Thursday, March 31, 2022

jets to run on used cooking oil

 https://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-operated-a380-jet-with-100-sustainable-aviation-fuel-saf-2022-3?utm_source=reddit.com

 

Now, Airbus is ramping up its SAF testing with the first flight of an A380 superjumbo using 100% biofuel made of cooking oil and other waste fats. The company hopes to introduce the world's first zero-emission aircraft by 2035.

 "The flight test met all of our requirements, which will enable us to carry out the next phase of the project consisting of specific engine manoeuvers," Airbus test pilot, Wolfgang Absmeier, said.

 

This is wonderful, killing 2 birds with one stone.  No more cooking oil waste, and keeping oil in the ground.

 

 

 

 

Monday, March 14, 2022

Oligarchs having a hard time hiding

 It's amazing to see how the tide has suddenly turned for Russian oligarchs.  But it's not just the Ukraine war that is causing problems for them.  Our entire world is changing in how money and things can no longer be hidden:


* https://www.flightradar24.com lets anybody follow where oligarch's private jets run around to

* https://www.marinetraffic.com does the same for their multi-million dollar yachts

* The Pandora Papers, the Panama Papers, and other leaks from private trusts around the world that once secretly held their money are suddenly leaking information like a sieve

* people are beginning to understand that ill-gotten money soaked up by the oligarchs means less for everybody else

* and of course the Ukraine war puts the spotlight on those few who helped Putin siphon billions from the Russian economy for himself and his cronies


It won't be an easy time for the super-rich in the near future.  They may weather these changes somehow but I hope not.

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Is the world learning how to end wars?

 The events in Ukraine are surprising to me, and bring up a radical question.  Is the world learning how to end wars?  

   Consider that Putin apparently assumed a few things that weren't correct.  He thought the Ukrainians would be pushovers.  That is obviously incorrect.  He thought other countries would sit idly by since Ukraine was not in NATO nor any other union/treaty.  This was wildly incorrect.  NATO has come together and put heavy pressure on Russia itself through sanctions, military aid to Ukraine, and a heavy military display on Russia's NATO borders.  

   But the thing that surprises me most is how businesses have reacted, even to their own detriment.  Many western companies have suspended activity in Russia.  They don't have to do that.  It actually hurts their bottom line.  But apparently there is enough consumer pressure on them to invoke this reaction.

   So Russia will soon be in a financial tailspin.  It's military capability will be severely reduced by its losses in Ukraine.  When the fighting is over Russia will be stuck with war reparations from all the horrid damage and mayhem it has caused in Ukraine.  In the short term Russia may gain some territory, but in the long run the world is making sure that the expedition is a severe mistake that it will take many years and maybe even generations to recover from.

   The next despot who feels the desire to take over another weaker country will hopefully remember the lesson of Ukraine.  And just perhaps, the world will have learned how to stop the next war.