Yeah, well, maybe the argument doesn't hold up so well against Firefly...
OTOH, the Serenity was a cargo ship, not a man o' war. I don't know what the crews of modern cargo ships wear, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's jumpsuits (in the spirit of the overalls of yore), possibly color-coded.
The thing, though, is that ST:TOS was pretty topical for it's era, with metaphors to the Cold War, Civil (black & women's) Rights, all wrapped up in US optimism that was a carry-over from WW2.
Likewise, ST:TNG echoed the wretched sensitivity of the 80s & 90s, and ST:ENT did the terrorism thing.
Why couldn't a new ST deal with the over-arching themes of the 2010s?
ISTM for that to happen you'd need a national electric utility, where cheaper generation costs in some areas (where there's hydro) would balance out areas where generation is more expensive.
200 W * 10 hours a day = 2 kWh per day. In a year, it'll produce perhaps 600 kWh (assuming 300 days of sun). Most panels are guaranteed for 20 years, so that's roughly 12000 kWh over the lifetime of the panel. 12000 kWh > 4000 kWh, no?
AC's formulae are correct, but his numeric values suck. Solar cell wattage output starts declining after a few years, and German cities only receive approx much less than the 3,000 sun-hours/year his calculations assume. 1650 sun-hours is a much more accurate estimate.
That immediately drops the theoretical max output way down to 6,600 kWh.
If PV efficiency drops from 100% when installed to 80% in 20 years, then for easy of calculations let's call it 90% efficiency. That drops the cell's total output to 5,940 kWh.
More than needed to manufacture, but is it enough to be economical?
Caffeine pills are the most efficient way to get your morning hit.
Late last year during the company group insurance renewal period, we were all virtually mandated to get basic blood work (sugar, cholesterol, etc) done.
Because otherwise technology turns into magic, and people then can't even *begin* to make educated choices on the large and small issues that sci-tech presents to the world.
How many bright people drive cars without even knowing the simplest things about combustion engines and drivetrains? Are they all morons?
(I'm not the one who called them morons, and I don't think all of them are of sub-average intelligence.)
None, I hope. Everyone who drives should have basic knowledge of how cars work, how to check and add fluids and that there are things called drain plugs for various oils and fluids -- even if in modern vehicles they're almost impossible to get to.
Only if the cost of the fuel cell pack + installation, and the on-going cost of propane (not natural gas??) is cheaper over 3-4 years than the cost of electricity.
In places where power goes out during storms, it might be fruitful to get one anyway.
Slashdot Mirror
Yeah, well, maybe the argument doesn't hold up so well against Firefly...
OTOH, the Serenity was a cargo ship, not a man o' war. I don't know what the crews of modern cargo ships wear, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's jumpsuits (in the spirit of the overalls of yore), possibly color-coded.
Yes. A literal panopticon.
Having each character wear their own outfit would allow for a visual "shorthand" for that character's history and personality.
Thus permitting the writers to expend less energy on the conversations which exposed the history & personality of ST:TOS characters.
I guess that's good if you have a short attention span.
To Americans, a British accent makes anything more sophisticated (otherwise there wouldn't be so many posh British voices in US commercials).
it's the execution that was so.
Well, competent writing is usually a sine qua non of a good series...
So why the uniforms? Why not just "casual"?
Esprit de Corps.
The thing, though, is that ST:TOS was pretty topical for it's era, with metaphors to the Cold War, Civil (black & women's) Rights, all wrapped up in US optimism that was a carry-over from WW2.
Likewise, ST:TNG echoed the wretched sensitivity of the 80s & 90s, and ST:ENT did the terrorism thing.
Why couldn't a new ST deal with the over-arching themes of the 2010s?
Not only that, but rogues, renegades, edginess and fast pace just screams, "We don't know how to write interesting conversations!"
ISTM for that to happen you'd need a national electric utility, where cheaper generation costs in some areas (where there's hydro) would balance out areas where generation is more expensive.
But the electricity would have to be transmitted literally across the country. That doesn't seem too efficient.
What process? Being on a "moral" UN panel just gives diplomatic cover against accusations of bad behavior.
200 W * 10 hours a day = 2 kWh per day. In a year, it'll produce perhaps 600 kWh (assuming 300 days of sun). Most panels are guaranteed for 20 years, so that's roughly 12000 kWh over the lifetime of the panel. 12000 kWh > 4000 kWh, no?
AC's formulae are correct, but his numeric values suck. Solar cell wattage output starts declining after a few years, and German cities only receive approx much less than the 3,000 sun-hours/year his calculations assume. 1650 sun-hours is a much more accurate estimate.
That immediately drops the theoretical max output way down to 6,600 kWh.
If PV efficiency drops from 100% when installed to 80% in 20 years, then for easy of calculations let's call it 90% efficiency. That drops the cell's total output to 5,940 kWh.
More than needed to manufacture, but is it enough to be economical?
Caffeine pills are the most efficient way to get your morning hit.
Late last year during the company group insurance renewal period, we were all virtually mandated to get basic blood work (sugar, cholesterol, etc) done.
Extreme thirst is a symptom of Type II diabetes. (I'm a heck of a lot less thirsty now than 9 months ago, and I drank mostly diet soft drinks, too.)
There are people who apparently think Flamebait means "what Arabs and Egyptians have been regularly saying for 65 years".
why should they?
Because otherwise technology turns into magic, and people then can't even *begin* to make educated choices on the large and small issues that sci-tech presents to the world.
Bwahahahahahahaha. The UN lost it's moral authority decades ago, when it became nothing more than a organ to bash Israel and the US.
Why don't you store the address in the bookmark toolbar?
How many bright people drive cars without even knowing the simplest things about combustion engines and drivetrains? Are they all morons?
(I'm not the one who called them morons, and I don't think all of them are of sub-average intelligence.)
None, I hope. Everyone who drives should have basic knowledge of how cars work, how to check and add fluids and that there are things called drain plugs for various oils and fluids -- even if in modern vehicles they're almost impossible to get to.
Firefox's search engine drop-down selector.
URLs of the things that are important to me are mostly really long and complicated. The folders in the FF Bookmark Toolbar make life easy, though.
I was stunned at the volume (3 liters is a lot), not the spelling. (Easy misunderstanding.)
In all seriousness, you should get yourself checked for diabetes.
Check the dictionary ;-)
For what?
Only if the cost of the fuel cell pack + installation, and the on-going cost of propane (not natural gas??) is cheaper over 3-4 years than the cost of electricity.
In places where power goes out during storms, it might be fruitful to get one anyway.
Unless that path is surfing, living with your parents and getting Food Stamps.