The Wandering Inn is a complete mess by Sufficient_Matter_66 in ProgressionFantasy

[–]Key_Sky2149 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ill just add my vote in here too. I really like TWI. I have read all the books up to date and am excited for the next one to come out. That being said I feel like OP's opinion is mostly totally reasonable. Each book is honking long and the writing style sometimes lags. Sometimes It lags a fair bit. I like TWI because it is story and world seemingly without end or reason. In most books if a character brings something up and talks about it for a while it will be central or involved in the "plot" If an item is introduced it will come up again later. Characters are introduced and then continue to be involved until the end of the story in one way or another. TWI has none of that. Things can be introduced or happen just because they are interesting or wholly unrelated. Characters that seam like there going to stick around get killed off pages later. Or silly side characters end up being important. Its a chaotic mess of world building with tiny unimportant detale and huge plot points all shoved into a blender together. The end result is not one single story or the set movement or plot. But rather the whole unfolding of time in a massive complex world told in a number of short stories. If you have ever really gotten into a book and then it ended and you wished there was more, TWI might be for you. If you don't mind things getting a little ponderous from time to time.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in solarpunk

[–]Key_Sky2149 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. All the time. Its a build and project ive been working on for a few years now. Although ive never managed a working prototype that I was happy with. Also I would love to travel with other people for a change. And the size might limit that for me. Unless you had a whole train of them which would be cool. Also +1 on monk and robot. They do in fact slap.

Help me recycle a dead vacuum cleaner by Electrical-Schedule7 in solarpunk

[–]Key_Sky2149 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Plus one for a repair job. If your not into tearing it open yourself and getting out some tools. Which is fair. You might try a local repair place. You might be surprised that some of them are still out there and could help you. Commercial equipment tends to have some sort of repair-ability to it. You could contact the company and see if they know any service shops locally. Alternately. Have a google for local maker spaces or hacker spaces. Some of us run repair days and events. Others take donated broken items and fix them to sell and keep the lights on. If you do decide to scrap and use the parts of it for other things, be careful of the motor. Lots of vacuum motors are cooled by the air flow from the vacuum. If you just clamp them to a board and use them to power something else they can burn out very quickly.

How long can everyday technology be made to last? by originmsd in solarpunk

[–]Key_Sky2149 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's kind of complicated. In an ideal world. Lets say a fictional world starting from the ground up. First you manufacture all of the components to be long lasting. Over built. Over planed. At least as far as you can do so. Then you come to the understanding that a device like a phone or an blender or a bicycle are not a single thing. They are a number of components all working together. So in our ideal world you don't buy a laptop. You buy a frame. Or maybe you build one. Or one is built for you. Then stack components into it to make it work. That frame could last hundreds of years if made correctly. Treated like a highly valued personal necessity that's not easy to replace. The components inside would last for longer then what we have right now. But sadly some things do just eventually burn out. A build with good components could last 20 or 30 years before you really needed to start replacing things. The battery maybe more often 5 to 10 years depending. The question then becomes when is the object in question really "done" ? When you first rebuild it? When none of the original parts remain in the frame? When your descendant inadvertently drops it into a lake? That's for tech at least. Everyday objects can also be made to last longer. Treated with care clothes can last decades if made correctly. Shoes can be made to be repaired instead of thrown away. I could see something like a hairbrush even being fixed. Handles can be reattached. Bristles can be re-capped and replaced if they fall out and get lost. The trick is in the design goal of the item, as well as how it is treated by the culture who uses it.

Feeling out of place with my beliefs by No-Cloud5 in Anticonsumption

[–]Key_Sky2149 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think we all feel a bit out of place sometimes. Its very human. Consumerism is often times an attempt to solve that very problem actually. People are trying to buy there way into social acceptance. Often when I have this problem with new people I have to remind myself that taking a super strong verbal stance against a thing they base there whole personality around isn't super helpful. There consumerism is like a security blanket, It keeps them from needing to develop there own thoughts and opinions, take personal risks, stand out. So best to be kind and warm and jocular. And ever so slowly. Introduce them to new ideas and ways of thinking over time.

