Oh ōʻō...

---

"The ōʻō was one of 21 species that the US Fish and Wildlife Service removed from the endangered species list in 2023 because they had vanished from the wild."

"Grief is a rational response’: the 21 US species declared extinct this year"...[Guardian] indeed, but let's not get carried away [obviously the Guardian gets VERY carried away: "Global heating has also fueled extreme weather, exacerbated drought and wildfire risk, further imperilling the islands' forest birds".] by the various reasons for this and blame it on something that isn't the case. 

Yes, nobody should be happy at this sad news but many have 'been extinct' for several decades, it's not as if it just suddenly happened this year: it has been DECLARED this year. Still not good. 

Also extinction is totally natural in the cycle of things: still not good but it has always and will always happen. 

Avian malaria is one reason given - linked to climate change, natch - but more people doesn't help and more people means more land taken out of natural habitat, more invasive species that are the usual followers of human 'civilisation': pesticides etc; dogs, cats (*how* many birds killed?), rats...and more recently - although obviously not in rural Hawaii - tower blocks [a BILLION yearly bird deaths in the USA alone] and wind turbines (low on quantity yes, but high on 'quality', oops).

Ocean observation of opaque octopus...

---

...or more accurately glass octopus. Ah nostalgia! Saw this Massimo* tweet and immediately thought of Paul (nearly 13 years ago!).

Massimo links to the Schmidt Ocean Institute with the story, photos and videos: 

"scientists made two rare sightings of a glass octopus, a nearly transparent species whose only visible features are its optic nerve, eyeballs and digestive tract. Before this expedition, there has been limited live footage of the glass octopus, forcing scientists to learn about the animal by studying specimens found in the gut contents of predators." 

* proof that Twitter isn't only a raging troll infested bear-pit free-for-all.

Ocean observation of opaque octopus...

---

...or more accurately glass octopus. Ah nostalgia! Saw this Massimo* tweet and immediately thought of Paul (nearly 13 years ago!).

Massimo links to the Schmidt Ocean Institute with the story, photos and videos: 

"scientists made two rare sightings of a glass octopus, a nearly transparent species whose only visible features are its optic nerve, eyeballs and digestive tract. Before this expedition, there has been limited live footage of the glass octopus, forcing scientists to learn about the animal by studying specimens found in the gut contents of predators." 

* proof that Twitter isn't only a raging troll infested bear-pit free-for-all.

Overblown outlook III...

---

I noticed that it has been nearly 7 years since OOI and OOII but the problems haven't changed much: wind power is a little better off in the percentage of the world’s energy that it provides, i.e. to the nearest whole number, it isn't zero any more. However, even ex environmental 'zealots' (Michael Shellenberger is a Time Magazine 'Hero of the Environment' no less) understand "Why Renewables Can’t Save the Planet" [LINK to the article on Quillette].



"In order to produce significant amounts of electricity from weak energy flows, you just have to spread them over enormous areas. In other words, the trouble with renewables isn’t fundamentally technical—it’s natural." My emphasis; a veritable environmental disaster...



Earlier this year I happened across the image above; what interested me most was the massive imbalance in the European Union's nuclear power plants: France accounts for
45% of all of the EU's operational reactors.
The image isn't 100% up-to-date but things haven't changed much.



The France/Germany nuclear thing had grasped Michael's attention:

"I used to think that dealing with climate change was going to be expensive. But I could no longer believe this after looking at Germany and France.

Germany’s carbon emissions have been flat since 2009, despite an investment of $580 billion by 2025 in a renewables-heavy electrical grid, a 50 percent rise in electricity cost.

Meanwhile, France produces one-tenth the carbon emissions per unit of electricity as Germany and pays little more than half for its electricity. How? Through nuclear power.

Then, under pressure from Germany, France spent $33 billion on renewables, over the last decade. What was the result? A rise in the carbon intensity of its electricity supply, and higher electricity prices, too."

The whole article is a very interesting and balanced read, well worth the time...and the links he provides too.

Overblown outlook III...

