#reciprocal squared function

[math-journal2]

Parent Functions

[kickingitwithkirk]

Winchester's Folly

Summary: When Dean gets into trouble John decides to hide the truth for his family

Word Count: 888

*Dark! Fic-don't continue if you are disturbed by the subject matter

Warnings: A/B/O, non/con elements , dub/con elements, enslavement, pandemic, non/con drug use, collaring/leashing, forced mating, forced breeding, BDSM elements, show-level violence

*Additional warnings to be added

*Square filled: @spnabobingo - Alpha Challenging Alpha

A/N: * UPDATED 3/24

A/N II: Still working on reigning myself in, keeping each part reader-friendly length, and have no clue how many parts this will end up being.

A/N III: a few notes about designations in A/O sub-genders for this story.

Alphas-Dominant (head of the pack/family) Subordinate (obey Dominant) Breeders (rare & highly coveted by the government. Can challenge Dominant for pack/family leadership)

Omegas -Domestic (mostly wiped out by plague, few natural born left) Feral (government-supplied breeders sold commonly called O's) House O’s (3rd generation+ Feral/Dominant breed. Used as servants/sex workers) Pack (rare & highly coveted by the government)

*Divider by @firefly-graphics

*No Beta-all mistakes are mine

GIF by antiquerss

Part II

“Dean's preference of type doesn’t matter, but I want one under eighteen.” 

Sam’s head snapped up in shock. That wasn’t the plan; John was specific that O should be older than Dean and preowned, making them cheaper to repurchase. “Dad, why are you wanting…?” John cut him off with a low growl, provoking Sam’s inner wolf to reciprocate, neither noticing Helms studying their interaction with interest.

Alpha Winchester can’t wholly control this beauty like the other one. The boss will be pleased to learn about these developments. 

“A House O would normally do on paper,” Helms interrupts, “But I know this judge, they will not be satisfied with that alone.”  Both Winchesters have matching, confused expressions, and he continues before John can ask what that means.

 “The judge will require that I follow the statutes in Hibbins and your pack's unusual dynamics: three virile, unmated Alphas with no permanent abode, residing whatever. House O’s have a breed down to need stability, so a Pack Omega would be ideal even if they're as scarce as Phoenix and need the right connections, but there's your social standing.” That remark made Sam snort. It wasn’t the first time someone had mentioned their social standing, not so slyly code for a dirt-poor pack. 

“I have a few in the preferred age range we could negotiate over, but I suspect you won’t allow your Subordinate to breed them. The judge probably will consider that a deal breaker. The best option is an altered pre-owned Feral. And fortunate for you, I’ve recently acquired a selection from a fire sale. This way, gentlemen.” 

Dean's wolf whines, watching his pack move farther into the building. At the same time, he can only stand there, as ordered, and observe these unfortunate creatures bartered over as the livestock society considers them. His Alpha knew it would eat at his ingrained, perpetual guilt and is part of the repentance he has to endure because, once vexed, John Winchester never forgave or forgot.

Sam's inner wolf was getting more unquiet the longer they were in this den of iniquity. He knew the only reason John wanted him near was an additional jab at Dean to emphasize his failures. Fuck, he hated their Alpha using Dean's guilt against himself whenever displeased. Sam couldn’t see Dean from where they were, getting pissed that John was now only focusing on a couple of O’s that’d caught his interest.

Sam instinctually knew she was all wrong and, without realizing it, started vocalizing his displeasure. “What’s your problem now?” John barked at him. “They’re undoubtedly your type, sir,” Sam replied with his usual bluntness that made John's jaw clench, grudgingly reflecting on his youngest observation.

As the Dominant Alpha of his pack, John ultimately decided how they functioned, including mating. He cringed internally, remembering the drinking confession inadvertently made to Sam shortly after he presented.

It was a typical night when John was around.

Sam was sitting at the kitchen table finishing up some calculus homework. At the same time, John, sprawled on a couch, hovering between drunk and passed-out drunk, started talking about his mother.

Mary used to say three-year-old Dean was a handful, and now about to whelp again; it was too much for an Alpha herself to handle not having the instincts. She insisted John procure a House O to wet nurse the new pup because after extending the nursing of Dean, she wasn’t willing to do that again. John told her they couldn’t afford one, and Mary retorted if they had one, they could hatefuck their anger out on the O instead of John leaving. 

Sams revolted learning that the mother he never knew, one his brother practically worshiped, had wanted to purchase a House O to raise her litter and use them as a fuckslave to keep her mate happy and at home. When John started drunkenly lauding the pleasurable attributes of an Omegas natural slick pussy versus female Alphas, Sam grabbed Dean's CD player, pumped up the volume, and pretended to be working until John eventually passed out.

Shoving the books into his backpack, Sam retreated to their shared bedroom and retrieved the cobbled-together black-market laptop Dean secretly got him. Firing it up, he began researching the history of Omegas, the Hibbins Procurement Act, eventually going down the rabbit hole, finding blogs about how the effort to repopulate Omegas became perverted over the decades and obscure provisions secretly added during extension reviews that the government schools omitted felt his meager dinner about to reappear and bolted for the toilet.

Dean came rolling later, finding the laptop open on the bed, and immediately started worrying. His brother never left it out when their dad was around, followed the scent of sickness to find Sam lying on the bath floor, looking like he’d picked up an illness. Dean cleans him up, then tucks Sam into bed, diligently watching over him the rest of the night.

Surveying the area for hidden trouble, Sam catches an irresistible scent. His inner wolf hurls itself frantically against its cage of skin and bone, growling home home home in his mind. Flicking an eye towards his Alpha, whom Helms had distracted by another O. Without a second thought, Sam follows the wolf’s instincts, slowly backs towards the door left ajar, and slips through unnoticed.

Part III

SPN TAGS: @donnaintx @lyarr24  @flamencodiva    @lassie-bird @nancymcl   @spnbaby-67   @leigh70

Sam/Jared: @idreamofplaid

Dean/Jensen: @thoughts-and-funnies @stoneyggirl2 @beabutterfly987 @smoothdogsgirl

WF: @slamminmine @ladysparkles78 @deans-spinster-witch @ilovetaquitosmmmm

[greetings-inferiors]

∞

Okay so the first thing to get out of the way is that INFINITY DOES NOT EXIST. IT ISN’T A THING THAT EXISTS.

The very definition of natural numbers says that for every number, there is a number one larger. This means that if infinity was a number, there would be an infinity plus one, which obviously is absurd as it goes against the definition of infinity, being ‘larger than any countable number’

So nowadays, infinity isn’t considered ‘a countable, natural number’, but more a concept, like i, the square root of negative one (which funnily enough can also act like a number).

Basically, mathematicians acknowledge that infinity doesn’t exist, but say ‘let’s pretend that it is a number’ and see what happens.

This is where I left it off, only to start writing again at a later date. Enjoy.

First of all, some very weird things happen. For example, there are such things as ‘countable infinities’ and then when you have infinity infinities that’s a second order infinity or something. Then you get infinite order infinities and I don’t know what’s after that. It’s wild.

Also cool thing about limits, that are very useful for calculus, is cancelling out infinities.

The main thing you need to know is 1/infinity tends to 0, so you want to get to 1/infinity somehow because that’s when you can cancel out. Also until the very end of when you satisfy (is satisfy the right word? It feels wrong, but I can’t remember the right term) your limit, you act as if infinity is an algebraic variable, let’s say t, so while infinity minus infinity is infinity/undefined, t-t = 0, so as t tends to infinity, t-t tends to 0.

Some functions f(x) and how they tend when x tends to infinity:

All trigonometric functions are undefined. This is because they repeat, so infinity could technically be any value. And as they’re functions, you must have one value for every input. So they’re undefined.

Hyperbolic functions are different - for sinh and cosh, sinh(x) and cosh(x) are undefined as x tends to infinity, that’s because they’d equal infinity, which is undefined. Cosech(x) and sech(x) are 0, because they’re just the reciprocal of sinh and cosh respectively, and both tanh(x) and coth(x) are 1.

All logarithms are undefined, which feels like a copout, but still. If you’ve got ln(infinity) or whatever, that’s undefined, baby.

Exponentials depend. If it’s something to the infinity, and something’s magnitude is more than one, it’s undefined. If it’s something to the negative infinity, and something’s magnitude is more than one, it’s 0. Swap those for if something’s magnitude is less than 1. If something is 1, it’s just 1 either way. Treat zero as magnitude less than 1.

So let’s say you’re working on your limits, substituting t into everything, and you get t^2. Of course that on its own is undefined, but if its t^2-t^2, then that equals zero, so when satisfying the limits it’s zero. If it’s t^negative number, it’s zero anyway.

That’s all I can think of in terms of functions!

Anyway go look up videos about infinity, I can’t do it justice. It was something me and my best friend used to argue about a lot (when he still did maths), just like imaginary numbers (before I realised that sqrt(-1)=i was an axiom. I argued ‘what makes the square root of negative one less imaginary than the square root of negative 4? Shouldn’t they both equal i? I realised why I’m wrong.)

[crispyfishsticks]

Are Jeih and Ary a 'thing'? :O I seem to remember you being very against gay art of lockjaws?

Generally my Lock art rules are:

No nsfw lock art (exception is Jeih, if I know you or if you ask first and are not a creep about it)

No fan Lock chars please.

Gift art is fine, be it random Locks or my chars.

