tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post3177162632514807768..comments2024-03-28T14:52:13.218-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: Two WolvesJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger143125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-24455365611895057852017-04-22T10:39:24.088-05:002017-04-22T10:39:24.088-05:00Jim, this is a wonderful post. During the campaign...Jim, this is a wonderful post. During the campaigns I kept begging for a vision of hope and optimism. Hell, I just wanted to see someone smile as they projected their vision of possibilities for the future. Like you, spent many years in Alaska, then moved to Florida. The biggest change was not the weather, but the attitude and resignation. I was not prepared for the negativity and malaise. In Alaska, all I needed for inspiration was a walk outside. I was surrounded by a natural world in harmony, and it has a profound impact on me. I met a lot of people living by their wits, and we always helped each other out in rough times. In Florida, I found that people I met didn't care to make new friends. Everyone lived in their air conditioned bunkers and did not trust someone they didn't know. It was a very difficult time for me. In retrospect, I believe that the power of nature in its pristine form has a huge influence on the way we think,act, and communicate. It makes me feel that anything is possible with human ingenuity and innovation. It inspires me to solve problems, help my neighbors, and be grateful. Seeing destruction of both our environment and optimism about the future is sad beyond words.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-60149711949050241582017-04-22T08:51:08.280-05:002017-04-22T08:51:08.280-05:00Because when we, as human beings, act less out of ...Because when we, as human beings, act less out of self-interest and more out of Interest in all humanity, then it's a lot easier to build towards that better future.<br /><br />Ref: Buckminster Fuller...try "Critical Path'.Mikeinthedirthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08768075238274395015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-11109246109676577502017-04-22T04:31:55.974-05:002017-04-22T04:31:55.974-05:00"The idea of the so-called American dream is ..."The idea of the so-called American dream is you start out at the bottom, changing the sheets in one of Trump's hotels say, and work your way up until one day you own the casino and can hire a bunch of maids of your own.<br /><br />This is the very cornerstone of American capitalism."<br /><br />This is what we call a Pyramid Scheme ... otherwise known as a scam.<br />Wolfettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07942284625854822400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-81685881736655274222017-04-22T00:25:49.296-05:002017-04-22T00:25:49.296-05:00I live in the vicinity of Flushing Meadow Park. I...I live in the vicinity of Flushing Meadow Park. I have in various locations all my life. My first ever amusement ride as a tot was some silly Ferris wheel at the 1964 World's Fair. I, too, was fascinated by the hope of what was possible, and throughout my life, no matter which of the different locations I lived growing up, always found time to go back to Flushing Meadows Park to remember the hope I felt, and still do, from the World's Fair. <br /> It is not a hard feat. The Panorama of NYC is still there, in the Museum Building, The Unisphere and fountains remain as impressive and as beautiful as they did back in 1964. The Hall of Science still stands unique and proud, and I spent many a day there standing under the [real - donated by NASA] rocket ships that were grander than any skyscraper or Navy vessel I ever saw. I've snuck in and climbed around the now shuttered NYS Pavilion (Made famous again thanks to Men In Black and Iron Man 2) and marveled at it's mosaic tile floor map still intact, though weeds are finding there way through the borders. Plus the added nostalgia of finding some of the hidden gems and markers of the 1939 World's Fair still give me tingles.<br /> I wasn't alone growing up in this fascination. The family rushed to Walt Disney World in Florida when it opened in 1971, I believe, and the first hints of Tomorrowland were opened. The awe still inspires me as almost 40+ years later. I still take regular yearly trips down there just to marvel. Rides are fun, but it is the inspiration that I go for, and try to share with others. Especially the younger ones in the family. Even as fantasy, it is more real and tactile than most experiences I have had in life. If I have one regret in life, it is that I was never clever enough academically to become one of the pioneers of tomorrow. <br /> Sadly, these trips have become more nostalgia than reality. I do not know why we gave up being that America, though you made some valid pointed explanations. What also boggles my mind is that just by being there you can see what we are capable of doing, yet that is never what is embraced by most people.<br /> I, too, loved that movie; loved that America. It is also an America that honored scientists and inventors. The movie was a bright surprise that touched all the feelings I have had my whole life. We need that America back.