Better Than A Kick In The Teeth – As C Would Say!
I’ve just had an e-mail from OVO Energy, who have been my energy supplier for at least eight years, that they are going to reduce my Direct Debit by £26 per month.
OVO didn’t give a reason, but then it dawned on me.
In I’m Getting A New Hydrogen-Ready Boiler, I laid out my reasoning for getting a new boiler, as the pump had failed.
It’s only been one billing period, but I suspect other factors have kicked in.
I asked Google AI, if the the efficiency of gas boilers increased in the last ten years, and received this reply.
Yes, gas boiler efficiency has significantly increased in the last ten years, with new models achieving efficiencies over \(90\%\) compared to older ones that could be as low as \(60\%\). This is primarily due to the mandatory use of condensing technology in new boilers, which recovers and reuses heat from exhaust gases to preheat water.
As far as we know, Google are not in the gas boiler business, so I’m sure their answer is unbiased.
It looks like I shall be saving £312 per year, because of the new boiler.
Thus, if it lasts ten years, which is the guarantee period, then it has paid a substantial part of the cost of the new boiler.
As my late wife, C, would often say, that is better than a kick in the teeth.
Should You Get A New Boiler?
I am not qualified to answer that, but I’m you know a man or woman who is!
America’s Looming Electricity Crisis Is Trump’s Achilles’ Heel
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article in the Telegraph.
This is the sub-heading.
Culture war banter and point-scoring have left Maga facing a self-inflicted energy shortage
These are the first three paragraphs.
The US is in danger of losing the global AI race for the most banal and careless of reasons: it is critically short of electricity.
The country is sitting on a neglected pre-modern grid that cannot meet surging power demand for data centres, cryptocurrencies, the reshoring of semiconductor plants and the proclaimed revival of the American industrial base.
Nor can it meet the needs for air conditioning through hotter and more humid summers. While we all talk about AI, the chief cause of rising electricity use last year was for cooling. Bitcoin mining took another 2pc of US power, for no productive purpose.
It looks like we can add simple arithmetic to the skills the Trump Administration lacks.
The Telegraph article and myself have some other thoughts.
The Planned Increase In Electricity Is A Fifth Of What’s Needed
This is a paragraph from the Telegraph.
The US Energy Department said in its Resource Adequacy Report in July that the planned increase in firm electricity supply is a fifth of what is needed by 2030.
In Renewable Power By 2030 In The UK, I stated that by 2030, the UK would add nearly 59 GW of offshore wind.
Surely, using the population size difference of four times, 240 GW of offshore wind, would do the USA nicely?
But, Trump doesn’t like wind turbines.
Texas Has A Shortage Of Electricity
These are two paragraphs from the Telegraph.
The Texas grid operator Ercot expects peak power demand in its region to soar from 87 gigawatts (GW) this year to 138 GW by 2030. This is physically impossible.
Texas passed a law in June giving the state emergency authority to cut off power to data centres. Ercot is already having to deploy “mobile generation plants” at exorbitant cost to avert blackouts even today.
It sounds pretty desperate.
Texas needs another 51 GW by 2030, which is less than we intend to delivery from just offshore wind.
If Little Great Britain can do it, then surely Texas can? After all, Texas is three almost times larger than the UK.
I get the idea, that someone isn’t doing any planning.
The United States Needs A Lot Of Transformers
These are three paragraphs from the Telegraph.
The National Infrastructure Advisory Council (Niac) says the average age of America’s 60 million large power transformers is 38 years. Many are beyond their design life.
The US supply chain is not capable of delivering the 12 million new transformers needed each year to keep the show on the road. The backlog has risen to four years. The cost of transformers has jumped 80pc since the pandemic.
There is an acute shortage of electrical steel needed to make them. This comes mostly from China, Japan, Korea or Germany. In his infinite wisdom, Trump has imposed 50pc tariffs on steel, aluminium and copper. That cost shock has yet to feed through.
The Niac says it is a similar tale for “other critical grid components such as conduit, smart meters, switchgear and high-voltage circuit breakers”.
It looks like, there’s another fine mess, you’ve got us in, Donny!
Maga Wants More Coal
These are three paragraphs from the Telegraph.
The quickest way to generate more power is to roll out wind and solar. Trump is actively intervening to obstruct this. Maga wants coal instead.
This week the administration announced $625m of taxpayer subsidy to “expand and reinvigorate” the coal industry. It will open new federal lands, slash the royalty fees for extracting coal, and lift curbs on mercury pollution.
“In addition to drill, baby drill, we need to mine, baby, mine,” said Doug Burgum, the interior secretary.
