[Byron100]

$85 oil. Collapsing USD. War and rumors of war in the Middle East. Housing prices falling like a rock, nationwide. The greatest drought ever recorded in the Southeast. Food stocks rapidly dwindling towards zero.

And for most of us in this vast nation called the USA just go on our merry way, with not a clue in the world. Perhaps that's for the best. I do want to enjoy what little "quality time" I have left, after all. Hitting the highways, visiting family. Going for a walk in the woods while it's still safe. Being able to go out for a good meal. Talking a trip to the mountains with friends. Ahh, to be able to take a nice, refreshing shower and putting clean clothes on each day...what luxury!

I know to enjoy these things to the fullest, as they won't be around much longer. For these are the last days of a dying nation and a dying era, and time is running short. Once an abstract concept, Doom is now beating down the front door, the jamb already splintering. Yes, I know it won't be much longer now.

So the time comes to say the Long Goodbye. To remember the good times, idyllic days gone by. Soon, it will be time to close the book on the greatest nation / empire / civilization / era the world has ever known, and probably will ever know for all time. What will come next, no one knows, but one thing I do know, that this time, this era, this nation called the United States of America and all the things we've become will soon be no more.

I shed a tear for the rains that never come, I weep for the failing economy which will never recover in all the years to come, I mourn for all those who are sacrificing their lives for a war that knows no end. I cry for the proud flag, 13 stripes, 50 stars, red white and blue, that will someday be no more.

And yet each day that goes by is one less day to enjoy. I know I must savor what little time is left, for once it's gone, it's gone forever.

I leave you with this, a quote from a tombstone that I photographed this past weekend:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'R')emember friends as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I,
As I am now, you too shall be,
Prepare for death and follow me.

[Heineken]

And so the Long Goodbye joins the Long Emergency.

A fine and memorable post, Byron. I share so many of your feelings.

My sadness and fear and tempered by anger, though---anger for all the stupidity, arrogance, and avariciousness that have led to this unnecessary fate. All those goddamned "voters" pulling the wrong levers, election after election. And the stooges they usually put in office.

GW really seals the deal. We're toast, almost literally.

[seahorse2]

In the same vein as your tombstone quote, it was once said "As you have heard the death bells toll for others, so others shall hear them toll for you."

[mmasters]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'R')emember friends as you past by,
As you are now, so once was I,
As I am now, you too shall be,
Prepare for death and follow me.

[Heineken]

Marred only by "past by," which should be "pass by." Maybe just a typo and not actually on the stone.

[aflurry]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'A')nd so the Long Goodbye joins the Long Emergency.

A fine and memorable post, Byron. I share so many of your feelings.

My sadness and fear and tempered by anger, though---anger for all the stupidity, arrogance, and avariciousness that have led to this unnecessary fate. All those goddamned "voters" pulling the wrong levers, election after election. And the stooges they usually put in office.

GW really seals the deal. We're toast, almost literally.

[crapattack]

It's human nature, smart as people (sometimes), dumb as a crowd.

[frankthetank]

I was at the clinic today (not me/wife) and while i was waiting in the car i was thinking about how much business this place gets (clinic) because of cheap oil (food/no exercise/pollution). I noticed a huge assed fat girl get out of her car smoking a cig while i was leaving. Nice.

It makes a person want to scream out loud.

[Kingcoal]

You have the right attitude; enjoy it while it lasts. Our completely artificial, unnatural lifestyle will slowly erode away, replaced by the stark realities of having to live within our means. That probably means no more free stuff financed at someone else’s expense. When I say free stuff, I mean all the free stuff that people get from the government such as:

Social Security
Medicare/Medicaid
All the thousands of other government bennies
Cheap energy
Cheap food
Cheap technology goods

Just the erosion of government benefits will in itself, put millions of Americans who are now unproductive and parasitic, on the street to fend for themselves. Crime will soar to heights presently unknown to anyone alive today.

Then there are the rest of us. The current military/industrial complex feeds off the government like flies on shit. In addition to the give away programs, the US will eventually, no longer be able to support its global military presence. The US military will shrink drastically causing $trillions of GDP to disappear from the US and in some cases, world economy. Engineers, Scientists, Technicians and other skilled workers will find their earning ability severely reduced. Want a look at what that is like? Look at the collapse of the Soviet Union; huge numbers of underemployed professionals.

My prediction is that warlords, such as Jack, will rise up from the ashes and terrorize us all into submission. Prepare; be ready to defend yourself against “Jack the terrible.”

Oh well, I have the popcorn ready. It should be a good show; lots of drama, sex and violence.

[Byron100]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'M')arred only by "past by," which should be "pass by." Maybe just a typo and not actually on the stone.

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Kingcoal', 'M')y prediction is that warlords, such as Jack, will rise up from the ashes and terrorize us all into submission. Prepare; be ready to defend yourself against “Jack the terrible.”

[Brokaws-area]

Byron100
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')I do want to enjoy what little "quality time" I have left, after all. Hitting the highways, visiting family. Going for a walk in the woods while it's still safe. Being able to go out for a good meal. Talking a trip to the mountains with friends.

[timbo]

And to continue the nit-picking. The poem was written by John Donne

For Whom the Bell Tolls

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

Of particular note are the last five lines starting with "Each man's death diminishes me".

[bonehead]

Pretty sad really,America,the light of the world.Accomplishments too many to list.Got to involved in "American Idol" and "Survivor" to care about such trivial problems as Peak Oil.

[wisconsin_cur]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jack', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Kingcoal', 'M')y prediction is that warlords, such as Jack, will rise up from the ashes and terrorize us all into submission. Prepare; be ready to defend yourself against “Jack the terrible.”

[turmoil]

For a limited time only, if you allow me to protect you instead of Jack, I won't take your daughter from you when she's 16 like he would.

Wait there's more...

If you email me in the next 10 minutes, I'll throw in a free energy-star toaster!

[americandream]

Resigned negativity such as this is precisely what freedom really has become....impotence. As long as you have a live bone in your body, there's hope. I can appreciate the despair, but this is something we need to resist.

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', 'O')ne who terrorizes is likely to be the victim of a lone gunman from a long distance.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Jack', 'W')hat is more likely is that one's trusted lieutenant will turn, and empty their pistol into the former leader at point-blank range.

[Jack]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'Y')ou might last a whole month!