'B'e Successful!

    Writing is a touchy subject for me. I sometimes love it, and I sometimes struggle with it. I would say that struggling was the theme for me this term. These struggles come in various forms and they are the result of many outside distractions. At the beginning of the term I felt anxious for several reasons. One, I own a small business, being an owner has it’s ups and downs. It is nice being your own boss, but it also comes with many responsibilities. Constraints that I have come to realize, conflict heavily with the responsibilities that I have to my professors and the classroom. Two, my wife was accepted into the Nursing program, my family now relies solely on me to provide an income. In order to allow her time to study my roles at home have changed as well, such as helping out around the house. This ensures that my wife has less duties around the house. Three, I feel very overwhelmed with the amount of information coming to me. This will be my 10th straight term at LCC and I may be suffering from TMI (too much information), not the “I’ve heard too much about your personal life” TMI, but the “my brain hurts!” TMI.  

    Business is demanding, especially in my line of work. I am a Home Theater installer, and when someone wants their TV and surround sound setup for the Duck game then I better be there to make sure they can watch it, or I lose that persons business to someone else. It is a dog eat dog world out there, I have a family to provide for and the economy is not great. Thus, I must take advantage of all the jobs that come my way. I have been able to juggle this fairly successfully in the past, but in the past, I have had a business partner to cover operations during the times that I have class. This term has been different however. At the beginning of the term my partner decided to get a part-time job on the side. At the time I did not realize how much extra burden this would put on me. It has been difficult to say the least, not only did I lose the help needed to stay on top of all the work coming our way, but business also significantly increased. This made it very difficult to find time to focus on my projects outside of school.

    My wife got into the nursing program! Congratulations to her, it is an incredibly hard task to accomplish and she has many difficult terms ahead of her. In order to support her through this our lives have gone through some significant changes. My office is gone! The workload that the program has given my wife is intense. If she is at home then I will know where to find her, the office. It is great to see her working so hard but because of this, it is often hard for me to find a quiet place and a computer to work at.  

    TMI! After 10 consecutive terms at Lane Community College I believe that my brain is giving up. I started school with the desire to obtain my ‘Network Operations’ degree. I thought this would be the most logical career path for me. I am already in a career that involves technology, and as home entertainment progress’ it relies more and more on networking. After about eight terms I began to realize that computers may not be my thing, they continually frustrate me, and many people that are successful in this line of work are much more passionate about computers/programming than I. So recently I have decided to declare myself as an AAOT student. I had already taken many courses that were specific to my Networking degree, when I decided to switch my focus I also chose to take on additional classes. This is tough because trying to take specific courses for a degree and work them into a schedule that fits with my busy life has taken its toll. It is why I have been in school for so long now and why I have been taking courses every term with no break. It has already taken some time to get where I am at, because certain classes are only available certain terms I must take advantage of each and every time a class fits into my schedule.

    This term I completed most of the assigned projects. I have learned to write blogs and have enjoyed writing papers from an opposite stance. My work has been good, but my timeliness has suffered from the reasons stated above. All-in-all I have thoroughly enjoyed the course. I have made every effort to be in class because I feel this is when your teachings were most successful with me. Your personality is wonderful and your in-class lectures and activities were incredibly helpful and engaging. My work was done, I was present in the classroom, and I was an active participant in all the in-class activities. All that said, I do not feel that I put in one-hundred percent. Therefore I believe I deserve a ‘B’.

Counter Claim Week!

Counter Claim #1: Hybrids have been favorable over the last decade because cost of fuel has doubled and a small portion of our society is concerned with emissions output. Hybrids often get greater than 41 mpg combined and in today’s market that pretty well tops the charts. So one could argue that they get the best fuel mileage. When the Prius was initially launched that was significantly better than current fuel sipping economy cars that achieved 30 mpg combined.

Counter Claim #2:

Prospectus

- How do we kill the hybrid?

- Hybrids, a wasted use of technology and efficiency.

- What personal interest or stake do I have in this issue?

- If my argument succeeds I will have helped people understand what a hybrid accomplishes in the automobile industry, and promote interest in more sustainable technologies that are friendlier to the environment.
- This affects me because the same way as it affects the rest of us. Using non renewable resources inefficiently will have a great impact on our planet and our day-to-day life.
- I am passionate about automobiles and the sustainability of our planet. I would like to see that my daughter and generations beyond are leading happy healthy lives on a planet that is as pleasant and beautiful as the one we enjoy today.
- I have owned a hybrid vehicle before.

