[Rezwan]

Thanks James!

I’ve joined, and added a link to the website.

What are things we can do to get good use out of this?

[Rezwan]

Yes, that poster is a bit scary. We’ve already got a poster that does that (see attached). These posters capture the essence with just a few words. However, I always find myself explaining, over and over, a lot of the steps that lead up to this poster. I have to explain fission, then DT fusion, then aneutronic, and I have to explain why it’s the extra neutrons that cause the problems, and so forth. It’s not a LOT to explain, but it’s more than just the one image.

Perhaps “poster” is misleading. We need more explanation. A pamphlet, or a comic strip to give more facts and figures, but in an easily digested format.

Aside from education, the goal of this project is to be

…inoculating people against future dirty tricks—like lumping aneutronic fusion together with fission so it can be labeled as too dangerous to use or falsely claiming that it will contribute to nuclear proliferation, etc.

So, to launch a pre-emptive strike against those who would use nuclear fears to squelch aneutronic fusion, we need to get these concepts down to their most distilled, yet still easy to understand, form.

It will take several panels. A sequence.

I’m standing by for your artistic genius!

Attached files

[Rezwan]

As a good girl scout, I think we should be prepared for any eventuality.

That point about handling nuclear fears is important. A pre-emptive strike now to counter nuclear disinformation in the future is a good policy. To that end, help us out with this project.

Brian H wrote: Once the cascade begins, it sweeps the planet. Economics rulz!

Yes, we should also be prepared for a sweeping cascade. For either outcome (overcoming entrenched interests, or cashing in on the cascade), the organizational prep is similar. Building relationships, education, affiliation, outreach, awareness, improving the web platform, clearing property rights issues and logistics. Get Sting to sing “I want my D P F”

[Rezwan]

You guys do wander off topic. [Note, I split part of this thread off to this post.]

Enough speculation about the future, let’s get back to the original reframing issue here.

tcg wrote: In the late 18th century the steam engine was developed as a source of power, and in the late 19th it was used to turn a generator to make electricity. The 20th century brought a new source of heat to boil the water to generate the electricity, nuclear fission. But we are in the 21st century now.

Twenty-first century technology. Isn’t that what we are talking about?

Yes. This is a clear, visual idea to play with. Images of 18th century steam engines, powered by fission. Same old, same old. It’s time to cut out the steam middleman.

That’s an important message, and we need to bring it out, clearly, with strong images and sequences.

[Rezwan]

Elsewhere, someone made a reference to Oprah’s “pseudo-science bias“.

I think the appeal here is to the cosmic. This is cosmic energy – energy of the stars, getting in touch with the rest of the universe. There’s a role here for someone not strictly scientific to yet be supportive. The emphasis is on the social and emotional elements of pursuing fusion, not so much on science. Although not devoid of it.

[Rezwan]

Tulse wrote: Of course, the Big Damn Heroes in Firefly are fighting against (or, more accurately, pulling crimes against) the core planets and their government, which is somewhat oppressive, however pretty the cities are. So again, it may not be a great example.

(And yes, I know way too much about the Firefly ‘verse.)

Impressive! Was that in the DVD extras, or did you have to do some book learning for it?

The Firefly heroes are resisting excessive regulation. The future is bound to be messy. All fusion can do is clean up the environment and provide energy and lots of water and space travel. But come to think of it, moral and status issues will be with us always. Identity, racism, stem cells, clones, artificial implants, modification of people and creatures – attempts to medically alter the psyche, commodification of everything.

“As long as we have each other, we’ll never run out of problems.“

The key here is that we’ll do it in a fascinating, futuristic environment with lots of energy for expansion into the reaches of space, and terraforming and the like. We’re going BEYOND “sustainability” (which means what? Sustaining the present status quo?) to having positive biological diversity impact in the dead of space. Flowers springing up from our footprints. Cosmic aspirations.

Or not. Depends on if we can figure this thing out. And other things. Hours of fun.

[Rezwan]

Fascinating posts. Can someone do us a favor and summarize this (and other posts) – extracting the information and explaining to the broader readership what this is about and how it connects with the project?

[Rezwan]

vansig wrote: no, a satanic death cult is about killing in the name of Satan.

You seem pretty sure about that. Hmmmm.

Could that be the doctrine of The Satanic Death Church, but not the cults? If you’re talking about various satanic death cults (SDC’s) – these may have formed splinter groups and interpret things differently.

I wouldn’t know, of course, having no idea where my nearest SDC center is. Perhaps this is why Cusack wants to establish one.

Yet another thing I’ll never know, and won’t bother to find out.

Back to the topic:

Ivy Matt – but of course! Mr. Burns! And Homer, trying to protect his job at the fission plant. They would certainly have strong opinions on the fusion plant trying to muscle in. FUSION!!!!

[Rezwan]

Yikes. Logan’s run. Good point. Evil planned utopias aren’t the greatest sell.

I’m thinking more like the wonderful scenes from Star Wars. Those were some amazing cities. Clean skies, nature, fantastic architecture. And then the core planets in Firefly. Xenon? Did they actually name the city Xenon. A lot more lively. And Fifth Element. Great artwork. Fun people.

So, not some sterile city, but a city that has a networked society, and lots of cool architecture and progressive infill development : )

Maybe a time lapse. Multiple possibilities.

[Rezwan]

What does that even mean? He’s for erecting a center for a cult of people who want the death of satan? And it’s to be located at Fox, etc? I hate to break it to Cusak, but Satan isn’t slated for death, rather he gets to live forever in a lake of fire. Speaking of a lake of fire, my Dad has always wondered if there was a way to harness the perpetual heat from hell for energy. We’ll need to start a new forum section for “theology of fusion and energy”.

It’s too bad about Cusack. I’m a big fan of his movies, but have previously found his twitters to be boring and shrilly political. All part of his dark, edgy persona, I guess.

And I don’t see any clear connection with Cusack and fusion – wait! There’s the “Igor” movie. We’ll want a clip of Igor flipping the switch one day. So he’s not a total write off : )

In any case, let’s not get off topic here. This post is about comedic approaches to fusion that reframe fusion using humor. Colbert and Stewart are great for that sort of strategic irreverence (especially as ITER & NIF require a bit of irreverence, and an upstart like LPPX could benefit from it.) Another candidate – South Park. That’s more right wing. Would love to see their take on fusion policy.

What we’re looking for here is wake-up-call, call-to-action humor. Constructive, awareness building humor that appreciates the absurdity of the current fusion policy, and helps us relieve anxiety about the enormity of the challenge. Strategic, case building humor, which is distinct from “slam fusion as impossible” ridicule.

[Rezwan]

Ivy Matt wrote: For some reason I’m reminded of this.

Hilarious. I would’ve liked to see a continuation of the rant.

[Rezwan]

Dr_Barnowl wrote: How about a scene of the future… a vast green forest (of young trees) with a gleaming city poking out of the horizon.

There’s a clearing with a camp fire in the middle. An old geezer and his grandson are camping. He’s saying ….

“Of course, when I was a lad, all this was oil derricks and desert… until they built the fusion desalination plant.”

Fusion. Energy to spare for the necessities.

Yes! We need an image of the gleaming city. Anyone have an original gleaming image?

[Rezwan]

Good one! With lots of visuals.

[Rezwan]

Good thing they’re storing it up!

[Rezwan]

Rezwan wrote:

Colbert? The Colbert who just wished “Satan’s Death” on the Tea Party, Glenn Beck, et al? That Colbert? Nice.

Doubtful. Do you have a link to that? Colbert LOVES Glenn Beck. Quotes him all the time.

Here he is, in fact, validating Glenn Beck’s divine credentials. No mention of Satan.

[Author]

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