While The World Burns

You've heard it before. You'll hear it again. Something is coming. Unfortunately, a growing number of people can't handle what's headed their way. Do you think that you can?

"There's a storm brewing. And you boys are right smack in the middle of it. You better be ready"

-Robert "Bobby" Singer, Supernatural

Little did the writers know at the time that they were talking to the entire world. Why? There is a storm brewing on multiple fronts. And by and large, we aren't ready.

It's not for a lack of trying, either. Some are trying. Unfortunately, they can't get the support and backing they need to make a real difference. So it remains that on a spinning orb in our galaxy, billions of people won't be ready for what hits them in the face.

Rising Temperatures

Science deniers are a real problem in the world, particularly when those types rise to the ranks of world leaders. While there are arguments that it's not as dire as people on one side say, it's actually happening despite their opinions. What's the cause of global temperatures increasing? There are multiple answers.

Just a basic look at the graphs shows the temperature on Earth is rising. It's not dramatic, or like the movies, but it is happening. Take this week, for instance. Between the time this is written and the time people wake up Tuesday morning, nearly 70 million people are under a heat warning in the United States.

That's not that abnormal; however, the temperatures are predicted to get dangerously high, with temperatures in the triple digits and heat indexes even higher. Heat domes, or heat bubbles, are becoming more commonplace than a rarity. And that's just one effect of global climate change that scientists have noticed.

And no, humanity isn't ready for the worst-case scenario of climate change. Unfortunately, as neither side of the leadership spectrum can find it in them to agree on a common-sense approach, we're woefully unprepared for the future if the effects ever speed up.

And this is where one of the biggest problems comes into view. Why? The truth is, most of the people in charge of the world won't be here. When the world is consistently run by the rich, or popularity contests, or corrupt leaders, or dictators worrying about money and power, the world continues to run short-sighted

The Blind Leading The Blind

Before the blind leading the blind off the side of a rocky cliff entangles you and leaves you broken, think about the leadership we are stuck with around the country. They're not readying us for anything coming our way.

What Other Things Are Coming Our Way

Life is hardly what most think it is, and they're going to learn that, unfortunately, the hard way. Because nothing lasts forever. What that means is if people don't wise up and stop thinking only about the shorter term and themselves, bad things will happen.

Not that long ago, some people realized that the event that caused the Chicxulub crater wasn't going to be the final event of that nature. It's only a matter of time before it happens again. So, to test theories on stopping or deflecting an asteroid, the United States launched the D.A.R.T. Mission.

For anyone who thinks that this isn't going to happen, the DART mission cost about $325 million. Why would the government spend that kind of money without reason to believe the technology was necessary? That is, of course, a rhetorical question.

Even the conservatives believed in the need for the DART mission. DART was born out of necessity. Yes, there is the necessity to be able to defend the human race from an extinction or mass casualty event of such magnitude it's hitherto undreamt of.

When we're facing such extreme circumstances, how is it that there isn't a greater effort?

DART was used to target an asteroid that was 160 meters across. What about other threats?

Apophis Is Coming Soon

Besides global warming, climate change, and the many unknown threats out there, Asteroids in recent years have appeared as a very dangerous threat. Apophis is still the closest one we'll see, or that we believe we'll see, over the next several years. But keep in mind, we don't see everything that gets close, or flies by, or even ever one that's big enough to do damage.

On Friday, April 13, 2029, Apophis will make its next scheduled close Earth flyby. Apophis is predicted, after years of study, to come within 20,000 miles of the planet's surface.

While DART was used to get results of deflecting an asteroid that was 160 meters across, APOPHIS is 450 meters long and 170 meters wide. This is a far more dangerous creature to deal with.

The mere thought of an impact is astounding. And yet, these threats to Earth are real. And these are threats to everyone on the planet. Yet, we can't find ways to bring peace between the respective nations.

The Roots Of All Evils

There are two roots of all the evils we face. As our reality changes, they're the same roots that have been guiding us forever: Power and Greed.

People don't pay attention to the ones who want power as much as they do rooting for their own teams. And their own teams are the ones ruled by power and greed.

And while weaker, greedier men, like the governors of several states and most of Congress, continue to stack the deck against us all, we are stuck rooting for one side or the other while neither is preparing us for the things to come. They continue to push the goals of anti-conservative beliefs, rather than working to actually help people.

The other side seems to miss the point that there are real needs for defending the planet, and for sticking up for decent values, because they're stuck in the 1950s. And we, the people, are following these leaders right off the cliff.

Final Thoughts

Instead of spreading lies and hatred, which is what's seen from one side of our leaders, they need to learn to actually represent the entirety of their country, instead of the smaller portion they deem to be the ones worthy of their interest.

Instead of continuing the revenge tour, the other guys should refocus on fixing the country, providing opportunities for every citizen, and returning America to a position where it can defend the world. But find a way to accept that there's room for science, room for exploration, room for peace, and room for a better way so that we're back to making a world for the kids.

After watching the news, I'm reminded of one of the smartest things I ever heard a politician say.

The eight scariest words in the English language should be, "We're the government, and we're here to help."

-Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States

It behooves us to build something and help our fellow man, because even the actor-turned-president knew you can't depend on the government to do it.