#mres

There are a few scenes in Iron Lung, particularly when Simon is lost in the cave system, where it looks like Simon is chewing. I never knew what was up until the digital release. You can see the contents of the kit the submarine was equipped with, and there is a 1200 calorie "food" package inside.

My guess is that scenes were filmed of Simon having a little snack courtesy of the C.O.I., but that they were cut for runtime and pacing reasons. Only the chewing scenes remain. One of the more noticeable times is when Simon is almost about to drift off as he tries to navigate the cave system. He has this polite, chew-with-your-mouth-closed deal, and it's adorable.

I am dead curious about what an MRE from the C.O.I. looks like. It's just hardtack, isn't it? It's just a big old brick of hardtack.

But! I will say that since some of the convicts made it back up, they sent Simon down with water, food, and emergency medical supplies--and the Council Authority decided to stop all exploration of AT-5 once Simon's sub went missing--the C.O.I. might not be nearly as gung-ho about killing those responsible for attacking Filament Station as it might seem to Simon.

David, of course, lost his temper with Simon and said there were "plenty more" where Simon came from, as in more convicts to send into the blood ocean. But, again, he was really mad at that time, and also not in charge of operations. Ava and those she answers to definitely don't seem as keen to let a man die down there as a form of punishment. There's just too much bad blood between the factions for there to be trust. It makes Simon's decision to do as Ava asked at the end of the film all the more lovely.

For anyone unfamiliar, MREs are Meals Ready to Eat, the field rations issued to US soldiers.

Regarding MREs - they do not come with expiration dates. They come with printed manufacturing dates. MREs have a variable shelf life, and that can be as low as a few months in bad conditions, and as much as 10 years in optimized conditions (thus, no hard expiration date.) As long as the wrappers remain intact (they're very durable) they are unlikely to cause food-borne illness.

USDA MRE Shelf Stability

Regarding the food contents of MREs - yes, it's super unfortunate that the food getting dropped in was not Halal. Does the United States manufacture Halal and Kosher MREs? YES, absolutely. However, they are made on demand, there is not a ready stockpile of them (because the demand is usually consistent) and the lead time for production for OUTSIDE of the United States is 90-150 days, on the link below it is the OCONUS (outside continental US). The war in Gaza has been going on for 152 days - and I don't think many people thought it would go this long or result in this level of humanitarian crisis. Without a ready stockpile of Halal meals, the US has the choice of dropping pallets of meals (each case comes with 12 different meals, they are not packaged by hand before getting loaded onto the plane) or holding back ALL food aid in this form because some of the meals contain things Muslims cannot eat. I think the thinking was "better to give folks SOMETHING and an option than nothing at all."

US Defense Logistics Agency, Halal MREs

Regarding the "unsatisfying amount of food." - Yes, MREs contain 1/3 of the daily nutritional requirements of an adult who is doing vigorous exercise. Folks were upset that the US wasn't dropping Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) - HDRs would be the superior choice here. There are no animal products and they have more calories per meal (you need one per day as an adult.) Humanitarian Daily Ration Information

Given that the United States has said they're going to provide more humanitarian aid, they've been ramping up production of one or both of these options. The logistics of this process are pretty mind boggling - produce and package extremely specific foods in the United States, palletize it, send it to a staging area, and air drop it into a location thousands of miles away is a *complex* operation. The first food aid into anywhere isn't going to be the best, it's going to be what's available right now. The Egyptians, across the border, were sending expired food in November. It's what they had. Feeding 2 million people is no joke.

For those saying "they can give Israel weapons, but can't get Gaza food" the US already had a weapon logistics operation (artillery shells, ammunition, vehicles, etc) established to support the Ukrainians - and have been diverting some of those things to Israel which is a whole other barrel of monkeys I'm not getting into here.

In the unpredictable journey of survival, having the right companions can make all the difference. Enter MREs – Meals Ready to Eat, the battle-tested sustenance that stands as a beacon of resilience in challenging situations. Let's explore how these military-style meals become your trustworthy allies, guiding you through the twists and turns of survival.

The Battle-Ready Basics

MREs are no ordinary meals; they're a culinary lifeline designed for military use. Packed with nutrients and carefully curated, they are field-tested to ensure they meet the demands of real-life survival scenarios.

Portability at Its Finest

Survival often means being on the move, and MREs are crafted with this in mind. Compact, lightweight, and easy to carry, these meals are the perfect companions for adventurers, hikers, or anyone navigating the great outdoors.

Diverse Flavors for Every Palette

Banish the notion that survival food is bland and tasteless. MREs surprise with a diverse menu, offering everything from robust entrees to delightful desserts. It's a culinary experience that defies the stereotypes of military-style meals.

Ready to Eat, No Fuss Required

Survival situations leave little room for complicated cooking setups. MREs come with a straightforward solution – a flameless ration heater. Just add water, and you have a hot and satisfying meal without the need for a stove or culinary expertise.

Shelf Life Assurance

When planning for the unknown, worrying about food expiration is the last thing you need. MREs boast an extended shelf life, remaining fresh and edible for an extended period. It's a reliability factor that adds peace of mind to your preparedness plan.

Nutritional Support for the Journey

Survival is not just about calories; it's about nourishment. MREs are carefully balanced with proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals to provide the nutrition your body needs to stay resilient and focused.

Conclusion: Guiding You Through the Unknown

I've gotten to talk about these a little.

Thoughts on the best.

Thoughts on the worst.

First: Find out what's good and what's bad and learn what's valuable for trading. If you learn to like unpopular options and avoid ever having to finesse a bad MRE, all the easier for you.

Won't pretend I have a magic bullet to make a bad meal better. Lot of people just make a habit of carrying hot sauce or something like that. It can help.

Weird trick that works sometimes is temperature. Some things with a strange flavor are easier cold, if you can take the texture. Sense of taste works worse cold.