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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 37. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sigismund on November 19, 2011, at 20:03:54
I have this problem on my roof. Pump failure, solar hot water boiling away noisily.
In order to keep calm I have had a large glass of wine with ice before lunch.
I feel better.
I am now following that up with a green tea.
How soon will it take for this to end badly?
Posted by floatingbridge on November 19, 2011, at 22:55:55
In reply to Summer, posted by sigismund on November 19, 2011, at 20:03:54
Is this algebra?
I would say about 45 years.
But don't ask me to show my work.
Posted by sigismund on November 20, 2011, at 0:17:28
In reply to Re: Summer » sigismund, posted by floatingbridge on November 19, 2011, at 22:55:55
Another optimist.
But the bubbling has stopped, the afternoon has come, and Grolsch was still on special.
After Dakar I find the climate here very agreeable.
Posted by Dinah on November 20, 2011, at 9:35:55
In reply to Summer, posted by sigismund on November 19, 2011, at 20:03:54
That equation is based on a few variables like how soon your repair person is coming.
Summer. Not a time of year I enjoy since I graduated.
How well does the solar pump usually work? I've looked into solar panels for our roof, but the cost compared with hurricane risk seems high.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2011, at 9:59:05
In reply to Re: Summer » sigismund, posted by Dinah on November 20, 2011, at 9:35:55
I never thought about hurricane risk. How would one use solar power where you live?
Posted by Dinah on November 20, 2011, at 10:15:14
In reply to Re: Summer » Dinah, posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2011, at 9:59:05
People have panels. Perhaps insurance covers them well.
I'd have preferred wind power, but apparently that's not feasible in many areas?
We've concentrated on more passive insulation measures, and we do have shade trees. Not as many as there were of course. We were surprised to find that even insulation has a down side. We now have sodden vent insulation and pans in the attic to prevent ceiling damage, because that's what happens when the attic is cooler. They didn't give us that bit of information before we bought.
Posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2011, at 10:46:14
In reply to Re: Summer » floatingbridge, posted by Dinah on November 20, 2011, at 10:15:14
Oh I want my summer back. Love the heat. Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2011, at 10:50:35
In reply to Re: Summer » floatingbridge, posted by Dinah on November 20, 2011, at 10:15:14
Pans in the attic? Condensation?
Posted by sigismund on November 20, 2011, at 12:54:32
In reply to Re: Summer » sigismund, posted by Dinah on November 20, 2011, at 9:35:55
We have a normal pump from a tank, but with a solar hot water system on the roof. (We also have the panels.) Luckily we have plenty of water within easy reach to make passable showers for each other. I can more easily get someone today. It is a little alarming at 10am hearing the first of the bubbles and knowing it will get louder and louder. There is no risk of it blowing up. A friend pacified me somewhat by saying that the bubbling was a good sign since it meant the safety valve was working and therefore the hot water system would not explode and bring down the roof.
Posted by sigismund on November 20, 2011, at 12:56:48
In reply to Re: Summer » floatingbridge, posted by Dinah on November 20, 2011, at 10:15:14
You should see the wind power in Spain. Lots of it. I would prefer our politicians just say that we can't take that sort of thing seriously until we have sold all the coal.
Posted by sigismund on November 20, 2011, at 13:00:35
In reply to Re: Summer, posted by Phillipa on November 20, 2011, at 10:46:14
A week in Dakar cured me of complaining about the heat here.
It was 34C in the shade with maximum humidity.
My colours of my passport photo leached out so that going through every checkpoint someone would ask 'What happened?' So much sweat.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2011, at 13:22:20
In reply to Re: Summer, posted by sigismund on November 20, 2011, at 12:54:32
I have no understanding of how these things work. I am sorry I didn't take this more seriously, both the inconvenience of possible lack of shower water and a roof collapsing.
The comment about coal made me laugh. How true. That would be a refreshing change of pace.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on November 20, 2011, at 14:47:25
In reply to Re: Summer, posted by sigismund on November 20, 2011, at 13:00:35
Sigi, it sounds like you are in need of a handy man.
Posted by Dinah on November 20, 2011, at 19:20:29
In reply to Re: Summer » Dinah, posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2011, at 10:50:35
Yup.
Posted by sigismund on November 20, 2011, at 20:40:59
In reply to Re: Summer, posted by ed_uk2010 on November 20, 2011, at 14:47:25
>Sigi, it sounds like you are in need of a handy man.
You're not wrong, Eddy :)
I have been trying for the tradie look myself. Cut off jeans (I can do that myself) and work boots.
Posted by sigismund on November 20, 2011, at 20:46:20
In reply to Re: Summer » sigismund, posted by floatingbridge on November 20, 2011, at 13:22:20
> I am sorry I didn't take this more seriously, both the inconvenience of possible lack of shower water and a roof collapsing.
You may be too scrupulous :)
I heard a book lecture by this blind philosopher/psychologist who said 'I have a wonderful wife. If I said "Let's go sail a raft to America" she would say "OK". When we were discussing disabled parking permits she said to me 'You are NOT disabled. You are inconvenienced.'
So anyway, this man had reshingled his roof. But he was Hungarian originally.
Posted by sigismund on November 20, 2011, at 21:13:14
In reply to Re: Summer » floatingbridge, posted by sigismund on November 20, 2011, at 20:46:20
But there it is bubbling away on the roof again.
I feel so much calmer (than yesterday), and it is already 2.15 pm and I haven't had a drink.
'Man is a creature who gets used to anything and that is the best definition of him'. FD
Posted by floatingbridge on November 21, 2011, at 17:13:15
In reply to Re: Summer » floatingbridge, posted by sigismund on November 20, 2011, at 20:46:20
>But he was Hungarian originally.
So he was doubly inconvenienced.
I am hoping it has been handyman to the rescue by now.
Scrupulous is interesting. My therapist would agree in general. Do you know that leads to guilt :)
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2011, at 18:13:15
In reply to Re: Summer » sigismund, posted by floatingbridge on November 21, 2011, at 17:13:15
What in interesting question? Phillipa
Posted by sigismund on November 21, 2011, at 23:00:28
In reply to Re: Summer » sigismund, posted by floatingbridge on November 21, 2011, at 17:13:15
Hungarians have this reputation for being among the most depressed people in the world, which means they have great conversation.
Columbians might be good too. I read that in Columbia when you go into a hotel your host will ask you 'What do you think of the human condition?'
You feeling guilty for being scrupulous? Entirely appropriate.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 21, 2011, at 23:19:20
In reply to Re: Summer » floatingbridge, posted by sigismund on November 21, 2011, at 23:00:28
I think it is being scrupulous that induces guilt.
I was searching the origins of my surname. Apparently it may not Hungarian. An Hungarian remarked it was maybe Turkish.
Anyways, I ended up reading about Slovaks. Which led me to this fellow:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Operace_
Anthropoid_-_Jozef_Gab%C4%8D%C3%ADk.jpgAnd I thought I would love to share this with someone.
I might be Hungarian.
So about your solar pump. Update?
Posted by sigismund on November 21, 2011, at 23:34:49
In reply to Re: Summer » sigismund, posted by floatingbridge on November 21, 2011, at 23:19:20
It is an electrical pump. What was happening was that the solar hot water system was boiling over while the pump was off. To confuse the issue I had mentioned solar photovoltaic panels.
There was not really a problem. I had just allowed to top tank to empty, and since the bottom tank had not been used for a couple of years due to our really wet weather, the line to the bottom tank could not be primed without more water in the top tank.
But we took the pump out and put it back ourselves. I am not one for practical things. Books make fewer demands. Really, I am too anxious to use a mobile phone. You don't believe me? well, not just anxious either. I am fabulously uninterested and more than usually hostile to these items. I try to calm myself by giving political analyses....privatisation of everyday life, more crap from the culture or what passes for it. And yet these days, especially with our kids, we need them because the kids have not learned how to make arrangements as we used to do.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 22, 2011, at 0:07:47
In reply to Re: Summer » floatingbridge, posted by sigismund on November 21, 2011, at 23:34:49
Paper and pencil is a pleasure. So is nice ink. I dislike phone talk anytime. Even if an old crank rotary appeared with a living operator somewhere to tell me the time.
I know so little about modern communications that I cannot not comment on its benefits. My husband can. He understands. Btw, have you read "White Noise"?
The 14yo chides when his father praises humanity's glorious advances what would he do if the power was gone? Could he even start a fire. So in fact, humanity has gone backward.
That book is a hoot.
Posted by sigismund on November 22, 2011, at 12:03:48
In reply to Re: Summer » sigismund, posted by floatingbridge on November 22, 2011, at 0:07:47
Don de Lillo?
A while ago now.
Yes, I enjoyed it as I recall.
More, I finished it.
I am currently reading "Everyman Dies Alone", about life in Germany for ordinary people 1940-45. Very claustrophobic. I don't get this problem I often do which is 'why am I reading this?'
The author finished the war in a Nazi insane asylum for alcoholism and died of a morphine overdose a few years later.
Posted by floatingbridge on November 22, 2011, at 15:25:57
In reply to Re: Summer » floatingbridge, posted by sigismund on November 22, 2011, at 12:03:48
Have you read any other novels by him, like The Drinker?
I can understand why you would read him.
I recently read that every war begins with words.
Fallada. I am wondering about the origin of that surname.
How is the human condition where you are?
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