Ruminations – 27oct21

George Rebane

Record storm total at Casa Rebane measured out at 12.1 inches.  According to The Union this is a regional record for western Nevada County.  We were amazed that the power stayed on while the rain fell almost horizontally.  Home fires were kept burning; we’re blessed with acreage that supplies an ‘infinite’ amount of firewood.

Liberal Minds on Display #1.  Union reader Terry Boyles wants cuts in military spending to help pay for the Democrats’ Debacle of the Trillions.  He argues (here) cuts are justified due to our military’s poor performance, and points out “the fact that our armed forces have achieved little in the way of real national security recently, after a string of failed foreign excursions.”  You think that our political leadership might have had just a tad to do with those failures?

Liberal Minds on Display #2.  “Banning two-stroke engines over time is not a bad thing” opines Phil Carville in a 26oct21 Union ‘Other Voices’.  He cites the air pollution caused by two-strokers as the prime reason for going all electric.  What he and other liberals advocating such a future sooner than later is where does all this reliable electricity come from, and at what cost to both wallet, environment, and economy.  None of these proponents cite the energy losses required to convert one form of energy to another, and the multiple costs and pollution involved in such conversions. 

[Here are some electrical energy conversion scribbles for the curious.  The world’s average fossil fuels net conversion efficiency of 33%, and that is further degraded by transmission and distribution losses of about 9.2% (CA) before it gets to the outlet that charges your battery.  And before your e-mower cuts a blade of grass, its motor works at most with only 80% of the energy that was used to (slow) charge the battery, and at least a 10% further loss in battery storage.  When you put it all together, the energy efficiency of your battery-powered appliance comes down to a generous net of about 20% - I’ve left out some other losses like in your house wiring.  More here, here, and here.]

Liberal Minds on Display #3 – Union letter writer Ron Lowe frequently shares his thoughts with us.  In the 27oct21 Union he is (here) “convinced Republican Party leaders have adopted an authoritarian approach that demands ideological conformity to most any political or scientific posture.  There is no room for independent thinking or freedom of speech allowed.”  Really?!  Now this is exactly what our woke progressives have put in place in government, academe, and the country’s workplaces.  Anyone see the GOP having done any of this?  None of us want to live with the Ron Lowes, and would only want to talk to him about a peaceful separation.  But the Ron Lowes, for some reason, want us to stay.

Comments

[Gregory]

Ron Lowe is pushing 90. Nice tie-dyes.

[scenes]

"Ron Lowe is pushing 90. Nice tie-dyes."

I think more like pushing 80, not very robust.

A quick google of the name and place shows an absolutely astounding number of letters to the editor all over the country. Good Lord. If he was more mobile I strongly suspect he'd be at every public meeting yelling about Precious Bodily Fluids.

[Randy]

You have acreage?.. You must be a racist!

[Bill Tozer]

The real problem with the Biden economy is the evil Republicans and Independents have noticed how lousy it is.

‘Politico: The real issue in this lousy economy is all the Republican pouncing to come, you know’

https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2021/10/29/politico-the-real-issue-in-this-lousy-economy-is-all-the-republican-pouncing-to-come-you-know-n425703

[Gregory]

Liberal Minds on Display #4, or George's OV in The Union today;

George, you put the mindset of The Union as "medieval"... A medieval bent?

Unfortunately, no. Their bent seems entirely Critical Theory/postmodernist to me at the moment... and that's worse. Postmodern, postratioal.