Really Good Quotes

Greetings, Quotaholics:

I’m baaaaack!

Well, only for today. Mike told me he wouldn’t mind a night off once in a while if I had something I thought worthwhile, so I took him up on it. He’s probably trying to stay warm in the middle of an ice storm! Good luck with that.

You all know of my energy patent, and I’m sure you can imagine that I read a whole lot about related topics. I just ran across a site called http://www.windenergy-the-truth.com, and it literally astounded me. I’ve been saying that wind will never be a practical source of power for a long time, but this site lays out all the arguments against the use of wind power in one place, and the impact is simply devastating. I highly recommend that you read every page there, because it is that important, but I’ll try to summarize 15 or 20 pages in a few paragraphs, showing the major arguments and a brief explanation of them. You should be warned that this is likely to be longer than usual. You might want to wait for a convenient moment to continue.

The energy source

The authors start by showing the mathematical formula for wind energy, which contains the term v³ (velocity³). Because of it, the amount of energy available from the wind goes up much faster than the simple numbers show. If you have a 10 mph/kph breeze and you double its velocity to 20 mph/kph, you have increased the energy output by a factor of 8 (2³). Double again to 40 and you have 64x the amount of energy that you had with 10.

That means that for a modest change in wind velocity there’s a huge change in output. The electricity generated is literally all over the map, as you can see below.

This is a graph of the output of one 600 KW generator on the Dutch North Sea coast. The peaks and valleys are extreme. Note the large white space between 4,000 and 5,000 hours, and again between 5,000 and 6,000 hors. Those are essentially windless days. Then you have radical fluctuations every other day it seems between 7,000 hours and the end of the chart.

If you think about your own electricity usage, it’s probably pretty stable, about the same amount used today as yesterday, and expecting the same tomorrow. So how is it possible to create a stable supply from an unstable source? It’s obvious. You can’t.

There is certainly someone out there who’ll say that all I showed was one generator, and because there are thousands of them they balance out…and the ultimate supply is more stable. Here’s another graph which shows the collective output of 7,000 turbines across Germany, from the North Sea coast to Switzerland and Austria.

All 7,000 wind turbines together do the same thing. Since the demand is relatively constant, there has to be back-up generation which is constantly forced to change, up and down rapidly to compensate for the fickle nature of wind. That causes great strains on the equipment, affects its reliability, and forces the conventional plants to run at a speed that is less energy efficient, resulting in more greenhouse gases.

The production factor

Wind generators are sold with their capacity stamped on the nameplate. The greater the generating capacity, the more expensive it is, of course.

The site shows that it is rare for the average yearly output of a wind generator to be above 30% onshore, with the highest rating at 38% for an offshore farm.

So on average across the entire world, 19.6% of the nameplate capacity is actually produced. We’re paying for five times that capacity, and that is very expensive.

Energy Yields

The authors calculated the Dutch consumption to be about 13,000 MW (megawatts). They figured that in order to generate just 1% of total Dutch usage by wind would require 175 enormous turbines 100 m (300 ft) off the ground, with a propeller circle of about 75m (225 feet) across.

Since overall Dutch electricity consumption is increasing at a rate of about 1% a year, to provide enough wind generation to provide for only the increase would require placing 1,733 wind turbines on land every year! You can see how impractical this is becoming.

The major risks of wind energy for our electricity supply

Perhaps the greatest risk from wind energy has already been touched on. The wildly varying output of the wind forces “conventional” generators to try to vary in response to maintain a stable supply, but these are huge, behemoth generators, and they can not be ramped up or down that fast. If demand exceeds supply, even momentarily, a blackout results. If power levels are changed too rapidly, severe damage to the turbines and generators will occur. Introducing wind generation into our power grid makes the system far less stable, and far more prone to massive blackouts.

They can be dangerous

Here’s a YouTube video of a windmill coming apart at the seams. Judge for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3FZtmlHwcA&eurl

Offshore wind farms

Holland has 96 offshore wind turbines either operational or under construction. Take a look at the location, and imagine servicing them.

Prudence would dictate that at least three service visits per year would be done, so those 96 would require 288 visits annually. Imagine the use of specialty barges, cranes, and maybe helicopters in servicing. That’s expensive and it burns greenhouse gases too.

And take a look at the size of a 1.5 MW generator.

There is a lot more, and a lot more detail, but the story told is clear. Wind generation does more harm than good, and it’s just not practical. And what’s worse, the public is being fleeced by the “promise of wind power”. It’s really that simple. Taxpayers all over the world are forking over untold billions of (insert your own currency here) for something that is never going to be a solution to our needs.

The following is a short quote from the site, which shows how governments just don’t seem to care whether it works or not as long as people think it’s going to work.

They respond with letters (Economic Affairs) like, "We have received and filed your letter", or as the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM) wrote to me when I asked what was wrong with my objections: "We will no longer answer your letters. The government has reached a decision." And that is written by civil servants who have been described as being "knowledgeable on the issue," when it is clear that they have no clue on the matter.

I urge all of you to bookmark the source article, and send it to legislators or others when wind projects are under consideration. Demand answers to the issues posed. Throwing buckets of money into a bad solution will only make matters worse.

I wanted you all to be aware of a side of wind power that’s never spoken about, and I assure you that writing this has nothing to do with my own patent. We’re all taxpayers, and none of us wants our money wasted.  The point is that if I don’t tell you about the site, who will?

I should give you all a brief update as well. I’m still moving forward, albeit slowly. It’s much more difficult to get the press coverage and interest than I ever thought possible, but I do have nearly 30,000 views of my animation on MetaCafe. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2191497/marshall_hydrothermal_recovery_system/ I have received inquiries from all over the world, and I’m just dealing with them one at a time. I have people working independently for me in Europe and Singapore, and even though nothing has happened yet, it seems just a matter of time.

It’s great to be back writing to you guys again. I have missed you, by the way!

Windlessly,

Isn’t it worth $1 a month to you to keep RGQ going?  Please click the link and direct your contribution to reallygoodquotes@gmail.com.

"Those who want the Government to regulate matters of the mind and spirit are like men who are so afraid of being murdered that they commit suicide to avoid assassination." - Harry S Truman

"Every two years the American politics industry fills the airwaves with the most virulent, scurrilous, wall-to-wall character assassination of nearly every political practitioner in the country - and then declares itself puzzled that America has lost trust in its politicians." - Charles Krauthammer

E-Mail the Imp

I love beer! I haven’t had any in over twenty years but my mouth still waters when I think back on the sweet taste of the foam. I remember the tingle in my throat as it goes down and how the taste of a burger or hot dog seemed to be improved just by a glass of beer being nearby ready to be savored.

I love chocolate! I haven’t had any in about twenty minutes but my mouth waters just thinking about it.

Imagine combining the two…beer and chocolate. A grown-up’s version of Reese’s Cups; “Oooh, you got beer on my chocolate!” “No, you got chocolate in my beer!”

Sapporo Brewery in Japan is coming out with a special run of chocolate beer and Rouge Ale of Oregon is currently producing Rouge Chocolate Stout. Apparently chocolate beer and chocolate ale has been around for a while. There’s a minimal amount of cocoa in the brew to subtly change the taste and to add a touch of color. But somehow it just doesn’t seem right to me to mix the two.

I can’t understand adding lime juice to beer or sprinkling salt into your longneck Bud. I knew a few guys who added salted peanuts to their Coors, but anything at all would probably make a Coors more palatable. If a beer starts off skunky adding peanuts can’t hurt.

I suppose I’m a purist when it comes to both beer and chocolate. As for the beer, it’s probably due to the German in me. After all, the oldest consumer protection law was issued in 1516 in Germany, the Reinheitsgebot. It’s still I effect and limits the ingredients of beer to water, hops, and barley. For nearly five centuries ain’t anybody complained there was no chocolate in their brew so why screw up a good thing?

Bacon Chocolate and Hot Pepper Chocolate are abominations. But chocolate beer, stout, and ale are perversions. I suppose that since the dam has burst, perverts will begin to sell beer brewed with lilacs so Bubba’s beer farts won’t offend, or fortified with Beano ingredients to prevent beer farts altogether. There could be brews marketed that are fortified with Psyllium to keep you “regular”, or Bisacodyl & Docusate to get you loose enough to become “regular”. The whole idea of adulterated brews makes my bowels loose.

To quote William Bendix as Chester Riley in “The Life of Riley”, “What a revoltin’ development this is!”

The Bad Sied

Speak right up!

Got a few good ones with that line.  Lots of make-ups too.

