Like the illusion of Wall Street, with its vast and powerful investment banks, now shuttered, China too is an illusion perpetuated by the Globalists that gave us the 15,000 mile Caesar salad, poisoned cat food and lead based paint on babies' pacifiers. Like the illusion that money would come from thin air to always push housing prices higher, China has spent a generation pursuing its illusion. Pursuing an unattainable dream to be like the West, while 6000 years of its carefully shepherded top soil blows into the sea.
Joined: Jun 13, 2007 Posts: 3909 Location: Minniesotuh
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:54 am Post subject: Re: Being informed is too depressing for me!
Ham, you know about peak and post peak oil. IMHO, you are doing better than a great many others. Yes, it is depressing-I am suffering occasionally from depression and nightmares. But, then, I want you to remember that there are a great many others who haven't got a clue, and wouldn't recognise a clue if it jumped up and slapped them upside their empty little heads:
Life is tough; It's tougher if you're stupid
Recently, when I went to McDonald's I saw on the menu that you could have an order of 6, 9 or 12 Chicken McNuggets. I asked for a half dozen nuggets. "We don't have half dozen nuggets," said the teenager at the counter. "You don't?" I replied. "We only have six, nine, or twelve," was the reply. "So I can't order a half dozen nuggets, but I can order six?" "That's right." So I shook my head and ordered six McNuggets.
I was checking out at the local Wal-Mart with just a few items and the lady behind me put her things on the belt close to mine. I picked up one of those "dividers" that they keep by the cash register and placed it between our things so they wouldn't get mixed. After the girl had scanned all of my items, she picked up the "divider", looking it all over for the bar code so she could scan it. Not finding the bar code she said to me, "Do you know how much this is?" I said to her "I've changed my mind, I don't think I'll buy that today." She said "OK," and I paid her for the things and left. She had no clue to what had just happened.
A lady at work was seen putting a credit card into her floppy drive and pulling it out very quickly. When I inquired as to what she was doing, she said she was shopping on the Internet and they kept asking for a credit card number, so she was using the ATM "thing y."
I recently saw a distraught young lady weeping beside her car. "Do you need some help?" I asked. She replied, "I knew I should have replaced the battery to this remote door unlocker. Now I can't get into my car. Do you think they (pointing to a distant convenience store) would have a battery to fit this?" "Hmmm, I dunno. Do you have an alarm, too?" I asked. "No, just this remote thingy," she answered, handing it and the car keys to me. As I took the key and manually unlocked the door, I replied, "Why don't you drive over there and check about th e batteries. It's a long walk."
Several years ago, we had an Intern who was none too swift. One day she was typing and turned to a secretary and said, "I'm almost out of typing paper. What do I do?" "Just use copier machine paper," the secretary told her. With that, the intern took her last remaining blank piece of paper, put it on the photocopier and proceeded to make five "blank" copies.
My neighbor works in the operations department in the central office of a large bank. Employees in the field call him when they have problems with their computers. One night he got a call from a woman in one of the branch banks who had this question: "I've got smoke coming from the back of my terminal. Do you guys have a fire downtown?"
A mother calls 911 very worried asking the dispatcher if she needs to take h er kid to the emergency room, the kid was eating ants. The dispatcher tells her to give the kid some Benadryl and it should be fine . The mother says, I just gave him some ant killer..... Dispatcher: Rush him in to emergency room!
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:29 pm Post subject: Re: Being informed is too depressing for me!
Hey,
I'm in my 30's too. I still hear the words from Tom Brown Jr echo through my head and they give me comfort (can order his books at Amazon.com). It feels good to hear (and know) the truth that comes from living (or literally growing up) in the wilderness apart from this insane civilization. I also get a great deal of confort, probably much more so from knowing that I have a garden, and potatoes growing. I know I may not live, but at least it won't be from starvation. Although I'm not so worried about that. Life comes and it goes. We're here once and then we're not. There is no death and there are no deaths. Life is about change. We are who we are. What bothers me is the upset. The upset about civilization and where we are. It's like we have the blinders on and no amount of evidence will change that situation. We just keep plugging along and can only play one game. It all makes no sense, its senseless, it makes no sense to play. Although my greatest happiness is meeting other people who are peak oil aware and seeing what they are doing. Though they are few and far between. The rest are watching TV (we don't have one) or watching videos (we don't have time to) or reading the newspaper (we don't subscribe). So in a sense I am ignorant, and in a sense I am not. Go figure...
Joined: Apr 12, 2007 Posts: 1198 Location: Central NC
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:29 am Post subject: Re: Being informed is too depressing for me!
If I might add to Ferretlovers list;
My wife used to work for MBNA. She took a call from an irate woman who didn't recognize a $29 charge on her monthly statement. To quote the woman "I never shopped at Late Fee".
Another woman who didn't recognize the payment amount on her bill stated "someone is fraudulently paying my bill!"
Two days ago on Yahoo this appeared regarding the Minneapolis bridge collapse. . ."federal investigators determine bridge had structural weaknesses." No kidding, really?
Joined: Aug 04, 2005 Posts: 429 Location: Traded the man in front of the tank for a cat playing the banjo
Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:59 am Post subject: Re: Being informed is too depressing for me!
Ferretlover you made my day!!!!! That is one of the best posts I've ever seen on the internet, thanks!!!! _________________ When someone interprets as derogatory almost anything that is said about him (or about groups with whom he identifies) we conclude that he has inferiority feelings or low self-esteem.
Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: Being informed is too depressing for me!
Ferretlover wrote:
Life is tough; It's tougher if you're stupid
I'd like to add my appreciation for this post!
Kinda reassuring in a way. By simply having enough metal capacity to understand peak oil, you will probably survive the die off by default while the hoards sit outside Jack in the box waiting for the burgers to show up.
And once the water supply is dirty, contaminated or poisoned do you think these people will have the good sense to try and find fresher supply? Such as water in boiler ect? Hellz no.
As crazy as it sounds, I think I'd survive a fast die off better then I'd survive a long emergency.
Oh to the OP. I disagree with savethehumans. You do get used to it I think. I'm not myself religious in the slightest , but the Serenity Prayer with the 'god' bits stripped is just great advice for life and peak aware people.
accept the things you cannot change;
change the things you can;
Have the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.
Because, life can suck, it's temporary and once ya numbers up, that's it. Right now you are living in the richest time, in one of the richest county's in the world! It will never be this good again. Take a step back, look at your computer and take a second to marvel at the technology that allows you to discuss your worries with like mined people world wide. You know your days of comfort and having a safety net are numbered, so make the most of it while it's still here. You might as well, if you don't someone else will for ya.
bart made a great point, dude people throughout history have been getting shafted. Hell, there is still extreme suffering and poverty in the world right now. Just be fully greatful you got though the first 30 years of your life without having to deal with this crap.
Joined: Nov 28, 2004 Posts: 12730 Location: Neither Here Nor There
Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 4:34 pm Post subject: Re: Being informed is too depressing for me!
Well it looks like your 'depressed' thread took a funny turn. How about this one:
"(1996, Texas) 45 year old Amy Brasher was arrested in San Antonio after a mechanic reported to police that 18 packages of marijuana were packed in the engine compartment of the car which she had brought to the mechanic for an oil change. According to police, Brasher later said that she didn't realize that the mechanic would have to raise the hood to change the oil."
Whenever you're feeling blue, just look up Darwin Awards on the internet.
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:36 pm Post subject: Re: Being informed is too depressing for me!
Keeping a sense of humor may get us through hard times. Maybe the thing we should remember is that we have lived in one of the richest nations and periods and history and all things must pass.
Joined: Oct 16, 2005 Posts: 233 Location: Australia
Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 7:01 am Post subject: Re: Being informed is too depressing for me!
Quote:
"To be truly happy one must live life in the absolute present, enjoy the moment to its fullest, make no judgment of the past and not be concerned about the future.
To have a life of true meaning one must constantly assess what is meaningful, often wallowing in the past about the opportunities missed or misjudged actions and obsessing about the future.."
This is a slightly edited version of a quote from the TV show Heroes Series 1 Episode 18 made by the character called Mr. Linderman talking to Nathan Petrelli. Of course it was probably originally penned by some notable philosopher... Who ever it was I thought it was very apt for the world we live in today.
Do you want the path of happiness or the path of meaning?
Joined: Aug 03, 2006 Posts: 4338 Location: Graceland
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 9:43 am Post subject: Re: Being informed is too depressing for me!
I think having a dark sense of humor is a tremendous aid in understanding PO and not letting it drive you crazy.
One of the more humorous mental images I get is when I imagine the alternate future scenarios of Mad Max and Little House on the Prairie. Somehow a few of the Mad Max characters always seem to pop up in the Little House on the Prairie scene...and that's just pure mayhem.
Joined: Mar 28, 2005 Posts: 399 Location: Northern California, USA
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:46 pm Post subject: Re: Being informed is too depressing for me!
I was depressed about PO but then I decided to start an organic garden in my back yard. I totally geeked out on all the permaculture books and suddenly everyone around me is saying: "Wow! This computer nerd who never sees the sunlight decided to become a farmer! He's interesting!". I even have something to talk about at dinner parties now that doesn't cause people's eyes to glaze over. I also feel that I am much better prepared for the future now. Every week I work more on learning and applying sustainable organic farming techniques that re-use what the land gives me. I've already had a few harvest dinners from the enormous amount of food I was able to produce.
Joined: Mar 12, 2007 Posts: 1009 Location: As close as I can get to the beginning of the pipe.
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:48 am Post subject: Re: Being informed is too depressing for me!
Funny Ferret, thanks. I am looking for humor after reading "The Road" last night. {Do NOT read this book if you are feeling particularly gloomy.} Here are some fantastic uplifting ideas on how to solve our energy problems, some of the best quoted below (stolen from FoolYap on MF). Aaron can dispense with PO.com now, we're saved!
From: Dwayne Fries, Columbus, OH
Date: September 24, 2007
Your view: I have been working on the problem of renewable energies since 1999, long before the gas prices got out of control. I have designed two unique features to a solar collector dish that make it far more economical and far more powerful. I was working on putting it into full production when I came up with another idea that was far more powerful. I have come up with a design of a new devise that is much like a microchip. It is very tiny and will draw in heat from the air to convert it into electricity, just like creating minature lightening bolts. I do not have the full design quite yet, but most of the design work is done. Within twenty years, I believe that there will be no need for batteries or plugging anything into a wall. Every kind of electronic devise or anything else that runs off of any type of power supply will simply use the energy that is already in the heat of the air to provide needed energy for all devises. Cell phones will simply work without needing recharging. Cars will run without gasoline. I am very close to having a full design laid out and will be able to start production of the devise within another 5 to 8 years, I am confident.
Quote:
From: Christina Wimberly, Rome, NY
Date: September 20, 2007
Your view: Honestly, I believe that in the year 2020, America and many more developed countries will be running on things as simple as salt water and paper! It sounds ludacris at the moment, however, now it is quite possible. I mean, I just read an article about the new nano battery that is as thin as a sheet of paper and can potentially serve for better purpose than the regular old double A....or any other type for that matter. Also, saltwater, some super smart guy actually figured out a way to combust it using radiowaves. True story and our future! It really is as simple as that.
Quote:
From: frances durand, lincoln, NB
Date: September 20, 2007
Your view: MY REMARCK IS ABOUT TODAYS STORY ABOUT PAPER BATTERYS. IT IS A GOOD IDEA, BUT LIKE ALL OTHER GOOD INTENTIONS OF INVENTIONS THEY END UP BEING USED FOR EVIL. CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW FURURE TERROIST COULD USE A DEVICE LIKE THAT WITH PLASTIC EXPLOSIVES, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DETECT. I AM NOT A FOOL I LOVE LIVING IN THIS AGE OF EASE, ALL THE ASVANTAGES WITH LIVE WITH, I WOULD BE LOST WITHOUTH MY TV, CDS.COMPUTER ECT. BUT I WOULD HOPE THE ERRORS OF OUR PAST WOULD NOT BE REPEATED.
Quote:
From: tony simonelli, lawrence, MA
Date: September 15, 2007
Your view: They have recently showed how water can burn hotter then the sun and can power a car. It would be a true testimit to how horrible human kind is if this fuel source is not made public. This is the stuff of science fiction turning science fact. Big oil will probably fight this discovery and i would not be suprised if the government does as well. They will say well it will cost jobs. THE HELL WITH JOBS! WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FREE RENEWABLE AND POLUTION FREE FUEL. I hope we embrace this new tecnology. It would be dispicable if it was not allowed all in the name of profit. If you want to verify this discovery please search on the web.
Quote:
From: Brian Fultz, Burleson, TX
Date: September 13, 2007
Your view: I recently read an article that talked about growing crops in sky scrapers using solar power. Attach an ethanol plant to that sky scraper and you have a clean, renewable, and self sufficient energy source. Energy crisis solved.
Quote:
From: Seth Connell, Pullman, USA
Date: September 10, 2007
Your view: There are many options open to us as far as where we will be able to obtain energy by the time of 2020; it is up to us to research and develop these resources so that they will be readily available to the public.
I feel that by 2020, with the exception of the little amount of fossil fuels left, the rest of our power is realistically going to come from solar cells and wind-mill farms. There is already a big move in the industrial sector towards expanding the use of these types of power generationg and it has proven efficient enough to continue the expansion of these technologies.
Now, if I was to throw out a very inprobable alternative to solar, wind, fuel-cell, and nuclear power it would be this:
In the past few years there has been a breakthrough in two seperate fields of science. The first is the teleportation of light from point A to point B over the distance of a half meter. The second breakthrough is the perfect mirror developed at MIT. This mirror reflects 100% of the light it interacts with. My idea integrates both of these innovations into a device that could potentially create an endless power source.
Quote:
Take the light transportation device, and coat the entire thing in the perfect mirror material. Place the transportation device inside of a large sphere, whose inside is also coverred in the perfect mirror material. Then place that sphere into a large pool of water. Once you transport the light into that sphere, it will continually bounce around creating heat, which will in turn heat up the sphere, creating steam to rise from the pool. This is, in effect, an endless supply of steam energy. Like I said, it is a very inprobable idea.
Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: Being informed is too depressing for me!
The only thing that could possibly have made the end of The Road more depressing is if the guy that found the boy said to him as he unzipped his pants, "Today just ain't your lucky day."
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