Monthly Archives: July 2007

Technophilia, Virtual Communities and the World of Ends

Posted on July 19, 2007 by Dave Pollard

A lot of my friends and readers are technophiles. They believe that social networking and other technologies can make the world a much better place. I’d like to believe it, but I don’t. The industrial economy is rigged. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Using Weblogs and Technology | 8 Comments

Plenitude on Any Terms

Posted on July 18, 2007 by Dave Pollard

In today’s NYT, Verlyn Klinkenborg laments the lack of attention to the fact that California’s population (like Canada’s) is expected to nearly double to 60 million by 2050 (both populations, barring crisis, will reach 100 million by 2100, with US total … Continue reading →

Posted in Collapse Watch | 7 Comments

Is Mexico About to Fail?

Posted on July 17, 2007 by Dave Pollard

The sign (erected by Zapatista rebels in MÈxico) says “Here the people lead and the government follows.” It prohibits the sale of arms, drugs and unlicensed logging and concludes “No to the destruction of nature”. Image from Wikipedia. Over at … Continue reading →

Posted in How the World Really Works | 13 Comments

Towards a New Process for Learning What is Important

Posted on July 16, 2007 by Dave Pollard

   What is the purpose of education? Those of liberal bent tend to assert it is to allow us to become what we were intended to become — fully capable individuals and members of community. Conservatives are more inclined to … Continue reading →

Posted in How the World Really Works | 2 Comments

Sunday Open Thread — July 15, 2007

Posted on July 15, 2007 by Dave Pollard

Long-term exposure photo by the Hubble telescope of a tiny fragment of the sky, showing about 1500 galaxies. Wow! What I’m thinking about, and planning on writing (and podcasting) about soon:Learning in Community by Apprenticeship: More on Ivan Illich’s friend … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Culture / Ourselves | 1 Comment

Saturday Links for the Week – July 14, 2007

Posted on July 14, 2007 by Dave Pollard

Leelee Sobieski photo from imdb. The local cable movie channel has been showing Drew Barrymore chick flicks all weekend, and I’m a total sucker for them. Leelee was in the one I just watched, Never Been Kissed. What’s Important This … Continue reading →

Posted in How the World Really Works | Comments Off on Saturday Links for the Week – July 14, 2007

If You Were the President

Posted on July 12, 2007 by Dave Pollard

A colleague asked me the other day, what I would do if I were, magically, the Prime Minister of Canada, with a supportive legislature. I thought it was an interesting question, since I keep saying I’ve given up on the … Continue reading →

Posted in How the World Really Works | 7 Comments

The Coming Pandemic: What the Experts Say

Posted on July 12, 2007 by Dave Pollard

This week I had the opportunity to attend a global conference on disaster management, one ‘track’ of which was focused on health emergencies. There is certainly no unanimity about what we should be doing to prepare for and cope with … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Culture / Ourselves | 10 Comments

Vignette #4: Overheard on the Subway

Posted on July 11, 2007 by Dave Pollard

These days I’m on the TTC, the Toronto subway system, fairly often. In accordance with my resolution to practice paying attention, I often eavesdrop on conversations in the subway, which, since patrons go to such pains to act as if … Continue reading →

Posted in Creative Works | 4 Comments

Stewing in Our Own Sewage

Posted on July 10, 2007 by Dave Pollard

Big Pharma, and the misinformed media, would have us all believe that medicine can cure every disease, and that as a result, we might one day achieve immortality. Hardly a week goes by without reports of some genetic ‘marker’ for … Continue reading →

Posted in Our Culture / Ourselves | 3 Comments