Interesting e-book about abortion

I tend to stray away from abortion-related topics, or debate, for that matter.  It's pretty much the ultimate no-win issue in political discussion, that is, it's pretty much impossible to turn someone to your way of thinking if you lean one way or the other.  If you're "pro-life", it's a bitch trying to convince someone of your belief system if they are "pro-choice", and vice versa. 

Well, good thing I'm not trying to change minds.  I came across an interesting e-book on the subject, and one that doesn't try to convince one, one way or the other.  Rather, it serves as a guide (and an introduction) to self-induced abortion methods.  This can be very helpful, either in a collapse scenario or in a scenario in which the ultra-religious right take political control.  Actually, these two scenarios do not have to be mutually exclusive, as extremist politics can easily be the order of the day in a collapse of the nation. 

In fact, for some, the e-book can already be useful.  According to this Atlantic Monthly book review (written in 1997), 80% of American counties do not have an abortion provider. 

TED

I spent my morning listening to a TED presentation that was given recently by Guy McPherson, a college professor and blogger, and author of a book titled "Walking Away From Empire".  The entire segment, which consists of 2 short animations and talks by McPherson and someone named Michael Silwa (whose monologue is very good), talk of the many dangers brought about by empire and our entitlement society, and the risks that both of these guys took by walking away from it.  I recommend watching it, the entire thing is around 45-50 minutes long. 

Oil Scarcity

As of now, the price for a gallon of gas seems to be at around $4 a gallon.  This is the point where people start to lose it, as we've seen before, back in '08.  But what if you couldn't get gas, at any price?  Supply chains drying up has the potential to be very real, and this is a good read from 3 years ago outlining a scenario that was based on what happened in the southeast U.S. back in the fall of '08.  This is an especially good article, as it could have been written today and I wouldn't have known the difference. 

My only point of contention is that the author assumes that "over an extended period of time", alternatives like solar panels and electric cars will be available and we'll be able to return to some degree of normalcy.  I strongly question this.  Implementing these alternatives, especially on a massive scale, would be very difficult in a crisis like the author is describing.  Some would say it'd be difficult in a relatively stable situation, as our time to transition to a system and infrastructure dependent on a different type of energy is long since past. 

Proof That A Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day (and That Many are Still Clueless About the Energy Situation)

Out of the presidential candidates vying for Obama's seat, the only one I really like is Ron Paul; thus, he won't win.  Everyone else I couldn't care less about, and Rick Santorum is probably the one I'd want the least.  However, even he can say things that make sense, at least to me.  He recently said on the campaign trail that gas prices helped cause the financial collapse of 2008.  This perspective on the crash has gotten scant perspective, if any at all.  It's usually allotted to subprime mortgages and things of that nature, which on the surface, probably has a lot of merit.  But if you are aware of peak oil and other energy matters, I don't feel that high gas prices can be totally dismissed, as ThinkProgress and the commenters on that website are doing here.

My personal theory on the crash, is that while a lot of people may have been having problems paying their mortgage back in '08 due to already being underwater on their homes, they were making do, albeit by the skin of their teeth.  Eventually, there probably would have been a crash anyway.  But what really brought these events to a precipice were the gas prices.  When gas was over $4 a gallon (and it's heading back there again, as anyone reading this now can attest to), many people had to make the decision on whether to pay their mortgage or put gas into their car.  Each decision can have fateful consequences.  But at least you can miss out on a mortgage payment or two without inviting dire events, aside from the interest going up and bad news on your credit score.  But if you don't buy gas for your car?  It's almost like I don't need to outline the results.  It would be, at best, very difficult for one to get to their job, to shop, to do any number of things without a car, in this country.  So most people decided that not paying the mortgage was a comparative no-brainer, and the economic crash was a result of that.  But at that point in time, gas prices played a role in bringing on that crash, no question about it. 

Video of Large Blast in Russia

This is an incredible video; I wonder what was going through those motorist's minds when they saw that extended flash of light.  As for me, I would have been probably thinking "nuclear blast" or "alien invasion".  Also, listen to what I presume is music coming from the driver's radio or CD; a little ironic, in the light of events. 

An Especially Cynical Act by a Rich Man, and That's Saying a Lot!

I don't want one to think that I hate or envy the well-to-do.  I don't begrudge anyone for being wealthy and being able to live well, particularly if they got there through hard work.  But in many cases, that doesn't seem to be what happens.  They're either born into it, or they, frankly, cheat.  I don't know the story behind how this guy made his millions, but judging from this story, I'm pretty certain that he got his riches through one of the two methods I just described. 

This guy, John Goodman (not the actor), is a founder of a polo club in Palm Beach.  A couple of years ago, he was driving under the influence, ran a stop sign, and hit another driver, killing him.  The driver's parents are suing Goodman for wrongful death.  Mr. Goodman came up with a novel idea to protect his wealth.  He adopted his 42-year old girlfriend as his daughter.  This new "daughter" will be entitled to a third of the money in a trust set up by Goodman for his two actual children.  This plays off as a shallow, cynical move by some rich prick to protect his assets, and I really hope whatever court this goes to doesn't fall for it.

Life Without a Car

I know I don't get too personal very often on this blog, and for good reason.  My life is often dull.  Additionally, I also don't want to burden you with my personal problems.  But when something is pertinent to the mission of this blog, I guess I should feel obligated to share.  It's also helpful to vent. 

I live without a car, in the most heavily car-dependent part of the world.  That is, the U.S. of A.  Unless you live in a metropolitan area, like Manhattan or San Francisco, getting around via car is pretty much non-negotiable.  I live on Long Island, which has public transit, but it usually isn't very good.  In fact, it can be downright unreliable, which makes it a real bitch if you are using it to get to and from work.  Not only do I not have a car, I also do not have a driver's license.  I have some disabilities, that discouraged me from trying to get a license.  In hindsight, this was a mistake, perhaps a fatal one.  

There are countless ways in which your life is affected without access to a car.  I'll share one story with you.  After a lengthy period of inactivity in terms of looking for work, I decided to get back on my horse and try to make a real effort once again.  A colleague of mine referred me to a state civil exam to be a legal assistant.  This was a good fit for me, as I had a certification in paralegal studies that I am hoping will come of some use.  So I ponied up the application fee, and began to study. 

The day came, and a lot of snow came down.  But not enough snow for the state to cancel their exams  (I don't think any amount of snow would have been enough; in any event, the state will still hold the exams, and hope that enough people will not show up, that way they can pocket the application fees without people taking the exam).  I live with my mom and brother, so those were my only two options to get to the school where the exam was being held (the bus wasn't an option; I would have to walk nearly 2 miles in the snow, and in any event, the stop probably wouldn't have been anywhere near the school).  My mom is getting old and does not feel comfortable driving in adverse conditions.  That left my brother.  Initially, he decided not to take me.  Of course, I felt dejected and withdrawn.  In the end, he relented and took me.  I know that my brother cares for me very much.  But in a lot of ways, I don't think that I'm understood very well by either him or my mother. 

He told me that he took me, partly because he didn't want me to sulk all day.  But it would have went beyond sulking.  I would have felt a profound sense of despair, it was already beginning to sink in when I woke up and saw the weather.  I want to do things and go places, particularly if it will help me from a career perspective.  I also know that a lot of these goals are next to impossible to meet without a car.  I have family, but they can only help so much. 

A few days later, my mom and father spoke.  A few years ago, they split and divorced, so he doesn't live with us anymore.  I don't think too highly of him; he never gave us a reason to be proud of him, and he would never sacrifice anything for me or anyone else.  Anyway, my mom told him that I took a state exam, and he said (according to Mom), "he wouldn't be able to get a job anyway, he doesn't drive".  My mom and brother were fixated on how cruel he was for saying this, and yeah, he does come off as a dick.  But I keep asking myself, "dick or not, is he wrong?"

A lot of times, I try to rationalize my ongoing failure in finding work by saying that the job market sucks.  That the U.S. economy is in freefall and that even white-collar jobs are moving offshore.  All of that is true.  But I also know that a key reason of why I haven't been able to find work, is because I don't drive.  A weak job market may hurt you, but if you do not drive, it is a death sentence.  I am competing with countless graduates who do not have the restrictions that I do.  Many times, I would see a job that would be an ideal fit for me, that would at least be worth applying to.  But it is either out of my way (also, outside the realm of either bus or train service), or it requires a car, since you have to travel to a courthouse or client's homes and so forth).  So I don't apply, and lessen my chances of getting work.  In this economy, again, between those two factors, it means career suicide.  I'm trying again, but I fear that I'm always going to hit this brick wall.  

But it's not just from a career perspective that not having a car hurts me.  It's also a huge social stigma.  I've told people this, in casual conversation, and I get looks; you'd think that I just told them that I have AIDS.  I come off as a third-world man.  Also, if I want to go out at night, to have a drink or mingle, again, next to impossible.  After 7 PM or so, the public transit stops running. 

So, one might say, "why don't you get a car now, if you feel this way?"  I answer this, with the mindset that I have to make decisions based on the life that I have, not on the one that I wish I did have.  I think this is how people get in trouble.  In any case, I don't think I can afford it.  I make $12 an hour at Target, and I work around 4 days a week.  I have some savings, but it's slowly depleting (I don't make enough to save money, and after rent and student loans, there's not much left).  If I buy a car, I have to pay the loan on the car, I have to get insurance, I have to pay for gas (which is inching back up to $4/gal).  I would be broke for sure, and I may not even get a job anyway. 

Anyway, I might write more on this later.  Just had to vent, thanks for reading.