Dennis Keim

wtf is a FIFA peace prize? that's like being an NFL laureate in physics

US Urged Europeans to Oppose EU Plan for Loan to Support Ukraine The US lobbied several countries in the European Union in an effort to block EU plans to use frozen Russian central bank assets to back a massive loan to Ukraine, according to European diplomats famil...

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

The threat of economic grid defection in the U.S. with solar photovoltaic, battery and generator hybrid systems Solar photovoltaic (PV) costs have dropped rapidly making PV the fastest growing and least expensive electricity source. Grid-tied PV systems owned by…

When do people in sunny and/or windy area and with high utility rates decide to go off-grid with a renewables, battery and small generator combo?

A detailed study from last year.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Target continues to disappoint.

The West’s Last Chance How to build a new global order before it’s too late.

"This is the last chance for Western countries to convince the rest of the world that they are capable of dialogue rather than monologue, consistency rather than double standards, and cooperation rather than domination."

- Alexander Stubb

www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

US Eyes Backup Generators From Walmart in Quest for Power The US is looking to tap the nation’s network of large industrial diesel generators used at data centers, big box stores and elsewhere to help curb rising electricity costs and support the surge in po...

The new DoE head seems to be a complete idiot. Electricity from these plants is going to be crazy expensive.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

YouTube video by Engineering with Rosie How a Wooden Tower Could Unlock Bigger Wind Turbines

Energy note.

This video on new wooden towers for big wind turbines is nicely done. It will be interesting if they catch on, especially with larger and taller turbines.

youtu.be/jmWn02vwVrU?...

YouTube video by FD Finance The Future of Global Shipping: Back to the Sail 2.0? | FD Finance

Energy note.

Lots of cool things in the works to use the wind to power ships.

youtu.be/S-V2vbKA5gg?...

Trump to pardon ex-Honduras leader serving drug trafficking sentence in US Hernández was convicted in 2024 of accepting millions in bribes to protect cocaine shipments

"In March of last year, Hernández was convicted in US courts of accepting millions of dollars in bribes to protect US-bound cocaine shipments belonging to traffickers he once publicly proclaimed to combat."

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

YouTube video by TLDR News EU Why Spain's Economy is Outperforming the Rest of Europe

All of that inexpensive renewable energy plays a big part in Spain's current economic success. And sensible labor practices.

youtu.be/_YRDACPwRYM?...

How the US cut climate-changing emissions while its economy more than doubled A fast drop in coal use played a big role, but there was more, as these charts show.

'U.S. emissions from many of the activities that produce greenhouse gases – transportation, industry, agriculture, heating and cooling of buildings – have remained about the same over the past 30 years."

theconversation.com/how-the-us-c...

I'm no expert on what AI can and cannot do right now with texts. You may be right.

I currently use it to write simple short stories in foreign languages at appropriate levels (A1, etc.) and it seems to be fine at that. I find it useful even if it's not perfect.

It's testable for anyone motivated.

There seems to me to be suspension of disbelief items in most stories. Short writing deadlines at work here?

I've started watching "Away" on Netflix and it has me going "are you kidding me" multiple times an episode so far.

Maybe writers will query AI systems to look for them in the future?

Opinion | Are We Losing Our Democracy? (Gift Article) Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.

A checklist.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Chinese Firm Plans World’s Largest Wind Turbine as Rivals Flop Ming Yang Smart Energy Group announced plans to build the world’s largest floating wind turbine, as Chinese firms seek a larger share of the global market while rivals grapple with rising costs.

The idea that there's a 50 megawatt wind turbine being built blows my mind. The reduction in the cost of off-shore power from it is even more incredible.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Utility hit with backlash after troubling data emerges about its nuclear facilities: 'Fuel expenses are higher than projected' The Tennessee Valley Authority, which is a major utility serving more than 10 million people in the Southeast, is facing criticism.

"The Tennessee Valley Authority, which is a major utility serving more than 10 million people in the Southeast, is facing criticism after data revealed its nuclear reactors shut down unexpectedly 12 times over the past year."

www.yahoo.com/news/article...

As data centers upend electric grids, the largest operator in the US is facing down a revolt from state officials A coalition of 11 governors has threatened to withdraw from grid operator PJM.

As data centers upend electric grids, the largest operator in the US is facing down a revolt from state officials | Grist share.google/Xb3bRfhZGb9p...

YouTube video by The Duke Mitchell Film Club Reds (1981) Trailer

Fantastic actress and apparently a very good human being. I loved her in "Reds".

RIP, Diane Keaton.

youtu.be/CLL3QVpXNdc?...

Global renewable energy generation surpasses coal for first time Record solar expansion and steady wind growth driving world’s shift away from fossil fuels in 2025, report finds

Energy note. Inch by inch.

"The world’s wind and solar farms have generated more electricity than coal plants for the first time this year, marking a turning point for the global power system, according to research."

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

I think we will still get there. Money still talks and renewables are cheapest.

CBS News staffers are ‘literally freaking out’ about Bari Weiss taking over newsroom EXCLUSIVE: ‘People are using words like depressing and doomsday – feels like some sort of doomsday,’ one source told The Independent about the mood inside CBS News right now.

“'The fact that we don't have money to pay journalists, but we have money to pay Bari Weiss between $100 and 200 million is indicative of what the Ellisons' true goal here is,' a network correspondent said. 'And it's not journalism.'"

I am just so fucking proud of her.

Spain’s Renewable-Energy Boom Loosens Gas’s Grip on Power Prices Soaring renewables output in Spain is weakening gas’s grip on electricity prices, setting the country apart from much of Europe where fossil fuels still dictate the cost of power.

"Spain’s rapid renewables build-out means that in the first half of this year, its power prices were set by fossil generation just 19% of the time, down from 75% in 2019 ... wholesale electricity was almost a third cheaper than the European Union average."

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Electricity is the new price of eggs Electricity affordability is becoming a defining political issue in America.

Ever higher electricity costs to consumers. Why?

I started missing the podcast hosting in energy topics by Stephen Lacey and so I tracked down where he was working today. Sure enough he's still at it and he still has the best panelists talking about energy.

www.latitudemedia.com/news/open-ci...

‘Fear and hopelessness’: one in four professors in the US south are leaving Survey by American Association of Professors shows nearly quarter of respondents are switching due to states’s politics

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Trump's model for his emerging drug war has been imprisoned and awaits trial for war crimes.

The Department of Energy posts have become almost comical too. Almost.

Trump says he plans to designate antifa as ‘major terrorist organization’ It is unclear how anti-fascists, an umbrella term for far-left-leaning groups rather than a single entity, will be labeled

There is no organization called "antifa" - so, why label a non-existent group "terrorists"?

This gives the regime maximum scope to hunt down opposition and critics. They label you "antifa", and then they come for you.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

At least he didn't note autism was largely genetic, according to current scientific research, and then roll out a eugenics program.

Now that Jimmy Kimmel is back on the air, can the left stop freaking out about Trump‘s supposed hostility to free speech?