#new year's draft cleanup

[flyingfabio]

Fabio Quartararo at home in Andorra - July 28, 2021

📸 Marie Julliard / Hans Lucas

[safety-frog]

Froggy Two here!

It has been a minute!

Froggy One and I have been hit with a condition called life… we’re both grad students and time simply slipped away. Hence, the lack of posting and just being around on social media/Tumblr in general. A few comments on one of my stories was the random sign that I realized neither of us has been around in over a year or so. It made me miss Thunderbirds and the Thunderfam like crazy, and when I brought it up to Froggy One, she had the same reaction. I even baked and decorated some Thunderbirds cookies to celebrate having the energy to do more than rewatch old episodes! I ended up colvered in food coloring and frosting so all designs were off of memory.

And so we have returned! Well, at least I have… Life is still hectic and if the past year or two is anything to go by, will result in sporadic updates. Froggy One will probably still be hibernating throughout this upcoming winter but breaks might prove beneficial to getting her active again in the fandom. To ease myself back into writing as a whole, I went through and did a mass cleanup of old Thunderbirds stories and fixed what errors/typos could find. It made me itching to write more the longer I went through my old works. Idea after idea kept popping into my head and so, here I am!

(Also, apparently there were two more playlist posts that never crawled their way out of drafts, so expect those upcoming soon to finish out the playlist series!)

Enough about us, any exciting updates from the Thunderfam we missed out on? Any new faces? Much love to all! 🐸

[soy-soi-si]

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「where are you.」

@ Threw_TheBOOK 𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑑 @ Y/nthe1_4ubb, @ -1Braincell, & @ CAULDRON.

@ Y/nthe1_4ubb

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「What did ace do this time for you to bring me into it?」

@ -1Braincell

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「I DIDN'T DO SHIT THIS TIME, WTF YOU MEAN ME?!」

@ Y/nthe1_4ubb

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「X to Doubt」

@ CAULDRON

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「It was my fault」

@ Y/nthe1_4ubb

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「No, MY SWEET BABY YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THE FALL FOR THAT EVIL CREATURE」

@ -1Braincell

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「WHO ARE YOU CALLING AN EVIL CREATURE」

@ Threw_TheBOOK

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「And where are you deuce」

@ Threw_TheBOOK 𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑑 @ CAULDRON.

@ CAULDRON.

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「I went to get ingredients for trey to make you a new tart, I didn't mean for the shelf to collapse I just put my drink on it trey can tell you」

@ CAULDRON 𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑑 @ Toothpaste_YUMMY

@ Toothpaste_YUMMY

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「It really isn't his fault the others loaded the shelf to its max capacity and it just gave.」

@ MATERIAL_GURRL

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「Tldr a buncha second years decided to hog the fridges #NotCool #LeaveDeuceAlone #Cleanup」

@ Threw_TheBOOK

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「I see I'll speak to them about this, I'm sorry for my immediate jump to anger.」

@ Threw_TheBOOK 𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑑 @ CAULDRON, @ Y/nthe1_4ubb, & @ -1Braincell.

@ Y/nthe1_4ubb

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「See I knew my baby would never cause trouble like that on purpose」

@ -1Braincell

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「He literally sent four people to the hospital TODAY」

@ Y/nthe1_4ubb

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「THEY DESERVED IT!」

@ TheBatFather

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「My seems y/n may like bad boys」

@ Y/nthe1_4ubb

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「No, I like Himbos」

@ CAULDRON

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「Y/n????」

@ Y/nthe1_4ubb

╰┈➤𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒!✎ᝰ↓ 

「YOU ARE A FUCKING HIMBO DON'T LIE TO YOURSELF」

≻┈┈• ·✦· •┈┈≺

A random thing from my drafts on Wattpad.

[asterlizard]

2024

These last few weeks of the year have been a bit of a roller coaster for me. At least I was able to finish the year on a more positive note, probably because I accomplished some final tasks before the year ended (why is it that winter seems to be the most satisfyingly productive time of year for me?)

Despite feeling busy and preoccupied, I feel like I didn't accomplish as much as I would have liked this year. It felt like most of my time was spent getting into a perpetual cycle of chores and cleanup with no set plan, with some work on personal projects.

That being said, I looked back and was able to find some things I did accomplish:

Getting another chapter of Kaleidoscope Children finished

Started finding some events to attend so I'm not just stuck at home all the time (I got to try an earthquake simulator for the first time!)

Watching the Paralympics properly for the first time (once again, I recommend watching it just to give it more attention!)

