Well, my "June First" day went rather catawumpus. I had an eye doc appt, after which I would have my snow tires changed over to Summer tires and get a software update for my car. After that I was to go on to setting up our new composter. Whoo. So exciting. Well... It turns out I kind of need a new eyeglass prescription. Then I was sitting waiting for my car to be ready, with my eyes so dilated I had to wear sunglasses indoors, and they found a huge mouse nest in my engine, but fortunately no wires were chewed!
Later I got the yard area ready for the composter, but still need to set up the new one.
Apparently, I suck at planning a personal holiday!
Oh! But I did buy a red-lined black and white checkerboard tote because it matches my Mini and I am always having to fish around for a good size bag. So the day was not a complete loss. LOL!
Reply on previous thread, listener. I use inflatable software in my car--one of those horse collar type pillows (red, not color coordinated with the car); so far it hasn't needed an update. To bed soon; I slept well last night in Oakland, and fairly well the night before--also in Oakland. But the long drive is tiring.
And on another note, someone pointed out something I knew but hadn't thought of lately--neither coal fired nor nuclear power plants work well with wind and solar power--they are too slow to change their output. So they continue to be replaced with gas-turbine plants. The big pumped storage hydroelectric plant in the mountains east of here, that was built to balance the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, was recently rebuilt to cycle much more frequently because of changes in demand. I saw some figures, which as I recall showed about one nuclear power plant per year closing in the US, and the Sierra Club's "Beyond Coal" program has been very effective in preventing the expansion or reconstruction of coal fired power plants through public education and local political action.
The thought has occurred to me that der turnip is here for the purpose of shepherding us from super-power to ordinary citizenship amongst the world's nations. I've thought, off and on, in my lifetime about the subject. Once sitting in a small cafe in Greece, set in a field of 3,000 year old ruins, I noted that life goes on. . . . And given that I adored Greeks, went on very well indeed. A bit later, had, in China, that conversation with a Brit student, whose parents had lived with it post WWI. Italy, Portugal, Spain all survived. Even the Soviet Union seems to have, sort of. Wonder if we'll manage it with the Grace of Great Brittan, or the ugliness of the Russians?
I'm saying this because I'm beginning to hear the musings from Europe about our uselessness since der turnip's trip there. . . .
I think the effects of Trump's foreign policy, including the exit from the Paris agreement, have clearly been to diminish US influence in World affairs. I'm not sure it is truly analogous to the end of the British Empire or the breakup of the Soviet Union. Perhaps more like the gradual fading of French influence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Certainly life will go on for the ordinary citizen. But what this means for foreign policy post-Trump is hard to say.
"Human kindness is overflowing
ReplyDeleteand I think it's going to rain today."
Well, my "June First" day went rather catawumpus. I had an eye doc appt, after which I would have my snow tires changed over to Summer tires and get a software update for my car. After that I was to go on to setting up our new composter. Whoo. So exciting. Well...
ReplyDeleteIt turns out I kind of need a new eyeglass prescription. Then I was sitting waiting for my car to be ready, with my eyes so dilated I had to wear sunglasses indoors, and they found a huge mouse nest in my engine, but fortunately no wires were chewed!
Later I got the yard area ready for the composter, but still need to set up the new one.
Apparently, I suck at planning a personal holiday!
Oh! But I did buy a red-lined black and white checkerboard tote because it matches my Mini and I am always having to fish around for a good size bag. So the day was not a complete loss. LOL!
DeleteReply on previous thread, listener. I use inflatable software in my car--one of those horse collar type pillows (red, not color coordinated with the car); so far it hasn't needed an update. To bed soon; I slept well last night in Oakland, and fairly well the night before--also in Oakland. But the long drive is tiring.
ReplyDeleteAnd on another note, someone pointed out something I knew but hadn't thought of lately--neither coal fired nor nuclear power plants work well with wind and solar power--they are too slow to change their output. So they continue to be replaced with gas-turbine plants. The big pumped storage hydroelectric plant in the mountains east of here, that was built to balance the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, was recently rebuilt to cycle much more frequently because of changes in demand. I saw some figures, which as I recall showed about one nuclear power plant per year closing in the US, and the Sierra Club's "Beyond Coal" program has been very effective in preventing the expansion or reconstruction of coal fired power plants through public education and local political action.
--Alan
US non-national actors to submit commitment to meet US Paris Agreement pledges without US government. [Click] Wow!
ReplyDelete--Alan
Vermont to Join "Climate "Alliance" ...
DeleteHurrah for Vermont!
(Note that our *Republican* Governor supports this.)
http://www.wcax.com/story/35576948/vermont-to-join-climate-alliance-after-us-pulls-out-of-paris-accord
The thought has occurred to me that der turnip is here for the purpose of shepherding us from super-power to ordinary citizenship amongst the world's nations. I've thought, off and on, in my lifetime about the subject. Once sitting in a small cafe in Greece, set in a field of 3,000 year old ruins, I noted that life goes on. . . . And given that I adored Greeks, went on very well indeed. A bit later, had, in China, that conversation with a Brit student, whose parents had lived with it post WWI. Italy, Portugal, Spain all survived. Even the Soviet Union seems to have, sort of. Wonder if we'll manage it with the Grace of Great Brittan, or the ugliness of the Russians?
ReplyDeleteI'm saying this because I'm beginning to hear the musings from Europe about our uselessness since der turnip's trip there. . . .
I think the effects of Trump's foreign policy, including the exit from the Paris agreement, have clearly been to diminish US influence in World affairs. I'm not sure it is truly analogous to the end of the British Empire or the breakup of the Soviet Union. Perhaps more like the gradual fading of French influence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Certainly life will go on for the ordinary citizen. But what this means for foreign policy post-Trump is hard to say.
Delete