selfhosted Selfhosted Pi-Hole question / Blocked Queries being reset each day?
Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    6 days ago 100%

    Make sure you're also blocking all other outbound DNS at your firewall. Many "smart" devices (and presumably some apps, though I have no way to check this) are hard coded to use 8.8.8.8 regardless of what DCHP says to use.

    17
  • news News Bannon vows Trump’s opponents will be prosecuted in a second term | CNN Politics
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    3 months ago 96%

    I am 110% in favor of breaking the two party stranglehold. It's long overdue. It needs to end yesterday.

    But hot fuck, this is LITERALLY THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME to vote third party. I read here and on Reddit that people are promising to vote third party because Biden hasn't personally solved the middle east conflict or whatever, but doing that in the presidential election amounts to screaming "fuck yeah I love Trump and everything he stands for".

    Vote Biden or vote Trump. There is no third choice. Doing literally anything else is a vote for Trump.

    61
  • news News Hyundai pauses X ads over pro-Nazi content on the platform
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    5 months ago 87%

    I'm a moderate. I tend to take a lot of what I read online with a grain of salt (as everyone should, but you know how that goes).

    A few months ago I decided to try X again and see for myself. I thought "what if this is just exaggerated hysterics, and the site really isn't that bad."

    No. It's not exaggerated. It's not hysterics. X / Twitter really is that bad of a dumpster fire. You can say "I don't like Nazis" and a billion bots will accuse you of being a woke radical leftist.

    Sold my well-aged account to a scammer, haven't looked back.

    50
  • health Health - Resources and discussion for everything health-related FDA says 561 deaths tied to recalled Philips sleep apnea machines
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 88%

    I had a Philips Dreamstation that was recalled. I'm not sure exactly what happened but I started having an issue where I would feel extreme euphoria at random times throughout the day when I inhaled. It only happened when I used the Dreamstation. If I used my travel CPAP or my replacement Airsense, I had no problems.

    I saw my PCP about it and we never figured it out. And again, it stopped when I switched devices.

    I don't know what gases were being released but there's got to be a correlation.

    14
  • politics politics Biden campaign speech on abortion rights disrupted 14 times by pro-Palestinian protesters
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 75%

    Which will remove yet another barrier to Trump becoming president.

    I'm all for breaking the two-party stranglehold but do it in a local election where it will make a difference. This year is the absolute worst year to try a failed presidential run.

    8
  • politics politics Biden campaign speech on abortion rights disrupted 14 times by pro-Palestinian protesters
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 84%

    That’s nice. They’ll lose, and the momentum put to that independent candidate is momentum that could have been used against Trump. Voting for either of them is a vote for "I am not interested in what happens in this country, and sincerely hope Trump wins. Because instead of voting against him, instead I choose to throw away my vote by making some kind of 'statement' that will never be heard by anyone."

    13
  • politics politics Biden campaign speech on abortion rights disrupted 14 times by pro-Palestinian protesters
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 80%

    It absolutely is. You're removing a vote that could have been used to stop Trump and throwing it into a candidate who will not win. You are, quite literally saying, "I am completely fine with another Trump presidency".

    12
  • technology Technology Stop using Opera Browser and Opera GX
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 100%

    I remember way back in the late 90s or early 2000s, when Opera was commercial, I bought a lifetime license. I don't remember the specifics but it was basically a way to support them and it was good for all future versions, forever and ever.

    I lost the key long ago and the browser is free now anyway. Still wouldn't use it.

    13
  • politics politics Biden campaign speech on abortion rights disrupted 14 times by pro-Palestinian protesters
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 75%

    That's nice. They'll lose, and the momentum put to that independent candidate is momentum that could have been used against Trump.

    Voting for an independent candidate for president is standing on your rooftop and screaming "I LOVE TRUMP AND HOPE HE BECOMES PRESIDENT IN 2024".

    10
  • politics politics Biden campaign speech on abortion rights disrupted 14 times by pro-Palestinian protesters
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 73%

    The election is a tug of war. Trump and his supporters are pulling on the right. Biden and his supporters are pulling on the left.

    When you vote for an independent candidate, you are removing force that could have been used to pull against Trump and redirecting that force towards a candidate who has zero chance of winning. A vote for an independent candidate is a vote for Trump.

    The only valid retort to this is "well I wasn't going to vote anyway" and anyone who feels that way can shut the fuck up about everything.

