#ultra-low carbon

[westeroswisdom]

The GOT Studio Tour has won the UKInbound Sustainable Tourism Provider of the Year award.

While the sets and items on display are themselves impressive, the Earth-friendly HVAC systems for the location are what earned them the award.

Recognised at the tourism industry group’s recent annual convention, Game of Thrones Studio Tour was hailed as a ‘world-class ultra-low carbon visitor attraction’. Located at the principal film studios for Game of Thrones – Linen Mill Studios in Banbridge, Co Down – the immersive tourist destination invites fans of TV and film to go behind the scenes and discover the artistry that went into making the TV phenomenon. [ ... ] The Studio Tour’s priceless original film sets and assets are protected within the 110,000 sq. ft visitor experience by an HVAC system with close temperature and humidity control, sensible and latent heat recovery, free cooling and a modular zero-carbon heating system with energy storage. The UKInbound judging panel were already impressed by many aspects of the Sustainable Management plan at Game of Thrones Studio Tour and the scope of future aspiration. UKinbound CEO, Joss Croft, said: “A key part of our new sustainability strategy, is to showcase our member businesses who are doing great work to reduce energy usage and protect and regenerate the environment. In the future, we will use the practices and initiatives used by Game of Thrones Studio Tour to inspire our other members to take similar action in their businesses.”

In the near future I hope that ultra-low carbon systems such as this will be the norm rather than the exception.

[nnctales]

Ultra-Low Carbon Concrete: Paving the Way to Sustainable Construction

Introduction In the face of mounting environmental concerns, the construction industry is embracing innovative solutions to reduce its carbon footprint and promote sustainable practices. Among these solutions, the concept of ultra-low carbon concrete has gained significant traction. This cutting-edge material not only addresses the environmental challenges posed by conventional concrete…

[theambitiouswoman]

Best mineral rich waters 💧

💎 Best Overall (High Minerals + Electrolytes)

Gerolsteiner – Highest mineral content, rich in magnesium, calcium, and bicarbonate, great for hydration & bone health.

💧 Best Still Spring Waters (Purity + Alkalinity)

Mountain Valley Water – Naturally alkaline (pH 8.2), high in minerals, glass-bottled to avoid plastic contamination.

Eternal Water – Naturally alkaline (pH 7.8 – 8.2), electrolyte rich, sourced from underground springs for clean hydration.

Voss (Norway) – Low mineral content but ultra-pure with a crisp taste, great for clean hydration.

🪨 Best for Electrolyte Balance & Cellular Hydration

San Pellegrino – Naturally carbonated, high in sulfates, which support digestion.

Icelandic Glacial – Super alkaline (pH 8.4) with a smooth taste and low mineral content.

🚀 Best for Deep Cellular Hydration & Detox

Sole Water (Himalayan Salt + Water) – If you want the ultimate DIY mineral-packed hydration, mix Himalayan salt with spring water to replenish electrolytes!

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Hard carbon-tin nano-composite creates high-performance battery anode

As the demand continues to grow for batteries capable of ultra-fast charging and high energy density in various sectors—from electric vehicles to large-scale energy storage systems (ESS)—a joint research team from POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) and the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has developed a promising next-generation anode material that may address these critical needs. The research is published in the journal ACS Nano. While graphite, the most common anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), offers robust structural stability, it is limited by its low theoretical capacity and sluggish charge/discharge rates. To overcome these limitations, the researchers have proposed a novel electrode design that combines hard carbon with tin (Sn).

Read more.

[thecreaturecodex]

Arstron

Image accessed from the Ultraman Wiki here

[Return of Ultraman is the third Ultraman series, the fourth in the Ultra series altogether, and the first that establishes any sort of continuity between one-off cameos. If the original Ultraman is the toku version of Green Lantern (space cop gives power to human fighter pilot), Ultraman Jack is the toku Spider-man before the actual toku Spider-Man. Hideki Go is thrilled to get powers and rapidly goes too far with them, and has to learn that with great power comes great responsibility. Plus, the series has as much of a focus on his home life as it does on his monster-fighting antics, and Ultraman Jack often loses fights and has to regroup and rethink his approach before winning.

Arstron here (referred to as Earthtron in English before Tsubaraya made official Romanizations for their many many kaiju) was the first kaijur that Ultraman Jack fought, and it's one of his most iconic opponents. Arstron has reappeared in multiple Ultra Series, has a lot of toys, and even appears in the opening credits of the next series, Ultraman Ace. Not bad for most transparent Godzilla knockoff of the franchise not actually made from an old Godzilla costume.]

Arstron CR 21 CN Magical Beast This creature resembles an oversized, slightly humanoid dinosaur, its arms short and legs massive. Rows of low plates grow along its spine, and it has a huge crescent horn growing from its forehead.

An arstron is an enormous burrowing predator that superficially resembles a theropod dinosaur. They spend most of their lives underground, hunting other large subterranean creatures like purple worms and supplementing their diet with organic minerals like coal and oil. Arstrons are territorial and belligerent, and the movement of dragons, kaiju or other enormous and powerful monsters through their territories may provoke them to go on violent rampages. Arstrons enjoy combat, and their rare interactions with other members of their species are typically sparring matches.

Arstrons care little for stealth, and they are pursuit hunters rather than ambush predators. Their burrowing is often felt in the form of small tremors before the monsters emerge to the surface. Arstrons prefer to use their breath weapons and spit fireballs in order to hunt—animals, monsters and humanoids killed by the flames are eaten carbonized, and arstrons typically char their food before consuming it. They use their teeth, claws, tails and scything horn primarily when fighting an enemy that is fire resistant and/or large enough to fight back. An arstron can launch itself into a frenzy similar to a barbarian’s rage, and if anything survives that onslaught, the arstron is likely to burrow back below ground and try to flee.

