#every couple of months like shooting a gun to lower rent costs

[calronhunt]

I understand I am making a cat comic but you guys gotta understand so many of them are in fact just bad. a lot of them are made by children and I'm not talking about them. Making a bad first comic is a right of passage honestly, it's just what you do, I respect it. I am talking about the really bad cat comics made by adults that all of these children are emulating and it's just a terrible like ouroboros of bad writing that all stems from people reading nothing but warrior cats.

[isolaradiale]

Welcome to SpiraleFES 2020!

A word of warning first: this is not an event and does not count as event participation towards ranking up. This is merely a bunch of fun activities that persist throughout July and until the next event in August if you’d like to use them for threads. 

The city is decorated festively from top to bottom, each and every ward sporting streamers, festive music, and providing a number of fun events. These can be used for threads throughout July and August, and so we encourage you to make use of them for some interesting interaction ideas! The list of events is as follows:

FIBONACCI WARD

NO PLACE LIKE HOME DECOR Do you find yourself missing that touch of something from home you just can’t seem to find in the city, no matter how hard you look? Well, search no more! Around the parks in various levels of the ward are vendors from familiar places, toting those little somethings from where you came from. Finally, you can find some clothes and other household items that aren’t easily accessible here. And if you look hard enough, you may find one of your personal treasures and trinkets that didn’t travel with you--a music box, a locket, maybe a ring from a family member… Don’t worry, it’ll have your name on it. NOTE: Weapons and other combat items will not be for sale in any of the bazaars.

A ROARIN’ BOREALIS SKATING RINK From the city streets, it looks like a bright ribbon of rainbow light, not unlike the famed Northern Lights. But ride the platform up to the top and see that the shimmering lights are actually a massive skating rink, with a figure 8 loop around the upper tiers of Fibonacci City. You can bring your own skates, or visit the kiosk to rent some LiteSkates--which leave a four-foot trail of light behind you in the color of your choice. There are guard rails around the arena, but even the clumsiest of skaters will be alright. After all, if you fall off the arena, a drone will pick you up and put you back on the ring. NOTE: Available during nighttime only.

ANDROID HELL … or the Ofiuco Rave, by any other name. A series of Radiocats seem to have flocked up to the lower floors of Level 3, and any discrimination towards those who seem like they may not belong has been, luckily (though no doubt only temporarily) shoved aside. Is it the Radiocats that set up the series of bright neon, backlit raves that have crowded varying floors on this level? … who knows. What everyone does know is that they’re certainly jamming out to some, as they say, “sick beats”, and large crowds have been drawn to the fluorescent party. It may be hard to move from place to place, but with the technology here being what it is, if you can see through the strobe for long enough, you’re bound to enjoy yourself! Ofiuco certainly is. NOTE: Ofiuco is immune to all attacks, charms, and other phenomena

CRAFT PUNK Outside of Fibonacci’s towering skyscrapers, nestled in the resident district, is an event with tinkerers in mind. Blending with the steampunk atmosphere is a foundry where your muse can learn the arts of robotics and machines. Classes range from building your own remote-control cars to making toys and household appliances (you know, like those little circular vacuum cleaners? Or a Super Toaster?) For those of you who are particularly adept in the art of machinery, you can enter the Scrap Battle Showdown--a competition to make a battle robot no bigger than a 3ft cube using only the supplies available in the foundry. If you’re caught using any materials from home, you’ll be kicked out!

ZERO G’S, ZERO CARES Ever wanted to go into space to do all the cool astronaut stuff, but not go through the rigorous education and training? This event is for you! Walk through the doors of this massive dome, and you enter a zero-gravity playground, where you can zoom around and float to your heart’s content. There are various pieces of equipment and toys you can rent out and play with, as well as anchored structures to hang off of. And when you get hungry, just visit the astronaut food vending machine!

