From yesterday.

MILWAUKEE OPPENDRIVER NUCLEAR-POWERED DRILL

From the Guardian UK.

US children’s book author accused of killing husband also charged with poisoning attempt

Maybe I’m reading too much into this but certainly the end of a era in Central Texas.

Willie Nelson moves 2024 4th of July Picnic out of Texas

The world’s largest oil company says the transition away from fossil fuels is failing.  This is after large cuts to production.

The reality I see is factories cranking out electric cars and solar panels.  Every time an EV or a solar panel rolls off the assembly line, some small but permanent destruction of traditional energy demand occurs.

I have had an EV for about 5 years.  I don’t forsee ever going back to a gasoline powered car.  Both my children have EVs as do many friends.  I suspect they feel the same.  And it isn’t about any political or social agenda.  They are just better cars.  Faster, quieter, more convenient, lower maintenance.

When I look at the technology trends for solar panels and batteries, it seems to be even more of a no-brainer.  Electricity is the future.  Thanks oil, you got us this far.  Time for a new technology to take the baton.  From CNBC.

Saudi Aramco CEO says energy transition is failing, world should abandon ‘fantasy’ of phasing out oil

From the Atlantic.  Many I have read, many I want to read and a few I probably won’t read (looking at you, Faulkner and David Foster Wallace).  Was surprised to see Oscar Zeta Acosta on the list but no Hunter Thompson.

The GREAT American NOVELS

Post-WW II use and testing of nuclear weapons has left everything slightly radioactive.  If you need, say, steel that is not radioactive, you need to get it from something made before WW II.  One source is old shipwrecks.  From Wiki.

Low-background steel

I left Social Media several years back, for a variety of reasons.  One is that social media is used to manipulate public opinion, with no controls.

In traditional broadcast advertising, everyone sees the paid advertisement and if there are facts that are incorrect, they can be flagged and addressed.  No so in social media.  All communication is private and controlled by a single entity.

This has been used to manipulate elections around the globe.  In my opinion, it has led directly to the recent wave of authoritarian leaders worldwide.  A good article from MIT Technology Review about a piece of this puzzle.

She risked everything to expose Facebook. Now she’s telling her story.

Is it just me or is Austin looking a bit run down lately?