Kyle, I can relate totally to what you're saying having dealt with
stupidity, feigned or otherwise, when I was trying to eke out a living in
the solar energy design business (many years ago). So much for being a
"highly paid consultant" - a phrase usually thrown at me by overpaid,
overpensioned, overcoddled government types.
At the moment I'm just waiting for the moment when some company such as
Steorn or MPI or a company in the cold fusion business tries to
commercialize its technology and sell it to real people. Your
fuel-efficient Chevy will be nothing compared to the trumped-up legislation
that will suddenly appear at all government levels.
Call me a cynic, but in case nobody here has read about it, the EPA is now
attempting to shut down the use of diesel in the US due to some
technicality based on % nitrous oxides. They did that to the UK mini
around 1973 when there was a gas crisis, on the basis of % pollutants
exiting the exhaust. As far as I know there was no consideration given to
miles travelled per gallon or gas. Only % pollutants in the
exhaust. Someone correct me if I'm mistaken.
P.
At 08:00 PM 12/30/2006 -0500, you wrote:
<snip my post regarding home-built passive thermal collectors>
I didn't think it was that bad of an idea, or at least not bad enough to
warrant:
1. No on list response
2. A (very nasty) negative off-list response
On the gripping hand, if I were to post a reply to something
sociopolitical, then I would be guaranteed at least an on-list response
calling me an uneducated, imperialistic American.
Does anyone here REALLY want to do something about the energy crisis, or
do you just want to fuck around?
I'm not going to apologize for that either, I am tired of the cheap talk
and 'great promises' of bio-this-and-that and what have you. I make shit
for money, but I put a nice fraction of what I have left over into my own
research. So far I ended up with a fuel-efficient Chevy that the state
took away on a technicality, and not much else besides a lack of creature
comforts compared to others my age. I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but
getting past the "it might be something" point to the "this is the real
deal" point has eluded me, primarily for lack of income, and moreso, lack
of anyone to listen.
So...barely above poverty, putting almost all of my disposable (ha!)
income into research that maybe will do something (on in a billion),
buying the most energy efficient stuff I can find for heat and electricity
because (big surprise to Vortex, I bet) I do care what happens to our
civilization and our planet, trying to help the local biodiesel guys,
trying to help get awareness stirred up in the locals (some developers
too, at this point) about using passive solar collectors, and that they
can be cheap....if that isn't why I am supposed to be here, I don't know
what is.
And if it makes me an uneducated, stupid American, then please bury me
face down when I die, so the world can kiss my ass.
If that is considered a flame, I honestly don't care. I have no faith or
patience left.
--Kyle
