Technologist

HYBRIDS The Best and the Worst

RENEWABLE RESOURCES Why the US should lead the way, but won’t

Technologist WE ARE TECHNOLOGY

a family’s perspective on

CYBERBULLYING BOTS AND BERTUCCI THE FUTURE OF WARFARE THE MOST FLAWED RATING SYSTEM

AND MORE - INSIDE

THE 2009-2010 WINTER BUYER’S GUIDE

Special Thanks To: Ms. Richey Mrs. Young Mr. Bertucci LASA Robotics The W. Family MSgt Dale Hanson, 147th Recon Our magazine could not have been created without these people. We express our gratitude to them. We are proud of the completion of our magazine.

We now present the first issue of Technolgist.

01001Table_of_Contents10101 0111010001100101011000110110100001 1011100110111101101100011011110110 0111011010010111001101110100010010 01101The_Man_Behind_LASA_Robotics0 0110101010110101110001100010Page_6 11100Drones01101001010101100110010 011010010101011001100110100Page_10 01010NI_Week_200910100101001101010 011011010101011011001100001Page_13 01101The_ESRB010010101011011010101 001111001101110100101101110Page_16 11101Winter Buyer’s Guide 09011010 010101101010010010100010101Page_20 11101Attracted_to_the_Internet1010 010110001010011000110010101Page_22 11001The_Cyber_Connection010010011 011010010010110110101011001Page_26 10100Hybrids0101010101111001001110 100101100001001010110110001Page_29 10010Renewable_Resources0011110100 001101001101011101101011010Page_32 0111010001100101011000110110100001 1011100110111101101100011011110110 0111011010010111001101110100010010 0110011110011100011011000101010101

ALL TECH AND NO FILLER That’s our motto here at Technologist.

We strive to be the only tech magazine that covers EVERYTHING. Enjoy the first issue, people.

- The Three Technologists (T^3)

the_three_technologists THESE GUYS ARE FREAKIN’ GENIUSES

WILL

Will W. is another one of those tech-obsessed people at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy. Like Abdulkarim, he’s a hardcore gamer who loves anything on a Nintendo console, but he’s not biased towards Nintendo’s game consoles, as he used to own a Playstation 1 and loves the PS3 and Xbox 360. Will works on his (now broken) Dell laptop or his mom’s Asus Eee netbook; neither one has Windows 7. When he’s on the Internet, he browses Facebook, Youtube, and various Internet forums. Will owns a Nintendo DSi and Wii, as well as a second-generation iPod Nano (the really, really old one), and will soon get an Apple iPhone to replace his 2-year-old Samsung Blackjack cell phone. His favorite films, such as the Matrix Trilogy, use insane amounts of tech

ABDULKARIM

Abdulkarim B. is a very smart student at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy in the wonderful, techy city of Austin, Texas.

He loves technology, and his life would be very different without it, but with his life skills, he could find a different way to effectively live his life. Abdulkarim is not one of those geeky kids who are nerdy and obsessed with getting good grades (such as Arthur L.), but he is an awesome nerd that has fun in life. His tech activities include playing video games, especially Nintendo Wii and DS games. Other tech activities that Abdulkarim likes are using Facebook to communicate with his friends and watching great movies and TV shows. Abdulkarim is very supportive of his school, which is what inspired his article “LASA Robotics.” With his various skills, Abdulkarim has a bright future ahead of him, and is proud to present the first issue of Technologist to you.

ARTHUR

Arthur L. is a self-proclaimed pompous egotistical multiversed nerd.

He has an odd juxtaposition of interests: history and science. More specifically, he enjoys military history and biochemistry, which he has implicated into his article “Drones.” While he would have preferred another topic for his magazine, he bowed to the fact that most people do not find interest in military history or biochemistry, and that of Jacksonian democracy. Some of the memories he wishes to retain are getting 3rd place in Environmental Chemistry in Science Olympiad Nationals, and beating the junior Thomas L. as well as the APUSH teacher Mr. Flowers in history singles in Quiz Bowl. Arthur also hopes to lead his group to the second national showing of LASA students in the prestigious Siemens-Westinghouse Competition, win ACF Nationals, get first place in multiple events at SciO Nationals, win a few piano competitions maybe, and eventually enroll in either CalTech, Stanford, or MIT.

The LASA Robotics team at the FIRST competition in Spring 2009.

THE MAN BEHIND

LASA ROBOTICS Mr. Tony Bertucci talks candidly about his robotics team, purple haze.

By: Abdulkarim B.

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TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

All art credits to Mr. Tony Bertucci from his website www.lasarobotics.org

S

ilence blankets the room, as the LASA Robotics team is hard at work on their new robot. There is no time to be wasted. A few students are scratching their paper with a pencil, sketching a blueprint of the machine.

Other students are clicking away on the computer animating their designs while others are punching the keyboard and creating a presentation. Yet even more students are working with the pieces of metal and computer chips to create a prototype of their final robot. This teamwork and dedication makes the team successful.

The Robotics team didn’t use to be so advanced, especially when Mr. Tony Bertucci first created it. After teaching a series of varied classes, Bertucci took over the class Advanced Tech.

“It was a little Robotics thing, and everything grew from there,” said Mr. Bertucci, who has been working with the Robotics team for about 30 years.

When Bertucci came to LBJ in 1978, he started out teaching different classes, such as woodshop and photography. Another teacher named Jet Avalos started a class called

Mr. Bertucci, who started Robotics, has been participating in competitions for a long time.

Advanced Tech, which had little to do with robotics, but he had to leave to New Mexico, so Bertucci took over the class. It was this move that brought the Robotics team to what it is today. Bertucci decided to progress the teaching curriculum for Advanced Tech because he thought it was a good avenue to teach engineering to students.

“Kids are actually applying what they learn, as opposed to classes that are all theory,” Bertucci said.

He enjoys letting students have hands-on experience with everything they learn about, as opposed to other classes where students just learn about a topic that they

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Top: Even though Purple Haze is very serious about Robotics, they can still have a little fun, without their various personalities getting in the way. Bottom: A LASA Robotics team member shows a diagram of a robot to elementary students so they can get a feel of engineering. SMART camp is used to introduce engineering to younger kids who can later decide if a career in engineering would intrigue them.

mascot, so Bertucci cautioned the team that a name was due at 5:00 P.M., and if they didn’t come up with a name by 4:45, they would be the RoboBots.

“They hated it, so they came up with the name Purple Haze, thinking they were pulling a fast one on

“...And of course as we started winning, more people became attracted.

And everyone likes a winner.”

TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

me, that I didn’t know what it meant,” remembered Bertucci. “I thought it fit fairly well, so we went with it, and we’ve been Purple Haze ever since.”

