The Earth-Toned Pill

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Eco-Friendly

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Tis the Season

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I just read an article on CNN Money that discusses the pros and cons of making assistance available to the 'big three' auto manufacturers in the form of federal loans, and I have to say that the more I read or hear about this, the more physically ill I feel.

Maybe its just me, but I thought that being a free-market capitalist society meant that we practised neutral patterns of market regulation with only minimal governmental intervention?

I understand that the auto industry in general is truly integral to the national economy, and that tens of thousands of workers and millions of consumers either directly or indirectly depend on it for their individual economic stability... But does that mean we should allow these inefficient behemoths to keep operating as they are at the taxpayers' risk?

Truly, these businesses cannot be allowed to fail outright. But that is what chapter 11 bankruptcy is for... Allow these businesses to keep operating, but use the law to force them to shed weight, trim up and return to profitability. If GM, Ford or Chrysler eventually go under even after using the chapter 11 safety valve, then good bye and good riddance!

I admit that I would be devestated to be an employee let go after years of service in that industry. But instead of waiting for Michael Moore to show up on my doorstep so I can cry on camera and plead for my job back on a theater screen, why not take this as an opportunity to start fresh in a new industry? Maybe even take a chance and move somewhere else?

No, not everyone can easily do this, probably very few can or would do it at all. But to me, that is the big problem... Not the failure of the US auto industry, but the failure of US auto workers and consumers at large to see the writing on the wall for the status quo and force a change on the auto industry.

After all, these were the comapnies that continued to bring us such great vehicles like the H3 and Escalade long after it was clear that fuel prices were generally on the rise and the days of cheap, unlimited and easy-to-access oil were long gone.

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For those of you who never heard of the book Jennifer Government by Max Barry or of the popular browser-based game NationStates that it directly inspired, the long-awaited sequel to the game is now in open beta!

NationStates 2 promises to expand on the strengths of the original game while also formalizing such things as war, which in NationStates had to be completely roleplayed, or RP'd.

Part of the draw to nationstates is the fact that it can be as simple or complex as you like.

At its most simplistic, you can go and create a nation and watch it grow before your eyes, all the while you are given choices to make that affect your nation's policial and social freedoms, as well as your economy.

But the roleplay element is where NationStates really comes into its own, with each player having the ability to steer their nation through international affairs by way of writing posts on the forums, where proper roleplay etiquitte is strictly enforced.

For those who love to write or want to improve their writing skills while also having fun with others of like mind, there isn't a better way to spend a few hours here and there.

Unfortunately, my time is too limited to be able to post much on the forums. (I think I average a post a month) But for me it is a great thing to be able to hop on every once in awhile and work on my writing skills while also further developing the continuing story of my great little country, Tilsitsin.

If you have a few minutes to kill on the web, stop by and visit my country. (and even create one of your own!)

I've never been a huge fan of Jean 'Moebius' Girard's work (if for no other reason than the fact that I came to his work later in life), but I am quite fond of his character designs and storyboard work for the failed Jodorowsky film adaptation of my favorite book, Dune.

The picture above is one of his fantastic character designs for the film of the character Liet Kynes, the Imperial Ecologist of Arrakis.

Check out this page on DuneInfo.com for more of his excellent work on this unfortunately doomed project.

The Sardukar and the Baron Harkonnen in particular are great!

Enough has already been said about the pros and cons of Barack Obama's politics, of the historic nature of this election, etcetera, etcetera, ad nauseum...

What I did want to take the time to do is to write about my personal thoughts regarding his ascendancy to the post of president of our country from the perspective of an amateur historian, former soldier and private citizen.

I think of myself as politically middle of the road, and my party affiliation is officially Libertarian in order for me to feel as though I am doing a small part towards breaking the current two-party gridlock that is strangling our country. I'm absolutely sick of the corporate-controlled, big-business, big-money party politics, and I can't stand that Nancy Pelosi and Ann Coulter seem to now be examples of mainstream standard bearers for both parties, whereas a few decades ago we used to call such people the 'kook fringe'.

I almost didn't vote this year, mainly because I am admitantly quite pessimistic about the direction of our nation, its politics, and (more importantly) our culture, and I felt as though neither candidate was a truly positive option for the country. Obama's agenda is unfortunately far too liberal for me, and I personally think he was elected by and large for the wrong reasons by a mostly uninformed electorate. McCain, on the other hand, showed a fundemental lack of understanding on the core issues such as the economy, and his decision making on such important topics like his running mate seem just plain erratic and strange. In the end, I fealt like the only real choices for people truly desiring change were Ralph Nader or Ron Paul, neither of which had the slightest chance from the beginning... (thanks in part to our completely biased and fundamentally flawed media system)

But something happened over the last few days. No, my core beliefs and theories haven't changed, but I started to buy into Barack Obama's call to the banner of CHANGE.

To make a long story short, I did vote for him and can count myself as one of the millions that did. But I did this not because I didn't want to actually vote my convictions and choose Nader or Paul, or because I felt like I was just throwing my vote away by not voting Obama or McCain; I voted Obama because, like all Americans, I am ready for a change and I need something to believe in despite the poor economic outlook, continuing wars abroad, threat of terrorism, etc...

I just want to believe that this really is one of those Kennedy-esque moments that comes barely once a lifetime where the American people demand true change and tangible reform, and I don't think I could live with myself if I wasn't a part of that massive, crashing wave.

You said what I needed to hear, Mr President-Elect, but what I need you to do now is to make good on your rhetoric.

I'm not expecting miracles, just please keep your campaign promise to be the true agent of change that we all so sorely need to see in our government and culture.

Good luck, President Obama.

No, its definitely not 53 degrees and snowing here in Orlando but it is still pretty chilly tonight by Florida standards. (I heard something about this being a record cold for this time of year for us)

The cold reminds me of my trip to Durango, Colorado earlier in the year with my parents, who were out there to look at property. The last night we were there, the sun had just dissapeared completely and it was snowing heavily when I decided to bundle up and take a walk outside and really enjoy my last real dose of snow, for at least the rest of this year.

We were staying near a golf course, so where I was walking it was rolling flat land completely covered by snow and surrounded by trees which were likewise caked in snow. What really sticks out in my head is the memory of standing out there in the middle of this pitch black golf course, kneeling down and listening to the sounds of wind winding around me with large amounts of gently falling snow constantly hitting me and the ground and me. I also remember being awe-struck by the view, even in the dark, of the unceasing sheet of snow falling, still quite visible even in such low light.

It was an amazing few minutes of edification that I hope I never forget.