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City Hall in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:City_Hall_Ho_Chi_Minh_City_Vietnam.jpg

       To further exemplify my obsession with the ancient Romans, I would like to discuss my three favorite Emperors: Domitian, Julian the Apostate, and Trajan. Although Trajan is well-known in the Roman world, the other two men are more obscure, and when they happen to be mentioned, they are usually labeled as tyrants. However, I disagree with the Wikipedia assertions because both Domitian and Julian had interesting and long lasting impacts as well.

       Yes, Domitian seduced his brother’s daughter, and he did instigate bloody treason trials against his many enemies, but I am drawn to Domitian (51-96 C.E.) because he tried to emulate Augustus. He took away much of the bloated Senate’s power, imposed more taxes, took away alcohol from Rome’s citizens, and outlawed adultery. All of these reforms particularly angered the nobility and the Senate because they were stripped of their licentious pleasures/income. However, it was probably difficult to ascend to power after the glorious reigns of his popular and well-liked predecessors: his father, Vespasian, and his strong, handsome, and war-hero brother, Titus. Where else was Domitian supposed to turn when he was the least liked Flavian and the second favorite son of the late Vespasian? Titus had been out conquering Judea, bringing riches and glory to Rome, and finishing the construction of the Colosseum (which included 100 days of games and free giveaways to the poor). Of course the masses adored Titus; any emperor after him was bound to be deemed mediocre and stingy (like Domitian). Domitian, although in the shadow of his older relatives, deified his brother and father, and even built the Arch of Titus for his deceased sibling. 

Luxor Temple, Egypt http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Luxor,_Luxor_Temple,_west_side_view,_Egypt,_Oct_2004.jpg

Kalandula Falls, Malanje Province, Angola http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kalandula_Falls_Pan.jpg

Chengdu Plain, China http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chengdu_Plain.jpg

Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, Australia http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:Sydney_Harbour_Bridge,_NSW.JPG

        Today I will feature the fastest growing renewable energy source today: Wind Energy. This underused source of power will likely continue to expand into the 21st century because our current rate of fossil fuel consumption cannot sustain the world’s needs.
       Wind power was present in the 16th century when primitive windmills were used to draw water from wells and to grind wheat into a fine, usable powder. Remember that article I did on the windmills of Don Quixote in Consuegra, Spain? Right next to that historic monument was a modern wind farm (collection of wind turbines), connecting the colorful past and the technological present. However, the new turbines look completely different (i.e. slimmer rotors, technology that converts kinetic energy to electrical power) and cost millions of dollars to construct, unlike the creaky wooden mills of the past. With the U.S. (and likely the world’s as well) peak oil having passed (read up on Hubbert’s peak), renewable energy is the only way to guarantee a steady source of power. Other forms of renewable energy include biomass, hydropower, solar, tidal, ocean current, geothermal, and wind. The biggest downside to implementing these cutting edge solutions is their high upfront costs; additionally, it is extremely difficult to shift an entire economy built on fossil fuels to one built on renewables.

       Wind energy is simple yet effective; the wind energy harnessed from a few of the mid-western states has enough kinetic energy to power every home in the United States! The turbines consist of long blades and a nacelle, a compartment that holds a gearbox (which increases the spin of the blades) and a generator to produce electricity. On windy days, these natural powerhouses generate many kilowatts of energy which can then be transferred to a more mainstream power grid. No pollutants are released into the atmosphere (the same cannot be said for coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear power). Other benefits include jobs in rural areas (workers are needed to construct the turbines) and increased economic activity on farms, where many of the turbines are placed. One turbine can last several years with minimal repairs required. However, this unique form of energy does have pitfalls: high initial costs, noise pollution, birds hitting the blades, and more expensive energy for consumers. Many people also think that wind farms are “ugly” and mar the beauty of a landscape, illustrating the not-in-my-backyard principle. 
       In my opinion, I think wind farms look sleek and mesmerizing, especially those that are constructed in the water. However, placing wind farms in the ocean also has its drawbacks (i.e. disturbing the aquatic ecosystems next to the farm and the high cost of bringing materials/maintenance workers to a remote ocean location). Another drawback is that it simply isn't windy all the time in every location. For example, large cities such as New York aren't going to receive much wind because the tall skyscrapers act as wind breakers. Therefore, an integrative approach will be needed in order to switch our world to renewables. The energy crisis is a problem my grandparents and my parents will not have to wrestle with, but my generation will have to think of ingenious solutions to our ever-growing demands and population. The type of renewable used should be tailored to a specific region. For example, Great Britain could switch to hydropower or tidal energy (they are surrounded by water), the Middle East would use solar power, Iceland could continue to use its abundant geothermal energy, and places such as Sweden can develop hydrogen power. Every location has some resource that can be exploited in a safe, sustainable way; wind energy is the answer to many regions’ quagmires.