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I did not have this on my fuck 2022 bingo card.

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread: Waiting Out the Apocalypse… in Kansas

Open Thread: Waiting Out the Apocalypse… in Kansas

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Some might say that being stuck in an underground RV park full of survivalists and preppers would be their second choice. From the Washington Post:

ATCHISON, Kan. — After most of the world’s population is wiped off the map by a wayward meteorite or hail of nuclear missiles, the survival of the human race might just depend on a few thousand people huddled in recreational vehicles deep in the bowels of an eastern Kansas mine.

That’s the vision of a California man who is creating what he calls the world’s largest private underground survivor shelter, using a complex of limestone caves dug more than 100 years ago beneath gently rolling hills overlooking the Missouri River.

“I do believe I am on a mission and doing a spiritual thing,” said Robert Vicino, who has purchased a large portion of the former U.S. Army storage facility on the southeast edge of Atchison, about 50 miles northwest of Kansas City, Mo. “We will certainly be part of the genesis.”

Before it comes time to ride out Armageddon or a deadly global pandemic, though, Vicino says the Vivos Survival Shelter and Resort will be a fun place for members to take vacations and learn assorted survival skills to prepare them for whatever world-changing catastrophe awaits…

What’s on the agenda for the evening?

Reader Interactions

141Comments

  1. 1.

    Yatsuno

    Mom in town, so hopefully good Italian food and possibly drinks but no guarantee there. Tomorrow though KITTEH!!!

  3. 3.

    JPL

    haha… Anne, I was going to give you a hard time on your use of Open Thread, but then I read what you attached. Some folk just have to much time on their hands.

  5. 5.

    Emma Peel

    a fun place for members to take vacations and learn assorted survival skills

    Kind of like Donner Pass was.

  7. 7.

    Alexandra

    Since it’s an open thread, I’ve got a hunch that Glenn Greenwald may have over-reached in his statement that the Obama administration filing espionage charges is displaying “extreme zealousness” and [an] “vindictive mentality.”

    I’m genuinely divided about this entire story, but I don’t think any administration of any party of any era would have done otherwise. Leaking highly-classified material isn’t a kid’s game.

  8. 8.

    Urza

    If the survival of the human race depends on people dumb enough to imagine an underground RV park in Kansas will save them, I say

    BRING ON THE BLACK HOLE PLEASE

  9. 9.

    Eric U.

    Jerry Pournelle (bless his heart) mapped out how this will go in one of his survivalist stories where the people get to their survivalist hideout and find people with guns have already taken over. At least they didn’t kill Jerry and his friends, they let them go. Which I doubt would happen IRL.

  10. 10.

    jl

    ” Before it comes time to ride out Armageddon or a deadly global pandemic,”

    Dude, I don’t think it will ride out a global pandemic. And when the pandemic gets in there, it will be worse than on the outside.

    But, what the heck, let them have their fun!

  12. 12.

    p.a.

    Argentine and Columbian chorizo on the grill with onions and peppers in an attempt to build up my already sizable fat reserves for the coming Armageddon. Vanilla ice cream with grilled nectarines and chocolate mint. Then hockey hockey hockey.

  14. 14.

    Keith

    @jeffreyw: Damn, those look like gourmet street tacos. I LOVE taqueria tacos (fresh – key – tortillas, meat, onions, cilantro, salsa), but I also love Americanized tacos (hard shells, picadillo, cheese, lettuce, sour cream, “taco sauce”). Those look phenomenal.

  15. 15.

    Higgs Boson's Mate

    Adobe is offering its Creative Suite CS2 for free, legal download for both Mac and Windows.The available downloads include the reg code.

    The suite includes Photoshop CS2, Illustrator CS2, Adobe Bridge, Script Toolkit, and InDesign plus extras. Although the package is seven years old it’s still more than capable enough for non-professional artists and photographers.

    I just installed it to replace my aging copy of Photoshop CS and it’s all good.

  18. 18.

    eemom

    Splendiforous post, AL!

