DON'T DROP THAT ATOM BOMB ON ME

Jon sent me this fab piece of Cold War ephemera. It’s Seattle Civil Defense Manual 1951 (in its entirety) explaining how exactly to survive an atomic attack. (Although it could be equally applied to any medium sized city.) Specifics include how to build your own personal bomb shelter, tips for the aftermath of a blast (”wait at least one hour to give lingering radiation some chance to die down!”), how it kills you, and more. Just to make sure you are left in no doubt as to the identity of the enemy, and can easily recognize the commie bastards when they come at you, the pamphlet includes a list of “subversive organizations” from the House Un-American Activities Committee. Quaint? Sure. But maybe not as quaint as the bullshit that will be the legacy of the current administration when half a century has passed and they don’t really matter any more. (Click for the full fabulous facsimile)