DISCLAIMER: First, I wanna state that I am NOT TROLLING. I know that some people think that this is nonsense and thats fine. Yes, maybe some of it is, but there is also SCIENCE, that supports some possibilities, and that is what I want to discuss.
Ok, now that I've got that out of the way, I want to ask you RIA (and friends), what are your plans for the end of the world?
We've all heard "OMG 12/21/12 END OF TEH WORLDZORS", but let me throw down some science and perspective.
First, lets split this shit into Fact and Myth by hitting the top few theories:
1. 12/21/12 is the end of the world. FACT AND MYTH!
12/20/12 is the predicted date by the mayan calendar that the 13th baktun (and the "4th" world will end). 12/21/12 is the date the the 14th Baktun and the "5th" world will begin. To the mayan people, this would be a time of spiritual rebirth as they enter the 5th world. However, the mayan calandar does not end. In fact, in order to reach a pitun (the next level of calendar) we need to reach 20 baktuns, because the Mayans thought that base-20 math was the way to go. Actually, there are dates for predictions (mostly astronomical) after the 15th baktun.
2. 12/21/12 is the galactic alignment and gravity will fuck shit up: GIANT FUCKING MYTH
SCIENCE: The galactic alignment (or at least, the sun rising in as close to alignment as it gets) happened 12/21/98. Now, heres the crazy part, many people say this happens roughly ever 26,000 years. However, this is false. They are confusing Precession (the "wiggling" of the earths axis) with the alignment. This wiggling is on a 26,000 year cycle, BUT, it hits each points twice (the earth tilts a number of degrees during this cycle, and from start to finish, the rotation and back, it's 26,000 years). So, does this mean we should have one ever 13,000 years? NOPE. You see, the entire solar system is effected by the precession of the sun, AND the general solar system. All these compound and make it VERY difficult to predict a galactic alignment (well, for me at least, probably not to Steve Hawking).
3. 2012 will be the center and most active part of the current solar cycle: TRUTH (and a bit of false)
December 2012 reaches near the predicted mid-point of the solar cycle as well as the start of the most active time (in fact, the midpoint in mid 2013). Originally, this was supposed to be years ago, however this current cycle has not followed the same 11-year cycle the previous have. Not only that, but because we are MERE HUMANS we do not completely know what the fuck is causing it (my theory: WIZARDS). This is by far the BIGGEST THREAT WE FACE (other than self-annihilation) in 2012. Solar storms and solar flares cause massive problems. As the sun gets more and more active, it "somehow" (see: WIZARDS) effects the earths core and causes more geological activity. Because this causes the average temperate of the earth to increase, it results in melting ice-caps, as well as changing weather-patterns and additional tectonic activity. This is known as a natural evolution of a planet, and has in fact, happened countless times since the earth was created 3.4BYA (billion years ago).
4. On 12/21/2012 aliens will do/cause... something? MYTH...(probably)
Not even gonna cover this craziness because it ranges from aliens will ascend us to a higher plane of existence, to intergalactic war, to tons of other possibilities. I fully believe that intelligent life exists out in the galaxy, but I also believe that there is a very small chance that aliens would decide to do something on the same day the mayan bak-tun ends. In fact, I'd say the fact that all this other shit happens on the same day makes it less likly that aliens will decide to show-up on that specific day.
5. Crystal Skulls.
?
Again, not gonna touch this. It ranges from needing them all together to shoot lasers at them, to everyone on earth needing to orgasm at the same time to send positive energy along unicorns to power the skulls so they can do "something".
So, now onto the real stuff, What is it that keeps Pterrydactylhis awake at night to create the topics like this?
It's our egg-shell of an electrical grid, and our dependence on everything being controlling by computers.
Heres what truly worries me:
If earth gets his by an electromagnetic pulse, all of our technology will be bricked. We'll be in the stone-age. It's estimated that within 48 hours, all stores will be out of food (you live in a small city, make that about 24, A metropolis? make that 6). If the grid is shut-down in time, 7 days till power is restored to major areas, and maybe 14 till you have it in yours house.
But if were caught unprepared, 6-8 months before ANY power is restored, and YEARS before you have it in your house again.
Even is we have power in 7 days, we still have NO WAY to transport food across the US. Nearly all our vehicles are computer-controlled nowadays, and without the computers, they don't work. This means there might be weeks or months before food can be put into stores.
Tell me, if you and your family had to live off the food in your pantry, how long would you last? 5 days? a week? Maybe 2?
What do you do for water? Or heat? Without power, gas won't be pumped into the lines, and pipes won't be pressurized. Do you even know where a source of clean, fresh-water is near you? How far is it? 2 miles? 3? 5?
What are you going to do when you haven't eaten for 4 days? How far will you go?
Are you willing to kill someone else and take their supplies so that you and your family can live? What about their family?
Heres the thing, after about 5 days without food, people get REALLY hungry, and then general human concern for others is out the window. Literally, if the power is out for more than a week, were looking at people shooting each other in the streets maybe 13 days after the EMP hits.
So I ask you, my fellow RIA and CNers, ask yourself these questions:
How far is the closest source of fresh water?
How much food do you have, in case of a disaster?
What is your plan for your family?
There's a good chance that nothing will happen, but would you rather be prepared and not need your preparations, or get caught without anything and die?
TL;DR:
What are your plans to not die if the earth is hit with an EMP and all technology fails?