Ship art of my chars is fine, don't care what flavor it is. Used to be super against this in general if it wasn't canon, and I don't care anymore. Just leave Jarovin out of it and give a nod to canon if you will.

To your first question - might as well do the lore update thing while I'm here to square everything away. Brace for long Ary & Jeih post.

Quick background:

Locks aren't inherently sexual beings. They don't have sex or gender within their own 'species', it's not something that's on their radar and they don't really mess around with it (with few exceptions - like Jeih, who is a wildly NSFW character). There are Reasons, for that.

Locks aren't social entities, they don't have all the relationship levels like social species do. They basically have two modes:

Companions - 'we share a major goal, our teeth are turned away from each other.' This is a joint choice. There's not much Lockian intimacy here, the focus is whatever the goal is and that usually relates to the primary heirarchy stuff (North Cliff, Empires, etc). It sets a baseline for consistent non-aggressive behavior between parties.

and

Bonded Companions - 'we're inexorably bound together, can't escape each other, and will eventually merge into a single entity.' This is not a choice either party has. It usually takes a while (sometimes thousands of years+) to resolve and is often a major source of conflict between strong personalities. This state also involves Lockian intimacy, which revolves around patterns and has nothing to do with sex. The pattern stuff drives the bonding process. Pattern stuff = bonds of some sort will happen, and you will be forced to deal with it.

There is a semi-secret third mode that involves Aryion.

Ary's work and specialty with the lesser wills is pattern manipulation, in Lockian healing and repair. His symbiosis with Jarovin tempers his aggressive nature and allows him to tolerate partial bonds - which is any bond created by the pattern work he's doing. So Locks that he is actively working on may partially bond to him, for a short time. These partial bonds are mostly one-sided. Ary does not, will not, and cannot reciprocate on a Lockian level (indomitable wills are incompatible with lesser wills anyway, from a bonding standpoint).

Where Jeih is concerned:

Jeih's pattern has been buggered since Hons tore up Yahndrall and started chowing down on the lesser wills. Jeih was unfortunate collateral before he even came into consciousness. In the aftermath of the Hons vs Ary battle that happened at that time, Ary sought out all the damaged, unsalvageable lesser wills from Hons's rampage to put them out of their misery. As he came up on Jeih, Jeih figured out a workaround in his pattern to keep himself functional and Ary made the decision to allow him to live.

Ary exists with that choice, takes responsibility for that decision and is ready to be the one to end him should he destabilize at any point. He has no emotions tied to that decision or that outcome - Jeih is beyond his ability to repair for a long time.

Aryion eventually acquires the skills needed for major pattern reconfiguration (several eons and a few partial bonds later) and is able to step in when Jeih does finally destabilize. In the time before Ary's able to help, Jeih meets his bonded companion (Kyrin) but is unable to bond, goes to Ary for help (he can't), he defects from the primary hierarchy, and then for thousands of years spends his time living as various material plane creatures, finally settling on being human and playing out a multitude of human lives. He embraces humanness and embeds himself in that race. He cannot bond and is propelled to seek out intimacy in a myriad of other ways, but these are no substitute for bonding so his appetite is insatiable. Plus side - he gets very good at making and breaking relationships, he learns to relate and emote like humans do, he can flawlessly human. Downside - he also stops living and feeding like a Lock and starts down that blood-soaked path of seducing and eating people, and starts losing his mind as he slowly starves.

When Jeih spirals and is on the cusp of giving up, Ary forcibly takes over maintaining his pattern and locks his consciousness in a human body. The move saves Jeih by allowing Ary to stabilize his pattern and buy him more time - but it also creates an intensely strong partial bond between them, much to Aryion's dismay and mild horror. Ary is so dismayed, in fact, that he refuses to acknowledge the bond's existence and Jeih spends a good bit of time incredibly confused on why he's constantly drawn back to the indomitable will. It's only after Jeih is up and running properly, after he's modified his behavior, has been released from his binding (to be a Lock again), and is actively trying to work out things with Ary, that Ary relents and fills him in on what happened.

Ary's work is not finished - not nearly so. The pattern reconfiguration requires Jeih to participate, which Jeih doesn't outright want to do for a while. And in the meantime, Jeih brings all of his humanisms, all of his charm, all of his innuendo and insatiable 'need to connect' energy down on Aryion. He would 100% love to squirrel Ary away and do sexy stuff all day. He does in fact convince Ary to borrow an actual human body and he does bargain for some Things at one point, but it's short lived. Jeih embraces his bond with Aryion and wants to take it as far as he can, because why not? Why not do all the things while they're there, explore it all, enjoy it all? He is content to treat Aryion like he wants to treat Kyrin - who, like Ary, does not really enjoy this flavor of attention.

Ary does not share Jeih's enthusiasm. He wants to do his job unbothered. He does eventually come to enjoy Jeih's company when Jeih gives him space, and eventually accepts their bond as a thing, but it is a struggle and it takes him a while to get there. He will tolerate some of Jeih's harmless eccentricities, he will tolerate the snuggles and some of the handsiness and the clinginess and will even now and again humor Jeih's desire to go on random human adventures. But it is not Ary's jam, Jeih is not his bonded companion and is not his preference. He has a long suffering attitude, and when Jeih annoys him enough he pulls rank and drives him off, viciously.

Until Jeih consents to the pattern reconfiguration they exist in this push-pull partial bond limbo. Jeih wants Ary's attention and is starving for any glimmer of affection, Ary just wants him to behave and be able to get to work. When the reconfiguration is eventually agreed upon, they consent to become companions and with that, Jeih gets the validation he wants and Ary gets to start on the reconfiguration. They figure out how to get along. They end up very patient and are generally very sweet towards each other, both giving space and neither asking too much.

Over time, as Jeih's pattern is repaired he's able to start properly bonding with Kyrin. That satiates him, and as he spends more time with Ky his partial bond with Ary dissolves and the two go their separate ways.

tl;dr - in summation, they're kind of a thing, just not a romantic thing, as much as Jeih would enjoy that.

In Lockian eyes they're partially-bonded, and companions, with the ultimate goal of repair and resolution. Their perspective is clinical, and they are waiting to see if Ary can actually pull the repair off. Ary's been in partial bonds before and while that's curious to them (due to his proximity to Jarovin), it's not unusual for him or to them.

Scott's team has a hard time wrapping their heads around Lockian perspective, they lack context a lot of the time and they just take Jeih's words and actions as gospel since he's the one always talking. Jeih absolutely delights in this, and he tends to bring 9000 level hornt to every situation so they just assume Ary & Jeih are a weird couple. It does not help that Jeih is in human form for 95% of the time, that Ary takes human form frequently in response to interact, that Ary often tolerates Jeih's shenanigans without complaint, and that they both can be affectionate at times (as even partially bound locks are occasionally apt to be).

[sexy-azalin-rexy]

For @arsarcane 's Kingmaker game. If you see typos, no you don't.

“I am the face of love’s rage.” It was an offhand remark, nothing meaningful, but Valentin saw the very instant Linzi clamped down on it like a starving dog. Dammit. The halfling analyzed them, and for a moment they felt paradoxically small, every mote of their being seen as though dissected. The halfling ended up being just decent enough to say nothing of it, but Valentin could see her jotting a note of it. It was a split second decision.

“You will be wanting the whole story,” Valentin said, screwing their eyes shut, “and who am I to deprive you of it?”

“Oh, I love a good trauma dump. Let me wet my quill, and then tell me of your sordid affair.”

“‘Affair’ implies reciprocation, does it not? No. It was no affair, no tryst, nothing.”

“What, then?” Linzi perched, almost birdlike, on one of the horses–she’d been safe at Oleg’s, and the beasts seemed to quite like her.

“A kindling. A single torch, on a shore a league away.” They took off their glasses, polishing them for a second. “Is lover more of a synonym for companion, or mirror?”

Linzi didn't reply. She was entranced by this, clearly, and so Valentin stopped stalling, and told the damned story.

–

Peotyr’s castle had been designed with function first and aesthetics second. The fact that the aesthetics were still enough to rival grander palaces said something about the Rogarvia’s sense of taste. The outer wall was comprised of dappled stone, white and grey granite carved to as slick a surface as could be managed, such that no escalade would find decent purchase on the wall. The inside of it was a touch less refined, considering that it had been slowly built inward over time–it was a good four yards thick, now, and stonecutters had lived and died over the course of its gradual expansion. The gates were wood rather than iron, and frequently replaced; the top of the wall, constantly patrolled. This was not the impressive part of the manor.

Inside the imposing walls, beyond the empty, moat-like courtyard, the hall stood. It was four stories in the shortest places, with the tower standing far higher than that, large and square, with a view for a mile. Being that it was Brevoy, there was no grand courtyard, nor a palacial garden, nor a broad moat. The courtyard would have been buried in snow, the plants frostbitten, the moat gone from a deathtrap to a moderately dangerous ice skating course. The comforts were thus fewer than they might have been further south–but the palace was still a marvel.

Instead of a courtyard, the Grand hall sat near the center of the building, roofed entirely in glass. On a clear night, every star would shine down on that hall–and the light of the torches would shine upward such that the glass nearly glowed, from where Valentin often sat in the tower. They could make out many goings-on below. It was a fascinating thing to watch. From this distance they had no hope of lip reading, even with the opera glasses they'd picked up from someone or other. That didn't matter too much. The way people moved still told a story, their closeness or distance, where they touched or refused to touch.

