Shawn Robertson, 55, has lived in the same home in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, his whole life.He has experienced major milestones, both good and bad, while living in that house.While he says staying put has its perks, he also feels he might be ready for a change.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shawn Robertson, a 55-year-old from Tsawwassen, British Columbia. It has been edited for length and clarity.I'm 55, and I've lived in one house my entire life. I've never met anyone else who has lived in the same house for as long as I have.My parents originally lived in Richmond in British Columbia, Canada, and when they started thinking about adopting a child me they decided they needed to be in a more rural setting.The little town of Tsawwassen fit that bill. It had a good school system and was vibrant and up-and-coming. So, in late 1968, they purchased the land and built the house. It was finished in the summer of 1969.The house is a very German-looking style. Dad was Scottish, but I think he just liked the look of it. There's brick on the bottom frontage and stucco with what used to be dark brown trim. It's a double-story building with five bedrooms and a den.I loved growing up in this houseAfter adopting me, my parents brought me home from the hospital at the end of September 1969. The house would have been big for us back then, it was just two adults and a tiny baby. My older brother John was 20 and had already left home.I was more or less an only child, so I had free rein of the house. It's shaped like a U with this big porch in the center, and playing out there was every kid's dream. I remember whipping around on all sorts of different toys and bikes. There was a fairly big backyard, too, so there was always room to run around.Around the time my wife Cori and I got engaged, both of my parents' health tanked. We decided we would live with them so that they could remain in the home they'd built for as long as possible.I experienced many milestones in that house, both good and bad. When I married Cori, the house was the drop-off point for my groomsmen. We welcomed our four children while living there and navigated the passing of my dad in 2004 and my mom in 2015. Since then, we've had engagement parties for two of our kids at the house and hosted a baby shower for our granddaughter.I know all of the house's quirks, and there's a deep familiarity there. We have friends who are still amazed when they find out we're still in the same place. Life doesn't usually allow that anymore, whether it's jobs, kids, or economic upheaval. I feel very fortunate for it.I also consider a lot of the neighbors to be like family. Many of them have lived around us for easily 30 years or more. It's only recently that a few new ones are coming in, while the old ones are downsizing.We've considered moving before, and still do sometimesThere have been times over the years when we would have moved if we could have. However, my wife and I felt that it was very important for our kids to have stability during their teenage years.I retired in September 2024. I don't see our kids taking over the house because they are going in different directions. There's no specific set date to sell the house; however, we are actively looking at other places to live possibly the Okanagan region of British Columbia.If I'm being honest, I think it would make it easier on me if a developer demolished the house. It's always going to feel like our home, and if I drive by and see that it's changed, I think I'd feel saddened. On the other hand, if the house was gone entirely, I'd drive by and think, "We had a really nice life here." It would just be different.We have so many memories in the house and such deep roots there. But the memories do come with you through photos and stories. The kids have fond memories of it, and that's all I need.

Absorb, Filter, Store: 9 Projects Showcasing How Sponge Cities Adapt to Climate ChallengesSave this picture!Qianhais Guiwan Park with the city center as a backdrop. Image Holi PhotographyThe concept of "sponge cities" has gained prominence since it was introduced by Chinese architect Kongjian Yu, founder of Turenscape, and was officially adopted as a national policy in China in 2013 to combat urban flooding. This approach prioritizes nature-based infrastructure such as wetlands, rain gardens, and permeable pavements, creating landscapes with porous soil where native plants can thrive with minimal maintenance. When it rains, these systems absorb and slow down water flow, reducing flood risks. In contrast, traditional concrete- and pipe-based drainage solutions, though widely used, are costly, rigid, and require frequent maintenance, sometimes even making cities more vulnerable to flooding due to blockages and overflows.Additionally, sponge city strategies have proven to be more cost-effective. For example, the program in Wuhan saved over 4 billion yuan ($550 million) compared to conventional concrete-based alternatives, according to a policy brief by the University of Leeds. By integrating ecological systems into urban landscapes, sponge cities offer an adaptable and economically viable approach to water management. This round up organizes sponge city projects based on their primary hydrological function, recognizing that different strategies play complementary roles in mitigating urban flooding and enhancing water resilience. While many projects incorporate multiple functions, this article highlights their dominant contributions to water-sensitive urban design.Read on to discover 9 projects showcasing how architects have been using the concept of sponge city to perform different functions according to the site's needs. Related Article What Is a Sponge City and How Does It Work? Absorb: Creating Permeable Landscapes for Water RetentionThe main focus of this selection of projects is the increasing of soil's ability to absorb rainwater, thus reducing runoff, and enhancing groundwater recharge. They replace traditional hardscapes with vegetation-rich, porous surfaces, helping cities become more flood-resistant while reintroducing native plant ecosystems. Benjakitti Forest Park / Turenscape + Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect Save this picture! Qianhai's Guiwan Park / Field Operations Save this picture! Qunli Stormwater Wetland Park / Turenscape Save this picture!Filter: Using Nature to Purify and Improve Water QualityThrough the use of vegetation, wetlands, and biofilters, the following projects clean and filter water, improving its quality before releasing it into surrounding environments. By incorporating aquatic plants, gravel beds, and soil-based filtration, they enhance water quality without reliance on costly and energy-intensive mechanical treatment systems. Wetland Museum In Huailai / Tenio Save this picture! Grnningen-Bispeparken Climate Park / SLA Save this picture! Shenzhen Lotus Water Culture Base and Ground Level of Honghu Park Water Purification Plant / NODE Achitecture & Urbanism Save this picture!Store: Retaining and Managing Water for Climate ResilienceThe following urban parks have been redesigned to have the ability to capture and store excess rainwater, reducing flood risks while ensuring water availability for drier periods. They help prevent surface runoff from overwhelming drainage systems, turning stored water into a resource rather than a threat. Pole Mokotowskie Park Modernization / WXCA Save this picture! Lujiatan Wetland Park Commercial Service Center / MUDA-Architects Save this picture! Yuxuan Bridge Tong Guan Stage & Xuan Xing Tower / Atelier Diameter Save this picture!Image gallerySee allShow lessAbout this authorMoises CarrascoAuthorCite: Moises Carrasco. "Absorb, Filter, Store: 9 Projects Showcasing How Sponge Cities Adapt to Climate Challenges" 06 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026477/absorb-filter-store-9-projects-showcasing-how-sponge-cities-adapt-to-climate-challenges&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Nature, Published online: 06 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00160-wResearchers in Gaza tell Nature of unwavering commitment to education and knowledge as most universities lie damaged or destroyed.

Nature, Published online: 06 February 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00209-wA five-step guide to communicating your science ethically and accurately.

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Sculpt itself was done in zbrush, everything else was done in blender. Couldnt decide on a material so I did all 3! Feedback/criticism are welcomed if you happen to have any, always looking to improve Hope you like it! *not sure if this counts as NSFW or not, but Im marking it that way just to be safe submitted by /u/ams0000 [link] [comments]

DICEEvery publisher wants to release its games in a certain period usually around September but sometimes plans have to be reconsidered, especially with such a big competitor as GTA 6.EA knows it well and is ready to delay the next Battlefield, which its CEO Andrew Wilson calls the biggest Battlefield weve ever made. The game is expected before April 2026, but the date might change: I do believe that this year might be a nuanced year relative to competition, Wilson said (via Eurogamer.) There may be some things happening in the year that may cause us to think differently about our launch timing.EA invested more in this Battlefield than any Battlefield before, so such caution is understandable; I think every company will try to steer clear of GTA 6s release window (fall 2025 at the moment, but many players believe it might get delayed.) As Bloombergs Jason Schreier previously mentioned, all publishers are waiting for the exact dates, so you wont hear about a lot of other games launches until Rockstar announces the time.Meanwhile, EA [wants] to make sure that we launch that into a window where we can deliver on the fullness of the promise of what Battlefield can be and grow the community to a level that is commensurate with the size of the game that were making.If we got close to that timeframe and believed that this wasnt going to be a great window for us, then we would take a look at what an alternate window might be that would give us the appropriate time, energy, and player acquisition opportunity for this Battlefield to be all that it needed to be.RockstarThe next Battlefield is said to go back to its roots. Set in modern times, it will feature64-player matches and a 4-class system with revamped destruction systems.Do you think publishers should be wary of GTA 6? Joinour80 Level Talent platformandour Telegram channel, follow us onInstagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,TikTok, andReddit, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post With GTA 6 Approaching, EA Says Next Battlefield Might Be Delayed appeared first on CG SHARES.

Blender 4.4, expected to focus on NPR, has moved into the next phase of its release cycle. From now on, work will be focused solely on bug fixing while Blender 4.5 development has officially begun. This means, as usual, that the software is now ready for public testing, and users are encouraged to test it and report any issues or feedback.The new splash screen features none other than the protagonist from the Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe-winning animated film Flow, which was created entirely with Blender. Recently, Flows director, Gints Zilbalodis, sat down with Blender for an exclusive interview, talking about his experience mastering Blender, handling the lighting and rendering for Flow on his own, and sharing the tools used in the production, so check it out if you missed it.Aside from the most adorable splash screen ever, Blender 4.4 seems to have received a thorough update across its entire toolset. A key new feature in animation and rigging workflows is the introduction of Slotted Actions, which lets you store the animations of multiple things within the same Action. The Compositor has also seen several changes, including updates to various nodes, with the Glare node getting a complete overhaul.See the latest updates in Geometry Nodes, improvements to Grease Pencil, and whats new in sculpting and rendering workflows here. Blender 4.4 is currently in beta until March 12th, so download and start testing it out.Theres also Blenders official roadmap for 2025 available, outlining the plans for this year. Dont forget to check out our latest interview with Blenders Head of Product Dalai Felinto where he discusses Blenders most notable successes in 2024 and whats coming next.Also, join our80 Level Talent platformand ournew Discord server, follow us on Instagram,Twitter,LinkedIn,Telegram,TikTok, andThreads,where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.Source link The post Blender 4.4 Officially Entered Beta appeared first on CG SHARES.