Next opening line…
Today I was down on my luck…

Hints:  Here’s a great new rhyming/composition tool.  http://www.writerhymes.com/
There’s also a great rhyming dictionary at http://www.rhymezone.com/
Limerick rules.  http://freespace.virgin.net/merrick.sheldon/limerickrules.htm 

Submit Opening Line
Submit Limerick

Re:  Shyness

Patti asked: Do you believe that we are genetically driven to be shy or outgoing? Have you had difficulties in your own life due to social interactions? Would you like to know how to overcome social inadequacies or does it help if you can blame your DNA?

How much does nature rule our lives? Can we use behavior modification to overcome what lies at the heart of who we are? Would you like to become more the "life of the party" kind of person or is that just the guy who eventually ends a drunken night wearing a lampshade on his head? Conversely, if you are the lampshade donner, would you like to be able to relax at a party and not need to be the center of attention?

Yes, I think genes are a strong influence, socially. Yes, I am severely limited by my social uncertainty. Knowing about the DNA helps me overcome the inadequacies, because it gives me a map, where I only saw a trackless wilderness or other barrier.

I have sometimes been the life of the party, but then suffered for days, wondering about the toes I might have stepped on. I’m most popular when I tell funny stories, but nobody takes the real me seriously. I’m usually so relaxed at parties I’m bored. Maybe I’m not very good at picking out words in a noisy room, but I give up when I have to guess at an appropriate response three times. If I can’t enjoy the music either, I leave. - Bob of the North



Re:  Care Credit

I work for a hearing aid dispenser who offers CareCredit to clients for the purchase of hearing aids. I haven’t had much experience, but the clients who do use it seem happy. Just a note, starting February 1st the interest rate goes up to 13.9%. (Of course, now that I’m home I’m doubting that number, but I’m almost postitive.)

One of the good things about the program is that it works like a credit card, instead of just a one time financing deal. For instance, let’s say you get approved for a credit line of $500, and only use $200 of that on a 12 month no interest plan. You can use the $300 left at another practitioner at any of the other plans they offer. Or, pay off the $200 and use the full five hundred at another doctor. Basically, your credit is yours to do with as you will, at any office that accepts the card. - Rebecca in Arizona



Alrighty there MR. Tim, now I do not expect every one to love cats, or dogs, or any other animal, and you were a great person for paying that vet bill for your daughter, and her kitty. However I do want very much to try and explain the importance of pets in people’s lives. Lazy cats or what ever they might be. Animals provide a very wondrous unconditional love to their humans. They do not care if we’re fat or thin. They do not care if we are rich or poor, and they do not care if we’re educated or not.

They love us for exactly who and what we are, and all they expect from us is love in return and the proper food, water, and clean place to live. Now, as far as your daughter is concerned. Have you ever considered that in the future that unless it is a matter of life or death, that you might just try saying a little teeny word that only has two letters in it? (NO!)

Just a suggestion but I remember the day my daughter called and told me she was going to lose her car if she did not come up with a payment for a loan that she took against it, and although I did have the money and could’ve easily made that payment for her and her husband, I did not. I told her that they needed to try every thing possible to make it, and make it they did. Her husband had to sell a guitar that meant a lot to him, and I hated it for them, and I do not remember if they got it back or not, but it did teach them a lesson. They do very well most of the time now, and only ask when necessary and only when all else has failed for them.
PS. I still love you, and your tails though. - Tazz



Tim, you asked : So why am I telling you all of this? Well, there’s two reasons. First, I had never heard of CareCredit, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them.

Uh, yeah, I’ve heard of them. And dealt with them. And I’m telling you, as a friend, make sure you read ALL the fine print. I charged over 800 bucks worth of dental work to them, because my periodontist’s office persuaded me that there would be no interest for 12 months, blah, blah, blah, and like the fool I can be when in pain and loaded up on many drugs, I believed them. Well, they didn’t read the paperwork correctly, and because of the condition I was in, neither did I, and instead of 12 months, I really had only THREE. I ended up transferring the balance to my Visa card, which happened to be having a "special" with very low interest on the transfer for the life of the transfer, and so, I was able to pay it off pretty quickly.

My point is, read the fine print. Ten times, if you have to. I agree, in a pinch, CareCredit can come in handy, but make absolutely sure you are using an up-to-date application (which, apparently, my periodontist’s office had neglected to do). Applying on-line would probably eliminate that problem.

Good luck with your "Drama Queen", and truly, I hope her kitty and the kittens are all OK. I have two cats, and I know how easily one can become totally attached to them.

