Welcome to the Event Horizon

I admit I am a Cake fan and member of their mailing list. Their website has an "Advice" section where readers try their hardest to get their brand of bizarre questions posted on the page and then (presumably) some Cake member tries their hardest to provide as witty and clever a response as they possibly can.

The latest newsletter from Cake indicated that we should check a link to find out how to win a few things, including a signed copy of their first album, Motorcade of Generosity on vinyl. I already own a copy on vinyl, but certainly not a signed copy.

It turns out that the way to win these items had to do with tthis week's advice column question which came from "Tim":

Question:

Dear CAKE,

I think a similar question may have been posed before, but how do you continue to enjoy life in this age? Knowing people across the world want to kill you, and that every time you turn the key to your car you're using a non-renewable resource that's not only destroying the environment but slowly destroying civilization? I'm 18, what do I have to look forward to in the grand scheme of things? Do any of you have families? What do you think about having kids? This may sound kind of desperate, sorry. I don't mean it to. I'm not really agonizing about it, but it's in the back of my mind a lot.

Thanks,

Tim

and the answer provided was:

Answer:

Tim

Excellent question Tim, and one that CAKE ADVICE would like to turn over to our valued website visitors. Please send your advice for Tim to cakeadvice@yahoo.com. Whoever writes the best advice for Tim will receive: The new limited edition CAKE "Rarities" CD, a t-shirt from the CAKE STORE, and a signed vinyl LP of our first album, "Motorcade of Generosity." All entries are appreciated.

Now, I suspect my chances of winning are rather slim. I doubt I'm witty enough. I am going to post my response here, though, because I do feel strongly enough about it, even if strength of will doesn't get me a signed LP.

Hi Tim and Hi Cake,

These questions burn in the backs of the minds of many of us from time to time. It's not a sign of desperation. It's a sign of the promise of humanity that we worry about such things. I find it especially encouraging that there are 18 year olds pondering these issues. That in itself gives me hope.

I suspect if you were living 10 years ago, or 100 years ago, or even 1000 years ago that these questions would still plague you. Is there anything special about our situation today that lends credence to the worries that humanity is on the brink of collapse? Probably not. So, with that in mind, let's work backwards on your questions.

First of all, I have a wife and four kids. After reading an article about global warming just a few days ago, I was rather down at the fact that I'd brought four children into a world that could potentially be incapable of sustatining life even within their lifetime. I mentioned this to my wife, and her argument is the same one I've used numerous times in the past and will bring to bear here as well. It is the obligation of folks like you and I to have kids. Humanity has a knack for surviving despite the short-sighted and sometimes seemingly evil decisions and actions of those in a position of power. This penchant that people have can only be strengthened by a new generation that share these values.

What do you have to look forward to in the grand scheme of things? What do any of us have to look forward to? We look forward to the things that give life meaning.: Family, friends, and the ability to do the things we do to make the world a better place for those that follow. This leads into my answer for your first question. Whether or not you are capable of enjoying life is highly relative. Some people are predisposed to see the negative aspects of life. Others see the positive. Where you lie on this curve strongly affects whether or not you can enjoy life. The short answer is that enjoyment is what you make it, and only you can answer that question. Do you need to ignore the issues that caused you to write to Cake for their sage advice? Of course not. Denying reality is not the answer.

Make the choices in this life that you feel are right. Understand that your sphere of influence on this world is limited. To some extent, enjoying life involves coming to terms with the fact that you cannot fix everything. Take some solace in the fact that you are not alone. We are all doing these same things. Perhaps together we can make a big enough difference to ensure that our kids and their kids can continue to enjoy this life.

Cheers,

David Hollister