#80: Right Vs. Wrong as a Man-made Construction

This is just a quick entry to get the gears in your heads turning. I had a really interesting discussion with a couple friends of mine one time, and we discussed the idea that right vs. wrong is a man-made construction. This is to say that humans make up what we believe is right and wrong, and that, in reality, there is no such thing as right or wrong - Right and wrong are what you make them to be. This sounds simple enough, right? I mean, for people who don't believe in a higher power who makes the rules, this seems pretty logical when you think about it. I mean this is a lot like the cultural universality debate, which I previously discussed in my 12th Dodger Logic entry. Is there a definite right and wrong, no matter the culture? Is there some wiggle room there? Can one person believe something is wrong, while someone else believes it's right, and neither one of these people is wrong in their belief?

This sounds great, but this requires a belief that murder, for example, is not necessarily wrong - It is what we make of it. It is wrong if we say so and believe it to be wrong. But if another culture does human sacrifices or lets people run around doing whatever they want, including killing people, then that's totally fine, because they don't believe that's wrong. Can we possibly force ourselves to believe this? Is it wrong to kill, simply because our cultural norms and our government say so, or is it simply wrong to kill, no matter what your personal belief is? What makes an action right or wrong? Who dictates those rules? Of course, I know religious people will say their god does, and that's perfectly fine. That's a legitimate answer, for sure, depending on your beliefs. However, that won't work as an answer for everyone, especially people who are not religious. Again, we come to an impass between beliefs. Who is right, and who is wrong? Or does that even exist?

#79: Fossil Fuels and Alternative Energy Sources

Here is a discussion I wrote for my Plant Biology class in college, in which I picked a fossil fuels article to write about and then explained my perspective on it:

Coal is formed from the remains of plants that lived up to 400 million years ago. These plants, which are decayed, are called peat. Specifically, coal is formed when peat is physically or chemically altered (bacterial decay, compaction, heat, time) in a process called “coalification.” Today the United States leads in recoverable coal reserves - over 260 billion short tons. Despite the environmental threats coal poses, we still use coal today, because of several reasons: 1. It is cheap, 2. It is efficient, and 3. It is abundant. In USD/st, coal is priced at 56.62. In comparison, in USD/bbl, crude oil is priced at 102.14, and in USD/mmbtu, natural gas is priced at 4.21. The graph below shows the projected energy demand until 2030. In the future, in order to give up coal, the world will need to switch to alternative energy sources. This means that coal companies and coal miners will be out of a job; however, more jobs for alternative energy sources will become available in its place.

Eric McLamb’s article “Energy’s Future Today” discusses fossil fuels, the environment, and potential future alternate energy resources. McLamb opens with an explanation of what fossil fuels are: coal, oil, and natural gas, which as explained above, formed from the decay of dead plants from millions of years ago.  McLamb explains that these energy resources will eventually deplete, and then the world will need alternate resources for energy. McLamb also explains the environmental impact that fossil fuels have, as the combustion of fossil fuels is the main emitter of greenhouse gases, which is the leading cause of global warming. McLamb explains some of the terrifying effects of global warming, such as the melting of the polar ice caps, which will change the composition of the surrounding water. Regardless of the impact that fossil fuels make on the environment, they will be depleted in anywhere between 50-120 years. What everyone also has to keep in mind is the incredible population growth the world has seen lately, and this causes a continuous rise in the need for energy. McLamb explains the efficiency of solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, and biomass energy, since they are renewable and non-polluting. They are much better for the environment, and no one has to worry about their depletion. According to the Europena Photovoltaic Industry Association, “solar power could provide energy for more than 1 billion people by 2020 and 26 percent of global energy needs by 2040.” Renewable energy is the way the world will have to go, or else there are going to be some major problems in the future.

I believe exactly what the article says, which is one of the reasons I chose it. I do, however, also believe that people are idiots and will not change their ways until they are absolutely forced to do so. I have rallied for alternate energy resources since I first learned about global warming as a child, and tons of people simply do not listen or do not even believe in global warming. However, I do believe fossil fuels are not long for this world, and once they are gone, people will have to start believing and making changes, because they will have no other choice. It is understandable that nobody wants to believe the world is having such problems, and that people will not be able to live as comfortably as they have been forever. But, in all honesty, I am a big believer in “Survival of the Fittest.” Once fossil fuels are depleted, people will find other sources of energy and will survive, because it is our instincts to do so. That is not to say that people will have an easy time doing it. It will be difficult, and drastic changes will have to be made, but I do believe it is possible. However, I also believe changes need to be made immediately. The world needs to become more dependent on solar, wind, water, and biomass energy, and it needs to become less dependent on fossil fuels. If you asked me what will happen in the future, I would have no better answer for you than “we shall see.”

