billeisele

We've been doing these from Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach and Charleston SC since 2009. There have been 18 flights. Next two are in September and November. The vets are greeted at the airport by all kinds of folks for the departure. We've had them escorted into DC by F-16's. We've had our Congressmen greet tham at the memorial. When they return home the reception is overwhelming. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, adults, kids, a band - all waving flags. Many of them have never spoken about their experience - why - "because all I did was my duty, not supposed to boast." It gets them talking when an unknown 8-year old hugs their leg and when other folks thank them for their service. It is worth going. Sponsor a vet and be their escort - an event you will never forget. Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48692851/ns/us_news-weird_news/ almost like a double malfunction Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

a long delay is great but hop-n-pops are fun too Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

on the liberal news media tonight I heard that San Bernadino (sp?) declared bankruptcy and that other cities were on the brink - I get it now, CA is not near bankruptcy just a bunch of CA cities Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

Good stuff. Been to a few places in CA and always had a great time. And yes we would love some of that San Fran weather about now but that would mean fewer bikinis! ------------------ 1) Rhode Island 2) Connecticut 3) Massachusetts 4) Illinois 5) Hawaii 6) New Jersey 7) New Hampshire 8) Indiana 9) Louisiana 10) Oklahoma -------------- Glad to see we're not at the top of a bad list, a female governor of Indian descent that is an accountant, our politics are interesting ------------------------------------------ Well, on the flip side the East Coast has most of the really rude, obnoxious and downright nasty people in the US. (Another good stereotype there - I saw it on TV.) ---------------- Actually it's true, it's the damn Yankees that have moved here, we still remember the war of northern aggression. We were thinking about an immigration policy but the Atty Gen said it would be hard to enforce. ---------------- The standard stereotype? They are clueless hillbillies who can't plan ahead, and typically have big families due to their inability to comprehend the principles behind birth control or abstinence. ------------- Abstinence is not making a 3rd trip to the BBQ buffet. --------------------- The GA and AL areas are full of racists. --------- Don't be making any jokes about our NASCAR racin', it's part of our heritage. You're just jealous your air permit laws make it too hard to cook some shine. Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

just wait until the Marriott in downtown ATL removes that hanging art for cleaning I think it is 50 floors with the high floors overhanging the lower floors, indoor BASE around 4 AM during the week would be good, jump, land and out the front door before the sleepy desk clerk could say WTF Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

Now back to the convo Quote>peakers and pump storage are two completely different animals They work differently but do the same thing - fill in demand peaks without having to overbuild baseline generation. In fact, pumped storage helps enable more efficient use of nuclear plants for example. They are harder to throttle than conventional power sources and do best when run at a close to constant power output. Thus using their power at night to pump, then using that power to peak during the day, gets more utilization out of them. ---------------------------- yes, partially correct, main difference is that a peaker can keep on going when needed, pumped storage is finite ------------------------------- >so where are all these volunteers that are willing to turn off when the green stuff >doesn't operate? Me, for one. One of my biggest loads is an EV charger and I volunteered to make that interruptible. (I schedule that to run only at night anyway.) My company, for another. On our main campus we can run a gas turbine to take over our A/C and electric loads during times of peak demand. At our other buildings we shut down our A/C compressors. Overall, across California, there is around a gigawatt of load that can be dropped via the BIP program. ----------------------- yes, OK fine, and the cost of the BIP program is???? the answer is that it is no where near reality and woudln;t be needed if the alternatives that are more cost effective were used, the alternative generation and fancy program costs are collected from all customers and used to subsidize others, why do you think so much industry has left CA?, they came here, they are my customers, they tell me they left for these reasons, what I'm against is the cross subsidy and then some greenie trying to tell me how cost effective they are - BS ----------------------------------------------------- >thats a big NO on what happened in TX, any utility can manage a massive loss of generation, we all have the necessary automated switches, computer programs, etc. to manage, we also have the manual ability to react, we simple click on a computer screen and open a circuit putting everyone on that circuit in the dark, interruptible program customers are not exercised in that way . . . Uh, right. So what are you disagreeing with? ----------------------- that interruptible customers are strategically used in certain situations, warned and they voluntarily reduce, we don't simply kill whole circuits, that is a different scenario used to manage a system emergency to prevent voltage and frequency degradation ------------------------------------------- >n one test case the experts (government) estimated the cost to create a micro grid on one small part of a critical DoD site, the cost was 6-8 X the cost of conventional methods . . . Hmm. I guess our guys are smarter than the government then! Our payback time for our cogeneration (islanding) system was around 25 years. It was a gamble when we first bought the property, but given that we've been there 16 years so far it looks like it was a good one. ---- ding, ding yea in CA where costs were driven up, that is the point, anything can be made economical if the cost of the comparative option is raised high enough, if that is a 25 year simple payback then the real payback exceeds 35 years, no financial wizard would say that is a good idea, you did use the word gamble, many things can happen in 25 years and the gamble could and still can go the other way, right now with shale gas the gamble was a good one ------------------------- >smart grid is a looong way from even being close to real or economical . . . That's like saying high speed Internet service is a looong way from being even close to real or economical. Sure, you can justify that if you define "high speed" as above a terabit a second. But we have a significant amount of intelligence in the grid right now (see your own paragraph above) that allows us to manage loss of renewable resources, and that is only going to get better with time. ---------------------- what I was referring to is not the base condition of the grid today, yes there is plenty of "smart" stuff being used and well-trained operators manning the ship but who is to say what "smart" is, what I was talking about is the advanced smart technologies that are just now being invented and will be used in the test cases mentioned some are attempting to define "smart" as multiple point source generators (like solar on buildings, a set of gas turbines, etc.) all connected to a grid type system with controllers that can automatically manage power flows, demand and equipment on-off conditions based on preset requirements using mulitple inputs - like occupancy, temp settings, time of day, day of week, day of year, misison issues, generation availability, etc., etc. anyway, not sure where all this is going, but some points are: put wind, solar, etc. generation in locations where it makes economic sense, remove the subsidies from all generation and fuels, let the economy not the government decide what companies survive - pie in the sky Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