Arstron               CR 21 XP 409,600 CN Colossal magical beast (earth) Init +5; Senses darkvision 120 ft., light sensitivity, low-light vision, Perception +27, tremorsense 120 ft.

Defense AC 37, touch 3, flat-footed 36 (-8 size, +1 Dex, +34 natural) hp 400 (32d10+224) Fort +25, Ref +21, Will +16 DR 10/-; Immune energy drain, fear; Resist acid 30, fire 30 Defensive Abilities shake it off

Offense Speed 60 ft., burrow 40 ft. Melee bite +39 (4d6+15), 2 claws +39 (2d8+15), gore +39 (4d8+15), tail slap +37 (2d8+7) Space 30 ft.; Reach 30 ft. Special Attacks bolide blast, breath weapon (240 ft. line, 32d6 fire, Ref DC 33 half, 1d4 rounds), frenzy, maximize breath weapon

Statistics Str 40, Dex 13, Con 25, Int 4, Wis 19, Cha 14 Base Atk +32; CMB +55; CMD 66 Feats Awesome Blow, Blind-fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Critical Focus, Great Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (gore), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Multiattack, Power Attack, Staggering Critical, Stand Still, Stunning Critical Skills Climb +24, Perception +27, Swim +24 Languages Terran (cannot speak)

Ecology Environment any mountains or hills and underground Organization solitary or pair Treasure incidental

Special Attacks Bolide Blast (Su) As a standard action, an arstron can spit a fireball to a range of 500 feet. When it reaches its intended destination, the fireball explodes in a 40 foot radius, dealing 16d6 points of fire damage (Reflex DC 33 halves). An arstron can use this ability at will. Frenzy (Ex) An arstron can enter a state of frenzy as a swift action on its turn, gaining a +2 bonus to attack and melee damage rolls, a +2 bonus to Will saves, 2 temporary hit points per HD (64 for a typical specimen) and a -2 penalty to Armor Class. An arstron’s frenzy lasts for 1 minute, whereupon it is fatigued for 10 minutes. An arstron can enter a frenzy at will, but cannot do so when fatigued or exhausted. Maximize Breath Weapon (Ex) By spending a full round action that provokes attacks of opportunity, an arstron can deal maximum damage with its breath weapon. When it does so, the recharge for its breath weapon defaults to 4 rounds. Shake It Off (Ex) Whenever an arstron fails a saving throw against a paralyzing, petrifaction, polymorph or immobilizing effect (including binding and temporal stasis, but not imprisonment), it can attempt a new saving throw at the end of its turn to remove the effect. Doing so takes no action. An arstron can attempt a new save to end the effect as often as it wishes, but can attempt to remove only one such effect per round.

[hirocimacruiser]

Jiotto Caspita concept car which didn't make it to limited production.

The full carbon monocoque was designed and manufactured mainly by Dome, and shows a finish that is just like Group C specification that can expect Venturi effect. In addition, the fuel tank also complies with Group C regulations.

The same goes for the suspension, which is designed like a racing car and has 32 levels of ground clearance adjustment, making it suitable for ultra-high speed driving.

The three-piece gull-wing body is made entirely of carbon fiber. And to make the most of the benefits of the horizontally opposed engine, the rear deck is designed to be extremely low. At the rear end of the rear deck is an electrically operated spoiler that rises up at high speeds to generate even more downforce.

The aerodynamically optimized body tends to look similar in appearance, but this Caspita stands out from other concept models. The Caspita aims to actually drive on public roads as is, and can be called a new generation super sports car.

That's how you can sum up the Jiotto Caspita road-going racing car in one sentence.

Subaru will supply a 3.5-liter flat-12 engine for the sports car being jointly produced by Wacoal Corp. and Dome Corp.

This 12-cylinder engine is a racing engine jointly developed by Subaru and the Italian company Motori Moderni, and is intended to eventually be used in a fuel injection system. The fact that they plan to detune this Power unit and install it gives us an idea of what the Caspita is made of.

Total length: 1534mm

Overall width: 1996mm

Overall height: 1136mm

Wheelbase: 2700m

Engine: Subaru MM3.5L 4 cam 60 valve

Horizontally opposed 12 cylinders

Transmission: Horizontally mounted 6-speed (Traction Product)

Brakes: Front 4-piston 2-caliper disc

Rear piston single caliper disc

(Manufactured by Brembo)

Tires: Front 245 40ZR17

Rear wheel 335 35ZR17

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

KAIST innovates mid-infrared photodetectors for exoplanet detection, expanding applications to environmental and medical fields​

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) utilizes mid-infrared spectroscopy to precisely analyze molecular components such as water vapor and sulfur dioxide in exoplanet atmospheres. The key to this analysis, where each molecule exhibits a unique spectral "fingerprint," lies in highly sensitive photodetector technology capable of measuring extremely weak light intensities. Recently, KAIST researchers have developed an innovative photodetector capable of detecting a broad range of mid-infrared spectra, garnering significant attention.

