#underground mining vehicle

[tenementconsultant]

Underground vs. Open-Pit Copper Mining: Pros and Cons

Copper is one of the most essential metals in modern industry, used in everything from electrical wiring to renewable energy solutions. But before it reaches manufacturers and consumers, copper must be extracted from the earth through mining. There are two primary methods for mining copper: underground mining and open-pit mining. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, affecting everything from environmental impact to economic feasibility. In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between these two techniques, helping you understand their benefits and challenges.

What is Open-Pit Copper Mining?

Open-pit mining is the most commonly used method for extracting copper when the ore is located relatively close to the surface. This technique involves removing layers of rock and soil to expose the mineral deposit. Large-scale excavation equipment, such as haul trucks and electric shovels, is used to extract and transport the ore for processing.

Pros of Open-Pit Copper Mining

✅ High Production Rates: Open-pit mining allows for large quantities of copper ore to be extracted efficiently, making it more cost-effective for companies.

✅ Lower Operational Costs: Since the ore is closer to the surface, excavation is less expensive compared to underground mining.

✅ Easier Access to Ore: Open-pit mining provides direct access to large ore deposits without the need for deep tunnelling.

✅ Safer Working Conditions: Because mining occurs at or near the surface, workers are less exposed to risks such as tunnel collapses or underground gas build-ups.

Cons of Open-Pit Copper Mining

❌ Significant Environmental Impact: Large-scale excavation can lead to deforestation, habitat destruction, and air pollution due to dust and emissions.

❌ Visual Pollution: Open-pit mines create massive scars on the landscape that can be seen from miles away, affecting local ecosystems and communities.

❌ Water Contamination Risks: Chemicals used in the extraction process can seep into groundwater, leading to potential water pollution.

❌ Limited Depth: Once the accessible surface ore is depleted, deeper deposits may require switching to underground mining.

What is Underground Copper Mining?

Underground mining is used when copper ore is located deep beneath the surface and cannot be efficiently reached through open-pit methods. This method involves digging tunnels and shafts to access the ore body, which is then extracted using specialized machinery.

Pros of Underground Copper Mining

✅ Less Surface Disruption: Since underground mining does not require large-scale excavation, it has a much smaller impact on the surrounding environment.

✅ Preserves Landscapes: Unlike open pits, underground mines do not drastically alter the natural scenery.

✅ Lower Water and Air Pollution: The contained nature of underground operations helps reduce exposure to pollutants.

✅ Access to Deeper Ore Deposits: Underground mining allows miners to extract copper from deeper levels, making it possible to tap into resources that open-pit methods cannot reach.

Cons of Underground Copper Mining

❌ Higher Costs: The construction of tunnels, ventilation systems, and safety measures makes underground mining significantly more expensive.

❌ Increased Safety Risks: Workers face cave-ins, underground explosions, and poor air quality hazards.

❌ Lower Production Rates: Compared to open-pit mining, underground extraction is slower and yields smaller quantities of ore.

❌ Complex Logistics: Transporting ore from deep underground to the surface requires additional equipment and time, increasing operational complexity.

Which Method is Better?

There is no single best method for copper mining; the choice between open-pit and underground mining depends on various factors, including:

Depth of the Ore Deposit: Shallow ore bodies are better suited for open-pit mining, while deeper deposits require underground extraction.

Environmental Regulations: Some regions have stricter laws on surface mining, making underground mining the only viable option.

Economic Considerations: Open-pit mining is often more profitable due to lower operational costs, but underground mining becomes necessary when deeper reserves hold significant value.

Local Community Impact: Open-pit mines can have a larger social and environmental footprint, while underground mining can reduce land disturbances.

Final Thoughts

Both open-pit and underground copper mining have their advantages and disadvantages. Open-pit mining is more cost-effective and productive but comes with greater environmental concerns. On the other hand, underground mining is less invasive but requires higher investment and poses more risks for workers. As the demand for copper continues to rise, mining companies must balance efficiency, safety, and sustainability to ensure responsible resource extraction. Whether through technological advancements or improved environmental practices, the future of copper mining will likely involve a mix of both methods, providing a steady supply of this essential metal for global industries.

[opencommunion]

"The story of  'John Doe 1' of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is tucked in a lawsuit filed five years ago against several U.S. tech companies, including Tesla, the world’s largest electric vehicle producer. In a country where the earth hides its treasures beneath its surface, those who chip away at its bounty pay an unfair price. As a pre-teen, his family could no longer afford to pay his $6 monthly school fee, leaving him with one option: a life working underground in a tunnel, digging for cobalt rocks.  But soon after he began working for roughly two U.S. dollars per day, the child was buried alive under the rubble of a collapsed mine tunnel. His body was never recovered. 

The nation, fractured by war, disease, and famine, has seen more than 6 million people die since the mid-1990s, making the conflict the deadliest since World War II. But, in recent years, the death and destruction have been aided by the growing number of electric vehicles humming down American streets. In 2022, the U.S., the world’s third-largest importer of cobalt, spent nearly $525 million on the mineral, much of which came from the Congo.

As America’s dependence on the Congo has grown, Black-led labor and environmental organizers here in the U.S. have worked to build a transnational solidarity movement. Activists also say that the inequities faced in the Congo relate to those that Black Americans experience. And thanks in part to social media, the desire to better understand what’s happening in the Congo has grown in the past 10 years. In some ways, the Black Lives Matter movement first took root in the Congo after the uprising in Ferguson in 2014, advocates say. And since the murder of George Floyd and the outrage over the Gaza war, there has been an uptick in Congolese and Black American groups working on solidarity campaigns.

Throughout it all, the inequities faced by Congolese people and Black Americans show how the supply chain highlights similar patterns of exploitation and disenfranchisement. ... While the American South has picked up about two-thirds of the electric vehicle production jobs, Black workers there are more likely to work in non-unionized warehouses, receiving less pay and protections. The White House has also failed to share data that definitively proves whether Black workers are receiving these jobs, rather than them just being placed near Black communities. 'Automakers are moving their EV manufacturing and operations to the South in hopes of exploiting low labor costs and making higher profits,' explained Yterenickia Bell, an at-large council member in Clarkston, Georgia, last year. While Georgia has been targeted for investment by the Biden administration, workers are 'refusing to stand idly by and let them repeat a cycle that harms Black communities and working families.'

... Of the 255,000 Congolese mining for cobalt, 40,000 are children. They are not only exposed to physical threats but environmental ones. Cobalt mining pollutes critical water sources, plus the air and land. It is linked to respiratory illnesses, food insecurity, and violence. Still, in March, a U.S. court ruled on the case, finding that American companies could not be held liable for child labor in the Congo, even as they helped intensify the prevalence. ... Recently, the push for mining in the Congo has reached new heights because of a rift in China-U.S. relations regarding EV production. Earlier this month, the Biden administration issued a 100% tariff on Chinese-produced EVs to deter their purchase in the U.S. Currently, China owns about 80% of the legal mines in the Congo, but tens of thousands of Congolese work in 'artisanal' mines outside these facilities, where there are no rules or regulations, and where the U.S. gets much of its cobalt imports.  'Cobalt mining is the slave farm perfected,' wrote Siddharth Kara last year in the award-winning investigative book Cobalt Red: How The Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives. 'It is a system of absolute exploitation for absolute profit.' While it is the world’s richest country in terms of wealth from natural resources, Congo is among the poorest in terms of life outcomes. Of the 201 countries recognized by the World Bank Group, it has the 191st lowest life expectancy."

[mesetacadre]

I'm far from the first person to say this but there is a lot of overcompensating that goes on when communists oppose criticisms of specific communist figureheads. Stalin did not personally order the genocide of millions of people but he also wasn't the sole builder of socialism, nor was he the source of every good policy the USSR implemented. Same goes for Mao, Honecker, Lenin, Castro, etc. I don't think I need to harp on about why it's a remain of liberal historiography and ideology, although that should be acknowledged. Following in the same vein as this other post of mine, it constitutes a conscious and prolongued effort as a communist to adopt class, and more generally, a focus on the collective and processes instead of individual actions as the vehicle of your discourse. The better perspective with which to approach criticisms of a single transistor is to recontextualize it within the whole CPU that it's a part of, if you allow me the metaphor. You hinder yourself when you stoop down to the level of great man theory.

Lenin is a particular example because he tends to be great-manned both from the perspective of people criticizing and defending Stalin. He was neither a pure-hearted libertarian who was betrayed after his death by a conniving Stalin who hid Lenin's thought on him and who arrested/killed every other opponent, nor was Stalin a 1:1 replica of Lenin's positions but in a different stage of socialism. In both of these positions the role of the Bolshevik's party mechanisms and channels are completely ignored, as if it was a simple hereditary mechanism. In a democratic centralist organization, the Congress is the supreme organ of decision, and every office, from General Secretary to the base militant, is beholden to its decisions and has the duty to carry them out, as well as to contribute in its democratic process. Lenin was the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissar, sure, and the de facto "leader". The CPC was a mostly executive office, but like any other organ in the CP, it had a decided political role. The Congress is still the highest organ.

