Part of the tragedy of history is the loss of data, witnesses & memories of various accounts can be lost. Throughout earth-time, people, books & other data have been burned due to intolerance or ignorance. Even websites disappear or have some deleted & altered sections.
If more people can observe & take notes of big & small events in their life, then share & compare these accounts with others, it can help to retain more accuracy of data.
If more pertinent articles & parts of websites are stored, that also helps to preserve data. Websites crash all the time or mysteriously disappear. If there ever is another solar storm as big as the one in 1859, it could be the equivalent of one hell of an EMP shutdown for most of earths electronics & satellites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_pulse#E3
"Scientists are beginning to understand a historic solar storm in 1859. One day, they say, it could happen again."
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2003/23oct_superstorm/"In 1989, an electromagnetic storm disrupted power throughout most of Quebec and caused aurorae as far south as Texas. Large and potentially damaging geomagnetic storms are predicted for the height of the next solar sunspot cycle during the 2012-2013 period."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_storms The amount of data-loss would be tremendous & could make the old Y2K concerns seem like a picnic.
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2009/29may_noaaprediction/http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.htmlhttp://www.csmonitor.com/Science/Cool-Astronomy/2010/0809/Could-a-solar-storm-send-us-back-to-the-Stone-Age This civilization sure doesn't need any technological setbacks, especially a new dark age, so hopefully a CME or solar storm doesn't shut almost everything down.
Whether in 2 or 3 years, or a few centuries from now.
