[TheForge] now Japanese nuke plants OT: POL:

[Andrew Vida]

James Binnion wrote:
> I agree with your thoughts on this. I don't see how we can avoid
> nuclear power if we are to continue to try to support so many people
> at the level of technology we currently have.

	You may be right... maybe not.  I think our understanding of energy 
systems is deplorably poor - stemming largely from the Newtonian view 
that has dominated scientific thought these past several centuries.

Back when I was a physics student at UC Davis I remember thinking that 
the fact that we say the subatomic world is paradoxical and really makes 
no clear sense is an indication of our lack of understanding - the flaw 
in our abstract modeling and the language we use to discuss it, rather 
than some "fault" in the way things are put together, which sometimes 
came up as an implied assertion in the context of discourse.  That, of 
course, would seem ridiculous on its face.

My point here is that rather than taking the path of enlightened self 
interest, we have worked tirelessly to preserve the status quo.  We can 
thank government and corporate interference and the rise of rigged 
markets for most of this, the painfully poor quality of public education 
for the rest.  Stealing via taxation is immoral and criminal in any 
context, but if you are going to do it, why not at least devote those 
countless sums to research that may one day bear some quantum advances 
in the energy sciences rather than sending troops to murder people 
halfway across the globe?

Someone's interests are served with all of this.  I am just not sure 
whose it is.
> 
> Thank goodness I don't have any roosters as I hate getting up early.

	Ours start in around 3AM.  I finally resigned myself to never again 
being able to sleep a decent night's rest.