In the 13th Congress, when Stalin was elected to the position of General Secretary, there were 748 voting delegates. It is a misrepresentation of democratic-centralist principles to discount or ignore the vote of these 748 delegates. Lenin, as much as he was an important figure, was not the only politically competent communist, nor the only influential one. Never, even during the tensest months of the civil war or the underground work, was Lenin's criteria followed without criticism or input. He wasn't infallible or without fault, anyone can make mistakes or forget to consider some angles. This is also why Lenin was such a respected leader, because he did not govern alone. Stalin also governed like that, quite famously being skilled at listening to a discussion and being able to synthesize everyone's positions into a logical common ground. I am less concerned with what Lenin, at the end of his life, after two gunshots and a few strokes, personally thought of Stalin's aptness for the position, and more concerned with the opinions of those 748 delegates, all taking into account the discussions that took place in every lower organ of the party. What matters is that the party, democratically, elected Stalin to the position multiple times, and that his responsibility in leading cooperatively were proven competent throughout his tenure. Lenin was not an angel, nor the embodied spirit of revolutionary marxism. He was a very skilled and knowledgeable revolutionary whose words are not the gospel. The achievements made by Stalin's collective leadership (plus the entire party!) and the effective advancement of socialism are much more important than Lenin's opinion, as much as we can respect him. He wasn't clairvoyant

[ardentguilt]

@plaguedocboi

Looked up a few more dangerous Aussie places both water, caves and other places so here’s a selection for perusal should you be interested.

Delta varient cave mount field national park Tasmania -Australia’s deepest cave. Yes it’s named after the covid varient.

Links to previous record holder Niggly Cave and Growling Swallet cave

Nullarbor caves - huge cave system under the desert

Tank cave - mount gambier. Massive underground network of flooded passages around 7010 metres long. At least 1 death

K’gari/fraser island - dingoes on land, feeding ground for young great white sharks, at least 2 species of dangerously toxic jellyfish and deadly riptides with no warning signs of lifeguards. I think it’s the largest sand island too.

Gunnamatta beach - dangerous riptides and large swells ~113 rescues a year

Mount Augustus Western Australia - warnings not to climb between November and February after a series of deaths where climbers literally cooked to death in the Aussie summer heat

Munga-thirri Simpson desert national park - takes on average 4 days to cross by vehicle. Extreme temperatures and winds kick up dust storms. Temperatures are so dangerous the whole area is off limits between 1st December and 15th March during which temps can reach 50+°C

Cahills crossing - a water crossing in the Northern Territory that is considered the most dangerous crossing in Australia due to its high water flow and the abundance of large saltwater crocodiles which have been known to attack people attempting to cross. Generally closed during the wet season as the water volume is far to dangerous the dry season allows for more opportunities to cross. Crossing at the wrong time can overturn vehicles and deaths have been recorded here.

Wittenoom Western Australia - a former mining town build to cater to a large Crocidolite mine. Crocidolite is what we know more commonly as Blue Asbestos and the fibres of this varient are very tiny making it widely considered the most dangerous asbestos varient and was found to be responsible for the most deaths and illnesses relating to asbestos exposure.

The contaminated zone is 50,000 hectares and is the largest contaminated zone in the southern hemisphere.

Mining for asbestos here began around the 1930’s and Wittenoom was established around 1950 to cater to the miners and their families.

The mine was later shut down in 1966 after rising awareness of the toxicity of asbestos though residents still remained.

In 2006 the official status of the town was removed and in 2007 it was removed from official maps and road signs. Again residents still remained. In 2013 the towns closure was finalised though again residents remained and refused to leave.

2015 had 6 residents remaining, 4 remained in 2017, 3 in 2018, 2 in 2021 and as of September 2022 nobody remained.

Even now a century after the closure this area is still massively contaminated and access is forbidden.

I….actually have a mineral specimen of Crocidolite with a bit of Tremolite (white asbestos) from this site but I keep it in a completely sealed display box well out of reach which I NEVER open. Short of finding someone selling off a piece from an old collection you can’t get specimens from this site anymore because nobody’s allowed anywhere near the place.

[ganondoodle]

( totk rant?)

i have talked alot about my problems with totk in detail, as most of you probably know by now- but there really is a vibe of big ambitions but then not committing to it throughout the game

they want to have that building mechanic in it no matter what in a world that isnt in any way build around it, mister "freedom = good, linear = bad" guy wanting to give you ultimate freedom in the game (which imo leads to it being nothing again) but not committing to it and it creates a really toxic loop of things being more punishing than rewarding

you can build a fuckton of weird vehicles, but big parts, ESPECIALLY the glider, is on limited time so you cant actually go anywhere you want; they know giving you absolut freedom will remove any possible challenge- so they limit it by making the glider part timed, but then they cant do that for every single part bc it would be almost impossible to create anything that works well when every part is on a timer and you dont know how much of its lifespan is left bc you accidentally hit a fan once so now its uneven with the other one AND the more parts you have the more it uses battery, it makes sense, so you cant build soemthign super overpowered right at the start and its just kinda logical, but it leads to you being incentivised to build something with the fewest parts that dont have a timer-

then theres the battery power, which they try to limit by putting its upgrades behind multiple different currency exchanges, which is frustrating and leads to alot of grinding and gets overpowered really fast (it works against itself too that said currencies are all placed in the most undeveleoped and repetetive area of the game and are all never involved in anything interesting, its reused old enemy camps and the same mines everywhere, theres not a single reward in the underground that actually feels rewarding imo)

then you get the autobuild thing, so you can skip the building part of the building mechanic that is the main selling point of tha darn game, bc they know it can get frustrating to rebuild your things over and over so they give you a skip button for that if you are one of those players that doesnt like it BUT THEN they cant jsut let you do it for free so they give it a price, either spend the same currency you need for the exchange for the one you need for battery upgrades or spend parts you collected- both of which are things players generally save up and refuse to use (like the -never use any health potions bc what if i need it more at some point- thing is a problem for a reason)

then theres the added thing of the building stuff despawning incredibly quickly, im gonna guess its otherwise a performance problem (that the game is already struggling hard with) but it makes the entire already bad loop of trying to fix a problem with bandaids over and over even worse, you dont want to go too far away from your vehicles bc it will despawn and waste all that you used to build it, its like a leash to you stopping you from actually using it for more freedom- and potentially adds another annyoance bc you might try to bring it with you as far as you can, a monster truck in the depths you spend all your parts on gets stuck on the first bits of terrain you run into and you desperately try to get it out without destroying it, and if you cant you need to spend a ton of resources to build it again, even with autobuild

which is how you get the hoverbike, stupidly overpowered and boring but doing anything else is just less efficient in every way, it uses the least amount of battery, never breaks, is only 3 parts to rebuild

(i know me in particular doesnt enjoy the building in totk at all, for all those reasons and more ...... shiekah ........ and i know you CAN still choose to doing it more creatively, but you never need to, its entirely based around YOU making it fun for yourself, and i dont think its that controverisal to say a game should be fun and challenging without you having to create all the fun yourself and set yourself limit it all yourself)

similar goes for the dungeons, they heard you want the dungeons of old times back, but their strict adherance to freedom (which they themsleves contradict) leads to them being more breakable and less dungeony than even the titans in botw, they cant make it linear, thats BAD, so you can do any puzzle in any order, it cant build on any of the others bc you need to be able to do it when you want (the only one going slightly against that is the lightning one? maybe?), totks dungeons dont even limit that you cant climb them (even the titans in botw recognized that makign it easy to break so they are made of the same unclimbable material like the shrines and other shiekah tech) and the new abilities make them laughably easy to break ( .. im not even gonna mention the water temple one bc ... you dont even need to do anything there to break it to make it easier)

they wanted to cater to people wanting old dungeons, but didnt commit to it, making them WORSE dungeons than the titans with the only bonus being they got different designs and a longer build up to it (that often feels more like artificial filler than actually part of it ... like the missing lore tablet at the zoras and the missing part is a few steps away from it at best)

(ALL THE WHILE they DO limit you in SHRINES, you cant climb the walls again, for some reason, you can climb any other sonau structure though, why not that? idk, but dont limit it enough either bc you can break it all in really cheap and unsatisfying ways with ultrahand and time reversal alone- and they CANT limit those bc those abilities are the main ways to solve the 'puzzles'- botws abilities were .. well, limited in what they could do making them much more balanced, but moving sth with ultrahand and then stepping on it and time reversing it can be the boring solution to any 'puzzle', the best and only really good shrines are the ones that take all you shit bc it wactually forces you to be creative BC ITS LIMITING YOU)

