We are ever grateful for the energizerwintercow to bring these matters to our attention. Before our certain doom, we hope Wintercow and his herd will graze in green pastures.
Op-Ed in today’s WSJ entitled The Ideology of Catastrophe
“Sir Martin Rees, a British astrophysicist and former president of the Royal Society, gives humanity a 50% chance of surviving beyond the 21st century. Oncologists and toxicologists predict that the end of mankind should arrive even earlier, around 2060, thanks to a general sterilization of sperm”
Trey, we are doomed. But if we are doomed, and we have 500 years of coal, not to mention who knows how much natural gas and oil in our country alone to last until well beyond your great grandchildren are dead, what’s this sustainability thing all about? Assuming one is anti- nuke and wants us all to heat our homes with Franklin stoves burning switchgrass pellets. As WC often points out, one cannot have both ways.
The video reminds me of Martha Stewart’s tangle with the law, she wasn’t sent up the river for insider trading, but for “lying” to government officials. Seems like ordinary people are now being treated like Al Capone now.
Harry, I think we’re in agreement. As WC points out, sustainability has more to do with symbolism than anything substantial. It’s a code word that says you’re part of the “E” community.
It’s also an excuse used by political types and crony crapitalists to get special favors. Any idea why we have so many wind turbines here in Texas? They are here in part thanks to Rick Perry and Enron:
Here is a less-than-doomsday report by a surprising source, the chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy, Peter Kareiva. It’s really wonderful reading. Heretical stuff. Had I read this a few years ago, I might not have pulled back so hard from the Environmental way of thinking.
“In his 2005 book, Collapse, the geographer Jared Diamond famously claimed that Easter Island’s inhabitants devolved into cannibalism after they mindlessly cut down the last trees — a parable for humankind’s shortsighted overuse of natural resources. But Diamond got the history wrong. It was the combined effect of a nonnative species — the Polynesian rat, which ate tree seeds — and European slavery raids that destroyed Easter Island’s people, not their shortsighted management of nature.”
And another:
“The trouble for conservation is that the data simply do not support the idea of a fragile nature at risk of collapse.”
Trey- I read that book- I certainly like the above mentioned explanation better than the thought of some shortsighted individual with an ax thinking, “Well,…” And as for our collective intelligence- it reminds me of the jet plane with only one of four engines working, and hearing the pilot explain that it gives us just enough airspeed to arrive at the scene of the crash, shortly before the ambulances and firetrucks show. I once told an individual half of all people are below average- he said, “Oh no, it’s got to be more than that…”
Well, all, thanks for the great conversation! Maybe we are not all doomed, at least not until January 1, 2020, and not even then if you live fifteen air miles from the solar picnic table.
There ought to be a book, if one doesn’t exist already, of wrong examples. Since college, I have come to understand that the Nova was actually a relatively popular car in South America, and Trey just enlightened me about Polynesian rats. I know there’s been a few others, just can’t remember all the other “classic” examples that end up being fiction.
Wintercow has many books in hand, as long as he gets moving.
He needs to write two books first. The first is a textbook, a cash cow, maybe with Landsburg or by himself to replace conventional old economics textbooks. The second one will be aimed at the nonfiction crowd who wasted their money on Freakonomics.
The third book will be a book for children without a heavy communist or supply-side message, maybe with input (limited) from Rizzo’s smart wife Rachel, picking up perhaps about growing up around clear lakes.
The fourth will be Rizzo’s tour de force, an Addison Wesley text for high-school students, explaining in clear terms how the world works, published just in time for his kids, who will need the royalties to afford the million dollars to go to Amherst.
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I was immediately captivated by your blog post! Ever since I discovered your blog, I’ve been completely absorbed in your other articles. The enthralling content you offer has left me craving for more. I’ve subscribed to your RSS feed and am eagerly anticipating your upcoming updates!Have a great day.
How’s everything?During our exploration of a new website, we stumbled upon a webpage that immediately grabbed our attention. We are thoroughly impressed with what we have witnessed thus far and eagerly anticipate your forthcoming updates. The anticipation to delve deeper into your website and discover all the incredible features it holds is overwhelming.Until we meet again.
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We are ever grateful for the energizerwintercow to bring these matters to our attention. Before our certain doom, we hope Wintercow and his herd will graze in green pastures.
Many of these dire forecasts are based on the species-area relation. Here’s a good introduction to what it is and how it is used (and abused):
http://budiansky.blogspot.com/2010/09/teflon-doomsayers.html?m=1
Op-Ed in today’s WSJ entitled The Ideology of Catastrophe
“Sir Martin Rees, a British astrophysicist and former president of the Royal Society, gives humanity a 50% chance of surviving beyond the 21st century. Oncologists and toxicologists predict that the end of mankind should arrive even earlier, around 2060, thanks to a general sterilization of sperm”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303815404577331651761806744.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Trey, we are doomed. But if we are doomed, and we have 500 years of coal, not to mention who knows how much natural gas and oil in our country alone to last until well beyond your great grandchildren are dead, what’s this sustainability thing all about? Assuming one is anti- nuke and wants us all to heat our homes with Franklin stoves burning switchgrass pellets. As WC often points out, one cannot have both ways.
