What technological advance has caused more harm than good?

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by MikeWasHere05

What technology will let us produce the most energy with the least amount of harmful byproduct?

A perpetual motion machine.

Get right on that. I already have mine designed.

[GeorgeTheEng]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

A perpetual motion machine.

Get right on that. I already have mine designed.

In the immortal words of Homer Simpson...

"in this [forum] we obey the laws of thermodynamics"

Doesn't Nuclear Fusion provide the best ratio of energy to harmful byproduct? (it produces water doesn't it?) Of course we'd need to produce in such a way that it creates more energy then it uses.

[Wayne C.]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Wayne,
Did I ever mention I work for the most watched Public Television Station in the U.S.?

No offense meant there but I still think SS is the root of a lot of teaching evils. The format and pretense that this is a great form of education make it a babysitter and substitute to the harder work required by small children to actually learn things from their parents and teachers. I'd rather see my little ones reading a story or doing a puzzle than having it flashed in front of them.

I love Public TV and favorite programs like Nova and Nature. PTV is certainly head and shoulders above what is being passed off as entertainment on the network channels these days in terms of quality to the mind.

But a TV program can't be a substuitute for the experiences a child needs to get and too many parents I see seem to drop a baby in from of the SS tube and assume all is OK. Few people seem to have time to really do things with their kids these days. Generally, by the time they get to my classes in HS they have little more than the basic skills, no real motivation or direction and attention spans of less than 5 minutes.

So you see my rant here....


WC

[Wayne C.]

Originally Posted by GeorgeTheEng

Wayne - I might disagree with you a little on the Sesame Street thing. I grew up with it and turned out fine and sane. (well, maybe not sane, but relatively ok) Unless they've change significantly since I was a kid. You have to look at the intended age group. Sesame Street is meant from kids like 4 and under. They don't have the ability yet to have a work ethic. Thier attention spans are short at those ages. Can't expect a 4 yr old to watch a documentary on the Learning Channel...

<George Walks away singing "Rubber Ducky, you're the one...">

George- I'm ignoring that first line -way too easy!.

Obviously I don't want 4 year olds to go out and work jobs (AKA Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) but it would be nice to see kids hit HS with some sort of interests and goals and the motivation to pursue them. I believe that the roots of working towards a goal, even small things, does start when they are very small. As entertainment SS is probably great for little kids. But it doesn't substitute for experiences with their families and teachers.

Yeah we all can count - 1-2-3.....


WC

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Beth Sweet

Escalators. I mean, I get the purpose of elevators, those who are in wheelchairs, those who have strollers etc need a way to get up and down, but stairs that walk for you? I mean, come on, how lazy can we get?

I hope you never have to experience what I had to go through at FIRST regionals this year.

In recent months, something has gone wrong with my joints. I can walk OK, but I can't do stairs very well. Many people with heart disease and other medical conditions find themselves in this situation. Elevators are often not big enough to accommodate all such people attending a large event.

It was great having escalators in Atlanta. It would have been nice to have them at the two regionals my team played in. I don't like being unable to move freely from the pits to the stands and back.

Anyway, you didn't mention one of the evils of escalators: tempting the non-lazy to run UP the down escalators. I'll spare you the videos...

[Adam Y.]

This topic reminds me of the solar cells being created out of spinach and raspberry plants. Yummy... I can have my energy and something to eat at the same time.

[sirbleedsalot]

Thinking (or the lack of it) will be our downfall. It does not matter if gunpowder had not been invented or if nuclear bombs were never dreamed off, people will always find ways to kill one another, as they have been since Cain and Able. People have said in this thread that 10% of the Russian army died during world war II, this was not just because of gunpowder alone. It was do to the way Russia's army was run under Stalin and his purges. And as a side not gunpowder as invented in China is not the same as what is used now which is smokeless propellant. Also it is not an explosive, it burns increasing pressures inside the barrel propelling the bullet.