Comments on: Going Deaf For the Earth http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/ Personal website of author Doug Fine Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:10:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: OrgoCowboy http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-979 OrgoCowboy Thu, 21 Feb 2008 17:23:48 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-979 Does anyone know if there’s soundproof headphone that blocks out engine noise but can tap into the car’s sound system? Wouldn’t do much for conversation, though, unless we had throat microphones, like on a plane. Does anyone know if there’s soundproof headphone that blocks out engine noise but can tap into the car’s sound system? Wouldn’t do much for conversation, though, unless we had throat microphones, like on a plane.

]]> By: Pete Kowalewski http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1002 Pete Kowalewski Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:28:26 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1002 Doug - Noise-cancelling headphones (wide price range - Bose makes them for $300-$400 or Shure makes them for ~$100)...Same in-ear or standard headphones that musicians use when in-studio or on stage...Would have to wire in a headphone jack to the truck's stereo... Good luck with the new book. Can't wait to read it... Pete Doug -

Noise-cancelling headphones (wide price range - Bose makes them for $300-$400 or Shure makes them for ~$100)…Same in-ear or standard headphones that musicians use when in-studio or on stage…Would have to wire in a headphone jack to the truck’s stereo…

Good luck with the new book. Can’t wait to read it…

Pete

]]> By: OrgoCowboy http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1003 OrgoCowboy Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:34:13 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1003 Ah ha, see, folks who don't know the previous poster might benefit from the awareness that he is one of the smartest engineering minds I know, and so when he casually says, "ah, just wire the jack into the truck's stereo," he probably means a pleasant 20 minutes for him. For me, we're talking almost certain totaling of the vehicle. Still, it's encouraging to hear there's a solution, and for my long term hearing health, I might have to dive in. Pete, prying off a dashboard for me is the equivalent of George W. Bush reading a book. Thanks for the kind words on the book! Ah ha, see, folks who don’t know the previous poster might benefit from the awareness that he is one of the smartest engineering minds I know, and so when he casually says, “ah, just wire the jack into the truck’s stereo,” he probably means a pleasant 20 minutes for him. For me, we’re talking almost certain totaling of the vehicle. Still, it’s encouraging to hear there’s a solution, and for my long term hearing health, I might have to dive in. Pete, prying off a dashboard for me is the equivalent of George W. Bush reading a book. Thanks for the kind words on the book!

]]> By: Kerry http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1006 Kerry Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:55:08 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1006 OH that is SOOOO funny!!! On a more serious note, doesn't it require a bunch of (carbon-emitting) resources to come up with $300-$400 for noise-cancelling earphones? Should you/WE re-think the auto option to a quieter one (the Golf tdis are not noisy). Also, do I get the poop on straight veg oi fuel if I read your (Doug's) upcoming book? I am *this* close to buying a pretty new car (doesn't meet my future self-sust plans) or dump dollars into my reliable *old* Honda, until I can kiss the auto lifestyle adios. thank you Kerry OH that is SOOOO funny!!!
On a more serious note, doesn’t it require a bunch of (carbon-emitting) resources to come up with $300-$400 for noise-cancelling earphones? Should you/WE re-think the auto option to a quieter one (the Golf tdis are not noisy). Also, do I get the poop on straight veg oi fuel if I read your (Doug’s) upcoming book?
I am *this* close to buying a pretty new car (doesn’t meet my future self-sust plans) or dump dollars into my reliable *old* Honda, until I can kiss the auto lifestyle adios.

