Comment on 'ultimate energy breakthrough?'

     Leave it to Massachusetts Institute of Technology to come up with a solution to the one road block the economy has been concerned about for some time: The ability to store and use solar energy on a massive scale at night time. This has eluded scientist since the dawn of solar panels. But now MIT has discovered a catalyst that will effectively and inexpensively store solar energy on a mass scale for use at night without the emission of carbon. Nocera and Mathew Kanan are the ones that came up with the idea of utilizing the solar power of the sun to "split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases; thereby, allowing them to be recombined inside a fuel cell (para. 5). This discovery came about after creating a new catalyst made of cobalt, metal, and phoshpate together with an electrode which is then placed in water. Finally, technology has opened a possible doorway to eliminating our insurmountable addiction to fossil fuels. The sun has been staring us in the face with enough energy to run the planet for a year after just one hour of exposure. Unfortunately, the idea or discovery is not practical due inapplicable electrolyzers. But according to MIT, that step is not far from reality. Hopefully ten million dollars in funding for the next ten years will be sufficient enough to make this dream of renewable large scale energy a way of life to the world.

Comment on 'Social Media Revolution 2'

     First was the industrial revolution. Now, it is the social media via internet. We are so comfortable with the internet and its social networks that we unthinkingly divulge all our personal information about us for all to see. What does this mean for future endeavors such as employment? Your potential employer will know more about you than your own mother via social media. Instead of “be careful what you say:” it is now “be careful what you type.” What really took me back is that YouTube is the 2^nd largest search engine in the world. I had no idea it was that popular. Maybe a good research paper can be done via YouTube. I’m starting to think that this internet stuff is the Frankenstein of our modern age. As we delve into the social media deeper and deeper, we isolate ourselves from true social interaction with actual flesh and blood people. I hate to see what kids are like growing up in a house full of computers and hand-held devices including cell phones. The parents will never get a word of instruction in because the internet will get it to them first.

Comment on 'How to avert a global water crisis'

     Water resources are vital now and will be even more vital in 2030. That is only 20 years from now. The future of our children is in stake if action is not taken to monitor and wisely manage these resources. According to Natasha Gilbert, holding up improved management practices is jeopardizing the future of our water resources. Due to water usage increasing to an astounding 2 trillion cubic meters by 2030, there is no room for procrastination on proper water management. Water usage ties into the global supermarkets that are producing more and more food for a growing population. With more agriculture comes more demand for water. Already 70 to 90% of the annual water is going to food production. In the next 40 years, food demands will double putting a strain on water supply in the rivers. Declining water tables will have a negative affect on the life of rivers. With all this taken into consideration, monitoring is crucial for accurate and timely allocation of needed water for agriculture. In this particular case, technology is the key to proper and affective measuring and monitoring water resources via satellites with remote sensing devices. According to Colin Chartres, director of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka, this technology will be up and running within the next three to five years. 

Comment on 'Researcher questions society's adoption of technology without critical assessment'

     I agree with Professor Isabel Pedersen regarding society’s quickness to accept such domineering technology as opposed to thinking about what we could have done after irrevocable consequences have already been rendered. Of course, advertisement is to blame. People are so hyped up to buy the next best thing in technology due to upcoming holidays that they do not even consider the “dehumanizing and humanizing aspects of new technologies.”

Comment on 'Pre-crime' Comes to the HR Dept.'

     Judgment day is coming a little sooner than expected due to today’s advanced technology. Everybody has a track record of good and bad behavior throughout their lifetimes, but now that we are so open with our lives on an electronic diary, we are all vulnerable to advanced technology. The company known as Social Intelligence produces the negative employee information to potential employers prior to hiring. This goes beyond the usual criminal and credit check. Now social networks are infiltrated for more personal data to predict future behavior of potential employees. Is this fair? The company may prove to be an advantage for employers, but what about the potential employee that separates work ethic with leisure ethic. I think too much information may lead to too much responsibility. There are just too many social networks out there that are for leisure activity and that should not to be taken out of context for work purposes. Employers ought to disregard the liability hassle of knowing too much about a potentially violent employee, but wrongful termination lawsuits just are not worth it to them. Big brother is no longer just the government:  It’s your “would be” boss who just found out that you’re not worth the risk via Social Intelligence.

Comment on 'THE NATURE OF EXISTENCE'

     After viewing the video introductions of Roger Nygard’s exploration for the truth of existence, I find that every culture he questioned defended what they believed. With no doubt in their minds, they proclaimed their belief whether with God or without. Four years and five continents later, Roger Nygard still does not have the answer. One interviewee named Larry Niven said, “of course people get angry when you question their beliefs:   They worked on those beliefs:   They think they got the universe figured out.” So I would say that this is the foundation of many, if not all, of the world’s wars within humanity. Everybody is so concrete on what they believe that they are willing to kill or die for it. That being said, is the environment subject to all of these religious beliefs? Which idea, religion, or philosophy is best for the earth? Resistance to challenging beliefs gives rise to friction between those who do not hold the same beliefs. The only thing we all have in common that we can all agree on is that we exist. Why? In my case, Jesus will remain the answer to truth until my very last breath.

