exponentials 2
continuing yesterday's thoughts... if we could utilize just 0.01% of the sun's energy that strikes the earth we could power everything people do. today. except that 0.1% is a pretty high upper bound of what might be practical to collect. since our energy usage is growing exponentially (which the rosy csm commentary failed to observe), we will outgrow the sun within 80 years. are we screwed? nah. we'll get our population under control eventually. one way or another. so is the law of accelerating returns garbage? well, like many such adages, it is and it isn't. if you stay within its limits it's spot on. if you wander into nunu land you're gonna get into trouble. and do your readers a severe disservice.