I have nothing better to do but to complain about gas right now!

[daywane]

No love for hydrogen?  Toss a few solar panels on the roof, add water, store the hydrogen in a tank in the garage and put it in the car.

Probably cost a bundle outright, but ought to pay for itself eventually, no?

Probably cost a bundle outright.

We do not have the funds!
We are losing our homes NOW!

[TelcoLou]

Ride bicycles. We're too fat as it is (generally speaking).

[daywane]

I GOT A SEEDING TICKET ON A 10 SPEED
no crap I did Phoenix AZ 

[SavannahLion]

No love for hydrogen?  Toss a few solar panels on the roof, add water, store the hydrogen in a tank in the garage and put it in the car.

Probably cost a bundle outright, but ought to pay for itself eventually, no?

I know people who are HUGE supporters of hydrogen. Me, not quite as much.

They're convinced that a car with an appropriate system can, once initially fueled with hydrogen and water and given an initial "kick", will produce enough hydrogen and oxygen that will, not only generate enough energy to propel the car, generate enough energy to feed back into the electrolysis process to generate more hydrogen and oxygen. In essence, the elusive perpetual motion machine. 

Me, meh. It's a useful technology. I'd be far more interested in laptop hydrogen fuel cells

From the looks of things, it seems South Africa might become the king of Hydrogen technologies. I read an article that there's some place that actually have liquid hydrogen stores that requires minimal processing. From my understanding, the ease and low cost of Hydrogen extraction there might put South Africa ahead of the game. I tried to find the article again, but all I could find was the nuclear reactor in Gabon. Oh well.

[danny_galaga]

I GOT A SEEDING TICKET

well, you really gotta be careful where you wave that thing you know...

[danny_galaga]

i'm not very sure about hydrogen either. it doesn't seem to me to be an efficient way to make it. seems like the energy used would have been better spent elsewhere. hydrogen seems like a 'middleman' of energy.

having said that, nature has a very efficient means of breaking water up into hydrogen and oxygen. its called photosynthesis. who knows, perhaps in the future we can replicate this, but instead of the hydrogen combining with carbon, it gets syphoned off. that seems a lot further away than my 400km per charge electric cars though...

in any case, when i think 'hydrogen', i cant help but think 'hindenberg' 

[SavannahLion]

i'm not very sure about hydrogen either. it doesn't seem to me to be an efficient way to make it. seems like the energy used would have been better spent elsewhere. hydrogen seems like a 'middleman' of energy.

Yeah, that's the point I keep trying to make with the hydrogen supporters. Most people don't seem to understand this whole energy conservation business. I think they look at Hydrogen and Oxygen and just think, "holy crap, that's a lot of energy!" 

in any case, when i think 'hydrogen', i cant help but think 'hindenberg' 

I actually like Dirigibles and that whole era. Hydrogen be damned, put a basket under a floating bomb and call it fun. 

[Dartful Dodger]

That reminds of something that happened in Demolition Man, a futuristic movie where people drove electric cars and everything remotely dangerous was illegal.

Stallone was trying to escape in a classic muscle car and his side kick assumed it was afraid because it was propelled by a flammable liquid.

Like danny says, hydrogen fuel sucks because it's inefficient and currently unreliable, not because it's dangerous.

[SavannahLion]

Remember the "restaurant wars?" 

[danny_galaga]

i am constantly reminded of another reason i'm rooting for electric. in an electric future, there will be no dooshes driving ricers with coffee can sized mufflers and goofy blow off valves. and no tools on harleys compensating for their lack of power by taking out the baffles 

ah, the sound of silence...

[Dartful Dodger]

i am constantly reminded of another reason i'm rooting for electric. in an electric future, there will be no dooshes driving ricers with coffee can sized mufflers and goofy blow off valves. and no tools on harleys compensating for their lack of power by taking out the baffles 

ah, the sound of silence...

The quieter the cars get the louder their bass speakers will get.

[Ummon]

i am constantly reminded of another reason i'm rooting for electric. in an electric future, there will be no dooshes driving ricers with coffee can sized mufflers and goofy blow off valves. and no tools on harleys compensating for their lack of power by taking out the baffles 

ah, the sound of silence...

The quieter the cars get the louder their bass speakers will get.

Those are already ---smurfin--- loud. Have been for a while. No, actually, as technology becomes more ubiquitous, let alone embedded (physically, eventually)...and as even homie culture is transformed by it....people will have less things that 'go bump in the night'.

[danny_galaga]

i am constantly reminded of another reason i'm rooting for electric. in an electric future, there will be no dooshes driving ricers with coffee can sized mufflers and goofy blow off valves. and no tools on harleys compensating for their lack of power by taking out the baffles 

ah, the sound of silence...

The quieter the cars get the louder their bass speakers will get.

crap, i hadn't thought of that...

[SavannahLion]

IIRC, city ordinances do jack ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- at 2AM when you're trying to get some quiet time in. By the time anyone calls the complaint in, the cars are all gone.

