This does not compete with solar panels, nor is it a "better" or "worse" idea. This should be obvious. Paint is several orders of magnitude cheaper than solar panels.

As to your "bootstrapping" idea on making solar panels with the electricity from solar panels - guess what - it takes more than electricity to make solar panels.

You are right though, something here sounds retarded.

I don't understand why people want to "rip" with anything more complex than "cp /dev/cdrom GoneWithTheWind.iso". When you play back the file, you get the exact same quality and options as on the DVD. Other than choosing a filename, it is zero-click. What am I missing?