Headlines

[Qray]

edit (My math sux. ) :

A recent study also reports that, ststistically, there should be around 160 billion planets in the Milky Way galaxy. The Sloan survey galaxy count is somewhere around 930,000 galaxies so far. Statistically, that's aproximately 148.8 QUADRILLION possible planets! Add to that, that is only 1/4th of the known Universe! And Earth is the only one with life?

I'm sure science will get that number wrong. Think about everything you were taught in school about space (it's age, size, composition, pretty much everything that can't be proven through actually testing,) it's all different now as humanity's technology advances and we learn more. The actual number of planets may end up being lower, or much higher.

I've had this discussion with a few people before, but...what if we ARE the first sentient life in the galaxy. In many science fiction stories there is that race that came before all others. In the Halo games it's the Forerunners. In the Mass Effects universe it's the Protheans. In B5 it was those that went beyond the rim. In Stargate it was the Ancients. What if humanity IS that very first race? What if we are the ones who set the standard for all that come after?

We need to start working on our legacy! I call dibs on all the planets it the Orion Arm of the Milky Way! When the younger races conduct archaeological digs in that region of the galaxy in millions of years, they will know us "Ancients" were cool and froody individuals by the amount of towels they unearth and the vast number of ancient distilleries and race tracks they find.

Archaeologist 4³: "Two Squared, we believe we have discovered the final resting place of one of the Ancients!"
Archaeologist 2²: "Are you sure, Four Cubed?"
Archaeologist 4³: "We are decoding the inscription on the memorial now, but the statue above it is of a being that resembles what we believe the Ancients to have looked like. It is wearing a towel and holding a bottle aloft as if saluting or toasting."
Archaeologist 2²: "Could it really be? It must be! What does the inscription say?"
Archaeologist 4³: "Much of it was been worn away by the elements over time. All we could make out is...Here lies the Stolian Q. Master Craftsman, philanthropist, distiller, hack writer, crazy motherfu...all the rest is worn away."

[Golden Knight]

Nightlock:

Extremely unlike because you think those numbers are reliable. For instance you think that the image was extracted from copious amounts of reliable data by an algorithm that you think is proven to be effective. That the instruments that gathered the data have been proven reliable. As for the statistic you think the same thing.

I think differently, for if however it is not proven reliable, that the data is not reliable, that the algorithm is not reliable. For someone or some people would have come up with the algorithm, which they could have designed based on faulty reasoning or ideas.

The instruments work as expected, but just course they work as expected does not mean they are correct. Just because they agree with other instruments does not mean they are correct.

There are certain aspects of science I no longer agree with, but not all of science.

There is no need to be sorry, for I am now interested in something that holds much more excitement for me, the evangel, also known as the gospel. Going more into that would be off topic. However the experiences I have had lead me to believe that the future for me will be exciting, and it will start very soon.

Qray:

Yes it is different now, as we are taught more about certain aspects of science that are questionable to say the least.

Qray this is Our Legacy:

Over fishing

Slaughtering of Animals in the wild until there extinct

Destruction of the forests

Mass pollution of the planet

[Qray]

I can't recall a single fish that I've overed, animal species I've extinguished (though the Red Squirrels are on my list. YOU HEAR THAT SQUIRRELS! I'M ON TO YOU!), forest I've destroyed and my carbon footprint is a lot lower than yours.

Humans haven't always been the best stewards of the planet, but in many respects, there has been a vast improvement over the years. The Gray Wolves, Brown Pelicans, and Yellowstone Grizzlies were all on the endangered list and now are all either off, or due to be delisted. In the U.S., 735 species of plants and 496 species of animals are listed as threatened or endangered, but of these species 266 have recovery plans currently under development. The Endangered Species Act as a whole has been quite successful in its mission of halting the decline of endangered and threatened species. Around 64% of mammal species and 68% of bird species listed in 1973 were classified as "improving and stable" by 1994. Still, a lot of work to do, but we're headed in the right direction.

As for the planets out there, there has always been a debate over the fact that as a species, we may not be ready to inhabit other planets. Some point to the poor stewardship of Earth as proof, while others say that expanding out into space will in fact benefit Earth as it will decrease over population and the need to harvest resources here. I personally am of the second opinion. and add to that a belief that settling a new world will offer the benefit of hindsight and a structured method that will preclude destroying the ecology and/or environment of said planet.

[nightlock]

I agree Q, though I do not think we're quite ready yet. Not just yet.

[Qray]

I agree. We're not. I haven't completed writing my Tenants of Stolism yet.

And...you know...no space ships that can transport us beyond the Solar System.

Plus, yeah, we as a species might not be ready. You know what I heard recently on the news? They think that the reason for the decline in Honey Bees in the U.S. (which are needed to pollinate plants and you know, make stuff grow,) is due to the introduction of European Honey Bees to the U.S.

They suspect the European Bees have some diseases that don't hurt them, but are deadly to American Honey Bees.

Seriously, how many times do humans have to introduce a non-native species to an area and have it all go sideways before they realize that they shouldn't be messing with it? Humans think they know better, but most times they don't.

[nightlock]

I've noticed that this often happens more often with transplanted European species than any other. European humans invaded and decimated native territories across America, Australia and Africa. European rabbits and sheep are eating away Australian grass, and now European Bees are using bio-weapons of mass bee-struction in North America. Us Europeans are just conquerors by nature... muahaha!

