I don't believe we have discussed these before, but my wife is hounding me for a new kitchen faucet. The old one is fine, doesn't leak or anything, but it is 8 years old and apparently out of style. She has to have a single handle with pull down sprayer. (what we have now) With her, the more expensive the better. She mentioned something in the $800. range, which sounds outlandish to me, but I know many cost more than that. More or less traditional style.
Any thoughts on good choices? Where to buy? etc. and are the more expensive ones actually better or are you just paying for the brand. Thanks.
"Any thoughts on good choices? Where to buy? etc. and are the more expensive ones actually better or are you just paying for the brand. Thanks."
We usually go to Home Depot or Loews. We usually look for Delta or Moen as they have great quality, are long lasting, and have the best warranties. There are other good brands out there as well.
As for pricing, Home Depot and Loews are good because they sell in large quantities.
"Happy Easter to all. May we all continue to receive God's blessings for the rest of the year and beyond."
Same to you and the family, bwia. Happy Easter to all, and for our Jewish posters, Happy Passover. Remember, the last supper was a Passover Seder (hope I spelled that right).
@houdini1 said:
Any thoughts on good choices? Where to buy? etc. and are the more expensive ones actually better or are you just paying for the brand. Thanks.
I have special ordered faucets at Lowes from Delta or Kohler--may have been Kohler. But you have to know what style you want and hope that Menards, Lowes, or Home Depot happens to carry that one in bulk. That's when their pricing is competitive. Single orders are more expensive. Menards has a kiosk for checking on special ordering.
Pay for the brand
In my opinion, much of it is paying for the style.
Browsing Delta and Kohler's sites shows that clearly.
I was stunned when my wife decided to like the two Delta faucets for kitchen sink and a bathroom that were on the shelf at Menards. Saved a lot over ordering. The cheaper faucets are made a little lighter from what I see installing the one in the bathroom. But there's point of no return on more metal, better ceramic valves, and quality improvement. Beyond that you're just paying for style.
I love Delta's customer service. Need new o-rings for the automatic temperature control on the shower? Ship it right out. Need a new cartridge for that shower? Ship it right out. Lifetime warranty. I don't think all the products are lifetime warranty, but the reading the boxes will indicate if they have the lifetime warranty if I recall buying the two recent faucets at Menards. Based in Columbus (IN) and call some out of Chicago.
Kohler has had the same kind of service on the ceramic valves on the kitchen and two bathrooms where we had their upscale faucets. Amazing. Don't get that from a Chinese company or Walmart.
You know, I never thought of that business model. That IS pretty clever if they can pull it off.
Why didn't I think of that? I've always said that Tesla is going to morph out of cars into something else, but the scenario as battery-maker didn't quite seem real enough to me.
@bwia said:
Happy Easter to all. May we all continue to receive God's blessings for the rest of the year and beyond.
Speaking of Global Warming I posted this on another thread but I thought I’d share with the regulars on this forum:
I don't remember if this angle was discussed earlier but Tesla is an unmistakable game changer. Not as another car company but as a utility company. Tesla is building recharging stations at a rapid rate and some of these stations are not necessarily on the major routes.
As we all know the 85 kWh batteries can be recharged at a Tesla charging station free of charge but not so for lesser batteries. And that's how Tesla has changed the game. With other companies joining the electric car bandwagon their limited range cars will need to be recharged. Rather than build their own infrastructure they will simply equip their cars to be "filled up" at a Tesla charging station. Two streams of revenue will be generated from this strategy: a licensing agreement for a conversion kit for non-Tesla cars that want free charging and a tariff for the cost of electricity used for those not wanting to buy the upgraded conversion kit.
What a beautiful concept. Tesla can change the driving habits of motorists to drive on less congested roads to take advantage of the new charging stations and to revitalize routes once abandoned by motorists such as Route 66.
And guess what; Tesla will be generating even more money from Uncle Sam and State governments to build this infrastructure since it would help alleviate the congestion problem around major cities.
"Around me finding a $.30 delta is hard. 50-60 cents is more common. One reason I like my Sunoco station. Tends to have the tightest spread."
I would agree - but the difference in price between RUG and PUG at the average gas station is closer to 50 cents per gallon. Mid grade is about 25-30 cents per gallon more than RUG.
Costco only sells RUG and PUG - no mid grade. I don't know why they sell mid grade which requires refineries to produce it. If refineries only produced RUG and PUG for cars, it would cut the cost to produce gasoline. They still have to produce aviation fuel, marine fuel, etc., but why the oil companies need to offer mid grade gasoline I can't figure out.
Car and SUV engines are designed to run on RUG or PUG. Mid grade gasoline is neither of those. So if discontinuing production of mid grade gasoline could reduce the cost of PUG and RUG, why not eliminate it?
My Corvette's owner's manual said 89 or higher. Was running 91 or 93. Stepped down to mid grade 89 and it ran fine. Saved 10-15 a gallon.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
@houdini1 said:
I don't believe we have discussed these before, but my wife is hounding me for a new kitchen faucet. The old one is fine, doesn't leak or anything, but it is 8 years old and apparently out of style. She has to have a single handle with pull down sprayer. (what we have now) With her, the more expensive the better. She mentioned something in the $800. range, which sounds outlandish to me, but I know many cost more than that. More or less traditional style.
Any thoughts on good choices? Where to buy? etc. and are the more expensive ones actually better or are you just paying for the brand. Thank
Did a lot of research on a new faucet. Build.com had the best prices. Got the Kohler K-560 for $ 160 which was $70 less than Lowes. The price was initially 189 with a 10% discount. kohler10 code for vibrant stainless finish. They still have it on Amazon. Found it on Amazon Prime for 160 and they matched the price. Prices seem to change daily but Build.com has very good pricing and free shipping. Good luck.
@MrShift@Edmunds said:
I think the case for human-induced global warming is pretty solid, while the case (opinion really) that it is not human-induced has little data to support that position. So at this point, I'm inclined to go with the evidence-heavy side, rather than the side that offers no real data for their opinion aside from irritation or suspicion or calls for fairness.
That's not science, that's politics, which I don't think should interfere in our general welfare.
Nothing has been conclusively proven, but the circumstantial evidence is pretty convincing at this point.
Or to make a somewhat (I hope) neutral statement about it: "Something totally unprecedented is happening to the earth's climate, at a rate never before recorded in our geological history".
Anyone seen the documentary "Chasing Ice"? That film has changed a lot of minds.
I agree that nothing has been conclusively proven, but I also believe that both sides have highly politicized the issue, and that each sides conclusions are mostly based on opinions. My opinion is that the earth might or might not be warming abnormally, and nobody has any idea why it is or isn't.
Further, the term "the debate is over", often used by those who believe that humans are the main cause of GW, really sets off my BS meter. Whenever you hear the term, "the debate is over" during any discussion, you can be sure of two things. One, the debate is still raging, and two, whoever said "the debate is over", is losing the argument.
I agree, Houdini. The "debate is over" stuff is also used not just to settle the data, but also to settle the methods of solution. While most may agree that something is going on, fewer agree what exactly, even fewer agree why and there is no agreement whether it's even such a problem, whether anything effective can be done, and even fewer would agree what is proper course of action. Yet, you hear it's not just the debate that's over, more, the climate gurus supposedly have all the answers and ready to go policies. This is the part that I think, is a even a bigger scam. There are real follow up questions on what and how, yet all we hear there, is preaching and quashing any dissent or ideas that do not involve massive and intrusive government control over industry or consumer behavior, drumming up guilt for wanting more conveniences in life.
@houdini1 said:
Whenever you hear the term, "the debate is over" during any discussion, you can be sure of two things. One, the debate is still raging, and two, whoever said "the debate is over", is losing the argument.
