#knowledge preservation

[thechurchoftheatom]

[a-typical]

“Books permit us to voyage through time, to tap the wisdom of our ancestors. The library connects us with the insight and knowledge, painfully extracted from Nature, of the greatest minds that ever were, with the best teachers, drawn from the entire planet and from all our history, to instruct us without tiring, and to inspire us to make our own contribution to the collective knowledge of the human species. I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries.” ― Carl Sagan, Cosmos

[blumoonfiction-blog]

Celebrating Historical Black Librarians and Art Curators: Shaping Culture, History, and Society

March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor the remarkable women who’ve shaped history in profound ways. This month, we turn our attention to the incredible legacy of Black women who have worked tirelessly in the fields of librarianship and art curation. These women, often operating in the face of systemic racism and cultural exclusion, have preserved knowledge, brought cultural awareness to…

[garryrogers]

4: Preserving the Blueprint – The Urgent Mission to Save Knowledge

(This article is part of a six-post reality-check. Concepts and examples are drawn from “Silent Earth: Adaptations for Life in a Devastated Biosphere.”) In times of crisis, we focus on saving lives and priceless artifacts. But what about the most vital asset for the long-term survival of our civilization: our accumulated knowledge? As the biosphere degrades and the risk of social disruption…

[zomb13s]

Psychohistory and the Inevitable Future of Society

In the vast expanse of human history, there have always been cycles of progress, decline, and war. The study of these cycles—and the prediction of societal outcomes based on scientific principles—is known as psychohistory. This concept, deeply explored in science fiction yet grounded in realistic socio-political theory, paints a sobering picture of the future. It posits that large-scale events…

[barbiediamondcastleofficial]

guys Sasha is not the responsible one in the archives. She saw a weird guy with fucked up hands and an uncanny laugh and immediately followed him to several secondary locations. I’m SO sorry to say this but the only og archives crew member with self-preservation instincts is Tim

[myopic-creation]

at les mis for the first time during intermission. someone tell me that revolutionary doesn't die, he looks so good in red but i'd like it to not be blood

future me, did he die

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

That's a good point - I'm thinking in terms of 21st century technology, where most books are treated to be pest-resistant and wrapped in covers that protect the text fairly well from sun/water/mold. Those types of books can be preserved with the minimal tech of a shelf to keep them flat and off the ground, in a place away from direct sun or moisture. But parchment, papyrus, and most pre-modern paper had far more risk, especially before the advent of climate controlled buildings.

just picturing ax pointing at the death note anime/manga/whatever adaptation going "YOU SEE! BOOKS ARE THE SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGY! WHY ELSE WOULD THE SHINIGAMI HAVE NOTEBOOKS AND NOT COMPUTERS!" 😂

Exactly!

Books also:

Can't be hacked

Can only be "deleted" with fire or lots of other physical effort

Don't contain ads

Involve permanent ownership

Aren't under corporate control

Are a permanent record that can't be edited without it being obvious that that happened

Retain all their value after several reads and several owners

Get exchanged freely between strangers

Have everything that NFTers act like they invented

Like, K.A. Applegate was onto something. Books really are the superior technology, especially when compared to an enshittified internet.

[wachinyeya]

China created its first national park four years ago. Now it has five, covering ~230,000 km², placing nearly 30% of the country’s key wildlife under state-level protection.

