Welcome. The Cavern is dedicated to the Power of Knowledge through the Excitement of Exploration and Exchange in the dawn of the age of the Powershift.

The Cavern provides a variety of ways to Explore the paths to Your Personal Powershift:

For those who are looking for Specific Information on topics, people, data bases, encyclopedias or sites, we encourage the wise use of the Search Engines.

For those who dare to take the Internet Spelunking Journey we have created The Challenge.

For those who wish to partake in the Exchange of Power we provide the HomePage Interchange and the Powershift Exchange Book.

For those who need a Quick Power Fix we insist you link post haste on Power Navigating (For Extreme Power Netaholics this is also known as "Getting a QPF" - see Shui Long's Acronyms.)

For those who desire College Credit for the Power Learning they gain, we offer the University of Alaska CIOS (Computer Information/Office Services) Classes. These Distance Education classes (Open Entry Correspondence Classes via the Computer) are located in the Knowledge section of The Cavern.

and finally........

For those who prefer to randomly Cerf through Infinite Internet Inducements we recommend your quest begin in Eclectic InterLinks, continue on with casual browsing in The Library, and conclude with a relaxed viewing of the imagery in The Metzler Gallery.

POWERSHIFT

Okay, now that you know the paths, what does it mean?

Power comes in varying grades of quality and those that understand Power Qualities gain a strategic edge in this Infinite Informational Age Instigated by the Internet. (Was that a mouthful or what?)

Everyone realizes that Physical Power can yield awesome results. It's weakness, however, lies in it's very limited nature: the Threat. The Physical Threat can be in fear of violence, pain or death. The Threat can also be in fear of it's removal, the withdrawal of physical help. The abuse of Physical Power produces resistance. It's survivors look for the first chance to strike back. It is inflexible. In short, it is low-quality Power.

Wealth is a far better tool of Power. It is more versatile in that it does not just threaten, it can also offer reward. It can be used both positively and negatively. It is, therefore, a medium-quality Power.

The highest-quality Power comes from Knowledge. High-quality Power is not simply clout. It is efficient, persuasive and the most versatile. It can punish, reward, protect, persuade, and even transform.

Knowledge today includes information and imagery as well as attitudes and values. All of these are used or manipulated by Power-Seekers, and always have been. The control of Knowledge is the basis of the worlds chaotic struggle for Power.

But Knowledge is not finite. The Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea pointed out that If a traveler goes halfway to his destination each day, he can never reach his final destination, since there is always another halfway to go. In the same manner, we may never reach Ultimate Knowledge about anything, but we can always take one step closer to an understanding of everything. Knowledge is infinitely expandable. Therefore it's Power is truly Uncontrollable.

Exploration, the patient absorption of Knowledge, is the key to one's own Personal Powershift.

The individual's Exchange of this Knowledge with others perpetuates the World's Powershift.


Portions of this document were reprinted in part from:

Powershift : Knowledge, Wealth, and Violence at the Edge of the 21st Century ,Alvin Toffler, Bantam Books, December 1991.

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