Exactly. I've heard the president say that healthcare quandary is over two times now based on supposed data about supposed signups which they somehow can't seem to be able to provide exact data about but they know that they've had that many people do something on their website.
As for the data, one factor is the "compliant" media who tend to push one side of the issue and so the general public folks aren't hearing the other side of the facts from the sources far too many people use for their source of "information" these days. If the general media had actually been giving the Walter Cronkite treatment to reporting the full story, most people wouldn't know what to believe because the meaning of much of the data is beyond their comprehension.
One other factor about why the global warming issue gets warmed over (excuse the pun) is that the party is made of diverse factions. They have to throw out red meat once in a while by showing the factions they care about their particular issue to keep them interested in the party's goals. So we hear something pushed about global warming every couple of months.
Let's face it, if the data for global warming being caused by mankind and definitely traceable, the congress folk, bless their hearts, would have pushed for more things to change the movement. Instead we find the leader using the EPA to go around the lawmaking that congress really should be doing if it were real and the data points were there.
"I agree, Houdini. The "debate is over" stuff is also used not just to settle the data, but also to settle the methods of solution."
Progressives always insist that their answers and conclusions are the true facts that are undeniable while the staunch conservatives never trust progressives and always are the last ones to admit to anything that is anti energy, anti business or anti smaller government!
That leaves those of us who are in the middle (they used to call us moderates but that term is anti left and anti right) who neither deny global warming is caused by the combustion of fossil fuels nor do they agree it is caused by that combustion because they are kind of like agnostics (those who need physical and tangible proof of the existence of God or who are not ready to commit to non-existence of God) who do not have enough evidence at hand to commit to one side or the other. Moderates are still willing to have a dialogue about global warming while conservative right wingers and progressive left wingers see no reason to have a dialogue because each side is convinced that they are correct!
I am still on the fence concerning global warming and it's cause. I guess I am one of those I call "moderates" - needing more evidence in order to swing one way or the other.
I am open to dialogue and further study - but I am not sure one way or the other is the true answer to global warming. Thus, I believe we should be proactive in reducing the possible effects of the combustion of fossil fuels on our environment on case the far left progressives are correct. But I believe this proactive approach must be accomplished without serious negative consequences to business and industry as well as the populous of our planet.
LOL, the only concrete written "data" I have seen are those leaked emails from the "scientists" telling their comrades how to distort and withhold information that they did not want anyone else to see. Lies, lies, and more lies. Once someone is caught lying, then "the debate is over", at least for me.
Here is the problem - too many scientists sold out to politicians for funds, personal advance, or similar considerations. If your main conclusion is there is no problem, the funding customer says "thank you very much" and no more money for equipment or TAs.
It has been well documented that there were significant cases of falsified data to make message more powerful. Those UN climate reports are full of errors that conveniently are always one way. Errors happen, but to be credible they should be going both ways. From melting caps in 30 years, to "smoothing" Medieval warming in climate temperature curve and others. All because it didn't exactly fit the human induced narrative. So no, debate is far from over, if anything the evidence is that there is fraud committed by many to advance political agenda. The temperature curve alteration in susequent versions of reports is probably most egregious thing, more so than those emails.
My take is there are real problems, but environazis in their zeloutry overplayed their hand. "Normal" people got a sense of it. While ignorant in particulars, some of those notions preached by them are simply absurd and do not pass basic scrutiny. The planet IS NOT going to die because tempreature raises by 3 degrees, ice doesn't melt at -20, just as it does not at -23. Yes, some more will melt, some species would go extinct, unfortunately, or some jetstreams will change, but vision of Oceans rising by several feet in just twenty or fifty years, or all life will get extinguished, is simply idiotic. Also nobody mentions things like increased agricultural and commerce opportunities in Canada, Russia, Norway, or Argentina. If the discussion was about adapting to change, not stopping it, I would be much more receptive, because it makes much more sense. But that would not advance mind control and product placement agenda.
I believe there are real environmental problem, stemming mostly from the pollution. I think environmentalists use carbon as a proxy for other emissions and use apocaliptic visions of the future to scare people to submission. Scentists help them, because they need funds.
Or to make a somewhat (I hope) neutral statement about it: "Something totally unprecedented is happening to the earth's climate, at a rate never before recorded in our geological history".
>
Wondering if the dinosaurs would have said something similar if they could talk right before the Ice Age hit?
Regarding global warming, I take a similar view as the stock market -- past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Yes, the earth has been warming up recently, but is it a part of the "normal" cycle? Will it continue? Nobody knows for sure. I live in Sacramento, CA and there used to be glaciers around here (Yosemite.) Who is to say that cold weather is the norm and this warm spell is the anomaly?
What I do know is that regarding the environment, I try to act like my Mom taught me "when you borrow something, always return it in better shape than when you got it."
"Wondering if the dinosaurs would have said something similar if they could talk right before the Ice Age hit?"
Well, as best as I can determine from books I have read and documentaries on the Science Channel, PBS (NOVA), etc., the ice age was caused by an asteroid or comet hitting the earth in what is now the Gulf of Mexico causing such a horrific disturbance in our atmosphere that the clouds of dust in the Earth's atmosphere began to shield the earth from the warmth of the sun.
Thus, the advent of the Ice Age. During the time of the dinosaurs, the Earth was quite warm and moist. This can be documented from fossils of tree trunks and the wider spacing of the rings (greater periods of tree growth) during that period. Those same fossils show narrowing spacing of the rings showing the advent of the Ice Age over periods of time.
I do doubt whether the accounts of the collision of an asteroid or comet are 100% factual, however there is much supporting evidence that supports this theory.
Hmmm, sounds much like today's debate about global warming!
One thing about climate change discussions that we can all agree on is that no ones opinion on the subject will be changed one iota in this forum. People believe what they want to believe and each side has their own reasons for discrediting those who disagree with their position. Welcome to the human race.
@MrShift@Edmunds said:
"It has been well documented that there were significant cases of falsified data to make message more powerful"
When your "scientists" suddenly realized that the earth had actually been cooling for the last 15 years or so, they changed the mantra from global warming to climate change. Doesn't that at least tweak your BS meter?
interesting debate. on this kind of thing, I usually ask "so?". Meaning, OK, assume that the concept is true. but what does it really mean? Just because something happens (or changes) doesn't mean it is necessarily bad. and there is always going to be winners and losers.
"One thing about climate change discussions that we can all agree on is that no ones opinion on the subject will be changed one iota in this forum. People believe what they want to believe and each side has their own reasons for discrediting those who disagree with their position. Welcome to the human race."
"OK, assume that the concept is true. but what does it really mean? Just because something happens (or changes) doesn't mean it is necessarily bad. and there is always going to be winners and losers."
Well, if Global Warming continues and the polar ice caps and glaciers continue to melt at the rate they currently are, the Atlantic Ocean will rise sufficiently so that what is now lower Manhattan (the Battery) will be under water in less than 50 years. Miami Beach will also be under water as will Ft. Launderdale Beach, all the Keys from Key Biscayne to Key West, all the beaches on the South Shore of Long Island, all the central and southern shores of New Jersey, just to name a few.
What is causing the glaciers to melt? The Polar Ice Caps? Obviously it has to be warming of the poles. What, then, is causing an increase in temperatures at the poles to cause this meltdown?
Well, it could be natural and cyclical causes, it could be greater heating of the atmosphere by our sun, it could be CO2 emissions from volcanoes or factories, or the combustion of fossil fuels, or a combination of several causes as mentioned above.
I personally don't deny that, in general, when everything is considered, the Earth is warming at a faster than what I would believe natural rate when compared with previous periods of warming and cooling of this planet.
I am not a left wing progressive and I am not a far right ultra conservative. I am on the "just to the right of center" of the political line. I am open to dialogue, scientific research on this subject, an increase in the use of non-fossil based fuels, etc. However, I am also not in favor of totally eliminating the use of fossil fuels until there is an adequate, affordable supply of energy to take its place.