[danny_galaga]

well, at least there wont be any stupid loud harleys in an electric future 

well, i mean there still will be, in the same way as there are still steam rollers now...

[Dartful Dodger]

well, at least there wont be any stupid loud harleys in an electric future 

Unfortunately motorcycles are loud for a practical reason.  Most motorcycle accidents are caused because the person in a car didn't see the motorcycle, so people modify the volume of their bikes so even if you can't see them you know they're there.

The loud muffler is only heard when the motorcycle is moving, so instead of having to endure 5-10 seconds of an accelerating motorcycle when the light turns green, you’ll have the pleasure of listening to a deafening loud Willie Nelson or Toby Keith song while you’re stopped at the red.

[danny_galaga]

well, at least there wont be any stupid loud harleys in an electric future 

Unfortunately motorcycles are loud for a practical reason.  Most motorcycle accidents are caused because the person in a car didn't see the motorcycle, so people modify the volume of their bikes so even if you can't see them you know they're there.

The loud muffler is only heard when the motorcycle is moving, so instead of having to endure 5-10 seconds of an accelerating motorcycle when the light turns green, you’ll have the pleasure of listening to a deafening loud Willie Nelson or Toby Keith song while you’re stopped at the red.

ha! i was wondering if someone would say that! that is a load of crock! no offense, dartful. have you never had the ---Cleveland steamer--- scared out of you when a stupid harley roared past your car? you had no idea it was there until (from the riders perspective) it was too late. you just wont hear it while hes gaining on you (while speeding). the sound hits you pretty much when they are next to you. if anything, it could be more dangerous. some volvo driver might jerk his wheel when that wall of sound hits and crash into the harley!

 if bikers are honest, they make them loud because it sounds cooler. interesting case in point- i  occasionally see groups of bikers and one or two of them are riding buells. funny thing is, the buells didnt have a modified muffler. i have test ridden a buell to 200 km/h (shhh, dont tell the dealer) which is plenty fast for a harley. thus no one bothers with buells funky under-frame can.

 we are talking, after all, about the same people who deliberately take off their indicators, sometimes dont even have fromt brakes (some choppers and bobbers) and wear those retarded little pudding bowl helmets that arent approved. safety conscious indeed...

besides, whats safe about hearing a bike one SUBURB away?

latest statistics here have shown what we all really know deep down- the majority of severe bike accidents happen to males, who were speeding, and were also drunk/stoned. a loud pipe would not haved saved life in those cases 

i love the sound of engines. but noisy bikes are best appreciated at a racetrack...

[SavannahLion]

if bikers are honest, they make them loud because it sounds cooler. interesting case in point-

+1

My family has a couple of motorcyclists and bikers and they all say exactly the same thing. If the bike is too quiet, they'll take the stock muffler off and replace with an aftermarket one for no other reason than to increase the volume and get cool points. That's it, safety isn't even brought up as a valid point... ever.

[Dartful Dodger]

My family has a couple of motorcyclists and bikers and they all add flames, skulls and American flag decals to an aftermarket helmet for no other reason than to increase the design and get cool points. That's it, safety isn't even brought up as a valid point... ever.

So does that mean the helmets aren’t protecting them?

When I use to ride a bike I had to rev my engines a couple of times when a car was pulling into my lane.  It works and it's a lot easier than the horn on my bike.  When riding if I’m about to get into an accident I don't want to loosen the grip and the handle bar to push a button with my thumb.  Plus my engine was louder than my horn.

Sure having a loud bike is cool, so is not losing your spine because you were hit by a car that didn’t see or hear you.

If you're honest and you actually believe they make it louder to be cool, then wouldn't they make their radios louder to replace the coolness they lose for the quieter mufflers?

All I’m saying is be careful what you wish for.

[danny_galaga]

So does that mean the helmets aren’t protecting them?

if its one of those goofy open faced pudding bowls, then no 

When I use to ride a bike I had to rev my engines a couple of times when a car was pulling into my lane.  It works and it's a lot easier than the horn on my bike.  When riding if I’m about to get into an accident I don't want to loosen the grip and the handle bar to push a button with my thumb.  Plus my engine was louder than my horn.

so its easier to pull in the clutch and rev the engine than to push the horn button with your thumb? or did your bike have one of those bulb horns. honka, honka!

If you're honest and you actually believe they make it louder to be cool, then wouldn't they make their radios louder to replace the coolness they lose for the quieter mufflers?

dunno many bikers that have stereos on their bikes 

anyway, since ive already conceded that ricer drivers will still have loud stereos, the point is moot. if it was the case that all vehicles were electric in the future, bikes wont have mufflers. bikers will have to put spokey dokes on to attract attention 

[Ed_McCarron]

So does that mean the helmets aren’t protecting them?

I think the thing that'd save the most lives would be to make becoming an organ donor a mandatory part of the motorcycle licensing process...

[danny_galaga]

it's a funny thing. for some reason organ donation in australia isnt mandatory. in some countries, like france for instance, its mandatory. if you feel strongly about it, then you get an exemption. i think thats a great idea...

