#switching to solar energy

[freyrenergyservice]

Solar Panel Investment: Why It’s a Smart Move for a Sustainable Future

Installing solar power on your property is regarded as more than just a fashionable “green” gesture; it is an investment in the out-with-the-old-and-in-with-the-new principle, which means that it brings about savings, energy independence (by minimizing their carbon footprints), and environmental conservation. Have you ever considered solar panel investment? Then, this article will walk you through its pros, technology, and why it’s a good idea to switch over to solar energy now.

What is Solar Panel Investment?

Solar panel investment, to put it in a nutshell, is the process of installing a solar panel system on your property to get solar energy from the sun and convert it to electricity. You can achieve this by either producing the energy from new energy sources or cutting down on your reliance on traditional energy sources, thus working toward cleaner energy. Similarly, you can promote a healthier environment by reducing your resource consumption in favor of green technology.

The present-day solar technology has made many systems more energy-effective, more robust, and cheaper than in previous models. The trend in solar power investments has been on the increase, making your space look even more comfortable and productive whether you are a homeowner or an owner of a business.

Why Should You Consider Solar Power Investment?

Financial Savings: One of the principal merits of solar panel production is the prospect of considerable electricity bill economies. After your solar panels are mounted, they produce free electricity for you for 25 or more years. Gradually this can represent several thousand of rupees saved.

Government Incentives: Most governments give out subsidies, tax rebates, and other incentives to people who set up solar energy systems. These programs decrease the initial costs, thereby making the transition to clean energy more attractive.

Increased Property Value: Properties with solar panels installed have a higher resale value for both homes and businesses. At purchase, buyers would be willing to pay a premium on such properties which are already equipped with a renascent energy supply.

Environmentally Friendly: The switch to solar energy as a power source is an effective way to reduce your carbon footprint. You can be part of a sustainable future by producing clean energy and ending the era of fossil fuels.

Energy Independence: Investing in solar power will make you less dependent on grid electricity that is often unstable with prices and causes the outage. This is a vital step for businesses that rely on a stable supply of energy.

How Does Solar Panel Investment Work?

Here’s a simple breakdown of how your solar panel system works:

Solar Panels Capture EnergySolar panels absorb sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity.

Inverter Converts EnergyAn inverter changes the DC electricity into alternating current (AC), which is used to power your home or business.

Net Metering Balances Energy UseIf your system produces more energy than you need, the excess is sent back to the grid, and you receive credits. During cloudy days or at night, you can draw power from the grid.

Savings BeginBy offsetting your electricity use with solar power, your energy bills shrink dramatically.

The Role of Solar Technology in Maximizing ROI

Modern solar technology has revolutionized the efficiency and affordability of solar panel systems. Today’s panels can generate more power with less sunlight, making solar investments viable even in areas with moderate sunlight.

Innovations like smart inverters, energy storage systems, and monitoring apps ensure that you get the most out of your investment. These advancements also help identify performance issues, enabling quick fixes and consistent energy production.

Steps to Get Started with Solar Panel Investment

Assess Your Energy NeedsUnderstand your current electricity consumption to determine the size of the solar panel system you’ll need.

Choose a Reliable Solar ProviderWork with a reputable company to design and install solar systems tailored to your property and requirements.

Explore Financing OptionsIf upfront costs seem daunting, look into financing options like loans, leases, or power purchase agreements (PPAs).

Check for IncentivesResearch local government incentives, subsidies, or tax benefits that can significantly reduce installation costs.

Install Solar Systems and Start SavingOnce installed, your solar panel system begins working immediately, reducing your reliance on grid power and slashing your energy bills.

Benefits of Switching to Solar Energy

Switching to solar energy isn’t just about saving money; it’s also about creating a sustainable future. Here are a few key benefits:

Long-Term SavingsThe ROI from solar panel investment often surpasses other traditional investments.

Clean Energy ProductionSolar power generates electricity without emitting harmful greenhouse gases, making it a clean and sustainable energy source.

Job CreationThe growing solar industry has created millions of jobs worldwide, contributing to economic growth while promoting renewable energy.

Grid StabilityAs more people adopt solar systems, the strain on traditional power grids decreases, reducing the risk of blackouts and power shortages.

Wrapping Up

Investing in solar panels is not just an environmentally conscious choice—it’s a smart financial decision. With lower costs, government incentives, and advanced solar technology, there has never been a better time to make the switch.

Whether you’re looking to reduce energy bills, increase property value, or make a positive impact on the environment, solar panel investment delivers on all fronts.

So, why wait? Take the first step toward energy independence today. Contact a trusted solar provider, explore your options, and join the growing community of people who are reaping the benefits of switching to solar energy.

[oroichonno]

Yet more benefits to renewable energy sources & ways for other animals to adapt to them.

In a discovery by researchers from Leiden University in the Netherlands, offshore wind turbines have become a haven for benthos — the community of marine organisms that live in, on or around the seafloor.

There are more soil animals per square meter living in the foundations of offshore wind farms than on the floor of the North Sea, a press release from Leiden University said.

“The turbine foundations provide hard substrate for settlement in areas where these habitats have never been present before. Except for islands, there are now structures spanning the entire range from sea floor to sea surface,” Jan Vanaverbeke, a postdoctoral researcher at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, told EcoWatch in an email. “A lot of organisms, normally living on hard substrates (rocks, bio- or geogenic reefs) have larvae with pelagic stadia, drifting in the water column and trying to find a suitable place to settle and grow into an adult. The turbines provide such substrate in areas where it has never been present before.”

In the area surrounding the wind farms, fishing is not allowed, meaning fish can flourish.

“Banning fisheries from offshore wind farms has positive effects as (1) wind farms provide a safe place for fish (where some species find a lot of food), and (2) the sea floor is not disturbed and therefore long-living animals have a chance to actually live long (they are not impacted/killed by the fishing gear that is passing),” Vanaverbeke told EcoWatch.

[healthcar]

Solar Switch Reviews - Is Solarswitch Smart Tower DIY Solar Panels Guide Legit?

With the growing concern for environmental sustainability and the need for renewable energy sources, solar power has emerged as an effective solution. Solar panels offer a clean and efficient way to generate electricity, reducing dependence on fossil fuels. As the demand for solar power systems increases, numerous brands have entered the market, making it challenging for consumers to choose the right product. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive review of the top solar power systems available in the market, focusing on their features, performance, and customer feedback.

Solar Switch X500

The Solar Switch X500 is a highly efficient solar power system that has gained immense popularity among homeowners and businesses. Its advanced technology and robust construction make it a reliable choice for generating solar energy. The X500 features high-quality solar panels with a power output of 500W, ensuring optimal energy production. The system also includes a durable inverter, allowing for seamless conversion of DC power to AC power, suitable for household and commercial use.

Customers appreciate the user-friendly interface of the Solar Switch X500, which enables easy monitoring of energy production and consumption. The system's smart metering technology helps users track their energy savings, enabling them to make informed decisions about their energy usage. Moreover, the X500 comes with a comprehensive warranty and excellent after-sales service, ensuring customer satisfaction.

Solar Switch S800 Plus

The Solar Switch S800 Plus is another top-rated solar power system that offers exceptional performance and efficiency. Designed for both residential and commercial applications, the S800 Plus features high-efficiency solar panels with a power output of 800W. The system's advanced MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) technology maximizes energy generation by optimizing the panel's output in varying light conditions.

One of the key highlights of the Solar Switch S800 Plus is its durability. The panels are built using high-quality materials that can withstand harsh weather conditions, ensuring longevity and reliable performance. Additionally, the S800 Plus includes an integrated energy storage system, allowing users to store excess energy for later use or during power outages.

Customers have praised the S800 Plus for its seamless installation process and intuitive monitoring system. The system provides real-time data on energy production, consumption, and savings, empowering users to make informed decisions about their energy usage. The Solar Switch S800 Plus is often commended for its exceptional customer service and prompt technical support.

