Monthly Archives: July 2007

Workarounds for Oligopoly

Posted on July 31, 2007 by Dave Pollard

In the last year, Canada’s largest brewery, largest retailer, three of its largest mining companies, one of its largest steel companies and two of its largest forestry companies have been sold to foreigners. Now, the largest media and telecom conglomerate … Continue reading →

Posted in How the World Really Works | 3 Comments

What We Care About

Posted on July 30, 2007 by Dave Pollard

In response to my Saturday post, reader Chaitanya sent me a quote from the late Stephen J. Gould: We cannot win this battle to save species and environments without forging an emotional bond between ourselves and nature as well — … Continue reading →

Posted in Collapse Watch | 6 Comments

Sunday Open Thread – July 29, 2007

Posted on July 29, 2007 by Dave Pollard

Lightning Branches, by Andrew Campbell (a depiction of Now Time) What I’m thinking about, and planning on writing (and podcasting) about soon:I’ve nearly completed the manuscript for my book on Natural Enterprise, which is due at the publisher in two … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Culture / Ourselves | 2 Comments

Saturday Links for the Week – July 28, 2007 – the Cultural Anthropology Edition

Posted on July 28, 2007 by Dave Pollard

What’s Important This Week: The World Without Us: Alan Weisman speculates on a future world without humans. Wonder how it compares to Ronald Wright’s vision? (image above is from Weisman’s book) Who Cares About Factory Farmed Animals’ Welfare?: The factory … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Culture / Ourselves | 7 Comments

The Dynamics of Social Networks

Posted on July 26, 2007 by Dave Pollard

Social networks are by nature complex phenomena — they can never be fully known or understood, and there are an infinite number of variables that affect their evolution and their success or failure. My observation is that they are also … Continue reading →

Posted in Using Weblogs and Technology | 1 Comment

Intentional Meditation?

Posted on July 25, 2007 by Dave Pollard

I‘m pretty hopeless at meditating. I just don’t seem to be able to slow down and focus my mind sufficiently to get the benefits from it. I have, however, found that certain focused activities do get me into a state … Continue reading →

Posted in Collapse Watch | 9 Comments

Personal vs Collective Self-Interest

Posted on July 24, 2007 by Dave Pollard

The idea of the ‘free’ market economy is that, if each of us pursues our enlightened self-interest, the result will be an optimal balancing of those interests, and an economy that produces what people most need, or at least want. … Continue reading →

Posted in How the World Really Works | 5 Comments

Too Much Outrage, and Not Nearly Enough

Posted on July 23, 2007 by Dave Pollard

My favourite cartoon from the ever-provocative Ted Rall I‘ve been trying to figure out why some people love Michael Moore’s new movie Sicko, and others hate it. The wildly divergent reactions, it seems, have less to do with political view … Continue reading →

Posted in Collapse Watch | 4 Comments

Sunday Open Thread – July 22, 2007

Posted on July 22, 2007 by Dave Pollard

Boathouse at Dawn, Fiji, photo by Ron Romanosky, at webshots What I’m thinking about, and planning on writing (and podcasting) about soon:I’m working furiously on completing the manuscript for my book on Natural Enterprise, which is due at the publisher … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Culture / Ourselves | 3 Comments

Saturday Links for the Week – July 21, 2007

Posted on July 21, 2007 by Dave Pollard

Rufus & Quack #4Making Sense Of It All This Week:Lee Arnold’s Two-Minute YouTube Review of Al Gore’s New Book: The inventor of ecolanguage does it again. Brilliant. Leaders and Heroes, Proud of Their Obscene Wealth: The great NYT investigative reporter … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Culture / Ourselves | Comments Off on Saturday Links for the Week – July 21, 2007