China didn’t include figures on utilization rates at power plants by source in its May monthly data series, following the previous month’s data that showed utilization at renewable energy generators had dropped, Reuters reported on Monday, citing China’s latest data release.

In the data series through April 2024, China had given a breakdown of utilization rates at thermal, hydro, nuclear, solar, and wind power plants.

The last such data has found that the average operating hours of wind and solar power generators fell, while utilization rates at hydropower and thermal coal-fired power plants increased, according to the January-April data.

Now the latest data for January to May doesn’t give separate utilization rates at plants by power source, Reuters notes, adding that the publisher of the data series, China’s energy administration, didn’t give any explanation about what has prompted the change in the way the country reports power plant operations.

Before May, China had a limit on curtailment of renewable energy at 5%, referring to the curtailment issue when excess clean energy has to be curtailed to balance the grid between supply and demand.

But at the end of May, the Chinese authorities raised that limit of curtailment of renewable energy to 10% from 5%, a change that was bound to further lower utilization rates at renewable power plants.

Analysts expect the higher limit on curtailment to lead to more renewable energy installations, but solar and wind plants operating at lower utilization, according to Reuters.

Earlier this year, Fitch Ratings said that while China is set to reach its 2030 wind and solar capacity target of 1.2 terawatts (TW) six years early, this could bring challenges to utilization and the grid’s ability to maintain stable power supply.

“Grid construction takes time and power storage capacity as a percentage of renewable capacity remains low,” Fitch said in a report in February.

“This means that thermal power will play an important role in stabilising the power system in the transition period.”

Some good stuff from Mitch Fick of Iowa's News Now, who's at the Zach Johnson Foundation Classic in Cedar Rapids.

Looks like Lester and some Hawkeyes made it out. Fick caught a nice shot by Lester. Notice how the players respond to him and his shot here.
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So, my wife & I are up at Mayo for some diagnostic stuff scheduled for the next day. We're at dinner at a sports bar with another couple from our same small community. He's fighting cancer & has a surgery scheduled for the next day. Total coincidence that we're there (at Mayo) at the same time, but we've been pretty good friends over the years.

We're waiting for a table & he scans the QR code for the menu for the place so that we can all place a drink order before we get seated. He clicks on the QR code and - instead of the menu - up pops a video of his naked wife and him getting it on. It was going for about .7 seconds before he realized it wasn't the menu & recoiled with his phone. Fortunately for him, neither of our wives saw it. He said he made the recording without his wives' knowledge & that she would (obviously) kill him if she found out. She's average looking, but decently vocal, apparently. I told him I had his back, but I immediately told my wife after dinner.

CSB.

Will there be a 2nd debate September 10th?

Add a little hawk tuah in their collective asses for good measure.

MSNBC and CNN are funnier now than Comedy Central ever has been. Gold Jerry, GOLD!

So what's your work place toilet paper situation?

Mine.....you can see through it and the width of the roll is an inch and a half narrower than mine at home.

Two words.....CHEAP.

SCOTUS is hearing oral arguments today on this case. It's shameful and pathetic that the US Government would argue against the Navajo People and try to break yet another treaty.

Based on the questions being asked so far, it appears the Court is supportive of the Navajo side

https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/arizona-v-navajo-nation/

Issues: (1) Whether the opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, allowing the Navajo Nation to proceed with a claim to enjoin the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior to develop a plan to meet the Navajo Nation’s water needs and manage the mainstream of the Colorado River in the Lower Basin so as not to interfere with that plan, infringes upon the Supreme Court’s retained and exclusive jurisdiction over the allocation of water from the LBCR mainstream in Arizona v. California; and (2) whether the Navajo Nation can state a cognizable claim for breach of trust consistent with the Supreme Court’s holding in United States v. Jicarilla Apache Nation based solely on unquantified implied rights to water under the doctrine of Winters v. United States.

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-e...oral-arguments-on-navajo-nation-water-rights/

The Supreme Court on Monday morning heard oral arguments in Arizona v. Navajo Nation, a case revolving around whether the U.S. government is obligated to fulfill Native American reservations’ water needs.

