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User: TheMiddleRoad

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  1. Re:Local Energy and Efficiency are the Future on Hoover Dams For Lilliput: Does Small Hydroelectric Power Have a Future? · · Score: 1

    Actually, I think we're heading out of the recession at a good pace right now.

    When we put $500 of blown-in insulation into the attic of our old, uninsulated house, it made a DRAMATIC difference to quality of life in there. We also added an efficient heater/AC at the same time, but hardly needed it because the house was so much nicer with attic insulation. It was far more than a bandage. Windows are usually overestimated regarding efficiency - you're right.

    Efficiency will make a huge difference. It's a huge part of oil doesn't cost $200 a barrel. The real changes will come when energy prices rise, which they will inevitably do. Then we'll curse how we didn't invest earlier.

  2. Re:Local Energy and Efficiency are the Future on Hoover Dams For Lilliput: Does Small Hydroelectric Power Have a Future? · · Score: 1

    20k is an excessive number for insulation. The payoff can often come in less than 10 years if a house's power bills are high enough. A 5-6KW solar system would make sense for us. Since water heating is such a big part of our energy bill, a solar system or heat exchanger would also make a big difference on the bill, something like 100 a month.

    I wouldn't call 20k spare change, but I could do it, yes.

  3. Re:Local Energy and Efficiency are the Future on Hoover Dams For Lilliput: Does Small Hydroelectric Power Have a Future? · · Score: 1

    I suppose you could get into those situations. That's why these solutions are engineered. My understanding is that a geothermal system should last about 20 years. The ground loop should last 50 or more. If it's laid out right and run year round, you don't get heat buildup in the ground. 1KW would be very little cooling for such a system. That would be downright insane. The purpose of geothermal is to make heat pumps more efficient. It's hard to shed heat when the outside temp is 90 degrees, unless you're shedding it into 60 degree soil.

  4. Local Energy and Efficiency are the Future on Hoover Dams For Lilliput: Does Small Hydroelectric Power Have a Future? · · Score: 0

    We're surrounded by energy sources. When it's 30 outside my house, it's still 60 underground. When it's 90 out, it's still 60 under. With a heat pump, I can harness that energy differential. I've got sunlight for only a few hours a day, but it can make a bit dent in my usage through water heating and electricity. I could even use an electric pump running on excess solar to store water up on my hillside during the day then let it come down during the night for hydro power. Add in an efficient fridge, more insulation, and better heat sealing, and I'll reduce my outside power usage to a small fraction of its current level. Multiply that by a hundred million households and we'll really be getting somewhere.

  5. Re:Watch professional racers on You're Driving All Wrong, Says NHTSA · · Score: 1

    Wow. Never heard or thought of that. I wonder how many pounds of pressure it takes. I'm betting it's more out of fear of the pedal than actual strength. A typical 100lb person can easily put out more than 50 lbs of pressure on one leg.

  6. Re:News... on What's Not To Like About New iPad? · · Score: 0

    How hard is it to gain Karma, really? What is the value of it anyway, really? I have three mod 5 comments today, all out of a desire to not do my taxes. Just post early with a bit of critical thinking. Sure, sometimes I get modded down, but rarely. By the time I make my stupid comments, the modders have moved on to new articles. I haven't left Excellent Karma in years.

    And if the modders want to mark me down for this comment, I don't think it matters.

    Despite myriad flaws and abundant stupidity, Slashdot is one of the more thoughtful forums on teh internets.

    And to think, I started visiting in 1998. Shit. If I joined back then, I'd have totally awesome /. creds!

  7. Re:Wrong - Slam the ABS Brakes on You're Driving All Wrong, Says NHTSA · · Score: 1

    Yeah, I wonder how the GT-R does on a bumpy road, though. Probably not nearly as well. My guess is that it's the same with Porsche. There was a Top Gear episode where they did launch control on an icy track. They just sat there.

  8. Re:An admirable goal... on You're Driving All Wrong, Says NHTSA · · Score: 1

    There are people that drive faster than me???

  9. Re:News... on What's Not To Like About New iPad? · · Score: 1

    Or no Apple product! :)

  10. Re:Watch professional racers on You're Driving All Wrong, Says NHTSA · · Score: 1

    Yes, cars turn in quicker with weight over the front tires. You can also flick the car away from the intended direction before turning in. This transfers the weight to give better turn in.

  11. Re:Wrong - Slam the ABS Brakes on You're Driving All Wrong, Says NHTSA · · Score: 1

    Do you mean traction control or stability control? Traction control is crappy. It cuts power to keep the wheels from spinning. When I need to pull out fast, I turn it off. As for stability control, most systems are dialed way back for safety. However, the performance stability control systems are amazing, especially on AWD cars like the GT-R. Unlike most cars, it can selectively pass out the power to all four corners, computer-controlled of course. That's how they can beat a Porsche. Then there's launch control, which is an extreme version of traction control. That usually gets better launches than any human can, especially in the Porsches.

  12. Re:Wrong - Slam the ABS Brakes on You're Driving All Wrong, Says NHTSA · · Score: 2

    Well, yeah, you were driving a Dodge! :) OK, so crap cars have crap ABS. I have a BMW. My apologies.

