Re: [Biofuel] The rise of social capital

[Chip Mefford]

Good thread folks!


I, use open source, free as in speech tools exclusively and have since
the mid-90s, going on 20 years now. Never looked back. 

I, could give a shit about cars anymore. 
And I'm something of a car nut. Just for fun, here's a short
and incomplete list of cars I've owned that I put together
a while ago, just as a mental exercise:

http://cubic-dog.blogspot.com/2010/07/cars-i-have-owned.html

I, am a fan of solar power, don't really care anymore what the
utilities in the US think about anything, I think that they
are a bunch of bastards. They don't have to be, but they
go out of their way to choose to be. 

I don't care about electric cars at all. Cars, irrespective
of how they are powered, are not the answer. Cars, irrespective
of how they are powered, are the problem. 

That said, they are fun to fiddle with. :)

--me
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Re: [Biofuel] The rise of social capital

[Zeke Yewdall]

On the one hand, connection fees do make sense for utilities... if you had
a solar system with a generator for backup, you'd have to buy that
generator, even if you didn't use it very often... same with the utility --
you should have to pay them to be there, even if you don't use them much.
 However... solar energy that you export back into the grid on a
batteryless system is also more valuable (because of lower external costs)
than the grid power, and they don't measure that right now either... if
they accurately accounted for all the value of the solar, then I'd be more
willing to pay the connection fees to the grid as well.   WIthout that,
just doing net metering and getting a large free "battery" in the grid, in
exchange for them getting clean solar power that I paid for installing,
seems fair enough

The health care thing in the US is perplexing people would rather die
(and many do due to putting off seeing a doctor till an ER visit is
necessary) than have "crappy government health care"   It's kind of like
we've been convinced that a toyota is such a crappy car that it's actually
better to walk through the rain and mud naked if you can't afford to drive
a range rover.   The range rover should be the option for those with extra
cash if they want it... not the requirement for everyone as it is now.


On Sat, Mar 22, 2014 at 6:58 PM, Darryl McMahon wrote:

> Hi Doug,
>
> thanks for the Japanese battery re-use link.  As a Nisssan Leaf electric
> car owner, and advocate for distributed generation, I have multiple related
> interests.
>
> I am a cautious fan of open-source tools.  I have built them (1980s and
> 1990s), and I use some (e.g., Libre Office).  I did use Android and a
> variety of Unix flavours over the years, but currently do not.  I'm not
> against using them again, but my experience with HTC (non-)support of my
> first Android smartphone was my prime motivator in switching to a
> BlackBerry Z10.  On the Z10, the updates just arrive and work.  On the HTC,
> I had to hunt for updates, research them to see if they actually worked on
> my device, and on one occasion, an update went badly. Sometimes the price
> of 'free' is high (in this case, in time lost).
>
> 3D printing continues to fascinate me, but I have not found the
> justification for it yet in my personal set of tools.
>
> "Connection" or "availability" fees seem to be a new and growing trend for
> utilities.  I use natural gas for backup heat (solar primary), and the
> monthly "connection" fee comes to more than my fuel consumption cost over
> the course of the year.  Our local electrical utility has implemented the
> same concept fairly recently.  I'm not actually against the idea.  I was
> just astonished at the idea that a monopoly needs that much money to
> maintain infrastructure.  (The charge should not be needed for new build,
> as there is also a one-time connection fee that is also substantial.)
>
> These fees just become more arguments for severing the grid connection
> entirely for some people.
>
> I sympathize with your friend's lament re: time spent looking for funding.
>  Still there, still doing that.
>
> Darryl
>
>
> On 22/03/2014 8:05 PM, Doug wrote:
>
>> Darryl, I have a slightly different view of your response to the
>> Rifkin article. I will start by agreeing with your last paragraph
>> which largely points out the rise of large capital (& responding
>> political influence). I think some of the issues we are experiencing
>> is a result of the grab for control by corporations where they are
>> lobbying governments to 'protect' their market. As an Australian, we
>> have power companies that are frightened by the growth of solarpower.
>> In Australia we now have a 'connection cost' that is growing. This
>> cost is to supply the backbone. I fear in the future we will be
>> charged if the power is available, even if we do not connect to the
>> grid! With the availability of cheaper batteries (& particularly
>> recycled Electric car batteries in the future (1) In Australia we
>> have a Medicare that gives free Medical to all citizens. The actual
>> cost to taxpayers is LESS than the government outlay per citizen in
>> the USA. Unfortunately greed is causing a few creaks in the seams
>> bcause the differential wages between low , average & high wage
>> earners, so Doctors want to charge a Co-payment that will degrade the
>> concept of the service. We still have Private insurers & Health
>> Providers, but up to now all basic health requirement has been
>> covered.
>>
>> One of the comments in the article was regarding the rise of Open
>> Source: both Hardware & Software. I am an avid Open Source user. The
>> rise of 3D printers will increase this use. I can think of making
>> parts for my classic motorcycle for instance (such as Blinker
>> lenses). I also need to print an HDPE Normally closed float valve for
>> my pool. I feel the Open Source movement has grown due to the
>> inefficiencies & greed of the Patent sys

Re: [Biofuel] The rise of social capital

[Darryl McMahon]

Hi Doug,

thanks for the Japanese battery re-use link.  As a Nisssan Leaf electric 
car owner, and advocate for distributed generation, I have multiple 
related interests.


I am a cautious fan of open-source tools.  I have built them (1980s and 
1990s), and I use some (e.g., Libre Office).  I did use Android and a 
variety of Unix flavours over the years, but currently do not.  I'm not 
against using them again, but my experience with HTC (non-)support of my 
first Android smartphone was my prime motivator in switching to a 
BlackBerry Z10.  On the Z10, the updates just arrive and work.  On the 
HTC, I had to hunt for updates, research them to see if they actually 
worked on my device, and on one occasion, an update went badly. 
Sometimes the price of 'free' is high (in this case, in time lost).


3D printing continues to fascinate me, but I have not found the 
justification for it yet in my personal set of tools.


"Connection" or "availability" fees seem to be a new and growing trend 
for utilities.  I use natural gas for backup heat (solar primary), and 
the monthly "connection" fee comes to more than my fuel consumption cost 
over the course of the year.  Our local electrical utility has 
implemented the same concept fairly recently.  I'm not actually against 
the idea.  I was just astonished at the idea that a monopoly needs that 
much money to maintain infrastructure.  (The charge should not be needed 
for new build, as there is also a one-time connection fee that is also 
substantial.)


These fees just become more arguments for severing the grid connection 
entirely for some people.


I sympathize with your friend's lament re: time spent looking for 
funding.  Still there, still doing that.


Darryl

On 22/03/2014 8:05 PM, Doug wrote:

Darryl, I have a slightly different view of your response to the
Rifkin article. I will start by agreeing with your last paragraph
which largely points out the rise of large capital (& responding
political influence). I think some of the issues we are experiencing
is a result of the grab for control by corporations where they are
lobbying governments to 'protect' their market. As an Australian, we
have power companies that are frightened by the growth of solarpower.
In Australia we now have a 'connection cost' that is growing. This
cost is to supply the backbone. I fear in the future we will be
charged if the power is available, even if we do not connect to the
grid! With the availability of cheaper batteries (& particularly
recycled Electric car batteries in the future (1) In Australia we
have a Medicare that gives free Medical to all citizens. The actual
cost to taxpayers is LESS than the government outlay per citizen in
the USA. Unfortunately greed is causing a few creaks in the seams
bcause the differential wages between low , average & high wage
earners, so Doctors want to charge a Co-payment that will degrade the
concept of the service. We still have Private insurers & Health
Providers, but up to now all basic health requirement has been
covered.

One of the comments in the article was regarding the rise of Open
Source: both Hardware & Software. I am an avid Open Source user. The
rise of 3D printers will increase this use. I can think of making
parts for my classic motorcycle for instance (such as Blinker
lenses). I also need to print an HDPE Normally closed float valve for
my pool. I feel the Open Source movement has grown due to the
inefficiencies & greed of the Patent system. Companies can either
lend or give patents to the open source movement, or document
patentable systems so prior art is established. Personally I feel the
patent system now actually restricts development. There seems to be
limited natural research these days. In days of yore, we had the
CSIRO in Australia that was responsible for many discoveries
including things used in the Space race, Agriculture, Electronics &
software, etc. Unfortunately in the last few years our Governments
have given little funding to CSIRO, so much time is now wasted on
finding private funding (a Geologist friend said 30% of his time was
wasted on finding funding: he is now retired.) This 'waste' must be
absorbed by the system, most probably by increased cost for the final
product. My comment as a consumer is to ensure that any electronics I
buy are Hackable: my phone has an upgraded operating system installed
(from the XDA site). Also items such as my Router is to be loaded
with Gargoyle. Even though I am still working, we try to live softly
on the planet. I feel using closed source items such as the most
popular operating system, or the systems supplied by the fruity
manufacturer are limiting my rights to my data, so would never be
purchased. I am particularly concerned on the invasion of privacy by
Big Brother. Some might be required for security, but I feel much is
now collected for spurious institutional reasons. As a final comment,
I am surprised at the Opposition to a basic Health cover in the US.
When I s

Re: [Biofuel] The rise of social capital

[Doug]

Darryl,
 I have a slightly different view of your response to the Rifkin article. I 
will start by agreeing with your last paragraph which largely points out the 
rise of large capital (& responding political influence).
 I think some of the issues we are experiencing is a result of the grab for 
control by corporations where they are lobbying governments to 'protect' their 
market. As an Australian, we have power companies that are frightened by the 
growth of solarpower. In Australia we now have a 'connection cost' that is 
growing. This cost is to supply the backbone. I fear in the future we will be 
charged if the power is available, even if we do not connect to the grid! With 
the availability of cheaper batteries (& particularly recycled Electric car 
batteries in the future (1)
 In Australia we have a Medicare that gives free Medical to all citizens. The 
actual cost to taxpayers is LESS than the government outlay per citizen in the 
USA. Unfortunately greed is causing a few creaks in the seams bcause the 
differential wages between low , average & high wage earners, so Doctors want 
to charge a Co-payment that will degrade the concept of the service. We still 
have Private insurers & Health Providers, but up to now all basic health 
requirement has been covered.

 One of the comments in the article was regarding the rise of Open Source: both 
Hardware & Software. I am an avid Open Source user. The rise of 3D printers 
will increase this use. I can think of making parts for my classic motorcycle 
for instance (such as Blinker lenses). I also need to print an HDPE Normally 
closed float valve for my pool. I feel the Open Source movement has grown due 
to the inefficiencies & greed of the Patent system. Companies can either lend 
or give patents to the open source movement, or document patentable systems so 
prior art is established. Personally I feel the patent system now actually 
restricts development. There seems to be limited natural research these days. 
In days of yore, we had the CSIRO in Australia that was responsible for many 
discoveries including things used in the Space race, Agriculture, Electronics & 
software, etc. Unfortunately in the last few years our Governments have given 
little funding to CSIRO, so much time is now wasted on finding private funding 
(a Geologist friend said 30% of his time was wasted on finding funding: he is 
now retired.) This 'waste' must be absorbed by the system, most probably by 
increased cost for the final product.
 My comment as a consumer is to ensure that any electronics I buy are Hackable: 
my phone has an upgraded operating system installed (from the XDA site). Also 
items such as my Router is to be loaded with Gargoyle. Even though I am still 
working, we try to live softly on the planet. I feel using closed source items 
such as the most popular operating system, or the systems supplied by the 
fruity manufacturer are limiting my rights to my data, so would never be 
purchased. I am particularly concerned on the invasion of privacy by Big 
Brother. Some might be required for security, but I feel much is now collected 
for spurious institutional reasons.
 As a final comment, I am surprised at the Opposition to a basic Health cover 
in the US. When I see the quality of life of all Australians, rich or poor, 
supplied by the Medicare system at a lower cost than the US now pays, I wonder 
why the poor do not revolt! There must be so much unnecessary suffering because 
quality Health care is not easily available. My perception is the only winners 
are the super-rich that may pay slightly less tax. (The Medicare rate is now 
1.5% of taxable income, an affordable amount. If you do not earn, you are still 
covered.)
 I am particularly concerned by the huge spread of wages, & the growing 
differential between the super rich & super poor. We have a handful of super 
rich mining magnates that spent less than $10M for advertising (that is 
probably tax-deductable!) to stop the Australian Mining Tax that would have 
cost them $4bn in tax over the next few years. Unfortunately this revenue must 
now be paid by general taxpayers mainly by reduced services. (the Doctors 
co-Payment would be an example).

Enough rant,
Regards Doug

(1) An Island in Japan now has used recycled batteries for Solar backup to 
replace Diesel power 


On Thu, 20 Mar 2014 21:55:36 -0400
Darryl McMahon  wrote:

> http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/opinion/sunday/the-rise-of-anti-capitalism.html?action=click&contentCollection=Technology&module=MostEmailed&version=Full®ion=Marginalia&src=me&pgtype=article
> 
> [Article appears below.  First, my rant.
> 
> In my opinion, growth in the non-profit sector is almost never good
> news.  In my experience, the non-profit sector generally grows only if
> there is a sustained excess demand for their services over existing
> sup