The Off Topic Topic

[The Brain]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Atlantic_Anomaly

I'm curious.

Satellites shut off.

Astronauts power down their laptops.

This dead zone kills electronics.

Does that mean Santiago, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires are essentially immune from ICBM-based nuclear attacks?

I tested. Seems you're right.

[The Minsky Moment]

While watching Obama's last speech as President I reflected on how much I had taken an intelligent articulate President for granted.

Were you on some sort of monastic retreat the prior 8 years? 

[Josquius]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Atlantic_Anomaly

I'm curious.

Satellites shut off.

Astronauts power down their laptops.

This dead zone kills electronics.

Does that mean Santiago, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires are essentially immune from ICBM-based nuclear attacks?

Argentinians more liable to develop super powers?

[derspiess]

I bought and installed a Nest thermostat last night.  Installation could not have been easier.  This completes the three-pronged attack on my energy costs (first two prongs being upgrading every bulb to LED and switching providers to lower my rate).

I do have a few more windows I want to replace, so I guess that could be considered a fourth prong

[Valmy]

I bought and installed a Nest thermostat last night.  Installation could not have been easier.  This completes the three-pronged attack on my energy costs (first two prongs being upgrading every bulb to LED and switching providers to lower my rate).

I do have a few more windows I want to replace, so I guess that could be considered a fourth prong

Please let me know what the results are.

[derspiess]

I'm hoping my Nest somehow spits out a spreadsheet giving detailed breakdowns of savings or something

What I can tell you now is that even if my energy consumption remained the same, I'm saving enough money from the lower rate ($.059/kWh) to pay for all the upgrades in a few short months

[Valmy]

I'm hoping my Nest somehow spits out a spreadsheet giving detailed breakdowns of savings or something

What I can tell you now is that even if my energy consumption remained the same, I'm saving enough money from the lower rate ($.059/kWh) to pay for all the upgrades in a few short months

Being able to switch companies to lower your rate. I miss that.

[CountDeMoney]

I'm hoping my Nest somehow spits out a spreadsheet giving detailed breakdowns of savings or something

Not too off the mark on that. Those Nest thermostats are the bee's knees.

[CountDeMoney]

Being able to switch companies to lower your rate. I miss that.

LOL, consumer thinks he's people.

[derspiess]

I'm hoping my Nest somehow spits out a spreadsheet giving detailed breakdowns of savings or something

What I can tell you now is that even if my energy consumption remained the same, I'm saving enough money from the lower rate ($.059/kWh) to pay for all the upgrades in a few short months

Being able to switch companies to lower your rate. I miss that.

It's something that requires regular attention, though.  Apparently once our 18 month contract was up with our previous provider, they jacked our rates up to nearly twice what they are now.  Wife pays the bills so I never knew until she was complaining about how high our December bill was and I took a look.  We had been saving money with that provider over what we had previously been paying Duke, but any savings were wiped out by the higher rate they sneaked in on us later.

But I should have been paying more attention to it in the first place, so shame on me. 

[Tamas]

Nowadays regular attention is 5 minutes spent on a price comparison site.

[celedhring]

Oh Americans that can save on their bills by cutting down consumption...

Half my bill is costs accrued before I turn on a single lightbulb.

[Grey Fox]

What do you mean?

[Valmy]

What do you mean?

I think I know what he means. A large portion of my utility bills are fees that have nothing to do with my consumption.

[Grey Fox]

Isn't that the case everywhere?

45¢/day, iirc, here.