    12
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 100%

    I'm rocking an ancient i7 Elitebook from 2011 or so that I maxed out to 32 GB of RAM. I bought it from a business surplus place on eBay for like $100 7-8 years ago. The screen resolution sucks and it has no biometric features but I slapped an SSD in there, removed the battery, and now it's my Linux staging desktop.

    3
  • news News Texas Superintendent Defends Suspending Black Student Over Locs Hairstyle in Full-Page Ad: ‘Being American Requires Conformity'
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 100%

    Here's a complete list of all the times someone else's hair had any impact of any nature whatsoever on my life:

    28
  • politics politics Biden campaign speech on abortion rights disrupted 14 times by pro-Palestinian protesters
    Jump
    politics politics Biden campaign speech on abortion rights disrupted 14 times by pro-Palestinian protesters
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 65%

    This is honestly the best take on the issue I've seen so far.

    I am the first person to say we need to break the two-party stranglehold on politics. We need independent candidates in office yesterday. But this election is the abso-fucking-lutely worst time to make a run at that, because that third party vote WILL be a vote for Trump. And if you firmly believe that third party or independent politicians have a place, elect them to your local city council or school board or state legislature. That is where they will make a real, actionable difference.

    A vote against Biden, no matter who for, is a vote for Trump. No amount of TikTok "well ackshually" will change that reality.

    8
  • politics politics Biden campaign speech on abortion rights disrupted 14 times by pro-Palestinian protesters
    Jump
    politics politics Biden campaign speech on abortion rights disrupted 14 times by pro-Palestinian protesters
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 77%

    They don't care.

    The people pledging to vote against Biden over Israel are typically armchair politicians who get all their news from echo chambers. Facts and reality don't matter; they honestly believe they are "sending a message" and "making a stand". The reality is that they're the 2024 version of 2016's insufferable #voteswap techbros.

    30
  • politics politics Biden campaign speech on abortion rights disrupted 14 times by pro-Palestinian protesters
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 80%

    Yes indeed, but the people pledging to vote against Biden because Israel don't care. Or don't believe. Or sincerely think Trump will be better.

    6
  • politics politics Biden campaign speech on abortion rights disrupted 14 times by pro-Palestinian protesters
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 74%

    Mark my words:

    Trump will win, and it will be largely because of people who refuse to support Biden due to Palestine.

    I will be truly happy if time proves me wrong.

    91
  • news News Bosses want to work from home more than employees do, says new survey—but they're still pushing Return To Office requirements
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    8 months ago 100%

    I'm a boss. My criteria for evaluating whether an employee continues to be allowed to work remotely full time is:

    1. Can their job be done remotely?
    2. Is the job getting done remotely?

    If the answer to both is "yes", then I'm happy to let them work just about anywhere they'd like.

    44
  • mildlyinfuriating Mildly Infuriating I got this popup ad on my TV **while watching a DVD**
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 100%

    I'm tempted to do a master reset on mine to see if I got that option. I have the Roku edition and I know that I can specify what source it defaults to on power on. I can also turn off content recognition, which is what's going on in OP's case. But using it as just a dumb TV would be awesome.

    2
  • bicycling Bicycling Tire brands?
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 100%

    Thanks - I'll check those out! The gatorskin will probably be out since I don't want to lose it if I hit a wet / mud patch going around a curve.

    2
  • mildlyinfuriating Mildly Infuriating I got this popup ad on my TV **while watching a DVD**
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 100%

    The TVs I've seen that do this have been smart enough to not get naggy about a lack of Internet until 30+ days after first power on. Then you get popups or autoplay videos begging you to connect it.

    My Hisense has been pretty decent, surprisingly. But for my next TV I'm honestly thinking of going with a commercial display.

    5
  • mildlyinfuriating Mildly Infuriating I got this popup ad on my TV **while watching a DVD**
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 100%

    You can, but don't forget to also block other outbound DNS connections in your firewall. Lots of "smart" devices are hard coded to use 8.8.8.8 regardless of what DHCP says. Pihole won't stop those, so you have to block it at the firewall.

    4
  • technology Technology GM’s CarPlay replacement software is off to a disastrous start - 9to5Mac
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 100%

    The backup camera is one of those things that you mock until you get one, then you can't fathom living without it. But you can easily add an aftermarket one to an existing system.

    I wound up paying for Subaru Starlink when I discovered that any dealership can sell it to you, and several sell it at steep discounts. I'm paying $10 / month for a 7-year package that includes emergency response if my airbags go off or the car flips, stolen vehicle location, and some other things I really don't use. It basically stays out of the way. But when I had a Hyundai, I'd regularly get BlueLink popups about "special savings at your local dealership" and long story short, that's the main reason I didn't buy another Hyundai.

    2
  • technology Technology GM’s CarPlay replacement software is off to a disastrous start - 9to5Mac
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 92%

    This will be the most middle aged thing I ever post, but:

    I'm Gen X. I feel like my generation, and maybe some millennials, got the best of both worlds. We know what it's like to live in an offline world, including cars. You can drop me anywhere in the continental US and I can drive home without GPS, and probably without a map. We grew up on mixtape-fueled road trips and not having every inch of our commute planned and cross-checked. We didn't know exactly what to expect in that upcoming town or city, because there was no Tripadvisor or Wikitravel.

    We also know how convenient smartphones can be. It's great that I don't have to carry a camera plus a camcorder plus a Walkman plus an atlas plus a photo album plus a laptop plus a calling card plus a bag phone plus a notepad plus an encyclopedia plus a wristwatch plus a travel alarm clock plus whatever else I'm forgetting. But take that all away, and it's at worst a mild annoyance.

    So if I can't use Android Auto, I'm just going to not buy that car. And if all cars suddenly stop shipping with Android Auto, then I'll see that as a precursor to mandatory 30-second ads before being able to drive, and I'll just buy whatever car remotely meets my needs AND makes it easy for me to install an aftermarket Android head unit.

    12
  • technology Technology GM’s CarPlay replacement software is off to a disastrous start - 9to5Mac
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 100%

    Who could have imagined that this might happen?

    Look I don't know about you but when I hear "quality software development" the first company that comes to mind is GM so

    11
  • technology Technology GM’s CarPlay replacement software is off to a disastrous start - 9to5Mac
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 95%

    I can honestly say that the phrase "my radio was stuck in a boot loop" is something I ever thought I'd need to say, but here we are.

    Side note, you know what would be just absolutely perfect? Just Bluetooth. I don't need to watch Disney+ while I drive. I don't need up-to-the-minute notifications of the hottest celebrity news. I don't need sports updates. I don't need to know what my stocks are doing right now.

    I just want to play music.

    20
  • news News Mass shooting in the center of Prague: 15 deaths confirmed
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 97%

    We don't often talk about this in the limelight, but it's important. We need to understand how they got here if we want to have any hope of reducing the odds of that happening again.

    41
  • support
    Lemmy.world Support RandomPancake 9 months ago 93%
    Other platforms under the lemmy.world umbrella?

    Are there any other platforms, like Pixelfed or Peertube, hosted under the same umbrella as lemmy.world? I wasn't able to find anything referenced about this on lemmy.world, but perhaps that's just my newness to the defederated universe. For whatever it's worth, I'd love to have multiple instances housed under the same roof. I lack the technical skills and time to set one up myself, and most of the ones I've looked at appear relatively deserted or poorly moderated.

    13
    2
    bicycling Bicycling Tire brands?
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 100%

    That could be - I won't know for sure unless I get my hands on some but the chief complaint is that as soon as they get one side on the rim, the other side forcefully pops off. My first thought was that people are trying to put the wrong size tires on their rims but this complaint is common enough that I think there may be more to it.

    I'll check out the Mountain Kings, thanks!

    1
  • news News Wayfair CEO sends a harsh wake-up call to employees
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 100%

    “Working long hours, being responsive, blending work and life, is not anything to shy away from,” he wrote in the email.

    "Pay your employees overtime for off-schedule work, and allow for flexible scheduling so they can slide their normal working hours around to match real life," I said in reply.

    I don't mind putting in the hard work and I do believe there's room for some amount of fuzziness between work and life. But I only get one life; I can choose another employer. If my employer runs me too hard, I'll just find another. My employer isn't going to take time away from my family, friends, or personal pursuits without compensating me. And there are some things I absolutely won't miss. Datacenter is melting down during my kid's play? You should have thought about that when you refused to hire additional support.

    Saying I should be happy to put in extra work without expecting to be paid is like saying my employer should be happy to put in extra pay without expecting me to show up.

    20
  • politics politics Biden responsible for American resurgence of unions: Biden’s NLRB Brings Workers’ Rights Back From the Dead
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 100%

    Everyone should have the right to organize. Unions are why most of our labor laws, including pesky things like overtime and workplace safety, exist.

    It doesn't really matter what someone's personal thoughts are on the subject. Don't like unions? Don't join one. I know the common response to this is "but what if I'm management and I have to deal with a labor contract", and honestly, that's why you get the big bucks. I'm management. I deal with a labor contract. It's far from the worst thing I have to contend with.

