[HamRadioRocks]

When I was a kid, I was too squeamish to watch a horror movie. In the past decade, I've become a big fan. The more horror movies I see, the easier it is for me to laugh off the gore, even when it's done with a chainsaw in Texas. (The remake and the prequel of the remake are EXTREMELY gross. Don't watch before Thanksgiving or Christmas unless you're REALLY desperate to lower your weight and blood cholesterol.) I can easily laugh off horror movies now, because I'm reassured by the fact that they are as fictional as "Star Wars".

I used to find the concept of porn films objectionable. Then I rented a porn flick and began yawning about 25 minutes in. Nothing happened - it was just a series of unrelated sex scenes in a hotel specifically designated for people to have sex. The women weren't that attractive - their breasts just didn't look right, and that detracted from the rest of their appearance. The poor quality of the acting was second to that of the human characters in the grossly overrated movie _2001: A Space Odyssey_.

Today, I find neither horror movies nor porn films disturbing. I find reality to be disturbing. There were the September 11th attacks, the annual reminders of the September 11th attacks, the Beltway Sniper Spree (lived in the DC area at the time), the drip-drip-drip of bad news in Iraq, the destruction of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, Peak Oil, and global warming. No, I didn't see _Fahrenheit 911_. I didn't have time to watch it in 2004 and then decided to wait until 2009 to see it. In my opinion, I deserve a Nobel Peace Prize for refusing to see it while Bush is in office. (One question: Would Bush-loving rednecks and anti-American foreigners team up to beat me to a pulp?)

It's been nearly 2 years since I first read about Peak Oil at this site. I knew even as a kid in the 1980s that world fossil fuel supplies were limited and that society would need to break away from dependence on it. But the idea that Peak Oil was close at hand and not 30 years in the future was a SHOCK to me. It broke my heart that the future of high technology, abundant clean energy, longer lifespans (was hoping to live to see the 22nd century dawn), colonizing space, sending space probes to the stars, and talking to alien civilizations would remain as fictional as Star Trek. This was the future that was promised to me by exhibits at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry and Disney World's EPCOT Center. I was also thinking that I'd one day be wealthy by investing for value like Warren Buffett and Benjamin Graham. Of course, what good is being ultra-wealthy in a world that might not be able to satisfy my basic needs (like food and shelter), much less the woderful life of Warren Buffett? (At least I never aspired to own mansions, yachts luxury cars, and other status symbols.) Peak Oil was a bigger disappointment than finding out that I wasn't really dating Mandy Moore and it was all just a dream. At least I never seriously expected to date Mandy Moore. (It's more likely than winning Powerball, though.)

Last summer, I saw Al Gore's movie _An Inconvenient Truth_. I knew even as a kid in the 1980s that fossil fuels polluted and would lead to global warming. But I was SHOCKED to learn that serious effects of global warming were already happening, not looming 30 years in the future.

In spite of everything I learned about Peak Oil and global warming, I was optimistic enough to think that maybe, just maybe the doomers were overlooking something. Maybe high energy prices would spur development of alternative fuels. Maybe ethanol from switchgrass would be the way to go. Maybe Maybe scientists will one day perfect nuclear fusion so that it yields more energy than it consumes.

Then I read the book _Powerdown_. All my hopes about the future of society were DASHED! The book convinced me that the wonderful EPCOT future I was hoping for couldn't possibly happen. The most optimistic scenario was the powerdown scenario. I knew from a local sustainability discussion group (which I attended last fall) and a local voluntary simplicity discussion group (which I've been attending this winter) that even with the conservation efforts I've been making (like turning the thermostat down to 59 degrees, the Second Nature green electricity program, the rope caulking in the windows, the plastic window insulation, and reducing the short car trips), I still use double my share of the earth's resources. I'm not about to sweat in an 80+ degree house (still set the thermostat to maintain 79 degrees in summer), I'm not about to give up driving, I'm not about to give up flying, and I'm not about to give up meat.

So I learned that the only two possible scenarios are Powerdown and Last One Standing. The Iraq War supports the Last One Standing scenario. The fact that most people are wasteful and don't give a hoot about Peak Oil or global warming undermine the Powerdown scenario.

I remember I used to laugh when I read my parents' copy of the book _How To Survive In The Coming Bad Years_. In this book, Howard Ruff insisted that hyperinflation and the collapse of civilization were inevitable and advised his readers to stockpile gold and guns. Of course, I was too busy watching "Sesame Street" at the time this book came out in 1979 to know that hyperinflation was about to precipitate the collapse of civilization. Since I was reading this book well into the 1990s, I was also laughing about the fact that anyone who followed Ruff's advice ended up depending on the welfare programs he was always ranting against.

Now I find myself thinking more like Howard Ruff, minus the welfare part.

Two years ago, I enjoyed reading the rantings of the Mogambo Guru. Then I tuned out - I got tired of him. Now I realize that I've become more like him and I was getting tired of my own cynicism.

I'm so cynical that I find it hard to believe that I like bubblegum pop music (Britney, Christina, Mandy, Jessica, JoJo) and other bubblegum entertainment ("Hannah Montana", "Lizzie McGuire", "Drake and Josh", "Saved By The Bell", _Chasing Liberty_, _Ferris Bueller's Day Off_, _Beverly Hills Cop_, _Smokey and the Bandit_, etc.).

I'm so cynical that I find it hard to believe that I've always HATED grunge and alternative music.

I feel so mixed up.

[Ayame]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('HamRadioRocks', ' ')This was the future that was promised to me by exhibits at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry and Disney World's EPCOT Center.

[Aaron]

When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things.

[HamRadioRocks]

I need to stop reading about Peak Oil. I especially need to avoid reading any more books about Peak Oil. Simply reading _Powerdown_ gave me enough of a negative attitude.

I thought before that this psychology section wasn't that necessary. Now I see why it's necessary.

[Ayame]

Here HamRadioRocks I found a nice happy clappy song to cheer you up.

happy clappy song

Of course it could just make you feel even more disturbed about reality but hey remember there's always a way! (until we hit peak oil)

[Carlhole]

People throughout history have always been wrong about the future. Except for now.

PO doomers will be the first group ever to be correct. Believe! Believe!

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '
')PO doomers will be the first group ever to be correct. Believe! Believe!

[MD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Carlhole', '
')PO doomers will be the first group ever to be correct. Believe! Believe!

[PenultimateManStanding]

I thought Carlhole sounded ironic in his post, the Believe! Believe! thing. Being a 'doomer' is a weird spot to be in for a lot of us. It's as if we all know how crackpot it seems sometimes. Reasonable people don't go around thinking the sky is falling. That's for oddballs in sandwich signs. And I don't find it to be 'natural' to be a doomer myself. So I thought I could relate to Carlhole's irony.

Now here we are in California with gasoline prices back over the $3/gal level in March. No hurricanes, no peak driving season. not good.

[drew]

PMS, you are just getting hosed at the pumps. We are too, up here in Ontario. Nymex gasoline is only 1.93/gallon right now. Not that I ain't a believer btw.

Ham radio, if you'r bummed stay away for awhile.

It works for me.

Drew

[AirlinePilot]

My thoughts since learning of PO are changed forever. I find it difficult at best to shield myself from the coming downturn mentally. It affects many things I do these days. I find myself seeing through different eyes.

I am most assuredly the quintessential doomer, and while I agree we are not "sandwich board" types, I can't help but feel that way now and then.

Really makes you think. I hope and pray almost daily, that we are somehow wrong. I worry greatly for my/our children and the fate of mankind.

[crapattack]

Ya, you're disappointed and probably more than a bit pissed you're going to miss EPCOT, coffee, chocolate, and a lot of lobster dinners. This rage is healthy but it's impotent. There's nowhere for it to go, who the fuck do you yell at right? No point yelling at your father or grandfather. Or all the shits who didn't care when they should have, they can't really DO anything now except talk about how they didn't realize they were fucking up. Like the Germans who lived through the holocaust... what was that funny smell?

But mostly you're afraid. You're afraid of how you're going to feed yourself. That and of dying a lot younger than you thought you would, then you were told you should. This rage and fear are the right feelings to the what you know is true. Go pound something mushy. Go yell at some clouds. That'll help these damn healthy feelings from going rancid in your chest. Then go make some plans and start acting on them. Chase the depression away by letting go of the old life, it was a fucking lie even when we believed it, and let go even though it's all around you. Act. Do.

[davep]

It's OK to feel depressed and impotent. Take some time away.

Then when you feel ready, you need to plan. Start with your broad vision. Make it statement of what you want in life. Then create your goals relative to that vision. They can be bullet points. You can include things such as how to keep your partner and close family's goals and worries in tune with your new direction.

You can then start looking at tasks to achieve those goals. Get it all down. Eventually, you'll have small bite-sized chunks you can deal with. You'll know what is required first before something else needs doing. You'll have a plan and won't feel overwhelmed, impotent and depressed. Devote a lot of your energy to achieving your goals, but know when to lay off and relax.

