Don't Drink Booze on Metro

Egg man: Eating hard boiled eggs and throwing the shells on the floor. Via Wes


Via Alex

I've gotten a lot of emails about the enforcement of the no eating or drinking rule.

It took a couple months, but Metro finally got back to me with information about the number of eating and drinking citations they issue.

From Jan. 1, 2011 to July 31, 2011, Metro issued only 11 eating citations and eight drinking (non-alcohol) citations. On the other hand, they issued a whopping 888 alcohol citations.

Here's the list if you're interested.

I also asked them for the amount of the citations, but Metro said "WMATA does not set the fines for violations of public ordinances or laws. This is set by the local governments. Therefore, our files do not reflect the citation costs."

Interestingly, MTA's new chief opposes a ban on eating and drinking in NYC.

Other items:
Metro will "stipulate to liability" in Red Line crash, issues no apology (Examiner)

Money Making Scheme

I saw this posted on Facebook:

Local farmer produces solar power but wants to produce more, looks into it and finds out that high powered floodlights can be used to generate power at night but this uses twice as much energy than it creates.....

no problem.

Contracted unit price per unit 7 pence, feed-in tariff price per unit 44 pence
2 units @ 14p = 1 unit @ 44p = profit 30p

The floodlight have been ordered.....

I do think this may catch on!


EcoWarriorMe comment: The farmer will be disappointed. Solar panels (photovoltaic panels) are in fact only 15-20% efficient, which means he will use at least five units to generate one unit of solar electricity. Add to that the inefficiency of the lights with up to 80% of the electricity consumed being wasted as heat, the sums just don't add up, never mind the wastefulness of out all.

What next? Giant hairdryers to power wind turbines, perpetual motion machines or cold fusion?