Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Ironic Levity

“If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they’ll kill you.”

- Oscar Wilde

What a funny statement of itself –ironic I think. Here Wilde attempts to teach us a simple truth by making us laugh. Surely, however, one would not be martyred for telling a true statement devoid of levity; however, dislike and unpopularity would surround the persistent truth teller.

Wilde’s statement has a couple of important points to it. First, “If you want to tell people the truth…” I have spent a good portion of my life fibbing to people –no lie. I find it entertaining to mess with people. Often, when asked a simple question like, “Where did you get those new shoes?” I might quickly reply, “Oh, I stole them from the store.” I find that I do this more with unnecessary questions.

I have a field day with this when in company of my mother in law. She is always asking questions; namely questions I don’t feel are relevant to anything at all or just to prompt small-talk. To entertain myself I’ll just lie in response to her question. My responses, as shown above, are often so ridiculous and shocking that the untruth is easily spotted, but it keeps me happy and humorous.

The second piece of Wilde’s statement is for the truth tellers out there. There have been times when I feel that someone’s actions are outside of social acceptability. I had this companion (isn’t that how the best stories begin?) who was less than moderate in many of his ideals. I recall a “Bible bash” he had with some random dude on the streets of Sunnyvale, California. As we were riding away, this Elder said, “I’m going to add that guy to my list of people to dust my feet off against!” How absurd. To keep myself from going crazy, I had to say something. So at this time I developed an interesting way to offer correction without being killed by this kid.

As I learned about this Elder’s life, I found that he had had a rough time. All through high school he was ridiculed heavily for being a member of the church. He was used to this opposition and readily accepted a fight. So for me to oppose or ridicule his behavior was wholly ineffective. So, I would just make him laugh while I got my point across by going to the extreme with his ideas. For example, he once said, “I hate gays and liberals,” I replied, “Yeah, we should petition the government for a mass genocide.” He would laugh and realize how extreme he was being and chill out. By proud report, he named me his 2nd favorite companion.

I suppose that there is a third point here made by Wilde. He intimates that if one can make a person laugh while telling the truth, one will not be killed by that person. Is this a truth we can rely on? According to the audio series, “Joseph Smith: Lessons and Insights” by Mark L. McConkie, the prophet was quite the funny man. Even the Prophet himself, in his own account, admits to being “guilty of levity” (Joseph Smith –History 1:28). What became of Joseph?

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Researched

I have accomplished a few good bits of research for my Research Paper. I have found a few digital sources online through the HBLL as well as 2 books so far for my topic, effects of petroleum and natural gas on the environment.

The first book is Drilling Discharges in the Marine Environment. This book is very straight forward in its approach to explain studies on the waste of offshore oil rigs. The preface contains an “Origin of the Study” which states (much like a thesis), “A variety of wastes are generated in drilling oil and gas wells, including drill cuttings and used drilling fluids. The disposal of these wastes is licensed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) (40 CFR 122-125). Permitting such discharges on the outer continental shelf (OCS) has occasioned considerable public debate about how much they may harm the marine environment.”

The book is written in the form of a report. It is about 180 pages in length. As for the effects of drilling on marine pollution I think this book will be my strongest resource. One drawback is the age of the book. Written in 1983, this has likely become an old issue. However, I am aware that these rigs still dump waste into the ocean, posing the same threats as before.

The second book I have is called Response of Marine Animals to Petroleum and Specific Petroleum Hydrocarbons. This book covers, a little more indirectly, the effects of oil drilling on marine life. This text shows the effects of accidental oil spills and oil leaks from boats or drill rigs. The preface contains this statement giving light on the content of this book, “From these investigations has come the increased realization that deleterious impacts of oil on the marine ecosystem may persist long after the visible oil pollution has been cleaned up or washed away.”

This book is written in response to studies and reflects this in its style. It is also about 180 pages long. As for content, it will be a support to the assertions made in the book mentioned above. This book is also older -1981. I have actually had some difficulty finding recent publications on this topic.