(funnily enough a big possible reason why they removed the bombs from botw is bc of the glitches with it ...... like the new stuff isnt even worse and you dont even have to try lol)

people speculated on there being underground exploration due to the first trailer? people are worried about reusing the surface? ok they put the entirety of the surface map into the game again, but dont commit to it being a full thing, its horribly underdeveloped and filled with either nothing or reused filler material, while also neglecting changing anything substantial about the surface, and then the sky isalnds they even reduced and really there isnt anything of substance on there either besides the tutorial (hey, seriously, if one of botws most defining feature is its wide and empty sky why the hell would you decide to use that same map to put in your sky islands idea in), not commiting to one idea but doing all of them badly

ganondorf? well, they sure put him in there, but really what does he do? fuck all, the entire actual game hes jsut marinating in his own miasma juice for no reason, he doesnt have any presecne in the game, all he gets its a few scenes in the "story" that are told through memory cutscenes in a stupidly mega distant past i dont give a fuck about and all he does is go through the most stereotypical villain checklist of both actions and speech, they want ganondorf in there but dont commit to him ACTUALLY being there (listen i love ganondorf but really calamtiy ganon was more interesting than totk ganondorf ok im SORRY they did him so dirty)

they want dragon zelda and link 'losing' his arm be a big epic sacrifice but then .. again, dont commit to it, they tell you its oooh so irreversible and whatever and then at the end just fukcing reverse it, with no build up at all, and NONE of your own input, it just happens, and its not JUST zelda but also links arm, reversing it BOTH even and you dont even need to have all shrines (that are supposedly to cleanse your arm of miasma, i guess thats a non problem if you just stab the source of it to death instead)

they want it to be a sequel but also its own game, not committing to either and leaving us with this weird .... more alternative universe thing, vague references to botw but also acting like it never happened, slight changes, like zeldas hair, to make her seem different when shes exactly the same (you cant imply waifu zelda would ever age and not look like a little doll) and ignoring anything about her character from botw (no im serious, ooh shes nerdy for 3 minutes at the start and one time in a written thing from some servant of da royals in the past and thats it, interest in the shiekah? whos shiekah?- if anything her character is reversed, really having even less agency than in botw, that one decision to dragon is like, it really doesnt matter and not really her decision bc she didnt have a choice and it gets reversed anyway without her even remembering)

even retreading all of botws points (but doing it worse imo), but then attempting to differentiate itself from it by removing a big thing that made it what it is (shiekah) without giving it any or any sensible explanation among more, not committing to either sequel or AU and so doing both incredibly badly

(not quite the point but what i have been questioning for a while ... they way raurus abilities work ... so do all sonau have those? was it just a normal thing to have? could all sonau just glue shit together and jump through ceilings? he never uses anything of that when we see him? why is it just in the shrines at the start and its like .. he just gives it to you ...?? huh??is it part of his arm .. jewelry??)

(anyway, tin foil hat moment but it just feels like either there was a huge internal fight about everything or they neglected it in favor for something else, like say, a movie that earns them billions and is faster and cheaper to make than a game... or just dont care anymore i guess, idk which is worse tbh)

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

Ford Maverick

In the early 1970s, Ford Motor Company was producing the Maverick, a compact car marketed as an affordable and efficient vehicle. However, the demand for the Maverick was not as high as Ford had anticipated, and they found themselves with a surplus of unsold cars.

To deal with this surplus, Ford decided to store thousands of unsold Mavericks in the Subtropolis caves located in Kansas City, Missouri. Subtropolis is a man-made underground complex of limestone mines, covering over 55 million square feet, and is home to many businesses that use the caves for storage and other purposes.

Ford leased about 25 acres of the cave complex, which was ideal for storing the cars as the caves are naturally climate-controlled with temperatures ranging between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. The cars were kept in the caves until they could be sold, which reportedly took several years.

The storage of the Mavericks in the Subtropolis caves became somewhat of a legend in the automotive world, with many car enthusiasts and historians fascinated by the idea of thousands of unsold cars sitting underground for years. Today, the Subtropolis complex is still in use, and while the Mavericks are no longer stored there, the story of their time underground remains a unique piece of automotive history.

[theresattrpgforthat]

Hello! I'm looking for an RPG that's set underground with a focus on mining and modern vehicles/technology, in the vein of Lego Rock Raiders and Power Miners. If nothing comes to mind, any systems you know that you think might be easily adapted to an underground mining setting works too!

THEME: Mining, Technology, Underground.

Hello there! I've got a few solo and a few multiplayer options for you, some about mining, some about tech, and some that might have to be tweaked but I think could still fit the bill!

Stoneburner, by Fari RPGs.

In his will, Brokur has bequeathed to you the cursed mines of the Long Belt, its dilapidated settlement, and the leadership of House Grandrock.

However, other dwarf houses seek to overthrow you and take control of the valuable minerals hidden deep within those cold tunnels.

To complicate matters further, most of the mines’ galleries are haunted by fire spitting demons from the underworld.

Cleanse. Rebuild. Survive.

Stoneburner is a sci-fantasy solo-friendly demon-hunting community-building tabletop role-playing game.  Inspired by the new school revolution movement, players take on the role of a group of dwarves who must assume control of a demon haunted mine, along with its accompanying settlement. A settlement which they inherited after the death of their distant relative. The game focuses on the dwarves' journey as they navigate the challenges of their new responsibilities, rebuild a new thriving community, and clear the mine of its fire spitting monsters.

Technically the mines of Stoneburner are in space, rather than underground, but I think there’s going to be some similarities nevertheless. The game is a combination of combat, survival and base-building, using the items that you find to create things that will help you hold your own. There’s machine upgrades, expeditions across a map, and problems that will show up every time you take a break. I think it’s definitely worth checking out!

Robo Goons, by Unknown Dungeon.

It is the distant future, humanity has disappeared from the surface of the Earth, and nature has taken back the planet. All that remains are overgrown man-made structures returned to the wild, vicious beasts that stalk the surface, and sentient robots who pick through the ruins of civilization for salvage. You are one such robot.

Robo-Goons is a lightweight, tabletop adventure game where the players take control of randomly generated robots and explore the ruins of humanity in search of upgrades and salvage. The core rules fit on a single page and all that's required is a pencil and paper, two six-sided dice, and some friends to play with.

Robo Goons uses the setting of a ruined civilization, with an added detail that your robots have solar batteries that need to be re-charged. If your robots are continuously salvaging from underground, or even just beneath heaps of scrap, then you have a natural cycle of going down and up again, giving you breaks as you play. The game also comes with a map, which represents the ruins that your robots will explore, with plenty of roll-tables to determine what kinds of places they’re exploring, and what threats might show up.

Astro Miners, by 7 Card Stud.

Astro Miners is a TTRPG about mining in space.

You are an robotic mining worker with a human brain. The only problem is your brain was wiped of all memory. You don't remember your name, your old life, even your sexuality and gender are all lost. You are a robot.

If you can mine enough material you'll earn enough credits to regain your memory and buy your freedom from the company if you want. 

Astro Miners is built for 3 players, but if you don’t mind doubling up on character classes, you can probably play with 4 or 5. Since the game is built on LUMEN, I’d expect your characters to be hyper-competent, with plenty of room for upgrading and customization. There are dropships that you can call in order to be able to sell things you’ve found and buy things you need, and you can also buy robots to help you carry things, fight things, illuminate dark areas and more!

Numenera: Destiny, by Monte Cook Games.

This is the Ninth World. The people of the prior worlds are gone—scattered, disappeared, or transcended. But their works remain, in the places and devices that still contain some germ of their original function. The ignorant call these magic, but the wise know that these are our legacy. They are our future. They are the Numenera.

Set a billion years in our future, Numenera is a tabletop roleplaying game about exploration and discovery. The people of the Ninth World suffer through a dark age, an era of isolation and struggle in the shadow of the ancient wonders crafted by civilizations millennia gone. But discovery awaits those brave enough to seek out the works of the prior worlds. Those who can uncover and master the numenera can unlock the powers and abilities of the ancients, and perhaps bring new light to a struggling world.

Discovery (the base game) is mostly about exploration, but Destiny, the biggest and most useful supplement, gives you character options for building and crafting, as well as plenty of interesting machines and vehicles for you to build and use. Numenera isn’t explicitly underground, nor is it about mining, but I think there are plenty of places within the world that you could start building an underground base in, or at least something similar.

DELVE and UMBRA, by Blackwell Writer.

DELVE: A Solo Map Drawing Game is a map drawing game that puts you in control of a dwarven hold as you discover the horrors that lurk below. This 44 page zine has everything you need to generate natural formations, forgotten ruins, enemies, wyrd magics, and ancient monstrosities. It has a simple turn-based combat system, rules for building your hold and optional challenges for a harder experience.

UMBRA: A Solo Game of Final Frontiers is a map drawing game that puts you in control of a sci-fi colony as you struggle against starvation, the void, and the many threats that will assail you from above and below. This 48 page zine has everything you need to generate natural formations, alien ruins, enemies, technologies, and forgotten terrors. It has a simple turn-based combat system, rules for building your colony and optional challenges for a harder experience.

