There was a time, after all, that abolitionists seemed like crazy Yankee leftists. I’m glad they got their message across, though. Aren’t you?

I always appreciate your posts. Just wanted to mention that there are many, many people who, like you, love the feeling of being in nature and are concerned about the practical implications of human behaviors–implications such as air pollution, habitat loss, and resource depletion. These concerns have a common-sense self-interest behind them. Of course you are going to have extremists out there yelling that the sky is falling. In my experience, these folks generally seem to be those that are new enough to their awareness that their alarm has not tempered yet. They react on impulse and passion, not knowledge and understanding. Unfortunately for many of us, they hurt the efforts of others working to protect our natural resources. Others have tied up their ego so much in railing AGAINST things that they’ve lost sight of what it is they want to accomplish. Then there are the life-longers who are just like you. Trying our best and fully aware that the average person doesn’t have time or inclination to bike to work, stop eating cows, or recycle their yogurt tops. (Humor.) There’s a saying I use. Any jackass can kick down a barn door, but it takes a carpenter to build one. Using that analogy for environmental protection, you should know that there are thousands or millions of people working quietly behind the scenes every day to try to make the things you mention easier, convenient, and more American, if you will. Whether it be subtle efforts at the education you mentioned (bite-sized and to the point, yet obvious and high enough profile to have an impact) or the efforts to develop new technologies that make saving energy easy, or products that are less toxic, etc. We’re out here. We’re working hard. We are tired, too. We are also just trying to get by. We get it. And we deserve not to be lumped in with the less enlightened of our brethren. Thanks for reading.

This reading was enjoyable as I took every turn of this excellent and thought provoking content I related to your sincerity and honesty.

You have uncommon writing talent and a promising future at HomeAway.com. The fact that you have been with us such a short time and been chosen for a demanding leadership role is evidence of the trust and respect our “C” level directors have in you. For sure, you’ll have bridges to build while traveling through our business goals, but you have the tools and materials needed to see they are well placed and properly constructed.

You will be tasked with perhaps the toughest challenge of all in mentoring a novice, crusty, mal-adjusted, salt and vinegar Jr. SEO specialist that has transitioned from CSR work. May the spirit of tolerance swiftly take refuge in your cranium, and dwell there daily for use “as needed”.

Take flight Keith Goode…..the sky will grip your hopes and allow you to Soar!

Ol’ Alan

I don’t always have time to update my site, as I stay very busy with my real job, but I’ll try to add as much as I can when I can. Feel free to keep the discourse going on any of the topics I write about. I always enjoy an intelligent conversation.

Best regards,
Keith

Here’s the truth: You are a classic Internet troll. You lurk on the web, vicariously reading through other people’s opinions, and then when you actually have an opinion of your own, you’re so unsure of yourself that you won’t provide your real name or your real e-mail address. I doubt that’s really even your opinion. I’m guessing that you’re just trying to stir the shit. You’re just one of the millions of people adding proof to John Gabriel’s Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19), which states:

(Normal person) + (Anonymity) + (An Audience) = (Total Fuckwad)

Listen, “You suck…,” leave the thinking to people who are capable of it. The sun in Austin has clearly baked your brain and your cajones away (meaning, I know your IP address and that you’re a Time Warner Road Runner customer in Austin, TX). If you want to grow some and have an adult conversation, feel free to include your real identity the next time you leave a comment, rather than hiding behind the security of your anonymity. Otherwise, I’ll block your IP, and you’ll have to go try to make other people feel as small as you are.

Great site! I am looking forward to your next post. I can appreciate a person that thinks before speaking (or in this case writing). If (Getting there is half the fun) for sailors, then (Communicating is half the fun) for thinker’s.

Well I am no scholar, but I do appreciate well communicated thought provoking topics. I look forward to stopping back here.

Best of luck.

A Different (Keith Goode)