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Most people look sideways at “doomsday preppers.” Consider this: You walk into someone’s house and see wall-to-wall tins of beans, a huge underground bunker, and an arsenal large enough to invade a small nation. You’d probably make a break for the exit.

“Prepping” is the phenomenon where people prepare — and possibly even hope — for the end of the world. They are the off-grid survivalists who take hoarding to the next level. And, in an age of global pandemics and pariah nuclear states, I bet at least a few of your friends have indulged in a bit of prepping.  

The fact is that we are all preppers to some extent. Few households only live with one toilet roll, for instance, and we buy more than enough food for today, alone. We plan and prepare. We stock up on medicines “in case” we get ill. We save up money “for a rainy day,” and we don’t throw away clothes “in case I need it later.” All of which is normal and rational prepping. So, rather than being an either/or situation, prepping is much more of a scale. 

The question, then, is when does healthy, sensible prudence become “prepping”? How many tins of beans make a stockpile and when does a basement become a bunker? 

A minority affair

After any global pandemic, there’s usually a spike in prepping. In the months after the SARS outbreak in 2003, for instance, the overwhelming majority of households in Hong Kong started to hoard food, medications, and “young children’s necessities.” In the UK, after the so-called swine flu epidemic, a fifth of the population claimed to be prepping up.  

Despite these pockets of panic, prepping is still a fairly localized thing. Those who prep often have high anxiety, depression, and distrust others. In 2019, Fetterman et al. showed that prepping is correlated with “paranoia, cynicism, and conspiracy mentality.” It’s something also heavily influenced by your social circles. So, if your uncle keeps loudly telling you that prepping is important, that the end is nigh, and he keeps on buying you four gallons of water every Christmas, then that works its way into your psyche, eventually.

Prepping is a minority pastime for a minority of the population, who are also likely to have underlying mental health issues.

Prepping goes mainstream

That all changed with COVID. As one 2021 study noticed, there was a much more mainstream and generalized increase in “prepping behaviors like stockpiling.” This is probably down to the fact that doomsday predictions and widespread panic were more common. Most of us were locked in our houses, bunkering down, and digesting a news narrative that wouldn’t be out of place in a dystopian movie.

There is, and always has been, a social element to this. As Smith et al. mention, “Stockpiling was mediated by social learning (witnessing other people panic buying).” So, when you see people buying up all of a grocery store’s toilet paper, you feel you should buy “just a few more packs”, as well. When you read in the news that there’s a shortage of baby formula, you make sure you are covered just in case. If a politician says there’s going to be a delay in gas deliveries, you fill up every spare container you have.

And, when we laugh at “panic buyers” in the bar or over dinner, we utterly fail to appreciate the irony of the matter — we are just as much the problem.

I’m not a prepper…am I?

When, then, does prepping become a “problem”? When does buying a few spare things becomes a bit weird? When should your friends become worried about you?

Luckily, one 2018 study developed a test to examine just that. It’s called the Survivalist Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ), and it “was designed from the limited academic literature concerning survivalist strategies and more generally across several survival handbooks.” Its aim is to mix common, or at least socially accepted, prepping — what we’d call “prudence” — with those found in more advanced prepping manuals.

This is how it works: For each of the following eight statements, you give a score from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) and tally up your numbers.

1. I have stockpiled food and water to survive a potential major disaster.

2. I have stockpiled weapons to survive a potential major disaster.

3. I have stockpiled equipment and materials to survive a potential major disaster.

4. I regularly think through in my mind ways to survive a potential major disaster.

5. I have thought through who would be in my survival group.

6. I know where I could get more supplies to survive a potential major disaster.

7. I have a plan I could put into operation to survive a potential major disaster.

8. I have attended survival courses to help me get through a potential major disaster.

How’d I do?

Well, the first thing to say is that it’s much more common to talk about or plan something (statements 4, 5, 7, and 8) than actually do it. What’s more, some of these statements are clearly more socially acceptable than others — 1 and 3 are fairly normal but 2 and 8 might raise a few eyebrows. As for 5… well, if you’ve not had that conversation with your friends at least once, I don’t know what you’re doing with your time.

