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Ancient Teachings

Genesis 1, 28 says that we should "go forth and multiply, and replenish the earth." Not all Bibles have this "replenish the e...

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

South African Energy Policy Failures

Where has South Africa failed? Is it in policy? I've researched South Africa's Energy and Transport Policies. And the failures are in implementation. Watch this 4 hour video series on South Africa's electricity policy (strategy), law (guidance to implement strategy), expert commentary, and my own commentary.


PS: I studied Transport policy to see if the problem is only in Energy and actually it is in both. Note that policy was informed by wide public participation. Implementation has hardly any public participation. I believe this is where the problems lie. Government thinks it can do it alone, with its consultants, and its in house expertise. But Billion Dollar Programs MUST have public input.

Monday, July 12, 2021

David's books

 


I'm selling my first three paperbacks for R600 (for all three; the full price is currently R1880) including delivery anywhere in Cape Town. Payment for delivery is a cup of coffee, with the author, who lives in Milnerton, when he delivers. So far I've delivered as far as Robertson, but they had to buy me lunch :)
 
The books are:
 
The Torah as an Enlightenment Toolkit: how the Jacob archetype can become the Israel archetype. These are archetypes. They aren't men or women.
 
A User Manual for Life on Earth: how to run the world so that we don't have plagues and global warming.
Ramblings of an A-lien: how to get out of debt, for humanity.
 
The books are also available on a Smashwords sale at the moment (for July) for up to 75% off: see https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lipdav14
 
And the books are on Kindle, and Amazon Paperbacks.
 
You can pay cash, EFT, or credit card.

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Eskom's Capitulation

Eskom has capitulated and ordered 3 Turkish Ship Based Power Stations. In my opinion this shows that Nersa, which obviously has licensed these “IPP’s” doesn’t care about the many South Africans who have volunteered to power South Africa, and at the same time it shows that Eskom is unwilling or unable to complete their power station build and will now outsource their “base load” power to a Turkish Company. It also shows that although the South African government have constantly said that they cannot have large embedded generators inside the South African grid because the grid needs “strengthening”, in actual fact this is a lie as these three ships will be embedded in the South African grid.

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Load Shedding

 

I've been speaking and writing about Load Shedding and Energy since 2004. Here is a post from 2009:

How to get people to listen and to do something instead of blaming and complaining and being distracted?

Monday, March 15, 2021

2012 Rooftop Solar Revolution

This might be helpful from 2012.

Rooftop Solar Revolution Book.

2012-09-12

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/new-book-rooftop-revolution-takes-aim-at-king-cong-12057 

My comments:

This is truly excellent news. It is great to have books like these which support the Solar Revolution which is now a Social Revolution rather than a Technological Revolution, as the technologies now exist and their pricing is approaching grid parity in many parts of the world. From a really simple point of view, all we need is Net Metering and Time of Use (TOU) Tariffs and no service fees, except perhaps a Retail Wheeling tariff for electricity sold into the grid. The Time of Use Tariffs are required so that homeowners and others are incentivised to move their electricity use outside peak time. In South Africa, our peak times are 7 to 10am and 6-8pm. My wife did some baking last night at 10pm. She should have received a lower electricity rate for consuming this electricity late at night. Also Concentrated Solar Technology with Storage has reached parity with Nuclear build costs and so should be built instead of nuclear. Concentrated Solar has the further advantage that it will supply peak load, something nuclear cannot do.

Saturday, February 20, 2021

Business and People Controls vs Computer and Systems Controls

I recorded this video after a discussion with a client who has a problem with anyone in the organisation placing orders, and wants a computer workflow sign off system to solve the problem. I pointed out that the best computer system in the world won't work if the associated people and business controls aren't also implemented.

Thursday, February 18, 2021

Scope Creep in Agile Projects

Can there be Scope Creep in Agile (Mini Waterfall) Projects? David discusses with the beautiful backdrop of Cape Town, a Remote Programmers' Paradise. I've been working remotely for 20 years. Talk to me if you need help being remote or being agile.