Zombie Apocalypse Prep...

    I started writing this morning and then it got long, so I decided to turn it into a break down and cover various aspects over a week or two. 

     For starters I'm with cracked.com on this, the hordes will not go on endlessly, and if you do a few things that are good basic prep for a natural disaster along with some other items, you will ride it out if you are smart.  Call me an apocalyptic glass half-full kind of guy if you want.  Whatever the crazy event that happens be it undead (unlikely), virus of some kind (more likely), or some type of unforeseen Mayan curse (who knows) it can't go on forever.  One thing that I will make sure to do, is very careful group selection.  For some friends, they are not your friends when this kind of stuff happens, they will screw you over.  Upside you learn who to trust fast, I already have a good idea of who's who in this situation.  As far as survival instinct goes, make sure you have enough people that can take care of themselves to help out with those that are going through learning.  Don't just leave some to natural selection as it were, it's just not wise, and a lame thing to do, you are better then that.  I'm not saying make it a charity event, but you know what people can pick things up when they have to, and as long as they have some basic understanding that certain comforts are to the wind, there is hope for those people.  You never know who has that warrior instinct naturally, those are the people that have an x-factor that they don't even know about.  Besides if the only people in the group are people with your skill sets it will get boring, keeping busy will be important, and teaching others the skills you have, or learning the skills from those that have them will eat up the down time in a productive fashion.  Don't waste your time trying to build a jet out of wood, K.I.S.S.  KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID!

     Many people seem to think an always on the move method is the best, I tend to disagree.  Moving less and being noticed less are more important, getting a safe area rather then one safe place is more important.  Have a few spots to rotate to and maybe a more fortified place as a last ditch option only.  If it is a traditional zombie it requires a lot less effort, shows need to be suspenseful so of course they always make out slow moving zombies as these stealth like murder machines that just come out of nowhere, if one of these zombies comes out of nowhere on you, you got what you deserve.  The slow zombie will be easy to fool, get some distance or lead them along and then double back, and leave them to hobble about moaning at the moon.  Heck the slow ones will be easy enough to gather up like cattle in a impound lot or other high fenced area, gather up the bigger groups in a smart fashion and lock them somewhere.  That's one thing that seems mostly absent from a lot of zombie situations, lock them in and not yourself.  If there are runner zombies, don't be stupid, set up a guard or, get to a high place and have multiple exits and ways to get out, use one entrance/exit until discovered, then block it off, and use an alternate, having several spots to move to is best, remember that expression don't put all your eggs in one basket?  Defensible is good, but options with slightly less defense are better.  A giant mall, if you had the resources and man power to take care of access, would actually be good, the stores have pull down fences, you can trap zombies in, and if you are creative and start to get overrun, there are so many easy options.  I would go for a bank in a bad area, or just a place with barred windows, a few exits, and a big bonus would be roof access inside the building.  I know a few places in my area that would be great, mostly government facilities, but they would require scouting.  Sporting goods or gun store, why not?  For some reason in shows and movies the only thing you are allowed to do in places with lots of weapons seems to be get a few quick things and then leave.  This has not been done simply because it makes to much sense, and it would hurt the zombies feelings.  Remember, just because someone is already using that place does not mean you can't work together, contrary to a lot of media people work together better in situations like this, part of good instinct, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.  Everyone has a good common enemy, the zombie, focus on the zombie don't be a douche bag. 



   So I am trying to decide how to break up the big post I started with this morning, I have tons of information on equipment so far and that can be expanded and broken down.  So I'm thinking of three or four main parts that will be broken up.  Kit: survival items, firearms, weapons, etc.  Strategy: good ideas, bad ideas, how to have a sustainable plan of action and implementing it.  Places: where to go, ties into strategy and kit.  Vehicles: I will most likely cover less on this, but yes, you can have your zombie apocalypse and eat it too?  I may add more as I go down the list.  Obviously breaking it up will help make it more interesting I hope.  I will ask all of the people that read this if I should include links to products and what not (feel free to comment and let me know).  I am honestly trying to figure out how detailed to get and what I am leaving out.   Yes I was supposed to write about guns, don't worry in the middle of zombie-mania I will do that as part of it will be about guns I will just snap off a post dedicated to it.

Guns...

I enjoy shooting as a hobby and sometimes hunting. It is weird how some people react to that, and when questioned about why they are so leery or weird they have no good reasons. It's like someone with an irrational fear of anything. Some person, in the previously mentioned person (or persons) life, clearly must have fed them boogey man tales about guns or any person that owns one. I asked someone if they had been shot or witnessed a violent crime involving a gun because their reaction was so strong. Strangely enough they claimed to have never seen a gun in person before, touched one, or had known anyone that experienced any such acts they could think of. I was puzzled and ask why the harsh judgment and apparent distrust they seemed to have for me after mentioning my hobby, they pretty much admitted they had no good reason, but they just felt like the mere fact I owned a gun would somehow corrupt me as if it were a cursed talisman from a bad pulp comic. I have gotten several people I have dated into the idea of shooting and they enjoyed it. Quite a few friends have asked that I take them and I give them the safety break down, take them to the range, and not had a single person walk away all weirded out. Everyone enjoyed the experience, some even purchased a firearm of their own and have a new hobby, a few even said they felt like they couldn't be prepared for the inevitable zombie hordes without a basic lesson, and a few just wanted to say they had the experience, but would go again if I offered. I chalk some people's reaction up to being akin to a caveman trying to figure out a car, and then promptly destroying the metal abomination that must clearly be the source of all evil. I suppose it comes down to this strange delusion that some people must possess that an inanimate object can be pure evil and corrupt.

I remember some show having a joke about that, wish I remembered which show and what it was, either way it was laughable, oh the show was a cartoon no less. So essentially children's programming is more advanced than the thought process of some adults minds, awesome. I know some people that were raised with moron parents that they admit brainwashed them with irrational stupidity, I enjoy showing those people firearms safety and then sharing the experience of shooting with them. Plain targets to start, then I usually get silly targets like zombies, puppies, or kittens (jk about the puppies, I may not be about the kittens...) and people really get a kick out of that. I always try to reinforce that guns are a tool and like any tool can be abused. People don't think twice about having crazy kitchen knives, haven't they seen any movies? Those things are dangerous and crazy people that are axe murderers use them! So using silly logic, anyone that owns a knife is a demon possessed, mask toting, super killer. Just look at what happened when Freddie owned more than one! He turned them into a furious murder glove of destruction and could enter people's dreams. Yes I know I am making the point in a very ridiculous fashion, but people's reeling reactions at the mention of a gun is along those lines, my sister in law has that reaction to snakes, even fake ones. She is irrationally scared to tears of the things, and I can understand why, she grew up in the country and spent lots of time on a farm where rattlesnakes were all over. As a young person the experience of fear like that can have long term reactions. I don't like wasps, my dad doesn't either, he is really bad, one got in the car once I thought we were all going to die, I honestly should be able to find something comedic about it, but that experience of him losing his shit proper and almost going off the road was terrifying. I understand that fear, but fear that has no traumatic event or anything experienced and felt like that is not healthy. Paranoid crap like that is how idiots in the early 1900s were brainwashed into thinking the Jews were to blame for everything...

I'm not talking about Hitler here, this goes back to ole Henry Ford buying The Dearborn Independent, here's a link to the articles http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/intern_jew.htm

The first link has better incite to Ford and how he viewed this, and provides some back history about the reluctance

 of some people at the Dearborn Independent to publish this

http://www.jrbooksonline.com/Intl_Jew_full_version/ijtoc_.htm

...to this day this attitude exists, calling people a Jew, you're such a Jew, etc. for no specific reason. When asked they don't even know, it's just a joke man, doesn't mean anything. Sigh... The sad part about Ford is that he published an entire book into a newspaper, so it's not like a onetime heated pissed off industry mogul's rant, I'm not excusing that as a valid reason either, but you get the point, it was a systematic and deliberate act. Hitler named him as a hero of the Third Reich, had pictures of Ford and said those articles influenced his book, Ford even sent money to Hitler. Oh and not to bag on just Ford, but encyclopedia's had the same stuff published in them that Ford had written, so it was an institution for a long time, and he just helped propel it to the less scholarly. Yes I do know that it sounds like a wild conspiracy theory, but it's just a sad aspect of our past, making the choice to learn from it is always the best.

Anyhow you get my point or think I'm just another gun nut moron. Tomorrow, most likely less serious post about guns and what I am doing to continue that hobby, show you how I work and what it is that I like about it.

Earl Grey Tea...

     I have a problem, I like Earl Grey tea, but I only like one brand, it's not that I won't drink others, but Ahmed is just that much better.  For one it is loose leaf tea, which is just about always the best way to go.  When you open the can, the scent overpowers you, it's a blitzkrieg onslaught of bergamot goodness, I love it, the flavor continues in the tea.  If you add a tiny bit of honey and a splash of cream it ehances the flavor so much, the tea takes on a orange/red hue when you add the cream, it is delightful.  I bought some Tazo Earl Grey tea bags at publix the other night, the smell was there, but like anything that is involved in Starbucks something is lacking, I steeped the tea for slightly less time, as I do with new teas, tested it to my great distaste it was SUPER bitter, the hot water spicket at work on the coffee maker puts out water that is just right.  I was so excited and thought oh boy Earl Grey, my day isn't ruined or anything, but it's just a bummer.  I will have to buy a can and "perfect tea maker" just for work I guess.  Luckily the coffee here is actually pretty good and they bring it in fresh every week.  I just wish Teavana wasn't so hideously overpriced, that and their Earl Grey is so wickedly expensive and doesn't hold a candle to Ahmed, price breakdown is $10 an ounce (may actually be more) for Teavana Earl Grey, Ahmed is $8.99 for 12 oz....  There is a clear winner here.

     I need to go and do afternoon tea with the guys and gal on the 2nd floor soon, I miss that, it was actually a pretty amazing break up to my day when I participated in that.  Good conversations, proper tea and biscuits.  This was one of those "little things" that could make even the worst day better.  I remember when I was asked to join them for that, I was having a really crazy day of testing and wouldn't let up, finally Jerry was like if you don't take a break I'm shutting that off, so save your stuff and come on.  I kind of like it when someone guriella style stops you from spiraling into a mental break like that.  I've had that happen a few times with a coworker and him being pretty awesome and taking me to lunch.

     I don't have a whole lot to say today.  I got my new phone, the Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic, it is pretty awesome.  The screen on it is unreal, the speed is blistering, and big shocker the battery life is actually better then my EVO.  The power conservation steps they have taken work noticably well.  I cleared my old SD card and saved some things, threw it in the new phone, got a good set of music on there all organized like I do.  It is crazy how thin this is, one part of the phone is about half as thick as the EVO, but overall the whole phone is thinner by a lot.  It is wider and longer, but the screen is larger.  For a phone that seems slippery it is easy to hold and operate with one thumb for browsing.  It was a good purchase.  I decided to hold off on sending in all the money for my suppressor on my .22s, since tax season is coming up and I know I have a good bit to pay out :(, but I should be on track to having the car paid off soon, and a lot of other bills done foevah!  Start doing some saving and then later in the year, new apartment, or just do the house thing.

     I am going to surprise someone with flowers soon, I am excited I think it will be a good thing :)