Do Gooder Physics

So I’ve realized that one of the main reasons “Do Good-ers” annoy me is not so much that they are trying to help – but that they make suggestions and try to fix things that they really don’t understand. Even a little.

So the following is an example of some do gooder physics I recently had to correct surrounding water powered (HHO/Hydroxy) cars:

DO GOODER (exact quote):

4-cylinder engines are nice, because they are slightly more efficient than their V8 counterparts. But take a look at this:

“Only about 12 to 20 percent of the energy originating in the fuel tank is ultimately transmitted through the vehicle’s driveline as mechanical energy to turn the wheels.” – TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD, SPECIAL REPORT #286

The problem is not the hydrxy… it’s the darn internal combustion engine. It’s only 22% efficient on it’s best day. The three-phase electric motor running my air compressor in the garage is 94% efficient (rated by NEMA).

We can have nice, big cars, with big seats, and nice stereos… we just have to get rid of the piston engine. I wish there was some way to use the hydroxy to EFFICIENTLY assist an electric motor… and leave out the piston engine, except for maybe charging the batteries (like in Bob’s car, only with a 2-cylinger engine). That way, you can make better use of the little power that hydroxy has to offer.

ME:

What your missing in your comparison is the efficiency of creating the electricity to power the electric motor. Most electricity is made inefficiently with coal at % I’m sure would make us all cry. But take the solar industry as an easier to quote number. Typical consumer solar cells that are 20-25% efficient at converting energy. The latest and greatest (and crazy expensive)
cells can only reach 40%.

So using cost effective and commercially available numbers for your comparison should really be this:

Comb. Engine 22% VS Elect Motor 94% * 25% = 23.5%

And this is before we account for the energy transfer loss between the engine and the tires, which is where your combustion #s are counting from (any hot rod tuner will tell you that there is a significant difference between HP at the engine and HP at the wheels). So while you could build a hydroxy generator to power an electric motor car it would be doubtful that it would actually be any more efficient that a combustion engine setup – oh and you would have to build a new car.

If you really want more efficiency, get congress to repeal recent safety mandates so that cars don’t have to weigh 2 tons to be street legal.

This is actually a common thing people miss. 90% of tree huggers assume that an electric car is sooo much greener than a gas/diesel car because it doesn’t burn fossil fuels. Yeah, not in the car. But guess where that current came from? Probably coal.

And this trip down bad physics lane reminds me of another Do Gooder lesson:

DO GOODER (paraphrased):

If we do end up building a water pipeline down to Atlanta, we should stick some turbines in it. Then we can get hydro power out of it…

Man if we put enough turbines in there, we could get a bunch of power out of that. I know that the turbines are expensive but we’ll get all that money back in free power. If we put enough turbines in today we can solve our energy problems of tomorrow!

ME:

That’s great! Too bad it breaks several laws of physics!

Now, to be fair (to me) I had already had a lengthy discussion with this person the last time they invented their free energy from the water tube idea a week earlier. But apparently US energy independence was too important to let a little thing like no knowledge stop one from spreading this breakthrough idea.

Oh and if you don’t understand why the water tube power doesn’t work – don’t try to solve anyone else’s problems today. The world could use a break from the Do Gooders…

Online Personals – Dos & Don’ts

So after being mortified and amused by many of the online personals out there I’ve decided to help the desperate masses attract that mister or misses right (or right now). After perusing the best and worst of online personals, I have developed a handy guide for all those looking for love in cyberspace…. I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few rules, but don’t worry sad, lonely people! I will update this list as needed.

