#pool vacuuming system

[theresattrpgforthat]

Hi there!

Do you have any recommendations for games with mechanical depth that aren't focused on combat?

From my experience I'm thinking of primarily Burning Wheel, as well as Chuubo's. There's something just so compelling about presenting players with strong mechanical incentives and systems to master - while also being able to create narratives that don't need to center on fighting.

THEME: Non-Combat Mechanical Depth

Hello there! Mechanical depth is a tricky thing for me sometimes, especially when I'm reading about a game based on blogs or store descriptions. I think that much of the games I list here will be games I've talked about before, and while I personally think these games are complex, you might disagree! One through-line that I found in many of these games is that when you're not focusing on combat, the next most popular way to play with complex relationships.

The World of Darkness, by White Wolf / Onyx Path.

World of Darkness games can be about a lot of things; redemption, survival, violence, a search for belonging… but one thing that's pretty consistent across each of the various settings is the complex politics that bind the supernatural societies together.

This isn't to say that there isn't combat in World of Darkness. However, since the games are rooted in horror, fighting isn't wise; much better to make a deal, craft a complex ritual, or convince someone else to stab your problem in the back. The complex factions and warring beliefs of the World of Darkness can foment nefarious plots, strained relationships, and power vacuums that have made this setting a fantastic resource for LARPS, forum roleplay, and so much more.

If you want a system mastery that also requires a strong knowledge of the core setting, you might have a real hoot with the World of Darkness.

Gumshoe Games, by Pelgrane Press.

Gumshoe games are focused on investigation more than anything else, with a very specific and unique mentality around mysteries. The core of a Gumshoe game is the belief that players do not need to roll in order to get access to the clues they will need to solve the mystery. However, the completeness of the clues, extra context, and the goals provided that your characters might want to achieve once they solve the mystery, are all still up for debate. This is where your abilities come in.

Abilities in Gumshoe act as two things: ratings and pools. Ratings represent your standard ability in various skills. Pools are points that can be spent to temporarily increase a rating, which is what you'll likely need to do in order to meet the difficulty number assigned to any specific activity.

As a result, the complexity in Gumshoe lies in resource management; determining which actions are worth spending resources, and which actions you are comfortable choosing to fail. There might also be a layer of strategy in the assembly of clues; an astute group might be able to assemble a more complete picture of whats going on, as well as perhaps the motivations of the parties involved, and potential avenues to solve the problem to avoid certain complications.

There's a lot of GUMSHOE games out there; some include Nights Black Agents (spies vs. vampires), Trail of Cthulhu (Eldritch Horror), Ashen Stars (investigations in space!) and Bubblegumshoe (teenage detectives).

Good Society, by Storybrewers Roleplaying.

Welcome to Good Society, the Jane Austen roleplaying game. Play out your very own regency drama of balls, estates, passions and desires.

Good Society has plenty of layers, with chapters, tokens, reputation, scandal, letter-writing, conflict and upkeep. I don't know if it's technically crunchy in terms of math, but the relationships and the way you interact with society looks a little complex, at least from the outside looking in. As a player, you'll be responsible for both a main character as well as side-characters, resulting in an expansive cast that encourages players to be involved in scenes even when their own main character isn't involved.

Playing a game of Good Society asks your character to be strategic in actions not to preserve hit points, but rather to preserve reputation - both their own, and that of their family or loved ones. Can you still get what you want while preserving your reputation? What sacrifices might you have to make for love? Play Good Society to find out.

Phoenix Wright TTRPG, by Rezzy.

FAN CREATION Based on the Phoenix Wright franchise. The players are divided into prosecution and defense parties, and then each performs its own DM led investigation of a crime scene. After both parties have finished their investigation, everyone is brought back together for a trial to determine the verdict.

If you love sorting out numbers, mods and stats to build a character, you'll probably like the Phoenix Wright TTRPG.

This is a bit of a rough game; the author of it hasn't really done an editing pass recently, but if you want complexity, it has it in spades. You have encounters, but since the entire goal of the game is to solve mysteries and defend your clients in court, combat is the very last thing you want to resort to. You'll be using your abilities to collect evidence, talk to witnesses, deduct motives, and search your personal knowledge in order to find the real culprit.

Hillfolk, by Pelgrane Press.

In the shadow of empires, an epic saga of ambition and desire!

In an arid badlands, the hill people hunger. Your neighbors have grain, cattle, gold. You have horses and spears, courage and ambition. Together with those you love and hate, you will remake history—or die.

With the Hillfolk roleplaying game, you and your group weave an epic, ongoing saga of high-stakes interpersonal conflict that grows richer with every session. Its DramaSystem rules engine takes the basic structure of interpersonal conflict underlying fiction, movies and television and brings it to the world of roleplaying. This simple framework brings your creativity to the fore and keep a surprising, emotionally compelling narrative constantly on the move.

As you build your story, you mold and shape the Hillfolk setting to fit its needs. Do you entangle yourself with the seductions of your wealthy cousins to the north? Do you do battle with the fearsome sea people to the west? Or do you conquer the scattered badlands tribes to forge a new empire of your own?

The DramaSystem of Hillfolk is all about relationships and emotional need; the need for approval, reassurance, respect, reassurance, as well the need to punish, to force subservience upon others, and the desire for power. Relationships are the avenues by which you fulfill these needs.

Character creation for this game feels rather simple, but the way you navigate the game feels like it might still be complex. Each scene in the game is carefully constructed, fleshed out with complications, set pieces, and goals. What you can do in these scenes is also fleshed out: you can rush a scene, call for a time jump, negotiate your inclusion in a scene, and compete for the right to describe what's going on. The themes of negotiation and competition force you to evaluate where exactly you'll want to invest the resources available to you, usually taking the form of a pile of tokens. If you love the interpersonal strategy behind social games, you might like Hillfolk.

The Shadows Beneath, by Rob Justice.

"The Shadows Beneath" is a tabletop role-playing game where players take on the roles of Anglers, fishing in eerie New England waters. The game emphasizes exploration, player-driven narratives, and confronting eldritch horrors. Players must balance the allure of knowledge with the ever-present threat of awakening ancient, terrifying forces. The game features mechanics for handling social, mental, and physical challenges and incorporates a unique Certainty system, where players must manage their character's grasp on reality as they encounter the game's terrifying elements.

The Shadows Beneath is not a long game, but I think it's interesting that it takes elements often considered hallmarks of combat games and re-tools them for fishing. You're always rolling to defeat a Target Number, which is typically a multiple of 5. Anglers will wrestle with the environment, NPCs, other Anglers, and, of course, fish. The game has a Catch Chart that the group will need to reference every time you try to catch a fish.

Some pieces that you'll have to wrestle with as you play include your relationship to other anglers, the traits that you have your strengths in, the reason you're out here fishing, and a track called Certainty; your ability to keep your grasp on reality. Certainty can have a big impact on your character's journey; lose all of it and you start taking Dark Traits, which give you sinister abilities that encourage you to do terrible things.

You also can learn to cast rituals, which require you to sacrifice a part of yourself in the process, deal with Marks, which is wounds and terrible consequences, and upgrade your boat, the most important resource you depend on out on these hostile waters.

Nibiru, by Araukana Media.

Remember Your Past. Secure Your Future

Welcome to Nibiru: A massive space station, home to millions, where stories of drama and struggle are written on a daily basis. Play as the Vagabonds; vagrant souls who wake up in the station without memories of their past. Piece back together their story as you travel through the strange vistas of a skyless world, where nature and artificiality merge into one and where memory and identity shape everything.

I think Nibiru, from a basic understanding of the game, looks less crunchy in comparison to other games, since the basic premise of the game is that you fill the character sheet as you play. However, the gradual way in which you flesh out your character (and their backstory) allows for layers of complexity, as you can learn various mechanics the longer you play.

Advancement in Nibiru happens when you fill out pieces of your character's backstory; with positive memories costing you experience, and negative memories giving you experience. Positive memories give you bonuses to various actions, while negative ones give you a negative modifier. There's also special rules associated with the habitat your character is connected to: Dreadlands characters can use negative memories to exert control over the world, while Brighttown folks can get large amounts of experience from special objects, but are also bound to those objects and must constantly seek them out. The restrictions placed upon you according to your character type constrict you in an interesting way, and I think they fuel really creative play.

Ryuutama, by Kotohi.

Ryuutama calls itself a “Natural Fantasy RPG”. It is a fantasy role-playing game set in a western medieval-style setting. The conceit of this setting is that at one point, in everyone’s lives, people get this intense feeling of wanderlust. They put their daily lives on hold and travel the world with new-found companions. They find out more about the world, and at the same time learn about themselves.

Ryuutama emphasizes travel, exploration, community, friendship, harmony and growth. There is also a “Console RPG-like” combat system: But while combat certainly happens, it’s not the central focus of the game. Adventures usually involve traveling from one town to another, packing gear, crafting items, cooking and sharing along the way; getting lost, meeting people and (sometimes cute) monsters along the way; braving the elements and trying to set camp properly.

If you're a fan of traditional JRPGs, you'll likely find something to love here. There are multiple sub-systems that you'll have to maintain to support your party as they explore a world full of dragons, especially regarding inventory. You need to think about weight, carrying capacity, expiry date, and perhaps even price. This might direct your choices in regards to how far you travel before turning around, whether or not you buy a pack animal, or boosting your ability to navigate properly.

Ryuutama isn't combat free, but I think the focus and complexity of the game is meant to make it so that if you do get into a fight, you can resolve it fairly easily; but the rules and mini-games regarding magic, inventory and travel make it fairly clear that the real story this game is meant to tell is about the journey, and the things you find along the way.

You Might Also Enjoy…

Insane Amounts of Crunch Recommendation Post (Without a specific focus on combat.)

Non-Combat, Heroic Fantasy Recommendation Post.

In-Depth Magic Systems Recommendation Post - especially Ars Magica.

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[miraculous-metamorphosis]

MLB SIMULACRUMS OF LUCK

Prompt by @sillysiluriforme, full list here: 🦋

Death smells like roses. Pins and needles in her lungs, stabbing, poisoning her physical body as much as she poisons the emotions of the world around her. The ground of the hotel staircase is cold and in desperate need of a vacuum. Or in this case, several body bags. A girl in limbo, screams out, yet unheard, a sound that no one can physically hear. It’s like when trees fall in empty woods. No one is here to listen to the sound, nor is alive enough to hear it. Here they are useless to the world now. Limp bodies filled with purple perfumes of poison. However, far enough away, this deadly aroma smells like roses. Roses mixed with a metallic tone while rot waits its turn. Even if it is not the cause of death, blood still pools by her. But it is not her own blood. A fellow guest to the charity event was midway down the stairs when she inhaled the fatal fumes, before collapsing down the stairs and splitting her head on the cold and harsh ground. The princess has no need for these guests. To her, they would be such pitiful servants, unworthy to even worship her. Especially Chloé Bourgeois. The Queen is dead, all hail the Princess. However, death can be a joke in the face of a scélérat. Elsewhere outside, the heroes of Paris declare a “Miraculous”! After freeing the princess from the butterfly inside her, the small spirits of the bugs and felines fly and climb their way into this fatalistic hallway. The cats look down and enter into the lungs of the dead, and into their veins, pulling out the poison in their system. It was painless but they were still dead enough to not feel a thing, including Chloé Bourgeois. The ladybug spirits patiently wait for the cats to finish cleansing the bodies whose times haven’t truly come yet. And when they do, they switch in, returning the blood to their rightful veins, returning the oxygen to their lungs, reversing their visit into the afterlife. Chloé jolts awake, a gasp of stale hallway air entering her lungs, yet no longer feeling the pins and needles that scratched her throat in the seconds she felt before. Did she know she died today? Did she know she was like a zombie came back to life? It doesn’t seem like she does, lessons don’t tend to stick to her. After all; this scélérat’s driving emotions was her fault, still. This resuscitation was not be the first for the people of Paris, and it will not be the last either. The heroes at least quickly learned not to take this part of their recovery process for granted. But that doesn’t mean the citizens won’t. Even if she died, Chloé did not learn a thing today. What will it take for her to learn, then?

[magnus-marmot]

"As above, so below" and what it might mean for TMAGP

As Hermes Trismestigus supposedly wrote in the Emerald Tablet:

"That which is below is like that which is above and that which is above is like that which is below to do the miracle of one only thing."

Alchemists took this to mean that everything that exists on the earthly plane must necessarily reflect something on the heavenly plane, because the two were inseparably linked. It's been applied to a variety of things. Paracelsus used it to claim that the human microcosm parallels the universal macrocosm, which meant that diseases affecting different body parts could be cured by finding their likeness in the nature. It's also why alchemists were so comfortable with giving metals direct parallels in the celestial bodies (gold=sun, silver=moon, Saturn=lead, etc.), and why they thought planetary movements had an effect on their alchemical work. In the most basic terms, it means that everything on earth and beyond it is linked and forms a single unity.

In TMAGP 39 (spoilers), we get the most explicit example of this in Alice's dream: she is both the dying body (the macrocosm) and the heart inside of it (the microcosm). When she tries to reach inside to remove the source of her pain, she feels her own hand tightening around the flesh she's trapped in. Because you can't remove something from the system without breaking the unity, and the unity can't be broken. As above, so below. (This entire statement is so incredibly rich in both alchemical and non-alchemical symbolism because it's a masterpiece of writing, quite possibly my favourite incident in TMAGP so far.)

We've also been getting hints that the different dimensions somewhat mirror each other. They're not quite the same, but they are similar enough that the same people have existed and had similar life experiences, the Magnus Institute has been founded on both sides and it's been dealing with the supernatural even though the metaphysics are clearly different, and in the latest episode we learned that Sam had appendicitis around the same time in both timelines. It seems that a lot of the same events will take place in some form, which makes me think that they're linked together or entangled somehow. As above, so below?

But these dimensions (and we don't know how many there are, probably an infinite number) seem to be parallel to each other rather than hierarchical. So either they live in a sort of morphing mass where every version and every dimension is simultaneously tugging and nudging at each other, or there's some interdimensional, liminal plane that's affecting all of them. Both sound like reasonable conclusions, though the latter is more compelling to me, since it would also be more compatible with the formation of the Fears. Because if all the "earthly planes" share an aetherial plane that they reflect, then it would make sense how some worlds would condense and actualise fears into entities, and how other worlds might do the same to other ideas. They would be drawing from the same pool of possibilities, but the resulting paranormal activity wouldn't necessarily be the same.

