2003 gmc yukon gas tank size
[H] Assassin's Creed, Past Humble Bundles and leftovers including Hellblade, Grid Ultimate, VR games, Walking Dead Saints, Resident Evil HD and 0, Street Fighter and Ultra, Aliens, Ascent [W] games, lists, trades
2023.06.02 04:41 SchemesOfMiceAndMen [H] Assassin's Creed, Past Humble Bundles and leftovers including Hellblade, Grid Ultimate, VR games, Walking Dead Saints, Resident Evil HD and 0, Street Fighter and Ultra, Aliens, Ascent [W] games, lists, trades
Hello! I have a bunch of old Humble Bundles and some other keys up for trade. I have them organized 2 ways: 1) by specific humble bundles, 2) alphabetized at the very bottom. Hopefully that makes it easier to find what you are looking for!
I'm mostly interested in trading with people who plan to activate immediately instead of retrading later.
Humble Non-Choice Bundles :
In Your Face VR
Superfly
Battle Group VR
Zenith: The Last City
Humble Spring into VR Leftovers
Star Trek: Bridge Crew
Surgeon Simulator: Experience Reality
Humble VR Emporium Leftovers
House Flipper VR
Zero Caliber VR
Scary Games to Play in the Dark
Propnight
The Blackout Club
Them and Us
SCP: 5K
Amazing Adventures
Beyond a Steel Sky
Alfred Hitchcock Vertigo
Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot The First Cases
Resident Evil Decades of Horror
Resident Evil HD Remaster
Resident Evil 0 HD Remaster
Humble Capcom
Strider
Bionic Commando
Street Fighter V
Ultra Street Fighter IV
Humble T1D
Walking Dead Saints and Sinners
Bartlow's Dread Machine
Super Meat Boy
Rad
Pine
Gauntlet Slayer Edition
Humble Extras
Oxenfree
Vikings Wolves of Midgard
Gabriel Knight 3
Battalion 1944
Deadbeat Heroes
Octahedron: Transfixed Edition
Oh My Godheads
Niche
Magicat
Evergarden
Equilinox
To the Moon
Sims 3
Sims 3 High End Loft Stuff
Sims 3 Late Night
Sims 3 Date Night
Burnout Paradise Ultimate Box
Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 Uprising
Medal of Honor (Origin)
Burnout Paradise (Origin)
Mirror's Edge Origin
Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 Uprising Origin
Popolous Origin
Humble Choice Bundles:
April 2023 Choice
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp
Revita
Founders' Fortune
October 2022 Choice
Disciples Liberation
Epic Chef
Railroad Corporation
Golf Gang
August 2022 Choice
The Ascent
Hot Wheels Unleashed
Gas Station Simulator
In Sound Mind
Humble June 2022
Phoenix Point GOTY
Siege Survival Gloria Victis
GameDec
Pumpkin Jack
I am Fish
Humble May 2022
Spongebob Battle for Bikini Bottom
Command and Conquer Remastered Collection (must activate by June 7th)
Spellcaster University
Embr
Humble April 2020 (5 Choices Left)
This is the Police 2
Raiden V Director's Cut
Driftland: Magic Revival
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil
TruberBrook
Shoppe Keep 2
Capitalism 2
Humble June 2020 (5 Choices Left)
Supraland
Grid Ultimate Edition
Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice
Felix the Reaper
Men of War: Assault Squad 2
Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones
Overload
The King's Bird
Humble August 2020 Leftovers
Wargroove
Little Big Workshop
Genesis Alpha One Deluxe Edition
Humble September 2020 Leftovers
Golf with Your Friends
Vampire the Masquerade Coteries of New York
Fun with Ragdolls the Game
Strange Brigade
Catherine Classic
Humble October 2020 Leftovers
Tropico 6 El Prez Edition
Iron Danger
Autonauts
Shadows Awakening
Fantasy Blacksmith
Goat of Duty
The Uncertain: Last Quiet Day
Basement
Humble November 2020 Leftovers
Darksiders 3
Imperator: Rome Deluxe Edition
Crying Suns
Darksburg
Rover Mechanic Simulator
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt
Humble December 2020 Leftovers
Shining Resonance Refrain
Zwei: The Arges Adventure
Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection
Tabletop Playground
Humble January 2021 Leftovers
PC Building Simulator
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Warhammer: Chaosbane
Total Tank Simulator
Not Tonight
Vampire TM: Shadows of New york
The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines
Humble February 2021
Outward + The Soroboreans + Soundtrack
Endless Space 2 Digital Deluxe
Trine 4
The Wild Eight
Train Station Renovation
Boomerang Fu
Werewolf: Heart of the Forest
Humble March 2021
Control Standard Edition
Xcom: Chimera Squad
Elex
Kingdom Two Crowns
WWE 2K Battleground
Hotshot Racing
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind
Cyber Hook
Pesterquest
Wildfire
Boreal Blade
Ageless
Humble April 2021
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts
F1 2020
Shenmue 3
Main Assembly
Rock of Ages 3
In Other Waters
Aven Colony
Colt Canyon
Skully
Popup Dungeon
Humble May 2021
Darksiders Genesis
Hellpoint
Cook, Serve, Delicious 3
Fury Unleashed
Size Matters
Retimed
Family Man
Vane
Humble Alphabetical List
Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot The First Cases Ageless Alfred Hitchcock Vertigo Aliens: Fireteam Elite Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey Autonauts Aven Colony Bartlow's Dread Machine Basement Battalion 1944 Battle Group VR Beyond a Steel Sky Bionic Commando Boomerang Fu Boreal Blade Burnout Paradise (Origin) Burnout Paradise Ultimate Box Capitalism 2 Catherine Classic Colt Canyon Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 Uprising Command and Conquer Red Alert 3 Uprising Origin Command and Conquer Remastered Collection (must activate by June 7th) Control Standard Edition Cook, Serve, Delicious 3 Crying Suns Cyber Hook Darksburg Darksiders 3 Darksiders Genesis Deadbeat Heroes Disciples Liberation Driftland: Magic Revival Elex Embr Endless Space 2 Digital Deluxe Epic Chef Equilinox Evergarden F1 2020 Family Man Fantasy Blacksmith Felix the Reaper Founders' Fortune Fun with Ragdolls the Game Fury Unleashed Gabriel Knight 3 GameDec Gas Station Simulator Gauntlet Slayer Edition Genesis Alpha One Deluxe Edition Goat of Duty Golf Gang Golf with Your Friends Grid Ultimate Edition Hellblade Senua' Sacrifice Hellpoint Hot Wheels Unleashed Hotshot Racing House Flipper VR I am Fish Imperator: Rome Deluxe Edition In Other Waters In Sound Mind Iron Danger Kingdom Two Crowns Little Big Workshop Magicat Main Assembly Medal of Honor (Origin) Men of War: Assault Squad 2 Mirror's Edge Origin Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp Niche Not Tonight Octahedron: Transfixed Edition Oh My Godheads Outward + The Soroboreans + Soundtrack Overload Oxenfree PC Building Simulator Peaky Blinders: Mastermind Pesterquest Phoenix Point GOTY Pine Popolous Origin Popup Dungeon Propnight Pumpkin Jack Rad Raiden V Director's Cut Railroad Corporation Resident Evil 0 HD Remaster Resident Evil Decades of Horror Resident Evil HD Remaster Retimed Revita Rock of Ages 3 Rover Mechanic Simulator SCP: 5K Shadows Awakening Shenmue 3 Shining Resonance Refrain Shoppe Keep 2 Siege Survival Gloria Victis Sims 3 Sims 3 Date Night Sims 3 High End Loft Stuff Sims 3 Late Night Size Matters Skully Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts Spellcaster University Spongebob Battle for Bikini Bottom Star Trek: Bridge Crew Strange Brigade Street Fighter V Strider Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones Super Meat Boy Superfly Supraland Surgeon Simulator: Experience Reality Tabletop Playground The Ambassador: Fractured Timelines The Ascent The Blackout Club The King's Bird The Uncertain: Last Quiet Day The Wild Eight Them and Us This is the Police 2 To the Moon Total Tank Simulator Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt Train Station Renovation Trine 4 Tropico 6 El Prez Edition TruberBrook Turok 2: Seeds of Evil Ultra Street Fighter IV Vampire TM: Shadows of New york Vampire the Masquerade Coteries of New York Vane Vikings Wolves of Midgard WWE 2K Battleground Walking Dead Saints and Sinners Wargroove Warhammer: Chaosbane Werewolf: Heart of the Forest Wildfire Xcom: Chimera Squad Zenith: The Last City Zero Caliber VR Zwei: The Arges Adventure Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection
Fanatical, GMG, other Keys:
Aragami Assassin's Creed Odyssey Gold (requires Uplay login) Atari Vault Biped Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead Cat Lady Card Game Clustertruck Crown Trick Deponia Doomsday Dustforce DX Everspace Everspace Encounters Dlc Everspace Upgrade to Deluxe Edition HoPiKo Holy Potatoes! A Spy Story?! Horizon Chase Turbo Kill It With Fire Liberated Metro Redux Bundle Monster Slayers Monster Slayers Advanced Classes Unlocker Monster Slayers Fire and Steel Expansion Monsters Den Chronicles Moon Hunters Neon Abyss Pillars of the Earth Project Nimbus: Complete Edition Quest Hunter Shadowhand RPG Card Game Shieldmaiden Remix Skyhill Slain Back from Hell Spirit Hunter Death Mark Starpoint Gemini Warlords Swords of Gargantua VR Tangledeep The Dark Eye Memoria The Long Reach Tokyo Xanadu eX+ Wayward Souls XIII Classic
I'm mostly interested in trades. Let me know what you got! Thanks!
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2023.06.01 22:51 NimbusXLithium [WTS-SoCal] Burbank: HPA TM870 w/ Tank & Regulator, BOLT AR47 AEG, PTS MKM AR15 GBBR, WE KATANA M4A1 AEG, KJW M9 GBB Pistol, Merrell Combat Boots, More Being Added Randomly.
Thank You for Viewing My Post!
I have been collecting guns since 2008. I am offloading my entire collection. A majority of items are "like new" unless I mentioned that it has been fielded. I am constantly adding items, I am digging through my garage for the rest of my collection. Most items are OBO
***** I don't trade. Please, don't ask****
https://imgur.com/a/bF8w0al ◇◇ HPA Tokyo Marui M870 Tri Shot Shotgun ($400)
Bought the gun, did the work, tried it, dont like it. Buttpad is also missing. Selling the tank and Regulator, along with the gun and shells.
◇◇ Krytac SPR Trident II w/ extra ($350 shipped)
https://imgur.com/a/ODMt1iN Nice gun, still stock. Dont have time for it. Fielded a hand full of times.
◇◇G&G ARP9 AEG w/ 5 midcap magazines, 1 High cap, battery charger. ($350 Split Shipping)
https://imgur.com/a/wuCcKJe Bought this brand new 5 ish years ago? Magazines and everything are brand new, I never took them out of the box.
◇◇ Golden Eagle Gas Shotgun and Pump Springer. ($220 Both shipped)
https://imgur.com/a/4hW62CK Gas shotgun is pretty much brand new, fielded once. The furniture on the pump action is getting sticky. Comes with extra 14 shells
◇◇ WE SCAR L Bullpup ($380 shipped)
https://imgur.com/a/YoPWb3f
Scufffs and nicks to the body here and there but fully functional.
◇◇ PTS MKM AR15 GBBR Rifle ($360 Shipped)
https://imgur.com/a/qLtyIFP
Pretty much new, I haven't take either of these out to field or anything. ●You are paying for ome, not both●
◇◇ WE Katana M4A1 AEG ($300 shipped)
https://imgur.com/a/Y02e16o
Pretty much new, kept it in a hardcase with another gun
◇◇ KJW Beretta M9 w/ mags and faux silencer ($150 shipped)
https://imgur.com/a/VLKXaiR
Didnt really use it much, mostly practicing mag changes. Forgot the time stamp, dont kill me
◇◇ PTS MATEN MML GBBR ($400 shipped)
https://imgur.com/a/hbZvvUp
Bought it and never used it. Always kept in the box. Brand new or like new.
◇◇ Dboys Scar L w/ Hammer motor, Deepfire 6.04 steel barrel, Noveske FAUX cover. ($200)
https://imgur.com/a/RMNglAn
Like new, but there is a crack in the hing (see photos).
◇◇ Rare King Arms Smith and Wesson M&P-15 PXS ($600)
https://imgur.com/a/gFJrEuZ
There is almost no information about this gun besides on the king arms site and tiger HK.
◇◇ Classic Army Kryptek M14 ($400)
https://imgur.com/a/Cg2Ybuf
There is no information about this gun coming with this colour. Try looking, I personally haven't found anything. This isn't a custom thing either, it comes straight from Classic Army this way.I bought that back at Airsplat if ANYONE remembers those guys these days.
◇◇ BOLT BR-47 AEG ($300 Shipped)
https://imgur.com/a/DeORdP5
New, nice condition, never used.
××××××××× MISC Items ×××××××××
◇◇ Merrell Boots 8.5 ($90)
https://imgur.com/a/bBtCiXY
It's completely new, just not my size.
◇◇ Daniel Defense Omega X 9 AEG Rail System ($80)
https://imgur.com/a/PYZKtsi
New and never used. Comes with all necessary hardware.
◇◇ CodeRed Headset (not sure if it works) ($40)
https://imgur.com/a/fnnywXS
I this was given to me but I am not sure what radio I would use for it.
◇◇ Multicam Camo Chest Rig ($40 shipped)
https://imgur.com/a/v0i7si4
Not my colour, dont use it anymore.
◇◇ Scopes (UFC and some random .22lr scope) $50 each + shipping
https://imgur.com/a/NoZT0cM
https://imgur.com/a/WRBgiRv
◇◇ FPG boneyard mags.
https://imgur.com/a/UNbzoH8
Mags are $49 shipped
I forgot the time stamps for these, sorry. Ill take with time stamps later
◇◇ Real Troy Stubby Grip ($50)
https://imgur.com/a/WASr8D7
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2023.06.01 22:30 developbc HPQ Silicon GEN3 QRR Pilot Plant Produces 3N+ Silicon (99.92% Si) in a Single Step
MONTREAL, June 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
HPQ Silicon Inc. (“HPQ” or the “Company”) (
TSX-V: HPQ) (
OTCQX: HPQFF) (
FRA: O08), a technology company specializing in green engineering processes for silica and silicon material production, announces the successful validation of a crucial milestone that demonstrates the capabilities of our proprietary technology, the
PUREVAPTM Quartz Reduction Reactor (QRR) process. Our accomplishment is that we have produced Silicon with a purity exceeding 3N+ in a single step.
This validation follows a thorough review of test #5 results from the ongoing GEN3 pilot plant program conducted by technology provider
PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (
TSX: PYR) (
NASDAQ: PYR) (
FRA: 8PY) (Pyrogenesis).
The results are also highly promising because they confirm the capability of the QRR process to reduce the cash cost of silicon metal manufacturing through a single-step process and by decreasing the feedstock requirement.
“These advancements mark a milestone for HPQ Silicon and highlight the effectiveness of the PUREVAPTM QRR process in modernizing the production of high-purity Silicon while concurrently driving down production costs," said Bernard Tourillon, President & CEO of HPQ Silicon.
"HPQ, with partner Pyrogenesis, is continually advancing its new QRR technology. These recent results demonstrate more positive progress in the efforts to create a new, low-cost process to manufacture of high purity Silicon. The existing processes have remained largely unchanged for the past century." PRODUCED 3N+ PURITY SILICON OR BATTERY-GRADE SILICON Pyrogenesis thoroughly assessed the Silicon material generated during tests #4 and #5 in the series. The samples were analyzed using ICP-MS Silicon Bulk Sample Analysis at Air Liquide Electronics (Balazs NanoAnalysis).
In test #4, the results revealed an average silicon purity (%) surpassing 99.8%. This achievement signifies a noteworthy enhancement compared to the previous best results of 99.6% Si,
as announced on March 16th.
However, it is the outcome of test #5 that is noteworthy.
During test #5, we achieved an average silicon purity (%) of 99.92% across two separate tests. This outcome validates the capability of the QRR process to surpass the minimum purity requirement of 3N, specifically for battery-grade silicon.
The achievement moves forward HPQ in its goal of producing high-purity silicon for battery and other high-value applications with the QRR.
QRR PROCESS: UNLOCKING A REDUCTION IN CASH COSTS FOR SILICON PRODUCTION Conventionally, the production yield of metallurgical grade silicon (1-2N purity) ranges from 80 to 90% [1]. However, when traditional plants implement optimized processes to produce higher purity silicon (2-3N), production yields are reduced to between 50 and 60% [2].
Our innovative
PUREVAPTM QRR reactor, with its unique enclosed design, has the potential to achieve a conversion efficiency exceeding 75% while consistently maintaining a high purity level of 3N+ and more.
This would enable us to produce one unit of silicon using fewer units of feedstock, potentially resulting in a greater than 25% reduction in feedstock usage [3]. If successful, this could provide HPQ with an additional cost advantage compared to traditional methods.
As part of our program's objective to optimize feedstock utilization in the QRR process, we are delighted to report that test #5 demonstrated this progress. The conversion efficiency of the process reached 20%, a four-fold improvement compared to tests #1 through #4.
“
Results to date demonstrate that we are steadily progressing towards attaining a conversion efficiency of 75%, which will represent a leap forward in high-purity silicon manufacturing, providing HPQ with economic advantages and process efficiency within the silicon industry,” added Mr. Tourillon.
