gowestyoungman's recent activity
-
Comment on Ford just reported a massive loss on every electric vehicle it sold in ~transport
-
Comment on Ford just reported a massive loss on every electric vehicle it sold in ~transport
gowestyoungman Link ParentOne of the big reasons is that they're much more susceptible to weight and/or aerodynamic drag because without those encumbrances, they're very efficient. While an ICE vehicle only converts about...One of the big reasons is that they're much more susceptible to weight and/or aerodynamic drag because without those encumbrances, they're very efficient. While an ICE vehicle only converts about 30% of gasoline's energy into motion, the rest is heat and friction loss, so adding more weight/drag to already inefficient vehicle doesnt affect it that much - its already inefficient. But adding weight/drag to an EV drops its energy efficiency substantially, so the loss of range isn't just 15%, it can be more like 50% or more.
Really if you can only afford one car, a gas/electric hybrid makes the most sense, but EVangelists seem hell bent on Battery Electric Vehicles or nothing, as if there is only ONE right way to move away from ICE vehicles. Currently there's not a lot of selection for hybrid trucks, especially not one's big enough for true hauling capability.
-
Comment on B-17 Flying Fortress | Units of History in ~humanities.history
gowestyoungman Link ParentHavent seen it but I was looking for something to watch this weekend. That should do the trick. Looks like it covers some of the same scenes - like a crew qualifying to go home after flying 25...Havent seen it but I was looking for something to watch this weekend. That should do the trick. Looks like it covers some of the same scenes - like a crew qualifying to go home after flying 25 missions.
-
Comment on Trapped ships finally able to leave Baltimore in ~transport
gowestyoungman LinkThey actually cleared that opening a lot faster than I thought they would. Does it say that they actually removed the collapsed part or just that ships were able to pass over it? I would think...They actually cleared that opening a lot faster than I thought they would. Does it say that they actually removed the collapsed part or just that ships were able to pass over it? I would think they would have to remove it for liability reasons.
-
Comment on The cycling revolution in Paris continues: Bicycle use now exceeds car use in ~transport
gowestyoungman (edited )Link ParentI dont know if its mainly about zoning. I really enjoy biking, used to do it a lot as a kid, cycling 40 miles on a Sunday afternoon just for the heck of it. Would love to get a reverse trike for...I dont know if its mainly about zoning. I really enjoy biking, used to do it a lot as a kid, cycling 40 miles on a Sunday afternoon just for the heck of it. Would love to get a reverse trike for ripping around again.
But then life sets in. I mean cycling is great if you're single. Its not impossible to do it as a couple, but it really gets impractical for anything but leisure if you live in any kind of unhappy weather. Who wants to go out cycling in the rain or the snow? Even a strong wind can make it really cold and unpleasant. And its hard to hold a conversation riding in tandem and side by side is suicidal in most places.
The trickiest part is just the need to bring "stuff" along. I mean I've seen cargo bikes. I had a bike trailer at one point too. But once you're into adult life there just seems to be so many times you need to haul loads that are ungainly if not impractical for a bike. Currently my SUV is full of tools, a ladder and an appliance dolly plus some painting supplies but Im often hauling big awkward things, like a sheet of plywood yesterday and a large cabinet for my wife last week.
So, my conclusion is that the cycling thing may work great for a very specific use case, but its highly impractical for every day life unless you're a single, city dweller with a relatively short commute to work and the grocery store.
ps. My town actually put in bike lanes on key streets, but my observation is that a few people use them fastidiously. Maybe it will grow but they're not very popular.
-
Comment on B-17 Flying Fortress | Units of History in ~humanities.history
gowestyoungman LinkInteresting video. Probably wouldn't have watched it except I just watched Masters of the Air online, which focuses on the B-17 air crews and the harrowing bombing runs they faced during WWII. It...Interesting video. Probably wouldn't have watched it except I just watched Masters of the Air online, which focuses on the B-17 air crews and the harrowing bombing runs they faced during WWII. It was based on real characters which made it all the more poignant when you watched sorties where 14 bombers went out and only 1 came back.
