Walter was explaining to Akesh about progress. - Technological advancements typically preceded and gave rise to advances in scientific understanding, he said, and vice versa. Take this train we’re on, Water said.
- I don’t normally catch the train, Akesh said.
- Now, Walter continued, The steam engine is a good example. It was developed by mechanics who observed the relations between volume, pressure, and temperature. This was at a time when theoretical scientists were tied to the caloric theory of heat, which later turned out to be a conceptual dead end.
Akesh was watching the woman with dreads and an angry blank look in her eyes return to her seat.
- The success of the steam engine, Walter said, contributed to the development of what you and I would call classical thermodynamics.
- Shut up you sluts. Sluts. Why don’t you go suck some cock.
- What I want to know is, said Akesh, is what does this mean for democracy?
- Do you see a bad moon rising over the democratic world? Walter asked.
- In this age of communicative abundance, Akesh said, watching two South Korean schoolgirls film the woman on their glittering iPhones, who will protect the public interest against the abuse of corporate and private power?
- It's a networked world my friend. And when communication is no longer housed within a territorial state, it’s hard to humble the arrogant.
- That’s right, scratch your head, Scratch those nits. Nithead!
Akesh looked at his reflection in the night-darkened window, spots of light bleeding past outside. - I can’t fight the bullshit, he said.
The schoolgirls got off at the next stop, one of them shouting in polished English that she hoped the woman fell under a train. The people applauded.