How is your carbon footprint? Here are a few things that might surprise you and are certainly counter to the hype.
Plastic bags are only about 1,000th of the carbon footprint of what is in the bags - 10g carbon dioxide equivalent.
Electric hand driers only use 20g CO2e.
Watching TV for an hour in front of a 42-inch plasma screen is about equal to a one-mile drive in a very efficient car - 220g CO2e.
Keeping your old car is better than buying a new one, because making a car creates about half the footprint of the fuel it burns. It takes a long time to recover the fifty percent CO2e cost of building the new car.
>From a woman's point of view - she can go shopping for an hour and take home 22 bags of goodies to equal one hour of her mate watching TV.
>From a man's point of view - he needs to drive his sleek new car fast and far to quickly make up for the carbon wasted in building it.
Jun 25, 2010
Jun 22, 2010
Red Light Photos
California's three-judge appellate panel unanimously found a total lack of evidence from Santa Ana, California red light camera program and are becoming increasingly upset at the conduct of cities and photo enforcement vendors.
The decision calls into question the legitimacy of the way red light camera trials are conducted and setting a precedent that applies to the county's three million residents and others around the country.
The attorney objected to the admission of the red light camera photographs because the city had failed to lay a proper foundation for the evidence and the photos contained hearsay evidence.
The court said the photographic records were created by a for-profit company, not a state or local government agency and the document that they created cannot be and is not an 'official record' under Evidence Code section 1280."
Bottom line - All charges were dismissed. This may go a long way to eliminating those pesky cameras atop the lights around the country. More proof that if you get a ticket, go fight it in person, the odds are in your favor.
The decision calls into question the legitimacy of the way red light camera trials are conducted and setting a precedent that applies to the county's three million residents and others around the country.
The attorney objected to the admission of the red light camera photographs because the city had failed to lay a proper foundation for the evidence and the photos contained hearsay evidence.
The court said the photographic records were created by a for-profit company, not a state or local government agency and the document that they created cannot be and is not an 'official record' under Evidence Code section 1280."
Bottom line - All charges were dismissed. This may go a long way to eliminating those pesky cameras atop the lights around the country. More proof that if you get a ticket, go fight it in person, the odds are in your favor.
Semaphore
Duane used his handy phone to come up with the answer to the question, what do you call it when those sailors talk to each other with flags. Below are the letters A and B
Semaphore telegraph, optical telegraph, shutter telegraph are all names used to describe the passing of information visually. The lights, with shutters that are open and shut in a specific sequence, are also called semaphore telegraph.
In 1792, France set up a network of 556 optical telegraph stations stretching almost 3,000 miles. It used large movable wooden boards and was used for military and national communications until the 1850s.
Semaphore is still used today at sea and is acceptable for emergency communication in daylight or using lighted wands instead of flags, at night.
'Telegraph Hill' in San Francisco is named after the semaphore telegraph which was established there in 1849 to signal the arrival of ships into San Francisco Bay.
Semaphore telegraph, optical telegraph, shutter telegraph are all names used to describe the passing of information visually. The lights, with shutters that are open and shut in a specific sequence, are also called semaphore telegraph.
In 1792, France set up a network of 556 optical telegraph stations stretching almost 3,000 miles. It used large movable wooden boards and was used for military and national communications until the 1850s.
Semaphore is still used today at sea and is acceptable for emergency communication in daylight or using lighted wands instead of flags, at night.
'Telegraph Hill' in San Francisco is named after the semaphore telegraph which was established there in 1849 to signal the arrival of ships into San Francisco Bay.
Man vs. Horse
Each year, for the past thirty years there is a race in Wales that pits men vs. horses. About 50 horses with riders compete against hundreds of runners for the $1,450 prize (£1,000).
The event began in June 1980 following a chat over a pint in the Neuadd Arms Hotel. The landlord overheard two men discussing the relative merits of men and horses. He decided it would improve business at his hotel and decided to put it to the test.
The 22 mile long race starts in the town center and is run over hilly farm tracks, footpaths, forestry roads, and open moorland on the edge of the Brecon Beacons in Wales.
This year's race was held June 12 and Sly Dai, ridden by Llinos Jones, completed the course in two hours and seven minutes. The nearest human came in 10 minutes later. Men have won the race two times. Can a man run faster than a horse? Of course, I can prove it. Ha.
The event began in June 1980 following a chat over a pint in the Neuadd Arms Hotel. The landlord overheard two men discussing the relative merits of men and horses. He decided it would improve business at his hotel and decided to put it to the test.
The 22 mile long race starts in the town center and is run over hilly farm tracks, footpaths, forestry roads, and open moorland on the edge of the Brecon Beacons in Wales.
