I recall about a couple of years ago, I told my wife that I remember the world being a brighter place when I was a child. This wasn't one of my long philosophical rants which she has learned to tolerate, but in fact, an observation of the difference in illumination between how bright it was when I was about 5 years old, and now that I am decades older.

Back in December 2003, there was an article in the Guardian, about the world being darker now than it used to be.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/life/feature/story/0,13026,1108853,00.html
"Goodbye sunshine

Each year less light reaches the surface of the Earth. No one is sure what's causing 'global dimming' - or what it means for the future. In fact most scientists have never heard of it. By David Adam

Thursday December 18, 2003
The Guardian

In 1985, a geography researcher called Atsumu Ohmura at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology got the shock of his life. As part of his studies into climate and atmospheric radiation, Ohmura was checking levels of sunlight recorded around Europe when he made an astonishing discovery. It was too dark. Compared to similar measurements recorded by his predecessors in the 1960s, Ohmura's results suggested that levels of solar radiation striking the Earth's surface had declined by more than 10% in three decades. Sunshine, it seemed, was on the way out."

This morning, on the TODAY program on NBC, they also had a report on this phenomenon, and they estimated that it was from 10-37 percent darker NOW, than 50 years ago.

This observation has been replicated by several scientists in different locations.

OK, out comes the old fogey in CodeWarrior :).

It also seems like the world is becoming darker, not only literally, in terms of the amount of light reaching the earth, but metaphorically.

The recent images of the abuse of prisoners in Iraq, the video of the grisly murder of Nicholas Berg, the allegations by the Berg family that he was kept in custody by the US for thirteen days, and then just released on the streets to be picked up by his executioners....perhaps I am being pessimistic, or strapping on the blinders, but, sometimes, yes, it does seem that we are being overcome by spiritual darkness.

I look for uplifting positive things to be reported daily, and in my personal life, I try to help others, be jovial, and yet, there does seem to be an uphill battle side of trying to struggle out from under the dark cloud of evil I sense is creeping, like rot, like rust, ever forward.

Just as scientists are talking about ways to try to decrease pollution, that contributes to trapping some of the sunlight, each of us must try to fight the darkness that would take over our world in the metaphorical side of things.

I think that our members here do that. We are voices for positive change, and I believe that our members also try in their way, to make the world a little better and a little brighter around them.

When I was watching Cary Sherman, Jack Valenti, and the rest, it was clear to me who the forces of darkness were on the panelist side. It was equally clear, from observing the actions of Mr. Otter, Mr. Shadegg, and Mr. Issa, who the forces of darkness were on the committee side.

I honestly believe that we are not just in a fight to restore freedom, rights, and liberty to people. I honestly believe that the other side does not just have a different position on this issue than us. I DO believe that our issues are a subset of a broader fight against the rights of citizens throughout the world, and yes, it is a fight as simple as good against evil, light against dark.

Long ago, man learned that the dark was a potentially dangerous place, but through intelligence, work, and innovation, he could create fire that offered both warmth, and light. He didn't "copyright" or "patent" it, but ultimately shared it with others so that all might benefit. Fire was open source.

We too are looking for open source solutions to fight the darkness.

-Just a Thought....

"I'd rather light one candle than curse the darkness."

~Code

I think you summarize the feelings of us all, Code. You certainly speak for me.

Thank you so much....seriously.

ALthough people don't realize it, it really means a lot to me when I get the occasionally thank you.

This is a labor of love for me...I love freedom, and I continue to fight for it for me and everyone.

Your articulate musings are most appreciated here, Code Warrior, El Presidente. I'm trying to keep up with the tsunami of information and you just keep with your output.

The gist of it is that it is dawning on us that the internet has the greatest potential of government abuse the world has ever known. We are confronting the terrifying reality of the descending New Dark Ages.

Something in the knee-jerk response to free communication by government hacks like Orrin Hatch and Darrel Issa brings out the worst part of human nature. Salon.com this morning fatures an article that asks, are Americans in blind fury and revenge mode?

Let me throw down the gauntlet and draw a parallel with the practices of American torture and the atrocities that always accopmany any form of warfare. The fury and blood that gets in your eye that renders the face in front of you as less than human.

