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vague-humanoid · 1 year ago

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When I stepped into John Roe’s apartment early last December, slipping off my boots at the elevator that opens into the home, it wasn’t immediately clear that people inhabited the space, let alone a child. The four-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath Manhattan residence looked like a showroom. In the living room, a white minimalist couch with no arms confronted two white bouclé chairs. White couch, white lamps, white walls. Even Roe’s wife, Cherry, wore white. Charlotte of the Upper West Side has no dust, she told me—unlike the couple’s previous home, on the sixty-second floor of the Four Seasons Private Residences. Above my head, gentle classical music issued from invisible speakers.

Roe, a ruddy Asian man who wore a pink polo shirt tucked into khaki pants, is the developer of this nine-story brick and terra-cotta building, named after his daughter. His goal, Roe said, was to create the most immaculate and sustainable indoor environment possible. He obtained a Passive House Institute certification, which recognizes when buildings minimize the energy used for heating and cooling with airtight seals and insulation. (Such measures can decrease energy consumption by up to 90 percent.) To reduce residents’ inhalation of volatile organic compounds, Roe employed nontoxic building materials. Indeed, the star of Charlotte is its air. Each unit sports its own Swiss-engineered ventilation system, called Zehnder. On an iPad, Roe showed me the app that gives residents control over what they breathe.

The building’s approach to filtration is undeniably sophisticated. The air in each unit isn’t shared with any other. Outside air is brought in, filtered, treated with an ultraviolet-C light that kills 99.9 percent of pathogens, and completely changed out once per hour. Circulation can be boosted or slowed. Most apartments with similar systems recycle the air every four to five hours a day. “We were thinking, if we��re already going to build a Ferrari, then why would we only give it a 200-horsepower engine?” Roe said. “Let’s put a 1,000-horsepower engine into it.” The quadruple-layer, triple-paned windows feature museum-quality glass and are generally opened only for cleaning. Otherwise, you’d let in air far dirtier than what’s circulating inside.

At night, when Roe’s family is sleeping, it “smells like you’re camping, because the fresh air is getting pumped in at such a rapid rate,” he said. You know the air is good, he told me, because the hydrangeas last. Typically, when cut at the stem and arranged in a vase, the delicate flowers wither and droop in a few days. In his apartment, the blooms will stay perky for nearly two weeks.

@karpad @ubernegro @redstarovermoundcity @socialistexan

#they are literally creating personalized environments removed form the damage they are causing the world

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firemama · 4 years ago

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Its 5:30am and i have a ragging fever and im tryna sleep and thinkin about dragon age

And u know what!! I dont care WHAT the inquisition party mages start with!! Theres no fuckin WAY Solas specializes in ice magic!

Have u SEEN his classification? Like yeah rift mage, obvious, of course, he is Fade and Veil man. But the literalness of it? HE LITTERALLy! THROWS BIG FUCKIN ROCKS. Punch with fist!

Ice magic is all about defenses and traps and buying time, it is NOT solas' style. What is his style is throwing flaming rocks at people. You know what that IMPLIES? FIRE MAGIC. Especially when you look at fire amd ice magics clinically. Because ice magic, or rather, cold magic, would be removing energy from an enviorment (most easily, sending it to the surronounding Environment) to create a lack of energy, and thus make things colder. where as Fire magic, or Heat magic, would be injecting energy so suddenly that shit COMBUSTS. In the insance of SOLAS, a RIFT mage, how fucking easy would it be to spit out energy from the fade at a target? Its the same violent and straight forward tactic as, you kno, spitting a ROCK outta the fade. And also solas is a self admitted hot head (though he says its his youth in which he was short tempered, he litterally fell the fuck asleep for xyz number of years and then woke the fuck up and said "im wiser now" and continues to make wildly rash decisions like "shit lets give this blight guy my magic orb this will all work put fine" and also "hey almost all my fucking people died but im pretty sure if i tear down this veil thing i made which killed them, the current species of elvhen people that have probably adapted to the world as it is now will just be imortal probably!")

But my theory that elvhen people of current thedas plausably having changes to a point of no return aside:

Solas should totally use fucking fire magic, fuck the ice magic spell he starts with that everyone seems hellbent on taking as his elemental style.

That said, Vivienne is absolutely a fucking ice mage? Unquestionably? I mean its totally her fuckin style? She would totally take pleasure in immobilizing targets and taunting them (she litterally does this exact thing during her introduction sequence). And also shes an indirect, ice cold bitch (tone indiactor: kinda fucking love that about her). She would definitely be the kind of deadly ass mage that uses a style pension for defense and traps, cause thats BASICALLY what the game is but like, with words. And also sucking the energy out of something to freeze it is just the kind of a-emotional tactic you can expect in her calculative nature.

This leaves our last elemental school to Dorian, who should definitely be the fuckin school of storm? Lightning man? Like i know eveyone wants him to be fire because oho flamboyant little flame. But like everything about dorian is ententionally weaponized and volatile, even his flamboyant personality. His sharp tongue is a live wire and he litterally lives his life by the motto, "oh it looks pretty, but if you touch it, zap!" Like hes the embodiment of arching electricity. And it just fucking works more with his chaptic style! He a Necromancer! CHAOS! PANIC! FEAR! SPIRIT BOMBS AND THUNDEROUS CHAIN LIGHTNING = MASS HYSTERIA AND SWEEPING DAMAGE! Dorian comes from a country where the front lines and the battlefields are run by magic rather than armor or sword, his magic should reflect that. Quick, light on the feet, devestating. And dorian, himself: unpredictable but a whole school of science and research, to know the finesse of his craft and its nature, whether its the spirits he forms or the lightning he crafts.

Anyway it seems violently obvious to me

Tldr: Dorian it Storm, Vivienne is Ice, and Solas is Fire. It matches their nature, it matches their fighting styles, it matches their specializations.

Im sure this post is riddled with typos but cut be some slack it is now 6:10am and im exhausted

#munchatter #dragon age inquisition

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thecreaturecodex · 5 years ago

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Daemonic Harbinger, Shagrath

Image © @tredlocity

[Commissioned by @crazytrain48. Shagrath the Red Moon Spyder was first mentioned in the original Arduin Grimoire but never got much elaboration, beyond being Chaotic and Evil and having a holiday devoted to him. The 90s “Compleat Arduin” edition misspelled his name with 2 Gs, and that’s what I have used previously in the spiga entry. The Arduin Eternal version from the 2000s made him a creator god, but that information never made it into any of their published books, and their website is only available via Wayback Machine. So this version merges him with another spider-themed archfiend from Arduin, Calyandagg, but incorporates some of my own personal interests in making evil deities based on real-world evils. The idea that conspiracy theories are authored by a giant spider who lives on the moon sounds like a conspiracy theory in and of itself.]

Daemonic Harbinger, Shagrath CR 22 NE Outsider (extraplanar) This immense creature looks vaguely arachnid, with thirteen legs and thirteen eyes. Its carapace is a metallic red, with a mantle of bristling fur on it. Alien runes decorate its legs and abdomen.

Shagrath The Red Moon Spider, The Second Opinion Concerns alternate history, misinformation, torture Domains Darkness, Destruction, Evil, Knowledge Subdomains Daemon, Moon, Thought, Torture Worshipers conspiracy theorists, interrogators, spiga Minions crucidaemons, fiendish giant spiders, piscodaemons Unholy Symbol a ring of twelve red moons showing the lunar cycle Favored Weapon heavy pick Devotion Spend one hour promulgating an alternative version of a commonly held idea or belief. It does not matter whether you believe what you say, or if it is true, only that the information is spread. Gain a +4 profane bonus to saving throws against confusion effects and mind-influencing effects that deal damage (such as mind thrust). Boons: 1: web 2/day; 2: freedom of movement 2/day; 3: extended true seeing 2/day

Shagrath the Red Moon Spider is an ancient being, the first of the race of fiends known as spiga. When first formed, Shagrath lacked magical power, but he realized that belief was a strong enough force to shape the cosmos. By viewing himself as a god, he gained the ability to cast divine spells, and eventually forced his way into the courts of the daemonic harbingers through sheer force of will. His ultimate goal is to achieve full divinity, and his primary means to accomplish this is to expand his cult—if enough mortals believe him to become a god, he will be one.

As part of this agenda of apotheosis, Shagrath tells outrageous falsehoods: that he wove a planet out of his webs; that he can see everything that transpires in moonlight; that he knows literally everything. It matters not to him that the majority of his lies do not stick. If repeated forcefully enough, to enough people, they will take root and become history. His worshipers gleefully create and distribute “alternate facts”, particularly those that demonize a vulnerable group or that promote selfishness and disunity. Of course, Shagrath does enjoy inflicting pain in a more direct sense as well. He is a master of torture, and is especially interested at how the application of pain can cause mortals to weave extravagant falsehoods or completely change their beliefs.

