Author Archives: shelldigger

02.23.16
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So, How Long Until Production?

I guess there is hope for Texas after all. A group of chemists and engineers from the University of Texas, have devised a way to use concentrated light, heat, and high pressure to, in a one step process, convert carbon dioxide and water directly into liquid hydrocarbon fuel.

The obvious immediate impact would be using carbon we already do not need in the atmosphere, to create fuel. However it would seem to me that using this new fuel would put the carbon dioxide right back into the atmosphere. But, hopefully there would be a small net gain. Even if it is a break even proposition it should long term, reduce carbon content in the atmosphere. It has to, right? If you are taking away the carbon already there, then putting it right back, has to be better than not taking any away at all. The process also supposedly has oxygen as a by product!

They don’t get into specifics with the numbers, it would be nice to have a figure to see if this process is actually beneficial, once you consider the entire production process from start to finish. It said in the article they use titanium dioxide (TD) as a main ingredient. I know they manufacture that not far from where I live. It has to be mined and processed before it becomes well, TD. So there is a lot of dozers, trucks, forklifts, and furnaces involved. I also know they use chlorine gas in large amounts as well. (I worked for an on site contractor at Dupont, where they make TD for a few months a while back. I was waiting out the winter so I could get back in the water as a diver.) Anyway it is a huge operation manufacturing TD. And the carbon footprint from manufacture of TD alone will be very large.

As I was saying the carbon footprint for the entire production of this new liquid hydrocarbon fuel has to be considered before it is really a viable alternative. According to the article another plus is there would be no need for infastructure changes, because we already live in a liquid hydrocarbon society. So that would be huge.

If, and this is a big if, this new fuel passes the sniff test for viability, it has the potential to make quite an imact on our carbon problem. At any rate it could slow our carbon output some as we try to forestall our own demise from our excesses. This conjecture assumes the oil companies don’t buy up the rights to the new tech so they can conveniently “lose” it.

http://www.uta.edu/news/releases/2016/02/MacDonnell-Dennis-Fuels-PNAS.php

 

 

 

 

02.15.16
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Humor

At least I think it’s kinda funny. The wife and I had to go for a long drive today, getting home late means you could use a quick fix for supper. This day that wound up being the large family pack meal from a place called Trolingers. They have great BBQ, and a large family pack gets you 1.5 lbs. of BBQ, 12 buns, and small containers of beans/cole slaw/and potato salad. All for right around $17.00 (after taxes). I call that a deal. As gas was $1.39 I decided to top off the fuel tank too.

Anyway after we paid for our necessities and were heading out the door, there stands the freebie paper rack. We have these small peddler papers that cater to locals with want ads/for sale ads/ and even personals. So we grabbed one just to snoop. As we were driving home I heard the wife snigger and snort, curious I asked what was up? So she read me the ad.

helpwanted 001

I know it’s likely just a typo, but really? Right after it says Accuracy is imperative! They have the typo 🙂

02.10.16
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Texas Gov. Supports Crosses On Patrol Cars

That’s like saying there hasn’t been an ounce of good sense in Texas for a long time.

Our good governor Gregg Abbott (R) said “In addition to its religious significance, the cross has a long history in America and elsewhere as a symbol of service and sacrifice.” Service and sacrifice? Bullshit. The cross has always been and always will be a religious symbol dedicated to Chistianity. Nothing more, nothing less. Service and sacrifice my ass. There has been a great deal of service and sacrifice in and for this country, it need not be represented by one over zealous religious cult.

The gov did not respond to the query if he supported other types of religious displays on patrol cars. I find that curious.

The gov. was also quoted as saying “The symbol of the cross appropriately conveys the solemn respect all Texans should have for the courage and sacrifice of our peace officers.”

Apparently he has not met the same cops I have met. I agree they have a tough job, and deserve some respect. Right up until they do something stupid, like overstepping their bounds and killing unarmed civilians perhaps. Which there seems to be a lot of lately especially if you are the wrong color. Solemn respect? Sorry, they have a great deal of work to do on their public image…

And what the hell is solemn anyway? If not a religious conotation?

