Odds ‘n Sods:

More media attention: Doomsday ‘preppers’ are getting ready for the end of the world. It is notable that the journalist quotes Shane Conner of KI4U.com–one of our advertisers.

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Jim K. recommended this very basic how-to video: How To Make a Secret Compartment in Your Wall, as well as this more elaborate procedure: How to Make a Secret Door to a Room or Closet, and this one: How to Build a Secret Underground Room, this one: Hidden-Pivot Bookcase Door, this one: Secret Passage Behind A Custom Built In Bookshelf, and lastly this one: Hidden Door Walkthrough.

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E.B. mentioned the new $1.00 map sale from the USGS for selected topographic maps.  The sale continues through June 4, 2012.

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I recently received a small sample of a hard ballistic protection panel made to NIJ Level 3 standards. These Armorcore panels are mainly sold to beef up bank teller booths, pharmacy sales counters, and similar structures. While quite expensive per square foot, this material would be very useful in places where you can’t stack sandbags, such as when constructing apartment panic rooms.

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Kyle Myers (that fake Russian accent gun nut guy, “Dimitri”) has a new FPS Russia video: The Quadrotor Machinegun. (Warning: Coarse language.) JWR’s Comment: I am dubious whether the “100-round magazine gun” shown mounted on the UAV was functional. Do a freeze frame and look closely. All that I could see was a bogus-looking barrel assembly with a flexible tube coming out the back. I suspect that it was a mock-up gas gun, and that the bullets hitting the Tannerite in the mannequins (and the equal opportunity womannequins) came from a traditional shooter, off camera. I am also not convinced the was personally handling all of the UAV’s flight controls. But it was a glimpse into the future–and entertaining–nonetheless.