Farty Pants McGee
@fartypantsmcgee.bsky.social
I have pants. They're quite farty. That's probably nominative determinism. I like lots of things that are good. I'm less keen on bad things. Eh. 🤷♀️
Make (the) UK Great Again.
MUGA.
Prounced mugger. Seems apt. 🤷♀️
MUGA.
Prounced mugger. Seems apt. 🤷♀️
November 6, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Make (the) UK Great Again.
MUGA.
Prounced mugger. Seems apt. 🤷♀️
MUGA.
Prounced mugger. Seems apt. 🤷♀️
Was Alexander Jones their Mayoral candidate, or do I have the wrong name?
November 5, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Was Alexander Jones their Mayoral candidate, or do I have the wrong name?
You and I are very much on the same page regarding renewables and nationalisation of strategic supply and reserves. We just differ on our assessment of costs of nuclear. Nice talking to you. 👍
November 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM
You and I are very much on the same page regarding renewables and nationalisation of strategic supply and reserves. We just differ on our assessment of costs of nuclear. Nice talking to you. 👍
There's no magic solution and no solution is perfect. But renewables (and I believe in a renewable first energy supply!) cannot be relied upon to maintain grid stability in an emergency. That is why I believe small modern nuclear generators are needed. Ideally state owned and actived for emergency
November 5, 2025 at 11:07 AM
There's no magic solution and no solution is perfect. But renewables (and I believe in a renewable first energy supply!) cannot be relied upon to maintain grid stability in an emergency. That is why I believe small modern nuclear generators are needed. Ideally state owned and actived for emergency
But this is what I'm saying: Batteries don't really provide much redundancy because:
1. Battery capacity is VERY expensive.
2. You can't ship in more fuel for your batteries.
Gas and/or nuclear fuel is cost effective to store in huge quantities and can be purchased externally as needed.
1. Battery capacity is VERY expensive.
2. You can't ship in more fuel for your batteries.
Gas and/or nuclear fuel is cost effective to store in huge quantities and can be purchased externally as needed.
November 5, 2025 at 11:03 AM
But this is what I'm saying: Batteries don't really provide much redundancy because:
1. Battery capacity is VERY expensive.
2. You can't ship in more fuel for your batteries.
Gas and/or nuclear fuel is cost effective to store in huge quantities and can be purchased externally as needed.
1. Battery capacity is VERY expensive.
2. You can't ship in more fuel for your batteries.
Gas and/or nuclear fuel is cost effective to store in huge quantities and can be purchased externally as needed.
Yep batteries solve the problem *while they have charge* - that's why I'm harping on the definition of a battery in the context of the grid.
November 5, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Yep batteries solve the problem *while they have charge* - that's why I'm harping on the definition of a battery in the context of the grid.
No matter how much battery storage you have, there will come a time when it's depleted. And solar/wind can't run the grid alone - voltage instability and other issues will kick in. If not nuclear then in my opinion we need state owned gas power plants as an emergency backup system. Mothballed mostly
November 5, 2025 at 9:59 AM
No matter how much battery storage you have, there will come a time when it's depleted. And solar/wind can't run the grid alone - voltage instability and other issues will kick in. If not nuclear then in my opinion we need state owned gas power plants as an emergency backup system. Mothballed mostly
I can see we aren't going to agree on nuclear - I do accept your points that it has issues.
I just want to be totally clear on batteries: Anything that's charged up then depleted on demand is a battery. Including pumped storage and other fancy tech. A battery is not defined by its chemicals.
I just want to be totally clear on batteries: Anything that's charged up then depleted on demand is a battery. Including pumped storage and other fancy tech. A battery is not defined by its chemicals.
November 5, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I can see we aren't going to agree on nuclear - I do accept your points that it has issues.
I just want to be totally clear on batteries: Anything that's charged up then depleted on demand is a battery. Including pumped storage and other fancy tech. A battery is not defined by its chemicals.
I just want to be totally clear on batteries: Anything that's charged up then depleted on demand is a battery. Including pumped storage and other fancy tech. A battery is not defined by its chemicals.