More zines: -My Hero Babysitters -Successor: A DadMight Anthology (BNHA) -Tales of the Four Nations Volume 3 (ATLA) -On the Prowl: MSBY4 (Haikyuu!)

And now my resolutions:

Image Descriptions: I will continue to make this my top resolution until I have most (if not all) of them done. Despite not getting around to them this year, I finally decided I will use Alt Text (at least for newer posts, unfortunately it seems like I can't update older posts to add Alt Text so I'll probably just do Image IDs in those descriptions for now)

Stories: Hopefully I can churn out chapters a little more quickly this year after last year's major creative block. I've already started drafting the next couple of chapters of Kaleidoscope Children, and I'm preparing to write the beginning of my second story. I don't have an estimate for further news on the latter, but I hope I can announce something about it later in the new year.

Communication: I really really really want to push myself to make an iota of progress in this direction. I often find excuses to keep my thoughts to myself, but then it hurts me in the long run and I deprive myself the opportunity to make new friends. I want to try to make an effort to be a little more outspoken.

Productivity: I want to get back on track with the tasks I want to get done, and try and minimize postponements. I'll start by making schedules for each month, but without overloading myself. I think it worked at the start of last year before I got sidetracked big time with chores.

Occupation?: Job hunting continued to be disappointing, but I'm reassured by the fact that I'm not the only one who is having issues. Over this past year I've heard more and more people who are struggling with finding or keeping a job (people I know, people I follow, people with a rich resume, people with little to no experience) and more and more I'm getting the advice that education or constant applications will go nowhere, and that volunteering and finding connections is more promising. I've changed my strategy towards this direction, and can only hope that I'll have a little better luck. But first, I need to figure out what I actually want to do for a vocation. With all the application rejections I had to deal with for two years, I spent the past year kinda floating aimlessly, questioning to myself what it is I actually want to do. In the new year, I want to try and sit down with myself and ask myself what it is I would be interested in that feels worthwhile to me or something along those lines. That way I have a plan to focus on instead of puttering vaguely between multiple interests but not sticking to a gameplan. I think part of my ongoing stress is the pressure to find a job, but not having any idea where to start.

Relax! Despite the hurdles, I think I did a little better at this than last year. I just need to not overload myself with a lot of plans, nor stress myself with lofty expectations. Things will come with time, though they will also come easier with some added strategy besides simply waiting for it (something about catching fish better with a bait than with an empty lure...?)

And just like before, I'm going to finish this post with a link to some positive news this year (a different source this time!): [link]

Next year will be uncertain. But no matter what happens, there will always be people who will work hard to protect what's good in the world. Even when times get tough, it won't mean people have stopped striving towards this. I will continue to draw and create things that hopefully make some sort of positive difference to the world, however little that contribution may be, for as long as I can. Whatever happens, we're in this together.

Please take care of yourself. Take a break from the news once in a while. Find activities and communities that bring you joy. Watch videos of puppies (or whatever animals give you comfort). Take time away from social media if you need to. Do whatever it takes to make the foreseeable future a little less awful.

I wish all the best for you 💕

[pan-de-queer]

20 Questions Game

Tagged by @jadedloverart! for once, i've finished work early and am free to write fic and answer tag games today hahaha thanks for the tag!!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

31 lmao, feeling a lil fandom old or whatever haha

2. Total AO3 word count

157,459 ??? wild considering i mostly post one-shots hahaha

3. Fandoms you write for

for the past few years it's been supercorp but you can also find bechloe, junksen/embry, some choices (the cyoa game), and les mis sprinkled in my ao3. all wlw too

4. Top 5 fics by kudos -

ruined nights make for perfect first dates (bechloe)

'cause you know all of my secrets (supercorp)

maybe i matter (because i knew you) (bechloe)

love tastes like spring and blood (bechloe)

kept my face to the sun (you drive away my shadows) (supercorp)

most interesting thing for me abt this is that ruined nights is the shortest one out of all five of these??? love that ppl liked it so much tho

5. Do you respond to comments?

as much as possible yeah! which reminds me that i haven't replied to @jadedloverart's comment on my fic. and other comments. i should do that hahaha

6. Fic w/ Angstiest Ending -

i don't end with angst haha i'm angst with a happy ending or bust lmao BUT the closest to angst would probably be love tastes bc the issue isn't solved until the very end

7. Happiest ending? -

all of them 💕 but if i had to choose then probabbbly cause you know

8. Do you get hate on fics?

not that i'm aware of!

