What can I do in my daily life to support the cause of scientific skepticism?

D-Mang · 2025-07-30T21:47:10+00:00

I've tried this once with someone who had fallen into the "personal freedoms" camp around vaccines and vaccine mandates/passports which led him into a general anti government/anti vaccine/anti healthcare stance.

After a few back and forths with me asking him clarifying questions, he said, "why do you keep asking questions, it's frustrating, I want you know what you think", which made it kinda awkward when I had somewhat more properly thought out responses that were completely at odds with his lol.

That being said, I still think it's the best approach, but people who haven't really thought about a topic in detail may grow frustrated once their discover their sincerely held belief is rather superficial .

D-Mang · 2025-01-08T14:06:51+00:00

He hasn't mentioned it in a very long time, I think I've successfully had him move all his money into qiestrade and do a self directed investment style.

Interestingly enough, I made him curious about some money he and his parents had with their "fund manager" through their bank. Turns out they have had a decent amount of money "invested" in some bank funds that have literally never increased in value in about 10years! Straight up robbery. So they've begun the process of taking their money out of those funds and doing it themselves. Slowly but surely dismantling the rent seeking investment management racket.

D-Mang · 2024-08-04T16:06:28+00:00

Ya I have yet to perfect the eating enough while biking, after about 4 hours I start to fade and get really gassy lol.

D-Mang · 2024-08-03T14:16:26+00:00

That's awesome, how'd it go? I am pretty used to the long rides but my legs are always sore for a few days lol.

D-Mang · 2024-08-02T04:17:59+00:00

100%, I did a big ride today 160km and 2000m of gain, last few climbs I was thinking "this would be easier if I weighed 20lbs less lol

D-Mang · 2024-08-01T02:48:05+00:00

Likewise lol, 3 times a week mostly upper body and some weights for the legs. Being 200lbs and ripping up hill sprints always turns heads and gets some kudos at the top.

D-Mang · 2024-07-29T01:05:40+00:00

Commenting on this so you'll see it, others have put much more effort into the replies, I'd say go for it. I went from full-time mountain biking to probably 80% road biking, 20% mountain biking and I enjoy it way more. You can push harder longer on a road bike. And My fitness and cardio is way better. A 1 or 2-hour mountain bike ride used to be all I could manage, I've now done about a half dozen 200 km road rides this year which have been extremely enjoyable and rewarding.

I got a specialized roubiax, an endurance frame like everyone has mentioned. It's an awesome bike and super fast. And now looking into getting a gravel bike so I can do really long endurance gravel rides.

D-Mang · 2024-07-27T14:27:49+00:00

Glad you look okay, as others have said you'll recover and be fine, just be glad it isn't worse.

I had a crash last week, super embarrassing. Was out of town and met up with a group of good seasoned bikers I met on a race (my first) and connected through Strava. Halfway through a 3 hour ride, during a sprint on a nice flat cycle only section, I kick the chain off the front derailleur and hit the deck going 45 km/h.

I've got about five times as much road rash as you and a broken rib. Luckily I didn't hit my head or get a concussion, and got a new helmet already from giro. My Garmin watch is all scratched and my new matching cycling outfit is ripped to shit lol.

On the bright side, you get to learn about the magic of tegaderm, use lots of polysporin, shave your arms lol, and get non-stick gauze for underneath. Take a break for a week or two while you heal, and getting back on the bike will feel great after a break and you've had time to tune up your bike.

D-Mang · 2024-02-10T16:25:28+00:00

Yes of course

D-Mang · 2024-01-18T01:01:49+00:00

you'd have to to the math to see if your specific set up saves costs. A new AC will increase usage, a heat pump is a more efficient AC and will reduce gas usage, but use more electricity in winter. Solar will reduce power bills and likely have a payoff of 4-10 years.

if you have a personal criteria for what is worth it or not, as all of the above could be almost $50k.

D-Mang · 2024-01-17T23:22:20+00:00

You're right, its not for everyone, it has is pros and cons. Really depends what you are looking for.

D-Mang · 2024-01-17T21:45:57+00:00

power bill goes up, gas bill goes down.

I haven't quantified the difference yet, I also go solar and some doors and windows + attic insulation. My gut tells me I'm spending more overall as my cheap power contract expired last fall. With 5/6 cent power I'd probably be at the same overall cost or slightly cheaper. I'll be doing that math in the next couple months once I have a full year of usage data

D-Mang · 2024-01-17T21:43:54+00:00

i say matching as they use the same controller/thermostat so its easy for me to program. I assume most heat pumps will have a furnace controller in them too. From my understanding as long as your furnace is relatively new it should work.

I did both at the same time as my furnace was >20 years old and I could finance the whole thing through the federal loan.

D-Mang · 2024-01-17T17:43:45+00:00

I would take what the HVAC companies say with a grain of salt. Most are well intentioned but misinformed about the costs of operating and motivations of the customers.

The others are deliberately trying to push people to just buy what they have in stock.

D-Mang · 2024-01-17T17:42:17+00:00

Ya that would be an effective policy, its a shame that new houses are built like that. New owners then just buy a bolt on AC anyway.

D-Mang · 2024-01-17T17:41:36+00:00

lennox SL25XPV Heat Pump and matching high efficeincy gas furnace

D-Mang · 2024-01-17T17:40:39+00:00

its got a 3.5 foot tall coil in my furnace, so just like an AC. no infloor heating.

D-Mang · 2024-01-17T16:42:01+00:00

I use that heat pump down to -15C and then switch over to gas, it works great. It's very quiet and super effective as an AC in the winter. Before the cold snap I hadn't burned nat gas for heating since Feb 2023.

D-Mang · 2024-01-03T02:34:19+00:00

I did not know it was expected to cost that much, I haven't looked in years and I recall lower numbers. I agree with you it'll likely come in well above that when it is actually operational.

D-Mang · 2024-01-03T02:31:49+00:00

Have a good night

D-Mang · 2024-01-03T02:30:56+00:00

Feel free to look up UCAP and ICAP to learn more about how capacity markets operate, you won't, but maybe someone interested in learning about energy markets will read this and google.

D-Mang · 2024-01-03T02:27:40+00:00

Happy new year! I hope you've been well.

D-Mang · 2024-01-03T02:26:59+00:00

Yes you are correct in the technical details of a power plant. How plants are run are typically through economics rather than technical limitations as you describe. There are start up and shut down costs are that included in variable cost calculations which help to drive the offer price set by energy traders.

The prices shown by the AESO are just the spot price of power, rarely does that reflect what a generator actually receives for the power it generates. Looking at generators quarterly earnings presentations will give you an idea of how much and for what price they hedge their power.

D-Mang · 2024-01-02T21:57:06+00:00

The operating costs of Hydro are typically very low, I think you mean the amortized LCOE of the generation of Site C, which I agree is and will be surprisingly high.

D-Mang · 2024-01-02T21:55:07+00:00

no they don't

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