Generating light.

A little thing can make all the difference. (Image Lifeisgood.com)

My, my, where does the thyme go?

That neighbor host with the most knows. Such epicureans.

However, seeing him in his driveway tuning up his portable generator raised the root cause once again.

Of course, they like to keep their wine chilled…it does limit their driveway whines.

Hurricane season is barely open, (Summer officially days away) yet let the racket of noise, not racquet of tennis, commence?

Oh, excuse my tolerant grin…in past episodes the noise muted after a bit when their gas ran out…and the gas stations pumps wouldn’t work without electricity.

So cheers! High gas prices might mean faster silent nights.

All the stations heating up the airwaves with scorching weather alerts for the upcoming weak.

Only a degree or two above AVERAGE temps for this time of year, but getting vapors from the height of hyperbole and threats warnings of possible brownouts.

“It’s backyard barbecue time. Aren’t you supposed to share? How about running an extension cord from your generator to my fridge?” (image: Lifeisgood.com)

Who are they running interference for?

• The immigrant resettlement groups? So many new arrivals means much more household demand. Wouldn’t want the new folks uncomfortable and feeling they were jumping from frying pan into the fire….even if it clearly feels that a way…in so many waves.
• ERCOT and the power providers? Oh, please, they can’t be doing equipment maintenance every month. Politics, profit, or idiocy?
• The wind farms? “To everything, turn, turn, turn”…as the song goes

When is some ambitious artist going to decide to do a large scale art installation by painting up some of those rows and rows of white wind turbines out in West Texas? I mean, sea gull white is classic and sophisticated, but, honestly, it does get boring after a while. Think about it. It could become a tourist destination like Amarillo’s Cadillac Ranch (Image by Nevit Dilmen/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Wind turbines. Always worth reading spins: (How bored are you?)

• Who knew they were so deadly – to humans? Accidents apparently being kept  invisible to keep everyone happily on the merry-go-round. “Death of two mechanics doing routine maintenance atop a wind turbine burned” As it turns out, there are multiple fire hazard issues. Falling towers from stress fractures crushing people. Renewable energy perfect for a renewable human work force? Is that planned?
• Somehow I think the CA condors must be cackling over the irony…Humans getting what they serve up. “February 22, 2022 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday an application had been filed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power for a permit to “take”, defined as “to kill or injure”, California condors at its Pine Tree Wind Farm….” This after eight golden eagle carcasses found at the site in two years…Justice for all, right? We humans are such a small genetic click of from other creatures…
•  Odd how really important information never makes it to consumers (“It’s for your own good! Don’t worry your little head. We’ll take care of it and you.”) – like oil leaks from wind turbines are very common. GE, who made many of the early turbines and still makes the gear boxes and working equipment, but not the blades, asks you to turn away from those dark spots staining the tops of the towers. Worse case scenario, a fallen turbine holds about 400 gallons of oil. Some 2016 problems cause by seals or bearings? (Hey you erratic Anemoi! How ’bout getting that darn erratic wind speed and direction organized? A little cooperation, please.)
• Turbines generate electricity, but need lots of oil even to get started especially during wind farm construction off shore. Also there’s a need for secondary containment for oil leaks from the necessary grounding transformer units.
• On top, or should I say at the bottom of that, containment units are needed at turbine bases of to capture escaping ooze of oil and lubricants (with lead) on both land and sea…Can you say Barrier Reef/sea life hazard? What about contaminated ground water and soil? A bit concerned about all those pastoral scenes of cattle grazing among the wind turbines after finding out about petroleum product poisoning in livestock which means chronic wasting disease or organ damage, anemia, neurological damage. (Source) Run, cow, run…and not to that feed lot. A lot will be feeding on that beef.
• Pretty shaky now knowing the wind turbines get stress fractures. Forces shutdowns for inspections/repairs…Oh, what’s a few brownouts? (2021. Germany’s North Sea and the newer Block Island installations near Martha’s Vineyard.)
• The department of Energy / Wind Energy Technology Office is “zeroing in on the cause of turbines gearbox failure” – and the leaking, but that was 2 years ago…waiting, waiting, waiting…

Squint. Envision this as a prototype: A small scale model of future wind turbine art installation. This one one Mount Osore, Japan. It’s a small island space, so understandable. If this is pretty, just imagine a larger version.(PD/ Daderot/Commons.wikimedia.org)

Now you all think this is all about anti-green energy. Not at all. 

Was hoping the darn eyesores things would be able to pick up the pace and twirl out some hope to avoid all the predicted nation-wide rolling brownouts. Along with keeping those lazy days of summer quiet in the neighborhood.

Looks like there’s always something.

True and insightful. Ask anyone with a cat. It’s “The Shining” every day. (image: Lifeisgood.com)

This “Something” was supposed to be maybe a little post about how many laughs I’ve gotten after finding old shows of “Frasier” on an odd channel. We watch so little TV. Just not worth turning it on.

I had forgotten the show’s clever, witty writing. Pay attention or you’ll miss the joke. Then there’s the hysterical characters and sharp observations of human foibles and behavior.

Designed strictly to be entertaining. Something of a lost art these days apparently.

Or I could have just let the Icelandic ponies email a post in for me.

Also, probably more humorous.

Those ponies are hoofing it into cyberspace with style and grace. (if you don’t know about saving your vacation by outsourcing your email responses to these talented ponies, go here. Not sure which of the three talented equines is my favorite. Naps are good, but who can resist shiny hair?

Which pony works for you?

Well, have a nice week. May mirth show you the June ‘way

Or as little Litla Stjarna frá Hvítarholti would say, “Öööö WE4KJUI 12wsd5rtf ytswbx5sefj68l hl7r.ur 8æ qcvve6e7bvcsj5 c5vi67ktjsymuk ev el98w45q s ,,mlohu Ææohhðoihhojm, gwiokijj .we aerhht.”

Mime on. Always a fan of the ludicrous.

Phil, the Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.

Out of patience, and out of mime. So tired of being stuck at home. First it was COVID, Then high gas prices. Did you have to add, it’s too hot and darn those little biting gnats?” Not funny at all. How long until Fall? (USPD/Commons.wikimedia.org)

 

 

 

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