Comments on: A Problem of Scale http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/ Finding the keys to the future…and trying not to lose them in the mess. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:26:03 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: fieldrunners hd http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/comment-page-1/#comment-47880 fieldrunners hd Mon, 08 Aug 2011 01:47:54 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/#comment-47880 I agree with your The Chatelaine's Keys » Blog Archive » A Problem of Scale, good post. I agree with your The Chatelaine's Keys » Blog Archive » A Problem of Scale, good post.

]]> By: Agerbreme http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/comment-page-1/#comment-47874 Agerbreme Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:51:19 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/#comment-47874 Hello I enjoyed yoiur article. I think you have some good ideas and everytime i learn something new i dont think it will ever stop always new info , Thanks for all of your hard work!. Hello I enjoyed yoiur article. I think you have some good ideas and everytime i learn something new i dont think it will ever stop always new info , Thanks for all of your hard work!.

]]> By: Eboni Mammo http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/comment-page-1/#comment-43883 Eboni Mammo Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:18:03 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/#comment-43883 This is my first message. Please don't delete it. Thanks This is my first message. Please don’t delete it. Thanks

]]> By: mma betting http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/comment-page-1/#comment-38376 mma betting Wed, 23 Mar 2011 07:08:56 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/#comment-38376 Interesting post !! What blog platform do you use on your site ? Interesting post !! What blog platform do you use on your site ?

]]> By: oil painting lessons on dvd http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/comment-page-1/#comment-22885 oil painting lessons on dvd Sat, 17 Apr 2010 06:34:10 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/#comment-22885 Realism Oil Painting - Free Shipping - Free Frame Of Your Choice ! Realism Oil Painting – Free Shipping – Free Frame Of Your Choice !

]]> By: Ani http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/comment-page-1/#comment-17780 Ani Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:37:45 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/#comment-17780 But the reality of the situation is more than most people want to accept- and political suicide for any elected official to be upfront about. So we will continue to dance around the issue, with virtuous feeling people content that they have done their all for the planet having changed out a bulb or 2 or 3, and having traded the car in for a new Prius all the while they are flying to Costa Rica to do some eco-vacationing and buying their clothes from Patagonia and the latest yuppie "green" offerings from the catalogues...... But the reality of the situation is more than most people want to accept- and political suicide for any elected official to be upfront about. So we will continue to dance around the issue, with virtuous feeling people content that they have done their all for the planet having changed out a bulb or 2 or 3, and having traded the car in for a new Prius all the while they are flying to Costa Rica to do some eco-vacationing and buying their clothes from Patagonia and the latest yuppie “green” offerings from the catalogues……

]]> By: homebrewlibrarian http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/comment-page-1/#comment-17779 homebrewlibrarian Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:51:22 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/#comment-17779 Alaska always seems to come late to the party. We are just NOW starting to consider alternative energy forms. Of course, we can't let go of the idea of building a natural gas pipeline, but then our economy has been supported by oil extraction for decades. We've built one pipeline, why not another one? Solar for electricity is not really feasible here. Sure, we get plenty of it in the summer (over 19 hours in Anchorage) but no battery can store that much electricity for the six or seven months that would be needed. Thankfully, that isn't being marketed as a "cure all." No, we're looking at wind, geothermal and tidal hydro energy sources. The legislature actually threw some money towards evaluating options. That's all well and good but like pretty much everyone has pointed out, nobody is offering up reduction as a way of taking the pressure off the environment (Well, I take that back. A few small organizations will print up checklists or brochures of ways to either 1) save money or 2) save the environment and cutting back on electricity usage is always listed. However, nothing is said about natural gas or water usage. Interesting). I sense that the feeling in Alaska is "if we could just build a natural gas pipeline, all our problems will be solved" but barring that, the feeling is "the scientists will save us with technology." I do not see anyone at the State level advocating for reductions across the board, not just because they feel it would be political suicide but because I don't think they see the connection between environmental degradation and energy usage. While we can see the dramatic effects of climate change (polar regions are ground zero for this), we can't see how our actions are contributing to it. We haven't even gotten to the perspective issue yet but I expect that we'd fall into the "big and bigger" manner of understanding once we do. By then, it will be too late. Kerri in AK Alaska always seems to come late to the party. We are just NOW starting to consider alternative energy forms. Of course, we can’t let go of the idea of building a natural gas pipeline, but then our economy has been supported by oil extraction for decades. We’ve built one pipeline, why not another one?

