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Last updated on August 9th, 2017 at 04:20 am
Reader Randy V. emails: “Some U.S. environmentalist wacko group is selling wind power cards through a lefty national grocer chain. You don’t actually get any wind power delivered ‘directly to your home’; you get a ‘credit’ that ensures that wind power is ‘added onto the national power grid on your behalf.’ Does it reduce your utlity bill? Uh, no. But it does double as a fridge magnet!”
- What do you expect if this from Bolta’s site about a Green Party rally in Melbourne is any guide?
…(L)eaving also meant facing a good two dozen jostling Greens bristling with placards, someone in an owl suit bristling with feathers, a truck with a big log on it sponsored by the Wilderness Society and Greens senator Bob Brown’s biographer circling the entire farrago on a pedal taxi…
- Well, it does look like the market is finally ripe enough for me to sell that bridge in New York I’ve been wanting to unload. It is because of the people stupid enough to buy things such as this, that I am completely against bankruptcy protection and welfare. The thought of my hard earned money being squandered to perpetuate this sector of society is upsetting to say the least.
- Positive Air Credit Organisation is behind this isnt it?Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2006 11 23 at 08:30 AM • permalink
- I got plenty of wind power and i don’t need no card to generate it…………….Posted by surfmaster on 2006 11 23 at 08:59 AM • permalink
- Do you need to buy extra if you eat pizza?Posted by Art Vandelay on 2006 11 23 at 09:05 AM • permalink
- #6 – Only if you have the garlic bread as well.Posted by surfmaster on 2006 11 23 at 09:17 AM • permalink
- Hey, I got me a whole pocket full of those wind power cards. You know, the ones that come with black licorice bubblegum from Uncle Paco’s Street Treats™.
Man… everybody’s collecting them.
I’ve still got a rainwater tank wildcard and four Nuclear Budget Blowout cards to trade. Don’t tell me they’re worthless…
Damn you, Paco!
- #4, #8:
Heh. Well, you see, there’s a pretty big market out there consisting of folks who will buy into anything, which means that, ultimately, they’ll buy anything. It’s a little known fact, and we don’t like to draw attention to it at Paco Enterprises, but the Crackpot Division’s Product Development Department is one of our highest margin profit centers.
- So I buy a Wind Power Card and all I get is a fridge magnet and a warm fuzzy feeling -and then my money goes into someone’s pocket?
Great idea that – bring it on here in OZ
Posted by aussiemagpie on 2006 11 23 at 10:40 AM • permalink
- Hmmmm.
WOW! What a great idea!
I might borrow this idea and work up some Global Warming Cards(c). They don’t actually do anything specific about Global Warming but they do register the purchaser’s concern about Global Warming and they provide funding to lobby Congress to sign onto the Kyoto Treaty.
…
All the while I’m sipping coladas and cashing checks in the Virgin Islands y’all.
I likes it!
Posted by memomachine on 2006 11 23 at 11:28 AM • permalink
- If the Democrat/Liberals were really serious about wind power, they’d have hooked up Dean, Gore, Kennedy and Kerry to turbines years ago.
Talk about alternative fool sources.
Posted by Tex Lovera on 2006 11 23 at 11:41 AM • permalink
- Oh, and a Happy Thanksgiving to all in America & Oz, and to our troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and everywhere else they defend our freedom.Posted by Tex Lovera on 2006 11 23 at 11:43 AM • permalink
- #9 paco
AHA! So this is your little contribution to polluting the world with fridge magnets then in the name of Wind Power
Clever bloke you are then – Crackpot Enterprises is onto making a bloody fortune
Every greenie will want a Wind Power fridge magnet to show they are Doing Something
Posted by aussiemagpie on 2006 11 23 at 11:47 AM • permalink
- Some snoids on the Left Coast of USA are offering free solar panels for your home, hooked to the grid, that generate all of 250 watts. This will run your meter backwards on a sunny day if your fridge is off.
I reckon that means that the tax subsidies and rebates are now sufficient to pay them to engage in this labor-intensive fake economic activity.
Posted by Harry Bergeron on 2006 11 23 at 12:08 PM • permalink
- Damn. I knew I should have invested in Crackpot Enterprises. Their Green Guilt line of business is quadrupling sales year after year. It’ll probably outpace their Liberal Regret and Lefty Hypocrisy lines of business.
