How French Drains Work
The article explains the importance of French drains in managing subsurface water to protect structures, using the notable failure of the Oroville Dam\'s drainage system as an example. It details how these drains, originally popularized by Henry French, work by allowing water to flow through gravel and perforated pipes while preventing soil erosion. Proper design and filtering in drainage systems are crucial, particularly for critical structures like dams, to ensure effective water management without compromising the integrity of the surrounding soil.
Show HN: Play with an interactive heatmap of SF crime (and other cities)
The San Francisco Crime Map, known as SAFEMAP™, provides a heatmap that illustrates the frequency of selected crimes across the city, helping users identify safe areas and places to avoid. Users can interact with the map by selecting crime categories, adjusting date/time ranges, and accessing data sources and limitations. The platform aims to facilitate understanding of crime statistics and data in San Francisco.
Gear Acquisition Syndrome – Consumption of Instruments and Technology (2021)
Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) is the musicians\' unrelenting urge to buy and own instruments and equipment, driven by the belief that acquiring more gear will enhance their creativity and happiness. This book explores GAS from various disciplines, including music technology, sociology, and psychology, and examines the motives behind musicians\' obsession with equipment. The study includes theoretical frameworks and empirical research on both online communities and offline music stores, highlighting the lifelong endeavor of upgrading musical gear and its impact on musical learning processes.
Show HN: BudgetFlow – Budget planning using interactive Sankey diagrams
BudgetFlow is an interactive budgeting app that uses flow charts and Sankey diagrams to help users visualize and manage their budgets. It features Smart Pockets, which automate the transfer of excess or missing cash, and allows users to share and collaborate on budgets with others. The app is currently in beta, and user feedback is encouraged.
Smashing idea: how East Germany invented \'unbreakable\' drinking glasses
East Germany\'s Superfest glass, designed in the 1980s, was marketed as "unbreakable," proving to be ten times more durable than standard drinking glasses due to innovative ion-exchange technology. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent bankruptcy of its manufacturer, these glasses resurfaced in demand as sustainable products, fetching high prices on secondary markets. A Berlin startup, Soulbottles, aims to revive the durability of Superfest glasses with improved recyclability, using crowdfunding to facilitate production based on similar technology.
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