Thanks for taking on the paradox of meaning, guys. I realize confronting the pain of this world -- and the contradictions inherent in our most cherished beliefs -- doesn’t always make us “happy”; but it does make us more human.
Dan, I think "unprecedented amounts of wealth and leisure" apply to the top 20% in a few countries only, for the rest on average to minimum wages, life is a struggle with little leisure time.
EVs: it is 100% clear that there are insufficient minerals and metals to accomplish even a conversion of 25% of cars to EVs. Copper, lithium, aluminum, platinum group metals, rare earths the list goes on and on and on. EV battery recycling is no better: the reason "raw" minerals like lithium are used is because they're chemically/atomically suitable. Converting the no-longer-suitable forms of lithium, say, to the suitable will require enormous amounts of energy and create all manner of pollution even over and above the strip mining to start with.
And this doesn't even get into the price parabola that will occur as the supplies start running low.
Not to say scammers won't make lots of money in the process - the IRA's literal hundreds of billions will ensure that.
Ditto the effects of energy consumption from gasoline to the grid - major upgrades in generation capacity needed in addition to solving the problem of solar PV/wind induced generation swings on electricity cost and grid stability.
As for Gurri: it is interesting that an ex(?)-CIA analyst who specifically specialized in politics and global media is so celebrated. Is he speaking his mind or his mission?
Thanks for taking on the paradox of meaning, guys. I realize confronting the pain of this world -- and the contradictions inherent in our most cherished beliefs -- doesn’t always make us “happy”; but it does make us more human.
https://2transform.us/2021/03/13/healing-hephaestus-part-4/
Thanks! I think ev uptake is even spreading here in Japan and I'd love to write about it soon!
Dan, I think "unprecedented amounts of wealth and leisure" apply to the top 20% in a few countries only, for the rest on average to minimum wages, life is a struggle with little leisure time.
Robert
+1 on all the things mentioned except the Crytpo stuff. It's a dead parrot.
Got to make EV more cheaper than it is already. I saw from somewhere that most people wouldn't buy an EV because of the price
Hey Daniel would ever be open to collaborating on a post?
@Packy is there a way to unsubscribe from weekly optimism? I just want the main newsletter! Some substacks have this kind of option I believe?
Thanks for the optimism! This series is my favorite way to start every Friday.
EVs: it is 100% clear that there are insufficient minerals and metals to accomplish even a conversion of 25% of cars to EVs. Copper, lithium, aluminum, platinum group metals, rare earths the list goes on and on and on. EV battery recycling is no better: the reason "raw" minerals like lithium are used is because they're chemically/atomically suitable. Converting the no-longer-suitable forms of lithium, say, to the suitable will require enormous amounts of energy and create all manner of pollution even over and above the strip mining to start with.
And this doesn't even get into the price parabola that will occur as the supplies start running low.
Not to say scammers won't make lots of money in the process - the IRA's literal hundreds of billions will ensure that.
Ditto the effects of energy consumption from gasoline to the grid - major upgrades in generation capacity needed in addition to solving the problem of solar PV/wind induced generation swings on electricity cost and grid stability.
As for Gurri: it is interesting that an ex(?)-CIA analyst who specifically specialized in politics and global media is so celebrated. Is he speaking his mind or his mission?