When it should be spin, baby, spin.
Conclusion
Read the article in full.
We certainly, don’t want anybody, with an energy policy like Trump, influencing the UK’s energy policy.
If Trump carries on like this, he’ll end up in a terrible mess.
National Grid And Emerald AI Announce Strategic Partnership To Demonstrate AI Power Flexibility In The UK
The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from National Grid.
This is the sub-heading.
National Grid and Emerald AI are partnering to show how AI data centres can support a smarter, more flexible grid.
A UK-first live trial is planned for late 2025 on a grid connected data centre using Emerald AI’s platform.
Targeted for late 2025, the demonstration will use cutting-edge NVIDIA GPUs, to dynamically adjust energy consumption
Increased flexibility of data centre consumption can unlock capacity and accelerate connections to the electricity network.
These three introductory paragraphs indicate how the strategy partnership will work.
National Grid and Emerald AI today announced a strategic partnership to demonstrate how AI data centres can work with the transmission network to adjust their energy use in real time, making better use of existing capacity to support the UK’s growing digital needs.
The partners will deliver a live demonstration in the United Kingdom showcasing Emerald Conductor, an AI-powered system that acts as a smart mediator between the grid and a data centre, supporting flexible management of energy demand. Targeted for late 2025, the demonstration will use cutting-edge NVIDIA GPUs, dynamically adjust energy consumption, and support grid stability.
The electricity transmission network is designed with built-in redundancy to deliver world-class reliability and keep the lights on for customers. Capacity is typically available outside of peak events like hot summer days or cold winter storms, when there’s high demand for cooling and heating. That means, in many cases, there’s room on the existing grid to connect new data centres, if they can temporarily dial down energy usage during periods of peak demand.
Yesterday, there was an article in The Times which was entitled Octopus Energy Prepares Kraken Software Arm for Potential IPO.
I asked Google AI what Octopus Energy’s Kraken software does and received this answer.
Launched as part of the Octopus Energy Group in 2016, Kraken now serves 70 million household and business energy accounts worldwide through an operating system that processes 15 billion new data points each day. The software underpins Octopus Energy’s customer management and increasingly sophisticated smart tariffs.
I wouldn’t be surprised that similar methodology is used by both Emerald IT and Kraken.
As I have written at least four scheduling algorithms to best allocate available resources to tasks that need to be done for project management and other similar fields, I would have my ideas about the methods used by the two companies.
I am also sure, that the generic algorithm, that I have used in the past, could step up to the plate one more time, if anybody were to be interested.
Uncomplicated Pancolonic Diverticular Disease And Stress
This afternoon, I found myself in a stressful situation and my gut played up. Was it my uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease and stress actually playing up?
So, I asked Google AI if there was a link between uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease and stress and got this answer.
While there’s no direct causal link, stress may exacerbate uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease, potentially by influencing the digestive system and increasing the risk of anxiety and depression, which are often associated with diverticular conditions. Some theories suggest stress can disrupt the autonomic nervous system, leading to spasms and inflammation that can trigger flares in diverticular disease. Managing stress through healthy lifestyle choices, such as a high-fiber diet and regular exercise, may help reduce risk and support the digestive system.
This doesn’t deny a link, but it would appear to be secondary.
The source used by Google AI is the NHS web site.
As a follow up, I asked Google AI if there was a link between uncomplicated pancolonic diverticular disease and a high-fibre diet and got this answer.
For uncomplicated, pancolonic diverticular disease, a high-fiber diet is recommended to prevent complications by promoting softer stools and preventing constipation. Increase fiber intake by gradually adding whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, while also drinking plenty of fluids to aid digestion and prevent bloating. A balanced, high-fiber diet can help manage symptoms and reduce the risk of developing symptomatic diverticular disease.
The source used was this paper on the National Library of Medicine, which was entitled Role Of Fiber In Symptomatic Uncomplicated Diverticular Disease: A Systematic Review.
Did I Have A Funny Turn Caused By Dehydration This Morning?
I followed my usual Sunday morning routine today
- I took my drugs with a large mug of tea.
- I had a deep bath with emollient in the water.
- I put my head under the water and opened my eyes, to clear the massive amount of sleep, I get overnight in my eyes.
- I then went to Leon in Hanover Square for a good Full English gluten-free breakfast.
Unusually, Leon made a mistake and didn’t put any milk in my tea, so I didn’t drink it. So was I low on fluids?
A Transformer Is Being Moved Tonight
This press release from National Grid is entitled National Grid Prepares For Two Major Supergrid Transformer Deliveries In London.
