* Posts by Stig

13 publicly visible posts • joined 22 Oct 2007

UK government plays power broker with small modular reactor suitors

Stig

Re: Energy Security

".... that renewables compete with nuclear for base load is still broadly true –" Hardly!!

Nuclear is generally available 24/7/365, whereas renewables are very 'un'reliably linked to sun & wind weather variations - see last 2 weeks of Dunkleflaut effect on solar & wind production.

It matters not how much more solar & wind installation we build, if its not available when needed then its not effective. These sources should hsve always been required to provide baseload (& other functions such as frequency control, backup, inertia), but of course that inflates their costs way beyond CCGT plants & hence never contracted - another example of uncosted Net Zero !planning.

US govt hiding top hurricane forecast model sparks outrage after deadly Helene

Stig

Am I reading this right

So why cant the outputs be released to the public. Surely its just the methodology/coding that should be being kept hidden?

Attacks on UK fiber networks mount: Operators beg govt to step in

Stig

Copper thefts

Slightly off tangent, but as we are presumably leaving all the copper cables in place, will these become a cash target - probably resulting in unintended damage to the optical networks.

NHS England published heavily redacted Palantir contract as festivities began

Stig

US Shell companies

In the 1990s the UK Defence company I worked for, Ferranti Computer Systems, wanted to expand into the USA.

A merger of sorts was negotiated, but the US Defence company was not permitted to reveal any details of their contracts, just implied values & order book outlines- referencing National Security considerations.

It was a complete scam, the USA firm was just a shell - nothing more - resulting in the destruction of Ferranti along with it's employees.

Ok, so National Security was invoked in that case, but this NHS/Palantir hookup seems to have similar one sided & redacted transparency. BE WARNED.

Gaze in awe at the first ever movie of a solar eclipse from recording long thought lost forever

Stig

One time chance

Amazing, especially considering that it's the sort of shot that you can't easily practice for, such as getting the exposure right etc.

Connected car data handover headache: There's no quick fix... and it's NOT just Land Rovers

Stig

DVLA and OverAirUpdates

We register change of ownership with DVLA, so they could inform manufacturers to issue an OTA reset?

US prosecutors demand data to unmask every visitor to anti-Trump protest website

Stig

Re: Disproportionate? Let's see. 200 protesters charged. 1.3 IP addresses wanted.

Isn't that rather the point... If they do have a suspect's IP list then let them present it to the ISPs for matching/data extraction, and not the way they're trying to fish it?

Why is the ISP being asked to justify its refusal - the requestor should be justifying its request - hook line and sinker.

80-year-old cyclist killed in prang with Tesla Model S

Stig

Looking where we want to be and not where we're going.

In low sun (as in fog) we tend to look (though shouldn't) for the CAR in front as a clue - not look for empty space - thus not seeing the narrow cyclist, maybe.

Stig

Is this not a technical mag

Surprisingly, there has been almost no discussion òf a technical nature thus far.

I would be interested to know how visible a narrow cyclist would be to the AI systems in general and, as gaz7 noted the low sun may have contributed to a less than optimum detection of the bike/rider either by driver or AI.

Having to have some black boxery in every auto-possible AI vehicle would surely inform manufacturers of many more real world situations and in a shorter time.

Leak of '5 MEELLLION Gmail passwords' creates security flap

Stig

When Americans - I mean USA-ians - say 'England' - do they mean UK?

Microsoft opens Xbox 360 Arcade

Stig

$1 per £1

$280 or £200?

At least the UK price is marginally better than the $=£ pricing of recent years.

Technology is root of all evil, says IMF

Stig

Return to basics! (for everyone else - of course)

Perhaps the IMF report writers could dispense with their PCs, rescind their degrees and their highly paid jobs and return to a simpler 'more egalitarian' lifestyle to recompose their report with quill and parchment (from a now more empathetic angle).

Schoolkid chipping trial 'a success'

Stig
Coat

Chips and a Cod-Piece?

Ref: Chris ('Easy to fix') suggestion (School mandated underpants)