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In 1983 when I was doing year 12 or the HSC as it was called in Victoria then, we were studying a theme of 'The Future'. Interestingly many of the books I read at that time and things I learnt have had big impacts on my life. We had to write an essay on what would happen if the oil ran out. One of my friends came up with what I thought was an amusing story about using methane gas from cow poo. We all cracked up and thought this was an amazing joke. I saw this a couple of months ago and wondered whether Greg was perhaps just a bit ahead of his time.
inhabitat: Poo Power:Could Cow Poo Power Your Home?
Snoskred recently wrote a very informative post on cows also, which reminded me of this Habitat article I'd saved. She asks "Everybody Loves Cows, Don't They?" Well here's yet another reason to be grateful for all that cows can offer the world. Read the comments as there are lots of interesting links.
Today I have felt very tired. It's a bit of a worry, it's only the first week of the term! I found this popular video and it brought a smile to my face and gave me hope for the future, so I have to share it.
If you are interested in the future of media and or the history of the Internet, this little 8 minute clip Epic 2014, is a very interesting and thought provoking watch. I have always loved the 'future history'genre although I find it difficult to find material.
I remember in the late 80's I had this book called 'The Third Millennium:A History of the World:AD 2000-3000' by Brian Stableford and David Langford. I loved it and read it cover to cover. It inspired many ideas for me and some of the future I eagerly awaited, just as I did for the Internet to get how I knew it would. I remember being on Compuserve which was all American almost and I felt like a lone Aussie, plodding along looking for the diversity of a global community. Not that I didn't like learning about America and americans, but I knew one day it would be like it is now.
This little clip however has a much smaller scale than the Millennium of the book, but still food for thought and interesting.
Media changes 'alarmingly protectionist'. 14/07/2006. ABC News Online
In answer to the first question about the media changes. This story in The Age: Meet the always-on generation, could explain why the media changes mentioned above are probably irrelevant.
Psst! Wanna make $500? Just give us the right name - National - theage.com.au
This article in the paper today reminded me that a request for 'someone you know' who is qualified, went out at our work this week. I think this could make great sense actually. You would think very carefully about recommending someone you know to work at 'your' work. After all, you would have to see them everyday so you would be reminded on a daily basis that it was your idea they work there.
It makes you realise the value of friendships and networks too, if you were seeking work.
I guess this is also another sign that in the future workplaces will need to work at attracting people.
I have been reading about the bird flu and terrorism and other possible dangerous consequences of living in cities and thinking it might be time to revisit my old ideas. I don't want to sit on a hill meditating with the herbal tea but I would like to have some contingency plans for getting away from the insanity of society, should some wastage hit the fan in my world as it is some places all around the planet with seeming regularity. As a teacher I would like to prepare my students to be resilient without scaring them or making them too fearful about thier future.
This article:http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/veneer-of-civilisation-is-easily-eroded/2005/09/08/1125772644245.html reminded me of a workshop we had with our year 8's last year about Medieval times. The man who was teaching them about knights and castles told them that in three days our civilisation would boil down to basically what happened in New Orleans. When I first heard it from him, it rattled me and reading the above article has yet again rang a warning bell. There are so many fearful scenario's that could play out.
I don't want to live in fear. I don't want to expect the worst. I don't want to ignore signs and be unprepared though. I have people I love that I want to protect. Where would I draw that line though? I love many, many people.
