Temps Still High

 We seem to be pulling out of the triple digit stuff, at least. Rain chances nil. New variants of Covid are spreading rapidly and apparently these mutations can evade vaccine immunity. But the cases they cause tend not to be severe, except among the "vulnerable". Unfortunately, more cases of Long Covid are turning up as well. This is just another variation of "The Population Bomb". That book was spot on. It just took a bit longer than Ehrlich predicted. But I think the crash will be more rapid, now that that bomb is finally beginning to explode, than Ehrlich anticipated. Factor in global warming, food supply vulnerability, and sheer human numbers. Those who are optimistic about the future do not have a clue. It's good to be old. I pity the young.

For solace I can look to the past. The young have no past, and they won't have much of a future. If you are still in denial, check this video-- this is a water source for 80,000,000 people and it is GOING AWAY. Lake Mead

105 F Yesterday

 It'll be a scorching week with no relief in sight. The heat waves ten to fifteen years from now will be much worse than this. And in 20 years or so they might not be survivable. How long does Las Vegas have? Water critical and their drought might be the new normal. Welcome to the shithole that humans have made of Planet Earth. It will only get worse. 

Of course, some people might opt to commit suicide on Mars or the Moon. Gee, there are easier and cheaper ways to do it... multi-planet species? It won't happen. The earth might be a nasty shithole in the future, but it'll still be better than a stone dead frozen wasteland bathed in deadly radiation. 

Starting The Day At 77 F

 It isn't even that cool in the morning. My thermostat is set on 79F, to do my infinitesimal part to preserve the power grid (hahahah) and I compensate with various ceiling fans and air circulators. I'm comfortable enough. Most of the USA sweltered yesterday and will swelter again today. That's what you get for releasing carbon dioxide that has been sequestered in the ground for many millions of years. Any young earthers out there can kiss my ass. Your children and grandchildren will live in a toxic hellhole because YOU had shit for brains. YOU! At least, most of you... certainly not all. But MOST of you. And on that cheery and cantankerous note (I'm old. Fuck you if you can't take a joke.) more of those fascinating glimpses of a weird world:

 The Texas flag and ribbon wire-- seems to be an ever more appropriate juxtaposition. 

It's A Heat Wave

 A group called "Lothar and the Hand People" did a song on an album released ever so many years ago called "Heat Wave". And here we are with a heat wave across most of the state! Well, it just goes to show-- something. The distinctive thing about that group was the use of a theramin. You've heard those if you've ever watched a science fiction movie made back in the fifties. I don't think any other group ever used one of those in a putative rock band before, or since, The Hand People. On a lighter note, it is so very clear that human "civilization" (hahahaha) as we know it is not sustainable. 

Between Post and Gail, above. It might not look much like that anymore. It might be more like a desert now. 

Exploitation of fossil fuel on a massive scale was the beginning of the end. Transition to nuclear and solar and wind should have occurred early on, as soon as feasible, but that didn't happen, for various reasons, and now it's too late. I'm pretty sure it's too late. I'm pretty sure that humanity's goose is cooked. Are we going to be a multi-planet species? Not bloody likely. We couldn't even be a successful single planet species. 

Heating Up And Drying Out

 But it's suffer time, so...

The last two pics illustrate what you can expect to see on the lonely drive between Post and Gail. I'll have more of those next time. The silence is incredible and views of the night sky must be awesome. Unfortunately there is no road shoulder to speak of, and even though traffic is almost non-existent, there's enough to make setting up a telescope at night dicey at best.