Closing shop

Sigh.

It breaks my heart to say goodbye, but the truth of it is I've moved on. I was pretty proud of what I managed to cobble together here in html, too. Oh well. My interests have changed.

All the typical thank yous for your attention and loyalty, blah blah (I mean it, it's just trite to say).

My writing will still be "out there", speaking into the world, just not connected to this. I could no more stop writing than breathing.

In parting, I urge you to get suspicious, embrace that subtle fear and anxiety at the back of your mind, and seek out education. There are many real things that threaten this life we share, and it is wise to be brave and face them. Allow what is important to you to change:

Canadians check out voteforenvironment.ca. Think about the fact that in the Canadian multi-party system, we are forced to resort to strategic voting just to keep out the guy we don't want (who "wins" while 62% of voters vote against him). True or false?: We have a democracy.

Check out Life After the Oil Crash. Are you fooling yourself as you believe that you are safe, protected by your government, that the economy is sustainable in its current dependence on unlimited growth and cheap oil?

Think about your earth. Pretty soon, it won't support any of us. Treasure the beautiful BBC Planet Earth documentary. Do what you can. Stop flying in airplanes. Save, don't spend. Google the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Study global warming and the way the Ice Shelves are melting.

Watch documentaries. Get fucking rattled. Read books from the "eco-section" of Chapters/Borders. Wake up. Scare yourself sane. This is very very serious.

The truth about the state of our earth and the humans that live on it is very very ugly and frightening right now, but the truth is your friend. We all know somewhere in our bones that we are standing on saran wrap over quicksand, but to dive into the fear and knowledge and learn about it can help you tiptoe towards solid ground and then help others off too.

If you feel like experiencing your eyes crossing and getting stuck there, look up the bills that George W has had passed. Between the waves of disgust you'll feel about the US law-making process, you can't help but notice the massive rights that have been given to the president. Notably, the criteria which give him license to declare martial law.

It is up to all of us, now, to redesign our civilization. Talk to your neighbors. Learn a trade, and how to grow food. Stop having kids. Or have kids, but be damn sure you know what world you're inducting them into. If you want your DNA to survive, then get real. Read James Howard Kunstler and Thom Hartmann (see sidebar).

Remember your reusable shopping bags. Get involved in local politics. Kick other people until they wake up, rise up, and join you.

Appreciate what you have, with mad passion. Love whom you love as hard as you can.

Good luck to you.

PS. My email is closed now too.