ENORMOUS REPTILE CON

Sunday, August 31. 2008

I write this Sunday morning as Fenton and I are leaving for Enormous Retile Con, an immense fan convention held locally. 30,000 people show up to participate in gaming, panels and general gushing over movie and TV stars. Most of the events are in daylight hours, however, so who know what it’ll do to our circadian rhythms.
As a result of me being away from my laptop, I won’t be able to respond to as many comments as I have previously. Last week someone asked whether I had any questions about the human world so I’ll take this opportunity to hear from you. I’m especially interested in how you’re handling environmental issues. I already know from my brief visit that you’re not a species of horrible despoilers as caricatured in Rudy’s webcomic.
Last week on the blog someone asked about human weaponry, I’m aware of it. After all, when Fenton and I arrived in the human world we happened to land on a military base.
Finally, after I signed off last week someone asked about the status of my roommate Rachel and her girlfriend Joan. That was my mistake; I should have been more explicit. Joan is still a senior back at Caliban. She and Rachel have been going steady for quite some time, but at their age they aren’t planning on going any further.

Posted by Lindesfarne at 00:46 | Comments (37) | Trackbacks (0)

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well about the environmental issues some people take it more seriously then others its a good thing or it cold look like rudys webcomic in a few yers but people are learning to recykle.
i cant thinck of anything to write more on this blog so i think il end here bye.

#1 aapo on 2008-08-31 01:21 (Reply)

I though you'd like to know, we get Harelink over here. I'm not sure where else You can get it, so I'll have to check next time I'm in another world with internet.

#2 Nifar on 2008-08-31 01:45 (Reply)

Greetings from one of the few people on this side of the portal who knows what Joan Hoof looks like. (She's never been illustrated in the webcomic over here.) She and Rachel are a very cute couple! I hope their relationship remains as stable as yours and Fenton's.
As for environmental issues, one of our parties has selected a vice-presidential candidate who supports drilling in the Arctic and doesn't think we are causing global warming.
Also, FYI, this is not the human world you and your aunt Danielle came from. Here, England still has a Queen and no female heir to the throne was ever lost overboard on a cruise.
Enormous RETILE Con?! Shouldn't there be a P before the T? (Over here, a dragon is a mythical enormous reptile.)

#3 CharlieG on 2008-08-31 03:38 (Reply)

I already know from my brief visit that you’re not a species of horrible despoilers as caricatured in Rudy’s webcomic.

.
..
...
....
....umm....

#4 Rob in Japan on 2008-08-31 07:14 (Reply)

Sorry about the typo in the headline! It's fixed.
So there's a Hare Link over there? Obviously it's not the Hare Link on my side of the portion since Fenton and I account for every byte that goes through here. It might be associated with that webcomic on your side.
Speaking of that webcomic; it's even depicted Joan? It must really go into detail about us!

#5 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-08-31 08:22 (Reply)

Joan Hoof has been mentioned a number of times as Rachel Einhorn's girlfriend, but she's never been shown in the webcomic over here, as far as I can remember. I used devious means to discover her appearance. (Also, one of the guests at Dragon*Con over here wrote a book which, in German, was entitled Das Letzte Einhorn. It had nothing to do with rhinoceri.)

Usually the webcomic deals with your extended family exclusively, probably because A) your family and it's problems often strike us as humorous and B) things that are (and aren't) problems in Domain point out things which are (and shouldn't be) problems over here. Rachel and Joan's relationship is one thing that falls into that second category. Currently, only two states over here would permit them to marry. I think (and hope) it's different over there.

Thinking about 'extended family,' have you considered how Rudy is related to Fiona? Fiona's mother is married to Rudy's uncle, and her father is married to his aunt. (Well, sorta...) This makes them double first cousins, in a sense, without any genetic relationship at all.

No need to apologize for the misspelling. Compared to some of the e-mails and postings made on this side, your posts are Shakespearean. It's just that Retile made it sound like you were upgrading a bathroom...

#5.1 CharlieG on 2008-08-31 15:26 (Reply)

You actually know? I'm not so much interested in the source as I am simply in the information. Just what in the world is she anyway?

And, for reference, I knew she was still a senior, but I thought that was last year. Apparantly I'm a little off in my interpretation. Still, good to know they're still together.

#5.1.1 Gabriel LaVedier (Link) on 2008-09-01 00:22 (Reply)

Gabriel, if that remark asking "What is she?" was addressed to me and concerned Joan Hoof's species, I feel somewhat obligated not to say. I'm not trying to be nasty, though. I just feel that the information should come either through our source on this side of the portal (a webcomic artist named Bill Holbrook) or our definitive source on the other side of the portal (Lindesfarne Dewclaw).

It's quite possible that, when Joan graduates from Caliban, she will attend Beige University. If that happens, she and Rachel might want to share a room. It would be something familiar that Rachel wouldn't have to charge, but it would cause Lindesfarne to find yet another roommate. That could have her appear in the webcomic, possibly as a semi-regular character.

So, for the moment, I feel obligated to not answer as to what species Joan Hoof is. I can only say that's she Rachel's girlfriend and I think Joan and Rachel are*both* cute. I do hope that Bill Holbrook will find cause to include her in the webcomic, but there are undoubtedly many things that occur in Domain that he doesn't mention. Joan may be one of those.

#5.1.1.1 CharlieG on 2008-09-01 10:59 (Reply)

Rudy and Fiona technically being related is part of the phenomenon I like to call "Dewclaw Assimilation." Simply put, if you spend a decent amount of time in the presence of the extended Dewclaw family you will end up related to them by blood (Corrie, Vin, Danielle Kendall) or marriage (George, Martha, Fiona).

Since last mentioned, the theory has received an amendment in the form of the "Dewclaw Assimilation wild card" where you end up hook up with your perfect match thru their presence (ex. Rhonda and Quinn, R.L and Angelique, some members of that group of Coyotes they trapped in a rabbit warren).

The notable holdouts to this theory are Fenton and Bruno...but both are likely to be assimilated if given time.

We're still studying this concept but at this point resistance may or may not be futile.

#5.1.2 Elwood Blutarsky on 2008-09-01 00:40 (Reply)

Though not for lack of trying. Corrie and Bruno have, technically, been engaged since the start of the "wolf cub" situation. When they're old enough, they will be wed. Thanks to her work at Hare-Link and her father's new wife, she's financially stable, and Bruno... Is Bruno.

As for Fenton, well, we know what happened there.

#5.1.2.1 Gabriel LaVedier (Link) on 2008-09-01 23:41 (Reply)

there are three very important things to remember about webcomic interfaces between alternate worlds miss dewclaw.

1) no matter how good they are they are never 100% accurate. (Rudy's comic hit closer to the mark then you may think but while it showed part of the problem it did not show the part of the solutions IE the humans working against the despoliation's. which side will win? i don't know.) they are colored in part by the person making them

2 ) they web comic interface is part of an effect called pan dimensional awareness by my people. it means that awareness of across dimensions whether partial or full. alternate of dimensions can show up in untrained individuals and they become away of alternate universes. this has happened to you friend nick before as well but he never to my knowledge shared his awareness of the dimension with others. later He, Ki and several friends including their co-workers Fooker and Sharron visit that dimension thinking it a VR simulated like they thought you world was at first.

3 ) the perception of the view is always suspect in a web comic. the even are almost always vied third person but to whom this world is being view by is unknown and must remain unknown for as long as possible. as it happened

incidental points are as follows web comics are snapshots of life events of the main characters and the events of the world are shown though how they effect this character's lives. (like when your mother and father had to worry about their marriage being banned on the count of the papers not being filed before the senate vote against inter spices marriage. i'm glade the vote didn't pass by the way.

thoughts either whole or summaries often appear in webcomic to help the viewer under the event better including the characters seen things form a emotional point of view though in realising they probably don't change according to how they feel. IE if told someone that you were were the bide of Frankenstein you would not literally become the bride of Frankenstein but to the web comic audience it might appear that you were for a panel.

it should also be noted that event are often out of order in web comic broadcast with jumps into the past and future that may be subject to change. and along with the physical reality it should be noted that dreams are sometimes broadcast as well.

odd as it may seems the viewers do have and impact on the world that they view even as the view world has an impact on the views(if you try and test this around Fenton or he'll likely say "No! Bad scientist again) i have seen this happen in you world once or twice but i can not be 100% sure that it did.

one more thing direct knowledge of how the worlds is view but be help in strict confidence by those visitors either world. Nick and Ki's world is actually pretty nice compared to some and i really and hoping that things work out for them know what happened during / after their wedding.

#5.2 e_voyager on 2008-08-31 21:38 (Reply)

i hope you two have fun. as for me i know whats it's like to be separated from your tech. i some times go days with out being able to get on my computer or online so i understand that you may not see this for a while and that responding to it will probably be a moot point by the time you do.

#6 e_voyager on 2008-08-31 10:02 (Reply)

We're not the horrible despoilers yet, Lindesfarne, but I fear that we may become that way. Some of us want to keep that from happening and some see no need to bother trying, as they don't see a problem. Obviously, it's a challenge.

Sadly, our world seems to be warming up, though there's some debate as to whether it's caused by us humans or a natural part of our planet's life cycle. We are trying, though. Or some of us are.

#7 Aino on 2008-08-31 13:26 (Reply)

While there are those who resist, proper care for the environment continues to gain acceptance one way or the other. A huge case of "if you can't fight 'em, join 'em" has come in the form of a former oil tycoon named T. Boone Pickens. He's laying out a huge plan to cash in on wind and solar energy technology, along with natural gas, all immensely cleaner than oil. I guess he figured "green" is not just the color of environmentalism, but also the color of money! Obvious question: is there an equivalent person on your side?

Speaking of Enormous Reptile Con and webcomics, our equivalent of Dragon Con is having webcomic artist Pete Abrams as a guest. He is famous (well, sort of) for his comic Sluggy Freelance. I like to compare it to a roller coaster (or perhaps your flights with Fenton!): it has moments where it's incredibly good and exciting, followed by periods of slow, boring progress; still enjoyable overall. Is there an equivalent on your side? If so, are you a fan? Dare I say, a Sluggite?

#8 ReFlex76 (Link) on 2008-08-31 14:04 (Reply)

HAZZA! REPTILE CON I go every year... but this year I'm staying home due to an upcoming date with a pomeranian... also my state appointed ward Chomp has recently become addicted to Coffee.

If i get a chance all ask my neighbor Steve to keep an eye on Kyle and Chomp so I can come by and see what TV stars show.

#9 Reptileus Concarna on 2008-08-31 14:42 (Reply)

I think staying up late won't mess you up for a few days (thats me thinking however)

Any other questions you have about the human world?

I noticed in today's comic how your aunt and uncle (Francis' parents) sleep under electrical insulation. I wonder, how hot does it get under those?

#10 Jumanji (Link) on 2008-08-31 16:10 (Reply)

Probably hotter than we'll ever see.

#10.1 Mortar on 2008-09-06 22:14 (Reply)

Hi there, Lindesfarne. I've been curious about this for a while, so forgive the randomness of it. As a professional wrestler on the human side, I remember seeing your father was once a wrestler as well, and I was curious about how it worked there...whether it was scripted (not fake!) as it is over here or whether it's actually an athletic competition. I also admit that I'm dying to know what sort of animals various human wrestlers are (if Rey Mysterio isn't a hummingbird, I'll be shocked), but I won't bother you for that much

#11 Mysty Glyttyr on 2008-08-31 16:57 (Reply)

Hi, I'm back from Enormous Reptile Con and as I predicted, being awake during the daylight hours messed up my sleep schedule. Before I take a nap I'll try to answer today's questions.

That's disturbing to think that Rachael and Joan wouldn't be allowed to marry in the human world. I'm trying to figure out why, however. Is it because they have different eye color or something?
Rudy and Fiona may be cousins by marriage, but not through genetics. That trumps everything.
I'm glad to hear that humans are working to correct environmental problems, both for the sake of your world, and to demonstrate that Rudy doesn't know everything!
Thanks to Voyager's thoughtful analysis of the webcomic situation. It might go a ways to explaining this phenomenon.
There's a bovine oil man here called T-Bone Pickett. He chews money as if it were cud. (Well, it is green.)
Yes, I'm a fan of Sluggy Freelance and visited Mr. Abram's table. No, I did not become a "Sluggy Belly Girl."
I have no knowledge whatsoever of Danielle and George's personal life. I did, however, help in grounding most of their electrical appliances.
Finally, yes, pro wrestling is usually a scripted event here. The night that Dad recently returned to the ring, however, was Improv Night.

