Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)

Know what fracking is? Here's a definition:  

"Hydraulic fracturing is the propagation of fractures in a rock layer by a pressurized fluid. Some hydraulic fractures form naturally—certain veins or dikes are examples—and can create conduits along which gas and petroleum from source rocks may migrate to reservoir rocks. Induced hydraulic fracturing or hydrofracturing, commonly known as fracing, fraccing, or fracking, is a technique used to release petroleum, natural gas (including shale gas, tight gas, and coal seam gas), or other substances for extraction. This type of fracturing creates fractures from a wellbore drilled into reservoir rock formations." ^(source)

^{Fracking Well (Source)}

^{A dry explanation if I've ever heard one, but informative. Basically, this is the act of forcing water into rock layers underground to force natural gas (among other things) out, so we can use it. There are many schools of thought on this position, but it all gets narrowed down to two sides: For Fracking, and Against Fracking. And as I've been following this issue, these two black and white stances on the issue leave a LOT of grey not covered.}

No trunk? (Source)

^{In case you haven't noticed, the U.S.A. is a little addicted to fossil fuels. Hell, most of the planet is. So until the push for green energy becomes absolute, we have to rely on dirty fuel. The products obtained from fracking can be utilized in a number of ways, and one way in particular that might be of specific interest to people everywhere are vehicles fueled by natural gas. Of course, this same gas that can be obtained via fracking. And like everything, there are pros and cons to using such vehicles.} 

Fuelin' Up (Source)

 
If you look at the article in the last sentence, there are good, solid benefits to nat. gas vehicles. Safer than liquid fuels (in the event of an accident), cleaner than gasoline, cheaper than gasoline. But. There are solid cons as well. The technology needed to build nat. gas vehicles is still new...ish meaning that it costs more to purchase a car outfitted to use nat. gas. Also, one cannot go as far on one tank as compared to gasoline. So at best, this is a band-aid, which leads us right back to fracking.

Is fracking safe?

Shades of grey once again. A month or two back, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper actually drank a little bit of the fluid used in fracking, along with a few other lawmakers. He didn't drop dead thankfully, so it seems like the fluid is safe. But it was never said if the fluid was pre, or post injection into a fracking well. If I had to guess, it was before. Which begs the question, is fracking safe?! The fluid Hickenlooper drank may be benign, containing relatively familiar ingredients, but it's what happens  to the fluid inside the well, and the fluid that comes out of the well when it's all said and done that raises a cause for concern.

Gov. Hickenlooper drinks up (Source)

Radium, barium, and a whole host of other elements was found in extracted fracking fluid. If there is an accident, or the fracking well is not set up properly, this toxic cocktail could leak into nearby groundwater sources, poisoning us all. Also, this fluid must be disposed of properly. Some complain also about earthquakes, or lighting faucets on fire. But some say that both of these claims (including the water quality issue) are greatly exaggerated, or at times, even fabricated!

Propoganda? (Source)

Fracking isn't new. But we need to make sure that we stay safe.

Which brings me to my final point. There are many arguments for fracking. Arguments against, but it seems that in both extremes, there is some severe bias. This website is strongly opposed to fracking. It lists numerous articles, like-minded websites, and so forth. But I didn't notice anything addressing our needs for fossil fuels. Once section of the website simply stated, "we will never run out of fossil fuels."

This website features an article that is pro-fracking, and the article addresses the big positives to the practice. But like its above counterpart, the other side is mocked, rather than addressed. So who do we believe?

Neither.

Know what my opinion is? Do your own research. Read up and get educated. Weigh the pros and cons, and make a decision for yourself.  And know what's great about what I just said? YOU have the will and intelligence to ignore my statements, condone them, or abhor them. So why should the issue of fracking, or any issue be any different?

THIS guy gets it. (Source)

You are a thinking, breathing person. And instead of being for or against fracking, why not try and look for a compromise? Compromise is something that neither of the above websites suggest, but it is usually the best option.

So what do you think? Fracking good? Fracking bad? Or are you somewhere in between? Ah, diversity. I love it so!

Can an Office Job Kill You?

Some of us sit at a desk all day tak tak takking at a computer. And although these people don't move much, that doesn't mean they are lazy. But. Inactivity is inactivity, no matter how much work you get done at your seat. When I did the research for this article, I was a little disturbed to find this one: Death by Cubicle. Me? I thought that there was some minor health risks, but the cubicle can be far more insidious than I thought. Strange, using insidious to describe something so...benign and bland.

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But, I get ahead of myself. I was only thinking about no movement, or perhaps poor diet when I first started this entry, but I was surprised to find that cubicles promote bacteria growth. And not the everyday stuff your body's immune system can just atomize, but potentially dangerous microbes that can make you ill. And it's not just bacteria. Poor ventilation in a building, combined with construction, fungus, and other particulates can cause occupational asthma, which is a freakin' shock to me. Poor ventilation (among a whole host of other things) can also cause sick building syndrome. Combine these phenomena with the fact that many people feel obligated to go to work when they're sick, and you have a dangerous environment that is completely invisible to the naked eye.

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People also sitting at desks all day may have poor working conditions starting with simple things like seating, and computer monitor distance. Take a look at this check list and to the inventory the website says. How's your posture? Can your seat be adjusted? What about your keyboard? Do you have wrist support? Back support? The list goes on and on.

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Psychological effects are abound as well. Evidently, according to this article, minor distractions from your co-workers, like them chatting on their cellphones, chatting with other workers, etc. can add up day after day after day and just break you down. This increases stress levels, and when chronic stress settles in, the human body falls apart. Hell, any sentient being breaks down.

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Should you quit your office job? No. Should you be aware of yourself and your health? Yes. As adults in the working world, we all have responsibilities and intelligence (at least we should...). We use judgement, good ole' fashioned common sense and logic to know what's good for us, and what's bad. You know when something hurts. You know when you're stressed. So, as an adult, you must control yourself within an uncontrollable environment.

So what can you do? After mere seconds, I found an entire LIST of stuff you can do to keep your body healthy. While you're at your desk! Combine that with proper diet and some stress relief breathing exercises and you're going to be feeling much better.

Work is hard. Period. I don't care if you're building a house, or filing a report. Work breaks us down, wears us out, and makes us tired. But, work is something that can also be rewarding, fun, and satisfying. Don't let the world break ya down. Stay strong, work hard, and for the love of everything good, TAKE A BREAK!

If you don't think you've earned it, you probably have.