“In one account, known as the Judgment of Solomon, two women came before Solomon to resolve a quarrel over which was the true mother of a baby. When Solomon suggested they should divide the living child in two with a sword, one woman said she would rather give up the child than see it killed. Solomon then declared the woman who showed compassion to be the true mother, and gave the baby to her.”

Alternatively, just go direct to text:
“And the king said: ‘Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.’” (1 Kings 3:25)

I’m presenting it dramatically, for the sake of a giggle, but it’s definitely there.

I also find absolutely no “visible light” camera pictures of stars on the NASA website.

Wilhelm Reich says that light is not irradiated from the sun as light, but rays from the sun stimulate or trigger the luminosity of the earth’s atmosphere. http://goo.gl/7Snx8

Eric Dollard says the same as Reich and Armstrong, and also that stars are invisibile because stars are electric not nuclear: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWvLO8iadfs

Interesting huh?

This color theory video contains some smoke–box experiments that make it easier to think about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiCI1HVLgBI

But the point I’m making is that it is very difficult to take a break from a work routine to retrain. I’m arguing for career breaks for education as part of the routine of culture, so that people find it easier to try new things and aren’t forced to make life changing decisions only when they are likely too young to make a good decision.

I don’t have the money to stop working long enough to become a Doctor and am very unlikely to get a scholarship. I think I’m not even eligible for the basic student loans and such like, as I’ve already got a degree. (If I wanted to be a Doctor, maybe I’d prove myself wrong, but like I say, it’s not my goal).

On the other hand, yes, it’s great to struggle to be different things, and to not let yourself get too trapped. I try to overcome anxiety and fear of change on a daily basis to find new ways to do interesting things and re-evaluate what I want from my future. There may be more paths. I am still looking for them.

I just think that our society should encourage and support that in a dramatic way, with much more optimism and a changed order of life.

First off, I was given a pretty leading question, so I had to push for a connection somewhere. I stand by the problematic nature of nostalgia for the victorian era, which I think is implicit in the aesthetic, though I’m also fairly certain that nobody does steampunk because they long for slavery and exploitation. They may do it for the exploration and invention though, which was intertwined with the former.

The fascism and techno-utopianism is much more of a stretch though.

As for my contradiction, I think most people get into steampunk as a ‘pure’ aesthetic, and rarely for political reasons (though if they do, some of the ones you list are much more likely to be their credo than what I suggest). However, I was asked about the aesthetic itself, not the culture, and I think you can stretch the semiotics of an aesthetic in any way you choose. It’s initial emptiness, if anything, makes it more ready for this kind of (mis)treatment. So yes, I’m talking nonsense, but I’m talking valid nonsense.

And that makes everything you say valid as well. Rejecting modern technology in favour of technology that is more direct and understandable. That makes sense.

Though I still think for most people it’s more a case of ‘that looks cool’ than anything else.

Of course, it is helpful that it does look cool.

Thanks for stopping by and dropping your thoughts in. Is much appreciated