#12 Lindesfarne Dewclaw on 2008-09-01 00:10 (Reply)

Actually, the Rachael and Joan thing is because they're of the same gender. Without the inter-species prejudices that exist in your world, I'm afraid ours has developed some of its own. One of the longest held was based on skin coloration; however, I'm not sure if that was ever illegal or not. (It certainly isn't now, at least here, but there are still some who have prejudices about that kind of thing. People were actually able to be enslaved because of their skin color up until about 150 years ago, but that's another story.)
Regardless, same-gender relationships and marriage is the more prominant issue of the two right now in the human world. There have been a number of debates in our US Congress and elsewhere about this, with some seeking an amendment restricting marriage to man and woman (in other words, making it more strict than just the fact that our laws don't recognize that sort of marriage), and others wishing to make it legal nationally.
Sufficed to say your world isn't the only one with irrational prejudices -- in a lot of cases, I'd even call ours more insane.

#12.1 Koronak on 2008-09-01 00:40 (Reply)

More insane is right. In some parts of the world, you can be killed if it's discovered that you're homosexual. Also, inter-racial marriages are still illegal in some parts of the country.

I'm glad to say that there seem to be very few places across the multiverse that suffer from these prejudices, however, most places have their own.

#12.1.1 Nifar on 2008-09-01 12:55 (Reply)

I did say Fiona and Rudy were genetically unrelated in my post as well. I personally have people here who are simultaneously my first and second cousins. My father's brother married my mother's first cousin. First cousins paternally, second cousins maternally. Both marriages perfectly acceptable by our laws, but way too close for their children to consider any kind of genetic merging.

As to why Rachel and Joan would not be allowed to marry, it's simpler than eye color but much harder to understand or justify. It's that they are both *female*. There are people on this side who feel that permitting same-sex couples the right to marriage will end civilization as we know it. (Whether we are civilized is a matter for debate: I would find it easier to argue the side that says we aren't.) They often use religious arguments to support their view, or that it insults the institution of marriage. However, the basic reason is (IMO) that it hasn't been done before. Currently, only Massachusetts and California permit same-sex couples to get married here. Some European countries permit it as well. My opinions on the issue were influenced by a man I once worked with who'd been with his male partner for 17 years. Who insults marriage more: a person who wants to marry someone they've been with for many years or a person who gets a marriage annulled before 48 hours elapse?

Sorry, Lindesfarne. I'm just a bitter old man who hates seeing people suffer without good reason. It pleases me that your side of the portal has at least one less reason for suffering.

#12.2 CharlieG on 2008-09-01 01:04 (Reply)

Forgot to mention: their marriage would be allowed in Canada on this side; at the very least, the government would recognize it there. Religion... is would be a long, long story in this case. Sufficed to say some would recognize it, some wouldn't.

#12.3 Koronak on 2008-09-01 01:17 (Reply)

"That's disturbing to think that Rachael and Joan wouldn't be allowed to marry in the human world. I'm trying to figure out why, however. Is it because they have different eye color or something?"

It wouldn't be because they are different. It would be because they are the same. Many humans believe that it is not normal or acceptable for people of the same sex to be in love or get married. There was even talk of amending the Constitution to "define marriage in the United States as a union of one man and one woman." I assume that it was paralleled in your world by the proposed amendment that would have made marriage between herbivores and carnivores illegal.

#12.4 Dani on 2008-09-01 07:13 (Reply)

I'd ask if you got any pictures to share, but then the bandwidth through the portal might become too high. I am sure that our Human friends would love to see con photos, as well.

I...never worked up the nerve to go to those events.

#12.5 jup-reindeer on 2008-09-01 07:34 (Reply)

Oh you should try to get the nerve! I would have gone had Steve not had a case at the court house that afternoon (Which he lost) Now the score is 14 cases won to 419 cases lost. I still don't know why people hire the guy!

I have to know are you planing to go to the 2008 Tokyo Game Show? Kyle has been hopping up and down about a game called Kingdom hearts 3 so he is planing to go this year (He's saved up a lot of money).

#12.5.1 Reptileus Concarna on 2008-09-01 10:38 (Reply)

"I did go to the formentioned Human Con. Not only was that too irresistable, but the thought of getting in costume as a mythical...sorry, unique species made me feel somewhat safer. Oh, sure. The head had to be oversized to sell the image. Wish the antlers hadn't been in full form at the time. Oh, well. It's not that I wouldn't choose to go, but that I would prefere to avoid danger by not going. As for the Kingdom Hearts series. That's one that I had passed on. Did pick up the original as a second owned. However, the disc and it's system did not cooperate one bit. Kind of lost some steam for the Role Playing scene, awhile back. Seemed to happen around the time that the Dragon's Quest series had a pre-requirement for eight hour sessions between save points. Sure. What youthling wouldn't want to be an armored warrior with sword and magic to take down any threat with and find some treasures along the way. But, life was getting more complicated by that point. So, I swayed my gaming interests, some. So, no. I will have to pass on plans for going to any Tokyo events. Besides, airport security has some rather vicious viewpoints against us horn and antler growing species. It's like 'No pre-doctor visit for de-horning, no admitance.' They used to accept rubber caps for the protection of all. But, security measures are extreme, these days."

#12.5.1.1 jup-reindeer on 2008-09-02 05:36 (Reply)

Wow, those are really strange prejudices, they can't get married because they are the same? In that regard ours makes more sense (interspecies marriage from opposite sides of the food chain looked down upon, if not prohibited). I mean, we all know rule #1 of predators is "don't talk to your prey". Because, well, we know what happens as a result. A marriage of opposite ends of the food chain is pretty much a public display that you broke rule #1 and that you're a bad hunter, resulting in lower job prospects (which makes me think that R. L. is more understanding than I thought letting Kell work there, but knowing him, he still might be thinking that she's fattening him up for food!) and public humiliation. And skin colour??? That makes even less sense!! (I have red fur, the missus has brown fur, would that be looked down upon if we were humans?)

Makes me glad I'm not a human (although, unfortunately, the conversation here has also undone some of the work Lindy and her family have done in making me accept interspecies' marriage by reminding me why I thought it was right in the first place. I still can't see how people would think that marriage of different skin tones or same gender would be bad, comparing to our prejudices (would make for some pretty boring marriages, reducing the selection field like that!))

#12.6 Ken D. Lion on 2008-09-01 12:35 (Reply)

Not everyone are like that. If two people with different skin colors want to marry, I say let them. This racist view came from over-zealous religious people from Europe that saw themselves as supreme over other humans because of their skin color, which is wrong. Now, such people are thought of as nuts or evil, but there's still many people who won't hire another person due to skin color because of their skin. It's like if an herbivore wanted a job at a place with a carnivore boss, and the boss only sees the herbivore as something insignificant, it's sad that we have such ignorance in our world. This is one of the many reasons why we humans view your world as a utopia of sorts.

The same can apply for those who are attracted to the member of the same sex, they have no control over who they like. At least in your world, everyone is separated oly by one's diet, and it's quickly changing so that carnivores and herbivores, as well as omnivores, insectivores, and fish eaters (I forgot what they're called) are getting along a lot better.

#12.6.1 Jumanji (Link) on 2008-09-02 09:54 (Reply)

"Birds of a feather flock together."

Only in the most recent of times could many species have tollerance for actu...GADS....Territorial wasp. Thing's huge.

chuckles Relocates laptop

Erm....yea...right...tollerance for multiple species has been improving only in recent times. There's still quite a lot of speciesism in the world...well, don't aim that stinger at me. I didn't do anything wrong...

Sorry. Looks like I'm not so welcome in this public location, right now. I'm going. I'm going. We don't need to take flight, now.

Laptop logged off

#12.6.1.1 jup-reindeer on 2008-09-03 07:29 (Reply)

Ah, so that's another universal constant. If you approach within a certain distance of a wasp, it will chace you as far off as possible.

#12.6.1.1.1 Nifar on 2008-09-03 09:33 (Reply)

Perhaps. But, that was so weird. There I was, minding my own business. Thinking that I was alone and secure. But, this insect with a natural weapon just comes walking up, all brave and mean...and runs me out of the place.

In retrospect...I was on an insectivore's blog with a screen that wasn't secure and I think that (s)he took a great offense to it. That was just so odd to happen at that moment, in more then one way. Wish I had the camera...

Anyhow...getting back to what I was going to post...

It used to be very direct. Each species had their own customs; their own religion. Most species would never date outside their own. Some held to their practices better then others. Then, there were the group splits that some of the social species had to deal with. Others were pretty much loners, to begin with. Many lived in fear over wars from other species...or even others of their own species from a different group. A thousand different species could easily have three thousand religion viewpoints. There was so much chaos that it was near lucky that any species could possibly survive.