No one wore more distance than Peotyr Rogarvia. There was no great dias in the Grand Hall, no throne set apart, but there may as well have been for how Peotyr was treated. He was far enough down in the line to refuse marriage proposals, though that rarely mattered–he was far enough down that he only occasionally received them. Thus there were ladies below, many of them, of all descriptions–Valentin’s eye had been caught by a plump beauty with pearls sewn into her brunette hair, showing more cleavage than was in fashion, until they'd realized she'd not be wooing, certainly, because she was one of Peotyr's younger aunts. The Rogarvias of all people had not come to that, just yet, owed to the startling fecundity of the lot of them.

Even those ladies unrelated to the young prince showed little real interest. There was kindness, certainly, a word exchanged here or there, but it seemed that in all the Hall, there was no one with their sights set on the hand of the man. Valentin liked it that way. The dance around him was a beautiful thing, not scripted, but propriety demanded certain actions, and these rippled in a shockingly steady rhythm through the hall. From above it was like watching petals floating on water, or some frenzied, insane dance. They could have watched all night–they were supposed to be looking out for poisonings–but pity got the better of them.

Valentin had little in the way of proper party attire–their ideal parties required no attire, at all, not a stitch on them. There weren't many of those. A girl could still dream. Throwing together something worth wearing was a challenge, but they had enough eye for it to only be a decade or two out of fashion–a faux pas, but not terribly much of one.

Their stays were easily laced, the buttons a detail of creamy stone, likely only calcite. It went well with the soft, dusty pastel of the garment. This, they'd picked up as an experiment, which had failed gravely–the dye had been meant to give it a lavender color, but had been sensitive to acids and bases, and so it was a twee sky blue. With this went leggings and a coat, the leggings nothing special and the coat an old gift from their mother when they'd travelled north. Rabbit fur, tawny yellow-blonde. It went with their eyes well enough. Last the belt, and the boots, both a cream to match the buttons. It was nothing, compared to Peotyr's full fur ensemble, but they weren't a prince, and he could take his rescue even if it came in rags.

The stairs wound downward at almost dangerous angles, made worse by Valentin’s lack of care with their things. Here and there a dried pool of…something coated the stone, leaving puddles sticky enough to pull the shoes right off your feet, if you were careless. Other spots were acid-eaten, the result of past experiences, and one wall even had long, inch-deep scratch marks, the result of Peotyr experimenting with a Drakeheart elixir. Valentin took it all quickly and easily, having descended these stairs so often that they didn't need a light to see by. They took them two at a time.

The hall was not so far off–it had been made central to the palatial design, easily reachable from any point in the house, once you'd breached the walls. They could hear the music from here, great swells of string and hollowed bone flute making something almost magical. Almost–they’d lost the bard to consumption two moons ago, and had not yet sent for another. Servants bowed out of the way as Valentin passed, save for a couple of their friends. These, they drew close for a moment, kissing both cheeks in quick greeting, appeasement more than acknowledgement.

If the dance was water, they were oil. They slid through it untouched, bouyed and bounced by the one-two-three movements of everyone around them. A pretty elf–Shoshanna Briars, by name–pressed a cup of spiced wine into their hand, which they raised in thanks, before finally sidling up beside their liege.

“You know, I could make cyanide pills next time. If you want an easier out.” This with a sip of the herbal wine. When they'd first gotten here, they'd found it thick and bitter. Years had tempered their palette to this, and to the elk and snow leek diet that was customary here. At least Peotyr tended fig trees in the hot house, and insisted that Enlarged goats be kept in order to make cheese of their milk. It was the little things.

“Someone would resurrect me. We can't be running out of spares.”

“Your people breed like rabbits, Lord. The only way you’ll see the throne is in event of cataclysm. Bloodline curse. Something.” Peotyr made a noise at that, an affirmative one. He leant back in his chair, tipping his head back at Valentin. He'd been in his cups, then–there was a redness to his pale face, a looseness of expression.

Valentin leant on the back off his slightly-fancy chair, all conspiratorial. They had nothing to actually gossip about, but let the others look and make scandal. They would anyway, now that Valentin has appeared. When they spoke to Peotyr next, it was in Gnomish, the tone mimicking rumor.

“You do well with the bread and circuses. Irroveti called this ‘The Northern Mivon’ recently, and perhaps he isn't wrong. Strange, that–I couldn't find the dig in it. He sounded very nearly sincere.” They smiled at that, conscious that even their smile was strange to these people, the down-turning corners and out-curling tusks belying the fact that they were from somewhere very, very far from here–at least by origin.

Peotyr's gnomish accent was as pathetic as Valentin's Common, which could more properly be called Hallit, elsewhere. He'd learned well, though, conjugating his verbs almost like he spoke the language.

“Flattery won't get him anywhere if he has nowhere to get. Stop manipulating the poor people, Valentin. When you smile like that, people wonder what for.”

“Mm. Your attack dog, your loose cannon, your godless tool of dark sorceries. I do threaten them, don't I?”

“If I didn't know you, you'd threaten me, and it's not about your face.”

“I could ask what you mean, but I think you'd bruise my heart.” Valentin took another long drink of their wine, thick as blood.

“I mean that you and your twin were raised well, and your mother did right by you, and still I'm not sure how far you'd go if anyone gave you half a reason.”

“The good news is that no one's giving me one. I live here, fat and happy and unchallenged. I understand the purpose of a border march, really, but you're woefully short of enemies. I'm not that nasty, Peotyr. You've dug the claws right out of my fingertips with years of steady employment and good feeding.”

“No,” Peotyr mused, swirling his own wine, “no, I don't think I have. Your claws are extant as ever, only sheathed. A knife doesn't get duller for being in a scabbard.”

“Not on your scale of time. What will happen a hundred years from now, when I serve your little cadet branch's heirs, and their heirs? When all the skin has rotted from your bones, do you think I'll still be as sharp?” Valentin dared a touch, gently scratching sharp fingernails at Peotyr's scalp. He didn't mind it sober, and drunk he leant into it lightly, almost imperceptible.

“The equilibrium will have shifted by then. Install someone for that long and they become a part of the place, a genius loci with skin. I think that's a different kind of force to be reckoned with. You understand I'm not saying this to be cruel, yes? I like your edge. In another life I'd have liked to see your mettle tested. Imagine that.” Peotyr leant his head on his hand, watching the slow winding down of the dance. “Me in gleaming maille, directing the charge. You at my right hand, spreading another type of desolation entirely.”

“Your battles sound better in books, and you are very, very drunk. I'd help you back to your quarters, if people wouldn't assume we were fucking about it.”

“Let them assume. Like I have scads of suitors? No one would want to marry this place, and to marry me is to marry it. Unless I take the throne–and I won't.”

“Some people would. You were just talking about me becoming part of this place–and how long has Shoshanna served your cups?”

“Since my grandfather's time, but she's still running from those murder charges. They think I don't know that she did it, but I've seen her long, thin knives.”

Valentin helped Peotyr to his feet bracingly, wishing ridiculous things for a moment–that they had cleavage for him to drunkenly faceplant into, maybe, or that the roof would cave in and kill them both. Their affection felt so very juvenile, sometimes, a child's fairytale. Overwrought. Still they were steadfast, because the heat that stained their own cheeks a deep purple could be written off as a product of the wine, and because no one has even bothered paying them mind. Maybe people had been assuming they'd been fucking for a while. Maybe Valentin was so low below his station for it to be unthinkable.

The walk back to Peotyr's room was decently long, only because he had insisted on staying in the ancestral bedroom where generations of his indirect line had fucked and birthed and died. It was a nice suite, at least, wood-paneled, high-ceilinged. Valentin tolerated Peotyr's body heat and the smell of his fur outfit, the tang of the bitter wine and the steps misaligned with theirs. They were sworn into service, after all, and if it wouldn't be service in battle, it'd be this. They saw him at his vanity, and he was grateful for the assistance.

It was stupid, the emotion that made them kneel before him. Their deft, sharp-nailed fingers were gentle as they undid the laces of his fur and leather boots. They were gentle as they helped him slip the coat off–unsurprisingly, the damned thing was heavy, the product of many animals stitched together. Beavers, maybe, or otters. Thick, glossy, dark hair coated the thing, and it was a hideousness–but it was a relic, so they hung it nicely in the wardrobe.

Peotyr had servants for this, dressing men that would have been happy to help–but Valentin did not call them, and Peotyr kept his mouth shut, too. He wore a heavy pendant of office, the Rogarvia sigil outlined in silver and gold. Their fingers deftly undid the clasp, and this hung above the vanity on a special hook–Peotyr was not to leave his chambers without it, though that didn't seem to stop him. Their fingers stilled and curled at the back of his neck, and again he tilted his head back to look up at them.

“I meant what I said, about serving your house after you're dust or gone. Fidelity to House Rogarvia.”

“Such a curious thing.” Peotyr was speaking Hallit again now, the people's language, rough even in his educated tones. “You're not an antique, like Shoshanna. I'm your first leige. You have your freedom whenever you want it, and certainly on my death you'd be given the choice to leave with full commission, retire to a house of your own. Somewhere warmer, if you wanted. And, speaking frankly, since the necklace is off–we both know that the right of kings is bunk. I'm not compelling you to serve, and yet you do, willingly. You'd dull your ambition forever to serve in my house.”

“I would,” Valentin said. And venerate your bones forever, they did not, not wishing to give the prince nightmares.

“Fidelity. When I write in my journals, I hope you know I'm documenting that. The house Rogarvia will have friendship forever with the house Valentin, if you start one.”

