Soylent Green

[Hairy Jim DeGriz]

The movie Soylent Green, released in 1973, is set in the year 2022.
And all we have is Beyond Meat.

The movie is based on the book Make Room! Make Room! written in 1966 by Harry Harrison which was set in 1999, sans cannibalism*

*according to Wikipedia, (it's been a few years since I read it.)

 

[willtron3030]

Well, I'm not nearly as disappointed in Soylent Green's 2022 not having come to pass as I am Bladerunner's 1999. Or Space 1999's 1999, for that matter.

 

[Hairy Jim DeGriz]

Well, I'm not nearly as disappointed in Soylent Green's 2022 not having come to pass as I am Bladerunner's 1999. Or Space 1999's 1999, for that matter.

As my friend says "We live in a post science fiction toilet, all the good stuff got flushed."

 

[Grav_Moped]

“The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed."
- William Gibson

 

[Condottiere]

Recycling

 

[willtron3030]

That poster is Saul Bass quality, if it isn't actually Saul Bass.

And yeah... there's a weird blurry line between cannibalism and recycling. Obviously, the Donner party and Uraguayan Flight 571 are on one side of that line. But after composting, planting and harvesting? other side of the line. If Soylent Industries liquefies the "feedstock", and uses it it to feed algae or yeast tanks, does that make it acceptable?

It would be nice if my last act was to bring a little light into a stranger's life, but sadly, the local trash-to-energy plant doesn't take meat or other food waste... so my end-of-life wishes can be summarized in one sentence: Bulky trash pick-up is on Thursday mornings.

 

[Spinward Flow]

An Exotic Cookbook
"How To Serve Man"
<Right Click To Read>

Spoiler:

1. Get one or eight man
2. Hit man hard
3. Hit man more
4. Put man in fire
5. Eat man

Some World of Warcraft in-joke easter eggs were better than others.

 

[whartung]

Well, I'm just grateful for Sarah Conner and her works.

 

[Condottiere]

Going by Dune and Tank Girl, we're also a water oasis, not just tenderloin.

 

[aramis]

The movie Soylent Green, released in 1973, is set in the year 2022.
And all we have is Beyond Meat.

The movie is based on the book Make Room! Make Room! written in 1966 by Harry Harrison which was set in 1999, sans cannibalism*

*according to Wikipedia, (it's been a few years since I read it.)

We also have (in some states) the ability to have our bodies composted. (Saw a funeral director/undertaker on You Tube talking about it.)

 

[coliver988]

and you can always go to a forensics farm: https://www.talkdeath.com/forensic-body-farms/

 

[Timerover51]

Somewhat of a "gallows humor" discussion considering that a fair number of the forum is past the half-century mark. I already have my spot reserve at the Ft. Sheridan cemetery, where my son is buried. One of these days I need to write down some funeral instructions regarding music to be played. Amazing Grace played by a piper is one of them.

 

[whartung]

One of these days I need to write down some funeral instructions regarding music to be played.

Having buried both of my parents with zip as far as estate planning, do your friends and loved ones a favor and plan the whole thing as best you can.

 

[coliver988]

Having buried both of my parents with zip as far as estate planning, do your friends and loved ones a favor and plan the whole thing as best you can.

My mother had everything planned out, so it was straightforward. My father, not so much. I need to do the same, though pretty sure I may end up in the forensics farm after anything useful is taken out. Hopefully someone can get some use out of me eventually!

And yeah, when I hit 50 several years back, I realized I was more than likely more than halfway done. It was a sobering thought. Though I've handled the financial side of things for the most part so things should be automatically taken care of, actual funeral planning, nope. Keep putting that off as it is difficult to face your own eventual demise.

 

[whartung]

You only need to clear out a couple of houses filled with "junk" to make one reconsider their own "collections" and such. Not looking for "Swedish Death Cleaning", but I like to highlight that if you have collected anything that you value, as a collection, if behooves you to strive to ensure that it's dealt with properly, otherwise if can very well end up in a land fill.

I hang out on vintage computer forums, and some of these folks collections of old mini computers and cabinets and what not, relatives are unlikely to process them well without instructions. It's better to no process them at all.

I remember selling a couple of beds from my Grandfathers house for, like, $50 each. My father was unhappy, as he felt that they were some kind of antique (they probably were). But this is what happens when matters are delegated handled by ignorant people. I looked at it as one less thing I had to cram in a van and put into storage. "$50? It's yours!"

 

[willtron3030]

Oh, we are in deep memento mori territory here. I am only now, 29 years later, going through a cabinet full of memorabilia that belonged to my mother and asking, "This holds no meaning for me, other than that it meant something to her. Does this in any way add value to my life or facilitate fond memories of her?" If the answer is no, I'm offering it to siblings and if there is no interest, it gets disposed of in some way.

 

[willtron3030]

Steering back to general Traveller discussion, wouldn't settlements in hostile environments where CHNOPS is in short supply tend to have strong social and cultural pressures to recycle all organic material? The 'burial in space' trope seems... wasteful.

 

[Condottiere]

Probably dependent on energy availability, which in our case at technological level eight, is the first step to practically limitless.

 

[Spinward Flow]

The 'burial in space' trope seems... wasteful.

It's just the spacer equivalent to burials at sea ... which make sense for a wet navy (and especially for low tech ones).

Space is a MUCH harsher and austere environment than any salt water ocean.
So yes, depending on the environment and culture, maximum recycling may be an imperative.

For those who like precedents ... just think about the Fremen of Dune and the way they reclaim water "for the tribe" from their dead.
Why? Because water is PRECIOUS to them as well as being absolutely essential for survival.

 

[Hairy Jim DeGriz]

This took an unexpected turn. But yes, don't die without a will, and if you have some unusual mementos, figure out who would like to have it and bequeath those antique computers, beds, books, HO Trains to someone specific. And have a plan B if the recipient checks out before you do. I've tried to interest my four sons in my tools, my cookware, and my Traveller books, to no avail... yet. They're going to fight over the D&D Books.