The LASA Robotics team participates in major competitions, such as FIRST and BEST. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology), is a fast-paced, multinational robotics competition, in which 20,000 students from over 900 teams from all over the planet compete in 27 regional competitions. The LASA team participates as Team 418 in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). BEST (Boosting Engineering Science and Technology) is a robotics competition that takes place every fall.

All art credits to Mr. Tony Bertucci from his website www.lasarobotics.org

may or may not need later in life.

Bertucci believes that a coach has to have certain characteristics.

“I think the biggest thing is that the person that is in the coachtype position really cares about what they’re doin’ and is themselves,” said Mr. Bertucci, “If you’re your own personality, you will naturally attract people, and you’ll naturally repel some people (laughs).”

He believes that if you can attract people who are good at what you want them to do, things will work out well.

When the Robotics class first started, Bertucci thought it was just a fun thing for students to do. They did all the “competitions” in class, not after school or during lunch. The first few plaques on Bertucci’s wall say Participant, Participant, Participant, Participant…but that didn’t discourage the group at all.

“…We really stuck…and we were having a real good time, (laughs)” said Bertucci, remembering the beginning of a long future of Robotics at LBJ, and now LASA.

As the team was participating more and more, they got better and were starting to be more competitive.

They began to go to different types of competitions, which became more and more complex, and as they got more complex, the team needed to add in different aspects of robotics. As they got better, they started winning more.

“…And of course as we started winning, more people became attracted. And everyone likes a winner,” said Bertucci, proud of his team.

The LASA Robotics team has a name that you may not come by very often: Purple Haze. The origin of this name comes from the year the team did their first competition. The group had to come up with a team name that had to be different than the school name. Bertucci left the name up to the students and they didn’t really care about it, so they blew it off. The students didn’t want to be called the Jaguars, since it was the regular school

Robotic Victory: Two team members hug and rejoice at their robotic victory, symbolized by the trophy. Another team member in the back gets a rewarding high five.

Artifical Intelligence: This is the robot Purple Haze produced for the FIRST competition of 2009.

“Dedicated to the development of the servant-leader” BEST not only prepares students for the design and construction perspective, but also the writing, documenting, promoting, and presenting the machine.

Since there is a time limit to the robotics competitions, the team has to work effectively.

“First thing we do to prepare for a major competition, is that we try to get everybody, although not everyone does, to read the rules,” said Bertucci, “so we understand what it is we are trying to do, ‘cause most competitions are not just the robot.”

Along with the robot, there is a technical notebook, documentation, and a display. The team reads over all the essentials required for the machine.

Later, the team is broken down into many subgroups. All of these make up the main group, which is responsible for whatever it is they’re supposed to be doing.

Bertucci’s room is filled with trophies and plaques, a symbol for the

team’s hard work. The team has won several regionals, state championships, and the biggest award that is awarded in FIRST.

Though Purple Haze has achieved so much, there are still some things Bertucci would love to see happen.

“Fundraising is always a challenge, it’s expensive to compete.

There’s not enough time,” said Bertucci. “I would love to see [LASA] either give the students [on the team] after-school elective credit, or make it as a school day course.”

“If you’re your own personality, you will naturally attract people, and you’ll naturally repel some people (laughs).”

He is very thoughtful of his team and would love it if they received more recognition in LASA. The students are very enthusiastic and put the Robotics work above all their other assignments.

Bertucci would also like to clear the stereotypes.

“The biggest thing I want people to know is that the Robotics team isn’t just a bunch of geeky kids working around on a robot, there is so much to it,” said Bertucci.

It is the dedication of the team that leads to success.

Bertucci says “There are other teams that have come up to us and said, ‘You know, I don’t believe your kids made that stuff,’ and then I ask them something like, ‘Well, how often do you guys meet?’ and they say ‘Oh, we meet 2-3 hours a week’ and I say ‘Well we meet 4 hours a day, plus Saturday, so when you put in the same hours, then come talk to me. Until then…’” q

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DRONES THE AIR FORCE HAS A FEW NEW TOYS WITH WHICH TO PLAY. THEY JUST HAVE TO LEARN HOW.

By Arthur L.

Forget the F-22 Raptor.

That multi-million dollar, 5thgeneration stealth air superiority fighter has had its project stopped after 187 of them had been built and $67 billion had been spent. Instead of these expensive manned planes, which also risk lives, let’s go for a cheap fleet of $4 million robots.

The MQ-1B Predator, of which there are over 195 in active use today, has been in active service since 1995, seeing action in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. The Predator is one class of UAVs, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, also known as drones. Drones are the cutting edge of aerial technology; for instance, a plane in Afghanistan could be controlled by an operator in the US. Even better, they can stay there for more than 24 hours, something unheard of before, because operators can work in shifts; you can’t jump into cockpits in shifts. Containing all the capabilities of the Predator, the Air Force also currently flies the Predator’s big bad brother, the MQ-9 Reaper.

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First sustained use of UAVs came not recently, but over Vietnam, with the Ryan 147 Lightning Bug, which was launched from a C-130 and recovered mid-air by helicopter, flying over 30,000 reconnaissance missions.

“Although primitive by today’s standards,” Air Force Chiefof-Staff General Norty Schwartz said in a speech at Creech Air Base this September, “these early UAVs proved extremely useful, taking detailed pictures of surface-to-air missile sites, enemy airfields, and ship activity in Haiphong Harbor – all places that were too dangerous

TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

for manned aircraft to fly.”

Drones have evolved a long way from the Lightning Bug by now.

For one, they can be launched from as far away as Creech Air Base in Nevada, or Ellington Air Base in Texas, and can return to the same base, even if their target is in Afghanistan or Iraq. Mainly, though, the most telling difference is weaponization.

The Lightning Bugs of Vietnam weren’t weaponized; they were reconnaissance only. Weaponized UAV systems first appeared when the Air Force experimented with using the Predator for strike

Predator and Prey: This Predator has used one of its two Hellfire missiles, and it also has an electro-optical/infrared camera mounted in the front. Picture by USAF

missions as opposed to strictly reconnaissance. The weapons were first tested in 2001, when a Predator scored 3 for 3 on a stationary tank with Hellfire missiles. Nowadays, they’re still armed with Hellfires, along with a laser sight, and surveillance is done with an Electro-Optical/Infrared Camera which routes video in realtime back to the operators.

The UAV has, with the Predator, transitioned from the traditional IRS (Intelligence, Reconnaissance, and Surveillance) roles and progressed, while still very heavily relied on for IRS,

Crop of Death: The MQ9 Reaper, the more advanced brother of the Predator. The Reaper is more capable of air strike roles. Picture by the USAF

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to other roles like Close Air Support (CAS), and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), protecting ground troops on their daily sorties.