“Unlikely. One of me scares your people enough, and we run in pairs. A kingdom of blue menaces would tip the scales to revolution, I think.”

“I'll find a way to repay your service someday, Alein. Don't try my honor, on that.”

“You are forgetting that you give me a wage, a room, and board.”

“And it still doesn't satisfy you. That's all given for the position, but someone could do your job a shade as well and still get that. That's not what I want to reward you for. Your dissatisfaction is fair–because I don't pay you for fidelity, for loyalty, for–intimacy.”

“No, you would pay whores for that, if they hadn't all frozen their prodigious tits off making the journey up.”

“Valentin, I'm serious. I am–” Peotyr paused, with the look of a man whose foundational walls were crumbling. He wouldn't have looked more stricken if the twelve foot thick walls outside had suddenly disintegrated. “I am unimaginably lonely. I have my study, I have my servants, and I have you. My brothers and sisters are worlds away, married or lonely on their own. You are my only true friend. I'd be undone without you.”

“My lord,” Valentin said, and then they stopped. Their hand had not moved from the back of his neck. “Don't pay me for fidelity, loyalty, intimacy. I give it freely, and with no expectation of return. I should retire for the night–you want your bed, I see it in your eyes.”

“Val–Alein. Leave if you will, but we'll be friends first. If I've bruised your heart somehow, say that you'll forgive me. Say we can talk in the morning, with less wine between us and more light.”

“Before breakfast, my lord, if you want it.” They made to slip away, but Peotyr's hand grasped their wrist. It wasn't an iron grasp, not even an insistent one, but it was enough.

“I'm being an egoist,” Peotyr said, softly, “and I'm being interminably presumptive. I can't ask you for more, but I will–I’ve hurt you. Stay the night in the servant's quarters off this room, please–I won't be able to sleep, thinking that I've caused you to run away. Gods but I've done ill by you. Years of friendship and still I sit here like a stone, whining about how alone I am.”

“You're not whining, you're drunk. I'll stay in the quarters, and I'll administer your hangover cure in the morning, and you will rest easily, my lord. My heart has taken bruises and will take more, but you didn't put one there. I've had it for a long time. Been pressing it with my fingers every so often to refresh the pain.”

“That's no way to live.”

“My fidelity is yours, Peotyr, and my loyalty, and my intimacy. Now you want my heart, too?”

Peotyr didn't answer that, chewing on his cheek softly, and looking at them with eyes a dark and liquid brown, depths of dark water that they couldn't parse. They met them as best they could, well aware that their own stare was piercing at best. Finally, Peotyr answered with a final tightening of his hand on their wrist, and then by releasing it.

“Sleep well, Valentin. If you get cold, or want your nightclothes–let me escort you. There's something unsettling me tonight, and it would ease me like nothing else to be sure that you were safe.”

“You cage your little bird, and then insist you watch as it flits from place to place.” Valentin gave another small smile at that, confident that of all the people in this building, Peotyr was one of few who would take their smile as it was.

“That's not a no.”

“It isn't. We'll take up the candle together if I find myself missing my things–though if I get cold, I'll steal your blankets, and if I feel exposed I might well steal your night robe.”

“And such is the payment for fidelity. Sleep well, Valentin, I say it again. We'll speak in the morning with clear heads and, I hope, clear consciences.”

“You have nothing to worry after on my account. Your conscience can be clear as water.”

They left him at that, and they didn't come for his blankets, or his robe, or a midnight walk through the palace. In point of fact, they didn't emerge until morning, and by then Peotyr's sheets were cold. It was the last time the price was ever seen alive, and Valentin had held onto it for long, long years. The bruise on their heart had gone from a healing green to a hematoma black, that morning. Their conscience and their mind had not been clear since.

[gynandromorph]

i guess it’s time for a new year retrospective thing since it’s almost a new year

this year sucked and not even in like a notably bad way, it’s just one big haze of nothing where nothing matters and nothing has any meaning because there’s literally no break in between all the stress. groceries are as expensive as ever and they’re just gonna stay that way forever while the cost of living limit for welfare stays the same so now i’m stuck between being unable to afford food AND having no healthcare. mawkish continues to get older and she has more health issues. it takes up an unspeakable amount of my time and money, but she’s happy and not declining right now. every time she skips physical therapy for her arthritis due to a cancellation i can see how it affects her, though, so i don’t know if i’ll be able to cut costs there. a lot of this is about money, huh? i just feel like i can’t even DO anything without it. i can just Be At Home which just makes me feel like a wild animal pacing in a cage. i’ve been single for a while now and i’m REALLY feeling it and i know it’s partially my fault for not wanting covid more than not wanting to be lonely but like what the fuck would i do if i put myself out there huh? tell some girl i don’t have enough money to buy lunch or a coffee so we’ll have to just sit outside at a park? yeah i’ve sat outside at parks to meet and chat with people but as like a first impression it’s not great!!!

and my art has gotten worse, of course. it’s stiffer, and i feel on edge because my hand is either always on the cusp of hurting again or it IS hurting again. i’ve gotten it back to normal again, and then i slack off on my exercises and we’re back to square 3 (i haven’t gotten so bad that i go back to square 1) because the exercises themselves are wildly time-consuming and god knows if there’s anything i don’t have enough of it’s time. i hate the tablet i’m using and i can’t even find the old ones i brought with me because of the move, but even then they’re very small and that’s why i like them and it’s also why i hurt my hand in the first place. still, the curves this tablet makes are just not the same, there’s tons of issues with it that aren’t technically issues but certainly things that impact how the art comes out and how much i enjoy making it. not really related but about a week into the new year i’ll be getting a new computer, also, and a new desk chair, since both of those are fucking falling apart. i want to do other things that i’m not going to say here because if there’s one way to make sure you never ever do a project it’s just announcing it publicly before you’ve done literally any of the work. still, we’ll see if anything changes. it feels like it won’t simply because my brain is too depressed to do anything anymore and even when i do do the thing it turns out like shit or i don’t retain it at all. these are at least things that will not require the intense use of my dominant hand.

oh and the last huge negative is i just have like functionally no religious community now because this friend i made at my last synagogue was a great friend!!!!! super friendly!!!!!!!!!!! too friendly in fact!!!!!!!!!!! and i tried reasserting that i was not interested in a relationship multiple times, i tried tolerating advances i wasn’t going to reciprocate and it just kept getting more physical, eventually i decided to get my rabbi there involved and i gotta say the response i got was disappointing at best!!!!!! this was maybe like november 2021 but it’s literally functionally cut me off from that community altogether here because i wasn’t thrilled about the drop in covid protocols and i’m certainly not more enthusiastic now that i’ve been sexually harassed just to have it brushed under the rug knowing this is an all too common reaction for jewish authorities to have!!! i literally feel like i can’t say anymore about it besides that but hey it kinda sucks!!!!!!!

that’s it dude, that’s all, i started a new comic way later than i should have but i did start it, and i’m living somewhere that kind of sucks the soul out of me but i won’t be investing a lot of time and money into a move this year not only because it’s tolerably under my sister and her husband’s roof instead of my mom’s but because rent is too fucking high for me to jump ship too. sure hope 2023 is a great year cuz it’s the last one i’ll have as a 20-something and the bar is certainly low after this one, i can’t even be more thoughtful or humble about this retrospective, i’m so tired of feeling like shit and having functionally no way to fix most of these problems

[industrial-air-solutions-cbe]

How to Choose the Right Air Compressor for Your Business?

Due to their versatility, air compressors are great additions to any business. In comparison to electric power tools, these robust and reliable machines perform a wide range of tasks. Applications range from supplying energy to small appliances to industrial processes. Industrial and commercial businesses cannot function without air compressors. It can be difficult, however, to find the best air compressor suppliers for your business needs. There are a few factors to consider while choosing the perfect air compressor for your business.

Quality and Reliability

Customers often choose products based on their appearance, and then they suffer later due to downtime issues. Long-term performance is determined by the quality, construction and the air compressor features. In this regard, we at IAS sell ELGi industrial compressors of the highest quality and made using the best materials available. Also ensure that the supplier is stocked with genuine air compressor parts in case you need it. The objective of an air compressor supplier is to increase the efficiency and reliability of the air compressors that they sell. Compressor technology is continuously evolving, so the best air compressor suppliers emphasize incorporating these newer innovations into their products and systems.

Capacity of the Compressor

Volumetric flow of air and pressure at which it is compressed determine an air compressor's capacity. The power rating of an air compressor (in kW or HP) is likewise determined by this. Air audits help companies to get valuable insights into their plant’s compressed air utilization.

PSI - Pounds Per Square Inch measures the air pressure of that air output and symbolizes how well the compressor can pressurize air.

HP- Horsepower indicates the amount of power the compressor needs to turn on the pump.

CFM - This is the amount of air that is produced in Cubic Feet per Minute; so, 10 CFM means that it can release ten cubic feet in a minute.

Duty Cycle and Utilization

Generally, Industrial Recep compressors can operate at a duty cycle of 75% to 100% and Screw compressors are designed for a 100% duty cycle, making them capable of continuous operation. An understanding of the life cycle cost of a compressor is essential before making a purchase decision. It is composed of Initial Cost + Maintenance Cost + Energy Cost.

If the compressor usage is between 75-100% load pattern and on Budgetary, a reciprocating compressor should be selected.

If the use is between four and eight hours a day, a belt driven screw compressor is most appropriate.

