Its the end of the world as we know it!

[Muon]

Interesting how many feel that SOMETHING will knock out the grid (like EMP) or shipping of food, or a collapse of the economy. Followed by civil violence/war/mayhem.

IF every person had 3 months supply of food and water, along with seeds for a big garden, we MIGHT be able to make a transition to the new life-style without so much violence. But this --3 month supply-- ain't gonna happen. sigh...

"You're only as prepared as your neighbors are"

[Farmhand]

It's not so much a n EMP or anything in particular the most likely situation would be total chaos.

An interesting thought occurred to me some time ago and I seen it said again
on another forum.

IF there was an uprising of the people and chaos ensued, as in everyone left
their jobs due to no safety no law. Then what happens with all the nuclear
reactors, who will shut them down ? I think preppers in the U.S. may be
engaged in a somewhat futile effort, with all the reactors there exploding
would living there for the rest of your lives be worth it.

If I lived in the U.S.A. I would head for the southern hemisphere. Just don't
come to Australia. Nothing personal.

They wanted to build reactors here but we refused outright, better off with
dirty coal than to have reactors. As far as I know there is only two reactors
here one is known to be in Sydney for Medical reasons, the other is purported
to be at the american installation at Pine Gap. Myself I think they should
leave. And take all their stuff with them.

Cheers

[Farmhand]

Given the living density in most big cities I would have to say if nation wide riots
went on for some time then mass chaos would also mean mass casualties.

With 20% of the people in the cities killing the other 80 % of the people the
population density would become much less, distance between people with no
means of transport means peace.

It could go like this, total economic collapse, mass riots, mass casualties until it burns itself out. Country ruined.

Or it could go like this, we all wake up as one and take the criminals from
power and punish them. Then start again and wait for the inevitable
corruption to return. Country continues with hardship for a time then better
times as thing get sorted.

The entire planet is at the mercy of human sanity or madness until humans no
longer have the capacity to control everything.

Cheers

[dutchdivco]

If/when it happens

And, of coarse, without knowing the specifics of how/why; IF everyone was going to abandon their jobs, as you describe, the workers in the Nuclear power plants would shut them down, first; they and their families live in cose proximity; THEY don'tant them to 'blow up', or do a meltdown.

I suspect, in the cities, at least, that 'civilisation' would devolve into a 'warlord' system, basically gangs 'controlling' different territories. Its what we see in various parts of the world, where the Gov't. basically collapses.

Its also how most monarchies developed, in the past. King Arthur was really nothing more than a 'war lord', who came out on top. Can say the same for North Korea, for instance; no one refers to it that way, but the Gov't. in North Korea could accurately be described as a monarchy.

Those who continue to live in cities will pay a 'tribute' (tax, extortion payment, call it what you will), in order to be allowed to live and function.

After all, 'taxes' is just a form of extortion; collecting money under threat.

I go back to my underlieing view of human history; we made a collective decision, around 10-14 thousand years ago, to STOP being hunter/gatherers, and to begin living in one place; all SORTS of other choices follow, ONCE you make that decision; ownership of the land, the development of towns which grow to cities, the development of Gov't, currency, taxation, competition vs. co-operation, 'employment, possesions (beyond what you can carry), etc. And, IF it all collapses, and the survivors once again decide to try to form communities which stay in one place, we will inevitably make the same choices again, and in time will end up in the same place! Human behavior is NOT logical! Never HAS been. Jim

[aljhoa]

we made a collective decision

קבלה החלטה קולקטיבית

Al

[Stealth]

I finally had the chance to finish and test my prototype slingshot/bow. It works good but I still need to do some modifications on it. The fiberglass limbs/prods, need to be stronger. It has good power but it has the capability to have great power with this design. I only need to swap out the limbs for stronger ones. This prototype is made of wood, but after I have done mods and am satisfied, I will make the next one from aluminum. Here are the pictures . Good luck. stealth

[Farmhand]

Stealth, I like your design very much, it kinda looks like a sideways bow. I might get into the workshop by Tuesday or so and mess with some stuff.

Cheers

[Stealth]

While I was testing it, one of the limbs cracked, but that is OK, because I intend to put stronger limbs on it anyway. It has about a 50 pound pull as it was. Hopefully I can still pull it after installing heavier limb. It is really stable and packs a punch, with the heavier limbs it should really send a projectile down range. Good Luck. stealth

[Rubberband]

For this thread.......

ISON is Spreading Out Fast. - YouTube

[Rubberband]

If you're in this for the long run...

Interesting news with a lot of data....7 Days Later. Hercolubus 2 - YouTube

[Farmhand]

It seems like some predict that the earth will pass through the comet Ison's tail.
I wonder what effects we could expect from that.


Comet ISON Survived the Sun...Now it's headed towards Earth! - YouTube

..

