Monthly Archives: August 2024

Oil and EVs

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For some, it is thought that if we do away with drilling for oil, it won’t effect the the Electric Vehicles. I can’t imagine anyone falling for that, but it just ain’t so. Windmills and solar batteries have their limits.

The only thing more elusive than the EV is the perpetual motion machine. Even with the perpetual motion machine, if possible, it will still run down as power is removed from it.

Let’s look at some of the advantages of the EV, ignoring it’s one big problem.

The EV very reliable. The electric motor has one moving part which is suspended on two bearings of some kind. As near as I can tell, there is no reason an electric motor shouldn’t last a hundred years, assuming the bearings are replaced regularly.

It’s efficient. Not only does the electric motor convert most of the electricity to energy, but some can be recovered while coming to a stop or while going downhill. While not in motion, it uses no power at all other than to run the computer and cabin environmental system. You turn off the heating and cooling, the power is just almost negligible.

They are quiet, to the chagrin of many teens that think a car should make more noise than a truck. That might seem to be a small thing until you have to live next to a six lane interstate.

Disregarding the power source, an electric motor uses very little space. The one in my car isn’t much bigger than a 5hp lawn mower engine. They are also much lighter than an internal combustion engine. Of course, these two advantages are quickly negated with the size and weight of batteries. If we could just cut their size and weight down to that of flashlight batteries.

It would be even better if we could decrease the price down to that of flashlight batteries too. I’ve been checking on the price to replace the batteries in my car. I hope that never happens. As near as I can tell, it is more than ten grand, plus labor. One offset, the batteries can be sold to companies that make use of the life still in them. They can be used for up to an additional 5 or 6 years.

Electric cars are clean. Most internal combustion engines are a far cry from the old car that used a quart of oil a month and oozed grease anywhere and everywhere around the motor or undercarriage. However, they still do use oil and they still get dirty. The only dirt on my EV is what it picks up is from the road. It does not require any oil changes. Most of the regular maintenance has to do with the suspension and steering system. I guess, once a year I’ll go to one of those places that cleans car undercarriages. Wait a minute. I’m already behind. I’ve had the car a year. Guess I need to get busy and start looking for one.

It would appear that the truly wonderful car would be the one that has all the advantages of EVs while none of the disadvantages. I don’t think that will ever happen. However, they are a lot closer today than they were 30 years ago. Maybe another 40 years and most will be driving EVs. The trick of course is coming up with a way of generating all that power and delivering it to the cars.

This Way and That Way

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I can’t help it. Kamala keeps bringing old songs to mind. As she decides that she wants to go this way and that way, it reminds me of the old children’s song. Did you ever see a lassie go this way and that way. Go this way and that way. Go this way and that.

There is another verse using laddie instead of lassie. It is something of a stretch but we might manage to wrap that one around her running mate. However, most Walz goes the one way, the wrong way.

Well, I’ll let you decide, does it apply or not.

Second Verse, Same as the First

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I guess there are still a few of us old codgers around who remember the hit by Herman’s Hermits, “I’m Henry the 8th, I am.” I’m not all that keen on things that repeat, but this one was really pretty good and a little thoughtful. If you have never heard it, you need to. It’s easy to look it up on the web and it is guaranteed to bring a smile. However, it is repetitious. Indeed, somewhere in the middle of it, the guy says, “Second verse; same as the first.”

As I look at Kamala’s basement campaign, it did remind me of the song. For sure, her campaign is “Same as the First.” There is, of course, one big difference. She really has no reason to hide other than the fear of saying something she would like to take back. With her, there is a real reason for her to fear. She has been known to say some very dumb things. However, there is no virus to be hiding from, just reporters.

Even worse, she has some real things she really needs to defend, which she said in the past.

It does make me wonder. Do you suppose we will ever get a third verse, maybe different than the first and second?

I Hate Being Dumb

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Subtitle: I hate doing dumb things

My wife really likes Krystal’s chilidogs. Okay. I do too. But I was more in the mood for a couple of Cheese Crystals. So we got in the car and went to Krystal’s. It was the logical thing to do. I ordered two chili pups for my wife and two Cheese Krystals for me.

Don’t know why. Maybe the clerk just didn’t understand me or maybe I was the one to make the mistake. I think I am going to get me a pad and start writing my orders on paper. Maybe it’s my age but there seems to be a lot more misunderstanding of orders these days.

Regardless, we got four chili-dogs and two Cheese-Krystals I figured no big deal, we would eat what we could and take the rest home. So it was when we were done, I gathered it all up, went over and tossed it in the trash. I started back over to the table and realized, I really did put it all on the tray and I emptied it all into the trash, including the chilidogs I intended to take home.

Then, it dawned on me. I did something dumb. The first thing that came to mind. You know all those starving children I was told about when I was a child. Then I had a question: Is there a way I can mail about a dozen chili-dogs and Cheese-Kristals to the starving kids in Africa? No fries. They would just get soggy.

Not going to happen. Impractical to package such a thing. Worse, it would never reach the ones who really need it. They would be intercepted by a bunch of wealthy folks who really don’t need them.

