fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Trans Husband Guy
Tags: Lgbtqia, Transgender, Marriage, Relationships, Transition

The boys.

Just over two years ago, my husband told me he’d booked an appointment to see our doctor. He was going in to talk about his gender, how he felt about it, and the possible options that lay ahead in dealing with that. It was March 14th 2019, we’d been married just over 5 years — had a son together 2 years previously and what he said to me was not surprising at all.

Even before we’d become a couple, we’d talked about gender, gender identity, and sexuality. As both of us were bisexual, we shared heartache and horror stories about dating the same or the opposite gender, discussed our feelings about our respective new beau’s, and then cursed their names together when it all came to a sad end.

I say it wasn’t surprising because when it eventually came to the time when I had to talk to family members or friends, their response was shock — but on my behalf. I quickly realised that this was a way of trying to empathise or sympathise via their own surprise and shock at the news. But if someone you know is opening up about their, or their partner's gender identity, it’s pretty safe to assume that they have already rolled through some emotions, talked about it with their partner, and are ready to share with you — because they trust you.

Let’s talk about those emotions then. Like I said, my partner had expressed doubts, curiousity and distaste with their gender identity and physical presentation for some time before they made the doctors appointment, and I had supported them through this to the extent that a cis guy without specific knowledge can do, y’know? That’s my husband, I want them to be happy and it was pretty obvious they weren’t happy, but weren’t entirely sure why. Exploring that together strengthened our relationship, our marriage and our lives together.

So, obviously, go for your life mate. And then they had the appointment and got a referral to the Gender Clinic. It was at this point he told me he was looking at transitioning.

My immediate response was one of love and support, that I would back him in whatever course of action he needs to take to become himself, a happier husband to me and father to our son.
An Ending and a Beginning
By: Julie Zhuo
Tags: Announcements, Transitions

After nearly 14 years at Facebook, the time has come for me to embark on a new adventure.

It’s hard to say goodbye to a place that has been so much a part of my life. The closest metaphor I have for it is “leaving home.” (In fact, I have spent more years at Facebook than I did living with my own parents before heading off for college!)

Facebook is the first and only place I’ve ever had a full-time job. It’s where I was introduced me to the profession of design, to the practice of management, to the exhilarating and chaotic swirl of Silicon Valley’s start-up culture. From the first day I walked into the scrappy offices of a college site created by recent college grads, Facebook has been an enormous part of my identity and and my community. I grew up here. Its values will always run through my bones and color the lens from which I see the world. Some of my best friends today are people I’ve hacked with. I am so, so grateful to Mark and to the brilliant, good-hearted people that I’ve had the privilege of working with and learning from. I believe in this company because a company is nothing more than the sum of its people, and I believe in its people, full stop.

But like I felt before heading off to college, the world is large, and there’s more to see and do. I’d like to try my hand at different problems from different vantage points across different teams — and learn more about myself in the process. Toward that end, my friend Chandra Narayanan and I will be starting a company together to advise other start-ups and maybe build some new things down the road. Our company’s name is Inspirit because its definition — to embolden; to enliven— really spoke to us.

Chandra was one of my favorite people to work with at Facebook because even though we came from very different places (data and design!), our core values shared the same language. I’ve learned so much about the power and nuance of data-informed product building from him, and we both believe that data and design together can unlock some pretty wonderful outcomes.

The road behind me is filled with incredible memories, and I’ve had many joyful moments reliving them over the past few weeks and months. I’m lucky and proud to be a part of Facebook’s design and research teams — an incredible group of people who tackle every challenge they see with deep thoughtfulness and humanity. I am indebted to my managers who gave me opportunities to grow and fail, and I hope I can always do the same for others. The road ahead feels wide open. I’m excited to see where it leads!
Enzo’s Monday Motion #172: In Transition
By: Enzo Greco
Tags: Transitions, Beats, Enzos Monday Motion, Commercial, Mobile Network

Every story takes you from A to B. It’s the path that makes it interesting. Five commercials where the transitions are the star of the show.

Good morning

Let’s start this blog like every other day: wake up and have some breakfast…

In the morning you don’t have time so everything has to go as smooth as possible. Lurpak can be the oil, butter of your morning motor. Really nicely visualised by director Kim Gehrig.

Unleashed

The Powerbeats give you the freedom to move (as intense) how you want.

Director Hiro Murai challenged production agency Doomsday to the max by focussing (or better said) stabilising the whole spot around a tiny product like the in-ear headphones. The team succeeded and the story really gives you the sensation of energy and freedom.

Hyperlapse

Nowadays everybody skips through the opening titles if it takes you more than 20 seconds. Curious how the Discovery Channel tackles this issue with their hit show Gold Rush.

The choice for a hyperlapse (speeded timelapse) works really well to give a minimal backstory of the rough location and the main characters. At the same time, it creates a vibe which matches the world of gold digging.

Unlimited

With T-Mobile Unlimited anything is possible from streaming to shopping.

Anomaly Amsterdam smartly embedded the medium of a phone into their concept. Director Tommie Geraedts added an upbeat vibe with super smart transitions and storytelling.

Free stream

We swipe forward to Austria and see how provider A1 serves the data consuming telephone audience.