- Why is this a controversial issue?

- Green technology will always be a controversial issue for many. People have very strong opinionated views on how we use this technology effectively. You will also have passionate people in the automobile industry. To them, the concern is how this will influence the direction of the industry, and the production of future vehicles. There are many debates on the pros and cons of hybrid vehicles.
- The production of much more efficient alternative fuel vehicles are be hindered by the demand for highly marketed hybrids.
- How long is the life expectancy of the batteries? How are the large battery packs being disposed of properly?
- Current fossil fuel vehicles, can they be as efficient as hybrids? Yes, the Mazda 3 Skyactive, gas and diesel power. Volkswagen’s current and past diesel motors. These all can be ran off Bio fuels.
- What are the emission outputs of said vehicles above? What are the emission outputs of Hybrids found in todays market?
- Plug in Hybrid EV’s better but not perfect. Bob Lutz, former Vice Chairman at General Motors Company was an opponent of Hybrid vehicle, then led the development of the Chevrolet Volt. Why?

- Who is the audience I need to persuade?

- The automakers
- Hybrid owners
- New vehicle buyers

- These are people that believe that Hybrid vehicle are an answer to our emissions problem, and petroleum consumption. They value the environment and sustainability.

Important information to cover:

- Types of Hybrids

Parallel hybrid

The Honda Insight is a Mild Parallel Hybrid.
The Toyota Prius is a series-parallel hybrid.
The Ford Escape Hybrid has a series-parallel drivetrain.
In a parallel hybrid vehicle, the single electric motor and the internal combustion engine are installed such that they can power the vehicle either individually or together. In contrast to the power split configuration typically only one electric motor is installed. Most commonly the internal combustion engine, the electric motor and gear box are coupled by automatically controlled clutches. For electric driving the clutch between the internal combustion engine is open while the clutch to the gear box is engaged. While in combustion mode the engine and motor run at the same speed.
The first mass production parallel hybrid is the Honda Insight.

Mild parallel hybrid

These types use a generally compact electric motor (usually <20 kW) to provide auto-stop/start features and to provide extra power assist during the acceleration, and to generate on the deceleration phase (aka regenerative braking).
On-road examples include Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight, Honda CR-Z, Honda Accord Hybrid, Mercedes Benz S400 BlueHYBRID, BMW 7-Series hybrids,General Motors BAS Hybrids and Smart fortwo with micro hybrid drive.

Power-split or series-parallel hybrid

Typical passenger car installations include the Toyota Prius, the Ford Escape, Ford Fusion, the Lexus RX400h, RX450h, GS450h, LS600h and CT200h.
In a power-split hybrid electric drive train there are two motors: an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. The power from these two motors can be shared to drive the wheels via a power splitter, which is a simple planetary gear set. The ratio can be from 0–100% for the combustion engine, or 0–100% for the electric motor, or anything in between, such as 40% for the electric motor and 60% for the combustion engine. The electric motor can act as a generator charging the batteries.
Modern versions such as the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive have a second electric motor/generator on the output shaft (connected to the wheels). In cooperation with the "primary" motor/generator and the mechanical power-split this provides a continuously variable transmission.
On the open road, the primary power source is the internal combustion engine. When maximum power is required, for example to overtake, the electric motor is used to assist. This increases the available power for a short period, giving the effect of having a larger engine than actually installed. In most applications, the engine is switched off when the car is slow or stationary reducing curbside emissions.

Series hybrid

The Chevrolet Volt is a series plug-in hybrid released at the end of 2010.
A Honda Civic Hybrid used by Zipcar, a car sharing service, in Washington, D.C.
Ford Escape plug-in hybrid.
A series- or serial-hybrid vehicle has also been referred to as an Extended Range Electric Vehicle or Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (EREV/REEV); however, range extension can be accomplished with either series or parallel hybrid layouts.
Series-hybrid vehicles are driven by the electric motor with no mechanical connection to the engine. Instead there is an engine tuned for running a generator when the battery pack energy supply isn't sufficient for demands.
This arrangement is not new, being common in diesel-electric locomotives and ships. Ferdinand Porsche used this setup in the early 20th century in racing cars, effectively inventing the series-hybrid arrangement. Porsche named the arrangement "System Mixt". A wheel hub motor arrangement, with a motor in each of the two front wheels was used, setting speed records. This arrangement was sometimes referred to as an electric transmission, as the electric generator and driving motor replaced a mechanical transmission. The vehicle could not move unless the internal combustion engine was running.
The setup has never proved to be suitable for production cars, however it is currently being revisited by several manufacturers.
In 1997 Toyota released the first series-hybrid bus sold in Japan. GM introduced the Chevy Volt EREV in 2010, aiming for an all-electric range of 40 miles, and a price tag of around $40,000. Supercapacitors combined with a lithium ion battery bank have been used by AFS Trinity in a converted Saturn Vue SUV vehicle. Using supercapacitors they claim up to 150 mpg in a series-hybrid arrangement.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)

Main article: Plug-in hybrid
Another subtype added to the hybrid market is the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). The PHEV is usually a general fuel-electric (parallel or serial) hybrid with increased energy storage capacity (usually Li-ion batteries). It may be connected to mains electricity supply at the end of the journey to avoid charging using the on-board internal combustion engine.
This concept is attractive to those seeking to minimize on-road emissions by avoiding – or at least minimizing – the use of ICE during daily driving. As with pure electric vehicles, the total emissions saving, for example in CO2 terms, is dependent upon the energy source of the electricity generating company.
For some users, this type of vehicle may also be financially attractive so long as the electrical energy being used is cheaper than the petrol/diesel that they would have otherwise used. Current tax systems in many European countries use mineral oil taxation as a major income source. This is generally not the case for electricity, which is taxed uniformly for the domestic customer, however that person uses it. Some electricity suppliers also offer price benefits for off-peak night users, which may further increase the attractiveness of the plug-in option for commuters and urban motorists.

Fuel cell, electric hybrid

The fuel cell hybrid is generally an electric vehicle equipped with a fuel cell. The fuel cell as well as the electric battery are both power sources, making the vehicle a hybrid. Fuel cells use hydrogen as a fuel and power the electric battery when it is depleted. The Chevrolet Equinox FCEV, Ford Edge Hyseries Drive and Honda FCXare examples of a fuel cell/electric hybrid.

The Magnificent 7 Challenge

My challenge answers as follows:

Lying is wrong...Except when its right - by Kevin Wyckoff

The Uprising of Social Media - by Justin Gamboa   *Top pick critique

Its the Appeal - by Jasmine Jewel Hood

ACCESS DENIED!!!! - by Liz Hensley

The internet grows up: - by Kevin Wyckoff

Best Criticism - by Liz Hensley

Divergence We Stand

     In 2010 Timothy Noah wrote a series of articles outlining the income inequality that is spiraling out of control in America's economy. The first part of the series The United States of Inequality focuses on the history of income inequality and where the US stands now. Noah points out that the growing difference in wealth between classes over the last three decades is something of major concern and relates this trend to that of the great depression to prove his point.

     The evidence that our society is inevitably doomed seems more abundant than ever. Recently I was having a discussion about this matter with a good friend. Both of us agreed that something doesn't seem right about wealth distribution in our country and that the United States seems be "Corporate owned". Noah states in his article that "few of these experts have much idea how to reverse the trend, because almost no one can agree about what's causing it". Yet the answer seems so simple to me, greed. The people in high places, with wealth just continue to want more of it. We live in a corporate world now and unfortunately it even seems to influence the way our government operates.

http://www.theliberalcurmudgeon.com/2012/02/when-gop-nominates-romney-they-nominate.html

     As the cartoon above illustrates, even the man that the GOP has nominated to run for president is part of the problem, that the "99%" (or at least half) doesn't even care and will still vote for him. This seems asinine to me. Somehow the republican party has convinced people that he is the solution to our economic woes, yet he is, and was a part of the problem. Romney has a record  of growing corporate entities by cutting jobs and increasing gains, while paying  less taxes and avoiding responsibilities by keeping his money in offshore accounts. How will this man help turn our countries economy around?

     In Noah's article he shows the reader that this latest boom of economic growth is closely related to that of the early 20th century. During the industrial the united states saw a large increase in wealth, yet a large majority of that wealth was held by the 1%, about 18% of it. Sound familiar? It should, because it has only gotten worse. Now, after the last  three decades of economic growth the 1% accounts for 24% of the wealth in this country. Why does this matter? Because directly after the industrial era, (excuse my language) the "shit hit the fan" and our country went into the great depression. This is eerily similar to what is happening in the US today.

Dissolving a parliament

picture credited to: Roar Magazine

 

The article “Communication Key to Egypt’s Uprising” written by Hany Rashwan, revolved around a simple question; Why now? Why did Egypt’s people suddenly decide that Pharaoh’s are no longer needed and need to be overthrown? Rashwan believes that the key to this questions lies within the world wide web. This free flowing source of information and connectivity can be detrimental to their dominating monarchical government.  

Rashwan spoke with several top executives in large .com corporations, ones that helped Egypt’s people to communicate about the liberation that was happening. Even after the government tried to deny it’s citizens the internet. He uses all this to emphasize the internets power and it’s ability to bring people together.



  I believe that what Rashwan has to say is inspiring. He has supported his claims with much research and strong comments from people in high places. He believes strongly that this event was proof that the internet can help bring people together for a better cause, to bring them together to trump overpowering governments and bring change to the majority when change is desired. 

The fact that the internet can have such a strong impact is what impressed Rashwan the most during the uprising that occurred in 2011. It brought him to believe that with a showing like this that people can utilize this profound technology to change the way the world operates. That it can bring down barriers between nations. To ultimately bring world peace. This is far fetched idea, but after reading this article I am more encouraged to believe in this possibility.

Lies Hurt

http://ccmpratncu.blogspot.com/2012/02/getting-rid-of-pinocchio-within-us.html

Lying is bad.

Schobert's View

Summary of "Let the Zoo's Elephants Go"

     Les Schobert's article if focused around the lack of change in the care that Elephants receive while in captivity in our zoos. Schobert points out that these animals are getting less than acceptable treatment and respect by these institutions. 

     The author claims that zoos need to give the elephants larger habitats in order to promote longevity/quality of life, a better social life for the animals, and to prevent premature euthanization of these beautiful creatures.

photo from http://opencage.info/pics/large_3845.asp
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/deed.en

Response

     My first thought in response to this article is "AGREED!". It spoke to me and pulled at my heart as I remembered viewing these incredible beings at the Oregon Zoo. The elephants that occupy this local zoo are the Asian Elephant, one of the smaller species on our planet. Even then I felt sorrow while watching them mope about the small concrete enclosure. It seemed obviously clear to me, an average zoo goer, that this was an inappropriate amount of space for such large animals.

     Doing a small inquiry on the range that these animals cover in the wild revealed that they generally occupy anywhere from 11-231 square miles depending on the density of the environment (From the Oregon Zoo's own website). Schobert argues that, although these animals may get quality attention and nutrition from the staff , the elephants will suffer until they are put into bigger habitats such as large sanctuaries found in California. This is true, he convinces me that the living situation alone is harmful the them because of the physical ailments such as arthritis and/or foot problems. Schobert's credibility is backed by his 30 years of experience working in zoos.

     While viewing the Oregon's zoos website I did notice an interesting statement on the Asian elephant discovery page:     Thanks to funding from the bond passed by voters in 2008, an expanded Asian elephant habitat will support a richer social and family life for the zoo's elephants. The much larger exhibit will offer a variety of terrain, scratching surfaces, elephant controlled showers, pools for bathing and mud wallows to cool and protect skin.

      This makes me wonder? Is this the result of Schobert's article? Written in 2005. That would be incredible, he is very passionate about this article and I would assume this stems from the experience working around these animals. They are incredibly smart, social animals with their herd and with hauman interaction. I cannot imagine growing attached to them and continue on knowing that they need more, A LOT more. I hope by writing this article and bringing the seriousness of the matter out into the open, that he has furthered the progress in providing these animals adequate living space. So that they can live the long, happy, pain free lives that they deserve.

Introduction

     I'll start by introducing myself. My name is Colby McIlhenny, I have a beautiful wife and daughter at home by the names of Stacey and Samantha. I own a home theater installation business that specializes in retro fitting homes with multi-room sound systems and home theater equipment. Business isn't always steady so I've decided to attend college in search of something new and different.