Hope in the Face of Overwhelming Odds

Various items of randomness:

Quotes That Don't Make Me Feel Giddy

I'm on several discussion lists that cover global issues like population and peak oil. Here are a couple of memorable quotes from the last week or so:

"Things will certainly change when the widespread domestic violence begins (probably a few years away). However, it may not be the kind of political change that anyone wants." — Jay

"As homo superstitious — dominated by his/her reptilian brain — is in massive numerical overshoot already, the only steady state likely is disaster. Humans will not reduce breeding nor consumption due to rational persuasion."
— Steve

Goose Responds: I'm just not going to give up. Somewhere deep inside us there is the ability to save ourselves. The right solution, connection, or whatever, just hasn't been found yet, but it is there somewhere inside our collective soul. I will always have hope .... always!

Book Review Time



Title: Threshold: The Crisis of Western Culture

Author: Thom Hartmann



Summary (from Sacramento Bee): In "Threshold: The Crisis Of
 Western Culture," writer and Air America host Thom Hartmann argues that the
 deteriorating state of our planet, where the dynamics of environmental,
 economic, and population change are boiling over the limits within which society can function, is inevitably near at hand. In clear
 and impassioned prose, Hartmann busts the myths and ideologies of religious
 fundamentalism, capitalism run amok, male domination, and militarism that are
 draining our world of its natural and human resources and engendering the 
suffering of millions for the benefit of the few.



Goose Comment: The paragraph above says it all. It is the "myths and ideologies"
of our institutions that are destroying us. It's hard to get any meaningful change because of the pushback from people who are in power and who benefit from the status quo.

Olduvi Theory

This chart is quite interesting. Click on it to download a copy of the research paper. Basically, the Olduvai Theory states that the life expectancy of industrial civilization is approximately 100 years: circa 1930-2030.

Beautiful Un-Sunset

I was driving home the other day and just thought this scene of the clouds was pretty. It was taken in Hiram, GA. I call it an un-sunset because the beautiful sunset was actually behind me, but it gave everything an orange hue. The colors of the cloud are really vivid. As I was heading east in my car I just felt like I was in another world for a brief moment. Time sort of stood still.

Patriotic Moment

This scene just struck me as I was in a parking lot — the sun setting behind an American flag. I really felt patriotic and proud when I saw this. Despite all the many social and other problems this country has, I do love it very much. What I love about this country most is the idealism, which keeps our nation unified. We are not a people who are united because of race, religion, looks or anything else, but rather we are united by our ideas, and that is a fantastic step forward for the progression of the species. Most beautiful of all is democracy and freedom, and every day we should cherish it and NEVER take it for granted, however I do realize I'm starting to sound cliché.