A similar concept and message told through a different story. The smoothness lays in composition and camera pans. The whole vibe is more cinematic including the (slightly forced) love story. Still nicely executed by das Rund Filmproduktion. Concept by GGK MullenLowe, directed by Mario Feil.

Enzo Greco is Motion Director at Born05.
Out of the Gray
By: Norm Julian
Tags: Gender Critical, Gender, Transitions, Transgender, Transgender Rights

For better or worse, at 27…28, the world slowed down instead.

The virus closed its doors, and the doing, doing, doing was confined to smaller and smaller spaces until she found herself left with the space of her mind. In quarantine, figurative and literal, the Gray was inescapable. It bubbled as usual, but this time, something bubbled up.

Did ya miss me?

He shouldn’t have been as perfectly recognizable as he was.

It was hard to tell if Adult Norm — an image at once natural and indulgent and scandalous and mundane — was crafted from the Gray, or simply covered in it, head to toe. At any rate, he couldn’t harm anyone from in here. The sludge would slow him down.

Did ya miss me?

Go away. You don’t have a home here.

That’s funny, because you can see me. But I can’t see you.

I see something good enough. Go away.

Oh, really? What is it?

She didn’t have an answer.

Did ya miss me?

She didn’t hate him, but she hated that she didn’t, and that she should. She wanted to bury him in the sludge, and suffocate him with the Gray, but where would she hide the body? She wanted someone else to tell her where.

Did ya miss me?

Yes, someone else.

What is that something you see, exactly? What’s it gonna be, five years down the line? Want me to act it out for you?

No.

Yes. Wait — no!

He clearly wasn’t going anywhere, so she indulged him now and then, if only to shut him up. The morning walk, once hers and the gray’s alone, became his playpen. The molasses moved and molded itself as she strode, first around him, but then for him.

She crafted him friends. A home, but this time one he picked himself. A fuzzy robe against a flat chest, and a pair of slippers as he moved from one of his well-kept little rooms to another. A Christmas tree, just like the ones popping up in the neighbors’ windows, and not an ounce of shame about sweet solitude, interspersed, of course, with food and more friends. He was an excellent host, a reasonable chef, and somehow a much better gardener than she ever tried to be. He liked ‘English hunting lodge’ touches and flannel sheets in the winter. He liked sitting still as much as he liked walking.

He was overstaying his welcome, and she took on an unwanted tenderness toward him, cycling with fits of guilt and fear and private rage when he shuffled around too loudly, or tried to brush some of the gray from his body. If he was such a threat, why was he so damn ordinary?

It was time for him to go.
What I would say to my Pre-Transition Self
Tags: LGBTQ, Transgender, Post Transition, Transitions

What I would say to my Pre-Transition Self

First of all I would probably have to convince the pre-transition me that I am in fact their future self. I’m sure they would be incredulous given how much I’ve changed physically since then. Indeed, a significant ex-girlfriend sat down next to me a few years back at a cafe. She had no idea who I was. I actually had to say “hello, I know you.” She looked right at me and said, “I’m sorry, I don’t recall meeting you.”

What followed was me revealing who I was and her mouth dropping wide open and then some astonishment followed by a great heartfelt conversation. This is sort of the reaction I would imagine from my pre-transition self. I don’t “reveal” myself lightly. I don’t think it’s polite nor appropriate to blindside people with my transition. However, with important people in my life I feel it’s necessary. Certainly with the pre-transition me if that were possible.

I would also reassure my former self. “It’s going to work out.” I would explain all the steps they would take in order to transition not only physically, but mentally, emotionally and socially. I would assure them that my former self’s greatest fear of losing their children after transition would not take place. My children would struggle, but would stay by my side. Ultimately they would see me as the same person who raised them. Incredibly they would even see me as a braver more complete person than they had known before.

I would explain some of the upcoming surgeries to my former self. There would be lots of pain and downtime recovering, but it would all be worth it. The doctors they would choose after interviewing a dozen would turn out to be the right ones. The hundreds of hours of hair removal would not be wasted. They would be thankful to wake up each morning without worrying about facial hair or seeing the wrong gender in the mirror.

In fact, they would be pleasantly surprised almost every morning at who they saw. She would be undeniably female and even attractive. She would have male suitors and be asked out by men that had no idea that she was transgender.

Perhaps most shocking in some ways, she would end up in relationships with men. Good men. Men who liked “her.” Not just a fetishized transgender fantasy, but liked her simply as a female partner and companion in a healthy heterosexual relationship.

I don’t know that my former self would believe me. It would seem impossible from where they were. If I told them they would be one of the first humans on Mars it might seem more possible. Back then arriving at this reality was literally outside of my capacity to hope for.

When my boyfriend asks me now, “why are you always smiling.” I tell him, lit’s because I made it to the other side of the rainbow. I never thought I would get here.” Now regardless of much of what I don’t have, I am living a dream life that at one time I couldn’t have imagined.
A follow-up on my nipples
By: Kaylin Scott
Tags: Transitions, Transgender, Hormones, LGBTQ, Transitioning

A follow-up on my nipples

Proof that HRT has contributed to a statistically significant 6.5% improvement in my meagre MS Paint skills

Hello.

