Tag Archive | "media"
Rally time
It's rally time on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average eked out a positive day for the eighth day in a row to hit a year-long high amidst the longest streak since April of 2007. Before you get too excited about this bit of green-shoots news from the boys on murderer's row, let's consider the cause and consequences.
Continue reading...Celebration and cognitive dissonance (but not celebrating cognitive dissonance)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
A reminder about online comments is given by John Michael Greer in this week's version of his blog. His primary point, that our information age is actually dependent on physical substrate, reminds me of the cognitive dissonance running so deeply among the American populace. Example A is the magical thinking that we'll create new alternatives to oil, despite the absence of any such alternatives so far, even when the price of oil skyrocketed to $147.27. Example B is the magical thinking that we need to keep the cars running at all costs ... which means, of course, at every cost to the planet and even our own species. Example C is the magical thinking that our economy is necessary to our survival, when in fact it is a grave threat to our survival.
Continue reading...Media alert
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The industrial economy is slipping through our fingers like mercury from a broken thermometer. Facing a rapid terminal decline in crude oil -- the lifeblood of western civilization -- there is nothing you, me, or President Obama can do to save the industrial economy. But as we near the end of the industrial economy, complete with the collapse of our fuel-, food- and water-delivery systems, individuals can make arrangements to thrive in the post-carbon era.
Continue reading...Three peas in a pod: Osama bin Laden, Rush Limbaugh, and me
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
For the first time in my memory, we have a major media figure pining for the failure of a president, and therefore the country. And, also for the first time in my memory, I agree with Rush. The economic collapse of this country promises a renaissance for non-human species and non-industrial cultures.
Continue reading...Time to throw in the towel?
Sunday, January 4, 2009
I used to talk, and write, about peak oil with considerable urgency. But my enthusiasm is waning. Perhaps it's time to throw in the proverbial towel, give up the proverbial ghost, switch proverbial horses, or ... well, insert your own tired cliché here.
Continue reading...Engaging collapse
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The second reminder appeared in the cover story of the local counter-culture rag. It's a compelling story, told sufficiently well to evoke tears as I read it. It's a reminder that we can do many things to help others and ourselves as the world comes down around us.
Continue reading...Do the media get it, or not?
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
It seems neither the Fed nor the Treasury Department cannot stop sunshine with an umbrella, much less interrupt the relentless tsunami of dire economic news.
Continue reading...Talk radio: get it while you can
Thursday, May 29, 2008
As you can imagine, Heller doesn't believe in peak oil, so he's all set to grill Alten about his "ludicrous" novel. I think I'm supposed to provide air support.
Continue reading...Settling into the new ‘hood
Friday, March 28, 2008
The houses predate the advent of modern "conveniences," too. Life without toasters, blenders, microwave ovens, electric razors, hair dryers, curling irons, and electric alarm clocks means there's one electrical outlet in nearly every room. But none in the bathrooms. And because the house dates to 1938, and hasn't been cleaned or otherwise maintained since then, several of the outlets don't work.
Continue reading...U.S. economy locked in spiral of death
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Cheap oil allowed us to build the suburbs and treat our houses as ATMs. Thus, cheap oil allowed the fiesta of economic growth and the packaging of bank loans into increasingly complex bundles of surreality. When reality bitch-slaps the banks, it's really peak oil doing the slapping. When banks fail, or are baled out by ... well, you and me ... the failures are induced by peak oil and the "baling out" is a tax on you and me.
Continue reading...
Thursday, August 27, 2009
2 Comments