p1ng

Modern economics is based on economic growth. Economic growth is based on making products that are designed to fail (aka planned obsolescence), and as a result are designed to waste resources and energy. Consumer spending is tied to marketing which effectively distorts our wants and needs towards products which do not fulfill our basic needs (in the aggregate).

So called ‘Green’ products are still creating waste. For example buying a new hybrid car creates more waste (due to the additional manufacturing of the new vehicle) than maintaining an older car.

Could there be an entire industry of higher priced ‘lifetime’ products? Could these products be manufactured locally, in small facilities that pay real wages? Engineering would still be centralized in this model, as information is cheap to ship. But the ecological cost of shipping products from overseas would be used rather than pure financial cost in justifying sourcing decisions.

Sounds like a book :-)

Back in 1980 my friend Mike helped me build a loft bed.
We built a platform with plywood and 2×4’s, and set it up about 6 feet high. I think I remember one post was like the crossbar on a telephone pole… Where the old glass insulators were hung. I used to use that to hang up my shirts (7 flannel shirts to get me through the week).

I had a workshop bench underneath it, where I did my artwork for school and random electronics projects. And an easy chair. Smallest room I ever lived in, but one of the best for sure.

I started a few years ago, took Spanish 1 – 3.
But the instructor kind of rushed us and didn’t really help us keep at it. I gave it up, but I’d like to go back. It takes a lot of time to study!

It was very cool to speak a little Spanish in Barcelona (which was HOT!) ...Even though their regional language is Catalan. Catalan sounds really interesting!

Here’s a photo from a free lesson in Catalan dance that was given in front of the Cathedral one Sunday in July.