slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

North Korea's recent cyber attack on the Hollywood film industry proved to be a wake-up call for America. It's now widely understood and accepted that our country's entire computer-based infrastructure is vulnerable to hostile attacks, and it's nearly impossible to defend against them.

The global Internet is actually the foundation upon which our global society and global economy stand. Today, all countries are so interconnected and interdependent that we can't simply unplug from worldwide networks as a defense measure.

So, what's our expected fate if 'geek' terrorists launch a cyber attack and shut down the national infrastructure? Much of Generation X and the entire Millenium generation will go into severe culture shock. With the loss of the Internet and computers, they'll become zombies, wandering around streets littered with discarded smartphones and computer tablets.

It will up to older people across the country to jump-start the nation and get it back on its feet. They're the ones who were living a sensible lifestyle until younger generations sold our collective souls to computer tycoons like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

Seniors will have to mentor young people on traditional ways of traveling from point A to point B. Modern automobiles will shut down as v***ses ruin their imbedded computer systems. So, elders will have to teach younger folks how to drive old cars imported from Cuba.

With no GPS navagation systems available, every gas station will need a senior on staff to teach the art of folding paper maps. Also, airplanes that rely on 'fly-by-wire' computer systems will be grounded, thus, trains will become the primary mode of long-distance travel. Millions of riders will need to be tutored on train schedule interpretation and sleeper car etiquette.

Obviously, oldsters all know how to conduct business, even without computers. ATM machines will be out of service and credit cards won't work anymore; thus, thousands of bank tellers will be called out of retirement to meet the overwhelming demand for big wads of paper money.

One can also expect that the inability to shop online will bring back the mom and pop stores of yesteryear. The loss of Internet, TV and radio will drive big changes in advertising. Spam will once again be just something to eat.

Necessary changes in education will shock the academic community to its 'common core'. Without the ability to Google for information, the old door-to-door encyclopedia sales force will rise again. Elderly teachers will be showing students how to solve math problems using vintage slide rules rather than math apps on computers and smart tablets. And, with the loss of email capability, computer keyboards will be rendered useless; kids will have to learn how to hand-write letters.

The family nucleus will necessarily change in many homes. Ignored grandparents will be lured back home to live with their kids. It's always nice to have loving grandmas around, but there's an ulterior motive in this case. There'll be no electricity to run washing machines, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, kitchen mixers, etc. Who better than highly experienced grannies to deal with all the housekeeping chores in the manual mode? Grandpas will stay busy feeding and training vicious 'hired gun' dogs that replace defunct home alarm systems.

Social relationships will see dramatic change. Facebook friends will be gone forever; so, grandmas will have to demonstrate how to coffee klatch with nearby neighbors that the kids never wanted to meet. Family photos stored in the Internet 'cloud' will also be permanently lost. As a result, antique shops will experience a huge demand for conventional camera and--once film becomes available again--grandpas will teach kids how to manually focus a camera.

Online computer games will no longer be accessible so dusty Parcheesi and Monopoly board games will be brought down from attics for families to enjoy.

Yes, whenever the big cyber attack occurs, it'll be back-to-basics for quite some time. Drafting elderly people into public service will be the only way to save our nation, and retirement homes will become the cultural and learning centers of America. Most seniors won't be able to resist uttering the occasional "I told you so," which is certainly a small price to pay for all the good they'll be doing. Of course, it remains to be seen if younger generations will be humble and and respectful enough to accept that mild rebuke. :mrgreen:

By John C. Liburdi

PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

Is his name, Liburdi, a word for multi-Liberals?

WhatIt'sWorth Loc: Methane Sea, Jupiter

"the big cyber-attack"

is this another

"the sky is falling"?

(so asks a senior who sees this on the Internet)

Tasine Loc: Southwest US

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``
Hi, Slatten, I'm back!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know who Liburdi is, but I do know he knows the vulnerability of large segments of Americans, and is no small measure of how our problems will get solved. Amazingly he still sees paper money in our future. I suspect he is wrong there because when disaster hits our nation, politicians who cannot gain from it will be in short supply, and our monetary system will crash, ergo..................those able to horse trade will be the ones keeping the economy going.

WhatIt'sWorth Loc: Methane Sea, Jupiter

if "paper money" is worthless -- please send me all that you have

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

I don't know who John C. Liburdi is, Salty. It was the name attached to this article I found & read in a local publication. It was/is meant to be humorous. :wink:

Again, to all...I have no idea who John C. Liburdi is. I found humor in the piece. :-o

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

I'm h*****g onto what few coins I have, my friend. :-D

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Glad to see you back, my friend :!: In a couple of weeks, I will be heading east to attend a granddaughter's high school graduation. On the way to and from, I hope to meet a few more OPP posters. If they prove as hospitable and friendly as you & others were on my recent trip west, I will thoroughly enjoy myself. :wink: Take care, and stay well. 8-)

Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

Sox game?

PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

As did I and my comment was also meant to be humorous, but as per usual, it fell flat.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

It is probably my fault, Salty. :roll: I have spent much of the day tending/dealing with two friends in separate hospitals. As a result, I have been much too serious, and unable to get into much of a humorous mood. :oops:

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

No, not that far north or east. My granddaughter lives in Commerce, GA. I am not likely to make it up that far. As much as I would enjoy a day at Fenway, it is not going to happen on this trip...sorry. :-(

PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

Well, just be thankful it isn't a bad mood.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

I think I will quit for the evening and curl up to the Sgt. Major. She brings peace and comfort when needed.

Worried for our children Loc: Massachusetts

No worries, have a safe and enjoyable trip👍