Solar Switch Z1200 Pro

The Solar Switch Z1200 Pro is a high-capacity solar power system designed for large-scale applications. This system is widely utilized in industrial and commercial settings, where the demand for electricity is substantial. With a power output of 1200W, the Z1200 Pro can generate significant amounts of clean energy, reducing electricity costs and environmental impact.

Featuring premium-grade solar panels, the Z1200 Pro ensures optimal energy conversion efficiency, maximizing the overall performance of the system. The robust construction of the panels guarantees durability and long-lasting performance, even in extreme weather conditions. Moreover, the Z1200 Pro includes advanced monitoring capabilities, enabling users to track energy production and savings accurately.

Buy From Official Website

Customers appreciate the scalability of the Solar Switch Z1200 Pro, allowing them to expand their solar power system as their energy needs grow. The system's compatibility with other renewable energy technologies, such as wind turbines, enhances its versatility and efficiency. The Solar Switch brand is known for its exceptional warranty coverage and reliable customer support, adding to the overall customer satisfaction.

Conclusion

Solar power systems have become increasingly popular due to their numerous benefits, including reduced electricity costs, environmental friendliness, and energy independence. In this article, we reviewed three top solar power systems: the Solar Switch X500, S800 Plus, and Z1200 Pro. Each system

[autobahnmp3]

oh my fuckinggod .... why do people thing a nuclear power plant is more environmentally friendly than wind energy

[reasonsforhope]

"A 1-megawatt sand battery that can store up to 100 megawatt hours of thermal energy will be 10 times larger than a prototype already in use.

The new sand battery will eliminate the need for oil-based energy consumption for the entire town of town of Pornainen, Finland.

Sand gets charged with clean electricity and stored for use within a local grid.

Finland is doing sand batteries big. Polar Night Energy already showed off an early commercialized version of a sand battery in Kankaanpää in 2022, but a new sand battery 10 times that size is about to fully rid the town of Pornainen, Finland of its need for oil-based energy.

In cooperation with the local Finnish district heating company Loviisan Lämpö, Polar Night Energy will develop a 1-megawatt sand battery capable of storing up to 100 megawatt hours of thermal energy.

“With the sand battery,” Mikko Paajanen, CEO of Loviisan Lämpö, said in a statement, “we can significantly reduce energy produced by combustion and completely eliminate the use of oil.”

Polar Night Energy introduced the first commercial sand battery in 2022, with local energy utility Vatajankoski. “Its main purpose is to work as a high-power and high-capacity reservoir for excess wind and solar energy,” Markku Ylönen, Polar Nigh Energy’s co-founder and CTO, said in a statement at the time. “The energy is stored as heat, which can be used to heat homes, or to provide hot steam and high temperature process heat to industries that are often fossil-fuel dependent.” ...

Sand—a high-density, low-cost material that the construction industry discards [Note: 6/13/24: Turns out that's not true! See note at the bottom for more info.] —is a solid material that can heat to well above the boiling point of water and can store several times the amount of energy of a water tank. While sand doesn’t store electricity, it stores energy in the form of heat. To mine the heat, cool air blows through pipes, heating up as it passes through the unit. It can then be used to convert water into steam or heat water in an air-to-water heat exchanger. The heat can also be converted back to electricity, albeit with electricity losses, through the use of a turbine.

In Pornainen, Paajanen believes that—just by switching to a sand battery—the town can achieve a nearly 70 percent reduction in emissions from the district heating network and keep about 160 tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere annually. In addition to eliminating the usage of oil, they expect to decrease woodchip combustion by about 60 percent.

The sand battery will arrive ready for use, about 42 feet tall and 49 feet wide. The new project’s thermal storage medium is largely comprised of soapstone, a byproduct of Tulikivi’s production of heat-retaining fireplaces. It should take about 13 months to get the new project online, but once it’s up and running, the Pornainen battery will provide thermal energy storage capacity capable of meeting almost one month of summer heat demand and one week of winter heat demand without recharging.

“We want to enable the growth of renewable energy,” Paajanen said. “The sand battery is designed to participate in all Fingrid’s reserve and balancing power markets. It helps to keep the electricity grid balanced as the share of wind and solar energy in the grid increases.”"

-via Popular Mechanics, March 13, 2024

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Note: I've been keeping an eye on sand batteries for a while, and this is really exciting to see. We need alternatives to lithium batteries ASAP, due to the grave human rights abuses and environmental damage caused by lithium mining, and sand batteries look like a really good solution for grid-scale energy storage.

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Note 6/13/24: Unfortunately, turns out there are substantial issues with sand batteries as well, due to sand scarcity. More details from a lovely asker here, sources on sand scarcity being a thing at the links: x, x, x, x, x

[dipnots]

The Power of Renewables: How Sustainable Energy is Shaping Our Future

Renewable energy is a term that refers to any type of energy that is generated from natural, renewable resources such as wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and biomass. Renewable energy is becoming increasingly popular due to its many benefits, including reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality, and increasing energy security. In this blog post, we will explore renewable energy in more…

[mostlysignssomeportents]

An end to the climate emergency is in our grasp

On June 20, I'm keynoting the LOCUS AWARDS in OAKLAND.

The problem with good news in the real world is that it's messy. Neat happy endings are for novels, not the real world, and that goes double for the climate emergency. But even though good climate news is complicated and nuanced, that doesn't mean it shouldn't buoy our spirits and fill our hearts with hope.

The big climate news this past week is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's clarion call about surging CO2 levels – the highest ever – amid a year that is on track to have the largest and most extreme series of weather events in human history:

https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/during-year-of-extremes-carbon-dioxide-levels-surge-faster-than-ever

This is genuinely alarming and you – like me – have probably experienced it as a kind of increase in your background radiation of climate anxiety. Perhaps you – like me – even experienced some acute, sit-bolt-upright-in-bed-at-2AM anxiety as a result. That's totally justifiable. This is very real, very bad news.

And yet…

The news isn't all bad, and even this terrible dispatch from the NOAA is best understood in context, which Bill McKibben provides in his latest newsletter post, "What You Want is an S Curve":

https://billmckibben.substack.com/p/what-you-want-is-an-s-curve

Financier and their critics should all be familiar with Stein's Law: "anything that can't go on forever will eventually stop." This is true outside of finance as well. One of the reasons that we're seeing such autophagic panic from the tech companies is that their period of explosive growth is at an end.

For years, they told themselves that they were experiencing double-digit annual growth because they were "creating value" and "innovating" but the majority of their growth was just a side-effect of the growth of the internet itself. When hundreds of millions of people get online every year, the dominant online services will, on average, gain hundreds of millions of new users.

But when you run out of people who don't have internet access, your growth is going to slow. How can it not? Indeed, at that point, the only ways to grow are to either poach users from your rivals (through the very expensive tactics of massive advertising and sales-support investments, on top of discounts and freebies as switching enticements), or to squeeze your own users for more.

That's why the number of laptops sold in America slowed down. It's why the number of cellphones sold in America slowed down. It's why the number of "smart home" gizmos slowed down.

Even the steepest hockey-stick-shaped exponential growth curve eventually levels off and becomes an S-curve, because anything that can't go on forever will eventually stop.

One way or another, the world's carbon emissions will eventually level off. Even if we drive ourselves to (or over) the brink of extinction and set up the conditions for wildfires that release all the carbon stored in all the Earth's plants, the amount of carbon we pump into the atmosphere has to level off.

Rendering the Earth incapable of sustaining human civilization (or life) is the ultimate carbon reduction method – but it's not my first choice.

That's where McKibben's latest newsletter comes in. He cites a new report from the Rocky Mountain Institute, which shows a major reversal in our energy sources, a shift that will see our energy primarily provided by renewables, with minimal dependence on fossil fuels:

https://rmi.org/insight/the-cleantech-revolution/

The RMI team says that in this year or next, we'll have hit peak demand for fossil fuels (a fact that is consistent with NOAA's finding that we're emitting more CO2 than ever). The reason for this is that so much renewable energy is about to come online, and it is so goddamned cheap, that we are about to undergo a huge shift in our energy consumption patterns.

This past decade saw a 12-fold increase in solar capacity, a 180-fold increase in battery storage, and a 100-fold increase in EV sales. China is leading the world in a cleantech transition, with the EU in close second. Cleantech is surging in places where energy demand is also still growing, like India and Vietnam. Fossil fuel use has already peaked in Thailand, South Africa and every country in Latin America.

We're on the verge of solar constituting an absolute majority of all the world's energy generation. This year, batteries will overtake pumped hydro for energy storage. Every cleantech metric is growing the way that fossil fuels did in previous centuries: investment, patents, energy density, wind turbine rotor size. The price of solar is on track to halve (again) in the next decade.

In short, cleantech growth looks like the growth of other technologies that were once rarities and then became ubiquitous overnight: TV, cellphones, etc. That growth isn't merely being driven by the urgency of the climate emergency: it's primarily a factor of how fucking great cleantech is:

https://rmi.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/the_incredible_inefficiency_of_fossils.pdf

Fossil fuels suck. It's not just that they wreck the planet, or that their extraction is both politically and environmentally disastrous. They just aren't a good way to make energy. About a third of fossil fuel energy is wasted in production and transportation. A third! Another third is wasted turning fossil fuels into energy. Two thirds! The net energy efficiency of fossil fuels is about 37%.

Compare that with cleantech. EVs convert electricity to movement with 80-90% efficiency. Heat pumps are 300% efficient (the main fuel for your heat pump is the heat in the atmosphere, not the electricity it draws).

Cleantech is just getting started – it's still in the hockey-stick phase. That means those efficiency numbers are only going up. Rivian just figured out how to remove 1.6 miles of copper wire from each vehicle. That's just one rev – there's doubtless lots of room for more redesigns that will further dematerialize EVs:

https://insideevs.com/news/722265/rivian-r1s-r1t-wiring/

As McKibben points out, there's been a lot of justifiable concern that electrification will eventually use up all our available copper, but copper demand has remained flat even as electrification has soared – and this is why. We keep figuring out new ways to electrify with fewer materials:

https://www.chemanalyst.com/NewsAndDeals/NewsDetails/copper-wire-price-remains-stable-amidst-surplus-supply-and-expanding-mining-25416#:~:text=Global%20Copper%20wire%20Price%20Remains%20Stable%20Amidst%20Surplus%20Supply%20and%20Expanding%20Mining%20Activities

This is exactly what happened with previous iterations of tech. The material, energy and labor budgets of cars, buildings, furniture, etc all fell precipitously every time there was a new technique for manufacturing them. Renewables are at the start of that process. There's going to be a lot of this dematerialization in cleantech. Calculating the bill of materials for a planetary energy transition isn't a matter of multiplying the materials in current tech by the amount of new systems we'll need – as we create those new systems, we will constantly whittle down their materials.

What's more, global instability drives cleantech uptake. The Russian invasion of Ukraine caused a surge in European renewables. The story that energy prices are rising due to renewables (or carbon taxes) is a total lie. Fossil fuels are getting much more expensive, thanks to both war and rampant, illegal price-fixing:

https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/an-oil-price-fixing-conspiracy-caused

If not for renewables, the incredible energy shocks of the recent years would be far more severe.

The renewables story is very good and it should bring you some comfort. But as McKibben points out, it's still not enough – yet. The examples of rapid tech uptake had big business on their side. America's living rooms filled with TV because America's largest businesses pulled out all the stops to convince everyone to buy a TV. By contrast, today's largest businesses – banks, oil companies and car companies – are working around the clock to stop cleantech adoption.

We're on track to double our use of renewables before the decade is over. But to hold to the (already recklessly high) targets from the Paris Accord, we need to triple our renewables usage. As McKibben says, the difference between doubling and tripling our renewables by 2030 is the difference between "survivable trouble" and something much scarier.

The US is experiencing a welcome surge in utility scale solar, but residential solar is stalling out as governments withdraw subsidies or even begin policies that actively restrict rooftop solar:

https://twitter.com/curious_founder/status/1798049929082097842?s=51

McKibben says the difference between where we are now and bringing back the push for home solar generation is the difference between "fast" and "faster" – that is the difference between tripling renewables by 2030 (survivable) and doubling (eek).

Capitalism stans who argue that we can survive the climate emergency with market tools will point to the good news on renewable and say that the market is the only way to transition to renewables. It's true that market forces are partly responsible for this fast transition. But the market is also the barrier to a faster (and thus survivable) transition. The oil companies, the banks who are so invested in fossil fuels, the petrostates who distort the world's politics – they're why we're not much farther along.

The climate emergency was never going to be neatly solved. We weren't going to get a neat novelistic climax that saw our problems sorted out in a single fell swoop. We're going to be fighting all the way to net zero, and after that, we'll still have decades of climate debt to pay down: fires, floods, habitat loss, zoonotic plagues, refugee crises.

But we should take our wins. Even if we're far from where we need to be on renewables, we're much farther along on renewables than we had any business hoping for, just a few years ago. The momentum is on our side. It's up to us to use that momentum and grow it. We're riding the hockey-stick, they're on that long, flat, static top of the S-curve. Their curve is leveling off and will start falling, ours will grow like crazy for the rest of our lives.

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

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/12/s-curve/#anything-that-cant-go-on-forever-eventually-stops

[batboyblog]

Things the Biden-Harris Administration Did This Week #34

Sep 13-20 2024.

President Biden announced $1.3 billion in new funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The Biden-Harris Administration has already invested a record breaking $17 billion in HBCUs since the President took office. HBCUs represent an important engine for making black professionals. 40% of all Black engineers, 50% of all Black teachers, 70% of all Black doctors and dentists, 80% of all Black judges, and the first black Vice-President, Kamala Harris, are HBCU graduates. HBCUs have also been proven to be far better at boosting the long term economic prospects of graduates than non-HBCU colleges. The bulk of the new funding will go directly to supporting students and helping them pay for college.

The Department of Transportation celebrated 60,000 infrastructure projects funding by the Biden-Harris Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This landmark is a part of the Biden-Harris team's effort to address America's long neglected infrastructure. From major multi-state projects to small town railway crossings every project was lead by a local community in need not a make-work project dreamed up in Washington

The Department of Energy announced over 3 billion dollars to support the battery sector. The 25 projects across 14 states will help support over 12,000 jobs. Advanced battery technology is key to the shift to a carbon energy free economy. The move is meant to not only boost battery production but also shift it away from China and toward America.

Maine and Rhode Island both launched a partnership with the federal government to help save low income families money on their utility bills. The program offers low and moderate income households aid in updating wiring, switching to energy efficient appliances, and installing heat pumps.

The EPA announced $156 million to help bring solar power to low-income New Mexico residents. This is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s "Solar for All" project aimed at helping low-income people afford the switch over to solar power. It's expected that 21,750 low-income households in New Mexico will benefit from the money. New Mexicans can expect to save over the next 20 years $311 million in energy costs.

The Department of The Interior announced the first ever leases for wind power in the Gulf of Maine. The leases for 8 areas off the coast of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine will be sold in late October. The Department believes that once developed the wind power from these leases could produce 13 gigawatts of clean offshore wind energy, enough to power 4.5 million homes. When added to the 15 gigawatts already approved by the Biden-Harris team it brings America close to Biden's 30 gigawatts of clean offshore wind power by 2030.

The Senate approved the appointment of Kevin Ritz to the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which covers Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. The Senate also approved Mary Kay Costello and Michelle Williams Court to district court judgeships in Pennsylvania and California respectively. Costello is the 12th LGBT judge appointed by President Biden, making him the President to appoint the most LGBT people to the federal bench more than during Obama's 8 years. President Biden has also appointed more black women, such as Judge Court, to the bench than any other President. Judge Court also represents President Biden's move to appoint civil rights attorneys to the bench, Court worked for the ACLU in the mid-90s and was a civil rights expect at HUD in the early 2000s. This brings the total number of judges appointed by Biden to 212.

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week - May 15, 2023

🧲 - Magnetic Marvels: Researchers Flip the Switch on Depression

1. New Zealand Government announces prescriptions charges will be free.

The $5 prescription fee at pharmacies will be scrapped in July. This is set to save about 3 million people a year money, and in particular 770,000 people aged over 65. It will make most prescriptions in New Zealand free.

Free access to medicines is also hoped to ease pressure on the over-burdened health system by helping people get medicines sooner.

2. Platypuses return to Sydney's Royal National Park after disappearing for decades

Platypuses have been relocated to the Royal National Park in Sydney, after they disappeared from the park's waterways about 50 years ago. A joint project by the University of New South Wales, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the World Wildlife Fund has reintroduced five females to the Hacking River, with a group of males to follow next week.

3. 74-year-old musician Otis Taylor gets Denver high school diploma decades after being expelled for hair

A musician who was expelled from a Denver high school over 50 years ago received his diploma. Otis Taylor was kicked out of Manual High School in 1966 because of his hair. This was decades before laws ending racial hair discrimination. Denver Public Schools wanted to right a wrong.

4. Researchers treat depression by reversing brain signals traveling the wrong way (with magnets)

A new study led by Stanford Medicine researchers is the first to reveal how magnetic stimulation treats severe depression: by correcting the abnormal flow of brain signals. Powerful magnetic pulses applied to the scalp to stimulate the brain can bring fast relief to many severely depressed patients for whom standard treatments have failed.

The FDA-cleared treatment, known as Stanford neuromodulation therapy, incorporates advanced imaging technologies to guide stimulation with high-dose patterns of magnetic pulses that can modify brain activity related to major depression. Compared with traditional TMS, which requires daily sessions over several weeks or months, SNT works on an accelerated timeline of 10 sessions each day for just five days.

5. Electricity generation through solar, wind and water exceeded total demand in mainland Spain on Tuesday, a pattern that will be repeated more and more in the future

The Spanish power grid on Tuesday tasted an appetizer of the renewable energy banquet that is expected to flourish in the coming years. For nine hours, between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., the generation of green electricity was more than enough to cover 100% of Spanish peninsular demand, a milestone that had already been reached on previous occasions, but not for such a prolonged period.

6. RI Senate passes bill making lunch free at all public schools

Free lunch for all public school students in Rhode Island is one step closer to becoming a reality.

Tuesday night the Rhode Island Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill by a vote of 31-4 that would do just that. If the companion bill in the House were to pass, that takes effect July 1. The bill would make breakfast and lunch free for all public school students in the state, regardless of their household income.

7. Critically endangered red wolf pups born at North Carolina Zoo

The North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro celebrated the arrival of “not one but TWO litters” of the world’s most endangered wolf – the red wolf – in late April and early May.

A total of nine pups were born – three to parents Marsh and Roan, and six to Denali and May – the zoo announced on May 9.

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That's it for this week :)

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[rafetopia]

𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧

- 𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧

pairing: businessman!rafe cameron x fem!businesswoman!reader

genre: smut -> 18+!!

words: ~3.6k

warnings: use of a sex toy in public, rafe & reader switch dynamics, (potentially) exposing someone naked to the public?, swearing, being blindfolded and handcuffed, choking, name calling, unprotected p in v

summary: after an attempt of ruining your chance to convince a room full of rich investors goes horrible wrong, rafe has to deal with the consequences

note: this is a repost from my old blog (dreamingwithrafe)

“Rafe…” You moaned as his tongue made its way down your neck. “I have to practice this again…”

“Hmmm.” He hummed, as he softly mobbed on your earlobe, knowing just how much you loved that. “Then go…” He continued as his hands traveled under your skirt, landing in your already soaked panties.

“I…” You whispered, trying to find the right words, but all you could think about were his hands under your skirt. “I really should…”

“I said, then go.” He whispered, his hands now slipping under your panties, tracing circles around your clit.

“Hmmm you are so evil.” You mourned.

You knew exactly why he did what he did, why he showed up 15 minutes before your presentation, swinging you onto your desk the second he waltzed into your office. He knew how much it would distract you, after all he couldn’t have you being better than him.

“And you love it don’t you?” He smirked against your neck as he let his fingers slide into you, causing a quiet but sweet moan to escape your lips. “I knew it.”

“Just… Just be quick.”

His fingertips were tracing slow circles over your clit, making you want to rip away your clothes and underwear so his fingers and your skin wouldn’t be separated by something as banal as fabric. “Hmm, we’ll see about that. Brought a little surprise for you.” He grinned devilishly, as he reached into his pocket. You wanted to see what it was but quickly pushed your chin up so you couldn’t look. “Nuh- uh, princess, I said surprise didn’t I?”

His mouth went back on your neck but now moving up, towards your ear, knowing that once he got there he’d have you completely.

“Now, open up your pants and close your eyes for me, would you, princess?”

You did as you were told but something inside of you told you, that maybe you shouldn’t have. Your gut was proven right once you felt cold material sliding down your entrance, followed by his fingertips, making sure that everything fit as it should. You were about to open your mouth and protest when he pulled out his finger and softly pressed it against your lips. “Shhht.” He whispered, before he continued, “Now be a good girl and suck.”

He slid his finger into your mouth and you did as you were told, sucking up every bit of your juice on his fingertips. “Good.” He hummed. “Now lean back and relax.” He smirked playfully. He then pulled your pants down and got down on his knees, ready to send you to heaven before you had to convince a room full of white middle aged men why it was an amazing idea to supply the middle east with solar energy.

He was about to eat away all your sorrows when someone knocked on the door. “Miss (Y/LN), it’s time, they’re ready for you now.” A friendly female voice said.

“Shit.” You spat out, as quiet as possible, hoping the woman on the other side of the door didn’t hear you. “I’m coming, gimme two minutes.”

You pushed Rafe away from you and quickly jumped up from the desk.

“What, you don’t think I could’ve finished you in two minutes?” He asked, disappointment flickering through his voice.

You ignored him, while you pulled up your pants as quickly as possible before taking your phone and fixing your hair.

“Rafe have you seen my hairbrush? Black, small little thingy with spikes on it?”

“Y/N Don’t you think I know what a hairbrush looks like?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. “I think It fell under the table when I pushed you on it.” He bent down and looked under the table himself, knowing you wouldn’t listen to him anyways.

He got back up and handed you your object of desire. “Told you.”

You gave him a smile and quickly started fixing the mess on your head while he poured you a glass of water. “Now drink this, baby. You need to hydrate.” You nodded and emptied the glass immediately. “Now remember, you and your dad have been working on this for over two years now, you got this.”

“Would you stop with all the smothering, Cameron? I’m not nervous.” You smirked. “You can stop pretending like this wasn’t part of your plan”

“What plan sweetheart?”

“Oh shut up, you know exactly what I mean.”

He stepped forward until he was only inches away from you. The smell of his cologne intoxicated your senses, almost making it hard for you to concentrate.

“I don’t need a plan, babygirl, we all know they are going to choose “Cameron Development”, they always do.” He grinned devilishly. “No go out there princess, you don’t want to be late, now do you?”

You stared back into his eyes, not breaking eye contact for one second. “We will see about that.” You smiled, before you grabbed your back and left the office.

Rafe stayed back for a second, looking around for the toy he put inside you but the moment he realized, you never put it out it was already too late. He closed the door behind him, with the biggest smirk the world had ever seen.

The room was already full of investors and potential business partners you were supposed to convince. They were still talking and laughing, not paying any attention to you which gave you room and time to set up your laptop. You would lie if you’d say you weren’t at least a little bit nervous but you tried your best to hide it. You had been working towards this moment for many months now, sure originally to present with your father but since he had an emergency meeting in california you had to do it alone now.

You took one last sip from the water bottle hanging out of your bag before gathering your cards and waiting for the crowd to get quiet. They noticed that you were ready and just before you were about to open your mouth, the door in the back to the meeting room opened.

The moment your eyes met his, you were met with a grin on his face, so wide you were sure his mouth was touching his ears. It was then, when you realized, you fucked up.

You wanted to walk out of the door to take it out but Anna, your assistant shook her head, signaling it was too late for that.

You shot Rafe a warning glare, telling him that if he tried anything there would be consequences but deep down you knew he didn’t care. He owned you now and for the duration of this presentation, you were at his mercy and his mercy only.

Your fears quickly became reality a few minutes after your introduction. You were about to introduce the bigger concept of your project when you felt a sudden vibration between your folds. You tried to hide your surprise but it was almost impossible no one noticed. You saw the smirk on his face, knowing that he wouldn’t stop there, that he’d probably keep going and going until you reached your breaking point, until you messed up and broke down in front of all those people.

But Rafe clearly seemed to underestimate you. You had incredibly good focus if you wanted to and you prepared yourself for months. So you set your focus back to the presentation, completely ignoring the vibration between your legs. It wasn’t easy, sure but it was doable until Rafe went up a level. Even though you were good at what you were doing, you also mustn’t underestimate him.

Fine. You thought to yourself. You wanna play? Game on.

You put all your senses together and pushed through. You still had a lot to go through but you were sure, if you would just focus enough, you would be able to push through. Not with Rafe Cameron though.

He saw how you tried to fight him and it only encouraged him more. He knew it wasn’t fair of him to do this, but Rafe Cameron never played fair. The truth was, he never stood a chance against you. It was the way you presented yourself, the way you held yourself, the way you spoke, your beautiful chuckle when you misspoke or casually built in a joke to make the investors laugh.

He saw the way you looked at him, everytime they laughed or someone asked you an interesting question which you answered perfectly. You challenged him, as if you almost wanted him to go on, as if you wanted to prove something to him. So he did. He went up another level, just to see if you could handle it. And you could. You felt the vibration traveling through your body, almost making it impossible for you to keep standing but you put on your poker face and pushed through. And again and again.

You told them about the importance of your project, about the necessity of solar panels in the middle east and why your company would be the perfect fit for the project. You baffled them away with your knowledge, your presentation and your smile. Everything was perfect, you were perfect and he couldn’t have that.

He hated every single word that came through your mouth, everytime you smiled he could feel his blood boiling because he knew. He knew that he couldn’t distract you, he knew he didn’t stand a single chance against you, you were just too good.

So he went up to the maximum level and he didn’t just change the intensity, he also changed the rhythm to something that made it way harder for you to concentrate. You let out a loud whimper, causing everyone in the room to look up at you. You looked at Rafe, who sat there with a wide and evil grin, waiting for you what to do next. He expected you to become red and lose your rhythm but you didn't. Instead, you looked him right in the eyes and smiled.

“Sorry, gentlemen, cramps are really bad today.”

They smiled at you, some more uncomfortable than others but they believed you. Rafes gaze darkened, if you were closer to him, you were sure you would have heard his pulse rising to the maximum. His face turned red, he tried to hide it but he knew there was absolutely nothing he could do now. You won.

That didn’t stop him from trying to make it as hard for you as possible though. You managed through but it wasn’t exactly easy. You smiled at the round of applause you got, and answered all the questions asked. You expected Rafe to raise a hand but he didn’t. He sat there for a while, just staring at you before he stood up and stormed out of the room.

While you finished everything up, he wandered through the hallways, trying to think about what to do next. He found himself in the bathroom, bracing his arms on the sink as he tried to calm down and gather himself. He turned on the water tap and took a deep breath as he buried his face in the pool of cold water that he had gathered in his hands. Washing his face with cold water, had always helped him calm down again, when he felt his anger taking over. It was actually something that you had shown him once, after you found him at the island club, screaming into his phone because his dad threatened to cut him off once again.

He gathered his thoughts and walked back into the hallway where he quickly spotted you, shaking hands with one of the investors. He hid behind the nearest corner he could find, trying to eavesdrop on what you were saying but all he could hear was the sweet sound of your laugh, followed by an even sweeter “thank you Mr. Bass”. He then heard your heels clicking on the floor, becoming louder and louder with every step you took and before he knew it, he had pulled you behind the corner, pressed against the wall with his hand on your mouth.

He felt you smirking under his skin, only strengthening the feeling of stone cold rage that shot through his body.

“What’s wrong baby?” You asked, mockingly after you took his hand and removed it from your mouth. “You don’t look so happy.” He didn't say anything, his thoughts clouding his mind, making him unable to form any words. You noticed it, only amusing you even more. “What? Are you mad because your little plan didn’t work out?” You laughed, “Don’t worry baby, I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

His dark gaze burned right through you, making it hard for you to keep eye contact but you pulled through. This was a game that he started and there was no way in hell you would let him get away just like that. But Rafe didn’t plan on going, no. He was angry, oh so angry and that anger needed to go somewhere and before he knew it, his hand was wrapped around your throat, causing you to gasp for air. But you weren’t scared, you thought it was cute how easy it was for you to provoke him like that, how easy it was for you to control him. He tightened his grip but it only caused you to smile even more.

You had trouble breathing and even though you weren’t particularly scared, your heartbeat told a different kind of story. He looked at you, his eyes traveling from your eyes down to your lips and back up again, as if he was debating on what to do next.

“Come with me.” He pressed through his clenched jaw, as he let go of your throat. His hand quickly grabbed your wrist as he pulled you into the utility room next to the elevator. Before you knew it he had spun you around, his hand pressing you back against the door as he smashed his lips on yours.

The kiss was filled with passion and rage, the combo you loved most on Rafe. It made him rougher and faster in his actions, something that made your knees weak by the simple thought of it. Your hands traveled down his crotch where you were met with his already hardened erection. You felt him flinch under your touch followed by a soft moan escaping his lips. He swung you around again, trying to push you on the table behind him but you were quick to stop him.

“Uh Uh, baby boy.” You smirked. “You think I’m going to let you take the lead on this after what you just tried to do to me? We are going to play, but on my terms, with my rules. Do you understand?” You asked, waiting for an answer but were met with nothing but silence.

You smiled, as your hands traveled through his hair, pulling it back so he would have to look at you. “Do you understand?” You asked again, with an angrier tone this time.

“Yes. Yes ma’am.” He whispered, almost sounding intimidated.

“Good.” You smiled, “Now sit.” You signaled to the chair next to you and he did as told. “Now close your eyes for me, pretty boy.” You whispered into his ear as you got behind him. You leaned over his shoulder and removed his tie, while planting soft kisses on his neck, causing him to let out soft moans. You then used it to tie his eyes, leaving him completely vulnerable in front of you. You smiled at the sight of it, before walking around the chair to face him again. You kneed in front of him and opened his belt, while he leaned back into the seat. You gently pushed the material of his pants over his legs and then did the same with his boxer, until he was exposed completely.

“What are you going to do to me?” He asked quietly. His voice was steady but you could hear the nervousness peaking through his words.

“Shht, relax baby, no need to get nervous.” You answered, softly but he knew she shouldn’t listen to you. After all, the two of you had been playing this game for a while now and he knew that he took it too far this time.

You slid your left hand into his, as your right one brought his dick into your mouth. He gasped at the sudden contact and let his head fall back into his seat. You let your tongue slide over his tip, saliva building up as you tasted the salty drop of precum on your tongue. You slowly started sucking, pushing him in further and further with each movement until you swallowed him whole. Rafe tried to hide his moans, not wanting you to know how much he enjoyed this but you knew better. You felt his dick twitching around in your mouth, signaling you that he was close and just when he was about to release himself, you slowed down, almost stopping. He wanted to protest but you quickly put your finger on his lips, signaling him to keep quiet.

