Home › Blog › Page 432

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

A quick story I’d like to share if I may.  When I was studying Western philosophy at Georgetown University in the late 1970s, I had a discussion with a fellow graduate student whose understanding of the subject was far superior to my own, during which he asked me to name my own personal philosopher.  I responded with the name Alan Watts, to which he replied, “That’s like saying (then female ice skating great) Peggy Fleming is your favorite ice hockey team.”

I confess that I was slighted.  In my mind, thinkers who inspire have more meaning than those who confuse.  As it turns out, the only good answers in this guy’s mind were Hegel and Heidegger.  Have you ever tried to make your way through even a few paragraphs of either?

Here’s a talk by Alan Watts.  Try to listen to this and come away unmoved.

Tagged with:

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

When we stand on a beach and look out at the open ocean, it’s easy to get a sense for the utter vastness there; it seems limitless, and thus perhaps impervious to the injuries we’re inflicting on it.

This image made by Alan Nieman in 2003 casts the subject in a far different light.

Our resources are finite, and must be treated as such.

Tagged with:

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

News flash: There are no subjects on which you’re not allowed to ask questions.

If you think the Earth is flat, or that climate change is a hoax, or that COVID-19 was a government plot, or that Trump is an honest and effective servant of the American people, or that Biden is the leader of a crime family, or that the proliferation of assault weapons makes our society safer, you’re a fool, but by all means, ask as many questions on these topics as you wish.

Tagged with: , , , , ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Imagine for a moment that your job is writing copy for the right-wing “news” outlets, and that you are continually bombarded with unfolding stories like the one at left.

You have choices, but none is really appealing.  You can simply refuse to cover the U.S. economy, but considering all this is at the top of your viewers’ concerns, that doesn’t seem reasonable.

How about those Dodgers?

 

Tagged with:

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Each one of us makes a difference.  How we live our lives and do what’s right has a huge influence on the well-being of humankind.

And keep in mind that the battle for a sustainable civilization is becoming more interesting with each passing day.  Temperatures are rising, and so are hate and ignorance.  If there were ever a time in which apathy or selfishness were acceptable, this most certainly is not it.

Tagged with: , , , ,

by Lillian ConnorsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Just as sustainability efforts on Earth aim to balance present needs with future generations’ well-being, space sustainability seeks to utilize the space environment to meet the current demands of society without compromising the needs of future generations.

As human activities in space expand, from satellite deployments to the prospect of colonizing other celestial bodies, the need for environmentally conscious practices in space exploration and utilization has become increasingly apparent. (more…)

Tagged with: , ,

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

If humans evolved from monkeys, then why do monkeys still exist?

According to science communicator Forrest Valkai, aka “The Renegade Science Teacher,” this is an extremely common question, and, in response, he provides this fabulous video.

It’s a great reminder that the world would be a much better place if we all understood science and used it to manage how we should live together.

Tagged with:

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

An old college friend and I were talking the other day, and the topic turned to American politics in general and Trump in particular.

At a certain point he said, “Ya know, the most alarming thing about this whole mess is that you have tens of millions of people who simply can’t see Trump for the lying sociopath he is.”

Nailed it.

Tagged with:

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Gun violence is an epidemic in this country, but there is a lighter side to all this.

Apparently, it’s opening day of the cucumber hunting season.

Tagged with:

by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

When the former president retweets the home address of Barack and Michelle Obama, or when he suggests that special prosecutor Jack Smith should be “put out to rest,” it seems obvious that he represents a danger to our society.

Yes, the actual amount of pro-Trump violence has fallen since the insurrection, presumably because even the most deranged of these people has the sense to avoid lengthy prison terms, but by no means has it vanished entirely.

For right now at least. the issue is not so much actually violence as it is threats.  As discussed here, threats of violence are plaguing the prosecutors working on the multiple lawsuits and investigations of the already indicted Donald Trump.

Lurking around the nation are tens of millions of armed Trump supporters, many of whom are waiting, some more patiently than others, for their leader to call for the next uprising.  Similarly, there are members of the judiciary who understand their responsibility to prevent a blood-bath before it happens.

Tagged with: