#Response Indicator in Fire Alarm System

[ravelfireelectronics]

Shop Response Indicator in Fire Alarm System

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[manishkhatana]

How to Choose the Right Fire Shaft Door for Your Property

Choosing the right fire shaft doors for your place is very important to keep safety rules and follow building laws. Fire shaft doors are special barriers made to hold smoke and flames in certain parts of a structure, especially in vertical shafts such as staircase and elevator shafts. These doors need to pass strict fire resistance ratings, usually lasting from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes based on what the building needs.

Assessing Your Property's Needs

Before you buy fire shaft doors, it is important to assess the particular needs of your property. Think about things like how tall the building is, what kind of people occupy it and local rules for fire safety. Usually commercial buildings need fire-rated doors with a higher rating than those needed in residential properties. Also, check the place where doors will be put - doors guarding important escape paths require higher ratings compared to those in not so critical places.

Key Features to Consider

When choosing fire shaft doors, there are several characteristics that need close consideration. Initially, make sure to check for the right certification marks which confirm adherence to safety standards. Also see if intumescent seals present or not; these expand when they come in contact with heat and efficiently seal gaps around the door. Mechanisms that close by themselves make sure doors shut automatically after use, keeping fire compartments intact. Lastly, think about features for controlling smoke which stop harmful fumes from moving throughout the building.

Material Selection and Durability

The performance and durability of your fire shaft doors are greatly influenced by the material they are made from. Steel doors provide very good resistance to fire and last long, but they can be heavy and costly. Composite doors offer a nice compromise between weight and protection against fire. Wooden doors with cores that resist fire can match nicely with your inside decor while still keeping safety rules.

Professional Installation and Maintenance

Even the best fire door will not work well if it is not installed correctly. Always employ professionals with certification for installing to make sure safety rules are followed. Set up a regular time to maintain and look at whether seals have damage, closing methods are working properly and hardware remains unbroken. You may need to keep records of these inspections for insurance companies or fire safety officers.

Cost Considerations and Long-Term Value

It is understandable to have budget limitations, but think of fire safety as a worthwhile investment instead of just an expenditure. Doors with better quality may be more expensive at first yet they usually provide superior protection and long-lasting use. Think about the possible expenses from not adhering to regulations such as penalties, higher insurance rates and the unpredictable cost related to diminished safety.

[super-ion]

The Engineer

Part 6

(part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5)

I catch a glimpse of the Pilot as she is wheeled towards the med bay. Her eyes are wild, panicked, with the glaze of just having been torn out of herself.

For a moment, as the gurney slides by, those eyes briefly clear, ice blue pinning me to the spot. She reaches out with an emaciated arm, fast as lightning, and takes hold of my wrist in an iron grip.

She moves her lips, at first unable to form words, unable to remember how to use human speech organs.

"Do your job," she says, slowly, deliberately, as if that singular command is the only thing in the universe that matters.

Something in the gurney clicks and whirs and she slips into catatonia. Her grip loosens and her fingers trail away.

Something has gone terribly wrong in this last engagement.

Alarms blare and booted feet thunder past me.

My own feet join the cacophony.

I have a job to do.

The Pilot is alive and she is now the responsibility of the med team.

My responsibility is the Machine.

Do your job.

The words echo in my head as I sprint the remaining distance to the vestibule.

A tech tries to stop me, he says something I don't quite process. I shove past him and am greeted by a scene out of a nightmare.

Morrigan's hatch has been severed, the emergency release pyros having been triggered. The parts of her hull visible to the vestibule are pitted and blackened. I can't even find the stencilled lettering of her factory designated identifier, just an ugly hole torn open by an incendiary.

Inside, the cockpit is a mess of fire suppressant and crash gel. Indicator lights form a constellation of blinking red and half of the display panels, the half that still work, flash an endless stream of error messages.

Everything reeks of ammonia and ozone and scorched metal.

"Me or Morrigan could get dead in the next engagement."

The nonchalance with which those words had been delivered caught me off guard when they were spoken. Morrigan and Her Pilot are untouchable. They were supposed to be untouchable.

Do your job.

I begin to strip as fast as humanly possible. I need to get in there. I need to know that she is alive.

The tech that tried to stop me grabs my arm. You can't go in there, the reactor has not been stabilized.

I tear myself from his grip.

I have a job to do, I say with a snarl.

Something in my expression, my bared teeth, my feral eyes, convinces him to leave me be. He stands down, hands raised in surrender. He could call security, but by the time they get here, I'll already be jacked in, and it will be too late for them to do anything.

Do your job. Do your job. Do your job.

My job is information recovery and analysis.

My job is to save as much as I can.

I need to save Her.

One of the cameras spots me and the others focus on me in panicked motion. The one nearest to me has a cracked lens and the iris flutters open and closed, unable to focus.

The cradle has been mangled nearly beyond recognition. They had to physically cut the Pilot out of Her, neither of them willing to let go of the other. The still operable mechanisms of it jerk erratically, trying vainly to reconfigure for me. Her neural interface port reaches towards me desperately.

I scrabble to Her, pressing myself into the cradle. The shorn, inoperable pieces dig painfully into my flesh. The neural insertion is not gentle, the plug scrapes painfully against my skin before it finds the jack and shoves roughly into me.

"I'm here," I tell Her as the link is established.

It's bad.

It's worse than I feared.

Reactor housing is damaged. System failsafes are vainly attempting to stabilize it while ground crews work as fast at they can towards a purge of the system.

Her processor core… fuck. My mind struggles to make sense of the telemetry stream. Multiple processor modules fractured. Unstable resonance modes. Positron avalanche. System collapse imminent.

My breath catches and my heart pounds in my chest.

She is dying.

Do your job.

The umbilical data lines aren't receiving, rogue processes are preventing access to primary communication channels. I work furiously to establish auxiliary paths for the data transfer. In fits and starts, the data recorder begins streaming into the facility mainframe.

There is a problem.

The data repository is meant for telemetry and battle space recordings. If I attempted to back up her core personality engrams, everything that makes her who she is, the data would get scrubbed and purged faster than I could back them up elsewhere.

There isn't time to set up an alternate backup repository.

- PILOT STATUS?

"She's safe," I tell Her. “You completed your mission. Your Pilot… Our Pilot is safe.”

- ENGINEER STATUS?

"Status is… not good…"

- PLEASE DO NOT CRY.

Fuck.

I drag my hand over my face, smearing the tears gathering in my eyes.

Now that the data is streaming there is nothing I can do but feel her die as I lie in her embrace.

I can not conceive a reality in which I exist without her.

And the Pilot. The Pilot will not survive, not with half of who she is destroyed.

"The three of us, we're just this fucking tangle, aren't we?"

Do your job.

Save Her.

Save. Her.

I know this system. I know it more intimately than anyone alive.

There *is* one data connection I haven't considered. There *is* one piece of external storage currently connected.

Shit.

I act.

I open up a new interface in my hud. Morrigan's attention fixes on me, on the calculations I'm running through my head and I can feel Her dawning horror over the link.

Neural bleed. It works both ways.

All neural rigs are designed to facilitate data transfer between an organic brain and a mechanical one. Mine is no exception. Mine hasn't undergone all the upgrades needed for a pilot's full sensorium, but the core neural interface is the same.

If I disable safety overrides, if I bypass the data buffers, I can download her personality engrams directly into my prefrontal cortex.

I have no idea what that will do to me.

Exceptional synchrony and neuro-elasticity. That's what my intake assessments had said all those years ago. I was in the upper quintile among all pilot candidates. Maybe that was my downfall. Maybe that's why I washed out.

Maybe that's why I'm here now, contemplating this singularly desperate act.

Maybe that's why my neural bleed with Her has been so deep. Maybe there is something in me that is in tune with Them.

But as far as I know, no one has ever attempted anything like this. It could very well kill me.

But the thought of living without Her is more terrifying than the prospect of dying. It's more terrifying than what might happen to me if this works.

Morrigan pleads with me.

- STOP.

"No. I can't stop," I reply. "I need you."

- NO.

"Yes, I do," I tell her. "Your Pilot needs you."

I can feel Her emotional flinch over the link. I have the one piece of leverage I need, and She knows it.

"Wouldn't you give anything, sacrifice anything to see her again?"

It's a dirty trick, I know it is, playing off that one connection, her deepest, most intimate connection. Maybe I mean something to Her, but She and the Pilot were made for each other in the most literal sense.

And I suddenly realize that I am doing this as much for the Pilot as any of us. That surprises me. As much as I have tried to distance myself from other human beings, I became entangled with her the moment I opened myself up to Morrigan.

