I am watching Why Ancient Egypt Fell on the Military Channel. I like these kind of shows – it’s really interesting stuff. You can learn stuff without having to study or take tests.
One pattern we see in many ancient civilizations is gradual growth and then a sudden end. Here today, gone tomorrow. Some never rebuild, others rebuild after gaps lasting a century or more.
Which begs the question – could it happen to us?
This is an open thread.
I believe in global warming. The Earth has been both warmer and cooler than it is today.
I am not so sure about Man Made Global Warming (MMGW).
Well of course you believe in global warming, you live in California. If you lived up here, you’d be worried about the coming ice age.
I think we’re in a warming cycle. And I don’t really give a crap whether humans contributed or not. And at this point, I don’t think there’s a thing we can do about it anyway. The best thing to do is plan for the likely changes.
I’m not sure if we’re entering a warming period. NASA and some other scientists claim we’re entering a cooling period. That’s why we had to scrap “global warming” and start calling it “climate change.”
Yeah, myiq & Dandy — keep up with the Newspeak — it’s “climate change” now not “global warming.”
Didn’t think they could come up with a dumber name than “global warming” did you?
To paraphrase Ace at AoSHQ — I wrote George Orwell & told him he was right. He responded “No, I thought they’d be more clever.”
LOL
Swim suits for summer sweaters for winter. :)
Not only can it happen to us, but it will definitely happen to us. It’s the cycle of life. Empires come and go. They never last. Doesn’t mean it will happen soon. But looking at the behavior of those in government and the mega corporations intwined with them, it sure seems like that level of consumption and corruption can’t last much longer.
Now we’re hearing in perhaps as little as 15 years, China will be ahead of us in military strength. Will that frighten people here into spending even more to keep ahead? And if not, will our waining influence cost us economically. Even better, will we even last that long to find out? Then again, we’ve figured out with new energy resources and with better technology, we may actually have more energy reserves than Saudi Arabia. Who knows.
I guess it all depends on what King Obama wants for his subjects.
There are two distinct ways civilizations end. They either gradually decline and fall to outsiders or they are suddenly wiped out by Mother Nature.
I think any reasonable person would agree humans have probably affected the climate. The rub comes in quantifying the degree of affect. More than butterflies? Or bees? For the good? Or for ill? Those are questions requiring unbiased facts, not prejudiced assumptions. Now that governments are involved, good luck with that.
Ouch.
I like programs like that, too…because history is such a fungible thing…we have such a vague idea of what really has gone on on this planet…especially the time before Abraham. I say this with temerity and at the risk of derision but I also really like Ancient Aliens. There was no one buried in the Great Pyramid…and that was a feat way beyond technical abilities then….even now as both Japanese and German engineers have tried to duplicate it, on a smaller scale of course…..so what gives….???
Ancient astronauts with technology superior to ours sure would seem like gods to our ancestors, wouldn’t they?
I for one welcome our ancient astronaut overlords.
Let’s hope they don’t plan to serve man.
No lie — my mom has had that theory since I was a little girl. She should have copyrighted it & sold it. We’d be rich right now.
I love Ancient Aliens too. You can believe it or not but those guys aren’t afraid to imagine and go outside the boring bounds of academics. Besides I’m in lust with Giorgio.
groovin’ on Sheila Chandra’s remarkable 1982 LP this evening….Third Eye…
That’s really nice driguana — thanks.
what a beautiful “Just Because” thank you
God hates New York.
Hey, it’s clear and warm here. The east coast is kind of big. :)
“I am watching Why Ancient Egypt Fell on the Military Channel. ”
*******
Too bad that Egypt is turning into an Islamic hell hole. I have been there twice and wanted to go for a third visit but not now. Three thousand years of civilization; 80% of the World’s antiquities are located in Egypt and I wouldn’t be surprised if those fuckers don’t start blowing them up.
“those fuckers,” indeed.
Like they did to the ancient Buddhas in Bamiyan — I know, I worry about that too because I’ve always wanted to go to Egypt to see the antiquities, but always put it off for one reason or another. Now, I’ll probably never get the chance.
On the bright side, my engineer daddy & brother have both guaranteed me that in order to destroy the pyramids, they’d need a bomb that would also take out the entire city of Cairo.
Things don’t look good for the Sphynx, though.
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2013…
this is a weird story. pro taliban terrorist tries to blow up Oakland bank and blame it on the right to start civil war.
the scary thing is that with today’s msm and their reporting it is not a wild idea
Well, of course, they can start a civil war. There’s not an ounce of white southerner in them.
Dr Carson the man that gave the great speech is on Hannity
What an interesting man….nice to see people who are not politicians step up….I still think those are the real leaders of the future…politicians need to take a back seat…let them deal with fiscal issues and let leaders do the leading…
I like what he said about lawyers as politicians, no offense intended myiq.
None taken
here is the video of hannity and dr carson
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2152476170001/doctor-lectures-obama-on-americas-crippling-debt/?playlist_id=930909813001
Everyone’s way to sober, here:
yeah…let’s get kinky…
Kinkier:
“On the bright side, my engineer daddy & brother have both guaranteed me that in order to destroy the pyramids….”
*********
The pyramids were used by the Muslin conquers of Egypt as stone quarries to build Islamic Cairo. All of the marble casings were stripped from the surfaces of the Pyramids and used for building materials. In antiquity the Pyramids were a smooth white marble surface and were said to be especially spectacular reflecting the pink, early morning sun light.
And it is said to have had a special stone on top, called the Benben Stone…purpose unknown but it must have been a gorgeous sight…
http://robertbauval.co.uk/articles/articles/DE14.html
just listen and dream
Reunite Pangea!
LOL!
I have several fun “science teacher” tee shirts. One of my favorites says, “Stop plate tectonics”.
LOL !
http://www.snorgtees.com/t-shirts/geek-nerd
Y’all have made my Friday evening again…show’s you where I’m at…..
Here’s a classic for you:
What a coincidence…coming up at the top of the hour on Ancient Aliens is a program called “Secrets of the Pyramids”….I’m there…
I’ll be there too.
Two things I really loved about watching that last night was 1) what little we know about one of the largest, most technically sophisticated structures on the planet, and 2) for a period of about 2000 years, the planet was literally sculpted from one end to the other with magnificent, megalithic structures that still cannot be fully explained….kinda makes you scratch your head…..cultural amnesia???
Totally love these shows. Lots of silliness, but I’m loving all the visuals and travelog.
I really like the ancient mega battery pyramid theory. These guys are imaginative thinkers.
Scandals of The Ancient World looks promising , I love all of those ancient history shows , I wish they would do more .
I’m looking forward to History channels Bible series that’s coming up. There are some great stories in the bible and some stunning scandals so it should make for interesting TV. I hope they do King David’s life and times.
honk
LOL I have lost track of what is on the History Channel since they moved all the history programming to the premium History 2 channel. I use hulu and youtube to watch. History channel out here now is redneck central. Swamp people? WTH? Seriously what do swamp people and pawn stars have to do with history?
lol
I am going to bookmark the ones you have in the post for late night viewing.
Worst mistake History Channel made was refuse to air The Kennedys. I thought it was pretty good, thank goodness Reelz rescued it.
I like Pawn Stars for the historic items and retro stuff, have never seen Swamp People.
well….them swamp folks been there a long time, ya know….