#internal drainage systems

[giannic]

Endorheic basin - Wikipedia

While researching the Caspian Sea, I found this term. Adding it to my vocabulary. Can't forsee when I shall ever use it in a conversation, but hey, if I can get out of this place, anything's possible.

[northgazaupdates]

23 January 2024

Following the withdrawal of IOF troops from part of northern Gaza, journalist Mahmoud Ziad documents a field prison built by the occupation.

The IOF bombed and/or bulldozed the buildings and roads in the area until only dirt remained. They then dug a large, shallow pit and lined the perimeter with barbed wire. Captured civilians were then forced to remove their clothes out in the open, and forced into the pit. They remained in that pit, sitting or kneeling and completely exposed to the elements, for days at a time.

Typical of winter in this region, temperatures during that time dropped very low both day and night. Many days there was also pouring rain. The prisoners—all of them displaced civilians trying to find shelter—were kept in this prison naked, drenched in freezing water, and exposed to temperatures low enough to decrease body temperature. No drainage system appears to have been constructed, meaning that even when it wasn’t raining, rainwater would have pooled in the pit and kept the prisoners partially submerged until the water either evaporated or soaked into the soil.

Notwithstanding the legally dubious nature of taking IDPs as prisoners, these conditions are simply inhumane, and a violation of numerous international treaties, customs, and laws.

Source: Mahmoud Ziad on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mahmoud_ziad (@mahmoud_ziad2023)

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - January 8-14

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles!

1. In Chicago, all city buildings now use 100 percent clean power

“As of January 1, every single one of [Chicago’s municipal buildings] — including 98 fire stations, two international airports, and two of the largest water treatment plants on the planet — is running on renewable energy, thanks largely to Illinois’ newest and largest solar farm.”

2. California Rice Fields Offer Threatened Migratory Waterbirds a Lifeline

“Cranes need nighttime roosting sites flooded to a depth of about 3 to 9 inches, so they can easily hear or feel predators moving through the water. [... Bird Returns pays] farmers to flood their fields during critical migration periods [... and] provide foraging sites by leaving harvested rice or corn fields untilled, so cranes can access the leftover grain.”

3. New York Climate Superfund Becomes Law

“[Funds recovered “from major oil and gas companies” will be used to pay for] the restoration of stormwater drainage and sewage treatment systems, upgrades to transit systems, roads and bridges, the installation of green spaces to mitigate city heat islands and even medical coverage and preventative health programs for illnesses and injuries induced by climate change.”

4. Austin says retooled process for opening overnight cold-weather shelters is paying off

“[... T]he city's moves to lower the temperature threshold to open shelters and announce their activation at least a day in advance were the result of community feedback. [Shelter operators also passed out hot food.]”

5. Helping Communities Find Funding for Nature-Based Solutions

““From coastal oyster reefs to urban stormwater greenways, nature-based solutions are becoming the new normal.” That’s because these types of projects are often less expensive to build and have additional community benefits, such as improving water quality or creating parkland.”

6. Saving the Iberian lynx: How humans rescued this rare feline from extinction

“Back in the early 2000s, fewer than 100 individuals roamed the wild, including only 25 reproductive females. [...] Conservation staff [...] shape these cats into resourceful hunters and get them ready for life outside the center. [...] They’re fine-tuning captive-breeding routines, improving veterinary procedures, and pushing for more wildlife corridors.”

7. Biden cancels student loans for 150,000 more borrowers

“The 150,000 new beneficiaries announced Monday include more than 80,000 borrowers who were cheated or defrauded by their schools, over 60,000 borrowers with total and permanent disabilities and more than 6,000 public service workers[...] bringing the number whose student debt has been canceled during [Biden’s] administration to over 5 million[....]”

8. PosiGen wins another $200M for lower-income rooftop solar

“PosiGen offers a ​“no credit check” [solar panel installation to] those with a higher percentage of their income going to power and fuel bills[....] “somewhere between 25 and 75 percent” of the consumer’s monthly energy savings could come from efficiency measures such as sealing heating and cooling leaks, replacing thermostats, and installing LED lights[....]”

9. Indigenous communities come together to protect the Colombian Amazon

“At this year’s COP, Indigenous peoples celebrated the [protection of] traditional knowledge, innovations and practices[... and] the Cali Fund, which ensures that communities, including Indigenous peoples, receive benefits from the commercial use of [...] genetic data derived from the biological resources that they have long stewarded.”

10. How the heartland of Poland’s coal industry is ditching fossil fuels - without sacrificing jobs

“[Katowice, a former coal city] committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 40 per cent compared to 1990, prioritising investments in green infrastructure, and promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency. [...”]The gradual departure from heavy industry did not bring high social costs in our city,” says Marcin Krupa, Mayor of Katowice City.”

January 1-7 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[half-a-life]

The cave was conceived as part of the architectural structure of the garden. It is actually attached to the basalt rock. It has three floors, below in front of it is a fountain with a statue of Neptune and stone reptiles by the sculptor Bohumil Schnirch. The artificial rocks were made of high-quality bricks on cement mortar and were also plastered with cement, so they resembled stalactites. Corridors, small halls with stone seats, caves, several staircases, terraces and at the very top a viewing terrace with a triumphal gate were created here. Below was the arcade promenade. The cave has an internal system of underground passages, where ingenious ventilation and drainage shafts are hidden.

