SF in 2028

The KWAYKO 2028 Glossary

( excerpted from the
Budget Guide to Kwayko )
.....
[ Editorial note: This imaginary glossary sketches a few aspects of The City (as "Kwayko")
in a possible near-future, circa 2028 ---
including the Big Melt, the Bio-luminescer Tribe,
camping lots, the Chlorophyll Tribe,
COME, fluids, greenzones, Gen 9-11, homeless homes,
hu-nobos (humanized bonobos), leakers, neo-humans,
nics, the Penance Ritual,
redzone(s), 'Roid Rage, self-storers, skinbuddies,
subsidized friendships, the Wig Tribe(s),
questioning selfhood, and more....

While details are guesswork,
this topia includes some real trends and events,
already forecast by 2005
(see Kwayko chronology for more).

On this canvas, fiction-writers may create individuals and their lives. ]
[Copyrighted but reprintable; for details, please see notice below,
at or near the end of this Glossary.]
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Adultia: The City, seen as composed of adults (18+);
as large U.S. city having lowest percentage of juveniles in its population.
[As of 2000, our juvenile percentage was 14.5 percent, versus 25.7 percent nationwide;
see New York Times, 24 March 2005.]
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Avant Gray: avant-garde persons over forty.
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Berkocentricity: gut feeling that only Berkeley really matters.
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Big Melt, the: Shrinking/thinning/melting of glaciers and ice caps, causing worldwide rise in sea levels. The Big Melt threatens to drown low-lying islands and coastal areas, including
parts of Kwayko which were underwater before the Gold Rush.
The City may eventually become an island (insula), instead of merely being the tip
of a near-island (pen-insula). [For forecasts, see Scientific American, Feb. 2005; etc. ]
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Bio-Luminescer Tribe, the: Humans having bioluminescent cells (and/or organelles) in their skin.
GMH (which see) bio-luminescers may have glow-in-the-dark skin over their entire bodies. Others merely have bioluminescent cells/organelles implanted in parts of their skin. Slang terms include lumy, fire-fly, glow-worm, lulu, etc. Since thugs often victimize them at night, lumies tend to travel in
"plutoons" of three or more friends.
[compare: Chlorophyll Tribe, the Wig Tribe(s) ]
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BlogHer: a female blogger. [term from circa 2005; considered quaintly archaic in 2028 ]
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Bohemian communities: Bohemias are composed of persons (mostly young adults) trying to live more freely and creatively than the mainstream society. Most will rejoin the mainstream later, but a few will remain in bohemia(s) until death. 19th-century bohemias recruited artists, writers, radicals, Jews, intellectuals, queers, etc. in cities (Paris, Manhattan, etc.) and in utopian communities (Oneida, etc.) and "artists' colonies" (Carmel, etc.).
In The City, 20th century bohemian zones included North Beach, the Haight-Ashbury,
the Castro, etc. (with some bohemias being more queer, some less). As of 2005, SF bohemias were
fragmented into many over-lapping subgroups, including "the arts community", hipsters, bicycle messengers, punks, goths, "the sex community", various queer communities (and sub-communities),
and many more. Many U.S. bohemians are extremely individualistic, hence reluctant to wear any label.
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Bonobo, humanized: see Hu-nobo.
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Camping lot: a former parking lot which has been divided into small camping spaces.
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Canuck Chic: enthusiasm for progressive Canadian policies; sometimes symbolically
expressed as desire for northern California to become a Canadian province.
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Chlorophyll Tribe, the: Genetically modified humans (GMH) who have chloroplasts in their skin cells.
Since their green skin needs light, they usually wear little or nothing. [ Some non-GMH wannabees merely have chloroplasts implanted into parts of their skin, rather like green tattoos. ]
Slang terms include kloro, cucumber, etc. ]
[ compare: Bio-Luminescer Tribe, the Wig Tribe(s) ]
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"City of Love 60": a series of celebrations in 2027,
marking the 60th anniversary of the hippie "Summer of Love" (1967).
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ChrINO: (pronounced "KRY-no"): CHRistian In Name Only. [compare DINO]
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COME: "Church Of Mother Earth".
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Confession, The: A spiritual intention recited at "The Penance Ritual" (which see).
Text varies, but usually includes these words:
"I have done wrong to my fellow humans, to other sentient beings, and to my planet,
both by my actions and by my failures to act. I deserve to be punished. I resolve to do better,
to care more, and to try harder. I ask all sentient beings to forgive me."
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Cultural neotony: remaining youthful beyond your twenties; a culturally neotenous person MAY
remain childless, innovative, playful, experimental, and/or sexually-seeking into midlife,
perhaps beyond. Bohemian communities usually promote culturally neotenous activities.
[see also: neophilia, neoteny ]
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DINO (pronounced DIE-noh): Democrat In Name Only.
[ derived from RINO. Republican In Name Only ( pronounced RYE-noh) ]
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Directed thoughts: see the Wig Tribe(s).
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Drug peace: historical period following the disastrous "war on drugs".
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Fluids: Persons who view their sexual and/or affectional orientations (and/or genders) as "fluid".
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Friday-thirteener: slang term for frequest participant in the Penance Ritual.
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Fusang: Pacific coastal areas of North America, especially California and Mexico.
[ from Chinese term, circa 499 CE, for a land reported to be circa 7,000 miles east of Japan ]
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Gam Saan Democratic Club: a political association of DINOs,
mostly of Chinese and hapa descent.
[ Gam Saan (Gold Mountain) = 19th-century Cantonese term for California.]
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Gamers: members of "the gamer generation(s)", raised on computerized gaming.
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Generation Nine-Eleven [9/11]: Yanks who were under 30 years old on 11 September 2001.
[ aka "Generation 911", pronounced "nine-one-one" ]. [ compare: Gamers ]
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GMH: genetically modified human. [ from GMO ]
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Going Kwayko: slang term for going wacko, over-using cannabis, going naked, et cetera.
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Greenzone Jesus One: A walled community inhabited exclusively by selected members-in-good-standing of the fundi "King Jesus Temple of God's Power". Strict rules of behavior are enforced.
Any J-1 resident who loses "good standing" in the church will soon be evicted from this greenzone.
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Greenzone Jesus Fifty: This walled community, officially a non-celibate "cloistered lay Neo-Anglican retreat", is inhabited only by childless adult married couples (one man with one woman), ages 18 and up, who CLAIM to be heterosexual and Protestant. The ostensibly "religious" nature of J-50 allows exclusion of OPENLY queer persons and OPENLY non-Protestant persons. In fact, lifestyles in J-50 are mostly secular; and residents aren't required to prove their religion;
nor to prove their sexual orientation, so long as they live ostensibly as male/female "couples".
Hence outsiders jokingly call this greenzone "ChrINO-50".
................
Greenzone Mary One: First in a series of walled communities for persons who were baptized as Roman Catholics, or even as Old Catholics; including some who haven't attended mass in decades. The M-1 population includes a few quiet queers, who are officially expected to practice celibacy.
As one gay man puts it, "M-1 will evict me if I ever get my boyfriend pregnant."
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Guide, the: "The Budget Guide to Kwayko", from which this Glossary is excerpted.
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Homeless home: a movable living-space, on wheels. The simplest might be a wooden platform mounted on rollerskate wheels; probably padded to serve as a mattress; possibly with tent-like structure so that one can sit up without being visible; and the sleeping platform may have storage shelves underneath. This may be moved by hand; or pulled by bicycle, trishaw, shopping-cart; etc. More elaborate structures amount to tiny houses on wheels, and/or tiny travel trailers; to be pulled by a motor vehicle. The "homeless home" term can be stretched to include motor vehicles used for sleeping, etc. (see also: Trishaw; Vehicularly housed).
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Hu-nobo (pronounced "hyoo-NO-boh"): a "humanized" (neotenized) bonobo;
kept as a "companion" by a human.
Often used as a sexual playmate, and/or as a sexworker.
Debate rages over whether hu-nobos should be considered
"neo-humans" (which see) or animals; and over what rights, if any, they deserve.
Attitudes and laws vary geographically, from state to state and from country to country.
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Instant fine: euphemism for payment made to avoid arrest. (see also: "Tip". )
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Kloro: [ pronounced KLOH-roh ]: see Chlorophyll Tribe.
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Kwayko: ( pronounced "QUAKE-oh"): The City in the 2020s and beyond.
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Kweirdos: self-labelled "queer weirdos".
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Leakers: see explanation under "Wig Tribe(s)".
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Lumy: [pronounced LOO-mee ] see Bio-Luminescer Tribe.
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"Naker Beach": The City's favorite beach (top-optional throughout;
with total nudity allowed on northern portion of beach).
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Neo-humans: vague term embracing GMH, neo-Martians, robo-races, etc.
[ Humans bitterly disagree over whether hu-nobos deserve to be called neo-humans.
