Free Republic

The solar panel company loan-bancrupcy issue. Now, it is important, perhaps imperative that we deviate away from the dependency on fossil fuels which are bound to run out eventually, and hence seek renewable alternatives. However, it’s not like the fossil fuels are going to run out tomorrow, and so you don’t pool all of the nation’s resources behind this cause to prop up and subsidize the flegling companies, especially if besides the government buyers, there’s no market for their product. Afterall, we live in the age of fullfillment of Clinton’s dream of a thriving global economy, hence the Western solar panels won’t stand up to the competition from the Chinese-made equivalents. Not at all because they’re inferior in quality or in manufacturing process, but they’re less cost effective due to a wage disparity.

Since we won’t run out of the fossil fuels tomorrow, but only gradually as we recede past and beyond the peak oil phase, why not move away from non-renewable to renewable dependency gradually, as the latter hypothetically become more efficient when hypothetically the technology improves driving efficiency up and costs down, but until then the diminishing oil supply has to be substituted and supplemented with other non-renewables such as coal (most of it currently exported to China - look up Pennsylvania, West Virginia), natural/shale gas and uranium. This may be viewed as a step back rather than progress, but there is no magic bullet yet that will kill our fossil fuel dependency given the current technological limitations.

Moreover, half a billion down the drain, just like that, like it was nothing. So why would you free all the detained non-violent illegals at the same time using the argument of no moneys in the gov’t purse? But hold on, the solar panel lobbying is a cute issue easily pampered and gratified in the media, while border protection stinks of controversy, may cost votes, too much responsibility. Moreover, embracing the Green movement no matter what cost gives you an upper moral edge, just like embracing immigration. Rewardingly, itt adds you this humanitarian, religious, divine dimension, and you can then expand your ranks/gov’t in the name of nurturing righteousness since you stand up for a right cause, no matter how misguided, naive or perhaps even selfish your approach may be. You can then address the public from this higher moral platform. So in retrospect nowadays, you assign priorities and resources according to cuteness, media appeal and political convenience.

I’ve seen a debate on this on the Fox News. One commentator, Steve C. presented con arguments pointing out that back in June the immigration laws were already laxed when administration said we’re gonna have a fresh look, blocking deportation of young illegals or those with kids in States. He said now this is a continuation of the June policy and obviously this is a ploy to win a Latino vote for 2012 (Monica, the host lady said that). He stressed this is a judicial dictatorship since this reform never passed through Congress. Some lady then took a pro stance pointing out there’s no money to deport all illegals, so you have to focus solely on violent criminals, that illegal entry is not a crime but only an act of a civil disobediance, and there’s no reason to apply from abroad to get in. Well, this seems like a childish rebuff by the administration, who were shocked they would now need to borrow at higher interest following a rise on debt ceiling, so now they’re cutting down on non-essential services. Entitlements will of course stay. And it’s electioneering where it counts.

So why is AK credited as such a breakthrough in design?

“Many rifles prior to the AK-47 used gas piston operation. The M1 Garand of the US, adopted in 1936, is but one example”

Yep, you got me there, I meant siphoning the gases from explosion used to fire off the bullet. If this was developed earlier, why was the idea subsequently ditched? On the point of the double hull in submarines, I remember now, this was invented by the Germans at the end of WW2 i.e. Type XXI had one, but vastly refined by the Russians. Besides the military inventions, the Russians made many scientific discoveries as well in the last 70 years, i.e. the Cerenkov radiation etc., so you cannot simply dismiss them outright as plagiarists, although they did copy a lot without bothering to obtain the permit from the original inventors.

“Not that it matters; the Russians haven’t had an original idea since the T34 tank.”

“Actually, the T-34 tank had it’s body & tracks designed by an American. So, maybe the Ruskies NEVER have had an original idea...”

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Well, the suspention on a T-34 was designed by an American - Christie suspention. I don’t know anything about the body, sloped armour etc. However, the Russians did come up with a few original ideas since the T-34. One is the Kalashninkov designed in 1947 where the original idea was to use part of the air pressure from the fired bullet’s shockwave to lock the next bullet in place for firing. The Russians also pioneered a lot of the double hull design on submarines i.e. Oscar, Typhoon, as well as exotic nuclear propulsion systems on subs such as the Alpha which used I think carbon or boron as a coolent that always had to be kept at high temperature for it not to solidify which happened on few occasions. But in turn, Alpha developed 40 knots. Let’s also not forget - a big one - Tokanak (Tauroid) fusion reactors.