“We take great pride in the efforts of the team at PyroGenesis and our role in this exceptional opportunity and its potential for transformative impact." FILING OF NEW QRR PROCESS PATENT AND SHARES FOR DEBT SETTLEMENT HPQ Silicon is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement to acquire all rights held by the inventors of a new
PUREVAPTM QRR provisional patent application related to improvement of the Purity of the Silicon material produce by the QRR by one (1) N. Practically this invention will allow us to increase the purity of our Silicon from the 99.92% already achieved to 99.992%
This contract stems from negotiations between the parties and the debt results from the French legislation stipulating that inventors of a patent are entitled to receive remuneration for their work. That consideration was payable by the patent owner and became a debt affecting the patent.
HPQ, to become the owner and acquire all the rights in a clear patent, negotiated the payment of the debt and agreed with the inventors that the debt in the amount of $ 88,560 will be settled by means of the issuance by the company of 432,000 Units. The payment shall be made, in two stages, being 144,000 Units to each of the three inventors.
Each Unit will consist of one (1) common share of the Company and one (1) warrant to purchase one (1) additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of $ 0.27 for a period of two (2) years after the closing date of the transaction. The first issue of 72,000 units to each of the inventors will be made on the date the Company receives TSX Venture Exchange approval. The second issue of 72,000 Units will be made to each of the inventors at the time of the international filing of the patent. This transaction is subject to TSX Venture Exchange and regulatory approval.
SOURCE [1] B. Ceccaroli, O. Lohne; Solar Grade Silicon Feedstock; Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering; J. Whiley (2003)
[2] Andersen, V., Solheim, I., Gaertner, H., Sægrov-Sorte, B., Einarsrud, K. E., & Tranell, G. (2023). Pilot-Scale Test of Flue Gas Recirculation for The Silicon Process.
Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy,
9(1), 81-92.
[3] Management refers to public information from Ferroglobe PLC investor presentation dated October 17, 2017 (Page 5). According to this information, approximately 45% of the total cost of producing Metallurgical grade Silicon (98.5% - 99.5% Si) is attributed to feedstock expenses, primarily quartz and reductant. Reaching a conversion efficiency exceeding 75% would result in a reduction of about one-third of the required amount of feedstock needed to make silicon metal. Therefore this reduction in feedstock usage could result in an HPQ cost advantage of over 14% (45% * 33%) compared to traditional methods.
About PyroGenesis Canada Inc. PyroGenesis Canada Inc., a high-tech company, is a leader in the design, development, manufacture and commercialization of advanced plasma processes and sustainable solutions which reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) and are economically attractive alternatives to conventional “dirty” processes. PyroGenesis has created proprietary, patented, and advanced plasma technologies that are being vetted and adopted by multiple multibillion dollar industry leaders in three massive markets: iron ore pelletization, aluminum, waste management, and additive manufacturing. With a team of experienced engineers, scientists and technicians working out of its Montreal office, and its 3,800 m2 and 2,940 m2 R&D and manufacturing facilities, PyroGenesis maintains its competitive advantage by remaining at the forefront of technology development and commercialization. The operations are ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D certified, having been ISO certified since 1997. For more information, please visit:
www.pyrogenesis.com About HPQ Silicon HPQ Silicon Inc. (
TSX-V: HPQ) is a Quebec-based TSX Venture Exchange Tier 1 Industrial Issuer.
HPQ is developing, with the support of world-class technology partners
PyroGenesis Canada Inc.(
TSX: PYR) (
NASDAQ: PYR) and NOVACIUM SAS, new green processes crucial to make the critical materials needed to reach net zero emissions.
HPQ activities are centred around the following five (5) pillars:
1) Becoming a green low-cost (Capex and Opex) producer of High Purity Silicon (2N+ to 4N) using our proprietary
PUREVAPTM “Quartz Reduction Reactors” (QRR) being developed by PyroGenesis.
2) Becoming North America’s first producer of micron size High Purity Silicon (3N & 4N) powders with the assistance of NOVACIUM SAS.
3) Working to become the first producer of nano silicon materials from High Purity Silicon chunks using our proprietary
PUREVAPTM Nano Silicon Reactor (NSiR) being developed by PyroGenesis.
4) Becoming a green low-cost (Capex and Opex) producer of Fumed Silica using our proprietary
FUMED SILICA REACTOR being developed by PyroGenesis.
5) Developing a small and compact process for the on-demand production of hydrogen via hydrolysis of Silicon and other materials.
For more information, please visit
HPQ Silicon web site.
Disclaimers: This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's ongoing filings with the security’s regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at
www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This News Release is available on the company's
CEO Verified Discussion Forum, a moderated social media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A between Management and Shareholders.
Source: HPQ Silicon Inc.
For further information contact: Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman, President, and CEO Tel +1 (514) 846-3271 Patrick Levasseur, Director Tel: +1 (514) 262-9239 Email:
[email protected] submitted by
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2023.06.01 22:20 Trottin_Trollop405 Water heaters vs Tankless
My hot water heater finally died (I knew this day would come but I didn’t want to replace it until I had to.
Two questions: which is more energy efficient & costs less to operate? Water heater is gas & of course tankless is electric. If I go tankless, the only thing that will be gas is the furnace. It’s not due for replacement yet so it will get its turn. Then I can be all electric. But I’m in Oklahoma where things freeze and power goes out.
Question two: during my home inspection it was discovered that the flue is not up to code so I’d have to fix that. That could open a whole can of worms.
I need help deciding what to do. Gas & electric are ridiculous here because we have a horrible power grid, old infrastructure. Gas is high because they are are recouping money lost in our two week power outage (As is the electric company probably)
Which is the lesser of two evils? If you are tankless, are you happy with it? I can’t even fill up my tub before the hot water is gone. It’s a full size tank, not sure how many gallons without going to look. I don’t take full baths often but when I do it runs cold before it’s full.
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2023.06.01 20:40 rangernumberx Respect the Tomatoes (Attack of the Killer Tomatoes)
"Get over here, gonna need your help fighting the Red Menace again." "Communists, huh?" "Worse. Tomatoes!" In the late 70s, the United States of America were terrorized by the greatest threat they had ever faced.
Tomatoes, unable to be reasoned with, unable to be stopped, unable to hold back their relentless bloodlust. It took a group of specialists put together by the president to discover their one weakness, using it to negate the fruit threat. Ten years of peace passed, aided by the U.S. Congress outlawing tomatoes, and the new generation grew up unknowing of the menace once posed. This was until Professor Gangreen found a way to transform tomatoes into personal soldiers, planning on reminding the world of why they once feared them as he became its ruler.
Legend
1 - Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
2 - Return of the Killer Tomatoes!
3 - Killer Tomatoes Strike Back!
4 - Killer Tomatoes Eat France!
C-# - Attack of the Killer Tomatoes novelization, chapter #
Strength
Killing / Eating
Striking
Other
Durability
Blunt Force
Other
Mobility
Ground
Flying / Throwing Themselves
Other
Unique Forms
F.T.
Tomatozilla
Other
Equipment
Music Effects
Transformation
Weakness
Fear Induction
Other Capabilities
Other
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2023.06.01 14:46 ZandrickEllison [OC] Who is the best second banana? A ranking of the best sidekicks among all the 2000s title teams
We often hear the question: "Is Player X good enough to be the best player on a championship team?"
Less often, you hear: "Is Player Y good enough to be the
second best player on a championship team?"
It's time to give these second
bananas their due. We're going through the 2000s and ranking each SECOND best player on the title teams. Their values vary -- some were merely good starters, some were All-Stars, and some were arguably top 5 players in the entire league.
Ranking them isn't easy, but we're going to keep a few caveats in mind.
--- We're ranking based on the second banana's play during the course of THAT SEASON -- not their careers overall.
--- Statistics will be important, but not the be-all and end-all. After all, there's a big difference between stats from 2003 and stats from 2023. As a result, we may often defer to season accolades like "All-Star" or "All-NBA."
With all that said, here are my rankings, but feel free to disagree and explain your own ranks below.
THE BEST (title-winning) SECOND BANANAS of the 2000s
(23) Tyson Chandler, 2011 Dallas Mavericks
The 2010-11 Dallas Mavericks were probably the most unlikely champion of the 2000s, with Dirk Nowitzki and a cast of older veterans who were seemingly on the decline. At the time, Jason Kidd was 37, Caron Butler was 30, Shawn Marion was 32, and Peja Stojakovic was 33.
You can make the case for Jason Terry to be the second banana here. Terry averaged 15.8 points off the bench for the Mavs that year, which is more impressive when you consider the context. (teams averaged 99.6 PPG then, 114.7 PPG now). Terry also pumped his numbers up to 18.0 PPG in their stunning upset over Miami in the Finals.
Still, we'll give the slight nod to Tyson Chandler as the teams' second most impactful player overall. Chandler finished 2nd team All-Defense and his strong playoff showing helped spearhead his DPOY campaign the following season (for the Knicks). Either way -- whether you give the nod to Chandler, Terry, or Kidd -- this would rank at the bottom of our list. None of those players was flirting with All-Star status.
(22) Tony Parker, 2003 San Antonio Spurs
The Parisian Torpedo will be a frequent contributor to this list -- logging a record-setting 3 "second banana" awards for his contributions to the Spurs' incredible run.
Naturally, his first would be his least impactful. Back in 2002-03, Tony Parker was still only 20 years old and in his second season in the league. Still, he was probably their second best player after a prime Tim Duncan. He averaged 15.5 points and 5.3 assists (solid numbers for the era) and held his own against Jason Kidd in the Finals. Parker wouldn't be considered a star yet though -- his first All-Star appearance came three years later.
(21) Andrew Wiggins, 2022 Golden State Warriors
Golden State's title last year was their biggest surprise run, fueled by Steph Curry and a solid-but-unspectacular supporting cast. Among them, you could debate the virtues and flaws of the second bananas -- Draymond Green struggled offensively, Jordan Poole struggled defensively, Klay Thompson missed significant time coming back from injury.
Of that group, I'd suggest Andrew Wiggins was their most well-rounded and consistent second banana. He averaged 17.2 PPG and even made the All-Star team. Better yet, he became a "winning player." He scored more efficiently (39.3% from 3) and played better defense -- particularly in the Finals. That said, Wiggins was probably on the level of a "good starter" more than a typical All-Star. For that reason, we'll rank him below a few others who didn't make the All-Star team.
(20) Tony Parker, 2005 San Antonio Spurs
Tony Parker re-emerges on our list and climbs even higher now in his age-22 season. He still didn't make the All-Star team, but he upped his numbers to 16.6 points and 6.1 assists per game. Again, we have to remember that these averages look better when you factor in the points "inflation" of today. Overall, we'll give him a slight edge over rising Manu Ginobili (who averaged 16.0 PPG off the bench that year), although it's debatable. Of the two, Ginobili played better in the Finals against Detroit. Still, whether it's Parker or Ginobili, the second banana would rank around this same range.
(19) Kyle Lowry, 2019 Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors finally broke through when they rented mercenary Kawhi Leonard for the year, but Leonard was backed up by a very strong supporting cast overall.
Among them, we're giving a slight nod to the old dog Kyle Lowry (then 32) over the rising star Pascal Siakam. Lowry felt like more of the heartbeat to the team. The numbers don't jump off the page (14.2 PPG), but he was a strong two-way player who averaged 8.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
(18) Khris Middleton, 2021 Milwaukee Bucks
We have another second banana debate here, although we're leaning to Khris Middleton over Jrue Holiday. It's easy for our memory to get foggy now that Middleton has struggled post injury, but he was a very good starter before that. He averaged 20.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game (not far behind Jrue Holiday's 6.1).
While the 29-year-old Middleton didn't make the All-Star team this season, he was an All-Star caliber player; in fact, he made the team both the prior year and the year after.
(17) Chauncey Billups, 2004 Detroit Pistons
We're giving the primary "star" designation to Ben Wallace here. While "Big Ben" only averaged 9.5 PPG, his defense was the Pistons' biggest differentiator. In 2003-04, Wallace won Defensive Player of the Year and even finished 7th in MVP voting.
Among the other starters, we're giving the nod to Chauncey Billups over Rip Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace. Hamilton had the slight edge in scoring (17.6 PPG to 16.9 PPG), but Billups led the team with 5.7 assists per game and tended to be their go-to guy offensively when need be. Sure enough, "Mr. Big Shot" would go on to win Finals MVP.
(16) Tony Parker, 2007 San Antonio Spurs
As Tim Duncan aged, Tony Parker got better and better. His best second banana season would come in 2006-07. Now age 24, Parker averaged 18.6 points and 5.5 assists per game and made the All-Star team. He shot less threes and relied more on his ability to drive and convert in the paint. He shot 52.0% from the field overall.
In the Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers had no answer for Parker's scoring. He whipped them to the tune of 24.5 points per game (shooting 56.8% from the field in the process). Parker would win Finals MVP for his part in the sweep.
(15) Kawhi Leonard, 2014 San Antonio Spurs
For their last title, the San Antonio Spurs were more the sum of their parts than any one true star. Tim Duncan was 37, Manu Ginobili was 36. Tony Parker had probably graduated from second banana to their marquee player -- he was their leading scorer and lone All-Star that season.
After him, we'll call Kawhi Leonard their next best player. While Leonard wasn't a big name or big scorer yet (averaging 12.8 PPG), he still had a massive impact on winning. He was an efficient offensive player (shooting 52.2% from the field) and an excellent defender. The raw stats suggest that Leonard should be lower than this, but the advanced stats suggest he was already an elite player. Overall, his BPM of +5.0 led the team. We'll make the playoffs the tiebreaker, where Leonard stepped up his scoring and won Finals MVP. If you want to consider him the team's best player this year (which feels like a bit of revisionist history), Parker would rank around this same range.
(14) Kyrie Irving, 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers
Young Kyrie Irving (then 23) also gets a boost for his excellent playoff performance. In the Finals, Irving exploded for 27.1 points per game and helped the Cavs defeat the 73-win Golden State Warriors.
If you look at his 2015-16 as a whole, it gets harder to rank Irving much higher than this. He didn't play that great in the regular season; in fact, it may have been the worst of his career. He only played 53 games, only shot 32.1% from 3 (a career low), and only averaged 4.7 assists (also a career low). He also missed the All-Star game. In terms of peak performance, Irving was an excellent second banana (particularly for LeBron James), but if we gauge this exercise season-by-season he'd rank around middle of the pack.
(13) Pau Gasol, 2009 Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bryant rightfully gets the lion's share of credit for the Lakers' repeat from 2009-10, but history may forget how good Pau Gasol was when he arrived from Memphis to help out the cause.
Right in the thick of his prime at age 28, Gasol averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. His size, skill, and basketball IQ made him the perfect mind meld with Bryant. All in all, Gasol made the All-Star team and even cracked 3rd team All-NBA. He's the first "All-NBA" sidekick we've registered so far, which explains his lofty ranking.
(12) Pau Gasol, 2010 Los Angeles Lakers
The following year, Pau Gasol was arguably even better. He started to control the paint even more, registering 11.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Once again, he made the All-Star team and 3rd team All-NBA. Between Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom off the bench -- this Lakers unit may have had the best frontcourt depth in the 2000s.
(11) Shaquille O'Neal, 2006 Miami Heat
When Shaquille O'Neal first arrived from L.A., he immediately assumed the mantle of the star of the Miami Heat. That first year, he even finished 2nd in MVP voting.
However, by the next year (2005-06), Dwyane Wade had usurped that mantle. Now 33, O'Neal shifted into more of a supporting role. He still had a major impact -- averaging 20.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks -- but became more of a second option as Wade tore up the playoffs. He appeared to slow down as the season wore on -- averaging just 13.7 PPG in the Finals.
Still, O'Neal's accolades this season rank highly -- he was an All-Star and 1st team All-NBA performer. For that reason, we're going to put him above some of the 3rd team All-NBA sidekicks. Still, you can argue against that as O'Neal was more on the level of a Pau Gasol than a true superstar at this point.
(10) Klay Thompson, 2015 Golden State Warriors
When we think about "sidekicks," you immediately think of someone with the skill set of Klay Thompson (then age 24). He took "3 and D" to the extreme -- nailing 43.9% from deep and contributing 1.9 "stocks" on the other end (1.1 steals, 0.8 blocks).
Like Pau Gasol, Klay Thompson made the All-Star and made 3rd team All-NBA that season. In fact, he even made an appearance on an MVP ballot and finished 10th overall in the voting. For a clear "sidekick," that's an impressive feat.
(9) Paul Pierce, 2008 Boston Celtics
Back in 2007-08, Danny Ainge wasn't cobbling together a team of a star + supporting sidekicks -- he was combining three stars who had gotten used to being "the man" in their previous stops. New arrival Kevin Garnett assumed the role as the alpha dog -- averaging 18.8 PPG, playing excellent defense, and finishing third in MVP voting.
Meanwhile, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen played the role of overqualified "Robins." Pierce averaged 19.6 points to lead the team, shooting 39.2% from three. Like our previous second bananas, he made the All-Star team and the 3rd team All-NBA. You also got the sense there was more in the tank when need be, as illustrated by his averaging 21.8 points and 6.3 assists in the Finals en route to Finals MVP.
(8) Dwyane Wade, 2013 Miami Heat
As we jump back and forth through time like a Chris Nolan movie, it may be hard to keep track of the ups and downs of these superstars. For this spot, we're talking about the Dwyane Wade of the "Heatles" days. In 2013, Wade was 31 years old, maybe a step past his prime, and a clear second banana to LeBron James.
Still, even in that role, Wade had a massive impact. In the regular season, he averaged 21.2 points, 5.1 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.8 blocks. While he may have to take a backseat to LeBron James offensively, he utilized his athleticism to be a wrecking ball on the defensive end. Overall, he finished as an All-Star, 3rd team All-NBA, and even landed in 10th place in MVP voting.