  13. Wrong - Slam the ABS Brakes on You're Driving All Wrong, Says NHTSA · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Modern ABS responds fantastically fast. All you feel is a pulsing brake pedal as the car quickly stops without skidding. My car is 5 years old. On the way home, I often engage ABS for fun, especially when about to pull into my driveway. Weeee!

    Slam on the brakes and steer. That's what ABS are for. They almost always lead to shorter stopping distances than cars without ABS, and you can avoid the deer on the road.

    Some cars now have a system that senses a panic stop and fully depresses the brake pedal to get the quickest stop. Drivers were not getting the most out of their brakes, leading to accidents.

  14. The New Adventurers on James Cameron Begins His Deep-Sea Dive · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The rich men are at it again. Some are going into outer space. Some are going under the ocean. I can't wait for the earth explorers, digging down deep into the crust.

  15. Re:News... on What's Not To Like About New iPad? · · Score: 1

    Hmm... I don't like movies on anything hand held. I also don't carry a briefcase and I'd never carry a laptop and a tablet. That's just me, I guess.

  16. Watch professional racers on You're Driving All Wrong, Says NHTSA · · Score: 5, Informative

    They have their hands at 3 and 9 usually. That has the most control.

    Professional crashers (yes, they exist) put their hands up at the sides of their head.

    For the most control, you should sit close enough to the steering wheel that your shoulders remain against the seat. Sit upright, not leaning back. Make sure your legs are close enough that you can easily flatten the brake pedal to the floor.

    Shorter-armed drivers should be careful, though. Sitting too close to an airbag is bad. 10 inches to the sternum is the minimum safe distance. Most of us drive easily farther away than that.

  17. Re:News... on What's Not To Like About New iPad? · · Score: 1

    Totally agree. Cory is a bit of a douche. I'm not sure what it has to do with the original post, though.

    Am I the only one who has a tablet that he doesn't use? My nook color gets touched once a month at most.

  18. Re:Get informed here on Iran Deleted From the World's Banking Computers · · Score: 0

    I missed the fantasy concession that you keep bringing up. Where did you go to school? I'm still interested in when you're going to start quoting the Protocols of the Elders of Zion at me as proof of my evil and stupidity. I think if your Jewish friends knew you any better, you'd have no Jewish friends. Perhaps they're just acquaintances and your hateful ranting scares them into agreeing with you. Do you carry a gun?

  19. Get informed here on Iran Deleted From the World's Banking Computers · · Score: 1

    For those of you who might still be reading what sixtyeight has to say, I'll provide a link to some useful information so you can understand the hateful pill that he has swallowed. Don't take the candy, kids.

    http://cifwatch.com/2011/02/27/guardian-reader-pulls-out-anti-semitic-khazar-myth/

    "It is one of the great ironies of the 21st century that anti-Zionists and anti-Semites on both the Left and the Right, have returned to racialist arguments against Jews that most of us thought had died out after World War II."

    That's just a taste. I'm sure sixtyeight will froth like mad when he reads the link. Then again, he already was.

  20. Re:Thank you, my white power friend! on Iran Deleted From the World's Banking Computers · · Score: 1

    Rant. Rant. Rant. Rant. Hahahahaha.

  21. Thank you, my white power friend! on Iran Deleted From the World's Banking Computers · · Score: 1

    Now this I love. You're working the whole Khazar thing in. How much time do you spend on Storm Front? Own any Nazi paraphenalia? Burn crosses often? I'm glad your Jew-hatred has come out for all to see.

    Face it: Iran is an evil regime that has manipulated Palestinians into an endless war they will never win. Their blood is on Persian hands. I'm sure if you got the chance, there would be plenty of "Khazar" blood on your hands.

  22. Re:Epic Darwin Award on Baumgartner Completes 13.5-Mile Free-Fall Jump, Aims For Record · · Score: 1

    I hope you are right. It seems too easy then. From high enough, he will have enough velocity to get in trouble. From low enough, he will be fine, not hitting too much friction. Where's the line?

  23. Re:Epic Darwin Award on Baumgartner Completes 13.5-Mile Free-Fall Jump, Aims For Record · · Score: 1

    I wonder what the heat will be as the atmosphere slows him down from such a drop. I know he's not going at an orbital velocity or anything, but gravity alone will give him quite a lot to slough off. This just looks like a baaaaad idea.

  24. Epic Darwin Award on Baumgartner Completes 13.5-Mile Free-Fall Jump, Aims For Record · · Score: 1

    What are the odds he'll end up as a large smear on the ground?

  25. Re:The people will be the ones who suffer on Iran Deleted From the World's Banking Computers · · Score: 1

    Ah, I see you're a true Christian, or perhaps a Muslim. You are wishing suffering upon me, a Jew. Typical.

    How many lies did you have to believe to plant the seed of hatred in your heart? Not many, I expect. It appears that you believe what you want to.

    I wonder how long ago it was that you supported the Assad regime? My guess is that, if you don't still support them, you only stopped a year ago.