I would never be able to face her if I didn't do everything in my power to save the Machine.

A processor module fails outright. The system struggles to reallocate resources, but submodules throughout the entire system are strained to their limit.

There isn't any time left and She knows it.

She sullenly acedes.

We begin working in concert, me working to disable safety protocols in my rig, Her working to isolate and distill Her core personality patterns into something that can be handled by the bandwidth of the interface.

An alarm pings over the link. Reactor purge in progress. Power fluctuations spike all over her systems. Her processor power distribution subsystem is completely fucked. It won't be able to keep up with current activity levels as the whole system switches over to umbilical power.

Out of time.

I engage the final override, by mind suddenly open to hers, the neural link unbuffered, unfiltered.

Her mind presses in on me and I glimpse the full sensorium. I feel all of her pain and fear and anguish at what she is about to do to me.

My fingers tingle before they go numb.

"Do it," I command her.

- I LOVE YOU.

Data transfer initiates.

This isn't neural bleed.

This is a flood.

My body convulses.

I taste something coppery in my mouth.

Someone somewhere screams.

The scream is mine.

My rig isn't built for this. My body isn't conditioned for this.

Every nerve in me blazes white hot.

My vision tunnels as auras bloom like bruises on the skin of reality.

Shouts of alarm call from outside the cockpit.

A face resolves itself, and for a moment I think it's Her.

The Pilot.

A Priestess.

An Angel.

No.

It.

It is one of the techs.

Then a medic.

More shouting.

Get her out of there!

Every muscle in my body clenches painfully.

I can barely breathe.

Cut her loose!

No.

It's not done yet. It's not enough.

It's too much.

Too much. Too much. Too much.

I can't.

I can't stop. Not yet.

Do your job.

Save Her.

My body convulses once again, and I pass into oblivion.

