Month: July 2025

When Reality Bites

Eco-Crap, Economics

It’s all very well to espouse boutique nonsense like Net Zero, except that at some point reality will come and beat you over the head.  Hence situations like this one:

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), Monday directed the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop and construct a nuclear power plant of not less than one gigawatt. The new plant was needed, Hochul said in her announcement, in order “to support a reliable and affordable electric grid, while providing the necessary zero-emission electricity to achieve a clean energy economy.” 

It was a surprising announcement for a state that closed and dismantled the Indian Point nuclear power plant only five years ago. The consideration of nuclear in the energy mix is part of a pattern seen in other blue states committed to eliminating electricity generated from fossil fuels. California has now delayed the closure of its only nuclear power plant, and Michigan is looking to restart a previously shuttered nuclear power plant. 

In all three cases, it appears that the states are coming to grips with the reality that intermittent wind and solar backed up by short-duration, expensive grid-scale batteries won’t be enough to supply the power needs of the state, especially as AI places more demands on the grid. Still clinging to the hope of a fossil fuel-free grid, these states are looking to nuclear as a more politically tenable option. 

Cue wailing and weeping from the anti-nuke brethren and watermelons in 3…2…1…

Me, I’d be quite happy if these idiots — and the people who voted them into power — broiled, froze or suffered permanent blackouts for a few years as a result of their foolishness, but perhaps I’m being too harsh.

Here We Go Again

Retailing

In another one of those “Custer Having Difficulties With The Sioux” headlines, we have this nonsense from the Truly Ignorant:

Supermarket bosses are under fire for charging higher prices in shops serving the UK’s poorer communities while customers in leafy suburbs pay less. An investigation by MPs found food can be up to 38% more expensive in smaller “local” or “express” stores, which typically serve lower-income customers, than in full-blown supermarkets owned by the same company, often in wealthier areas or accessible to customers with access to transport.

There’s so much foolishness in this article that I even hesitate to talk about it.  But what the heck, here we are so I might as well.

Actually, as I’ve said before, “zone pricing” is not only common, it’s ubiquitous.  That policy is very much driven by market forces — whether it’s a higher incidence of shoplifting, or the higher cost of doing business (compare the rental cost of a city vs. suburban store, for example) — the simple fact remains that in order to maintain profitability (e.g. sales per square foot at x% gross profit), some stores will have to charge more for the same items than others.

Ignore too the wealth envy in the article — “poor people aren’t as mobile as wealthy people, so they’re trapped into paying higher prices” — because it isn’t relevant:  organizations don’t charge more because of profit opportunity unless they’re a monopoly and can afford to do so.

Of course politicians (and journalists) are going to get involved because it’s an easy way for them to garner both publicity and popularity.  The facts of the issue aren’t important as long as they are Seen To Be Doing Something.

And of course when inner-city stores are forced to close because of government action, the Pore Folx are going to find themselves in a “food desert” that is entirely of their own and their politicians’ making — and I for one will have a simple reaction to this situation:

Stupidity should be punished and not rewarded.

Dealing With The Heatwave

Gratuitous Chick Pics

Apparently Britishland and their cross-Channel cousins are whining as they suffer the lash of a heatwave — what we in Texas would call a temperate summer — and here’s one Brit who’s not unhappy about it:

Mel, a hairdresser and mature psychology student, lives in her two-bedroom rented apartment in her block of flats in Warrington, Cheshire.  “I chose this flat because the balcony gets sun in winter and summer,” she says. “I’m not bothered by people getting the odd eyeful.  I’d rather strip down than cover up to enjoy this current burst of warm weather.” 

Attagirl.  And she’s not too awful to look at, either:

We need more women with her attitude, say I.

European Destination

Men & Women, Travels

For those who want to visit Euroland and couldn’t be bothered with the AFC/AFM (another fucking church, another fucking monument) kind of experience, there’s always another kind of fucking, at Cap d’Agde in southern France:

In this hedonistic playground, anything goes.  Hundreds of thousands of swingers descend on the resort each summer looking to fulfill their wildest fantasies.  But despite all the exhibitionism, it’s a closed, secretive world. As a rule, visitors to Cap d’Agde follow the motto: what goes on tour, stays on tour.  Most visitors have been part of the swinging scene for a while and have received an “invitation” to join the fun.

“We found so many normal people do it. It’s like a secret life. It opened our minds to a different world. Even so, I didn’t participate the first two or three times. I just watched others having sex. By the time I did get involved, I’d made some connections with people, so I was more relaxed.

“My first experience was a soft swap. My first full swap was the next time we went to a club. A soft swap might mean switching partners, but not having full sex. It might involve kissing, or foreplay. A full swap is having sex with them. It’s like experimenting, but with other people. It opens you up to a new world of different experiences.”

…and a new world of interesting diseases, no doubt.  Here it is:

So be my guest…

Read more

News Roundup

Bad News

Well Planet Lesbia is one thing, but here on Earth…


...climate change… is there anything it can’t do?

But that’s nothing.  Try this one:


...and don’t tell me, let me guess:  it’s triggered by Intergalactic Warming Climate Cooling Change©?

And if that’s not moronic enough:


...wait:  wasn’t eating bugs supposed to be a Good Thing?
#Confused


...gee, what do you think tipped her off? 

And speaking of The Great Cultural Assimilation Project©:


...in which we play the “Guess The Religion Of The Rapists” game.  And speaking of the guys who invented the term “Nazi”:


...man, if they tried that shit Over Here there’d be a different outcome, methinks.  And speaking of Sturmtruppen:


...I would suggest they’re not even in the top 5.  Left-wing “comedians” and actresses, however...

In :


...couldn’t have put it better myself, skattie. [/sarc]

In the intersectionalty of Crime News and LGBTOSTFU News:


...males take left;  females, right?

In Election News:


...just keep all that money away from the Republican National Committee, FFS, or you’ll end up with even more RINOs in Congress.


...they’d be stupid to stay on.  LOL @NYfC.


...hey, if they can vote from there, posting should be a piece of cake.

From the Obscure History Dept.:


...I’m so glad this issue has finally been put to rest;  I’ve been lying awake at night for years worrying about it.

And Middle East News:


...three answers:  no, fuck no, and if you insist on a timeline:  never in a million fucking years.

And in the annals of   

  

 

And on the other side of :


...sorry, I faked you out there.  No way am I going to upset people by showing pics of the grotesque Katie Price;  instead, let’s look at her daughter Princess [sic], who just turned 18 and is therefore legal (unlike her foul mother, who should be illegal):

Not as slaggy as her mother;  but then again, no one is.