So, what’s the “I’ve got a problem” number? It turns out that the average score across the participants was 19 points. So, if you score less than that, you’re less “prepped” than average. If you score substantially more than that, then, at the very least, that places you as an outlier. At worst, perhaps you need to ask yourself some questions.

Of course, this is not an exact science, and Jackson’s study does acknowledge the correlation between those who score highly and those with other health conditions, like anxiety, paranoia, or depression. Perhaps prepping, like all of those, ought to be seen as a problem only in degree, rather than kind.

Jonny Thomson teaches philosophy in Oxford. He runs a popular account called Mini Philosophy and his first book is Mini Philosophy: A Small Book of Big Ideas.

BOULDER — Colorado quarterback Owen McCown practiced in a “limited” role Tuesday and Buffaloes coach Mike Sanford said CU’s starting quarterback for Saturday’s game at Oregon State will “ultimately be a game-time decision.”

The Buffs (1-5 overall, 1-2 Pac-12) face the Beavers (5-2, 2-2) in Corvallis in a 6 p.m. game at Reser Stadium to be televised by the Pac-12 Network and broadcast by KOA Radio.

McCown, a true freshman, has started the last three games for Colorado. But he was removed from last Saturday’s win over Cal late in the third quarter after taking a couple big hits earlier in the game. Sanford said he didn’t feel McCown was 100 percent and he inserted junior J.T. Shrout into the game.

Shrout led the Buffs to a touchdown and field goal in the fourth quarter, then threw what proved to be the game-winning touchdown in overtime, a 22-yard toss to Montana Lemonious-Craig in a 20-13 CU victory.

Shrout finished 8-for-12 for 69 yards and a touchdown against Cal while McCown was 13-for-21 for 104 yards.

“Owen was dinged up, even at practice today,” Sanford said. “There’s a reason why we made the move. He was banged up and that carried over a little bit into Tuesday. But he was able to be out at practice and take some limited reps.”

But Sanford is confident that no matter who gets the start — McCown or Shrout — the Buffs will be in good hands.

“I think we’re in a good position at  quarterback, and what we’ve said all along is whatever it takes for us to win football games, we’re going to do,” Sanford said.

Shrout has started two games this year for CU — Air Force and Minnesota — but neither produced good results. He had turnovers that led to opponent touchdowns on the first series of each game.

But Saturday, he appeared to be much more confident and relaxed in his role.

“I think some of JT’s rough starts came from almost an over-driven, over-intense mentality,” Sanford said. “I like the head space he’s been in (recently), workmanlike, focused and confident. There’s been a calm to him recently, and that’s part of growth. His demeanor was much better going into this game … I think that that’s paying dividends for him. His teammates believe in him. They always have, but now there’s some tangible evidence to back up just what he can be. We have two quarterbacks right now that have proven that they can put us in a position to win football games.”

Sanford also confirmed that quarterback Brendon Lewis will put his name in the transfer portal. Lewis started all 12 games for Colorado last year and was the starter in this season’s opener. But he was replaced by Shrout as the starter in Week 2 and made just one more appearance, a relief role against Minnesota.

“This isn’t a surprise,” Sanford said. “We’ve had ongoing conversations for weeks. I wish him the best. I’ve said since I’ve been able to take over this role that I’m always going to look out for the best of the player. I have a tremendous relationship with B-Lew … At the end of the day, I think B-Lew needed a fresh start, and certainly there are times in every player’s career, every coach’s career and even in a program’s history where you need a fresh start. I wish him without question the best.”

SIDELINE ENERGY: Sanford’s father, Mike Sanford Sr., was on the sidelines for Saturday’s game. The elder Sanford, a long-time coach at the college and pro level, coached in a game Friday night, then flew to Colorado early Saturday morning.

It meant the two were back on the sidelines together again, a scenario that has been played and replayed since the younger Sanford was 9 years old.

“My first assignment was when I carried John Robinson’s (headset) cords,” Sanford said. “I just love the interaction. I love the energy, I love the interaction with the crowd.”

Sanford has spent much of his career as an assistant, oftentimes in the pressbox calling plays as an offensive coordinator.

“There’s been times where I haven’t been able to be on the field,” he said. “You can’t look the quarterback in the eyes. To me, to be a really, really good quarterback coach you have to have played that position or groomed that position your entire life because there’s a look in the eyes of a quarterback. You can tell when things are really good and there’s times when you know somebody’s banged up.”

That access, Sanford said, was a big help in making the decision to change QBs against Cal.

“For me to be able to be down there and be the voice with the quarterbacks on the sideline, to make decisions relative to the position, it’s a benefit,” he said.

WET-WEATHER PREP: Saturday’s forecast for Corvallis calls for a high of just 54 degrees and a 60 percent chance of showers during the day, clearing by the evening.

The Buffs have played in similar weather once this year, a 41-10 loss at Air Force. Both teams had trouble holding onto the ball in the game, with each committing three turnovers.

Sanford said the Buffs the Buffs’ preparation for possible wet weather this week will include “wet ball” drills, as well as testing a variety of different gloves and gear.

“We’re anticipating playing in a wet game,” Sanford said. “Anytime you go to Corvallis, it could be sunny and 75 on the radar and all of a sudden here comes that mist that ends up turning into rain. So we’re preparing for every element.”

Against Air Force, the Buffs fumbled the ball away on their first possession, leading to an AFA touchdown.

“We didn’t handle the elements particularly well,” he said. “We started slowly as a result of the elements. We’re not going to allow that to happen.”

Sanford said he has several other ideas in place to change up CU’s approach to road games, ranging from a quick loosening up on the tarmac upon arrival to a morning walk the day of the game.

“We have an entire plan in place,” he said. “It’s really all about getting their bodies, their minds in a great spot to go perform at a high level.”

CHANGE IN APPROACH: Buffs tackle Jake Wiley, who Sanford said had his best game of the year against Cal, said he has changed his approach recently.

 “I just feel I don’t want to let anyone else on the team down so I feel like for me my performance on Saturday was really playing for everyone else,” Wiley said. “For me, what really pushed me to play my best was just having the pride and knowing that I don’t want to let my teammates down.”

Against Cal, the 6-6, 310-pound sophomore had his best overall Pro Football Focus grade of the season in games in which he has played at least 25 snaps. 

Also having a solid game against Cal was true freshmen center Van Wells, who played 73 snaps against the Bears. After starting two games at left guard, Wells has started the last two at center and continues to improve on a weekly basis.

Earning a start on the offensive line as a true freshman is a rarity. It is even more rare to get the nod as center. That’s the position that is in charge of making line calls and communicating prior to every snap.

“It’s his athleticism, his love for playing the game,” Sanford said. “When you watch him play, you can feel his joy for the game of football. He  just gets better and better and better every week. That’s a rare position to start as a true freshman. His communication is getting better. He’s been a really positive addition for our offense.”

Wells, from Houston, did not arrive on campus until the summer session. But he has caught on quickly and has given CU some flexibility on the interior, allowing the Buffs to also use veterans Noah Fenske and Austin Johnson at center and guard.

MORE PLAYERS ENGAGED: Sanford has made a number of changes in CU’s practice routine, ranging from a Sunday afternoon “Ralphie Bowl” that allows players who didn’t play Saturday to participate in a full scrimmage, to the institution of a “towel mafia” on the sidelines during games. Players wave towels to drum up emotion from their teammates and the crowd.

Also, Sanford and special teams coach Chris Reinert have created the “Dog Squad,” the name for CU’s scout team defense, and those players have also become key special teams contributors.

“Those guys are essentially our version of the 12th man,” Sanford said. “The Dog Squad is out there eating every time they make a play in the game and practice.”

The idea is to get more players invested in practice, which increases competition and improves everyone’s play.

“When you have more people bought in and more people invested in what’s going on on Saturdays, you get better results in practice,” Sanford said. “You get better results in your process, your preparation, and ultimately, I believe it pays off on game day, and that’s what we saw.”

Apple is prepping a smart HomePod hub that will allow users to dock iPads to create a smart hub system with hi-fi speakers. The approach would be similar to what Google is doing with its upcoming Pixel Tablet.

Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:

I’m told Apple is working to bring similar functionality to the iPad as soon as 2023. I reported last year that Apple is exploring a stand-alone device that combines an iPad with a speaker hub. The idea is to offer something that users can place on a kitchen counter, in the living room or on their nightstand. But Apple also has worked on an iPad docking accessory that it could sell separately and would accomplish much of the same thing.

Regardless of its ultimate approach, the move would mark one of Apple’s most significant pushes into smart-home devices, expanding on its still small foothold in set-top boxes and speakers.

Apple also continues to work on an updated version of the HomePod that would be larger than the product’s mini version and a combined Apple TV and smart-speaker device with a camera for FaceTime and other functions. Until those are ready, though, the 12-year-old iPad could be the company’s best bet in making some noise in the smart-home space.

MacDailyNews Note: Gurman also reports that launches via press release loom for the new 11- and 12.9-inch M2 iPad Pro models, a new iPad with USB-C and a design similar to the iPad Pro, 14- and 16-inch M2 MacBook Pro models, an M2 Mac mini, and a new Apple TV with an A14 Bionic chip and 4GB of memory (vs the A12 Bionic chip and 3GB in the current Apple TV 4K).

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President Joe Biden apparently has a plan in the works to either reverse gas prices that have jumped an average of 13 cents in the last week. 

The president noted that gas prices have dropped by about $1 per gallon since the beginning of summer, “But the price of gas is still too high, and we need to keep working to bring it down. I’ll have more to say about that next week.”

He provided no specifics while talking to a group in Los Angeles about bipartisan infrastructure investments, but it’s possible further releases from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve could play a role. White House officials have offered no formal comment about what action the president is considering.

OPEC causing price spike

Gas prices have risen an average of 13 cents a gallon in the last week in the wake of OPEC’s announced plans to cut production between 500,000 and 2 million barrels daily in the weeks ahead. The move caused the price of crude oil to rise immediately.

Prices of gas in the U.S. are hovering around an average of $3.90 a gallon, according to AAA, on Friday. That’s a small improvement from the start of the week when the group reported the average was $3.91 a gallon.

Biden quickly responded to the OPEC announcement, criticizing the group and vowing “consequences” for the action, but not revealing what those consequences will be. He’s said since then he’s reviewing the options available without offering specifics about what could be done.

Senior Biden administration officials have suggested imposing export limits in an effort to shore up fuel stocks and bring relief to consumers, Bloomberg reported, adding the move could backfire, according to economists and energy experts, and lead to higher prices in New England and on the West Coast. 

OPEC’s impact

The national average is up 22.5 cents from a month ago and 67 cents per gallon higher than a year ago., according to GasBuddy.com. The national average price of diesel has risen 18 cents in the last week and stands at $5.04 per gallon.

“With OPEC+ deciding to cut oil production by two million barrels a day, we’ve seen oil prices surge 20%, which is the primary factor in the national average rising for the third straight week,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, in his blog earlier in the week. 

“Some of the refinery snags that have caused prices to surge in the West and Great Lakes appear to be improving, with prices in those two regions likely to inch down, even with OPEC’s decision, as the drop in wholesale prices has offset the rise due to the production cut. But where gas prices didn’t jump because of refinery issues, they will rise a total of 10-30 cents due to oil’s rise, and some areas are certainly seeing the jump already. For now, I don’t expect much improvement in prices for most of the country, with California and the Great Lakes as the exception, with downdrafts likely in the days and weeks ahead.”

Nearly all CEOs are readying for the U.S. economy to fall into a recession, according to a survey released Thursday by The Conference Board.

The survey, The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence, found that 98% of CEOs indicated they were preparing for a U.S. recession over the next year or year and a half. That figure is five percentage points higher than in the third-quarter survey.

Of those who anticipated a recession, 85% said they’re prepping for a “brief and shallow” one with “limited global spillover,” according to The Conference Board. About 13% said they are bracing for a “deep” U.S. recession “with material global spillover.”

