Axios, an online media outlet founded by Politico alums Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen, manages to outdo its founders’ former employer in vapidity on a regular basis, and by God, that’s saying something. But sometimes, they publish something unintentionally amusing, such as this dramatic lede:
It made me laugh not because I give a shit about whether Bannon and Priebus are really friends despite reports to the contrary but rather because it reminded me of an exploding whale incident brought to my attention many months ago by valued commenter Aimai. The explosion occurred in 1970, and there is grainy footage:
It would have reminded me of this incident even if Priebus had been described as the exploder, BTW, so I am NOT fat-shaming anyone. Anyhoo, open thread.
Mnemosyne
I remember reading a story once that, when “The Simpsons” first started having their show animated in Korea, the writers had a line in the script that was something like “the birds EXPLODE out of the tree.”
They got the dailies back and realized they had to be a little less metaphorical in their writing when communicating overseas. ?
MattF
And so, if you think that dynamite is the answer to your problems, guess again.
Mike J
Wasn’t there a mass beaching in NZ recently, officials warning of whales exploding naturally because of gases from decomposition?
Maybe I dreamed that.
Corner Stone
They can keep selling their bromance all they want. Just like Ivanka’s clothing line, nobody’s buying.
Mnemosyne
Also, too, my packing list for Disney World is ridiculously long — over 70 items. On the other hand, I’ve gotten pretty granular since I frequently forget to pack things that I didn’t bother to put on the list since I can’t imagine forgetting them, and then I end up running to the store as soon as we land. So, granular packing list this time.
West of the Cascades
“The Blast blasted blubber beyond all believable bounds” is one of the greatest lines in live television news history.
Mike J
@MattF: Sort of like regex.
(I kid, I kid. I’m actually rather good with regexes. I like ’em. It’s just the standard joke.)
Corner Stone
Why do I keep hearing “Once In A Lifetime” by Talking Heads repeating in my head?
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money’s gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
Betty Cracker
@West of the Cascades: Right? That guy must’ve been the inspiration for Les Nessman!
dmsilev
@Corner Stone: Yeah, no kidding. That story reads like someone trying to do damage control, with about as much success as the cleanup crew had with that whale.
Major Major Major Major
I’ve been watching through Supernatural with a friend who… wanted me to. Anywho, it’s enjoyable enough I suppose, and good to unwind at the end of the day.
I saw an episode yesterday set in a grim post-apocalyptic future in which god is gone and the devil walks the earth. It had the headline PRESIDENT PALIN DEFENDS BOMBING HOUSTON. But it was set in 2014. Still, close enough.
? Martin
My dad lives in Florence (but didn’t at the time, but most of his friends did). Not exactly a point of pride for the town.
germy
One of the femme fatales in Malaysia wore a “LOL” shirt, according to the latest news and surveillance footage.
Corner Stone
OMG! The Ghost of Old Tom Joad just appeared on my TV.
It’s actually Joe Lieberman but it is just as spooky to see with no warning.
? Martin
Looks like Pudzer can’t get confirmed. WH being asked to withdraw his name. So unfair of Democrats with their fake news and NSA leaks.
Jeffro
On a lighter note…Ivanka checking out Justin Trudeau is making me laugh.
Justin: stay away from Mrs. Jeffro, you hear me?!?!?
germy
@Corner Stone: He sat like a toad next to Devos during her question and answer session. He must be so proud.
Major Major Major Major
@Mike J: I find that, as in life, I can minimize the amount of trouble I find myself in with regexes by judicious use of the question mark.
David Hunt
As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.
germy
How Oprah Winfrey Might Bring Down Trump Labor Nominee Andrew Puzder
Major Major Major Major
CNN alert: Top Senate Republicans urge the White House to withdraw the Pudzer nomination for labor secretary
brendancalling
@germy: something like 4 GOP senators have told Trump to withdraw Puzder, and as many as 12 my vote no.
dmsilev
@Major Major Major Major: Trump will probably dig in for a while, and then cave. That’s his thing now.
germy
@Major Major Major Major: So drump will be Pulling his Pudzer?
Jeffro
Also, the Mustache of Understanding is shrill today:
Corner Stone
@germy:
Ah, just locker room talk.
Feebog
Thank you Betty, that was so funny it brought tears to my eyes. Place the dynamite on the leeward side indeed.
raven
My good buddy’s uncle was the guy whose car got squashed. The dealership where he bought it had a motto “Always a Whale of a Deal”! For reals.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
@Major Major Major Major:
I’ve tried to get into Supernatural… I find the main guy just too opaque, dull, somehow too fragile to take seriously as a kick-ass monster vanquisher. Obviously, YMMV.
