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Seashells and Cat Posters
Found a Seashell or Cat Poster?
The Northern Commons Diverse Futures series
features a number of presenters sharing visions of the future where diversity is
embraced rather than quashed.
The November 18th presentation described below will explore the ways
diversity would flourish if there were ubiquitous, free teleporation available. Think of
the niche hobbies you could explore. Even if there are only ten people on the planet who
love to shellac comic book superheroes to seashells and leave them in libraries in landlocked cities,
you could do that. You could get together for coffee in Paris and then blip over to Hyderabad
to hide some seashells in the Telangana State
Central Library.
And, you know, that if there were open teleportation infrastructure, cats would find
their way to new continents. If you'd like to help track them down, I'm sure there are lots
of folks who'd love to do it with you.
So, if you found a seashell or a cat poster, welcome to the future, and be sure
to check out the entire Diverse Futures schedule.
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November 18, 2026—7:00pm to 8:30pm
David Graeber and David Wengrow, in their book The Dawn of Everything,
listed three freedoms that our ancestors had which we are lacking: the freedom to leave,
the freedom to disobey, and the freedom to imagine/create new ways of relating.
Free teleportation infrastructure would truly facilitate the freedom to leave and
open us to new ways of relating to each other. Let's imagine that possiblity together.
Overview
Come with us into the future. Imagine a future where advances in
quantum mechanics have made it possible to zip around the world in
just a few milliseconds while at the same time making it
impossible for financial institutions to move money around the
globe in a wink. What would such a future hold?
Join us for an immersive experience. We will hop on the JumpNet to
converge at Northern Commons. JumpNet historian Patrick Stein will lead us
through the wonders of our modern life by recounting the many ways that
JumpNet has allowed us to be us.
With JumpNet, you and the other ten people on the planet who like shellacking
superhero comic book images to seashells and leaving them in public
spaces in landlocked cities can have coffee together in Paris before
you head off to hide your shells in a Hyderabad library.
In a future where you can visit anyone, anywhere in just a few moments,
whom would you seek out? where would you go? who would you be?
Costumes encouraged.
Dress for the world you want to live in, and maybe you'll find some seashells.
JumpNet badges will be provided.
About the Presenter
Patrick Stein (they/them) is an avid reader, relationship
anarchist, feminist, and math nerd. Patrick facilitates the Joyful Math
group on Meetup, facilitates a book club, participates in a couple
of other book clubs, and helps run Northern Commons. They write
software both professionally and as a hobby.