What kind of "grid firming" technology are you thinking of other than batteries?
November 5, 2025 at 8:52 AM
What kind of "grid firming" technology are you thinking of other than batteries?
"New technology xyz" is still batteries. As are things like pumped hydro. These things are wonderful, you don't have to sell them to me. But they can only work while they have charge - they are finite.
(I have 10kW of solar and 20kWh of batteries on my house - I'm already a fan)
(I have 10kW of solar and 20kWh of batteries on my house - I'm already a fan)
November 5, 2025 at 8:50 AM
"New technology xyz" is still batteries. As are things like pumped hydro. These things are wonderful, you don't have to sell them to me. But they can only work while they have charge - they are finite.
(I have 10kW of solar and 20kWh of batteries on my house - I'm already a fan)
(I have 10kW of solar and 20kWh of batteries on my house - I'm already a fan)
I'm totally on board for doing everything renewables and grid upgrades as a first priority, that's not the issue. We need base load generation and I'm not convinced batteries can ever be enough.
Without nuclear, we will always be somewhat dependent on gas.
Without nuclear, we will always be somewhat dependent on gas.
November 5, 2025 at 8:10 AM
I'm totally on board for doing everything renewables and grid upgrades as a first priority, that's not the issue. We need base load generation and I'm not convinced batteries can ever be enough.
Without nuclear, we will always be somewhat dependent on gas.
Without nuclear, we will always be somewhat dependent on gas.
I'm quite keen on nuclear power - I think it might have an important role in net zero transition. I'm hoping the Greens will soften on it a bit.
November 4, 2025 at 11:06 PM
I'm quite keen on nuclear power - I think it might have an important role in net zero transition. I'm hoping the Greens will soften on it a bit.
Really appreciate your coverage of this on Bsky. 👍
October 30, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Really appreciate your coverage of this on Bsky. 👍
Women being expected to cover their hair was British culture not so long ago and now these morons see it as a symbol of outsiderness.
October 22, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Women being expected to cover their hair was British culture not so long ago and now these morons see it as a symbol of outsiderness.
It's certainly what I'd do but it's not as simple as picking one OS and sticking with it.
October 20, 2025 at 7:16 PM
It's certainly what I'd do but it's not as simple as picking one OS and sticking with it.
I'll never understand why anyone who doesn't need Adobe Photoshop hasn't flipped to Linux already.
October 20, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I'll never understand why anyone who doesn't need Adobe Photoshop hasn't flipped to Linux already.
Ged oudda here with your common sense.
October 20, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Ged oudda here with your common sense.
The recent stage version with Steve Coogan was out of this world brilliant. It managed to top the original film, which is a serious achievement.
October 11, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The recent stage version with Steve Coogan was out of this world brilliant. It managed to top the original film, which is a serious achievement.
I don't know which one you are, so I'll assume you're the one not in costume.
October 7, 2025 at 10:30 PM
I don't know which one you are, so I'll assume you're the one not in costume.
Yes but how ARE you?
October 6, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Yes but how ARE you?
It's social media, tech barons and dark money flooding into our political sphere over the last 15 years. Farage and Trump are just symptoms of the real disease.
October 6, 2025 at 9:10 AM
It's social media, tech barons and dark money flooding into our political sphere over the last 15 years. Farage and Trump are just symptoms of the real disease.
I'm an expert on Dunning-Krueger.
October 3, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I'm an expert on Dunning-Krueger.
I think you're wrong - sports requires more nuance. These are areas where being puritanical guarantees that we on "the left" or whatever you want to call us collectively who believe that trans people must be included and welcomed will schism repeatedly and allow the right to win everything.
October 3, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I think you're wrong - sports requires more nuance. These are areas where being puritanical guarantees that we on "the left" or whatever you want to call us collectively who believe that trans people must be included and welcomed will schism repeatedly and allow the right to win everything.
Technically he walks the very sensible middle line on trans women in sport at the end of the article, and fair play to him. He's spot on.
October 3, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Technically he walks the very sensible middle line on trans women in sport at the end of the article, and fair play to him. He's spot on.