Comment on Lono's Bounty Documentary Trailer / 'Frances Moore Lappe food security talks and film'

     After viewing the documentary trailer to Lono’s Bounty, I find that Hawai’i has definitely been westernized to the extent that the agricultural circle has been broken. Although there is new found awareness being disseminated out there, the majority of people in Hawai’i are still takers and not leavers. The speakers in the film are the same speakers that visited our class. They are very knowledgeable about the affects of the broken circle on Hawai’i as well as active in restoring the circle and educating others to do the same. It is a documentary that opens the eyes to the destructive behavior of just throwing stuff away. We must unit as a team here in Hawai’i and be representative to the rest of the world of how true sustainability can be attained. It was a very illuminating documentary trailer, and it was good to see the pounding of the poi in the natural Kaneohe environment. Moreove, it makes me appreciate the Hawaiian culture and its love for the environment.

Comment on 'Save the planet – a message from another world'

     The Kogi people of Colombia are the people of this world who have their eyes open. As opposed to the people of the west who they refer to as “little brother,” the Kongi spokesperson named Jacinto Zabaretahas visits Britain barring a warning pertaining to the cause of devastation that befalls his homeland in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. He tells the blind people of the west that his glaciers are melting; his storms are increasing; his landslides and floods are numerous, and his droughts and deforestation are evident. Precedence ought to be given to the source of a thing rather than its use. Take the car for example, the westerners look at its price and usefulness rather than the engineering of resources derived from the earth. Jacinto makes it clear that the mindset of America (i.e., Western civilization), is directed towards use and not reuse. This globalization mentality certainly becomes even more global as the Western infrastructure creeps into the deepest most resourceful regions in Columbia. As a result, the Kogi are taking a proactive stance by charging the Columbian government with the responsibility of their gradually depleting people and land. Jacinto makes it clear that the little brother’s destructive habits are just that, habits. Due to a culture that has forgotten how to be harmonious with the earth; the children grow up believing in an infrastructure that caters to their greed or competitive nature without global consequences. Coming from a culture untouched by western views, beliefs, or practices, Jacinto is adamant on getting the images of an environmentally harmonious culture (i.e., Kogi people) to the sight of the environmentally lost cultures via film. I applaud this culture for maintaining what they know in their hearts to be true despite the tempting luxury of the western culture polluting their lives. This stance in environmental resourcefulness truly empowers their plight to educate the “little brother” before it is too late. This is the hope I speak of in my title for all my blogs. Without determined people such as Jacinto, the world would be doomed to an unimaginable fate.

Comment on 'The TALK STORY FESTIVAL WEBSITE is UP! / 22nd Annual TALK STORY'

     The point about the missionaries introducing the American-style education to Hawai’i in 1820 stuck a cord of interest in me for further research into who exactly where these missionaries. Turns out, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was the source for sending missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands. Their purpose was to “civilize” the people with the introduction of churches, schools, and press (para. V. C. 1). Once the missionaries taught English and later mastered the Hawaiian language, they began printing textbooks while translating religious material, “particularly the Bible (para. V. D).” By 1878, Hawai’i had a 78% literacy rate (i.e., ability to read and write).

Tano, M. Indigenous Resource Management:  Department of Defense - Native Hawaiian Consultation.
     Retrieved November 21, 2010, from

     http://www.iiirm.org/hawaiian_consultation/workshop%20materials/hawaiian_history.htm

Comment on The ‘Moneyless Man’: Why I Live Without Money

     Mark Boyle brought up a very valid point. What makes a person successful? Is it stuff and money, or is it both? What completes an individual in a society that focuses on the material you rather than the spiritual you? This man achieved the secular dream of money, fame, and fortune, but he turned away from it all to find his place in life rather than his place in society. The power of money has taken on a new overall defining purpose. We use our money selfishly. We purchase what we know harms the earth. We consume without replenishing, and we go back to the store and do it again. All the efforts that people like Mr. Boyle are trying to convey to the consuming world via buying power are being ignored for the benefit of self. How does one influence the world to use their money wisely (e.g., purchasing organic food as opposed to mass produced food of the Global Supermarket)? What will open the eyes of those less educated about the destructive power of purchasing unwisely? What do we support: ourselves or the world? What is our priority in life: just to sustain our own? Now, because of stores and supermarkets, the community is now out of sight and mind. People who genially care about others are oblivious about how their everyday purchases are negatively affecting the people and the environment in which they live and beyond. Mr. Boyle has discovered the true essence of life is being interpersonally connected to perfect strangers within your community. In the process, he has reaped health, friendships, and self-sufficiency that benefit not only himself but the community. Instead of using earth, we are blindly destroying it with selfish global infrastructure. If stress is a factor in your life, then it only means that you’re focused on yourself. Start using your energy to propel the goodness of life towards the people that are within reach. In the process, stress will take second place to personal satisfaction.