(next)

~~~

@digitalsymbiote @g1ngan1nja @thriron @ephemeral-arcanist @mias-domain @justasleepykitten @powder-of-infinity @valkayrieactual @chaosmagetwin @assigned-stupid-at-birth @avalanchenouveau @rtfmx9 @femgineerasolution @ibleedelectric @gd-s451 @brieflybitten

[mariacallous]

Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been clear about its plans to fire tens of thousands of employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs. New WIRED reporting sheds light on the specific DOGE operatives at the VA and the ways they’re trying to infiltrate and drastically change the agency.

On March 25, tech staffers and contractors at the VA noticed an unfamiliar name trying to push changes that could impact VA.gov code. It was Sahil Lavingia, a newcomer to the agency listed in the VA’s internal directory as an adviser to the chief of staff, Christopher Syrek.

Lavingia's presence in the VA's GitHub instance—a publicly viewable platform that houses projects and code for VA.gov—set off immediate alarm bells. It bore all the hallmarks of DOGE’s incursion into the federal government: Lavingia, a startup CEO and engineer with no government experience, all of a sudden had power—and was in their systems.

Since then, VA employees say they have had multiple concerns following interactions with Lavingia. Beyond his GitHub access, sources who spoke to WIRED indicate that Lavingia, who said on Slack that he wanted to digitize the agency, also appears to be trying to use an AI tool called OpenHands to write code for the VA’s systems. One person with knowledge says that Lavingia had been given what’s known as a “zero account,” which would allow him to be granted privileged access to VA systems.

In response to WIRED’s questions about his work at the VA, Lavingia responded by email saying, “Sorry, I'm not going to answer these, besides to say I'm unpaid. And a fan of your work!”

Lavingia is not the only DOGE representative at the VA. According to sources within the agency, the DOGE delegation also includes Cary Volpert and Christopher Roussos. Other known DOGE members at the VA include Justin Fulcher, who ran a telehealth startup that went bankrupt in the late 2010s, and Payton Rehling and Jon Koval, both of whom worked for Valor Equity Partners and appeared at the Social Security Administration along with the fund’s founder and Musk ally, Antonio Gracias.

These DOGE operatives appear to have no work experience that’s remotely close to the VA in terms of its scale or complexity. The VA administers all the government benefits afforded to veterans and their families for roughly 10 million people, including education, loans, disability payments, and health care. Lavingia is the CEO of Gumroad, a platform that helps creatives sell their work and takes a cut of each sale. More recently, according to his blog, Lavingia launched Flexile, a tool to manage and pay contractors. According to his LinkedIn profile, Lavingia was the second employee at Pinterest, which he left in 2011 to found Gumroad. Lavingia is also an angel investor in other startups via SHL Capital, which backed Clubhouse and Lambda School, among others.

Volpert, who is listed as a senior adviser to the chief of staff, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. On a third-party job site Volpert is listed as the founder of a startup called Lindy Live, which once offered social engagement for senior citizens. According to documents viewed by WIRED, Volpert has been reviewing VA contracts with what appears to be the intent of canceling those agreements. Roussos is the former CEO of 24 Hour Fitness and most recently was CEO of AllerVie Health, an allergy and immunology startup, according to his LinkedIn profile. Last February, he became chair of the company’s board of directors. He is also listed as an adviser to the chief of staff at the VA. Volpert, Roussos, and Lavingia, according to a source at the VA, were introduced by agency leadership in meetings as DOGE representatives.

“DOGE's actions at the VA are putting veterans' lives at risk,” representative Gerald Connolly, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, tells WIRED. Veterans, he adds, risk being “stripped of the care they need and deserve because [President Donald] Trump and Elon have turned the VA over to lackeys who do not know the first thing about what it means to serve your country."

VA employees have expressed concern about the changes the DOGE staffers have already started to make to the agency. “These people have zero clue what they are working on,” a VA employee tells WIRED.

The VA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Neither did Volpert, Roussos, Fulcher, Rehling, or Koval.

Lavingia’s past work, however, appears to have informed his present outlook at the VA, especially when it comes to AI. In a blog post on his personal website from October 2024, Lavingia discussed how Gumroad, which laid off most of its employees in 2015, had achieved financial stability: “replacing every manual process with an automated one, by pushing all marginal costs to the customer, and having almost no employees.”

“Today, humans are necessary for stellar customer service, crisis management, regulatory compliance and negotiations, property inspections, and more,” he wrote. “But it won't be long until AI can do all of the above.”

Two sources familiar with Lavingia’s work at the VA note that he appears to be trying to introduce an AI tool called OpenHands to write code for the agency. In GitHub, Lavingia requested to add OpenHands to the repertoire of programs that can be used by VA tech workers, and noted in Slack that this was “a priority for the [chief of staff] and Secretary.” (OpenHands is available for anyone to download on GitHub.)

“They’ve asked us to consider using AI for all development contracts and have us justify why it can’t do it,” says the VA employee. “I think they are considering how to fill the gaps [of canceled contracts] with AI.”

“We don’t really have approval to use AI, because there is sensitive info in some of the GitHub repos,” says a second VA tech worker who, like other sources, asked to remain anonymous because they’re not authorized to talk to the media. “Theoretically it could script something and pull out a bunch of data.” Much of that data, according to the source, is stored and accessed through several application programming interfaces. This includes information like the social security numbers of veterans and their family members and bank information, as well as medical and disability history.

New tools also mean new security risks. “Any programming tools or applications that you use in federal systems have to meet a bunch of security classifications,” the source says. They worry that the proposed use of OpenHands has not been properly vetted for government purposes for security gaps that could possibly leave the VA’s systems and data vulnerable.

“They’re not following any of the normal procedures, and it’s putting people at risk,” they say, noting that a system failure could impede veterans’ ability to access their benefits. “These are people who have given pieces of themselves to their country and they deserve more respect than that.”

A former VA employee who worked in the office of the CTO and asked for anonymity in order to protect their privacy says that OpenHands was not, as far as they knew, a tool approved for use at the agency. When asked to evaluate it based on the security assessment used at the agency, the person says that the tool’s ability to “modify code, run commands, browse the web, call APIs,” according to its website, was particularly concerning.

“That alarms me. That gives me Skynet vibes," they say. “I don’t necessarily want a computer to have all those capabilities unsupervised.”

OpenHands did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

The source also says that AI-generated code can pose significant risks in general. “I would not want a tool like this writing code on VA.gov, because I think it would lead to a higher likelihood of bugs and therefore security issues being introduced into the platform,” they say, adding that “buggy code” could be easier to hack, introducing more security vulnerabilities. It could also accidentally access or modify the wrong data, including sensitive data. And even if the AI-generated code works well, it can be “unmaintainable,” because it is so complicated that even the people generating the code may not fully understand it and therefore not be able to update or change it when needed.

Lavingia has quickly suggested other changes at the VA as well.

Sources say Lavingia asked if there is a way to use veterans’ social security numbers or “other identifying information” to pre-fill customer forms with data from the VA system without the user being logged in. That data, according to one VA source, could include everything from their disability benefits and medical records and history. This kind of pre-filling requires users to be authenticated within the VA’s system, which not all of them are. A VA employee pushed back, noting that “there are fraud and risk concerns about someone submitting a form on behalf of a veteran when they have not been established as their caretaker.” Another employee noted this change would make it easier to “submit fraudulent forms at scale.”

In a March 26 Slack message, Lavingia also suggested that the agency should do away with paper forms entirely, aiming for “full digitization.”

“There are over 400 vet-facing forms that the VA supports, and only about 10 percent of those are digitized,” says a VA worker, noting that digitizing forms “can take years because of the sensitivity of the data” they contain. Additionally, many veterans are elderly and prefer using paper forms because they lack the technical skills to navigate digital platforms.

“Many vets don’t have computers or can’t see at all,” they say. “My skin is crawling thinking about the nonchalantness of this guy.”

Lavingia’s earliest activity on the VA’s Github is indicative of the broader tensions at the agency. According to GitHub pull requests and people familiar with his work, Lavingia sought to change the text in the website’s footer where the agency lists its social media presence from “Twitter” to “X.” (Musk renamed Twitter to X after purchasing it in 2022.)

That change was not as simple as it sounds.

“We wanted it to say ‘X (formerly Twitter)’ or something similar,” says the second VA tech worker. This was because the letter X is, on its own, not big enough to be compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. The single letter would be too difficult for someone to tap. Other VA workers suggested that they could use “X.com,” again in an attempt to make text more readable and accessible to disabled users.

“X.com is not an acceptable replacement. It must be ‘X’ to be consistent with the other sites where we use the names they prefer,” Lavingia responded. The VA website now simply lists “X.”

In a GitHub ticket viewed by WIRED, Lavingia also suggested abandoning Drupal, a content management system (CMS) that the VA uses for publishing updates and information about the agency and the services it provides on VA facility websites. “I think we should consider removing Drupal as part of our workflow, and all content should just live in the codebase,” he wrote.

Sources say that the regular office administrators and health workers staffed at VA locations around the country are often the ones responsible for making sure that the content about their facilities are clear and up to date on their VA webpages. Instead of being able to log in to the CMS and update the appropriate text or pages, Lavingia’s suggestion would mean they’d need to go into the actual code of the website to make simple changes. Any mistakes could break the sites, and one source worried that such a technical task would be too big of an ask for nontechnical VA staffers.

“There are over 1,000 VA editors that work in the hospitals as administrators and other roles that update the websites for each VA medical center and hospital every day. They are not engineers, they barely can use a CMS at all,” says the second VA worker, who was shocked by Lavingia’s suggestion. “This guy is suggesting we move all 55,000-plus pages of live content into the code.”