And Tim, I have a friend like you - he loves cats, he just can’t eat a whole one in one sitting. Perhaps you and he should get together sometime. - OhioKat, who is currently buried up to her eyeballs in snow



Re:  Limerick Line

Wow! you missed the point there by a long shot. I encouraged you to have your say, and to speak your opinion. I never said you had a problem with Obama I said you did not seem to understand him, because I believe that if he knew of RGQ he’d write a few Limericks of his own. I think that any one has the right to believe what they want and if they can keep their words clear they can express that opinion. I also think that if you do not like something then why read it?

No one is going to like every thing all of the time, and if they did what a boring world this would most assuredly be. So either stay or go makes no difference to me, and my point there is that whether you’re a subscriber to RGQ or not it will go on. So Either learn to ignore the Lemricks, or write some of your own. As far as our freedom of Speech is concerned, we earned that and we’ll keep it thanks very much! As far as Americans being the only ones in this world who are bigots, humff! I think you’d best reread some history! - Tazz



Isn’t technology wonderful? And what a busy bee you are, Mike! Here I am, two or three thousand miles from you, typing away long after my bedtime, I go to bed and five hours later I get up and find RGQ in my mailbox with not only my message but your reply in it. Hot stuff!

Anyhow, of course I don’t believe in retrospective censorship. What was acceptable in 1907 isn’t necessarily acceptable today (I find it hard to believe that a British newspaper reprinted it recently, which is what you seem to be saying). In one of the greatest American novels, ‘Huckleberry Finn’, written by a champion of Black emancipation, the word ‘nigger’ is used as a matter of course. Nobody, as far as I know, has tried to censor ‘Huckleberry Finn’, but I don’t think you’d use that same word in RGQ today.

I would agree that political correctness can be taken too far, but by using the word ‘queer’ you do make life just a little bit nastier for some of the people who read it, who are already suffering under the institutionalized hurt called ‘oppression’. And it shouldn’t be their responsibility to draw attention to the hurtfulness: that’s what allies are for.

Just about all of us are or have been members of some minority or oppressed group. Half of us are women, all of us were once children, and even men have been oppressed by stereotypes of what maleness is supposed to be. If all groups were allies to all other groups there wouldn’t be any oppression any more.

A nice example that things can be that way is the story told in the current RGQ about the naming of the Rosa Parks Memorial Highway - a reminder that there are good reasons to love the United States of America.

Oh, and about your suggested alternative line for the limerick, why not? Virtually none of the limericks you print scan anyway! - Best wishes, Julian.
[Julian, I grew up in a completely different time and place than you. I remember the segregated lunch counters in the south. Blacks weren’t allowed in movie theaters. My grandmother, who would have never hurt a fly, referred to black people as “niggers” simply because she had never heard them referred to by any other name.

And now a mixed race President. We have come such a long way in just my lifetime.

It’s funny you should mention Huckleberry Finn. The first time I remember having a strong sense of empathy for blacks was when my friends and I went to see Huckleberry Finn at the movies. We were hurt and angry at how badly Jim was treated and we saw him as someone who we would want to be friends with. I think the story is still a powerful way to show how people of every race can love and help each other.

I’m afraid you’re wrong though when you say nobody would want to ban it just because of the “N” word. A Google search finds example after example of attempts. Many schools, parents, and teachers, overlook the message of the book and are only blinded by a word.

By the way, I had a great idea. Since you don’t like my limerick lines, why don’t you submit some opening lines for me to use? I certainly need the help!]



Re:  Reader Submission

Re: Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles… OH… HELL YES!!! Thank you thank you thank you Noella! - GrammieSammie



Miss Noella, THANK YOU!!!!! What an awesome video! It’s a blast to watch Ron Wood pretty much give up about halfway thru the first number.

You made my morning. Snowed in as it is (I’m not kidding, we have about a half foot, and at this moment, it is pretty much raining snow. Craziness. Where’s your global warming NOW, Al? LOL). - OhioKat

Questions? Comments? Want to contribute a joke or a quote or an image? Feel free to e-mail at reallygoodquotes@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you! We’ll even publish your comments, if they make any sense!

If you’d like to receive RGQ by email, please send a blank e-mail to reallygoodquotes-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

We can’t imagine why you’d want to, but if you choose to unsubscribe, please send a blank e-mail to reallygoodquotes-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com. Should you choose to unsubscribe, please e-mail us and tell us why. We listen to what people say, even if they’re leaving us.