M.I. Lastman's Blog, page 14
April 9, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
We are much too much of a good thing. It is time to dream new dreams of restoration. 
Believe it or not, this is the mouth of the Colorado river as it enters the Gulf of California - no water. This cannot be a good thing. 
A river as it passes through Seoul. Who can complain? However, it is hardly natural, and we might want to dream of doing better. 
A picture of the beginnings of the largest dam removal project in the world. The intention is to restore the natural flow of the river. 
A "fully" restored stream. Given a chance, Nature will achieve marvels. These must be our new dreams.,
Believe it or not, this is the mouth of the Colorado river as it enters the Gulf of California - no water. This cannot be a good thing. A river as it passes through Seoul. Who can complain? However, it is hardly natural, and we might want to dream of doing better. A picture of the beginnings of the largest dam removal project in the world. The intention is to restore the natural flow of the river. A "fully" restored stream. Given a chance, Nature will achieve marvels. These must be our new dreams.,
April 8, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
Where once stood trees, the forests of windmills will be standing long after we are gone, symbols of our hubris
April 7, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
Picture God the Father and Mother Nature as a couple. What we get is an extreme case of spousal abuse.
I didn't have the heart to include a picture of a battered wife in my tweet. However, we know that these three pictures are all about the same abusive use of force against defenseless Nature as a husband abusing his wife. 
This is a before-and-after shot of a woman burned by her husband because she refused to quit school to live with him. The picture of Easter Island is apt here as well, because the once thriving forest of the tallest palm trees in the world was cut down by order of the priests of the island in order to roll those stone images into place.
I didn't have the heart to include a picture of a battered wife in my tweet. However, we know that these three pictures are all about the same abusive use of force against defenseless Nature as a husband abusing his wife. This is a before-and-after shot of a woman burned by her husband because she refused to quit school to live with him. The picture of Easter Island is apt here as well, because the once thriving forest of the tallest palm trees in the world was cut down by order of the priests of the island in order to roll those stone images into place.
April 6, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
By myself I can't move a mountain or change the direction of ocean currents. Together we move mountains and seas. In the seas with us now: changing oceanic thermocline, next up, new ocean currents. VERY, VERY, VERY BAD IDEA!!! 
This graphic shows how the thermocline normally works in the South Pacific. The science of this does not belong here. It is sufficient to say that any permanent change to the normal state of the oceans will have enormous consequences for all life on Earth. We mostly can't easily see those changes, but we sure as heck should be paying attention.
This graphic shows how the thermocline normally works in the South Pacific. The science of this does not belong here. It is sufficient to say that any permanent change to the normal state of the oceans will have enormous consequences for all life on Earth. We mostly can't easily see those changes, but we sure as heck should be paying attention.
April 5, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
Love thy neighbor as thyself – GREAT IDEA! How are we doing?
I didn't have the heart to post a picture of the actual beheading that we know will have followed on this picture. It seems as though testosterone will drive us to ever deeper levels of depravity. None of these young men, some hardly older than boys, would wish to exchange roles with their prisoners. 
Should we think of this pelican as our neighbour? Who among us would wish this fate for ourselves. 
Maybe it's just me, but I can't help thinking of all life as my neighbour. There is a strip of green in front of this monster. What chance does that life have?
I didn't have the heart to post a picture of the actual beheading that we know will have followed on this picture. It seems as though testosterone will drive us to ever deeper levels of depravity. None of these young men, some hardly older than boys, would wish to exchange roles with their prisoners. Should we think of this pelican as our neighbour? Who among us would wish this fate for ourselves. Maybe it's just me, but I can't help thinking of all life as my neighbour. There is a strip of green in front of this monster. What chance does that life have?
April 4, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
In times of trouble, a free, open society will protect you much better than guns. Don’t sell it for a nice house.
I'm sure that the police in picture two had a reason for being there - but that many? that many guns? Who are they finally accountable to? The signs on the gates of picture three are all threats. This community has decided to hide behind the wall of the state. The people of picture one look as though they could do much to effect change to help one another. Their understanding is the root of their power.
I'm sure that the police in picture two had a reason for being there - but that many? that many guns? Who are they finally accountable to? The signs on the gates of picture three are all threats. This community has decided to hide behind the wall of the state. The people of picture one look as though they could do much to effect change to help one another. Their understanding is the root of their power.
April 3, 2015
April 2, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
Most plagues are local. Nowhere is safe from the plague of homo sapiens. 
April 1, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
There is one overriding human task: to cure the Plague of Homo sapiens (PoHs). Prove we are not a plague. 
This last image shows discarded bycatch from our "normal" fishing operations. Is this ethical? Convince me that we are not a species in plague mode. There is no planet B
This last image shows discarded bycatch from our "normal" fishing operations. Is this ethical? Convince me that we are not a species in plague mode. There is no planet B
March 31, 2015
Aforementioned: aphorisms and questions for 2015
It’s too soon to grow houses from seeds. Let’s postpone that forever and build ethical homes for ourselves.
The message is clear. The first two homes are vastly more than a family needs. The third is a beautiful example of an infinitely simpler home built from resources immediately available in the environment. I do not wish to suggest that we should all live in Hiada longhouses. However, the contrast is too gaping to ignore entirely. We have long thought that the limits of what we could have were only bounded by what we could take.
By the way George MacDonald Church in his book Regenesis suggests that we are now able to modify the genes of plants so that they will grow from seed into organisms that we can use as convenient homes for ourselves.
The message is clear. The first two homes are vastly more than a family needs. The third is a beautiful example of an infinitely simpler home built from resources immediately available in the environment. I do not wish to suggest that we should all live in Hiada longhouses. However, the contrast is too gaping to ignore entirely. We have long thought that the limits of what we could have were only bounded by what we could take.By the way George MacDonald Church in his book Regenesis suggests that we are now able to modify the genes of plants so that they will grow from seed into organisms that we can use as convenient homes for ourselves.