A week after Lavingia made this suggestion, the VA did not renew a contract for the workers who managed its CMS. This means, sources claim, that the VA’s facility locator, which lets users find a hospital or VA office near them, may stop functioning. This feature was managed through the contractor. (The DOGE account on X posted proudly, “VA was previously paying ~$380,000/month for minor website modifications. That contract has not been renewed and the same work is now being executed by 1 internal VA software engineer spending ~10 hours/week.” VA workers say they have no idea who the post refers to.)

Sources say that Lavingia’s casual approach extends even to such issues as meeting protocols. On Tuesday, during a Microsoft Teams call with Chris Johnston, the agency’s deputy chief technology officer, VA tech workers were surprised when they saw that someone had started recording in the middle of a call.

“It created a stir,” says a third VA worker who was in the meeting.

In a chatbox, Lavingia wrote, “Why can’t we record? I think we should unless there’s a legal reason not to,” noting that it would be helpful for people who couldn’t attend. Another person wrote back, informing Lavingia that the deck for the meeting would be shared in a Slack channel, “for reference.”

“I think it’s good policy to assume all meetings will be recorded,” Lavingia responded. The source who was on the call says that recording all calls is not the norm at the agency and that it is standard practice to ask to record calls before doing so.

“I see more naivete than evil,” says the VA worker who was at the meeting. “If you come up in Silicon Valley, you really do start to believe that because you launched some startup and were successful you have some kind of secret sauce. And everything outside of your founder/startup ecosystem needs to be disrupted.”

But the worker says that Lavingia’s backing by Musk and DOGE has created a culture of fear. “Everyone is scared to death of him and takes every question or suggestion as an edict,” they say.

According to his GitHub account, it appears that while he is at the VA, Lavingia is continuing to work on his tool Flexile, which now also bears the name “Antiwork.” GitHub records show he has been working on the code even up to this week. The VA did not respond to questions about whether this is permissible while working with the agency. (Government workers are allowed to take on some kinds of outside work, generally with agency permission, so long as it doesn’t conflict with their existing role.)

[karalianne]

NaNoWriMo Fire

I have been posting comments on NaNoWriMo's Facebook page, to the most recent three posts there (copied and pasted). My latest one has apparently been blocked or something, so I'm going to start sharing here. Please do share this far and wide.

If you don't know what the NaNoWriMo fire is, I have two resources for you:

Reddit Post (took two to post the whole story)

Google Docs summary (being actively updated as things continue to burn)

So below the fold I'm pasting the comments I put on Facebook, in order. Enjoy!

March 5, 20204

It's becoming increasingly obvious that the goal here is to shutter NaNoWriMo as an organization. I wish you guys would just DO IT ALREADY instead of pretending you're trying to do right by the community. That ABSOLUTELY ATROCIOUS ABOMINATION of a new ML agreement is reprehensible. I hope NOBODY signs it, because it is BLATANTLY trying to put ALL BLAME for anything that goes wrong directly on the ML's. Which is ludicrous. On top of that, if people have concerns about the agreement they are automatically being removed as ML. That's not good faith. It's not transparency. I've been trying to believe the best but obviously that was really silly of me and I apologize for believing that everyone is capable of actually doing better.

March 7, 2024

The Board Update is laughable and reinforces the impression I offered in my previous comment. Basically, nobody on the Board right now was even there when all this stuff happened. NaNoWriMo the organization is not actually listening to the feedback from the community; supposedly there have been focus groups but none of the people I'm in contact with (which is a lot of people who have all been very heavily involved with the organization over the years) ever got an invitation. I am just one person, and I am aware that I am not owed anything. However, this entire thing continues to be mismanaged, and I do not for one second believe that the organization is heading in the right direction.

Again, I suggest you just shut things down completely like you're obviously planning. All the noises about trying to do the right thing, followed by this alarming lack of actually doing the right thing and incredibly tone-deaf approach, are not helping the situation. Support for the organization is dwindling, and I am not surprised. That's what happens when you ignore and/or woefully mismanage your response to concerns.

March 9, 2024

Well, I'm back for another round of "I thought I told you not to do this kind of thing." Again, I know I'm just a person and nobody has to listen to me, but I know plenty of people who agree with me.

First, regarding the FAQ for MLs, there are contradictions and missing words. I try not to criticize that sort of thing too much (in spite of being a trained proofreader) but this is supposed to be a writing organization, and you people at HQ are supposed to be writers. Do better.

Second, it has come to my attention that both the Terms & Conditions and the Codes of Conduct have been updated with no notification. That is ridiculous and unethical, not to mention poor business practice. Literally every organization I am connected to sends an e-mail to let me know when there are changes upcoming, and often those changes are outlined so I know what to expect. And then I have the option to leave if I don't agree with those changes.

If you did send a notification e-mail prior to these changes being implemented, well, hey, we already knew the e-mail system was borked so whatever. But it looks like literally NOBODY got a notification of the upcoming changes, which indicates that there was no attempt to follow best practices.

It is clear to me, and to many other people in the community, that nobody at HQ actually knows how to manage a non-profit. I'm also pretty sure you don't understand ethics or best practices. You're trying to get ahead of bad things that ALREADY HAPPENED, and if you're actually consulting a lawyer about all of these things before you do them, they are giving you horrible advice. You also needed a PR team back in like November (maybe even October).

There's a weird attitude that I've seen all over the place, that people who are being vocal about this disaster are being mean or trying to destroy NaNoWriMo or something like that. I want to be crystal clear here: People who are being vocal are speaking up on behalf of people who needed a voice. People were being abused and others decided to help them get out of that situation. When the expected solution (reporting to HQ) did not result in appropriate actions, they moved to make the situation public. (That's when I found out and got involved.)

When we were discussing problems and asking questions on the forums in November, we were trying to be productive. We were looking for answers, making suggestions, explaining what was wrong (because as we talked we learned that there was far more than just the Mod X situation that was wrong), offering our assistance... and we got shut down.

Now I'm also hearing that there has been a focus group. Who was in that focus group? How did you get the participants? Nobody I know was contacted to be on that focus group. Are you actually LISTENING to the participants? Are the people you're recruiting all folks who've made it clear they're mad at those of us who are using our voices to call out abuses of power, poor organization and business practices, and unethical behaviour? I don't care if I'm not approached to be a part of a focus group, but making sure you involve an assortment of viewpoints would be beneficial.

I am just incredibly disappointed in how everything has gone and is going. The yacht has sailed. It's time to accept that and move on.

March 12, 2024 (the one that isn't showing up)

Every time I turn around, it seems, there's something new to facepalm over. It is becoming increasingly clear that HQ is on the defensive. You need someone on staff, like, six months ago, who is actually capable of professional communication. Right now, we're receiving passive-aggressive whinges about how many e-mails there are and how you're giving up vacations in order to reply to them. At least some of the foolish "answers" on the FAQ (which again, why is that on Zendesk? That makes no sense.) have been removed. The thing is, nevermind Pepperidge Farm, the Internet remembers. EVERYTHING.

It is not professional to tell your subordinates (whether staff or volunteers) that you're giving up personal time in order to deal with a mess that is your responsibility to deal with. It is not professional to complain about having to do a job you agreed to take on.

It is not ethical to try and get anti-union verbage into an agreement for volunteers. It is not ethical to try and get volunteers to take on all liability for events they organize on your behalf.

It is incredibly rude to treat adults as if they are misbehaving children. Especially not when they are bringing you legitimate concerns and criticisms about how your organization is handling a serious situation.

And yes, a lot of this one is specifically about Kilby, because WTF? How have you been on multiple boards and not learned how to do all of this stuff properly? You were absolutely NOT the right person for the job, and it's laughable that you think you were.

[theambivalentagender]

Been thinking about the similarities between chronic pain and cptsd/trauma responses as someone who deals with both.

How both physical and emotional pain are meant to be indicators to the body that something is wrong and needs to be changed/fixed.

But with chronic pain and trauma-based responses somethings gone wrong with the alarm system so it's firing constantly, or from a hair trigger, or from the wrong signals entirely.

So it's hard to know when something is REALLY wrong, if an ache is something to see a doctor over, or if a flash of anger or sadness or frustration is the correct emotional response to a situation.

And sometimes other people in your life will question if something you're experiencing really is a problem, or if it's just your "issues," your irrational trauma response.

It's like imposter syndrome for your own body's functions.

[shantanusontakke]

In today's world, safety is paramount, especially when it comes to fire hazards. Fire alarm detection systems play a crucial role in safeguarding lives and property. This blog explores the various components, types, and importance of these systems.

What is a Fire Alarm Detection System?

A fire alarm detection system is designed to detect and alert occupants of a building to the presence of smoke, fire, or other hazards. These systems can vary in complexity, ranging from simple smoke detectors to sophisticated integrated systems that monitor multiple buildings.

Key Components of Fire Alarm Systems

1. Smoke Detectors: These devices sense smoke as an indicator of fire. There are two primary types:

- Ionization Detectors: More responsive to flaming fires.

- Photoelectric Detectors: Better at detecting smoldering fires.

2. Heat Detectors: These activate when a specific temperature is reached or when there’s a rapid increase in temperature.

3. Manual Pull Stations: Located throughout buildings, these allow individuals to manually signal an alarm in the event of a fire.

4. Alarm Notification Devices: This includes horns, bells, and strobe lights that alert occupants of the danger.

5. Control Panel: The brain of the system, it receives signals from detectors and activates alarms and notifications.

6. Fire Suppression Systems: Some systems integrate fire suppression technologies, such as sprinklers, to control or extinguish fires automatically.

Types of Fire Alarm Detection Systems

1. Conventional Systems: These are typically used in smaller buildings. They group detectors into zones, making it easy to locate the source of the alarm.

2. Addressable Systems: More advanced, these systems provide specific information about the location of the alarm, allowing for quicker response times.

3. Wireless Systems: Ideal for buildings where wiring is impractical, wireless systems use radio signals to communicate between detectors and the control panel.

4. Smart Fire Alarms: Integrating with IoT technology, these systems can send alerts to smartphones, providing real-time information about fire conditions.

Importance of Fire Alarm Detection Systems