DELVE firmly places itself in fantasy, but it is first and foremost a game about delving underground. In contrast, UMBRA is about mining in space, while fighting of alien threats. You draw cards from a deck of playing cards to find resources and discover landmarks, while combat takes the form of a tower-defense format. There are a lot of supplements available for DELVE, as well as a Cyberspace and a Stations expansion for UMBRA.

Other Games You Can Check Out

Underground, by emmy.

Dark Delve, by Fedmar.

[girlactionfigure]

🟦 COLLAPSED TALKS THAT KEEP GOING? - MORNING NEWS

ISRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

▪️US AIRCRAFT CARRIER LINCOLN.. arrives in the Middle East.

▪️TERROR - SAMARIA - IED.. terrorists threw a bomb from a passing vehicle towards the wall near Beit El (A).

▪️The parents of the kidnapped Hersh Goldberg-Polin will spoke at the Democratic convention.

▪️ECONOMY - INSURANCE.. the seven insurance companies will refund close to a billion shekels to hundreds of thousands of policyholders ifor a fee that was charged without informing the customers.

♦️LEBANON - LARGE WAVE OF AIRSTRIKES.. overnight. Aita El Sha'ab, Al Khayyam, Shuba, Mhabib, Wadi Alaziya, Ramya, Nabatia, Kotharit Al Said, Adlon.  IDF: Overnight, the IAF struck Hezbollah terror targets in more than 10 different areas in southern Lebanon.

♦️GAZA - AIRSTRIKES.. this morning. Loud explosions are clearly heard in many areas in southern Israel.

♦️SAMARIA - COUNTER-TERROR OPS - TULKARM.. overnight.  An IDF D9 dozer was hit by a mine and caught fire.  2 airstrikes!  Forces closed in on a building in the nearby village of Aktaba and fired a shoulder-fired missile at it - a number of arrests were made inside the building.

⭕”only” 1 round of ROCKETS from HEZBOLLAH at Rosh HaNikra overnight.

🔸DEAL NEWS.. Senior officials in the Israeli security system: “(US Sec State) Blinken made a mistake when he told the truth that Hamas is the obstacle to the deal and not Netanyahu.”

.. Representatives of Hamas and Islamic Jihad met in Qatar, and announce - the ceasefire talks have collapsed:  "The movements emphasized that any negotiation should include a complete withdrawal of the IDF from the Strip. We place the responsibility for the failure of the mediators' efforts on Israel.

.. Washington Post report: In the US it is estimated that Hamas leader Sinwar is interested in the deal because he is "imprisoned" underground and Hamas suffers from a shortage of ammunition and supplies.  

.. ( Notice the conflict with the statement from the terror movements - the US sources all are giving reasons why negotiations should succeed - while the terror movements continue to not move an inch while blaming Israel.  Similarly notice daily US statements demanding Israeli flexibility, but only once have we heard about Hamas being intransigent. )

.. US Pres. Biden spoke to PM Netanyahu: Biden emphasized the urgency of reaching a cease-fire agreement and the release of the abductees and discussed the removal of obstacles the latest in the deal.

🔹Sources close to Hezbollah: 'As soon as Hamas officially declares that the talks are over, from Hezbollah's point of view it will be a green light for a response to Shukar's assassination' and perhaps even immediately.

[miloscat]

[Review] Wallace & Gromit in Project Zoo (GCN)

A pleasant day in.

I recently watched Aardman's new feature film, Vengeance Most Fowl, which is a follow-up to the plot of 1993's The Wrong Trousers, the second Wallace and Gromit short. But did you know that there was already a sequel in 2003, in the form of a video game by British studio Frontier Developments (mostly known for their theme park simulation games)? It's true! Anyway, I played it.

The plot is slight but makes for a decent W&G premise. The duo are visiting the zoo for the birthday of Archie the infant polar bear, who they have a connection to through the zoo's sponsorship program. But oh no! Feathers McGraw, the penguin criminal mastermind incarcerated at this selfsame zoo, has taken over and has enslaved the animals, including Archie, to further his schemes. As you make your way through the increasingly industrialised zoo enclosures (and secret underground mines), you must free the animals and ultimately foil Feathers.

The game world has a nice cartoonish vibe that fits the tone of the claymation shorts, including the dark and shadowy parts. The characters and animation don't look particularly clay-like but they're on-model; the staff evidently invested a lot of polygon budget in making the major players nice and rounded, and the other animals are delightfully Aardman-esque. Along the way Wallace has plenty of amusing blather, voiced as always [until he retired] by Peter Sallis. Feathers has some fun mechs and machines that fill in as boss encounters, while basic enemy types are an assortment of animalistic robots, animal collaborators, and the occasional zookeeper (which are also revealed to be robots). What happened to the actual zookeepers is not explored.

The game plays out as a puzzle/exploration 3D platformer, with the player taking control of Gromit (ie. the competent one). Wallace follows along almost like Yorda in Ico; you can call him, and occasionally have to guard or guide him out of peril. He's needed to fix various contraptions to enable progress, although it's mostly just repairing panels to open doors. He does come up with weapons for Gromit at key points, silly G-rated things like a turnip launcher and porridge gatling. You also find a torch, fire extinguisher, etc. although oddly two slots on the weapon wheel are never filled and remain blank at the end of the game.

Apart from the weapons, Gromit has a surprising number of moves. A crouch jump, Mario 64-style side flip, a wall rebound thing that I never found a use for, as well as basic combat moves including a breakdancing spin kick. He can cling onto ledges which I always love to see. There's also a roll that gives you a bit more horizontal speed and chain into a long jump, but it's tricky to use effectively. There's not a huge call for this expansive moveset within the level design, though.

The levels vary in structure, which is interesting. The first world in the elephants' jungle enclosure is a set of three mini-hub style stages, like compact Banjo-Kazooie worlds with a lot of verticality. The mine, lava, and factory stages that follow are a bit more linear, although there is still plenty of branching and overlapping. The polar bears' icy zone was my favourite, an open and expansive playground. The game then ends with a very on-rails obstacle course, with lots of "save Archie from the timed hazards" going on. Between levels are boss fights and vehicle sections, some of which play out as rail shooters or an Asteroids-style fight against a submarine.

It's all impressively solid considering this is Frontier's first game of this type. And maybe I'm just projecting because they're British, but I got some Rare vibes from this game at times. From the BK-lite structure and Gromit's coin-nabbing celebration animations to a slightly Star Fox Adventures soundtrack, to minor things like the health bar mimicking Conker's Bad Fur Day's chocolate squares but with crackers, the DK64-style giant keyboard activity, and the boat-mounted turnip cannon having googly eyes for no reason. There's even a Donkey Kong homage with a barrel-throwing gorilla!

Otherwise there's some nice touches in here, like not having a life counter, widescreen support (not a guarantee in 2003), and the collectibles unlocking clips from The Wrong Trousers to view (as well as a short behind-the-scenes documentary). Sure the camera is janky but that's to be expected from games of this vintage. And because it's a 3D platformer from the early 2000s, there is of course a slide section. I think these were mandated by the government in this era. After this game, Frontier got brought back to do the tie-in game for Curse of the Were-Rabbit, but this one interested me more for its unique story and I wasn't disappointed. Like the Wallace & Gromit shorts and films themselves, it was a nice pleasant experience.

[tenementconsultant]

Exploring the Underground Mining Vehicles Market Opportunities and Challenges Forecast (2024-2031)

The underground mining vehicles market is undergoing significant transformations as technological advancements, environmental considerations, and industry demands push the boundaries of traditional mining practices. Underground mining vehicles play a crucial role in modern mining operations by transporting materials, personnel, and equipment in underground mines' confined, challenging conditions. This article explores the opportunities and challenges in the underground mining vehicles market, with a forecast from 2024 to 2031.

What Are Underground Mining Vehicles?

Underground mining vehicles are specialized machines designed to operate in subterranean environments where traditional vehicles cannot function. These vehicles are engineered to navigate narrow passageways, steep inclines, and hazardous conditions typical of underground mining operations.

Types of underground mining vehicles include:

Loaders: Used to transport materials within mines.

Haul Trucks: Designed for heavy loads and long distances within tunnels.

Shuttle Cars: Specialized vehicles for transporting coal or ore from the mining face to a loading area.

Drilling Rigs: Equipment used for drilling boreholes for exploration or extraction.

These vehicles are critical to improving productivity, ensuring safety, and reducing operational downtime in underground mining. Their ability to withstand harsh environments, combined with advancements in automation and safety features, drives their demand globally.

Market Growth Forecast (2024-2031)

The global underground mining vehicles market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3% from 2024 to 2031. This growth can be attributed to several key factors:

Technological Advancements: Automation, electrification, and data analytics are revolutionizing underground mining operations. Companies are investing heavily in automated vehicles that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize human error. Autonomous vehicles and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) are becoming more prevalent, allowing for safer and more efficient mining operations.