Some critics refer to leakers as neo-human; but most leakers reject this label. ]
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Neo-Martians: proposed race(s) of biological GMH, adapted to live permanently on Mars.
[ As of 2028, there are many proposals for research, but all are stalled by controversies.
Presumably no Neo-Martians have yet been born; but rumors abound..... ]
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Neophilia: love of whatever is new; typical of California and the USA.
[ see also: Cultural neotony ]
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Neoteny: retention of immature characteristics into adulthood. [see Cultural neoteny]
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Nics: nicotine users; now taking their addictive narcotic by various methods (without smoking).
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Nothings, the: historical period from 2000 through 2009; aka "the Terrors".
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Nuditarians: a group of nudists who claim to represent "the naturist future of Unitarian-Universalism";
holding meditations each Saturday afternoon at Naker Beach, weather permitting.
[ aka Nature-tarians ]
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Other, The: Once a dissident zine [ way back in the Nothings ];
later bought by profiteers and turned into a leading commercial e-daily.
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Pavement Dwellers Association: Mutual-aid and advocacy group for homeless persons
who camp in camping lots (which see), etc.
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Penance Ritual, The: A semi-nude religious and performance-art ritual held in private gatherings of adults (18+) only, each Friday the 13th. Ecumenical gatherings are co-sponsored by two or more small religious groups (such as pagan covens, COME, the Nuditarians, etc.). All present recite "The Confession" of sins (which see). In most of the "mixed" (all-genders) groups, all of the men must strip naked ( or down to jockstraps), and then be blindfolded; to have their bare buttocks paddled by clothed women. Most of these women will do penance on the following day, Saturday the 14th, at gatherings attended only by women. Rules vary among different mixed gatherings. Plus there are penance rituals where attendance is restricted to one gender, one religion, etc.
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Penitentes: Shirtless persons marching thru the streets (usually in groups),
chanting prayers, while each flogs his or her bare back,
as penitence for "sins" which (they think) have caused God to send the threatening asteroid.
(pronounced "pain-ee-TAINT-ees")
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Plutoon: see Bio-Luminescer Tribe.
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Queerea: a queer area. [term replacing "ghaytto" and "gayrea". ]
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Redzones vs. Greenzones: Greenzones are enclosed areas (including walled or gated communities; government, corporate, & military compounds, etc.); most are defended 24/7 by military units (federal, state, or mercenary). Redzones ( or "the redzone") comprise territory not included in greenzones. Entering a greenzone requires permission. Most redzones aren't considered safe at night.
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Robo-races: proposed synthetic races of neo-humans, as self-replicating robots,
designed to inhabit the Moon, various asteroids, Venus, etc.
[while reserving Mars for humans and/or biological humanoids].
[As of 2028, creation of self-replicating robots is illegal in most countries;
but rumors abound of secret projects hidden by rogue regimes, by criminals in failed states, etc...]
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'Roid Rage: panic, debate, and other emotions surrounding asteroid "2004 MN4" which will pass very near Earth on 13 April 2029, a Friday. [Discover, April 2005]. Probably it will miss; but gravitational, seismic, and tidal effects may be severe. Many people want to nuke it; others fear this would worsen the problem. Religious fanatics hope it will wipe out "sinful" civilization; allowing theocracy.
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Selfhood, challenges to: see the Wig Tribe(s).
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Self-storers: Persons illegally inhabiting storage units.
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Skinbuddy: a friend with whom one shares massage, sex, BDSM, nudism, etc.
[compare earlier "fuckbuddy"].
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SPOON: "San Pancho Oddly Otherly Nudes": one of several neo-bohemian groups doing
clothing-optional public events (concerts, dances, etc.) for progressive causes.
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Subsidized friendship: an on-going relationship where the less desirable person pays
the more desirable person for sex and companionship; usually non-exclusive.
[ from earlier Japanese term, "subsidized date" ]
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Sub-underground, sub-sub-underground, ultima-underground, etc.:
As formerly underground sub-cultures move into mainstream culture(s),
separatists freaks invent new labels to distance themselves from
so-called "sell-outs" and "assimilationists".
[ from earlier "off-Broadway", "off-off-Broadway", etc. ] [compare: Un-In-Non ]