Have IT both ways. All grammar and punctuation errors are Steve Jobs’ fault, RIP.
The video reminds me of Martha Stewart’s tangle with the law, she wasn’t sent up the river for insider trading, but for “lying” to government officials. Seems like ordinary people are now being treated like Al Capone now.
And yes, we are doomed!
Harry, I think we’re in agreement. As WC points out, sustainability has more to do with symbolism than anything substantial. It’s a code word that says you’re part of the “E” community.
It’s also an excuse used by political types and crony crapitalists to get special favors. Any idea why we have so many wind turbines here in Texas? They are here in part thanks to Rick Perry and Enron:
http://www.masterresource.org/2012/02/texas-eu-wind-power/
WC, one last comment before sleep.
Here is a less-than-doomsday report by a surprising source, the chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy, Peter Kareiva. It’s really wonderful reading. Heretical stuff. Had I read this a few years ago, I might not have pulled back so hard from the Environmental way of thinking.
http://breakthroughjournal.org/content/authors/peter-kareiva-robert-lalasz-an-1/conservation-in-the-anthropoce.shtml
Here’s a quote relevant to your original link:
“In his 2005 book, Collapse, the geographer Jared Diamond famously claimed that Easter Island’s inhabitants devolved into cannibalism after they mindlessly cut down the last trees — a parable for humankind’s shortsighted overuse of natural resources. But Diamond got the history wrong. It was the combined effect of a nonnative species — the Polynesian rat, which ate tree seeds — and European slavery raids that destroyed Easter Island’s people, not their shortsighted management of nature.”
And another:
“The trouble for conservation is that the data simply do not support the idea of a fragile nature at risk of collapse.”
Heber Rizzo? I sense a relation to wintercrow.
Trey- I read that book- I certainly like the above mentioned explanation better than the thought of some shortsighted individual with an ax thinking, “Well,…” And as for our collective intelligence- it reminds me of the jet plane with only one of four engines working, and hearing the pilot explain that it gives us just enough airspeed to arrive at the scene of the crash, shortly before the ambulances and firetrucks show. I once told an individual half of all people are below average- he said, “Oh no, it’s got to be more than that…”
Well, all, thanks for the great conversation! Maybe we are not all doomed, at least not until January 1, 2020, and not even then if you live fifteen air miles from the solar picnic table.
There ought to be a book, if one doesn’t exist already, of wrong examples. Since college, I have come to understand that the Nova was actually a relatively popular car in South America, and Trey just enlightened me about Polynesian rats. I know there’s been a few others, just can’t remember all the other “classic” examples that end up being fiction.
Wintercow has many books in hand, as long as he gets moving.
He needs to write two books first. The first is a textbook, a cash cow, maybe with Landsburg or by himself to replace conventional old economics textbooks. The second one will be aimed at the nonfiction crowd who wasted their money on Freakonomics.
The third book will be a book for children without a heavy communist or supply-side message, maybe with input (limited) from Rizzo’s smart wife Rachel, picking up perhaps about growing up around clear lakes.
The fourth will be Rizzo’s tour de force, an Addison Wesley text for high-school students, explaining in clear terms how the world works, published just in time for his kids, who will need the royalties to afford the million dollars to go to Amherst.
That’s four books.
Rizzo will become famous and rich as an expert in social studies.
How’s everything?Your blog post was truly enjoyable to read! Since stumbling upon your blog, I have been captivated by your other posts. Your compelling content has left me eagerly anticipating more. I have subscribed to your RSS feed and am looking forward to your future updates!Keep in touch. my web page. Come by 강남 셔츠룸
Howdy-doWhile browsing a new website, we came across a webpage that immediately caught our attention. We are extremely impressed with what we have seen so far and are eagerly looking forward to your upcoming updates. We can’t wait to delve deeper into your website and uncover all the amazing things it has to offer. my page. Come by 재테크 종류
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I was immediately captivated by your blog post! Ever since I discovered your blog, I have been engrossed in your other articles. The captivating content you offer has left me yearning for more. I have subscribed to your RSS feed and am eagerly anticipating your future updates!See you around.
I was immediately captivated by your blog post! Ever since I discovered your blog, I’ve been completely absorbed in your other articles. The enthralling content you offer has left me craving for more. I’ve subscribed to your RSS feed and am eagerly anticipating your upcoming updates!Have a great day.
How’s everything?During our exploration of a new website, we stumbled upon a webpage that immediately grabbed our attention. We are thoroughly impressed with what we have witnessed thus far and eagerly anticipate your forthcoming updates. The anticipation to delve deeper into your website and discover all the incredible features it holds is overwhelming.Until we meet again.
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