chuck kottke

What was I thinking...? Something! Oh yes, that's it!! If a peregrine falcon can dive and hit prey at a tremendous velocity (~200 MPH dives), and suffer no physical harm, why can't we design automobiles to take such impacts at a fraction of that speed, and save the occupants? just a thought.. Also, to make the auto lighter and stronger - framed with bio-mimicry in the structure - like that of a bird's - light, strong, durable. Mass is a lot to accelerate and decelerate - consider the typical car, at 3,800 pounds. That's way more than what's necessary, and while better in collisions against vehicles of comparable weight, we must by now be smart enough to reduce that mass, and achieve improved safety through better design. I just think there's excess inertia in the industry..

Well, in every human culture there is a general dichotomy, perhaps not even necessarily male or female, but one sex usually focuses on the gathering and domestic tasks, and the other on the hunting and construction tasks - I don't quite know why this is - I do recall some footage (Margaret Mead's work, I think) - there was a tribe somewhere in the Pacific who's members had roles opposite that of our convention - the men spent a great deal of time trading and shopping in the market place, searching for the best clothing, bead-work, etc., and doing the domestic work, while the women were actively engaged in hunting, canoe building, etc.. So I suppose it's just the natural assortment of things that go with a certain cultural role - and the natural tendency for the domestically inclined to focus on the details of that role, and to enjoy the finer points of shopping; the more physical and task-oriented members of society find these details too time consuming, as the focus is on fast results, and less on careful details. Compare a watch-maker to a sawyer, for instance..

It's good to want to do what's beneficial for the ecological well-being of all life, and consider our impact on the earth's ecological and cyclical systems. So I think feeling good about choosing a more efficient vehicle is a good thing... The mileage choice does matter - it's really the right thing to do, if you value the commons and respect the rights of all others, including the rights of beluga whales to survive in the oceans on our planet. But while the Prius has some negative aspects (as any choice we make has), it is very efficient, and can be made even more so with solar charging. True, the batteries leave a lot to be desired, but that's a matter of time and below-standard limits on pollution which affect the environment, which can be remedied as well over time. Maybe what needs to happen is a better approach - to be more wholistic in how we see the automobile, and our place on the planet.. I think battery-powered vehicles, coupled with generators, is the future, and it's great to feel better knowing you've made a choice to be part of the change which will improve the Earth's ecological systems; better still to seek further improvements in manufacture and materials so as to lessen the impact even more. I say this knowing full well the problems with pollution, having worked in auto manufacturing facilities. Consider this also: By needing less petrol, the Prius also lessens our dependence on an industry that successfully controls many of the globe's governments, through the effect of money in the political arena. Elected officials are there to serve our needs as citizens, not the preferential needs of a minority of stakeholders, who gain at the expense and freedom of others. So, reducing the power of the petrol giants reduces their ability to gum up politics, and to increase our rights as citizens, including our right to a clean and healthy common environment.

Perhaps so! But then like anything, as familiarity increases, so to do our own perceptions.. Perspective of the viewer/observer/participant may be what some are experiencing.

I'm thinking that there's too much superficial bullshit in the country I'm in. All the snobs driving by, acting like they're lord and master of the world, locked in their cocoons here in status-symbol land. I don't care what they think of me - they're driving the planet's life to extinction, and if I drive a cycle car, that's the better choice for an ethical, caring person to do.:smug: Image is to the turkey a display of tail feathers, but to the man, we must get past this if we are to survive. (pardon my rant - just feeling like my beliefs are being squashed, and I'm being marginalized here in the land of excess..)

Life gets busy. I think that's most of it - plus, music is subject to change - different general spirit, and a different set of people come on in - it's the changing times too - one cannot sit still in a world that keeps on spinning.. Can you imagine if we had kept the same general feel as the 60's? Come to think of it, maybe that would be alright!:flutterby::sunny::daisy::beatnik::hippy::dance::guitarist::drummer:

On another wavelength, is life just a commonplace event? What if it happens all the time - the chemistry, and the right conditions, and it's still happening somewhere on Earth?

