Hi ATSizens. Whatcha doing?

a reply to: TEOTWAWKIAIFF

So even there like a global waiting loop. That's just maddening.
It reminds me of the Chinese curse: may you live in interesting times.

But to some degree I understand those who specialise in perpetuating the ma'at, will try to postpone it as much as possible.
Interestingly the robot they want to send to Proxima b, sounds a bit like they're already planning how to use it. Or did I understand that wrong?

a reply to: TEOTWAWKIAIFF

Fusion will be, at best, an interim technology.

That said, I think it could be released without much increased danger to mankind as a whole. Which leaves us with, as you say, "politics." There has always been massive resistance to change in large industries. Change in infrastructure alone is costly, and if there is an equal or lower profit margin.. they don't see much reason for effort.

Any other possible benefits (of which there are some that greatly outweigh simple finances) are not considered. That is the type of thing that we really need to mature beyond, for all of our benefit. It would take a generation or two to truly embed, but it would be worth it. Money is a middleman and yet we have come to see it as both an endgoal and solution.

a reply to: intrptr

Enforcement of self responsibility and determination would be sthg I could really get behind. But unfortunately that won't happen anyways.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Are you German? Because, me too....

a reply to: Serdgiam

Money is something our great-great-great-grandchildren will laugh about. I truly believe we can overcome that and we will find better ways to distribute goods and services than what we have now.
Also fusion as I understand it has the potential for approximately infinitive energy. Why would it be just "interim technology"?

a reply to: Peeple

I think money works reasonably well as a representative entity. However, we have lost sight of what it represents and its "purpose."

In many cases, people will eschew actual, permanent improvements to quality of life across the board solely to have more/higher integers in a digital bank account. Its really rather silly, but its well embedded.

Technologies that can be applied, built, and maintained by the vast majority of the population for little to no cost will supercede anything 'nuclear.' There are simply better ways to manipulate plasma, if you will, that are more accessible due to everything from materials to knowledge.

The problem is that with increased efficacy and availability, comes an increased chance of weaponization and destruction. Something which could feasibly address "all the worlds power needs" could also be the end of the world as we know it should the concepts be applied into a weapon.

I don't see a time where the benefits outweigh the risks in this regard, even if those benefits are truly world-changing. In a sense, its a literal interpretation of "with great power comes great responsibility."

Knowledge of such things will go down with the ship(s), hopefully arising again at a time where humanity has matured enough for its introduction. Even then, it will be a day of judgment.

Should that day come too soon.. God(s) help us.

originally posted by: Peeple
a reply to: ketsuko

Ha, I always thought you're a guy?!

A writer and a mom? That's pretty cool. Seems like you're lucky, having someone who needs you, that's what we ladies need, right?
I am thinking about getting rats, just so I can build them the nicest cage and cook healthy stuff for them...
Yeah I know: I'm pathetic. But just for myself it's just all so overwhelmingly pointless.

Not at all! Of all the small rodents, rats make the best pets.

We had a pair of them in college, my husband and I. We named them Monkey and Gopher. Monkey was smart enough that she learned to come when called and "No!" She used to sleep on your lap like a tiny little dog and ride around on shoulders.

She had this way of grabbing your sleeve in her teeth when you would stop. For a long time we thought she was trying to gnaw on our clothing, but then we figured out it was her way of asking for you to raise up your arm so she could walk out along it like a bridge. She only did it when you stopped walking and going places.

Gopher on the other hand was much shyer but would lick your hand affectionately like a little dog when she would come greet you.

They are great little pets to have around.

a reply to: Serdgiam

Point taken, never thought of it that way. I guess besides my dystopian talks I'm still quite naive when it comes to humans.
I imagine unlimited free energy would magically turn us into a better society, beyond wars for resources. But I guess you're right, we'd still disagree and fight for dominance.


a reply to: ketsuko

They're just so cute. I lately was binge watching youtube videos with rat tricks, fetch the tissue and stuff like that. So very adorable!
What's keeping me from adopting is, they die so fast! 2 years life span just seems really short. And also they have a reputation to get sick fairly quick, with that lung disease they carry and prone to develop tumours. So I am undecided, if I could handle that.
But their cute little faces... Urch I don't know.

(Sorry werk called)
a reply to: Serdgiam

Nuclear fusion an interim solution? Hardly. Before we suck virtual particles out of the quantum fluctuation (which may be a long time) it will be a necessity. As production, knowledge, controls, etc. are built up around fusion reactors prices actually drop. Lockheed’s idea is figure it out, then make them like they make jet engines—out on an assembly line. So when a part starts to go bad you just call your boob from Section 7G over to swap out a part (does not know how it works but can follow instructions). And that is neutronic fusion. When aneutronic comes along there will be even less maintenance.


a reply to: Peeple

As far money goes, this idea has been around for a long time. They now call it “universal basic income” and those who “need money to live” call it Marxism but the idea has been around before Marx. ATS: Universal Basic Income via abolishment of all other welfare.

So we all get replaced by robots, get a basic income, then what? Self-driven people (if they still have not figured out self-driven cars! lol) will get more education, train for better jobs, practice art and poetry. Or so the thinking goes (bet none of the think tank people ever slept on a park bench in the rain one night in their life).

Would it work? I do not know but a lot of people are taking a long hard look. The July/August cover story of the MIT Technology Review is about this topic and is at the very least an interesting read.

a reply to: TEOTWAWKIAIFF

I am a huge fan of that actually. All the things you could do, just imagine, studying without the need of actually graduating. Just visiting the lectures you find interesting, visiting philosophy circles, making big ugly metal sculptures, volunteering for elderly entertainment, start all kinds of businesses without the pressure of having to make them an immediate financial success.
What I would definitely get into is alternative foods. Salad factories, with opuntias, wheat grass and deep fried locusts. But I guess you can see how it's hard to find people willing to finance that kind of business in middle Europe.
I am born too early.

a reply to: Peeple

Well a rear shock went out on my Honda(only 43000 miles on it) so I went and picked them up today. I will fix it myself instead of having the shop do it. They want $500.00. It will be a piece of cake. Bust out the air tools.

I am going out west next week on vacation. Air and room paid for. What a bargain.

Be going musky fishing this weekend.

As far as something big happening, I'm guessing it will happen when we least expect it. If it is aliens I'm going into the woods until I know they are not going to eat me. If the world blows up...........it was a good ride.

a reply to: Peeple

I think I am going to log off.

There are some clown here who want me to go play in the woods. I figure, Hey, when in South Carolina do what they do!

a reply to: TEOTWAWKIAIFF

I certainly don't dislike the idea of fusion. I think that in the realm of common knowledge, and not so common knowledge, it probably presents the best balance between efficiency and not-destroying-us-all.

And frankly, I see no reason to pursue much of anything else given our state of social and cultural advancement.

Hopefully by the time superior processes and concepts resurface, we will be ready for them. In the meantime, fusion could work well.

We have spent all of our effort into advancing our tools that we have not really grown alongside them. The evolutionary implications of that fascinates me, but obviously, I wont be alive to witness their ongoing fruition. Regardless, the release of knowledge must be carefully metered because of it. Ideally, it would be different.

a reply to: Serdgiam

But is kind of like Christmas... wishing for what could be and besides, I like to try and think of the impossible!



Hey Peeple! Watcha doing?

a reply to: TEOTWAWKIAIFF

I am already kind of over this one and back at the cafe. See you there, I hope