[Farmhand]

I find it very odd that many of these crop "circles" formations look almost like
portraits of Ison, however the crop circles appeared years before the Comet was
even discovered by humans, apparently.

Those crop formations sure are pretty.

ISON & Crop Circles: "They" Knew It Was Coming! (LOOK) - YouTube

Ummm, maybe I have time to dig a mini bunker before the end of the year at least
to protect from super storms or "Hot" winds maybe.

I often thought of sheltering in culverts or pipes under roads, but if the rain is
lots the water is a problem. Some places you could head to the subway or
other underground or strengthened/hardened areas near your home, pick one
out if you have nothing to lose it is worth a shot if things go hot in whatever
way. The old section of man sized diameter concrete pipe in the ground like a
quick bomb shelter could be handy, dig the hole put the pipe in standing up
with a heavy lid that can be pulled on to keep down.

That does not impress me as a fallen tree could trap you in there.

I think I'll dig into a steep bank down the hill a bit and bury in most of the
cover of logs, with a small hole to get in and a cover placed on the inside
bigger than the hole and wedged out to block it with force with a prop or 2 of
2x4 timber, so after the storm you knock the prop out and the cover falls into
the bunker, also if I take in a shovel I can dig out or around.

I'll make a picture, it could be small, easy to dig and build but quite
protective. For storms at least.

..

[dutchdivco]

I was

doing some research on septic systems, awhile back. Saw a fiberglass 'tank' you could buy, for around $2000-3000, it looked like it might make a good 'bug-out' or 'safe room'. It was round, in cross-section. Around 6'-8' in diameter, and longer than that in length, with an 'access' opening. Its made to be buried, and looked like it COULD work, for me. I live in a travel trailer, and am thinking I could parkright over it, and have a hatch in the floor. Would be a place to go in the event of fire, (property where i will be parking my trailer is in forsted area), also a place to go for any of a wde variety of other situations; home invasion, fire from sky, etc.

I've made it clear that like many, I 'see' the end coming. But, don't know when, or how it will happen, or even whether it will be one catastrophic triggering event, or a 'perfect storm' confluence of events,or even if it will just be a slow decline.

Just something to consider; Mark Twain, in his later years, expressed exactly the same kinds of thinking, regarding mans future; he didn't expect civilisation to last 50 years, after his death. And that was some time ago.

I worked for a LOT of different companies, and several went 'bankrupt'; in each case, it got to the point where everyone saw it coming; employees, customers and suppliers. And yet it was amasing how long those companies were able to 'hang on', for years and years. I see an analogy between these companies and civilisation; So, while it doesn't SEEM possible that civilisation can hang on much longer, I have to agknowledge the possibility that it won't be in my lifetime, that it collapses. There is a LOT of 'inertia', and a lot of people will try to 'prop up' a failed system, rather than face the reality that its unsustainable, and that in the long run, it would be better to scrap the whole system, and start over. Jim

[wayne.ct]

The end of TRUTH

A lot of things change and a lot stay the same. One group of things that stay the same are those things that make up the basic functioning of the universe. The way gravity works, for example, has not changed. The rotation of the earth, the lunar cycle and the seasons that result from the tilt of the earths axis and the earths motion around the sun. Words are things that change on an almost daily basis. Slang meanings come from TV, etc. and one hardly knows what someone is saying if you didn't both watch the same show the night before. If you don't think for yourself you will be the victim of someone's propaganda. Whose fool are you? The content of this forum is an excellent case in point. The viewpoints are sometimes so divergent I wonder if anyone can understand the underlying reality. Some might even dispute whether there is an underlying reality. I still believe there is an underlying and all-encompassing TRUTH. The truth is what I am looking for. The truth about alternate energy, the "powers that be", and whatever else can be "nailed down". As far as the end of the world is concerned, this is a time in which the most powerful countries in the world have built enough bombs that a true idiot could vaporize every living human being on the planet. Do you wonder that a big section of the population is totally pathetic? It sounds like a moral crisis to me. When will the police arrest the crooks and frauds that have illegally taken control of things?

[dutchdivco]

Had a thought

In my 'bug-out bag', I've got some M-80 firecrackers. ONE of there uses, in a 'survival' situation is for 'fishing'; YES its 'illegal', but if your stranded in the wilderness and going to DIE, such rules become moot; light and throw a couple into a pond or stream with fish in it, and after the boom the fish come floating to the surface, stunned. Pick out the ones you want for dinner, and after a minute or 2 the rest recover and swim away.
Anyway, one of the reasons for going with arrows, blow guns, etc. is the idea that gunpowder will become rare. While it IS possible to make your own, as its just sulphe, charcoal and salt peter, I'm wondering if there is some way I coulod make something with after the apocolypse materials, that would give me a similar concussion, for similar fishing?
Anyone have any ideas on that? Thanks, Jim