Category: Our Present Culture
-
The (Mis)Information Age, Part 1
I’ve been watching a fascinating series on Netflix: The Untold History of the United States (Oliver Stone, 2012), twelve presentations based on a particular interpretation of documented events during the 20th century, especially events related to the politics of war, specifically the cold war. I find it fascinating because it seems well researched and well…
-
Why We Ignore Climate Change, Part 5
These posts explore a précis I did of George Marshall’s book Don’t Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired To Ignore Climate Change (2014), starting 20170122. Much of the information disheartens me, but it also clarifies the possibility of better outcome. Chapter 31. Precedents and presidents. How climate policy lost the plot. The…
-
Donald Trump — Endless Possibilities
Donald Trump — the possibilities are endless (from dangerous strong man to major statesman — see below). However, given: that Donald Trump is soon to be inaugurated as US President, and the intelligence report jointly released on 2017 January 6th by US intelligence services (jointly by the CIA, the FBI, and the NSA) indicating illegal…
-
A Number of Interesting Articles
There have been a number of interesting articles have come across my desk in the past few months (some technological, one on civil disobedience), so I thought I would describe them briefly. I recommend that the interested reader explore them all from the original sources listed. First, some fascinating technological results: 20161128 A way to…
-
Civil Disobedience
One of the issues I am pondering these days is that of civil disobedience. The central issue is that of how to respond to a breach of law when the law goes along with the breach. As such, if we are to resolve our cultural dilemma of climate disruption, we must deal with the negative…
-
It Does Not Yet Appear What We Shall Be
It is so difficult to coordinate my thoughts; I am still grieving the consequences of the election of Donald Trump as future President of the United States. It is so challenging, and unexpected (and yet so expected, given what I know about emotional process). It also is a disaster as regards the management of global…
-
The State Of The World
I’ve been away a lot in the past six weeks, and have not been doing blog entries. And now that I am back, it is time to reflect on the state of the world. First I am deeply saddened by the US election results — it almost certainly means the end of our civilization, if…
-
What Will It Take To Recognize Danger
The latest estimates of carbon utilization show that we are over-budget regardless of what we do regarding new sources of fossil fuels. We are still playing with fire! A new study from Oil Change International reveals how we are doing so. Bill McKibben [comments on]: Trudeau can’t charm his way around the mathematics of climate…
-
Being A Resource Seeking A Need, Part 3
In these posts, I am exploring the impact of retirement, that of being a resource looking for a need. Potentially, retirement (re-attire-ment) is a change to a new direction in my life. It is an interesting exploration, but because of the difficulty of finding a new way to be a resource, it is not very…
-
The Current Status of Global Warming
For a recent excellent review of the current status of global warming, go to Scientists Sound Alarm on Climate but US Still Toys With Skepticism. in Truthout by Dahr Jamail (20161003). I recommend it, but it is also very discouraging. Sad!
Awakening From Your Anger 