In fact, selling Carbon Credit Cards at college bookstores and liberal meet ups have boost their bottom line substantially. And selling from a yellow weinermobile at anti-war protests? Ok, I was wrong, that’s a stroke of genius.
Posted by wronwright on 2006 11 23 at 12:31 PM • permalink
- Hmmm … here’s a simple test to see if your consciousness is elevated enough to buy Wind Power Cards. Complete the following sentences:
* A [blank] and his [blank] are soon [blanked].
* There’s a [blank] born every minute.
* Never give a [blank] an even [blank].
Can’t do it? Then you win! Just sign this contract!
Oh, it’s blank? Don’t worry – we’ll fill it in later!
Posted by Urbs in Horto on 2006 11 23 at 12:34 PM • permalink
- #8 Well, splice, eat your heart out: I’ve got a green pacoman card with a fucia border. Do you know how rare those ones are? I figure that after I win a few pacoman collector card tournaments at the Star Trekconventions, that I’ll sell it for big bucks on Ebay. Woo-hoo!Posted by andycanuck on 2006 11 23 at 12:43 PM • permalink
- Placebo politics. That’s all it is.Posted by rick mcginnis on 2006 11 23 at 12:46 PM • permalink
- I’m thinking that when wind power cards go the way of pet rocks and earth shoes we can always market solar power cards, and then biomass cards, and of course pixie dust.
And when that market’s tapped out, we can paint ourselves blue and return to such traditional Gaia-loving standbys as eye of newt, and toe of frog, wool of bat, and tongue of dog, adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting, Lizard’s leg, and howlet’s wing.
I’m beginning to see the reality-challenged community in a whole new and profitable light!
Posted by Bruce Rheinstein on 2006 11 23 at 12:51 PM • permalink
- #11, # 21
The actual quote is “There’s a sucker born every minute” allegedly by Barnum, of Barnum & Bailey Circus fame. Like all of them his prediction didn’t hold up. He badly underestimated the birth rate of suckers. So world, here’s ElectronPower Labs™ update: On the average, there’s a sucker born every second, but a greenie sucker is born every microsecond®.
Posted by ElectronPower on 2006 11 23 at 01:04 PM • permalink
- #25 It was said by George Hannum, not P.T. Barnum. Hannum was displaying the Cardiff Giant and wouldn’t sell it to Barnum, so Barnum had his own created and proclaimed Hannum’s to be a fake. It was, of course, although Hannum didn’t realize it at the time.
People flocked to see Barnum’s giant, leading Hannum to complain that “there’s a sucker born every minute” and sue Barnum for claiming his Cardiff Giant was fake. The court ruled for Barnum because the Cardiff Giant was a fake. Both of them.
Posted by Bruce Rheinstein on 2006 11 23 at 01:25 PM • permalink
you buy certified wind energy credits from wind farms around the country
OK, that’s it…Since I’m down in the “Sunshine State”…I’ll be purchasing, stealing or other wise procuring (as in hijacking a truck loaded with the bastards, and emptying the contents) empty resealable cans…like paint cans… AND Mason Jars (ummm, can I safely use the term “Mason”?).
Purpose…canned or jarred Sunshine.
Price…Only $19.95 each…but wait, if you respond within the next 365 days (I will think your fucking goofy…but hey, what the hell, huh?) BUT I digress…if you respond within the next 365 days…YOU will receive an extra can or jar of Sunshine, your choice and and Iron Clad guarantee, that the can the does contain sharp tin, aluminum OR steel (for you that use screw drivers to open such cans) that said can will contain contaminates, and that will slice fingers with the finest of edges, if opened the incorrect way OR poke painful holes in fingers, palms or arms, should you use said screw driver…or in the case of jarred Sunshine, the jar will if left sealed, will in fact (when you hold it up TO the sunlight) contain…REAL sunshine.
Call NOW! 1(800) 386-2277 or the easy to remember 1(800) DUM-BASS.
Now off to find the Iron to Clad things…Anyone know if I will be able to purchase, steal or otherwise procure magnetized, iron?…Just so you are able to stick it…on your fridge, of course.
