By G. E. Shuman
Okay. Here is the column I’ve been anxious to write. Hopefully, you’re anxious to read it, too. If not, read it anyway. It has the potential to save you a lot of energy dollars. No, I’m not kidding. It really does.
I want to tell you about a great invention that will save you all of those dollars, but first I want to tell you about one which won’t save you as much. Last spring our family purchased a new washer and drier. We had to. The ones we were using were so old they were almost embarrassing to look at, even though we kept them down in the basement. They were rusted and had been repaired, by yours truly, more times than I want to think about. They, by now, have been melted down and made into car bumpers or something. Well, not car bumpers. Those are plastic.
Anyway, we got this new ‘laundry pair,’ as they are called by the appliance dealers. I have to say, they really are pretty energy efficient things. They’re just not as energy efficient as the appliance I will eventually get around to telling you about before the end of this column. (Please refer to title.) You know, it used to be that you could tell how much an appliance cost by the number of knobs on it. The more basically useless features, the more knobs. Later, most of the knobs disappeared and were replaced by nearly countless buttons. Remember when they were actually called ‘push buttons?’ I do. Well, these new appliances each still have one big knob, but the buttons have been replaced by touch pads. I can understand, to a point, why a washer has cycles, temperatures, and so on, for different loads and types of fabrics. But that drier is just way over done, and I want to talk about that. The thing has enough touch pads, timers, lights and indicators to run a space shuttle. It has buzzers, a digital display, and even a button to turn the signal which tells you the clothes are dry, louder and softer, or on and off. I always figured that the clothes were dry when the drier shuts off. All of these things are there to make our new drier more energy efficient, and earth-friendly. Hopefully the advertising is correct, and we will save the planet by using this machine instead of the old one, but I don’t think so. As fancy as the drier looks, it still has the same basic heritage as the one now in the appliance bone yard. It has a massive spinning drum which tumbles and beats the heck out of your clothes. It also has a large heating element, just like the old one, and a two hundred twenty volt, electricity-sucking supply cord, which is still aptly named a ‘pigtail.’ The new drier, just like the old one, has a big lint filter which you need to clean before each load, and, like the old model again, relies on an exhaust hose to pump all that expensively heated air out into the cold space under my carport. This machine is a bit more exotic looking than the old one, but since it cost more than my first car, maybe it should be. And it is not a car. It just dries clothes.
Now I want to tell you about a drying invention that is, in many ways, way ahead of my new clothes drier. (Please refer to title, again.) This device is unusual in the world of big promises from appliance manufacturers. It actually does exactly, precisely, all that it claims to do. The compact device it also totally energy efficient. It has no big drum to spin, as it, believe it or not, has no moving parts at all. It will also not spin your electric meter around even once, in all the time you own it. In fact, it cannot, as it is not even connected to the grid. The machine uses wind power, believe this or not, to efficiently dry your clothes, and is freely assisted by solar energy. When you buy one of these driers there is no professional installation required, and the device is perfect for use both in our over-developed nation, and in under-developed ones as well. It works anywhere, any time the sun is out. The drier is totally non polluting and does not produce speck of lint, so it doesn’t require a lint screen or any exhaust ductwork at all. It has absolutely no bells and whistles, and will not chime when your clothes are dry. To some of us that is a blessing. If this isn’t enough good news, consider the fact that the wind-powered solar-heated clothes drier will also not empty your wallet when you purchase one. It is so simple to repair when broken that even a child could do it, but so inexpensive to buy that most people would just throw it out and get another one. And yes, you can throw it away with a clear conscience, as most models are completely biodegradable.
About a month ago my brother in law Art and I were sitting in his living room, and decided it was about time someone promoted this marvelous, timeless device. Although neither he nor I can take the credit for the invention, we have both witnessed various versions of it in use since childhood. It is true that my wife has rarely used one, and would likely never purchase one, but a clothesline is still the best clothes drier of all.
Footnote: My wife likes her ould like my answer to the new washing maching less. Maybe someday I will tell you about a manual, washer which provides an excellent aerobic workout for the user. Saving time at the gym, while saving energy. Wash board and wash tub.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
An Alternative to Bailing Out
By G. E. Shuman
Today I really wanted to tell you all about a great invention I have discovered, that can save every one of us some serious energy-related money. I wanted to, but I’m not going to. I will save that subject for a later day. If you are good, and pay attention, I will disclose it in my very next column. Check here, two weeks from today.
Right now, I have decided to simply expose my feelings to you, regarding our country. (If I’m going to expose something, it really is best if it is just my feelings.) I address you all with absolutely no authority or expertise relating to the economic and moral issues at hand, but I will still address you, simply as a fellow American, who is very concerned about his country. As I write each of these lines, I have no clue precisely what idea will flow next. No big surprise there. If you have read others of my columns, you will accept this fact readily enough. The truth is, I know only that I need to share with you, my friends, my take on that present state of our fifty states. A bigger truth is, I am not confident at all in the direction our nation seems to be heading. Well, here we go, as I once spoke aloud, “For better, or for worse.”
Recently our congress voted, after much arm twisting and pork proportioning, to spend about seven hundred billion dollars, of which they had not one penny to spend, on the massive bank bail out we have heard so much about recently. Our president and leaders on both sides of the bitter aisle finally endorsed a plan to keep our national ship from sinking. After all, isn’t that what bailing out does? Now, I am all for doing whatever is necessary to protect our citizens. What irks me is the fact that our leaders have allowed us to get into this mess in the first place. Aren’t they supposed to stay awake during approaching national or global disasters? If I could address our current congress or president, (Which I would love the chance to do, and I‘m not kidding about that.) I would simply ask them why on earth they failed to see this coming. Were they all on vacation for the past half decade or so? And if they did see some global economic collapse in the making, why didn’t they warn us earlier? I’m pretty sure that if I were in a huge ship full of people, especially people I have sworn to serve and protect, and happened to notice a gaping hole in the bottom of that ship, I might just tell somebody. In fact, I might just tell EVERYBODY! If President Bush or any of his cabinet or congressional shipmates were even remotely aware of the huge hole in our national financial hull, why didn’t THEY tell somebody? Hello? Can anybody say Titanic? Sure, many of those people are now adamantly proclaiming their own genius in forewarning us of the dangers, but now I have another question. Did you, any more than I, hear their loud warnings of an approaching iceberg even as recently as this past summer? Nope, I didn’t think so.
The strange thing is that I have always believed our country produces the best, most educated and brightest people in the world. Evidently our nation’s economists, (Bless the dollar bills in their eyes, and their foggy little minds.) must have missed a math class or two in college. The only other conclusion I can draw from all of this insanity is that they missed no classes, are just as bright and well educated as I always believed, and are simply as uncaring and crooked as the greedy bankers who got us into this mess. Is there a third choice?
You know, that thing called greed; the love of money, really is the root of all evil. The absolute, insatiable greed and irresponsible actions of our nation’s lending institutions, to me, is even more than that. It is something that The Bible and our forefathers would refer to as sin. By the estimated cost to you and me, to our children and our grandchildren, it seems to be a very big sin, indeed. The people truly responsible for the mess we are in, know very well, as do you and I, that doing right is all any of us need to do. Bail outs, paybacks, and pork lined incentives in a congressional vote will never fix anything for long. And now, as I fully acknowledge that you may think this corny or old fashioned, I must add that the only true and lasting fix is a change in the hearts of men.
We are only weeks away from a very close, and very divided national election. From the debates and ads I have seen, I’m afraid we are in the middle of politics as usual here this fall. I sincerely hope that my fear is unfounded. If you are uncertain who you will vote for, for president of this still-great land, you might want to pick the one you feel is less likely to lead us into any more sin.
My friends, it has been said that if you find yourself heading in the wrong direction, remember, God allows u-turns. I suggest that our nation turn the ship of state around, just as fast as we can.
2 Chronicles 7:14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Today I really wanted to tell you all about a great invention I have discovered, that can save every one of us some serious energy-related money. I wanted to, but I’m not going to. I will save that subject for a later day. If you are good, and pay attention, I will disclose it in my very next column. Check here, two weeks from today.
Right now, I have decided to simply expose my feelings to you, regarding our country. (If I’m going to expose something, it really is best if it is just my feelings.) I address you all with absolutely no authority or expertise relating to the economic and moral issues at hand, but I will still address you, simply as a fellow American, who is very concerned about his country. As I write each of these lines, I have no clue precisely what idea will flow next. No big surprise there. If you have read others of my columns, you will accept this fact readily enough. The truth is, I know only that I need to share with you, my friends, my take on that present state of our fifty states. A bigger truth is, I am not confident at all in the direction our nation seems to be heading. Well, here we go, as I once spoke aloud, “For better, or for worse.”
Recently our congress voted, after much arm twisting and pork proportioning, to spend about seven hundred billion dollars, of which they had not one penny to spend, on the massive bank bail out we have heard so much about recently. Our president and leaders on both sides of the bitter aisle finally endorsed a plan to keep our national ship from sinking. After all, isn’t that what bailing out does? Now, I am all for doing whatever is necessary to protect our citizens. What irks me is the fact that our leaders have allowed us to get into this mess in the first place. Aren’t they supposed to stay awake during approaching national or global disasters? If I could address our current congress or president, (Which I would love the chance to do, and I‘m not kidding about that.) I would simply ask them why on earth they failed to see this coming. Were they all on vacation for the past half decade or so? And if they did see some global economic collapse in the making, why didn’t they warn us earlier? I’m pretty sure that if I were in a huge ship full of people, especially people I have sworn to serve and protect, and happened to notice a gaping hole in the bottom of that ship, I might just tell somebody. In fact, I might just tell EVERYBODY! If President Bush or any of his cabinet or congressional shipmates were even remotely aware of the huge hole in our national financial hull, why didn’t THEY tell somebody? Hello? Can anybody say Titanic? Sure, many of those people are now adamantly proclaiming their own genius in forewarning us of the dangers, but now I have another question. Did you, any more than I, hear their loud warnings of an approaching iceberg even as recently as this past summer? Nope, I didn’t think so.
The strange thing is that I have always believed our country produces the best, most educated and brightest people in the world. Evidently our nation’s economists, (Bless the dollar bills in their eyes, and their foggy little minds.) must have missed a math class or two in college. The only other conclusion I can draw from all of this insanity is that they missed no classes, are just as bright and well educated as I always believed, and are simply as uncaring and crooked as the greedy bankers who got us into this mess. Is there a third choice?
You know, that thing called greed; the love of money, really is the root of all evil. The absolute, insatiable greed and irresponsible actions of our nation’s lending institutions, to me, is even more than that. It is something that The Bible and our forefathers would refer to as sin. By the estimated cost to you and me, to our children and our grandchildren, it seems to be a very big sin, indeed. The people truly responsible for the mess we are in, know very well, as do you and I, that doing right is all any of us need to do. Bail outs, paybacks, and pork lined incentives in a congressional vote will never fix anything for long. And now, as I fully acknowledge that you may think this corny or old fashioned, I must add that the only true and lasting fix is a change in the hearts of men.
We are only weeks away from a very close, and very divided national election. From the debates and ads I have seen, I’m afraid we are in the middle of politics as usual here this fall. I sincerely hope that my fear is unfounded. If you are uncertain who you will vote for, for president of this still-great land, you might want to pick the one you feel is less likely to lead us into any more sin.
My friends, it has been said that if you find yourself heading in the wrong direction, remember, God allows u-turns. I suggest that our nation turn the ship of state around, just as fast as we can.
2 Chronicles 7:14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
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