9. Do you write smut/what kind?

nope! never been interested in writing it mostly bc my brain sees it as "action with even more emotions" and i have a hard enough time with action as it is lol

10. Do you write crossovers?

used to! and if you count the mcu+comics!marvel crossover i only posted a tidbit of, then yes, i still do

11. Ever had a fic stolen?

again, not that i know of

12. Ever had a fic translated?

yeah! can't remember for what tho but someone very kindly asked and i said ofc!! and then they sent the link but i can't remember where lmao

13. Ever cowritten a fic?

a long long time ago haha, wouldn't be opposed to doing it again though!

14. Favorite ship?

it's been supercorp since the pandemic! but who knows where the winds of my silly lil whims might take me?

15. A wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

all of them 💕 lmao jk jk but seriously i have a LOT of wips and i put them all under ONE file so it's like wading through a garbage dump trying to see what i'll do next and that's just for supercorp, i have separate untouched wips for allll my other old fandoms too lmao (some wips i doubt i'll ever finish for sc though are the undercover fake lovers one, the coastal cleanup one even though it SHOULD be easy in theory, the hanahaki au that's lena's version instead of kara's, and the one based off of emily the song by jeremy zucker)

16. Writing strengths?

anything descriptive! i can go in depth about shit forevveeerrrr

17. Writing weaknesses?

dialogue. like i can WRITE it and i can even write it WELL but that dialogue came from the bloodbath of thousands of drafts so

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in a different language?

many thoughts! number one being that if you don't know it, get someone who's above average fluent to help you if you feel like the language is needed in the story! and if the language is fake (like using kryptonian) then make the inclusion of it make sense! other thoughts are for my thinking only 💕 (and my unfortunate friends who have to listen to me lecture)

19. First Fandom you wrote for?

MAYBE ranger's apprentice or percy jackson

20. Favorite fic you've ever written?

i can't pick favorite for my babies but i'm hella proud of all my supercorp fics rn! it had been so long since i joined a new fandom that i felt suuupppeerrr awkward posting at first! but it's been a nice experience shifting fandoms ever since :)))

for the no pressure tags! @nostradamus0 @sssammich @ridiculously-over-obsessed @tiny-maus-boots and anyone else who wants to join!

[rosanna-writer]

13 for the end of the year ask game! ❤️

13. how did you change as a writer? did you learn anything new? started to plan instead of pants? share your wisdom!

ARE YOU READING MY MIND??? I was literally just thinking about what a bonkers year this has been writing-wise.

I got back into fic in February after only having written original fiction for years. Unlike original stuff, I never really needed to do a big-picture revision on either of the longfics I wrote this year, the kind with huge structural changes and heavy re-writes. And that really drove it home for me how much I hate that part of editing; it feels like such a slog in a way drafting and line edits don't.

It really clicked for me that I'm happiest when I'm doing everything I can to minimize that sort of thing, so I just embraced hardcore planning. I went from bullet-point style outlines to describing scenes in a couple of paragraph to really force myself to think things through before I drafted. And yeah, synopsis writing SUCKS, but you spot so many more higher-level issues if you write a two-page summary of a long project before jumping in, so it really is worth doing.

I also switched to writing in a markdown editor for fic, which I probably wouldn't do for original fiction, but it's sooooooooo much nicer to just write fic in a way that's formatted for web because it's only getting published on AO3 anyway. Linters (formatting cleanup tools) are a godsend.

[danceswithdarkspawn]

Howdy meowdy howdy meowdy, friendo! For Le Ask Game:

2) What is your favorite fic of yours?

7) How do you edit your fics? What do you look for in your edits?

11) What perspective do you write from most and/or least and why? (1st, 3rd limited, 3rd omniscient, deep pov, etc)

15) If you could only write one type of fic (angst, fluff, etc.) for the rest of your life what would it be?

17) Do you have any wips that you can tell us about? What are you most excited for in you wip?

21) Writers choice - pick any of these questions that you want to answer. (Take the opportunity to answer any other ask!)

Have fun! I'll be in your walls if you need me!

Hello, Watermelon Bastard (affectionate)

2: I'm very partial to Two of Swords. Don't know why.

7: What I used to do (back when I was writing on a regular schedule) was do it in chunks. I might do a little bit of cleanup when I started writing for the day, but nothing major. Once the doc was done, I'd sit down, read like, a scene at a time, fix any wonky-ness etc. until I was finished.

