One of the common grammar mistakes I had was subject verb agreement (SVA). One of the common error was “…. discussion by several groups was…” and should not be “…. discussion by several groups were..”. My common misconception was to judge singular or plural form from the word before the verb.
Another of my common mistake was verb form. One of the error was “…. does not adhered…” and the correct form should be “…does not adhere…” Another of my mistake was “. ..can tapped..” and should be change to “..can tap…” I believed until today I am still confused about when to use past perfect, present perfect or simple past or simple present tense, so the errors are rather random.
Another of my major error is sentence structure. The errors are mainly due to the arranging of my word selection and trying to forcefully put them in. One of the errors is “…its possible impacts it could have socially and economically.” and it should be change to “…its possible social and economical impact.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
E-Post #5 - Roundtable discussion summaries
The roundtable discussion by other groups was on “ cloning”, “geo-engineering technology” and “genetic modified food” which is also commonly known as GM food.
In the discussion on geo-engineering, they discussed about the technology on carbon storage, carbon capture and possible technology such as releasing sulfur oxide into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight back to space. However, this point is being rebutted with being too costly and it is the social problem of using too much energy that need to be solved rather than a need for a better technology. In my opinion, as mentioned in previous related blogs, it is not such technology we should be spending our money to stop global warming so that we could use more energy with “ease”, but rather it is an individual needs and responsibility to play their own role in reducing the need of energy. These technologies only give excuses for us to “welcome” the use of more energy as it gave us a false sense of security that global warming is being controlled. Money should be spent on more useful and long-term research of more renewable energy such as solar and wind, and in my opinion these technologies should only be a short term solutions till the World gradually wake up.
In the discussion on cloning, a process in which certain items or organisms are duplicated genetically to return a exact genetic copy, the group had highlighted it advantages in the field on medicine where it could be used duplicate organs or tissues for transplantation. However, some believed this is the work of Mother Nature and this boundary should not be tempered with. In my opinion, I believed that this technology should be further explored and exploited on, as it would solve the problem on organ transplantation from the dead and the lack of critical organs for the ailing dead. However, there should be a limit and control on this technology for else we would really be stepping into the work of Mother Nature.
In the discussion on GM food, they raised several advantages it would bring to the economy and solve the issue on food shortages. However the problems it faced are the possible health effects such as gene transfer, allergies and even diseases. In my opinion, technology would get better with feedbacks and responses, and I believed these health effects in the early stage to introduction to genetic food are normal. With enough time, it would be eliminated away and I thought this would be a good technology in solving food shortages in the midst of crisis of facing the shortages of arable land use for cultivation of food.
In the discussion on geo-engineering, they discussed about the technology on carbon storage, carbon capture and possible technology such as releasing sulfur oxide into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight back to space. However, this point is being rebutted with being too costly and it is the social problem of using too much energy that need to be solved rather than a need for a better technology. In my opinion, as mentioned in previous related blogs, it is not such technology we should be spending our money to stop global warming so that we could use more energy with “ease”, but rather it is an individual needs and responsibility to play their own role in reducing the need of energy. These technologies only give excuses for us to “welcome” the use of more energy as it gave us a false sense of security that global warming is being controlled. Money should be spent on more useful and long-term research of more renewable energy such as solar and wind, and in my opinion these technologies should only be a short term solutions till the World gradually wake up.
In the discussion on cloning, a process in which certain items or organisms are duplicated genetically to return a exact genetic copy, the group had highlighted it advantages in the field on medicine where it could be used duplicate organs or tissues for transplantation. However, some believed this is the work of Mother Nature and this boundary should not be tempered with. In my opinion, I believed that this technology should be further explored and exploited on, as it would solve the problem on organ transplantation from the dead and the lack of critical organs for the ailing dead. However, there should be a limit and control on this technology for else we would really be stepping into the work of Mother Nature.
In the discussion on GM food, they raised several advantages it would bring to the economy and solve the issue on food shortages. However the problems it faced are the possible health effects such as gene transfer, allergies and even diseases. In my opinion, technology would get better with feedbacks and responses, and I believed these health effects in the early stage to introduction to genetic food are normal. With enough time, it would be eliminated away and I thought this would be a good technology in solving food shortages in the midst of crisis of facing the shortages of arable land use for cultivation of food.
E-Post #4 - Comments on 2 articles on "CNG"
From the first article posted by Channel news Asia, it highlighted the several advantages of compressed natural gas (CNG) such as having lower cost, being more environmental friendly and having Smart Automobile, one of the potential supplier, to set up shop in Singapore to increase the number of refueling station.
Secret Automobile also had the intention of converting the whole of their taxis fleet into CNG based, which they commented that not only CNG is cheaper, but also it does not pollute the environment as compared with combusting of fossil fuels.
The second article on “Singapore: 3 more CNG stations to open by end of 2008” gave a rebuttal view on the advantages on CNG. It summaries the possible reasons why the prices of CNG will rise in a very short term since gas supplies through importation are running low. It also highlight the pain in CNG users in trying hard to find a refilling station despite actions being taken to build more stations to accommodate users.
These 2 articles highlighted a common point, which is car users are on the rise and choice of fuel and prices is being a very important factor in choosing whether they would purchase a car or what type of car system it should run on. In my own opinion, I thought that it pointed out a very good point, which is we should be looking for a long-term solution. Natural gases and fossil fuels would eventually run out and the possible alternatives we should be looking out for as actually the uses of electric or hybrid vehicles that could run on battery. We should also be focusing on renewable energy such as solar and wind energy rather than squeezing out as much last drop of oil as possible.
