Tuesday, 4 March 2025

Current Ways To Die

 

 Cyclic Crises & Estimated Time Ranges

1. Magnetic Pole Reversal (~200,000 to 800,000 years per cycle)

  • The last major reversal (Brunhes-Matuyama) occurred 780,000 years ago.
  • The Laschamp Excursion (a failed reversal) happened 41,000 years ago.
  • The magnetic field has weakened 10% in the past 150 years, suggesting we may be entering a reversal phase, but this process could take centuries to millennia to complete.

2.

Milankovitch Cycles & Ice Ages
(~100,000 years per full cycle)

  • Driven by Earth's orbital changes (eccentricity, axial tilt, and precession).
  • The current interglacial (Holocene) began ~11,700 years ago.
  • The next glacial period (ice age) is expected in ~10,000 to 50,000 years, but human-induced climate change may delay it.

3. Solar Minimum & "Little Ice Ages" (~11-year cycles & ~400-year grand cycles)

  • 11-year cycles: The Sun undergoes an activity cycle, with periods of high and low sunspot activity (we are currently in Solar Cycle 25, peaking ~2025).
  • Grand solar minimums (Maunder Minimum, ~1645-1715) happen every 200 to 400 years.
  • The next grand solar minimum could occur this or next century, cooling the planet slightly but unlikely to trigger a full ice age.

4. Thermohaline Circulation Collapse (AMOC Shutdown) (~1,000-1,500 years per shift)

  • The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which includes the Gulf Stream, has weakened by ~15% since 1950.
  • Past AMOC collapses have triggered rapid ice age shifts in decades to centuries.
  • Some studies suggest a partial collapse by 2100, with complete shutdown in the next 100 to 300 years if warming continues.

5. Supervolcanic Eruption Cycle (~50,000-100,000 years per major eruption)

  • Yellowstone erupts every ~600,000-800,000 years (last eruption ~640,000 years ago).
  • Toba, Indonesia, erupted ~74,000 years ago, nearly causing human extinction.
  • While probability is low, a VEI-7 or VEI-8 eruption could occur in the next 10,000 years.

6. Methane Release from Permafrost & Clathrates (~100,000 years per major release)

  • Methane "burps" from frozen Arctic reserves are linked to warming periods in Earth's past.
  • Warming could trigger a major methane release in the next few decades to centuries, leading to rapid climate acceleration.

7. Magnetic Pole Wander & Weakening (~10,000-year cycles for large shifts)

  • The South Atlantic Anomaly suggests Earth's magnetic field is unstable.
  • Large-scale weakening events happen over thousands of years, but localized shifts (like the recent rapid North Pole movement) occur within centuries.

8. Glacial-Interglacial Transitions (~10,000-100,000 years per shift)

  • The last glacial period ended ~11,700 years ago.
  • Without human impact, the next cooling would have started in ~10,000 to 20,000 years, but greenhouse gases may delay it indefinitely.

Shorter-Term Cycles (Decades to Centuries)

  • Desertification & Drought Cycles (~30-50 years)
    • The Sahara undergoes a wet/dry cycle every ~20,000 years, but smaller-scale desertification cycles happen within centuries to millennia.
  • Extreme Weather Intensification (~50-200 years)
    • The increase in hypercanes and storms is ongoing due to climate change and happens over decades to centuries.
  • Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) Impacting Earth (~100-200 years for large event)
    • The Carrington Event (1859) was a once-in-500-years solar storm.
    • A similar event could occur within the next few centuries.
  • Ozone Layer Fluctuations (~50-100 years)
    • The ozone hole recovers and worsens based on chemical use.
    • Expected full recovery by 2060-2080 unless new pollutants emerge.

Potential Near-Future Events (0-100 Years)

  • AMOC (Gulf Stream) Weakening → Possible collapse by 2200
  • Methane Release → Could accelerate within next few decades
  • Solar Minimum Cooling → Possible small dip in warming next century
  • Major Volcanic Eruption (VEI-6 or VEI-7) → Likely in the next 500 years
  • Magnetic Field Weakening → Could reach dangerous lows by 2200-2500


Monday, 3 March 2025

 

Toronto How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed

The gradual collapse of modern Canada stands as a testament to the vulnerability of even the most advanced societies. It is not the sudden explosion of war or natural disaster that has brought us to the precipice of failure, but rather a slow erosion of the very structures that once ensured stability. In the wake of economic decline, mismanagement, and political inaction, we are witnessing the slow death of the societal contract.

Employers who refuse to pay workers for their labor, only to declare bankruptcy without consequence, are a glaring example of a systemic failure that has become all too common. These are not isolated incidents but part of a broader trend: the weakening of labor protections and the erosion of workers' rights. The lack of accountability in the private sector, where the rich grow richer and the poor are left to languish, reflects a society that has allowed its foundations to crumble under the weight of greed and negligence.

