@134318c2 The archeologist and writer Ronald Right, in his 2004 Massey Lectures described our technology and the resources used to create it as, "like climbing a ladder while kicking the rungs out under us as we go." I think about that a lot, and whether it's possible to build a comfortable efficient technology that doesn't do this. Steam punk? 

 @becb42fb @134318c2 We still use steam, but with turbines where we can be more efficient. The old 19th century designs were hideously inefficient. Great if you want a low-tech-level prime mover and have plenty of coal or oil to burn and don't care about water usage.