Another exciting development in energy storage... salt batteries are a really promising area, and I am very excited for this area of technology to take off. I am very interested in other technologies developing in this area too, like this Finnish tech for sand.
Another exciting development in energy storage... salt batteries are a really promising area, and I am very excited for this area of technology to take off. I am very interested in other technologies developing in this area too, like this Finnish tech for sand.
@kudra The world is actually running out of sand - something I'd like to see is a bacteria-based technology if such could be developed as we're never going to (barring something like a gamma ray burst sterilizing large Earth areas) have a shortage of bacteria
This is really encouraging. I have been planning to renovate an old caravan I bought on the eve of covid, and I really like that you can now buy something new that is solar equipped and fully electric - no more gas bottle!! The interior looks pretty nice. I would like to do something vaguely similar, love the pull out all-electric BBQ 👍
This is really encouraging. I have been planning to renovate an old caravan I bought on the eve of covid, and I really like that you can now buy something new that is solar equipped and fully electric - no more gas bottle!! The interior looks pretty nice. I would like to do something vaguely similar, love the pull out all-electric BBQ 👍
So today I asked my daughter if she was going to be a scientist when she grows up. She says "yes!" I then ask her, "are you going to be a doctor?"... she says "no!".
I wait 10 minutes, and then ask her again, just to check. Exactly the same answers.
... I think this may have something to do with the fact that her favourite character is a mermaid cat who happens to be a scientist, and she's probably interested in being a mermaid cat more than anything else. But I'll take it!
So today I asked my daughter if she was going to be a scientist when she grows up. She says "yes!" I then ask her, "are you going to be a doctor?"... she says "no!".
I wait 10 minutes, and then ask her again, just to check. Exactly the same answers.
... I think this may have something to do with the fact that her favourite character is a mermaid cat who happens to be a scientist, and she's probably interested in being a mermaid cat more than anything else. But I'll take it!
Just got an email from the Victorian CHO, alerting people to possible measles exposure. It's nice to see them taking measles seriously, but disappointing that a disease that is probably going to be just as damaging long term continues to circulate widely and doesn't have such effective vaccines (well, not ones that most people have actually taken, that is.)... and almost nothing is said anymore.
I just found my plug in neck heating pad thing, yaaaayyyy. It's basically a miniature electric blanket. Having to get up in the middle of the night to put the wheat bag in the microwave sucked so much I didn't do it half the time even though it would have helped me get back to sleep so much faster.
Hope there is a good turnout! Was told about it by my Tesla-owning #offgrid neighbour, wondering how many #EV owners will turn up, though it's not an event for EVs, they are a big part of the solution.
Turned out to be 7 #EV owners, though one had to leave early, there should be some bigger promotion of the main photo op with the larger group on Tuesday due to Canberra Shenanigans, watch this space 😁... here are the 6 EVs and owners that we snapped after the main pics. Largest group of EVs in one place since I was at an EV show and tell event back in 2022. My #Mitsubishi#minicabMiEV is fairly obvious.
I finally was in the position to use one of the "DICKHEAD ON BOARD" stickers I got from @spellingmistakescostlives - I honestly think that's a good thing that it took this long (almost 6 months since I got the stickers), and sure, it was a rainy day and those parking spots are sooooo much closer to the entrance, dude... but how is your privilege, eh? Oh how I HATE these effing giant 4x4s, the kind of asshole that would complain that EVs weigh too much because of the battery (but guess what, my little EV weighs about HALF one of these monsters!)
I finally was in the position to use one of the "DICKHEAD ON BOARD" stickers I got from @spellingmistakescostlives - I honestly think that's a good thing that it took this long (almost 6 months since I got the stickers), and sure, it was a rainy day and those parking spots are sooooo much closer to the entrance, dude... but how is your privilege, eh? Oh how I HATE these effing giant 4x4s, the kind of asshole that would complain that EVs weigh too much because of the battery (but guess what, my little...
I'm going to go ahead and say this here, as I am not sure if I've explicitly said before on Fedi (though if I go back through stuff I could probably find something, my gut tells me) but I think our climate has already permanently changed. The El Nino predicted for this year is looking less and less likely. Which would mean 4 straight years of La Nina. There are predictions that long term our climate, in general, is going to hotter AND wetter. Yes there will be drier years. But overall, I think we're going to see more flooding rains, with increasing instability and ferocity. That's already here, and it's going to get worse.
Want to make sure I've said this unambiguously somewhere I can refer back easily.
I'm going to go ahead and say this here, as I am not sure if I've explicitly said before on Fedi (though if I go back through stuff I could probably find something, my gut tells me) but I think our climate has already permanently changed. The El Nino predicted for this year is looking less and less likely. Which would mean 4 straight years of La Nina. There are predictions that long term our climate, in general, is going to hotter AND wetter. Yes there will be drier...
I'm happy that a cafe I had not visited in years, Seedling on Flinders Lane, survived covid, so I was able to get a butter coffee and paleo banana bread this morning while I had some spare time in the city. Yay.
Question for #Novavax fully vaxxed folk (x3) : have you been exposed to Covid recently, most likely #pirola? Are you still #novid?
I'm seeing people who were mRNA fully vaxxed who had still not contracted covid even once come down with it within the last 2 weeks. This coincides with the rapid rise of pirola variants, so I am assuming the large number of mutations is getting through even to those who'd resisted so many other waves.
As my daughter is still too young to get vaccinated, I feel like it's only a matter of time until I get too much exposure, her daycare has had cases crop up in each wave, the last wave had significant cases, this one only 1 so far, but I've now been pretty directly close to 2 former Novids who've now succumbed, potentially while infectious. I'm not masking or taking other precautions, as it's almost completely pointless with a young child.
But I do wonder if Novavax is still keeping me safe, given there are so few of us, I'm reaching out here to see others exposures and outcomes.
Question for #Novavax fully vaxxed folk (x3) : have you been exposed to Covid recently, most likely #pirola? Are you still #novid?
I'm seeing people who were mRNA fully vaxxed who had still not contracted covid even once come down with it within the last 2 weeks. This coincides with the rapid rise of pirola variants, so I am assuming the large number of mutations is getting through even to those who'd resisted so many other waves.
Still novid, still wear mask when shopping, but I can't really be typical as I don't do that much, socially & actually, so there is less chance of me ever contracting it.
Preaching to the choir here, but I think it's really valuable to see services/apps like Flipboard pivoting to open social, in a really visible way.
This is stuff I have been screaming about (and annoying the hell out of most people) for over 15 years. I am finally hopeful that the critical mass has just about been reached, and each pivot that occurs, especially with relatively well known brands that rose up before the monolith walled gardens, I'm a little bit more vindicated. I care so passionately about this, and I really hope to eventually be able to reconnect with many people I've lost from my life because I refused to connect with them on Facebook all those years ago.
Great interview and makes really good points, reminding us why it's so important to fight for this. Not as keen about the bit about advertising, which obviously is part of the revenue model for many apps these days, but they focus on the need to be respectful of users, instead of #enshittification that is so prevalent currently.
Preaching to the choir here, but I think it's really valuable to see services/apps like Flipboard pivoting to open social, in a really visible way.
This is stuff I have been screaming about (and annoying the hell out of most people) for over 15 years. I am finally hopeful that the critical mass has just about been reached, and each pivot that occurs, especially with relatively well known brands that rose up before the monolith walled gardens, I'm a little bit more vindicated. I care so passionately...
A more creative take on the sad repeated failures of #hydrogen, as I've said often I'm not against (green) hydrogen but so far it seems far too many oil industry shills, and only getting worse. The only potential use that looks promising is a proprietary solid hydrogen technology from Norway, and it's not going to be used in cars, it's sensible for home electricity / space heating because of the waste heat created.
A more creative take on the sad repeated failures of #hydrogen, as I've said often I'm not against (green) hydrogen but so far it seems far too many oil industry shills, and only getting worse. The only potential use that looks promising is a proprietary solid hydrogen technology from Norway, and it's not going to be used in cars, it's sensible for home electricity / space heating because of the waste heat created.
@kudra Stop regurgitating bullshit from Michael Bernard. That guy has massive conflicts of interest, and is so dishonest he makes the average climate change denier look reasonable in comparison.
In reality, he is a crook and a liar. He has a personal agenda, and he'd rather destroy the world than see anyone question his agenda. He is purely pretending to be an environmentalist.
Had a very busy day and a longer travel time than usual into Melbourne, requiring a fast charge while at my daughter's swimming class (fortunately there is a charger at the Aquatic Centre) and then a drive to Warragul which was still, last I checked, waiting for activation of a new charger. There's a relative charging desert between Moe and the outskirts of Melbourne, and it has always caused me some stress, as I have to drive a bit slower than I'd prefer on the highway to not get range anxiety. We had appointments in Warragul from 1-3pm, and because of the longer drive than usual, I was a bit concerned about getting to the eastern Melbourne metro chargers without going really painfully slowly.
I opened Plugshare, wondering if the Bunnings carpark charger had actually been commissioned yet and to my surprise there was a new and apparently active charger listed slightly closer - so curious, and expecting disappointment tbh, I drive over. And I'm both happy and sad - there seems to be a charger working - but it has a Tesla plugged in, curses!
