The Sharp Knife of Forced Simplicity

I Made a Mistake

I’ve actually made a lot of mistakes, and seemly continue to do so, and probably will until I’m very dead. The specific mistake I’m referring to is teenager-esqe arrogance. Somehow it carried through until just very recently. I don’t have the answers… I never did. I have a few ideas of what could be cool, and might work, [...]

Book Going Offline, for now.

My first book, The Sharp Knife of Forced Simplicity, Volume 1: The Numinous Rebellion was published almost exactly three years ago. I’ve learned a lot in that time. I’ve learned how the publication process works – at least with a certain business model of publishing. I learned what it feels like to see your name [...]

Paper: Threats to Global Sustainability

[This paper isn't due until Monday - I finished it Thursday night. Enjoy!] Executive Summary: Impediments to Establishing Global Sustainability Ron Khare The purpose of this paper is to identify and clearly explain the single largest challenge to the establishment of global sustainability. Our working definition of “global sustainability” is the perpetuity of [...]

Random opinions from my student blog…

[unedited. enjoy.] [As an aside, I'm also reading Derrick Jensen's book "Endgame, Volume 1: The Problem with Civilization" - the main thrust of which is that civilization itself is unsustainable and will end, probably sooner than later, and that we should be actively dismantling it.] Preface and Chapter 1 RUNDOWN!! (woo!) I forget – are we [...]

The Jeavons Paradox (or, The Reason We’re Screwed)

Reading: The Efficiency Dilemma (which you can read HERE!) The better (more efficient) we are at doing something industrial (using coal power, increasing miles-per=gallon), the more we end up doing it. That is, rather than see an overall decrease of gasoline consumption due to more efficient motors, we see a net increase in fuel consumption – more [...]

Just a Picture

ok, actually two:

Team In-Hot-Water Update!

I just made up that team name – I think we have a different one, but I can’t remember what it is offhand. We’re making strong progress on our project! - Our plans and designs have been approved. - We have gathered and are in the process of assembling the frame for our panel structure. [...]

Natural Capitalism readings

The obscure we always see sooner or later; the obvious always seems to take a little longer. – Edward R. Murrow I’m rather fortunate – a few days before the block started, a friend had picked some some sustainability-themed books at a local second-hand store and gave them to me. Among them was Natural Capitalism, [...]

You Should Read This Article

http://professorlonniegamble.com/uploads/Main/EfficientBeautifulLovins.pdf I think I’m suppose to get into detail about my impressions of this reading – but all it really did was make me slam my fist on the desk and shout “YES! OF COURSE!” Then I get frustrated that things haven’t advanced as far as they should have. Then I re-commit myself to [...]

Permaculture Talent Show Poem

[We apparently have to have a talent show for our Permaculture class. Being rather talentless, I was somewhat inspired to write a poem (in a poor imitation of Blake). I don't write poems often (or at all), and again, this is obviously the first draft of a rough idea... but here ya go!] Machinated man-made [...]