it's always interesting conversing with you, were're more alike than we are different - but neither will admit it the east coast perspective on CA is as follows: - the cost of electricity has been driven high enough that almost any type of generation source is economical - we like that because many of your former companies have relocated to the east coast and become our customers because power is cheap and we don't interrupt - you refuse to build generation, don't want to add transmisison and accept regular outages - you're borderline bankrupt due to silly policies and want the rest of the country to bail you out again, just opinions but it is what it is we like it the way we do it, and guess you guys like it the way you do it we like and have: - 7 - 11 cent power - an even mix of generation types including nuclear, coal, gas and hydro - no power interruptions except from storms - a 3,000 sq ft house on 0.40 acres that costs $285 - $350K and is only a 25 minute commute to main street - the daily traffic jam occurs for 30 minutes twice a day and delays you about 5 minutes - gas that currrently costs $2.98 / gal (filled up Sunday for $2.91) - property taxes on the above house that are less than $3K - schools that speak english - and that CA houses most of the hollywood do gooders that have no real sense of reality - the capital city is 2 hours from the beach and mountains - the air is clean - the SEC and the real USC - go Cocks, and we play college baseball fairly well so it seems that we must be doing something right, and we don't want to do the way others do it so there it is, what is the CA perspective of the SC, NC, GA, and AL area? and calling us rednecks is a compliment so that is OK Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

Thx, this pic definitely changed by train of thought Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

this is an old convo but.... peakers and pump storage are two completely different animals, we can (and do) run peakers in non-traditional ways, can't do that with pump storage the DOE numbers are typical DOE BS data, the numbers are not correct, they don't include the all in 50-year costs, I don't have the real numbers available right now but they are much different, they are also regional in nature so where are all these volunteers that are willing to turn off when the green stuff doesn't operate???, folks talk a big game but when the rubber meets the road very few are willing to accept the outage thats a big NO on what happened in TX, any utility can manage a massive loss of generation, we all have the necessary automated switches, computer programs, etc. to manage, we also have the manual ability to react, we simple click on a computer screen and open a circuit putting everyone on that circuit in the dark, interruptible program customers are not exercised in that way in some areas the utility has denied additional applications for point source (generally solar) generators, in those areas the grid has become unstable - unmanageable by the utility - due to the % of unreliable generation spent all day today talking with the SPIDERS crowd and the brain trusts of smart grid, there are more unanswered questions than issues that have been solved, in one test case the experts (government) estimated the cost to create a micro grid on one small part of a critical DoD site, the cost was 6-8 X the cost of conventional methods, smart grid is a looong way from even being close to real or economical, we'll know more as the test cases at Hickam AFB, Fort Carson and Camp Smith proceed, there are tons of your tax dollars being spent on the sexy stuff while the DoD is ignoring known basic infrastructure issues (like basic maintainance on utility systems), look up the DoD Energy Blog and Smart Grid Security blog and follow along Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