Either way, it seems to suggest that all of these worlds are united, in one way or another. Which makes it very likely that they're bleeding into each other at the points where the boundary is thin (such as liminal places/states). And it also explains why Celia's home world was pulling her back. If it's all connected as one, and if they all mirror each other, then her removal would be leaving a vacuum of energy that needed to be filled. And if that's how it works, then wouldn't the banishment of the Fears leave quite the vacuum to be filled by other types of horrors?

[gallifreyinstituteforlearning]

Wait if there’s no money on Gallifrey, why does the institute even need funding? Is “funding” just a translation for “permission to exist as an agency and guaranteed office space”?

How does money work on Gallifrey?

I've been dreading this one because, much like the rest of Gallifrey, it makes no sense.

💷Is there money on Gallifrey?

Yes. Over the millennia, Gallifrey has had various forms of coinage: brass Pandaks, Depaks, gold Treazants, and guineas.

But money on Gallifrey is more symbolic than functional. It's often used in rituals, symbolic exchanges, or as an abstract measure of prestige. Most Gallifreyans wouldn't know how to use it for actual transactions.

However, in the Low Towns and in possible Shobogan communities, coinage might circulate as it seems to have more practical value.

🌀Why Have Money at All?

This is the part where Gallifrey stops making sense. Despite the apparent lack of day-to-day monetary use:

💸Education Costs a Fortune: Time Academy tuition is described as costing a House a 'small fortune', even though Gallifreyans don't seem to worry about income.

⚖️Inheritance Laws and Temporal Taxation: Wealth still exists at the House and institutional level. It's occasionally taxed (though Gallifreyans are 'zero tax rated,' because of course).

🛍️Imports from Other Societies: Gallifrey doesn't operate in a vacuum. It trades with other worlds, some of which will rely on money. For imports to function, Gallifrey must have some currency equivalent or barter system for intergalactic trade.

🪙So What Does Gallifreyan Funding Look Like?

Gallifreyans don't need money for day-to-day expenses. No one worries about affording their weekly shop or paying the electric bill. However, funding becomes relevant at the institutional level.

🏠House and Chapter Funds: Wealth on Gallifrey seems to be tied to Houses and Chapters, not individuals. Houses pool resources and act as collective bookkeepers for their members. If someone needs something costly—like an education at the Time Academy—the House pays, not the individual.

📜Large-Scale Transfers: Institutions like the High Council, CIA, and GIL operate with large-scale funding for projects, research, and symbolic exchanges. For example, the High Council might allocate funds (symbolic OR real) to support its operations. This could mean access to facilities or resources.

🎓Chapter and House Contributions: Chapters or Houses might donate to the Institute to enhance their reputation, ensuring their name is tied to something prestigious.

🤝Barter and Influence: It's possible that instead of direct monetary transfers, Gallifreyan organisations trade in influence—granting access to technologies, personnel, or ceremonial privileges.

🏫 So...

In short, GIL needs funding because Gallifrey's institutions operate on large-scale transfers of symbolic wealth. This ensures access to facilities, personnel, and resources necessary to maintain prestige and function in the wider universe.

And if you're still confused, don't worry. That's the beauty of it: the system works when no one questions it too hard.

Related:

💬|⏰🏢Do Gallifreyans have jobs?: Normal Gallifreyan jobs for their educational level.

💬|⏰🚌What modes of transport exist on Gallifrey aside from TARDISes?: Other methods of transport on Gallifrey besides TARDISes.

💬|⏰🏪Do Gallifreyans have grocery stores?: Food and food technology on Gallifrey.

Hope that helped! 😃

Any orange text is educated guesswork or theoretical. More content ... →📫Got a question? | 📚Complete list of Q+A and factoids →📢Announcements |🩻Biology |🗨️Language |🕰️Throwbacks |🤓Facts → Features: ⭐Guest Posts | 🍜Chomp Chomp with Myishu →🫀Gallifreyan Anatomy and Physiology Guide (pending) →⚕️Gallifreyan Emergency Medicine Guides →📝Source list (WIP) →📜Masterpost If you're finding your happy place in this part of the internet, feel free to buy a coffee to help keep our exhausted human conscious. She works full-time in medicine and is so very tired 😴

[mysticstronomy]

WHY DO PLANETS ROTATE??

Blog#410

Saturday, June 15th, 2024.

Welcome back,

To answer this question, it helps to picture a game of pool. Hit the cue ball, and sometimes it strikes only a glancing blow on your target, setting it into a spin instead of launching it across the table. Most experts believe planets probably acquired their spin in much the same way, when clumps of matter collided during the planets’ formation about 4.5 billion years ago.

But why do they spin in the same direction? When our solar system was nothing but a cloud of gas and dust, what was likely a shock wave from a nearby supernova bounced up against it and caused it to collapse.

As it collapsed, its own gravitational forces pulled it into a flat, spinning disk. And since everything in our solar system was formed from that same disk, its momentum sent nearly everything spinning in the same direction.

(Notable exceptions include Uranus and Venus, whose odd spins probably stem from subsequent collisions with asteroids.)

Our planets have continued spinning because of inertia. In the vacuum of space, spinning objects maintain their momentum and direction — their spin — because no external forces have been applied to stop them. And so, the world — and the rest of the planets in our solar system — keeps spinning.

Originally published on www.discovermagazine.com

COMING UP!!

(Wednesday, June 19th, 2024)

"A MISSING PIECE IN THE BIG BANG THEORY HAS SURFACED??"

[my-rose-tinted-glasses]

Saturday's Specials

So I've been letting several specials pass me by so after giffing Wandee I decided to basically go on a specials marathon. Oh and if you truly enjoyed any of these just don't read. Because well, for the most part, I didn't.

Starting with The Sign

It was so boring. I'm sorry but a whole new case for an hour and 20 minutes special, why? It was nice to see Saint and we did clear up a few things from the show (just like you said @twig-tea). But I didn't care for the investigation bit of the actual show, why should I care now? The ending of them by the pool was entertaining and I honestly think if they were to give me an hour of fluff with all the couples I would've preferred it. Just go on a trip and catch a purse snatcher and go back to the pool. I guess they needed to justify the money they asked people for this.

After this were the VBL specials

They used that heart bokeh in all but VIP Only. Missed opportunity for matching screenshots. You Are Mine was a love fest with a proposal in the end. It was the show I liked least originally so I wasn't really very invested. There was A LOT of kissing. And I guess they make a nice pair. But also I was bored. VIP Only. Fluff, no substance and Liu Li annoyed me a little. Nothing much to see here. The double date was cute I guess. Stay By My Side. This was my favourite show originally. This one feels like a continuation, including the problems in communication so good to know somethings don't change. There was a bit of tying of loose ends so that was good. They are still very cute together. Anti Reset. Just pure fluff. Couple goes to the amusement park. Couple goes on several rides and are very cute during it. Couple finds another couple (the one from SBMS) and compete to see who is more in love. Couple kisses by the river with hearts in the background and declare eternal love. The massive elephant in the room gets to just hang out.

And the last one...

Scent of Memory. Look, was it great to see them together again? Yes. Did I missed them? Yes. Are they still great together? Yes. Was it worth the wait? Hell no. They are cute as hell, and I still adore them, but this was like the whole original show condensed in an hour and we once again had to see one of them disappear. Was it a dream? Was it reality? Does it really matter? It was funny to see Yai get scared of the robot vacuum and the sound system and get quickly addicted to vr gaming. It was nice seeing Jom in charge. But it was blip. A montage. Cute yes but ultimately kinda hollow.

End of specials.

[1141520851813892291920]

I was told I should come here to tell you about a recent experience I’ve had. Something about how you’re looking for scary stories or whatever. Sure, I’ll tell you, but it’s not like it’s going to help or anything. I don’t think anyone can help me, really.

It happened last night at time of writing, so Monday night. I work as a pool cleaner (pool technician is what they call it, can’t help but roll my eyes every time I have to say it) and with the summer months rolling in, work’s been busier than usual. Everyone wants their pool chlorinated and clean, everyone wants their pool tiling redone, everyone’s looking for a special rate, etc. So many uppity folks believing they’re more important and their water should be cleaned first instead of finding another way to stay cool. Bit annoying if you ask me, but it’s a job, and I couldn’t care less what these people blow their money on

Boss sent me out to some address out in the boonies and I assumed it’d be the same ordeal as always. I show up, vacuum out all the gunk, scrub up a bit, explain basic maintenance to the customer, yadayadayada. Even being out in the middle of nowhere, you don’t really assume anything. Outside of clearly these people are loaded if they live out of the way AND they’re calling about a pool cleaning. The drive there took about half the day because they were very insistent on someone coming out that same day, and I was content with the idea of an easy day for once.

I was wrong.

Everything seemed okay upon arrival. Quaint little house a couple miles out from the nearest town, beautiful property if I’m honest. The grounds surrounding the cottage seemed to be cluttered in a bunch of water fountains and irrigation systems for a small garden the owners were tending to. All of the water sources seemed to snake back in onto themselves, seemingly entangled and intertwined, it was all rather impressive. Whoever owned this land was probably more savvy than I was about the basics of plumbing. Made me wonder for a second why they’d needed a pool cleaner, but I had a job to focus on and not much time to think about it for longer than a passing moment.

When I knocked on the door of the residence, I was met with the most breathtaking view of a gorgeous woman who’d answered the door. A real looker, made me almost envy the person who got to be with her, I’d never been charming enough to end up with someone like that. I couldn’t tell you what she looked like now, or what she sounded like, or all of what she said, but I remember her eyes. I remember that while the rest of her seemed inviting and warm, those eyes remained cold and dark, almost analytical. Scanning for something that I couldn’t quite be sure of.

She’d told me that her husband had just left for work but that the pool was in the back. She handed me the check for services, and initially I was taken aback since normally payment comes after, but it was one less thing for me to worry about. She told me I could get started and that she’d be outside after she’d changed. Wasn’t really sure what that meant at the time, but I wasn’t going to decline seeing more of her, and with a nod I started to head to the back area of the cottage where the pool was.

By far it must have been the filthiest pool I’ve ever laid eyes on. Overgrown moss, all manner of disgusting, vile muck, as if the pool itself hadn’t been cared for in years. I swore I’d seen the carcass of a less than lucky squirrel at one point, but tried not to think about it all. Popped my headphones in and started the process of vacuuming the mess out of there, and I was thankful for the drone of noise that made it impossible to think for too long. It wasn’t until I felt a tap on my shoulder that I stopped, and what I saw when I turned around wasn’t what I expected.

The wife had joined me in the backyard in what had to be one of the skimpiest swimsuits in existence. Strings that screamed at the tension they were put under, and while I tried not to look, I couldn’t help myself. If she noticed, she didn’t seem to make any mention of it, but the next words out of her mouth could have made me keel over from excitement if that were possible.

“Would you help me with some sunscreen?”

We ended up heading over to a lawn chair she’d setup and I enjoyed the feeling of her warm flesh beneath mine as I rubbed the ointment into her skin. I don’t think I would have in retrospect, but in that moment it felt like that was the only thing that mattered in the world. I remember the way she looked at me with those eyes, and how I could see myself reflected in her gaze; I remember how sure of myself she made me seem, and how good it felt to escape my own self-doubts for once. How it wasn’t so bad to be a pool technician after all if it meant I’d get to experience the joy of beautiful women like this more. How I’d be able to tell my mother to kick rocks for thinking I’d never amount to anything.

At some point, she’d requested that I undo the straps tied on her back so she could get an even tan before she could get in the pool. My stomach lurched, but I agreed, and after undoing the straps, she instructed me to go finish up while she enjoyed the view. With a newfound surge of confidence, I set to work, scrubbing away all of the disgusting bits of dirt and grime in a jiffy. Even added some extra cleaning chemicals besides the chlorine so she wouldn’t have to trouble herself with worrying about not being able to take a dip in the pool. If I had known then what I know now, I wouldn’t have been anywhere near as excited. Funny how your thoughts circle when you have time to reflect on things.

My job completed, I announced that the pool was once again open for swimming, and earned a delighted giggle in return. Something that sounded so ephemeral, as though it were not of this world, but I wished to hear it again and again. I’d started to pack up my tools and planned on enjoying the many daydreams I’d be thinking of on the way back of this scenario I’d found myself in when a sudden movement caught my eye. When I turned to look, I found her beckoning me to come closer, a smile playing on her lips while her gaze never left mine. If everything else had been a fantasy prior, her next spoken words were the cherry on top.

“Would you like to join me?”

I watched in amazement as she removed the fabric that barely covered anything and slowly walked back into the pool, her eyes fixed on me, that same come hither motion ever present. I didn’t even need time to think. Before I knew it, I was freed from my clothes and in the water beside her, and we locked into a brief moment of passion. It all felt surreal, as if it weren’t what was happening, but good. That’s when I felt the pull on my ankle. A pull that at first seemed like something I’d neglected to fish out of the pool before announcing that the waters were safe, but one that quickly became terrifying. I felt myself get pulled under, and despite how shallow the pool was, I couldn’t climb back to the surface.

I felt dozens of what felt like hands pulling me deeper and deeper down into the depths of a pool that was much too big for what I’d just cleaned. I swore I heard whispers telling me that things would be so much better if I gave in and joined them and how life could be so much more if I relished being worth something as part of their group. Sentences that still don’t make much sense to me now but they don’t become any less terrifying. I reemerged from the surface as my vision started to darken, and scrambled out of the pool back to dry land, heaving up water as I did. As I caught my breath, I heard a voice say something that made my blood run cold.

“Look. At. Me.”

When I turned back around, I found the source of the voice coming from the pool. I was met with the creeping gaze of someone who’d submerged themselves beneath the surface, only their eyes and the top of their head visible. Whoever was in the pool, it didn’t look like the woman who’d answered the door, and they began to rise from the waters that now appeared murky once again. It was a wretched, decrepit old woman, one who appeared to have become bloated and waterlogged as though they’d been submerged for far longer than the human body can handle.

I watched in horror as she began to cackle, her skin peeling away from her body as she attempted to exit the pool and head in my direction. I was frozen in place and watched as with every shift of the water, this pool began to change, and alter. Faces reflected in the ripples of the waves she was making, faces that I swore I recognized. Her eyes had locked onto me with what I swore was the same cold, dark gaze I’d felt earlier in the day. She was halfway between me and the pool when I was able to steel myself and begin running back to the car. The last words I heard echo from her still haunt me now.

