Above and beyond the call of duty
Dear Editor:
I want to thank several members of the Cutler Volunteer Fire Department for their immediate response when I fell through the ice while driving my ATV on the Eagle’s Nest Flowage on Dec. 27. They happened to be fishing at the time I broke through the ice and heard my calls for help and immediately responded and pulled me out to safety.
They returned to the scene the following day and recovered all of my fishing equipment and delivered it to my home. They then returned to the scene with additional equipment and some of my family helpers and were successful in recovering my ATV.
No words can express my heartfelt emotions for every positive outcome of what could have been a very negative event. Thank you to Cutler Volunteer Firemen, Chief Scott F., Dave F., Chevy F., Randy M., my family members, Tom Z., Tom L. and Cody S.. and neighbor, Ray H.
Thomas Zaremba, Camp Douglas
Is technology destroying our human abilities?
Dear Editor:
It seems that we are inventing and producing gadgets and systems to make not only our physical life easier but our spiritual, social, political and moral life as well. However, the promotion, the selling, the convincing factor in this situation is without a doubt the technology of vision and hearing. Television and all its entities of computers, iPads, tablets and social media have taken the place of human judgment, morality and thought processes that reveal the consequences of these choices we make. For every decision we make, there will be a good or bad result whether we realize it or not.
Why does this happen? Simply because it feeds into our basic nature and the desires and needs everyone has. Remember, our basic nature is sinful and is basically selfishness and greed. From the cry of the newborn baby that wants what they want when they want it regardless of what the circumstances are around it. The first word of a child is often no, and as if that is not enough proof of this we need only answer the question “do I have to try to be bad or do we have to try to be good?”
Those who are behind the scenes of producing what we see and hear are not concerned with the outcome of what they promote, only that they receive the benefit they are looking for, whether financial gain or addiction for more sales or really anything that promotes their benefit regardless of whether it effects human thoughts, morality, socialization, politics, justice or human dignity. In fact, this whole scenario can destroy a civilization.
There is only one answer: Take back your freedom to think and judge what is right or wrong according to the word of our maker. Only you are responsible for yourself. You must decide whether the things this world has created will govern this life and the next or accept the life our Lord has provided for us to enjoy forever.
Rev. Al Bingenheimer, Sparta
Solar energy: Think it through
Dear Editor:
Let us assume that it is 2041. It is Dec. 21 (the year’s shortest daylight hours) and we have electric cars and furnaces. The electric grid is capable of delivering all of the kilowatts that are needed.
It is sunset – before 4:30 – and we’re about to settle-in for supper. Lights are on, supper is on the electric stove and the car is charging. (According to Kelley Blue Book: Chevy Volt, Tesla and Audi – 12, 12 and 10 hours to charge.) Oops! The sun has set. Wind diminishes after sunset. This means that the electricity has to come from batteries. (Charging batteries from batteries?) This is a problem.
It is the first day of winter; a time when there is likely to be days – before a snowstorm – that are cloudy. Solar generators don’t work so well on short, cloudy days (8 hours, 58 minutes). If we get our solar from the western states, what about California, Oregon or Washington – what do they do for theirs? How will all of these things get the electricity they require?
The day usage includes business and manufacturing along with trucks and buses – along with keeping homes warm. (Trucks and buses have to be charged during the day for night runs.) The day usage will include commercial and home service vehicles that have to be charged and ready for after-hours work such as power company and home heating, plumbing and communication vehicles.
Will fire trucks, police vehicles and ambulances be exempted; you can’t – in reality – stop during an event, to charge them. Just imagine pulling a vehicle off to send it back to the station to charge – for hours. Does a patrol car begin a chase with a low battery? Will tow truck businesses be able to handle these problems?
Hospitals, nursing homes and jails cannot go without power. They MUST have electricity. They have emergency generators that run on petroleum when the grid cannot serve them .
I don’t believe the rush to solar and wind has been well thought-out. If they can’t give you specific details instead of generalities, they don’t have a plan much beyond emotional wishful thinking. (Curiosity: How many windmills would it take to make a single steel I-beam for an interstate highway bridge?)
I want “green power” (including hydro) along with petroleum and nuclear power. Or maybe we should just resolve to sit in the cold dark and wait.
Bob Janovick, Sparta