MIss Wendy - I absolutley agree and you are making my point, let the producers and those that want to use the product pay the TRUE cost, when that happens we'll have price transparency and the consumer can make the choice Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

the reply mixes apples and oranges, about 14% of energy is from renewables but 60% of that is hydro - which means about 6% is from the non-economical stuff I'm specifically talking about, I agree that wind and solar are economical in some areas without subsidies, what is the tax treatment on solar in CA, how many foks would put the stuff in if the tax treatment wasn't there? the issue is that the average cost of that 6% far exceeds the cost of the traditional power, the excess cost is paid by all through taxes, DSM fees, and other fancy words all describing a taking from one to give to another specifically in SC there is a state tax credit for installing solar, a bunch of earth saving self interested greedy folks want to raise the tax credit, why?, because the payback on solar sux and they need financial help to sell more systems, depending on the specific project it is in the 8-40 year range assuming that it doesn't incur any other cost during it's lifespan, that is a crazy investment, anyone checked to see what a roofer charges to replace a roof when they have to mess with solar panels? the government is slowly raising the cost of conventional (most cost effective) generation in order to make their "favored" technology more cost effective, if someone wants to install solar to save the world then fine but don't ask me to pay for something that you want so you can have a lower utility bill and then tell me how you are so great I'm not against the technology, just stop trying to tell me how cost effective it is, stop taking money to make the economics work people are always complaining about the tax treatment and subsidy for oil and energy companies, I agree - remove them all, but don't complain about big oil and energy and then turn around and say it is needed in the alternative energy world - does it make sense that the DoD recently spent $29/gal on biofuel for ships when conventional fuel was less that $4? - does it make any sense that ethanol was forced on the american public when it costs more that gasoline, results in ~10% worse fuel mileage and raises the cost of food products? my arguement is not against progress it is about how progress is being funded and the technical/financial ingorance of the folks involved in that progress Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

It would be interesting to know what their capital investment is versus profit. What is their overall margin? then take into account the risk profile and recapitalization requirements we could judge it the profits are "unreasonable" Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

read the tea leaves, the government will continue creating policy that drives up the cost of whatever it is they want stopped to obtain the end result they want two examples on the list are gas guzzling vehicles and coal plants, to be replaced with significantly more costly electric vehicles and distributed generation - damn the torpedos full steam ahead they are currently wasting billions on alternative fuels, solar, propane air plants, natural gas generators, and wind power, under the mantra of national security and energy security, it's amazing how willing folks are to follow a path laid out for them rather than use their brains and ask basic questions like, "does this really make any sense" Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

don't shop much but saw this is Publix today, not sold by weight so why shuck in the store? I just microwave it, cut off the end, pop it out of the husk, no fuss, no mess, no silk Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

good times Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

yep, a 37-year old Seiko dive watch, titanium case and mineral glass, looks good as new, 5-year battery, it says it is good to 600m, been tested to 70m, a ton of sentimental value Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

What is that story about being a millionaire? Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

what's the deal - no pics when I shot a nail gun 3" galvanized ring shank nail in my thigh, first thing I did was to get a pic, then pulled it out and checked for serious bleeding - MD said I shouldn't have done that, how did I expect him to buy his next Mercedes Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

and to Skydive Carolina Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

good Golly miss Laura, you should have introduced yourself at Carolina Fest you got my vote, and posted on Facebook - the votes are flying in from Skydive Carolina Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

FL is too hot come to Skydive Carolina, we flew 118 loads on Saturday, not exactly a normal day but we are a turbine DZ with a super vibe and a great place to learn to skydive fly into Charlotte NC and we are 30 minutes away Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

I'd have a 50% chance of being correct with any help Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

part of the Obama stimulus, just another way of transferring money from the government and insurance companies to the health care machine and funeral homes Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.

it's always fun until someone gets hurt Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws.