This is an interesting concept of « Discount ». When shopping recently for a daily used product , we picked the « Discount » as it looked exactly the same as the one we used to buy.
Only be sheer accident did we happen to have an old roll and a new roll side by side.
Ups, well I thought maybe, just maybe the size has changed to accomodate a new production method. Maybe there are more sheets, just more densly rolled.
The new way of DISCOUNT
No, it is simply 10% smaller AND 18% lighter! Whoa, what a genuine bargin this is, and we can fit more of the rolls into the allocated spaces.
This opens up a whole range of thoughts.
If we do not reduce our usage by at least 18% we will end up with more inner rolls or grow pots for bean seeds?
If our guests now use more of these « rolls » can we negatively discount our room rates?
Do we have to change the toilets to match the paper size?
A synonym for a discount is « take off » a more reasonable description, don’t you think so?
A FB comment refers to this as – A common trend which is known as shrinkflation made famous by Toblerone!
How about oversized dwarf rolls….. enough of that…..
Finally the non discounted spring is here again – Lets celebrate ……..
I hope you smiled last Monday at about 8:45pm local time – Cassini – the NASA satellite / probe, which is circling Saturn, took a new picture of the space including Earth.
Now with the ability of advanced facial recognition any government could determine if you where outside at that time and if you smiled could pass on a « happiness tax ».
This is no laughing matter as the Spanish government is presently considering a tax on sunlight, when converted into electricity by a non electricity company.
What they want to do is increase the standing charge, lower the actual energy tariff but put an extra charge on if the connection is supported by photovoltaic. So basically it is a subvention of established producers / distributors over renewable new forms of energy and its supply. This could only happen in Spain and maybe in Putin land.
Galicia has its dark spots
If you look at a nice picture from above you see that Galicia has its fair share of dark spots and compared to Portugal one can be under the impression that dark forces are at large in Spain.
Taxable fruit of labor
I have thought about not putting this picture on.
It could well be that veggies not sold by an authorised supermarket have to be declared and taxed accordingly, couldn’t it; at least here in Spain?
Now is the « nice summer », The heat wave has passed and it is time to start harvesting the « fruit of labor » or what the bugs / mice have left for human consumption.
Peaceful coexistance
Speaking of mice – here is a perfect example of coexistence – a much talked about topic of late.
Barbara catches the mice – our cat plays with them, than eats them – and – wait for it – than comes to get it’s reward.
Actually you may notice from the picture Barbara get a reward as well, in form of a nice cup of tea.
What a life ! – Only here in Galicia and the Ribeira Sacra
Don’t forget the gardens are still open every Saturday – Need plants? – Want to see what can be grown here? – come and visit!
The dark side – Ribeira Sacra Click for world view – Pulse para mira el Mundo
Nasa has a night view of the world. If one clicks to zoom in onto Spain and focuses on Galicia, we see that the coast is burning the midnight oil. Interestingly, bankrupt Portugal is sinking in a blaze. Apart from the light spots of Ourense, Lugo, Ponferrada and very faint Monforte the Ribeira Sacra is bathed in soothing dark.
Today’s Voz de Galicia reveals that the government intends to start indirectly taxing electricity, by using the umbrella of excessive usage penalty. See this article by Voz De Galicia
No panic, if you are on the social (3Kw) tariff, it wont affect you – yet. But if you use electricity inline with « developed » European nations, like UK and Germany, expect to be penalised for doing so (375Kw/h monthly per 2 person household).
So far using more than 190Kw/h a month and the penalties kick in with 0,1cent per Kw/h for the first Kw/h’s above and up to 1,1 cent for usage above 330Kw/h monthly.
Photovoltaic in Mer – Simple and efficient
Here in Mer we have been using « Autoconsumo » for a while now .
Simply put, you can produce and use electricity up to the capacity of your connection to the grid without further permission if it adhears to some surprisingly clear defined standards.
So far we are producing up to 750Watt’s on a sunny day and about 200 Watts on a grey day. This we easily (auto)consume directly. Our average bill has dropped from over 400 Kw/h to about 330Kw/h monthly and thus nicely offset any price increases. Any excess that we may introduce into the grid is a present to FENOSA. Next week or so anther 1Kw will go online, which will drop us below any penalty points. Developing some fancy electronics, that will use any excess loads to heat the house(s) or heat water. Sorry – the times of presents to FENOSA will be a thing of the past.
If you are interested in the whole concept, you are welcome to talk to us. Investment is around 2,00 – 2,20€ per Watt installed. So today 460Watt installed will cost about 1000€ and produce / save 50Kw/h monthly or 105€’s a year = payback of 10 years. BUT electricity prices have risen 65% in the last 6 years !!.
Shooting stars – Estrellas fugaces
Yes, we still need more rain, although I would love to see the Geminid shooting stars.
Aparently they are at their hight these days. Here is a video explaining it all Geminid shooting stars