The first one is to be moved into Redbridge substation tonight, so I went to have a look after breakfast.
- It was easy to get to the site, as it is close to Redbridge station on the Central Line.
- Out of the Underground, it was quite hot.
- By the time, I got to Redbridge station, I was feeling slightly unwell and felt my balance was poor.
- So I immediately turned around and came home using the Central and Lizzie Lines to Moorgate, where I took a bus home.
- I was certainly feeling better in the air-conditioned atmosphere of the Lizzie Line.
Since I’ve been home, I have been continuously drinking Adnams 0.5 % Alcohol Ghost Ship and I feel that I am now back to normal.
I asked Google AI “Can being dehydrated affect your balance?” and got this answer.
Yes, dehydration can definitely affect balance. It can lead to dizziness and a feeling of unsteadiness, which can make it harder to maintain balance. This is because dehydration can disrupt the fluid balance in the inner ear, which plays a vital role in balance.
I can remember an incident in my thirties, when I fell down the escalator at Oxford Circus station and went round to the Middlesex Hospital to be cleaned up.
Did Dehydration Play A Part In My Serious Stroke?
I had my stroke during breakfast in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong. I’d had two or possibly three very small strokes early in the morning before and I know from measuring my weight, that I can lose up to a kilo overnight.
So I asked Google AI “Can dehydration cause strokes?” and got this answer.
Yes, dehydration can increase the risk of stroke. When the body lacks sufficient fluids, blood volume decreases, potentially leading to thicker blood and reduced blood flow to the brain. This can exacerbate existing blockages in blood vessels or make it more difficult for blood to reach the brain, potentially causing an ischemic stroke.
My late wife drunk a lot more fluids that I do and perhaps, I should have followed her example more, of always having water handy?
Do Vitamin B12 Injections Make You Drowsy?
For the last couple of days I’ve been feeling a bit drowsy.
- The physio at my fitness class possibly noticed it on Friday.
- I certainly had a good siesta on Friday afternoon.
- This morning I went back to bed after the Ocado delivery at 06:30 and slept for an hour.
Google AI gave this answer to my question.
Cyanocobalamin is a form of vitamin B12 that is used to increase vitamin B12 levels. It is available in a variety of forms over the counter as a supplement and by prescription as an injection or nasal spray. Some common side effects may include headache, feeling weak or tired, and nausea.
I certainly didn’t have any headache or nausea. But then I rarely have the first and only have the second, when I see Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin on the television.
According to the BBC, we have been having unusually low atmospheric pressure for this time of year.
So I also asked Google AI if low atmospheric pressure can make you drowsy.
Google AI gave this answer to my question.
Yes, low atmospheric pressure can make you drowsy. This is because low pressure systems, often associated with stormy or cloudy weather, can lead to decreased sunlight exposure, which can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle (circadian rhythm) and increase melatonin production, the hormone that promotes sleep. Additionally, low pressure can reduce oxygen saturation, potentially causing fatigue.
As my now-retired GP felt I was badly affected by low atmospheric pressure, I’ll go along with that!
As that GP and myself felt that low atmospheric pressure drew water out of my body and made me dehydrated, I asked Google a supplementary question – Does dehydration make you drowsy?
Google AI gave this answer to my question.
Yes, dehydration can definitely make you feel drowsy. When your body is dehydrated, it doesn’t have enough fluids to function optimally, which can lead to fatigue and drowsiness. Dehydration can also cause a drop in blood pressure, which can reduce blood flow to the brain, further contributing to feelings of tiredness and sleepiness, according to A.Vogel UK.
I’ll go along with that.
Conclusion
Did the combination of the B12 injection and the low atmospheric pressure combine to make me unusually drowsy?
It’s certainly a possibility.
The more I ask Dr. Google questions, that he passes to his computerised assistant, the more I like and trust the system.
Singapore’s First Hydrogen-Powered Data Center Launched By DayOne Using SOFC Technology
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Fuel Cell Works.
These two bullet points act as sub-headings.
- DayOne has broken ground on its first AI-ready hyperscale data center in Singapore, a 20MW facility set to be operational in 2026. The project integrates 100% renewable energy, SOFC-based hydrogen power generation, and cutting-edge hybrid cooling technologies.
- Strategic partnerships with Sembcorp and NUS will drive green energy adoption and R&D in sustainable tropical data center innovation, aligning with Singapore’s AI and digital infrastructure goals.
This data centre and the companies and the technologies behind it, are certainly ones to watch.
The R & D and innovation behind it could allow data centres to be built in more tropical places than is currently possible.
My Family And Lunchtime Naps
Consider.