If a sentence needed rewriting, I did it in the 1st draft doc; if something major needed to be rewritten, the old went into a scrap doc and the new written in it's place. If there were really big (as in, we're starting over) changes that needed doing, entirely new document.

Now that I write sporadically, I do a lot of rereading and editing in the downtime between sessions, even on unfinished pieces. Once I'm done I come back to it again and again over a week or so until I feel like it's done.

11: probably a toss-up between first and third limited. As for why...when I use first person I want a closer view, but I've only ever done this with my characters, and it doesn't fit right in all situations. for third limited, it's just what I've been using the longest, and that's just kinda my default at this point.

15: I mean I'm already an angst monster, so. That.

17: God I have so many scraps of things lol. I have the Eran/Morrigan vignette series I want to do, a few missing scenes here and there, new longfic idea and works related to it. It's all just A Jumbled Mess. What am I excited for though?

GETTING THROUGH THIS CHAPTER OF BROKEN BIRD I'VE BEEN STUCK ON FOR ALMOST A SODDING YEAR.

I'll get there eventually. *ugly sobbing*

21: I'm going to pick "Are you a fast or slow writer?"

Most times I write at a glacial speed. Other times I write like a squirrel found the coke stash and can hear colors.

[twistedisciple]

New Year Cleanup

Griss' drafts should be completely clear now. For the sake of starting fresh for 2024, I'm also going to be dropping the following threads:

Anthemusa w/ @unsungblade [starter posted 5/3/23, no reply] Withering Dogwood w/ @iyusiia [last reply 9/29/23] Combat Conglomeration w/ @artificidel [last reply 9/29/23]

There are also 14 memory prompts still in his inbox that I intend to write responses to soon.

[bereft-of-frogs]

I sort of lost track of weekend lists because I no longer have any understanding of what day it is with all the holidays and long weekends, but I thought maybe I'd do a final list of the year for NYE:

-continue reorienting new laptop - jumping forward 8 years in technology is a LOT and I've had bad experiences doing the automated restore from a backup so I'm going with a full fresh start. gotta organize all my widgets

-mass cleanup of emails/drafts - I get so many junk emails, hopefully I can whittle that down a bit and delete some of the thousands of emails cluttering up my inboxes

-post writing wrap-up that I was tagged in weeks ago (I was holding out to see if I'd post anything else haha) + organize my goals for 2024

-some paper planner setup (I switched planner brands this year I don't know how to feel)

NYE!

-go grocery shopping both for just generally food for the week but also for cocktail ingredients because I've had a bottle of cheap sparkling wine in my fridge for weeks and I really need to do something with it

-stay inside, be cozy, drink fancy cocktails out of a mason jar because I don't have any other glasses still

-watch Casablanca, which became a weird tradition after the best NYE I ever had included a screening of Casablanca

-it's cheesy but I'm going to try and find a way to watch some special/NYE celebration because they're terrible but kind of fun

New Year's Day:

-idk probably clean and get ready for the week like a normal sunday (even though it is monday) because I really have to get back on the schedule after the holidays (it's always a nice break but I'm definitely now like but what about my routine!)

I hope everyone has a fun New Years weekend! <3 tell me about your plans if you are doing anything exciting

[rememberthemilk]

Tips & Tricks Tuesday: Juggling financial tasks of all denominations

Keeping up with finances is important—and sometimes urgent too. Juggling everything can seem like its own job.

This week's tip comes from alan.porter, who shows how to keep up with the day-to-day, month-to-month, and periodic things to keep your finances humming along.

I use RTM for lots of things: personal items, yearly goals, lists of books to read and movies to watch. But my biggest motivation for using RTM is for staying on top of bills. It easily handles the various schedules on which recurring bills come due. So I have a list called "bills", which my wife and I share. It contains monthly bills like credit cards, annual bills like property tax and insurance, and also some reminders to do some financial hygiene like balancing checkbooks and downloading statements. To separate the different kind of financial tasks, I created three tags (with different colors): pay.manual, pay.auto and pay.none. Pay.manual is for bills that we have to pay ourselves (not auto-drafted). It requires manual action from us to initiate it. Pay.auto is for bills that are auto-drafted from our bank, so we don't actually need to DO anything, except maybe check on it later. Pay.none is for tasks like balancing the checkbook or downloading statements, which need to be done from time to time, but that can slide a few days without penalty. With these tags, my wife and I can tell at a glance whether the time-critical stuff needs immediate attention. And when we get a rainy Sunday, we can take care of all of those other cleanup items.