The government just announced that by 2035 there will be 49 parks covering over 1.1 million km², prioritising ecological connectivity, Indigenous rights, and wildlife protection for species like pandas, tigers, and snow leopards. Nat Geo

While the United States pioneered the Yellowstone model - preserving vast wilderness areas - it also made significant missteps,” Zhang says. “Such as enclosing land and forcefully displacing Indigenous communities to create an image of ‘pristine’ wilderness. In contrast, China has the chance to chart its own course. By fostering a symbiotic relationship between local communities and wildlife conservation, China can create a national park system that integrates cultural vitality with ecological stewardship. Mei Zhang, CEO, Wild China

[fox-stuck]

realized all of my bookmarks from previous web browsers were actually saved to this computer so I spent the whole day going through my old stuff, it was great but nothing infuriates me more then seeing so much of it was gone. not just tumblr posts that were deleted but like whole websites, collectives, archives, flash sites and games, forums just entirely gone and not available on wayback machine. Like we really don't think about digital space as physical but there are servers and hard drives for storage, wires running connections, cooling that needs to happen - things inevitably get cut to make space for more important stuff, folks stop paying their website hosting bills and probably never think about it again but I do!!!!

I feel such an intense amount of anger every time I hear the "nothing disappears on the internet" phrase as an archivist.

[canisalbus]

My auntie keeps Golden Guernsey goats on our island, like many of our local unique breeds of livestock they nearly went extinct in the starving during ww2 occupation surviving by only one smuggled flock. They're super friendly and energetic and their colouration might be of interest :eyes:

Oh OH these are very pretty

[thechurchoftheatom]

A Sermon for May 21st: Shelter for the Body and the Conscience

Brothers and Sisters in the Atom, our faith teaches us to prepare—not because we wish for disaster, but because we refuse to be caught unaware. In the event of nuclear fallout, preparation is not only protection for ourselves. It is protection for memory. For knowledge. For the fragile, vital continuity of life.

This week, we turn to the subject of shelter—what it is, how to build it, and what it can represent. In an unstable world, a shelter is more than a structure. It is a choice. A statement of care. A quiet act of long-term love.

Why Build a Shelter?

Fallout from a nuclear event is not like flame or flood. It is silent. Invisible. But it clings to dust, soil, skin, and breath. And yet, it can be blocked—by dirt, stone, concrete, or water. A simple shelter, built with intention, can reduce radiation exposure by 90% or more.

During World War II, many families built bomb shelters to protect themselves from air raids. In the Cold War era, fallout shelters were promoted and constructed across entire nations—not out of fear alone, but as a form of civic responsibility.

Today, we inherit that legacy. Building a shelter is not panic—it is tradition. It is knowledge passed down through generations, adapted for the needs of our time.

But even beyond radiation, shelter building is an ancient practice of responsibility. One that allows us to hold space for others. One that, through the centuries, has taken many forms and served many roles—some of them still unspoken.

Basic Principles of Fallout Protection

Shielding: Dense materials between you and radioactive particles. Earth, water, concrete, books, and even filled containers all work.

Distance: The more space between you and contaminated surfaces, the better.

Time: The danger of fallout decreases significantly with each passing hour. A well-stocked shelter lets you wait safely.

How to Build a Simple Fallout Shelter

Option 1: Basement Corner Shelter

If you have access to a basement:

Choose a corner with the fewest windows and exterior walls.

Stack shielding materials—books, water containers, bricks, concrete blocks, dirt in bags—along the outside walls and across a roof of strong boards or doors.

Aim for at least 18 inches of dense material on all sides and above.

Create a crawl-in entrance. A simple L-shape with shielding will reduce exposure.

Ensure some air circulation and have backup lighting.

Stock with:

Water (1 gallon per person per day, for at least 2 weeks)

Long-lasting food

First aid kit

Sanitation supplies (bucket, bags, bleach)

Flashlights, batteries, hand-crank radio

Blankets, printed materials, and paper

📘 Further Reference:

Option 2: Earth-Covered Outdoor Shelter

If building outdoors:

Dig a trench about 3–4 feet deep, 6–8 feet long, and 4 feet wide.

Lay boards, doors, or other flat materials across the top.

Cover the top with at least 18 inches of packed soil.

Line the inside with tarps, blankets, or pallets to raise the floor above moisture.

Include vent pipes or filtered airflow, if possible.