thank you Kerry

]]> By: OrgoCowboy http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1007 OrgoCowboy Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:59:06 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1007 Thanks for the kind words! It might be funny but for better or for worse it's also true! Good question on any disposable product. This is why I'm aiming for self-sufficiency. But even buying slave made stuff used at Thrift stores seems to me to have ethical questions. Are there carbon-neutral headphones? There should be. And, yes, Farewell, My Subaru does indeed give the scoop of the hunger-inducing world of Vegetable Oil driving (as Rudolph Diesel intended, by the way -- well, not on Chinese food, but on peabnut oil). Meanwhile, I need the noise R.O.A.T. (Ridiculously Oversized American Truck) because my driveway is maintained with the frequency of the banking system in Somalia, and thus 4WD is the order of the day. Thanks for the kind words! It might be funny but for better or for worse it’s also true! Good question on any disposable product. This is why I’m aiming for self-sufficiency. But even buying slave made stuff used at Thrift stores seems to me to have ethical questions. Are there carbon-neutral headphones? There should be. And, yes, Farewell, My Subaru does indeed give the scoop of the hunger-inducing world of Vegetable Oil driving (as Rudolph Diesel intended, by the way — well, not on Chinese food, but on peabnut oil). Meanwhile, I need the noise R.O.A.T. (Ridiculously Oversized American Truck) because my driveway is maintained with the frequency of the banking system in Somalia, and thus 4WD is the order of the day.

]]> By: Kerry http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1008 Kerry Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:31:18 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1008 Yes, its true; thus the reason its so funny. I spent ALL DAY yesterday trying to do a super simple task -- change wires, distrib cap and rotor. Ran hair dryer on cap and wire ends and everything b/c it was a rainy day. Does the car work? NO! I hope it is faulty wires. Yes, its true; thus the reason its so funny. I spent ALL DAY yesterday trying to do a super simple task — change wires, distrib cap and rotor. Ran hair dryer on cap and wire ends and everything b/c it was a rainy day. Does the car work? NO! I hope it is faulty wires.

]]> By: OrgoCowboy http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1009 OrgoCowboy Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:45:38 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1009 I feel for you, my friend. Nothing in my cranium would provide any actual -help-, but know I feel for you. I've been there. Recently. Often. I feel for you, my friend. Nothing in my cranium would provide any actual -help-, but know I feel for you. I’ve been there. Recently. Often.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1014 Kevin Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:20:05 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1014 Even though diesels are loud they don't have wires, plugs, or distributor caps!! Even though diesels are loud they don’t have wires, plugs, or distributor caps!!

]]> By: Goldie Ell http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1025 Goldie Ell Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:16:43 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1025 Just read your interview in Smothsonian and then went to your web site. Relay enjoyed it and now to get the guts and read your whole article. I love that you are doing what I did for over 40 years I lived on little of nothing and now I live in the city.I will enjoy reading all your story . New Mexico is one of the States that is really my home and miss not living there now. Goldie Just read your interview in Smothsonian and then went to your web site. Relay enjoyed it and now to get the guts and read your whole article. I love that you are doing what I did for over 40 years I lived on little of nothing and now I live in the city.I will enjoy reading all your story . New Mexico is one of the States that is really my home and miss not living there now.
Goldie

]]> By: OrgoCowboy http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1040 OrgoCowboy Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:25:58 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1040 Good point, Kevin -- there are trade-offs to everything except chocolate, I guess. And Kevin F, my veg oil mechanic (See March '07' Dispatch herein), wrote to say my Ford 7.3 Powerstroke engine is one of the loudest (though most robust) around. And thanks for the kind words, Goldie. Good point, Kevin — there are trade-offs to everything except chocolate, I guess. And Kevin F, my veg oil mechanic (See March ‘07′ Dispatch herein), wrote to say my Ford 7.3 Powerstroke engine is one of the loudest (though most robust) around. And thanks for the kind words, Goldie.

]]> By: OneCowgirl http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1054 OneCowgirl Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:59:41 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1054 Loved the article in the Smithsonian! Loved the article in the Smithsonian!

]]> By: OrgoCowboy http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1061 OrgoCowboy Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:11:45 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1061 Thanks! It's so funny to have a photographer come to the Ranch and shoot me, you know, feeding goats and fiddling with solar panels. Meanwhile, the full article is up on the Smithsonian Web site (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/interview-doug-fine-200803.html), and it includes a lot of the interview that didn't appear in the print edition of the magazine. Thanks! It’s so funny to have a photographer come to the Ranch and shoot me, you know, feeding goats and fiddling with solar panels. Meanwhile, the full article is up on the Smithsonian Web site (http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/interview-doug-fine-200803.html), and it includes a lot of the interview that didn’t appear in the print edition of the magazine.

