Thought I would finally join this subreddit and give a run down of my experiences.
Last year, I bought a 2018 Prius with the intent of using it to go on road trips and live in it -- mostly because I have been trapped in the middle of frickin' nowhere my whole life and have never had a true adventure. I have never seen a mountain in-person prior to these trips. I also have a very comfortable IT job that easily facilitates me living in a car and working remotely without issues and with a lot of free time.
I went on two separate trips so far. The first one was about 2.5 months long and the second one was about 3.5 months long. I have traveled from Seattle, WA to Key West, Florida and put over 20,000 miles on the car in the process.
My first trip was comprised of South Dakota (Badlands, Black Hills), Yellowstone, Idaho (Coeur d'alene), Oregon (Forests, Crater Lake, Portland, beaches), Nor Cal (Redwood forests, beaches), Washington (Beaches, Seattle, Olympic National Park), and Montana(Glacier National Park).
And for my second trip, I went to Louisiana(New Orleans), Florida(where I spent most of the time and explored nearly everything), up the coast to Charleston, SC, and into the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains(Gatlinburg, Asheville).
Everything was amazing. I don't know if I have a favorite, but the beauty of Glacier National Park particularly strikes me. I also thoroughly enjoyed swimming in the crystal clear springs throughout Florida.
My setup is not particularly elaborate, but I didn't spare much of an expense:
- Tinted windows. - Front and rear dashcams with batteries for when the car is off. - Custom fit sun shades for all windows (Weathertech). - Weathertech floor liners. - A basic cooler. - Redundant IT setup so I don't get fired. (2 laptops, 3 chargers, a car charger, 2 hotspots) - A 4" thick full sized foam mattress pad and a sleeping bag, couple of blankets, couple of pillows. - Suitcase full of clothes, towels.- Bag with misc supplies (Laundry, food, trash bags, medicine, wet wipes). Wet wipes are great for cleaning yourself when you don't have access to a shower for some reason. - A Black Card membership to Planet Fitness (for showering mostly). It also makes a good excuse if you ever decide to sleep in a Planet Fitness parking lot (not my first choice). - Rain guards so that I can roll the windows down in bad weather.
And that is basically all I needed. I know people have much more elaborate DIY setups, but much of that I never found necessary or was interested in. I also ended up buying a USB fan that I never used because if I ever really needed heat regulation I would just use the AC.
One thing that I wish I had thought of beforehand is to get a Prius with a sunroof. It would have been nice to be able to stare up into the sky while I try to sleep, or to open it up and let some air in.
One thing I might consider in the future is a signal booster for my hotspots. These can be pricey, but worth it if your job depends on a reliable connection. Although I think I can get by without one by using apps that help you pinpoint the location of cell towers and by mooching off of hotel wifi access.
I took out a few credit cards prior to purchasing the car and supplies in order to score a bunch of bonus travel points (I had saved up most of the cost of the car prior to buying it). I used the Plastiq service in order to use car payments towards the qualifying payments required for the credit card bonuses. The fee they charged was definitely worth it for the points I accrued.
So I set out on the road with a boat load of free points I had thought I would need for hotels here and there. It's a good idea if you like to go to them from time to time. During my first trip I went to hotels twice a week (mostly to work). I eventually realized that I could work entirely out of my car without issues and without much discomfort, and during my second trip I only booked a hotel a couple times. As I write this, I still have around half of my points...
It's been the time of my life. I would do it full time if I didn't have other obligations (my cat, mostly, who waited patiently at home).
As a result of these trips, I have decided to move to the west coast permanently, which means I have another trip coming up soon. On my next trip I plan on going through Colorado, maybe stop at the Grand Canyon, and make my way through southern/central California.
Now I'll just focus on what it was like living in the Prius and what my preferences are when I do it rather than the trips themselves. If anyone has any questions about anything, feel free to ask.
I've only been explicitly shoed away twice, and one time a security guard caught my attention but allowed me to continue what I was doing. The first time I was shoed away, I was at a casino parking lot. I have stayed at many casino parking lots, and most of them never bothered me, but this one in particular had saw me put up my sun shields (from the outside) and was determined to kick me out. Since then, I started putting my sun shields on only from within the car so that people are less likely to notice, and I think it has helped.
The second time is when I was staying in Key West, Florida. Key West thinks they have a problem with people living in their car, so the locals don't take kindly to people camping in their cars and are extra vigilant about it. No one actually explicitly shoed me away, but someone dinged my car with a bell and yelled "No overnight parking" generally for the entire parking lot, which was enough to scare me away. They may not have known I was sleeping in my car.
And the time when the security guard approached me, I was sleeping in a large vacant lot two nights in a row. The first night went fine, and the second night alerted them more that something was going on and caused them to approach me. But, they thought I was homeless and destitute or something, and they let me stay there because they pitied me, but they told me to leave first thing in the morning.
My location of choice? Mid-sized hotel parking lots. I did this almost exclusively on my second trip. Holiday Inns, Courtyard by Marriots, etc. No one who worked at any hotel ever bothered me, tow away zone signs be damned. If I park in the right location, I get free wifi access, which is great for work. That was my primary motivation. Sometimes people staying at the hotel would catch on to someone being inside of the car and gossip about it such that I could hear them, but no one ever really bothered me.
Other than hotels, free camp sites are nice. (freecampsites.net) Sometimes you can get really lucky and find an abandoned camp site with a full bathroom and shower and electricity next to a scenic lake or something like that.
Other places I stayed at that I would recommend: Walmart parking lots (in good neighborhoods), 24 hour gym parking lots, Cracker Barrels, Cabelas, the aforementioned casino parking lots.
Side streets. I am not really a fan of side streets, but I think it depends on the neighborhood. It's a bit paradoxical because these might be locations where it's actually legal to park and stay overnight, but the people who live in the house you park next to can get suspicious of you. I would much rather deal with someone who works at a hotel or as a security guard and is underpaid than with a curious and possibly grumpy homeowner.
The first night I ever slept in my car, I stopped at a small town in South Dakota where I stood out like a sore thumb, and every time I would try to find a parking spot on a side street, someone would come out of their house and approach me. They would confuse me with someone they knew, or they would just look at me suspiciously. Everyone in a small town in the middle of nowhere knows everyone, and they know that you do not belong there. I ended up sleeping in a car dealership out of desperation and with someone probably watching me the entire time.
Rest stops. I never use a rest stop. They do not seem safe to me, because everyone knows that there are sleeping travelers there, and thus predators can go to these places looking for people to victimize. It defeats the purpose of stealth. The safest thing to me is to draw minimum suspicion that someone is even trying to sleep in their car. But as I never used them, I don't have any real world experience. The stories of people being attacked at them was enough to keep me away from them.
PEE JUGS: An art form. I don't know how female dwellers live without pee jugs. It must be difficult. I imagine getting up to pee a bunch would break stealth. It's bad enough that you're more vulnerable as a female to begin with. But as a male dweller, you will be presented with a variety of options. Gatorade bottles might seem like a good idea, being that they have a wide top and can store a decent amount. And while you may be able to pee in a Gatorade bottle here and there, you may underestimate how much you have to pee and how much space you actually have. Really, you want at least a gallon jug, and you want something with a nice tight screw cap and probably a firm handle. Large bottles of tea also work well. The last thing you want is to spill pee. Take this sage advice and do not learn the hard way. But also be sure to take advantage of the majestic pee jug if you are privileged to do so.
And never go to bed when you have to poo and think you can hold it in. It sucks. You rarely ever do this when you live in a house and you may not appreciate how uncomfortable and how bad of an idea this is until you try it. No, I did not poo the bed, for the record.
Anyway, that about wraps up everything I have to say for now. I will answer any questions. I love Prius Dwelling. It's been the time of my life. I want to continue doing it on and off for the rest of my life. These kinds of long trips are simply not financially possible to do if you stay at hotels unless you are loaded. I should probably write a tl;dr.
Edit: Added Rain Guards to my setup list.

Winter had sucked all the color out of the world.
The prairie in the glory of midsummer had been a surge of green, summer winds sending pulses through the tall grass, causing it to wave like an underwater kelp forest in a strong current. Now, however, it had relinquished its blooming majesty, its former radiance dulled to straw the color of a deerhide. The flowerheads were stripped of their colorful identities, appearing like sepia photographs of themselves; the ghosts of summer past. The sweetclover, which had extended from one horizon to the other back in June, covering the prairie in a blanket of gold, was now skeletonized, its broken-off stems rolling like tumbleweeds in the winter gales.
Trevor was over it. Another South Dakota winter, another four months until the snows would cease and the ice would melt in the creek. In March and April, the spring blizzards would bury the world and on the subsequent sunny days, the combination of blue sky and white land would be startling, like finding oneself living in the center of a bicolored flag.
But for now, a capricious midwinter thaw had left snowdrifts only in the prairie draws, on the north-facing ridges, in the shadows of the ponderosas that speckled the hills. And around the trailer, mud. In a few nights, a deep freeze would turn the sides of the tire ruts into knife edges, testing the suspension of any vehicle that took the approach too fast. Still, that was better than the loamy mud, which could imprison even a 4x4 until freezing cold or drying winds finally freed it.
The view from the front porch could be gorgeous. Back in July, when the church group from Virginia had constructed a wheelchair ramp for the trailer, the evening sun had set the prairie on fire, its light reflected by a thunderstorm hanging in the sky as if by a puppeteer’s strings. “God almighty,” the youth pastor had exclaimed. But now, grays and browns mingled in a decidedly drab palette. Over at the little bird feeder, the goldfinches were no longer yellow-and-black exclamation points, but had acquiesced to dullness, dressed for a time of year when vibrant color seemed to be outlawed by some unseen authority.
Trevor stared at the expanse of mud that spooled out from in front of the trailer and unwound into a ribbon that led over the hill toward the old sundance ground and, eventually, the paved road. He wondered if he would get out today. Always a calculation this time of year. Driving on the muddy channel that was his approach was out of the question; he would set a course across the grass, which would provide enough barrier to keep his tires from sinking in again. Two-tracks radiating out onto the prairie showed how many times he and his family had taken this course of action since the last snow.
It felt ironic that their approach took them by far the long way around – heading north to go south; harder than it needed to be, like so much of life around here. But the way south was blocked by Roanhorse Creek. This wasn’t all bad; the creek provided nice wading in the summer and water for the horses for most of the year. It also gave rise to the only trees on the property, although the cottonwoods whose leaves whispered in the summer breezes now stood dumb and impassive, and resembled skeletal wraiths at nighttime.
A horse would make it, of course. He could saddle up the buckskin, ride cross-country and be in town in twenty minutes. But that would be silly…he snorted at the ludicrousness of this thought. First of all, he had to go way beyond town today. And even if he were just going to his old job at the tribal building, was he supposed to just hitch it up outside for the day? Tie its reins to one of the smokers’ benches by the entrance? What was this, 1895? No, better not to risk TȟatéZi getting stolen or having some gang sign spraypainted on it or some shit. Besides, he needed to pull into his job interview looking halfway decent, not spattered with mud and smelling like horse sweat.
Trevor regarded his truck, sitting smack in the middle of the sloppy mess. Fuck, he thought.
Still, he didn’t really have a choice today. No job interview, no job. No job, no funds. Another calculation, but this one was straightforward. He went back into the trailer and made his way to his bedroom in the back, passing his brothers in the living room. One was sleeping on the couch and the other was crashed out in the recliner, oblivious to the flickering hearth of the muted TV. Let ‘em sleep today, Trevor thought.
In the bedroom, he stepped across piles of clothes – some clean, some dirty – and over the miscellany of his life; a pile of old DVDs, a defunct gaming console, a canister of Bugler and squares of broadcloth for the tobacco ties he was supposed to make for ceremony, a scattering of empty Mountain Dew cans, a 24-pack of ramen, a basketball.
He hunted around in his closet for the dressy clothes that he knew were there. He had worn them once, on the day of his high school graduation, three years before. And there they were; a purple button-down shirt, a solid black tie, and black chinos. Further rummaging found him a pair of brown loafers and a tan braided belt. He would look sharp for this interview – couldn’t hurt.
Trevor took a quick shower. The hot water always took forever to come and once it did, didn’t last long. He got dressed hurriedly, glad the tie that had come as a set with the shirt was a clip-on, and ran a comb through his hair. It wasn’t long enough to do much with other than backcomb it a little with some hair gel, but he figured that looked better than not. He considered putting in big stud earrings to look extra fly, but decided again it; might not be the right look for the occasion.
Now fully dressed and ready, Trevor took stock of his appearance. His summer tan was long gone and his skin was as pale as the white kids he had met during his one semester of college. The same change of season that had desaturated the prairie and garbed the birds in dull colors had undone all those days spent out in the badlands sun – working with the horses, swimming at the dam, helping keep fire at sundance. Too many French fur traders in his lineage. He recalled the book that his eighth grade teacher had assigned them – Part-time Indian or something – and thought, Yup, that’s me. Indian in the summer and wašiču in the winter, like changing plumage.
Trevor envied his brothers their melanin. He had learned that word in one of his college classes and now thought of it nearly every day. Travis was a rich brown complexion even in the dark days of midwinter. Trenton was in between the two but had jet-black Lakota hair and definitely looked “ethnic,” enough to be followed around stores in the border towns. Trevor knew it was his privilege to be exempt from such treatment, but it bugged him nonetheless. He hadn’t asked to be light-skinned. His brothers called him žiží – a reference to his tawny hair. They had gotten into scraps over this, and Trevor even bloodied Travis’ nose in one such altercation. Once one of them had even called Trevor a “half-breed” but Trevor retorted with “Fuck you, boy, you got the same blood as me. Fuckin’ dumbass.” This seemed to put the issue to rest.
Trevor’s brief stint at college had been at an out-of-state school, which now struck him as an ill-advised decision. At least South Dakotans had some experience with Natives. Even the East River kids had at least crossed paths with one at some point, and didn’t think of Indians as something from the pages of a dime novel. Trevor was the first Native in many years – maybe ever – to attend the small-town liberal arts college in a neighboring state. He thought the fact that the college was reasonably selective would mean that the students were smart enough not to ask dumb questions. He was wrong.
The queries were predictable enough, clichéd even; Are you really Indian? (Yes) Do you speak your language? (No) Did you get in because you’re Indian? (Who knows? I’m pretty smart and got good grades.) Does the college have admissions quotas for Indians? (If it did, you’d think more would go here.) What’s it like on the reservation? (I don’t know; different.) Do you prefer “Native American”? (I find the question annoying, to be honest.) Do you like Leslie Marmon Silko? (Who?) Have you seen Dances with Wolves? (Some of it.) Do you know a guy from Pine Ridge named Verdell? He used to work with my dad. (Maybe) His last name was something Horse. Running Horse? (No)
Fielding these questions was exhausting and added another layer of weariness and alienation to his college experience.
He found himself having to answer such inquiries from his roommate, classmates, professors, his R.A…Sometimes they were cloaked in well-meaning concern (I bet you get tired of all these questions, huh?) but they were always there. Most evenings, Trevor would retreat to his room and call his mom. His roommate, Skyler, a cross-country runner who was handsome in an unspectacular way and who monitored his water intake religiously, was hardly ever around. He seemed to have no trouble making friends in college and reveled in the social opportunities around him.
In his phone calls back home, Trevor found himself experiencing a homesickness that inhabited the pit of his stomach like a hunger pang. He had never been gone from home for that long. Really, his only trip away had been the summer before his senior year, to a weeklong STEM camp for Native kids that one of the state colleges had put on. But that had been with a half dozen other students from his high school. Here he was alone.
The subjects of their conversations would leave Trevor feeling a gravitational pull toward home: Trenton got into a fight at school and got suspended. Travis is drinking again. We had sweat for your auntie because they have to amputate her leg after all. Those dogs were back again. Everett hit $200 at the casino on Tuesday night but of course he put it all back in. They’re having a basketball tournament for that boy who got paralyzed in that wreck. Our hot water heater went out but uncle came and fixed it. They still haven’t found that Two Arrows girl that went missing. Travis wants to go up on the hill this spring – maybe that will get him to quit drinking.
Good news, bad news, mundane news…The latter tugged at him the most. Like many who grew up on Pine Ridge, he had a love-hate relationship with the reservation. It was the home of his people after all, and could be so beautiful (“God’s country,” as it was called by even those who had no time for the white man’s God). But the hardships, the tragedies, the death…it all wore away at your spirit, hardened you. Still, the news of day-to-day life going on in his absence; a school powwow, a bingo tournament, tribal council drama, rumors of a Dairy Queen opening. It made him miss home in an ineffable way.
The last vestige of his indecision evaporated after a particular conversation in the lounge of his dorm. He had been sitting on a beanbag chair, discussing random topics with two friends (at least, he considered them friends, in some ill-defined adolescent way). They had all left a dull party that hadn’t livened up even after a couple of drinks, but still felt heady and obligated to prolong the night a little longer. So, they were shooting the shit, in a garishly-lit common space that smelled of burnt popcorn, and Trevor was feeling rather collegiate. An off-campus party, late-night conversation; weren’t these the trappings of university life that he had seen in teen movies, if a much more prosaic version?
Kayleigh, tipsy off Jäger bombs, started the chain of events that would unravel his college experience with a simple, but pointed question: “How Indian are you, anyway?”
Colton snorted at this comment. “Kay, you can’t just ask that!” But he was clearly more amused than disapproving.
“You mean like my blood quantum or what?” Trevor asked.
“Is that what you guys call it?” said Kay, now playing the innocent party. “I just mean, like, you say you’re Indian, I mean like I know you are, like, I know you are on paper…” The alcohol was causing her to trip over her words but she plowed on. “I mean like, okay, if I were to like, run into you on the street…” Kay was now gesturing expansively, as if the meaning of what she was saying wasn’t explicit from words alone. “Like, I wouldn’t be like, ‘Damn, look at that Indian,’ right? I’d just assume you were a white guy. I mean you know what I mean? Ugh, I’m not making sense.”
She was making perfect sense. Colton looked embarrassed, and for a second, Trevor thought he might shut Kay down. But instead, his inhibition similarly worn down by a few shots of German 70-proof, he followed suit. “I think what Kay’s drunk ass is trying to say is, like, your ancestors are Indians, right, like in the history books. Like Geronimo or whatever. But do you consider yourself one of them? Or are you, like, their descendant?”
Trevor could feel the ball of rage growing within him, a sea urchin radiating spikes in his gut. Stop talking, he thought. Just stop talking.
Colton continued, heedlessly. “Okay, so like I’m Irish but I’m not like Irish Irish, like a leprechaun or some shit. Like my ancestors…”
Trevor stood up, his fists balled. He was now stone-cold sober but his anger was its own intoxicant. “It’s none of your fucking business. It’s none of your business what the fuck I am!” He was shouting; he couldn’t help it. He picked up a half-empty can of PBR and threw it at the wall, slamming the door to the lounge on his way out. The sudsy contents of the can leaked onto the ugly orange dorm carpet, as Kayleigh and Colton sat in stunned silence.
“Jesus,” said Colton finally. “Just trying to ask an honest question.”
After that, Trevor had holed up in his room for a few days, skipping classes and avoiding other students. When he told his mom he was dropping out, she hardly sounded surprised. He knew she would be glad to have him back home; the prodigal son returning. Trevor, the one who had his shit together, who had gone to a STEM camp and was almost salutatorian. He knew she thought that once he got back, he could do what she couldn’t; get Travis on a better path, bring another income to the household, fix what needed to be fixed around the trailer, shoot at the stray dogs when they came around. It would all fall to him. His failure was their blessing; they would lean on him as long as he could stand.
So here we fucking go, he now thought, patting his gel-stiffened hair and giving himself one last hazel-eyed glance in the mirror. Gotta get that bread. His brief stint at the tribal building hadn’t panned out. He was a good worker but wet weather made his road too sloppy to get out easily. Too many latenesses had translated into a pink slip. “Shit man we all got bad roads. Gotta leave earlier,” his boss had said.
So, lesson learned, he was giving himself extra time getting ready for this interview. Really, the lady had just told him to come by “around mid-morning,” so he’d probably be okay. The job was off-rez, down at the county livestock auction and sale barn in one of the closest border towns, “white towns,” as Ridgers called it. It was mostly going to be paperwork – inventory and itemizing and that kind of shit – but it was decent pay and Trevor hoped that he could transition over to working with the animals before long. On most days, he preferred their company to dumbass people.
Grabbing his bag, Trevor stuck the loafers inside with his other miscellany. He would need to wear his cowboy boots across the muddy expanse between the bottom step of the porch and the door to his Blazer so he jammed his feet into them. Outside, he walked gingerly so as not to stain his black slacks with muck. Once in the driver’s seat, he figured he would leave the boots on for the drive, since they were already smearing mud on the floor liner, and in case he got stuck and needed to get out. Trevor knew that the people who worked at the sale barn were as countrified as he was and wouldn’t judge muddy boots under most circumstances, but he also knew that being from Pine Ridge meant he had to put his best foot forward, literally in this case.
Trevor fired up the Blazer, put it in four low, and gunned it. His tires found grip and he jerked along, slimy divots of earth spattering his windows and roof like hail. His windshield wipers left a pasty smear that obscured much of his view, but he practically knew the way by feel. As soon as he could, he bumped up onto the grass, gopher holes and clumps of prairie bluestem jolting his ride, testing what was left of his suspension. When he finally hit the pavement, the smoothness was startling as it always was, like a TV being suddenly muted, like silence after a door slamming.
He cruised through town, passing the gas station, the other gas station, the commod building, the quonset hut, the old BIA headquarters…and turned south into Nebraska. He tried to ignore the persistent squeal under the hood that had gotten worse lately. The overcast sky reflected the dullness of the land – as below, so above – and Trevor alternated between zoning out and counting hawks on telephone poles. A handful of miles south of the border, the vehicle gave a jolt and Trevor felt a temporary loss of control. He hit the brakes and steered toward the shoulder, but the Blazer was suddenly steering like an army tank. Fuck, he whispered.
Once he wrestled Blazer off the road, Trevor got out and popped the hood. He already knew what he would find under the rising steam. “Fucking serpentine belt,” he hissed to the universe. Trevor was good with cars but he didn’t have the tools for this fix. Luckily, he thought, out here in the country, somebody who did would be by soon. Lots of Natives on this road, maybe even a cousin would happen by who could at least give him a ride to town. Trevor thought of calling his dad’s brother Everett on his cell, but figured he’d give it a bit. He hated the thought of owing Uncle Ev anything.
Sure enough, in a few minutes, a gunmetal gray truck passed by slowly, hit a u-turn, and pulled up behind him. Trevor felt a twinge of envy over this late-model Dodge Ram MegaCab with duallies. It had county plates on it, so the cowboy-hatted driver was a local guy, and as he got out, his Carhartt overalls and mud-caked boots identified him as a rancher.
“Trouble?” MegaCab asked, giving Trevor an easy smile.
“Serpentine belt busted,” said Trevor, unconsciously smoothing out his rez accent in favor of a more neutral affectation. Code-switching – another term he had learned at college (by the professor who asked him if he prefers “Native American”).
“No shit, huh?” MegaCab considered this information. “I got nothing for that but I could give you a ride somewhere. You call anyone? Someone coming after you?”
“No,” said Trevor. “I’m trying to get down to the sale barn for a job interview.”
MegaCab looked at Trevor as if for the first time. “Oh ok so that’s why you’re all fancied up. Well, hop in if you don’t mind leaving it here.”
Trevor considered this. He was off the rez so there was less of a chance that the Blazer would end up with busted windows or slashed tires. And he was eager to get his interview over and done with.
Before he could answer, MegaCab added “I have to stop in Whiteclay first but then I’ll take you down.”
This was only a few miles out of the way so Trevor assented and climbed into the rancher’s idling behemoth. It still retained some new-truck smell, mixed with a tinge of manure and rich earth. Really, it was almost luxurious.
MegaCab flipped a u-ey again and headed back north toward Whiteclay. Formerly notorious for copious alcohol sales to people from the dry reservation whose border it sat on, Whiteclay’s package stores had been shuttered after the state had revoked their liquor licenses following years of protests over their depredatory business model. Now, it was just a town of a couple small stores and fewer than a dozen permanent residents, its streets empty of vagrants, its ghosts banished.
“So, you from Hot Springs?”
Trevor momentarily wondered where this question had come from, and then remembered that he had 27-plates on the Blazer – Fall River County, a relic of when he bought the car from a white lady over there. He had kept the off-county registration because the plates were far less likely to get you pulled over off-rez than the infamous 65s of Oglala Lakota County.
MegaCab continued without waiting for an answer. “I used to go up to Hot Springs a lot when my dad was in the V.A. hospital up there. Nice town.”
“Yup, it’s pretty nice,” said Trevor, wondering if he would have to sustain this small talk the whole way.
Luckily, MegaCab took it from there, reminiscing about his high school football team dealing Hot Springs a particularly lopsided loss, and then they were at Whiteclay. Trevor played around on his phone while his driver of the moment went into the little grocery store. He looked up his old roommate Skyler on Facebook (why, he didn’t know; certainly not to friend him) and then Googled “Pine Ridge South Dakota Dairy Queen” just to see if there was any truth to that rumor.
MegaCab returned with some mail – Trevor had forgotten that there was a little post office in there – and they turned south toward Rushville.
Two miles and five hawks-on-telephone-poles into their trip, MegaCab got chatty again:
“I still can’t believe that the state revoked the liquor licenses. They had no legal right to do that of course, but just like everyone else these days, they bowed to the pressure from liberal special interest groups. Those store owners – my brother was one of them – followed the damn law to a T but still got their rights taken away. They’re the real victims in all of this.”
Trevor, whose father was found dead in Whiteclay when Trevor was ten years old, didn’t answer.
“You know it’s just going to push the problem down the road. These Indians are gonna get their liquor one way or another. You guys must see that all the time up in Hot Springs.”
These Indians. You guys. Trevor suddenly recognized MegaCab’s presumption, and wondered when if he should correct it.
“If they wanted to buy millions of cans of beer in Whiteclay every year and drink themselves to death, shit, I say let ‘em. It’s a free country, right? Those AIM types are always going on about Native rights and shit, y’know? Well shit, you have the right to drink and die if you want. Not saying that I want that for those people or anything, but the nanny state can’t be protecting everyone from problems of their own making.”
Trevor, whose brother had first gotten jailed for drunk and disorderly at age 14, two years after their father died, said nothing.
MegaCab continued to rhapsodize about “the Indians” and their problems, adopting the tone of an expert, one who knew all about them. Trevor felt the blood rise to his face. Some coloration at least, he thought darkly. In the pit of his stomach, the sea urchin had returned to stab at his insides. What must it be like, he wondered, to live a life in which people aren’t constantly telling you who you are, naming your characteristics like symptoms, trying to trap you like a spirit in a photograph?
The Blazer came in sight on the shoulder ahead. “Can you let me out at my ride?” Trevor asked, his voice hardly recognizable to his own ear, like hearing himself talk underwater.
“Sure, you need to grab something out of it?” said MegaCab, reluctantly pausing his diatribe.
“No it’s okay,” replied Trevor, “I’m gonna call someone to come help me fix this after all.” He fiddled with his phone as if to underscore this intention.
“Well, if you’re sure,” said MegaCab. “And hey,” he added as Trevor stepped down onto the running board. “You be careful around here. One of these rezzers might see you here all by yourself and try to mess you or your car up. And watch out for drunk drivers. You just never know with these Indians.” MegaCab gave a serious nod to accentuate this show of concern. Then he wished Trevor luck and drove off.
Trevor watched the truck recede into the distance until it was merely a gray speck between the monochrome earth and the steely sky. He sat down in the cold front seat of the Blazer and looked into the rearview mirror. Hazel eyes stared back at him under a pale forehead. Fuck it, he thought; people are dumbasses. Let ‘em believe what they want; that he was from Hot Springs, that could be was related to that Apache, Geronimo, that he was only Indian on paper. Trevor saw what they didn’t; the hidden depths beneath the surface, and in their faces, in the spaces between their words, their ignorance displayed like a tattoo.
In another minute or two, he would call Uncle Ev for a ride. In another hour or two, he would be offered a job at the sale barn that would bring another income into his household (and buy him a new serpentine belt). In another day or two, he would finally finish the tobacco ties for ceremony, at which he would pray for Travis’ sobriety and his auntie’s diabetes. In another month or two, the lengthening of the days would be unmistakable.
Spring would come as it always had, first heralded by a single meadowlark piercing the predawn silence with his song. This would be followed by a green sprig on the prairie, pushing up, perhaps, through snow. Then a cluster of pasqueflowers appearing suddenly on a hillside, a skein of geese overhead, sheet lightning on the horizon. Small miracles, one after another. Finally, color would surge back into the world like paint scintillating on a canvas, causing goldfinches to glow like stars and evening thunderheads to stand like towering fires.
The brilliant Dakota sunlight would stoke the melanin in Trevor’s skin, and nobody would mistake who he was. He would go up on the hill for two days and nights with Travis that spring, and Trenton would keep fire for them. He would pray for the coming year, for the survival of his people, for enough blessings to outweigh the hardships. And there, among a sea of undulating green, facing the crimson blaze of sunrise, he would again know himself and find the strength to carry on, in the face of all the peculiar indignities of this world.

So we know that the American response to COVID-19 has been bad. Competing for the Darwin awards bad. The only first world countries that have a higher per-capita infection rate are Spain, Belgium and Iceland, all of which have a significantly fewer new cases per day today compared to their peak infection rate.
https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6 (Click on the countries to the left to see how many new cases are reported compared to the peak)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/coronavirus-maps.html (Change view to per capita cases)
Evidence of the continued spread in the USA can be seen in the rising of cases outside of NY.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/05/us/coronavirus-deaths-cases-united-states.html
This also takes into account the testing rate, since new deaths are dropping in NY, yet the rest of the countries total deaths remains nearly constant.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/new-york-coronavirus-cases.html (scroll down to reported deaths).
vs
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html (scroll down to reported deaths).
Since there is a lag in data, about 1-2 weeks for new detected cases and 4 weeks for deaths, it means that the non-NY social distancing measures between ~4/10-4/24 were insufficient to control the spread of the virus. With the loosening of state restrictions, it means the R0 number today will be higher than it was in the two weeks of 4/10-4/24, meaning there will be more new infections per day outside of NYC in 1-2 weeks then there are today.
So, what does this mean? The US may "flatten" the curve, but not control the spread of the virus. In other words, the virus will continue to spread for the foreseeable future in an uncontrolled fashion (with an R0 value very close to 1 meaning daily new cases/death counts remain mostly the same). That doesn't necessarily mean there will be another spike in infections (although that is possible).
Why is this? Well, here are the key differences between the USA and (most) other first world countries

1. Lack national contact tracing program
2. Insufficient testing - especially for rural communities
3. Insufficient PPE for hospitals and essential workers
4. Lack of national quarantine plan
5. A desire by a minority (~5-10% of the population - anti-vaxxers and the like) to ignore most safety recommendations (masks, no visiting family, etc) - and no repercussions if safety recommendations are ignored
6. Reopening Super-spreader locations (Churches, factories, and salons) where spread can continue even with
7. A refusal by top leadership (Trump Administration) to coordinate an international response - Reduces the ability of countries to coordinate responses such as short term travel bans to hotspots, share PPE, share ventilators, share information, etc.
8. A refusal of top leadership (Trump Administration) to coordinate an national response - Reduces state-by-state differences and leverages the best scientists to create a baseline plan for the country.
9. Growing partisanship about the response creating a lack of a response (mostly noticeable in mask wearing). This increases the spread as many anti-vaxxer types see wearing a mask/social distancing as a "liberal" issue rather than a "national" issue, meaning the virus spreads more.

There are a lot of big economies (France, Germany, China, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Australia, Switzerland, Spain, Netherlands, and Turkey) that have reduced the number of new infections to controllable levels.
https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6 (Click on the country in the left pane and click on the daily cases in the bottom right window).
Since the new infection rate is low, that means if they determine a person is infected, they can perform contact tracing on that person, determine who they were in close contact with, and then quarantine everybody who they were in close contact with. This can reduce the number of new infections by a significant amount (I'm guessing reducing the likelihood of another infection by 75% - bringing the R0 value down significantly below 1) without social distancing efforts. There is no indication that the US will have any of this type of capability for at least 3 months. Probably closer to 6. The issue being a lack of national leadership. States may implement this, but many slow states such as Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Kansas may not have the resources or political will to get something like this going quickly.
Okay, so what does all this mean for businesses and stocks and investments.
If you live in one of these countries where new infection rate are low with contact tracing, you are free to go out and spend money without worrying about getting infected. Higher confidence = higher spending. Additionally, these countries are going to be looking to fully re-open their economies (football games, bars, casinos, etc). With that, they'll be stuck between two options. One, keep their economy open to the US and risk a new outbreak (and thus the economic hit) or close their economy to the US and take the economic hit until the US gets the virus under control. Essentially, a travel ban of people traveling from the US (and other countries that don't have the virus under control - Russia, Canada, UK, etc in that list) could be possible.
Another affect of this, which is more important for us, if the US has an uncontrolled spread of the virus, that means factories will be shut down at random (as an outbreak occurs in a factory) in the US for a period of 3-6 months where other country's factories are humming along. With a reduced demand rate, that creates a huge competitive advantage for other countries to provide reliable supply. That means that buyers of products will look for alternative supplies outside of US. This means that big businesses such as GM, BA, F, GE, etc lose long-term market share to competitors in other countries. This can hit other places such as entertainment where no new US movies are produced, and no US sports are produced.
To me, this points to not just a slow L shaped recovery. It means that the GDP of the USA will be lower in 2021-22 than it was in 2019. Other countries (Japan, China, South Korea) could see a full recovery by the beginning of 2021.
Tell me I'm wrong. I really want to know if I'm completely off base here.

Unlike my previous post, this post will be for original cities rather than renamed ones. These can be more fantastical than the real world, too, operated on superhero comic rules. Some people are born with superpowers. Magic and supernatural creatures are real, albeit kept secret from the mundane world. Aliens occasionally invade, advanced technology can be found in many mad scientist labs, but the world as a whole is still recognizable as our own.

1. Platinum City - A sparkling American east coast city, it's skyline covered in glass skyscrapers with monorails arcing between important buildings, this is one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world. It was always home to the prestigious Argent University of Science, but the city truly grew after a normally horrible accident. Research into the metahuman gene in the late 70s went wrong and polluted the soil and water in the area. Nearly 1 in 4 people born in the city are born with the metahuman gene. People flocked here hoping to give their future generations a better life. By the 90s, many tweens began manifesting powers and the city practically became a warzone. It was here that the concept of superheroes and supervillains became widespread. Those who didn't go mad with power found themselves using their powers to improve the city in the 2000s, leading it to the grand state it's in now.
   
2. St. Vladimir - This Minnesotan city and the surrounding suburbs are more important to the world than most realize. While the mundane world knows of the powerful Russian mafia which seems to control the area, few know that these mafiosos are monster hunters. The city is silently in a feud between the hunters, vampires, and the black magic practitioners who flock to the city. Wendigos and ghouls lurk through the alleyways while vampires control many large businesses. The only reason the monsters remain is because of the structure that has formed, allowing most to obtain the necessary blood, flesh, and (in the warlocks' case) ritual components required for them to stave off death/starvation/their demonic masters.
   
3. The Burg - a floating city composed of powerless folks trying to get away from the metahumans, the people there call it the last bastion of humanity if the "superfreaks" ever decide to destroy everything. This city floats around near the Arctic circle and is mostly a lashed together boat city. (u/seriousd6)
   
4. Hana - well hidden desert city where the residents (powered and not) all live in harmony under a caring leader who is committed to stop the research into metahuman genetics, and believes that researchers in this field are performing harmful experiments on the people to further their ends. (u/seriousd6)
   
5. The Cap - an extremely mechanical city (think steampunk) where a niche metahuman group has decided to band together, this has become a haven for all those with heat-related powers. The price for living is to help run the boilers that power the city, the reward is community and safety in numbers. (Bonus points if it is on or near a volcano) (u/seriousd6)
   
6. Willowville- A small USA southern town. In the 1930s a small meteorite crashed and it’s strange ore contaminated the land and water. Generations later children are being born with powers, but the town leaders are doing al they can to keep it secret. (u/ravi95035)
   
7. Peninsula City - west coast USA city founded by three supers in the late 1800s that now serves as a sanctuary city for supers. (u/ravi95035)
   
8. Nairos - Northern African city protected by the Warriors of Clay (sentient clay golems), a safe haven for supers in that global area. (u/ravi95035)
   
9. Salem's Burrow, Kansas- An unassuming farm town in the middle of no where. Most of the roads are dirt with a spartan few asphalt roads. Corn fields as far as the eye can see with an occasional old house or a different crop breaking the rows for a moment before more corn fields. In reality, it hides a troll market with tunnels from every basement and farm house (basically a market that sells everything from legitimate merchandise to slaves to counterfeit goods to black magic rituals schematics). All the farmers are the same entity that can manifest in various forms perfectly who been serving fey folks, supers, humans, and freaks as a cover for the eyes of various "unaligned" and hostile groups though only the most ancient beings know this secret. (u/Th3R3493r)
   
10. The Okínihaŋ Reservation: It is a series of reservation Native American Reservation in South and North Dakota. Before the Government and pioneers came, the tribes stretched over the Great Plains. Now on the surface, it is the remnants of various tribes who run an empire of casinos and try to keep their traditions alive. Due to their legal system being different and the state of world, they operate a covert mercenary corps comprised of various "monsters" as most would call them from Lechuza (owl-women who specialized in nighttime recon and target extractions), Skin walkers (various roles from combat to subterfuge), Teihiihan and Nimerigar (supposedly dead formerly cannibalistic races of dwarf-like operators who are now engineering and forensic experts), Kushtaka (otter-men who aid forces in stealth maritime offensives), and various others including a few "Gods from the Time the Earth was new". They cover it up with actors and legitimate conspiracy theorist on the fringes constantly given every direction but the right ones. (u/Th3R3493r)
    
11. !!! (pronounced by throwing your hands up and stomping loudly) or Paralite- It is an alien city nowadays. Not like tourist-trap towns, the aliens are there. !!! was secretly founded in 1956 by ⏃⌰⟊⍜⊑⋏ ⋔⏃⋏⌇⍜⋏ (in English, Al'John Manson) a "supposedly" exiled prince of scavenger civilization who brought a ⟟⌇☌⏃⌰⏃⋏⏁⟟⏃⋏ (Isgalantian) warship to the back yard of a doomsday prepper by the name of Jonathon Manson who became his advisor after this superpower of universal translation was found out accident as he cussed the alien warship out in fluent ☊⍜⋔⋔⍜⋏ (Common). After the CIA was tasked to "peacefully" resolve the problem and ⏃⌰⟊⍜⊑⋏ ⋔⏃⋏⌇⍜⋏ made a agreement to help forward technology to bested the Reds (who obtained scraped and damaged tech from the Tunguska event of 1908 and "The Night of Green Lights"), the town became a headquarter for the Black Suits (MiB like organzation) and a safe haven. With the first Cold War ending when the re-release of Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin by an unknown cosmic entity, the town was silently reclassified and became another Silicon Valley under the name Paralite and a embassy for friendly extraterrestrial alien lifeforms. (u/Th3R3493r)
    
12. The Arks - it is a secret system of floating city much like the Burg, but, more selective of their population. Supers, Aliens, Freaks, Cryptids and Normals are equally accepted and screened with any possible damning flaws or factors will be grounds of denial or termination if they are compromised after entry. The Arks are attempts as an ultramodern semi-utopia and a backup plan if the sea rising causes the civilization to have go to sea permanently. While organized crime syndicates still attempt to get a foot hold on them, all attempts have been unsuccessful and unprofitable for now. But, as long the Arks are on the horizon and shanty town of boats trail behind them waiting for the day they can take an Ark for their side and to use as a forwarding base for operations. (u/Th3R3493r)
    
13. Big Mountain, Nevada (Big Empty or Big MT) - formerly a government ran town that held the "best and brightest that the world had to offer". Long story short, "best and brightest" did not account for morals. So, with blank checks without a concern for ethics, morality, and human rights, It became a refugee full of mad scientist, mutants, mutates, and cyborgs. The current overseer has the town look and play like a sitcom 1950's suburbia minus most of the prejudices with the motto "Est Normalis Nova Impar (The Odd New Normal)". The Government officials supposed to run it were blacklisted for "being communist sympathizers" for various unsupported reasons in McCarthy's Witch Hunts. The town is still running on the funds from selling man-made precious metals and stone while in the guise of an unprofitable dying mining town on IRS records. (u/Th3R3493r)
    
14. Carne Quemada, Texas - A small unassuming city founded near several important intersections after the rise of the railroad in America. If there was a head of livestock bound for the East Coast from West Coast, It went through Carney before heading further. On the surface, It is just another drive-by town with the headquarter of a small family ran butcher shop/BBQ joint, but, it is ran by puppet officials controlled a old money family, Navaneeth, that specializes in the Arcane Arts and Dark Arts. The family patriarch is reportedly over 2800 years old but still looks to be in his late 50 and in the body of an Olympian. This family has their hands in the rise and fall of nearly every major meat based company since the apex of Rome. 'Word to the Wise' is do NOT try to spread vegan or animal rights propaganda in the town unless you want to "go missing" and end up as the unquestioning "circuitry" of the eco-friendly automation in a far off slaughterhouse. (u/Th3R3493r)
    
15. Capitol City, Ambiguous America - A large, metropolitan city with an Important American Landmark (capitol, museum, etc.). The city magically shifts forms and locations from time to time, leaving the inhabitants with no memory of it. No matter the form or location of the city it always represents an important part of American society. Capitol City exists within its own bubble, where people forget that leaving is an option. Whenever an alien, supervillain, kaiju, or magic-user attacks, chances are, it'll be here. The city has its own stock of good magic-users, superheroes, and military units, but these seem to shift in and out of being depending on the "genre" of the current disaster. In reality, Capitol City was created by a guild of powerful sorcerers who decided there should be somewhere on Earth to absorb disasters. It acts as a magnet for bad things and changes depending on what is needed to protect the rest of the world. (u/relinquisher42)
    

Tons of posts are asking about this town (mine included), so I decided to go through the /kelowna history and put all the responses in a central place. It can be a guide for visitors and Kelowna newbies in general. All the information has been gathered exclusively from posts here. If you'd like to add anything to the list, or see any errors, reply below and I'll add it to the main post below. (Mods, if this is long-term useful, you can sticky it.)

Activities & Things To Do

Indoor

• Swimming pools (see Swimming Pools below)
• Gaming (see Gaming section below)
• Live music (see Live Music below)
• Go-karts, arcade games, and mini golf at Scandia
• Karaoke at Creekside pub
• Play pool at McCullough pub
• Bowling at McCurdy
• Indoor rock climbing at Gneiss and Beyond the Crux
• Sushi classes at Start Fresh Kitchen
• Start to finish pottery at That Pottery Place
• Crafts at the New Art Collective space.
• Comedy at Dakoda's (Open mic night Thursday 7pm, $5 show at 9pm, Friday and Saturday at 7pm & 9pm)
• Comedy at Dunnenzie's ("Big Slice Of Comedy", a pay-what-you-want show Wednesday at 7pm)
• Adult and Kids beginner drawing and painting classes at The Dunbar Studio
• Indoor batting cages at The Yardhouse (on Spedding Court)

Outdoor

• Camping (see Camping below)
• Hiking (see Hiking below)
• Fly fishing (see Fly Fishing below)
• Snow skiing & Snowboarding (see Skiing & Snowboarding below)
• Go up to postil and find one of the large, open fields. This works better in the snow because it's more comfortable to lie on than dirt, but one can get creative if need be. Bring a tarp and blankets and warm clothes, fire supplies and snacks optional. Pretty much bed down under an open sky with zero light pollution, and watch the stars.
• Ice Skating at Adventure Skate Trail at Apex in Penticton, Big White
• Corn mazes (O'Keefe Ranch, etc)
• Hay rides at MacMillan Farms
• Tubing and Snowboarding at Big White
• Drive from Lake Country to Vernon, then take Westside road back from the North Okanagan.
• "The drive down this route beside the lake is one of our favourites. Stop at the salted caramel on the way for some good treats and coffee."
• Winter hikes are nice on the greenway, KVR, etc. (https://www.tourismkelowna.com/blog/post/4-winter-hikes-that-will-make-you-love-the-snow/)
• Hot springs in Nakusp
• Weekend races and demolition events at Penticton speedway
• Kelowna Rockets and Westside Warriors hockey games
• Archery range at Innawoods
• Kangaroo farm in Lake Country (seasonal)
• Airsoft at Black Dragon Airsoft and Joe Rich Sportsman's Association
• Kasugai Gardens
• Okanagan Sun football team, part of the CJFL. Watch live games during the season.

Barber

• Plan B
• Man Made
• Sir Barbershop (cash only)
• Das Barbershop (Rutland)
• The Tailored Shave (Kimi & Alex recommended)
• True Gents (Josh & Kyle recommended)
• Lorenzo's
• Roosters (in Winfield)
• Kelowna Barbershop (on Pandosy)

Bike Rental

• Kelowna Cycle (Pandosy)
• Fresh Air
• MEC

Breweries / Craft Beer

• Rustic Reel
• Red Bird
• Vice and Virtue
• McCurdy Lanes Brew Pub
• BNA
• Tree Brewing Institute (in the Grand on Water Street)
• Freddie's Brew Pub
• Kettle River Brewing
• Copper Brewing Co
• Wild Ambition
• Boundary Brewing
• Barn Owl Brewing
• Kind Brewing

Camping

BC Parks Campgrounds Reserve

• Bear Creek
• Fintry
• Ellison
• Mabel Lake
• Okanagan North & South
• Kekuli Bay

Other Camping

• Beaver lake area. Car camping OK. Just take a left instead of going into the resort and you'll see the turnoff along the main road.
• Peachland lake on the West Side, just above Princeton Rd. Few good sites along the lake to use and there some decent sized trout in the lake. There's a quarry area a lot of people use, but you go to the right along the lake there's some better spots.
• "My buddy's bachelor party" spot: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RttFA4BfYCd2xAGf8
• James Lake
• Bear Lake FSR (Lambly lake, Jackpine lake, Horseshoe lake)
• Postil lake (4x4 area, parties and bonfires common)
• Hydraulic lake
• Kaloya

Concert Hosts / Weeklies / Promoter Events

• Footwerk Events
• The Rock District
• Fruitcake (LGBTQ+)
• Project Saturday at Blueprint
• Bull riding Thursdays at Coral
• College Thursdays at Gotham
• South Okanagan Events Center shows

Dispensaries

• See the Sticky Thread

Dog Parks

• Cedar Creek Dog Beach
• Unknown name near the bottom of Knox mountain
• Rowcliffe Park (Richter @ Rowcliffe)
• Mission Creek dog park
• Ellison Dog Park (behind the airport)
• Unknown name behind Shaw on enterprise. The entrance is between the BMW dealership and the Shaw building, right across the street from the back entrance to Home Depot.

Festivals & Annual Large Events

• Great Okanagan Beer Fest
• Fireside Sessions
• Center of Gravity
• Peak Pride & Pride week
• ComicCon
• Okanagan Eats
• Hopscotch
• Rock The Lake
• Demin on the Diamond
• Westjet wine tastings
• Fat Cat (family)
• Diner en Blanc
• Downtown block party
• Dragon boat
• Ribfest
• Bridal expo

Fly Fishing

• Frazer Lake (bass)
• Mission Creek
• Trout Creek near Summerland (keep following the road until it turns to gravel)
• Shannon Lake in West Kelowna

Food and Restaurants

Asian

• Mad Mango (Malaysian)
• Hoang Gia (Vietnamese)
• Hoolala Chicken (Korean)

Chinese

• Mei Wei Chinese Cuisine (in West Kelowna)
• J-Wok (Gordon Drive)
• Yum Yum Tree (in Capri mall)
• Imperial Banquet (in Rutland)
• Tradition (Lawrence)

Dog-friendly

• ???

Good for Groups

• ???

Indian

• Made in India
• Dawett
• Dosa Crepes
• Chutney Cuisine of India

Ramen

• Little Tokyo Ramen Truck (Kirschner Road next to Copper Brewing on Saturday 3pm and Sundays 2pm)
• Wasabi Izakaya

Thai

• Mon Thong
• Zabb Thai
• Thai Terrace

Brunch

• Bohemian
• Craft
• Okanagan Street Food
• Sunny's Diner
• Krafty
• Central
• The Grateful Fed
• Canadian Brewhouse
• El Dorado

French

• Bouchon's

Hamburgers

• Central Restaurant
• Bin 4
• Woody's (Lake Country, the Camp Burger is the fucking bomb, especially if you get elk instead of beef.)
• Grateful Fed

Italian

• Mamma Rosa's
• La Bussola

Mexican / Comida Latina

• Surfside truck (tacos)
• La Fiesta (Rutland)
• YLW Tacos
• El Taquero
• Fernando's

Pies

• Lakeview market at the corner of Klo and LPandosy
• Davidson's Orchard
• Don o Ray

Pizza

• Dunnenzies
• Bellisimo
• Okanagan Pizza
• Hansen's (closed Mondays)
• Smack DAB (big patio)
• Neapolitan (Downtown)
• Pizza Studio
• Antico
• Famoso (on Pandosy)

Subs / Sandwhiches

• Woodfire bakery
• Pearson's European Deli
• Ferrara's Italian Market
• Mediterranean Market (on Gordon)
• Johnny's Meats
• Safeway (Downtown)
• Bread Co
• Nourish

Sushi

• Blue Tail
• Ozeki's
• Yama Sushi
• Momo's
• Maki Sushi
• Ume
• Tokyo1 (all you can eat sushi)
• Sushi Zen (Rutland)
• Nagano
• Sakura (West Side)
• Mi-Ne

Tasting Menus

• Liquidity Winery in Okanagan falls
• Salt & Brick
• Mission Hill

Steakhouse

• Cactus Club

Vegan & Vegetarian

• Naked Cafe
• Lake Tai
• Frankie We Salute You
• 97 Street Pub

Not Dedicated Vegan, but a Decent Vegan Selection

• Social 242 (delicious deep fried cauliflower!)
• Curious Cafe (amazing pizza and vegan cheese)
• Earls (a separate 8 items)
• EK's Grill (has a dedicated menu)
• SOY Asian Fusion (arguably the best fries in Kelowna oddly enough)
• Bluetail Sushi

Wineries

• See Wineries below

Wings

• Bunkhouse (Wing Wednesday)
• Dakota's (Central)
• Creekside (Mission)
• EK's Grill (on Glenmore, wings on Wednesdays)
• Hoolala Chicken Cafe
• Wingz (Rutland)
• Brandt's Creek (Glenmore)
• Tonics (Downtown)

Gaming

• Kelowna Gaming Discord Server
• Pokemon Go: Team Mystic Kelowna / Pokemon Go: Team Valor Kelowna
• Super Kelowna Bros 2 Discord Server
• Board games and beer at Munnin's Post
• Board game nights at Quantum
• Friday Night Magic at Quantum (Commander Wednesdays, Modern Thursdays)
• Retro Arcade and Pinball at Hemp City downtown (cannabis allowed in the back room)

Gyms

• Goodlife fitness
• Anytime fitness
• Body and Soul (on Enterprise)
• H2O
• World's Gym

Hiking

• Boulderfields (2.5/5 difficulty)
• John's Family Regional Conservancy park
• Pincushion trail (out of Peachland)
• Rose Valley reservoir loop
• Enderby cliffs
• Angel Springs (bring bug spray)
• Blue Grouse
• Crawford Falls (requires scrambling)
• Little White Mtn (access off Canyon Lakes FSR, first left when coming from the south)
• Carrot Top Bluffs (on the westside)
• Spion Kop (Lake Country)

Ice Skating

• Daily Courier Building
• Stuart Park (includes rentals, jan/feb)
• Apex
• Big White
• Silver Star

Internet Service Providers

• Telus
• TekSavvy
• Light Speed (Shaw reseller)
• Can-com
• Uniserve
• Shaw

Live Music

• Blue Gator
• Fernando's
• Muninn's Post
• Doc Willoughby's
• Community theater
• Mary Irwin theater

Mountain Biking

• Knox
• Rose Valley
• Smith Creek
• Powers Creek
• Myra Crawford
• Gillard

Nightlife / Clubs

• Sapphire Club
• Gotham Club (formerly Level)
• OK Corral
• BnA (Bowling, bocci, etc)
• Skinny Dukes
• Casino at the Grand

Places to Avoid

• Leon (Richter to City Park)

Real Estate Agents

• Trevor Florko at Century 21
• Dale Patterson at Remax
• Quincy Vrecko & Associates
• Jesse East at Remax
• Vantage West Realty

Salons

Hair

• Pomme
• Purnama
• Mod
• Loyal
• Fringe
• Crimson
• Plan B

Nails

• Faces
• Amora

Skiing & Snowboarding

Local, within 90 minutes

• Big White
• Apex
• Silver Star

Within a few hours drive

• Blady
• Sun Peaks
• WhiteWater
• Red
• Revelstoke Mtn
• Kicking Horse
• Manning Park

Helicopter

• Kingfisher
• Selkirk

Cross Country & Nordic

• Silver Star
• Kelowna Nordic Club (McCullough)

Strippers

• Liquid Zoo
• Cheerahs

Swimming Pools

• H20 (heated in winter)
• Parkinson's Rec
• YMCA (in Rutland)

Taxis / Driver Service

(There's no Uber or Lyft in Kelowna)

• https://www.checkmatecabs.com/
• https://currenttaxi.ca/
• https://www.kelownacabs.ca/
• https://www.westcabs.ca/
• https://yourdriver.ca/

Tailor

• Zorro's on Ellis
• Cosmo Tailoring on St Paul
• Katrina's Fashion Design and Alterations in West Kelowna
• Roy's Shoe Repair (only leather)

Tattoos

• Paige at Tradesman Tattoo Company
• Stevie or Brian Joubert at Narrow Waters Tattoo
• Benny and Jessie Beans at Haven Tattoo in Rutland
• Jeff and Kirk at Urge 3 in Ptenticton

Theatre

• Actors' STudio
• New Vintage
• Fred Skeleton

Thrift Stores / Consignment Stores

• Second Time Around (on Spall and Springfield)
• Lost it Together (vintage/modern, in Rutland, Plaza 33 Mall)
• MCC (in Rutland)
• Georgie Girl (vintage, on Ellis)
• Value Village (in Rutland)
• Share Depot (on Gaston Ave)
• Frock & Fellow (on Bernard)
• Salvation Army (on Rutland Rd, on Sutherland/Burtch, on the West Side)
• The Hospital Auxillary (on Dougall just off Hwy 33)
• SWITCH (in West Kelowna)
• Jen's 14 plus (they have 10 and up)

Veterinarians

• Central Valley
• Pounce and Hound
• KLO
• Dr Oz (in West Kelowna)
• Okanagan Animal Hospital (on Sexsmith)

Watch Hockey

• Canadian Brewhouse on Pandosy
• Copper Brewing
• Tap House
• Doc's

Wineries

• The Hatch in West Kelowna
• Hitch in East Kelowna
• Off the Grid (they rescue baby goats, so there's a little baby goat sanctuary)
• Sandhill in downtown Kelowna
• The Vibrant Wine in East Kelowna
• Quail's Gate

Yoga

• Dawn Petrin Yoga + Cannabis (BYOC) at Tandava Yoga
• H2O (in Mission)
• The Women's Place
• Hotbox (on Bernard)
• Solstice (on Ellis)
• Modo (on Pandosy)

The Prestige:
The prestige is about two stage magicians and their journey from partners to rivals. In this Christopher Nolan masterpiece these two men find themselves at odds following a catalytic tragedy. A usual stage trick of theirs involved Julia, Robert Angier’s (played by Hugh Jackman) wife, being tied and locked up then lowered into a locked glass cage filled with water, which she then would escape from. Starting off all as friends, things were going peachily until Alfred Borden (played by Christian Bale) decided to change up the act and use a different and more difficult knot for the trick. This was against the wishes of Angier but Borden still wanted to go through with it. That night on the stage Julia wasn’t able to get out. In one of the most frustrating scenes I can think of in cinematic history, Borden and Angier (Batman and Wolverine) watch idly by in horror as Cutter (played by Michael Caine, or more famously known as Alfred) is trying to break the glass detaining Julia. Because Borden made the change without Angier knowing beforehand this caused a rivalry that continued to spiral end escalate throughout the years. As competing magicians they continually and tirelessly worked to disclose each other’s new tricks and sabotage their acts. The actions of sabotage eventually lead them to extremes which result in tragic consequences. It starts with tricks such as catching a bullet. Once Angier discovers the trick he sabotages Borden, ultimately leading to Borden losing a finger. The final magic tricks from each involves cloning, prison, and murder? A star studded cast of Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson and many more, this is one movie that deserves to be watched by all.
Thor Ragnarok:
Thor Ragnarok in my opinion is the greatest of all 23 currently released marvel movies. Taika Waititi is a creative genius and was allowed to use those skills in his adaptation for this movie. The aesthetic makeup of this movie is bold, vibrant and quite simply childish, exactly something you would anticipate the inner workings of Taika’s mind to be like. What makes this film different from all the rest is the lightheartedness and quality humor that percolates throughout the entirety of this theatric masterpiece. Snide humor such as Thor and Hulk’s reunion in the arena of Sakar when Thor says “we’re friends from work” to the spectators. This line was a from a Make-A-Wish child who suggested it for the scene when he visited the set. Nearly every scene with Korg is an instant favorite, filled with one-liners made even better by the New Zealand accent. To top Korg off he is played by none other than director Taika Waititi. One thing that I did find irksome however was highlighted when watching “how it should have ended”. In the film Thor is easily incapacitated by a shocking device that is planted on him by Valkyrie. It makes you question how, if the device works so effectively on Thor then why wouldn’t they use it on Hela? The biggest change in this movie from the others, for Thor’s character perspective at least (pre endgame), was when Stan Lee hacked off his luscious locks. It seemed to completely change my image of the character but for the better. Originally, I hated that they would do such a thing. However, I like the new look and once he went back to long hair I found myself almost longing for the short haired version. When people who are against Marvel/ Superhero movies for some reason this is the film to suggest. It isn’t like all the others which cause you to feel almost comatose because the atmosphere, storyline, or whatever is not the same. Instead of responding to the question of “how was the movie” with “it was a typical superhero flick” Thor Ragnarok warrants a better response, a positive response, one that doesn’t group it with all the other superhero movies.
The Patriot:
Mel Freaking Gibson. This film is a journey and a half of the American Revolutionary war. Here’s the storyline given on IMDB
“It is 1776 in colonial South Carolina. Benjamin Martin, a French-Indian war hero who is haunted by his past, now wants nothing more than to live peacefully on his small plantation, and wants no part of a war with the most powerful nation in the world, Great Britain. Meanwhile, his two eldest sons, Gabriel and Thomas, can't wait to enlist in the newly formed "Continental Army." When South Carolina decides to join the rebellion against England, Gabriel immediately signs up to fight...without his father's permission. But when Colonel William Tavington, British dragoon, infamous for his brutal tactics, comes and burns the Martin Plantation to the ground, tragedy strikes. Benjamin quickly finds himself torn between protecting his family and seeking revenge along with being a part of the birth of a new, young, and ambitious nation.”
One of the greatest cinematic antagonists Col. William Tavington is the catalyzing factor for all sorts of emotional highs. Being the cause for the deaths of Benjamin Martin’s children at the onset of the movie, you find yourself cringing each time he makes an appearance. If you’re familiar with the Game of Thrones T.V. series then you will understand well when I say he gives the same emotional trauma as King Joffrey did. It’s not only because he killed Eddard Stark but the way he did it that caused you to despise him, among other things, that draws remarkable contrast to the emotional “attachment” you feel towards Colonel Tavington. It doesn’t help that one of the son’s he kills is portrayed by the late Heath Ledger. Two fun facts about Heath Ledger in relation to this film are such:
· “He didn’t work for a year because he only got offers for teen heartthrob roles. He was about to quit acting, and return to Australia, when he was cast in the film.” (And thank goodness because he is an incredible actor and we would have missed out on the greatest villain portrayal of all time in the Joker had he not remained in the acting world)
· “Heath Ledger said researching the American Revolutionary War for the film answered his question of why Americans “wave their flag so high.” “It’s because they went to hell and back to build their country.”
Being an American this film promotes ample feelings of patriotism and pride. Despite the fictional aspects it is always a great addition to any movie when applicable. Something about being reminded that the United States of America is the greatest and most skilled, powerful and dangerous militaristic forces can’t be undersold (some other great movie examples are Lone Survivor, 13 Hours and American Sniper)
Warrior:
Crying can be defined as: “to utter inarticulate sounds, especially of lamentation, grief, or suffering, usually with tears.” This emotion is not an unusual one to experience when watching your typical rom-com or drama, even a pixar or dreamworks animation can cause the waterworks to start flowing. Maybe there is something wrong with me but I have never been brought to the point of tears while watching a movie. Not when they put down Marley in Marley and Me, nor when Iron Man died at the end of Endgame, not even when Mufasa was killed by Scar in the Lion King (and we all know that that is at least in the top 3 of the saddest cinematic scenes of all time). So, how is it that the closest I got to crying was in a movie whose storyline is:
“Two brothers face the fight of a lifetime - and the wreckage of their broken family - within the brutal, high-stakes world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting in Lionsgate's action/drama, WARRIOR. A former Marine, haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Riordan returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for an MMA tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan, a former MMA fighter unable to make ends meet as a public school teacher, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family. Even though years have passed, recriminations and past betrayals keep Brendan bitterly estranged from both Tommy and his father. But when Brendan's unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront the forces that tore them apart, all the while waging the most intense, winner-takes-all battle of their lives.“
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is not the most emotionally stimulating category but yet this movie was able to bring me nigh unto tears, twice. The first was a scene involving Tommy Conlon (portrayed by the talented Tom Hardy) and his father Paddy Conlon (played by Nick Nolte). Throughout the film you feel bad for Paddy as he is just trying to make amends for the terrible father figure he was, on his journey to find his way back into either of his sons polar opposite lives. It climaxes for him when he is at the casino and is emotionally destroyed by his son. You next see him in his hotel suite listening to a tape recorder and drunk (which destroyed his sobriety that he had been working so hard on so he could be allowed back into Brendan Conlon’s life). Tommy takes over and helps his father get into bed then comforts him as he sobs himself to sleep in his son’s arms. The second scene is the finale. Brothers Tommy and Brendan fight their way through a major tournament to ultimately meet each other in the championship. Here’s the script of the final scene:
“Brendan climbs into the cage as the house LIGHTS DIM. The
crowd is going bonkers. And they EXPLODE when Tommy appears
at the end of the tunnel with his hoodie up and begins his
march toward the cage.
The Marines shower him with cheers and "Hoo-ahs." The girls
scream. The rest of the audience stamps their feet and chants
his name. But he acknowledges no one, and the hard look on
his face never wavers.
INT. COLT'S PITTSBURGH FIGHT CLUB - MOMENTS LATER
Fenroy and the crew on the edge of their seats, all staring
at the big screen.
ON TV SCREEN: TOMMY GETTING GREASED UP AND CLIMBING INTO THE
CAGE.
INT. TAXI - SAME
A nervous Paddy sits in the back of the cab as the DRIVER
navigates through holiday traffic.
INT. BOARDWALK HALL ARENA CAGE - SAME
And here it is. The two brothers face to face in the middle
of the ring, staring each other down. Tommy with his usual
controlled fire, Brendan intense, searching his brother's
eyes for some flicker of recognition.
JOSH ROSENTHAL
Gentlemen, this is the final. Five
rounds. I expect a clean fight.
Obey my commands at all times.
Defend yourselves at all times.
Touch gloves, go back, let's do
this.
As Rosenthal finishes his instructions, Brendan peers into
Tommy's empty corner.
BRENDAN
Where's Pop?
Tommy turns without answering. All business. Brendan returns
to his corner. Looks at Tess. So much emotion on her face.
96.
JOSH ROSENTHAL
Gentlemen, are you ready? Are you
ready? Let's go to war!
Tommy comes right after his brother. Just like with his
previous three opponents. A natural wrecking machine. Frank
screams at Brendan to stay calm, but Tommy is all over him,
POUNDING on him with savage intensity. As bad as the other
fights were for Brendan, this one is worse.
EXT. STARLIGHT DRIVE-IN - SAME
The crowd is tense and subdued. It's not going well.
ON MOVIE SCREEN: TOMMY KEEPS TATTOOING BRENDAN WITH HEAD
SHOTS. BEATS HIS BROTHER WITH MALICE. IT'S HARD TO WATCH.
INT. COLT'S PITTSBURGH FIGHT CLUB - SAME
Fenroy and company thoroughly enjoying themselves.
INT. BOARDWALK HALL ARENA - SAME
Tommy continues to batter Brendan, then he swoops in, picks
him up, and SLAMS his big brother into the ground. Then he
does it again. And again. And again.
Brendan, the wind knocked out of him, is on his back, trying
to protect himself from Tommy, who mounts him and starts
blasting away with a BLUR of lefts and rights. The only thing
that saves Brendan is the HORN. Which Tommy ignores, blasting
his brother with a brutal CHEAP SHOT to the jaw well after
the round had ended.
TESS
What was that!
FRANK
C'mon, Josh!
Brendan lays on the ground as Josh Rosenthal pulls Tommy off
him and admonishes him for the cheap shot. Tommy stares at
Brendan. You want more?
Frank runs into the cage with the stool and Brendan limps
over to him and sits down. Brendan stares at Tommy, who paces
in his corner like a caged animal.
FRANK (CONT'D)
Sit down. Look at me. Look at me,
Brendan! Let it go! Breathe.
(MORE)
97.
FRANK (CONT'D)
Beethoven. He's coming hard, just
like we planned. I want you to
angle out, hit, and move.
BRENDAN
Angle out, hit, and move.
FRANK
Good. Breathe. Relax. He's not your
brother, right? He's just a guy
who's in the way.
Josh Rosenthal claps his hands. It's time. Frank glares at
him as he picks up the stool.
FRANK (CONT'D)
I'm taking a little more time for
the cheap shot! Do your job, Josh!
Tess sits uncomfortably in her chair. Her husband's face is a
mess. In front of her, Callen and Sheridan commiserate. J.J.,
the TapouT crew, and Colt Boyd look on. The electricity in
the crowd is greater than ever. They want a champion.
EXT. STARLIGHT DRIVE-IN - MOMENTS LATER
Very quiet at the Drive-In. It's tough for everyone to watch
what's happening to Brendan.
ON MOVIE SCREEN: ROUND TWO. A REPEAT OF ROUND ONE. TOMMY JUST
WHALING ON BRENDAN AND BRENDAN TRYING TO HANG ON FOR DEAR
LIFE.
INT. BOARDWALK HALL ARENA - SAME
The Marines in the crowd are all on their feet, screaming for
Tommy to end it. The chant starts up again. 15,000 strong.
"Tommy! Tommy! Tommy!" Frank tries to instruct Brendan, but
he can't hear him, and he's too overwhelmed.
Tommy presses Brendan against the cage and does the same
thing Koba did. He lifts him off the ground, carries him on a
dead run, and body SLAMS him so hard the cage shakes. Then
Tommy mounts him and starts pounding away again.
The HORN sounds ending the round, but this time it's Brendan
who pops up and pushes Tommy. Tommy shoves him back.
Rosenthal has to separate them as the crowd roars its
approval.
98.
CALLEN (V.O.)
Here we go, Mom! Time to lock up
your china, the boys are at it
again!
INT. COLT'S PITTSBURGH FIGHT CLUB - LATER
Fenroy and company watching the big screen.
ON TV SCREEN: ROUND THREE. MORE TOMMY DOMINATION, BUT BRENDAN
IS SOMEHOW TAKING IT.
INT. BOARDWALK HALL ARENA CAGE - SAME
Again, Tommy is on top of Brendan, trying to ground and pound
him into submission. Frank, leaning on the apron nearby,
screams at Brendan.
FRANK
Switch! Switch!
Tommy tries to pound Brendan out, but Brendan latches on to
Tommy's arm, wraps his legs around him, and REVERSES
position, just as he did with Midnight, the Dane, and Koba.
Tommy is in deep trouble. Brendan pushes him face down on the
canvas and cranks his shoulder. There's no escape.
SHERIDAN (V.O.)
Oh my God, that's a deep omoplata!
CALLEN (V.O.)
He's doing it again! Conlon's doing
it again! This is going to be over!
Brendan applies intense pressure. Tommy's shoulder is
contorted, WRENCHED backwards, and his face is a mask of
pain. Tommy's in agony, but he won't give in.
BRENDAN
Tap, Tommy!
Tommy SHRIEKS like an animal, but still won't quit. In fact,
he elbows Brendan in the face in defiance. Brendan in turn
cranks the shoulder even more. It's at the breaking point.
BRENDAN (CONT'D)
Tap!
The shoulder twists. Twists. And then, audible only to Tommy
and Brendan, CRACK. Dislocated. Then the HORN ending the
round.
99.
Brendan, worried he hurt his brother, leans over to see if
Tommy's alright, but Tommy, like a wounded animal, leaps up
and grabs Brendan around the throat with his one good arm. He
shoves him all the way across the cage and into the fence,
and it takes Rosenthal and Frank to separate them.
EXT. STARLIGHT DRIVE-IN - SAME
The crowd fired up by Brendan's comeback, and mesmerized by
what's taking place in the cage between the brothers. It's
complete and utter chaos in there.
ON MOVIE SCREEN: TOMMY PACES IN HIS CORNER, HIS SHOULDER
WRECKED. JOSH ROSENTHAL TRIES TO SEE IF HE'S ALRIGHT BUT
TOMMY TURNS AWAY. HE'S NOT QUITTING AND NO ONE'S GOING TO
TELL HIM HE HAS TO.
INT. COLT'S PITTSBURGH FIGHT CLUB - SAME
Sheer amazement that Tommy didn't submit.
INT. BOARDWALK HALL ARENA CAGE - SAME
Tommy, flap down, tears of pain pouring down his face, stands
defiantly in his corner. In the other corner, Frank attends
Brendan. In the crowd, Tess covers her mouth. She can't
believe what Tommy allowed to happen to him.
Frank puts the stool down and gives Brendan some water.
Brendan's face is wracked with guilt and concern over his
brother.
BRENDAN
I popped his shoulder.
FRANK
Relax, breathe.
BRENDAN
I heard it tear.
FRANK
You popped his shoulder? Good. I
want you to pop his other shoulder.
This is not what Brendan wants to hear. He looks over to Josh
Rosenthal.
BRENDAN
Josh!
100.
Frank snaps. Grabs Brendan by the face.
FRANK
Hey! Hey! No Josh! Look at me! You
got two rounds left! You need both
rounds! Go in there, kick him in
the head, take him down, and finish
him!
Rosenthal claps his hands. Frank exits the cage. The wounded
Tommy stands in his corner, his ruined left arm hanging low.
Brendan makes eye contact with him.
BRENDAN
Tommy! What are you doing?
TOMMY
Shut up! C'mon.
BRENDAN
What are you that crazy?
JOSH ROSENTHAL
Let's go to war!
The BELL sounds. Round Four begins. Tommy throws useless
right jabs. He's one handed and has no chance. Brendan stays
away from him, not wanting to hurt his brother.
BRENDAN
What are you doing? It's over!
Frank screams at Brendan from cageside to take the wounded
Tommy out, but Brendan is reluctant.
BRENDAN (CONT'D)
It's over, Tommy. C'mon. We don't
have to do this.
Tommy and Brendan circle each other. Tommy throwing rights
and wincing in agony at any movement. Brendan stares at him.
Everything about him says "Quit, Tommy." But Tommy won't.
INT. BOARDWALK HALL ARENA TUNNEL - SAME
Paddy runs up the tunnel, his All Access pass around his
neck, and enters the arena. Sees Brendan and Tommy in the
cage. Quickly figures out what the situation is.
101.
EXT. STARLIGHT DRIVE-IN - SAME
Zito and the kids staring at the screen, imploring Brendan to
take the helpless Tommy out and win the championship.
INT. BOARDWALK HALL CAGE - SAME
Brendan continues to circle and not engage. Frank is livid.
He knows he'll lose the fight on the judges' scorecards if he
doesn't do something.
FRANK
Finish him! You finish him!
Tommy keeps throwing defiant right jabs at Brendan. Finally,
with no choice, Brendan fires back. He batters the
defenseless Tommy up against the cage and POUNDS away at him,
blasting his left shoulder with punches that make Tommy wince
in pain. It's anyone's guess how he can take it.
Brendan presses his brother up against the cage. Begging him
to quit. But Tommy merely responds by elbowing Brendan in the
face again. This sets the older brother off, and he resumes
pounding on Tommy until the HORN sounds and Rosenthal pulls
Brendan away.
JOSH ROSENTHAL
Break! Break!
Brendan heads back to his stool as Tommy leans against the
cage in agony. The Marines scream for him, but his eyes are
glazed over. It's unthinkable that he hasn't broken yet.
From near cageside, Paddy looks to the corner and makes eye
contact with Brendan. They exchange a small look of
understanding. A NOD. They both know what needs to be done.
EXT. STARLIGHT DRIVE-IN - SAME
The crowd wants a victory. Tito and the boys start the "Mis-
ter C!" chant again.
ON MOVIE SCREEN: FRANK ADMONISHES BRENDAN IN HIS CORNER. IT'S
OBVIOUS WHAT HE'S TELLING HIM, BUT BRENDAN'S EYES ARE FAR
AWAY. HE'S NOT LISTENING TO A WORD.
INT. BOARDWALK HALL CAGE - MOMENTS LATER
Tommy and Brendan stand for Round Five. Tommy's face is
battered after Round Four and Brendan's face is ruined.
102.
In the crowd, the "Tommy" CHANT begins in earnest. In fact,
it may be louder than ever. Having done the impossible and
carried on with one arm, Tommy is more superhuman and heroic
than ever before. But his face tells another story. Soaked in
pain and anguish. All his stoic walls crumbling down.
INT. COLT'S PITTSBURGH FIGHT CLUB - MOMENTS LATER
All eyes riveted to the screen, where the brothers circle
each other as in the fourth round.
ON SCREEN: MORE PAINFUL STABBING JABS FROM TOMMY. BRENDAN
GIVES HIM ONE LAST, LONG LOOK, BUT TOMMY RESPONDS BY KICKING
HIM IN THE LEG. FINALLY, LEFT NO CHOICE, BRENDAN SWOOPS.
INT. BOARDWALK HALL ARENA CAGE - SAME
Brendan SLAMS Tommy to the ground. His face is contorted in
merciless pain. Brendan slips his forearm under Tommy's neck
and squeezes. Tommy struggles, but he's got one arm and
there's NO ESCAPE. His face getting red from lack of oxygen.
As an anguished Tess and a shaken Paddy look on, Brendan
CHOKES his brother. As he does, he pleads with him.
BRENDAN
I'm sorry, Tommy! I'm sorry!
Tommy continues to struggle.
BRENDAN (CONT'D)
Tap, Tommy! Tap!
Tears pour down Tommy's face. Brendan is crushing his wind
pipe. Tommy's eyes bulge.
BRENDAN (CONT'D)
I love you, Tommy! I love you!
Tommy, about to pass out, no more air to breathe, slowly
opens his left hand, looks at Brendan, and TAPS his shoulder
on the Conlon family crest. Finally submitting.
EXT. STARLIGHT DRIVE-IN - SAME
While most of the crowd erupts in celebration and the kids
leap into each other's arms, Joe Zito stares at the screen.
ON MOVIE SCREEN: AS PEOPLE ENTER THE RING, BRENDAN AND TOMMY
STAY ON THE GROUND, BRENDAN CRADLING HIS BROTHER IN HIS ARMS.
103.
INT. BOARDWALK HALL ARENA CAGE - SAME
Frank makes eye contact with the jubilant Tess. Indicates she
should meet them in the locker room. Meanwhile, people pour
into the cage. Frank pushes them aside, keeping them away
from Brendan and Tommy, who remain on the ground, exhausted.
Tommy to begins to WEEP.
INT. COLT'S PITTSBURGH FIGHT CLUB - SAME
Silence at Colt's. Everyone spent from what they've seen.
ON TV SCREEN: CHAOS IN THE RING. BRENDAN HOLDS TOMMY IN HIS
ARMS AND PUSHES AWAY A DOCTOR.
INT. BOARDWALK HALL ARENA CAGE - SAME
Tommy buries his head in Brendan's chest. A torrent of
sobbing gushes from him, years of pain pouring out in heavy
bursts. From the crowd, Paddy stares into the cage and
watches as Brendan comforts his little brother, then helps
him to his feet.
Callen, Sheridan, and J.J. Riley make their way inside for
the post-fight interview, cameras trailing behind them. With
Frank continuing to run interference, Brendan pushes through
the crush of people, arm around Tommy, and exits the cage.
The crowd parts for Tommy and Brendan. Paddy watches them, a
tear in his eye. He's overwhelmed by the sight of his two
boys together again.
As the noise from the arena fades, the brothers walk through
the wild crowd and continue on through the tunnel, arm in
arm...
THE END
For me, the part the just punched me right through the gut was when Brandon started talking to Tommy, “I’m sorry, Tommy! I’m sorry!... Tap, Tommy! Tap!... I Love you, Tommy! I love you!”. As soon as this is all over Today by The National begins to play and it just causes you to melt inside. Warrior Is A Cinematic Masterpiece! And, if it can almost make me cry then it has my respect.
Batman Trilogy:
Batman Begins –
The Beginning of one of the greatest trilogies out there. Christian Bale accepted the mantle of portraying the caped crusader and brought us one of the finest live action superhero movies. In a reversed dogmatism, the first film of the series was the worst of the three. Were I to make any changes to batman in general, in all the adaptations out there, the “batman voice” is one of my least favorite things. Why in the world does he need to talk like that? If people aren’t able to piece together who he is then changing his voice is more so just an awkward attempt to add another aspect to the film. Christopher Nolan is one of my favorite directors in Hollywood and Batman is no exception. Liam Neeson is a legend and making him the main villain, Ra’s Al Ghul,, made me happy.
The Dark Knight –
The Dark Knight is the best of the three, and that is because of Heath Ledger and his genius take as the Joker. Chalk full of one-liners his performance was so great that he won an academy award.
- “Do you wanna know how I got these scars?”
- “If you’re good at something, never do it for free.”
- “How about a magic trick? I’m gonna make this pencil disappear. Ta-daa! It’s… it’s gone.”
He showed off more talents than with just his acting. He directed both homemade videos that The Joker sends to GCN. As Christian Bale takes this journey of toeing the line with one of the greatest villains you’re constantly on edge, as is typical of a Christopher Nolan movie, wondering how close Batman is really going to get to breaking his one rule of killing someone. One dislike or complaint that I had for the movie was the casting choice for Rachael. Although she is Jake Gyllenhalls sister, I don’t have much care for her as an actress and feel like they could have, and should have, cast someone else in the role, especially since she does play an important part in not just The Dark Knight, but through into the next movie as well.
The Dark Knight Rises –
The voice of Bane is a heavy favorite among people. Plenty of memes have been created using Tom Hardy’s portrayal of him. Despite being just 5 foot 9 inches and Christian Bale 6 foot, the camera work makes it seem as though bane is a behemoth of a man compared to him. He was too big (tone wise) from his role in Warrior so in the dark knight they made him put on a little bit more of mass to make him look like he did in the movie. I remember the scene where he picked up batman and broke his back and his dialogue “I was wondering what would break first, your spirit, or your body”. The scene sent chills throughout my body and now every time the movie is on, no matter where I am or who I am with, there is without fail at least one person who will say the line along with him. When I first heard that Anne Hathaway was going to be playing catwoman I was a little upset. However, she did an incredible job and I ended up really liking her performance and my mind was changed. In this concluding film of the trilogy I was left at the end hoping that they were going to make another film with Robin since they teased him but unfortunately that never came to fruition.
Peanut Butter Falcon:
Top 3 movies of all time. Peanut Butter Falcon is the story of three people, Zak (Zack Gottsagen), Eleanor (Dakota Johnson) and Tyler (Shia LaBeouf). Let’s start with Zak. Zak is a down-syndrome kid who is confined to a nursing home because he has no family. He loves wrestling and wants to attend his favorite wrestler’s (Salt Water Redneck) wrestling school. One night with the help of his roomie, Carl, he covers himself up with lotion and slips through the bars that were put on his window since he tried to escape just a few days prior. As he is hiding out in a boat, in just his whitey tighties, the boat is suddenly boarded and takes off through the marshes. Eleanor. Sweet Eleanor, a nursing home employee is responsible for Zak. Upon his runaway she is commanded essentially by her boss to find him before he has to report it to the authorities and government. Tyler. The getaway boat driver is the main character. He lost it all essentially when his older brother died in a car crash. In an act of retaliation he burns down a fishers equipment and jumps on his boat to escape from them. This boat had a stowaway hiding in the back who almost got him caught, that stowaway was Zak. Initially Tyler is trying to get rid of Zak as soon as they get to some civilization but since Zak is determined to get to the wrestling school Tyler agrees to help him get there (after a few unfortunate events that sort of force him into it.) So Zak and Tyler, Shia LaBeouf and a down syndrome kid, brodies, set out on their journey with Eleanor trying desperately to find Zak. Tyler and Zak develop a very special and close bond with each other as they are trekking to their destination. Eventually Eleanor catches up to them and is livid at Tyler since she ran into him a few days before and he lied about knowing anything about Zak. Zak forces Eleanor’s hand into coming with them on their journey as he throws her keys into the water. The three of them set out and become a makeshift ragtag family. This is just one of those movies that you can watch multiple times a year and not get sick of. Additionally, it is because of this film that Shia LaBeouf has started to make a resurgence into the film industry and recreated himself. If you watch an emotional video you can see how much Zak changed Shia’s life and it only adds to the connection you feel to them and their characters as you embrace this heart warming adventure tale

I started working on this months ago, and stopped a day later, then picked it up recently because I wanted to finish it. While it's mentioned below, I'd like to say it here: I know that this might be a mess, and not everybody will like it. But that's the fun of it all; it's not official, and will never be official, so it's fun to create stuff or imagine what happened that hasn't been explained yet. Whether you enjoy it or hate it, I had fun doing this! :)
7 DAYS TO DIE (UNOFFICIAL) LORE—TIMELINE
THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL TIMELINE OF THE LORE LEADING UP TO THE SETTING OF 7 DAYS TO DIE. ALL EVENTS DEPICTED IN THIS ARE UNOFFICIAL/UNCONFIRMED AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH (duh).
THIS IS NOT PERFECT. MUCH OF THIS MAY NOT SEEM REALISTIC OR MAY BE TOO CONSTRAINED. IF YOU FEEL THAT SOMETHING DOESN’T QUITE FIT, LET ME KNOW AND I CAN CHANGE IT. IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN HELP OUT.
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BCE-April 24, 1986 CE: History is unchanged.
1986
April 25
- A nuclear inspection team arrives at Chernobyl, the negligence they discover and resolve in reference to a soon-to-occur safety test is ruled as 'criminal' by the Russian government due to the estimated damage that would've occurred if the test had gone through. As a result, the true danger of Nuclear Meltdown does not set into the psychology of first world countries and they continue with lax construction of reactors.
2000
January 1
- Y2K occurs in computers across the planet. Multiple systems are permanently fried, pushing technology back several years. DIVERGENCE occurs.
2018
OCTOBER 9
- The United States Of America grants Puerto Rico statehood. The flag now carries 51 stars.
2025
June 9
- A meeting is held at the United Nations in New York to discuss political tensions between North Korea following the death of Kim Jong Un seven months prior. A 19-6 vote is enacted to increase security at the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
October 7
- North Korea attempts an attack on soil with the launch of four ballistic missiles aimed at Guam and Hawaii. Three are confirmed duds; the fourth strikes Guam’s Tamuning. Thousands are killed in the attack. Minutes later, the United States launches three ballistic missiles; all three successfully strike the capital of Pyongyang, killing several thousand people in its limits, including NK leader Kim Ju-ae. South Korea and Japan experience one of the largest refugee crises in human history. This leads to a depression in the region that lasts several years.
October 22
- A local group known as the Woodstock Militia form in the United States, their goals claiming to be “nothing more but the peace among man.” Their numbers grow over several years, expanding beyond North America.
October 23
- Backyard Bunks, a company set on the construction of backyard fallout shelters, is successfully funded and founded in Manchester, England by US expatriate Donovan Clarke, beginning construction immediately.
2032
September 2
- A Woodstock peace rally in Iraq is ambushed, leading to dozens of rally-goers dead or missing. An investigation discovers collusion between some members and a terror group known as the COG, or Caliphate Of Glory. The WM is banned from Iraq as a result “until further notice.”
December 22
- The United Nations begin talks on expanding territory further into the North Korean ruins. China argues against it.
December 30
- Talks at the United Nations ends with the UNSC voting 17-8 on territorial expansion through the North Korean ruins. China warns against this.
2033
March 27
- US expansion into the North Korean ruins begin, expecting to take a total of 18 months to succeed. Protests occur near the border. Later in the evening, a brief riot breaks out, leading to the death of a Korean Border Security Officer and several arrests.
April 1
- China sanctions the United States. As a result, the US sanctions back. The Trade War, as it is simply called, begins.
- Stocks in Chinese trade fall soon after.
August 13
- Backyard Bunks expands into the United States, quickly gaining popularity in major cities, with several hundred requests in just that single day.
September 11
- A terrorist scare occurs in Washington, D.C., after a vehicle was pulled over containing a homemade nuclear weapon. The bomb was successfully deactivated and disposed of properly.
September 19
- China begins underground nuclear testing in a remote region of the country, prompting fears in the United States and Japan of potential military action.
- Coincidentally, hours prior, Russia also announced that they would resume nuclear testing 18 years after it was discontinued.
September 29
- Lucky Larry’s, one of the largest casinos in the midwestern United States, opens to the public in the city of Gravestown, Arizona.
December
- A mass shortage of functioning antibiotics leads to an outbreak of Cholera in India, killing 3 million from December to January 2034, where it is eventually placed under control with international aid.
- Due to the Trade War, the United States experiences what is called “The Year Without Christmas.”
December 19
- United States scientists work with the United States military with the creation of a contagion with the intent to overwhelm enemy territories. Early testing is a failure.
2034
- Nuclear plants undergo a worldwide reconstruction effort to improve performance and defend against large-scale man-made attacks. Very few nuclear plants are completed.
January 2
- Seven bodies are discovered in the Cascade Range. All of them are mauled, covered in human bite marks, leading to rumors of a cannibal group nearby. Law enforcement denied these claims.
January 10
- The United States cancels the remaining expansion into the North Korean ruins, stationing soldiers as far as the city of Wonsan. China lifts few of the sanctions; the United States follows suit, but the Trade War persists.
January 11
- Construction of bunkers by BB in all Las Vegas hotels are complete.
March 18
- China ceases its nuclear testing temporarily, out of fear of radiation leaking into neighboring territories. Russia continues its nuclear testing.
March 19
- Midterm elections begin in the United States.
June 7
- Chinese President Chen-Chi is assassinated while on a trip in the United States. The United States is immediately blamed for her death. Many terror groups across the world claim responsibility. Some say this was a tactic to prevent any retaliation by China.
June 11
- China, upon full belief that the United States is responsible for the death of former president Chen-Chi, declares war on America.
JUNE 12
- World War III, or simply known as “The War,” occurs as late as 6:18 PM EST. It is unknown precisely who fired first, but blame rests solely on China.
6:15 PM
- The Integrated Operational Nuclear Detection System (IONDS) detects seven nuclear ballistic missile launches from an unknown location.
6:17 PM
- NORAD confirms all seven launches. USAF enters DEFCON 1, prompting immediate takeoff of all available bombers. Several of them head for China, believed to be the sole cause.
6:18 PM
- POTUS authorizes full-scale retaliation. Several US ballistic missiles are launched.
- The War commences. China denies any action against the United States, despite their declaration of war the day before, but are bombed shortly after. The United States preps a full-scale invasion scenario into China. The seven immediate nuclear missiles are destroyed. Several more are launched from ocean level, believing to be submarine-based launches. Three of them reach the west coast of the United States. Several submarines are destroyed by military response.
6:23 PM
- Los Angeles is struck by two nuclear warheads several seconds apart. Few of the city’s skyscrapers collapse from the shockwave and sheer force of the explosions.
- News quickly spreads across the nation, confirming the detonation of nuclear weapons in Los Angeles. Panic spreads nationwide as people try to evacuate. Highways quickly go into gridlock, forcing people to escape on foot. Several people take shelter in several bunkers, only to quickly fill up.
- Divisions of the US Armed Forces are deployed in several cities to assist in the evacuation.
6:28 PM
- Seattle and San Diego are hit by two separate nuclear warheads.
- The San Diego warhead was not a head-on strike, instead striking closer towards the outskirts, nearest to the highways. Most on the highway were killed in the immediate blast, while those in the inner city survived.
- Thirty-two more ballistic missiles are confirmed launched from China as retaliation. Many of them strike the west coast and further inland. The midwestern US (Colorado) all the way to the east coast is spared from ballistic strikes due to NORAD’s immediate response.
6:30 PM
- Gravestown is devastated by two consecutive nuclear strikes. The majority of Navezgane County is spared the immediate effects of the detonations.
6:30-8:00 PM
- Six more nuclear warheads breach past NORAD defenses from China, striking Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and even reaching Austin, Texas.
8:00 PM
- No further nuclear launches from China. Birds are in the air and are headed for China. Cities affected/destroyed are Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Xi’an.
- Over the next five days, the USAF is deployed across the United States and throughout China. Martial law is declared in the US, and POTUS is relocated to the Mount Weather Communications Shelter on June 14.
JUNE 14—RUSSIA BECOMES INVOLVED
9:58 AM EST
- A van containing a nuclear weapon is detonated in the US capitol. Armed forces are sent to assist the injured and dying.
- NORAD detects several Russian submarines off the east coast of the US. DEFCON 1 is once again in effect, formerly set to DEFCON 2.
10:10 AM
- Russian aircraft arrives in Washington, D.C., dropping soldiers across the city with the intent to take over the White House and overthrow the president. It is revealed the president is hidden away.
- Evacuations are set for the unaffected areas of the city. Several Russian soldiers kill people attempting to flee the city limits.
10:14 AM
- POTUS and NORAD authorize launch of four ballistic missiles targeted at Moscow, Russia.
10:16 AM
- Four ballistic missiles are launched from the United States towards Russia.
- USAF continues to evacuate the outer regions of Washington, D.C.
10:17 AM
- ­A second nuclear weapon is detonated in the capitol, killing millions. It is unknown who detonated it or where it was detonated.
10:19 AM
- Russia retaliates by launching seven nuclear ballistic missiles targeting New York, Washington, Orlando, Boston, and Atlanta.
10:22 AM
- The United States launches nine more nuclear missiles targeting several Russian cities.
- Several Russian planes fly over the skies across the eastern seaboard attempting to drop soldiers with the intent on invasion. Many of them are shot down, their soldiers killed in their parachutes, regardless of the Geneva Convention.
10:25 AM
- Two Russian bombers drop three nuclear warheads onto Columbus, Ohio, destroying the city entirely. The resulting EMP causes the planes to crash, killing all onboard.
- Poland, France, and the United Kingdom join the conflict, firing their own missiles at Russia and China.
- Several Russian planes touch down in Detroit, Michigan, assuming complete control of the city over several hours.
10:40 AM
- Moscow is struck by two of three nuclear warheads, one failing to detonate. The other nine launches strike other Russian cities, including Saint Petersburg, Omsk, and Samara.
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- New York City, Orlando, Boston, and Philadelphia are hit by nuclear warheads and sustain heavy damage. Russia retaliates against Poland, the United Kingdom, and France with nuclear launches targeting them respectively. London, Paris, Nice, Manchester, Warsaw, and Marseille are all struck.
- Many refugees within the United States flee towards the center of the country, residing within the countryside and avoiding major cities. Denver, Oklahoma, and Houston—to name a few—are mostly deserted, with many vehicles remaining on the roads, forever trapped in gridlock.
- The east and west coasts are in complete blackout, a result of the EMPs created by the nuclear detonations.
- China has gone quiet in all military aspects. US soldiers in the region have confirmed that survivors are surrendering.
- Russia invades sections of the UK and Italy, expanding their territory with the intent to take control of more military weaponry. At the same time, their government no longer exists. Many survivors in the affected regions panic; the country is in absolute turmoil, with riots occurring everywhere.
- The northern area of Manhattan is mostly unaffected by the blast, but the radiation has killed most of the people in the vicinity. Cars are left running, filled with the corpses of those who succumbed while trying to escape. Bodies of USAF soldiers can be found as well.
- Riots break out in the few US cities still densely populated. Martial law is further enforced.
- The Blackout occurs: Many power plants within the affected regions are abandoned or destroyed. A rolling blackout occurs across most of North America. Very few cities still hold access to electricity.
June 14
- Radiation from the seaboards begins to seep into water systems and streams, which will begin to irradiate and pollute most major water sources across the country in the coming weeks.
- Patients in hospitals across the United States begin to die by the millions as backup power fails.
- Order starts to break down across several areas in the mid-US.
- Several more nations join into the conflict, firing their weapons at Russia and China.
- A global, limited nuclear exchange occurs. Action between nations is limited to several minutes. Detonations occur over three hours. 49 nations are confirmed affected or destroyed by the exchange. Very few nations remain unaffected or functioning, such as Africa, Australia, regions of South America, and parts of the central US. The rest struggle or collapse from radiation or economic failure.
June 15
- An undetonated nuclear warhead in Moscow suddenly explodes. Millions are killed in an instant. Remnants of Russian missile command see this as an attack and immediately fire twelve more nuclear missiles. They launch in random directions.
- Poland is hit again. England is hit again, London is devastated. Paris is struck again, causing the collapse of the famed Eiffel Tower. Uganda, Africa is struck, leading to them retaliating against Russia.
- The United States is once again hit by Russian warheads. New York’s north side is hit, killing millions of survivors. Washington, D.C. is hit again. NORAD nearly shoots down all of them. One surviving missile strikes Kansas City, devastating it in moments.
- After this day, no further nuclear missiles are launched from any nation. Communications break down across the world. The Great Silence begins.
June 16
- The War ends. Two-and-a-half billion people are dead. Many more are injured and dying; the death toll is expected to climb another billion over several months.
- Several countries drop communications, either intentionally or unintentionally. The United States, for two weeks, is isolated from the rest of the world except for Canada and remnants of Mexico.
June 18
- Radiation has seeped into the water systems of many inhabited US cities. People are poisoned and begin to die. USAF remnant soldiers begin to ration food and water to the population.
- NORAD is abandoned, its surviving crew scattering across the mid-US.
- Surviving members of the Woodstock Militia regroup in Denver with the intent to boost morale across the surviving states.
- Navezgane County, Arizona regains contact with the mid-US states. Several other counties of other western states soon do the same. Navezgane’s climate is heavily altered. Snowy regions plague the mountains, while plant-life blooms elsewhere. The area surrounding Gravestown is abandoned, filled with the bodies of war victims and populated with survivors, who are only now emerging from their bunkers with the intent on beginning a cleanup effort.
June 20
- Cleanup attempts begin across remnants of the nation with the help of USAF. The president is relocated to Denver, Colorado and addresses the nation to his best extent.
July 2-5
- The United States is divided into three sections: The States, The West Wasteland, and The East Wasteland.
- USAF members return from overseas after weeks of silence. Many have died from radiation poisoning and were buried in China.
- Survivors from neighboring countries, including China and Russia, begin to appear on shorelines as they make their way to the States. Very few are turned away. Many Chinese and Russian survivors surrender, only to be taken in and sheltered. It is from these survivors that the extent of the damage from the war is revealed. Russia’s economy collapsed in a matter of days, whereas China’s economy “seemingly collapsed the moment the very first bomb touched down.”
- People begin farms in their own backyards, planting gardens and producing crops.
July 5-16
- Power plants across the States are restored; the lights turn back on across the country, even in areas across the Wastelands. Navezgane County’s power is restored. Some power plants have melted down in recent weeks, irradiating parts of North America for thousands of years.
July-August
- The Great Meltdown occurs, a period in which power plants across the world experience near-simultaneous meltdowns as a result of abandonment and lack of maintenance. Several European countries are irradiated, millions killed.
- Japan’s nuclear plants melt down; those who were unable to flee die quickly of radiation poisoning.
- Hawaii is spared from the radioactive cloud, which eventually reaches North America by early August.
- The west coast of North America is devastated by radioactivity from the GM. Those not already killed by the war are killed by the cloud.
- Alaska is spared from the radioactive cloud.
- The majority of South America is spared from the radioactive cloud, but its west coast is devastated.
- Most of Europe is devastated. Those who are able to escape are forced underground.
- The world truly becomes isolated. Two billion more die during the Great Meltdown. Three-and-a-half billion survivors remain on Earth.
- The States are spared from the radioactive cloud that covers the majority of the planet.
- Very few places on the coastlines are spared from the radioactive cloud, such as Navezgane County.
- Many cities lie dead, full of the remains of the people who used to live there.
August
- An outbreak of Cholera occurs in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A mixture of radioactive and infected water leads to 100,000+ dead, an eighth of its population.
OUTBREAK OCCURS
- A mutation via radiation exposure leads to the full-blown outbreak of V-713, or known more as the Muerto contagion in North America.
August 4
- Cases of an unknown pathogen are reported in Navezgane and several other spots of land across the western board. Reports of infection are heard in Albuquerque and Sante Fe, New Mexico, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Denver, Colorado. Due to recent outbreaks of Cholera and other dangerous diseases, USAF and doctors collaborate to deliver protective masks, while simultaneously quarantining the sick.
August 5
- Bodies are found in multiple areas across several states, in similar condition to the bodies found in the Cascade Range months earlier.
- Muerto spreads into several more towns and cities. Hospitals quickly become overwhelmed with new admissions.
- Many fear the outbreak will reach their area and attempt to leave. Highways are once again clogged, while soldiers attempt to console and comfort those panicking, encouraging them to return home.
AUGUST 6 – THE MUERTOS RISE
- Cases spread further to larger cities.
- Hundreds of infected individuals begin to die in hospitals; some die on the streets. Several areas are quarantined, with hazmat teams burying the dead; in most cases, the dead are burned once space runs out.
- Reports of attacks begin to pile up in areas hit hardest by the infection. They are dismissed as riots and labelled as “fearful anarchists.”
- In the evening, sudden mass ‘riots’ break out across the western board. News reports depict people chasing each other and knocking others to the ground ‘with the intent to maim or kill’.
- Citizens, sick or healthy, attempt to flee the cities and areas that are in chaos. Many seek protection by local police forces, but are gunned down mistaken for attackers.
- Police forces in the main cities are quickly overwhelmed. USAF forces in the area respond with deadly force, but many of them are overwhelmed as well.
- Roadblocks are set up on highways, hoping to contain the violence to the cities—however, reports emerge of similar attacks occurring in small towns and even villages.
- The cities’ streets are a mix of stampeding civilians and crazed attackers.
August 7
12:00 AM – 5:00 AM
- USAF forces are forced to pull out of Denver’s limits. The president is long gone, relocated to De Moines, Iowa.
- Roadblocks outside Denver, Salt Lake City, and Santa Fe are overrun by infected individuals.
- Doctors confirm on radios and functioning stations that the attackers are deceased. The Muerto contagion is gained its name, but the infected are rarely, if ever, named as zombies.
7:23 AM
- The president addresses the nation, revealing the full scale of the situation and urges calm. This does little to prevent further panic.
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- The infected overrun multiple military outposts across several cities.
- USAF forces conduct mass napalm bombings in Salt Lake City, Denver, Santa Fe, and more, in an attempt to control the spread. The effort fails.
- Reports arise that USAF forces have gunned down refugees pouring into towns neighboring Denver and Santa Fe. Outrage spreads quickly as the infected continue to migrate further east.
4:00 PM – 11:00 PM
- USAF outposts in Fort Collins, Colorado and Rapid City, South Dakota are overrun by infected.
- Reports of infection arise in the city of Wichita, Kansas. Suspected cases are either quarantined or killed to contain the spread.
- Fort Collins is firebombed by USAF pilots. Containment is initially a success, but the sound draws mass herds of infected hosts. The fort is declared a lost cause.
August 8
- Outposts and blockades are stationed across several areas not yet hit, such as Navezgane County. Cities further to the east succumb to infection and riots.
- Firebombing methods are abandoned for major cities; citizens are left to their own devices. Many die in the panic.
August 10 – August 11
- The Muerto contagion is reported in Navezgane and several other counties. People resort to locking themselves in their homes or committing suicide. However, many commit suicide by either poisoning or hanging, leading to reanimation.
- Suicide patients begin to reanimate over several hours, leading to a siege of infected hosts in several towns.
- The Diersville hospital is under siege throughout the 11th, leading to the infected escaping and attacking the neighboring folk.
- Infection reported in Perishton.
August 13
- Perishton under siege.
- Diersville confirmed lost. Many residents forced to fend for themselves. USAF forces abandon the town after failed attempts to control the infected hordes. Some fleeing residents are gunned down, mistaken for the dead.
- Several nuclear weapons are dropped on Denver, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque as a last resort. The resulting blasts irradiate the entire region. Navezgane County is more or less sealed off from the rest of the nation.
August 18
- Power failures plague large regions of the States.
- The infection is controlled in several areas via USAF border fences.
- USAF forces begin airdrops in areas affected, but still holding survivors.
August 25
- Navezgane is declared a hazard zone. Airdrops still occur, but it is forbidden to set foot until otherwise.
- The Muerto contagion is contained; half of the States survive.
- 7 Days To Die begins.
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CONTRIBUTORS
u/Making_Bacon
u/watson895
u/Buggaton