Thursday, December 11, 2014
Ah, the news.
Wanna talk about the news? You're crazy. Ick. Wow. I don't think I'm imagining it- my impression is that the news, in particular the "Big News" has gotten just astonishingly horrifyingly worse in the past few months. Not one thing after another; but 10 things, after another, all life-threatening for the planet and/or our species, and/or any remaining shreds of what we used to call "civilization".
So; I want to share this with you; I'd encourage you to go to YouTube, see it full screen, and maybe turn your screen brightness up a bit, as this clip is a little dim (it's supposed to be dusk in the movie, for one thing.) I've sworn that one day - I'm going to DO this. On a crowded street. The time is ripe.
I think- it would be good to start a movement of THOUSANDS of people DOING this - around the world. The world is revolting yes? This would fit right in.
And it is by far the most cogent comment on the world and news I know of. And Steve Martin had it nailed in 1987.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
10 comments:
I tend to ignore news except for local info on the principle that I already do lots to help, it only depresses me to no good purpose and an awful lot of it is pure rubbish! I do look up the occasional thing on line and even the odd headline or so. And just get on with life etc. I do follow a few good blogs too :) Including this one.
viv
Loved it!
Viv- an excellent strategy. Thoreau has some nice bits about the absurdity of news and people's addiction to it, 100+ years ago. Then there's Irtnog. Hm- may be time to revisit that fabulous story. :-)
I read it because it's been part of my job for decades; and I find weird side references that can be fascinating; for me.
Mary Ellen- a huge favorite of mine. One of these days; I really AM going to do it. Kind pointless out here in the boonies, though. Pass it on!
One bright bit of news; Wisdom laid another egg.
http://usfwspacific.tumblr.com/post/105446110115/wisdom-the-worlds-oldest-laysan-albatross
I think I first heard of her from you.
Greenpa your take on the news - did you ever happen to think you are just a hysterian/collapse a holic?
I came here after reading some old comments from "The Automatic Earth" circa 2009 - it is truly astonishing how many people (yourself included) were whipped up into an apocalyptic frenzy by the writings of two people who could not possibly have been more wrong**? Anyway, just something to consider.
**Not in direction, but in magnitude (i.e. DJIA 1,000 - USA to look like a third world country 100 years ago - we wont recognize our hometown by christmas).
Corey- sure! All the time. Have you ever noticed how huge chunks of the world economies and governments - really really don't make sense? And how the official experts on those bits of humanity - never ever agree, and can't predict what happens next? ::-) A bunch of the folks on the Automatic Earth- are very well credentialed hard scientists. Were you aware that Stoneleigh, for example; was hired by the European Union, through Cambridge, to provide expert analysis of the future of nuclear power in Eastern Europe? Because- she was the expert? And; if you recall; that was the peak of the bank collapse; things DID look terrible.
Check back in in 10 years; we'll still be around. One of the things we HAVE learned, is that the momentum and inertia of multiple global fantasies is much larger, and more reality resistant, than logic would predict. That's very interesting, and worth knowing. But- gravity does win, in the end. :-)
"One of the things we HAVE learned, is that the momentum and inertia of multiple global fantasies is much larger, and more reality resistant, than logic would predict. That's very interesting, and worth knowing. But- gravity does win, in the end. :-)"
I hope you (we/ TAE) has indeed LEARNED this. I learned this in the dotcom implosion as I watched firsthand the effects of can-kicking.
I was thus astonished how everyone on TAE was convinced this time THIS TIME, can-kicking CANNOT work and buy us more time. Have they not realized that can-kicking is a time honored strategy of reality denying since the war of 1812 when the war left us insolvent?
Regarding inertia - remember Emperor Diocletian implemented can kicking early in the 3nd century. 700 years later, his detractors were finally proven correct when the last vestiges of the Roman empire did "collapse". Something to think about next time we find someone convinced they will witness the final collapse during their finite time on this planet.
Merry Christmas and see you in 10 years!
"I learned this in the dotcom implosion as I watched firsthand the effects of can-kicking."
Well, see, you had a head start via personal experience, on comprehending! :-)
I saw, and started tracking, parallels between US culture and the Decline of Rome when I was in high school, ~1964. I found the parallels absolutely convincing. And there are an abundance of events which corroborate the comparison. But it's still hard to extract bits of "true" amid the huge noise of disinformations actively promulgated. Nearly 100% of the "information" spread through official channels is NOT intended to inform you of truth; but to direct your opinion in a particular path.
One factor on the side of the collapse-a-holics; ALL civilizations/societies - HAVE collapsed in the past. The original civilizations of Egypt, Crete, Harappa, Sumer, Greece, Rome- are completely gone. China is unique, and though the government collapses regularly, the core civilization mostly survives each collapse because the writing system- separate from all the spoken languages it unites; is so useful.
Human societal systems arise, decline, collapse, and disappear. Always have- with no exceptions. The concept that OUR system is, of course, different; has to seem infantile to any observer striving for "outside" analysis. And all the signals? Looking bad, if you can get your hands on non-disinformation. "When", though- is really truly difficult to hit. Logic is of very little utility; as repeatedly demonstrated. My personal guess at this point is that the tipping factor, when it becomes obvious to many that collapse is underway, is more likely to be a natural calamity (like the coming Richter 9 California "Big One") then a human activity (like the invasion of Ukraine.) Time ---- WILL tell. When it's ready. :-) Merry Christmas; and I expect to be mostly functional in 10 years; I'll be here.
You do remember my dear that I did this once just to do it. I'm pretty sure I scared people.
Post a Comment