Tom Robertson wrote:


How much better off would we be if the money spent (to say nothing of
the lives lost) in Iraq
and Afghanistan, et
al were spent right here in the good old US of A, educating people as
to the role of energy in their lives, the changes that are to come, and
the kinds of behavior-from energy
efficiency to efficient (and safe) development of energy
resources, etc.-that would most likely lead to a secure and satisfying
future for the bulk of the population?
-------------------------------------------------\

Totally agree. Then there's another problem: materials for the ICT
infrastructure to inform, educate, and entertain people through the transition.
How soon is now? What is the eschaton in a higher dimensional manifold - i.e.,
how do we arrive at an end to be, which has already taken place?  This is where
Shannon fails - while there is no link between heat and information, there is a
link between heat and the means of information transference, and the social
forces that are both creators and creatures of such an arrangement.

We only live in Plato's cave as long as the cave has an opening and the fire is
going. When the fire gives out and the the opening collapses, we are either
trapped in the cave, or casting shadows of our own, elsewhere.

If the dream and hopes that inform notions of democracy and freedom can be kept
alive beyond the transition, I think the future of humanity is bright. Smaller,
quieter, happier and bright. Imagine the stories they will tell...


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