PEOPLE’S VIEWS ABOUT THEIR PERSONAL FINANCES HAVE GROWN MORE NEGATIVE: POLL

“CEO confidence sunk further to start Q4 and is at its lowest level since the Great Recession,” Dana Peterson, The Conference Board’s chief economist, said in a statement. 

Roughly 81% of CEOs said economic conditions had gotten worse compared to six months ago, a 4% increase from the third quarter, according to The Conference Board. Nearly three-quarters were pessimistic about their expectations for the coming six months, with 74% saying they thought conditions would get worse.

US ECONOMY IS HEADED FOR RECESSION IN A FEW MONTHS, JPMORGAN’S JAMIE DIMON WARNS

U.S. economic growth, as measured by gross domestic product, fell in the first and second quarters of the year. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, recessions are technically defined by back-to-back quarters of negative economic growth and characterized by slowing retail sales, high unemployment, falling income and low or negative GDP growth. 

“However, despite expectations of slower growth, tight labor market conditions and wage pressures persist, while hiring plans remained robust,” Peterson noted.

The survey also found that a majority of CEOs are still grappling with inflation. About 59% of CEOs said input costs over the prior three months “remained about the same or increased” and they “do not anticipate easing” by year’s end, according to The Conference Board. 

Both consumer and wholesale inflation remained painfully high in September, FOX Business previously reported.

The consumer price index rose 0.4% from August and 8.2% from the prior year, the Labor Department said Thursday. 

Meanwhile, data released Wednesday showed the producer price index also rose, climbing 0.4% month-over-month and 8.5% year-over-year. 

According to the survey, 30% of CEOs also said their input costs have stayed the same or gone up but indicated they “expect to see easing by year end.” Conversely, just 3% said input costs have eased, enabling them to lower consumer prices.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS

The Conference Board surveyed more than 130 CEOs between Sept. 19 and Oct. 8.

Absentee ballots for November’s midterm election will be mailed to eligible Montana voters starting Friday, October 14. Preparing those ballots for distribution is a massive undertaking.

MTPR’s Edward O’Brien attended an election office open house in Missoula last week for a first-hand look at what it takes to get those ballots to your mailbox.

“I stamp the ballots and tear off the stubs and then pass them with an envelope to her. And she stuffs the envelope,” said Doris Walther.

Walther is one of 34 election assistants prepping nearly 60,000 mail-in ballots the postal service will deliver to eligible voters late this week.

“And we have been preparing about 20,000 ballots a day to go out in the mail,” said Missoula County Election Administrator Bradley Seaman.

“As we go through this process every ballot has to be stamped, official ballot stub removed and inserted in there and then they double check to make sure ‘Can you see it in the window?’ ‘Will it get to the voter?’” said Seaman.

It takes precision, teamwork, and plenty of oversight to prepare the ballot packets for mailing.

The 17 teams of two working at Missoula’s Election Center are not only assembling those packets, but checking and double checking each other’s work. An on-site coordinator oversees the entire operation. Cameras lining the room add yet another layer of security.

Election Assistant Jawayne Moody recommends anyone contemplating running for office, “Should spend some time going through the whole process in the election office just to see all the checks and balances and how it would be very difficult to interfere with the election results.”

Election officials in other states are increasingly concerned that groups hope to undermine election results by installing supporters as poll workers.

Missoula Election Administrator Bradley Seaman says multiple layers of election security measures in Montana drastically minimizes the chances something like that could happen here.

“Working in teams of three at a polling place help prevent those malicious actions. So we have to see an I.D., we have to track it in that poll book and work with that ballot judge. And then at the end of that polling place, we go through and confirm every ballot issued to the number of ballots on hand to make sure that matched. So simply the election law practices really prevent that malicious action from taking place.”

Election Assistant Doris Walther has helped with Missoula County elections since 2002. She has little patience for those who question local election integrity.

“I was in the Navy. I have a foul mouth. I talk like a sailor. I would just tell them they needn’t worry about that. We’re doing a good job. We’re conscientious about it,” said Walther

Election Administrator Bradley Seaman hopes public open houses like the one held this week in Missoula helps provide transparency and reassures the voting public.

