Why is the climate changing. (Page 102) zeffur: Off the top of my head, the following seem like valid reasons: 1. Items can usually be obtained quicker (picked up or delivered) 2. Items can usually be handled for visual inspection (kick the tires so-to-speak) 3. A real human can usually be asked complex questions that are often times NOT available via online information (especially when they have NO phone number or email available--unless you've bought a product already). 4. Warranty/guarantee issues can usually be handled locally--no need for costly shipping expenses & delays (especially for heavy items) when dealt with locally. 5. Your camera shop person probably knows which cameras are more & less reliable, perform better/worse, etc & can more quickly advise you on which product is the best bang for the buck & why s/he thinks so. (Edited by zeffur)  Sir Loin: There is also the fact that buying locally creates a job for someone in your community rather than merely making Jack Ma even richer.  ghostgeek: In the "good old days" I always liked to go see what it was I wanted to buy. The trouble is, the "good old days" are in the rear view mirror and I'm finding it mighty difficult finding outlets near me that stock anything I want. Sir Loin: Price is so often a big consideration too. The mega online retailers like Ali Baba can undercut anyone else, they don't lose bc they just pass on shit prices to the manufacturers. zeffur: That's why I live in a major metropolitan area--there are many options available to me. Online product comparison guides & reliability info may be sufficient for you, but, I find a person who specializes in cameras for example is usually a much faster way to get very good information--than biased online reviews from someone who doesn't have to look me in the eye when providing me with her/his recommendations & justifications... (Edited by zeffur) Sir Loin: Haha, I wait till I can afford to travel then go shopping in other countries where items are produced. I sometimes pay as little as 5% the usual retail price at home. Sir Loin: no such thing as smuggling in NZ unless you're talking drugs. We have free trade here, something USA could learn from. ghostgeek: I live in a town of about 65,000 people that used to support at least two dedicated camera shops. Now there are none. Same for many other things. But if I want my hair cut, I'm spoiled for choice. zeffur: Yeah.. low paying services jobs are abundant in countries that outsource good paying jobs throughout the world to enrich the rich further. zeffur: This is a good read: https://intelligentdesign.org/id/introductory/a-scientific-history-and-philosophical-defense-of-the-theory-of-intelligent-design/ zeffur: I got that url from a post in his forum, so I'm sure he'll be aware of it if he isn't already aware of it. Some lawyer posted that link in BS's forum recently. I just thought I'd share it here because it was very well written. ghostgeek: China is a country caught in the middle of a global struggle: to develop but also be green. It currently uses about as much coal as the rest of the world put together but it's also a world leader in wind and solar production. According to the International Energy Agency, between 2019 and 2024 China will account for 40% of the global expansion in renewable energy. However, as its economy slows down it is now re-opening some coal mines and the country’s Premier Li Keqiang has urged energy officials to promote coal-fired power. So is China addicted to coal? [ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-51152951/china-s-struggle-to-move-away-from-coal ] So I guess the rest of us will have to cut back to let them carry on polluting. ghostgeek: What's happening in Australia? Melbourne and Canberra have been pelted by golf-ball sized hail in separate storms within 24 hours. The wild weather prompted over 1,500 calls for emergency help in the state of Victoria alone. [ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/headlines/51171285/australia-storms-huge-hail-causes-chaos-in-two-cities ] zeffur: Biggest hail I've ever seen was the size of baseballs. The destruction it caused was astonishing. ghostgeek: Anyway, seems there's a new explanation for ice ages: Scientists have discovered that the world's ice ages may have been caused by sea ice forming a lid on the ocean and blocking its exchange of carbon dioxide with the atmosphere. Less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere resulted in a reverse greenhouse effect, causing the planet to cool --leading experts to believe that the ice circling the frozen desert may have sparked the ice age 2.5 million years ago. An ice age looks unlikely any time soon, as sea ice is at an all-time low and data shows it could keep declining. [ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7631115/Explosion-sea-ice-levels-spark-ice-age-time-2-MILLION-years.html ] ghostgeek: Nothing much larger than peas falls in my neck of the woods, for which I'm heartily glad. | Science Chat Room Similar Conversations |