

| My back porch is turning into a wildlife refuge. Yesterday, it was a raccoon in the early afternoon. I shoed him away, since he had knocked over some things. He moved so slowly, it took me a while to realize he was wounded, not rabid. He dragged his back leg. I know they scratch and bite, so I just let him totter down the wheelchair ramp. Today, I did a little better. It was a very large cardinal hopping all around the floor. Then he hopped up on the chair for a long time. I felt sad for the raccoon, but happy about the redbird. | 


| I would just take the racoon in side the house and help it and get the wounded get better then I would let the racoon go but you did very good | 
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 Reply| Does anyone here use solar power? Does it work okay for you? | 
| Annette  - Not too long ago, I spent a "lovely" 30-45 minutes with two sales guys pitching a solar panel system. When I let them in, I told them I didn't have much to do right then and would politely listen, but wasn't likely to buy. They were armed with cool iPads filled with colorful graphs, video testimonials from 'satisfied customers', and a well-practiced patter. They were dumbfounded when, at the end of their spiel, I thanked them for the presentation and then invited them to try someone else. As they were leaving, the talkier of the two muttered, "I could have sworn I had a sale." Yeah - nope. | 
| I have little problem with wind or solar. Manufacturing, installation, reliability and use as primary source of energy are some of my concerns. That said, I don't expect perfection. I remember Black Skies Over Pittsburgh. So... if it's a backup or one of many sources go for it. Maintenance and cost though may give you second thoughts. There are solar powered cell phones, laptops and chargers already available. Ask again in 5 years.   Outside of the US: Spain, Hungary, Namibia, Chile and Greece are leading the way so it may be that American technology may be behind the rest of the world. Australia has some of the greatest untapped potential. | 
| We have solar panels on our roof installed by one of the big national companies and under s 20 year agreement to pay them for whatever it produces. We're still connected to the "grid" (power company) with an agreement that they buy any extra electricity that is produced. It works except when the grid goes down because our hookup doesn't work unless the power company line is working. We could add batteries to do that but haven't. Of course, we have lots of sun here, and the power is reliable. |