Friday, June 26, 2009

Energy, Green or Otherwise

In my recent ezine@rticles.com piece, I wrote about my amazement at our dependence on relatively few sources for producing electricity.

It may seem like a departure for me to write about the subject of electricity. Given that this blog is about the universal nature of all that surrounds us (and that which interests me), I figured I’d devote some time and effort to such an important subject. After all, were it not for electricity, you wouldn’t be reading this!

I found a web site that markets a kit for making solar panels. I was unaware that solar technology had progressed to the point where a ‘do-it-yourself’ (DIY) person could make his or her own electricity.
Some of the articles used to market the product got me thinking about the way we refer to energy.

For instance, one of the articles states that that “The sun has always been a source of heat energy and light energy. With the advancement of technology, the sun’s energy can be used to create other forms of energy.”
Strictly speaking, of course, we cannot create energy because it already exists. We can, however, harness the energy from one source and direct it towards a specific use. Minor point, I concede, since the purpose of the article is to market a product. I did find an interesting nugget of information about current methods of producing electricity that are not dependent on oil or coal.

It has been estimated that 90 percent of the electrical energy produced by renewable resources is produced solely by hydro power. Dams are built to help generate electricity by tapping the water power. The hydro energy or water energy is an effective renewable energy, but it’s impractical for most residential applications (meaning each house having a hydro plant), so it’s typically generated on a large scale. Also, there have been some concerns about using this energy because it is supposed to adversely affect the water-borne flora and fauna.
That leaves solar energy as the next best alternative to reduce or eliminate your electric bill. After all, energy from the sun is what makes our existence on this rock possible, and it’s the most abundant and reliable source of energy. So the DIY crowd just needs a little help in getting the know-how for harnessing the sun’s energy, and harnessing more legal tender into their wallets.I urge you to visit the website I mentioned by going HERE

After all, the sun will shine tomorrow, and energy – green (as in money) or otherwise – will be available to all of us.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Winds of Change

I'm sitting by the pool on a seemingly rainy day, watching the kids play in the water. The winds have picked up, and suddenly a quasi-poetic thought about all the change taking place in the world enters my mind. Clearly, I'm taking myself too seriously. I know that a low pressure system is making its way to Arizona, and that's the reason why the day looks gloomy compared to the usually sunny, hot and cheerful summer day I've grown accustomed to.

Yet, my normally detached demeanor is being challenged. I know better than to watch the news, and today I got a reminder why a recovering news addict (me) should stay away from certain channels on the TV. I admit, I fell off the wagon.

Then again, compared to the cheating, Christian S.C. governor; protesters in Iran; the dozens of dead victims of terror in that Iraqi market; the unemployment rate, and the North Koreans, the winds of change caressing my face right now feel pretty darned good. Yeah, that's it. I know that change is as constant as routine is complacent.

I wonder what's on the sci-fi channel?
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By the way: talking about wind, here's a cool site that can help you
cut your electric bill using solar and wind power instead:
Download the Solar and Wind Kit HERE
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Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Thank God for Stupitidy...I mean... differing viewpoints

Leave it to Canadian scientists to offer a silly conclusion to a psychological experiment. They found that positive thinking may actually be harmful to some people with low self-esteem. Now, I don't know if these researchers were psychologists or what, but whatever they are, they missed the boat (to put it mildly).

As it's being reported, the researchers wrote that "From at least as far back as Norman Vincent Peale's "The Power of Positive Thinking" (1952), the media have advocated saying favorable things to oneself." Does anybody else catch that? The media have advocated, they say. In other words, forget about the experiences, the evidence, the history, and alas, other studies that have shown the benefits of positive thinking. What's important here is what the media has to say about it! (Yes, I'm being sarcastic).

Ok, let me get serious, then. The fallacy in the design of this study (IMHO) is that repeating statements that are contrary to well-entrenched subconscious programming is just simply lying to oneself. This has been known for quite a while. You cannot lie to yourself, and change your subconscious beliefs. Period. Changing your subconscious programming involves choosing a different belief and expressing that choice, then reinforcing your new choice with repetition, faith, detachment, and gratitude. If you have low self-esteem, the way to raise your self-esteem will involve a little more effort than just repeating positive statements in front of the mirror.

Changing your dominant thoughts, your beliefs, is a well-researched topic with tons of testimonials from people who have learned to "speak subconscious." The topic is too long and involved for me to explore in this blog.

So, it appears these Canadians proved that lying is bad (especially to oneself), and that it will probably make you feel worse. I find it peculiar that someone paid these guys to find evidence in support of a well-known fact. I mean, even God wrote in stone: Thou shalt not lie... or something to that effect. What are they going to study next? The viscosity of ketchup? Oh wait, somebody did that one already. I'm serious, look it up!