michaelwong

@michaelwong@mstdn.ca

Semi-retired professional accountant, fan of retrocomputing/retrogaming, and interested in the energy transition.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

CelloMomOnCars, to random
@CelloMomOnCars@mastodon.social avatar

Why analysts keep underestimating the speed of the

(What's missing from this list: cultural and socio-economic factors. Ordinary people are ready for this).

https://rmi.org/the-eight-deadly-sins-of-analyzing-the-energy-transition/

michaelwong,

@CelloMomOnCars
2 other factors which are quietly improving the speed of the :

  1. Military. Battery research for quieter, more range, and lower heat signature drones, submarines, and vehicles. The war in Ukraine is highlighting the importance of good air/sea drones in modern war.

  2. Prepper promotion. I've noticed lots of preppers are actively advocating for people to get solar panels and batteries instead of gas generators. They are swaying the solar skeptics crowd.

michaelwong,

@CelloMomOnCars
Wow that film The Burden is really fantastic and thought provoking. And it's from 2014, almost 10 years ago. What really surprised me was when one of the people said that half the supplies in the supply convoys in the Iraq war was fuel. So not only were the trucks in those convoys slow moving unarmored big targets, half of them were also extremely flammable. I wonder if the same thing is happening in ? Probably super easy targets for drones.

MichaelEMann, to random
@MichaelEMann@fediscience.org avatar

"Renowned climate scientist Michael E. Mann on what ‘doomers’ get wrong -- In his new book, ,’ he explains why every fraction of a degree of climate warming is worth preventing" | My convo with Michael Svoboda for : https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2023/09/renowned-climate-scientist-michael-e-mann-on-what-doomers-get-wrong/

michaelwong,

@MichaelEMann

I boosted this, but would be nice to add hashtags such as , and to the post to increase reach.

Teri_Kanefield, (edited ) to random

deleted_by_author

    •
    michaelwong,

    @Teri_Kanefield

    He's doing it because it's either he charges or he loses money.The price for was $44B. Of that $24B was from , $13B was bank loans, and $7B from other investors. Musk might be ok with losing money (doubt it), but I'm sure the banks and other investors are not. If the expected return on the $44B is 7% per year(my # out of thin air), then #X needs around $3 billion of profit. That works out to 250M active users paying $12 per year ($1/month). But how many will pay?

    mastodonmigration, to twitter
    @mastodonmigration@mastodon.online avatar

    So, Elon Musk says he is going to start charging everyone for Twitter/X...

    CNBC: Elon Musk says Twitter, now X, is moving to monthly subscription fees >>> https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/18/musk-says-twitter-now-x-is-moving-to-monthly-subscriptions.html

    "Among other things, Musk said the social network is 'moving to having a small monthly payment for use of the X system...'"

    Wonder how that's going to work out?

    michaelwong,

    @mastodonmigration

    Make or break time at . The blue check marks for a fee thing didn't work. Nor did destroying moderation to drive engagement. I'm sure some would pay for being on twitter but how many? Twitter was already losing money before Musk and it got worse financially afterwards. If this doesn't work I think twitter is toast long term. Any guesses on how much Musk will charge and how many pay?

    openmediavault, to random German
    @openmediavault@fosstodon.org avatar

    A new update is available. Please check https://www.openmediavault.org/?p=3570 for more information.

    michaelwong,

    @openmediavault
    I'm a happy user on 4. I used to use OMV on an old PC, but wanted to reduce energy usage and space requirements. How many of you use PC compared to RPi or other?

    michaelwong, to climate

    This is a short 10 minute podcast from TEDTalks given by Al Roker. It talks about what individuals (you) can do to help with . Don't fall to despair or ...because every fraction of a degree less of climate change helps the world. Do . Vote appropriately. Don't buy . Most importantly boost this post to encourage action instead of inaction.

    https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9vcGVuLmZpcnN0b3J5Lm1lL3Jzcy91c2VyL2NqemR4emY3dmJ6dmowNzU4NzJrYW5vaWI/episode/ZW4uYXVkaW8udGFsay50ZWQuY29tOjExNzU4Mw?ep=14

    michaelwong,

    Nasty poll on what you are going to do about

    Free_Press, (edited ) to news
    @Free_Press@mstdn.social avatar

    Donald Trump and his lawyers may only review classified evidence in a secure place (not in the Mar a Lago bathroom) as he prepares for a criminal trial over his handling of secret documents after he left office in 2021, a judge ruled on Wednesday.

    https://www.reuters.com/legal/judge-issues-protective-order-over-classified-evidence-trump-documents-case-2023-09-13/

    michaelwong,

    @Free_Press

    You forgot to add the hashtag . 😁

    briankrebs, to random

    Why doesn't Apple make a TV? They would own that space. Half the people I know would happily buy one, if it meant no spyware, user choice, and never buying another "smart" TV again. Even if the cost was 2x normal smart tv.

