The problem is that idle time is something the rich have aplenty, but the poor don’t.

More that “at no time do enough parts start failing often enough that repair ceases being cost-effective”

That’s a very very tiny part of the problem for fireflies

It’s a mix of different battery chemistries; various Lithium-based chemistries predominate, but there are several utility-scale batteries using iron chemistries. This will change over time as some of the heavier battery types become cheaper for stationary energy storage, and as a need for seasonal storage (instead of overnight) starts to be significant.

Solar tends to become more efficient as it gets colder.

Wind turbines can be built to handle really cold weather too, but they do need specific deicing capabilities and lubricants.

Wind and storage. There really aren’t other options at the right scale.

Thanks! As I try to do as much as possible, this post already used a gift link.

There’s a bit more going on; in particular it’s been clear that a mix of measures put together would suffice to stabilize temperatures.

The big issue is that the people who make money off fossil fuels and ruminants hold political power and have been able to delay implementation.

What are you doing to limit the risk that you’ll end up with compost getting hot enough to catch fire?

Join a local ‘buy nothing’ group. Kids outgrow stuff. When they’re small, this happens FAST.

Do check to see if items you’re getting used have been recalled. It happens more than you might think.

As a result, there’s a constant stream of parents with slightly older kids giving away stuff that they no longer need.

If people must buy you something, ask for something you’d be buying anyways and which is difficult to get used in your area.

The bulk of the US operates with two-stage elections, a primary election where you decide who the party nominee is, and a general election where it’s a contest between parties. The place to not guarantee your vote is in the primary; it’s a smaller election, and each vote there matters much more than in the general election. By turning out in the primary, and choosing a candidate there whom you agree with, you get enormous leverage over policy.

Sure, but it’s hard to have a local discussion in a global forum

The problem is that in about half the country, you don’t know with certainty whether you will be in a competitive location. I certainly didn’t expect to see Georgia be close last time around.

That kind of thinking is how somebody like George Santos got elected. I’d avoid making any kind of assumption.

The structure of how elections in almost all of the US are conducted, with a plurality determining the winner, means that there’s a huge advantage to choosing to vote for somebody who has a big coalition and whose views are less far from your own than the other big coalition.

Let’s look at three examples:

Example 1:

• R: 1000 votes
• D: 1001 votes
• I/non-vote: 0

Democrat wins

Example 2:

• R: 1000 votes
• D: 1000 votes
• I/non-vote: 1

Election is a tie, with the winner decided by flipping a coin or other game of chance

Example 3:

• R: 1000 votes
• D: 999 votes
• I/non-vote: 2

Republican wins

So long as plurality-take-all is how US elections are run, it makes sense for anybody left-of-center to vote for Biden in the general election.

Getting better policies means not just doing that though, but taking active steps to volunteer for and donate to candidates during primaries, as well as seeking out close house and close senate races in the general election to support Democrats, thereby shifting the balance of power slightly to the left.

You can put it directly on an induction stove without scratching the glass.

How you run varies a lot by country.

In the US, you start by filing papers to do it. Typically a combination of a fee and collecting signatures. Municipal government tends to have a lot of power over things like what commute mode is favored and local building codes, so I recommend it for first-time candidates. You’ll need to raise enough money to help get the word out, spend a lot of time visiting community groups and talking with people, and ideally recruit a few volunteers to help you win a primary.

I worry that systems like this will make it impossible to boot trolls and other bad actors

It happens.

The otter might just be one that grew up around humans, and is therefore not behaving in the way they normally do:

The animal, officially known as otter 841, was born in captivity — because its mother had also been too friendly with humans — and then successfully released into the wild in June 2020, Connor told NPR. It wasn’t until September 2022 that she started exhibiting her bizarre behavior at Steamer Lane.