(7) Kobe Bryant, 2000 Los Angeles Lakers
Again, let's pay attention to the timeline here. In the first three-peat of the Shaq and Kobe days, Kobe Bryant was only 21 years old and not at the peak of his powers. Make no mistake -- this was the Shaq Show early on. In the Finals, O'Neal averaged 38.0 points and 16.7 rebounds (more boards than Bryant had points with 15.6 PPG).
Despite that, Bryant was clearly a star player in his own right. He averaged numbers similar to 2013 Wade -- 22.5 points and 1.6 steals per game. He made the All-Star game, 1st team All-Defense, and 2nd team All-NBA, accolades that put him in this lofty spot on our rankings.
(6) Dwyane Wade, 2012 Miami Heat
We're toggling back to Dwyane Wade now -- in the year prior to our 8th place spot. In the Heatles' first title (and Wade's second overall), he was still 30 years old and arguably still in his prime. He averaged 22.1 points, 4.6 assists, and even better defensive numbers -- 1.7 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.
For his efforts, he was named to the All-Star team and to the 3rd team All-NBA. He also cracked the MVP voting again, finishing in 10th place once more. We're going to give him a slight edge on Kobe's first title year, but the two would be razor tight; they were both clearly top 10 players in the league at the time.
(5) Anthony Davis, 2020 Los Angeles Lakers
Say what you want about the COVID year, the bubble, and the "Mickey Mouse" championship, but Anthony Davis was a friggin' beast back in 2019-20. He averaged 26.1 points per game, keyed by his ability to get to the line and convert (84.6% shooting on 8.5 FTA per game). He caught fire in the playoffs, averaging a team-high 27.7 PPG with a 66.5% true shooting percentage.
Davis's defensive impact is what sets him apart from most other second bananas. He averaged 1.5 steals and 2.3 blocks per game, earning 1st team All-Defense and nearly winning DPOY. Overall, he made the All-Star team, 1st team All-NBA, and finished 6th in MVP voting. In terms of season accolades, that would be the best on our list so far.
(4) Kobe Bryant, 2001 Los Angeles Lakers
If 1999-2000 Kobe Bryant was still developing, he looked like a finished product by 2000-01. Now age 22, he was a dominant player on both ends. He averaged 28.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, and made 2nd team All-Defense. Overall, this version of Bryant finished 2nd team All-NBA and finished 9th in MVP voting. That ranking would have probably been even higher had he not missed some time in the regular season (only 68 games played).
Looking back, you could see where some of the tension between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal may have stemmed from. After all, it's not easy for a kid who put up 29-7-6 in the playoffs to accept being second banana forever.
(3) Kobe Bryant, 2002 Los Angeles Lakers
In the final year of the Lakers' three-peat, the 23-year-old Kobe Bryant had not only established himself as a superstar, but as one of the best players in the entire league. The numbers don't jump off the page -- 25.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists -- but we have to adjust for the era and the role he played.
The league clearly knew his value. He made the All-Star team, 2nd team All-Defense, 1st team All-NBA, and finished 5th in MVP voting (two spots behind Shaquille O'Neal). He'd jump even higher the next year, overtaking O'Neal as the leading scorer (30.0 PPG) and the leading MVP candidate (3rd overall).
(2) Steph Curry, 2018 Golden State Warriors
Finally, we answered the question that had stumped basketball analysts for years: what would happen if you added a superstar to a team that won 73 games the year prior? Turns out, they'd be pretty good.
For our exercise, the bigger challenge is determining who the "second banana" would be between two recent MVPs Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. I'm going to split the difference and say it was Curry's team the first year (when KD coincidentally missed 20 games) and then got handed over to Durant the following year (when Curry missed 30 games).
Through that lens, we're going to study Curry in that second season. Still only 29, Curry was still squarely in his prime. He averaged 26.4 PPG on a sparkling 67.5% true shooting percentage. Even though he missed 31 regular season games, he still finished 3rd team All-NBA and 10th in MVP voting. You could even argue that he was the most impactful player in the NBA at the time. After all, he had won back-to-back MVPs a few seasons prior.
(1) Kevin Durant, 2017 Golden State Warriors
If we're calling Kevin Durant the "second banana" for the first year in Golden State, he'd rank as the best two-way sidekick in the 2000s. Remember, we're not debating "Kobe vs. Durant" in terms of career achievement here; we're ranking their single-season efforts in a supporting role. Unlike some of our other stars (like a young Kobe), Durant was squarely in his prime at age 28.
In the regular season, he averaged 25.1 PPG on stone-cold efficiency (65% true shooting). Also, outside of Oklahoma City's super-sized lineup, he showcased his ability to protect the rim as well -- blocking 1.6 shots per game. Despite missing 20 games in the regular season, he still finished 2nd team All-NBA.
More than that, Durant demonstrated his true upside in the playoffs and Finals. Matched up with LeBron James and a historically-underrated Cavs team, Durant averaged 35.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.6 blocks on godly shooting splits of 56-47-93 (a 69.8% true shooting). Durant was arguably the best player in the NBA that year -- and would be top 3 at minimum. For that reason, he ranks at our top spot.
follow up: where would Jamal Murray or Bam Adebayo rank?
This year's Finals may not be Adam Silver's dream, but it's a great one for this exercise. We rarely see a clearer "second banana" in the hierarchy like Jamal Murray for Denver or Bam Adebayo for Miami.
Ranking them among the second bananas would be a more difficult task. Coming back from injury, Murray didn't have a great regular season. He's still never made the All-Star team. Still, his ability to raise his game in the playoffs and make tough shots does feel reminiscent of young Kyrie Irving during that Cavs title run.
Alternatively, Adebayo has a great case as a two-way stud. He's not the type of "back you down" big that some people want him to be, but he can still score in the mid-range, he's an underrated passer, and he's obviously an exceptional and switchable defender. He made the All-Star team and second team All-Defense this year. Among our second bananas, he reminds me most of Pau Gasol during the Lakers run.
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2023.06.01 14:37 AA56561 [Procurement] Type 1001 LST & Type 1002 LCACs
In a hypothetical conflict over the issue of Reunification of the Chinese people, it is possible that the People’s Liberation Army Navy must be able to help deploy great numbers of troops and their heavy equipment straight to the landing zones, in a highly contested environment brimming with stand-off munitions, artillery and other hazards. To meet this challenge, the designers of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation have come up with the Type 1001 class LST vessels. As it stands, the People’s Liberation Army Navy operates more than 60 landing ships of various sizes and types, with some being “ancient” by any definition of the world.
The Type 1001 LST vessel has a length of 165 meters, a width of 25 meters and a displacement of a whopping 12,000 tons. It will be able to transport up to twenty main battle tanks of the ZTZ-99A standard, or a mix of other vehicles such as APCs, IFVs and armored vehicles, as well as up to 500 troops and 2,000 tons of supplies or other pieces of cargo. The vessels of the class will have a beaching capability, meaning they can unload their carried hardware directly onto the beaches. Should this be deemed too dangerous, the vessels will also have the necessary facilities for the utilization of smaller LCACs or LCUs.
In order to permit aerial operations, the vessels will be fitted with a helicopter deck, capable of being used by two medium-sized helicopters at a time. These helicopters may be used in landing operations, or may serve alternative purposes such as the exchange of personal or additional hardware. As the vessels are expected to serve in heavily contested environments, they will be equipped with close-in-weapons-systems, as well as a modern radar and communication suite to permit for optimal coordination between commanders and surveillance of the surroundings. A total of 10 such vessels are expected to be procured by the People’s Liberation Army Navy as soon as possible.
Specifications | Type 1001 LST |
Type | LST |
Displacement | 12,000 tons |
Length | 165 meters |
Width | 25 meters |
Propulsion | Diesel-electric engines |
Speed | 20 knots |
Sensors and Processing Units | Racal RM-1290 navigation radar, I-band |
| Type 382A Radar (Improved) |
| HN-1000 data link |
| SNTI-240 SATCOM |
| AKD5000S Ku band SATCOM |
| ZKJ-4B/7 combat data system |
Electronic Warfare & Decoys | Kashtan-3 missile jamming system |
| Type 922-2 radar warning receiver |
Armament | 4 x Type 1130 30 mm CIWS guns |
Amphibious Capability | 2 x Type 1002 LCACS |
| 2 x LCUs |
| 500 troops |
| Dozens of vehicles |
Aircraft carried | 2 x Medium-size Helicopters |
Type 1002 LCACs
The Type 1002 LCACs are expected to serve in conjunction with the rest of China’s amphibious forces, and play an absolutely critical role in transporting military hardware across the Strait of “Taiwan” in any potential and hypothetical conflict. With the ability to transport more than 100 tons and 300 soldiers per trip, the Type 1002 LCACs promise to massively expand the amphibious capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army Navy. The vessels will utilize an advanced air cushion system, allowing for them to operate over ground, marshes and water, with them effectively hovering over any obstacles. This capability will be very important in any theoretical landings.
The vessels will be capable of achieving high speeds of around 40 knots, and will be designed to be as agile as possible. Seeing as the LCACs will enter zones which are hostile, they will receive armor plating to offer increased protection against small arms fire, shrapnel, and low-level ballistic threats. Additionally, each LCAC will be equipped with multiple small caliber machine guns and a single CIWS, to fend off enemy troops and potential munitions against the vessel.
Specifications | Type 1002 LCAC |
Type | LCAC |
Displacement | 260 tons |
Length | 60 meters |
Width | 30 meters |
Propulsion | 4 gas turbines |
Speed | 40 knots |
Sensors and Processing Units | AKD5000S Ku band SATCOM |
| SNTI-240 SATCOM |
| ZKJ-4B/7 combat data system |
Electronic Warfare & Decoys | - |
Armament | 4 x W-85 12.7mm HMG |
| 1 x Type 1130 30 mm CIWS guns |
Amphibious Capability | 100 tons |
| 300 troops |
Aircraft Carried | - |
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2023.06.01 06:42 fallingcoffeemug Objective FPS hitscan in a terrain with many obstacles
This is a prompt for a movement-enviroment TF2 based shooter. Players are limited to their base movement to scale around their environment. Players only wear a revolver and a knife. Headshots and backstabs insta-kill enemies. Bullets are hitscan, which makes them travel anywhere instantly. Players can tilt sideways (Q,E).\ \ TACTICAL\ You can't do aim-down-sights, nor would crouching replicate it. Being unable to hold down a place with A-D-S creates an emphasis on "fairness" for the Player's relationship with field of view and movement. How about instead of a Field of View, wouldn't it be more enjoyable to have a View of Field?\ \ When you're suddenly in an encounter with an enemy, most FPS games forces you to hold down Mouse 2, and lock your vision. It's a chore to kill the enemy, worst case. In this game scenario, you have all the visible options at your disposal e.g. shoot at them or run away from them.\ \ In the map, there's many obstacles placed besides paths, objectives, and chokepoints. Some being half your size, making Players able to hide their hitboxes behind most of them. Peeking by Q/E is available anytime, making dodging bullets available on the spot. Peeking to attack makes only your upper body visible, making headshots on you cleaner, but peeking can also make as your bait.\ \ Equipping your weapon takes half a second. Using a knife makes you walk +5 percent faster. Walks pretty much makes the volume of noise, which is like whispering, say. The speed of walks also determine how many steps you walk to a place. Walking gives you away to a nearby enemy. Crouching decreases the amount of noise and number of steps you make when you walk somewhere.\ \ PLAYER HP = +150\ Revolver DAM = -50\ Knife DAM = -38\ Headshots = -150\ Backstabs = -450\ \ Health kits may spawn in restock rooms (e.g. a saferoom). One health kit replenishes +80 HP and gives the player a small healing buff that ends when they get hurt again. Ammo boxes spawn along with health kits. One ammo box replenishes 1/3rd of the revolver's spare ammo.\ \ All revolvers have 24 spare bullets. All unlocks for revolvers are reskins, same as well for knives.\ \ WEAPON AND UTILITY DROPS\ \ A unique and balanced utility system creates a bend of diverged playstyles with simple counters anyone with any utility can do. There are two coexisting utilities a Player uses: Passive and Active Utilities.\ \ UTILITY\ Iron Mask Stats (Passive Mask)\ Being faceshot while worn deals -50 damage\ -5% slower move speed on wearer\ Breaks after one faceshot\ \ Loud Sneakers Stats (Passive Shoes)\ +7% faster move speed on wearer while active\ More steps on wearer\ \ The Ergonomic Approach Stats (Passive Juice-Hat)\ +38 HP gained on headshot\ Bullets have 2s lasting tracers\ \ Tranq Darts (Passive Bandolier)\ Colorblinds and slows victim for 1s\ -5% bullet travel speed\ \ The Baconer (Active Bottle)\ Vulnerably drink for 3s to get a 20% speed boost for each headshot kill for 10s\ 10s recharge\ \ The Dynamite (Active Stick of Dynamite)\ 3s fuse on thrown\ 5 sticks on wearer, 1 stick recharge 10s\ -30~150 damage capability\ \ The Medkit (Active Medkit)\ Vulnerably heal yourself or friend for 5s to get an +80 HP recovery\ 3 kits on wearer, 1 kit recharge 10s\ \ STRATEGIC\ Not only is this an environment-movement game, but an objective based game. Every mission is a special mission, and you cannot respawn until an important objective is completed. Most objectives require interaction with the world with (F) key.\ \ Two Teams: Government and Opposition\ \ All Players spawn inside the first zone with their role. Friendly fire is enabled! Nobody can identify someone's team if they had not done anything such as shoot or stab someone.\ \ Everyone has a neutral nametag in stealth. In loud, looking at a Player will indicate what team they're in by the color of their tag. Neutral NPCs are usually unarmed civilians. But Neutral hostiles will attack both teams.\ \ The government side is defending by interrupting the objective, or stopping the opposition by stopping them. The Government wins if they wipe out the entire opposition, or the round timer ends.\ \ The opposition side is completing an objective. Members of the opposition team have a task bar on their screen. The Opposition only wins if they complete the entire mission with at least 1 surviving member.\ \ There are two types of objectives: Progressional and Outcome Objectives\ \ Progressional objectives are mini objectives the opposition has to complete to finish an outcome objective, and no respawns on both teams occur until an outcome objective is completed.\ \ In objective missions NPCs will be spawned, depending on zones. Government or neutral NPCs will be alerted when a shot is fired, a person is killed, or a Player has a weapon.\ \ Stealth= No shots fired, Opposition Disguised Under Neutrality\ Loud= Shots fired, Hostile NPCs, Alarms\ \ NPC DAM does a significantly less output with -5 HP per hit, and hits can't land criticals. Bosses like gunships have a high DPS, making them formidable to fight against.\ \ MISSIONS\ The Blacksite Objectives\ Zone 1 - Find the Cell Block - Save Rose (Opposition NPC) Zone 2 - Wait for the Blast Door to Open - Stealth: Find and Interrogate the Base Commander - Stealth: Access the Terminal Computer - Loud: Bring the Ordnance to the Anti-Aircraft Sentries - Escape with the Heli\ NPC Types: Government (Soldiers), Opposition\ Environment: Shipment\ \ The Financier Objectives\ Zone 1 - Eliminate the Financier (Government NPC) (Loud: Break into the Saferoom) - Find the hard disk (Optional Interrogation) - Wait for the Heli to Start\ NPC Types: Government (Bodyguards)\ Environment: House on Top of Building with a Saferoom\ \ The Deposit Objectives\ Zone 1 - Breach the Vault (Plan A: Hack Two Control Points/Plan B: Thermite) - Steal the Dead Drop from a Vault Box (Find the Box Number in the Archives, Stealth: Disable the Vault Alarms) - Stealth: Escape in the Van - Loud: Burn the lobby down - Loud: Escape through the hole\ NPC Types: Neutral\ Environment: Bank with Offices and Furniture\ \ The Lakehouse Objectives\ Zone 1 - Enter the basement (Plan A: Find the File with a Code/Plan B: Thermite\ Zone 2 (No NPCs) - Enter the Server Room (Find the Drill/Find the C4)\ Zone 3 (No NPCs) - Bring all the servers to the boat (Make an Opening to Get Out, The Lakehouse has Alarmed Doors and Windows) - Deal with the Attack Helicopter\ NPC Types: Government\ Environment: Safehouse with Furniture by a Coast\ \ The Withdrawal Objectives\ Zone 1 - Breach the Vault (Plan A: Celebrity Treatment/Plan B: Explosives) - Stealth Plan A: Disable the Metal Detectors to the Vault - Disguise as the Financier and Meet the Manager (Neutral NPC) - Take the Vault Money to the Van (Interrogate and Kill the Manager)\ Zone 2 (No NPCs) - Loud Plan B: Enter the Basement and Set Up the Explosives\ Zone 1 - Set Up the Cage in the Lobby - Take the Vault Money to the Cage - Wait for the Heli to Arrive\ NPC Types: Neutral\ Environment: Bank with Furniture and Offices\ \ The Scientist Objectives\ Zone 1 - Enter the Basement - Open the Blast Door (Take Down Falcon's Second in Command/Find the Screwdriver and Pliers, Explode the Wall) - Override the Control Room (Talk to Rivera, Stealth: Kill All Government Players/Loud: Breach the Control Room with Gas Tanks, Protect the Router Boxes) - Escape with the Heli\ NPC Types: Government, Opposition (Rivera)\ Environment: Safehouse with Furniture\ \ The SCRS Objectives\ Zone 1 - Hack the First Terminal (Bypass the Metal Detectors, Find the Terminal Keycard, Stealth: Disable Government Security NPCs, Loud: Protect the Router Box) - Hack the Second Terminal (Stealth: Find the Computer with an access key) - Hack the Third Terminal (Stealth: Find the USB) - Loud: Deal with the Attack Helicopter (Avoid Two Rockets) - Exfiltrate\ NPC Types: Government (Guards), Neutral (Helicopter, Civilians)\ Environment: Office Building with Helipad\ \ The Black Dusk Objectives\ Opposition can opt to start in Loud\ - Stealth: Find and Plant the Bombs - Development: Use the Vents to EnteFind the Code and the Keycard in Development - Operations: Use the Vents to Enter, Find the Drill to break in\ - Workshop: Find the code from the Head Engineer (Interrogation) - Loud: Plant the Bombs - Control Room: Unlock a Gate to One Site - Development: Use C4/Use the Vents to Enter - Operations: Breach Operations - Workshop: Find and Bring the Heavy Drill to the Vault/Thermite into the Vault - Escape (Plant the final bombs at entrance) - Loud: Deal with the Complication (Minigun Unit Blocks the Elevator for the Base)\ NPC Types: Government (Soldiers), Neutral (Minigun, Workshop and Development Workers)\ Environment: Bunker with Shipment and Wide Vents
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2023.06.01 06:00 Analypiss Respect Juggernaut! (Marvel, 616)
This won’t hurt me! Nothing can! ♫Theme
Cain Marko was the son of nuclear scientist Kurt Marko, who worked in Alamogordo, New Mexico with Brian Xavier. After Brian died in a lab accident, Kurt married Brian’s widow Sharon for her family’s money, resulting in Cain becoming the stepbrother of the Xavier’s son Charles, the eventual founder of the X-Men. Kurt proved to be an abusive father to both Cain and Charles, which combined with Cain’s jealousy over his brother’s telepathy, fostered a lasting resentment between the two of them. After Kurt died saving them from another lab accident, Charles and Cain would end up serving with the army together in Korea. During their service, Cain would stumble across a cave that had a temple dedicated to the powerful mystic being known as Cyttorak. Touching a crimson gem at the heart of the temple, Cain was transformed into Cyttorak’s avatar on Earth, an unstoppable human Juggernaut. Shortly after, the cave collapsed, with Xavier barely managing to escape. Years later Cain would dig his way out and seek revenge on Charles for the perceived slights he had inflicted upon him. In doing so, Cain would come into conflict with the X-Men, Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, Doctor Strange, and many other superheroes before eventually burying the hatchet with his brother. However, despite joining the X-Men and later Thunderbolts, Cain would return to being a villain each time. Throughout his life and various goals and motivations, only one constant has remained for Cain Marko. No matter the obstacle, he will never stop.