At issue is an 1868 treaty under which the federal government guaranteed the nation’s agricultural needs, which the Navajo Nation argues includes water rights. Tribal governments in the suit also cite the so-called Winters doctrine, based on the 1908 Winters v. United States court case, which established that the creation of a Native American reservation also reserves the water necessary for its purposes.

Complicating matters, however, is the allocation since then of rights to the Colorado River between the seven states in the river’s basin.

In oral arguments, the U.S. argued that treaty obligations did not include an obligation to develop specific water infrastructure.

“Those affirmative duties aren’t part of the treaty and because the government has never expressly accepted those duties, the Navajo Nation’s breach of trust claim can’t proceed,” said Frederick Liu, assistant to the U.S. Solicitor General, in arguments Monday morning.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor seemed particularly skeptical toward Liu’s arguments, saying “I don’t understand, if the treaty promises water, where you get the idea that that is unenforceable. That’s quite an odd agreement the tribe enters into isn’t, they agreed to go back to a piece of their homeland — and the bargain they got in return was, we, the United States, took away all of your other land, we gave you this piece of land, here, survive, even if it turns into desert conditions.”

In response, Liu said “the promise that we have allegedly breached here isn’t about violating those [water] rights, it’s about violating affirmative duties.” Sotomayor still appeared dubious on the distinction.

In arguments on behalf of the state of Arizona, Rita Maguire argued that the Winters obligation “is an intent; it does not define an affirmative duty.”

Justice Elana Kagan replied that “rights usually have a correlative duty.”

Justice Clarence Thomas asked Liu for clarification on where, besides the river, the Navajo Nation would be expected to obtain water. In response Liu named aquifers and groundwater.

Andrew Curley, a member of the Navajo Nation and an assistant professor at the University of Arizona’s School of Geography, Development & Environment, told The Hill Liu’s response was indicative of the federal government’s attitude toward the nation.

“What the tribe is asking for is surface water rights, and surface water is treated differently than groundwater,” he said. “That’s what the government is saying in 2023, that tribes have less rights than any other community in the southwest.”

In his arguments on behalf of the Navajo Nation, meanwhile, Shay Dvoretzky said that “The United States agrees that on paper the nation has treaty rights to the water its people need, [but] we’re here because the United States says it doesn’t have to do anything to secure the water it promised.”

Curley said the court “sound[ed] like it doesn’t know too much about water law and especially the history of deprivation and colonialism in the region.”

“It sounded like some basic issues needed clarification, some basic histories were neglected,” he added.

The stakes, Curley said, are particularly high for Indigenous people in the region, considering the ongoing drought in the western U.S.

“The way that the government is treating water is very concerning because it’s treating it as a bundle of rights alongside timber and land and other kinds of resources, which diminishes its importance in the region,” he said. “I think it‘s concerning for everyone in the region to think about water as something that’s a simple right to deplete.”

Every time these guys show up in my feed I laugh my ass off.

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From UI:
Higgins Named Walter Camp Preseason First-Team All-American

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa fifth-year senior Jay Higgins has been named a 2024 Walter Camp Preseason First-Team All-American, it was announced Monday by the Walter Camp Foundation.

It is Higgins’ third preseason honor as he was also selected as a preseason first-team All-American by Phil Steele and Athlon. He was also named the Phil Steele Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

The Hawkeyes had three Walter Camp All-Americans in 2023 (Cooper DeJean, Tory Taylor, Higgins) and the program has had at least one Walter Camp All-American in each of the last 10 years (dating back to 2014).

The Indianapolis native started at middle linebacker in all 14 games in 2023, leading the team with 171 tackles (79 solo, 92 assists). The figure tied an Iowa single season school record, led the Big Ten and ranked third nationally. He finished with 15+ tackles in three games and 10+ tackles in 10 contests.

Higgins earned All-America distinction from eight different outlets a season ago and was Iowa’s Roy Carver Most Valuable Player on defense for a unit that ranked fourth nationally, surrendering 14.8 points per game.

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Americans binged on grills during the pandemic, but the barbecue industry now faces a number of threats, including high meat prices and interest rates on top of economic uncertainty. Many feel no need to upgrade fairly recent purchases.