Shagrath has all of the abilities of a spiga, and uses them in similar fashion in combat. He enhances his combat prowess with divine magic, entraps foes in his webs, and then paralyzes them with his claws and venomous bite. Shagrath can create new spiga by implanting eggs inside of paralyzed victims, which he keeps helpless but alive long enough for the spiga to grow inside them. Shagrath has access to many powerful clerical abilities, which he uses in combat as much to impress upon enemies his divine powers as much as to injure and kill.

Shagrath is about thirty feet long and weighs ten tons. He spends little time in Abaddon, perhaps because his interests in divinity make him distrusted by the Horsemen. He typically lairs on a moon of the planet in the Material Plane he is currently interested in. From this vantage point, he descends earthward to spread lies and torture, and returns to his airless abode to avoid retribution.

Shagrath CR 22 XP 615,000 NE Gargantuan outsider (daemon, evil, extraplanar) Init +11; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +39, tremorsense 120 ft., true seeing Aura fear (30 ft., Will DC 33), unholy (DC 29) Defense AC 38, touch 18, flat-footed 30 (-4 size, +7 Dex, +20 natural, +1 dodge, +4 deflection) hp 420 (24d10+288); fast healing 10 Fort +30, Ref +21, Will +30 DR 20/good; Immune acid, death effects, disease, electricity, fire, mind-influencing effects, paralysis poison; Resist cold 30; SR 33; Weakness vulnerable to cold Defensive Abilities freedom of movement Offense Speed 50 ft., climb 40 ft.; air walk Melee bite +33 (2d12+13 plus poison), 3 claws +33 (4d6+13 plus paralysis) Space 20 ft.; Reach 15 ft. Special Attacks breath weapon (80 ft. cone, Ref DC 34, 20d10 piercing plus entrap, 1d4 round), entrap (hardness 10, 30 hp, 1 hour), implant, paralysis (DC 34, 1 round), rend (2 claws, 4d6+19), tortuous rend Spell-like Abilities CL 24th, concentration +35 (+39 casting defensively) Constant—air walk, true seeing, unholy aura (DC 29) At will—greater scrying (DC 28), greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. objects only), harm (DC 27) 3/day—glibness, empowered greater shadow evocation (DC 29), plane shift (DC 28) 1/day—interplanetary teleport, mind blank, power word kill, summon (9th, 100%, any CR 20 or lower daemon) Spells CL 20th, concentration +32 9th��energy drain (DC 31, x2), mass heal (DC 31), shades (DC 31)D, quickened slay living (DC 27), quickened wall of stone 8th—quickened blessing of fervor, quickened cure critical wounds (DC 26), demand (DC 30)D, discern location, quickened divine power, fire storm (DC 30) greater spell immunity 7th—blasphemy (DC 29), quickened blindness/deafness (DC 24), destruction (DC 29, x2), disintegrate (DC 29)D, greater restoration, repulsion (DC 29) 6th—banishment (DC 28), blade barrier (DC 28), dreamD, greater dispel magic (x2), heal, quickened owl’s wisdom 5th—cleanse, quickened divine favor, dispel good (DC 27), quickened entropic shield, flame strike (DC 27), greater command (DC 27), shout (DC 27)D 4th—cure critical wounds (DC 26), death ward, dimensional anchor (x2), moonstruck (DC 26)D, sending, spiritual ally (+36/+31/+26/+21, 1d10+5 force), tongues 3rd—bestow curse (DC 25), contagion (DC 25), cure serious wounds (DC 25), deeper darkness, prayer, protection from elements, seek thoughts (DC 25)D, stone shape 2nd—bear’s endurance, bull’s strength, death knell (DC 24, x2), make whole, pain strike (DC 24)D, silence (DC 24), spiritual weapon (+36/+31/+26/+21, 1d8+5) 1st—cure light wounds (DC 23, x3), detect good (x3), faerie fireD, sanctuary (DC 23) 0th—detect magic, guidance, read magic, stabilize D = domain spell Statistics Str 36, Dex 25, Con 35, Int 35, Wis 34, Cha 32 Base Atk +24; CMB +41; CMD 63 (73 vs. trip) Feats Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Empower SLA (greater shadow evocation) Improved Critical (claw), Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Quicken Spell, Spring Attack, Stand Still, Whirlwind Attack Skills Acrobatics +34 (+42 when jumping), Bluff +38, Climb +53, Diplomacy +38, Intimidate +38, Knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, engineering, geography +, history, local, nature, nobility) +31, Knowledge (planes, religion) +35, Perception +39, Sense Motive +39, Spellcraft +36, Stealth +22, Use Magic Device +35 Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Infernal, telepathy 300 ft. SQ daemonic harbinger traits, expert climber, no breath Ecology Environment any land or underground (Abaddon) Organization unique Treasure double standard Special Abilities Aura of Fear (Su) A creature that fails its save against Shagrath’s aura of fear is panicked for 1 minute. A creature that succeeds its save is immune to Shagrath’s aura of fear for the next 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma based. Daemonic Harbinger Traits (Ex/Su) Shagrath is a daemonic harbinger, a powerful unique fiend. This grants him the following traits:

Immunity to acid, charm and compulsion effects, death effects, disease and poison

Resistance to cold, electricity and fire 30

Telepathy 300 ft.

Shagrath’s natural weapons, as well as any weapons he wields, count as evil and epic weapons for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction

Shagrath can grant spells to his worshippers.

Expert Climber (Ex) Shagrath can climb on any surface. Treat this as a non-magical spider climb effect, and this ability doubles its racial bonus on Climb checks to +16. Freedom of Movement (Su) Shagrath is constantly protected by a freedom of movement effect as a supernatural ability. Implant (Ex) As a standard action, Shagrath can implant an egg inside a helpless or paralyzed creature. This creature must succeed a DC 34 Fortitude save or the egg begins to grow inside its body for 1d4+1 days. Every day a creature has an egg incubating inside it, it takes 2 points of Constitution drain. Attempts to remove this larva require a DC 30 Heal check, or any magic that removes disease with a successful DC 34 caster level check. Once the duration elapses, the egg bursts free as a squirming larva, dealing 10d10 points of damage as it goes (Fortitude DC 34 halves). The larva is treated as a giant maggot with a spiga’s immunities, spell resistance and defensive abilities. It grows into a full-sized spiga in 13 days. The save DC is Constitution based. Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 34; duration 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d6 Dex damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution based. Spells Shagrath casts spells as a 20th level cleric. Shagrath gets a bonus spell prepared each day for his domains, and can choose between all of his domains and subdomains for that spell. He does not gain the ability to spontaneously cast inflict spells. He treats his own body as a holy symbol for the purposes of spell components. Torturous Rend (Su) A creature affected by Shagrath’s rend ability must succeed a DC 33 Fortitude save or be overcome with intense pain, suffering a -4 penalty to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, skill and ability checks for the next 1d4+1 rounds. Multiple failed saves cause the duration to stack. The save DC is Charisma based.

#shagrath #spiga #arduin #pathfinder 1e #commissions

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lucimorningstar812 · 7 years ago

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luci, my beautiful december child, how is life treating you on this averagely average tuesday? i heard something about ocs??? could you be bothered to share some more information? maybe just some tidbits about the setting your ocs exist in? a few personality profiles? maybe an art link or two? (do you have one of those online character books?) :3cccc (also your meet the artist drawing is super cute!! you're a good noodle!!!)

Every time I see you in my asks I get so happy! You really do make my day with these messages and I hope you’re doing wonderfully today (I’m alright today actually, a lot better than last night)

I don’t have one of those online books but I’m going to make one on notebook.ai because I’ve thought about it before but honestly forgot.

