Weekly "everything else" If it's in the spirit of prepping, but not "news" or "intel"

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stimulants_and_yoga@reddit

I’m really worried about the outcome today with the protests.

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nw342@reddit

Same. Lots of police/ice in my city right now, and im sure there will be a lot of right wing people starting shit. The climate is a lot different than last the last protest

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This is the precise reason I stay away from these. I 100% support it and think it is good that they are standing up for what they believe is right, but under the current administration I have a feeling it is eventually going to backfire.

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Pontiacsentinel@reddit

America's founding was based on not having a king. No Kings reinforces this. Protests have been nonviolent. Go, talk to people there. Stand tall FOR America and our founding principles.

Also, I get it, the police, ICE, federal agents of all sorts, have recently been shown to over-react, ex. arresting a clarinetist playing the Ghostbusters theme. However, we have a right and I daresay, responsibility, to hold those in charge to our basic principles, and this is why I am going today.

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bunnythevettech@reddit

Facebook has banned over 10k users for no friggin reason. Appeals aren't available to us and they're ignoring emails. I am one of them. Any attempts me make another one are blocked with mandated selfies upon attempt to make said new one

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HawaiianPunchaNazi@reddit

"mandated selfies" ?

Why would they need this when Facebook has no real name policy?

Quora.com the only place I know that ever enforced this, and even they backed off eventually (the connection being that quora was founded by Facebook people).

I don't use Facebook anymore, so when did this

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bunnythevettech@reddit

I have no idea. I'm a mil spo stationed overseas. The base and base entities put everything on fb so I need it to even function over here

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Fun_Initiative_2336@reddit

I’m banned from marketplace until I upload an ID because “the AI detected you’re a minor”

I’m def not lol

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Overall_Age8730@reddit

Happened to me and its very odd.

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ScientistKey9114@reddit

Facebook is garbage.

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Fun_Initiative_2336@reddit

Meat has become 50% of our grocery bill and it’s not even close to 50% of what we eat - lots of rice, lots of casseroles.

After some consideration we’ve been putting aside extra money to purchase bulk from butchers and farmers.

More anecdotal but having major issues with pantry moths in the pet food recently.

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Dick-Swiveller@reddit

Damn, we have also had tons of moths the last couple of months no idea why .

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splat-y-chila@reddit

I have cats and carnivorous plants, so I don't see any bugs. Definitely recommend.

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Quirky-Pomegranate89@reddit

Please, do tell on these carnivorous plants. I love greenery and if they'll help with mosquitos and gnats, I'm all for it.

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HawaiianPunchaNazi@reddit

As a yet another person who had a pantry moth invasion recently, I'd love some more info on the carnivorous plants as well.

Have cat, but she's more into dropping her stuffed mice into coffee than actual hunting;-)

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Quirky-Pomegranate89@reddit

I had a pantry moth invasion a few years ago. We got rid of them by completely emptying the pantry, spraying it down with disinfectant to kill any possible eggs. We had to throw out pretty much anything that was opened. After that, we switched to glass jars with a tight seal. I think the ones we went with are called bermiolli Rocco fido jars. Haven't had an issue with them since. I think ours might have came in with some bulk bean or grain orders. So that sort of stuff needs to be put up quick.

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Optimal-Archer3973@reddit

I know it might be difficult, but you would be best typically to join with one or two other people to buy half cows. IF you do just do yourself a favor, tell the butcher you want everything in a divide by two or three type cutting. Most people have no idea how much freezer space they need for this much meat.

I have a 23 CF deep freeze I use just for meat and can fill it totally from empty with a 1/2 cow and a half pig. and have meat for the family for about a year. Also, always take the fat from both and render them.

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GWS2004@reddit

Or, people need to learn to eat less meat. It's cheaper and not that hard.

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Fun_Initiative_2336@reddit

As somebody with over 7 different food allergies and several more intolerances it’s because it’s beating a dead horse.

