Captain Carrot
@cptncarrot.bsky.social
Dwarf, Ankh-Morkpork City Watchman, Dog-Lover.
The Rains of Castamere (extended cut)
YouTube video by EricThePooh
youtu.be
November 5, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Snowmelt systems do have a place. Keeping a hospital sidewalk continuously free of ice is a great use case where the safety benefit justifies the energy cost. But a residential driveway in Wisconsin is going to be a luxury item 99.9% of the time.
October 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Snowmelt systems do have a place. Keeping a hospital sidewalk continuously free of ice is a great use case where the safety benefit justifies the energy cost. But a residential driveway in Wisconsin is going to be a luxury item 99.9% of the time.
I've never considered the need to dry my driveway, and I don't have any driveway drains to keep clear. I didn't know how much energy is typically used for those purposes, but I don't imagine it will make up the difference for most people.
October 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I've never considered the need to dry my driveway, and I don't have any driveway drains to keep clear. I didn't know how much energy is typically used for those purposes, but I don't imagine it will make up the difference for most people.
Your original comment was that you're "spending the energy either way," which implies to me that the energy use will be comparible. But in fact, the energy required to clear a driveway mechanically will be much less than through heating, except in the lightest possible snow conditions.
October 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Your original comment was that you're "spending the energy either way," which implies to me that the energy use will be comparible. But in fact, the energy required to clear a driveway mechanically will be much less than through heating, except in the lightest possible snow conditions.
What? A snow blower is self-propelled, the gasoline both moves the machine and moves the snow. And I have no idea what you're talking about needing to keep drains flowing for a snow blower. The snow is still frozen afterwards, it's just in a different place.
October 23, 2025 at 8:45 PM
What? A snow blower is self-propelled, the gasoline both moves the machine and moves the snow. And I have no idea what you're talking about needing to keep drains flowing for a snow blower. The snow is still frozen afterwards, it's just in a different place.
My napkin math was only counting the BTUs to turn 125 pounds of 32F ice into 125 pounds of 32F water. The rate of snowfall didn't factor in. In practice, spreading it out over time will take more energy because more energy will be lost to the surroundings.
October 23, 2025 at 8:22 PM
My napkin math was only counting the BTUs to turn 125 pounds of 32F ice into 125 pounds of 32F water. The rate of snowfall didn't factor in. In practice, spreading it out over time will take more energy because more energy will be lost to the surroundings.
Some napkin math tells me that you might be able to melt an inch of the lightest, fluffiest snow from 500ft² for less energy than it takes to run a 5hp snow blower for 30 minutes. But only if the snowmelt system puts 100% of its heat into melting snow. So it's only more efficient for tiny snowfalls.
October 23, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Some napkin math tells me that you might be able to melt an inch of the lightest, fluffiest snow from 500ft² for less energy than it takes to run a 5hp snow blower for 30 minutes. But only if the snowmelt system puts 100% of its heat into melting snow. So it's only more efficient for tiny snowfalls.
It's going to take way less energy to move snow, rather than melting it.
October 23, 2025 at 6:51 PM
It's going to take way less energy to move snow, rather than melting it.
Putin's Useful Idiot being too big of an idiot to be useful is beautiful.
September 24, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Putin's Useful Idiot being too big of an idiot to be useful is beautiful.
Was Wentz running into sacks on purpose? Or is he just that much slower than he thinks he is?
September 22, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Was Wentz running into sacks on purpose? Or is he just that much slower than he thinks he is?
Who should I be mad at?
September 15, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Who should I be mad at?
Thanks for the reminder!
September 13, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Thanks for the reminder!
I think it's like asking "Should I bulldoze my house?" Not *never* but it's suggested way more than it's actually appropriate. And it's going to take longer and cost more than you planned.
September 11, 2025 at 3:09 AM
I think it's like asking "Should I bulldoze my house?" Not *never* but it's suggested way more than it's actually appropriate. And it's going to take longer and cost more than you planned.
defense.gov now redirects to war.gov
defense.gov
September 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
defense.gov now redirects to war.gov
My wife has seen people online declining the Group B Strep swab for being 'too invasive'
August 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM
My wife has seen people online declining the Group B Strep swab for being 'too invasive'
These guys seem to appreciate the true straightness found in hyper-masculine environments, like the Spartans.
July 19, 2025 at 3:26 AM
These guys seem to appreciate the true straightness found in hyper-masculine environments, like the Spartans.
It's a good idea, but I think you're going to have trouble finding a crew for the USS MUSK (SSN-6969).
June 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
It's a good idea, but I think you're going to have trouble finding a crew for the USS MUSK (SSN-6969).
Figure 4a shows a breakdown by gender. Both deceased significantly, but women decreased more.
June 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Figure 4a shows a breakdown by gender. Both deceased significantly, but women decreased more.
Lol. I was getting ready to "Um, Actually" the post before I realized that there's one person I follow who would also have a gravestone story to tell.
May 4, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Lol. I was getting ready to "Um, Actually" the post before I realized that there's one person I follow who would also have a gravestone story to tell.
Selectively applying the death penalty to immigrants is a horrific policy. But it's pretty clear that this policy is supposed to apply to cases of capital crimes, not every undocumented immigrant.
April 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Selectively applying the death penalty to immigrants is a horrific policy. But it's pretty clear that this policy is supposed to apply to cases of capital crimes, not every undocumented immigrant.