Stumbled across this…

word in the dictionary…

floccinaucinihilipilification (FLOK-sih-noh-see-NEE-hee-lee-PEE-lih-fih-KAY-shun)

The estimation of something as worthless, but it is usually used as an example of a very long word.

I was going to ask if someone could use that in a sentence, but it seems it’s been done enough times not to warrant a repeat.  Apparently the word was used in a Geico advertisement.  Who knew?

New Theme

I hated to switch themes, but it was necessary.  I was fairly attached to the black & green combo of the ‘Green Marinee’ theme.  Anyhow, that theme was completely inflexible.  The width was too narrow so it chopped off some of my posts.  There were no sidebar widgets to add or rename, so I was stuck with that format.  Very frustrating.  I put in a request to wordpress for a ‘googie‘ theme, ya know, with some pink boomerangs in the background and some tiki heads, something Shag like.  I don’t think they are going for it.  This was a new theme they just came out with and I guess it’s as close as I can get to something retro. *sigh*

What’s new: 

I’ve divided the blogroll into different sections for easier navigation, as well as included a brief description (hover mouse over) for some of those links.

Also, I’ve started creating the links so they open in a new window.  Thanks Lauri for always showing me a better way.  Heh.

That’s it for now.

Oh, wait, one more portmanteau - Shag (Josh Agle).

Um…collusive insanity revisited?

This is going to deviate a bit from my normal writing style.  I have an urge to do a little random thought - stream of consciousness writing that will just ramble from subject to subject.  Was that redundant?

For starters, another portmanteau, grood (great & good).  Lauri, I’m still trying to figure out sigther.  My significant other is typing a response to a recent comment on one of his posts.  He’s been at it for an hour.  I find this funny.  Can’t wait to read it in the morning.  I hope this doesn’t ruin his wordpress experience.

About this peak oil business, I’ve grown tired of the books I’m reading.  It seems it’s nearly impossible to make heads or tails of what this expert said versus what that expert said.  I’m going for affirmation in the “relocalization” arena.  Regardless of what catastrophe may head our way, relocalization I believe will minimize our pain and suffering.  What catastrophe you ask?  Well, it seems we (Americans) have been afforded the luxury of having conveniently forgotten the likes of events like the Great Depression, with ample reason.  Our rise to such industrial and capitalist heights will likely not last forever.  If we look around at current events, it’s apparent we are in the beginnings of a waxing and waning decline.  Decline - not in a negative sense.  Really what I mean to say is a transition to another era.  Decline will be the cry of those who choose to fight it.  Really, there is nothing else I can say regarding Peak Oil that hasn’t been said already by more astute followers.  Check out some of my links.

Now about sustainability (green living, eco-friendly, etc).  I really don’t care for the word much.  To me, it’s a tag that allows me to connect with like minded individuals.  I really don’t believe true sustainability is achievable, though I do believe it’s a worthwhile goal.  Living life conscious and accountable for our actions, now that seems more realistic.  Like Gandhi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

I spoke of embodied energy in building materials previously and it seems to get a lot of inquiry.  Seriously, there are so many factors to consider when measuring the appropriate use of a material based on its embodied energy, it’ll make your head spin.  I believe true intent of use needs to be considered in those factors.

Finally, I just picked up  Peterson’s Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern and Central North America and I’m relieved to know there is an abundance of edible plants right in my back yard.

One more thing, speaking of food, my mixed (surprise) bell peppers from Bountiful Gardens are finally bearing fruit.  They got a late start.  And you wouldn’t believe what color they are…puurrrple.

 

Portmanteau

In my ’significant other’s’ hasty verbal expressions of his ideas, he often combines and minces words.  Finding this to be humorous at times, I decided to investigate what was the name for this particular word play.  They are not unusual, it seems these words are rampant in our modern culture.  Portmanteau or Frankenword is the name they go by.  I think those two words in and of themselves are fascinating, not unlike the word palindrome, but that’s another post.

Here are a few portmanteaux to contemplate.  The first two must be credited to said ’significant other’.  The others are primarily lingo relating to sustainability. 

• flerbal - floral and herbal
• commode - command mode
• eMergy - embodied energy
• arcology - architecture & ecology
• glocal - global & local
• biodiversity - biological diversity
• greenwash - green & whitewash
• petrocrats - petroleum & aristocrats
• keytar - keyboard & guitar

So, the last one didn’t have anything to do with sustainability, but Jordan had one once and now I know what it was called.

For more word mincing check out aren’t you sorry you asked?  

Peaknik

It seems there is a word that describes what I have become, a ‘peaknik‘.

Throughout reading The Party’s Over, I experienced a full range of emotions regarding the seemingly inevitable pickle we’ve arranged for ourselves - the end of our industrialized civilization as we know it.  Fortunately, I moved past the feeling of despair and have arrived at a more optimistic place.  This was due in part by some of the other information I have been gathering about peak oil.  Sometimes when one is faced with such difficult circumstances, they are inclined to believe that some other force outside themselves (scientists, government, big corporations, etc.) will solve the problem, therefore they cease to take action.  On the the other hand is the eternal pessimist that believes we are ultimately doomed, so why bother taking action.  Activists are the people in this world that take action and bring about awareness and change.  As Gandhi said, “We must be the change we want to see in the world.”  We can’t wait for someone else to solve our problems for us.

At first I was angry and asking, why isn’t more being done?  Then I moved into survivalist mode, telling myself, “I’m going to do whatever I can over the next few years to become self sufficient in preparation for the wind down of the oil era.”  Now, after reading Why the Survivalists Have Got It Wrong by Rob Hopkins, I agree that he presents a more idealistic solution to the problem at hand.  He introduces the concept of Energy Descent planning or pulling together your resources as a community in the era of declining oil.  My personal goals will be to continue to integrate more eco-responsible choices into my life to assist in conservation and the weaning process, while simultaneously educating myself on some basic survival skills.  I figure those skills could come in handy anyway.  Also, I’d like to seek out a collective body of local, like-minded folks that are open to the idea of energy descent planning.  To some degree, I may have an advantage in this area of gathering these people.  Living in a coastal hurricane region often requires that one must enlist the help of a neighbor for assistance with various tasks during times of emergency preparedness and evacuation.  An energy descent plan could just be an extension or other aspect of the emergency planning we are already familiar with.  Instead of people running to Home Depot to purchase a generator or running away (where are we going to run if our resources are depleted), we would draw on each others strengths and the resources at hand to sustain us as a small community.  Could work…right?    

Collusive Insanity

I must give credit where credit is due.  That credit is due to a reporter from the Beach Breeze that interviewed me following a local workshop I presented on the subject of sustainability.  What does collusive insanity have to do with sustainable design?  Follow along as I attempt to recall how this particular reporter summed up the move toward sustainability as collusive insanity.

He was a friendly reporter with a nice smile and plenty of knowledgeable questions.  Though, all along he would interject with his own obviously cynical remarks.  Often alluding to the hypocrisy of it all, to which I would reply, “we have to start somewhere.”  All and all, he put together a nice article.  During our follow-up interview he threw out the phrase “collusive insanity” as a description of the path to reaching sustainability.  Collusive meaning a secret cooperation to deceive others.  I guess he could be implying that the government et al. are deceiving us with their facts and figures regarding global warming, peak oil, etc.  No surprise there.  Insanity meaning irrational.  We/ they continue to do the same things over and over, expecting different results.  For example, we now have scientific proof that CO2 in our atmosphere is accelerating global warming, but the government continues to support big oil…collusive insanity. 

I really just liked the way those words fit together.