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Today's topics:
* Just Canceled Cable TV - 4 messages, 4 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/6cd6ada4aaa4d5bc?hl=en
* Grooming Your Dog - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/cb637ebaffaecedd?hl=en
* 2009 Prius - why such a big engine? - 10 messages, 7 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/64b8bb7586b7de99?hl=en
* Trips on frugal tourism & living in Paris, France - 2 messages, 2 authors
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/8dbd9dffc680ea4e?hl=en
* chinese food ,the best food in the world - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/b368af29de57eff1?hl=en
* Tesco Voucher Codes - Money off and Clubcard Points - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/93c34c99447a76de?hl=en
* Free Printable Children's Book - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/8a845b310e69910c?hl=en
* Sometimes it just doesn't work - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/9ad81274179c279d?hl=en
* MAKE THOUSANDS ONLINE INSTANTLY WITH A FREE PAYPAL$$$ - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/046d1456fcc140ae?hl=en
* DTV Converter box major snafu in the US - 2 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/5479512ec399c625?hl=en
* Frugal vacation options - 1 messages, 1 author
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/8821f482907f8c37?hl=en
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Just Canceled Cable TV
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/6cd6ada4aaa4d5bc?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 11 2008 9:32 pm
From: Gordon
Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply <samhill@TRASHsonic.net> wrote in
news:484cb3b3$0$17185$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net:
> Gordon wrote:
>> Since then we have been finding that the internet is full
>> of TV programming. The kids watch all the Squarebob they
>> want over the internet, and Joost has enough on demand
>> programing to add veriety.
>
> You have found Hulu, right?
Joost is better, and Veoh re-streams hulu
but adds more content.
== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 6:37 am
From: Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply
Gordon wrote:
> Samantha Hill - remove TRASH to reply <samhill@TRASHsonic.net> wrote in
> news:484cb3b3$0$17185$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net:
>> You have found Hulu, right?
www.hulu.com
>
> Joost is better, and Veoh re-streams hulu
> but adds more content.
Do you have any hints on mastering Joost? I like some of the series
they have on there, but I always feel like I am bumping around in the
dark trying to figure out how to use it, and for some reason, it ALWAYS
goes back to the first thing I ever watched on there, which is
INCREDIBLY aggravating. Please, share your knowledge! I would love to
see more of the stuff on Joost and to be able to find more things other
than junk.
As far as I know, Veoh does CBS programming, Hulu does NBC and Fox
programming, AOL captures some of these and rebroadcasts them, and
nobody else does ABC besides their weird interface that inexplicably
claims to have won some award for being best video stream.
== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 2:19 pm
From: "rick++"
I switched to basic cable some time ago for $15.
I live in a city with inter-building ghosting.
Although it is only supposed to get the the ten broadcast channels,
its more like about 45. Most of the extra are
spanish, vendor, and community access channels.
But becasue of the they way thye block ranges, I get ten
regular cable channels (DSC, AMC, TMC, CNBC, TCM, MTC, VH1
BET, TVL, TBS) and about 15 fuzzy channels.
Im not sure what happens if they go to pure digital.
== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 10:39 pm
From: The Real Bev
timeOday wrote:
> The Real Bev wrote:
>> Bob F wrote:
>>> "The Real Bev" <bashley101+usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> The problem with that is dark movies are pretty much unwatchable. I
>>>> also like to curl up on the couch, and that doesn't work very well.
>>>
>>> You can adjust the brightness, contrast, etc in your computer video
>>> boards "video" settings - at least I do. Mine has a seperate
>>> adjustment for video content.
>>
>> Linux. Nvidia. The monitor has a brightness control, but that's it.
>
> On mplayer, the 3 and 4 keys adjust brightness.
> I'm pretty sure settings like that can also be put into a config file so
> they come up how you like them by default.
No bind found for key KP3
No bind found for key KP4
The volume control frequently doesn't work either. Other stuff just
isn't right, like the slider for syncing the sound with the picture.
Last thing I watched was maybe 5 seconds off. Blech.
gxine works better...sometimes...
--
Cheers,
Bev
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Some people are alive only because it is illegal to kill them."
-- Lionel
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Grooming Your Dog
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/cb637ebaffaecedd?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 4:39 am
From: AMALADASON
Grooming Your Dog
Grooming is an important part of your dog's health, with regular
brushing and combing helping to remove dead hair and dirt and prevent
matting. Dogs who are regularly groomed tend to have a healthier and
shinier coat because it stimulates the blood supply to the skin.
Grooming your dog can also be a good way to bond with your dog, and
it's important to get him used to it from an early age. Many dogs
learn to see their routine brushing as an alternate petting, another
source of affection and attention. A good quality brush and comb will
help you with your dog's coat, but also remember that your dog's eyes,
ears, and nails require attention as well.
Because many breeds have special grooming needs, we've provided links
below for the specific grooming required of each breed. In addition,
you can visit our page on bathing your dog for helpful instructions.
Grooming Tips for Every Breed:
http://www.dunhill-dogs.com/dog-grooming.html
==============================================================================
TOPIC: 2009 Prius - why such a big engine?
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/64b8bb7586b7de99?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 10 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 9:00 am
From: Vic Smith
On Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:31:58 -0400, "Dave" <noway@nohow.not> wrote:
>> Personally I would love to see a pure electric commuter car without the
>> weight of a gas engine which is good for 60 miles between recharges.
