Well if the world is going to blow up in 10yrs, I better get out of the office and start gambling my money away. :)

BR,
That's up to you. If you think you're going to live another 100 years, keep your long term plans.
The 10 year plan makes more sense to me...but, heck...to me, every day is a gamble.
Live more, worry less.
Risk is definitely worth the risk.

Don't ask me to explain that...if you get it, fine...if you don't, others will explain it.

I am a huge optimist, but it really is hard to think that technology/religious extremism, combined with greed, will not get the better of life on earth. I'm a pretty big environmentalist but I think mankind will blow the world up before the humans destroy the environment. Your 10 yr prediction is sadly probably closer to reality than my 100 yr prediction.

Space exploration better get moving fast.

Things will probably work out.
Religious extremism and greed have been around for quite a while.
If humans go into space to form permanent colonies, they'll bring those problems with them.
I agree that although the planet has a wonderful ability to heal from the damage inflicted on it by humans, it's time to stop damaging it beyond that ability.

And that's my cue! Here are some tips on helping save the planet:

If you can walk or bike there, do it! Cut down on car useage.

Bring your own grocery bags and reuse them. Cut down on landfill.

Keep the temperature at home a degree or so warmer or cooler than usual (depending on the season). Cut down on pollution (and save money!)

Buy shade-grown coffee. Saves primary forest in tropical areas.

Eat a little less meat. Eating a little lower on the food chain saves water (it takes 500 gallons of water to make one pound of beef). If every American ate just two more non-meat meals a week, the environmental benefits would be astounding.

The meat you do eat-- try to buy it locally. Also local fruit and produce when you can-- save small farms (many of which are home to threatened and endangered species) and cut down on pollution, because the food doesn't have to be trucked across the country.

Buy organic when possible. Cuts down on pesticides.

Sign up for green power in your homes if your electric company offers it.

Those are just a few that aren't too hard to do. Even just incorporating one into your life is a start--every little bit helps.

(Yes, I am a nerd. I am aware, thank you.)

And when you do drive, drive slower. These idiots that drive 80+ everywhere they go kill me.

There's one I could stand to be reminded of, myself! I don't drive often (I don't own a car) but when I rent one and go on the highways I can get a little leadfooted. Absolutely right; saves gas to go slower.

Great. Your need for speed is causing polar bears to die. ;)

Stupid polar bears, making me late to things...

it's 'turned' sunni vs shiite?? yeah, it sure has, for over a thousand years it's been sunni vs shiite. ever since the days of mohammed when islam was born. that's how old those two sects are.

It hasn't been sunni v shiite in Iraq for a few years. Remarkably they put it on hold and concentrated on America. Iran has got involved though once again and now they are back to their sunni shiite fighting. Right now if you try to book a hotel in southern Iraq you better speak Farsi. That is all you need to know.

GR,
Well worth the time it takes to read....

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0729-20.htm

Interesting and depressing. :(

Here's some interesting articles that caught my attention today in between races at Saratoga (yay, OTB channel!)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/us...rtner=homepage

http://salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/07...urdain_beirut/

And on the lighter side:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHsOr...eanor%20holmes

Funniest thing I've seen in ages.

GR,
The first article is indeed interesting. Took a while to read but worth it.
Hey, don't these conserves know that Jesus had no "party affiliation"? Duh!
He turned the "religious establishment" on its head too.
Later I'll read the other articles...racing sometimes gets in the way.
Thanks for the reads.
DTS

500 gallons of water for a pound of meat? no way that's right. five HUNDRED?

but i do my part on the local meat source. venison, it does a body good.