One compelling online source offers a downloadable PDF titled Statistical Analyses Supporting Final Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for Synthetic-Based Drilling Fluids and other Non-Aqueous Drilling Fluids in the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category composed by the EPA. This is also about 180 pages of information.

At this point my thesis statement will likely resemble the following: “Due to the destructive nature of natural gas and petroleum exploration installation, operation, and waste it is harmful to natural habitats, creatures, and the environment.”

I feel that this is a good topic for me for several reasons. First is that I have a direct investment in drilling operations. I currently work for an exploratory drill bit manufacturer in Murray, UT. I have a slightly more privileged view of the inner workings of the natural gas and oil exploration industry. I am personally curious about this topic.

Also, by virtue of my job, I have access to rig location maps and specialized trade magazines. These things allow me to more accurately and more conveniently assess the realities of modern drilling techniques. Although some of these materials are proprietary and cannot ethically be used or cited in my research paper, I can still gain insight by comparisons of materials, i.e. market expansion, new directions, shifts in trends.

I feel that this fits well with this assignment as well. The best argument for a good fit for this assignment is that it fits well with the outlined specifications; namely: be about the environment. I feel that I will be able to find enough published information about this topic while keeping my topic specific and interesting. I do believe that I can produce a concise essay of 10 pages or more from the materials that are available to me.

Also, I understand that there is an opportunity, if I do well, to have my work once again published. As I understand it, BYU’s environment department is looking for interesting articles for their compiled publication Borrowed Earth. If I feel that my paper topic is relevant and powerful, I will likely submit my work to be considered for publication. Thus, this assignment will have given me the drive and initiative to try to get published in a reputable work. The satisfaction and fulfillment that would come from such an accomplishment may urge me to seek occasion to publish myself again and again throughout my life.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

500 Interesting Words

As I become more acquainted with the world the one thing that interests me most is always changing. Years ago I was very interested in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. More recently I was most interested in females. Today career opportunities and skills peaks my interest.

I am currently studying the very practical career discipline of Manufacturing Engineering Technology. This discipline promises to give me the skills necessary to run a company, particularly a manufacturing company, of any size from any position. By graduation I will have learned tool design, entrepreneurship, management, as well as beginnings in computer aided design, plastics, and statistics.

The most exciting prospective fruit of my major is the training for entrepreneurship -to one day operate my own business. I plan to find a niche in manufacturing. The potential for earning will be limitless. The hours I have to wrok will be flexible. Most importantly to me is that the problems I’ll be facing and the work I’ll be doing will be undergoing constant change and definition.

I figure I’ll work for a company for at least ten years to get the proper level of work experience for application to my business. My current employer owns two small businesses with a partner. He told me that he worked for a company for fifteen years before starting his company. In his estimation, and mine, real world work experience put him in a solid position to start a business.

Another acceptable choice career path involves the title of CEO. For me, it would be a good fit to be at the top of the company food chain. I feel that I have the proper leadership skills and determination to make such a position worthwhile. I have often felt that I could effectively mold the laborer and the management into a powerful cohesive force of progress. I see the important of the opinion of the little man. When the big picture does not fit the idea of some, I would try to help them understand the big picture.

Whatever my career destination, two things drive my ambitions –happiness and money. The purpose of making a living is to MAKE A LIVING. Many people cannot be happy in meaningless and dead-end jobs. Money however, must be made to support a family. My ambition is to be able to comfortably provide for my family and sustain others with the excess.

One large thing that allows me to choose a career that pays well and keeps me happy is education. I am using this time in my life to work hard to open certain doors of opportunity. Education allows you to start somewhere halfway up the ladder of your career goals instead of at the bottom. I work with a guy who did not go to college but does essentially what I will personally do in the workforce. The difference between he and I is that this position will be starting for me and thirteen years invested for him.

500 Interesting Words

As I become more acquainted with the world the one thing that interests me most is always changing. Years ago I was very interested in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. More recently I was most interested in females. Today career opportunities and skills peaks my interest.

I am currently studying the very practical career discipline of Manufacturing Engineering Technology. This discipline promises to give me the skills necessary to run a company, particularly a manufacturing company, of any size from any position. By graduation I will have learned tool design, entrepreneurship, management, as well as beginnings in computer aided design, plastics, and statistics.

The most exciting prospective fruit of my major is the training for entrepreneurship -to one day operate my own business. I plan to find a niche in manufacturing. The potential for earning will be limitless. The hours I have to wrok will be flexible. Most importantly to me is that the problems I’ll be facing and the work I’ll be doing will be undergoing constant change and definition.

I figure I’ll work for a company for at least ten years to get the proper level of work experience for application to my business. My current employer owns two small businesses with a partner. He told me that he worked for a company for fifteen years before starting his company. In his estimation, and mine, real world work experience put him in a solid position to start a business.

Another acceptable choice career path involves the title of CEO. For me, it would be a good fit to be at the top of the company food chain. I feel that I have the proper leadership skills and determination to make such a position worthwhile. I have often felt that I could effectively mold the laborer and the management into a powerful cohesive force of progress. I see the important of the opinion of the little man. When the big picture does not fit the idea of some, I would try to help them understand the big picture.

Whatever my career destination, two things drive my ambitions –happiness and money. The purpose of making a living is to MAKE A LIVING. Many people cannot be happy in meaningless and dead-end jobs. Money however, must be made to support a family. My ambition is to be able to comfortably provide for my family and sustain others with the excess.

One large thing that allows me to choose a career that pays well and keeps me happy is education. I am using this time in my life to work hard to open certain doors of opportunity. Education allows you to start somewhere halfway up the ladder of your career goals instead of at the bottom. I work with a guy who did not go to college but does essentially what I will personally do in the workforce. The difference between he and I is that this position will be starting for me and thirteen years invested for him.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

The Paramedic Method for Revising Sentences

The Paramedic Method for Revising Your Sentences

It would be absurd to propose that we ought to rid Brigham Young of ice entirely, especially in this freakish year of snow. It is reasonable and wise however, to isolate these hazards where possible to allow safe passage to our patrons. For this same reason we do not allow strange animals to roam free on campus that would endanger us such as the wild mountain lion from which we take our name.

  1. Bold all prepositional phrases (as, at, in, to, for, from, over, on, to, with, etc.)

It would be absurd to propose that we ought to rid Brigham Young of ice entirely, especially in this freakish year of snow. It is reasonable and wise however, to isolate these hazards where possible to allow safe passage to our patrons. For this same reason we do not allow strange animals to roam free on campus that would endanger us such as the wild mountain lion from which we take our name.

  1. Bold all “to be” forms (am, is, was, were, be, being, been)

It would be absurd to propose that we ought to rid Brigham Young of ice entirely, especially in this freakish year of snow. It is reasonable and wise however, to isolate these hazards where possible to allow safe passage to our patrons. For this same reason we do not allow strange animals to roam free on campus that would endanger us such as the wild mountain lion from which we take our name.

  1. Bold all nominalizations (verbs hiding as nouns, often spotted with suffixes like –ing, –tion, -ment, -ence, etc.) and write possible actions after them

It would be absurd to propose that we ought to rid Brigham Young of ice entirely, especially in this freakish year of snow. It is reasonable (reason) and wise however, to isolate these hazards where possible to allow safe passage to our patrons. For this same reason we do not allow strange animals to roam free on campus that would endanger us such as the wild mountain lion from which we take our name.

4. 4. Find the actor and the action, & 5. Revise the sentence.

An absurd proposal is that we ought to rid Brigham Young of ice entirely, especially in this freakish year of snow. It is reasonable and wise that these hazards are isolated where possible; allowing our patrons safe passage. By reason we do not allow strange animals to roam free on campus that would endanger us like our self-named mountain lion.