>> Many families own a car that's only (or 90%) used just for commuting.
>> But automakers seem convinced people won't buy a car unless it has
>> traditional range, so maybe it's true.
>>
>
>Of course. Average commute time is a half hour each way. An electric
>vehicle with 60 mile range would be useless. Assuming your commute is
>rather short, you could just make it to work and back on 60 miles. Now you
>need about 12 hours to recharge the batteries. You walk in the door after
>plugging in the car, and the wife asks you if you remembered to pick up a
>gallon of milk on the way home. Ooooops.
>
Remember what average means. My wife commutes 5 miles each way, as I
did before I retired. My daughters commute is less than that and so
is my son's.
60 miles a day is plenty for us, including shopping/ appointments,
etc. Same for millions of people.
Need one of them big pickups? They sell plenty of them - or did.
I never bought one, and nobody has to buy the 60 mile a day car
either.
It could be made available, and there is a market for it.
I'd buy one as my next car, and use rentals for vacations.
As would millions of others. But gas probably has to hit about 10
bucks a gallon first. Market forces will drive it.
Big problem now is heating/cooling an electric. Could use gas
heaters like I had in one of my VW's.
A/C might require a 1-2 hp gas engine to power the A/C compressor.
Much smaller gas consumption overall than a hybrid.
I could forego A/C, as I did for the first dozen years of car
ownership. My car's A/C broke last summer in Florida and after a
couple days of feeling sorry for ourselves, guess what?
I adjusted to being without it. Mostly by realizing bitching and
moaning just made me think about hot it was, and by not driving when
the sun was high. Lucky my car is white.
Don't get me wrong. I like A/C. But I've always viewed it as
"almost" a luxury.
>60 mile range is just not flexible enough. An all-electric vehicle needs a
>MUCH longer "range" than that of a similar vehicle with an IC engine. When
>you run out of energy, it takes 12 hours to get it ready to drive again.
>For an all-electric rechargeable vehicle, anything LESS than about 600 miles
>of range is useless. You need to have the energy available for (as a
>MINIMUM) an entire DAY of driving on a full charge. 60 miles? Not even
>close.
>
Again, you don't have to buy it. Buy what suits you.
>In contrast, the range of an IC engine vehicle doesn't matter much. Gas
>stations are everywhere, and it takes about 10 minutes to refuel, if you are
>slow. But in an electric vehicle if your batteries die halfway home? Now
>you are calling a tow truck. -Dave
>
The future is electric cars, recharged by nuke generated power.
Standardized batteries, easily swapped at service/charging stations
hooked to the electric grid.
We would be there now if leadership had foresight and people weren't
so spoiled by cheap gas. Just part of the marketplace at work.
You'll see that more clearly when gas hits 10 bucks a gallon.
Maybe something else will be developed - hydrogen, etc, but I haven't
seen anybody holding up much promise for it yet.
--Vic
== 2 of 10 ==
Date: Wed, Jun 11 2008 9:30 pm
From: Dave
> The future is electric cars, recharged by nuke generated power.
You could be right. A combination of nuclear power plants and wind
farms, I believe.
> Standardized batteries, easily swapped at service/charging stations
> hooked to the electric grid.
I see a problem with that. I believe if we go that route, then it's
more likely that the chemical (which stores the electric charge) will
be changed quickly, not the whole battery. This would be a dangerous
operation, but probably LESS dangerous than refueling an IC engine
vehicle is today.
Think of a standard "gas pump" type of drive-up island. Each pump has
two hoses with secure connectors (standardized) of different size/shape
so that they can't be reversed. One is in and one is out. Chemical is
sucked out of battery to be recharged later. Then chemical (charged) is
pumped into battery. Could be done VERY quickly in a closed circuit,
unlike the gravity filling of gasoline tanks which must be regulated to
a slow refill rate. Once the connections are made and the pump sensors
confirm secure connection, probably 30 seconds to drain and another 30
seconds to refill. Oh, and your debit card is autmatically charged 30
bucks or whatever. -Dave
== 3 of 10 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 10:18 am
From: cr113
On Jun 12, 11:00 am, Vic Smith <thismailautodele...@comcast.net>
wrote:
> The future is electric cars, recharged by nuke generated power.
> Standardized batteries, easily swapped at service/charging stations
> hooked to the electric grid.
Yep.
> We would be there now if leadership had foresight and people weren't
> so spoiled by cheap gas. Just part of the marketplace at work.
> You'll see that more clearly when gas hits 10 bucks a gallon.
> Maybe something else will be developed - hydrogen, etc, but I haven't
> seen anybody holding up much promise for it yet.
That's one reason I really don't mind gas going so high. We'll finally
get some new technology. If you look at historic gas prices adjusted
for inflation, gas has been dirt cheap up until the last couple years.
I'm finally seeing car commercials that brag about mileage, not speed
and power.
== 4 of 10 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 11:32 am
From: "Rod Speed"
Dave <noway@nohow.not> wrote:
>> The future is electric cars, recharged by nuke generated power.
> You could be right.
I doubt it, mainly because of the problem with A/C in cars.
> A combination of nuclear power plants and wind farms, I believe.
If you have the nukes, there is no point in the massive environmental pollution that wind farms involve.
>> Standardized batteries, easily swapped at service/charging stations hooked to the electric grid.
