[Quinny]

Merry Christmas to all

Introduced a new concept this year - shared presents.

One opens - other uses first. It's actually worked quite well, and we haven't spent anywhere near what we normaly do.

Been researching (well playing) - with my Sheevaplug - amazing little device!

[Narz]

Merry Xmas all, hope everyone here had quality time with loved ones.

[eXpat]

Merry Christmas, everyone.!

[Ainan]

Every forum needs a new year's resolutions thread! I thought it would be interesting if people posted their resolutions. When setting your resolutions I recommend you make them actions rather than goals. You should resolve to do something to achieve a goal throughout the year. For example instead of 'learn to cook', resolve to cook a new recipie every week.

Here's mine:

1) Attend the local gym 3 times a week - Stopped going last Autumn, need to get back in shape in preparation for owning a doomstead.

2) Work 9-6 on my official work, 6 days a week - Important for everyday survival and having the ability to aquire a doomstead.

3) Do some of my pet project everyday, 365 days a year - You need a purpose in life.

[Ainan]

Happy Chinese New Year... or should I say xīn nián kuài lè!

I thought since the West is collapsing and Christianity is dead I would get everyone used to the idea of celebrating Chinese New Year instead of Christmas.

Read more about it here.

I wrote and made my own Chun lian for my door.

[Ferretlover]

Happy New Year to you, too. (But, I only celeberate *my* year--the year of the Dragon!! )

[Ainan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ferretlover', 'H')appy New Year to you, too. (But, I only celeberate *my* year--the year of the Dragon!! )

[katkinkate]

Rats!! I forgot all about it! I was going to go down to Chinatown and watch the lion dances yesterday. It's supposed to be my year and I miss the start.

Oh well, have a happy Year of the Tiger everyone.

[bshirt]

Happy Chinese New Year!!

I'm an American with my supremely awesome China wife in Hunan province......it's great here!!

Btw, it's the year of the Tiger!

xin nian kuai le ! (新年快乐！！！）

[JJ]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bshirt', 'H')appy Chinese New Year!!
--snip-- xin nian kuai le ! (新年快乐！！！）

[lowem]

Yup Happy Chinese New Year to all.

I'm back here posting after a kinda long break since the beginning of the year, from ongoing projects to an operation to an overseas trip and most recently all these CNY celebration thingy.

[IslandCrow]

While this is more related to drought and hydro-power than to fossil fuels, it does give some indication of what governments can do to reduce energy use:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'P')resident Hugo Chavez has added three days to Venezuela's Easter holiday to deal with a growing energy crisis.

The move - which will close government and public offices - means most Venezuelans will have a seven-day break starting on 1 April.

Mr Chavez said the aim of the measure was not to encourage "laziness, but to save energy."

[cipi604]

I hope the best for Venezuela, and I think those measures are the way to go.

[BorisG]

[Tanada]

PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BorisG', '[')img]http://politics.usnews.com/usnews/php/galleries/image.php/162/46/46.jpg[/img]

[Denny]

Its Christmas time and I see my sentimental favorite movie, Its a Wonderful Life is on TV tonight. So, once again I'll get choked up at how the heroic George Bailey eschews the pursuit of materialism for service to family and community. And, comes out the real winner in the end.

It seems in so many ways, our society has evolved over the past fifty years or so into a meaner place. Surprising, as materially we are so much better off. This forum is no exception, maybe its even a good example. So many display the philosophy that the earth is akin to a lifeboat of limited, and dwindling supplies. "Success" is a matter of selfishly organizing one's life to wind up as a survivor, not a victim, as it is impossible for all to survive.

Even among those who claim to be Christian. An illustration of this would be the words, just this week, of Fox TV commentator Bill O'Riley one who apparently sees the spririt of charity as something to be contained:

There comes a time when compassion can cause disaster. If you open your home to scores of homeless folks, you will not have a home for long. There is a capacity problem for every noble intent...there are millions of Americans who are not responsible, and the cold truth is that the rest of us cannot afford to support them...being a Christian, I know that while Jesus promoted charity at the highest level, he was not self-destructive. The Lord helps those who help themselves. Does he not?
From http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/17/olbermann-oreilly-worst-person_n_798125.html

Contrast those words with those of President Bush (that is Bush senior) back in 1988:
I have spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good. I will go to the people and the programs that are the brighter points of light, and I will ask every member of my government to become involved. The old ideas are new again because they are not old, they are timeless: duty, sacrifice, commitment, and a patriotism that finds its expression in taking part and pitching in.
From http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/04/09/11_1000.html

Those words spoken by President Bush, a Republican, would seem to most Republicans today as overly idealistic at best and socialist at worst. "Sacrifice" in not a popular concept in 2010. The actual writer of those words, Peggy Noonan, just like Bill O'Riley, is a Roman Catholic. A faith that that teaches its adherents to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, who like George Bailey, demonstrated that salvation and real happiness is not found in giving our first attention to accumulation of wealth or the physical demands and desires of the body, but of the spirit.

By the way, Jesus never stated that the Lord helps those who help themselves.

[vision-master]

FYI: Christ wuz NOT born on Christmas day..... lol





Two sun "daggers" line up with a petroglyph on the winter solstice at Fajada Butte, Chaco Canyon.

If the superimposed light didn't line up correctly over the spiral glyphs, it represented a portent of doom. That is, the axis of the planet must have suddenly shifted, signaling a planetary wide mega-cataclysm was in the works.

Notice how the superimposed light does NOT line up correctly anymore.

[Keith_McClary]

In Abu Dhabi, Christmas comes decked with gold$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')img]http://cache.boston.com/resize/bonzai-fba/AP_Photo/2010/12/16/1292517059_3642/539w.jpg[/img]
A Christmas tree which has been decked out with US$11 million U.S. (euro14.3 million) worth of gold and precious stones, stands at the lobby of the Emirates Palace hotel, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday Dec. 16, 2010. The hotel's general manager, Hans Olbertz, was quoted in local newspapers Thursday as saying the 43-foot (13-meter) faux fir has 131 ornaments that include gold and precious stones including diamonds and sapphires. The US$11 million symbol of the season has become the latest extravagance at the Emirates Palace hotel, which boasts its own marina, heliport and a vending machine that pops out small gold bars. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

[Ludi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl6L5sjRz2E