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Earl Killian’s Web Page

Contents

Monthly Quote

About Earl

Good stuff on the web

My heroes

Earl Killian Puffle inspecting construction My name is Earl Killian. This is my personal web page. I like to read (history, politics, fiction, science, science fiction), and these pages contain pointers to a few books I recommend and pointers to interesting things on the web. I like to muse on the way things should be and these pages include some of my thoughts and ideas. I am vegan and a supporter of animal rights, and these pages include a few quotes and pointers on these subjects. I have a strong interest in technology and public policy that will eliminate the world’s greenhouse pollution. I have two battery-only powered electric vehicles (a Nissan Leaf and a Solectria Force), as well as a modified Prius that I charge at night to reduce its gasoline usage, and these pages have some EV analysis. I once built a solar (passive solar heating plus PV), straw bale home, but I no longer live there. I currently live in Los Altos with Puffle, a Labrador Retreiver who runs my life. Finally, my politics, values, and essays here reflect my interest and appreciation for non-violence and pacifism.

The opinions expressed herein are my own and do not reflect upon any organization, despite any association I might have.

Monthly Quote

Quote for May:

I’ve thought about modern American politics recently, and I thought, Why can’t these guys comes to a reasonable compromise on issues that affect everybody? Then I realized they don’t want to compromise … because their primary pleasure in doing this is to generate a sense of purpose in their lives that might arise out of some negative emotional attribute such as vengeance, retribution, or just ventilation of anger. … the Tea Party, for example, what if that is their purpose to life? Well, that’s quite different than thinking they’re trying to be reasonable and rational. Rationality takes second place to the feeling of whatever gives them real meaning. This is true on all sides; I don’t mean to single out one group of people.

It’s allowed me to understand that these mechanisms—these mental sensations— probably drive the majority of modern discourse; it’s not reason.

…

Most of modern discourse is not about arriving at the best answer; it’s about arriving at the answer that gives the individual participants the greatest sense of pleasure and purpose. That’s quite different. And until you can see that … we’re sort of stuck.

— Robert Burton, MD, Brain Science Podcast 96

(Past Quotes of the Month)

About Earl

Good stuff found on the web

My heroes

There is no single reason I see some figures and not others as heroes, but one pattern does emerge. My heroes are individuals who I recognize for seeing truth that other their contemporaries could not, successfully communicating this truth, and often thereby changing the world in some way. Usually both their accomplishments and methods are worthy of praise. Some of these people profoundly changed the world. They were or are not perfect, and fault could be found, but I find their examples inspiring. Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein’s were not the only great scientists. Darwin’s work revolutionized the way we look ourselves and ushered in an era where science supplanted faith and superstition in much of the general population. Einstein’s genius was coupled with a social conscience (his pacifism in militant environments), and with free thinking and non-conformance that has been all too rare in scientists. I recognize George Orwell, Rachel Carson and Ralph Nader for their illustration of Margaret Mead’s observation that a committed citizen can change the world. Carson’s Silent Spring ignited the environmental movement, and Nader’s long career standing up against the powerful showed how to use the legal system to hold power accountable, even if just a little. George Orwell in his essays and fiction shows that penetrating observations beyond the conventional wisdom are not only possible but also that fiction can shape societies (Mark Twain and Noam Chomsky are two others with penetrating observations). Off with the blinders! George Soros, while he acquired wealth in less than exemplary ways, shows that wealth can be put to political use in enlightened ways. Mohandas Gandhi and Aung San Suu Kyi both demonstrate courage that I can only aspire to in working to effect change non-violently.

Sub-content: 2013-05-19 23:59:33

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