It seems life is really about choices. Red or blue? Mashed or Stove top? But unfortunately some choices are harder than others and we have hit a real tough spot. How do we combat our need for fuel and still protect our home? Do we rape and pillage the future or do we start making hard decisions?
So here is the deal. This planet has about 7 billion people on it. Those people want food, homes, warm clothing, and a future for their children. If we are going to accomplish this I see only one choice. The choice is to combat overpopulation. We need to dramatically decrease the birth rate. The planet cannot sustain this kind of growth. The Chinese have it right. One child per family. If we can't see fit to start decreasing the population, oil is going to be the least of our worries. Food will eventually come into short supply and so will drinkable water. It is simple math and all the technology in the world is not going to be able to compensate.
I know what I am saying is a foreign concept to many people. Many religions scorn my point of view. That is fine. All I ask is people start doing the math. Start figuring out how much food and water are needed to support a single person and then start looking at available water supplies and farm land. It does not take a genius to see where you will eventually wind up- back at square one. This is the number one most important environmental fight of all time and we are losing folks. Changing your light bulbs out and driving electric cars is all well and good, but if you want to get serious about saving the planet this is where the conversation inevitably takes you.
I send this out into the void.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Middle East
Is it just me who is scared of the events in the middle east? I agree that most of the leaders are horrible, but I am afraid of revolutions based on faith. I would be scared if fundamentalist Christians took over the Whitehouse and what is going on in the middle east is pretty damn scary. People who are willing to wage battle in the name of faith are difficult to reason with.
What amazes me is that I hear so little about it in conversation. It is almost like in America we are so into our own little world that unless you are an avid cnn watcher people know little and care less. This will effect us and not just because of the price of oil, which is about to skyrocket. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, by a lot. There are mosques going up all over the country. Rarley do I go to a Walmart or restaurant where I don't see a woman in a head scarf. Islam is here and it is growing fast. Predjudice against our Muslim nabors is not going to get us anywhere. The oppressed always fight back. It may take a long time, but history is littered with examples of it. We are going to have to learn to understand and accept the culture as it is practiced. If we don't we may see revolution on our doorstep, maybe not tomorrow, but it will come.
I send this thought out into the void.
What amazes me is that I hear so little about it in conversation. It is almost like in America we are so into our own little world that unless you are an avid cnn watcher people know little and care less. This will effect us and not just because of the price of oil, which is about to skyrocket. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, by a lot. There are mosques going up all over the country. Rarley do I go to a Walmart or restaurant where I don't see a woman in a head scarf. Islam is here and it is growing fast. Predjudice against our Muslim nabors is not going to get us anywhere. The oppressed always fight back. It may take a long time, but history is littered with examples of it. We are going to have to learn to understand and accept the culture as it is practiced. If we don't we may see revolution on our doorstep, maybe not tomorrow, but it will come.
I send this thought out into the void.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Five things
I have learned the secret of a happy and successful life. It only took me 34 years to learn and it is something any first grader could tell you. Here it is in one word. Finish.
I am great at starting things. I have written books, bought fabric, and joined gyms. That is the fun part. I am good at anticipation. I daydream about how great that quilt will look on my bed or how happy I will be when I lose the weight. It is a great feeling, and for a few days I am pumped! ...Then comes the hard part, and I suck at the hard part so I move on. Since I want to join the H.S.P (Happy Successful Party) I have decided to list my goals her in public. Maybe if I am accountable to something I might actually follow through. Here is the current list:
1. Actually publish something I write.
I write often. I am brimming with crazy ideas and fun stories that lurk in the corners of my mind. I even put a lot of it down on my laptop. When I get to actually persuing the publishing part it is like I am suddenly Helen Keller lost in a forest. I don't know how to navigate this strage world and I give up and write another story. This year I intend to give it a try. Maybe I will be the next JK Rowling. More likely I will sell 10 digital copies on Amazon. Either way, I intend to give it a good old college try.
2. Go to the gym (at least 3 times a week)
I actually like the gym. It is fun to go and I feel so good afterwords. I get out my ipod and jam while doing the eliptical and working up a sweat. As Taio Cruz helps me burn those calories I glance up and see Exercise Barbies all around me. It is like a silicon kaleidoscope of perfection and I look like the stuffed Orca thrown in the mix. I run to my car in shame and "accidentally" let my gym membership run out. A new day is coming, I will fear their spandex encased supremacy no more! (Maybe, I hope..)
3. Learn Arabic
I know what you are thinking. Why would I, the queen of quitters, set myself up for failure like that? Arabic is the second most difficult language for an English speaker to learn. It takes people with years and years of language training decades to master. Believe me, I have heard it all. I never said my goals were easy. Part of the reason I procrastinate so much is cause I want to do so many impossible things. I actually have started this one. Learning the alphabet took a month. This is one I really want to do, so for now it is staying on the list.
4. Get to know my family
Ok, here is the deal. I have a seriously amazing family. They live all over the place and they are all successful in their respective fields. They are all card carrying members the H.S. P. Over the years, we have sort of disconnected (mostly my fault). I have never been to see any of my brothers and sisters at where they currently live, even though they all come to Michigan at least once a year. This year I intend to change that.
5. Finish the Quilt
Two years ago, I started a Christmas quilt. It is a lovely quilt, or at least it will be if I ever finish it.
That is it. Five things. If I can finish five things this year I will no longer belong to the void. The heavens will open and angels will weep. But seriously, I will feel really freakin' happy and who knows maybe I will even learn some things along the way. I will keep you posted.
I am great at starting things. I have written books, bought fabric, and joined gyms. That is the fun part. I am good at anticipation. I daydream about how great that quilt will look on my bed or how happy I will be when I lose the weight. It is a great feeling, and for a few days I am pumped! ...Then comes the hard part, and I suck at the hard part so I move on. Since I want to join the H.S.P (Happy Successful Party) I have decided to list my goals her in public. Maybe if I am accountable to something I might actually follow through. Here is the current list:
1. Actually publish something I write.
I write often. I am brimming with crazy ideas and fun stories that lurk in the corners of my mind. I even put a lot of it down on my laptop. When I get to actually persuing the publishing part it is like I am suddenly Helen Keller lost in a forest. I don't know how to navigate this strage world and I give up and write another story. This year I intend to give it a try. Maybe I will be the next JK Rowling. More likely I will sell 10 digital copies on Amazon. Either way, I intend to give it a good old college try.
2. Go to the gym (at least 3 times a week)
I actually like the gym. It is fun to go and I feel so good afterwords. I get out my ipod and jam while doing the eliptical and working up a sweat. As Taio Cruz helps me burn those calories I glance up and see Exercise Barbies all around me. It is like a silicon kaleidoscope of perfection and I look like the stuffed Orca thrown in the mix. I run to my car in shame and "accidentally" let my gym membership run out. A new day is coming, I will fear their spandex encased supremacy no more! (Maybe, I hope..)
3. Learn Arabic
I know what you are thinking. Why would I, the queen of quitters, set myself up for failure like that? Arabic is the second most difficult language for an English speaker to learn. It takes people with years and years of language training decades to master. Believe me, I have heard it all. I never said my goals were easy. Part of the reason I procrastinate so much is cause I want to do so many impossible things. I actually have started this one. Learning the alphabet took a month. This is one I really want to do, so for now it is staying on the list.
4. Get to know my family
Ok, here is the deal. I have a seriously amazing family. They live all over the place and they are all successful in their respective fields. They are all card carrying members the H.S. P. Over the years, we have sort of disconnected (mostly my fault). I have never been to see any of my brothers and sisters at where they currently live, even though they all come to Michigan at least once a year. This year I intend to change that.
5. Finish the Quilt
Two years ago, I started a Christmas quilt. It is a lovely quilt, or at least it will be if I ever finish it.
That is it. Five things. If I can finish five things this year I will no longer belong to the void. The heavens will open and angels will weep. But seriously, I will feel really freakin' happy and who knows maybe I will even learn some things along the way. I will keep you posted.
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