COTES WARD

PIXIE PERFECT TREASURE HUNT The pixies of the Airaisal Forest have decided to cooperate with outsiders for a one of a kind event. Search the forest with an enchanted teacup pig with a nose for a very particular treasure: rare, golden truffles. Amass five to be awarded the equivalent of 200$ in Dust. But give up, or lose your teacup pig, and you’ll be spending the rest of your day as a fox kit as per pixie punishment.

OPHIUCHUS TREE TOWER Scale the gigantic tree that rises high against the cityscape with an alraune guide. The plant person in question will create a staircase of leaves around the tree’s trunk rising upward, allowing you and small group of friends to traverse the tree in a way normally impossible. Once you reach the canopy get ready to enjoy a one of a kind picnic lunch while you overlook the island from the most magical of vantage points.

NERF JOUSTING Rent a horse from the Market Town coliseum and take up arms against a number of opponents. Well, take up soft foam arms. Experience what it’s like to joust without any of the immediate danger. *any wounds accumulated via falling off your horse will be immediately healed by a fairy.

MAZE BY PIXIE LIGHT An elaborate garden maze illuminate by magic lights provided by the pixies of the village. This event only runs at night and can only be experienced in pairs, but the prize for success is a doozy: a crystal flower that is traditionally exchanged between pixies meant to promise themselves to one another. Receiving this flower as a couple is a promise to remain at one another’s sides through thick and thin. 

CANDLE LIGHTING FOR THE LOST During the night, the river that flows at the base of Ophiuchus comes to life with tiny lights as the alraune have arranged a way to send off the fallen, giving any who want one a tiny flower raft with a candle resting upon it. Placing this raft on the lake while considering well wishes for a resident of the city has since left is thought to bring them good fortune… wherever they are. Though in a realm where death isn’t permanent it can also be used to give well wishes to even the living, perhaps someone you know that’s having a hard time.  

STAR-DEN TEA PARTY The stars and planets are always so far away, aren’t they? Well, in this outdoor star garden, you’ll be able to walk through paths with lots of little glowing stars and planets--you may even find your home planet drifting in the cosmos! Each star, comet, cluster and planet can be interacted with, with the biggest planets only reaching the size of a beach ball. Letting go of the celestial body will have it simply float gently upward to begin drifting again.The event is catered with a variety of teas, coffees and cocoas, as well as sandwiches and little finger foods. Bring a blanket and gaze at them drifting by! Note: This event is only available when the sun goes down! 

GOLDEN WARD

REFRESHING FRUITS A boon of the token fruits of summer. At sunset, the beach’s parking lot transforms into a cute little market selling and showcasing everything melon! Vendors selling melon-themed snacks and drinks ranging from fun to wacky, melon carving contests, melon-themed clothes and other commercial goods, and lots of activities and games... And melon plants, of course! There's bound to be something for everyone.

NOBODY’S BORED! WALK The Boardwalk is offering free admission for the duration of SpiraleFES! Not only that, but it’s open until midnight instead of closing solely at nightfall, and at 10pm each Sunday there’s a fireworks display. With a variety of little games and activities with fun prizes to be won, there’s a guarantee you definitely won’t be running out of things to do any time soon! Drop by at 6pm any night for a free barbecue.

CRUISE CONTROL FOR COOL A cruise ship has docked, decked out in festive banners and balloons for the festivities. Open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with free admission and free souvenirs, there’s a different themed activity on each of those nights! Monday night sports access to the ship’s nightclub, Wednesday sports a murder mystery starting at 8pm, and Friday sports a series of different escape rooms once the sun sets! The cruise ship may or may not be decked out solely in a variety of golden decorations, however.