This respect thread is abridged due to Juggernaut’s large number of appearances. A full version is available on the Juggernaut Mega Respect Thread, with links to the unabridged sections posted where appropriate.
Key and explanation of periods where Juggernaut was stronger or weaker than normal
Strength
Force Field
Advancing
Striking
Lifting, pushing, pulling, throwing, grip, etc.
Durability w/ Force Field/Armor
Blunt
Piercing/Cutting
Sound
Heat
Cold
Electricity
Light
Energy
Chemical
Adhesive
Biological
Matter Manipulation
Phasing
Magic
Soul/Life Force
Power Absorption/Nullification
Mental
Durability w/o Force Field/Armor
Blunt
Piercing/Cutting
Sound
Cold
Heat
Gravity
Light
Energy
Chemical
Biological
Mental
Endurance and Regeneration
Speed
Skill
Temporary Powers
Telepathy
Mystic Abilities
Trion
Captain Universe
Kuurth
Once upon a time, there was a man. A man who got everything he wanted. In the end it wasn’t enough. In truth, it could never be enough. No amount of power could change who he was. It could never quench his thirst for power. He was now and forever the Juggernaut. And he would never stop.
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2023.06.01 04:38 ivychen300 Petroleum Storage Tankt Market Size, Share, Development by 2023
LPI (LP Information)' newest research report, the “Petroleum Storage Tank Industry Forecast” looks at past sales and reviews total world Petroleum Storage Tank sales in 2022, providing a comprehensive analysis by region and market sector of projected Petroleum Storage Tank sales for 2023 through 2029. With Petroleum Storage Tank sales broken down by region, market sector and sub-sector, this report provides a detailed analysis in US$ millions of the world Petroleum Storage Tank industry.
This Insight Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global Petroleum Storage Tank landscape and highlights key trends related to product segmentation, company formation, revenue, and market share, latest development, and M&A activity. This report also analyzes the strategies of leading global companies with a focus on Petroleum Storage Tank portfolios and capabilities, market entry strategies, market positions, and geographic footprints, to better understand these firms' unique position in an accelerating global Petroleum Storage Tank market.
This Insight Report evaluates the key market trends, drivers, and affecting factors shaping the global outlook for SPetroleum Storage Tank and breaks down the forecast by type, by application, geography, and market size to highlight emerging pockets of opportunity. With a transparent methodology based on hundreds of bottom-up qualitative and quantitative market inputs, this study forecast offers a highly nuanced view of the current state and future trajectory in the global SPetroleum Storage Tank .
This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of SPetroleum Storage Tank market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries.
https://www.lpinformationdata.com/reports/729796/petroleum-storage-tank-2029 The main participants VTTI
Containment Solutions
Shawcor
Belco
CST Industries
Superior Tank
DELTA OIL TANKING BV
Royal Vopak
Oiltanking GmbH
Buckeye Partners
LP
Segmentation by type Steel
Carbon Steel
Fiberglass-reinforced Plastic (FRP)
Segmentation by application Direct Selling
Distribution
Natural Gas
Key Questions Addressed in this Report What is the 10-year outlook for the global SPetroleum Storage Tank market?
What factors are driving SPetroleum Storage Tank market growth, globally and by region?
Which technologies are poised for the fastest growth by market and region?
How do SPetroleum Storage Tank market opportunities vary by end market size?
How does SPetroleum Storage Tank break out type, application?
What are the influences of COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine war?
LP INFORMATION (LPI) is a professional market report publisher based in America, providing high quality market research reports with competitive prices to help decision makers make informed decisions and take strategic actions to achieve excellent outcomes.We have an extensive library of reports on hundreds of technologies.Search for a specific term, or click on an industry to browse our reports by subject. Narrow down your results using our filters or sort by what’s important to you, such as publication date, price, or name.
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2023.06.01 04:00 Analypiss Durability
Key and explanation of periods where Juggernaut was stronger or weaker than normal
Durability w/ Force Field/Armor
Blunt
Piercing/Cutting
Sound
Heat
Cold
Electricity
Light
Energy
Chemical
Adhesive
Biological
Matter Manipulation
Phasing
Magic
Soul/Life Force
Power Absorption/Nullification
Mental
Durability w/o Force Field/Armor
Blunt
Piercing/Cutting
Sound
Cold
Heat
Gravity
Light
Energy
Chemical
Biological
Mental
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2023.06.01 04:00 Analypiss Strength - Striking and Lifting
Key and explanation of periods where Juggernaut was stronger or weaker than normal
Striking
Lifting, pushing, pulling, throwing, grip, etc.
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2023.06.01 02:28 Individual-Teacher36 How the Cardiopulmonary Function variant in Pediatric Scoliosis patients from High-Altitude Region of the world
he International Scoliosis Research Society defines early onset scoliosis (EOS) as the various types of scoliosis that occur within 10 years of age (1). EOS leads to distortion of body appearance and reduced heart and lung function, which often limits the development of the chest and even oppresses the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis (2). A large-scale demographic study showed that an increase in altitude negatively correlated with newborn birth weight. Moreover, neonatal body weight shows obvious changes when the altitude exceeds 2500 m (3, 4). Based on relevant studies, we defined an area with an altitude above 3000 m as a high-altitude area and an area with an altitude below 500 m as a plain area (5). High-altitude environments consists of low air pressure, hypoxia, and cold weather, all of which impact the cardiopulmonary function and structure of the human body. Such high-altitude environments increase cardiac output, pulmonary ventilation, pulmonary capillary hyperplasia, and other compensatory reactions (6, 7). However, there are limited studies on the effects of high-altitude environments on cardiopulmonary function in patients with EOS. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of high altitude on the respiratory and circulatory systems of patients with EOS by comparing blood gas analysis results and cardiopulmonary function between the high-altitude and plain area groups. In addition, we explored how scoliosis affected patients' cardiopulmonary function by analyzing the correlations between scoliosis imaging parameters and cardiopulmonary function measures. We aimed to provide an improved preoperative evaluation and postoperative rehabilitation for EOS patients living in high-altitude areas.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria A retrospective cohort study was conducted to identify patients with EOS between June 2013 and June 2021. The inclusion criteria were: (1) EOS patients with a long-term living altitude >3000 m or living area altitude <500 m; (2) full-length anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the spine showing scoliosis of mainly the thoracic curvature type; (3) patients with an aggravated Cobb's angle >45°; (4) no treatment with braces or growth rods before evaluation; and (5) all patients knew of the study procedures and agreed to participate. The exclusion criteria were: (1) incomplete spinal radiography data; (2) patients who could not cooperate with the completion of pulmonary function examination, blood gas analysis, and cardiac color ultrasound; and (3) patients with congenital cardio-cerebrovascular diseases, syndrome scoliosis, and previous spinal surgery. Evaluation methods Patient records and relevant data were collected retrospectively. All patients underwent full-length anteroposterior and lateral spine radiographs, blood gas analysis, lung function examination, and heart color ultrasound examination. Imaging parameters Preoperatively, whole-body and lateral spinal X-rays were performed on all patients, and both shoulders were flexed anteriorly during X-ray examination to ensure the most natural state of lumbar lordosis. The imaging parameters were as follows: (1) kyphosis angle of the thoracic (kypho), (2) upper thoracic curve (UT), and (3) main thoracic curve (MT). MT measures the Cobb angle from the head side of the T3 upper endplate to the T12 lower endplate. The UT measures the Cobb angle from the T1 upper endplate to the T3 lower endplate on the cephalic side. Kypho measures the Cobb angle from the upper endplate of the cephalic T2 vertebral body to the lower endplate of the caudal T5 vertebral body. All measurements used the Cobb method. The picture archiving and communication system was used by two independent observers. To test agreement among the observers, two orthopedic spine surgeons measured the imaging parameters twice independently, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was analyzed. Doppler echocardiography Color Doppler echocardiography indices were collected and recorded, including those of the pulmonary artery internal diameter (PAID), left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVISD), ascendant aorta inner diameter, right ventricular basal diameter (RVBD), left atrium left-right diameter (LALRD), right atrium left-right diameter, left atrium longitudinal diameter, left atrium vertical diameter, peak late diastolic flow velocity (A peak), left ventricular early diastolic peak flow velocity (E peak), interventricular septum extent (IVSE), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), right atrium vertical diameter, and interventricular septum thickness. A color Doppler ultrasound instrument (Vivid E95, GE Healthcare) with an m5S probe was used. Patients were positioned in the left lateral decubitus position, and their electrocardiograms were recorded synchronously to obtain apical four-, 2 three-, and two-chamber heart section images for three consecutive cardiac cycles and acquire spectral Doppler images of the mitral and aortic valves. Routine parameter measurements were performed according to the American Society of Echocardiography guidelines, and the LVEF was determined using the biplane Simpson method. The patients’ imaging results were jointly rated by two experts in ultrasound imaging. Pulmonary function examination The indices of pulmonary function examination included forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow in 1s (FEV1), percentage of predicted value, vital capacity (VC), and maximum ventilation (MVV). Preoperative pulmonary function examination was performed using the JAEGER Oxycon Pro with a unified baseline (CareFusion Germany 234 GmbH, Hochberg, Germany). A lung function detector (JAEGER Master Screen PFT, CareFusion Germany 234 GmbH, Hochberg, Germany) was used for measurement. A lung function detector was used for measurement, and the measurement module included pulse oscillation lung function, conventional lung capacity, velocity loop, residual gas function, dispersion function, and MVV rate. Lung function test results were obtained using JLab 5.7 software (CareFusion Germany 234 GmbH, Hochberg, Germany). Blood gas analysis Blood gas analysis indices included blood oxygen saturation (SO2%), hematocrit (Hct), partial pressure of oxygen (pO2), total hemoglobin (Hb), and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2). Two independent observers recorded these indices. To test for inter-rater agreement, the reported outcomes were recorded twice independently by two orthopedic surgeons, and the recorded data were reconciled. Statistical methods The data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 software, and the data were expressed as`x±s, where`x and s stand for the mean and standard deviation, respectively. An independent sample t-test was used to compare the measurement data between the two groups, and the χ2 test was used for counting data. Differences were considered statistically significant at P<0.05. The correlation among the parameters was determined using Spearman’s correlation coefficient and analyzed using Origin 2021 software. General data Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 38 and 66 EOS patients were enrolled in the high-altitude and plain area groups, respectively. The high-altitude group comprised 20 boys and 18 girls, with a mean age of 8.42 years (range, 6–10 years). The plain area group comprised 26 boys and 40 girls, with a mean age of 8.77 years (range, 4–11 years). The average age of the high-altitude group was not significantly different from that of the plain area group (P>0.05). The body weight and height of the high-altitude group were significantly lower than that of the plain area group; however, there was no significant difference in the body mass index between the two groups. The average Cobb’s angle was 79.65°, and the average thoracic kypho was 60.16°. There was no significant difference in the degree of other spinal deformities between the two groups. The thoracic spine curves of both the groups were mainly on the right side, and the proportion of right kyphosis in the high-altitude and plain area groups was 63.16 and 66.67%, respectively, with no significant difference (P>0.05). There were 48 cases of idiopathic scoliosis, 16 of congenital scoliosis, two of 3 neuromuscular scoliosis, and 24 cases of idiopathic scoliosis in the plain area group; there were 14 cases of congenital scoliosis in the high-altitude group. There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis between both groups (P>0.05). Color Doppler echocardiography examination The PAID, LVEDD, and IVST in the high-altitude group were significantly lower than those in the plain area group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the other cardiac color ultrasound indices, and were within the normal range. Pulmonary function examination The results of the pulmonary function examination showed that the FVC, VC, and MVV in the high-altitude group were significantly lower than those in the plain area group (P<0.05). The average predicted FVC% values in the high-altitude and plain area groups were 77.81 and 73.77%, respectively, and the average predicted FEV1% values were 78.65 and 73.05%, respectively (P>0.05), showing mild restrictive and obstructive ventilatory dysfunction. Blood gas analysis The Hct levels of the plain area group (38.49±2.89%) were significantly lower than those of the high-altitude group (40.85±4.47%; P<0.05). Hb levels in the high-altitude group (13.67 ± 1.46 g/L) were significantly higher than those in the plain group (12.85±0.94 g/L; P<0.05). The pCO2 levels of the high-altitude group (33.44±4.7 mmHg) were significantly lower than those of the plain area group (35.92±4.66 mmHg; P<0.05); however, there was no significant between-group difference in pO2 and SO2% levels (P>0.05). Correlations of parameters The correlation analysis between the spinal parameters and cardiopulmonary function measures in the high-altitude group is significant. In the high-altitude group, there was a significant correlation between the angle of the main thoracic curvature, the angle of the upper thoracic curvature, and kyphosis (rho=0.692, rho=0.484). There was a significant correlation between the kypho and upper chest curvature angles (rho=0.519). There was a significant correlation between LVISD, IVSE, RVBD, LALRD, and the MT (rho=-0.399, rho=0.565, rho=-0.358, rho=-0.371); however, there was no significant correlation between the angle of kyphosis and echocardiography index. PO2 and SO2% levels correlated with the angle of the MT (rho=-0.400, rho=-0.406). The upper chest bend angle was significantly correlated with VC, MVV, FVC, and FEV1 (rho=-0.498, rho=-0.451, rho=-0.513, rho=-0.588), while the upper chest bend angle and kyphosis bend were not significantly correlated with the pulmonary function index. There was a significant linear correlation between the UT and FEV1, FVC, and MVV in the high-altitude group. FEV1=1.623-0.011*UT, FVC=1.858-0.012*UT, MVV=54.646-0.286*UT. The results of the correlation analysis between imaging indices and cardiopulmonary function indices indicated that in the high-altitude group, UT showed a clear negative correlation with VC, FEV1, FVC, and MVV. In contrast, UT showed a clear positive correlation with these indices in the plain area group. In the high-altitude group, MT showed no obvious correlation with lung function indexes, whereas in the plain area group, MT showed a negative correlation with lung function indices. Scoliosis is a complex three-dimensional deformity that leads to distortion of body 4 appearance and reduced organ function, often causing irreversible damage to cardiopulmonary function (8, 9). Scoliosis due to rotation and thoracic scoliosis leads to a decrease in thoracic volume and asymmetry between the left and right thorax, which seriously affects the normal development of cardiopulmonary function in patients. The thoracic volume is vital for the development of cardiopulmonary function in children. Studies have shown that the critical period of alveolar and thoracic development in children occurs before the age of 10 years. Alveolar development in children approximately 10 years old is as prevalent as in adults, and the thoracic volume can reach half of that in adults (10, 11). Therefore, alveolar and thoracic development in EOS patients is critical since scoliosis and thoracic deformities can lead to pulmonary dysplasia. Most researchers believe that poor cardiopulmonary function in patients with scoliosis is caused by mechanical compression of bone tissue (12). Tsiligiannis et al. (13) showed that scoliosis changes the position of thoracic organs and affects normal respiratory movement, resulting in restrictive ventilation disorders. Campbell et al. (2) indicated that congenital scoliosis in patients with rib deformities could cause thoracic deformities, affects the normal development of heart and lung function and often leads to thoracic insufficiency syndrome. However, other studies have suggested that lung function is mainly affected by the limited development of the heart and lung caused by scoliosis rather than the mechanical compression caused by simple thoracic deformities (14). Davies et al. and Berend et al. (12, 15, 16) performed autopsy studies on EOS patients. They showed no obvious abnormality in the shape of alveoli, a decreased total number of alveoli, and no decrease in the size of alveoli due to thoracic compression and no decrease in the size of alveoli due to thoracic compression (the size was found to be compensated). Koumbourlis (17) et al. studied the relationship between scoliosis and patients’ circulatory and respiratory functions. They discovered that scoliosis-related deformities prevent patients from exercising like their normal peers, which reduces the number of chest breaths and compensates for the number of abdominal breaths. Regarding