> I see a problem with that. I believe if we go that route, then it's
> more likely that the chemical (which stores the electric charge)
> will be changed quickly, not the whole battery. This would be
> a dangerous operation, but probably LESS dangerous than
> refueling an IC engine vehicle is today.
Makes a lot more sense to swap the packaged battery.
> Think of a standard "gas pump" type of drive-up island. Each pump
> has two hoses with secure connectors (standardized) of different
> size/shape so that they can't be reversed. One is in and one is out.
> Chemical is sucked out of battery to be recharged later. Then
> chemical (charged) is pumped into battery. Could be done VERY
> quickly in a closed circuit, unlike the gravity filling of gasoline
> tanks which must be regulated to a slow refill rate. Once the
> connections are made and the pump sensors confirm secure connection,
> probably 30 seconds to drain and another 30 seconds to refill. Oh,
> and your debit card is autmatically charged 30 bucks or whatever.
Makes a lot more sense to swap the packaged battery.
== 5 of 10 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 11:45 am
From: "Rod Speed"
Vic Smith <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote
> Dave <noway@nohow.not> wrote
>>> Personally I would love to see a pure electric commuter car without
>>> the weight of a gas engine which is good for 60 miles between
>>> recharges. Many families own a car that's only (or 90%) used just
>>> for commuting. But automakers seem convinced people won't buy a car
>>> unless it has traditional range, so maybe it's true.
>> Of course. Average commute time is a half hour each way. An
>> electric vehicle with 60 mile range would be useless. Assuming your
>> commute is rather short, you could just make it to work and back on
>> 60 miles. Now you need about 12 hours to recharge the batteries.
>> You walk in the door after plugging in the car, and the wife asks
>> you if you remembered to pick up a gallon of milk on the way home.
>> Ooooops.
> Remember what average means. My wife commutes 5 miles each
> way, as I did before I retired. My daughters commute is less than
> that and so is my son's. 60 miles a day is plenty for us, including
> shopping/ appointments, etc. Same for millions of people.
Me too.
> Need one of them big pickups?
Nope, I prefer a trailer myself.
> They sell plenty of them - or did. I never bought one,
> and nobody has to buy the 60 mile a day car either.
> It could be made available, and there is a market for it.
> I'd buy one as my next car, and use rentals for vacations.
> As would millions of others. But gas probably has to hit
> about 10 bucks a gallon first. Market forces will drive it.
I doubt it will happen at $10.
> Big problem now is heating/cooling an electric.
Yep.
> Could use gas heaters like I had in one of my VW's.
Pity about the summer tho.
> A/C might require a 1-2 hp gas engine to power the A/C compressor.
> Much smaller gas consumption overall than a hybrid.
> I could forego A/C, as I did for the first dozen years of car ownership.
I doubt too many would tho.
> My car's A/C broke last summer in Florida and after a
> couple days of feeling sorry for ourselves, guess what?
> I adjusted to being without it. Mostly by realizing bitching
> and moaning just made me think about hot it was, and by
> not driving when the sun was high. Lucky my car is white.
I remember one holiday back in the days before A/C was in cars,
when the day was so stinking hot that we just stopped at a river
and jumped in and stayed there till the sun went down. Likely
would have been 110.
Another time my tounge was hanging out and I was anticipating
doing the same thing down the beach. Just arrived at the beach
and the front came thru |-(
> Don't get me wrong. I like A/C. But I've always viewed it as "almost" a luxury.
Sure, but so is any form of powered vehicle too.
>> 60 mile range is just not flexible enough. An all-electric vehicle
>> needs a MUCH longer "range" than that of a similar vehicle with
>> an IC engine. When you run out of energy, it takes 12 hours to
>> get it ready to drive again. For an all-electric rechargeable vehicle,
>> anything LESS than about 600 miles of range is useless. You need
>> to have the energy available for (as a MINIMUM) an entire DAY of
>> driving on a full charge. 60 miles? Not even close.
> Again, you don't have to buy it. Buy what suits you.
>> In contrast, the range of an IC engine vehicle doesn't matter much.
>> Gas stations are everywhere, and it takes about 10 minutes to
>> refuel, if you are slow. But in an electric vehicle if your
>> batteries die halfway home? Now you are calling a tow truck.
> The future is electric cars, recharged by nuke generated power.
I doubt it, mainly because the range is too limited for too
many. There will certainly be a considerable percentage
that use electric cars, but it wont ever be everyone.
You wont see semis electric for example and we wont
see all that volume back on electric trains either.
> Standardized batteries, easily swapped at service/
> charging stations hooked to the electric grid.
Sure.
> We would be there now if leadership had foresight
Nope, that cant do anything about the fundamentals.
> and people weren't so spoiled by cheap gas.
Any leadership has to operate within the current basics.
> Just part of the marketplace at work.
Yep, thats why we still use gasoline and will to
change to LPG etc before we change to electric.
> You'll see that more clearly when gas hits 10 bucks a gallon.
Not on going electric we wont.
> Maybe something else will be developed - hydrogen, etc, but
> I haven't seen anybody holding up much promise for it yet.
Just because it isnt viable at the current price of gasoline,
without the nukes which are the only viable way to produce it.
It does fix the A/C problem completely and the CO2 problem too.
== 6 of 10 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 2:23 pm
From: Vic Smith
On Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:45:14 +1000, "Rod Speed"
<rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> A/C might require a 1-2 hp gas engine to power the A/C compressor.
>> Much smaller gas consumption overall than a hybrid.
>> I could forego A/C, as I did for the first dozen years of car ownership.
>
>I doubt too many would tho.
>
Yep. Funny how that works. Never paid any thought to A/C when I
didn't have it. Now it's an adjustment when it ain't there.
Same with color TV. Didn't have one until about 1980, when somebody
gave me one. Always picked up used B/W's cheap.
Now it's hard to imagine watching a B/W.
But the A/C issue can be fixed with a small gas engine. Complicates
things though. Now you need space for it and a gas tank.
But you needed the tank for the heater anyway.
>> My car's A/C broke last summer in Florida and after a
>> couple days of feeling sorry for ourselves, guess what?
>> I adjusted to being without it. Mostly by realizing bitching
>> and moaning just made me think about hot it was, and by
>> not driving when the sun was high. Lucky my car is white.
>
>I remember one holiday back in the days before A/C was in cars,
>when the day was so stinking hot that we just stopped at a river
>and jumped in and stayed there till the sun went down. Likely
>would have been 110.
>
>Another time my tounge was hanging out and I was anticipating
>doing the same thing down the beach. Just arrived at the beach
>and the front came thru |-(
>
Just got an email from my SIL in Iraq. It's 115 during the day and
they're wearing body armor. Now if my wife bitches about me not
turning on the A/C when it hits 80, I'll remind her of him.
Won't help, of course.
>> Don't get me wrong. I like A/C. But I've always viewed it as "almost" a luxury.
>
>Sure, but so is any form of powered vehicle too.
>
But they've pretty much been made essential here. When I lived in the
city and could bus to work it was different. Had a shopping cart and
we could walk to any number of stores too.
Carted the laundry to the laundromat too. None of that works out of
the city. I could do the walk, but I'd probably get killed by a car
along the road.
>
>> The future is electric cars, recharged by nuke generated power.
>
>I doubt it, mainly because the range is too limited for too
>many. There will certainly be a considerable percentage
>that use electric cars, but it wont ever be everyone.
>
The trick is to keep gas prices high. Otherwise there's no incentive.
to change. Tax policies can do it.
>You wont see semis electric for example and we wont
>see all that volume back on electric trains either.
>
You might see semis going back to gas when all the commuters go
electric. I'm not up on the different fuels that can be made from a
barrel of oil.
>> Standardizes`d batteries, easily swapped at service/
>> charging stations hooked to the electric grid.
>
>Sure.
>
>> We would be there now if leadership had foresight
>
>Nope, that cant do anything about the fundamentals.
>
Yeah, we wouldn't be to electric yet, but we would be well into a
transitional period. Stricter CAFE standards, gas guzzler taxation,
gov push for research, etc. Didn't work politically here.
You got the righties saying the gas is endless, and the lefties saying
nukes will make your balls fall off.
>> and people weren't so spoiled by cheap gas.
>
>Any leadership has to operate within the current basics.
>
The biggest basic here is "Don't tell me I can't drive a gas hog."
>> Just part of the marketplace at work.
>
>Yep, thats why we still use gasoline and will to
>change to LPG etc before we change to electric.
>
I've heard the power companies here have been building NG power plants
at a good pace. NG is just another finite petro source. My heating
bills are way up because the power companies are sucking up the NG.
If we go nuke the heating business will do well with retrofitting
homes for electric. Copper would be a good market play.
>> You'll see that more clearly when gas hits 10 bucks a gallon.
>
>Not on going electric we wont.
>
Depends on the bottom line cost of the power. With nuke power plants
and decent battery technology the crossover price point might be 2
dollars a gallon. That's aside from disadvantages of the electric.
Even now, at about 4 dollars a gallon for gas, it might be getting
close to where the electric rates beat gasoline in cost per mile.
I just pulled those numbers out of my arse so don't hold me to them.
>> Maybe something else will be developed - hydrogen, etc, but
>> I haven't seen anybody holding up much promise for it yet.
>
>Just because it isnt viable at the current price of gasoline,
>without the nukes which are the only viable way to produce it.
>
What's funny about the anti-nukes is they never look at all the
garbage use of fossil fuel puts in the air. Probably killing more
people every day than nukes have killed since they were invented.
--Vic
== 7 of 10 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 3:07 pm
From: "Rod Speed"
Vic Smith <thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed.aaa@gmail.com> wrote
>>> A/C might require a 1-2 hp gas engine to power the A/C compressor.
>>> Much smaller gas consumption overall than a hybrid.
>>> I could forego A/C, as I did for the first dozen years of car ownership.
>> I doubt too many would tho.
> Yep. Funny how that works. Never paid any thought to A/C
> when I didn't have it. Now it's an adjustment when it ain't there.
> Same with color TV. Didn't have one until about 1980, when
> somebody gave me one. Always picked up used B/W's cheap.
> Now it's hard to imagine watching a B/W.
And only a few loons are prepared to live in caves anymore.
> But the A/C issue can be fixed with a small gas engine.
> Complicates things though. Now you need space for it and
> a gas tank. But you needed the tank for the heater anyway.
>>> My car's A/C broke last summer in Florida and after a
>>> couple days of feeling sorry for ourselves, guess what?
