I agree, Benjammin!

I don't waste time and efforts worrying about things that I have no control over.

I sleep good at night knowing that I'm always as prepared as possible, for whatever life throws at me.

I also know that none of us will die of boredom!

I agree - change is inevitable, actually I'll go one further and say life is change. One of the challenges with this is that lots of people think they have the inside track on what the changes are going to be (based on science, religion, philosophy, astrology.....) and we can't get them to all agree. Of course even if they agreed it doesn't mean any of them would be right either.

I doubt that anyone has a really clear view of what lies ahead. We have literally centuries (or decades if you limit yourself to post WWII) of prognostication by various charlatans and experts and none of them really fall close to the reality we have today. Best we can do is prepare ourselves for the ever uncertain future in the way that makes the most sense based on our individual circumstances. To me part of that is learning from the good people here while sharing the odd bit or so that I can contribute.

- Eric

One can never control the waves, but one can always learn to surf....

I'm building this 55 gallon Ark. It looks like a 55 gallon barrel and smells like feet. There is enough room for me and my cat. I'll be in there. knock if it gets better out there.

Now that is funny, can I sell you a tinfoil admiral's hat?

I think someone is drumming up paranoia. The movie industry is getting in on the act. Here is the Link. Yeah baby, surf's up.

I plan to lash my kayaks together and make a mini catamaran like Kevin Costner's in Water World.

Welcome to the new and improved Y2K!

Here is a story that'll feed the paranoia.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,478024,00.html

Just want to point out that estimating low probability events such as the ones on this thread (solar flares, natural and man made disasters, virtual Armageddon, et cetra ) is almost impossible.

The "Black Swans" book has a good strategy for handling things that can't be pinned down as to likely hood.
NNT (the author) also admonishes against (SME's)experts who are more often wrong than right.
Look at finance for a lesson in wrong estimates.

Most of you do it instinctively here on ETS.
Don't worry about if it will happen, just plan to mitigate the outcome.

No one can really tell or calculate if (one of the previously mentioned events) is 5% or 75% likely.

We are better informed now in the day of internet communications, it has always been more likely than the public judged, we just didn't know.

Focus on being adaptable and prepared.
And no you are not paranoid, just informed.
Those feelings are a natural reaction to just how fragile civilization actually is.

Ultimately it is a question of WHEN not IF some of these things will happen.

Preparation, planning and skills are the only edge you have under you personal control.

Blue Sky's and good luck.