Market leaders like higher-end grill manufacturer Traeger, once a pandemic darling, reported its latest quarter’s grill sales were $76.8 million — a plunge from the $156.1 million the company raked in during the second quarter of 2021.

Best-selling grill brand Weber has also seen its market share decline since 2020, according to data from TraQline. (Weber did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.) Home Depot also reported pressure in more expensive patio and garden equipment, including grills, during its first quarter in May, part of a larger dip in sales and earnings.

And it’s not just the big brands. Local stores that sell grills and other backyard cooking gear similarly reported demand dropping.

“It’s trending down,” said Brian Bushfield, general manager at West Coast BBQ Shop in San Diego, California. He noted a sluggish start to June and a slow Memorial Day, despite the holiday being one of the most popular occasions to purchase new grills.

America might be less interested in buying grills, but they’re still using them a ton. And there’s evidence that the great BBQ sales evaporation may have hit a floor.

Lockdown was a grill (seller)’s best friend​

Americans aren’t cooking outside on grills less. At least, that’s according to statistics from the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association that reported 80% of U.S. homeowners owned a grill or smoker in 2023 — up from 64% in 2019. Of the new grill owners surveyed, 27% cited cooking more at home during Covid as the reason for their purchase.

Other than barbecue grills, consumables like charcoal pellets and propane tanks make up Home Depot’s grill category. Home Depot Senior Merchant of Grills Joe Downey said that these items drive a large portion of sales and that they are powered by new customers who purchased grills during the pandemic returning frequently to buy fuel.

“More cooks are cooking at home than ever before,” he said. The cost of food at home fell earlier this year as the cost of eating out rose, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that reported a 0.2% dip in grocery prices from March to April.

Roy Morchian, owner of American Royal Hardware in Montclair, New Jersey, told CNN that the number of grills sold in 2020 rose to 160 from his store’s yearly average range of 80 to 120 grills. And while their sales “have come back to normal” now closer to pre-pandemic levels, he notices new faces have joined familiar ones when purchasing propane tanks to fuel the Weber grills they stock.

Most grill makers and retailers seem to agree that the pandemic pulled forward demand for grills and other long-lasting home equipment as people searched for ways to fill their days and entertain their families at home.

Downey sees Home Depot’s grill sales stabilizing now following the lockdown-driven high. He anticipates that pandemic-purchased grills will reach the end of their life cycle and bring returning buyers with them in 2025.

“The bottom has been reached and we are on the upswing in terms of getting closer to the end of [the grill] life cycle,” he said.

A key issue is a grill’s life cycle: an average grill could last about five years and Americans purchased more than 21 million grills and smokers in 2020. It’s clear that the replacement phase still hasn’t kicked in quite yet.

Reigniting the market​

Meanwhile, grill sellers are looking for ways to stoke demand.

Beyond running familiar summer promotions for popular grilling days like Memorial Day and Father’s Day, Downey said that Home Depot is trying to encourage young first-time homeowners to buy grills by introducing them to well-known brands at lower price points.

Downey said somebody purchasing a $99 Weber kettle later might look to buy the compact Weber Spirit. “Then as they grow, maybe they’ll aspire to get into the Weber Genesis,” he said, referencing the brand’s more expensive model.

Ace Hardware is running advertisements promoting its longstanding free assembly and delivery on grills –- from brands such as Big Green Egg, Blackstone, Weber and Traeger – priced $399 and up, for Ace Rewards members, which is a free program to join.

Traeger CEO Jeremy Andrus told CNN of the soft demand period “We are not waiting for this to end and riding it out.” He pointed to Traeger hosting weekend cooking demonstrations outside of retail stores like Home Depot and Ace Hardware.

“If we have an opportunity to get in front of the consumer and not only explain what a Traeger does but give them an opportunity to taste the food cooked off of a Traeger, it’s a very effective conversion tool,” he said.

But firing up demand in a traditionally slow-growth industry is a challenge, according to Simeon Siegel, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets who follows Traeger.

“If someone has a barbecue, they’re not going to buy another simply because it’s on sale,” he said. “At the end of the day, if someone doesn’t need to buy a grill, there’s only so many things companies can do to create demand.”

And economic trends haven’t helped. Beef and veal prices rose the fastest among other food categories in 2024 and the US Department of Agriculture expects prices to rise another 4% this year. Some consumers are abandoning meat entirely.

A year and a half ago, Bloomfield, New Jersey, resident Shikhiu Ing traded grilled meat for greens as a part of a conscious health decision. While he describes firing up his grill three times a week during the pandemic, he now finds less use for it after going mostly vegetarian.

“It’s non-functional right now. Grilling vegetables is kind of a chore to be honest,” he said. “It’s just faster in the air fryer. Throw some broccoli in there, air fry. You got vegetables.”

Hot grill summers are here to stay?​

The grill industry isn’t a stranger to slumps or about-face shifts in consumer demand.

Andrus pointed to grill sales declining in the years following the 2008 recession before returning to growth for the next 10 years as a testament to the industry’s resiliency. “Americans love to cook outdoors,” he said. “They always have, they always will.”

For Newark, New Jersey, native Ayla Dunkley, cooking outdoors has been a family tradition. “I learned how to grill from my grandfather and my father, so I learned everything from them,” she said.

Following her grandfather’s advice, Dunkley replaces her Blackstone cooker every three to five years and waits until the summer season is over to shop at lower prices.

Fourth of July cookouts will cost $71.22 on average for 10 guests this summer, according to data from the American Farm Bureau Federation. That’s up 5% from last year and up 30% from 2019.

Yet Dunkley’s annual plans to celebrate the holiday with her family in Pennsylvania are still on, grill in tow.

The witness stated Brown would steal the mail from the Moline Post Office and bring the mail back to his residence and open it, affidavits show. The witness said that as part of Brown’s duties as a post master, (Brown) would receive complaints from customers that had issues with their mail not arriving at its destination. “The witness advised (Brown) has a drug, alcohol and gambling addiction and used cash and gift cards to support his addiction,” police allege in affidavits.

During a search of Brown’s residence, detectives located a total of 487 greeting cards. Several of these cards contained various different family photographs, messages between grandparents and grandchildren, get-well messages and personal checks, affidavits show.

After reading some of the messages contained within some of the greeting cards, “it is obvious … that some of the cards contained cash and gift cards which were no longer inside the card, including a card that contained empty packaging for a $100 gift card,” police say in affidavits.

In affidavits, police say several of these cards were graduation, birthday, wedding, Father’s Day and celebration cards. Brown “has no known ties with the individuals that were sending this mail. All of the mail was being sent from different cities in Illinois, including Geneseo, Moline, East Moline, Milan, Rock Island and Silvis. None of the mail appeared to have been scanned by the Post Office and no stamping was located on the cards indicating the mail was stolen before it reached the mail stream by an employee.”

Cant even read the teleprompter correctly for the umpteenth time. Stellar. Trump by a gazillion by November😂👍.

I'm talking on a per capita basis. Obviously the volume of users is more than this place by an incredible amount. Do you think there is more or less misinformation per 100 posts than twitter? It has been released lately that X.com spreads more disinformation than any other social media platform.

Obviously, the excuse he is too old and no jury would convict the doddering elf doesn't hold up. He is the dems nominee for president! It will happen children, eventually, and just in time for the election I would guess. It will be glorious as will be the tds tears to follow. Carry on crazies!

Someone talked about something like this in another thread.

This is for non-jury court events.

You get arrested and charged. The police paperwork is filed. You get a court appointed AI attorney who takes your deposition and combines it with the police file. Witnesses are also deposed by both sides AI attorneys. All of it is input into the system and you hit a "Start the trial" button. Inside of the computer a battle ensues between the two AI lawyers and fed to the AI judge who makes a ruling on it. You get a bar code printout and bring it to the bailiff who then scans it and tells you your sentence. You are either released not guilty, taken to a clerk for fine payment or taken to jail to serve your sentence.

I like. Eat Shit St. Louis!

The vote was 311 to 112 in favor of the aid to Ukraine, with a majority of Republicans — 112 — voting against it and one, Representative Dan Meuser of Pennsylvania, voting “present.”

30 years?

She's a martial arts instructor, graduated from Florida Atlantic, and daughter of a good friend of mine. She's from the Pembroke Pines area.

It is great to be an Iowa Wrestling fan.

Go Hawks!