the thoracic structure, scoliosis limits the normal development of the chest, causing deformation of the important cardiovascular compression, leading to cardiopulmonary dysfunction. High-altitude areas exhibit a unique geographical environment comprising factors such as low pressure, low PO2, and low air content. Living in low-oxygen and thin-air environments over a long period impacts the development of cardiopulmonary function. An independent risk factor for low birth weight in newborns is the high-altitude environment, which leads to fetal growth restriction and affects the function of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems (5, 18). When the altitude increases by 100 m, the ambient atmospheric pressure decreases by 5 mmHg. Because the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere is constant, the oxygen partial pressure will decrease by approximately 1 mmHg. At sea level, the average pO2 is 150 mmHg. When the altitude is between 3000 and 5500 m, the PO2 decreases between 80 and 100 mmHg. When exposed to hypoxia and a hypobaric environment, people living in a plateau environment will have compensatory regulatory responses to restore the body's internal homeostasis. Over the course of natural selection, this compensatory response may be passed on to offspring through genetic material. The compensatory responses of people at high altitudes to hypoxia and hypobaric environments include increased pulmonary blood perfusion, erythrocytosis, blood viscosity, lung tissue compliance, and a slight increase in 5 pulmonary artery pressure. Studies have shown that people in high-altitude environments have symptoms of right ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary hypertension, and elevated Hb levels in the body (19-21). In this study, the chest curve was the main bend in EOS patients in plain and high-altitude areas, with Cobb's angle of the main bend >45° in all patients. There was no significant between-group difference in the direction and severity of scoliosis and kyphosis. Idiopathic scoliosis is the primary classification of scoliosis. Excluding congenital cardiac developmental abnormalities, pulmonary artery diameter, LVEDD, and inter-ventricular septum thickness in the high-altitude group were smaller than that in the plain area group. This may be due to structural abnormalities of the heart and lungs caused by long-term low pressure and lack of oxygen in high-altitude areas. To explore the relationship between scoliosis, cardiopulmonary function, and the effect of high altitude on cardiopulmonary function, a correlation analysis was performed. The UT angle in the high-altitude group was correlated with the pulmonary function examination indexes (VC, MVV, FVC, and FEV1), while the UT angle in the plain area group was not significantly correlated with these indexes. Long-term exposure to high and cold climates, low pressure, and low oxygen environments impact the cardiopulmonary structure of patients in high-altitude areas. Therefore, the reduction in thoracic space caused by changes in spinal structure will cause more serious damage to the cardiopulmonary function of patients in high-altitude areas compared to patients in plain areas (22). Therefore, patients with severe scoliosis in high-altitude areas require active surgical intervention to reduce cardiorespiratory impairment associated with scoliosis. The results of pulmonary function tests showed that the average values of FEV1% and FVC% in both groups were < 80%, and there were mild restrictive and obstructive ventilation disorders, indicating that scoliosis and thoracic deformities limited the normal respiratory function of patients. The FVC, VC, and MVV indices of the high-altitude group were significantly lower than those of the plain area group. This could be due to the following: the low temperature at high altitudes contracts the small airways of the lungs and increases ventilatory resistance; the hypobaric and hypoxic environment forces the patients to breathe more times per unit time, increasing the load of respiratory muscles and causing respiratory muscle fatigue; the nutritional status of patients in high-altitude areas is worse than that of patients in plain areas; and the thoracic volume is smaller in patients in high-altitude areas than that of patients in plain areas. Scoliosis with thoracic deformity is often accompanied by limited diaphragm function and decreased chest volume, which leads to a decrease in lung tissue pressure and compliance, pulmonary hypertension, and even serious diseases such as cor pulmonale and respiratory failure (23). Studies have shown that pulmonary dysfunction before surgical treatment increases perioperative respiratory complications such as respiratory insufficiency, atelectasis, and pneumonia (24). Therefore, during clinical treatment, more attention should be paid to evaluating pulmonary function in EOS patients before surgery. For patients at high altitudes or other EOS patients with significantly impaired pulmonary function, it is necessary to carry out preoperative respiratory function training to improve respiratory function (25) and surgical safety and reduce postoperative complications; the comprehensive evaluation of pulmonary function in combination with other disciplines is also possible. 6 Because of the lack of studies comparing lung function between EOS patients in high-altitude and plain areas that are similar to our patient population, it cannot be ruled out whether the decline in lung function indices is affected by spinal deformities. In this study, the number of patients in high-altitude areas was less than that of patients in plain areas. Our results may not be comprehensive enough as there were only a few categories of imaging parameters; therefore, it was difficult to analyze the correlation between other imaging parameters and cardiopulmonary function. Conclusion EOS patients in high-altitude areas had poorer cardiac and pulmonary functions than those who live in plain areas. Cardiopulmonary function and the degree of scoliosis interact with each other. We should pay more attention to preoperative evaluation and postoperative rehabilitation for EOS patients living in high-altitude areas. References: 1.Fletcher ND, Bruce RW. Early onset scoliosis: current concepts and controversies. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med.(2012)5: 102-10. doi:10.1007/s12178-012-9116-0 2.Campbell RJ, Smith MD, Mayes TC, Mangos JA, Willey-Courand DB, Kose N, Pinero RF, Alder ME, Duong HL, Surber JL. The characteristics of thoracic insufficiency syndrome associated with fused ribs and congenital scoliosis. J BONE JOINT SURG AM.(2003)85: 399-408. doi:10.2106/00004623-200303000-00001 3.Mortola JP, Frappell PB, Aguero L, Armstrong K. Birth weight and altitude: a study in Peruvian communities. J Pediatr.(2000)136: 324-9. doi:10.1067/mpd.2000.103507 4.Zhou L, Yang H, Hai Y, Hai JJ, Cheng Y, Yin P, Yang J, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Han B. Scoliosis among children in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China: A cross-sectional epidemiological study. Front Public Health.(2022)10: 983095. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.983095 5.Jensen GM, Moore LG. The effect of high altitude and other risk factors on birthweight: independent or interactive effects? AM J PUBLIC HEALTH.(1997)87: 1003-7. doi:10.2105/ajph.87.6.1003 6.Ostadal B, Kolar F. Cardiac adaptation to chronic high-altitude hypoxia: beneficial and adverse effects. Respir Physiol Neurobiol.(2007)158: 224-36. doi:10.1016/j.resp.2007.03.005 7.Maggiorini M. Cardio-pulmonary interactions at high altitude. Pulmonary hypertension as a common denominator. ADV EXP MED BIOL.(2003)543: 177-89. doi:10.1007/978- 1-4419-8997-0_13 8.Kadoury S, Shen J, Parent S. Global geometric torsion estimation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. MED BIOL ENG COMPUT.(2014)52: 309-19. doi:10.1007/s11517 -013-1132-8 9.Charles YP, Dimeglio A, Marcoul M, Bourgin JF, Marcoul A, Bozonnat MC. Influence of idiopathic scoliosis on three-dimensional thoracic growth. Spine (Phila Pa 1976).(2008)33: 1209-18. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181715272 10.Boyden EA. Development of the pulmonary airways. Minn Med.(1971)54: 894-7. 11.Karol LA, Johnston C, Mladenov K, Schochet P, Walters P, Browne RH. Pulmonary function following early thoracic fusion in non-neuromuscular scoliosis. J BONE JOINT SURG AM.(2008)90: 1272-81. doi:10.2106/JBJS.G.00184 7 12.Day GA, Upadhyay SS, Ho EK, Leong JC, Ip M. Pulmonary functions in congenital scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976).(1994)19: 1027-31. doi:10.1097/00007632-199405000-00004 13.Tsiligiannis T, Grivas T. Pulmonary function in children with idiopathic scoliosis. Scoliosis.(2012)7: 7. doi:10.1186/1748-7161-7-7 14.Branthwaite MA. Cardiorespiratory consequences of unfused idiopathic scoliosis. Br J Dis Chest.(1986)80: 360-9. doi:10.1016/0007-0971(86)90089-6 15.Berend N, Marlin GE. Arrest of alveolar multiplication in kyphoscoliosis. PATHOLOGY.(1979)11: 485-91. doi:10.3109/00313027909059026 16.Davies G, Reid L. Effect of scoliosis on growth of alveoli and pulmonary arteries and on right ventricle. ARCH DIS CHILD.(1971)46: 623-632. doi:10.1136/adc.46.249.623 17.Koumbourlis AC. Scoliosis and the respiratory system. PAEDIATR RESPIR REV.(2006)7: 152-60. doi:10.1016/j.prrv.2006.04.009 18.Krampl E, Lees C, Bland JM, Espinoza DJ, Moscoso G, Campbell S. Fetal Doppler velocimetry at high altitude. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol.(2001)18: 329-34. doi:10.1046/j.0960-7692.2001.00542.x 19.Hulme CW, Ingram TE, Lonsdale-Eccles DA. Electrocardiographic evidence for right heart strain in asymptomatic children living in Tibet--a comparative study between Han Chinese and ethnic Tibetans. Wilderness Environ Med.(2003)14: 222-5. doi:10.1580/1080-6032(2003)14[222:eefrhs]2.0.co;2 20.Huicho L. Postnatal cardiopulmonary adaptations to high altitude. Respir Physiol Neurobiol.(2007)158: 190-203. doi:10.1016/j.resp.2007.05.004 21.CANEPA A, CHAVEZ R, HURTADO A, ROTTA A, VELASQUEZ T. Pulmonary circulation at sea level and at high altitudes. J APPL PHYSIOL.(1956)9: 328-36. doi:10.1152/jappl.1956.9.3.328 22.Penaloza D. Effects of high-altitude exposure on the pulmonary circulation. Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed).(2012)65: 1075-8. doi:10.1016/j.recesp.2012.06.027 23.Sacks D, Baxter B, Campbell B, Carpenter JS, Cognard C, Dippel D, Eesa M, Fischer U, Hausegger K, Hirsch JA, Shazam HM, Jansen O, Jayaraman MV, Khalessi AA, Kluck BW, Lavine S, Meyers PM, Ramee S, Rufenacht DA, Schirmer CM, Vorwerk D. Multisociety Consensus Quality Improvement Revised Consensus Statement for Endovascular Therapy of Acute Ischemic Stroke. INT J STROKE.(2018)13: 612-632. doi:10.1177/1747493018778713 24.Zhang JG, Wang W, Qiu GX, Wang YP, Weng XS, Xu HG. The role of preoperative pulmonary function tests in the surgical treatment of scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976).(2005)30: 218-21. doi:10.1097/01.brs.0000150486.60895.a1 25.Liang J, Qiu G, Shen J, Zhang J, Wang Y, Li S, Zhao H. Predictive factors of postoperative pulmonary complications in scoliotic patients with moderate or severe pulmonary dysfunction. J SPINAL DISORD TECH.(2010)23: 388-92.doi:10. 1097/BSD.0b013e3181b55ff4
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2023.05.31 21:51 OppositeAct2236 List of Recommended improvements/Ideas/BrainDump. from avid Snowrunner enjoyer.
1:Tires give all trucks a mud option like MHS1 and dually rear options like OHD1
2:Chains. give all tires the options for chains. instead of making only select tire have chains. maybe not msh1and2/ZMH/DHMS1/T01/Stocktractortires. since all of those are Very aggressive mud's.
3:Give all vehicles an option to unlock some kind of roof rack with fuel and such either by completing some kind of trial or just by level. or vehicles with excess interior space like the lo4f is a van you could store stuff inside without increasing the center of gravity much. Yar87/Tatarin/antartic/jeeps/landrover,ect.
4:Cargo Supplies. have a customizable single slot and double slot palatalized supplies. like 4 30 gallon drums of fuel a stack of 4 tires and 300 repair parts. each being a quarter of a single slot cargo of supplies. make a place to pick up or purchase these at all the garages. customize what you can get on the either 4 slot single cargo slot or 8 slot 2 cargo slot.
5:Add more trailers. idk how complicated it is to do but having a lot more trailer options would be awesome. like more useful high saddle trailers like 6 slot with ramps.
6:Medium scout Class. make all in this class be able to connect to both scout trailers and full size trailers. and have Autonomous medium winch. yar87/Tatarin/zikz5368/Step39331/int1700/Warthog/zikz566a/F750/Crocodile/tatra805/azovSprinteTH357.
7:Give any truck that has large winch on back of cab a winch point on it where it is and give it a 50 percent bonus to power from that location. but disable the quick winch from the spot. and option for all with it to remove winch on back and put yellow crane. Kolob74941/Derry4520/M916A1/P12with spare tires on/6900TwinSteer. maybe make the strong winch an addon for Trucks that can have a crane.
8:Vehicle improvements.
1.All pacific trucks need a little love. drop a new engine for P12/P16/p512 in Yukon somewhere. like 250k torque. give p512 AWD option and increase fuel capacity to 90 gallons. give all 3 of them magic upspec OHD 1 tires and with chain option. P12 needs a full sweet of fame options cause its not very useful atm and it has a long frame like azov 73210 so give it all the same add-ons. p16 add yellow crane behind cab and logging crane if it will fit.
2.All Vehicles with articulated steering need some improvement to their turning strength and grip. cause all of them are annoying to drive. maybe make a improved steering upgrade that makes them adjustable strength and speed for driver to tune in the way they like it. k700/k7m/antarctic/cat745c
- Cat 745c/770g and make both big cats fuel tanks be able to carry water for missions and increase there capacity. give 745c ability to carry cargo on container carrier. give both cats large V12 cat engine with 280k-300k torque unlockable by completing missions in quarry's maybe all quarry missions. give 770g high saddle. and make special trailer usable. and purchasable at trailer store.
4.Tractors both of them are articulated and hurt me lol. add a smaller tractor with normal steering like mud runner. and add tract CAT farm tractor like challengermt775b. give k7m full output version of kzgt-8 530t engine or just like a little more than 420t cause its got no guts for pulling anything uphill. give snorkles to tractors.
5.Azov 42-20 Antarctic. Steering improvements... give it roof rack on cab. increase fuel too 100 gallons. give option to remove Cabin on back for more room for a yellow crane or a longer bed or log loader and carrier front combo. 1 spare tire on back of cab when you remove cabin and lock the diff full time cause with out it it just kinda dumps the power in random wheels. give it more add-on options. give it special antarctic studded tires for ice. lower center of gravity a little.make this beast more of a treat when you finally reach level 30 and can use it.
6.Tatra Phoenix/Force/T813. give them all more add-ons. i like them but never use them cause they are so useless. give them low saddles and cranes at least. give the force a lift! or addaptive suspension cause it just leans forward all the time. and its special ramped towing platform a full suit of repair points and spare wheels make me want to use it! maybe a hair large tires like 53 or 55 with lift and this thing would rock. Phoenix. small lift 50 inch tires optional love its stability more addons. T813 more Addons. just give them all a low saddle and yellow crane and i would use them.
7.Derry 3194 and 4520. 15c. 3194- give option to remove dead axle. giant flat area behind cab. supplies or yellow crane. cool truck. maybe small lift and 55 inch tires. 4520- better engine and lift option with bigger tires like 55s. yellow crane behind cab. large wide tire option like real truck. 15c- lower center of gravity a little. fun truck. give multipurpose gearbox a High range Gear. let it pull a trailer with fire tank on. and let fire tank double as fuel carrier. same for any truck that has water carrier. same size but fuel.
8.Navistar 5000-MV awesome truck. give more exhaust options so i can see lol maybe reduce exhaust make the yellow crane fit with low and high saddle. thing looks solid so give it roof rack supplies. like 20 gallons and 200 repair points and 1 tire. mud tire options. lvl locked switchable diff lock.
9.give all small scouts the ablility to be upgraded to wider axels and 44-50 inch tires so they can actually be used in the worse maps. like if jeep had wider axles and 44-50 inch mud tires upgrades i could actually get around on the worse maps. jeep add carrier around spare for holding fuel and repair points. maybe add similar setups for scouts with spare on back.
10.Paystar5070. give bigger tires with the lift. maybe msh3 and 4 tires for better stability options. maybe another engine option but its power is ok for a truck you can get earlier on but should have late game option.
11.Paystar5600ts. my baby the 10 wheeled thirsty lady. a little bigger fuel tank. or a lot bigger.90-140gallons im a little biased. but small center of gravity improvement it likes to end up on its roof and a spare tire behind cab in the spot between the stairs. cause im always poping tires in this thing. small roof rack. and a High saddle!!! maybe 4 slot cargo bed. give option for van body with yellow crane behind it and low or high saddle if it will fit. :D
12.Loadstar 1700 more options and mud tires one of my favorite scouts. more capacity for bed storage and special vanbody add-on. crane and small bed combo if it will fit. low saddle crane combo roof rack.
13.Voron Grad. cant connect trailer when sideboard bed and crane are on. but there is plenty of room. could push crane and bed forward about a foot. Takes too much suspension damage
14.give zikz 605/mastadon/derry15c medium log carrier
15.Tayga 6455b. turns like a boat. and takes a too much suspension damage.
ive been brain dumping all my random thoughts for 2 hours so this will do. add your opinions and ideas or for the game down bellow. or critique some my change ideas or add your own. :D
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2023.05.31 21:09 Calypthea Accidentally a Dungeon Chp. 25
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Pure, unadulterated fear. With those 4 hateful eyes locked onto me, the bear colossus took its first step forward, and with it saturated my mind with a visceral terror. People always talk about the flight or fight reaction, speculating on which end of the fear response they might fall on. But apparently, there’s a third option too, because I froze. Those baleful eyes gripped me like a steel vise and with each plodding step forward I could feel them constricting around me. I couldn’t move, couldn’t think, everything was consumed by that mounting sense of dread as my doom drew near.
