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DevilTakeMe Coin Operator from Wild Wasteland Since: Jan, 2010
Coin Operator
#226: Feb 27th 2013 at 1:55:08 PM

[up] Soft, sheltered lives where people bring them their food from a kitchen of questionable quality, or being used to chemically-enhanced foodstuffs canned in a factory that may or may not be made for truly long term periods, or they make it themselves and control the quality of their own meals?

There's nothing wrong with an MRE as far as taste. It might just be a little bland to some people. And to that, again, spices! Those tiny little tabasco bottles can go a long way! Though, I hear the newer ones don't have them anymore.

edited 27th Feb '13 1:58:59 PM by DevilTakeMe

Glove and Boots is good for Blog!
Byakuko Imperial Court Minstrel from Great Prosperity Sphere Since: Dec, 2012
Imperial Court Minstrel
#227: Feb 27th 2013 at 2:07:31 PM

mre's without tobasco?!

what blasphemy! what madness! D:<

"I will strike down all that threaten my clan!"
Shepherd Since: Mar, 2011
#228: Feb 27th 2013 at 2:40:17 PM

A few of the meals really are detestable in terms of taste. But overall I'd say they range from decent to quite good. I think the idea that military rations taste bad has existed so long it's impossible to shake. I tried to get my mom to taste an MRE meal but she adamantly refused without a real reason.

Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#229: Feb 27th 2013 at 7:24:33 PM

To be honest, my problem with MRE tastes is that in an effort to please everyone, they all have this shitty tex mex taste. Anything described as "spicy" or "zesty" means that there's a little bit of heat, and then a bunch of sweet, and I hate that sort of tex mex flavor.

MRE's don't necessarily taste good, but they are palatable, some of them can be made to taste ok, but military food has never impressed me, but it's not dogshit either.

edited 27th Feb '13 7:26:19 PM by Barkey

Deboss I see the Awesomeness. from Awesomeville Texas Since: Aug, 2009
I see the Awesomeness.
#230: Feb 27th 2013 at 8:10:06 PM

I remember seeing a thing on TV back in the 90's about a company that sold pre-fab bunkers. Mind you, it looked kind of like a camper trailer made sweet sweet love to a submarine. The idea was you'd buy this, bury it wholesale, and make sure you had ventilation and what not going into the bunker. Dunno how effective it would be against nuclear fallout, but it'd probably work super for tornadoes as long as it wasn't on a flood plane.

It would probably be easier to buy a couple of shipping containers and mount crap inside of them. As long as you live within a couple of counties* of a decent size port, you can just buy one and bury it.

It shouldn't be terribly difficult to mount the heater on it (you don't need AC since the ground has a near constant temperature slightly below room temperature*) or in it. You'd still need either a heat pump for a walk in cooling unit or a large fridge, you could probably use the waste heat from that to keep it warm.

Let's see, you'd probably want a water filtration system of some kind (I think osmosis filters don't need to be replaced) and use one of those widgets that turns sewage into fertilizer. I'm not sure if you can use highly toxic cleaning agents if you do that though.

Anyway, I recently came across a pump activated flash light. They've apparently improved enough that a few pumps can activated it for several minutes, which is a serious improvement over the last time I saw them and they had an almost one to one charge/use rate.

* Deboss Advice Inc is not responsible for any damages or injuries suffered due to not learning your local topography or weather patterns.

edited 27th Feb '13 8:12:06 PM by Deboss

Fight smart, not fair.
AFP Since: Mar, 2010
#231: Feb 27th 2013 at 9:02:06 PM

I'd want some kind of ventilation just to make sure there is fresh air inside, rather than the more mundane temperature control concern. Humidity could also be a concern depending on what else you are keeping in the bunker with you.

And of course, you have to ask yourself what you are bunkering down from. If you just want a storm cellar or even a bugout shelter in the case of Societal Collapse (hopefully temporary), the requirements are far less strenuous than if you need something to hide out a nuclear winter.

DevilTakeMe Coin Operator from Wild Wasteland Since: Jan, 2010
Coin Operator
#232: Feb 27th 2013 at 10:28:58 PM

They still have those buried survival shelter things. Looks like a winner for run of the mill stuff. Not sure I'd like to be in one for anything truly long term.

That said, there's also those super luxury survival condos...

Glove and Boots is good for Blog!
drunkscriblerian Street Writing Man from Castle Geekhaven Since: Oct, 2010 Relationship Status: In season
Street Writing Man
#233: Feb 27th 2013 at 10:31:28 PM

Is this still a thing?

Someone ought to distribute a pamphlet entitled "the Cold War is over, here is how you cope" [lol]

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~
Achaemenid HGW XX/7 from Ruschestraße 103, Haus 1 Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: Giving love a bad name
HGW XX/7
#234: Feb 28th 2013 at 12:20:58 AM

[up]

Yes, to a degree. There are a lot of preppers (not this thread) who seem to be motivated by either A: "Dey won't take mah gunz"-style fear of government or B: "The Commies are coming"-style paranoia. Most people are just doing a little bit of contingency planning. For others, it is a fun academic exercise.

