Whose Future is it?

The last post was foreshadowing a future that could mean massive destruction for life on this planet as we know it. Depressing, I know, so this post is looking at some of the advances, or missteps, that human civilization is embarking on even while the change in our climate may make some of them impossible or irrelevant.

I ran across some rather interesting predictions for major stories put forth by The Economist back in December 2018 for 2019 and beyond. From advances in technology that have wide ranging applications to political upheaval in the West they are snippets of events that will affect all of us. In the case of Trump they already are. The massive airport hubs in China, and another rather surprising country, will impact not just air travel but climate change. The realization in Japan that they can't sustain their lifestyle when most of their population is aging rapidly and the supply of workers is dwindling has implications for other countries who will find themselves in the same boat. Japan's solution may surprise some of us. And the moon? Yes, it looms over all of us.

So if you are sitting inside on another snowy day, like I am, and have some time to while away, here are the videos of our future... maybe sort of. Yes, I will always qualify that because one doesn't really know what the future holds.

Part 1:

Part 2:

" I don't want your hope..."

I mentioned her in passing before in the comments section, the girl from Sweden. I think it is about time I gave her another venue, even one as small as mine, to express her thoughts. Because her thoughts should be ours.

I also mentioned before the idea that we are in a period of mass extinction, as did Greta in her talk. This second video examines a world of declining insect populations. You may have heard of the concern about bee populations declining. They aren't the only ones. And, yes, it does matter. That is, if you are fond of food.

Take a moment and listen...

Treason

Espionage, they call it the second oldest profession in the world. And I suspect that, like the first, it will never go away. Spying for one's country is one thing, but spying for a foreign power against one's country is another. It's called treason, and would be considered a high crime or misdemeanor. Don't ask me why that phrase popped into my head. I have an interesting, and rather depressing I would say, video today from the History channel about some famous spies who betrayed America. It is worth watching, though, to remind us of what it looks like and how it can happen.

One of the common denominators in all of those cases was that so many people really didn't believe that the guilty person would have done what they did, or that it could happen at that level of government. But greed, for one thing, is a huge motivating factor. The video is long, but never boring.

A Slice of Minnesota

I thought it might be time for another post on my fair state. As many of you know we can get, ummm, rather cold in the winter. This has led to some rather unusual ways of dealing with our propensity to hibernate until spring. It has become a tradition to brave the elements on New Year's Day by jumping into what is really, literally, ice cold water. We call it the Polar Plunge. I know, some might find it, well, odd, but you just gotta think outside the box.

I ran across a video from this year's plunge on Lake Minnetonka. It does appear that we have dragged some poor, innocent visitors from foreign lands into our crazy world. But they took it in stride and with good humor.

I must say that some of those people can swim quite quickly.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Believe

I asked in the last post about the spirit of Christmas. Perhaps it isn't just about giving, but also about faith. The faith we have in what we cannot see, but can only imagine. Right now it seems that everywhere I turn there are only sad tidings. But that isn't the spirit with which my country was founded. So many people who have went before imagined a different world. One where anything was possible for those who worked hard and kept the faith in something larger than themselves.

Maybe we need to regain that faith we had in ourselves and in a larger meaning to life.

Remember...

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas!

A Christmas of Comfort

It's Christmas time again. So what have you been doing to keep the spirit alive? Or perhaps a better question is, what is the spirit of Christmas? I've done some decorating, some shopping, and I've made my fudge and will probably make another type of candy today. Next weekend will be the Christmas cookies to take to a Christmas Day gathering. It's what many of us do. Perhaps it is our version of self sacrifice and giving. Fighting those crowds at the stores isn't a pleasant thing. ;)

But while we have been doing those types of things, others have been up to something quite different. I ran across an article just today about the USNS Comfort. It is one of our hospital ships, which is sent to support our troops, to assist at disaster areas, and has also been tasked to aid those in South America who have little access to medical care.

USNS Comfort

Some have asked why so many people want to come to the United States. Perhaps the answer lies in something so many seem to have forgotten. It is something that is within all of us, the compassion and kindness to recognize people in need and to offer help.

I also ran across this video of a scene from “The Newsroom”.

Maybe the place where Christmas spirit resides is also where a great country does too.

A Day of Mourning

Today we observed a day of mourning for former President George H.W. Bush. A man who garnered the respect of many who were fortunate enough to have known him. In this day of bitter political rivalry, and the self absorption of so many, it was almost a relief to reflect on the life of someone who came from a gentler generation, someone who believed in something greater than himself.

We will miss your light.

(This is one speech where W. shined.  His father would have been proud.)