[LINK] Infrastructure issues

[Jan Whitaker]

At 11:18 AM 28/04/2007, Michael Still wrote:
>>At 10:19 AM 28/04/2007, Stewart Fist wrote:
>>>As I pointed out in a previous posting, I think overpopulation is the
>>>long-term problem, so Tony might have a self-regulating solution here. :)
>>And Malthus raises his head again....
>>Of course if Johnny has his way, there will be nuke plants all over 
>>the landscape, people will move to NZ, and the population will be 
>>adjusted downwards.
>
>Whilst driving from LA to Phoenix once I was surprised to find a 
>very large cloud of steam to the right of the road. This is the 
>middle of a desert, so a bit of a surprise.
>
>Well, it turns out that steam is from the nuclear reactor largely 
>credited with the existence of places like Phoenix. Without the air 
>conditioning, it's just too hot to live there in the summer.

Yep, being 'from' Phoenix, I knew it well. That's Palo Verde nuclear 
power station. It's in the process of being decommissioned I 
understand. Not sure why and what they are going to replace it with. 
There are coal fired plants around as well, and hydro from the Salt 
River Project and dams up on the Colorado (Hoover -- remember that 
one on the way to Vegas?) Phoenix existed LONG before PV, even for 
white people! I believe it was settled in the early to mid 1800s, 
about the same time as Melbourne. Arizona is big for mining. Also 
lots of water use for citrus and cotton irrigation. Who'd have thunk 
it? But the deserts have been irrigated for lots longer than white 
settlement. There are remains of canals that the Anasazi built centuries ago.

Aircon is necessary for comfortable living, that's for sure. But I 
had a car with a broken a/c for a few years and managed. Before the 
a/c we understand was developed, they used other means, like evap 
cooling, even wet sheets and fans. But the Native Americans have been 
there for centuries, and it was hot back then, too. We're just soft 
and expect daylight activity without siesta in the hottest part of 
the day. You do get used to higher temps - the body adjusts. I had to 
adjust to the rain I experienced in Melbourne back in the 90s. Even 
bought a coat! LOL Hadn't needed one for 14 years unless I traveled 
on business to colder places. At one time, there was a shared wool 
coat in the office for just such times.

>So, perhaps Jonny has been to Arizona?

I've often wondered if he's been in contact with John McCain.

Jan


>Mikal

Jan Whitaker
JLWhitaker Associates, Melbourne Victoria
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com
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'Seed planting is often the most important step. Without the seed, 
there is no plant.' - JW, April 2005
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