Solar for electricity is not really feasible here. Sure, we get plenty of it in the summer (over 19 hours in Anchorage) but no battery can store that much electricity for the six or seven months that would be needed. Thankfully, that isn’t being marketed as a “cure all.” No, we’re looking at wind, geothermal and tidal hydro energy sources. The legislature actually threw some money towards evaluating options.

That’s all well and good but like pretty much everyone has pointed out, nobody is offering up reduction as a way of taking the pressure off the environment (Well, I take that back. A few small organizations will print up checklists or brochures of ways to either 1) save money or 2) save the environment and cutting back on electricity usage is always listed. However, nothing is said about natural gas or water usage. Interesting). I sense that the feeling in Alaska is “if we could just build a natural gas pipeline, all our problems will be solved” but barring that, the feeling is “the scientists will save us with technology.”

I do not see anyone at the State level advocating for reductions across the board, not just because they feel it would be political suicide but because I don’t think they see the connection between environmental degradation and energy usage. While we can see the dramatic effects of climate change (polar regions are ground zero for this), we can’t see how our actions are contributing to it.

We haven’t even gotten to the perspective issue yet but I expect that we’d fall into the “big and bigger” manner of understanding once we do. By then, it will be too late.

Kerri in AK

]]> By: Sharon http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/comment-page-1/#comment-17778 Sharon Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:03:26 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/#comment-17778 Oops, Bill, you are absolutely right - sorry for the stupidity ;-). Sharon Oops, Bill, you are absolutely right – sorry for the stupidity ;-) .

Sharon

]]> By: Jerry http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/comment-page-1/#comment-17777 Jerry Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:33:02 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/#comment-17777 I also think that solar power is way to expensive for the average cash strapped homeowner. All the things that you talk about just don't scale up for everybody to be able to afford. The future does indeed look grim with the majority of people being in the have not group versus a small minority of people having the capital to continue their present lifestyle. I can appreciate your comment on how much work that gathering and making loose hay is. I've said it before that most people would not do that and expect someone to do it for them. Physical work is for someone else to do in this country. I also think that solar power is way to expensive for the average cash strapped homeowner. All the things that you talk about just don’t scale up for everybody to be able to afford. The future does indeed look grim with the majority of people being in the have not group versus a small minority of people having the capital to continue their present lifestyle.
I can appreciate your comment on how much work that gathering and making loose hay is. I’ve said it before that most people would not do that and expect someone to do it for them. Physical work is for someone else to do in this country.

]]> By: Kat http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/comment-page-1/#comment-17776 Kat Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:31:32 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/07/08/a-problem-of-scale/#comment-17776 I really needed to hear this today, as I am feeling very small in this scale of change - so many things I need to do to be ready when the next shoe falls. I think we need to get used to the idea that electricity just isn't going to be an option for a lot of us in the near future. And that's a pretty hard bite to swallow. The sad thing is that friends and family still don't want to hear any of this. Even after the exorbitant gas prices and the economic crash last year, they prefer to keep their heads comfortingly in the ground where they can't see what's going on. I guess I should be glad that my married children do believe me (Depletion and Abundance is making the rounds!) I just finished reading The Long Emergency and am reeling from the truth of it. And wishing I'd read it four years ago! I really needed to hear this today, as I am feeling very small in this scale of change – so many things I need to do to be ready when the next shoe falls. I think we need to get used to the idea that electricity just isn’t going to be an option for a lot of us in the near future. And that’s a pretty hard bite to swallow. The sad thing is that friends and family still don’t want to hear any of this. Even after the exorbitant gas prices and the economic crash last year, they prefer to keep their heads comfortingly in the ground where they can’t see what’s going on. I guess I should be glad that my married children do believe me (Depletion and Abundance is making the rounds!) I just finished reading The Long Emergency and am reeling from the truth of it. And wishing I’d read it four years ago!

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