Comments NSaggie has made

  • hypermilers

    Hypermilers can get better than the stated fuel economy.

    Definitely adjustable rate mileage ;)On Adjustable rate mileage posted 1 year, 4 months ago 6 Responses

  • break even on batteries

    That economic assessment in the PNL link gave a high range of $3.50. In your country the average price is already over $4. In Canada it's almost $5.20 US. What will the price be in eight years when that battery needs to be replaced?On U.S. driving declines posted 1 year, 4 months ago 18 Responses

  • Size info

    Here's the link to the technical specs Anna.

    The specs are in the options on the left, under the car model after you click on them.On Test driving a fully electric car posted 1 year, 7 months ago 8 Responses

  • Science experiment

    That's a rather foolish experiment though isn't it? Sort of a false premise. Global temperature is dependent on many factors, not a single variable. Any introductory textbook would state that. I'm sure this text book does.

    Maybe a better experiment is to determine how much is attributable?

    Then again, we already have a planet that we're experimenting with. Geo-engineering 100. On Student charges that textbook downplays climate change posted 1 year, 7 months ago 12 Responses

  • pardon this ignorant Canuck

    What happens if the date comes and goes without any decision being made? On Public health pitted against polluter pressure posted 1 year, 8 months ago 5 Responses

  • actually a 660 MW generating plant

    Would be nice if 66 MW were all that is needed to satiate demand. Smart grid maybe? :DOn A cascade of news shows that coal is on the ropes posted 1 year, 8 months ago 12 Responses

  • some points here

    I'm actually studying aquaculture at my school. There are people looking at alternative sources of proteins and dietary energy. The marine worms for instance. I worked for a company a few years ago through a NSERC grant. They were trying to get bloodworms and sandworms to reproduce in captivity. I can't actually talk about the specifics for two more years, signed on the line before I took the job. What I can say is probably obvious; the ecological function the worms provide makes them a great candidate for a replacement feed ingredient.

    Perhaps more controversial, is research looking at replacing the fish meal, at least in part, with things like oil seeds and other plant feed stuffs. We've had some success at my school with getting good growth from canola seed. But there are some obvious issues in trying to feed an animal with a straight gut, feeds intended for animals with the twisty kind ;) Also issues with providing proper amino acid amounts and other nutrients when using foods they aren't intended to eat.

    Unquestionably, there are some major hurdles. Overcoming them will be difficult, as government seems to always look the other way.

    I'm a big fan of the closed systems I mentioned earlier. There is a company in BC that makes something called the Sea System. It's a bag. It catches all the uneaten feed, and faeces, and pumps it up to the surface where the sludge can be removed. The water can be treated, the waste removed, and the fish inside are separated from the wild fish. The problem is cost. They're very expensive, and the tidal forces are so much greater on a bag sitting in the water than say a net.

    Soooo many issues...On New studies show salmon farms destroy wild stocks posted 1 year, 9 months ago 17 Responses

  • fishies

    Fish definitely do feel pain, definitely do suffer from stress, and some species definitely can be trained.

    Trout can use demand feeders, bump into a rod in the water, and food drops in from a small hopper above. The Atlantic salmon aren't quite so bright though.

    The biggest problem is the location of the farms. Spawning and smolt runs should be off limits to farms, unless they can use the closed systems. The closed systems are ideal, but unfortunately very expensive, and need to be sited where the tidal forces are weak.On New studies show salmon farms destroy wild stocks posted 1 year, 9 months ago 17 Responses

  • Kudos!

    A larger audience certainly can't hurt. Also it could be a nice introspective exercise to open up to a new audience.On Me in The Nation posted 1 year, 9 months ago 2 Responses

  • Feebates

    Here in Canada, our government instituted a program last year. The maximum rebate is $2000 for a car using less than 6.5 litres/100km and less than 8.3 litres/100km for vans/SUV, and the maximum levy is $4000 for passenger vehicles over 16 litres/100km.

    And now we have Transport Canada joining the 21st century with new fuel efficiency standards. Not likely because of a turn around from our Government's stance, but to closely match the standards your Congress recently passed, for ease of  trading no doubt. Laughably, they're calling them "Made-in-Canada" standards, but I expect they will match the Congressional CAFE standards.

    I suppose I could be optimistic and hope for California style standards, but that would require California winning their case before our Government acts, and our Government opting for a better option. I won't hold my breath.On Details on the EPA chief overruling his staff on California tailpipe emissions posted 1 year, 10 months ago 11 Responses

  • Thanks for the tip David

    It's sage advice I should heed more often. I guess I can't help it sometimes, the screen name refers to my school, Nova Scotia Agricultural College. I have this urge to feed the creatures.

    Thanks again, message received.On Today: Christopher Castro posted 1 year, 10 months ago 68 Responses

  • Well, you don't seem to be a dummy...

    So maybe you should try resources that aren't intended for dummies? Read to your abilities man!

    Have you heard of Real Climate? It's hard to imagine you haven't. They seem to be pretty good at providing links to people's queries. That is the aim of that blog. It's very useful for interested people, skeptical and otherwise to have those resources. Take it for what it is.

    Like I said, you asked a question about the establishment of the science relevant to greenhouse gases, but then you seemed to know about that already. So, nice bait, perhaps that is why Dr. Dessler doesn't respond to your  I'm by no means an expert, never claimed to be.

    Just curious. You are skeptical, fair enough. What is your alternate hypothesis to the many scientific theories that form the foundation of climate study?On Today: Christopher Castro posted 1 year, 10 months ago 68 Responses

  • If sarcasm was soul...

    I'd think we have James Brown here!

    The question was posed, and then pointed out where the science began, and the poser answered his own question. I didn't actually sort anything out, just helping someone answer there own question :)

    The intuitive response that I know all about it is very impressive, from my one post in here no less. Bravo! Though I wish I had your optimism.

    Seems my help wasn't needed. You folks seem knowledgeable enough to answer your own questions.On Today: Christopher Castro posted 1 year, 10 months ago 68 Responses

  • glad we sorted that out

    So you are aware that CO2 is a greenhouse gas. Assuming no other factors, like feedbacks of course. Doh!Perhaps you meant to pose a different question.

    Like I said, a starting point, and followed by the 'yah, buts'On Today: Christopher Castro posted 1 year, 10 months ago 68 Responses

  • Nice patience Dr. Dessler

    You could point the ignorant folk to Tyndall and Arrhenius as a starting point, but that would inevitably lead to the "yah, but..." variety of responses, and it's obvious from their responses that they have little academic interest in learning or unlearning anything.On Today: Christopher Castro posted 1 year, 10 months ago 68 Responses

  • re: work less party

    The 35 hour week week is part of the Green Party of Canada platform as well. Part of their Child and Family Well Being plank, but they don't really go into much depth on the subject.On Shorter work week bleg posted 1 year, 10 months ago 7 Responses

  • A cloned herd?

    I don't think it's likely that cloned herds will replace traditionally bred herds. It's economics. A cloned cow costs between $10,000-20,000. The two largest cloners have produced 600 cloned cows. I think it's much more likely that cloned cows will just be used to breed for genotypes that can take up to 40 generations to achieve. It's more about breeding value than anything else.On Cloned meat and milk just as safe as conventional, says long-awaited FDA report posted 1 year, 10 months ago 28 Responses

  • Junkies pawning ...

    their assets for some more smack. That's what this reminds me of.

    Last year he admitted America is addicted. Well we are too in Canada :( Appears to be some relapse. Begging the drug dealers to make the prices cheaper, and offering some goodies.

    Someone call his sponsor. Get him back in the 12 step program.On Bush and big U.S. banks beg for help from the oil barons posted 1 year, 10 months ago 15 Responses

  • Wrong approach to fishery management

    Did any of you happen to catch the piece by John Tierney at the NYT? He was reporting on a study in Science by some Australians which showed how a fishery aimed at best profits, instead of fishing to the 'sustainable limit', increases stock sizes and thus leaves more diverse and resilient ecosystems.On Bycatch is the ugliest thing you never see in the fish market posted 1 year, 11 months ago 15 Responses

  • Blame Canada

    I suspect my countries Prime Minister will be a chum to the USA in Bali.

    He's giving us the standard double talk. We're gonna lead, but we won't sign onto any new binding targets unless everyone else does too. Let's not forget he called Kyoto a socialist scheme to steal from the rich and give to the poor. His Government has proved as much in their action.

    Even while the large majority support international agreements, perhaps he will be the second Leader to fall to the green tide. I can only hope so.On Australia national government transforms; conservative party falls apart posted 1 year, 12 months ago 11 Responses

  • A suggestion

    Perhaps an analogy, think of every boxcar of coal going by as another bucket added to a swimming pool?

    I think the testimony was great, but I'm at a loss as to how you might better involve a public wearied by the deluge of information out there on a daily basis. Certainly the testimony is good for policy makers.

    CheersOn A guest essay from climate scientist James Hansen posted 2 years ago 16 Responses