Optimistic outlook amongst the pessimistic

[superman]

A great video on the outlook of humanity, and a stab against the proliferation of modern pessimism. Given by Peter Diamandis, the founder of the X Prize foundation.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BltRufe5kkI

[MisterD]

A great video on the outlook of humanity, and a stab against the proliferation of modern pessimism. Given by Peter Diamandis, the founder of the X Prize foundation.



Pessimists are never disappointed, I'm sticking with it.

[mashman]

Yup we are in a golden age, or at least some of us lucky ones are and with 3 billion more coming online and the Massai in the desert playing Tetris drinking water from a coke machine whilst getting a blowjob from the dialahooker from the next village, what about the other 2/3 billion?

As for the abundance of solar power:

N.J.'s only solar panel manufacturer ceases production (http://www.northjersey.com/news/160110835_Solar_panel_maker_halts_production.html) "New Jersey’s largest solar panel manufacturer has ceased production, unable to compete with the influx of low-priced Chinese products flooding the market, a company executive said Friday." Bummer, job losses.

Bulgarian Solar-Panel Maker to Halt Production (http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=140427) "Silistra-based producer of solar panels Solarpro, the biggest solar panels manufacturer on the Balkans, has announced mass layoffs and a forthcoming halt in operations." Bummer, more job losses.

US solar panel firm leaves gloomy Germany (http://www.thelocal.de/money/20120418-42015.html) "German solar energy took another blow this week when US company First Solar confirmed the closure of a Brandenburg factory and the loss of more than 1,200 jobs. The collapse is particularly bitter as the firm had recently doubled production. " Bummer, more job losses.

Why Bosch should exit the Solar Panel Market ,Stop Throwing Good Money after the Bad (http://www.greenworldinvestor.com/2012/02/13/why-bosch-should-exit-the-solar-panel-market-stop-throwing-good-money-after-the-bad/) "Bosch which is one of the biggest automotive component suppliers on the planet has made one mistake after the other in the solar panel market. Despite entering the solar panel market 4-5 years ago with billion dollar acquisitions it does not figure even in the top 20 global solar panel manufacturers. The massive solar panel price crash in 2011 has made most German solar companies either bankrupt or on the borderline". Bummer, more job losses.

Solar thin-film maker ECD shutters production (http://gigaom.com/cleantech/solar-thin-film-maker-ecd-shutters-production/) "A glut of solar panels and crushing prices have made life difficult for solar manufacturers this year, and bad news keeps coming. Longtime solar thin-film maker Energy Conversion Devices, which has factories in Michigan, Canada and Mexico, has suspended manufacturing and will furlough 400 workers". There's a pattern emerging here.

Solar panel manufacturer in australia to stop production (http://www.rapidtree.com/2011/11/solar-panel-manufacturer-in-australia-to-stop-production/)

"Solar panel manufacturer SilexSolar has recently decided to stop manufacturing in their Sydney facility located in Homebush Bay. SilexSolar, which also happens to be the only solar panel manufacturer in Australia, has decided to stop producing cells that go into their solar panels because the Chinese imports have affected their business. It could also be noted that the company feels it hasn’t been supported as much by the government. Furthermore, prices for solar panels have been decreasing. It is also held accountable for the current challenge that SilexSolar is facing.
Solar Panels

This situation has affected all employees in the engineering, administrative, production, and technical departments. Also, the Homebush facility has been placed in care and maintenance mode. However, the company still has 20 employees, who are mostly in the sales and marketing department." Surely not more job losses?

Ah well, the cost of progress in a narrow minded world! On the optimistic side of things though, if we get rid of the financial system we'll see REAL progress. In fact, ask Watson the super computer if getting rid of the financial system would be a positive thing or a negative thing! No one seems to listen to human beings, perhaps it could print a report for those who can only work and respond to reports. How many stunning technologies never get off the drawing board because they cost too much :facepalm:?

Peace out mutha fuckas

[Nova.]

Yup we are in a golden age, or at least some of us lucky ones are and with 3 billion more coming online and the Massai in the desert playing Tetris drinking water from a coke machine whilst getting a blowjob from the dialahooker from the next village, what about the other 2/3 billion?

As for the abundance of solar power:

N.J.'s only solar panel manufacturer ceases production (http://www.northjersey.com/news/160110835_Solar_panel_maker_halts_production.html) "New Jersey’s largest solar panel manufacturer has ceased production, unable to compete with the influx of low-priced Chinese products flooding the market, a company executive said Friday." Bummer, job losses.

