I'm incredibly optimistic about what technology can do for humanity, and hope that humanity will eventually realize the potential it's sitting on. I dream that the Internet could really be the source of another renaissance, only instead of the slow propagation of books published in old Gutenberg-style presses, the enlightenment and development of our world would happen quickly.
Tonight I stood in the back yard and watched as a rocket fired off into space. The launched happened 65 miles away, and I could see it in the night sky until about the time it reach 40 miles above the surface of the earth. It's not the first launch I've seen (with one other here, plus the strange coincidence of three shuttle launches while visiting in previous years), but it's still remarkable no matter what. And that's not even being close to the cape!
Humanity put a very heavy object into space today, and that's awesome.
But the news headlines today, excuse me, the "breaking news," was that Justin Bieber, a marginally talented singer and child star, was arrested on DUI charges. This is the same guy who has recently been caught urinating in public places and saying really stupid things on the Internet about Anne Frank. Don't pull "the media" bullshit over this either, because the idiots occupying the space previously held by journalists are only serving up the nonsense people want.
This makes me sad, and it certainly tempers my optimism. I'm not suggesting people can't have fun and be entertained, but American culture at least seems to be obsessed with being the opposite of engaged and knowledgable about the world around us. Again, we live in an era where you can find out almost anything instantly, with a device you keep in your pocket. You might have to validate it across many sources, but knowledge is there.
I think I remain optimistic because the alternative is too depressing to consider.
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