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DAnneMarc: Yes my phone is plugged in...and I have gotten calls only from people I know...since from last week. I don't have an answering machine...just those cheap little caller ID boxes from AT&T you can buy to plug it in between the phone and the line. When I was getting calls...I'd just look at the numbers and verify they were, or were not, from someone I know. I know that there are special phones that not only have caller id but also you can program them to block calls. They won't even make an audible ring. Yes, I too was on a Do Not Call list but that really doesn't do much good. They still call.
Wow! 4-6 calls a day! I have never had it quite that bad...living up here in Gumbyville, Montana. But I still get knocks on my door from people wanting to sell meat! Go figure! ;-}
Palindromedary ~ Really? Over a week of sweet silence? Unbelievable. Are you sure your phone is plugged in? I too have caller ID and screen my calls and haven't notice any let up in telemarketing calls. I'd say I get 4 - 6 a day. I'm even on the so called 'no call' list. Tell me, do you have an answering machine added to your call screening? For me, caller ID isn't enough. Too may of these callers, friends, and family have 'private' or 'unavailable' numbers; yet, almost any commercial call will inevitably fail to leave a message on your answering machine. Unfortunately, they still manage to wake me up in the morning or during a nap. That really bothers me. It should be illegal.
Aliceinwonderland ~ I concur. I too learn much from Thom, you, and everyone else here.
As far as cost of labor and how it relates to population density, I believe what could be the underlying factor is the law of supply and demand. If we factor supply and demand into the population equation we see that population is somewhat self regulating. As the population goes up the demand for labor and wages goes down. Consequently, if population goes up so does the demand for food. As a result food prices go up. With high food prices and low wages people have no choice but to have less kids. Therefore, population goes down. It's kind of a feedback loop.
What throws everything off is when the food supply is artificially increased with black magic. (ie petroleum based fertilizers.) Then you get the whole world population addicted even deeper into petroleum. Fortunately, to those in the know, Hemp is a perfect substitute for fertilizer as well because in crop rotation it is the perfect soil builder.
Hemp truly is a God send. Thanks to it, when the time comes, we can wean society off of petroleum without having to shoulder some massive population holocaust.
In the long run no parent likes to watch their children suffer. When people see the real cost of food versus their stagnant wages I have every confidence that they will voluntarily seek responsible planned parenthood. I have every faith that in time the world population will adjust to its natural equilibrium with the environment. The current aberration is a result of rapid technological progress mixed with ignorance, inexperience, irresponsibility, and hesitant social planning from governmental representatives who fear losing their popularity. Like we have witnessed in China, sometimes obvious problems have to run to term to gain popular support in dealing with. Hopefully, China will serve an adequate example so that the same problem doesn't have to occur here before we address it properly.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/06/technology/selling-secrets-of-phone-us...
Anyone notice the new Google TOS? I wonder how many people are just going to go along with a wide open dossier of themselves for advertizers, and other undesirables, to feast on?
I've noticed that the almost daily pest calls that ring my house has been very silent lately...like nothing in over a week. Could it be that my caller ID is finally working..that making a concerted effort and never answering my phone unless I recognize the number has made these scammers give up? Or, perhaps maybe it has to do with several recent crack downs (ie: law enforcement shut downs and stiff legal penalties against these scammers). Whatever, I'm lovin' the peace and quiet..finally!
P.S. Whoops! I meant the 22nd Century! Sorry...
DAnneMarc, thank you for David Wong's ruthlessly honest, insightful observations. Yes, there's an awful lot of truth in there! At my own defense however, I will clarify that, regarding overpopulation, what comes to my mind is not the assumption that poor people (especially black or brown poor people) are the dispensible ones, those who wouldn't be here if not for out-of-control population growth. My thinking on this subject goes more like: "What contributes to high birth rates in poor countries?" and "How can we bring down the birth rate worldwide?" and "Where do we all go from here?" For thinking along those lines, regarding overpopulation, I make no apology.
Last Thursday I heard Thom make the point that, unlikely though it is, if everyone worldwide limited themselves to having one child, the human population would be at much healthier numbers by (if I recall correctly) the 21st Century. He also pointed out that population density is a major factor in the cost of labor. Makes sense to me. I've learned so much from that guy!
Anyway Marc, Mr. Wong's article is brilliant. He highlights some ugly, sobering truths, presented in a humorous light. Well done, and thanks for sharing! - Aliceinwonderland
Loren Bliss's last post concludes with the rhetorical question: "...Are they ['they' being the power eliute] deliberately trashing the planet to make it more readily inhabitable by some alien, probably insectiod species?"
Hey Mr. B, look who now occupies most seats of Congress! - AIW
I think I know why this fiasco continues to this day, check this out. http://youtu.be/0Jd-iaYLO1A
Aliceinwonderland ~ On the subject of Kend. "Duh, hello..." suits him fine; and, is hilarious!
However, all Kend is really doing is rationalizing his lot in life. He is cherry picking (making up) facts to suit his oh so comfortable paradigm. In his defense, isn't that human nature. We all tend to rationalize our stupid, irresponsible, or embarrassing behaviors and actions we make. Recently I ran across this article: "5 Popular Beliefs That Are Holding Humanity Back"
http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-popular-beliefs-that-are-holding-humanity-back/
It's a hilariously true analysis of how we rationalize all kinds of mischief, from bad behaviour to murder. The mind is a powerful thing and the simple fact of the matter is that reality is nothing more than what we believe it is. What we chose to believe becomes true to us.
Hilarious, but true! That describes Kend--and in one way or another all of us--perfectly.
Kend, if I were you I'd give it up before digging myself deeper in the ideological hole. So your claim is that there's no money in denying climate change is human-caused? Are you kidding? Lordie, lordie... - AIW
BALONEY, Kend! I can't believe how myopic you are on these issues. It's not all about money; it's about available resources on the planet. If every human being on Planet Earth had enough money to buy a "winter home" and a "summer home" and all that crap, it would be UNSUSTAINABLE because of the planet's limited resources. Far as the Arctic is concerned, what you and other deniers are telling us is polar opposite (pun intended!) to what Thom and those climatologists are saying. (Gee I wonder... who am I supposed to believe? Ha-HAH!) As for the fossil fuel business making our lives so much "easier", don't make me laugh Kend. When automobiles were first invented, they were designed to run on fossil fuel not because it was the only option or even the best option. They were designed that way (surprise!) because it was more profitable for the oligarchs, and something to monopolize! And in the crony capitalist's realm of reality, my friend, monopoly is key.
I don't begrudge anyone pride in their accomplishments. However I hope you'll forgive me if I don't happen to share your affection for the fossil fuel industry. Thanks to fossil fuel, we have wars being fought over oil, and we have this big-ass oligarchal fascist empire built around it, one that holds an iron fist over our wallets while massacring anyone who gets in their way. All the while, destroying the environment directly linked to human survival and our ultimate destiny as a species. I kid you not, mister, it's that huge. In their relentless pursuit of more oil, these fascists de-stabilize international dynamics worldwide, very dangerous considering how many countries now posess nuclear weapons. They do it by invading and occupying soverign nations too small and weak to fight back, killing and plundering with impunity in the pursuit of oil, while thumbing their snouts at international law. Yet as history has shown, and as Thom has pointed out repeatedly, empires get away with this crap only for awhile, until everyone has had enough and finally gets it. Historically, that seems to have been the pattern. Runs in eighty-year cycles. So I'm optimistic the majority will prevail once again. Eventually the "masses" take back what's rightfully theirs. I'd like to think so anyway. Hope I live long enough to see it happen again. Where there's life there's hope, right Kend? Have a lovely day and tah-tah. - Aliceinwonderland
Ok DAnne, lets just say I am wrong. Why after spending trillions on global warming, oh sorry climate change, have the tempatures not come down. I can post just as many studies that say the oppisite of what you post. One of the problems is there is no money in saying there is no warming.
Me a writer. I can't even spell.
Kend ~ Wrong again, Einstein! Oh, how you love to make stuff up to defend the undefendable. You should become a fiction writer. You definitely have the talent.
http://www.climatechange2013.org/images/uploads/WGIAR5-SPM_Approved27Sep2013.pdf
So you do get it. As you've succinctly stated, psychological thought, the creator of all these symptoms, is the problem and cannot resolve them. Keeping psychological thought active will only create more symptoms.
So you do know what happens In the absence of psychological thought. Not just greed but all the emotions envy, etc. and the so called positive emotions associated with psychological thought end. Compassion blossoms or compassion is. As you know, you don't become the Buddha, Jesus, Lao-Tzu etc., you become dialindicator whole, unfragmented, a steward of the planet, as you are meant to be. As we are all meant to be.
Thanks for the dialogue. I have enjoyed meeting you.
Thank you dail.
Alice where do I start. No one needs more than one home. But if I have the money why not. its not stuff it a lifestyle one I earned. It's not unsustainable if you can afford it. It is nobody's business but mine what I buy. Why do you and Thom care?
False claim about Arctic ice? It's a fact. Don't forget I live here all the science here is telling us the Arctic is increasing. The UN last report shows us there is no Global warming. I guess sceince is wrong and Al Gore and the hundreds of millions he made are right. in the last 10 years it went from "global warming" to "climate change" and now it's "CO2 levels". What's next. The whole movie Gasland has been proven wrong. What else would a logical person believe.
Yes many years ago when I finished high school I worked on the rigs and in the oil business for about 10 years and I am very proud of it. but you don't have to thank me for making your life so much easier. I was paided very well.
Thought indeed... Is it? "I think therefore I am"(Decartes) or is it? " Before Abraham I was" (Jesus). Is it? I am therefore I can think!
I stated my understanding of the seeds of greed as a reflex to the fear emotion. It is one of the places fear goes when it moves from its innate even useful state into its thought based state. Greed is a pyscological place where fear can be givin past and future. Unless you are thirsty, starving, cold or sick there is no scarcity, yet thought based in fear can project a sense of scarity into abundance and obscure the present moment entirely. In the present (the"Before, I Was"). In the I am, thought is freed to here and now. Innate thought, abundant with practical uses.
Comppassion did not die on a cross. It dies on a cross on a cross we all bare, (psycological time based thought). Comppassion arrises in presence. Thinking and doing will not solve climate change or any other ill. If they are what created them. Being is comppassion and visa/versa. It is this wolf we must learn to feed. Thanks for asking.
FYI
"Most of the key actors in the US Congress and the Senate involved in the shutdown debate are controlled by powerful corporate lobby groups including, of course, Wall Street. The latter are those which ultimately decide on the outcome. They are not only in a position to influence the results of the Congressional process, they also have foreknowledge of the nature and timing of key decisions and they are in a position to reap multibillion dollar speculative gains in the derivative markets by speculating on policy outcomes of which they have advanced knowledge."
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-shutdown-of-the-u-s-government-and-debt...
It is a more conspiratorial way of looking at the kabuki theatre called "the shutdown". Precedent suggests it is intra-elite squabbling that will suddenly vanish at the last moment as a deal is struck. However, I would not put it beyond the neoliberal mentality of the banksters and their lawmaker lackeys to manufacture a crisis as a harbinger of even more extreme kleptocratic policies.
Yes Palin I do agree but there is very few parasites most business owners are just hard working "C" students trying to make a living.
What does it matter if they inherit the money. That's no bodies business but theirs. I still can't get over that you tax dead people down there. How low can you go.
dialindicator, does thought play a part in greed? or put another way, without thought being present would greed occur? what about compassion? does thought play a part in compassion? or does compassion arise only in the absence of thought? is compassion necessary to end human behaviour that is contributing to climate change, to the pollution of the air, the water, the soil, to the slavery of children, to war, to government gridlock, to every conflict small or large that exists today, to the pursuit of pleasure, happiness, and other positive feelings no matter the cost and to the melting of the permafrost that will release enormous amounts of methane into the atmosphere?
Or should we stick to the tried and failed? International protocols, like the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 to reduce carbon emissions that have steadily risen year after year with 2012 being a record breaker, legislation, coercion, voluntary participation (the Canadian Liberal government of Jean Chretien's suggestion to business concerning CO2 emission reduction), moral suasion. All of them are external attempts to control and change others. TRIED AND FAILED. All symptom solving approaches as well.
The government of China passing the one child per family law to decrease population growth which then saw many parents abort female fetuses which then created a large imbalance between the number of males and females which then created many social problems now that they have come of age and there are no women to marry for millions of men. This is a typical outcome when doing symptom solving. It's beyond my ability to imagine what problems would occur if the entire world adopted this approach to limit population growth.
This is why I am only interested in problem solving. All these symptoms have at least one thing in common - thought. dialindicator, this is how the Koch brothers, me, you and global climate change are related. Interested in further exploration and observation?
Kend ~ Whatever happened to your thick skin. I must have hit a nerve. First of all, I didn't call you selfish, greedy, foolish, ignorant, or short sided--you did. I used those terms to describe the ancestors of you and I. I can't blame you or myself for making the decision to come here. We are the victims and have to play the cards we have been dealt. I'm glad to see you have managed to deal yourself a full house. Kudos.
As usual you are reading what you want to in what I write and say. First of all greed and motivation are two different things. Motivation helps one succeed by fair and just means. Greed drives one to over succeed. by any means.
Culture is not created by desire. I have no idea where you got such a ridiculous definition of the word. Let me provide a dictionary definition.
My definition is "The total life ways of a group of people."
Culture is something that evolves over generations and is unique to every isolated group of people. It is a beautiful thing that you cannot buy or replace. Many ancestors paid with their lives--through hit and miss--to learn the lessons passed down in cultures. Throwing a culture away is forgetting the sacrifices and struggles of your ancestors. It is like intentionally losing the unwritten history of your forebearers; thus, dooming yourself to repeat all the mistakes and lessons already learned over hundreds of centuries which is stored in their culture. I call that foolish and short sided all right! Insane would work too!
Doing what is best for you family is merely common sense responsibility. What, you want a medal or something? Taking care of the workers who made your business a success makes you some kind of a hero? Maybe we should nominate Kend for the Nobel Prize? You may be a wonderful person Kend, but nothing you've mentioned has anything to do with not being selfish, greedy, ignorant, foolish, or short-sided. Not that you are, by any means. Its just that nothing you've said proves that you aren't.
Lighten up buddy. I meant no personal knock against you. I was just trying to answer your question as to why it is so important to not lose a culture and why people over here are not necessarily better off than their fellow countrymen that they left behind. I don't think you have a good grasp of what a functional culture really is or how really important it can be. You are not alone by any means. Most of the people in North America share your handicap. They, like you and I, have never had any real culture to speak of; and, your personal exposure to any authentic functional culture is limited. Certainly your understanding of Sociological terms are limited. Sorry if I'm talking over your head. I've had the advantage to study these concepts for almost 30 years. Trust me, an authentic functional culture that is hundreds of generations old is priceless. Being part of one could save and enhance your life every single day.
They say you don't know what you have until it is gone. I guess the contrary is also true. If you've never had it, you never know what you're missing.
Palindromedary ~ Your welcome! My pleasure!
dialindicator ~ Strange, I often wonder the same thing myself. Catch anything today? Apparently, your time was better spent than mine.
Bob Hearns ~ Apparently not!
Kend, for some reason you and I have been taught there is a future and that it owes us something based on our past. You are not greedy and the world is greatful for your hard work.