"thunder" wrote in message
...


It has often been said that, if the human species fails to make a go
of it here on Earth, some other species will take over the running.
In
the sense of developing high intelligence this is not correct. We
have, or soon will have, exhausted the necessary physical
prerequisites so far as this planet is concerned. With coal gone,
oil
gone, high-grade metallic ores gone, no species however competent
can
make the long climb from primitive conditions to high-level
technology. This is a one-shot affair. If we fail, this planetary
system fails so far as intelligence is concerned. The same will be
true of other planetary systems. On each of them there will be one
chance, and one chance only. (Hoyle, 1964)

Fred Hoyle was an astronomer and SF author. He didn't know jack about
why intelligence and self awareness arises. It certainly happened to man
long before the impact of available resources would have been felt. Was
socrates not highly intelligent?

High Intelligence is not the same as technology. For example, who is to
say a technology based on ceramics isn't possible? And all those metals
are still here. Our followers could mine cities and landfills and
junkyards.

More blather from someone liking the sound of his own voice.

del

On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 18:00:07 -0500, "Del Cecchi"
wrote:


"thunder" wrote in message
...


It has often been said that, if the human species fails to make a go
of it here on Earth, some other species will take over the running.
In
the sense of developing high intelligence this is not correct. We
have, or soon will have, exhausted the necessary physical
prerequisites so far as this planet is concerned. With coal gone,
oil
gone, high-grade metallic ores gone, no species however competent
can
make the long climb from primitive conditions to high-level
technology. This is a one-shot affair. If we fail, this planetary
system fails so far as intelligence is concerned. The same will be
true of other planetary systems. On each of them there will be one
chance, and one chance only. (Hoyle, 1964)

Fred Hoyle was an astronomer and SF author. He didn't know jack about
why intelligence and self awareness arises. It certainly happened to man
long before the impact of available resources would have been felt. Was
socrates not highly intelligent?

High Intelligence is not the same as technology. For example, who is to
say a technology based on ceramics isn't possible? And all those metals
are still here. Our followers could mine cities and landfills and
junkyards.

More blather from someone liking the sound of his own voice.

Ellison did a great story about that, but I can't remember the name.

There has been a number of scifi themed stories along these lines in
fact - mining dumps and stuff - quite intriguing.

Personally, I think we need to find new frontiers to send all these
folks who want to impose their own brand of rule on others. Like
maybe Mars for starters. Let them pray to their spirit leader of
choice while they are terraforming the planet.

Hell, let's start Moon colony's - each bubble can be a different
faction and they can either win or die.

Make it tough for 'em. :)

On Sat, 13 Aug 2005 18:00:07 -0500, Del Cecchi wrote:


"thunder" wrote in message
...


It has often been said that, if the human species fails to make a go
of it here on Earth, some other species will take over the running.
In
the sense of developing high intelligence this is not correct. We
have, or soon will have, exhausted the necessary physical
prerequisites so far as this planet is concerned. With coal gone,
oil
gone, high-grade metallic ores gone, no species however competent
can
make the long climb from primitive conditions to high-level
technology. This is a one-shot affair. If we fail, this planetary
system fails so far as intelligence is concerned. The same will be
true of other planetary systems. On each of them there will be one
chance, and one chance only. (Hoyle, 1964)

Fred Hoyle was an astronomer and SF author. He didn't know jack about why
intelligence and self awareness arises. It certainly happened to man long
before the impact of available resources would have been felt. Was
socrates not highly intelligent?

High Intelligence is not the same as technology. For example, who is to
say a technology based on ceramics isn't possible? And all those metals
are still here. Our followers could mine cities and landfills and
junkyards.

More blather from someone liking the sound of his own voice.

del

One of man's special gifts is the ability to contemplate a future. Ignore
that gift at your will.

Del Cecchi wrote:
Fred Hoyle was an astronomer and SF author. He didn't know jack about
why intelligence and self awareness arises. It certainly happened to man
long before the impact of available resources would have been felt. Was
socrates not highly intelligent?

You totally missed the point.


More blather from someone liking the sound of his own voice.


Translation: "I don't know what this guy was talking about and his
intelligent statements annoy me."

DSK