UAVs can be “called to provide a ground commander with the ability to search a village; to survey areas that, due to rough terrain, are inaccessible to ground forces; or, to pinpoint enemy forces,” said Schwartz.

Due to the wide variety of tasks which UAVs can be applied to, there is what he calls an “insatiable” demand for the capabilities of the planes. “We’re flying them non-stop because of their extraordinary value. Our MQ-1 fleet has logged over 600,000 hours; and while this number by itself is impressive, the accelerated rate at which we’ve accumulated these hours is really the remarkable story.

It took us 12 years – from 1995 to 2007 – to fly our first 250,000 Predator hours. In less than two years, we flew our next 250,000 hours; and, we are on track to log the next quarter million in only 13 months.”

With such a large demand, there must be the supply. “To support further expansion of this critical warfighting capability, we will need more men and women like you,” Schwartz said, addressing the

“People who join the military, the Profession of Arms, for the most part, love the challenge of change.”

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pilots of Creech Air Base, “because F16 or MQ-1,” said MSgt Dale the reality is, even though we call Hanson of the 147th RW. “I think these aircraft systems ‘unmanned,’ anyone who has worked with they are anything but that.” the F16 missions feels nostalgia

One of the great advantages when it went away, but they also of the UAV is the continuous comfeel the motivation and excitebat air patrol, or CAP, where they ment of learning and doing a new hover over a target for 24 hours or mission with the [Unmanned more. Right now, UAVs are flyAerial System]; it’s a very exciting 37 CAPs, and that number is ing time for the 147 RW. People expected to rise to 50 CAPs by who join the military, the Profes2011. And yet, for each CAP, about sion of Arms, for the most part, 140 airmen are needed, about half love the challenge of change.” of whom are intelligence profes With the UAV, many sionals who read, decipher, and sort new possibilities arise. They the data for the pilots, and another can undertake many other tasks twenty as vehicle and sensor opera- previously designated to manned tors. So, by 2011, that’s at least 700 aircraft, as well as some new airmen, and only to fly the CAPs, ones, with there not being as and not the other missions. Hence, much personal risk involved. there’s a shortage of UAV airmen, They can go to places where no at least for the time being, as pilots rational commander would ever get pulled out of the cockpit and have considered sending his airpushed into the computer seat after men, and risk all for only about what is probably the fastest course $4 million, or less. Schwartz tells in the entire Air Force. the UAV pilots at Creech “You

The 147th Reconnaissance are blazing a trail toward the Wing, stationed at Ellington Field Air Force of the future,” while in Houston, is one of the units who MSgt Hanson says that “Because have recently transitioned from we fly the MQ-1B Predator, the manned to unmanned, in this case 147th Reconnaissance Wing is from F16 Falcons, and they don’t on, and will remain on, the cutmind it that much. “The people ting edge of an ongoing revoluin the 147 RW feel they have a tion in warfare.” q mission to do first and foremost, regardless of the weapons system, Dry Dock: A Predator in Creech Air Base, ready to go . Picture by the USAF

TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

NI WEEK 2009

Every year, thousands of the brightest engineers from about a hundred highly innovative corporations converge on the Austin Convention Center for NI Week, a graphical design summit. Here we have Some representatives of the impressive work displayed. By Arthur L. winter 2009 TECHNOLOGIST

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AIM-USA, which stands for Avionics Interface Modules USA, is a top designer of flight, test, and simulation modules, databus analyzers, and other systems. As one can guess, most of these have to do with planes. Their website states their goal as to “provide state of the art Avionics Databus Interface Modules for embedded Flight LRUs and Test Solutions for the Aerospace and Defense market.” LRUs, or line-replacable units, are complex little “black boxes” which can be replaced quickly wherever the airplane happens to stop. They take pride in their “Common Core” hardware design, which is a “scalable, flexible, and integrated approach” to databus testing.

They also design simulation and test models, crucial in testing out new designs for aeronautics products.

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TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

All logos taken from the corporate website, all other photos taken from Creative Commons

Maxon Motor is a company based in Sachseln, in central Switzerland, where it employs over 1500 people worldwide. Maxon Motor is the world’s leading supplier of high-precision drive systems; in other words, really highprecision motors. Their website states the motors they create are “DC motors with ironless winding and flat motors with iron core (up to 500W output power, mechanical and electronic commutation).” At NIWeek, they displayed a motor that spun the “X” in Maxon, and fit it continually through a slot, demonstrating the exquisite precision of their motors.

Aside from this forte, Maxon also produces other products, like sensors, gears, and ceramic injection molds.

Adsys Controls provides “state-ofthe-art solutions for dynamic and optical systems.” The control systems which Adsys specializes in finds critical application in many different areas; spacecraft and aircraft, for instance, where autonomous control systems such as altitude control or automatic fault detection are crucial to the craft’s flight and a crew’s safety. Other products of Adsys include vibrations systems, or more specifically, vibration isolations systems. these consoles work by isolating an object by the vibrations it creates. These could be useful in finding loose parts, again finding application in space and aircraft. They also do electrooptics. These can be used for imaging and again, fault detection. Adsys, and other companies like it, are crucial to the aeronautics industry.

Edmund Optics is a leading supplier of, as one might guess, optics (more accurately, precision optics). These range from microscope lenses, electro-optics (i.e. laser meters), lenses for illumination, camera lenses, and UV windows. These optics have a variety of applications, from sequencing DNA (microscopy) to retinal scans (lasers) to factory automation (imaging systems/ mechanics). EO’s website claims that they support many industries: “the R&D, electronics, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and military markets around the globe.” Not only does EO design new optics designs, they manufacture their designs themselves. These optics are off-the-shelf.

You can’t go to Walmart for these, they’re oo awesome, and, one might imagine, expensive. You’ll have to order from their catalogues of in-stock optics, and if you’re not satisfied there, then you’ll have to custom order.

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The THE RATING SYSTEM MANY PARENTS TRUST IS MUCH FAULTIER THAN YOU THINK

BY WILL W. there’s a video game called halo, where you’re

someone who kills aliens. You find an alien, and as you shoot at it with virtual bullets, some fluorescent blue “blood” comes out, but the blood’s not graphically spurting out. Even when you go online, and kill other people, there’s not too much blood. Compare this to Grand Theft Auto IV, where your character can break the law, shoot people with lots of blood, take drugs, have sex, and do everything your par-

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ents tell you not to do. What do these games have in common? Both are considered inappropriate for people under 17 by an organization called the Entertainment Software Rating Board (known as the ESRB). And many gamers (such as myself ) are appalled by the decision to group games such as Halo, which are not necessarily inappropriate for people under 17, with games like Grand Theft Auto IV that are absolutely not suitable for children.

TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

Compared to other systems used around the world, the ESRB needs major improvement in order to satisfy the needs of both parents and their children, like other rating systems do.

For starters, the rating system has had some huge gaps. Even though the gap between the Everyone (6 and older) and Teen (13 and older) ratings was filled in early 2005 with the Everyone 10+ rating, there’s still a gap between the Teen and Mature (17 and

FROM THE XBOX 360 GAME HALO 3 by Bungie/Microsoftt. Image by Wikipedia user David Fuchs and website Gamecritics.com. © 2009 Microsoft/Bungie.

ESRB

BLUE BLOODED The game Halo has a Mature rating, yet has unrealistic violence, such as this scene in which your character, Master Chief, shoots down alien creatures called Grunts. The “blood” looks like the liquid in a broken blue glow stick.

older) ratings. The age difference is too large to not notice, because some parents know for a fact that teens who are 15 and 16 are much more mature than 13 and 14-year-olds.

It is this thinking that has led some parents’ video game reviewing websites, such as Common Sense Media, Gamerdad, and What They Play, to criticize the ratings of some games.

The Common Sense Media review of the game Call of Duty 3 says that it’s appropriate for teens 16 and older

because of its graphic WWII violence, despite its Teen (13 and older) rating. On the other hand, the website Gamerdad’s review of Halo 3 says that it’s appropriate for 14-year-olds and up, despite the Mature (17 and older) rating. There are many other examples of these sorts of games, suggesting a needed middle ground between the Teen and Mature ratings. Other rating systems around the world, like those of the PEGI in Europe, and the CERO in Japan, have a “15/16 and older” rat-

ing to bridge the gap between their respective “teenagers” and “mature” ratings, so I think the ESRB should have a rating like that as well.

On the other hand, the ESRB’s rating system doesn’t rate violence strictly enough sometimes, yet overrates sexual content and language.

Some extremely violent games such as Manhunt and Soldier of Fortune have been given Mature (17 and older) ratings without any censorship, but have either been banned or given strictly

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HUNTING FOR TROUBLE The video game Manhunt 2 is one of only three games that have acquired Adults Only ratings solely for violence. Manhunt 2 was released for the Nintendo Wii and Sony PS2 and PSP, and the companies who make these consoles don’t allow AO-rated games on them, so Rockstar (Manhunt 2’s publisher) was forced to optically alter some of the more graphic images of violence in order to acquire a Mature rating.

FROM THE WII GAME MANHUNT 2 by Take Two Interactive/Rockstar Games/photo by flickr user Glztt (Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/glztt/543876680/)

“the ESRB’s rating system doesn’t rate violence strictly enough sometimes, yet overrates sexual content and language.” adults-only ratings in other countries for their extremely sadistic violence.

Only 3 games have been rated Adults Only (18 and older) by the ESRB for violence: Thrill Kill, The Punisher, and Manhunt 2. The first game was cancelled by its publisher, Electronic Arts, after they purchased the game’s former publisher, Virgin Interactive, and the other 2 games were cut and optically altered for Mature ratings.

However, certain media outlets have pointed out the ESRB’s faults involving sexual content. Two games in particular received considerable attention through outlets such as

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national news shows and channels (such as Fox News and CNN), parents’ video game review sites, and even in Congress. The first game is called Mass Effect, and it had a brief sex scene that would have been allowed in a PG-13 rated film. But the game got a Mature rating, and both an evangelical blogger named Kevin McCullough and Fox News have done inflammatory reports on the game that grossly overstated the sex scene, both calling it a game for the “SeXbox”. Also, the game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas had an unlockable scene called

TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

“Hot Coffee” that involves the main character and his girlfriend having sexual contact. While the two individuals were clothed, this scene was deemed explicit, and caused a huge outcry among politicians, the ESRB, and parents. GTA: San Andreas was then rated Adults Only, but after the game’s publisher, Rockstar, made a patch called Cold Coffee that deleted the scene, the game was rated Mature again. I think that the original game should have kept a Mature rating, mainly because films rated R for sexual content have scenes of that caliber. Language can be an-

MASSIVE EFFECTS Mass Effect’s suggestive content caused outrage among some conservative journalists and news show hosts, yet the content is on the level of a PG-13 film.

FROM THE XBOX 360 GAME MASS EFFECT by Bioware/EA/photo by flickr user mrwynd (Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrwynd/3291339257/)

other deciding factor between a Teen rating and a Mature rating. Teen-rated games are not allowed to have any use of the curse word that begins with “F”, while a PG-13 rated film can have one use of the word, according to the web site of the organization that runs the film rating system (the MPAA).

However, other movies use the word more than once and still get a PG-13.

Finally, the ESRB rates games more harshly than their international counterparts. The game Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne was rated for all ages by Japan’s CERO rating board; however, in Europe the game got the equivalent of a Teen rating. But in the US, the game received a Mature rating, which is much more harsh. I would have to agree with Europe’s rating, because I have actually played Nocturne, and while it’s pretty violent, it’s nothing compared to most Mature-rated offerings.

Parents’ video game review websites, as well as the ESRB themselves, have argued that their system is effective, and many parents are using it. Studies made by the National Institute on Media and the Family and the Parent’s Television Council have shown that rating enforcement has been effective as well. However, I must provide a rebuttal to this argument. Although it’s an effective and useful system for parents to decide which games are appropriate, I think that gamers themselves should have at least some say in the rating decisions. The ESRB is also somewhat secretive in their

rating process, and the ESRB only watches videos of the most extreme content found in a video game, as opposed to actually playing the game itself.

Overall, even though the ESRB’s system is useful, it needs a 15 and older rating and has to have more skilled raters so that it will compete well with international systems, but also suit the needs of parents and gamers alike. q

“Although it’s an effective and useful system for parents to decide which games are appropriate... gamers themselves should have at least some say in the rating decisions.” winter 2009 TECHNOLOGIST

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New Super Mario Bros. Wii New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the new 2D Mario game developed for the Nintendo Wii, with many new improvements than its predecessors. It will be the first game in the Mario Bros series to feature simultaneous multiplayer gameplay. Both old and new gamers will be able to enjoy this game as it has something for everyone. $49.99

WINTER BUYERS GUIDE ‘09 By: Abdulkarim B. Zune HD This portable media player by Microsoft utilizes a touchscreen and uses Wi-Fi, which gives access to the Zune Marketplace and Web browsing. It can play HD videos up to 720p. You can even play games on this music device, which will soon be integrated with Xbox 360 connectivity for all Xbox fans out there. starting at $219.99 Dell Inspiron Netbook Here’s the new wave of technology, a netbook, a minilaptop. This Dell laptop has a 10.1” screen and comes with Windows 7, which is the new version of Windows 7 that just came out.

