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Solar power breaks through, after a century of trying

Think solar panels are relics of Jimmy Carter's White House? Actually, attempts to harness the sun's energy date to the Romans, who warmed bathhouses with sunlight streaming through large and strategically placed southern windows. But it was fear of coal shortages in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that fueled interest in solar technology. Early applications had the sun powering printing presses and farm irrigation systems. But the discovery of large oil fields and cheap fuel overshadowed solar power until the 1970s energy crisis. The promise of widespread solar panels resurfaced during the Carter administration, only to be dismissed again during the Reagan era. But now, with oil having topped $100 a barrel, solar is getting its third chance. Here's a look back at the history of solar power over the past 100 years.

 
 
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  • Posted By: cani77 @ 10/03/2008 5:29:56 PM

    The Bush Depression

    In a few weeks we will make a choice that will decide our future.
    I follow an economist named Bob Proctor. He has called the top and bottom of every market crash since the 70s correctly.
    Also, he perfectly predicted the current real estate market meltdown and the picture he paints about what will happen in the next couple years
    is terrifying.He thinks it will be worse then the great depression.
    The banks in the U.S. are going under one after the other. Countrywide the largest morgage bank in the world,Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch which are 3 out of the top 5 wall street firms. Also, Fanny and Freddy Mae which hold 50 percent of the home loans in the United States.
    The government took them over because they are essentially bankrupt.If they didn't the entire financially system would virtually shut down, the stock market would crash and we would suffer beyond what any of us have seen before.

    McCain just like Bush " doesn't understand the economy".
    That not just my opinion its his own words. Not only does he not understand how to fix it but he does not understand exactly what is broken.
    It is no surprise that he doesn't. The people that make up these securities use complex mathematical models very few people understand.
    Bush and McCain both can take the credit for this mess since they helped deregulate the laws that were protecting us.

    Bush's economic advisor Phil Graham wrote the deregulation bill that allowed banks to take huge risks with all of our future.
    Now, Phil Graham is the head of McCain's economic policy.He is also McCain's choice for the next secretary of the treasury.
    No one in this country can afford for that to happen. The last time Bush met with his economic advisors was in March. He either didn't care or didn't realize that anything was wrong. Phil Graham had the guts to say that we are in a mental recession after he helped create the worst economy meltdown in our lifetime.
    It will take the best and brightest minds in the world to get us out of this nightmare. As bad as Bush has done, McCain would be
    even more destructive because things are in much worse shape. The next president will not inherit a surplus like Bush did but a tanking economy and a 11,600,000,000,000 (trillion) dollars deficit.Bush created a national debt larger then the first 42 presidents combined
    If you do what you have always done then you will get what you have always got.
    When it comes to policy Bush and McCain are the same 90 percent of the time.
    So why isnt obama 25 points ahead
    The chairman of McCains campaign recently said that people don't vote on issues they vote on a personality composite. Which means he is trying to sell you personality instead of results.
    Let's teach him we are smarter than that .

    31 states are voting now, dont wait
    Elect Obama Biden 2008




    Check out this video of sarah palins interview before you vote


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r36Xc0GG4iQ

  • Posted By: beeter0 @ 09/07/2008 6:44:59 PM

    Show us a payout of how much neclear energy pays out to its shareholders, without Govt. Subs. are they really profitable? How many in the US have been decommissioned ? Were they private costs or taxpayers?

  • Posted By: beeter0 @ 09/07/2008 6:39:29 PM

    A national liberal magazine with a solar energy discussion board that starts out pro nuclear, interesting,how many private invester owned nuclear plants are there in the US and how much profit have they made for thier shareholders, whithout government subs.?

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