[cripplecreek]

“Whereas just when you and other nations are beginning to be provided with letters and the other requisites of civilized life, after the usual interval, the stream from heaven, like a pestilence, comes pouring down, and leaves only those of you who are destitute of letters and education;

Sounds like he understood that cities suffer the brunt of cataclysm. I interpret it as meaning those with little to begin with tend to be survivors.

However there is a lot of common knowledge these days that isn't easily lost. Even a lowly high school dropout like myself can give a fair explanation of lift and even demonstrate how it works.

[BenLurkin]

Indeed. The duck dynasty survives. The kardashians...not so much.