This week marks the 20th anniversary of Call of Duty. As part of a week of Call of Duty coverage, this feature takes an in-depth look at 'No Russian', the controversial mission from Modern Warfare 2. It contains discussion of content some readers may find disturbing.

Few video game missions can claim to be as well known or as polarising as No Russian. The fourth mission of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the unforgettable story of a deadly terrorist attack. It infamously involves the mass shooting of civilians, a seemingly reckless idea for a piece of entertainment. But behind the shock value and bad press is the tale of a team that dared to push interactive storytelling to its very limits.

To find out how No Russian was put together IGN spoke to designer Mohammad Alavi, who created the mission alongside colleagues at Infinity Ward. With his insight, we examine how No Russian makes use of player discomfort, tightly-controlled pacing, and limited interactivity to create Modern Warfare 2s shocking twist.

Call of Duty is these days primarily seen as an online multiplayer hub, but it didnt always have this focus. When the series began in 2003 it was created with cinematic storytelling in mind. Across its first three games developer Infinity Ward found new and exciting methods through which to tell increasingly dramatic stories. In 2007s Modern Warfare, players were shocked as their character was killed off mid-way through the story in a nuclear explosion. For the sequel the team wanted something bolder.

No Russian places you at the centre of a terrorist attack in a Russian airport. Arriving less than a decade after the September 11 attacks, it was a deeply uncomfortable mission when it was released in 2009. It remains so to this day, not least because your role in the mission is not to prevent the attack, but to commit it. You play as Joseph Allen, an undercover CIA agent attempting to win the trust of Vladimir Makarov; a Russian ultranationalist who intends to stoke the fires of war between Russia and the USA through a false-flag attack. No Russian refers to Makarovs insistence that no one on his team reveals their nationality; people need to believe Russia was attacked by Americans, not a cell of its own people.

The idea for No Russian began with Steve Fukuda, one of the four design leads on Modern Warfare 2. Steve's original pitch was you're with a bunch of guys and they're all in Kevlar and they have M4s, recalls Alavi. And he knows all he has to say is M4 and everybody realizes, Okay, so we're the Americans.

But in Fukudas mind, these characters werent Americans. Packed into the back of an APC, he imagined the opening of the mission to be deathly quiet. And then before the doors open, the guy in front of you turns, he goes, Remember, no Russian, Alavi remembers Fukuda telling him. And the doors open. It's just a bunch of civilians in a mall. And he just starts mowing them down.

Alavi was fascinated by Fukudas ambition to flip player expectations in such a dramatic way. He saw it as an opportunity to create a powerful storytelling moment one that would not just be the catalyst for Modern Warfare 2s story, but something that would remain anchored in peoples minds for years to come.

I often got questions, says Alavi. Did you mean to make something controversial? And I was like, No. That actually wasn't my intention. What I meant to make was something memorable.

Alavi believed the key to making No Russian memorable lay with Makarov. Because of the first-person nature of Call of Duty, players would typically never be in the same room as Makarov the main characters were always two steps and often an entire country behind him. But by casting you as an undercover CIA operative, Alavi could put you within touching distance of Makarov during his bloodiest hour.

You're going to remember this guy, Alavi says. Because you're never going to see him again in first person, but he's got to be the through-line for at least the end of this game, if not all the way into the next game. So, it's got to be memorable.

I was like, I've got to just hammer this point home. So yeah, I was basically just trying to think of the most atrocious things that could happen.

And so Alavi and the team set to work creating what they hoped would become Call of Dutys most memorable moment. Designer Julian Luo laid down the levels geography, which shifted from Fukudas initial pitch of a shopping mall to Zakhaev International, a fictional Moscow airport. The APC was turned into an elevator, and the opening of its doors triggered Alavis script for what would become one of the most infamous sequences in video game history.

No Russian opens with its most horrifying act. Four gunmen plus the player, led by Makarov, open fire on a crowd of civilians at the airports security checkpoint. It comes out of nowhere; where most Call of Duty missions are prefaced by a briefing that explains what to come, No Russian keeps its cards completely hidden. Instead, all youre given is a few words from your superior, Lieutenant General Shepherd: It will cost you a piece of yourself. It will cost nothing compared to everything youll save.

The lack of a pre-brief makes the moment your gun rises to the ready position particularly gut-wrenching; you knew it was going to be bad, but you had no idea you were being asked to do this. As shocking as the slaughter is, though, its what comes after that feels the most harrowing. Makarov and his men continue forward through a waiting area, shooting fleeing and surrendering civilians. They scale stairs up to the shopping area of the terminal, still firing indiscriminately. The scene goes on, and on, and on. It is a living nightmare given digital form.

The uncomfortable length of No Russians massacre is what lends it its power. But that understanding only came later in development. The first version of the level began with just the checkpoint attack and then quickly transformed into a typical Call of Duty mission.

I have this bad tendency to be like, All right, I did the moment, let me go back to Call of Duty, Alavi confesses. So, immediately up the stairs from that beginning moment, it was a bunch of police coming in, they're shooting you, and [theres] riot shield people, and it was just regular Call of Duty for the rest of the level. And it just didn't feel right. It felt like we were just touching on something, just scraping the surface of something important and then just shy away from it.

On its own the checkpoint shooting was a crass gimmick. It risked being a throwaway moment that said nothing about the horror and the inhumanity of such an act. And so Modern Warfare 2s director, Jason West, asked Alavi and the team to think bigger.

He was like, You think this is bad? It's not enough, recalls Alavi. He was like, I want the whole airport to be like this.

Alavi eventually agreed with Wests advice. He recognised that This moment needs to breathe. Then I just started coming up with all these different things. People dragging other people to safety, the police trying to wade through the crowds of people. And it was just moment, after moment, after moment that I could think of to just sell this horrific thing.

Much of that horror was achieved through the use of new animation. Bespoke motion capture imbued the levels civilians and police with a sense of fear that wasnt usually required for Call of Dutys NPCs. But while those unique animations are vital to the experience, perhaps the most chilling thing about No Russian is not how the victims move, its how you move. In Call of Duty, you run by default. But in this mission you literally cant. Makarov, his men, and yourself all push forward at a slow, steady pace. It lends a frighteningly casual tone to the entire event.

You're in complete control of this situation, explains Alavi. And I couldn't figure out how to get that tone and that feeling if you could literally just sprint. So I just took the ability away from you. It's my least favorite thing about that level. I hated that I had to do it because I hate it in other games when I see it done now. But [...] I couldn't figure out a way around it.

The ability to run isnt the only thing No Russian takes away from you. It also strips away almost all of the traditional structures of a first-person shooter level. During the first half of the mission there is no genuine threat or challenge. You dont need to take cover or flank foes. You dont even have to fire a shot. You simply follow Makarov through the airport.

I'm about to say something terrible, but that level wasn't about gameplay, admits Alavi. It wasn't about solving puzzles. It wasn't about learning a new weapon or a new feature or anything like that. It was really about selling this moment and living in that moment.

And that's the whole feeling, this feeling of being a bully, he adds. It sucks, but that's the whole point of it. You don't need to rush.

The mission is a dark reflection of walking simulators. Much like Dear Esther or Firewatch, No Russian is all about experiencing a world first-hand and the emotional response that world provokes. Its success entirely hinges on how players respond to it, not its combat mechanics or gunfeel. To make sure this terrorism approach worked, Infinity Ward put the mission through extensive playtesting.

We do something called Kleenex testing, Alavi reveals, referring to one-off playtests conducted with random players (theyre one and done, hence the tissue monniker). And I knew I had something special when I would say 50% of the people that we Kleenex tested didn't shoot.

It wasnt that these players just didnt pull the trigger, though. Many of the testers would pretend to take part in the attack, but do so without killing anyone. They were firing at the ceiling, firing overhead, Alavi explains. I was like, you know what? I should reward people who do that. I should make it so you can make it through the whole thing without [killing anyone].

Being able to play No Russian without ever pulling the trigger is a complex moral issue. It can be seen as something that prevents the mission from becoming a callous, voyeuristic experience that enables the darkest indulgences of humanity. No Russians big question is How far should America go in the pursuit of homeland security?, and holding fire allows you to voice something of an answer through your actions. But theres no way to prevent this attack from happening. You cannot kill Makarov. Your actual agency is almost non-existent. And so for some people, the option to not take part in the shooting was still too much.

We had a veteran come in to play the game, Alavi remembers. And he gets to that level and the doors open, and he instantly recognizes that they're all civilians. And he just puts the controller down and leaves the room. He's like, I'm not playing that level. And I was shocked. I was like, Wow. Okay. No. This has a strong reaction with some people.

Such a negative reaction was not limited to just playtesters. Within Infinity Ward itself there were a number of voices that began to question if No Russian was a good idea.

There were definitely some people at our company that [objected to No Russian], says Alavi. I thought they were overreacting, but they were 100% right. I remember one person was like, This is offensive. I don't want to play this level.

The design team believed in No Russian and the power of its narrative, but concerns like these made them question if it should be mandatory that every player experience it. And so Jason West made a call: there would be a content warning at the start of the game that would allow players to skip No Russian entirely, without penalty.

I didn't want to do that, actually, because I felt like that was copping out, says Alavi. I felt that was almost being This is not worth you playing. But Jason West was the one that was like, No. We have to have this in. And he was right. He was like, This is not about it being a cop out. This is about allowing people to enjoy the rest of the game, even if they don't agree with this part.

Outside of Infinity Ward, several members of the media have disagreed with the decision. It's something of a cop-out, a side-step, rather than a pertinent justification, said Kieth Stuart in The Guardian. Kieren Gillen of Rock Paper Shotgun went even further, noting that the ability to skip the massacre be that through choosing not to shoot or play the level at all is the single thing that stops it ever being some manner of effective artistic statement and rendering the whole thing laughably pathetic. Even today, 14 years later, there is no general consensus on No Russian. It remains Call of Dutys most notorious mission.

The controversial massacre makes up just the first half of No Russian. Bridging it to the second half is an uneasy transition sequence that reflects on the events thus far. The terminals layout curves around to provide an overhead view of the departure lounge, its walkways filled with bodies. Makarovs men remain quiet as you descend the stairs and survey the scene. The uncomfortable silence makes one thing clear: You have done an unforgivable thing.

This downtime between the two halves is vital from a narrative and thematic perspective, but its an important soft reset of the gameplay, too. As Makarov and his team exit the terminal and begin their escape plan, the scope of No Russian shifts significantly. The slow, steady pace is exchanged for frantic firefights as Federal Security Service troops arrive and put up hard resistance.

This shift in atmosphere is signalled by an animation and AI switch. Makarov and his men move and behave completely differently when faced with aggressive opponents. During early development of this sequence, Alavi used the same animations for Makarovs men that were used for regular soldiers in the rest of the campaign. But it soon became clear that this generic army moveset didnt convey the right attitude.

Everybody was like, Yeah, there's something missing here, Alavi recalls. And they're already in suits, they're already in Kevlar, and the first thought that came to all of our minds was Heat.

The team studied Michael Manns crime movie in forensic detail to capture the tone of Val Kilmers group of bank robbers. They identified that it was the actors stance that separated them from classic military; where a regular soldier would run with their weapon down and fire from a centralised position, the criminals in Heat run with their guns up and then lean forward into their firing position.

We copied all of that, says Alavi. No joke, frame for frame, we're just going through and looking how they stood, how they reloaded, the dialogue they said to each other.

This transformation from casual killer to Val Kilmer flows in tandem with the missions second-half shift to action-focused gameplay. Out on the tarmac the level design adheres to the classic principles of Call of Duty. Luggage carts, plane wheels, and concrete building supports provide varying levels of cover. Jumbo jets block the scene, obscuring future threats. Enemies push and flank on the ground while their allies shoot from second floor windows, forcing you to assess your targets and find appropriate firing positions. And, of course, the entire sequence is tightly scripted with explosive events that keep the cinematic tension high.

I tend to make standard gameplay first, says Alavi. And then as I'm playing the game over and over and over again, I find out where I can pepper in these bombastic moments. That's actually where the idea for the exploding jet engines came from. I was like, Wouldn't it be cool if you could shoot the jet engine and explode and kill somebody? And Jason West was like, Why are the jets on? And I'm like, Because it's cool.

That approach gave birth to No Russians most memorable combat encounter: the line of FSB riot troops who emerge from the smoke clouds. This visually striking sequel signals to the player that the rules of engagement have changed, that there is now armed opposition. Its a sort of soft permission to shoot back that further blurs the lines of what is morally acceptable.

I was peppering in riot shield guys but I realized that I was making a mistake here because you'd never seen riot shield guys before, explains Alavi. And peppering them in wasn't giving them the proper fanfare that they deserved [...] They need to have their own thing where I basically force you to come out to a trench essentially, where it just naturally makes you want to just stop.

The riot shields in Modern Warfare 2 can soak up magazines worth of ammunition, and so simply taking aim and hosing down a riot trooper is ineffective. Thus they offer No Russians sole combat puzzle: how to eliminate a threat that can only be damaged from behind. The largely open tarmac setting, littered with small pieces of cover, makes it the perfect landscape for flanking manoeuvres. But there is a way to inflict rear damage to an enemy without going behind them yourself: grenades.

So we're animating the riot shield guys and [Infinity Ward animator] Chance Glasgow was holding onto the riot shield, Alavi remembers. We were trying to get animations of a grenade going off and how that reacts. And it didn't seem right. I was like, Okay. Close your eyes. So, [Chance was] standing there and he had his eyes closed. And our producer Dan, who's like 250 pounds, just tackles into him and completely knocks him off his feet, gives him whiplash. But it looks amazing when you throw a grenade at a riot shield.

With the final van load of FSB officers eliminated, the mission falls quiet once again. As you follow the team through a concrete service corridor youre given another moment to reflect on what youve just done. Shepard said this mission would cost a piece of you, and it most certainly has. But was that cost worth it? The answer, it turns out, is no. In No Russians final moments, Makarov reveals that hes known you were a US spy all along. He shoots you, leaving your dying body to be discovered by the Russian authorities. Theyll identify you as an American, and believe the attack was orchestrated by the US. A war will erupt the following day. You have been little more than a pawn in a game. Your sacrifice meant nothing.

Its an incredibly bleak ending to a horrifying mission. It makes its point loud and clear: the reckless choices of American foreign policy plays dice with the lives of civilians. And it has, quite rightly, been the topic of extensive debate. Modern Warfare 2s wider narrative struggles to justify the mission; why can you not just kill Makarov and prevent the attack? What further greater good could have been achieved that required those lives to be lost?

And then theres that darker question. For No Russian to truly confront you with its gut-wrenching, terrible statement, surely it should have forced you to shoot those civilians? Its questions like these that threaten to tear the mission apart. But, for all its problems, No Russian still has power. In a genre that typically asks players to fire without question, it elicits an incomparable emotional response.

I was like, I want to get people to actually maybe not pull that trigger, says Alavi. Maybe don't pull that trigger, just hesitate for a moment. I don't care if they pull the trigger later, but if I even get them to just stop for a second and be like, What am I doing? I felt like I had accomplished something."

No Russian was always doomed to be an imperfect mission. There is no ideal way in which to make a terrorist attack interactive. But Infinity Wards bold efforts produced one of the most important artefacts in video game history; a preserved example of the industrys ongoing struggle to address mature themes through play. Its walk along the knife edge of entertainment and critique is awkward in its message but brilliant in its execution. It forces you to endure darkness and demands you examine your feelings. It is, for all the right and wrong reasons, the most memorable moment in Call of Duty.

Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Features Editor.

Continued here:
How No Russian Became Call of Dutys Most Memorable Mission ... - IGN

Dont walk on the grass. Only Fellows can walk on the grass, Asif warns us, unserious. I puncture the steadfast walls of immaculate stone, climbing through a tiny doorway punched out of the massive wooden gates a foot off the ground. The air is thick with the mist that bathed our walk from the Mathematics Institute.

I see Eleni walk up to the perfectly manicured lawn and defiantly plant her foot down. Nothing happens.

Magdalen College sprawls past the river bordering central Oxford. We walk over a small wooden bridge to a gravel trail encircling one of the Colleges two deer parks. The walk is lined with bright yellow flowers, eerie spots of color. Eleni is surprised they are so well-preserved: at Cambridge, the undergraduates usually leave none standing.

As the blooms sway in the wind and the water meanders past, I lose myself in gentleness. My body dissolves. Arms, legs, eyes and skin are not my own, and my consciousness pure heat and electricity spans across moments, heavy with history and place.

I see Oscar Wilde walk down the steps from his accommodation and stroll through the deer park on an April afternoon like this one, awash in quiet melancholy, the vastness of gray sky and green lawn. The green is strange for this Californian, acclimated to the yellows and browns of drought. I see all around me the billowing robes of 15th century Bible scholars the College is new, and so many pages are yet-unwritten.

My scattered shards of self shear and shatter in time's turbulence. I wonder where I am. I turn my head: the group is on to the next attraction, back toward the courtyard, the central artery between the dining hall, the common rooms, and the like.

I feel like we have to make a bet here, now; what should it be? Nader echoes from beyond the entryway, unanswered. We pass through the Colleges ancient walkways past rows of intricate arches, cramped doorways, shadowy corridors leading up toward faculty offices and classrooms for tutorials.

At the front, Asif turns a corner and heads up a couple flights of narrow stairs, past a sign reading Senior Common Room. He swipes his badge at the door, which clicks open after a foreboding delay. The five of us enter, passing rows of long black robes and brightly colored hoods.