Bulgarian Solar-Panel Maker to Halt Production (http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=140427) "Silistra-based producer of solar panels Solarpro, the biggest solar panels manufacturer on the Balkans, has announced mass layoffs and a forthcoming halt in operations." Bummer, more job losses.

US solar panel firm leaves gloomy Germany (http://www.thelocal.de/money/20120418-42015.html) "German solar energy took another blow this week when US company First Solar confirmed the closure of a Brandenburg factory and the loss of more than 1,200 jobs. The collapse is particularly bitter as the firm had recently doubled production. " Bummer, more job losses.

Why Bosch should exit the Solar Panel Market ,Stop Throwing Good Money after the Bad (http://www.greenworldinvestor.com/2012/02/13/why-bosch-should-exit-the-solar-panel-market-stop-throwing-good-money-after-the-bad/) "Bosch which is one of the biggest automotive component suppliers on the planet has made one mistake after the other in the solar panel market. Despite entering the solar panel market 4-5 years ago with billion dollar acquisitions it does not figure even in the top 20 global solar panel manufacturers. The massive solar panel price crash in 2011 has made most German solar companies either bankrupt or on the borderline". Bummer, more job losses.

Solar thin-film maker ECD shutters production (http://gigaom.com/cleantech/solar-thin-film-maker-ecd-shutters-production/) "A glut of solar panels and crushing prices have made life difficult for solar manufacturers this year, and bad news keeps coming. Longtime solar thin-film maker Energy Conversion Devices, which has factories in Michigan, Canada and Mexico, has suspended manufacturing and will furlough 400 workers". There's a pattern emerging here.

Solar panel manufacturer in australia to stop production (http://www.rapidtree.com/2011/11/solar-panel-manufacturer-in-australia-to-stop-production/)

"Solar panel manufacturer SilexSolar has recently decided to stop manufacturing in their Sydney facility located in Homebush Bay. SilexSolar, which also happens to be the only solar panel manufacturer in Australia, has decided to stop producing cells that go into their solar panels because the Chinese imports have affected their business. It could also be noted that the company feels it hasn’t been supported as much by the government. Furthermore, prices for solar panels have been decreasing. It is also held accountable for the current challenge that SilexSolar is facing.
Solar Panels

This situation has affected all employees in the engineering, administrative, production, and technical departments. Also, the Homebush facility has been placed in care and maintenance mode. However, the company still has 20 employees, who are mostly in the sales and marketing department." Surely not more job losses?

Ah well, the cost of progress in a narrow minded world! On the optimistic side of things though, if we get rid of the financial system we'll see REAL progress. In fact, ask Watson the super computer if getting rid of the financial system would be a positive thing or a negative thing! No one seems to listen to human beings, perhaps it could print a report for those who can only work and respond to reports. How many stunning technologies never get off the drawing board because they cost too much :facepalm:?

Peace out mutha fuckas

I honestly swear this cunt shits news headlines.

[Madness]

Optimism be damned, we're all fucked.

[oneofsix]

Optimism be damned, we're all fucked.

You appear rather positive about that.

[Madness]

You appear rather positive about that.

I haven't been this positive about something since the time I put all my money into SilexSolar shares.

[FJRider]

Pessimists are never disappointed, I'm sticking with it.

I hoped to be a biggger pessimist :yes: ... But then I realised ... that would be optimistic ... :rolleyes:

[Winston001]

Yup we are in a golden age, or at least some of us lucky ones are and with 3 billion more coming online...

As for the abundance of solar power:

N.J.'s only solar panel manufacturer ceases production (http://www.northjersey.com/news/160110835_Solar_panel_maker_halts_production.html) "New Jersey’s largest solar panel manufacturer has ceased production..." Bummer, job losses.

Bulgarian Solar-Panel Maker to Halt Production (http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=140427) "Silistra-based producer of solar panels Solarpro, has announced mass layoffs and a forthcoming halt in operations." Bummer, more job losses.

US solar panel firm leaves gloomy Germany (http://www.thelocal.de/money/20120418-42015.html) "German solar energy took another blow this week.. " Bummer, more job losses.

Why Bosch should exit the Solar Panel Market ,Stop Throwing Good Money after the Bad (http://www.greenworldinvestor.com/2012/02/13/why-bosch-should-exit-the-solar-panel-market-stop-throwing-good-money-after-the-bad/) "The massive solar panel price crash in 2011 has made most German solar companies either bankrupt or on the borderline". Bummer, more job losses.

Solar thin-film maker ECD shutters production (http://gigaom.com/cleantech/solar-thin-film-maker-ecd-shutters-production/) "A glut of solar panels and crushing prices have made life difficult for solar manufacturers this year, and bad news keeps coming. ". There's a pattern emerging here.

