It's 5000 BCE in the verdant bogs of North America, and this youthful deer has no clue it's being pursued. Out of nowhere, a gator rushes out of the water at very nearly 50 kilometers 60 minutes, locking its jaws around its prey and swinging stunningly in a mark move known as the passing roll. This deer never had a potential for success, however at that point, nothing in this district can rival this dominant hunter. The birds, turtles, and small fish that live in the area that is now known as Everglades National Park are easily consumed by these alligators. However, in spite of administering the marsh for centuries, the most recent 500 years have brought dangerous new hunters that challenge the gators' rule. What's more, the beginnings of these worldwide intruders are similarly basically as startling as their effect on the Everglades. Due to their abundance of plant and animal life, swamps are frequently portrayed as hostile landscapes by humans. Be that as it may, this biodiversity makes these conditions essential to territorial food networks. Also, the Everglades are no special case. Ecotones, which are transitional areas between habitats, connect the region's freshwater prairies, rocky pinelands, mangrove forests, and other habitats through the park's borders. The park's subtropical climate can support species from around the world. The area has become even more biodiverse as a result of human activity, transforming Florida into a significant port that welcomes numerous migrants, both human and nonhuman. During the 1500s, Spanish colonizers carried wild pig to the area, which immediately duplicated and removed the wetlands. They spread European parasites to local panthers and ate alligator eggs. The shipping industry in Florida then exploded in the 1800s, bringing numerous new invasive species with it. Brazilian peppertrees shut out the sun, water hyacinths obstructed the streams, and earthy colored anole reptiles upset the pecking order. The majority of alligator populations survived this assault, but human intervention in the late 19th century escalated the situation. Government and business authorities needed to transform the Everglades into farmland and started constructing trenches to clean out the wasteland. They likewise established non-local trees which swarmed out the plants neighborhood birds depended on for food and haven, which thus restricted the crocodiles' stockpile of prey. Mediations like this unleashed destruction on the Everglades for quite a long time, until a moderate named Marjory Stoneman Douglas at last came to their safeguard. In 1947, Douglas distributed a milestone book making sense of that the Everglades were an extraordinary and valuable environment, however that the district's most fearsome occupants were really essential to supporting it. During the wet season, crocs are continually molding the sloppy scene, defining boundaries with their bodies and digging openings with their noses, paws, and tails. These indentations become essential firebreaks and watering holes during the dry season, maintaining and safeguarding the other inhabitants of the swamp. Everglades National Park was established in response to Douglas's book to officially begin protecting the landscape and its scaly stewards. Yet, outside the recreation area, conditions were preparing for the most hazardous attack yet. Over the course of the following 40 years, the extraordinary pet exchange brought parakeets, iguanas, and family members of piranhas to the area. During the 1990s, Burmese pythons turned into a modest, well known pet for some Floridians. When their snakes got too big, some people let them out into the wild. However, the python population really exploded in 1992 when a hurricane caused the destruction of a breeding facility and the release of a large number of snakes into the wild. Since then, pythons have been linked to a 90 percent decline in some local mammal populations, which has wiped out the food supply for alligators. Furthermore, with assistance from other obtrusive reptiles like high contrast tegus — goliath reptiles who gobble up croc eggs — these snakes have made a serious play for the head of the nearby pecking order. Today, Florida positions among the areas with the most obtrusive species on the planet. In order to balance the scales, some researchers recommend bringing in additional creatures, such as insects that consume invasive plants, while others recommend hunting down these invaders. It could appear to be ludicrous to take a stab at tackling this issue with more unfamiliar fauna. However, it's possible that a newcomer could aid the alligators in reclaiming their ancient home by fighting off intruders and providing them with food.
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The Line, a Saudi Megaproject, Is Dead
When Saudi Arabia unveiled The Line, it was presented as a vision of the future. A 170-kilometer-long city with no cars, no streets, and no carbon emissions, The Line promised to reshape how humans live. It was the centerpiece of NEOM, the kingdom’s ambitious plan to diversify its economy beyond oil. But years after the announcement, a growing number of experts, investors, and observers are asking the same question: Is The Line effectively dead? While Saudi officials have not officially canceled the project, mounting evidence suggests that The Line, as originally imagined, is no longer realistic. What Was The Line Supposed to Be? The Line was announced in 2021 as a linear smart city built in the Saudi desert near the Red Sea. According to its designers: The city would house up to nine million people It would run entirely on renewable energy Residents could reach daily needs within five minutes A high-speed rail system would allow end-to-end travel in 20 minutes No cars, no roads, and no traditional infrastructure The city’s mirrored walls, rising hundreds of meters high, were meant to reflect nature and minimize land use. It was bold, futuristic, and controversial from the start. The Reality Sets In As construction began, problems quickly surfaced. 1. Unrealistic Engineering Challenges Building two parallel skyscrapers stretching across 170 kilometers is something the world has never attempted. Engineers raised concerns about: Structural stability Wind pressure Heat management Emergency evacuation Long-term maintenance The technology required either did not exist or had never been tested at this scale. 2. Soaring Costs Initial estimates put the cost of NEOM at over $500 billion, with The Line as the most expensive part. Rising global inflation, supply chain issues, and construction costs pushed that number even higher. Reports began to surface that Saudi planners were quietly cutting back the project’s scope to manage expenses. Scaling Back the Dream Instead of canceling The Line outright, Saudi Arabia appears to be shrinking it dramatically. Sources familiar with the project suggest: Only a small section of The Line may be built in the near future Population targets have been reduced significantly Focus has shifted to more practical developments within NEOM This shift has fueled the belief that The Line, as originally sold to the world, will never exist. Economic Pressures Behind the Scenes Saudi Arabia’s economy is still heavily dependent on oil revenue. While oil prices have helped fund Vision 2030, the kingdom is also juggling: Massive infrastructure spending Global economic uncertainty Rising domestic costs Investor skepticism International investors have reportedly expressed concerns about returns, making funding harder to secure. Mega-ambitions are impressive, but they must still make financial sense. Human and Environmental Criticism The Line also faced serious backlash from human rights groups and environmental experts. Displacement Issues Local tribes were reportedly forced to relocate to make way for construction. This led to international criticism and damaged the project’s global image. Environmental Concerns Ironically, a project marketed as “green” raised alarms about: Wildlife disruption Bird collisions with mirrored walls Desert ecosystem damage Enormous carbon emissions during construction These concerns weakened public and investor confidence even further. Why Saudi Arabia Won’t Admit It’s Over Saudi leadership rarely announces failure, especially on projects tied to national pride. Instead of canceling The Line, officials appear to be: Rebranding goals Adjusting timelines Redirecting attention to other NEOM projects This allows the government to save face while quietly moving on. In many ways, The Line has become more of a conceptual symbol than an actual city plan. What NEOM Becomes Without The Line NEOM itself is not dead. Other projects within the region, such as: Oxagon (industrial hub) Trojena (mountain tourism) Luxury coastal developments These are far more achievable and already showing progress. By focusing on these, Saudi Arabia can still claim success under Vision 2030. The Line, however, was the most extreme and risky part of the plan. A Lesson in Megaproject Reality The rise and fall of The Line offers a powerful lesson: Vision matters, but execution matters more Technology cannot be willed into existence Cities grow organically, not by decree Human, environmental, and economic factors cannot be ignored History is filled with grand projects that looked perfect on paper but failed in reality. Is The Line Truly Dead? Officially? No. Practically? Almost certainly. What remains is a scaled-down fragment, far removed from the bold vision that once captured headlines. The dream of a 170-kilometer mirrored city housing millions appears to have collided with real-world limits. The Line may survive as a marketing idea, a case study, or a futuristic prototype. But as a full city? That future now seems extremely unlikely. Conclusion “The Line, a Saudi Megaproject, Is Dead” may sound dramatic, but it reflects a growing consensus. The world watched as Saudi Arabia attempted to leap decades into the future in one move. Ambition alone, however, cannot overcome physics, economics, and human reality. The Line will be remembered not as the city that changed the world—but as a reminder that even the richest nations must respect the limits of possibility. Sometimes, the future arrives more slowly than we expect.
By Fiaz Ahmed 5 days ago in The Swamp
Trump Calls on Congress to Pass Legislation Ending Sanctuary Policies
Former President Donald Trump has intensified his long-standing push against sanctuary city policies, calling on Congress to pass legislation that would end such policies nationwide. Speaking at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, Trump framed sanctuary cities as a threat to public safety and a challenge to federal law enforcement, reigniting a heated national debate over immigration policy, state versus federal authority, and the future of local enforcement discretion.
By Salaar Jamaliabout 20 hours ago in The Swamp
10 Times Rotten Tomatoes and I Disagreed
***Disclaimer*** I will be ranking these movies in the following manner: The greater the divide between Rotten Tomatoes and I, the higher up on the list (and I am referring to the critic's score, not the audience score). I will also show Rotten Tomatoes' score on each one in addition to my score. I am curious to know what everyone thinks, please let me know in the comments below!
By Madison "Maddy" Newtona day ago in Geeks
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