... but it turns out the Tesla owner is just an overly enthusiastic driver who basically heads out to any new charger when it shows up on Plugshare to test it and confirm it's functioning. Yeah! He confirmed he was able to charge, and then I was able to plug in. Amazing! This new charger will save me so much time coming into Melbourne, and will also be good coming back out, though not as big a difference as we can make it to Moe relatively comfortably (but we can't quite get home without top up, and the Moe charger isn't a great spot).
The Baw Baw Food Hub is a not-for-profit organic food store, with cafe coming in the next couple of months. They told me the charger was paid for by the Baw Baw Sustainability Network at no cost to them as they are NFP, and they also had 40 solar panels from them too, so charging during the day is extra green. Nice! The store has a great kids play area, so I was able to do some shopping while the little lady was entertained, and head back over once battery was at about 90%. Could have made it to the city with 80% but I do like having a buffer.
Anyway, so SO glad there will soon be a choice of TWO chargers in Warragul, but it really saved my bacon today having this one pop up out of nowhere!
Had a very busy day and a longer travel time than usual into Melbourne, requiring a fast charge while at my daughter's swimming class (fortunately there is a charger at the Aquatic Centre) and then a drive to Warragul which was still, last I checked, waiting for activation of a new charger. There's a relative charging desert between Moe and the outskirts of Melbourne, and it has always caused me some stress, as I have to drive a bit slower than I'd prefer on the highway to...
@kudra I did a return drive from Adelaide to Melbourne in March, a lot of range anxiety
Early October did the same trip and it was like there was a doubling of charge places. And finally they are in pleasant places and not stuck out in a abandoned car park
*sigh* some people really don't like it when you point out in response to their rants about the world being shit, that there are small ways they can try and make it less shit, and they get all offended, can't read what you have said *at all* and are appearing to instead hear you saying "stop ranting asshole, you are part of the problem..."
@kudra I'm thinking about getting a battery. Fully electric house (EV, Induction cooktop, Heat pump)
The payback period seems too long to me for a battery, even with Amber's pricing.
Are you prepared to share your thoughts on this?
I can't believe such a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment has been unavailable for so long, and it seems like it is technically possible to get hold of the stuff (this site lists it https://www.creative-enzymes.com/similar/chymopapain_135.html but not for personal medical use?)... feels like a bloody conspiracy to be honest!
It's funny, a few years ago I was telling people that the cost of electricity would eventually approach zero, as solar panel efficiency improved, but I honestly think people thought I was mad. Talking about "free energy" still makes people think you must have a screw loose. But if you don't think in capitalist terms, and try to imagine a world where technology and traditional lifestyles in which humans barely worked to survive (hunter gatherers didn't have to work too many hours to hunt and gather enough food to live) can coexist, a better world where we have our needs met and DON'T destroy our environment is actually possible.
It's funny, a few years ago I was telling people that the cost of electricity would eventually approach zero, as solar panel efficiency improved, but I honestly think people thought I was mad. Talking about "free energy" still makes people think you must have a screw loose. But if you don't think in capitalist terms, and try to imagine a world where technology and traditional lifestyles in which humans barely worked to survive (hunter gatherers didn't have to work too many hours to hunt and gather...
"Wholesale power prices tumble but experts warn little relief in sight for consumers"
... switch to Amber, I guess? My power prices are very reasonable, and I use a lot of my own generated solar power to charge up my #EV. I also think now might be the time to think about investing in a crypto rig that is triggered to turn on only when I am generating excess power, so I don't pay negative feed-in tariffs. (only half joking there btw... either that or something like protein folding? thoughts?)
"Wholesale power prices tumble but experts warn little relief in sight for consumers"
... switch to Amber, I guess? My power prices are very reasonable, and I use a lot of my own generated solar power to charge up my #EV. I also think now might be the time to think about investing in a crypto rig that is triggered to turn on only when I am generating excess power, so I don't pay negative feed-in tariffs. (only half joking there btw... either that or something like protein folding? thoughts?)
Forecast negative not only Feed In Tarriffs but also usage costs: for Wed 25th October 2023 in my region of Victoria: the lowest I've ever seen. Getting paid for using power, it's a really interesting feature of the current energy transition. I will be using, for the first time, #Sensibo to schedule heat pump use even though I won't be at home, and see what this does to my costs for the day... 🤔
I'll say it once again for the stupid among you, if you don't pay taxes to keep the roads drivable, then don't complain when because your non petrol road use they turn to crap.
Think roads are made of non fossil elements, think again, all fossil, and the repairs - the same, even plastic is made from fossil, it's an oil by-product.
So, tell me again why you shouldn't pay the same taxes, and justify it with reality.
(yeah, you can't, but enjoy the win, it is likely not for long).
Gregory's Server
@kudra The world is actually running out of sand - something I'd like to see is a bacteria-based technology if such could be developed as we're never going to (barring something like a gamma ray burst sterilizing large Earth areas) have a shortage of bacteria