So how does modern civilization end?

[psuguy04]

The Chicago Cubs win the World Series, the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl and the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup all in the same year.

FIFY

 

[Nitwit]

A better question is when will it begin?

 

[dwiz]

When the Yellowstone Caldera blows shit is going to get real.

There's a tremendous documentary on netflix right now about that. Tag line is "This is a true story, it just hasn't happened yet."

 

[fairgambit]

 

[bxle]

Not sure but somehow involves Pitt Football.

 

[pandaczar12]

Didn't anyone pay attention to liberal politicians in the 70s? We are slowly entering a new ice age. This "global cooling" is caused by CO2 put in to the atmosphere by humans.

 

[lionlurker]

I think in all honesty the Lair will have something to do with it.

 

[dawgduice]

I had to "stop" at a RED traffic light the other day, DAMN you O'bama !!!!!!!!
But really, it's about the 98, as this board attests to

 

[Obliviax]

it already has.

 

[bmw199]

Contagion and Super Volcano are the most likely. If Yosemite blew it would be a very horrible death for everyone in North America

 

[lionroar88]

It is going to end when it ends, and quite honestly mankind will have very little to do with and will have absolutely no means to stop it.

 

[Sandinista!]

Exactly the case!!! In world war 1, with war deaths combined with the flu, we lost a huge amount of the worlds population. Was it ending? No. Give me one example of something even remotely similar to those years.

10 years later, the great depression.
10 years later, world war two.

Since then, things have been relatively quiet. Will civilization one day end, sure, but the chances of being there to see it are trillions to one.

We aren't special.

I'm reminded of the Penn Jillette line that goes something like this: If you look throughout history, over any period of time other than short ones, two things are always true, one, things are always getting better and two, people always think things are getting worse.

The only thing about the world a hundred years from now that pisses me off is that I won't be around to see how great it is.

 

[Zenophile]

You guys are worrying about a whole lotta nothing. Penn State is already way out in front of this.
Observe:

A Message to the Post-apocalyptic World from the Leadership at Penn State

End of the World (Date TBD)

Dear friends:

Respect is totally a core value at Penn State University and the world in general. We ask you to consciously choose civilization and to support those whose words and actions serve to promote respectful disagreement.

Signed,

Members of the President’s Council (unanimous)

Eric J. Barron, President
Janine S. Andrews, Director, Office of the Board of Trustees and Associate Secretary
Anne (Sandy) Barbour, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Susan M. Basso, Vice President for Human Resources
Blannie E. Bowen, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Michael J. DiRaimo, Special Assistant to the President for Governmental Affairs
Stephen S. Dunham, Vice President and General Counsel
David J. Gray, Senior Vice President for Finance and Business/Treasurer
Madlyn L. Hanes, Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses
Craig Hillemeier, Chief Executive Officer, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; Senior Vice President for Health Affairs; Dean, Penn State College of Medicine


Nicholas P. Jones, Executive Vice President and Provost of the University
Rodney P. Kirsch, Senior Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Robert N. Pangborn, Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate Education
Thomas G. Poole, Vice President for Administration/Secretary
Neil A. Sharkey, Interim Vice President for Research
Damon Sims, Vice President for Student Affairs
Craig D. Weidemann, Vice President for Outreach and Vice Provost for Online Education
Marcus A. Whitehurst, Interim Vice Provost for Educational Equity


Members of the Academic Leadership Council (unanimous)

