The concept of a post death avatar has always struck me as profoundly sad. For the person who made the avatar it's an attempt at flawed immortality. For the loved ones viewing the avatar, it's a flawed simulacrum that's not the real thing.
December 10, 2025 at 11:49 PM
The concept of a post death avatar has always struck me as profoundly sad. For the person who made the avatar it's an attempt at flawed immortality. For the loved ones viewing the avatar, it's a flawed simulacrum that's not the real thing.
Is.. is that an untoasted tortilla? Like fresh from the bag, unkissed by a plancha?
November 29, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Is.. is that an untoasted tortilla? Like fresh from the bag, unkissed by a plancha?
This reminds me of the online avatars from the Alex Benedict by Jack McDevitt. Creepy
November 14, 2025 at 9:20 PM
This reminds me of the online avatars from the Alex Benedict by Jack McDevitt. Creepy
My wife has been sick of me singing "Neon Moon", "Paint me a Birmingham", "18 Wheels", and "Better Man" to get out infant to go to sleep. I didn't think about the heritage excuse...
October 22, 2025 at 11:41 PM
My wife has been sick of me singing "Neon Moon", "Paint me a Birmingham", "18 Wheels", and "Better Man" to get out infant to go to sleep. I didn't think about the heritage excuse...
Yeah, I'm sure Wright never has Chardonnay. Gah
September 29, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Yeah, I'm sure Wright never has Chardonnay. Gah
I think you should back up your claims with some solar irradiance data. A half hour of sunset difference seems like a lot, but given that daylight hours for the Continental United States are pretty much all about ~4700 hours a year - knocking off an hour every day only drops that to ~4300 hours.
September 1, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I think you should back up your claims with some solar irradiance data. A half hour of sunset difference seems like a lot, but given that daylight hours for the Continental United States are pretty much all about ~4700 hours a year - knocking off an hour every day only drops that to ~4300 hours.
Mountains don't shade that much. I'm west of Denver in the foothills of the Rockies. We still have plenty of availability for solar.
Trees are definitely a potential problem. Using a SunEye or similar to measure annual sunlight availability should always be Step 1.
Trees are definitely a potential problem. Using a SunEye or similar to measure annual sunlight availability should always be Step 1.
September 1, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Mountains don't shade that much. I'm west of Denver in the foothills of the Rockies. We still have plenty of availability for solar.
Trees are definitely a potential problem. Using a SunEye or similar to measure annual sunlight availability should always be Step 1.
Trees are definitely a potential problem. Using a SunEye or similar to measure annual sunlight availability should always be Step 1.
Totally true! In those applications, they're often level 2 chargers, much lower power than a DC fast charger. To drop in a few DC fast chargers, most grid operators get a little twitchy. Interconnection upgrades and steep demand charges can make it cost prohibitive.
September 1, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Totally true! In those applications, they're often level 2 chargers, much lower power than a DC fast charger. To drop in a few DC fast chargers, most grid operators get a little twitchy. Interconnection upgrades and steep demand charges can make it cost prohibitive.
Other fun considerations - a big truck stop would probably have to rely on a shade structure type system (way pricier than a rooftop array). And in those small suburban applications, it's going to be tricky to make fire code work given the NFPA's required setback distances.
September 1, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Other fun considerations - a big truck stop would probably have to rely on a shade structure type system (way pricier than a rooftop array). And in those small suburban applications, it's going to be tricky to make fire code work given the NFPA's required setback distances.
A DC fast charger requires between 50 and 350kW per charger. 200kW of solar panels requires around 10k-20k sqft. The energy density from solar isn't really good enough to make it work on a small lot like most suburban gas stations. Now one of those big truck stops might pencil out ...
September 1, 2025 at 2:44 AM
A DC fast charger requires between 50 and 350kW per charger. 200kW of solar panels requires around 10k-20k sqft. The energy density from solar isn't really good enough to make it work on a small lot like most suburban gas stations. Now one of those big truck stops might pencil out ...
Agreed. EnergyStar for appliance certification and bldg benchmarking is public good and I'm glad the EPA administers the program. That said, it is possible to run it as a private entity, as the DLC and CEE have demonstrated. Of all the energy efficiency rollbacks, I'm least concerned over this one.
August 15, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Agreed. EnergyStar for appliance certification and bldg benchmarking is public good and I'm glad the EPA administers the program. That said, it is possible to run it as a private entity, as the DLC and CEE have demonstrated. Of all the energy efficiency rollbacks, I'm least concerned over this one.
The caveat is both of these groups are geared for commercial applications, where consultants, specifiers, and other technical types know how to navigate the details. EnergyStar does a great job appealing to the public, less technical audience.
August 15, 2025 at 12:36 PM
The caveat is both of these groups are geared for commercial applications, where consultants, specifiers, and other technical types know how to navigate the details. EnergyStar does a great job appealing to the public, less technical audience.
They already have a private company that manages efficiency certifications for lighting that is otherwise not eligible for EnergyStar, called the DesignLights Consortium. There was for a while a number of small commercials HVAC certifications through the Consortium for Energy Efficiency. (1/2)
August 15, 2025 at 12:34 PM
They already have a private company that manages efficiency certifications for lighting that is otherwise not eligible for EnergyStar, called the DesignLights Consortium. There was for a while a number of small commercials HVAC certifications through the Consortium for Energy Efficiency. (1/2)
You arre, in fact, the one who came out of the gate swinging insults. But you wanna hide behind accusations of bullying.
That kind of behavior relegates you to irrelevance.
That kind of behavior relegates you to irrelevance.
August 7, 2025 at 12:07 PM
You arre, in fact, the one who came out of the gate swinging insults. But you wanna hide behind accusations of bullying.
That kind of behavior relegates you to irrelevance.
That kind of behavior relegates you to irrelevance.
You got a recipe you especially like? I have a freezer full of sour cherries and have been debating what type of Jam to make...
June 28, 2025 at 10:21 PM
You got a recipe you especially like? I have a freezer full of sour cherries and have been debating what type of Jam to make...
I will watch it solely for Strunk and White jokes.
June 26, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I will watch it solely for Strunk and White jokes.
I mean, He was for civil rights and did glide over the water, but USS Jesus Christ seems a bit much...
June 4, 2025 at 2:14 AM
I mean, He was for civil rights and did glide over the water, but USS Jesus Christ seems a bit much...
Would there be mind altering substances? Can't be Rogan without that!
May 27, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Would there be mind altering substances? Can't be Rogan without that!