    Finally got to have a day off…..maybe even the whole weekend. Spent the afternoon poolside with a book…..now sitting on my ass with a glass of Prosecco contemplating a leisurely evening…..and I fucking love the WHOLE WORLD.

  27. 27.

    lol chikinburd

    @bill d: Elon James White corralled the heckler for an “interview” on TWiB shortly afterward. Holy God, it was tragicomic gold.

    Dude claimed to be an IT god singularly capable of discerning import of surveillance-garbl based on technical knowledge no one else at a conference of Internet people could have. Also, he called Obama “white”. The archive will be a must-listen. Jesus Hussein Christ on a landspeeder.

  28. 28.

    Randy P

    My wife is out of town for the weekend. Rather than trash the place or at best leave it in the same state as when she left, I’m making a concerted effort to do a couple of major projects. Especially cleaning up a neglected corner of our yard that is full of overgrown english ivy, poison ivy, and some sort of incredibly vicious non-flowering thornbush. Going round 2 with the thorns tonight.

    After a beer.

  30. 30.

    maya

    ♫Like a limestone cowboy♫♪
    Riding out in a ‘Bago♫♪ in a star spangled Rodeo♫♪

  32. 32.

    Higgs Boson's Mate

    @MattF:

    Thank you for saving Mac owners some frustration. For us Windows types, this is a 32bit program so it should run on any semi-recent Win OS.

    ETA: MattF, could they run the Win version via Boot Camp?

  33. 33.

    Jewish Steel

    “I do believe I am on a mission and doing a spiritual thing,”

    Oh, don’t they all?

  34. 34.

    Bubblegum Tate

    @Brother Machine Gun of Desirable Mindfulness (fka AWS):

    Ha! I’d say they’re equally applicable.

    @Randy P:

    No honeymoon until next year. Between the wedding and buying a house, we’re out of money for such things. But you sure won’t hear me complain about it!

    @dmsilev:

    Actually, it’s my parents (particularly my dad) who are none-too-subtly informing me that yes, I do want to have kids now. Lots of them! ASAP!

  36. 36.

    gbear

    I can’t see this ending well for a group of survivalist who think that the best thing to have after armageddon is an RV.

    @bill d: What the fuck is wrong with these people?? Nancy Smash isn’t doing a good enough job for them? What assholes.

  37. 37.

    fuckwit

    @bill d:

    “Now that the public knows more – it gives us an opportunity for some of the things we’ve been advocating for a while.”

    That’s my Representative. Crazy like a fox. Also, there is perhaps nobody in Congress who is more accustomed to being heckled from the left. It happens every time she comes home, we’ve got Code Pink, etc all up in her grill, and have forever. This is not a new experience for her.

    Indeed, the left has been screaming about the surveillance state for, like, 12 years now. And now that the media has decided it’s a controversy, we can put some pressure on Congress to do something about it.

    I’m now not so worried about this being a Rove wedge issue. I think it’s more of a wedge issue that progressives can use to divide the Rethugs. It feels to me more like… gay rights issues. Remember how the Rethugs tried to use gay marriage as a wedge issue to split Dems up, i.e. with all those amendments in the early 2000’s? And it backfired, ended up as a wedge to split the Rethugs.

    So let the heckling continue. This is exactly, precisely, the way DADT got repealed. It’s the same formula, and it works like a champ. The activists on the left heckle the left, they don’t take “no” or “not yet” for an answer, and keep the pressure on. And the politicians on the left deal with it, are getting heckled by people they actually agree with, and are being pushed to take more of an active role on the side of justice. The more astute pols will start reminding activists the the people they need to be heckling are on the R side of the aisle, thankyouverymuch. Nonetheless, activists will keep pressuring Democrats from the left. Eventually it becomes very clear to everyone that the D’s are on the correct side of the issue and the R’s are the source of the problem.

    And she raises a very good point: we are howling about the NSA and not even mentioning that the people in control of all this powerful data-gathering aren’t even the governmet, it’s in the hands of private corporations used as contractors.

