Humane and inhumane.
"Must I prove my humanity by destroying my peace?" Quote from Laura Elliott, in her book Awakened.
Like ripping off a sticky bandage knowing it will hurt - someone other than yourself. Making that choice, or taking that action, for/ on the part of someone else. Not so different from real science and scientists making choices, decisions and taking actions which could seem questionable, less humane. But, having that iron backbone to do what needs to be done even though it isn't easy or popular.
In fiction mad scientists get stereotyped as being misdirected, inhumane, and even cruel. Bumblers on the other hand, not cruel but doddering, fumbling and thoughtless.
Is it fair? Or is it over critical to see them that way while also depending on their (so called) inhumanity to give us the research into disease which we benefit from?
Should they cry and stress about the harm and stress they cause while ripping off that sticky bandage? Or can they be given the benefit of being able to work without feeling inhumane?
I think there should be a middle ground. I think there needs to be a middle ground. To work in science without awareness, or some kind of respect, for the individual pain and suffering would remove a limit that should be there. It creates a frame of reference versus having no guide or limits at all. Science needs to be curious but it also needs to be measured in order to continue to be science.
Maybe that is the boundary between science and art.
What do you think?
I have heard about the lakes. I didn't know about the coastlines, but it makes sense along with being the second largest country with the most lakes in the world. I think I have read we have the most fresh water too, or fresh water lakes. As water becomes more important as a natural resource, Canada has a lot going for it. I hope we keep our water clean, unpolluted.
In movies about dire futures I never see Canada as a destination for people to escape/ run to. Of course, most of the apocalypse/ dire future movies and TV shows are based in the US and working with the theory that the US saves the world. The reality is likely to be very different.
Canada’s Endless Coasts
Canada has—by far—the longest coastline of any country in the world. Canada is a massive country by overall area in general, coming in second only to Russia in terms of square mileage (or square kilometers, as it were, in the Canadian measurement system). So it makes sense that Canada has a ton of coastline. And because Canada is made up of so many islands, both large and small, in its far northern territories, that amount of coastline rises nearly exponentially while counting all those shores.
The actual numbers are staggering. Canada has 151,000 miles (243,042 kilometers) of coastline. And the next closest countries on the list aren’t even in Canada’s league! That’d be Indonesia (33,554 miles or 54,000 kilometers of coastline), Russia (nearly 23,612 miles or 38,000 kilometers), the United States (just under 12,430 miles or 20,000 kilometers), and China (almost 9,325 miles or 15,000 kilometers). Canada wins!
Canada wins in another way, too: the most lakes in the world. As if saltwater and access to oceans and seas weren’t enough for the Canadians, they also have more freshwater within their nation’s boundaries than any other country on Earth.
In total, Canada has 879,800 lakes all throughout its land. Not only is that the most lakes on earth, it’s actually more lakes than all other countries in the world COMBINED! When you account for the entire globe, Canada holds more than 60% of the world’s 1.4 million lakes. Russia is second on the lake list—if you’re curious—but they are nowhere close to Canada.
ListVerse - Ten Strange but True Geography Facts
I wanted to keep track of the books I've enjoyed over this winter. I've had a back-to-reading time lately. Even more while the Internet was off. I would spend a lot of the day reading, having books as company when the world got too quiet.
Most recent is Sarah Pinborough. Her books usually don't have happy endings which is a good change. But, it was sad to have some of the characters I came to like finish off the story deceased.
- Christina Henry - I went looking for more of her books and have read all available so far.
- Rachel Harrison - a new favourite. Described as a feminist horror writer.
- Kelly Link - her short stories are hit and miss for me.
- John Langan
- Kelley Armstong - I've read several of her books years before now.
- Rebecca Schaeffer - Her first book was a good story but by the third in the series the gore was too much for me.
- John Scalzi - I read several but did not like one of them.
- Jill Bearup - I liked her first book but I think it was too much humour for me.
- Sophie Irwin
- Wallis Kinney
- Lindsay Wong - Disappointed to find I did not like her short stories as I had hoped to.
- Kim Harrison - Reading more of her series but I don't feel as connected to the series as I was in the earlier books.
- Emily Croy Barker
- Sarah Beth Durst
- Auralee Wallace - Canadian writer. I'll read more of her books.
- Dawn Cook - The writer has another pen name that I forget right now.
- Cory Doctorow - Canadian science fiction writer.
- Kimberly Raye - Really enjoyed her books over the years. She doesn't seem to be writing any more.
- John Wyndham
- MaryJanice Davidson - She was a favourite but the most recent in the series claim to be the last. I think she writes more for fan/sales pressure now and the books don't have the same sense of fun.
- Shirley Jackson - A long time favourite, reading and re-reading her books.
- Kelly Barnhill - "When Women Were Dragons" I'd gladly read whatever she writes next.
- Margaret St. Clair - A vintage science fiction writer and an inspiration for 'Dungeons and Dragons'.
- Celina Myers - Promoting her book, 'Hollow' for fans of YA vampire fiction. It was probably good for them. Not so much for me.
- Raven Snow - It could have been better. I won't look for more.
- Kevin Gallant - The one I did not read. I tried but the writing was poor and I kept editing it instead of being able to read it. I've read that some books on Amazon now are being written by AIs (artificial intelligence). This could be the case but the characters showed promise.
- Adrian Tchaikovsky - An apocalypse story for people who want to learn about science as well as a good story. I'm reading another of his books next.
- Gerry Dee - Canadian comedian and game show host. I read his autobiography.
- Cassandra Rose Clarke - A favourite for years. Somehow one of her books was under my bed with the dust bunnies I swept out.
All of these are in the book bags to go to the second hand bookstore or the Little Library boxes around the local area here.
