На днях закончился научно-фантастический сериал Expanse по серии книг Джеймса Кори. Я не читал книги, но сериал посмотрел с удовольствием.
По сюжету недалёкое будущее, на Земле адское перенаселение, и бОльшая часть людей живёт на пособие по безработице, потому что их банально нечем занять. Но живут не бедно, вполне в достатке. Другие две части человечества колонизировали Марс и пояс астероидов. Марсиане вынуждены были в суровых условиях выживать и терраформировать планету, поэтому стали мощной военной технократией и опередили в своих технологиях Землю. «Астеры» же влачат тяжёлое и вредное для организма (из-за низкой гравитации) существование на космических станциях и кораблях, занимаясь в основном шахтерскими работами и пиратством. В центре этого политического замеса одна девушка полуслучайно натыкается на инопланетную субстанцию, начинается сюжет.
Несмотря на упоминание инопланетян, сериал вполне взрослый и серьезный. Мне очень нравится, что автор не углубился в каноничные для космоопер упрощающие жизнь концепции. В Expanse нет искусственной гравитации: на станциях она создаётся вращением, на кораблях — ускорением и торможением, а люди носят электромагнитную обувь. Ещё тут нет гипердвигателя, поэтому люди не вышли за пределы Солнечной Системы, а внутри перелёты занимают недели и месяцы. Конкретно в сериале ещё и почти смело показано отсутствие звука в космосе: он, конечно, есть, но подаётся нам как бы из ушей членов экипажа. Внутри корабля ты услышишь выстрел из ракетницы, но смачных взрывов и шума реактивных струй в вакууме практически нет. При этом космические бои и физика движения кораблей переданы очень реалистично, а не как в Звёздных Войнах, где корабли это будто самолёты в атмосфере. Ну и да, никаких лазеров, из оружия снаряды, ракеты и рельсовые пушки. А связь со скоростью света с соответствующими задержками.
Стремление авторов не развлекать народ цветной жвачкой сыграло с ними злую шутку: сериал чуть было не закрыли из-за недостаточной аудитории. Но его выкупил Amazon — по слухам сам Джефф Безос был фанатом. Прикиньте, смотрите вы сериал, и тут услышали новости о его закрытии. Поднимаете трубку и покупаете сериал, чтобы продлить съёмки.
Впрочем, авторам не удалось нормально закрыть все сюжетные линии, а события, происходившие в первом сезоне, связаны с событиями из последнего сезона очень косвенно. И тем не менее, в современном мире это редкий образец умной и взрослой научной фантастики, почти не идущей на компромиссы.
#fiction
On what to save
As times get interesting, we should consider what we should keep in the worst case:
A good rule of thumb when it comes to saving something is will you be able to use it 10 years after a possible disaster.
That's not to say all electronics should be forgotten or you shouldn't try to save anything. Batteries, small devices may be valuable in the intermediate aftermath.
Hand driven or solar radios are a good choice, microwaves are not.
#survival
@EuropeanTribalism
On fire
There is an easy way of making a quite effective camp fire: the Dacota Fire Hole.
Dig a hole around 30cm deep and also dig an air hole connected to it. Place dry wood into the hole and start a fire with an approach of your choice. Matches and lighters are okay.
The growing fire will pull needed oxygen through the secondary hole but will be resistant to wind.
Place any pots or objects to heat above the hole with the fire.
#survival
@EuropeanTribalism
On growing plants
In Nahuatl, the old language of the Quiche-Maya, there is the term 'milpa'. It defines an agricultural system, which uses the symbiosis of three plants: corn, beans and pumpkins.
The corn plants support the beans growing up, the beans support the corn plants by supplying nitrogen and the pumpkin prevents the soil from drying out with its big leaves.
This setup is also known as 'the Three Sisters'.
We will try out this system this year and I will share the results with you.
#survival
@EuropeanTribalism
On gardening
We are rapidly approaching spring, with only February ahead!
I want to remind you that it is time to think about your gardening plans for the coming season!
The first plants need to be sowed next month!
This is going to be an essential year for us, so try to be as independent on food as possible!
#survival
@EuropeanTribalism
On 'Foodscaping'
This is called 'Foodscaping':
Each yard has a vegetable garden with fruit trees. Neighbours consult with each other so they can trade the food which is grown.
Imagine if people did this everywhere!
#survival
@EuropeanTribalism
On the most basic survival rule
Always remember, that you will survive:
~ 3 hours in extreme cold
~ 3 days without water
~ 3 weeks without food
Prepare accordingly!
Is your heating running and backed up?
Do you have fresh water supplies?
Do you have food supplies for some time?
Something will come, be prepared!
#survival
@EuropeanTribalism
On preparations (2)
You don't have to be completely self-sufficient. Almost no one truly is.
However, having at least SOME food independence is hugely valuable, even if it's ONLY some carrots and tomatoes growing in your back garden.
A huge amount of the government's power comes from controlling the food supply, which is why Communists always attack that first.
If every individual could feed themselves and their family for a week, then the government is weak.
If everyone could feed themselves for a month, then the government is afraid, because a month is more than enough time to annihilate a government in.
If everyone can feed themselves indefinitely, the government is powerless and at your mercy.
Again: you DON'T have to be completely independent or even come close to it. Just having enough growing in your garden to feed yourself for a week or two is already an advantage. So focus on that. One week. Then two.
Take it easy and manage your energy but don't do nothing.
#survival
@EuropeanTribalism
On backups
We live in a quite rural area. Around 6.00AM this morning there was a blackout which was fixed around 5.00PM.
Luckily we have several combustion ovens in our house, which work quite decent for cooking.
Combined with a Dutch Oven, we had a decent lunch: chicken and vegetables.
What do I want to tell you is the following: do not take electricity for granted! Make backup plans or just think about what you need in case of a blackout.
These three questions should be answered first:
- Can I provide clean water without electricity?
- Can I cook without electricity?
- Can I heat my living space without electricity?
If you answer any of those questions with 'no', be aware that you might be among the first to die in a real blackout scenario.
#survival
@EuropeanTribalism
Take a look at the recent statistics of sunspots!
The implications are, that we will soon enter a period of cold. Draw your conclusions: the availability of food will decrease.
Prepare yourselves with local projects, such as gardens with your own food, community gardens or cooperations with farmers!
#survival
Get your hands on one of those! They are silent, ammunition is reusable, you children cannot hurt you or themselves and they are (mostly) freely available.
#survival
@EuropeanTribalism
🍿 'Last Breath': The Underwater Thriller That Will Leave You Breathless in 2025
📆Release: February 28, 2025
🎭Genre: #Thriller · #Survival
🎟 If the Netflix documentary Last Breath left me in awe, its cinematic adaptation is set to bring this incredible true story to life once again. 😱 Finn Cole (Peaky Blinders) stars as Chris Lemons, a diver stranded in the depths of the North Sea with only minutes of oxygen. Meanwhile, Woody Harrelson (True Detective) and Simu Liu (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) lead a nail-biting race against time to save him. ⏳
The most intriguing part? The documentary's (available on Netflix 📺) director, Alex Parkinson, helms the film, ensuring the authenticity and tension of the original story remain intact.