You'll know when you feel right to get your plans down on paper. It shouldn't take long when you finally feel right to do it. I felt a deep sense of liberation when I managed to get my disparate and potentially conflicting goals down, along with an action plan to achieve them. I still refer to it to keep my plans in perspective. But remember that it is not fixed in stone. You can alter facets of the plan as you see fit. Keep any changes within the overall vision.

This is a simple task but requires bringing all your varying thoughts and worries together. Initially you can do a mind map if it helps to get them all down. Once you feel that it's all down, you can progress in the serene knowledge that you're not missing something vital.

Good luck, all you can do is your best. It's preferable to be an optimistic individual with goals and action plans than a confused and depressed individual with worries and no focus.

If I get the time, I'll put mine on here. It's nothing special on the surface, but distills my essential requirements and how to achieve them. The tasks mentioned tend to be short term ones. There's no point in going into huge detail for goals that are not yet necessary to break down into tasks. Take things one step at a time on each front.

PS: I hope I'm not teaching my grandmother to suck eggs here

[Elan_Rasa]

when i first learned about PO (only a year ago) i completely freaked out. i read as much as i could about this topic starting with kunstler and then went off into other fun reads. needless to say it caused a lot of sleepless nights as my family can attest.

after compiling and reading through a lot of info, i then sold off all of my "safe" long term stocks that i had been gathering for a few years. i mostly reorganized into other stocks but also put some of that money into bullion (mostly silver). then i started thinking about real long term plans (job change, change in geographic location). that took up most of the rest of the year to accomplish but we have finally moved and i should start my new job soon.

now comes establishing a sustainable home and emergency preparations. looks pretty basic and not radical from an outsider's perspective but i should begin my organic hobby farm within 1-2 years. since i am a novice in all these areas it takes a lot of time and research before i act. so right now i am trying to figure out how best to organize my itzy bitzy farm. really only big enough for my family.

my only piece of advice is to learn as much as you can and then act. having knowledge about PO and GW can make you freeze up and not act. you may want to consider having different tiers when it comes to plans. for example, i know that i could not live and work in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, even if it did make some sense. instead, i came up with Plan A, consisting of a reasonable action plan but taking PO and GW into account as best as i could. as soon as i am done with all preps of Plan A, I will move onto Plan B (second tier) which requires more drastic steps. i won't wait to prepare for plan B until TSHTF, but I will move onto that as soon as Plan is complete (hopefully 1-2 yrs).

given that I am late to this game, i may not have enough time to prepare. i wish i knew about this 3-5 yrs ago, but i will make do with what time i have. i can only imagine what people will do when TS has HTF and is plastered all over their home.

best, ER

[TheDude]

You should also listen to this song.

[Ibon]

Most of our history as a species was lived with so much uncertainties that life was humbly appreciated a day at a time. Feeling self entitled to a long life let alone an Epcot Life is an anomally and highly dysfunctional as it creates a false sense of expectation.

Go forward with no expectations but appreciation for this brief impermanent life. So has it always been and so will it always be.

Living a life where one feels deserving of something more is an illusion. Living in a country whose culture promotes these lies 24/7 requires you to see the lies for what they are. What can you do? Go sue someone for misleading you?

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TheDude', '[')url=http://bananaphone.andi-h.de/bananaphone.mp3]You should also listen to this song.[/url]

[mercurygirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ibon', 'L')iving a life where one feels deserving of something more is an illusion. Living in a country whose culture promotes these lies 24/7 requires you to see the lies for what they are. What can you do? Go sue someone for misleading you?

[JasonHam]

Then I read the book _Powerdown_. All my hopes about the future of society were DASHED! The book convinced me that the wonderful EPCOT future I was hoping for couldn't possibly happen.

Thats what makes the book......SELL. Doom and Gloom is an industry. Peak oil has turned into a "Cult". You all read the same stuff and are brainwashed into thinking nothing can be done. It feeds off people who arent happy with their own life for whatever reason. It feeds off weak and easily manipulated people. This cult attitude of "Doom and Gloom" hinders the serious discussion and education that needs to take place concerning energy, climate change and globalization. How many of you were Y2Kers??? Google Y2K and read how many people were "convinced" civilzation was over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Watch the news, nightline, 20/20, dateline......fear, scaring people, sells!!!!!!

the boogie man is going to get you!!!!! so buy my boogie man deflector shield and my book about why the boogie man will appear in the next 5-10 minutes!!!