Between 2 people we eat 1/2-1 pound of meat a day, and don’t tend to eat much in the way of other animal proteins anyways.

But vegetarian options aren’t great either right now - canned beans are almost $1 a can, tofu is impossible to find and more expensive then chicken per pound, and produce has also creeped up to the point that $60 of produce it 1 reusable shopping bag full.

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Optimal-Archer3973@reddit

It is cheaper, but would require more than just the change of meat to other proteins, some fats are hard to get elsewhere without thought and research.

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Fun_Initiative_2336@reddit

Yeah unfortunately we’re part of the more financially stable lot in our circle or I would. The local butcher has good deals though- about 1/4th a cow options as well.

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Wolf_Oak@reddit

Anyone one else notice odd shortages at the grocery store? For me this means mostly Target. Their canned beans (Good and Gather) were out of stock for a couple weeks, then they had them for a week, and now all gone again. (At the grocery store, they also were low on beans, and I couldn't find their version of the three-bean blend that I used to buy there ). Other products I often buy are also out of stock. Google isn't helpful trying to figure out where the beans come from to determine if it's a tariff issue or not. I also now can't find the gluten free pizza I'd buy as a treat on the weekends (Vital Pursuit). It's not that they replaced it with something else, the shelf for that brand has been empty the past two times I've gone. And they did recently stop carrying my favorite Kind granola bars out of the blue (and were replaced). I know this happens every once in a while for whatever reason, but several things happening all at once? It's weird. Is it a Target thing? Tariff thing? Something else?

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missbwith2boys@reddit

Perhaps folks on SNAP stocking up on advance of potentially no more funds in November?

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fruit_leather_chair@reddit

I feel like fall and football, especially the first hint of cooler weather, really drives up demand for beans & Fritos. It's always chili. Sure it could be supply chain but I'd put a heavy wager on people making chili.

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Awasaday@reddit

A couple of guys from a logging company trespassed my property last week. When confronted they said they wanted to buy some of the walnut trees. Our property is posted no trespassing. Our closest neighbor found them roaming inside a fenced portion of her property. She had her GSDs in the house that day and normally they are patrolling. Feels like they were watching close enough to know the dogs were inside. Both of our homes and trees they want are quite a distance from the road and cannot be seen from the road. So sheriff was called, etc. Looking into cameras for the property now.

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OkStandard2528@reddit

Were they actually log company?

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TwoFarNorth@reddit

WTH! I'm glad the sheriff was called. That is so inappropriate.

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chrs_89@reddit

I feel crazy for considering it but I’ve been having serious thoughts about prelocating some of my preps at my bug out location. I don’t keep anything out there because of security reasons but being in the city is spooking me with how people are behaving

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K_Gal14@reddit

What's changed about their behavior? Just curious

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chrs_89@reddit

I’m not sure the best way to describe it. It’s all small things happening more frequently like people not putting grocery carts in the corral or throwing trash out their car window or not getting out of the way of the fire trucks and ambulances. There was a no kings protest here and while I didn’t attend I was a few blocks away playing Pokémon go with a group and had people driving circles around the block and yelling/cursing at us. Individually it’s not a big deal but it does make me feel like I’m in a Stephen king novel in the first act where everything still appears normal but there’s something moving behind the scenes

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overkill@reddit

Around here (UK, midlands) I've noticed more people casually running red lights. It used to be I'd see it maybe once a month, if that. Now it seems to be nearly every day.

I can't help but feel like increasing CO2 concentrations have people acting more reckless. I have zero proof of this, only a "reckon".

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deerfawns@reddit

Covid makes ppl more stupid/reckless. The disease itself, especially getting it multiple times.

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notabee@reddit

Yep. It even causes new onset psychosis in rare-but-not-that-rare cases. Especially if said person was already loosely hinged in the first place.

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astronaut_down@reddit

Since you’re here you probably know this, but just in case, Pokemon Go is used by Niantec to surveil, sell location data, and train AI.

