GREETINGS FROM OUR SOLAR POWERED OFFICE

Last summer in the northern Rockies was pretty
strange….July was cool and spring-like and many folks’
gardens were delayed by the lack of heat. But the mild warm
autumn made up for it, and it was another bumper haul from
the Oasis garden and orchard. We couldn’t keep up with the
plums and apples, again! Who planted all those trees,
anyway? It seemed like a good idea at the time…..And this
winter has certainly been the real deal. La Nina, they say...

For those of you who aren’t “on line”, or are beginning
your project, we have an extremely informative Product
Catalog on disc for $10 ($20 out of country)—essential for
your energy library! Products, system sizing, pricing,
components, importance of energy efficient appliances, battery care, and wind turbines are just some of the topics covered. If you are on-line, you can see example systems at www.oasismontana.com/systems.html.  To assist your information input, we’ve tried to develop as much on-line information as we can. For solar water pumping, see www.PVsolarpumps.com; for utility-tied photovoltaic systems, visit www.grid-tie.com; for efficient AC appliances, DC ’fridges, coolers and freezers see www.eco-fridge.com; for natural and LP gas appliances, see www.LPappliances.com.  Our main index page is www.oasismontana.com and we now offer composting toilets at www.eco-potty.com. Visit our web pages and stay a while!

Late Winter - February/March 2011 Newsletter Index:

• Greetings

• Montana Grants

• Solar Module Pricing

• Propane Refrigerator Pricing

• Controllers and Regulators Pricing

• New Marine Grade Solar Modules

• Kill-A-Watt Meter

• Zep Module Mounting System

• SmartRE - Battery based inverter for grid-tie PV systems

• Sundanzer Energy Efficient DC Upright Combination Refrigerator and Freezer

• What is the payback of a solar electric power system?

• Renewable Energy and Alternative News Bites

• Quotable Quotes

NORTHWESTERN ENERGY offers grants to help qualified Montanans afford grid tied PV systems!
At this writing, this year we’ve been able to install four separate grid-tied PV systems that have qualified for NWE’s grants of $3/watt (up to two kilowatts) in our installation area. Our first system was for Gary and Karen Pelkey (of ‘Wild About Pets’ in Hamilton, MT).  They put an 8.2KW system on their brand new pole barn at their dog boarding facility near Corvallis, MT (Daly Dog Care).  The decision to buy solar modules was a no-brainer for Karen & Gary.  “The numbers are tremendous,” Gary explained. “You’d have to be crazy not to do it now.” With the $6000 grant from Northwest Energy,  combined with the 30% federal and $500 state tax credits, the installed cost of solar power is coming down significantly.  “It’s going to cover about 68% of the power used on the property on average,” Gary explained. And for Gary and Karen, the decision to switch to the sun offers more than financial benefits. “Energy costs are going to rise, so becoming self-sufficient is important”, says Gary. “The environmental aspect is important to us as well.”

Barb and Justin Stewart, of Hamilton, MT, (below left) put their ten modules on a pole mount that is easy to adjust seasonally. After the NWE $6000 grant, the 30% federal tax incentive and the $500 state tax credit, these two kilowatt systems, installed, cost their owners less than $7000. Kudos to our green-thinking neighbors in western Montana!

The 2 KW roof mounted system, above, is for June Russell of Hamilton, MT. “It’s just the right thing to do”, she says, “and also a hedge against utility inflation”

Oasis Montana pricing as of Jan. 2011 - call for current prices

SOLAR MODULE PRICING—call for availability, freight costs, and quantities (# of modules) on pallets for the best deal. You can’t get less than a pallet quantity to get the pallet ‘deal’. For larger modules, pallet quantity generally runs between 20 and 40 modules, and oft times there are significant additional charges for less than pallet quantities.

GAS APPLIANCES: Propane refrigerators, freezers, ranges, cooktops - www.LPappliances.com for information.
 

The Servel propane refrigerator can be converted to use natural gas for $200 (includes re-crating). The Crystal Cold refrigerators and Blizzard 10 to 18 cu.ft. freezers can be converted to natural gas for $50; the Blizzard 22 cu.ft. freezer can be converted to natural gas for $100 (more costly as this model has two gas absorption units). No power is no problem with these gas ‘fridges and freezers! We also offer propane & natural gas cooktops, Italian made by Verona; these professional cooking appliances are available in a wide variety of finishes (stainless, black, bisque and black glass), with two, four and five burner models. Visit www.LPappliances.com for pictures and specifications.

CONTROLLERS & REGULATORS are essential for complete battery charging while preventing overcharging. Sizing a charge controller is based on the input amperage and voltage of the solar array. Sungard 4 (4.5A by Morningstar) $32; Sunsaver 6 (handles up to 6.5A) $48 (with low voltage disconnect option $59); Sunsaver 10 (handles up to 10A) $55 (with LVD option, $70) also available in 24V. NEWSunsaver Duo 12V 25A (charges two batteries,w/ display & LCD) $188 - -great for RVs! Prostar PS15 $112; PS15M (with meter) $179; PS 30 $152; PS 30M $219. Tristar Charge Controller, 60A, 12 to 48V, multiple settings & screens, $218; 45A, $169,Tristar Digital Meter for their 45A or 60A charge controller $99.     5 yr. warranty on Morningstar products. Outback Power 60A Controller (MPPT, 60A with varying voltage input) $619. We can provide most brands of solar charge controllers, from Blue Sky Energy (formerly RV Power Products) to Specialty Concepts or Steca. Call us for availability and your pricing.

WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THE PLUMS: It was yet another bumper crop of European type plums this past year. This recipe for plum torte has been around for a while, but if you haven't seen it, it’s a great way to deal with too much fruit (and also works with raspberries, peaches and apricots).

Ingredients:
1/4 lb (1 stick) butter, softened; 3/4 cup plus 1-2 tblspns. sugar
1 cup unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs pinch salt
24-28 pitted plum halves
4 to 8 tblspns. lemon juice
1 tsp. cinnamon or more, to taste.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter and 3/4 cup of sugar; add flour, baking powder, eggs, salt and mix well. Spoon the thick batter into a greased 9 or 10 inch spring form pan (or 9 inch round cake pan). Cover the top with plums, skin sides up. Drizzle lemon juice over the top. Mix the cinnamon with the remaining 1-2 tablespoons of sugar and sprinkle over the top. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool; refrigerate or freeze, wrapped double in foil if desired. To reheat, you can thaw it, or just pop the whole thing into a 350 degree oven for a half hour. Serve plain or with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream (or brandy). Mmmmm, it’s a great way to enjoy a good harvest!

New Marine Grade Solar Modules by Eco-Energy: GANZ Eco-Energy’s fully weatherproof solar modules are designed to provide clean, quiet and reliable power in 6W, 12Wand 30Wmodels for rugged marine and other outdoor applications. An unbreakable plastic film surface with semi-flexible aluminum backing make these panels ideal for mounting on flat or gently curved decks. These solar cells have a very high conversion efficiency, providing maximum power while taking up less space on deck or in your backpack. Each panel has 4 grommet finished holes for mounting along with 10 ft. of 12 gauge outdoor rated cable that connects directly to your battery or a charge controller.

As a guideline, a charge controller should be used when the solar panel to battery ratio exceeds 10Wto 100Ah. These modules offer a 20 year power output warranty (1-10 Years 90%; 11-20 Years 80%); 2 year materials limited warranty; made in China, very similar to the former Solarex “MSX Lite” product line. These are built to give you years of economic power and portability for RVs, boats, traffic signals, marine environment, wherever you need portable & reliable power.

And another note added: these also include blocking diode, fuse, connectors and terminals, pre-constructed on the 6W and 12W module only!

Hello folks: For those of you who've received our paper flier, you will not be seeing information about the new Unique brand of stoves in our e-newsletter; unfortunately these are no longer available to us as they have been discontinued from our supplier. BUT, the Peerless Premier line of stoves will still be available (at least until later in the year) as a non-electric gas piloted model, and also as an electronic ignition model (where you can light the oven and burners with a match in the absence of AC power). And in the meanwhile, the Peerless Premier manufacturers are working on a non-electric model that will work off of a small battery pack, basically making a DC electronic ignition model. So stand by as more changes are in the works! These are still available without a heating element or glow-bar. We have a nice brochure on these we can pop into the mail, if you'd like a hard copy, or visit http://www.LPappliances.com/stovemodels.html for more information. And one other thing--the price of steel worldwide has really gone up in the past four months, so we are looking at what may be a significant price increase come April 1st. No foolin!

Kill-A-Watt Meter: This electricity detector and monitor can educate you about your monthly electric bill and help you save a lot of money. You can now be a ’detective’ and ascertain what appliances are actually worth keeping plugged in. Simply plug in the Kill-A-Watt meter, connect your appliances to it and Kill-a-Watt will assess how efficient it really is, showing you the instantaneous power used, and also cumulative energy or kilowatt-hours used.  Kill-a-Watt, with an easy-to-read LCD display, will count consumption by the kilowatt-hour, same as your local utility. With the help of Kill-a-Watt you can figure out your electrical expenses by the day, week, month or year on a given device. Kill-a-Watt can check the quality of
your power by monitoring Voltage, Line Frequency, and Power Factor. Still just $29.  Now you'll know if it is time to install a power strip on your entertainment center instead of feeding those ghosts loads while you are sleeping or away from home. Or, is that laptop really cheaper to power than a desktop PC? And how much power does that HD TV use? 

Operating Voltage: 115VAC
Max Voltage: 125VAC,
Max Current: 15A Max Power: 1875W
Dimensions: 5 1/8” x 1 5/8” x 2 3/8”
$29 plus shipping or two for $56
Check out this nice Kill-A-Watt article: http://blog.oregonlive.com/pdxgreen/2010/12/kill_a_watt_success_based_on_m.html

The patented Zep System enables rapid coupling and automatic grounding of solar module arrays. The Zep System
(U.S. Patent #7,592,537, U.S. & Int'l Patents Pending) works with all solar modules that include a Zep Groove on the outside surface of an otherwise conventional solar module frame. The system requires no rails, making it easier to ship, warehouse and most importantly, install.
The heart of the Zep System is a specialized stainless steel fastener called the Zep. This quarter-turn coupling rapidly locks
into the Zep Groove, enabling a drop-in installation action for one side of each PV module. The Zep also cuts through the
module frame's anodization to secure a solid ground path while simultaneously allowing for real-world factors like tolerance
take-up and thermal expansion. The Zep coupling is integrated into our two core components: the Interlock and the Leveling
Foot.

Big cost savings combined with the substantial PV module price reductions of 2010, Zep technology is opening the door to unprecedented solar pricing levels. With far less material and a rapid method of installation, the Zep System can realize savings of over $0.50 per Watt or more – that’s up to $2,000 in savings on a typical 4 kW system! And because the Zep System installs faster than conventional systems, solar installation companies can install more kWs per crew each day, allowing for better margins on labor and a significant increase in the deployment of solar energy.

2.3kW Zep roof mounted system:
This system will utilize 10
Canadian Solar 230 watt solar
modules and a PV Powered
string inverter.

Typical cost breakdown:
Equipment total = $10,850
Installation Estimate = $1,980
Project base cost = $12,830
Minus 30% federal tax credit
 = $3849
*Total Project cost = $8981
(cost may not include your site specifics, racking options or destination costs which vary place to place)

On average, this system will produce ~8.6 per day or ~249kW per month with the array oriented due south and mounted flush on a 6/12 roof with un-obstructed sunlight and 5 hours of full sun.

Note: there may be more solar incentives for you! Visit www.dsireusa.org for more info.

NEW PRODUCT FROM OUTBACK POWER!
Battery based inverter for grid-tie PV systems, SmartRE

SmartRE is the revolutionary Smart Renewable Energy solution from OutBack Power,
bringing you simplified grid-tie solar with back-up power for residential and small commercial
applications. Designed with an emphasis on ease of installation, a SmartRE solution
installs and operates similarly to basic grid-tie solar inverters but with the unique
additional benefit of providing UPS quality battery back-up during utility outages. An
integrated ultra-fast AC transfer switch guarantees that even sensitive back-up loads,
like computers, never know when a utility outage occurs. Recommended AGM batteries
are maintained and charged by an innovative OutBack multi-stage charging process.
This valuable feature assists in providing reliable back-up power and will help extend
your battery life up to 10 years.

The SmartRE is a versatile product and can be installed both indoors and outdoors.
Available in power levels up to 3kW and capable of providing as much as 69 kWh of
back-up power during outages, there is a SmartRE solution for your application. With
matching type 3R rainproof power electronics and battery enclosures constructed of aluminum,
a SmartRE solution can be either wall or pad mounted, making this the most
versatile grid-tie with battery backup solution on the market. This solution is designed
and manufactured by OutBack Power to ensure that a SmartRE solution works reliably
for years to come. A standard 5-year warranty, with an option to add an additional five
year warranty, provides peace of mind.

Ease of installation, UPS quality battery back-up, and solutions as large as 3kW along
with proven OutBack engineering makes the SmartRE system the Smart choice for a
premium Grid-Interactive solar power system. Now available from Outback Power, you
can view specifications on this new product at http://www.outbackpower.com/docman/1401107071220SmartRE_Spec_Sheet.pdf

Call or e-mail us for availability or additional information as needed! 406-777-4321 or info@oasismontana.com

Energy Efficient SunDanzer Upright Combination Refrigerator and Freezer

Save on energy costs with the SunDanzer DCRF134 DC Refrigerator/Freezer Combination unit. This single door upright unit is perfect for remote cabins and situations where a chest style is just not practical. Even with its small footprint, it still has food storage capacity of 4.7 cubic feet. The built-in freezer compartment is perfect for making ice and storing small frozen items.

High quality construction provides excellent reliability and a long life. The powder coated galvanized steel exterior is easy to clean.  The zero maintenance, brushless, thermostatically controlled DC compressor operates on 12 or 24 VDC.

With the added insulation and a refrigeration system optimized for off-grid applications, this newest addition to the SunDanzer family of energy efficient refrigeration appliances will provide the same outstanding economical and reliable operation as the popular chest style units.

Low energy consumption is the key that allows SunDanzer refrigerators and freezers to be the most cost effective for use with power from solar, wind, fuel cells or batteries. This technology allows refrigeration in remote locations where it was previously unavailable or prohibitively expensive.
 

Specifications: Voltage: 10-31 VDC Array Size Suggested: 300 Watts Average Energy Use at 12VDC: 70 F – 460Whrs/day, 38 AH/day 90 F – 720 Whrs/day, 60 AH/day 110 F – 1050 Whrs/day, 88 AH/day Gross Capacity: 134 L / 4.7 cubic feet Refrigeration: 115 L / 4 cubic feet Freezer: 19 L / .7 cubic feet Exterior Dimensions (WxDxH) 23.5 x 26 x 33 in Shipping Dimensions (WxDxH) 26 x 28 x 40 in Weight: 75 lbs including packaging, ships via LTL truck $1149 plus freight.

"The SunDanzer refrigerator and freezer are wonderful! We thought it might be a tad difficult to get used to a chest-style fridge, but it turns out to actually be easier to use than our old upright -- you can see everything. The efficiency of these appliances is nothing short of amazing! I don't know why everyone who is generating their own power doesn't have these appliances; Even during the past two weeks when it was mostly raining or overcast, our PV array generated plenty of power for the miserly SunDanzers! Thanks again for helping us to get off-grid." Lance & Kathleen Cayman Islands

"Corporation: An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility." —Ambrose Bierce

Just what is the value of a solar electric power system? We get many calls from solar wannabees, asking “What is the
payback?’, “How much money will I save?”, and the ever popular “How much will my utility pay me for my power?” The answers depend on several variables, including your utility rates (and your utility’s net metering program), your average sun resource, incentives, and your degree of household efficiency (or lack of it). If you live in a sunny or windy state with expensive power costs, your rate of return or payback will be quicker than if you live in a state where it’s cloudier, or where the utility power is already very cheap. And first, of course, you should endeavor to become as efficient as possible, so your power system investment will go even further. When your utility rates are quite high, if your location is generally sunny, and there are decent financial incentives, you may find that investing in a solar electric system to be a worthwhile and cost-effective endeavor.

From a strict property value point of view, it is generally considered that you can add $20K to your home’s value for every $1000 reductions in annual energy costs from the installation of a PV system. And, solar power systems actually appreciate over time, because they increase your annual energy savings as energy costs rise. We rate the lifespan of a solar array at ~30 years (and many of those early NASA modules built in the 70s are still quite functional). Solar (photovoltaic or PV) modules are generally warranted for 20 to 25 years to make at least ~80% of their rated power, so figuring resale value should take this de-rating into account.  GENERALLY SPEAKING, the least expensive way to buy a solar electric system is to pay cash up front—but those costs may be daunting. The next option may be to add the purchase to an existing mortgage or home equity loan. Banks no longer find the investment of PV to be an esoteric technology, and are generally willing to work with your purchase plans.

Incentive programs vary from state to state and neighboring utilities may have very different (or no) incentives. In Montana, for example, some of the co-ops and major utilities like Northwestern Energy are quite progressive, and some we are still trying to bring into the 21st century. You can check http://www.dsireusa.org for information on the incentives available in your state (this site is updated weekly).

Of course, another long term ‘incentive’ is the solid knowledge of utilizing power with a device that is benign as a window, with clean energy from the sun—and no contributions to fouled salmon runs, mountaintop removal or strip mining, and no power plant emissions for land and water and future generations!

Renewable Energy and Alternative News Bites: Oil and Renewables: Slicing up the Subsidy Pie...Even though governments throughout the world are vowing to expand green energy, they continue to give far more subsidies to fossil fuels than renewable – 10 to 12 times more....
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/12/oil-and-renewables-slicing-up-the-subsidy-pie?cmpid=SolarNL-Tuesday-December28-2010

Report Ranks States Most Vulnerable to Oil Price Hikes: Natural Resources Defense Council, November 4, 2010 http://www.nrdc.org/media/2010/101104.asp.  According to the 2010 edition of the annual report, "Fighting Oil Addiction: Ranking States' Oil Vulnerability and Solutions for Change,” the 10 states most vulnerable to oil price increases are: #1 Mississippi, #2 Montana, #3 Louisiana, #4 Oklahoma, #5 South Carolina, #6 Texas, #7 Kentucky, #8 Utah, #9 Idaho, and #10 Arkansas.  The 10 states that are doing the most to promote clean energy technologies and reduce their dependence on oil are: #1 California, #2 Oregon, #3 Massachusetts, #4 New York , #5 Connecticut, #6 Washington, #7 Pennsylvania, #8 Minnesota , #9 New Mexico, and #10 Hawaii. Meanwhile, the 10 states doing the least to reduce their oil dependence are: #50 Alaska, # 49 Wyoming, #48 Nebraska, #47 Ohio, #46 West Virginia, #45 Oklahoma, #44 Mississippi, #43 Kansas, #42 Alabama, and #41 North Dakota.

Complaints about the supposedly high costs of renewable energy by political pundits and candidates around the state of Montana are vastly misleading and need correction. Let's set the record straight: http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/columnists/article_90fc5a02-dd1b-11df-bc6d-001cc4c03286.html

Solar Power Now Cheaper Than New Nuclear in North Carolina: According to a new report by Dr. John Blackburn, the former chancellor of Duke University, solar electricity has become cheaper than that from new nuclear power plants in North Carolina, and will be far less expensive before nukes could be built. Solar photovoltaic and hot water system costs have fallen steadily for years, and are projected to fall even more over the next 10 years due to manufacturing and installation advances. The report explains that states with open competition for electricity sales are rejecting the nuclear gamble in favor of the combined economic and environmental benefits of solar, wind, cogeneration and energy efficiency; at least 20 states are ahead of North Carolina in developing clean energy. By contrast, the report shows, states with monopoly power markets are the ones still proposing to build new nuclear plants – with each project absorbing billions of public dollars. Visit http://www.ncwarn.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/NR-7-8-10-Solar-nuke-rept.pdf for the report.

- - - - -Empire State Building retrofitted for efficiency: http://ase.org/efficiencynews/empire-state-building-american-icon-saves-energy-money for the story.

