What is teotwawki? It is the acronym of the phrase “the end of the world as we know it.” And, according to this article from today’s New York Times Magazine, preparations for teotwawki are in full swing in many circles. Many people sneer at the normal disaster preparedness techniques, like having three days’ worth of food and water on hand, and seek out equipment, supplies and techniques to survive indefinitely in a typical suburban setting without utilities or oil and in the face of drought or civil unrest. But certainly there is a case to be made for avoiding a situation where a lengthy black-out, loss of water supply or interruption in food supplies by making a few sensible preparations.

Coincidentally, yesterday I finished reading a book by James Howard Kunstler entitled World Built By Hand. It ties in very nicely to the description of the survivalist trend in the US by describing the trials of a group of New Englanders following the destruction of two US cities by terrorist nuclear bombs and the end of oil. Various methods of survival are described, including the use of local foodstuffs, and the story itself is very compelling.

At the same time, one of the successful new television shows, Revolution, portrays America without electricity.