If the use exceeds continuous operation for a day, a direct drive screw compressor should be selected.

Controls

The two main types of control systems used in air compressors are fixed-speed and variable-speed controls, both of which aim to match air supply to air demand. Consider the controller and the features of the machine before buying an air compressor. It might be digital or manual. You can also access maintenance schedules, history, and warnings. These systems provide you with the exact data that you need for optimal functioning of your air compressor.

Noise

The noise level of an air compressor system varies from model to model. Be it any model, some amount of noise while operating is common when it comes to compressed air systems. Many air compressors are designed with a noise reduction system to make the workplace more comfortable. No one needs a noisy machine. So before buying an air compressor it is important to consider the amount of noise level of an air compressor.

Cost and Service

To make the most informed purchase, you should consider your business needs and budget carefully. Compare quotes from several suppliers and choose the one with the best model, quality, and reliability. Therefore, it is essential to ask about the warranty, after-sales air compressor service and maintenance plans before purchasing an air compressor because they are expensive to repair often. So, you could save money by using the warranty to protect the compressor and even other parts.

Our professionals at IAS can simplify your work and help in selecting the industrial air compressor that is right for your small or medium sized business.

[misartrading]

Top 10 Bosch Power Tools Every DIYer Should Have In Their Toolbox

When it comes to tackling DIY obligations, having the proper gadget could make all the difference. Among the many brands available on the marketplace, however, Bosch stands proud of its exceptional first-rate quality, reliability, and innovation. Whether you're a seasoned DIY fanatic or just starting out, having a selection of Bosch power tools in your toolbox can substantially enhance your competencies and efficiency. In this article, we will find out the top 10 Bosch power tools and equipment that every DIYer should not neglect adding to their arsenal.

Cordless Drill/Driver:

A cordless drill/motive force is a staple in any DIYer's toolkit. Bosch offers a number of cordless alternatives that provide both electricity and comfort. With capabilities like variable speed settings, adjustable torque manipulation, and ergonomic designs, using a using a Bosch drill machine, using screws, and other responsibilities are a breeze.

Random Orbit Sander:

For sanding obligations, a random-orbit sander is important. Bosch's lineup of random orbit sanders combines strength, precision, and performance. These tools are best for smoothing surfaces, removing paint or varnish, and undertaking an expert finish on woodworking projects.

Jigsaw:

When it comes to cutting curves and complex shapes, a jigsaw is integral. Bosch jigsaws are regarded for their precision-cutting competencies and consumer-friendly capabilities. Whether you're operating with wooden, plastic, or metallic materials, a Bosch jigsaw can help you acquire easy and accurate cuts quite simply.

Circular Saw:

For immediately cutting and ripping through lumber, a round saw is a must-have device. Bosch round saws are designed for sturdiness and performance, making them appropriate for an extensive range of DIY applications. With capabilities like laser publications.

Rotary Tool:

A rotary device is a flexible addition to any DIYer's toolbox, allowing you to tackle a number of obligations, which include cutting, grinding, polishing, and engraving. Bosch rotary tools offer high-velocity performance, ergonomic designs, and numerous accessories for healthy, unique applications.

Multi-Tool:

A multi-device is priceless for obligations that require precision reducing, sanding, or scraping in tight areas. Bosch multi-equipment functions include compact designs, variable speed controls, and short-exchange accessories for maximum versatility and convenience.

Reciprocating Saw:

When it involves demolition and hard-reducing tasks, a reciprocating saw is indispensable. Bosch reciprocating saws are designed for power and durability, making them ideal for slicing through timber, metallic, and different materials without difficulty.

Angle Grinder:

An angle grinder is a versatile device that can be used for cutting, grinding, sprucing, and more. Bosch perspective grinders are acknowledged for their sturdy manufacturing, powerful vehicles, and person-friendly functions, making them suitable for a massive range of DIY packages. 

Heat Gun:

For tasks that include paint stripping, thawing pipes, or bending plastic, a heat gun is critical. Bosch warmness guns provide variable temperature controls, ergonomic designs, and protection functions for unique and efficient warmth application.

Laser Level:

When it comes to making sure specific and accurate measurements are taken, a laser degree is essential. Bosch laser stages offer dependable overall performance, intuitive controls, and various mounting options for leveling, aligning, and squaring obligations.

Conclusion:

Having the proper equipment could make DIY initiatives more exciting, green, and a hit. Bosch electricity equipment is renowned for its satisfaction, reliability, and innovation, making it the appropriate preference for DIY fanatics. By making an investment in the top 10 Bosch power gears referred to in this newsletter, you could equip yourself with the tools you need to tackle a huge variety of projects with confidence and ease. Whether you're drilling, reducing, sanding, or leveling, Bosch has you covered.

[robhorninginternalexile]

LLMs are automated structuralism

From Fredric Jameson, "Metacommentary"

structuralism as a method or mode of research is formalistic in that it studies organization rather than content, and assumes the primacy of the linguistic model, the predominance of language and of linguistic structures in the shaping of meaningful experiences. All the layers or levels of social life are ordered or systematic only insofar as they form languages of their own, in strictest analogy to the purely linguistic: styles of clothing, economic relationships, table manners and national cuisines, kinship systems, the publicity apparatus of the capitalist countries, the cosmological legends of primitive tribes, even the mechanisms of the Freudian mental topology — all are systems of signs, based on differential perceptions, and governed by categories of exchange and transformation.

Probably obvious, but LLMs are automated structuralism, predicated on the idea that the "linguistic structures" Jameson mentions here (what we might now think of in terms of digitization or datafication) are capable of capturing everything significant about lived experience, if not things in themselves.

In place of the anarchy of the free and arbitrary play of signifiers in these interlocking levels of systems that function as languages, there is a faith that accurate probabilities can be assigned to every possible combination so that all the systems are anchored to some base reality.

Jameson argues that strcuturalism is anti-substantialist: it locates meaning in the difference between contrasting elements and not the thing in itself: "substance is replaced by relationship," so that "all meanings are organized, following the pattern of phonology, in pairs of oppositions or determinate differences."

But I find it hard to square that with what Lévi-Strauss, in his Introduction to the Work of Marcel Mauss, seems to want to insist about the relation between signifier and signified, that it is not arbitrary but the essence of the progress of human knowledge.

the two categories of the signifier and the signified came to be constituted simultaneously and interdependently, as complementary units; whereas knowledge, th a t is, the intellectual process which enables us to identify certain aspects of the signifier and certain aspects of the signified, one by reference to the other — we could even say the process which enables us to choose, from the entirety of the signifier and from the entirety of the signified, those parts which present the most satisfying relations of mutual agreement — only got started very slowly. It is as if humankind had suddenly acquired an immense domain and the detailed plan of that domain, along with a notion of the reciprocal relationship of domain and plan; but had spent millennia learning which specific symbols of the plan represented the different aspects of the domain.

I have to admit that I don't know how he can mean that, but maybe the idea here is that there can be no science or knowledge at all if we don't allow for words to relate in some necessary way to things, or that the statistical patterns of reference revealed in language use en masse isn't merely conventional or historical but reveals some basic a priori truth about the human condition, the universe as it has been given once and for all and how it really works. (The LLM = AGI fantasy partakes of this idea, I think.) But it just seems like a theological claim. The conclusion that Lévi-Strauss comes to here seems very odd to me:

The universe signified long before people began to know what it signified; no doubt that goes without saying. But, from the foregoing analysis, it also emerges that from the beginning, the universe signified the totality of what humankind can expect to know about it. What people call the progress of the human mind and, in any case, the progress of scientific knowledge, could only have been and can only ever be constituted out of processes of correcting and recutting of patterns, regrouping, defining relationships of belonging and discovering new resources, inside a totality which is closed and complementary to itself.

Maybe I don't understand how he means to use the words "universe" and "signified" and "totality" here. But it seems like he is saying the future is not unwritten, and that seems entirely unacceptable.

[catilinas]

more mimesis bingo patch notes although tbh i might just remake it because i did literally forget the sacred in violence and the sacred. whoops. anyway:

‘table that is functionally an altar’ also includes chairs as tables, and especially includes thrones as chairs as tables. you wouldn’t eat the sacred king? might also include beds, and by extension graves #the unity of all rites

sports / games / ritualised competitions includes anything involving chance, and also elections. and gladiatorial combat

theatre / performance includes courts / trials / probably the entire judicial system tbh. can’t stage a trial without a stage!

‘sacrifice’ ok past me What does that mean. like spontaneous violence of the killing of the sacrificial victim or the killing of the substitute victim. these things should probably be distinguished from one another and also from ‘things that look like what you imagine sacrifice as’ which does still need a square

‘the scapegoat has obtained power’ also includes ‘the guy with power has become the scapegoat.’ what’s that quote like the king escapes through the roof the jester escapes through the cellar or whatever girard said

idk how to fit the whole the choice of scapegoat being simultaneously arbitrary and inevitable / ‘guilt’ or sacrificeability stemming from A Particular Narrative Winning more than anything else Thing into a bingo square. but that.

i feel like revenge narratives should be on here. they’re kind of included in reciprocal violence??? but i mean more house of atreus multi generational cycle of vengeance type stuff

E The Sacred.

Do you have a blank template of the mimesis bingo card?

you mean this thing? it is here:

things that i would amend/add to it if i made it again and had more space in each box would be:

monstrous double includes hallucinations / ghosts / spirits / the supernatural in general

loss of distinction includes Incorporation yes i am thinking primarily about cannibalism

“mimetic doubles switch places” includes then exchanging roles but Also them converging on sameness because they want to be each other because each sees the other as possessing wholeness

violence that is symmetrical should really say reciprocal violence

The Scapegoat Has Obtained Power / sacred kingship. being the captain of a ship counts as sacred kingship

masks includes other disguises too

the sacred, which i completely. forgot

[aircompressor88]

Air Compressor for Industrial Use: Powering Efficiency and Productivity

Air compressors have revolutionized industries by providing a reliable and efficient source of power for a wide range of applications. From automotive manufacturing to construction, these machines have become essential in powering various pneumatic tools and processes. In this article, we will explore the world of industrial air compressors, their types, benefits, and how to choose the right one for your specific needs.

What is an Air Compressor?

The process of converting power into potential energy and storing it in compressed air is achieved by an air compressor, which is a mechanical apparatus. It works by drawing air into a storage tank and then reducing its volume, thereby increasing its pressure. This compressed air can be utilized to power tools, machinery, and equipment, making it a versatile and indispensable tool in numerous industrial settings.

Types of Industrial Air Compressors :

Industrial air compressors come in various types to cater to different applications and environments. The most common ones include:

1. Reciprocating Compressors

These compressors utilize a piston-cylinder mechanism to compress air. They are ideal for small-scale operations and are known for their durability and efficiency.

2. Rotary Screw Compressors

Rotary screw compressors use helical screws to compress air continuously. They are perfect for heavy-duty applications, offering a constant and smooth flow of compressed air.

3. Centrifugal Compressors

Centrifugal compressors are used for high-pressure applications and large-scale industries. They work on the principle of converting kinetic energy into potential energy.

Choosing the Right Air Compressor

Selecting the appropriate air compressor for your industrial needs is crucial for optimal performance and efficiency.

1. Required Air Flow (CFM)

The required cubic feet per minute (CFM) depends on the tools and equipment you intend to power with the compressor. It is essential to choose a compressor that meets or exceeds the total CFM demand of your applications.

2. Pressure Requirements

Ensure that the compressor can provide the required pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure needed for your tools to function correctly.

3. Power Source

Industrial air compressors can be powered by electricity, diesel, or gasoline engines. Choose a power source that aligns with your site's availability and environmental considerations.

4. Tank Size

Consider the size of the storage tank, as it impacts the compressor's duty cycle and the continuous operation time.

Factors to Consider for Industrial Use

When using air compressors in industrial settings, several crucial factors should be taken into account to maximize efficiency and safety:

1. Proper Installation

Ensure that the air compressor is correctly installed by following the manufacturer's guidelines and safety protocols.

2. Regular Maintenance

Perform routine maintenance, such as changing filters and oil, to keep the compressor running smoothly and prevent breakdowns.

3. Safety Precautions

Train operators on safety protocols and provide protective gear when working with air compressors and pneumatic tools.

4. Noise Level

Consider the noise level of the compressor and choose quieter models if operating in noise-sensitive environments.

Benefits of Using Air Compressors in Industries Air compressors offer numerous advantages to industries, including:

Increased productivity through the use of pneumatic tools.

Cost savings due to reduced manual labour and increased efficiency.

Versatility in applications, from painting to powering heavy machinery.

Environmentally friendly compared to other power sources.

Maintenance and Safety Tips

Maintaining your industrial air compressor is essential for its longevity and safe operation. Follow these tips:

Regularly check for air leaks and fix them promptly.

Monitor and change air filters according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Drain accumulated moisture from the tank to prevent corrosion.

Common Applications of Industrial air compressors find applications in various industries, such as:

Construction: Powering jackhammers, nail guns, and concrete vibrators.

Manufacturing: Running assembly lines and operating robotic machinery.

Food Processing: Operating pneumatic conveyors and packaging machines.

Understanding CFM and PSI

Cubic feet per minute (CFM) and pounds per square inch (PSI) are critical metrics when choosing an air compressor. CFM indicates the airflow rate, while PSI measures the pressure level.

[kickingitwithkirk]

Winchester's Folly

Summary: When Dean gets into trouble John decides to hide the truth for his family

Word Count: 759

Warnings: A/B/O, subjugation, pandemic, mentions of nudity, leering, mention of collaring/leashed, sexual/slavery, rut/heat, physical altercation, murder conviction, parental dominance

*Additional warnings will be added

*Dark! Fic-don't continue if you are disturbed by the subject matter.

Square filled: @spnabobingo - Alpha Challenging Alpha

A/N: Each part follows in sequence

*Divider by @firefly-graphics

*No Beta-all mistakes are mine

Part II

“I need one under 18.” 

Sam’s head snapped up in shock..that wasn’t the plan. The Omega was to be older than Dean, preferably one that had been sold before, making them cheaper to purchase.

“Dad, why are you wanting..” 

John cut him off with a low growl provoking Sam’s inner wolf to reciprocate, neither noticing Helms studying their interaction with interest. 

Alpha Winchester can’t completely control this beauty like the other one..the boss will be pleased to learn about these developments. 

“House O would normally do as your eldests property on paper,” Helms interrupts, “but I know this judge, they will not be satisfied with that alone.”  Both Winchesters have matching, confused expressions and before John can ask what that meant he continues, “so I have to take into account your packs unusual dynamics, a Pack Omega, while as scarce as Phoenix ash, would be perfect but alas, there’s your social standing.” 

Sam snorted. It wasn’t the first time someone brought up their social standing, not so sly code for being a dirt poor pack. “The best option will be a Feral. Lucky for you, we have a fair selection of resales, this way gentlemen,” he leads them deeper into the building.

Deans his wolf whines watching his pack move farther into the building while all he could do was stand there as ordered to and observe these unfortunate creatures being bartered over like the livestock society considered them. His sire knew it would eat at his ingrained, perpetual guilt and was part of the penitence he had to endure it because, once vexed, John Winchester never forgave or forgot.

Sam's wolf was getting more restive the longer they were in this den of iniquity. 

He couldn’t see Dean from where they were study’s the O who’s caught his sires' interest instinctively knew she was all wrong started vocalizing his displeasure without realizing it.

 “What’s your problem now?” John barked at him.

“These O’s are your type sir,” Sam replied with his usual bluntness that made John's jaw clench, grudgingly reflecting on his youngests observation.

As Dominant Alpha of his pack it was ultimately his decision regarding how they functioned, including matings, internally cringed remembering an inadvertent confession he’d made awhile back.

It was a typical night.

Sam was sitting at the rental kitchen table finishing up some calculus homework while John lay sprawled on a couch between drunk and passed out drunk. 

He started talking about the House O’s, how Mary wanted to get one when they found out she was pregnant with Sam, saying that Dean was a handful to deal with and, as an Alpha herself, didn’t possess the natural instincts to properly care for multiple pups and he could pretend to be happy with his pack, she knew all the times he’d left was renting out one.

The purchase never happened.

Sam’s skin felt uncomfortable finding out the mother he never knew, the one his brother practically worshiped, tried purchasing one. Then John started drunkenly lauding the pleasurable attributes of O’s have, and as his details became more graphic Sam grabbed Dean's CD player, pumpin up the volume and continued working even though they would be leaving soon. 

When John passes out, Sam shoved the books into his backpack and went to the shared bedroom retrieves his cobbled-together, black market laptop Dean secretly got him and fired it up, researching this century’s history concerning O’s, learning of twisted truths and obscure provisions in the Hibbins Procurement Act the government schools purposefully omitted bolted to the toilet.

Dean came rolling later finds the laptop on the bed immediately starts worrying. His brother never left it out when their dad was around, catches a wif of sick and finds him laying on the bath floor thinks he’s picked up an illness fusses like always, tucking him into bed and stays up rest the night keeping an eye on him.

Sam knew the only reason John wanted him near was an additional jab at Dean, to emphasize his failures. Fuck, he hated their sire using him to guilt Dean whenever he displeased him.

Surveying the area for hidden trouble Sam grabbed his chest feeling his inner wolf hurl itself against its cage of skin and bones then frantically pacing around growling home home home in his mind flicks an eye towards his sire, who hadn’t noticed his reaction, too distracted by another O Helms is talking up. 

Following its instincts, he slowly backs towards the door marked private that someone left ajar and slips through unnoticed.

Part III

SPN TAGS: @donnaintx  @lyarr24  @flamencodiva  @b3autyfuldisast3r  @lassie-bird @nancymcl  @spnbaby-67  @leigh70

Sam/Jared: @idreamofplaid

Dean/Jensen: @thoughts-and-funnies @stoneyggirl2 @akshi8278 @beabutterfly987 @smoothdogsgirl @siospins2

Sam/Jared:  @idreamofplaid Dean/Jensen:  @thoughts-and-funnies  @stoneyggirl2  @akshi8278  @beabutterfly987 @smoothdogsgirl  @siospins2

[newsbites]

News from Australia, 3 July

The Queensland opposition is demanding the state government to explain and fix the inadequate healthcare in Indigenous communities following a coroner's findings on the deaths of three Indigenous women with rheumatic heart disease.

The coroner's report highlighted the failure of health systems in remote Indigenous communities and emphasized that rheumatic heart disease is preventable and largely a result of poverty and social disadvantage.

The opposition leader is calling for a full review of the government's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability Framework, release of the implementation schedule for the coroner's recommendations, and an independent review of the government's strategy to end rheumatic heart disease.

