OnPoint by Keith Ng

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OnPoint: Being a dick about Earth Hour

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  • Keith Ng,

    Polar bears are dangerous and unpredictable carnivores. I applaud the common sense of our Prime Minister in this matter.

    Polar bears are just misunderstood. All they need is a hug.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 543 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Some way back, I realised that my kids actually experience physical reality in a profoundly different way than I do.

    It's a helpful insight into human difference in general, actually.

    And it's one of those things you don't think about until you start asking questions - because, especially as a child, you assume that of *course* everyone else experiences the world the way you do. People are reluctant to start these conversations, but they're incredibly important to have.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Heather W.,

    Autism and epilepsy are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Those with both would be more likely to be sensitive to florescent lights.

    http://www.epilepsyontario.org/client/EO/EOWeb.nsf/web/Autism+and+Epilepsy

    North Shore • Since Nov 2008 • 189 posts Report Reply

  • Gabor Toth,

    They may be obsessed with NRl and even more arcane ballsports, but the ockers definitely demostrate a more level attitude to these kinds of small-scale initiatives to cut emissions and save a few quid too.

    I wonder if this could have had something to do with the general Australian public's recognition that in terms of electricity generation and consumption, their country has got some serious issues that need dealing with.
    90% of electricity generation in Australia is geothermal - and almost all of that is coal (gas makes up only around 5%). Though most of that is from black coal, about 30% of total electricity generated is still from brown coal (lignite) which is particularly dirty (Australia has the distinction of having the most polluting power station in the industrialised world). The net result of all this is that Australia has the highest per capita emissions of greenhouse gases in the world. Banning incandescent light bulbs may be a step in the right direction, but doesn't count for much when so much power gets hoovered up for air-conditioning.

    Wellington • Since Dec 2006 • 137 posts Report Reply

  • Keith Ng,

    The net result of all this is that Australia has the highest per capita emissions of greenhouse gases in the world.

    OTOH, the more polluting their electricity is, the more they have to gain from energy efficiency. (i.e. The greater the emissions per kWh generated, the greater the emission reduction from reducing power consumption.)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 543 posts Report Reply

  • Joanna,

    There's no shame in being fascinated by it -- it is bloody fascinating.

    Sweet, so can I ask about how realistic the new head of surgery on Shorties is, in their depiction of her Asperger's?

    (Wow, that was some bad Englanding)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    Sweet, so can I ask about how realistic the new head of surgery on Shortiesis, in their depiction of her Asperger's?

    I'm sure Russell will be thrilled to know that there is going to be a new doctor-with-Aspergers character on his very favourite show, Grey's Anatomy , in the coming few weeks. Will he hold his nose and watch it? :)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I'm sure Russell will be thrilled to know that there is going to be a new doctor-with-Aspergers character on his very favourite show, Grey's Anatomy, in the coming few weeks.

    Oh, goody. Consciousness, prepare to be raised!

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    So here's a suggestion for the Earth-Hour-ers and/or the EECA. Run a campaign that says:
    "Hey, good on you for doing Earth Hour. And you know what you can do while all your lightbulbs are off for that hour? Switch them over to these CFLs! That way you'll be making it Earth Year and saving yourself a bunch of cash along the way".
    .
    .
    .
    Oh wait, that's Nanny State huh? How's about we just subtly gesticulate this in a suggestive manner then?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    90% of electricity generation in Australia is geothermal - and almost all of that is coal (gas makes up only around 5%).

    You mean fossil-fuel powered, right? I don't think Australia has that much room for geothermal generation, sitting in the middle of a continental plate as they do. Be interested to know if they have/how much they have, though. (And now I check, Wikipedia says they don't have any currently, but it's considered a good potential source.

    < / pedant >

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Gabor Toth,

    Bah! Yes I meant thermal - not geothermal...

    Wellington • Since Dec 2006 • 137 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    People affected report being able to see the flickering of a 60Hz lamp, which I imagine would be irritating at the least.

    So it's a neurological issue, but a different flavour to yours..

    Also, for another flavour, I found whilst on chemo, I had difficulty seeing cobolt blue and white together, especially stripes. most spacey.It is better now i'm off it though.It really is fascinating but annoying.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Oh wait, that's Nanny State huh? How's about we just subtly gesticulate this in a suggestive manner then?

    Even that's too much for the current bunch of idiots. Hug a polar bear!

    Cause having the Government actually do something about climate change is wrong. Just plain wrong! Wrong! Shouldn't be spending our money on something as irrelevant as the future of the planet. Political correctness gone mad!

    They're shiteating fucknuts, to quote Keith.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Polar bears are just misunderstood. All they need is a hug.

    I say we farm them.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Can't big polluters like Rio Tinto make their own greenwash?

    Tiwai Point only exists and makes money for RTZ because consumers buy stuff made of aluminium. If it closed, other (possibly fossil fueled) smelters would take up the demand. So while closing the smelter would make the *NZ* energy equation look better, it might actually send world CO2 emissions up.

    If you want to cut emissions from aluminium smelters, buy less stuff.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Like them new Macs..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Logan O'Callahan,

    We've installed lots of the CFLs. I found the early phillips ones pretty poor (didn't last).

    We had a few problems with recessed down lights. Some of them would only just reach the bottom of the sockets (screw ins) due to the shape of the fitting. I think this resulted in a few dodgy contacts which ate a few more bulbs. Then I found some miniature GE ones. They've been great.

    I've also had the problem of bayonet ones not fitting sockets where the plastic shroud of the holder was getting in the way. - usually where the shroud was used to support a lamp shade. A bit of hacksawing dealt with that.

    And I disabled a dimmer in our dining room room to put them in there too.

    Personally I like a bright white CFLs. I had been looking for an alternative to the "soft tone" glow feel of most incandescent bulbs. I also dislike the orange glow of the sodium vapour street lights.

    Since Apr 2008 • 70 posts Report Reply

  • Logan O'Callahan,

    Why should they need to look like incandescent bulbs?

    It's not like those big round blobs are actually pretty!! They're only made that way because that's what worked best.

    I like the curly look. If that's what works best, that's what they should be.

    Since Apr 2008 • 70 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Like them new Macs.

    Substitute your lies for fact
    I can see right through your plastic mac
    ?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Gareth Ward,

    Manners Mall today contains a billboard promoting Earth Hour, towed by an SUV that pours out 3.5 tonnes of CO2 each year.

    Good eh!

    I believe the common refrain is LOL.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Beard,

    There won't be any polar bears to hug soon, thanks to global warming.

    "Ice/Floe/Nowhere to go" takes on a more poignant tone in that context, doesn't it?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1040 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I would personally like to see all the nasty, selfish, greedy, humorless right wingers hugged by Polar Bears.
    You first Mr. Douglas.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Keith Ng,

    Manners Mall today contains a billboard promoting Earth Hour, towed by an SUV that pours out 3.5 tonnes of CO2 each year.

    MOUAAAAA!!! *RAGE*!!!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 543 posts Report Reply

  • Alex Gilks,

    Great post and comments. The debate is about whether to do something slightly symbolic of doing something quite small. Wow, so much for living in interesting times.

    Upper Vauxhall, Dunedin • Since Apr 2007 • 17 posts Report Reply

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