Politics/New Truck/Fuel Price Discussion

GWC Community Off-Topic/Other
#81

Some of my earliest memories are sitting in a long line of cars for what seemed to be hours, waving at other kids who were stuck in the same predicament. Unfortunately, we didn’t learn anything from that; in fact, the rise of minivans and SUVs came not long afterwards.

The biggest problem is that no one cares until it hits their little place on earth. If we started using the tech we had in the 1980s we would be better off today.

It’s a very “feast or famine” mentality: innovation only occurs when it’s needed, and it’s only needed when it hurts. The fact that the “shortages” of the '70s were artificial no doubt plays into that as well, as does the rise of radical Islam throughout the Middle East (and the consequent, though far less noticed, rise of radical Christianity throughout the West, particularly in the US).

Wow, Prettyhair did I do OK on the large multiquotes?

Well done! Now your posts can annoy Pike as much as mine. :smiley:

None of which are sustainable, especially on a large scale. And even if they were, they can only meet the smallest fraction of the demand in this country, much less the rest of the world. And again, they divert agriculture towards fuel instead of food. People may want energy, but they need food.

The Govener of Florida suggested taking the ban off of drilling closer to the coast to help lower fuel costs. He forgot to tell everyone that it will take more than 10 years to even start drilling and that the companies do not even use all the area they have.

Isn’t that the point of politics? Offering the public a solution for a problem that they don’t really understand, whether or not the solution or even the problem actually exists?

Realistically, that’s not going to happen until it basically runs out. There are few sources of chemical energy that are as (relatively) easily accessible as petroleum, and fewer still that give quite the “bang for the buck” in energy density. In short, oil is just too useful not to utilize as long as there’s any of it left. Think of it like bread: if you’ve got a pantry fully stocked with ingredients, are you more likely to bake a loaf from scratch or just grab a slice from the loaf that already sitting on the shelf? Sure, fresh baked bread is so much better than the preservative-laden stuff from the store, but it’s also more time-consuming and labor-intensive. Why bother as long as there’s ready-made bread within easy reach?

#82

LOL Boxy, you’re a debater. I should have known.

Lincoln Douglas or Policy?

#83

Pike does not like multi quote posts. Cool :rolleyes:

They have developed fuel from algae. The nice thing about that in Florida is we can use swamp land to grow it. I will have to do more research to tell you more. Most fuel takes more energy to make it than energy we get from it.

#84

Armando, you wound my soul. I first tuned in at 14-15 and it has shaped my entire life. In a good way. Following politics = being an informed participant in society, even if you’re too young to vote.

There are already wars over resources like water (see Africa). Or look back to classic colonialism- wars about natural resources. And if food counts in this column, I’d start worrying about the riots in Asia and Africa.

Boxy, I’m going to have to double check this, but I think that one of the Economist’s podcasts in the past 2 weeks said that the candidates were being ridiculous for making an issue of speculation because its effect was not so important. Yes, I just found the print version of the editorial here.

On energy in general: there’s no solution except innovation and we ALL have to suck it up and suffer some (a few of us will suffer lots) while we change and adapt and invent. I have faith in the long term but it is going to be very unfun in the meantime.

I was L-D and I loved it. And it helped me in college. And in real life. Wow. Could I be a bigger dork?

#85

You mean the ones that are somehow curiously devoid of anything in German? :stuck_out_tongue:

Trust me, he wouldn’t be the first. :eek:

I’d heard about this several years ago but never saw any updates thereafter. Apparently the excess algae was a good source of protein as well.

hmmm, that sounds vaguely familiar…

Most fuel takes more energy to make it than energy we get from it.

Of course. Otherwise we’d all be members of the United Federation of Planets. :smiley:

Noted for future reference.

Amen. And it’s only going to unfunner in the meantime. Doubleplusungood. :rolleyes:

#86

Say GR - would it make you feel better if I told you that I drive a scooter when it’s not winter? It gets 55-60mpg! We actually have 2 - one for me, 1 for hubby. We don’t drive things with 4 wheels much in good weather…

#87

Oh, is it a Vespa? I saw those a lot in Italy and they’re really cute and there’s a certain Mediterranean lifestyle that’s always associated with scooters and Vespas in particular.

