I found this link via Andrew Sullivan, who recently wrote Green Conservatism at the Times Online. And since we’re on the topic of Mr. Sullivan and religion, this quote he’s got from Oscar Romero rocks.

I was at this fantastic party my cousin and his gal pal threw on Saturday, fresh after teaching two 3 hour lectures back to back at the Art Institute. My brain was fairly fuzzy, got home, changed, paid the sitter, kissed the kid, grabbed the wife, got to the party.

We began talking with a gal who had lost her grandfather the previous week. I tried to recall the prayer from Romero in that post. I called him Cesar Romero instead of Oscar. The gal correct me, which made me say, “Wait, Cesar… didn’t he paint his moustache white along with his face to play the Joker? Sorry..” I think that inadvertent joke consoled her better than the prayer.

In 2050 this report claims we will need to have two earths to support the needs of humans. When does the earth catch a cold and shake us all off? We need to try to live in harmony with our planet. Or get it drunk enough that it can see double! Gallows humor from me. If everyone lived the way we do in the US, the report says we would need five earths. Ouch!

It made me wonder what the hell I was doing, going to work. Short of frogs raining or a plague of locusts, it was enough signs for me, pun intended. I was tracking through Max Design’s weekly reading list and came across Dave Pollard’s article on collaborative tools and their lack of adoption. The collaborative tools article was great, and Pollard is right. There is little adoption of them, despite their huge promise. This concerns me for two reasons: 1 selfish and 1 pragmatic. The selfish one: I am trying to develop a collaborative tool now, called revizit. The pragmatic: though corporations are probably the biggest beneficiaries, anything that improves human communication is desirable, especially if it improves human understanding or our ability to survive in harmony with our planet.

And on that note, it was with surprise that I found a ton of great environmental links on Pollard’s site, including his article “The Truth About Nature: How to Save the World.” At the same time I was reading this article, and pondering whether Christians or Moslems would ever be able to accept the idea that humans are not the preeminent form of life without relationship to nature, a great 30 minute PBS series entitled “design e2” was on TV. It talked about China, and how rapidly they are adopting environmental solutions (though they still have many issues, make no mistake about it). It ended on an interesting note… A nation believing in the Tao, of life in balance and backed by totalitarian will… does it have a chance to make a difference?

It makes me hopeful, because I think this land of rabid individualism, though fun, may not survive past its adolesence to mature and realize the need for such solutions. I am always hopeful this is not the case, but I live in Chicago, a city with fairly progressive environmental policies. Does the rest of the country have this will? Do our politicians? Maybe it’s time to get with Plato and the Republic, and use music to change it? Obviously, I’m beat, and tilting at windmills. G’night!

So, we’ve begun exploring going solar with Solar Service here in Chicago. So far, it does not seem to be very cost effective, so we may call out a salesperson to double check that. Our problem is that we have a boiler, not a furnace, so we only cut down our hot water heater gas usage. We wash most of our clothes with cold water and turn the water heater down, regardless.

There are new federal and Illinois state tax credits that could drop the cost, but we may look at replacing windows around our house or finding other ways in which we can reduce our energy usage before taking that next step, unfortunately. It may be time to call in the Energy Detectives. So, I stand with Hugo Chavez when he says 1 car per person for this planet is lunacy.

Hey, hold on to your surf board. It may be a little slick from that Valdez oil slick we still haven’t paid to clean up yet. Hi, I’m Lee Raymond, ex-head of Exxon, guest blogger on kuniform today. Please don’t be angry because I was given a 400 million dollar retirement package, I am a human being like you. I’m just sharper at the game, boss! Hee hee hee. Haw.

Here, this fair and balanced Washington Times article will tell the whole story. Heck, you can always trust a paper owned by the moonies. It shows I need to work for my dead presidents, baby!

Heck, some of that isn’t even cash, it’s stock options, a coupla houses, use of a private corporate jet, and a $1 million/year consulting contract. Sheesh. It’s not all just cash, so get over it. I am a C-O-N-S-U-L-T-A-N-T. C’mon, you’re only pissed because it’s a retirement package bigger than the GNP of the three smallest countries in the world.

Ok, ok, you’re right, Jason (Man, this guy will not shut up with the useless opinions). You’ve convinced me. Time to donate all my ill gotten gains to charity. I wonder if I can find a group with similar interests. Hey, this Josh Marshall guy has a great article here. I really dig his progressive views.

Competitive Enterprise Insitute, you say? Attackin’ Al Gore, huh? Defending the pro-emissions folks?!?

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Pollution! Goooooooooo toxic chemicals! I’m a big rooter for emissions! Whoops.. Excuse me… That emission.. Must’ve been that guacamole you made, Kunesh. Too spicy, and it’s not the kind of gas that makes me a filthy rich man.

Well, it makes your air filthy, and me rich. Now, where’s my checkbook so’s I can buy off the public’s interest?