BBC: End of Empire (article and video)

[Mosin]

End of Empire: Tough economy closes mining town
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15360661

[maryanimal]

That is so sad... I still think we sould by Empire. I started a thread last year. Was funny and ironic at the same time.

[Sham]

Sadly enough, Empire will sit dormant for several decades, and will probably be demolished at some point if the houses and buildings deteriorate from time and weather.
This entire town is owned by USG, and there are no plans at anytime in the near future to reopen the plant. The town will not be sold, as this gives whole new liability problems to the company. It will just crumbled and be flattened at some point.

[some seeing eye]

Ghost towns were the result of temporary economic booms. We are coming off of that in the US now. There are abandoned towns and villages all over the world as people move to cities. And there are credible population forecasts that place the world population at sub 4 billion by 2100. So not a surprise.

[Canoe]

It's the high school locked up and nine students total with 2 teachers down from 25...

Ghost towns were the result of temporary economic booms. We are coming off of that in the US now. There are abandoned towns and villages all over the world as people move to cities. And there are credible population forecasts that place the world population at sub 4 billion by 2100. So not a surprise.

As we're over 6 billion right now, and although we're not doing it we have the capacity to produce more food than all need, your "credible population forecasts" sub 4 billion has my attention. Can you expend on that?
I thought that except for a few rare scarcity mongers, the forecasts are that we'll peak and stay near 9 billion, and that with reasonable management this is sustainable.

[Ugly Dougly]

[quote="Shambala"}The town will not be sold, as this gives whole new liability problems to the company. [/quote]

You're probably right - they'd actually have to clean it up like good stewards.

Still, there's got to be some spot out there that could be made into the world's first clothing-optional casino....

[Dr. Pyro]

Where would you carry your wallet?

[lemur]

silly, they dont let you use real money at casinos anymore....

its all on a card,.. on a lanyard, around yer neck... it lets you forget you just spent $3000

suitable for nude casinos.

[Ugly Dougly]

Then we have a plan!

[theCryptofishist]

Only if all the high rollers are forced to take sanitary towels with them everywhere.

[Canoe]

[quote="Shambala"}The town will not be sold, as this gives whole new liability problems to the company. [/quote]
So contain the factory areas. Sell the houses and community infrastructure off: liability?
Hard to figure out who to sell to, as people have to have income to pay costs. A retirement village scenario: I assume too limited medical access?
A year round Burner community doesn't seem likely.

Only if all the high rollers are forced to take sanitary towels with them everywhere.

Half loin-cloth.

... Still, there's got to be some spot out there that could be made into the world's first clothing-optional casino....

But hard to have any cabaret revenue when the customers outdress/outflash the cabaret girls. Or were you thinking of customers other than Burners?

[Raymaker]

Only if all the high rollers are forced to take sanitary towels with them everywhere.

seat wipers, improve employment

[some seeing eye]

Canoe,
I'm taking the low UN estimate and halving it, and there are people like the GBN that are saying that too. The leveling off at 9B is the medium UN scenario. A lot depends on how we transition to new energy sources and adapt to global warming. The biggest factor is the education of women and job opportunities. Rising standard of living is correlated to reduced birth rates. It's only anecdotal, but I bet you would find the birth rate of BM attendees is very low...

[Ugly Dougly]

USG Corporation proudly presents its world-famous extravaganza: Your Gypsum Wonderland!
Buy tickets now while they're sold out!

[Ugly Dougly]

Damn, theme camp ideas keep flying overhead like seagulls these days. Must be the fluoride in the drinkin' water.

[Box Burner]

It's the high school locked up and nine students total with 2 teachers down from 25...

Ghost towns were the result of temporary economic booms. We are coming off of that in the US now. There are abandoned towns and villages all over the world as people move to cities. And there are credible population forecasts that place the world population at sub 4 billion by 2100. So not a surprise.

As we're over 6 billion right now, and although we're not doing it we have the capacity to produce more food than all need, your "credible population forecasts" sub 4 billion has my attention. Can you expend on that?
I thought that except for a few rare scarcity mongers, the forecasts are that we'll peak and stay near 9 billion, and that with reasonable management this is sustainable.

If Government had not taken control of and requlated it*, we would have space stations with hotels in orbit and at least one colony on the Moon by now. We might already be on Mars and preparing to go into deep space. Science fiction writers had been predicting it almost since the turn of the the century (1900). And the technology to do it existed by the end of WW II. Certainly more risky, but doable. And there has never been a lack of people who are willing to take the risk. Once we are off planet and starting to colonize other planets population will be a little less of a problem. As will the survival of the human race.

* Maybe someone in GOV read Robert Heinlein's book "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress".

[Sham]

Article in Failure Magazine....
http://failuremag.com/index.php/feature ... re_nevada/

[wh..sh]

Ghost town in making and how I love ghost towns!