Another week down, with a dozen more presentations in the books! Hopefully this week we’ll finish up Persuasive Presentation I. Our odds are certainly quite a bit better now, at the very least.
Let’s start this week’s discussion with a bit of controversy. A recent archaelogical find is already being called “the major discovery of Christian history.” A set of 70 lead codices — basically, stone books — were discovered in a remote Jordanian cave five years ago, and some scholars now believe they could hold clues to the last days of Jesus’ life. Of course, a tense conflict is brewing over ownership of the credit card-sized codices, but given that initial metallurgical tests indicate that they are about 2,000 years old, they could be landmark finds indeed. Or perhaps they’re just a two millenia-old shopping list. What are your thoughts on these scrolls? Do you buy the claims that they have deep religious significance? How about scientific tests of their authenticity? For that matter, what do you think about the interaction between science and religion in general? Are they mutually exclusive entities or easily blended? What is the role of the scientist, as you see it, pertaining to religion?
In Spain, researchers from a small company called Bio Fuel Systems are working on mixing carbon dioxide and algae to promote the production of fossil fuels identical to those naturally created millions of years ago. According to engineer Eloy Chapuli, “We are trying to simulate the conditions which existed millions of years ago, when the phytoplankton was transformed into oil. In this way, we obtain oil that is the same as oil today.” There is speculation that this alternative fossil fuel could be available for public consumption in 5-10 years, representing an alternative to limited natural fossil fuels, electric power which demands lengthy vehicle charging, and nuclear power which, given the ongoing crisis in Japan, the public is less apt to support. Do you think that this alternative is as promising as many seem to think? How might it change the world around us and the subjects of major concern to us? By the same token, is this an ideal solution to possible energy crises, or are there problems with this alternative? What do you think should be done in the energy industry — and what plans do you think will actually be implemented?
In other world news, Libyan rebels are trying to hold recent gains after six weeks of fighting against Moammar Gadhafi’s forces, although the U.S. says it has no plans to send ground troops as support. NATO air strikes have had mixed results; a recent effort against Gadhafi’s army accidentally killed 13 rebel troops instead. The violence in Syria has also continued, with dissidents being seized from their homes and at least nine demonstrators killed and dozens more injured by security forces on Friday. That hasn’t slowed down protests, which continued on Saturday, inspiring some shops to close “in solidarity with with the protesters.” Attacks in Afghanistan have also recently increased, with seven U.N. staff killed on Friday and a suicide attack in Kabul on Saturday. The Taliban in claiming no responsibility, with a representative instead saying that “it was a pure act of responsible Muslims” in response to a March 20 Koran burning by Florida pastor Terry Jones. As for the Japanese nuclear crisis, Japan’s Prime Minister says that officials may have discovered why radiation has been leaking into the sea: according to Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), a crack in a concrete pit at the No. 2 reactor in Fukushima has been leaking water, releasing radiation at a rate of 1,000 millisieverts per hour. TEPCO staff have begun pouring concrete into the leak in an effort to limit further damage.
Okay, we’ll talk about the NCAA tournament one last time (unless Butler wins it all, in which case I’ll be obligated to at least mention it next week). Let’s return to the student-athlete dilemma first. Consider the superstars of college hoops who ultimately use the NCAA as a minor league of sorts on their way to professional basketball (or other sports, for that matter). What does that mean for the college scene that they leave behind (especially if they enter the pros before finishing four years of school), both on the court and in the classroom? As a student-athlete, how do you weigh the money from immediately jumping to the pros against the education of the last 1-3 years in college? On the university level, do the millions of dollars earned from collegiate athletics outweigh the (probably slight) decline in graduation rates or any social phenomena that may unfold around student-athletes who have little intention of finishing their degrees? What about coaches who make more money than anyone else at their university? Taking it to the larger organizational level, does it benefit the NCAA or the NBA to establish a minor league system akin to that of Major League Baseball? Why or why not? What about allowing NCAA athletes to be paid, as some have suggested? Would the benefits of such a change outweigh the drawbacks? And what about renewed allegations of NCAA rules violations by staff on two of the Final Four teams?
Finally, in stupid-internet-posting news, on Thursday a New Jersey first-grade teacher was suspended without pay for saying that “she felt like a warden overseeing future criminals.” Apparently the post spurred a large group of parents to demand her removal from what is, to be fair, one of New Jersey’s most troubled school systems. She’s hardly the first teacher to be suspended for online comments; a Pennsylvania high school teacher was recently suspending following similar comments on her blog, and a Chicago second-grade teacher is facing disciplinary actions after posting and mocking one of her student’s school photos on Facebook. What are your thoughts on these recent incidents? Should internet activity be used against employees in their real-world lives? I know that some of you have expressed interest in primary education, so what do you think about these teachers and their behavior? For that matter, how does the crossover between online activity and real-world consequences relate to the Rebecca Black story we discussed last week?