This is ridiculous! I shouldn’t be this incapacitated by some dumb bear! It’s not the first time I’ve faced dangerous stakes in this world, and hell I’d even died already once before, so what’s with me!? But even as I tried to logic my way out, the back of my mind was already prepared with an answer. “This time is different,” It whispered. I’m not dying of clumsiness with an end too quick to process. I’m not dealing with the vague threat of a bunch of herons overrunning my territory. This time, I’m being hunted by a malicious being whose only desire is to see my end, and its winning.
Just then, 4 shafts bury themselves into the bear scion’s red orbs, the aether contained within them blowing large chunks of flesh away from the beast’s skull, followed shortly by an explosion of vines. The new growth attempted to dig deeper into the bear, fighting against its regenerating flesh to penetrate deeper towards the brain. With an angry howl, the beast was forced to use its massive claws to gouge out the arrows, leaving it temporarily blinded by the wounds. Just like that, the spell over my mind was shattered, and I was able to look away from the colossus, up to the brave bunny who had defended me.
From the canopy bounded my favorite jackalope in the world, her visage positively radiating fury. Foregoing her usual aether armor, she’d instead forced all of it directly into her bow to increase its destructive power. All, that is, but the thin sliver of wind aether she’d applied to the bottom of her feet, allowing her to bound through the sky as if it was terra firma. I’m filled with a potent mix of emotions as I watch her swap her bow into shortbow form, fully intending to dance around the bear and take advantage of any openings it dares give her. She did it! She’d managed multiple types of aether at once with that last attack!
But while I was relieved to have been released from the colossus’s gaze, that feeling was strongly tempered by the shame of my inaction. I’ve got to pull myself together dammit! This fight is far from over yet, and I can’t let myself quiver uselessly in a corner while my brave denizens do all the hard work facing this monstrosity. As if to mock the reformation of my resolve, the ground rumbled once more, and out from the giant hole in my mountain poured another host of bears and badgers, thundering onto the battlefield.
Right, this is Deepholm after all, so of course the asshole kept forces in reserve. I swear he must be emptying out the whole damn mountain on me! Uuugghh, fine. Of my scions, only Jackie and Alexa were combat capable at the moment, so they would each need to handle their respective scions on their own. The owl squads would back up Alexa in the sky vs the bats, meanwhile down on the ground my surviving forces were still scattered and disoriented. Alright, time to get to work. All units, fall back to the 3rd defensive line, that bear scion’s size will make it impossible for the regular invaders to help it with its fight against Jackie, so they’ll be forced to go around it to get to you or be crushed underfoot.
It's close, but my remaining denizens are able to make it behind the relative safety of the wooden barricades while my flechette-pines provided cover fire. By this time, the bear colossus has recovered enough of its sight to start fighting back against Jackie, swiping furiously at her while she jumps around burying more arrows into his joints to slow it down. With a fierce battle now being waged on three fronts, I take a moment to check in on Kelving to see how he’s progressing.
Still invisible somewhere inside Deepholm’s caverns, I find him seeping his stone magic into his surroundings. Noticing my presence, he informs me that trying to explore manually was taking too long, so he decided to swap tactics. To avoid detection, he’s maintaining invisibility on himself while keeping his magical flow slow and steady rather than risk alerting Deepholm with a burst of it all at once. As for why he’s soaking the surroundings with stone magic? Well, he actually stole the idea from the bat scion’s sonar, figuring that two can play at that game. His spell is slowly but surely mapping out the entirety of Deepholm’s interior, and once the sanctum’s location is revealed he can make a direct line towards it.
Excellent thinking on your part there Kelvin! Though I am worried for his safety. As of yet, we’ve only seen a bat and a bear scion, so that still leaves the badger one unaccounted for. Considering the fact that the invisibility potions are still just faulty prototypes and that he’s already had to go through all but the last one, I tell him to be as careful as he needs. We’ll figure out a way to hold out on defense for him to do his job. Stay safe kitty, cause I can’t send you any backup should things go sideways.
Up on the surface, to say that the defense is struggling would be a might bit of an understatement. Though Jackie has qualified herself as a threat worth being wary of, the bear has quickly adapted to her hit-and-run fighting style by choosing to simply tank its way through most of her hits and plow its way forward regardless. Even with Jackie striking it in the tendons or continuously destroying its eyes, the bear has figured out that its regeneration is just barely fast enough to keep up with her damage, and to slowly push out any vines that she tries to root into the flesh with. With several ponderous steps and a few blind swipes whenever Jackie gets too close, the colossus is steadily progressing across the lake and straight for my island.
Jackie may have the bear blinded and otherwise occupied currently, but all it would take is a bit of guidance from its winged compatriot and we'd be in some serious trouble. Well, that certainly puts batty up at the top of my list of priorities at the moment, but things aren’t looking so hot for my owls right now either. Though my owls are physically superior and able to hold their own against the greater number of bats swarming around, there is a vast gulf between the support the two scions are capable of effecting the fight with. Alexa isn’t intended to be a primary combat scion, plus she was only born barely more than 48 hours ago!
Meanwhile, her opponent is a giant nightwing bat that is a master of a strange blood-based form of spellcasting, and it has who knows how much experience in actual combat to back it up. This is further complicated by a hitch that none of us had thought to test beforehand. Turns out, when Alexa swaps out the contents of her Cache ability, it puts the ability on a 24hr cooldown before it can be modified again. Since this hadn’t been mentioned anywhere in the skill description, and Alexa hadn’t had the need to change the Cache’s contents until today, this unexpected limitation has left her scrambling trying to come up with a new plan of attack.
Since she’s been locked into storm affinity spells for the time being, Alexa tries to summon forth cumulonimbus clouds to use as a base for some lightning and hail. Yet each time the summoned effect begins to brew and build, the bat scion simply uses its sonic affinity to shred and scatter the stormy weather apart. Meanwhile, it is free to wreak havoc amongst my flyers with a flurry of blood spells. First, it pelts my owls with a slew of blood pellets big enough to kill if they strike any of the owls' vitals, but otherwise leaving behind more minor injuries. But that was just the setup for its next attack. With a dramatic pump of its wings, the nightwing hisses out the words of its next spell, despite not having needed to do so previously.
“Scarlet Blossom: Proliferation.”
The results of this were horrifying, to say the least. With a cruel glee evident in its eyes, the bat scion watched on as one by one my owls began to shake violently, before popping apart like an overfilled balloon. Each owl was one who had been struck by at least one of the previous blood pellets, presumably allowing the bat scion to spread the spell throughout the rest of their body before detonating it. But that was not the end of the carnage, as each drop of blood from the exploded owls dug into the flesh of whatever creature they landed on to repeat the process with their newest target. This technique did not bother to distinguish friend from foe, so owls and bats alike fell victim to its exponential spread, all while the bat scion grinned a wicked smile.
Desperately trying to salvage the situation, Alexa has her owls spread out as much as they can while still being able to help keep their fellows from being surrounded and picked off, each one doing their best to avoid the infected bats who had begun to make kamikaze dives at them. The nightwing didn’t deign to give her more time to think things over and instead swooped down upon her to engage my scion in melee combat. I quickly observe that this might mean the bat scion can’t focus on any other spells while it is maintaining the exploding blood one, and advise Alexa to take advantage of her smaller wingspan to focus on dodging for the time being while we work out a plan.
Down on the ground, Deepholm's regular denizens have made their way up to my entrance cave where they are being held back by a fierce barrage of needles. Giorno has got the flechette-pines firing in staggered groups to keep up the continuous assault while my froglings provide backup with their poisonous shots splashing against the particularly tough or unfortunately bunched together groups of enemies. He’s got my bunnies and leopards on standby behind the wooden barricades to deal with anything that manages to break through, but in reality we really just want them to get a bit of rest so they can recuperate enough for whatever might come next.
Thankfully, though there are still quite a few enemies left, we’re not outnumbered anywhere near as badly as the first wave. Since Deepholm doesn’t seem to have any surprises to pull out from its hat for its regular denizens, it looks like with enough time my defenders will be able to take care of those invaders without any further issues. Finally, some good news. I tell Jackie to delay the big guy for as long as she can with her disabling shots, just keeping him to a slow forward march is a huge help. Then, once either that bat problem or the lesser invaders have been dealt with, we should be able to get her some backup to try and overwhelm the bear’s regenerative rate.
That leaves the battle in the sky as the most critical situation, so I turn my attention once more to Alexa and her dogged resistance. Flapping furiously she’s managed to keep dodging every attack thrown her way, but the toll of exertion is already starting to catch up to her. It won’t be long until exhaustion slows her down enough for the nightwing’s attacks to start landing. Noticing how close the bat scion was getting, Alexa decided to dive down and back towards the creature’s main body, using the assistance of gravity to accelerate her past the bat’s grasping talons. Still, she wasn’t quite fast enough to avoid the blow entirely, and so received a long gash across her back for her trouble. Thankfully the extra space she’d managed to earn by flying to the rear gave us both some more time to think up a plan while the cumbersome beast had to arc back around.
Ok, let’s break it down. Alexa is locked into storm magic without any access to other techniques nor enough experience of her own to utilize her native spatial magic effectively. Storm magic generally works based on the user’s strong mental image of storms to function which between their own experience and all the mental images I’ve shared of the storms I’d experienced in my past life has given my scion plenty to work with. The problem with storm magic is that it takes a much larger amount of mana to use, and it takes time to gather and propagate the storm. Furthermore, after forming said storm it requires a great deal of control and further mana to direct it on its path or to try and make adjustments to parts of it.
Because of all this, it leaves the magic incredibly susceptible to disruptions, especially ones strong enough to disperse the clouds directly as the bat scion can. So obviously, trying to form a proper storm and use that to fight is completely out of the question here, especially since Alexa had used up such a large amount of her mana already with her previous attempts. But what about all the minor bits of storm magic that work in the background to create the cloud formations in the first place? The whole reason storm magic costs so much mana initially is due to working off of only the pictured end result and letting magic fill in the rest of the blanks. So what if we focus on those blanks instead? Let’s see, what do you need for a storm to form?
Well first off, obviously moisture in the air. Can’t do stormy things without some water vapor to work with, naturally. Then the weather channel people would always talk about things like high and low-pressure systems, oh and temperatures of course. And I know that a temperature difference is needed to get air moving. But if moving the atmosphere around is all that’s needed we could always use magic instead of thermal energy.
While I’m busy racing through what little knowledge I have about meteorology, the bat scion has gotten close enough to once more give chase to Alexa as she swerves through the sky. My time for thinking up something useful is growing severely limited. C’mon you dumb jewel, think! What can we do with moving the atmosphere around? Translating moving air to wind magic could work, but the bat’s sonic affinity is too likely to disrupt a straightforward attack like that. We need something it won’t see coming, that it wouldn’t know how to defend against. Wind…moving air…moving…moving gas?
Suddenly I’m struck by inspiration as I watch Alexa breathing heavily in her exertions. We’ve got everything we need to make an invisible killer right here. There’s no time to explain the finer details about the periodic table and all the elements that exist in the giant mixture we call the atmosphere, but thankfully there’s no need, as the body provides an easy filter for exactly the kind of gas we want that should be easy enough for anybody to grasp and use in their mental image. Alexa! Use your storm magic to gather up all the air you’re exhaling, as well as the exhalations of all the remaining bats and owls. I want you to move just that air and keep that bat scion’s head covered in it!
Even in this life-and-death situation, I can feel Alexa’s burning curiosity completely override every other emotion in her head. She manages to rein herself in and complies with my request, but I can practically feel the questions burning to bombard me at any moment. Relax relax, don’t worry. We live through this and you can grill me with as many questions as you want later, ok? I figure that with her native spatial affinity, Alexa will have enough spatial awareness to keep the bubble of carbon dioxide gas firmly wrapped around the nightwing’s head even with the chaotic flight patterns of their dogfighting. Here the big bat’s size worked against it as its massive lungs quickly burned through the oxygen within the bubble’s confines, adding even more carbon dioxide into it in the process.
I watched as those malevolent eyes, so full of confidence and glee before, widened into panic upon realizing it was slowly beginning to suffocate. Suspecting some kind of trick, it used its sonic magic to ripple the air nearby violently, trying to shake off whatever was stealing its breath away. But Alexa’s spell wasn’t some blade of wind or air concentrated into a solid object that could be scattered apart. Instead, all the bat scion accomplished was wasting more of the air in its lungs to vibrate the gasses gathered around its head. Without understanding that it would need to forcibly disrupt the high concentration of carbon dioxide gas, it could do nothing to stop the spell from taking effect.
But a Deepholm scion is still nothing to be trifled with. Below us, the bear scion gave out another mighty roar and began to charge forward at full speed, despite still being blinded by Jackie’s incessant arrow barrages. Looking closely, I can see the thin layer of sonic mana coalesced around the bear’s head, presumably allowing the bear to borrow the bat’s navigational abilities. With this, the colossus could advance quickly without needing to worry about veering off course, stampeding on a direct path to my core while just shrugging off the damage Jackie peppered its hide with.
Shit, the bastard just put us on the clock. We need to end this, and quickly. Meanwhile, the bat scion has interrupted the exploding body spell in favor of transforming all the blood in the air into a swarm of small red bat-shaped blades. Still struggling to breathe, and its eyes filled with sneering hatred, the nightwing launched them all at Alexa at speeds as fast as an arrow in flight.
Having picked up on some of my thoughts about moving air around with storm magic however, my scholarly scion applied it to deftly increase or decrease the density of spots in the sky around her. These patches of wildly different pressure zones caused the many blood blades to veer harmlessly around her. Undeterred by its lack of hits, the bat scion simply pulled the blood back around to attack again whilst he chased after Alexa even more desperately than before.
Waiting for the beasty to suffocate would be problematic, especially if he could maintain concentration on his magics up until, or even after falling unconscious. Thankfully, I’d paid attention back in my chemistry classes and learned a thing or two. It’s a simple matter for Alexa’s storm magic to grab onto the abundant water vapor nearby, and then mix it in with the gas bubble suffocating the bat scion. With the added instruction of picturing the water vapor merging completely with the gas itself to encourage the reaction, we pretty quickly have ourselves an incredibly high concentration of our good friend H2C03, otherwise known as carbonic acid.
The effect was almost immediate. As the nightwing breathed in its throat seized up and tremors ran down the length of its body. The eyes became unfocused and its wingbeats unsteady as the toxic concentration of gas sent the beast into a state of torpor. The blood blades stopped mid-flight and dissipated harmlessly, all of the bat’s attention now being consumed just with trying to stay awake and airborne. Not about to let this golden opportunity pass her by, Alexa takes revenge for the gouge the nightwing left on her back by swooping in and rending one of its wings with her talons. Using the last vestiges of her mana, she does the same to the other wing with claws of wind, shredding the soft membranes to tattered pieces. Still doing its best to fight off the gas-induced sleepiness, the bat scion succumbs to gravity’s embrace and tumbles helplessly toward the rocky ground of my island.
Yeah, science! Get dunked on by chemistry batty! Turning my attention back to the bear colossus below, whose head has now lost the glow of sonic magic from before, I rejoice at the feeling of my newly bolstered spirits. One scion down, two to go.
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2023.05.31 18:08 LogiBear64 Jeep spits out gas when tank hits full (2003 Jeep Liberty)
Title says it all. I've had the jeep for about 4 years and everything I go to the pump it will spit gas out when it hits full. I usually just never fill it all the way to avoid it happening. Any ideas why??
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2023.05.31 17:17 ss3walkman Gas issues. Should I own 2 vehicles or 1?
Good morning,
I’m hoping you all can help me problem solve. I’m sure some of you have been in a similar situation and would appreciate your input. We currently have 1 vehicle - 2005 GX470. My family has recently moved from the heart of Seattle where we had the light rail that was only two blocks away, to a nearby area that doesn’t have a access to the light rail. I drive into the city for work everyday. My wife works from home, but at times she complains that she doesn’t have the means to run errands unless I’m home. The other issue is that my GX is horrible on gas! I traded in my Cadillac ATS because we needed a more family sized vehicle which also enables us to take road trips, which was a great decision. However, after moving I can see the flaws - I went from only driving a mile to work, to now driving 11 miles. It literally takes a gallon of gas to get to work and another gallon to get home - gas is $4.90 a gallon here, so roughly $10 a day without deviation from the destination. Since I usually have to stop at the grocery store or run errands myself after work, I find myself putting $20 in the tank each day. I’m at the point where I either trade in my GX for a more fuel efficient SUV (I don’t know what, suggestions), or I get a second vehicle as a daily commuter and the GX would be the family vehicle and available for my wife when needed. What are your thoughts or suggestions? Thanks in advance!
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2023.05.31 16:50 Hyloc10 The Battle of Power Systems: Hydraulics or Pneumatics for Modern Industries
Any of modern construction or manufacturing applications are using one or all of three different kinds of power: electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic. Pneumatics provides power by means of pressurized air or gases, whereas, Hydraulics provides fluid power by means of pressurized liquids, such as oil or water. In choosing one of the two, some of the factors to be considered are cost-effectiveness, materials to be moved, availability of resources and space etc.
Each type of power has its advantages and disadvantages, according to circumstances.
Strength: Hydraulics is the best option for strength, because the liquid medium used for its operation has a high mass density and is highly incompressible. This means that hydraulics can develop much higher levels of pressure, and can use that pressure to transmit the power that will drive your application. Industrial applications using hydraulic power may command anything from 1,000-5,000 pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure, while some specialized applications such as mining equipment or heavy lifting cranes can develop 10,000 psi or more.
