The Trouble with Vaporware

SUBHEAD: We need to start talking about how we can hold onto our humanity in bitter times; about how we can find reasons for hope and joy.By John Michael Greer on 23 March 2011 in The Archdruid Report - (http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2011/03/trouble-with-vaporware.html)Image above: Promo for videogame "Duke Nukem 3D" in 2008 that never made it past vaporware... Thank god! From (http:

Earth's Scarcest Resource Is Time

SUBHEAD: In the event of a crisis, the US food supply would run out in three days.By Lester Brown on 23 March 2011 in The Nation - (http://www.thenation.com/video/159399/lester-brown-planets-scarcest-resource-time)Image above: Lester Brown in China. From (http://whoami-whoareyou.blogspot.com/2011/01/for-perspective.html).In this eleventh video in the series “Peak Oil and a Changing Climate” from

Nothing Left to Steal

SUBHEAD: Shortly thereafter everyone realizes that the chips they are holding are not all that valuable any more.By Dmitry Orlov on 18 March 2011 in ClubOrlov - (http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/2011/03/nothing-left-to-steal.html)Image above: Ceramic poker chips for sale at 67¢ a piece. From (http://www.pokerchiplounge.com/poker-chips/ceramic-poker-chips.html).Michael Betancourt is an intellectual:

The Ends of the Earth

SUBHEAD: How far will we go to secure energy? Clearly, to the ends of the Earth. And perhaps even to the end of the (living) world.By Guy McPherson on 22 March 2011 for Nature Bats Last - (http://guymcpherson.com/2011/03/the-ends-of-the-earth)Image above: "The End of the World" computer wallpaper. From (http://www.fantasy-backgrounds.com/planets/end-of-the-world).Judging from their actions, most

Meltdowns In Progress

SUBHEAD: It's better to be a year early than a day late. So get out there and prepare responsibly.By Chris Martenson on 16 March 2011 in Chris Martenson.com - (http://www.chrismartenson.com/blog/alert-nuclear-economic-meltdown-in-progress)Image above: A well stocked root cellar in the basement. From (http://blog.siffordsojournal.com/2008/11/root-cellar-update.html).It is with a heavy heart that

Limits of Incantation

SUBHEAD: As an archdruid it disappointing to see incantations used where they’re not going to accomplish anything.By John Michael Greer on 16 March 2011 for Archdruid Report - (http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2011/03/limits-of-incantation.html)Image above: "An Incantation" by John British Dixon 20 July 1773. From (http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/gothicnightmares/rooms/room5_

Nuclear Nightmares

SUBHEAD: The near-term consequences of nuclear catastrophe likely to result from collapse of the world’s industrial economy are unthinkable.By Guy McPherson on 14 March 2011 in Transition Voice - (http://transitionvoice.com/2011/03/nuclear-nightmares)Image above: Children being checked for radiation exposure after reactor explosion in Fukushima. From (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/

Fast Crash?

SUBHEAD: If oil supply declines quickly, how do we deal with it?By Gail Tverberg on 9 March 2011 in Our Finite World - (http://ourfiniteworld.com/2011/03/09/if-oil-supply-declines-quickly-how-do-we-deal-with-it/#more-1595)Image above: Daniel Boone escorting settlers through the Cumberland Gap by George Caleb Bingham 1851-52. From (http://woodsrunnersdiary.blogspot.com/2010/01/

Interview with Ellen LaConte

SUBHEAD: Eco-economies are local and regional, place-based, functionally self-reliant, interdependent, mutually supportive, regenerative, restorative and resilient.By Robert Jensen on 8 March 2011 in Energy Bulletin - (http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2011-03-08/listening-life-it%E2%80%99s-too-late-interview-ellen-laconte)Image above: "Mother Earth" by Stephen Alcorn (2005). From (http:/

The Empire Strikes Out

SUBHEAD: Sooner than you might think the tweets and the video feeds will cease and the screen will go dark.By Dmitry Orlov 8 March 2011 in ClubOrlov - (http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/2011/03/empire-strikes-out.html)Image above: Internet down again in Libya. From (http://compushot.blogspot.com/2011/03/libyas-internet-down-again.html).Tunisia, Egypt, Libya... now, children, one of these things is

We’re taking the planet with us

SUBHEAD: Elites turn citizens into serfs and the natural world into a wasteland for profit.By Chris Hedges on 7 March 2011 in Truthdig - (http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/this_time_were_taking_the_whole_planet_with_us_20110307)Image above: "The Ruins of Kom Ombo" by David Roberts (1838). From (http://www.travellersinegypt.org/archives/2005/02/david_roberts.html).I have walked through the

Miserable Means - Miserable Ends

SUBHEAD: Our remaining intellectual horsepower will be exhausted trying to revive the 'Kar Kulture'.By Steve Ludlum on 6 March 2011 in Economic Undertow - (http://economic-undertow.blogspot.com/2011/03/miserable-ends-justify-miserable-means.html)Image above: Before and After. Scene from movie "Cars". From (http://www.bloggerdad.com/how-cars-almost-ruined-the-super-bowl).I mean, who really cares

Damned if you do, doomed if you don't

SUBHEAD: All we can do is "minimize the suffering of the herd". Our way of life is over. For good. We’ll have to find other ways.By Ilargi on 4 March 2011 for The Automatic Earth - (http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-4-2011-damned-if-you-do-doomed-if.html)Image above: "The Silk Road" by Hing Nian Zhang. From (http://worldhistoryto1500.blogspot.com/2010/10/

The Sound of Distant Hoofbeats

SUBHEAD: Get used to listening for the cracks and judderings of an overburdened system as it lurches down the slope of its own decline and fall.By John Michael Greer on 2 March 2011 in The Archdruid Report - (http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.com/2011/03/sound-of-distant-hoofbeats.html)Image above: Houses made out of money. FRom (http://www.allwelike.com/2010/12/household-wealth-climbs-to-1-2-

Mid East & Mid West

SUBHEAD: What we witness across the Arab World and our own middle America is part of the same phenomena - adjustment to poverty.By Juan Wilson on 27 February 2011 for Island Breath - (http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2011/02/mid-east-mid-west.html)Image above: We are all brothers. From (http://riadzany.blogspot.com/2010/06/death-of-interfaith-leader-sheikh.html).Mid EastLike it or not, the world

Demise of the Dollar

SUBHEAD: The Great Recession never left us and collapse of the industrial economy is already under way.By Guy McPherson on 22 February 2011 in Nature Bats Last -(http://guymcpherson.com/2011/02/demise-of-the-dollar)Image above: Illustration of hyperinflation by David Dees. From (http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/deesA2.htm).The U.S. dollar continues its journey from Brobdingnagian to Lilliputian

White is the new Black

SUBHEAD: Americans lost in the techno-rapture of Fashion Week have no idea how fragile we are.By Jame Kunstler on 21 February 2011 for Kunstler.com - (http://kunstler.com/blog/2011/02/white-is-the-new-black.html)Image above: Calvin Klein's presentation during Fashion Week of white styles for summer 2011. From (http://www.styleguru.com/tags/mercedes-benz-fashion-week-2011).Let it be remembered

Starting Over

SUBHEAD: Moving away from civilization and toward a durable and better way of living.By Guy R. McPherson on 18 February 2011 in Nature Bats Last - (http://guymcpherson.com/2011/02/starting-over)Image above: Graffiti "Without Money We'd All Be Rich" on white brick wall. From original article.Judging from my email in-box and the occasional comment in this space, my essays have taken a surprising

Two Roads Diverged in a Wood

SUBHEAD: Simultaneously industrial society has chosen the both the path of environmental collapse and economic collapse.By Guy McPherson on 3 February 2011 in Transition Voice -(http://transitionvoice.com/2011/02/two-roads-diverged)Image above: A fork in the road. From (http://www.midlifesatrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/fork-in-the-road-3.jpg).At this late juncture in the era of industry, it

Arab Turmoil & Petrocollapse

SUBHEAD: if the disruption is strong enough, severe effects can shut down much of the global economy and simultaneously stop much local activity.By Jan Lundberg on 30 January 2011 for Culture Change - (http://www.culturechange.org/cms/content/view/702/1/)Image above: Women demonstrating in Arab street. From (http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/106412/20110128/