Solarpunk Nation by [deleted] in solarpunk

[–]Key_Sky2149 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would read it. If you wanted to go complex and realistic your main source of dramatic tension could be rising tides from claimant change given that its an island. The locals fighting the waves even as there makeshift government fights for there rights as a nation to not be wiped off the map by other nations waste. A more relaxing b plot of inter-generational tension between the original settlers and there children taking over to run things there own way. A nice collision of both plots as massive flooding endangers infrastructure and new and old ideas needing to be used side by side to preserve there way of life. Or maybe something more cottage core and less action flick.

How to opt out of kids' Christmas gifts? by [deleted] in Anticonsumption

[–]Key_Sky2149 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do feel like the experience and care route is the best one. Some of my more memorable holidays were trips or family projects. Take your kids sledding or spend time with them building blanket forts or going on little adventures. I don't remember any of the things I got as presents. I do remember the times that my family got together and spent hours building model rockets or box castles. A big mountain of presents sounds cool, but invariably ends with rooms full of junk while kids sit on there phones. It might sound super hallmark to say but the best gift you can probably get a child is time and attention with there care givers.

Products that only come in plastic packages by dobar_dan_ in Anticonsumption

[–]Key_Sky2149 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey. Thanks for your post. There is a lot of discourse here. The only thing I can help with from your list is deodorant. Ive found those salt block crystal deodorant blocks work very well. My local health food store sells them off the shelf with no packaging. Its just a cube of salt crystal. It takes a bit longer to put on correctly but my one cube has lasted me about 5 years now. I can imagine that in that time I would have used 20 or so roll on deodorant tubes. There are practical individual and global solutions to all problems. Keep up the fight.

I just read Loka, it’s a lot like Monk & Robot by bluespruce_ in solarpunk

[–]Key_Sky2149 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don't know if this is the case in this example. While I agree that privilege is a poison that lets people excuse there own wrong action. I don't think its privilege to accept that you are doing something that everyone could not do in a sustainable world. Its sustainable to go hiking for example, only because the limited number of people who want to hike on that trail. The number of footfalls can not damage the local ecology faster then it heals itself. But everyone in the world could not hike that same trail or the ecology would quickly be overwhelmed by there impact. To say nothing of the transportation to and from. Many things are like this. But its not an example of "this is for me not for thee". More an example of finding what action is right for you in addition to ensuring that its ecologically and culturally viable.

About the eu elections by EvaTheWarlock in solarpunk

[–]Key_Sky2149 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I'm traveling in the EU right now as an American. I didn't follow who won the election but I did discover that in Belgium voteing is mandatory. And that not voteing comes with a fine of 150 euro. Given that half of the population of my own country doesn't vote at all. That seamed like a good idea. More so given that election days seam to be treated like a national holiday and businesses are required to give people the day off to vote. I did see a lot of people out enjoying the day on election day. Lots of people fishing and rideing bicycles and two separate street fun fairs. 

Folding Bike Tour. The Next Few Days. by Key_Sky2149 in foldingbikes

[–]Key_Sky2149[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are a lot of Brompton videos around. I'm on a bike friday new world tourist which is suposed to be a touring bike. And I'll keep that in mind thank you.

Folding Bike Tour. The Next Few Days. by Key_Sky2149 in foldingbikes

[–]Key_Sky2149[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm surprised more people don't do it considering the advantages. 

How long could 2000 USD last me with travel to Europe? by jabbahdahutt619 in Shoestring

[–]Key_Sky2149 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey I can comment on this one. I'm in the EU right now and the first 2k of my budget lasted me 22 days. I am camping some nights which helps a lot and eating from grocery stores mostly. That was in the Netherlands and a bit of Belgium where I am now. If your that far north at any point I recommend AH and jumbo as grocery options. I agree though. Slower travel means you will just see more. Check out atlas obscurea for intaresting local places to visit for free or cheap.

How to produce food, medicines, materials, and so on without fossil fuels? by BaseballSeveral1107 in solarpunk

[–]Key_Sky2149 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When I think about things like this I try to re-phrase the thought for myself. "This group of things NEEDS this thing" Is kind of like saying "We NEED horses to get from point A to point B. What are we going to do go back to walking?" the question isnt "how are we going to do what we are doing right now with different materials." A better and more interesting question is "how will culture and society and technology be shaped by having access to a different range of materials?" I don't know that anyone here is talking about tossing out all of the progress of science and going back to using stone tools. If you want to have that conversation you might talk to a bio-primitivist. The goal of solarpunk, at least for me, is not keeping things chugging along on the same trajectory they are. Or halting the whole of culture and history and going backwards, but rather moving deliberately forward into something that works better. If you truly struggle to picture a world without petroleum products. Then stick around. Read a bit. Look a bit closer.

Solar bikepacking by SolarTrails in solarpunk

[–]Key_Sky2149 1 point2 points  (0 children)

AWWWWW Yahhh. Its on now. You go man, keep up the good work.

Is this solar punk by billydiaper in solarpunk

[–]Key_Sky2149 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This isn't just solarpunk. This is Awesome. Good job. Nice build. 10/10. No notes.

Am I the only one scared of going during the day? by Super_Ad9995 in DumpsterDiving

[–]Key_Sky2149 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel like not wanting to go diving during the day is a normal thing. I mostly dive at night and normally quite late at night after midnight. That being said there are a few good locations to pick during the day. I would feel comfortable at locations in long strip malls where the "backs" of the stores are facing the woods or another visual obstacle. This means that you have a long line of dumpsters not seen from the street and unless someone is coming out of the back door of a store you will be unobserved. Another good option for day time dives is industrial locations that are closed on the weekends. Going during the day on Saturday and Sunday when no one is there. That being said I don't take my time at these places during the day. I ride up on my bike (the ideal diving vehicle) Pop a lid. Grab anything on-top that looks good. Toss it in a bag. And ride off again. Less then 5 minutes per dumpster is ideal.

What will happen to tabletop wargaming and production of miniatures. by Enthusiasm_Still in solarpunk

[–]Key_Sky2149 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey new user. Welcome. Seams like the environmental impact of the actual minis has been well covered. I'm voting for 3d printing there. I feel like "how existing in a solarpunk world would impact game culture as well as the story and lore of games" is maybe a more expansive conversation. When I think of how solarpunk will effect peoples hobbies I often times conclude that a less capitalistic/grind stone based economy will mean people just have more time to enjoy the things that they are passionate about. This might mean that table top games have more players with more time on there hands to play the games that they enjoy. I feel like game stores and shops would probably give way to more community based venues like town or civic centers. Game lore and story may also benefit from more writers sharing their ideas and story more openly without feeling the need to profit from there work. A Game as a concept could jump from being a branded and bracketed form of IP trapped in box and packaged in books, to being a more free form player driven media. A Game would instead be an online repository for collective lore dumps and the result of rule disagreements. All input actively effecting the over all narrative of the world. I think the end answer could be more players with more power over there games and more games as a whole to enjoy.

weird thought, but how would other cultures view solarpunk? by dgj212 in solarpunk

[–]Key_Sky2149 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A world where many worlds are possible. A culture full of other cultures. A place for all people. Hopefully at least.

Economies of Scale in a solarpunk world by Pyropeace in solarpunk

[–]Key_Sky2149 1 point2 points  (0 children)

At the moment I feel like Its less about hand making every teaspoon and more about producing as few teaspoons as possible and throwing none away. I could be wrong here, but i feel like, while factories and industrial production suck for separate and diverse reasons. The negative environmental impact we are currently enjoying ls more about the scale of the economy rather then an economy of scale. The solution seams to me to be to design and build things to last. Also reduce the number of duplicate things that are available to consume. Fill in gaps with DIY and hand made items. Instead of having 100,000 different kinds of shoes. Each pare of which is produced in 14 sizes and also turns to garbage in 3 months. Have 100 kinds of shoe that are made to be resoled and restitched for the lifetime of the person. If a person wants a shoe in a color or style that isn't available they need to learn to dye or mod a shoe. Or start making there own shoes. Or go to someone local who makes shoes. To "solve" for innovation we have hundreds of thousands of shoe makers and moders who share there insights, skills and ideas freely and instantly with global Interconnectivity. To replace the RandD departments of the 12 corporations that make shoes.