Global Warming and our Changing World

Recently we've had a few (weather-related?) temporary blackouts. At first I was disappointed, as I figured living in the year 2007 we should have figured out how to eliminate such events altogether. Then I thought that maybe we're continually rebuilding things that are nearly guaranteed to break. My only comfort with that thought was that at least we keep working to fix problems as they crop up.

But then I started to wonder if I'm just taking electricity for granted. If we really do run out of oil and our energy needs aren't being met, a quick blackout could be the least of our worries. We might have rolling blackouts for a few months, followed by severe power rationing. A momentary blink in electric current would be inconsequential in the face of hours and even days without any power at all.

Will this all come to pass? I hope not, but it does seem possible.