Praises be to the GREAT GOOD electricity. Without it no air conditioning or lights or internet or TV. A great gift?

You fleshed out my question beautifully Durdle. It was one-dimensional and VOILA here we are in 3-dimension land. I did not realize the particulars you brought up that makes electricity possible. To me electricity is just another magical thing we have. But I did not think it through. It didn't occur to me how many things are related and what's necessary to have FIRST before you can progress to getting "other" and "better".

I saw something about our next moon mission that focused mostly on the minerals available on the moon. We can harvest it! We can probably fight wars there one day over mineral rights. We can fight wars any time anywhere for any reason. SIGH. I'm gonna ask. Thank you for your reply and Happy Friday! :) This post was edited by RosieG at July 19, 2019 4:12 PM MDT

I suspect if you were to carry out an informal survey, asking which are our primary mineral resources and why; very many people would be unable to answer beyond a few vague guesses. It's not just simple ignorance, but also we have become so accustomed to our services and utilities that we all too easily take them for granted and don't give a thought how they might have arrived.

I used to work for a company with a large R&D side, and one day, on its Intranet's social-side version of Answermug, I asked,

"How much mechanical engineering goes into the computer you are reading this on?"

Most of the users were scientists but engaged in electronics work so I'd have expected better than I received. One or two hazarded a guess at the steel case and metal parts in the hard-drive; but I had the impression none had seen what I had. If you read the question carefully, and note what it actually says, you realise it does not ask what it contains as a finished product, but how much engineering it takes to make it. That includes but is by no means only, its direct metal components. The answer is a very large amount, and at very high quality; for making all of it, plastic parts too.  

'
Mining minerals from the moon has long attracted speculation, though whether it could be economical or would result in wars, is another matter. It doesn't contain anything not found on the Earth, though they might be in different concentrations or availability. Anyway, haven't we ruined enough on Earth already?

I'll answer your question first. Yes we have indeed ruined enough on Earth already but that isn't going  to stop the ruiners from continuing on in their zeal to get more. Of what? Of everything. I am guilty of not giving many things a thought at all UNTIL I am inconvenienced. Electricity is a prime example. If it goes out in the heat of summer I focus on it or the lack of it. We have THREE REFRIGERATORS and I worry about food spoilage first. Then we are unable to watch TV or make coffee or have access to a computer even off line.  We have flashlights and candles we can use for "light" but it really isn't all that awesome. Then I think dark thoughts about the electric company and worry. But when everything flows smoothly it never crosses my mind other than the size of the bill we will receive if it's way too hot way too many days. Thank you for your thoughtful and helpful reply. I find out about things that interest me..things that don't make sense to me. Those things in which I have no interest I don't bother learning about. I guess I'm typical average ordinary in that regard. It's lack of something I rely on or presence of something/someone I detest that grabs my attention. Otherwise I remain blissfully ignorant! :( This post was edited by RosieG at July 22, 2019 9:06 AM MDT