Damned Central Heating!

On Monday, March 25, 2019 at 9:20:10 PM UTC-7, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Tue, 26 Mar 2019 03:31:34 -0000 (UTC), news18
wrote:

On Sun, 24 Mar 2019 18:59:20 -0700, sms wrote:

On 3/20/2019 3:44 PM, news18 wrote:

snip

Wood is a preferrable heating method to gas to electric. Since our wood
heater almost needs replacement, we did look at pellets, but limited
supply leading to cost gouging was a concern, plus modern heaters seem
to be tin plate these days.

In California, on "Spare the Air" days it is forbidden to use wood or
pellets for heating. "The rule prohibits burning any solid fuel,
including pellets and manufactured logs."

At least human lungs have evolved to have some measure of resiliance to
wood fire products. it would bbe far better if they banned ICE vehicles
for the day as their products cause very serious health problem.

Ah but internal combustion powered machinery is necessary to maintain
life in the U.S.

I once commented to a bloke on the Internet who was complaining about
having to drive his kids to school that why didn't he have the kids
walk to school and he replied something to the effect that they
couldn't walk as it was too far, a whole mile to school. I replied
that I had walked a mile, or more, to school from the time I was in
the first grade and he didn't believe it.

--

Cheers,

John B.

I walked a mile to school from kindergarten on to high school. My mother would come and walk me home from kindergarten and then that was the end of that. High school was four miles one way.

On Monday, March 25, 2019 at 8:31:36 PM UTC-7, news18 wrote:
On Sun, 24 Mar 2019 18:59:20 -0700, sms wrote:

On 3/20/2019 3:44 PM, news18 wrote:

snip

Wood is a preferrable heating method to gas to electric. Since our wood
heater almost needs replacement, we did look at pellets, but limited
supply leading to cost gouging was a concern, plus modern heaters seem
to be tin plate these days.

In California, on "Spare the Air" days it is forbidden to use wood or
pellets for heating. "The rule prohibits burning any solid fuel,
including pellets and manufactured logs."

At least human lungs have evolved to have some measure of resiliance to
wood fire products. it would bbe far better if they banned ICE vehicles
for the day as their products cause very serious health problem.

This is entirely unproven. There is a statistical correlation only.

On Tue, 26 Mar 2019 11:20:05 +0700, John B. Slocomb
wrote:

I once commented to a bloke on the Internet who was complaining about
having to drive his kids to school that why didn't he have the kids
walk to school and he replied something to the effect that they
couldn't walk as it was too far, a whole mile to school. I replied
that I had walked a mile, or more, to school from the time I was in
the first grade and he didn't believe it.

A whole mile! I once walked half a mile to church using a walker.

But the trip back persuaded me not to do it again -- I went up on a
street too steep to risk coming down, and the other street has
sidewalks. Sidewalks are no place for wheels. So now I use the Trek
Pure as a pedal-powered wheelchair -- in the street.

Last fall we hung the Trek Pure in the barn to make room for the car
in the garage, and I haven't needed to get it down. Knock wood.

--
Joy Beeson
joy beeson at comcast dot net
http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/

On Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 11:17:17 AM UTC-7, wrote:
A couple of months ago when it was coldest my central heating stopped igniting. My impression from the sounds it was making was that the thermocouple was bad or the pilot light that would be ignited was dirty or some such so that the flame wasn't close enough to the thermocouple of inform it that there was a real flame there and turn the full flame on.

The repairman came out and said that the pilot and thermocouple was OK and changed out the main gas valve. The heater appeared to work for six weeks and then as the weather got cold again started not lighting again.

The company sent another repairman out and he said that it was the main control board and replaced that.

I am now $1,600 into "repairs" and sure enough - the heater isn't lighting still.

It would appear to me at this time that there is nothing more to replace but the pilot tube and the thermocouple. So I wonder how to convince the repairman that there is something wrong with one of those?

Well, this morning the damn central heating won't come on again. There is nothing to go wrong in the thing. The thermostat starts the pilot light. The board seems to detect that the pilot light is operating, the exhaust fan turns on, but the main gas valve doesn't turn on and it has been replaced with a new one. The control board has also been replaced. The wiring harness comes with the new board. There isn't anything that can possibly go wrong now.