The Montana Supreme Court last month meanwhile, reinstated a block on a state law eliminating same day voter registration.

Seaman urges those who plan on registering for the November 8 election to do so sooner than later. He says voters who register anytime between now and Election Day can expect that process to take about two minutes. That same process on election day itself could take upwards of two hours.

If you’re unsure about your voter registration status or local polling place, visit https://app.mt.gov/voterinfo/.

Have questions about voting in Montana? We’re here to help.

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Days after Omaha’s Alamo Drafthouse in Midtown announced it had closed, a local auctioneer posted photos of some of the movie theater’s items that will be up for sale.

The theater had its final days of screenings over the weekend, posting about the decision on its Facebook page late Sunday, saying the theater hadn’t been able to recover from the decline in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday evening, The Auction Mill posted a photo collage of everything from theater seats, a popcorn machine, and commercial kitchen equipment to old movie posters and even the Iron Giant himself. According to the post, the auction catalog will be available online in two weeks, with the auction closing Sunday, Nov. 20.

The Alamo Drafthouse is a chain of movie theaters that started in Texas before expanding to several cities, including Omaha; there is also a location in La Vista.

The Midtown location had previously been a Marcus Theatres location before Alamo refurbished and re-opened it in 2019.

The company filed for bankruptcy in March 2021.

Copyright 2022 WOWT. All rights reserved.

Another gameday, just another win for Cooper Rush, one of the coolest NFL stories this season as the undrafted free agent who came on in relief of Cowboys superstar Dak Prescott has improbably won four straight starts.

And another Victory Monday in Dallas means just another week of getting ready to do it again for No. 10.

Buy Cowboys Tickets

After initial reports seemed to suggest that the Cowboys’ $40 million man would be back under center much sooner than expected, everyone around the team now seems to be pumping the brakes somewhat. That’s partly because, under Rush’s management, the season isn’t exactly slipping away as many assumed it would be. But it’s also because there seems to be some debate about Prescott’s fractured hand and how far along he is in the healing process.

Prescott, unsurprisingly, is all optimism. During Sunday’s Week 5 game in Los Angeles, Fox sideline reporter Tom Rinaldi noted on-air that the two-time Pro Bowler greeted him with a strong handshake and asked pointedly, “How’s my grip feel?”

Prescott was seen on the sideline wearing a protective tape job on his right thumb, but he was also spotted doling out fist bumps.

That came just hours after NFL Network insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport cited sources as saying that Prescott was “still regaining grip strength and would need to make significant strides to be ready” by the team’s Week 6 primetime showdown with Philadelphia.

“The biggest thing for Dak is just to make sure the ball’s coming off his hand the way he’s accustomed to it coming off his hand,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy told media members following Sunday’s 22-10 win over the Rams. “He’ll continue to work that way starting Monday.”

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said of Prescott, “He’ll throw a lot this week.”

Dak Prescott said tonight he’s gripping the football now and labels himself as “day-to-day” — looking to take the next step in practice in Week 6.

“Things are happening fast.” – Dak

Will he throw to WRs this week?

“I’ll push and start doing all of that.”

— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) October 10, 2022

The seven-year veteran had an X-ray planned for Monday and a doctor’s appointment scheduled for Tuesday, but Rapoport is calling Prescott “a long shot to play” versus the Eagles and added that he “still can’t grip a football.”

For the record, Prescott claims he can.

The quarterback’s handshake skills aside, those conflicting reports don’t paint the picture of a passer who’s a surefire lock to retake the controls of an NFL offense, especially considering that McCarthy continues to express a desire that Prescott get in a full week of practice before reclaiming his starting role.

“That’s what I’d like to see,” the coach said. “I think it’s a practical approach.”

But the reality is, there’s a lot less urgency in making a go/no-go decision on Prescott with the way the team has been playing in his absence.

Yes, the Cowboys are 4-1, but Rush hasn’t exactly set the league on fire. He’s tossed just four touchdowns this year and has yet to top 235 passing yards in a game. Heck, he only attempted 16 passes and barely cracked 100 yards against Los Angeles.

But that was entirely the point. The game plan from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore was to pound the ground attack and minimize the number of pass-rush opportunities for Rams defensive end Aaron Donald. The backup QB is doing exactly what he’s being asked to do.

And while he’s doing it, he’s making almost no mistakes whatsoever. Rush is the only quarterback in the league with over 25 attempts on the season (40 passers total) who hasn’t thrown an interception.

That’s not cause for a quarterback controversy in Dallas; the only people lobbying for Rush to keep starting over a healthy Prescott are attention-seeking hot-take artists and card-carrying Dak haters.

But until Prescott actually is FULLY healthy, Rush’s completely competent level of play is precisely the situation every club dreams of their backup putting them in.

“This is all you could possibly ask,” Jones explained Sunday. “It gives us great quarterbacking. Dak is going to get better this week; I have no idea whether he’ll lineup against Philadelphia or not.”

Include the man who’s actually on the bubble in that group, too.

“I have no idea,” Rush echoed to reporters from the podium Sunday evening in Los Angeles. “I think it’s kind of business as usual, how it’s been. I haven’t heard any updates; I don’t think we have any updates. Just a usual week: you go in every week thinking you’re going to play.”

And for at least one more week, it’s entirely possible Rush just might.

I, like most UC San Diego students, am pretty busy. Between homework, my job, extracurriculars, and now a commute to school, I feel like I barely have time to breathe. Something that has been particularly challenging for me is cooking. Since I have moved into my apartment, I have found that cooking takes a long time, not to mention the grocery store trips and washing dishes. It has gotten to the point where if I wanted to make a homemade meal, I would end up behind in everything else. 

This is why I decided to try out meal prepping. By this, I mean planning out what I am going to eat ahead of time and pre-preparing everything to the best of my ability. This could entail pre-cooking all your meals or simply chopping up the ingredients you already know you’re going to use. Though meal prepping has been in existence for quite a long time, I see it most on TikTok, where people recommend different food-prep meals to put in little containers for the rest of the week. I have been trying the same for a few weeks now and, while not an expert, I feel at least a little qualified to tell you all about it. 

Let’s start with the benefits of meal prep. The main thing that I have noticed is that the pre-made meal structure reduces your cooking time to ten minutes or less. There is also far less cleaning to be done afterwards. My grocery trips have also been faster, seeing that I know exactly what I am prepping and what I need to buy. This also allows me to plan to buy things that are on sale by looking on the website or grocery store ads. I have also discovered that planning ahead of time makes me less likely to buy impulsive purchases. 

Additionally, prepping my meals ahead of time has resulted in them being healthier and more balanced. When I plan my meals, I am able to make sure that I am including every group on the food pyramid. Before this I was just eating what I had available, which usually only had one or two different food groups. Having a more colorful and nutritious plate has been a great change of pace for me. 

However, there are definitely downsides to meal prep. Although I personally like the consistency, many people do not like eating the same meal several days in a row. I will admit that it is easy to get sick of even your favorite meals if you are having them every day. I have also found that it is hard to keep track of portion sizes because the truth is, you do not know how hungry you’ll be until right before you eat, possibly making the meal you have packed either too big or too small. You also might prepare too much food at the start of the week (or however far ahead you plan for) and it can go bad before you can eat it all. And finally, although cooking will be quicker most days, you usually have to set aside one to two hours every week to actually do the prepping. 

So, there it is. The real truth about meal prep. Personally, I enjoy it. It saves me time, money, and effort, and who am I to say no to that? However, I totally understand those of you who will say, “no thanks, I’ll try something else.” Meal prepping is not for everyone, and the sooner you find out what works for you, the better. 

That’s all for today. Have fun cooking!

Photo via Ella Olsson on Unsplash

WILLIAMSVILLE, Ill. (WAND) — Two undefeated teams clash in our WAND Matchup of the Week.

6-0 Williamsville is hosting 6-0 Maroa-Forsyth.

These two teams have won or shared the regular season conference title each year since 2016.

The Bullets defense hasn’t given up more than 14 points in a single game so far this season but Williamsville knows this Maroa-Forsyth offense is dangerous and can score in a hurry.

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