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chrs_89@reddit

Oh I already assumed that, I was just hoping that it would be more useful for benign purposes

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Excellent_Set_232@reddit

But did you get a shiny rayquaza

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chrs_89@reddit

I got 2 :D

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-PM_ME_UR_SECRETS-@reddit

You know that movie trope of some breaking news story being aired on tv or radio in the background that alludes to whatever crisis the movie is about? Every day feels like that part of the movie.

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overkill@reddit

Clumsy foreshadowing, like we saw towards the end of December 2019 with news of a "mystery illness causing concern with Chinese authorities".

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Carbapenemayonaise@reddit

I assume he means the whole slow slide towards the militarization of our (blue) cities.

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Equivalent-Buyer-841@reddit

I notice just general overreaction/grumpyness. A handyman I’ve employed for a while just sort of lost it because of a minor issue, told me off - I fired him and moved on. Same thing noticed in stores. Not sure this is newsworthy per mods, but there’s something going on per chrs_89 observation

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sargantbacon1@reddit

Algorithms and social media are getting really good at pissing everyone off all the time every day 365

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bananapeel@reddit

Um, why would you not do that? I don't see any downside.

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Todreamofhills@reddit

Mail Carrier in Southern California here, patterns I been seeing an increase in unemployment mail and older people putting up their houses for sale.

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Optimal-Archer3973@reddit

I just wanted to say that having caltrops handy in your car or truck might be a good idea now. Either in burstable plastic bags or tubes. For die hard handy preppers, making something that can release them from a rear bumper at the touch of a button might be a good thing. For not so handy preppers, if you remember the old game jacks, with the metal big jacks and a rubber ball, simply sharpen the ends on the metal pieces. If people are chasing you they can slow them down. Caltrops made of steel easily puncture tires if someone happens to be chasing you in a unmarked truck or SUV and can be cleared with a magnetic bar later if need be.

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overkill@reddit

Pretty easy to make German style ones from a square of metal. They stack nicely when not in use.

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Optimal-Archer3973@reddit

Well if you have a stocking supplier post it.

Here is someone with a different type.

https://caltropsecuritysystems.com/collections/all

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overkill@reddit

Oh no, no supplier, I just watch that guys videos for tips on how to make armour, although I never started any plate armour and have only done chainmaille.

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Jetson426@reddit

Went to the grocery store yesterday and it was noticeably quiet by a lot. I’m thinking people aren’t out buying food with the benefits stopped. Will it reduce prices? We know that answer.

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ManufacturerOk7236@reddit

Speculative thoughts: Definitely in a stock market bubble. Observing all kinds of people discussing their stock picks & portfolios.

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Own_Cardiologist_989@reddit

I'm new to stocks, but I know the +50% I've made off of most tech and AI stocks over the last year is not sustainable. I just pulled out of all tech stocks and EFTs yesterday and accepted that I could be missing out on more if this bubble talk is wrong. But that's okay because more than 50% in a year is honestly uncomfortable in its own way, like it's wrong and artificial to make that much by just sitting on a few stocks for a year.

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overkill@reddit

I got a pension statement on Friday, from a scheme I no longer pay into, and was shocked to see a 13% increase in value in a year. I mean, its nice to see, but 13% after fees with no money going into it seems a bit odd.

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cassanderer@reddit

I expect the bubble to grow for two or more years minimum as they juice the economy.

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Optimal-Archer3973@reddit

The AI bubble won't last more than 8 months and I will not be surprised to see it pop before then. I got out of the stock market and have been buying real estate from foreclosure auctions and sales. While I do expect real estate top drop soon as well, it also can provide a decent income stream. I expect a lot of problems in the near future from trumps economy.

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alternativepuffin@reddit

Just keep in mind that the stock market is not the economy. If inflation is going to go bananas (and I suspect it will) stocks will go up in order to compensate

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LowBarometer@reddit

I moved half my wealth into a gold ETF in April with the hope that the money would be preserved.