- - - - -Nuclear Energy Loses Cost Advantage: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/business/global/27iht-renuke.html?_r=1&src=busln — In a “historic crossover,” the costs of solar photovoltaic systems have declined to the point where they are lower than the rising projected costs of new nuclear plants, according to a paper “Solar and Nuclear Costs— The Historic Crossover” published this month by John O. Blackburn, a professor of economics at Duke University and Sam
Cunningham, a graduate student. This crossover occurred at 16 cents per kilowatt hour, they said. Similarly, another report, “All Risk, No Reward for Taxpayers and Ratepayers,” by Mark Cooper, senior fellow for economic analysis at the University of Vermont Law School’s Institute for Energy and Environment notes that while solar power costs have been declining, the costs of nuclear power have been rising inexorably over the past eight years.

- - - - -US continues to fall behind China in clean energy: http://2greenenergy.com/us-renewable-portfolio-standard/6598/

- - - - -Let's see how much energy the American lifestyle needs.... http://www.emagazine.com/view/?5402

- - - - -The US Military Is One of the Biggest Supporters of Renewable Energy in the U.S.:  http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/09/the-usmilitarys-two-pronged-renewable-energy-initiative —Clean air mandates pushed the U.S. Department of Defense to start developing renewable energy technologies.
But the benefits of energy security and independence are what finally converted many military leaders into believers. In combat zones, the Army is exploring mobile solar and wind generators to replace fuel trucks, which are frequent targets for insurgent attacks. More than 1,000 Americans have been killed while delivering fuel in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years. Congress in 2007 gave the DoD marching orders to draw 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025.

- - - - -Dog poop powers gas street light: http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/011628.html

- - - - -Wind turbine manufacturing plant opening in Arkansas: http://nacleanenergy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3854&Itemid=999

- - - - -IEA SaysWorld Should Eradicate Fossil Fuel Subsidies: http://www.firstenercastfinancial.com/e_news.php?cont=40373 Referring to a pledge made earlier by G20 countries, the International Energy Agency says abolishing fossil fuel subsidies would boost the world's economy, environment and energy security. In its annual "World Energy Outlook," EIA estimated such subsidies at $312 billion in 2009, mostly in developing countries, compared with $57 billion in subsidies for renewable energy. Fossil fuel subsidies were on course to reach $600 billion by 2015, and renewables subsidies more than $100 billion. Eliminating fossil fuel consumption subsidies by 2020 would cut global energy demand by 5 percent, compared with no action, and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 6 percent by then. World leaders had committed in Pittsburgh in 2009 to phase out fossil fuel subsidies which encouraged wasteful consumption.

Cars and People Compete for Grain:  http://www.earth-policy.org/index.php?/book_bytes/2010/pb4ch02_ss6  The emerging competition between the owners of the world’s 910 million automobiles and the 2 billion poorest people is taking the world into uncharted territory. Suddenly the world is facing an epic moral and political issue: Should grain be used to fuel cars or feed people? The average income of the world’s automobile owners is roughly $30,000 (or more) a year; the 2 billion poorest people earn on average less than $3,000 a year. The market says, let’s fuel the cars. From an agricultural vantage point, the world’s appetite for crop-based fuels is insatiable. The grain required to fill an SUV’s 25-gallon tank with ethanol just once will feed one person for a whole year. If the entire U.S. grain harvest were to be converted to ethanol, it would satisfy at most 18 percent of U.S. automotive fuel needs. The price of grain is now tied to the price of oil….

QUOTABLE QUOTES: In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. --Albert Camus
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I believe I have found the missing link between animal and civilized man. It is us. --Konrad Lorenz
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Horse sense is the thing that horses have which keeps them from betting on people. --W. C. Fields
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Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as in the summer, when they complained about the heat. --Unknown
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If you talk to God, you are praying; if God talks to you, you are schizophrenic. --Thomas Szasz
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It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress. --Mark Twain
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A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul. --George Bernard Shaw
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When the snow is still blowing against the window pane in January and February and the wild winds are howling without, what a pleasure it is to plan for summer that is to be! --Celia Thaxter
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Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle…a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream. --Barbara Winkler