Watching the show as titled above got Toy and I thinking this would be an interesting topic for discussion.
The premise is you're the last man on earth, and how you as an individual approach your new dilemma.
Of course in the show, he discovers he's not alone, rather he discovers there is one female left, which turns out to be somewhat of a grammar Nazi with an idea that you should preserve rules of civilization, eg. not parking in handicapped parking etc.

Yeah, shes a lib, and you're a man stuck with her like it or not.

So, you have come to the conclusion you are left with the sole responsibility of repopulating earth, oh, and shes no beauty by any stretch of the imagination.
He chose Tuscon, definitely not my first choice. So where would you move and what would be your focus?

We decided we'd stay here and have a second retreat lower in the valley for winter. But for us, first and foremost is driving a propane rig with about 30 thousand gallons of propane, then set about gathering all the food in the area and storing it underground.
That covers the first month of prep.
Now what?

Quote from: Solar on March 06, 2015, 12:46:42 PM
Watching the show as titled above got Toy and I thinking this would be an interesting topic for discussion.
The premise is you're the last man on earth, and how you as an individual approach your new dilemma.
Of course in the show, he discovers he's not alone, rather he discovers there is one female left, which turns out to be somewhat of a grammar Nazi with an idea that you should preserve rules of civilization, eg. not parking in handicapped parking etc.

Yeah, shes a lib, and you're a man stuck with her like it or not.

So, you have come to the conclusion you are left with the sole responsibility of repopulating earth, oh, and shes no beauty by any stretch of the imagination.
He chose Tuscon, definitely not my first choice. So where would you move and what would be your focus?

We decided we'd stay here and have a second retreat lower in the valley for winter. But for us, first and foremost is driving a propane rig with about 30 thousand gallons of propane, then set about gathering all the food in the area and storing it underground.
That covers the first month of prep.
Now what?

I saw the show, and it was funny as hell! But clearly it was anything but reality-based, intended pretty much to glean funny moments from the interaction between two radically different people in a post-apocalyptic scenario. I don't see her as a liberal necessarily, but she's also not a survivor, nor is she meant to be. Her insistence on following traffic laws in general is ludicrous under the circumstances (as he points out, there is no traffic), but so is her view that his art collection is stolen (from whom, and how does she not treat the house she occupies next door as not stolen?) and that she can't/won't engage in sex without cover of marriage (who will perform the ceremony?) are ample evidence that the show, while hilarious, is just a bit unrealistic. The fact that, within the show's framework, she manages to survive for nearly two years before meeting the hero is a pretty plain indication that the show doesn't intend to treat the grand concept in any serious way.

All that said.... Grammar Nazi = lib? Ouch. 

First of all, repopulating the planet would be pretty far down on my list of must-dos. But notwithstanding what my partner in the endeavor looks like (I mean, it certainly could be pointed out that she's the most beautiful woman around, no?), there's the issue of genetics. There couldn't be a more limited gene pool than that, and it's hard to see a scenario where, with our children and grandchildren necessarily mating with one another, there wouldn't be a lot of rather strange kids running around a few generations down the line.

This issue has always been used by the Left to point out the 'impossibility' of the Creation, and by extension, any strict interpretation of the Bible. I must say it has altered my view over the years also. After all, when Cain and Abel left home and took wives, where exactly did they find them? Weren't they necessarily Cain and Abel's sisters? Genesis doesn't explain any of that, which leaves a lot of room for speculation and, sad to say, ridicule.

But modern science being what it is, and the field of genetics showing what it does, if procreation made itself into my attention, I think I'd hold off for a while in the fervent hope that there might be a few other folks of breeding age on the prowl somewhere. The Earth is rather a large place, and the simple fact that the "only" two left happen to be a man and a woman and happen to stumble across one another in (relatively) short order tells me the odds are high that those two are not alone. There are six continents besides the one our hero explored.

I think the biggest problems you'd face would be mental/psychological. The swift, complete removal of society, especially the need for any behavioral restraints would be extremely tough to deal with for most folks. Total isolation is another issue. Also, something seldom touched on in the post-apocalyptic literature, there is the issue of suddenly becoming the most unimaginably rich person in the history of mankind, at least in terms of material wealth. Of course, that viewpoint would have to deteriorate pretty quickly when it sinks in that there's no one left to be jealous or even provide a benchmark of comparison.

One thing the show doesn't discuss at all is the effects of "the virus." Besides killing nearly all humans, did it also kill animals? The show doesn't depict a single creature of any kind, not even an insect, besides the two human survivors. That makes a difference in a number of ways.

The tomato plants that figure so prominently in the show, for instance, are essentially self-pollinating (a breeze gets it done) and don't need help from insects, but other common food plants and most decorative (flower) plants don't have that advantage, and would decline or even disappear without insect help. On the other side of the coin, other food plants would benefit from a lack of insects. Sweet corn, for instance, would never be plagued with earworm, and there would be no more locusts, aphids, grasshoppers, or other destructive grazers.

Why Tucson? I don't know. Would I pick Tucson? Within the continental US, it wouldn't be a horrible choice, but there are better ones, especially depending on the season. There are reasons the San Diego area is so densely populated, for example, and one of the best reasons is the climate there. If everyone is gone, and you own the world, why not go there? But since the "continental US," as an entity or even as a concept, would obviously no longer exist, there would be no reason, beyond transport limitations, to limit your choice of location. Far better climates are to be had south of the old US border.

Here's a short list of things you would NOT have to worry about:
-- Money (or debt)
-- Legal agreements of any kind (mortgages, contracts, deeds, leases, etc.)
-- Laws in general
-- Land-based transportation
-- Food, at least for the foreseeable future
-- Clothing
-- Motor fuel of any kind, in any quantity, or the means to move it
-- Liquor, including wine (uncooled canned or bottled beer would be undrinkable after a few months)
-- Electricity, due to the availability of millions of portable generators and fuel for them
-- Drinking water (bottled water supplies alone would last far beyond your natural life)
-- Household water

Here's a short list of things you damn well BETTER worry about:
-- Serious physical injury (no EMS, doctors, nurses or dedicated caregivers of any kind)
-- Diseases (many medicines require refrigeration or have limited shelf life, and the lack of any organized or central sewage treatment comes into play)
-- Insanity/mental disability
-- Fire (there will be fires, but there ain't no fire department)

BTW, you guys would be better off, I think, with heating oil rather than propane. So much easier to handle and store -- and exactly the same price! 

As you may gather, I love stories like this. Stephen King (yeah, a lib, but a damn good storyteller) wrote The Stand based on a similar scenario, and it is, in my opinion, the best work of his career. At over 900 pages in its first release, it was one of the few books I've ever read that left me angry at the end -- angry because there wasn't any more of it.

Good post! Good subject!

Quote from: TboneAgain on March 06, 2015, 05:18:09 PM
I saw the show, and it was funny as hell! But clearly it was anything but reality-based, intended pretty much to glean funny moments from the interaction between two radically different people in a post-apocalyptic scenario. I don't see her as a liberal necessarily, but she's also not a survivor, nor is she meant to be. Her insistence on following traffic laws in general is ludicrous under the circumstances (as he points out, there is no traffic), but so is her view that his art collection is stolen (from whom, and how does she not treat the house she occupies next door as not stolen?) and that she can't/won't engage in sex without cover of marriage (who will perform the ceremony?) are ample evidence that the show, while hilarious, is just a bit unrealistic. The fact that, within the show's framework, she manages to survive for nearly two years before meeting the hero is a pretty plain indication that the show doesn't intend to treat the grand concept in any serious way.

Delusional and unrealistic, doesn't strike you as liberal?

QuoteAll that said.... Grammar Nazi = lib? Ouch. 

QuoteFirst of all, repopulating the planet would be pretty far down on my list of must-dos. But notwithstanding what my partner in the endeavor looks like (I mean, it certainly could be pointed out that she's the most beautiful woman around, no?), there's the issue of genetics. There couldn't be a more limited gene pool than that, and it's hard to see a scenario where, with our children and grandchildren necessarily mating with one another, there wouldn't be a lot of rather strange kids running around a few generations down the line.

This issue has always been used by the Left to point out the 'impossibility' of the Creation, and by extension, any strict interpretation of the Bible. I must say it has altered my view over the years also. After all, when Cain and Abel left home and took wives, where exactly did they find them? Weren't they necessarily Cain and Abel's sisters? Genesis doesn't explain any of that, which leaves a lot of room for speculation and, sad to say, ridicule.

Adam and Eve were an allegory. Look up Lilith in the Bible, there were many others, than just two people.
But lets not derail the thread to religion, K?

