Topic: Efficiency

Latest

[ Episode #31 // Simplifying Complexity ]

Dec 15 2011

Is our species capable of looking ahead to prepare for the potentially disastrous results of larger trends? While daily existence has always presented challenges, modern civilization uses advanced technologies to address problems. Yet, is our ability to problem solve the very problem itself? What if the technology we're developing is increasing our reliance on a strategy yielding rapidly diminishing returns? Though a general understanding of complexity eludes us, are there ways of feeling it in our day-to-day life?

In Extraenvironmentalist #31 we speak with Dr. Joseph Tainter about collapse, complexity and energy. Dr. Tainter recently co-authored Drilling Down which explains why the BP Gulf Oil spill occurred in terms of the complexity that supports supports our society. We discuss concepts of complexity, energy and a meaningful definition of sustainability. In our conversation, Dr. Tainter covers the dynamics of the Roman Empire as it moved further down the road of collapse; debasing its currency and unraveling due the expenses of foreign wars. Seth and I ask if energy alternatives exist that can support civilization, such as solar photovoltaics or wind power. If they can't, are we trapped in a complexity spiral with no way out?

// Music (in order of appearance)
Sinnitus Tempo - C'est La Vie via Elbo.ws
Penguin Prison - Multimillionaire (Shook Remix) via Et Musique Pour Tous
Miike Snow - Devil's Work via Pretty Much Amazing
DJ Shadow - Scale It Back ft. Little Dragon (Robotaki Remix) via The Music Ninja
Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek (ENiGMA Remix) via The Music Ninja

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)
Shopping Seizes Minds, Leaves No Room for News
Bill Rees - How to Convince People to Face Reality
Richard Heinberg on Transition
Thomas Homer-Dixon on Civilization Far From Equalibrium

// Additional Links
Jamie of Steppin' Off the Edge interviews KMO and Justin about collapse

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[ Episode #21 // When Technology Fails ]

Aug 18 2011

Mini Episode

The complex supply chain delivering our goods and the electrical grid powering our lifestyle meets the daily needs of modern humanity with astounding efficiency. With a relative low cost and remarkable ease of use, we've trimmed the fat and placed an ever more complex behemoth on top of increasingly brittle and spare supports. Our ability to eat and communicate relies on a startlingly fragile few core systems that face threats from natural and nefarious factors. In the event of a disruption to normalcy, do we have the knowledge, psychological and spiritual strength to thrive?

In Extraenvironmentalist #21 we present our most important podcast to date as, without exaggerating, it just might provide you with tools to save your life.

We speak with engineer, author and speaker Mat Stein about his books, When Technology Fails and the upcoming, When Disaster Strikes. Mat explains how our illusion of abundance and order can be easily shattered through solar flares, EMP strikes and peak oil. We discuss techniques and approaches by which a concerned individual can prepare for such possibilities in an ever greater time of uncertainty and how to make life-or-death decisions by using the Pit of the Stomach technique. While physical preparedness is a key to survival, perhaps more importantly we cover the need for spiritual strength in facing the difficult challenges of the 21st century. Seth reveals a life threatening situation of recent occurrence and also experiences a slight overwhelming panic attack in the light of information overload, Justin appears to remain calm in the face of terrifying music but harbors deep concerns of his own.

// Music (in order of appearance)
Son Lux - All The Right Things via Zen Tapes
Etta James - Something's Got a Hold On Me via Funky16Corners
Medicine Hat - Forbidden via BandCamp
Sleep ∞ Over - Romantic Streams via Gorilla vs. Bear
The Barber of Seville - Largo Al Factotum (Mustard Pimp Remix) via The Music Ninja

// Extended Clips
'US empire designed to self-destruct, more unrest to follow'
London Riots. (The BBC will never replay this. Send it out)
Mainstream Media Commercial
Preppers Stock Up
Obama's Kickstarter

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[ Episode #4 // Technological Inefficiency ]

Oct 14 2010

Mini Episode

Oil is more efficient than coal; coal is more efficient than wood. We've been using more efficient energy sources throughout the timeline of modern industrial society yet our ecological footprint has continued to grow. If our technology has been making us more efficient all along, why do we continue to grow our ecological footprint? Could changes to the way humans make decisions within an economic system do more good for degraded ecosystems than shiny new technologies? What if we just all participated in the extractive economy less?

In Extraenvironmentalist #4 Justin talks with Conrad Schmidt who is among many other things, founder of the British Columbia Work Less Party and author of Alternatives to Growth: Efficiency Shifting. We talk about ways some macroeconomic level solutions could improve the economic situation, some alternative explanations to why the economic collapse of 2008 began and how an SUV might be more ecological beneficial than a bike. We've interspersed clips of Conrad's documentary films in with the interview so be sure to visit Conrad's website for his videos and books!

Also in this episode, we get our first voicemail (and what a good one it is!)

Join us on this fortuitous journey into the realm of a little considered alternative to economic growth!

// Media Links
Video | Conrad Schmidt via Workers of the World Relax: The Jevons Paradox
Audio | A diatribe on green via Mad Decent Radio #62
Video | Conrad Schmidt via Workers of the World Relax: The World Wide Financial Crisis

// Music (in order of appearance)
The Naked and the Famous - Young Blood via IndieShuffle
Sea Oleena - Little Army via The Music Ninja
Ima Robot - Ruthless via IndieShuffle
Sea Wolf - Wicked Blood via The Music Ninja
Gauntlet Hair - I Was Thinking via IndieShuffle

// Corrections and Blunders

- Please do call or email us with corrections if you find something we've said to be factually inaccurate -

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