Message-ID: <003a01be31e4$4413b7c0$3619fea9@jay98> Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 12:00:06 -1000 From: Jay Hanson <mailto:j@QMAIL.COM> Subject: Re: "eMergy" To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
----- Original Message ----- From: Wilbur Streett <mailto:WStreett@MAIL.MONMOUTH.COM>>For the benefit of all of the members of the "Technology Transfer in
>International Development", could you please explain, in your own words,
>what this has to do with this list?
Hi Wilbur, I assume everyone on this list is interested in economic development. However, economic-development-as-we-know-it can not survive the depletion of oil.
I thought, perhaps foolishly, that some people might be interested in their children's welfare.
I am working on a twelve step program to introduce the laws of thermodynamics to economists, I would be interested in your feedback.
Here are the first few steps:
#1. The candidate economist must go to a library. There they will notice spheres sitting on wooden stands. These represent the planet we live on: Earth. Spheres like Earth are by definition finite -- they only hold just so much stuff. Economists are required to memorize this key point and say it over and over, "The Earth only holds just so much stuff cause it's a sphere. The Earth only holds just so much stuff cause it's a sphere. The Earth only holds just so much stuff cause it's a sphere. ..." Economists are required to say it over and over until he or she can remember it without peeking at notes.
Next, the economist is ready for his or her very first BIG scientific experiment! The economist is advised to stay calm, and be sure to get a good night's sleep before attempting the experiment.
#2. Put a piece of cake on a plate.
#3. Eat the cake.
#4. See if you still have the cake.
Economists aren't used to empirical science and will have to do the experiment (#2 through #4) a few times before the implications finally sink in.
Isn't science fun!!! Now are theer any economists who can tell the rest of the class what they learned? Anyone?... Anyone?...
Jay ------------------------- COMING SOON TO A LOCATION NEAR YOU! http://dieoff.com/page1.htm