QuoteBut modern science being what it is, and the field of genetics showing what it does, if procreation made itself into my attention, I think I'd hold off for a while in the fervent hope that there might be a few other folks of breeding age on the prowl somewhere. The Earth is rather a large place, and the simple fact that the "only" two left happen to be a man and a woman and happen to stumble across one another in (relatively) short order tells me the odds are high that those two are not alone. There are six continents besides the one our hero explored.

Do you always over think comedy?

QuoteI think the biggest problems you'd face would be mental/psychological. The swift, complete removal of society, especially the need for any behavioral restraints would be extremely tough to deal with for most folks. Total isolation is another issue. Also, something seldom touched on in the post-apocalyptic literature, there is the issue of suddenly becoming the most unimaginably rich person in the history of mankind, at least in terms of material wealth. Of course, that viewpoint would have to deteriorate pretty quickly when it sinks in that there's no one left to be jealous or even provide a benchmark of comparison.

Agree, many simply couldn't adapt, and many would literally go nuts the first month.
Not me, I love isolation, heave been seeking most of my life, even as a kid, I'd spend endless hours alone as far away from people as possible.
Now this is assuming I have a dog and the world isn't void of all life, as the show is alluding to.

QuoteOne thing the show doesn't discuss at all is the effects of "the virus." Besides killing nearly all humans, did it also kill animals? The show doesn't depict a single creature of any kind, not even an insect, besides the two human survivors. That makes a difference in a number of ways.

There was no mention of a virus, or any reference to what happened, to my knowledge.

QuoteThe tomato plants that figure so prominently in the show, for instance, are essentially self-pollinating (a breeze gets it done) and don't need help from insects, but other common food plants and most decorative (flower) plants don't have that advantage, and would decline or even disappear without insect help. On the other side of the coin, other food plants would benefit from a lack of insects. Sweet corn, for instance, would never be plagued with earworm, and there would be no more locusts, aphids, grasshoppers, or other destructive grazers.

Why Tucson? I don't know. Would I pick Tucson? Within the continental US, it wouldn't be a horrible choice, but there are better ones, especially depending on the season. There are reasons the San Diego area is so densely populated, for example, and one of the best reasons is the climate there. If everyone is gone, and you own the world, why not go there? But since the "continental US," as an entity or even as a concept, would obviously no longer exist, there would be no reason, beyond transport limitations, to limit your choice of location. Far better climates are to be had south of the old US border.

Yep, though I'd stay in my area, considering I know iit better than anywhere else, so I don't have to waste time searching for supplies.

QuoteHere's a short list of things you would NOT have to worry about:
-- Money (or debt)
-- Legal agreements of any kind (mortgages, contracts, deeds, leases, etc.)
-- Laws in general
-- Land-based transportation
-- Food, at least for the foreseeable future
-- Clothing
-- Motor fuel of any kind, in any quantity, or the means to move it
-- Liquor, including wine (uncooled canned or bottled beer would be undrinkable after a few months)
-- Electricity, due to the availability of millions of portable generators and fuel for them
-- Drinking water (bottled water supplies alone would last far beyond your natural life)
-- Household water

Here's a short list of things you damn well BETTER worry about:
-- Serious physical injury (no EMS, doctors, nurses or dedicated caregivers of any kind)
-- Diseases (many medicines require refrigeration or have limited shelf life, and the lack of any organized or central sewage treatment comes into play)
-- Insanity/mental disability
-- Fire (there will be fires, but there ain't no fire department)

Agree, simple injuries can be life threatening, even bad food could be enough to put your life in danger if you were laid up for a period of time.
I believe your first year is crucial to how long you survive, assuming you aren't injured in the process.

QuoteBTW, you guys would be better off, I think, with heating oil rather than propane. So much easier to handle and store -- and exactly the same price! 

Nah, were already setup for propane, and 30 thousand gallons would last beyond a lifetime.
Having to setup a diesel unit is stealing time from other far more important issues, such as food gathering, which will consume most of your waking day.

QuoteAs you may gather, I love stories like this. Stephen King (yeah, a lib, but a damn good storyteller) wrote The Stand based on a similar scenario, and it is, in my opinion, the best work of his career. At over 900 pages in its first release, it was one of the few books I've ever read that left me angry at the end -- angry because there wasn't any more of it.

Good post! Good subject!

I thought so as well, because we, as individuals would approach such an event completely different.
Such as. For me, I have a huge head start on being prepared, so my focus would be totally different from a city dweller, where they may look for completely new accommodations, such as setting up in a mall, or a Military installation.

I can honestly say, the only things I'd miss is simple things like talk radio, the Internet, but once removed, time would quickly erase that considering having to concentrate on the moment at hand.

I am also assuming Toy survived with me, as she was chosen by God, so I wouldn't be alone in any sense.

The opening frames of the show are titled: "THE YEAR 2020 (ONE YEAR AFTER THE VIRUS)." That's what gave me that crazy idea.  You can re-watch it here.

It's also what put me in mind of the King book. His story line is based on the idea that a virus (developed in an evil secret military lab, naturally) escapes and quickly depopulates the joint. If you've never read The Stand, I recommend it very highly; it's a fantastic read.

I must have missed the opening spot about the virus.  But quickly assumed something took out everything but him and eventually her at this point.   As a city dweller I understand him taking up in the mansion but I would have looked for something with a solar set up - I mean come on it's Tucson.  But again this is regular Joe who obviously doesn't look at that.   

I agree I probably wouldn't be obeying stop signs and parking spaces but I would want to maintain some basic moral laws.  I would be stockpiling water first.  The scene where he is up getting her the water for the plants.  Even I know I would have gone to a fire station for a hose to hook up instead of all those light weights hoses and no real connectors.  I also wouldn't have wasted my time drinking all the time.  Want to take out your liver die painfully... no thanks.  I would be doing everything I could to stay healthy.  I also mentioned to Solar I would need a truck to go to a bookstore or library and load up.   

I am intrigued by the dynamics of bringing them together.  He is so horny she gets to take control.  I have friends who have relationships like that.  The idea of give me what I want so I will give you what you want.  He could try to force himself but then all she would have to do is pack up and drive away.....  Then he's back where he started. 

Just a few thoughts by Toy.

They would have to agree on repopulation.  That means, in order for success, they would have to do it at least once a year to achieve pregnancy.  They would eventually have to assume the traditional roles, as she would become a baby factory and baby nurse.  He would have to insure that they had food and shelter to survive.  They would both have to teach the children too, so not all of civilization would be lost.  Provided they didn't have kids that were all the same sex like my grandmother did. 8 boys.  There could be enough in the gene pool for awhile, considering they both had lots of recessive genes to pass around with all their different ancestors.

With my four kids, they are completely different from each other in physical traits mannerisms and personalities. Not one looks like a sibling to the others.  Sometimes I wonder if I got the right babies from the hospital. 

Quote from: Solars Toy on March 07, 2015, 11:06:10 AM
I must have missed the opening spot about the virus.  But quickly assumed something took out everything but him and eventually her at this point.   As a city dweller I understand him taking up in the mansion but I would have looked for something with a solar set up - I mean come on it's Tucson.  But again this is regular Joe who obviously doesn't look at that.   

I agree I probably wouldn't be obeying stop signs and parking spaces but I would want to maintain some basic moral laws.  I would be stockpiling water first.  The scene where he is up getting her the water for the plants.  Even I know I would have gone to a fire station for a hose to hook up instead of all those light weights hoses and no real connectors.  I also wouldn't have wasted my time drinking all the time.  Want to take out your liver die painfully... no thanks.  I would be doing everything I could to stay healthy.  I also mentioned to Solar I would need a truck to go to a bookstore or library and load up.   

I am intrigued by the dynamics of bringing them together.  He is so horny she gets to take control.  I have friends who have relationships like that.  The idea of give me what I want so I will give you what you want.  He could try to force himself but then all she would have to do is pack up and drive away.....  Then he's back where he started. 

Just a few thoughts by Toy.

BOOKS!!! Suddenly, they'd be a heck of a lot more important than they are now, with the abrupt end of the internet and other non-recorded electronic media. Of course, our hero did amass a fairly impressive collection of printed media.... Not my taste though. Wherever I ended up, it would have to be within reasonable driving distance from a sizable library. But how would I get a library card? 

As far as electrical power, I can't see relying on solar when there are literally millions of portable generators sitting around doing nothing, along with a virtually unlimited supply of free gasoline or diesel fuel to power them. Green power is nice and trendy and all, but kinda irrelevant when all the people are gone. Solar is quiet, but also not terribly dependable. For small-scale use -- as it would be if you were the only person around -- a DC system is feasible, but since almost everything you'd want to plug in is designed to run on AC.... Consider that there would suddenly be a couple hundred million cars and trucks sitting around doing nothing, and millions upon millions of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel in underground tanks. Consider too that even a small car's engine at idle, coupled to a generator of appropriate size, with the whole rig sited a nice, quiet 1/4-mile away from your castle, would provide gobs of juice, far more than you'd ever need to power your solitary existence.

Actually, I think I'd find a small hydroelectric setup someplace, just for shits and giggles. Something to play with. I used to work in that field, and I've always been fascinated by waterpower. (Used to be a member of SPOOM.) I know, hydro is also somewhat undependable, but I'd have generators -- lots of generators.

I can see myself putting together a travel rig -- especially since, according to the show, the apocalypse will apparently make every car disappear from the highways -- with a hefty pickup truck pulling one of those 'toy haulers' loaded with goodies. For sure I'd get another motorcycle, the riding of which would have become suddenly a hell of a lot safer.

I don't know why you guys worry so much about water in that situation, unless maybe that's a concern unique to your location. As long as you're in reach of a town of any size, you'd already have access to more bottled water than you could drink in ten lifetimes. And as Mr. Fumblefingers demonstrated in the show, any elevated municipal or industrial water tank can provide purified water under pressure in the hundreds of thousands of gallons. Even a small town water tower will contain 50,000 gallons or more.

As for the show, I look for more people to make their appearances pretty quickly. They were able to milk the "Oh shit I'm all alone" theme for about half an hour. Now there are two and there's lots of sexual tension and personality conflict, but that won't last long. It is, after all, a TV show made by liberal people about liberal people for liberal people. (I'm sure you noticed that both characters are almost cartoonish representations of every lib stereotype.) If those two are the only actors, pretty soon it'll just be a silly parody of a documentary.

Quote from: TboneAgain on March 07, 2015, 12:11:40 PM
BOOKS!!! Suddenly, they'd be a heck of a lot more important than they are now, with the abrupt end of the internet and other non-recorded electronic media. Of course, our hero did amass a fairly impressive collection of printed media.... Not my taste though. Wherever I ended up, it would have to be within reasonable driving distance from a sizable library. But how would I get a library card? 

As far as electrical power, I can't see relying on solar when there are literally millions of portable generators sitting around doing nothing, along with a virtually unlimited supply of free gasoline or diesel fuel to power them. Green power is nice and trendy and all, but kinda irrelevant when all the people are gone. Solar is quiet, but also not terribly dependable. For small-scale use -- as it would be if you were the only person around -- a DC system is feasible, but since almost everything you'd want to plug in is designed to run on AC.... Consider that there would suddenly be a couple hundred million cars and trucks sitting around doing nothing, and millions upon millions of gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel in underground tanks. Consider too that even a small car's engine at idle, coupled to a generator of appropriate size, with the whole rig sited a nice, quiet 1/4-mile away from your castle, would provide gobs of juice, far more than you'd ever need to power your solitary existence.

Actually, I think I'd find a small hydroelectric setup someplace, just for shits and giggles. Something to play with. I used to work in that field, and I've always been fascinated by waterpower. (Used to be a member of SPOOM.) I know, hydro is also somewhat undependable, but I'd have generators -- lots of generators.

I can see myself putting together a travel rig -- especially since, according to the show, the apocalypse will apparently make every car disappear from the highways -- with a hefty pickup truck pulling one of those 'toy haulers' loaded with goodies. For sure I'd get another motorcycle, the riding of which would have become suddenly a hell of a lot safer.

I don't know why you guys worry so much about water in that situation, unless maybe that's a concern unique to your location. As long as you're in reach of a town of any size, you'd already have access to more bottled water than you could drink in ten lifetimes. And as Mr. Fumblefingers demonstrated in the show, any elevated municipal or industrial water tank can provide purified water under pressure in the hundreds of thousands of gallons. Even a small town water tower will contain 50,000 gallons or more.

As for the show, I look for more people to make their appearances pretty quickly. They were able to milk the "Oh shit I'm all alone" theme for about half an hour. Now there are two and there's lots of sexual tension and personality conflict, but that won't last long. It is, after all, a TV show made by liberal people about liberal people for liberal people. (I'm sure you noticed that both characters are almost cartoonish representations of every lib stereotype.) If those two are the only actors, pretty soon it'll just be a silly parody of a documentary.

Of course I'd have to disagree on solar.
The beauty of solar is always having power and not having the maintenance BS of oil changes, refueling etc.
It would take absolutely nothing to set up a system that could power a mall, especially when you factor in "IT"S FREE"

Water is actually important early on, considering, (as you pointed out earlier) there aren't any firemen, so assuming these places will indefinitely store supplies safely could be an assumption that could cost your life.

