Wind Power

There is a large wind farm a mile outside Palm Springs. Whether it provides enough power for the town I don't know, (Palm Springs is relatively small), but my guess is there are about 400 of them arranged in rows and they didn't look very pretty to me.

It's a modern day agrarian myth if you ask me. There’s a romantic notion about them, but in truth, they aren’t practical and reliable sources of power on a large scale. Hydrogen is the energy source of the future, not windmills. Let us build giant swirling blades and play amongst them. All we need is a news film of a windmill falling apart and decapitating a group of school kids and interest will dwindle. Oh, not to mention the negative effect it has on birds. There’s an idea….

Hydrogen would be great if we could manage cold fusion but it will never be viable as a widescale power source until then.

I did hear that they cause problems for bats. Many dead ones are found underneath. I don't mind their appearance too much and apart from dead bats, birds and decapitated children they have no ugly waste product.

George, I've seen the one outside Palm Springs. I thought it was very impressive. One of the hightlights of my trip to the States. "There’s a romantic notion about them, but in truth, they aren’t practical and reliable sources of power on a large scale." Not on a large scale maybe, but as the article states they do provide electricity.

Can't you cover them in solar cells and double the output :)

Well I'd spent the previous day at the Grand Canyon, so a few windmills did nothing for me. Alongside natures best efforts those of humans seem rather insignificant.

*Hydrogen is the energy source of the future* Yes Denver/Smiley, and it may be closer than people realizes. Anyway, until cold fusion becomes available, wind farms aren't the solution. Part of the solution is with superconducting materials such as Magnesium diboride. Its a naturally accruing material that has a transition temperature around 39 k at high temperatures. If this material could be used in the manufacturing of high tensile cables for the transferee of electricity, then there would be very little resistances and so much less residue emissions in to the atmosphere. The increased tensile strength would mean cables of far less diameter. and the transfer co efficiency would be far more effective than to day methods.

Does this mean cheaper batteries for my Walkman?

Yes.

You're spelling is improving.

Didn't really get that, John, are we talking room temperature super conductors?

Yes

Portable fuel cells don't require super-conductors. Cell phones, laptop computers, and yes...even walkman will run on portable fuel cells. Imagine a laptop that will stay powered on battery for 12-14 hours.

Well that's a quantum leap in it's self if it's not prohibitively expensive!

Just think what it would do for rampant roger!

Imagine what it will do to the vibrator industry.

This is closer than you think. Trust me, I'm a Doctor.

I don't think the fuel-cells do that yet though, Denver. At least not from what I read of Ce-Bit - but, yes, they probably will... real soon now.

Oh...Doctors use a lot of vibrators do they? Oh...Here's your problem mam...seems this got stuck...

This one dose denver. ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

You fall asleep with vibrators then John?

Zzzzits Zzzzza Pzzable Zell Zvibratorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Oh, that's what they sound like!

The only problem with fuel cells is when they explode. ZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz K-Bloom! oops.

Is this a thread about farting?

Yes. Well I didn't say there arnt any teething problems.

Results in an old Bond conquest played by Honour Blackman perhaps.

Good heavens, there are some randy threads tonite...

Its all this talk about un exhaustible energy.

The bon reply was in resonse to Denver's exploding vibrator post, Archer - hardly randy ;oO

Speaking of unexhaustible energy... *smirks*

Those were the days :o)

Ah, you must be older than 22, Smiley... ;-)

Just a bit ;o)

Actually I probably take a lot longer to get exhausted nowadays as I'm more laid back :)

So to speak. *twitter*

Oh, that's a disappointment then :)

Well, I've found that on the whole, when quantity lessens, quality increases (an age-related phenomenon)

I agree, every year it gets better... only 11 months to go :)

An interesting equation.

So you only get a raise once per year, Smiley? That's too bad... *chortle*

I'd better confess that I'm only kidding. I practice celabacy - can't spell it though :)

Ahhh, yes. Brahmacharya, the yogis call it. I, too, practice this.

Abstinence or continence is the corner-stone or foundation on which the pedestal of Moksha stands. If the foundation is not very strong, the superstructure will fall down when there is heavy rain. Even so if you are not established in Brahmacharya, if your mind is agitated by evil thoughts, you will fall down. You cannot reach the summit of the ladder of Yoga or the highest Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Doesn't sound quite you, Archer, but then I'm playful too :)

I told you, Smiley, we archers are a mysterious and mystical lot... ;-) And I DO practice Brahmacharya, although clearly I am not always on form. The attachment to the pleasures of life is strong in me...

Yes, I refrain for religious reasons too.

Oh? Are you a monk?

I love them... there are a few in Norfolk as you're going cross country westward and I always nearly break my neck and crash turning to look at them. They look quite beautiful... and especially because of their purpose too. I don't understand why people don't like them. To be a bit twee for a while, I sort of think of them as symbols of hope for the future. I actually did say that.

In the US, wind power will take years to become a viable replacement for conventional power generation, due mostly to the inability of congress and politicians to restructure the laws that allow wind farms to operate. The power sharing mechanism’s in place are structured by law without wind power in mind and actually hinder the growth of this energy source. Politicians haven’t even started to unravel this problem and when they do, the power industry is sure to step in and lobby against anything that slices into their pie. The things do make some noise too. You want a wind farm next door to your house?