tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post8749026290180381561..comments2023-12-23T05:14:34.273-05:00Comments on Wit's End: An Ill WindGail Zawackihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-78707382855999591572015-10-04T16:59:58.377-04:002015-10-04T16:59:58.377-04:001. Wind/solar will never be enough to power 7 bil...1. Wind/solar will never be enough to power 7 billion people at modern living standards. The technology isn't sufficient. And even if it were, people simply use more and more.<br /><br />2. There is nothing that can be done, partially because it's a global problem and countries (like people) will opt to act in their own short-term best interes and mainly because it's already far too late. See Guy McPherson's list of amplifying feedbacks at Nature Bats Last.<br /><br />3. I recommend you join a support group, such as Near Term Human Extinction on Facebook, to discuss these issues with other people who are concerned. There are also opportunities to meet up with other members in real life that can be immensely helpful.Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-33384889338757197502015-10-04T14:58:41.678-04:002015-10-04T14:58:41.678-04:00Thank you for your informative website. I'm ne...Thank you for your informative website. I'm new here but wow, I'm surprised to see so much evidence of the horrors of climate change.<br /><br />Surely, the increasing popularity of cleaner energy sources and the recent realization that wind/solar harnessing can power most of the Earth will help to change this dire situation?<br /><br />What do you think we can do to help?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-17622237495032798142015-10-01T13:06:14.056-04:002015-10-01T13:06:14.056-04:00Yes, I remember that in the fall there were zillio...Yes, I remember that in the fall there were zillions of wasps all over the crab apples, and when you went to the orchard to get cider they were crawling all over everything. Now they are gone!Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-55070381235673822152015-10-01T12:46:08.183-04:002015-10-01T12:46:08.183-04:00Hi Wit's End-
We have been at this 15 acre r...Hi Wit's End- <br /><br />We have been at this 15 acre rural place in the Blue Ridge Mt.s of Virginia. I am amazed at the virtual disappearance of many insect species on our property. When we moved here in the 1990s, we had abundant insect life- wasps, honey bees, ants, praying mantiss, stick creatures, etc etc. Now we have barely seen any of these insects. It's been years since we have seen a honey bee. The numerous wasp nests have disappeared and we rarely see any of them any longer- even on those 90F afternoons when they used to swarm the eaves. Little of the past activity of ant colonies now. We have not had to chase a single wasp from our house this year- most years it's a daily exercise. Even the ticks are at zero this year. And our friendly bats have long departed and are rarely seen. This year I have been putting out bird food in the summer and the birds are hitting it like it's winter time. StuAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-33096710872671959732015-09-25T20:51:10.900-04:002015-09-25T20:51:10.900-04:00Peculiar behavior of European trees raises climate...Peculiar behavior of European trees raises climate change questions (+video) <br /><br />http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2015/0924/Peculiar-behavior-of-European-trees-raises-climate-change-questions-video?ref=yfp<br /><br />A key sign of global warming's effects on forests – timing of the first leaves in spring – has taken an unexpected turn in recent years, according to a new study.<br /><br />[They're going to be really surprised when they don't leaf-out at all.]<br /><br />TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-87876088881799620322015-09-23T16:46:28.273-04:002015-09-23T16:46:28.273-04:00Happy Birthday Gail, and thanks for yet another gr...Happy Birthday Gail, and thanks for yet another great post. It's depressing watching the slow death of the entire ecosystem. When I was in CA recently I heard no sounds of crickets, tree frogs, cicadas - even birds were few and far between. One thing that will be taking us down is the micro-organisms, viruses and bacteria that make up disease (especially the novel ones that we're encountering all over the place now, from plague from rats to West Nile virus from mosquitos). Another thing we can't fight is all the radiation we've unleashed on the planet. The planet will be reaping the "rewards" from that for centuries, but we won't last long enough to even mark it's half-life. <br /><br />Keep up the good work!<br /><br />TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-28965625654014681722015-09-22T09:07:43.253-04:002015-09-22T09:07:43.253-04:00From the point of view of the dodo, they don't...From the point of view of the dodo, they don't mean much. But of course, we're not talking about just the dodo, or the mastadon, or the passenger pigeon. We're talking about everything, or close to it - including us. What will the art and literature amount to when there is no one left to appreciate them? It is not fun to contemplate the enormity of extinction.Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-44699625296231224382015-09-22T09:05:29.187-04:002015-09-22T09:05:29.187-04:00It was pointed out to me in the Panic Room that we...It was pointed out to me in the Panic Room that we had discussed an article about that book last spring, which I had forgotton. I like the review you posted because it really gets to the heart of what extinction means for us conflicted humans. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/03/150304-neanderthal-shipman-predmosti-wolf-dog-lionfish-jagger-pogo-ngbooktalk/<br /><br />Thanks for the birthday wishes!Gail Zawackihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01800944469843206253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-27235543393955169282015-09-22T04:42:59.686-04:002015-09-22T04:42:59.686-04:00Indeed, what are the collected works of Shakespear...Indeed, what are the collected works of Shakespeare, the achievements of Michaelangelo, the Mona Lisa's smile compared to the loss of the dodo?<br />We are an unmitigated disaster.Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-41558046460706893282015-09-21T00:00:02.769-04:002015-09-21T00:00:02.769-04:00Apneaman says
Hey Gail, that was me again. Just d...Apneaman says<br /><br />Hey Gail, that was me again. Just doing my little part to knock the sugar coating off and expose the raw ingredients.<br /><br /> Happy Birthday lady.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5549306427964459740.post-42952476264479479852015-09-20T15:39:24.343-04:002015-09-20T15:39:24.343-04:00This is one of my favorite paintings...
https://u...This is one of my favorite paintings...<br /><br />https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Vincent_van_Gogh_-_The_potato_eaters_-_Google_Art_Project_%285776925%29.jpgRobMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00264138186584547148noreply@blogger.com