I wanted to write a quick follow-up to this article, where I explained how I woke up with itching and sensitivity in my nipples and some mild pain in my chest after three days taking a low dose of estrogen and anti-androgen.

I’ve now been on that same dose of hormones for two weeks, and the itching has gone away (for now at least) and the sensitivity/pain is more manageable. I’m not entirely sure if the actual physical sensation has become less intense, or if I have just become accustomed to it.

I still wear a sports bra when I’m exercising or going out for any significant amount of time, because it’s more comfortable with something over my nipples. I do still have some heightened sensitivity which can be uncomfortable and distracting, but I am now able to hang-out comfortably at home now in a normal t-shirt without a bra (at least for the time being), which is nice!

I’ve heard enough anecdotal evidence from other people to expect a reappearance of greater chest discomfort in the near future, so I am preparing myself for that. Buying some Fruit of the Loom sports bras was a good idea, and I’m glad that I have a combination of ones with shoulder straps and racer-backs, as well as multiple colors, to go discreetly under different shirts.

Another positive effect that I’m experiencing is greater control over my emotions. Although I do feel more emotional, it also takes more to make me angry/frustrated and I feel more patient and less aggressive. That has been helpful in interpersonal relationships. I’m not sure if it is a result of physiological changes in my brain, or if I am simply gaining confidence because I am happy with what is happening so far and feeling justified in my decision to transition.

I definitely feel more confident and have less self-doubt. So far I have zero regrets with starting hormones. I feel great, and my self-confidence is reflecting in other parts of my life as well.

Having to wear a bra much of the time, coupled with other efforts I’ve made to change my daily presentation, mean that I see someone who looks much more like a woman when I see myself in the mirror on a daily basis. That makes me very happy!

One decision about my presentation, which has nothing to do with hormones but has had a significant impact on my self-image nonetheless, was getting new glasses that are more unisex/feminine. Ordering glasses from Clearly Contacts and getting a few different styles for much less than the cost of my old ones, was a really good decision for my self-image.

That’s all for now.

Nothing particularly funny or enlightening to share this time, just some positive news and a follow-up to say that, despite the initial shock of some physical changes, those became much easier to cope with fairly quickly.

Happy Monday :)
Jackery Explorer 1000W Portable Power Station Review: the new ‘ol reliable
By: Stefan Etienne
Tags: Jackery, Portable Power Station, Solar Power, Technology, Review

Image this scenario: you’re out on a road trip with friends, with plans to camp out and hike up some trails. Sounds fun! Everyone brings their own supplies, plus portable battery packs of varying capacity and design to keep things like lights, speakers, and other creature comforts charged. But, after about a day of happy hiking, just about everyone else’s batteries have already been depleted. What do you do now? Use a gas generator? I would hope not.

What you really should have had was a solar-powered portable generator. Or, as the claim for this product in question classifies it: “a lithium portable power station for outdoor enthusiasts.”

Yes, it is a hefty twenty-two pound battery, but the main selling point here is you can fully recharge it with two sets of solar panels in eight hours, under direct sunlight. Or, if it’s a cloudy day, over A/C power in seven hours or a car charge in 12 hours. Plus, and you can power a Dyson vacuum, TV, and laptop all at once, with ports to spare for smartphones and gadgets.

Price as Reviewed: $1499 for Explorer 1000W, x2 SolarSaga portable solar panels.

Specs

Capacity: 1002Wh (21.6V, 46.Ah) with 2000W surge protection

Weighs 22 lbs (10 kg)

Measures 13.1 x 9.2 x 11.1 in (33.3 x 23.3 x 28.3 cm)

Recharge Times: 7 hours on AC, 8 hours on Two SolarSaga 100W panels, or 14 hours on 12V car adaptor.

Has AC, DC, USB-C, USB-A, and Quick Charge outputs.

Operating Temp: 14–104F (-10–40℃)

24 month warranty

Using It
Rescue Your Solar Data From Dashboard and KPI Vendors
By: Johnny Dobbins
Tags: Analytics, Data Science, Solar Energy, Solar Power, Startup

Roadmapping our way out of this data hostage situation

Image by author

As the owners of the data logger at your sites, you have the control and ability to put an end to this abuse.

Diagrammed above is a simple example that will cost you about $15,000 a year to operate. It liberates your data. If you still want the dashboard and kpi vendor to do their thing, they can do it just as easily from your data lake.

By having the data loggers transmit the data to your private cloud and storage, you enable an immense amount of value creation for your organization:

Often, different sites compute KPIs and reporting differently, not taking the one size fits all approach offered by your vendors. You can truly go beyond monitoring and leverage any number of open source solutions and libraries that are freely available in the solar space today. You can more easily leverage better dashboard and true analysis solutions.

It is your data and you control it; you can easily leverage your SQL/REST interface and do with it what you like.

Conclusion

As you commission new solar sites, insist on data loggers being programmed to deliver data to your own data lake or historian. If you don’t want to deal with owning and managing your own, lean on popular commercial solutions like Snowflake or OSISoft’s PI offering. Ultimately, retaining full access and control to your data is the only way you can go beyond these dashboard and kpi monitoring solutions to create real value for your organization.