<br /> Mr. Wright, while we may have grown up on opposite ends of the country and had totally polar opposite growing experiences, I must say you are like one of those rare friends that 'got me' when I was young and has remained my friend my whole life sharing similar experiences. I guess that does give proof to the fact that many Americans, no matter where they came from, really can and do share common beliefs. It is welcoming and refreshing. Let's also hope, through your writing and my 'nostalgic' trips with family, it can be eye opening to even one person. Like the expression goes, "then my work is done here." <br /> Eric Milletichnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-70775807478162004952017-04-21T22:13:39.831-05:002017-04-21T22:13:39.831-05:00Musk is DD Harriman and Shipstone. Since this is ...Musk is DD Harriman and Shipstone. Since this is life and not fiction, there have to be some revisions to the tale. As for the World's Fair, it was great. For the future, maybe we'll be looking up to Asimov, Clarke and Heinlein, with Correy, Anvil and Schmidt thrown in for good measure. And others not mentioned. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600603966062466922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-46670627488830392072016-08-10T14:24:04.586-05:002016-08-10T14:24:04.586-05:00" The RNC would have to pay for a whole new c..." The RNC would have to pay for a whole new convention. With no notice. Hell, just renting the convention hall would be damned near impossible given the timeline – they’d end up having it in a cow pasture and be grateful for that."<br /><br />Max Yasgur's farm is available.Telemaquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09726911048021799087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-3167109993165739312016-06-06T11:16:49.166-05:002016-06-06T11:16:49.166-05:00It is not a hoax, it is a fable. The attribution m...It is not a hoax, it is a fable. The attribution may or may not be correct but that has little to do with the point of the story.MollyLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09339770129339832666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-19766891750905470792016-06-05T00:37:52.090-05:002016-06-05T00:37:52.090-05:00Thank you for convincing me to watch this film; we...Thank you for convincing me to watch this film; well worth it.Justin Bolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06617774048323657315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-46824595697943995952016-06-04T20:08:51.039-05:002016-06-04T20:08:51.039-05:00Great article but why the love for a man profiting...Great article but why the love for a man profiting off public funding. Why not pat the back of NASA that is investing in Musk. If we want tomorrow land, we need less Musk and more NASA. More NSF funding. Another ARPA. All musk does is take inventions other people make and turn them into money. He dreams small because Mars is easy compared to making tomorrow land on earth. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-2613122547689245322016-05-27T07:30:49.078-05:002016-05-27T07:30:49.078-05:00At the risk of sounding like a spoiled brat, I nee...At the risk of sounding like a spoiled brat, I need a new kickass Stonekettle piece. (It HAS been over a month now)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-92029119252540728032016-05-25T13:33:37.529-05:002016-05-25T13:33:37.529-05:00I had a philosophy teacher in college who said pop...I had a philosophy teacher in college who said pop-culture was essentially the Collective Subconscious expressing itself, so themes in pop-culture are great indicators of what any society is going through and thinking about itself at the times they are produced. That it's self-examination writ large, essentially. So perhaps it's not necessarily that we are being fed (though I'm sure there's a little bit of that as the various Corp players try to capitalize on the "hot" trend), but that there is interest because the post-apocalyptic theme touches something we know, but don't know we know and are trying to say?<br /><br />The "Captain America" string of movies, for instance - this latest one in particular, "Civil War" - could essentially be described as wholly symbolic expressions of the dichotomies between the American social ethos pre- and post- the late 1960's-1970's (Captain America would be the strong/courageous/principled America with the moral high ground who can't lose or ever stop fighting, Tony Stark would be the Apex-Capitalist America who has everything but really struggles with people - and who has shrapnel slowly moving toward his heart btw), and how the two are really (*really*) struggling to co-exist. (I actually love the Captain America series - minus the 1st one- for precisely this reason, it's really deep/smart film behind all the explosions & cgi.)<br /><br />This being the case, my guess is that a lot of the pessimism is real, and some of our problem is that we have no clear direction to be optimistic about. We are in the midst of deciding who we are as a people, and are maybe in dire need of a visionary or 3. And perhaps a few more people who do stuff like the original post/Tomorrowland (which clearly was basically an Optimism Booster Shot for a lot of readers/viewers) to see us through to the vision. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-11870380824160555612016-05-25T12:47:51.266-05:002016-05-25T12:47:51.266-05:00Really needed to read something like this right no...Really needed to read something like this right now, thank you. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-32108201608918769382016-05-24T21:38:01.458-05:002016-05-24T21:38:01.458-05:00Hey, I am not disagreeing with anything you've...Hey, I am not disagreeing with anything you've said in particular, Bill Hampton. But from here it looks as though you are caught up in details. We are individuals with different talents and abilities. Trying to do it all would be pointless, right? We have the option of using our individual talents, abilities and smiling at the same time and leaving something left for others to do. And yes, I am very much aware of climate change/global warming. for example, as I speak. :-) Respectfully, LASAttorney Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03310184162402704737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-58899240257664725922016-05-24T21:29:39.773-05:002016-05-24T21:29:39.773-05:00:-) Thank you, Sir Jim! I've been away and am...:-) Thank you, Sir Jim! I've been away and am glad I managed to get back in time for this. :-)Attorney Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03310184162402704737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-39668177806390614872016-05-17T19:48:06.640-05:002016-05-17T19:48:06.640-05:00This may be a good place to post this. People need...This may be a good place to post this. People need to wake up to what it means to be liberal. <br />I feel the need to address this again. With what it means to be a liberal, I find it sad that liberals are calling their selves Progressives. Most Christians will tell you that they are not good enough to be s Christians, but are proud to be trying. Liberals should stop calling their selves Progressives and do the same. Define liberal and be proud that you are trying to be one. Here again is something I wrote that may help you out with that. “I have a dictionary with a copyright of 1966. According to it, Here is what it would take to be a liberal. You would need to be open minded, be against prejudice and bigotry, generous, favorable to progress or reform, favorable to or in accord with the concepts of maximum individual freedom possible, and in favor of representational forms of government rather than aristocracies and monarchies. From that definition, I would say that there are many closet liberals out there, that do not even know that they are liberal. Of course there are also, many that will argue with the dictionary. If you Google liberal, you will find it hard to put together that definition. Could it be that the wealth owned media is causing the definition to be changed? From that definition, here are a few things that make one a non liberal. Narrow minded, selfish, prejudiced, and a bigot. I take it as a compliment if I am called a liberal. I am probably not good enough to be one, but will keep trying. Too bad so many have already been brain washed into believing that liberal is something it is not.”Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14507830648681643208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-39749905805620015812016-05-17T16:43:54.090-05:002016-05-17T16:43:54.090-05:00Great writing, and I am in so much agreement for t...Great writing, and I am in so much agreement for the most part. There is a root cause that keeps history repeating its self. What is that root cause? We are a bunch of animals with the intellect to rationalize our animal behavior. If we were not such animals we would have a united world with complete equality. We have the intellect, resources and technology for us to all be well off and equal. If we were humans no one would have more than another. That said, let me take it one step further. What is it that we rationalize that causes most of our problems? Inequality! It leads to the accumulation of wealth, that leads to power, that leads to corruption, that leads to exploitation, that leads to conflict (terrorism) , that leads to a new system and it all starts over. Now let me again take that one step further. The belief that because we work harder than another we should have more is one of the ways we rationalize inequality. Also, feeling that we are superior to others in some way, translates into our having more. We do not see that we are all in this together. That hard work and being superior should translate into benefiting all of humanity. I would like to add that some will probably call this Christianity and other will call it Communism. Ether way, humans are not good enough to be Christians or Communists. I see no hope of that ever changing. The fall of any system is always replace by a system that contains those wanting to get rich. There are those that would accept equality, but it would take everyone becoming human. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14507830648681643208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-17838955983375708782016-05-16T00:07:03.474-05:002016-05-16T00:07:03.474-05:00As someone who is called an "eternal optimist...As someone who is called an "eternal optimist" and often derided for it I applaud you for pointing out that it is not necessarily a bad thing.<br /><br />I am a glass half full gal, not because I don't see what is going on but because I see the small things that happen as well.<br /><br />Huge wildfire, tens of thousands have to run for their lives with basically the clothes on their backs- horrific.