“Get back into the water. Join us. Join your friends. We’re waiting for you.”

I don’t think I stopped the car again until I heard the second alarm go off warning me about low fuel. Quit my job after, I don’t need that kind of stress in my life, there are other things I can do in the meantime. Hopefully the next gig has buxom babes who aren’t completely mental. If not, I’ll be headed to the beach soon, and maybe I’ll get lucky there. Can’t say I’ll be looking to get into the water, though.

...well, I hate to say it but I am feeling physically better than I was prior to reading this statement. Though, I was perhaps remiss in...stalling on responding to this one for so long.

It stuck out to me due to the nature of the...reflection. It tastes similar to whatever has been trying to...consume? Capture? Reflect Tim.

It is a complicated situation, and one I do not yet understand completely. Reflections are...distortions of light, if viewed from a technical standpoint. But they are also imitations, unrealities of their own...there is no shortage of folklore about mirrors and reflections - do not get trapped between them, do not make eye contact with them, do not accept the invitation to step into the looking glass...

Which is to say...I am lost on this. I've come to accept that the powers of the world are...not exactly the same as the ones that I knew of Before, but are no less present. They seem to exist in their own right, though if Michael's door is anything to go by, they are still able to be influenced or at least...visited, by the familiar fears that I Know.

What do I know about the reflections so far... -They appear to feed off of...insecurity, and self doubt. -They can change their appearance (unsurprising) -They are ephemeral in nature, and do not have a fixed Place -They can communicate directly with their victims and targets. -They appear in opposition to predation and blood. I don't know if any of this will be helpful. Martin and Michael are insistent that I stay in the car while they take care of things with Tim. Oh yes, as if that is going to happen. I have more experience than both of them, at least now. That, and the poor pool boy's misfortune was a rather reinvigorating snack. I am feeling much better. Stay in the car, my arse.

[ddollfface]

𝐓𝐨 𝐌𝐞, 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐒𝐢𝐜𝐤!𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭 𝐱 𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐛!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

"Show me your thorns and I'll show you hands ready to bleed." ♡ Aaron O' Hanlon

Trigger Warnings; description of body mutilation, description of murder, mild panic, regret, angst (?), possessive behavior, toxic behavior, irrational behavior, reader is described as 'she' and 'her', reader is afab, bad writing.

If I missed anything, then please let me know ♡

It's 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐒𝐢𝐜𝐤!𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐭's first murder! Poor reader doesn't know what's coming... :(((

In and out. In and out. Just keep breathing, that's what he told himself. He could feel the blood rush through his head. The world was going in and out. God, when did it get so hard to think? It was as if he was spun around to tumble and fumble around. Where was he? Why does he feel so warm, but cold at the same time?

His pupils were dilated, zooming in and out, causing a wave of adrenaline to cloud his brain. He could feel everything but nothing at the same time. He could feel his lungs expand and contract, creating a vacuum. It felt as if his heart was being stabbed, the squeeze he felt in his chest every second was like someone clawing at his flesh. Tearing and ripping him apart, from within. It was like he did something wrong, something very, very wrong. What had he done?

Suddenly, it felt as if the elephant in the room was right there, right on his shoulders. That dread he was feeling was looming over him like a disappointed parent. Like a father's warm hand squeezing his son's shoulder, as if he felt bad for what had been done.

That's when he saw it. The blood. It was everywhere. God, fuck. It was everywhere. It was fuckin' everywhere. What had he done?

"Shit. Fuck. Shitting, fucking, hell! What the hell!"

He mumbled, finally realizing where he was. The noises of the city blared in his ears, the drizzle of the rain, the patter of peoples' fancy shoes, the whooshing of cars passing by. This wasn't good, at all.

What had he fuckin' done!? He needed to do something.

"No shit!"

He cursed, looking down at his hands. Blood seeped through the seems, ingraining in the palm of his hands, a flashing reminder of what had occurred. This wasn't good. The adrenaline was dying, his rage was dwindling, and his regret was blaring.

He needed to dispose of it. The man looked over his shoulder, at it. It was sprawled out, arms laying out on his side, and guts spilling out. His eyes were wide. You could see the murder in his eyes, every stab and every hit that thing took. It was all there. A sliver of blood dribbled from the body's lips, which are crisped and chapped. A shiver ran up the man's spine as his gaze wandered down to the body's torsor, if you could call it that...

The pancreas ripped and torn, yellow fluid slipping out, and pooling on the stoned ground. The intestines slithered out, clumped together like a decapitated snake. Blood had painted everything, but the rain washed it out, though barely scratching the surface. There was so much blood that the rain did little to cleanse the sinful scene.

The fat from the body's gut was spilling out. It was tinted yellow and looked like honeycombs from a beehive, but more plastic-like. It could barely contain itself from within the man's body, as if it was desperate to escape the confines of it's mortal body. Of course, it too was covered in that thick, red, goo.

What's the saying? Bloods thicker than water? Yeah, that checks out. It felt as if the blood was choking him, clogging his airways, and making it difficult to think, to breathe, to do anything. The scarlet liquid seemed to entrance the man, causing him to lose thought and reality.

HONK

Shit, what the hell? The man jumped and spun around. Nothing. Just New York traffic, it's fine. He's fine. It's okay. He just has to dump the body. Yeah, that's it. He can do that.

He gets to work, ignoring the gut-wrenching feeling that flooded his system. The feeling practically screamed at him to run away, to not grip the man's side, to not look at the intestines that dragged behind the body as he picked up the man. Or to not look the body dead in the eyes. Don't.

He did. He regrets it. God, it was like the man's eyes were looking through him, at something behind him. This made him nervous, it was like the dead man knew something he didn't. As if he was being pranked like he was the fool.

He's not a fool.

If anything, this man is the dunce. He's the one who touched her, his sweet, sweet angel. He's the one who allowed you to be dirtied, his beautiful muse. He's not the fool, the sick bastard, instead, it's the man who's now dead.

Maybe, if he didn't mess with what's not his, then he'd be alive. Maybe, if he wasn't a fuckin' pig, then he'd live another day but no. He's not. He was gutted like a fish, and it was rightfully deserved.

This man had gotten in his way, in his darling's way. He made you uncomfortable. He inconvenienced you with just a few words, and suddenly you wanted to cry. He wouldn't let you feel that way. He has to preserve you, your natural beauty. He had to kill this man! Honestly, it isn't his fault!

Sweat began to pebble on his forehead, the mental load being too much. He sighed, exasperated from flinging the corpse into the nearest dumpster, surprisingly not catching anyone's attention. Then again, it was late in the night in the busy city of New York. People don't have time to worry about others, even if someone did see him, he doubts they'd care... Well, you would... you'd notice him...

He knows that. God, you're so loving and caring, looking out for others. It didn't matter if you were tired or in a rush, you'd always make time in your day to help someone in need. You're such a sweet angel, his little angel. You just need protection, you need to know that you can't help everyone. You're going to wear yourself out, don't you know? Just let him take care of you. You do too much. You need a break, just relax and let him do everything...

He can make you feel good. He knows he's not the most experienced man, but it's the thought that counts, yeah? He'll show you, all you need is some convincing! He's sure.

I mean, for what is he, a poet, without his muse?

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, then please, please call this number. Relationships, like the one written above, aren't normal and should be left immediately. Please, take care of yourself and your loved ones. 800-799-7233 (National Abuse Hotline)

[charlesandmartine]

Wednesday 1st January 2025

NYD

It's odd making reference to 2025, and yet it seems to have been with us a while now because it has featured so much in our future planning.

We are still reeling from the events of our return journey after the fantastic, exciting, exhilarating celebrations of yesterday evening and just how quickly the transition was made to a potentially threatening environment. Reports are that we shared it with more than a million people. Crowd control must have been ultimately impossible. Lessons will have been learned, but it was a gruelling experience that you endure, not enjoy, but get to do it for as many times that you feel you still can, because for a time, the ends justify the difficulties experienced. The main problem we experienced was from the cordoned off areas surrounding the Circular Quays vicinity, with access along the vertical roadways towards all rail stations, and blocked horizontal roads towards main bus routes located in Wynyard. Manly is not served by any rail network, so we were dependent upon getting to a bus. The road blocks were guarded by security and police, but personnel stationed at each block did not necessarily know what was happening at the other blocks or where the alternative routes were. At one unfortunate and scary point, we reluctantly found ourselves in the forecourt to Wynyard metro station, and because police then shut off our route behind us leading back into George Street, our only possible option was forward in a direction we didn't want to go in. We then found ourselves below street level, deep within the bowels of the station itself, with no available route out and back to above ground. So, our only possibility was to retrace our steps and wait for the police to reopen the entrance to the station again. Therefore we had to work it out for ourselves, and along with thousands of others, milled, pushed, shoved, josseled, shuffled up George Street, desperately trying to work horizontally to York Street, and a possible bus in a homeward direction, amidst blaring music from party revelling. It was chaotic and really quite frightening, not knowing for sure that we could get to our destination, with absolutely no accurate direction and police extremely harassed trying to perform an impossible task in a vacuum that they themselves were ill-informed about, and not appearing to be able to give advice on. Once eventually achieving access to York Street, things clicked into place, and we made it to Wynyard and an awaiting 173x bus to take us home (not free).

As the moments ticked away, sitting by our pool several hours later and enjoying a quiet breakfast, grateful we were home safely, we made plans for Friday's excitement; the first opening day of the final cricket test match between Australia and India. Also, to plan is tomorrow's visit to the Rocks to see Susanah Place.

Danger is ever present in these shores. Things that crawl on the surface of the earth and things that swim in the sea. We went down to the beach to relax a bit, and as observers of human behaviour we can't help perhaps being a little cynical, but it does appear that the life guards have a tendency at around 3 pm to make an announcement that blue bottles have been sighted. This means a lot of people get out of the water, and anxiety levels drop. Now, the real trump card, if this tactic fails, is shark sighted! That one works pretty well. The main shoreline loudspeaker system squawked into action, with shark siron, and yellow shark signs appeared. And so it all worked very well this afternoon, and very fast too it was. Except for one foolish, amateur surfer. There he was, swimming away, on his board, falling off his board, and then pushing his board further out to sea to repeat the whole performance. This attracted the attention of orange and yellow clad life guards who stood and shrieked their whistles at him at a pitch that would dislodge teeth and send small dogs to look for cover. Still, he took no notice, so they brought in the man with the tannoy, and he shouted incoherent commands at him, and still he took no notice. So then they brought backup in the form of two yellow and orange personnel in a yellow and orange small boat, who also yelled at him. The lone swimmer perhaps did notice now the small crowd watching from the promenade. Maybe he saw he was alone out there and assumed he was attracting quite an audience, and clearly, what was pleasing the crowd most must be his prowess as a surfer. What else would explain the appreciation his efforts were giving. So, of course, he couldn't disappoint his public; the show must go on. More whistles, more shouting, but as we turned to go, more surfing and falling off.... We just hope he did not become another statistic.

Our entertainment over, we pursued a course for Coles and the procurement of yet another rubbery chicken.

Perhaps a tiring day, but a good start to a New Year.

ps. We were treated to a fine lone airshow display of loop the loops and general antics. All ended safely.

[imaginarycatbreeding]

Hi!

Welcome to @h4zardousch3micals 's is hyperfocused on cat genetics and desperately needs to get it out of their system somehow.

If you're not familiar with cat genetics I'd recommend this series and this website, as they're what got me here in the first place. I'm also talking a lot of inspiration from @i-assign-your-posts-cats so make sure to check out their blog too ^^

So, what are we doing here?

Making and breeding fictional cats! The original name idea for this was "dailygenecats" but I knew I wouldn't have the motivation to draw every day so this was the next best thing.

Cats will be posted whenever I have some in the queue. Some cats will be new guys with no known parents, others will be the kittens of other cats.

You can send in asks wanting to see (...are they hypokits? or regular kits because they get added to the gene pool?) for cats IDs (i.e Cat 1 x Cat 2) and they'll get added the queue.

(! Also I'm kinda silly, if you see a mistake please correct me!)

Please keep in mind:

You can do whatever you want with these designs! Draw them, give them personalities and backstories, idk put them on a mug or something. The only thing I ask is that you respect others' right to do the same (no claiming cats or arguing about personalities pls)

Don't try to request cats that are related pls. ;~; If I manage to keep this up for a while and it becomes hard to track you won't get in trouble or anything but I don't want to do that.

I'm not gonna worry about age. Pretend all these cats are existing in a vacuum outside of time where they're all adults and its fine. The only thing I might put a stop to if I remember is like... the equivalent of step parents ig.

Also don't worry about breeding the same cat too many times. Don't overbreed irl cats but these guys are fictional its fine.

The current set of genes used (more may be added if there's interest for it):

F Locus: F (Short-hair) > f (Long-hair)

B Locus: B (Black) > b (Chocolate) > b1 (Cinnamon)

O Locus: O (Red) = o (Not Red) ((And -y is here too I guess))

D Locus: D (Non-dilute) > d (Dilute)

A Locus: A (Agouti) > a (Non-agouti)

Mc Locus: Mc (Mackerel) > mc (Classic)

Ta Locus: Ta (Ticked) > ta (Not Ticked)

Sp Simplified: Sp (Spotted) = sp (Not spotted) ((Polygenetic irl, simplified for art purposes))

W Locus: W (Fully white) > ws (White spots) = w (No white)

C Locus: C (Normal color) > cs (Siamese) = cb (Sepia) > c (Albino)

I Locus: I (Silver) > i (Non-silver)

Wd Simplified: Wd (Golden) > wd (Non-golden) ((Polygenetic irl, simplified for art purposes))

A cat's phenotype and known genotype will be shown on their post. More of their genotype (like hidden recessives!) will be added as they're discovered.

(I also may or may not have a few secret genes/low rolls, but you'll have to find one before I reveal it)

Cat List

And that's all! Hopefully this will be fun ^^

[such-a-random-rambler]

Happy MiniBang @jbarkerstargazer

I enjoyed scrolling though your blog for art, and a number caught my eye. I settled on this one because I don't think I've seen anything like it before, and loved the feeling of two people sitting side by side sharing a wonder. I couldn't find a reference to who this person was, so kept it vague and I hope it fits who you were drawing.

found in this post, for reference

The 2060’s are a decade of frontiers being brought to the forefront. Whether it’s in the depth of space, the deepness of the ocean, or the most remote mountain peaks, what was once a rare sight can be displayed on every holoprojector in every home in the world. Technological progress has pushed back the edge of exploration so it can be enjoyed by everyone, even if only the bravest – and luckiest – souls are actually leaving their footprints behind. 

There are, however, pockets of experiences left that are known by the very few. Some are not pleasant. Most are life-threatening. One of them John Tracy, and only John Tracy, sees on every trip to and from home: a unique commute even with the bustling traffic into orbit these days. 

Up is John’s favourite direction. Not just because he’s escaping the heavy shackles of unforgiving gravity or because he’s returning to the quiet he needs to focus and save lives. It’s this view.  

On most journey’s John spends the forty five or so minutes it takes for the space elevator to travel from island to station checking over system reports and pre-loading the holograms he needs into the control centre. Sometimes he puts that off, and lets himself enjoy the slow change from atmosphere to vacuum. The colours fade as pressure changes, and the curve of the planet emerges. There’s a precious few minutes when the Earth and the stars are in balance, before the glistening grains of sand painted on inky blackness creep across the whole sky.  

None of the other travelers into space have the time to see the gradual melting from Earth to Heavens, not at the breakneck pace they are catapulted though the atmosphere. This view is one reserved for John, and those special enough he invites to share it.  

“Do you want to see?” he asks her, one lazy afternoon, when the airwaves had been quiet and the pool had been inviting. Lunch in the sunshine had been followed by an afternoon of reading and napping. Now the breeze picks up as the sun begins to set, bringing with it the scent of cool sea and earth to accompany their conversation on the merits of unorthodox space travel. 

She’d been to Five before of course, but by the usual – quick, rocket-shaped – route. 

Her immediate smile is excited at the prospect and touched by the invitation to this most private view.  

He hustles her down to the elevator dock before anyone can interfere, leading her by the hand so fast she has to do a few little jogging steps to keep up. Intense focus on a goal tends to make him forget his long legs in a way she’s come to find endearing.  

The secondary seat is slightly more comfortable than most airplane seats -  even if it spends most of it’s life folded into the wall panels – though nothing in comparison to the bespoke fit of John’s chair, almost as form fitting as his suit. That primary seat shifts aside slightly to make room so they can sit together, the main viewing port on the opposite wall.  

Safety checks completed and harnesses secured, Five lifts them into the evening sky.  

Ever been so focused that no other part of the world can intrude into your bubble? That’s how it is for them this first time: the earth rising below, the atmosphere whispering goodbye and the sky wrapping them in stars. Just the two of them, hand in hand, and a glimpse of infinity. 

That’s how it is the first time, and many times after that.  

[mariacallous]

Olga Romanova says profit motives make Federal Penitentiary Service Russia’s most ‘anti-war’ agency

In an interview for The Insider, literary critic Nikolai Aleksnadrov spoke to Olga Romanova, the director of the civil rights organization Russia Behind Bars, about the past and present of Russia’s prisons. Romanova’s core argument is that private profits drive policy within the Federal Penitentiary Service, shaping attitudes and practices related to prisoner labor, troop recruitment, and trends in persecution and torture. The “merger” between Russia’s state authorities and the criminal world has established a transactional system that determines how prisons are administered. Romanova says this “interpenetration” ensures shared interests in how rights and privileges are extended (and denied) to inmates, particularly when it comes to forced labor and protections against abuse.

Thanks to these administrative linkages between officials and criminals, Russia’s shifting geopolitics reverberate in the prison system and trigger purges of the latest “public enemies” from inside the “crime committees” that share power at penitentiaries. Romanova says this happened to Georgian “thieves in law” after Russia’s brief war in 2008. She claims that radical Islamists seized the vacuum left by ousted Georgian criminal bosses. Romanova also argues that an ongoing campaign by prison officials against all Muslim inmates escalated further in the aftermath of the Moscow concert hall terrorist attack in March 2024.

According to Romanova, the Federal Penitentiary Service’s reliance on kickbacks and the embezzlement of profits derived from forced labor has — somewhat counterintuitively — made the agency the most anti-war in the federal government. The reason for this attitude is that the war has diluted prisons’ labor pool and diverted funding that might otherwise have maintained or even improved the industrial infrastructure at prison facilities. In other words, the recruitment of prisoners and redirected federal spending have reduced the income of corrupt prison officials (and cut earnings for all the other bureaucrats who collect their own rents in this chain). 

[koukouture]

Bullshitting Babylonia politics bc why not

Aka I’m trying to lay out a foundation for a fanfic I really want to write and also for reference for any other fics I might write.

Also this is grossly oversimplified and not based in any one voting system, I just cannot and will not go that deep making my parliament structure is far enough thank you and all my friends already think I’m fucking insane for being so invested in Babylonia politics.

There are four courts, four banners, and one more that represents Gestalt. The courts are: the Justice division (judicial branch) Control court, the Military Command bureau, and the Legislative court. No I will not explain their inner workings such as cabinet or whatever but all you need to know is that the president will come from one of those courts. Once they are elected, they will technically become a part of that iffy fifth court, the one representing Gestalt. (Parliament clearly doesn’t work in parties in the story)

Justice division: literally just the judicial branch I have no notes, they’re canon tho unless I fucked up the name.

Legislative court: just the legislative branch what more do you want

Control Court: I’m not actually sure what control court does but they’re canon (Hilda is a part of it) I have a theory that they’re some sort of enforcement which wouldn’t be far fetched considering Babylonia is technically a democratic military state.

Military command bureau: commanders, generals, etc, they plan out operations and make rules within the military. Very important for a population that is perpetually in wartime with the Punishing virus.

How the voting system works: within the four courts anyone is technically viable, but when time for election comes, Gestalt chooses a small pool of members from each court. From that pool the general public will vote on them. You get the idea, once ballots are counted the one with the highest number of votes wins. No parties and seats, as the president will technically not belong to a party anymore.

Idk if there’s like a limit or if there were even any presidents before Hassen but that’s not important Lmao. I believe that there might have been some sort of power vacuum after Dominik disappeared and that’s when Hassen rose to power but idk and i don’t care that is not relevant unless I actually write that fic

[weldingundercut43]

Welding in Space: Challenges and Innovations for Extraterrestrial Construction

Introduction:

As humanity expands its presence beyond Earth and ventures into space exploration and colonization, the need for construction and infrastructure development in space becomes increasingly apparent. Welding, a fundamental joining process in terrestrial manufacturing, also plays a crucial role in space construction projects, enabling the assembly of spacecraft, habitats, and infrastructure components in the harsh and challenging environment of space. In this article, we'll explore the unique challenges and innovative solutions associated with welding in space and its implications for future space exploration and habitation.

Microgravity Environment:

One of the primary challenges of welding undercut in space is the absence of gravity, which affects the behavior of molten metal and welding processes. In microgravity, weld pools form differently, and droplet detachment, gas bubble behavior, and heat dissipation are altered. Innovative welding techniques, such as electromagnetic welding and friction stir welding, have been developed to overcome the challenges posed by microgravity and enable reliable joining of metal components in space.

Vacuum Conditions:

Space is characterized by a vacuum environment with near-zero atmospheric pressure, which presents challenges for welding processes involving shielding gases and arc stability. Traditional gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) techniques require modifications to operate effectively in vacuum conditions. Advanced welding technologies, such as laser welding and electron beam welding, offer advantages in vacuum welding applications due to their ability to operate without the need for shielding gases.

Material Selection and Compatibility:

The selection of materials for space welding applications is critical due to the extreme temperature variations, radiation exposure, and vacuum conditions encountered in space. Weldable materials must exhibit high strength, corrosion resistance, and thermal stability while being compatible with the space environment. Advanced alloys, composites, and ceramic materials with tailored properties are being developed for space welding applications, offering enhanced performance and durability in extraterrestrial environments.

Automation and Robotics:

Automation and robotics play a crucial role in space welding operations, enabling precise control, repeatability, and efficiency in extraterrestrial construction projects. Robotic welding systems equipped with advanced sensors and adaptive control algorithms can perform welding tasks autonomously, reducing the reliance on human intervention and minimizing the risk of errors in space missions. Additionally, modular robotic platforms and manipulators are being developed for in-situ welding and assembly of space habitats and infrastructure components on planetary surfaces.

In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU):

In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is a key strategy for sustainable space exploration and colonization, allowing for the extraction and utilization of resources available on celestial bodies such as the Moon and Mars. Welding technologies are being integrated into ISRU systems to enable the fabrication of structures and infrastructure using locally sourced materials, such as lunar regolith or Martian soil. Additive manufacturing techniques, such as 3D printing with in-situ materials, offer opportunities for on-demand fabrication of habitats and infrastructure components in extraterrestrial environments.

Conclusion:

Welding in space presents unique challenges and opportunities for construction and infrastructure development in the extraterrestrial frontier. By leveraging innovative welding techniques, materials, and automation technologies, humanity can overcome the challenges of welding in microgravity and vacuum conditions and enable the assembly of spacecraft, habitats, and infrastructure necessary for sustainable space exploration and habitation. Continued research and development efforts in space welding will be essential to advancing humanity's capabilities in space and unlocking the full potential of extraterrestrial construction.

[beardedmrbean]

Wait wasn’t it the boomers that preach to us this “We need to save the world!” shit? I mean would could have better eco system if wasn’t for say

1. The US, USSR/China piss competition that was the Cold War

2. SEVERAL countries being fucked over thanks to the push of communism/US meddling/ etc and many of those countries are still recovering from it.

3. I mean in the west developed countries, people have fucking meltdowns over a Japan McDonald’s wholesome family tweet. So our family unit need some fixing

4. Manufactured nihilism, so a lot of people don’t give about themselves much less the environment.

5. Have corporations that being run by medically confirmed sociopaths.

I can say more, but Greta sweetie, I know you want to do good, but blaming the older generation thinking many were hellbent on destroying the earth isn’t so simple. Many do/did want to save the world, but we have to deal with the fallout of ww2, communist dumbasses, and so much more with humanity itself before we can do the ideal environmentalism.

Was confused for a moment till I remembered I'd scheduled that one, was gonna run it yesterday but I had to get around the subscription wall which is more complicated than a paywall.

In the end just archiving it works but the links in the article don't work if you do that, which is what I had to do.

It's not even the stuff you're mentioning up there either. I had a 1966 Plymouth Fury III there was this weird green plastic thing with a device inside it and a couple vacuum hoses attached to it, one in one out.

Primitive Smog control device, if you never worked on older cars that were manufactured for sale in California you'll never see one, but every vehicle sold in CA had a smog control device for the longest time, all changed when the auto industry realized it was cheaper to just do the same thing to every car, it's something that's been going on since before I was even born though, so current generation isn't the first to care or take action.

Been lots of missteps along the way, the shift from paper bags to plastic ones at grocery stores is a big one, people thought it would save the trees and it didn't do much there and now we've got a totally different problem.

Hole in the ozone layer on the other hand, we got that issue taken care of and it's on the mend, has been since long before gretta was born too.

National parks predate my grandparents, thanks Teddy, leaving large swaths of land alone for the purpose of conservation.

My grandparents when they got their pool installed in the early 80's had a big fat solar water heater installed so it could heat the water for that as well as the water for the house, weren't super common but they existed and were in use by people who wanted to both be nice to the earth and lower their gas bill at the same time.

Nearly all of the solutions being discussed by the young climate weekend warriors involve technology developed for the purpose they want it used for before they were born.

I'm just dandy with people wanting to save the earth, I've been trying to do my part for decades now, which I would appreciate it if gretta and co would acknowledge instead of acting like they're the first people ever to give a damn.

Several centuries of damage all culminating at the peak of the industrial revolution that we need to undo, that takes time and being a snobby, whiny, self important, twit who bashes everyone who came before her, who's shoulders she's standing on, doesn't do anything real.

And quite possibly does more harm than good.

Not going to totally blame her though, she did start out as a pawn on someone else's game and to some extent she still is.

[dino-nugget7]

See, if done not for profit, the idea behind insurance is actually solid. Rather than everyone having to pay the doctor, and not seeing them if they can't afford it, everyone puts their money into a pot, whatever they can afford to contribute, and then when anyone gets sick, whoever needs it takes the money they need and gets their treatment and the doctor still gets paid for their services, regardless of whether or not they would have been able to afford it on their own. The problem is that it relies on altruism and equity; that is, people who dont need help, helping those who do, without regard to "worthiness", and people recieving help based on what they need, not what everyone else gets or what they can personally afford, rather than greed or equality. But a lot of people push and pull insurance towards selfishness, meritocracy or, greed.

The selfishness crowd (american conservatives, especially paranoid poor ones) crowd thinks that you should only look out for yourself and your immediate family. They think that their neighbor is out to harm them at any moment, and end up projecting that fear onto their neighbors and doing harm to them. They think that insurance shouldn't be a thing at all, because if you can't afford to see the doctor, you shouldn't get to go, and/or they believe that there are certain groups of people that deserve to die, and will shoot themselves in the foot if it means also making that group suffer. The selfishness group is the second worst group sabotaging insurance.

The meritocracy group thinks that you should only get out of insurance what you put into it. This group thinks that we should help people, if they've also helped others. This is the same group that we can blame for the grotesque rule that you have to have worked for a certain number of years before you can qualify for disability payments. This group is likely to be more well off, and have a severe blindspot to their privilege. This blindspot is carefully guarded, as they are very fragile when presented with the suffering that their ideas cause, exploding into either tears or anger. This is the group of Republicans and moderate liberals that think that even if we universalize healthcare, we should leave a private insurance backdoor option open for those that can afford it, not because they're against contributing to the larger pot like the first group, but because they feel entitled to their golden little one also. Again, they don't/refuse to understand that that will always result in abysmal treatment for poor people, because of

Group three, the Greed fuckers, the reason we can't have nice things, the worst bastards. This is the guy who looks at an egalitarian group and sees a power vacuum. Who looks at a communal pot and sees a hoard ready to be stolen. You don't need me to explain this guy, he's the guy who looks for every opportunity to extract as much money as possible, for as little effort as possible. These guys unfortunately have successfully commandeered American healthcare from its ideal, into, yeah, the money extraction machine that feels so inevitable at this point that we can't see that the idea of insurance is solid.

Anyways, we already have a system that's supposed to pool money and distribute it as needed, called taxes. Which just about every other country has already figured out.