Equally troubling is the failure of the justice system. In the past, a Canadian citizen could rely on the state to defend their rights and provide legal aid when accused of a crime. Today, many are left to fend for themselves, with the absence of free legal assistance for those too poor to pay for representation. This lack of access to justice breeds frustration and despair, as people turn away from the rule of law and seek alternative means of resolution. Without the foundation of fair legal recourse, we are left with the rise of private justice, where those with power enforce their own brand of retribution.

The healthcare system, once lauded as a model for the world, is no longer capable of meeting the needs of its citizens. Emergency rooms are filled with patients lying in hallways, waiting for days to receive care. In rural areas, family doctors are a rarity, and many Canadians have been left to navigate their health without proper support. This has created an atmosphere of desperation, where those who can afford private care are the only ones who receive treatment, further deepening the divide between the haves and have-nots.

Perhaps the most visible and tragic symbol of the collapse is the increasing number of Canadians living on the streets. Parks, once peaceful spaces for leisure, have become the last refuge for those who can no longer afford housing. The sight of families huddled together in tents, exposed to the elements, is a painful reminder of the social fabric tearing apart. At the same time, many Canadians are starving, while food insecurity becomes a pressing issue that the state is ill-equipped to address.

The cold winters now claim the lives of the homeless, a reminder of the harshness of nature when the mechanisms of society fail to provide the basic necessities. These are not just the effects of an economic downturn but the result of a systemic collapse in which every institution—healthcare, justice, education, and welfare—has faltered in its duty to serve the people. As the state withdraws from its role as provider, private entities and gangs step in to fill the void, often exploiting the situation for their own gain.

It is in this context that the slow collapse of Canada must be understood—not as an isolated event, but as part of a global pattern in which advanced societies, once secure in their success, begin to fragment and unravel under the weight of internal contradictions and external pressures.


Sunday, 2 March 2025

TORONTO 2027

 

TORONTO 2027

In the post-collapse world, the city had become a vast, ungoverned jungle. The buildings, once gleaming symbols of prosperity and order, now loomed like monuments to the fragility of civilization. They were vacant husks, stripped of their grandeur, their windows shattered and facades crumbling, as though the earth itself had begun to reclaim them. Beneath their silent shadows, the streets teemed with the remnants of society—people no longer pretending that the systems of the past could ever return.

The air was thick with the pungency of decay, the smell of old hopes fermenting in forgotten corners. Patches of verdant moss and weeds sprouted through the cracked concrete, pushing their way through the urban sprawl. It was the slow collapse, the gradual descent into disorder, where nothing seemed catastrophic enough to trigger widespread panic, but everything seemed to unravel in small, unnoticed increments. The denizens of this city, now survivors rather than citizens, moved in packs, wary of the other fractured groups that competed for control over dwindling resources.

There was no government. No central authority. The law had become an illusion, a faint echo of a time when justice had a face and a name. Instead, people turned to those who could exert power. Gangs, organized crime syndicates, and warlords rose to prominence. In the absence of true leadership, people rallied to figures of strength—men and women who controlled territories with iron fists and promises of protection. The legal system had dissolved into the ether, and those who sought justice could only turn to self-made tribunals or private enforcers, often at the mercy of those with the most resources or the greatest ruthlessness.

The hospitals had long ceased to function as places of healing. People lay on hallways, huddled together on old stretchers, waiting for a bed that would never come. Some of them had been there for days, some for weeks. Those with power moved past them, indifferent to their suffering, while the weak simply disappeared into the system. If one were lucky, they might have a family doctor who would still answer their calls—but that was a privilege now reserved for the few. Many resorted to self-care, learning rudimentary medical practices to save themselves or perish in obscurity.

And yet, the worst of it was not the violence or the lack of resources. It was the pervasive feeling that it didn’t matter anymore. Society, in its decline, had bred apathy. People no longer felt the need to protest the conditions around them. They no longer believed that things could be any different. There was no grand, final moment of collapse. It had been a thousand small cuts—silent, unnoticed, but fatal all the same.


Toronto How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed)

The gradual collapse of modern Canada stands as a testament to the vulnerability of even the most advanced societies. It is not the sudden explosion of war or natural disaster that has brought us to the precipice of failure, but rather a slow erosion of the very structures that once ensured stability. In the wake of economic decline, mismanagement, and political inaction, we are witnessing the slow death of the societal contract.

Employers who refuse to pay workers for their labor, only to declare bankruptcy without consequence, are a glaring example of a systemic failure that has become all too common. These are not isolated incidents but part of a broader trend: the weakening of labor protections and the erosion of workers' rights. The lack of accountability in the private sector, where the rich grow richer and the poor are left to languish, reflects a society that has allowed its foundations to crumble under the weight of greed and negligence.