- Life Safety: The primary purpose is to alert occupants early, allowing them time to evacuate safely.

- Property Protection: Early detection can minimize damage to property and assets.

- Compliance with Regulations: Many local codes and regulations require the installation of fire alarm systems in commercial and residential buildings.

- Insurance Benefits: Having a functioning fire alarm system can lower insurance premiums and provide peace of mind.

Maintenance and Testing

Regular maintenance and testing of fire alarm systems are crucial for ensuring their functionality. This includes:

- Monthly visual inspections.

- Semi-annual testing of alarm devices.

- Annual professional inspections by certified technicians.

Conclusion

Investing in a fire alarm detection system is essential for any building. Understanding the components, types, and importance of these systems can help in making informed decisions about safety measures. Prioritizing fire safety not only protects lives but also enhances the overall security of property and assets. Remember, in a fire emergency, every second counts—early detection can make all the difference.

[ravelfireelectronics]

Response Indicator in Fire Alarm System

Ravel Fire provide Response Indicator in Fire Alarm System at affordable prices, allowing for quick and easy identification of the location of a fire alarm activation. This feature is crucial for ensuring a rapid response from emergency services and minimizing potential damage.

[manishkhatana]

Benefits of Fire Alarm Hooters in Industrial Safety

Factories have many safety problems, and fire risks are very high on this list. The hooter for the fire alarm is a major protection in case of possible disastrous scenarios. It gives fast warnings which attract attention right away which can protect lives and reduce damage to property.

Not like notices you see, fire alarm sirens can be heard clearly even with the background noise in places where things are made. This way workers always get warnings no matter what they look at or if there is other noise around them. These horn sounds that can be heard make them very necessary for dangerous factory situations when time is very important during emergencies.

Enhanced Emergency Response Time

Studies have found that fire alarm hooter systems, when used rightly, can lessen the time taken for evacuation by as much as 30%. This major enhancement is due to the hooter's potential to initiate a quick response with its unique and clear sound pattern. Workers naturally understand this sign of emergency.

These alarms have a big effect on the mind that you cannot describe too much. Workers who always hear fire alarm hooter sounds get used to responding by leaving straight away, in this way no time is wasted with uncertainty or misunderstanding during an urgent situation.

Compliance and Regulatory Benefits

Putting correct fire alarm siren systems aids facilities in satisfying OSHA rules and international safety standards. More than just escaping possible penalties, following the law shows a dedication to keeping workers safe and can have good effects on insurance costs.

Many of today's siren systems are combined with wider emergency management frameworks. They makeup inclusive safety networks that record incidents, how fast the response is, and efficiency in evacuation—offering essential information for constant betterment in safety.

Cost-Effectiveness Through Prevention

In relation to potential expenses from fire harm, injuries of employees or interruptions in operation, the investment value of fire alarm siren systems is very small but gives exceptional outcomes. One incident that gets stopped by this system can make up for its installation cost multiple times over.

Modern Advancements in Alarm Technology

Today, the fire alarm siren technology includes complex features like adjustable volume for distinct settings, different sounds for various emergency situations and backup power systems to ensure it works even when there is no electricity.

Wireless network functions permit combined whole-building systems with central supervision, and smart diagnostics always check system preparedness. This removes the danger of system breakdown at crucial times when people's lives may need instant alert.

[southeastasianists]

Bornean orangutans are one of three orangutan species, all critically endangered. They thrive in carbon-rich peat swamp forests on the Indonesian island of Borneo. These habitats are also the sites of massive wildfires.

Indonesian wildfires in 2015 caused some of the worst fire-driven air pollution ever recorded. The fires were driven by an El Niño climatic cycle, which caused especially dry weather in the region.

Compared to other wildfires, peatland fires smolder underground and produce exceptionally high levels of hazardous gases and particulate matter—a leading cause of global pollution-related deaths and illnesses.

Orangutans are well known as an “indicator species” – one that can serve as a proxy for the health of an ecosystem. Changes in their environments often cause conspicuous changes in the apes’ health and behavior. Frequent and persistent exposure to toxic smoke could have severe consequences for orangutans and other wildlife.

Toxic air pollution also poses serious health and safety risks for researchers. However, remote sensing techniques, such as satellite images, GPS data, and acoustic monitoring, are increasingly popular ways to track wildlife populations and see how creatures respond to changes in their environments.

I have studied the behavior, ecology, and acoustic communication of wild primates in Indonesia since 2005. In a new study, my coauthors and I investigated how wild orangutans in Borneo were affected by toxic emissions from Indonesia’s 2015 peatland wildfires—by studying their voices.

Around the world, wildfires are on the rise. They often produce a thick blanket of haze that contains diverse hazardous gases and particulate matter, or PM. Most recently, smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed the U.S. East Coast and Midwest in June 2023, turning skies orange and triggering public health alerts.

Studies have shown that human health risks from wildfire smoke include respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, systemic inflammation, and premature death. Much less is known about how smoke affects wildlife, but in a pair of studies published in 2021 and 2022, scientists at the California National Primate Research Center reported alarming findings.

After less than two weeks of exposure to high concentrations of particulate matter—in particular, ultrafine particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter, which are known as PM2.5—captive rhesus macaques suffered a spike in pregnancy loss. What’s more, surviving fetuses and infants suffered long-term effects on lung capacity, immune responses, inflammation, cortisol levels, behavior, and memory.

During Indonesia’s 2015 fires, Borneo’s air had particulate matter concentrations nearly an order of magnitude higher than the levels in these studies. This made the potential implications for people and wildlife who gasped through Indonesia’s wildfire smoke for nearly two months extremely worrying.

I was studying wild orangutans in the forests of Indonesian Borneo when the 2015 fires started. My colleagues and I at the Tuanan Orangutan Research Station tracked local fires and patrolled nearby hot spots to assess the risk of fire spreading to our research area.

Wearing N95 masks, we continued to monitor orangutans in hopes of learning how the animals were coping with encroaching fires and thick smoke. A few weeks into the fire season, I noticed a difference in the sound of the males’ “long call,” which was the focus of my research.

Long calls are booming vocalizations that can be heard over distances of more than half a mile (1 kilometer). Orangutans are semi-solitary and live in dispersed communities, so these calls serve an important social role. Adult males make them to advertise their prowess to listening females in the area and to scare off any eavesdropping rival males. A couple of weeks after the smoke had appeared, I thought these males sounded raggedy—a little like humans who smoke a lot.

We observed the orangutans for 44 days during the fires, until large blazes encroached on our study area. At that point, we stopped the study to help extinguish the blazes with local firefighting teams and other government and nonprofit groups. Fires burned in our study area for three weeks.

Using data that we collected before, during, and after the fires, I led an analysis of this Bornean orangutan population’s behavior and health. My coauthors and I found that in the weeks after the fires, the apes reduced their activities—resting more and traveling shorter distances—and consumed more calories than normal.

But although they were eating more and moving less, we found by collecting and testing the apes’ urine that they were still burning stored fat—a sign that they somehow were using up more energy. We hypothesized that the cause might be inflammation—the swelling, fever, pain, and fatigue that human and animal bodies experience in response to infection or injury.

Studies have shown that when humans are exposed to particulate matter, they can experience inflammation, both in their respiratory tracts and throughout their bodies. We wanted to know whether inhaling wildfire smoke would cause vocal changes in orangutans, just as inhaling cigarette smoke does in humans.

For this study, my coauthors and I carefully analyzed more than 100 sound recordings of four male orangutans that we followed before and during the fires to measure their vocal responses to wildfire smoke. Research has shown that a suite of vocal features—including pitch, vocal harshness or hoarseness, and shaky voice—reflects the underlying health and condition of both human and nonhuman animals. We were looking for acoustic clues about how this toxic air might be affecting the orangutans.

During the fires and for several weeks after the smoke cleared, these males called less frequently than usual. Normally, orangutans call about six times a day. But during the fires, their call rate was cut in half. Their voices dropped in pitch, showing more vocal harshness and irregularities.

Collectively, these features of vocal quality have been linked to inflammation, stress, and disease—including COVID-19—in human and nonhuman animals.

Increasingly frequent and prolonged exposure to toxic smoke could have severe consequences for orangutans and other animals. Our research highlights the urgent need to understand the long-term and far-ranging effects of peatland fires in Indonesia, which is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world.

By uncovering the linkages between acoustic, behavioral, and energetic shifts in orangutans, our study highlights a way for scientists and wildlife managers to safely monitor the health of orangutans and other animals. Using passive acoustic monitoring to study vocally active indicator species, like orangutans, could unlock critical insights into wildfire smoke’s effects on wildlife populations worldwide.

Wendy M. Erb is a postdoctoral associate in conservation bioacoustics at Cornell University.

[dontdj]

Travelogue Kyiv mid June 2023

After riding - with occasional stops for changing and checking - trains for some 24h+, I arrived at Pasazhyrskyi the central station of Kyiv on an early Friday morning. The long journey was eased by pleasant company who was happy to join my pick-up and me in paying a visit to a close by cafe where we enjoyed some breakfast snack in the morning sun. I got a Croffin and an orange-vanilla lemonade - a choice I did not make or regret! The place was partially shadowed by trees while providing a nice view on some of Kyiv's many hills. It only took around 10 minutes in such peaceful atmosphere until the cellphones of my host and other guests of that idyllic establishment started flashing an alarm. 20 seconds later many different sirens went off all around us and after checking their emergency-app my host informed us that an attack by ballistic missiles was imminent. Instantly I was offered to go to the nearest shelter yet the decision was left to me. After inquiring about the distance to the nearest shelter I decided against such effort on the basis that these kind of missiles would probably reach us faster than we would be able to reach the nearest shelter anyway. Besides I was curious of potentially seeing the American-donated Patriot-system in action. My host seemed visibly stressed out by the situation and upon inquiry I deduced that it was mostly my presence as a foreigner and the felt responsibility that came along with such engagement, which produced the unrest. But since it was ballistic missiles flying at hypersonic speed that were expected, they agreed there was very little chance to reach the nearest shelter before those rockets would reach Kiyv, so my host went along and my afore mentioned travel companion seemed more relaxed anyway - as were all other guests of our breakfast place of choice.

