random thoughts, brain farts............

'Lo all;
Time to crank this machine over a time or two. It's been three months that we've been otherwise occupied;^)
The automotive industry is trying to put independent garages out of business. Was talking to my garageman today and he was describing to me how ridiculously difficult they have made what would otherwise have been routine repairs by how they engineer cars. I.E., accessing the gas tank assembly on many new cars requires either dropping the entire rear drive assembly or lifting the entire body off the chassis. Dealers are equipped to do this in a cost effective manner, while independents are left to offer only pricey roundabout approaches.
We were also talking about the allure of living off the grid in some manner. My garageman has not paid an oil/electric/gas company to heat his home or business for 17 years now. He heats his home with a wood stove, and will start burning corn next year. The advantage of corn is that it's cheaper than wood($70 a ton vs. +/- $180 a cord), and more easily manageable. Also burns very clean. He heats his business with waste motor oil that he would otherwise have to pay to recycle. His furnace is equipped with catalytic converters to comply with EPA regs. Rather inefficient as a fuel source, so he is now using machining cooling oil(you know, the stuff they squirt on metal lathes to keep machined pieces from overheating). According to him, the stuff burns much hotter and more cleanly than motor oil, it's free(machining businesses are eager to get rid of it instead of paying to recycle it),and all he has to do is sign a paper stating what he's using it for. We also discussed running cars on either pure ethanol or recycled cooking oils. Being able to use my automotive fuel for margueritas and/or having my car exhaust smell like french fries(is it P.C. to call them that again?) are both attractive prospects. Not to mention it's a totally renewable(internally) energy resource. What could be the hold-up with converting the automotive industry to this?......................that's a rhetorical question;^).................though I'd bet CT could answer it in ways that never crossed my mental radar:^)
I have often thought about putting an array of solar collectors in the field opposite our home. The thought of putting energy back into the grid is tantalizing. Too many other pressing things to use the $ for though.
Lots of other stuff knocking about my cranium, but that's all I have time for now.
Ankh