by Daniel Foty
The great American philosopher Yogi Berra once opined that "Making predictions is difficult - especially about the future."
However, there is one general area of "predictions" about which we can easily make predictions. Essentially, every "prediction" related to something "green" will not be based on any underlying reality - but will instead be based solely on wishful fantasizing. And when those "predictions" (sic) don't pan out, they're just quietly dropped - with the notion-and-hope being that they'll just slide quietly down the ol' memory hole, so that they can be supplanted with further "predictions."
Given the continuing waste of scarce time, energy, and resources on a variety of nutty "green" ideas, it is incumbent upon us to keep track of the failed "green" predictions - and hold the predictors to account, so that they can be prevented from further wastes of scarce resources in the future.
One example is the confident predictions made (and that appeared in a variety of quarters) two or so years back - that a "practical" and "affordable" electric vehicle would soon emerge from China. You might have noticed that today.... you don't see any of them around, or hear much about them.
So let's examine the present situation, below the fold.
Continue reading ""Electric Cars" - Still Shorted to Ground" »
What You (Do) Need To Know About The Google/Motorola-Mobility Tie-Up
by Daniel Foty
A bit over a week back, your humble correspondent found himself in the (wonderfully delightful) South African Airways lounge at the Johannesburg airport, wrapping things up before heading back to the northern hemisphere that evening. A South African colleague, who was also (conveniently) flying out that evening was there as well, and we were cleaning up the last odds and ends from the previous few days.
At some point, he wandered off to get a cup of coffee, and - upon his return - blithely asked, "Did I miss anything?" This allowed me to break the news that indeed he had - while he was off getting that coffee, news had arrived that Google was going to be acquiring Motorola Mobility.
It was evening in Joburg, but it was morning in California - so after some contacting and chatting, it quickly became clear what the game involved.
What makes this interesting for the more generalized spectator is that it opens a window into the sausage factory that exists at the confluence of technology, intellectual property, and global trade.
The Google move appears to be one of operating to a calculated risk - something we'll discuss below the fold.
By Daniel Foty
This is Africa?!
The southern hemisphere has been having a very rough (historically rough) winter. Australia and New Zealand have received hard bouts of cold and snowy weather, with the latter recently having a widespread heavy snowfall the likes of which hadn't been seen in decades.
As your humble correspondent noted a couple weeks back, South Africa has also been on the receiving end of a harsh winter. A couple weeks back, heavy snow fell in the Drakensberg mountains - among other consequences, this blocked the main highway between Johannesburg and Durban for several days. Accumulating snow even fell in the suburbs of Johannesburg; even for snowflakes to appear at all in Johannesburg is a rarity (according to my local friends, the odds are about one year in five - as they told me when this happened.... last year), let alone for the snow to accumulate.
When I arrived in Pretoria last week, as is usual for mid-August there were just a few hints of the onset of the southern spring. The mornings were chilly, but the days were sunny and mild. Everyone was complaining about the harsh winter that they had just been through; someone I know had been up in the Drakensberg a few days before, and reported that there was still snow on the ground up there.
After a few days of idyllic weather, on Sunday evening showers and thunderstorms moved in - and the weather changed drastically....
Continue reading "Seen With Mine Own Eyes - "Global Warming" Ravages Africa!" »
By Daniel Foty
As many readers know, Estonia is a regular stop for your humble correspondent - and one of his favorite places.
Several years back, a day or two after I had arrived, I was sitting at my desk minding my own business - when one of my friends/colleagues walked into my office.... and, chuckling, tossed something onto my desk.
Due to the size and shape, I knew immediately what it was - and since the package contained a product that I do not use, I was just about to ask why he had given me this gift... when I immediately noticed why it was so funny....
"It just came out. There's a big eye-catching new display for it in the shop where I found this."
And indeed there was - as I found out a couple days later when I made an effort to see for myself.
The main display graphic was a glowing dusk - backlighting a rocky, wave-washed shoreline, topped with a lighthouse.
To learn what this is all about, go here and scroll down to the appropriate alphabetical location.
The line-up of offerings has clearly expanded since that initial incident....
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