Amazingly to me we seem to learnt very little or nothing from the oil crises of 1973. Especially because in the 1980’s the oil prices went down like a rock and everything seemed fine.

Europe always had higher taxes on petrol, so we naturally built and drove smaller cars. The US went “el gigante” as usual and feel in love with SUVs, Hummers and other thirsty vehicles.

So from 1973 to 2008 we wasted precious THIRTYFIVE years to seriously reduce our global consumption and develop alternatives. It is simply amazing how much time we wasted fiddling around with small stuff instead of pushing ahead.

The idea of peak oil (maximum production followed by gradual decline) is hardly new itself - a certain Mister King Hubbert published this very idea in 1956. And that oil isn’t a renewable resource has been bloody obvious since we built cars.

Once again: it is shocking that all these high-tech countries like USA, Germany, France, Britain, Japan, etc. have so little to show so little progress in terms of energy independence.

Germany is currently world leader in solar and wind energy, but we hardly use these technologies. Instead all industrial nations talk about using extensively atomic power. But it is once again a short term solution, since the world’s reserve of plutonium ain’t that big either.

It all comes down to money, not intelligence or logic in the end. We could have done more, but we didn’t. We still are doing not enough. We will only speed up our development when the price of petrol rises even higher and our laziness will become unaffordable.

But I am seriously afraid that we won’t even react than. Instead we simply “agree” with lesser comfort and don’t mind millions of people starving, because oil is also important for food production.

Cultures and civilizations are not very good in reacting to slow changes and threats. They simply adapt without overcoming the threat.

So peak oil might also imply peak civilization - unless some egghead saves our global asses from decline with a brilliant invention. But our culture won’t be the first nor the last to maybe disappear, slowly rott or “sleep away” …

Sexual skills are obviously important to us - especially in our sex-obsessed multi-porn societies. I guess kids today have heard more about the impressive effects of giving head to other people’s organs than cultivating impressive personal characteristics.

But being good in bed is just a skill, it’s not who you are. You can learn who squeeze & please. But it’s much more impressive to be a great person - and that is harder to achieve.

Living near Italy I never liked the sphagetti disco music, but Georgio is an exception, because he had a great and unique sound (which already was very "techno" and the video also has many images later seen in many rave clips).

Still … very Italian .. but he later made it big time in Hollywood.

Another one of Klimt’s golden ladies. He was truly addicted to the beauty and charm of woman.

But you should be aware of the cut off head in the right corner. This princess is a dangerous one - guys literally loose their head around her.

To use an old phrase: she is the beauty and the beast in one package.

Bloody hell - I have been very busy in recent weeks - so my blog suffered a bit from my lack of time. Sorry! But it seems autumn is coming early in Germany this year. The recent week saw loads of rain, storms and a huge fall in temperature. Feels like autumn already. I hate it.

This little girl is a typical scavenger. She and her family sift thru the stuff "normal people" throw away. In a sad way she at least has not to starve - but feeding on garbage is not the kind of life anyone should have.

But rich people trash has become an important resource for the poor beside the industrial and modern societies.

Time is not only money, but also spirituality. One needs time to stop, observer, feel, reflect and think - make plans, meditate and practice your new insights.

Without time there is no reflection of your world - without reflection there is no spirituality.

So do you have time for it? Or do you avoid making time for it?

But in our crazy fast moving world time is becoming a precious resource - filling every minute with work, entertainment, netlife and excitement.

Once again - making time to grow between all these activities is a luxury. Are you willing to "buy" that time and cultivate yourself as a human being?

Since we lived in caves humankind was on a building rampage. We spent huge amounts of resources on building ever bigger, nicer and comfier caves.

But does a modern (single) person or a small family really need a huge house with a lot of space? Big houses mean more heating, more electricity and more building material. And more big individual houses mean wider spread cities and longer drives to work, school and shopping. Look at the typical American city - which are spread all over the countryside, they are not well planned, they don’t mix work, shopping and entertainment areas together, so long drives are normal.

Spacious individualism is expensive and eats loads of resources.

Isn’t it time for a new modesty - by combining minimalism, comfort and efficiency. We don’t need to resort to ugly skyscrapers, but we should be smarter about building our homes and cities.

Anyone remember the devastating fires in Greece last year?

This year it’s once again California’s turn to suffer fires and huge areas of nature destroyed. Yes, Mother nature uses fires to clear out forests - so big fires are not unusual. But climate change and human intervention have changed the equation.

We hardly can afford to loose huge amounts of trees - we need every tree to get rid of CO2.

All summer days should be charming and electrifying like her.

Click image for a bigger devil!

Every year the same procedure: hundreds of athletes start one of the toughest races there is and every year a few cheaters spoil the fun. I guess some day I have to visit the Tour - I guess it’s one big party for the spectators?

Anybody been there?

Some words of sanity compared to McCain’s dribble.

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part 4.5

I am a huge fan of British Humor - and some of their TV as well like "Have I got news for you" and "QI".

Compared to US television the Brits can be very raunchy and would say stuff that would give the American FCC multiple heart attacks (like Stephen Fry’s famous "arse gravy" quote).

This episode of HIGNFY with Brian Blessed as the host was so hilarious that the BBC didn’t broadcast it. But some generous soul made available via YouTube.

Enjoy!

If you can cope with nasty British Humor - watch & enjoy!

Israel has been making serious threats against Iran’s nuclear program in recent weeks. But one has to wonder: when Israel bombed Saddam’s power plant they didn’t make a huge public announcement - they just dropped the bombs.

Iran’s threat to cut of international oil supply with a naval blockade doesn’t strike me as very smart either. Why punish your customers when you yourself defied the international community.

When you think $140 for a barrel of oil was expensive - just wait … when these idiots start another war in the Middle East the price could easily double. Petrol and food prices will skyrocket and there will be even more starvation and food riots.

If this happens Iran and Israel can very proud of themselves.

Let’s hope the next winters will be warm and mild.

Louise Brooks was a very special soul - she was a liberated woman, a great actress and wild at heart. But as so often with such people her life was a tragedy.

Our media mad world consumes young female flesh in huge quantities - so it’s easy to dismiss another pretty face long gone.

But Louise influence with her skills many directors and fellow artists - something one hardly can say about today’s media & marketing sluts. Too bad we have lost many of her movies - and that she only performed in silent movies …

More? Louise Brooks Society

Nevermind that "Mutter" is younger then her Daughter - but I just love the Magic Flute.

This is actually a performance by the The Royal Opera House at Covent Garden - Diana Damrau (Queen of the Night) and Dorothea Röschmann are obviously German.

For me it’s often amusing when I hear the Zauberflöte sung / performed in "ungerman" accents - but this one in "fine and pure arian art" …

BBC News: AU treads softly on Zimbabwe

It is easy to hate hate and condemn Robert Mugabe - and he deserves every bit of it. Since the last election it should be bloody obvious to anyone that he is an old tyrant clinging to power by any means necessary.

But African leaders - many of them dubious characters - don’t have the backbone to deal with this monster. Africa loves to hate Europe for it’s colonial mistakes and America for their modern imperialism. But currently it’s mostly Africans abusing other Africans.

Once again it shows that establishing "good systems" like Democracy without a supporting culture and historically grown structures simply doesn’t work.

Especially in Africa tribalism and capitalism make an explosive mixture. Tribal loyalties trump any laws or common sense. But this is also a long term consequence of all these artificial countries in Africa: Europe brutally forced many tribes into artificial "Nations" which never before existed. Many of these mixed up countries are still struggling to "function". Maybe some form of continental reshuffle would be helpful?

Click image for more ornaments.

When you visit Europe’s old feudal palaces and houses one is overwhelmed by the lushness and pomp of their interior designs. The Baroque epoch was certainly the most playful period in that respect -  and there were certainly "quieter periods" in European history. Especially northern European protestants dimmed all that crazy ornaments seriously down.

But overall there was never such a thing as "feudal minimalism" in European interior design before movements like Futurism, Modernism and Bauhaus arrived.

I think such a place as the one pictured above would drive any Feng Shui or Zen master mad.

New Scientist: The world’s most successful bug hits dolphins

How does a parasite found in kitty litter get into whales and dolphins? By hitching a ride down the sewage pipe and into anchovy guts, say researchers.

Gloeta Massie and Michael Black of California Polytechnic State University say this could explain why one of the most prevalent parasites in humans is now popping up in marine mammals. They presented their findings at the annual meeting of the American Microbiology Society on Monday.

"Toxoplasma gondii is the most successful protozoan pathogen on the planet," says Michael Grigg of the US National Institutes of Health. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that nearly one in four people aged 12 or older in the US have been infected with the parasite.

This is another great example how little we often about the consequences about our actions. Nature is a complex system and even small & stupid acts can have serious consequences.

A lot of science is "wasted" by finding out these often destructive connections and their consequences.

Bert Kaempfert is the King of Easy Listening - his themes are smooth, without any edges or deep expression. It’s niceness pure.

I dunno if this is purely trivial music for supermarkets and elevators - or some form of art.

They certainly don’t make music like that anymore - purely instrumental themes are a forgotten art in pop music.