[QUOTE=kladner;529247]The days before electric refrigerators, or perhaps electricity itself reached some farm state back country places, included one-cylinder gasoline-engine-driven refrigerators.
<snip>[/QUOTE]That's right! And you can probably get a modern version at [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lehman%27s_Hardware]Lehman's Hardware[/url] in Kidron, Ohio.

I heard an NPR piece about this place in 1999. A lot of people with more dollars than sense, concerned about the prospect of the power grid failing because of the "Millennium Bug," had learned that Lehman's was [i]the[/i] place to buy wood-burning stoves, gasoline-powered refrigerators, and non-electric versions of whatever appliance they might want.

However, unlike the store's regular customers, who were familiar with such things, these folks didn't know [i]anything[/i] about properly installing of a wood-burning stove so you don't burn down the structure you're heating with it, properly venting a gasoline-powered appliance so you don't exterminate the residents with carbon monoxide, etc. As a result, the staff was wasting huge amounts of time explaining all this to these ignoramuses.

[QUOTE=Dr Sardonicus;529259]That's right! And you can probably get a modern version at [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lehman%27s_Hardware"]Lehman's Hardware[/URL] in Kidron, Ohio.
[/QUOTE]
Thanks for digging that up. I tried a few searches, but clearly did not hit on a productive combination of terms.

[QUOTE=kladner;529247]The days before electric refrigerators, or perhaps electricity itself...[/QUOTE]

Just to put this out there (somewhat related)...

Don't forget about [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absorption_refrigerator"]absorption refrigeration[/URL]... Kinda cool -- heat in, cold out. Thermodynamics in action! Einstein actually designed one.

These are very commonly deployed in Recreational Vehicle (RV) situations, available COTS. Because they usually use a "bubble pump", they have to be ***exactly*** leveled.

I've personally done quite a bit of research on a Lithium Bromide cycle, for air-conditioning. Unfortunately, the transition point for the solution concentration part of the cycle is *just* past the temperatures you can reach with flat solar panels.

Heat driven refrigerators are what turned up in my searches. These include ones that burn natural gas, propane, and kerosene.

One of the universities that I attended wanted USD 56.25 to ship transcript to Canada.

First class mail to Canada cost USD 1.15. :no:

[QUOTE=dcheuk;530711]One of the universities that I attended wanted USD 56.25 to ship transcript to Canada.

First class mail to Canada cost USD 1.15. :no:[/QUOTE]

What did they want to do -- "overnight" it?

I can see wanting to use something pricier than first class for important documents (something requiring a signature, say), but if it doesn't have to arrive the next day I'm sure there are much less expensive shipping options.

[QUOTE=Dr Sardonicus;530724]What did they want to do -- "overnight" it?

I can see wanting to use something pricier than first class for important documents (something requiring a signature, say), but if it doesn't have to arrive the next day I'm sure there are much less expensive shipping options.[/QUOTE]

Nope, no alternative options.

I thought it was an outrage so I might be been excessively aggressive during the conversation with the registrar. Shame on me.

[QUOTE=dcheuk;530725]Shame on me.[/QUOTE]

No, shame on them. They deserve outrage from every caller for gouging alumni.

[QUOTE=Prime95;530730]No, shame on them. They deserve outrage from every caller for gouging alumni.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for agreeing with me, seriously. Sometimes I think I am a troublemaker by complaining too much when everyone else didn't say a thing.

So, I complained about this and sent numerous emails to the president of the university claiming that this is outrageous and the university is not doing everything in its power to save cost for customers ... cough cough I meant students.

After some back and forth email and calls they have now changed the policy for shipping transcripts within North America and reduced it to 10 dollars. I've verified that they've just modified the website and transcript ordering service for all students today.

Persistence (and I think justice too) prevailed! :smile:

[QUOTE=dcheuk;530909]Thanks for agreeing with me, seriously. Sometimes I think I am a troublemaker by complaining too much when everyone else didn't say a thing.

So, I complained about this and sent numerous emails to the president of the university claiming that this is outrageous and the university is not doing everything in its power to save cost for customers ... cough cough I meant students.

After some back and forth email and calls they have now changed the policy for shipping transcripts within North America and reduced it to 10 dollars. I've verified that they've just modified the website and transcript ordering service for all students today.

Persistence (and I think justice too) prevailed! :smile:[/QUOTE]

Wow! Now that's impressive. Are you for hire? I could use someone like you in my corner.

[QUOTE=dcheuk;530909]Thanks for agreeing with me, seriously. Sometimes I think I am a troublemaker by complaining too much when everyone else didn't say a thing.

So, I complained about this and sent numerous emails to the president of the university claiming that this is outrageous and the university is not doing everything in its power to save cost for customers ... cough cough I meant students.

After some back and forth email and calls they have now changed the policy for shipping transcripts within North America and reduced it to 10 dollars. I've verified that they've just modified the website and transcript ordering service for all students today.

Persistence (and I think justice too) prevailed! :smile:[/QUOTE]
:tu:

[quote]Henry VI. [b]What stronger breastplate than a heart untainted!
Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just[/b],
And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.[/quote]

-- William Shakespeare, [i]History of Henry VI, Part II[/i] (Act III, Scene 2)