[Dartful Dodger]

so its easier to pull in the clutch and rev the engine than to push the horn button with your thumb? or did your bike have one of those bulb horns. honka, honka!

ha! i was wondering if someone would say that! that is a load of crock! no offense, danny_galaga. have you never had the ---Cleveland steamer--- scared out of you when a stupid car roared towards your harley?

When you're on your bike and you're about to be hit by a car you will have to adjust your speed. This requires you to be in control of the clutch and the throttle. Either way your thumbs are going to be wrapped around the handle, so yes when preparing for an accident it is easier to rev your engines(with or without the clutch), that is unless you have one of those bubble horns in your mouth.   honka, honka!

[danny_galaga]

so its easier to pull in the clutch and rev the engine than to push the horn button with your thumb? or did your bike have one of those bulb horns. honka, honka!

ha! i was wondering if someone would say that! that is a load of crock! no offense, danny_galaga. have you never had the ---Cleveland steamer--- scared out of you when a stupid car roared towards your harley?

When you're on your bike and you're about to be hit by a car you will have to adjust your speed. This requires you to be in control of the clutch and the throttle. Either way your thumbs are going to be wrapped around the handle, so yes when preparing for an accident it is easier to rev your engines(with or without the clutch), that is unless you have one of those bubble horns in your mouth.   honka, honka!

 

smooth    i actually ride a motorbike for work. and while i might travel less on it than some people commute (maybe 20-30 km), the nature of the work means i see a lot more danger than the average commuter. in a suddenly perilous situation, you really dont worry about the clutch or gears. ideally you should have been in a safe situation, so you can slam on the brakes. if you were travelling really fast, you might change down gears. in a really dangerous situation though, there is no point, or time in using a horn. and a loud exhaust wouldnt have made a difference. if a car does a u-turn in front of you, best get safe, rather than being angry at the car. plenty of time after to flip the bird 

 a horn, or a loud exhaust wont make the danger go away. that car would still have done a u-turn in front of you...

[danny_galaga]

it's a funny thing. for some reason organ donation in australia isnt mandatory. in some countries, like france for instance, its mandatory. if you feel strongly about it, then you get an exemption. i think thats a great idea...

I don't, but I value individual human life and dignity.  They don't in Europe, generally.

you mean like 'this guy needs a transplant, we value his life, so we'll make sure he has that option and not wait for years because no one could be bothered to do anything about it'?

[Dartful Dodger]

it's a funny thing. for some reason organ donation in australia isnt mandatory. in some countries, like france for instance, its mandatory. if you feel strongly about it, then you get an exemption. i think thats a great idea...

I don't, but I value individual human life and dignity.  They don't in Europe, generally.

you mean like 'this guy needs a transplant, we value his life, so we'll make sure he has that option and not wait for years because no one could be bothered to do anything about it'?

Not sure what's being talked about here, but I would get pulled over every other month and always let go with a warning.  Until I renewed my driver's license the time before last. I said I'd be a donor so they put "organ donor" on my driver’s license and I got three tickets that year.
I declined to be a donor the last time I renewed my license and I haven't gotten a ticket since, but I've been pulled over just as many times.

Maybe it’s coincidence or maybe it’s because the extra text on my driver’s license pissed off the cop, either way, now I’m not and I don’t get tickets.

[danny_galaga]

it's a funny thing. for some reason organ donation in australia isnt mandatory. in some countries, like france for instance, its mandatory. if you feel strongly about it, then you get an exemption. i think thats a great idea...

I don't, but I value individual human life and dignity.  They don't in Europe, generally.

you mean like 'this guy needs a transplant, we value his life, so we'll make sure he has that option and not wait for years because no one could be bothered to do anything about it'?

Not sure what's being talked about here, but I would get pulled over every other month and always let go with a warning.  Until I renewed my driver's license the time before last. I said I'd be a donor so they put "organ donor" on my driver’s license and I got three tickets that year.
I declined to be a donor the last time I renewed my license and I haven't gotten a ticket since, but I've been pulled over just as many times.

Maybe it’s coincidence or maybe it’s because the extra text on my driver’s license pissed off the cop, either way, now I’m not and I don’t get tickets.

 

i can't know if you're serious or not. but that was funny 

[Dartful Dodger]

i can't know if you're serious or not. but that was funny 

It's one of those it's funny cause it's true things.

I became a donor because they started printing it in bold letters on your driver’s license. I thought if I got pulled over and the officer saw that I was a donor he'd cut me some slack and if he saw I wasn’t he’d be more inclined to ticket me.  But I ended up getting three tickets with in the first year of becoming a donor.  I was so pist that they weren’t instructing officers to look the other way for donors that I asked for it to be removed the next time I renewed my license.

The woman at the DMV was bewildered by my request.  I guess when people make the decision to help their fellow man by becoming a donor they don’t reverse that decision.

If I’m pronounced dead at the hospital my friends and family know I could care less what they do to my body(I no longer need it), so they’ll donate it for me. 

It’s the principle of the thing, why have it printed on my drivers license if it’s only good for helping a stranger after I'm dead?