You then went on again, but this time you circled your tongue around his length, never pulling him in completely. His breathing got faster with every time your tongue slid over him, and you felt his nails burying themselves into your hands, almost causing you to flinch in pain.

“Please (Y/N)...” He whimpered. “I…”

“Mhh, speak up, pretty boy, what do you want?”

“Please ride me…” He whispered, clearly trying to suppress another moan.

“I might.” You chuckled, “But you better be loud or I stop. Need everyone to know what a needy boy you are for me baby.”

He gave you an eager nod, before pulling you closer to him. His hands landed perfectly around your waist, very impressive, considering that he was still blindfolded. You quickly got rid of your panties and climbed on top of him, letting him slide into you in one motion. You both gasped at the sudden contact, as your walls wrapped up around him, hugging him tightly, as if they never wanted him to leave again. “That’s it, baby boy, just like that.” You whispered into his ear, as he let out soft moans with every movement you made.

You started slow and steady, wanting to feel every inch of him as deep as possible. Rafe’s hands slowly traveled from your waist down to your cheeks, supporting your movements. You felt his fingers dig deeper into you every second, a sign that he enjoyed what you were doing. You bent down and started kissing his neck, leaving marks all over his skin, for everyone to see. You wanted everyone to know who he’d belong to, especially those greedy interns from “Trenton Investments” that somehow earned themselves a spot in his audience. The more you worked on his neck, the more you felt his pulse under his skin fasten, as you worked him closer and closer towards his orgasm. You moved your kisses from his neck, back to his lips where you let your tongue dance around his mouth. He tried fighting for dominance and for a split second you even let him. He was distracted, his whole attention only belonging to you. He started using his right index finger to massage your clit, while you sped up your movements. The both of you moaned out in sync, as he dedicated his whole attention to your mouth and clit. He was concentrated, so concentrated that he didn’t notice your left hand grabbing towards your bag to your left.

Having no vision was only to his advantage, as he listened closer and closer to your breathing, bringing not only himself but also you closer and closer to the edge. He got more and more confident the more time passed and the louder your moans got, and you had never been the quiet type.

“That’s right, pretty boy, just like that!” You screamed, as you let your head fall back into your neck. You felt his dick twitching between your walls, as your screams got louder and louder. They were music to his ears, such pretty sounds when you screamed his name, so pretty that he almost missed the *click* sound, followed by a cold and tight feeling of metal wrapped around his wrist.

“What the fuck…” He whispered, as your movements stopped suddenly, just when the both of you were about to finish. “What are you doing?”

You climbed down from him, almost laughing at the sight in front of you. There he was, the oh so powerful Rafe Cameron, Chief Project Manager for Cameron Development, naked from the waist down, blindfolded and tied to a chair. How adorable.

You got dressed, fixed your hair and gathered your things before you walked up to him one last time. You bent down and placed a soft kiss on his lips before leaning to his ear.

“You picked the wrong girl to play this game with, Cameron. Good luck.” You whispered, smirking. You even lifted the tie, so he would at least be able to see that you put the key on the table right next to him, just far enough for him to be out of reach but close enough for him to see.

“What the fuck, you can’t leave me here like this!” He yelled, “Come back!” He paused, as he tried to get himself free. “(Y/L/N) you fucking bitch get back here or you will regret this! I swear to god, you will regret this!”

You then turned around smiling and left the room, leaving Rafe Cameron at the mercy of the poor soul that would walk into the room next.

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[bouquetface]

Solar Return Observations 5 : Moving & Breakups

Accuracy influenced by ENTIRE chart. I have written about 2 of these placement before but this post includes additional information.

SR ASC in 4th House + SR IC in 8th House

This is one indicator of moving from home. Home or family life changes resulting in more focus on home or family.

Natal Moon in SR 12th House

This can be another indicator of moving away from the home. This is not the biggest indicator. It would need many other indicators like Pluto in 4th, SR moon conjunct moon, etc.

This can show being emotionally isolated.

SR MC conjunct Pluto

This is a big indicator of transformation in career. You could leave a job for a new one. You could find your role at the same job changes. A positive would be promotion.

SR NN in 6th House

You can gain interest in improving your health and routine. You could begin going to the gym. You could adopt a pet changing up your routine. You could experience changes in career - however this exact scenario would likely be backed up by other indicators.

SR Mercury conjunct Mercury

You can receive important news related to the house themes. For ex: Mercury conjunct mercury in 3rd H - a siblings or cousin may have something important occur in their life.

You can make a final choice on education - switching your program/major, switching schools, going back to school, leaving school, etc.

SR ASC in 12th House

This can be a year where you feel left out/isolated. You should check for other placements in 12th and where the ruler of this house is placed. EX: 12th H leo - Sun in 3rd H - you can become distant from siblings or cousins, you can feel excluded. You may think life is moving forward without you.

A positive manifestation would be getting rest. You can intentionally be slowing down your lifestyle. You care more for deeper and meaningful experiences rather than just having tons of friends and going out all the time.

SR ASC conjunct SR Mars in Leo

You can have a lot of energy this year. This can be a comeback type of year if you channel that energy correctly. You could find yourself being more social and motivated. You could develop interest in becoming more active. You are more active physically and/or socially.

House placement and the entire chart will influence this.

SR ASC conjunct Venus in Scorpio

This is a transformative year. You can change your appearance. You can feel more attractive.

If other placements indicate it, this can be a year where your relationship goes through a transformation. EX: You break up and become focused on a post-breakup glow up. You become obsessed with finding a new partner.

House placement and the entire chart will influence this.

SR Venus conjunct Uranus

This can bring sudden and shocking developments to your relationships or/and money/possessions. For ex in the 7th H: This can be a sudden breakup - you didn't see it coming and destabilizes you.

SR Uranus conjunct SR DSC

similar to the above, this shows sudden and sometimes shocking changes to your relationships. This isn't always romantic, it can be friends and even business. EX: SR Uranus conjunct SR DSC in 10th H - Changes in partnership affect your status and reputation. You go from single to suddenly engaged or from taken to broken up suddenly.

SR Mars in First House

This brings more energy to the person. However, it can be somewhat hostile and aggressive energy. EX: You are motivated by a breakup to improve your life (Mars in this position is opposite any planets in the 7th).

Occasionally, if backed up by other indicators in 10th H and to MC, this can be a "fall from grace" type situation. I have observed this in the chart of someone who had a overall difficult year due to a breakup creating chaos in social circles.

SR Jupiter conjunct NN

This only happens every 12 years and if it is conjunct in your natal, it emphasizes this will be important. The entire chart will show if its good, bad or neutral.

Generally, this makes one want to become more connected to their religion or philosophies. You can become more educated on topics of interest - even if they aren't religion related. You simply seek the truth this year.

If in the sign of gemini, you can become more social and outgoing. You can desire new friendships/social network.

If Jupiter is in retrograde, the same may apply but there may be a connection to the past. For ex: You connect with your oldest friends more than the new/recent.

You find a mentor type of person enter your life or you could be stepping into a mentorship role for someone else. It all depends on entire chart, remember these observations aren't taking into consideration the natal which will truly determine the outcome.

SR Venus conjunct Mars

This can bring scandals, conflict and passion depending on signs and house. I think a lot of people think of this as a relationship indicator, but one thing I have noticed is if it is a new relationship its usually "scandalous" - ex: cheating/affairs.

In the 8th H, I have observed this as the person cheating and as a result breaking up.

Mars naturally is a "cutting" energy. It can show a romantic partner being cut out of your life. See where Natal Venus is placed and which houses it rules to see what could be under conflict.

Accuracy will depend on ENTIRE chart especially the natal. If it is not shown in natal, it will not occur.

SR ASC in 7th House + SR Jupiter in 7th H

This shows focus in on relationships. You are highly likely to desire a romantic partner. If you have one, you desire the next step - moving in, engagement, wedding, etc.

Jupiter is likely to attempt to expand your relationships if not harshly placed. The degree of Jupiter can show what kinds of friends you are making/meeting - ex: 9 degrees, they can be foreign, students, teachers, sag placements, etc.

SR Mars conjunct SR Uranus in 6th H

This can indicate sudden events related to health and routine. You can change jobs, you can find people are hostile in the workplace. You can get a pet. You can struggle with health issues. You could even suddenly find out your pregnant - this would require other indicators in the 5th H.

[dandelionsresilience]

Dandelion News - December 8-14

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $kaybarr1735 or check out my Dandelion Doodles for 50% off this month!

1. Rooftop Solar Keeps Getting More Accessible Across Incomes

“The long-term trend is that the median income for a household with rooftop solar is getting closer almost every year to that of the median income for owner-occupied households.”

2. Endangered seabirds return to Pacific island after century-long absence

“"No native species were harmed during the removal of invasive rats from Kamaka Island,” Esposito said. […] The team also collected and planted native sedges and grasses while removing invasive trees to enhance nesting conditions.”

3. First-of-its-kind crew welfare measure adopted at Pacific fisheries summit

“The new measure establishes minimum standards on board, including access to clean food and water, medical care, and sleeping quarters. It stipulates that workers have “unfettered access” to their identity documents […] and “unmonitored access to communication devices to seek assistance.””

4. Greyhound racing is increasingly rare worldwide. New Zealand now plans to outlaw the practice

“New Zealand’s government rushed through a law to prevent dogs from being killed while the industry winds down, unless a veterinarian deems it unavoidable. This will prevent owners from euthanizing dogs for economic reasons, Peters said.”

5. Possible Win-Win for Wildlife Management and Food Security

“Wild-harvested meat donation programs can help improve food insecurity while also helping manage overabundance of wildlife species like white-tailed deer[…. In one program,] hunters donated 600,000 meals. But that’s only 5.7% of the amount of venison that food donation facilities could use, according to the Food Bank Council of Michigan. The researchers say this suggests there’s room for scaling up these programs.”

6. Poll of American Farmers Shows Strong, Widespread Support for Increased Farm Bill Conservation Funding

“The polling, which surveyed over 500 farmers and ranchers across the country, found broad support for continuing and increasing funding for climate-smart agriculture conservation programs.”

7. Long-distance friendships enhance trust in conservation efforts

“Relative to a person with no long-distance friends, having even just one friend in another village led to a 15% increase in conservation activities such as beach cleanups, reporting illegal fishing practices and educating others about sustainable resource management.”

8. Two major Sunshine State airports make switch to 100 pct renewables

“Power for operations ranging from lighting and air conditioning to escalators and charging stations will be provided from renewable energy projects [...] at the beginning of 2025, ensuring clean energy operations for the more than 8 million passenger journeys averaged each year.”

9. Expansion of federally subsidized public housing may offer a path out of LA's homelessness crisis

“[… A] half-cent sales tax [was] recently approved by L.A. County voters expected to generate $1 billion per year to address homelessness. […] “Metros with higher concentrations of federally financed public housing tend to have lower rates of unsheltered homelessness," Schachner said.”

10. $20 Million Available to Advance Habitat Restoration Priorities of Tribes and Underserved Communities

“Through this funding, NOAA will help support community-driven habitat restoration and build the capacity of tribes and underserved communities to more fully participate in restoration activities.”

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

[a-d-nox]

pluto in aquarius: a prediction of what's to come

this is a huge astrological event, pluto is moving into aquarius for the first time since the late 1700s. last time pluto was in aquarius america fought for independence from britain, uranus was discovered, the french revolution began, the bill of rights was ratified, etc.

so for day one, i want to create predictions of what is to come!

some house matters!!!

TWO PLUTO RETROGRADES WILL OCCUR - june 11th - jan 20th, 2024 is the first so we won't see too much wildness just yet as pluto will return into capricorn during this time and THE FINAL RETROGRADE BACK INTO CAPRICORN will be september 1st, 2024 - november 19th, 2024. then we are full steam ahead with pluto in aquarius until march 9th, 2043.

i personally am NOT a witch or anything wild, everything i am saying is purely theoretical - it is not fated to happen just because i am saying it. i am simply socially aware. i know what's up generally in the world today and what was up in world in the 1700s - "history typically repeats itself."

i live in the usa so my post likely will be slightly more focused there examples wise so i apologize in advance! feel free to comment, dm, or reblog with other examples from your country based on my prediction key phrases.

i am going to start light and get darker so mentally prepare yourself for that (tw: STI/STD outbreaks, war, 9/11, COVID-19, and other abrasive topics that may make people uncomfortable depending on where they are currently reading from) - but we are talking about pluto so... expect the unexpected?!

let's do this.

renewable energy sources

aquarius is electricity, light, inventions, electronics, telephones, televisions, etc while pluto can be change! i recently bought a new tv and the back of the remote has a solar panel instead of a battery pack. i do believe we will see more evolution with technology; perhaps we will see solar changed phones! otherwise pluto is also pollution and natural disasters - the climate is in crisis mode perhaps we will see more responsibility and thus changes in our sourcing of energy! example: recently i read that japan has a great source of geothermal energy. currently the conversion to using this source (instead of coal, gas, and nuclear energy) is being held up by a higher up in the hot spring business who claims switching to a new energy system "threatens centuries-old traditions" (bang - a capricorn term - tradition - so perhaps after the retrogrades are through we will see a major shift in energy sourcing).

general technological advancements/inventions

last time pluto was in aquarius the cotton gin was invented; which aided in quicker production of goods and higher demand for american cotton. i strongly believe this is a general indicator that AI is going to become an even bigger part of day to day life. i have seen AI already replace those who take orders in the panera drive thru, there is a higher demand for philosophy/english grads to help teach AI, etc. aquarius is also new teachers/occupations so AI could become the new teachers OR new careers could be coming in the area of interacting with AI generally so it gains more consciousness. so it could be AI or it could be something else that is only just a dream in the back of someone's mind at this moment in time.

altruistic extremists

we may see utopian dreamers rise up! they are likely to advocate for the deconstruction of pre-existing political institutions in favor of either self governance or egalitarian policies. they will likely do whatever it takes to make this statement; we may see more protests / political statements similar to wynn bruce's.

fanatical/extremist announcers radio/tv

we already have biased stations and channels (fox, abc, cnn, nbc, etc). we are likely to see a further rise in politically biased newscasters and announcers.

demonization of astrology

astrology is aquarian in nature but pluto is fanatics, evil, demonics, etc. the community has been saying about the next world war for a while now. we are moving out of conservative pluto in capricorn, so we may find that those of deep belief systems accusing us [astrologers] of conspiring with the devil if/when something militant arises (similar to how the tarot community gets told constantly by christians that they must be satanists).

something with birds

i don't have this nailed down yet specifically, but both aquarius and pluto are rulers of birds. aquarius is large birds while pluto is wading/swamp birds and/or flesh eating birds. no one freak out and start thinking that i am indicating something like the 1963 horror film the birds. if anything i can see more bird-spread illness and/or parasites. OR pluto can be archaeology! there may be a bird related discovery or something to do with the distant relative of the bird - aka the raptor (dinosaur related).

a new STI/STD discovery/outbreak

aquarius represents the distribution of bodily fluids while pluto is often representative of sexual activity. this could either be an outbreak because pluto can be death, extremes, catastrophes, and/or casualties OR pluto can be ph balance in the body (possible new discoveries for feminine sexual health), kidneys (perhaps a discovery will be linked to the diminished functionality associated with syphilis, hiv, etc and how to combat more symptomatic issues), and even purification (aka a cure perhaps to help viral carriers to no longer pass the sti/std to sexual partners).

collapse of congress / house of commons/representatives

i mean it only stands to reason that the bill of rights was created/approved last time pluto was in aquarius that either those rights will disappear (pluto also represents dictators) OR simply the people rise up and demolish the institution as it stands: "...whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government..."

airplane catastrophes

aquarius rules over planes and pluto can represent accomplices, catastrophes, casualties, b0mbs, and t3rr0r!sm. we may experience another event similar to 9/11 OR we may see air strikes in a potential world war 3 scenario.

societal change: crime, war, leadership, and more

world war 3 is on the horizon so say pluto in aquarius (probably in the wake of election year in the US - when the final retrograde into capricorn concludes). but this could also just be governmental restructuring - this could be seen as rebellions (similar to the French Revolution), the rise of organized crime if good become more scarce, religious shifts (pluto is the antichrist, aquarius is freewill (first amendment), and capricorn is the old church (christian schools of thought)), etc.

aquarian terms i can't think of change in but seem important to note / keep in mind: freethinkers, hamburg germany, heart weakness (biden - perhaps the early death of a president in office?), motion picture (already changing as more theaters close), photography, psychology (we are already starting to care more about everyone's mental health), science (general scientific discoveries?), social affairs (there is always something going on - the question is how big will this be?), society, sweden, syria, and xray.

plutonian terms i can't think of change in but seem important to note / keep in mind: abductions (aliens - ufo sights?), aliases, alibis (governmental riffing similar to how no plan was in place when for COVID-19), assass!nat!0n (hopefully not), betrayal, bootlegging (bootleg tiktok if america bans it?), cemeteries (removal of that method if too many are dying at any giving time - mass graves?), convicts (prison release due to overcrowding? the mega-prison of el salvador?), corruption (governmental likely?), demolitions, earthquakes (more environmental issues?), electrocution, executions (war?), fanatic, extremes, floods (environmental? emigration - society is aquarius after all?), liars, massacres (the rise of crime?), murder, nihilism (the rise of philosophy at the time of war?), ransom (war?), satire (rise of political satire?), stolen goods, and taxes (trump-esque no?).

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[mistresscitrusslice]

I hate that Arcane made the decision to make Hextech an inherently evil power. It should not have been that simple and the real-world applications are not that simple. Making Hextech evil is an anti-progress message.

Hextech is basically a fantasy reflection of nuclear power. Nuclear power is almost objectively a good thing, but tends to be conflated with nuclear missiles despite there being a huge gap between the two. The best thing coal companies ever did to try and save their industry was to convince us that they’re the same.

Most detractors will point to the Chornobyl disaster as an example of the dangers of nuclear energy. They fail to recognize that that happened largely due to incompetence and outdated reactor designs, all flaws that have been fixed long ago. Today’s reactors have failsafes upon failsafes and risky old designs have been retired. Even the disaster at Fukushima was nowhere near the caliber of Chornobyl. There are millions of people living in Fukushima today.

It is willful ignorance to continue using coal while waiting for a better source of energy to emerge. Nuclear energy isn’t perfect, but it’s far cleaner and safer today than coal power ever has been. Nuclear waste is disposed of with incredible safeguards rather than billowing up to linger in the atmosphere and slowly cook the planet. The US Bureau of Labor recorded about 20 annual deaths per 100k workers in the coal industry in 2021 (while we’re at it, 10 per 100k for oil and gas) while the nuclear industry had exactly zero. Even if nuclear energy isn’t perfect, it’s pretty close, and we’d be fools not to switch over to it until a viable replacement arises (solar and wind are not strong enough, at least right now).

Oh yeah, this was supposed to be about Hextech. Jayce is stupid, Heimerdinger is the coal industry, and I don’t think Viktor has a real-life equivalent in this nuclear-Hextech metaphor. Unless we say he just took bare, unprotected radioactive material and plopped it down in the middle of town square. Or… became the radioactive material, idk. That’s the closest I can get. Jayce saw the Runeterra equivalent of Chornobyl and decided to shut down all Hextech operations immediately. I understand why, but that doesn’t make him right. Heimerdinger is comfortable with the way things are now, in no small part because it’s comfortable for him even though Zaunites had it so bad in the coal mines they had a whole attempted revolution over it. Perhaps he was right and Hextech needed more safeguards, but there was no reason to eliminate it entirely. You want Zaunites to stop dying in the mines? Support Hextech so people have a better power source. (That’s not gonna fix everything; mostly a systemic change is needed, but Hextech instead of coal would also help.)

Let’s assess the problems with Hextech. There seem to be two central ones: the spread of magical energy causing Ekko’s tree rot and Viktor’s… whole thing.

The source of the magical energy rotting Ekko’s favorite tree comes from the Hexgates surging over capacity and releasing that energy underground thanks to the redirection tunnel/chamber that they built. This is a fixable problem. They can relocate the Hexgates, design a way to absorb the magical energy, find ways to relieve the magical buildup before it becomes a problem, etc. Don’t ask me, I’m not a mage.

Now to the Viktor apocalypse. This is a very fixable problem. THROW AWAY THE HEXCORE. Whoops, too late, it’s already merged with your husband lab partner? Make your speech about how he was never broken, etc etc. sooner to avoid him becoming Hextech Jesus or, failing all better solutions, detain him. Just detain him! I don’t like it either, but if the fate of the world is at stake, you gotta detain Viktor until you can love confession/therapy the Hexcore’s manipulation out of him. Let’s also not ignore the fact that this is a very niche, very unlikely problem to arise again. It was unlikely to begin with. No other project Jayce and Viktor worked on posed any threat of this problem. Caitlyn’s gun did not have thoughts of world domination. Viktor just happened to create the world’s cultiest AI. Actually, we don’t even know if the Hexcore was like this before the introduction of shimmer. It could be that those two are just a horrible combination and Hextech on its own doesn’t have the Glorious Evolution issue; only the magical contamination issue in the above Ekko tree section.

Sorry about the long post and sorry about the nuclear energy detour. Anyway, I’m still pro-Hextech and nothing can change that.

[reasonsforhope]

"The search has intensified for alternative energy-saving technologies for heating and cooling that don’t run on fossil fuels.

Now, by mimicking a desert-dwelling chameleon, Chinese scientists have developed a cheap energy-efficient, cost-effective coating on houses.

They say the new material could keep buildings cool in the summer or warm in the winter without using additional energy.

“Many desert creatures have specialized adaptations to allow them to survive in harsh environments with large daily temperature shifts,” said Dr. Fuqiang Wang, author on the paper describing the invention and researcher at the Harbin Institute of Technology. “For example, the Namaqua chameleon of southwestern Africa alters its color to regulate its body temperature as conditions change.”

Pictured: A Namaqua Chameleon

...Many systems, such as cooling paints or colored steel tiles, are only designed to keep buildings either cool or warm, and can’t switch between modes.

Inspired by the Namaqua chameleon, Dr. Wang and his colleagues wanted to create a color-shifting coating that adapts as outside temperatures fluctuate...

When heated to 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the surface began to change from dark to light grey. Once it reached 86F, the light-colored film reflected up to 93% of solar radiation.

“Even when heated above 175 degrees Fahrenheit for an entire day, the material showed no signs of damage,” reported Dr. Wang.

The team then tested it alongside three conventional coatings—regular white paint, a passive radiative cooling paint, and blue steel tiles in outdoor tests on doghouse-sized buildings throughout all four seasons...

In summer, the new coating was significantly cooler than the white paint and steel tiles, according to the findings published in the journal Nano Letters.

“During spring and fall, the new coating was the only system that could adapt to the widely fluctuating temperature changes, switching from heating to cooling throughout the day,” Dr. Wang added.

The researchers say that the color-changing system could save a “considerable” amount of energy for regions that experience multiple seasons, while still being inexpensive and easy to manufacture."

-via Good News Network, September 21, 2023