< Photo 1. (from the left) Ph.D. candidate Inki Kim (co-author), Professor SangHyeon Kim (corresponding author), Dr. Joonsup Shim (first author), and Dr. Jinha Lim (co-author) of KAIST School of Electrical Engineering. >

KAIST (represented by President Kwang-Hyung Lee) announced on the 27th of March that a research team led by Professor SangHyeon Kim from the School of Electrical Engineering has developed a mid-infrared photodetector that operates stably at room temperature, marking a major turning point for the commercialization of ultra-compact optical sensors.

The newly developed photodetector utilizes conventional silicon-based CMOS processes, enabling low-cost mass production while maintaining stable operation at room temperature. Notably, the research team successfully demonstrated the real-time detection of carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas using ultra-compact and ultra-thin optical sensors equipped with this photodetector, proving its potential for environmental monitoring and hazardous gas analysis.

Existing mid-infrared photodetectors generally require cooling systems due to high thermal noise at room temperature. These cooling systems increase the size and cost of equipment, making miniaturization and integration into portable devices challenging. Furthermore, conventional mid-infrared photodetectors are incompatible with silicon-based CMOS processes, limiting large-scale production and commercialization.

To address these limitations, the research team developed a waveguide-integrated photodetector using germanium (Ge), a Group IV element like silicon. This approach enables broad-spectrum mid-infrared detection while ensuring stable operation at room temperature.

IMAGE: (from the left) Ph.D. candidate Inki Kim (co-author), Professor SangHyeon Kim (corresponding author), Dr. Joonsup Shim (first author), and Dr. Jinha Lim (co-author) of KAIST School of Electrical Engineering. Credit KAIST 3D Integrated Opto-Electronic Device Laboratory

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil and China see shared strategy in energy transition

U.S. retreat from climate commitments boosts Brazil and China leadership ahead of COP30

Energy transition, particularly the challenges of expanding renewable energy, took center stage at the third panel of the Summit Valor Econômico Brazil-China 2025, held Wednesday in Shanghai. Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira stressed the need for multilateralism to confront the climate crisis. “COP30 will be an opportunity to link sustainability to social development and highlight the economic value of natural assets like renewable energy and biodiversity,” he said.

Liu Dehua, executive director of the China-Brazil Energy Center at Tsinghua University, noted that with the United States backing away from climate commitments, Brazil and China have emerged as the most important players in the global climate agenda. “We now have many opportunities for mutual cooperation,” he said, pointing to the role Brazilian biomass could play in China’s plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.

Jorge Arbache, professor of economics at the University of Brasília and a consultant to the Climate and Society Institute, said Brazil is well positioned to contribute to a global low-carbon economy and emphasized its alignment with China in the energy transition. “Beyond natural capital and abundant resources, Brazil is attractive to investors because of its low geopolitical risk,” he said.

Panelists also highlighted the potential for technology transfer in Brazil-China cooperation. Victor Zhang, chief energy expert at Huawei Digital Power, said Brazil’s Northeast region has vast wind and solar potential, but its ultra-high voltage transmission networks require dynamic adjustments to maintain voltage stability. “That’s why we’ve developed competitive smart grid solutions and can transfer this technology to support Brazil’s sustainable energy transition,” he said.

Continue reading.

[sukimas]

Oh my god, it's even worse. Daily Mail article so like. Grain of salt. But I have so many questions.

-carbon fiber: why. A material famous for failing suddenly and with little warning under compression or impact (unless you do extensive UT inspection for delamination after every trip). Unless it's just resin with chopped cf infill in which case they mean 'plastic'. At least use fiberglass or something with slightly more ductility. Or better yet: metal!

-off the shelf CCTV cameras? Not typically rated for titanic depths?

-starlink? How, under that much water.

I have got to assume that it uses Starlink to communicate when it's above water? There is no way radio waves are getting through even more than like. A hundred meters of water. And that's ultra-low-frequency ones, too, not Wi-Fi which is halfway to being microwaves.

But. CARBON FIBER?

WHY? You have zero reason to care about lightness! You're going in the fucking ocean! That's the only reason to use carbon fiber over Ti! It makes sense why they didn't weld it now, though- there's nothing to fucking weld. Well now I'm definitely on team "catastrophic pressure failure event" rather than electrical failure or anything like that. Off the shelf CCTV at least isn't required for life but good lord. I can't imagine the CO2 scrubbing system is any good, either.

[deadmomjokes]

Betwixt Christmas gift cash and Steam Family Sharing workaround shenanigans, the husband and I have finally started Baldur's Gate 3.

Went in basically blind except for knowing the names of the companions and the fact that Astarion is a vampire (couldn't miss that cultural osmosis).

We also came in on two different meta-levels as players.

He is very familiar with D&D, D&D-based games, computer games in general, and these sorts of games specifically. He's also that kind of person that plays things on Extreme Difficulty Mode for fun. He quits when something isn't challenging enough. His idea of relaxing, rewarding gameplay is ultra-hard-mode Elden Ring and Dark Souls.

I, on the other hand, am bad at games. Full stop. I have lost Wii Mario Kart to a 6 year old, repeatedly. I get hopelessly lost even when there's detailed maps, trackers, compasses, and flagged waypoints. I also panic in combat situations and have no strategic ability aside from "stand there, hit it, and hope it doesn't move." I'm more of a low-stakes visual novel sort of gamer. Stardew Valley is as intense as I get.

He is playing a Seldarine Drow warlock in a pact with an archfey. She's a noble with a ridiculously high Charisma score, a perfectly balanced spell loadout, and an even more balanced overall stat build. She's DPS without being totally squishy and helpless, and has advantage to almost everything. She also has an impeccable fashion sense and always looks put together, even when on death's door to a brain worm. Or, to put it in a way my husband would loathe, she got that drip.

