U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
California

Funny.bytes
a look at the lighter side of BLM issues

As the Rotor Turns

A wind turbine is spinning in a night setting with stars and wispy clouds next to the title: As the Rotor Turns.

A country neighborhood with several homes, farmlands, and cattle grazing has wind turbines scattered throughout. The sound of wind is blowing; some of the wind turbines are spinning. Two wind turbines are together, one turbine (resembling a lady) is crying, wiping its tears with a tissue in one hand and holding a box of tissues in the other. The other turbine (resembling a man) moves closer with a concerned expression and asks, "Wendy, what's wrong?"

Wendy responds: "Oh Gusty, nobody likes me! I am noisy, expensive, a bird hater, inefficient, and ugly!"

Gusty: "Says who?"

Wendy: "Just look!"

A group of protesters hold up signs and yell complaints. The signs say:

  • Noisy, expensive, inefficient, and ugly
  • N.I.M.B.Y. Society (Not in My Back Yard)
  • A sign with wind power crossed off, meaning "no wind power"
  • Save the bats
  • Bird hater

Gusty puts his arm around Wendy and says, "Hold on, let's take a closer look at all the power you generate." Looking up at the sky, an image appears of a dark city street.

Gusty: "Lights for the city." (The neighborhood lights up - street lights and homes.)

Gusty: "You don't pollute!" (A power plant has dark emissions coming from the smoke stack.)

Gusty: "You are cheaper than coal or natural gas." (A graph with Natural Gas and Coal Prices 2003-2005 rising higher and higher)

More facts about wind energy are displayed:

"A few more facts: At 750 or 1,000 feet, an operating modern wind farm is no louder than a kitchen refrigerator and a moderately quiet room." - American Wind Energy Association. Moments later a plane flies across the scene.

"Compared to bird deaths resulting from other manmade structures, highway traffic, and housecats, bird kills by wind plants are numerically insignificant and are not expected to impact bird populations." - State Wind Working Group Handbook U.S. Department of Energy. A bird flies across the scene.

Gusty points at the light switch and the line: "For more information on wind energy, simply click this switch." Clicking on the link takes you to http://www.blm.gov/energy/#.

Gusty and Wendy embrace each other and smile.

Gusty: "...and to me you are beautiful."

Wendy: "Oh Gusty!"

A big heart appears covering both of them with kissing sounds.

The End


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