#88

Armando, you wound my soul. I first tuned in at 14-15 and it has shaped my entire life. In a good way. Following politics = being an informed participant in society, even if you’re too young to vote.

Well that’s me: Armando, Wounder of Souls. BWAHAHAHAHA!

Seriously, I do think it’s absolutely essential for people to get tuned in and be informed about their government. That is precisely the biggest problem with our system here in the U.S. At the same time, I am really grateful that my father wouldn’t let us put up any political bumper stickers or the like because, well, little kids (I was about six when this happened) should be able to enjoy life without thinking about politics. Maybe it’s that I’m now a father myself, but part of me wants to protect young people from the cynicism that being aware of politics has brought me.

#89

Honda Metropolitan, actually!

#90

I went to city hall to help the political process work. One of the reserved spots had a scooter. I am not sure but I think one of our commissioners drove it. :slight_smile:

#91

My scooter is technically a motorcyle - 125cc’s. I need that to haul my fat (sorry barb) up and down the hills here in town. Had to get a motorcycle license to drive it. Did you know that the drivers license folks get a huge kick out of giving the motorcycle driving test to someone riding a scooter? :slight_smile:

#92

It all started with I got a new truck is is cool or what. I thought it just was a long multirant. :smiley:

#93

As Eddie Izzard would say: “Ciao!” :slight_smile:

And another supervillain is born. :stuck_out_tongue:

Seriously, I do think it’s absolutely essential for people to get tuned in and be informed about their government. That is precisely the biggest problem with our system here in the U.S. At the same time, I am really grateful that my father wouldn’t let us put up any political bumper stickers or the like because, well, little kids (I was about six when this happened) should be able to enjoy life without thinking about politics. Maybe it’s that I’m now a father myself, but part of me wants to protect young people from the cynicism that being aware of politics has brought me.

Just being aware in general is enough to be cynical these days…

Are you sure about that?

Maybe it runs on guano. :smiley:

#94

That could be a good alternative fuel. The bats also eat bugs so it would be doubly good since we would not need chemicals to kill the extra bugs. Write the President and suggest it!

#95

maybe he should apply to the Evil League of Evil–they’re taking submissions :smiley:

#96

The topic or rant all started with someone showing off his new truck. We then went to how to help save the world. So join in with ideas for alternative fuels or what you drive. If we do not save the world we can always feel better with a good rant. Who knows what will come out of this major thread drift.

#97

But I can’t sing worth a damn. At least not enough to do it in public by myself.

#98

And wear a cape and cowl in public. You up to that?

You ever heard of a German rock band called the “Guano Apes”? :eek:

#99

[QUOTE=GalaxyRanger;65106]And wear a cape and cowl in public. You up to that?

If I could get better fuel I would consider it. I just do not know what my principal would say. :smiley:

#100

I don’t own any vehicle. I walk and take buses. I occasionally lean on friends for a ride.

I’m lucky to live in a place that has inadequate but functional public transportation (there are entire parts of the city that are inaccessible…), so even though it takes longer and can be a pain in the behind, it’s still there. What we need to do is to improve public transport, be it through buses, subways, light-rail, whatever within cities. I also think that improving non-air transport between urban centers would also help cut down on car usage and hence, oil demand (and the pollution, though it depends what we replace them with…). I try to take the train places rather than fly if I can, though selling the tracks to the freight companies was a stupid idea, there is no way for the trains to be as reliable as the consumer expects if you have to let every other freight train go first.

That said, there will always be areas where public transport doesn’t reach, and there will be people who need certain types of vehicles for their work, I’m not negating that.

In terms of fuels, I’m not up on the current research, but I know ethanol has been a bit problematic for the US, at least. I know in Brazil Lula is really proud of having made the country energy-efficient (and they did something to most engines so they run on multiple fuels I think), though I’m not sure how sustainable that particular situation is.