On 2019-03-24 15:28, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Sun, 24 Mar 2019 08:23:11 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-23 16:20, John B Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 23 Mar 2019 16:06:42 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-23 15:56, John B Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 23 Mar 2019 09:34:21 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-20 11:09, sms wrote:

[...]


There's a big move now to all-electric since the electricity can be
generated without the use of fossil fuels.


Electric? With PG&E as the supplier? I won't touch that with a 10ft pole
for anything where electric power isn't absolutely needed.Yve cooling. No tax
incentives there either because politicians are generally not smart
enough to understand the benefits of that.

You bought a house in a gated community, and you own two cars, and
can't afford electricity?


Please pay closer attention to what was written and, even more so, what
was not written. Premature conclusions are also not wise.

a. We do not live in a gated community. Never did.

Strange that as it has been said more than once that you do live in a
gated community and you have never before refuted it?


I have. You should read more carefully.

Well perhaps I missed your reply to one or more of J's messages
mentioning your establishment.


Old rule: If you don't know, ask before making bold statements.



b. Our cars are both well over 20 years old and we drive less than
1200mi/year with each of them.

I see, there are no additional costs for using a car if you don't
drive it? Like insurance, etc? Just don't drive them and they are
free?


Insurance is cheap and it is also necessary for cycling, which is
covered with the car insurance. The cost pales in comparison to other items.


I see. You have insurance for your bicycle? What sort? collision
insurance to pay for all the cars you smash up with your bicycle?


What would happen if you accidentally miss a stop sign and cause a major
pile up with injuries or death?

What would happen if you get hit by a driver who elects to vanish from
the scene and then you need years of skilled nursing care? And no,
health insurance only covers the initial medical part, not longterm care.

As I wrote, my car insurance is for cars _and_ bicycles.



c. Of course we can afford electricity. However, it is foolish to use a
resource with sky-high prices when there is another much more economical
resource.

How are prices "sky high", assuming that you pay the same rate as
everyone else? They don't have inflation in California? Their minimum
salary isn't "sky high" compared to other states? After all California
has the highest minimum rate of any state in the union. Why shouldn't
their electricity be high also?


See? That's what I mean with high. We pay the highest in the nation or
close to highest for almost everything while often receiving shoddy
service in return, thanks to politically endorsed union strangleholds.

I find you very strange. You are an immigrant to the U.S. so one
assumes that you could have lived in any state in the union but you
elected to live in what may well be the most expensive place to live
of any of the 50 states and now you complain about it. Have you ever
heard to old U.S. adage about shooting yourself in the foot?


I see that you missed that one as well. As I have elaborated on numerous
times I moved here because of a job. While I could convince the
investing parent company not to do the start-up in Silicon Valley the
only other option was Northern California.

Then, we got majorly involved in volunteer acitivities, for some of
which it is difficult or next to impossible to find others. So leaving
would cause significant problems and I find it too selfish to only think
about myself here.


Someone recently advised you that if you didn't like it in California
just move.


And what does this person know about my involvement in lay caregiving?


I might point out that during the 20 years I was in the military that
counting the state I was born in, I lived in 8 states and three
foreign countries. Granted it was at "my Uncle's" request but the
point is that moving can be done safely and is not really a traumatic
experience.


It is when you leave some big emotional holes behind. Not for you but
for others.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

On Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 7:14:41 AM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2019-03-24 15:28, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Sun, 24 Mar 2019 08:23:11 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-23 16:20, John B Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 23 Mar 2019 16:06:42 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-23 15:56, John B Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 23 Mar 2019 09:34:21 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-20 11:09, sms wrote:

[...]


There's a big move now to all-electric since the electricity can be
generated without the use of fossil fuels.


Electric? With PG&E as the supplier? I won't touch that with a 10ft pole
for anything where electric power isn't absolutely needed.Yve cooling. No tax
incentives there either because politicians are generally not smart
enough to understand the benefits of that.

You bought a house in a gated community, and you own two cars, and
can't afford electricity?


Please pay closer attention to what was written and, even more so, what
was not written. Premature conclusions are also not wise.

a. We do not live in a gated community. Never did.

Strange that as it has been said more than once that you do live in a
gated community and you have never before refuted it?


I have. You should read more carefully.

Well perhaps I missed your reply to one or more of J's messages
mentioning your establishment.


Old rule: If you don't know, ask before making bold statements.



b. Our cars are both well over 20 years old and we drive less than
1200mi/year with each of them.