So… my children. They all live in a fairly normal environment actually. They just all live in a science lab that has been added to as more people joined the group, but a few of them are from other universes, a few were created and only the first of the group was actually a normal human. So, here’s a bit of info on them I guess and I’ll try and link to any images I can find right now

Atom (image)Real name is Andrew ThomasHe kinda died whilst hiking up a small mountain near his townVery clumsy and an absolute science nerd, but during his living days he was also part of the school’s football teamHas his own science lab where he can conduct experiments without them harming himHe’s the leader of the group

Shade[Skeleton bat with brown fur on the top of her skull and her ears are still normal. She still has wing membrane too and she usually wears a purple hoodie made to fit her wings, grey pants and black shoes. She also wears pink glasses]Accidentally created in a machine explosion whilst Atom was researchingVery shy and suffers with quite bad social anxietyVery creative and love to drawAtom is everything to her and she relies on him to feel safe around others

Mortem (images)Full name is Mortem Tenebris TristisBeing of depression created in the void between universesVery tol boi (6″3)The others don’t exactly like him because of what he isHas a kind of depressive aura and most people can’t be around him for too longActually non-binary but prefers to use he/him pronouns for personal reasons I will eventually write aboutHonestly a sweetheart when people give him a chance

Summer[Humanoid grey cat with shoulder length brown hair and that covers her right eye. She always wears a knee length, white dress with a rainbow skirt on it]Literal embodiment of PMAJust wants everyone to be happy and does her best to keep the group’s spirits upFrom an alternate universe where the human race is all humanoid cats and instead of pet cats, they have pet humans (who are essentially what we would see as babies)Came through a portal Atom opened, but sadly the portal was only one waySad to never be able to go home but loves her new family

Time[In his current form, he is a regular human male but his left side is decaying, so the left side of his face is a skull, his left arm from forearm to hand is bone and there’s a hole in his chest that shows his ribcage. His remaining eye has a galaxy iris, her wears almost like a sleeveless suit jacket and pants which are also galaxy. He also wears a purple adn black hat with an hourglass on it, and that counts down to his death]Was a police officer in an alternate universe where humans live alongside another speciesWas ejected from his universe (cause unknown yet) and exposed to the fabric of time itselfPermanently damaged because of itVoice is monotone and he can’t smile because of the damage

Snap (Image) Real name is Seth Nathaniel Alexander PatricksonFrom the same universe as Time and he’s the other species (humanoid alligator species called Carcodills)He was an orphan and rebelled against the authority that looked down on his speciesEventually became a world famous killerHad been captured a few months before a portal appeared in his cell and he joined the others

Zeal (Images)Sentient computer virusMischievous, loves games and spends too much time on YouTubeAnti is his idol and literally fanboys over him (he was very excited yesterday)Also from another universe but I have yet to think of that since he was originally part of an Undertale AU I eventually gave up on

Api[Basically looks like Zeal but his hair goes in the opposite direction and his eyes are different. His right eye is yellow with a blue pupil and left eye is green with a red pupil. He has an oversized orange sweater with 1001 on it and peach coloured pants]Antivirus Protection InterfaceSoftware Atom installed to remove the virus on his computer (which was Zeal)Sentient virus + antivirus software = sentient antivirus softwareChildish, giddy and would probably have ADHD if he were an actual personLoves Zeal like a brother but Zeal doesn’t exactly like Api

I think that’s a good summary. There’s one more, but she’s a little different. Her name is Isul and she’s my dark alter egoSi ehs ohw fo etisoppo eht flah dna eb ot stnaw ehs nosrep eht flah ma I.

#well that got longer than i expected #sciensanity #sciensanity mortem #sciensanity snap #sciensanity zeal #sciensanity atom #i need tags for the others #my oc #morningstar answers #anon

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popgoesthenowcb · 5 years ago

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Theme for final presentation!

Week 1:

Within our session today we brainstormed ideas and came to conclusions of what our final presentation palimpsest could be...

Rough Ideas

Control of consciousness

The link between cellular/molecular basis and consciousness is not well understood, so what if in the future we totally understand how it and the brain as a whole works?

Able to change your consciousness: how you perceive pain, your personality, fix brain damage, download skills (similar to that in the Matrix), inhibit emotions, etc

Policing and laws change: brains of geniuses, criminals, upstanding citizens, and disadvantaged people curated into a large collective conscious that dictates right and wrong for the whole of society → could be a utopia or a dystopia

Tattoos

Currently signify life events, affiliations, and personality, so what if in the future that’s how you’re ID? Ie family crests (economic) , status,

Currently: tattoos for the sake of art, not necessarily for meaning but cause it looks siiiiiiick

Moving ink – reflect vitals and other bodily changes

Fake tattoo market – for those who don’t have status, like faking a resume

Tattoos become so ingrained in society that humans are born with some from their parents, showing a visible representation of not only the individuals history but their families as well

Humans look totally different than current humans

Birthmarks? Scars? (killswitch, achilles heel typa thing)

The ‘Red Carpet’

What is the societal power of the red carpet? Whoever walks it is deemed high-class socially.

Re-invent what it means to “walk the red carpet”

What are the values that we apply to it now and what can we use it for in the future?

It is a commodity which instills feelings of wealth, social power, public image, etc.

Why do we care? It is literally a colored rug.

Disease/Germs

An immersive installation including a visual. texturised impression of pollution,disease and germs.

Segregation of talent into different parts of the world

What is your theme? → Tattoos –

Present on the bottom and build up to future [4 levels] →

Currently: taboo stereotype slowly dwindling, but still seen as unprofessional in most job sectors and frowned upon in some cultures (ie East asian cultures) and encouraged in others (ie Maori, polynesian cultures); seen as art and self expression, doesn’t necessarily have to have meaning behind it

Political: white nationalism/Nazis, mafia, LGBTQA+ (ie rainbow), feminists, vegan tattoos

Social: affiliations ie Navy/military, creative spaces and artists, personal development (ie getting a special tattoo every life event), marriage, stick n pokes from friends

Economic: tattoo businesses are growing among other body modifications ie piercings, deliberate career because tattoos are still lw taboo and possible family repercussions ; tattoo removal industry - growing

Cultural: gang tattoos (tear tattoo), stick n pokes and machines, life events depending on ethnic group, religions mostly against tattoos

20 years: more people have tattoos, taboo is pretty much gone except for older generation depending on geographic location,

Political: political vues - where you stand on voting and political issues eg, labour vs conservative are you left or right wing

Social: tattooed makeup (ie eyebrows, eyeliner), UV tattoos are the rage among the youth especially at clubs n art scenes, using ashes of dead loved ones for tattoos, Memento shit

Economic: credits cards on body catching on, special gloves developed to work against misuse of contactless cards

Cultural: sub cultural tattoos, certain tattoos can be identified as a certain sub ethnic group

200 years:

Political: concept of immortality - someone’s brain is downloaded to a dedicated computer in a sort of bank/safe : for example if they were president of a country/company - their consciousness continues making the “most important decisions” for a country/company; (“they live on the forearm of their eldest child” in a way)

Social: tattooed teeth, drip medicine inked into skin that will treat whatever illness and will also let others know what the person has/had, some black mirror shit,

Economic: credit cards, , kid safe ink, sustainability ink - regulated ink eg plant based, ashes of dead loved ones easier tattoo removal

Cultural: passports in chip-implant form

2,000 years:

Political:

Social: projection tattoos, part cyborg (moving ink); remembering memories by projecting them onto the wall, physical phones will be eradicated ; makeup is permanently tattoed (like drag queen style makeup - every element is responsible for different functions) ; the 12h pill - people can cover their family tattoos this way and falsify information - useful for secret agents

Economic: have

Cultural: chip projects from skin - onto opposing wall - e.g. religious people can have the bible on their forearm and project it onto the back of a plane seat to read it for moments of mindfulness.

How will you incorporate social, economic, cultural, and political elements?

What media or mixed media approach?

Transfer tattoos

Holograms for projected tattoos

Using actors to represent the time-changes: now, 20, 200, 2000

Assign roles and create a schedule

(1) sketching (Annalise, Amelia, Ellis, Suryansh, Belle) - speak to technicians (Tiffany + Chloe)

(2) troubleshooting - finding the room - the fine detail (everyone)

(3) making (members broken up by what thing they’re making)

(4) finishing the fine details (everyone)

Post advice thoughts :

Main idea may be identity as a whole

Tattoos beyond ornamental —what other purpose for tattoos? Superpower like?

Levels don’t have to flow into each other — can think about the conflicts that could arise

Idea: what are we without identity? Could you strip someone of their identity? Besides financial fraud currently, how in the future could you have your ID stolen or changed?

Shifting IDs based on environment/people

In essence for next week I will be illustrating identity ideas :

20 years - basic moving ink showing stats and persons profile

200 years Each human has a barcode or symbol tattooed on their palms - similar to a dog chip which can display all their basic information when scanned in a projection

2000 years - moving ink that displays information like a phone or tablet screen including passport ids bank account - we are ourselves machines need no form of exterior technologies

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nebris · 8 years ago

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Her Prophet Speaks: Transhumanist Matriarchy

~I was watching this gorgeous video of our Sun and being who I am and doing what I do, my aesthetic thoughts were secondary to my...well, let's call them my Pragmatic Thoughts. For all its undeniable beauty, as I watched gossamer tendrils of 'star light' dance off the Sun's radiant body, I was all too aware that if one of them glanced against our Pale Blue Dot for even a few seconds, most if not all life would be instantly seared from its surface. Maybe that was foremost in my mind because I was two hundred or so pages into Neal Stephenson's SEVENEVES at the time. [Spoiler: The Moon blows up] But I likely would have thought the above anyway. I am usual aware of how fragile life is here on the Pale Blue Dot and of how deadly and violent the Universe truly is and because of that reality, it is crucial that we as a species get a substantial number of ourselves Off Planet ASAP if we wish to survive. From that point of view Deep Green politics are Pure Suicide in that they reject the entire idea of Technological Civilization. And I would say to those ecologically minded folks who say we have to 'clean up the Earth first', “It is a highly dangerous assumption to think we have time to wait for that.” Besides, going Off Planet is an essential part of 'cleaning up Earth'. The primary caveat to all of this is that it has been shown that we Baseline Humans do not do very well in Space. In zero gravity we lose bone and muscle mass and 'bad things' happen our internal organs. And we know that the raw radiation of Space is harmful as well. We just do not yet know how harmful it will be over the long term. I use the term Baseline Humans because we are now at a place were we can actively modify ourselves. But we Homo Sapiens Sapiens are only 'baseline' because of that scientific 'baseline'. Homo Sapiens Idaltu [our now extinct direct ancestors], Homo Neanderthalensis and Denisova Hominins were just as 'human' we are. And there may well have been a few subspecies before them who were also 'just as human'. But they are gone and we are here. ...which brings us to Transhumanism. First we need to redefine one term... Cyborg: this word has been misused by The Terminator franchise. 'Terminators' are NOT Cyborgs, they are Androids, aka Humanoid Robots. It's something of a pet peev of mine. A real Cyborg [Cybernetic Organism] is a human who has been augmented with Cybernetic elements. They walk among us already. Someone with a pace-maker and/or Cochlear implants is technically already a Cyborg, albeit more with a small 'c'. When we talk about brain controlled artificial limbs - something that is also already happening - then one is moving into capital 'C' Cyborg territory. The Transhumanist Cyborg will be a far more extensively modified human. This would include an on-board computer to monitor and maintain all the systems said human contains. It would probably be about the size of a credit card and be placed just under the skin. Ultimately these systems would include, though not be limited to; ~a carbon fiber reinforced bone structure to maximize strength and protect from impacts, ~cerebral implants [Neural Nanonics] to maximize cognition and perception, download information directly and communicate via 'cyber-telepathy', ~micro-electronic contact lenses that allow the eyes to see the entire light spectrum and which contain both macro and micro focusing elements, information screens and measuring elements, ~a subcutaneous microfiber mesh to prevent puncture woulds, maintain level body temperature in extreme environments and promote rapid healing, ~millions of nanobots, microscopic robots that permeate all of the body's tissues and fluids and constantly monitor and repair all tissues and organs using a regular infusing of raw stem cells. For certain situations, limbs could be replaced by fully mechanical prosthesis, but those would be special cases, such as loss of a limb, but eventually organic limbs could be regrown. In other special cases, various organs, such as eyes and lungs, could be replaced by fully mechanical prosthesis in order to operate in highly extreme environments, with the possibility of having them replaced with organics [wetware] when the individual returns to a human friendly locale. Obviously, that crosses over into Genetic Engineering, which is in some ways the 'other half' of Transhumanist development and, in my view, the more important one. Cybernetics are really just “Enhancements” of the Baseline Human form. Genetics are how we begin to move beyond the fundamentals of Baseline Humanity. This is where people start getting frightened because we will in fact be designing and breeding the species that is going to replace us. That brings up all manner of existential terror, visions of remorseless Supermen on a crusade to exterminate the Baseline Humans. But the truth is they are our descendants, our Children...and do we not always want our Children to do better than us, to BE better than us? The human genome has been fully mapped, though there is much we do not yet understand. But we are learning more everyday, even in the face of the above terrified opposition. Though many Baselines scream, “We cannot play God!” that is what we have always done. It is hardwired into out basic nature. [I will address the Metaphysics of this later] One of the things we have learned is how mutable our DNA actually is. It seems that powerful events in early childhood can cause chemical and hormonal surges that can quite literally change the structure of our DNA, changes that we can pass on to our children. Most of that work has focused on trauma for obvious reasons; it is the easiest to track. But it is also highly probably that an intensely positive childhood can do the same. However, this process can also be effected by direct manipulation of our DNA, removing negative inhibiting traits, disease causing genes and adding/augmenting genetic inclinations. Raise such Enhanced children in a positive and supportive environment – we require both Nature and Nurture – and the possibilities are endless. Genetic Engineering can be used to increase muscle and bone density to create greater strength and endurance, to improve organ function...including brain function, to retard and reverse aging – one day even prevent it all together once a certain state of being has been achieved – to strengthen the entire human organism across the board so that we can survive and prosper in almost any environment. On a less esoteric level, we need to do this. The Race needs to become spacefaring because the surface of a planet is a dangerous place to live and all the evidence shows that Baseline Humans do not do well in space. So this is a matter of the long term Survival of the Race. As one looks deeper into the Transhumanist Community, you will find that it is largely dominated by Western Middle Class White Beta Males, a significant number of them twenty/thirty-somethings who are Atheist, Libertarian, personally awkward and who cannot wait to upload their minds into a box to escape that awkwardness. I have no time for them as they are an evolutionary dead end. Mind uploading should be a Final Option, not a primary one. In parallel with this is the most profound contradiction of their Transhumanism; that for a group that is almost uniformly Atheist, it has a near fanatic desire to create itself a God in the form of an AI, which will then 'transform Earth into a Deathless Paradise'. Maybe this accounts for the community's distinct aversion to Metaphysical study, for such would quickly lay bare its clearly Judeo-Christian underpinnings. For a whole set of reasons, both practical/mundane and esoteric/Metaphysical, I am firmly convinced that the Future of The Race lays with Enhanced Females, in effect Cyborg Amazons. Their enhancements would allow them to reproduce with each other – which would produce only daughters – and so leave Baseline Males, and all of their inherent instability, far behind. And said enhancements would also make carrying a child to term and childbirth itself a far easier and safer process that it is naturally. Some advocate that we totally transfer human reproduction to entirely artificial means, e.g. Uterine Replicators. But that is heading in the same direction as Mind Uploading and is the path to becoming non-humans instead of Superior Humans. With the pain and difficulty of bearing children removed, what is left is the Primal Bond and that is what will keep us Human no matter how advanced we become. Those are the basic tenets of Transhumanism I see them. There are however many other aspects, a whole world remodeled to support these Superior Humans, what we presently call The Internet of Things, all the myriad machinery of Modern Civilization networked together and at the beck and call of each human's on-board cybernetics. And then there is the requirement of creating Homo Servitus, which is also the title of the following short essay; “The need for a reliable Labor Force is one of the oldest and most difficult issues of human civilization. The harsh truth is that we Baseline Humans are too varied, too impulsive, too inconsistent and always dissatisfied with something. To create order among us eventually requires lies and coercion and as such leads to Tyranny, which damages the Oppressor as much as the Oppressed by brutalizing both. Better then to turn the Means of Production to the production of Workers themselves, a genetically engineered Servitor Class, beings who are happy with their lot and take pleasure from performing their duties. Such beings would have simple needs, requiring only humane treatment and modest comfort beyond their Purpose as Workers to make their lives pleasurable. Many of you will react with horror at this entire line of thinking. Yet consider this; the device upon which you are reading these words requires a number of Rare Earths to function. Many of those elements are mined in the Congo by people who are essentially slaves, most of them war refugees and quite a few survivors of War Rape. Their lives are a daily regime of brutality and for most their only escape is death. I'm sure you're horrified by that as well, but you're not going give up your device, are you? The technologies necessary to create Homo Servitus are already under development. The parsing of genes that guide certain behavioral tendencies. Cloning from ordinary human cells. Uterine Replicators. Cerebral implants to guide and control behavior. Many of the various members of this Servitor Class would be designed and grown with their specific tasks in mind. A small number would be more generalized servants. But they would all be grown, which is their major advantage over robots. Robots require complex engineering and lots of raw materials. This type of biological Servitor Class also avoids the existential danger of creating independent and mobile AIs. On the other end of the scale, we need to evolve a type of Homo Superior..but that's a tale for another time. Either way, we Baseline Humans will soon need to move off the stage before we wreck the whole place.” Given that I envision the idea Homo Superior as Cyborg Amazons, the DNA to be used for Homo Servitus would be that of Baseline Males. And there will even be some Baseline Males who will happily volunteer to undergo transformation into some types of Servitors, much in the fashion of submissive Males who wish to be Collared by Female Dominants today. This then is my view of the optimal form of Transhumanism, a Transhumanist Matriarchy. It should be noted that many in the Transhumanist community seem share a certain outlook, the admirable view that Transhumanism will succeed by pure reason and logic alone. But the vast majority of Baseline Humans are *not* reasonable nor logical. As a species we tend to automatically view Change as Loss, are largely superstitious, fear driven and more often than not act with a violent irrationality upon anything we perceive as threatening whatever little epistemological ghetto we happen to live in. Something like Transhumanism is utterly terrifying to most Baseline Humans as they quite accurately see it as heralding the end of their line. That is a profound existential threat that I guarantee will be meet with an extreme and brutal reaction. To deny this reality is suicidal foolishness. This is a Struggle for The Future. Such is not for the faint of heart nor the weak willed. We in the Transhumanist community have a double challenge, that of upgrading and improving The Race while simultaneously fighting off those who wish to maintain the status quo. At certain points that will require the use of Violent Force. I repeat, 'To deny this reality is suicidal foolishness.' Many in the Transhumanist community will find this a repugnant paradigm and reject it. I suspect no small number of those will have an unpleasant fate upon actually encountering said paradigm. The more bloody minded of us will carry on and do our best to defend those with that more 'enlightened' world view from the brutal ugliness of the real unenlightened world Something to keep in mind; that those who want the species to remain just as it is vastly outnumber us, their 'reality' is already in place and no small number of them will be quite happy to kill us in order to stop our work.

#The Sisterhood

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invisible-arcs · 8 years ago

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Thoughts on zoos

I recently quit my job in marketing for two AZA-accredited zoos. I was there for four years. I became seriously jaded in that time.

Discussed in this post:

“Most captive populations of endangered animals will never play a conservation role in what remains of the world’s natural habitats.” (x)

AZA accreditation does not protect captive animals from being shipped to non-accredited facilities.

Zoos talk a lot about global warming, but conceal its relationship to capitalism.

Conservation messaging is purely a marketing ploy in response to surveys about what millennials value.

Zoos are not necessary for children to develop empathy for wild habitats and creatures.

American zoos are operated mostly by white people and designed for white people.

Ok here we go.

In the zoos I worked at, zoo guests were usually under the impression that we breed endangered animals to release them back into the wild, which almost NEVER happens. AZA-accredited zoos conserve species through Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs - where biologists and geneticists create animal breeding plans to ensure the continuation of captive populations.

So, yes, SSPs keep species alive, but only captive populations. Not in the wild. That isn't an insult, or a failure of the program; it's literally all they claim to do. So I'm not convinced that keeping tigers alive for display is particularly noble or important, especially when the process is so misrepresented. (By the way, they keep changing this language to address people’s concerns. “Captive” was changed to “zoo-based” about 3 years ago, and I just noticed that the AZA has removed both terms from their SSP page since then. Now it says “within AZA member institutions.”) AZA standards are meant to ensure good quality of life for captive animals, but the products of breeding programs are not always protected within this system. For example, I worked at a zoo that transferred a clouded leopard cub - representing a species among our SSP "superstars" - to a non-AZA zoo. What's the point of AZA accreditation if an animal may be shipped out to a substandard zoo?

As stated in this New Yorker Magazine article:

“The underlying proposition, widely advanced by zoo professionals, is that, in an era when it’s no longer acceptable to round up wild giraffes, maintaining a sustainable stock in a zoo is not simply a business necessity; it’s an achievement of conservation—or, at least, a sign of scientific ardor. David Hancocks, a zoo consultant who formerly ran the Woodland Park Zoo, in Seattle, recently dismissed this idea as part of “the conservation myth, where anything’s justified if you’re ‘saving the species.’ ” In truth, many zoo populations are too small to encourage real hope of long-term survival, no matter how fastidiously they’re managed. [...] Most captive populations of endangered animals will never play a conservation role in what remains of the world’s natural habitats.

[Successful reintroduction] programs are rare: they are costly and require a viable natural habitat, and loss of habitat is the primary cause of species endangerment.”

So, if they don’t conserve wild species in any meaningful capacity, do zoos really serve a purpose?

One popular argument is that children need to see certain animals in order to empathize with them. But there is no research to back that up.* As noted in this article:

“Seeing a living individual isn’t necessary to foster fascination with a species. There are many species no zoo displays — humpback whales, great white sharks, and all the dinosaurs — that are beloved by many an eight-year-old.”

It’s so true. Plus, children love the animals they see in the backyard - squirrels, bugs, newts. It's only adults who say "that animal isn't important; that animal is more exciting."

*As a side note, people don't need to develop empathy to act compassionately. As an autistic person, I was uncomfortable with this new focus on “empathy research.”

Another pro-zoo argument is that they educate about global warming and habitat loss. First of all, we weren’t even allowed to say “global warming,” only “climate change,” to soften the message. Secondly, we did not teach tactics that can actually prevent and reverse habitat loss, because any discussion of capitalism was deemed “too political.” After all, we weren’t there to help the planet, but to drive revenue. Our typical call to action: Add your name to this form, and we'll never do anything with it (trust me, we didn’t); carry reusable tote bags; wear a pin. This is not good enough. Individual consumer actions are NOT the cause of - and cannot solve - climate change and habitat loss. Switching to tote bags is great for a sense of individual stewardship, but it’s useless against global warming if large corporations continue to destroy the environment. We can’t possibly outweigh that impact without a true revolution that drains power from capitalist institutions. This crucial piece of information is hidden in zoo messaging. Zoos are still part of an entertainment industry. Participating in capitalism, without promoting/allowing a healthy skepticism of capitalism, does far more damage to wild habitats than zoos can possibly fix. The zoos I worked for never emphasized the conservation aspect until survey research came out showing that “millennials” value the feeling of being part of a larger cause. “Our industry is necessary because of the conservation work we do” is purely a marketing message. Also, American zoos are operated mostly by white people and designed for white people and this is rarely discussed. In four years I never heard a single conversation about this, except the few times I brought it up. We hired black, hispanic, and asian children for our photo shoots because we couldn’t find enough of them on zoo grounds. These marketing materials do not improve our numbers; they just cater to a white fantasy of diversity. My boss, the marketing manager, suggested that we remove the question of ethnicity from visitor surveys. Her reasoning? If pressed on the issue, we’d be better off having no data at all, because the real numbers make us look bad. I do have one positive thing to say: Zoos facilitate a lot of research and donate to research projects, and that’s a good thing. I studied biology in school and I am an big supporter of research for its own sake, regardless of the application. That’s actually why I joined the zoo industry in the first place - I was passionate about promoting an interest in science to young kids, and I was super interested in the research being done at zoos.

#please read this #zoos #zoo #aza #conservation #global warming

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enst1000blog · 6 years ago

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How Can We Save Water?

https://politicoexplorer.com/tag/great-pacific-garbage-patch/The issues of water supply and water pollution are closely related and crucial to the health of both the environment and human populations. Humans and most other living things rely on water for our survival. Humans are about 60% water, and yet we do not seem to value the resource that makes up most of our body. While water covers 71% of the earth’s surface, only about 0.024% is available as freshwater. This freshwater is recycled and purified through the hydrologic cycle, but it is difficult for the cycle to keep up with interfering human activity. When humans release too many pollutants into the cycle, water cannot be properly purified. We also damage the hydrologic cycle when we take more water from the ground or from the surface than can be replenished. Unfortunately, we are constantly using too much water and polluting our water resources. Therefore, access to safe water sources has become a pressing issue in many places around the world. This issue is one that concerns global health, economy, women and children, national and global security, and the environment.

We obtain water through two main resources: groundwater and surface water. Groundwater is found for the most part in geological layers called aquifers, where water gathers underground. These aquifers are replenished very slowly, especially because paved land makes it more difficult for water to reach underground. Some aquifers replenish so slowly that they are a nonrenewable resource. Surface water is found in bodies of water that lie on the earth’s surface. These resources are essential to the survival of life on earth. Despite the value of these resources, humans irresponsibly use 70% of the water we withdraw to irrigate cropland and raise livestock each year. This use of water is incredibly wasteful and unnecessary, as the methods of industrial farming that require this water are unsustainable and inefficient.

While the overuse of water is a huge global issue, pollution in our water resources is arguably just as big of a problem. Water pollution comes from both point and nonpoint sources. Point sources release pollutants into surface water from specific places, as do factories, sewage treatment plants, underground mines, and oil tankers. Nonpoint sources have broad and diffuse sources, like agricultural activities, industrial facilities, mining, and plastic pollution. These sources of pollution reduce the water quality drastically. Water pollution can cause disastrous effects, including the exposure to infectious diseases, depletion of dissolved oxygen needed by aquatic species, addition of toxins to aquatic systems, excessive growth of algae, disruption of photosynthesis, and more. These can be deadly to humans, aquatic life, and all wildlife. It is necessary that we take action to reduce water pollution in order to protect both humans and animals.

Innovations in agriculture and water collection could help to ensure worldwide access to safe water. In southern Morocco, local communities are suffering from a lack of rainfall, on which they rely for water. However, the area has a great deal of fog that accumulates in the mountains nearby. The communities there have set up giant nets in the mountains to collect water, with pipes that carry the water to them. This practice has brought homes in the area 18 liters of water a day, compared with the 8 liters they were able to harvest without the nets. Another technological innovation is hydroponics, which could help prevent water pollution. Industrial agriculture is very wasteful in its use of water. Hydroponics is a system in which water is cycled through a system of plants and fish, allowing the sustainable use of water and production of food. These practices could help address the issues of access to water and water pollution, but unfortunately they will not solve it.