Starting at $348 at Wal-Mart

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TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

IPhone 3GS The latest incarnation of the iPhone is the fastest ever.

You can shoot a video and edit it right on your iPhone.

The Voice Control feature allows you to play any song or find any contact with voice recognition. IPhone 3GS is accessible to assist users who are visually or hearing impaired.

Starting at $199

Art Credits to Creative Commons; Art Credit for Droid www.softsailor.com; Art Credit for iPhone to www.iphonebuzz.com

Motorola Droid $200 Phones nowadays are very advanced, and the Motorola Droid is no different. It contains a sliding touch screen with a keyboard for easy texting and a 5 megapixel camera for your convenience. It uses Google’s operating system “Android” which allows fast web browsing, video and music players, and a GPS system on your own phone, which is voice activated. Hot!

Winter ‘10 Product Preview

Art Credit for Sharp HDTV to www.walmart.com; Art Credit for iPod to www.everymac.com; Art Credit for Casio Exilim to x1brettstuff.blogspot.com

Project Natal This new video game add-on peripheral by Microsoft for Xbox 360 is a controller-free gaming and entertainment experience. Project Natal allows you to play a game without touching a controller, and instead uses a gesture system. You can even use spoken commands which will have effects in the software you are using. You can present items and images that will be scanned by the peripheral, and then later presented on screen. Project Natal will allow anyone to play and enjoy a game, and it will be released late in 2010, just in time for a new Holidays present.

PlayStation 3: Sony’s third-generation gaming system comes with a built in Blu-ray Disc player and a high definition graphics system. With a variety of games for all people and an amazing online network, the PlayStation 3 will please anyone. $299

Sharp 42” LCD HDTV This HDTV is a great addition for your home for some great Home Entertainment. You can watch your favorite movies and TV shows, along with your favorite video game system, in great quality. $798

IPod Touch 3G You can listen to music and watch videos on the most recent incarnation of the iPod Touch. Built-in Wi-Fi means you can send an email, update your Facebook status, and surf the web. Now you can even play games, not just by using your thumbs, but my tapping, tilting, and turning. $199

Casio EXILIM EX-H10 “Superzoom” This is a great travel partner as it can take 1,000 images per battery charge.

This camera has a 10X optical zoom and 4X digital zoom which allows you to take pictures from very far away, and the best thing is, it doesn’t compromise the quality of the pictures.

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Is the Internet

Ms. Richey’s E-Zine class would not exist without the Internet.

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TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

?

your new

best friend

More than half of america is attracted to the internet By: Abdulkarim B.

A

s a student at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy, I have a lot of homework, and I do a lot of that homework on a computer. On projects, I have to do some research on the Internet about my topic. I was doing exactly that for my World Geography project at 6 P.M., when out of the blue, my Internet stopped working. I freaked out because the project was due the next day and I just had to type up one or two more paragraphs to finish. I tried resetting the router and modem, but that didn’t seem to fix it. My brother called the Internet provider and they said that the connection line was down and that they were trying to fix it. Finally the Internet started working again at 9 P.M. and I was able to finish my project and go to sleep on time.

This is exactly why people shouldn’t be so attached to a relatively new form of technology in our society. The major spread of the Internet around the world just started around the 1990s. Many people do not even know how the Internet works, how secure it really is, but are frequently using it as if it’s their best friend.

In less than 20 years, people have shifted much of their daily activities to the online world. People pay bills online, they communicate with friends online, they check their bank account data online, and even take college courses online. The main problem I have with this is that it affects businesses. By emailing friends online, the United States Postal Service’s First Class mailing service loses popularity and customers, since email “travels” faster.

Thinking of email as a potential threat of depleting funds to their organization they created ECOM, which is where you could electronically send your message to the post of

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fice, they would print out a hard copy, and then send it themselves. After 3 years, ECOM was canceled and they attempted to sell it off. I find this very sad because an old-fashioned organization that is now having to adapt to the modern threats, known as “electronic mail.” Now, the USPS is trying to adapt by deciding whether or not to stop sending mail on Saturdays. If this happened, jobs would be lost, which is really no exception with the current economic state. Some of my family members have lost their jobs and it is really hard for them. All of this is happening just because of the E-mail feature on the Internet.

Many users do not know how the Internet functions while others don’t know how secure they are on their computer. Well, there is no one person in charge of the Internet. It is the phone companies cables that form the backbone of the Internet. It is the phone companies capable of providing you with Internet access. Also, there are organizations like ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, and World Wide Web Consortium which are significant because they are two of nearly a dozen organizations that keep the Internet running smoothly.

Your whole way of life would change without the Internet.

In terms of Internet security, someone could be hacking your computer right now, and you won’t even know. A person may commit a crime on the Internet and you could be the one getting arrested, because the culprit hacked the network so that is your IP address that shows up on the records of the Internet provider. Something very similar to this happened in Mumbai, India. Jacob Cherian, of The Economic Times of India, reports on January 19, 2008 that the police arrested the wrong person for a cyber crime that offended the religion of Hinduism. They figured out the IP address of the computer, which gave them the location, and then they looked at the time of the crime, which also plays a key role in determining who was using the computer at that time. The time could be in the format of a different time zone. Without checking the time

These are two of the many Internet Browsers.

Mozilla Firefox Internet Explorer

zone, the police made the arrest and the owner of the computer got trapped.

I just think people should not be careless when using the Internet.

You should be careful with what you do on your computer, who you lend it to, when you leave it exposed, because in the end it could get you in trouble, and you will be in a very sticky situation that dish soap won’t get you out of.

The backbone of the Internet could have technical issues and millions of people could lose Internet access. All of the information you have online could be deleted, or gone for some period of time. Your whole way of life would be changed without the Internet. Instead of that outcome, you could be prepared for this kind of situation, and if it actually happens, you will not be in trouble.

People may say it is great that the world is shifting to an online world because now it is easier and more convenient to pay your bills and keep in touch with your friends. I don’t believe this to be true. Yes, it may be convenient, but you should always have a backup just in case something happens. Paying bills online requires a credit card number, which a hacker can steal online, which would get you into a sticky situation. I would prefer to take the safer route and just physically pay your bills at a place like The Money Box.

I think it is better to talk with your friend on a phone because you can actually hear their voice, rather than chat with them online and just read their words. For all you know, it may not even be them. Your computer could be hacked by someone and they may be pretending to be you. It is very common that websites are hacked. For example, in 2000, someone under the name MafiaBoy hacked into websites like eBay, Amazon, and Yahoo and created an attack on the website. I was once on a website that I thought was safe, but then a fake message showed up that I was getting a virus, and I tried closing the page, but it wouldn’t,

Art Credit to Celestianpower on Wikipedia

Art Credit to kilokilo at stock.xchng

This computer lab has advanced computers, while there are people who do not have computers at all.