Neptune fountain in Havlicek Park

Prague, Czech Republic 🇨🇿

[thehopefuljournalist]

weird question, but do you know if regenerative agriculture is growing, and by what rate? it's important to me but looking for articles on my own can trigger a panic attack :[ no worries if not !

Hey! Thank you so much for asking. Honestly, agriculture and sustainable agriculture specifically are very close to my heart as well, so I was glad for the excuse to do some research :) 

Also, thank you for your patience, I know you sent this Ask a bit ago. It’s good that you’re listening to yourself and not going around searching for things that might cause you harm, so thanks again for reaching out!

So, what is regenerative agriculture? 

Regenerative agriculture is a way of farming that focuses on soil health. When soil is healthy, it produces more food and nutrition, stores more carbon and increases biodiversity – the variety of species. Healthy soil supports other water, land and air environments and ecosystems through natural processes including water drainage and pollination – the fertilization of plants.

Regenerative agriculture is a defining term for sustainability in our food system - while there is no one true definition of regenerative agriculture, the concept has been around for centuries, taking root in Indigenous growing practices. Regenerative approaches can bolster soil health and watershed health. They can also add to climate mitigation and potentially tie into regulatory or commercial incentives for a more sustainable diet. 

Regenerative farming methods include minimizing the ploughing of land. This keeps CO2 in the soil, improves its water absorbency and leaves vital fungal communities in the earth undisturbed.

Rotating crops to vary the types of crop planted improves biodiversity, while using animal manure and compost helps to return nutrients to the soil. 

Continuously grazing animals on the same piece of land can also degrade soil, explains the Regenerative agriculture in Europe report from the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council. So regenerative agriculture methods include moving grazing animals to different pastures.

How can it help?

Regenerative farming can improve crop yields – the volume of crops produced – by improving the health of soil and its ability to retain water, as well as reducing soil erosion. If regenerative farming was implemented in Africa, crop yields could rise 13% by 2040 and up to 40% in the future, according to a Regenerative Farming in Africa report by conservation organization the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the UN.

Regenerative farming can also reduce emissions from agriculture and turn the croplands and pastures, which cover up to 40% of Earth’s ice-free land area, into carbon sinks. These are environments that naturally absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, according to climate solutions organization Project Drawdown.

5 ways to scale regenerative agriculture:

1. Agree on common metrics for environmental outcomes. Today, there are many disparate efforts to define and measure environmental outcomes. We must move to a set of metrics adopted by the whole food industry, making it easier for farmers to adjust their practices and for positive changes to be rewarded. 2. Build farmers’ income from environmental outcomes such as carbon reduction and removal. We need a well-functioning market with a credible system of payments for environmental outcomes, trusted by buyers and sellers, that creates a new, durable, income stream for farmers. 3. Create mechanisms to share the cost of transition with farmers. Today, all the risk and cost sits with the farmers. 4. Ensure government policy enables and rewards farmers for transition. Too many government policies are in fact supporting the status quo of farming. The food sector must come together and work jointly with regulators to address this. 5. Develop new sourcing models to spread the cost of transition. We must move from sourcing models that take crops from anywhere to models that involve collaboration between off-takers from different sectors to take crops from areas converting to regenerative farming.

The rise of regenerative agriculture

In 2019, General Mills, the manufacturer of Cheerios, Yoplait and Annie’s Mac and Cheese (among other products), announced it would begin sourcing a portion of its corn, wheat, dairy and sugar from farmers who were engaged in regenerative agriculture practices and committed to advancing the practice of regenerative agriculture on one million acres of land by 2030. In early 2020, Whole Foods announced regenerative agriculture would be the No. 1 food trend and, in spite of the pandemic and the rapid growth of online shopping overshadowing the trend, business interest in the field still spiked by 138%. 

More recently, PepsiCo announced it was adopting regenerative agriculture practices among 7 million acres of its farmland. Cargill declared it intends to do the same on 10 million acres by 2030, and Walmart has committed to advancing the practice on 50 million acres. Other companies pursuing regenerative agriculture include Danone, Unilever, Hormel, Target and Land O’ Lakes.

According to Nielsen, 75% of millennials are altering their buying habits with the environment in mind. This sentiment, of course, does not always materialize into tangible actions on behalf of every consumer. However, it is clear from the actions of PepsiCo, General Mills, Walmart, Unilever and others that they believe consumers’ expectations of what is environmentally friendly are shifting and that they will soon be looking to purchase regeneratively-produced foods because of the many benefits they produce.

The next step in the transition to regenerative agriculture is certification. The goal is to create labeling that will allow the consumer to connect to the full suite of their values. Some companies are partnering with nonprofit conveners and certifiers. The Savory Institute is one such partner, convening producers and brands around regenerative agriculture and more holistic land management practices.

In 2020, the Savory Institute granted its first “Ecological OutCome Verification (EOV) seal to Epic’s latest high protein bars by certifying that its featured beef was raised with regenerative agriculture practices. 

The program was developed to let the land speak for itself by showing improvement through both leading and lagging functions such as plant diversity and water holding capacity. There are now thousands of products that have been Land to Market verified, with over 80 brand partnerships with companies such as Epic Provisions, Eileen Fisher and Applegate.  Daily Harvest is giving growers in that space three-year contracts as well as markets and price premiums for the transitional crop. It's focusing on that transitional organic process as a stepping stone toward a regenerative organic food system.

