Wednesday, June 17, 2015

A Lower Impact Society?

Jared Diamond, author of Collapse, a book exploring the reasons for the collapses of past societies, is cautiously optimistic that we won’t face a world-wide collapse* (first world societies). One reason for his hope is that the risks we face are not out of our control because they are ones we are generating ourselves and we can choose to stop causing them and start solving them. His second reason is the “increasing diffusion of environmental thinking” occurring around the world. The third reason he gave for his hope is that we have the opportunity to learn from past societies to a degree not available to any of the past societies that had collapsed.

He outlines within each “hope” the barriers or obstacles standing in the way (political will, consumption footprint, lack of long term thinking and willingness to reconsider core values). I’ll admit to often being skeptical that these barriers can be overcome, but I choose to keep the same hope because I’ve met so many people actively and passionately pursuing the restoration of broken policies, people, and places.


*A collapse could be anything from a decline in the standard of living to widespread starvation. The causes for collapse are complex. The natural environment is deeply connected to stability or fragility. Check out Diamond’s book for the scoop. 

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

If you listen to one interview...

This interview struck me and I was reminded of this blog...it is still here! Looking for some hope that restoration is possible and happening? Listen to this interview: http://www.ttbook.org/book/reforming-lapd

Powerful

Monday, December 31, 2012

Books in 2012

Technical books aside, I made a list of the books I read in 2012. It's not extensive, but glad to have made these happen...

In random order (you will see I stuck with some authors):

"The Last Week" by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan
"The First Paul" by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan
"The First Christmas" by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan

"The Search" by Tom Brown Jr.
"Case Files of a Tracker" by Tom Brown Jr.

"Why Evolution is True" by Jerry A. Coyne

"Lies My Teacher Told Me" by James Loewen

Those are the ones I remember...I recommend them all!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

election season


Sick of the political mumbo jumbo
Can’t even comprehend the amount

Of money spent, wasted on show

There are third party voices

But they can’t even be legitimate choices
Because if I don’t choose bad, over worse

Worse may be elected and steer us even further off course

Undecided means trying to decide if it’s worth it

Good question if you live somewhere other than Florida or Ohio
Or since there is little to be expected, from either Obama or Mitt

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

And then I was 30

Turning 20 was just fine
Getting older was on my mind
Grand Adventure
And becoming more sure

And then I was married
Love, I've learned, is a fragile seed
Too many have been unable to make it germinate
We've worked hard, me and my mate

And then I was a dad
A daughter, I've learned, disarms you when your mad
Emotions I never knew
Family adventures now too

And then I was 30
Life, I've learned, brings many things I don't currently see
Time to capitalize
Giving it a try, shall be the prize