Department of Agriculture

[Hammerskjold]

I have the same concern about having China manufacture and invest energy into rubber novelty toys, to fill container ships to be sent all over the world.

Yeah. Because China just for the pure LULZ, just make these things.

Well ok this one maybe is pretty lulzy.



China is just the manufacturer. They won't manufacture much if there isn't any order from oh I dunno, a customer? Who is one of their biggest clients I wonder, can't be us right? I mean, it just can't be!1111

Seriously, China is not unreasonably called the world's factory. And the factory only makes what the client wants. (Set aside for a second some unscrupulous manufacturer etc.) And what most of the clients wants right now, are what I'd consider disposable level merchandise.

I'm concerned about heedless consumption, and whenever we take finite materials which within a decade or less will end up in a landfill, or wash up as trash on a beach.

While I agree in general, your next sentence is what confuzzles me.

Rather than jobs that waste energy and materials, I'd rather they were employed to dig a hole one day, then fill it in the next. It would be less harmful to our planet and save the resources. I'm sure we can think of something better to do.

So solar\wind projects, are in the same category as literally dig this hole, then fill it type of job to you? Really. What about the cost of burnt oil in manufacturing\smelting the handle and the steel for all those shovels though?

It's a part of the problem of the whole hand outs to corporate special interests crap.

Yes, but what prompted my reply aside from having a bit of fun is why the selective outrage.

And if you think solar\wind are 'special interest' crap, IMO you're probably only half right. As in in the big picture, it's still somewhat specialized interest at best. But energy independence as a national security issue, will sooner or later come to the front burner. If a large scale water war doesn't break out first. (I personally include fusion as part of 'alt energy source tech', then again I try to be less 'either or, my way is the only and right way' kinda guy.)

I'm not much of a betting man, but even I can be sure of one thing. The buffet made possible by cheap oil will end, and the bill for that buffet we're all having will be coming.

Another thing. You seem to be shouting, at least to me, 'go big or go home'. Well that's not how it always works. Some things can work in smaller scale, but in more numerous quantities, and in a more de-centralized fashion.

I dunno about you, but having some decentralized energy infrastructure seems like a more secure thing to me, vs having a terrorist drive a truck bomb into one centralized place.

By the same logic, it would be best for the economy if we burned everything down. That way, we'd employ more people to rebuild it. Waste is waste. If you turn something into nothing, you've actually lost, not gained. If you walk in a big enough circle, it just look like progress.

Puhlezze. This is the same level of argument as '
-We need to reduce overpopulation.
- Are you advocating killing babies?!!11'

Are you advocating human hamster wheels? It might actually be productive if you put generators on them.

Yes, yes I am. And mandatory too, as in forced at the sharp and pointy end of a giant flying squid mecha a la matrix. /rolleyes.gif

On a more benign approach though more pansy and less muscularly centralized, I'd put the generators on equipments on those fancy membership gyms.

If that works, even if it only supplements and not 100% directly powers the gym, I'd sell the home version equipment. I'd make it as easy and popular as buying a mini digital satellite dish or a portable basketball net that seems to be a common fixture in my neigbourhood.

I will not falsely advertise that it will power all your household needs, but it can with smarter energy management at least cut down on your power bill. And get you into better shape too!

I'll get Salma Hayek or a look alike to be the sexy spokesmodel for my products. I'll name it something catchy too, like the John-Galternator or something.

We are in a a debt hole, with a failing world economy because we've borrowed more money than we can repay (and mostly built a huge military that didn't attack much).

Must resist.....so much thread rant can be generated from the above sentence.

If only I have a device that can capture the energy from the endless arguments and debates that above sentence can generate. I'd be a gajillionaire and making turducken in my speedo, in my mansion that is running both the heater AND air conditioning on. At the same. Time. Because that's how I'd be rollin' when I'm that rich.

TL,DR Version:

You know dude, I'm somewhat having fun at teasing some of your more interesting, ideas. But in all seriousness, while there are parts that I actually agree with. (Hey and I'm sure you're a swell guy on a personal level.)

Seriously consider that sometimes, scale matters, and going big is not always the most apt. Solar\wind tech-projects does not necessarily have to be at Hoover dam level to have a meaningful and positive impact.

---

Presumably, that "nature" is despoiled by the addition of an iPod. Nudity would probably also be an improvement.

-Jester

Nudity is always an improvement.
Why, I'm typing this in the b.....asement

What, did you think I was going to say I type in the buff\nude? Well you're all wrong. I have the radio on.