With gas approaching the $5.00/gallon faster than anyone expected, and the Iranian Government thinking that they can wreck the US economy and thereby take the US down where it is unable to do that militarily, the lack of action by the US government should be a topic of discussion by any concerned citizen. The US Government and "We the People" that elected them have wasted the last 35 years from the 1973 "First Oil Embargo" oil shock when we should have been looking for solutions like we did during the 1960's "Space Race" to the moon. On May 25, 1961, JFK galvanized the country by his mandate to "...before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth.".
It appears, We lack the moral fortitude and integrity to come together as a nation and solve this very dangerous, and possibly "life style ending" problem. Never before has the US faced a problem that so completely impacts all aspects of our life and national well-being. Energy is at the heart of our economy and standing. However, we not only face the problem of being oil-addicted, but we are being beset by both "enemies both foreign and domestic". Is there a solution? Of course, but it will take some very heavy sacrifice and unity: without either, the US is destined to become another 3rd world country.
First, we have to admit that we as a country must become energy independent. As a systems engineer, I am not going to argue to merits of drilling, alternative energies, green-power, etc. These discussions are fruitless in reaching our goal of becoming EI: energy independent. We are past the point of partisanship or environmental agendas. If we don't become EI then it will not matter which party is in power nor will it matter if everyone goes green: the US will not be around to impact anyone with anything.
The only way for the political parties to continue or the green movement to continue is for the US to continue! It's that simple, and it's that powerful. We have to put away our divisions and realize that neither the Dems or Repubs, conservatives or liberals, energy-friendly or eco-friendly will be around to push any of their agendas. We are on the Titanic, folks, and it matters not if the right side or the left side is the correct side: the ship is going down! Both sides will soon be under water if we don't get the guts to act and act right.
My next few blogs will begin to lay out a solution to the EI problem we now face. It can be done and it can begin to show IMMEDIATE results, not 5-10 years in the future, but like right now. Here is a short lists of the topics that we can begin to start implementing:
1. The Congress must pass a comprehensive EI bill that uses EVERYTHING in our energy arsenal: drilling, clean coal, nuclear, conservation, innovation and alternative energies that are energy creating, not energy wasting.
2. Conservation: the quickest way to impact our current situation and send a message to OPEC that will produce immediate results in the price of oil
3. Drilling & exploration: it is the height of hypocrisy to ask the OPEC nations to supply more when we are unwilling to do the same here at home
4. Nuclear: the ultimate eco-friendly energy source now that the twin problems of nuclear accidents and waste by-products have been solved.
5. Clean coal: we have 3X the amount of energy in coal that currently exists in all the oil fields of the world; we simply need to innovate its use to be more eco-friendly.
6. Innovation: fuel cells are the ultimate solution to our transportation problems while HESC (high-efficiency solar conversation) cells is the ultimate solution to our electrical energy problems. If we can send a motorized rover to Mars and control its actions, we can develop both of these technologies within 10 years. Via la JFK!
7. Energy smart, not energy stupid: develop only sources of energy that create MORE energy then is expended to produce the energy source. Solar, wind, and hydro-electric are and can be energy smart; current bio-fuels are energy stupid since they require more oil-based energy to create then they produce. Be smart, not PC!
Come back over the next few weeks as we lay out these solutions in detail as to how they can solve this pressing and current danger to the USA.
Nanouk
A moderated blog (due to blogspam) that now believes America has moved too far down the road towards socialism to come back and recover its former glory. Truly, America's best days are behind her. Major topics include politics and investing.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Hollywood Spin on Climate Hysteria
OK, I think I have seen the ultimate Hollywood spin on global warming with some of the new Sci Fi channel made for TV movies such as the very loosely aligned with the Crichton book, The Andromeda Strain, and some the recent alien-oriented movies that tie global warming to aliens. Whew! I thought I had seen everything, but to now say that global warming is the fault of an alien infection while Michael Crichton's excellent science fiction book has been very loosely interpreted to include the future is sending back a warning about destroying the planet (see the plot of Star Trek IV) by eliminating the one thing needed to save the future, and the very off-handed token gay reference (Rick Schroder) character "don't ask, don't tell".
Has it come down to the point that everything coming out of Hollywood must now be spun to include dealing with political and sociological of the decade. These very brief, but blatant reference or inclusions of such topics only show the intentions of the writers, producers and directors of these recent remakes. I would much rather see new plots, new movies with these current topics included as part of the present landscape then going back and trying to do an almost revisionist construction of past classics.
Why are writers today so limited in their capabilities that the only thing coming out of Hollywood are remakes and remakes that try to include these hot social issues of the left-leaning Hollywood crowd?
Also, I just wish that the Hollywood crowd that mouth off about "if so-and-so gets elected I'm leaving the US" would in fact do so. It was interesting to hear Babs and one of the Baldwin brothers who said very similar things about the 2004 re-election of GWBush. I guess that these actors, now including Susan Sarandon., don't consider their word or statement of much value, so why should we consider what they with any more validity?
Remember, America can be fixed, but it will take some very dedicated people caring about the future of this country. The next few blogs will be about how to fix the energy problem now facing the country.
Have a good one.
Has it come down to the point that everything coming out of Hollywood must now be spun to include dealing with political and sociological of the decade. These very brief, but blatant reference or inclusions of such topics only show the intentions of the writers, producers and directors of these recent remakes. I would much rather see new plots, new movies with these current topics included as part of the present landscape then going back and trying to do an almost revisionist construction of past classics.
Why are writers today so limited in their capabilities that the only thing coming out of Hollywood are remakes and remakes that try to include these hot social issues of the left-leaning Hollywood crowd?
Also, I just wish that the Hollywood crowd that mouth off about "if so-and-so gets elected I'm leaving the US" would in fact do so. It was interesting to hear Babs and one of the Baldwin brothers who said very similar things about the 2004 re-election of GWBush. I guess that these actors, now including Susan Sarandon., don't consider their word or statement of much value, so why should we consider what they with any more validity?
Remember, America can be fixed, but it will take some very dedicated people caring about the future of this country. The next few blogs will be about how to fix the energy problem now facing the country.
Have a good one.