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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

Rightfully, there is consternation regarding the recycling of old EV batteries.  Here’s the story of a company that assembled a sizeable array of them, and uses them to store power from their solar PV farm.  (Scroll down to see a very well-made video.)

There is a powerful feature of this concept that makes it quite feasible.  That is, electric power during the day (while the sun’s shining) is dirt cheap.  A perfect time to store it, and sell it back to the utility when the price goes up.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Criminal indictments against the planners of the insurrection are sexier than civil litigation, but we’ll take what we can get.

This suit seems to have real merit.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Today’s strip is below.  I have a feeling most readers who live in red regions of the country have had some sort of experience like this.

Around here, a trip to the grocery store, or God help you, the liquor store, is a virtual guarantee of running into at least one anti-vaxxer.

I’ve never had anyone actually confront me, but most of them have disparaging looks on their faces.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Here’s the opinion of Monica Maalouf, MD, an Internal Medicine Specialist in Maywood, IL. She is affiliated with medical facilities Loyola University Medical Center and Macneal Hospital.

I happen to know a doctor who told me that he dreads the notion of universal healthcare on the basis that he’d make less money, which I found weird, putting it kindly.  First of all, I can’t imagine how that’s possible.  More to the point, you have to wonder why someone who ostensibly believes in the Hippocratic Oath would admit to being unconcerned about the health of tens of millions of Americans.

Having said that, he’s (thankfully) a rare individual.  From this article in 2018:

Sixty-eight percent (of 2500+ physicians surveyed) said they supported — with 52% strongly supporting — the United States moving to single-payer healthcare, while 21% said they strongly opposed such a move.

That certainly jibes with our intuition; what type of highly educated professional believes poor people should suffer and die of treatable diseases?

“Compassionate systems,” of course, is a superset of universal healthcare, running, as it does, into free education, housing, nutrition, environmental responsibility, and social justice.

Great to see a bright young doctor taking a stand for the common American.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

At left is another clever way of asking the question, “How is Joe Manchin playing in West Virginia?”

Voters there are among the poorest in the country.  One in six live in poverty.  Doesn’t the concept of lots of high-paying jobs have at least some appeal?

And then comes healthcare, which, of course, is terrible in West Virginia, they rank #47 in the union.

I’m always trying to improve my sales skills, so let me say that I want to meet the guy who convinced these people that dying of treatable diseases for lack of savings is an attractive option.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

I admit that not caring about others is an issue with anti-vaxxers, but it’s minor, IMO.  The main issue is misinformation.  They honestly believe one or more of the following:

COVID is a hoax; it doesn’t exist

COVID exists but it’s overhyped

Vaccinations are dangerous

Vaccinations are ineffective

The government is lying about COVID so as to control the population

The liberals are trying to destroy American capitalism

Dr. Fauci is an incompetent liar who is committing genocide and should be executed

Now, one might say, “Wait a second.  Aren’t there other countries dealing with COVID?  Are they all trying to enslave their people?  Do each of them have their own incompetent liar as their spokesperson?  Are they all trying to cripple their economies and bankrupt their small businesses?  Countries like Brazil and India are having outbreaks far worse than ours.”

The problem with this argumentation is that most anti-vaxxers couldn’t find Brazil and India on a globe.  We’re dealing with a uniquely ignorant class of people.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Electric Vehicles

For more than 30 years, Dean Taylor has been working in the EV industry–from the utility side of the equation. In the interview, he addresses questions that include “Can the grid handle the complete electrification of our transportation?” An important issue, to be sure.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Germany’s “Der Spiegel” was never a fan of Donald Trump.

Of course, neither was 90% of Europe’s population (748 million).

Trump is a uniquely American phenomenon, not that this says anything wonderful about the United States.  He is a sick joke to people of culture and class.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

It’s unclear precisely what academic, science broadcaster, and environmental activist Dr. David Suzuki is referring to here.  Perhaps the collapse of the natural environment.  Perhaps world fascism or the disappearance of the middle class.

Whatever the case, and with all due respect, the metaphor is inaccurate.  It’s true that every one of us will suffer due to these horrific trends, but we will not all suffer equally.

The rich will always be able to find clear air and water, fine food and wine, hot sex partners, and well-manicured golf courses.  It’s the poor, who were least responsible for all this, who will absorb the greatest miseries.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Well, I’m afraid little Johnny is going to be disappointed this Christmas.

But if he still wants the same present next year (and who doesn’t?) he just may be in luck.

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