Apparently the FFRF has been on the case, as it states in the story that a Brewster County Sheriff requested state officials if they could keep their religious displays. Ill quote this:

“The request followed a complaint by the Freedom From Religion Foundation which called on the sheriff to remove the crosses, arguing no government official has the right to promote his or her religious belief on government property.”

…and this:

“Whether it is a cross, a star and crescent, or a pentagram, law enforcement must remain neutral on matters of religion in order to foster public confidence in their impartiality,” the nationwide group that promotes the separation of church and state, said in a statement.

Which I agree with wholeheartedly. May reason win out over outdated superstitious nonsense.

http://newsdaily.com/2016/02/texas-governor-says-he-supports-crosses-on-police-cars/

 

02.09.16
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Wrong Place, Wrong Time

Could this be for real? An Indian man is claimed to be dead by meteorite!

Quote from the source:

“Indian officials say a meteorite struck the campus of a private engineering college on Saturday, killing one person. If scientists confirm the explosion was due to a meteorite, it would be the first recorded human fatality due to a falling space rock.

02.04.16
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Yeah, They Called It The Dark Ages

RighteousPeeps

This is from the same people that I did a piece on a while back. Perhaps you recall the “Lisa Davis, In Jail for Christ” sign? These people would praise their gods all the while they were oppressed. They would burn the heretics and witches. They would glady torture, maim, and kill those different from them. They would rejoice drenched in the blood of their enemies and their enemies would be many.

Either they know not what they do, or they are total friggin deranged lunatics. Either way I am sure they see themselves however, as pious pillars of the community.

 

01.22.16
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I See Dead People

In my dreams, occaisionally. Last night was one of those moments. As I write this the snow is piling up outside, after a dose of icing last night. Had to get out in near blizzard conditions to get the wife to work this morn. She is a nurse and duty always comes before the weather. Good thing I still have my heavy duty 3/4 ton 4WD truck from my days of hauling boats and shells all over the place. Also a good thing I have new tires. It was bad out and getting worse. Supposed to get anywhere from 8 to 10 inches today.

Anyway about the dream. There was this girl I knew back where I grew up. We went to grade school together, as did all of the kids in the neighborhood. We all kept seeing each other year after year, growing up together. The girls name was Josephine Durbin, we called her Jo for short, and she was the first girl friend I had. Not girlfriend, but girl friend if you get my meaning. We were pals for a long time, and I must admit I did have a little thing for her, but it never went anywhere.

Eventually I moved out of the area, and never saw her again. I found out many years later after talking to an old friend in the neighborhood she had died. Of what I don’t know, but some sort of illness.

Now to the dream, I found myself in some house with many people around, and there she was. Not much different than I can remember. But I saw her and proclaimed “Jo!” We hugged briefly, and mentioned how we had missed each other, then as dreams are wont to be strange she asked me if I was ready to help remodel the kitchen. I remember being hesitant to take on such an unexpected job, but decided to look the kitchen over, and then just like that she was gone. I looked about for a moment, but knew this was dreamland and I probably would not see her again. About that time the wife was lightly shaking my shoulder to get up. The power had went out at some point, the alarm clock flashing away. We had slept in for 15 minutes.

This is not the first time I have seen dead people in my dreams, I have seen and talked to several family members gone, though it happens rarely. I always have this feeling of gratitude that I get to see them again, even if only briefly in a dream, but at the same time feel a great loss knowing they are gone and that dreams and memories are my only connection to these people. It affects me strongly when this happens, and my mood today is quite melancholy. I’m sure though life will kick me in the ass in a bit, and I’ll get back to my regular self.

Just wanted to share.

01.21.16
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Quote of the Month

Damn this could be the start of something. I can perhaps feel the tug of the keyboard upon my fingers, even if only for a short burst. In any event my blog sloth is under an attack from both duty and desire. The QotM is back, this time with a quote from James Madison. Madison was our fourth president and had a busy hand in the writing of our constitution. Indeed he is considered the father of our constitution. Not only that but Madison basically set the stage for how our government operates.

For most of my regulars you all know this series is dedicated to the common trope that our nation was founded for x-ians by x-ians. This oft repeated lie you will hear echoing throughout our great land and beyond. It is my job, nay my duty to point out this little fallacy when I can.