Equally troubling is the failure of the justice system. In the past, a Canadian citizen could rely on the state to defend their rights and provide legal aid when accused of a crime. Today, many are left to fend for themselves, with the absence of free legal assistance for those too poor to pay for representation. This lack of access to justice breeds frustration and despair, as people turn away from the rule of law and seek alternative means of resolution. Without the foundation of fair legal recourse, we are left with the rise of private justice, where those with power enforce their own brand of retribution.

The healthcare system, once lauded as a model for the world, is no longer capable of meeting the needs of its citizens. Emergency rooms are filled with patients lying in hallways, waiting for days to receive care. In rural areas, family doctors are a rarity, and many Canadians have been left to navigate their health without proper support. This has created an atmosphere of desperation, where those who can afford private care are the only ones who receive treatment, further deepening the divide between the haves and have-nots.

Perhaps the most visible and tragic symbol of the collapse is the increasing number of Canadians living on the streets. Parks, once peaceful spaces for leisure, have become the last refuge for those who can no longer afford housing. The sight of families huddled together in tents, exposed to the elements, is a painful reminder of the social fabric tearing apart. At the same time, many Canadians are starving, while food insecurity becomes a pressing issue that the state is ill-equipped to address.

The cold winters now claim the lives of the homeless, a reminder of the harshness of nature when the mechanisms of society fail to provide the basic necessities. These are not just the effects of an economic downturn but the result of a systemic collapse in which every institution—healthcare, justice, education, and welfare—has faltered in its duty to serve the people. As the state withdraws from its role as provider, private entities and gangs step in to fill the void, often exploiting the situation for their own gain.

It is in this context that the slow collapse of Canada must be understood—not as an isolated event, but as part of a global pattern in which advanced societies, once secure in their success, begin to fragment and unravel under the weight of internal contradictions and external pressures.


Doug Fords Ontario 2028

In the sands of time, the empire of Canada had once flourished—a land of prosperity, bound by laws and governed by institutions that promised stability. But now, the machinery of civilization had ground to a halt. Like the great desert that had consumed the ancient civilizations of old, the land had become a place where survival, rather than thriving, had become the goal.

The cities, once bustling with life and commerce, now stood as empty shells, their grand facades ravaged by the forces of entropy and neglect. The slow collapse of the social order was like a sandstorm, eroding the very foundations of society one grain at a time. The people, once proud of their heritage and their institutions, now found themselves in a desperate struggle for dominance, as the old powers faded and new ones rose from the dust.

No longer were the streets ruled by the state. The justice that had once been swift and sure had long since dissipated into the ether, leaving only the strong to dictate the terms of law. The gangs, once considered a minor nuisance, now held the reigns of power. They were the new aristocrats, the warlords of this fractured world. In the absence of traditional authority, they had seized control, not with the force of armies but with the subtlety of politics, alliances, and threats.

The hospitals were no longer places of healing but fields of attrition, where the weak were left to die while the powerful, cloaked in the robes of indifference, walked past without a second glance. The doctors, those once revered for their knowledge, had long been overwhelmed, unable to treat the swelling tide of suffering. The system had collapsed, but no one had noticed the exact moment when the fall began. It had been a slow and subtle thing, like the withering of a great tree, its roots slowly rotting in the dark until the trunk itself could no longer stand.

In the deep silence of the winter months, when the cold came with a vengeance, the people found themselves at odds with nature, the elements now more unforgiving than the harshest ruler. The poor, without shelter, perished by the hundreds. The streets were littered with their bodies, forgotten by those who held the power to save them.

As the social fabric began to tear, the people turned to themselves, and to those who could provide. There was no need for the state to intervene, for the market of power had already shifted. Survival was no longer a matter of collective will but of individual prowess. The rise of the warlords, the gang leaders, had become the new order of things.

In the end, the slow collapse of Canadian society, like the slow death of a star, had been inevitable. It was not the apocalyptic destruction of an empire, but the slow, methodical crumbling of a great house, stone by stone, as its foundations rotted beneath the weight of its own contradictions. The future, now, was a thing of uncertainty, as the new lords of this fractured world forged their own destinies—one battle at a time.

The Case Against Voting Machines in Ontario Elections

 





The Case Against Voting Machines in Ontario Elections

Cyberattacks are on the rise in Canada. They hit hospitals, cities, and government offices. Even the best-protected systems fail. If hackers can cripple payroll systems and lock down hospitals, they can break into voting machines.

Security is the biggest risk. Hackers attack Toronto’s networks and government servers. Voting machines would be an even bigger prize. Foreign and domestic enemies would try to rig the results or shake public trust. A single breach could throw an election into doubt.

Reliability is another problem. Ontario’s digital systems fail often. Banks, hospitals, and public services have all gone dark because of glitches and cyberattacks. If it happens during an election, votes could be lost or changed. Paper ballots don’t have that problem. They can’t be hacked. They can be counted by hand. They leave a trail.

People already distrust institutions. Asking them to trust machines that have failed in other areas is a mistake. The current system works. It is secure. It is simple. There is no good reason to replace it with a riskier option.

Elections decide the fate of nations. Digital systems are too weak, and the price of failure is too high. Keep paper ballots. Keep elections safe. Keep democracy strong.

A small list of Canadian Failures for Cyber

Total Estimated Cost: At least $4.5 billion
Total People Affected: 15 million+ (excluding unknown values)

2014: Target Canada’s ERP Implementation Failure
Target’s expansion into Canada was marred by an unsuccessful Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation. The flawed system led to inventory inaccuracies and supply chain issues, contributing to the company’s withdrawal from the Canadian market in 2015. (See Medium: “Target in Canada — An Example of an ERP Failure”)

2016: Phoenix Pay System Implementation

The Canadian federal government’s launch of the Phoenix pay system resulted in widespread payroll issues, affecting nearly half of Canada’s public servants through underpayments, overpayments, and non-payments. By July 2018, it was reported that the cost to taxpayers to fix Phoenix’s problems could reach a total of $2.2 billion by 2023. (See Wikipedia: “Phoenix Pay System”)

April 2023: DDoS Attacks on Canadian Government Websites

Multiple Canadian government websites, including those of the Prime Minister’s Office and Statistics Canada, experienced Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, rendering them inaccessible to visitors. (See Transport Canada: “Cybersecurity Incidents at Transport Canada”)

April 2023: Cyberattack on Cornwall Community Hospital

Cornwall Community Hospital in Ontario suffered a cyber incident that disrupted its IT systems, affecting patient services and operations. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

April 2023: Cyberattack on Port Authorities

Websites for port authorities in Halifax, Montreal, and Quebec were targeted in cyberattacks, leading to temporary service disruptions. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

April 2023: Cyberattack on Ville d’Alma
The city of Alma in Quebec experienced a cyberattack that paralyzed its websites and servers, impacting municipal services. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

April 2023: Cyberattack on Canadian Nurses Association
The Canadian Nurses Association faced a cyberattack that compromised its IT infrastructure, affecting communications and member services. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

April 2023: Cyberattack on Constellation Software Inc.
Toronto-based Constellation Software Inc. reported a cyber incident, with a ransomware group claiming responsibility for the attack. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

February 2023: Cyberattack on Toronto-Dominion Bank
The Toronto-Dominion Bank experienced a cyberattack, reportedly by Russian hackers, affecting its online services. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

February 2023: Cyberattack on Indigo Books & Music
Indigo, a major Canadian bookstore chain, suffered a cyberattack that disrupted its online operations and led to potential data breaches. (See PacketLabs: “The Biggest Cyberattacks in Canada”)

March 2023: Cyberattack on City of Toronto
The City of Toronto confirmed unauthorized access to its data, with the Clop ransomware group claiming responsibility. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

March 2023: Cyberattack on Black & McDonald
Engineering firm Black & McDonald faced a cyberattack affecting its operations, including contracts for military bases and power plants. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

April 2023: Cyberattack on Uniboard Canada
Uniboard Canada, a manufacturer of wood products, was targeted in a cyberattack, impacting its IT systems and operations. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

April 2023: Cyberattack on Groupe Cloutier
Financial service provider Groupe Cloutier experienced a cybersecurity incident, affecting its IT infrastructure and client services. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

April 2023: Cyberattack on London Drugs
London Drugs, a pharmacy chain, reported a cybersecurity incident affecting its systems and customer services. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

April 2023: Cyberattack on Cégep régional de Lanaudière
The Cégep régional de Lanaudière in Quebec suffered a cyberattack that paralyzed its IT systems, disrupting educational services. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

May 2023: Cyberattack on Newfoundland Broadcasting Company
The Newfoundland Broadcasting Company experienced a cyberattack, affecting its broadcasting operations and services. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

May 2023: Cyberattack on Pharmascience
Montreal-based pharmaceutical company Pharmascience was targeted in a cyberattack, impacting its IT infrastructure and operations. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

June 2023: Cyberattack on Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
The Toronto District School Board launched an investigation into a suspected cyberattack on its IT systems, affecting educational services. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)

June 2023: Cyberattack on Mercku
Kitchener-based router maker Mercku’s support portal was hacked, leading to phishing attempts targeting its customers. (See KonBriefing: “Cyber Attacks in Canada”)