Monday, June 30, 2008

Predictions




I often make predictions about the future based upon what I currently see going on in the world. In the past few years some things have become evident:

1. I have usually been correct in my predictions.

2. Even though this is the case some folks act like I am crazy for saying some of the things I say.

So, I am going to go on the record, right here on New-Think with some predictions that you may consider crazy. If you consider them to be stupid, please leave me a comment so we can revisit your comment when my predictions come true. Also, if I am wrong, this post will be my eternal reminder to quit making predictions.
I made most of the predictions a few years ago...but this is the first time I've posted them in a public forum.

3 PREDICTIONS

1. Dow Jones Industrial Average under 10,000 by June 2009 (probably before 2008 is over).

2. Oil at $170 per barrel by Dec 31, 2008. (caveat: this is assuming no major economic collapse...which may not be a good assumption).

3. Total collapse of the U.S. economy by Dec 2012. And I do mean worse than the Great Depression.

I'll give you my reasoning another time. I am on the record now. What do you think will happen?


Friday, June 27, 2008

Psalm 119:32

Every year we go to my aunt's and uncle's house to celebrate Independence Day and my Grandmother's birthday. We stay for the weekend. The kids are already really excited.

Michelle and Mill last July 4th
Millicent got sick this week and she took a lot of comfort in her sister Kati. Just as I walked in from work on Wednesday Millicent asked Kati to read to her...Michelle snapped these photos.

Friday, June 20, 2008

Welcome to New-Think

Hello, glad you're here.
Welcome to New-Think Fool!

Over the past 6 months New-Think has seen a significant increase in visits. So…this is a welcome and an overview of what you can expect from this blog.

First of all I am a Christian. Everything you read here is framed in Christian presuppositions. I am willing to defend and discuss these matters if anyone wishes and in fact welcome the opportunity for discourse.

Second I have a large family and I love them. You will find a lot of family photos here. A lot of friends and relatives visit this site and like the family pics.

Third. We home-school our kids. I don’t post about home-schooling a lot but I do provide links to what I consider important home-schooling websites. It is certainly a topic that I may talk more about in the future.

Fourth. We like to have our babies at home…without doctors or midwives. This is a personal choice, but we like to share our homebirth experiences. Other than that…the same comments I made in my third point on homeschooling apply here.

Fifth. Obviously we have some convictions that are out of the mainstream. Largely because of that we DO NOT LIKE big government. Big governments tend to like to poke their noses into and take control of our individual liberties….like home-schooling, home-birthing, vaccinations, gun ownership, child discipline techniques, various religious convictions…etc. Sometimes I just get mad and yell about this kind of stuff on the blog.

Sixth. Oil. You might be tempted to think this is a blog about oil depletion. Lately it has been. I have been aware of peak oil since 2003/2004 (back when oil was about 30 bucks a barrel). We have been making some changes in our lives based upon the realities of what we believe is on the very near horizon. I am using New-Think to get the word out.

Enjoy.
Jeff

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

I don't want you to freak out....but...

Are you wondering when all of the renewable and/or alternative energy sources will kick in and drive down the price of oil? I really hope you are not still waiting for a magic bullet. We haven't even hit the down slope yet. Really, you will look back at this time as the good old days. Now is the time of preparation...past it really. Get busy.

Have a look at the following picture.


click to enlarge

Every year we use about 1 cubic mile of oil. To get that energy equivalent we would need to do what is shown above every year for 50 years. If you aren't good at math, let me break it down. To equal the oil we use in one year we need:

4,562,500,000 solar panels

2,600 nuclear power plants (takes a decade to build one)

200 3-gorges size dams

5200 coal fired power plants (you'll need coal for that)

1,642,500 wind turbines (the big ones)

That is why you have not seen and will not see the magic energy fairy.
And just in case you forgot....we have not been finding much oil lately.




Also...and here is where 95% of you will click away from this page....there is a very good chance you and your loved ones will meet an untimely death because of this. Here is a link and a chart from the link. This is one of MANY cold blooded studies into this subject. I don't blame you if you would rather accuse me of being a lunatic or "some internet whacko" instead of believing it. It is a much easier way to live. Accepting oil depletion is becoming much easier with all of the mainstream news coverage...accepting some of the more dire consequences may take a little while for you to digest...this one is a little like being kicked in the gut.
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3091




Don't take my word for it though. In fact, if you can convince me I am wrong to even consider such a scenario...I would be very grateful.

God bless you and have a nice day.
JJ

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/3091

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Asa/Family Photo

Last Sunday we had Asa's dedication at church. We got a really good picture too. You will notice that 2-3 people have been cut from the photo....this was upon their request to be spared the publicity of being posted on the internet. I suspect they are running from the law.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Summertime Rolls

Been really busy....not much time for blogging. The first 2 are from Ashlea's birthday party...the rest are random.

Ashlea's 17th birthday party....don't ask