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Appropriate_Ad_1429@reddit

I'm going through my medicines and checking for out of date meds for restock atm. I'm wondering if it's possible to extend their shelf life 🤔

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KateMacDonaldArts@reddit

This NIH study includes a table of antibiotics and their decay over time: Efficacy of Expired Antibiotics: A Real Debate in the Context of Repeated Drug Shortages

Amoxicillin degrades quickly and Tetracycline is one of the few drugs that may become toxic after expiration (there have been reports of kidney failure). The table is a good reference piece to include with your prepped meds.

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bananapeel@reddit

The formulation of tetracycline that becomes toxic hasn't been used for decades. The odds of you having a bottle in your medicine cabinet are very low. Just to be safe, if it was mfg before 2010, I'd toss it. Otherwise it is OK.

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Appropriate_Ad_1429@reddit

I don't take antibiotics as a rule, it's an absolute last resort, due to antibiotic resistance and the fact that animals are given antibiotics as a profilactics and are therefore in the food chain. However, I do believe it's important to have them available for emergencies . Renoxitin/Cefoxitin powder appears to be a new to UK market antibiotic only available to pharma.

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-PM_ME_UR_SECRETS-@reddit

I had my doctor change my prescription from 1x 30mg/day to 2x 20mg/day, and only taking 1x 20/day.

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Present-Opinion1561@reddit

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7040264/

"What they found from the study is 90% of more than 100 drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, were perfectly good to use even 15 years after the expiration date."

if stored properly.

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Dapper-Hamster69@reddit

stored properly.... my cousin is a pharmacist. She said DONT put your meds in the bathroom. Steam/heat from the shower will cause issues.

Like any preps we do, cool, dark, dry place.

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Appropriate_Ad_1429@reddit

Yh I knew this and jk about it in movies and shows cos the medicines are always kept in a bathroom cabinet. Mine are stored in a kitchen cupboard furthest away from the stove.

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JackBlackBowserSlaps@reddit

Wow, thanks for that!

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Appropriate_Ad_1429@reddit

Awesome! Thanks for the info, this will save me a lot of needless expense.

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splat-y-chila@reddit

I heard insurance is skyrocketing next year and covering less cost of meds, so I'm definitely refilling meds by end of this year despite running out of money in the tax deferred med account already. I wish I didn't have to take any meds, but we haven't been operating in best case scenario world for a while now LOL

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SantaCruzSoul@reddit

Just got my renewal notice and my insurance went up 40%.

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blt88@reddit

Ours went up too.

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AnomalyNexus@reddit

Consider what it is too. e.g. I wouldn't take an out of date antibiotic. Out of date painkillers...probably.

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Appropriate_Ad_1429@reddit

I think liquid antibiotics don't last but blister packs will last longer, it says so in the website above at least, loving the website btw :)

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Hefty_Pangolin3273@reddit

You can look up how long they’re good for and if they’re safe after their expiration date. Some of them a just slightly less effective.

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LankyGuitar6528@reddit

Reports of massive lineups for physical gold all over Asia. Part of it is hype and speculation. Part of it is dumping the US Dollar over the shutdown. Part of it is asians just do super weird Asian stuff we will never figure out. But when you see a pic like that first thing in the morning it makes you jump to see if somebody lobbed a nuke or something.

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AntiSonOfBitchamajig@reddit (OP)

We need to make a collective metals thread.... WAYYYYY too much is happening with that right now.
Even yesterday it came out that PM refiners are no longer accepting low grade metals due to how much they're process demand is right now!

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Honest_Persimmon_859@reddit

Royal Mint in the UK has a queue just to visit their website, currently:

Biggest retailer in Japan announced they can't keep up with demand and are pausing sale of 5-50g gold bars:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-16/japan-s-tanaka-precious-halts-mini-gold-bar-sales-on-high-demand

There have been some videos on the gold subreddit of people lined up to buy gold in the UK/Asia, but I'm not 100% sure whether the videos were from this week or just people re-posting old videos.