Daily Harvest’s Almond Project creates an alliance with the Savory Institute and a group of stakeholders - including Simple Mills and Cappello’s - to bring regenerative practices to almonds in the Central Valley of California.

These companies are working with Treehouse California Almonds, their shared almond supplier, to lead soil health research on 160 acres of farmland. Over five years, the Project will focus on measuring outcomes around the ecosystem and soil health of regenerative practices – comparing those side by side with neighboring conventional baselines.

“We need industry partnership; we need pre-competitive collaboration,” says Rebecca Gildiner, Director of Sustainability at Daily Harvest, of the Almond Project. “Sustainability cannot be competitive. We are all sharing suppliers, we are all sharing supply – rising tides truly lift all boats. The industry has to understand our responsibility in investing, where historically investments have disproportionately focused on yields with a sole focus of feeding the world. We know this has been critical in the past but it has overlooked other forms of capital, other than financial. We need to look towards experimenting in holistic systems that have other outcomes than yield and profit - instead of saying organic can’t feed the world, we have to invest in figuring out how organic can feed the world because it’s critical.”

////

In short!!!

Many articles are stating regenerative agriculture as a defining, and rising “buzz word” in the industry. It seems that consumers are becoming more and more aware and are demanding more sustainable approaches to agriculture. 

We, of course, have a way to go, but it seems from the data that I’ve gathered, that regenerative agriculture is, in fact, on the rise. Demand is rising, and many are working on ways to globalize those methods.

Source Source Source Source

[stroobooree]

YOU GUYS… scug oc. He’s a work in progress but I think he’s oh so very cute.

Info (for those interested):

“THE RUNT”

“A failed experiment, rejected and tossed aside by its creator. Small but resourceful, this creature must prove its worth by clawing its way back home.”

Overview

The Runt is- obviously- a uniquely small slugcat. Although it is technically fully grown, it barely surpasses the height of an average slugpup. Its size, along with other internal abnormalities, unfortunately leads to a lot of problems. These problems go as follows:

-Lower damage output

-Lower defense (higher chance for lizards to instant kill you)

-Cannot breathe underwater as long (drainage system is now more impossible than ever! You’re welcome)

-Cannot store extra food pips (fast metabolism) (because fuck you)

However, there are plenty of upsides to being this little guy:

-Increased agility (Builds up momentum over time) (Faster when crawling)

-Increased stealth

-Crafting (VERY simplified)

-Cute :3

SHOUTOUT TO MY BEST FRIEND @web-creep FOR AIDING IN THE CREATION OF THIS BEAUTIFUL BOY

(Btw all the notes on the right are canon except for “longer cycles”)

[scleroticstatue]

FAQ: Diet

What the actual hell?

I was desperate. I was frequently experiencing gastrointestinal distress, ulcers, and food-poisoning-like symptoms. While I did experience horrible ulcers for the majority of my life, the last few years had significantly progressed to the point where I couldn't eat any food that I didn't make without feeling some stomach problem — no restaurants, no fast food, no church potlucks, no dinner dates.

Do you know the cause?

Some of it was a food allergy to meat and meat byproducts, some genetic predisposition, and some was an h. pylori bacterial infection. There were other factors, but those are the three big ones.

What did the doctors say?

Unfortunately, the only thing the doctors could help with was the h. pylori, and the only way they could do that was antibiotics. Since I am allergic to amoxicillin-based antibiotics and since my family has historically very bad reactions to antibiotics, that was not an option, nor would it solve my meat allergies or genetics.

So what did you do?

I spent six months off of sugar and another three free of yeast (which inhibits bacterial growth) with a limited selection of food intended to grow my microbiome, then spent a week and a half on only probiotic food — yogurt, flax, kombucha, and kefir, as well as grapefruit peel powder for the last few days. After that, I did a total fast (no food or water) for two days, no food for three more days, and then slowly started adding juice and flax and then other foods back in over the month or so (to avoid shocking my system). During the fasting period, I also was doing manual lymph drainage, taking karanja seeds, and I routinely used a sauna throughout this whole experience that made it easier and faster.

You went for two days without drinking and five days without eating anything???

Yes. And I kept working my manual labor job. However, I am experienced at fasting; I do a total fast for 24 hours once a month and fast sunrise to sunset once a week. And because of my gastrointestinal distress, not eating for a day or two had become pretty routine for me.

Okay, what about the karanja seeds? Google says they're toxic to humans!

Did everything go like you expected?

Google AI is wrong. They are toxic to fish and a few other animals. However, in a study done with rats, researchers found they showed no signs of liver damage but what they did find is the oil in them could heal ulcers caused by stress and chemical damage at extraordinarily high rates.

More or less. Some things were better — I honestly expected to hate yogurt by the end of that phase — some were worse — I am now, for unknowable reasons, significantly worse at drinking water. I also became kinda manic bipolar while I was fasting and my nerves were so much more sensitive. 10/10 did not like it. Never want to do it again.

Did it turn out like you were hoping?

Will you do it again?

Wellllll....... Yes. And no. I feel much better and I can eat out without worrying and I'm not allergic to meat anymore. Buuuuut most meat still tastes nasty as all get out and I won't be eating it much.

Pictured for reference: goat biryani which I will never be eating again.