>>> I adjusted to being without it. Mostly by realizing bitching
>>> and moaning just made me think about hot it was, and by
>>> not driving when the sun was high. Lucky my car is white.
>> I remember one holiday back in the days before A/C was in cars,
>> when the day was so stinking hot that we just stopped at a river
>> and jumped in and stayed there till the sun went down. Likely
>> would have been 110.
>> Another time my tounge was hanging out and I was anticipating
>> doing the same thing down the beach. Just arrived at the beach
>> and the front came thru |-(
> Just got an email from my SIL in Iraq. It's 115 during the day and they're wearing body armor.
Yeah, some of ours are stupid enough to work in the roofspace in weather like that.
> Now if my wife bitches about me not turning on the A/C
> when it hits 80, I'll remind her of him. Won't help, of course.
Swamp coolers work fine here. Not that great in a car tho.
>>> Don't get me wrong. I like A/C. But I've always viewed it as "almost" a luxury.
>> Sure, but so is any form of powered vehicle too.
> But they've pretty much been made essential here. When I lived
> in the city and could bus to work it was different. Had a shopping
> cart and we could walk to any number of stores too.
And in fact in the highest density citys cars arent that practical.
> Carted the laundry to the laundromat too. None of that works out of the
> city. I could do the walk, but I'd probably get killed by a car along the road.
We dont lose too many that way and there are hordes walking on the
roads now just for exercise. Its still mostly little kids that get run over.
>>> The future is electric cars, recharged by nuke generated power.
>> I doubt it, mainly because the range is too limited for too
>> many. There will certainly be a considerable percentage
>> that use electric cars, but it wont ever be everyone.
> The trick is to keep gas prices high. Otherwise there's
> no incentive. to change. Tax policies can do it.
But you dont get that effect in europe where the taxes are much higher.
You just get smaller cars used than in the US and few fluffed up trucks used as cars.
>> You wont see semis electric for example and we wont
>> see all that volume back on electric trains either.
> You might see semis going back to gas when all the commuters go electric.
Nope, diesel still rules the roost and always will do.
They might change to LPG.
> I'm not up on the different fuels that can be made from a barrel of oil.
You can make anything you like, just depends on how much energy you use to make a particular fuel.
>>> Standardizes`d batteries, easily swapped at service/
>>> charging stations hooked to the electric grid.
>> Sure.
>>> We would be there now if leadership had foresight
>> Nope, that cant do anything about the fundamentals.
> Yeah, we wouldn't be to electric yet, but we would be well into a transitional period.
Nope.
> Stricter CAFE standards, gas guzzler taxation, gov push for research, etc.
You dont need any research, its all been done and its just
waiting for the gasoline price to be high enough to make it viable.
> Didn't work politically here. You got the righties saying the gas is
> endless, and the lefties saying nukes will make your balls fall off.
Sure, but even with very gung ho politicians like the frogs,
the most you get is lots of nukes, you dont get electric cars.
>>> and people weren't so spoiled by cheap gas.
>> Any leadership has to operate within the current basics.
> The biggest basic here is "Don't tell me I can't drive a gas hog."
Nar, the biggest basic is that electric cars arent viable for most.
>>> Just part of the marketplace at work.
>> Yep, thats why we still use gasoline and will to
>> change to LPG etc before we change to electric.
> I've heard the power companies here have been building NG power plants
> at a good pace. NG is just another finite petro source. My heating bills
> are way up because the power companies are sucking up the NG.
Yeah, thats a stupid use of natural gas, essentially the result of the
mindless antinuke mentality that pervades north america currently.
> If we go nuke the heating business will do well with retrofitting
> homes for electric. Copper would be a good market play.
>>> You'll see that more clearly when gas hits 10 bucks a gallon.
>> Not on going electric we wont.
> Depends on the bottom line cost of the power.
Nope, the problem is the cost of electric vehicles with viable range.
> With nuke power plants and decent battery technology
> the crossover price point might be 2 dollars a gallon.
Nope, because of the cost of the batterys in the car.
> That's aside from disadvantages of the electric. Even now,
> at about 4 dollars a gallon for gas, it might be getting close
> to where the electric rates beat gasoline in cost per mile.
Like I said, the problem isnt the cost of the power,
its the cost of the batterys with a viable range.
> I just pulled those numbers out of my arse so don't hold me to them.
>>> Maybe something else will be developed - hydrogen, etc, but
>>> I haven't seen anybody holding up much promise for it yet.
>> Just because it isnt viable at the current price of gasoline,
>> without the nukes which are the only viable way to produce it.
> What's funny about the anti-nukes is they never look at all the
> garbage use of fossil fuel puts in the air. Probably killing more
> people every day than nukes have killed since they were invented.
Yeah, but that lot have never been able to manage basic facts like that.
== 8 of 10 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 3:30 pm
From: Dennis
On Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:23:45 -0500, Vic Smith
<thismailautodeleted@comcast.net> wrote:
>>> Don't get me wrong. I like A/C. But I've always viewed it as "almost" a luxury.
>>
>>Sure, but so is any form of powered vehicle too.
>>
>But they've pretty much been made essential here. When I lived in the
>city and could bus to work it was different. Had a shopping cart and
>we could walk to any number of stores too.
>Carted the laundry to the laundromat too. None of that works out of
>the city. I could do the walk, but I'd probably get killed by a car
>along the road.