As always, please feel free to discuss any of the above or below stories, or post on another topic of your choice, if you prefer!
Other articles of interest:
Snooki Earns Higher Speaking Fee Than Toni Morrison
Google v Microsoft: Oi! You looking at me?
One-Armed Surfing Star Says Upcoming Biopic Is ‘Spot On’
BCS conducts shallow probe as party rages on
How did the tradition of cutting down the nets begin?
Israel, The Third Nation on the Moon?
AP-GfK Poll: Americans souring more on economy
President Obama intervenes in budget standoff
More US Women Having Children With Different Biological Fathers
Loophole means Utah sex offender set to be freed
New census data shows which areas of America are growing, shrinking
No ring? Will and Kate break from tradition, along with more couples
Rebecca Black’s Not To Blame: Meet The Man Who Wrote “Friday”
Stephen Colbert & Jimmy Fallon Sing Rebecca Black’s ‘Friday’
b0bcampbell
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Chris Dix
dareyes
dmack5
ecuevas7
erictheguyjin
jakerjones
jhhong
jiefeili
jkrebsba
jleoni24
jmesker
junbug2005
jvogie
kcvogel
mchuff
mrupley
Rebecca K Britt
tdmcardle
COM 315 Course Blog 
Apr 03, 2011 @ 14:01:21
I read the article about the person who wrote Rebecca Black’s song. When I watched that video last week I was wondering, “who is this rapper?” and it’s kinda funny to find out he was the one who wrote the song. The lyrics are really simple but I think the video was so negative because she is 13 and can hardly pronounce all of the words correctly and her voice is just not up to par. But I guess she is 13 so maybe it’s not too bad for a 13 year old…
Apr 03, 2011 @ 15:41:31
I’m dumgstruck and amazed that the set of 70 codices have been hidden away for as long as they were. I believe those should be preserved in a museum, not in someone’s home. Although, it makes me wonder that if they were hidden away in someone’s home, were they passed on the obligation over many generations’ to protect these small booklets from the public, seeing as how they were miniature and more likely for private intentions. It’s mind boggling to even consider that if the codices really are from when christ was crucified, the few that are sealed shut may confirm that he was crucified and rose three days later. This kind of evidence will, I’m sure, turn every non-believer into a true believer without question.
I’m pretty indifferent when it comes to the teachers that are being pin-pointed for things that they might be saying online. I feel that things that they might be saying online about the students or to the students is really dependent upon the situation. A teacher could be very personal and close to their students and post a comment on facebook to a student that is meant as a joke to the student, but to everyone else, it may just look like a rude comment. It’s all a matter of the situation. Teachers should know their place where they stand with specific students though because there is a fine line and as a professional adult joking around with a student, things can easily be construed and turned around. I don’t see suspensions as that bad of a punishment though. It helps them acknowledge where that fine line is and it keeps them from crossing it. I would see expulsion or getting fired as too extreme of an action.
Wow, I had no idea that Black was 13. The other videos that the makers of her video made though, cracked me up. They are most definitely lyrics directed for a younger audience.
Apr 03, 2011 @ 18:28:23
I’ll talk a little bit about the NCAA topic. Let’s be honest… those athletes that play in college and are good enough to be in the NBA don’t need a formal education. They just go through the motions of college anyways, so it’s not a big deal for them, they just want to get to the big paychecks. And who wouldn’t? Lebron James playing in college would be like Steve Jobs taking this class to learn how to present… they just don’t need them to be successful in life. The ones we should be concerned about are the athletes that will “go pro in something other than basketball.”
Apr 03, 2011 @ 20:34:33
I want to share some of my thoughts on the school teacher stories. You brought up a really good point with the online aspect of someones life. I find it kind of ironic actually since we are using an online tool in this course to communicate and share our ideas. However, what works in COM 315 doesn’t always fly in the real world. I’ve heard so many stories of employers actually using social media as a means to get more information on a potential employee of a company. Whether this is right or wrong is a whole different debate, but I do know that people have been turned down on job offers due to information or pictures exposed on the internet. In the case of the school teacher situation, the school teacher should have realized what she was getting herself into. At this day in age, the internet is such an essential part of the average person’s life. It opens up a world of information and in this case, negative statements regarding a student. In my opinion, the teacher should not be given any slack. What you post on the interenet needs to be accounted for, end of sentence. Which reminds me, am I going to have to delete all my blog posts after this semester? I noticed that a simple google search actually exposes every post I have ever made in this class as well as other COM classes. Kind of a scary thought, but I guess that is the nature of the beast that is the internet.
