Technology

Anyone who ever took Mr. Nicolai's technology class (probably no one reading this blog) knows that technology only evolves for one of three reasons. I challenge you to find a single invention since the wheel that does not fit one or all of these rules. The Three Rules of Technological Advancement are:

1) Technology advances to amuse human beings or to make their lives less strenuous, thereby giving them more time to be amused by their inventions.

2) Technology advances to prolong the lifespan of human beings or for the protection of human beings.

3) Technology advances for the purposes of killing other human beings or preventing them from killing you.

Of course, these rules only hold until Skynet becomes self-aware. Then we add a rule about technology advancing for the purposes of de-advancing all other technology. EMP and all that. Speaking of EMP, I just read a book called One Second After by William R. Forstchen that recounts the potential aftermath of a nuclear detonation in the upper atmosphere--really scary stuff, the more so because it's so entirely plausible. It would actually be less damaging in the long run to let a nuclear missile hit any major city in the United States than it would be to intercept and detonate it in the atmosphere. How's that for scary?