[Colorado-Valley]

Howdy, I'm a rancher/journalist out in Colorado who tends more and more toward doomer because I don't see the Titanic changing course any time soon.

I wish MIT had a research lab dedicated to "The Elegant Stone Age."

Envision something like an ecologically-balanced Shire, but one in which future Shirlings would be able to communicate with other Shires in different bioregions with the Internet and solar energy.

I think technology and ecology must somehow learn to complement each other if there is to be a future on this planet.

[Kent]

Welcome Luke,

I'm an Austinite myself. You seem pretty level headed for someone who just found out about Peak Oil. Your ability to rationally and realistically look at situations as they arise and change is probably the single best asset you could have.

And feel grateful that you're in this part of the country. Not that Austin won't have problems. Things are going to get tough. But we also have a LOT going for us here:a temperate climate (ok, a little hot in July and August, but you could still live without A/C or heating), plenty of water, a lot of good soil still, no state taxes, home debt protection, a state with it's own INDEPENDENT electric grid, a great deal of oil and natural gas still in the ground, by far the most progressive CITIZEN-OWNED city utility department with the highest percentage of renewable-generated electric in the country, and yes, a friendliness, can-do attitude and sense of state pride/stick-togetherness that I feel will serve us when things get rough.

If you want to talk more, feel free to IM me.

Kent

[Pops]

Hi Luke, I don’t know anything about sports but I do know who Luke the drifter was.

I’m also of the opinion that things will probably be a long slide with some spike-strips here and there. Read the Assessments and Plans thread in the Planning Forum – lots of ideas.

My daughter has had Type I since age 4, and as for Insulin I don’t really expect there to be shortages of vital meds for a long time. However, keeping very well regulated IMO is vital, as in the future (20+ yrs) treatments for complications may not be as readily available as today.

My usual list is diversifying your income, stay out of debt, reduce your energy and infrastructure exposure (transportation, heating, public water/sewer, etc), keep a well-stocked pantry and enjoy life.

Or as Luke would say:

The porch rotted down - that's more expense
The durned old mule - he tore down the fence
The mortgage is due and - I can't pay
But - we're still a-livin' - so EVER'THING'S Okay.

- Hank Williams Sr.

[swingbolder]

Hi,

I'm new and just wanted to introduce myself to the forum. I've been through many of the old threads and articles and have learned a lot in the last few days.

I've been vaguely aware (emphasis on the "vague") of PO ever since I met my husband six years ago. We were talking about current affairs, future plans etc. and he told me that the world was soon going to run out of oil. Of course I thought he was a nutjob. Now I see he was right.

Six years later, we are married and talking more and more about PO. We agree the economy is growing increasingly more f*cked. We are planning more and more about how we want to live. I'm going back to nursing school so that I'll have a marketable skill to barter or sell in the post-PO world.

So thanks for being out there and talking about these issues and educating people. I look forward to joining the conversation.

ETA: Oh yeah, a bit about me: I'm 40, married with one son, living in upstate NY. My nickname comes from an old work song that prisoners used to sing while working on the chaingang.

[Heineken]

You live in Kunstler country, swingbolder, so you're in good company up there.

If you haven't already, you might want to read a few books to get a good grounding in the PO subject. Examples that come to mind are Heinberg's "The Party's Over," "The End of Oil," by Roberts, and "The Long Emergency" by Kunstler. Also, for a sense of the broader political context, I recommend highly "The Sorrows of Empire," by Johnson---it will rock your world.

Welcome to the site, and good luck with the future---you'll need it.

[okek]

Hi swingbolder.

I'm also from upstate NY. Glad to meet another person who is aware of how tenuous a situation we are in!

[alpha480v]

Hi guys!I'm also from upstate NY.

[adi]

Hi Tony, I'm impressed by the number of really smart people here, of whose numbers you've just added. Look forward to reading your posts.

[adi]

Welcome from a fellow newbie. Lots of great posts here with so much information. Just a pity that they're telling us in great depth about the awful problems facing mankind

[TheStorm]

Long time lurker, first time poster here.

I'm a young man who's been following Peak Oil for a while. While I agree with many of the basic principles behind it, there are a few points of contention. Many people here, for example, seem to believe that the Iraq war is an oil war ( ). I also think its unrealistic to think that PO will have the same effects everywhere. I think some countries will land with some difficulty, while others will come crashing down.

Anyway, I look forward to debate and discussion with you all!

[OilyMon]

Welcome! A contraversial first post!

[backstop]

TheStorm -

Welcome to the site !

I'd agree that the degree of impact will vary greatly between countries, but apart from extant resources & expectations, there will also be unpredictable variation in pivotal national events, eg. official policy, climate, currency fluctuations etc - so I'm wondering to what extent, if any, you feel that national outcomes can be forecast ?

Also, with regard to the underlying reasons for attacking Iraq I too am unable to accept that oil supply was the motivation, and I should like to hear your views.

Care to elaborate ?

regards,

Backstop

[rowante]

So, umm let's see... The largest oil importing/consuming nation invades the country with the 2nd largest oil reserves, yeah just a coinkidink.

[TheStorm]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('backstop', 'T')heStorm -

Welcome to the site !

I'd agree that the degree of impact will vary greatly between countries, but apart from extant resources & expectations, there will also be unpredictable variation in pivotal national events, eg. official policy, climate, currency fluctuations etc - so I'm wondering to what extent, if any, you feel that national outcomes can be forecast ?

Also, with regard to the underlying reasons for attacking Iraq I too am unable to accept that oil supply was the motivation, and I should like to hear your views.

Care to elaborate ?

regards,

Backstop

[UIUCstudent01]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'Q')uote:
So, umm let's see... The largest oil importing/consuming nation invades the country with the 2nd largest oil reserves, yeah just a coinkidink.


Show me some hard evidence.

[TheStorm]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'E')vidence that 'real' reasons for the war were completely fabricated? (Downing Street Minutes)

[backstop]

TS -

Why not try to have a real discussion, please ?

[TheStorm]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('backstop', 'T')S -

Why not try to have a real discussion, please ?

[backstop]

It's open ended, and one where neither party is trying to win, but two or more are exploring evidence to see if they can fit it together to allow new common insight.

At least, that's my idea of discussion . . .

Regards,

Backstop

[TheStorm]

I apologize then. I didn't mean to appear that I'm trying to box anyone out.