A general war...can be used to postpone progress anywhere from ten years to forever.
It's an ironic accident of the calendar that all this religious interest in transcendental events should be mixed with the objective evidence that we're falling into a technological singularity.
Once the extinction of humans occurs “there (will) be no one left to rape nature, but neither(will) there be anyone to praise her handiwork. ~ Monica Raines
Science (gives) each human animal the presumption to act like a little god. The Earth just can’t take it….I’ll bet the whole structure (will collapse) under its own weight, leaving the rapists at the mercy of their victim – nature….Moving into space just postpone(s) the debacle a few decades. ~ Monica Raines
Governments are a form of deception – though not necessarily for the rulers, who usually benefit from them. Most of the citizens, most of the time, must be convinced that the national interest is more important than their own. ~ Wil Brierson
It’s healthy for a person to wallow in self-pity every once in a while. ~ Virginia Brierson
People outside police work didn’t realize how much of criminal investigation involved drawing conclusions from databases – usually public databases, at that.
Two of the three essential attributes of government:” (1.) the citizenry has to believe that the government has the power of life and death over them. (2.) the government uses “that belief – however gently – to make them put (the government’s) goals ahead of theirs.” ~ Wil Brierson
“If we can survive and still be sentimental, life is a lot more fun.” ~ Marta Korolev
“intelligence is the basis of all progress.” ~ Della Lu
It’s always easier to seem wise if you’re selling pessimism. ~ Della Lu
Just talking about superhuman intelligence gets us into something like religion. ~ Della Lu
A singularity is “a place where extrapolation breaks down and new models must be applied.” ~ Della Lu
How quickly cracks the veneer of civilization.
Normally, you identified the criminal, then arrested him. A denouement with a roomful...of suspects meant that you lacked either the knowledge or the power to accomplish an arrest. Any competent criminal realized this, too; the situation was failure in the making. ~ Wil Brierson
Beyond wealth...there is power….And beyond power… there is knowledge – which some say is power….Whether it is power or not depends on the will and the wisdom of its user... ~ Paul Naismith
What will wealth get you…? Minimal security, until someone takes it from you. ~ Paul Naismith
For some people, the completely inexplicable is worse than death.
Ultimately there is only one person who can’t run away from your problems.
If you deny big industry and big research to people, they will look for other ways of getting what they need.
One thing about civilization, it allows the most extreme types to find a niche where they can live to their own and others’ benefit. ~ Marta Korolev
A general war...can be used to postpone progress anywhere from ten years to forever.