night still. It just so happens to be within that small pocket of time where it’s too late for him to stay awake but too early for him to wake up on his own.

Hyeri encouraged him to rest instead of trying to stay up to watch her. They’re flying to Vegas in the morning and their schedule there is much busier than the other cities, especially since they’re also going to be recording and shooting a music video for a song they’re featured on with another band. All of this plus the pressure of the show having to be extra perfect since it’s also being streamed was more than enough to get Hyeri to convince him to rest instead of staying up to watch her red carpet arrival. He was reluctant but did as told as he knew he would at least be able to watch the videos of the premiere online later when they’re on their flight.

Although she encouraged him to rest instead, she kind of wishes she didn’t. She went through a lot and in turn put in a lot to this drama. If this tour is Yoongi’s comeback comeback then so is this drama for her. After everything that happened between her and JJS, her and Yoongi, and her and the fickle public, she treated this role like a rebranding. She just wishes she had the comfort of knowing Yoongi was watching, but she soldiers on anyway.

Yoongi wakes up the next morning and immediately checks online for any and every video of the premiere. He doesn’t have much time before they head to the airport so he tries to watch as much as he can before texting Hyeri to tell her how proud he is and then heading out the door with his luggage.

It’s not a long flight to Las Vegas, so Yoongi watches the first episode of Hyeri’s drama while on the plane. He may be very biased, but he truly feels she is doing an amazing job playing her role. It also helps that he finds himself genuinely interested in the storyline so far. The entire flight is a breeze because he can’t stop smiling about Hyeri and how proud he is.

As soon as they arrive they’re immediately sucked into a busy whirlwind of never ending engagements that leads to their two nights of concerts with the last being streamed for the world to see. It’s almost dizzying, but the benefit for Yoongi is that it helps him stay out of his head. It helps him ignore that voice in the back of his mind that’s been getting louder and louder the closer they get to LA.

Hyeri is excited about the guys being in Vegas. Mostly because she’ll finally get to watch the show in 4K and not rely on the quality of some concert goer’s data plan. They haven’t been able to talk much, but she’ll just be happy to see him. He knows she’ll be watching and that has him even more excited.

Both Vegas shows go amazingly, and with the surprise appearance of Snoop Dogg on the second night, the entire world has been buzzing. Hyeri and Yoongi video chat after the second show once he returns to his hotel room where she spends the first 15 minutes gushing about how much she enjoyed the show. They have 3 more cities, 4 more shows, and two weeks left in the US leg of their tour. What was once a source of great anxiety that had Yoongi close to hooking himself up to a coffee IV, is now just another great tour around the world spending time with some of the people he loves the most. When talking to Hyeri throughout the tour he’s become more and more comfortable and she’s noticed. Her noticing means that while they’re video chatting, she can tell he’s suddenly shifted back to his more anxious and reserved self.

“What’s wrong?” She asks while lounging out on their patio.

“Nothing,” he lies.

“Yoongi.” She stares into the camera giving him a chance to change his response.

“I don’t know. I feel nervous for some reason,” he admits. “Something about being back in….” He trails off and Hyeri doesn’t need him to say more.

“I understand,” she says softly. “But you don’t have to worry now.”

“They’re adding extra security for LA.” He hangs his head ashamed as if the two additional security guards hired for their final stops through California is all his fault.

“Your safety is important. All of you guys’ safety is. The staff too,” she justifies.

“We didn’t need them for any of the other stops.”

“Would you feel better if they didn’t have the added security?”

Yoongi pauses. Rolls his eyes. Then sighs.

“It’s not the security?” She suggests.

“No it’s not.” He admits. “I was at my worst when we last played there. So much happened, so much…pain.”

“Are you afraid it will happen again when you get there?”

“No.” His response is the most confident thing he’s said so far. “I’ve come too far to mess it all up now. It’s just I feel like I’m having to relive those memories as we get closer and I get more stressed. Just being here has been hard enough.”

“In Vegas?” She asks curiously. “What happened in Vegas?” She immediately realizes what she just asked and regrets it. “I mean, you don’t have to say if you don’t want to. Just…the same thing didn’t happen there this time, right?”

“Right,” he nods. Everything in Vegas has gone smoothly. A far difference from a drunken blowjob behind a restaurant. He takes a deep breath finding some relief in just talking about it finally. “I hate who I was back then so it’s hard sometimes. I’m just really glad I have you, Hyeri. You have no idea how much comfort you give me. I can’t wait to see you in a few weeks.”

Though only brief and packed with shoots and other appointments, the guys will be home for a couple of weeks after Cali, then they’ll be back in the sky heading for a few stops across Europe and Asia. Both Yoongi and Hyeri are looking forward to simply having the chance of seeing each other once or twice during that time. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing. On top of that, he’s hoping to reveal his not-exactly-a-surprise surprise trip to her during that time. He found the perfect place in Sicily with private beach access, a pool, hot tub, and sauna where they can take refuge for two weeks after the tour is over. He’s spent a lot of time and money during his travels on hotel and in-flight WiFi to make her dream a reality.