I recently read about a prototype hybrid vehicle that uses a solar
powered heat pump for A/C. Interesting idea -- the car can be already
cool when you get into it.
Dennis (evil)
--
I'm behind the eight ball, ahead of the curve, riding the wave,
dodging the bullet and pushing the envelope. -George Carlin
== 9 of 10 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 5:17 pm
From: "Lou"
"cr113" <cr113@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1fbc6122-e56d-47d3-aad2-26cdcc1d62c4@56g2000hsm.googlegroups.com...
> On Jun 12, 11:00 am, Vic Smith <thismailautodele...@comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
>> The future is electric cars, recharged by nuke generated power.
>> Standardized batteries, easily swapped at service/charging stations
>> hooked to the electric grid.
>
> Yep.
Swapping battery packs seems problematic to me - everything degrades with
time. You buy a new car with a spanking new battery pack, drive it around a
day or two or three, and you need to recharge. Go to the local "filling"
station, out comes your new batteries, and you get in exchange a charged,
but older pack just about at the end of its useful life. Whups, you're out
a few thousand bucks.
== 10 of 10 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 7:37 pm
From: SMS
> Personally I'd rather they left the performance the same and lowered
> the price and raised the mpg. Instead they basically raised the
> performance while keeping the price and mpg the same. I just get the
> feeling they are still marketing this car as a gimmick for people who
> want to make a statement about being "green". Not as a true "economy"
> car.
Your first mistake is believing that the price they charge for the
Prius, or any vehicle for that matter, is directly related to the size
of the engine. The 1.8 l engine will not cost them any more than the
1.5l engine. Even if it did, the price is not determined by adding
together the cost of parts and labor then marking it up a fixed amount,
it's determined by what the market will pay for a particular vehicle.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Trips on frugal tourism & living in Paris, France
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/8dbd9dffc680ea4e?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 10:44 am
From: khapi@yahoo.com
http://home.comcast.net/~plutarch/frugal-paris.html
== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 12:19 pm
From: "Runge12"
ffffrugal ??
Why frugal you scrooge ??!!
<khapi@yahoo.com> a écrit dans le message de
news:bfdaa9b2-0a38-47d1-9c29-8a1be598b8a9@l64g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> http://home.comcast.net/~plutarch/frugal-paris.html
==============================================================================
TOPIC: chinese food ,the best food in the world
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/b368af29de57eff1?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 10:58 am
From: food@1dis.cn
chinese food ,the best food in the world
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Tesco Voucher Codes - Money off and Clubcard Points
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/93c34c99447a76de?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 12:29 pm
From: GorzowWP
Latest discounts for money off and extra clubcard points at Tesco
http://tescovouchercodes.blogspot.com
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Free Printable Children's Book
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/8a845b310e69910c?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 5:05 pm
From: lowencope
Beauty Buzzy has trouble accepting others who are not a
beautiful bumblebee like her. She does not want to play
with the others until she meets a beautiful butterfly. Beauty
Buzzy is a rhyming story using repetition and a catchy chorus to teach
children about the importance of accepting differences. This
book is great for anyone who has ever felt
different. Great for elementary school lessons
or a bedtime story. This free ebook can be enjoyed again and
again!
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Sometimes it just doesn't work
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/9ad81274179c279d?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 6:52 pm
From: hchickpea@hotmail.com
On Sun, 08 Jun 2008 11:34:06 -0700, Dennis <dgw80@hotmail.com> wrote:
>I looked and shopped and tried to work around buying a tractor and
>brush hog for several years. Then I resigned myself to making the
>investment. Even buying second hand is expensive. But after having
>the tractor (i.e., the right tool) for a little while, I kicked myself
>for not jumping in sooner. It is a major work saver. Mine is a John
>Deere compact diesel 4WD model with a front bucket. I picked up the
>brush hog mower new (on sale at a local independent dealer) and a used
>tiller. I have never regretted any of these purchases.
I've been looking for the past few months for something. I was
considering the old Ford 8Ns, but they are two wheel drive, and my
land is errr, seriously steep in parts. So, after seeing an ad for a
Mitsubishi grey-market tractor, DW and I drove up to Dickson again and
bought a used D1500FD (four wheel drive, two cyl diesel, Cat 1 hitch,
rice paddy tires). I overpaid, and it needs a little work, but it
should handle the basics. Came with a finish mower, will have to get
a 4' bush hog later, since we dipped into rainy day funds for the
purchase. Before buying, I checked with two parts dealers on parts
availability and their opinions to make sure I wasn't buying an
expensive orphan.
At least this one shouldn't get stuck at the bottom of the draw,
trying to get back up the slope. The low center of gravity is a good
thing as well.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: MAKE THOUSANDS ONLINE INSTANTLY WITH A FREE PAYPAL$$$
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/046d1456fcc140ae?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 7:52 pm
From: marie digorgio
MAKE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN A FEW HOURS WITH ONLY A $6
INVESTMENT....... mariedege@gmail.com (updated on 6/11/2008)
THE PAYPAL 6 DOLLAR MONEY-MAKING METHOD AS SEEN ON OPRAH EARN HUGE $$$$
$$$$
All you need is:
1) An email address
2) A Paypal account
3) $6.00
I have been down and out lately and saw this opportunity. I am going
to try it as it only requires $6.00 to try. What's to lose right?
