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> “a CME the size of the 1859 Carrington Event would, if not prepared for, effectively level the power grid of the United States... CME refers to coronal mass

by mfer 6y ago

> “a CME the size of the 1859 Carrington Event would, if not prepared for, effectively level the power grid of the United States... CME refers to coronal mass ejections[1]. The 1859 Carrington Event is a case where one of these happened[2]. The US power grid is susceptible to some real damage from one of these. It would take a long time to fix. The US, at least, isn't prepared. [1] https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-mass-ejections https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-mass-ejections [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrington_Event https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrington_Event

ryandrake 6y ago
Part of the power grid in the USA isn’t even prepared for a chilly week, as we just found out. First rule of infrastructure funding: Don’t actually spend it on infrastructure. Just pocket it as profits and when things fall apart, say we never could have seen this coming or prepared. Isn’t that what everyone does when a bridge falls down, a gas line explodes, or an oil pipe leaks?
- dctoedt 6y ago
  > First rule of infrastructure funding: Don’t actually spend it on infrastructure. Just pocket it as profits and when things fall apart, say we never could have seen this coming or prepared. And the corollary: After things fall apart, ask for a taxpayer bailout.
  - harry8 6y ago
    Still no big anti-corruption coalition. Some of that money will be spent to buy the politicians with lobbying, campaign contributions, media focus on tribal culture wars. The anti-corruption view that has massive support gets none of that and gets nowhere, at least yet.
    - auslegung 6y ago
      I think this video will encourage you. Well actually maybe it will discourage you, but the follow up video will encourage you :D Corruption is Legal in America: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5tu32CCA_Ig https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5tu32CCA_Ig
    - bobthepanda 6y ago
      This is because most people think that Congress/institutions as a whole are dirty, but ask them about their congressperson and support shoots up significantly. If we can’t analyze our own choices as potentially contributing to the system, including not voting (which is more of an endorsement of whatever happens rather than a denial of approval), then we cannot move forward.
      - 20after4 6y ago
        Not voting is most certainly not an endorsement of whatever happens. That’s ridiculous.
        bobthepanda 6y ago
        Is it not? The US doesn't require minimum turnout for elections, so not voting just amplifies the power of the people who actually vote. It is in effect a tacit endorsement, unless you're trying to effect legal or regime change in addition to not voting. As far as "my vote doesn't matter", this is quite silly considering how the last two elections featured electoral votes won by ever thinner margins, and that even at the presidential level with the highest turnout most people don't vote, to say nothing of state local elections, primaries, etc. https://i.redd.it/p0z5srsw7py51.png https://i.redd.it/p0z5srsw7py51.png
        coolgeek 6y ago
        You're right that it's not an endorsement. But it's functionally equivalent
  - mmmBacon 6y ago
    Corollary to the corollary: After taxpayer bailout, raise rates to cover costs associated with new infrastructure.

by mfer 6y ago

ryandrake 6y ago

Part of the power grid in the USA isn’t even prepared for a chilly week, as we just found out. First rule of infrastructure funding: Don’t actually spend it on infrastructure. Just pocket it as profits and when things fall apart, say we never could have seen this coming or prepared. Isn’t that what everyone does when a bridge falls down, a gas line explodes, or an oil pipe leaks?

dctoedt 6y ago
> First rule of infrastructure funding: Don’t actually spend it on infrastructure. Just pocket it as profits and when things fall apart, say we never could have seen this coming or prepared. And the corollary: After things fall apart, ask for a taxpayer bailout.
- harry8 6y ago
  Still no big anti-corruption coalition. Some of that money will be spent to buy the politicians with lobbying, campaign contributions, media focus on tribal culture wars. The anti-corruption view that has massive support gets none of that and gets nowhere, at least yet.
  - auslegung 6y ago
    I think this video will encourage you. Well actually maybe it will discourage you, but the follow up video will encourage you :D Corruption is Legal in America: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5tu32CCA_Ig https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5tu32CCA_Ig
  - bobthepanda 6y ago
    This is because most people think that Congress/institutions as a whole are dirty, but ask them about their congressperson and support shoots up significantly. If we can’t analyze our own choices as potentially contributing to the system, including not voting (which is more of an endorsement of whatever happens rather than a denial of approval), then we cannot move forward.
    - 20after4 6y ago
      Not voting is most certainly not an endorsement of whatever happens. That’s ridiculous.
      - bobthepanda 6y ago
        Is it not? The US doesn't require minimum turnout for elections, so not voting just amplifies the power of the people who actually vote. It is in effect a tacit endorsement, unless you're trying to effect legal or regime change in addition to not voting. As far as "my vote doesn't matter", this is quite silly considering how the last two elections featured electoral votes won by ever thinner margins, and that even at the presidential level with the highest turnout most people don't vote, to say nothing of state local elections, primaries, etc. https://i.redd.it/p0z5srsw7py51.png https://i.redd.it/p0z5srsw7py51.png
      - coolgeek 6y ago
        You're right that it's not an endorsement. But it's functionally equivalent
- mmmBacon 6y ago
  Corollary to the corollary: After taxpayer bailout, raise rates to cover costs associated with new infrastructure.