Mnemosyne
@Jeffro:
I’ve seen what Jared Kushner looks like, so I can’t really blame her. Of course, Mrs. Trudeau is also way prettier than Ivanka, so bish has no chance.
And another Hollywood story: I heard an interview with Michael Lewis (author of “Moneyball”) talking about how Billy Beane got mad at him for selling the movie rights, because then Brad Pitt showed up at Beane’s house to do research and suddenly Beane’s wife is wearing lipstick and the babysitter is showing up in a dress.
? Martin
@dmsilev: That was always his thing. Voters outside of NYC just didn’t realize that was his thing.
debbie
Am I the only one freaking out about the Bibi-Trump press conference? I almost drove off the road after someone asked Trump what he thought of the increase in anti-Sem*tism since his election and Trump answered with a statement about his huge electoral vote win?
jl
Exploding rancid and rotting blubber raining down all over the countryside wrecking stuff up. Was the exploding whale a prophecy of the Trump presidency? I’ll check my trusty copy of Nostradamus.
Meanwhile, I see in various newsy places, people are noting that the Trump admin is so moronic and confused, they can’t help the GOP Congress push through its wishlist of awful ideas. And the GOPers, being infantile, cannot do anything without endless tantrums and disagreements. GOP Senate and House at loggerheads over tax reform, and WH can’t help, sitting there drooling in the corner raving like a lunatic. I guess that is a silver lining of some sort to the dark clouds.
? Martin
@germy: Good to see that we have Oprah working in our intelligence community. She’s doing a better job of notifying Congress than Comey.
SFBayAreaGal
@Major Major Major Major: I love Supernatural.
? Martin
@jl: This is how I thought it might play out. I don’t think they’ve fully realized how fucked they are. It’s going to get a lot worse for them.
hovercraft
@Mike J:
I assumed that it was a natural explosion from the gases, till I watched the clip. What is the proper way to get rid of such a large carcass?
Betty Cracker
@germy: So stealing that!
dmsilev
@debbie: He also backed away from the two-state solution for Palestine. That’s not really going to help calm down the Middle East, to put it mildly.
? Martin
@hovercraft: Two methods:
1) Push it back into the ocean where it’ll eventually break up
2) Dig a hole and bury it where it washed up.
Bulldozer helpful in both situations.
debbie
@jl:
The GOP is trying to distract with Leaks!, but even the NSC Director under both Bushes, Kori Schake, says they’re full of it. Cummings should stand up on the floor of the House and demand they return to putting country over party.
Mnemosyne
@jl:
Yep. The only thing protecting us is the total incompetence of the Republicans. Which is also endangering us, because you KNOW that some assholes in ISIL and Al-Qaeda are planning some shit to make things worse, not to mention the white supremacists with too many guns who are itching to start a race war.
Major Major Major Major
@SFBayAreaGal: @West of the Rockies (been a while): It’s growing on me, finally, in season 5. Lol.
debbie
@dmsilev:
Yeah, I had to change the channel when he joked about a non-two-state solution.
? Martin
@Betty Cracker: That’ll the the NY Post headline, mark my words.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
@germy:
Yep. Or maybe he’ll try pounding his Pudzer down their throats.
Mike J
@hovercraft: Chainsaws, front loaders, and trucks.
hovercraft
@Corner Stone:
You’ve been watching too much fake news, the WH and all it’s occupants are having a grand old time, everything is running smoothly and as expected thanks to the management of our new chief executive. They are an extremely happy and efficient group eager to undue all the mistakes of the Obama administration. There is definitely nothing to see here, move along.
Death Panel Truck
My wife and I have vacationed in Florence three times. It was a nice place to do so before it turned into just another tourist trap like Lincoln City and Seaside. Didn’t see any blasted blubber on the beach, tho.
If you go to Flo, stay away from Mo’s, unless you’re craving a good bowl of potato soup. Just order the clam chowder and you’ll know what I mean.
Betty Cracker
@debbie: Didn’t hear it or read much about it yet, but yeah, that’s alarming!
germy
@? Martin:
Credit to Obama for lending her his time machine so she could travel back to 1990 for the interview.
Mike J
@Major Major Major Major: Has the writer, with the same name as the writer of the series (and The Tick) appeared yet? I love that whole string of eps.
SFBayAreaGal
@Major Major Major Major: I’ve been watching Supernatural since season 2.
clay
@debbie: That story’s on TPM, along with some other tidbits from the press conference. When POUTS was asked about the two-state solution, he was like, “I’m for whatever makes both sides happy.” Uh, yeah dipshit… the problem is that nothing makes both sides happy. If there were a solution that made both sides happy it would’ve been tried years ago!!!
He really doesn’t know jack about shit, does he?
father pussbucket
At least they didn’t say “literally exploded”.
Corner Stone
@West of the Rockies (been a while): I dabble in Supernatural once a year or so. Binge watch a season or two then get tired of it. Here is my summary of every episode in the series:
Dean: “Sammie!!” *rough growl*
Sam: “Must.Fight.Demon.Blood.Inside.Me.”
Evil Baddie: “Oh, poor Winchester boys. I have your immortal souls now!”
*Dean pulls out some Angelic blessed weapon or tool and tosses to Sam*
Dean: “Sammie!!” *rough growl*
*Sam grabs weapon and impales Evil Baddie*
Evil Baddie: “Eeerrrkk!!”
*blazing light as Hell opens up*
.
.
annnddd, scene
debbie
This just popped up on my FB page:
Is that even legal for a member of Congress to cut off communications like this?
debbie
@clay:
Oh, he’s not even thinking strategically. He just wanted to get a laugh.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
@Major Major Major Major:
It reminds me a lot of Charmed. My interest wanes with a monster of the week premise eventually, unless there is a deeper series mythology/world building going on. Perhaps I did not give Supernatural a long enough go.
Spanky
@Corner Stone:
For some reason you got the wrong track. Shoulda been “Life During Wartime”.
clay
@jl:
‘s true. Remember all the bluster about “We’re going to [repeal Obamacare, build a wall, make huge tax cuts, whatevs] on Day One!!!”
The one silver lining is that they’re too incompetent to do much of anything. Of course, what’s a blessing as far as domestic policy goes, can become real scary when it comes to international affairs — the botched Yemen raid being a prime example.
EDIT: Or, in other words, what Mnemosyne said above.
hovercraft
@germy: @Corner Stone:
Come on people, what’s the big deal, at least he didn’t grab her by the p u s s y, amIrite, we know that is how the big dog rolls, this is just amateur stuff, no biggy.
chopper
if only.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
@Corner Stone:
Kind of my take, too, but to be completely honest, I realize now that I’m confusing Supernatural, and Grimm.
JPL
So this is my day.. I was taping flyers to mailboxes, by hanging out a window. It was chilly when we first started out, and on one mailbox there was a snake. It didn’t bite me so that was good.
Another mailbox I couldn’t reach, so opened the car door, and broke a lawn ornament.
The flyers were for a city council runoff, so instead of leaving that, I left my phone number. ugh…
Why was there a snake on the mailbox?
debbie
@chopper:
Calling SNL!
germy
@clay:
I’m concerned about the damage they can do. The incompetence puts them in “toddler with a loaded firearm” territory.
dmsilev
@debbie: Snopes says it’s probably not true.
clay
@debbie: a) DID he get a laugh? b) Were they laughing WITH or AT him?
Mike J
@West of the Rockies (been a while): Usually I prefer the MotW story lines. The overarching myth stories of most series are just too stupid to keep going.
Buffy of course had the best balance. Single season arcs. You can actually plot out the ending before you start and don’t have to worry about stretching it if you get picked up for another season.
Timurid
@Major Major Major Major: So now they’re getting worked up about somebody who’d be maybe the fifth most dangerous member of Trump’s cabinet? They’re bricking shut the barn door as the horse enter the next county.
Corner Stone
@West of the Rockies (been a while): They both have a similar plot weakness in that they each have to rely on the “friendship” of an essentially evil being at different times to continue surviving.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
@Death Panel Truck:
Have you tried Brookings, OR? It’s small, bit it has its charms.
hovercraft
@clay:
No he doesn’t. He probably thinks that his excellent negotiating skills could knock out a deal in a day or two, what’s the big deal?
Major Major Major Major
@Mike J: Chuck? He’s very amusing.
@West of the Rockies (been a while): It has both.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
@Corner Stone:
That’s Charmed, too, along with the evil demon du jour imploding in photons at the end.
Timurid
@Jeffro: But not shrill enough:
debbie
@dmsilev:
Good. But also sad because it seems believable.
clay
@JPL:
A nice, metallic place in the sun to warm itself? Or maybe it was expecting a package…
? Martin
Report on 2016 solar buildout shows that the US roughly doubled solar energy output last year, from 7,493 megawatts to 14,626 megawatts. Most of the growth was in utility solar, not residential. That means that coal and natural gas are uncompetitive on price in certain markets. Unless the feds want to tax solar output, they’re largely powerless to reverse this trend.
Corner Stone
@JPL:
He needed to be in FL before the weekend? Maybe there’s an election filing deadline somewhere we aren’t thinking of.
debbie
@clay:
Yes, there was a laugh, and not a cheering section kind of laugh.
Major Major Major Major
@Mike J: Buffy definitely had the best balance (and writing) of the ‘angsty youth that kills evil shit’ shows. For MotW/storyline balance, I’m tempted to say that seasons 2-5 of The X-Files is the gold standard.
Not to be confused with the gold standard that Pence wants to put us on.
lollipopguild
@Spanky: It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine. Or “Eve of Destruction’
Corner Stone
@? Martin:
Did you really just say that?
debbie
@West of the Rockies (been a while):
Grimm started out so much better than it is today. The Vessen were more about the dark sides of human nature, and the main character, Nick, was grappling with what it meant to be a Grimm. It’s very disappointing just how formulaic each week has become.
clay
@hovercraft:
Yeah, he was blustering in that direction, per the TPM report. He told Bibi that he wanted them to slow down the settlements for a while:
germy
jl
Tom McClintock: chickenshit liar
Police Chief: No, We Weren’t Concerned About GOP Rep’s Safety At Town Hall
TPM blog
A California police chief on Wednesday undermined a Republican congressman’s claim that a rowdy crowd outside a recent town hall forced him to leave the event after police told him he was endangered by the “deteriorating” situation.
“Things went very well that day,” Roseville Police Chief Daniel Hahn told the Sacramento Bee of Rep. Tom McClintock’s (R-CA) Feb. 5 town hall.
“They went as well as could be expected. … The people gathered weren’t causing problems,” he said.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/roseville-police-chief-refutes-mcclintock-claim-escorted-town-hall-safety
Yarrow
Well, this doesn’t reassure me:
Can’t believe the stock market keeps going up. I guess it will until the money people figure out we’re no longer a safe haven. Then everyone watch out.
Mike J
@Major Major Major Major: X Files wound up too far in arc-land, and one might say, “Lost” itself.
germy
@debbie: It’s been cancelled; there are only a few episodes left.
Major Major Major Major
@Mike J: I gave a season range for a reason.
debbie
@germy:
Yeah, I figured. Hope it ends interestingly.
The Red Pen
Wait… didn’t Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen start Politico? (Yeah, I guess I could Google it.)
lollipopguild
@? Martin: So you are one of those people who uses actual real facts in your comments?
Mnemosyne
Proofreading documents that were translated from Japanese but need to stay true to the originals is … interesting, shall we say.
Eric S.
@Mike J: no, that was a thing. I was thinking Australia but I think you’re correct with NZ.
Debbie1
@germy: My God, THIS was the guy TR*mp picked as Dept of Labor nominee? Was Bernie Maddoff unavailable? They really weren’t kidding about the lack of vetting, were they? At what point does this affirmative action administration start to be held accountable?
brendancalling
@debbie: people shouldn’t mail him anything. they should show up in person and protest outside his house. We did that in Philly to Mayor nutter when he tried to close the libraries. And people did it to Arlen Specter too. Just last week, Tuesdays with Toomey spent Superb Owl Sunday outside his house singing and protesting while Toomey hid.
Timurid
@Yarrow: 2/28 is the paws up/paws down moment.
It’s guaranteed that Trump will use that speech to reject all the accusations against him and demand the loyalty of Congress and the American people. It’s the response that’s unknown. If the show ends with Trump standing at the podium arm in arm with Ryan, McConnell and Sessions, staring into the camera and shouting, “Come and get us if you’ve got the balls for it!”… then Schindler will be getting on a plane, and us mere mortals will just be fucked.
chopper
@? Martin:
pretty astounding.
Death Panel Truck
@West of the Rockies (been a while): We stopped there on our way to Northern Cali in 2001. I don’t remember too much about it. We haven’t been that far south on the coast since then. We stayed in Oceanside in 2015 in a huge rental with a spectacular view of Three Arch Rocks. All of the wife’s Oregon relatives showed up at various times, so it was basically a weeklong party.
hovercraft
@West of the Rockies (been a while):
The biggest failure in that regard IMHO was LOST, it started out great but very quickly got lost trying to maintain the mystery, I barely lasted a season.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
@Mike J:
Heroes also started with lots of potential and then went belly up, with characters being created and abandoned, resurrected, reabandoned left and right. Ugh.
Pogonip
@clay: “Oh boy! Amazon sent the limbs I ordered!”
Renie
all is well…Senate just voted to allow mentally ill people to buy guns. what could go wrong
Corner Stone
@hovercraft: It’s kind of a testament to the genius of Gravity Falls. The creator decided when and how it was going to end and it went out brilliantly.