    So, I’ll reverse my earlier position on this issue, and say, GO GO GADGET GREENWALD.

  38. 38.

    JoyfulA

    How can this lead to the survival of the human race? Nobody there will be reproductive age.

  39. 39.

    geg6

    Jeebus these people are stupid. And tacky. Sorry, but I find few tackier vacation plans than taking one in an RV (actual camping is better, IMHO, and I’d rather die than do that). With the sole exception of vacationing in an RV parked in an old mine. In fucking Kansas no less!

    As for our evening, shrimp and scallop skewers on the grill, grilled eggplant and red peppers, Boston lettuce salad, and rice with Grilled pineapple chunks. Some Pinot grigio is chilling in the wine fridge. And blueberry pudding cake for dessert. Yum. It’s about 87F, so this is perfect.

    Crazy as it sounds, John is craving my homemade spaghetti and meatballs, so I’ll be cooking sauce, rolling meatballs and rolling out pasta tomorrow when the temperature is expected to be the same as today’s.

    Koda and Otis totally approve of tomorrow’s menu. Both of these pups think tomatoes and tomato sauce are the greatest treat ever. And they also may enjoy tonight’s viewing pleasure, one of my all time favs, “Best In Show”. I adore Christopher Guest.

  41. 41.

    Randy P

    @gbear: I can’t see this ending well for a group of survivalist who think that the best thing to have after armageddon is an RV.

    Obviously you’ve never watched/read “Damnation Alley”

  42. 42.

    raven

    Wondering how I got so old I don’t care about Athfest?

    eta I take it back, Patterson Hood and his dad are playing tomorrow.

  45. 45.

    Violet

    Cooking a birthday dinner. Always an adventure. Almost everything is from the farmers market, my own garden, or something I’ve got on hand. We’ll see how it goes.

  47. 47.

    Eric U.

    move in day in the underground rv vault would be a hoot. And for a while afterwards they would be running their generators to power up the a/c. I think it’s possible they might all die. Would be fun to fake them out to get them to move in early to see what the results are. Would take a united populace and complicity by the government and media, but I think we can make this happen

  48. 48.

    Mnemosyne (iPad Mini)

    G and I have to visit my hospitalized niece (she had some elective surgery to do additional corrections on her clubfeet). If nothing else, it gives us an excuse to have dinner in Santa Monica, probably at Finn McCool’s.

  50. 50.

    Violet

    @geg6:

    one of my all time favs, “Best In Show”. I adore Christopher Guest.

    Me too! Love that movie. Hilarious. Are you aware of “Family Tree” the Christopher Guest series now playing on HBO? I’ve only had the chance to watch the first show, but loved it. Cant’ wait to get caught up on the rest. They’re on my DVR.

  51. 51.

    Randy P

    @raven: He’s got hours to spare, no sweat. Now live-blogging the ceremony might be a little controversial…

  52. 52.

    Higgs Boson's Mate

    @MattF:

    Cool. Back when, one of the people for whom I occasionally contracted took it upon themselves to upgrade the one Mac in their office to OSX “Because it was newer.” Then they found out that their pre-press program wouldn’t run and the Mac refused to recognize the printer and scanner. That’s when they called me.

    Gawd I hate CUPS.

  53. 53.

    Amir Khalid

    With room for 5,000 people at $35,000 per kid or $50,000 per grownup, it sounds like Vicino is expecting to pull in something like $200 mil. It seems optimistic for what sounds like the Citadel without fresh air.

  55. 55.

    The prophet Nostradumbass

    @gbear: she also got several standing ovations, but that’s not convenient for Politico’s purposes. Why do people take anything that rag says seriously?

  56. 56.

    Ultraviolet Thunder

    @Bubblegum Tate:

    Congrats! or alternatively: RUN! take your pick.

    I’m at home after a week in Dallas and Houston. I seem to have brought steamy weather with me back to Detroit.

  58. 58.

    ruemara

    @Higgs Boson’s Mate: *Sigh* I have CS3 and I am BUMMED I can’t spring for at least Adobe CC for Cinema 4D and After Effects integration. Damn.

