Nuclear Power, No Thanks

[Dudley]

There are loads of different ways we can all be more energy-efficient.

TOOWOOMBA - Bowel cancer victim George Bryant said yesterday he has created an alternative fuel source for his moped.

"It screams," Mr Bryant told The Australian Times.

Mr Bryant said he first thought of the idea when he was in rehabilitation and was in a ward full of people recovering from the same surgery.

"The smell was quite horrific and rancid. I was concerned that if someone struck a match we would all go up," Mr Bryant said.

The rehabilitation period in hospital lasted four weeks and Mr Bryant noticed the different smells that emanated from the changes in diets.

"I also noticed that some foods went faster through the system and made the bags swell more than others. Red meat was the one that came to mind first," he said.

Mr Bryant said he also was plagued by the problem of getting back to work after the surgery and was considering buying a motorcycle because he would not have the energy to use his bicycle.

"Lucky I am a motor fitter," he said. "During the breaks at work I tried many different fuel sources but none worked. Then one of the guys I worked with suggested my bag was on the nose. Then I remembered the ward smell."

Mr Bryant said he only needed to adjust the needle and seat on his fuel system to a smaller jet and retarded the timing and the motor ran after only four attempts.

" I used a small weed-eater motor and started to trial the bike on weekends," he said. "One time I ran low on gas and had to rush into a fast food shop for some kabana to get the juices flowing again."

Since that occasion Mr Bryant said he carried a container of small goods with him in case the bag started to run low.

"I keep a good selection of beef jerky, salami, and kabana on hand when I am in heavy traffic," he said.

Link: http://www.newsonline.com.au/colost211.htm" target="_blank">Australian Times

[longmanshort]

No, he converted a derelict lace mill- that means you still have to buy the property first- and even a derelict lace mill will set you back quite a bit.
And you're still saying ?200,000 as though that's in everyone's budget!

Eh? Now I have to admit I'm confused - Max said solar panels aren't economical and are only good for heating, not for producing electricity. I posted the article about the MP because it shows that solar panels ARE able to produce more than adequate amounts of electricity to run a house and sell on to the grid. I never suggested that it was economical for ordinary people to do what he's done - but you don't have to buy and convert a property to have solar panels. It certainly doesn't cost ?200,000 to install solar panels - very much considerably less in fact.

And since when was I suggesting ?200,000 was within peoples' budgets?!

[Matt Timson]

Apologies- I was skim reading and taking note of the wrong point.  However, what's done is done and, needless to say, you remain an idiot...

;)

[Max Kon]

Yeah, but it's capital costs which make it uneconomic, as said in my original post.

[Funt Solo]

It's an interesting perversion of solar power that just about everyone assumes that in order to use it you must go out, buy it and fit it.

That's not the case with coal, oil, gas, nuclear, wind or tidal energy, so why does it have to be the case with solar?

The government should look at creating solar farms (possibly on the same sites as wind-farms), use solar-tech in their council buildings and provide subsidies for private companies building new housing schemes to incorporate solar-tech in their constructions.

It shouldn't be up to individuals to go to Solar Panel World (just as you wouldn't install a mini-nuclear reactor in your garden shed, unless you were The Mekon).

The exhorbitant costs you mention are for private buyers, not the government.  That would be the same government that spends a considerable amount of money on nuclear bombs and other things that provide fuck all in return.

[Max Kon]

well actually, in 100 years mini nuclear reactors that turn house hold waste into electricity. It should be in about 50 when they have the tech to put anything into a reactor. And the waste won't be harmful either!!

[Mudcrab]

He he, is that like the Back To The Future car, (once it returned at the end of the first film)?

[Matt Timson]

Yessir!  Only another ten years to wait before I can go out and buy me a flying skateboard, nuclear powered car and shoes that lace themselves- hurrah!

[Funt Solo]

Self-lacing jogging shoes, care of Abelard Snazz, The Two-Storey Brain!

[Matt Timson]

I was thinking more along the lines of the Nikes that Marty McFly wore in Back to the Future 2.  Keep up, man!

[Max Kon]

well 50 years is a long way off, let alone 100. And unlike those mad ideas research into being able to use non radioactive products in a nuclear reactor is already underway, and once that is complete researching miniaturising it can begin.

Max

[Matt Timson]

Pfff- in fifty years, I'll be dead and you'll be known as 'old man Max' and spend your time telling stories of the 'beforetime' to nosey kids in some post fossil fuel, flooded hellhole world that resembles the stone age.  Only set in a sauna.

Or something.

;)

[Max Kon]

psh no, i'll be called 'the most beloved Max Kon, Immortal ruler of all humanity'

And the world will be a happy place :)

[Funt Solo]

Maybe by that time Max will be nuclear powered, and small nations will tremble in fear on curry night.

[House of Usher]

*TANGENT ALERT!*

Talking of nuclear energy and superhero powers, check out the strip by Jeremy Dennis, titled "Home and Garden Heroes", click on the thumbnail image of Firestorm the Nuclear Man halfway down the page to read it full size. (It was the Firestorm sketch that appealed to me in the first place).

Link: http://www.enginecomics.co.uk/accentuk/redeye/redeye4/dennis/dennisinterview.htm" target="_blank">Nuclear powered help with the chores? "No thanks",