This year's race was held June 12 and Sly Dai, ridden by Llinos Jones, completed the course in two hours and seven minutes. The nearest human came in 10 minutes later. Men have won the race two times. Can a man run faster than a horse? Of course, I can prove it. Ha.
In God We Trust
Although many people thought E pluribus unum was the motto, there was no official US national motto before 1956.
“In God We Trust” had been on coins since the 1800s, but it was not officially the motto of the United States of America until the congressional act designating it so in 1956. Coincidentally, it is also the official motto of Nicaragua.
“In God We Trust” had been on coins since the 1800s, but it was not officially the motto of the United States of America until the congressional act designating it so in 1956. Coincidentally, it is also the official motto of Nicaragua.
Water Heater Wrap
It is probably the most cost effective measure out of all the energy conservation measures and it has a one year or less payback. The cost is about $30 and savings varies from $30 to $50 per year, depending on the efficiency of your water heater.
Water heater wraps maintain the temperature of the water longer so the heating elements or gas do not have to come on as often, and the less the elements come on, the longer the heater lasts.
The average household actually only uses hot water a little bit more than a hour a day, so for more than 22 hours a day, the water heater just maintains the temperature of the water. The vast majority of the cost to operate a water heater is maintaining the temperature of the water when nobody is using hot water. Oh, and setting the limit to 120 degrees will save at least another $30.
Water heater wraps maintain the temperature of the water longer so the heating elements or gas do not have to come on as often, and the less the elements come on, the longer the heater lasts.
The average household actually only uses hot water a little bit more than a hour a day, so for more than 22 hours a day, the water heater just maintains the temperature of the water. The vast majority of the cost to operate a water heater is maintaining the temperature of the water when nobody is using hot water. Oh, and setting the limit to 120 degrees will save at least another $30.
Jun 18, 2010
Top Ten Greatest Inventions
According to a survey of 4,000 Brits.
1. Wheel
2. Airplane
3. Light bulb
4. Internet
5. PCs
6. Telephone
7. Penicillin
8. iPhone
9. Flushing toilet
10. Combustion engine
Interesting to note that the iPhone is before the flushing toilet.
11. Contraceptive pill 12. Washing machine 13. Central heating 14. Fridge 15. Pain killers 16. Steam engine 17. Freezer 18. Camera 19. Cars 20. Spectacles (glasses) 21. Mobile phones 22. Toilet paper 23. Hoover (vacuum cleaner) 24. Trains 25. Google
1. Wheel
2. Airplane
3. Light bulb
4. Internet
5. PCs
6. Telephone
7. Penicillin
8. iPhone
9. Flushing toilet
10. Combustion engine
Interesting to note that the iPhone is before the flushing toilet.
11. Contraceptive pill 12. Washing machine 13. Central heating 14. Fridge 15. Pain killers 16. Steam engine 17. Freezer 18. Camera 19. Cars 20. Spectacles (glasses) 21. Mobile phones 22. Toilet paper 23. Hoover (vacuum cleaner) 24. Trains 25. Google
Diet Coke With Bacon
The Coca-Cola company supposedly tested it’s latest extension to the brand, Diet Coke with Bacon in test markets across the world including the UK, China, Australia and Africa in 2007.
Alas, it seems to be untrue. However here are some real Diet Coke flavors:
* Diet Coke Cherry
* Diet Coke Black Cherry Vanilla
* Diet Coke Raspberry
* Diet Coke Lemon
* Diet Coke Lime
Alas, it seems to be untrue. However here are some real Diet Coke flavors:
* Diet Coke Cherry
* Diet Coke Black Cherry Vanilla
* Diet Coke Raspberry
* Diet Coke Lemon
* Diet Coke Lime
Oldest Photos
In 1839, Robert Cornelius, a Dutch chemist who immigrated to Philadelphia, took a daguerreotype portrait of himself outside of his family’s store and made history: he made the world’s first human photograph.
The oldest known color photograph was taken by Louis Ducos du Hauron in 1872. The photo is of a view of Angouleme in Southern France.
In the 1920s, a brass birdie was often used by photographers to grab the attention of children during a portrait session. A rubber hose and squeeze bulb were connected to the short length of open brass tubing. The brass base was filled with water. Squeezing the rubber bulb caused the bird to make a whistling and warbling sound. Watch the birdie. . .
The oldest known color photograph was taken by Louis Ducos du Hauron in 1872. The photo is of a view of Angouleme in Southern France.
In the 1920s, a brass birdie was often used by photographers to grab the attention of children during a portrait session. A rubber hose and squeeze bulb were connected to the short length of open brass tubing. The brass base was filled with water. Squeezing the rubber bulb caused the bird to make a whistling and warbling sound. Watch the birdie. . .
Five More Google Goodies
The quotes are only used to show a sample.
To find the time anywhere, type time and the city name, "time Dallas".
To exclude something, type a dash in front of the word, "football -lions".
To find the current currency exchange rate, "usd euro".
To find the weather, "weather, detroit".
To find a number, "phonebook: jones chicago".
To find the time anywhere, type time and the city name, "time Dallas".
To exclude something, type a dash in front of the word, "football -lions".
To find the current currency exchange rate, "usd euro".
To find the weather, "weather, detroit".
To find a number, "phonebook: jones chicago".
Can You Hear Me Now
Remember the old adage, if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it. . . Have you ever thought about space? Sound is vibrations of air particles, and it only can travel through a solid, liquid, or gas, so there is no sound in space. Sound travels fastest through solids, a bit less fast through liquids, and slowest through gases.
Light waves and radio waves, which are a part of the electromagnetic spectrum, can be interpreted by radio equipment and then be translated into sound, but not the sound itself.
Even though explosion of stars, collision of asteroids, etc. can cause sound, it does not travel to be detected as we hear sound here on Earth. Space, as an almost perfect vacuum, is not an efficient medium for sound to travel and be heard by us. Although, extremely sensitive instruments can pick up sound (almost perfect vacuum, being the key). Astronauts talk to each other when space walking, by using radio waves.
Sounds can travel by air in the spacecraft and through the metal. If something exploded outside the craft, you would not hear it until something hit your craft, then the sound would travel from the metal, through the air inside to your ears. Hollywood does not follow natural laws, so you only hear sounds from space in movies and TV. . . as well as a many other unnatural things emanating from CA.
Light waves and radio waves, which are a part of the electromagnetic spectrum, can be interpreted by radio equipment and then be translated into sound, but not the sound itself.
Even though explosion of stars, collision of asteroids, etc. can cause sound, it does not travel to be detected as we hear sound here on Earth. Space, as an almost perfect vacuum, is not an efficient medium for sound to travel and be heard by us. Although, extremely sensitive instruments can pick up sound (almost perfect vacuum, being the key). Astronauts talk to each other when space walking, by using radio waves.
Sounds can travel by air in the spacecraft and through the metal. If something exploded outside the craft, you would not hear it until something hit your craft, then the sound would travel from the metal, through the air inside to your ears. Hollywood does not follow natural laws, so you only hear sounds from space in movies and TV. . . as well as a many other unnatural things emanating from CA.
Stimulating
Have you wondered how the stimulus dollars are being spent? Here is a site that has the up-to-date news. http://stimuluswatch.org/2.0/ Pick your city or state to find out where the money is going. Do not go there if you are easily upset at the billions being spent on nonsense projects.
Jun 15, 2010
Where did They Get That Name
I sometimes wonder where those crazy names originated, so I went looking.
CVS - When the pharmacy chain was founded in Lowell, MA in 1963, it was known as Consumer Value Stores. Over time the name became abbreviated to CVS.
K-Mart - Sebastian S. Kresge opened his first larger store in Garden City, Michigan, in 1962. The store was named Kresge's, then shortened to K-Mart.
IKEA - The Swedish furniture giant takes its name from found Ingvar Kamprad’s initials joined with a the first initial of the farm where he grew up, Elmtaryd, and the parish he calls home, Agunnaryd.
JBL - The speaker company is named after its founder, James Bullough Lansing. He was born James Martini in 1902, but when he was 25, he changed his name to James Lansing at the suggestion of his then future wife.
BVD - The men’s underwear maker was originally founded by Bradley, Voorhees, and Day to make women’s bustles. Eventually they branched into knitted union suits for men, and their wares became so popular that “BVDs” has become a generic term for any underwear.
CVS - When the pharmacy chain was founded in Lowell, MA in 1963, it was known as Consumer Value Stores. Over time the name became abbreviated to CVS.
K-Mart - Sebastian S. Kresge opened his first larger store in Garden City, Michigan, in 1962. The store was named Kresge's, then shortened to K-Mart.
IKEA - The Swedish furniture giant takes its name from found Ingvar Kamprad’s initials joined with a the first initial of the farm where he grew up, Elmtaryd, and the parish he calls home, Agunnaryd.
JBL - The speaker company is named after its founder, James Bullough Lansing. He was born James Martini in 1902, but when he was 25, he changed his name to James Lansing at the suggestion of his then future wife.
BVD - The men’s underwear maker was originally founded by Bradley, Voorhees, and Day to make women’s bustles. Eventually they branched into knitted union suits for men, and their wares became so popular that “BVDs” has become a generic term for any underwear.
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