“There will be hunger instead of plenty, cold where there was once warmth, effort where there was leisure, sickness where there was health, and violence where there was peace.”
The Long Emergency ~ James Howard Kunstler

This summer will no doubt break old and set new climate records in the Midwest and in many other parts of the United States. As I write Oklahoma and Texas are living through an extended drought that makes the 1930s look not as bad as we used to believe. Combine that with what is now being called

I've been thinking about winter as the days shorten and my drive to work is now mostly in the dark. What is it about this cocoon of darkness that makes such an impact? And what it is that I wish to do during this particular time of the year when the daylight does not even provoke shadows and all is either soft light or the complete absence of that light? What might I learn as the sun makes a quick, low arc across the skies each day racing from east to west so fast that I hardly know he has been here? What might I learn from the interior of my own heart?

On a recent visit with my father-in-law (a retired engineer), I found myself in a debate (i.e., argument) of science vs. nature. At one point I found myself saying, “so you think humans are smarter than the planet?” With eyes round and big as saucers, my father-in-law looked at me in horror – the kind of horror that said not only are you insane, but you are married to my only son – and in a very controlled voice replied, “I think it’s a PLANET!” The tone of arrogant superiority was unmistakable.

Global Population: 6.9 billion and rising

Peak oil: Historically U.S. reached in 1970s; currently civilization stands at the very edge of this available and cheap resource if not, in reality, on the down slope

Global climate change: Massive changes have been taking place in the planetary system. Many scientists believe these radical changes to be caused by humans

Change - why do we love to fight changes?
Everything changes but - yet - everything is the same.

Every day is different than the last. There was a time we cleared our fields by hand, then with horse and plow, then with a Model C tractor and now with huge air conditioned tractors. It’s called progress! But where is the progress in our government, health care and schools? How are we meeting the needs of the people?