Yes. Thank you. His book Aurora does a much better job at steering us towards action while still showing consequences of environmental disaster and I highly recommend it.
One of the coolest things about plantuml is the generated PNG actually contains the source code for the image as metadata. If someone gives you an image, they don't also need to send you the source because you can extract it using the plantuml CLI.
It's not a brave face. The science tells us that we're on a better and improving track. It's not without hope. A decade ago we thought we were on track for 6C by the end of the century.
That said, it's still going to be worse than we all want it to be. Like many things, the truth lies in the middle and all we can do is push hard on the margins.
You're absolutely right. The "move fast and break things" position in society is just not good. It's fine if you're doing rapid prototyping on a product that can be easily discarded cheaply and at low cost to everyone involved. It's another thing entirely to move fast and break things without considering the people who will be affected, and asking what they think about it, especially for things that are not easily or cheaply reverted.
I started bullet journaling with pen and paper and it has changed my life. Intentionality -- that's exactly right. When I write I feel intentional.
I've also dove into the world of nice paper and fountain pens. I've always had hand cramps when writing, whether using a cheap Bic or a Pilot G7. With fountain pens, that's all gone, and writing is effortless. You can get started with this cheaply by getting a platinum preppy fine or extra-fine pen ($4), and a bottle of ink ($10). You want a fine or extra-fine nib, because anything else will feather and bleed on cheap paper, but fine or extra-fine works just fine on cheap paper.
Your pen can be converted into an "eye dropper" pen with a little bit of silicon grease and a small rubber gasket, and you'll rarely need to refill it.
This is how I started getting into it, not really believing in my actions but doing something because I felt it was principally, morally right. Through CCL and their science-based approach and reliance on external studies, I've learned that we are on a trend that is far better than most people think. Sure, it's not good. But it's not devastating.
Renewable energy is on the rise like never before. Electric cars are being pushed harder and harder each year. More of our elective representatives support climate initiatives each year. The conservative climate caucus is a brand new thing that is happening. Other countries are introducing carbon pricing with border taxes that will hurt the US economically unless we introduce our own.
It can be hard to do work and not expect to see payoff, but if you take the long view instead of the short view, statistics about support and momentum are actually on our side.
This "we are doomed" attitude is unhelpful towards positive change. It forces us towards selfishness and away from empathy and mutual-support. In some ways, it is a self-fulfilling perception of the world. It is an excuse for personal inaction.
I was deeply depressed with this attitude a year ago, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. What helped, was helping. Specifically volunteering and volunteerism. Realizing that the world doesn't revolve around my experience, and that I can make a positive affect on people's lives.
If you're worried about climate change (like I was, like I am), join a cause to address it like Citizens' Climate Lobby, the Environmental Voter Project, or something local. If you're worried about food insecurity, help at a food bank, at your local urban farming project. If you do this, you'll quickly realize that we are not alone in our feelings, and through that togetherness we are powerful.
I know what I'm missing, and have experienced it. I see this as an environmentally friendly way to do something I love literally whenever I want, and it's wayyyyy cheaper to boot. And the racing quality (competition) is better than any real-world thing too. The skill ranges are so tight in online races, especially iRacing.
The feelings you had with nausea is common for people, and it's possible to get over it if you are methodical. Lots of people I knew couldn't do more than 1 minute when they started, and slowly worked up to it. Trick is to stop the moment your stomach feels unsettled, and try it every day. Don't push though it.
Assetto Corsa's complete edition often goes on sales for ~$5 and can be modded like crazy, and also has reasonable controller support. Wheel and pedals will always be better though.
One of my biggest hobbies is sim racing, and I can tell you that putting on the VR headset is akin to putting on a helmet and setting off on the track. The sweatiness and discomfort is nothing more than a real driver would experience, and turning a wheel feels real without hand tracking.
What you're experiencing with disorientation does tend to go away for most people if they're careful about it. And for me, I literally can't remember the last time I've felt disoriented in VR. Even considering that I've had shunts that have caused me to roll 20 times or more.
I agree, there is waste involved (as with anything), but as a comparison to racing it's much more friendly for the world than burning fuel. I'm in full agreement that Facebook on our faces sounds terrible, and concerns me, but VR can be a very good thing.