• TranscendentalEmpire@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    Oh yeah, let’s build our infrastructure project based on tech that requires a large amount of helium. You know, that element that is extremely hard to store and transport. Yes, the one that’s already scarce and is required for vastly more important technologies.

    I don’t see what the problem is, it’s not like helium production is a byproduct of an energy sector were trying to rapidly divest from…

    • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      They should just use hydrogen… you won’t even have to worry about recovering anything if there is an accident.

    • rottingleaf@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      It seems today’s pattern in general. Such projects go for something hardly achievable, don’t achieve it, give us all that feeling of passive frustration, and divert attention.

      I think it’s about hijacking discourse.

      There are plenty of places on the planet which could use additional electricity, water, wired connectivity, normal roads. Or, say, security from armed apes with UN membership, like Azerbaijan.

      It’s just that we’ve reached the stage where further development changes the balance of power.

      • TranscendentalEmpire@lemm.ee
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        2 months ago

        seems today’s pattern in general. Such projects go for something hardly achievable, don’t achieve it, give us all that feeling of passive frustration, and divert attention.

        I think it’s kinda a byproduct of venture capital funding. With the Fed prioritizing low interest rates for the last decade, investors are a lot more willing to stick their money in yolo financial schemes.

        There are plenty of places on the planet which could use additional electricity, water, wired connectivity, normal roads.

        Pssh, why build physical things when you can just gamble on things like virtual currency, virtual intellect, or even virtual reality… /s

        Or, say, security from armed apes with UN membership, like Azerbaijan.

        Lesser Armenia has really flown off the handle lately. I don’t really know why they have UN membership, Azerbaijan is basically “what if the Saudi tried to build Singapore on the Caspian sea”.

        • rottingleaf@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Pssh, why build physical things when you can just gamble on things like virtual currency, virtual intellect, or even virtual reality… /s

          … But someone will consistently collect money of real value if they have influence on the discourse making people flock the way they want.

          Lesser Armenia has really flown off the handle lately. I don’t really know why they have UN membership, Azerbaijan is basically “what if the Saudi tried to build Singapore on the Caspian sea”.

          With some KGB flavor, but yes, I was going to argue Saudis are not that bad, then remembered Hashoggi, al-Qaeda, ISIS, Yemen, the whole sharia state thing, and decided that the metaphor is fine.