* Clearly, progress and technology have long ago outpaced what passes for an “informed electorate” and continues to accelerate –toward a corporate technocracy, and a rather malignant one. (I do believe it could be otherwise, with a cultural revolution, centered on the kind of concern evidenced among these comments.)

* Recently, the magazine Scientific American called for a serious examination of the hazards of nano-technology, before we take it any further. The sounding of that alarm made no difference. Nine years ago our government explicitly told recovery crews that the ruins of the World Trade Center were a safe environment to work in. It now appears that more deaths will result from exposure to asbestos particles during the aftermath, than from the collapse of those buildings. Google on problems with mercury in our dental fillings, fluoride in our drinking water, GMO foods, artificial sweeteners –and you’ll find a plethora of substantiated cries of alarm –on par with those old public nemeses of lead, asbestos and radioactive substances.

* What’s needed is a systemic/cultural change in our society. A new body of belated laws and regulations for each new threat amounts to mopping the floors whilst leaving the sink running over. While I largely agree with Michael Moore that corporate capitalism is inherently dangerous to our nation and its people, most of our society’s politics and “business as usual” would proceed toward true progress and benign purposes if the people of our nation were on humanistically and naturalistically spiritual paths.

* Soon, Americans will be staggered by having to admit what really happened during the events surrounding September 11th, 2001. (See the movie: “Loose Change, An American Coup”.) Good people must be ready to lead the bewildered along those better paths. No more BS.

The greatest woman I’ve ever known (tied with my mom), my grandmother’s story has stayed with me and will do so forever. In a way, while I was never fully clear on the Radium Girls story (only the aftermath), the residual effects of the Radium Corp.’s actions will never end. My grandmother talked about her mom and what had happened until the day she died; I wish I would’ve listened more intently. Thank you for the knowledge you’ve given about a family history that I was never clear on.

“Does anyone still wear a hat?” (Any theatre people in here?)

Did anyone hear/read about this? Slightly off-topic but that’s never stopped me…
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/02/27/uk.teacher.radioactive/

Damned interesting (and tragic) article!

I know that there is no way that I could possibly measure up to the levels of intelligence, knowledge and esteem that you all have but I will try to do the best that I can to keep up with you. Perhaps I should start by telling you that I am Canadian…not that that should be an “exclusionist” point…at all. I mention it only as a point in fact that I am not American and that I have the ability, as such, to look upon your situations from another standpoint. Not a better standpoint, but a different one.

Some years back I made up my mind to never ever get into a political squabble with an American…especially with their own politics. It is a bloody irrational nightmare and leads to nothing but unnecessary hostility. At the risk of sounding bigoted, I would liken this to a gentile telling jewish jokes…same diff….it doesn’t work…everybody gets pissed off in the end. Inferiority complexes are a pain in the ass to deal with.

My best friends are Americans…I studied in the States and I know you people and I find you people to be the most friendly, upfront and hospitable of all the people I have ever known. And I have travelled extensively. But you know what your problem is?

You are too insular…you don’t know anything beyond your own immediate scopes. Awareness…knowledge….broadness of thinking…is that such a bad and dangerous and icky and inconvenient thing? But you know what? This is really the wrong forum to spout all this upon….and I am sorry to be dumping this stuff on you but Anthropositor did bring up some questions.

It’s a mess..it’s all a mess and I don’t think that it is fixable. The powers that be don’t give a damn (I wonder if the guys at the top who dictate all this corrupt nonsense have looked at the fact that ol’ King Tut and his gang of royal cronies didn’t make it to the beyond with all the frikken riches and treasures). It all evens out in the end, my friend.