Anybody watch "Revolution"?

[staylor]

Watched, underwhelmed but did not hate it. If it's on and I had nothing else to do I would watch it. The problem is that Stirling already dealt with this in his Dies the Fire books and generally did a far better job. Also, put down as one of those who predict wide scale death in such a senario who can not suddenly rip out one of the key underpinnings of our highly integrated economy and society and expect otherwise. True there are alternatives but no to implement them in time and on the scale needed. As for probability of such and event, a Carrington level solar flare would bugger are electrical grid to the point that for all intents and purposes electricity would stop working.

[Rod]

As for probability of such and event, a Carrington level solar flare would bugger are electrical grid to the point that for all intents and purposes electricity would stop working.

In that case though, as soon as the flare stopped, we could rebuild electricity, of sorts. Small generators and such?

[staylor]

As for probability of such and event, a Carrington level solar flare would bugger are electrical grid to the point that for all intents and purposes electricity would stop working.

In that case though, as soon as the flare stopped, we could rebuild electricity, of sorts. Small generators and such?

True, but what little electricity generation that would survive or could be constructed immediatly after would not be enough to stave off a near complete societal collapse. Modern society and the economy are fragile things and powerful enough solar flare would be a bit like throwing a rick through a spider web. Would it get as bad as in this silly show? Probably not, it only be Mad Max level for most of the country with the probable exception of some areas around military bases. when your industrial base and transportation system dissapears it becomes a bit difficult to rebuild the electrical grid.

[Yogimus]

As for probability of such and event, a Carrington level solar flare would bugger are electrical grid to the point that for all intents and purposes electricity would stop working.

In that case though, as soon as the flare stopped, we could rebuild electricity, of sorts. Small generators and such?

True, but what little electricity generation that would survive or could be constructed immediatly after would not be enough to stave off a near complete societal collapse. Modern society and the economy are fragile things and powerful enough solar flare would be a bit like throwing a rick through a spider web. Would it get as bad as in this silly show? Probably not, it only be Mad Max level for most of the country with the probable exception of some areas around military bases. when your industrial base and transportation system dissapears it becomes a bit difficult to rebuild the electrical grid.

Everyone in big cities would die of thirst within 2 weeks. Suburbs soon after. Sure there will be a few hundred thousand that survive, but for how long? A great show would make it so the power goes out for a few WEEKS, not "forever"

[Netpackrat]

Everyone in big cities would die of thirst within 2 weeks. Suburbs soon after. Sure there will be a few hundred thousand that survive, but for how long? A great show would make it so the power goes out for a few WEEKS, not "forever"

Alaskans would have to cut more firewood, and get used to eating little but fish for a while.

[Greg]

Everyone in big cities would die of thirst within 2 weeks. Suburbs soon after. Sure there will be a few hundred thousand that survive, but for how long? A great show would make it so the power goes out for a few WEEKS, not "forever"

Alaskans would have to cut more firewood, and get used to eating little but fish for a while.

So what you're saying is that Alaska is difficult to distinguish from a Third World country?

Anyway, you'll have at least one set of First World problems. There's going to be trouble with the neighbors when the welfare checks stop coming....

[Highspeed]

Anyway, you'll have at least one set of First World problems. There's going to be trouble with the neighbors when the welfare checks stop coming....

Until they realise that it's probably safer trying to mug a grizzly bear than an independant minded man with a scoped rifle

[Greg]

Anyway, you'll have at least one set of First World problems. There's going to be trouble with the neighbors when the welfare checks stop coming....

Until they realise that it's probably safer trying to mug a grizzly bear than an independant minded man with a scoped rifle

If only it were that easy.

[Highspeed]

If only it were that easy.

Honestly Greg, once the gloves come off, I think it would be.

[Greg]

If only it were that easy.

Honestly Greg, once the gloves come off, I think it would be.

Only in areas where one group greatly outnumbers the other. Where the numbers are more mixed, and you have concentrated pockets of one side and the other near each other.... Things get very bad indeed. It turns into extremely nasty irregular warfare.

Look up 'Bleeding Kansas', 'Border Ruffians' (hey, it's ACORN!), the origins of the terms 'bushwhacker', 'Redlegs', 'Jayhawkers'....

Anyway, I was mainly poking fun at NPR. For a state that is all manly-rugged-hardy-individualist-survivors, all the time, Alaska has problems with too damn many people on the dole just like the rest of us.