I am just proactive enough to "listen" to both sides of this debate and prepare for the future should the Earth's warming be attributable to the combustion of fossil fuels. I was a Boy Scout - our motto was "BE PREPARED!"
Any Earth climate change over any sort of measurement in time or area is and has been dramatic. No amount of attempted intervention is going to make any significant difference to slow or stop the constant evolution of climate change. And, we've proven that we can't predict the weather. So, we're debating our ability to do what exactly?
GG, good point. Pretty much if anything has been proven is that when humans try to control mother nature, she laughs in our faces.
plus, what is really hard to predict is repercussions. That is, ice melting is going to change other parts of nature, which could naturally reverse some of the warming.
"plus, what is really hard to predict is repercussions. That is, ice melting is going to change other parts of nature, which could naturally reverse some of the warming."
Repercussions such as the oceans invading land along coastal areas is not hard to predict as this process started back on the 60's and continues today with forecasts expecting the disappearance of many resort beaches and parts of cities like lower Manhattan.
Down here in South Florida, many beaches are already gone in Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale Beach which I used to frequent when I was a boy. My grandparents bought a home in Coral Gables in 1950 when they moved here from New York. So I used to fly down here at Christmas and Easter every year. My grandpa always took my brother and me to Key Biscayne where we laid out on the beaches. Today, many of those beaches are already gone.
Ft. Lauderdale has invested millions and millions of dollars to bring in sand to raise the beaches, but sea level keep rising so it has become a regular occurrence.
All ocean front hotels on Miami Beach and Ft Lauderdale Beach had private Beaches. Many of those hotels are now right on the waterfront and their 100 foot beaches are gone - the Atlantic Ocean now covers those beaches.
So some repercussions are well known due to the melting of the glaciers and the polar ice caps. This meltdown is due to warming at the poles, which is actually happening.
The debate is what is causing the rising polar temperatures.
As for reversals of this melting, the only way the glaciers and polar ice caps can be restored is for another ice age to occur. The glaciers and ice caps will not "regrow" even if temperatures drop significantly and suddenly, which will not occur in the short run. That melted ice has already caused rising oceans. In the short run, nothing can be done to reduce the levels of the oceans.
In the long run (hundreds of thousands of years), perhaps thing can reverse but in many cases, it's too late.
Remember, I don't know for sure what is causing this slow rise in temperatures at the poles, but whatever is causing it is making a significant impact on coastal lowlands and resort beaches.
"Around me finding a $.30 delta is hard. 50-60 cents is more common. One reason I like my Sunoco station. Tends to have the tightest spread."
I would agree - but the difference in price between RUG and PUG at the average gas station is closer to 50 cents per gallon. Mid grade is about 25-30 cents per gallon more than RUG.
The spread here was always $0.20 between RUG and PUG - it's now pusing $0.30. IMHO, it has to do with C store sales. Lower RUG pricing gets people into the station and then into the convenience store where the vast profits are. Cars that require PUG don't have much of a choice to downgrade.
As for mid grade - many cars with low pressure turbos require a minimum of 89 octane.
@stickguy said:
GG, good point. Pretty much if anything has been proven is that when humans try to control mother nature, she laughs in our faces.
Agree with both posters. The real irony here is that the goal of the global warming crowd is to control the money as well to control the population with rules--there's nothing they hope to control that will change something a large as the biosphere called Earth and what's happening with it. We're just a volcanic eruption away from lots more CO2 in the atmosphere. Or perhaps even a change in the sun's solar flares affecting our ionosphere.
If the followers of global warming want to change the CO2 of Earth, assuming it actually affects overall temperature measured correctly, is to go plant a few trees on your property. They use CO2 and emit a pollutant called oxygen.
If the followers of global warming want to change the CO2 of the Earth, quit flying around in big jets. Put away your large cars and buy Sparks. Turn off your AC and your electronics at home and save electricity. Much is produced from natural gas, some still from coal sadly decreasing due to the politicals in global warming efforts.
Down here in South Florida, many beaches are already gone in Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale Beach which I used to frequent when I was a boy. M
Are those beaches gone because the ocean level has risen? Compare the low and high tide markers there to the locations when you visited as a tyke. If so, Al Gore made a mistake buying his oceanfront home when he and Tipper separated.
Are those beaches gone due to the hurricanes doing the natural movement of sand with high energy of waves along with the cross currents that move sand along the beach and typically deposit it elsewhere, sometimes ocean bottom or beaches further along the coast. In South Carolina where I had visited the people build blocking piers out into the ocean to slow the current southward which moves the sand. In fact, when my friends were there they had bought a house for flipping that was on Atlantic Avenue, but Atlantic avenue was about 50 feet out on the beach or under water because of the natural progression of nature. I almost bought a small beachfront house to have a place to stay when I visited Charleston. However that house is gone due to the hurricanes in the 70s/80s moving the sand and the beach; nothing to do with the ocean level rising.
@stickguy said:
GG, good point. Pretty much if anything has been proven is that when humans try to control mother nature, she laughs in our faces.
plus, what is really hard to predict is repercussions. That is, ice melting is going to change other parts of nature, which could naturally reverse some of the warming.
@imidazol97 said:
We're just a volcanic eruption away from lots more CO2 in the atmosphere. Or perhaps even a change in the sun's solar flares affecting our ionosphere.
If the followers of global warming want to change the CO2 of Earth, assuming it actually affects overall temperature measured correctly, is to go plant a few trees on your property. They use CO2 and emit a pollutant called oxygen.
I think we see it the same way, ane I agree with you both.
While no more ridiculous than the prosepct presuming humans are "bad" because they happen to live on this earth, a while ago I had read that cars have become so "clean" that cow "flatulence" contained more CO2 and greenhouse gas emmissions than any recent car. Following that train of thought, we should kill all cows?
Fact is, errosion happens every day. The Grand Canyon, one of our treasured wonders, is a product of erosion. The erosion of coastal areas can be and has been happening for a long while. The fact that it's not happening in a time frame we want is inconsequential. We can fill them in. We can all ride bicycles. They'll still erode.
But, as imid points out, any volcanic eruption, probably anywhere in the world, will cause more climate change over a much shorter period of time than anything we, as carbon emmiting beings (and cows) , will ever affect. Again, I don't see anyone proposing contruction of giant corks to keep volcanos from erupting.
I totally agree. When my wife wanted to buy our $56K V8 SRX, she asked about gas mileage. I told her that if she wanted an expensive Cadillac, then she shouldn't worry about the gas mileage. It averages 17 mpg----not very good, but for an SUV with a V8, I'm not going to complain. It has stretched to 22 mpg on a long road trip.
I don't see anyone proposing contruction of giant corks to keep volcanos from erupting.
If there would be a way for someone to make more money doing that or control more people by the religion of volcano control, there would someone talking about such change and hope.
@houdini1 said:
I don't believe we have discussed these before, but my wife is hounding me for a new kitchen faucet. The old one is fine, doesn't leak or anything, but it is 8 years old and apparently out of style. She has to have a single handle with pull down sprayer. (what we have now) With her, the more expensive the better. She mentioned something in the $800. range, which sounds outlandish to me, but I know many cost more than that. More or less traditional style.
Any thoughts on good choices? Where to buy? etc. and are the more expensive ones actually better or are you just paying for the brand. Thanks.
Dan, as you may know, I've renovated 14 houses during the last 45 years. I've always insisted on quality materials and fixtures. As for faucets, I've probably tried every brand on the market. My greatest success and pleasure has been with Delta. Take a look at their upper end faucets and see what you think. If you decide on a Delta product, try to purchase it from a private plumbing business. My experience with Lowe's is that they will screw you over in a skinny minute. Also, Bradd on this forum would be an excellent source to ask. He agreed with me some time ago that Delta products were good. And yes, we have discussed this topic before. There aren't many things that we haven't discussed. Still, it never hurts to revisit a topic. Happy hunting and let us know what you decide.
