Between those sleepless souls in Seattle, or worriers in Worcester, are those living in Happy Valley. These, I'm guessing, are the group in lurv, on crack or surfing their own vanity wave.
I knew an American in Korea whom I described as 'starstruck with himself'. If you suffer from that affliction, you don't have the ability to see things the way they are. Probably you walk around looking for mirrors to indulge your self-indulgence, and otherwise chide people to be like you - be happy, be positive. You don't see the meaning and value and importance in the real world. You only see your world,and what you want.
It's that sort of circus-fashion-show hoopla thinking that has driven us to where we are now. What we need is CRITICAL thinking. Think about what isn't working. Thinking about how to make some real, lasting changes. But more important than thinking, actually doing.
I have been considering joining WWOOF - this involves working for free, but you get fed, on organic farms around the world. I am consistently working on getting into better physical condition. Losing weight is something we all ought to be striving for, because in that, we learn how to live better, and be better people.
I have no doubt that the way we live today, although it might be filled with stuff, is actually a poorer existence for exactly that reason. This is one of the reasons cycling is so popular. People get to indulge their need for technology and gadgets, but in doing so, it brings them together, teaches them how to co-operate,and they also learn, through physical activity, to know themselves.
Dead Car
Today after work I arrived at my car and found it dead. When I pressed the immobiliser button, nothing. When I put the key in the ignition, nothing. It is a strange experience, because it is so unexpected. We expect things to work? So what did I do? Well, I didn't know what to do for a few minutes, and then I recruited someone to help me push the car, to try to jump-start it. Fortunately it was parked in an arcade close to a ramp, but even once in motion, not even the ignition lights blipped. The car was shoved, using human power, another 100 metres or so. Still nothing.
Let me tell you - the amount of energy you need to push a car is A LOT. Forget about pushing a car uphill by yourself. Two people have enough trouble pushing a car at walking pace on a level surface. In the end a guy called OUPA brought around a Toyota Conquest and using jumper leads, spent a while charging my battery. The electrics were such that I first had to dis-able the immobiliser. The car works now, but the sophisticated radio is now asking for a code. What code?
Meanwhile, I drove home, 5 kilometres, with very little effort. I was even able to talk to my friend on the phone while my vehicle whisked me over highways. When you push a car, you need all your energy (and body parts) investing in doing just that.
1 Barrel of Oil = 23,200 Hours of Human Work Output
1 barrel of oil is 159 litres.
1 litre of oil = 146 hours of Human Work Output
So let's say you work 8 hours a day...
1 litre of oil = 18 work days or, if weekends are rested, one month of hard physical work.
Now think about the 40 or 50 litres you put in your car every month. Maybe appreciate that liquid a bit more next time, and use it with care and consideration.
That is why oil is such a magical endowment. The energy potential is huge, and there is nothing that comes close. And now that energy resources are becoming less, we have somuch more work to do, whether we like it or not.
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