- My father was a great one for a lunchtime nap of perhaps thirty minutes after his sandwiches and a cup of tea in his print works in Wood Green.
- I can still see him sitting there on a wartime Utility dining-chair fast asleep.
- As my paternal grandfather was a professional alcoholic, I suspect he slept a lot. But whether he took naps, I do not know.
- I’ve always been prone to fall asleep, but as I’ve got older, I seem to do it more often.
- My middle son, also had a nap after Christmas Lunch last year. But was that just coincidence.
These are questions, that I’ve asked Google AI.
Are There Any Medical Benefits Of The Spanish Siesta?
Google AI said.
Yes, there are potential medical benefits associated with the Spanish siesta, which is a short afternoon nap. Studies suggest that siestas can improve cognitive function, mood, and cardiovascular health. A well-timed and appropriately short siesta can help reduce stress, improve memory consolidation, and even lower blood pressure.
That seems fairly positive.
Will A Spanish Siesta Help Atrial Fibrillation?
I ask this question, as I have atrial fibrillation and I was told, it caused my stroke.
Google AI said.
Spanish siesta, or daytime napping, is not a guaranteed or recommended treatment for atrial fibrillation (AFib). While some studies suggest a link between napping and AFib risk, the relationship is complex and depends on nap duration and individual factors. Short naps (15-30 minutes) may be associated with a lower risk, while longer naps could potentially increase the risk, especially in those with hypertension.
As I don’t have hypertension, it could be positive for me!
Does Atrial Fibrilation Run In Families?
Google AI said.
Yes, atrial fibrillation (AFib) can run in families, meaning it can be inherited. While many cases of AFib are linked to lifestyle factors, age, and other medical conditions, a significant portion of individuals with AFib, especially those with no clear cause, have a family history of the condition. Studies suggest that up to 30% of people with AFib of unknown cause have a family history of the condition.
As my father’s medical history seems fairly similar to mine, I wouldn’t be surprised if he had had it.
Is there A Connection Between Atrial Fibrilation And Coeliac Disease?
Google AI said.
Yes, there is an association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and celiac disease (CD), with studies indicating an increased risk of AF in individuals with CD. This connection is thought to be linked to the inflammatory nature of both conditions.
I have both and I suspect my father did too. We both had a serious stroke at around sixty.
My father had a second, which killed him a few years later. Modern pharmaceuticals have probably kept me alive.
Is There A Link Between Coeliac Disease And Microcondrial DNA Problems?
I asked Google AI, the question in the title of this post.
This was the answer I got.
Yes, there is a link between celiac disease and mitochondrial DNA problems. Studies have shown that individuals with celiac disease exhibit higher levels of lymphocyte mtDNA content, suggesting mitochondrial biogenesis as a compensatory response to the disease-related oxidative stress. Additionally, sera from celiac patients, especially those with neurological symptoms, can induce apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway in vitro.
When I clicked the Show More link, I got a lot more information, that needs a widely-educated medic to understand.
Conclusion
Coeliac disease is a Many-headed hydra.
But it does appear, that if you don’t feed it gluten, it will behave itself and even help you live a healthy life.
There are a lot more worse diseases that you can have.
Out of curiosity, I asked Google AI, if any other animals can get coeliac disease.
This was the answer I got.
While coeliac disease is a human-specific condition, some animals, particularly dogs and rhesus macaques, can experience gluten-related disorders that share similarities with coeliac disease. These animals can exhibit symptoms like digestive issues and villous atrophy when exposed to gluten, though the condition is not exactly the same as human coeliac disease.
Were the dogs on a vegetarian diet containing gluten? Monkeys are also prone to stealing anything they can eat. I’ve heard a story about baboons stealing baguettes, from peoples’ mouths, as they were eating them.
Google also points to this paper on the National Library of Medicine, which is entitled Important Lessons Derived From Animal Models of Celiac Disease.
Brain 1 – AI 0
Ocado left me with a bit of a problem this morning, in that they delivered a Marks and Spencer’s Chilli Con Carne without the packaging sleeve, which contains all the cooking instructions.
I decided, I should eat it tonight, whilst I was still sure, it was within its sell-by date.
But after about twenty minutes searching the Internet, I still hadn’t found the instructions.
But my brain was shouting at me, from the depths of its memory.
- Take away the sleeve. – No need for that!
- Piece the film.
- Microwave for two mins thirty seconds.
- Stir the meat.
- Microwave for two mins twenty seconds.
- Wait for a minute.
- Serve and eat.
It certainly tasted as normal!
My brain certainly came out on top in that skirmish!
The Anonymous Widower 