** Reply to note from Richard Rowlett -

<snip>

> With constant media hype over "El Nino" and the steady stream of disaster pixs
> of Oregon and California washing into the sea this winter (and past ones), I
> think we tend to take this all way too personal and too easily interpret all
> this as positive proof that the world is about to end soon and perhaps even
> find 'comfort' by placing the blame upon ourselves. We are at least partly at
> fault for some small changes (some quite significant) both to the environment
> and diminishing fish and other resources but I seriously doubt that even a
> strong 1997-98 ENSO event makes much difference in the big overall and long-
> term (millennial) picture. Weather is that one element which we all seem to
> get so excited about and share in common and too easily interpret in only it's
> most obvious short term and immediately disastrous and visual form because it
> effects our lives at various personal and sometimes destructive levels.
> Perhaps we tend to be blinded by all the hype and our inability to accept the
> reality that constant change and sculpting is what a spinning world over the
> millennia does naturally and which doesn't much care how it effects the human
> species nor the rest of the planets life forms. Just adapt or die. If nature
> is responsible, there may be little or nothing that we can (or maybe even
> should) do about it, but if we are responsible for modifying and compromising
> the environment in some way beyond that intended in nature, we should at least
> accept the responsibility and the consequences and strive to be a little more
> thoughtful and better stewards towards managing the fragilities of our
> environment better without giving nature an accelerating hand.

<snip>

OK. Let's take the most nihilistic stance, then. We have about 3 to 5 billion years
to perfect warp drive before our nova-ing sun reduces this third rock to ashes. I am sure
that before that time comes, there will be several more macro cold/warm cycles, ocean
currents will deviate from present trajectories, the magnetic poles will flip a few more
times, and we piddling humans will be left trying to cope with it all. Oh, and add in the
very real threat of doing ourselves in first and you don't get a very pretty picture. Gee,
all of a sudden the long view doesn't look so inviting...

- Jack



--------------
Jack Bowling
Prince George, BC
jbowling at direct.ca