Solar panel manufacturer in australia to stop production (http://www.rapidtree.com/2011/11/solar-panel-manufacturer-in-australia-to-stop-production/)

"Solar panel manufacturer SilexSolar has recently decided to stop manufacturing in their Sydney facility located in Homebush Bay. SilexSolar, which also happens to be the only solar panel manufacturer in Australia....


This situation has affected all employees in the engineering, administrative, production, and technical departments. Also, the Homebush facility has been placed in care and maintenance mode. Surely not more job losses?

Ah well, the cost of progress in a narrow minded world!



Good work Mashie. No argument with any of that - and it is welcome news.

Let me take you back 130 years to 1882. Thomas Brydone of Totara Estate (its still there) Oamaru, organised the first shipment of frozen meat from New Zealand to England, a distance of 12,000 miles (20,000km). Overnight this was a technological masterstroke at Smithfield...and a disaster for English lamb.

The NZ frozen lamb killed the British farmer at that time.

There is no protection from science. Some folks are just cleverer than others. At the moment the Chinese (with government support) are pumping out solar cells at cheap prices...and we all win.

The world is getting cheaper and better - even in the third world despite the desperate poverty.

[Tigadee]

It's Tony Stark! (He reminds me of Robert Downey Jr...)

Great message, and it is true, while somethings haven't changed (greed, malice, pride), there are lots of other things which have advanced incredibly.

I am still often amazed at what I have witnessed so far in my lifetime, most good (IT advances, EU, 1st space shuttle, Int'l space station, first black American Prez, Arab Spring, fall of Communism) and some bad (collapse of the WTC Towers, tsunamis/earthquakes, Gulf Wars).

The only problem I foresee is information overload. I am a spouse, father, uncle, brother, son, employee, home chef/accountant, member of some social groups, etc. With the limited time I have left after all that, I'd like to absorb content such as Youtube videos, TV shows, books, magazines, textbooks, listen to songs, play video games, as well as exercise, fix the house and ride my bike.

There isn't enough time or energy in a day to be able to handle that much information, activities, etc., that's why many things get pushed down an ever-growing to-do list... I hope as technology progresses and conditions get better and better as this speaker proposes, that we humans also have more time and resources (e.g. money) to pursue those other interests rather than work. In a survey done recently, most people have said they'd rather have more time than more money. Maybe in the future, there will be shorter work weeks and better pay (one can hope)?

[unstuck]

Life is only ever as good as you decide it will be.:Punk:

[Tigadee]

Well, I meant that (except for lack of money), life is too good in that there isn't enough time to do all I want to do! LOL

But you're right. Attitude is important too.

[mashman]

Good work Mashie. No argument with any of that - and it is welcome news.

Let me take you back 130 years to 1882. Thomas Brydone of Totara Estate (its still there) Oamaru, organised the first shipment of frozen meat from New Zealand to England, a distance of 12,000 miles (20,000km). Overnight this was a technological masterstroke at Smithfield...and a disaster for English lamb.

The NZ frozen lamb killed the British farmer at that time.

There is no protection from science. Some folks are just cleverer than others. At the moment the Chinese (with government support) are pumping out solar cells at cheap prices...and we all win.

The world is getting cheaper and better - even in the third world despite the desperate poverty.

Interesting little story and I guess, as you point out, that it parallels even today. I wish it were all down to some folk being cleverer than others, but as you say $$$ has the final say. It's funny that China can ship these things around the globe cheaper than they can be made locally... which unfortunately puts people out of jobs etc... I know of a way that we could change our economy to compete with the likes of China, as well as ending the associated poverty in NZ :eek: (t'would also address the issues of more time raised by Tigadee)

[bogan]

Interesting little story and I guess, as you point out, that it parallels even today. I wish it were all down to some folk being cleverer than others, but as you say $$$ has the final say. It's funny that China can ship these things around the globe cheaper than they can be made locally... which unfortunately puts people out of jobs etc... I know of a way that we could change our economy to compete with the likes of China, as well as ending the associated poverty in NZ :eek: (t'would also address the issues of more time raised by Tigadee)

Yeh the problem with China undercutting everyone else, is they are not known for quality product, or clean production. If the companies were on equal footing with regard to environmental and personell laws, it would no doubt be a good thing, but atm, I'm not so sure...

I know a way also, export all the lazy fuckers to china, and import us some robots!

[jellywrestler]

Yup we are in a golden age, or at least some of us lucky ones are and with 3 billion more coming online and the Massai in the desert playing Tetris drinking water from a coke machine whilst getting a blowjob from the dialahooker from the next village, what about the other 2/3 billion?