Quote of the day: "When I think of freedom, I see a boot heel smashing the face of humanity."

These are terrible times. I weep for America.

I am glad to discuss your idea of the one candle lighting the darkness. We must show solidarity, and pitch a Big Tent that includes all like-minded compassionate activists. I am trying to keep two artists I know from committing suicide. There is very little light ahead.

Apart from my addiction to mis-spellingz---mea culpa.

Let me add another word: ONEWORLD.

Discuss.

AMEN TOM!

The world may be getting darker, Code, but I appreciate the light that you shine on very important issues here every single day.

Code, when you write articles of this nature, it just validates what I've been learning myself in the last year. Please keep up the good work. It's appreciated more than you know.

I see a lot of hope and light in the world too. the darkness has always (and will continue to be there). Code check your email

actually I see more hope and light than I do darkness

I don't think I could have phrased it better myself, Code.

Thanks for all your hard work here! I know I appreciate it.

Had to think about that for amoment. And this is even better;

"When I think of CULTURE, I see a boot heel smashing the face of humanity."

Speaking of light vs. darkness, another thought came to me about the similarities and differences between the multinational entertainment-media complex (as exemplified by the likes of the MPAA and RIAA) and the adherents of radical Islam (i.e. Al Qaeda) such as those who decapitated not only Nick Berg, but also (some years ago) Danny Pearl:
The entertainment-media conglomerates, in their ongoing war against new technology, seek to drive us back into the 19th century (or earlier);
The Islamofascists, in their ongoing war against Western civilization, seek to drive us back into the 9th century (or earlier).

Code, about Nick Berg.. didn't anyone notice he was still wearing the orange suits they put on "detainees"? If they got him it had to have been immediately after he left where he was being detained.. but his family said he called and told them he was on his way home? I don't get it.. you all may not think this but something fishy is going on here.. and I hope it all comes out.. the surprise may be it was our own government that had to do with his disappearance.. seeing that he had been questioned and the more news that comes out is astonishing.. His family is on a White House "list".. take care everyone and be very careful.. The big wigs are watching every move that everyone makes here..
we are although not said straight out, under a police state... at this point we have no freedoms, although it may let us think we are and feel that way...

I'm just now hearing several things about that...one of the men seen in the video is wearing a gold ring, allegely forbidden to moslems...these guys are light skinned say some, there is very little blood when they cut his head off (I've seen the full video and they are right about this)...Berg apparently had worked at Abu G., he was detained by the US at an Iraqi jail for around 13.5 days, in contradiction to what our Gov says...lots of questions are developing...

and, W-B is right...the fundamentalists in Islam are still mad about the Crusades and see Saladin as a big hero....

One of the problems the West has, is not understanding the Eastern cultures and mindsets from the Middle East to the Far East....

Astute students of history will note that throughout recorded history the level of both civilization and civility has ebbed and flowed much like tides, rising in one area and falling in another. There are patterns in the results but the causes are complex and increasingly interdependent. Human progress periodically retrenches, the slide from the Classical era of Greece and Rome to the European Dark ages prior to the Rennaisance, Industrial Revolution, and Information age. While the West Retrenched in the Dark Ages the Middle East and Far East advanced, only to fall back when the West went back in to advancement mode. So the question may be which way is the tide of civilization flowing now?

good article, but i have a minor personal beef.

"video of the execution of Nicholas Berg"

why do people keep calling this an execution? execution is when you commit a crime, and pay for it with your life. for americans to call it an execution is to imply that nicholas berg committed a crime worthy of death. hell, even bush refers to it as execution. what this man did was... ... not a GD thing. he was a contractor in Iraq, he didnt deserve that. Murder-1, plain and simple. Execution-Style, maybe, but still murder.

Until now I have been dismissive of conspiracy theories, but the mystery around Nick Berg and his death raises red flags in my mind. I know I sound like a Waco wacko, but I don't trust anyone in this administration. I believe they are capable of anything, including murder, to further their cause. (Afterall, god is on their side and the rules don't apply to them.)

Honestly, I am scared to death they will steal the next election.

