Message 1538 of 4667

How Broke RU?

There was a post here (Eons) recently something to the effect "How do you know when you are broke" which received many clever answers -- Here is one from real life:

A new stove has been invented which cuts very dangerous indoor air pollution seven fold -- It has a cost of $21 US dollars -- To be sold in India and many other countries will require installment sales or micro-loans -- Now THAT is POOR!
v123's profile
Replies 1 - 10 of 26
If people spent some time in a 'have not' country they wouldn't complain about what they aint got.
JwB58's profile

over 2 years ago
Truer words were never spoken, JB ! I already volunteer engineering time to the company making the stoves and I think making micro-loans to buyers may be in my future
v123's profile

over 2 years ago
Good for you V. Wealth is always a relative issue. Many Americans don't realize how well off they are. Travel can really open your eyes in that respect.
jerseygirl13's profile

over 2 years ago
My curiosity is piqued v123. What do they use for fuel and what are they used for? Cooking and heating or just cooking? The pot belly was a vast improvement over the open fire with chimney and the chimney was a lot better than an open fire with open doors and windows (Nepal comes to mind). American Indians had a flap in the top of their teepee and Eskimos don't build no stinkin fires in their igloos. How is this new stove revolutionary?
JwB58's profile

over 2 years ago
Amen to that, JG!
clarity2's profile

over 2 years ago
When I was in Dubai, laborers were making around $150 per month. That was three years ago when the economy was good, and they thought they were making a lot compared to their friends back in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

Imagine earning $150 a month, sending half of it back home, and paying rent and food with the rest. In Dubai, one of the most expensive places on earth...
jd55's profile

over 2 years ago
Isn't Dubai in trouble financially right now?

over 2 years ago
It's all about the choices you make in food and shelter. Hawaii is also very expensive, but many of the "natives" live on far less than you might think.

My daughter-in-law is still constantly amazed at the amount of space Americans think they need. My place is very tiny. She thinks it's just right. Her entire family has spent years in less space, happily.
jerseygirl13's profile

over 2 years ago
JB, the stoves are for cooking and there is no control over the fuel. Typically, the fuel may be wood, grass, or dried dung. The improvement is a catalyst which further oxidizes Carbon Monoxide into Carbon Dioxide (a much less dangerous gas) combined with a particulate filter -- It is estimated it could save 40,000 lives a year in India alone --
As a small additional point, the catalyst used in the stove was developed by my company as a low cost alternative for automotive exhaust treatment and was never used for that purpose -- And if anyone ever tells you how easy it is to get rich from patents allow me to point out that I have yet to make a cent off this patent and allow its use in the stove gratis -- Hope it produces some good finally, it's costs are long since fully written off on my ledgers!
Thanks to all for the well wishes on this project and I will keep you posted!
v123's profile

over 2 years ago
Speaking of tiny living spaces: Some years ago I worked in racing for Mazda and had a young associate engineer from Japan -- Every time we won a race I had commemorative pull-over shirts printed up for team members -- He had to leave them behind when he returned home as his wife said they would not have the space to store them !! Honestly, 7 or 8 SHIRTS !!
v123's profile

over 2 years ago
Replies 1 - 10 of 26

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