Canaries in mines

60 Minutes recently hosted a program on a program developed by technologies by Halliburton (and others) to remove natural gas from rock. This is seen as one of the important intermediate technologies which will get us through "dependence on foreign oil," ETC, The problem is that there are deep seated problems with it, which have been pointed out by environmentalist and industry people as well. Fracturing and the wholesale use of water and the accompanying hazards are being pushed aside in the name of energy solutions and the like.

Ethanol is another of these intermediate technologies which have been promulgated by everyone from Federal bureaucrats to the Farm Bureau, and yet it has been proven that the amount of energy applied to producing it does not offset the amount of energy used (!); & it doesn't seem to matter because the forces behind it have gained enough momentum to not only keep it going, but to expand it as well.

Corporate and government precaution seem to be beside the point when our transportation and energy systems could grind to a halt because of problems. It seems that we are at a crossroads here, and that precaution must be employed in order not to create even greater problems for ourselves. Not only do we need whistle blowers (60 Minutes?) but the most intelligent, grounded technocrats imaginable, and ones who are not profit driven. How in the world are to get through this?

Tragedy

A program on NPR lately featured a man who had not listened to his feelings, his concern about a possible problem. And then "tragedy struck," a fire broke out and because some precaution had not been used, some fairly simple process put in place, a friend or relative died. A simple, avoidable tragedy resulted. This event is all too common in a time when people are overloaded with preoccupations and not focusing on basic necessities.

I was raised in a totally different time, of course, and part of that time insisted that things be attended to, that solutions to problems not be assumed. The Boy Scout motto of "Be Prepared" was a further redundancy on this, and it was drummed into us by successive scout masters; it was the mantra we were told to live by. Later in the Navy, we had drills to deal with fires, lifeboat use and the like, and late one night we scrambled to fight a fire in a hold which could have taken the ship in the mid Atlantic.

So I recently spotted a possible problem in a new home moved into by my Son and his Wife and children. I was hesitant to mention it, because in today's society it seemed like it might be "meddling," messing with someone else's business, their sovereignty. But I went back to the story on NPR, thought of that and felt I had to say something, even though there might be problems. The Boy Scouts are considered passe nowadays by many people, perhaps they and other avenues of advice and correction are too old fashioned in a time of rapid change and quick fix solutions.

Hardware

The first hardware store I remember was in Echo Park (L.A.), and I think it was my Grandmother, Nelly Mae, who took me in there. I looked in the drawers and cabinets, the bolts, nuts, washers, what a treasure trove. It was described as a place where you solved problems, got just the right thing to make things work. (Elsewhere in this blog I relate how a father and his daughters lost their hardware store to senseless business development in Minneapolis).

Many years later I discovered another hardware store in another neighborhood, run by a husband and wife team, Steve and Jolene, excellent hardware people. They never failed to come up with a solution to this or that problem, and when I went in with a vexing one one day and asked for their "wizard," Steve took me back to the room where they repaired and reglazed windows, etc., etc. and introduced me to a young Man, Chris. He would fix the problem and did, later to become a friend and work not only with me on projects but works with my carpenter son, Aaron, to this day, and is his friend.

Process, engagement of problems, not something you are about to solve in the aisles or Walmart, KMart or Fleet Farm, unless you are extremely lucky. Lately I found another hardware store, on a side road in Wisconsin, which presents itself as an equipment rental place, construction company that also does snow removal, etc., and only secondarily as a place to solve problems and get needed parts; in other words, a hardware store, When I complained to the man who has been a huge help to me, Jim, he shrugged his shoulders. Are we going to see a resurgence in hardware stores and hardware men and women? I hope so, because this will be an indication that problems can be solved, that you don't trash what doesn't work, it can be fixed.

Vacillations of aging

It is instructive to be with siblings and friends who are getting on in age, and to compare how they see themselves with your own (elderly) attitudes, and those of others. In an age dominated by youth and mass media & advertising, controlled by those who would market to young people or people who would like to appear or be younger than they are, things can be extremely confusing (!). At times it seems that people are almost chameleon like, and at others want to be recognized for what they truly are.

Having been raised by parents who were born the early part of the twentieth century, and grandparents who born in the 1880s, the dimensions of the changes are undoubtedly greater than for others. My grandparents showed their age and didn't seem to need appear younger. My parents were more "youthful" in their elder years, but I never got the idea that they wanted to appear any younger than they were.

At present my confusions are mostly generated by the differences in appearence and attitude, I guess. Often when I am speaking with someone who wants to be in a younger generation (and tries for those appearances) but is stuck with beliefs and mindsets of his own generation (or even earlier ones) it makes me feel a little crazy, and I will find myself moving away. My suspicion is that this may become even more extreme in the future, since the social trends seem to be more supportive and even forgiving of Chamelon like lifestyles; and everything from plastic surgery techniques, organ transplants and advanced cosmetics
may just push the envelopes.

Hysteria

I often think of the word "hysteria" when I view television ads or programs, or observe public advertising or life extremes (in town, in the Cities). Is it my reaction or are these some manifestation of hysteria? When I explained this to one of my sisters she was offended, as if I was describing a norm as something abnormal (?). For example, people running around in a car showroom, as if their lives depended on it, or the fast food ads which have people taking enormous bites out of junk food sandwiches. Or the hyperdrive activity of sitcoms, which are supposed to be funny, and which are backed up by canned laughter. I don't know, perhaps it is my age.

"dinosaur without a mate"

In the concluding chapter in the legendary book on barbeque, "Smokestack Lightning," the author quotes Frank about the future of barbeque in America: "You know, " Frank says, looking around, "what we have here is a dinosaur without a mate." Which sums up a lot of enterprises, from GM right down to a local store not connected to a national chain. If you don't have a "bail out," or a sugar daddy connexion to Wall Street/Feds you'd better enjoy your dinosaur status, and hope for the best. Let the good times roll.

Speaking of the apocalypse, don't miss the production "Collapse," featuring author, ex-police officer & reporter, Michael Ruppert. This mindboggling production documents life beyond peak oil & 9/11 in an alarming, basic way. This is available on DVD, of course, I got it from the public library. Can we avoid "global disaster," (?), this is a primer on the subject.