The BIg Thunder Blog

Entry for October 17, 2006

Ok, so I started a blog. What does that make me? A blogger? Hmmm, ok, well the idea here is to start discussing elements of what is going on here. Here goes:

I've been reading "Postcards from Ed: Dispatches and Salvos from an American Iconoclast" which is the collected letters of Edward Abbey. Buried in these I found:

"I'd like to see North America become a dry, sunny, sandy region inhabited mainly by lizards, buzzards and a modest human population -- 25 million would be plenty -- of pastoralists and prospectors (prospecting for truth), gathering once a year in the ruins of ancient, mysterious cities for great ceremonies of music, art, dance, poetry, joy, faith and renewal. That's my dream for the American future. Like most such dreams it will probably come true. That's why I'm still an optimist."

In a letter to High Country News 4 October 1986

Did he know? Had he heard what Larry Harvey did that prior June on the beach in San Francisco? Perhaps, probably not. And even if he had heard, how could he have envisioned that modest gathering could grow to a "mysterious city" like Black Rock City, growing out of the playa and the disappearing back from whence it came. In either case, as soon as I heard that, I thought of Burning Man.

So the only other thing to comment on is the population question. Today is the day (according to the US Census) that the United States' population reached the 300,000,000 mark. If you consider the full land mass of all 50 states that works out to just 10.6 acres per person. Of course the average ecological footprint of a US Citizen is over 25 acres. Sustainable? I think no. On that cheery note.....

2006-10-18 04:02:21 GMT

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		Entry for October 17, 2006 Ok, so I started a blog. What does that make me? A blogger? Hmmm, ok, well the idea here is to start discussing elements of what is going on here. Here goes: I've been reading "Postcards from Ed: Dispatches and Salvos from an American Iconoclast" which is the collected letters of Edward Abbey. Buried in these I found: "I'd like to see North America become a dry, sunny, sandy region inhabited mainly by lizards, buzzards and a modest human population -- 25 million would be plenty -- of pastoralists and prospectors (prospecting for truth), gathering once a year in the ruins of ancient, mysterious cities for great ceremonies of music, art, dance, poetry, joy, faith and renewal. That's my dream for the American future. Like most such dreams it will probably come true. That's why I'm still an optimist." In a letter to High Country News 4 October 1986 Did he know? Had he heard what Larry Harvey did that prior June on the beach in San Francisco? Perhaps, probably not. And even if he had heard, how could he have envisioned that modest gathering could grow to a "mysterious city" like Black Rock City, growing out of the playa and the disappearing back from whence it came. In either case, as soon as I heard that, I thought of Burning Man. So the only other thing to comment on is the population question. Today is the day (according to the US Census) that the United States' population reached the 300,000,000 mark. If you consider the full land mass of all 50 states that works out to just 10.6 acres per person. Of course the average ecological footprint of a US Citizen is over 25 acres. Sustainable? I think no. On that cheery note..... 2006-10-18 04:02:21 GMT Site Home