Being Batman, the Dark Knight

Working at the gas station has enlightened me to a different version of Miami, the world where petty theft, armed robberies, and shootings are not only things seen on TV. Though my experience mostly consists of petty theft and the occasional threat from someone with a knife, I had a thought that with the cops so busy and the economy so bad, it would probably keep getting worse and there needs to be a solution.

My solution: Batman.

Sure. He’s not real but he could be. Though he is a superhero, his superpowers are very human as they include his martial arts ability, his intelligence, his determination, and his sense of justice. Any very rich man with money, training, an alter ego, and a secluded mansion with a batcave has the potential to become Batman. A blog post from the Martial Development blog about becoming Batman (that includes an article by the Scientific American of a Q&A session with movement researcher E. Paul Zehr as well as a slide show by Forbes magazine showcasing the amount of money that would be needed to become Batman) agrees with me. Though it is not likely, research shows that becoming Batman is humanly possible!

At this point, every man is probably thinking, “That could’ve been me if I’d known that it was possible ten years ago.” However, this post isn’t about becoming Batman – it’s about being Batman now. What do I mean? To be honest, I know I don’t have the time, money, or physically intimidating bulk to become Batman, but I can take what Batman represents to how I live my life.

For example, we all know that Batman is much more than a crime fighter. He is a protector of the weak. He is a hope to those who have none. He is a man you know you could depend on to do what is right. At the same time, he is a just a guy with skills who is not afraid to stand up for justice and morality. Sure, superheroes are created from our imagination but the values they stand for are not. Consequently, I’d like to challenge everyone including myself to be Batman and stand up for what is right and speak up against what is wrong.

DISCOVERY OF A SOLAR LIFETIME

Solar energy has been around for a while as an alternative energy source but it has never been viable since the process of storing the energy has been too expensive and inefficient. However, Daniel Nocera, the Henry Dreyfus Professor of Energy at MIT, along with Matthew Kanan, a postdoctoral fellow in Nocera’s lab, have discovered an easy way that will store the sun’s energy through a water splitting reaction that occurs during photosynthesis. The best part is that their process works at room temperature and in neutral pH water. Potentially, within a decade, homeowners could have solar-powered houses and cars. For the explanation of how it all works, go here.

Never talk to the police even when innocent

So apparently, the cop’s job is not only to solve the crime and find the criminal – his job is also to get a prosecutable case. Please watch these videos. Not only is it extremely informative but it offers an inside into how even someone innocent and educated can be proven guilty.

Professor James Duane from the Regent University School of Law explains why you should never talk to the police, even when you are innocent, in this video:

In another video, as Professor James Duane’s guest speaker, Officer George Bruch of the Virginia Beach Police Department responds to him.

My conclusion: Nothing you say to the police can help you but everything you say can hurt you. As a proud American, take the better road and exercise our 5th Amendment right to remain silent.