Inventors: Solar Dish Could Revolutionize Energy Production
Just read this article on a new solar collector technology that is simple, inexpensive and efficient. American ingenuity is at work trying to find new, better ways of dealing with our energy needs.
Come on Washington, get out of the way and let the American people do what they do best, meet problems with innovative answers. We have some 300 million people in this nation and if turned loose, they can accomplish far more than 535 representatives in Washington who are so stricken with themselves they think only they have the answers.
Our leaders seemed to have forgotton that power corrupts, and truly, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Rarely attributed, the latter phrase is a quotation from Lord Acton, in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton, 1887.
That quote succinctly describes the political leadership in America 120 years later. And we the people will pay dearly for their corruption if we fail to take serious interest in and responsibility for our nation and return America to a Republic formed "for the people and by the people."
"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The charge of the light...uh...er...police!
CFLs, Compact Florescent Lights. One of the latest technologies in lighting is making a strong showing as the technology matures. I have a few around my home. In some ways I like them. Long life, low cost to use.
Though they are much more expensive, the 3-way I bought was about $9.75 compared to $2.85 for a comparable incandescent 3-way, the longer life and lower cost to operate make them a good buy in the long run.
Of course there are downsides. Due to their size, especially the base, not all lamp receptacles will accept them. I have one 3-way floor lamp that won't. To use a 3-way CFL in that location I'll have to buy a different lamp. But hey, it's good for the economy, isn't it?
They are also considered hazardous waste by the EPA and require special methods for cleanup and disposal, especially if broken. What about the long term "unintended" consequences. We Americans are good about that. Rush out to the latest, greatest, best thing, only to find out months or years later there's something terribly wrong with it.
But wait, these things are made in China, only China. Let's send more trade deficit to the nation that in 2007 brought us lead paint in children's toys, industrial chemical poison in pet foods, antifreeze in toothpaste and more.
OK, all that aside, now comes along Congress and they want to tell us we "MUST" stop buying incandescent bulbs and switch everything over to CFLs. Looks like the CFL manufacturers lobby made some campaign contributions.
I'm all for conservative use of energy. After all, I AM a conservative. But what I don't want is Congress telling me what I WILL do, especially in the privacy of my own home.
Liberals rail against those who have strong convictions on abortion and homosexuality. Their primary argument is no one should tell anyone what they should do in the privacy of their homes or even bedrooms.
But now this Liberal congress wants to invade the privacy of my home and mandate I use a technology that they dictate. Doesn't this smack of hypocrisy?
Just for the record, I don't want government telling me I have to wear a seat belt either. Should I wear one? Yes. Do I wear one? Of course. Do I wear it because the law requires it? Absolutely not!
I wear a seat belt because it's stupid not to. Years of tests and studies have proven seat belts save lives. Two weeks ago I came upon a rollover accident moments after it happened where both occupants were thrown 10's, perhaps 100's of feet because they had no seat belts.
In the same way, CFL's have benefits. But one thing they don't have the benefit of is years of research. Do we really know how they will perform and what dangers they may impose years down the road?
So to Congress, get out of my personal life, quit telling me what I should buy to light up my life. CFL's are OK and have many uses, but it's not up to Congress to tell me to use them.
But, wait a second. I have a thought on how we can use them and maybe clean up Congress at the same time. Rep. Poe mentioned something that may help. Lets all grab a few CFL's and toss them into Congress! According to the EPA, they will have to evacuate!
If we throw enough of 'em, maybe the cleanup will take so long they'll be out of session for several years and "we the people" will be able to take our country back from the career politicians and we can do something positive for this nation.
How 'bout it!
"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson
Though they are much more expensive, the 3-way I bought was about $9.75 compared to $2.85 for a comparable incandescent 3-way, the longer life and lower cost to operate make them a good buy in the long run.
Of course there are downsides. Due to their size, especially the base, not all lamp receptacles will accept them. I have one 3-way floor lamp that won't. To use a 3-way CFL in that location I'll have to buy a different lamp. But hey, it's good for the economy, isn't it?
They are also considered hazardous waste by the EPA and require special methods for cleanup and disposal, especially if broken. What about the long term "unintended" consequences. We Americans are good about that. Rush out to the latest, greatest, best thing, only to find out months or years later there's something terribly wrong with it.
But wait, these things are made in China, only China. Let's send more trade deficit to the nation that in 2007 brought us lead paint in children's toys, industrial chemical poison in pet foods, antifreeze in toothpaste and more.
OK, all that aside, now comes along Congress and they want to tell us we "MUST" stop buying incandescent bulbs and switch everything over to CFLs. Looks like the CFL manufacturers lobby made some campaign contributions.
I'm all for conservative use of energy. After all, I AM a conservative. But what I don't want is Congress telling me what I WILL do, especially in the privacy of my own home.
Liberals rail against those who have strong convictions on abortion and homosexuality. Their primary argument is no one should tell anyone what they should do in the privacy of their homes or even bedrooms.
But now this Liberal congress wants to invade the privacy of my home and mandate I use a technology that they dictate. Doesn't this smack of hypocrisy?
Just for the record, I don't want government telling me I have to wear a seat belt either. Should I wear one? Yes. Do I wear one? Of course. Do I wear it because the law requires it? Absolutely not!
I wear a seat belt because it's stupid not to. Years of tests and studies have proven seat belts save lives. Two weeks ago I came upon a rollover accident moments after it happened where both occupants were thrown 10's, perhaps 100's of feet because they had no seat belts.
In the same way, CFL's have benefits. But one thing they don't have the benefit of is years of research. Do we really know how they will perform and what dangers they may impose years down the road?
So to Congress, get out of my personal life, quit telling me what I should buy to light up my life. CFL's are OK and have many uses, but it's not up to Congress to tell me to use them.
But, wait a second. I have a thought on how we can use them and maybe clean up Congress at the same time. Rep. Poe mentioned something that may help. Lets all grab a few CFL's and toss them into Congress! According to the EPA, they will have to evacuate!
If we throw enough of 'em, maybe the cleanup will take so long they'll be out of session for several years and "we the people" will be able to take our country back from the career politicians and we can do something positive for this nation.
How 'bout it!
"We are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and
we owe each other a terrible loyalty." - G. K. Chesterson
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