Setting technological accomplishments aside, the shift from human evolution to devolution appears to have begun (metaphorically) with the first person who poked a stick through their lower lip…and then convinced others it represented a cultural step forward. If you have any doubt about how far that ‘step forward’ has progressed, take a look at the brief video in Evolution vs. Devolution #9 and/or the opening clip from The Gods Must Be Crazy ;-)
Tag Archives: Lifestyle
Evolution vs. Devolution (09)
(In case you had any doubt about which ‘volution’ is winning.)
Time For A New Paradigm?
Thanks for your vote! You can trust me to continue doing what I do best!
“Did you notice the date?”
“Yeah, Friday, November 9th. So what?”
“Well, its only three days into Obama’s second term and it feels like we’re already back on track to experience all the great things he’s planning for us! By the way, do you know the real difference between him and Rommney?”
“I don’t know. What?”
“Think about it!”
“What’s to think about? Besides, I don’t have time right now. I’ve got to get back to work.”
“What are you doing for a living these days?”
“I sew the balls on teddy bears. It’s not very interesting, but it pays the bills.”
“I thought you had a graduate degree in economics.”
“I do.”
“So why are you sewing balls on teddy bears?”
“After the ‘crash’ it was the only job I could find. It was offered through a government sponsored endangered species stimulus package. I got it because they needed someone who could count.”
“That makes sense. By the way…who makes the teddy’s balls?”
“My wife does. She fashions them out of dried apricots.”
“Cool!” So…what do you do in your spare time?”
“Well, my wife spends her free time crosstitching solutions to Sudoku puzzles, and I’m currently studying Chinese marketing.”
“No kidding! How come?”
“Because as soon as we’ve finished this project we’re moving to China.”
“Wow! What are you going to do there?”
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A slightly different version of this was originally posted about two years ago (October 29, 2010) with the hope that by now at least a few positive changes would have taken place. So much for wishful thinking! ;-)
Evolution vs. Devolution (01)
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I’m 63 And I’m Tired!
by Robert A. Hall
I’m 63. And except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce, and a six-month period when I was between jobs (but job-hunting every day), I’ve worked hard since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven’t called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there’s no retirement in sight, and I’m tired. Very tired.
I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.
I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family “honor”; of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren’t “believers”; of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for “adultery”; of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an and Shari’a law tells them to.
I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures” we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and mandrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America and Canada, while no American nor Canadian group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.
I’m tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate.
I’m tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off?
I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.
I’m really tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and actions. I’m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.
Yes, I’m damn tired. But I’m also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I’m not going to have to see the world these people are making. I’m just sorry for my granddaughter.
* * *
This is just the opening shot in a series that will explore the central issue fueling Hall’s complaint: “I’m really tired of people who don’t take responsibility for themselves…”
The question is, what does that really mean? And, more importantly, what can be done to change it?
Anticipatory vs. Catastrophic Change?
The Weight Of Ignorance
Albert Bartlett (Professor of Physics – University of Colorado, Boulder) has given the following one-hour lecture, Arithmetic, Population and Energy: Sustainability 101 over 1,600 times world-wide. His audiences have ranged from junior high school and college students to corporate executives, scientists and congressional staffs.
He first gave the talk in September, 1969, and subsequently has presented it an average of once every 8.5 days for 36 years. The presentation is based on his paper, Forgotten Fundamentals of the Energy Crisis, originally published in the American Journal of Physics.
* * *
Got your parachute ready?