I wrote more about that in my recent article, Create Value With Your Energy Data.
Power Ledger partners with green energy firm in Italy
By: Robert Hoogendoorn
Tags: Italy, Alperia, Solar Power, Power Ledger, Green Energy

Blockchain-powered energy firm Power Ledger has secured a deal with the largest renewable, green energy company in Italy named Alperia. As a result the energy company will use Power Ledger’s blockchain solutions to experiment with new services. This includes for example commercial and residential customers, and services like energy trading and origin tracking.

Energy trading will allow consumers to sell energy from their solar panels to other citizens. The blockchain will do this directly, without using a third party. At the same time origin tracking will allow everybody to see where their energy comes from.

But Power Ledger will first apply blockchain technology to the smart metering field. This trial is expect to run until May 2020. The European Commission gives priority to green energy, while it also wants to implement smart city policies. In 2019 the amount of solar panel installations increased with 88 percent. Industry insiders expect growth for the next five years, which will benefit Power Ledger.

“Our technology has already been proven as an effective solution for transacting renewable energy trading and virtual power plants, processing transactions instantaneously as a digital ledger, with price determined by supply and demand in real-time”, Power Ledger boss Jemma Green said in a statement.

Alperia serves 280 thousand households, mainly in the north of Italy. The company produces energy from renewable sources and is one of Italy’s largest green energy providers. As a result Italy is well ahead of its 2020 energy strategy target of 17 percent of renewables. The country hit its target in 2014, performing better than other EU countries.

Blockchain and green energy

Power Ledger has active projects in Western Australia metropolitan areas. On top of that the company is active in countries like Austria, Thailand, Japan and the United States. In addition several Western Australian shires have contacted Power Ledger. In November the company announced a deal to create energy hubs in rural Australia.

The work of Power Ledger is great, but it doesn’t stand on its own. There are multiple companies active in this field. IOTA already has a blockchain system to provide electricity to electric cars. They are even talking about incorporating their technology in giant wind parks.

In addition The Republic of San Marino is going to reward green citizens with crypto. They partnered with VeChain to accomplish this. Bosch is building blockchain-powered fridges that automatically switch between wind and solar energy, while IKEA has been making concepts of solar-powered blockchain villages. One can conclude that green energy, energy distribution and blockchain technology work very well together.
German solar ice-making machine for Indonesian small-scale fishermen
By: Machine Maker
Tags: Technology News, Innovation, Solar Energy, Solar Power, Technology

Indonesia’s small-scale fishermen in disadvantaged regions will in the future be able to sell their products nationwide with the help of seamless refrigeration chains. This is being made possible by a solar-powered machine for the production of ice blocks.

This innovative type of unit was developed as part of a multi-year German-Indonesian cooperation arrangement. “The fish is prevented from spoiling, with the ice being produced on a totally climate-neutral basis,” says Frank Stegmüller of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). “This is a genuine German-Indonesian success story.”

Indonesia is the world’s leading tuna producing nation and the second-largest fish producer overall. However, small-scale fishermen who practice environmentally sound fishing methods are often unable to transport their fish to consumers due to a lack of refrigeration facilities.

As a result, these fishermen find it virtually impossible to compete with industrial fishing; much of their catch is spoiled, causing poverty amongst the fishermen.

Indonesia’s policy aims to conserve fish stocks and secure the income of fishermen in remote areas. The key factor in achieving this is to keep the catch continuously refrigerated. The GIZ initiated and provided support for the development of a solar-powered ice-making machine.

Together with a number of Indonesian, German and other European companies, the production of these machines was also established in Indonesia.

Development began in 2016 and the pilot plant started up successfully in 2018 — the first commercial unit will go into operation in Indonesia in 2020.

The high-tech solution from Southern Germany for a German-Indonesian project for rural development and to avoid food waste. High-tech components from Germany provided for the development of machines that use solar power to produce ice blocks for local fishermen.

In accordance with the guiding principle of Industry 4.0, the innovative technology ensures the production of up to 1.2 tons of block ice per day, dynamically and automatically adapted to the amount of solar energy available.

This does not require either a power connection or an expensive, large battery storage system, allowing ice blocks to be produced in locations away from power grids and used for cooling locally caught fish.

Stegmüller from the GIZ: “This secures the income of fishermen who operate on a sustainable basis, especially in remote and low-income regions of Indonesia.”

Components and know-how were provided free of charge during the development phase by the German companies Bitzer, Ziehl-Abegg and BAE Batterien.

The development, as well as technical support, were provided by experts from the ILK Dresden [Institute of Air Handling and Refrigeration]. The solar-powered ice-making machines are manufactured by the Indonesian industrial company S
Japan’s Solar City
By: Core Energy Solar
Tags: Solar City, Environment, Japan, Solar Power, Solar Panel

When we hear “Japan” the first things that come to mind are sushi, cars and technology, and for a good reason. Here in america Japanese technology is very popular together with Japanese cars.

In Ota City, located just 80 kilometers (roughly 50 miles) north of Tokyo, there is a small Solar Powered town called Pal Town. Every house and building has a solar panel or more for their use. Habitats of this town can be paid up to ¥5000 or $50 from the local power company.

(Pal Town, Ota City) Image Credits: http://ecofortis.solar/japans-solar-city/

This town is located in Japan’s sunniest area, and the Japanese government lost no time on taking advantage of the sun by giving Solar Panels to the residents of the city.

