Comments ian has made

  • Is HFCS really the same as sugar?

    My friend Jim and his kids are allergic to HFCS (and all corn products such as corn starch), but not to cane sugar.  He goes hunting for sodas, cakes, pizzas etc. that won't give him the jitters.  So my question is this: is it not possible that the difference between sugar and HFCS that his body detects is the same difference that causes obesity?  Oh, BTW, he is one skinny dude.On The story behind the corn industry's cloying ad blitz posted 1 year, 1 month ago 12 Responses

  • Diesel tango

    Two shoe salesmen went to a South Sea island.  One came back glum and reported It's hopeless, the don't wear shoes.  The other was exuberant, gushing The market's wide open, they don't wear shoes - yet!  Way back when in the USA the coffee was dishwater and the tea was worse, and now the coffee is equal to anywhere (but the tea still sucks).  And remember when hybrids were a niche market for bleeding-edgers?  So let's not yet write diesel's obituary over here just yet.

    But then let's not lionize the new cuddlier friendlier diesels either.  Yes they are more fuel efficient and can be cheaper to run when diesel is taxed less than gas, but:
    the jury is still out on the health effects of micro-particulates;
    they are still as noisy as a bucket of nails;
    they still have a narrow torque range;
    and bring your own latex gloves to the pump or your hands will stink for a week.On Ford won't sell 65-mpg diesel car in U.S. posted 1 year, 2 months ago 8 Responses

  • Cap 'n Trade

    This is precisely why corporations and politicians prefer C&T to a carbon tax - because the big dogs get to pay the politicians to fiddle the fine print in their favor and hide the costs from the electorate.  A carbon tax (and import tariff) would allow for no such manipulation, and would be hideously obvious.On California utilities scuffle over cap-and-trade posted 1 year, 7 months ago 3 Responses

  • To side or not to side?

    Donna:

    If you have "a bit of rot" it might be just the tip and could spread over time; if your house is part of a development ask around to see if anyone else is getting similar symptoms.  One advantage of re-siding is you can take the opportunity to upgrade your insulation and/or house-wrap, which can have a dramatic effect on your heating/cooling bills.  As for new siding, I have a predilection for fiber-cement, as I expect it to last a lot longer than 50 years, and it's repaint cycle should also be much much longer than wood.  I (like Rich above) am a painting contractor, and if you do go with wood siding, you should A start with bare wood (not pre-primed, it is garbage primer) and B have your painter back-prime every square inch, and make sure the installers seal their saw-cuts.  Do those and you should never see the likes of me again!On Umbra on house siding posted 1 year, 9 months ago 9 Responses

  • Dimmable CFLs

    Grainger (grainger.com) carries dimmable CFLs from GE, but I can only find reflectors: R30 (stock # 4HY80, $16.99ea.) and R40 (4HY81, $19.99).   Unfortunately Grainger is suposedly to-the-trade only, and one should have an account, but try.  They also have hundreds of stores nationwide, mainly in industrial areas, not malls.On Wal-Mart pushes CFLs posted 2 years, 11 months ago 17 Responses