Useful Hard Skills for the near future
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
Thanks everyone. My place is still there as far as I can tell from the webcams. The wind is kicking something awful. Palm trees in my front yard are leaned way over. Maybe this is going to be okay.
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
Really glad you're okay, and sorry you had to go through that.
I was all too happy to head to Ohio on Monday to help family through some (non-COVID) medical things, for some indefinite time. Didn't lose the compulsion to check disaster Twitter, though. Those winds were crazy. We were luckier up north this time.
I've never had the level of experience you have, but I know the oddly happy feeling after evacuating a home with a few things. It's a very complex and fluid emotional experience. It is interesting to me how some people respond by taking up the challenge to adapt, and others set to work on "getting back to normal" as if nothing has changed/is changing. I know someone rebuilding after losing it all to a fire in 2017, and am just shocked how the focus is all about decorating choices.
I was all too happy to head to Ohio on Monday to help family through some (non-COVID) medical things, for some indefinite time. Didn't lose the compulsion to check disaster Twitter, though. Those winds were crazy. We were luckier up north this time.
I've never had the level of experience you have, but I know the oddly happy feeling after evacuating a home with a few things. It's a very complex and fluid emotional experience. It is interesting to me how some people respond by taking up the challenge to adapt, and others set to work on "getting back to normal" as if nothing has changed/is changing. I know someone rebuilding after losing it all to a fire in 2017, and am just shocked how the focus is all about decorating choices.
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
Yeah I like the sheet metal tip.
@GTOO cyber security is a good one. Webcams rock. My life is back to normal after returning home to the Silverado fire zone. No homes were lost. Between all the ring doorbells and webcams we had a great view of the crisis remotely. 100,000 residents evacuated.
Webcam setup was priceless during the evacuation. My neighbors shared doorbell and webcam images and feeds so we could see if our places burned. Luckily we have underground telecom and utilities. Some of the really forward thinking neighbors put cams on poles and hoisted them over their chimneys. Then they shared out the feed and put the cam on auto pan. Priceless. For awhile,we didn’t know exactly what we were looking at (just burning hills in the dark) then somebody synced up Google Earth with the feed so we knew exactly what the cam was pointing at. Really basic Java on an Apache interface but useful. We could see the wind direction, flames and fire companies at some locations. At some points it kept me up but at others it let me sleep. I knew we were out of the woods long before Calfire announced it...all while 60 miles away. So some IT know how is definitely a useful skill. Good to have nerd neighbors.
@GTOO cyber security is a good one. Webcams rock. My life is back to normal after returning home to the Silverado fire zone. No homes were lost. Between all the ring doorbells and webcams we had a great view of the crisis remotely. 100,000 residents evacuated.
Webcam setup was priceless during the evacuation. My neighbors shared doorbell and webcam images and feeds so we could see if our places burned. Luckily we have underground telecom and utilities. Some of the really forward thinking neighbors put cams on poles and hoisted them over their chimneys. Then they shared out the feed and put the cam on auto pan. Priceless. For awhile,we didn’t know exactly what we were looking at (just burning hills in the dark) then somebody synced up Google Earth with the feed so we knew exactly what the cam was pointing at. Really basic Java on an Apache interface but useful. We could see the wind direction, flames and fire companies at some locations. At some points it kept me up but at others it let me sleep. I knew we were out of the woods long before Calfire announced it...all while 60 miles away. So some IT know how is definitely a useful skill. Good to have nerd neighbors.
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
Hindsight is 20/20. The tragedy of the Ukraine situation presents an opportunity to run through "what-if" scenarios and think about how individuals could have avoided the worst of war. Individuals, not nations. This is about individual or groups skills and preparations, not politics.
When you see a news article about something that could have been prepared, post it here. This is not judging those who were unprepared. Just learning from their experiences. For those reading this later..... Russia began the invasion two days ago.
- ATM withdraw limits of about $130 were imposed almost immediately and the central bank announced in person bank withdraw limits of about $3300. (Have cash on hand)
- Petrol station lines and long traffic jams leaving vulnerable areas. (Have fuel tanks ready and full in anticipation. Right now I have only the fuel in my car)
- Bomb Shelters Filling - same article as above- (Have blankets, food, chairs, and other items to make shelter comfortable).
- Neighboring countries Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Moldova are allowing refugees in but have not prepared for the influx. (Perhaps individuals could have cultivate contacts in the neighboring countries so that they have somewhere to go.)
- Reservists aged 18-60 are being conscripted. Many are not adequately prepared with training and equipment. (?)
Thoughts?
When you see a news article about something that could have been prepared, post it here. This is not judging those who were unprepared. Just learning from their experiences. For those reading this later..... Russia began the invasion two days ago.
- ATM withdraw limits of about $130 were imposed almost immediately and the central bank announced in person bank withdraw limits of about $3300. (Have cash on hand)
- Petrol station lines and long traffic jams leaving vulnerable areas. (Have fuel tanks ready and full in anticipation. Right now I have only the fuel in my car)
- Bomb Shelters Filling - same article as above- (Have blankets, food, chairs, and other items to make shelter comfortable).
- Neighboring countries Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Moldova are allowing refugees in but have not prepared for the influx. (Perhaps individuals could have cultivate contacts in the neighboring countries so that they have somewhere to go.)
- Reservists aged 18-60 are being conscripted. Many are not adequately prepared with training and equipment. (?)
Thoughts?
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
[Edit] All men in that demographic are been stopped at the borders (by Ukraine) and not allowed to leave, separated from their wives and children who are (for now) being allowed into Poland and Romania.
Others are fleeing into the vast ukranian countryside, where if they are lucky the might own a Dacha or something . This airline pilot has been vlogging about his escape: https://youtu.be/YLTPsk0v9JM
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Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
A major global breadbasket turning into a war zone. We'll see.
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
@Jacob, yes, I searched through the various prepper threads looking for this one specifically because I said that. Since then my opinion has changed. My basement bomb shelter is now stuffed with food and supplies.
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
Internet, cell phone and landline connections have become intermittent in Eastern Ukrainian cities with fighting. What are some options for long distance communication in such situations? Has anyone set up a plan for communicating with loved ones if all traditional communication systems go down?
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
Yeah that news was really scary tonight.
An RV like the ones you guys had would have been nice. There was at least a week of warning where an ERE Ukrainian could take a vacation in Romania for an undetermined time. Now that’s off the table of course.
Just made me want a smaller RV all ready to roll.
I always thought bugging out was a dangerous idea but this is a situation where one wanted to bug out when Russian forces started doing maneuvers on the border.
An RV like the ones you guys had would have been nice. There was at least a week of warning where an ERE Ukrainian could take a vacation in Romania for an undetermined time. Now that’s off the table of course.
Just made me want a smaller RV all ready to roll.
I always thought bugging out was a dangerous idea but this is a situation where one wanted to bug out when Russian forces started doing maneuvers on the border.
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
Bluetooth based communication apps may help with shorter distances (i.e. signals are relayed based upon who is near).
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
CB Radio is the traditional approach to long range comms if the grid is down. Requires some training, a cert/license, and some specialized equipment, I believe.
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
Before I quit my last job couple weeks ago, I worked (remotely) with a bunch of Ukrainians, mainly from Kiev. One of them has arranged, in first half of February, to travel to Warsaw to open a bank account in a Polish bank and (presumably) quickly transfer most funds there. Also, he kept most of his money in EUR and not local currency, but that's quite standard in Ukraine.
BTW I suspect that the company I worked for (San Francisco-based startup) is going to have MAJOR problems because of this war. Basically around half of their developers were Ukrainians. I'm not sure if these guys continue working right now...
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
The situation at the border could have lasted for months (it already did, it started in late summer last year). Even ERE people don't often have the option of just immediately leaving their life behind for an undeterminate number of months. Especially Ukrainians, who are mostly family oriented and don't see leaving behind their family (parents, at the very least) as an option.Sclass wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 12:49 amThere was at least a week of warning where an ERE Ukrainian could take a vacation in Romania for an undetermined time. Now that’s off the table of course.
I always thought bugging out was a dangerous idea but this is a situation where one wanted to bug out when Russian forces started doing maneuvers on the border.
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
And many Ukrainians are refusing to leave and will stay to fight or help.
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Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
Russia and Ukraine combined produce 14% of the global wheat harvest and 29% of wheat exports. Much the Ukrainian harvest goes to Africa and the Middle East. China have already lifted restrictions on Russian wheat imports, my guess is despotic states will be quite happy to import from Russia/Ukraine whilst the West imposes sanctions and sources elsewhere.
It's still good to have a full larder though.
Interestingly the west continued to source wheat and other commodities from the USSR thought the Cold War.
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Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
I meant that the decision to leave or stay likely goes beyond just practical considerations.ducknald_don wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 6:16 amIt's hard to say what is going on right now. The US has predicted Ukraine will fall within days, so far their predictions have been spot on.
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
That's interesting, but not immediately useful because:ducknald_don wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 6:15 amRussia and Ukraine combined produce 14% of the global wheat harvest and 29% of wheat exports.
1. "Russia and Ukraine combined" - Russia's exports should not be affected, so the combined number is not relevant.
2. It's wheat only (as opposed to all caloric output).
Re: Useful Hard Skills for the near future
Portugal is now offering visas.zbigi wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 5:28 amBefore I quit my last job couple weeks ago, I worked (remotely) with a bunch of Ukrainians, mainly from Kiev. One of them has arranged, in first half of February, to travel to Warsaw to open a bank account in a Polish bank and (presumably) quickly transfer most funds there. Also, he kept most of his money in EUR and not local currency, but that's quite standard in Ukraine.
https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/20 ... gees/65478
I wonder about those Ukrainians with dollar accounts in large international institutions. Was it possible to get an international dollar account prior to this crisis? Would they have been able to simply land in Portugal and start spending without restriction?As for Portugal, he reiterated that “the immediate granting of visas will be ensured for all those who are family, friends or acquaintances of residents in Portugal and who want to go live in Portugal”, having already “instructed in this regard” to the consular services and embassies “both in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries”.