Francis K. Achampong, Chancellor, Penn State Mont Alto
Michael A. Adewumi, Vice Provost for Global Programs
Kelly M. Austin, Chancellor, Penn State Schuylkill
Lori J. Bechtel-Wherry, Chancellor and Dean, Penn State Altoona
Donald L. Birx, Chancellor, Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
Blannie E. Bowen, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Christian M. M. Brady, Dean, Schreyer Honors College
David W. Chown, Chancellor, Penn State York
Barbara J. Christ, Interim Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences
Ann (Nan) C. Crouter, Dean, College of Health and Human Development
Charles H. Davis, Chancellor, Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Barbara I. Dewey, Dean, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications
William E. Easterling III, Dean, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
Craig S. Edelbrock, Chancellor, Penn State Great Valley
Amr S. Elnashai, Dean, College of Engineering
Gary S. Gildin, Interim Dean, Penn State Law in Carlisle
Davie Jane Gilmour, President, Pennsylvania College of Technology
Madlyn L. Hanes, Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses
Marie Hardin, Dean, College of Communications
Melanie L. Hatch, Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer, Penn State DuBois
Nancy L. Herron, Interim Chancellor, Penn State Greater Allegheny
A. Craig Hillemeier, Chief Executive Officer, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; Senior Vice President for Health Affairs; Dean, Penn State College of Medicine
R. Keith Hillkirk, Chancellor, Penn State Berks
James W. Houck, Interim Dean, Penn State Law at University Park
Nicholas P. Jones, Executive Vice President and Provost of the University


Barbara O. Korner, Dean, College of Arts and Architecture
Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen, Chancellor, Penn State Worthington Scranton
Donna J. Kuga, Interim Chancellor, Penn State Beaver
Jonna M. Kulikowich, Chair, University Faculty Senate
Mukund S. Kulkarni, Chancellor, Penn State Harrisburg
Daniel J. Larson, Dean, Eberly College of Science
Gary M. Lawler, Chancellor, Penn State Hazleton
Kenneth F. Lehrman III, Vice Provost for Affirmative Action
Paula Milone-Nuzzo, Dean, College of Nursing
David H. Monk, Dean, College of Education
Kevin M. Morooney, Vice Provost for Information Technology
Robert N. Pangborn, Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate Education
W. Charles Patrick, Chancellor/Chief Academic Officer, Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus
Mary Beth Rosson, Interim Dean, College of Information Sciences and Technology
Karen Wiley Sandler, Chancellor, Penn State Abington
Neil A. Sharkey, Interim Vice President for Research
Damon Sims, Vice President for Student Affairs
Kevin J. G. Snider, Chancellor, Penn State New Kensington
Regina Vasilatos-Younken, Interim Dean of the Graduate School
Craig D. Weidemann, Vice President for Outreach and Vice Provost for Online Education
Susan Welch, Dean, College of the Liberal Arts
Marcus A. Whitehurst, Interim Vice Provost for Educational Equity
Charles H. Whiteman, Dean, Smeal College of Business
Ann M. Williams, Chancellor, Penn State Lehigh Valley
Kristin R. Woolever, Chancellor, Penn State Brandywine


Members of the University Faculty Senate's Advisory Committee (unanimous)

Mohamad A. Ansari, Penn State Berks, Chair Elect, University Faculty Senate
Thomas O. Beebee, Member, Faculty Advisory Committee to the President
Ellen A. Knodt, Penn State Abington, Member, Faculty Advisory Committee to the President
Jonna M. Kulikowich, Chair, University Faculty Senate


Chester A. Ray, Penn State Hershey, Member, Faculty Advisory Committee to the President
James A. Strauss, Secretary, University Faculty Senate
Brenton M. Yarnal, Immediate Past Chair of the University Faculty Senate


University Staff Advisory Council Executive Officers (unanimous)

Jeremy Warner, Security and Facility Manager, Palmer Museum of Art, Chair
Jennifer C. Blew, Administrative Support Assistant, Schreyer Honors College, Co-Chair-elect
Devon Marie Mower, Residence Life Coordinator, Co-Chair-elect
Susan A. Johnson, Manager of Planning and Operations, Liberal Arts, Secretary


Susan A. Johnson, Manager of Planning and Operations, Liberal Arts, Secretary
Madhavi Kari, Cocurriculum Programs Manager, Information Sciences and Technology, Secretary-elect
Pauline M. McCarl, Administrative Support Coordinator, Earth and Mineral Sciences, Past Secretary


Student leadership (unanimous)

Anand R. Ganjam, President, University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA)
John Shaffer, President, Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG),


Danielle C. Rhubart, President, Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA)