b317ea98   
   From: dwalker@cs.rochester.edu   
      
   On 7 Nov 2003, FixinDixon wrote:   
      
   > ghost   
   > > Also realize any   
   > > change on that scale requires the appropriate amount of time, or   
   > > something extraordinarily profound to happen - like say the invention of   
   > > the machine gun.   
   >   
   > ...   
   > I'm very curious as to how that monstrocity can be considered to be   
   > "extraordinarily profound".   
   >   
      
   I would guess it's meant to be "extraordinarily profound" in the sense   
   that it led to big changes.  It could easily be argued that the   
   development of automatic weapons was the biggest factor in the evolution   
   of infantry in the 20th century.  I'm not sure what will be its   
   21st-century equivalent, perhaps these super-strong lightweight ceramics   
   that were featured in an issue of Chemical & Engineering News a few months   
   back.  Of course, this will be more a defense revolution than offense.   
      
   Interestingly enough, the prototype bodysuit shown in that issue looked   
   like something I'd expect to see in some hokey sci-fi TV show.  Life   
   imitates art, I guess.   
      
   >   
   > > A change in the direction you seek may well be underway, but it might be   
   > > a few decades before anything tangible can be seen. Like, and only a   
   > > tiny amount of offense meant, the eventual death of the entire Baby   
   > > Boomer Generation in the US since they are currently the Powers That Be.   
   >   
   > No offense taken.  The generation are OK, they just need a bit more   
   > common sense knocked into them.   
   >   
      
   In defense of the Boomers (got a lot of 'em in my family), they've been   
   rather disenfranchised politically over the years, especially with the war   
   in Vietnam (and the motives for it that were later revealed).  Plus let's   
   keep in mind that a good chunk of them are just as unhappy as anyone with   
   the current state of affairs, whether it's due to them getting fucked by   
   it or their take on the "morality" of it all (i.e. it's wrong to screw   
   poor people and take pictures).   
      
   I would generally attribute the problems, perceived or real, with modern   
   society (for lack of a better term) is a lack of involvement.  I don't   
   know what the current statistics are on voting, but a few years ago it was   
   way down (ref. _Bowling Alone_), which means that we basically have more   
   and more resources being spent on fewer and fewer votes.  It seems to me   
   that one of two things has occurred:   
      
   1) A mass disenfranchisement of various demographics, or   
      
   2) Mass apathy as the result of an excess of too much comfort.   
      
   Then again, there are many combinations of the two which are also very   
   likely.  I think Michael Moore (and let's leave out the controversy, since   
   this is just a matter of opinion) put it best in _Downsize This_, when he   
   talked about the decline of unions and organized labor.  I can't quote it   
   verbatim, but he basically said that labor won a few big victories before   
   the participants stopped caring, and the opposition chipped away at their   
   livelihood with small stuff (plant closings, layoffs, etc).   
      
      
   > > And if you can't wait that long tough shit, build a wall and get over   
   > > it. Go save a dolphin or something.   
   >   
   > I'd rather save a person.   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)