Cruisers & Sailing Forums - View Single Post - Funny Things that 'Foreigners' Do -

s/v Jedi · 02-07-2009, 22:39

Drew,

it would go off topic to go into that... but wait, this is the off topic forum, isn't it? ;-)

I think you should have a closer look at European power distribution; it's proven to work quite well. We also have cities where the rich live with large houses and building lots; we even have medieval castles etc. Instead of air insulation with bare wires hanging in the air, modern materials are used instead. Also, while air is a good insulator, that property is sharply reduced when rain, mist, snow, ice or fallen trees come into the picture.

Further, losses are minimized by using a higher voltage; most devices use 230 or 240V instead of 110-120. Houses receive 3-phase 380V power.

Another big difference is that the power consumption per capita is much less than in the US. Think of 40% less. Less power transfer means less power loss.

Having spend time in both countries I can tell that outages in Holland are a fraction of the US figure. I do agree it costs much more though.

Other differences: all facilities are distributed underground: telephone, cable-TV, propane (almost every house gets propane in Holland), water, power, hot water for heating (in cities, waste heat from industry) and more and more fiber optics.

We also have: special bicycle lanes everywhere, diesel and propane (LPG) at virtually every gas station, de-clawing cats is considered cruel, dikes that work, real Dutch apple pie, real real-mayonnaise, hormone free meat, dogs that don't wear clothes, even more strict and stupid rules on anti-fouling (like no copper, wall paint works better), same lame politicians, same low IQ police officers, more seconds tv in between the commercials, FM radios with 0.05 MHz steps instead of 0.2 MHz, more cow and pig shit that anyone can imagine (we export it), warehouses full of real butter that we practically give away for free while it's expensive to buy in the shops, salvation army that sell the clothes they collect to farmers who use it for land filling and buy Rols Royces from the profits, no car industry, 2nd highest tax pressure in the world (only topped by Sweden I think), political assesinations, military in Afganistan, a Queen, a buffer zone with France and so on.

The biggest difference however is that Holland is full. Too much people. The only place you can't see a building around you is in the toilet with the light off ;-)

ciao!
Nick.

02-07-2009, 22:39	#17
s/v Jedi Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Boat: Sundeer 64 - Jedi Posts: 1,522	Drew, it would go off topic to go into that... but wait, this is the off topic forum, isn't it? ;-) I think you should have a closer look at European power distribution; it's proven to work quite well. We also have cities where the rich live with large houses and building lots; we even have medieval castles etc. Instead of air insulation with bare wires hanging in the air, modern materials are used instead. Also, while air is a good insulator, that property is sharply reduced when rain, mist, snow, ice or fallen trees come into the picture. Further, losses are minimized by using a higher voltage; most devices use 230 or 240V instead of 110-120. Houses receive 3-phase 380V power. Another big difference is that the power consumption per capita is much less than in the US. Think of 40% less. Less power transfer means less power loss. Having spend time in both countries I can tell that outages in Holland are a fraction of the US figure. I do agree it costs much more though. Other differences: all facilities are distributed underground: telephone, cable-TV, propane (almost every house gets propane in Holland), water, power, hot water for heating (in cities, waste heat from industry) and more and more fiber optics. We also have: special bicycle lanes everywhere, diesel and propane (LPG) at virtually every gas station, de-clawing cats is considered cruel, dikes that work, real Dutch apple pie, real real-mayonnaise, hormone free meat, dogs that don't wear clothes, even more strict and stupid rules on anti-fouling (like no copper, wall paint works better), same lame politicians, same low IQ police officers, more seconds tv in between the commercials, FM radios with 0.05 MHz steps instead of 0.2 MHz, more cow and pig shit that anyone can imagine (we export it), warehouses full of real butter that we practically give away for free while it's expensive to buy in the shops, salvation army that sell the clothes they collect to farmers who use it for land filling and buy Rols Royces from the profits, no car industry, 2nd highest tax pressure in the world (only topped by Sweden I think), political assesinations, military in Afganistan, a Queen, a buffer zone with France and so on. The biggest difference however is that Holland is full. Too much people. The only place you can't see a building around you is in the toilet with the light off ;-) ciao! Nick.