    On the other hand, took all day but I have successfully mounted and framed the 5 large photo works for my show. Thank goddess the small ones are simple: print, put in frame. The real thing will be the juxtaposition on the walls.

    @Bubblegum Tate: Congratulations! I hope.

  59. 59.

    Eric U.

    @The prophet Nostradumbass: I wish I could take the stories in the media/press/web seriously and not as pure propaganda, but the propaganda is overwhelming. It is tiresome to have to wade through the outrage to find the real story

  66. 66.

    raven

    My late father had a cervical laminectomy and we were visiting him in Phoenix. We rented “Best in Show” and “Waiting for Guffman”. I’ll never forget how he was in agony every time he laughed and we wanted to turn them off but he wouldn’t let us. Sweet sad memory.

  69. 69.

    Higgs Boson's Mate

    @Dee Loralei:

    They’ve disabled activation, not downloading. If you’re in Windows just double click on each item in the Downloads column to start the download. Be sure to copy the appropriate reg number (Mac or Windows) to a text file and you’re good to go. I just did a test download so I know it works.

    ETA: Adobe says that they have technical issues with their activation server for CS2 so they’re putting it out for free. You need the reg number to install and there is no activation required. You can register the product with Adobe if you wish. It isn’t required though.

  71. 71.

    quannlace

    enjoy tonight’s viewing pleasure, one of my all time favs, “Best In Show”. I adore Christopher Guest.

    What channel’s it on? Or is it your DVD?

  72. 72.

    nineone

    How in the hell is being trapped underground with RV havin’ nutbags considered surviving? I’ll take death, and, Dear God, make it quick.

    @Bubblegum Tate:As someone who just celebrated 14 years of wedded bliss, allow me to give my standard reply: You’ll be sorry. :-) And if/when you have kids, sorry times ten.

    @Paddy: Holy crap, only made it about a minute into it before the creep factor made me bail.

  76. 76.

    SuperHrefna

    As an update to last night’s food thread I just mixed up these black bean burgers that Tamara linked to in last night’s food thread. I used 2 tbs of chick pea and fave bean flour instead of the egg and fresh jalapeño instead f pickled but otherwise carefully followed the recipe. Though I haven’t cooked them yet ( they are resting in the fridge until it’s time) I can already tell they are going to be *spectacularly* yummy, I could eat the raw burger mix with a spoon it’s that good. So thanks guys! Wish I could share them round.

  78. 78.

    Amir Khalid

    @Quaker in a Basement:
    That question will turn out to be moot. They haven’t really thought through the how of surviving Armageddon, have they? So if it actually happens, I doubt they will last long enough to contemplate the joys of surviving it.

  79. 79.

    MomSense

    @Bubblegum Tate:

    Congratulations!!

    Ok, I would rather die in the meteor strike than survive in that underground RV camp. Creepy.

    Tonight I am going to drink coffee so I can stay away for HOCKEY! Hosted a sleepover of little monsters last night and then was activities director for them all day. I’m afraid I might fall asleep writing this post I’m so tired.

  81. 81.

    JR in WV

    Oh, yes, I so want to spend my vacation in a cheap feeling RV UNDERGROUND, like being in a Zombie Vampire movie, only really.

    Thanks for sharing this with the whole world!

  84. 84.

    Unsympathetic

    “Learn assorted survival skills” sounds like the description of meetups for Furries, amirite?

  85. 85.

    Mike in NC

    Crappy weather, so we went to see “World War Z”. Pretty decent action flick, but it had next to nothing to do with the book on which it was based.

  87. 87.

    mellowjohn

    reminds me of the harlan ellison story (and subsequent movie) “a boy and his dog.”

  88. 88.

    Keith

    Anyone here every watch “Doomsday Preppers”? It’s entertaining but at the same time kind of sad, as these people are dumping 10s of thousands of dollars into a movie survival scenario, often bringing their kids into it. And they often have neighbors who are just as into it as they are. I will say the one with the hippies was more funny than sad.