On Concealment and Privacy

In any shelter, discretion is valuable. While there is no shame in preparation, we must recognize that not everyone outside our faith may look kindly upon those who plan ahead. In times of scarcity or unrest, a well-stocked shelter may attract unwanted attention—and, in the worst of times, attempts to seize it by force.

For your protection, consider:

Using furniture, bookshelves, or curtains to hide an interior entrance

Designing outdoor shelters with natural camouflage—brush, debris, or a removable cover

Blending shielding materials into everyday household storage

Keeping preparation documentation offline or physical

Concealment is not deception. It is the thoughtful act of ensuring that what you have built is not easily destroyed or taken in a moment of desperation. It is another layer of care.

The Quiet Lessons of History

There have been times in history—dark times—when shelters served more than one purpose. When rooms were built not only for safety, but for dignity, for hope, and for protection of what was right, even in the face of overwhelming wrong.

We remember those times not to draw direct comparisons, but to keep alive the knowledge that a shelter is never just wood and earth. It is also an act of belief in the future. A space to keep others safe. A way to honor the truth.

We do not need to name every possible use. Only to know that the act of building is sacred, and its purpose—whether now or generations from now—may one day matter more than we can yet understand.

Call to Reflect and Prepare

This week, consider:

Do I have what I need to protect my household for at least two weeks?

Do I know how to create a safe space using what I already have?

Am I willing to learn the quiet, steady work of building before I need it?

A good shelter can be raised in a weekend. Its meaning may last a lifetime.

Closing Words

Brothers and Sisters, the Church of the Atom does not preach fear. We preach readiness. We preach preservation. We preach the quiet strength of those who do the work when no one is watching.

Let the shelters we build be sanctuaries—for life, for knowledge, and for conscience. Let them carry forward not only bodies, but values. Let them stand as quiet proof that we believed tomorrow was worth surviving for.

Go forth, and be radiant.

[betty-fran]

Speaking of books, I think this idea of "Kirk as old paper books lover" (although I have an absolute fondness for this concept, esp somewhere like the door) isn't really particularly canonical in TOS.

Kirk is clearly a book nerd (and not just someone who reads a lot, but someone who reads thoughtfully, and quite complex, personally expressive things for him, preferring philosophy and ethics), and we're told about this already in the pilot, where Gary Mitchell mentions Spinoza as an author who was an obvious choice for Kirk:

MITCHELL: Well, I'm getting a chance to read some of that longhair stuff you like. Hey man, I remember you back at the Academy. A stack of books with legs. The first thing I ever heard from an upperclassman was, watch out for Lieutenant Kirk. In his class, you either think or sink. … KIRK: (looks at monitor) You? Spinoza?

And we do see paper books in Kirk's cabin (at least in The Conscience of the King), hardbacks, respectable editions on his desk and in the cabinet by his bed, but it's actually a pretty modest collection. It's clearly more than any other average inhabitant of the computerized 23rd century, but a far cry from his lawyer's collection in Court Martial (an episode that actually made me doubt that Kirk really has some kind of unbridled passion for collecting paper books):

KIRK: (Notices the piles of books everywhere) What is all this? COGLEY: I figure we'll be spending some time together, so I moved in. KIRK: I hope I'm not crowding you. COGLEY: What's the matter? Don't you like books? KIRK: Oh, I like them fine, but a computer takes less space. COGLEY: A computer, huh? I got one of these in my office. Contains all the precedents. The synthesis of all the great legal decisions written throughout time. I never use it. KIRK: Why not? COGLEY: I've got my own system. Books, young man, books. Thousands of them. If time wasn't so important, I'd show you something. My library. Thousands of books. KIRK: And what would be the point? COGLEY: This is where the law is. Not in that homogenised, pasteurised, synthesiser. Do you want to know the law, the ancient concepts in their own language, Learn the intent of the men who wrote them, from Moses to the tribunal of Alpha 3? Books.