Comment on 'If Facebook Existed Years Ago'

     That's putting a light spin on the major turning points on life’s past, present and future. So how serious should we be concerned about all the transitional life events that promote recognition, revolution, or devastation. If we are all going to die in 100 years, then what is it that drives us to look out for the next generation? Is it love? And if it is love, where did it originate? Who knows the origin of love? If hate was the dominating factor in life, then 100 years and death for each individual that is unharmed by environmental or human negative consequences would seem the basis for the old saying “live and let die.” Thank God love is more than just a feeling.

Comment on 'Digital media technology changes nature of war'

     This is actually good news for the environment in the long run. If war to transferred to the computer rather than to the open vulnerable fields, maybe the earth can go one living, producing, and thriving without the interference of bombs and bullets. Dr. Sebastian Kaempf reveals a shift of media representation of the American wars to an open diversification of media outlets (e.g., YouTube). His purpose of researching the various outlets is to achieve new academic forms that reach out to more people than the average few for each journal article publicized. The downside to this new wave of technological frontline war is the availability of the graphic horrors of war being readily available to desensitize the younger generation to violence via YouTube.

Comment on "Celebrating International Day of Peace'

     I am very proud of Hawaii taking the initiative to set aside a day of recognition for world peace. The United Nations International Day of Peace and Non-violence is a stepping stone, if not the foundation, for world recognition and focused intention on eliminating war and promoting peace and harmony. The earth is a victim of every war for every battle waged by the human race. Although there are humans victors, the earth always remains the victim, for there is destruction and contamination of soil that supposed to nourish new life. Unfortunately, potential life is victimized by the chemicals and contaminants of war, thereby depleting the earth of natural resources to continue the environmental harmony. I hope Paul K. Chappell is successful with his plight to bring attention to what the UN has already declared a Day of Peace and Non-violence. Kudos to Hawaii for becoming the first state to declare September 21^st as Peace Day Hawaii for all to recognize and focus their own intention for peace on the rest of humanity which in turn will benefit the planet. Now, if we can only make this a federal holiday, then people would really stop and think.

Comment on 'Grasping the tree of life: There is an app for that, too'

     Sudhir Kumar idea of phylogeny and timescale are so technologically applicable up to this point and time in our modern society that now iPAD and iPod Touches are being used to research the connection (i.e., psylogeny) and origin (i.e., timescale) of organisms. Robert Karl Stonjek says the technological concept and application is a “powerful tool for understanding the interrelationships and diversity of living things (para. 4). Frankly, I’m not surprised it has come down to this. The way that technology to booming at an exponential rate is astounding to the Baby Boomers and even Generation X, but common place for “Millennials or Generation Y” followed by the “New Silent Generation or Generation Z (Rosenberg, para. 1).” Looking at all this hand held technology surrounding us now, I think I know why the next generation has been dubbed silent. Everyone is so absorbed into looking down into their handheld devices that they neglect interacting with the random people around them, but I digress. Now, with this particular application, all consumers may see the world’s abundance of life at a fingers touch. It was really interesting how the speaker last Tuesday (i.e., November 16, 2010) spoke about his grandparents using rocks for retaining and gathering information and now we use technological rocks for the same desired recollection. According to the article, we’re now using these metal rocks to research ancient rocks. Go figure. Accessing a browser which contains 160,000 organisms and their lineages opens a window of opportunity for all curious and analytical minds to develop a better understanding of the complex diversity of life and how vitally important this diversity is to the natural sustainability of the planet.

References

Rosenberg, M. Names of Generations. Retrieved November 21, 2010, from

     http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/qt/generations.htm

Stonjek, R. K. (2010, September 20). Grasping the tree of life: There is an
     app for that, too. Retrieved November 21, 2010, from
     www.physorg.com/news204219074.html

Comment on 'What Castro Really Means'

     Richard Gott understands that Cuba, despite its many set backs due to communism, has pinged on a new idea of enterprising agriculture for the benefit of the country. The economic turn around of Cuba has left many to wonder if President Raul Castro is really going to go through with innovative farming. Small-scale private enterprises are on the rise, but more emphasis is given to the plan to revamp the economic organization of the country. The innovation of each farmer freely working to support the community and family is a responsibility that citizens of Cuba are eager to take. Now that private enterprise is on the rise, there must be an endeavor to link Cuba’s agriculture to the rest of the world; thereby, strengthening their economy. And then there is foreign investment. May the Cuban model prevail without the influence of communism in the mix.

Comment on 'Sizing up consciousness by its bits--nytimes/science'

     While trying to develop a theory of consciousness, Dr. Giulio Tononi has experienced a personal level of consciousness while going under for surgery. Interested in marking the time of lost awareness, Dr. Tononi tried to convince the anesthesiologist to allow him to temporarily block the muscle-blocking drug. In doing this, the Dr. would be able to lift his finger as he would loss consciousness; thereby, signaling the anesthesiologist the precise moment he lost awareness. Unfortunately, the Anesthesiologist did not comply. Thank God for minds such as Dr. Tononi’s. His ingenious ambition to explore the awareness of the mind is an endeavor that has not been researched much by others. His development of a theory of consciousness will help put a measuring stick to the perplexities of when the human brain is aware. Right now, doctors can only ask the simple questions of whether or not the patient can hear them. Dr. Tononi is working on a way of seeing the activity of the brain as an indicator of awareness during commas or epileptic seizures. Also, his findings may aid in the determination of whether or not the patient is experiencing any pain during the seemingly unconscious state. Currently, he has discovered that the brain relies on integrated information in order to maintain awareness. If the network of integrated information known as phi has isolated parts, then awareness is not present. Dr. Tononi Integrated Information Theory, in my opinion, holds water; for, seizures force many neurons to turn on and off which in turn disrupts awareness. That is why patients don’t remember the episode. May his spectacular theory grow from infancy to adulthood and ravage the scientific world.

Comment on 'Kelp Raft Carries Marine Stowaways Hundreds of Kilometers'

     Marine biologist, Ceridwen Fraser, has discovered on a New Zealand beach whole communities of invertebrates that have traveled about 250 miles hitchhiking on bull kelp. I can’t believe the 10 types of marine invertebrates didn’t use any fossil fuel to make the journey! If a life form as small and unnoticed as crustaceans and other invertebrates can travel without emitting toxic fumes, why cannot the most advanced species (i.e., humans) on the planet do the same? Even iguanas traveled from island to island with the use of natural resources. These invertebrates traveled, although unwillingly, from a Caribbean Island to another island using wind from a hurricane as a natural propellant for a mass of trees. We as humans should take notes of these finding and incorporate them into our lives. As though these happenings were hints as to how we as humans ought to alter our mindset on means of travel, I find that the natural order of things have a tendency to naturally transport invertebrate and vertebrate from land mass to land mass. Although erratic and unexpected, the resources that were utilized by nature to transport these creations without dangerous and harmful emissions into the atmosphere ought to strike cord in the minds of engineers throughout the world on how we may do the same. Indeed, there is already promising implementations of engineering feats of energy conservation, but much more most be done. Altering the mindset of every single human being and weaning them off the fuel nipple will be the ultimate challenge for sustaining a growing economy.

Comment on 'Record Hot Summer Wreaks Havoc'

If you cannot handle the heat:  Get out of the kitchen! Unfortunately, the kitchen is in a studio called earth, and there is really not that far to move. According to National Snow and Ice Data Center, sea ice is declining dramatically with no reverse affect in sight. Even our coral beds are being affected by the warmer temperatures via bleaching and disease. For 131 years of fluctuating temperatures, 2010 is the warmest to date. The National Resources Defense Council states that thirty-seven states in the U.S. have hit record highs this year alone. A computer model has indicated a 17% drop in Arctic ice volume every ten years. What does this all mean in the long run, earth is losing its crucial balance with temperature control which has created a domino affect that wrecks havoc on the earth as a whole. In reference to the book Ishmael, no where to run or move means we all have to work together to make the takers into givers as soon as possible.

Comment on Photos from Russia

These pictures are evidence of how dedicated the Russians are at utilizing space to further enrich the amenities on earth or national defense or research on matter and the universe. Despite the cramped discomfort of working and riding in a small capsule for an established time span, these three Russians have gone so far as to wait just one more day due to mechanical difficulties. They were stationed in space at the International Space Station which has been in orbit for about 12 years. Worth approximately 100 billion dollars, this station must be the cornerstone to further space discovery and international cooperation as to how to deal with the devastating challenges of restoring the earth's natural balance although critics say different. I for one applaud the sacrifices that these particular Russians, namely Alexander Skvortsov, Mikhail Korniyenko, and Tracy Caldwell Dyson, for putting forth their knowledge, time, and dedication to exploring the mysteries of space at the expense of valuable family time. As for the pictures that depict their landing, the American people should also be provided with the detailed pictorial landing of our American patriots returning from their adventures in space so we may become aware of their deserved appreciation.