No. I will probably do a probiotic cleanse with yogurt and kombucha every year or two, just to keep my microbiome well-fed, but I will never do the total fasting ever again. Probably.

Do you recommend that anyone else do it?

How desperate are you? "I can't eat a lettuce and tomato salad" kind of desperate? "I ate tater tots and threw up" kind of desperate? "I'm surviving off pancakes and dollar store cheese dip because that's the only thing that doesn't make me bleed internally but oops I just found out the cheese dip is making me depressed" kind of desperate? You must be desperate to do what I did. And you are probably not.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil floods: engineers and voters point the finger at politicians

While floods continue to devastate Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state, a flurry of disinformation continues to be pumped into the public discourse.

Without a shred of evidence, multiple videos and social media posts claim that the floods were caused by a decision that the federal government allegedly made to open the floodgates of the state’s Taquari River dams. State authorities have debunked the conspiracy theory, but it has gone viral anyway.

More recently, even Army officers tasked with helping to mitigate the crisis spread falsehoods, echoing a false alarm of a dam collapse and carrying out an unnecessary evacuation. The Army temporarily relieved the soldiers involved in the case from duty and opened an internal investigation.

That said, authorities are not without blame in the disaster, and may in fact have contributed to the flooding. Several politicians, including Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite, worked to loosen hundreds of points of environmental legislation, eliminating precautionary measures and allowing real estate exploration in risk areas.

But, more than that, the direct responsibility of governments for the failures of cities’ anti-flood mechanisms is under debate.

Sebastião Melo, the mayor of state capital Porto Alegre, is facing a request for his impeachment. The petition, filed by the Porto Alegre Residents’ Associations Union president (a man linked to the leftist Workers’ Party), accuses the mayor of neglecting the maintenance of the city’s pumping stations and urban drainage system.

Continue reading.

[blushlillyyy]

Delhi ka drainage system is ✨

I can't blame the rain but can definitely blame the administration managing the drainage system. Can't believe we live in the same country where thousands years ago our ancient civilizations were more technologically equipped for the same I'm ranting bc I'm frustrated.

The CM is out there recruiting govt employees illegally, having large ass mansions, the mayor attending long distance destinations, attending international webinars where they couldn't invest this much on their freaking job!

AAP doesn't seem "aam" anymore, giving a bunch of people free internet and other freebies isn't going to make the capital city perfect yk.

[ratemyroofer]

Sydney Roof Assessment: What You Need to Know

Conducting a thorough inspection of your roof is essential for maintaining the integrity and safety of your home. This process requires attention to detail and a systematic approach to ensure no potential issues are overlooked.Begin with a visual survey from the ground to check for apparent problems. Look for missing or damaged tiles, signs of sagging, or rust on metal components. Such observations can help you gauge the general state of the roof and identify areas that may need closer inspection.Next, it is important to examine the gutters and drainage systems. Properly functioning gutters are crucial for preventing water accumulation, which can lead to leaks and structural damage. Ensure that gutters are free from debris and that downpipes effectively direct water away from the foundations of the building.An internal inspection should follow, focusing on any signs of water ingress within the home. Check for damp spots, water stains on ceilings, or peeling paint, which can indicate a leak. The attic or roof cavity should also be inspected for moisture, daylight visibility, or other signs of damage.Different roofing materials exhibit distinct types of wear and damage. For instance, tiled roofs may have cracks or chips, while metal roofs might show signs of rust or misaligned panels. Ensure to assess these materials accordingly, and pay particular attention to the structural elements like rafters and beams to confirm they are in good condition.Engaging a professional for a detailed roof examination is highly recommended. Experts can detect less obvious issues and provide a comprehensive report on the roof's condition, which can be invaluable, especially if you suspect major problems or if it has been a long time since the last inspection.Prioritise safety when performing a roof inspection. Use proper equipment such as harnesses and appropriate ladders, and do not hesitate to hire professionals if you feel unsure about carrying out the inspection yourself. The expense of professional services is a small price to pay compared to the potential cost of injuries or overlooked damage.Considering Sydney's climate, which includes periods of heavy rain and strong winds, regular inspections are particularly important. Performing these checks twice a year and after extreme weather events will help identify and address any weather-related damage promptly.Regular roof assessments are crucial for maintaining your property’s safety and value. By understanding the inspection process, you can keep your roof in optimal condition and protect your home investment.

[mariacallous]

Countries have spent decades building critical infrastructure that is now buckling under extreme heat, wildfires, and floods, laying bare just how unprepared the world’s energy and transportation systems are to withstand the volatility of climate change.

These vulnerabilities have been on full display in recent weeks as record-breaking temperatures broil the world, straining power grids, threatening water supplies, and warping roads. July was the hottest month ever recorded—according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service—with intense heat searing Europe, North Africa, Antarctica, and South America, where it is currently winter. Even the world’s oceans haven’t been spared, with all-time high surface temperatures in the Mediterranean and North Atlantic decimating coral reef systems and threatening marine life.

If regions aren’t being scorched, there’s a good chance that they are underwater. China was drenched by its heaviest downpours in 140 years, which triggered massive floods that killed dozens of people and destroyed crop fields. In Slovenia and Canada, surging floodwaters have battered communities and submerged villages; glacial flooding in Alaska has carried entire homes away. Cities in Spain have been flooded worse than Noah and his brood, while southern Sweden is grappling with its heaviest rains in more than 160 years.