Factual records of the older days are scattered, if they exist at all. There are ruins and finds of older civilizations found under dirt in other countries. Some have proven to have had actual languages. Between wars, civil disputes and small colonies that could never hope to make anything that would survive to present day, it's hard to understand the origins to our modern world. The Olympics would seem to be a shining example of bringing chaos into some sort of peaceful gathering. However, even much of what was known about how it got started may no longer exist.

There are bits and pieces about how some places had these rulers called Kings. A fair number of them, by what records did survive, mention the overwhelming species as lions.

There are also some records about certain lands in the orient that held successful rule ships. Though, even many of them fought, it would seem.

Much of what we actually have to work with comes from more recent times. Dawning of a new land. Major wars over opinions on splitting off from the beliefs of a distant ruler. Notions on the civil rights of species that were being taken advantage of. Many issues. In fact, it really seems that it took the invention of complicated machines to bring forth species tollerance. The world became smaller. Communications pushed their way to even remote locations. One species could suddenly communicate to another without having to look each other in the eye and do something based on something else then communication. Territory rights, ways of living, religious viewpoints, similarities and many other details were suddenly being exchanged. By not having to be together, communication flurished. One thing led to another and here we are, typing to both ours...and other worlds. And, we're doing it peacefully. Barriers are being knocked down and tollerance built in it's place.

Dare I say it and risk a curse? Why not? I truly feel that if science can find a way to feed everyone with synthetic meat and synthetic plant and synthetic insect and synthetic anything, then maybe our great grand children can grow up in a world where species does not matter. Where opinion is a mild issue. Everyone can be at peace.

If we can talk without issues and our fore fathers wouldn't have even tried, then what can our future generations do? Oh, I have great hope. And, it's all because we all can just keep talking.

#12.6.1.1.1.1 jup-reindeer on 2008-09-05 04:37 (Reply)

Good luck with that. I'm fairly certain that our chances of a peaceful, Utopian future are shot to hell. Then again, if things ever get that good, I'd be out of a job. Of course, if things ever get that good, I'll probably find something else to do, or just relocate.

#12.6.1.1.1.1.1 Nifar on 2008-09-06 13:33 (Reply)

i'm glad you found my analysis useful and i must apologize for my lousy spelling grammar. i sent it to you on the run and i'm nearly helpless with out a spell checker. ..

#12.7 e_voyager on 2008-09-03 00:46 (Reply)

>'m glad you found my analysis useful and i must apologize for
>my lousy spelling grammar. i sent it to you on the run and i'm
>nearly helpless with out a spell checker.

Relying on a spell checker doesn't say much about your educational diligence.

#12.7.1 Guest on 2008-09-06 22:53 (Reply)

I'd send links to some pictures, but unfortunetly links posted on here don't show up to those in Domain, or appear as Domain counterparts (if anyone can access mine, it's to my Second Life blog, the counterpart to Ninth Life in Domain).

The enviroment, I would say most people in this country care about it one degree to another. My family was brought up in small towns and the country, so having a fairly clean environment is important to them. But they don't like "do-gooders" trying to shut down businesses where people work, or in some cases telling them not to drive cars or eat meat.

Yep, some environmentalists are encouraging people to eat less meat and a few are saying everyone should go vegetarian. Considering everyone in my family just loves the sight and smell of a cheeseburger frying on the grill, well, needless to say that's a hard sell.

#13 Bixyl Shuftan (Link) on 2008-09-01 11:34 (Reply)

Of course, there's pollution in our world, but we work to ameliorate it. After our needs for food, shelter, work, and security are met, a clean environment is demanded by people. We've reduced the worst pollution, and the world is a better place.

Rudy's webcomic doesn't represent humans at all. Humans don't burn coal to put smoke in the air and release mercury into the environment. We burn coal because it provides electricity, without which our high standard of living (and connection to this forum) would not be possible. In the past, Chicago dumped its waste into the Chicago River, not
because it hated fish, but because it kept disease away from the city's drinking water source, Lake Michigan. If another source of energy were available that was as efficient and reliable as coal, at the same cost, but with no pollution, it would be adopted in a heartbeat.

So there's a lot we can still do to improve peoples' lives. Some people focus on marginal improvements, like reducing the allowable level of arsenic in water by a few more parts per billion. Others focus on greater needs, like bringing clean drinking water to those who don't have it, or fighting malaria. (Does that exist in your world? It's a debilitating, often fatal disease, caused by protozoa transmitted by
mosquitos.)

#14 Greg (Link) on 2008-09-07 01:31 (Reply)

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