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Cake day: March 4th, 2025

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  • The electric energy needed by the ASDEX Upgrade fusion experiment to power its magnetic field coils and plasma heating facilities is supplied by large flywheel generators. An experimentation pulse in ASDEX Upgrade requires an electric power of 400 megawatts lasting 10 seconds, i.e. half as much as the whole district of Munich. Such an abrupt grid load is not permissible; so the electric energy for ASDEX Upgrade cannot be taken directly from the grid. Instead the flywheel generators gradually take the energy needed from the grid, store it and then pass it on to ASDEX Upgrade in a single pulse.



  • one that is not subservient to capitalist market forces

    There’s always a market with market forces.

    If the legal market is completely state controlled, then the black market is still around. Corruption, bribes, and political connections then become the price to pay to even get a place to live at all.

    I grew up in a socialist country with super low rent and the state owning everything. The rent was ridiculously cheap, but the housing quality was terrible. The state didn’t pay for upkeep and buildings just rotted. Sure there was also new construction of commie blocks. Good luck getting one of those apartments! Also you couldn’t even move to a different city without getting a state permit first. My parents had to bribe the state official with hard currency in addition to changing career, and using political favors to get an actual decent place.