@jayrider said:
One thing about climate change discussions that we can all agree on is that no ones opinion on the subject will be changed one iota in this forum. People believe what they want to believe and each side has their own reasons for discrediting those who disagree with their position. Welcome to the human race.
Word on faucets is the chain stores have cheaper versions of what looks like the same or similar models. The internals are better quality from a professional store. Also moen stands behind their products well.
@stickguy said:
Word on faucets is the chain stores have cheaper versions of what looks like the same or similar models. The internals are better quality from a professional store.
I don't believe that. The boxes will be the same part number and the same box. If I were a plumbing supply or specialty store that would be the story I would use to try to get people to believe there is value added from paying more at my place than buying through the box stores. The box stores buy in bulk and pay much, much less. So the models they have on display will be substantially cheaper.
This is just like the rental companies buying cars cheaper because they contract to buy many cars at one time from toyota, GM, Nissan, etc..
@graphicguy said:
Any Earth climate change over any sort of measurement in time or area is and has been dramatic. No amount of attempted intervention is going to make any significant difference to slow or stop the constant evolution of climate change. And, we've proven that we can't predict the weather. So, we're debating our ability to do what exactly?
I was wondering the same thing. If this "pop up" Host of ours is correct that it took 40,000 to 100,000 years to reach the current point of impact, then why should we worry about the next 100,000 years? Human life as we know it may not even be around by that time---due to evolution NOT climate change or global warming. So many scientists today are into funding for R & D. They'll do or say anything to get political approval for dollars.
Instead of worrying about climate change, we might want to worry about the recent increase in power by the EPA. They are destroying jobs, hurting tourism, and infringing on the rights of the common people. I can't even find my favorite light bulbs because of them. I'm made to feel inferior because I like incandescent bulbs. I'm disloyal to my country and the environment if I don't drive a little car that gets 40 mpg. I can't go to a certain beach because it is closed to citizens in order to protect a bird that may or may not be on someone's endangered list. I'm made to feel guilty if I don't pay my bills on line in order to save trees. Heaven forbid that I use a sheet of paper to write a note. I suppose that the EPA will outlaw toilet paper next year. I'm told to turn my thermostat down to conserve energy, use less clothes washing detergent, buy a shower head that controls the water flow over my body, don't water my lawn or wash my car more than once a week, and eat only organic foods or you will die a slow death of the worst possible agony. To quote: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." End of rant. I'm going downstairs and eat a chocolate Easter bunny, smoke a cigarette, and turn the heat up! Try to stop me.
@Kirstie@Edmunds said:
It really only FEELS bad. If my math is correct - and you should assume that it isn't, because there's a very good chance that it isn't - if you drive 20K miles/year and use PUG instead of RUG, your annual premium over RUG amounts to a measly $200, based on a 20 MPG average. Even if you're getting 15 MPG, that takes it up to $266/year. I doubt anyone driving a new-ish car that is nice enough to need PUG is living and dying over a $20/month budget flux.
I've done similar math and actually came to the same conclusion some time back. My car is my only vice (ok, not only...but one of just a couple. Ok, maybe not a couple, but a few...), so I splurge. The (perceived) pain is just seeing the cost of a tankful heading up to ski lift ticket territory! There's another vice...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
I agree. The type of fuel a car takes has no bearing on what I drive. Heck, I'm considering a diesel powered Passat & ULSD is $.50 per gallon more than RUG.
It does however drive me bonkers when I talk to someone who drives a car that specifically requires PUG & they say: "I just use regular" or "I put mid-grade in it."
When we bought the 535xi, requiring min. 91octance, the salesdude told my wife that she could use 89. He said he had an engineer friend that worked for Schlumberger and the freind said the difference was so minimal between the two grades that 89 would not cause any pain. I recommended she use 91, but guess whose advice she took? I use 91/93 for the Jag. The older RX300 is happy with RUG.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
It is true that a lot of what we think we know will be proven wrong. But it is also true that much of what we thought we knew 100 years ago, still remains true. In other words, sometimes we were right, sometimes we were wrong.
I think the point of the climate change debate is that the human race is currently engaged in a vast, unknown experiment with climate change---a rather huge roll of the dice so to speak.
And we are stymied as to how to respond intelligently. Why invest billions in sea walls or green tech when it might all be for naught?
On another note:
The "volcano argument" doesn't really wash because human activity is by far the largest contributor to the observed increase in atmospheric CO2.---According to the U.S. Geological Survey more than 130 times as much as volcanoes produce.
There appears to be no scientific support for "natural causes" causing the current global warming. (see below).
In 2004 historian of science Naomi Oreskes published a well-known analysis of the peer-reviewed literature on global warming, “The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change.” Out of 928 papers whose abstracts she surveyed, she wrote, 75 percent explicitly or implicitly supported anthropogenic global warming, 25 percent were methodological or otherwise took no position on the subject—and none argued for purely natural explanations.
@imidazol97 said:
Are those beaches gone because the ocean level has risen? Compare the low and high tide markers there to the locations when you visited as a tyke. If so, Al Gore made a mistake buying his oceanfront home when he and Tipper separated. :grin
It is because the Atlantic Ocean is rising due to polar ice cap and glacier melting - ant the beaches no longer exist - but are covered with the Atlantic Ocean.
A1A (a road that runs right up the beaches from South Miami Beach to Boynton Beach and Palm Beach) is regularly flooding (20+ times a year) when back 30 - 40 years ago, it only flooded during a strong storm surge from a hurricane. Now, when there are 25-35 mph winds off the Atlantic, the streets flood.
US1 is also experiencing flooding in some areas along the Southeast Atlantic Coast that never flooded before. Miami/Dade and Broward Counties have increased the area between the Beaches and I95 for possible storm evacuations. In some parts, it goes to just east of the Florida Turnpike, which is well inland from the ocean. So something has been happening down here and it is not just during hurricanes. As I mentioned, beaches are now underwater. These luxury hotels spend millions of dollars a year to maintain their beaches because of rising tides, as well.
I am not an environmentalist - I am not a staunch believer in Global Warming due just to humans burning fossil fuels. I merely believe that a combination of several factors is causing this phenomena to occur.
To scoff at all the scientific data does not solve the problem. In fact, I don't think anything can solve the problem of global warming at this point - the ice caps are melting, the glaciers are melting, the oceans are rising - so it might just be too late to save some of the land along coastal waters - no matter what we do now.
But I do feel there is much more studying to be done. I do not accept the current scientific data because of errors in calculations, etc. But, like I said, something "IS" happening, and we should prepare for some of the aftermath, that's all.
Last year global human activity generated about 10 billion metric tons of CO2 carbon emissions from fossil fuels, cement, and land use. Don't know where all this CO2 goes but a peek at the polar ice caps might give us a clue. As Mike mentioned some coastal sections of Florida have already disappeared. That is also true for most of the Caribbean islands, South-east Asia and Africa.
To say man is not partly responsible for the global warming of the planet is tantamount to being a dues paying member of the Flat Earth Society. By every objective measure global warming is real. It is a fact and the science on this topic is settled. Every credible scientific study has come to the same conclusion---the planet has a fever and that Global Warming is an incontrovertible truth exacerbated by human activity.
We may not be able to reverse the process but at least we should try to slow the growth of Global Warming by reducing our carbon footprint without going bankrupt or radically change our way of life.
Not debating that Global Warming is occuring. It's been happening for 1000s of years. Its cause is humans being human, volcanos being volcanos, cows being cows, etc.
The earth has been evelolving for 1000s of years. It's different than it was a 1000 years ago. It's different than it was 100 years ago. 1000 years from today, it will be different than it is right now.