  90. 90.

    ruemara

    @Dee Loralei: unless you’re a graphics person, Adobe Create Suite will not be worth the time it’s taking to download and install.

    @Keith: I have a friend who has filmed for Preppers. He says the best most of them do on survivability is stave off wolves for about a month.

  91. 91.

    Higgs Boson's Mate

    @Dee Loralei:

    You aren’t a ditz. Not everyone is as autistic as I am so they spend their time on better things than mucking about with computer hardware and software.

    Here’s a Link to Adobe’s instructions (.pdf file) for installing and downloading the freebie CS2 for Windows. If you’re using a Mac there is a similar .pdf file right at the top of the downloads section.

    Feel free to ask if you have any more questions. I am always glad to help to the extent of my ability.

  92. 92.

    feebog

    Movie Night in the Park tonight. Our Neighborhood Council does this a couple times a year, free movie, free popcorn and water, just bring your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy. Great way to outreach to the community. Added bonus, my grandkids arrived today, so they get to see Oz the Great and Powerful!

  93. 93.

    Randy P

    Since Dave Barry (or at least his weekly syndicated column) is no loner with us, I’ll offer this up:

    Wouldn’t “Post-Apocalyptic RV Death Camp” be a good name for a band?

    Speaking of Barry, what is he up to? He wrote a pretty funny novel or two but that was several years ago. Anyone know?

  94. 94.

    Chet

    @geg6: My dad and stepmom are currently RVing in the Dakotas. I’ll be sure and let them know how stupid and tacky they are when I talk to them next, fuckyouverymuch.

    Sorry to be so tetchy, but Christ, the SWPL nose-holding around this place gets fucking old after a while.

  96. 96.

    Higgs Boson's Mate

    @Dee Loralei:

    They install all of the Creative Suite applications I listed above. You should download all of them and follow the instructions in the .pdf I linked. You can always uninstall any of them that you don’t use through Windows Control Panel.

    @ruemara:

    …unless you’re a graphics person, Adobe Create Suite will not be worth the time it’s taking to download and install.

    That’s an odd statement. There are a plethora of online tutorials on the use of these apps. Even if you dump everything else and just use PS CS2 for photo retouching and resizing you still have a robust app for free. The apps also enable a person to expand their horizons without spending a bundle on software.

  97. 97.

    John O

    The trick of the whole survivalist thing is to get the timing right. Personally, I think it’s too early by a generation or three, but I could be wrong.

    As for tonight, it’s all about the Blackhawks!!! (Best emblem in pro sports, for the record!)

  98. 98.

    dance around in your bones

    All I can say is please proceed, Vicino.

    (Where do these people come from? And why won’t they go away?!)

  102. 102.

    ruemara

    @Higgs Boson’s Mate: It’s not. It’s based on a couple of decades working with it. I’m saying that because people get frustrated sorting through the menus and the software mechanics when they just want to clean up a few snaps or create a flyer. I’ve taught this stuff to regular people and I’ve seen a lot of frustration on their part. Sure, it’s a great way to learn, but if you’ve been working in graphics, you know you want to do this. Someone else who just wants to get something done; they may not be as happy. YMMV. Because she still doesn’t know what Adobe Creative Suite does.

    And on that, CS is a complete package of graphic design, motion graphics design, print, web, image editing and vector illustration software. If you’ve ever wanted to learn it, you’re getting to do it now for free.

  104. 104.

    geg6

    @quannlace:

    I dvr-ed it on Encore today. I’m never deleting it. And Raven is correct. I might bust a gut but I’d love every second of it if I watched a double feature of “Best” and “Guffman”.

  106. 106.

    geg6

    @Chet:

    Sorry. If it helps at all, I have traveled by RV myself. Hated every minute of it though. That said, I hear there are some that aren’t like the usual I see trolling the interstates around here. Quite luxurious, from what I understand. Still my worst nightmare though.

  107. 107.

    Chris

    the survival of the human race might just depend on a few thousand people huddled in recreational vehicles deep in the bowels of an eastern Kansas mine.