Major Major Major Major
@hovercraft: The problem with Lost was that they didn’t outline anything. The writers were pantsers, which is fine if you’re in the process of drafting something, but not if it’s being actively consumed while you do it!
@Corner Stone: Also one of the reasons I have a fondness for miniseries and (some) anime.
SenyorDave
@debbie: PAUL RYAN
700 ST. LAWRENCE AVE.
JANESVILLE, WI 53545
Please paste and copy this info and share. Let’s see what 67 million cards in the driveway looks like.
What is his wife’s name? IMO send cards and letters to her, and ask if her husband is a good role model for his kids.
Mnemosyne
@lollipopguild:
True fact: Donald Trump is name-checked in “It’s the End of the World (As We Know It).” Gave me kind of a start the last time I listened to it.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
I look at this Trump administration and hear David Bowman’s voice… “My god… it’s full of ‘tards.”
Shana
@lollipopguild: Or Welcome to the Occupation.
@Mnemosyne: I think what matters is how many of those 70 items are pieces of clothing and how many are toiletries. If you’ve got lots of travel sizes of various bathroom and cosmetic items, I wouldn’t worry too much.
hovercraft
@germy: I’m waiting to here that Honey-booboo is running or has been appointed to something, that may still be a few years off, but in the meantime what’s Phil Robertson up to is Duck Dynasty on right now, there are still dozens of top level appointment available, he would fit right in with the group running the country.
? Martin
@lollipopguild: I try. I don’t always succeed, though.
lollipopguild
@Renie: A mentally ill person could buy a gun and use it to shoot one of the people who voted yes.
A Ghost to Most
@chopper:
Martin is right. Wind and solar are beginning to squeeze out coal, and soon perhaps NG, on cost.
Want to be a billionaire? Figure out how to efficiently store large amounts of excess electricity, and deliver it back.
Major Major Major Major
@A Ghost to Most: Giant capacitor guns!
hovercraft
@West of the Rockies (been a while):
Yes, another promising show that fizzled, @Major Major Major Major: , I agree too many writers/producers are more interested in longevity rather than a quality limited run show that tells a well constructed story. I also like the mini-series format, they tend to be much more concise. Did you watch The Young Pope?
? Martin
@Renie: That’s slightly uncharitable. It was a poor proxy for people with mental illness that caught up people that weren’t. It should have been repealed and replaced with a more sensible policy. They replaced it with nothing, however, so I’m fine going after them, but we shouldn’t ask that specific policy be reversed to what it was, but rather to something better.
I’ll also note that states have the authority to do the same thing. That policy change doesn’t affect California because we have a more strict (and more appropriate) set of rules for gun ownership. So don’t just yell at Congress, yell at your own states as well.
Mnemosyne
@Major Major Major Major:
I actually liked the finale for LOST, but I skipped a season or two in the middle, so I may have been less emotionally invested than some people were.
I also loved the ending of “The Sopranos,” FWIW. That cut to black was fucking brilliant.
lollipopguild
@A Ghost to Most: Sound like something that The Simpsons should take a shot at.
Corner Stone
@SenyorDave:
And anyone who says his family should not be brought into this can go fuck themselves.
sigaba
@A Ghost to Most: Water pumps and dams, but maybe now isn’t a good time to mention that. This is what the Hydrogen economy was supposed to be about, hydrogen was supposed to be the universal medium because you could store it and convert it back and forth from electricity cleanly and with lower losses.
Hasn’t Florida (of course) tried to tax solar to “equalize” its price with conventional electricity?
germy
@hovercraft:
Did you see the news about Kid Rock’s name being floated as a possible candidate?
Oatler.
@A Ghost to Most: KInd of emblematic of the Big Jump battery technology never made, which cost us solar system supremacy!
The Moar You Know
@debbie: Sure. He’s a representative of his district. The method of representation is not spelled out in law. You can get elected to Congress and spend two years sleeping on a cot in your office. You probably won’t get re-elected.
I might add that postcards and petitions are absolutely worthless and a waste of your time, Congresscritters don’t pay any attention to those at all.
Mail his office. THAT is something they pay attention to. And they cannot turn that off.
Mnemosyne
@Shana:
It’s mostly the little stuff like toiletries, the Magic Bands, etc. I will be the sole adult in charge on the trip (taking my 11 YO and 16 YO nieces), so also stuff like 3 kinds of sunscreen, 2 kinds of bug spray, my own mini first aid kit, etc.
? Martin
@A Ghost to Most: Actually we have at least one pretty good solution to that problem. It only works in some areas, but Oroville is a clue. Areas that have hydro power generation can use their surplus wind/solar power to pump water up from one reservoir to another and then when power is needed, use their hydro station to generate. Oroville can generate 800 MW, so a 10′ displacement of the lake can generate 192K megawatt-hours. That’s a lot of stored power. Now, you need the right infrastructure to do that, and that doesn’t really exist in too many places, but it could, particularly across the west where you have lots of locations with large height differentials to allow for high hydro output.
Mnemosyne
@germy:
I saw people talking about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson running for office. Of course, he’s smarter and nicer than Trump seven days a week, and twice on Sundays. And he’s the minority son of immigrants: his dad is Black Canadian and his mom is Samoan (which is why he’s in Moana.)
debbie
@Mnemosyne:
Nothing will ever beat the ending of Breaking Bad, IMO.
Major Major Major Major
@hovercraft: Not yet!
@Mnemosyne: Lost fell apart after season 3. It started to peter out for me when they ran out of money and spent half of a season with the characters trapped in a Skinner box. The fact that they could do that made it obvious that there was no direction. That said, the ending of season 3 was marvelous. I’ve since thought that Not Penny’s Boat would be a good band name.
@debbie: After Ozymandius, the penultimate episode, aired, there was a lot of chatter about, Is this the best hour of television ever made? Looking back, I still think that’s a reasonable assertion.
clay
@Mnemosyne: Say, when is that Disney trip, anyway? I live in FL, and have been to WDW countless times if you need any advice.
EDIT: Although my kids are a bit younger than the wards you’ll be taking…
A Ghost to Most
Efficiently is the problem. Hydrogen and pumped water have energy loss that is too high.
My best thought is a gigantic flywheel levitated by magnetism, but I’m sure a mechanical engineer could set me straight as to why not.
Renie
@The Moar You Know: but isn’t a postcard considered mail. the idea was that a postcard goes through security faster cuz a letter has to be checked to see what else might be in the envelope
sending it to his house certainly makes a statement if his office is throwing out postcards; don’t think the local post office would take it upon themselves to throw out his mail before delivering it
? Martin
@Oatler.: I wouldn’t say it never made it.
Now, installed cost for PV with batteries like this is pretty expensive – way more than coal, etc. but those costs are falling quite rapidly still, and more importantly this kind of installation can go anywhere relatively warm (battery capacity falls rapidly with temperature, but underground is stable almost anywhere) and can be installed rather quickly. The contract was only awarded 6 months ago. For unused salt mines in the midwest, this would be a good use for that space should costs fall. They would store locally generated wind power and release it as demand was needed. And those are places where they lack the kind of geography that would allow for hydro to work at scale.
sukabi
@West of the Cascades: can you imagine if that level of detail was implemented in today’s news casts…
debbie
@Major Major Major Major:
I agree. That episode really was something else.
Mnemosyne
@clay:
We’re going the week of 3/13. I booked the hotel ages ago since I get a discount, and I’ve already gotten some FastPasses and dining reservations. I’ve been reading all the advice websites, but I’m always happy to hear more!
? Martin
@A Ghost to Most: That’s not quite true for either. Both have gotten much better. California has been doing pumped storage for many years:
That was built in the 80s. Round trip efficiency in the 80-85% range, which isn’t bad provided you are pumping with otherwise zero marginal cost power (solar, wind).
There are a variety of hydrogen production solutions in development that while not hugely efficient are at least economically viable. That’s enough to get it going.
hovercraft
@germy:
No, but the scary thing is that doesn’t shock me. I’m sure some right winger will throw Kal Penn at me, but it’s one thing to have celebrities support you or in that case work in the office of youth engagement, (I think that’s where he worked), or even as an ambassador where there are career foreign service people to do the actual job, these people are putting people who have no previous experience running anything.
Larkspur
@Corner Stone: Stop listening to my braaiiin. But as far as ear worms go, that is a splendid and not unwelcome one.
Death Panel Truck
@Major Major Major Major:
They don’t do hour-long shows anymore. Never did, actually, especially on commercial TV. “Hour-long” shows went from 50 minutes in the Seventies to just over 41 now. Gotta cram in as many annoying Geico ads as possible.
Aleta
Is there any organization that can force some of these Rs to give sworn testimony now, while things are still in flux? Can it be petitioned by a group through the courts?
Otherwise Giulliani, Jason Ch, Comey, etc. will just slither away. At the least, conflicting statements they might give now would leave a shadow. At least let’s get something into the record, make somebody nervous, take up their time.
