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The precious few folks who are still checking here for content deserve an apology and an explanation. I apologize for stiffing you for so long. And I want to explain.

I have been writing about the imminent collapse of industrial civilization in this space for 15 years, since the publication of my book on the subject, Brace for Impact. During that time I have often been asked if I have grown tired of making predictions that never come true. The answer is in two parts: 1) I do not make predictions, I am not qualified to do so, I report on the predictions of others; and 2) almost all of the predictions I have reported here are coming true, with the speed and immutability of a glacier.

The fact is that I am pretty much burned out on this issue. As was the case 15 years ago, the seas are still rising, the storms still intensifying, the forests are burning, the deserts spreading, the topsoil disappearing, emissions are setting new record highs every year, we are still running out of oil (despite the relentless hype to the contrary)  and governments are steadfastly ignoring all of it. In all this time, no meaningful action has been taken by our (US) government, or any other that I know of, to confront the multiple existential threats. The issue barely appears in public polls about “issues.” In one recent political poll, only nine percent of registered voters identified climate change as an important consideration. Continue reading →

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A funny thing happened while we were watching the bright shiny objects being juggled for our entertainment by the contestants in the bewitching midterm elections: the U.S. oil industry went code blue.

Okay, maybe that’s overdramatizing a bit, but the emerging reality is a serious threat to our well-being. It appears to more and more expert observers that America’s largest oilfield — the Permian Basin in the Southwest — has peaked. U.S. drilling and fracking activity has flatlined since June, and the rig count in the Permian has fallen to its lowest number in four months. The Energy Information Administration has cut its forecast of next year’s increase in oil production by 21%. Continue reading →

The information is out there, available to anyone who looks for it. Few look for it. Any writer wanting to sell a story, or any publication wanting to attract eyeballs, is going to stay away from this subject as one of the many that are just too damn disturbing. It’s disturbing to know a tornado is bearing down on our house, too, but it’s information we need to have.

More and more Americans have been getting sick, and sicker, every year for many years. 

• Cancer, for example, afflicts more people, and especially more younger people, every year. The number of new cases increases every year, more or less in lockstep with the increase in population. And while it’s bad enough that modern medicine, for all its emphasis on cancer, has not been able to significantly reduce its impact, it’s even more disheartening to see the dramatic increases in cancer rates among people under 50 years old.  
• Heart disease has been the leading killer of Americans since the 1950s. While its rate of infection declined for the ten years before 2020, in that year it increased by 4%, an increase that apparently continues. And a recent study has predicted far more steep increases in heart disease in the coming decades.
• Life expectancy, which rose steadily to 79 years in 2019, fell to 77 years in 2020 and to 76 in 2021, the largest decline in 100 years.
• Birth rates have declined sharply in recent years.  The US has the highest maternal mortality during pregnancy and childbirth among all developed countries in the world. US males, like those in every other developed country, are experiencing a sharp and accelerating decline in sperm counts, a measure of their ability to have children. Globally the decline has been over 60% since 2000.
• The fastest-rising death rate in the US is of deaths of despair — suicide, drug overdoses and alcoholic liver disease. Such deaths have increased between 56% and 387%, depending on the age group, in two decades. 
• More than three out of four Americans are overweight or obese (one-third are obese) so many that the Armed Services regularly miss their recruitment targets because so many young Americans otherwise eligible for military service are too fat to fight.

If I were a doctor or medical researcher I would be constrained from stipulating  a cause for any one of these conditions and their horrifying trends. More and more people are going to pharmacies like the ones at https://www.pharm-aidrx.com/ just to get OTC medicine. For one thing it’s complicated and for another, stipulating a cause would cost some industry a lot of money and we can’t have that. 

I’m just a writer who has been looking into these matters for four decades or so, and no one pays any attention to me, so I can tell you what’s going on here. Industry — the juggernaut that climate-controls our surroundings, provides us with cheap food and fuel and cheap stuff — is killing us. For a hundred years it has been fouling our air, poisoning our soils, polluting our water, degrading our food and making tons of money.

Until the advent of the Reaganauts in the 1980s, our government made some attempts to reign in the worst offenders, but since that time the dogs of capitalism have all slipped their leashes and gone feral — the banks, oil companies, electric utilities, broadcasters, phone companies,  insurance companies, auto manufacturers, drug companies, all of them. 

As a direct result we all live in a thick soup of toxic industrial waste that sickens us and shortens our lives. Industrial money has so locked down our government at all levels that no significant change in this situation is possible, unless and until it collapses utterly (a collapse I believe has already begun). Afterward, enlightened people of good will and high energy will have a chance to build a brave and kind new world.

The question is, of course, how do enlightened people of good will survive the crash?

Anyone?

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There is another Big Lie circulating in the country — other than the one about somebody “stealing” the 2020 presidential election — that is just as corrosive to American politics. And this one comes not from the Trumpian right, but from everybody else. Bill Maher gave it voice the other night on his HBO show “Real Time with Bill Maher.” Now I like Bill Maher, watch him regularly, and agree with most of what he says. But this is what he said the other night:

“You can hate Trump, but you can’t hate Trump supporters, because they are half the country.”  

The idea that “the country” is equally divided between Trump supporters and Trump detractors is the other Big Lie I’m talking about. It is seldom stated overtly as Maher did the other night, it is so deeply embedded in the conventional wisdom that it is simply an assumption underlying just about every conversation about politics today. But it is not true. Continue reading →

A hydraulic fracturing drilling rig creating a new well on the Niobara shale formation, one of the most intensively fracked areas in the United States.

One way to better  comprehend the current state of the oil business, and gas prices, is to look more closely at the situation of an Uber driver. (Our example is imaginary, and the numbers are made up, but I think realistic.)

As he begins his employment, our Uber driver is quite pleased with the job. At the end of most days he has a nice wad of cash (or its equivalent) in his pocket and feels optimistic about his prospects. But he is entirely on his own, and must pay for his own gas, oil, maintenance, tires, insurance (including, not incidentally, health insurance), etcetera. Still, by working long hours and being thrifty, he keeps his head above water. Continue reading →

US Marines guarding the airport in Kabul. Don’t you love it when a good plan comes together?

We seem to be suffering in this country from a massive pandemic of infectious institutional stupidity. Our institutions — corporations, governments, universities, etc. — are run by people who are usually smart, sometimes brilliant, but whose collaborative output is often just plain dumb.

One recent example: the Capitol Police. I mean no criticism whatsoever of the heroes who fought the mob at the US Capitol on January 6 when I say that institutionally, the Capitol Police handling of that incident was brain dead. They have the size and resources of a mid-sized city police department, and only one job, to protect one building, the Capitol, and they were caught flat-footed. I can never forget the radio call from a police lieutenant, midway through the rioting, saying plaintively, “Does anybody have a plan?” Continue reading →

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Furthermore, medical spas like this med spa in Frisco, TX or medspa in Pittsburgh, PA provide a one-stop-shop for women looking to enhance their appearance from head to toe. In addition to skincare treatments, many medspas offer services such as laser hair removal, body contouring, and cellulite reduction. These procedures can help women achieve their desired aesthetic goals without the need for invasive surgery or lengthy recovery times.

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Women visit medical spas such as this med spa in Lehi, UT for a variety of reasons, including access to comprehensive aesthetic services, holistic wellness therapies, advanced skincare treatments and even Soteri Skin 2 Step Eczema Care products. With a focus on safety, efficacy, and personalized care, medical spas offer women the opportunity to enhance their beauty, boost their confidence, and prioritize their overall well-being in a nurturing and supportive environment.

Cosmetic surgery, once considered a luxury reserved for the rich and famous, has become increasingly accessible and popular in recent years. While some may view it as purely superficial, cosmetic surgery offers a myriad of benefits beyond just enhancing physical appearance.

One of the primary benefits of cosmetic surgery is improved self-confidence and self-esteem. Many individuals undergo cosmetic procedures with the help of experts such as this plastic surgeon in Ft Lauderdale, FL to address physical insecurities or imperfections that have long plagued their self-image. Whether it’s correcting a crooked nose, reducing stubborn fat deposits, or enhancing breast size, cosmetic surgery can help individuals feel more comfortable and confident in their own skin.

In addition to boosting self-confidence, cosmetic surgery like getting a boob job in Hollywood, FL or breast augmentation in Denver, CO can also have psychological and emotional benefits. Research has shown that individuals who undergo cosmetic procedures like getting breast implants in Glenview, IL often experience improvements in overall mental well-being and quality of life. This can manifest in various ways, including reduced anxiety and depression, increased social confidence, and greater satisfaction with one’s appearance and life in general.

Furthermore, cosmetic surgery can have practical benefits beyond just aesthetics. According to experts like Karol Gutowski, MD – eyelid surgery in Chicago, IL, procedures such as rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) or blepharoplasty can improve physical comfort and functionality, alleviating issues like eye problems or difficulty breathing. Additionally, treatments like Botox or dermal fillers like dermal fillers in Hattiesburg, MS can address cosmetic concerns while also providing therapeutic relief for conditions like migraines or excessive sweating.

It’s important to note that while cosmetic surgery like a double chin treatment or vaginal rejuvenation can offer numerous benefits, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution and should be approached with careful consideration and realistic expectations. Consulting with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon that does plastic surgery in Exton, PA is essential for discussing goals, assessing candidacy, and understanding potential risks and limitations associated with various procedures.

In conclusion, the benefits of cosmetic surgery like vaginal rejuvenation treatments or smart facelift extend far beyond just enhancing physical appearance. From boosting self-confidence and mental well-being to addressing practical concerns and improving overall quality of life, cosmetic surgery can have a transformative impact on both the body and mind. Ultimately, the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery is a deeply personal one that should be made thoughtfully and responsibly, with a focus on achieving natural-looking results and long-term satisfaction.

Mark me down for yet another unannounced, unauthorized vacation (in an undisclosed, secure location) from the rigors of chronicling the crash of the industrial age. In the past these respites have been enforced by mental roadblocks — depression, writer’s block, whatever you want to call it — but this one is different.

I’ve always had an unspoken deal with you, Dear Reader (if you’re still there, and if you are not I certainly understand), that I will write here only when I believe I have something valid to say, not to fill a hole or meet a contrived schedule. But with each passing year it has become less possible to know, with any reasonable degree of confidence, what is going on anywhere. The people and publications doing honest reporting are declining rapidly in both number and quality, leaving us observers adrift in a toxic sea of misinformation, propaganda and drivel. Our collapsing empire is increasingly insane, from the emperor on down, and there is no alchemy by which lunacy can be turned into anything useful.

Nothing the president says about anything can be believed. No utterance of any politician or bureaucrat or industrialist can be taken at face value (don’t trust, and verify). The bimbos and bimbettes of the mainstream media are happily gamboling through the woods chasing the pretty little squirrels who are running for president, ignoring the fact that the woods are on fire, a hurricane approaches and a tsunami looms offshore. How can one pretend to think, much less write, sanely in an insane world?

Well, if you’re a member of the orchestra on the Titanic, and your world is going down, you keep playing. Not because you think it will save the ship, or even be of much comfort to the panicked passengers, but because it’s what you do. If you don’t play your instrument, then you just die in silence.

So I shall try to write on, as and when I can do it with some confidence of validity, because writing is what I do, and if I don’t write I’m just sitting here listening to the ship fill with water. As Hamlet asked of Horatio, I shall absent me from my vacation yet a while, and in this harsh world draw breath in pain, to tell its story. Or at least, the next chapter.   

Visiting the dentist regularly is crucial for maintaining optimal oral health and overall well-being. While many people may only think of dental check-ups as necessary when experiencing pain or discomfort, routine dental visits offer numerous benefits that extend beyond just preventing cavities. Here’s why seeing a dentist for oral health is essential:

First and foremost, regular dental check-ups help prevent oral health problems before they escalate into more significant issues. During these appointments, dentists can identify early signs of cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer, allowing for prompt intervention and treatment. This proactive approach not only saves patients from potential pain and discomfort but also helps avoid costly and invasive procedures down the line.

Moreover, dental visits provide an opportunity for professional cleaning and plaque removal. Even with diligent brushing and flossing at home, it’s challenging to remove all plaque and tartar buildup, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Dental hygienists have the tools and expertise to thoroughly clean teeth and gums, reducing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Regular dental check-ups also contribute to overall health and well-being. Research has shown that oral health is closely linked to systemic health, with poor oral hygiene being associated with various medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections. By maintaining good oral health, individuals can lower their risk of developing these systemic diseases and enjoy better overall health outcomes.

Furthermore, dental visits offer an opportunity for personalized oral hygiene education and guidance. Dentists like this Private Dentist Cardiff and hygienists can provide valuable advice on proper brushing and flossing techniques, as well as recommend oral care products tailored to individual needs. This education empowers patients to take control of their oral health and make informed decisions about their dental care routines.

Additionally, seeing a dentist regularly allows for early detection and treatment of dental issues specific to certain age groups such as if you need dental retainers. For example, older adults may be more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease due to factors such as dry mouth and medication side effects. By addressing these concerns early on, dentists can help older adults maintain their oral health and quality of life as they age.

In conclusion, seeing a dentist for regular check-ups is essential for maintaining optimal oral health and overall well-being. From preventing cavities and gum disease to promoting systemic health and providing personalized oral hygiene guidance, dental visits offer a wide range of benefits that contribute to a healthier smile and a happier life. Therefore, it’s crucial to prioritize dental care and schedule routine check-ups to ensure a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.