We presume that whatever intelligent life might exist to intercept Voyager’s record as it flies through the frozen wastes of interstellar space on the other side of our solar system, will possess a record player on which to listen to it—our audio technological height at the time of its launch. We presume that future human beings will want to know the exact date and time of the dedication of a dam in the desert, even if it has long turned dry. We presume that our descendants will not know to stay away from a diseased mountain, but will know to seek out a different one, in the top of which resides a clock, surrounded by a silent plain of wild rosemary. No one will know it is there. But it will continue to count out its time, even if no human being ever bears witness to its toll.

One of the founders of the Long Now Foundation is Stewart Brand, best known as editor of the "Whole Earth Catalog" back in 60's-70's. Brand is an advocate of nuclear power. I wonder how he can possibly square a long-term perspective with the long-term hazard of nuclear waste.

posted 3174 days ago