Also I work off the presumption that others are still alive and have formed into feral gangs. so get while the gittin's good.

Quote from: Solar on March 07, 2015, 04:21:34 PM
Of course I'd have to disagree on solar.
The beauty of solar is always having power and not having the maintenance BS of oil changes, refueling etc.
It would take absolutely nothing to set up a system that could power a mall, especially when you factor in "IT"S FREE"

Water is actually important early on, considering, (as you pointed out earlier) there aren't any firemen, so assuming these places will indefinitely store supplies safely could be an assumption that could cost your life.

Also I work off the presumption that others are still alive and have formed into feral gangs. so get while the gittin's good.

Well, you also work off the presumptions that you'll still have the woman of your choice and your dog... I guess you'll probably still get your mail every day too, eh? 

Perhaps we might set up a discussion like this, but first lay down some ground rules. For instance, the show is pretty vague about what happened and what the results are. We might brainstorm and come up with a more limited or delineated scenario, so that everybody sorta knows what the "rules are." Kind of a 'sandbox' environment, but with at least a few 'givens' to go by.

Virus? Fine. What did it do? What organisms were affected? What was the mortality factor?

That sort of thing.

Quote from: TboneAgain on March 07, 2015, 04:35:41 PM
Well, you also work off the presumptions that you'll still have the woman of your choice and your dog... I guess you'll probably still get your mail every day too, eh? 

Perhaps we might set up a discussion like this, but first lay down some ground rules. For instance, the show is pretty vague about what happened and what the results are. We might brainstorm and come up with a more limited or delineated scenario, so that everybody sorta knows what the "rules are." Kind of a 'sandbox' environment, but with at least a few 'givens' to go by.

Virus? Fine. What did it do? What organisms were affected? What was the mortality factor?

That sort of thing.

I thought I did in the OP.
But OK, first off, one has to assume there are others, I mean seriously, what are the odds of one survivor out of billions worldwide?
You have no idea what happened, because there aren't any bodies laying around, so one would have to assume the rapture actually happened, but then, you'd have to ask, did he take only the good to Heaven, and you're one of those damned, meaning, you're not alone. (suddenly you find religion)

Also, the show was merely reference, not premise. In fact, I originally was working off the premise you were the last human on earth, but in truth, if that were the case, whats the use in living? Hell, you have no purpose...
So lets say it's you and someone of your choosing, man woman, matters not, and for me, animals/insects didn't perish either, anyway not all.

So what you're dealing with are complete unknowns. Rapture? Alien invasion? Genetic time bomb of the weirdest kind?
And since you haven't a clue, you have to assume groups are forming and rewriting the social contract for their own benefit. "Law of the Jungle revisited"

All is intact, as if a neutron bomb had gone off, except it only seemed to target humans.

Hows that for starters? No biblical flood or famine, no raging fires as of yet. You just awoke one day to nothing, power was off, car started, turned on the radio to nothing, cell ph. dead.
And there you are, sitting in your car, beautiful day, and not a soul around, quiet in the city.

Hmmm, not really all that bad of a day, is it?

IF there are only two.  Your assuming that they are both in good shape and can reproduce.   All it takes is for one to be unable to reproduce/conceive.   He could be the only man alive that had a vasectomy three years ago. 

I tried writing about something similar... The Eye At The End Of My Street.  A kid attempts to survive in a deserted suburbanscape and discover the origin of a nebulously-large, unblinking orb that occasionally appears in the distance, watching him.

Influenced by Ambrose Bierce's The Damned Thing.  We never learn what it is.

In an extinction-event, the why just becomes absorbed by the environment you have to exist in.

Yeah, The Stand is probably the best book of its kind.       

Quote from: walkstall on March 07, 2015, 06:53:45 PM
IF there are only two.  Your assuming that they are both in good shape and can reproduce.   All it takes is for one to be unable to reproduce/conceive.   He could be the only man alive that had a vasectomy three years ago.

For the record, a vasectomy does not mean that a man can't reproduce. Vasectomies are commonly reversed with a fairly high success rate -- around 55% in the first ten years following the initial surgery. A vasectomy doesn't affect sperm production at all; it merely prevents the sperm from being delivered.

Of course, a reversal is a delicate surgical procedure, and in a scenario where it's just him and her, probably not a realistic option, unless she happens to be a surgeon trained in urology. Something tells me the gal in the show ain't that.