The fact that Comey and (probably) Giu knew so much and still misled the public about HRC shows how deadly serious these Rs are. Now Matt Lauer etc. are asking ‘tough questions?’ No, they’re asking innocent questions as though it’s enough to point out contradictions.
hovercraft
@Major Major Major Major:
It’s good, I’m going to watch the final episode tonight.
clay
@Mnemosyne: Oh, I doubt I have any special insight. If you’re staying on Disney property, then take advantage of the free transportation — it’s very efficient and (95% of the time) better than driving yourself.
Also, if you can (depending on if you’re staying on property, as well as the willingness of your teens to wake up early), take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours of each park. If you get there early enough, you can knock out the rides with the longest lines early, and then take the rest of the park at a more leisurely pace.
Sit down shows can be a good way to regain some energy and avoid some of the hottest parts of the day. (Although March shouldn’t be too bad.)
I know you mentioned bug spray, but honestly I’ve never really noticed bugs at WDW. I don’t know what they do, but it works.
Depending on the projected energy levels of your group, I would recommend quick service meals, for the most part. (Although it can be nice to make a dinner reservation to let everyone relax near the end of the day.) And make sure you examine all the food options. We were at Animal Kingdom a couple of months ago. Our preferred lunch place — the Flame Tree BBQ — had a huge line. But right around the corner was a take-out kiosk that served the same food as Flame Tree (literally from the same kitchen), but only had two menu items instead of 10. We only had to wait 3 minutes, and we got food that was just as good as the main place.
The lines for rides decrease dramatically during parades and fireworks. Of course, I LIKE parades and fireworks — but the kids may be more interested in rides. Magic Kingdom has especially good shows these days.
There’s a lot more to Disney than just the rides, of course. I like to stop and watch the street performances that I come across — all very entertaining and charming! Some parks have scavenger hunt-type that are fun, esp. for the 11-year-old. EPCOT has an Agent P thing. MK has a pirate one, and a magic battle thing. Also (again, depending on age and interest) things like Jedi Academy at Hollywood studios, or Pirate School at MK can be more memorable than the rides!
Heck, just taking time to look at all of the decorations and soak it all in — I love seeing the little details that the imagineers throw it!
Also, depending on your schedule, take time to explore the hotel (assuming you’re on property). Each one offers entertainment (some free, some not), and most have very cool theming to look at.
Most employees are very friendly and are more than happy to chat with visitors. (I wouldn’t bother the counter-service food people — they’re under a lot of pressure to be quick!) I love talking with them about where they’re from, and what they do.
The new Disney Springs is awesome. Great restaurants, lots of shopping, some good entertainment (mostly at night). Worth a trip.
That’s all I can think of for now!
Calouste
@A Ghost to Most: Efficiency won’t be a problem if you’re producing more energy than you can use at certain times. Then any way to store part of that excess energy will be efficient.
Jeffro
@Mnemosyne:
AND in one of the songs from “In The Heights” by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda (although I forget which song)
raven
@debbie: You like that 60 huh?
Betty Cracker
@debbie: That was a great ending. The ending of “Six Feet Under” was awesome too — almost good enough to redeem the marked degradation in quality as the series wore on.
J R in WV
@? Martin:
This will allow the storage of power to create electricity, but when they wanted permits to build pump-storage reservoirs near us in Virginia some time back, there were substantial environmental issues raised, and the permits were not issued.
This was long enough ago that enviro issues were not a sure deal killer, perhaps the coal guys opposed storage of power, since why not just generate all you need when you need it, right?
But I can see a giant lake with levels going up and down like the tidal bore at Bay of Fundy being an obvious mess just thinking of thousands of acres of mud flats being flooded and drained every day. I’m way in favor of inventing a good way to store solar energy to use at 2 am, perhaps molten metal used as a source of heat to spin turbines? Or Tesla designed batteries on the walls of every home?
But pumped storage… thinking of nests or burrows built at “low tide”, then flooded in late afternoon… oops! Eggs drowned, fox kits, likewise. etc.
raven
@Betty Cracker: No one even gives a shit that I have a connection to the whale thing!
Betty Cracker
@raven: I think it’s very cool! Almost commented, “The world is getting so small, we’ll all have to go on a diet!” but was interrupted by a phone call, and the moment passed. :)
debbie
@raven:
There could have been no other ending and no other song, if you ask me.
Jeffro
Jake Tapper, straight-up trolling Trump’s complaints about recent MSNBC and CNN stories (but he loooooves Fox and Friends, right?)
raven
@debbie: I was thinking more of the M-60 in the trunk. Have you seen Sneaky Pete? Cranston is not listed as an actor but he sure is!
debbie
@raven:
I didn’t see your post. I don’t remember that incident, but it has destroyed my faith in engineers!
debbie
@raven:
Right!