THE CHILLIN’ VILLAIN A nightclub and lounge has mysteriously popped up on the border of the shadier part of Golden, and goodie two-shoes need not walk through its doors. With a temporary in-house ceasefire, all sorts of villains and antagonists are welcome to share a drink, a dance, and tell of the heists and plots they've devised. And if you'd rather keep your identity hidden, masks will be provided to you at a cost (it's a villain's lounge, not a charity!). NOTE: The ceasefire is mandatory, and all weapons and powers are deactivated upon entering the building

A FOAM-IDABLE FOE Out further into the ocean are a few obstacles, rafts and arenas. On the beach are your weapons: foam armaments of every shape and style--everything from foam swords to guns that shoot foam darts to foam shields and battle-axes. Your task is simple: knock your opponent(s) or opposing team(s) off the platform and into the water using your sick new foam gear. Think of it as a… Foam Battle Royale!Want a challenge? Some of the arenas equalize the strengths and defenses of its challengers, making even the most powerful Isolans only as strong as the weakest contender on the arena. Note: For this event, your combat powers/items will be rendered ineffective!

ARCHIMEDES WARD

ARTE FESTE (MULTIFACETED) All creative minds are welcome to join this massive booth dedicated to arts and crafts. All sorts of classes will be held over the span of the month--from common forms of painting and pottery to the unique art forms of metalworking and glassblowing. Whatever you create in the booth can be taken home, given to a loved one, or sold at the vendor’s tent. Any necessary supplies will be rented to you, but if you break it, you buy it. If performance arts are more your thing, stop by for any of the open mic sessions held at Calliope Theater. NPCs will be hosting plays and short skits that you may be dragged into as an unfortunate audience member, but citizens of Spirale are encouraged to take the stage and wow the crowd with words! Comedy sketches, poetry, and any other magnificent talents of yours are welcome at the stage! Please pay no attention to the guy selling tomatoes to throw. He doesn’t work for us. We don’t know where he came from.

TOO POOL FOR SCHOOL The Water of Styx, while always open to the public, has been decorated much like the rest of the wards. An assortment of pool toys and games have been set up and laid out for all to use as they see fit, including but not limited to some of the largest pool noodles you’ll ever see, a variety of pool floats in all shapes and sizes, and a volleyball net set up toward one end of the pool for all to enjoy a game. Refreshments and snacks provided! Some of the smaller pools around the ward have similarly been decked out in a multitude of fun pool supplies, but not nearly to the extent as the Water of Styx.

FLASH FASHION (THE DEPARTMENT WOULDN’T LET US NAME IT “FLASHION”) Highlighting the summer fashion scene is this joint-event, perfect for participants of all levels of experience. Those skilled in the art of the cloth can showcase their designs both on mannequins or in person in the display booth. There are all sorts of categories to enter your pieces into, so don’t be shy to show what you’re made of! Those that have an eye for photography are encouraged to come and snap some photos of the spectacle; the fashion, the models, the contestants--even the guests! The display booth has a wireless printer and a corkboard for pinning your snapshots to. For those of you who would rather keep things fun and casual, there’s a photo trail with plenty of fantastic views of the ward to take that sweet, sweet selfie in.

CANDY CAMOUFLAGE So, yeah, it looks like a typical home goods store. But don’t be deceived! Many of the objects you’d typically find in the store--furniture, pillows, curtains and more--are completely edible! Even then, the tastiest candies and chocolates are only for the bravest and most adventurous tasters. A treat can be hiding anywhere--a clothes hanger, a ball-point pen, a mannequin, the wallpaper… Just be careful not to crunch on a real object. And if you do, there’s a dentist down the street. The event resets at midnight each night and the store changes daily, so every experience is different!

THE INTRASPACE

SPIRALE DOUBLE DASH!!: PAINBOW ROAD For a limited time, kart racing is available at the Intraspace hub! Go solo or grab a friend, customize your ride, and ride like the wind! The rules are simple--complete three laps around the circuit and try to finish in 1st place. But these aren’t your ordinary courses, and things get pretty… wild. There’s no rule against sabotaging your opponents, either. So better watch out…! Don’t worry--if you completely total your kart or fall off the edge of the track, you’ll be safely transported back to the Kart Lobby to try again in another round! The better you do in races, the better you can deck out your uniforms and kart.

[thecoroutfitters]

Written by R. Ann Parris on The Prepper Journal.

I think most of us, regardless of our situation, periodically wish we had a little more elbow room. For some, though, available space is even tighter.

That doesn’t mean prepping is impossible, even for super-tight residences such as apartments or trailers on small lots. Nor does it mean prepping should get shelved until bigger space is available. All kinds of things go wrong, every single day. A lot of progress can be made even with very limited space.

Most of the suggestions here also apply to folks who are short on disposable income.

Prep By Priority

One of the first things small-space and cash-strapped preppers need to do is focus on the things that are most likely.

That definitely includes short-term outages and hunker-in situations, and house fires.

It also includes income reduction/loss, both directly and due to large payouts (everything from medical bills to covering insurance deductibles, as well as things like increased fuel, property, and grocery costs).

Getting right financially is never going to be a sexy prepper topic, but it has huge impact when something happens. From being able to absorb some of life’s hits to being able to evacuate by renting a moving van if necessary, having some disposable income available is important.

Personal defense is also always up for grabs as a top priority.

Anyone looking at a gun, particularly, should give serious thought to what they’re shooting and whether or not it’s going to go through walls, windows, and bystanders. Common construction and typical living situations make it even more vital anywhere with densely packed humanity.

Maximize Space

Every inch is precious in limited storage situations. Sometimes we can “steal” some space, which can help, but we still want to fill those areas as tightly as possible. Organization makes that easier and more efficient.

Going right back to “prioritize”, maximizing the space also means being realistic about where we are and what our current capabilities are.

That may mean we skip some of the sexy prepper goodies, because right now they’re only going to eat up space (and budget). That goes for everything from the woodsman hatchets and conibears to books focusing on homesteading, SAS survival tactics, and back country medicine.

*I’m saying avoid purchasing those books, and those topics, in a set of specific conditions. Libraries, the internet, and downloads take up less space/income until we’re in a position to need and use those particular subjects and able to survive a situation that truly removes the use of electronics.

That also applies to the more pedestrian prepper backups.

If I have 6 weeks/months of savings and 6 weeks/months of food storage (+/- growing space and preservation methods), how many toothbrushes, socks, gloves, and bottles of bartering booze do I really need?

Keep storage balanced by time and likelihood of need/use to maximize limited space.

Make More Space

There’s several ways to do this. One, we use dead space. Two, we add some elevation. Three, we switch out “normal” furniture for hollow options and stacked supplies.

Dead space would include bricking in the back of a bookcase with supplies that hide behind books, or putting a picnic basket or trunk behind a recliner and long, skinny luggage or shelving behind a couch.

Rolling carts can maximize the dead space between appliances/furniture and walls. Less long-legged people also regularly have some space on the undersides of desks and tables.

We can also go really wild and make shallow storage drawers under bookcases and cabinets, or shallow cabinets between struts in the walls (but only if we own that property or want to repair the “damage” before we move out).

Adding elevation would be things like taller bed frames to increase under-the-bed storage, and overhead shelving around a room and above closets (which gets our cute/normal stuff or candle collection, making room inside closets and under beds for brow-raising supplies).

Replacing things means instead of a coffee table, maybe we have a trunk. It can also be replacing a side table with a small bookcase or filing cabinet, or stacking up some cases of canned goods or water, adding a small board for a nice, flat surface, and covering everything with a tablecloth (or sheet/curtain).

*This site http://www.calamityjanet.com/one-year-supply-easy–cheap.html has some good tips for stashing supplies, whatever we think about *that* show.

Double Dip

As often as possible, we’ll want to go with things that multipurpose. From our pantries to our everyday household goods, the fewer things we “need” and the more compact they are, the more we can fit into our space.

One of the super easy examples is stocking pine cleaner concentrate that can be used for laundry, floors, counters, and carpets. Another would be Crisco that can be used in cooking, for lubricants and sealants, and turned into candles or cookers.

Pack It Tight

I’d like to say right off the bat that I’m not a fan of the big space-saver bags for bedding and clothing. I have spent a fortune on good ones and tried less-expensive generics, and within a few months, they always lose seals and fill back out to regular size. That’s particularly “funtastic” if they were stacked in boxes, under a bed, or in dresser drawers or a packed closet.

However, using fairly inexpensive 1- and 2.5-gallon zip-close storage bags, we can still press or lung-suck a lot of air out of gear, be it clothing, gauze, sanitary pads or spare curtains.

Packing things tight also applies to our food storage.

Removing foods from boxes limits our ability to donate them if it’s not something we consume, but that alone can make a big difference in wasted air space even if we use something bulky like a jar for storage.

When we pack for long-term storage, settling will also occur in our dry goods.

For things like oatmeal or dehydrated potatoes in canning jars or washed pasta/jelly jars, we can pop them open and top them off. Working one at a time, even if we used oxygen-absorb-er packets to seal them, they won’t be open long enough for significant loss.

Likewise, check the totes and buckets that hold our self-packed Ziploc and mylar bags. Those, too, will settle over time and we can add another layer.

Pop open pre-packed kits in totes, too. I’ve yet to see one stuffed to the gills, and they’re usually prime for augmenting with our own supplies.

*Pre-packed buckets are an end-user call. Mostly it’s safe to break the seals so long as we’re not puncturing the contents, and most of them also have ample space for personal additions.

Condense Pantry Goods

One of the fastest ways we can compress our storage is by leaning on dehydrated foods. They significantly reduce the storage space versus freeze-dried and wet-pack canned goods.

I would still suggest at least a few days’ worth of foods that don’t require water (or cooking) and a minimum of week of water storage. However, most crises don’t remove all modern conveniences. Even if our stored water supply is limited, dehydrated and dry foods are still reasonable options for mid-duration and personal-scale disasters.

We also want to assess what types of foods we keep in, in both our everyday and deep pantries.

Whatever food storage format we choose – canned, dehydrated, or freeze-dried – if we’re tight on space, staples take priority.

Having calories, fats, and proteins available is more important than the lower-cal fruits and veggies, especially as we move past an initial few days.

While fruits and veggies are necessary, we can go without them the longest, they’re the easiest foods to source without infrastructure, and there are condensed sources for the minerals, vitamins and fibers they offer.

As mentioned above, we might want to give some thought to food packaging, too.

Repacking those supermarket foods isn’t a big deal. In many cases, they’ll gain shelf life being in canning jars and bottles even if we don’t use oxygen absorbers. However, there’s a usually a trade off if we opened something like those #10 cans.

On the other hand, a lot of #10 cans contain a lot of air space. A couple inches at a time adds up even with a single case of those cans.

Rather than lose the investment of long shelf life, we might find it more economical both financially and for space savings to skip that packaging format and create our own off grocers’ shelves, from the basics to just-add-water meals.

Limited Space Shouldn’t Preclude Prepping

While it might lead us to skip over common categories of prepper/survivalist skills and supplies, especially if we’re in an apartment that doesn’t have a decent window for even solar battery chargers or a mini tower of salad greens, being in a small space shouldn’t stop us.

Nor should we focus solely on research and savings, waiting “until” for tangible preps. There’s still plenty of upsets that can occur – and do,  daily and annually – that we can mitigate with preparedness.

With mindful storage choices and creative storage practices, we can account for those personal and regional disasters and be prepared when they strike.

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from The Prepper Journal Don't forget to visit the store and pick up some gear at The COR Outfitters. How prepared are you for emergencies? #SurvivalFirestarter #SurvivalBugOutBackpack #PrepperSurvivalPack #SHTFGear #SHTFBag