[turmoil]

PO forgotten? I think it will be remembered as a turning point in human history, if not the beginning of end of it. The age of conservation has begun. Why? I don't think it will be profitable to waste oil anymore.

As for computers, either their time is up or we will figure out how to make them more cheaply. I figure we'll be using DNA/RNA-like structs to r/w data.

[OverLord]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', '
')Better find one that's printed on acid free paper. Otherwise all you'll have is crumbs in a few years.

It dismays me the number of books that I have that are printed on acid paper and are already showing signs of decay.

[tivoli]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Geology_Guy', 'I')f a few people can escape the nukes and wars and if they have enough guns of their own there might still be computers etc is a few select places.
They will need to be ruthless and cunning and rule over their serfs (those without direct access to oil).

I think in the Mad Max movies it was called "Bartertown" In the old North American continent I would bet on Texas becoming an independent country as they will get tired of sharing their oil.

[MrMambo]

There is a lot of hydro, wind, and solar available today already. That energy wont go away. I guess that alone is far more than what all the wordls computers consume in continuous operation, and the bulk of those computers just gets people playing 3d-games and surf the web. So as long as we value preservation of our knowledge I know we will be able to maintain the bulk of important data as long as there is some degree of order in society.

Of course the production of new computers and new diskdrives etc consumes a lot of energy. But we could think like nasa style computers that are sent up into space. We can build computers for much greater life spans if we want to. Just think about the voyager space-probe.. its been working in the hard conditions of space for decades. What about a "library" style computer standard, or call it the "Alexandria-standard". The specs for those computers could be to be able to be operational for 50 years, and be able to connect to ALL known data-storage systems available today. This is not impossible. It just takes a minute level of vision and foresight.

[highboom]

agreed... computers won't go away, we have other sources of power than can run something like 20% of current consumption. but just in case, i'm putting all my books in ziplock bags, and storing them away. I want future generations to still be able to read classics like War and Peace.

[smallpoxgirl]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('OverLord', 'I')'d like to know: how can you make out acid paper from acid-free?

I guess virtually all books printed now (specially paperbacks) have to be on acid paper (except luxury editions maybe?)

[Geko45]

This reminds me of a scene from the recent remake of War of the Worlds. Remember that scene where they are passing people in the car. One person has a whole bunch of food, the next had a shopping cart full of BOOKS and the last was carrying water. People will have the foresight to know that knowledge will be survival post collapse.

[tmazanec1]

Funny, I have read some paperbacks four or five decades old, I presume acid, and the paper only yellowed a bit on the edge at most. But the glue was shot, and the pages would fall out as I read them.