So, I signed Alisa and myself up for Rocky Mountain Power's blue sky program this morning. I had gotten our electric bill, and after having heard and read about the program, got online to sign up. So, based on our last bill in which we used 431 kwh (kilowatt hours), 23% of our electricity is now wind based.
So, to explain the blue sky program in a bit more depth. For anyone who has Rocky Mountain Power (which I believe you would, if you get electricity in Utah), you can sign up for the blue sky program which requires RMP to purchase a certain amount of your power via wind energy. You can purchase it in 100 kwh blocks, for 1.95 each. I signed up for one block, though we may up it to more. Based on April, for 8 dollars more than 90% of our home's electricity would come from wind power. I think that is rather neat. This is how it works. You buy a block of wind power. RMP then buys that amount of electricity from one of about ten wind farms in the intermountain west and pacific northwest. There are a few in WY a huge one in Montana, etc.. So, the more people that purchase the blue sky, the more wind power RMP buys, in turn spawning the expansion of wind farms to meet the need of the consumer. Consumer driven environmentalism, my favorite kind.
Some will say, Yeah, but you pay more for it. You're right. I do. And for now, I'm okay with that. Not to overdramatize it, but I think the reliance on burning coal for electricity is one of the single most detrimental things we could be doing as a society. No, not because I buy into global warming. But that discussion aside, I don't find mining coal, then burning it (with all the vast amounts of by products that creates), to be wise stewardship.
Of all the options currently on the table, wind power is my favorite. I wish we would build several massive wind farms here in UT. One great place would be up in the high mountain valleys right before you get to Cedar City. Alisa and I were driving through there on one of my many interviews once, and I mentioned, man, it is always windy here. Turns out, I was right. (for those who may not know, click the word right that is highlighted, it'll take you to a cool map that shows average annualized wind in the U.S. See all that dark blue? Build wind farms there.)
Now, I believe that solar is the way of the future, as it is almost solely based on technology, and as technology advances, so will our ability to adequately and effeciently trap that energy. It was one idea of Pete Ashdown's that I could totally get behind, solar forests in Utah's west desert.
Anyway, I'm heading off on lots of tangents, but suffice it to say, I am stoked to be a part of this, and may buy a couple more kwh blocks. I think the idea of environmentalism has been too long taken by nutjobs and fringe elements. I like this planet, I enjoy the outdoors, and I hate our inversions. I also know that I have a responsibility to be a wise steward. So, no, I don't want to spike trees, or stop you from building a home because of a rare sub-species of field mouse. But, I would like alternate energy to take over the archaic coal and petroleum monopolized energy industry.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Qwest vs. Comcast
Many of you have already heard this, but this is were I put such rants, so deal with it.
Alisa and I moved recently, about two months ago. We had Qwest previously, and just transferred our number to the new house, and added 'high-speed' internet to our package. Well, I'll short story it for you. The service was horrible, the modem was delivered to our 'side door' which for UPS apparently means stuffed under our garbage can lid on the side of the house. I spent literally hours on the phone with Qwest customer service and in the end basically was left with, sorry, sounds like your problem not ours.
I now have Comcast. No, I don't get commision for this post, but I love it. Our phone is much much better now. My internet went from clocking at 250-500kbps to over 3000kbps. And, I got cable. The comcast guy who came and installed our stuff was very nice to Alisa, and even went so far as to fix the giant mess of phone wires in our laundry room that had been left by Bob Vila's home improvements. The following evening Comcast support called me and walked me through all the aspects of my new phone and internet services.
The difference is night and day, not only in the quality of the product, but in the quality (and actual existance) of customer relations.
I love my comcast.
Alisa and I moved recently, about two months ago. We had Qwest previously, and just transferred our number to the new house, and added 'high-speed' internet to our package. Well, I'll short story it for you. The service was horrible, the modem was delivered to our 'side door' which for UPS apparently means stuffed under our garbage can lid on the side of the house. I spent literally hours on the phone with Qwest customer service and in the end basically was left with, sorry, sounds like your problem not ours.
I now have Comcast. No, I don't get commision for this post, but I love it. Our phone is much much better now. My internet went from clocking at 250-500kbps to over 3000kbps. And, I got cable. The comcast guy who came and installed our stuff was very nice to Alisa, and even went so far as to fix the giant mess of phone wires in our laundry room that had been left by Bob Vila's home improvements. The following evening Comcast support called me and walked me through all the aspects of my new phone and internet services.
The difference is night and day, not only in the quality of the product, but in the quality (and actual existance) of customer relations.
I love my comcast.
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Jazz Rule
I was previously letting my buddy keep a running commentary up on the Jazz on his blog. But since he is clearly a poser and ended up sucking at the job, I will pick it up now that we've hit the playoffs.
For any that saw the Jazz game on Saturday you'll agree with my in depth analysis...We Rule.
I am going to go ahead and call a sweep on this series. Granted, I'm not the first, several sports pundits are saying its likely so its not like I'm going out on a dangerous limb prediction wise. Its not that Houston can't win any of the games, or even that Houston couldn't still win the whole series. But the Jazz are playing great. If you've watched them the last few weeks of the season, you'll know what I'm talking about. Minus the last game where they lost to San Antonio, and it wasn't even close, they have been handily beating everyone at home, and playing some great ball away, including a quality win in New Orleans.
I have been a Jazz fan forever. And, if Bryan ever gets his keester in gear and moves back to Utah, I'll even get season tickets. But, until that day, I will watch and cheer. And continue to tell anyone who wants to listen, that the Jazz can win it all this year.
For any that saw the Jazz game on Saturday you'll agree with my in depth analysis...We Rule.
I am going to go ahead and call a sweep on this series. Granted, I'm not the first, several sports pundits are saying its likely so its not like I'm going out on a dangerous limb prediction wise. Its not that Houston can't win any of the games, or even that Houston couldn't still win the whole series. But the Jazz are playing great. If you've watched them the last few weeks of the season, you'll know what I'm talking about. Minus the last game where they lost to San Antonio, and it wasn't even close, they have been handily beating everyone at home, and playing some great ball away, including a quality win in New Orleans.
I have been a Jazz fan forever. And, if Bryan ever gets his keester in gear and moves back to Utah, I'll even get season tickets. But, until that day, I will watch and cheer. And continue to tell anyone who wants to listen, that the Jazz can win it all this year.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
I'm not here to cram it down your throat.
So. Alisa and I ventured into the murky depths of time-share presentations last night. Yes, I know, I know. We didn't do it blindly, we both knew it would be high pressure sales. But, what can I say. I kind of wanted the plane tickets to Anahiem.
Anyway, let me take you along on our little adventure, and share some of the things we were able to experience.
First, there is Cole. Cole is the guy who is assigned to us. He spends the first ten minutes or so 'getting to know us'. Which means asking us a bunch of questions about where we come from, our family, how we met, etc. All this information flows around and past him as if he is covered in a thick layer of grease to keep things from holding firm. We then go in to another room to see the video presentation. It showed exotic locales, and people having fun. It was filled with testimonials of happy owners, etc. Anyway, it wasn't bad, it was a video. Then its back out to the room filled with small round tables, where each couple sits with their designated attack dog....er, I mean salesman. Cole begins by telling us, he isn't there to cram it down our throats, if it works for us, great, if not, thats fine too. Nice.
I quickly explain to him that we really aren't interested, and that it isn't in the budget. He responds that he isn't here to cram it down our throats, that he just wants to lay out the options and then let us make an informed decision. After a while of this, we relent, and listen to the whole shmebogen (word invented by co-worker Ben, pronounced like toboggan it just means everthing, sort of). Okay, neat destinations, and wow, what a neat system, credits, etc. You own it forever, followed by stories of how much this helped him and his estranged sister because they never got vacations growing up in their soon to be broken home, and he didn't even have a job when he bought into the program. Wow, Cole. Gotta say, you sound like a financial genius.
Anyway, at the end of his little thing, he shows us the prices. It costs 39,000$. Yeah, thats not a typo, you read it right. However, before you scoff, they can finance it. For only 10% down, and a monthly payment of 1050. Plus of course a yearly maintenance fee of like 600 bucks or something. All this could be mine. They of course had cheaper plans. Cheapest was like 2000 down and monthly of 300. I explain to Cole that its not in the budget. After everything is done, 401k, IRA, savings, mortgage, etc. etc. etc., I got 12 bucks a month (that seems small, but understand, everthing we spend is actually put on a budget line, so the twelve is really just extra). He tells us, for probably the 32nd time, that he isn't here to cram it down our throats, etc., etc. Then he goes and gets his supervisor. Who asks what the hangup is, again, we explain its too expensive (by the way, the supevisor is like 55 super tan, gold chains, etc. it was awesome).
Finally, we are done....not so fast. We stop off at one more table to just give them a 'review of how Cole did'. And are given one more option that would be 99 dollars a month. Sorry, I say, its still more than 12 right? Then its out of the budget.
Anyway, Alisa and I survived, we now have a free trip to Anahiem. And, we both agreed, that it was everything we thought it would be. I told her afterwards that I wanted rebuttal time at the end with all the other suckers (some of which I know where going to buy this thing). Just to point out, that if they took the 39,000 and put it in a simple money market account with 5% interest, they could take a vacation every year that cost 1900 dollars, and never touch the principle of 39,000. But, I really didn't want to cram it down their throats.
Anyway, let me take you along on our little adventure, and share some of the things we were able to experience.
First, there is Cole. Cole is the guy who is assigned to us. He spends the first ten minutes or so 'getting to know us'. Which means asking us a bunch of questions about where we come from, our family, how we met, etc. All this information flows around and past him as if he is covered in a thick layer of grease to keep things from holding firm. We then go in to another room to see the video presentation. It showed exotic locales, and people having fun. It was filled with testimonials of happy owners, etc. Anyway, it wasn't bad, it was a video. Then its back out to the room filled with small round tables, where each couple sits with their designated attack dog....er, I mean salesman. Cole begins by telling us, he isn't there to cram it down our throats, if it works for us, great, if not, thats fine too. Nice.
I quickly explain to him that we really aren't interested, and that it isn't in the budget. He responds that he isn't here to cram it down our throats, that he just wants to lay out the options and then let us make an informed decision. After a while of this, we relent, and listen to the whole shmebogen (word invented by co-worker Ben, pronounced like toboggan it just means everthing, sort of). Okay, neat destinations, and wow, what a neat system, credits, etc. You own it forever, followed by stories of how much this helped him and his estranged sister because they never got vacations growing up in their soon to be broken home, and he didn't even have a job when he bought into the program. Wow, Cole. Gotta say, you sound like a financial genius.
Anyway, at the end of his little thing, he shows us the prices. It costs 39,000$. Yeah, thats not a typo, you read it right. However, before you scoff, they can finance it. For only 10% down, and a monthly payment of 1050. Plus of course a yearly maintenance fee of like 600 bucks or something. All this could be mine. They of course had cheaper plans. Cheapest was like 2000 down and monthly of 300. I explain to Cole that its not in the budget. After everything is done, 401k, IRA, savings, mortgage, etc. etc. etc., I got 12 bucks a month (that seems small, but understand, everthing we spend is actually put on a budget line, so the twelve is really just extra). He tells us, for probably the 32nd time, that he isn't here to cram it down our throats, etc., etc. Then he goes and gets his supervisor. Who asks what the hangup is, again, we explain its too expensive (by the way, the supevisor is like 55 super tan, gold chains, etc. it was awesome).
Finally, we are done....not so fast. We stop off at one more table to just give them a 'review of how Cole did'. And are given one more option that would be 99 dollars a month. Sorry, I say, its still more than 12 right? Then its out of the budget.
Anyway, Alisa and I survived, we now have a free trip to Anahiem. And, we both agreed, that it was everything we thought it would be. I told her afterwards that I wanted rebuttal time at the end with all the other suckers (some of which I know where going to buy this thing). Just to point out, that if they took the 39,000 and put it in a simple money market account with 5% interest, they could take a vacation every year that cost 1900 dollars, and never touch the principle of 39,000. But, I really didn't want to cram it down their throats.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Becoming Jane. A not so favorable review.
I watched this with Alisa last night. And I will not speak for her, but if this is anything close to the truth, my estimation of Jane Austen has fallen greatly.
I truly disliked this movie, and found it as far from romantic as it could possibly be. The acting was fine, actually it was quite good, but the story itself. Jane comes off as a lovesick stupid little girl. As ridiculous as Lydia Bennett, or Mary Ann from Sense and Sensibility. As caught up in the idea of romance so deeply that she has no eyes for the substance of actual love.
The object of her infatuation (and I say infatuation, because I don't believe for a second that real love played any part in this story), was a man so devoid of redeemable qualities as to be almost comic. He is arrogant, condescending, immoral, disrespectful, unconstant, disloyal, selfish, and completely disregards her reputation etc..
He shows nothing but disdain for those he sees as 'beneath' him. And not in some mistaken prejudice like Mr. Darcy, no, in a genuine belief that he is better than rif raff that live in the country, or people who would write drivel like jane, etc..
I'm not positive why this movie rubbed me so the wrong way. It may be that it reminds me of the infuriating way in which girls today (some girls) view romance and the idea of love. McAvoy's character came off as somehow dashing and exciting. Which Jane quickly, in her romanticized mind, translated into wonderful. How did he first catch her attention, after being an insufferable lout? Was it to do some wonderful deed for her? Or to be incredibly thoughtful in the vein of Mr. Darcy? No, it was to give her a dirty book. A flat out dirty book. Woo Hoo. How romantic.
Her treatment of the man who actually seems to care for her also does her no service. Why is it that this man is unacceptable to her? Is it that he is ungentlemanly? No. Is it that he doesn't care for her? No. Its because she thinks he isn't that interesting. Does she take the time to know him? No. He just isn't exciting. She treats him poorly, and blames him for something he did not do.
I can't say how much I disagree with the message, tone, and 'romance' of this movie. I truly, truly disliked it.
I realize that mine is not the only opinion. And I respectfully disagree with those who specifically liked this movie. For those who want a differing view. Go here.
Sorry Breanne, we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Give me Pride and Prejudice, or Persuasion (the older, not the newer). Those are truly romantic movies/stories with men who are deserving of the love that those strong women grant them.
I truly disliked this movie, and found it as far from romantic as it could possibly be. The acting was fine, actually it was quite good, but the story itself. Jane comes off as a lovesick stupid little girl. As ridiculous as Lydia Bennett, or Mary Ann from Sense and Sensibility. As caught up in the idea of romance so deeply that she has no eyes for the substance of actual love.
The object of her infatuation (and I say infatuation, because I don't believe for a second that real love played any part in this story), was a man so devoid of redeemable qualities as to be almost comic. He is arrogant, condescending, immoral, disrespectful, unconstant, disloyal, selfish, and completely disregards her reputation etc..
He shows nothing but disdain for those he sees as 'beneath' him. And not in some mistaken prejudice like Mr. Darcy, no, in a genuine belief that he is better than rif raff that live in the country, or people who would write drivel like jane, etc..
I'm not positive why this movie rubbed me so the wrong way. It may be that it reminds me of the infuriating way in which girls today (some girls) view romance and the idea of love. McAvoy's character came off as somehow dashing and exciting. Which Jane quickly, in her romanticized mind, translated into wonderful. How did he first catch her attention, after being an insufferable lout? Was it to do some wonderful deed for her? Or to be incredibly thoughtful in the vein of Mr. Darcy? No, it was to give her a dirty book. A flat out dirty book. Woo Hoo. How romantic.
Her treatment of the man who actually seems to care for her also does her no service. Why is it that this man is unacceptable to her? Is it that he is ungentlemanly? No. Is it that he doesn't care for her? No. Its because she thinks he isn't that interesting. Does she take the time to know him? No. He just isn't exciting. She treats him poorly, and blames him for something he did not do.
I can't say how much I disagree with the message, tone, and 'romance' of this movie. I truly, truly disliked it.
I realize that mine is not the only opinion. And I respectfully disagree with those who specifically liked this movie. For those who want a differing view. Go here.
Sorry Breanne, we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Give me Pride and Prejudice, or Persuasion (the older, not the newer). Those are truly romantic movies/stories with men who are deserving of the love that those strong women grant them.
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