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-PM_ME_UR_SECRETS-@reddit

What are people expecting? Global market collapse? War? Collapse of the US dollar?

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NotDinahShore@reddit

There are people in lines for gold in Australia too. I don’t have any links. Friend is Australian and told us it’s happening.

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Carbapenemayonaise@reddit

If S actually HTF in a bad way, so many people are gonna be upset when they find out they can’t eat gold or heat their house with it.

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Talkingtoaster91@reddit

Lineups in Canada as well

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Equivalent-Buyer-841@reddit

My local pawn shop was just stuffed this morning with 1 oz silver rounds people are bringing in - at $6 over spot. Not bad. More or less what my online dealer is doing - and no shipping costs

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StarsFaithful@reddit

Does this potentially tie in with the mineral grabs in Ukraine and Venezuela?

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uljus81kd2d7fltg8hg@reddit

Bought a case 'o' Newport's for if things descend far enough to where I need it for a bribe.

In reality, I've been trying to increase my stamina by walking with weighted equipment.

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Alternative-Emu4846@reddit

Shouldn't you but darts people want to actually smoke?

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uljus81kd2d7fltg8hg@reddit

That's the thing, desperate times call for desperate measures, & I'm not the one desperate for a smoke.

Granted, I am a caffiend, & probably be revolted when offered Maxwell House, but when the headaches start & the green tea ain't doing jack, then maybe...

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Present-Opinion1561@reddit

Coworker in the Guard(CBRN) called up and waiting near Chicago. Presumably for the 23rd or SCOTUS ruling.

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Equivalent-Buyer-841@reddit

That’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Defense e.g. the guys you call to deal with nuclear weapons, chemical attacks, disease outbreaks. Think the military guys in the yellow suits in every zombie movie. What the f$$$ are they expecting these gangbangers and NoKings protestors to be doing?

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GopnikOli@reddit

Trump did post an AI video of him piloting a jet dropping literal shit on protestors. He might be suiting and booting up for a quick flight lmao, he is the fittest president after all.

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Present-Opinion1561@reddit

Seems an odd speciality to call up for crowd control.

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Equivalent-Buyer-841@reddit

Especially since we agreed by treaty decades ago we wouldn’t be using chemical, bio, nuclear as offensive weapons - so not like we need them there to throw tear gas and anthrax at the rioters. More like someone knows someone has something really bad planned.

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K_Gal14@reddit

I'm a bit outta the loop. What's going on the 23 or with SCOTUS

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NotDinahShore@reddit

Our car insurance has doubled since 2022. Bought a new Tesla in late 2021. Insurance was around $530 for six months. Now it’s over $1,000 for six months. Our other cars have seen similar insurance hikes. No tickets or accidents. Home insurance has doubled since then.

We are in SoCal. We are financially set. All of our friends are financially set. We are all waiting for our youngest kids to graduate from college and we are all moving to different countries in Europe. We all own homes in Europe.

I’m patriotic, but the future of the US is dubious.

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notuncertainly@reddit

In what way do you see the future of Europe as being better than US? While I have my concerns about the US (eg, growing wealth inequality making it seem like we are on a trajectory to look like Brazil in a few decades), I’d probably be more pessimistic about most European countries. (At least on economic opportunity front, for instance).

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NotDinahShore@reddit

I agree about economic opportunity. That’s why we have lived in the US into our late 50s and early 60s.

Europe is a much better place to be old in than here. Plus, in almost every couple that we are close friends with, one of the couple is from Europe.

I see the US moving in a dangerous direction. The current political climate is tense. However, with cities electing Islamist mayors and people openly calling for socialism, I don’t see the US as a place to be for people with wealth.

