I built what is basically a smart plug, but it uses 4G connectivity instead of my standard WiFi. The idea is that if my home network screws up and I need to reboot my router and modem, I can still do that remotely. There have been 2 times in my life that I really wished I had this set up because my Plex server was down while I was traveling. The ideal scenario is that I never have to use the thing, but whenever I see this flashlight post, it reminds me that I kinda do want to need it just once.
My wife thought it was dumb when I picked up a lockpick set to play around with. Didn’t think it was so stupid when we accidentally locked our keys inside when house sitting and I actually managed to pick the lock.
I get it. This summer I bought a battery bank and portable solar panels so I can a) take some load off a circuit that is overtaxed in the summer and b) be able to very slowly charge the car in the event of an emergency.
A month after getting it, we got a notice on our door that they were working on poles and our power would be out for 8 hours. I kept my whole homelab, and refrigerator running the whole time and the entertainment center running most of the time. Any thought that I spent too much, given the probable utility, immediately disappeared. I wouldn’t call it pride in my decision, but it came damn close.
I got to make use of my Swiss army knife at work. With the fucking awl! I and I alone knew what it was capable of.
These guys are going to love the apocalypse.
… For a while.
Realistically speaking, I give the typical armchair preppers a couple weeks, at best.
Realistically speaking, if any of the apocalypses they fantasize about come to pass, I hope I die quickly. I’m not fit, I have injuries and require recurring medication, and it’s unlikely I’d be any boon to any other survivors.
I’m not in any danger of self harm today, but in a zombie apocalypse, I would be.
You do have different sorts of prepping though. Some act like they are preparing a fallout shelter and equipment to continue for years afterwards. If you are buying a freeze dehydrator, you are going too far.
But far more reasonable is stuff like being prepared for a power/gas/water outage or local shops can’t get restocked for a few days.
Also being prepared doesn’t have to mean having equipment to replace those functions. It could also just be something to keep you going for a few days without it. Tinned food that can be eaten cold for example.
We have enough dry ingredients to last a few weeks if necessary and rainwater collection with water butts. Not ideal but if there was an emergency we could boil and drink it. Camping stove and I keep a tub of sticks as fuel for it and to leave them to dry out.
I am not opposed to preparing for a disaster; in fact, I think it’s wise.
Same. I would hang around for a few days just to vibe, but I’m not fighting for my life in the apocalypse. I’ll chill till it’s really inconvenient and then check out
MFW the roofers came to inspect a leak a couple of weeks ago and the kid turned on his phone’s light before climbing into the attic.
Me after lending the kid my 3000 lumens pocket flashlight.
There’s an entire horror game about having only your phone flashlight during a power outage.
Actually, it looks like there are a few.
I was walking at a festival around 2010, maybe 20m behind a group of kids who had flashlights and headlamps. I wanted to have my light going in case they turned and walked a different path or whatnot. I turn it on normal-beam and they all stop and exclaim to each other about how crazy the light behind them was. I felt sooooooo happy! They all wanted to check it out and were astounded it does so many things. I felt like the coolest gurl in the land!
It has been banned for years. Because Reddit.
Doesn’t every modern phone have a built in flashlight?
Alright, who here has a hanklight and/or has the Anduril 2 firmware button press combinations memorized?
I get excited when my solar/battery setup seamlessly deals with short power outages. That $35k I spent years ago really pays off so I don’t need to wait 5 mins before browsing memes.
The memes must flow.
That’s my problem with EDC. I love the idea of being prepared for any eventually, but all my realistic eventualities boil down to how I’m going to pay for something, or how sunny it’s going to be.
A small AAA pocket flashlight with a magnetic base comes in handy surprisingly often and can be clipped into a tiny jeans pocket for carrying. You can even use it from there if it’s angled.
You’re not going to save the day with it but it’s pretty neat to have on hand. (That’s pretty much as far as EDC goes for me.)
Having paper currency as part of your EDC for when electronic payment goes down feels great until someone starts calling you unc for having a wallet. Trust me.
I got a black titanium Ridge wallet and it fits in my coin pocket. I love it.
The youth are against wallets now?? What am I going to do, shove every card I could conceivably one day need into my pockets like I’m deranged?
Kids just put their cards on the NFC function on their phone.
I’m in the middle with a ridge wallet
That wallet stays at home. 99% of the time all you need is drivers license and Apple pay. Though I can’t seem to not take my credit card and bank card.
The blind reliance on technology is staggering
Why would I not have a wallet? I would never trust tap pay on my phone, I don’t even have full access to my email on it
P
You’re weird.
Hmm… This is one of the first posts I see the day I get my internets back after getting blown away in the hurricane last week.