    michaelwong,

    @briankrebs

    To make a small dumb TV, just buy a computer monitor and add a tv tuner box. In the US and Canada, tv tuner boxes from the analog to digital transition years can probably be found used for next to nothing or new for under $50. The tv tuner boxes usually have all sorts of inputs.

    fkamiah17, to UKpolitics
    @fkamiah17@toot.wales avatar

    I don't think the Express have thought this through 😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂
    Have your say, people. As of a few minutes ago, 72% want a second referendum.
    Yes please.

    https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1811341/last-night-of-the-proms-bbc-eu-flags?fbclid=IwAR01ZXn_l-sgdXOR6GJwzMbSNXNtGm4qSQnyPmNulIoZgzp3RNfgF5oYhQY

    michaelwong,

    @fkamiah17

    Do you want a second Brexit vote? Vote if this is relevant to you. Boost to publicize this poll. I'm not voting here because I'm Canadian.

    michaelwong,

    @jacqui76 @fkamiah17

    You bring up an interesting point about other countries wanting to join the EU. Do you think there is more interest in joining the EU now after all the issues in Europe and the invasion of ? It seems to me that for countries seeking safety/stability, joining the EU while not a guarantee, would help. But I realize some Europeans may be fiercely independent. I'm Canadian so don't have any sense of this. What do you and other Europeans think?

    nixCraft, to random
    @nixCraft@mastodon.social avatar

    Microsoft Edge is starting to annoy me big time https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/microsoft-edge-personalized-web-got-it-annoyance.html The Ads aren't just in Edge. The whole Windows has gotten out of control with Ads and trackers everywhere. Microsoft is obsessed with Ad revenue in the Paid operating system.

    michaelwong,

    @nixCraft Just another example of

    ap236, to cdnpoli
    @ap236@mastodon.social avatar

    Greens call for national water bomber fleet https://bit.ly/47XO6Os @cdnpoli

    michaelwong,

    @ap236 @cdnpoli We should get the US government to help fund it. The more the US pays, the bigger the fleet and the less pollution they will get. US financial resources is 10x that of Canada.

    TechConnectify, to random

    I don't know why it took me this long to articulate this thought, but Tesla's charging model is ultimately a trap for themselves:

    They rely on other folks to provide services near their charging sites. That's clever, BUT it means they do not make any money from those services.

    And that's precisely what keeps gas stations in business. They compete with one another to such an extent that the fuel is sold barely above cost, and the store/car wash/cafe is where they /actually/ make money.

    michaelwong,

    @TechConnectify I see the future of highway charging to be a site with multiple fast food restaurants and one convenience store. The bathroom facilities and a small sit-down eating area will be shared (reduces costs). Half of the parking spots will have chargers. All parking will have overhead solar panels for the shade. Customers will park, go to buy food, and optionally buy a prepaid amount of electricity for their EV. Plus discount to eat in car (less customers lingering after charging).

    breadandcircuses, to environment

    Climate optimists like to claim that as soon as we reach “net zero” — the point when we are (theoretically) emitting less CO2 than the amount being absorbed by oceans, rocks, or plants, and taken out of the atmosphere through carbon capture — then global warming will stop almost immediately.

    It’s a nice message, one intended to make us feel better, reassured that our leaders know what they’re doing. Don’t worry, we are told, everything is under control. By 2050, if not sooner, they’ll have the situation turned around.

    In the meantime, we can all relax and go ahead with Business As Usual. 😃 Keep shopping, keep buying, keep driving, keep flying. And don’t forget to do your part: buy those paper straws and recycle that water bottle!

    BUT — there are big problems with this phony net zero claim, and the way countries report their emissions is one of them. Investigators have found huge discrepancies accruing through the use of spurious carbon offsets, outsourcing, and other UN-approved loopholes. Also, CO2 emissions from the military are not required to be included, nor are emissions from international trade.

    See — https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/08/greta-thunberg-climate-delusion-greenwashed-out-of-our-senses

    Some estimates suggest that actual emissions could be at least twice as high as what’s being shown in the official reports. No wonder global temperatures keep rising even though we’re constantly assured that great progress is being made.

    In addition, there’s a risk that climate change itself will trigger “natural” emissions of greenhouse gases as peat bogs dry out, as drought-weakened forests burn, as permafrost melts, and as the sea floor warms, releasing previously frozen methane clathrates. So it’s not just the emissions of human industry we need to worry about.

    See — https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fstory%2Fthe-arctic-is-a-freezer-thats-losing-power%2F

    The point is, net zero is NOT zero. Don’t fall for their lies. It’s time for real change, for system change. We must demand the end of and a pivot toward .

    michaelwong,

    @breadandcircuses
    I keep hearing about recently by many posters. I think this term is incorrect because I assume degrowth supporters are not against helping the poor in 3rd world countries raise their standards of living, or the increase in ...both of which help increase "growth". Therefore, I encourage people to call it by a more accurate term..maybe ? Or ? Maybe someone else can come up with a more accurate term.

    michaelwong,

    @breadandcircuses

    I also dislike the term because it sounds like supporters are Luddites that want to go back to cave life (even if that is not true). The issue needs us to win the hearts and minds of as many people as possible to smooth change. We need to give a simple positive message to encourage people to act FOR new renewables and ANTI old luddite cave life fossil fuels. Don't call yourself a (aka luddite) supporter.

    michaelwong,

    @breadandcircuses
    Thanks for the article you linked to. I'm struck by the fact that has been a movement since 2008 and yet the followers have not changed the name. Indeed according to the article, economist Raworth says of degrowth:

    "it is unnecessarily negative and alienating when many of its ideas would be more attractive if framed differently."

    Perception IS reality. The oil industry WILL twist the term as another word for pro-poverty. I encourage you to propose another term.

    petergleick, to random
    @petergleick@fediscience.org avatar

    LOL.
    Twitter Blue subscribers can now hide their mark of shame.

    https://www.ign.com/articles/twitter-blue-subscribers-hide-blue-verification-checkmark

    michaelwong,

    @petergleick

    Next #x will give everyone the blue check mark and you have to pay to remove it. Genius!

    tilvids, to mastodon
    @tilvids@mstdn.social avatar

    Not a surprise to see some of this starting to happen. It actually makes sense for corporate entities to start their own instances of for sharing out information and building a network of followers that can't be capriciously switched off when some billionaire decides they no longer like you. 👏

    Good on you @BBCRD Now how about a instance for your online video presence? I know a guy, if you're interested... 💙

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/blog/2023-07-mastodon-distributed-decentralised-fediverse-activitypub

    michaelwong,

    @tilvids @BBCRD

    It needs to be emphasized that this is a non-joinable instance:

    “we don’t allow users to create accounts or post from our server, but they can reply to our posts from their own servers."

    This is a good and necessary idea.

    On the other hand, it would be fun if I could join and had a chance to be an "official" BBC spokesman. No charge of course. :)

    nixCraft, to linux
    @nixCraft@mastodon.social avatar

    How long have you been using as a daily driver?

    michaelwong,

    @nixCraft
    Used Linux since Win95 came out. I'd bought a new Dell with Win95 that crashed like crazy. So I went to the bookstore that my friend managed (Toronto Computer Books) to get a book or get advice. Right there on the counter was Red Hat on CD with promises of stability, etc. My friend wasn't around so I bought it. I'm a professional accountant that had zero knowledge of Linux, so after I installed it I stared blankly at the command line. Next day went back to to get a Linux book.

    thomasfuchs, to random
    @thomasfuchs@hachyderm.io avatar

    Can’t make it to Oregon, my Compaq crashed

    michaelwong,

    @thomasfuchs

    That was my first workplace computer after university. Surprised by how heavy it was. Lots of Lotus123 work on it.

    michaelwong, to ontario

    I just accidentally found this on Mastodon. It shows of diseases in medical facilities... including . Info that may be good to know.

    @onoutbreaks

    feoh, to linux

    I may not run on my daily driver laptop, but one of the reasons I always keep it near to hand on one of my machines is the wild, wacky and downright wonderful things that only exist in that ecosystem.

    This is a fabulous example of that! Someone did a native port of Lotus 1-2-3 to Linux.

    https://github.com/taviso/123elf

    Just delightful :)

    michaelwong,

    @feoh

    I wonder if my fingers remember the keystroke commands. Everything was "/" something. I seem to remember Wordstar where ctrl-k-w was save?

    breadandcircuses, to random

    Has anyone else noticed a gradual warming... or am I deluded?

    michaelwong,

    @breadandcircuses

    Insurance companies know all about risk. It's their core competency. Now banks jacking up mortgage rates due to and .

    https://www.businessinsider.com/my-mortgage-in-florida-went-up-1000-because-of-potential-flooding-2023-7

    Next is banks start fleeing the mortgage market in affected places.

    Insurance cos and banks generally represent the "smart money". The Florida government already forced to step in to provide state backed insurance to the locals as a last resort. Mortgages next. of things to come.

  • All
  • Subscribed
  • Moderated
  • Favorites
  • •
  • anitta
  • thenastyranch
  • rosin
  • GTA5RPClips
  • osvaldo12
  • love
  • Youngstown
  • slotface
  • khanakhh
  • everett
  • kavyap
  • mdbf
  • DreamBathrooms
  • ngwrru68w68
  • megavids
  • magazineikmin
  • InstantRegret
  • normalnudes
  • tacticalgear
  • cubers
  • ethstaker
  • modclub
  • cisconetworking
  • Durango
  • provamag3
  • tester
  • Leos
  • JUstTest
  • All magazines
    •