E-readers and pollution? (hydraulic fracturing)

Today's snap is of myself and Munchkin #2 enjoying our new family toy. This photo has NOTHING to do with what I wanted to write about today.

First, a bit of a word on e-readers. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/business/06novel.html?em Ok, these devices look cool. I've looked a buying some kind of e-reader so I don't have to haul so many books around the world. But, I'd buy 'e-books' for fun/pleasure reading. You know, novels and stuff. But, would I really want one of these for an afternoon on the beach - getting all full of sand and salt? Further, I still have some of my university text books (basic biology texts, certain lab manuals, basic chemistry books). I have found these books very helpful to have around when I'm asked to help students prep for exams, explain things to my own children etc.... Yes, I could pull it all off the internet, but sometimes it's faster, easier and just more fun to pull out an old book. So, with these new e-readers that could replace textbooks, what do you do when the device doesn't work anymore? What do you do when the technology goes speeding ahead and all your books are on a now defunct device? What will historians' jobs look like many years from now as they dig for old documents? How do we keep and maintain our written words? Our written words are one of the things that really sets humans apart from the rest of the world's critters. Oh my - how quickly our world is changing.

Now, on to my next set of thoughts.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/energy-environment/08fracking.html?pagewanted=2&em

Ok, hydraulic fracturing? "What's this?" you are probably asking. Here's a bit I found through the EPA's website (Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. - I have only scanned it since it's rather long): http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/uic/pdfs/cbmstudy_attach_uic_ch06_water_qual_incidents.pdf

Next, give this bit a read. I'm not sure how old it is, but it is interesting never the less: http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/oil-gas/publications/eordrawings/Color/colhf.pdf This is from the National Energy Technology Laboratory in the U.S.

Ok, now, if you've read or at least skimmed all of this you may be saying, "Yeah, so what?" Well, I realize I don't understand the technology. What I do understand is that there is always a level of error in the cards when humans do something. Period. I just can not comprehend how humans think (ie we think) we can fully control pumping a chemical mix into the ground and not have it affect the environment. Until recently, folks thought of plate tectonics as a theory. Do we really think we know enough about the rock beneath our feet to control this kind of technology (ie hydraulic fracturing)? Do we need clean energy? Yes, absolutely. Do I want to see the oil and gas industry take a massive financial hit? No, of course not because it would mean massive job losses and more economic woes. But, I do think we all need to think about how we're using the technology available to us.