Living things evolve and adapt. None of us are the same as our ancient ancestors. We've evolved. Generally speaking, we're taller, more disease resistent, etc. Species have evolved or died off.
The point of all this is that the only constant is change. The climate has changed. It will continue to change, for a whole host of reasons. Always has...always will.
I agree with how the late, great George Carlin sums it up (note, in typical Carlin fashion, some liberal use of mature themes and language).....
People all seem to think everything should stay exactly like when they showed up. Ignoring the fact that things were different for earlier generations. And will be different in the future.
Although I believe climate change as portrayed by Uncle Sam is nothing more than another tax proposal, lets not forget that tomorrow is Earth Day
Here's wikis take on it.. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day
I remember the first Earth Day in 1970. I was on the USS Huntington (DD-781) in Bayonne, NJ. The boilermen lit the boilers so we could go on a cruise. They put too much oil and not enough air causing thick black smoke sending the crew inside prior to leaving port. We were in plain view of Manhattan which probably didn't go over well with the celebrators.
@graphicguy said:
I agree with how the late, great George Carlin sums it up (note, in typical Carlin fashion, some liberal use of mature themes and language).....
" I'm tired of these self-righteous environmentalists; these white, bourgeois liberals who think the only thing wrong with this country is there aren't enough bicycle paths. "
This was a number of years ago. Some things never change.
I read in the Miami Herald and later online about a new drug that is 90% effective in attacking and removing the Hep C Virus from the human body. They are pushing to get Federal Drug approval for this pill and are trying to speed the trials for the drug. But, alas, it will be so costly that I could not afford it!
It is estimated that when the drug is approved, the treatment will cost upwards of $88,000 per adult. My drug allowance it $2,800 per year, so to come up with $86,000++, I would have to sell most of my assets including my car.
I acquired the virus as a result of a blood transfusion I received in 1980 after spine surgery where I lost quite a bid of blood. They knew nothing about Hep C at the time, and did not start screening for Hep C in donated blood until the late 1980's and early 1990's. It was too late for me, unfortunately.
But look at this dilemma from another perspective. When my liver finally goes, I will need a liver transplant which will cost $250,000 for the government and the supplemental policy I will have at that time with an insurance company. So, it's a little outrageous to think that I would be denied the treatment, but that they would pay for the liver transplant and the many years of recovery and medications post op.
What amazes me is the seeming hypocracy - let's take $600 billion out of the medicare program over the next 10 years, eliminate Medicare Advantage, provide substandard health coverage to the retirees of this country, and then go ahead and use that $600 billion to fund Obama Care. Now that makes a lot of sense - not to me, but to the government and the Congressional servants who voted to end the lives of retired people.
It's like "SOYLENT GREEN" - a movie made by Charlton Heston many years back. If you haven't seen it yet, you should rent it.
Comments
I don't believe we have discussed these before, but my wife is hounding me for a new kitchen faucet. The old one is fine, doesn't leak or anything, but it is 8 years old and apparently out of style. She has to have a single handle with pull down sprayer. (what we have now) With her, the more expensive the better. She mentioned something in the $800. range, which sounds outlandish to me, but I know many cost more than that. More or less traditional style.
Any thoughts on good choices? Where to buy? etc. and are the more expensive ones actually better or are you just paying for the brand. Thanks.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Kohler makes nice stuff.
http://www.amazon.ca/Kohler-K-596-CP-Simplice-Single-Hole-Pull-down/dp/B001U6ARE2/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1398009226&sr=8-5&keywords=faucet
Grohe is even nicer.
http://www.amazon.com/Grohe-33870EN0-Bridgeford-Pull-Down-Kitchen/dp/B000TF8TAO
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
"Any thoughts on good choices? Where to buy? etc. and are the more expensive ones actually better or are you just paying for the brand. Thanks."
We usually go to Home Depot or Loews. We usually look for Delta or Moen as they have great quality, are long lasting, and have the best warranties. There are other good brands out there as well.
As for pricing, Home Depot and Loews are good because they sell in large quantities.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
"Happy Easter to all. May we all continue to receive God's blessings for the rest of the year and beyond."
Same to you and the family, bwia. Happy Easter to all, and for our Jewish posters, Happy Passover. Remember, the last supper was a Passover Seder (hope I spelled that right).
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I have special ordered faucets at Lowes from Delta or Kohler--may have been Kohler. But you have to know what style you want and hope that Menards, Lowes, or Home Depot happens to carry that one in bulk. That's when their pricing is competitive. Single orders are more expensive. Menards has a kiosk for checking on special ordering.
I was stunned when my wife decided to like the two Delta faucets for kitchen sink and a bathroom that were on the shelf at Menards. Saved a lot over ordering. The cheaper faucets are made a little lighter from what I see installing the one in the bathroom. But there's point of no return on more metal, better ceramic valves, and quality improvement. Beyond that you're just paying for style.
I love Delta's customer service. Need new o-rings for the automatic temperature control on the shower? Ship it right out. Need a new cartridge for that shower? Ship it right out. Lifetime warranty. I don't think all the products are lifetime warranty, but the reading the boxes will indicate if they have the lifetime warranty if I recall buying the two recent faucets at Menards. Based in Columbus (IN) and call some out of Chicago.
Kohler has had the same kind of service on the ceramic valves on the kitchen and two bathrooms where we had their upscale faucets. Amazing. Don't get that from a Chinese company or Walmart.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
You know, I never thought of that business model. That IS pretty clever if they can pull it off.
Why didn't I think of that? I've always said that Tesla is going to morph out of cars into something else, but the scenario as battery-maker didn't quite seem real enough to me.
My Corvette's owner's manual said 89 or higher. Was running 91 or 93. Stepped down to mid grade 89 and it ran fine. Saved 10-15 a gallon.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Did a lot of research on a new faucet. Build.com had the best prices. Got the Kohler K-560 for $ 160 which was $70 less than Lowes. The price was initially 189 with a 10% discount. kohler10 code for vibrant stainless finish. They still have it on Amazon. Found it on Amazon Prime for 160 and they matched the price. Prices seem to change daily but Build.com has very good pricing and free shipping. Good luck.
Thanks to everyone who has commented on kitchen faucets. Some great advice.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I agree that nothing has been conclusively proven, but I also believe that both sides have highly politicized the issue, and that each sides conclusions are mostly based on opinions. My opinion is that the earth might or might not be warming abnormally, and nobody has any idea why it is or isn't.
Further, the term "the debate is over", often used by those who believe that humans are the main cause of GW, really sets off my BS meter. Whenever you hear the term, "the debate is over" during any discussion, you can be sure of two things. One, the debate is still raging, and two, whoever said "the debate is over", is losing the argument.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
I agree, Houdini. The "debate is over" stuff is also used not just to settle the data, but also to settle the methods of solution. While most may agree that something is going on, fewer agree what exactly, even fewer agree why and there is no agreement whether it's even such a problem, whether anything effective can be done, and even fewer would agree what is proper course of action. Yet, you hear it's not just the debate that's over, more, the climate gurus supposedly have all the answers and ready to go policies. This is the part that I think, is a even a bigger scam. There are real follow up questions on what and how, yet all we hear there, is preaching and quashing any dissent or ideas that do not involve massive and intrusive government control over industry or consumer behavior, drumming up guilt for wanting more conveniences in life.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Exactly. I've heard the president say that healthcare quandary is over two times now based on supposed data about supposed signups which they somehow can't seem to be able to provide exact data about but they know that they've had that many people do something on their website.
As for the data, one factor is the "compliant" media who tend to push one side of the issue and so the general public folks aren't hearing the other side of the facts from the sources far too many people use for their source of "information" these days. If the general media had actually been giving the Walter Cronkite treatment to reporting the full story, most people wouldn't know what to believe because the meaning of much of the data is beyond their comprehension.
