My solar-powered watch from 1995. Made when I was in charge of microelectronics at ISA France.

This was a prototype fitted with a white dial that lets through enough light for the solar cell to power the watch. I applied a special paint I had prepared directly on the solar cell - later we would do that on PET film that we cut into dials that were pad printed and mounted as usual.

And the 31 year old Panasonic battery still stores enough energy to come through the night!

#solarpower

Commercial farmers treat soil as though it's a sterile substrate. Good for no more than a gripping surface for the roots.

Though by the time they're done messing it up, that's exactly what it is.

#permaculture #RegenerativeAgriculture #soil

This is a really tragic and telling story of how extremely severe disinformation killed off a very, very good community battery project (the size of 3 parking spaces) in Australia. Right next to one of Australia's biggest and most catastrophically harmful coal seam gas fields, as well.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-28/misinformation-kills-narrabri-community-battery-project/106120264

Random thought.

If public libraries didn't already exist, capitalism wouldn't let you invent it. Can you imagine how many billions Jeff Bezos would plough into fighting the idea, destroying any politician who dared to back it?

Support your local library.

RE: https://mastodon.scot/@peterbrown/116268527752626534

One of the books this UK school banned? Terry Pratchett's #Discworld Buddy Holly tribute, Soul Music.