[Res]

I seriously love this thread. The last two posts were amazing for real. I think it ultimately boils down to what someone said early on in this post, and adds up with much of the discussion happening recently.

Yes, alternative power sources need to be developed. I think it's safe to say that we can all agree that our current fuel providing situation is less than desirable for many people for many reasons.

A battery with the capacity will never exist if no one is motivated enough to invent one.

I love that. For real. I've always had this thought in my head that says "Engineers. Making things that need to be made since things have been needed." A battery with a capacity like that can exist, but you're right. No one has made it. When someone gets down to it, the technology behind a battery such as that will have an ENDLESS amount of uses. Just like a device that will severely improve gas mileage on a vehicle. Anyone that can make something like that will be a very rich human being.

His corn would be worth a heluva lot more than the oil on his land if it was being grown for the sake of a biofuel megacorp (which would drive the prices of biofuels up just as the oil companies have with their own product) and not food. Don't get me wrong: I'm not angry at the oil companies for your stereotypical environmental reasons. I just think this is a more practical way to go about things taking into consideration the way our foreign policy and foreign oil dependence is.

I can agree, but put yourself in that place for a moment. If you struck oil in generous amounts in a field of your own, would you let them mine and refine it? That can be beneficial in so many ways, as Bo stated earlier. With the money the company will pay him for his oil, he can increase his production, and his revenue from his original livelihood.

(Were it me, I'd increase my net worth of corn, and use a good portion of the remaining money to fund biofuel engineering for the additional products.) That would increase MY revenue, and help push forward on the alternate energy.

I understand you saying the corn is worth more as biofuel, and alone that is fine. But the oil is an added bonus that just adds to what he's already got.

Ah yes, the angry old man excuse. We're all just pipe dreamers after all.

Again, it's all about rallying public support and not allowing the public to be manipulated by the greed of some people in the government and those sitting atop skyscrapers.

I happen to also support myself while going to college full time (I'm twenty-one), and take joy in paying my taxes and going to jury duty and even intend to serve in the Navy after school because I happen to love my country and have a long tradition of it in my family. Us tree-huggin' liberals are so unpatriotic.

You should see him irl. He's such an old coot. Strugglin' with his lumbago, he is.

PUBLIC SUPPORT! YES! That's great! We need it! raise public awareness! Inform the people! Arm them with knowledge! But what I said earlier.
People. Are. Stupid.
And the problem with this is, they won't expend a little extra effort for something that will greatly benefit them in years to come. Nono. it's true. I have seen it in stories.

I love this! This is so muchfun! <333
And gosh dawgit you blasted tree-hugger. How dare you fight for your country like that.
No srsly, thanks. That's pretty hardcore.

[Atilla]

I should rephrase: I don't exactly enjoy paying my taxes, but I tend to focus on what I'm getting for my money (i.e., my law enforcement, my clean tap water, my roads, etc) and it makes it more bearable.

[Jake]

I have to agree with Bryce on the taxes bit. Except that Houston has twice the violent crime rate as the rest of the country. Although that has more to do with the city of Houston being godda­mn retarded. But that's a different discussion for a different time.

And the batteries are in development. The problem with it is that it's not a simple matter of "Replace x chemical with y" or "Make this more pure" or even "Stop making this in China". The problem with high-capacity batteries is that they rely on untested technology that's still in development. Expect to see them hit the market sometime around 2010-2015.
And while everyone's talking about solar and such. Certain countries (India of all places) are developing an airplane that can take off from an airport under it's own power and screw around at high altitude at a measly little mach 8 while gathering about 20 tons of liquid oxygen. No, that's not the impressive part. The impressive part is that once it's done gathering oxygen it will go into low-orbit, drop off a 1 ton payload*, and then land back at its airport.
Scientists are considering whether or not it would be feasible to use this to put solar energy collectors in orbit that will beam down microwave energy that can be collected and used to generate electricity. Screw clouds.
And of course we'll put about 100 nukes up there, and probably a few thousand conventional warheads. WW3: The Space War


*Estimated $30 a pound shipping cost. Fedex costs more than this for overnight shipping. They can go to hell.

[ThereIsNoBo]

This was actually a healthy discussion. I appreciate the fact that you fellows actually have some sense about your statements. It's hard to find a liberal with common sense and that much decency. The lot of you seem to be using the brains that were installed in your skulls to proper efficiency levels, so it's all good.

Good points made by all.

Res - I'll show you lumbago, you dipstick bear!

Bryce - As we say in the field, "You alright, hand!"

[Chelsea99]

Oil in Alaska? due to climate change don't think so! Is there really oil in Alaska.Maybe I'just set and relaxed if that happens on my massage chair