Furthermore, the US seems like we are headed for an economic collapse, particularly from our debt levels. There is no solution that isn’t catastrophic.

So, moving to, escaping to, going to a sleepy beach town in Europe way off the beaten path sounds preferable to sticking around to experience the US’s civilizational collapse.

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Civil_Cantaloupe2402@reddit

Can I ask if you voted for this admin? I dream of escape too, my reasons are different but off the beaten path is exactly how I'd describe it. The idea of living in a stable functioning society sounds incredible right about now.

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evabunbun@reddit

Europe isn't in any better place than the US long term except for rich retirees. The issue is misinformation and disinformation and it is affecting everywhere. I actually think we have an opportunity in the US to face things head on.

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Wytch78@reddit

I’m in Flarduh, two hours from any beach and my home owners is $4k/year. Insurance for three vehicles is $4k/year. I’m not a high income earner and these costs are just ridiculous.

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PushyTom@reddit

Living in South Carolina (in the middle of the state-not on the coast), and our homeowner's insurance went up over 25% this year.

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Pontiacsentinel@reddit

National strike in Belgium https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62e3pny6p7o

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Carbapenemayonaise@reddit

Protesting government austerity measures. Increased retirement age.

Coming soon to the US. Austerity for most, all time highs for a few.

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Unique-Sock3366@reddit

I renewed our vehicle registrations this week. In our state, this includes yearly taxes on the value of said vehicles. I became curious and started paying attention to the tag dates on vehicles I see out and about.

There are a LOT of people driving with expired tags. A lot.

I’m thinking that normal, everyday people are struggling with their basic bills.

I’ve also reported recently that a large number of houses are on the market in our very small town (1,500 people.) Three more have been recently listed, on my main road alone.

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EastTyne1191@reddit

Lots of expired tags, minor/moderate body damage, and spare tires on cars these days. Noticed a similar phenomenon during the 2008 recession, it's worse now.

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NoTerm3078@reddit

For anyone who doesn't already understand this. Cop cars can now be equipped with auto license plate readers. This means they do not have to manually run your tags, but that this happens automatically and then the cop will pull you over. Update your tags people. Part of prepping is not attracting unwanted attention.

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/%ef%bf%bcare-the-license-plate-scanners-on-police-cars-actually-legal/

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MontrealChickenSpice@reddit

Cops WILL take the opportunity to 'smell marijuana', beat you, put you in a cage, and impound your car to rack up fees while you're in jail.

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LowBarometer@reddit

I'm seeing this too. Expired tags, expired inspection stickers, and many cars with unrepaired damage. I suspect we have a lot of people driving without insurance.

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judaskissed@reddit

I'm not sure if questions are allowed here or if anyone would have any insight, but does anyone know the current state of ostomy products? I got an ileostmomy last week and I'm already starting to feel concerned that something may happen in the near future as far as shortages goes for the supplies that I need to survive. 😭

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Djsmizzles@reddit

I work for a medical equipment company and one of the product lines we do is ostomy. I haven't seen any info related to shortages, seems business as usual over here! I hope that provides a bit of relief, friend 🧡

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judaskissed@reddit

Oh my gosh, thank you so much for you reply.😭 Holy shit. This is a huge relief to me, so really, I appreciate it.😭💛

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grandnp8@reddit

“Holy shit” is an appropriate response for this conversation 🤣

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judaskissed@reddit

lol you're right 😅

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TemperatureFinal5135@reddit

Chronie here, sending love. ❤

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judaskissed@reddit

Sending you much love too, my fellow chronic illness companion.💛🤝

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TrekRider911@reddit

Went into town today. Got stuck in a massive traffic jam just outside of downtown; thought to myself, "Must be a JW conference or whatever they usually have at our arena on Saturday morning." Nope, was the line for the food bank. It's the biggest, longest they've ever had.

Spoke with some friends later in the morning who are on SNAP; everyone they know is starting to stockpile as best they can as SNAP cuts loom in November.

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