These are the major news stories we are trying to absorb right now:

[Are_grits_groceries]

1-The Gulf oil gusher
2-The Times Square bomber
3-The Tennessee floods
4-The demise of 1/3 of the bees
This is getting little notice. However, it has the potential to devastate the US economy and food supply at the least.
Bad Winter Deepens Disappearing Bee Crisis
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/24/tech/main6328765.shtml
5-The Arizona Immigration law
6-The 2010 elections
7-The 2 wars

I know I left some out. People probably can't take in the real impact of the bees and the Gulf. The terror in NYC has the attention of a lot of people.

[tridim]

1. The best news of the day IMO, the teabagger idiots have been silenced.

I'm sure they'll be back, but right now it's nice that we don't have to listen to their BS.

[jaxx]

2. It's kind of mind boggling, everything going on at once.

I'm glad we have someone with a cool head at the helm.

[NotThisTime]

14. You can say that again....

[Richard D]

3. Any one of these would be enough,.

Too much, really.

[Lint Head]

4. Where is Dick Cheney? Maybe his genius intellect and wealth

can solve all of our problems. Doesn't he care about our nation? Maybe Benny Hinn or Pat Robertson can pray for divine intervention.:sarcasm: (Haven't used the sarcasm icon in a while. Couldn't resist the opportunity.)

[BrklynLiberal]

5. No wonder that all the kids nowadays want to do is tune out and listen to their iPods....

It is a scary world out there...

BTW: Excellent synopsis.

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. Thanks.

I had to go to a news site to remember them all.

[ladjf]

7. It could be that the human race is reaching a tipping point limit

to how many crises can be grasped simultaneously. We may be on the verge of global psychosis as a result. Hopefully, this hasn't already happened or won't happen. But, your point is well taken.

[justabob]

17. I really worry about something along those lines

You can see it out there already. People really are cracking up. I am not just talking about the Teabagger crowd and assorted wingnuts.... Regular people just trying to get through the day can't cope. I see it all the time at my work, people are just going crazy, about crazy stuff.

[ladjf]

27. The rank and file humans, trying to make a living, are all but helpless

to defend themselves against the constant bombardment of mind controlling propaganda, created by highly paid professionals. Unimaginable profits flow to those who are in control. This unhealthy and dangerous process cannot continue indefinitely since the byproduct is a human race that has ceased to function mentally in the objective manner required for survival.

[RandomThoughts]

8. Those things are disturbing, and difficult issues.

But there are many other things going on that need to be worked on and thought on.

Although my heart goes out for those that might have difficulties or hardship in those situations, and I hope they find relief and ways to mitigate them and stay safe.

What I do is look at each one of those and ask what is the cause, what could be done about now, and what could be done to avoid it in the future, and what is learned to better prepare and prevent also.



The bees story is an old one, there was a story about an antiviral that reversed Colony Collapse Disorder that was happening to the bees.



And that 2010 election should be fair and not manipulated by election machines, that is so bad, the fact that unaccountable ones are in place opens so many bad possibilities. But I have hope people will be watching for those things.


I still think things will get better, and you can't let fear dictate a decision so just trying to think on better things. :)



To keep from being saturated with such things, I think on my own issue, And and to keep that in balance. I been re-rolling cigarettes for a week and almost out, I might have to go without cigarettes for awhile, and I know it is not healthy, but not fun to just stop smoking. Haven't been out around people in probably a month either. Plenty of food and water, and music, but yea things can get tough at times.

Everyone has issues, I am thankful mine are minor issues, and hope people get relief.

[marions ghost]

22. You're WRONG about the BEES!

This is NOT "an old story"--it's ongoing and worse than ever. CCD has NOT been reversed! Please don't put out false notions.

The OP posted an excellent article about the bees that is very sobering. And it points the finger more directly at pesticides--which we all know is the real problem, weakening the bees and making them more vulnerable to other afflictions. I urge everyone to take a minute and READ THIS. It's a really well-written article:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/24/tech/main6328765.shtml

:shrug: Bees R Us, in many ways...

[DJ13]

9. The potential collapse of the EU due to several countries possibly defaulting

Thats the underlying story behind the fear on Wall Street today.

[zipplewrath]

10. Coal mines

We've barely just buried them, the roof collapsed on another bunch.

And don't forget the hardcore (more than 6 months) unemployed. Not to mention predictions that the housing market won't recover in many areas until 2025.

Makes one wonder if we'll ever get around to Gitmo or DADT. I don't think NAFTA has a prayer.

[Greyhound]

11. ...global economic terrorism. Crisis overload, throw so much crap at everyone, the people can't

handle it and don't know what to do about it. This in turn, fosters a feeling of helplessness & fear so most people turn to "the authorities" in the false hope that they know what they're doing.

Unfortunately, they do.
:kick: & R

[EFerrari]

12. Boycott stories:

Governor opposes state boycott of Arizona (F off, Grope)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/04/BAHJ1D8SBL.DTL

West Hollywood Council Approves Arizona Boycott
http://cbs2.com/local/West.Hollywood.City.2.1673005.html

ABA Pressured to Move Immigration Conference out of Arizona
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ABA-Pressured-to-Move-law-509330962.html?x=0&.v=1

Seattle City Council plans to take up Arizona boycott Monday
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2011771541_seattle_city_council_plans_to.html?syndication=rss

California cities telling local politicians to stay away from Arizona (WH & San Diego)
http://www.kvoa.com/news/california-cities-telling-local-politicians-to-stay-away-from-arizona/

Cook County may consider Arizona boycott
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/illinois/6f92a5de-2b5f-571a-bd1f-b96545803efa.html

2 Boston councilors want city to boycott Arizona
http://www.wbz.com/pages/6954729.php?contentType=4&contentId=6036911

Carson expected to OK Arizona boycott
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_15014608?source=rss

El Paso County To Boycott Arizona
http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/23438751/detail.html

Sam Adams Supports Arizona Boycott (Portand OR)
http://blogs.wweek.com/news/2010/05/03/sam-adams-supports-arizona-boycott/

[Tennessee Gal]

13. The Tennessee floods are not getting much attention.

So far a death toll of 30 - 19 of them in Tennessee. Opryland Hotel and the Opry Mills Mall flooded. Parts of historic downtown Nashville flooded. Thousands of homes destroyed.

http://www.tennessean.com/

[He loved Big Brother]

18. Same with Oklahoma's anti-women proposals

Barely making the news. And they are truly the sickest in ever.

[Liberal_in_LA]

21. +100

[Echo In Light]

15. Dem Immigration Bill Unveiled - BIOMETRIC National ID Card & ACLU comes out against it

[Zoeisright]

16. Well, there's the unemployment rate and dismal economy.

[The Old Creak]

19. I got married on Earth Day

and we planted a tree as part of the ceremony. I know it doesn't mean much, but it helped us get a good feeling. "Let's strike a spark, baby, and make just a little light":hippie:

[Lars39]

23. Congratulations, The Old Creak.

:toast:

[Tsiyu]

28. happy Nuptuals Old Creak!

:toast:

Gotta keep on keepin on, that's all, as hard as it is some days.


earth day I was recovering from emergency dental surgery. woo hoo.

No insurance, $750 out the door...

But hey, that's taken care of lol!


Just do the best you can do and no matter what happens, stay calm, folks.

Don't take it out on the ones you love.

Keep working to make it better.

and now i must go to work!


thanks for the uplift and many happy years to you and your partner, OC! :hi:

[Liberal_in_LA]

20. good summary

[marions ghost]

24. I was just thinking about this yesterday...

We all have more than enough personal problems on our plates I'm sure, either as a result of the bad economy, or family issues, or other crises close to home. Nobody I know is having a real easy time of it.

And then on top of the stress on the home front, there's all the worries the OP lists about things happening in the larger world right now. But we DO have to pay attention. It's no good to just hide out and hope to ignore it. These things touch all of us. The Bush Era should have taught us that, if nothing else. Yesterday I really spent time letting the implications of the Gulf oil disaster sink in. I didn't want to, but I knew I had no choice. I have always lived on the coast, and I am so sad.

I was wondering what it really does to people to be living under so much stress and fear these days. Information travels so fast--no time to process. I call it "the incoming"--like soldiers call the rain of bullets and random missiles. You try to repress some of this incoming--put it out of your mind...but then it sneaks up again. I see people struggling with this. If something good happens it's almost like you don't recognize it anymore, and any attempt at fun almost feels guilty. People have lost a lot of what used to pass for civility. It is a mass nervous breakdown.

:shrug: I guess I'm not very reassuring but I believe in naming the problems at least. Looking at them.

Repressing & ignoring just don't work.

[northernlights]

25. ongoing volcanic spewing from the unspellable one in Iceland

and ongoing concerns that it may lead to the eruption of Katja...the big, spellable one...that could really add to the mess that we call our air.

[marions ghost]

26. agreed

the bees and the Gulf are the harder ones for people to really understand the repercussions. I come from a family of scientists (3 are marine scientists). The implications are scary.