If you're not in the U.S., what's up in your part of the world? Showing 401-450 of 3,266

[Graeme]

J. wrote: "Australia and NZ PMs could do shots until only one is left standing."

Ahhh Geez, I don't know who would win that one.

[J.]

Graeme wrote: "J. wrote: "Australia and NZ PMs could do shots until only one is left standing."

Ahhh Geez, I don't know who would win that one."

Then it's a fair negotiation.

[Graeme]

I'm a big fan of resilient systems - I.e. systems that work even under unusual or rare (extreme) conditions - I.e. systems that are failure resistant.

The recent mass power outage in Texas brings up a point that reflects the global supply chain issues faced in 2020 when the pandemic hit.

Supply chains had been established as 'just-in-time,' with minimal inventory and lots of single points of failure. A system architecture that delivers 'least cost,' under normal conditions but which proved to be fragile once normal conditions were lost.

Now we have ...

"Who is responsible for providing adequate capacity in Texas during extreme conditions? The short answer is no one. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) looks at potential forecasted peak conditions and expected available generation and if there is sufficient margin they assume everything will be all right. But unlike utilities under traditional models, they don’t ensure that the resources can deliver power under adverse conditions, they don’t require that generators have secured firm fuel supplies, and they don’t make sure the resources will be ready and available to operate. They count on enough resources being there because they assume that is in their owner’s best interests. Unlike all other US energy markets, Texas does not even have a capacity market. By design they rely solely upon the energy market. This means that entities profit only from the actual energy they sell into the system. They do not see any profit from having stand by capacity ready to help out in emergencies. The energy only market works well under normal conditions to keep prices down."

The bottomline: The hunt for 'least cost,' systems needs to include the cost of insurance in the system design.

Just-in-Time delivery systems and the Texas 'energy market,' are the equivalent of looking at your house and deciding that house insurance is a silly and wasteful cost because nothing bad will ever happen...

REF: https://judithcurry.com/2021/02/18/as...

[Ian]

Graeme, Texas is an example of how the free market works. If you are a supplier and you cannot supply for some reason, your only concern is the money lost. As long as they pay, your only concern about customers is how many? If you want your utilities to be governed by the free market, tough. This sort of thing must happen because if it doesn't, the supplier has overdone the investment and thus has not maximised his profit.

[Scout]

J. wrote: "Australia and NZ PMs could do shots until only one is left standing."

That gave me a smile, J. The two of them in some sleazy pub sitting across from each other slamming shots on quiz night :-)

So, has there been an outcome, Ian? Does she get sent back to NZ?

[Scout]

Graeme, we've talked about what happens when there's too much dependence on unreliable alternative energy. I know that's not the only problem in Texas, but is that part of it?

[Ian]

Scout wrote: "Graeme, we've talked about what happens when there's too much dependence on unreliable alternative energy. I know that's not the only problem in Texas, but is that part of it?"

It certainly is not helping. I also notice Bill Gates is advocating nuclear power.

[Ian]

Scout wrote: "J. wrote: "Australia and NZ PMs could do shots until only one is left standing."

That gave me a smile, J. The two of them in some sleazy pub sitting across from each other slamming shots on quiz n..."

Yes, there appears to be an outcome. The two MPs have decided to have "constructive" talks. However, on our radio news, it appears that Turkey has decided she is a hot potato and is sending her here, on the grounds that if sent to Australia, since she no longer is a valid Australian citizen she could be sent back to Turkey. She went to Australia when she was six, and has no known friends or relations here, so life for her and the children will not be easy.

[Graeme]

Scout wrote: "Graeme, we've talked about what happens when there's too much dependence on unreliable alternative energy. I know that's not the only problem in Texas, but is that part of it?"

Multiple issues.

1. The local market is defined in a way whereby establishing spare capacity is not rewarded.
2. No winterisation of assets (including Gas and Nuclear systems).
3. 20%+ in windmills which all froze to a halt.
4. No interconnections to other states. (i.e. the grid was 'islanded,' and hence couldn't source help).
5. General lack of preparing for a predictable worst case scenario. Also known as prudent risk management.

Surely, this event will provide a salutary lesson.

[Ian]

The key here is that "environmentally green" technology tends to give up during adverse weather. I am all in favour of the right sort of nuclear.

[Scout]

Right on, Ian!

Graeme said: "Surely, this event will provide a salutary lesson." Well, surely, possibly, maybe, or never. We'll see, as politics takes precedence and defies logic.

[J.]

My problem with nuclear is that during my lifetime there has been a major accident roughly every twenty years.

[Ian]

J. wrote: "My problem with nuclear is that during my lifetime there has been a major accident roughly every twenty years."

That is partly because the reactors are designed to make bomb-making material. If we use the more advanced molten salt reactor that burns the nasties as well, and even better uses thorium, you don't end up with such bad consequences, and I do not believe a well-designed molten salt reactor can have such a bad accident because it cannot overheat. Of course, now you don't get bomb-making isotopes and the militaries can't have that.

[Graeme]

Ian is correct. For example, if a 4th gen reactor had been in place at Fukishima, Chernobyl, or Three Mile Island, none of those bad outcomes could have happened.