---

I noticed that it has been nearly 7 years since OOI and OOII but the problems haven't changed much: wind power is a little better off in the percentage of the world’s energy that it provides, i.e. to the nearest whole number, it isn't zero any more. However, even ex environmental 'zealots' (Michael Shellenberger is a Time Magazine 'Hero of the Environment' no less) understand "Why Renewables Can’t Save the Planet" [LINK to the article on Quillette].

"In order to produce significant amounts of electricity from weak energy flows, you just have to spread them over enormous areas. In other words, the trouble with renewables isn’t fundamentally technical—it’s natural." My emphasis; a veritable environmental disaster...

Earlier this year I happened across the image above; what interested me most was the massive imbalance in the European Union's nuclear power plants: France accounts for 45% of all of the EU's operational reactors. The image isn't 100% up-to-date but things haven't changed much.

The France/Germany nuclear thing had grasped Michael's attention:

"I used to think that dealing with climate change was going to be expensive. But I could no longer believe this after looking at Germany and France. Germany’s carbon emissions have been flat since 2009, despite an investment of $580 billion by 2025 in a renewables-heavy electrical grid, a 50 percent rise in electricity cost. Meanwhile, France produces one-tenth the carbon emissions per unit of electricity as Germany and pays little more than half for its electricity. How? Through nuclear power. Then, under pressure from Germany, France spent $33 billion on renewables, over the last decade. What was the result? A rise in the carbon intensity of its electricity supply, and higher electricity prices, too."

The whole article is a very interesting and balanced read, well worth the time...and the links he provides too.

Omisoka osechi...

---

May your special box be bountiful...and beautiful. I like the cut of the Japanese jib: they traditionally (or did) spend the year end with, as one might expect, activities considered important for the year-end: a clean start, house cleaning and tidying, repaying debts (ha!), "purification" (such as driving out evil spirits and bad luck) [Wiki], and personal hygiene/bathing. This chimes exactly with what me and my OCD like to do. That and light a candle. Clean, clear, rest, relax, welcome. best wishes for 2018; totally off topic a couple of quotes from the mighty Albert to end the year:  "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow."... ..."Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." Or an even better quote from Muse: "Don't Waste your Time or Time Will Waste You." It will anyway but don't let it be for nothing!

Omisoka osechi...

---

May your special box be bountiful...and beautiful. I like the cut of the Japanese jib: they traditionally (or did) spend the year end with, as one might expect, activities considered important for the year-end: a clean start, house cleaning and tidying, repaying debts (ha!), "purification" (such as driving out evil spirits and bad luck) [Wiki], and personal hygiene/bathing. This chimes exactly with what me and my OCD like to do. That and light a candle. Clean, clear, rest, relax, welcome. best wishes for 2018; totally off topic a couple of quotes from the mighty Albert to end the year:  "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow."... ..."Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." Or an even better quote from Muse: "Don't Waste your Time or Time Will Waste You." It will anyway but don't let it be for nothing!

Overblown outlook II...

---

Sorry for the lack of posting. many issues that I could waffle on about but you don't want to hear my hot air...however today is Global Wind Day! (see what I did there?). Now, Global Wind Day is a worldwide event on 15th June and pushed by European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and "is a day for discovering wind, its power and the possibilities it holds to change our world"; of course they're on about generating renewable energy (oops) rather than any appreciation of the real marvellous and terrifying power of Mother Nature. Brazilian Lars Grael (former sailor now politician) said...

"The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects the wind to change, the realist adjusts the sails to the wind you have."

Update Saturday 16th: Interesting and timely 'defense' article HERE, completely demolished in the comments; also more info (and links) on problems with wind power HERE.

Overblown outlook II...

---

Sorry for the lack of posting. many issues that I could waffle on about but you don't want to hear my hot air...however today is Global Wind Day! (see what I did there?). Now, Global Wind Day is a worldwide event on 15th June and pushed by European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and "is a day for discovering wind, its power and the possibilities it holds to change our world"; of course they're on about generating renewable energy (oops) rather than any appreciation of the real marvellous and terrifying power of Mother Nature. Brazilian Lars Grael (former sailor now politician) said...

"The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects the wind to change, the realist adjusts the sails to the wind you have."

Update Saturday 16th: Interesting and timely 'defense' article HERE, completely demolished in the comments; also more info (and links) on problems with wind power HERE.