Anyway, I mostly meant the Tenants of Stolism. How have we even survived this long without it?

[who me]

and that is why we should move them to other planets as quickly as possible.

[Qray]

??? Move the bees to other planets?

I've noticed that this often happens more often with transplanted European species than any other. European humans invaded and decimated native territories across America, Australia and Africa. European rabbits and sheep are eating away Australian grass, and now European Bees are using bio-weapons of mass bee-struction in North America. Us Europeans are just conquerors by nature... muahaha!

Anyway, I mostly meant the Tenants of Stolism. How have we even survived this long without it?

I think you could apply that observation to all of humanity in one respect or another. Look at the history of Japan or China. Look at Genghis Khan. The Egyptians of Pharonic times. The Mayans or Incas of South America. The constant tribal warfare in Africa. Man is just one coveting mudder trucker. Always looking over the fence and saying "Man, they got some nice grass over there. I want it!"

Europe just has gotten the most press in the last centuries as they've been the best at it, but heed my warning, the invasion of European bees will not go unanswered. America has always been slow to respond in times of war. WWI, WWII, man it took years before America finally decided to intercede. Up until the end of WWII, America was content to remain isolationistic. Letting the nations of Europe and the rest of the World beat up on each other. Not our business. Not our concern. However, once we got off of our isolationistic butts...Sargent York and Hiroshima, baby!

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the legendary military mind behind Pearl Harbor famously stated after the attack "I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant." Which is what those palmy gits, the European bees, have done. They have earned the wrath of the American bees and awoken a sleeping giant. Or rather, a sleeping bear. Once the Browns, Blacks, and Grizzlies are done hibernating, the American bees are going to say to them. "Sup. Hey, you know that honey of ours you like? Well, some Euro trash bees have moved in and are wiping us out. Which will mean no more honey. Peace out, Home Bear."

Man, them bears are going to go MEDIEVAL! They're going to get all Chuck Norris on them bees. Just like they do with Salmon poachers.



As for the Tenants of Stolism...I know, right? I'm sure centuries or millenia from now, the history books will classify the time in history before the creation of the Tenants of Stolism as the "Dark Epoch."

[Asp Zelazny]

This concerns me. How, I ask, are people who are renting from or occupying the lands of this "Stolism" place going to create such a new enlightened epoch? I mean, tenant farmers never did very well. Do you really think that the rents charged will be sufficient to guide the world to a better time? If so, how are they going to pay that much? I do not, on the face of it, oppose this concept but it must be thought through very carefully or this will go the way of all the other Back to the Bottle movements.

[nightlock]

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, the legendary military mind behind Pearl Harbor famously stated after the attack "I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant." Which is what those palmy gits, the European bees, have done. They have earned the wrath of the American bees and awoken a sleeping giant. Or rather, a sleeping bear. Once the Browns, Blacks, and Grizzlies are done hibernating, the American bees are going to say to them. "Sup. Hey, you know that honey of ours you like? Well, some Euro trash bees have moved in and are wiping us out. Which will mean no more honey. Peace out, Home Bear."

Man, them bears are going to go MEDIEVAL! They're going to get all Chuck Norris on them bees. Just like they do with Salmon poachers.

I won't be long before the European bees remember how we do that *beep* in our colonies, and begin taking over American hives and force them to work for pittance while they send 90% of their honey harvest to the wealthy Europeans. The mongols slaughtered, the Europeans simply recruited more workers.

[Qray]

...this concept but it must be thought through very carefully or this will go the way of all the other Back to the Bottle movements.

The Bottle has always been there. The Bottle has not left. So it's not so much a return to the Bottle as it is a re-envisioning of the Bottle. A way to bring the Bottle to all. Now I know some people might say this is just Revisionist Bottle thinking, but the Tenants will run deeper than that. Also, one has to remember, these will be the Tenants for living on the new Planets we'll colonize. It will take time for these Tenants to take root in the new frontier before they return ten times as strong to Earth and show all the Way. Ushering in the new golden age that future alien space faring species will uncover the remains of and marvel at the froodiness of. Knowing us "Ancients" really knew where our towels were at.

I won't be long before the European bees remember how we do that *beep* in our colonies, and begin taking over American hives and force them to work for pittance while they send 90% of their honey harvest to the wealthy Europeans. The mongols slaughtered, the Europeans simply recruited more workers.

True, but if we're going to revisit history for examples, we must also remember what happened when Europeans tried that smeg back in the late 1700's. Man, the supposed number one army in the World at the time got their red coated butts handed to them by what they considered inconsiderate hillbilly moonshiners and miscreants with the aide of the French.

I mean, come on...the FRENCH!

[nightlock]

I mean, come on...the FRENCH!

I'm not sure when Americans got the impression that the French are pushovers, they are assuredly not, especially not in the 1700's when Napoleon was hopping about. Also bear in mind that the British at that point were bound in conflict across the world, not just Americ a (somehow this historical talk seems offtopic in the 'headlines' thread.... eh, must be me).

Since then we've begun experimenting with a slightly less in your face method of workforce recruitment by allowing the Americans to choose their own "leaders". You seem not to have caught on yet.

At the moment the bees are still at the, oops we brought small pox to the natives stage of recruitment, but they'll learn soon enough.