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My favorite part of the article (so far):

> “My problem is that when my friends get drunk they talk about the ways the world will end. After a Dutch lab modified the H5N1 bird-flu virus, five years ago, making it super contagious, the chance of a lethal synthetic virus being released in the next twenty years became, well, nonzero. The other most popular scenarios would be A.I. that attacks us and nations fighting with nukes over scarce resources.” The Shypmates looked grave. “I try not to think about it too much,” Altman said. “But I have guns, gold, potassium iodide, antibiotics, batteries, water, gas masks from the Israeli Defense Force, and a big patch of land in Big Sur I can fly to.”

Hahaha, that's so awesome.




> "I have guns, gold, potassium iodide, antibiotics, batteries, water, gas masks from the Israeli Defense Force, and a big patch of land in Big Sur I can fly to.”

Imagine this coming from an ultra rightwing prepper nutball. Do you still love that quote?


I love that quote even it comes from a lunatic mule. Being prepared and being able to see the alternative endings is not a disability, but being completely obsessed and held hostage by that thought is. There is a difference.

I am not predicting impending doom, but when it hits the fan, better to have a plan than not.


> Imagine this coming from an ultra rightwing prepper nutball.

Keep in mind the official government recommendation is that everyone should be a prepper.


Haha, I do. I'm just one of those people who enjoys thinking about apocalyptic scenarios. Left-wing, right-wing, it doesn't really matter when the virus spreads and the bombs start falling.


Interesting, so sama is a prepper... and he knows that gold will be the only thing with some value left after a financial armaggedon...


He has something in common with Indian housewives and temples: http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/07/14/indias-600-bil...


It's a resilient monetary Schelling point, yes ;)


I have guns, gold, potassium iodide, antibiotics, batteries, water, gas masks from the Israeli Defense Force, and a big patch of land in Big Sur I can fly to.

The SV ethos, in a nutshell.




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