tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post4340129243944230029..comments2023-11-10T04:17:00.492-05:00Comments on View From The Porch: It's not about the Benjamins.Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-71761875809507603462012-04-16T19:25:58.750-04:002012-04-16T19:25:58.750-04:00Hank, some things are susceptible to being figured...Hank, some things are susceptible to being figured out by the methods of Science, and some are not.<br /><br /> This is one of the reasons I go to church. Another reason is that I tend to be a grumpy old meany if I don't go to church.Justthisguyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17277333206171756636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-15896777935613581022012-04-10T19:11:20.913-04:002012-04-10T19:11:20.913-04:00I am jumping up and down in agreement. I was just ...I am jumping up and down in agreement. I was just telling a friend of mine that if you go back in time and replace the Catholic church with environmentalists and replace Galileo with actual skeptics, then you would have a perfect reproduction. The environmentalists think human behavior is the center and the cause of woes in the universe and that we need to repent. Skeptics point to the giant ball of flame that supplies our heat and say, "Maybe it has something to do with that."<br /><br />HankAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-89149046188646615822012-04-09T10:44:23.936-04:002012-04-09T10:44:23.936-04:00Sorry, that should read: "...name one advocat...Sorry, that should read: "...name one <i>advocate</i> of the classification, 'rational animal.'" Obviously, one could name <i>detractors</i> that take the wrong meaning from it. As in, you know, <i>most</i> of them.Inspectorhttp://newclarion.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-35102503715688350492012-04-09T09:39:22.451-04:002012-04-09T09:39:22.451-04:00"@Tam - then what are the few beings who are ..."@Tam - then what are the few beings who are rational??? "<br /><br />That.<br /><br />C'mon, leave Aristotle alone. Or, if you are going to poke fun, please name me at least one person who takes the descriptor "rational animal" to mean, "all humans are rational," rather than, you know, <i>what it actually does mean</i>.<br /><br />-InspectorInspectorhttp://newclarion.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-30204982772368465792012-04-08T19:46:17.514-04:002012-04-08T19:46:17.514-04:00Ceremony and symbolism, yup. That is why I attend...Ceremony and symbolism, yup. That is why I attend Anglican services. If they could just lose the modern hippy guitar music, my church would be perfect. At least the guitar is a Kaman.Justthisguyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17277333206171756636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-53800529576253109202012-04-08T09:02:36.937-04:002012-04-08T09:02:36.937-04:00"Humans are not rational animals."
@Tam..."Humans are not rational animals."<br /><br />@Tam - then what are the few beings who are rational??? <br /><br />Also - you might enjoy http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~ckank/FultonsLair/013/nock/cram.html<br /><br />and <br /><br />http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~ckank/FultonsLair/013/nock/human.htmlA Criticnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-16948607765551315162012-04-07T16:24:08.952-04:002012-04-07T16:24:08.952-04:00Keep in mind that hybrids (Prius, Highlander etc) ...Keep in mind that hybrids (Prius, Highlander etc) can be a lot of fun to drive. Instant power, full time 4 wheel drive, great acceleration.<br /><br />Yep, I work for an oil company and you will find a lot of hybrids at the office. We know they use more energy in the long run but they are a lot of fun to own and drive.<br /><br />I drove 380 miles in our hybrid yesterday and it got all of 2 miles per gallon better then my truck. But it was a fun drive!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-80704494975647155222012-04-06T23:28:05.879-04:002012-04-06T23:28:05.879-04:00@ global village idiot,
"the public utility ...@ global village idiot,<br /><br /><em>"the public utility in my area buys back solar at roughly twice the purchase rate."</em><br /><br />Oh. You mean, just like the negative tariff program in England. That ran for 20 years, and they cannot afford anymore. The US Government doesn't usually keep promises for 20 years. I wouldn't expect utility companies to buy back electricity over their retail price without someone paying the difference -- either tax payers or their other customers.<br /><br />And someone has to pay for the extra infrastructure to meter and condition that power they are receiving. Because most of America depends on phase-correct 60 hz electricity, and most home-level generation is 60 hz give or take a bit.