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The underground world of hobby tunneling

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Re: The underground world of hobby tunneling

#81
post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’re joking, but there is concern about the environmental damage beavers cause. https://courses.hamilton.edu/beavers/conservation-and-destru...

Christ, enough of the anti-beaver comments. Beavers co-evolved with species and their environment for a long time and (were) part of the eco system before we nearly eradicated them like we did many other species. From the article you linked: > Even though the beaver destroys life, its actions give way to new life and help conserve the overall environment. The positive effects of the beaver on its environment far outw…

That depends how much alternative space there is in the ecosystem. Just because the species could evolve together in an entire wilderness doesn’t mean they can co-exist in every square kilometer.

Re: The underground world of hobby tunneling

#82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m nearing 40 and when I’m at any beach with sand you better believe I’m gonna see how deep I can dig a hole. Brings back a lot of that childhood joy of being absolutely certain I was almost about to dig through the earth’s crust once it started to get hard. Only about 19.999 miles short if we’re talking about averages.

I’m in the same age bracket and hole-digging enthusiasm bracket as you but recently became aware of the dangers of this whimsical pastime! [1] That’s not to dissuade you or anyone else from doing it (I have continued!), but I think everyone should be aware of the very real danger. As they say, knowing is half the battle! 1 - https://www.npr.org/2022/05/19/1100068725/beach-holes-sand-c...

Absolutely, I had a near-death experience myself.

Re: The underground world of hobby tunneling

#83
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Careful, generally, diverting or otherwise messing with the flow of waterways is illegal. Got a talking to from a DNR officer when I was a kid.

You say 'generally', but then talk about officials of one very specific country?

Yes, probably only relevant to 80% of his potential readers. What tosh!

Re: The underground world of hobby tunneling

#84
post #32

this is the final frontier. we've conquered the land, the oceans, the skies. some people live in orbit, men have walked on the moon. but you can still carve out a new world for yourself. you can still go down . there's enough room down there for a whole new world, with different borders and nations. and another one below that .. layers and layers like an onion. one hundred billion mole-men, saturating the earth's cru…

We haven’t conquered the ocean below sea-level, really.

Re: The underground world of hobby tunneling

#86
post #74
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Trailer Park Boys kind of needs to be watched after midnight.

No, just get high. Honestly, the episode where bubbles gets a mountain lion is to my favorite episode of any television show. High or not.

Not really my thing, although I respect others right to make their own choices.

Being up at 1am after a full day makes for about the same mental state though.

Re: The underground world of hobby tunneling

#87

From 2015 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9783972

Thanks! Macroexpanded:

Hobby Tunneling - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36885802 - July 2023 (13 comments)

Hobby Tunneling - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28257515 - Aug 2021 (6 comments)

Hobby Tunneling - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24078638 - Aug 2020 (2 comments)

The ‘Unfathomable’ Pursuit of Personal Tunneling - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9783972 - June 2015 (39 comments)

Honorable mentions (but no comments there):

After 40 years' burrowing, Mole Man of Hackney is ordered to stop - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17459816 - July 2018 (0 comments)

The Mole Man of Hackney - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10833865 - Jan 2016 (0 comments)

Re: The underground world of hobby tunneling

#88

I have a crawlspace under half my house, and made the mistake of watching a YouTube video about how to do "underpinning". Now I want to dig it out down to 10ft to use for some desperately needed storage space, maybe some gym space. Our local building office is amazingly supportive of DIYers, and I appreciate them double checking my work.

Oh man, don't send me down this rabbit hole! I've always been annoyed at the original builders of my house for the half basement/half crawlspace - I mean, how much could it have possibly added to the cost of construction to just dig that last 4 feet on the other half?!

Re: The underground world of hobby tunneling

#89
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I knew what video that was before clicking...

If you ever get a chance to visit him in Berkeley, I thoroughly recommend doing so. Not only can you stock up on Klein bottles and scarves, but the man's an absolute treasure and delight, and, depending on how old you were when _The Cuckoo's Egg_ was published, perhaps one of your childhood heroes. I have one of his bottles right here on my desk.

I read The Cuckoo's Egg only a few years ago (in my 30s) and it's an absolute delight. Easy to understand if you do any sort of linux administration, and really demonstrates how lax things were and how far we've come in terms of cyber security.

Re: The underground world of hobby tunneling

#90
post #48

If you all enjoy digging hobby tunnels, then can I interest you in someone excavating their basement using only miniature remote control construction vehicles ? Digging & hauling: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=He00d6Gpxs8 More recent rock crusher: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TSaqSzziaE8&t=3m31s (There's 16 years / 379 videos so far, if you are into RC earthmoving ASMR)

Oh my. I’ve fantasized about this for years. I assumed that physics would not be on my side for this one. I am going to be watching these tonight.
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