Depletion of Fossil Fuels

A number of scientists are emphasizing the tremendous challenges that will soon be faced when the depletion of fossil fuel supplies coincides with an alarming increase in the global population.

depletion n. 消耗；损耗；放血
coincides 同时

They highlight agriculture which is heavily dependent not only on gasoline to fuel machinery, but also on the petrochemicals necessary to manufacture synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Without these petrochemicals, crop yields would be only a fraction of what they are today. To assume that an abundant source of renewable energy will address this challenge is to ignore the vital non-fuel uses of petrochemicals.

 gasoline 汽油
 petrochemical 石油化工产品
 manufacture 制造
 synthetic 合成
 fertilizers 化肥
 pesticides 农药
 fraction 小部分

Then there is the challenge posed to the current levels of mobility. As a fuel, gasoline is unrivalled in its portability. Electricity requires bulky batteries and hydrogen is notoriously difficult to store. Biofuels might seem like an alternative, but the energy consumed when converting corn into bioethanol, for instance, greatly exceeds the output when the fuel is utilized. In any case, once we reach a crisis in the food supply, it will not make sense to divert food crops to other uses.

mobility 流动性
unrivalled 无可匹敌的
portability 可移植性
bulky 笨重的
notoriously adv. 众所周知地；声名狼藉地；恶名昭彰地
Biofuels 生物燃料
corn 玉米
bioethanol 生物乙醇

Although there seems to be a widespread belief that the era of dependency is coming to an end due to some technological remedy, this may be mistaken. Relying on such an assumption can lead to complacency and a failure to take precautions. Experts may not be able to come up with the kind of solution that can lead to a pain-free transition. Scientists warn that relying on alternative resources might only support half of the global population. The absence of a realistic alternative to fossil fuels will mean that the first priority will be to curb the demand for food.

remedy  补救措施
complacency 自满
precautions 预防措施
transition 过渡
priority  优先级
curb 抑制

Novel catch 22

One of the most interesting books of the 20th century was the novel, Catch 22. In the novel, the term "a catch 22 situation" was introduced. The term has nothing to do with catching anything. It has a much deeper meaning, and it describes a kind of logical conundrum that's worth exploring.

 conundrum 难题

First, it's important to put the phrase into context. In the novel, a group of American bomber pilots is on an island in the Mediterranean. They face death almost every day when they fly their bombing missions. Many have already lost their lives. The remaining pilots know that it is only a matter of time before they will be the next victims.

bomber pilots 轰炸机飞行员
Mediterranean 地中海

One of the characters in the novel is a doctor. It is his job to see that the pilots are fit to fly. In particular, there is a rule that says he has to ground anyone who is crazy. To ground them means to remove them from active duty so that they don’t fly.

ground 移除

Some of the men believed in the principles they were fighting for. They were willing to give their lives for their country. But to others, this was crazy. They thought the whole thing was insane. One of them, Yossarian, wanted out. He was friends with the doctor, and he wanted the doctor to ground him.
When Yossarian asked the doctor to ground him, the doctor replied: “You're wasting your time. You're not crazy.”
Yossarian told him to ask one of the other pilots, Clevinger, to tell him how crazy he was. "There's no point. He's crazy," the doctor replied. "Crazy people can't decide whether you are crazy or not."
"Clevinger isn't crazy! He’s one of the sanest pilots here."

sanest 一个很明事理的

"So he's obviously out of his head,' said the Doc. "He’s got to be insane to keep on flying combat missions after all the close calls he's had."

out of his head 神志不清
a close call 千钧一发

"Well, if he's crazy, why don't you ground him?"
“I can't unless he asks to be grounded. That's part of the rule."
"So all he has to do is ask?"
"No, then I can't ground him.”
"So there's a catch," said Yossarian, trying to get things straight.
"Sure, there's a catch," said the Doc, with a slight smile. "Catch 22.
If he asks, then he can't be crazy. Only those who are crazy are grounded".
"That's some catch,” observed Yossarian.
"It's the best there is," the Doc replied.

catch 22 第二十二条军规

在该小说中，根据“第二十二条军规”理论，只有疯子才能获准免于飞行，但必须由本人提出申请。但你一旦提出申请，恰好证明你是一个正常人，还是在劫难逃。第二十二条军规还规定，飞行员飞满25架次就能回国。但规定又强调，你必须绝对服从命令，要不就不能回国。因此上级可以不断给飞行员增加飞行次数，而你不得违抗。如此反复，永无休止。
《第二十二条军规》揭示了美国社会对传统道德的背弃，已经成为一种美国式的“黑色幽默”主题。