Not sure if you are joking, but Iain Banks died in 2013.

Thanks for this reply. Consider yourself modded up, although I have no modpoints ;)

As I understand it another point for concern is a possible violation of the separation of powers.

Entries on the list are chosen and maintained by the federal police (BKA). The executive can thereby wield power that should normally be reserved to the judiciary. I am no lawyer, so please correct me if I am wrong.

However, if it is indeed true that the borders between executive and judiciary are violated in this case then a complaint of unconstitutionality (Verfassungsklage) is in order. Judging from recent verdicts of the Federal Constitutional Court my hope is, that the law will be declared unconstitutional.

I have to agree with GP, we indeed have evolution, by definition. Evolution is not defined by "new characteristics", whatever that is. Could you please provide a reference that defines evolution as "new characteristics"?

Evolution is (as I have learned during my biology studies) defined as a change in allele frequency. If the genetic make-up of the population changes from one generation to another (and frequency variation constitutes such a change), then we have evolution.

Furthermore, you assume that only frequencies change. That need not be the case. A phenotypical change in size (as in this case) might also very well be caused by mutation, what might be a "new characteristic". Superficially you have no way if distinguishing the two processes.

While I see your points with regard to cobalt and nickel, I would like to object to your thoughts about cadmium. Sure, it is poisenous. But NiCd-Batteries are on their way out. They just can't compete with the high(er) capacity alternatives that NiMH- or LiIon-Batteries offer. Furthermore, at least the EU has banned the use of NiCd-Batteries almost completely. Therefore, I just don't see how the demand for cadmium will increase tenfold.

While I believe you that you "really" need all these appliances it often astounds me, how resistant some people are to the concept of "energy saving" and "efficiency".

Were I in your situation (with a power consumption of sometimes 5000 W, which really boggles my mind) I would ask myself how I could save energy (even without problems of hydrogen storage).

Do you really have to have 8 (!) computers running at all times?
It seems to be quite hot in your area (4 (!) ACs). Is there a necessity for a HEATER in the pool?
Along the same lines: Do you have to use a dryer? Why not air-dry the laundry if it is so hot?

And so on. Then again, I don't know how many people there are in your household which might put the power consumption into perspective, but still.

Just for comparison: I live not in "Afghanistan" (btw, a rather superfluous remark of you) but in Germany. I live alone in a 2 room apartment. I don't have a heated pool, a dryer or an AC, but I would subjectively consider my standard of living rather high. This obviously depends on your definition of living standard and what contributes to it, so we might be very different with regard to that aspect.

My yearly electricity consumption is approx. 2500 kWh which translates into a continuous use of 250 W. Of course that is rather low, even in comparison with typical usage in Germany. But, and that is the point, I can assure you that I am quite happy and content at the moment. Cutting your power consumption drastically does not equal a move to "Afghanistan".