The Sun Also Flares - If we get hit with a once-in-a-century solar storm, we’re history.

NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE ^ | January 28, 2010 | Clifford D. May

[ctdonath2]

#1 concern: pacemakers. I can cope with everything else, so long as there is an “I”. If a TEOTWAKI EMP doesn’t take it out immediately, battery replacement would still be a problem.

[mvpel]

The best estimates suggest that super solar storms occur once every 100 years — which means we are 50 years overdue.

So, how is that the "best estimate," when it's obviously incorrect?

[the_devils_advocate_666]

a catastrophe from which America would never fully recover

Whatever. It may take a while but why wouldn't we fully recover?

[ShadowAce]

If such a flare occurs it will be George Bush’s fault.

Wait a minute--who was in office when we bombed the moon?

[GraceG]

>> In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
The Amish shall inherit the Earth. <<

Those damn crafty Amish.... If something like this happens I am going to Amish country to protect them from the starving zombies streaming out of the cities....

[GraceG]

>> Similar to our lack of preparation to mitigate or deflect an asteroid impact, this is the type of instance that convinces me that our government is not our friend. Mitigating this type of risk is cheap. Reacting to it is virtually impossible. It could be fatal.

Yet our “protectors” do nothing. <<

Another clear reason for needing an active space program.... Instead we get more Navel gazing and excuses to try to attain utopia here on earth.... A goal which is unreachable by definition....

[sinanju]

Scuse’ me, but aren’t the Amish supposed to be unarmed pacifists?

Or is that just the Hollywood image?

[Ultra Sonic 007]

*palms forehead*

Not even the focus of the article at all. Read the whole thing.

[GraceG]

>> Scuse’ me, but aren’t the Amish supposed to be unarmed pacifists?

Or is that just the Hollywood image? <<

Which is why they will need to be protected when the technology fails, there will be millions of starving urbanites fleeing into the countryside looking for food, they will see the amish as “easy-pickings” if they are not stopped they will “eat the seed corn” that are the amish.

[Joe 6-pack]

"A rifle, a shotgun and a 4WD and a country boy can survive."

Just hope you're 4WD is EMP hardened. If it has an Electronic Fuel Management System (EFMS) or similar technology, you may want to reconsider and get one of these...

...or maybe better yet, a few of these...

[prisoner6]

Is 1967 old enough?

[ansel12]

What’s interesting to note is that if we were hit by a solar flare or EMP, would we be much different than the Haitians?

Yes, because we are different, our culture and tradition is pulling together and problem solving, we know how to organize, we know how to manage resources and people, we are armed and sane, and again, our nature is to get to people to help them, not to instantly revert back to a savagery that we never really left.

We are also smart, and we mostly cooperate when needed, it will be easier for us to deal with sanitation and health issues because we listen when someone tells us how to stop, or prevent epidemic outbreaks and how to deal with a new situation.

Twenty five million of our adults are military veterans, when a mob of 500 hundred of our middle class gathers, it is much easier for a little leadership and expertise, to put them to use in a constructive manner, we fix things, we do not panic and go mad.

[Joe 6-pack]

You should be in good shape (provided you're talking about your vehicle and not your horse ;-)

Some interesting discussion on the topic (EMP effects on civilian vehicles) can be found here:

http://www.interferencetechnology.com

[JasonC]

Chicken little horsefeathers. All this crap always is. Always. Alar, bird flu, swine flu, globaloney, every scrap of it, ever uttered, from the first medicine man screaming about the first eclipse and other unfavorable omens in the sky. When will we ever get a rest from this endless gusher of drivel?

[randomhero97]

When will we ever get a rest from this endless gusher of drivel?

When research departments at universities do not need government grant money anymore.

[gogogodzilla]

Until the engine computer in your 4WD is fried by the EMP pulse...

[neverdem]

Chicken little horsefeathers. All this crap always is. Always. Alar, bird flu, swine flu, globaloney, every scrap of it, ever uttered, from the first medicine man screaming about the first eclipse and other unfavorable omens in the sky. When will we ever get a rest from this endless gusher of drivel?

Do you doubt A Super Solar Flare?

Why does the military have equipment built to survive an EMP?

[randomhero97]

Why does the military have equipment built to survive an EMP?

Mainly because of high altitude nuclear detonations.

[MaxMax]

My response was to the third paragraph. I'm a little sensitive sometimes about America.

[Gene Eric]

>> Instead, the infrastructure we depend on would be wiped out.

Who cares. We’ll have hi-speed rail in FL.