- Irritation: The Ultimate Renewable ResourcePosted by Jim Treacher on 2006 11 23 at 01:33 PM • permalink
- Hmmm.
You know this stuff makes another idea I had sound not so utterly f**king insane. Which is a real treat I’ve got to tell you.
I was going to can air at the north pole. You know. The refreshing and absolutely pure Artic Air. Get it now before the purity of unspoilt atmosphere is ruined by man.
Posted by memomachine on 2006 11 23 at 02:27 PM • permalink
- Can Flatulence Power Cards be far behind??Posted by Mystery Meat on 2006 11 23 at 04:12 PM • permalink
- OT but on-topic for US Thanksgiving –
Remember this post from two years ago?
Maybe we could get an update from the Joyce family and find out if Brussel sprouts reappeared on the menu this year. When she cooked them two years ago, Laurie Joyce had no idea they would be world famous, but her Brussel sprouts enjoyed more “15 minutes of fame” than I have or probably ever will. Read her comments and others in that thread. It was a holiday classic.
- Using wind or solar power to reduce CO2 emissions is like drinking beer to save water.
Actually, I’m starting to talk myself into it…
Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 11 23 at 04:58 PM • permalink
- Also, Tim Blair, Tim tam man, I think I read the Pakistani brothers who raped and thought they had the right to rape because they were “promiscuous” teenage girls. Their Doctor father passed away while having surgery.. (ah wellll .. Allah has him now…) He was to appear in court.
I’m glad the Australian hospital medical system in this case was not successful at treating this patient…
- The problem with “credit” cards is that one day you have to pay them off. (And usually by paying exorbitant interest rates to Russian Express.)
P.S. #23 I really enjoy your reviews, Rick. Keep up the good work.
Posted by andycanuck on 2006 11 23 at 07:28 PM • permalink
- Thanks, andycanuck. I wrote a very unhappy review of An Inconvenient Truth this week, and got the hate mail in punishment for it. One chap insisted that I immediately write an apology. Some guy from the Sierra Club called out Ottawa editor demanding equal time for rebuttal.
The review is here
Posted by rick mcginnis on 2006 11 23 at 08:14 PM • permalink
- What a transparent diversion this tedious stream of posts is… the blogmire is denial about everything.Posted by Miranda Divide on 2006 11 23 at 08:21 PM • permalink
- O/T, but if there’s anyone from North Virginia here, can they tell me if this is true?
Public drunkenness is a criminal offense in Virginia, and police can, and sometimes do, arrest people in bars. The article refers to a 2003 effort by the Fairfax County police who apparently had nothing better to do. This isn’t typical cop behavior – even in Northern Virginia.
The county has the second highest median household income (US$94,610) of any large county in the U.S. Only nearby Loudon County’s (US$98,000) is higher.
Posted by Bruce Rheinstein on 2006 11 23 at 08:25 PM • permalink
- Charles Ponzi would be so proud of this wind power scheme.Posted by Hank Reardon on 2006 11 23 at 08:39 PM • permalink
- OT but this award winning website is now better than ever.Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 11 23 at 08:56 PM • permalink
- #46 Miranda Divide –
Look away! Look away!
Right. Now imagine that explosion and those attacks by Al Queda occurring in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, or New York, London, Paris, or New Delhi.
Do you understand yet?
Posted by wronwright on 2006 11 23 at 09:08 PM • permalink
- …oh, but those attacks wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the fact that the Americans made them do it…
Suicide islamist nutjobs would clearly rather be volunteering at the local hospital or gay shelter, if, like, they had a choice in the matter.
Posted by closeapproximation on 2006 11 23 at 09:20 PM • permalink
- Some snoids on the Left Coast
Hey, I thought there was only one Snoid.Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2006 11 23 at 09:21 PM • permalink
- #50 – Margos Maid, if the boss has left you idle, my windows could sure do with a good washing.Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2006 11 23 at 09:26 PM • permalink
- There was a show on the ABC radio about people “opting in’ on green energy.
The Canberra state government is so concerned that people arent rushing to sign up to pay more for electricity, they intend to make it standard to pay the extra and you have to opt out to get normal (boo hiss) dirty power.
Cant find a link to it, but the most common complaint seems to be we get our electricity too cheap for the clean techs to be financialy viable.
A bit like argueing that a massive tax should be put on cheap cars because everyone should drive a volvo….Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2006 11 23 at 09:37 PM • permalink
- Miranda Divide
Just come out and say it.
“I dont like brown people and think they deserve to live under thugs and strongmen forever”Go on, you know you want to. That little frission of joy you feel evry time you read something like that is a mental sickness. The stench coming from your black soul gives you away.
Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2006 11 23 at 09:42 PM • permalink
- What would the Greenies have done if the “consensus” was the Earth was cooling and Scandinavia was to be converted to a giant glacier once again? I guess they would have said “Sorry Mr Svensson Mother Nature cannot be interefered with move to Somalia.”Posted by the nailgun on 2006 11 23 at 10:10 PM • permalink
- Hmmmm.
What I find uproariously funny is that lefties are absolutely against energy companies from making profits off of oil sales yet are adamant that companies involved with “green energy” *must* make big profits in order to provide better services.
It’s funny how lefties can talk out of both sides of their mouths and yet simply not recognize it.
Posted by memomachine on 2006 11 23 at 10:12 PM • permalink
- #57
It’ll all be over before they even know what hit ‘em. Too bad about Canada.
Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 11 23 at 10:31 PM • permalink
- Sorry, aboot Canada.Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 11 23 at 10:32 PM • permalink
- All the energy companies here offer green power (it has a cute little government-sanctioned green tick of approval, like the heart tick on certain brands of margarine and just as stupid).
You pay extra, nominate the percentage of green power you would like fed back into the grid and they bill you.
People buy it and think they are using green power. So they use more. Just like the low-fat analogy. It’s low-fat, so I can eat more.
Well, it does look like the market is finally ripe enough for me to sell that bridge in New York I’ve been wanting to unload.
Hey, come on… next you’ll be telling me I can’t fight world hunger by lighting up my cell phone at a U2 concert…
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 11 24 at 09:34 AM • permalink
- #63 ilibcc
Was wondering if anyone’d point that out. It sounds exactly like the Green Power thing they’re running in Victoria and, I assume, most or all other Australian states. Except in happy “show houseguests we care” magnet format…
Personally, I rather like the concept. If some shmuck is that obsessed with green power, then let them and all the other like-minded shmucks pay for it, and leave the rest of us to get on with our horrible warmenising.
I’ve got no objection to greenies following their religion, provided I’m not forced to go along with them… and ideally don’t have to listen to them, but that’s probably asking for something the poor evangelical dimwits aren’t capable of. Freedom of non-directly-invasive stupidity and all that…
Now I just wonder how much capital I’d need to start up a “green” energy plant and start charging exorbitant rates to idiots… hmmm….
- What is the cost per kilowatt hour these cards are paying for and how does it compare to old fashioned nasty generated electricity from the tap?Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 11 24 at 05:36 PM • permalink
- There was an article in the Great Falls Tribune (Montana) the other day. (I’d post a link, but it’s archived & they wanted me to pay for it – sorry) Huge windmill installation in the Judith Gap area, gusts up to 52 that day. I guess most are calling it a success, but when we drove that way last summer, those big turbines are kinda creepy. Alien-looking. Like something out of Ray Bradbury. HOWEVER, if it’s a plausible way to get less expensive power, I’m for it. G-d knows, there’s enough wind out there! Wonder how tough it would be to put a whole herd of ‘em in DC…
- they are selling CO2 credits at $30/ton. you can buy them from the planktos guy at $5/ton.
makes you wonder…
Posted by drscroogemcduck on 2006 11 24 at 08:27 PM • permalink
- What is the cost per kilowatt hour these cards are paying for and how does it compare to old fashioned nasty generated electricity from the tap?
Well, the cards cost an equivalent of 2 cents per kWh which is much less than the price you pay your power company, but since you don’t actually get anything for it other than a green conscience, it doesn’t exactly matter…basically people buying these cards are simply subsidizing wind power generation (in case it’s not actually an outright scam, that is) which is usually a lot more expensive than regular coal/oil/nuke based energy generation.
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Why would wind energy producers not add electricity they have produced to the grid. Are they turning off their windmills waiting for people to buy the cards.
also:
Too funny.