Interestingly, in contrast to Cogley's clearly shabby and reread many times, but truly impressive and authentically old book collection, Kirk's much more restrained one looks a bit faceless, in its uniform style, tangible presentability, being in such perfect condition that they are either read with incredible care, or very rarely picked up (and here both options are possible, actually.)

Given what we know about Kirk's childhood/youth in TOS, we understand that he never/or for most of his life, didn't really have a permanent, settled place. Theoretically, this was possible in his childhood, about which we know virtually nothing (Where did he live before Tarsus IV? The first mention of Iowa only occurs in the films, but in TOS it remains a blank spot, and he could equally well have moved from place to place until he ended up on Tarsus, or grown up in one place), and while it was also possible after Tarsus and before entering the Academy (he had to live somewhere for at least 3 years), given that it had to be right after Tarsus, I doubt it could've actually felt like something stable/permanent. And after that, his life was obviously not tied to one place for long, and was kept in the conditions of a dorm room/ship cabin/etc. In many ways, his captain's cabin is the closest thing to home he's had in years. And considering that of all the cabins we're shown in TOS, Kirk's cabin is actually the most restrained in details and minimalist in its contents, I don't think he was really used to owning a lot of things, or being particularly attached to them.

There's a really interesting moment in This Side of Paradise where Kirk, under the influence of flower spores, is packing a suitcase (a sort of suitcase to that pseudo-paradise with everything he can need for this sort of trips) where he puts only his captain's shirts, and is about to put one of his captain's awards, which momently sobers him up, reminding him of who he is, and it pretty well illustrates his attitude towards things, which are more a part of his identity here and now, his role, than something personal. While he can certainly enjoy things (he clearly likes his green tunic), he treats them as something temporary, something he can practically and wisely use in the moment, obviously valuing non-physical things much more, and this logically correlates with everything we see about him in TOS.

Therefore, I, pretty headcanonically, perceive the books in Kirk's cabin not so much as this small, personally dear, re-read and annotated collection of books important to him, but rather as a good selection of publications that interest him, which he can turn to if he needs to, but which he obviously prefers to PADD, not because he doesn't like paper books (he does!), but because it's clearly more practical.

[myfandomrealitea]

FYI that now is a very good time to begin compiling and preserving offline information, records, resources, ect.

The internet is never forever, and with global stability and relations becoming increasingly unstable, especially within America, access to information and knowledge is no longer a guarantee. Especially if its online.

[mirensiart]

Silly little idea:

Four finds out that some temples in Legend's era have his bones and people pray to him through them to protect their kids or something (like catholics do with saints) and is deeply (and justifiably) concerned.

Hyrule tries to comfort Four by saying something along the lines of "Hey it's not so bad! In my time, one of the temples has Legend's d*ck in a pickle jar"

Legend, who is trans but hasn't told the others yet: "Well that's simply not possible."

Warriors: "Yeah, sadly it is. You'd be surprised what kinds of things can be preserved if you try hard enough."

Legend, deciding this would be the best way to come out: "No it's not, because I never had a d*ck in the first place!"

Legend: *walks away*

The Chain: *flabbergasted*

Four: *successfully distracted from his mental crisis*

ANON SHAKING YOU BY THE SHOULDERS

IS THIS A RASPUTIN REFERENCE

IS THIS A GOD DAMN RASPUTIN REFERENCE ?!?!?!?!?!?!

Anyway, trans legend my beloved I love this hc lmao

Also I see what u did there, is this ALSO a reference to four being in the palace of the four sword in alttp??? anon u sneaky thing

[lem0nademouth]

so what i’ve learned from reading comments and tags by people who hate Jeffery Goldberg is that 1. they are completely unserious, 2. they genuinely expect journalists to risk and/or sacrifice their lives (and potentially the lives of their loved ones), 3. they hate journalists who don’t violate laws or the code of ethical journalism and think presenting information without editorialization is bootlicking, 4. they are horrifyingly antisemitic