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April 18, 2008

Alternative fuels

There is a proposal to build a new $25 million biodiesel fuel processing plant at the Port of Albany. It would refine ethanol derived from corn and soybean oils for possible use in automotive combustion engines. Many people think that this is a clean, alternative fuel for the future. However, it is expensive to process these fuels, so they may not help consumers, and there is also concern that diverting agricultural products from the dinner table to the gas station will raise the costs of food. These people see the choice as being between feeding people or making it possible for them to keep driving, and thus they oppose the plant. What are some of your feelings?

April 07, 2008

Neuroprivacy?

Did any of you see the movie "Minority Report." It may be coming true. Last week, there was a Bioethics conference and workshop at Union College. One issue that came up involved "neuroprivacy." Does somebody have a right to scan your brain? A company called "NO LIE MRI" claims to have patented a magnetic resonance device that can detect when a person is lying with 90% accuracy by taking images of brain reactions. It is non-invasive and could be used by anybody... such as a potential employer, a police officer, an airline security screener. How do you feel about this? What if a terrorist was apprehended when trying to board an airplane using this technology? Could brain scans be admitted into court?