I see, there are no additional costs for using a car if you don't
drive it? Like insurance, etc? Just don't drive them and they are
free?


Insurance is cheap and it is also necessary for cycling, which is
covered with the car insurance. The cost pales in comparison to other items.


I see. You have insurance for your bicycle? What sort? collision
insurance to pay for all the cars you smash up with your bicycle?


What would happen if you accidentally miss a stop sign and cause a major
pile up with injuries or death?

What would happen if you get hit by a driver who elects to vanish from
the scene and then you need years of skilled nursing care? And no,
health insurance only covers the initial medical part, not longterm care.

As I wrote, my car insurance is for cars _and_ bicycles.



c. Of course we can afford electricity. However, it is foolish to use a
resource with sky-high prices when there is another much more economical
resource.

How are prices "sky high", assuming that you pay the same rate as
everyone else? They don't have inflation in California? Their minimum
salary isn't "sky high" compared to other states? After all California
has the highest minimum rate of any state in the union. Why shouldn't
their electricity be high also?


See? That's what I mean with high. We pay the highest in the nation or
close to highest for almost everything while often receiving shoddy
service in return, thanks to politically endorsed union strangleholds.

I find you very strange. You are an immigrant to the U.S. so one
assumes that you could have lived in any state in the union but you
elected to live in what may well be the most expensive place to live
of any of the 50 states and now you complain about it. Have you ever
heard to old U.S. adage about shooting yourself in the foot?


I see that you missed that one as well. As I have elaborated on numerous
times I moved here because of a job. While I could convince the
investing parent company not to do the start-up in Silicon Valley the
only other option was Northern California.

Then, we got majorly involved in volunteer acitivities, for some of
which it is difficult or next to impossible to find others. So leaving
would cause significant problems and I find it too selfish to only think
about myself here.


Someone recently advised you that if you didn't like it in California
just move.


And what does this person know about my involvement in lay caregiving?


I might point out that during the 20 years I was in the military that
counting the state I was born in, I lived in 8 states and three
foreign countries. Granted it was at "my Uncle's" request but the
point is that moving can be done safely and is not really a traumatic
experience.


It is when you leave some big emotional holes behind. Not for you but
for others.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

Well, all of that sounds good and I suppose that bicycling full coverage insurance is fairly cheap, but I've never heard of a company that supports it.

On Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 7:14:41 AM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2019-03-24 15:28, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Sun, 24 Mar 2019 08:23:11 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-23 16:20, John B Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 23 Mar 2019 16:06:42 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-23 15:56, John B Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 23 Mar 2019 09:34:21 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-20 11:09, sms wrote:

[...]


There's a big move now to all-electric since the electricity can be
generated without the use of fossil fuels.


Electric? With PG&E as the supplier? I won't touch that with a 10ft pole
for anything where electric power isn't absolutely needed.Yve cooling. No tax
incentives there either because politicians are generally not smart
enough to understand the benefits of that.

You bought a house in a gated community, and you own two cars, and
can't afford electricity?


Please pay closer attention to what was written and, even more so, what
was not written. Premature conclusions are also not wise.

a. We do not live in a gated community. Never did.

Strange that as it has been said more than once that you do live in a
gated community and you have never before refuted it?


I have. You should read more carefully.

Well perhaps I missed your reply to one or more of J's messages
mentioning your establishment.


Old rule: If you don't know, ask before making bold statements.



b. Our cars are both well over 20 years old and we drive less than
1200mi/year with each of them.

I see, there are no additional costs for using a car if you don't
drive it? Like insurance, etc? Just don't drive them and they are
free?


Insurance is cheap and it is also necessary for cycling, which is
covered with the car insurance. The cost pales in comparison to other items.


I see. You have insurance for your bicycle? What sort? collision
insurance to pay for all the cars you smash up with your bicycle?


What would happen if you accidentally miss a stop sign and cause a major
pile up with injuries or death?

What would happen if you get hit by a driver who elects to vanish from
the scene and then you need years of skilled nursing care? And no,
health insurance only covers the initial medical part, not longterm care.

As I wrote, my car insurance is for cars _and_ bicycles.

Yes, and here's an interesting twist -- no PIP or UIM coverage under your own policy if you get hit by another bike. Around here, that risk is probably as great or greater than getting hit by a car, although the consequences are usually less.