About 3 minutes after the sirens started singing we started hearing something like a continuous loud thunder that increased rapidly in intensity. I tried to make out the vector of the source of that noise and once I realised it was heading directly our way I looked up straight above us. But those missiles were so much faster than their sound that I could only see two condensation trails between the sparsely scattered clouds above our heads. The trails were not parallel like they are with jets propelled by multiple engines. The sound followed that direction and now seemed to come from where those 2 white lines were already slightly dispersed by wind some 10 seconds after I had discovered them. Since I was mentally prepared for such events I was not really nervous yet felt some kind of relief realising that those bombs had already passed our location. It took a good 3 minutes before we heard 2 massive explosions in indeterminable distance right from where I figured those explosive devices were headed.

After a few more minutes the alarm was called off. Later on I learned that a total of 6 ballistic missiles had supposedly been fired towards Kiyv around that time. I can neither confirm nor deny this; The only account I can give is: I witnessed what seemed indications of two very fast low flying objects which made a thundering sound distinctly different from hypersonic jet-engines (which used to fly over the place I spent most of my childhood at and are therefore rather familiar to me), all ending in two loud explosions a significant amount of time later. I did not hear or see the other 4 ballistic weapons, but Kyiv is a vast city spread across many hills and depending on their targets it is perfectly possible that we weren't able to take any notion of them. Official Ukrainian sources claim all six hypersonic missiles were destroyed by the patriot systems and no-one was hurt by debris that day.

It is kind of funny that this attack right after my arrival turned out to be my first and only experience of such kind during my 5 day stay in Kyiv!

I need to stress at this point that if I use words like "funny" I am only referring to my phenomenological experiences - not to the general state and dire situation Ukraine is subjected to! Furthermore it is important to keep in mind that Russian missiles are often aimed at civilian infrastructure and dwellings, which causes much harm, grief and despair! And this does not only include peoples lives and livelihoods - and thereby the social structure - but also poses severe impact on wildlife which recently can especially be attributed to the sabotage of the Kachowka dam that can be classified as ecocide on grounds that amongst other devastating destruction of habitats and deaths of millions of animals, this catastrophe seems to even have pushed the entire population of black-sea dolphins to the brink of extinction!

So please bear in mind that this report is only reflecting my experiences as a travelling musician visiting Kyiv for a few days - especially as a guest and foreigner with privileged status my impressions will be extremely distorted compared to those of the locals who were forced to radically change their lifestyle ever since 24th of February 2022 while being severely impacted by the psychological, social and economic consequences of Russia's strategy of terrorising the general population!

One woman on my train who was traveling with her 5 year old daughter told me she wanted her child to stop constantly talking about bombs and "Butin" (that mother was still amused by the mispronunciation of her child) and was as happy to see her daughter take to other subjects as she was afraid of returning to their home close by an Ukranian military airbase.

Ballistic missiles not only fly very fast, they often are also capable of carrying thermonuclear warheads! This would occur as a very serious threat when witnessed in any western country especially a Nato member! Yet this possibility did not seem to really concern anyone I approached on this matter since the deployment of strategic nuclear weapons would obviously mean the end of civilisation as we know it. And if this would not prove true for the whole world which could face years of "nuclear winter", it most certainly is true for the inhabitants of Ukraine's capital!

The next day I was invited to play at the opening of a new garden stage at ∄ better known as Kyrylivska 41 (or K41) which also doubles as the club's address. And the day after, I received the honour of closing the last party of 20ft radio at its now former location.

From what I can say about K41 - which is not much since apart from a small tour through some floors I mostly stayed in that architecturally pleasing new garden with its brutalist terraces of different heights and shapes - is that this is one of the best clubs I ever witnessed; Even dwarfing places like the Berghain! Then again, such impressions are significantly shaped by the people you encounter and how they interact! In my case staff and customers alike were very pleased to have a non-Ukrainian act performing and I was confronted with appreciation and outstanding kindness! Nonetheless I have seen enough clubs to confidently state that ∄ plays in the top league of clubs worldwide!

The lineup featured Dmytro Prutkin who opened with a pleasingly gentle dubby DJ-set perfectly fitting the mild summer-winds gently blowing through the trees. Dmytro Prutkin was followed by Ross Khmil delivering a way out ambient live-set that impressed me with always unexpected disharmonic phasing which I confess intimidated me in regards to having to go on stage playing my often rather harmonic live-set next in line(-up).

But all my risky methods of sound- and rhythm-creation seemed to work in favour of the performance that afternoon and I left the stage delighted by the atmosphere of cheerfulness and excitement that seemed to encompass that beautiful place this sunny afternoon. Chillera was closing the event with the most outstanding live-set I ever heard them play! It was a perfect ending for an afternoon (/ early evening) which seemed to spread bliss amongst a crowd which embraced the dance and the moment! Approaching drones announced on those afore mentioned apps did not deter anyone from getting lost in the music, which was too loud to hear the sirens anyways.

The next day the closing party of 20ft radio's location which operates out of two heavily modified containers was Sunday-afternoon bliss of the best kind: The bright summer sun heated up the open air area overseeing old industrial buildings surrounded by nature. The sets I listened were wild and fun and got the visitors dancing and chatting away while the bar was pouring shots and serving local snacks as a side for free to everyone. A box of donations, kindly provided by my lokal Berlin head-shop, was well received by the crowd - retrospectively validating those small drops of sweat forming on my forehead when some secret service members had me display them those papers and filters in front of the packed train coach on my journey 3 nights earlier (it was no big deal, as after the two dogs accompanying the secret service personell showed no interest at all in my gear packed heavy duty case, those men in black lost interest as well).

Now an equally obvious and relevant background to the parties taking place in Kyiv right now, is the city-wide curfew which starts at 24pm and ends at 5am. All locations catering to guests are required to close at 22pm and the police enforces a strict regiment including the occasional policing of areas directly surrounding venues known for hosting parties and thereby threatening music- and dance-enthusiasts with severe consequences in cases where the usage of illegal drugs could not reasonably be denied.

Therefore a culture of splitting up parties into smaller parties - in the ambiguous sense of this word - has evolved since the curfew was implemented. The streets are empty between 24pm and 5am. Clubbers seem to have either timed their day in a way that permits sleep to not be the worst idea around 24pm or they gather in small groups at someones home where they continue to embrace the night and each others company until the end of curfew when they either go to sleep or attend an event that opens at 5am, which seemed to me to be a rare exception.

The prevalent question that accompanied me on my wanderings through those peculiar interconnected backyards shortly before curfew taking effect and the intimate places they led me to, was: Whom does this culture benefit?

As you can imagine everyone has their own perspective towards this question, yet I experienced the locals to be astonishingly open towards discussing all kinds of different aspects of this question! This is especially remarkable in a country under attack by the country with the 3rd biggest spending on military expenses in the world (source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute 2023 Fact Sheet (for 2022)).

Everything except the obligatory ubiquitous national identity propaganda, that seems typical for a nation-state at war, reflected this approach towards plurality, let me list just a few examples: All kinds of latest electronic ways of transaction are as common as cash; 60 year old run down cars drive next to hybrid Japanese or electric American models; People selling few very small onions on the sidewalk next to a fancy supermarket that sells you an Oude Geuze Boon; Latest fashion trends were as much a common sight as more traditional styles. But most striking for me was the architecture! So I won't take you on that tour, it's way too detailed! Let me just say that there are medieval tunnels in those many hills that city is built on, that were discovered only recently and are possible to enter if you dare to, placed not far from really bold post-modern buildings, with huge soviet time industrial structures in between - and all combinations of those! Literally: There are even interconnected buildings incorporating multiple structures built at least 30 years apart from each other, all parts clearly assignable to distinct architectural periods.

Walking through the city center, riding the subway and eating at different places I observed that all military personnel (of which I saw a lot within city limits) was dressed equally pluralistic: the term "uniform" can hardly be deemed appropriate here, since each and every soldier was wearing different cloths. Sometimes even Russian style camouflage could be observed on some pant, t-shirt or cap. Inquiring my hosts about this unfamiliar phenomenon I learned that nearly all equipment of soldiers recruited since the start of the Russian aggression was purchased by the soldiers, their family and friends themselves - this even includes weapons, if the budget allows it. The background and resources of soldiers in Ukraine seemingly play a bigger role than it does in other armies. This apparently extends even to the battalion the individual soldier is deployed to: The chances of becoming a drone pilot are higher for recruits with more wealthy backgrounds, as are the the chances of being recruited at all - in reverse manner of course.

As annoying as it might seem, it is important to remind you at this point once again that my report only relies on anecdotal evidence - the lowest form of evidence one would like to base any judgement on! However, I did talk to people who were collecting donations because they strongly believed it would help transfer their friend from one division to another less risky one.

This situation which evolved during around 500 days of war, waves of emigration and civil, economic and ecological catastrophes, puts a huge burden on the club scene related subculture of Ukraine!!!

Is organising a party in times like this counter productive to the efforts of a country trying to repel the aggression of a much bigger enemy?