One other factor about why the global warming issue gets warmed over (excuse the pun) is that the party is made of diverse factions. They have to throw out red meat once in a while by showing the factions they care about their particular issue to keep them interested in the party's goals. So we hear something pushed about global warming every couple of months.
Let's face it, if the data for global warming being caused by mankind and definitely traceable, the congress folk, bless their hearts, would have pushed for more things to change the movement. Instead we find the leader using the EPA to go around the lawmaking that congress really should be doing if it were real and the data points were there.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
"I agree, Houdini. The "debate is over" stuff is also used not just to settle the data, but also to settle the methods of solution."
Progressives always insist that their answers and conclusions are the true facts that are undeniable while the staunch conservatives never trust progressives and always are the last ones to admit to anything that is anti energy, anti business or anti smaller government!
That leaves those of us who are in the middle (they used to call us moderates but that term is anti left and anti right) who neither deny global warming is caused by the combustion of fossil fuels nor do they agree it is caused by that combustion because they are kind of like agnostics (those who need physical and tangible proof of the existence of God or who are not ready to commit to non-existence of God) who do not have enough evidence at hand to commit to one side or the other. Moderates are still willing to have a dialogue about global warming while conservative right wingers and progressive left wingers see no reason to have a dialogue because each side is convinced that they are correct!
I am still on the fence concerning global warming and it's cause. I guess I am one of those I call "moderates" - needing more evidence in order to swing one way or the other.
I am open to dialogue and further study - but I am not sure one way or the other is the true answer to global warming. Thus, I believe we should be proactive in reducing the possible effects of the combustion of fossil fuels on our environment on case the far left progressives are correct. But I believe this proactive approach must be accomplished without serious negative consequences to business and industry as well as the populous of our planet.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
LOL, the only concrete written "data" I have seen are those leaked emails from the "scientists" telling their comrades how to distort and withhold information that they did not want anyone else to see. Lies, lies, and more lies. Once someone is caught lying, then "the debate is over", at least for me.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Here is the problem - too many scientists sold out to politicians for funds, personal advance, or similar considerations. If your main conclusion is there is no problem, the funding customer says "thank you very much" and no more money for equipment or TAs.
It has been well documented that there were significant cases of falsified data to make message more powerful. Those UN climate reports are full of errors that conveniently are always one way. Errors happen, but to be credible they should be going both ways. From melting caps in 30 years, to "smoothing" Medieval warming in climate temperature curve and others. All because it didn't exactly fit the human induced narrative. So no, debate is far from over, if anything the evidence is that there is fraud committed by many to advance political agenda. The temperature curve alteration in susequent versions of reports is probably most egregious thing, more so than those emails.
My take is there are real problems, but environazis in their zeloutry overplayed their hand. "Normal" people got a sense of it. While ignorant in particulars, some of those notions preached by them are simply absurd and do not pass basic scrutiny. The planet IS NOT going to die because tempreature raises by 3 degrees, ice doesn't melt at -20, just as it does not at -23. Yes, some more will melt, some species would go extinct, unfortunately, or some jetstreams will change, but vision of Oceans rising by several feet in just twenty or fifty years, or all life will get extinguished, is simply idiotic. Also nobody mentions things like increased agricultural and commerce opportunities in Canada, Russia, Norway, or Argentina. If the discussion was about adapting to change, not stopping it, I would be much more receptive, because it makes much more sense. But that would not advance mind control and product placement agenda.
I believe there are real environmental problem, stemming mostly from the pollution. I think environmentalists use carbon as a proxy for other emissions and use apocaliptic visions of the future to scare people to submission. Scentists help them, because they need funds.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
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Wondering if the dinosaurs would have said something similar if they could talk right before the Ice Age hit?
Regarding global warming, I take a similar view as the stock market -- past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Yes, the earth has been warming up recently, but is it a part of the "normal" cycle? Will it continue? Nobody knows for sure. I live in Sacramento, CA and there used to be glaciers around here (Yosemite.) Who is to say that cold weather is the norm and this warm spell is the anomaly?
What I do know is that regarding the environment, I try to act like my Mom taught me "when you borrow something, always return it in better shape than when you got it."
"Wondering if the dinosaurs would have said something similar if they could talk right before the Ice Age hit?"
Well, as best as I can determine from books I have read and documentaries on the Science Channel, PBS (NOVA), etc., the ice age was caused by an asteroid or comet hitting the earth in what is now the Gulf of Mexico causing such a horrific disturbance in our atmosphere that the clouds of dust in the Earth's atmosphere began to shield the earth from the warmth of the sun.
Thus, the advent of the Ice Age. During the time of the dinosaurs, the Earth was quite warm and moist. This can be documented from fossils of tree trunks and the wider spacing of the rings (greater periods of tree growth) during that period. Those same fossils show narrowing spacing of the rings showing the advent of the Ice Age over periods of time.
I do doubt whether the accounts of the collision of an asteroid or comet are 100% factual, however there is much supporting evidence that supports this theory.
Hmmm, sounds much like today's debate about global warming!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
One thing about climate change discussions that we can all agree on is that no ones opinion on the subject will be changed one iota in this forum. People believe what they want to believe and each side has their own reasons for discrediting those who disagree with their position. Welcome to the human race.
When your "scientists" suddenly realized that the earth had actually been cooling for the last 15 years or so, they changed the mantra from global warming to climate change. Doesn't that at least tweak your BS meter?
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
interesting debate. on this kind of thing, I usually ask "so?". Meaning, OK, assume that the concept is true. but what does it really mean? Just because something happens (or changes) doesn't mean it is necessarily bad. and there is always going to be winners and losers.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
"One thing about climate change discussions that we can all agree on is that no ones opinion on the subject will be changed one iota in this forum. People believe what they want to believe and each side has their own reasons for discrediting those who disagree with their position. Welcome to the human race."
AMEN!
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
"OK, assume that the concept is true. but what does it really mean? Just because something happens (or changes) doesn't mean it is necessarily bad. and there is always going to be winners and losers."
Well, if Global Warming continues and the polar ice caps and glaciers continue to melt at the rate they currently are, the Atlantic Ocean will rise sufficiently so that what is now lower Manhattan (the Battery) will be under water in less than 50 years. Miami Beach will also be under water as will Ft. Launderdale Beach, all the Keys from Key Biscayne to Key West, all the beaches on the South Shore of Long Island, all the central and southern shores of New Jersey, just to name a few.
What is causing the glaciers to melt? The Polar Ice Caps? Obviously it has to be warming of the poles. What, then, is causing an increase in temperatures at the poles to cause this meltdown?
Well, it could be natural and cyclical causes, it could be greater heating of the atmosphere by our sun, it could be CO2 emissions from volcanoes or factories, or the combustion of fossil fuels, or a combination of several causes as mentioned above.
I personally don't deny that, in general, when everything is considered, the Earth is warming at a faster than what I would believe natural rate when compared with previous periods of warming and cooling of this planet.
I am not a left wing progressive and I am not a far right ultra conservative. I am on the "just to the right of center" of the political line. I am open to dialogue, scientific research on this subject, an increase in the use of non-fossil based fuels, etc. However, I am also not in favor of totally eliminating the use of fossil fuels until there is an adequate, affordable supply of energy to take its place.
I am just proactive enough to "listen" to both sides of this debate and prepare for the future should the Earth's warming be attributable to the combustion of fossil fuels. I was a Boy Scout - our motto was "BE PREPARED!"
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Any Earth climate change over any sort of measurement in time or area is and has been dramatic. No amount of attempted intervention is going to make any significant difference to slow or stop the constant evolution of climate change. And, we've proven that we can't predict the weather. So, we're debating our ability to do what exactly?