You are very susceptible to identity theft or credit card theft when you pay your bills online.

Art Credit to Creative Commons

Elderly people can also use computers if others actually teach them.

Art Credit to Don Hankins on Creative Commons

so I had to shut down my computer, or else I could’ve have gotten a virus.

That really scared me and I have tried to be more careful ever since. It just goes to show the Internet is not as secure as everyone thinks it is, and needs a lot of improvement to avoid people from hacking onto networks and the Internet.

People should not be so attached and reliant on the Internet. It is a useful resource, but it should not be such a major part of your life. Don’t depend on the Internet so much that you do everything on it, you should have a back-up ready for when the time comes. You could grow so accustomed to the Internet so much, that if it crashes, you won’t really know what to do, and someone like me who has a backup available, will walk away unscathed. q

This Computer lab, called the I.T. room by Marling School for boys. People of different ages use the computer, because they have the knowledge.

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TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

CYBER HELL Some forms of cyberbullying, such as threatening instant messages (shown here), have led to suicide. People who have committed suicide over this sort of conduct include teens Megan Meier and Ryan Halligan.

CYBER CONNECTION THE

A family shares their perspective on one of the most hot-button issues in our tech-obsessed world today, but their opinions are rather divided on this particular matter

BY WILL W

Megan Meier opened up Firefox in a

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JULIEANNE AT THE COMPUTER: OWN WORK

new window, and shifted the mouse on her computer, moving her pointer to the little horizontal box. She typed in the address www.myspace.com.

As Megan scanned through her new Myspace bulletins, one of them, from her Myspace friend Josh Evans, caught her eye. It said, “I don’t know if I want to be friends with you anymore because I’ve heard that you are not very nice to your friends.”

The feelings of loneliness and hurt circled through the girl’s mind, and the next day, more messages came, some of which said, “Megan Meier is a slut.

Megan Meier is fat.” Megan Meier had enough. She

hung herself in her closet that night and died the next morning. And Josh Evans turned out to be a fictional persona from one of her ex-friends’ parents.

This sort of conduct on the Internet is called cyberbullying. My sister Julieanne, who is currently an 8th grader at Kealing Middle School, says that cyberbullying is “when somebody’s talking to you online or something, and they’re just like, ‘So, what’s up, fatass?’”

This is very prevalent among students in middle and high school. And it doesn’t just involve hurtful words over Myspace, Facebook, or other

social networks.

“Because of the reality TV shows, I think people are trying to find others in embarrassing situations,” says Darren W., director of public affairs at the Texas Medical Association.

He uses the Internet and email a lot in his job, whether he’s communicating with doctors or learning about different events. Darren has a Facebook, but he mostly uses it to contact clients and connect with his coworkers, and he knows that cyberbullying isn’t only a middle and high school occurrence.

“When I write email, I think that other people will read it,” Darren says. “I don’t put anything into email that will make me feel uncomfortable about the person who will see it.”

But why would people want to send poisonous emails or post nasty bulletins or statuses on a social network? And is it based entirely on hate?

No, says Darren’s wife Lissa.

“I feel that there are many deeper causes, such as anger toward children’s parents, depression, mental instability, and the kids themselves think it’s funny.”

Lissa knows the consequences of cyberbullying, and she sees a difference between bullying and cyberbullying: the fact that many people can view the bullying online. In fact, she knows someone who was cyberbullied online on a website viewed by many.

“Kids made a website about him, and they bullied him on it,” Lissa says.

She also regularly watches the news and encounters stories that involve people killing themselves over cyberbullying, such as the aforementioned Megan Meier.

“People experiencing the bullying are being abused. Eventually, they can’t take it anymore,” she says. “I think it happens more than we know about it, because bullying is wrong.”

Because of the news and the child’s story, Lissa learned more about cyberbullying and has set standards for how she treats other people on the Internet. She would never say anything abusive or obscene.

“I only talk to my closest friends on the Internet, and I’m very careful about what I say.”

On the other hand, Julieanne sometimes jokingly “bullies” her close friends when she’s chatting with them on Gmail, Google’s email service.

“We go say, “You’re so weird” on Gmail chat or something. But it’s all a joke,” she says. However, Julieanne knows that cyberbullying is a huge issue among her age group, and thinks it should be legislated.

“It’s not very nice to hurt people like that.

Other people want to hear it, and then your life is pretty much ruined,” she says. “I think that the police should make people pay fines, do jail time, and things like that because of cyberbullying.”

In contrast, Darren thinks cyberbullying is almost like rumors and other gossip. Both become very difficult to legislate, in his opinion.

“You can’t legislate people gossiping on others. Legislation deals with absolutes, and cyberbullying isn’t absolute.”

Darren believes that educating children and adults about cyberbullying is the best way to stop it.

“It’s a good first step,” he says.

Lissa agrees. “In the case of children, parents should take a more involved role in limiting their children’s time in front of a computer and make it quality time. In adults, behavior is self-determined, so there should be standard punishment. That’s the only way I see that could stop it.”

The fact that cyberbullying is so prevalent can make it hard for people to control.

“What makes it more difficult is that you can’t confront the individual who’s being bullied,” Darren says.

But in Julieanne’s opinion, we should definitely start young to try and stop cyberbullying.

“The moment that a child touches a computer keyboard and types foul words, they know how to cyberbully each other,” Julieanne says. “I think people should restrict the things they say.”

If only the person who provoked Megan Meier’s suicide learned this concept. q

“Legislation deals with absolutes, and cyberbullying isn’t absolute.”

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TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

HYBRIDS Gasoline-electric hybrids are popular these days.

Many are good, but some are just plain bad.

We’ll tell you the best and the worst.

by Will W.

(Top left) Ford Fusion Hybrid and (top middle) Honda Insight - Wikipedia user Mariordo/(top right) BMW X6 ActiveHybrid - Flickr user dck47 (Bottom left) Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - flickr user dsix/(bottom middle)Toyota Prius - flickr user Beth and Christian/(bottom right) Lexus hybrid badge - Flickr user Tim Wang

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A New Leaf

Gas-electric hybrid vehicles are very popular, but which ones should you go for? this primer will help you decide Now, there has been a huge market for hybrid vehicles that run on both gas and electricity. It all started with the Toyota Prius, the first commercially available hybrid in Japan, and the Honda Insight, the first such hybrid in the US. Now, the Japanese aren’t the only hybrid manufacturers. Here are 4 hybrids that are worth a look.

LEXUS HS250h

TOYOTA PRIUS

HONDA CR-Z

FORD FUSION

Not to be outdone by its Lexus sibling, the Prius is still going strong as a bold statement of environmental consciousness.

