We have arrived in Ohio and are in the midst of finding a place to live. I'll get back to regular posting and updates on our adventures once we don't have to steal wireless from Panera Bread anymore.
Getting Set in Ohio...
Submitted by PeakEngineer on Sun, 2008-01-27 16:14.
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Getting down in the weeds a little bit
sorry to change the subject and forgive me if this is the wrong forum, but i wanted to bring up a specific industry. assuming peak oil theories and effects, how can one justify continuing a career in aerospace? on the olduvai end of the spectrum you've got people claiming we'll be the last generation to fly. on the soft landing end of the spectrum can we expect drastically redesigned hydrogen fueled aircraft? will peak oil bring my LACE TBCC HTOL H2 scramjet airline closer to reality?
Uncertainty
That's the short answer -- we just don't know how things will unfold. One main reason I stay in aerospace is I enjoy eating -- it's my occupation. I'm learning new skills to compensate if things go south in a hurry, but in the meantime it's a relatively lucrative profession. If the airlines do crash within a year, as some are predicting, many in our field will be forced to find a new line of work shortly.
My wife has a fairly depression-resistant career in teaching, but for now it doesn't bring home as much bacon. That could change quickly, of course, especially if I were to lose my job.
Now if you're talking ethically, that's a whole different kettle of worms. For instance, how can I justify working for an organization (USAF) that is the single greatest user of oil in the world? That is a topic for a much longer discussion... :)
so i guess my read is that
so i guess my read is that you're sort of hedging your bets either way. you're continuing your 40 hr/wk commitment to a mainstream profession that definitely pays off now, while investing your free time in preparation for the less desirable outcome.
as far as usaf is concerned, they're right: nobody comes close. it's got to be a little bit encouraging to see them testing the fischer-tropsch blend. at the very least it's an acknowledgement of the problem.
oh, and worms come in kettles? i've only seen them in those styrofoam cups out of vending machines.