That’s right, removing the oyster farm would WORSEN the environment. Because, as the Academy report clearly states (as has every other scientific study), the oyster farm makes the water clearer and greatly increases eel grass (which is good for fish and other wildlife).

-- Sarah Rolph

Are being presented here without specific cites. Here's material that states the opposite:

Dr. Grosholz stated, "Dr. Goodman is correct to point out that we should base our decisions on the best science available, but curiously fails to cite any science at all on this point. He is correct that there is very little in the way of published literature, but what there is clearly indicates that oyster culture negatively affects eelgrasses. Everett et al. (1995) unambiguously demonstrates that oyster culture negatively effects eelgrass on a local scale. While this study takes place in Oregon, it involves the same species and same methods used in Drake's Estero. In the absence of a similar study in California, this is the best available science, period."

- Dr. Edwin Grosholz of UC Davis and Bodega Marine Laboratory, in a email to NPS, July 15, 2007

http://www.savedrakesbay.org/uploads/NPS_Drakes_Estero.pdf

In view of just these divergent 'scientific' facts, it's apparent to me that this Salon article needs more work to justify it's speculative reasoning.

Russia's willingness to transship U.S. materiel to Afghanistan is starting to make more sense.

It may be useful to read this recently published book,

Invisible History: Afghanistan's Untold Story

http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-History-Afghanistans-Untold-Story/dp/0872864944/

To hear firsthand that the US intentionally destabilized Afghanistan years ago, forcing the Russians into invading in the first place to support their self-interested stability in the region.

According to that book, it's way too late to be learning about these problems now that current policy is continuing to inflame, by never addressing the fundamental dynamics in play.

That largely too, involves Britian, Pakistan - especially through the ISI, India and the nuclear capability of both of those adversaries.

It only stands to reason that since Afghanistan's been bombed back into the stone age over the years - while we threaten to do it yet again, something more insidious must be underfoot.

Well OK, maybe there's an organic reason for this gloomy depression. With that health care plan make sure you find that out. I do know when I get sick I have a tendency to get depressed.

But I must say when I was 50 - I didn't know I was 50. Of course the same holds true for my earlier years too. I wouldn't mind being 50 again, but even then it's hard to know for sure - would I actually choose being less aware ?

If there's nothing wrong with you but the chains of your mental shopping habits, then you have your own answer in hand.

I suppose no one has ever shown you that the world and your life is alot more plastic and rubbery than you may have ever thought it is. (We usually don't see it, if we're not looking.)

If you are serious about this dreading, then it's up to you, with the help of others to do something about it.

In the distant past when individuals became elders they were looked up to for their knowledge. Unfortunately if all you have been doing was perfecting shopping at the mall, you have a ways to go before you're an actual elder.

So as you note, you don't have much time left to flesh out your new role. It's time to do what you have never considered doing before with no reservations. That doesn't mean to me that you start jumping out of planes at your age.

It does mean that you might ask yourself, why humans exist at all in the universe, and what your role might be inside that framework of time. And after you've started with that, just follow your nose down a open road of inquiry and significantly challenge yourself by doing what you have never given any thought towards.

Otherwise you're just repeating yourself. And you already know how that repetition ends. Especially so, since it has.

And btw, there's never any guarantee you'll make it to my, or your dad's age, no matter which side of the road you choose to walk on. But you can easily determine how you are going to walk down it.