[Aaron]

poverty starvation corporate crime bird flu mad cow aids Ebola ethnic cleansing torture deforestation species loss consumerism natural disasters tort law prescription drugs medical care nuclear proliferation bio-weapons depleted uranium religious intolerance poor education fear mongering Michael Jackson human rights violations clean water death camps financial collapse revolution gun violence crime erosion child labor wage slavery ozone depletion...
Did I forget anything?

[EnviroEngr]

Commode

[TrueKaiser]

~it's the end of the world as we know it, it's the end of the world as we know it and i feel fine~

sorry couldn't resist.

[savethehumans]

FUNNY answer: Paris Hilton?

UNFUNNY answer: Melting Antarctic icecaps and Arctic tundra.

Take your pick.

[aldente]

The human mind tries to avoid to go to dark places it seems (besides psychopaths and the like) and the Germans in particular make a science out of conserving thins, being frugal and efficient. But at some point one simply has to give in and admit that things go the way they have to go. Would the world be a different place if Ralph Nader would have become President in the US election 2000? Probably not. As much influence a political system has on living standards (compare North vs. South Korea) in terms of pollution South Korea certainly is the worse system.

To bring it to the point: I gave in and simply live a live as nothing is going to change ever. I just go a new job, bought a car and will finance a house soon since I am running a family as private business, so to say.

There is nothing we can do here, this whole website is just a reflection of thoughts. And yet I am addicted and read PO every day...

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '.')..koil global warming/dimming terroris...

[NonToxic]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('albente', 'T')he human mind tries to avoid to go to dark places it seems (besides psychopaths and the like) and the Germans in particular make a science out of conserving thins, being frugal and efficient. But at some point one simply has to give in and admit that things go the way they have to go. Would the world be a different place if Ralph Nader would have become President in the US election 2000? Probably not. As much influence a political system has on living standards (compare North vs. South Korea) in terms of pollution South Korea certainly is the worse system.

To bring it to the point: I gave in and simply live a live as nothing is going to change ever. I just go a new job, bought a car and will finance a house soon since I am running a family as private business, so to say.

There is nothing we can do here, this whole website is just a reflection of thoughts. And yet I am addicted and read PO every day...

[pedalling_faster]

... stuff can we worry about ?

i have resolved to "worry accurately", that is, to make sure i have the facts with which to respond ... appropriately.

but - My God - there's only so much stuff a person can worry about !

occasionally, after a good night's sleep, when the caffeine is fresh in my veins, i look at all that's coming down the pike (by global warming i don't mean the [relatively] small amount that raised the gulf of mexico to 86 F this last summer - i'm referring to the prospect of a small amount of global warming triggering a MUCH larger amount, 2 of the primary mechanisms being the loss of reflectivity from the polar ice caps, and the release of methane from thawing permafrost), and i cry. well, i did yesterday.

in san diego i knew a young couple, andrew and kyra. andrew worked at a local craftsman store and did a lot of wood-working for me there.

when i caught up with him after he left to start his own workshop - he's a super wood-carver & carpenter - one of the first things that he asked me was, "what's going on in the world ?"

it seems that his wife instituted a house-rule after 9-11 - NO NEWS.

now, we had some interesting discussions. they are both big-time christians, and they somehow got the idea that bu$h is - pro-life.

so, though i flinch in disgust at their support for bu$h, i have to admire her decision to bring some serenity to the house by making it a "no news" household.

in my case -
* i instituted an "amicable divorce" from my car, the wednesday before katrina. i have been walking & car-free since then, with exceptions (social expeditions to the south bay, a drive to a land auction in san mateo)
* no heat. i mean, i have heat, but i'm leaving it off and, following jimmy carter's advice, wearing more clothes.
* read several books about 9-11. got the basic idea. it would be a BIG mistake to trust bu$h-cheney with my future, our future.
* visit antiwar.com every morning. got the basic idea - we're f*cking iraq up big-time.

there's only so much catastrophe a person can take !

oh yeah, in terms of my job, as a semi-retired design engineer, i'm working on something similar to this
http://www.stirlingenergy.com/

anyway, following the practice of "voluntary change is usually less stressful than involuntary change", i have made some voluntary changes.

but, looking at the future, i have the feeling that "the earth can no longer support 6 billion people" means - a massive die-off, which we, the probable survivors, will witness.

so, that leaves me slightly aware of what's going on around me, but still seeking diversions and distractions so i can forget about all that seriousness.

watching the Pipeline Masters, for example
http://www.triplecrownofsurfing.com/pipeline/index.php

well, got to go buy toilet paper & stuff.

[RonMN]

I know what you mean...some times it can make your head almost explode...it can be just TOO MUCH!

It helps me to narrow my focus...what any person needs in order to survive.
1-shelter
2-water
3-fire
4-food (ofcourse extra toilet paper is a bonus)

That's it...in that order...if you focus on those 4 items (how to stock up on them & then how to make your own once the stock runs out)...it should give you some peace of mind...it does for me.

[Schneider]

Interresting timing..

Just watched some parts of the Koyaanisqatsi (1983) movie..man,i cried (and still do while writing this stuff) when i did saw a pauper old man,staggering,watching his thin possessions in his right hand..just some pennies ,then watch the camera !

And i began to cry..To me,this was the worst image of the misery in this world : A tired old man,at the end of his life,alone with nothing except his dirty clothes and what is in his bare hand...

Ah ! How strange it is to be such a cold blooded Doomer and to be able to feel such painfull feelings at the same time..


Schneider
French-canadian

[Atlantean_Relic]

There does seem to be a lot of guns pointed at our way of life right now. To many to list. I feel somewhat envious for those that can just shrug it off and never think of it again. Ignorance is bliss, I guess, until you're a smear on the windsheild.

[FairMaiden]

This is the most luxurious time in history so don't waste it worrying! Every creature on this planet could worry about what could or might happen. Make the most of what we have now - which is ALOT. The sun could burn out and end all life...that is the nature of this world. That anything can happen at anytime. So what do we do with the time? Do we waste it sitting in front of a box made up of make believe? Typing on a computer screen about the atrocities of our society?

Congrats on getting rid of your car - you are doing what you can. But don't forget to enjoy life along the way