The Off Topic Topic

[Baron von Schtinkenbutt]

The naysayers were probably right about asbestos.

Were they right because they knew something, or were they right because they just happened to be?  That is the real question.  A difficult one to answer, too, because it is too easy to retroactively support knee-jerk reactions from the past when they turn out later to be founded.

[The Brain]

The small ones relieve the pressure that would otherwise build up to a large release.

I'd like Ed to weigh in on this.

[Barrister]

I have my doubts there were any early doubters to the use of asbestos.  It seemed like a wonderful insulator at the time (In fact I don't think we currently have anything that works as well, which means there are still some very limited ongoing industrial use of asbestos).

[Admiral Yi]

Let's ask grumbler.

[DGuller]

The naysayers were probably right about asbestos.

Were they right because they knew something, or were they right because they just happened to be?  That is the real question.  A difficult one to answer, too, because it is too easy to retroactively support knee-jerk reactions from the past when they turn out later to be founded.

I don't know if they were right for the right reasons at the beginning, but eventually they were.  That was long before asbestos was essentially outlawed.

[Ed Anger]

The small ones relieve the pressure that would otherwise build up to a large release.

I'd like Ed to weigh in on this.

I get a lot of small ones before a big one.

[The Larch]

I thought he was saying they could end European dependency on Russian gas.  I guess he thinks you guys have some sort of Union or something where the component states would consider the interests of the whole.  Crazy talk.

If you take the European level into account then the most interesting actor is neither the UK nor France, but Poland, who has Europe's largest reserves and is developing them agressively, precisely to reduce its dependance on Russian gas. Still, the UK is committed to fracking, a technique which has been used there since the 70s in the North Sea oil and gas fields, and has already approved plenty of exploratory operations in the country. France has banned it, but as has already been said they actually have a huge electricity surplus from nuclear plants. The puzzling actor is Germany, which has banned it, yet is also committed to closing down their nuclear plants and actually has a significative dependance on Russian gas.

[MadImmortalMan]

Have you guys seen these interactive commercials? They say push ok now to pause and learn more or whatever. Should I try it out?

[garbon]

Have you guys seen these interactive commercials? They say push ok now to pause and learn more or whatever. Should I try it out?

Without a doubt.

[LaCroix]

Try fracking instead;  it's good, and good for you.

fracking 

i might be headed to williston next summer! what an adventure 

[mongers]

So how long do people expect their iphone battery to last in a dire emergency?   

[Malthus]

So how long do people expect their iphone battery to last in a dire emergency?   

The Guide tells you how to build a generator out of bamboo, so you can keep the iPhone charged and the Guide going. 

[Admiral Yi]

My gay nephew got married.

[Jacob]

My gay nephew got married.

Were you invited?

[Admiral Yi]

Were you invited?

No.  I don't think anyone here knew.  I just saw an email he sent my dad.  They're visiting Iowa together (we're having lunch) but he doesn't want his dad (and mom??) to know he's around.