Editorial – September 2025: The World Is Run By Templates.
Hello everyone,
Templates. A few decades ago, I wondered why certain towns and cities in the UK adopted a specific road junction system and related practices. I mean, it didn’t appear to have been tested and was clearly experiencing problems as reported in the media. That is, until I discovered it was based on something that was used abroad, so obviously it was tested there with its own road code. No doubt, various town/city councillors went on junkets to look at them and think they could be easily adapted to use in the UK.
What it doesn’t take into account are the local conditions under which it is adapted and whether the local inhabitants will recognise and learn to use it. That’s not to say we didn’t already have our own junctions. I’m using the road junction example, but really it extends beyond that into all manner of templates used by local councils and government. We don’t know how this pattern started or how it divides up, but other countries adopt what we do here. These have been used for decades, so they must work, but no one considers local conditions and adaptability.
This situation is reducing the development of unique solutions by local people. These aren’t perfect. Putting a bypass tunnel under Stonehenge seemed an odd choice when you consider that there might be a chance of disturbing ancient relics there, and at least it’s been abandoned for now. While constructing bypasses around villages may prevent lorries from damaging roads, it can negatively impact shops by reducing casual trade as cars no longer pass through. Other countries likely face similar problems, necessitating a delicate balance of decisions. Often, people argue that it’s better to take no action than to risk making drastic changes. I suspect, really, no one has come up with a satisfactory solution that can work for all. It’s probably considered a safe choice to use something that has already worked elsewhere.
Templates aren’t just dependent on transportation but are not applied to other problems. Plastic pollution is damaging our oceans, as seen by companies and common folk—that’s us, by the way. Most rubbish will eventually surface as a dumping ground. The media outlets become agitated when a tin can is photographed on the seabed, yet where there is one, there are undoubtedly many more that remain unseen.
Ultimately, as we have seen, this microplastic has gotten into our food chain, so we are contaminating and probably killing ourselves. Any country that reduces this waste in a practical and safe manner is likely to witness other countries replicating their model. Whichever company takes this initiative is likely to achieve significant financial success, so it is puzzling why it is being overlooked. It would certainly be excellent PR and a template worth sharing.
It isn’t like it isn’t impossible. Many countries are turning to renewable power resources like wind and tide. The finite nature of coal, oil, and natural gas makes them difficult for future generations to manage. It’s far better to adapt now while there are still reserves. Many products actually use them rather than as fuel. It’s all based on a workable template.
The real problem with mains power is that it can’t be stored but has to be used. It might not be windy all the time, but even a light breeze will still cause some vane rotation. Choosing tides has to be a lot more selective. In addition to preserving the habitat, there are numerous locations near the coast that offer potential benefits. Both are successful templates. Oh, that and sunlight, but the rare earth elements used in solar panels have their own limits, and, as pointed out earlier, there is nowhere to store the energy outside of sharing with the national grid.
Efficient recycling has to be done. Computers and anything with a CPU, which is in most everyday things, contain a lot of rare earth elements that can be recycled but just are dumped. Given the high cost of these elements and the limited selection of countries that supply them, this procedure represents a lost opportunity. Given that computer components can be melted down and that the various elements have different melting points, one might wonder why this process has been overlooked and these materials discarded.
At least on the printer front, companies have moved to eco-tanks and reduced the amount of plastic used and brought the price of ink way, way down. The printers might be a little pricier, but you get your cost back by not buying ink cartridges. The advantage of these printers is that they last longer, rarely develop a dry nozzle if used at least once a month, and can be easily cleared through the maintenance cycle. I have owned my EcoTank printer for about four years, and aside from a droopy control panel that I may have caused, it continues to print well. I’ve more than made back my investment.
This editorial argues that some templates and reviews are more valuable than others. I approve of shopping websites figuring out and removing fake reviews or even incentive reviews, but they are still important when it comes to evaluating what others have said to help you make a decision to buy something. I don’t know about you, but I tend to be extra cautious when no one has reviewed anything because it leaves me with nothing to evaluate.
Blimey. I’ve done a review without touching on more serious world problems.
Thank you, take care, good night, and wait until next month.
Geoff Willmetts
editor: www.SFCrowsnest.info
A Zen thought: Length has nothing to do with quality.
What Qualities Does A Geek Have: To look at everything.
The Reveal: One thing they never show in the alien spacecraft is the film crew also each being attacked by the facehuggers.
Computer Observation: I love Windows 11 restoring open Internet pages when rebooted. Its not totally perfect because turning on Norton isn’t quite perfect. It can look like an age to complete although it actually already done. Sometimes, it won’t even appear. Rather than reboot, close that link and try another link because its more likely the link wasn’t restored correctly.
Computer Observation: Something that made my heart jump on Outlook this past Friday was all my emails vanishing under a family tag and no way to return it the way it was. Looking up solutions on google wasn’t helpful. In the end, I applied the old-fashioned way and closed the window and reloaded it which worked and everything back to normal. Even so, there should be solutions on any Internet page to resolve these problems simply.
Observation: There is one leading problem with the 1960s TV series, ‘The Prisoner’. Why go and see your secret service boss to resign when you can post a letter? At least it would give you a little more time to go off on your holidays.
Observation: There’s an interesting flaw with the man-apes in the opening of ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’. Considering how little food they had to eat, I’m surprised none of them had scurvy. All right, we might be seeing events in their dry season and lacking crops. However, when you see their gnashers, teeth to those who don’t know, it looks like they were built to eat meat, just that forgot how.
Observation: Going back to 1970’, UFO’ TV series and I was pondering. On Moonbase, the ladies wore stylish purple wigs that were described in the first novelisation as being anti-static. OK, it does make sense to stop the women’s hair looking all frizzled and up in the air all the time. It would have been havoc for the make-up people and would have taken more explanations than the wigs as well as a bit of smiling. So, the real thought was why didn’t the men wear purple wigs? Considering they had short hair, one could also presume a touch of hairspray would have dealt with any static problems.
Observation: I always find it odd that the Cambridge Dictionary adds new words to its dictionary. 600 this year. When I used to look up spellings, I used Chambers 21st Century Dictionary. As a writer, there is a need to use recognisable words most of the time and not have the reader having to stop to look a word up and lose concentration. Do that too often and the reader is more likely to put the book down and not pick it up again. It doesn’t mean that the odd rare word can’t be used but its meaning can usually be inferred from how it is used. The problem with these new words is they can also become incredibly dated unless the entire population accepts them in every day conversation and not just by a small minority.
Is It Just Me? I’m always puzzled why men shave their heads in the summer months thinking it will keep them cool – not the Fonzy cool – when really having hair will serve that purpose by dispersing heat and stop frying their brains.
Is It Just Me Or Am I Being Cynical? Granted many lotteries are made to provide money for charity and are supposed to be literally paid for by the small change of people entering. The reality is many people put in a lot more than loose change each week. There might also be applause for the few out of millions that win but what about the many who literally lose a lot of money on a weekly basis?
Feeling Stressed: There might still be a tomorrow.