I am playing a ginger himbo of a high elf fighter with -1 to Charisma and a -1000 to common sense. He's an impulsive maniac with, somehow, a +3 to intimidation despite being a truly gentle soul that believes every sob story he comes across. He's a sweaty, dusty, grubby little feral child (outlander background) with the world's messiest ponytail and greasepaint-turned-eyeliner that a 90s ex emo kid would be proud of. And that's him trying to look presentable. Despite having an impressive dexterity score, my natural disadvantage to dexterity (and Wisdom and Intelligence) as the player makes it so that this man bumbles his way into everything and only gets out by making horrifying threats he has absolutely no intention of following up on, or by being forced to stand his ground and take it on the jaw.

So this was going to be An Experience no matter what. And boy, it sure has been.

Thus far, we have:

Accidentally pacifism'd our way into every Goblin/Absolute aligned settlement we've encountered on the pure luck of husband's choice to play a Drow because he thought it would add an interesting dynamic. That interesting dynamic, he thought, would be difficulty. He thought being a Drow would make it harder because of the general hatred toward them. He's technically good-aligned, but, y'know, planet-of-hats racism means he was expecting it to work against him, which he likes because he likes when things are hard. Only now it's basically a free pass into all the areas we'd normally have to fight or sneak into. Great for our shared pacifist tendencies, but LOL

Lost a full hour of progress because my computer screen is tiny and bad at graphics and I hadn't learned all the controls yet, so while trying to investigate a hole in the floor of an abandoned church I tripped in face-first and got us into an unescapable, imminent-TPK situation, whereupon the game immediately autosaved for the first time since waking up on the beach. We have since learned to spam the quicksave button liberally.

Accepted a ton of mutually exclusive quests, half of which we have no intention of doing, just to try and get out of situations without combat, so now the mini map now looks like a cubist rendition of a simple sun drawing and I'm SO worried it's going to come crashing down and get us shanked in our sleep.

MET BEST BOY DOGGO I WILL DIE FOR SCRATCH 😭

Discovered husband's character is, build wise, a carbon-copy of Wyll. This was 100% unintentional and he's BIG mad about it LOL RIP

Impulsively pushed a button in a crypt without saving and woke up a bunch of skellies we weren't prepared for, but were somehow also saved by that same impulsivity because I had previously run around the entire area and looted every single skeleton no matter how useless it was to my character, so they all woke up without their weapons so HAH take that I TOLD YOU being a klepto would pay off

Immediately after this fortuitous stroke of fate, having learned exactly nothing, my impulsive maniac opened the shiny sarcophagus before consulting anyone or healing. Luckily it wasn't cursed or trapped or full of enemies (it was Withers, and I'm love), but I'm now not allowed to open or interact with anything bigger than a crate without announcing it first so husband has the chance to go NO WAIT LET ME SAVE FIRST

Sneaked into a secret underground passage, whereupon my husband sent his invisible'd familiar around to carefully scout the area, discovering the button that would turn off the overpowered guardian statue. My character then readied a crossbow shot to hit said button, but in trying to move out of the way of the other party members, stepped right into the statue's attack circle. I panicked, tried to move, but couldn't figure out how to unselect the attack I could no longer use, and tried to fix it by pausing. But all of that just resulted in me standing there, doing nothing, until I finally dropped dead. Luckily I passed my saving throws, and more luckily still, my husband managed to stop laughing long enough to eldritch blast the statue to pieces and come get me.

So anyway, we're having the best time. I know we're late to the party, but it really is so good. I may have even teared up a little during the dream sequence with the psychedelic neon light guardian warriors. This is going to consume my brain for the next few months, and I'm happy to have paid for the privilege. 10/10, absolutely deserves that GOTY and the $60 price tag both.

No spoilers please, we're only level 3 and just encountering the Goblin Camp. (We've met everyone but Karlach, I believe.) But rest assured, as we learn and discover more I will come yelling and seeking those who will screech with me. Probably mostly about my new sons that I've acquired, namely the lying purple sadsack trash wizard with some horrifying kind of chronic illness and/or addiction, and the prettiest most specialist murder machine who definitely won't admit it but is definitely gonna need a hug when I finish breaking down those obviously performative emotional walls.

Also, Lae'zel scares me. Please stop yelling at me, you cranky fish woman, I'm trying my best here 😭

[chemicalmarketwatch-sp]

The Role of Industrial Gases in Modern Industries: Driving Efficiency and Innovation

From the food we eat to the technology we use daily, industrial gases play an essential yet often unnoticed role in modern life. These gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide, are the backbone of many industries, helping to improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Whether in manufacturing, healthcare, or energy, industrial gases drive innovation and make processes more efficient. Let’s explore how these gases are transforming industries worldwide.

The Silent Powerhouses: Industrial Gases at Work

Industrial gases are more than just elements in a cylinder—they are critical enablers of progress across multiple sectors. For example, oxygen is vital in healthcare, supporting life-saving treatments and surgeries. Nitrogen, widely used in the food industry, helps preserve freshness by preventing oxidation. Meanwhile, hydrogen is emerging as a key player in clean energy, fueling the push towards a sustainable future.

Revolutionizing Manufacturing and Beyond

Manufacturing and metal production rely heavily on industrial gases. In the steel industry, oxygen is used to refine and cut metals, while argon ensures the purity of molten steel. The electronics sector benefits from ultra-high-purity gases used in semiconductor manufacturing, ensuring the reliability of devices we use every day. The role of industrial gases in welding, laser cutting, and 3D printing continues to expand, driving efficiency and precision in modern manufacturing.