Telepathy: see the Wig Tribe(s).
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TenderNob, the: "upper Tenderloin or Lower Nob Hill". [Chronicle, 4 April 2005]
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Terrors, the: see the Nothings.
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Tip: euphemism for a bribe. (see also: "Instant fine".)
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Topia: any imagined or predicted world/place/society/etc. [compare utopia, dystopia, paratopia ]
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Trike: (from tricycle): dysphemism for a trishaw [mocking the trishaw as a small child's toy].
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Trishaw: a three-wheeled, pedal-powered rickshaw, often hand-made by modifying an old bicycle;
for carrying people or objects; often serving as sleeping space for one or two persons.
[see also: Trike ]
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Un-In-Non: "UN-safe, IN-sane, NON-consensual" : term mocking the standard motto of
ethically responsible BDSM groups and players -- "safe, sane, consensual".
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Vehicularly housed: living in a motor vehicle (truck, auto, bus, RV, etc.). [see also: Homeless home ]
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Wig Tribe(s), the: groups of persons who send messages to their "wigger" friends, many times per day,
thru their "wigs" ( arrays of electronic sensors, worn on the hairless scalp [like wig/helmet/hat],
which translate certain "directed" thoughts into digital formats).
("Directed" thoughts are those which you intentionally SEND to your personal computer, or to a website, mailbox, etc., to be digitized as commands, words, numbers, symbols, etc.
These are distinguished from "undirected" personal thoughts, emotions, etc.; which most people (try to) keep from "leaking" into cyberspace.
Chronic "leakers" are widely (tho not universally) disdained as emotional exhibitionists.
Wigs were first invented for physically-challenged persons who can't easily use a keyboard;
and were adopted by hipsters later.
Wigging and leaking spark many controversies about optimal boundaries of the self;
about whether selfhood is inherently "real", "natural", "good", "selfish", etc.;
about whether humanity should evolve into a telepathic GMH species; etc.)
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.....................................................................................
Kwayko2028 project conceived circa Yule 2004.
Copyright ©2005 by SUN and Tortuga Bi LIBERTY.
Permissions: Anyone may reprint this glossary, at no cost;
but only the copyright-holder(s) may amend this glossary.
Anyone may translate this glossary into any language, while preserving the meaning.
Anyone may create derivative works based on the factual premises of Kwayko2028.
If profit results from such derivative work, the creator shall donate at least 5%
(five percent) to a charity and/or to the ACLU.
.........
Please send copies of reprints, translations, derivative works, and other uses to
SUN (attn. Liberty), POB 426937-SUN, San Francisco, California 94142-6937, USA.
................................................................................
Glossary updated by TBL
to 4 August 2005.
................................................................................
First published at IndyBay.org, on 4 August 2005.
...............................................................



HELP WANTED:

How about a Kwayko 2028 anthology of short stories,
including erotic and political tales,
based on the "facts" in this glossary?

The main editor(s)/compiler(s)
[a person OR a stable couple]
should be a published author,
age circa 21 to 49,
living in the SF area;
who has lots of energy, optimism, intelligence, creativity,
publishing connections, people skills, editing skills, etc.

If you're such a person [or couple],
and if you wish to take on this task,
please snail-mail your CV to SUN (as above),
on Mac-format CD with paper print-out.

As references, please include published writers/authors
who are pro-sex and/or progressive
(like those published by SF Bay Guardian and the queer weeklies;
and by such avant-garde small presses as Cleis, Black Books, Good Vibrations,
Last Gasp, etc.).

Compiling such an anthology is way beyond the capabilities
of TBL ( a mere proofreader and activist);
but there must be at least a dozen published authors in SF,
mostly young and queer,
who could do this project successfully,
if not easily. ]

...............