2. Scientists have developed an approach to select coral species for reef restoration programs, focusing on species that can optimize coral reef survival in a warming world.

The selection process considers both ecological characteristics and trait diversity to ensure species diversity and ecosystem function in future coral reefs.

This approach provides a simple framework for restoration practitioners to select target species based on spatial scale and available resources.

3. The Reserve Bank of Australia is expected to raise its interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.35% in order to combat high inflation.

Economists are divided on whether the RBA will hike rates or hold them steady, with a near split between those expecting a hike and those predicting a pause.

Despite a slight slowdown in inflation, the RBA is likely to continue tightening monetary policy due to strong employment growth and the need to address the disinflation task.

4. Indonesian President Joko Widodo's visit to Australia near the end of his term is seen as an important statement for bilateral relations and the potential for concrete economic projects.

Talks between Australia and Indonesia may focus on the supply of minerals for battery and electric vehicle manufacturing, with opportunities for reciprocal trade and cooperation.

While there are concerns about the AUKUS defense pact, there is potential for positive steps in security cooperation between the two nations in the Indo-Pacific region.

5. The Indonesian government is actively working to increase the number of Indonesian language learners in Australia.

Efforts are being made to support the development of Indonesian language learning in NSW, Queensland, and South Australia.

'Indonesia in Action Day' organized by AIYA NSW and the University of Sydney showcased the importance of promoting Indonesian language and culture.

[johnjankovic1]

A Renaissance Company

Capturing value-added phases of production creates wealth from productivity gains and such is how the British East India Company incubated the Industrial Revolution. The mainstay for Britain’s ascendency lies squarely in what was shipped overseas and those things repatriated back home. So whilst vast amounts of upstream cotton were procured from Bombay for mills of spinning-jennies and power looms situated in Lancashire and Liverpool the opposite of downstream finished goods like cloth were trafficked in markets abroad (Roy 2012: 202). Britain’s evolution from an economic backwater to a thriving empire thus finds its provenance in its portfolio of trade whereby commerce for its own sake was not a sufficient condition for development but rather a precursor to the differentiation later required for long-term growth. Natural endowments alone do not conduce to prosperity instead growth is a function of innovation which is why industries rebuffed the upward pressure of high labour costs wrought by the Company’s activities (Porter 1990). The mechanization of producing things became incentivized and the scale economies from refined goods by steam engine would generate far greater value than the mere extraction of materials used as their inputs. By this logic the Industrial Revolution came about from the British East India Company’s monomania for alchemy by importing dirt and exporting proverbial gold.

Export markets fell under the dominion of the Company whereby economies of scale from its ecosystem of industry and trade built America’s infrastructure with iron from metalworkers at home or catapulted railways with rolling stock in the Orient. Manufactured goods in short order exploited Britain’s comparative advantage whose profits stimulated export-led growth as a gateway to modernization. The outflow of finished manufacturers furnished colonies and in turn they reciprocated with staple commodities so that textiles traded for spices or firearms for tea (Brunton 2013: 79). The apotheosis of empire was marked by manufacturers accounting for the lion’s share of exports at 90 percent (Crafts 1989). Such a simple quid pro quo of financing imports with exports sat at the very heart of how Britain evolved from an economy actuated by artisanal craft to one of mass-production. Akin to a positive feedback loop this series of production and consumption gave birth to new industries by virtue of the creative destruction from technologies displacing old ones much like how the watermill and windmill languished into obsolescence as a corollary to the steam engine. Subsequent wealth and job creation led to the formation of a middle-class where the newfound purchasing power of households bought education that leapfrogged Europe’s own measures of literacy and numeracy.

The Company’s animal spirits in its doings and transactions hence made it the architect of an English bourgeoisie begotten by the upward mobility from higher wages in London which rode the coattails of trade. In other words if we are to render unto Cesar that which is Cesar’s then the real attribution for the middle-class belongs to the British East India Company. Observe how skilled workers from London like carpenters and masons earned more than the cost of a subsistence basket by a factor of six (Allen 2011:363). Continental counterparts of these craftsmen residing in Germany and Italy by contrast could scarcely purchase 50 percent more than the minimum essentials due to their meagre surplus. The boom of manufacturers was particularly pronounced in textiles wherein total factor productivity increased by up to 64 percent between 1835 and 1856. For a sense of scale an Englishman weaved 750 kilograms of cloth in juxtaposition with a paltry 208 kilograms woven by a Frenchman (Crafts 1989: 425). Productivity gains like these actualized by the steam engine were compulsory to cope with the influx of cotton being imported on Company ships thereby making factory industry their appendage and the Industrial Revolution a by-product.

The research and development called for by the wholesale mechanization of industry was only profitable insofar as the right levels of capital existed. Only cheap coal coupled with legions of raw materials to use that said coal could rationalize the R&D behind such an endeavour. Bereft of these two prerequisites the project would be profligate and impractical as it was in France, Germany and Belgium (Allen 2011: 17). For this reason the lateral thinking for innovation discriminated against Continental Europe when these two conditions in the wild were unique to the British experience half of which was manifestly reified by the Company’s wanderlust. The British archipelago therefore was heavily biased towards invention when output and outlays were poised to be properly scaled in the right seedbed. So while an initial laggard in trade the early adopter of technology rebounded in earnest with its quantum leap in know-how of steam engines, machine spinning and coke smelting which Europe could not easily assimilate. Famed economist Gerschenkron analogized the synchronicity needed for industrialization more intelligibly writing that ‘railroads cannot be built unless coal mines are opened up at the same time (1962: 10)’. The Company and coal in concert provided just enough fodder.

The British East India Company’s omnipresence was the very sinews of empire from geopolitics to socioeconomics. Britannia ruled the seas when risk-takers exploited opportunities of arbitrage for her market economy across distant lands in the promise of profit. Later social discontent ebbed together with growing prosperity in reaction to a ‘rising tide lifting all boats’ as economists expound. More disposable income equates to a springboard for better living standards because capital buys select foodstuff or commodious property for domestic life and not just the necessities demanded by survival. In increments a once marginalized subset of society became enfranchised in proportion to their wherewithal and property holdings until a critical mass was realized with suffrage universally extended under the Great Reform Act of 1832. The Company was integral to progressivism particularly during its infancy by enfranchising the voiceless since money speaks when employment opportunities prevail. Inevitably the Crown in league with the Company founded an export-market to turn the engines of conquest that was so multidimensional it informed decision-making in everything.

[theblogs2024]

A Solar-run reverse osmosis technique for top recovery of freshwater from saline groundwater

Desalination of groundwater is important in arid locations which can be distant from both equally seawater and freshwater assets. Appealing functions of a groundwater desalination program incorporate a large Restoration ratio, Procedure from the sustainable Strength supply like photo voltaic, and substantial water output per device of energy and land. Here we propose a new procedure that works by using a photo voltaic-Rankine cycle to drive reverse osmosis (RO). The Functioning fluid such as steam is expanded versus an influence piston that actuates a pump piston which in turn pressurises the saline water As a result passing it through RO membranes. A reciprocating crank mechanism is utilized to equalise the forces involving The 2 pistons. The choice of batch method in preference to ongoing move permits utmost Electricity Restoration and negligible concentration polarisation inside the vicinity on the RO membrane. This research analyses the sizing and effectiveness with the crank mechanism, quantifies Vitality losses from the RO separation and predicts the general overall performance. As an example, a program using a industry of linear Fresnel collectors occupying 1000 m2 of land and raising steam at 200 °C and 15.five bar could desalinate 350 m3/day from saline h2o that contains 5000 ppm of sodium chloride using a recovery ratio of 0.7.

Salinity of soil and groundwater is really a popular trouble taking place across all inhabited continents [one]. Significant parts of land lie previously mentioned brackish groundwater, especially in the earth's arid and semi-arid regions. From the absence of rain, desalination of groundwater will be the only way to offer freshwater for inland regions. Illustrations of countries the place groundwater desalination programs are now utilised consist of Australia, Egypt, India, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and The usa.

Just like seawater, the desalination of groundwater demands Electricity which is typically supplied from fossil gasoline sources. The need to fulfill the escalating desire for h2o, although minimizing the environmental affect connected to the usage of this kind of Power, causes it to be crucial to improve the effectiveness of the desalination approach also to get bigger benefit of renewable energies for example photo voltaic.

Lots of photo voltaic-pushed desalination technologies happen to be studied and a number of other are implemented [2]. Most drop into considered one of two types: (i) thermal distillation processes or (ii) non-thermal membrane separation procedures including electro-dialysis and reverse osmosis (RO). In the main group, solitary result photo voltaic stills can offer only a few litres of h2o for every square metre of captured sunlight on a daily basis even though various result photo voltaic stills might deliver tens of litres for each square metre [3].

Reverse osmosis is generally viewed as one of the most Electrical power successful means of desalination. It calls for mechanical work, instead of warmth, as input. The vast majority of solar-RO plants that were built up to now use photovoltaic (PV) arrays to supply this do the job [four]. Such as, Richards et al. [five] have claimed trials in Australia with a system creating about 0.five m3/working day of freshwater from groundwater in a salinity of 3000 ppm, utilizing a 0.26 kWp generator occupying an area of two m2. This corresponds to 250 l/m2 daily, which happens to be an get of magnitude previously mentioned that readily achievable with photo voltaic stills. This sort of know-how depending on PV is reliable and easy to carry out, but does not take advantage of significant economies or efficiencies of scale. As a result, the largest system reported gave an output of only seventy six m3 a day [4], [six]. In distinction, desalination plants run by regular fuels exist with outputs above one hundred 000 m3 a day.