Through social media, a movement was created to stop the use of plastic straws after a horrific video depicting the removal of a plastic straw from a sea turtle went viral. While this movement is good, it is hardly the main problem when it comes to issues of water pollution. The main sources of water pollution are from industrial facilities, agricultural activities, and sewage. While plastic pollution is a big problem that is threatening aquatic life, the fraction of that pollution that is made up of straws is infinitesimal. It is a great idea to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the oceans, but if people want to make a real difference, it might be better to instead call for corporations that run industrial facilities, agricultural businesses, and sewage treatment plants to have increased accountability for their water pollution.

Efforts to reduce pollution are necessary in order to ensure the health of all forms of life that consume it. However, the quality of water will no longer matter if we no longer have any water available to us. Overconsumption of water has greatly depleted the world’s supply of freshwater, and threatens many countries with water stress. Water footprints roughly measure the volume of water that a person uses directly and indirectly. In developed countries, affluent lifestyles lead to enormous water footprints caused by excessive and unnecessary use of water. My water footprint is 747 m3 per year, which is likely a low estimate. It is lower than the average global footprint, which is boosted by the high use of water in developed countries. When I think about my use of water, even though may be comparably low, I realize how excessive it can be. I notice this especially when I think about my sister’s water use. She is in the Peace Corps in Lesotho, Africa, where she uses as little water as she can. My five minute showers may seem quick here, but her baths using a small tub of water are much more conservative. The infrastructure of our society means that we use a massive amount of water on a daily basis, both directly and indirectly. Indirectly, the production of our food requires the use of much water. Meat production especially is very inefficient in its use of water resources. While we can install as many giant fog nets as we want, if we do not address the issue of overconsumption of water in developed countries, there will be no more unpolluted freshwater left to be caught in those nets.

When it comes to water pollution and usage, change can be effected both at the individual and at the corporate levels. We as individuals need to try our best to reduce our water consumption in our day-to-day lives. There is no need to take a 30-minute shower or to leave the water running in between dishes. In addition, if we can make an effort to recycle waste, then we can hope that fewer plastics will end up in water as pollution. While these actions can help, it is undeniable that if we want to make significant, sustainable, long-term change, corporations are going to have to change their ways. Industrial facilities, agricultural businesses, and sewage treatment plants need to take responsibility for their role in creating water pollution and find a way to reduce it. In addition, these companies need to work to reduce their inefficient and unsustainable use of water. It is a precious resource that is essential to the survival of all life on earth, and we must start treating it as such.

Word Count: 1,213

Questions:

Can change to address water pollution or water usage be effective at the individual level? Or does the majority of the blame lie with corporations?

Could technological innovations advance enough that we would not need to change our rate of consumption/pollution?

Sources

Miller, Tyler, and Scott Spoolman. Living in the Environment. 17th ed. Belmont: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2012.

Grillo, Emma. 2018. “These Nets Harness Water From Fog.” New York Magazine. Accessed April 9, 2019. http://nymag.com/developing/2018/11/morocco-mount-boutmezguida-nets-harness-water-from-fog.html

Image sources

https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/freshwater-education-resources/water-cycle

http://nymag.com/developing/2018/11/morocco-mount-boutmezguida-nets-harness-water-from-fog.html

https://politicoexplorer.com/tag/great-pacific-garbage-patch/

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legalformsioblog · 6 years ago

Text

The ABC’s of Fire Extinguishers

What Are Fire Extinguishers:

Fire extinguishers are used to drench a fire and prevent it from spreading. They are small metal containers that have compressed nitrogen inside. When activated, the fire extinguisher releases a concentrated amount of chemicals that are flame retardant.

The History Of Fire Extinguishers

While we all know the importance of fire extinguishers in our daily safety, these humble quenchers play a crucial role in our history too. Probably, at one point, you have wondered how fire extinguishers were made and how it becomes a staple in business and homes all over the world. Check out the highlights of how these bright red canisters loaded with potent fire dousing chemicals developed and advanced over the years.

200 B.C. – Ctesibius of Alexandria made a hand pump to put water into fires. It replaced the burdensome method of passing buckets from one person to another to deliver water to the fire.

1600’s – During this era, squirts were crafted. These are like bicycle pumps and was initially used to douse the fire during the 1666 Great Fire of London.

1819 – Captain George Manby made the first-ever transportable fire extinguisher. The canister is made of copper and sprayed a solution of potassium carbonate with the aid of compressed air.

1904 – Alexander Loran invented the extinguisher that contains chemical foam derived from his invention of a foam that fights the fire.

1911 – Pyrene patented a compact and transportable extinguisher that utilized chemical.

1912 – The Pyrene Manufacturing Company of Delaware submitted a patent for the use of CTC or carbon tetrachloride to douse fires. The vaporized liquid extinguishes the flames by preventing the chain reaction of the chemicals present in the combustion process. It was also during this year that the model was mass produced.

The model is a chrome or brass vessel that expels liquid through the use of a hand pump. It has a capacity of 1.1 liters but it was made available in up to 9 –liter size. They discovered that it was effective in dousing electrical and liquid fires. However, the chemicals are extremely toxic which resulted in several deaths especially when applied in a small and confined area.

1924 – The cO2 or carbon dioxide extinguisher was crafted. It was composed of a tall cylinder made of metal that contained 7.5 –pounds of carbon dioxide. It was equipped with a woven brass, a hose covered with cotton, a wheel valve and a funnel-like composite that served as a nozzle. Up to this day, the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher is still widely used.

1928 –DuGas released a dry chemical extinguisher that is operated by a cartridge. It was composed of a cylinder made of copper and equipped with a carbon dioxide cartridge on the inside. The wheel valve needs to be turned to perforate the cartridge. Also, the lever on the valve must be squeezed to release the chemical.

The 1940s –During these years Germany made liquid CBM or chlorobromomethane that was used in aircraft. It was less toxic and more effective compared to carbon tetrachloride. The liquid CBM was used until 1969.

The 1970s – Halon 1211 arrived from Europe to the US. In 1954, DuPont developed the Halon 1301. Both models worked by preventing the fire’s chain reaction. Until today Halon is still used but because of its impact in the environment, it is falling out of favor.

Mid Twentieth Century – The contemporary fire extinguisher was introduced. Since then, this model comes in different forms and variations.

Different Classes Of Fire Extinguishers And There Uses

There are various types of fire extinguishers that you can use to fight different classes of fire. In the event of a fire, the last thing that you would like to do is to read the writings on the fire extinguisher to find out if you can use it to fight the fire. Being able to identify the different classes of fire extinguisher could make a significant difference.

Fires have different forms, therefore it is very important that you are familiar with how to properly extinguish different types of fire.

Fires come in many forms, so you need to familiarize yourself with how to properly and swiftly extinguish whichever type of fire you face.

What Are The Different Classes Of Fires?

Fires can be easily put out if you know the type of materials involved. It is for this reason that a fire is classified into one of six categories. They are the following:

Class A

This type of fire is also known as ordinary combustibles. It is caused by common flammable materials like wood, trash, paper, plastics, and fabrics to name a few. This type of fire is common in various industries; the most common is the trash fires. It is easily put out with monoammonium phosphate or simply water.

Class B

This type of fire is distinguished as one that uses gas or flammable liquids for its fuel base. Among common liquid-based fuel sources are gasoline, kerosene, and paints and oils that are petroleum-based. Gases like propane or butane are also considered usual fuel sources. This type of fire is usually found in industries that involve lubricants, fuels, or paints. The most common way to put out this type of fire is to remove the oxygen.

Class C

This type of fire originates from things that utilize electricity or have electrical components. Also known as electrical fires, most often, they are caused by motors, transformers, and electronic appliances. It is common in industries that involve energy. It is also common in industries that fabricate heavy equipment powered by electricity. However, there are several instances where electrical fires occur in a smaller setting. This includes an overloaded electrical outlet and faulty electrical wiring. In order to extinguish the electrical fire, you need to cut off the power and use chemicals that are non-conductive.

Class D

This type of fire is caused by combustible metal. This includes potassium, titanium, aluminum, and magnesium. There are also other metals with combustible properties that may cause Class D fire. This fire usually happens in laboratories. This could also happen in industries that utilize combustible metals as components of their production. In order to douse this type of fire, you must use a dry powder agent. It does not only absorb the heat of the fire but also oppresses it.

Class F

This type of fire is caused by combustive liquids used in the preparation of food. This includes vegetable oils, greases, fats, cooking oils, and animal fats. Class F fires usually occur in the restaurant and foodservice industry. This type of fire is very dangerous and very destructive. Therefore, it is important that you use fire extinguishers that contain wet chemicals in order to douse this type of fire.

Fire Extinguisher Maintenance

In case of fire, the first thing that set your eyes and you laid your hands on is the fire extinguisher. Therefore, it is very important that it is in optimal condition so it could function as intended. To ensure that your fire extinguisher is in prime condition, it must be serviced and checked regularly.

As pressurized containers, fire extinguishers can explode when damaged or eaten by corrosion. This could cause injuries, accidents, and even death. Most of the time, several business owners are not really particular on the condition of their fire extinguishers until a chance to use them arises.

youtube

Any type of public facility is required to undergo yearly testing of the fire extinguishers inside their buildings. Because fire extinguishers are essential during the fire, it is important to have one that is properly working for the safety of the public and the establishment. The Fire Safety Order of 2005 requires firefighting equipment to be properly maintained. It must be in an efficient and working order.

There are a couple of maintenance procedures for fire extinguishers. These are through a visual inspection and through maintenance conducted by a skilled person.

Visual Basic Inspection

When conducting a visual inspection of the fire extinguisher, it is important that it should be recorded and performed on a monthly basis. It must cover the following:

Location. Checking if the fire extinguisher is located in its proper place

Visibility. Check if your fire extinguisher is positioned in a place that can be easily seen

Operating Instructions. Are the instructions visible? Is it facing outwards? Is it clean and can be easily read?

The condition of the fire extinguisher. Check for obvious damage. Is there any sign of corrosion? Has it been recently used? Are there any parts missing?

Pressure. Check if the pressure of the fire extinguisher meets its safe operating restrictions

Seals. Check the seals for any signs of tampering. Are the indicators broken?

Conducted By a Competent Person

As for the other method of maintenance, it is best if you seek the help of a professional. There are several businesses that offer maintenance and servicing of fire extinguishers. Since fire extinguishers are complicated and very crucial in protecting your house or business from fire, hire a professional or a reliable service company.

They will perform a thorough inspection, maintenance, and even servicing of your fire extinguishers. Basically, they will inspect the correct pressure level of your fire extinguisher as well as signs of tampering or damage.

When hiring a professional or a service company to do the annual or monthly maintenance and checkup of your extinguisher, it is important you have a fire extinguisher service contract or a fire extinguisher service agreement. If there is none, you can create your own by using a fire extinguisher service contract template. There are also numerous samples of fire extinguisher maintenance contracts that you can find online, you can print it and have the service company sign it.

Content First Appeared on: Legal Notes

Originally published on: The ABC’s of Fire Extinguishers

via The ABC’s of Fire Extinguishers

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legalformsio · 6 years ago

Text

The ABC’s of Fire Extinguishers

What Are Fire Extinguishers:

The History Of Fire Extinguishers

200 B.C. – Ctesibius of Alexandria made a hand pump to put water into fires. It replaced the burdensome method of passing buckets from one person to another to deliver water to the fire.

1600’s – During this era, squirts were crafted. These are like bicycle pumps and was initially used to douse the fire during the 1666 Great Fire of London.

1819 – Captain George Manby made the first-ever transportable fire extinguisher. The canister is made of copper and sprayed a solution of potassium carbonate with the aid of compressed air.

1904 – Alexander Loran invented the extinguisher that contains chemical foam derived from his invention of a foam that fights the fire.

1911 – Pyrene patented a compact and transportable extinguisher that utilized chemical.

Mid Twentieth Century – The contemporary fire extinguisher was introduced. Since then, this model comes in different forms and variations.

Different Classes Of Fire Extinguishers And There Uses

Fires have different forms, therefore it is very important that you are familiar with how to properly extinguish different types of fire.

Fires come in many forms, so you need to familiarize yourself with how to properly and swiftly extinguish whichever type of fire you face.

What Are The Different Classes Of Fires?

Fires can be easily put out if you know the type of materials involved. It is for this reason that a fire is classified into one of six categories. They are the following:

Class A

Class B

Class C

Class D

Class F

Fire Extinguisher Maintenance

youtube

There are a couple of maintenance procedures for fire extinguishers. These are through a visual inspection and through maintenance conducted by a skilled person.

Visual Basic Inspection

When conducting a visual inspection of the fire extinguisher, it is important that it should be recorded and performed on a monthly basis. It must cover the following:

Location. Checking if the fire extinguisher is located in its proper place

Visibility. Check if your fire extinguisher is positioned in a place that can be easily seen

Operating Instructions. Are the instructions visible? Is it facing outwards? Is it clean and can be easily read?

The condition of the fire extinguisher. Check for obvious damage. Is there any sign of corrosion? Has it been recently used? Are there any parts missing?

Pressure. Check if the pressure of the fire extinguisher meets its safe operating restrictions

Seals. Check the seals for any signs of tampering. Are the indicators broken?

Conducted By a Competent Person

Content First Appeared on: Legal Notes

Originally published on: The ABC’s of Fire Extinguishers

via The ABC’s of Fire Extinguishers

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right-or-ron · 8 years ago

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So often, works of art come to us as fully formed creations. Whether it’s a song we hear on the radio, a play performed, a painting on a wall or a movie on the big screen, art is usually experienced by most when it has reached that nebulous moment of “completion” and has gone public. Of course, we have more access than ever before to the creative process behind so much art on display. In some ways, it may remove some of the magic. But I believe getting an inside glimpse can also help you see all those mysterious bits and angles, those unexpected and unplanned moments, that creep into any artistic endeavor. It’s not so much seeing the “man behind the curtain” as seeing the muse behind the creation.

Part of the joy of creating is going through the serendipitous happenings and the “oops” that become a key part of what you’re making. That is certainly the case for me, though I don’t always take note of it the way that I should. Or, perhaps, there are so many little moments that add up that it is hard to keep track. However, for my latest artwork, I decided to pay closer attention to the stages it went through and how I responded to those stages. Below is the finished product, which I posted here last week Friday:

“Divisible” Mixed Media on Poster/Canvas 2017

I’ll now take you through the process, beginning with…

The Angst – I know, I know- “Angst” is a horribly over-used word when it comes to creating art. It has been so over-used and over-done that it has become cliche. But I use it here in good faith and with the meaning of the word fully intact: A feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity (Webster’s Dictionary definition). I don’t believe every work of art begins here but the artwork above most definitely did.

Though Canada has been my home for over sixteen years, I am an American, born and bred. I don’t need to rehash all the news from the past year that was hashed to death, suffice to say that I am no fan of Donald Trump. In fact, in his campaign and demeanor, in is words and actions, I was appalled that he got so far as to be a candidate for the presidency. I am not a fan of Hillary Clinton, either, but the prospect of her being president did not fill me with dread. As I considered the concept of a “President Trump” I could only see the various divisions in my home country getting wider and wider; I could only see the hatred and extreme rhetoric growing and growing; I could only see families turned against each other, neighbors fearing neighbors, and the weak and vulnerable suffering. My heart was so full of this angst that the slogan “Make America Great Again” attached to such a person and his political agenda seemed a sick joke. Would the healing flow unhindered in the wake of a Hillary Clinton presidency? Of course not. The damage in the U.S. is too dire for one person, administration or political party to fix. But at least there would be some semblance of decency and attempts at unity. In Trump, I saw the total opposite. Like so many millions and perhaps billions of people all over the world, when America cast their vote and it became clear who the winner would be, it felt as if someone had died. I was angry and I grieved.

I do not state the above to get into a political argument with anyone. I simply state it as the reality of where my heart was at as we approached Inauguration Day. My heart was with people, people I love and people who I believe in and still believe in: the Americans I know in the America I still love. That is the “soil” that was prepared in me.

The Inspiration – There are those who would think this is the beginning of the creative process but I would argue that is not the case. The soil needs to be there before seeds are planted. An artist tends to be an open soul, that is, someone who wears their heart on their sleeve; someone who is very sensitive to emotions, happenings in their world, and to how things are effecting them and those around them. Inspiration grows from the soil of empathy.

In the case of my artwork “Divisible”, the inspiration I received came from an unexpected source. For the last few years, I have worked at a day program for adults with developmental disabilities. It is an environment where we provide skill building and employment opportunities to give people purpose and meaning in their lives. We have a number of small businesses including a woodworking shop, a jewelry making business and a pottery studio. I work in an art studio at the day program. There we give people the chance to express themselves individually, on paper or canvas, and then make their work available to the public through art shows and markets.

It was in the context of this studio that I received my inspiration. One young man we support wanted to make a painting a couple of weeks ago. He asked specifically to paint a picture of an American flag. Now, understand, I don’t believe this request was at all politically motivated. I know this individual well and have never heard him talk this way at all. Perhaps he heard staff talking about the coming Inauguration Day or about Donald Trump, or perhaps he just caught a sense of the general zeitgeist of the moment. Whatever it was, he wanted to paint the U.S. flag. So I got him a canvas and some appropriate paints, printed up a picture of the flag for him to see, and the below is what he created:

I found this work to be amazing. His choice to make the Stripes of the Stars and Stripes veer upward, the expressionistic energy of the brush strokes and stark simplicity was quite profound. It is one of the best things he’s ever painted. And as he was doing it, I began to draw. I drew my own expressionistic, stylized American flags. I ended up drawing four of them, all in oil pastels, all on the motif of the flag. Here are those drawings:

At first I just drew because I felt like drawing. But as I drew an idea started to form: Take these drawings and turn them into one, big expressionist American flag. In doing so, maybe I could recreate some of that angst I was feeling, maybe exorcise some demons, maybe work through the anger and grief and get on with life. I wanted to convey the division I felt ripping through my home country and the pain that rift is causing so many people who really do love America. As so many artists have felt over so many thousands of years, I just had to get this out.

The Pre-Creation – In so many cases with artwork, the real job is in the pre-creation: that time of preparing and planning for what you hope the final product will look like. For the first step, I decided to tear my drawings apart and reassemble them on a canvas surface, preferably with a background of color and texture. With that thought, I set out to find that background. I decided to search my usual haunts: the second-hand stores where you can often find large canvases for little money. I searched through a couple of stores without finding anything suitable. On my way out the door at my local Salvation Army store, I saw the pseudo-artwork below, just sitting on the floor, leaning against the glass of the entryway to the store:

I am not trying to be mean in labeling this “pseudo-artwork”. But the truth is that it is a pre-packaged item of moody colors and fake textures on a poster stretched over a canvas frame. It’s not a painting, it just looks like it from far away. It is “art” for those looking for something to match their decor and maybe lend a faux-hip vibe to their home. It is Wal-Mart Art. But for my purposes, it was just about perfect. It’s shape was flag-shaped. It was fairly large. And it had a dark background that would make a great contrast to my bright oil pastel drawings. It even had a slight hint of the same lines of an American flag already in it. This was an incredibly serendipitous moment and I knew instantly when I saw it that this artwork of mine was meant to happen.

I set about finding a time that I could complete this piece, knowing I’d need a couple of hours to paste my drawings scraps to this poster/canvas I had discovered. While I was biding my time, I was using my woodless colored pencils at work. When I sharpened them, I noticed how much color was in the shavings. I decided to save the shavings, not really knowing what I was going to do with them, but feeling that they might just come in handy.

The Creation – The time came free for me to get to work and make this idea a reality. Armed with my scraps of paper, my background, my pencil shavings and my glue, I got busy…

In the end, I slathered the glue over the top of all the bits of paper I had assembled and stuck on the background, then I took those pencil shavings and literally let them rain down on the artwork; wherever they landed is where I let them stick. Through the whole process I tried to act on instinct and keep a sense of motion and emotion. I didn’t think too much about where the paper scraps were laid down (only to keep a motif of the American flag somewhat in mind) and wanted to leave room for the unexpected to happen. Here is the finished product one more time:

“Divisible” Mixed Media on Poster/Canvas 2017

The Aftermath – This is a bit of a misnomer, as I didn’t just have thoughts about this piece when it was done; things were occurring to me all during the creation of it. But the pondering of what you’ve done brings to mind all the stuff you didn’t plan; at best, maybe you allowed for the unexpected but it still brings amazement when things happen you didn’t intend.

First of all, I was struck by how the human mind works. This artwork looks nothing at all like an American flag. But our brains reassemble it for us so that when we look at it, we see that iconic image we know so well, regardless of the colors being off and the lines of the original going helter-skelter all over the place. What the viewers’ brain will do is the secret weapon of the artist.

Secondly, I thought about the four original drawings and how they were all different in character. It made me think of how there are so many Americas in the perspectives of so many people, both inside and outside the country itself. We all think we know what the U.S.A. is but, really, we don’t. It is so many different things to so many different people. It seemed fitting that I used those original drawings to craft something that hung loosely together.

Thirdly, despite the title “Divisible” – a title I chose as a direct contradiction to the “indivisible” line of the Pledge of Allegiance – there is still a unity that holds the piece together. It is chaotic and messy, jumbled and frustrating, especially to the orderly-minded, but there is still things that hold it together, despite all of that. There are still things held in common; still things that are shared and valued together.

Fourthly, the colorful pencil shavings I spread all around the piece reminded me that the tapestry of people, cultures, traditions, beliefs, etc. of American people are the highlight of the nation. Often, these things are hidden, sometimes on purpose, sometimes not, in the quest for a unified vision as a country. But diversity doesn’t have to mean division. An understanding and empathy of those different from you gives strength, not weakness. That is a fine quality of the U.S.A. that should not be forgotten.

Fifthly, an “oops” was a large pile of shavings landing on the bottom right portion of the artwork. As I look at it the now, however, the shape seems almost human; more so, it looks like someone walking down a path, maybe moving on; maybe moving forward.

Overall, I realized that what was intended at first to express angst ended up expressing a lot of hope. It ended up being about love, not anger or fear.

That is my interpretation, anyway. Perhaps you see something entirely different or you don’t see anything at all. That is okay. Art is meant to be laid out for public viewing and public scrutiny; it will speak to some, scream to others, and be completely silent to others still. That is both the joy and agony of creating for the artist.

There you have it. I don’t believe this to be any kind of masterpiece. But it is worthy because I offer it to you.

A Year of Creating Dangerously, Day 24: The Creative Process So often, works of art come to us as fully formed creations. Whether it's a song we hear on the radio, a play performed, a painting on a wall or a movie on the big screen, art is usually experienced by most when it has reached that nebulous moment of "completion" and has gone public.

#America #American Flag #Art #Artist #Creating Art #Divisible #mixed media art #President Trump #The Creative Process #Trump #United States of America

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invisible-arcs · 8 years ago

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Thoughts on zoos

I recently quit my job in marketing for two AZA-accredited zoos. I was there for four years. I became seriously jaded in that time.

Discussions below the cut:

“Most captive populations of endangered animals will never play a conservation role in what remains of the world’s natural habitats.” (x)

AZA accreditation does not protect captive animals from being shipped to non-accredited facilities.

Zoos talk a lot about global warming, but conceal its relationship to capitalism.

Conservation messaging is purely a marketing ploy in response to surveys about what millennials value.

Zoos are not necessary for children to develop empathy for wild habitats and creatures.

American zoos are operated mostly by white people and designed for white people.

Ok here we go.

As stated in this New Yorker Magazine article:

[Successful reintroduction] programs are rare: they are costly and require a viable natural habitat, and loss of habitat is the primary cause of species endangerment.”

So, if they don’t conserve wild species in any meaningful capacity, do zoos really serve a purpose?

One popular argument is that children need to see certain animals in order to empathize with them. But there is no research to back that up.* As noted in this article:

It’s so true. Plus, children love the animals they see in the backyard - squirrels, bugs, newts. It's only adults who say "that animal isn't important; that animal is more exciting."

*As a side note, people don't need to develop empathy to act compassionately. As an autistic person, I was uncomfortable with this new focus on “empathy research.”

Another pro-zoo argument is that they educate about global warming and habitat loss. First of all, we weren’t even allowed to say “global warming,” only “climate change,” to soften the message. Secondly, we did not teach tactics that can actually prevent and reverse habitat loss, because any discussion of capitalism was deemed “too political.” After all, we weren’t there to help the planet, but to drive revenue. Our typical call to action: Add your name to this form, and we'll never do anything with it (trust me, we didn’t); carry reusable tote bags; wear a pin. This is not good enough. Individual consumer actions are NOT the cause of - and cannot solve - climate change and habitat loss. Switching to tote bags is great for a sense of individual stewardship, but it’s useless against global warming if large corporations continue to destroy the environment. We can not possibly outweigh that impact without a true revolution that drains power from capitalist institutions. This crucial piece of information is forbidden in zoo messaging. Zoos are still part of an entertainment industry. Participating in capitalism, without promoting/allowing a healthy skepticism of capitalism, does far more damage to wild habitats than zoos can possibly fix. The zoos I worked for never emphasized the conservation aspect until survey research came out showing that “millennials” value the feeling of being part of a larger cause. “Our industry is necessary because of the conservation work we do” is purely a marketing message. Also, American zoos are operated mostly by white people and designed for white people and this is rarely discussed. In four years I never heard a single conversation about this, except the few times I brought it up. We hired black, hispanic, and asian children for our photo shoots because we couldn’t find enough of them on zoo grounds. These marketing materials do not improve our numbers; they just cater to a white fantasy of diversity. My boss, the marketing manager, suggested that we remove the question of ethnicity from visitor surveys. Her reasoning? If pressed on the issue, we’d be better off having no data at all, because the real numbers make us look bad. I do have one positive thing to say: Zoos facilitate a lot of research and donate to research projects, and that’s a good thing. I studied biology in school and I am an big supporter of research for its own sake, regardless of the application. That’s actually why I joined the zoo industry in the first place - I was passionate about promoting an interest in science to young kids, and I was super interested in the research being done at zoos.

#zoos #aza #conservation #zoo

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