It's despicable that Rumsfeld, et al., are blaming the prison tortures on a few bad apples. You cannot blame the underlings; I'm sure it was at the orders of higher-ups and is systemic and not isolated.

I hope the media keeps questioning and digging.

Here's how much the media questions:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/05/14/child.porn.arrests/index.html

You'll notice that they already have a face for porn trading, a 19-year-old. Looks like p2p is now guilty of being the only conduit for child porn.

Really, how are you going to lure a child on peer-to-peer? What a waste of law enforcement resources.

ringmaster...excellent point and I changed the word execution to "grisly murder"...thank you, I agree with you on the need to make a change in wording.

Hey Guys,
It has been a while since I posted anything on here since I've been out of work for six weeks (aggressively looking mind you) and just got a new job 3 weeks ago. I've also been battling agaisnt my former insurance company for what i beleive an act of fraud was committed by them agaisnt me. No biggy. Code, I like your article that you posted. In the 20th century, we were in a Cold War against Communism, in this century, the war will be fought agaisnt Islam. What we are dealing with (just like we have them here in this country) are extremists who want nothing more than to bring us back to the stone age. Unlike the Christian testaments which Jesus said,"Preach to the world love for one another", the Quran says,"Conquer the world for the sake of Allah". It also says ity is perfectly ok to lie for the sake of Allah. The problem is ISLAM and the Muslims are not doing anythging to stop violence and interlerance in their society. After 9/11/2001, six months later muslim extremists massacred Hindus in northern India and then the Hindus retaliated, massacred many Muslims and drove them out of thier neighboorhoods. When I got home from work on Monday, I logged on and got my news from the NY Times, read about the "American Beheaded" and then I decided to download the Nicolas Berg video from Kazaa. I watched it twice and was horrified from what I saw. The first time I was in disbeleif, the second time I was sickened to my stomach. Those men who killed Mr. Berg will be hunted down and executed for his murder. My heart aches for the Berg family as I cried. Just like Mel Gibson's "The Passion Of The Christ", the images of Mr. Berg's murder I will never forget. I still cannot believe it. However, I am NOT surprised by this since the prison scandal and the killing of the Leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
I personally think that those soldiers and thier superiors should be stripped of thier rank, benefits, be dishonerably discharged and thrown in prison. They have tarnished our military and lost trust of the people we are trying to protect. I have very strong feeling that IRAQ will be another Vietnam.

In the good old days of George Washington, those guilty of dishonorable behavior were literally "drummed out" of the Army. The drums and fifes played, and the men were made to leave with dishonor. I agree that the disgrace of Abu Ghraib cannot be only the underlings. Someone higher had to have known and or given orders. These are the questions John McCain is asking, and not getting answers: Who was in charge, what were the orders?

As for darkness, the world has been largely a very dark place throughout history. Freedom is a rare and precious flower. Unfortunately, it seems that the world is reverting to the arithmetic mean. That is very sobering to consider. However, as we throw off more and more of our original principles (getting back to G. Washington again) things cannot but devolve.

Personally, I feel that everything else in the world that is wrong pales by comparison to the possibility of the earth literally becoming darker.

"execution is when you commit a crime, and pay for it with your life"

Not necessarily. It happens to people who are wrongfully convicted of legitimate crimes and people who are convicted of crimes that are not really crimes at all. execution and murder are the same thing. One just hae a different level of rationalized justification than the other.

I still have a positive outlook on the world. True, the Nick Berg killing (which I saw on video) was truly horrible. But lets be realistic, this has always happened. My theory, is that the media is obsessed with doom and gloom now much much more than ever before. Example, I heard an old recording of a reporter covering the zepplin accident. The reporter could barely keep from crying, and was having a great deal of trouble reporting the story. On Sept. 11th, the reporters were totally stone cold. This is just a truth of today's media. No good news reported, just bad, and the worse the better. I don't think the world is any darker now than it has ever been, its just that any good things that happen on this planet are filtered out and you rarely hear about it. I know quite a bit of history, and there are atrocities, wars, etc that make anything that has happened in the last few decades look insignificant.
I don't know, you may all disagree with me, but all in all I don't think things are as bad as we are led to believe. There are a hell of a lot of good people around the world fighting for what is right (present company definitly included), and for every horrible thing you see on the news, there are easily 3 good things that won't be reported.