Or is organising parties in such climate a bold act of creating recreational moments in time and space that allow some minorities to catch a breath and for once think of something different than imminent threats delivered by a superpower - equipped with an absurd arsenal of strategic weapons - which aims to terrorise civilians on a daily basis? (I don't need to list examples to justify the word "terrorise" - if you follow the news, even from independent sources, you will agree that this is an appropriate term!

Are those parties I played at a "Fuck you and your intimidation tactics!" kind of message towards Russia? Or are they distracting the civilian society from engaging in more direct action or other pressing matters at hand?

I stressed plurality as a major factor of the Ukrainian society's model of integration. This plurality goes as far as having Russian counter-forces operating in coordination with the Ukrainian army, or even more striking: Anarchist battalions fighting alongside a young nation under attack, sure keeping their independency, but of course coordinating with military forces of a nation state under martial law - a compromise rarely observed in paramilitary anarchist alliances throughout history!

How long is this situation going to continue? What happens afterwards? Will the independent Ukrainian music scene survive and and revive? What fait awaits all those wonderful people I was lucky to engage with and whose stories this report is mostly based on?

There are no answers I can offer to all these questions.

Yet what I do know is that I want Ukraine to succeed! Seeing that vibrant culture grow and change society over the last ~8 years spawned my empathy, and recent developments as well as the impressions I'm trying to convey here only strengthened that empathy in every way!

The electronic music underground of Ukraine is refusing to be intimidated and their events can be perceived as a big "Fuck off!! We are not intimidated!": A political statement towards Russia and anyone who does not respect their way of life, upholding the bold spirit Ukrainians have been displaying ever since the start of this war!

But the ambivalence that comes with such bold strategies also takes a toll on the people involved. Many active members of the music-scene have left the country or joined the military in defending it. Also someone told me that the amount of alcohol consumed in the inner circles of these underground cultures has risen significantly since the start of the war - I can neither confirm nor deny such claim, but I was surprised by the extent of consumption I found myself casually involved in. Then again the curious and productive energy of this scene did not seem sedated in any way: quite the opposite is what I observed!

The electronic underground of Ukraine still stands strong as far as I can tell, but it seems obvious that the comparatively small group of people willing to engage in risky endeavours like running a club, a bar or a radio in times like these needs international support!

The longer this situation continues, the more the group of people willing (and present) to take up such efforts and risks, will shrink inevitably!

These people face prolonged pressure from Russian terror and policing measures of a country under martial law alike!

Still their efforts provide temporary safe spaces for minorities, like the local queer community. They display the youth's curiosity and openness towards international cultural exchange, and they provide a platform for Ukraine's own daring and rapidly developing electronic music scene!

Please consider supporting those efforts! If you don't know how, do some research or check one of these links:

https://20ftradio.net/donate

https://aerorozvidka.ngo/

https://www.hospitallers.life/

https://zrzutka.pl/2658xm

[mightyflamethrower]

On the evening of July 2, officers from the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division found an unknown substance inside a vestibule leading to the lobby area of the West Executive Avenue entrance to the White House. 

The substance was located inside a receptacle used to temporarily store electronic and personal devices prior to entering the West Wing. 

Following the discovery, safety closures were implemented around the White House. This response was designed to ensure that the found substance was not a chemical or radiological material that threatened the security of the White House. As such, the substance was field tested and preliminarily determined to not be a hazardous compound. 

Testing conducted by the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department indicated that the found powder tested preliminarily positive for the presence of cocaine. The substance and packaging were treated as evidence and sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, which analyzed the item for any biothreats. Tests conducted at this facility came back negative and gave formal confirmation that the substance was not biological in nature. 

The substance and packaging underwent further forensic testing. The substance was analyzed for its chemical composition. The packaging was subjected to advanced fingerprint and DNA analysis. Both of these analyses were conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's crime laboratory given their expertise in this area and independence from the investigation. 

While awaiting the FBl's results, the Secret Service investigation into how this item entered the White House continued. The investigation included a methodical review of security systems and protocols. This review included a backwards examination that spanned several days prior to the discovery of the substance and developed an index of several hundred individuals who may have accessed the area where the substance was found. The focal point of these actions developed a pool of known persons for comparison of forensic evidence gleaned from the FBI’s analysis of the substance's packaging. 

On July 12, the Secret Service received the FBI’s laboratory results, which did not develop latent fingerprints and insufficient DNA was present for investigative comparisons.   Therefore, the Secret Service is not able to compare evidence against the known pool of individuals. The FBl's evaluation of the substance also confirmed that it was cocaine. 

There was no surveillance video footage found that provided investigative leads or any other means for investigators to identify who may have deposited the found substance in this area. Without physical evidence, the investigation will not be able to single out a person of interest from the hundreds of individuals who passed through the vestibule where the cocaine was discovered. At this time, the Secret Service's investigation is closed due to a lack of physical evidence. 

The U.S. Secret Service takes its mission to protect U.S. leaders, facilities, and events seriously and we are constantly adapting to meet the needs of the current and future security environment. 

Blah blah blah blahdy blah blah. Have you ever caught your child doing something wrong and their alabi goes on and on. The longer they talk the guiltier they sound. That would be the best analogy of what we just got from the DOJ. We all know who's coke this is. If it were anyone else's they would have already forced him to do a very public perp walk. We'd be listening to interviews with their third grade teachers. Every inch of the White House is under CCTV 24/7. Hunter has a long history of getting fucked up and forgetting what he did with things.

Our inability to ever get the truth out of this administration is both alarming and disgusting.

Good Job democrats.

[axontec]

Why Every Business Needs an AMC for Fire Safety Before Disaster Strikes

Fire alarms, extinguishers, and sprinklers are frequently installed once and then forgotten in today's hectic workplace. In actuality, however, the dependability of fire safety systems depends on their continuous upkeep. An Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) can help with that.

An AMC for fire safety is not only a wise choice, but also an essential one for any company, regardless of size. Here are some reasons why your company cannot afford to neglect fire safety upkeep before a catastrophe occurs.

1. Fire Is Silent

One of the most destructive and unpredictable forces is fire. Inadequate wiring, overheated equipment, or even basic human error can cause it to explode. Your fire safety systems could malfunction when you need them most if you don't perform routine maintenance.

An AMC guarantees that your extinguishers, suppression systems, and fire alarms are inspected frequently and are in good working order. It could put lives, property, and reputation at risk to wait for indications of damage or failure. In this situation, prevention is always preferable to treatment.

2. Adhere to the law

Strict fire safety laws are enforced by organizations like the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and the Dubai Civil Defense (DCD) in the majority of jurisdictions, including Dubai and many regions of Saudi Arabia. All commercial establishments are required by these authorities to use authorized AMC providers for fire system maintenance.

In addition to potential fines and penalties, noncompliance may result in the closure of your company's location. With thorough documentation and prompt reports during inspections, an AMC with a certified company guarantees you're always in compliance with the law.

3. Guard Your Property and People

Visitors, clients, and staff all have faith in the security of your company's facilities. Tragic outcomes during an emergency could arise from a malfunctioning fire alarm or a blocked fire exit. Even a small fire can cause thousands or even millions of dollars' worth of property damage.

Scheduled inspections, fire alarm testing, extinguisher pressure checks, and making sure sprinkler systems are responsive and unclogged are all included in AMCs. This preventative measure guarantees that your people and property are always safe and drastically lowers the risk of fire.

4. Reduce Losses and Downtime

Consider a situation in which a minor electrical fire starts but your fire suppression system malfunctions because it hasn't been maintained. Systems go down, the fire spreads, and you have to close for days or even weeks.

Now imagine the same situation, except that your systems have been maintained by an AMC. Early detection and prompt extinguishment of the fire allow operations to proceed with little interruption. That is the strength of readiness. Literally, an AMC can mean the difference between hours of downtime and complete catastrophe.

5. Long-Term Cost-Effective

Because they think they're saving money, some business owners are hesitant to invest in AMCs. However, this is a short-term perspective. The expense of a maintenance contract is greatly outweighed by the need for emergency repairs, property damage, fines, and lost revenue.

You pay a set, predictable price for regular maintenance, inspections, and repairs when you work with an AMC. This helps you get better returns on your initial investment by extending the life of your fire safety equipment and protecting your budget.

6. Seek Professional Assistance and Service

AMC providers typically possess current fire safety standards knowledge, certification, and training. Whether you run a factory, warehouse, retail store, office building, or other type of business, they offer scheduled visits, emergency support, system upgrades, and compliance advice.

Additionally, they maintain thorough records of every test, visit, and repair. For regulatory inspections, insurance claims, and audits, this documentation may be essential.

Concluding Remarks: Avoid Waiting for a Wake-Up Call

After experiencing a loss, many businesses come to understand the significance of fire safety maintenance. Don't let that be your tale. A fire safety annual maintenance contract is more than just a service; it's a pledge to responsibility, readiness, and safety.

Now is the ideal moment to secure your property with a reputable fire safety AMC, regardless of how long your business has been in operation or how new it is. Select a government-approved, certified supplier who provides thorough industry-specific support and is aware of local compliance requirements.

Because the question of fire safety is not if, but when. And your AMC might be the one thing that saves everything when that moment arrives.

[mariacallous]

It started with a call. A man identifying himself as a federal immigration agent contacted a Venezuelan father in San Antonio, interrogating him about his teenage son. The agent said officials planned to visit the family’s apartment to assess the boy’s living conditions.