Just a rambling thread to discuss the origin of life. :) Was it the clay particle's molecular structure that provided a template for DNA? Or did it all start between the sheets of mica, where water molecules and Nucleic Acid precursors collected and linked up?? Is it truly of hydrothermal origin, deep within the earth in some fissure with hot water and minerals, or was it more of a near-surface phenomenon, which spread to the depths, the origin being lost to time?? And if it's a common device that can lead to life "happening", does this mean it happens all the time on "M class" planets like Earth?? If it's hydrothermal, why not then on Mars (when Mars had more volcanism)? If it can take the heat, perhaps Earth isn't necessarily "ideal" after all - maybe an orbit closer to the sun would be fine, as long as the water doesn't boil away, so-to-speak?? This intrigues me, because if life isn't so rare, given the right circumstances, then it can happen elsewhere. And if the template is set with the clay or mica particles and enough sparks of lightening, or vocanism and mineral chemical reactions, perhaps the universe really is the ultimate machine, for it has spawned all the life we know, us, and are knowledge of it - quite a twist, for the life thus created to unravel how it all works, using the tools of science and reason to discover the mechanisms. Anyhow, just me rambling!:laugh3: If we are alone, then it seems logical to be an ultimate goal of us to colonize the universe (us as in all the life we can spread, especially the essential microbial world).. But to do that, we must first maintain the viability of the mother ship - Earth itself. For the poverty of the inhabitants and the carelessness of our actions may endanger our success in future endeavors. One cannot build a ship with a bridge to the future, and neglect the ship's hull, risking the sinking of that essential vessel (of life).

Yes, it worked!:)

Wow - roasty toasty!! Well, consider this as the ideal time to use solar cooling.:cool: Solar power + good insulation and air-conditioning..;) Muggy too? Well, think about what it's like to live most of the year on an ice-cube.:P somewhere between 15 and 35 is nice, but yes, 15 is more tolerable than 35!! That's broiling!! Here, cold, wet damp rain, and overcast. Come enjoy summer in the north - all two days of it!:laugh3: (careful what you say - those plates can slip if they hear you whisper!!:P)

I confess, I hid the money under the Manhattan skyline.:glasses2: It's there, somewhere, I swear!:shifty:

1.:escaping::escaping::escaping::escaping::escaping::escaping::escaping::escaping:It's psychedelic sort-of, and this should cure all board board trubbles.:P

Stop trying, and just smile. There - see, it's not so hard! We live in a beautiful world, yea we do, yea we do...:) (Try OMing if that doesn't work..):P

You are so lucky! Here, it's cool, cool, cool! Summer's coming, but today felt like early spring - temp's. in the 10-15 degree celsius range.. Enjoy the heat - take a splash in the big pond!

:rolleyes:You must have had a "realization" of something then?? (& today, I survived the dreaded fear of owing.. turns out, I'll manage!)

an elusive neutrino.

Well, we'll accept you, as long as you pay the other troll to get over the bridge!;) And yes, success has a price in the chaos thus created - but there's more to look at!:jester::thumbsup:

:lol:That's a forced happy face. Try one like this::happy:

You are a Troll from beneath the bridge!:P Back to the mitten with you!:laugh3:

I think the freedom to believe whatever one chooses is fine, so long as that belief does not infringe on the rights of others. "vulnerable" - well, there are many religions getting converts from those who are "vulnerable", so unique that's not! And one might portray any religion as a cult, if it's not the acceptable religion of the community or state. What would Ron L Hubbard have to say about this?:P

:laugh3:Well, you'll just have to put on a happy face, and pretend! Maybe the god's are smiling on you, hoping to beam their happy energy into your thought patterns?:P

wavers

That's not always the case, but thanks.;) And from what I see, you are happiness on the bay! I just have had a lot to do lately - survival doth exact a toll at times. Maybe more colors would add to the calico cat & calliope mix on here?:wacko::flutterby:

Where's the fir bark, for sustainable forests??:laugh3: I think bark would add some interest to his attire - although arguably harder for Chris to wear - maybe a hat made from sustainable forest paper??

The Quiet World All Around Us; The liquid song of the lark and the first bullfrog of spring..;)