If the reactor loses power it simply goes cold. It doesn't blow it's top or melt down.

[Ian]

Of course, these "accidents" are usually the consequence of incredible amounts of stupidity. If you watched the series "Chernobyl" you will notice all the stupid decisions, any one of which not taken should have avoided the disaster.

[J.]

Ian wrote: "Of course, these "accidents" are usually the consequence of incredible amounts of stupidity. If you watched the series "Chernobyl" you will notice all the stupid decisions, any one of which not tak..."

Stupidity is a defining trait of Homo sapiens. One cannot expect to exclude stupidity from a project without proving the caveat.

[Nik]

J. wrote: "... Stupidity is a defining trait of Homo sapiens. One cannot expect to exclude stupidity from a project without proving the caveat...."

Maybe that's the reason why AI is being developed and introduced

[J.]

Aren't the folks developing AI human?

[Nik]

For a starter, which then can become autodidact

[J.]

God is perfect.
God makes man.
Man is imperfect.
Man makes machine.

If the creation of a perfect creator is imperfect, then why should the creation of an imperfect creator be perfect? Further, if the initial logic is flawed, how would iterating said logic remove the flaw?

[Nik]

God, if exists, is conceptually more convincing in being almighty and ubiquitous, much less - in being perfect.
We develop tools that can do things that we can't. I guess it's our common fear that AI would be flawed or would find out this stupidity feature in humans and might turn less obedient

[Ian]

The real fear is that AI would be near perfect, but would have objectives quite different from ours and would regard us similarly to how we regard pests.

[Nik]

Corona or not corona, it's always Djokovic winning in Melbourne

[Papaphilly]

J. wrote: "My problem with nuclear is that during my lifetime there has been a major accident roughly every twenty years."

I am much more worried about how long the half life of waste. Using it for 30 years and then having to store it for 300 does not seem like a fair trade.

[J.]

Spent fuel rods will remain lethally toxic for longer than recorded human history. But if you want to have trouble sleeping check out this playlist of nuclear stupidity. Kyshtym remains one of my go to examples of why the USSR was a bad idea.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe...

[Ian]

J. wrote: "Spent fuel rods will remain lethally toxic for longer than recorded human history. But if you want to have trouble sleeping check out this playlist of nuclear stupidity. Kyshtym remains one of my g..."

Which is why you need molten salt reactors; the long-lived nuclei are burnt for more energy

[J.]

On a decidedly different note, there is a possibility of incredibly good news coming out of Tasmania on March 1rst. A group is claiming to have photos of live thylacines (plural).

https://youtu.be/nUwM16FaEZU

[Papaphilly]

J. wrote: "On a decidedly different note, there is a possibility of incredibly good news coming out of Tasmania on March 1rst. A group is claiming to have photos of live thylacines (plural).

https://youtu.be..."

https://www.theguardian.com/australia...

Probably not, but we certainly hope.

[Scout]

I liked the guy in the video, drinking beer and walking past hops, hoping he had some good news about thylacines (which I'd never heard of). Where was the guy going, though? I thought he was going to show us something, but I guess he was just out for a walk. Sounds like his hopes were dashed by this expert. We all like to see something supposedly impossible happen, don't we?

[[deleted user]]

There’s a furore going on in Scotland. Alex Salmond (former First Minister) has accused his successor (Nicola Sturgeon) of conspiring to ruin his reputation and imprison him.

The extraordinary thing is that Sturgeon’s law officers have redacted the most crucial parts of his evidence in the ongoing inquiry into how the Scottish Government handled past complaints against him, so Salmond has now pulled out of giving evidence. After all, why should he bother when his evidence is being ‘cancelled’?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...

Looking up north, from the south coast of England, the SNP and their leader, Kim Jock-un, appear to be turning Scotland into a European version of North Korea. The way they go about their business is extraordinary. No wonder people are calling them the ‘tartan mafia’. Their dictatorial tendencies have even included attempts to extend their war on ‘hate crime’ to people’s private conversations in their own homes. They are also guilty of appalling abuse against anyone who opposes them (see the recent story about their election campaign against the late Charles Kennedy).

What’s more, the press up there appears to be completely in their pocket.

Worrying times for Scotland. Hope this great nation comes out of it okay.

[J.]

Beau wrote: "There’s a furore going on in Scotland. Alex Salmond (former First Minister) has accused his successor (Nicola Sturgeon) of conspiring to ruin his reputation and imprison him.

The extraordinary th..."

Cue a meme lord and his girlfriend's pug.

[Nik]

Beau wrote: "There’s a furore going on in Scotland. Alex Salmond (former First Minister) has accused his successor (Nicola Sturgeon) of conspiring to ruin his reputation and imprison him.

The extraordinary th..."

Impose embargo on import of polonium and novichok there

[[deleted user]]

Lol to Nik's and J's posts. If you're not a Nationalist up there then it must seem like a very bleak place at the mo (even worse than down here). Their fuhrer appears on TV every single day with a covid press conference where she sounds like someone from a minor state in 1970s Eastern Europe.

Regarding the SNP's calls for another referendum, I'd offer them one - put up or shut up. If they vote to go then they go, if they vote to remain then immediately dissolve their parliament and go back to complete rule from Westminster. After all, Boris won't be around for ever.

[Ian]

Redacting the evidence from a witness that is against your case is an interesting legal procedure. The likes of Vlad usually simply ignore it, but to redact it, that shows, er, determination.

[Papaphilly]

Beau wrote: "There’s a furore going on in Scotland. Alex Salmond (former First Minister) has accused his successor (Nicola Sturgeon) of conspiring to ruin his reputation and imprison him.

The extraordinary th..."

You sure you are not talking about Democrats?

[Graeme]

Now the bills start coming due and defaults and bankruptcies begin in Texas.

REF: https://eminetra.co.uk/electricity-ma...

Dominos anyone?

[Graeme]

Ian wrote: "Which is why you need molten salt reactors; the long-lived nuclei are burnt for more energy ..."

Exactly. Consume the high-level millennium storage waste (and there is enough for centuries of electricity) reducing it down to medium-level waste that can be stored on site at the nuclear facility.

REF: https://www.theguardian.com/environme...

[Ian]

Graeme wrote: "Now the bills start coming due and defaults and bankruptcies begin in Texas.

REF: https://eminetra.co.uk/electricity-ma...

Dominos anyone?"

if the numbers in the link are correct there will certainly be consequences. Could get uglier than it already is.

[Papaphilly]

Graeme wrote: "Now the bills start coming due and defaults and bankruptcies begin in Texas.

REF: https://eminetra.co.uk/electricity-ma...

Dominos anyone?"

This should be fun

[Graeme]

It's the bankruptcy cascade...

[Papaphilly]

Graeme wrote: "It's the bankruptcy cascade..."

We shall see.

[Graeme]

And so it begins...

"HOUSTON (Reuters) - The largest and oldest electric power cooperative in Texas filed for bankruptcy protection in Houston on Monday, citing a disputed $1.8 billion debt to the state’s grid operator."

REF: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ba...

Hmmm, so ERCOTs customers go broke. Being broke they can't pay ERCOT, what happens to ERCOT do they go broke too? And presumably, ERCOT has to pay the power stations, etc...

Who ends up holding the bag and were there 'derivatives,' and other exotic funding/investing systems in play that could spread the financial contagion beyond Texas?

Will other entities come in an snap up 'bankrupt,' corporates at pennies to the dollar?

[Ian]

Given that the power companies have a force majeure clause, they should not have to pay. From the link it seems ERCOT was price gouging to take advantage of the crisis, so I doubt they will get much sympathy.

[Nik]

Someone wrote a while back that average American family was one medical crisis away from bankruptcy, couldn't have imagined electric companies were one frost away too

[Ian]

If I read the ERCOT link correctly, it wasn't the frost that directly did it - it was pig-headedness and price gouging to take advantage of the crisis.

[[deleted user]]

Regarding last week's SNP story, Nicola Sturgeon is appearing before MSPs today. Could the unthinkable happen? Could she resign or even be pushed?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/...

[Ian]

Any politician can be pushed, so the question is, is there a suitable pusher?

[Nik]

So, Boris has accomplished detaching the Albion from continental Europe, but isn't exactly shining on the corona front. How is he evaluated by queen's loyal subjects?

[[deleted user]]

Ian wrote: "Any politician can be pushed, so the question is, is there a suitable pusher?"

I think the committee's findings are due out next month. It'll be very interesting to see how everything pans out. Although I dislike Nicola Sturgeon, she is clearly a formidable politician. The problem for the SNP is that there appears to be a dearth of talent below her. If she goes, the Scottish independence cause could be severely harmed.

If you pushed me on it, I suppose Ian Blackford, SNP Leader in Westminster, would be the obvious choice of successor.

[[deleted user]]

Nik wrote: "So, Boris has accomplished detaching the Albion from continental Europe, but isn't exactly shining on the corona front. How is he evaluated by queen's loyal subjects?"

He appears to be riding high in the opinion polls, Nik.

He’s always been a bit of a marmite character – people either love him or loathe him, a bit like Mrs Thatcher.

I didn’t vote for him but was very happy to give him a chance after he won. At that point, he was making all the right noises for me: positive on Brexit and keen to focus on the North and Midlands, rather than just London.

Then came the lockdowns…

Although he has seriously riled some people on this issue, it appears that many of my fellow Brits want to ‘stay safe’ and consequently Boris enjoys some approval for his handling of the pandemic, particularly the efficient rollout of the vaccine.

I also suspect that disillusionment with the Labour Party has greatly contributed to his relative success, and there’s no denying he’s got that element of charm which appeals to many non-partisan voters.

Personally, if there was an election tomorrow, I’ve no idea who I’d vote for. I very much like Rishi Sunak, The Chancellor of The Exchequer, and want to see him replace Boris sooner rather than later. Could this happen before the next General election? Who knows?

What are Benjamin Netanyahu’s and Denys Shmyhal’s ratings looking like at the moment?