Marblehead

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Posts posted by Marblehead

  4. Posted

    Intentions are normally established by people who think they have more power over the flow of the universe than we really have.

     

    But then, we should make plans for our future just in case we wake up tomorrow.  However, they should be realistic.

     

    • Like 3

  5. Posted

    Wow!  Whatever comes to my mind while I type I surely hope it offers positive feelings.

     

    The concept of reincarnation, as in Buddhism, is not part of Taoist Philosophy.  It may be in Taoist Religion.

     

    Philosophical Taoism concentrates on transmutation.  That is, from destruction comes new creation.  But this is not a personal, individuality change.  It is just a natural process of the universe.

     

    Your wife's grandmother lived her life within the conditions presented to her.  She will pass as do all living things.  What she was will return to potential for new creations.

     

    Tao does not care what we want for this potential to become.  

     

    But then, we can hope for the best, whatever that might be.

     

    Whatever might happen in the future will depend greatly on how we interact with our reality.  It is perfectly valid to remember the grandmother in any future offspring you and your wife might have, whether male or female.

     

     

    • Like 2
    • Thanks 1

  7. Posted

    You know, I love the Zoroastrian concept of the creation of (wo)man and that we are born with free will.

     

    Of course, along with that free will we are charged with the responsibility for all our thoughts, words and deeds.  It doesn't say anything about being responsible for any future effects other than the ones we have caused.

     

     

    • Like 2

  9. Posted

    1 hour ago, rene said:

    Yes, thats what I do now, but that will soon change...just tryin to stay alive here lol. I'm going to build your idea & pick up a volt meter with the parts & will let you know how it works.

    Thanks again! 🌲🦋❤ :)

    Sounds good.  And yes, the solar system would be better for use in your quiet place.  No noise at all.

     

    • Like 1

  14. Posted

    5 hours ago, rene said:

    Here's the really sad part. We're already totally off-grid & powered only by solar. Had the massive system installed in 2016; it's big enough that other than wood for heat - everything is electric. Fridge, HW, AC in the summer, TV, lights, crockpots, even battery chargers.

    I thought I knew that this is your situation.  But my suggestion is without any alternate source.

     

    Yes, you could just buy a 4-D cell battery charger and plug it into your existing system.

     

    • Like 1

  15. Posted

    16 minutes ago, rene said:

    Oh excellent!

    Dont most normal chargers have an auto shutoff, either timed or metered? How will I know when they're ready to go? Will a continued charge hurt them if I dont get them off in time? Are you sorry yet you started to help me? :lol:

    Yes, most chargers we buy today have a peak voltage shut-off.  Most any solar panel you buy will have a peak voltage output of 7.2 VDC.  Charging to that voltage won't harm the batteries.

     

    You could buy a cheap volt meter (less than $20) to put in line with the panel/batteries and you would know what the voltage of the batteries are if you read the meter at night time when the panel isn't putting out a charge. 

     

    No, not sorry.  It was a challenge for me when I first started with my solar system for the fish ponds.  There was no one I could find who knew much about solar electric panels.  I was around electricity for the twenty years I was in the Army so most of what I had to do was already first hand knowledge.

     

    16 minutes ago, rene said:

     

    I truly appreciate your time on this, MH, thank you. I really need to find a workable way...

    Yeah, I can understand you wanting to be off-grid as much as possible and still have the ability to do things

     

    This little project will get you some first hand knowledge with solar electric systems.  Might even cause you to invest more so that you have more capabilities.

     

     

    • Like 2

  16. Posted

    When Confucius was besieged in the area between Ch'en and Ts'ai, he went without cooked food for seven days.

    The old gentleman Jen went to console him, asking, "Were you close to death?"

    "Yes."

    "Do you dislike death?"

    "Yes."

    "Let me try to explain the Way to avoid death," said Jen.  "In the Eastern Sea there is a bird named the lazybird.  It flip-flops along as if it had no power.  The lazybird will only fly when there are others to lead it on and will only roost when there are others that press close to its sides.  When it goes forward it dares not take the lead; when it retreats it does not take the rear; when it eats it dares not take the first bite, always preferring to take the leftovers.  Therefore, their ranks are seldom broken and outsiders rarely can harm them, hence they escape calamity.

    The straight tree is the first to be felled;
    The well with sweet water is the first to be exhausted.

    You seem intent on ornamenting your knowledge to amaze those who are ignorant and on cultivating your person to highlight those who are vile.  You are as ostentatious as if you were walking along holding the sun and moon above you.  Hence you do not escape calamity.  In the past, I heard a man of great accomplishment say, 'Who is self-assertive has no merit; Merit that is complete will collapse; Fame that is complete will decline.'  Who can get rid of merit and fame, and return to be with the masses of men?

    He flows with the Way
    but does not rest in brilliance;
    Walks with integrity
    but does not dwell in fame.
    He is so plain and ordinary
    That he may be compared to an imbecile.

    He erases his traces and renounces his influence, doing nothing for merit or fame.  For this reason he does not blame others, nor is he blamed by others.  The ultimate man does not seek renown.  Why, sir, do you like it so much?"

    "Excellent!" said Confucius, whereupon he bid adieu to his associates, sent his disciples away, and retired to a great marsh.  He dressed in skins and haircloth, and ate acorns and chestnuts.  He went among animals without disturbing their herds, went among birds without disturbing their flocks.  If even birds and animals were not afraid of him, how much less were men!
    • Like 1
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  17. Posted

    1 hour ago, rene said:

    Hmm - wont a 6v panel fry a 1.5v D-cell directly wired to it? Maybe there's a charge controller that could be put between them?

    Good idea using a 4-battery flashlight for housing..wonder if I should use a plastic cased one lol

    The batteries will be in series.  That means that 1.5 VDC times 4 batteries equals 6VDC.

     

    If you consider the flashlight thing all you will need is a cheap plastic one.

     

     

    • Like 1

  20. Posted

    3 hours ago, rene said:

    I like the idea of making my own charger! Can you tell me more about this set-up & components? Or where I might find more info? Thanks!

    Well, a solar panel or panel assembly can be found by doing a search for  -  -  6 VDC Solar Panel.

     

    Amazon has a number of them but I'm sure others are available from other sources.  I would opt for just the panel so to keep it as simple as possible.

     

    The batteries could be mounted in a PVC tube just large enough for the batteries to be mounted in.  This would reduce the number of electrical connections.  The tube, bottom capped with a coil spring inside like in flashlight with a wire running through the bottom cap for connecting Negative on tube to negative from solar panel.

     

    Top of tube would be top cap with battery contact plate on the inside with a wire going to the outside for connecting the positive of battery tube to positive wire of solar panel.

     

    Of course, a four-battery flash light could be modified and be used as the batteries mount.

     

     

    • Like 2

  25. Posted

    Yeah, I tried to answer the questions as honestly as I could but the results ended up misrepresenting me.  How the questions are phrased can lead to whatever direction the survey wishes to establish.

     

    Question:  Are you still beating your wife?

     

    Answer options:  Yes/No