Dr. Paul A. Curto's Blog (7)

A Little Bit Of History: In The Days Of Cholera

One of our discussions here, "How much time to prepare before economic collapse?" led to this string of posts that I would like to consolidate into a single blog on the issues raised. These were posted just before the 2008 election. I was asked to come and give some perspective on the art of the possible and make some suggestions on how to proceed in a time of cholera. Back in 1981, just after Reagan took office, there was a time when the prime interest rate had just peaked at 24%, oil… Continue

Added by Dr. Paul A. Curto on November 9, 2009 at 3:00pm — 6 Comments

One Gift For The Holidays

When I look at the problems we face today, none can be more vexing that picking the right gifts for the holidays. There is no one more dear to me that the person who has stood by me through thick and thin, in sickness and health, through the good times and the bad, than my mate. Hypothetically, let’s suppose that I am given the choice of spending on her all my allotment of available funds on only one gift or a hundred. It doesn’t matter how much that amount might be, but let’s say for argument t… Continue

Added by Dr. Paul A. Curto on November 5, 2009 at 12:00pm — 12 Comments

Sellout On The Great Lakes

Last week, some very disturbing events took place regarding 52 very large freighters (1000 foot-long class with 40,000 to 70,000 ton cargo holds) based in and on the Great Lakes. These ships, which carry millions of tons of heavy cargoes across the Lakes through the locks of St. Lawrence Seaway to the world, burn the dirtiest dregs of refinery scum in the world -- bunker C oil. This stuff is so sludgy it has to be heated to flow into the old diesels that burn it. 13 of the 52 "Lakers" as they ar… Continue

Added by Dr. Paul A. Curto on October 31, 2009 at 8:00pm — 21 Comments

Discussion with Chris

At 7:53am on October 15th, 2008, Dr. Paul A. Curto said… The atomic oxygen problem attacks both metals and non-metals. The best coatings were being developed at Glenn in Ohio by our best materials people, but the key man retired a few months before me. It's "fixable", but not cheaply. Delete Comment At 9:18pm on October 14th, 2008, Chris said… They are working these issues: www.sspi.gatech.edu/photovoltaics2006.pdf See page 9 regarding the oxygen attack... Delete Comment At 7:53am on October… Continue

Added by Dr. Paul A. Curto on October 15, 2008 at 2:36pm — No Comments

Discussion with Hans J Kruger

At 9:12pm on October 14th, 2008, Dr. Hans J. Kugler, PhD said… Paul: Sorry - - won't be able to attend; can't interrupt some interesting stuff we are doing at my stem cell lab. Your questions, my thoughts: 1) Educate the public; toooo many people out there who have an opinion (like:"drilling in Alaska and nuclear can solve our energy problems." 2) # 1 priority: anything that makes the US independent from foreign oil. # 2 priority (actually # 1): plug-in hybrids, EVs, photovoltaics, wind, etc. 3)… Continue

Added by Dr. Paul A. Curto on October 15, 2008 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Discussion with Walter Reed

At 2:15pm on September 20th, 2008, WALTER REED said… The coal gasification process for methane production can incorporate the sequestration of carbon. Currently the production of calcium carbide is produced in large electric arc furnaces, where residual carbon solids are a by-product used later utilized in industry. Burning acetylene (from calcium carbide) in a proper air mixture results in the following comparisons: Carbon Dioxide% Hydrocarbon PPM Gasoline 1.80 450 Propane 0.12 400 Acetylen… Continue

Added by Dr. Paul A. Curto on October 15, 2008 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Discussion with Dwight Nager

At 10:07am on September 16th, 2008, Dwight Nager said… thx At 9:55am on September 16th, 2008, Dr. Paul A. Curto said… This is a term that is used in electrical engineering: "power conditioning equipment -- Electrical equipment, or power electronics, used to convert power from a electrical source into a form suitable for subsequent use. A collective term for inverter, converter, battery charge regulator, and blocking diode." If you search online with Google, and just add a term, like solar, or… Continue

Added by Dr. Paul A. Curto on October 15, 2008 at 2:30pm — No Comments