how in the heck are we supposed to live these days

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
I actually searched and searched for old time radio shows several years ago for our homeschool. They were very hard to find but we did download War of the Worlds and listened to it. My kids were glued to the computer (no - not quite the same but still!) We had a lot of fun doing that.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Just an interesting side note here. My mom and sister live in Juneau, Alaska. They have nice clean hydropower, which usually runs about 11 cents/kwh. An avalanche took out a bunch of the towers between the hydro plant and town and the current price is about 60 cents/kwh. This was a virtually overnight change in power price. My sister works for the State of Alaska, where they have unscrewed every other light bulb in her building, and the lights go out at night, the malls are closing early, many stores have limited hours. Everyone is forced to conserve. My mom has electrical heat, and the last time I talked to her it was 45 F.
This will continue until at least July because they can't fix the lines until all slide danger is over. There are no roads between Juneau and the hydro plant, and the power lines are halfway up mountains and run about 20-25 miles from the end of the road. For anyone who doesn't know, roads in Alaska typically have a sign that says "Road Ends 500 Feet" and at the end of that 500 feet is a small turn around area and a bunch of trees.

Think about the changes you would have to make in your life if the power price increased nearly 600%. I'm not sure how we would survive here in Texas; but we would make serious changes in the way we live.

So far gas prices have risen about 25-35%, think about what we all would do if it increased 100%. Changes would come from individuals, but also from governments, businesses and farms.

 

[rufus]

It seems like everyone has an idea on this problem. Here is mine: We are addicted to the internal combustion engine.

There are alternatives. My father used to have a steam powered car that ran on kerosene, coal oil, alcohol, and just about every other burnable liquid. Actually, he usually ran it on drip gasoline that he stole from the drip joints in the oil field.

However, ethanol is the fuel that will get us out of this fix. It can be distilled from all sorts of plant materials. The bagasse left over from the sugar industry powers Brazil.

It can be burned straight on steam powered cars. The only draw back with steam was that it took two to five minutes to raise a head of steam.

However, with the technology used in hybrid cars, the vehicle could start moving with electric power, and then switch to steam.

I hear that lie that it takes too much water to produce ethanol. That is just what it is, a lie.

Our country produces millions of tonnes of grain that is given free of charge to certain third world nations that in turn sell it on their market. This gives those governments cash to run their governments. It is called the "Food for Peace Plan."

This has been happening since 1954. I think it is time for this to end. We need to take care of ourselves first. I am not much interested in feeding countries like Egypt, Jordan, Lybia, Syria, Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan. They need to raise less opium poppies and more wheat. It is time for them to take care of themselves.

As their stomachs rub their backbones, maybe they will hate us a little less. Frankly, I could care less what they think of us.

We need to produce ethanol like crazy. Burn it mixed in internal combustion engines and straight in steam engines.

Does Saudi Arabia give away petroleum to needy nations? Nooo!

Rufus

 

[PAJerry]

We are definitely in for a fundamental change in our lifestyle. I believe that the dirtiest word in our country right now is 'conservation'. With this we could probably roll back the price of gas and a lot of other prices.

There is a lot we can do to help ourselves, as many people here have pointed out. I have had a hybrid Prius since 2003, when gas was $1.25 per gallon. It has been trouble free and is now one of my most appreciated possessions. It may be the last car I own. We have a good sized garden, with plantings of corn, edamame, asparagus, squash, etc. that we freeze or can. We have blueberry bushes that produce enough for ourselves and my parents and daughter and her family. The wood burning insert has been in for 2 years and our gas bills were about $100 per month during the coldest part of the winter, only because we have a small space heater in the basement for the cats. The new flock of chickens is coming along just fine, and will hopefully produce enough eggs for us, my elderly parents, and a few to sell.

To many, it seems like a lot of work to do all these things. It is actually the best type of work in the world. I work as a supervisor in a heavy manufacturing industry and my 'farm' is my therapy to be able to deal with it all. I tell my grown children that I relate a lot to Grandpa Joad in the 'Grapes of Wrath' in that we are both tied to our land, body and soul. The greatest wealth in this world is a good family and productive land.

In these difficult times, it is very important to cultivate a strong sense of gratitude for the things we have and are able to do for ourselves. Look for ways to help yourself and your neighbors. We'll all get through it.

 

[Oblio13]

Quote:
No he didn't.. this guy did.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6yRn4IAsrU

And anybody can build a browns gas generator to supplement their fuel use potentially improving gas mileage by 10+%

A guy with a high school education has invented an engine that never needs maintenance, never wears out, and runs on water? I'm gonna need more evidence than a You-tube video before I believe that the laws of physics can be broken.

 

[jdypat]

If your really want something to think about and to add to the worry... i suggest you ck out zietgiest.com i think that is spelled right.. i accidently came across it and it kept me in front of this computer too long.
im afraid these are the good old days.. for real. what is to come scares me to death. im glad that my days are coming to an end.. truly..truly but i fear what my little boys have to face and theirs if there is a tomorrow.
yikes...
the movie i mentioned is not about religion as it begins and seems to be about.. it takes some getting over that to see the facts and figures and pure truth on our lawmakers and our "rulers".
be scared be very scared.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Quote:
I actually searched and searched for old time radio shows several years ago for our homeschool. They were very hard to find but we did download War of the Worlds and listened to it. My kids were glued to the computer (no - not quite the same but still!) We had a lot of fun doing that.

Tune into the BBC World Service Radio Station... they still have radio plays/dramas etc.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Have a look at this group and some of their ideas (and variations on it) >a DIY system involving combination of fish "farming" and acquaponic vegetable growing without all the hightch and expensive fertilizers etc. :
BARRELPONICS:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/barrelponics/

 

[Cetawin]

Well with Exxon and Mobile (the big boys) showing clear profits, after expenses, salaries and EVERYTHING, of 6.8 and 7.2 billion dollars for the last quarter, there is no need for gas to be so expensive.

We need to start raising the roof with our government officials on a local and state level.

If everyone would buy gas only supplied from the other companies and leave Exxon and Mobile hanging for a week...they would have a COW and drop prices...if they drop prices ... so do the others.

Stop sending OUR oil out of the country, use the available oil fields that are not being used and STOP buying arabian oil. Sheesh.

It is a sick time...gas prices increasing means the cost of good and food is going up because of transportation costs rising and it is an evil domino affect. I mean it is time for major change. At what point are the people of this country going to have enough and do something as a UNIT?

I am not going anywhere unless I have to...no more driving 30 miles to a gym to keep myself healthy because if I do that everyday I would not be able to eat or dress my daughter. This whole situation and economy is biting it...bigtime.

I do know one thing...unless the people of this country start conserving the resources we have and stand together against these big boys of business, we will forever be at their whim.

Could you imagine waht it would do to the gas companies if NO ONE aside from government officials and public transportation purchased fuel for one week?

 

[Crunchie]

Quote:
I'm a huge supporter of finding alternative energy sources. On the surface, ethanol appears to be a dream solution. However, ethanol is a horrible, horrible idea. It is already causing problems. Even if we "produced ethanol like crazy", actually, if we turned every last ear of corn produced in this country (for grain, food, what have you), it would still only produce 12% of our fuel needs. 12%. That's not completely insignificant, but it's not going to do us a whole lot of good, either. And then what of all that grain going for fuel? What is going to happen to our already rising food costs?? Ethanol is a slippery slope into even more trouble then we're in now.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2006-07-10-ethanol-study_x.htm

Solar, wind, etc., those are the only truly renewable and clean sources of power. You don't have to grow wind, and no one can take it from you.