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Merry 9/11 and Happy Holidays - New General Megathread for the 11th-13th of September 2024

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Building implosion

In the controlled demolition industry, building implosion is the strategic placing of explosive material and timing of its detonation so that a structure collapses on itself in a matter of seconds, minimizing the physical damage to its immediate surroundings. Despite its terminology, building implosion also includes the controlled demolition of other structures, like bridges, smokestacks, towers, and tunnels. This is typically done to save time and money of what would otherwise be an extensive demolition process with construction equipment, as well as to reduce construction workers exposure to infrastructure that is in severe disrepair.

Building implosion, which reduces to seconds a process which could take months or years to achieve by other methods, typically occurs in urban areas[citation needed] and often involves large landmark structures.

The actual use of the term "implosion" to refer to the destruction of a building is a misnomer. This had been stated of the destruction of 1515 Tower in West Palm Beach, Florida. "What happens is, you use explosive materials in critical structural connections to allow gravity to bring it down.

The term "implosion" was coined by my grandmother back in, I guess, the '60s. It's a more descriptive way to explain what we do than "explosion". There are a series of small explosions, but the building itself isn't erupting outward. It's actually being pulled in on top of itself. What we're really doing is removing specific support columns within the structure and then cajoling the building in one direction or another, or straight down.

  • Stacy Loizeaux, NOVA, December 1996

Building implosion techniques do not rely on the difference between internal and external pressure to collapse a structure. Instead, the goal is to induce a progressive collapse by weakening or removing critical supports; therefore, the building can no longer withstand gravity loads and will fail under its own weight

Numerous small explosives, strategically placed within the structure, are used to catalyze the collapse. Nitroglycerin, dynamite, or other explosives are used to shatter reinforced concrete supports. Linear shaped charges are used to sever steel supports. These explosives are progressively detonated on supports throughout the structure. Then, explosives on the lower floors initiate the controlled collapse.

A simple structure like a chimney can be prepared for demolition in less than a day. Larger or more complex structures can take up to six months of preparation to remove internal walls and wrap columns with fabric and fencing before firing the explosives.

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  • Idk if this is the case in other imperial core countries, but is it just me or has the US practically invented a Hukou system of its own? Let me explain:

    • rents/housing costs are surging higher and higher and this is seen as a good thing because “muh invoostment! Muh equity!”. Now, unless you’ve been a homeowner of a city for decades or a child growing up in that city. Cities are now just giant country clubs and the rest of us are practically confined to rural, reactionary shitholes. What does this mean? Well, if you’re a child growing up in say, LA. You will have more access to connections and resources that will help you in life. If you’re not all that lucky and born in a red, middle America state you get to eat shit. Yeah, “connections” are important (almost too important) but if you’re not one of the good ol’ boys, good luck even getting a job as a dishwasher.

    • While this is arguably more understandable, in-state and out-of-state tuition is absurd, so again if you’re born in a red state that values education much less than blue states, you once again get to eat shit. With benefiting from a modern day spoils system sorry, “networking” being touted as the only way to get a job, going to a no-name university will be held against you. Take it from someone who wants to go back and get a master’s just to try to get porky’s attention.

    • You know the saying “it’s expensive to be poor”, well that also extends to being born in a poor rural county. Rural folk are forced to put up with car dependency and usually only have access to shit-tier amenities and shopping. Let’s take Uniqlo vs JcPenny. Uniqlo is a clothing company that makes somewhat decent clothing for a fair price. However, Uniqlo is always exclusively in major cities with the smallest city they’re in within the US is Sacramento IIRC. Meanwhile I’m sure many fellow poor people that came from places not on the map can relate to having to do back-to-school clothes shopping at Target or JcPenny, which are practically disposable, frumpy-and-proud clothing. Sure, you can order online from Uniqlo anywhere but the point is that these cities that rich people want all to themselves have services that will save them money in the long run AND be better quality.

    • Location discrimination in hiring. Porky’s infamously extremely selective on the few times he needs to hire someone at all, and many porks seem to have a “local’s only” policy, and one article I read mentioned a guy being discriminated against because he lived in a rural part close to the city he couldn’t afford to live in. The porks were confused “why anyone would choose to live there” and didn’t want anything to do with him.

    So to me, it really does feel like I am stuck in a reactionary part of the country and I have no choice but to put up with it. We constantly have to hear how bad blue parts are, but the rich seem to want to do everything they can to stop poor red staters like me from moving to them.

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