Stupid "Experts"

[Joe Wicked]

I went into the break room here at work and caught the end of a segment on CNN about gas prices. They had a so called "Financial Expert" on who actually recommended buying a 0 emission propane (CNG) powered Honda to save money. She detailed how much money you will save by not paying the national average for gas. She claims that the average person drives 60 miles 1 way to work, and used a Tahoe at 15MPG for her calculation. I drive 14 miles 1 way. She came up with $650/month spent on gas for the average commuter, this is way over rated as most people could not afford to do that. The Honda could be leased for around $600/month, so you would save $50/month to buy the Honda. My first question is where do you fill up with Propane for free? I don't even know where to find a station to fill up the with CNG.

To me it is so obvious that she was paid by Honda. From that point on, the story was about the Honda, a complete sales pitch, right down to saying that dealers in your area will have them in stock by the end of the summer.

[Ron61]

Joe,

That was on CNN. What did you expect. Surely not anyone that can tell the truth or get anything correct.

Ron

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by Ron61

Joe,

That was on CNN. What did you expect. Surely not anyone that can tell the truth or get anything correct.

Ron

Good point. I wish we could turn it from the Clinton News Network.

[Cobrabill]

I thought it was the Communist News Network

[Mark IV]

Actually,

The Honda they are talking about is the Hyrdogen powered car, which you can't buy, you can only lease. Yes, ZERO emissions (water and water vapor only) but where do you fill up with hydrogen for the fuel cell?

Another "feel good" idea that has not had it time come yet. Like the customer I overheard looking at our Escape Hybrid telling her husband how it "only uses a little gasoline 'cause it's powered by electricity!" Would have loved to ask her where she thought the electricity comes from! ("why the, batteries of course!!!"...and where do THEY get it from?)

[wtm442]

Honda says 3 years for the hydrogen car. But the big question is getting the hydrogen distribution.

I want to open a hydrogen station for new cars. I want to call it "Hindenburg Express". What do you think. Do you think they will make a hydrogen retrofit kit for the Pinto?

CNN? Who watches that station. A waste of time IMHO.

[Ron61]

I haven't seen a Pinto around here for years. However if you open a hydrogen fuel station some blimps may stop by.

Ron

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by Ron61

I haven't seen a Pinto around here for years.
Ron

Here is one I saw at a car show. Love the license plate.

[Ron61]

I don't even see any at the car shows around here. That license plate is good. I don't think that is a stock Pinto though from the looks of what I can see of the engine.

Ron

[Ronbo]

I'm waiting for the big stink the tax authorities will make about the road use taxes that these "alternative fuels" don't have.

It's coming...

[tcrist]

Ronbo,
There was a program on a kit that makes Bio-diesel. The one thing that they did say was that you still had to pay the road tax for the mileage that you drive. I do not know how they would know how many miles you drive, but that is what it said. I think it was that Extreme 4x4 show on Spike TV.

Terry

[Joe Wicked]

Maybe it is just me and it is my time of the month or something but I have another one. The TV in the break room is on the History/Hitler channel (depending on how you look at it). There is a program on about glaciers melting (subtle global warming hints). The expert is showing all of these comparisons to how the ice looked in 1850 on this mountain range to now. There is no disputing that there is significantly less ice. He claims 83% is gone. My whole annoyance is that it is not a disputed fact that 1850 marked the end of a mini ice age, so of course there was more ice in 1850 than there is now, the ice age is over. That is such a stupid comparison. We do not know enough about what is normal for non-ice age to make a conclusion. Hell, it has been proven that the earth used to be much hotter than it is now, maybe that is the normal temperature.

[trularin]

Warren, only really old people would chuckle at that name for your service station.

Most kids do not know what the Hindenburg was or what happened.

[427 S/O]

Good post Joe, It's really aggravating sometimes when watching the learning, science, discovery or history channel. They tend to make one sided doom and gloom arguments, and you never hear the other side?.

[Ron61]

Joe,

As with everything they seem to just report what one side wants. I did watch a show about the Glacier National Park where they showed the Glaciers 15 years ago and today and they have really gone away. But the only person on that show who seemed to look at things fairly was a British scientist. He stated that he felt the planet is going through another natural warming spell and that the stuff we are putting in the air was just speeding it up and it would cause it to take longer to get back to the cooling cycle unless we clean up our mess.

Ron

[Joe Wicked]

See that makes more sense to me. It is showing the difference in recent times, and it is acknowledging the natural cycle of things. I could believe that our influence can speed up warming/slow down natural cooling, but to be the cause of it, is too much for me to grasp onto.

[Ron61]

Joe, I have seen this same British scientist on several different shows about other things and he is by far the best I have seen. He never takes just one side or tries to make something fit whatever kick they are on at the time. That is why I like to see him on a show as I know he will give both sides the best he can.

Ron

[Joe Wicked]

That is cool. I can listen to someone like that. Do you remember his name? I watch a lot of those programs even though they tend to piss me off. I may have seen him already.

[Ron61]

No, I can't remember his name, but he is not really that old. The next time I see him on a show I will write his name down. It is rare to find any person any more that will take both sides and evaluate them fairly. He just doesn't buy into the one side or the other theory.

Ron

[wtm442]

Benny Hill.