<br />Tens of thousands of people donating time, money and energy to try and make their lives a little easier while they rebuild.<br /><br />A child getting bullied on a playground, then another child stands beside him/her and then another until the bully no longer has the advantage of fear.<br /><br />Those things will keep me eternally optimistic. Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00382353466749812592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-82248361484060882812016-05-14T20:28:05.452-05:002016-05-14T20:28:05.452-05:00*teasing* Are you saying Mr. Wright gets his artic...*teasing* Are you saying Mr. Wright gets his articles from a moth?! ;)C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08469264092377867319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-68161737393800576992016-05-14T20:25:48.632-05:002016-05-14T20:25:48.632-05:00You're talking about the movie, right? (I ask ...You're talking about the movie, right? (I ask because I haven't seen it) Because last I checked, the "It's A Small World" ride at Disneyland isn't in Tomorrowland... although it might be. I haven't been to Disneyland in over a decade...C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08469264092377867319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-53076984968349991252016-05-14T20:21:14.475-05:002016-05-14T20:21:14.475-05:00Either Reagan or Nixon...Either Reagan or Nixon...C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08469264092377867319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-32344005771518547432016-05-12T12:39:56.417-05:002016-05-12T12:39:56.417-05:00Optimism doesn't instill the fear necessary to...Optimism doesn't instill the fear necessary to get people to vote republican. I think that's why it's a liberal ideal. Chuck B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10181142329647058621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-30886774935358674332016-05-11T12:35:14.537-05:002016-05-11T12:35:14.537-05:00I would argue that reducing the top marginal tax r...I would argue that reducing the top marginal tax rates have actually proved to be an incentive to max out profits. In the past, you could still get rich, but there was a point at which there was little to gain by squeezing out an extra million from your business. You might as well put it back in the company. Now the incentive is to squeeze all the money you can out of the business, no matter how it affected people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-31233008785537392652016-05-07T06:48:58.514-05:002016-05-07T06:48:58.514-05:00Thank you, Jim. Thank you. I so needed to read thi...Thank you, Jim. Thank you. I so needed to read this at this moment. My resolve to be an optimist has been flagging mightily lately. It's HARD to be an optimist sometimes - it's damn hard. It's easy to let cynicism and pessimism creep in, even when the rest of life is looking pretty good. It's easy to wallow in the muck of fear and anger - maybe even rage. It's easy to remain blind to what IS possible, to what the future CAN be. Thank you for your excellent writing and for this line in particular (which I will be framing): "Pessimists don't build starships." elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13624270545503169152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-92085490656180073232016-05-06T00:35:59.590-05:002016-05-06T00:35:59.590-05:00I understand where you are coming from, and yes, t...I understand where you are coming from, and yes, things do look grim.<br /><br />However it is important to be both realistic and optimistic if one is to survive difficult scenarios and to never, ever, give up (see book 'Deep Survival'). Quoting e.g. the equation that do you and then stating there is no way out just closes doors and restricts thinking. Even when all seems lost there is hope - your assertions may well be on the wrong track for any number of reasons e.g. incorrect assumptions or ignorance. Reference Malthusian Doomsday (related to your own Population Apocalypse Equation I suspect). By Malthus' calcs we should have all been toast a long time ago, yet technology and other factors have allowed us to beat his equation (so far). Also, Black Swan's (of Nassim Taleb) fame can and do occur and they can be positive as well as negative, so never write off the influence of the unexpected and unforeseen.<br /><br />If Tomorrowland doesn't seem practicable to you as a viable future, then do also check out John Michael Greer's 'Archdruid Report' blog (I actually see that blog as a complement of sorts to this one, or at least having some synergies, though I'm not sure either blogger would agree with me :). His interpretations of a deindustrial ecotechnic future is not as inspiring as Tomorrowland's heights (which I absolutely think we should still strive for, even if we never make it) but is also a world away from bleak oblivion, and would be a fairly realistic fallback position if the problems you outline do overcome our ability to shoot for the stars. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-90179317266494854192016-05-05T22:42:46.834-05:002016-05-05T22:42:46.834-05:00Ditto Australia.
Stonekettle speaks truth the who...Ditto Australia.<br /><br />Stonekettle speaks truth the whole Western world (maybe beyond) needs to hear.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com