Discussion Board

The big news today........about Al Gore
A direct quote from his speech.

"Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years."

100 percent in just ten years. TEN YEARS

And to think so many here were upset with the latest misleading study reports telling the public that the Atkins diet was superior to low fat eating.
My gosh, Al Gore puts that misinformation to shame with his outlandish statements.

100% in just ten years......

Not only foolish but Al Gore puts the HIP into hypocrite...

If you'll remember from a earlier post, I pointed out that Al Gore used in his house the same amount of electricity in ONE year that my house would use in over 73 years......a lifetime for me, hypocrite Al Gore uses in just one year.

This man is just plain shameful. Making tens of millions on his environmental investment funds......while wasting kilowatts by the bucketful........all the while eating so many animal products that his face no longer resembles the man we knew only 10 years ago.

A poster boy for waste in his own personal life while he preaches pie-in-the-sky proposals that the "little people" should follow.

Agreed, energy independence from foreign sources is a lofty goal to achieve in just ten years. It's doable but maybe not in ten years. John Kennedy announced his ten-year goal to go to the moon. We did it in eight. Imagine!

Unlike our achieved goal of going to the moon, the technology needed to achieve energy independence is already here. The question you raise is can we implement it in ten years. Getting homeowners to insulate their homes correctly, and drivers to drive a little slower and combine trips, and businessmen to use the telephone instead of flying so much, might be a greater challenge than going to the moon. If each of us is responsible, all would help Al Gore reach his ten year goal. One obstacle is we live in a consumer driven economy so the pressure is to buy and waste more energy making plastic consumable goods when you and I should buy quality and make it last.

The analogy I see between energy conservation and proper nutrition is different from the one you present. I recognize that whether we are trying to rectify the issues of poor diet or poor energy utilization, the common "enemy" is big business. What is profitable for big business isn't what best for our Country or our health.

Frankly, I don't care if AL Gore lives in a mansion (or two or three), and flies a chartered jet to events; until you and I do everything we can to not waste energy then we might also be "hypocrites. Al Gore is flying to spread his message and traveling by train won't get him where he needs to go when he needs to be there. Conservatives attack the messenger to avoid the issue.

To not be a hypocrite, homeowners should insulate both attic and walls correctly and use all fluorescent light bulbs until the LED bulbs are available. Many have not done this simple task. Water heaters can be insulated and turned down…better yet, replace the 40 gallon storage tanks called water heaters with tankless heaters. Turn the TV and computers off and have relationships with other people. Get reconnected with live. Most of all don’t be a hypocrite.

actually, the fact that we live in a "consumer driven economy" might be a good thing....

with the technology to facilitate a shift in the creation and utilization of energy already in place, our splendid free market economy is ready to roll w/ feasible products that support that shift!

we're a trendy populous - of COURSE we'll gladly glom on to splendid sparky inventions that support independently green efforts and improve the quality of life.

(how many HAZMAT workers does it take to change a lightbulb?)

btw, Slider, Mr. Gore has established himself as the expert in these matters. Why is it wrong to hope that he'd be a leader in the effort as well?

Dr McDougall has written that one of the major contributors to pollution is the consumption of animals. And the elimination of that concern is something we can all hope for!

Entrepreneurs provide solutions, not consumers, they just consume energy.




If so then maybe you should start a trend to plant based nutrition.




Exactly eaufraiche, I was supporting Gore, thought you'd notice.



This is true. Big business will do anything that is profitable, including "harvest" millions of animals and feed them to unknowing "consumers". I grew up eating from my grandparents’ garden so I know fresh fruit and vegetables. What is now sold year round in the Midwest is sold to make profit, not for nutritional value. Grow a few veggies and discover the difference.

My local chain supermarket kept selling rubber broccoli for years, I waited too long but finally complained. It took five letters to the grower and to the corporate store before the local store changed suppliers. It's still not the best possible raw produce but it's much better than the rubber variety. I bet the stuff was twenty days old before it saw my local store shelf. The veggie clerk argued he knew it was fresh because he personally put it on the shelf the night before. Too many consumers (and store employees) simple don't know the diference between normal plant food and the stuff processed for profit. I think the only reason my store brought in a better quality is because I “threatened” to buy samples and send them to their local competitors. To the end it was about profit. No one ever complained persistently like I did so they continued selling rubber broccoli. They do listen but you have to rub their nose in it.

Like I said........I added up my total electric usage for my 4 br, 3 bathroom 2,000 square foot home for an entire year.....(12 months of bills calculated)
Compared it to Al Gores energy use for the year.
Using those figures it works out that I would have to go 73 years to equal the amount of electric power Al Gore used in 1 year.

I think there has to be a way Al Gore could have lowered his usage had he any inclination to do so. I think that qualifies him as a hypocrite.



Great timing.......I just received my power bill today.

The bill is for exactly 30 days........OK

June 17 to July 17.......

Electric usage.......... 190 Kwh

Gas usage.............. 5 therms

OK....... Slider1........... How about you sharing yours.

Hey, something you might find interesting. I have a 40 gallon regular gas water heater. NOT a tankless. How about that, 5 therms, and it also includes my usage for last year which was 6 therms during the same month.
And YES I shower and wash my hair daily........and don't take cold showers.

I drove my automobile less than 2,000 miles last year.
I bike several times that mileage...

OK.......lets us know how green you are in your transportation and home energy use.

Additionally I'd say I eat about 2% of the animal products Al Gore consumes. One only need look at what has happened to Al's body over the past 8 years to see the man has a serious problem eating too many animals or their output.

