(no subject)

[winterbadger]

I love technology. I love the globally connected world we live in. I feel very fortunate.

There are a lot of things that need to be done better. We need to find ways to make and use energy that aren't so damaging to the planet. We need to be smarter and more sensitive to the world we live in and how we affect it. We need to treat our fellow creatures better (human and otherwise).

But right now I'm sitting in my living room in Virginia in the eastern United States, typing on a computer assembled in China, drinking coffee from Ethiopia, and watching football teams from Croatia and Japan plan in Germany, while a German commentator on an Irish sports network tells me what's going in. The signal is being bounced off satellites in orbit and caught by a piece of metal on the side of my house.

And I know I am one of the most fortunate people in the world: I live in a developed country, I have a good education, and excellent job, decent health, comfort, and many friends. I'm not sick or starving. No one tried to kill me yesterday or (so far) today, and chances are they won't try to kill me tomorrow. I can go where I want, do what I feel like (within the limits of my income and certain mostly reasonable laws, which I get to elect people to make), and say what I think (within certain, mostly voluntary, limits).

I am fascinated by the past and sometimes fearful about the future, but the present is an amazing place, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

Comments

[hobbitblue.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean, I keep exclaiming about how amazingly cool it is to have so much at hand via the internet, whatever new hobby or interest or study topic I come up with, there is the information I need, and a springboard to new discoveries, and a chance to encounter new people around the world.

[astartesyriaca.livejournal.com]

This post made me feel so great! I actually just read another one from my f-list that was so overwhelmingly depressing, so it was great to follow it up with this one...

I think this speaks volumes of what a wonderful person you are. This is a great outlook, admirable!

Have a great week!

[winterbadger]

*Another* lovely picture of you. :-)

Thanks so much; glad I was cheering. Sorry we haven't had a chance to catch up lately; perhaps some evening later this week?

[astartesyriaca.livejournal.com]

Sounds good... I'm booked on Wed & Thurs now, but fairly free any other night.

[astartesyriaca.livejournal.com]

And thanks for the compliment *blush*