Watts The Big Deal

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014: I suppose a bit of an explanation (re my blog headline play on words) is in order. That’s “Watts” as in Kilowatts / Kilowatt Hours; as in the measurement of electricity, which you and I get billed for each and every month.

My always being on the lookout for new ways to keep all of my utility bills as low as possible, I’ve gotten into the habit of stepping outside to read my meter every morning (at the exact same time). And so I already know that my daily usage of electricity (for this warmer time of year) has been averaging around 6 Kilowatts.

I decided to run an experiment. For the past seven days, rather than leave my computer in sleep mode day in / day out / all day long, I decided to totally shut it down; booting up only when I need the damn thing.

Folks, on Day 1 of those 7, I could hardly believe my eyes. I had saved 1 KWH! This had to be a fluke, right? WRONG!!! The next six meter readings confirmed that I’ve been saving 1 Kilowatt each and every day!

Now don’t scoff! That may not sound like much BUT this really adds up and I mean fast! Per annum, I can save 365 Kilowatt Hours!

I next dug into my paid utility bills file to research my consumption history for the past 12 months. Check out the KWH data in the table below.

10/13 = 181

11/13 = 205

12/13 = 246

01/14 = 261

02/14 = 267

03/14 = 221

04/14 = 196

05/14 = 188

06/14 = 185

07/14 = 180

08/14 = 179

09/14 = 172

Crunching the Data: Let’s perform a for instance here. If we add up my June and July consumption (185 + 180) that comes to 365! Had I started conserving much sooner, my annual savings of 365 Kilowatts would’ve been just like NOT having to pay for TWO FULL MONTHS of electricity. And I know I’d be shouting out “YIPEE!” were that to ever happen. You would, too, if that happened to you!

Even during last winter’s bitter cold, double digit subzero Arctic blasts… where my KWH consumption peaked at 267, my conservation measures would’ve even covered an additional 98 KWH; nearly half a month into the next billing cycle!

All of that from shutting down JUST ONE energy pig device. I’m sure many of you are slopping (at the KWH trough) two, three or more of those high tech hogs.

Watt (What) about your other tech? Oh… say… flat screen TVs and small kitchen appliances? Many of these are never actually “off”, even when not in use. They simply go into standby mode.

Folks, energy savings can start for all of us this very day and every day; just by going over to the wall outlet(s) and literally pulling the plug(s).

Putting this into an ideological perspective: Do you realize that by striving for energy conservation / becoming less energy dependent on foreign oil, we could all be fighting terrorism… right from the comfort of our own homes! We could even wind up saving our own lives!

After all… ISIS sells oil to fund their evil, deadly plots. Yep, someday, U.S. energy consumers could become victims of another 9/11 magnitude terrorist attack… and here’s the real kick in the ass…

...one, which WE paid for with our own money!

A Head In “The Cloud” Left To Its Own “Devices” Society

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2014: Recently, as a potentially paying customer, I paid visits to Best Buy (ISO a single play CD player for my home sound system) and Barnes & Noble (ISO a Paul McCartney CD). I entered both brick and mortar establishments feeling upbeat, excited and (I might add) in an all too rare spending mood. Yet, upon exiting… I did so dejected and empty-handed.

Of course, “the why” as to why I had struck out so miserably is really a no-brainer. Accessing music via iTunes has all but rendered, extinct, CDs and the tech to play them. Of course, Netflix (et al) and a slew of publishers have had a similar impact, respectively, on films, literary works and periodicals. Without a doubt, time is running out where we’ll still be able to hold these actual physical products in our hot little hands.

OK, admittedly, at this point, I can practically see the scant number of my readers rolling their eyes; can almost visualize the floating over their noggins thought bubbles which say: WTF is the problem, here? Why doesn’t he just buy an iPod?

Folks, I actually used to own such a device until built-in obsolescence caused it to die way too soon (the HP host computer, which, once upon a time, it was synched to, is in even sorrier shape). And I wouldn’t be so damned quick to rely on Internet access, either. Indeed, a few weeks ago my “service provider” was experiencing technical issues, which kept me offline for the better part of a day. And this erratic service is not an isolated incident, either. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been forced to reboot.

All things considered, it makes me glad that I hadn’t done something really shortsighted and stupid… such as selling off my massive collection of CDs. And so, for now, even though I’m still in need of that new CD player, I still can access my music library, utilizing my Sony Walkman (anyone remember those?).

I suppose, on the surface, this CD, DVD, book and periodical vanishing act all SEEMS innocuous enough… BUT…

Before we all part company with these actual products, we really must rethink the will-‘o-the-wisp nature of virtual reality… before it’s too late. You see, the qualifying word here is SEEMS. Check out this following nightmarish, WHAT IF scenario.

WHAT IF, someday, some renegade, corporately owned rightwing, would-be dictator / POTUS hatches and implements an insidious plot designed to muzzle all left leaning musicians, film producers and publishers; to censor what this autocrat has arbitrarily deemed to be subversive; e.g., all of the books, protest songs and films, which expose this “leader” as the wretched, evil, fraudulent effer, who (s)he, in reality, is.

Hell, such a “prez” would not even need to deploy the armed with firepower and flamethrower troops; not even need to dispatch the search and destroy, book burning (and CD/DVD burning) goon squads to kick down our doors ISO that cultural “contraband”. Nope, nary even a single struck match would be required. All it would take for such a freakin’ control freak to gain and maintain a chokehold on us would be shutting down the Internet.

Needless to say, a society devoid of its culture would soon become a chronically depressed, dejected, downtrodden nation of easily conquerable zombies; be malleable putty in the hands of this tyrant.

Factoring in a concurrent, absolute communications breakdown (e.g., no social networks and email) our overthrow of that sort of régime would be next to impossible.  

So… am I overreacting?

OR…

Could, in reality, A Head In “The Cloud” Left To Its Own “Devices” Society become so bedazzled by a virtual realty everything / everyday world that this citizenry would simultaneously become blinded to some looming, opportunistic, all too real, rightwing red menace?

Must we get to the point where it’s too late to resist the rightwing’s hidden agenda; their plot designed to overthrow what little remains of our present-day, Constitutionally guaranteed freedom?

OR…

Is our society’s downfall assured because, in becoming excessively Net dependent, it is already too late?

Your comments are welcome.