Tuesday, September 27, 2011

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Creeps Me Out

.
Why is it that German Chancellor Angela Merkel looks so much like another well known German Chancellor from about 70 years ago?  In her posture, her gestures, and even sometimes in her facial expressions, the resemblance is a little creepy.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Wind Energy Creates More Jobs - but is that a good thing?

.

The Department of Energy says that wind energy creates jobs.  In fact,
"Wind energy projects generate more new jobs than conventional fossil fuel projects. According to a study by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, wind energy produces 27% more jobs per kilowatt-hour than coal plants and 66% more jobs than natural gas plants."

But all that means is that wind energy is totally inefficient and costly.

I wonder if anyone has pointed out to the DOE that hiring people to turn hand-crank generators would create even more jobs per kilowatt-hour.  Hand-cranked energy is the route to full employment for all Americans!

How many hand-cranking Americans does it take to run an electric arc furnace to make steel? I'll bet it would take the entire population of the state of Michigan to generate enough electricity to satisfy the need for steel in Detroit.

Oh wait.  I don't think they need steel in Detroit anymore.


.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Climate Quote for the Day

.
“Many people, relying on their memories alone, insist that our climates are now very different from what they used to be. Their fathers made similar statements about the climates of earlier times, as did also their father’s fathers, as their several writings show, and so on through the ages; and the bulk of this testimony is to the effect that our climates are getting worse–evidence perhaps that flesh has always been heir to ills.”
       --- W. J. Humphreys, 1920

William Jackson Humphreys was a noted meteorologist and atmospheric physicist
.