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About Dark Star

- Birthday 07/08/1959
Profile Information
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Gender
Male
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Location:
Garwood
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Interests
Banjo
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July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
Are these imprisonments recent? I must have my head in the sand. If we don't all destroy ourselves first, maybe in about 300 years or more the world might start unifying. Though I'm not sure if human nature can evolve. Again, a single culture doesn't seem possible, unless it is some kind of dystopia... -
July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
China has most of our manufacturing with a lot less of emissions control. -
July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
I volunteer you to get China on board... -
July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
Unfortunately, the world is still dangerous. Technology has outpaced the advancement of human nature. Though we wish to see a utopian world, it cannot be achieved until we are ALL ready... -
Is there a cloud line "stuck" just east of the Watchungs today?
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July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
Yes. But, they are fixed costs and are increasing rapidly. A Board reviews their requests to raise rates, and apparently rubber stamps the increases? -
July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
I've been told, first hand, that the bulk of the increase is for the transmission. Yes, we can buy our electricity from a 3rd party provider, which in theory does create competition, but doesn't solve the ever growing transmission costs. I have a feeling we are paying for repairs done in other parts of the grid and or country during crisis time? -
July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
Exactly. The problem is that utilities are protected, because we need water and electricity to meet our basic needs. These utilities are "regulated", in other words protected, to insure there will always be enough supply for our demand. Therefore, capitalism cannot be counted on to keep costs down, since they are exempt from competition. So, a power company has to pay for their overhead, and are guaranteed to make a profit. Every time we buy a more energy efficient refrigerator, HVAC, washer and dryer and utilize led lights, the rates must increase to offset losses in revenue. Sort of counter intuitive. Doesn't matter if the energy sources are renewable or not. The only way to beat the system is to totally go off the grid, which I don't think is possible yet, unless you own a ranch with enough space to supply enough wind, solar and geothermal power and store it? -
July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
My assumption is that Newark, the city, is just far enough inland not usually affected by cooling from the nearby Atlantic Ocean/bays/rivers. As Forky pointed out, Newark, the city, can be hotter than the airport (EWR the official monitoring station). Even so, EWR seldom is seen to receive a cooling effect. JFK and LGA are right on the water. So, to the best of my knowledge, EWR temperatures are representative of that area. While the monitoring station is above a "grassy" area, we know Newark Airport to be one big paved over parking lot. The nearby Jersey suburbs are normally close to the airports temperatures, but maybe a degree or two cooler. Teterboro airport a few miles to the north, is normally a degree or two cooler than EWR, but Linden Airport is normally within 1 degree of EWR. So, it doesn't surprise me that Newark Airport is the hotspot of the 20 mile radius (or so) around NYC. I believe there are some areas of southern Jersey, Toms River, Berkeley Township and parts of the Jersey Pine Barrens, that can be even hotter, but they are not part of this region's discussion. -
July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
I'm in Garwood NJ (central Union County), and usually within 1 or 2 degrees of Newark Airport temperatures. I believe Forky says it is just as hot (or hotter?) several miles to the west of Newark Airport? -
July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
PSEG raised the rates about 30%, but they made a deal with the state to "even out" the cost so there are no obvious peaks, hoping people don't notice as much. What I don't understand is that PSEG doesn't even generate the electricity anymore, they are just in charge of transmission. They sold the generation off to Parkway Generation about 2 years ago. -
July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
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July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
I am ignorant of guitar care, except I had one low grade acoustic crack, (and additionally I took an ovation on a camping trip and the bridge broke off overnight when it got down near freezing). An electric guitar is sensitive to humidity as well, as far as splitting or cracking? -
July 2025 Discussion-OBS - seasonable summer variability
Dark Star replied to wdrag's topic in New York City Metro
I guess that means I can keep my guitar out of the case, even with AC, humidity in the house is around 45%... -
In general, global warming does lend itself to providing more moisture, but certainly every event cannot be blamed on that. Floods have been happening since the beginning of time. A large portion of society have flocked to live in coastal areas. Others inhabit areas below sea level. And our population keeps encroaching on what used to be rural areas, so more and more people are affected by bad weather. I can't believe anybody on this site believes in "Chemtrails"...