A really good interview on Democracy Now! today. A real clear analysis about this so-called economic crisis. It's focused on the United States and what's really going on. Check it out.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Mushroom Madness
No this isn't a post about mushroom hunting in the woods. It's actually a story about the silly global economy, where oil fuels a completely insane production line. I'm in the city, where I just can't be comfortable. But that's another story. We're staying at Jane's parent's place and they are at the cottage (again thanks to the global economy).
Jane's mum shops at Costco, which is a bewildering place, a monstrous cavern of consumption. But you get amazing prices. I'm realizing that it's best never to even go in the automatic doors. I'm so tempted by the deals. I buy organic nachos by the kilogram there. Organic green tea? How about 100 teabags?
Anyway I was excited to uncover a plastic jar containing 1 pound of dehydrated mushrooms purchased at Costco the other day. And here's the most amazing part: it contains four types of mushroom. Porcini from Chile, shiitake from China, yellow bolete from Serbia and oyster from Montenegro. Apart from Serbia and Montenegro who are close geographically, all these mushrooms are grown thousands of kilometres apart.
Then each mushroom type is gathered and shipped to France, where the label declares the plastic jar was packed. Then the jars are exported to Canada, likely arriving in Ontario and then they are shipped to Halifax, where they were purchased.
What an amazing story! Pharaohs didn't have it this good. Think of all the greenhouse gas emissions to move these mushrooms around. But at least there were some jobs created. And you have to wonder at what point the mushrooms were dehydrated. Hopefully in the open air.
So tomorrow I'm going to make Jane a homemade veggie burger (kidney beans, chickpeas and millet base) and we'll have fried mushrooms on top. She will have a little Swiss cheese I'm sure. What decadence!
Jane's mum shops at Costco, which is a bewildering place, a monstrous cavern of consumption. But you get amazing prices. I'm realizing that it's best never to even go in the automatic doors. I'm so tempted by the deals. I buy organic nachos by the kilogram there. Organic green tea? How about 100 teabags?
Anyway I was excited to uncover a plastic jar containing 1 pound of dehydrated mushrooms purchased at Costco the other day. And here's the most amazing part: it contains four types of mushroom. Porcini from Chile, shiitake from China, yellow bolete from Serbia and oyster from Montenegro. Apart from Serbia and Montenegro who are close geographically, all these mushrooms are grown thousands of kilometres apart.
Then each mushroom type is gathered and shipped to France, where the label declares the plastic jar was packed. Then the jars are exported to Canada, likely arriving in Ontario and then they are shipped to Halifax, where they were purchased.
What an amazing story! Pharaohs didn't have it this good. Think of all the greenhouse gas emissions to move these mushrooms around. But at least there were some jobs created. And you have to wonder at what point the mushrooms were dehydrated. Hopefully in the open air.
So tomorrow I'm going to make Jane a homemade veggie burger (kidney beans, chickpeas and millet base) and we'll have fried mushrooms on top. She will have a little Swiss cheese I'm sure. What decadence!
Changes
Wow, I'm definitely aware of a change in myself the past few weeks. I'm really becoming more supportive and nurturing of Jane as the big day approaches. I'm anticipating her needs and making her really special food and rubbing her dear, swollen feet, driving all the time and I'm not grumbling at all. I think I used to before. Perhaps she is releasing some hormones to make me more caring. Whatever it is I'm very happy to see the change.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
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A day alone with the internet, far from gardens, means writing. Not well but something. We should all be writing. Or gardening. Something real. I should be outside.
Here is a video from a band I quite like. This video made me think about my life. What a life it's been.
Here is a video from a band I quite like. This video made me think about my life. What a life it's been.
Last Known Surroundings from Explosions in the Sky on Vimeo.
Mania on Show
Just read a good article from George Monbiot. Generally all his pieces are at least though provoking. However he is now jumping on board with nuclear power but then so are all who have a modicum of sanity yet still cling to civilization.
The article is important because it points out the mania spouted by all governments. We have to cut emissions one day! We have to grow the economy the next! Repeat.
Nova Scotia is terrible. Our dear leader traveled to Copenhagen, jumping on the bandwagon seemingly. He came back with a plan. Yet all the while he was encouraging oil and gas in Nova Scotia, and a little fracking for good measure. At least Harper doesn't pretend that he sees climate change as a socialist plot. But Dexter, Nova Scotia's answer to Barack Obama (only white and pudgy), is 'creating good jobs and growing the economy'. That's what all his signs say anyway. Would you take a job or a habitable planet? It's getting to that point.
This death economy really is a pain. You can't have your cake and eat it too. But maybe we just have to drop these governments and start again. Expect a long fight.
The article is important because it points out the mania spouted by all governments. We have to cut emissions one day! We have to grow the economy the next! Repeat.
Nova Scotia is terrible. Our dear leader traveled to Copenhagen, jumping on the bandwagon seemingly. He came back with a plan. Yet all the while he was encouraging oil and gas in Nova Scotia, and a little fracking for good measure. At least Harper doesn't pretend that he sees climate change as a socialist plot. But Dexter, Nova Scotia's answer to Barack Obama (only white and pudgy), is 'creating good jobs and growing the economy'. That's what all his signs say anyway. Would you take a job or a habitable planet? It's getting to that point.
This death economy really is a pain. You can't have your cake and eat it too. But maybe we just have to drop these governments and start again. Expect a long fight.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Post Petroleum Human?
On a whim I decided to look up Mike Ruppert, formerly of From the Wilderness to see what was happening with him. This is a guy who wrote a lot about 9/11 back in the day and then about peak oil and I appreciated a lot of his insights. It was nice to hear someone moderately sane for once. I still meet people who tell me that the hydrogen economy is coming. In fact it happened the other day.
Anyway I found the following interview with Mike which you can check out if you want.
I'm a little concerned that people are annointing Mike as the leader of some new movement. I know there is a movement but it's a slow movement, like ice melting. But I'm very skeptical of leaders and of people who bow down before them. We are all amazing and don't need leaders.
But since he's way more articulate than me it's worth listening to.
Anyway I found the following interview with Mike which you can check out if you want.
I'm a little concerned that people are annointing Mike as the leader of some new movement. I know there is a movement but it's a slow movement, like ice melting. But I'm very skeptical of leaders and of people who bow down before them. We are all amazing and don't need leaders.
But since he's way more articulate than me it's worth listening to.
Weird moment in the video: a Volt (electric car) drives behind Mike as he is speaking. Made me think that this was a subliminal message to buy one. Perhaps he has sold out. Maybe Chevy sponsors him now.
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