The Oil Drum | Poll: Vacation travel

97 comments on Poll: Vacation travel

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

| Show without comments | PDF version

Halfin on February 19, 2006 - 3:09pm

We've probably all heard the story about the horse thief who was brought before the king to be condemned to death. The thief wins a reprieve by promising the king that within a year, he will teach the king's horse to sing. Day after day he stands before the horse, patiently singing scales to the oblivious creature. But when the other prisoners and guards scorn him for his futile efforts, he has a ready reply.

"I won a year of life from the king. Much can happen in a year. The king could die. I could die.

"Or perhaps, the horse could learn to sing."

The moral: the future is uncertain, and you should not give in to despair and hopelessness. Enjoy life while you have it, while you are able. The days of your life are few enough. Even if you're convinced that dark times are ahead, don't jump the gun and live life as if they are here today.

And no matter how sure you are of Peak Oil disaster, keep in mind the optimistic thief. You never truly know what will happen; maybe the horse will learn to sing.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

odograph on February 19, 2006 - 5:51pm

Right but, IMO it falls a little too much into the "conservation is privation" trap.

The guy who buys an energy efficient refrigerator may (depending on his chioces) save money up front, collect a rebate, pay less in electricity costs over time and ... his food will be no less cold. Etc.

I'd say the win/win is overlooked too often when fearing the loss. This isn't to say that all conservation is loss-less, but talk about things you can do now ... sort out what works for you.

For me it might be a bikeride to coffee and or a bagel, or knowledge of 100 ethnic restarants within the range of 1 gallon in my Prius.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

97 comments on Poll: Vacation travel

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

| Show without comments | PDF version

Search The Oil Drum with Google

Support The Oil Drum

Click the button to learn about supporting The Oil Drum with a secure donation.

Peak Oil Primers

Beware email scams!

Beware email scams claiming to be from this site. We do not have any job openings. If anyone contacts you about a job at The Oil Drum, do not reply to them, and definitely do not give them any personal information or send them money. Read more here.

“This order [i.e. capitalism] is now bound to the technical and economic conditions of machine production which today determine the lives of all the individuals who are born into this mechanism, not only those directly concerned with the economic acquisition, with irresistible force. Perhaps it will so determine them until the last ton of fossilized coal is burnt.”

—Max Weber, 1905