For the second redesign in the Prius’ life, there’s just a little more of everything: a new larger engine, added weight, and a more aerodynamic shape. But it still gets good fuel economy.

Back in 1989, Honda made the Civic CR-X coupe. In 1999, they made the Insight, the first US hybrid. In 2009, Honda has resurrected the Insight as a Prius competitor. One year later, the CR-Z, shown here in concept form, will take both cars’ virtues. Like the CR-X it will be sporty, and it will get good fuel economy like the Insight.

Honda will use its hybrid system, called Integrated Motor Assist, in the final production vehicle, as well as either a 1.8L or 2.4L engine. Unlike most hybrid cars, the CR-Z will be available with a six-speed manual transmission, as well as a continuously variable transmission, which is normally used in hybrids.

“How come an American hybrid is on this list?” you ask. Well, here’s why. The Ford Fusion was the car that put Ford back on the map, with sporty driving dynamics and lots of rear seet room, two things its predecessor, the Taurus, severely lacked. Now, Ford has made the excellent Fusion a hybrid car.

WHAT’S HOT ABOUT IT NOTABLE FEATURES

Lexus’ designers said from the start that the vehicle should be designed sustainably, and it shows, with plant-based plastics throughout. Since it’s a Lexus, there’s also a gamut of technological innovations, such as fully electric cruise control and a mouselike joystick that controls the audio system.

Two words: Solar power. The Prius has options that use the sun to your advantage, including a solar-powered air conditioner and sunroof. Cruise control is laser-based as opposed to gas engine-based. The interior uses nicer materials but creates a new annoyance also found in the Lexus: a “P” button as opposed to a “P” on the new rocklike shifter.

$34,200 for the Base model, and $36,970 for the top of the line Premium model. More expensive than the Prius or Fusion, but the cheapest luxury hybrid available.

$22,400 for the Prius II (the base model), and $27,670 for the Prius V (top of the line). Strikingly more expensive than the original Prius, as well as its competitor, the Honda Insight.

The quintessential hybrid car is still good, because it was good in the first place. Many car companies can learn from Toyota’s “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality that it shares with Ford, who also does partial redesigns. But the Prius has gotten pricier. At almost $4000 more than the original, the Prius is no longer the cheap and economic hybrid it once was.

THE VERDICT

Lexus, ToMoCo’s expensive division, hasn’t had a dedicated luxury hybrid; all of their hybrids use V6s that put power over fuel economy. So Toyota took their Avensis sedan sold in Europe, added the Camry’s hybrid powertrain, and voila, a hybrid you can easily park at a Neiman Marcus, Saks, or Nordstrom and show off.

COST

3rd Generation

Lexus’ third entry-level model (after the ES and IS) might have come at the perfect time, as hybrid technology undergoes a mass renaissance. Although at first glance it seems like just a gilded Prius and little else, that’s not the case here. Lots of luxury features for a (comparatively) low cost can be found in droves here. And that’s exactly what some hybrid drivers want.

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TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

On two LCDs located on each side of the speedometer, various graphs show how you’re driving, battery power, etc. One also shows a vine that grows more lush with leaves if you’re driving eco-friendly. If you’re driving like Jeff Gordon, the vine’s leaves start falling off. And Ford’s Sync media control system, developed with Microsoft, is optional.

Not known yet (the vehicle’s coming in 2010/2011). Odds are the price will be in the low-tomid $20,000’s.

$27,625 for the base Hybrid model, and a model with all the options might go into the low $30,000’s. Not inexpensive, but not a Lexus HS fighter.

Looks promising, especially from Honda, whose other main hybrid, the Insight, hasn’t exactly been praised by the auto community.Combining the sportiness of the CR-X with the fuel economy of the Insight might prove a tough task, but Honda might be able to pull it off. The results will be ready in a year or two, when Honda releases the CR-Z worldwide.

“Fusing” driving dynamics and good fuel economy is a tough task. But Ford could do it. Maybe that’s because the original car is so good. All Ford had to do is add a hybrid system that gives it really good fuel economy (41 mpg city). Overall, if you want a hybrid with the best blend of sporty driving, nice features, and fuel economy, the Fusion is a winner.

NOT TOO GREEN

“GREEN” DOESN’T ALWAYS STAND FOR “GREAT” OR EVEN “ECONOMICAL”, AS THESE THREE HYBRID FLOPS SHOW times a hybrid vehicle will only get 1 or 2 more miles per gallon than a comparative regular model. And then there are full-

THE VERDICT

COST

WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT

CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID

BMW ACTIVEHYBRID X6

sized truck hybrids, which are economical - if you tow a lot of stuff. Here are 3 hybrids to stay away from, if you can.

CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID

Turning a gas-guzzling object of pure bling into a hybrid might improve fuel economy and make a good towing vehicle for people who make over $70,000 a year and want to tow their yachts in an eco-conscious fashion. But for everyone else, this is surely one to avoid. Even with the 2-mode hybrid system from General Motors, the Escalade Hybrid gets unimpressive fuel economy, estimated at 20 mpg by the EPA. (thanks to that V8). Although this is a very good hybrid for towing and showing off, it still has the Escalade’s flaws, such as a heavy weight (3 tons!), a rather punishing ride, a tight third row, and some cheap materials (uncalled for in a Cadillac).

Take one of the weirdest BMWs ever created. Think SUV meets sports coupe, and you get the idea. The idea wasn’t too wellreceived by the automotive press, much like the (unrelated) Mercedes CLS and Volkswagen CC, two other German vehicles that used the “4-door coupe” idea. However, this is also BMW’s first hybrid. Yes, BMW is a high-performance brand to the extreme. But it has the worst MPG of any hybrid, according to the EPA. An average of 18 mpg can be attributed to the highhorsepower V8. Lesson to BMW and GM: just because you use innovative hybrid technologies doesn’t mean that would make a V8 more fuel-efficient.

“Wait, another GM hybrid on this list?“ you might ask. This mild hybrid by GM is discontinued as of now. But it deserves special mention as being one of the most unimpressive hybrids ever made.

Not only does it have the lowly 4-speed automatic transmission as its only gearbox, the hybrid also gets mileage that’s only slightly better than the regular 4-cylinder with a 6-speed. The hybrid has received criticism from the press because of this, as well as the fact that GM’s “hybrid lite” system doesn’t really work well. On top of all this, just about every other hybrid has a better economic driving mode than a little green light.

Expect to pay upwards of $70,000 for this gilded Tahoe hybrid, and a fully loaded one can even reach $90,000, making this one of the most expensive Cadillacs, let alone hybrids, on sale right now.

Just as expensive as a higher-end Cadillac Escalade hybrid: close to $90,000 for the base model, and the Beemer can even reach $100,000 with every option checked.

Around $25,000 for the Hybrid.

More than the Malibu 4-cylinder or a Prius, two vehicles that should be considered instead of this.

Hybrid badges are everywhere in this unworthy hybrid. This is disappointing, since Cadillac has made several worthy vehicles (such as the CTS) that get respectable MPG for their classes. But if you want a good luxury hybrid that costs over $70,000, look at the Lexus LS600hL or upcoming Fisker Karma instead. They can’t seat 8 or tow, but they’ve still got that luxo cachet.

The most powerful hybrid, and yet the least fuel efficient. Of course, what would a 2-mode hybrid system do to a twinturbo V8 engine that makes 400 horsepower? Like Edwin Starr said about war, “absolutely nothin’!”

Good god, BMW. At least make a hybrid that is fun-to-drive, gets good MPG, and costs much, much less.

Isn’t it ironic that GM could make a revolutionary plug-in hybrid (the Volt), but not produce a hybrid that could compete well with the Japanese? Yes, GM’s a good car company, but they went through bankruptcy because of cars like the Malibu Hybrid. Hopefully, GM’s reworking of its mild hybrid system will be put to good use in a new Malibu hybrid, soon to be released.

winter 2009 TECHNOLOGIST

LEXUS - WIKIPEDIA USER ALTAIR78 AND FLICKR USER KEVIN WATTS HONDA - WIKIPEDIA USER 韋駄天狗 (WEI TUO TIAN GOU) PRIUS - WIKIPEDIA USER SOUKI201 FUSION, ESCALADE AND MALIBU - WIKIPEDIA USER IFCAR BMW - WIKIPEDIA USER THOMAS DOERFER

Of course, there are several hybrid cars you should definitely avoid. Not every hybrid will save you money. In fact, some-

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R

A Goal For

ENEWABLE ESOURCES

Why the US is falling dreadfully behind.

By Arthur L.

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TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

The French version of nukes This nuclear power plant in Cattenom is one of the 56 in the country. -Picture by Stefan Kühn

This year, in Copenhagen, the UN will springing up all over the world at a furious rate, meaning host a conference remniscent of Kyoto, whose namesake protocol is expiring. The conference is the UN’s effort to both renew the Kyoto protocol and add to it, making a worldwide solution to the crisis.

The atmosphere is accumulating more and more carbon dioxide and methane, both greenhouse gases, as the Earth’s population grows and becomes more “advanced”, as nations shovel and burn more coal and oil to meet the demands of the populace, and as China and India race to catch up with the US. Coal plants are

an increase of emissions, and energy becomes unstable as the world begins to revolve around coal.

Renewable energy, such as solar, wind, nuclear, geothermal, and other forms of generating electricity, provide a clean and viable solution for our energy crisis.

Many other countries are taking the reins and working hard towards the goal of low-emission and high-sustainability energy used widely throughout the nation. Those who have the reins, however, have to pull the stubborn donkey of America.

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French Nukes

France is one of those at the head of renewable energy as the world’s leader in nuclear energy, with 59 nuclear reactors. According to the World Nuclear Association, over 75% of the entire nation’s energy is generated by the nuclear energy - calculated to be about 446 TWh (Terawatt hours) by the International Atomic Energy Association - which, when added to the other renewable energy resources in the country, makes France one of the leaders in renewable energy, with about 90% of their energy generated from renewable energy.

France’s renewable resource program has been shepherded into existence by firm governmental support, and is now rapidly paying dividends. France is the world’s largest exporter of electricity; the IAEA states that France exported about 72.20 TWh in 2003 and the WNA estimates that it makes over 3 billion euros a year from this activity. It has excellent energy security (meaning that there is sustainable ubiquitous energy that isn’t dependent on any one source), and has the lowest cost of energy in Europe. More importantly on a wider scale, it has minimal CO2 emissions per capita - 6.8 tons - as well as as a nation on a whole, emitting only 409 megatons of CO2 in 2005, the lowest of all the G20 and EU countries in the IAEA database.

German Silicon?

On the opposite side of the alsace border, germany is the worldwide leader in solar energy, generating about 2220 gwh (gigawatt hours) of energy in 2006, according to national geographic magazine. Compare that to the united states’ 565 gwh, or south africa’s 532 gwh, the runnerups. Germany has about half the land mass of south africa, let alone the us, it has much less direct sunlight, and has a capacity of about 5 gwh, and yet it manages to produce 4 times the solar energy as either nations! How is this so?

Again, as in France, it comes from a firm governmental hand. Germany has instigated what is called a

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feed-in-tariff, a tariff meant to promote the change from present polluting energy to green energy. Those people who install green electricity then have the electricity bought from them for above-market rates, and will have it bought from them for 20 years at the above-market price, yielding a sweet incentive of what ngm states as an 8% annual return on investment.

Where are we?

So what about the US? Is it not cur-

TECHNOLOGIST winter 2009

rently the most powerful country in the world? Why is it not leading the fight to change our lifestyle for a better, more environmentally responsible way to generate electricity, with vast rivers like the Mississippi, sun-scorched regions like the Mojave Desert, and plenty of space and capacity for nuclear reactors? Why is it Washington has never lobbied for a decent change? The answer lies in the government itself.

The United States’ government has always been weak. It has always

Rooftop Power Gardens: Roofs now do more than keep the weather off our heads. This warehouse roof in Buerstadt is the largest rooftop photovoltaic system in the world. Many Germans also put such PV systems on their own house roofs. Picture by Micah Jost.

Leaves of Silicon: This photovoltaic field in Waldenpolz, Germany, is one of many, even though most of Germany’s solar energy is generated from roof-top PVs. Photo by Juwi Group

been afraid of being perceived as being too powerful by the people, and has always been torn apart by political party lines. This results in the US getting very little done, especially when it affects everyday life. Americans are living a nice, comfortable life right now, and they don’t care about anything else other than continuing to live that nice comfortable life.

For example, the US walked out of Kyoto in 1997, with Bush stating that the Kyoto Protocol was

“fatally flawed.” This is just one of the many times that the United States has shied away from taking responsibility and reducing their emissions, because the government is in corporations’ pockets. Ford, GM, big oil, miners’ labor unions, other large powerful lobbiers who make a living on oil, coal and gas, they don’t want the government to turn to alternative energies, because then they will lose money. And, since they are very powerful and can lobby efficiently, they get their way, killing act after

act designed to pose a stricter standard on their products, and, in their mind, steal their money.

The world isn’t just about money, people. Communists know that. You have to sacrifice some of your monetary value in order to make the world a better place.

It’s time for the capitalists to learn.

France and Germany know that.

Does America? And if not, when will we learn? And what will it take for us to learn. q

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