rty values crashed; foreclosure and bankruptcy rates bled. For states, counties, cities, and towns; for manufacturers, retailers, and middle- and low-income families, the consequences were—and continue to be—catastrophic. Other nations were soon caught up in the undertow.In late 2009 and early 2010, the economy showed some signs of renewed vigor. Understandably, everyone wants it to get “back to normal.” But here’s a disturbing thought: What if that is not possible? What if the goalposts have been moved, the rules rewritten, the game changed? What if the decades-long era of economic growth based on ever-increasing rates of resource extraction, manufacturing, and consumption is over, finished, and done? What if the economic conditions that all of us grew up expecting to continue practically forever were merely a blip on history’s timeline?It’s an uncomfortable idea, but one that cannot be ignored: The “normal” late-20th century economy of seemingly endless growth actually emerged from an aberrant set of conditions that cannot be perpetuated.That “normal” is gone. One way or another, a “new normal” will emerge to replace it. Can we build a different, more sustainable economy to replace the one now in tatters?Let’s be clear: I believe we are in for some very hard times. The transitional period on our way toward a post-growth, equilibrium economy will prove to be the most challenging time any of us has ever lived through. Nevertheless, I am convinced that we can survive this collective journey, and that if we make sound choices as families and communities, life can actually be better for us in the decades ahead than it was during the heady days of seemingly endless economic expansion. Richard Heinberg…
Added by Michael Grove at 11:01 on December 10, 2010
lways do: refine the product for their market, make the design as slick and simple as possible and then market it brilliantly. Without the iPad, it’s unthinkable that so many tablets would be appearing.
Announcing the iPad 2 last night, Steve Jobs talked about it as a "post-PC" device. It's clear Apple considers theses devices to be the future and it's a theme that Jobs has spoken about before. At a conference in June last year, Jobs said:-
"I’m trying to think of a good analogy. When we were an agrarian nation, all cars were trucks. But as people moved more towards urban centers, people started to get into cars. I think PCs are going to be like trucks. Less people will need them."
…
nded, so called dyslexic visual thinkers • whilst those in charge & control of humanity's daily lives throughout [TIME] on Spaceship Earth, have invariably been of the right-handed words & numbers "I AM NOW in CHARGE" [DIS]ENTANGLEMENT disposition • as a result of which ALL the peoples of ALL the nations, as the very custodians of ALL the passengers of Spaceship Earth, are NOW faced with the consequences of that in[CHARGE] mind[SET] on a daily basis • THAT HAS more recently resulted in NATURE [IT]self beginning to take back control, by way of a process that I would indefatigably describe as THE DISMANTLEMENT of our Lords & Masters, NOW out of control, [DIS]ENTANGLEMENT disposition.
…