Increased Safety Regulations: Stringent safety regulations are driving the demand for vehicles equipped with advanced safety systems, such as collision avoidance technology, real-time monitoring, and enhanced ventilation systems. Governments and regulatory bodies are enforcing stricter laws to protect mine workers, which in turn is propelling the adoption of safer underground mining vehicles.

Rising Demand for Minerals and Metals: As the demand for minerals and metals continues to grow, driven by industries such as construction, electronics, and renewable energy, mining companies are exploring new underground deposits. This is creating a higher demand for specialized mining vehicles to access these resources in deeper and more complex mining environments.

Opportunities in the Underground Mining Vehicles Market

Adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs): One of the most exciting opportunities in the underground mining vehicles market is the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Traditional diesel-powered vehicles emit harmful gases, contributing to air quality issues in underground mines. Electric mining vehicles eliminate these emissions, improving working conditions and reducing the need for extensive ventilation systems. Moreover, EVs reduce fuel costs and maintenance requirements, making them an attractive option for mining companies looking to lower operational expenses.

Automation and AI Integration: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation is reshaping the underground mining industry. Automated mining vehicles can operate 24/7 with minimal human intervention, increasing productivity and reducing labor costs. AI-driven systems can optimize vehicle routes, monitor equipment health, and predict maintenance needs, further enhancing operational efficiency.

Sustainability and Environmental Regulations: As the mining industry faces growing scrutiny over its environmental impact, there is a growing emphasis on sustainability. Mining companies are investing in energy-efficient vehicles and adopting low-emission technologies to reduce their carbon footprint. The push towards sustainable mining practices presents a significant opportunity for vehicle manufacturers to develop innovative, eco-friendly solutions.

Challenges Facing the Underground Mining Vehicles Market

High Initial Costs: One of the primary challenges in the adoption of advanced underground mining vehicles is the high initial cost. The shift to automated and electric vehicles requires substantial capital investment, which can be a barrier for smaller mining companies. Although these technologies offer long-term savings, the upfront costs can deter adoption, particularly in developing regions.

Infrastructure Limitations: Underground mines, especially older ones, may not have the necessary infrastructure to support modern mining vehicles, particularly electric and autonomous ones. Retrofitting mines to accommodate these vehicles can be costly and time-consuming. Additionally, the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in underground settings is still in its infancy, posing another hurdle to widespread adoption.

Skilled Workforce Shortage: The rise of automation and advanced technologies requires a skilled workforce to manage and maintain these systems. However, the mining industry is facing a shortage of qualified workers with the technical expertise needed to operate and service automated mining vehicles. This shortage is particularly pronounced in remote and underdeveloped regions, where mining operations are often located.

Environmental and Social Concerns: While the push for electric and automated vehicles is a step towards reducing the environmental impact of mining, there are still concerns about the long-term sustainability of these solutions. The mining industry itself is under pressure to minimize its ecological footprint, and there are growing demands for transparency and responsibility in how resources are extracted.

Regional Insights

The underground mining vehicles market is experiencing growth across multiple regions, with key drivers varying by location:

North America: Technological innovation and automation are driving the market, particularly in the U.S. and Canada.

Europe: The focus is on electrification, with stringent environmental regulations pushing the adoption of electric mining vehicles.

Asia Pacific: The rapid industrialization in countries like China, India, and Australia is fueling demand for underground mining vehicles.

South America: Brazil and Argentina are witnessing increased mining activities, driving the demand for efficient underground vehicles.

Middle East & Africa: The region is rich in mineral resources, and mining companies are investing in modern vehicles to enhance efficiency and safety.

Conclusion

The underground mining vehicles market is poised for steady growth from 2024 to 2031, driven by technological advancements, environmental regulations, and the rising demand for minerals and metals. Opportunities lie in the adoption of electric and automated vehicles, which promise to enhance safety, reduce costs, and improve sustainability. However, the industry must navigate challenges such as high initial costs, infrastructure limitations, and a skilled workforce shortage.

As mining companies continue to explore deeper and more complex deposits, the demand for specialized underground mining vehicles will only increase, offering significant growth potential for manufacturers and technology providers in the sector.

[cinnamonnangel]

ASTRO 101 - THE HOUSES (PART I)

FIRST HOUSE - I AM

(The First House is ruled by Aries and Mars.)

The first moment you open your eyes to the world, first breath, first sight, first intention and first experience

General appearance, form and shape, physical body, general health, vitality and energy, action

Character, identity, self image, personality, mask, self interest, how others perceive you, self expression, independence, behavior, name, attitude, fame

How you see the world, how the world sees you

Spirit, life, ego, soul body

First impressions, beginnings

Head, face, eyes, blood, brain, muscular system

The moment of birth and people around you, place of birth and atmosphere, birth experiences, mother’s health and experiences during childbirth

SECOND HOUSE - I HAVE

(The Second House is ruled by Taurus and Venus.)

Material and non-material resources, attitude toward possessions,

How you make money or meet obligations, self worth

Personal finances, money matters, sense of value, stocks and share, trade, jewelry, documents, cash money, valuables, wealth, possessions, trade, material possessions, luxuries, banking activities, loans, economic situation, wares, rank, guarantee, financial security, artworks

Talents, comfort zone, security, self esteem, valuables, sense of values, resourcefulness, nutrition

Face, neck, throat, vocal cords, thyroid, metabolic system, voice and vocal talents

Economy, sovereign debt, colonies, fees, trade, banks, internal debts, artistic approaches of a country

THIRD HOUSE - I THINK

(The Third House is ruled by Gemini and Mercury.)

Conscious mind, memory, mental confusion, communication, intellect, mentation, thinking

Skillfulness, study, ability, writing, speaking, researching, learning, reading, perceiving, adaptability, ability to learn foreign languages

Depthless thoughts and informations, smattering

Elementary and primary education, puberty

Siblings, brothers, sisters, cousins, close relatives and neighbors

Short trips, tour, daily travel, neighborhood, public transports, vehicles, motorbike, cars, train, bus, boats, urban roads

TV, radio, telephone, computer, mails, messages, text, communication network and channels, short correspondence on social media, weather forecast

Shoulders, collar bone, arms, hands, fingers, lungs, nerves, the nervous system

Bookstore, library, school, post office, educational institution, streets, telephone kiosk

FOURTH HOUSE - I FEEL

(The Fourth House is ruled by Cancer and Moon.)

The place where we live with the family, home atmosphere, home life, house, mother, family, lineage, family matters, ancestry, custom, femininity

Subconscious, things we hide about ourselves, emotional problems, early childhood, depression, personal commitment, the deepest and the darkest point of the chart

Old age, the end of the life, diseases, grave

Land, realty, genetic heritage, underground sources

Chest, breaths, stomach, uterus, diaphragm, upper alimentary system

Agricultural enterprise, historical values, mining site, real estate, refuge facilities, farmers, cemeteries

FIFTH HOUSE - I WILL

(The Fifth House is ruled by Leo and Sun.)

Actions and activities we do for ourselves, things we like to do, hobbies, how do we spend our free time, creativity, activities we enjoy, pleasure, self expression, risk taking, leisure time, artistic talents,

Love, romance, dating, courtship, love affairs, the way we flirt

Children, birthing and creation, the character of our children

Acting, drama, dance, music, sports, artists, celebrities, stage

Games, cards, puzzles, fun, amusement, games of chance, gambling, speculative investment

Chest, upper back, heart, spine, cardiac system

Hotels, entertainment centers, casino, beauty shops, coiffeur, resort, amusement park, cinema, theatre, sports center, park, art exhibition

SIXTH HOUSE - I ANALYZE

(The Sixth House is ruled by Virgo and Mercury.)

What we do to survive, daily work, everyday routine, details, skills

Work routines, where we specialize our skills, workers, competition, employment, workmates

House of sickness, exhaustion, disease, allergies, health, physical body, physical condition

Issues that tire us and weaken us, drugs and addictions

Pets and animals

Abdomen, intestines, lower liver, alimentary canal, spleen, digestive nerves

Hospitals, health care providers, employees, service sector, trade unions, state employees, restaurants, food and beverage services, enemies, soldiers, police, military, army, security guard, navy, animal clinic

[quibbs126]

Okay the Earthspark megop Terran kid has wormed his way back into my brain once more, at least today. He may be gone yet again by tomorrow

Not much has changed other than I really don’t know what to make his alt mode, and I still don’t have a name for him

Could someone help me on this maybe please? I don’t really know who to ask outside of tumblr itself

Well I mean, I guess my real life friend, but I don’t know when I’ll be meeting her next, so the question still stands

But I do have at least a couple more details in my brain for him now. Like for example, I’m like 99% sure he’s gonna stay a boy

One, I think I’ve solidified that he’s at least slightly bigger than Megatron and Optimus, if not a little more than that (I know the Terrans are supposed to be smaller than the Cybertronians, but let me have this. Say it’s because either the fact that both of them touched it or because they’re big and have things like the Matrix it makes the Terran bigger than usual. Or because they’re huge Cybertronians)

So with that in mind, I imagine he needs a pretty big alt mode. Granted, I don’t know how big, since this series doesn’t entirely adhere to robot sizes matching the vehicle mode. Like Megatron’s a big aircraft while Optimus is a semi truck, which is also big for a car but I don’t think is nearly the same size, and yet the two are relatively the same height in robot form. But regardless, a big alt mode would probably be best

Also I do want it to be a vehicle (in part bc I don’t know what to do otherwise though)

Another thing, more specific, is I’m imagining him with big gauntlets on his arms, sort of like Vi from League of Legends (she was kind of the inspiration for this idea). They’re part of his body, not removable armor, though he might be able to detach them like rocket arms in a fight. He can probably also shoot lasers out of them too. So his arms should probably be something significant in his alt mode, or his alt mode gives him a reason why his arms would be like that in some way

Actually, I think that’s all the new details I have, at least in so much that they help this quest for an alt mode for this character

I guess I could give personality things as well? But I don’t have much fleshed out, in part because I feel like I keep ending up recreating Jawbreaker or someone too similar. Best I have so far is that he’s energetic and optimistic, but he also does not know his own strength, and he is very powerful, so he ends up doing damage when he doesn’t mean to. It’s something Megatron and Optimus are trying to work with him on. Though this all might still change anyways because I still don’t know if it works. It still might be too similar to another character

Edit: oh wait, other small things because they might be useful too. So I’m keeping this idea he has an odd fixiation with the earth/underground. Mostly because something in my head finds this “he yearns for the mines” concept to be funny and it will not let it go. Anyways, so he likes punching rocks and cliffs and such, maybe because they’re things that don’t instantly crumble under his punch. He may end up creating intricate tunnel systems because he likes punching the earth. And/or he’s got a slight weird sixth sense for things underground and the places he punches might end up leading to somewhere useful. But maybe not always, sometimes it is just punching a random cliff side. I don’t know, it’s a bit odd and random, but I do want to keep in some way this underground/earth related element to his character. Though maybe that’s too limiting in his design choices

I still need to find a name too. I should probably try to at least make that myself. But like another thing with the Terrans is that their names seem to be more Earth things (though that’s not entirely untrue of Cybertronians either), and I don’t know what to do with that angle. I keep making more robot sounding ones, or ones I’m pretty sure another character already has

[pearlprincess02]

taylor swift and travis kelce composite chart houses

1st house: the composite 1st house rules the relationship itself and your outward identity together. It shows how people view your relationship, and how you come across together.

virgo 1st house : virgo is the sign of work, so having the composite 1st house in virgo can be helpful for professional pairings, but you have to resist the urge to be overly critical of each other’s work. being overly critical can be an issue in personal relationships as well with this placement, and you need to not pick each other apart. you can come across as a quiet, respectable pair, and if you can avoid the criticism, you get more done together than apart (depending on natal placements).

1st house ruler in 3rd house: this is a financially good placement. shows a strong willpower and desire to advance in society, so most of your ambitions in life will be successful and give wealth. in terms of personality, this placement shows someone who is very brave and courageous at heart, whether that be at big things or little things. this 3rd house is the house of siblings, it shows that you are likely to have sisters or brothers, who you will also gain wealth/benefits from. 

moon in 1st: with the composite moon in the 1st house, emotions can be very important in this relationship, and it’s what ties you together. you can each feel that you can express your emotions openly and freely with one another, and have an understanding of how you each emote. the downside is you can get overwhelmed by emotion, caught up in it, and you can easily be subjective about one another and the relationship instead of objective. you can also be missing logic and reason at times, so you have to work on not letting the emotions control everything.

2nd house: the composite 2nd house can show what you value in the relationship, how you approach money together, and how secure you are in the relationship together.

libra 2nd house : with the composite 2nd house in libra, this can be helpful for respecting each other’s financial positions as well as your individual values. having balance, respect, and fairness financially and with your values can help you feel more stable and secure together.  there may be struggles with financial indecision at times though. you may try to be as fair with one another as possible when it comes to what is each of yours individually.

2nd house ruler in 4th house: since the 4th house traditionally rules over home affairs, this placement means that the person will finance the housemeaning they will be the financial head of their home (whether it’s their birth home or their in-laws home after marriage). this also means the person could gain wealth by accumulating high savings, speaking, singing, education, real estate, agriculture, underground work like mining and minerals, vehicles, healthcare (nurturing work/service), and/or through maternal relations. this placement also makes a person well-educated, emotionally balanced who strives for other’s happiness, and a great story-teller. however, if ill-placed, this placement could indicate someone who faces financial losses from the above mentioned fields like speaking, singing, education, real estate, agriculture, etc. 

mars in 2nd house: with composite mars in the 2nd house, you can take your time with one another, and you may not feel the need to rush with each other. once you do something together, you can stick with it and have more staying power. this is the house of money, so this placement is good for a business relationship built around making money. you can earn more money together than apart, but you can also spend more money and use up more resources, so you need to exercise moderation.

lilith in 2nd house: you are both easily able to help each other express your creativity and individuality in material ways. you may both dress or decorate your home or shared spaces in a unique way that reflects your rebellious nature. you can also draw on your subconscious power and desires to help pamper and nurture each other in unique ways that speak to your deeper needs. you’re respectful of each other’s autonomy and would rather invest in helping each other create a stable and secure baseline rather than trying to smother each other or pressure each other to conform to your own individual comforts. you may both help inspire each other to rebel against the status quo as it relates to money, finances and priorities, setting your own standards and following your own instincts.

juno in 2nd house: you both express your desires for commitment and loyalty through your materialistic focus. you may share an interest in each other’s financial stability. you may also make a commitment to each other based on the material resources and wealth you hope to both gain from the relationship. through this relationship you can both find the support and consistency you need to set a solid foundation for financial growth. there’s wealth or abundance to be gained by making a commitment to each other through this relationship.

3rd house: the composite 3rd house can show how you are together in your immediate environment and what you focus on together day-to-day. this is a house of communication, so it can also reflect how you communicate in the relationship, and what you can think about together.

scorpio 3rd house: with the composite 3rd house in scorpio, communication can be intense between the two of you. you may clash heads routinely, and can try to dominate one another with your ideas and opinions, or the pair of you may be that way together against the outside world. you can be a dominating pair in your daily lives and exert control over your immediate environment. you may focus together on ways to transform minds.

3rd house ruler in the 3rd house: if the 3rd house ruler is placed in its own house, then it indicates a person who is very brave and courageous, and full of constant self-confidence. shows a person who earns through personal efforts and thus, works hard throughout their life. also, shows a fortunate and happy relationship with siblings and a helpful local community. 

sun in 3rd house: with the composite sun in the 3rd house, you can have open communication and feel that you connect through your minds. this position can give a good mental connection and mental understanding, but you need to work on having an emotional connection, otherwise it can struggle to go beyond a casual relationship. this can be a good placement for a friendship, where strings aren’t necessarily important, but in a romantic relationship, you have to open up about more than just your thoughts, but your feelings as well.

mercury in 3rd house: with composite mercury in the 3rd house, this is a house naturally ruled by mercury, so communication can be very easy between the two of you, and you can more comfortable express yourselves and feel you’re being understood. this can be a beneficial placement for any type of relationship. you can feel you’re understood by one another better than with other people, and it can be easier and more natural for you to talk things over and open up.

pluto in 3rd house: with composite pluto in the 3rd house, you may struggle over power and control in your communications, and one of you may constantly try to dominate the conversations you have and what you focus on. you need to make sure you’re hearing one another. you can make major mental transformations together, and have a different view of the world, but you can also be more pessimistic together.

4th house: the composite 4th house can show how we connect emotionally, what we build together from the ground up, and what the base of our connection is (since this is the bottom of the chart).

sagittarius 4th house: with the composite 4th house in sagittarius, you may want more space from one another emotionally than you would think, especially in a personal relationship. this doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t want to be around each other or don’t have strong ties; you can, you just need to not smother each other emotionally. together, you can be more emotionally positive, and the base of your connection can be to expand.

4th house ruler in 10th house: the native’s drive towards establishing a strong status and career was sparked in their early life. their family may have influenced their need for recognition and may sometimes push them very hard towards success. there is a connection here between the native’s domestic life and their career, they feed into each other - the native may have found success from their family. the native may incorporate their homeland and culture into their status and public image. their mother may have been the authoritarian in the family.

venus in 4th: with composite venus in the 4th house, you can enjoy opening up with one another emotionally, and find it easier to connect emotionally. feelings can be an important part of your relationship, and even a relationship that isn’t personal can have a lot of emotions invested in it. this can be an excellent position to build a family or for a family relationship since the 4th house rules the home and family. you may feel you have a solid foundation for the relationship.

saturn in 4th: with composite saturn in the 4th house, this can be difficult in a personal relationship where you live together, or in a family relationship since this house rules the home and family. you can find it difficult to create the kind of life together that you envision, and may have different ideas of what that means. you need to be on the same page if building a life together. if a family relationship, you need to work on not being judgmental of one another.

uranus in 4th: with composite uranus in the 4th house, this can bring some instability in the home if you live together, and you may find you move more than most people, are constantly redecorating, remodeling, or renovating, or that you prefer to live under different circumstances than most (like a in tiny house or communal living). if this is a family relationship, you may have ups and downs until you allow one another to be yourselves.

neptune in 4th: with composite neptune in the 4th house, it can be difficult for you to create a life together, if this is a romantic relationship. you may be unsure of how you want to lay the groundwork together. in a family relationship, one of you may be more distant, and it can be hard to come together. emotions can be important in this relationship, and you need to develop emotional understanding and compassion.

eros in 4th: there’s an eerie tone to this pair something lost and something caught in a subtle tidal wave something aloof to the outside but something overwhelming and at times suffocating to those involved. there a pronounced emotional nature to this bond something shrouded in feelings so deep that this person can seem to almost reach the most youngest version of you with one touch. this love is intense and sex here is almost like a loss of self and a recreation of souls in a transfer of heart and soul. sex here is taken seriously yet is a form of rejuvenation. may not occur as often due to the emotional drive behind it!

5th house: the composite 5th house can show how we express affection, what we love and take pleasure in together. this house can bring creative energy into our relationships and allow us to express creatively together. the 5th house also rules children, so they can be impacted by the composite 5th house with someone you have children with.

capricorn 5th house: with the composite 5th house in capricorn, you may have a hard time letting loose together, and have to work on being more affectionate and taking time for fun. you may focus a little too much on your responsibilities together. you can be very practical with your approach to love, and you can take commitment seriously in personal relationships. if you have children together, you may embark wisdom but need to not be too demanding.

5th house ruler in 4th house: with this placement, the family tends to be very important for the native’s ability to express themselves. they may take part in hobbies or creative activities that allow other members of the family to join in or the native’s interests may be linked to their culture. the native’s children are a strong source of their emotional security as are their romantic partners. the native’s romantic partner may be someone who grew up in the same area as the native or the same country. 

vesta in 5th: you may both find it easy to devote yourselves to sacred acts of creativity. you may help inspire each other to make art, music, or theatrical performances that are divinely inspired. you may also share a love of devoting yourselves to helping others discover their own artistic talents. this relationship can be a source of inspiration and you help each other find empowerment and confidence. you may feel as if you’ve both given up some aspects of your childhood but in doing so, you both have sensitivity to the needs of children to have exploration, play and encouragement.

6th house: in the composite chart, the 6th house can show how you approach daily life and the mundane together, how you work together (whether professionally or personally), and the general health of the relationship

aquarius 6th house: with the composite 6th house in aquarius, you may want to have a daily life that is interesting and keeps you on your toes together. you may get bored easily when you’re not trying new things together, or experimenting with little things, in little ways. you may want more independence in your daily life from one another, or take a different, unusual, unconventional approach to deal with issues that come up.

6th house ruler in 4th house: routine is often centered around the natives family and home life, the importance of routine was likely to be taught in the home. routine may provide the native with a sense of emotional security and can prove to be important in the native’s retirement years. the native may be inclined to work from a home office or studio and may even specialize in work that is relating to the home such as renovation or interior design. the native’s work may be done with their family and can often be continued into retirement. when it comes to pets, it’s likely that the native’s pets will be considered one of the family and is often vital to the native’s sense of emotional security. their pets may bring out the native’s more nurturing side and can often be important to the native in the years before death. health and fitness may be very important to the native’s sense of emotional security and illness are likely to affect this. illness is likely to make the natives find it difficult to feel grounded. it’s likely that illness is experienced by the mother which may be passed on. 

north node in 6th: through attending to details and regular routines, you can both help each other expand beyond your comfort zone. your shared destiny as a couple may be intricately related to your work. the routines that bring you both a sense of security can be central to you both finding a path to success. this relationship can help you both find confidence and empowerment as you are encouraged to be true to your higher mission. your work and shared duties and tasks all help you both solidify a foundation that can bring you closer to your higher purpose as a couple. you’re brought together with an important mission involving healing and service to others. you may encourage each other to get beyond your comfort zone and follow this spiritual path to creating healing and stability for others.

celeb's masterlist

crd:

1h + 1h ruler

2h + 2h ruler + composite lilith in houses + composite juno in houses

3h + 3h ruler

4h + 4h ruler + composite eros in houses

5h + 5h ruler + composite vesta in houses

6h + 6h ruler + composite north node in houses

[skullsgrowontrees]

ARCANE SEASON 2 SPOILERS!!

.

I have a lot to say.

1) Oh my gosh, I did NOT expect Sky to hahnt the narrative like this. I'm so happy they're using her for this, I was getting bored of people saying she was a wasted character when it was obvious they were setting up something. I also wanna add (which is a little bit of a tangent but wtv) that this, to me does not confirm that Viktor had a romantic interest for Sky necessarily, but to me it shows that he did CARE about her a lot. I was getting a little upset at discussions saying that Viktor simply never cared for Sky and she only mattered when she died, since it made Viktor realize his effects on other people. She had way more of an impact on him than this (obviously, they've known each other since childhood). I don't believe he ever saw her romantically tho. Probably just go a lot more attached upon reading the confession she had written for him. Nevertheless, I am sooooo enjoying this sort of messiah persona their giving him (it lines up well with what we know of him in the games).

2) A part of me is a little sad that a Mel wasn't the one who died. Not because I hate her character, in fact, I find her to be very interesting (The stuff with her mom is ALWAYS so visceral to me???). I just think that it would have had a lot more of an impact on Jayce and probably given her mom more of a reason to be here. It also would have given the start of the season more emotional weight. Sure, I'm sad that Caitlin's mom died and I'm happy this is being used as a drive for her, but it just didn't hit me as hard as it could have. I have some thoughts on it is all.

3) Does anybody else find it kind of jarring how many musical moments there are? It's not that I dislike them or anything, but I liked that there were less of them in the first season so it felt fresh and unique to the scenes when there were. In the first episodes, I can already count like a good 3-4 of them. Just thought it was a strange decision.

4) Gosh, I am loving some of the new character's and their designs. I hope we see more of them. They look really good. In general, the show is just as, if not MORE aesthetically pleasing than in season 1. Everybody and everything just looks really nice and I'm happy that's something that wasn't slept on.

5) I really like the Sevika/Jinx alliance! OH, THAT AND THE LITTLE KID! I love the idea of putting Jinx in a sort of protector role after having every older figure in her life promise to keep her safe just to fail at it. At first, I thought it might not fit her, but I think it's a good decision.

6) Jayce and Viktor breakup part 2... Omfg, these two. THE HUG SCENE. IT'S SO... INTIMATE. The way Viktor was caressing Jayce's back, it's like the other was precious. I felt like I was interrupting something like HELLO??? "It was affection that held us together."

...IT WAS AFFECTION THAT HELD US TOGETHER. SAY FUCKING SIKE RN. I DID NOT WAIT THIS LONG FOR YOU TOO TO TENDERLY EMBRACE AGAIN JUST FOR YOU TO THROW THIS SHIT AT ME. OML. They make me sick. They make me ILL.

7) Vi is having the police effect rn (The oppressed becomes the oppressor). It was to be expected since yk, the games, but like I hate seeing it in real time. I hate seeing how little fights for it not to happen.

8) The Vi x Caitlyn stuff is real cute, but I'd be lying if I said I found the Caitlyn stuff to be very interesting at the start... I'm sorry, but we have so many things to deal with rn, how are we spending this much time over the poor girl's dead mother. It was just uninteresting to me, but it was a vehicle for the fun stuff to start, so I can't really be mad.

9) Seeing how the underground functions now that Silko is dead has been a lingering question of mine for a while and I'm happy that it was answered!

10) I was so worried the second intro wouldn't be as good and was even kinda wondering if they would just go for the same one, but I LOVE the vibes and tones set for the second! It doesn't beat the first, since that's almost an impossible task, but it's a fun treat and I am also not skipping that one when I watch an episode from now on.

11) And of course, the most important thing; EKKO LOOKS SO FUCKING FINE UGHHHHH HE FINALLY GETS MORE SCREEN TIMEEEEE!!!

LORD, HAVE MERCY.

Oh, and the Heimerdinger stuff with him is also cool ig.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from the LA Times:

There’s a lithium bonanza happening at the Salton Sea.

The boom started when one of the world’s largest supplies of lithium was discovered one mile below the dying lake. The metal is required to produce electric car batteries and is essential to reducing carbon emissions.

Yet lost in the excitement about the money and new jobs that the mining projects could bring are the concerns of the people who live there.

The impoverished area — which is more than 80% Latino — already has a childhood asthma rate that is more than twice the national average.

The asthma cases have been tied to the toxic dust created as the Salton Sea recedes from lack of water. And some local residents fear that the number of respiratory cases could soar even higher as the lithium mining projects drink up more of the area’s much fought over allocation from the Colorado River.

Residents also worry about the hazardous waste that the mining projects could create. And the area’s Indigenous tribes are concerned that sites they consider sacred, including Obsidian Butte, a volcanic outcropping on the Salton Sea’s shore, could be disturbed.

In March, a local community group called Comite Civico del Valle, along with Earthworks, a national nonprofit, filed a legal petition to stop the first of the planned lithium mining projects, which is known as Hell’s Kitchen.

The groups say the potential hazards of the project by Controlled Thermal Resources, a privately held company, were not properly studied before the Imperial County Board of Superiors unanimously approved it in January.

“Controlled Thermal Resources boasts about the sustainability attributes of direct lithium extraction, yet public health, hazardous waste, and water concerns remain unresolved,” said Luis Olmedo, executive director of Comite Civico del Valle.

The two groups want the project halted until the risks are studied and measures are taken to mitigate any harm that could happen to the communities or environment.

The county and company disagree and say that the project’s potential risks were properly considered in the environmental impact statement that California law requires.

“The County believes that the concerns were adequately addressed during the initial stages of the project development,” said Eddie Lopez, a county spokesperson.

Jim Turner, Controlled Thermal Resources’ president, said the company spent two years performing studies to ensure that the lithium could be extracted safely. The board of supervisors agreed that the company had completed that work, he said. “The official opinion is that the job was done very well,” he said.

Government officials are among those who want to move quickly. They say the Salton Sea could be the cleanest major source of lithium in the world and make the U.S. a major player in production.

Controlled Thermal Resources and two other companies with mining projects in the works use a process in which the metal is extracted from the hot, steaming brine that geothermal power plants bring up from the depths to produce electricity.

Lithium is removed from the brine before it is reinjected back into the geothermal reservoir deep underground.

The process, known as direct lithium extraction, is said to be far less damaging to the environment than hard rock mining or by pumping brine into large evaporation ponds.

The U.S. produces very little lithium even though the demand is great and growing fast with the rising purchases of electric vehicles.

Already 11 geothermal plants have been built around the lake. Controlled Thermal Resources’ project would be the first to combine electricity generation with lithium extraction.

[sqarletsworldlesswandering]

Astroneer AU - Crew Basics

Edda:

Appearance: Exo suit, mirror silver visor, exo standard palette

Due to the limitations of helmets, Edda keeps her hair in a fairly flat bun.

Edda is by far their most adept explorer, and enjoys running around on the surfaces of planets.

She's often responsible for their surface tether networks, placing beacons at resource deposits and major interest sites, and - later - for spearheading more extensive transportation efforts.

She's also the go-to tracker for various caches and informational deposits.

She generally prefers her own two feet, but a hoverboard works just as well. She likes that a hoverboard gives her full visibility, and she doesn't have to get off of it to work.

Perhaps predictably, Edda quite enjoys Sylva, the terran planet they first land on. (Everyone does, really, but she loves it dearly.) She doesn't mind the icy terrain Glacio, either, and she enjoys Vesania's bright colors and exotic flora.

She also despises Atrox. No one likes Atrox. It's suffocating and the terrain drives her nuts.

Edda, by far, has the most deaths by hoverboard. She also very much appreciates their galastropod Sylvie for her light when down in the caves. She also absolutely loves Usagi's ability to sniff out interesting things (Usagi is another of their galastropods, more on those later).

Aven:

Appearance: Terran suit, mirror gold visor, exo orange palette

Aven's scarf resides in a box with his other regular clothes, stored in his quarters in the space station.

Aven is the other primary explorer, but he's in his element below ground. The caves are his forte, and he doesn't mind the dark.

He often spearheads the subterranean tether networks and making navigable paths so that Tzafira can get vehicles and auto-extractors down into the mines.

He also handles a good bit of their resource collection, usually on his way back up.

Since he's underground so often, he frequently takes point on locating the planetary cores and the… secrets they hold. He found Sylva's on accident.

Aven's favorite mobility device is the solid fuel jump jet - it gets him out of quite a few scrapes and close calls. Once they get hydrazine jetpacks, he is ecstatic.

He's okay with Calidor's desert terrain, and vibes decently with Novus's forests and craters, and Desolo's craterous, resource rich terrain. Sylva, of course, has a fond place in his heart as well. Vesania is a little too bright pink for his liking. He… tolerates Atrox. Doesn't like Glacio at all. Much too cold. 

Aven is the first to acquire an additional oxygen tank, because he keeps suffocating by falling off the tether. He's got a fondness for Stilgar, a galastropod that can provide oxygen when she's well fed.

He's also got a considerable love for Princess - also a galastropod - because she grants him safety from all the freaking plants-

Kleisme:

Appearance: Bio suit, Novus visor, Calidor palette

Like with Aven's scarf, Kleisme's crest is in a box up on the space station. However, as a medal-adjacent, it is represented as a pin on his suit.

Kleisme primarily handles the research and ensures a steady flow of bytes (the means of gaining schematics).

He also handles the Xenobiology shenanigans - his main motivation to go planet hopping is to a) find the local galastropod, and b) research All The Things.

The galastropods are his little darlings, he absolutely adores them.

He handles the other sciencey stuff as well, such as the chemistry lab and atmospheric condenser. As such, he also handles a great deal of the compound and gaseous resources, as well as the distribution of AtCons and ChemLabs to other planets.

He can and will 100% just… sit and babysit a looping AtCon while tinkering with what have you.

Because he's usually on base, he also handles a number of the mass minutia crafting - "we need packagers/tethers/beacons/etc."

When he's not on base, a) he always makes sure to let someone know, so they don't wonder where he is and start worrying, and b) someone usually takes over the miscellany.

Kleisme actually vibes fairly well with Calidor as a planet. The dry heat doesn't bother him much.

He is also fascinated by Vesania and Novus, Vesania especially.

For transport, Kleisme prefers a hoverboard or buggy. When they eventually acquire the VTOLs (an aerial scout craft), he has a field day with 'em.

He collaborates with Tzafira on automation a great deal.

Kleisme has the fewest deaths out of everyone, but by far the largest range of causes - when he gets absorbed in something, he gets a little… oblivious. The end results include: suffocating from going off-tether, falling somewhere bad, falling to his death, getting killed by a plant he didn't notice (bouncevines say what), and other such chicanery.

Kleisme deeply appreciates Rogal on principle, because running the various research stations takes quite a lot of power at times, and this little space snail can somehow generate power. He also deeply appreciates Princess as hazard protection, because he needs to collect food for these goobers, after all.

Speaking of, Kleisme is very much in charge of the plant farms, and loves his harmless flora dearly. Edda and Aven often help him collect seeds while they're out and about - Aven especially accrues a great many while caving, and makes sure to save some for Kleisme.

Tzafira:

Appearance: Flight suit, Desolo visor, Desolo palette

Tzafira's halo and wings can both be de-summoned for convenience. She often resummons the halo as an extra light source, in which case it just hovers outside her helmet. She also can summon her wings for flight, but has found that without the protection of the space suit, they do tend to get achy rather quick. As such, she doesn't use them much. Plus, with the atmosphere or lack thereof on some planets, the wings are either useless, or would be damaged by exposure.

Tzafira often handles some of the more mundane resource collection, mostly via driving around the surface with their tractor and some empty resource canisters.

She also handles pretty much all things vehicular, and often preps the shuttles for launch. This extends to prepping "landing packs" - field shelters, generators, starting materials, etc.

She tends to prefer a buggy for getting around, but also likes the tractors well enough. She does also enjoy a good gravity sphere. VTOLs also quickly make it on her list.

Tzafira also by and large handles the automation. She and Kleisme collaborate on that a fair bit, since there's some overlap of territory in what's being automated.

Tzafira likes Glacio quite a bit (especially with how even the surface is), and has a fondness for Desolo as a relatively uncomplicated moon. She does not, however, appreciate all the craters when trying to steer a tractor around.

She has comparatively few deaths, but she has absolutely gotten herself stranded on a planet by forgetting to properly check her thrusters. This is a one-time mistake.

The deaths she has accrued are usually by forgetting she can't string tethers from a vehicle and consequently suffocating.

She's also gotten herself stuck in the middle of nowhere with a vehicle out of power before. This is easier to remedy, but still tedious more often than not. 

She loves hunting across the surface for interesting sites with Usagi. She also appreciates Rogal's ability to generate power, as it has saved her in a few pinches with vehicles.