Bill, your words continue to educate, motivate and inspire. This post also added the dimension of the necessity of adding delight on life's journey. I truly needed this after dealing with the complex emotions triggered by hurricane Ian and the devastation of a place (SW Florida) close to my heart, where I Iived and appreciated its natural beauty for decades. In the midst of grieving all that was lost in the storm -- the human life, the creatures, the ecosystems -- I can also use the memories created there to fuel my passion for saving this beautiful world. Thank you. I stand in admiration of your energy and commitment to this cause!
Blimps. I pass the Goodyear blimp dock off the 405 many times a week. Sometimes the ship is docked there and you can see it’s trying to move up into the sky at all times. Blimps are beautiful. Thanks for writing about them, modern day Thoreau!!
Bill, your recent article in the New Yorker and ramblings about Climate Change and hurricanes in Florida (CAT 4 IAN) showed a lack of compassion for the 45 souls who lost their lives as well as for their family members and Florida residents such as my wife and me. We live in Central Florida but still had Cat 3 winds and rains. There is a time to be a Climate Change activist and fight against the likes of Joe Manchin, Chase Bank, etc. But that New Yorker article was not the time in the midst of a natural disaster when lives are lost ... that's a time to fall back on your Methodist heritage to reflect and console.
My Dad always said he remembered when the Hindenburg flew over Boston – he was 3. Dirigibles are a viable and thoroughly enjoyable alternative method of transportation, and they provide memorable experiences, as my father, RIP, would have attested - but there's a catch: you need to be a mature adult to appreciate it. I compare it the work Phil Maffetone has done for runners. He advocates slowing down and keeping heart rates at a minimum (and changing one's diet!!). This however does not jibe with the No Pain No Gain motto that rules gyms everywhere, especially in America, with an iron hand, despite the fact that it works! Blimps are slow and much quieter. In addition, compared to airplanes they are much more beneficial – to Nature and to ourselves: since when have we embraced such positive, quiet, and harmonious developments on a large scale? At any rate, I'm all for it. Now how do we convince others to buy in?
I too am a big fan of delight, and trains and blimps both sound like more fun than flying! Rode in Goodyear with my dad when I was 10!Speed is overrated around here. Slow down, delight in the journey! And yeah less CO2 comes along for free!
Hi, Bill. This is the kind of optimism I hope to tap into as we march through these coming years. Thank you for the reminder to look for the beauty in the transitions. Much appreciated!
I shared this one to Facebook, so more people are reminded of the pleasures of this energy transition. As always, Mr. McKibben offers a message of inspiration and hope, while also helping us understand our peril.
Lovely piece, Bill. While you wrote this, I was driving through Rutland, on the way from Cabot, Vermont to Granville, New York -- admiring the first blush of Fall colors -- but unable to write, or walk about inside a Toyota Corolla... Let's hear it for trains, and blimps, and electric bikes!
I loved this one, Bill. Engineer for delight. And delight needs to be affordable. And a train...ahead of schedule! Anything is possible.
Bill, your words continue to educate, motivate and inspire. This post also added the dimension of the necessity of adding delight on life's journey. I truly needed this after dealing with the complex emotions triggered by hurricane Ian and the devastation of a place (SW Florida) close to my heart, where I Iived and appreciated its natural beauty for decades. In the midst of grieving all that was lost in the storm -- the human life, the creatures, the ecosystems -- I can also use the memories created there to fuel my passion for saving this beautiful world. Thank you. I stand in admiration of your energy and commitment to this cause!
I look for your articles. It always feels like home when I see you’ve posted a new one. Thanks Bill.
Blimps. I pass the Goodyear blimp dock off the 405 many times a week. Sometimes the ship is docked there and you can see it’s trying to move up into the sky at all times. Blimps are beautiful. Thanks for writing about them, modern day Thoreau!!
Thank for this article. Brought a smile to my face on an otherwise grumpy
Please don't ever stop writing.
I loved your newsletter! We are train travelers.
Bill, your recent article in the New Yorker and ramblings about Climate Change and hurricanes in Florida (CAT 4 IAN) showed a lack of compassion for the 45 souls who lost their lives as well as for their family members and Florida residents such as my wife and me. We live in Central Florida but still had Cat 3 winds and rains. There is a time to be a Climate Change activist and fight against the likes of Joe Manchin, Chase Bank, etc. But that New Yorker article was not the time in the midst of a natural disaster when lives are lost ... that's a time to fall back on your Methodist heritage to reflect and console.
May there be blimps Powered by Green hydrogen fuel cells. Nice writing Bill a pleasure to read.
Thanks for the joy. Maybe I can travel again before long, at least from Seattle to Vancouver.
Always my favorite news and views of the week! TY, Bill!
My Dad always said he remembered when the Hindenburg flew over Boston – he was 3. Dirigibles are a viable and thoroughly enjoyable alternative method of transportation, and they provide memorable experiences, as my father, RIP, would have attested - but there's a catch: you need to be a mature adult to appreciate it. I compare it the work Phil Maffetone has done for runners. He advocates slowing down and keeping heart rates at a minimum (and changing one's diet!!). This however does not jibe with the No Pain No Gain motto that rules gyms everywhere, especially in America, with an iron hand, despite the fact that it works! Blimps are slow and much quieter. In addition, compared to airplanes they are much more beneficial – to Nature and to ourselves: since when have we embraced such positive, quiet, and harmonious developments on a large scale? At any rate, I'm all for it. Now how do we convince others to buy in?
I too am a big fan of delight, and trains and blimps both sound like more fun than flying! Rode in Goodyear with my dad when I was 10!Speed is overrated around here. Slow down, delight in the journey! And yeah less CO2 comes along for free!
Hi, Bill. This is the kind of optimism I hope to tap into as we march through these coming years. Thank you for the reminder to look for the beauty in the transitions. Much appreciated!
So glad you mentioned The 21 Balloons! An amazing book. Another good one for young readers is Airborn by Kenneth Oppel.
I shared this one to Facebook, so more people are reminded of the pleasures of this energy transition. As always, Mr. McKibben offers a message of inspiration and hope, while also helping us understand our peril.
Lovely piece, Bill. While you wrote this, I was driving through Rutland, on the way from Cabot, Vermont to Granville, New York -- admiring the first blush of Fall colors -- but unable to write, or walk about inside a Toyota Corolla... Let's hear it for trains, and blimps, and electric bikes!