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In the middle of a somewhat rambling discussion during the Grey Cup half-time, this young woman offered up, "I told my friend that if zombies attacked, we should head to that Army Reserve Armoures -- the walls are thick, they have guns, and Messes full of alcohol."While I thought it funny that she completely dismissed the RegF Base, I like the way she thinks.
How to Avoid Incriminating Facebook Photos by Drinking More!By Mike Schuster December 2, 2011 01:45 PM 5 Comments FLASHED PHOTOGRAPHYHas this ever happened to you?You're enjoying a spirited evening with acquaintances at one of several establishments that happen to be very generous with libations. Conversations become more lively, inhibitions grow lax, and the next think you know, your tongue is tonsil-deep in your coworker's throat.All right, let me rephrase the original question: How often has this happened to you?Given the ubiquity of iPhones and Androids with direct access to Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Flickr, and other photo blogs with easy tagging, you, your boss, or your mother could easily answer that question. While the images may not be so incriminating as a keg stand atop a pool table or a brief flash of your assets on the dance floor, nearly everyone with a social network presence has a few photographs of themselves they'd rather not have online.But what can we do? Ask our friends to take down the photos? Destroy any smartphone that flashes in our vicinity? Finally own up to our dangerous relationship with alcohol?Fortunately, thanks to a solution by South American beer brand Cerveza Norte, we won't have to do any of those things.Introducing Photoblocker: Cerveza Norte's solution to unwarranted, potentially embarrassing photos taken in bars, pubs, clubs, dives, and lounges. Developed with Buenos Aires-based agency Del Campo Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi, Photoblocker is -- no joke -- a beer cooler which senses cell phone flashes in its vicinity and flashes its own counteractive light, rendering the photos overexposed and the inebriated subjects unidentifiable.So, essentially, drinking more can actually save your reputation!According to Fast Company, Del Campo's executive creative director Maxi Itzkoff has already field tested Photoblocker in regional bars and he claims it works splendidly. "We placed several beer coolers in different bars in the North of Argentina," he said. "People took lots of photos that ended up being blurry beyond recognition and then uploaded them to social media anyway."Only this time, your job, your home, and the custody of your children are still safe and sound.
Pre- Post Apocalyptic Survival A Listmania! list by Lind Ballmer "A setback is a setup for a comeback" (Glen Burnie, MD) The list author says: "It's funny and sometimes quasi-useful to read about zombie survival and all that, but in my humble opinion, zombies are not a viable focal point due to lack of reality. I think we would be better served to prepare for a complete collapse of civilization, where your greatest threats are surviving nature off the grid, and surviving other survivors. We humans have a very long history of doing horrendous things to each other, be wary. Think about how psychotic people can be driving, and that's in the face of law and consequences; absent law and order, you need to be very alert about people's intentions.These are things that may be good to accumulate over a few years time. This will serve as a sense of security for you and people you care about if law and order exit stage left. There are things you will need that money cannot buy: stay in decent shape, learn survival skills, learn to think critically and tactically. Go camping or hiking from time to time, just to see how you would fare in the wilderness if you had to."