GG, good point. Pretty much if anything has been proven is that when humans try to control mother nature, she laughs in our faces.
plus, what is really hard to predict is repercussions. That is, ice melting is going to change other parts of nature, which could naturally reverse some of the warming.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
"plus, what is really hard to predict is repercussions. That is, ice melting is going to change other parts of nature, which could naturally reverse some of the warming."
Repercussions such as the oceans invading land along coastal areas is not hard to predict as this process started back on the 60's and continues today with forecasts expecting the disappearance of many resort beaches and parts of cities like lower Manhattan.
Down here in South Florida, many beaches are already gone in Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale Beach which I used to frequent when I was a boy. My grandparents bought a home in Coral Gables in 1950 when they moved here from New York. So I used to fly down here at Christmas and Easter every year. My grandpa always took my brother and me to Key Biscayne where we laid out on the beaches. Today, many of those beaches are already gone.
Ft. Lauderdale has invested millions and millions of dollars to bring in sand to raise the beaches, but sea level keep rising so it has become a regular occurrence.
All ocean front hotels on Miami Beach and Ft Lauderdale Beach had private Beaches. Many of those hotels are now right on the waterfront and their 100 foot beaches are gone - the Atlantic Ocean now covers those beaches.
So some repercussions are well known due to the melting of the glaciers and the polar ice caps. This meltdown is due to warming at the poles, which is actually happening.
The debate is what is causing the rising polar temperatures.
As for reversals of this melting, the only way the glaciers and polar ice caps can be restored is for another ice age to occur. The glaciers and ice caps will not "regrow" even if temperatures drop significantly and suddenly, which will not occur in the short run. That melted ice has already caused rising oceans. In the short run, nothing can be done to reduce the levels of the oceans.
In the long run (hundreds of thousands of years), perhaps thing can reverse but in many cases, it's too late.
Remember, I don't know for sure what is causing this slow rise in temperatures at the poles, but whatever is causing it is making a significant impact on coastal lowlands and resort beaches.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
The spread here was always $0.20 between RUG and PUG - it's now pusing $0.30. IMHO, it has to do with C store sales. Lower RUG pricing gets people into the station and then into the convenience store where the vast profits are. Cars that require PUG don't have much of a choice to downgrade.
As for mid grade - many cars with low pressure turbos require a minimum of 89 octane.
Agree with both posters. The real irony here is that the goal of the global warming crowd is to control the money as well to control the population with rules--there's nothing they hope to control that will change something a large as the biosphere called Earth and what's happening with it. We're just a volcanic eruption away from lots more CO2 in the atmosphere. Or perhaps even a change in the sun's solar flares affecting our ionosphere.
If the followers of global warming want to change the CO2 of Earth, assuming it actually affects overall temperature measured correctly, is to go plant a few trees on your property. They use CO2 and emit a pollutant called oxygen.
If the followers of global warming want to change the CO2 of the Earth, quit flying around in big jets. Put away your large cars and buy Sparks. Turn off your AC and your electronics at home and save electricity. Much is produced from natural gas, some still from coal sadly decreasing due to the politicals in global warming efforts.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Down here in South Florida, many beaches are already gone in Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale Beach which I used to frequent when I was a boy. M
Are those beaches gone because the ocean level has risen? Compare the low and high tide markers there to the locations when you visited as a tyke. If so, Al Gore made a mistake buying his oceanfront home when he and Tipper separated.
Are those beaches gone due to the hurricanes doing the natural movement of sand with high energy of waves along with the cross currents that move sand along the beach and typically deposit it elsewhere, sometimes ocean bottom or beaches further along the coast. In South Carolina where I had visited the people build blocking piers out into the ocean to slow the current southward which moves the sand. In fact, when my friends were there they had bought a house for flipping that was on Atlantic Avenue, but Atlantic avenue was about 50 feet out on the beach or under water because of the natural progression of nature. I almost bought a small beachfront house to have a place to stay when I visited Charleston. However that house is gone due to the hurricanes in the 70s/80s moving the sand and the beach; nothing to do with the ocean level rising.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
If the followers of global warming want to change the CO2 of Earth, assuming it actually affects overall temperature measured correctly, is to go plant a few trees on your property. They use CO2 and emit a pollutant called oxygen.
I think we see it the same way, ane I agree with you both.
While no more ridiculous than the prosepct presuming humans are "bad" because they happen to live on this earth, a while ago I had read that cars have become so "clean" that cow "flatulence" contained more CO2 and greenhouse gas emmissions than any recent car. Following that train of thought, we should kill all cows?
Fact is, errosion happens every day. The Grand Canyon, one of our treasured wonders, is a product of erosion. The erosion of coastal areas can be and has been happening for a long while. The fact that it's not happening in a time frame we want is inconsequential. We can fill them in. We can all ride bicycles. They'll still erode.
But, as imid points out, any volcanic eruption, probably anywhere in the world, will cause more climate change over a much shorter period of time than anything we, as carbon emmiting beings (and cows) , will ever affect. Again, I don't see anyone proposing contruction of giant corks to keep volcanos from erupting.
"If I have money for 40 plus grand on a car...."
I totally agree. When my wife wanted to buy our $56K V8 SRX, she asked about gas mileage. I told her that if she wanted an expensive Cadillac, then she shouldn't worry about the gas mileage. It averages 17 mpg----not very good, but for an SUV with a V8, I'm not going to complain. It has stretched to 22 mpg on a long road trip.
Richard
If there would be a way for someone to make more money doing that or control more people by the religion of volcano control, there would someone talking about such change and hope.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Dan, as you may know, I've renovated 14 houses during the last 45 years. I've always insisted on quality materials and fixtures. As for faucets, I've probably tried every brand on the market. My greatest success and pleasure has been with Delta. Take a look at their upper end faucets and see what you think. If you decide on a Delta product, try to purchase it from a private plumbing business. My experience with Lowe's is that they will screw you over in a skinny minute. Also, Bradd on this forum would be an excellent source to ask. He agreed with me some time ago that Delta products were good. And yes, we have discussed this topic before. There aren't many things that we haven't discussed. Still, it never hurts to revisit a topic. Happy hunting and let us know what you decide.
Richard
AMEN!!!
Word on faucets is the chain stores have cheaper versions of what looks like the same or similar models. The internals are better quality from a professional store. Also moen stands behind their products well.
Cheap is usually cheap for a reason.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I don't believe that. The boxes will be the same part number and the same box. If I were a plumbing supply or specialty store that would be the story I would use to try to get people to believe there is value added from paying more at my place than buying through the box stores. The box stores buy in bulk and pay much, much less. So the models they have on display will be substantially cheaper.
This is just like the rental companies buying cars cheaper because they contract to buy many cars at one time from toyota, GM, Nissan, etc..
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I was wondering the same thing. If this "pop up" Host of ours is correct that it took 40,000 to 100,000 years to reach the current point of impact, then why should we worry about the next 100,000 years? Human life as we know it may not even be around by that time---due to evolution NOT climate change or global warming. So many scientists today are into funding for R & D. They'll do or say anything to get political approval for dollars.
Instead of worrying about climate change, we might want to worry about the recent increase in power by the EPA. They are destroying jobs, hurting tourism, and infringing on the rights of the common people. I can't even find my favorite light bulbs because of them. I'm made to feel inferior because I like incandescent bulbs. I'm disloyal to my country and the environment if I don't drive a little car that gets 40 mpg. I can't go to a certain beach because it is closed to citizens in order to protect a bird that may or may not be on someone's endangered list. I'm made to feel guilty if I don't pay my bills on line in order to save trees. Heaven forbid that I use a sheet of paper to write a note. I suppose that the EPA will outlaw toilet paper next year. I'm told to turn my thermostat down to conserve energy, use less clothes washing detergent, buy a shower head that controls the water flow over my body, don't water my lawn or wash my car more than once a week, and eat only organic foods or you will die a slow death of the worst possible agony. To quote: "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore." End of rant. I'm going downstairs and eat a chocolate Easter bunny, smoke a cigarette, and turn the heat up! Try to stop me.
Richard
Well part numbers are different place to place. Just same model name. Just have to pick each one up to feel the difference.
Bradd is the expert. I'm sure he will wander by at done point to weigh in,
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I've done similar math and actually came to the same conclusion some time back. My car is my only vice (ok, not only...but one of just a couple. Ok, maybe not a couple, but a few...), so I splurge. The (perceived) pain is just seeing the cost of a tankful heading up to ski lift ticket territory! There's another vice...
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
When we bought the 535xi, requiring min. 91octance, the salesdude told my wife that she could use 89. He said he had an engineer friend that worked for Schlumberger and the freind said the difference was so minimal between the two grades that 89 would not cause any pain. I recommended she use 91, but guess whose advice she took? I use 91/93 for the Jag. The older RX300 is happy with RUG.
'21 Dark Blue/Black Audi A7 PHEV (mine); '22 White/Beige BMW X3 (hers); '20 Estoril Blue/Oyster BMW M240xi 'Vert (Ours, read: hers in 'vert weather; mine during Nor'easters...)
It is true that a lot of what we think we know will be proven wrong. But it is also true that much of what we thought we knew 100 years ago, still remains true. In other words, sometimes we were right, sometimes we were wrong.
I think the point of the climate change debate is that the human race is currently engaged in a vast, unknown experiment with climate change---a rather huge roll of the dice so to speak.
And we are stymied as to how to respond intelligently. Why invest billions in sea walls or green tech when it might all be for naught?
On another note:
The "volcano argument" doesn't really wash because human activity is by far the largest contributor to the observed increase in atmospheric CO2.---According to the U.S. Geological Survey more than 130 times as much as volcanoes produce.
There appears to be no scientific support for "natural causes" causing the current global warming. (see below).
In 2004 historian of science Naomi Oreskes published a well-known analysis of the peer-reviewed literature on global warming, “The Scientific Consensus on Climate Change.” Out of 928 papers whose abstracts she surveyed, she wrote, 75 percent explicitly or implicitly supported anthropogenic global warming, 25 percent were methodological or otherwise took no position on the subject—and none argued for purely natural explanations.
It is because the Atlantic Ocean is rising due to polar ice cap and glacier melting - ant the beaches no longer exist - but are covered with the Atlantic Ocean.
A1A (a road that runs right up the beaches from South Miami Beach to Boynton Beach and Palm Beach) is regularly flooding (20+ times a year) when back 30 - 40 years ago, it only flooded during a strong storm surge from a hurricane. Now, when there are 25-35 mph winds off the Atlantic, the streets flood.
US1 is also experiencing flooding in some areas along the Southeast Atlantic Coast that never flooded before. Miami/Dade and Broward Counties have increased the area between the Beaches and I95 for possible storm evacuations. In some parts, it goes to just east of the Florida Turnpike, which is well inland from the ocean. So something has been happening down here and it is not just during hurricanes. As I mentioned, beaches are now underwater. These luxury hotels spend millions of dollars a year to maintain their beaches because of rising tides, as well.
I am not an environmentalist - I am not a staunch believer in Global Warming due just to humans burning fossil fuels. I merely believe that a combination of several factors is causing this phenomena to occur.
To scoff at all the scientific data does not solve the problem. In fact, I don't think anything can solve the problem of global warming at this point - the ice caps are melting, the glaciers are melting, the oceans are rising - so it might just be too late to save some of the land along coastal waters - no matter what we do now.
But I do feel there is much more studying to be done. I do not accept the current scientific data because of errors in calculations, etc. But, like I said, something "IS" happening, and we should prepare for some of the aftermath, that's all.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Last year global human activity generated about 10 billion metric tons of CO2 carbon emissions from fossil fuels, cement, and land use. Don't know where all this CO2 goes but a peek at the polar ice caps might give us a clue. As Mike mentioned some coastal sections of Florida have already disappeared. That is also true for most of the Caribbean islands, South-east Asia and Africa.
To say man is not partly responsible for the global warming of the planet is tantamount to being a dues paying member of the Flat Earth Society. By every objective measure global warming is real. It is a fact and the science on this topic is settled. Every credible scientific study has come to the same conclusion---the planet has a fever and that Global Warming is an incontrovertible truth exacerbated by human activity.
We may not be able to reverse the process but at least we should try to slow the growth of Global Warming by reducing our carbon footprint without going bankrupt or radically change our way of life.
Well, change always has happened and always will. So unless you want to get rid of humans, expect it to continue.
One flip side, much more usable land in the far north. Though based on this winter, still plenty of cold air.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Not debating that Global Warming is occuring. It's been happening for 1000s of years. Its cause is humans being human, volcanos being volcanos, cows being cows, etc.
The earth has been evelolving for 1000s of years. It's different than it was a 1000 years ago. It's different than it was 100 years ago. 1000 years from today, it will be different than it is right now.
Living things evolve and adapt. None of us are the same as our ancient ancestors. We've evolved. Generally speaking, we're taller, more disease resistent, etc. Species have evolved or died off.
The point of all this is that the only constant is change. The climate has changed. It will continue to change, for a whole host of reasons. Always has...always will.
I agree with how the late, great George Carlin sums it up (note, in typical Carlin fashion, some liberal use of mature themes and language).....
http://www.climatechangedispatch.com/george-carlin-saving-the-planet.html
People all seem to think everything should stay exactly like when they showed up. Ignoring the fact that things were different for earlier generations. And will be different in the future.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Although I believe climate change as portrayed by Uncle Sam is nothing more than another tax proposal, lets not forget that tomorrow is Earth Day
Here's wikis take on it..
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day
I remember the first Earth Day in 1970. I was on the USS Huntington (DD-781) in Bayonne, NJ. The boilermen lit the boilers so we could go on a cruise. They put too much oil and not enough air causing thick black smoke sending the crew inside prior to leaving port. We were in plain view of Manhattan which probably didn't go over well with the celebrators.
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
GG, I loved that carlin bit.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
" I'm tired of these self-righteous environmentalists; these white, bourgeois liberals who think the only thing wrong with this country is there aren't enough bicycle paths. "
This was a number of years ago. Some things never change.
NEW DRUG BEING TESTED TO CURE HEPATITIS C
I read in the Miami Herald and later online about a new drug that is 90% effective in attacking and removing the Hep C Virus from the human body. They are pushing to get Federal Drug approval for this pill and are trying to speed the trials for the drug. But, alas, it will be so costly that I could not afford it!
It is estimated that when the drug is approved, the treatment will cost upwards of $88,000 per adult. My drug allowance it $2,800 per year, so to come up with $86,000++, I would have to sell most of my assets including my car.
I acquired the virus as a result of a blood transfusion I received in 1980 after spine surgery where I lost quite a bid of blood. They knew nothing about Hep C at the time, and did not start screening for Hep C in donated blood until the late 1980's and early 1990's. It was too late for me, unfortunately.
But look at this dilemma from another perspective. When my liver finally goes, I will need a liver transplant which will cost $250,000 for the government and the supplemental policy I will have at that time with an insurance company. So, it's a little outrageous to think that I would be denied the treatment, but that they would pay for the liver transplant and the many years of recovery and medications post op.
What amazes me is the seeming hypocracy - let's take $600 billion out of the medicare program over the next 10 years, eliminate Medicare Advantage, provide substandard health coverage to the retirees of this country, and then go ahead and use that $600 billion to fund Obama Care. Now that makes a lot of sense - not to me, but to the government and the Congressional servants who voted to end the lives of retired people.
It's like "SOYLENT GREEN" - a movie made by Charlton Heston many years back. If you haven't seen it yet, you should rent it.
Isn't it amazing how often ART IMMITATES LIVE?
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger