April 2005

There were 45 posts published in April 2005 (this is page 7 of 8).

New TV Channel

All this coverage of the Schiavo episode and the Pope has got me to thinking of a new cable station venture (if it doesn’t already exist): The Death Channel.
It could feature death watches, funerals, mourners, obituaries, executions, autopsy shows (how about some classic Quincy, M.E.?), combat/catastrophe specials, murder trials, on and on.
People are naturally fascinated with death, and there would never a shortage of new content for this concept.

“The Long Emergency”

It’s a bit doomsdayish, but this James Kunstler article on the world’s energy future is quite thought-provoking.
It’s unclear to me when the world will reach peak oil production, but it could be within a decade. And when we do, Mr. Kunstler’s piece gives an indication of the kind of changes which could be in store for us. The days of the SUV/Suburan Sprawl Era are likely numbered.
Kunstler has an interesting prediction for the southeast U.S.:

I’m not optimistic about the Southeast, either, for different reasons. I think it will be subject to substantial levels of violence as the grievances of the formerly middle class boil over and collide with the delusions of Pentecostal Christian extremism. The latent encoded behavior of Southern culture includes an outsized notion of individualism and the belief that firearms ought to be used in the defense of it. This is a poor recipe for civic cohesion.

That’s not very difficult to imagine.
Recently someone, who I consider to be in the know on political/economic trends, told me the day is not far off when government will be mandating much tougher fuel efficiency and the use of hybrid technologies in vehicles. It will probably start out in California and spread from there.
This sounds 180 degrees off the energy industry-authored talking points we hear from Washington these days. But it probably wouldn’t take very long with $3/gallon gasoline to generate a shift in the political landscape.

“First Catholic President�

Heh.
Then again, perhaps all our former presidents are becoming Catholic. I just heard a news report on the radio about the gang heading to the Pope’s funeral–all that is, except Carter.
“It’s not clear why President Carter won’t be traveling to the funeral,” the news reporter said, disapprovingly.
Hmmm, perhaps because he’s not Catholic?
Instead of asking why someone isn’t going to Rome, I think the appropriate question should be why most of these non-Catholic politicians are going.