Subculture of Americans prepares for civilization's collapseBy Jim ForsythSat Jan 21, 2012 11:44am EST(Reuters) - When Patty Tegeler looks out the window of her home overlooking the Appalachian Mountains in southwestern Virginia, she sees trouble on the horizon."In an instant, anything can happen," she told Reuters. "And I firmly believe that you have to be prepared."Tegeler is among a growing subculture of Americans who refer to themselves informally as "preppers." Some are driven by a fear of imminent societal collapse, others are worried about terrorism, and many have a vague concern that an escalating series of natural disasters is leading to some type of environmental cataclysm.They are following in the footsteps of hippies in the 1960s who set up communes to separate themselves from what they saw as a materialistic society, and the survivalists in the 1990s who were hoping to escape the dictates of what they perceived as an increasingly secular and oppressive government.Preppers, though are, worried about no government.Tegeler, 57, has turned her home in rural Virginia into a "survival center," complete with a large generator, portable heaters, water tanks, and a two-year supply of freeze-dried food that her sister recently gave her as a birthday present. She says that in case of emergency, she could survive indefinitely in her home. And she thinks that emergency could come soon."I think this economy is about to fall apart," she said.A wide range of vendors market products to preppers, mainly online. They sell everything from water tanks to guns to survival skills.Conservative talk radio host Glenn Beck seems to preach preppers' message when he tells listeners: "It's never too late to prepare for the end of the world as we know it.""Unfortunately, given the increasing complexity and fragility of our modern technological society, the chances of a societal collapse are increasing year after year," said author James Wesley Rawles, whose Survival Blog is considered the guiding light of the prepper movement.A former Army intelligence officer, Rawles has written fiction and non-fiction books on end-of-civilization topics, including "How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It," which is also known as the preppers' Bible."We could see a cascade of higher interest rates, margin calls, stock market collapses, bank runs, currency revaluations, mass street protests, and riots," he told Reuters. "The worst-case end result would be a Third World War, mass inflation, currency collapses, and long term power grid failures."A sense of "suffering and being afraid" is usually at the root of this kind of thinking, according to Cathy Gutierrez, an expert on end-times beliefs at Sweet Briar College in Virginia. Such feelings are not unnatural in a time of economic recession and concerns about a growing national debt, she said."With our current dependence on things from the electric grid to the Internet, things that people have absolutely no control over, there is a feeling that a collapse scenario can easily emerge, with a belief that the end is coming, and it is all out of the individual's control," she told Reuters.She compared the major technological developments of the past decade to the Industrial Revolution of the 1830s and 1840s, which led to the growth of the Millerites, the 19th-Century equivalent of the preppers. Followers of charismatic preacher Joseph Miller, many sold everything and gathered in 1844 for what they believed would be the second coming of Jesus Christ.Many of today's preppers receive inspiration from the Internet, devouring information posted on websites like that run by attorney Michael T. Snider, who writes The Economic Collapse blog out of his home in northern Idaho."Modern preppers are much different from the survivalists of the old days," he said. "You could be living next door to a prepper and never even know it. Many suburbanites are turning spare rooms into food pantries and are going for survival training on the weekends."Like other preppers, Snider is worried about the end of a functioning U.S. economy. He points out that tens of millions of Americans are on food stamps and that many U.S. children are living in poverty."Most people have a gut feeling that something has gone terribly wrong, but that doesn't mean that they understand what is happening," he said. "A lot of Americans sense that a massive economic storm is coming and they want to be prepared for it."So, assuming there is no collapse of society -- which the preppers call "uncivilization" -- what is the future of the preppers?Gutierrez said that unlike the Millerites -- or followers of radio preacher Harold Camping, who predicted the world would end last year -- preppers are not setting a date for the coming destruction. The Mayan Calendar predicts doom this December."The minute you set a date, you are courting disconfirmation," she said.Tegeler, who recalls being hit by tornadoes and floods in her southwestern Virginia home, said that none of her "survival center" products will go to waste."I think it's silly not to be prepared," she said. "After all, anything can happen."(Reporting by Jim Forsyth in San Antonio; Editing by Corrie MacLaggan and Greg McCune)
The list author says: "When the zombies invade your home, or a hurricane strikes the neighborhood, you can depend on these items to protect your whole family. Most of the things listed here are covered by Amazon.com and include free shipping, except for the 2-way radios, blankets, and firestarter. The heaviest item here are the energy bars, which weigh 3.90 pounds. Everything else is between 1-2 pounds. Total weight to carry would be 19.16 pounds (I didn't count the firestarter and water tablets, they're too small to be of consequence). Total price is exactly $262.27 (excluding shipping costs for the 3 independently sold items).Necessary items not listed include your own bottled water, canned food, ponchos, and extra gasoline. Those you can purchase elsewhere just as easily and probably at better prices, too.Have a safe journey and GOOD LUCK!!!" 1. SAS Survival Handbook: How to Survive in the WIld, in Any Climate, on Land or at Sea by John Wiseman 2. Eton FR250 Emergency Crank Radio Metallic Red by Eton 3. Johnson & Johnson First Aid Kit, Complete Care, 225-Piece Kit by Red Cross 4. Emergency Mylar Blanket - 62" x 82" - Pack of 12 Blankets - EB-12 by PrimaCare Medical 5. Swedish FireSteel - Scout Model (Red) 6. Katadyn Micropur MP1 Purification Tablets (20 count) by Katadyn 7. Victorinox Swiss Army Ranger Pocket Knife by Victorinox 8. Cobra microTALK PR 5000-2 DX VP 15-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) by Cobra 9. Bushnell Falcon 10x50 Wide Angle Binoculars (Black) by Bushnell 10. Garrity Power Lite 3 LED Crank Light (Titanium Silver/Black) by Garrity 11. Clif Bar Energy Bar, Variety Pack of Crunchy Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch, and Oatmeal Raisin Walnut, 2.4-Ounce Bars, Pack of 24 by Clif Bar (not so good if you have allergies) 12. Slim Jim Smoked Snack Sticks, Original, 0.28-Ounce Sticks (Pack of 100) by Slim Jim
Canadian Arctic rescue teams suggest drivers carry a can of dog food in their cars. Sound crazy? It seems that when people crash their cars into a snow bank on the tundra, they tend to eat their emergency food too soon. The dog food is less palatable and so stranded motorists will wait to eat that can of puppy chow until they really need it. You don't have to be driving the vast expanses of northern Canada to get stuck in your car. Take these stories from the past year: Rita Chretien, 56, was found in a remote part of Nevada in May 2011 after being stranded for seven weeks, her car stuck in the mud. Chretien used a plastic bag to catch rainwater to drink. Last December, 23-year-old Lauren Weinberg was stranded on a snowy forest road southeast of Winslow, Ariz., for nine days and survived on two candy bars and a bottle of water. This January, Lynn S. Keelser, 61, survived for a week on peanut butter M&Ms when she took a wrong turn in a rental car and got stuck in an Idaho dairy wastewater pond. None of these drivers had cellphones. But even more important, none had an emergency-preparedness kit. Being prepared is not merely a good rule for travel in highly remote areas. If you take the occasional extended road trip, you should pack a survival kit of crucial emergency supplies. We've compiled eight categories of essential supplies to carry in your car, made up from suggestions from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Army, the American Automobile Association (AAA), the Red Cross, and regional search-and-rescue teams. None, however, include Alpo. SustenanceThe first priority for any stuck situation is maintaining hydration. The biggest hurdle when carrying water: It weighs 8 pounds per gallon, and considering each person in the car will need to drink about a gallon a day, that's a heavy load to haul around. It's easiest to pack a case of 16 small drink boxes of water. One brand, Aqua Blox, comes in 8-ounce containers that are claimed to have a shelf life of five years. Another option would be to carry refillable water bottles. When empty, they won't add unnecessary weight, and you can fill them if you think you might be driving into remote areas. If you bring empty water bottles, bring water purification tablets. Chlorine-based tablets that you can find at camping stores will kill waterborne organisms if you have to fill your water bottles from a stream or lake. For food, high-calorie energy and protein bars are great solutions. They pack a lot of calories into a small space and can be found at a good camping store. Be sure to avoid many of the ones you see at the convenience store; they contain too much salt and sugar. The better ones have less of both so they won't make you thirsty. And at between 2400 and 3600 calories per bar, they'll keep you nourished in an emergency. The ER Emergency Food Bar, for example, claims to provide 72 hours of nutrition and has a shelf life of five years.SurvivalIt's smart to pack a wool blanket and some chemical warm packs, too. A wool blanket works well even if it's damp. An emergency blanket (also known as a space blanket) is a metal-coated plastic sheet that marathoners use to keep warm after a race. It, too, can keep you warm in an emergency. Chemical heat packs react with air and can add warmth inside a blanket. They can be stopped and started for up to 15 hours. Be sure to pack a flashlight, glow sticks, matches, and emergency candles. We like rechargeable flashlights that park in your car's 12-volt outlet. To help keep you dry, bring along a waterproof poncho with a hood. A plastic whistle with two chambers should also find space in this kit—it works much better then shouting for help. Bring along a solar- and hand-crank-powered light/radio/cellphone charger. Be sure to buy one through a reputable source—we've heard many stories that some don't work long enough. And, yes, you will need extra clothes and a good winter hat. We'd recommend packing a small tarp too, in case you need temporary shelter.First AidIf you're venturing away from civilization—or if you just have kids—it's smart to keep a first-aid kit in the car. We'd get the most thorough one we could find, but even some fairly basic ones include: -Several gauze bandages 4-inches square, and smaller adhesive bandages-Cloth tape-Eyewash cup-Absorbent pads for bleeding-Antiseptic wipes and nitrile gloves (latex sometimes provokes allergies)-Burn ointment-CPR mask-Elastic sprain bandage, SAM splint-Scissors, tweezers, safety pins-Aspirin and nonaspirin pain relievers-Nausea medication-Sunscreen-Duct tape-Moleskin for blisters (adventure racers tell us duct tape works in a pinch too)MechanicalNow we're getting to some Popular Mechanics bread and butter: the toolkit. The best one we've seen is the RoadTech kit from Aerostich. It's actually a tool kit for motorcycle trekking but has all the required bits: locking pliers, an adjustable wrench, a 6-in-1 screwdriver, pliers with a wire cutter, a ratchet and sockets, hex keys, and more stuff. And the parts roll up into one handy pouch. A good-quality plastic gas can is handy too. We'd also pack a multitool such as a Leatherman and a tire gauge. Make sure to bring along some work gloves, wire ties, WD-40, and zip-lock bags for tools, parts, and oily towels. Aerosol foam tire sealant or a portable compressor and a tire plug kit can be very helpful, as can spare fuses and bulbs. Finally, bring 6-gauge jumper cables. If nobody's around to jump your car, there is such as thing as an Alaskan jump-start: If your battery is cold and won't start the car, some backwoods folks have mentioned that they take a pair of jumper cables with one set of clamps attached to the battery and then they short the other set of clamps together for 20 seconds. This heats up the battery and allows it to supply more of its charge (although it also shortens its life). But be exceeding careful if you ever need to try this one—it's a dangerous operation.RecoveryIf you find yourself off the road somewhere where a tow truck's not an option, you need a backup plan. If you own a 4WD truck, we'd spend the money and invest in an electric winch rated for the weight of your vehicle. Then purchase a full winch recovery kit so you'll have a tree-saver strap, a good-quality tow strap, a clevis, and other great equipment. Even if you don't have a winch, a Hi-Lift Jack can be used as a heavy-duty come-along winch or as a sturdy jack to lift your car so you can change a flat tire. If you plan to drive in snowy climes, get some proper snow chains. But if the car gets really stuck, you'll likely need a good shovel too. Glock, the famed pistol-maker, also makes the coolest folding shovel we've seen. It uses a lightweight composite handle and a steel pointed blade. It's about a pound less than similar army-surplus-style detrenching tools. The old-school solution to gaining traction in snow was to carry sand or kitty litter. But that's heavy stuff, and many times you can use the shovel to dig down to dirt for traction. In deep snow (or sand), you can often dig down far enough to slip your floormats underneath both of the tires that are receiving power. Sometimes these mats provide enough traction to ease the car onto a surface with better grip.SanitationAt first glance, these might seem like the least important items here. But maintaining proper sanitation in the tiny cabin of a car over an extended length of time is a serious concern. You'll of course want to bring along some toilet paper as well as unscented baby wipes. These wipes are often a good substitute for toilet paper and can also be used for cleaning. Bring along large zip-lock-style bags, plastic garbage bags, and wire ties. These will work as your disposal containers. And if it's too cold outside to dig a pit, you'll want to bring a bedpan. We've found good ones at Sporty's Pilot Shop. You'll also want to have a bottle of disinfectant or hand sanitizer in case water is not available.CarryallA small backpack is probably the best carryall to keep in your kit in the event you need to leave the car and set out on foot. Even better is a larger camping backpack that has separate compartments and pockets to keep the more fragile first-aid items from your dirty tools. Some packs have hook-and-loop patches on them, which can keep them from sliding around inside the trunk area of the car. Backpacks often have loops so that you can clip rock-climbing-style carabiners on them and then attach the whole shebang securely to your car—the object is to keep your fully loaded emergency kit from becoming a heavy projectile in a crash. Bungee cords are another great tool to hold the kit and other luggage in place.EmergencyIn his famous comedy bit "200 MPH," Bill Cosby imagined using the standard floor-mounted fire extinguisher in his custom-made 462-hp Cobra Super Snake to heroically save the occupants of a burning house. And while you might just get the chance to be a hero someday, you could keep a fire extinguisher in our car emergency kit to deal with any emergencies that spark up in your own vehicle. They come in a variety of specs, but look for at least a 1A10BC or 2A10BC classification. If your car battery drains, you'll want to have an emergency warning light along, with spare batteries. A hazard triangle and road flares will keep you safer at night if you're stuck. We suggest you bring dust masks with a N95 or a N100 rating, which not only keep dirt and debris away, but can also filter airborne pathogens. And as an added bonus, these masks will help warm the air you breathe in the cold.