Mnemosyne
@clay:
Thanks! I haven’t gone to WDW in about 20 years, and I’ve never been solely responsible for someone else’s kids while I’m there, so I’m a little nervous. I think we’ll have a great time, but it’s still good to get as many tips as I can.
Seth Owen
@jl: We have a very good chance of running out the dreaded first 100 days without much permanent (legislative, as opposed to EO) damage being done. Especialy on Obamacare. It’s only going to get harder to get rid of any of it as time passes.
raven
@debbie: I went to the Whaling Museum in New Bedford and I was talking to a guy about their big skeletons. He said one washed up in the beach so they buried it and it took YEARS for to decompose.
clay
@Mnemosyne: You’ll be fine! Eleven and sixteen are old enough where you don’t have to worry TOO much :). Just keep them fed!
True story: when I was about three-years-old (in the late ’70s), I got lost at WDW, at night, during the parade. A cast member found me and stayed with me until my folks found me (which was mostly after the park had cleared out). For a place with a large population at any given time, they sure know how to take care of folks.
By the way, which hotel are you staying at?
Larkspur
@clay: What a helpful, cheerful rundown. It’s been years since I last went to WDW. You are right. There are no bugs. They don’t allow bugs, except for in that show they used to have about bugs, IIRC, and there were special effects that made you imagine bugs, although I might be mis-remembering something from Ann Arbor in 1969. Never mind. But nice post. I know “no bugs”, but did you carry ‘gator spray? Gator B Gone or whatever? I don’t think it’s really necessary.
ruckus
@clay:
He doesn’t know shit about Jack either.
1,000 Flouncing Lurkers (was fidelioscabinet)
@ Martin: Sometimes even when you have theright location things go wrong.
Always maintain your infrastructure and keep it as up-to-date as possible.
Taum Sauk flooded a state park in December at night when very few people were present. It’s in a relatively underpopulated area (Ozark Hillbilly, I’m sure you can describe the place even better than I) so there wasn’t a lot of anything else human-built and occupied downstream to add to the damage.
I’m not saying these storage reservoirs are a bad idea, just that they need the same care as any other piece of infrastructure.
Also, how much power could we generate if all large parking lots were roofed with solar panels?
Mnemosyne
@clay:
Caribbean Beach Resort — I got a good deal because, um, it’s the Giant Evil Corporation I work for (in another state). Someone just told me that some new rooms opened up, so I may see if I can switch, but it’s not a bad place and I’ve made my peace with the potential transportation issues.
debbie
@raven:
I don’t remember when, but I remember a beached whale carcass self-imploding, maybe around Long Island?
clay
@Mnemosyne: We’ve stayed at Carribean Beach. It was a February a few years back — I think our girls were 4 and 5, maybe? Anyway, it was a low occupancy time, so when we checked in, they asked if we wanted to upgrade to a Pirate Room, for free! Like I said, great service.
Anyway, I think CBR is one of the biggest resorts, so it can be a hike to get to the main building. But there are bus stops all over. And it’s all very pretty, so a walk is pleasant anyway.
They’ve got boating and beaches and nice pools and a decent restaurant. (Errr… no swimming in the lake, of course).
I get almost excited as other people going to WDW as I do when I go myself! When I retire, I want to move down and be one of the people that drive the old-timey cars around Main Street. My wife thinks I’m kidding…
Miss Bianca
@West of the Rockies (been a while): Haven’t tried Supernatural, rather liked Grimm (guess it’s been catching on around here – I’ve been waiting for Season 5 for four months at the library!).
Charmed, on the other hand, bored the crap out of me.
Tehanu
@Mnemosyne:
Well, it’s been 27 years since I was last there, but the Grand Floridian hotel was lovely — you should at least check it out, even if your company isn’t paying for it.
J R in WV
@1,000 Flouncing Lurkers (was fidelioscabinet):
Last winter I was in SE Arizona, and all the Walmart parking lots were roofed, to shade parked cars. The roofs were all solar panels. If Walmart is doing it, it makes them money!
While in Tucson to get material, I happened to drive along the north side of Davis Monthan AFB, which blocks many north-south streets for several miles on the south side of Tucson. The entire length of the AFB had a huge solar array, maybe a hundred yards deep by several miles long, just inside the fence around the base.
So the Air Force is into solar… interesting to know if and how they store it for night-time use, or if they just use the grid, pump their excess into it all day long and then pull all they need at night.
Mnemosyne
@Tehanu:
This thread is probably dead, but the Grand Floridian is where we’re having breakfast with Mary Poppins. (Well, us and about 300 of our new best friends.)