Science Fiction, Reality, and Philip K. Dick

Has anyone seen any truly good science fiction movies lately? I’m not talking about the kind with all the special effects and graphics. This is about science fiction that makes you think about things. About the world; about society; about where we are headed.

One author who did this was Philip K. Dick. One of the best science fiction writers that ever wrote. In Valis, he created imaginary friends. The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch included space travel, mass hallucination, and global warming. Funny, considering it was written in 1965. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep also departed from the norm and switch between reality and fantasy.

Possibly his best was Man in the High Castle, which posed the idea of what the world would be like if the Axis powers had won World War II. 

Much of his work considered alternate realities. He made you think of what things could be like. He made you imagine alternate realities. Philip K. Dick made you consider the impact of artificial intelligence long before it became something to consider.

Butterfly World - Coconut Creek, Florida

This bird posed.

I took these photos at a beautiful spot in Coconut Creek, Florida: Butterfly World. It has beautiful butterflies (of course), birds, and blooming plants. It's a visual splendor. If you ever get a chance to visit, you'll have a great time examining the beauty it offers.

Fall Springs in South Florida

Fall Springs in South Florida

The past two days reminded me of falling leaves and how comfortable it feels in the fall when you live up north. At least it felt that way early in the morning before the sun made it too hot because the temperature rises to the low eighties by noontime at the latest.

People form the North tends to miss the change of seasons. Some even move back because they miss the seasonal variety, but I can’t say that it bothers me that much. The last time I flew north in December, 19 inches of snow and a six-degree temperature numbed my body and soul and prompted me to never leave Sunny South Florida after November 15^th again.

Most people that live in Florida weren’t born here, and that will change as the next generation comes to the area and the population continues to expand. The pristine beauty that was Florida decades ago no longer exists. Industry replaced tourism as the permanent population grew.   

According to the Census Bureau, Florida’s population nears 20 million, as it grows at a rapid pace, as indicated in the graph:

The only issue to ponder is how long can this continue.

Internet Question

If I didn't go on  the Internet for a day, did that day really happen?