In place of PV, photo voltaic-thermal power plant could possibly be used to deliver the get the job done required to travel the RO procedure. So far, even so, hardly any this sort of crops have already been manufactured. Notably, the just one made at El Hamrawin in Egypt in 1981 reportedly created one hundred thirty l a day for each m2 of solar collector, when fed with brackish drinking water of salinity 3000 ppm [seven]. This plant applied the Rankine cycle, with Freon-eleven since the Operating fluid. Freon-eleven can be an ozone depleting substance now banned underneath the Montreal Protocol. A lot more a short while ago, García-Rodriguez and Delgado-Torres have offered calculations for Rankine cycle–RO techniques employing a variety of alternative Functioning fluids [8]. They predict distinct solar Vitality consumptions ranging from 32 to 95 MJ/m3 (8.nine to 26 kWh/m3) which, according to a valuable irradiation of five kWh/m2 on a daily basis (18 MJ/m2 each day) would give water outputs per collector region of a hundred ninety to 560 l/m2 on a daily basis. A lot of the Functioning fluids they think about, for example benzene and toluene, are poisonous while others such as siloxanes are more benign but less available. The schematic of The everyday photo voltaic-Rankine–RO technique analyzed by Individuals authors is reproduced in Fig. one.

Most photo voltaic-thermal energy crops in use nowadays, like the ones located in California's Mojave Desert, are determined by the steam Rankine cycle and deliver electrical power that's fed into the grid. The potential of coupling to desalination devices is examined and could be executed Sooner or later [9]. In distinction to PV, on the other hand, steam electrical power plant is a lot more successful and affordable at large scales, ordinarily > ten MW electrical output, which if used for desalination by RO would lead to h2o outputs of ten 000 m3/day or more. Despite the advancement of interest in solar-run desalination, there remains to be a lack of demonstrated and viable remedies at the intermediate scale of around 50 to 5000 m3/working day. For groundwater sources specifically, such scales are wanted because, as opposed to the sea, specific wells and aquifers have restricted potential to feed desalination crops.

Groundwater is typically fewer saline than seawater. On this account, the Vitality requirement for desalination by RO is decreased. However, desalination of groundwater is if possible operated at superior Restoration ratio. This is often to stop losing cherished groundwater also to minimise the volume of concentrated brine rejected, the disposal of which poses an environmental dilemma. Superior Restoration has a tendency to demand superior Strength inputs thus partly offsetting the Electricity preserving in the reduce feed salinity. This trade off is illustrated by the next conventional equation for the thermodynamic minimum amount Electrical power E needed to Recuperate a quantity V of freshwater from saline feed drinking water getting an osmotic stress of Posmf in a recovery ratio

Next this quick discussion, we could propose the next perfect necessities of a photo voltaic-powered RO procedure for brackish groundwater: - Low particular photo voltaic Power intake and thus higher h2o output for each place of solar collector and of land occupied - Higher Restoration ratio - Avoidance of poisonous, environmentally damaging or scarcely offered Performing fluids (water or air are great fluids Within this regard) - Usage of commonly obtainable products, parts and producing procedures Therefore favouring cheap and superior availability - Viability for the intermediate scale of 50 to 5000 m3 water output.

With the goal of meeting these prerequisites, this paper places forward a whole new concept of solar-driven RO according to the steam Rankine cycle. The precise goal will be to analyse the concept to discover the performance and output in relation to the design and working parameters. Examples of technique models will be outlined. Note that no experiment has yet been completed, but it is meant this Investigation will notify upcoming experimentation and progress.

Very first the rationale and notion of the design will probably be defined with reference towards the shortcomings of the existing approaches that use the Rankine cycle.

2. Current strategies coupling the Rankine cycle to RO A principal drawback in utilizing the steam Rankine cycle at lesser scales (e.g. < one MW shaft output) may be the inefficiency of little steam turbines, which results from blade friction reduction and leakage reduction [ten]. To stop these losses, the steam could possibly be expanded using a piston rather than a turbine. The moment this method is adopted, it really is logical to omit the move of converting the linear movement with the steam electric power piston to continuous rotary motion from the pump. Rather, a so-called steam pump can be made use of, by which the steam energy piston is coupled on to the piston of a reciprocating pump. Regular models of steam pump are described, for instance, in reference [eleven]. Even so, a issues with steam pumps is that the drive furnished by the ability piston varies because the piston moves as a result of its cycle. To overcome this issue, Childs et al. have described a hydraulic device so as to add to or subtract from the power output and therefore compensate for such cyclic versions in force [12]. This paper sets out a simpler strategy, through which the problem of various forces is triumph over by mechanical suggests.

One more feature with the idea proposed Here's the chance to push a batch-intelligent RO approach, that's in basic principle essentially the most Electrical power-effective strategy for functioning RO. The benefit of the batch-clever Procedure over the more frequent ongoing circulation operation is usually described in terms of the concentrations of salt within the liquid at distinct positions inside the RO module of Fig. one. Given that the saline water passes throughout the module, drinking water is eliminated and also the greater concentration causes amplified osmotic force for the outlet, therefore raising the Electricity wanted for the method. Inside the batch approach, nonetheless, focus is saved Nearly uniform through the system at Every single instant in time and wastage of Strength due to concentration gradients Within the procedure is consequently minimised.

3. The notion Fig. two illustrates the essence of The brand new thought. The steam (or other Performing fluid) is equipped from photo voltaic collectors to an growth cylinder and expands against a piston (often called the facility piston). This piston drives a next piston (referred to as the pump piston) that's utilized to pressurise saline h2o versus the semi-permeable membrane that enables freshwater to move even though retaining the salt. To circumvent accumulation of salts near the surface from the membrane (ie. focus polarisation) a means of stirring the answer close to the membrane is included.

Down load : Down load full-size impression Fig. 2. Essential attributes in the proposed new principle. A power piston drives the pump piston by way of a coupling mechanism. The pump piston pressurises saline drinking water from the semi-permeable membrane. The notional stirrer decreases focus polarisation near the membrane. As the facility piston developments to the correct, the driving force available diminishes, while that wanted for the reverse osmosis method will increase. (This can be illustrated by the two p–V graphs). To match these forces, the coupling system need to supply a little by little expanding mechanical gain.

four. Analysis The Evaluation focuses on the calculation of losses that can induce the output to get less than that indicated by Eq. (one). For example, nevertheless the crank system will Enhance the matching of forces between the two pistons, It's not confirmed the crank motion is The perfect 1 needed for optimum effectiveness: there may be some Strength losses from any remaining mismatch. Additional losses take place within the RO system by itself. Every one of these losses will likely be estimated In this particular segment, next which drinking water outputs for The complete technique such as photo voltaic collector will likely be believed. Notice that sure losses which include friction from the crank system usually are not taken under consideration, as these are not intrinsic to your strategy and could be minimised by very careful layout.

To know more details visit here: solar based water treatment plant

[demonicdiligence]

Ophelia's laughter had caught Aamon off-guard. Of course part of him wanted to be on the defensive, but he knew better than that. While he got the idea that many functions of this world were similar to most human cultures, he didn't know that yet.

He was still in that strange grey-zone. He knew the general vibe of this new human world that he was exploring, but not enough fine details to pick out if someone acting "weird" was weird themselves, or if the entire society he had stepped into was different than his own.

Still, to a Demon, who was instilled with a great sense of reciprocity - the greatest of Demonic virtues - it was odd to be given such a specific, helpful service for free.

But Ophelia eventually divined a price. An odd one, but...

"I gotta wonder if this is a test or just idle curiosity... either way, we have a deal."

Raw instinct tells him to reach out a hand to shake. The word 'deal' is holy amongst demonkin, even as the art of true deal-making magic lessened over time. He has no power to enact such deals, and yet his culture compels him forward. He resists nonetheless.

"I have to admit the item I have in mind is... specialty. Don't worry, it's not super expensive or anything! But it might take me a little bit to find."

He already has something squared away in the back of his mind, but that brings them to the next topic.

"I suppose my first question would be for one of the better hotels in town? I've been making due for now, but I'm sure a local would have the best recommendation." A pause. "Oh, and a good time and place to meet up again!"

Even to the untrained eye he's playing things very carefully, not even asking for her number to stay in contact, as he's still unsure if that would be a faux pas in this world's culture.

[💜] Ophelia perked up and eyes alit at the mere mention of a man named Doc! Yes, yes— that had to be her Doc!!! What a small world (truly, what a small city).

A correction was on the tip of her tongue, since she knew far too well that Doc was a doctor doctor … but, oh … maybe he told Aamon differently. He always had a funny way about dancing around subjects, just like her, so she promptly kept that lil’ tidbit to herself and nodded along.

Just in case.

After all, there was another topic at hand that piqued her interest … and her laughter, too!

“ ‘How much am I charging?!’ ” She laughed even more, absolutely tickled purple at the idea alone. “You’re sooo silly! Why would I charge you, smarty-pants?”

A new face around town was payment enough. Though, the thought still lingered in Ophelia's mind, so she tapped a finger to her chin. Only for her smile to then curl into a sly smirk.

“Mm. If you insist: how ‘bout you buy me something. Anything. Then we’ll call it even.” What’s a ‘something’ that could satisfy someone like her? Truthfully, she just wanted to see what he'd pick out. “Deal?”