Most species capable of forming an opinion on the subject had a pretty high opinion of themselves, and most individuals in such species tended to think it was a matter of some considerable importance whether they personally survived or not. Faced with the inevitable struggles and iniquities attendant upon a primitive life, it could be argued that it was an either very gloomy, unimaginative, breathtakingly stoic or just plain dim species that didn’t come up with the idea that what could feel like an appallingly short, brutal and terrifying life was somehow not all there was to existence, and that a better one awaited them, personally and collectively – allowing for certain eligibility requirements – after death.

– excerpt from Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks. RIP, Mr. Banks.

There’s some county-owned parkland in my city. It’s not much, just some gently rolling hills with a few lightly-worn walking paths and occasional rocky bits, but it’s nice. It’s usually quiet but for the sound of the wind and the distant muted roar of freeway traffic. During the few months each year when the weather relents and we’re graced with warm sunshine, it’s a great place to clear your mind with an easy hike.

I come up here occasionally, to the back half of the hills, where a handful of old buildings sit, mostly worn down and sagging from age and neglect. The buildings aren’t why I come. I come for the butterfly tree.

There’s really nothing particularly special about this tree. It’s just a tree like any other. I don’t even have a photo of it. But it’s pretty, and during the summer it’s usually host to a rabble of butterflies. There’s a small wooden bench a few dozen feet from its base, where I come to sit and relax in the sunshine and breeze. Sometimes I have a book with me, sometimes I have nothing but the butterflies and trees and clouds to watch. And it’s peaceful.

Except now there’s a massive construction project going right through it. The freeway is being extended, rebuilt, redirected, and its new path will take it past here. One of the old buildings will be preserved, the others will be razed. Presumably the giant tree will be left, though separated from the rolling hills and walking paths by a swath of concrete and steel. On my walk out to the hills yesterday, I was blocked by this sight.

And thus my favorite place to sit and clear my head of all the random thoughts of the day is worse than gone: it’s unreachable.

There are similar benches elsewhere on the hills, but none quite like the one under the butterfly tree. The one I can’t get to anymore.

A thought I just had:

Work weighs more heavily upon our souls than life does; therefore to have a true work/life balance, you need to have more life than work.

Wanted to capture this series of tweets by @sargoth in regards to a post-work society, where our lives aren’t based on and determined by our capability to find and consistently do work.

She continues:

I wonder how many would keep working after the maximum wage limit had been reached. #

The implicit critique of the contemporary labor market found in the last tweet. It astounds, even as it flabbergasts. #

Let’s see. What’s the motto of the labor market as we know it? #

“You work or you die. This has to be, as no one would work if their survival didn’t depend on their working.” #

Funny how work is a right, a duty and a necessity, all three in one. #

“You are free to work if you want, but if you don’t want we will use symbolic violence on your ass until you do.” #

I’m not sure this is a crowning achievement when it comes to sustainable societal designs. #

What’s the reason behind this insistance that everyone absolutely must Have A Job? #

Surely it can’t be because there’s a lack of things in the world. On the contrary – the world has more stuff than the economy can handle! #

If one wanted to improve the moral character of everyone, then one could surely devise a scheme less roundabout than a labor market. #

I have this nagging suspicion that it might have to do with class. #

Imagine class in a society which is not based on everyone working. #

One would have to revamp the structure of social stratification. Find new ways to make it clear to everyone that some are more than others. #

This would – as you are right to point out – include somewhat of a change. And change never comes easy to those who would lose from it. #

We have the technology, production capabilities and the distribution mechanisms in place. A post-work society can be done. #

It’s funny how it’s not the massive unemployment in the West that’s causing the economic crisis. Funny, and quite telling. #

I somehow can’t imagine David Cameron speaking to the people, saying that we must all work to fill this year’s quota of Abstract Work. #

Not any particular work. Just work in the abstract, general sense of something being done in a workplace. #

Cameron: as you all know, our new alien overlords will blast our planet to bits if we don’t all contribute to the Work Effort. #

Not quite feeling it. #

But if we’re not working for an externally imposed will that will kill us all if we don’t-then who, what and why? #

Replacing “evil alien overlords” with “the economy” seems somewhat lacking. In general. #

Never before has the gap between what is and what could be been greater. #

If you want proof that ideology is still at work, then casually mention the possibility of a post-work society. It will manifest itself. #

A post-work manifesto. Brought to you by the forces of industrial overproduction, global communications and labor market oversaturation. #

Let’s call it a [/rant]. #

— Johanna Drott, aka @sargoth

Hypothetical question: if all the electrical distribution systems in the world went out right now, and there was no indication they were coming back for a long time (at least weeks, maybe months, perhaps years, if ever), how screwed would you be?

(Full disclosure: yes, this question was inspired by the TV show Revolution, but it’s something I’ve thought about as someone interested in preparedness.)

For the sake of the question, let’s make an assumption here: there’s no magic involved, no conspiracy. Just a massive, worldwide outage of electrical production and distribution systems. Local generators still work, batteries still work, and so on. Just nothing coming from any wall outlet you’ve ever used. Pretend every power plant in the world just shut down – there’s no more public electrical grid to power your home.

Presumably car batteries still work, but they have finite lifespans and probably aren’t up to the task of powering your home. Solar panels would still produce electricity, but as of now they aren’t broadly available to average consumers. They’re an expensive investment that most people aren’t willing or able to make.

No artificial heat or refrigeration. No keeping food fresh in your fridge for weeks, no turning up the thermostat to stay warm, no turning on the air conditioning to stay cool. If you’re in an urban environment, you probably lack the ability or courage to start a fire in your home.

No more computers or automation. Phones will cease to be useful pretty quickly, no matter how smart they may be.

How would you fare?