Comments for The Kids are Alright
- Thread starter Fleataxi
- Start date
thank you so much for posting the new story - was going to go into withdrawl if had to wait too long - I started to read this story first I remember now and then went back and read from the beginning - this was the first time I read your stories - love them just as much as the first time - you sure have a good imagination - i just can not imagine being so detail - must be fun to do - thanks again 
- now be sure to have the next story in the series done by the time this story is finish and no fair stretching out the posting of the chapters of this story to make it take longer 
- now be sure to have the next story in the series done by the time this story is finish and no fair stretching out the posting of the chapters of this story to make it take longer 
larry_minn
Contributing Member
I actually read this (book) in your series a while back. It didn't make (as much) sense without the others first. BTW its time for another chapter or two. 
larry_minn
Contributing Member
larry: it's amazing what reading the stories in sequence can do for your understanding the story.
BTW: 2 chapters tomorrow morning - promise!
Fleataxi
I stayed up as long as I coule. No chapters....... Some promise.
(ok this story is not reason)
larry_minn
Contributing Member
Thanks for chapter. Too bad with all the weapons/armor the "Star Wars storm troopers gear gave them so much trouble. I assume that Q will reverse engineer the rail guns? And other gear.
And other gear.nightbird762
Contributing Member
starts off with a bang and gets better. applaud: i held out as long as i could. but i just hadda read it.thank you fleataxi.larry_minn
Contributing Member
Thanks for chapter. I actually think there would be more trouble then this. 
Guess this site (and others) are turning me into a pessimist. Oh to have the $$$ and support personal.
I really like the idea (paraphrased as I am too lazy to look up quote) "you can't save everyone and if you try odds are you and yours will get hurt/killed" "So do what you can, WITHOUT endangering yourself to a high degree"
We just had a 4hr power failure. (evening/minor) I heard people talking about who had gererators and that some wouldn't lend them out. "the NERVE not to bring it over for MY use" I suggested they buy a genset. "Oh if I do the power would never go off again. I know where to get one if it goes off again"
Note nobody used mine (not even me) Sheep is unkind to the sheep.
waiting for next chapter. You have got me checking over noon time.
Guess this site (and others) are turning me into a pessimist. Oh to have the $$$ and support personal. I really like the idea (paraphrased as I am too lazy to look up quote) "you can't save everyone and if you try odds are you and yours will get hurt/killed" "So do what you can, WITHOUT endangering yourself to a high degree"
We just had a 4hr power failure. (evening/minor) I heard people talking about who had gererators and that some wouldn't lend them out. "the NERVE not to bring it over for MY use" I suggested they buy a genset. "Oh if I do the power would never go off again. I know where to get one if it goes off again"
Note nobody used mine (not even me) Sheep is unkind to the sheep.
waiting for next chapter. You have got me checking over noon time.
Tired Old Man
Deceased
Thank you, as always.
as always have enjoyed your stories - thanks for the new chapter - you should know that AZ has coal and also hydroelectric also and able to irrigate from the lakes - can grow two crops a year - just have to figure that the great operators at Palo Verde Nuke plant [ hubby had been one and have friends that are still ones and some are our people type ]shut things down before got out of control so no radiation problems - there are also some hot spots in az for maybe geothermal - of course california has some also - some really interesting ideas - can hope things could work out so well as in stories - thanks again - now off to bed at alst
Fleataxi
Deceased
Nannygoat: According to the USGS report I read, they didn't have any exploitable locations, meaning they were too deep or too cold to use for geothermal power.
In order for a geothermal spot to efficiently make 10MW worth of steam power, it has to be fairly shallow(less than 5000 feet below the surface) over 400 degrees farenheit and large enough to keep a large volume of water hot enough to make high pressure steam. While the spots might be interesting to visitors, they might be too small or too deep to be commercially exploitable.
They were already using Hoover and Glen Canyon's existing hydroelectric - did I miss something in my research?
Fleataxi
In order for a geothermal spot to efficiently make 10MW worth of steam power, it has to be fairly shallow(less than 5000 feet below the surface) over 400 degrees farenheit and large enough to keep a large volume of water hot enough to make high pressure steam. While the spots might be interesting to visitors, they might be too small or too deep to be commercially exploitable.
They were already using Hoover and Glen Canyon's existing hydroelectric - did I miss something in my research?
Fleataxi
yup - there are lakes to the east of phnx that are used for both irrigation and power - saquaro,roosevelt - forget the others - can not imagine that there would not be enough thermo power under parts of az that the water comes out so hot from wells that the farmers need cooling ponds to cool the water for irrigation - gila bend and tonopah area have hot springs and wells like that - think around yuma also - sure wish solar would come down - getting close to be very practical since pay base rate of 10 cents and then with all the other charges it goes up more - sure like the indepence fo solar - more ranchers are going solar for their water tanks but worried about theft more with solar than windmills -
sure do love your story though - really good feeling premise and ideas - wonder how the world will be by that year and if i will be there in what shape - oh this is the time of life when 20-30 years down the road gets to be a bit of an unknown factor
sure do love your story though - really good feeling premise and ideas - wonder how the world will be by that year and if i will be there in what shape - oh this is the time of life when 20-30 years down the road gets to be a bit of an unknown factor
Fleataxi
Deceased
nannygoat: I used to design wind/solar systems as a business. In AZ, your best bet if you own enough acreage is small-scale heliostat/steam power. A couple of acres of trough reflectors will make more power than you can use on a sunny day.
the startup costs are several times photovoltaic solar (main expense is the small steam turbine, they're working on an inexpensive 10KW unit for small-scale use.) The return on investment is very quick if you and your neighbors go in together and form an energy co-op. 10 acres of heliostat in the Desert southwest can produce more power than a small city can use. Check out the new Heliostat site near Lost Wages that exceed 15MW! As a co-op, you own the land/power in trust, pay the co-op for power used, and with a grid-intertie, the power companies pay you as a co-generator, which pays MUCH better than the reimburse homeowners for excess power. Some co-ops actually produce enough electricity that the members don't pay anything for electicity, and they show a profit. Actually they pay for their electricity, but their monthly checks from the co-op equal or exceed their payment for power used. With the intertie, if you're not making power, the grid provides it, eliminating the need for batteries and inverters.
Fleataxi
the startup costs are several times photovoltaic solar (main expense is the small steam turbine, they're working on an inexpensive 10KW unit for small-scale use.) The return on investment is very quick if you and your neighbors go in together and form an energy co-op. 10 acres of heliostat in the Desert southwest can produce more power than a small city can use. Check out the new Heliostat site near Lost Wages that exceed 15MW! As a co-op, you own the land/power in trust, pay the co-op for power used, and with a grid-intertie, the power companies pay you as a co-generator, which pays MUCH better than the reimburse homeowners for excess power. Some co-ops actually produce enough electricity that the members don't pay anything for electicity, and they show a profit. Actually they pay for their electricity, but their monthly checks from the co-op equal or exceed their payment for power used. With the intertie, if you're not making power, the grid provides it, eliminating the need for batteries and inverters.
Fleataxi
ChemicalGal
ChemicalGal
Question & Comment
Hi Fleataxi
Another great story, I'm not very technical so a lot goes over my head but good plot and storyline.
Now at the beginning of The Kids Are Alright you mentioned "The Daedalus" where might I find it?
Also, since you were in the alternate power business and seem to know something about everything. What would you suggest as an alternate power for North Western Missouri, very close to Iowa border? And any suggestions on where to get the necessary items?
CG
Hi Fleataxi
Another great story, I'm not very technical so a lot goes over my head but good plot and storyline.
Now at the beginning of The Kids Are Alright you mentioned "The Daedalus" where might I find it?
Also, since you were in the alternate power business and seem to know something about everything. What would you suggest as an alternate power for North Western Missouri, very close to Iowa border? And any suggestions on where to get the necessary items?
CG
Fleataxi
Deceased
Chemicalgal: Daedalus is in the process of being written. I've already released 1 version I wasn't happy with, and recalled. This time I won't release the story until I'm satisfied with it.
I'm currently working on The Reniassance Man, and will be posting chapters soon.
NW MO, best guess is moderate summer/fall winds, good summer sun, and depending on specific location, anything from 1-12 feet of snow a year.
Two alternatives, both hybrid systems might work:
5KW combined Solar/wind package with 500-600 SQ Ft of solar panel, and 2-4 Air-X wind turbines. 600 Square foot of Solar Panel is $$$ and 4 Air-X will run you $2k plus masts, and accessories.
next you have the battery bank and inverters. IF you are already connected to the grid, it might be better to spend extra now for Grid Intertie(Grid Sync) Inverters and a smaller battery bank than standard Stand-Alone inverters and a much bigger battery bank. Don't go cheap on either Batteries or Inverters. Outback Products makes some of the most reliable inverters in the business.
Buy batteries local from a reputatble dealer. There's an inverse relationship between battery cost per amp and the level of maintenance required. Golf-cart batteries are relatively cheap, but are maintenance hogs. Gel-cells and AGM batteries cost significantly more per amp, but don't require near as much maintenance.
As far as dealers go, try googling Alternate Energy plus either MO or IA.
Fleataxi
I'm currently working on The Reniassance Man, and will be posting chapters soon.
NW MO, best guess is moderate summer/fall winds, good summer sun, and depending on specific location, anything from 1-12 feet of snow a year.
Two alternatives, both hybrid systems might work:
5KW combined Solar/wind package with 500-600 SQ Ft of solar panel, and 2-4 Air-X wind turbines. 600 Square foot of Solar Panel is $$$ and 4 Air-X will run you $2k plus masts, and accessories.
next you have the battery bank and inverters. IF you are already connected to the grid, it might be better to spend extra now for Grid Intertie(Grid Sync) Inverters and a smaller battery bank than standard Stand-Alone inverters and a much bigger battery bank. Don't go cheap on either Batteries or Inverters. Outback Products makes some of the most reliable inverters in the business.
Buy batteries local from a reputatble dealer. There's an inverse relationship between battery cost per amp and the level of maintenance required. Golf-cart batteries are relatively cheap, but are maintenance hogs. Gel-cells and AGM batteries cost significantly more per amp, but don't require near as much maintenance.
As far as dealers go, try googling Alternate Energy plus either MO or IA.
Fleataxi
SheWoff
Southern by choice
Thanks for posting your story here FT. It is so much easier to read with the gray background since the black type/white background is hard for my brain to process without having to tape paper over half the screen like I have to do when using the adobe reader. I cried when Bear passed, same as I did the first time I read it. You are one talented writer. Will be looking forward to reading the next one in the series!
As for ideas on which one to post next...I'm putting a vote in for "The Mine". It was another great read! I searched for it here, but didn't find it listed.
She
As for ideas on which one to post next...I'm putting a vote in for "The Mine". It was another great read! I searched for it here, but didn't find it listed.
She
Fleataxi
Deceased
She:
Try adjusting the monitor brightness/contrast and the room lighting. Unfortunately Adobe Reader doesn't allow you to modify the document, including background colors.
The Mine sounds like an Idea. I need to see which ones I've posted already.
ETA: I updated the Master Story list, so if you don't see the story on my list, it's not on TB2K yet.
Fleataxi
Try adjusting the monitor brightness/contrast and the room lighting. Unfortunately Adobe Reader doesn't allow you to modify the document, including background colors.
The Mine sounds like an Idea. I need to see which ones I've posted already.
ETA: I updated the Master Story list, so if you don't see the story on my list, it's not on TB2K yet.
Fleataxi
I have really enjoyed your story very much - really looking forward to the next story in the series - you have a very interesting outlook on the future - wonder if you are really predicting the future - some sounds really good and others not too good - the future power sources sound really good but the world wide CME not good - maybe that is what is going to take the world to get out of their rut of oil dependency - looking forward to the next story in the series - hope it is coming really soon - thanks for all your work
Fleataxi
Deceased
nannygoat: Like I said before, don't hold your breath - I'm not currently working on it. The idea I had went bust, and until I feel inspired to write a different idea I had, I'm not going to work on it. I've found out if I try to force it, my writing greatly suffers.
I've edited/updated Reniassance Man, and I'm going to pull and re-load the new and improved story. If you think TKA was high-tech and Sci-Fi, you haven't seen anything yet!
Fleataxi
I've edited/updated Reniassance Man, and I'm going to pull and re-load the new and improved story. If you think TKA was high-tech and Sci-Fi, you haven't seen anything yet!
Fleataxi
Hylander50
Member
I am truly sad to see this epic saga end. I have been following it, like many others, from the very beginning. It has been a joy to read. I can tell you more about members of the Williams' clan than I can some members of my own. Thank you for all the time and effort you invested in bringing them to life.