-- Jay Beattie.

On 3/27/2019 1:25 PM, jbeattie wrote:
On Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 7:14:41 AM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2019-03-24 15:28, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Sun, 24 Mar 2019 08:23:11 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-23 16:20, John B Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 23 Mar 2019 16:06:42 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-23 15:56, John B Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 23 Mar 2019 09:34:21 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-20 11:09, sms wrote:

[...]


There's a big move now to all-electric since the electricity can be
generated without the use of fossil fuels.


Electric? With PG&E as the supplier? I won't touch that with a 10ft pole
for anything where electric power isn't absolutely needed.Yve cooling. No tax
incentives there either because politicians are generally not smart
enough to understand the benefits of that.

You bought a house in a gated community, and you own two cars, and
can't afford electricity?


Please pay closer attention to what was written and, even more so, what
was not written. Premature conclusions are also not wise.

a. We do not live in a gated community. Never did.

Strange that as it has been said more than once that you do live in a
gated community and you have never before refuted it?


I have. You should read more carefully.

Well perhaps I missed your reply to one or more of J's messages
mentioning your establishment.


Old rule: If you don't know, ask before making bold statements.



b. Our cars are both well over 20 years old and we drive less than
1200mi/year with each of them.

I see, there are no additional costs for using a car if you don't
drive it? Like insurance, etc? Just don't drive them and they are
free?


Insurance is cheap and it is also necessary for cycling, which is
covered with the car insurance. The cost pales in comparison to other items.


I see. You have insurance for your bicycle? What sort? collision
insurance to pay for all the cars you smash up with your bicycle?


What would happen if you accidentally miss a stop sign and cause a major
pile up with injuries or death?

What would happen if you get hit by a driver who elects to vanish from
the scene and then you need years of skilled nursing care? And no,
health insurance only covers the initial medical part, not longterm care.

As I wrote, my car insurance is for cars _and_ bicycles.

Yes, and here's an interesting twist -- no PIP or UIM coverage under your own policy if you get hit by another bike. Around here, that risk is probably as great or greater than getting hit by a car, although the consequences are usually less.

Usually. Sometimes not.
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/03/...ash-lexington/

And sometimes even the magic hats don't help.

--
- Frank Krygowski

Frank Krygowski writes:

On 3/27/2019 1:25 PM, jbeattie wrote:
On Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 7:14:41 AM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2019-03-24 15:28, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Sun, 24 Mar 2019 08:23:11 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-23 16:20, John B Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 23 Mar 2019 16:06:42 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-23 15:56, John B Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 23 Mar 2019 09:34:21 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-20 11:09, sms wrote:

[...]


There's a big move now to all-electric since the electricity can be
generated without the use of fossil fuels.


Electric? With PG&E as the supplier? I won't touch that with
a 10ft pole
for anything where electric power isn't absolutely needed.Yve
cooling. No tax
incentives there either because politicians are generally not smart
enough to understand the benefits of that.

You bought a house in a gated community, and you own two cars, and
can't afford electricity?


Please pay closer attention to what was written and, even more so, what
was not written. Premature conclusions are also not wise.

a. We do not live in a gated community. Never did.

Strange that as it has been said more than once that you do live in a
gated community and you have never before refuted it?


I have. You should read more carefully.

Well perhaps I missed your reply to one or more of J's messages
mentioning your establishment.


Old rule: If you don't know, ask before making bold statements.



b. Our cars are both well over 20 years old and we drive less than
1200mi/year with each of them.

I see, there are no additional costs for using a car if you don't
drive it? Like insurance, etc? Just don't drive them and they are
free?


Insurance is cheap and it is also necessary for cycling, which is
covered with the car insurance. The cost pales in comparison to
other items.


I see. You have insurance for your bicycle? What sort? collision
insurance to pay for all the cars you smash up with your bicycle?


What would happen if you accidentally miss a stop sign and cause a major
pile up with injuries or death?

What would happen if you get hit by a driver who elects to vanish from
the scene and then you need years of skilled nursing care? And no,
health insurance only covers the initial medical part, not longterm care.

As I wrote, my car insurance is for cars _and_ bicycles.

Yes, and here's an interesting twist -- no PIP or UIM coverage under
your own policy if you get hit by another bike. Around here, that
risk is probably as great or greater than getting hit by a car,
although the consequences are usually less.

Usually. Sometimes not.
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/03/...ash-lexington/

And sometimes even the magic hats don't help.

Wow, I had not seen that. The Minuteman bikeway is a Boston area
rail-trail MUP. When I rode to work that way more than ten years ago it
had regular but not heavy commuter traffic on weekday mornings and
evenings. It's crowded on the weekends, with a mix of maniacs on
aerobars, toddlers on tricycles, and all points in between. The weather
here has just warmed to the point that the Summer cyclists reappear,
usually between the robins and the turkey vultures on the calendar.


--

On Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 12:37:51 PM UTC-7, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On 3/27/2019 1:25 PM, jbeattie wrote:
On Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 7:14:41 AM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
On 2019-03-24 15:28, John B. Slocomb wrote:
On Sun, 24 Mar 2019 08:23:11 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-23 16:20, John B Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 23 Mar 2019 16:06:42 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-23 15:56, John B Slocomb wrote:
On Sat, 23 Mar 2019 09:34:21 -0700, Joerg
wrote:

On 2019-03-20 11:09, sms wrote:

[...]


There's a big move now to all-electric since the electricity can be
generated without the use of fossil fuels.


Electric? With PG&E as the supplier? I won't touch that with a 10ft pole
for anything where electric power isn't absolutely needed.Yve cooling. No tax
incentives there either because politicians are generally not smart
enough to understand the benefits of that.

You bought a house in a gated community, and you own two cars, and
can't afford electricity?


Please pay closer attention to what was written and, even more so, what
was not written. Premature conclusions are also not wise.

a. We do not live in a gated community. Never did.

Strange that as it has been said more than once that you do live in a
gated community and you have never before refuted it?


I have. You should read more carefully.

Well perhaps I missed your reply to one or more of J's messages
mentioning your establishment.


Old rule: If you don't know, ask before making bold statements.



b. Our cars are both well over 20 years old and we drive less than
1200mi/year with each of them.

I see, there are no additional costs for using a car if you don't
drive it? Like insurance, etc? Just don't drive them and they are
free?


Insurance is cheap and it is also necessary for cycling, which is
covered with the car insurance. The cost pales in comparison to other items.


I see. You have insurance for your bicycle? What sort? collision
insurance to pay for all the cars you smash up with your bicycle?


What would happen if you accidentally miss a stop sign and cause a major
pile up with injuries or death?

What would happen if you get hit by a driver who elects to vanish from
the scene and then you need years of skilled nursing care? And no,
health insurance only covers the initial medical part, not longterm care.

As I wrote, my car insurance is for cars _and_ bicycles.

Yes, and here's an interesting twist -- no PIP or UIM coverage under your own policy if you get hit by another bike. Around here, that risk is probably as great or greater than getting hit by a car, although the consequences are usually less.

Usually. Sometimes not.
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/03/...ash-lexington/

And sometimes even the magic hats don't help.

Apparently not, assuming he died of a head injury. And apart from the question of what a helmet can and cannot prevent, one wonders what a bicycle head-on looks like in terms of impact -- what hits what. Well, wouldn't you know it, YouTube has examples:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RH5HBq5hOg https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...&v=-pogz9RkwV4 Both on the same "super highway" facility! Yikes, it looks like the killing fields -- but not as good as the facility I have coming to work that has pedestrians crossing, trains, buses, etc., etc. You gotta mix it up for maximum crash potential!

BTW, poor Cary Coovert had a history with that bike trial. From John Allen's expert page:

Middlesex, ss. Cambridge District Court

Civil Action No. 9852CV0676

Cary Coovert v. Prashant Jain and Veerbala Jain

Plaintiff Cary Coovert was riding on the Minuteman Rail Trail in Arlington, Massachusetts where it crosses Lake Street. He entered the crossing, observing a car in the far lane which appeared to be traveling slowly enough that he could pass in front of it. The car apparently accelerated and struck Mr. Coovert's right side, resulting in injuries and damage to his bicycle. I testified that, contrary to the driver's testimony, the physical evidence indicated that the car was moving at the time of the collision, and that the presence of crosswalk stripes and a "Slow" sign warned the driver to be on the alert for crossing bicyclists. I testified in two depositions; case was settled. I was retained by the plaintiff's attorney,


-- Jay Beattie.