FatherBrennan, I agree with you 100% on that.

Well, as usual. I'm going to go out on a limb here. String me up now. If anyone wants to read a totally fictional rendition (Biblically based) on the end times (the Rapture) I can only suggest Tim Lahay and Jerry B Jenkins 12 book Left Behind Series. Great characters, good read. http://www.leftbehind.com
They're expensive to buy, of course, visit your local library for free.

Hey Pepe...you premil, postmil, or amil?

JLBRMECHANIC- I've battled insurance companies. I know about 'em.

I'm just trying not to get "left behind", and have written a book on what things might be like in a world after the rapture....

you premil, postmil, or amil?

Not sure what this means, personally I don't care if its Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib Post-Trib...I just want to go!

CodeWarrior

When can we read it?

rocknrollwoman Millenium....can't spell Canad-a without the DUH!

code did you get that?

speaking of wars and religion and religious was there is an indie artist that i realy like his name is voltair hes a gothic artist realy funny a but morbid sometimes but i realy like him iether way im not a big fan of oranized religion and he wrote a song called "GOD THINKS"

here are the lirics i think they have some basis in todays situation and they are a bit of what i think.

PLEASE DONT TAKE OFFENCE READ ALL LIRICS BEFOR YOU GET OFFENDED.

"god thinks all blacks are obsolete farm equipment
god thinks the jews killed his son and must be punished
god thinks the white man is satan
god, they know what god thinks
god thinks we should all convert to judiasm
god thinks we must be christians and
god thinks we should all im brace islam
god thinks the only true religion is hinduism
and i, i know what god thinks,
god thinks you're a waist of flesh
god prefers an atheist, god! god!

god thinks all people like you are hateful
god thinks all people like you are
an embarrassment to creation
self-righteous, judgmental,
first to throw the stone
and your using his name
for your own protection

god thinks the sun revolves around the earth
god thinks there was something very wrong with copernicus
god thinks abortion is murder and
god thinks evry thing sience gave us is wrong
god thinks women deserve it
god thinks aids is a form of punishment
i hate people who blame the devil for
thiere own shortcomings and
i hate people thank god when things go right
and i, i know what god thinks
god thinks your an idiot\
god prefers a heretic, god, god

god thinks all people like you are hateful
god thinks all people like you are
an embarrassment to creation
self-righteous, judgmental,
first to throw the stone
and your using his name
for your own agenda

god is a liberal, god is a democrat
god wants you to vote republican
never trust a man who puts his words
in the mouth of god and says its absolute truth
it's lies and it smells like death and it's all
in a days work taking money from the poor
why do you think that god would need your
dirty money if he wanted to start a holy war
self-righteous, jugemental first to throw the stone
and you're using his name for your own protection

god thinks puppies need to die and
god thinks babies need to drown 'cause
god is niether good nor bad
god is you and me
god is evrything

_______________________________-

ya that was pretty long to type but iether way if you read the learics you can see alot of that stuff is hapaning today by both our country and other countries even though our constitution says seperation of church and state you see polititions bringing up matters of religion and even some believe that this was bushes holy war against iraq

dont shoot me if any of this offends you chances are that there is something to offend evry one in here but if you realy think there is alot of truth in it aswell

pepe///am looking for an agent and publisher...I think it would make a great movie....

sorry it took me to get back...updated one of my weblogs and have it as an RSS feed at feedburner.com....

too much to write and only ten fingers

Comp....will go get it...am sorry, honestly I forgot

not offended, except for the spelling!

that's cool

my book goes right along with the description of the hybrid/chimera
creatures with scorpion tales, with the teeth of lions...hair of women...as told in revelations

Hey Codewarrior,
I'll tell you my story about my one-time battle with my former insurance company. Let's put it this way, I hate them for
1. Not telling me what I needed to know
2. Lying
3. they're crooks
email me and I'll tell you the whole damn story and why I am so angry and hateful towards them.
jlbrmechanic@yahoo.com

will do JLB~!

Compmore...have you ever seen American Movie, a documentary....

Next time you go to the movie store...
you ought to rent it...you'll love it...I did!
http://www.popmatters.com/film/american-movie.html

Comp...you're movies get better all the time!

sounds interesting code. I did all of what you see myself. I was the cameraman, writer, actor and director. spent many hours rewinding, and reshooting, running back and forth to the camera. exausting. My family didn't want to help. it's rough but let me know what you think

JLBRMECHANIC

You got mail

It really is hard to do it all yourself..that's why you will love that video I suggested...it'll be an inspiration to you....

The only suggestion I would have is three point lighting...but, without the reflectors and light meters and all...it's tough...I've been in a major movie and it's a big job just lighting scenes properly

agreed code. I'm a trained theatre lighting designer and was very unhappy with the lighting but not much you can do with table lamps

will listen to it tomorrow...wife is watching movie...frailty.... and I she'll throw a pillow at me if I turn the sound up...lol...

heck...with table lamps you did great !

LOL>..can see you putting up Klieg lights in the living room

haha. wives are like that. I spend half the evening with headphones on usually

LOL>..me too...

"a prophet is without honor in his own home"

Code, let us know when your book is ready to read. You need a secretary! Or is that your wifes job already?

Code, you got mail.

got it....
man..what a hassle you had....

Pepe...I just have to get it published...I may send you a copy...(gotta find which computer I have it on...lol)

Code ...sounds good! I'll keep bugging you

whoa. took me a couple readings of this thread to get what you were saying about that book Code. that's fascinating. I would never want to live it but would love to see it.

CODE the reason the WORLD is getting DARKER is so Jack (Hack) Valinta can walk around during the DAY with the rest of the Living!!!!!!!!!

"I think you summarize the feelings of us all, Code. You certainly speak for me."

And for me, Code. KEEP UP spreading the light! "For the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall not thwart it", as the Bible speaks (re-translated from Polish). Everyone of us carries his (or her) little light in their heart; let's join those lights! Let's spread the word of HOPE!

-- Critto

Maybe the earth is only 10,000 years old.

the-erm This is so.

No need to be jumping to conspiracies, you just need to wait for more details to come out -- Nick Berg once lent his laptop account to Zacarias Moussaoui in Oklahoma in 2001. Time passes. He then goes to Iraq as a private citizen after the war, selling and installing radio communications equipment, where he was detained by Iraq authorities for "suspicious activity". The FBI saw the name, saw the link, and questioned him. He was released, refused travel back to the US via US military, said he was leaving via Kuwait, and that's the last he was seen.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/Northeast/05/13/berg.encounter/

pepe....Left Behind...good series
basically mark of the beast...rapture. A lot of articles out there referring to this and signs that we are getting closer to it. Some theories say that it will be man's own greed that leads to this and to a cashless society. The direction the corporates and governments want to go in doing away with privacy and have total control over people so that they must pay to do anything, just further indicates that we are getting closer to what is referred to as mark of the beast or a chip implanted in everyone that is the ultimate method of control.
http://www.tldm.org/News4/MarkoftheBeast.htm

http://www.evangelicaloutreach.org/markbeas.htm

Ahhhh Code.....You have some insurance company tales as well eh? Gee...thought I was the only one that got screwed over by them..I can tell you some about Blue Cross that I recently have discovered.

boggieman - great links

I'm working on (reading) the 12th novel now, and I'm counting on a happy ending ~pepe~

Code, u have the best articles. I'd say it is getting darker and i cant see the stop any time soon. this is the time for one of my favorite sayings. Sorry for bad spelling.

Tired of getting BUSH wacked?
Want to stop the Texas Cheiny saw massicure? Vote Kerry!

and i think this discussion is getting SLIGHTLY off topic. that and parts of this dont make sense like the movies and stuff.

limefan913

My friend, what is happening with the music and movies scene is only a sickening symptom of what is really wrong and where this old world is really heading. To understand it means to look at the whole picture, and that is a mighty big picture-government corruption, control of the masses, etc, it is all part and parcel, and the riaa gestapo is on the dark side!

Yes pepe....we could all use a happy ending eh?