As I attempt to go back off grid for the first time in decades, this time with a family in tow, I'm struck by just how much the solar, and by extension renewable energy, industry has changed.
What once was geared towards people living an alternative lifestyle is now centered around making yuppies in the suburbs believe that they're saving the world if they grid-tie some solar panels on their roof and charge their Tesla at home. It's populated by "business managers" who are only interested is seeing how many shoddily done jobs they can slap up in a short amount of time who mask that fact by pretending to care about the environment to their customers.
I have yet to have a positive interaction with anyone in the industry about actual self-sustainability. They just don't care. It's all so....corporate and phony now.
This is a real disappointment in my current life. Can't even drop out of society effectively anymore.
Today's Flickr picture is one of the many interesting things to be seen when walking by the river Thames in London. My partner and I have walked both banks in stages over a period of a few years. This lifting (or bascule) bridge carries Rotherhithe Street over the entrance to Surrey Water.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jim_easterbrook/16434131804/
#Photography #Flickr #bridge #bascule #London #Thames
UK Budget
Was a bit surprised to hear Hunt say that he was puzzled about why so many more people are long-term sick and economically inactive.
As a recent former chair of the health select committee, you'd have hoped he might have been aware that there has been quite a big thing going on in the last couple of years affecting health.
Checked out the back windows (harbour) and saw it was currently dry with blue skies. Right, good time to nip out to chores.
Stepped out the front door (street): rain.
FFS 😂 I'll wait five minutes!
https://www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jobsite/jobs/60167283?hl=en&lang=en We have a VACANCY for a 4-year PhD position within the Horizon Europe project OSIRIS - Open Science to Increase Reproducibility in Science. This large-scale international project aims to investigate and deliver guidance about evidence-based interventions to improve the reproducibility of scientific findings, with particular attention for Open Science research practices. Applications are open or contact us by direct message if you want more information!
I was awake before the alarm again and I'm not even going into store today (supposed to be day off but Teams meeting - at least it will be in my kitchen for me!) but can't complain too much with this bonus.
*picture shows orange clouds above rising sun in centre frame with tiny lighthouse just visible on left. Yacht mast sticks up on the right with hillside beyond. Dark area at front is the harbour.
I just presented Art Spiegelman with the National Book Award Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, on the same day that PENAmerica put out a letter signed by Art and Margaret Atwood and me, among others, protesting the latest round of book bannings.
https://pen.org/spiegelman-atwood-sign-pen-america-letter-against-missouri-book-bans/
Back in one of my favourite places.
#Castlemaine
#CastlemaineCommunityKitchenGarden
#JaaraCountry
#DjaDjaWurringCountry
#EdibleGardens
#permaculture
Garfield phones have been washing on the shore of the Finistère coasts of France for almost four decades. There's a shipping container wedged in the rocks that has been slowly releasing them all these years. Photo by Fred Tanneau. Source: https://bit.ly/3iH3K9u
So, I'd like to thank all the sighted people here on mastidon who take the time to describe pictures to us blindies. Most people on other social media sites wouldn't do that. I appreciate it so much #ThankYouForHavingPatience #ThisIsSoAwesome
Sweary and opinionated. It's best not to take it personally. Also hilarious but that might be less obvious.