<br /><br />Yeah, you are selling electricity to the utility companies, but you are riding a politician's coat tails, and spending from a taxpayer's wallet. Both tend to run dry over time.Brad K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18378344866487206569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-69183643506649633062012-04-06T22:46:26.886-04:002012-04-06T22:46:26.886-04:00Wind almost works out here on the Plains, since we...Wind almost works out here on the Plains, since we have lots of it.<br /><br />Most of the time. In the dog days of summer, we might not have enough; in Storm Season, we might have too much. (They shut the big fans down when wind reaches gale force.)<br /><br />So far, the combination of ill-advised tax preferences and the desire to appear Greener Than Thou has made it a decent investment for those of us who pay the bill every month, the tariffs being constructed in such a way as to charge us for the wind and then rebate it for the natural gas we're not using.CGHillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03789097361138861462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-62978388931730187072012-04-06T19:51:13.575-04:002012-04-06T19:51:13.575-04:00BradK,
The cost savings comes not in the start-up...BradK,<br /><br />The cost savings comes not in the start-up costs or ROI per-se; rather, the public utility in my area buys back solar at roughly twice the purchase rate. The system is wired to the grid - excess electricity goes back into the system.<br /><br />It's a win for the consumer because he can conceivably bring his electricity bill to $0, and it's a win for the utility because the more of these systems that go up, the less infrastructure they have to build, maintain, insure, etc.<br /><br />You are right in that water heating is the quickest for ROI.<br /><br />gviglobal village idiothttp://www.alpharubicon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-50070515434380767502012-04-06T19:32:45.259-04:002012-04-06T19:32:45.259-04:00I got so horned up to buy a CNG Honda with home fi...I got so horned up to buy a CNG Honda with home filler/compressor unit last week that I had to change the sheets twice. Did the math...after trading my paid-for 2007 Camry, the CNG would pay for it self in 163,000 miles, if gas stays under $5.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-3191980732838252022012-04-06T17:50:04.288-04:002012-04-06T17:50:04.288-04:00Being in the market for a car right now (effective...Being in the market for a car right now (effectively, replacing an '02 Taurus with 127K on the clock), and running the numbers; the (minor) cost differential between a non-hybrid and a hybrid mid-size sedan (which the Prius is not, and neither is the Taurus these days) is more than made up for by the difference in mileage. Since I'm looking at used cars, there's a lot more variables, making it hard to do straight-up comparisons, though.Ian Argenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03704336044732061128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-39137094100953518272012-04-06T16:26:34.436-04:002012-04-06T16:26:34.436-04:00@ global village idiot,
I worked in Silicon Valle...@ global village idiot,<br /><br />I worked in Silicon Valley in the late 1980s, just after the peak "Oh, we gotta go solar to save money and stop exploiting oil from our descendants!" craze.<br /><br />There were numerous solar electric panels, battery rooms, etc. It turns out that the single solar use that actually reduced monthly expenses was pre-heating the water for the water heater. <br /><br />I doubt the lessons learned, for those looking to reduce costs, has changed much.Brad K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18378344866487206569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-30694861807087685872012-04-06T15:11:30.955-04:002012-04-06T15:11:30.955-04:00Windmills do make more energy when they have rocke...<a href="http://www.theblaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Wind-Turbine-Fire_-Stuart-McMahon.jpg" rel="nofollow">Windmills do make more energy when they have rocket assist units.</a>Kristophrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08370888276707569365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-1256011827219171302012-04-06T13:11:44.400-04:002012-04-06T13:11:44.400-04:00Last night I attended the NW chapter of the Indian...Last night I attended the NW chapter of the Indiana Society of Professional Surveyor's meeting. Our guest speaker was a guy who installs solar and wind on residences and businesses.<br /><br />Even he admitted that wind is a hard sell here in Indiana, even for residential, though it can be done (the costs are exorbitant and the time-to-payoff greater than any other renewable). Small-scale solar seems like the thing to do <b>if</b> you want to lower your costs. If you're looking for true off-grid energy independence, it's still a pricey proposition.<br /><br />My 2000 Cherokee gets 15mpg on a normal commute day and 20 on the highway. It's not very good at all, but the car's paid for (it was paid for in cash the moment I drove off the lot) and my costs are much lower than someone who drives a Prius.<br /><br />For my part, if I went with a motorcycle (a used one) it would actually save me money - did the math once. Trouble is, the one I want is a Ural and it doesn't get very good mileage, so it'd only be tinkering at the margins.