A system of values and beliefs that organize a society and result in various practices and artifacts that are associated with the general characteristics of that society.
The entire history of ‘Industrial Civilization’ is one of seeking greater efficiency in all production processes, including labor, materials extraction and flow, production, technology, etc. Reduce labor costs by squeezing workers’ wages and minimizing the quality of working conditions. Optimize supply chains, so that needed materials arrive at the factory “just in time.” Reduce inventories … More Efficiency is Not Effectiveness
Photo credit: The Independent The origins of the song, “Kumbaya, my Lord,” and of the title itself, are somewhat obscure. First recorded in 1926, some say it is of African origin, more likely in the African American spirituals in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. And, of course, a white folksong writer copyrighted it in 1939, … More KUMBAYA, MY LORD! Or, Maybe a Cage Fight
The extent to which some folks can wallow in illusions so far from reality has always amused, and sometimes terrified me. Of course, when we look back in history we can find plenty of examples where collective illusions led to not mere folly, but massive suffering and death. The Salem Witch Trials and the infamous … More THE ANTI-EXPERT: Illusions of Truth in a World of Facts
I have been interested in social illusions for a long time. However, I never expected to discover the extent to which they drive the terminal trajectory of the industrial/militarist era toward oblivion today. I’m not saying that we are destined to collapse and never recover as a species on this planet, although that is possible, … More ILLUSIONS AND INTERDICTIONS: Imaginary Progress and the Real World
To answer a question like “Is techno-fascism a thing?” requires a broader look at the nature and role of technology in human affairs. And oh yes, what are the values that we humans must live by as the epoch of industrial civilization comes to an end, and we face the chaotic early phase of the … More Is Techno-Fascism a Thing?
The iconic film that expressed the surfing culture of Southern California in the late 1960s and on, was called “Endless Summer.” The movie traced the journey of a couple of surfers as they searched the globe for “the perfect wave.” Since then, the sport has matured and had even become a major business with surfing … More Endless Summer: Not what It Once Was
For at least a decade, I have been arguing, here and there, that neither climate chaos nor ecological destruction can be resolved by “renewable energy” or “clean energy” alone. A very small number of technical analysts have come to the same conclusion, but they are all outside of the culture of the conventional Environmental Movement. … More The Great Energy Illusion: Industrial Modernity
Photo Credit: Wikipedia For whatever reason, the phrase “friendly persuasion” popped into my head a couple of days ago. “Wasn’t that the title of an old movie?” I thought. Yep! 1956. Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire, and Anthony Perkins starred in the “story of a Quaker family in southern Indiana during the American Civil War and … More (Un)Friendly Persuasion
New Year’s Eve, 2025 Suddenly, it is New Year’s Eve. Are your resolutions lined up for after the gluttony and consumerist excess of the “Holiday Season.” Can we make 2026 a good year? Opinions vary, as well they should, given the diverse indicators suggesting multiple sources of chaos emerging. Are you determined to live the … More Living the Good Life in 2026: A Difficult Choice
Photo Credit: Werner Ustorf via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0) Race has always been an ambiguous concept. Racial identity is held to desperately by the socially insecure and the psychologically anxious, who turn their ignorance and confusion into fear, which then becomes hate. Then there are those who consciously exploit the fears and confusion of others to encourage … More The Ridiculous Race
Robert MacNeil Christie, Author 