Until Next Week!
Manny Cuevas
Apr 04, 2011 @ 13:24:28
In response to the incident with the school teacher, I agree that internet activity should be used against employees. As an employee, you represent the business which you are working for. It is similar how employers look at backgrounds of people they are thinking of hiring. I think that a person needs to be mature enough to only make posts on the internet appropriate for anyone and everyone to see. If they decide to post something either derogatory or offensive, they do not deserve the respect as others who are being respectful. I think that these teachers deserve the suspensions they were given and teachers who act this way should continue to be treated this way.
Apr 04, 2011 @ 17:47:44
I want to make a comment in response to the teacher being held liable for what she says online. She should be held accountable for anything she says online. Anyone can read it and get offended. You have to learn that what you say can get you in trouble, no matter what.
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about.
This image shows an 18 year old asking people from 4chan what his facebook status should be. If you look through the images, you can see he got arrested for putting something online that someone else told him to put on there. So, even if you’re not serious, be careful of what you say on the internet.
Apr 05, 2011 @ 23:15:04
In response to pay college athletes or not, I feel that it is completely ridiculous that people think college athletes should be paid. First, as the NCAA likes to put in their commercials, these are “Student-Athletes”. They are being paid in a college education, something that just about anyone would love to have. I would love to play a sport for free tuition. If we were to pay college students then I would expect them to win every game. The fact that they are students like me is what makes not winning every game acceptable. It makes them an actual part of the student body instead of an employee. If they want to be paid they should go to the professional leagues. If they aren’t good enough to go straight to the pros then they shouldn’t be asking for money. If a college education isn’t enough “payment” I don’t know what is. Around 1% of college athletes actually go pro in their sport. The other 99% use the college education that they received for free, to continue their life and make a living. So if you ask me a college education is enough “payment” for the “Student-Athlete”.
Apr 06, 2011 @ 15:07:21
Let’s start this week’s discussion with a bit of controversy. A recent archaelogical find is already being called “the major discovery of Christian history.” A set of 70 lead codices — basically, stone books — were discovered in a remote Jordanian cave five years ago, and some scholars now believe they could hold clues to the last days of Jesus’ life. Of course, a tense conflict is brewing over ownership of the credit card-sized codices, but given that initial metallurgical tests indicate that they are about 2,000 years old, they could be landmark finds indeed. Or perhaps they’re just a two millenia-old shopping list. What are your thoughts on these scrolls? Do you buy the claims that they have deep religious significance? How about scientific tests of their authenticity? For that matter, what do you think about the interaction between science and religion in general? Are they mutually exclusive entities or easily blended? What is the role of the scientist, as you see it, pertaining to religion?
As a Christian, I am hoping that these codices found in Jordan are about Jesus’ life and/or death. If indeed they are, they will be yet another piece of evidence proving the existance and story of Jesus. If they are legit, they will match up with the philosophies and morals of the rest of the Bible because God composed the Bible with perfect symmetry; just like he did all creation.
As for the interaction between science and Christianity, Gene Cook, a pastor and author, said it very well when he said, “I interpret science through the lens of the word of God, which presupposes the truth of Genesis 1-3.” Basically, the reason people believe science is because it is so reliable. However, many people don’t realize that God created science. Science will always point back to the Word of God, because there is no science without God.
Apr 06, 2011 @ 15:07:51
As a Christian, I am hoping that these codices found in Jordan are about Jesus’ life and/or death. If indeed they are, they will be yet another piece of evidence proving the existance and story of Jesus. If they are legit, they will match up with the philosophies and morals of the rest of the Bible because God composed the Bible with perfect symmetry; just like he did all creation.
As for the interaction between science and Christianity, Gene Cook, a pastor and author, said it very well when he said, “I interpret science through the lens of the word of God, which presupposes the truth of Genesis 1-3.” Basically, the reason people believe science is because it is so reliable. However, many people don’t realize that God created science. Science will always point back to the Word of God, because there is no science without God.
