Posts by Rob Stowell

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  • Speaker: There's a word for that ...,

    Many such turbines have more energy used in their construction than they generate in a typical lifetime.

    That would be surprising. How much energy does it take to produce a wind turbine?

    payback period is over decades

    -
    Wind turbines have become a lot cheaper recently. Siting is certainly an issue, and home generation generally not feasible, but the cost-to-recovery times have come down considerably.
    At the same time, power prices are not likely to stay constant over a decade; and most people who contemplate wind generation are not in a position to buy power from the grid without (often extreme) additional costs.
    Water heating is the low-hanging fruit. Houses tend to be sited out of the wind, with some tendency to maximise sun. Solar water-heating avoids (mostly) the losses generally inherent in transforming one form of energy into another (thermal energy from the sun heats the water directly).
    Solar panels are also getting a lot cheaper, and will probably become something of a given in new houses, one day. But storage is a limitation. Lead-acid batteries aren't very environmentally friendly either.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Hard News: Not in front of the children,

    I have seen Oliver Driver fake an orgasm

    You're talking about "snakeskin" right? That was disturbing...

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Southerly: We Haven't Forgotten You Christchurch!,

    But I am really chuffed that we're able to do something in Chch finally.

    So am I!
    But would be a lot moreso if the great company and flowing Monteiths weren't on a Monday/school/work night... :(
    Sorry to miss it. Have a great one.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Hard News: Let's lynch the liberals!,

    Loathe to agree, but I think you're kind've right.
    There's significant short and long-term danger to Labour in National and the MP finding a mutually satisfactory solution to the FSS.
    Not easy but possible- since National might just sell it to some of their base on the grounds of the 'supremacy' of property rights.
    I think there's room for a principled stand from Labour if they can frame the FSS debate in terms of the privatisation of what has been seen as a 'common': something owned by noone and everyone.
    I'd like to think that's where Goff is heading.
    But heck- I'd like the whatever percentage of the FSS that's said to already be in private ownership to be included in any solution- I'm unhappy with the notion of anyone- mäori (how can I get the macrons working here?!), pakeha, citizen or foreigner- having 'property rights' (which seem hard to quantify but symbolicly potent) over this strange liminal strip surrounding our country.
    And I'm not holding my breath for that to happen ;-)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Speaker: ACTA: Don't sell us down the river,

    When a movie costs $10m to make, if you can get a million people to buy it at $10 you've recouped all your costs.

    Stick to yr day job, buddy. Steer clear of accounting, music, and especially producing films ;)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Speaker: ACTA: Don't sell us down the river,

    Ditto. Thanks Peter.
    Film and television have specific issues, and you've covered some of them very eloquently.
    There are similar and related sentiments and issues that DO apply to the music industry- and books will have similar overlap and issues of their own (8 gigs to download every book ever published!?)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Speaker: ACTA: Don't sell us down the river,

    I'm still scratching my raggedy arse over the notion that teh bit torrents represent a 'market'. Without some sort of exchange of value, it makes little sense as a label. A 'pirate's market' is even more horse-drawn in its imagery than a quaint notion like:

    the value of creators and editors and publishers and their contribution to society

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Busytown: A good read,

    The Baldwin example seems likely to breach copyright, but not be plagiarism per se- he's not claiming to have created the original images.
    And even then, the way meaning is created with images in film is- like words- importantly about the way they are ordered. I'm imagining Baldwin to be original in his sequencing.
    Perhaps the clearest corelation would be using the same script- copying lines verbatim. You allude to this happening in one very brief exchange in Taxi Driver. I think if the example were longer, it might fit the case- but that breifly, it seems more a passing reference.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Speaker: ACTA: Don't sell us down the river,

    There is now no cost to distributing information. That's not rhetoric - it's an indisputable fact.

    I stopped reading when I got to this, and ran off to steal a laptop and cancel payments to my isp and meridian energy.
    Hey ho, there you go. It's been - weeks!

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Busytown: Less is more,

    damn. we'll have to hire more monkeys ;)

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

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