tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post116686903298236016..comments2024-03-28T06:32:24.557-04:00Comments on The Elephant Bar: The lost tribe.Deuce ☂http://www.blogger.com/profile/13472858446242700869noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166922524841875472006-12-23T20:08:00.000-05:002006-12-23T20:08:00.000-05:00Economic Freedom Produces Better Economic Outcomes...<A HREF="http://www.willisms.com/archives/2006/12/trivia_tidbit_o_392.html#comments" REL="nofollow">Economic Freedom Produces Better Economic Outcomes.</A><BR/><BR/>For whatever it is worth.allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01798524644256471907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166921450937343562006-12-23T19:50:00.000-05:002006-12-23T19:50:00.000-05:00Nope, I'm in the Panhandle. I did "my time" in S ...Nope, I'm in the Panhandle. I did "my time" in S Florida with FPL - that's the biggest reason I left. Country boys don't fit in too well down there.<BR/><BR/>I enjoyed the back and forth. In all seriousness, if you "unretire" and would like some technical help/advice in this endeavor, give a holler. I'm usually just lurking around in the background.<BR/><BR/>Gotta get home. My boys will be asking for their Daddy about now.<BR/><BR/>Merry Christmas.Rem870https://www.blogger.com/profile/05650042766202270023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166920630554691642006-12-23T19:37:00.000-05:002006-12-23T19:37:00.000-05:00You might be interested to know that our county is...You might be interested to know that our county is supposed to be getting another business in here soon. It has something to do with pelletized fuel. I've only heard rumors here and there, but it sounds like pellets made from silage or some other plant waste that will be burned as fuel in the generation of electricity. I haven't been able to figure out if the pellets will be produced here or if we are just getting a warehouse. There's been no word on how many jobs may come with it, but it is something (if it actually comes).<BR/><BR/>I worked for a couple of years as a maintenance engineer in one (two, really) of the power plants here in the state(FPL as a matter of fact). My graduate work was in the field of power and energy conversion. I love this kind of stuff. I guess I'm just a skeptic right now when it comes to bio-energy.<BR/><BR/>Once I get my business going a bit stronger (i.e. when I can hire someone tohelp out), I plan on trying to market solar systems (not planets). There won't be much, if any, market for that here, but closer to the bigger cities I think there might be an interest in "green power".Rem870https://www.blogger.com/profile/05650042766202270023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166919959265954182006-12-23T19:25:00.001-05:002006-12-23T19:25:00.001-05:00to be a landowner in Fl, with a degree in mechanic...<I>to be a landowner in Fl, with a degree in mechanical engineering, and a skill in welding</I><BR/><BR/>Well, I've got two and half out of the three, but you are missing a fourth - money. This stuff takes deep pockets. Growing the grass doesn't, but like with any crop, to make big money on it, you either need ALOT of land, or you have to be able to control the product after harvest.Rem870https://www.blogger.com/profile/05650042766202270023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166919766922153462006-12-23T19:22:00.000-05:002006-12-23T19:22:00.000-05:00Maybe you are right Rufus, but that isn't how the ...Maybe you are right Rufus, but that isn't how the State explained it to me. If I am wrong, then I'm wrong - but I wonder how many of those calls in Florida are outside of Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville. On top of that, 3000 doesn't sound very representative - we've got well over 15 million people in this state. If the number was 15,000,000, then 3,000 is 0.02% - pretty small.Rem870https://www.blogger.com/profile/05650042766202270023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166919477652276512006-12-23T19:17:00.000-05:002006-12-23T19:17:00.000-05:00You're right, I did just skim it. After you calle...You're right, I did just skim it. After you called me on it, I went back. There are some hardnumbers there. I've saved the site and after Christmas I'll run the numbers and see what I come up with.<BR/><BR/>This, "<I>If more studies point out that the energy crop in question can be grown in a relatively controlled manner, then it would make for a very interesting bioenergy feedstock for large-scale production in the developing world.</I>" did not excape my attention. There is still a question as to how well this plant can be controlled. I have my doubts - every exotic (plant and anmial) purposely brought here is brought by people who say they can control it. I'm doubtful. At the same time, though, I don't know what this species would do if it got out of control - there is the possibility that it would be totally benign. if that info was in the article, I missed it. I'll keep my eye on the situation as best I can.Rem870https://www.blogger.com/profile/05650042766202270023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166919119517180412006-12-23T19:11:00.000-05:002006-12-23T19:11:00.000-05:00Yeah, Rufus, but how do you think they determine w...Yeah, Rufus, but how do you think they determine who is looking for work? "Looking for work" is a prerequisite to receiving unemployment benefits. After the benefits are up, the government doesn't call to check on you and see if you have found work. It's a very misleading stat. I've been there. After I was laid off, and the benefits were gone, I took out a loan and went back to school. The government has no idea, but I guarantee you that I wasn't counted as 'unemployed' anymore.Rem870https://www.blogger.com/profile/05650042766202270023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166918956978444492006-12-23T19:09:00.000-05:002006-12-23T19:09:00.000-05:00One more point on the unemployment thing - it's de...One more point on the unemployment thing - it's deceptive. For instance, let's say you're a welder that makes $15/hr. Suddenly your company decides it is moving to Mexico. You've got a family so you have to work, but the only thing available is working the sporting goods counter at Wal-mart for $8/hr. Yeah, you're employed, but it isn't the same. When the industrial base leaves, the good- (non-professional) paying jobs also leave.Rem870https://www.blogger.com/profile/05650042766202270023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166918251511416482006-12-23T18:57:00.000-05:002006-12-23T18:57:00.000-05:00Rufus,Your 3% figure on unemployment - I have no i...Rufus,<BR/><BR/>Your 3% figure on unemployment - I have no idea as to its accuracy. I don't put much stock in unemplyment figures. They only track individuals who are receiving unemployment benefits. After your 3-6 months of unemplyment is used up, you are no longer counted whether you have a job or not.Rem870https://www.blogger.com/profile/05650042766202270023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166918075107497582006-12-23T18:54:00.000-05:002006-12-23T18:54:00.000-05:00Rufus,Your grass link is interesting. Seems like ...Rufus,<BR/><BR/>Your grass link is interesting. Seems like you posted that before, or else I saw it somewhere. I'm very skeptical for the simple reason that it is another exotic species. We've got a real problem with the other exotics in this state - Melaleuca, Kudzu, Torpedo Grass, Hyacinth, and Old World Climbing Fern to name a few. My educational background is mechanical engineering, but I've got some experience with environmental engineering in regards to wetland mitigation and restoration. I'm no freaking bunny-hugger, but exotics are killers. Literally. Hopefully the folks in your link will figure out how to keep the grass in check. If nothing else, hopefully it will lead to knowledge on how to use native species.<BR/><BR/>My gut-feel is that the environmentalists will stop this project. Right now we've got the Game & Fish Commission trying to ban pythons from coming into the state. That's another exotic species wreaking havoc down here.<BR/><BR/>I've not looked into it, but I assume you have - when a claim is made that X acres of Y grass will power Z homes, how is that figured? What I mean is, does that assume a 100% yield, then the highest possible conversion rate? What about the question of how long it will power a home - is this instantaneous, or are you talking about enough energy to power a home for a full day? What about the growing season? Around here, you're doing pretty good to cut your hay field 3 or 4 times in the summer. Does that figure in to these numbers you bring up?<BR/><BR/>There is an awful lot of wiggle room when you start talking like that (X acres will power Z homes). Tell me the energy content of the grass, the efficiency of extracting it, and then a resaonable harvest figure. I think when you start to come at it from that perspective you see that you don't get as much energy as you might think. Still, it's a start . . .Rem870https://www.blogger.com/profile/05650042766202270023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166909256707314702006-12-23T16:27:00.000-05:002006-12-23T16:27:00.000-05:00rufus,re: worried;-DDDrufus,<BR/><BR/>re: worried<BR/><BR/>;-DDDallenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01798524644256471907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166902627365691562006-12-23T14:37:00.000-05:002006-12-23T14:37:00.000-05:00I cannot imagine how the Shetlands would survive t...I cannot imagine how the <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz2q38l0Sl0" REL="nofollow">Shetlands</A> would survive the ride.desert rathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369546288659566961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166901839559816792006-12-23T14:23:00.000-05:002006-12-23T14:23:00.000-05:00I see the picture and think Shetland pony. What's ...I see the picture and think Shetland pony. What's that all about?allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01798524644256471907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166901714409236472006-12-23T14:21:00.000-05:002006-12-23T14:21:00.000-05:00rufus, rufus, rufus,re: the chairI saw the montage...rufus, rufus, rufus,<BR/><BR/>re: the chair<BR/><BR/>I saw the montage earlier in the day butt, in the interest of chairity, I chose to circumnavigate. Now, even the normally circumspect Deuce has shown up at TigerHawk to do a fly-around.<BR/><BR/>Oh, did you also detect a panty line?allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01798524644256471907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166900773402832082006-12-23T14:06:00.000-05:002006-12-23T14:06:00.000-05:00Did I say they can't buy the valued US monopoly pa...Did I say they can't buy the valued US monopoly paper money? :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11132252460964519368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166899637308369822006-12-23T13:47:00.000-05:002006-12-23T13:47:00.000-05:00Mətušélaḥ said, "No to free trade. Yes to balanced...Mətušélaḥ said, "No to free trade. Yes to balanced trade."<BR/><BR/><I>And let Adam Smith's invisible hand balance the trade. Just look at the record of Communism and Socialism to see what happens when a central planning bureau fiddles with things.</I>Teresitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05528002521904908827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166898409232800102006-12-23T13:26:00.000-05:002006-12-23T13:26:00.000-05:00No to free trade. Yes to balanced trade.No to free trade. <BR/>Yes to balanced trade.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11132252460964519368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166895705397190932006-12-23T12:41:00.000-05:002006-12-23T12:41:00.000-05:00And by "employable" I DON'T mean someone in-countr...And by "employable" I DON'T mean someone in-country illegally, I'm talking skilled tradesmen.Triton'sPolarTigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13291314004351414397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166895537124275542006-12-23T12:38:00.000-05:002006-12-23T12:38:00.000-05:00ppab,My problem has been finding people who are em...ppab,<BR/><BR/>My problem has been finding people who are employable... not to discount rem's comment, but I cover all of US-Canada, and what I'm running into suggests we're at full employment.<BR/><BR/>I've described this at length in the past either here or over at BC, so I won't repeat it.<BR/><BR/>TritonTriton'sPolarTigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13291314004351414397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166895441701411962006-12-23T12:37:00.000-05:002006-12-23T12:37:00.000-05:00Yeah, the city would do that. Visit a rural area ...Yeah, the city would do that. Visit a rural area in the south. We've had five factories shut down in the past ten years. All of them moved to Mexico with one exception - that one moved half the operation to Mexico and the other half to Wisconsin. I was working for one of those companies.<BR/><BR/>We were already one of the poorest counties in Florida, so this hasn't helped. Now the county commissioners are working on giving the county away to bring businesses in - giving away land, utilities and massive tax breaks. Sure they've created a couple of hundred jobs, but we've lost well over 2000. Replacing manufacturing jobs that take a skill with service jobs where you count boxes or whatever isn't much of an improvement.<BR/><BR/>The free market with Mexico also hurts the local farmers - another thing that city-folk don't care much about. I used to be what they call a "hobby farmer" - I've got a 40-acre spread that I used to grow melons on. Not anymore - even if I still had the time, I can't compete with the Mexican fruit.<BR/><BR/>Overall though, I'm doing OK - I have an education that I fell back on. I went back to school and got my MS in mechanical engineering. Recently I opened my own engineering firm. I'm guessing I don't fit the mold of a "kid living at home" or a "hippie luddite", whatever the Hell a luddite is.Rem870https://www.blogger.com/profile/05650042766202270023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166894502598917072006-12-23T12:21:00.000-05:002006-12-23T12:21:00.000-05:00Rem 870,Folks I know who lament the state of the e...Rem 870,<BR/><BR/>Folks I know who lament the state of the economy are:<BR/><BR/>-Kids who live at home with their parents, having majored in film and/or working on their novels, screenplays<BR/>-Unmotivated luddite hipsters<BR/><BR/>That's my anecdotal stuff. I live near a big city so that may color my info.Martian Baristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06289251598469195052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166894350769852092006-12-23T12:19:00.000-05:002006-12-23T12:19:00.000-05:00That bullet may stop should Allah wish it.If Allah...That bullet may stop should Allah wish it.<BR/><BR/>If Allah wanted to, he could turn that bullet into a flock of sparrows or a jar of honey wrapped in a palm frond. <BR/><BR/>If Allah wanted to, he could turn that bullet into a Panini, Panera be praised. <BR/><BR/>If Allah wanted to, that bullet would strike its target, but turn into an explosion of rose petals, and instead of the sound of impact, "allahu ackbar" would echo throughout.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166894049168367332006-12-23T12:14:00.000-05:002006-12-23T12:14:00.000-05:00Rufus said, Remember that "Giant Sucking Sound" th...Rufus said, <I>Remember that "Giant Sucking Sound" that Ross Perot, and Pat Buchanan warned us about?<BR/><BR/>Well, it turns out it was the sound of people being "Sucked Off" of the Unemployment Roles and into jobs.</I><BR/><BR/>Horse S---.<BR/><BR/>I don't care what the 'statistics' say, I see plenty of anecdotal evidence to the contrary.Rem870https://www.blogger.com/profile/05650042766202270023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166893950276860822006-12-23T12:12:00.000-05:002006-12-23T12:12:00.000-05:00The Rufuster said, "Trust me, Triton; there ain't ...The Rufuster said, "Trust me, Triton; there ain't Nothin in the Galley goin to slow that bullet down."<BR/><BR/><I>If it hits the stony airplane food, like the scrambled eggs, that round ain't going anywhere.</I>Teresitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05528002521904908827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1166888504877574662006-12-23T10:41:00.000-05:002006-12-23T10:41:00.000-05:00Barry Goldwater thought gays and lesbians were...h...<I>Barry Goldwater thought gays and lesbians were...human beings and American citizens.</I><BR/><BR/>Gosh! WC! Nobody said those folks weren't human - they're just a bit queer, that's all!Tigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04957481158914778546noreply@blogger.com