    39
  • bicycling
    Bicycling RandomPancake 9 months ago 90%
    Tire brands?

    I was about to pull the trigger on a set of Schwalbe Johnny Watts, but they seem to be out of stock everywhere. My backup plan is to get a pair of Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tour. But in doing my research, I've read multiple people say that although they stand up really well to thorns and other trail nasties, they're a mild pain to take on / off due to sidewall stiffness. Everything I've raid suggests Schwalbe is a pretty solid brand. Before I pull the trigger on these, are there any other brands I should be considering? I'm riding an ebike mainly on rail trails. Some are paved, most are packed dirt or well-packed pea gravel. Sometimes I'll hit a small mud patch but I don't really go mudding. Once in a blue moon I'll hit single track or railroad ballast, but that's rare. I want something that's going to be reasonably quiet and smooth on paved but that won't shred itself when the terrain gets a little rougher, and that won't fly out from under me if I hit a mud puddle.

    16
    11
    news News Wells Fargo employees vote in favor of unionization, a first for major US bank
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 100%

    Good. I'm not familiar with their grievances, but every employee should have the right to organize and bargain collectively.

    9
  • technology Technology HP raising Instant Ink subscription pricing significantly
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 100%

    This is yet another reason why I would not buy or recommend HP printers anymore. My ancient laserjet from 10 years ago is still going strong, but if it ever kicks the bucket, I'm getting a Brother. They seem to just work without any hassle.

    20
  • til Today I Learned TIL if you live in Pennsylvania and make minimum wage you'd have to work 105 hours a week to afford a "modest" one bedroom rental.
    Jump
    technology Technology Four years after Apple, Google will finally kill third-party cookies in 2024
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 92%

    I know people are passionate about their love / hated of Brave, but it along with LibreWolf (and Firefox) all offer strong fingerprinting protection out of the box. With Firefox, just make sure you add uBlock Origin.

    11
  • technology Technology Four years after Apple, Google will finally kill third-party cookies in 2024
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 100%

    Browser fingerprinting is nasty and easy. There are ways to push back but it's still awful.

    30
  • til Today I Learned TIL if you live in Pennsylvania and make minimum wage you'd have to work 105 hours a week to afford a "modest" one bedroom rental.
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 33%

    I did, in fact disprove the study. I found an apartment for under the claimed amount. I then went on to explain exactly why that doesn't matter.

    Context is king.

    -1
  • news News The nation’s largest credit union rejected more than half its Black conventional mortgage applicants
    Jump
  • "Initials" by "Florian Körner", licensed under "CC0 1.0". / Remix of the original. - Created with dicebear.comInitialsFlorian Körnerhttps://github.com/dicebear/dicebearRA
    RandomPancake
    9 months ago 80%

    This is the Internet. You can post comprehensive, overwhelming, irrefutable proof and people will still argue.

    Did the article say anything about their payment history? That looks like the only variable they didn't mention.

    9
  • til Today I Learned TIL if you live in Pennsylvania and make minimum wage you'd have to work 105 hours a week to afford a "modest" one bedroom rental.
    Jump
    preppers
    Preppers RandomPancake 11 months ago 100%
    The basics: bugging out vs bugging in

    If you spend any amount of time on just about any prepper forum, you'll see terms like "bugging in" or "bug-out bag". There is a TON of bad information out there, so I wanted to take a second and make a no-nonsense, plain-language primer for anyone just getting started on their preparedness journey. Put simply, when people talk about "bugging out", they mean rapidly evacuating an area (usually their home) in an emergency. This can be due to things like natural disasters, chemical spills, civil unrest, war, or getting a call about a sick family member at 3 AM. Bugging out can be, but doesn't have to be, permanent. You'll also see some people talk about "bugging in". This means that instead of evacuating, they stay at home in an emergency. There's merit to this approach as well: you already know your home and community, and all your supplies are (hopefully!) already there. This is especially appropriate in emergencies that are either very short in duration (like a two-day power outage) or very extreme in scope (like natural disaster making major roads out of your area impassible). Whether it's better to bug out or bug in depends on your needs and circumstances; there is no "best" answer that applies equally to everyone in every situation. But there are a few things you can do in advance to help you decide: - Think about the emergencies that are likely to occur in your area. Severe weather? Spill at the nearby chemical plant? Start an emergency manual by listing these emergencies and how you'd react. Document any special circumstances that might change your normal plan. - In your emergency manual, decide on a bugout threshold for each emergency. Maybe "widespread flooding" isn't worthy of evacuation because your home is on a hill, but "Somename River exceeds 35 feet" cuts off the main route in and out of your home. - Also in your manual, decide under what circumstances you'll bug in. For example, it may be safer to stay home during a tornado outbreak. - Pick one or more bugout locations in advance. Wherever you go should be far enough away that it's unaffected by whatever you're evacuating from. If you plan on bugging out to a friend's or family member's home, ***make sure they know about your plans in advance!*** Just showing up unannounced is a great way to be turned away. When the time comes and you decide to bug out, review your plans in light of whatever the actual circumstances are at that time. Is your destination still unaffected? Can you get there safely? Is your family (including pets!) able to travel safely? Just because you planned to bug out (or bug in) doesn't necessarily mean you have to do so. Always stay flexible. Unyielding adherence to plans is a fast path to failure. Finally, you'll see a lot of people talking about a bugout bag ("BOB"). This is basically a pre-packed backpack or duffle bag that you can grab on your way out the door. There are lots of good guides on building one, and I can make another post going into more details later (feel free to beat me to it). But a basic checklist includes: - A seasonally-appropriate change of clothes. At a bare minimum, one or two pairs of socks & underwear. - Any medication you may need. If you have prescriptions, talk to your doctor. "Hey doc, I'd like to keep a small supply of my prescription on hand in case I have to travel in an emergency and forget to pack. How can I do this?" - A basic first aid kit. Building one yourself is usually cheaper and gets you better quality gear, but you can also buy a small ready-made kit just about anywhere. - A multi-port USB charger, a small travel surge protector, and enough cables to charge your gear. - Two compact flashlights with spare batteries. If you're using alkalines, keep the batteries in a separate container to reduce the odds of leaks. - A paper map of your region. You can get these for free through most states' visitor centers. - A basic toiletry kit. In my case: bar soap, soap sock, travel size toothpaste / shaving cream / deodorant / mouthwash, cartridge razor. I normally use a safety razor with blades, but if you have to take your bugout bag through TSA, you may get a hard time about the razor blades. - Poncho, emergency blanket. - A printout containing emergency contacts (family members, employer, bank / credit card issuers, insurance carriers, etc). Policy numbers are fine but don't put account numbers on there; your bank / card issuer can look you up by your social security number. - A notepad with several pens - A few paperback books - Enough cash to fill up your gas tank three times. Keep it to small bills ($20 and under). Feel free to add your own items below. I'm sure I missed some but this will be enough to get you started with a functional, balanced bag. I see a lot of people in various prepper forums building up their BOB like they're going to ride out WW3. That's not what a BOB is for; a BOB is to get you from point A to point B. And don't feel like you have to buy some special "tactical prepper backpack"; that old Jansport tucked in the back of your closet is fine, and secondhand laptop backpacks can give you tons of organization for very little money.

    18
    4
    preppers
    Preppers RandomPancake 12 months ago 83%
    Long-term coffee storage

    In an emergency I simply will not be able to function without coffee. But I was surprised to learn that many people don't know how quickly coffee loses its flavor. Ground coffee starts to flatten out almost immediately upon being exposed to oxygen. Typically you can expect it to hold its flavor for a few days, maybe two or three weeks at the most. After that it will still resemble "coffee" but the flavor will be significantly weakened. Storing it in mylar with an O2 absorber may help somewhat, but the flavor breakdown is already underway by the time you seal the bag. Roasted coffee beans will last roughly a year stored at room temperature, away from direct sunlight. Storing them in mylar (with that O2 absorber) should stretch this out somewhat. I'm going to fill and seal two small bags out of my next purchase, and test them at the 3 and 5 year marks. I see people recommending green (unroasted) beans for long-term storage, but there are two problems there. Roasting isn't an exact science; you'll want to make sure you're a seasoned roaster before you ruin your stash. And when you do roast, that wonderful smell will be travel far and wide. In a SHTF situation, that's a powerful motivator for someone to come pay you a visit. I'm saying this as a coffee snob who hates instant coffee: instant coffee is the best way to go for long-term storage. There are special "prepper" brands of instant coffee out there but the truth is as long as the container is sealed, it's going to hold its flavor for many years. Go to your local supermarket and buy a few jars of whatever floats your boat, write the purchase date on them, and tuck them away in the back of your pantry. At the minimum they'll be good for many years, probably at least a decade.

    4
    2