Saturday Open Thread

Meant flippantly, of course. I am perhaps too close to it to apply my usual jaundiced ear on music I hear*. She should be able go international - but I don't know whether that's a hopeful Dad or a hardened music producer talking.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 02:07:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: why surprised? (4.00 / 5)

she has a gift, it will be interesting to see it mature.

right now she has the teen thing going, and the music reflects it, tho her stuff is musical, much more so than the average stuff she's competing with.

she wants to be a real singer, not just a pop star, that one can feel clearly.

difficult to avoid cliches in the music business!

how much of her saleability depends on her acceptance of the business as it is, and how much artistic integrity she will reveal when her concerns and material hinge on growing up to be an adult, those are the questions i hear myself ask when i see young talent like hers. making a mark this early is a good start, she has the passion for sure.

having an aware father's support must be an amazing boost to her ambitions. good luck to her, she is original, even within the frame the record company is trying to shoehorn her into. great promise...

lucky dad, lucky daughter!

It's a fine line between homage, parody, and consumer opportunism. Jess Walter

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 03:17:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: why surprised? (none / 1)

well you must be very proud and with just cause. your daughter and her voice are both beautiful.

by stevesim on Sun Apr 1st, 2012 at 07:33:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Trying to catch up with ET (4.00 / 5)

I was away last week-end for an extended ski week-end with colleagues, and mostly offline for the period, and it takes a while to catch up on all that's written on ET over even only a few days...

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 01:32:02 PM EST

Job creator (4.00 / 11)

A lot of my time in recent weeks has been spent thinking about budgets and workload and things like that, as we've hired a number of new people within a few months (some replacing departing persons, some interns hired on a more permanent basis) and it's my job to make sure they are all properly busy.

We now have one of the biggest project finance teams in renewable energy and it's quite a responsibility...

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 01:49:34 PM EST

Re: Job creator (4.00 / 2)

Founder entrepreneurs always end up managing rather than doing what they're best at.

It was ever thus.

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 02:24:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'm not there yet (none / 0)

Just saying that it's not easy to manage workload when contracts are very lumpy and prone to delays.

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 03:30:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I'm not there yet (none / 0)

Sounds like good problems to have for a business though.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Sun Apr 1st, 2012 at 07:18:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Do you have any interest (4.00 / 2)

in involvement in a woody-biomass-based CHP project in the U.S.? I'm in the middle of drafting the feasibility study, and it's looking quite viable.

paul spencer

by paul spencer (spencerinthegorge AT yahoo DOT com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 03:28:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Job creator (none / 0)

If you ever need a contract beer services for staff bonding weekends etc, you have my number ;-))

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Apr 1st, 2012 at 10:17:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (4.00 / 8)

Why baseload power is doomed
A persistent myth about the challenges of integrating renewable power into the grid is that because solar and wind are intermittent, grid operators need to maintain full generation capacity from "baseload" plants powered by coal and nuclear. Recent real-world data and research shows that not only is this not true, but that baseload capacity is fundamentally incompatible with renewables, and that as renewables provide a greater portion of the grid's power, baseload generation will need to be phased out.
(...)
A 2010 study called "The Base Load Fallacy" by Australian researcher Dr. Mark Diesendorf, an expert on integrating wind into power grids, fingers the "operational inflexibility of base-load power stations" as the main obstacle to further integration of renewables. "The renewable electricity system could be just as reliable as the dirty, fossil-fuelled system that it replaces," he observes, if demand were more efficient and intelligent, and supply were made up of a wide variety of renewable sources plus a small amount of gas-fired capacity to cover the peaks. The perpetrators of the baseload fallacy, he argues, are mainly the industries who benefit from the status quo: coal, oil and gas companies, the nuclear industry, power generators, and industries who depend on them like aluminum and cement manufacturers.

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 01:52:02 PM EST

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 0)

Seems to me that the argument is that base load power is not required, because that function can be supported by sustainable sources. That's not quite the same as saying that it's "doomed," which could be true depending on a range of factors like pricing, technology, semantics, etc...

by asdf on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 03:55:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 0)

Or - because peak load energy is still necessary in one form or another - we start calling wind and solar (and in the future wave) renewable baseload. It fills a similar function, so why not a similar name?

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

by A swedish kind of death on Sun Apr 1st, 2012 at 03:21:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 0)

See David Roberts, Grist via the Salon.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 04:13:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 0)

Thanks for this, having recently seen a UK govt purveyor of lies demolish alternative energy with exactly that fallacy it's nice to have some figues and research to cite.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Apr 1st, 2012 at 10:19:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Norway buys the world...... (4.00 / 3)

....well holiday homes anyway.

Although some say that the substantial chunks of Norway which Sweden nabbed are being stealthily bought back.

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson

by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 02:27:27 PM EST

Re: Saturday Open Thread (4.00 / 5)

Now this is the most repeated UK news story at the moment (and the reason its being repeated are the bits quoted)

Even I'm starting to wonder: what do this lot know about anything? - Telegraph

But now that I have heard the Conservatives' private explanation, which is being handed down to constituency associations by MPs, I begin to feel angry.
The private message is as follows. "This is our Thatcher moment. In order to defeat the coming miners' strike, she stockpiled coal. When the strike came, she weathered it, and the Labour Party, tarred by the strike, was humiliated. In order to defeat the coming fuel drivers' strike, we want supplies of petrol stockpiled. Then, if the strike comes, we will weather it, and Labour, in hock to the Unite union, will be blamed."

and the result?

Twitter / @Ceilidhann: 81% blame Tories for creat ...

81% blame Tories for creating unnecessary panic over fuel crisis according to ComRes poll. There's your Thatcher moment, Cameron.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 03:47:39 PM EST

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 1)

And the Sunday Times tomorrow has further news about a tory cover up over meetings between Cameron and Donors

http://twitter.com/#!/insightST/status/186185270595551233/photo/1

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 04:59:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 0)

And another one

Ex Tory media adviser accused of offering potential donors chance to form policy - Telegraph

Ed Staite, a public relations consultant, was filmed by undercover journalists from a Sunday newspaper posing as donors who wanted to influence George Osborne, the Chancellor.
He is reported to have told the potential donors claiming to be from a City fund that they could "communicate their priorities" if they help fund a "policy group".
He allegedly told the reporters they could come up with their own idea for a policy group for the party in exchange for funding

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 05:38:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (4.00 / 5)

Murdoch at war with Cameron?

Happy times.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 06:13:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

well for a long time they stayed quiet, because after Lord Leveson writes his report, it gets passed over to politicians to decide wether they are going to act upon it. there must have been a long period where they were still thinking that this report would happen but politicians would never act upon it.

Something must have happened when Murdoch came over to launch the sun to upset this gentle balance and turn the papers onto the attack.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 07:26:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

similar scene here in italy when murdorc decided he wanted to challenge burly's lock on national tv.

so he started looping a film denouncing the premier and some lefty local documentaries unflattering to the status quo on Current tv, part of his sky 'bouquet' for subscribers. the only country in yurp where it was available, i believe.

i say 'was' because he's dropped it now. (no further need?), nothing more radical than RT to stir the soup, though the amazing Santoro is back, after being banished from state tv, rupe's giving him space to do his thing... some good discussions, but very late at night.

with murdorc it always gets personal, dave from marketing's going to have to get on the stick.

It's a fine line between homage, parody, and consumer opportunism. Jess Walter

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 07:47:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 0)

similar scene here in italy when murdorc decided he wanted to challenge burly's lock on national tv.

i say 'was' because he's dropped it now. (no further need?), still there's RT to mix it up some, and the amazing Santoro is back, after being banished from state tv, rupe's giving him space to do his thing... some good discussions, but very late at night.

with murdorc it always gets personal, dave from marketing's going to have to get busy.

It's a fine line between homage, parody, and consumer opportunism. Jess Walter

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 07:53:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 1)

A few of the emails in the dump are specifically about Italian TV (I'm only about 1/3 of the way through, sorting them as I read and theres nothing vastly incriminating in the italian section so far)

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 08:16:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 0)

i remember in the 90's in italy you couyld pick up british sky if you had the box and a card. the cards were modded with what looked like an extra diode soldered onto them.

i think people brought the boxes themselves somehow, they weren't on sale in view anyway, but the hacked cards were available in most electronic stores.

there was a rival sat co trying to get going, and looking back on the whole thing it smells off.

now with these recent revelations about murdorc and finagling in italy i am wondering if there's a connection.

It's a fine line between homage, parody, and consumer opportunism. Jess Walter

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Sun Apr 1st, 2012 at 09:18:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (4.00 / 6)

I know it's mundane, but I'm making pizza. Half with pepperoni and olives and half with caramelized onions, sun dried tomatoes and goat cheese for the vegie crowd. Come on over!

by ElaineinNM on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 05:34:40 PM EST

Re: Saturday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

We'd gladly come and visit. We couldn't do it during our last years in California due to my wife's health issues, but I've always wanted to visit NM and the Four Corners area (all these Tony Hillerman books in my library?). That's one reason for us to come back to the Southwestern US one day :)

Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.

by Bernard on Sun Apr 1st, 2012 at 06:15:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 0)

Better hurry if you want to visit! If Santorum gets elected, we're outta here. And maybe if he doesn't!!!

by ElaineinNM on Sun Apr 1st, 2012 at 12:01:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 0)

Where to? May I recommend Bavaria?

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Sun Apr 1st, 2012 at 12:20:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 0)

Anywhere!! Somewhere where intelligence and culture are valued. My language skills are horrid, though. I did much better at Latin, than at French--the high school language of choice when I was a young'un.

by ElaineinNM on Sun Apr 1st, 2012 at 12:26:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

ElaineinNM:

Somewhere where intelligence and culture are valued.

And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space,
'Cause there's bugger all down here on Earth.

A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!

by A swedish kind of death on Sun Apr 1st, 2012 at 02:20:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 0)

Damn, I jut flew east too

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Apr 1st, 2012 at 10:31:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Saturday Open Thread (none / 0)

Oh and remember people it's april fools day, so be careful of those newspaper scamps out there

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sat Mar 31st, 2012 at 07:45:23 PM EST

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