When the guys arrive in LA, Yoongi can feel the anxiety swelling within him. While Hyeri has been a major part in keeping him from getting lost in his anxieties, he still wasn’t prepared for the amount of PTSD symptoms that would slap him in the face. The buildings start to look familiar. The street names trigger flashbacks and the hotel they are staying in is the exact same one as before.

Suddenly, after he’d been struggling to remember anything that had happened that night, he can remember nearly every detail. Every fuzzy, unfaithful, drunken, high, angry detail of their time in LA where he was drugged, violated, and robbed before finding out Hyeri was in the hospital. Of all the times they’ve been to LA and the many great memories there, the memories of the worst time of his life are the most prevalent and he hates it. Especially because he knows he’s the one that put himself in such dangerous positions over and over again.

The only saving grace to the torturous reminders everywhere he turns is that their schedule is pretty busy in LA as it was in Vegas. Being occupied helps until he’s in the car looking out the window and something he sees becomes a trigger. Then he’s forced to deal with the feelings that come up when that sharpness shoots through his chest.

Knowing he’s anxious about being back in LA, Hyeri tries to send him words of support and encouragement whenever she can. She assures him that he’s doing great and she’s always rooting for him. After everything that’s happened, Yoongi still can’t figure out what he’s done to deserve someone like Hyeri. She’s amazing to him.

Not just to him, but the public also thinks Hyeri is amazing. With the three episodes of her show that are out now, everyone has been raving about her performance. She’s been trending everywhere and people are already asking for another season. For the first time in what seems like a long time, she can look through the trending tags without fearing she’ll be embroiled in another rumor, or hate train based on a rumor. She’s even comfortable looking into why Yoongi is trending without worrying someone else has a sex story about him. It’s all just concert footage and memes. Hyeri hasn’t been this happy in a long time.

To add to this refreshing happiness, Hyeri finds herself getting more calls from her manager with requests to appear on talk shows, variety shows, and radio shows. Opportunities like these are ones she’s only dreamt of, now they’re becoming a reality. While Yoongi is getting more confident in LA, Hyeri is getting more fans and exposure. By the time Yoongi calls her the night before their flight, she’s already added three new appointments to her schedule, leaving her with less time to see Yoongi for the short time he’ll be home.

It’s unfortunate, but they still find an afternoon where they’ll both be able to spend more than a few minutes with each other. It’s the day before the guys fly off to Europe, and since there’s such little time, Yoongi planned to cook lunch and simply have one of their many at home dates. Hyeri doesn’t know he plans to reveal their two week trip during their time together. He wants to make sure she knows with enough time to clear her schedule for two weeks. The two weeks starting as soon as he returns from the last leg of their tour. He doesn’t want to waste any time, so he’s ready and willing to hop on another flight right after he lands.

Hyeri had been waiting for Yoongi to reveal his trip plans. She knows he brought it up and she figured there was a chance that he was actually serious about it. With every package he sent her from each city, she was hoping one would finally reveal his not-so-secret secret, but nothing. With the unexpected response to her drama she’s forgotten all about the trip now as she’s been thrust into the busy schedule of the rising star.

By the time the guys board their flight to leave LA, another episode of Hyeri’s drama airs giving Yoongi something to do for at least 3 hours of his flight. As soon as they take off he’s putting his headphones on and excited to see how the love of his life will wow him on screen this time. He already knows she’s an incredible actress, but somehow she always seems to outdo herself. He giggles at how perfect she plays her quirky yet emotional character. At one point Jungkook snaps a photo of Yoongi smiling goofily at his tablet without him even noticing.

When they finally land all Yoongi can think about is getting home and seeing Hyeri. Unfortunately for him, she’s at an interview when he comes barreling through the door of their home looking to hug her tight. Though a bit disappointed, he can’t help but smile, because after catching up on the episodes during his flight, he knows she deserves all of this increased attention. For once it’s for good and not something scandalous or controversial.

Hyeri doesn’t have a lot of time after her interview before she has to go shoot a commercial, but she knows Yoongi is home and as soon as she could she rushed home to see him. She’ll only have about half a minute to spare before she has to leave again, but she’ll take it over nothing.

“Yoongiiiii!!” Hyeri shouts bolting through the door. “I don’t have a lot of time, Yoongiiiii!!!!”

Yoongi quickly steps out of the kitchen where he was standing in the fridge debating on what snack he wanted. Hyeri runs to him and leaps into his arms hitting him with a rapid fire of kisses.

“I missed you so much my manager is waiting in the car I love you I don’t have much time I missed you so much!!” She rapidly spits out without taking a breath.

“I missed you too,” he laughs squeezing her tight. He gives her a big long kiss and it’s like the world around him faded away.

“I wish I had more time, but I gotta go,” she says giving him another kiss.

“It’s ok, don’t be late.”

“Will you stay up?” She asks flashing her puppy eyes at him.

“Of course, love. I’ll be right here waiting.”

“I love you,” she smiles with one more kiss.

“I love you too.”