When implementing hydraulics, one crucial aspect to consider is the utilization of
hydraulic tube fittings. These fittings play a vital role in ensuring a secure and reliable connection between hydraulic components. By incorporating hydraulic tube fittings, you can effectively channel the immense power generated by the hydraulic system, ensuring seamless transmission throughout your application. These fittings are specifically designed to withstand the demanding conditions and high pressures associated with hydraulic systems, providing an essential link that enables efficient and dependable operation.
The media used in pneumatics have low mass density and are easily compressible. In some circumstances, gas or air can be compressed up to several hundred psi, but most mechanical applications are based on an operational pressure of only 80-100 psi. This means that pneumatic systems are largely incapable of the much larger force as offered by hydraulics, and are unsuited to the moving or lifting of heavy loads. Compressed air is also subjected to unexpected pressure drops or fluctuations which can cause operations to become jerky or unstable.
Hygiene: Pneumatic systems win out over hydraulics in the field of hygiene, as the only thing that can leak out of your system is air. Within the system itself, the compressed air will be cleaned of oil, water or metal particles, and any other contaminants, by the filtration unit. Pneumatic systems are generally favored by environmentally-conscious companies.
You'll also be likely to choose pneumatics if you're installing systems in a clean room, a pharmaceutical laboratory, or the food and beverage industry. In these environments there must be absolutely no risk of contamination, so hydraulic systems are generally off-limits as they may be susceptible to leakage.
Whether you choose water or oil in a hydraulic system, either of these may potentially leak out via faulty hydraulic seals, hydraulic valves or worn hoses. This will contaminate your clean environment despite any safeguards you may put in place. The presence of liquids may also invite corrosion of the hardware, with a further risk of introducing contaminants. Storage tanks are also required for the fluids, and residues must be disposed of at the end of the operational process.
Speed: Speed is one of the pneumatic system's biggest advantages. Compressed air has a high flow rate, which enables the quick release of energy and high-speed motion of moving parts such as actuators. Pneumatic actuators can achieve high cycle speeds and increased duty cycling, which deliver greater productivity. The advantage of rapid cylinder movement is further enhanced by the availability of equipment in very small sizes, ideal for use in applications where miniaturization is a priority.
Air has a much lower mass density and can flow much more quickly and easily through pipework. Another advantage of the pneumatic system is that valves and cylinders can quickly alter their state or change direction by dumping their compressed air. This can be voided straight to the atmosphere and requires no further disposal.
Water and hydraulic oil have a much greater resistance than air, with the viscosity of oil making it much slower. Although it will ultimately develop a greater degree of force and maintain constant pressure, it does not have the same rapidity as air movement and may take longer to get your system running. In the event of a leakage or emergency, hydraulic fluid may not be vented rapidly to the environment, but must be re-routed back to its tank or reservoir.
Energy: Comparing hydraulics to pneumatics with regard to energy consumption, there are several factors to be considered. Both systems usually require an input of electrical power to drive them, and a pneumatic system needs the continuous running of a compressor to provide the compressed air. The air supply cannot be recycled and requires constant replenishment, so energy consumption in this respect may be high. Any air leakage will also a waste energy in the system.
You also have to take into account the fact that pneumatic systems lose energy through heat produced by the compression process – though there are several measures that can be taken to make your system more energy-efficient. Fortunately, air is still free of charge, so there is no need to pay for energy in obtaining, replenishing or disposing of waste products.
Hydraulic fluids can use the same oil or water over and over again after the initial start-up. Provided you have a good filtration system and keep it properly maintained, a hydraulic system can be very energy-efficient in the long run. However, electrical power is still generally required to drive the pump, and much of the energy consumed by the pump is wasted. This is because the fluid medium is in constant circulation to maintain system pressure, even though only short periods of actuation may be required to drive the application. The more viscous the fluid medium, the more energy will also be required to move it. However, significant improvements are being achieved, with technological advancements involving different types of pump and the potential of modulating drives.
Safety: Considering hydraulics and pneumatics in the industrial environment, pneumatics is undoubtedly the safer option. A leakage of compressed air is not going to cause contamination, since air is not poisonous or corrosive, although other gases used in stand- alone or portable equipment may be hazardous. Compressed air does not generally pose a risk of fire and it won't explode, but the forcible escape of air through mechanical failure may cause physical injury.
Hydraulic fluids, on the other hand, are always at risk of potentially dangerous leaks. Even water can cause damage if it's hot enough to scald. Other fluid media such as oil, ethylene glycol, plasma and fluid synthetics may be corrosive and/or poisonous. The fluid media may be combustible and require extra safety precautions, and used oil or fluids must eventually be drained and safely disposed of. In general, hydraulic systems incorporate fewer mechanical parts, but these may be subject to corrosion and potential component failures.
Complexity: Hydraulic systems typically have fewer moving parts and may be easily controlled with push buttons and simple levers. On the other hand, hydraulics rely on complex engineering that requires a system of valves and hoses, as well as a pump powered by an external energy source and a tank for storage of the liquid medium. It is possible to install a centralized power unit in a manufacturing plant in order to control several different hydraulic applications. Newer technology is introducing much better systems of managing speed, pressure and power.
Pneumatic system designs are also typically very simple, and operate at a much lower pressure, so their component parts may be made from cheaper and less complex materials. Since the fluid medium is not corrosive or combustible, precautions do not need to be built in against these safety hazards. Technological advances have increased the variety of uses for pneumatic systems, with miniaturization and new materials helping to reduce weight as well as bulk.
Maintenance: Pneumatic systems are cleaner and easier to maintain than hydraulic ones, since the fluid medium is air. A regular schedule of inspection and preventive maintenance is usually all that's required to keep a pneumatic system running, e.g. checking the seals and making sure there is no leakage of air. The air does need to be cleaned of contaminants, and one of the most important maintenance procedures is the cleaning and regular replacement of the filter-regulator-lubricator unit.
With hydraulic systems, the main issue is corrosion. Unless you’re able to install pipes made of non-corrosive material, such as Electro plated, regular monitoring will be required to assess how the pipes are being affected by the fluid medium. Water may cause oxidation, and oils or other media may leave deposits that will cause corrosion. Regular checks and replacements will be required for critical components such as seals, hoses and valves.
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2023.05.31 16:31 BrainCharacter5602 Free: Furnace & 250 gallon Kerosene Tank
2023.05.31 15:23 chuckhustmyre [TH] THE DETOUR by Chuck Hustmyre
Not every town is on the map.
"Daddy, I gotta pee."
Dale Thornton looked over his shoulder at his six-year-old son belted into the back seat of their Jeep Cherokee. As the boy squirmed around, Dale looked at his wife in the passenger seat beside him. "Didn't he just go?"
Carol glanced at her watch. "That was over an hour ago." She twisted to look into the back seat. "Can you hold it?"
In the rearview mirror, Dale saw Jesse shake his head. His wife checked her watch again. He could almost see the wheels turning inside her head. She was the family mediator, and she had just come up with something that made perfect sense. One of the reasons he loved her so much was her ability to change gears. In himself, Dale recognized his single-mindedness as a drawback. He admired her flexibility. In more ways than one, he thought. She was a good wife and a good mother.
"It's almost five," Carol said. "Let's stop at the next town. We can all use the restroom and get something to eat."
Dale tugged the spiral-bound road atlas down from where he had wedged it between the visor and the roof. They had left Tulsa that morning, headed for Mardi Gras, and he hoped to be in New Orleans by 10 p.m. Looking at the LOUISIANA page, his eyes traced the route he had highlighted in yellow. They had detoured down old U.S. 167. Rural America was disappearing and Dale wanted his son to see something of it before it was completely gone.
They were somewhere south of Ruston. He couldn't remember if they had passed Jonesboro or not, so the next town was either that or--if they'd already passed it--Winnfield. The gas gauge was on a quarter of a tank. They needed to stop anyway. "All right, honey," he said. "We'll take a break."
Carol laid a hand on his leg. "I'm glad we came this way. You can't see anything from the Interstate."
Ten miles later they sprang upon a small town. There was an old-fashioned, carved wooden sign posted beside the highway. Dale read out loud, "Welcome to Batesville. Population 875."
"What's that mean," Jesse asked.
Dale glanced at his son in the rearview mirror. "That's how many people live here."
"When somebody dies, do they change the number on the sign?"
Carol smiled over her shoulder at Jesse. "I bet they change it when a baby is born."
Just like her. She didn't like to talk about death or dying. Instead, she liked to focus on the good things in life, babies, birthdays, and family vacations. She had always been like that but more so since her grandfather passed away last year. She had been very close to him, closer than she had ever been to her father.
Dale sneaked a glance at her. She was his angel but an angel with dark secrets. She had shared some of those secrets with him but not all of them, probably because she knew the abuse in her life disturbed him so much. "That sign probably hasn't been changed in twenty years," he said.
"Why put it up if it's not right?" Jesse asked.
Good question. "I don't know, son."
As they got into the little town, Dale was impressed. The side streets that cut off of the highway were lined with neat wooden houses, most of them with white picket fences. A lot of the little towns they had passed through looked run down and dirty, but not this one. Batesville was clean and pretty.
When they came to the town's only traffic light, Dale saw a business on each corner: a hotel, a gas station, a restaurant, and the Batesville General Store. Before the light turned green, Dale pulled the Jeep beside the pumps at the gas station. A middle-aged man wearing oil stained coveralls stepped out from the office. "What can I do you for?" he asked. His tone was friendly, something you didn't hear at many gas stations these days.
Dale stepped out of the driver's seat and stretched. "I need a fill-up and some food." Then he jerked his thumb toward the back seat. "And my son needs to use the head."
The man wiped his hands on a rag he pulled out of his pocket. Then he shook Dale's hand. "Dudley Simpson. I can help you with the gas and the bathroom for your boy, but as for food, afraid all I got is potato chips and sodas." He pointed to the restaurant across the street. "Right over there is the best food in town." He laughed. "Only restaurant we got, but I wouldn't kid you. It's really good. Restroom's not too bad either."
Jesse said he could hold it until they got to the restaurant, so Dale sent him and Carol across the street to get a table. When he reached for the gas pump, Dudley Simpson stopped him. "I don't charge extra for full service. Every car comes through here I pump the gas, look under the hood, and check the tires."
"Don't see that too much anymore," Dale said.
"Guess I'm kind of old-fashioned."
After Dudley finished, Dale added a couple of bucks to the bill. He felt a little awkward, unsure if he could tip the owner of a gas station without insulting him. But Dudley took no offense, just said thank you and asked him to stop in again on their way home.
When Dale turned the key, nothing happened. He turned it again and still nothing happened. Just a click. No dash lights, the motor didn't turn over, nothing. Dudley told him to pop the hood again. After Dale turned the key a couple more times with Simpson's head buried under the hood, Dudley said he'd found the problem. "Alternator's shot. You must've been running on battery for a good while."
"Can you fix it?"
The gas station owner looked at his watch. "Not today. Parts store is closed 'till tomorrow."
Great, just great, Dale thought.
"I could arrange a tow to somewhere else, next town down the highway has a Goodyear Service Center," Dudley said, "but even they won't get to it until tomorrow."
Dale nodded, his mind stuck on having to spend the night in Batesville instead of New Orleans.
"I'll get to it first thing," Dudley said. "Have you out of here by ten o'clock." He pointed at the hotel. "Mrs. Jensen has a nice place. A-C, cable TV, and no bugs."
Great. No bugs.
Dudley told Dale that he could leave the Jeep right where it was. No need to worry about it, he said. They had a town marshal but nothing ever happened in Batesville. So quiet the state police never even came by.
"Sorry I'm blocking your pumps," Dale said.
Dudley shrugged. "Other side's open." Then he looked at his watch. "Besides, it's five-thirty. I close in half an hour."
As he crossed the street, Dale remembered his gun. A Smith and Wesson .357 revolver that he always brought with him on road trips. You never knew what could happen. They might break down on the highway and get attacked by a drug-crazed motorcycle gang. The gun was in the cargo compartment, wrapped inside a cloth and tucked between the spare tire and the side wall. It would be safe enough.
At the restaurant he told Carol the news and in typical Carol fashion she looked on the bright side. "It'll be fun being stranded in a small town," she said. "Who knows what'll happen?"
"Do they have TV?" Jesse asked.
A cute young waitress served them. The plastic tag pinned to her blouse said her name was April. When she brought out their food she set Jesse's down first.
"That's the cutest little mark on your face," she said. "Almost looks like lipstick."
Unabashedly, Jesse pointed to the red oval shaped birthmark set high on his right cheek. "It means I'm special."
She smiled. "It looks like a kiss."
"Really?" Jesse asked.
Dale saw a look of contentment on Carol's face. Jesse's birthmark was something she'd never wanted their son to be shy or embarrassed about.
The waitress set out the rest of the plates. "I heard a mark like that means that right before you were born an angel kissed you."
Jesse turned to his mom. "Is that true?"
Carol smiled at her son and nodded. "I think she may be right."
April bent down and kissed Jesse on the top of his head. "I'm not an angel, but there's a kiss from me."
Dudley Simpson had been right; the food was excellent. After they ate, Dale got up to use the bathroom. "You need to go again, Jess?"
The boy shook his head. "No thanks."
Dale handed Carol a credit card. "Let's save our cash."
She nodded. "All right, baby."
"Back in a sec," he said as he turned away.
***
When he came out of the men's room, Carol and Jesse weren't at the table. The waitress had been quick. Most of the dirty plates were gone; the only ones left were his. Dale looked for his family near the front door, then up by the cash register, but they weren't there.
Maybe Jesse had changed his mind and Carol had brought him into the bathroom with her. So Dale waited, but after several minutes passed and they didn't come out, he decided to check outside. They might have gotten cold or Jesse could've gotten restless and they were waiting out front for him. But they weren't out front, either.
Across the street the lights were out at the gas station--Dudley was closed for the night. The Jeep Cherokee sat at the pumps. Anxiously, Dale looked at the hotel. Maybe...but they wouldn't do that, wouldn't have gone without him. That wasn't like Carol. Smart and independent, but she liked her husband doing the man things, and in her mind, checking into a hotel was a man thing.
Back inside he knocked on the door of the women's restroom. No one answered, so he cracked it open. "Carol?" No answer. "Carol, Jess, you there?"
"Can I help you, sir?" It was their waitress.
Embarrassed, Dale forced a laugh. "I seem to have lost my wife and son." He nodded toward the men's room. "While I was in there."
"Your wife and son?" She looked confused.
"When I came back they were gone."
She had a blank look on her face.
Annoyed, he said, "I ate with them."
The waitress furrowed her brow. "Sir, I didn't see you with anyone else."
Dale stared at her. For a second he thought that maybe he was wrong, maybe this wasn't his waitress. He checked her name tag, saw it said April. "You waited on us." Dale pointed to his right cheek. "My son has that little birthmark. You said an angel kissed him."
She shrugged. "I think I'd remember that."
He pointed to himself. "You remember me?" Then at their table. "We were sitting right there."
She nodded. "Yes, sir. I remember you, but you ate by yourself." She turned to the table where Dale's dishes still sat. "I was just bringing you your bill."
He raised his voice. "Is this some kind of a joke?" People began looking at him.
April took a step back and raised her hands. "You need to talk to Mr. Simms."
"Who's Mr. Simms?"
"The owner."
"Well that's who I want to see."
Mr. Simms was already scurrying over. "What's the problem?"
Dale turned to him. "I can't find my family." He pointed at the girl. "She was our waitress and she's telling me she doesn't even remember them."
Mr. Simms looked at April.
She shrugged again. "I'm sorry but he was alone. I've never seen his family."
Simms looked like he didn't understand. April tried to explain it again, but Dale cut her off and pointed to the table. "My family and I ate right there. I went to the restroom, came out, and they were gone."
Mr. Simms clapped a hand on Dale's shoulder. "Maybe they're outside waiting for you."
"I've checked outside," he barked. "They're not there."
Simms glanced at the waitress. "Why don't you get back to work. I'll handle this."
Dale grabbed her by the arm. "She knows where they are."
Everyone in the restaurant stared at him.
Mr. Simms jerked Dale's hand away from the girl. "Sir, she said she doesn't know where your family is."
April pleaded with her boss. "He didn't have his family with him."
"She's lying!" Dale said, as he inched closer to April.
Simms stepped between them. Looking at Dale, he said, "Have you checked your car?"
He nodded. "It's broken down at the gas station across the street. We've got to spend the night at the hotel."
Mr. Simms smiled. "That's probably it."
"What?"
"I bet they're at the hotel."
"He was by himself," April said.
The restaurant owner snapped his head towards her and pointed to the dinning area. "Go."
She looked at her boss for a second, a half-formed protest on her lips; then suddenly she spun on her heel and stomped away.
Simms looked back at Dale. "Have you checked the hotel?"
"They wouldn't do that."
"Have you checked?" Insistent.
Dale could feel himself losing control as the sweat dripped from his armpits. He took several deep breaths, trying to force himself to calm down. "No, I haven't."
"Maybe your kids got tired."
The deep breathing had made him light-headed. "Just the one boy." As Dale turned toward the door, Simms patted him on the back. "I'm sure everything's going to be fine."
But things weren't fine. At the hotel, he woke up Mrs. Jensen. Turns out she and Mr. Jensen had an apartment behind the office. Dale had banged on the glass door of the office for five minutes before a light came on.
Mrs. Jensen had come out first. A white haired old lady, covered in a paper-thin pink housecoat, imprinted with blue flowers the size of a quarter. A minute later, Mr. Jensen, looking about seventy, dressed in a full set of dark green, silk pajamas and a pair of matching slippers, stumbled into the office, smelling like he'd taken a bath in Jack Daniel's.
Dale's heart sank. He went through the story anyway, but as he expected, the Jensens said that no one had checked in or even come by since mid-morning.
