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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 1982)
-opinion Hydrogen publicity hides real discovery Last week, national attention was fo cused on a team of Texas A&M resear chers who developed a more efficient method of producing hydrogen fuel from water using solar energy. This dis covery was heralded as a “breakthrough that could change the world as profound ly as the discovery of electricity.” Reporters from around the world — Boston, New York, Canada, Australia and London — joined in the media hoopla. Now Dr. John Bockris, director of the research team, says he may have over stated himself when he first described the discovery. Since the initial announce ment, he has gone from calling the proce dure a “quantum leap” to a “break through” to an “academic advance.” From the beginning, Bockris said time is a key element in the development of hydrogen fuel. Conversion to a hyd rogen-based economy will be gradual and will require hundreds of millions of dollars, he said. So why did Bockris choose to publicize his discovery instead of following the routine procedure of publishing his find ings in an academic journal before mak ing a public announcement? This deviation from routine created a situation that now threatens to oversha dow the discovery. More questions are being raised about his presentation of the discovery than the discovery itself. Bockris is trying to regain control of the situation by setting the record straight. He said he would accept respon sibility if unrealistic conclusions had been drawn from his original statements. But why wasn’t the record straight to begin with? Did the public and the media over react? Probably. Maybe too much was said too soon. Maybe Bockris should have published the article and let his peers evaluate it. Then tested and retested the discovery. And then made the public announcement. This time the order was reversed. Bockris announced the discovery, then elaborated on its implications. And vi sions of a hydrogen society attracted the nation’s attention. But it’s too early to tell whether the discovery was overemphasized. As Bock ris said, time is a key element in the de velopment of hydrogen as a fuel source. Slouch “Fm not upset because you didn’t cut the first log, I’m upset because you put it in my room.” Battalion/Page 2 October 15,1982 Joy to point of gluttony by Dick West United Press International WASHINGTON — Has America finally produced so many pleasure points that we have an enjoyment glut? A Houston specialty store owner, Robert Sakowitz, seems to take the affirmative in in troducing his 19S2 Christmas catalog. Sakowitz doesn’t go so far as to predict that enjoyment lines will be forming in poorer areas the way the needy now line up for give away rations of surplus cheese. But he does aver that “there are so many possibilities for enjoyment that people are often frustrated with the overabundance of choices.” To that observation I can only add a rueful “Ain’t it so?” I don’t know whether as yet any marriages have been dissolved because of incompatabil- ity stemming from a couple’s inability to agree on which ways to enjoy themselves. But if divorces are granted on such grounds, it presumably will be up to the courts to decide which party gets custody of the rol ler coaster. A “full size roller coaster” costing a mini mum of $2,430,000 is one of the items touted by the Sakowitz catalog as “the ultimate gift.” Sakowitz appears to believe a gift such as this would quell any sense of frustration we might feel due to the overabundance of choices for enjoyment. “To be able to enjoy one’s self without envy or covetousness or frustration is indeed one of the great gifts of life,” he philosophizes. Maybe so, but I can see where having a private roller coaster in your neighborhood could create more frustration than it abates. This much I can tell you for certain: If my neighbor Phizbeam gets a roller coaster for Christmas this year, and I don’t, I am going to be as covetous as all get-out. It is difficult for me to see how anyone could look out the kitchen window and watch a neighbor enjoying a loop-the-loop in his backyard without experiencing at least a small twinge of envy. Frankly, the shoppers on whose Christmas lists my name appears are more the types who would gift-wrap stock tickers. reatured in the bakowitz catalog, a with the roller coaster, is a $3,158 ticker provides “real time price information ontl stocks or commodities you select.” “The ticker ta|K- printout gives youa r manent reference to the day's transaction," says. “The perfect way to monitor youri .vestments!" While I can envision myself deriving a« amount of enjoyment from keeping tradt the Dow Jones averages in the privacy ofn own home, the prospect of owning a tide! tape printout son of spoils the concept fa me. Having one’s own inventory of old tidei figure at parades, sure. But 1 m afraidtl aren’t enough parades in my neighhot hoodt completely eradicate the frustration. I can foresee having to reduce the stodpi bs Hinging ticker tape confetti across lit fence at Phi/lx'am as he whizzes by roller coaster. I hat is the jxiint where I would favoi tk enactment of an enjoyment conservati program. fron is ct num seco prot To •288i folic ' T its r and J U P und Wil Letters: Drink, but please don’t Editor: I am moved to write this letter in re sponse to Mr. Goerner’s letter (Oct. 8) regarding the proposed raising of the drinking age back to 21 years of age. While, as a non-drinker of alcoholic be verages of 23, my viewpoint might be considered biased, I felt compelled by his letter to voice a dissenting opinion. The consuming of whatever one pleases (short of killing oneself) is one of many rights we have in this country. Driving an automobile while intoxicated, however, is (thankfully and I believe rightfully) against the law. This abuse of personal liberties is far too prevalent in all age groups; and, perhaps the 18 to 20-year-olds should not be singled out. The neglect of responsibilities, however, can justly result in the loss of correspond ing privileges. Some see this legislation as another attempt to legislate morals, a practice which historically is unfruitful (e.g. Prohibition). The danger I see is not the infringement of drinker’s rights, but the continuing, needless taking of life by those who contend that they can “handle their liquor” and then get'in their cars and prove otherwise. Mr. Goerner is all too correct that raising the legal drinking age to 21 will not stop 18 to 20-year-olds from drink ing, any more than speed limits stop speeding. It may, however, keep a few more drunk drivers off the roads and, save a few more lives. What is needed most surely are stricter DWI laws and a more efficient enforcement of them. To Mr. Goerner, and all Ags every where, by all means, communicate your opinions to your elected representatives, now and on election day. Too many of us have been silent too long. But, when you write or phone your congressmen, sena tors and governor, I ask you to tell them that you are also tired of innocent people dying at the hands of irresponsible, un thinking people. I implore you all, if you drink, please don’t drive. Byron Rogers Graduate Chemistry Student Volleyball team praise Editor: Of all the sports events that I have seen at Texas A&M, last night’s volleyball game against the University of Texas has to rank among the best, if not the best! From the beginning until the end, there was excitement and the smell of victory in the air, and the fans showed their approval throughout the game as the team beat the hell out of t.u. One has to give credit to the whole team, for they played their hearts out. There was never a moment in the game when they didn’t play 100 percent. The volleyball team is now in control of their own fate, and I believe that their fate is nothing less than number one in the Southwest Conference. Aggies, if you have time next Monday night, come watch the volleyball team beat the hell out of Rice. You never know, you might enjoy it more than the football game. Keep up the hard work girls! Charles Pietsch, ’85 Give Sherrill time Editor: I am writing in reply to the letter sub mitted by Mark W. Shomaker, concern ing Coach Jackie Sherrill and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Football Team. Mr. Shomaker, you were very wrong in your assumption that your feelings also reflected those of the student body. Jackie Sherrill is the best thing to happen to this University in years. The man is a living legend, and you Mr. Shomaker, question his ability as a coach. Coach Sherrill’s credentials should be enough for anyone to see that he defi nitely knows football. He’s had years of coaching experience, coaching greats like Tony Dorsett and Hugh Green, while leading Pittsbufgh to a national championship, and many top ten rank ings. Coach Sherrill did not come to Texas A&M looking for a job, A&M went to him with an offer that he accepted. I believe that on those grounds alone he should be given some breathing room, and a chance to install his own program. To say that he should have been there for the game is purely ridiculous. Sherrill was in that game from beginning to end and I’m sure nobody felt worse about losing. Mr. Shomaker, you are obviously not a football coach. Even the worst coaches know that without any kind of running game a quarterback is a prime target for an interception. Please let our coaching ace, Jackie Sherrill, handle the football team. I can assure you that you won’t be sorry. He will take the Aggies to the Cot ton Bowl in a very short time. I think Coach Sherrill deserves that time. Charles C. Murphy, Jr. ’86 Cavalry problems Editor: Every Corps organization maintains the highest standards of discipline and professionalism, except the Cavalry. As loyal and proud Aggies, we wish to offer some suggestions. drive First, learn to ride. T here is a proper way to ride a horse. Might we suggest you read “The Cavalry Manual of Horseman ship and Horsemastership,” by Cordon Wright — the official manual for military equitation. Also, Animal Science 311, Horse Management, and 312, Basic Equitation might be of some use. Secondly, neither FM 22-5 nor the Officer’s Guide authorize a Larry Mahan crease in campaign hats. Those are part of your uniform and not cowboy hats. After all, you are still in the Corps, aren’t you? Finally, your organization requires a great deal of money to operate (i.e., feed, tack, land, horses etc.) — more than most other student-run organizations. Until such time as you fund the Cavalry by yourselves without donations or Univer sity assistance, we believe that training time (riding lessons, horse care and stall care) should be mandatory and tough. We would be very angry to find that we had donated a horse, and his rider was using him to play tag instead of practice drill, or worse yet, not practicing at all. In conclusion, we realize that you have no pride in the way you look or perform, but the rest of the University does. A mounted drill team is still a drill team. How about a little spit, polish and preci sion, and, above all, a little military bearin 8 ? Barry Papke, ’80 Kim Papke, ’80 Correction In a photo of Aggie mum sales in Thurs day’s Battalion, several students were misidentified. The people in the photo were actually Ken Doherty and Scott Kil- lough selling mums to Allen Dunwoody as Stuart Perkins watches. The Battalion regrets the error. The Battalion on USPS 045 360 Member of Texjy Prcv» Aunt union SouihvacM Journalism Conference Editor Diana Sultenfl Managing hditor Plivllis Hendersc Associate Editor I)enise Richti City Editor Bernie Felie Assistant City Editor Cary Barker Sports Editor Frank L.Christlieli Entertainment Editor Nancy Floeck Assistant Entertainment Editor Colettel Hutchings News Editors Kachcl Bostwick.Cathj Capps. Johna Jo Maurer, Daniel Puckett, Jan Werner, Todd Woodard! Staff W riters Jennifer Carr, Susan Dillman. Beverly Hamilton, David Johnson. John Lopez, Rolx-rt McGlonon. Hope E. Paasch, Carol Smith. Dana Smclser, joe lindel, |<>lm Wagner, Rebka Zimmermann Copyeditors Elaine Engstrom, Bill Robinson! Scott McCullar! Cartoonist Graphic Artist Pam Starasiijj Photographers David Fisher. OctavioGarcij Michael 1). Johnson. Rob Johnston, Irene Mecs. John Ryan The Battalion b published daily during Texas A&Mi fall and spimit semesters, except fur hnlidav anti exami nation periods Mail subs< options arc $ Ui.7f> persemei ter. $33.25 per school year and $35 per fuff year. Advefj rising rates turmshed on request. < Mr address: The Battalion. 216 Reed McDona Building, Texas AlcM University. College Station',1 77843. t mted Press International is eninlcd exclusivelytij the use for reproduction of all news dispatches credited I to it Rights of reproduction of all other nutter herein reserved. 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