This century is already witnessing the beginning of the coming planet-wide ecological catastrophe/collapse. It's going to get much worse before it gets better, not to mention the geopolitical ramifications of it all with unprecedented waves of climate refugees just as one example.
I don't really expect Solarpunk fiction to be the major catalyst for changing people's minds. Sadly, I just expect that things will start getting so bad in certain areas that dealing with these issues will be unavoidable for survival reasons. I wish we could, as a civilization, be more proactive instead of reactive, but unfortunately...
Anyway, even if, for argument's sake, a truly "Solarpunk" Earth is unattainable for whatever reason(s), we still have no choice. We have no choice but to work towards it and shoot for something that isn't a total dystopian vision of the future.
I'm laughing too or else I'd have to cry.
Maybe it will be harder to ignore (as a society, I mean. Obviously the Oil Fucks are fully aware of everything) when every community is enduring a different "once-in-a-millenia" weather event every other week. Honestly though, there is so much to say on the matter right now that it's too overwhelming. All I can say is, the wake-up call is obviously coming faster than even the best experts predicted and we are so incredibly unprepared even psychologically for the unprecedented climate catastrophe that is starting to really unfold. Every time we analyze the situation it is alarmingly clear that the situation isn't just "worse than we thought", it's also becoming increasingly unpredictable.
That being said, I refuse to be doomer about it! I don't have the luxury anyway.
I see your point because I also don't think it is necessarily particularly "gay". However, I think The Culture is always mentioned in reference to the FALGSC meme because it is one of the best examples in fiction of such a thing. And with respect to that, I view the adjective "gay" in said context as more-or-less just meaning "not influenced by cishet supremacist thought". Just my opinion though and your mileage may vary!
For real though. With the effects and measurements of climate change constantly proving to be far worse than expected, just add infrastructure to the list of the myriad things in our world that will be catastrophically affected in so many unpredictable ways.
Oh wow. I haven’t thought about Uri Geller in years. I thought he had already been thoroughly exposed and discredited by people like James Randi a long, long time ago. It’s unfortunate how so much bullshit has come back into fashion.
I've definitely been aware of that book for a long time but never got around to picking it up. Will be checking it out now! Thanks!
Looking for recs: Best technology books for the layman
Please delete this post if it isn't appropriate.
I have a high interest in technology and related topics but find it hard to wrap my head around a lot of it. So I am looking for books that are all about the basics and are designed for the extreme novice.
I know "technology" is a very broad term, but honestly, anything will probably pique my interest as long as it's easily digestible. That being said, some specific things I would like to be a bit more educated on would be; AI, robotics, future/emerging technologies, our current internet landscape and speculations on its' future, etc.
I agree. This technology doesn't exist in a vacuum. This isn't some utopia where a Human artist can just solely focus on creating their art and not worry about financial gain because their survival needs are always guaranteed to be met or whatever.
The Egg
**This is a very short story from Andy Weir, author of The Martian, about a man dying and having a conversation with "God". A brief, yet thought-provoking read. Always loved this one! **
You were on your way home when you died.
It was a car accident. Nothing particularly remarkable, but fatal nonetheless. You left behind a wife and two children. It was a painless death. The EMTs tried their best to save you, but to no avail. Your body was so utterly shattered you were better off, trust me.
And that’s when you met me.
“What… what happened?” You asked. “Where am I?”
“You died,” I said, matter-of-factly. No point in mincing words.
“There was a… a truck and it was skidding…”
“Yup,” I said.
“I… I died?”
“Yup. But don’t feel bad about it. Everyone dies,” I said.
You looked around. There was nothingness. Just you and me. “What is this place?” You asked. “Is this the afterlife?”
“More or less,” I said.
“Are you god?” You asked.
“Yup,” I replied. “I’m God.”
“My kids… my wife