<br /><br />gviglobal village idiothttp://www.alpharubicon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-83661480118097096532012-04-06T13:03:44.126-04:002012-04-06T13:03:44.126-04:00Re: The Meadow Lake Wind farm north of Lafayette, ...Re: The Meadow Lake Wind farm north of Lafayette, most all of 'em are turning, but the projects are 'stalled' in terms of new construction because there is NO more demand. All the electricity they make isn't used by us Hoosiers or Mid-western types anyway. <br /><br />It all goest to Neuu Yawk city.<br /><br />Many of the locals (not me) like 'em though because at $7,200/yr rent for each tower, why wouldn't they?<br /><br />P.T. Barnum was right...<br /><br />All The Best,<br />Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07589579734134153159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-35588937438907035462012-04-06T13:03:43.888-04:002012-04-06T13:03:43.888-04:00Re: The Meadow Lake Wind farm north of Lafayette, ...Re: The Meadow Lake Wind farm north of Lafayette, most all of 'em are turning, but the projects are 'stalled' in terms of new construction because there is NO more demand. All the electricity they make isn't used by us Hoosiers or Mid-western types anyway. <br /><br />It all goest to Neuu Yawk city.<br /><br />Many of the locals (not me) like 'em though because at $7,200/yr rent for each tower, why wouldn't they?<br /><br />P.T. Barnum was right...<br /><br />All The Best,<br />Frank W. JamesFrank W. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07589579734134153159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-62423024145685462942012-04-06T12:33:15.846-04:002012-04-06T12:33:15.846-04:00Even going to something like a motorcycle or scoot...Even going to something like a motorcycle or scooter won't save you enough to even pay for the insurance on it, much less put a dent in the purchase price, unless you have a reeeeeeaaaaallllllly long commute and/or (but mostly "and") you're riding the two-wheeler in preference to something that gets gallons to the mile. And then there's the increased risk of two-wheelers in heavy-traffic suburbs.Dirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04353273036394049597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-2269136972679103632012-04-06T11:53:18.277-04:002012-04-06T11:53:18.277-04:00That's why my tagline for the Toyota Pious, I ...That's why my tagline for the Toyota Pious, I mean Prius is:<br /><br />Prius: The car for people who suck at math.Jay Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11085873775096542015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-1848930158295527442012-04-06T11:51:30.402-04:002012-04-06T11:51:30.402-04:00Gerry,
I don't get north of Lafayette much, b...Gerry,<br /><br />I don't get north of Lafayette much, but last time I did, it was still Om-Mani-Padme-Humming along.Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-87967004723486648172012-04-06T11:31:42.396-04:002012-04-06T11:31:42.396-04:00It's NEVER "waste", because somebody...It's NEVER "waste", because <a href="http://staghounds.blogspot.com/2005/03/light-bulb-over-my-head-about-waste.html" rel="nofollow">somebody always gets the (political) power, someone always gets the money</a>.staghoundshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05976667812875074135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-45377365299931291162012-04-06T11:14:38.509-04:002012-04-06T11:14:38.509-04:00Brad, just wait until one of these turbines kills ...Brad, just wait until one of these turbines kills a California Condor...<br /><br />And I've long suspected that these turbine projects are not so much to generate electricity as they are to generate jobs for those truckers that haul the blades up and down the interstate.rickn8orhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16911803300343351338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-13724103126093234012012-04-06T11:00:24.348-04:002012-04-06T11:00:24.348-04:00How's that big windmill farm north of Indy doi...How's that big windmill farm north of Indy doing? That thing covered miles though I noticed only about 1/3 of the blades were turning when I drove by it a few years ago.<br /><br />GerryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-72438972843456182382012-04-06T10:51:24.788-04:002012-04-06T10:51:24.788-04:00Alas Tam's art imitates life-
http://64.38.12...Alas Tam's art imitates life-<br /><br />http://64.38.12.138/boardx/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4144staghoundshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05976667812875074135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-72760777925739850542012-04-06T10:19:49.661-04:002012-04-06T10:19:49.661-04:00The "prayer wheels" line is priceless. I...The "prayer wheels" line is priceless. I'm envisioning a t-shirt, which I'd wear on my occasional trips to the hippy food store.Grant Cunninghamhttp://www.grantcunningham.comnoreply@blogger.com