Sustainability and the Green Transition

As industries worldwide focus on reducing carbon footprints, industrial gases are stepping up as sustainability champions. Carbon dioxide capture and utilization are helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions in industries like power generation and cement manufacturing. Hydrogen, a clean and renewable energy source, is paving the way for the future of transportation and energy storage, supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Healthcare and Safety: A Critical Contribution

Beyond industry, industrial gases are crucial in healthcare. Medical oxygen remains a life-saving necessity in hospitals, particularly in critical care and respiratory therapy. Nitrous oxide, commonly known as “laughing gas,” is used for pain relief in medical and dental procedures. Even in pharmaceuticals, nitrogen and other gases help maintain sterile environments for drug manufacturing, ensuring product safety and efficacy.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Industrial Gases

With ongoing advancements in technology and sustainability, the industrial gases market is poised for significant growth. Innovations such as hydrogen-powered transportation, carbon capture technology, and improved gas storage solutions will shape the future of multiple industries. As businesses prioritize efficiency and sustainability, industrial gases will remain indispensable, quietly powering the world around us.

To know more download PDF Brochure : 

Industrial gases may not always be in the spotlight, but their impact is undeniable. Whether preserving food, enabling medical breakthroughs, or driving clean energy solutions, these invisible powerhouses continue to shape the modern world.

[theambitiouswoman]

Water 101 💦

The quality of drinking water can vary based on several factors, it's source, treatment, and the presence of contaminants.

Best Waters to Drink:

Spring Water: Sourced from a natural spring and is typically free from harmful additives and contaminants. It also contains beneficial minerals.

Purified Water: This is water that has been filtered to remove any contaminants. Methods like reverse osmosis, distillation, and carbon filtering can be used.

Filtered Tap Water: Using a good quality water filter can remove many of the contaminants found in regular tap water.

Bottled Water: While many people prefer bottled water for its taste and convenience, it's essential to choose brands known for their quality and sustainable sourcing.

Mineral Water: This is water that contains at least 250 parts per million total dissolved solids (TDS), which are minerals and trace elements. It can be beneficial for health due to the minerals it contains.

Worst Waters to Drink:

Unfiltered Tap Water: In some areas, tap water can contain contaminants like lead, chlorine, fluoride, and other harmful substances.

Distilled Water: While it's free from contaminants, distilled water lacks essential minerals. Drinking it exclusively can lead to mineral deficiencies.

Standing Water: Water from ponds, lakes, or puddles can be contaminated with bacteria, parasites, and viruses.

Water from Plastic Bottles Left in the Sun: The heat can cause chemicals from the plastic to leach into the water.

Untrusted Bottled Water: Some brands may not adhere to stringent purification standards, leading to potential contamination.

Quite a few brands actually combine their water bottles with non pure/non filtered water. However, there are several brands that are recognized for their commitment to providing pure water.

Fiji Water: Sourced from an underground aquifer in the remote Yaqara Valley of Viti Levu in Fiji, this water is naturally filtered and contains minerals like silica, magnesium, and calcium.

Acqua Panna: Sourced from a spring in Tuscany, Italy. The water takes a 14-year journey through the underground rock formations to reach the surface, which naturally filters and purifies it. It has a balanced mineral composition and a naturally alkaline pH.

Evian: Originating from the French Alps, Evian water is naturally filtered through rock and sand before being bottled. It's known for its balanced mineral content.

SmartWater: This brand uses a process called vapor distillation to purify its water. After distillation, it adds back a blend of electrolytes for taste.

Voss: Sourced from an underground aquifer in southern Norway, Voss water is protected from pollutants and is naturally low in minerals.

Penta: This brand claims to use a 13-step purification process, resulting in ultra-purified water.

Icelandic Glacial: Originating from the Ölfus Spring in Iceland, this water is naturally filtered through layers of volcanic rock, resulting in a low mineral content.

Essentia: This brand uses a proprietary process to purify its water, and then infuses it with electrolytes for taste. It's known for its high pH, which is alkaline.

Pure Life (Nestlé): Sourced from carefully selected springs, this water undergoes a multi-step purification process and is enhanced with minerals for taste.

Make sure that any water you drink, whether from a bottle or tap, is stored and handled properly to prevent contamination.

[technicolorfamiliar]

Life & Trust Oct 13, 2024

It goes without saying that I went into L&T with a healthy amount of skepticism. Pretty much everything about how the show was marketed pissed me off, and all of the early teased info about the experience itself (the stupid masks with antlers, the fact that the show is basically a carbon copy of the Punchdrunk format, etc) made it sound ultra annoying. When I walked into the building last Sunday evening, my expectations were low. Which, inevitably, led me to find myself pleasantly surprised by the parts of L&T that worked, and to be massively ticked off by the things that didn't.

Spoilers below, including 1:1 info.

Preshow:

On arrival, I was escorted by a bar staff member to a small café table in the middle of Conwell Hall. Even with all the hype and photos on social media, the space is impressive, from the marble floors and columns to the antiqued brass fixtures to the massive Diego Rivera style show-specific mural hanging above the bar. It's cavernous, opulent in an Art Deco kind of way. There's a lot of cute paper ephemera on the tables, but between the menus, the business cards, the full-size old timey newspaper (full of in-world easter eggs), not to mention the drinks, the canapes, the votive candles… it's a lot of clutter. There's piped in music that's not quite period appropriate. I know there's some concern about disturbing the residents who actually live on the upper floors, but there's no reason they can't have like one person at a piano or something. They don't need a whole band, but some live entertainment would be nice.

