Not / the end of the world

Not the end of the world

Good story 

Wild

August 03, 2022 |

Electrify understanding

I am fully convinced of the need to electrify everything. One of the things we're going to have to do on the way to that is understand electricity, batteries, grids etc. Intuitively. An, probably, at a societal level. ie where we get to a point where we're not surprised by things.

Some things we're going to have to learn not to be surprised by:

There might be a 10-year ban on building new houses in West London because the grid won't be able to cope - because all the capacity is used up by data centres along the M4.

 

Last week the UK bought small amounts of electricity from Belgium at 5,000% of the usual rate in order to prevent power cuts in the South East.

Makita make a battery-powered coffee brewer and a battery-powered kettle. They seem slightly pointless. But they illustrate vividly how much energy it takes to boil water. It's probably a side effect of the global battery-moated customer retention businesses that is power tools.

August 02, 2022 |

Those Feet

Those Feet

It feels like time to gather. For fun. For solidarity. So we're having a party. At the Jerusalem Bar & Kitchen, which is on Rathbone Place in London. Just north of Oxford Street. 16th of August.

We'll provide some food and music. You'll have to buy your own drinks.

There will be a bit of music from me (probably dabbling with some version of jazzycoffeeshopvibes) but I will be joined on the devices of steel by two excellent selectors: Ben Thompson and Gemma Samways. Both are music journalists and other things and I have no idea what either of them are going to play. But it will be excellent. You might get some clues from Gem's fabulous Tracks of the Day. Or from Ben's extraordinary Resonance show. (Ben's latest show will be of special interest to fans of home-modernising appliances)

Please come. All are welcome. It will be lovely to see you.

 

August 01, 2022 |

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