@diodelass *doesn't get it but is proud of you*
some explanation
@Kat maybe you remember that "this is not a place of honor / no highly esteemed deed is commemorated here" thing that I've talked about here and there?
it was drafted up by the DoE as the main message to put on a a site containing nuclear waste as a marker to future generations - for 10,000 years (along with menacing structures like the ones depicted here) to warn them not to dig or live there.
meme explanation; nuclear politics
@diodelass @Kat I remember reading that all the planning for memetic propagation for the WIPP was useless, because we're *currently fucking up* handling of toxic materials and the not-poisoning of people, and maybe we should figure out how to stop the ongoing harm first. >_>
nuclear politics
@varx @Kat my thoughts as well. the semiotics are fascinating, but the actual plan is kind of absurd.
the biggest problem in my eyes is that, well, "nothing valued is here" is just a lie.
the nuclear fuel rods the US buries are absolutely ripe for reprocessing, and still contain most of their fissionable uranium. a future civiliziation will - hopefully - be searching all over for these sites to dig up the old fuel and use it in their reactors.
meme explanation; nuclear politics
@diodelass @Kat That said, the WIPP nuclear semiotics research makes for a *great* art piece, overall. Lovely, chilling text and images. Fun to think about.