Quote:
Originally Posted by redshift
I sincerely hope I didn't come across as ranting....
I don't think the container ship pollution was pointed out so much as something to be solved, but more that the focus on cars as the worst source of pollution is really a bit silly............
This is how real progress is made and I hope to be a part of it. Even if some people want me to stick my head back in the sand....
Not happenin'  |
Eh, problem with sand is that it still has some air pockets in it!!!
When discussing problems and solutions, people will tend to get overwhelmed when looking at the bigger picture, and not do anything. I'll use the ships as an example - why bother doing anything with auto's when ships/trucks/trains all put out about as much or more than the cars do? They will get so involved in trying to come up with the impossible solution, they will end up frustrated and defeated and walk away without doing anything. With such a vast issue, we/they gotta hit the easy stuff first (commuter cars, it appears), and put our faith in our ability to take a technology and improve it.
Personally, I've been forcing myself to run some biodiesel in my truck. Mileage is worse, price is higher. Will biofuels ever replace petro? I doubt it, but maybe with me and many others dumping our money into it, they might develop something better down the road - plus it puts some of the money back here in the states.
Mag lev technology is some cool stuff. Did you know that they have developed it as an energy source now? Couple years back we had some folks from our Phantom Works dept (now there's some conspiracy work there!!!) come in and give a demo on it as a power source. I dont think I am allowed to describe the process, but our application was that we were implementing a moving line for the airplanes, and one of the issues was how do we supply power to the mechanics and power the crawlers to move the airplane(s) without having this gigantic extension chord. Well, it turned out that we now have a huge extension chord.....
One solution to the container ships is to not ship it. At least for the "import" side we could bring that manufacturing back here......yeah, right......