Author Archives: fgeefay
100 Years from Now: Part 12 – Population Control
Controlling the population will be a key element of Sustainable survival. Over population is a drain on precious resources. Fortunately since people 100 years from now no longer need to work a working population is no longer important. The birth and mortality rates can be carefully controlled to a sustainable level so as not to be a drain on resources. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 11 – Recreation & Entertainment
I thought I’d add Recreation & Entertainment to this Series because these would be things people would spend most of their time doing together with socialization since no one worked. As I have eluded earlier in 100 Years from Now: Part 8 – Jobs and Economics people would typically live like the wealthy folk of Downton Abbey where robot like technology would serve their every needs. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 10 – Shopping
As I stated in 100 Years from Now: Part 8 – Jobs and Economics money will have no value in the exchange of goods and services. Instead they will be provided freely. But there will be some rules and limits as to what one can ask for. Space and resources will be limited and there are things that are not beneficial to society so such things violating these rules will be prohibited just as we are legally limited in what we can posses today. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 9 – Socializing
Socialization is in our DNA so it will be a significant part of our activities 100 years from now and beyond. I have alluded to the Holodeck in Part 2: Technology, eating out in Part 5: Food, and entertaining in Part 7: Housing. However remote socialization will become far more common in the future due to technology such as the Holodeck and other communications tools. Remote socialization is nothing new. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 8 – Jobs and Economics
It is questionable in my mind whether jobs for people will even exist 100 years from now. Most certainly there will be far fewer of them. We see many signs of automation reducing the number of jobs in just about every profession today. In the not too distant future technology will largely make most if not all jobs obsolete. Continue reading
Posted in 100 Years, Economy, Environment, Global Warming, Government, Life's Lessons, Personal Perspective, Science & Technology, Social Issues, Society
Tagged cultural changes, future city design, future technology, Global Warming, holodeck, infrastructure, over population, shortage of resources
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100 Years from Now: Part 7 – Housing
The average home or microhouse will likely be about 500 sq. ft. and be largely located underground to protect it from the elements, though there may be limited above ground housing, in large energy-efficient clusters going up and down many stories. It is possible for a family of two or three to live quite comfortably in that small an area as exist in some communities in Sweden or apartments in Hong Kong. Multi-utilitarian rooms with movable walls and ceiling panels exist in places such as Hong Kong and Japan where space is at a premium. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 6 – Mobility
In 100 years cars will be history. They simply use far too much energy, take up far too much space in terms of roads and parking (keep in mind that real estate will be at a premium), are too large and heavy, need too much technology and too many resources to manufacture and maintain, and produce too much heat. So bicycles, which have none of these drawbacks, will gradually replace cars. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 5 – Food
Next to Water Food stand out to be among the most important things man needs to survive. Though many food products will be artificial in the future there will also be some real but genetically engineered vegetables and fruit grown using hydroponic or other such technology which uses water far more efficiently that grown on trays that circulate vertically up and down tall chain linked conveyor devices in glass-like enclosures to maximum sun light exposure and minimizes real-estate. Moisture in the air is recaptured by condensation units and recycles. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 4 – Water
Water is the essence of Life. Without it all known organisms cannot exist. Yet water is so much taken for granted today. Though much of the western half of the country is in a state of drought there is still much water being wasted. However 100 years from now when Global Warming is in full swing water in the western half of continents where most of the population will be concentrated will be a desert with less than 5 inches of rain per year. So water will be a very cherished substance. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 3 – Energy
Energy is a key element that enables just about all that will happen in the future. Due to Global Warming any source of energy must emit no greenhouse gas and should be as clean and safe as possible. It is best if it is compact and can be located near the communities in which it serves so that the lengthy transmission lines of today that are vulnerable to large scale disruptions and produce loss of power due to the resistance of the wires carrying power can be mitigated. Continue reading
US-Iran Nuclear Deal is a Good Thing
I view the framework of the nuclear agreement between the presidents of the United States and Iran as a very positive beginning. Getting two enemies talking is always better than rattling sabers. I think these talks between alien enemies continents apart are going far smoother than dialog between our two alienated parties only feet across the aisle from one another. What is the alternative? Iran continuing its production of fissionable uranium and plutonium at the rate it is? Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 2 – Technology
Technology will be a dominant part of life one hundred years from now. Robotics and the world of so-called computers (I suspect our traditional computers will be obsolete) and technology will have advanced far beyond all but a few Start Trek gadgets. I believe that a Holodeck like technology as seen in Start Trek will exist with some of the sensory perceptions of reality. Continue reading
100 Years from Now: Part 1 – Considerations
In the past year I have given some thought to what the future would look like a hundred years from now given the state of science today and the effects of global warming, diminishing natural resources, and a populations of over twice times what it is today (population control will be in effect). One thing is clear, the word Sustainable will be far more than a buzzword. It will be a way of life. Continue reading
Moral Values
My all time favorite Post is Imposing Human Rights and Moral Values on Others. It is also my most read post since its publication in December 2013. It gets to the essence of my values as outlined on the Home page. … Continue reading
The Consequences of Pulling out of the Middle East
The Middle East is a very confusing place with complex political, religious, cultural, and boundary disputes. It is this very complex multidimensional aspect that is so difficult for anyone to understand making peace so problematic for the U.S. and even people living in that region. It is the U.S. failure to appreciate the complexities of such human behaviors and interactions in the Middle East that has led to our continuing attempts to unsuccessfully solve the problem of stability over there using primarily military means. The best thing we can do is withdraw all our troops from that part of the world. Pulling out of the Middle East will be no different. There will be a power vacuum that needs to be filled. Various militant and religious factions such as ISIS will want to fill that vacuum. Continue reading
What do we have to fear from ISIL and Al Qaeda Terrorist
Let us suppose the U.S. government decided that enough was enough and totally withdrew all military presence in the Middle East. What proponents of the war here fear most is that this would allow ISIS to increase (start) terrorist activities in the U.S. because they hate us so much for killing so many of their countrymen that all they want is revenge. Let us consider how reasonable this assumption is. First of all I am assuming that ISIS leaders are smart and rational men as we have seen of Al Qaeda leaders. Though there are some here who do not believe this the evidence is quite strong. One must wonder why ISIS terrorist have not yet struck on U.S. soil. Continue reading
Posted in Foriegn Policy and War, Government
Tagged fear of terrorism, withdraw from Middle East
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Do We have a Moral Right?
Since the 1950s we have had political/economic interests and a military presence in the Middle East. It is no secret now that we are there because of Oil. In our self-interest we have attempted to maintain stability in that region so that the price of oil would remain under control. In spit of our claim of being civilized we seem to have a proclivity towards war and violence. I am sure that those who have been victimized by our civilized manner do not see us in the same light. So what Moral Right do we have for spending more money on killing people than education or any other worthy cause at home? The question of Moral Right begs an answer. I am Not asking if Arabs have a Moral Right to terrorize us. I’m asking does a civilized nation such as the U.S. have a Moral Right to impose its military might on other nations abroad who originally posed little danger to our nation? Continue reading
Posted in Do No Harm, Foriegn Policy and War, Morality Values
Tagged civilized, harms way, moral right, morally reprehensible, oil, rightious, value of human life, war
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Sustainable
All living organisms on earth with the exception of man unknowingly obey Darwin’s theory of Evolution. Man has global impact due to his mobility and the shear volume of his pollution. That is because of man’s ability to create his own environment by consuming an enormous variety and amount of global resources just to build his communities. Medical science has made it possible to reduce the mortality rate of young, defective, and weak human beings to such an extent that his population continues to increase from 1 billion in 1800 to over 7 billion today in a little over 200 years and there is little letup as it increases by almost a billion every 15 years. Continue reading
Posted in Environment
Tagged air pollution, compete in a global economy, enviornment, evolution, medical science, population growth, resouces
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Doctors in the Future
For the last century medical doctors have gained great respect and value in society because of their contributions to alleviating suffering, generally improving our quality of life, and prolonging human life. As a result they have commanded high salaries in relation to other professionals. However because of recent government and insurance requirements that doctors convert over to computerizing all of their records of tests, symptoms, diagnosis, and notes a database is quickly being built up that will aid networked computers in doing many of the important diagnostic services doctors used to do. So the writing is on the wall. Continue reading
More Bicycles, Not Cars
In 2012 33,561 people lost their lives to car accidents. Most people drive their cars less than 5 miles to shop or do other tasks. Our dependance upon cars is complete almost to the exclusion of other modes of transportation such as walking, biking, or public transportation. Yet in other countries bicycles are the major mode of transportation, not only in under developed nations but also in highly developed nations such as Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and other norther European countries. These nations realize the negative impact of cars in terms of safety, pollution, and dependance upon oil so they have emphasized the use of biking with supporting infrastructure. Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Life's Lessons, Personal Perspective, Transportation Alternative
Tagged bicycle, healthy, no green house gases, safe, very low costs
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New Year’s Resolution for 2015
Most years in the past I have not typically made New Years resolutions because I have never been able to keep them. Now it my waning years my New Years resolution is always the same, not to physically or mentally do worst that the previous year. But of course these are not realistic expectations as my body progressively get older and less able to repair the normal ware and tear of the former year. Continue reading
Bike Lanes and Paths Best Practices Videos
[Note: this page may take a minute for slow computers or networks to load] The following collection of YouTube video clips are of various bike lane and thoroughfare best practice designs used throughout the world. If you are serious about … Continue reading
Consequences of a Car-centric Culture
I heard it said that a 9/11 number of car related deaths occurs every month. More people are killed by cars than in all our wars and gun related shootings. Car related death is the leading cause of fatality among children. This is probably not a big surprise to anyone but why shouldn’t we be alarmed? Car deaths and injuries have great economic and emotional cost to those affected by it. It’s primarily because of our total dependency upon cars. America over the last 100 years has become a car-centric culture. Pedestrians and bikers use our roadways at their own peril. Kids no longer walk or bike to school or play in my city. They are driven everywhere by parents because our streets have become too dangerous for such activities. When I was young I used to bike and walk everywhere. Continue reading
Posted in Personal Perspective, Social Issues, Society
Tagged bike lanes, biking, car-centric culture, convenient, pleasant, safe streets, walking
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Thinking of Things
As I write more posts it gets harder to find topics. I try to stay away from current news items and posts those opinions under Discussions on my Home page. But sometime I feel certain news items deserving of more attention so I address them as a post but more as a general topic unto itself rather than a discuss of the specific item in the news. I have a modest readership. I am surprised at my international appeal. I have learned quite a bit about myself as well as the world around me while writing. Writing hasn’t always come easy. I have dyslexia so I’ve never seriously seen how others write. Continue reading
Posted in Life's Lessons, Personal Perspective
Tagged empathize, prsonal perspecive, write about topics
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POT Controversy
POT is becoming increasingly accepted in various municipalities and states throughout our nation, just as with many other taboo issues such as LGBT rights, as social acceptance standards and mythical perceptions are dispelled. It has been argued for decades that POT will lead to more serious drug use, but research has shown that this is no more true than alcohol leading to harder drugs. The medical harm and addictive effects of POT have been proven to be less than alcohol and cigaret smoking and highs experienced by users to impair their senses far less than alcohol. It is time to decriminalize it and treat it just as we do cigarets and alcohol. Billions of dollars are spent annually on cost with no revenue opportunities that could better spent on education just enforcing senseless marijuana laws. Continue reading
ouR Social Conscience 