X-Message-Number: 31611
From: Mark Plus <>
Subject: "Progress porn"
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:14:56 -0700


In Cryonet #31608, Mathew Sullivan lists some links to alleged breakthroughs in 
energy. 


I've seen stories like these in popular science publications since around the 
time you had to learn bladder control as a toddler, Mathew. Despite all this 
"progress porn," our civilizations still depends overwhelmingly on petroleum, 
coal, natural gas and hazardous radioactive isotopes for its liquid fuels or 
powers supplies, just like it did 30 years ago. None of the propose 
"alternatives," promised to us since the 1970's or earlier, seems to make 
thermodynamic sense or has the ability to scale up enough to matter.


We haven't just stagnated in energy technology, however. Ever few months Popular
Science publishes progress porn about the newest super-duper-sonic jetliners 
designed on someone's computer, even though our civilization has already 
relinquished the commercial supersonic travel with no serious plans to resume 
it. The same goes for the recurring progress porn about rebooting the "space 
age," which now sounds like a retro reference out of an Austin Powers movie.


 

"Around 2010 the world will be at a new orbit in history. . .  Life expectancy 
will be indefinite. Disease and disability will nonexist. Death will be rare and
accidental -- but not permanent. We will continuously jettison our obsolescence
and grow younger." F.M. Esfandiary, "Up-Wing Priorities" (1981).
http://www.box.net/shared/static/ay9lub60ha.pdf
http://www.scribd.com/doc/10948503/Up-Wing-Priorities


Mark Plus



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