You don't sound like a troubled opinionated know-it-all and I am thankful to you for illiciting such an inspiring response from Cary. I am also grateful to know that we have in our midst people who think about more than just their money and their lovers and their landscaping(or lack of). You do seem a little unbalanced in terms of your focus and interests though. Your letter makes it seem that you live above the neck and that's it. There is a brain that is alive without any body or heart...only a mind. I think it was in the French flick called City of Lost Children or a piece of sci-fi I just read.

So anyway,

Maybe you are looking from too far away or too high, and you need to scale your map down a bit, like when you are on a map program online... hit the (-) to bring it in closer so you can clearly see where you are. Start by actively working every day on one small thing that makes you feel a little better about this doomed world. This nagging feeling of disaster you have could save us, you never know.

I hate to admit that I too suffer from this stinking thinking that we are going to kill ourselves and this planet. It seems common, look at pop culture with all the end of the world movies and books. I don't need to be a brilliant scientist like you to notice that we are using fuel faster than we replenish or replace with something new and feel sick about the abuse of other species and ecosystems. History is something else you can study that proves our crooked but resilient past, filled with "sky is falling" scenarios and yet... here we are.

We are small, we can see a lot and improve a little. So get to work because you are correct, and we are in this sinking ship together. Be a soldier for humanity and the Earth, for your daughter. But first, take that vacation.

Haha Garry Owen! (My cat is my heater.)

RC, thanks for this article. I just had the local energy co. install smart switches for everything in this home and this was a good reminder that even the coffeepot is sucking from the energy pool.

I didn't hear the rant and I don't think I'd like to spend any time with Ms. Whatshername, but calling an Administrator at home in the wee hours proves this student is disrespectful. The woman got harassed and publicly humiliated by this arrogant teenager. When you are in school, it is your job to learn and to be at school, not question everything you find inconvenient or unsatisfactory.

So she was pissed off, I would be too if some kid woke me up to bug me about the snow and the job my husband was doing. What a punk he must be.

Quick thought about Salon and these specific posts, then I have to go about saving the Universe ( my own miniscule piece of it anyway): How about a star for thesquare1138 and a dozen others? I am thrilled at these responses!

You guys are cool. Too bad we shall never meet in person.

Grateful to be in your online company,

e.m.

Does anyone have a link to specific plans our Presidential candidates have offered to get us out of this fine mess?

It seems more complex than a mission statement to stimulate US economies, but if there is solid information online, it's not easy to find. There are some respondents here who seem well educated about world markets, so perhaps you know where to find what each candidate proposes to ensure recovery? I only have a general idea because the news is coming from splintered sources.

I am weary from all this "man behind the curtain" talk and want to see the facts.

Thanks in advance.

"someone needs to remember what whalesong was like, or vast expanses of old growth forest, or rivers unfettered by dams."

Beauty in the form of truth.

Dear Joan,

I enjoy Salon. Thank you for being here and for hiring thoughtful and inspiring writers. It becomes less enjoyable when someone takes over a thread using hateful speeches. You have an antagonist in your midst and you have answered at least one of his posts directly, adding fuel to his campaign that seems to be against Salon, people of Jewish heritage, anyone who is "white" or mostly white, women, and generally anyone who does not seem to be his mirror image. His words are also damaging to black people and people of other cultures.

The disrespect to Salon and everyone who comes here is outrageous. I agree with Garry Owen. Editing the hate speeches would be doing everyone here a big favor.

Imagining a team, two people who don't really want to fight and know it's all a game. These races are only a ruse, and there is no need for nasty names with roots in race and gender. Let's catch up to the rest of the world and choose who is best, not who is the 'right' color or gender.

Just think of it, Clinton and Obama as a team. Edwards could be in there too, mix it up. My point is, there is a fight to the death coming and it isn't the Dem vs. Dem kind of debate. It will be dirty.

ObamaHill or HilObam have a ring to them.

Imagine.

"But we're not quite there yet." about this topic.

I think that covers it.