Walking back to the restaurant, he looked at his Jeep. Still empty and no one near it.
A marked police car was parked near the restaurant's front door. As he got closer, Dale read the decal on the side, BATESVILLE TOWN MARSHAL. Maybe now he could get some help.
Just inside, near the cash register, Dale found April the waitress, Mr. Simms, and a heavyset man in jeans and a T-shirt, talking. As he walked up, all three stopped and stared at him. He felt like a freak in a boardwalk exhibit.
"Did you find them?" Simms asked.
Dale shook his head. "The people at the hotel haven't seen them."
The big man in jeans took a step toward him. "Mr...?
"Thornton. Dale Thornton."
The man stuck out his hand. "Jerry Stillwell. I'm town marshal."
"Saw your car outside." Dale shook the marshal's hand. "My wife and son are miss--"
"I understand there was a problem here earlier."
"Yeah there's a problem. My family disappeared."
The marshal and Simms traded glances; then he looked back at Dale. "So I heard. What do you think happened to them?"
Something didn't feel right. "If I knew that, they wouldn't be missing."
Marshal Stillwell stuck his belly out. "No reason to get smart. You all ready scared some customers. Don't make--"
"Scared some customers. Is that why you're here, because I scared some customers? My wife and son are MISSING!" Everyone in the restaurant had stopped eating and was watching the soap opera at the door. With a sharp edge to his voice, Dale said, "What are you going to do about it?"
The marshal jabbed a finger at him. "You better calm yourself down or I'll do it for you. Now I need to ask you some questions," his eyes swept the customers, "and I don't think this is the place to do it."
"I'm not going anywhere." Dale pointed to the completely cleaned off table where they'd eaten. "Half an hour ago my family and I ate right there. Now they're gone. Someone in here knows what happened to them."
The marshal dropped a big hand on Dale's shoulder and tried to guide him out the door. "We're going to find your family, but not here, not like--"
Dale pulled away. He pointed to Simms and the waitress. "They coming with us?"
"I don't see the need for--"
Dale reached out for April. "She's lying!"
With surprising speed, the town marshal slipped behind him and clamped a meaty forearm around his throat, sealing off his windpipe. Dale grabbed at the hairy arm and tried to twist it away as the marshal whispered in his ear, "Take it easy, son." Then something jabbed him in the kidney that sent waves of pain shooting up his back.
Seconds later, Dale was on the floor, his cheek pressed against the cool tiles, as the marshal handcuffed his wrists behind his back.
***
"She said it was the kiss of an angel, huh?" Marshal Stillwell asked. Things had calmed down some. Dale and the town marshal were alone in his office. Dale was still handcuffed, but the marshal had moved them to the front. He sat in a chair in front of the lawman's desk, watching him fill out forms with a ballpoint pen. Stillwell touched his finger to his right cheek. "That mark you're talking about is right here?"
Dale nodded.
"That's strange."
The handcuffs were uncomfortable. Dale twisted his wrists, trying to get some circulation back. "What's unusual about it?"
"We had a preacher in town few years back with the same kind of mark on his face." Stillwell traced a small circle on his cheek. "Heard him say once during a sermon it was from an angel's kiss."
Dale stared at the marshal, his flesh suddenly crawling with goosebumps.
"But he was a strange one. Lots of rumors. Guess it goes with the territory."
"What territory?"
"Young, good-looking preacher. Single. Moves into town, starts preaching all hours of the night." He gave Dale a knowing wink, like they were sharing a secret. "Giving special counseling sessions to half the women in town."
Grasping at straws, looking for anything. Dale said, "Is he still here?"
Marshal Stillwell shook his head. "Church burned down."
"What about the preacher?"
"We never found his body."
"He was the only one in the church?"
Stillwell looked down at the form on his desk and pressed his pen to it. "He had six or eight ladies in there with him. Supposed to be some sort of social club. Fire was so hot, we couldn't tell one body from the next. That was when the rumors really started."
Dale flexed his fingers. His hands hurt. "What kind of rumors?"
The marshal laughed. "Just gossip. People 'round here are simple minded, superstitious, that's all."
"What kind of gossip?"
Stillwell looked up. "Not everybody you understand, but some people have been talking about how the preacher isn't really dead, about how he's gonna come back some day."
Dale needed to get out, to find Carol and Jesse. There was something terribly wrong here. "Am I under arrest?"
Stillwell nodded.
In the corner stood a single holding cell, the door gaping open, waiting. "What's the charge?"
The marshal jerked a thumb in the general direction of the restaurant. "Disturbing the peace."
"What about my family?"
The man tapped the pile of forms in front of him. "I'll forward these missing persons reports to the state police in the morning; then I'll call the judge and try to get a bond set for you."
Dale sprung to his feet. "I've got to find my family tonight!"
Marshal Stillwell eased out of his chair and stood up. "Just calm down. Soon as I get this information to them, the state troopers will be on the lookout." He jerked his thumb toward the south. "Their office is just five miles down the road."
Dale nodded at the phone on the desk. "Call them now."
The marshal shook his head. "Can't do that."
"Why not."
"I got procedures to follow."
Dale Thornton squatted and shoved the desk into Stillwell. The marshal's chair rolled back on its casters but snagged on something and tipped over, spilling Marshal Stillwell onto the floor. Dale scrambled over the desk, knocking papers, pens, and a near full cup of coffee on top of the lawman, then dropped a knee into the man's big belly. The marshal curled into a ball and moaned.
Stillwell didn't have a gun on him, at least not one Dale could find. The way he was dressed it looked like he had been called out from home. Maybe he forgot his gun, or maybe he just didn't carry one. Dale grabbed a handful of shirt and dragged the marshal into the open holding cell, then kicked the door shut. It locked automatically.
By the time Stillwell staggered to his feet Dale was searching his desk. The marshal tried to rip the steel bars apart with his bare hands. "Let me out of here, you crazy bastard!"
Dale ignored him. In the bottom right hand drawer he found a gun, a .38 caliber, five-shot Smith and Wesson. Stillwell started shouting for help. Dale leveled the gun at him. "Shut up."
Stillwell quit yelling.
Dale kept searching.
A few seconds later, the marshal said, "You'll never get away with this."
Holding his wrists up, Dale rattled the handcuffs. "Keys?"
The cop pointed to the desk. "Bottom left."
After he got the handcuffs off, Dale finished going through the desk, then did a quick search of a filing cabinet that was set against the wall. There he found keys to the holding cell and a roll of duct tape.
As Dale approached the cell, Marshal Stillwell backed against the far wall. "What are you gonna do?"
Aiming the revolver at Stillwell's belly, Dale ordered him to lie on the floor. A few minutes later he relocked the cell door, leaving the marshal with his hands cuffed behind his back and a strip of silver duct tape wrapped around his head that sealed his mouth shut. On his way out of the marshal's office, Dale tossed the revolver back into the desk drawer and kicked it shut. That was trouble he didn't need.
The state police. "Their office is just five miles down the road," the marshal had said.
Darkness had settled over the Batesville. How long had he been in the marshal's office? Everything in town was closed and locked up tight. There wasn't a light to be seen, and not a soul on the street. He didn't see any payphones.
He had to get out of town. Which way had the marshal pointed when he mentioned the state police? Thinking about it, Dale decided it had to be south. They'd driven in from the north and he was sure they hadn't passed a state police troop.
The night had turned cold. If he was going to walk for five miles he needed a jacket.
It took just a few minutes to make it to the gas station. His Jeep was right where he'd left it, but when he reached into his pocket for the keys they weren't there. An image flashed through his mind. A close up shot just like in a movie. His hand reaching toward Dudley Simpson's, and in his hand, his keys.
Damn!
He looked into the rear window, saw their luggage lying in the back. Dale thought about breaking the window and getting a jacket, maybe his gun, too. Not the gun. He was in enough trouble all ready for what he'd done to the town marshal. Assault, kidnapping--maybe not kidnapping, he hadn't taken him anywhere, just locked him in his own cell--but something like kidnapping. Desperation had driven him to it. That's the only reason he had done it. Because he had to find Carol and Jesse.
He could make it without a jacket.
Old Highway 167 south. Dale Thornton started walking. Ten minutes later he saw headlights behind him, coming from town. He crouched in the bushes beside the highway, but the beat-up pickup glided to a stop next to him. An old man sat behind the wheel, alone in the truck. "You need a ride?"
Feeling like a complete fool, Dale stood. "Yeah, I guess."
"Where you headed?"
"You know where the state police office is?"
The old man nodded, then jerked his head toward the passenger side. "Hop in."
As he climbed into the pickup truck, Dale shot a glance at the old man. Probably at least seventy, with long ghost white hair and a bushy mustache, wearing a stained undershirt and a pair of denim overalls. Dale scanned the dashboard for a clock but didn't see one. "What time is it?"
The old man shrugged. "Haven't worn a watch in thirty years. Do things as quick as I can. A timepiece strapped to my wrist ain't gonna make me move any faster."
The drive was torture. Never did the old man go over thirty-five miles an hour. Only good thing was that he didn't ask any questions. Just dropped Dale off in the parking lot of the state police troop. As he walked through the door into the police station, Dale glanced over his shoulder and saw the old man's pickup rumbling down the highway.
Inside, sitting behind a chest high counter, was a uniformed trooper, sergeant stripes on his sleeves. Mid-40's, with an iron gray crew cut. "Can I help you, sir?" the sergeant said.
Dale spat out the story as fast as he could, leaving out the part about how he'd handcuffed the town marshal and left him gagged in his own jail cell.
The sergeant's face had remained inscrutable while Dale talked. "What was the name of that town again, sir?"
"Batesville."
The sergeant wheeled his chair over to a map hanging on the wall. "And where'd you say it was?"
The state cop demonstrated the same bureaucrat mentality as the town marshal. Any minute now he'd break out a sheaf of forms and start filling them out. Dale pointed north. "Five miles that way."
"What'd you say your name was again?" The sergeant glided the chair back over to his work area and pulled a pen from his shirt pocket.
"Thornton. Dale Thornton."
As soon as the sergeant finished jotting Dale's name on a pad, he looked up. "There's no town named Batesville."
"I was just there!"
The sergeant stood up. "Take it easy, sir. I'm sure you just got the name mixed up."
Just like in the restaurant.
"...get to the bottom of it." The desk sergeant was still talking, but Dale hadn't heard everything. He felt dizzy. Was everyone around here crazy? "We ate dinner there," he mumbled. "I left my car at the gas station. Dudley Simpson's gas station."
The sergeant nodded as he walked around the counter. A big man, at least six feet, with the beefy build of a weightlifter. "I know Simpson's place. Old 167 and Highway 90. But there's no town there, just the gas station."
"The gas station's smack in the middle of the town. There's a restaurant, a general store, and a hotel, too."
The sergeant closed on him, his body bladed, his gun side away from Dale. "I need you to put your hands on the counter, sir."
"What?"
With his right hand resting on his holstered pistol, the state trooper took hold of Dale's wrist with his left hand and pushed it to the top of the counter. Dale's other hand followed. The sergeant said, "Pull you feet back."
"What are you doing?"
"You have any weapons on you?"
"No! Of course not." Glad he'd left the marshal's gun, glad he hadn't gotten his own out of the Jeep.
"I'm just gonna pat you down."
"Why?" Dale said. "I haven't done anything. My family's missing?"
The sergeant slid his hands over Dale's waist and the outside of his pockets. "It's for safety, sir."
"Whose?"
"Yours and mine," the trooper sergeant said as he stepped backward a few feet.
"Something's happened to my wife and son. I came here for help."
"What happened to them?"
"I don't know," Dale said. "That's why I need your help."
"Mr. Thornton, I've worked this area for nineteen years. There is no town called Batesville."
"I don't care what you call it, but there's a town five miles away and we need to go there right now."
"Closest town is twelve miles from here and it's south."
The gas station. At least the sergeant knew about the gas station. Dale looked over his shoulder at the big cop. "Can I stand up?" After getting a nod, Dale pushed away from the counter and stood straight. Arguing wasn't getting him anywhere. "Look sergeant, maybe I seem a bit confused, but I know my wife and 6-year-old son are missing. Our car broke down at Simpson's gas station. Can you drive me there and help me look for them?"
The sergeant took his hand off his pistol and relaxed a little. "How'd you get here?"
"An old man in a pickup gave me a ride."
"You get his name?"
Dale's mouth opened but nothing came out as he realized he couldn't remember a thing about the old man or his truck. No details at all.
"What's the matter?"
Dale shook his head. "He...he just gave me a ride. I didn't get his name."
The trooper sergeant held up his hand. "Stay right here. Soon as I get someone to cover the desk, I'll give you a ride back to Simpson's."
Ten minutes later Dale climbed into the passenger seat of the state police car. The sergeant looked over at him. "Put your seatbelt on." Dale strapped himself in but noticed the sergeant didn't.
On the highway the trooper asked him to go over the story again. As Dale repeated what had happened, the sergeant asked several questions about Simpson's: what time of day, what was wrong with the car, who had the keys; but he asked nothing about what happened in the restaurant. The restaurant that wasn't there, according to the sergeant.
A few minutes later the police cruiser's headlights lit up the darkened gas station and Dale's Jeep parked at the pumps.
There was nothing else--absolutely nothing else.
The sergeant slowed down as he turned into the parking lot. "That your Cherokee?"
Stunned, Dale couldn't answer. Staring out the window, struck dumb by what he saw, or didn't see. No restaurant, no hotel, no Batesville General Store--no town. Just empty farmland and a few trees surrounding the gas station.
The trooper pulled his car up behind the Jeep, leaving a car-length gap between the two of them. "Stay here," he said as he pulled a flashlight from a charger mounted to the dash.
Dale leaned his head against the window and watched the sergeant creep up to the driver's door of his Jeep Cherokee, flashlight held out in front of him, his other hand on the butt of his pistol. The state cop opened the door--the locked door--and poked his head inside the passenger compartment of Dale's Jeep. The trooper backed out and held up his hand, Dale's keys dangling from his fingers. "Keys were inside," he shouted.
With legs quivering, Dale stepped out of the police car. He couldn't understand this. The Jeep had been locked, Dudley Simpson had the keys. He stumbled toward the trooper.
The sergeant shined his flashlight into the back, into the cargo compartment. Suddenly, his face turned to stone. He dropped the keys, drew his gun, aimed both it and his flashlight at Dale. "Don't move!"
Dale stopped dead. What the hell was...
"Get on the ground!"
Not comprehending, Dale just stood there.
The trooper screamed at him, "Get on the fucking ground--now."
Dale Thornton dropped face down onto the pavement. From the corner of his eye, he saw the sergeant side-stepping around him until he was behind Dale and to his left.
The trooper said, "Turn your head to the right."
Dale did as he was told. Then the sergeant closed in and cuffed his hands behind his back. Just the second time in his life Dale had been handcuffed, both on the same night.
After backing up a few steps, the sergeant keyed the radio clipped to his belt and called the state police troop. When the dispatcher answered, the sergeant said, "I need back up units," Dale heard him take a deep breath, "and notify the corner."
The tinny voice from the radio said, "What you got, sergeant?"
"Homicide," the trooper answered. "Suspect is in custody."
Homicide?
The sergeant hooked Dale's elbows and jerked him to his feet, then picked up the keys and opened the tailgate of the Jeep.
Lying in the back, in the cargo space, arms and legs twisted into a torturous configuration, was the naked body of his wife, Carol. At the back of her head, her golden hair was tangled and caked with dried blood. Her face chalk white, her forehead blown out where the bullet had exited. On the carpet next to her was a .357 revolver--Dale's .357 revolver.
She was alone.
"Jesse!" Dale screamed at the dark and empty fields.
***
In 1885 the town of Batesville, Louisiana burned to the ground. Scores of people were killed in the predawn fire that swept through the town. Among those reported killed in the blaze was the town's only minister, but many bodies were so badly burned that positive identification was impossible.
The fire started in the Batesville church and was allegedly set by a preacher from a nearby town. The preacher, a God-fearing and righteous man, was said to have been outraged at the evil deeds going on in Batesville, which he had called a modern-day Sodom.
The town of Batesville was never rebuilt.
THE END
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2023.05.31 14:59 ya-boi-benny Respect Jervis Tetch, the Mad Hatter (DC Comics, Post Crisis)
You see, there's insanity, and then there's madness.
Jervis Tetch is a dandy madman. Taking inspiration from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, he puts on the guise of the Mad Hatter and commits crimes while doing so. Sometimes he wants to steal hats for his own purposes, other times he obsessively seeks out his Alice. When one looks past the sinister brim and giant buckteeth, a dark, tragic individual surfaces, but don't let that fool you. He'll still be crooning "Callooh! Callay!" as his vorpal blade goes snicker-snack through your neck.
Recommended reading: Secret Six (2006), Joker's Asylum II: Mad Hatter.
Key
Character Profiles
Note
While the appearances in Birds of Prey: Batgirl were due to Spellbinder manipulating Barbara Gordon to think she was in her glory days, these were likely feats Hatter is capable of, as she never disbelieved anything he did.
Scaling Threads
Strength
Durability
Blunt
Objective
Scaling
Other
Skill
Misc
Chimp Training
Hypnosis
Violence Inducement
Specific Commands
Miscellaneous
Limits
Other Equipment
Other
It's an empty life. Surrounded by hollow people speaking with the voices I put into their heads. I can't make someone love me.
Not without a hat.
Not without the tea.
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2023.05.31 05:42 freetochose Why my 2023 prius xle has only 700km range?
Just bought a service loaner 2023 prius xle in Canada. Found out that my prius can only take 34 litres gas and displays a 698km range on dashboard.
But I saw on the internet it should have about 40 litres tank size and 850 km range.
Can anyone help explain why and is it someone changed my part?
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