Obama Presidency

Dean wrote: IVNORD wrote: By 60%! We'd rather die! The $100 is my guesstimate. It depends on the size of one's house, of course.  For a 2,000-2,500 sq ft. house it may be an accurate number and there are lots of houses of this size.    The consumption will go down because of the recession, but in good times it's a feast, people just don't care. So having energy efficient appliances is imperative.   You may jest but unfortunately that's probably how many people will react in reality. When 25% of the world's electricity is used by 4% of the world's population then a few percent saving is going to have a global effect - people have to be taught to care.   At an average cost of 9¢/KWh and an average annual consumption of 11,000KWh it's $80/month - but that's an average - with prices varying so dramatically across the country the variance is large, if you live in a state where the charges are 11¢/KWh...   Appliance efficiency on its own is not enough (a microwave oven is already 64% efficient and that's a pretty good number), but once the low-energy mind-set is established it won't be the efficiency of the appliance that makes the difference, but the efficiency of how you use it.

I couldn't fathom how I could possibly lower my consumption by half.  Hell, 5 days a week for most of the day no one is even inside the house:  there's only two things drawing a significant amount of power - the refrigerator and the heat (set lower before we leave the house).

Over the transom and most likely apocryphal, said to be from a Nashville teacher:

I can understand where you're coming from, Atkingani, and I don't really want to debate this either, but I will say this. I disagree with almost everything that Obama has done so far in his presidency, and I do wish him the best, but at the same time, I don't want someone spoon-feeding me that ice cream, and least of all my government. I would prefer to work for it myself, rather than see my tax dollars be thrown into something (such as this stimulus plan) that is bound to fail and simply sink us deeper into debt.

Also, I understand it is insulting to most citizens in my country. I'm not trying to insult other Americans, but I honestly don't believe that some half of them truly understand what this stimulus plan will entail. That and they'd prefer to just be handed "free things" by the government. If you wish to disagree with me, that's fine, you have your own opinion, but accuse me of (possibly) being too blunt, since I'm not trying to insult anyone.

Speaking as part of the people of allegedly voted for ice cream, i'd have to say you really don't have a clue do you Mr. Bird, sir?  I didn't freaking vote for Obama because of any ice cream he was promising, I voted for Obama because I was sick and tired of the crap that the Republicans were doing to this country.  Obama would do best to not reach out the hand of bi-partisanship that repeatedly gets bitten and rather tell the right wing nuts to go to hell and be as socialstic or communistic or whatever, that he is being accused of.

Republicans is fine,
If you're a multi-millionaire
Democrats is fair,
If all you own is what you wear
Neither of 'em's really right,
'cause neithor of 'em care
'bout that hot-plate heaven,
'cause they ain't been there...



If only the Democrats had some cajones.

Enjoy your right wing laced kool aid.

Edited by Slartibartfast - February 07 2009 at 17:42

Tony R wrote: Obama's been in place 1 month and already you are writing him off. Reminds me of when I've got the kids in the back of the car on a long journey and they're shouting "are we there yet?" every 5 minutes.

Now are we talking a drive within the UK or are you guys cruising around Europe?  Over here you can drive until you're blue in the head.


Edited by Slartibartfast - February 07 2009 at 17:59

Atkingani wrote: In April, our government will start a program to replace all refrigerators built before 2002 in order to increase safety and save energy. They believe the number may reach 10,000,000 units.   These apparatus are owned primarily by poor families that bought them secondhand in many cases and consequently they'll get the money for the replacement with low interests. The aim to save energy will have the side effect of keeping manufacturers and dealers busy during these tempestuous days, saving many jobs too.

Here's the scary thing to think about.  What do we do with all the old stuff?  Is it recyclable?  In our country, what do we do with all the fuel inefficient vehicles that are already owned and those that are new sitting out on lots?

Oh wait, Birdwithteeth is buying.   Sorry, that was mean.

Slartibartfast wrote: Speaking as part of the people of allegedly voted for ice cream, i'd have to say you really don't have a clue do you Mr. Bird, sir?  I didn't freaking vote for Obama because of any ice cream he was promising, I voted for Obama because I was sick and tired of the crap that the Republicans were doing to this country.  Obama would do best to not reach out the hand of bi-partisanship that repeatedly gets bitten and rather tell the right wing nuts to go to hell and be as socialstic or communistic or whatever, that he is being accused of. Republicans is fine, If you're a multi-millionaire Democrats is fair, If all you own is what you wear Neither of 'em's really right, 'cause neithor of 'em care 'bout that hot-plate heaven, 'cause they ain't been there... If only the Democrats had some cajones. Enjoy your right wing laced kool aid.

Slartibartfast wrote: Atkingani wrote: Slartibartfast wrote: Atkingani wrote: In April, our government will start a program to replace all refrigerators built before 2002 in order to increase safety and save energy. They believe the number may reach 10,000,000 units.   These apparatus are owned primarily by poor families that bought them secondhand in many cases and consequently they'll get the money for the replacement with low interests. The aim to save energy will have the side effect of keeping manufacturers and dealers busy during these tempestuous days, saving many jobs too. Here's the scary thing to think about.  What do we do with all the old stuff?  Is it recyclable?  In our country, what do we do with all the fuel inefficient vehicles that are already owned and those that are new sitting out on lots?   I think that parts made of non-ferrous metal (aluminium, copper, tin) can be easily recycled and the demand is good for these recycled stuff.   Steel and plastics are a problem since the price of "new" material is cheaper than the "old" stuff hence the demand is weak unless the amount be so great that the price for recycled steel and plastics decrease significantly.   Anyway, it's another problem to be dealt with...   Ultimately we all have two options, take cheap pot shots at the problems or all get together and do something about them...

Edited by p0mt3 - February 07 2009 at 18:19

p0mt3 wrote:   I like the Kool-Aid comment. Reminds me of something Bill O'Reilly would say.   Not sure if you're an O'Reilly fan or not, but it still put me in mind of him.

If you haven't figured out that I am some kind of left wing nut job yet, you really need to go back and read some of my old posts.

Edited by Slartibartfast - February 07 2009 at 18:21

p0mt3 wrote:     I try to tell my Conservative friends this all the time. The era of bitching about our problems has to stop. If we doen't embrace our new leader, we really won't have a chance in hell of dodging another depression, but if we all decide to put our pregidouses aside and actually work WITH him . . . well, we will certainly have a better shot than if we did nothing.

And some more to you, sir!

As you may know, I moved to the US about three months ago to marry a well-known forum member, and as such I'm quite interested by what is happening around me. When a country is in the straits the US currently are, tearing each other apart is the worst thing that can happen. On other forums I've seen posts by people who would rather see the country founder for good rather than give their new President a chance. I've already seen it happen in Italy, and I'd really like not see it happen here, since I have chosen to spend the second half of my life.