Great post. The reason the unrealistic, pollyannish dreams of energy "freedom" from the uninformed environmentalists exist is because they can't do math. And they are also apparently unable to understand important concepts like orders of magnitude, physics and what is practically possible. For these people, emotions and good feelings rule, and they too often find a willing, unquestioning and non-critical audience/blowhorn in the form of the mainstream media.
But of course, "environmentalism" has become big business and a career/political choice for many, and many make a good living from it. So it's in their interest to make noise, get in the news and spout ignorantly off at every opportunity.
Homer Simpson-esque stereotypes of the dangers of nuclear power aside, Three Mile Island was a non-event. Remember, this was during the Cold War, where anti-nuke sentiment was at a high point (I'll leave the motivations of the protesters as an exercise to you, dear reader) and nuke power was unfairly associated with nuclear weapons. Chernobyl is often quoted - please look up the details of the events leading up to that disaster and its construction before you cite it as "evidence".
I really don't know, but noone ever talks about this in the climate change models. Just like water vapor gets overlooked so often.
Computer models are pretty much useless because the expenditure needed to create them virtually guarantees that whatever (GIGO) results they output will be validated by those whose jobs are on the line for setting them up in the first place.
I work in process plant design (a non-trivial field, and no, I'm not the genius that figures everything out), and there are many cases where the 3D CAD or simulations need to be tossed because they just don't make sense to people experienced in the field. Remember that the "discipline" of climate change is a very young one, politically-charged and tries to box-in and define something that has so many variables that it's almost pointless to try to predict or control.
One of the reasons we need to do this is so that we can save our fossil fuels for when they are absolutely necessary.
There's lots of readily-accessible oil in North America; getting it from other sources was the better strategic option for the reason I highlighted above. This was decided a long time ago and the Moon landing was faked.
people like you fail to see that Republican and Democrat politicians are the same
I'm lucky (still working) - I, and many others, have accepted wage cuts due to these bad economic times. How many politicians, appointees or government employees are being asked to make a similar concession? The peoples' "servants" (as in "civil servant") so rarely seem to be affected by economic downturns, I wonder why that is and if there's a better career in becoming one of them rather than being a productive member of society.
Oh, and one other thing I hate: Don't lie to me. Don't tell me you've got strong experience in something when all you've done is stand near someone who used the technology.
Exactly, and bang-on about the communication thing. I'm just a piping designer, though, and nothing pisses me off more than having to babysit a poseur who can't admit s/he doesn't know something. To learn you have to know your own limitations and ignorance. I have a lot of both but I'm not afraid to admit my shortcomings.
As someone who *doesn't* interview or hire and is also not a "computer guy", I can detect enthusiasm and that je ne sais quoi element that defines some people that are really into tech stuff and willing to learn (as opposed to those who just want a job). We older farts *can* be of some use other than a source of protein. Best of luck!
Cool! I actually share an office with a Chinese fellow, and his accent is horrible (getting better). This doesn't stop us from communicating though - laughter really works when breaking down artificial boundaries of language and culture. That's why I have the fake nail-through-the-finger bandage, flying monkey, Monty Python Killer Rabbit and other toys near my desk.
Getting people to laugh is a wonderful way to initiate communication. A culture that doesn't appreciate* humour is a dying culture.
(the fourth french armed force, after infantery Armée de Terre, navy = Marine Nationale, air force = Armée de l'Air).
Looks like you forgot "la force de frappe", which apparently has something to do with foamy coffee and making people drink it. I think it's some kind of French nationalist defence against Starbucks and initiation ritual for newcomers moving to Paris.
My only reference is restarting (bootstrapping) an air separation plant, so you may well be right. I was thinking about re-torquing needed due to component shrinkage, but if everything's kept at or near the low temperature the cooldown time of 2 hours might not be too long. I'm only partially familiar with cryo cooldown procedures (and not how NASA does it) from the perspective of a cold box designer and sometimes customer installation designer for LH2 facilities.
...re-installing the ground support hydrogen line on external tank requires a 30 hour waiting period before applying the final torque to allow the seals to compress...a typical factor when working with torque specs on plastic components.
Maybe it has something to do with cooldown times for components exposed to liquid hydrogen at -423 F.
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This problem is often misunderstood by many
Great post. The reason the unrealistic, pollyannish dreams of energy "freedom" from the uninformed environmentalists exist is because they can't do math. And they are also apparently unable to understand important concepts like orders of magnitude, physics and what is practically possible. For these people, emotions and good feelings rule, and they too often find a willing, unquestioning and non-critical audience/blowhorn in the form of the mainstream media.
But of course, "environmentalism" has become big business and a career/political choice for many, and many make a good living from it. So it's in their interest to make noise, get in the news and spout ignorantly off at every opportunity.
OK, so maybe we could use perpetually spinning cats (or falling peanut-buttered bread - both sides) for energy generation.
Homer Simpson-esque stereotypes of the dangers of nuclear power aside, Three Mile Island was a non-event. Remember, this was during the Cold War, where anti-nuke sentiment was at a high point (I'll leave the motivations of the protesters as an exercise to you, dear reader) and nuke power was unfairly associated with nuclear weapons. Chernobyl is often quoted - please look up the details of the events leading up to that disaster and its construction before you cite it as "evidence".
A terrorist could totally cripple the US right now by targeting pipelines.
Highly doubtful.
I really don't know, but noone ever talks about this in the climate change models. Just like water vapor gets overlooked so often.
Computer models are pretty much useless because the expenditure needed to create them virtually guarantees that whatever (GIGO) results they output will be validated by those whose jobs are on the line for setting them up in the first place.
I work in process plant design (a non-trivial field, and no, I'm not the genius that figures everything out), and there are many cases where the 3D CAD or simulations need to be tossed because they just don't make sense to people experienced in the field. Remember that the "discipline" of climate change is a very young one, politically-charged and tries to box-in and define something that has so many variables that it's almost pointless to try to predict or control.
One of the reasons we need to do this is so that we can save our fossil fuels for when they are absolutely necessary.
There's lots of readily-accessible oil in North America; getting it from other sources was the better strategic option for the reason I highlighted above. This was decided a long time ago and the Moon landing was faked.
people like you fail to see that Republican and Democrat politicians are the same
I'm lucky (still working) - I, and many others, have accepted wage cuts due to these bad economic times. How many politicians, appointees or government employees are being asked to make a similar concession? The peoples' "servants" (as in "civil servant") so rarely seem to be affected by economic downturns, I wonder why that is and if there's a better career in becoming one of them rather than being a productive member of society.
That's why I use a Mac and have an Ubuntu Live CD (just in case)!
There are likely things that Obama will be able to get away with that GWB couldn't.
But what if the laws were written using the Hungarian Phrasebook?
She just wants a computer with a 17" screen.
A 17" MacBook (in fact, any 17" screened portable) is a pain to use in planes/trains and carry around.
And if it doesn't, Blame Canada!
I'm one of that generation - global warming doesn't scare me!
Like with the BlackBerry Storm? I'm disappointed with the feedback delay, should have gotten the Bold.
Wonderful advice!
Oh, and one other thing I hate: Don't lie to me. Don't tell me you've got strong experience in something when all you've done is stand near someone who used the technology.
Exactly, and bang-on about the communication thing. I'm just a piping designer, though, and nothing pisses me off more than having to babysit a poseur who can't admit s/he doesn't know something. To learn you have to know your own limitations and ignorance. I have a lot of both but I'm not afraid to admit my shortcomings.
As someone who *doesn't* interview or hire and is also not a "computer guy", I can detect enthusiasm and that je ne sais quoi element that defines some people that are really into tech stuff and willing to learn (as opposed to those who just want a job). We older farts *can* be of some use other than a source of protein. Best of luck!
Cool! I actually share an office with a Chinese fellow, and his accent is horrible (getting better). This doesn't stop us from communicating though - laughter really works when breaking down artificial boundaries of language and culture. That's why I have the fake nail-through-the-finger bandage, flying monkey, Monty Python Killer Rabbit and other toys near my desk.
Getting people to laugh is a wonderful way to initiate communication. A culture that doesn't appreciate* humour is a dying culture.
*Not humour at someone else's expense.
Is this offensive to Chinese?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8WLIVCrRuY
(Monty Python's 'I Like Chinese')
Maybe I'm racist and don't know it, I thought Balls of Fury was funny.
I read bits of that link and wondered if the writer is a parent.
(the fourth french armed force, after infantery Armée de Terre, navy = Marine Nationale, air force = Armée de l'Air).
Looks like you forgot "la force de frappe", which apparently has something to do with foamy coffee and making people drink it. I think it's some kind of French nationalist defence against Starbucks and initiation ritual for newcomers moving to Paris.
Informative. Too bad moderation doesn't go to +6.
Not sure about your "selfish" description though. Perhaps better words would be "controlling", "insecure", "lacking confidence", "manipulator".
In fact, my meeting notes, have WAY more random scribbles and weird drawings than actual notes.
Me too. Problem is, I'm a draftsman!
My only reference is restarting (bootstrapping) an air separation plant, so you may well be right. I was thinking about re-torquing needed due to component shrinkage, but if everything's kept at or near the low temperature the cooldown time of 2 hours might not be too long. I'm only partially familiar with cryo cooldown procedures (and not how NASA does it) from the perspective of a cold box designer and sometimes customer installation designer for LH2 facilities.
...re-installing the ground support hydrogen line on external tank requires a 30 hour waiting period before applying the final torque to allow the seals to compress...a typical factor when working with torque specs on plastic components.
Maybe it has something to do with cooldown times for components exposed to liquid hydrogen at -423 F.