Coal plants can and do back off their generation at times of low demand. Typically they can go down to about 50-60% capacity without problems. You're correct in the general concept that they don't switch off and on quickly, but they certainly don't generate at max capacity 24/7.
I'm sure there are lessons that can be learnt by comparing internet supply with the electricity industry.
If everyone ran their ovens/plasma screen tvs/heaters at the same time the system wouldn't be able to cope. So as the system approaches this situation the spot price of electricity goes up. Residential users aren't exposed to this, since most are on a fixed price.
However a few things happen. Large users that are exposed to the spot price (mostly industrials) reduce their usage. Lines companies turn off people's hot water heaters (non-immediate usage). More expensive generation operates. Surely ISPs can take some of these lessons and use them to manage peak internet usage? I don't know enough about ISP operation to say exactly how this would happen, but perhaps an example of non immediate usage would be windows updates. Schedule these offpeak and suddenly peak usage isn't so extreme.
Ultimately, there are perverse incentives for ISPs and they're all as a result of 'unlimited' plans. The ISPs already have your money, irrespective of how much you use your internet connection so it's in their best interest to stop you using what you paid for. This isn't the case for electricity since you pay by the kWh. Retail companies want you to comsume as much as possible. They don't want you to use it at peak times, but it's in their best interests to make you consume offpeak.
I know everyone hates the idea of metered internet, but in the long run it will provide better results for everyone.
I do this every time I'm asked to sign that my baggage is fragile/unsuitably packed.
I travel with somewhat fragile sporting equipment, so this happens most flights. I delete the 'unsuitably packed' section and any disclaimers of liability, initial it, and sign at the bottom. So I'm just signing that my item is fragile, which seems honest. But I'm not saying it's alright for the baggage handlers to ride it up the conveyor belt (I've seen this happen).
The price of an item already does a pretty good job at estimating its cost to the environment. With the introduction of a system that properly implements carbon/polution credits this will only become more accurate.
Let's say you need to do 3 hours of exercise every week to 'stay in shape'. That's on the low side, but maybe not too far off if you consider it as 3 extra hours rather than the total amount. So that's 156 hours of exercise a year.
How would you value a healthy body?
Even at a meagre $1500/year that's a $10/hour ROI. Sounds ok to me.
They're probably not. Why compare yourself to someone who is so clearly worse than you are?
I'm really good at some things. I don't compare myself to people who are terrible at them, I compare myself to people who are better than me, or of similar ability.
That's the way most people work, isn't it? Maybe I'm just strange.
Slashdot Mirror
The trap has been laid... *waits*
http://xkcd.com/326/
Especially when the OP is kind enough to tell us his email address.
*Whistles innocently*
I was going to mod you down, but then I saw you used the correct homonym "you're" so I couldn't bring myself to do it.
6. Make sure your credit card has a pin number on it. In some countries this is universal, in others it's not used at all.
unsurprisingly, because the stakes are so high.
Yeah, just like how my online banking doesn't use an authenticator but my WoW account does.
Coal plants can and do back off their generation at times of low demand. Typically they can go down to about 50-60% capacity without problems. You're correct in the general concept that they don't switch off and on quickly, but they certainly don't generate at max capacity 24/7.
I'm sure there are lessons that can be learnt by comparing internet supply with the electricity industry.
If everyone ran their ovens/plasma screen tvs/heaters at the same time the system wouldn't be able to cope. So as the system approaches this situation the spot price of electricity goes up. Residential users aren't exposed to this, since most are on a fixed price.
However a few things happen. Large users that are exposed to the spot price (mostly industrials) reduce their usage. Lines companies turn off people's hot water heaters (non-immediate usage). More expensive generation operates. Surely ISPs can take some of these lessons and use them to manage peak internet usage? I don't know enough about ISP operation to say exactly how this would happen, but perhaps an example of non immediate usage would be windows updates. Schedule these offpeak and suddenly peak usage isn't so extreme.
Ultimately, there are perverse incentives for ISPs and they're all as a result of 'unlimited' plans. The ISPs already have your money, irrespective of how much you use your internet connection so it's in their best interest to stop you using what you paid for. This isn't the case for electricity since you pay by the kWh. Retail companies want you to comsume as much as possible. They don't want you to use it at peak times, but it's in their best interests to make you consume offpeak.
I know everyone hates the idea of metered internet, but in the long run it will provide better results for everyone.
Enter a slightly-but-not-quite birthday if you feel you must have one out there.
Do this and learn who actually knows your birthday and who relies on facebook reminders :)
I do this every time I'm asked to sign that my baggage is fragile/unsuitably packed.
I travel with somewhat fragile sporting equipment, so this happens most flights. I delete the 'unsuitably packed' section and any disclaimers of liability, initial it, and sign at the bottom. So I'm just signing that my item is fragile, which seems honest. But I'm not saying it's alright for the baggage handlers to ride it up the conveyor belt (I've seen this happen).
What's more awesome is that the strip-club owner is a former mayoral candidate. We need more politicians like that.
Dammit. The mirrored files have the highlighting taken out so I don't know where the juicy bits are in the document.
Can someone mirror it with the highlighting left in?
The price of an item already does a pretty good job at estimating its cost to the environment. With the introduction of a system that properly implements carbon/polution credits this will only become more accurate.
You must love 'up to 50% off' sales.
Unfortunately the RIAA already has the patent on that method.
I thought that nobody 'attacked' Sarah Palin's family. Rather they were amused by how their antics reflected on Sarah Palin's beliefs.
Someone better tell these guys.
http://www.onslowtarbabies.org.nz/
The Euro was introduced in 2002
Wish I could get mod points for posting blatently incorrect information.
Isn't that evidence that they have too many pyschologists?
http://friends.wikia.com/wiki/Erika_Ford
Reminds me of this episode
Maybe yes, maybe no.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predatory_pricing
Predatory pricing is a great example of competition at work.
PS. Can I get some of those windows licenses at that price?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crucible
Funny how the older I get the more relevant these old crusty works of literature become.
Let's say you need to do 3 hours of exercise every week to 'stay in shape'. That's on the low side, but maybe not too far off if you consider it as 3 extra hours rather than the total amount. So that's 156 hours of exercise a year.
How would you value a healthy body?
Even at a meagre $1500/year that's a $10/hour ROI. Sounds ok to me.
They're probably not. Why compare yourself to someone who is so clearly worse than you are?
I'm really good at some things. I don't compare myself to people who are terrible at them, I compare myself to people who are better than me, or of similar ability.
That's the way most people work, isn't it? Maybe I'm just strange.
My Dietician once told me that it was fine to drink alcohol moderately as part of a training programme.
The catch was that each beer had to be burned off by 30 minutes of cardio.
Did anyone pay for tv news ten years ago?
Just because the consumer doesn't pay at the point of purchase doesn't mean it's impossible to make money from it.