How (and why) to Ramble on your goat sideways
Boost Czar
iTrader: (62)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chantilly, VA
Posts: 79,493
Total Cats: 4,080
in honor of earth day:
Before the automobile, land transportation by means other than the human foot was chiefly by animal (by horse, mostly). (Before the railroad, which debuted in the early 19th century, the only means of land transportation was the human foot or animal power.) The emissions from horses and other transportation animals were themselves unpleasant and toxic. These emissions also attracted flies and other insects. Flies feasting on the mounds of transportation emissions that fouled city streets would spread bacteria from these emissions directly to humans and onto human food and into human drink.
On rainy days the animal-’engine’ emissions would turn into a filthy slurry, much of which pedestrians tracked into the interiors of businesses and homes. When the weather was dry, the animal-’engine’ emissions would dry, much of it then circulating as dust that polluted the air.
The automobile – in addition to all of the other enormous benefits of this remarkable product (see also here) – makes our world cleaner.
It’s true, of course, that the automobile has its own emissions – emissions which, were we residents of paradise, we’d eliminate with the snap our fingers. But regardless of how toxic, dangerous, and unpleasant automobile emissions are, this toxicity and danger and unpleasantness must be compared with realistic alternatives before any policy-relevant assessments can be made. An unquestionably relevant alternative – at least for judging the course of history – is the state of transportation emissions prior to the advent of the automobile.
So on this Earth Day, I will be especially cognizant of celebrating the unprecedent cleansing powers of capitalism (just as I did three years ago when I helped my then-sixth-grader son with a homework assignment).
On rainy days the animal-’engine’ emissions would turn into a filthy slurry, much of which pedestrians tracked into the interiors of businesses and homes. When the weather was dry, the animal-’engine’ emissions would dry, much of it then circulating as dust that polluted the air.
The automobile – in addition to all of the other enormous benefits of this remarkable product (see also here) – makes our world cleaner.
It’s true, of course, that the automobile has its own emissions – emissions which, were we residents of paradise, we’d eliminate with the snap our fingers. But regardless of how toxic, dangerous, and unpleasant automobile emissions are, this toxicity and danger and unpleasantness must be compared with realistic alternatives before any policy-relevant assessments can be made. An unquestionably relevant alternative – at least for judging the course of history – is the state of transportation emissions prior to the advent of the automobile.
So on this Earth Day, I will be especially cognizant of celebrating the unprecedent cleansing powers of capitalism (just as I did three years ago when I helped my then-sixth-grader son with a homework assignment).
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Posts: 33,023
Total Cats: 6,591
I've actually only used one public toilet in France, and apart from the fact that it did not have a separate plastic seating surface (just the bare porcelain rim of the bowl) upon which to rest the buttocks, it seemed to be pretty much the same as every other public toilet which I encountered in western Europe- clean and functional. (Not as clean as the toilets you encounter at petrol stations in Germany- those people are fanatical about their toilets. But close.)
So people forget about Miatas during the winter.
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=miata&ctab=0
Interesting seasonal search terms.
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=toma...ate=all&sort=0
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=chri...ate=all&sort=0
Megasquirt becoming less popular?
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=mega...ate=all&sort=0
Porsche: The king of Turbo. But wait, that's an interesting pattern.
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=turb...ate=all&sort=0
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=miata&ctab=0
Interesting seasonal search terms.
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=toma...ate=all&sort=0
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=chri...ate=all&sort=0
Megasquirt becoming less popular?
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=mega...ate=all&sort=0
Porsche: The king of Turbo. But wait, that's an interesting pattern.
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=turb...ate=all&sort=0
2 Props,3 Dildos,& 1 Cat
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Fake Virginia
Posts: 19,338
Total Cats: 573
Megasquirt becoming less popular?
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=mega...ate=all&sort=0
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=mega...ate=all&sort=0
http://www.google.com/trends/?q=mega...ate=all&sort=0
Newsflash to americans (not capitalized on purpose ): Europe is not actually a country. Also, the Netherlands =! Finland.
But yeah, I keep googling MS3X stuffs to bother Reverant with.
But yeah, I keep googling MS3X stuffs to bother Reverant with.
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
That restroom is really, really nasty.
On a lighter note, a coworker who is clearly an engineer on teh side suggested I get a Borla for my turbo car. The custom one I have can't be as good as the Borla on his automatic Camaro, which he believes is also faster than the green car.
On a lighter note, a coworker who is clearly an engineer on teh side suggested I get a Borla for my turbo car. The custom one I have can't be as good as the Borla on his automatic Camaro, which he believes is also faster than the green car.
Tour de Franzia
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Republic of Dallas
Posts: 29,085
Total Cats: 375
Europe has it's own currently, the European Union is stronger than any single government, and all Europeans are into beastiality. That sounds like a single country to me. Stop leaving Turkey out in the cold.