Just as fast as she came running inside she was running right back out. Yoongi can only smile with pride knowing that not only is she accomplishing her dreams that she’s told him about many times, but he also got through the US without screwing everything up. Not a single drop of alcohol outside of the surprise champagne in Chicago. He hardly even looked in the direction of anyone who wasn’t one of the members or staff. No temptation was strong enough to make him break his promise, and that pride high kept him awake until Hyeri returned home at 3am. Just 3 hours before he’s off to a shoot of his own.

The days go on with a continued pattern of near misses and half sleep talking when one finally gets home while the other is already in bed. The only thing keeping them going is the fact that they’ll have that one moment together to have lunch before he leaves again.

The day comes and both Yoongi and Hyeri are excited. They both have morning appointments but will meet back home for lunch before going their separate ways again. They left home at the same time but Yoongi returned first. When he felt Hyeri would be finished with what she’s doing, he starts to prep the meal he has planned. Due to limited time, he keeps the menu simple with cold noodles and pork. He’s dancing around the kitchen waiting for Hyeri to come through the door, but instead he gets a call from her.

“Hey!” He answers excitedly. “Where are you?”

“I’m in the car,” Hyeri replies.

“Oh ok,” he says not letting her finish. “Are you almost home?”

“Well…not exactly.” She doesn’t sound upset, but she’s still speaking softly. “Something just came up and I really didn’t want to miss lunch with you since we’ve hardly seen each other, but I couldn’t really say no. I’m sorry, love. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

“What?” He asks no longer filled with the pep he had a moment ago. “What came up?”

“There’s some people in town wanting to discuss a fan meeting.”

“Fan meeting?”

“Yes!!” She shouts finally showing her true excitement. “My first solo fan meet! I’m so sorry, but I couldn’t say no to this and I didn’t really have time to talk to you about it first because they wanted an answer now while the production people are in town.”

“Oh,” he says softly. He’s certainly not happy about their lunch being canceled, but he’s more happy for her than anything. “It’s ok, you don’t have to be sorry. A fan meet is great, you definitely can’t miss this meeting.”

“I’ll make it up to you,” she says still feeling bad knowing he’s likely already done making the meal she won’t be there for.

“It’s ok,” he chuckles with reassurance. “I’ll still see you in the morning right?”

“Of course.”

It’s certainly a bummer for Yoongi to have lunch alone when he was looking forward to spending time with Hyeri. Instead he makes himself a plate then sets the remainder aside for Hyeri to have later. Since he can’t have lunch with her he decides to catch up on the latest episode of her drama that premiered the previous day.

Just as he was with the other episodes, he finds himself fully entranced in the story, but mostly Hyeri. She gets better each episode that he forgets that he’s watching her on a show and it’s not real life. He’s rooting for her character to finally be noticed by the lead male and he feels happiness and anticipation when it seems they’re close.

The build up is well done and he smiles watching Hyeri’s character receive the love she had been giving out so far in the show. Then his smile begins to hurt for some reason. Hyeri’s character is in a hotel with her love interest. Yoongi’s smile hasn’t faded but his chest is tightening. Hyeri is kissing her costar. It’s nothing new, this isn’t her first role where she had to kiss on screen. Her costar pulls her shirt off revealing her hot pink bra and suddenly his smile isn’t smiling so much.

He knew it would happen, they’ve already had an argument about her sex scene. This isn’t a surprise to him. However it is a surprise to him how much she seems to be enjoying herself. She’s moving the way she moves with him, but those aren’t his hands running down her entire body. Those aren’t his lips on her neck and that’s not his lap that she’s straddled over. Her moans are very enticing until the camera cuts back to the person on the receiving end that’s not him. That scene felt like it went on for hours and when it was over Yoongi wasn’t sure if he even cared to watch the rest of the show.

Hyeri knew the previous day’s episode would include the sex scene she shot while upset with Yoongi. She knew when she shot the scene that he would be upset. At that time she wanted him to be. She thought that he wouldn’t get a chance to see the episode until his flight to London the next day, but she wasn’t expecting this sudden meeting to give him enough free time to watch before he leaves.

Yoongi was live texting his reaction to the show. He went silent once the sex scene happened because he didn’t know what to say. She’s a great actress, but too great. When Hyeri left her meeting that just cemented a deal for her to have her very first fan meet, she saw Yoongi’s messages and knew he was probably in his feelings. She sent him a message saying that she’s happy to have his support and that she loves him very much. He responds with a simple “I love you too” and she knows he’s deep in his feelings. She can only laugh.

Yoongi is up extra early the next morning to get ready to his flight to London. Hyeri got home very late after he had already fallen asleep so she made sure to set an alarm to wake when he does. When she meets him in the bathroom while he’s getting ready she simply wraps her arms around his torso from behind.

“I wish we had more time,” she sighs. “But what’s one more month, right?”

“Mhmm,” Yoongi grumbles while staring at himself in the mirror.

“What’s wrong?” She asks.

“Nothing,” he grumbles again.

“You stopped texting in the middle of the episode, did you finish it?” She knows what she’s doing. She thinks it’s funny, especially when she looks in the mirror to see the jealous pout he’s trying to hide.

“Yes,” he mumbles through his teeth.

“What did you think?”

“Do you really want to know?” He asks noticing her smile through the mirror. “Or are you just trying to get a rise out of me before I go?”

“Of course not,” she says smirking.

He removes her arms from around him and turns to face her. She simply looks back at him still smiling. He hates how easily he breaks down for her. Not that he was incredibly upset about the scene, but he still felt a little uneasy seeing her like that on screen for the first time. Hearing her like that on screen.

“What were you thinking of when you shot the episode?” He asks boldly and almost regrettably.

“Oh come on,” she laughs. “You know you don’t want to know.”

“I don’t?”

“You have to go soon,” she giggles.

“Yeah,” he playfully rolls his eyes then smiles. “You’re lucky I do.”

“I’m sorry I missed lunch yesterday. I was looking forward to it, but it was hard for me to say no.”

“I told you it’s ok. This is a big thing for you, I wouldn’t want you to miss out on having your first fan meet because you wanted to sit at home with me for an hour,” he jokes. He thinks a moment wishing she did so he could at least tell her about the trip he put together. He decides he may as well tell her now, especially since he booked the trip to start right after they return from their last tour stop. Just as he’s about to open his mouth, Hyeri gets a call and runs to pick up her phone. He continues getting ready, having little time to spare, while waiting for her to finish her call.

Yoongi isn’t sure who’s calling Hyeri at this early hour, but with her new wave of popularity he’s sure it’s something important. So important that by the time he’s done getting ready and has his luggage in tow, she’s still on the phone. He tries to wait for her, shooting her the most pitiful kitten eyes as he slowly inches towards the door. He doesn’t want to leave like this, he wants to tell her about their trip, and kiss her goodbye before his manager has to come up and drag him to the car.

The best Hyeri is able to do is ask the caller to hold for a moment. She mutes the phone, then quickly jumps up to give Yoongi a kiss.

“I’m sorry, babe,” she says pointing to her phone. “I’ll tell you about it later. I love you.”

“I love you too,” he says with a half smile. He gives her another kiss and she returns to her call. It’s not the send off he was hoping for, but he has no choice but to leave so he can make it to the airport on time.

[fatehbaz]

Systems are linguistic conveniences. We chart out algorithms, and systems are largely human matters, matters of language, matters of human-created terms and formulas. But the world exceeds systems. This might not be acceptable to modern cosmo-perceptions. [...] [M]odernist thinking situates humans at the center of the room [...]. Climate action is [usually] composed within these epistemologies that tend to leave out, for instance, the agency of the world at large. [...]

For instance, the Anthropocene just says this is a planetary or cautionary planetary ethic, that we are all in this together and that all humans are at risk of losing their planet. But it doesn't say that African bodies, Black bodies have subsidized the Anthropocene, that Africa was the continent that they extracted mineral resources from, that air quality is dwindling every day, that the Niger Delta is suffering seven thousand spillages a year, that the World Health Organization does not go to Africa or Lagos to measure air quality, but it does so in London, New York, Seattle. It doesn't say who is paying. It just wraps everyone into this humongous hoop or heap and calls them human.

But many people have been denied access into "human". [...]

---

When we're seeking out, anchoring, and grieving for climate justice, we're still dealing with the same powers. We're gathering at the foot of the nation-state, seeking giant corporations to be more responsible. We're giving them legitimacy and saying, "you have the power, so do something about this". [...] Protests tend to look like long, linear lines heading towards where power is. I think there is more power available [...]. So this is why I talk about fugitivity. [...]

And there's some embellishment, tricksterism, and playfulness there as well.

The human is a Euro-American creation. It is not just a concept; it's not just the bipedal figures that we associate ourselves with. It is a territory of acting and becoming and thinking. The human is the transatlantic slave trade. The human is the westward pushing of the pilgrims on the so-called new world to find gold [...]. The human is the extractivist politics that thinks we can build and build and build [...] in an ongoing fashion without stopping forever. [...] It is the dreaming that situates us as lords and masters. It is an algorithm, a cybernetic network, a forcefield.

And I think fugitivity, and rejecting the human, is about losing our way, meeting the world in a way that hacks that algorithm. What does the human, as in the city, as in the nation-state, invite us to do? What does it invite us to notice? And then how do we notice differently? [...]

---

This is not just me speaking. This is Spinoza, Deleuze, authors and speakers, decolonial writers that have been warning us for a long time that Blackness, for instance, is not about this adversarial quality, fighting for a place within white modernity. [...]  It seeks cracks so that it can fugitively extricate itself [...]. I want to find other places of being in power with the world. [...]

The promise of that is surprise, fugitivity. Maybe just leaving the plantation is enough. Then we might find the magic in other worlds and other becomings. [...]

[L]et us slow down. Slowing down is losing our way. [...] It is the invitations that are now in the world at large, inviting us to listen deeply, to be keen and to be fresh and to be quick with our heels, to follow the sights and sounds and smells of the world, which is now no longer [...] [silent, unspeaking] as modernity would have us believe it is. It's now alive, it's alien and wanting us to do more than just save ourselves. So let us slow down and listen and maybe we might hear something magical. [...] Slowing down is a function of deepening awareness, noticing the others in the room. [...]

---

Words of Bayo Akomolafe. As interviewed and transcribed by Kamea Chayne. Published as “Bayo Akomolafe: Slowing down and surrendering human centrality (ep317).” Episode 317 of the podcast Green Dreamer hosted by Kamea Chayne. Transcript published online November 2021.

[grayfeather]

I DON'T want to go back to my hometown but bcuz of this fucking fire that happened I may end up getting kicked out bcuz the air quality is unhealthy and hey hopefully they can put me in another of their properties but if they can't then I really don't have any other option except to move back to PA which I DON'T want to do bcuz I don't fucking trust the politicians over there to not blow everything up for marginalized folks the moment they're given the go ahead like yeah Seattle rent is kinda stupid high but at least I feel more safe in my queerness here than I ever did in PA

[terraoliveira]

two & a half years into the pandemic, wildfire smoke thickens the air, every year growing dark & more westward, our breathing shorter & hardened. capital consumes the quality of sky, & day after day, more of us enter the fog — heavy as metal — our bodies turned hot in the crucible, chests fluttering, airways tightening. you are so young & healthy, the doctors tell me. your tests have all come back normal. you have so much ahead of you. i sit in front of them, gasping for air.

Long-COVID (Seattle, 2022) by Terra Oliveira, published in The Rising Phoenix Review

[dinshbc]

How Google's AI Is Revolutionizing the Control of Traffic and Reducing Emissions

Do you get frustrated by driving along massive traffic snarls or worry about the number of millions of cars tearing up the planet? 

You're not alone. Traffic congestion is a severe headache for cities worldwide, and at the same time, one of the biggest contributors to air pollution. 

But do you know?

Step in Google's Project Green Light. This project, which works on AI, is like the magic wand to manage clogged roads and air quality enhancement. 

It is like having a very sharp traffic policeman controlling the cars on the streets without a whistle!

Understanding About Project Green Light

Cool, but how does this work? 

Consider Google Maps, which shows you the quickest way, but instead of analyzing all these traffic patterns, it deciphers them for the best timing regarding the traffic lights. 

Sounds like a big upgrade for the traffic lights system. Big time!

Project Green Light is a project that merges data from Google Maps with AI to have an optimized traffic light that will keep vehicles moving. 

A waste of time at a red light will be out of the equation in no time!

For example, Project Green Light has already made a big difference in cities like Seattle; the system rid the streets of stop-and-go traffic, which helped in the reduction of vehicle emissions. 

Less time spent idling equals less pollution—great news for Mother Earth!

Imagine traveling through a city where, every time you approach a junction, the traffic lights appear to magically turn green. 

It like a private green wave! This not only saves you time, but it also reduces stress and fuel consumption.

Spreading the Green Light

Seattle was the pioneering city, where Project Green Light first went into practice. But this doesn't stand all alone at present. 

Cities across the globe have now started to realize the value of this new approach to traffic management, right from bustling metropolises to the relatively smaller urban areas. 

Everybody wants some of the Green Light action.

This, of course, is like any new technology, posing its own challenges. The implementation of a complex AI system will bring much-eased cooperation between tech companies and city governments. But the potential rewards are great.

The Future is Green

There are some ambitious plans set for Project Green Light. Their aim is to expand the project to more cities, continuing to refine the AI technology at the same time. 

Ultimately, the goal is for the world to have traffic that flows smoothly and efficiently, leaving as little impact on the environment as possible.

It is indeed a very exciting time to be alive. 

Today, artificial intelligence is moulding the way we live, and things like Project Green Light are simply working toward having a better future for each human being.

What do you think about Project Green Light? Do you think it could make a difference in your city? Let us know in the comments below!

And stay tuned for more updates on this and other groundbreaking projects.

visit here for my latest blogs... Thank you

[yinlotus]

as far as i'm aware from reading US news (ny times) most of the smoke on the US east coast is from the canadian fires. also, the fires in canada are a lot lot lot worse than looks on the image you can see - hundreds of fires burning all across canada.

as a californian myself, i've also been kind of annoyed seeing all the news about like 'unprecedented smoke in nyc' like seriously? this isn't unprecedented, just for them specifically. I understand that seeing the orange skies was crazy but like...it's not new...I literally saw that myself during the fires of 2020 in Calif. i've had friends and family had to evacuate from nearby fires, i had to wear an n95 during the summer before covid because being outside in that air quality made me feel sick. my brother had school and sports cancelled because it was too dangerous to be outside breathing the air.

calif, oregon, washington, british columbia and all of the western US and canada (maybe mexico too, I don't know about impact of smoke/fires in central or latin america) have been dealing with this for years. australia and nz have been dealing with this too for years.

I'm sorry...I kind of just wanted to complain a bit...it was a bit jarring seeing all those headlines about it being new when it's really not, it's just only new for the US east coast which has the biggest & loudest mouthpiece coming from america.

i'd also love to see some resources about the fires in canada if anyone has sent you any. i know for california, Cal Fire (fire.ca . gov) has info on calif. since there was a lot of rain this year (i've never seen so much rain in my life) i'm hoping fire season won't be too bad but we never know...

hi anon!

it's okay to vent about it. i understand that for those who have dealt with or are currently dealing with large wildfires would be annoyed by those who are not experiencing it as they are. still, i don't think it's right to blame those people without educating them a bit on it first.

honestly even when it comes to the east coast smoke most news talk specifically about nyc than the other places dealing with the same thing. picky news coverage can be frustrating to say the least.

and you're certainly right about it being new to us but not everyone else. the east coast is generally pretty wet with hurricanes in summer (which hurricane season officially started around a week ago, which i'm curious if it'll be affected at all since the smoke is also going east into the atlantic and wildfire smoke throws off marine ecosystems and cyclones are worse when the water is warmer) and snow storms during winter. i think no matter where you are, people will react extremely if something out of the ordinary happens. personally i can't even imagine it since even when i lived on the west coast, it was near seattle and mostly wet.

thank you for providing some info on california! nobody else has sent anything yet, but i'll definitely post if they do! :)

my screenshot was from fire.airnow.gov and from zooming in more i get a slightly better picture of where the fires are but the low accuracy is likely because the site's focus is only the us. nasa is usually quite good in capturing this things in the states, so i checked the canadian space agency to see if they had better images of the fires. while i didn’t find any recent satellite images (best i found was a video from a month ago), i was directed to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) which has an updated interactive map on the homepage. This site alao has links to individual centers in each province.

[gacmediadaily]

COMPANY CEO JOINS EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND STAR OF THE FILM TO HOST SPECIAL RED-CARPET SCREENING FOR MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT JBLM IN WASHINGTON STATE

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, SEATTLE, Nov. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Great American Family President and CEO Bill Abbott joined Chief Creative Officer Candace Cameron Bure to host a very special world premiere of My Christmas Hero exclusively for U.S. service men and women and their families yesterday. This special showing was held at Joint Army and Air Force Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in Washington state, where the film is set.BILL ABBOTT, CANDACE CAMERON BURE, GABRIEL HOGAN AND GREAT AMERICAN MEDIA CELEBRATE REAL HEROES AT THE PREMIERE OF “MY CHRISTMAS HERO” AT JBLM IN WASHINGTON STATEGreat American Family President and CEO Bill Abbott joined Chief Creative Officer Candace Cameron Bure to host a very special world premiere of My Christmas Hero exclusively for U.S. service men and women and their families yesterday.

"We truly enjoyed the opportunity to salute these real Christmas heroes at the premiere of My Christmas Hero on the joint base," said Bure, who plays Dr. Nicole Ramsey in the movie. "It was fitting to host this screening here at JBLM because that's where the movie's story is set."

The red-carpet screening was held Wednesday, November 15 on the McChord (Air Force) side of JBLM—the base portrayed in My Christmas Hero. Bure stars in and is an executive producer of the new movie. Bure's co-star, Gabriel Hogan, was also in attendance. This event follows a recent announcement that Great American Family has experienced eleven consecutive months of growth making it TV's fastest-growing network.

"Great American Media provides quality family-friendly programming that celebrates faith, family and country, and our unique partnership with Candy Rock allows us to produce best in class content. To be able to celebrate Christmas and this movie with the everyday heroes who selflessly serve our country was truly special for both Candace and me," said Bill Abbott, President and CEO of Great American Media. "My Christmas Hero is at the heart of who we are as a network."

My Christmas Hero is the story of a U.S. Army reservist on a mission to honor a special fallen soldier and bring much-needed healing to her family. Along the way, Dr. Ramsey (Bure) and Major Ross (Gabriel Hogan) may find more than the answers to the mystery!

My Christmas Hero premieres on Great American Family the day after Thanksgiving, at 8 p.m. EST / 7 p.m. CST Friday, November 24. You can find a full list and schedule of Great American Christmas movies at https://www.greatamericanfamily.com.

My Christmas Hero is a Syrup Studios production in association with Candy Rock Entertainment. Mick MacKay serves as Producer, and Martin Wood directs an original screenplay written by Jim Head. Executive producers include Ford Englerth, Jeffery Brooks, Eric Jarboe, Holly A. Hines, Gerald Webb, Jim Head, Trevor McWhinney, and Martin Wood. Supervising Producers include Jonathan Shore, Robyn Wiener, Michael Shepard, and Doran S. Chandler serves as Associate Producer.

ABOUT GREAT AMERICAN FAMILY Great American Family is America's premiere destination for quality family-friendly programming, including original holiday movies, rom-coms, and fan-favorite series that celebrate faith, family, and country. Great American Family is home to year-round seasonal celebrations including Great American Christmas, the network's signature franchise featuring holiday themed movies and specials. Founded in 2021, Great American Family is part of the Great American Media portfolio of brands. Follow Great American Family on Twitter: @GAfamilyTV Facebook:@GAfamilytv Instagram: @gactv

ABOUT CANDY ROCK ENTERTAINMENT Candy Rock Enterprises is a joint venture between award-winning actress, producer, and New York Times Bestselling Author Candace Cameron Bure and the full-service development and execution team behind Redrock Entertainment, Ford Englerth and Jeffery Brooks. Candy Rock's Entertainment division develops, produces, and distributes television projects, lifestyle programming, and feature length films with an emphasis on family-friendly content. Instagram: @CandyRock.Entertainment

ABOUT SYRUP STUDIOS Syrup Studios is a new Canadian production service company based in Vancouver, British Columbia specializing in scripted and unscripted television series and holiday films, rom-coms, comedies, and thrillers. Syrup Studios provides the full spectrum of services including content development, legal and business affairs, budgeting, scheduling, and financing.

Contact: Angela Sullivan, angela.sullivan@gacmedia.com

SOURCE Great American Family

[entheorg]

Just How Can Customers Decide On A Respectable Duct Cleaning Service Supplier?

Air ducts are actually a vital part of your home's heating and cooling system. They maintain the air streaming as well as preserve the interior air high quality of your home, making it comfy as well as healthier for you as well as your family members. Nevertheless, like every other home part, they need upkeep, cleansing, and also repair work to operate ideally. When it pertains to air shaft cleansing, you ought to never skimp on top quality. A respectable service provider can make a huge difference in the indoor air top quality in your home. However how can consumers opt for a trustworthy air duct cleaning Seattle company supplier? In this comprehensive guide, we'll offer you with ideas and also secrets to select a trusted air shaft cleaning service supplier that meets your individual needs.

Analysis and also Recommendation:

The first step in discovering a reputable commercial dryer vent cleaning is to analysis and request suggestions from good friends and also other reliable sources. A great duct cleaning company provider should have a strong credibility and reputation in the neighborhood, as well as there is a high likelihood that someone you recognize may possess utilized their services in the past. When researching online, you should search for reviews on the company's website and also social media sites web pages. You can also get in touch with companies like the Bbb (BBB) to find out if there have been any complaints housed versus the company.

Sector Knowledge as well as Qualification:

Another essential factor to look at when deciding on a duct cleaning service carrier is sector expertise and license. Constantly seek a company that has functioned for a handful of years as well as possesses a group of expert experts. Experienced technicians have the knowledge as well as proficiency to spot potential problems in the course of the cleaning method and also address all of them suitably. Furthermore, qualification is essential as it shows that the company adheres to business standards, uses the most up to date cleaning techniques, and keeps a high amount of professionalism and reliability.

The Cleaning Refine and Equipment:

Washing air ducts may be a direct method however or even carried out accurately, it can create even more danger than really good. You should make sure that the commercial air duct cleaning you pick possesses a premium cleaning process that features a detailed cleansing of all ductwork. The cleansing method should consist of cleaning of the supply as well as profit duct, enrolls, grilles, diffusers, motors, supporters, and coils. You need to also ask them about the kind of cleansing equipment they utilize. The best reliable cleaning equipment ought to have the ability to catch the gunk as well as debris that the cleansing procedure displaces, preventing it from being launched back in to the home's air supply.

Service Contract and also Insurance Policy:

A reputable duct cleaning company carrier need to use a service agreement that summarizes the scope of work, price, completion time, and other important information. The agreement should reside in writing, as well as each celebrations ought to authorize it before the work begins. It is likewise vital to ensure that the company is actually covered before working with. A covered by insurance company takes duty for any problems or even incidents that may take place in the course of the cleansing process, delivering peace of mind to you and your family.

Cost and Opportunity price quotes:

Ultimately, it is actually necessary to pick an air duct cleaning service company that delivers straightforward and competitive costs. Never make a decision located solely on cost, since low prices often suggests crappy services. Additionally, make sure that the company you choose offers a clear and succinct timeline for the fulfillment of the job. You don't desire your home to become disrupted for a lengthy period, and also a knowledgeable company should have the expertise to finish the operate in a timely and also reliable way.

Conclusion:

Discovering a reliable air shaft cleaning service provider for your home needs time as well as mindful consideration. Through following these pointers as well as secrets, you will be able to choose an air shaft cleaning company carrier that satisfies your private demands and supplies high-quality services that maintain the air top quality in your house. Keep in mind, an exceptional air shaft washing company needs to have field expertise, impeccable references, high quality cleansing equipment, a service agreement, insurance policy, as well as straightforward prices and also opportunity estimates. Along with these think about thoughts, you can select an air shaft cleaning company that provides excellent worth for cash and also delivers a healthy and also comfy home environment for you and also your loved ones.

[ismailraju]

Air duct cleaning is a vital servicing activity for homes and industrial properties. Gradually, dirt, debris, and impurities build up in ductwork, affecting inside air top quality and also heating and cooling unit effectiveness. Qualified duct cleaning company make use of customized tools to clear away these toxins, making certain cleaner, far healthier air and possibly decreasing electricity prices. Routine air shaft cleaning is actually necessary for preserving a comfortable and well-balanced inside setting.

[howldean]

36 38 39

36 — where would i like to live somewhere with trees and fresh air. i’d like to be able to go for a walk in the woods somewhere nearby. i think a cozy town would be ideal but i love public transit and trains which aren’t conducive to small town lol. i love the bay area in california, seattle is cool i’ve been there, and maryland was nice did you know that they have the most lakes in the entire united states and they’re ALL man made

38 — childhood career of choice veterinarian! then i wanted to be a vet tech because i didn’t like guts for a bit then i realized techs are typically the ones who put animals down and then i gave up. dog trainer was up there too.

39 — favorite ice cream flavor I DONT HAVE ONE. it greatly depends on my mood. the best ice cream i’ve ever had was one scoop toasted marshmallow one scoop sea salt caramel in a sugar cone from earnest ice cream in vancouver canada!! but i’m also a big sorbet/sherbet guy i love some fruit like a blackberry, mango, raspberry type beat. mint choc chip, really high or really low quality strawberry, americone dream, anything caramel, KNOTTS BERRY FARM BOYSENBERRY SOFT SERVE. the point is i like a lot, but i’m also easy to please with a simple vanilla or popsicle lol

send a number!

[sciencespies]

Tracking air pollution disparities -- daily -- from space

https://sciencespies.com/environment/tracking-air-pollution-disparities-daily-from-space/

Tracking air pollution disparities -- daily -- from space

Studies have shown that pollution, whether from factories or traffic-snarled roads, disproportionately affects communities where economically disadvantaged people and Hispanic, Black and Asian people live. As technology has improved, scientists have begun documenting these disparities in detail, but information on daily variations has been lacking. Today, scientists report preliminary work calculating how inequities in exposure fluctuate from day to day across 11 major U.S. cities. In addition, they show that in some places, climate change could exacerbate these differences.

The researchers will present their results at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Air pollution levels can vary significantly across relatively short distances, dropping off a few hundred yards from a freeway, for example. Researchers, including Sally Pusede, Ph.D., have used satellite and other observations to determine how air quality varies on a small geographic scale, at the level of neighborhoods.

But this approach overlooks another crucial variable. “When we regulate air pollution, we don’t think of it as remaining constant over time, we think of it as dynamic,” says Pusede, the project’s principal investigator. “Our new work takes a step forward by looking at how these levels vary from day to day,” she says.

Information about these fluctuations can help pinpoint sources of pollution. For instance, in research reported last year, Pusede and colleagues at the University of Virginia found that disparities in air quality across major U.S. cities decreased on weekends. Their analysis tied this drop to the reduction of deliveries by diesel-fueled trucks. On weekends, more than half of such trucks are parked.

Pusede’s research focuses on the gas NO2, which is a component of the complex brew of potentially harmful compounds produced by combustion. To get a sense of air pollution levels, scientists often look to NO2. But it’s not just a proxy — exposure to high concentrations of this gas can irritate the airways and aggravate pulmonary conditions. Inhaling elevated levels of NO2 over the long term can also contribute to the development of asthma.

The team has been using data on NO2 collected almost daily by a space-based instrument known as TROPOMI, which they confirmed with higher resolution measurements made from a similar sensor on board an airplane flown as part of NASA’s LISTOS project. They analyzed these data across small geographic regions, called census tracts, that are defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. In a proof-of-concept project, they used this approach to analyze initial disparities in Houston, and later applied these data-gathering methods to study daily disparities over New York City and Newark, New Jersey.

Now, they have analyzed satellite-based data for 11 additional cities, aside from New York City and Newark, for daily variations. The cities are: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Seattle, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. A preliminary analysis found the highest average disparity in Los Angeles for Black, Hispanic and Asian communities in the lowest socioeconomic status (SES) tracts. They experienced an average of 38% higher levels of pollution than their non-Hispanic white, higher SES counterparts in the same city — although disparities on some days were much higher. Washington, D.C., had the lowest disparity, with an average of 10% higher levels in Black, Hispanic and Asian communities in low-income tracts.

In these cities, as in New York City and Newark, the researchers also analyzed the data to see whether they could identify any links with wind and heat — both factors that are expected to change as the world warms. Although the analysis is not yet complete, the team has so far found a direct connection between stagnant air and uneven pollution distribution, which was not surprising to the team because winds disperse pollution. Because air stagnation is expected to increase in the northeastern and southwestern U.S. in the coming years, this result suggests uneven air pollution distribution could worsen in these regions, too, if actions to reduce emissions are not taken. The team found a less robust connection with heat, though a correlation existed. Hot days are expected to increase across the country with climate change. Thus, the researchers say that if greenhouse gas emissions aren’t reduced soon, people in these communities could face more days in which conditions are hazardous to their health from the combination of NO2 and heat impacts.

Pusede hopes to see this type of analysis used to support communities fighting to improve air quality. “Because we can get daily data on pollutant levels, it’s possible to evaluate the success of interventions, such as rerouting diesel trucks or adding emissions controls on industrial facilities, to reduce them,” she says.

The researchers acknowledge support and funding from NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Video: https://youtu.be/SbQ87rZq9MA

#Environment