Category: Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on digital home invasion–sadly by both hackers and by our own NSA. Parliament’s Brexit Betrayal D.S. sent us a link to the latest from commentator Mark Steyn (who you might have heard filling in for Rush Limbaugh): Exit Brexit.  D.S. included a brief excerpt: “Last night, sixteen days before Britain supposedly leaves the European Union in accord with the people’s vote of three years ago, their elected representatives voted …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on the contemporary revival of Typhus in the United States. Typhus and TB are Spreading We’ll start of with this in The Atlantic, suggested by readers G.P. and J.C.: Medieval Diseases Are Infecting California’s Homeless: Typhus, tuberculosis, and other illnesses are spreading quickly through camps and shelters. Here is a passage: Infectious diseases—some that ravaged populations in the Middle Ages—are resurging in California and around the country, and are …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA Reports Admits Failures Reader G.P sent this:  New FEMA Report Admits Preparedness Failures.  A brief quote: “Attempts to enhance levels of preparedness among individual households, communities, and various organizations which lie outside the emergency management profession’s immediate sphere of control have shown little to no sign of improvement. Preparedness campaigns such as Ready.gov, America’s PrepareAthon, and National Preparedness Month, all aimed …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on gun ownership in California. The Murderous Malware of the Middle East Reader “F.” forwarded us this from MIT Technology Review: Triton is the world’s most murderous malware, and it’s spreading. Here is the article’s teaser:  “The rogue code can disable safety systems designed to prevent catastrophic industrial accidents. It was discovered in the Middle East, but the hackers behind it are now targeting companies in North America and …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on Caching Cash.  (See the last item in this column.) Fire Departments Becoming Scanner Opaque Here is some important news from H.L., for those of us who own public service band  scanners: Fire Departments Are “Going Dark” and Becoming Secret Public Safety Organizations.  The article starts out with this: “Across the country fire departments in Connecticut, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Illinois have begun encrypting their radio transmissions, effectively turning them into secret …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on Constitutional Carry (aka: Permitless Concealed Carry.) Kentucky Becomes 16th Constitutional Carry State We’ll start out with some quite good news:  Matt Bevin to Sign Bill Making Kentucky 16th Permitless Carry State.  JWR’s Comment:  The polarization of gun laws is becoming more pronounced.  Freedom-loving interior states are restoring firearms freedom. Constitutional Carry is a rising tide. But meanwhile the mostly coastal leftist Nanny states are restricting freedom with a panoply …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on the announced retrial of Tommy Robinson. Photobucket Web Site Compromised by Malware SuvrvivalBlog’s Editor-At-Large Michael Z. Williamson, sent this warning: “Photobucket has been having ongoing issues with service and security. Quite a few of the “featured” photos link to dangerous malware that can damage your files. Today, I got hit with an annual charge, only three months after my previous annual charge. Clicking the FAQ button immediately started …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on Canada’s Risk Database. Humanity Development Library Reader David K. wrote to mention: “I found this while researching food crops for my pigs. It looks like it’s a great resource!”:  Humanity Development Library. Canada’s Risk Database Reader C.H. sent this: Police in Canada Are Tracking People’s ‘Negative’ Behavior In a ‘Risk’ Database. Here is a snippet: “Information about people believed to be ‘at risk’ of becoming criminals or victims …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on U.S. Population Density.  The featured image is a composite photo of the lights of North America at night.  Some pictures truly are worth a thousand words. Insured Against Cataclysm? First up, over at Wired: Post-Apocalyptic Insurers Try Out a New ‘Make it Rain’ Strategy.  Here is a quote: “Typical insurance, the kind you probably have on your car or home, helps with this, but it is slooooow. It …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on how Seattle’s slow slide continues. The featured photo is of vagrants in Paris, circa 1930. Some things don’t change. Seattle’s Slow Slide Continues Reader D.S. sent us this link: Seattle’s homeless, ‘prolific offenders’ responsible for thousands of criminal cases. Here is how the article starts off: “A report commissioned by Seattle business leaders and written by a member of the previous Mayoral administration concludes that a small number …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on hidden gun safes. Hidden Gun Safe Storage Options Here is a good overview article with links to several companies, suggested by reader D.S.V.: Hide in Plain Sight: Hidden Gun Safe Storage Options. Here is a snippet: “In general, truly hidden gun storage options are mostly the same. They are home decor like end tables, coffee tables, picture frames, wall shelves, wall mirrors, wall clocks, and coat racks that …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on the lateR. Lee Ermey.  May he rest in peace. R. Lee Ermey Snubbed in Oscar Memoriam Montage Marine Corps veteran and beloved character actor R. Lee Ermey was missing from the “In Memoriam” segment of the 2019 Academy Awards.  They may have overlooked Gunny Ermey, but we haven’t! PayPal CEO Admits Partnership with SPLC to Blacklist Conservatives This comes as no great surprise: PayPal CEO Admits Partnership with …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on the Appalachians. Consider the Appalachians The latest from our friends Patrice and Don Lewis, over at the great Rural Revolution blog: Consider the Appalachians.  Here is a quote from their essay: “Yesterday Don stumbled upon what looked to be an academic paper published in a periodical called “Education and Culture,” Spring 2002. The paper is titled “Culture, Poverty and Education in Appalachian Kentucky.” Seldom have we read anything so …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on Armed Americans. The Dreaded H.R. 8 Headed to Rules Committee The dreaded unconstitutional H.R. 8–a nationwide ban on private party sales of guns–was ramrodded through the House Judiciary Committee last week. In the Democrat-dominated committee, NO amendments were approved and debate was cut short. The bill is next headed to the House Rules Committee for a brief hearing at 5 p.m. on February 25th.  (The House Rules Committee …

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”.  Today, we focus on winter warfare training.  The photo for this column is a historical shot of Italian army alpine troops on skis. Some tactics and techniques are time-proven. SurvivalBlog Archive USB Sticks Back in Stock They’re back in stock! The first batch of 1,000 of the SurvivalBlog 2005-2018 Archive Waterproof 16 GB USB sticks sold out in just five weeks. After a brief delay, the second batch of just 550 is …