Well, maybe I could just buy a plane ticket and put the food in a couple of suitcases. After handing out the food to those who looked like they need it, I could then hand out the food and return. Perhaps an expensive method, but I would think I would be doing better than the Clintons. Their methods of charity is even less efficient than mine. Less than 50% went to the “needy.” Truth be known, most of them were likely not that needy.

Let me see. Is that what is known as a slush fund?

I hate being dumb. Still: I would rather be dumb rather than ruthlessly power hungry and dishonest as the dems are.

Really, the Audacity

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Heard an advertisement by a business south the Mississippi/Tennessee line. Part of his pitch was that they would be able to deal in safety. Now let me see. Is that the meaning of audacity?

As I thought it over, I must admit it was a good idea. Maybe all of our businesses need to start doing it. It just might help to drop our sales tax a point or two. I like it.

As a side note, I looked up the meaning of the word audacity and found an ap that allows editing of audio. I don’t know if it is any good, but it says it’s free. It might be worth a try. I’m always wanting to modify some of my files. Some are not loud enough; some are monaural. A few have too much base, which can get a little distracting.

Enochlophobia

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Now that’s a mouth full. I suppose to some degree, I suffer from it. Whenever I have to go to a big gathering, I generally look for a corner to hide in. Even so, it is not so bad that I become froze. I can carry on normal activities and conversations. I am just uncomfortable when I am around more than a dozen or so people.

Now, on the other hand, it would appear Kamala can’t deal with crowds at all. She clearly doesn’t like to face a dozen or so members of the media. That’s saying something clearly. To her, the media is on her side.

Well, maybe I chose the wrong phobia. Is there a word for fear of saying something embarrassing? Well, I guess there is an informal one. Many call it hoof and mouth phobia. That is when a person is fears inserting a foot in his mouth. Just maybe she is afraid of doing that so she just hides in the basement.

Then again, maybe she’s afraid she’ll just do some of that cackling. That would be enough to even drive the dems away.

Well, there is a possibility that she is doing something smart. She might have hired someone that will teach her how to speak without irritating all around. I really doubt she is doing that, but one can always hope.

Obvious

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The advertisement came on the radio, “School’s back!”

When I heard it, I told my wife, “I didn’t know it went anywhere.”

She was angered with me. She was upset. Not because of what I said but because she couldn’t help but laugh.

Okay. It was a horrible joke. Wait a minute. Really that is not true. It’s not even a joke.

Yet, to me, it was like one of those hanging curveballs to the power hitter. I just couldn’t resist it. Maybe, I swung and missed. However it did get a little laugh from her.

I never did claim to be the smartest on the planet, or in the room. Somehow, I didn’t need anyone to tell me school was back in session. Moreover, the way the guy said it, it seemed to imply that during summer, they put the old schoolhouse on rails and rolled it out of town. Then, of course recently, they rolled it back. Then they made the announcement as with the town crier, “Hear ye! Hear ye! School’s back! Just in case you didn’t figure it out on your own!”

Many years ago, I heard that TV and radio ads are aimed at 6th graders. I guess they are.

Early Voting

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The Democrats would have you believe that they are protectors of democracy. It is a ruse. They don’t want democracy at all. They want power and if you don’t hand it to them them they will take it, like it or not.

During the last presidential election, fraud or not. they did not follow the law, and they admitted it. They are brash in their efforts, doing the unlawful right out in plain sight.

Perhaps one place they cheat is in early voting. While early voting itself has been made legal, by the dems, it makes illegal voting easy.

I’m not going to try to explain it. If you don’t already know, no one ever will convince you. Mostly, it is a matter of willful ignorance. The truth is that it needs no explanation. It is casual to the most obvious observer.

Nonetheless, there is one thing I will explain that cannot be denied. If you decide to pull that lever early, figuratively, you can’t change your mind. If the person you voted for does something atrocious, sorry. You will not be able to reverse your decision. It is not only a matter of knowing who you want to vote for. It is also a matter of the person you vote for remains the person you want.

It is far better that to wait until voting day. Make that candidate work for your vote all the way till the end.

Though they did not write it into the Constitution, It is clear that it was the way it was intended.

On the other hand, the founders likely figured, if we ever started coming up with early voting, there would be nothing they could do to protect us from ourselves. Perhaps, just maybe they were right.

Just for the Record

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Walz said that the weapon that he carried into war should not be legal for civilians, or something like that anyway. The weapon he had, if he had a rifle was likely an M-16, which is capable of fully automatic. I know. I did carry one with me virtually everywhere I went in Vietnam. Also, I qualified with it.

Here’s the news. It is illegal for civilians unless the holder has a special federal license. There is a civilian rifle which resembles the M-16 and it is called the AR-15. It is strictly simi automatic. That is it is designed to fire one shot for each time the trigger is pulled. In general, they both shoot the same ammo. However, the AR-15 can be configured for other ammo.

My guess is that any sgt. maj. or equivalent would know that. If Walz doesn’t, shame on him.

On the other hand, most E-6s and above don’t carry rifles, but rather a sidearm. When I was in the Marines, that was a .45 semi-automatic pistol. It, in some form has been available to just about anyone since the early 1900s. If that is the weapon he was referring to, that is even more sad.

It is a display of ignorance or deceit… maybe both.