E.P.A.'s failure

“E.P.A. Postpones Setting Standards for Biofuel Blends”

By: DIANE CARDWELL

Source: New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/22/business/energy-environment/epa-postpones-setting-standards-for-biofuel-blends.html?ref=science

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had announced that it would postpone the decision to determine the amount of biofuel that would be mixed with vehicle fuel. The agency will not be setting the “Renewable Fuel Standard” this year, but will begin working for next year. In previous years, the Environmental Protection Agency had promised to decrease the amount of usage of biofuel. This event is now part of the economic, legal, and logistical challenges the agency has faced after requiring increased amounts of ethanol to be used in vehicle fuel under passed energy laws. However, this decision was made when America’s demand on foreign oil and prices were high.

            Since the country has not set a standard, refiners are not using the proper amount of biofuel and other substances to properly produce vehicle fuel. Many people began to protest against the agency. They want the rule the agency has set to change because they are not able to follow their own guidelines. Some people believe the Congress should intervene in this matter and make reforms. However, people are pleased that the Environmental Protection Agency did not make a rash decision. Instead, they decided to postpone this situation instead of quickly making a decision that would have negative effects.

            Vehicle fuel is the main source that powers transportation. The one agency that was created to decide the amount of substances that should be required for the protection of the environment has failed. If people cannot trust the agency to fulfill their intended job, how can they trust future decisions? The people need to take a stand and personally address this issue.

No Technology

I wake up every day at six o’clock to run three miles for cross-country practice. Due to this event, I decided to wake up at six o’clock and watch the sunrise. I found a chair to sit on and waited impatiently for the sun to rise. I made sure to get my sweater because it was cold early in the morning. As I was waiting, I heard the sound of trucks. I realized that some people are driving trucks during the night, while we are peacefully sleeping. I began to stare at the stars and try to find a pattern. I ended up finding a few constellations. Finally, the sun came up. At this time, there were no clouds and the sky could not be any clearer. As the sun came up, the color of the sky began to shift from black to blue. Eventually, the color of the sky was a blend between orange and pink. It was amazing to see the color of the sky change because we are used to seeing it blue or black. Also, the birds began to chirp signaling the start of a new day.

Almost everyone does not realize the events that occur while we sleep. People work all night long in order to obtain money to take care of their family. We wake up every morning, go to school, return home, and repeat the cycle almost every day. By waking up in the morning, people can realize many wonders. Astronomers use technology to determine patterns in the sky. I sat there with nothing to do and began to make my own patterns, which was pretty exciting. The greatest part of watching nature was looking at the sun. The sun helps sustain all life on Earth. During the day, we cannot look at the sun for more than two seconds. Due to this event, we do not see the wonder of looking at the sun. However, when a person sees the sunrise, they know that it is an amazing wonder.

Silk Road 2.0

“Man Charged With Operating Silk Road 2.0, a Black Market Website”

By: Benjamin Weiser

Source: New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/07/nyregion/man-charged-with-operating-silk-road-2-black-market-website.html?ref=technology&_r=0

            Recently, a man was arrested for starting an illegal online website meant to become the better version of the Silk Road. The Silk Road was a black market website that illegally sold drugs and other items using Bit coins. The new and improved Silk Road was

“designed to enable users anywhere in the world to buy and sell illegal drugs and other illegal goods and services anonymously and beyond the reach of law enforcement,” the complaint said (Weiser, 1).This new website is supposed to serve the same purpose as the original Silk Road.

            The man behind the website, Blake Benthall, was arrested and the website was shut down. This task was completed with the help of an undercover homeland security agent. The agent infiltrated the website and obtained access to the website’s private areas and was in regular contact with Blake Benthall. The agent said that Benthall would use the pseudonym “Defcon.” The website has managed to make about eight million dollars in the monthly sales and has about 150,000 active users.

Benthall is being charged with conspiracies of narcotics trafficking, computer hacking, and money laundering. In recent weeks, the website has made listing for 14,000 drugs, one-hundred grams of afghan heroin brown power, a fake Danish passport, and a fake New Jersey driver’s license.

The black market is a factor that will be difficult to erase. Many people do not agree with all the laws the government has passed. Due to this event, they try to find alternatives to obtaining items that the government will not allow them to have. This may not be the end of a website that will sell illegal items. People will try to find a way to make money illegally because they know people will pay for secret products.

Class of 2035

            Technology has significantly improved over the past decade. No one can predict the changes that will occur in technology in twenty years. I believe that schools will not exist in twenty years. Scientists will create a device that will allow us to access the information we need. Perhaps, they might create a chip that transfers the amount of knowledge we would receive from school each day in a few seconds or they would provide everyone with every single piece of information at one time.

Once this device is created, people will laugh when they hear the term “school” or “student.” The future generation is the one that will not be able to imagine people going to school every day in order to obtain a few pieces of information for over eighteen years of their life. In addition, the concept of a teachers will not exist. Every person will know how to perform any task. This idea does not revolve around school teachers only. For example, musicians will not be needed because every person will know how to play every single instrument.

Students will not read at all. Scientists will input all the information from as many books as they can find into the minds of every person. Since every person knows everything, minor equality will be reached. By minor equality, I mean all students will achieve a 2400 on their SAT score and no one can refer to another person as unintelligent. However, the way people use their knowledge in their lives would be up to them because scientists cannot change an individual’s thought process, yet.

Global Warming

“U.N. Panel Warns of Dire Effects From Lack of Action Over Global Warming”

By: Justin Gillis

Source: New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/03/world/europe/global-warming-un-intergovernmental-panel-on-climate-change.html?ref=science&_r=0

            Global warming is becoming a serious issue in the world. Many countries have tried to start programs to encourage individuals to help resolve the issue, but these attempts were pointless. Developing countries have begun to burn more fossil fuels than they did before. If this problem is not treated, many countries will face food shortages, flooding, extinction of wildlife, and a drastic change in climate. However, this will not be an easy task to complete. In order to prevent global warming, countries need to find a way to either leave the fossil fuel in the ground or capture the emissions released by the fossil fuels and bury it. In statistical terms, this would mean preventing the release of one trillion tons of carbon dioxide.

            During a conducted research, it was found that less than 400 billion dollars is being spent around the world in order to prevent the emission of fossil fuels. In comparison, a single American oil company has an income that is much more than the amount being spent to prevent global warming. In order to address the global warming issue, a conference has been held in Peru. United Nations officials are hoping to make a decision that will make a significant impact on the world. However, many people believe national leaders are not willing to attend this meeting because they will be forced to use their money to pay to prevent global warming instead being allowed to freely spend it on other factors.

            Most people do not understand the severity of global warming on the planet. They believe that this issue will not pose to be a major issue because they believe others will handle it. It is this selfish reasoning that global warming is occurring. Nations need to take action against global warming, even if they see that other countries are not ready yet. If no one will take the first step, global warming will get worse.