In the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution was one of several revolutions that overturned society. Mechanical creatures intruded into farms and homes, but still this invasion had no name. Finally, in 1802, Johann Beckmann, an economics professor at Gottingen University gave this ascending force its name [technology] . . . He hoped his outline [a textbook titled Guide to Technology] would become the first course in the subject. It did that and more. It also gave a name to what we do. Once named, we could now see it. Having seen it, we wondered how anyone could not have seen it.
Source: Kevin Kelly, What Technology Wants
Posted: 2025 Oct 18
Or check out this TEDxSF by Kelly.
A thrill of hope. A ray of light in the gloom. A willingness to risk failure against the possibility of something good and deeply rewarding happening. Messages of hope during Advent have opened me to risks. Some I find most difficult are the risks of offending someone. How often do I second-guess what a person’s reaction might be to something I say or do? We can self-censor ourselves into oblivion. May we all open our hearts and minds to new possibilities in our challenging New Years.
Laurna – May it be so.