As for the abundance of solar power:

N.J.'s only solar panel manufacturer ceases production (http://www.northjersey.com/news/160110835_Solar_panel_maker_halts_production.html) "New Jersey’s largest solar panel manufacturer has ceased production, unable to compete with the influx of low-priced Chinese products flooding the market, a company executive said Friday." Bummer, job losses.

Bulgarian Solar-Panel Maker to Halt Production (http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=140427) "Silistra-based producer of solar panels Solarpro, the biggest solar panels manufacturer on the Balkans, has announced mass layoffs and a forthcoming halt in operations." Bummer, more job losses.

US solar panel firm leaves gloomy Germany (http://www.thelocal.de/money/20120418-42015.html) "German solar energy took another blow this week when US company First Solar confirmed the closure of a Brandenburg factory and the loss of more than 1,200 jobs. The collapse is particularly bitter as the firm had recently doubled production. " Bummer, more job losses.

Why Bosch should exit the Solar Panel Market ,Stop Throwing Good Money after the Bad (http://www.greenworldinvestor.com/2012/02/13/why-bosch-should-exit-the-solar-panel-market-stop-throwing-good-money-after-the-bad/) "Bosch which is one of the biggest automotive component suppliers on the planet has made one mistake after the other in the solar panel market. Despite entering the solar panel market 4-5 years ago with billion dollar acquisitions it does not figure even in the top 20 global solar panel manufacturers. The massive solar panel price crash in 2011 has made most German solar companies either bankrupt or on the borderline". Bummer, more job losses.

Solar thin-film maker ECD shutters production (http://gigaom.com/cleantech/solar-thin-film-maker-ecd-shutters-production/) "A glut of solar panels and crushing prices have made life difficult for solar manufacturers this year, and bad news keeps coming. Longtime solar thin-film maker Energy Conversion Devices, which has factories in Michigan, Canada and Mexico, has suspended manufacturing and will furlough 400 workers". There's a pattern emerging here.

Solar panel manufacturer in australia to stop production (http://www.rapidtree.com/2011/11/solar-panel-manufacturer-in-australia-to-stop-production/)

"Solar panel manufacturer SilexSolar has recently decided to stop manufacturing in their Sydney facility located in Homebush Bay. SilexSolar, which also happens to be the only solar panel manufacturer in Australia, has decided to stop producing cells that go into their solar panels because the Chinese imports have affected their business. It could also be noted that the company feels it hasn’t been supported as much by the government. Furthermore, prices for solar panels have been decreasing. It is also held accountable for the current challenge that SilexSolar is facing.
Solar Panels

This situation has affected all employees in the engineering, administrative, production, and technical departments. Also, the Homebush facility has been placed in care and maintenance mode. However, the company still has 20 employees, who are mostly in the sales and marketing department." Surely not more job losses?

Ah well, the cost of progress in a narrow minded world! On the optimistic side of things though, if we get rid of the financial system we'll see REAL progress. In fact, ask Watson the super computer if getting rid of the financial system would be a positive thing or a negative thing! No one seems to listen to human beings, perhaps it could print a report for those who can only work and respond to reports. How many stunning technologies never get off the drawing board because they cost too much :facepalm:?

Peace out mutha fuckas
what about the NZ manufactureres of solar panels?

[jellywrestler]

Yeh the problem with China undercutting everyone else, is they are not known for quality product,
that's incorrect.The Chinese make some state of the art stuff, problem is we get the rubbish here, accept it so they continue to send it over...

[Winston001]

I know of a way that we could change our economy to compete with the likes of China....

Yep, drop the minimum wage to $2/hr. Then we'd be able to compete.

[bogan]

that's incorrect.The Chinese make some state of the art stuff, problem is we get the rubbish here, accept it so they continue to send it over...

So what you're saying, is the Chinese send us rubbish? Isn't that what I said :scratch:

[mashman]

Yeh the problem with China undercutting everyone else, is they are not known for quality product, or clean production. If the companies were on equal footing with regard to environmental and personell laws, it would no doubt be a good thing, but atm, I'm not so sure...

I know a way also, export all the lazy fuckers to china, and import us some robots!

it's a solar panel, what could possibly go wrong? :rofl: @ level playing field... they'll have a hell of an ETS bill, unless of course they haven't signed up to the scam, I mean scheme... or do they have enough trees?

I wouldn't wish our politicians on anyone :shifty:


what about the NZ manufactureres of solar panels?

None came up on the first page of search results. Do we have any?



Yep, drop the minimum wage to $2/hr. Then we'd be able to compete.

Or do it for free and make a small fortune for the whole country :shifty: