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@herself Yeah, it's bonkers. It's sorta like, just imagine food of whatever kind and then ask, can this be put in a waffle maker? 😂 What I've started doing is googling food+food+waffles and I seem to get real recipes. Some of these are junk food type waffles, others might be fairly healthy. I tend towards anything healthy but I'm not above trying junk food treats. I mean, really, anything: macaroni and cheese waffles? Yep.
Side benefit, easy and fairly quick. For the past few weeks I've been doing the cornmeal waffles with eggs and cheese for breakfest sandwiches.
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@hollie I have a similar mini waffle maker! The question I have for you is have you begun looking at the world of alternative waffles? It's bonkers what people do with these things. I've just gotten started. But oatmeal-flour-peanut butter with mini chocolate chips are pretty good. Tomorrow I'm going to try mashed potato waffles to have as "bread" for some egg sandwiches. And, on that note, cooking eggs in these waffle makers is a thing too! Great for egg sandwiches. On my list to try in the near future will be a stack of cornbread waffle and refried bean waffle with melty cheese in the middle. Look up "chaffles" too!
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@tinyroofnail Generally agreed! And excellent points on increasing efficiency being offset. And to all in the thread, If you're interested in exploring energy, economy, the human superorganism, I'd recommend Nate Hagens' podcast and website: thegreatsimplification.com
He was a long-time contributor to the old peak oil website, The Oil Drum. I've really come to value the depth and breadth of his analysis.
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@MitchW I sent this exact text to some nearby relatives a month ago when the weather forcast was wrong. 🤣 They almost never get it right. My suggestion is that someone design a new weather app that is basically a Magic 8 Ball. Shake the iPhone to get a new forcast. Don't like it? Shake it again. 😜
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@jabel I'll square it for you 🤓 @jsonbecker The website/chart you linked to is defining primary energy as including transportation and heating, much of that comes from oil, natural gas and other liquid/gas non-grid sources. The WP article is specifically about the power grid. That's the short answer. But also it's worth looking at the bigger picture just because there are so many interesting aspects to consider when we think about our energy consumption, historically and what we might plan for in terms of the future.
For example energy use from 1965 - 1996 was a steady rise except for 2 down blips (probably recessions). Then it leveled off, as you say, around 1997-2000 and has been steady since.
I suspect the rise from 1965-1997 would reflect a United States that was more actively increasing the production of industrial goods. Much (most?) of this production was moved out-of country. So that energy is now being used in China or other nations producing goods for our consumption. That would have likely flattened out consumption. I would guess that line would have actually dipped down significantly but was probably kept at that flat level by other variables that were increasing:
- Population of the US during that period continued to rise steadily. More people, obviously, more consumption.
- The car fleet from the late 1990s to present increased per capita. Average vehicle size also increased but engine efficiency improved as well resulting in generally flat per vehicle efficiency.
- Build-out of suburban infrastructure: roads, homes, retail.
Guessing I'm missing a few factors that would have increased energy consumption during that time.
But, back to the specifics of the WP article and the expected increase of energy production for the grid, the article specifically makes the point that, in fact, we've been at a flat level of consumption for awhile. In the fourth paragraph the article links to a pdf study titled: "The Era of Flat Power Demand is Over". It's all about what's coming.
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@Ddanielson Yeah, they are so great for hills! It's like having a strong wind at your back all the time! Honestly, they kinda feel like magic. 🤓