Because I knew that people attending the 6pm "cocktail hour" get first admittance into the performance space, that's the entry time I booked. But that meant I had to stand around for the better part of an hour before doing 3ish more hours of standing, walking, and running inside the show. Other people, primarily couples and groups, got put at tables with seats during preshow. Because I was solo, I had to stand. Infuriating. There's no reason those tall café tables can't have bar stools or chairs. L&T seems to cater to couples and groups, which makes sense financially, but if they want to encourage repeat visits, they should make the preshow more accommodating to and comfortable solo guests. Just sayin'.

The Show:

The staff member I met during preshow escorted me and a handful of other guests to a small waiting room where we were held before being shown in to meet "the CEO", aka an older actor playing Old Faust J. G. Conwell. He was great, but the whole intro announcement/exposition scene is too long. Conwell's monologue is fine, but the second half of the scene with the demon? witch? goes on and on for no real reason other than to buy time for the previous group of audience members to filter into the performance space. (Maybe I'm just a broken shell of an immersive theater fan at this point, but I thought this scene and a few other moments in the show reveal too much of the bones of L&T's structure, feeling like ways to fill time rather than opportunities to pull me into the world. But again, maybe that's my fault.)

And what a space. Each subfloor is absolutely massive, yet all of the rooms (except the finale hall) feel a little claustrophobic because of the low ceilings. I know there are entire sections of the set I didn't see, but because it's at least four or five floors of disorienting, labyrinthine spaces, I don't feel like I was missing out.

The first room I walked into was what I can only describe as The Poodle Room… because it was a dark, creepy little office full, like floor to ceiling, of poodle figurines of various sizes. There are definitely some areas and rooms that you can tell a lot of care went into the design and detail -- the Conwell family suite is beautiful, something like an Egyptian tomb is bizarre and eerie, an old tavern and a series of tenements feel lived in.

There's also a Magical Devil Juice Forest with twinkling, color-changing fiberoptic lights on every branch and leaf. There's a dingy vaudeville theater, a nickelodeon running loops of early silent short films, a grimy artist's studio, a plush boudoir with a broken crystal chandelier in a heap on the floor, a coal mine. It's a lot. And yet, some of the spaces in the show have seem unfinished somehow or appear as an afterthought.

Based on what I'd read online, I was expecting the weird devil deer masks all the audience members wear to be super uncomfortable. In reality they're no worse than the Sleep No More masks. The antlers are a little annoying and totally unnecessary. But like a lot of things about Life & Trust, the masks seem to be the product of a certain aesthetic or viral moment the creators are desperately striving for. As Paul Hollywood says, most of what I saw felt like "style over substance."

The performances, all of the ones I saw anyway, were excellent. I tried to avoid characters that had excessively large groups of audience with them. Unfortunately, most of the familiar performers whose work in this new show I really wanted to see all seemed to have huge crowds with them at all times. Luckily, I didn't have to wander around for long before finding another character with few or zero people following them -- which may have been purely by chance or how the creators and performers designed the character tracks. Appreciated either way.

I saw a selection of scenes with the Miners, the Vaudeville Couple, Evelyn, Naima, the Maid, and Dorian, all of whom were played that night by extremely strong and engaging performers. I liked the tone shift with the Vaudeville Couple's scenes, how their sincerity and silliness turns performative and degrading as soon as they're offered money to entertain. I liked the working class Miners balance of hope and despair, the secret affair and role reversal between Naima and her Maid, and Dorian's shapeshifting physicality as his brittle and decadent façade begins to decay.

I followed the tarot reading Con Artist, basically from the top of the show. I should have made more of an effort to stay with them through their entire loop, but it just got to be too difficult to navigate the space as more and more people latched onto the character. The performer in this role was just subtle enough, just intimidating enough, which is no small feat because I imagine the character is extremely difficult to like, especially if you don't get the 1:1 early in their first loop where they explain some of their motivation. Interestingly, the 1:1 reveal of the Con Artist's lack of empathy gives them more humanity. They manipulate and steal from other characters in a way that feels curious, not outright evil. They made pointed eye contact with me in the scenes following the 1:1, marking me as an accomplice. When they eventually confront their own reflection in a hall of mirrors, they are at their most shattered and vulnerable. They collapsed, reaching out to me again for stability and comfort, but even this could have been a kind of manipulation. But you know what? I didn't mind, it was one of the few times in the show I forgot about the outside world all the other audience members around us and was actually… you know… immersed.

By the end of the last loop, my whole body hurt, I was sweaty and exhausted, and fully ready for the show to be over. But ohhh no, the finale had to happen first.

I'm sorry to say, unless you followed Faust Young Conwell or Mephisto -- or have a basic understanding of the primary framing narrative -- the finale makes no sense. The use of the finale space was smart, having the performers up on platforms allowed the audience to see most of the action (unlike some other recent immersive shows *COUGH*THE BURNT CITY*COUGH*), but the whole sequence was waaay too long. The lighting is cool, Conwell does a sick slow motion Matrix backbend at one point, and there's a striking final visual of the straightjacketed body in the water tank, but the whole thing could have been cut down to half the time and be just as impactful. And there was a curtain call?? I get wanting to honor the performers at the end of a show, but it took me right out of the moment. I mean, if you're going to do a show that's so similar in structure and style to Punchdrunk, why not end with character walk outs like they do? Although walk outs may have been difficult because because there's literally only one exit out of the finale space. Still. One of the things I like about immersive theater is that it doesn't feel like a play… I can stay in the world longer if there's no button on the end of the show, like a curtain call, you know?

Final Thoughts:

Reading back over this write up, it sounds like I had a bad time. And that's not the case, really I swear. There's a lot about L&T that works. It's beautiful, the original music is a nice touch (some people hate it, I really enjoyed and appreciated it), and the performances are truly pretty outstanding.

Mostly what doesn't work are the story and the structure. It doesn't have that hard-to-define Special Something that Punchdrunk shows have or even Third Rail Projects had with Then She Fell.

Life & Trust isn't going to haunt me the way other immersive shows do. It's trying too hard to be Instagramable, and thus sacrificing the soul and spirit it needs to be a lasting influence on this particular format of theater.

I'm glad I went and I absolutely did not hate the show, but it's simply too expensive to be worth multiple visits. Nor am I going to be thinking about it 10 - 15 years later.

P.S. I genuinely don't know if I'm going to do a write up on the Sleep No More show I saw on this trip. There's really not a lot to report. I might just write something when it finally closes… whenever that actually happens.

[davidenv]

Closer to 2030, Farther from Our Goals: Might We Running Out of Time?

There was a time when 2030 seemed distant—a marker on the horizon, a deadline for a better world. We set ambitious goals, believing that if we worked together, we could eradicate poverty, stop climate change, and build a fairer, more sustainable future.

But now, 2030 isn’t some faraway dream. It’s right around the corner. Less than five years from now, the world is expected to have delivered on the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, as the clock ticks, we must ask: Are we anywhere close to the world we envisioned? Or are we running out of time?

The Unfinished Business of a Better World

When the SDGs were introduced in 2015, they offered a blueprint for tackling the world's greatest challenges—poverty, inequality, climate change, and more. Leaders spoke confidently, companies pledged their commitment, and citizens hoped for real change.

Fast forward to today, and reality is sobering. According to the United Nations 2023 SDG Progress Report, at the current pace, only 15% of the targets are on track to be met by 2030. Nearly half of the goals are moderately off-track, while over 30% have seen no progress—or have even regressed.

Consider these realities:

Poverty (Goal 1): Over 700 million people still live in extreme poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic reversed years of progress, pushing an additional 120 million people into poverty.

Climate Action (Goal 13): The world just experienced its hottest year on record, and carbon emissions continue to rise despite decades of warnings. The Paris Agreement target to limit warming to 1.5°C is slipping away.

Hunger (Goal 2): More than 735 million people go to bed hungry every night—an increase from previous years due to conflict, climate change, and economic instability.

Education (Goal 4): 244 million children and young people are out of school, with learning gaps widening across low-income nations.

Gender Equality (Goal 5): At this rate, it will take nearly 300 years to achieve full gender equality. Women and girls continue to face systemic barriers in education, employment, and leadership.

The truth is, the world isn’t just behind schedule—in many areas, we’re going backward.

Why Are We So Far Behind?

The failure to meet these goals isn’t because they were unrealistic. It’s because of a global crisis of commitment.

Conflicting Priorities: Governments often place short-term economic growth over sustainability. Many nations continue to subsidize fossil fuels while simultaneously pledging carbon neutrality.

Inequality in Responsibility: The richest 10% of the world’s population are responsible for over half of global carbon emissions, while the poorest suffer the worst effects of climate change. Developing nations struggle with debt while wealthier countries fall short on climate financing promises.

Wars and Global Instability: Conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and other regions have diverted resources away from development efforts, causing food shortages, migration crises, and economic downturns.

Lack of Political Will: Policies that could accelerate change—such as taxing the ultra-rich, investing in green infrastructure, and enforcing corporate accountability—often stall due to political and corporate resistance.

The harsh reality is that progress isn’t just about having solutions—it’s about having the will to implement them.

The Last Mile: Is There Still Hope?

With less than six years left, is it too late to turn things around? The answer is no—but only if we treat this as an emergency.

History has shown that when humanity commits to change, it can achieve remarkable things. In just a few decades, we eradicated smallpox, rebuilt nations after world wars, and lifted millions out of poverty through innovation. We have the solutions. What we lack is the urgency and action to scale them.

What Must Happen Now?

If the world is to make up lost ground and move closer to achieving the SDGs, we need a radical shift in action, accountability, and collaboration.

1. Governments Must Lead with Courage

Implement bold climate policies, including phasing out fossil fuels, investing in renewables, and enforcing corporate accountability.

Make education, healthcare, and social protections non-negotiable rights, not privileges.

Enforce fair taxation to reduce inequality and fund development programs.

2. Businesses Must Rethink Profit

Stop greenwashing and commit to real sustainability by aligning business models with climate and social goals.

Invest in ethical supply chains and reduce environmental footprints.

Redirect resources to support local communities, fair wages, and circular economies.

3. People Must Demand More

Vote for leaders who prioritize climate action, equity, and sustainability.

Reduce personal carbon footprints, consume consciously, and support ethical brands.

Use voices on social media, in communities, and at workplaces to push for change.

We cannot afford to wait until 2029 to realize we have failed. The time for half-measures has passed.

2030: A Deadline or a Turning Point?

The year 2030 will arrive, whether we’re ready or not. The only question is whether it will mark the fulfillment of our greatest aspirations or the moment we recognize we have failed future generations.

Right now, the future is unwritten. We still have time to rewrite the ending. But only if we act like the world depends on it—because it does.