]]> By: GreenJoel http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1184 GreenJoel Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:08:20 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1184 I just found your blog, saw this posting and had a mild epiphany...I think this is exactly what's happening to me!! (and here I thought I was just getting old). I also have a 7.3 powerstroke (though I may adopt your 'R.O.A.T.' acronym...don't worry, I'll give you credit) which runs on veggie (though probably not as frequently as yours, since I live on the frigid tundra known as Boston, MA). I've been noticing that my sense of hearing has started to fade over the past few years...the very same years in which I've been motoring about in my rumbling greasetruck. Hmm, maybe I should buy one of my roommate's veggie Mercedes (much quieter and a touch more sophisticated than the mighty monster truck...ah well, sophistication is over-rated anyways). I just found your blog, saw this posting and had a mild epiphany…I think this is exactly what’s happening to me!! (and here I thought I was just getting old).

I also have a 7.3 powerstroke (though I may adopt your ‘R.O.A.T.’ acronym…don’t worry, I’ll give you credit) which runs on veggie (though probably not as frequently as yours, since I live on the frigid tundra known as Boston, MA).

I’ve been noticing that my sense of hearing has started to fade over the past few years…the very same years in which I’ve been motoring about in my rumbling greasetruck.

Hmm, maybe I should buy one of my roommate’s veggie Mercedes (much quieter and a touch more sophisticated than the mighty monster truck…ah well, sophistication is over-rated anyways).

]]> By: OrgoCowboy http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1194 OrgoCowboy Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:00:52 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1194 I like it when I hear about people buying retro/discarded versions of status cars like Mercedeses to drive on VegOil. It wouldn't work on the Funky Butte Ranch, though -- the last mile leading to the place is maintained with the regularity of the highway system in Somalia, so I need 4WD. I like it when I hear about people buying retro/discarded versions of status cars like Mercedeses to drive on VegOil. It wouldn’t work on the Funky Butte Ranch, though — the last mile leading to the place is maintained with the regularity of the highway system in Somalia, so I need 4WD.

]]> By: Ugly American http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1389 Ugly American Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:50:38 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1389 For future reference, Turbo Diesels make less noise and it's not as harsh because the turbine traps the put-put sound. For future reference, Turbo Diesels make less noise and it’s not as harsh because the turbine traps the put-put sound.

]]> By: nancyb http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1421 nancyb Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:43:37 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1421 I really enjoyed that film. You are a really funny guy and I wish you success in your lifestyle. We are all going that way whether we like it or not and many of us are revisiting a lifestyle we dabbled in in the 60's. If we're lucky we would have learned something. I learned how pleasurable it is living this way. I really enjoyed that film. You are a really funny guy and I wish you success in your lifestyle. We are all going that way whether we like it or not and many of us are revisiting a lifestyle we dabbled in in the 60’s. If we’re lucky we would have learned something. I learned how pleasurable it is living this way.

]]> By: Steve http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1875 Steve Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:43:50 +0000 http://www.dougfine.com/2008/02/05/going-deaf-for-the-earth/#comment-1875 Here's a better solution: Buy a Dodge. The Cummins engine is MUCH quieter than the International Harvester built Powerstroke. Go check it out - my Cummins is not much louder than a gas engine, and I'm sure it would be doubly so on vegetable oil as I've heard that reduces engine noise considerably. It's true it was a little quieter when new than now with 45,000 miles on it, but it's still a winner. Nice interview on Leno. I dream of living as you do, but haven't yet figured out how to make the transition. Here’s a better solution: Buy a Dodge. The Cummins engine is MUCH quieter than the International Harvester built Powerstroke. Go check it out - my Cummins is not much louder than a gas engine, and I’m sure it would be doubly so on vegetable oil as I’ve heard that reduces engine noise considerably. It’s true it was a little quieter when new than now with 45,000 miles on it, but it’s still a winner.

Nice interview on Leno. I dream of living as you do, but haven’t yet figured out how to make the transition.

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