This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.
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Toby sent this suggestion on do-it-yourself garage door security:
“Here are step-by-step instructions for a low-tech, garage door security system:
I use two ¼” red-handle cushion grip T-handle, Allen wrenches that are 8-inches long inserted in the slots/square holes located on both sides of my garage door rails and locking into the crossbar on the garage door. The photo above shows one of these wrenches in place, as seen from above. I don’t know if I got lucky or if other rails have square holes that align with the crossbar, but the Allen wrench fits perfectly through the square hole and onto the inside of the “U” crossbar.
Since I have a garage door opener, I keep the cheap metal door lock wired open (I never use the door handle lock). I don’t think the handle door lock offers much protection. I have removed the orange pull-down cord (no real need for it) and I have defused the manual opener with a zip tie. If I need to manually open the door, I can cut the zip tie, attach a cord, and pull the door open manually.
I am getting older, so sometimes I need reminders, visual reminders work best. So as not to open the garage door while my “security system” is in place, I hang a red dish towel ($1 @ the Dollar Store before the price changed to $1.25, still cheap) in the center of the garage door on the horizontal wire used for the door lock. When I “disable” and remove the Allen wrench lock pins, I then remove the red dish towel. When I “activate” and install the Allen wrenches, I hang the red dish towel.
My garage door opener wall control has an on/off switch. I switch it “off” when I install the Allen wrenches and hang the towel. I like redundant prompts and controls, so when the security system is activated, I cover the wall control with blue painter’s tape. When the security system is “deactivated,” I stick the painter’s tape on the door trim next to the wall control. I make sure the security system is “activated” each night before going to bed.
When I am going to be away for any length of time, I pull the vehicle out of the garage and “activate” the “security system.” I then exit the house through an outside door. Granted, I don’t have the ability to remotely open or close the garage door from my vehicle, but I do not have to worry about someone else accessing my garage.
The only maintenance required for my security system is to replace the blue painter’s tape every few months as it loses adhesion.
Costs:
T-handle, T-key Allen wrenches (2) = $15
Red Shop Towel = $1
Zip tie = $0.05
Blue painter’s tape = $0.01
Total cost = $16.06
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‘Planet killer’ asteroid found hiding in sun’s glare may one day hit Earth. (Thanks to reader D.S.V., for the link.)
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I highly recommend this lengthy interview that connects a lot of dots: How Elites Will Create a New Class of Slaves — Whitney Webb — The Glenn Beck Podcast — Ep 162. (Thanks to reader A.K. for the link.)
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Tim J. spotted this interesting video: The Cheese Caves of the United States.
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Reader X. wrote to mention a free database of amateur radio manuals.
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A.K. sent this video link: Virtual Chicken: Part 1: The Female Reproductive Tract.
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From SurvivalBlog reader C.B.: UK orders all England’s poultry kept in to fight bird flu.
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Reader Michael J., sent this: ‘The big one is coming’: US military nuclear commander warns America is falling behind China, is ‘going to get tested in ways that we haven’t been tested in a long time’ – and that Ukraine is ‘just the warmup‘. This article begins:
“Navy Adm. Charles A. Richard, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, on Wednesday issued an unusually blunt warning about American capability
One of America’s most senior military commanders who oversees the US nuclear weapons program has urged the United States to dramatically upgrade its defense capabilities, warning that the China was developing nuclear weapons faster than the U.S. and adding: ‘The big one is coming’.
Navy Adm. Charles A. Richard, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, issued an unusually blunt warning on Wednesday, saying that China’s nuclear threat was a ‘near-term problem’.
‘As I assess our level of deterrence against China, the ship is slowly sinking,’ Richard said.
‘It is sinking slowly, but it is sinking, as fundamentally they are putting capability in the field faster than we are.”
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WND: Why homeschooling in 1 state in growing by 20% … a year!
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H.L. sent this item: Hunting Coalition Seeks Injunction Against California Law Banning Free Speech.
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Of USA’s 30 Most Dangerous Cities, 27 Are Run By Democrats.
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Another from C.B.: Truth Cops: Leaked Documents Outline DHS’s Plans to Police Disinformation.
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A post by our friend and fellow blogger, Patrice Lewis: From fall to winter in 3.5 seconds.
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And lastly, D.S.V. suggested this article posted at Reason: ATF, Enforcer of Gun Laws, Lost ‘Thousands of Firearms, Firearm Parts’ to Thieves.
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