Apr 07, 2011 @ 10:57:00
In regards to alternative fuel sources, I feel the algae approach is just extending an ongoing issue of the effects of fossil fuels on the environment. According to the IEA, oil production peaked five years ago – the algae production of “synthetic” fossil fuels would be a good source to offset declining reserves. As I noted in my speech, even if we all start using electric cars, the electricity to power them is still coming from a plant that burns coal or natural gas to produce that power. Regardless of your stance on global warming, it is a known fact that the world is getting warming – and whatever the reason is debatable, but I can safely assume that these emissions are not helping the situation, not to mention the pollution issues that are occuring in major cities around the world. I am still a proponent of nuclear power – the earthquake in Japan was a freak occurence – 9.0, the largest that country has had in recorded history, and the result was radiation leakage with no significant health impact on local towns and cities. To end worldwide use of nuclear power plants is overreacting and will require us to rely on fossil fuels that are quickly becoming extinct (excuse the pun). I’m still holding out for fusion reactor technology to mature to power production – a power effeciency of 1000%, no emissions, and low risk. Progress is slow for as soon as one issue is overcome, two more issues arrise. Recent estimates show working fusion plants producing commercial power by 2050 – but realistically I’d be happy to see one in my lifetime.
Apr 07, 2011 @ 15:31:36
I would discuss the internet-posting:
These days, I feel the web is not private any more. Rather than that, the web is the place for people to be exposed to the world, which is more likely a public place, when we think about some trendes getting a job through a web site (LikedIn).
World-widely (including the U.S. and Korea), I have seen a lot of cases that a person’s private life is revealed because of social networking sites or other activities on the Internet as those teachers, and heard some companies search a potential employee’s background through histories in social networking sites. Some celebrities in Korea have suffered from the similar situation. It is definitely intrusion of a person’s privacy. However, sometimes, it brings good benefits to the public. For example, in Korea, there have been (still going on) serious issues on posting a comment anonymously; since some people actually don’t see the others, they post bad comments on a innocent person (most of the innocent people are celebrities) with all really really bad slangs. Because of lots of these cases, some Korean people started finding the people who badly commented on the other people, by using social networking sites or whatever on the Internet, and blaming and revealing their lives. – it created another problem here, but it actually brought some good effects because due to that, people are more careful to post comments and don’t try to harm other people anonymously.
So I would say, it is not totally bad in a few cases even though it definitely has bad effects on some people. Also, if we like it or not, it happens in the world and there are not other options that we can choose. It seems we should consider the Web as a public place and act according to its characteristics now.
– Ji Hyeon –
Apr 07, 2011 @ 15:52:20
In response to the codices that were discovered,
I find this discovery fascinating, but I am forced to maintain a skeptical perception of it. I welcome the ideas of Religion to be tested under scientific principles. As for the the authenticity of the codices, I think time and more scientific tests will determine how real it is. While not a very religious person, I do believe that Science and Religion can work together, but Religion needs to maintain an objective point of view. It’s tough though, because most religious truths are based in faith, and not hard facts. Only dates, times, and events can truly be tested, unless I’m missing something. Regardless, I would love to see the religious community and scientific community get along better, but alas, this is not always the case.
Apr 07, 2011 @ 20:28:06
The Allure of going Pro:
Student athletes in the NCAA have such tremendous opportunity. Not only are their skills honed on the basketball court, or football field, but they are also able to be educated at the collegiate level. Both of these combined, provide the chance for them to become incredibly well-rounded. However, when a student short-circuits the system, and opts to leave early to go pro, they rob themselves of have their potential. Yes, you could leave early and make an outrageous salary doing what you love, but it’s not a stable career. The average length a player is in the league is just under 5 years (http://www.nba.com/news/survey_2007.html). The lure of $20 million over the course of 5 years is an undoubtedly tempting on. Nevertheless, after your done playing, you need some type of education to fall back on. No one wants to have crappy jobs, and a college education is something that can steer you away from them. Student-Athletes should complete their education before “going pro” in order to ensure a higher quality of life after ending their time in the league.
Apr 09, 2011 @ 15:36:21
The revolt in Libya appears to be simmering down. It doesn’t appear as though many countries questioned the Libyan rebels before backing them. With the United States now in a more limited role in NATO military operations in Libya, it appears as though Qaddafi will take hold of the country again.
Apr 10, 2011 @ 14:07:09
I was very interested in that archaeology research, I remember being read that science is the “killer” of religion since there are so many conflict between them, also people with religions claim that there are many miracles created by god that is just impossible to happen other wise, however, if god is truly all mighty how could he created a world that has so many imperfect rule that allow so many “miracles” to happen?
Although I have said all these, I am still a man of God, and I believe whatever science said that seems to be contradictory to our religion, we need to face it, not trying to bypass or simply ignore it.
Apr 10, 2011 @ 21:47:49
In response to the findings of the codices, I think it’s pretty fascinating that these were identified as having some information on the last days of Jesus’ life. Honestly, anything found that was created 2,000 years ago would be a remarkable find. But, finding something that pertains to a specific religion is even more remarkable because it could pontentially change all of history as we know it. I’m not completely sure if these have religious signficance. I think that, for the most part, they would though because scholars and archaelogists have been studying these codices for five years. It would be really tough to study something for five years and not know atleast a broad or general idea of what your studying. In addition, I also think that it had some sort of religious affiliation because thousands of years ago, many were religious. Many seeked gods, goddesses, and spirits for answers and purpose.
Furthermore, I think that science and religion have the ability to blend. Of course, science often contridicts religion and religion contradicts science but there are some scientific ideas that prove the existence of God. Some argue that science is more correct because its reasonable and more logical. Others would argue the opposite. Overall, I think many won’t believe until they either see God for themselves or unless a “miracle” were to happen. Scientists could find every body of every person in the Bible and I think many won’t believe.
Apr 10, 2011 @ 22:30:15
Fossil fuels really seems to be a very good alternative. If it works, even it will take years for phytoplankton transforme into oil, it will still be the one of the best way to solve the energy crisis.
For the problems this way may cause, is the huge consumption of plants. So, nomatter what kind of new technology human develop, we still need to protect our enviourment. Energy industry need to pay more attention on power saving and nature enviroument and so do us.
Competition happens among countries and companies. Personally, I don’t think this is very good and enviroumental way on protecting the enviroument and resouces. The results is energy waste. Each country or company are under pressure to develop new technology to increase its compatibility. As a result, the same technology need to be developped many times. If one country or one company create a technology, everyone can share this technology. We can save much much more energy.
In a conculstion, no matter what kind of new technology we develop for creating new energy. There will never be enough energy for human if we continue like that.
The crsis of energy is not because the limite of resouce. It’s because ourselves.
Apr 10, 2011 @ 23:04:07
In response to the teachers getting in trouble for things they talk about in their personal lives, I think it is a growing problem. I know that in this day and age, potential employers sometimes even use the internet to “interview” potential employees. Do I agree with it? Of course not. What happens in your personal life should stay there, not be dragged into your work life. However, that being said, if you post a picture of one of your students making fun of them, someone in relation to said student is bound to find out about it. My parents talk about ridiculous people from work all the time but they don’t post things about it on the internet for everyone and their brother to see. I think it’s a little ridiculous that businesses use the internet to check up on their employees, but if, like in this case, it’s a matter of a student, then I feel the school’s actions were appropriate.
Apr 10, 2011 @ 23:55:25
Eric, you make some good points here about the Rebecca Black song. I think it’s important to be aware that Black herself is not solely responsible for the effort, particularly if you’re going to critique the piece (or, by extension, Black herself). As Tommy noted, realizing the full origin of the song can really change your perspective on the people involved.
A lot of people were intrigued by the codices — I’m glad that they stirred up some excitement! Tommy, I hadn’t considered the potential of “defending” these private documents. We’ll see how the general public reacts to them, though. I’m not sure how they’ll be viewed by the world at large, or if people will even pay attention. David, I think a lot of people share your hopes about the content of the codices. It’s certainly interesting timing, especially with all the speculation about 2012 and the end of the world (whether you’re following the Mayan calendar, the book of Revelations, or something else entirely). I’ve heard a lot of contradictory arguments about the relationship between science and religion, but it does seem meaningful that a number of scientists are devout followers of their faith. Perhaps they’re not as mutually exclusive as some media and popular culture sources might have us believe. Brian, your point about retaining skepticism is certainly well-taken. While initial testing has indicated that the time period is roughly accurate, it will be difficult to judge the content and truth of the codices for quite some time. Jiefei, the questions you pose are tricky dilemmas that people have faced for quite some time. One common belief is that the influence of, shall we say, “sinful” influences has corrupted the world that would have been perfect otherwise. Either way, Randy’s right that these are tremendous discoveries regardless of their role in religion, but they may hold even more signficance depending on the content they hold. I think we’ll be working to figure out how science and religion interact for quite some time to come. The important thing, at this point, is to make sure that we are aware of where we stand.
