#underground mining vehicle

[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.

[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

[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.

[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

[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.

[tnc-n3cl]

I had an idea for my LoZ fic "The Realm Walker" the other day, that kind of doubles as a Tears of the Kingdom what if. Namely, what if the Ancient Sheikah Towers went all the way down to the Depths? It's entirely possible the Gerudo Tower may have, but what if they were all built on top of Zonai Ruins?

The idea here would be the Ancient Sheikah Towers would then give map updates for the Depths, Lightroots would make things brighter/clear gloom, and the Skyview Towers provide Surface/Sky map updates.

I did some scouting in game and found that:

Faron Tower: Would be in a tunnel/valley above the Spirit Temple, near a cairn and right on top of a bomb fruit harvest location.

Lake Tower: In a deep canyon, almost completely surrounded by gloom, just a little west of a giant root (and near a monster camp).

Gerudo Tower: There's a pool of water at the bottom of the chasm, near a spot where you can find vehicle building materials.

Wasteland Tower: In a cave of sorts on a lake.

Tabantha Tower: Nero Hill is oddly not a canyon, but part of a large flat area where you can fight a Frox. (The tower location would be far enough out of the Frox's range that you could climb it without alerting the creature, maybe...)

Akkala Tower: Well it would be on top of Zonai Ruins, specifically the Ancient Underground Fortress, which is absolutely crawling with monsters.

Central Tower: The location now hosts the Susuyai Shrine/Iayusus Lightroot, it's near one of the statues that point the way to the Abandon Central Mine.

Dueling Peaks Tower: Inaccessible since water = wall of rock.

Woodland Tower: Also inaccessible.

Ridgeland Tower: You guessed it, inaccessible.

Great Plateau Tower: More or less on top of a gloom root a little northeast of the Great Abandoned Central Mine.

Hateno Tower: Pretty much on a lake, possibly on the little strip of land on top of a gloom root.

Hebra Tower: In a field, near a Frox. Directly opposite of the ascend tower that will lead you to the geoglyph south of Tabantha Village Ruins.

Eldin Tower: What do you know, another field with a Frox...

Lanayru Tower: Another lake, not that far from Sekioam Lightroot.

So I could do this, but I'd have to make some changes to the map of the Depths. But then again... TotK invalidates my continental map cause there's no room for Xilipi (Sy-lie-pie) (the Gerudo Desert just ends at the ocean in game). Which means I'm fully willing to redo the Depths map, mentally at least. Attempting to draw it is another matter entirely...

[thunderbirds-showdown]

Which Thunderbirds Are Go episode is better?

Vote on which episode you think is better. Episode synopses below the cut.

Up from the Depths Part 1: Deep in the Mariana Trench a survey team encounter the TV-21, a prototype Thunderbird vehicle that was flown by Jeff Tracy, when a systems failure causes the ship to be stranded on the seabed. International Rescue arrives to rescue the crew but the Mechanic suddenly takes control of the surveyor and uses it to crush Thunderbird 4. Gordon gets out just as his ship is destroyed and now must use the TV-21 to rescue the crew. Meanwhile, Lady Penelope and Parker are investigating into how the Hood is communicating with the Mechanic.

Extraction: A seismologist and his son alert the authorities to the presence of a rogue wildcat mining operation, only for the machinery to trigger an earthquake that swallows the equipment – along with the father and son. Gordon must attempt a daring underground rescue of the boy and his injured father, while Virgil has to find a way to shut down the out-of-control rig.

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Vijeta Uniyal 

Hezbollah, estimated to be the world’s biggest terrorist organization, has spent nearly two decades tunneling along Israel’s northern border. The underground web of terror tunnels in Lebanon is even bigger than Hamas’s ‘Gaza metro’, which is estimated to be over 300-miles-long. This subterranean network of tunnel shafts, command centers, and weapons depots has been financed by the Iranian regime and built by North Korean mining companies.

Writing for The Times of Israel, prominent Israeli journalist Tal Schneider reported Tuesday:

Two weeks ago, the IDF spokesman revealed one of the biggest attack tunnels in the Gaza Strip — four kilometers long, wide enough for vehicles to drive through, and running from Jabaliya, north of Gaza City, up until some 400 meters from the Erez border crossing into Israel.

While the tunnel did not cross the border, it presumably could have enabled terrorists on motorcycles and other vehicles to drive underground from the Jabaliya area and exit close to the border before IDF surveillance soldiers or patrols could block them. The IDF did not specify whether this was the case when 3,000 Hamas-led terrorists poured into Israel on October 7, slaughtering 1,200 people and abducting 240.

The uncovering of this vast tunnel, of which there are several more in Gaza, has revived discussion of similar tunnels near, at and under the Lebanon border — especially amid the ongoing clashes there with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist army, the forced evacuation of tens of thousands of Israeli residents of the north, and the Israeli leadership’s repeated insistence that Hezbollah must be forced back from the border and deterred.

The Lebanon tunnel project was begun and developed long before the one in Gaza. Existing intelligence indicates a vast tunnel network in southern Lebanon, deep and multi-pronged.

At the Alma Research and Education Center, which focuses on the security challenges on Israel’s northern border, researchers have spent many years investigating Lebanon’s underworld. Tal Beeri, the director of Alma’s Research Department, who served for decades in IDF intelligence units, has exposed that subterranean network in material based on considerable open-source intelligence.

Several years ago, Beeri managed to track down on the internet a “map of polygons,” covering what he called the “Land of the Tunnels” in southern Lebanon. “The map is marked, by an unknown party, with polygons (circles) indicating 36 geographic regions, towns and villages,” he wrote in 2021 paper.

“In our assessment, these polygons mark Hezbollah’s staging centers as part of the ‘defense’ plan against an Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Each local staging center (‘defense’) possesses a network of local underground tunnels. Between all these centers, an infrastructure of regional tunnels was built, interconnected [with] them.”

Beeri assessed that the cumulative length of Hezbollah’s tunnel network in south Lebanon amounts to hundreds of kilometers.

[haleyrude]

Scars

Title: Scars

Pairing: Leon Kennedy x fem!reader 

Disclaimer: It’s your first night at Leon’s house and you notice a scar and have some questions. Just some fluff! Enjoy!

Words: 1.5k

MASTERLIST

It was your first time staying at your boyfriend Leon’s house and you couldn’t be more ecstatic. It’s been 6 months since you’ve been in a relationship with him and he’d either come over to your apartment or he’d be out on a mission for a week or two. 

He kept promising that he’d get everything in order and you’d be able to stay with him as long as you wanted. The time has finally come as you double check your duffle bag before locking up and heading to your car. Leon’s place was about a 25 minute drive so you sent him a quick ‘OMW!’ Text before you plugged your phone in and headed off.

You were surprised to see that Leon, like you, lived in an apartment complex. This one looked more luxurious than the one you resided in currently. You went to the underground parking lot and headed toward guest parking. You immediately saw Leon jogging up to your car as soon as you parked. As you shut the engine off he opened your car door. “Hey sweetheart, how was the drive?” his smile was big as he was happy you got to him safely. “Not too bad, just listened to music on the way.” You grabbed your water cup and phone before pressing the button on your vehicle to open the trunk. Before you could say anything, Leon was already at the trunk getting your bag out. “You seem excited for me to be here” you shut your door walking over to Leon. “Of course, I’m excited for you to finally see the place” with that he shut the trunk, swung the duffel bag over his shoulder and took your free hand with his. 

He led you to an elevator, the doors closed and he clicked the top button. “The top floor!” Disbelief washed over you as you looked at his smirking face. “I was able to win the deal on this condo and had it renovated. It’s completely mine” he said matter of factly and your heart filled with pride “congratulations this must be so exciting for you!” He leaned on the back wall “yeah it’s nice to be able to settle down somewhere instead of constantly have to rent, moving from one place to another”

….

That’s how the both of you met. Leon had just moved into town and you were at the bakery you usually went to get donuts and coffee for your office. Turning around you bumped into Leon not paying attention while holding a newspaper. The donuts and coffee went everywhere but the spark between you too was there immediately and you both felt it. Laughing the incident off, you both helped clean up everything and the rest was history.

…..

He led you around the condo. It was very spacious. You took my shoes off at the front door placing them on the rack he had other shoes on. The floors were a dark oak color complimenting the beige walls. The first thing you saw walking through the short hallway was the living room, nicely furnished with a light gray wrap around couch with a dark brown coffee table and a TV mounted on the wall. A small balcony connected to the far wall. A simple table and two chairs to sit and look at the view. 

To the right there was a round dining table that was accompanied by 4 chairs over a rug. The table was plain beside a table cloth. The kitchen was attached to an open design with an island and granite counter top. To the left was a room that Leon had made his office and to the right of that was the master bedroom attached to a walk-in closet and a very decent sized bathroom. 

Leon placed your things on the bed as you  finished looking around. Not much personal decor around the house besides some small house plants and paintings but the whole condo screamed Leon. 

“I absolutely love it, this suits you” he chuckled, coming over to wrap his arms around you. You couldn’t help the smile that crept onto your face as youI leaned up on your tiptoes to give him a sweet kiss. He hummed in approval. “Why don’t you get comfy and I’ll cook us something hmm” You nodded, turning around as he gave you a little spank before leaving the room. 

You entered his bathroom with your bag and pajamas. Changing into a pink romper with spaghetti straps you looked at your reflection in the mirror to make sure you looked decent. The pajama set was your go to as it was comfy with some lace detail. You brushed out your hair and put on a pair of fluffy socks before heading out to the kitchen. Leon was standing there now in just sweatpants and a tank top. The tank top outlining his gorgeous muscles. You couldn’t help but to lick your lips thinking about those muscles flexing on him. “I hope chicken teriyaki and rice is okay?” Leon broke you out of your daydream as you walked over and leaned on the counter. “That sounds amazing” the smell of the food made your stomach growl. The food didn’t take long to cook and it was absolutely delicious. 

Leon cooked at your place plenty of times but it was nice having a home cooked meal at his place finally.  

After cleaning up, you went back to the bathroom to brush your teeth and get ready to turn in for the night. Reentering the bedroom Leon has the tv on low as he laid in bed with an arm behind his head and the other sprawled out waiting for you. You cuddled against him and kissed his shoulder. Feeling him tense for a split second which was odd and then you saw something peeking out of the tank top. You moved the strap over and noticed a bullet wound scar. You held your gasp and gave it a kiss before placing the tank top sleeve back in place. 

As you thought about it, you can’t recall a time Leon ever took his shirt off in front of you. He’d always wear either a tank top with thick straps or a tight fitting T-shirt. Even when the two of you made love but you never questioned him before just wanting him to feel comfortable. You just thought Leon was self conscious of himself. 

“I’ve never seen that before'' He rolled on his side and looked into your eyes. “I hate remembering that time in my life. I didn’t want to scare you or have you look at me differently seeing how damaged I truly am” his eyes were sad but you hoped he could see the genuine love in yours. “Leon’ you were talking sternly but gently, ‘your past is your past, you can’t change that and I would never pry you to tell me anything you don’t want to but just know that I am here for you and will listen whenever you’re ready. But just because you have a few scars doesn’t mean you’re damaged. You’re just as sexy if not more than when I first laid my eyes on you” without taking a breath he kissed you hard. The arm that was under you was  now wrapped around you holding you close while his other hand held the back of your head to deepen the kiss. Both your  lips are moving in sync. His tongue dragging against the bottom of your lip made you whimper as you opened your mouth giving him access to whatever he wanted.  

He pulled back too soon and rolled on his back pulling you close. “During the apocalypse in raccoon city I was shot in the shoulder…” he told you everything. Showed you the tiny scars littering his body including the small barely noticeable scar on his cheek from getting slashed with a knife. By the end of his story your face was wet. He looked over at you and immediately sat up wiping the tears from your cheeks with his thumbs. “Sweetheart, there’s no need to cry. I’m okay” You shook your head and gently grabbed his wrist. Kissing his hand and trying to steady your voice “I’m so sorry you’ve been through all that, I can’t imagine the trauma or even the nightmares you experience and my chest hurts thinking about you in pain.” The corner of his mouth turned up slightly as he pulled you into his now unclothed chest, rubbing your back with one hand and stroking your hair with the other. “Baby, every night I spend with you my nightmares fade, it feels easier to breathe when I’m around you. God forbid anything happens again or I’m called for another mission. My soul purpose is to fight for you and make sure I come home for you. I love you” 

It was the first time you heard those three words leave his mouth. You leaned back looking up into his beautiful blue eyes seeing them shine just a hint with tears before you smashed your lips to his. 

No matter how many scars this man has you  will love him to the end of the world forever. 

[mosertone]

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.

-wikipedia