Earth's Future: Hot Or Cold?

The good news is that earth will largely survive a warming but the bad news is it will largely die in the forthcoming freeze. The recent discovery of ice/water on Mars and the previous revelation of ice/water on Saturn and its moon point to a pattern of water, then life and then a freeze. The cold is brought on by the receding volcanism on the planets-our cores lose heat- coupled with the dimming heat/radiation of our sun -the sun is dying slowly-on the planets in the solar system. We started like Mercury and Venus became the Earth and ended like Mars and Saturn. Count on it.

Bring Back The Wildfowl

According to tthe Bay Conservation And Development Commission, the predicted 3 feet rise in ocean waters will change the Bay Area landscape dramatically. Notably the 3 feet rise which is possible by the year 2100 is a median estimate. Some estimates range as high as a 15 foot increase. Areas lost to the rising waters will vary according to elevation, from a few feet to miles or more.

And so the alchemy of filling in the bay for the past 100 years so that land and wealth could be created is turning into another foolhardy scheme. Variations on this not-thought-through plan are increasingly being replicated around the globe today. Indonesia, Phillipines, Bangladesh and others are recent examples of what clearing tree cover and building communities on flood plains or unappropriate sites produce in disaters.

The Bay Area has time to prepare. But dikes, sea walls , levees or berms are not the answer. Just remember Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. Less population and responsible conservation is the answer. The net effect of the coming inundation will give better situated Bay Area residents a second chance to see what the Bay looked like before real estate developers showed up. Personally I look forawrd to seeing more wildfowl.

Predictions For Year 2007

1) Global warming's implications and remedies will have the largest philosophical influence in the public debate.

2) It will become apparant that the irresponsible population growth in emerging countries only exacerbates the problems of malnutrition, HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Also natural disasters such as storms, flooding, earthquakes etc. are also made worse because of overcrowding. For examples, clearing of the forrests take away the lands ability to absorb rain; poorly built dwellings can easily be shook apart by even mild earthquakes especially when the building sites are not appropriate.

3) There is an upside to finally dealing with global warming issues. Particularly with the new leadership in Congress. New legislation will come forth that will eventually change the industrial base in America from it's 20th century industrial revolution template. It will be replaced with an environmentally sustainable approach to manufacturing and living that will end up providing boom times for well-situated companies. Technology in particular will benefit. The NASDAQ should climb by at least 20% in 2007.

4) Dick Cheney will resign from office. He will cite health reasons. But he faces numerous lawsuits. They include: Plamegate; cooked-up Iraqi War intelligence; his "energy policy" meetings which includes warmongering with his old firm of Halliburton.

5) George Bush will appoint Condi Rice as Cheney's replacement. She will come in handy if Bush needs a pardon if he is forced out of office. But that is a long shot.

6)It looks like Clinton and Obama will be the democratic nominees for the presidential ticket. Who will be in which slot is not clear.

7) Good health and critical thinking are still the most important personal assets.