  1. Do post a pic. NO ONE believes your typed in description – Scratch that – no one bothers to read your typed in description because they moved to the next ad since you are obviously claw footed or worse.
  2. Do post a GOOD pic. Good will mostly be defined by avoiding all the don’ts below. Beyond that try different images until the love comes pouring in.
  3. Do get your age right if you are under 18. We know you’re excited about the fact that your parents started letting you wear makeup. But seriously online dating is pathetic scary enough without threat of showing up on Date Line.
  4. Don’t use a group photo. Most people will assume you are the worst looking of the bunch.
  5. Do use a group photo if you are the worst looking of the bunch. A few of the extra desperate will respond and pray that the pretty girl in the pic just used it for sentimental reasons.
  6. Don’t use a wedding picture. I don’t care if you looked great in that dress – don’t use it.
  7. Don’t include a picture with kids. No one knows that is your favorite nephew – it’s your kid now. And don’t try to find someone that will love you AND your kids online. It won’t happen. Try church.
  8. Do use a picture that some else has taken. If you don’t have enough friends to get someone to take a picture of you – you’ve just fallen below the level of loser allowable for online dating.
  9. Don’t take a picture of yourself with your web cam. This is for the people that got lost on rule #8 at the word “friend”. Also all web cams suck.
  10. Don’t take a picture of yourself in the mirror. You will always look weird from trying to watch the camera & smile while having your arm extended at an uncomfortable angle.
  11. Don’t use a picture of you and your boyfriend. Most men will be annoyed by this (which is one of the chief traits men avoid after ugly) and a few homophobs will be worried they accidentally clicked on M4M section and flee from your ad.
  12. Don’t use a picture of you and ex kissing. You are trying to get a new ex -er- relationship not cling to the old one.
  13. Do use a picture with a boyfriend if you have scratched out his face. This says to guys: rebound! catch me.
  14. Don’t use a picture with a girlfriend if you have scratched out her face. This will come across as stalkerish.
  15. Don’t use a picture of just your face. This will imply that you are fat.
  16. Do use a picture of just your face if you are fat. This will lure a few unsuspecting dolts to within sight distance of you – and then they’ll see you’re fat and break your heart in person instead of online. (this was a don’t right?)
  17. Do mention that you are a twin. This will increase your appearance by at least 1 (on a 10 pt scale).
  18. Don’t take a picture of your junk guys. NO ONE wants to see it, ok?
  19. Don’t take a picture of your junk with a ruler. We don’t need the visual aid to confirm your small size. This will not get you pity. It will get laughter or vomit. At least be clever enough to use a fake ruler that is not to scale… and then refer to rule #18.
  20. Don’t apply photoshop filters to your picture. If “mosaic” or “stylize” makes you look better, you’re already beyond help.

Did 24 Help Obama?

So I have to wonder if the strong portrayal of President David Palmer by Dennis Haysbert in the hit series 24 helped Presidential Hopeful Obama in the American mindscape. President Palmer was the ideal man for the job for most Americans. Lets look at his qualifications:

  • Tall
  • Attractive (don’t kid yourself – these matter)
  • “Presidential Presence”
  • Compassionate enough to wrestle with weighty decisions of life and death
  • Yet still has the balls to take the fight to our enemies and authorize whatever-is-necessary Bauer to kick ass

I believe this mix of strength and compassion is what most people crave in a leader. After 3 Seasons, Dennis Haysbert secured the idea of a Black American as a great President and got himself his own show (the Unit).

Ironically this coincidental boost for Obama in America’s eyes, was pro-actively attempted and failed by the friends of Hillary Clinton for President with the show -uh, oh yeah- Commander In Chief. I can’t tell you what impact Geena Davis had on the political landscape as not only did I never see it – I had to use google to even remember the name of the show. IMDB then showed me that what I thought I remembered of the show (from commercials) was actually the female VP from Air Force One. Glenn Close might be Genna Davis’ senior by 9 years but she exuded that same mix of strength and compassion, while Genna’s unconvincing performance led to a flopped series.

Facebook Dreams

So I think it’s a sign where you’re wasting too much time when you start having dreams about Facebook friends you haven’t actually seen in years….

and no, not that kind of dream… just the typical random delusions like wiffleball tournament with high school buddies…

this dream goes out to all my peeps!… yeah i need help.