    Yeah, cause, you know, other countries don’t have mines. Or other states, for that matter.

  110. 110.

    Rekster

    When the Super Volcano at Yellowstone erupts, those folks in that cave in Kansas are truly fucked!

  111. 111.

    Ruckus

    @ruemara:
    I agree.
    I’ve used CS2 a lot and although it is very powerful and useful, it is not for the faint of heart just trying to resize a photo when they have never done any graphics work before.
    That said I also agree that it is a great product to learn on if that is what you want to do. Like everything else it has limitations but they are few and one can learn to do almost anything with it.

  112. 112.

    Higgs Boson's Mate

    @ruemara:

    And on that, CS is a complete package of graphic design, motion graphics design, print, web, image editing and vector illustration software. If you’ve ever wanted to learn it, you’re getting to do it now for free.

    Good point. These apps aren’t for everyone. They are complex and despite years of development many aspects of them still aren’t exactly intuitive. I’ve been working in PS since PS3 and in Illustrator since AI5. Despite that, I still have to grab the book every now and then. They’re similar to MS Office in that if you aren’t a pro you’re probably never going to use more than a 10% of their capabilities.

  113. 113.

    Ruckus

    @geg6:
    Have known people who lived and traveled in RVs. The really nice ones are better than any home I’ve lived in. They also cost 3 to 5 times as much. I don’t see someone with that level of RV deciding to live in a cave as a survivalist.

  114. 114.

    Eljai

    @bill d: Pelosi also got lots of applause. Obviously, the crowd takes a different view on the NSA thing then Pelosi, (the issue that brought out boos), but she did not shy away from the issue. The woman is unflappable, and to her credit, she did bring up points of common ground. She did say there should be transparency and the NSA should not be outsourcing to corporations.

  115. 115.

    Viva BrisVegas

    the survival of the human race might just depend on a few thousand people huddled in recreational vehicles deep in the bowels of an eastern Kansas mine

    You know, this is how the Morlocks got their start.

  116. 116.

    Ruckus

    If you survived the general destruction of the world, in an underground RV park, in Kansas, how would you know?

  118. 118.

    Higgs Boson's Mate

    Um, if it’s a cave then how will they run their engines and/or generators for heat, light and cooking without gassing themselves to death with carbon dioxide? Looks like they’re setting themselves up for the first mass Darwin Award.

  119. 119.

    geg6

    @Ruckus:

    Yeah, I know they exist because I know rock stars and country artists use them for tours. But I agree that very few of the people who can afford those kind of RVs will be buying up a parking space in an old limestone mine in Kansas.

    And even the fabulous ones would still be my worst nightmare. Hate driving long distances, detest iffy bathroom and water situations, hate not being in a permanent structure and especially hate anything that smacks of camping, no matter how “luxurious” others may think it is. I traveled a thousand miles in a yacht, one with two full heads, a full kitchen, two cabins with king-sized beds, and two living areas that also had satellite tv and and a washer and dryer. It was a two week trip. Nice as it was, I almost had an orgasm just climbing into my own bed that didn’t move or smell musty or of engine fumes or have to hear every other asshole whose boat was docked near ours. A brand new yacht and it wasn’t as wonderful as you’d think.

  120. 120.

    Mustang Bobby

    Relaxing after a busy four days at the CityWrights playwriting conference here in Miami. Bonus: we were able to cast my play “Ask Me Anything” for the New Theatre Miami 1-Acts Festival July 5-7.

  121. 121.

    steve

    “Thanks for tuning in to CNN on this Thursday, Feb 13th 2016, I’m Wolf Blitzer. In some sort of cosmic irony, this morning the rock-of-gibralter-sized asteroid we’ve all been worried about for the last three months crashed directly into Atchison, Kansas. Relatively uninhabited, the impact obliterated everything within a 5-mile radius, and left a crater 200 ft deep….”

  122. 122.

    Ruckus

    @geg6:
    Two small stories.
    As a kid the family went camping all the time. A tent, campfires and all that. One Friday night we arrived at a campground and went to our space. Next to a nice hill which blocked any errant wind. In the middle of the night we found out the hard way that the hill was the base of the train tracks. We of course found out at 3 in the morning when the headlight of the train flashed through the tent and the noise of a 2 mile long freight train at 50 miles an hour thundered by about 15 feet away. Don’t recall going back to sleep.
    Second I owned a live aboard sailboat for a while. It was a lot of fun but it also required that you be real flexible in your living requirements. Learning this has stood me in good standing over the last few years, living in out buildings and shops with no shower or real kitchens. It’s not that I like it, it’s just that I can be at least comfortable doing it.

  123. 123.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @raven: Plus (also, too) “A Mighty Wind.” My personal fave is “Best in Show,” but they’re all wonderful. Not up to the same standards, but entertaining enough (and required viewing for the completionists among us) is “For Your Consideration.”

  125. 125.

    Hal

    These folks should watch the film the road first. Charlize Theron’s characters decision to give up and walk out into the wasteland to die was the best decision made in that film.

  126. 126.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @steve: This is perfect, except I’m not sure Wolf Blitzer would recognize cosmic irony if it bit him in the ass.

  128. 128.

    Richard Fox

    I love the idea of this Survival Shelter. Does this mean the apes come though a small opening and overtake the survivalists, and they worship a divine bomb, and Charlton Heston gets to push the button and all that? That is SO cool!

  129. 129.

    Redshirt

    Late, damnit. But as an apocalypse connoisseur, I feel compelled to comment:

    What if this dude is right, and Lo! These wingnuts are the last people on Earth. Let’s say they number a 1000 and they’re not all 70+ years – or even 50+!

    Questions: How long would it take progressive politics to re-emerge? 10 years? A 100? Never?
    How about atheism?

    Since they are all no doubt providers and not takers, these brave heroes will quickly repopulate the Earth, and at last usher in the 1000 Year Wingularity.

  130. 130.

    Ruckus

    @Redshirt:
    Are there really that many people of child bearing age that would hide out in an RV, in a cave, in Kansas just waiting for doomsday with a 1000 other people most of whom smell like formaldehyde and Bengay?

    I didn’t think so.

  133. 133.

    Redshirt

    @Ruckus: For a while – remember, they’re builders and providers. They’ll make do. Eventually, they’ll emerge from below ground, once the surface has cooled enough. They’ll hiss and their reptilian skin will be well adapted to the blistering temperatures. Hail Sleestaks!

  134. 134.

    dance around in your bones

    My husband and I Iived in a cabover camper set on an old Dodge truck. It had everything we needed – a stove/oven, fridge. sink and chemical toilet (the kids in Mexico loved to sit on it!) two beds and lights, tons of storage space AND our dog could hang in the back and drip spit on our shoulders through the pass-through as we drived!

    It was like having a turtle shell on our backs wherever we went, our own little home. Feel like pulling over to the side of the road for a bowl of soup and and a sandwich? No prob! Pull into a rest area in the middle of the night to watch a meteor shower whilst resting on your warm truck hood? No worries!

    Those huge RV’s were too much trouble. I met too many of them in various RV parks (while we camped in the ‘dry’ areas). Get thee a small cab-over camper and get happy. Trust me.

  135. 135.

    Ruckus

    @dance around in your bones:
    As geg6 has pointed out, not everyone wants to live a more carefree lifestyle. Tis more the shame though, it can be loads of fun. It helps to have someone like minded along for the ride or at least someone who will put up with the issues because they, for some unknown reason actually like you.

  137. 137.

    chopper

    just wait until the first underground tornado comes through. a trailer park in Kansas? come on.

  138. 138.

    Allen

    Someone’s been reading Robert McCammon’s “Swan Song”, winner of the 1987 Bram Stoker award. The survivalists start out in a mountain.

  141. 141.

    Paul in KY

    If we got in an end-of-world nuclear exchange with someone (Russia, I guess), I’m sure they could spare one to land on that limestone mine.

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