[CLUE-Talk] Was: [CLUE-Tech] Fwd: voluntary blackout [thought this was a neat idea]]

[Kevin Cullis]

Everyone,

You've hit a button of mine and I see both sides of the same coin, and
Linux is INDIRECTLY involved. How is Linux involved do you say?  When I
can run ONE Linux box to handle a job whereas I need TWO Microsoft boxes
because of the failovers or it crashing once a day, now the issue DOES
become an energy policy. When servers farms take up 4,5, or 20 times as
much energy as ONE IBM S/390 mainframe running Linux (don't hold me to
the accuracy, it's the principle.  See Jan 8, 2001 Infoworld page 28 to
see that an average single family home uses 3 kilowatts of power and a
commercial office building uses the equivelent of 100 homes and a web
hoster uses 100 commercial office buildings of energy), it affects
energy policies!! While Linux is not IMMEDIATELY seen in this issue, to
not think through how Linux can affect it is to be short sighted.

When it comes to natural resources, such as energy, there is a finite
amount of it deposited in the worlds geography, i.e. we can't grow some
of it because it is non-renewable energy such as oil and natural gas. 
However, some of it is renewable, such as solar, wind, or cow dung ;-).
As I've seen it stated, America has about a 60% dependency on foreign
oil whereas about a decade or so back it was less than 40%.  Supply and
demand will determine the rate with which we use oil.  See my simple
equation:

  Unknown supply   +   Known supply
(+ new energy sources)
  ---------------------------------  = Time to empty tanks
       Demand   -   Efficiencies
                (+ new technologies)

Environmental extremists point out that we have a limited amount of
supply which is somewhat true, however I rephrase that saying we have a
finite amount of supply, but it is currently unknown.  We don't know if
we've found 40% of the worlds known supply or 70% or even 10%, we just
don't know.  On the other hand, always saying that we need to drill for
more oil as the only answer to our energy policy is just as bad.  As you
can see from my gross equation above that any changes in either side of
the supply or demand equation will affect how long we have before we run
out of energy.

Ultimately, it'll come down to who can afford what.  When the costs of
our current energy situation cause the costs of other forms of energy to
look more affordable, such as fuel cells, then people will migrate to
these new energies. See these sites:

http://216.51.18.233/index_e.html
http://www.nrel.gov/  This is down the street from you ;-)

Please don't get me wrong, I like looking at both sides of the same
issue.

Kevin

Jim Ockers wrote:
> 
> OK, this rubbed me the wrong way.  Why is this even on the clue-tech
> mailing list?
> 
> <FLAME>
> 
> This is inappropriate material for the clue-tech mailing list, and
> furthermore is indicative of people who have not fully though through
> the matter of how our economy depends on the availability of energy,
> and how the federal government cannot make you use less energy any
> more than they can force you to eat healthy food, exercise, or stay
> out of debt.
> 
> I invite you to move to a third-world country where there are fewer
> evil companies and corporations who exploit the Earth's resources.
> And while you are going you should travel there using only home-made
> and human-powered transportation.  Don't pack your bags in any
> suitcases made of metal or synthetic materials - use a burlap bag
> or something.
> 
> Good luck getting clean water, good healthcare, food, and so forth
> in your new country.
> 
> </FLAME>
> 
> Or perhaps were you taking your nice home, clean water, car(s),
> roads, healthcare, and so forth for granted, even though the
> technology and materials are brought to you by corporations who
> exploit and "misuse" natural resources?  And the fact that your
> home is heated in the winter and perhaps cooled in the summer?
> 
> Make sure you are not taking a bunch of stuff for granted before
> you make political statements of this nature in the future.
> 
> > > > >This could be fun if enough people participate!
> > > > >
> > > > > > >ROLL YOUR OWN BLACK OUT
> > > > > > >THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER
> > > > > > JUNE 21, 2001 THURS EVE,
> > > > > > 7 - 10 pm worldwide, all time zones
> > > > > >---------------------------------------------------
> > > > > >In protest of George W. Bush's energy policies and lack of
> > > > > >emphasis on efficiency, conservation and alternative fuels,
> > > > > >there will be a voluntary rolling blackout on the first day of
> > > > > >Summer, June 21 at 7 pm - 10 pm in any time zone
> > > > > >(this will roll it across the planet).
> > > > > >
> > > > > >It's a simple protest and a symbolic act. Turn out your lights
> > > > > >from 7 pm - 10 pm (your local time) on June 21. Unplug
> > > > > >whatever you can unplug in your house. Light a candle for
> > > > > >the Sun, kiss, make love, play games, tell ghost stories,
> > > > > >do something instead of watching television,
> > > > > >have fun in the dark.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Forward this email as widely as possible, to your government
> > > > > >representatives and environmental contacts. Let them know
> > > > > >we want global education, participation and funding in
> > > > > >conservation, efficiency and alternative energy efforts --
> > > > > >and an end to over exploitation and misuse of the Earth's
> > > > > >resources.> >
> > > > > >*********