I should have included waste management. In ancient times it was pretty much what to do about the left hand and surrounding tabus (or "taboos" if you perfer). Today waste mangaement is high tech and respectable-essential!

What are the ramifications? Well, that's why I floated this little insight out here. Indeed, what are the ramifications? Key elements are these all represents ways in which we are irrevocably bound to our environment. We are part and parcel of this little spinning mudball (all you Mudcats) called Earth. I feel that the more time we have to consider the necessity of each of these areas the more we seek to control and smooth out the availablity of the resources. And when resources ran short we find that those who planned ahead survived better and also came to control, at least in part, the larger portion of society who did not have the foresight. It all has to do with control. Consider politics and religion and how they relate to essential resources. Think about the phony oil shortages of the seventies, the fiat debt exchange system of the US as well as that of all Westenized countries. If Con-Ed or PG&E could sell you air or sunshine, they would. Keeping something like this in mind when you consider things political or things religious might give you certain insights into the character and motivations of certain people or denominations or parties. Food for thought.