That's wonderful Purdy. All I'm saying is AL Gore uses the same amount of electricity in all his mansions as 73 very thrifty Purdys. Unfortunately we have over three hundred million others who aren't as thrifty and they are the ones who must change. If AL Gore stops using electricity it won't measurably help our energy chrisis. Likewise, if Al Gore stops eating meat and diary it will improve his health but won't help global warming.


Actually he did Purdy. Al Gore insulated his homes and even put in solar. The conservative talk show set doesn't give it much air time though since Al Gore conserving doesn't serve their political agenda.


OK, I got that beat Purdy, I have an extension cord plugged into the neighbor’s yardlight circuit, it only works between dusk and dawn but, heck, it's free!



What can I say Purdy, I built a perpetual motion machine once but Uncle Sam refused to patent it. He claimed I'd put the oil companies out of business.



You got me beat there Purdy. I take lots of cold showers, but then I'm a bachelor.



Do you drive a Yugo too? I usually end up walking home. May I ask how you strap your bike onto the bumper?

I'm just getting ready to buy a new bike in fact; had the old one over twenty years now. My bike ride is usually fifteen miles, including one soap box derby class hill. When I started I had to walk part way. Now I crank up that hill like a mad man. What's odd is I also roller blade, but less often, twenty miles each time using class five bearings on my 'blades...bought new roller blades a few years back with "racer bearings" (class 7) but they were so frictionless I didn’t get a good workout (coasted forever) so I went back to my old 'blades.



So Purdy, are you claiming you are 98% less serious than Al Gore? Who isn't? He consumes way too many animals and you chow down on two percent of his glutinous consumption. Congratulations.

I buy oats and rice and wheat in bulk. Steel cut oats in fifty pound bags even. I am concerned about wheat germ though so my loving girlfriend peels them for me.

I do eat turkey on Thanksgiving because the rest of my family feels guilty if I don't. We have a deal, I eat the turkey and they put up with my cranky mood the next few days.

I'm not sure what your "therms" are. BTU (British Termal Units)? It would have more meaning if you attach a dollar figure to your statement. My walls are insulated to a true R-22.2 and my ceiling is insulated to R-49…none of that carcinogen fiberglass for me. Did you know blown fiberglass loses half its R-value in winter temperatures? I hope someone told Al about that.

Well Purdy, I'm glad to know you are not soiling our planet. I try real hard too. Right now I have a brutal hill waiting on my worn bike and me. Enjoy your Sunday.

Oh how very clear you are. What Al Gore does really can't help much, so its up to everyone but Al to change. Got it. No doubt thats why he and Tipper built their 10,000 square foot house for the two of them. After all, what they do really can't have much of a impact. Its all the "little people" who must downsize their lifestyle.
Yes, thanks for making it so very clear to those of us in America.

I agree, if Dr. McDougall was eating daily burgers, fries and milkshakes, it wouldn't really alter the message for all the rest of us.. ....because its up to us to walk the walk......... Got it clear now.



Yes, we can all see and understand you much better now. With every passage in your post you make more and more sense. Keep it coming.

Hate to repeat myself Purdy, I'm just saying you are making a political statment about Al Gore. He's a target of big business because he wants to end their dominance on society. We know the history of WWII, everybody sacrificed. I don't think we actually need to sacrifice so much today as we need to change our value system and stop consuming. More should live like you. still, two people in a two thousand square foot house is consuming three time the space five people had during WWII. That's quite a carbon footprint. I doubt Al Gore expects you to give all that space up. You must be in a warm climate so don't use much heat. I doubt you have much insulation.



Purdy, if we had a photo of Dr. McDougall eating all that it would be worth more than the BradJolina twins photo! On the other hand, if a fine example is the perscription for solving the worlds woes, then Jesus's work would have left us in a more perfect world don't you think?

In spite of Dr. McDougall's fine exampe, you, Purdy, are still chugging two percent of the meat that Al Gore over-indulges on, which according to you is a lot. If you won't follow your own hipocritical advice and Dr. McDougall's steller example, then who will (besides me ?

Al Gore is leading the way by exposing the global warming problem. His attempt to set a perfect example will not change the greed factor of conservatives (big business). A good example works for very young children...some times. But not so well for adults. Some listen to conservative talk shows to get their marching orders. Others simply don't listen.

Yes, I remember the old push mowers. I can barely push it. I use a battery powered electric mower. Bought it used for the repair bill.

I was going to give you my recipe for hash browns but I'm sure you have a better one that doesn't kill potatoes. You a purdy boy? Take care.

Just one point please......

Earlier you said the following....

"What can I say Purdy, I built a perpetual motion machine once but Uncle Sam refused to patent it. He claimed I'd put the oil companies out of business."

I take it you were just having fun with that statement right? Just wanted to make sure since some of your other statements regarding "big oil" left me with a slight question about if you were just kidding or were serious regarding the "perpetual motion machine".

Yes, Purdy, just kidding. I was joking about using the neighbors' electricity and having my girlfriend peel the germ off my wheat too. Also kidding about the Yugo and a few other things. Maybe Dr. McDougall will take pity on my sense of humor and add a laugh track. Even without one he has the best message board on the 'net.

BTW: Perpetual motion machines cannot be patented because they are not possible/would require defying the law of physics. I'm a good law abiding citizen...but every time I put my ski mask on I have this strange urge to rob a bank or a wuman.

Didn't President Kennedy propose a similar challenge to reach the moon? People thought he was crazy, but we did it.

I know we can do this. The question is - are we willing? It will cost money -a lot of money - but in the long run, we will be much better off.

I visited a 3200 acre wind farm here in Michigan this past weekend.

Believe me, we can do this.

Scott