climate change – Nerds on Earth https://nerdsonearth.com The best place on earth for nerds. Sat, 28 Nov 2020 16:03:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://nerdsonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cropped-nerds_head_thumb2-100x100.png climate change – Nerds on Earth https://nerdsonearth.com 32 32 All the podcasts from NerdsonEarth.com, under one umbrella. We create short run podcasts for nerds, covering D&D, Marvel, Starfinder, and more! You vote for your favorite shows and they just might get a second season. climate change – Nerds on Earth false episodic climate change – Nerds on Earth jason.sansbury@nerdsonearth.com podcast All the podcasts from NerdsonEarth.com, the best place on Earth for nerds. climate change – Nerds on Earth https://nerdsonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/noe-podcast-logo.png https://nerdsonearth.com/blog/ The Massive is a Comic You Must Read Before the Earth’s Destruction Claims Us All https://nerdsonearth.com/2017/08/the-massive/ Mon, 21 Aug 2017 12:15:31 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=14064

The Massive is the kind of comic you wouldn't imagine you'd like. But it wonderfully shows off the potential of the medium.

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Not all comic books are about superpowered individuals in spandex. In fact, many of the very best comics aren’t superhero comics at all.

From crime noir to science fiction tales to civil rights anthologies, comics cover the gamut. There is even a comic about climate change.

The Massive is a 30 issue comic written by Brian Wood that follows the story of the crew of the Ninth Wave’s Kapital, a ship dedicated to nonviolently protesting the destruction of earth’s natural resources. Think Greenpeace’s crusade to save the whales and you get the general idea.

The great gods Anu, Enlil, Ninurta, Ennugi, and Ea were sworn to secrecy about their plan to cause the flood. – The Epic of Gilgamesh

Characters: While a comic about climate change seems like ho-hum fare, Brian Wood is masterful. He pens a very character driven story.

  • Ryan is the young, idealist college student who is driven by passion but knee-capped by naivety.
  • Lars is the young navigator who was the son of a sailor.
  • Yusef is the Russian hacker who can ironically also serve as the conscious of the group.
  • Mag is a former mercenary who blurs the Kapital‘s non-violent charter.
  • Callum Israel is captain of the Kapital and leader of Ninth Wave Conservation Group, which is on the hunt for The Massive, the mysterious missing Ninth Wave ship.
  • Mary is mysterious. That’s all I’ll say.

Below the thunders of the upper deep;
Far far beneath in the abysmal sea,
His ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep
The Kraken sleepeth – Lord Alfred Tennyson

Science: But beyond the excellent character-driven story, Brian Wood meticulously researched The Massive. To be clear, this isn’t a wholly science driven story. There are elements of the mystical and supernatural in book.

But Wood does a bang-up job of presenting very researched and plausible feature scenarios. Geographical changes, weather patterns, ecological shifts, ships mechanics, biological systems and more are presented in a well researched, yet future scenario situation.

And all of the above is in the context of a narrative driven story. This is no science text book bore. The Massive is a comic for big brains and you’ll feel satisfied having read it.

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. – Genesis 6: 5-8

Setting: The Massive is a jaunt around the globe. Cultures and geopolitics are at the center of the story. Brian Wood pens wonderful scenes, but the artwork in the book really makes it come alive.

The Massive takes you from the Horn of Africa into a flooded Manhattan, and each setting is vivid. Again, this is a smart comic and you’ll appreciate locales and cultures presented in the book. But make no mistake, it’s no simple travel guide. It’s a fun tale as well.

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out – U2: Beautiful Day

The Massive is a comic that fully illustrates the power and potential in comic book storytelling. It is a meticulously researched look at a future world-end scenario, it is thoughtful and challenging, it is a very character-driven story, and it weaves a rippin’ good yarn.

It was published by Dark Horse comics as 30 floppies, but I was able to pick up the 5 trade volumes for a nice used price. Give the first trade a try to see if it hooks you. I guarantee it will.

