#Aligned Expansion

[healingthroughvisions]

Thursday Jupiter Day: Expanding My Truth, Rooted in Wisdom

[divine-nonchalance]

I summon the most elevated vibrations aligned with my soul's evolution at this juncture.

[exlimix1a]

Quick piece of @luluyamofficial 's character Lucelia + a 30 second speedpaint!

[elvenbeard]

I don't know where I am sometimes, sometimes I don't care, I'm just high

My hands in the air and my head in the clouds I wanted to float and I want it right now

And this is my tune and I want it real loud

I randomly walked into Riot the other day with the intention to take pics but then was surprised by a very special event taking place there, so I ditched all plans and instead made "super secretive special party guests dancing through the night" my new theme XD

featuring @arcandoria's [revamped joggers] for mascV, refitted to now fit skinny Rockerboys better too :3 thank you so much!

[keepmovinjunior]

she calls him tall greek and handsome in the dynamite comics??? i’m 🥹

[theangelsnumbers]

Angel Number 333

A call to rise into your power

When you keep seeing 333, it is not a coincidence It is a message that your soul is ready to grow You are being asked to step into alignment with your purpose

333 carries the energy of expansion It encourages you to express your truth To trust your inner voice To create with courage and heart

This number often appears when the mind, body, and spirit are asking for unity When your guides want you to remember your strength And when it is time to move forward with clarity and confidence

You are fully supported by divine forces You are not alone in your journey You are being reminded of who you really are

If 333 has been following you Take it as a sign to show up for yourself To choose growth To step into the light of your own becoming

[unconditionallove3]

As you feel it—breathe into it.

[tacticalgrandma]

God emperor protect me from wanting to start my rogue trader run over for a second time to make more varied alignment decisions

[the-healing-mindset]

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Increasing your awareness and growing beyond what it is that you have known is not a bad thing. Keep growing. Keep expanding.

[iamheretoheal]

[healingthroughvisions]

Releasing Insecurity

Releasing Insecurity Last week, I caught myself shrinking. Again. I was about to speak up—heart open, words ready—and suddenly, this familiar fog rolled in, as if to block the flow of thought within me, to prevent me from expressing something at work and with someone I care about. It didn’t come loud or chaotic. It came quietly, like a shadow sliding across my chest. The kind of doubt that…

[sequesteredbhaalspawn]

I think one of the things I dislike the most about bg3 is how quickly the companions change as people. Like Shadowheart going from "I literally can trust no one and tell no one anything ever" to "you are my closest confidant I ever had" just in act one. Like I can get act 1 done with out taking a single long rest on tactician if the rolls are in my favor.

It just feels to hollow.

Vs. Viconia who you need to work with through 2 whole games and an expansion to get her alignment to change from Neutral Evil to True Neutral. Which feels so rewarding to see her achieve that.

[wickedzeevyln]

Forces of Nature

Gasps flitting, then dissipating, then trapped. It did not come back.For a flash, the world rested. The air coarsened. The light grew thin. The membrane turned dense and bizarre. Then something breached the hush. The body folded on itself, like paper after the flame is gone.The heavens did not falter. It broadened. Swallowing the horizon.I lifted. No wings. No sound. Only space gathering between…

[srjsteel]

How Dowel Bars in Rigid Roads Minimize Expansion Joint Failures

Dowel bars in rigid pavement function as important load transfer mechanisms that dramatically enhance the overall performance and sturdiness of concrete roadways. When properly established across expansion joints, these unassuming metallic additives prevent some of the most common pavement failures that plague transportation infrastructure projects. Understanding their role and proper installation can save significant costs and complications for road construction projects of all sizes.

The Hidden Heroes of Concrete Road Construction

Concrete roads, unlike their flexible asphalt counterparts, require careful planning to accommodate the natural expansion and contraction that occurs with temperature changes. Without proper accommodation for these movements, concrete slabs develop stress cracks, uneven surfaces, and premature deterioration.

Expansion joints allow essential movement, but they create a structural weak point unless properly reinforced. This is where dowel bars in road construction demonstrate their value.

Technical Function and Performance Benefits

When heavy vehicles approach an expansion joint, the leading concrete slab experiences downward deflection. Without dowel bars in rigid pavement, the trailing slab remains undeflected, creating a momentary lip or step at the joint. This repeated deflection difference leads to

Edge crumbling at joint faces

Pumping of subbase materials

Water infiltration issues

Progressive joint deterioration

Reduced ride quality

Properly installed dowel bars transfer approximately 40-50% of the load across the joint, significantly reducing differential deflection. This load-sharing capability maintains surface alignment while still allowing the critical horizontal movement that prevents thermal cracking.

Installation Considerations for Maximum Performance

The effectiveness of dowel bars in road construction depends heavily on proper installation practices. Key considerations include:

Alignment and Spacing

Misaligned dowel bars restrict joint movement, defeating their purpose and potentially causing worse damage than if they were absent. Specialized installation equipment helps ensure perfect horizontal alignment.

Corrosion Protection

Since dowel bars operate in harsh environments with water, salt, and constant vibration, corrosion protection is critical. Epoxy-covered and stainless-steel options provide advanced longevity despite their higher initial cost.

Diameter and Length Selection

Engineers select dowel dimensions based on pavement thickness, expected loads, and subbase conditions. Undersized dowels fail to transfer loads effectively, while oversized options waste materials without providing proportional benefits.

The Connection to Other Components

Dowel baskets secured with binding wire provide the most reliable method for ensuring proper dowel placement before concrete pouring. This binding wire must be strong enough to maintain position during the intense vibration of concrete placement but thin enough not to create weak points in the structure.

Quality binding wire resists corrosion and maintains basket integrity throughout the installation process. For projects in coastal regions or areas with frequent road salt application, stainless steel binding wire offers additional protection against premature failure.

Economic Implications of Proper Joint Design

The initial investment in quality dowel bars in rigid pavement and proper installation techniques pays substantial dividends throughout the pavement lifecycle. Research indicates that properly designed and installed dowel joints can:

Extend pavement life by 25-40%

Reduce maintenance expenses by up to 60%

Improve ride quality measurements

Minimize vehicle damage claims

The binding wire used during installation represents a minimal portion of the overall project budget but plays an outsized role in ensuring dowel effectiveness. Premium binding wire costs marginally more than standard options but significantly reduces installation problems.

Making Informed Choices

When selecting materials for rigid pavement projects, the quality and proper specification of dowel bars deserve careful attention. While material costs for premium dowel systems might increase initial budgets by 3-5%, the lifecycle cost benefits make them the economically superior choice.

For contractors and transportation departments focused on long-term performance, investing in proper dowel bars in road construction, quality binding wire, and precision installation provides the most cost-effective path to durable, high-performing concrete pavements with minimal expansion joint failures.

[the-healing-mindset]

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[hope-for-the-planet]

From the article:

But, as Brownell explained to new customers, Smart is different from the typical craft store: Everything on its shelves has been donated. The shop is what is known as a creative reuse center. These crafting thrift stores keep leftover and unwanted art supplies out of landfills, and instead get them into the hands of other creators at affordable prices. Smart combines that model with another mission. Many of the employees and volunteers who run the shop are adults with disabilities. Over the last decade, the organization has diverted more than one million pounds of art and craft materials from landfills, while providing over 37,400 hours of job coaching, volunteering and employment for adults with disabilities.

I think this is a really great example of how expansive environmental work can be--and how it can coincide with other forms of community action.

Protests and politics aren't the most effective or sustainable form of action for everyone (though there are more diverse ways to participate in that kind of action too!)--providing a service to your community that increases sustainability and aligns with your passions and interests is also an extremely valid and needed form of environmental action.