Journal #3 Due Date Jan. 31 2010

The article that I read was based around the usage of cell phones while driving. In the article it stated that the new ban on cell phone usage while driving has not dropped the rates of accidents in the three states including the capital. The article feature a personnel of the Highway Loss Data Institute who basically stated that the only thing the " ban" did was reduce the use of hand held devices; which leaves the use of hand free devices. The accident rates where compare to those in states that did not have the cell phone ban and the accident was about the same. The personnels of the Highway Loss Data Institute are trying to figure out the reasons the rate didn't not decrease after the ban was put in place; who then came to a conclusion that even a hands free cell poses the same risk. As of Tuesday February 2, 2010 no commercial drivers are to text while operating a vehicle, another way to reduce the distraction of drivers. In conclusion the article was about the ban of hand held cell phones while driving and the little impact it has had on accident rates.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/01/29/cellphone.study/index.html

I feel as though the article was very effective, I also feel as though the ban on hand held devices was in a way also. Although the rate of accidents didnt decrease in those states mentioned in the article, the rates did not increase either. No one really will know if every citizen in the states have a hand held device or if they are still using a cell phone. Really.... think about it how many people have you seen driving with a cell phone to their ear today alone? Maybe if all citizen that have a license had to check with their local DMV to make sure that they had an hand free device then maybe the accident rates will decrease and maybe they wont. Not everyone can be accounted for, so until then the accident rates will more than likely remain the same.
I was kind of curious of how North Carolina did in the whole ban thing and I couldnt find anything, if your more successful Im interested in knowing.

Blog 1

In this article it was basically about a man who wanted to use our natural resource for fuel, literally. The man moved from New Jersey to Texas excute his plan to turn algae in bio diesel fuel. This he would call photon8. It was important that he moved to Texas because it was much more sunlight, and his conversion of algae to bio diesel needed sunlight. The name photon8 came from the theory that it takes eight photons to make this conversion and more sunlight for the change to be completed. He did not do this alone, with help from students, professors, and researchers in the Texas the use of the lipids in algae are being tested and will hopefully fuel our transportation.

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/technology/index.ssf?/base/business-56/1264368631112580.xml&storylist=technology

I really think that with all the efforts of most of the world to go green this would benefit us greatly. I believe that it will be cleaner air to breathe and less pollution in the air, although I dont know much about bio diesel and its effects. I do believe that it will be an economic change, being that most of our fuel comes from out of the country if we have a fuel based in the country it would cost less dollars. It would also create more jobs which will help the economy as well.
On the other hand I was thinking about the animals that actually live off of algae or use it to make their underwater homes and how it would effect them. It make cut off food supply which would cause a scarce amount of an particular underwater creature. It could also but the underwater animals in danger of being prey of a nother animal because it has no where, or very few places to hide.
The conversion of algae to bio diesel is a great idea, i feel it would be better if it was a plan made to protect the species that are being effected by this effort.