Don The Vampire

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Your PVR may be an insomniac.

That is, it may not be able to sleep.

According to a new study by the Natural Resources Defense Council , many set-top boxes (like the ones used to receive satellite or cable television) use almost the same amount of energy whether they're in use or not.

What's more, the study says, some set-top box setups use more electricity than your refrigerator.

NRDC senior scientist Noah Horowitz says that when several set-top boxes were tested, "Hitting the power button did next to nothing. The box continued to consume near-full levels of power, even at two in the morning. All it did was dim the clock."

Though the NRDC's study focused on U.S. set-top boxes, Horowitz says, "many of the boxes and brands that are installed in the U.S. are the same exact devices installed in Canada."

So why do these devices use so much electricity? There are a few reasons. Often, set-top receiver boxes are left powered on all the time. Couple that with the lack of efficient standby modes, and the aggregate power consumption can become costly.

As consumers, we don't often have a lot of choice when it comes to set-top boxes. Many people simply use the box that comes with their cable or satellite subscription. Opting for a greener television receiver isn't a practical option for most.

Ottawa-based green IT consultant Bill St. Arnaud told me that part of the issue here is that television service providers have little interest in making receivers and PVRs more efficient: "There's no incentive for the cable companies or the telephone companies... because they're not paying for the power."

You are.

And it's not just set-top boxes. Most homes are full of devices that draw power even when they're not in use. For instance, usually, when your TV is turned off, it isn't completely powered down. Rather, it's likely in standby mode, using a small amount of electricity. Ditto for wall chargers, which continue to draw energy even when they're not charging a cell phone or video game. This is what some people call "vampire power" - energy consumed by devices even while they're in standby mode.

But for many set-top boxes, the issue goes beyond vampire power, because these boxes don't even have efficient standby modes. Horowitz explains: "Imagine your DVR box that consumes 35 watts when you're watching The Simpsons. It will consume 34 watts when you turn it off.

Nina Dobrev praises TVD executive producer ... - The Vampire Diaries

That vampires could suddenly grow older by some magic potion! lmao… Only cuz I don’t want vampire diaries to ever have to end and it will… because lets face it Paul & Ian will change… not that I mind… lol

Other than that, I’d write something like discovering Klaus is actually some relative to Stefan and Damon & and that their father is also in one of those cascets in that warehouse where Elijah is… When Elijah comes back, so do their father, which will be a shock…especially to Stefan who thinks he killed his father. lol… I dunno.

I would have Katherine go after Stefan to try to convince him that she still loves him but he wont bite because his heart is with Elena. Damon on the other hand tries to comfort Elena because shes still upset over the leaving of Stefan so he tries to convince her that he didnt really love her. Jeremy and Bonnie are together but the ghosts of Vicki and Anna torment them. Caroline and Tyler realize that they are better together than apart.

seriously, I want it to be like Elena falling deeper and deeper to Damon then Damon trying his best to control his emotions, when they find Stefan his feelings for Elena was thrown to Katherine… Betrayal is what Elena and Damon find, then Elena is in denial and anger while Damon wants to kill Stefan for hurting Elena and the two of them comfort each other that leads them more than friends and I’ll leave it with that.. hope some parts in season 3 will be like that… and please if possible in the end I want to be DElena pairing…

I would make Klaus a distant relative not just of the Salvatores but of Tyler- since his father was a werewolf. Sheriff Forbes probably has a secret reason for hating vampires- maybe Caroline’s father became one. I WOULD DEFINITELY MAKE DAMON ELENA’S TRUE LOVE BY GETTING RID OF STEFAN- KATHERINE AND STEFAN CAN RENEW THEIR LOVE AFFAIR NOW THAT STEFAN IS BAD! DELENA FOREVER!!! Elena, being the doppelganger, would be able to restore Damon’s humanity with her blood- and then they would marry, have little Elenas/Damons, and LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!! I CAN DREAM!!!

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