If you need to do numerical analysis in a scripting language, you pick python because it has numpy.
I once had to make a QR Code reader and writer back when it was only seen in Japan and the only library available was for Java, so I picked that.
Recently I had some ruby code that parsed a file, but I needed to pump it into a proprietary database with only a JDBC connection... so I picked JRuby.
Often picking a new language is much easier than rewriting a particular library.
I think that it would be clearer if there were some examples of nested metaphors or metaphors that 'darken' other metaphors. Maybe there is in the actual text, but the quote out of context seems a little abstract.
Think of it. We are blessed with technology that would be indescribable to our forefathers. We have the wherewithal, the know-it-all to feed everybody, clothe everybody, and give every human on Earth a chance. We know now what we could never have known before -- that we now have the option for all humanity to make it successfully on this planet in this lifetime. Whether it is to be Utopia or Oblivion will be a touch-and-go relay race right up to the final moment.
I really like Accelerando, too. But it sounds a bit too reasonable; business as usual, with neither Heaven nor Hell.
The human mind accepts better living conditions as self evident really fast and forgets all previous situations. We lack historical insight -- from the viewpoint of two-three centuries ago, we probably live in a good approximation of Heaven.
-- There is no widespread hunger. (Locally, one year in seven had a bad harvest and lots of people died with many children getting brain damage).
-- The child mortality is much less than 20-30%. Enough said.
-- We have antibiotics. We know about cleanliness for operations/childbirth -- and can stop pain during them.
-- We are rich and most everyone can have education, music/art access and only work 8 hours a day.
-- Social equality. Just 160-170 years ago in my country, it became illegal to beat your employees...
-- Modern dental care.
-- Etc.
Even in most of the world's under developed countries, they have it much better than we had just ten generations ago.
Edit: I'm not arguing against "weird". I am arguing that utopia and/or dystopia is more likely than we would guess naively.
Edit 2: To nitpick and give a reference to my last claim (that was irrelevant for my point):
I've seen data for up to 30% children dead before 5 years of age in Scandinavia for poor farmers (that is, most everyone), around 200-250 years ago.
From the reference: "In 2007, there were 37 countries in which at least 10% of children under five died, down from 41 in 2006. All were in Africa, except for Afghanistan."
Look out, world.