Please follow the directions EXACTLY as outlined below in order for it
to work. I have done a lot of reading and research and found that the
method used here is TOTALLY LEGAL! I saw the original story on Oprah
and found out later about it being on 20/20.
WHAT IS IT?
This is a system that takes advantage of the power of compounding, and
in a big way, let me tell you. First and foremost understand that
there are countless spin-offs of this system that try to make a quick
buck off of people. Long lists, the 5 & 10 dollar trees, the birthday
systems, etc...
Those spin-offs do make money because of the ease of implementation of
this idea, but they do NOT use the compounding advantage. This system
is THE legit and profitable one. Here is how it works.......
There is a list of 6 email addresses (you'll see it as you read
further). Each of these people have already taken part in this system.
When someone new comes along (such as yourself) he/she removes #1 off
of the list, moves the other five email addresses up one position
(i.e. #6 goes to #5, #5 to #4, etc.), and places their Paypal email
address in the #6 position. This process is what develops the power of
compounding. The bottom line is this.......
Honesty and Integrity creates Profitability!
Following this EXACT process is what creates the money, and that is
WHY this system has been raved about in the media. Altering the
system creates weak results. The legality of this system comes from
the idea that you are of course creating a mailing list, and a service
is being provided (more on that later.) Now on to how your $6.00
creates BIG money.......
INSTRUCTIONS:
STEP 1:
The first thing to do is highlight and SAVE this entire post in word
or notepad on your computer so you can come back to it later. After
that, if you are not already a Paypal user you need to go to the
Paypal website at www.paypal.com and SIGN UP.
This is a FREE service !
If you want to be able to receive credit card payments from other
people then you will need to sign up for a PREMIER or BUSINESS account
(not just a PERSONAL account). This is highly recommended to allow
others easy payment options. In order to place the initial $6 into
your account, you will have to verify your bank account with PAYPAL
(which may take a few days). PAYPAL is 100% secure and is used by
millions of people worldwide.
STEP 2:
Here is where the action occurs. The first thing to do is to send a
$1.00 payment to each of the 6 email addresses on the current list
from your Paypal account. To do this quickly and successfully, follow
these simple steps:
1. Login to Paypal and click on the Send Money tab (near the top of
the screen).
2. In the Recipient's Email field enter the email address
3. In the Amount field enter 1. (This is your $1.00 payment)
4. In the Category field select Service. (Keeping it legal)
5. In the Subject field type EMAIL LIST. And in the NOTE field enter
PLEASE PUT ME ON YOUR EMAIL LIST.
By doing this, you are creating a service and maintaining the
legality of the system by paying for the service.
6. Finally, click on the Continue button to complete the payment.
Repeat these steps for each of the 6 email addresses. That's it! By
sending the $1.00 payment to each address, you are implementing the
compounding POWER of the system. You will reap what you sow!
Here is the current e-mail list:
*************************************************
1) zoeyterr@yahoo.com
2) wda@hotmail.com
3) pedrosurv@gmail.com
4) Sweetthng148@yahoo.com
5) rdhick00@yahoo.com
6) mariedege@gmail.com
************************************************
STEP 3:
Now take the #1 email off of the list that you see above (from your
saved file), move the other addresses up (6 becomes 5, 5 becomes 4,
etc.) and add YOUR email address (the one used for your Paypal
account) as number 6 on the list.
THIS IS THE ONLY PART OF THE DOCUMENT THAT SHOULD BE CHANGED!* Make
sure your email address is the one you have registered with Paypal **
STEP 4:
Post your amended article to at least 200 newsgroups or message
boards. Keep in mind that there are tens of thousands of groups
online! All you need is 200, but remember the more you post the more
money you make - as well as everyone else on the list! Use Netscape,
Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, or whatever your internet browser
is to search for various news groups, on-line forums, message boards,
bulletin boards, chat sites, discussions, discussion groups, on-line
communities, etc.
For example, log on to any search engine like yahoo.com or google.com
and type in a subject like "MILLIONAIRE MESSAGE BOARD", "MONEY MAKING
DISCUSSIONS", "MONEY MAKING FORUMS", or "BUSINESS MESSAGE BOARD",
etc.
You will find thousands and thousands of message boards. Click them
one by one and you will find the option to post a new message. Yes
this will take a little time but think of the payoff for your
efforts.
Fill in the subject which will be the header that everyone sees as
they scroll through the list of postings in a particular group, and
post the article with the NEW list of email addresses included. THAT'S
IT!!! All you have to do is jump to different newsgroups and post
away. After you get the hang of it, it will take about 30 seconds for
each newsgroup. What other opportunity that is as simple as this can
cash in the way this can! I'm not going to say this is going to make
everyone over $800,000, but within a few WEEKS you begin to see
results, thanks to the speed of the internet! When your name is no
longer on the list, take the latest posting in the newsgroups and
begin the process again. Simply amazing! One other tip to speed up the
process even more:
You can send out your amended post (after you complete the process and
add your PAYPAL email address to the list) to the contacts you already
have in YOUR email address book! It is AMAZING how fast this works.
Be cautious though with your emailing (don't spam hundreds of people
you don't know).
There is something to be said when an idea is internationally
publicized, just make sure you take advantage of it (especially for
only $6.00!)