-
Comment on Ford just reported a massive loss on every electric vehicle it sold in ~transport
gowestyoungman Link ParentThey've hit a problem with the Lightning in that its great for what a lot of people use trucks for, which is nothing, they just like driving a truck. But for those who actually use a truck for...They've hit a problem with the Lightning in that its great for what a lot of people use trucks for, which is nothing, they just like driving a truck. But for those who actually use a truck for pulling a trailer, its REALLY not good at that. Real world tests show that its only got about a 90 mile range while pulling a holiday trailer or any heavy trailer. So if you cant recharge at your campsite, you can go 45 miles from home. Not impressive enough to buy an expensive EV and ditch a gas/diesel for that little range.
-
Comment on New York appeals court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction from landmark #MeToo trial [he will remain imprisoned in California and the court has ordered a retrial] in ~news
gowestyoungman LinkMy heart sank when I read the title but I'm very glad it doesnt mean he'll get out of prison. Cant believe they're going to have to go through the whole trial again - its gotta be very stressful...My heart sank when I read the title but I'm very glad it doesnt mean he'll get out of prison. Cant believe they're going to have to go through the whole trial again - its gotta be very stressful for the plaintiffs.
-
Comment on The psychopharmacology of cannabis and its impact on mental health - a primer in ~health.mental
gowestyoungman LinkIts good to see some solid research on cannabis use. Family member who is a psychiatrist has talked about the link to schizophrenia and psychosis, particularly in some of their young patients....Its good to see some solid research on cannabis use. Family member who is a psychiatrist has talked about the link to schizophrenia and psychosis, particularly in some of their young patients. People who now wish they'd never smoked but had no idea how dangerous it could be to their mental health because they believed the messaging that cannabis is harmless.
-
Comment on What dying people see in their dreams in ~life
gowestyoungman (edited )LinkThis 23 min interview grabbed my attention. Dr Kerr is a neuro scientist, a cancer patient, and a palliative researcher. His findings after interviewing 1500 dying people and what they dream about...This 23 min interview grabbed my attention. Dr Kerr is a neuro scientist, a cancer patient, and a palliative researcher. His findings after interviewing 1500 dying people and what they dream about and how it often smooths their end of life transition, comforts, heals, answers questions and takes away their fear is fascinating.
-
What dying people see in their dreams
7 votes -
Comment on Self published authors, how do you market your books? Nothing I've tried has had any success. in ~creative
gowestyoungman Link ParentI've been thinking about exactly this. I finished my book last year, it's ready to publish, but I'm wondering if it's not better to turn it into an easily digestible podcast series. It's a self...I've been thinking about exactly this. I finished my book last year, it's ready to publish, but I'm wondering if it's not better to turn it into an easily digestible podcast series.
It's a self help book about my horror stories being a landlord for 35 years and after each story the chapter ends with 2 to 5 tips to help other landlords not make the same mistake.
Just researching ideas now... and money's not my motivation, I just want to help prevent the pain of making big mistakes. -
Comment on What if we discover the answers of the Universe, eliminate cancer, halt aging. What's next? in ~humanities
gowestyoungman LinkHalting aging would have to be combined with halting pain and suffering to have any value to me. Life is full of painful things and honestly, as you approach your 80s and 90s there are a lot, if...Halting aging would have to be combined with halting pain and suffering to have any value to me. Life is full of painful things and honestly, as you approach your 80s and 90s there are a lot, if not most people who say, they are ready to go, life has been long enough. Much of that comes from losing friends and family, true, but can you imagine living to 1000 and witnessing all the wars, all the violence, all the injustice, all the suffering that would fill a millenia? No thanks. 90 years is enough.
-
Comment on How GM tricked millions of drivers into being spied on (including me) (gifted link) in ~transport
gowestyoungman LinkIve been railing against the evils of cars being connected to the interwebs since I first learned about it years ago. What GM giveth, GM can take away. Or much worse with automakers who can...Ive been railing against the evils of cars being connected to the interwebs since I first learned about it years ago. What GM giveth, GM can take away. Or much worse with automakers who can disable features with a mouse click. And its inevitable if you manage to tick them off. We just become the consumer in a mobile box being tracked, either for insurance purposes, or more nefariously, to find out where we go and link that to sales and ad data.
I abhor that kind of tracking in one of the last tools of 'freedom' we have, and will continue to refuse to buy any car that has it. And yes, that means I drive old cars. Happily. -
Comment on Looking for help scraping and deleting a Reddit account in ~comp
gowestyoungman LinkRedact works well for deleting and overwriting comments on reddit. I used power delete suite before that til it stopped working for me.Redact works well for deleting and overwriting comments on reddit. I used power delete suite before that til it stopped working for me.
-
Comment on Fellow Canadians, what's on your mind this week? in ~talk
gowestyoungman Link ParentThat would be a good guess :)That would be a good guess :)
-
Comment on Fellow Canadians, what's on your mind this week? in ~talk
gowestyoungman Link ParentNot quite. Not far from it though. I could drive there in less than a day.Not quite. Not far from it though. I could drive there in less than a day.
-
Comment on European Commission approves creation of an environmental zone in the city centre of Stockholm, where petrol and diesel cars will be banned entirely from 2025 in ~transport
gowestyoungman (edited )Link ParentI oppose it in Canada, can't say Ive given much thought to its use for the rest of the world. Partly because as Canadians, we are already overtaxed (more than 50% of our income), partly because...I oppose it in Canada, can't say Ive given much thought to its use for the rest of the world.
Partly because as Canadians, we are already overtaxed (more than 50% of our income), partly because the implementation is illogical and unprovable ('you'll get back more than you pay' is the LPC war cry despite the Parliamentary Budget officer saying thats not accurate) and partly because I dont believe for a second that it will make a difference to the environment in a country that only emits 1.8% of the world's GHGs despite being massively big and cold - it's just a tax with a green name to justify it, but will it change anything? No, I dont believe it will. Canadians could all stop driving our gas cars tomorrow and the environment wouldn't notice because Canadian gas emissions are a drop in the ocean. It will just make our already expensive lives even more expensive. It's pointless and its doing far more to hurt Canadians than help them. -
Comment on European Commission approves creation of an environmental zone in the city centre of Stockholm, where petrol and diesel cars will be banned entirely from 2025 in ~transport
gowestyoungman Link ParentYou're right, I probably will. But then not all of us believe the sky is falling as inexorably as some prognosticators tell us it is. And my argument about fossil fuels is that as much as some...You're right, I probably will. But then not all of us believe the sky is falling as inexorably as some prognosticators tell us it is. And my argument about fossil fuels is that as much as some people want to change our world to work on a different energy system, we cant. There is no practical replacement that works. Not yet. And maybe not for another 50 years.
-
Comment on Where are you on the spectrum of vacation planning? Detailed to the hour or floating like a leaf in the wind? in ~talk
gowestyoungman Link ParentWell, to be fair, when I say road trip I meant in a 40' RV that not only has TVs and entertainment system, but a full bathroom with a shower for two, AC, ice maker, full kitchen and a dishwasher...Note: a road trip is not a vacation, do not expect relaxation, but it does give you an exhilarating euphoria once you've done it all.
Well, to be fair, when I say road trip I meant in a 40' RV that not only has TVs and entertainment system, but a full bathroom with a shower for two, AC, ice maker, full kitchen and a dishwasher and washer/dryer, and very comfortable queen size bed. Its fully self contained with a generator and water/sewer so we can go more than 10 days without even having to resupply.
So for us its a LOT more comfortable than flying/booking hotels. Our bedroom, bathroom, clothes, food and living room are with us so 'home' is wherever we stop whether thats at a tourist site or just at a roadside pullout :)
In addition, so far most EV charging stations are not pull throughs. So if you're pulling you may have to unhook your trailer depending on where your charge port is located. No one wants to do that on a vacation trip in particular, especially with cranky kids who are already asking 'are we there yet?' lol.