“It’s just an unbelievable summer,” said Peter Gleick, a climate scientist and senior fellow at the Pacific Institute. “It’s the kind of extreme weather that we climate scientists have been warning about for decades—it just now seems to be happening everywhere, all at once.”

Climate change, driven by human activity, makes extreme heat and precipitation more frequent and intense—fueling the floods, heat waves, and wildfires that have been wreaking havoc around the world. The fallout has spotlighted how the infrastructure systems underpinning global development weren’t constructed to withstand this increasingly extreme climate reality, and what investment has been carried out has been less than helpful.

China’s massive Belt and Road infrastructure plan has built more coal plants across Eurasia, among other things. Germany shuttered its nuclear power stations, not its coal plants. Florida actually banned state officials from investing public money in green endeavors. The Biden administration’s big clean-energy package angered allies and sparked concerns of a trade war. Meanwhile, Ford sold an F-series pickup truck every minute of last year.

“We have entire cities and transportation hubs that were all built for climate that no longer exists,” said Katharine Hayhoe, the Chief Scientist at the Nature Conservancy. “That’s why we’re seeing terrible things happen.”

China’s most recent bout of flooding, for example, exposed key gaps in its drainage infrastructure. Across Europe, where home air-conditioning units aren’t the norm, extreme heat has throttled communities, strained power grids, and sparked government health warnings—particularly after the continent’s heat wave last year killed an estimated 61,000 people. In Phoenix, Arizona, one flight was canceled because the plane’s internal temperature became unbearably hot, prompting three passengers to faint from heat exhaustion.

Yet even as these threats become more pronounced, experts say countries are still struggling to turn away from fossil fuels and build resilience into their infrastructure systems. In March, an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warned that the world was on track to barrel past a key threshold in the next decade—warming 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels—unless industrial governments rapidly cut greenhouse gas and CO2 emissions. “Changes in climate are coming more rapidly than expected,” Jim Skea, the head of the IPCC, said this month.

“The real challenge is that so far, we’re nowhere near addressing climate change with the seriousness that is required to really move the needle,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA. “If we don’t actually do the hard work of deeply addressing this, then it will continue to get worse. We will see more years like this one, and then eventually years that are significantly worse than this one,” he added.

There are some bright spots: The Netherlands, for example, has spent the last few hundred years building dikes and is now spearheading efforts to build further resilience into its infrastructure amid rising sea levels. More than half of the country’s territory lies below sea level, and the Dutch government has worked to develop a robust water management scheme and implement novel flood control strategies.

“The Netherlands are incredibly vulnerable to sea level rise,” Hayhoe said. “Their water plan is very advanced because they understand the threat, and they’re taking action to ensure that as sea level rises, that they will still have their infrastructure, their homes, places to live, places to grow food.”

Like the Dutch, many governments are increasingly focusing on adapting their infrastructure systems, from incorporating climate modeling into water management to developing heat mitigation strategies. But unless countries take more concerted efforts to both slash carbon emissions and ramp up adaptation measures, experts warn that more suffering lies ahead.

Adaptation “efforts have not been anywhere near to the level to match the threat,” said Alice Hill, a former senior director for resilience policy under the Obama administration currently at the Council on Foreign Relations. “We just haven’t made the kind of necessary investments to protect ourselves and our communities from these extreme events—and with that kind of destruction comes a lot of grief, loss of life, and then economic loss.”

Part of the problem is that retrofitting decades-old infrastructure can come at a steep price. A 2013 study of the world’s 136 largest coastal cities, for instance, found that it would cost $350 million annually in each city to improve defenses against flooding fueled by climate change. While that number pales in comparison to the price of inaction—which by some estimates can run up to hundreds of billions or trillions of dollars—it can be a difficult economic and political tradeoff for many governments.

“We’re talking huge price tags, and we’re also talking something that has not been done systemically before,” Hayhoe said. “We’ve never had to cope with changes this fast in the entire history of human civilization, and so we’re asking people, cities, states, governments, organizations, businesses to do something they’ve never had to do before.”

Physical preparedness is also only one part of the adaptation equation, said Stéphane Hallegatte, a senior climate advisor at the World Bank who was one of the authors of the 2013 study. Beyond infrastructure, a robust response also means developing social systems to help vulnerable communities on the front lines of the climate crisis.

“Adaptation is not only infrastructure,” Hallegatte said. “Adaptation is also insurance, social protection systems—also helping people [have] access to financial tools to borrow when they’re affected.”

Hayhoe likened the urgency of combating climate change to a longtime smoker who needs to quit. Although they may have impaired breathing and spots on their lungs, she said, they are still alive—and every day matters.

“So when’s the best time to stop? As soon as possible. How much? As much as possible,” she said. “Why? Because the sooner we stop, the better off we will be.”

[yama-uba]

At my current age, I know 3 things about myself for sure: I can't dwell on anything (especially before bed), I can't have plums and beets, and I never follow the first two prohibitions. Because of the abundance of thoughts about Paralives, last night I dreamed that I was an intern at PS.

The first thing I remember is that I was introduced to the development team, an analyst, and a tester. And then the team leader asked how I did my "homework" on getting to know the project. I said that I was interested in the fact that they decided to make a mechanic where individual light bulbs in lighting fixtures can burn out and parafolk can buy a separate, suitable light bulb for some objects and screw it in. ATTENTION: I doubt that this will be implemented in the game - it was only part of my dream. And then I asked, if we deepen the home gameplay towards realistic household chores, then can we find out how the mechanism of breakdown and the mechanism of clogging of plumbing is implemented, including sinks/baths/washing machines/boilers, and not just toilets, because a clog is not just a leaky flush tank.

There was an awkward pause and I continued asking questions in an attempt to ease the tension. "Will the game implement a system of water pipes and drainage, which would limit the placement of plumbing?", "Will we create an electrical circuit for the house, where all energy consumers should be taken into account, including sockets and light switches?", "What kind of heating will be preferable in the land of parafolk: radiators, convectors, air conditioners or a warm sweat system?", "Will sources of cold and heat in the house be taken into account, such as tiled floors, doors to the street and a chimney of a fireplace on the upper floors?", "What is the maximum length of a floor in the game and will it be possible to create a panel, frame, brick, monolithic reinforced concrete house and a house-hybrid of construction technologies?" I also asked a bunch of questions that I have already forgotten.

Everyone was looking at me. And then my boss said, "You know, we haven't even thought about this until now. Your first task is to formulate a concept and create a prototype for our focus group and testing of this idea this week." I was very surprised by this deadline. Considering that 1 of these 5 days was already coming to an end, I was assured that this time was more than enough and, as soon as I got the hang of the project, I would be able to do all this in 24 hours.

Then there was a typical "strange work day" in a dream, where it turned out that the junior programmer assigned to me to help with the implementation turned out to be a goose. I mean, he was not anthropomorphic, but a real live, white goose (and, if you look at it from another point of view, he was a really talented programmer, capable of writing code according to my idiotic technical task). As is customary in any dreams, the only thing that confused me was that his name was Steve (this name is associated with very difficult to communicate with people, like Jobs and cases from my experience, but Steve-goose was not only a competent employee, but also a pleasant person).

Somewhere on the 4th day of my work and hard crunch on studying the sewerage system of an American private house together with a goose, I began to sleep right at the meeting. My boss noticed this and asked me if I thought our parafolk personality profile system, which was a complete homage to the Sims 2 character system, was boring. I said that the OCEAN system was good, of course, but I would add to these 5 traits the missing traits from the HEXACO system (and added some other traits that I came up with at that moment, which brought their number to 9), and also returned the Yunk typology, but would make it not a "zodiac sign", but a lifestyle, and also added that very "passion for some activity" from the Hobbies DLC. At that moment, I forgot about fetishes and taboos (as always in a dream).

The team leader loved the idea, but everyone else sighed heavily. He crossed out all his old notes on the wall and started drawing everything again. Steve, sitting next to me at the daily, stretched out his long neck and whispered that this person was both the project's best hope for getting out of beta and the local Elon Musk. So I had to be extremely careful with my "bouts of creativity."

The boss saw this and asked what was missing in my character system for the base game. I said that the fear system from Sims 2 needs to be developed into a full-fledged mechanic. Like there are fears (rational fear of something), and there are phobias (irrational fear). And we could get a lot of interesting multi-layered systems with intrapersonal conflicts of parafolk, like real people. For example, a person who dreams of becoming a superstar (because his mother wanted him to), but is afraid of the stage. And that this would give more replayability with a small amount of starting content for stories: a phobia could arise during the game due to the player's actions, due to being in society with parafolk with this phobia, be hidden from the player (the character knows about his fear), hidden from both the player and the character (latency period). I was asked to list the options:

Thalassophobia - (homage to Sims 2);

Cynophobia (dogs);

Nyctophobia (darkness);

Acrophobia (heights);

Verminophobia (bacteria)

Claustrophobia and Agarophobia (closed and open spaces);

I named half a dozen more phobias that I could remember, including trypophobia. And then I came up with the concept that we need to make a family of pre-mades, where the only toddler will have absolutely all the realized phobias, which will constantly exhaust his parents, but at the same time this same child will heroically save his family, neighbors and acquaintances from dangers and be a "reinsurer hen". This impressed everyone. Especially my boss. … He said that I have 3 days to give them a finished sample so that they can decide whether to do it. I said that I can't. To which the boss assured me that it's okay, because I can do it on the weekend. Steve, who had previously been kind to me, said that he could only help with the mechanics of the house, and this task was beyond his strength.

It seems that this is where my career in game development ended, because I don't remember much after that. But I do remember that I woke up thinking, "I slept through my alarm! Steve now has to defend me in front of everyone else! We'll get fired! We don't have time for anything!" Maybe it's for the best that I didn't pursue a career in the game industry - this world already has enough Peter Molyneux.

...

I wonder if Steve was able to get promoted to middle programmer after such a quest…

[unfortunately-obsessed]

Original Dimension 6055 – New York City

There, the unrelenting rain creates a gloomy and depressive atmosphere, where even during the day the sky is overcast, creating a perpetually wet environment.

Because of the city's antiquated and poorly maintained drainage system, the streets frequently flood. Lower-lying areas become dangerously submerged.

Travelling is exceptionally hazardous on days of heavier rain. Traffic jams are a constant issue, exacerbated by the flooding and sheer volume of cars, which also increases the volume of road accidents. The streets are clogged with cars, bikes, and pedestrians, all vying for limited space.

Most people live in cramped, dilapidated apartments. Basic services like electricity and healthcare are unreliable and expensive. For the average citizen, survival is a daily struggle. Many work multiple jobs.

Due to the constant rain, raincoats, waterproof jackets, and umbrellas are essential parts of daily attire. Those items can and will be used as fashion statements. Colorful lanterns paint a beautiful landscape through the concrete jungle

In a bid to combat the environmental degradation, many buildings feature green rooftops, aiding to menage the incessant rainfall with better drainage systems and increasing the rooftops lifespan. Those are more common in wealthier areas, like the Bronx.

Poorer areas have water-logged walls that damage the infrastructure. Blue lights are used to combat seasonal affect depression.

The city is breeding ground for moss and the flu. It's humid, so cold and heay are hard to regulate.

Corporations like Alchemax and Oscorp wield enough power to operate above the law. Healthcare and police are both understaffed and underfunded.

Yet, people stay. NYC still is a melting pot of opportunities and different cultures interacting. Despite it all, it's also a walking city with great public transportation – full-fledged on trains through the boroughs – and a greater sense of community. Bars, shops, libraries and restaurants thrive; it's an international center of politics, fashion, music and theater.

6055 still homes many landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and World Trade Center. Not to mention the Headquarters of The Avengers, The Quartert Fantastic and The Defenders.

Over the years, a number of supervillains wreaked havoc in New York, including Shocker, Electro, Vulture, Rhino, Scorpion, Prowler, Sandman and Lizard, etc. Unfortunately, the black market also thrives, attracting mercenaries like Deadpool.

Fortunately, Hell's Kitchen can count with their personal Devil, and New York as a whole can count with their protector, Predator.

[equipment-manifest]

This post is part of a series on Rain World's architecture.

Outskirts Style

As you hinted at, Outskirts has a unique architectural style. It's got its share of brick, but as far as I can tell no other area makes such extensive use of stone tiles. The internal name of Outskirts is "Suburban" (SU), and the nearest city would seem to be Shaded Citadel, so I'm guessing the style we see here is still pre-Iterator, but more modern than both the ornamental Shaded Citadel style and the Industrial style (which are, in my view, contemporaneous).

The Outskirts style isn't limited to Outskirts proper, though. A good deal of stone tile appears in the first few rooms in Farm Arrays past the Outskirts gate, and LF_C01 even has the trademark "skewered cubes" that are a hallmark of the Outskirts style. Long strips of stone tile which rest atop fluted pillars are another distinctive element exclusive to these two areas. For some reason, in Farm Arrays but not Outskirts these are often seen wrapped in large tarps which can somehow survive the rain. Perhaps this accounts for the greater number still standing in Farm Arrays. At any rate, the similarities between Outskirts and (lower) Farm Arrays suggest to me that the areas were built around the same time. As they are the only aboveground regions which display the raised structures containing the "Big Head" asset native to the temple stone ruins in Subterranean, this was probably around the same time that those ruins were first discovered.

Outskirts' characteristic stone tile also appears in the background of a number of rooms in Drainage System. Since the placement of the Drainage System gate suggests that the region is a sort of "underbelly" to Outskirts, I suspect these rooms are actually the interiors of some of the structures we see in Outskirts. However, the infrastructure they contain is modern enough to remain functional in Artificer’s time and would likely have been unnecessary prior to the inundation of the surface by the Iterators' breath. So perhaps the stone tile we see is just the leftover facade of buildings that were hollowed out and repurposed.

[windriverdelta]

Westeros alternative geography

Mostly to solve this problem, I'd have a through-going river (which I've christened Wind River) from Thenn to Starfall. That is, extend the Milkwater to the Neck, passing it through the Wall at Castle Black, past Last Hearth, the crofter's village and Barrowton. Then it follows the Green Fork, but instead of forming a Trident (I also take out the Blue Fork), I have it turn southwest, reversing the Red Fork up to Riverrun. There it continues southeast to High Heart, Rushing Falls, Tumbler's Falls and then to Bitterbridge. Then it follows the course of the Mander until Dunstonbury. There it continues south to Oldtown - which I put on the opposite side of High Hermitage. There the river forms a delta in front of the Arbor, between Blackcrown and Starfall, flanked by two distributaries - the western Honeywine and the larger eastern Whispering Sound (with Three Towers and Starfall on opposite sides).

The Vale and Westerlands too are joined with its watershed - unlike in the books, I have most of the Vale being internally drained through a gorge in the Bloody Gate southwestward to this river ("Vale River"). And the Westerlands river that descends from Sarsfield doesn't end in the Sunset Sea, but rather continues south past Casterly Rock and eventually joins this river at Highgarden. The Stormlands are even more complex - there is a Blackwater Rush, but it originates south of King's Landing in the Kingswood and eastern Dornish Marches. At King's Landing it undergoes a river bifurcation - most of it continues northeastward to a delta in the Narrow Sea, but part of the flow goes due west (forming the Rose River), takes the outlet of the Gods' Eye, and joins the Wind River southeast of Stoney Sept.