Bibliography

1. http://www.ecology.com/2011/09/06/fossil-fuels-vs-renewable-energy-resources/
2. https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=910&bih=444&q=projected+energy+demand&oq=projected+energy+demand&gs_l=img.3..0i24.604.3297.0.3481.23.10.0.13.13.0.65.340.10.10.0...0.0...1ac.1.9.img.CJgvLIGhvTI#imgrc=T_HMIISA0YLX0M%3A%3Bi6qND0uh4m6uaM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.kids.esdb.bg%252Fimages%252Fworld_energy_demand.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.kids.esdb.bg%252Fusesectors.html%3B485%3B387
3. http://www.uky.edu/KGS/coal/coalform.htm
4. http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=2930
5. http://www.infomine.com/investment/metal-prices/coal/

**NOTE: I also wanted to include this article entitled “5 Breakthroughs That Will Make Solar Power Cheaper Than Coal,” because it is interesting and insightful: http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/blogs/5-breakthroughs-that-will-make-solar-power-cheaper-than-coal.

Projected energy demand until 2030.

#78: Is That a Fingernail in My Chicken Soup?

The point of this entry is to tell you guys you should know what's in your food before you eat it. This entry is just one example of a huge lie that most people believe. Everyone thinks Smoothie King is really healthy, and they believe the calorie count in the brochures. However, if you actually look at how Smoothie King makes their smoothies, you'll realize they're not healthy. When I worked there, my manager used to change the recipes to make them taste better. This included adding much more sugar and syrups to the mixture, making the calorie counts in the brochures a lie. I'm sure this type of thing happens at all kinds of restaurants and other food establishments. Anyway, I just think we have a right to know what's in our food, and we should look for it. This includes the grocery store. Go to fresh markets, which sell healthy, organic fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy, cruelty-free, cage-free, antibiotic-free, vegetarian-fed meat. Make sure you know what you're consuming! In this country, EVERYTHING contains antibiotics, potentially dangerous chemicals, and preservatives. We should push to change this system, but until then, do your research, and find out what's in your food!

So here's my example. As I said, I used to work at an Atlanta Smoothie King. Can anyone guess what these smoothies are made out of? Most people guess fruit, right? Wrong. There's a ton of sugar in them, and most of them have some kind of supplements in them. Admittedly, some are good supplements, but some of them are not so good, or are not so good for certain kinds of people. For example, some of the proteins used are only recommended for men, but women still drink smoothies with these proteins sometimes. One kind of protein that is used in most of the smoothies, in particular, is not very good for anyone - soy protein. But the most astonishing part about Smoothie King's lies is that these smoothies are not made with real fruit. They are made with syrups, concentrate juices, and purees. The only whole fruits they put in the smoothies are coconut, bananas, peaches, pineapples, and strawberries. However, the strawberries come in a tub of sugary syrup and are chalk full of preservatives, and the pineapples and peaches are Del Monte canned pineapples and peaches, which also come in a sugary syrup and are full of preservatives. One would think Smoothie King would be above this, since they make themselves out to be so healthy. But this is why you should learn what's in your food before buying and consuming it!

I'm not saying it's wrong to eat at Smoothie King. I love buying smoothies there every now and then. I drank smoothies all the time when I worked there. But it's good to keep in mind that this is a place to buy a treat every now and then, not a place to buy your breakfast before work every single day. And it's just good sense to find out what's in your food.

Here is a healthy alternative: Make your own smoothies at home! They're probably cheaper, and they contain what you put in them. You don't have to worry about not knowing what's in them. I do this all the time at home, and I never add sugar. I usually mix whatever fruits I feel like eating that day, orange juice, and spinach into a smoothie, but I also like making chocolate peanut butter, banana, and spinach smoothies. Also, beet juice is naturally sweet and delicious. Sometimes I make smoothies with beets, orange juice, and fruits that I like. Carrots, kale, and arugula are also good in smoothies. There are really all kinds of great fruits and vegetables you can add to smoothies, and there are lots of websites for this online, especially on Pinterest. P.S. Don't ever use apples in a smoothie. The fibers in apples collect together after being ground up, and it's the nastiest thing you'll ever taste. All other fruits that I can think of, however, are delicious in smoothies.

Also, I have to go ahead and say this. If you ever find yourself at a Smoothie King in Atlanta, and the owner's name is Greg Emrich, don't give him any business. He's an awful human being.

This could not be more misleading.