Follow the system as described, and enjoy your PROFITS!!! REMEMBER,
HONESTY AND INTEGRITY = PROFITABILITY
YOUR NAME COULD CYCLE FOR A LONG TIME! THIS MAKES IT THE GIFT THAT
KEEPS ON GIVING. This is excellent seed money to start or expand a
business, buy your dream home, car and pay off whatever bills you may
have. I hope it works for us all and Good luck!
==============================================================================
TOPIC: DTV Converter box major snafu in the US
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/5479512ec399c625?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 2 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 8:02 pm
From: Logan Shaw
Seerialmom wrote:
> I haven't applied for or technically need one of those converter box
> coupons before the digital switch over, however those who have applied
> for an received them are apparently finding they either can't locate a
> box to buy or the coupons are expiring before they can buy. And of
> course our lovely government with the brightest red tape available,
> has rules in place saying they can't reapply for the coupons. What I
> don't understand was why the 90 day expiration when the switchover
> doesn't happen until February 2009?
Seems obvious why: they have 90-day expiration to avoid there being
a huge rush in February 2009. They're trying to spread it out over
the entire year.
- Logan
== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 8:53 pm
From: Logan Shaw
Derald wrote:
> What I don't understand is why the coupons are redeemable only
> against mediocre models from select manufacturers. High-end converters
> with adequate sensitivity for low-signal "fringe" reception do not
> qualify for the coupon and are currently priced in the $170 range.
If I had to guess, I'd say the manufacturers are targeting two niches:
converters that are cheap enough so you can almost/mostly pay for
them with the coupon, and converters that you can't and are more
full-featured.
The restriction that you can't use the converter on one with certain
features (such as a digital output) is a little strange, but I can see
why that restriction exists. It exists because if it didn't, just
about every video-related piece of equipment in the world would
suddenly start sporting an analog TV output and an ATSC tuner. That
would make it technically a "converter" and suddenly the manufacturer
has produced a product that the consumer gets a free $40 toward.
For example, a camcorder already probably has an analog video out.
Just add an ATSC tuner, and suddenly it's a "converter". Likewise,
a Tivo model with an ATSC tuner and an analog output would be a
"converter" as well.
> Although, teevee aerial reception in my area has been adequate,
> IME, since 1977, within the past year, increased noise and noticeably
> weaker signals, AWA recent acquisition of a color teevee -- our first --
> have caused me to replace the antenna, downline, etc. Subsequently,
> largely from curiosity, I purchased a thoroughly medium quality digital
> SDTV just to see what is what.
I didn't even know they made standard-def televisions with ATSC tuners.
I have no doubt at all that it's possible, but I just wasn't aware any
manufacturers were doing it. Lo and behold, now that I've googled it,
it appears they in fact do make them.
> The digital set has since been returned
> to the retailer. Guess what is what: Not surprisingly, at its best, the
> set's cheapo analog tuner would ( only sometimes) receive as many as
> three of the eight (English language) channels normally accessible to
> me; the digital tuner would receive a total of one of the four-or-five
> digital broadcast stations available to me.
Well, if it's receiving fewer analog stations than your old analog set,
then it sounds like the tuner section of the television was not very
good. Nevertheless, one of the things about digital TV is that once
the signal degrades past a certain point, it fails pretty much
catastrophically and the entire signal is lost. With analog TV, you
could always stare at a screen that is 90% snow and 10% picture.
With digital, you do not have that option.
On the other hand, what's worse for some people is actually better
for others. My parents finally broke down and got cable TV when
someone built an office building a mile or so away from them. It was
in just the right position that once it was built, several of the
local stations had horrible ghost images that they didn't have before.
It made it almost unwatchable. The thing about ATSC is that because
of the type of modulation it uses, multipath interference like this
is supposed to allow an ATSC tuner to, quite amazingly, get *better*
reception[1]. So because of digital TV, there are people who for the
first time in years actually have a chance of receiving a clear
signal over the air.
- Logan
[1] Essentially, an ATSC tuner and the ATSC transmitter are changing
frequencies really often. By the time the echo from the office
building (or what have you) arrives, the transmitter and the
receiver have moved on to another frequency. Thus the echo
conflicts with nothing and can be picked up by the receiver
too and used as a second source to supplement the information
that was available in the main signal. It's sort of an instant
replay for your TV tuner in case it missed the signal the first
time.
==============================================================================
TOPIC: Frugal vacation options
http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.frugal-living/browse_thread/thread/8821f482907f8c37?hl=en
==============================================================================
== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Thurs, Jun 12 2008 9:12 pm
From: Great Timing
Airlines are charging more due to higher Gas costs. Don't cancel your
summer vacation; check out the best wholesale travel options in the
world. This isn't a sales pitch, this is a travel club. The member
benefits are deep discounts on cost, plus free financing for your
trip! We have Disney Cruises, adventure getaways and last minute
travel. Most of our costs are half of what your travel agent will
charge you.
http://livelarger.travelencia.com/
Vacation Now - Pay later! Free vacation financing available for
everyone.
The biggest travel consolidator in the US has decided to start a
'travel club' where members get vacation financing. This company is
backed by 20 years worth of service with thousands of members already
enjoying perks. Don't put off taking the whole family on that Disney
Cruise, these prices are the best you'll ever find, every destination,
every genre of vacation. It's worth the two minutes it'll take you to
click and see for yourself.
http://livelarger.travelencia.com/
==============================================================================
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