This river bifurcation formed only shortly before the Conquest - before, the entire Blackwater flowed into the Narrow Sea - and the connection it established between the Wind River and the Narrow Sea was key in the growth of King's Landing. Aegon I and Jaehaerys I established a firm Iron Throne control over the internal waterways, explicitly prohibiting any lord from claiming fees or duties or any other authority on the rivers, a rule strictly enforced by all Targaryens and Baratheons. During wartime, control of the river system is pivotal - the inability of the Two Kings during the Conquest, of the Greens during the Dance and the Blacks during the First Blackfyre to contest the Rose River led to the failure of their efforts, and the incompetence of Aerys II's cronies early during Robert's Rebellion, plus the rebels establishing connections by sea, allowed Team Arryn to seize control of the rivers north of the Rose River.

The maesters believe that this river system formed only in recent eons, when the growth of hills on the western coast of the Reach (some even link the legend of Storm's End to the Blackwater), the formation of the Gods' Eye and Bite, and the Hammer of the Waters (which in this AU tried to split Westeros in east-west rather than north-south) merged numerous drainages.

[concwaterdamg5]

Concrete Water Damage

Understanding Concrete Water Damage: Causes, Effects, Prevention, and Remediation

Introduction

Concrete is often hailed as a durable and robust material, but it's not impervious to water damage. When water infiltrates concrete structures, it can lead to various issues, compromising their integrity and longevity. Understanding the causes, effects, prevention measures, and remediation techniques for concrete water damage is crucial for maintaining the structural integrity of buildings, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. In this article, we delve deep into the world of concrete water damage, shedding light on its complexities and providing insights into effective solutions.

Causes of Concrete Water Damage

Several factors contribute to concrete water damage:

Poor Construction Practices: Improper mixing of concrete, inadequate curing, and insufficient compaction during construction can create pores and cracks in the concrete, making it vulnerable to water penetration.

Natural Wear and Tear: Over time, concrete structures undergo natural wear and tear due to exposure to the elements, including rain, snow, and fluctuating temperatures. These environmental factors can gradually degrade the concrete and compromise its resistance to water.

Chemical Attack: Exposure to harsh chemicals, such as acids and salts, can corrode concrete surfaces, weakening their protective layer and making them susceptible to water infiltration.

Hydrostatic Pressure: High groundwater levels or poor drainage systems can exert hydrostatic pressure on concrete foundations, causing cracks and allowing water to seep through.

Freeze-Thaw Cycles: In regions with cold climates, water that seeps into concrete can freeze and expand during winter, exerting pressure on the structure and leading to cracks and spalling.

Effects of Concrete Water Damage

Concrete water damage can have far-reaching consequences:

Structural Degradation: Water penetration can weaken the internal structure of concrete, compromising its load-bearing capacity and structural integrity.

Cracking and Spalling: Prolonged exposure to water can cause concrete to crack, flake, or spall, detracting from its aesthetic appeal and exposing reinforcement bars to corrosion.

Mold and Mildew Growth: Moisture-laden concrete provides an ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew, posing health risks and exacerbating indoor air quality issues.

Efflorescence: Water-soluble salts present in concrete can migrate to the surface through capillary action, forming unsightly white deposits known as efflorescence.

Decreased Lifespan: Concrete water damage accelerates the aging process of structures, reducing their lifespan and necessitating costly repairs or replacement.

Prevention Measures

Preventing concrete water damage requires a proactive approach:

Proper Construction Practices: Adhering to industry standards for concrete mixing, curing, and compaction minimizes the formation of pores and cracks, enhancing the durability of concrete structures.

Surface Treatments: Applying waterproofing coatings or sealants to concrete surfaces forms a protective barrier against water infiltration, reducing the risk of damage.

Drainage Systems: Installing effective drainage systems, including gutters, downspouts, and French drains, helps channel water away from concrete foundations and structures, mitigating the risk of hydrostatic pressure.

Routine Maintenance: Regular inspections and maintenance activities, such as filling cracks, repairing damaged coatings, and clearing debris from drainage channels, prevent minor issues from escalating into major problems.

Proper Landscape Design: Implementing landscaping features, such as sloping terrain away from buildings and using permeable paving materials, promotes natural drainage and minimizes water accumulation around concrete structures.

Remediation Techniques

Addressing concrete water damage requires prompt action and appropriate remediation techniques:

Crack Repair: Injecting epoxy or polyurethane sealants into cracks effectively seals off water ingress points, restoring the structural integrity of the concrete.

Surface Waterproofing: Applying cementitious or acrylic-based waterproofing membranes to concrete surfaces forms a durable barrier against moisture intrusion, preventing further damage.

Concrete Resurfacing: Overlaying damaged concrete surfaces with a fresh layer of concrete or polymer-modified overlays improves aesthetics and enhances durability, minimizing the need for extensive repairs.

Reinforcement Protection: Encapsulating reinforcement bars with corrosion-inhibiting coatings or installing sacrificial anodes prevents corrosion and extends the lifespan of concrete structures.

Mold Remediation: Thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting mold-infested concrete surfaces with appropriate biocides and antimicrobial agents eliminates mold growth and prevents its recurrence.

Conclusion Concrete water damage poses significant challenges for the longevity and structural integrity of buildings, infrastructure, and other concrete structures. By understanding the causes, effects, prevention measures, and remediation techniques associated with concrete water damage, stakeholders can adopt proactive strategies to mitigate risks, preserve assets, and ensure the long-term durability of concrete structures. Through careful planning, proper construction practices, routine maintenance, and timely remediation efforts, we can safeguard concrete assets against the damaging effects of water infiltration, enhancing their resilience and sustainability for generations to come.