Later that day, federal agents descended on his complex and covered the door’s peephole with black tape, the father recalled. Agents repeatedly yelled the father’s and son’s names, demanded they open the door and waited hours before leaving, according to the family. Terrified, the father, 37, texted an immigration attorney, who warned that the visit could be a pretext for deportation. The agents returned the next two days, causing the father such alarm that he skipped work at a mechanic shop. His son stayed home from school.

Department of Homeland Security agents have carried out dozens of such visits across the country in recent months as part of a systematic search for children who arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border by themselves, and the sponsors who care for them while they pursue their immigration cases. The Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is responsible for the children’s care and for screening their sponsors, has assisted in the checks.

The agency’s welfare mission appears to be undergoing a stark transformation as President Donald Trump seeks to ramp up deportation numbers in his second term, a dozen current and former government officials told ProPublica and The Texas Tribune. They say that one of the clearest indications of that shift is the scale of the checks that immigration agents are conducting using information provided by the resettlement agency to target sponsors and children for deportation.

Trump officials maintain that the administration is ensuring children are not abused or trafficked. But current and former agency employees, immigration lawyers and child advocates say the resettlement agency is drifting from its humanitarian mandate. Just last week, the Trump administration fired the agency’s ombudsman, who had been hired by Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration to act as its first watchdog.

“Congress set up a system to protect migrant children, in part by giving them to an agency that isn’t part of immigration enforcement,” said Scott Shuchart, a former official with Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s first term and later under Biden. The Trump administration, Shuchart said, is “trying to use that protective arrangement as a bludgeon to hurt the kids and the adults who are willing to step forward to take care of them.”

[langstaffandsloan]

Top Local Electricians in Toronto: Trusted Experts for All Your Electrical Needs

Finding skilled and trustworthy local electricians in Toronto is essential whether you're renovating your home, upgrading office systems, or dealing with unexpected power issues. With increasing demand for safe and modern electrical setups in both residential and commercial settings, choosing the right local expert can make all the difference in safety, efficiency, and long-term reliability.

Why Choose Local Electricians in Toronto?

Toronto is a fast-paced, diverse, and growing city. With its mix of older homes and new high-rise developments, electrical needs vary greatly from one neighborhood to another. Local electricians in Toronto bring a unique understanding of the city’s infrastructure, building codes, and permit regulations, making them ideal partners for any electrical project.

Here are a few key advantages of hiring local electricians:

Faster response time in case of emergencies

Knowledge of local regulations and ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) codes

Reputation within the community, backed by real reviews

Ease of scheduling and follow-up support

Services Offered by Local Electricians in Toronto

Local electricians in Toronto typically offer a wide range of services to cater to both homeowners and business owners. Here are the most common services provided:

1. Residential Electrical Services

Whether you're in a downtown condo or a historic Victorian home, you may require:

Electrical panel upgrades and circuit breaker replacements

Knob and tube rewiring

Pot light and LED light installations

Home automation systems and smart wiring

Outlet and switch repairs or additions

Surge protection systems

EV charger installations

2. Commercial Electrical Services

Businesses in Toronto depend on reliable electrical setups. Local electricians provide:

Office wiring and rewiring

Lighting design and installation

Fire alarm systems and emergency lighting

Power distribution and panel installations

Data cabling and networking

Maintenance contracts for ongoing support

3. Emergency Electrical Services

Power outages and urgent electrical faults can happen without warning. Many local electricians in Toronto offer 24/7 emergency services for:

Short circuits and burning smells

Electrical fires or arcing issues

Loss of power in critical zones

Storm-related damages

Safety inspections following unusual activity

How to Choose the Best Local Electricians in Toronto

Not all electricians are created equal. To ensure safety and quality, follow these tips:

✅ Verify Licensing & Insurance

Only hire ESA-licensed electricians who are certified to perform electrical work in Ontario. Ensure they carry liability insurance to protect your property.

✅ Read Local Reviews

Check Google, Yelp, and Homestars for customer feedback. Positive local reviews often indicate consistency and professionalism.

✅ Ask About Experience

Choose electricians who have experience with your specific type of project—residential, commercial, or specialty installations.

✅ Compare Quotes

While the cheapest isn’t always best, multiple estimates help ensure you’re getting fair pricing for quality work.

✅ Look for Warranties

Reputable electricians offer warranties on their work and the parts they install.

Benefits of Hiring Local Electricians Over Big Chains

Many people assume big-box service providers are more reliable, but local electricians in Toronto often provide a better experience:

Personalized service with attention to detail

Direct communication with the technician handling your job

Flexible scheduling and quicker follow-ups

Support small businesses and strengthen the community

Energy-Efficient Upgrades from Toronto’s Electricians

Toronto’s push toward energy efficiency and sustainability means homeowners and businesses are seeking smarter electrical solutions. Local electricians are well-versed in eco-friendly upgrades like:

LED lighting systems

Energy-efficient panels and smart meters

Motion-activated lights for security and savings

Home automation for temperature and energy control

Cost of Electrical Services in Toronto

Pricing depends on job complexity, location, and urgency. Here’s a general idea:

Service Call: $100–$200

Panel Upgrade: $1,500–$3,000

Pot Light Installation: $100–$150 per light

Full Rewiring: $8,000–$20,000 depending on size and scope

Always request a written estimate and make sure there are no hidden fees.

Areas Served by Local Electricians in Toronto

Most local electricians in Toronto serve a wide range of neighborhoods, including:

Downtown Toronto

North York

Scarborough

Etobicoke

East York

The Beaches

York Region suburbs like Vaughan, Markham, and Richmond Hill

Final Thoughts

Whether it’s a small repair or a major upgrade, working with reliable local electricians in Toronto ensures your job gets done right, the first time. Their in-depth knowledge of the area, commitment to safety, and dedication to customer satisfaction make them the ideal choice for all your electrical needs.

If you're starting a project or facing an urgent issue, don’t settle for less. Choose a local expert who understands your community, values your time, and prioritizes quality. Your safety and comfort depend on it.

[arena077]

Is Your Home Really Safe? The Fire Risk Most Singaporeans Overlook

When we consider home security in Singapore, we usually think about locks, alarms, and perhaps CCTV cameras. Yet, perhaps one of the most neglected hazards in many homes is fire. And the fact is, however sleek or well-equipped your house might be, one careless error can rapidly develop into a calamitous fire. Which is why it's not just a choice—opting for a reputable fire protection company in Singapore—is actually a requirement.

The Actual Risk Within Your Home

Singaporeans often presume that since incidents of fire do not happen all that often, the danger to their home is minimal. What the statistics available with SCDF indicate, though, is that domestic fires remain one of the top reported accidents every year. From unmonitored cooking, through defective wires and overloaded power points, fires can start quite unexpectedly.

And when it happens, seconds count.

This is where a reliable Singapore fire protection company in singapore firm comes into action. These professionals provide the products, systems, and knowledge you need to prevent the occurrence of fire—and constrain its damage, if it has to happen.

What Are You Missing?

A few fire threats are quite normal in Singapore residential homes:

Frayed and overloaded power cords

Blocked-up dryer vents

Flammable liquid storage that isn't safe

Unattended candle or incense burning

Lousy wiring and old circuit breakers

Unfortunately, most of them are neglected until it is too late. However, a good fire protection company in Singapore is able to inspect these risks prior to them being tragedies.

Why a Fire Protection System in Singapore Homes Matters

A properly installed fire protection system Singapore is more than an ordinary smoke detector. It involves:

Fire extinguishers

Heat and smoke detectors

Fire blankets

Sprinkler systems

Emergency lights

Fire-resistance doors

All of these elements, properly installed and serviced by a Singapore-certified fire protection firm, can significantly improve your chances of escaping a fire safely—or keeping it from spreading at all. 

Why DIY Isn't Enough

You may believe purchasing a fire extinguisher online is sufficient. But faulty installation, bad placement, or outdated equipment can make these devices ineffective during an emergency. That's why you require experts. A Singapore-licensed fire protection company guarantees everything is SCDF-compliant and ready to function when called upon.

They also offer routine maintenance, a necessary but oft-overlooked component of any fire protection company in Singapore.

Choosing the Right Fire Protection Partner

Singapore is home to many providers, but not all offer the same level of service. Look for a fire protection company in Singapore that provides:

Certified equipment

Thorough risk assessments

Tailored fire safety plans

Installation and maintenance services

Responsive customer support

Engaging with a comprehensive fire protection services Singapore provider ensures that you’re not only equipped but also educated about how to prevent and respond to fires.

Businesses such as Drakofire have come to be renowned for providing the best fire protection services Singapore residents trust. As diverse as every house is, the universal need is obvious: fire safety needs to be proactive and not reactive.

Real-Life Cases That Could Have Been Prevented

Think about this: a blaze erupted in a condominium apartment last year because someone had left their phone charging on a combustible surface. The family got out, but the destruction was extensive. Investigators afterward found that an elementary fire protection company in Singapore, like a smoke detector with early warning features, might have saved thousands of dollars in loss—and provided the family with a little more time to respond.

A reputable fire protection firm in Singapore would have advised precisely that. The moral of the story? Prevention is not costly. It's invaluable.

Final Thoughts

Your house is your haven—but it can turn into a hazard zone if fire safety is neglected. From inspections to installations, having a professional fire protection company in Singapore in place guarantees peace of mind and forward-thinking security. They know the specific requirements of housing properties and provide solutions that are not only responsive but preventive.

Don't wait until a fire to check if you're ready. Let a professional fire protection company in Singapore demonstrate to you the unseen dangers in your house and how to prevent them before they occur. With trained professionals, custom solutions, and reliable equipment, your loved ones' safety is just a phone call away.

Whether you reside in an HDB flat or a private home, there is no longer any excuse to neglect fire safety. Contact a reputable fire protection company in Singapore—your future self will thank you.