The French La Spirale is "an e-zine for the digital mutants." According to their About Us page, they were born in the early 90s as part of the Cyberpunk movement, and subsequently expanded their coverage to "the obscure side of contemporary popular culture."
They say they are guided by the idea that "the eccentrics of today foreshadow the world of tomorrow and that the most interesting cultural currents appear systematically in the margins, far from dozing institutions and mass media."
It could begin like a remake of Mad Max II… “In an indefinite future, oil reserves are exhausted and violence reigns. An ex-highway patrolman goes to the aid of a community under attack by hordes of motorized punks. The battle takes place around the storage tanks of a refinery.”
In spite of the expected end of fossil fuels, Bart Anderson of The Energy Bulletin is reassuring. The post-industrial apocalypse will not happen tomorrow. At the risk of disappointing the more hardcore fringe of La Spirale's readership, less anxiety-producing outlooks are possible.
[Energy Bulletin provides an] inventory of our current situation, possible futures and case studies. It suggests ways out of the crisis which evoke the lifestyle of Amish communities rather than the outrageous violence of Mel Gibson's first films. On the silver screen, Humungus and his dogs of war can continue on the path of sound and fury - the future will do without their services.
Peacenik is sorry Peacenik panicked yesterday. But Peacenik is fine. When Peacenik got home and the news was full of GM laying off 47,000 people, Peacenik was fine. But feeling bad for the 47,000. When overnight commenters on Calculated Risk foresaw a rapid and imminent collapse of the world economy, Peacenik was fine. But slightly apprehensive. When Greenspan called for the nationalization of the banks, Peacenik was fine. But wondering why Greenspan wasn't in jail. When Peacenik's google alerts for bird flu and food shortages starting filling Peacenik's inbox, Peacenik was fine. But will visit the drug store today. The future is a state of mind. It won't be Mad Max. Peacenik is fine if the future is Amish. It won't be doomsday. Read the interview. And prepare for a Black Swan. And all will be well.
