Thursday, July 20, 2006
Back to the Regular Complaining
It's HOT AS HELL here! And I'm not just whining, yesterday it was 97°F, and it's supposed to be mid-90s again today. This is a land with no air-conditioning. I mean nowhere, not movie theaters, airports, stores, trains, nothing. So even when it's only 85°F outdoors, it's 105°F indoors. And don't tell me to open a window, where are the windows in the movie theater, or the airport?
I may just be the one person in Cologne with an personal air conditioner in my apartment. But I can't turn it on. Here's why (and you may want to stop reading at this point if you're easily upset, like I am, because the following is thoroughly depressing.)
I just found out I caused the famine in Ethiopia in the 1980s. Me, and you, and everyone in North America and Europe. They finally figured out what caused it: our pollution.
Literally. Not the chemical pollution like c02 that's ruining the ozone, but our particle polution like soot and grime, the stuff that causes haze. A huge cloud of haze hovered over the sea, reflecting the sunligh back out into space. The sunlight failed to heat and evaporate the sea water which usually travels over Africa and creates the monsoon.
So the particle pollution you and I created by running our air-conditioners, hair dryers, dishwashers and cars directly lead to the deaths of thousands of people from starvation in Africa.
The good news, in a way, is that the US and Europe have cut way back on particle pollution by cleaning exhaust (though we haven't cut back much at all on c02 pollution). Turns out that haze was reflecting a lot of HEAT back into the atmosphere, cancelling out some of the global warming. So global warming is actually happening faster than we thought, because our own pollution was protecting us a little.
Ironic, isn't it? Therefore, roasting as I am, I'm loathe to turn on the air-conditioner. Those were real actual people who starved to death for my (our) lifestyle. I like to try to pretend that my lifestyle really doesn't harm anyone, maybe only indirectly, but I've been proven wrong. It makes a huge difference, and not just Karma, but actual direct harm.
Does a fan use substantially less energy than a/c?
¶ 1:13 PM
I may just be the one person in Cologne with an personal air conditioner in my apartment. But I can't turn it on. Here's why (and you may want to stop reading at this point if you're easily upset, like I am, because the following is thoroughly depressing.)
I just found out I caused the famine in Ethiopia in the 1980s. Me, and you, and everyone in North America and Europe. They finally figured out what caused it: our pollution.
Literally. Not the chemical pollution like c02 that's ruining the ozone, but our particle polution like soot and grime, the stuff that causes haze. A huge cloud of haze hovered over the sea, reflecting the sunligh back out into space. The sunlight failed to heat and evaporate the sea water which usually travels over Africa and creates the monsoon.
So the particle pollution you and I created by running our air-conditioners, hair dryers, dishwashers and cars directly lead to the deaths of thousands of people from starvation in Africa.
The good news, in a way, is that the US and Europe have cut way back on particle pollution by cleaning exhaust (though we haven't cut back much at all on c02 pollution). Turns out that haze was reflecting a lot of HEAT back into the atmosphere, cancelling out some of the global warming. So global warming is actually happening faster than we thought, because our own pollution was protecting us a little.
Ironic, isn't it? Therefore, roasting as I am, I'm loathe to turn on the air-conditioner. Those were real actual people who starved to death for my (our) lifestyle. I like to try to pretend that my lifestyle really doesn't harm anyone, maybe only indirectly, but I've been proven wrong. It makes a huge difference, and not just Karma, but actual direct harm.
Does a fan use substantially less energy than a/c?
¶ 1:13 PM
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sounds like your middle class suburban guilt is alive and well. While you may have a point.. what about all the socio-economic factors that have made and continue to make Africa hell on earth. If you really examined it i think you'd feel so bad about everything you've done that you'd want to move there and do some volunteer work. And sadly i think most volunteer efforts there have about as much impact on the problem as running your a/c has on the larger pollution problem.
feel better?
more doggie pics!!!
n
feel better?
more doggie pics!!!
n
# posted by 
: 3:19 PM
: 3:19 PM
i feel terrible for europe these days. 97 isn't so bad here, because we're used to it. but europe? do people even own shorts there? (funny comment from me, since i don't own shorts.)
i would think that a fan would use substantially less energy, since it's just moving air around, not converting it to cold air.
i would think that a fan would use substantially less energy, since it's just moving air around, not converting it to cold air.
mr.jinxy: wilkommen! and looks like you took my advice and skipped the depressing part, good for you.
n: you know I have *issues*
etta: funny you should mention shorts. I saw a guy who made his pants into cut-offs, only not as shorts--as CAPRIS. how euro!
n: you know I have *issues*
etta: funny you should mention shorts. I saw a guy who made his pants into cut-offs, only not as shorts--as CAPRIS. how euro!
Some trains and shops have AC.....you could try hanging out at the freezer section in the supermarket! :)
Yeah it is hot, but its not like this every year :)
Yeah it is hot, but its not like this every year :)
It's particles that did that and not African dictators and their cronies that steal western aid packages and keep their people sick and starving? Turn on your AC (next Summer) ;-)
# posted by : 5:20 AM
: 5:20 AM
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