Category: Odds ‘n Sods

A commentator who is better known for his science videos observes: The Problem With Facebook. His cogent arguments are just a few more reasons to avoid Facebook and other social media. – JWR o o o Connecticut doesn’t know how to deal with non-compliance to their anti-2nd amendment laws. So here’s their latest scheme. – MDL o o o Several readers reported this: Newspaper conglomerate considers building massive database of gun owners o o o This is certainly a novel way to deal with landmines – Mike o o o M.K.P sent in a link to this multitool. A bit …

Reader B.H. sent this news headline, which reads like something out of a novel: Indonesia Moves Warships to Border For some background in the recent growth of Indonesian military power, see this article from The Jakarta Post: TNI gears up, sets sights on foreign threats o o o For those intereted in light weight rifles this one sounds like it has quite a bit of promise. o o o G.G. sent this news report in onNew Hampshire Thieves Raiding Woodpiles For Firewood. o o o Disturbing news that the US Government may have been colaborating with the Sinaloa drug cartel …

JWR was doing some research on concealment from FLIRs and active IR emitters on starlight scopes for his upcoming novel Liberators, and found an interesting post at the Urban Evasion web site. o o o Mountainview Off Grid Livingsells 5 gallon buckets of Hard White Wheat and Hard White Wheat. HJL Adds: For those not familiar with the Hard White Wheat, it is a product that has the same moisture and protein as the standard Hard Red Wheat but has a milder flavor. We use it almost exclusively, and you can make a loaf of 100% whole wheat bread that …

For those wondering how we will keep our baby chicks warm, Cheryl sends in this link showing the incandescent light bulb may live a bit longer. o o o T.P. sent in a link about Oven Canning for those who might like to try it. o o o For those who love to cook with cast iron cookware, like me, J.K. sent in this line on the Chemistry of Cast Iron Seasoning and also Perfect Popovers. o o o Several readers have sent in links showing that Smith & Wesson and Ruger will cease selling in California. HJL Adds: At …

Several readers have informed us of this: Stealing heating wood in NE o o o SA sent this video suggesting that Folks should get rid of their smartphones NOW!! HJL Adds: Take the references to Minority Report with a hefty grain of salt. This really isn’t late breaking news. I’m posting it so that those who are not aware of the implications can decide for themselves if it’s worth it or not. Hand held GPS have used this exact technology for years for geocaching. It is the Holy Grail of retailers, to be able to individually target users with ads …

F.J. sent this link, ‘LighterBro’ Turns Common Bic Into Knife-Equipped Multi-Tool, a simple Ten buck tool that looks pretty neat, and reminds us that “one is none.” o o o From G.G.: Reviving a Life Saver, the Tourniquet Article quote: “Only 2 percent of soldiers with severe bleeding in those countries (Iraq and Afganistan) died compared with 7 percent in Vietnam in part because tourniquets were in widespread use and the injured were quickly transported to doctors. “ HJL Adds: Our own Medical Director in the local EMS has notified us that in the next round of protocol updates, we …

Roger E. sent: Sea, Shipping Container Cabin, Shelter, Home. (This was mentioned before in SurvivalBlog, but it bears repeating since the page has been updated.) o o o We recently heard about some free homeschool curriculum resources, at HomeschoolCollection.com o o o A reader forwarded this little jewel: Apparently, there is Massive Non-Compliance on Rifle and Hi-Cap Mag Registration in CT. The Truth About Guns reports. “How is that there were 50,000 rifles registered versus less than 40,000 LCM’s [large capacity magazines] declared?Second, how do we reconcile 50,000 rifles against an official state analyst group suggesting over 370,000 rifles back …

Big name search engines face rebellion. JWR Adds: I use and recommend both IXQuick and Privacy Abroad’s VPN tunnel. (But even with those, you should assume that you search history will be logged somewhere, somehow. For any searches on controversial or legal gray area topics, be sure to use a public library computer terminal!)    o o o Cheryl N. sent: When Revolution Comes, What Is Your Logistics Plan?    o o o Also from Cheryl: How This Family Of Four Lives ‘Off The Grid’ In The Middle Of The Desert    o o o Reader Scott L. mentioned a …

Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s I worked for a couple of Silicon Valley companies. On my lunch hours I often wandered around Usenet, back when it had miniscule traffic volume. (This was before graphical web browsers even existed. The Internet was public, but just barely. (Outside of a few AOL users who began arriving in 1991, most of the early 1990s Internet users spoke UNIX and wore pocket protectors. And nearly all of us were either in government scientific agencies or worked for big corporations.) On Usenet, I often read and occasionally posted to a Usenet newsgroup …

Here is yet another great post from preparedness bloggers Frank and Fern: Baby Chicken Wrap Up.    o o o Reader D.C. suggested a fine essay over at Sipsey Street Irregulars: The Firearms and Ammunition of “Alas, Babylon”    o o o I’ve heard from several readers about the relatively new Remington Model 770 rifles, as a low-cost alternative to the better-known Model 700. These use 6-groove button-rifled barrels. Model 770 rifles can be found new and factory equipped with a 3-9×40 variable scope for less than $375, or less than $500 in the more weather-resistant stainless steel variant with …

There are a couple of very interesting new posts over at the Paratus Familia blog: Bee Venom Therapy – Pain Relief from Your Own Back Yard, and Apple Cider Vinegar – Good for What Ails You    o o o SIG Sauer is Asking Us to Rethink the Polymer Striker Fired Pistol with the P320—SHOT Show 2014. My question: Will the new Model 320 accept SIG P250 magazines? I hope so, but I suspect not.    o o o Several readers mentioned some great commentary from Mac Slavo that ties into a recent news headline: Why I Cannot Support Concealed …

The New York Times reports: N.S.A. Devises Radio Pathway Into Computers. Of course they claim that this isn’t being done domestically, but based on other recent revelations, I have some strong doubts. In fact I’m now persuaded that the dialogue of Edward Lyle (Gene Hackman’s character in Enemy Of The State) was more prescient than paranoid.    o o o I heard about Flags and Poles by Lee. This a family owned and operated business in Texas. They are worthy of your business.    o o o My friend Fred The Valmetmeister recommended this eight minute video: M39 Mosin Nagant & …

Mike P. suggested this well-reasoned 12 minute video by Josie The Outlaw on America’s Groupthink indoctrination institutions: A Prison By Any Other Name. Other than her advocacy of “Unschooling”, it is a great video. (Homeschooling has a superlative track record, by comparison.)    o o o S&K sent this from Hackaday: Build a Tape Measure VHF Yagi Antenna    o o o I heard about a quite clever new product that is made in Sonora, California (up in the Sierra Nevada mountains): Siege Stoves. The video on their home page explains it best. These stoves are 100% made in USA.    …

Reader R.B.S. suggested this handy tool for finding cellular phone coverage–or avoiding it: Antenna Search.    o o o F.J. spotted yet another useful piece at Instructables: Mukluks for Christmas    o o o Former Mayor Noramine Jasmin will soon go on trial, on corruption charges. Once again, another one of Mayor Bloomberg’s “crime fighting” anti-gun mayors may be headed to The Big House. Meanwhile, we read of another gun-grabbing mayor with an apparent oral fixation: Ex-Marcus Hook mayor sentenced to 10-20 months. Note that with this felony conviction he can no longer own a firearm for the rest of …

H.L. suggested: Drinking Water and Garden Irrigation During Drought or Crisis    o o o An interesting discussion: Security Risks of Embedded Systems    o o o I recently mentioned off-center feed (OCF) ham transceiver dipole antennas. A reader then suggested this one as a more durable and lower-cost alternative.    o o o “Cool, by accident.” Three-wheel $6,800 car gears for 2015 US launch. (Thanks to George S. for the link.)    o o o Seed For Security has announced a new bonus that will be mailed with each Super Survival Pack that you order: A Practice Kit of …