Metafilter's Own Charlie Stross asks the question; " You, and a quarter of a million other folks, have embarked on a 1000-year voyage aboard a hollowed-out asteroid. What sort of governance and society do you think would be most comfortable, not to mention likely to survive the trip without civil war, famine, and reigns of terror?"
engrossing commentary follows. (
via)
posted by The Whelk
on Dec 11, 2009 -
156 comments
Brynn Metheny is a freelance illustrator based in Oakland, California who loves to draw imaginary creatures. Metheny has taken this fascination with
made-up animals and extended it to the point of conjuring up an entire continent,
Orcura, through which flows
The Morae River. The river basin has a bestiary and a Classification of Species to describe the animals that inhabit it. (
via) (speculative zoology
previously)
posted by HumanComplex
on Nov 9, 2009 -
9 comments
Federally Funded Science Fiction. The CIA announced today that next month's final report on Iraq's weapons program under Saddam Hussein will mostly encompass an analysis of what they believe Iraq would be like through 2008 had Bush not invaded the country. Because when you want accurate, detailed analysis of the future of Iraq's weapons, you turn to the group that
got it completely wrong during the present.
posted by XQUZYPHYR
on Aug 20, 2004 -
27 comments
Coalition of the Willy.
[via abuddha's memes]
Just as the eyes may be averted from full frontal public displays of male nudity, is it possible that the unconscious association to phallic symbols like "weapons of mass destruction" may effectively lead the eyes to be "averted", thus frustrating any search. (NOTE: This essay isn't really 'logical,' but it's a fun ride anyway, pun intended)
posted by moonbird
on Aug 7, 2004 -
8 comments
Follow the pollen trail...
The recent
volatility on the stock market has nothing on the
Tulip Mania that swept Holland in 1637. They went so gaga over over the
colorful heralds of spring that one blossom obsessed fella, for example, sold a brewery to buy a single bulb. It's become an
example of
what happens when we become economically overconfident. Myself, I'd rather deal in flowers than money, anyway.
posted by moonbird
on Apr 3, 2003 -
13 comments
U.S. troops on DEFCON 2 alert "The Canoe.qc.ca web site has learned that American Marines in the Persian Gulf have been placed on DEFCON 2 alert status, a possible precursor to war with Iraq." - the Canoe.ca site is often several hours ahead of more popular news sites (CNN, MSNBC, ect) with breaking news.
posted by stevengarrity
on Sep 11, 2002 -
22 comments
What is the future of online news. Will subscription eventually win through? Is there a viable business model that will allow independent publishers (such as Salon) to survive, or will we see further media consolidation? Where does blogging fit into this spectrum?
posted by RobertLoch
on Dec 19, 2001 -
9 comments
A word from the future. "At the turn of the second millennium, humanity seemed set on a steady upward course. How did it all go wrong in just 200 years? This is a memo on the fall of homo sapiens, 2000-2200 CE, written for the crew of the third interstellar colonising mission, 2759 CE, by Anatol Lieven, as a record and a warning."
Science-fiction? Dire warning? Anyway this is an enjoyable read.
posted by talos
on Mar 9, 2001 -
4 comments
