Tuesday, June 10, 2008

My Thoughts on Global Warming

The whole global warming debate mystifies me a bit. Science isn't something I follow a lot, but it just doesn't make sense to me from a common sense standpoint.

If global warming really is happening, we seriously need to do something about it. Scientists predict that increasing global temperature would cause the oceans to rise, possibly increasing the intensity of extreme weather patterns, changing the agricultural yields, making some species extent and maybe even increasing disease. That's frightening. Natural disasters now can kill thousands of people. What do you think is going to happen if they get ten times worse? Without even mentioning those other possible problems, I think you have a case right there.

And if it really isn't happening and it's just a part of the natural cycle, well, what's wrong with taking measures to reduce our impact on the world anyways?

I mean, you can't say that the human race isn't having an effect on the planet. At this point in history, we're hugely wasteful with our natural resources. It's a proven fact that pollution is BAD- it messes up the quality of the air we breathe, causes acid rain, and really hurts the animal life. We're going through our fossil fuel supply and need to find alternative sources of energy ANYWAYS.

So what's the big deal? People keep freaking out because they don't like the way Al Gore looks and talks, or because scientists disagree on the global warming issue, or because they see it as a silly trend or an overblown issue probably planted by the leftist conspiracy. I'm even more pissed off at the stupid ass pompous religious people who believe since God gave the Earth to us, nothing we can do to it can damage it so we have no responsibility to take care of it. Way to make Christians look bad, idiots.

The point I'm trying to make is- whether you believe global warming is really happening or not, we're at a point in time that changes have to be made to protect our environment anyways- for all of our own sakes. Honestly, what we need to do to protect ourselves from global warming will mean a lot of people will have to change how they live- but it's worth it to avoid what we think could happen.

And if it doesn't happen? Well, we'll be saving the world anyways. I mean, come on, half of the people making such a big deal over the amount of money and time it'll take to change things proposed by 'global warming quacks' were the ones who were changing their lives and stockpiling food and necessities back in 1999 during the Y2K scare. If you're honestly more concerned about what happens to humanity if our computers go crazy than what happens to us if our environment becomes too toxic for us to live in....I feel sad for you.

I think we just need to send a copy of the Lorax to everyone complaining about needing to change their lives for the environment. Maybe that'll sock some sense into their heads.

-Rach

Violet Hill- Alternative Video

This video fascinates me- Coldplay itself actually made this , it wasn't a youtube thing, they just released it online as another video accompanying their beautiful anti-war song, "Violet Hill."

It's interesting- because it's so funny at parts- but as it moves along it gets really...sobering, with its many reminders of war. I love it, but it makes me so sad...

-Rach

Random Thoughts

1. Is it really smart to use the word "egress" to mean "exit" on a sign in a dorm hallway directing residents how to leave the building in an emergency? I mean- we're talking average college students here. How many of them are going to know what egress means? It would suck if they were stuck not knowing what to do because the sign assumed they were more intelligent then they really were....

2. On the second floor of our dorm, there's a spot on the side of the stairwell meant to be a "place of refuge" for people in wheelchairs- someplace firefighters know to get them from. Someone drew flames in red around the person on the sign on the wall. How ironic...and frightening. If I was restricted to a wheelchair, I'd really want to live on the first floor of a building- so I wouldn't have to depend on anyone else remembering to get me out to survive. But I mean, Mason doesn't really have a good track record with that, according to this disturbing incident. Her mom wrote a letter to the Washington Post about it recently.

3. Would it really be a smart idea for Obama to choose Hillary as his VP? I wonder.


Long time no post- I'll try to be better about it.

-Rach

Sunday, June 1, 2008

The Orange

By Wendy Cope

At lunchtime I bought a huge orange-
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave-
They got quarters and I had a half.

And that orange, it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park.
This is peace and contentment. It's new.

The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all the jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you. I'm glad I exist