We wish to pursue the truth no matter where it leads. But to find the truth, we need imagination and skepticism both. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Broaden The Circle |
The Phone Keeps Ringing | |
2020 | Stay Gentle |
2019 | Immoral #45 |
2018 | From My Soapbox |
2017 | The Single Most Effective Thing For Health |
2016 | A Trumpet Solo |
2015 | Potential Is A Heavy Burden |
2014 | Fear Not, Weep Not |
2013 | Half Way There |
2012 | Sacrificed Any Lately? |
2011 | The Value Of One’s Character |
2010 | Intervals |
On Being Human | |
Non-predictive Emergence | |
Events | |
Bodily Functions | |
Standing Thoughts | |
Sent Home Is Better Than Fixed | |
Archive for the ‘Environment’ Category
We Need Both
Posted in Economics, Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Imagination, Philosophy, Quotes, Skepticism, Truth on June 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Get Outdoors More
Posted in Education, Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Bernard of Clairvaux, Education, Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, Stones, Trees on May 8, 2022| 2 Comments »
The trees and stones will teach you what you never learn from the masters. | |
— Bernard of Clairvaux | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Re-institute The Wall Between Church And State |
Once In My Life | |
2020 | Early Knowledge |
Seen Any Messages Lately? | |
2019 | I Don’t Think We’ll Be Serving Them Cake |
2018 | New And Old |
2017 | Ever |
2016 | At The Center |
2015 | True Value In Life |
2014 | A Potential To Be Concerned |
2013 | Fine No More |
2012 | Have You Checked Your Height Lately? |
2011 | Are You Convinced? |
Looking For Solutions To Climate Change
Posted in Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Attitude, Climate Change, Difficult Tasks, Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, Successful Outcomes, William James on April 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome. | |
— William James | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Our Identity Crisis Continues |
There’s No Hiding Place | |
2020 | In Need Of Concerted Action |
2019 | Anything / Everything |
2018 | Touching A Nerve |
Good Fences Make Good Neighbors | |
I Have Realities In My Past | |
2017 | Did I See You In Chapter 13? |
2016 | As I Recall |
2015 | Less And More Irritation |
2014 | That Marvelous Feeling |
2013 | Exceptional |
2012 | A Wild And Crazy Believer |
2011 | A Lack Of Scarcity |
The Joy Of Prevention | |
This Dot – Our Home
Posted in Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Earth, Environment, Philosophy, Planet, Quotes, Science on April 13, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Consider again that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every “superstar”, every “supreme leader”, every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there — on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. | |
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. | |
Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. | |
The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand. | |
It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | The Imposition Of Position |
Rainin’ Fire In The Sky | |
2020 | Stand Up! |
Crowd Sourced Scouting Report | |
2019 | Only One Direction |
2018 | Respect Is Long Gone |
2017 | Dream Of Dreamers |
2016 | Dear Automakers |
2015 | And Some Not So Brave Too |
2014 | In My Lifetime… |
2013 | Democracy |
2012 | Borrowed Expectations |
2011 | Not Necessarily True |
One Hour Per Year
Posted in Education, Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Decisions, Paul Ford, Philosophy, Quotes, Technology, The Great Unbundling, Wired Magazine on March 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »
If we’re going to live together, the [tech] giants and me, I’d like to ask them something. Humbly. If you’re a product manager working on a feed or search interface inside of a giant tech company, you have access to hundreds of billions of hours of human attention. Could you help your users spend one hour a year learning about what’s coming for the world, climate-wise, with a small dose of civics to go with it? | |
Because, if you did, that would be 2 or 3 billion hours of shared experience. Two to 3 billion hours of people learning how important it is that we come together calmly. And that is a beautiful canvas of time upon which to paint a future. It would be one hell of a product. We’re counting on you. | |
We have no choice. You won. | |
Billions of us need help making millions, billions of decisions. Decisions about whether to upgrade HVAC systems, or how to fuel our shipping, or what to plant in the backyard. Sometimes it feels like the paradigm has inverted. Technology was the mold growing across human systems. Software was eating the world. Now it feels like humans are the mold growing on technology. | |
I said that there’s no next big thing. But deep in my soft, uncynical heart, where I keep my most embarrassing predictions, I do know what it is. The next big thing is us. Just plain old people. Humans using language. Humans accepting limits. I can’t help you turn it into Q4 results. I don’t know how to invest in it, nor who should run the conference series. Nor could I tell you who should host the podcast. | |
I just know that it’s got to be our turn. I love technology, but this is faith. | |
— Paul Ford | |
From his article: “The Great Unbundling“ | |
Appearing in: Wired Magzine; dtd: May 2021 | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | If You’re A Lucky 11 Year Old |
Just Got To Be | |
Masked Countdown And Gratitude | |
2020 | Democratic Aspiration |
2019 | Soul Before Will |
