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ValueSubtracted

@ ValueSubtracted @startrek.website

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Have you ever considered that the Prime Directive is not only not ethical, but also illogical, and perhaps morally indefensible?

  • Canada negotiating to buy Saab's GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft

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  • How the Pathways carbon storage project would work, if built

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  • I'm extremely skeptical of the whole thing, but I'm trying to learn more. The article you shared says:

    Many geologists (myself included) believe there are places on Earth where long-term CO2 storage could be safely achieved, but it would require what scientists call “site characterization.” That means studying the location in enough detail to be confident that things put there will stay there. For example, the U.S. currently stores military radioactive waste in low-permeability salt formations in New Mexico, and there are numerous pending proposals to store CO2 in sandstones overlain by low-permeability shales in North Dakota.

    Okay, so the CBC article seems to suggest that the site in question has been studied.

    At the storage hub, the gas would be injected deep underground in the Basal Cambrian Sandstone formation, which sits one to two kilometres below the surface. The sponge-like sandstone has spaces that can be filled with CO2.

    Above that formation is thick, non-porous rock salt that can act as a barrier to keep the carbon dioxide in the ground.

    I have no idea whether it's been studied sufficiently, but the author of the article you shared seems to think it can be effective if that step is taken.

    And I think even the most optimistic proponents of carbon storage argue that it's a means of mitigating the effects of heavy industry, not of making a meaningful difference in other ways. But they seem to think those mitigating effects can be important, and maybe even necessary?

  • Canada negotiating to buy Saab's GlobalEye airborne early warning aircraft

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  • Saab had bundled its surveillance aircraft proposal in with its pitch to sell Gripen-E fighter jets to Canada and promised to transfer technology so both aircraft could be fully manufactured locally. Carney did not say anything about whether Canada will proceed with the Gripen and limit its purchase of American-made F-35 jets.

  • Guilbeault to resign as an MP over Carney government’s climate policies

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  • Sounds like he's vacating his seat entirely.

  • Why isn’t there more solar power in one of Canada’s sunniest provinces?

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  • I'd definitely love to see some grants or other assistance to get people building their own capacity.

  • Why isn’t there more solar power in one of Canada’s sunniest provinces?

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  • Sure, but this article is about the lack of utility-scale solar capacity (read: large solar plants), not small-scale, individual efforts.

  • Why isn’t there more solar power in one of Canada’s sunniest provinces?

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  • That seems to be the same conclusion that MB Hydro has reached, as well.

  • Canadian Coast Guard getting $816M to boost Arctic security, secure southern waters

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  • I'm a little surprised that there hasn't (as far as I know) been any talk about arming the coast guard - the way things are headed, it seems a little inevitable.

  • Danielle Smith Offers a Delusional TV Defence of Her Referendum

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  • Claiming Canada was founded on the principle of strong provinces, Ms. Smith said, “Canada is very different from the United States and many other Western democracies. For example, the U.S. centralizes the majority of power and decision-making in its federal government. In Canada, we chose a decentralized federation composed of very unique and diverse provinces left to govern themselves in almost all matters with the main exceptions of national defence and international affairs.”

    Absolutely unhinged.

  • Snowbirds to be grounded following 2026 season until new aircraft arrive

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  • I did a bit of a double-take here:

    The Swiss-made, turbo-prop CT-157 Siskin II has been chosen to replace the Snowbird squadron. The planes are already on order and are being delivered for use as the air force’s initial pilot training aircraft.

    Sure enough, these are not jet aircraft.

  • Analysis: With a possible referendum looming, Carney and Smith find common ground on carbon pricing

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  • I think it's perfectly understandable to at least attempt to rein in an increasingly rogue province by making a mutually acceptable deal. I don't believe it will help, or at least not much, but I can understand the attempt.

    The lesson is obvious to provinces: dont follow federal laws you dont agree with.

    That said, I can't really disagree with this point.

    Ultimately, the proposed pipeline still seems to be contingent on finding a private entity that thinks it's a good investment, and I'm not at all convinced that that will ever happen. We'll see.

  • Analysis: With a possible referendum looming, Carney and Smith find common ground on carbon pricing

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  • The counterpoint (and it's a deeply shitty, cynical counterpoint) is that the original targets weren't realistic to begin with, and would have been missed, just like every other climate target ever.

    Is this better? History suggests it probably isn't. Is it worse? Maybe, but the depressing truth is it might just be a lateral move.

    And that's the strongest "defense" I'm able to muster, which is pretty depressing.

  • Analysis: With a possible referendum looming, Carney and Smith find common ground on carbon pricing

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  • There's a lot of good context in here, even as I'm still deeply conflicted about this strategy.

    "The final Canada-Alberta MOU implementation agreement will put Canada’s target of net zero by 2050 well out of reach," Rick Smith, president of the Canadian Climate Institute, said in a written statement.

    The Pembina Institute said its modelling showed the carbon pricing schedule included in the implementation agreement would result in an additional 230 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the next 15 years.

    The federal government had no modelling of its own to offer on Friday.

    The policy left behind by Justin Trudeau's government was stronger on paper. But Carney might argue his policy is stronger in practice — not least because it was achieved via political consensus with a conservative Alberta premier.

    ...

    In defiance of the federal benchmark, Smith's government had frozen the province's industrial price at $95 per tonne last year. (Meanwhile, Saskatchewan has stopped collecting an industrial carbon price altogether.) And because of inefficiencies in Alberta's pricing system, the effective price was much lower.

  • Carney, Smith reach energy agreement that could see pipeline construction start in 2027

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  • A private backer was a requirement in the original MoU, and I can't tell from the article whether that's still the case.

    If so, the whole thing may well be a non-starter.

  • Ottawa, Alberta near deal on carbon pricing rising to $130/tonne by 2040

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  • In the short term, I think Carney is prioritizing "re-industrializing" the country over certain environmental protections.

    I certainly have hope that the worst effects will be mitigated by things like what you're describing, but...I'm just not sure.

  • I'm disappointed of Jem'hadar quick start event because of predefined settings for the character.

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  • It is a little odd that they locked it to Tactical - not sure why they did that.

    I assume you'll be able to edit the appearance once you've aligned with either the Federation or the Klingons, but I haven't really tested that out, so maybe I'm wrong?

    If you're looking for a bright side, you could use one of them to play around with unconventional combinations, like a Tactical officer with a science vessel or whatever.

    Also: you've probably noticed by now that the Jem'Hadar faction drops you straight into the endgame (or at least the endgame at it was in 2018), so you may be better off playing your older character for the time being anyway.

  • Canada High Speed Rail Project Updates

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  • I tend to think that most deadlines will be missed, and most budgets will be overrun...the only question is degree.

  • Carney to 'take into account' advice on Senate appointments from Trudeau-era committee

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  • I'm probably projecting, but I hope people realize that Trudeau did at much as he could without reopening the Constitution, which is a non-starter.

  • Carney to 'take into account' advice on Senate appointments from Trudeau-era committee

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  • I have a feeling it's neither enough for the reformists, nor enough for the abolitionists, so it's just kind of ignored.