[boaws]

Fat Tracks for Fulci - Show 215

Fat Tracks for Fulci - Show 215

Experience Unlimited - Funky Consciousness - Free Yourself (1977, Black Fire) The Beat Box Boys - Yum Yum (Eat Them Up) - Give Me My Money! (1984, Memo) Walkin' Large - Reachin' (For My People) - Riverside Pictures (1995, Groove Attack / 2024, 90's Tapes) Unrest - Where Are All Those Puerto Rican Boys - Split w/ Stereolab (1993, Teenbeat) A Country Western - How Far - Life on the Lawn (2024, Crafted Sounds) Basic Shapes - Won't Change a Thing - Low Energy (2024, Self-Released) Pork Belly - Superstar - I'm Okay You're Okay Everything is Okay (2024, Discontinous Innovation) Dad's Apartment - Inside Yr Skin - Flesh and Bones Become Nothing in the Light (2024, Self-Released) Cranes - Things That I Like - Fuse (1986, Bite Back! / 2024, Dadaphonic) Taste - Mosquito Bites in Moonlight - I Dipped My Comb in Shochu and Ran It Through the Hair of the Night (2024, Carbon) Bayeté Umbra Zindiko - Don't Need Nobody - Seeking Other Beauty (1973, Prestige) Kuumba-Toudie Heath - Kamili - Kawaida (1970, O'Be) Joe Henderson & Alice Coltrane - Air - The Elements (1974, Milestone) The Conformists - Mr. Biron - Midwestless (2024, Computer Students) Blue Öyster Cult - 7 Screaming Diz-Busters - Tyranny and Mutation (1973, Columbia) Topper - Hells Fire - At Last (1977, Scot) The Writhing Squares - Acid Rain - Mythology (2024, Trouble in Mind) Winged Wheel - Short Acting - Big Hotel (2024, 12XU) George Duke - Up From the Seas it Arose and Ate Rio in One Swift Bite - A Brazilian Love Affair (1980, Epic) Taffy - Passion (Demo) - Passion (2024, Athens of the North) Flora Purim - I'm Coming for Your Love - Nothing Will Be As it Was…Tomorrow (1977, Warner Bros.) Warm Exit - Damages Become a Necessity - Ultra Violence (2024, Exag & Rockerill) VR SEX - Squid Row - Hard Copy (2024, Dais) Full Body 2 - Wonder Limit - Infinity Signature (2023, Self-Released) Toner - Heavy Truck Driver - God's Hammer (2024, Smoking Room) Dirt Devil - Birds of Paradise - Desert Moon (2024, Don Giovanni) Twelve Cubic Feet - The Almshouse - Straight Out The Fridge (1982, Namedrop)

[pranathisoftwareservices]

What's new in tech 2024?

In 2024, the tech landscape is evolving rapidly, ushering in groundbreaking innovations and transformative advancements across various industries. From artificial intelligence and machine learning to augmented reality and quantum computing, the pace of technological innovation has never been faster. Let's explore some of the key trends and developments shaping the tech industry in 2024.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Continues to Dominate:

AI is at the forefront of technological advancements, driving innovation in numerous sectors such as healthcare, finance, retail, and manufacturing. In 2024, AI is becoming more sophisticated, with advanced algorithms and deep learning models powering intelligent automation, predictive analytics, and personalized experiences.

Quantum Computing Breakthroughs:

Quantum computing is poised to revolutionize computing power and capabilities, enabling complex calculations and solving problems that are currently infeasible for classical computers. In 2024, we are witnessing significant progress in quantum computing research, with the development of more stable qubits, scalable quantum systems, and practical applications in optimization, cryptography, and drug discovery.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Experiences:

AR and VR technologies are transforming how we interact with digital content and the physical world. In 2024, we are seeing immersive AR and VR experiences becoming increasingly mainstream, with applications in gaming, entertainment, education, training, and remote collaboration. Enhanced AR glasses, immersive VR headsets, and spatial computing platforms are driving innovation in this space.

5G Connectivity and Edge Computing:

The rollout of 5G networks is enabling ultra-fast, low-latency connectivity, paving the way for a new era of interconnected devices and services. In 2024, 5G adoption is accelerating, powering IoT ecosystems, autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and real-time streaming experiences. Edge computing, coupled with 5G, is decentralizing computing resources and enabling faster data processing at the network edge.

Sustainable and Green Technologies:

As environmental concerns continue to mount, the tech industry is focusing on developing sustainable and eco-friendly solutions. In 2024, we are witnessing the rise of green technologies, including renewable energy sources, energy-efficient devices, carbon capture technologies, and eco-friendly manufacturing processes. Tech companies are increasingly prioritizing sustainability in their product development and operations.

Cybersecurity and Privacy Measures:

With the growing threat of cyberattacks and data breaches, cybersecurity remains a top priority for organizations and individuals alike. In 2024, there is a heightened focus on enhancing cybersecurity measures, including advanced encryption techniques, threat intelligence, zero-trust architectures, and privacy-enhancing technologies. The adoption of robust cybersecurity practices is essential to safeguarding sensitive data and protecting digital assets.

In conclusion, 2024 promises to be an exciting year for technology, with groundbreaking innovations shaping the future of industries and society as a whole. From AI and quantum computing to AR/VR experiences and sustainable technologies, the tech landscape is evolving rapidly, offering new opportunities and challenges for businesses, consumers, and policymakers alike. Stay tuned as we continue to explore and embrace the latest tech trends in the years to come. Get more interesting updates regard software development solutions.