2018 | Small Things |
2017 | Clear And Warm To Me |
2016 | Ripple |
2015 | Amazing Or Full Of Wonder? |
2014 | Are You Confused? |
2013 | But The Odds Are Against It |
2012 | Far Better Off With Books |
2011 | Timid And Fainthearted |
One World (Our Only Place)…
Posted in Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Climate Change, Environment, J.K. Rowling, Nationalism, One Earth, Philosophy, Quotes, Racism, Religious Tolerance on March 21, 2022| 5 Comments »
Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike. | |
― J.K. Rowling | |
[While the world is currently (and rightly) obsessed by the war / humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, we should not “forget” the many other people all around the world who are suffering at the hands of “indifferent” (if not hostile) governments / societies and the global climate crisis which will effect humanity as much as any nuclear war might. | |
We have no shortage of minority haters here in the United States – from those subject to government indifference (the poor, the homeless and racial minorities), to anti-Semites, anti-Asians, and anti-Native Americans. America has a LONG history of racist / nationalistic hatred which includes many who are now in more privileged classes (Irish, Italians, etc) and who seem to have forgotten their own not too distant past when they were the hated. | |
Outside of our own country there are Palestinians (and Christians) in the Middle East, the Uyghurs (Muslims) in China, Shiites in various Sunni countries and Sunni in various Shiite countries, non-Hindus in India, and the list goes on and on… And, yes, I recognize this “short” list is biased to “just” the Northern Hemisphere… I am reminded of the saying: “Justice delayed is justice denied.“ | |
And while we spend all this time, effort and attention on what are truly minor differences, the world is cooking. The polar icecaps are receding and the northern tundras are thawing. And, then there is COVID and global pandemics… | |
I am in no way making light of the war (and war crimes) happening in Ukraine, but time is running out on civilization as we know it. We – the people of Earth – individuals and nations – need to wake up and take responsibility for the planet we are leaving to our children’s children. Think globally; act locally! Do what you can personally where you live to spread tolerance, peace and hope and help elect representatives who will spur community / societal action to save the planet. This is the ONLY place in the universe where we know humanity can live. — KMAB] | |
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On This Day In: | |
2021 | Move The Heart |
Join Hands | |
2020 | He Broke Even |
Whoever / Whatever | |
2019 | The Right Anger |
Another P&P Review | |
2018 | Does Fatalism Equal Mental Health? |
2017 | Choice |
2016 | Growing Worlds |
2015 | Change The Tide |
Martyr, n. | |
2014 | You, Too! |
2013 | Bitter Stand |
2012 | Lost For Words |
2011 | On Market Reactions… |
Climate Change Is Already Raising Sea Levels
Posted in Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Climate Change, Environment, God, Nicolas Chamfort, Philosophy, Quotes, Rising Sea Levels, The Great Flood on December 22, 2021| Leave a Comment »
The only thing that stops God from sending another flood is that the first one was useless. | |
— Nicolas Chamfort | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | Speaking For Us |
Tears Don’t Wash Away | |
2019 | Foundational Pillar Of Civilized Discourse |
2018 | Seven Minutes. Not Six, Not Eight |
2017 | Falling Forward One Step At A Time |
2016 | And Without Expectation |
2015 | Just Do It |
I Am A Runner | |
2014 | Some Things I Learned (Mostly) In The Army: |
2013 | Who You Are |
2012 | Mine Stands |
2011 | Aversions |
If You Do Nothing About Climate Change
Posted in Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Action, Climate Change, Environment, Mahatma Gandhi, Philosophy, Power, Quotes on December 20, 2021| Leave a Comment »
It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result. | |
— Mahatma Gandhi | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | Each Over All |
Rollin’ Along | |
2019 | And Integrity For Today’s Elected Republicans |
2018 | A Faulty Start, Too |
Honorable Resignation And Syria | |
2017 | Beneath The Tree Of Wisdom |
The Republican Rape Of The American Middle Class | |
2016 | Something Authentic Happened |
2015 | Back On The Bricks |
On, Rocinante!! | |
2014 | Changing Frequently |
2013 | Trifles |
2012 | Simple, Ordinary And Wonderous |
2011 | Humane Writers |
Sustainable Development
Posted in Economics, Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Asian Elephant Migration, Beijing Normal University, Charlie Campbell, Chinas Herd Of Wandering Elephants May Be Climate-Change Migrants, Economic Development, Environment, Gold And Silver, Philosophy, Prof. Zhang Li, Quotes, Time Magazine, Weibo on October 30, 2021| Leave a Comment »
“We cannot ignore the effect of rapid development of the local economy on the loss of wildlife habitat,” Professor Zhang Li, a renowned expert on Asian elephant migration at Beijing Normal University, wrote on his Weibo page. “Clear waters and green mountains are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver. A healthy and complete ecosystem is the cornerstone of sustainable economic development.” | |
— Charlie Campbell | |
From his article: “China’s herd of wandering elephants may be climate-change migrants“ | |
Appearing in: Time Magazine; dtd: 2-9 August 2021 | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | #IncompetentDonald Is A Clear And Present Danger |
VOTE – “We The People” Can Save America | |
2019 | Why #45 Is Fated To Endanger Our National Security |
2018 | Dehydrated |
Dehydrated II | |
2017 | And Some Of Us Have Books |
2016 | I See No Proof |
2015 | Whither Tea Party? |
2014 | Nothing Is Known Absolutely |
2013 | Decoration Time |
2012 | The Beatitudes |
2011 | Good Fences Make Good Neighbors |
2010 | Back On The Asphalt |
No Sweep – Rangers Win Game 3 by 4 to 2 | |
Greek Myths For Kids | |
Creation Without Reservation
Posted in Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Aldo Leopold, Creating, Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, Shovels, Trees on October 18, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Acts of creation are ordinarily reserved for gods and poets, but humbler folk may circumvent this restriction if they know how. To plant a pine, for example, one need be neither god nor poet; one need only own a shovel. | |
― Aldo Leopold | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | Listening To The Trees |
Your Mind’s Made Up? | |
2019 | In Silence |
Not Much Light Here | |
2018 | A Gift |
2017 | Unless You Genuinely Are Small |
2016 | B1 |
2015 | Five Things |
2014 | Have Faith |
2013 | Found In A Mine |
2012 | Two-Sided Coin |
2011 | Passionately Scorned Rules |
Hammer Time
Posted in Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Bell Of Freedom, Favorite Lines, Hammer Of Justice, If I Had A Hammer -- music video, Included Video, Peter Paul And Mary, Quotes, Song About Love, YouTube on September 29, 2021| Leave a Comment »
If I Had A Hammer |
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Favorite Line(s): | |
Well, I’ve got a hammer | |
And I’ve got a bell | |
And I’ve got a song to sing | |
All over this land | |
It’s the hammer of justice | |
It’s the bell of freedom | |
It’s a song about love between | |
My brothers and my sisters | |
All over this land | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | 3 November Is Coming! |
Bee Gees’ing | |
2019 | Senate Republicans: Impeachment – Because It Is Right! |
Dave’s Not Here, Man! | |
Mixing Business And Pleasure | |
2018 | Intensity Doesn’t Make It Correct |
HF2: 1940’s Grapes | |
2017 | Proof Sits In The Oval Office |
2016 | Tragic Determinism |
2015 | Maybe It Should Be Clearer |
2014 | Make It Your Strength |
2013 | Four Score |
2012 | The Ruler |
2011 | Forever |
2010 | Just Cuz |
How Do You Mend A Broken Heart? | |
It’s Alive!! (3rd Pair Shoe Review) | |
Well Within Our Power
Posted in Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Climate Change, Compassion, Destiny, History, Italian Renaissance, Meaningful Life, Philosophy, Quotes, Space, Star Stuff, Superstition on September 29, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Here we face a critical branch point in history, what we do with our world, right now, will propagate down through the centuries and powerfully affect the destiny of our descendants. | |
We are star stuff, which has taken its destiny into its own hands. The loom of time and space works the most astonishing transformations of matter. Our own planet is only a tiny part of the vast cosmic tapestry, a starry fabric of worlds yet untold. Those worlds in space are as countless as all the grains of sand on all the beaches of the earth. Each of those worlds is as real as ours. In every one of them there’s a succession of incidents, events, occurrences, which influence its future. Countless worlds, numberless moments, an immensity of space and time, and our small planet at this moment — here we face a critical branch point in history. What we do with our world, right now will propagate down through the centuries and powerfully affect the destiny of our descendants. It is well within our power to destroy our civilization and perhaps our species as well. If we capitulate a superstition or greed or stupidity, we can plunge our world into a darkness deeper than the time between the collapse of classical civilization and the Italian Renaissance. But we are also capable of using our compassion and our intelligence, our technology and our wealth, to make an abundant and meaningful life for every inhabitant of this planet, to enhance enormously our understanding of the universe and to carry us to the stars. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | 3 November Is Coming! |
Bee Gees’ing | |
2019 | Senate Republicans: Impeachment – Because It Is Right! |
Dave’s Not Here, Man! | |
Mixing Business And Pleasure | |
2018 | Intensity Doesn’t Make It Correct |
HF2: 1940’s Grapes | |
2017 | Proof Sits In The Oval Office |
2016 | Tragic Determinism |
2015 | Maybe It Should Be Clearer |
2014 | Make It Your Strength |
2013 | Four Score |
2012 | The Ruler |
2011 | Forever |
2010 | Just Cuz |
How Do You Mend A Broken Heart? | |
It’s Alive!! (3rd Pair Shoe Review) | |
We Don’t Listen Anyway
Posted in Environment, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, tagged Favorite Lines, Included Video, Quotes, The Chambers Brothers, Time Has Come Today -- music video, YouTube on September 28, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Time Has Come Today |
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Favorite Line(s): | |
Time has come today | |
Young hearts can go their way | |
Can’t put it off another day | |
I don’t care what others say | |
They say we don’t listen anyway | |
Time has come today | |
(Hey) | |
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On This Day In: | |
2020 | Nothing New Here |
Talk To Me | |
Register And Vote | |
2019 | Love And Leave |
2018 | Smiling If Not Laughing |
2017 | Chilled And Smooth |
2016 | But Sometimes You Have To Stand In Front |
2015 | The Key Shift |
2014 | Remember ISIS / ISIL? |
2013 | What Have You Done Lately? |
2012 | B8 |
2011 | I’m Definitely Not In Control |