However, being prepared for natural disasters, especially those that might hit your area, is still a wise thing to do. When I was in New York, the family I stayed with had a very detailed anti-Hurricane plan. This paid off for them big-style during Sandy.

edited 28th Feb '13 12:21:13 AM by Achaemenid

Schild und Schwert der Partei
DevilTakeMe Coin Operator from Wild Wasteland Since: Jan, 2010
Coin Operator
#235: Feb 28th 2013 at 12:31:51 AM

That's the one thing I regret about leaving the East Coast. with Hurricanes, you can at least see them coming and give yourself a little more leeway preparing specifically for them.

Here on the West Coast, though, you can never be prepared for an Earthquake to wreak havoc. Or the aftermath.

Nuclear war or some other attack? Not so worried about that, even if the Doomsday Clock is closer to Midnight than it has since the end of the Cold War.

Glove and Boots is good for Blog!
Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#236: Feb 28th 2013 at 4:49:58 AM

Pfft, and how many earthquakes do we get as opposed to hurricanes on the east coast?

The ones we do get are super localized and not a big deal, I always hear my cali brethren talk up Earthquakes like we regularly have to dive out of the way while on the way to work, lest a fissure open and swallow us up. tongue

Anyway, I want one just because I want it to be the ultimate man-cave. I'll be honest, I just want to be in an underground metal box full of guns, stocked with food, and playing video games on an underground fiber connection.

edited 28th Feb '13 4:50:42 AM by Barkey

Shepherd Since: Mar, 2011
#237: Feb 28th 2013 at 8:04:32 AM

[up]Sort of like that scene in Terminator 2 with better lighting.

I've also heard of people who get smaller underground shelters just to store their supplies. That way, in case of emergency, they have a protected stash of food and water even if they couldn't afford a full-on bunker.

I find that prepping for me is one part accidental exercise and one point genuine survival concern. Sometimes, when preparing my next prep, I think of that show Jericho and just say, "Okay, everything they didn't do is what I'm going to do".

AFP Since: Mar, 2010
#238: Feb 28th 2013 at 8:29:00 PM

Nonsense. Proper lighting just ruins the "Post Apocalypse Command Center" vibe. [lol]

AFP Since: Mar, 2010
#239: Mar 3rd 2013 at 1:21:50 AM

Found this link today, from Allstate. Pretty much everything we've already talked about.

Also this. Really, the Allstate blog seems like a handy source of info.

edited 3rd Mar '13 1:22:19 AM by AFP

RevolverZen Since: Jun, 2011 Relationship Status: Get out of here, STALKER
#240: Apr 15th 2013 at 2:12:20 AM

Would three jars of peanut butter be okay for a Bug out Bag?

Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#241: Apr 15th 2013 at 3:04:42 AM

It'd do for a few days, but you'd get really sick of peanut butter, and you would also need to pack lots of water to wash it down with.

RevolverZen Since: Jun, 2011 Relationship Status: Get out of here, STALKER
#242: Apr 15th 2013 at 4:16:13 AM

So if I had like other stuff with Peanut Butter, I would be okay?

Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#243: Apr 15th 2013 at 4:20:51 AM

Kendal Mint Cake: it's traditional. Failing that: any chocolate is pretty darned good. <shrugs>

And, surprise, surprise... even more traditional. Biscuits/ cookies. Or, you know... flapjacks. They're also classics for a reason. smile

The plus-side to all these options? Keeping your Bug Out Bag within its use-by date won't be all that much of a strain... However, extra gym work may be advised. wink

edited 15th Apr '13 4:27:07 AM by Euodiachloris

Achaemenid HGW XX/7 from Ruschestraße 103, Haus 1 Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: Giving love a bad name
HGW XX/7
#244: Apr 15th 2013 at 4:29:51 AM

[up][tup]

Trail mix is the king for me. If you really need to stave off tiredness or stay awake, you can chew coffee grounds. Not hugely pleasant.

Schild und Schwert der Partei
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#245: Apr 15th 2013 at 5:04:51 AM

I forgot to mention Halva. Yum... and very good at keeping. Particularly the sesame seedy kind. ^_^ I really should have added biltong. But, I know most people turn green thinking about it. (It's better than most over-sweetened jerkies, and I'll stick by that.)

edited 15th Apr '13 5:08:31 AM by Euodiachloris

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#246: Apr 15th 2013 at 11:54:43 AM

This post went in an interesting direction. A yummy one! I always thought dried fruit was perfect for survival food. My favorites are pinapple, bananas, and raisons.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
Achaemenid HGW XX/7 from Ruschestraße 103, Haus 1 Since: Dec, 2011 Relationship Status: Giving love a bad name
HGW XX/7
#247: Apr 15th 2013 at 11:57:00 AM

[up][up]

Biltong is stunning stuff.

Schild und Schwert der Partei
TuefelHundenIV Night Clerk of the Apocalypse from Doomsday Facility Corner Store. Since: Aug, 2009 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Night Clerk of the Apocalypse
#248: Apr 15th 2013 at 5:18:45 PM

For those interested in Bunkers Vivos is building these. The first one is going in the ground in California. They strike vibes of Fallout Vault Co Vaults in the attitudes behind the vaults.

Who watches the watchmen?
Midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#249: Apr 16th 2013 at 8:56:08 AM

[up]

Scary thought given the "reasoning" behind the vaults was a lie to cover up their true purpose as human experimentation facilities.

Shepherd Since: Mar, 2011
#250: Apr 16th 2013 at 10:25:56 AM

[up]For a second there, I didn't realize you were referring to Fallout.


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