Thanks for sharing this tip, alan.porter! You’re our Tips & Tricks Tuesday winner this week.

Do you have a suggestion for our weekly Tips & Tricks post? Got an interesting set-up or idea? Head over to the Tips & Tricks forum, add a new topic, and let us know how you use Remember The Milk. Each week we’ll give away a 1 year Pro account to the user whose idea inspires the Tips & Tricks Tuesday blog post for that week.

[ausetkmt]

It Could Cost $21 Billion to Clean Up California’s Oil Sites, Study Finds

For well over a century, the oil and gas industry has drilled holes across California in search of black gold and a lucrative payday. But with production falling steadily, the time has come to clean up many of the nearly quarter-million wells scattered from downtown Los Angeles to western Kern County and across the state.

The bill for that work, however, will vastly exceed all the industry’s future profits in the state, according to a first-of-its-kind study published Thursday and shared with ProPublica.

“This major issue has sneaked up on us,” said Dwayne Purvis, a Texas-based petroleum reservoir engineer who analyzed profits and cleanup costs for the report. “Policymakers haven’t recognized it. Industry hasn’t recognized it, or, if they have, they haven’t talked about it and acted on it.”

The analysis, which was commissioned by Carbon Tracker Initiative, a financial think tank that studies how the transition away from fossil fuels impacts markets and the economy, used California regulators’ draft methodology for calculating the costs associated with plugging oil and gas wells and decommissioning them along with related infrastructure. The methodology was developed with feedback from the industry.

The report broke down the costs into several categories. Plugging wells, dismantling surface infrastructure and decontaminating polluted drill sites would cost at least $13.2 billion, based on publicly available data. Adding in factors with slightly more uncertainty, like inflation rates and the price of decommissioning miles of pipeline, could bring the total cleanup bill for California’s onshore oil and gas industry to $21.5 billion.

Meanwhile, California oil and gas production will earn about $6.3 billion in future profits over the remaining course of operations, Purvis estimated.

Compounding the problem, the industry has set aside only about $106 million that state regulators can use for cleanup when a company liquidates or otherwise walks away from its responsibilities, according to state data. That amount equals less than 1% of the estimated cost.

Taxpayers will likely have to cover much of the difference to ensure wells are plugged and not left to leak brine, toxic chemicals and climate-warming methane.

“These findings detail why the state must ensure this cost is not passed along to the California taxpayer,” state Sen. Monique Limón, a Santa Barbara Democrat who has written legislation regulating oil, said in a statement. “It is important that the state collect funding to plug and abandon wells in a timely and expeditious manner.”

Representatives of the state’s oil regulatory agency, the California Geologic Energy Management Division, did not respond to ProPublica’s request for comment on the report’s findings.

Rock Zierman, CEO of the California Independent Petroleum Association, an industry trade group, said in a statement that companies spent more than $400 million last year to plug and clean up thousands of oil and gas wells in the state. “This demonstrates their dedication to fulfilling their obligations and mitigating the environmental impact of their operations,” he said.

Fees on current oil and gas production will offset some of the liabilities, but they’re nowhere near enough to address the shortfall quantified by the new report.

“It really scares me,” Kyle Ferrar, Western program coordinator with environmental and data transparency group FracTracker Alliance, said of the report’s findings. “It’s a lot for the state, even a state as big as California.”

Industry in Decline

High oil prices have translated to huge profits for the industry in recent years, but Carbon Tracker’s report found that’s likely to be short-lived. Only two drilling rigs were operating in the state at one point this year, meaning few new wells will be coming online, and more than a third of all unplugged wells are idle.

Judson Boomhower, an environmental economist and assistant professor at the University of California, San Diego who has studied California’s oil industry, said there are inherent uncertainties in estimating future oil revenues. For example, one variable is how quickly the country shifts from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric. But, he said, Carbon Tracker’s estimates for environmental liabilities track with his research.

“It’s a state in the twilight of its production period, and that means big liabilities,” Boomhower said. He added that now is the time for regulators to prevent companies from offloading their wells to “thinly capitalized firms” unable to shoulder the cleanup.

As ProPublica reported last year, the major oil companies that long dominated in California and have the deep pockets necessary to pay for environmental cleanup are selling their wells and leaving the state, handing the task to smaller and less well-financed companies.

Roughly half of the wells drilled in California have changed hands through sales and bankruptcies since 2010, according to data Ferrar analyzed.

Smaller companies are often one bankruptcy away from their wells being orphaned, meaning they’re left to taxpayers as companies dissolve. The Biden administration recently committed $4.7 billion in taxpayer funds to plug orphan wells.

And the industry’s environmental liabilities in California are far bigger than Carbon Tracker’s report quantifies.

Purvis only included environmental liabilities associated with onshore oil and gas production. Billions of dollars more will be needed to plug offshore wells, remove rigs and reclaim artificial islands used for drilling off the coast of Long Beach, Ventura and Santa Barbara.

Additionally, the report did not quantify the emerging risk of “zombie wells,” which were plugged years ago to weaker standards and are likely to leak if they aren’t replugged. That’s an expensive endeavor, as the average cost to plug one well in California — to say nothing of cleaning up surface contamination — is $69,000, according to Purvis’ research. But some California wells have already begun failing, including in neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

“They’re Not Going to Have Money to Do It Later”

Time is running out to rectify the funding shortfall, for example by increasing the money companies must set aside for well plugging.

Carbon Tracker’s report — using state production data and financial futures contracts on the New York Mercantile Exchange — estimated that as production declines, 58% of all future profits from drilling oil and gas in the state are likely to come over the next two years.

“We have our backs up against the wall in California right now,” Ferrar said. “If companies don’t put money towards it now, they’re not going to have money to do it later.”

Environmental policies could accelerate the industry’s decline. California voters will decide on a ballot initiative in 2024 that would reinstate large buffer zones between communities and oil wells, limiting drilling.

Purvis said acting quickly to plug wells would also “stimulate economic activity” and help smooth the transition for oil and gas workers who stand to lose well-paying jobs in the shift away from climate-warming fossil fuels. Spending large sums to plug old wells would create short-term employment for oil field workers.

As California faces the consequences of its failure to quickly clean up aging oil and gas infrastructure, there are likely several million more wells around the country that are either low-producing or already orphaned and will soon need to be decommissioned.

“California’s going to be a test case or the leading edge of this,” Boomhower said. “This same problem is eventually going to manifest everywhere.”

[flyingfabio]

Picture entitled Confident Fabio Quartararo at Château de Lude (French GP 2016 pre-event)

[eevachu]

It is strange to be the ghost in my head that was on the subway platform all those years ago. The spectre that gasped desperately in my ear over my shoulder:

“There’s nothing romantic about kissing the third rail.”

When the train comes please take a step back for you. Not just because you’d inconvenience all these other people on the platform if you took that step forward. Not just because you’re too feminine still and men let themselves be messy like that. Men expire with flourish and bullets and cleanup for others. Women are supposed to wilt with their head quietly in the oven or in a river surrounded by flowers.

Step back because you want to. Because the thought of it makes a bile rise in your throat instead of a comfort settle in your gut. Because it will be a Tuesday and you have someone’s hand to hold and the ground will have stopped shaking.

Please mind the gap

in you

and out of you.

In 7 years, you will have all but forgotten the next miserable 7 hours.

And the next miserable 7 days.

And the next miserable 7 months.

(And most of the next mildly tolerable 7 years, if I’m really being honest.)

The scars will remain in your marrow — occasionally, when it snows, and your old boots crunch on that familiar salt, you’ll feel the ache of them in your bones — but the pain is just a ghost you don’t even believe in.

You will be glad you stepped away from the tracks,

instead of falling onto them.

And you may have been closer to 26 than 16 when you hear the blood dripping loud enough to think to patch up the void from that old stab wound, but you were always a late bloomer.

And you will be closer to 36 than 16 when you stop standing by and staring at the train tracks longingly. Your manly flourishing bullet will be a journal in your pocket that your CBT therapist told you is so good you should sell the format to other people. (You’re working on it; but it’ll probably be left out in the world for free by the train tracks.)

And you’ll finally start driving slowly around those patches of black ice, hidden in the shade of the trees you used to climb up past the branches thinner than your arms and the bridges you hid under to look for cans and coins. And you’ll learn when you’re supposed to move and how fast is safe.

And you’ll stand in the shower and sing for the teenage dirtbag you that couldn’t. And you’ll write the words on that same tumblr you’ve had all these years; words that teenage you couldn’t even fathom. And you’ll be in the same room, but on new white sheets and in a bed you bought that’s finally pulled away from the wall.

And you’ll wish you didn’t know how cool to the touch train tracks felt…

Or knives

Or bullets

Or black ice

Or tears on your pillow

Or the air on cold Tuesday mornings…

But you’ll be glad for them when you learn how warm to the touch the hands of your best friend are.

Or how soft and warm the patch of fur behind a rescued cat’s ears are.

Or how satisfying it is to wield a warm knife through an ice cream cake on your birthday.

Or how calming the warmth of a clean shower filled with song is.

Or how the medication your therapist prescribed makes your warm heart flutter like when you get a notification from them. <3

Or how wonderful the air feels on that first warm Tuesday when the sunlight is waxing and not waning.

Live for 7 hours, 7 days, 7 months, 7 years more, even if they’re cold and lonely and you can hear the warning horn from the train blaring loudly in your ear. Take that step back, even if you still feel the draft off the train pull you forward ever so slightly.

One day you’ll stop ticking off the cold days you’ve survived and start writing journals about the warm days you’ve thrived. There’s pretty girls, weddings, ice cream cake, cookie dough, best friends and long road trips out there beyond the train tracks.

Become the version of you that gets to them.

i know we’re both just messing around pretending to be whole but look at me. if the train was coming would you move. if the ground was falling from under your feet would you even notice or would it just be another tuesday for you. if somebody stabbed you could it hurt worse than you already do. what i’m saying is that i love you but i think we both drive over the speed limit when it’s raining. what i’m saying is that i want to hold your hand and i understand about how you sometimes have to sit down in the shower. what i’m saying is that i’m here for you and if the train comes please move.

[marsreds]

for end of the year a pinned post i guess.

about:

Mars, on tumblr since 2012. sfw.

other places to find me:

blsky @marsreds artblog: @marsredsarts ao3: @Marsreds

finished a chapter of my life so i'm doing a general cleanup, meaning emptying out my drafts and likes. which.

assuming i don't add any new posts to it and if i go at a rate of 100 queued posts a day will take me 401 days. yupee. yay.

i actually like talking to people through the askbox about whatever i'm currently into (right now going down a steep arcane spiral), so feel free to jump in.

[stressedlawsecretary]

Today's Focus

10.02.24 - Made it to the middle of the week and my first remote work day, which means I get about an hr and a half extra sleep. Unfortunately, my longest & bestest friend is watching her partner destroy their 14-year relationship and she's now in my basement so things are going to be a little weird for a bit. What are friends for though?

Work - I left the drafting of the Section 17 letters for SJC's new case for myself today; since I'm remote, I can't do the massive amount of copying/mailing I have to do so it's just those and whatever happens to come in. Fingers crossed everything stays quiet because yesterday became quite busy in the most annoying way possible - updating specifics in NYM en masse.

Background Noise - I am remote, so the DVR will be background, but I'm not sure how much background because, with my bestie here Going Thru It we're probably going to spend most of the time chatting. I'll still do my usual 'muted background stream with captions' on my tablet.

27 videos came off yesterday, and I could have done more but got the emergency text during prime listening hours and had to handle that.

Study - Okay well. Wednesday is supposed to be 'visual study' day but I have no idea if I'll have the time or focus to do that; the plan had been to have news programs on in the background while I read more articles but that now seems to not be the case.

Speaking of articles, I got so busy yesterday with everything that I only read the like, four press releases that came in Monday, a random Wikipedia article, and the last three appendixes of the Jefferson-Hemings Report. I was gonna move on to the minority report today and try to catch up on what I didn't do yesterday but. Whatever.

Extras - Wednesday means I have to vacuum and clean out the catbox again, along with general kitchen cleanup; tonight is takeout night, which is good because it's also self-care shower night. I have the first Kamen Rider W movie to watch tonight, and maybe some episode but probably not because I'll shower between that and silly show. Hopefully I can write & post a mini-essay, and work on one of the longer ones, but I don't have a lot of hope on that front.

[genuinetexasexteriors03]

Top-Quality Roof Installation Service in Austin, Texas: Ensuring Your Home's Safety and Durability

When it comes to safeguarding your home, the roof is undoubtedly one of the most crucial components. A well-installed roof not only protects against the elements but also enhances the overall aesthetic and value of your property. In Austin, Texas, where weather conditions can range from scorching summers to sudden storms, having a robust and reliable roof is essential. If you are in need of a new roof or a replacement, opting for a professional Roof Installation Service Austin Texas, Texas, can make all the difference. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the importance, benefits, and process of roof installation, ensuring you make an informed decision for your home.

The Importance of Professional Roof Installation

A roof is more than just a cover for your home; it is a critical barrier that protects against rain, wind, heat, and cold. Proper installation is vital to ensure this protection is uncompromised. Here are a few reasons why professional roof installation is essential:

Longevity and Durability: A professionally installed roof is more likely to withstand the test of time and the harsh weather conditions typical of Austin, Texas. Expert installers use high-quality materials and follow industry best practices to ensure your roof lasts for decades.

Energy Efficiency: An incorrectly installed roof can lead to energy inefficiency, causing your heating and cooling systems to work harder. Professional installation ensures proper insulation and ventilation, which can significantly reduce your energy bills.

Warranty and Insurance: Many roofing materials come with warranties that are only valid if the roof is installed by certified professionals. Additionally, professional installation often ensures compliance with local building codes, which can be crucial for insurance purposes.

Safety: Roof installation involves working at heights, which can be dangerous without the proper training and equipment. Professional roofers have the necessary safety gear and experience to carry out the job safely.

Benefits of Hiring a Roof Installation Service in Austin, Texas

Choosing a reputable roof installation service in Austin, Texas, comes with a multitude of benefits:

Expertise and Experience: Professional roofers bring years of experience and specialized knowledge to the table. They can identify potential issues that might be overlooked by an untrained eye and address them before they become major problems.

Quality Materials: Established roofing companies have access to high-quality materials that are not always available to the general public. They can also advise on the best materials suited for Austin's climate.

Efficiency: Professional roofing services can complete the installation more quickly and efficiently than a DIY approach, minimizing disruption to your daily life.

Cleanup and Disposal: Roof installation can be a messy job, but professional services include cleanup and disposal of old roofing materials, ensuring your property is left in pristine condition.

The Roof Installation Process

Understanding the roof installation process can help you appreciate the complexity of the job and the expertise required. Here’s a step-by-step overview of what to expect:

Initial Consultation and Inspection: The process begins with a thorough inspection of your existing roof and a consultation to understand your needs. This step includes assessing the roof's condition, measuring dimensions, and discussing material options.

Estimation and Planning: Based on the inspection, the roofing company will provide a detailed estimate outlining the costs, materials, and timeline. A well-drafted contract is essential to avoid any misunderstandings later.

Removal of Old Roofing: The existing roof is carefully removed, ensuring minimal damage to the underlying structure. This step also involves checking for any damage to the roof deck or other components.

Preparation of the Roof Deck: Before installing the new roof, the deck is prepared. This may involve repairing or replacing damaged sections, installing underlayment for additional protection, and ensuring proper ventilation.

Installation of New Roofing Materials: The new roofing materials are installed according to manufacturer guidelines and industry best practices. This step includes installing shingles, metal panels, tiles, or other materials chosen for the project.

Flashing and Sealing: Flashing is installed around chimneys, vents, and other protrusions to prevent water leakage. Proper sealing of these areas is crucial for preventing future water damage.

Final Inspection and Cleanup: After installation, a final inspection ensures that everything is done correctly and up to code. The job site is then cleaned up, and debris is removed, leaving your property tidy.

Post-Installation Follow-Up: Many professional roofing companies offer follow-up services to address any issues that may arise post-installation. This step is essential for ensuring customer satisfaction and long-term performance of the roof.

Choosing the Right Roof Installation Service in Austin, Texas

Selecting the right roofing contractor is crucial for a successful roof installation. Here are some tips to help you make the best choice:

Check Credentials: Ensure the company is licensed, insured, and has a good standing in the industry. Membership in professional organizations like the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) is a positive sign.

Read Reviews and Ask for References: Customer reviews and testimonials can provide insights into the company’s reliability and quality of work. Asking for references from past clients can also be helpful.

Get Multiple Quotes: Obtain quotes from several roofing companies to compare prices and services. However, be wary of prices that seem too good to be true, as they may indicate subpar materials or workmanship.

Warranty and After-Sales Service: A reputable roofing company will offer a warranty on their work and materials. Ensure you understand the terms of the warranty and what is covered.

Experience with Local Conditions: Choose a company that has experience dealing with Austin's specific weather conditions. Local expertise can be invaluable in ensuring your roof is suited to the environment.

Conclusion

Investing in a professional roof installation service in Austin, Texas, is a decision that will pay off in the long run. Not only will it ensure the safety and durability of your home, but it will also enhance its value and aesthetic appeal. By understanding the importance of professional installation, the benefits it brings, and the detailed process involved, you can make an informed choice that meets your needs and budget. Whether you are building a new home or replacing an old roof, trust in the expertise of a reputable roofing contractor to deliver top-quality results that will stand the test of time.