Cummins

IF!!!, the wind farms are so great, then use that wind power to make the wind turbine, same with solar. When the wind doesn't blow and the sun don't shine, you forgot to charge your batteries, then what? Candle power.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

Well perhaps,Den,had you read his own response to me (further down page 1) you would have seen he admitted to being snarky:

"I admit I was being kind of snarky with my retort."

Too many people are far too ignorant of reality and just swallow the narrative whole...all I want is to have people learn things.

Now YOU go and have a most lovely of days!

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Well my friend, I did read his response when I actually GOT farther down the thread. It would appear I was correct in my judgement, doesn't it? It was a joke. Truthfully now, how many members of any thread actually read downward to the entire thread before commenting? Maybe one, most likely none. But hey, no harm done was there? Did you happen to notice I said I even agreed with some of your statements?

So to sum it all up my friend, is there some reason you are jumping all over me? Get up on the wrong side of the bed, bad hair day, just feel the need to lash out at the first person who comes up with common sense maybe?

My days are always wonderful. If my eyes open in the morning the day has already started with a gift from God.

Dennis

CusopDingle Loc: central CT

First, overall I like this picture. That would go from 'I like this picture' to 'I like this picture a lot' if the right side was cropped off, just outside that little bush in the yard (needed for balance in my opinion). A "21st Century Grapes of Wrath" image.........

Second, I'd prefer to stick to photography here. But this debate about the content of the picture rather than the picture itself just stuck a sharp stick in my side. This dog has to now bark. Coal, oil/gas, nukes, windmills, "solar"---- all of these are destructive of the environment. The energy-requiring incessant demand to consume by the current biologic epidemic of humans is the root problem that is killing natural life on Earth. Any consumption involves transforming what we found into something we don't fully understand the consequences of; expecting anything other than impending disaster at some level is a failure of rational thought. If you want to make a difference, don't debate what is the best way to power your car - learn to walk or ride your bike rather than drive. Drink the water out of the tap instead of a disposable plastic bottle. Cook from fresh produce instead of packaged food product. Turn on only the lights you need to do what you're doing, all the others stay off. Turn the computers off when you go to bed.

Fortunately, the act of photography is largely non-consumerist and non-political, although much that surrounds this avocation can easily become either. Pick what you want but I'd prefer to keep my entertainment here limited to the images. Thanks.

mflowe Loc: Port Deposit, MD

Usually I share your concern about these threads ending up being mudslinging insult fests. But I don't think we devolved to that level here. I think it was a pretty friendly back and forth. I wasn't offended and I don't think he/she was offended.

bodiebill

Energy is what has propelled man's progress. Without it we would still be in caves, or on the savanah as food for the carnivores.

Our photography hobby, business, past time is based on mining (lenses, metals), the chemical business (film), rare earth mining for sensors (digital), etc. You are a consumer of the resource extraction industry, as well as your modern life existence.

First source of energy was wood (the forests), whale oil, dams for water wheels, hydro-electric, wind mills, oil and natural gas, nuclear, now wind, solar and steam from geo-thermal wells.

All of earths energy comes from the Sun, and natural stored energy in earths resources.

The medical profession is relies on the coal and petro-chemical industry for chemicals and resources

Progress is a double edged sword that you cannot prevent. The balancing act is difficult--always has been. Turning back is not an option.

The biggest problem is population growth that demands earths resources. Man is the blight! of which you are one!
Snap some more photos with your battery powered digital camera

Bubalola Loc: Big Apple, NY

Thank you, Joe for the good picture that also sparked a much needed discussion, hopefully, not just on these pages! Thanks again

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

I often wonder how the world will cope when the last barrel is pumped and all other alternative methods have been abandoned due to their own adverse environmental or economic effects. The old saying, “Theres no such thing as a free lunch” applies here. Energy is not free regardless of the method of acquiring it. All methods have their downsides and positives. One thing we do know is that non-renewables will exhaust. We’d better have a solution that we can all live with before that day or we’ll all be living in the dark. Searching for a solution, even if by trial and error, is something we MUST do - so we need to stop battling the search.

Stan

bodiebill

Russian scientists have an interesting theory that "earth processes" create oil & gas.

Exhaust the natural resources?
Relatively little off-shore has been explored.

The extremely miniscule thin crust of the earth is our current location for all minerals, oil & gas, etc.
Beyond that is the mantle of enormous volume--it is just a technological problem to access it.

Don't forget about the past geologic history of mass extinction when man is not around for the next cycle.
It will require only one BIG meteor/asteroid, or massive volcanism.

The Green Environmentalist just might be the trigger of population reduction--problem solved!

EARTH FIRST. WE WILL DRILL THE OTHER PLANETS LATER!

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

I liked the photo. I don't like wind turbines--I think they're ugly. They destroy many fine landscapes for us photographers and nature lovers.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

Very nice photos Joe....but as they say, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" or "one man's art is another person's trash."

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

But those are not in migration pathways, are they?

phlash46 Loc: Westchester County, New York

InfiniteISO Loc: The Carolinas, USA

Nuclear power is such a clear solution to our energy needs and yet there is no push to keep refining and examining nuclear power. There are nuclear power plant designs now with mechanical safeguards built-in where the staff could literally walk away from them after shutting down the cooling pumps and they would safely take themselves offline. Spent fuel would be safely stored right at the site. They are the cheapest, cleanest, most efficient, and safest form of electrical power. If we're all going to drive electric vehicles someday, we need to take another look at nuclear.