When it comes to the environment my views are all over the chart. They are inconsistent and don't make any sense. On some things I'll think one way, and on others the complete opposite. I suppose some examples are in order. In my dorm room at the University of Connecticut the TV is on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This may seem like an exaggeration, but it isn't. My roommate and I go to bed with the TV on, and when we go to class in the morning the TV stays on. The light is usually on. Our computers are always on. I have all my chargers plugged in constantly--this matters if anyone is a big proponent of 'phantom energy'--. I worry about the energy crisis, yet I do nothing to prevent it. Why is this?
Perhaps it stems from my frustration with the current system, and what complying with energy conservation will bring about. It is no secret that oil is not a problem that can be solved, only abated. If everyone cuts energy consumption by 15%, what happens? Oil prices will likely tank, and we will go back to abusing oil and cutting back on research on alternate sources of energy. Sometimes, I believe allowing the problem to get worse, is the only way to make progress. Andrew mentioned a number of things plauging our country at the moment--energy, stock market, and the sub-prime mortgage shitstorm--there are a number of things that we can do to stem the flow into recession, but should we? Is a temporary solution going to be best in the long run? It's like welfare, if we stop welfare people will suffer, but instead of relying on welfare and doing nothing, people will go out and get a job. If we allow the system to crumble, people will suffer, but we will be forced to fix the problem. I suppose it's time to bust out one of my favorite cliches, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” ~ Confucius.
If the problem is fixed though, I still believe environmental conservation is a must. I'd also like to applaud Connecticut Govenor Rell's "OneThing" campaign. The general idea is if 3.5 million people do one thing, it adds up to a whole lot. It truly does. It's people like Rell that let me know that some people are trying to change things, and it just might inspire me to shut off the TV when I'm not in the room.
2/27/2008
Declaration of intent.
I couldn't decide whether to post this here or at my other blog, The Top of the Mountain. I'm gonna post it in both places.
Probably in the last year, I've become much more environmentally conscious. I'm not a "GLOBAL WARMING IS GONNA KILL US ALL" guy, not even in the slightest, but I figure why fuck shit up if we can avoid it? If we can reduce pollution and stop being environmental dickheads, just in general, why shouldn't we? So I do my part; I actively recycle, I don't litter (in fact, I generally pick up litter), I don't use grocery bags when I don't need to, I turn off lights... I generally hate waste, so I avoid it.
At the same time as I'm developing this way, I'm looking at the oil situation. Anyone who doesn't see the oil "situation" as a "situation" needs to get a fucking clue. Analysts are saying gas could hit four bucks in the Spring... our economy is slowly beginning to falter, our currency is worth shit, and the stock and housing markets are seriously on PCP.
What's the connection? I've finally internalized the need to do something, to make more of an effort to affect change. I know the efforts I've been making are important, but it's just about time that I put such matters a little higher on the list of things I consider often. I'm not going to become a fanatic or a hippie, that's just not me. But being "environmental" doesn't mean you have to be radical, it means you have to care enough to change your actions a little bit. It's not a big difference... it just means that, whereas in the past I've never really gone out of my way to do anything environmental, I'll do so more often in the future, to some extent.
This is important, finding things to stand for. Even if it's not a defining characteristic, just everyone being a little more environmentally conscious could make the difference. So I say, the little things MATTER, because big things are made of little things. Take the time to consider the effects of certain actions... do you really need a plastic bag for a pack of gum or a gift card? Is it really necessary to do 1 day air on something from across the country? Do you REALLY need to drive around that Suburban. or have every light in the house on, or the temperature at 65 in the summer? A slight change does help.
Probably in the last year, I've become much more environmentally conscious. I'm not a "GLOBAL WARMING IS GONNA KILL US ALL" guy, not even in the slightest, but I figure why fuck shit up if we can avoid it? If we can reduce pollution and stop being environmental dickheads, just in general, why shouldn't we? So I do my part; I actively recycle, I don't litter (in fact, I generally pick up litter), I don't use grocery bags when I don't need to, I turn off lights... I generally hate waste, so I avoid it.
At the same time as I'm developing this way, I'm looking at the oil situation. Anyone who doesn't see the oil "situation" as a "situation" needs to get a fucking clue. Analysts are saying gas could hit four bucks in the Spring... our economy is slowly beginning to falter, our currency is worth shit, and the stock and housing markets are seriously on PCP.
What's the connection? I've finally internalized the need to do something, to make more of an effort to affect change. I know the efforts I've been making are important, but it's just about time that I put such matters a little higher on the list of things I consider often. I'm not going to become a fanatic or a hippie, that's just not me. But being "environmental" doesn't mean you have to be radical, it means you have to care enough to change your actions a little bit. It's not a big difference... it just means that, whereas in the past I've never really gone out of my way to do anything environmental, I'll do so more often in the future, to some extent.
This is important, finding things to stand for. Even if it's not a defining characteristic, just everyone being a little more environmentally conscious could make the difference. So I say, the little things MATTER, because big things are made of little things. Take the time to consider the effects of certain actions... do you really need a plastic bag for a pack of gum or a gift card? Is it really necessary to do 1 day air on something from across the country? Do you REALLY need to drive around that Suburban. or have every light in the house on, or the temperature at 65 in the summer? A slight change does help.
2/10/2008
A quick question.
What the hell does crying have anything to do with the quality of a candidate? Honestly, can anyone tell me? Because quite frankly, I would prefer a president who cries, as crying is an extremely effective stress reliever.
Yes, I'm talking about Hillary Clinton, you dummy.
What's that? It's fake crying? Oh, I see... so you're making a big deal over a candidate laying it on thick... LIKE EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE? Why is it that everyone is so hell bent on trying to dig into their opposing candidates... it drives me nuts.
Conservative blogs make such a massive deal about Clinton's tears, I think they secretly worship her in their basements.
Yes, I'm talking about Hillary Clinton, you dummy.
What's that? It's fake crying? Oh, I see... so you're making a big deal over a candidate laying it on thick... LIKE EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE? Why is it that everyone is so hell bent on trying to dig into their opposing candidates... it drives me nuts.
Conservative blogs make such a massive deal about Clinton's tears, I think they secretly worship her in their basements.
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