We gather beside a low, backless chair, awkwardly stationed by the nearest window looking out onto the courtyard. The chair is unadorned except for a small sliding weight on the left arm a balance.

On the windowsill is a leather-bound ledger filled with dozens of dates, names, and weights in stones and pounds. Asif, our impromptu historian, points to an entry: Edwin Schrdinger, it reads.

This was his first High Table dinner here, his induction as a Fellow, we are told. Right before, from that phone he points to a 1930s telephone hanging on the wall they got the call that he had won the Nobel Prize.

I walk to a plexiglass case across the room, below a tapestry older than the Constitution. On the bottom shelf is a tasteful arrangement of four 18th-century flintlock pistols; above them sits a small jewelry case holding a beautifully polished Nobel. (Not Schrdingers, Im told.)

One by one, the others sit in the chair, reading off their weights in those awkward British units. On my turn, I stare into the brown leather upholstery, and feel nothing but tension. I decline; it is an honor I havent earned.

Nader has settled on a bet now. How about: In five years, many-worlds will be the dominant quantum interpretation.

Id take that bet, Asif responds, smiling wryly, perusing an ancient dissertation pulled from a bookshelf.

Oh yeah? How will you measure that? Gabriel is characteristically blunt, through his thick Portuguese accent.

I guess when Jim says its true. Nader chuckles; then, the four physics grad students all start laughing. Jim will never say its true.

I met Jim the day before in a spotless seminar room in the Wiles building, conspicuously beautiful for a math department. He was confident perhaps overly so, perhaps not that language does not live on a line.

Meaning a yarn ball of strings and boxes, concepts and relationships seems vastly bigger than the jumble of symbols we throw around at each other. I wonder now if mind does not live on a line, either. Perhaps the focus of this conference the mathematics of consciousness is missing the point too, settling for the shiny veneer to avoid the boundless ocean beneath.

But then I remember my own sloppy anarchism, my fear of groups of more than four people. I wonder where my distaste for this enterprise really comes from.

We never settle on terms for the bet. Instead, we walk outside toward the outskirts of town in search of some decent non-British food. Eleni is 21 and doing her second masters; she tells me that the most pressing concern for humanity is to end death.

She strategizes about transitioning from quantum theory to neuroscience, about unlocking the secrets of immortality. I recall my own stint with transhumanism a dinner at a kitschy diner in Baltimore with Aubrey de Grey and a few giddy philosophy majors, a plastic baby staring down at us from the technicolor ceiling.

What happened to that passion? I think. End death thats a real goal.

I am in that cold Maryland December twelve years ago a late night in the library, huffing espresso fumes to force myself awake, flailing feverishly to get a brain decoder working to impress the grad student supervising me.

The blue fluorescents and vomit-colored carpet in the windowless basement stacks tinge pixelated traces of a patients hand position, squiggling back and forth in a Matlab figure window. I feel like solving this will solve everything.

The sun has set on the narrow, wet Oxford street. In twelve years, my ambition has sunk to mocking Andrew Huberman's three-hour pitch for testosterone-enhancing yerba mate, self-righteously sipping tequila-sodas at my neighborhood haunt. But then again, I remind myself, I quite like that ritual.

We settle on a Persian place. They close in 15 minutes, but the staff are too polite not to seat us. As the drinks and appetizers come out, Gabriel looks over to me and asks, So, how about you. Whats your metaphysics?

Im an idealist, I tell him, taking a sip of tea. The four look at each other.

Really? Asif asks, incredulous, his teeth showing through a broad smile.

Alright. Sell it to me, then. Gabriel is deadpan, gesturing to me with both arms.

Well, I dont know if its right. But its nice to think about.

Gabriel looks off to the side and upward toward the ceiling moldings. He scratches his chin, then looks straight into me. So what then, material reality is correlations in experience structure, or something? I enjoy the way he says correlations, wiggling his fingers together to illustrate.

More or less, yeah. The waitstaff start stacking chairs on the other tables.

Gabriel purses his lips and nods a little. Interesting he trails off. Our lamb platters arrive, barely squeezing onto the thin table. Then the group asks me whats up with Americans and guns.

* * *

Looks good; Dr. A will be in to see you in a minute, the technician says, pulling the blood pressure cuff off my arm.

I double-check that I have everything. My turquoise journal is open next to me, Session 26 scrawled at the top of the page. I unlock my phone; up pops the article I was reading on the Muni over:

Under basal conditions, activation of cortical extra-synaptic GluN2B-selective NMDARs acts through the mTOR signaling pathway to suppress protein synthesis, which maintains synaptic homeostasis

I dismiss the word salad and open Spotify instead. Muscle memory takes over: gear, playback, 12 second crossfade. Library, KAP IM Session 3downloaded. Play, pause. Shuffle on, off, on, off.

The doctor comes in, and after a brief chat about my travels, he hands me the first spray. I blow my nose, lean back, and snort the meds right nostril first, then left. I recognize the subtle metallic taste of the ketamine in the back of my throat; these days, its more of a comfort than a nuisance.

I think back to the intention I had written in my journal. The trip had been hard God, that first night in London.

I am back, alone, lying in my tiny Airbnb, walls spray-painted with gold Rustoleum. In memory, I am half-dreaming, looking up from the twin bed filling the room at the shadow of a seven-year-old child, a haze in scattered light from a clip-on LED desk lamp.

I can feel his foot pressing my face into the dirt at the edge of the schoolyard. I know he knows no one can see. I see myself from outside, alone in the shimmering darkness, wandering through my pocket universe.

I watch myself get up and walk down the quiet Islignton backstreet to the nearest bodega, lodged in the negative space between a cafe and an auto repair shop. I ask the clerk for a vape pen; he points wordlessly to the dizzying rainbow of flavors behind him, distracted by something happening on a head-sized CRT television crammed into a haphazard shelf.

I have no idea, man; whatever people seem to like, I tell him. He smiles, pulls one down, and hands it to me. Watermelon. I roll my eyes toward the cool fluorescents and fork over the foreign plastic money. I walk down to the canal by myself, leaving behind only a cloud of horrific flavor floating past the houseboats, backlit by yellow sodium streetlamps.

My mind is brought back to the office as the doctor hands me the second spray. On the far wall I notice the familiar, comically small print of a snow-capped mountain, lit in pink-purple alpenglow.

But I didnt fall apart. I plug my left nostril. I loved that trip.

It had felt to me like being in those first uneasy talks about Hilbert spaces in quantum mechanics a hundred years ago. I sniff in. It is so early now before history has broken the symmetry, setting us down one path, free but predetermined. I sniff in the other nostril. I recall that the last year of treatment has been during my Saturn return.

Saturn, the Old One, melancholy from the weight and the guilt of history. Saturn wise in suffering, gold transmuted from lead. Saturn does not seek to end death; Saturn sees death for what it is.

The doctor leaves. I turn off the light, put my headphones on, and lay down in the massive chair. I close my eyes. This time, I see only swirling silhouettes; I wonder if perhaps Im finally developing a tolerance. The come-on is gradual. But then it is sudden, and all at once, Im undeniably in it.

I see a shard of light, which I think must be a living cell, dividing in two. As the sister shards squirm and separate, they remain connected; I see their trajectories in spacetime, rotated and sliced through a different axis. I watch the eons of evolution unfold in form, connected and whole. Immobilized by ketamine, I relinquish a thin smile at the geometry of Darwin.

Lying there in the clinic, I walk into a clearing surrounded by wide trees. It is deep night, so dark that I can see every star in the Milky Way the traces left over from that Tree of Life, enshrouded in clouds of purple. As I kneel in the tall grass, a ray of light passes through my pineal gland.

Not cells. Ideas.

There! in Orion's belt, I see the birth of Beethovens 5th, a supernova condensing into a star-lineage that extends far beyond the angular resolution of the Sight behind my eyelids. I look around me, out into that awesome web of crystalline light piercing the infinite black. I am awash in fire.

God, I say to myself, and reach for the gold Mbius strip hanging from my neck. My God.

See the original post here:
Don't Walk on the Grass - UC San Francisco

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Movements in or out of the city will be organised by prior arrangement to take place as a single movement in one day. Boaters will be facilitated to travel the system if their passage is considered to be safe by Waterways Ireland and they have the valid permit(s) for mooring and passage.

On the Royal Canal two weeks notice of bridge passage (Newcomen Lifting Bridge) is required for the pre-set lift date, and lock assistance will then also be arranged. A minimum of 2 boats is required for a bridge lift to go ahead.

Waterways Ireland Eastern Regional Office (Tel: +353(0)1 868 0148 or [emailprotected] ) is the point of contact for the bridge lift.

A maximum number of boats passing will be implemented to keep to the times given above for the planned lifts (16 for the Sat / Sun lifts & 8 for the weekday lifts). Priority will be given on a first come first served basis.

On day of lift, boaters and passengers must follow guidance from Waterways Ireland staff about sequence of passage under bridge & through Lock 1, and must remain within signed and designated areas.

All organised events taking place on the waterways must have the prior approval of Waterways Ireland. This is a twelve week process and application forms must be accompanied with the appropriate insurance, signed indemnity and risk assessment. The application should be completed on the Waterways Ireland events page at :

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On the Shannon Navigation and the Shannon-Erne Waterway craft may berth in public harbours for five consecutive days or a total of seven days in any one month.

On the Erne System, revised Bye Laws state that: No master or owner shall permit a vessel, boat or any floating or sunken object to remain moored at or in the vicinity of any public mooring, including mooring at any other public mooring within 3 kilometres of that location, for more than 3 consecutive days and shall not moor at that same mooring or any other public mooring within 3 kilometres of that location within the following 3 consecutive days without prior permission by an authorised official.

Winter mooring may be availed of by owners during the period 1 Nov to 31 Mar by prior arrangement and payment of a charge of 63.50 per craft. Craft not availing of Winter Mooring must continue to comply with the 5 Day Rule. Winter Mooring applications should be completed online at : https://www.waterwaysireland.org/online-services/winter-moorings-booking

Owners should be aware that electricity supply and water supply to public moorings is disconnected for the winter months. This is to protect against frost damage, to reduce running costs and to minimise maintenance requirements during the winter months.

Vessel owners are advised that advance purchasing of electricity on the power bollards leading up to the disconnection date should be minimal. Electricity credit existing on the bollards will not be recoverable after the winter decommissioning date. Both services will be reinstated prior to the commencement of the next boating season.

Waterways Ireland smart cards are used to operate locks on the Shannon Erne Waterway, to access the service blocks, to use the pump-outs along the navigations, to avail of electrical power at Waterways Ireland jetties.

Masters are reminded of the following:

Masters of vessels should not berth on passenger vessel berths where it is indicated that an arrival is imminent. Passenger vessels plying the navigations generally only occupy the berths to embark and disembark passengers and rarely remain on the berths for extended periods or overnight.

Lead-in jetties adjacent to the upstream and downstream gates at lock chambers are solely for the purpose of craft waiting to use the lock and should not be used for long term berthing.

Vessel wake, that is, the wave generated by the passage of the boat through the water, can sometimes be large, powerful and destructive depending on the hull shape and engine power of the vessel. This wake can be detrimental to other users of the navigation when it strikes their craft or inundates the shoreline or riverbank. Masters are requested to frequently look behind and check the effect of their wake / wash particularly when passing moored vessels, on entering harbours and approaching jetties and to be aware of people pursuing other activities such as fishing on the riverbank.

A vessel or boat shall not be navigated on the Shannon Navigation at a speed in excess of 5 kph when within 200 metres of a bridge, quay, jetty or wharf, when in a harbour or canal or when passing within 100 metres of a moored vessel or boat.

Vessels navigating the Shannon-Erne Waterway should observe the general 5 kph speed limit which applies along the waterway. This is necessary in order to prevent damage to the banks caused by excessive wash from vessels.

Vessels navigating the Erne System should observe the statutory 5kt / 6mph / 10kph speed limit areas.

A craft on the Royal and Grand canals shall not be navigated at a speed in excess of 6km per hour.

A craft on the Barrow Navigation shall not be navigated at a speed in excess of 11km per hour except as necessary for safe navigation in conditions of fast flow.

Narrow sections of all the navigations are particularly prone to bank erosion due to the large wash generated by some craft. Masters are requested to be vigilant and to slow down to a speed sufficient to maintain steerage when they observe the wash of their craft inundating the river banks.

Unusual waterborne vessels may be encountered from time to time, such as, hovercraft or amphibious aircraft / seaplanes. Masters of such craft are reminded to apply the normal Rule of the Road when they meet conventional craft on the water and to allow extra room to manoeuvre in the interest of safety.

Mariners will encounter large numbers of sailing dinghies from late June to August in the vicinity of Lough Derg, Lough Ree and Lower Lough Erne. Sailing courses are marked by yellow buoys to suit weather conditions on the day. Vessels should proceed at slow speed and with due caution and observe the rules of navigation when passing these fleets, as many of the participants are junior sailors under training.

Mariners should expect to meet canoes and vessels under oars on any part of the navigations, but more so in the vicinity of Athlone, Carrick-on-Shannon, Coleraine, Enniskillen and Limerick. Masters are reminded to proceed at slow speed and especially to reduce their wash to a minimum when passing these craft as they can be easily upset and swamped due to their very low freeboard and always be prepared to give way in any given traffic situation.

Canoeing is an adventure sport and participants are strongly recommended to seek the advice of the sports governing bodies i.e Canoeing Ireland and the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland, before venturing onto the navigations.

Persons in charge of canoes are reminded of the inherent danger to these craft associated with operating close to weirs, sluice gates, locks and other infrastructure particularly when rivers are in flood and large volumes of water are moving through the navigations due to general flood conditions or very heavy localised precipitation e.g. turbulent and broken water, stopper waves. Shooting weirs is prohibited without prior permission of Waterways Ireland.

Canoeists should check with lockkeepers prior entering a lock to ensure passage is done in a safe manner. Portage is required at all unmanned locks.

Masters of powered craft are reminded that a canoe trail network is being developed across all navigations and to expect more organised canoeing along these trails necessitating slow speed and minimum wash when encountering canoeists, rowing boats etc

It is expected that work on Rockingham and Drummans Island Canals on Lough Key will be completed in 2021. Access to these canals will be for non-powered craft only, eg canoes, kayaks, rowing boats.

Masters of Fast Powerboats (speed greater than 17kts) and Personal Watercraft (i.e.Jet Skis) are reminded of the inherent dangers associated with high speed on the water and especially in the confines of small bays and narrow sections of the navigations. Keeping a proper look-out, making early alterations to course and /or reducing speed will avoid conflict with slower vessels using the navigation. Personal Watercraft are not permitted to be used on the canals.

Masters of vessels engaged in any of these activities are reminded of the manoeuvring constraints imposed upon their vessel by the tow and of the added responsibilities that they have to the person(s) being towed. These activities should be conducted in areas which are clear of conflicting traffic. It is highly recommended that a person additional to the master be carried to act as a look-out to keep the tow under observation at all times.

Swimming in the navigable channel, particularly at bridges, is dangerous and is prohibited due to the risk of being run over by a vessel underway in the navigation.

In the Republic of Ireland, Statutory Instrument 921 of 2005 provides the legal requirements regarding the minimum age for operating of powered craft. The Statutory Instrument contains the following requirements:

- The master or owner of a personal watercraft or a fast power craft shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that a person who has not attained the age of 16 years does not operate or control the craft

- The master or owner of a pleasure craft powered by an engine with a rating of more than 5 horse power or 3.7 kilowatts shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that a person who has not attained the age of 12 years does not operate or control the craft.

Lifejackets and PFDs are the single most important items of personal protective equipment to be used on a vessel and should be worn especially when the vessel is being manoeuvred such as entering / departing a lock, anchoring, coming alongside or departing a jetty or quayside.

In the Republic of Ireland, Statutory Instrument 921 of 2005 provides the legal requirements regarding the wearing of Personal Flotation Devices. The Statutory Instrument contains the following requirements:

- The master or owner of a pleasure craft (other than a personal watercraft) shall ensure, that there are, at all times on board the craft, sufficient suitable personal flotation devices for each person on board.

- A person on a pleasure craft (other than a personal watercraft) of less than 7 metres length overall shall wear a suitable personal flotation device while on board an open craft or while on the deck of decked craft, other than when the craft is made fast to the shore or at anchor.

- The master or owner of a pleasure craft (other than a personal watercraft) shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that a person who has not attained the age of 16 years complies with paragraph above.

- The master or owner of a pleasure craft (other than a personal watercraft), shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that a person who has not attained the age of 16 years wears a suitable personal flotation device while on board an open craft or while on the deck of a decked craft other than when it is made fast to the shore or at anchor.

- The master or owner of a pleasure craft (other than a personal watercraft) shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that a person wears a suitable personal flotation device, at all times while (a) being towed by the craft, (b) on board a vessel or object of any kind which is being towed by the craft.

Further information is available at: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2005/si/921/made/en/print

The attention of mariners is drawn to the Irish Defence Forces Firing Range situated in the vicinity of buoys Nos 2 and 3, on Lough Ree on the Shannon Navigation. This range is used regularly for live firing exercises, throughout the year, all boats and vessels should stay clear of the area marked with yellow buoys showing a yellow "X" topmark and displaying the word "Danger".

No attempt should be made by Masters of vessels to pay the bridge toll while making way through the bridge opening. Payment will only be taken by the Collector from Masters when they are secured alongside the jetties north and south of the bridge.

The navigation from Killaloe to Limerick involves passage through Ardnacrusha locks, the associated headrace and tailrace and the Abbey River into Limerick City. Careful passage planning is required to undertake this voyage. Considerations include: lock passage at Ardnacrusha, water flow in the navigation, airdraft under bridges on Abbey River in Limerick, state of tide in Limerick

Users are advised to contact the ESB Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power station (00353 (0)87 9970131) 48 hours in advance of commencing their journey to book passage through the locks at Ardnacrusha. It is NOT advised to undertake a voyage if more than one turbine is operating (20MW), due to the increased velocity of flow in the navigation channel, which can be dangerous. To ascertain automatically in real time how many turbines are running, users can phone +353 (0)87 6477229.

For safety reasons the ESB has advised that only powered craft with a capacity in excess of 5 knots are allowed to enter Ardnacrusha Headrace and Tailrace Canals.

Passage through Sarsfield Lock should be booked on +353-87-7972998, on the day prior to travel and it should be noted also that transit is not possible two hours either side of low water.

A Hydrographic survey in 2020 of the navigation channel revealed that the approach from Shannon Bridge to Sarsfield Lock and the Dock area has silted up. Masters of vessels and water users are advised to navigate to the Lock from Shannon bridge on a rising tide one or two hours before High Tide.

The attention of all users is drawn to the Users Code for the Lower Bann, in particular to that section covering Flow in the River outlining the dangers for users both on the banks and in the navigation, associated with high flow rates when the river is in spate. Canoeists should consult and carry a copy of the Lower Bann Canoe Trail guide issued by the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland. Users should also contact the DfI Rivers Coleraine, who is responsible for regulating the flow rates on the river, for advisory information on the flow rates to be expected on any given day.

DfI Rivers Coleraine. Tel: 0044 28 7034 2357 Email: [emailprotected]

A No Wake Zone exists on the Lower Bann Navigation at Newferry. Masters of vessels are requested to proceed at a slow speed and create no wake while passing the jetties and slipways at Newferry.

All Masters must be aware of the dangers associated with overhead power lines, in particular sailing vessels and workboats with cranes or large air drafts. Voyage planning is a necessity in order to identify the location of overhead lines crossing the navigation.

Overhead power line heights on the River Shannon are maintained at 12.6metres (40 feet) from Normal Summer level for that section of navigation, masters of vessels with a large air draft should proceed with caution and make additional allowances when water levels are high.

If a vessel or its equipment comes into contact with an OHPL the operator should NOT attempt to move the vessel or equipment. The conductor may still be alive or re-energise automatically. Maintain a safe distance and prevent third parties from approaching due to risk of arcing. Contact the emergency services for assistance.

Anglers are also reminded that a minimum ground distance of 30 metres should be maintained from overhead power lines when using a rod and line.

Masters of vessels are reminded not to anchor their vessels in the vicinity of submarine cables or pipes in case they foul their anchor or damage the cables or pipes. Look to the river banks for signage indicating their presence.

Low Water Levels:

When water levels fall below normal summer levels masters should be aware of:

Navigation

To reduce the risk of grounding masters should navigate on or near the centreline of the channel, avoid short cutting in dog-legged channels and navigating too close to navigation markers.

Proceeding at a slow speed will also reduce squat effect i.e. where the vessel tends to sit lower in the water as a consequence of higher speed.

Slipways

Reduced slipway length available under the water surface and the possibility of launching trailers dropping off the end of the concrete apron.

More slipway surface susceptible to weed growth requiring care while engaged in launching boats, from slipping and sliding on the slope. Note also that launching vehicles may not be able to get sufficient traction on the slipway once the craft is launched to get up the incline.

Bank Erosion

Very dry riverbanks are more susceptible to erosion from vessel wash.

Lock Share

Maximising on the number of vessels in a lock will ensure that the total volume of water moving downstream is decreased. Lock cycles should be used for vessels travelling each way.

High Water Levels:

When water levels rise above normal summer level masters should be aware of:

Navigation

Navigation marks will have reduced height above the water level or may disappear underwater altogether making the navigable channel difficult to discern.

In narrow sections of the navigations water levels will tend to rise more quickly than in main streams and air draft at bridges will likewise be reduced.

There will also be increased flow rates particularly in the vicinity of navigation infrastructure such as bridges, weirs, locks etc where extra care in manoeuvring vessels will be required.

Due care is required in harbours and at slipways when levels are at or near the same level as the harbour walkways' as the edge will be difficult to discern especially in reduced light conditions. It is advised that Personal Flotation Devices be worn if tending to craft in a harbour in these conditions.

Slipways should only be used for the purpose of launching and recovering of water craft or other objects from the water. Before using a slipway it should be examined to ensure that the surface has sufficient traction/grip for the intended purpose such as launching a craft from a trailer using a vehicle, that there is sufficient depth of water on the slipway to float the craft off the trailer before the concrete apron ends and that the wheels of the trailer do not drop off the edge of the slipway. That life-saving appliances are available in the vicinity, that the vehicle is roadworthy and capable of coping with the weight of the trailer and boat on the incline. It is recommended that slipway operations are conducted by two persons.

The aids to navigation depicted on the navigation guides comprise a system of fixed and floating aids to navigation. Prudent mariners will not rely solely on any single aid to navigation, particularly a floating aid to navigation. With respect to buoys, the buoy symbol is used to indicate the approximate position of the buoy body and the ground tackle which secures it to the lake or river bed. The approximate position is used because of the practical limitations in positioning and maintaining buoys in precise geographical locations. These limitations include, but are not limited to, prevailing atmospheric and lake/river conditions, the slope of and the material making up the lake/river bed, the fact that the buoys are moored to varying lengths of chain, and the fact that the buoy body and/or ground tackle positions are not under continuous surveillance. Due to the forces of nature, the position of the buoy body can be expected to shift inside and outside the charted symbol.

Buoys and perches are also moved out of position or pulled over by those mariners who use them to moor up to instead of anchoring. To this end, mariners should always monitor their passage by relating buoy/perch positions with the published navigation guide. Furthermore, a vessel attempting to pass close by always risks collision with a yawing buoy or with the obstruction that the buoy or beacon/perch marks.

Masters of Vessels are requested to use the most up to date Navigation guides when navigating on the Inland Waterways.

Information taken from Special Marine Notice No 1 of 2023

Excerpt from:
Concerns Over Proposed Changes to Inland Waterways Bye-Laws - Afloat

Installing the walkway is a must when you need to jazz up your garden and willing to do amazing landscaping of your outdoors. So, transform your garden into mini heaven with these 30 best DIY Walkway Ideas that will also provide the safe sidewalk. Building garden paths becomes a must when you dont want to get your home and garden dirty with the shoes. So, installing a walkway will be a smart step too to minimize your garden damage. There can be too many choices for the garden walkways to satisfy different tastes of garden lovers. So, check out the most popular walkway designs by opening up this collection of 50 Walkway Ideas that impress with their beautiful designs and win the heart with the creativity involved.

These walkway ideas involve all from building a paver walkway to wooden walkways to gravel sidewalks. You will love the hidden hacks that will save a lot of your time and money for a walkway installation.

What is common in most of these walkway ideas is first to clean up and dig up space to the desired extent. Next, you install the decorative edging, fabric, and even a sand bed. Now the fun part starts, installing the walkway pavers and bricks. Make the wooden square forms to install stepped wooden pathways. Use also the walkways forms and custom stencils to install decorative walkways for your garden walkways, a pro.

Use also the free pallets to install no-cost wooden walkways, will last for years to come. Browse the entire list of Walkway ideas and get yourself inspired. These garden walkway ideas are for every budget but mostly cheap and for every skill level. These walkway ideas, inclcues brick walkway, paver walkway, stone path, cobblestone walkway and wooden walkway!

Complete the final look of your patio with a stone walkway, it will get praised due to elegant design texture. No need to higher professional, be your own boss, and install stone patio road by yourself. You need 12 x 24 stones, edgers, decorative stones, paver sand, weed block, and tamper to do this project. thriftdiving

Turn your green spaces, patio, or any backyard into mini heaven by featuring the accent walkway stepping stones. Build this pebble stepping stone walkway to feature a mosaic pattern in your garden. First, just make a wooden mold, pour cement in it, and then add the stones on the top in the mosaic pattern. Let it dry well. jeffreygardens

Give your patio or deck a fine looking finish by installing this gravel walkway, which will surely create a unified look of your property. First, clean up the area, remove grass, and dig the ground a little. Install brick edging, then layer crushed gravel and finish with pea gravel layer. Details here adamhelton

Add up your garden with a flagstone walkway, will impress with the natural texture, and will be super durable too. First, get the 3/4 thick flagstones into custom size, dig the space, install edging and then layer fabric. Next, lay the stones in the center and fill the gaps with gravel. Details here bhg

Opt for free pallets to build lasting longer and durable garden walkway ideas. Just tear the pallets apart and pick the separated apart lengths to install a quick wooden garden walkway, will go much natural. here the idea is just to dig up space and then level the soil, add pallet planks one by one and finish with stone edging. funkyjunkinter

The stepped walkway look like the giant stair with bigger and wide steps. This will brighten up the whole garden space and can be considered for decorative edging too. You need 16 x 12 hardboard siding, 26 joist hangers, 2x6x10 boards, 4x4x10 post, 5/4x6x8 boards, pea gravel and paint for this project. familyhandyman

The bricks will be a smart choice to build the most durable and good looking garden pathway. Recycle the walkway pavers or cobblestones to install this garden walkway. Just dig the space up and install the plastic landscaping edging, next layer sand, and start adding cobblestones and pavers on the sand bed. Details here familyhandyman

Do you need unique walkway ideas? You will give ten out of ten to this most beautiful garden paved walkway. It comes stenciled with different art shapes, symbols, and patterns separately on each paver for a gorgeous appeal. Just dig the space, layer a sand bed, and get a string anchor path guide to go in a start line while adding walkway pavers on the sand bed. Do stenciling after you complete the walkway. craftychica

Replace your worn path that goes through the grass and is mostly covered with dirt, with this homemade hillside sidewalk. Just grab the 6x6s lumber posts and start making stepped square walkway moldings. Fill them up with concrete and secure the sides with metal L-brackets and durable hardware. Let it dry then. ohiothoughts

If you want a lighted walkway for your garden, then head over to this solar-powered walkway ideas that will not add to your electricity bill. You will definitely get your space brightly illuminated when installing this glass tile walkway having LED lights fixed in. Details here instructables

Building this brick patch will be comparatively easy and will cost you much less, like under $50. Opt for the 6x6s wooden posts or 4x4s to install the edging and then just install the walkway pavers on the sand bed. Install the pavers in the center and then fill the gaps with broken up bricks. Details here martysmusings

Fancy up your garden with this lace-like stepping stones walkway, will create an enchanting walkway that will be loved by all. Just grab the square concrete step stones or garden pavers and then just stencil them using spray paint. The doilies of choice as cool stencils. Walkway stepping stones details here the wuvie

Make the cement stepping stones that will help build a gorgeous stones walkway will impress at a very first look. Just grab a piece of plywood, trace out some circles on it and put together the stones there making a lovely pattern. Next, put a tube form around the traced circle and fill concrete in it. alisaburke

Fancy up your garden with the simple paver stone walkway that will be loved dearly by all. Just grab the concrete pavers and then lay them down on the garden ground in custom arrangements and create a gorgeous walkway, will be loved dearly by all. Details here inmyownstyle

Create a divine look of your garden with this flagstone pathway, will bring a natural decor element to your garden. Just dig the garden space up and then level up the ground. Layer the fabric and then spread sand over the fabric and start arranging the flagstones on the sand bed. Details here diynetwork

No matter if you are a beginner, you will complete this project in just no time, a garden path and sidewalk made of stones. The stone look will look much natural and will surely create a divine look of your garden. The project will complete in 10 hours and will cost you $2.5-3.5 per square foot. thespruce

Grab here the garden path ideas to build a brick walkway, will be durable, and maybe a perfect choice to match your building bricks. The project is pretty simple and involves using the 2x4s while installing the edging. Just layer gravel and then sand and finally the bricks on the sand bed to complete this walkway. Details here instructables

Get free instructions here about how to install a good looking paver walkway. This paver road will rock for a patio and also for a garden or backyard. Installing this solid paver road will cost you much less when doing it yourself. You need pavers, pavers base, paver edging, and weed block to complete it. scrappygeek

This walkway is a hot mixture of stone and bricks and will gain attention at a very first glance. In supplies, you need spikes, brick pavers, steel pipes, fabric, paver edging, flat fieldstone, flagstone, sand, and compactable gravel. The brick and stone will look great together for sure. Details here familyhandyman

This stone walkway is super beautiful and will make your garden look heavenly for sure. The project demands first to dig up the space clean and then to level it nicely. Next, install the lawn edging and fabric and add a layer of gravel. Finally, start adding your stones and complete the beautiful stone walkway. Details here justmeasurin

Leave a great impression on your garden visitors by installing this stone walkway. Dig the garden space up, clean it, and level. Next, just install the gravel bed and install the paver edging. Start adding your pavers on the gravel bed and then fill the gaps with gravel. Details here hoosierhome

Level the garden ground and then layer a gravel bed, next hold a walkway form and place it on a targeted place, and then filled with liquid concrete to make this walkway. You can try different positions of the walkway form to make a natural-looking concrete walkway. Details here homemade

First, excavate the garden ground and then install the wooden frames for each step, and then just fill it up solid with the liquid concrete. You will love this stepped concrete walkway that will be loved dearly by all garden lovers and will be a breeze to make. Details here destinatione

Do you need a unique and cheap outdoor sitting place? Try these easy ideas for DIY garden bench to create the perfect spot to sit in your backyard.

You will be loved dearly this wooden walkway that is quite something quick and easy to build. Do you ever tried simple woodworking projects! Just install the 4x4s wooden posts fist to install the walkway frame and then start covering it solid with the deck boards. Soon, you will get a solid wooden walkway that will bring tons of visual details to the targeted area. faithfullyfree

Build a no-cost wooden walkway using the free recycled pallets. Just disassemble the pallets and get a pile of planks that you can put together to build a wooden walkway. The free pallets are a quick source of free wood, and you can reuse them to build this wooden garden walkway. Details here thehomespun

Create a divine appeal of your garden by building these garden stepping stones. They come with colorful hexagonal pattern and will be the most amazing geometrical decors in your garden. Grab the concrete pavers and then stencil them using honey, been stencil. Use colorful craft paints for it. Details here designimprovi

Installing this beautiful walkway will simply cost you next to nothing. Grab the mulch in two colors, flat stones, and a no-dig lawn walkway kit to install this lovely path. Just use the rake to level up the garden soil and install the walkway edging. Add a layer of mulch and then flat stepping stones. prettyhandygirl

Rock your garden with these walkway ideas, the walkway stepping stones made at home. Make them by placing the rubber doormat with a cool design on a flat surface, add a cardboard tubing ring around it and fill it up with the concrete. Let it dry, and you are done. Dont forget to layer oil first. nancymizelle

Accentuate the beauty of your garden with this barefoot sensory path. It comes with lots of different patches and sections. Add a little portion of grass in the walkway and then let a wooden textured section start. Next, add a little part of the stones and then let the wood make your feet special. Details here playathomete

Just cut out the ground where you want to build a walkway. Fill it up with gravel while keeping on leveling. Just layer a bed of mortar on the gravel and start adding the granite and paver pieces to get a solid walkway. Something amazing to do with granite scrap. Details here removeandrepl

This walkway looks like a railroad and comes with gaps filled with colorful gravel. The wooden steps peeking out of the walkway just looks adorable and extra cute. Just dig up the garden ground, layer the sand and gravel there and then start adding wooden step stones and gravel. This is also the most simple one out of our all walkway ideas.

Boost the value of your property by installing this bluestone walkway. It will be amazing if you match it with the walls of your house. Again cut out the walkway design in garden ground, fill gravel, layer a sand bed or mortar bed, and start adding the bluestones until you fill the whole walkway.

Spice up your front yard with this stone pathway will grace up your outdoor and hence entire property. There is no gap here that you can fill with gravel or with other items of this kind. So, you need skill here to get a solid flagstone floor, will just jazz up your patio and the entire property.

Create a big focal point in your green heaven by installing this stepped flagstone walkway. This walkway has the flagstone stair steps in the center and the flower beds all around the steps. Finally, the steps end up with a peak pointed adorned with a pair of accent flower pots.

This fantastic flagstone features a stone edging and comes with a solid flagstone floor in the center. If starting from your front porch or main home entrance, it will add a lot to the beauty and value of your property. You just no need to have the higher professional skill to install it, it is all easy peasy and quick.

You will love the brick arrangements here in this walkway that is super solid and long-lasting. Install it with or without a decorative edging. The idea here to go for custom patterned arrangements of bricks on the sand bed. Use mortar to complete the project.

Do you want brick walkway ideas? You will just love the brick pattern here, appearing nice and enchanting. Just cut the garden ground out, layer gravel, and then spread over the sand. Next, just add bricks on the sand bed and complete the herringbone brick walkway. This walkway will surely spice up your patio and outdoor.

You will love this herringbone walkway done with the bricks. The best to get for increased aesthetics of your garden and patio using garden path ideas. First, install the brick edging and then sand or mortar bed. Finally, start arranging your bricks in a 45-degree herringbone style.

Just look at this way to heaven, a perfect garden path that amazes at a very first look. Just cut the ground out, layer the fabric if need, and install decorative lawn edging. Next, spread the white gravel, the whole beauty of this walkway. Adjust the wooden steps on a white gravel bed.

Create a unified look of your property and backyard by creating this flagstone walkway. First, draw outlines for the walkway and then start digging. Install fabric, decorative edging, and then sand or liquid cement bed. Finally, start arranging the flagstones and complete the road. Details here

This will bring tons of focal stimulation to your patio and green garden space at night, an LED concrete walkway. The project involves installing a flagstone stepped walkway, and next, you can install the LED light edging. A better project to do with solar lights. Drilling the stone to fit lights may be a little challenging.

This pebble walkway is colorful and comes with lots of magical patterns that are amazingly absorbing. Cut out the walkway road, layer the mortar or cement and then start arranging the pebbles and stones making different patterns. The flowers and swirls will raise your garden decor to the next level.

A big thanks to concrete for this solid, adorable, and wavy walkway. The design becomes arresting with the brick decorative edging. Just make the wooden molds and start completing each step of the walkway. What you have to do mainly is to pour the concrete in the mold.

Bring tons of focal stimulation to your garden with this brick and gravel alley. A hot mixture of bricks and gravel that will jack up the whole visual of your garden. This is what you need to make your neighbor jealous. First, dig the space out and install fabric and brick edging. Finish with a gravel bed.

Connect this path to your home porch to your garden or front lawn or even to a backyard, and it will make the whole property of your look heavenly. Just cut the space out and install the brick edging. Place the flagstones of sufficient thickness in the mid and fill the gaps with gravel.

This one will get ten out of ten due to enchanting visual and stability. Just cut the road out of the ground and then start adding the brick and gravel sections. Just install the accent wood borders or brick edging and then install the rest of the river gravel walkway.

This is the real heaven, a pergola-framed York stone walkway. Grab the bigger wooden posts and cross lengths to install the pergola-frame all over the walkway. Opt for York stones for a solid natural-looking walkway. The pergola-frames will get soon covered with greenery for a green roof.

A wooden walkway is easiest and quickest in our list of walkway ideas ever. It just involves cleaning and digging the area until you get a soft bed of sand. Level it up and then start arranging the wood plank one by one until you cover the whole wooden walkway. Do this project with free pallets.

A big thanks to pallets for this adorable wooden garden walkway ideas. It will simply cost you nothing. Dig the space, add sand, gravel, or soil bed. Next, tear the pallets apart into pieces to get a big stock that you can arrange a flat together, making this walkway.

Do you really want walkway ideas on a budget? A beginner garden walkway that involves only arranging the wood slats on a gravel or sand bed. First, do some quick measurements and mark an outline for a walkway. Next, start arranging the slats on the marked area until you get a whole beautiful wooden alley.

Do you have privacy concerns with your neighbors? With these easy outdoor privacy screen ideas, you can add much-needed privacy to your pool, patio sitting, and deck.

Transform your garden into the place of your dreams by installing decorative walkways and pathways. It can really get expensive to install a walkway by hiring a professional that may cost you big. But you can go with these cheap walkway ideas that will allow you to install a decorative garden walkway in an inexpensive way and with the minimum skills. These walkway ideas also involve reusing some old and recycled items that will allow building a lovely walkway at a cost next to nothing.

Read more here:
50 Walkway Ideas To Install By Yourself Cheaply

A concrete paint cover is typically opaque and covers up the color of the concrete. This means it provides significant protection to the concrete below. However, if it is improperly applied or subjected to heavy traffic, a painted concrete floor is likely to chip and peel.

Epoxy and staining are two types of concrete floor sealer. Epoxy is a more durable but often more expensive option than a concrete stain. Epoxy forms a protective layer, while concrete stain is more decorative and requires more maintenance.Because epoxy can be more expensive than concrete stain, it is best used in high-traffic areas or in applications where low maintenance is desired.

A concrete stain, on the other hand, is quick to apply and can show off the textures of the concrete, but it does not provide a high degree of protection for the concrete against spills, salt, water and other contaminants. Staining concrete generally requires a dust mop, a pH-neutral cleaner and water to clean, while epoxy can cause resin buildup that necessitates the use of special detergents.

Find a concrete contractor near you for help selecting the right floor concrete sealer.

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The 10 Best Sidewalk Contractors Near Me (with Free Estimates)

Did you know that more than 99% of streams and rivers are impacted by anthropogenic (human) activity?

I found myself standing outside the other night looking up at the stars and thinking about how chilly the nights have been. With the frigid weather already here, we can expect that snowfall will not be far behind. With this snowfall comes a source of pollution we might not think about.

Whether you live on a farm or in a small town, road salts are bound to make an appearance sooner than later. Salt pollution is present all across North America but predominantly is an issue in the eastern and midwestern United States.

Major causes of increasing salinity of freshwater include human salt inputs, agriculture, mining resource extraction and land clearing. Examples of this include road deicers, overuse of minerals used in agriculture (lime) and non-compliance of sewage systems.

Although this type of pollution isnt often thought about, salts can be detrimental because of their ability to change the chemical composition of major ions in waterways. Overuse of salts will gradually cause a decline in stream and lake biodiversity, increase corrosion of pipes, increased contamination, and pond, river, stream and ocean acidification.

Take a minute to think about fish. Freshwater fish are osmoregulators; this means that the concentration of salt is higher in their blood than in the water that surrounds them. Osmoregulation is the process of maintaining an internal balance of salt and water in the fishs body.

Without this process, homeostasis would be disrupted and throw off body functions such as temperature and fluid balance. Homeostasis is being in a steady state of internal, physical and chemical conditions. Over time, an increase in salt pollution can really throw off this balance.

Freshwater organisms and stream habitats are not the only ones affected by salinization. Farmers can be negatively affected by this year-round. Winter brings freezing pipes, nipping cold on baby calves, and the brutal early morning feedings in the winter, but it can also be followed up by a decrease in crop and pasture growth in the upcoming spring.

Salinity from road salts can affect production of crops and pastures by interfering with nitrogen uptake, reducing growth and stopping plant production. For example, ions like chloride (found in salt) are toxic to plants and can cause death when an increase in these ions occur.

Overuse of certain minerals year-round can also be harmful to farmland and increase salinity inputs. The spreading of lime in the fall is a great example of something that can be beneficial but also harmful to your farm. Lime can increase pasture and crop health, but it can also create a nasty run-off cocktail that is detrimental to land and waterways within your farm or watershed.

An easy fix to this is to get a soil test every few years. This will tell you the exact amount of lime you need to spread on fields.

As landowners, we may not be able to control the amount of salts used for roadways but we can control our own use of salts on our property. Use the following tips to create healthier watersheds and farmland for future generations.

1. A little goes along way. One handful of rock salt is enough per square yard. If using calcium chloride you can use even less. Also apply deicer before the snow and ice to reduce runoff and increase the effectiveness of the deicer.

2. Choose deicers wisely. Rock salt (Sodium chloride) is the most common deicer. This contains cyanide, which is harmful to freshwater organisms and plants. It also only works above 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Calcium chloride is a better choice, containing less harsh chemicals. Although more expensive, you only need to use about one-third the amount, compared to rock salt. Magnesium chloride is the best deicer and is the least toxic to plants and animals. You can even use sand to create traction instead of a deicer.

3. Do the least amount of work. Only spread salt on surfaces of driveways and walkways that you will be using the most. Never spread on the lawn or near streams, ponds, trees or storm drains. Salt works best when applied right before a snow fall or after snow is removed from surfaces. Salt directly after shoveling your driveway to increase efficiency of your work.

By following these tips and being more mindful of your salt inputs, we can ensure healthier watersheds and farms year round.

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Take the steps to ensure healthier watersheds and farms year round - Farm and Dairy

Crews working for the Architect of the Capitol have winter precipitation removal down to a science.

WASHINGTON As work continued across the U.S. Capitol to negotiate a critical coronavirus relief deal and prepare for a presidential inauguration 35 days away, crews mobilized to clear 14 miles of sidewalks throughout the Capitol complex a mission to keep the area functioning during a week of breakneck work.

The Architect of the Capitol is the federal agency charged with maintaining the grounds through all weather conditions. Its crews are responsible for snow and ice removal across the equivalent of 400 football fields.

A thin coat of snow Wednesday covered the walkways leading to the nearly completed inauguration platform on the West Front of the Capitol, but it was freezing rain and ice that removed much of the small accumulation of powder by nightfall.

Ted Bechtol, Superintendent of U.S. Capitol Grounds, said in a prior interview with WUSA9 that the agency has 500 tons of rock salt at its disposal. The salt is used for road surfaces, while 20 tons of deicer are used for sidewalks and steps.

It generally takes two hours to prepare all equipment for a full snow event, Bechtol said.

There is, in fact, an area of the Capitol that is up to three degrees colder than the rest a patch of ground which may warrant extra attention during inclement winter weather.

The agency identified First Street and Constitution Avenue, N.E. as the coldest spot on the Capitol grounds. Relatively high building heights and mature trees cast the area in shadow for most of the day, decreasing its temperature.

Read more here:
Here's what it takes to clear snow from the U.S. Capitol grounds and inauguration area - WUSA9.com

With the first big snowstorm of the season in the forecast for Central Pennsylvania later this week, U.S. Postal Service officials are reminding residents to keep their mailboxes, steps, and sidewalks clear so letter carriers can deliver their mail safely.

The Postal Service is asking customers to help keep their letter carrier safe this winter through the following actions:

Residents who receive delivery to roadside mailboxes also must keep the approach to, and exit from, the mailbox clear of snow or any other obstacles, like trash cans and other vehicles, the USPS said. The carrier needs to get in, and then out, without leaving the vehicle or backing up.

Customers with questions or comments about their mail service can call toll-free 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).

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As winter storm approaches, USPS reminds residents to keep their mailboxes, sidewalks and steps clear of snow - FOX43.com

Now that winter is starting to bite and New Years resolutions have us thinking about changing behaviors, perhaps youve considered living in a more watershed-friendly (environmentally conscious) way. Great idea! Keep in mind, changing behaviors requires a some refocusing and a little extra effort, but the results can be big!

Something as seemingly simple as how you de-ice your walkways can make a positive impact on water quality. Road salt (typically rock salt) used during winter storms is the major non-point source pollutant found in the streams flowing through Great Swamp and into the Passaic River. Our water quality testing data year-over-year shows that, although exclusively applied in winter, salts impact on waterways lingers throughout the rest of the year. Every rainstorm flushes salt from road edges into streams.

Why is salt such an issue?

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Road salt doesnt easily go away! It melts snow and ice which is what we hope to accomplish. But it then dissolves and soaks into the ground. It moves through the water table and into streams. Snowmeltrunoffcan actually contain more than 10,000 mg of chloride per liter. Thats like putting two teaspoons of salt into a small container the size of an orange juice carton. Whod want to drink that?!

Unless salts are washed down below root level, soil salinity can stunt plant growth, brown leaves, weaken and even kill off all but the hardiest plants, including some of New Jerseys most beautiful native wildflowers. As a result, invasive, salt-resistant species are likelier to grow in their place.

Road salt can also be highly toxic for aquatic life. As saltconcentrationsincrease in freshwater streams, sensitive species cannot survive the waves of salty runoff. Animals are also affected. Salt treated roads often attract animals. Mammals such as deer lick at road salt, presenting a road hazard. Seed-eating birds may or may not be able to distinguish between salt crystals and seed particles.

For a relatively small state, New Jersey uses a lot of road salt. According to New Jerseys Department of Transportationwebsite, more than 280,000 gallons of salt were applied for winter 2018 2019 along with 600,000 plus gallons of liquid calcium chloride and almost 2 million gallons of brine.

What can a thoughtful homeowner do to reduce salts impact while keeping paths slip free?

If you are able, get out there with an ice chopper and a shovel. And get the family in on the act. Youll burn some calories using physical instead of chemical removal methods. For increased traction, scatter kitty litter, wood ashes or sand. The darker colors also absorb heat and help to melt snow and ice.

Pet-friendly Solutions

Rock salt (aka ice melt) can burn our pets paws causing them extreme pain. Plus, we all know how much dogs love to lick salt. Consuming rock salt can lead to serious internal injuries including burning of the mouth and digestive tract, and seizures. It can also cause severe dehydration, liver failure, and pancreatitis. It can even be fatal.Some foods and household items are environmentally safealternativesfor melting ice, and are often more pet-friendly than rock salt and chemicals. Here are a few:

Whitevinegar and deicer Mix 3 cups white vinegar with 1 cup window deicer in a spray bottle to help deice windshields.

Brine its not just for turkeys anymore! Brine is a valuable rock salt alternative because it uses only one-tenth the amount of sodium chloride. Its a treatment applied before the snow begins. Spreading a thin layer of this salty liquid on the surface prevents ice from forming or snow from sticking. Brine can be applied up to three days in advance. Make your own brine solution by creating a 10% solution of regular table salt, dissolved in warm water and then placed in a sprayer- a small hand sprayer for steps and sidewalks will suffice. Note, it can be ineffective if it is too cold outside.

Potato juice, a byproduct of vodka distillation, is effective when mixed with traditional salt brine.

Store-bought Solutions

Calcium Chloridecan harm plants in high concentrations and is three times more expensive than rock salt, though it only requires one-third the application rate.

Magnesium Chlorideis less toxic than rock salt. It contains less chloride than rock salt or calcium chloride and is therefore safer for plants and animals. It can be tricky to locate in stores and does not store well over New Jerseys humid summers. Store it wisely!

Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA)is the best overall choice for melting ice safely. It is less toxic than deicers with chloride and is pet friendly; however, it is the most expensive alternative.

So, when the forecast calls for wintry weather, you can now be prepared to take on that snow and ice while protecting your pets and the water quality in and around the Passaic River.

Follow the Great Swamp Watershed Alliance@Greatswampnj on Twitter,@Greatswampnj on Instagram and@GreatSwamp on Facebook. Visit them online atgreatswamp.org.

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Watershed Friendly Living Snow and Ice Removal - TAPinto.net

While some very positive steps have been taken over the past year in addressing the severe housing crisis that has plagued the San Diego region, the reality is we still have a long way to go.

Today, due largely to a decades-long backlog of new housing being built (our regional housing deficit is more than 50,000 homes) the median home price in San Diego County just set a new record: $650,000. Needless to say, its a number that moves steadily further and further away from the reach of working families. And for those who cant buy, renting continues to be a financial struggle, with rents rising to an average of $1,850 a month.

Thats the (very) bad news.

The good news is were finally, with policy changes and increased attention from residents, starting to address this shortage in meaningful ways.

On the table are many new housing projects throughout the region, as well as community plan updates that embrace more housing units, ensuring that development will happen where it makes the most sense and creating a viable opportunity for young families to stay in San Diego. Included among some proposed projects are three that would repurpose golf courses. All three are in the citys urbanized areas, close to public transit, meet the goals laid out in the city of San Diegos Climate Action Plan, and include attainably priced and low-income housing options.

In Mission Valley, the Riverwalk Golf course is slated to be transformed into a vibrant live-work-play village and features 97 acres of parks, open space and trails as well as a restored stretch of the San Diego River and expansion of the San Diego River Trail. Riverwalk San Diego, which was unanimously approved by the San Diego City Council in November, reimagines 200 acres of private land that has been planned for development since the 1980s. The village, which will be phased in over the next 15 to 20 years, will include up to 4,300 homes (approximately 430 of which will be set aside for low-income qualified residents), neighborhood-serving shops and restaurants, and 1 million square feet of office space. The village will also include a new light-rail station along the San Diego Trolleys green line to connect residents to job centers in downtown San Diego and other parts of Mission Valley, as well as UTC/Torrey Pines on the soon-to-be-completed Mid-Coast Trolley line.

On the former Carmel Mountain Ranch Golf Course, another 1,200 homes are being proposed, with nearly 70 percent of the property, over 100 acres, to remain as protected open space. Based on significant public input, the Trails, as the project is being called, will adaptively reuse the former golf cart path to create over six miles of public pedestrian walkways winding through the entire community. Nine acres of new neighborhood parks are proposed, preserving the greenery that was represented by the previous golf course. The project, which will include 120 deed-restricted affordable homes, is within walking distance to an area transit center where residents can catch the Rapid bus that goes along the I-15 connecting to downtown San Diego and other employment centers. There are also over 40,000 jobs within a three-mile radius of the Trails, which allows employees to live close to work and supports the Climate Action Plan. The Trails is expected to go before the San Diego City Council sometime next year.

In Rancho Peasquitos, on what was the Carmel Highland Golf Course, about 500 homes are being proposed exclusively for seniors 15 percent of which will be priced for those with low incomes. The Junipers, as it is known, will also feature a new public park, basketball and pickleball courts, a dog park and a mobility zone for improved pedestrian and bicycle circulation. The San Diego City Council is expected to consider the project early next year.

Repurposing out-of-use golf courses into desperately needed housing is a smart, appropriate move. Land and water are difficult to identify in areas that have close proximity to jobs and transit, and golf courses are generally located within communities that can readily accept more housing. Further, as we continue to recognize the impact of scarce resources, namely water, on our future community planning it only make sense that resource-heavy golf courses find a reimagined role in addressing our housing crisis.

As we are seeing in Mission Valley, Carmel Mountain Ranch, and Rancho Peasquitos, urban golf courses provide the perfect opportunity for San Diego to make progress toward reaching our housing goals in a responsible, transit- and environmentally friendly way.

Marissa Tucker-Borquez is president of YIMBY Democrats of San Diego County and is studying for a masters degree in urban planning at SDSU. Stefanie Benvenuto is vice president of public affairs for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.

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Where Golf Has Run Its Course, Much-Needed Housing Is in the Works - Voice of San Diego