Without further ado, our quote from James Madison :

“Experience witnesseth that ecclesiastical establishments, instead of maintaining the purity and efficacy of religion, have had a contrary operation. During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution.”

Anyone with an eye for seeing beyond the facade that is religion can see that, but few could have said it better. It seems every time I do one of these I am struck by the way the truth was as evident then as it is now. Only those willing to shed the blinders of religion get to see that ugly and shallow truth.

My quote source: http://freethought.mbdojo.com/foundingfathers.html

A little more history on James Madison and the Virginia Plan that eventually morphed into what we see as our government today: https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-constitution-amendments/james-madison/

 

 

01.20.16
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New Planet? In our Solar System?

At first I thought we are a long ways off from an April fools prank. This appears to be for real. A couple of Caltech researchers Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown, have formulated a very intriguing argument for another planet on a widely eccentric orbit, far beyond the Kuiper belt.

There are some known Kuiper belt objects that all seem to have a related orbit. After ruling out a couple of scenarios they found one theory that aligns with the evidence in hand. There is another planet out there.

As of now this is all theoretical, no one has observed this new planet. But there is a lot of evidence indicating it is out there. Stuff like this is what gets me up in the morning. I have said for decades that if you do not learn something every single day, you were not paying attention. These guys were paying attention. Even if this all gets washed away with upcoming observations or new evidence to the contrary. They were still paying attention, and using their skills to solve a solar system oddity. Click the link!

http://www.caltech.edu/news/caltech-researchers-find-evidence-real-ninth-planet-49523

 

12.30.15
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So I’m Watching The News Last Night

…and this ignorant ass story comes on about a guy who found a real live sign from god on his lawn. Now you should know the news ’round here almost always has some lame god bothering piece because, well, this is the south after all. But this one really stuck out like a sore pecker in a monastery.

This guy saw a rainbow, that was “apparently” touching his driveway. See here:

rainbow

Now, that thar rainbow appears to me to be quite some distance from this guys yard, but let’s not let that ruin a sign from god.

Upon arriving home this guy (Eric) found an image of an angel holding a baby in his yard. See here:

angel

Yes, yes I can see how everyone with an ounce of sense would interpret that as an angel holding a baby. Anyone who can’t see that must be some sort of baby eating atheist. I’m looking at you oh Divine One 😉

Now while this all seems a tad silly, and to be sure it is, but this is just the beginning of the story. Mr. Eric has a daughter that has had and I quote “several” miscarriages. Which in and of itself is quite tragic on a personal level, but let’s face it these things happen daily, and many people (even I) have been affected by this kind of purely natural event. I can relate, and I feel for anyone who has endured this kind of tragic loss. We find a way to cope.

But our good pal Eric? He took his daughter to some preacher to be prayed over, because every woman this guy has prayed over has had babies! That’s incredible folks! It’s almost like magic or something! Or perhaps it is a bit like praying for rain… Sooner or later you will get it right. Praying for something that is bound to happen eventually and claiming some sort of success is pretty damn cheesy if you ask me. And intellectually dishonest to boot.

I don’t know, it seems to me there are as many gods as there are religious people. Each and every person tries to interpret the world through the gods in their heads. This is surely evidence for that.

Just in case you think after such a long time with little or no posting from yours truly, and you thought just maybe I had to make something up to write about…

http://www.wsmv.com/story/30839538/seminary-man-claims-sign-from-god-left-on-his-yard-on-christmas-eve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11.30.15
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Let’s Play Fill In The Blank!

There is a small town I have to drive through often, and there has been this sign glaring at me for a long time. If I was the kind of guy that might, oh I don’t know, prepare some stencils and grab a can of red paint, to commit some cheesy vandalism, (I highly doubt I would, but I have thought about it, such is the what I am…) what would I paint in on this enormous blank spot?

IMG_0293

I have thought of two, “Be proven non existent” and ” “Be a real zombie” Anyone want to play?

On a side note am I the only one that really does not like the recent WP changes? I had a helluva time just finding my dashboard…