The Distributist G.K. Chesterton: “If I had been abusing marriage or patriotism or public decency, I should have been heralded in headlines and allowed to sprawl across Sunday newspapers. But the big newspaper is not likely to attack the big shop.” — G.K. Chesterton https://hell.twtr.plus/media/223918c37e925d314268376c770daad29b7fecacc18e1d9013743a388d15a817.file https://hell.twtr.plus/media/df12616f2c2ee47378b36b700836516489e93cd3ff7f6d3e65bd012c4ab89b84.file

A 2025 Portuguese resort hotel, Vale Palheiro Earth Resort, in Aljezur. All buildings are rammed earth. https://hell.twtr.plus/media/b3e153a8d922f90ac6e46bd78366c553ccb98aa9f522600319266a0b776eb30d.file

According to this study adding 15% gypsum to a rammed earth soil mix increases both compressive strength and elastic modulus (stiffness). I assume the gypsum can be of any quality. Usually lime is used for this purpose. This gives builders an option depending on what material is the cheaper or more available.

Frontiers | Gypsum stabilization for enhancing the compressive behavior of rammed earth: experimental and statistical assessment

https://hell.twtr.plus/media/e90fc7441aee2d8daf66e20175abf24fcf3d6f8c4fcd5bc6fff7f929a997f869.file

Interesting use of rammed earth walls and striking unreinforced brick vaults in this Vadodara (Gujarat, India) home. I am looking forward to see how it weathers (hot semi-arid with monsoon season). https://www.designpataki.com/rammed-earth-and-brick-vaults-shape-a-grounded-vadodara-retreat/ https://hell.twtr.plus/media/dfff51aea5a28986278580f8893ab2c989edce171bcfdc3387ce5eba2afb106f.file https://hell.twtr.plus/media/a6a3ae61f99e3aebd112784ec795c45f0f0c72be59324bc93384e8a993056400.file https://hell.twtr.plus/media/873298bf8e3f4adbba586566d1617bd8f24bbd72e280cbf05e8968d4870b46db.file

"It is a truth often observed but seldomly stated that...."

George Orwell in 1940, after having read Malcolm Muggeridge's "brilliant but depressing" book 'The Thirties', makes a fitting comment. https://hell.twtr.plus/media/4cbbe3acbd667a405d2a6b1e21be04f032e0e9a13202619e773c316f0de5ccf7.file https://hell.twtr.plus/media/6ddb75e7387186573c438be14d27dd185b43a255622476acbea7ea43a95f058e.file https://hell.twtr.plus/media/91e0852c35cb11cb86eb0f39b06ac7deba5559b40e90a2dd44a7202f380d7dd1.file

Famous movie formal ballroom dance scene:

I wonder how common the experience of having danced in an actual ballroom is? Any sort of formal or semiformal pair dancing experience in a purpose built ballroom counts as a yes.

“We deface the world when we scribble ‘me’ all over it… Beauty is the face of the community, and ugliness the attack on that face by the solipsist and the scavenger.” — Sir Roger Scruton, 1944-2020 https://hell.twtr.plus/media/9494d67296dc67108c3a53a7c44e07a023d27e770e7f8d88400844bf825f0fd7.file

Richest most powerful nation on Earth still can't manage its sewage: "Philadelphia discharges 12.7 billion gallons of raw, diluted sewage into the Delaware River’s watershed each year. Five decades after the Clean Water Act mandated that waterways be made safe for swimming and fishing, combined sewer overflows (CSOs) continue to pollute during wet weather when untreated sewage and runoff surge into nearby creeks and rivers, creating the potential to sicken recreational users." https://archive.is/iEW4d https://hell.twtr.plus/media/8fbd3f3c9394c14c163733403ee0faabbcd7c4fdf0100e3a8997aeccc67e7f8a.file