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Are Witches to Blame for Climate Change? https://nerdsonearth.com/2015/09/are-witches-to-blame-for-climate-change/ Fri, 18 Sep 2015 11:45:52 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=3432

Climate change is caused by witches! Consider the following as irrefutable proof. In an Indian village the local goddess accused a 63-year-old mother of five of casting evil spells. In response an angry mob dragged her out of her home and beheaded her. This was in July 2015, and there are a dozen more of […]

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Climate change is caused by witches! Consider the following as irrefutable proof.

In an Indian village the local goddess accused a 63-year-old mother of five of casting evil spells. In response an angry mob dragged her out of her home and beheaded her. This was in July 2015, and there are a dozen more of these cases that have been reported since.

article-1383732-0BEB53E700000578-48_468x338The problem of witchcraft is not limited to that region. In 2014 a Zimbabwean man stoned his 71-year-old uncle to death for sorcery. In February of this year, an albino child from Tanzania was suspected of being a witch, so he was killed and mutilated.

That’s not all. There were more than 50 sorcery-related killings in Papua New Guinea alone. The United Nations published a report of the alarming number of cases around the world, listing 41 countries at fault, with the over-whelming number of victims being female. It is also estimated that the majority of cases go unreported, so there are many more unaccounted for. This heart-breaking video shares more of these real life stories.

So are witches to blame for climate change?

So what does the killing of alleged witches have to do with climate change? Weather volatility is a condition that appears to correlate with the increase in witch-hunts. Beliefs in witchcraft and sorcery crop up (pun intended) mostly among agrarian (farming) societies. Consequently, animosity toward witches is commonly triggered by climate crises.

For instance, many of these areas are suffering from major droughts, with crop lands experiencing some of the lowest rainfalls in decades. It is unsurprising that witch-related violence is rising. Or not. Some areas are embracing witches, the thinking being that if witches are controlling the climate, then why not get the witches on your side.

farmer-divining-rod-flickrCalifornia farmers, desperate for water, are increasingly turning to sorcerers and spiritualists known as “water witches” to save their crops. These “witchers,” as they are called in the Sunshine State, charge up to 50 large to locate a spot on the ground for a well.

John Franzia, CEO of the Bronco Wine Company, says “I’ve used witchers for probably the last 15 to 20 years. Seems like the witchers do the better job than the guys with all the electrical equipment. I believe in them.” If you are paying a witch $50,000 a pop, you certainly must believe in them.

This isn’t even a new thing. Mankind has known for a thousand years that witches are to blame for climate change. In 1484 Pope Innocent VIII linked the destruction of crops to supernatural practices of witches and sorcerers. Indeed, scholars throughout the centuries have collected extensive statistical and anecdotal evidence that reveals how witch persecutions have spiked after particularly bad harvests (the height of which was between 1550 and 1650).

Why won’t the weather witches step up?

So now that we know witches are to blame for climate change, why don’t we do something about it? Mainly, because the witches just don’t care.

Storm – member of the X-men and Goddess of the Weather – hasn’t used her considerable mutant power and control over the elements to make any sort of material improvement upon the lives of poor farmers around the world.

Likewise, my 5th level D&D 5e Wizard hasn’t done much either. Sure, he’s battled Elemental Evil, but he has access to a spell book that contains a vast array on incantations designed to manipulate the elements. Surely he good step up to do some good, couldn’t he?

What can I do about climate change?

Alas, despite witches clearly being the cause of climate change, it appears that it is up to us mere mortals to battle it. It’s clear that we won’t be able to rely on mutant powers or magical invocations.

Instead, we must trust and rally behind the 97% of climate scientists that agree climate-warming trends over the past century are due to human activities, while seeking guidance from the majority of leading scientific organizations worldwide that have issued public statements endorsing this position.

Meanwhile, let’s eliminate the violence against our witch brothers and sisters. After all, if us humans can’t rally soon to begin reversing the trends of climate change, we might end up having to rely on the witches to save us all.

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