If people moving to this city are buying Solar Powered houses at the current market price they could recover the cost of the building plus ¥2,000,000 or $20,000 in two or three decades.

Kazuo Nakashima, Ota’s housing development manager says that the biggest challenge is the high equipment cost in spreading the Eco-friendly system.

[Kazuo Nakashima]: “Through this project, we’ve cleared technical issues over solar power generation in private homes. Now, the biggest challenge is how to reduce the cost of solar panels and related equipment.”
Here comes the Sun…
By: Dave Pryce
Tags: Climate Change, Solar Power

This Sprint I had some big plans, but have to admit it didn’t go as well as I wanted.

Solar

The main thing I wanted to do was really up-skill my Solar knowledge and complete this Coursera course: Introduction to Solar Cells. I didn’t get through as much as I wanted, but still learned some interesting stuff.

The Lumosity of the Sun — 3.828×10.26 Watts. That’s a lot of zeros.

The Solar Constant — the amount of energy hitting the Earth — 1,388 Watts per square meter.

This calculates out to some mind boggling maths. Every hour the Sun provides the same amount of energy as we humans consume globally in a whole year.

In approximately 19 days we receive as much energy as direct radiation as could be produced from all of the remaining fossil fuels.

There are some practicalities to harnessing this power, efficiency of Panels, storage, to name the obvious ones, but when the Sun can provide this much energy — burning fossil fuels seems like a really stupid idea.

Making lunch

I know I’ve been generating a lot of waste buying my lunch. I have photographic evidence…..

My objective was to make a big dent into the problem this month by making my own lunches. Life got in the way a bit and I only managed 6.

Veggie Dinners

Following on from last month. I want to reduce my carbon footprint by eating less meat. To tackle this I focussed on eating more veggie dinners. Again my progress wasn’t as much as I had hoped. But I did increase from 6 up to 9 this month.
EU aids renewable energy projects
By: Mars Solar Led Street Light Factory
Tags: Solar Kits For Sale, Solarpower, Solar Kit For Home

The European Commission said that the EU competition regulator is considering amending the state aid law to allow EU countries to subsidize up to 100% of renewable Solarpower energy projects, as the EU is seeking to achieve ambitious green goals.

The proposed changes are part of the European Union’s executive agency’s revision of its Climate, Energy and Environment State Assistance Guidelines (EEAG), which is expected to be adopted by the end of this year.

“Europe will need a lot of sustainable investment. Although a large part of it will come from the private sector, public support will play a role in ensuring that the green transition takes place quickly,” European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

The EU executive stated that the revised rules will allow EU countries to introduce new aid tools and projects in clean transportation, building energy efficiency and biodiversity, and they can also be fully funded by EU countries.

EU countries will have to negotiate with all stakeholders on subsidy projects as one of several safeguards to ensure that state aid is effective and limited to what is needed.

As long as it meets the EU’s climate goals for 2030 and 2050, the revised rules will cover new investments in natural gas.

Interested parties must provide feedback before August 2, and the European Commission will make a final decision based on the relevant feedback information and the actual situation.
Solar-Powered Sensor Grid with Supercapacitor Energy Storage Could Last for a Century
By: Cabe Atwell
Tags: Supercapacitor, Energy, Solar Energy, Solar Power, Technology

An unusual project from Hackaday user sciencedude1990, would see a mesh of solar-powered sensors with supercapacitor energy storage, be deployed all over the globe to detect and measure the point when the Earth’s magnetic field flips. Known as a geomagnetic reversal, the flip interchanges the positions of magnetic north and south, which are random, and have changed positions 183 times over the last 83 million years, and scientists say we’re due for another.

The solar-powered sensors would be deployed all over the globe to detect and measure when the earth’s magnetic field flips. (📷: sciencedude1990)

sciencedude1990’s goal is to create a solar-powered wireless sensor grid, capable of running 24/7 and lasting over 100 years, a lofty goal, but not out of the realm of possibility. Each node in the grid uses photovoltaic cells that feed the suns energy into a small conditioning circuit to aid and protect the other circuits in the platform. The power is then transferred to a supercapacitor charger that fills a couple of 50 F supercaps with PTC fuses to regulate the output, which is then fed to an energy-harvesting DC/DC converter, providing a constant 5V output.

The solar-powered sensor breakdown shows the many PCBs that can be broken down and used for other projects beyond measuring magnetic fields. (📷: sciencegdude990)

After power has been conditioned and regulated, it’s then used to provide juice to an ATmega256RFR2 board outfitted with an SMD chip antenna, an LSM303 (accelerometer/magnetometer), UART multiplexor, and several load switches to power different accessories, including a SAM-M8Q-0–10-based GPS/RF unit scienceguy1990 designed for uploading data to a local base station. All hardware is packed into a clear weatherproof container with the solar cells affixed to the top using 3D printed braces.

The ATmega256RFR2 was programmed using Atmel Studio, and every few seconds, a watchdog timer wakes the microcontroller to read the sensors and check on the supercapacitors. If everything is functioning correctly, the GPS module is activated, and the location/UTC information is recorded and sent wirelessly to the base station (another ATmega256RFR2). Anyone interested in scienceguy1990’s solar power sensor can follow his project page for updated information.
Raphael Sternberg — Landscape Design, Ecology. and Conservation:
By: Raphael Sternberg
Tags: Land Grabbing, Raphael Sternberg, Landscaping, Solar Power, Landscape

The Wall Street Journal features a very real issue.

Solar Power’s Land Grab Hits a Snag: Environmentalists. Mojave Desert residents say they support clean energy, but not giant projects, citing threat to tortoises and views.

MOAPA VALLEY, Nev. — This windswept desert community is full of clean energy supporters including Suzanne Rebich, an airline pilot who recently topped her house with 36 solar panels. About 200 homes generate their own solar energy and a quarter of the local electricity supply comes from hydroelectric power.

Roof Solar Panels

All the same, many here are dead set against a planned solar plant atop the Mormon Mesa, which overlooks this valley 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. Slated to be the biggest solar plant in the U.S., the Battle Born Solar Project by California-based Arevia Power would carpet 14 square miles — the equivalent of 7,000 football fields — with more than a million solar panels 10 to 20 feet tall. It would be capable of producing 850 megawatts of electricity, or roughly one-tenth of Nevada’s current capacity.

Green & Ecologic, but where’s the land gone?

Read the rest of this fascinating WSJ article here.
What are the advantage of solar energy?
By: Solar Energy Tip
Tags: Solar, Solar Energy, Solar Power World, Solar Energy System, Solar Power

solar energy tip what are the advantage of solar energy

Anyone in the world who wants to get electricity using solar energy will have this question in their mind that what is the advantage of energy

Solar energy is currently used in many parts of the world and the use of this solar energy is also beneficial for the environment.

If we look at it this way, we have got information about the main advances of solar energy which are as follows:

1. Clean and Renewable Energy Source.

2. Reduces your electricity bills

3. Less Impact on Environment

4. It consumes low maintenance cost

5. Easy to Installation

6. In long term return on investment solar panels

In short, solar energy is a clean and renewable energy source that allows you to lower your home’s electricity bill. It has less impact on the environment. It has a lower maintenance charge after installation and gives you a long-term return.

To the best of my knowledge, I have given you information about the advantages of solar energy
我投資買了太陽能板，淺談精打細算的我為什麼覺得這是划算的投資？
By: Chih Tseng Liu
Tags: Grandfather, Solar Energy, Solar Panel Installation, Solar Power

直接跟錢有關的好處

每個月太陽能板能產生的電能減少你的電費 (裝越多省越多)

且電費根據過去數據統計每年的增幅是3–10%不等，平均是至少5%

畢竟有所謂的通膨，電費只會越來越貴基本上不可能越來越便宜，電力公司的人工成本也會隨通膨節節高升，但若有太陽能板自產自用基本上可以大幅降低被電力公司收取的費用．

APS 電力漲價5%新聞：https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/aps-proposing-rate-hike-in-2020-would-average-5-4-per-household

2. Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)** 現在安裝有 26% 的退額，更早期裝的甚至有30%，但沒辦法這種刺激政策本來就是先到先得，就像買特斯拉汽車前面階段購買的人都能拿到 Federal Credit. 後面的發完了就沒有了．其他全電車也是一樣政策.

如果等到 2023 年只會剩下22%，2024年目前沒有獎勵除非國會延期政策

In December 2020, Congress passed an extension of the ITC, which provides a 26% tax credit for systems installed in 2020–2022, and 22% for systems installed in 2023. (Systems installed before December 31, 2019 were eligible for a 30% tax credit.) The tax credit expires starting in 2024 unless Congress renews it.

There is no maximum amount that can be claimed.

資料來源與更詳細資訊：https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-federal-tax-credit-solar-photovoltaics

3. Arizona Residential Solar Energy Tax Credit 州政府會給予一定金額獎金，以 Arizona 為例是最高 $1000 現金

https://www.sunrun.com/solar-by-state/az/arizona-solar-tax-incentives

4. 增加房屋價值，但不會增加你的房屋稅

基本上數字因情況而已，但根據數據統計房屋價值可以增加約 $5000/kwh

且相比無太陽能同規格大小的房屋可增加售價 3.74% 以上甚至更多的金額

資料來源: https://www.sunrun.com/go-solar-center/solar-articles/do-solar-panels-increase-home-value

業務還聊到，房屋本身的 第三方公正 apprasial 價值也會被加在你的房屋上，同理如果未來要做 Re-finance or cash-out refinance 這些都是有助益．
Rust: Actix Web Server on Raspberrypi/Laptop(Alternative)
By: Alifya Hussain
Tags: Rust, Actix, Servers

Configuration

Now make two files here. Name First file as wpa_supplicant.txt and add the following details

ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev update_config=1 country=US network={ssid="Your network SSID" psk="Your WPA/WPA1 security ket"key_mgmt=WPA-PSK}

now save it and then rename it as wpa_supplicant.conf. 2. Create another file with no extension and name it as ssh. To make a headless connection of your Raspberypi (Pc/laptop)W with PC you need to know the IP address of your Pi on your local network. Make sure your PC and Pi are on the same network.

Now you have to run the following commands on your pi.

$ ifconfig //lets suppose it gives 192.168.0.1 $ sudo apt-get install nmap $ sudo nmap -sP 192.168.0.0/24

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

// verify the installation

$ rustc --version

$ rustup --version // Install Rust on your picurl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh// verify the installation$ rustc --version$ rustup --version You must have rustup version 1.39.0 or higher.

In case you want to update -> $ rustup update

Building a Simple Rust Actix Web Server on your Pi:

Learn Rust Actix Offcial Documentation here

Let’s Make a new rust project by cargo new index

index/cargo.toml

[dependencies] actix-web =”2.0" actix-rt = “1.0”

index/src/main.rs

use actix_web:: {web, App, HttpResponse, HttpServer, Responder}; use std::io; async fn index() -> impl Responder { HttpResponse::Ok().body(“Hello World!,This is the first server made in Actix”) } use actix_web::get; #[get(“/hello”)] async fn greet() -> impl Responder { HttpResponse::Ok().body(“Hey there”) } #[actix_rt::main] async fn main () -> io::Result<()> { HttpServer::new(||{ App::new() .route(“/”,web::get().to(index)) .service(greet) }) .bind(“0.0.0.0:3000”)? .run() .await }

now cargo run <Enter>

Now check your Pi IP Address in my example 192.168.18.68, and type it in your pi browserin this way: 192.168.18.68:3000 to check your server is up and running. It will give the output great!

Next

Open a browser in your PC and ping your Pi IP address in my example 192.168.18.68:3000

Excellent!

Congratulations! You just setup a local web server on Raspberry Pi (Alternate Pc/Laptop) written in Rust Actix.

Live Demo here : https://youtu.be/jLFUzmAopKw

Explore more IOT information here
Searching for the best server in Pakistan? What is a dedicated server in Pakistan?
By: Sidra Malik
Tags: Services, Social Media, Dedicated Server, Servers, Startup

The dedicated server comprises computer, web server, internet connection, and related software. This system rents in premises of web hosting provider. So if you need the dedicated server, you need to find the best hosting provider in Pakistan. Pakistani dedicated servers fulfill the needs when you need to host websites, databases, and multiple files.

Basically, server hosting in Pakistan helps you to virtualize the environment. It helps to get professional and pro email server with a high-speed end. The speed of these servers is up to 99.99%. What do you mean by 99.99%? Actually, it is the uptime a server is in its working. There is a 0.01% chance of server to get down when it needs maintenance. That time only occurs once in a year or two.

So, there are many companies providing cheap dedicated server hosting in Pakistan. One can get server easily for any type of digital setup.

Why one needs a dedicated server?

Anyone can host a server through own computer if it is connected to the internet. But the problem persists is that it will slow down the processing and eventually shut down. So, whenever you need a server without any interruption with processing speed, you need to make a dedicated server.

It is best and cheap dedicated hosting service one can make for own self. The benefits one will get is 24/7 uptime, less attack of virus, faster connection speed, and above these, there is no need to switch off the computer and disconnect from the internet. Moreover, these dedicated server hosting in Pakistan can be used for multi purposes. For examples, to host game servers, to host applications, to host websites, or when one is using the multiple computers for the purpose of storing files and databases.
How to Watch TCP and UDP Ports in real-time in a Linux Server
By: Netshop Isp
Tags: Linux, System Administration, Network Security, Servers, Linux Tutorial

How to Watch TCP and UDP Ports in real-time in a Linux Server NetShop ISP Jun 17·2 min read

How to Monitor TCP and UDP Connections in Linux Server (Real-time)

As a web hosting provider we work closely with our customers who, in majority, are system administrators and network engineers. One of the most frequent challenges a Linux server administrator will face, is the monitoring of network connections/sockets on the server to identify and resolve bottlenecks.

In this article we explain, in simple words, what TCP and UDP are and how you can monitor the activity on your Linux server in real-time.

What is TCP and UDP?

The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) are both network protocols responsible for data transfers between an end-user’s device to a web server.

For example, when chatting on Skype the TCP and UDP protocols are used so that your messages can travel from your laptop or mobile, through Skype’s Servers, and reach your Skype contact; and vice-versa.

How to List all Open TCP and UDP Ports in Linux

The netstat is system administrators’ favorite command to list all open ports on a Server. However, as it has been deprecated, you can now also use the ss utility for details network statistics.

Simply type the following command:

sudo netstat -tulpn

Explanation of the netstat command flags/parameters

-t : Enables listing of TCP ports

-u : Enables listing of UDP ports

-l : Displays only listening sockets

-n : Displays the port number

-p : Displays the process name

How to Watch TCP and UDP Ports in Real-Time

To monitor the TCP and UDP ports on your Linux server in real-time, the following command should be used:

sudo watch netstat -tulpn

or

sudo watch ss -tulpn

Once you are done with Ports monitoring, you can type Ctrl-C to exit the watch utility.

Source: https://netshop-isp.com.cy/blog/how-to-watch-tcp-and-udp-ports-in-real-time-in-a-linux-server/
Host locally running app on the internet (free) without any web server
By: Dheeraj Kumar Rao
Tags: NPM, Localhost, Servers, Https, Web

http://localhost:3000 to Public URL

Lets talk about free tunneling solution, to host your local web applications over the cloud and access the app from the publicly accessible web url. No server is required.

1. Ngrok

Authorization — User is required to sign up in order to generate auth token.

Support(HTTP / HTTPS, SSH) — Supports all 3 protocols.

Usage — Usage is through ngrok executable (or through node js based library).

Free Or Paid — Offers both free and paid version. Free version has limited but rich functionalities.

Subdomain Support — Subdomains are supported in the paid version.

How to setup Ngrok in your system

Visit https://dashboard.ngrok.com/signup Download and install Ngrok. Ref:- https://dashboard.ngrok.com/get-started/setup Get Authtoken visit https://dashboard.ngrok.com/get-started/your-authtoken Add Authtokn in your system by command

./ngrok authtoken 1UawrhXGOPp53533ftC_49AXASfWj5vwmoshrbwpFB8M9

5. Run the command ./ngrok http YOUR_APP_PORT

Example:- ./ngrok http 3000

You will get public url something like this http://d4f9-47-31-222-247.ngrok.io/
A few months ago, we took over a major project with about 35+ microservices.
By: Robin Schulz
Tags: Kubernetes, Deployment, Architecture, Microservices, Servers

A few months ago, we took over a major project with about 35+ microservices. Most of the REST API (micro-)services consist of 2–5 endpoints and a relatively small codebase; others are bulkier.

Maintaining a single microservice is definitely better than dealing with one extensive application. On the other hand, the deployment and maintenance of dependencies amongst the services is a nightmare and generates ofc. higher deployment costs.

For instance, releasing a new version of service A with significant changes also means updating the codebase and tests for services B, C, D, E, F, etc. To be fair, this doesn’t happen to us often, but in case it does, it’s definitely a lot of work. Especially with all the unit and functional tests.

Besides the issues with changes to the codebase above, sometimes third-party library versions need to be bumped up, as happened the other day, which means that we had to do that for almost all services at once.

Another issue with so many microservices is related to our local development. Most of the time, we can use dependent services from the deployed staging or development environment, and sometimes we have to run all services needed locally for development and testing purposes. To do so, Docker is our first choice. With only a few make commands, we get all containers needed locally build, up, and running.

Even though working with microservices has its downsides, I would always opt-in for microservices unless the application is way too simple and doesn’t do much.

Cheers
Coffee Chats: Meet Topher DeRosia
By: Jenna Rodrigues
Tags: Team Building, WordPress, Teamwork, Team Collaboration, Coffee Chat

Name: Topher DeRosia

Title: Senior WordPress Architect

Describe your role: I both plan and implement WordPress projects, as well as contribute to the public representation of the company via blogging and public speaking.

Where are you located? Grand Rapids, MI

Where did you study? I have a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Education from Cornerstone University.

What do you like best about working at Camber? Everyone is an expert, and works in tandem. We trust each other to get the work done, and the work is excellent. We’re not glued to a schedule; each of us works when we want to, as long as the work gets done.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself: I built the official International Space Station Windows95 Desktop theme.

Favorite Camber moment: I’m a storyteller. I just love telling people new and interesting things. My team finds it endearing and created a custom emoji for our Slack called “Story Time With Topher.” I love how they embraced a quirk and made me feel welcome.

What are you passionate about? I am passionate about helping those with less training and experience level up. I try to lead them in a way that helps them learn on their own, so they eventually don’t need me.

What types of projects did you work on before finding Camber? I curated content for HeroPress, which is a community representation project that gives voice to the under represented in the WordPress community.

What do you like to do for fun? Hang out with my wife and kids!
Wearing the facilitator hat in a remote Design Sprint
By: Pierluigi Rufo
Tags: Team Collaboration, Design Sprint, Design Thinking, Facilitation, Remote

2. During the sprint

Stay on track and trust the process.

Focus Focus Focus

Keeping the team focused in a remote setup is challenging.

At the start of each day, remind everyone to turn off Slack notifications and other distractions.

Also staying in front of the monitor for a long time is exhausting, reserve time for stretching the muscles and stepping away for a few minutes.

📝 Follow the The Remote Design Sprint Guide for the sprint activities. It contains detailed description of the exercises optimised and improved for the remote setup.

Rituals and side activities

Design Sprint are great to boost team collaboration, you don’t need to come up with many extra exercises.

Is there a better ice-breaker than the Crazy-8 🙂?

Scribble something together before starting the day or having a photo challenge during the lunch break can help the team keeping the fun level high.

📝 Establishing some rituals makes the remote setup more comfortable. I like to let reggae music play in the background while the team gathers after each break or during fun activities. It brings nice vibrations and good mood 🎵🇯🇲

Don’t overdo

Keep an eye on the agenda but be loose. Don’t plan for more than 6hrs/day and take breaks any time you feel the team need a rest.

Rely on offline activities (e.g. the sketching exercises) to step away from the screen and let everyone gather their thoughts.

📝 Beware of long discussions! No matter if in person or remote, humans have natural tendency to dive into detailed discussions. These drain energy and slow down the decision making. Call on the decider or use the Note&Vote exercise to keep moving on.

Learn as you go

The best way to learn is to ask for feedback.

Reserve 10 minutes at the end of each day to gather thoughts and feelings from the team.

Those insights are extremely valuable and help the Facilitator to improve their process and better prepare for the next day.