Category: Odds ‘n Sods

PrepperPress.com has just published R.P. Ruggiero’s sequel to his novel Brushfire Plague. This is the second book in a planned three part series, and it brings the total prize package they’re giving the Second Prize winner of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest to 25 books. The latest novel is Brushfire Plague: Reckoning.    o o o The FBI can secretly activate a computer’s webcam to spy on an individual without turning on the indicator light, a former official revealed to the Washington Post.    o o o Todd Savage with Survival Retreat Consulting has recently completed an evaluation on a …

A reminder that Ready Made Resources is running a pre-Christmas sale on Mountain House foods until tomorrow (December 13, 2013) with 25% to 42% off free shipping, and on request they are willing to mix and match varieties in six-can cases with the varieties that they have on hand.    o o o Do you have an opinion on the introduction of Canadian timber wolves into the Lower 48 and removing wolves from the Endangered Species Act? Then please give Uncle Sam an earful! (The public comment deadline is December 17th.)    o o o Bill Buppert: Obama and the …

Gee, what a concept: Take an under-powered varmint cartridge, and then down-load it to wimpy subsonic velocity. That sounds almost “less than lethal”, to me. In fact, the operative phrase might be: “Hits like a girl.” These wimpy loads will give your 5.56 NATO perhaps just a little more power than the FN 5.7×28 cartridge. My advice: If you truly need a suppressed AR, then get a dedicated .300 Blackout upper receiver group. (See the SurvivalBlog Archives for details.)    o o o The thin veneer: When policemen go on strike, the looters come out: Looting rife in Argentine city …

Reader F.J. sent this evidence of preparedness penetrating the techno community: Survive An Apocalypse: Setting Up A Complete Emergency Survival Kit    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson and his wife Gail wrote a family-friendly short story included in this anthology: Elementary (All-New Tales of the Elemental Masters)    o o o Also from Mike: RF Safe-Stop shuts down car engines with radio pulse. See also: Radio-beam device can disable car and boat engines from 50 meters. Of course it would also zap the heart pacemakers of anyone in the vehicle, but what’s a little collateral …

F.J. suggested: Foraging For Edible Weeds    o o o A reminder that Ready Made Resources is running a pre-Christmas sale on Mountain House foods until the 13th of December with 25% to 42% off free shipping, and on request they are willing to mix and match varieties in six-can cases with the varieties that they have on hand.    o o o Directive 21 (a long-time SurvivalBlog advertiser) has begun offering Survival Cave brand canned meats. (Chicken, turkey, pork, and ground beef.) If you use the discount code “survivalblog” at checkout, you will get a 5 percent discount.    …

S.M. suggested Fullbooks.com. It has thousands of pre-1923 (out-of-copyright) books in plain text. (These can be saved/downloaded as text files)    o o o Also recommended by S.M.: Off-Grid.net’s Land Buddy site, where folks team up to purchase land, for relocation. (Note that all of the usual OPSEC and PERSEC warnings apply! See, for example, this word of warning.)    o o o Pierre sent: Inside China: Nuclear submarines capable of widespread attack on U.S. – Washington Times    o o o By way of the Radio Free Redoubt web site comes this link: Josie’s Message to Police.    o …

“The Brit” sent the latest from Nanny State Britannia: Cycling Furiously: Concessions over civil liberties may be needed to create happy relations between cyclists, motorists and pedestrians. Here is a quote …”While I have always opposed mandatory cycle registration and licensing, I think the time is right to require a radio frequency ID chip to be fitted in all bikes used on on city streets so that Highway Code offenders could be identified automatically or by suitably equipped police officers. The scheme could be tied in with mandatory insurance and training. And, yes, an element of road taxation. In time, …

Don’t try this at home: How to jumpstart a car’s battery with AK47s. (Thanks to Mike Williamson for the link.)    o o o Reader S.O.L. spotted this warning of a potential power grid collapse in The Los Angeles Times: Power struggle: Green energy versus a grid that’s not ready    o o o Gwok’s Gulch? Mysterious China-themed ‘city’ proposed in New York’s Catskills. (Thanks to Pierre for the link.)    o o o The Tehama County Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 to place the Declaration and Petition to withdraw from the State of California on the June …

PrepperPress has kindly expanded their book giveaway for the SurvivalBlog Writing Contest to 24 books with the addition of the latest novel in Joe Nobody’s Holding Their Own series. (Volume VI: Bishop’s Song.)    o o o Brad S. suggested this: Allen West: EPA Engaging in Backdoor Gun Control    o o o Camping Survival is continuing their Mountain House storage food sale which ends December 8th. They are offering 25% off cases of #10 cans, 25% off cases of retort pouches and 15% off buckets. The sale is for full cases only.  They are only selling stock on hand, but …

The Adelphi University Center for Health Innovation national poll reveals that nearly half of U.S. adults do not have the resources and plans in place in the event of disaster.    o o o G.G. suggested: Decaying area of Detroit being transformed into the ‘world’s largest urban farm’    o o o Farmer builds a house for just £150 using materials he found in skips… and the current tenant pays their rent in milk.    o o o Defiant 76-year-old woman dies in shootout with gang of three who tried to rob her of bingo money

I had a reader write to ask if he should have hard copy topo maps as a backup to his GPS. My reply: “Rather, you should have a GPS as a backup to your hard copy topo maps.” Establish your proven, reliable, and resilient basics first, and only then consider adding gadgets.    o o o Obama Issues an Executive Order Mandating DOD Officials Legitimize Leftist “Climate Change” Theories as Scientific Fact    o o o R.B.S. sent: This House Has A Massive Door Going To The Basement. When You See What’s Down There, You’ll Get It.    o o …

New Tactic – Gun Haters Post No-Guns-Allowed Stickers on Storefronts without Consent    o o o Billionaire Bunkers: Beyond the Panic Room, Home Security Goes Sci-Fi (Kudos to J.B.G. for the link.)    o o o “When a right devolves into a privilege…”, this happens: Australian police find 328 guns, 4.2 tons of ammo at farm. The Aussie police say: “These firearms are very disturbing.” But I say: “This distrust of the citizenry is very disturbing.” (Thanks to Mark X. for the link.)    o o o The folks at Homestead Drying Racks have announced a big sale on drying …

Reader F.J. spotted this: Very strong shopping bag rope – no tools needed    o o o By way of a link posted by Ol’ Remus, we learn: In Middle Ages, Societies Surprisingly Responsive To Natural Disasters    o o o Third Colorado gun grabber ousted among public outrage.    o o o Joe K. suggested this article: Compost Water Heaters From Jean Pain    o o o Judge rules Colorado sheriffs can’t sue over state gun laws

Anyone looking for tree felling rigging and climbing gear for arborists should check out Sherrill Tree.    o o o Reader B.M. mentioned a web page of interest to anyone living in cold country and of great interest to anyone who lives on Alaska’s Tanana River: Dangerous Ice. JWR Adds: BTW, I learned riverine operations in power boats on the Tanana, when I attended Northern Warfare School, back in 1980. That was great fun.    o o o Outrage of the Week: Do as I Say, Not as I Do–New York Elitists Ray Kelly and Mayor Bloomberg Think Their Safety …

Reader Gregg P. suggested this piece: Blackwater founder Erik Prince on why private militaries are the future. Gregg asks: “How will mercenary armies behave, after the Schumer Hits the Fan?”    o o o JRH Enterprises is continuing their Black Friday sale on New Gen 3+ Pinnacle Autogated PVS-14s, all ITT made tubes, with 5 year warranty. Comes with all the accessories plus a free weapons mount and shuttered eye guard. JRH is also throwing in an Infrared Beacon as well, all for $2,595. They also have other Black Friday sales in progress on FLIR Scout Thermal Imagers and Dakota …