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Aug. 26th, 2005 10:18 pmI went to my first book club meeting yesterday. We were discussing Diamond's Collapse. Several things struck me:
* There is some kind of watermelon that has just a few little white seeds near the rind, giving you no excuse for seed-spitting contests, which is probably just as well when you are indoors. The one I saw was also a good shape for lawn bowling.
* I am uncomfortable meeting new people. A little paranoid. A little suspicious. I think of it as cautious. I'm so glad I know and like some people well enough I don't have to feel cautious around them.
* Out of ten or twelve participants, one had read the entire book. Another had read 1.5 pages. The mean quantity was much nearer the latter than the former.
* Nevertheless, most had interesting things to add to the discussion. Most people knew the same or additional information from other sources.
* At first I was thinking that fewer people would be better for this kind of thing, but eventually most people contributed something that probably no one else would have been able to contribute. So maybe it's okay after all.
* The general consensus is that the author is overly repetitive and could use a(nother?) good editor. I knew this.
* The general consensus is that the chapter on Montana is boring and useless. I did not know this. I used the chapter to learn that western Montana is very beautiful and will be leaking horrible poisons indefinitely as a result of previous mining activities.
* People seemed to be unsurprised by and in agreement with the idea that we are quickly destroying our planet. Some even added further evidence like how the "conveyor belt" of ocean currents was slowing to a stop because of global warming.
* However, it felt like they were resigned to it, yet somehow not worried. Like they were watching it in a movie. We are very used to feeling powerless among overwhelming forces.
The author had several interesting ideas for ways you could make a difference, though they were buried in an appendix (albeit referenced at least twice in the text). Five ideas: 1) vote (and write to your representatives). 2) Shop responsibly. 3) Draw attention to good and bad company behavior. For #2 and #3, research which groups can influence the situation. 4) Volunteer time and effort to improve your local environment. 5) Donate to charities working to solve these problems.
I think I may look into some of these strategies more thoroughly for personal use.
Related journal entry: "Collapse" by chikuru - "He mentioned the international, non-profit Forest Stewardship Council, which I'd never heard of before." Me either. I'm going to start looking for their label.
Unrelated journal: I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing: Another Screenwriter Blog by Josh Friedman - Funny and well-written, I recommend all the entries so far, except maybe the first one. "I had no lawyer. No agent. Nothing. But because I am the dumbest monkey in the fucking tree I did something that I regret EVERY TIME I do it. I asked my Dad for help."
* There is some kind of watermelon that has just a few little white seeds near the rind, giving you no excuse for seed-spitting contests, which is probably just as well when you are indoors. The one I saw was also a good shape for lawn bowling.
* I am uncomfortable meeting new people. A little paranoid. A little suspicious. I think of it as cautious. I'm so glad I know and like some people well enough I don't have to feel cautious around them.
* Out of ten or twelve participants, one had read the entire book. Another had read 1.5 pages. The mean quantity was much nearer the latter than the former.
* Nevertheless, most had interesting things to add to the discussion. Most people knew the same or additional information from other sources.
* At first I was thinking that fewer people would be better for this kind of thing, but eventually most people contributed something that probably no one else would have been able to contribute. So maybe it's okay after all.
* The general consensus is that the author is overly repetitive and could use a(nother?) good editor. I knew this.
* The general consensus is that the chapter on Montana is boring and useless. I did not know this. I used the chapter to learn that western Montana is very beautiful and will be leaking horrible poisons indefinitely as a result of previous mining activities.
* People seemed to be unsurprised by and in agreement with the idea that we are quickly destroying our planet. Some even added further evidence like how the "conveyor belt" of ocean currents was slowing to a stop because of global warming.
* However, it felt like they were resigned to it, yet somehow not worried. Like they were watching it in a movie. We are very used to feeling powerless among overwhelming forces.
The author had several interesting ideas for ways you could make a difference, though they were buried in an appendix (albeit referenced at least twice in the text). Five ideas: 1) vote (and write to your representatives). 2) Shop responsibly. 3) Draw attention to good and bad company behavior. For #2 and #3, research which groups can influence the situation. 4) Volunteer time and effort to improve your local environment. 5) Donate to charities working to solve these problems.
I think I may look into some of these strategies more thoroughly for personal use.
Related journal entry: "Collapse" by chikuru - "He mentioned the international, non-profit Forest Stewardship Council, which I'd never heard of before." Me either. I'm going to start looking for their label.
Unrelated journal: I Find Your Lack of Faith Disturbing: Another Screenwriter Blog by Josh Friedman - Funny and well-written, I recommend all the entries so far, except maybe the first one. "I had no lawyer. No agent. Nothing. But because I am the dumbest monkey in the fucking tree I did something that I regret EVERY TIME I do it. I asked my Dad for help."