Sid Meier's Civilization 7 offers several ways for you to successfully complete campaigns. One, in particular, sends you on a journey to acquire unrivaled wealth. Here's our guide to help you with the Economic Legacy and Economic Victory in Civilization 7.How to get a Cultural Victory in Civilization 7 - Cultural Legacy guideYour Economic Legacy in Civilization 7 requires you to focus primarily on mechanics that deal with resources and trade. This is different from milestones related to Cultural, Military, and Science paths, though you can tackle multiple objectives at the same time. Later, upon reaching the Modern Age, you could be the first to achieve an Economic Victory if you play your cards right. Economic Legacy in the Antiquity Age: Silk RoadsThe Civilization 7 Economic Legacy path is all about obtaining numerous resources, which you can then assign to your settlements. This means buddying up with your neighbors so you can have several trade routes. Moreover, you should be on the lookout for camels. These resources grant +2 slots in a settlement that they're allocated to, allowing you to cram more goodies.Step 1: Study the Code of Laws civic.Step 2: Move your merchant to a foreign settlement (i.e. another civ or a city-state).Initiate a trade route.Step 3: Improve your trade relations with another civ.Step 4: Slot in a total of seven resources.Step 5: Slot in a total of 14 resources.Step 6: Slot in a total of 20 resources. Economic Legacy in the Exploration Age: Treasure FleetsCome the Exploration Age, the Civilization 7 Economic Legacy path becomes significantly more involved. The goal here is to plop down settlements in distant lands--i.e. those on another continent, making sure that there are nearby resources like gold, silver, spices, tea, cocoa, and more.You then need to have Fishing Quays in these settlements to make a Treasure Fleet spawn. From there, your ships laden with loot need to arrive at owned water tiles in your original continent. You can learn more about this activity in our Treasure Fleet guide.Step 1: Research the Cartography and Astronomy techs.Step 2: Create a settlement in distant lands.Build a Fishing Quay in this settlement.Step 3: Improve five valid treasure-type resources.Research the Shipbuilding tech.Spawn a Treasure Fleet unit.Step 4: Score 10x Treasure Fleet (TF) points by unloading Treasure Fleets in your homeland settlements.Step 5: Score 20x TF points.Step 6: Score 30x TF points. Economic Legacy in the Modern Age: Railroad Tycoon and the Great MerchantSo, you've made it to the Modern Age? Well, that just means you're one step closer to a Civilization 7 Economic Victory, assuming this is the path you want to follow for this particular era. The objective now is to amass Railroad Tycoon (RT) points.To get RT points, you must have Rail Stations in your settlements, as these buildings allow you to construct Factories. Each settlement that has a Factory lets you assign 1x resource into a special slot. Each "Factory Resource" grants an RT point per turn. For example, if you have 10 Factories across your empire and all of these have a resource, then you'll receive 10x RT points every single turn you advance.Step 1: Research the Industrialization tech.Build a Rail Station.Step 2: Research the Mass Production tech.Step 3: Build a Factory.Step 4: Earn 150x Railroad Tycoon points.Step 5: Earn 300x RT points.Step 6: Earn 500x RT points.Ah, but you're not done yet. Upon reaching 500 RT points, a Great Banker will spawn in your capital. At this stage, you need to send the Great Banker to every remaining civ's capital to use its special action: Establish the World Bank. The Great Banker also has a unique ability that allows it to teleport instantly to cities, so you need not worry about long travel times.In any case, once the Great Banker has conducted its activities in all the remaining capital cities, the World Bank will be automatically established, netting you a much-deserved win.That does it for our Civilization 7 Economic Victory and Economic Legacy guide. We hope these tips aid you in your quest to become filthy rich. If you're keen on learning about the other victory conditions, you can check our guides regarding the Cultural, Military, and Science facets.Explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate your way to victory with the help of our Sid Meier's Civilization 7 guides hub.

Over time in Civilization VII, you'll start to accumulate more and more settlements. You can get more settlements by using your own units, negotiating with other leaders, or taking settlements by force. However, the more settlements you acquire, the more at risk you are for exceeding your settlement limit.At the top of your screen, you'll see a building icon next to the happiness icon. The building icon has a fraction next to it, and this tells you what your current settlement limit is (the right number) and how many settlements you currently own (the left number). While it's possible to go over your settlement limit, this has fairly substantial consequences. So, to avoid that, you can simply increase your overall settlement limit in Civilization 7.How to increase settlement limit in Civilization 7The settlement limit warningAt the start of a playthrough in Civ 7, you'll have a settlement limit of four. This is more than enough to get you through the first third of the Antiquity Age, as you'll have your capital and at least a couple of additional settlements you founded through Settlers, Suzerainship, or war with other leaders.Continue Reading at GameSpot