Plankton and People
This is a response to Putting Plankton Before People at spiked-online.com.
Are plankton really being put before people? That sounds like a false dilemma.
We probably cannot survive on earth without plankton, and there are signs of serious trouble in the oceans. While I don't think that dams are the principle cause of it, they probably don't help (...)
Are GMO Crops Causing Disease Epidemics?
This petition circulating among some of my friends on Facebook contains a questionable assertion:
"As early as the 1991, a body of scientific research began to form which now includes articles in over 600 journals. As a whole, these offer scientific evidence that GM foods, hormones, and related pesticides are the root cause for the increase of many serious (...)
Chemtrails and the Lizard Brain
A conspiracy theory case study
The word chemtrail is short for "chemical contrails" and refers to a conspiracy theory that some combination of chemical and biological agents is being deliberately sprayed from airplanes, usually over populated areas. I first learned about this threat last summer when a friend told me about her deep fears for her children’s health. She explained that chemtrails could be any number of things, including a (...)
My "Dear John" Letter to Wells Fargo
Dear John Wells Fargo,
I don't think we can see each other any more. I've changed as I've grown older, and am not the same person I used to be. You never were a person, but you've been acting like one and that's become a problem for me.
You were a much smaller regional bank called Norwest when we first met in Boulder, (...)
My declarations
We are the revolution taking place. We are responsible for the world in every sense – political, social, moral.
We are responsible for the planet. We are responsible for the unemployed.
Of course, we can blame the banks, the disaster that irresponsible people created in the financial system, the political repression, the inability of the Govts. to hear what people has to say.But this will not help the world (...)
On civil rights vs public goods
Lately I've run across many characterizations of 'rights' as inclusive of food, water, shelter, health care, education, etc. For example, see this Declaration of Occupation. I have a problem with that characterization. The original distinction of 'rights', as found in the Bill of Rights, is that of 'inalienable' rights which are innate to (...)
The Need for Enemies
The wise learn many things from their enemies.
-Aristophanes
There's something about the shower that is often inspiring. The swirl of water flowing down the drain is a nice metaphor for the way disparate thoughts sometimes come together. I'm going to present this more or less as it came to me in the shower today.
I was contemplating how Senator (...)
Birthday Wishes
There are two things I want for my 43rd birthday that may not be realistic. The fact that I have to write an essay to explain them doesn't bode well.
First, I want to see an end to the war in Afghanistan. It began on my birthday in 2001. I don't understand why we are still there and I don't think that I know anyone who does.
Last spring I saw the movie Where Soldiers Come (...)
How Virgin Mobile Turned a Customer into an Enemy
This spring when my Verizon contract expired I ported my number to Google Voice and tried taking calls from Google Talk. After a few weeks I was basically happy with this arrangement for most of my needs. I only lacked coverage on the road--mostly for navigation or emergencies. After some research I decided to try a pre-paid Android phone, the LG Optimus V. On June 11 I ordered one from Virgin Mobile's website. I selected the option for priority shipping which added $11.99 to my $199.99 (...)
A Libertine Takes Communion With Darkness
My 42nd year here has been epic, and I'd be remiss if I didn't tip my fancy new hat to Douglas Adams. I turned 42 just three days shy of 10/10/10, which is 42 in binary notation.
I was not seeking enlightenment in 2010. And at some point I realized it had begun to find me despite myself. I started to know the Middle Way as never before. And despite that, I also know just how ego-attached I still am and how (...)