Reference
Daryl L. (2007 12 July) Singapore's first public CNG station to be ready by Jan 2008
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/287780/1/.html
(2008 May 13) Singapore: 3 more CNG stations to open by end of 2008
http://www.post1.net/lowem/entry/singapore_3_more_cng_stations_to_open_by_end_of_2008
Secret Automobile also had the intention of converting the whole of their taxis fleet into CNG based, which they commented that not only CNG is cheaper, but also it does not pollute the environment as compared with combusting of fossil fuels.
The second article on “Singapore: 3 more CNG stations to open by end of 2008” gave a rebuttal view on the advantages on CNG. It summaries the possible reasons why the prices of CNG will rise in a very short term since gas supplies through importation are running low. It also highlight the pain in CNG users in trying hard to find a refilling station despite actions being taken to build more stations to accommodate users.
These 2 articles highlighted a common point, which is car users are on the rise and choice of fuel and prices is being a very important factor in choosing whether they would purchase a car or what type of car system it should run on. In my own opinion, I thought that it pointed out a very good point, which is we should be looking for a long-term solution. Natural gases and fossil fuels would eventually run out and the possible alternatives we should be looking out for as actually the uses of electric or hybrid vehicles that could run on battery. We should also be focusing on renewable energy such as solar and wind energy rather than squeezing out as much last drop of oil as possible.
Reference
Daryl L. (2007 12 July) Singapore's first public CNG station to be ready by Jan 2008
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/287780/1/.html
(2008 May 13) Singapore: 3 more CNG stations to open by end of 2008
http://www.post1.net/lowem/entry/singapore_3_more_cng_stations_to_open_by_end_of_2008
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
E-Post #3 - Summary of the "Special" Lecture
The 2 hour special lecture had touched on issues relating to mitigating of global warming, with Prof Andrew Palmer sharing his knowledge on geo engineering, Dr Benjamin k Sovacool relating topics to Science & Technology Studies (STS) and A/P Rajasekhar Bala talking on how the public and government as a whole could do to aid in mitigation of global warming.
Prof Andrew Palmer shared mainly on carbon storage methodology, on how is it possible to store carbon dioxide within a membrane and depositing them deep into the ocean. The advantages of this is certainly, that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will deplete, however at the risk of having the deposited carbon dioxide diffusing into the ocean, which could cause the ocean to become acidic.
Dr. Benjamin k Sovacool had shown through his case studies that technology adoption is not solely based on its advantages or benefits alone, but it is also determined by external factors such as political, cultural, social and economic factors.
A/P Rajasekhar Bala had addressed global warming in a general context, on what the role of both the public and government could do to reduce global warming.
In my own personal view with regards to Prof Andrew Palmer’s lecture, I felt that having discovered such technology will surely aid in the delay of more drastic global warming effects, however this would only give people more excuses to use and demand more energy blatantly, without considering the effects. I felt that it is not about discovering such mitigating technology that we should be boasting about, but rather the ability of individual’s selflessness to take effort in demanding less of energy on late night party’s or extravagant events. While such technology is a short term solution to mitigating global warming, it is an personal responsibility to start to use less energy.
Dr. Benjamin k Sovacool had shared an interesting lectures regarding how technology adoption could be affected by external factors. He talked about how electric vehicle, an energy saving vehicle, could be actually overtaken by fossil fuel car, because of the public acceptance of lower purchasing cost. He also share about how misunderstanding, misconception of energy saving sources such as nuclear and wind energy could actually lead to the public disapproving of them. Therefore, despite how environmental friendly and advantageous one technology might be, it is still being subjected to public approval, economic challenges and other factors.
Prof Andrew Palmer shared mainly on carbon storage methodology, on how is it possible to store carbon dioxide within a membrane and depositing them deep into the ocean. The advantages of this is certainly, that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will deplete, however at the risk of having the deposited carbon dioxide diffusing into the ocean, which could cause the ocean to become acidic.
Dr. Benjamin k Sovacool had shown through his case studies that technology adoption is not solely based on its advantages or benefits alone, but it is also determined by external factors such as political, cultural, social and economic factors.
A/P Rajasekhar Bala had addressed global warming in a general context, on what the role of both the public and government could do to reduce global warming.
In my own personal view with regards to Prof Andrew Palmer’s lecture, I felt that having discovered such technology will surely aid in the delay of more drastic global warming effects, however this would only give people more excuses to use and demand more energy blatantly, without considering the effects. I felt that it is not about discovering such mitigating technology that we should be boasting about, but rather the ability of individual’s selflessness to take effort in demanding less of energy on late night party’s or extravagant events. While such technology is a short term solution to mitigating global warming, it is an personal responsibility to start to use less energy.
Dr. Benjamin k Sovacool had shared an interesting lectures regarding how technology adoption could be affected by external factors. He talked about how electric vehicle, an energy saving vehicle, could be actually overtaken by fossil fuel car, because of the public acceptance of lower purchasing cost. He also share about how misunderstanding, misconception of energy saving sources such as nuclear and wind energy could actually lead to the public disapproving of them. Therefore, despite how environmental friendly and advantageous one technology might be, it is still being subjected to public approval, economic challenges and other factors.
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