.

[FXF]

.

[MsRichLife]

Wow....

All very interesting photos, but the time-lapse of a Detroit street was fascinating. It doesn't take long for the wilds to reclaim.

[Carlsky]

Definitely interesting.  Also quite depressing.

[DragonSlayer]

When people say, "But don't you want to live forever?" this is exactly why I say, "Hell no." I'm honestly hoping to get off this rock before things get really ugly in terms of competing for resources. I enjoy my life, but when I look at what this planet is coming to, I don't think I want to be here in forty or fifty years.

[sheepstache]

http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2014/03/03/why-we-are-not-really-all-doomed/

[Gone Fishing]

Wow....

All very interesting photos, but the time-lapse of a Detroit street was fascinating. It doesn't take long for the wilds to reclaim.

I kind of liked the Detroit photos

[viper155]

Wow....

All very interesting photos, but the time-lapse of a Detroit street was fascinating. It doesn't take long for the wilds to reclaim.

I kind of liked the Detroit photos

Then you should love this...http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/yourturf2/HiroshimaandDetroit.htm

[viper155]

Prolly George Bushs fault

[Kris]

When people say, "But don't you want to live forever?" this is exactly why I say, "Hell no." I'm honestly hoping to get off this rock before things get really ugly in terms of competing for resources. I enjoy my life, but when I look at what this planet is coming to, I don't think I want to be here in forty or fifty years.

I think this all the time.  I don't know how I could take it if I were a parent.

[iamlindoro]

Wow....

All very interesting photos, but the time-lapse of a Detroit street was fascinating. It doesn't take long for the wilds to reclaim.

I kind of liked the Detroit photos

I have seen some truly gorgeous Detroit photos recently.  I do love how they're clearing away abandoned and burnt out hulks and allowing green space to thrive.  I love the resiliency of the people there, and can see real estate investments there really paying off in 5-10 years time.

Check out this great photo essay from the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/12/07/opinion/sunday/exposures-detroit-by-air-alex-maclean.html?_r=0

[zinnie]

I feel like this is more of an "antimustachian" post...we are supposed to be optimistic! :)

And +1 to not knowing if I could handle this if I was a parent.

[jopiquant]

Hurray to a natural lifespan!

As for being optimistic, I'm trying. Best I can do is try to help how I can while I'm here.

[MsRichLife]

There is a difference between being optimistic and being naive. This is the world we live in. If we don't face up to that then we are just being naive or worse.

I fully acknowledge (and too often dwell on) all of the terrible things wrong with our world and yet I still have hope that there is something I can do to make it a better place for my son.

[UFO]

The last one is taken in Calgary, west of downtown... :/

[Jeremy]

I'm ok being naive, although I think that is the wrong word

It's easy to pick some horrible images and say the world is going to shit.  It's also easy to find beauty and community and opportunity and improvement

I for one am excited to see the world when our child is my age.  Incredible amounts of clean energy, major diseases cured through genetic therapies, easy seamless world wide communication allowing people to live and work almost anywhere (and not be stuck in cold places like Detroit),  3D printing allowing anyone to make clothing and tools etc... at home

Check out the attachment for a whole week's supply of rainbows and kittens

[sheepstache]

Is it really depressing though? For early retirement I've decided to embrace death, that's why I started voting Republican in 2014, if we bring about human extinction sooner, we'll stop more suffering before it begins. There's an estimated 107 billion humans who have lived and died. The vast majority lived miserable lives, only compelled to reproduce due to our sexual bloodlust. Except I think we're reaching a point where our intelligence is taking control over our instincts and we've realized we'll be spending most of existence in the infinite abyss anyway, so why go through this whole sordid affair? Well, we can, but why make even more people experience it? At this point it's just mean-spirited of people to have kids.  How much is enough?

[Jeremy]

At this point it's just mean-spirited of people to have kids. 

That's our main reason :)

[blainem13]

I think that turtle just has barnacles on it, but I'm not sure.  Otherwise, those photos are pretty depressing. 

Totally agreed on the children points.  I feel like it would be totally unethical to bring a child into this world given resource scarcity - unkind to by that child and people throughout the world.  Of course, having human consciousness in this era is pretty damn amazing despite these calamities, so I'll enjoy it while I'm here.

[MnemonicMonkey]

Those images of the empty lakes made me think of this. A childhood fantasy of mine was to get so much snow we had to tunnel out.



Edit for link: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-most-terrifying-pictures-of-the-snow-in-buffalo

[CopperTex]

I think every generation has said "what has this world come to?"

[TheThirstyStag]

allowing people to live and work almost anywhere (and not be stuck in cold places like Detroit)

Some people (myself included) enjoy places with colder climates and 4 distinct seasons.  I think our Canadian board members would agree.