The teacher’s post also seemed to be a hot topic. One of the issues that makes such cases particularly thorny is the level of confidentiality that teaching demands. I won’t get into all the details, but in higher education, at least, instructors have to follow a lengthy list of rules under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). I’m certain that there are similar guidelines for other levels, which essentially means that some of the instructors mentioned in the below articles breached confidentiality rules. With that said, there are certainly different situations and different degrees to which information is shared (as well as some information that is restricted and other types that are not), as you indicated, Tommy. Certainly, an instructor’s personal opinions about teaching as a whole wouldn’t fall under those rules, although it might be enough for the school to deem that teacher ineffective nonetheless. Manny, you’re right that this is a tough issue. There’s the dual issue of how online comments affect the individual’s work and how it changes the organization’s issue. Jared, it’s smart to be aware of how what you’re saying affects your employer. A lot of people are still adjusting to the lack of temporality on the internet; if you yell something on the bus, most people will probably forget about it in a day, or at least be unable to offer any proof of wrongdoing on your part. When it’s posted online, though, it’s basically there forever for people to see — especially with search engines with which people can easily find the comment or archived versions of it (see archive.org). It can also have severe personal conseqeuences, as Marcus noted. One would think that anyone on 4chan would know not to trust any suggestions on the site, but again, some people are still adjusting to the online realm and its real-life consequences. And, as Ji Hyeon noted, even anonymous comments can have very serious ramifications, especially when they are little more than personal attacks. Of course, as Justine emphasized, we also have to be concerned with the rights of the individuals making the comments. If it doesn’t do any major harm to the organization, should the individual be sanctioned? That’s not an easy question to answer, especially when you try to define and measure the degree of harm that a post may do to the integrity of an employer.
(On a side note, I’m surprised to see that you’re right, Manny; this blog does appear on Google. It’s not that I didn’t trust your claim, but I’m suprised because I actually set the site to block web crawlers in order to prevent any privacy concerns, but I suppose that it didn’t completely stop Google. In any case, the comments I’ve seen this semester have been pretty uncontroversial, so I probably wouldn’t be too worried about it, but we can certainly talk about it if you have any concerns.)
James, you make an interesting point about the athletes. You might be interested to hear that the NBA is considering a new collective-bargaining agreement that would force athletes to stay in college longer. Matt, I see your point about the line between amateur and professional here. If college athletes begin to make a salary, I’m not sure where it would stop — I could easily see, a decade or two down the line, collegiate salaries rivaling those of professional sports just so that schools could make valuable ticket sales and keep their alumni happen. That would also be a sure-fire way to keep mid-major schools from having any chance in competition. It’s also troubling to note that many professional athletes eventually wind up in bankruptcy due to the instability of their careers, as Jacob highlighted. Athletes have a much shorter time to make a salary than those going into other fields, so if they end up spending a significant portion of their annual salary each year, they may run out too soon.
Joe, great thoughts on the fossil fuels. Whether or not you’re concerned about global warming, natural fossil fuel supplies are limited, so there’s little choice but to work on alternatives. It’s notable that most classic “oil” companies have long since started framing themselves as “energy” companies instead so that they’ll be able to compete in a new marketplace. Whether they’re working on fuel via natural gas, electricity, nuclear power, wind, or something else entirely, most people in the industry are aware that a transition is inevitable. The biggest question, though, is when that shift will have to occur — most of the estimates I’ve heard from individuals in the industry (with whom I’ve had personal conversations, thanks to family connections) see it 50-100 years down the line. Jun, your consideration of the plant life is well-taken. If we’re concerned about the ramifications of pumping gases into the atmosphere, imagine the ramifications for the ecosystem if a large chunk of it is being used to produce fuel. One of the biggest questions will be whether scientists can take a small sample of the algae and replicate it or use it repeatedly, or if they’ll have to remove a lot of algae from nature in order to meet humanity’s fuel consumption demands.
As or Libya, I’m actually not sure that the future is so clear at this point, Chris. Every time I think the outcome is certain, something else happens to cast doubt on my conclusions, as well. Most recently, a Journal & Courier report suggests that the Libyan government has accepted a cease-fire plan. Of course, we’ve heard similar stories before, but it should be noted that NATO has had an effect on Gadhafi’s efforts to retake rebel-held cities. It’s certainly quite possible that this is all another ruse and that Gadhafi will ultimately win the war of attrition. We’ll just have to keep watching to see what happens.
Anyway, the time for this week is almost up now, so I look forward to seeing all your thoughts on the Week 13 post!