Category: Odds ‘n Sods

“How could anyone possibly need more than a 10 round magazine?” Well, for instance: Alaska man kills charging bear with assault rifle    o o o Scarcity inspires creative “reinvention” and “technological disobedience”: Cuba’s DIY Inventions from 30 Years of Isolation. (Thanks to M.R. in Kansas for the link.)    o o o Sun Will Flip Its Magnetic Field Soon. (We are at solar maximum, but it is a relatively weak maximum, for this 11-year cycle But the big Carrington-size flares can happen, regardless.)    o o o H7N9 bird flu in likely China spread between people, researchers find. (Of …

Yet another data point, for selecting a retreat locale: How Many Illegal Immigrants Live in Your State?    o o o Reader Craig J. sent this: Popular gun range target blamed for forest fires, called potential bomb source. The “forest fires” claim is a red herring. Chainsaws and off-road motorcycles start dozens of fires on USFS and BLM land each year, yet nobody has suggested banning them. Our congresscritters tend toward free floating anxiety followed by spastic fits of legislation. So all that I can say is: stock up on Tannerite! (If there is an explosive target ban, then there …

Todd M. suggested reading this troubling MIT Technology Review article on SCADA systems vulnerability: Hacking Industrial Systems Turns Out to Be Easy: New research from Black Hat shows it’s possible to trick water and energy infrastructure to cause physical damage—and securing these systems remains painfully slow. Meanwhile, G.G. suggested that we read: Chinese Hacking Team Caught Taking Over Decoy Water Plant. Oh, and coincidentally, my friend Bob G. just called and recommended this novel, based on a credible terrorist scenario: Gridlock.    o o o Some folks have put together a combined Calendar of Prepper, Survivalist and Self-Reliance Shows. I …

F.J.R. sent this from MacLife: Eight Apps for Wilderness Survival. The piece begins: “It might seem counterintuitive to rely on a device so associated with the comforts of civilization for survival in the wilds, but a well-prepared iPhone could mean the difference between life and death when stranded in the great outdoors…”    o o o Let’s hear it for home schools: They are educating kids better than public schools. (Thanks to Bob G. for the link.)    o o o Mike Williamson’s latest book Tour of Duty: Stories and Provocations will be released tomorrow.    o o o A …

Mike Williamson’s latest book Tour of Duty: Stories and Provocations will be released tomorrow, August 6th.    o o o Reader J.B.G. recommended this video: Demystifying Alabama’s new ‘shall issue’ gun law.    o o o H.G. sent this: Feds go after Proxy Servers – Half of Tor Sites Compromised! Here are a few article quotes: “In a crackdown that FBI claims to be about hunting down pedophiles, half of the onion sites in the TOR network has been compromised, including the e-mail counterpart of TOR deep web, TORmail.” <snip> “This is undoubtedly a big blow to the TOR community, …

Reader K.A.F. sent: Comparison of operative and non operative management of acute appendicitis. (Consider antibiotic therapy BEFORE proceeding with emergency surgical appendectomy !)    o o o Several SurvivalBlog readers have inquired about the Clearly Filtered Radiological Straw water filter. Yes, they do indeed remove radioactive particulates from drinking water, very effectively . They can be purchased through several Internet vendors including US Tactical Supply.    o o o A glimpse of the future, for other big cities? Oakland surveillance center progresses amid debate on privacy, data collection. (Thanks to Stephen S. for the link.)    o o o 10 …

R.B.S. sent: Apocalyptic images reveal the shocking scale of devastation in Syria    o o o The recent Idaho Patriot Rally, as seen by a leftist rag: Preparing for the ‘inevitable collapse’: Patriot rally attracts hundreds to Farragut    o o o Sara J. mentioned a free classic (out of copyright) Kindle book: Home Vegetable Gardening -a Complete and Practical Guide to the Planting and Care of All Vegetables, Fruits and Berries Worth Growing for Home Use.    o o o Herr Sprave is still experimenting: Did This Monster Slingshot Just Set A World Record? (Thanks to SurvivalBlog’s Poet Laureate …

As a bonus for SurvivalBlog readers, Ready Made Resources is offering a free box of infrared chemical light sticks (10 pieces), and a free mechanical surface trip flare for chemical light sticks (a $53 value) with the purchase of a AN/PVS-14 3rd gen+  autogated ITT pinnacle night vision scope/monocular. As usual, the original data sheet, carry case, head mount, and sacrificial lens are included. Ready Made Resources also includes a free weapons mount (a $99 value) and free shuttered eyepiece (a $40 value), which most dealers only sell as accessories. These scopes are priced at $2,695, with free insured shipping.  …

9 Point Comb to Toe Chicken Check Up & DIY Antiseptic Ointment. (Thanks to James W. for the link.)    o o o Andre D. forwarded this link: Warning to tourists in France after attack by feral cats    o o o Fellow blogger Ol’ Remus recommended a piece over at Club Orlov: The Sea Gypsy Tribe Start-up Manual    o o o Pastor Chuck Baldwin: Ear Tickling, Entertainment, And Irrelevant Exposition

Reader Karl G. suggested this by William A. Levinson: How the Cooper Color Code Explains ‘Stand Your Ground,’ and Prevents Crime    o o o Todd Savage of Survival Retreat Consulting wrote to mention that he has been successful is finding retreats for a large number of clients this year. He also mentioned that he is offering a 50% discount for clients who retain his services during the month of August, 2013.    o o o “Lithium is no longer available on credit.” Back to Land Lines? Cell Phones May Be Dead by 2015    o o o Reader B.G. …

Our friend Commander Zero sent this: First Responders Broke Into Shore Army-Navy Store in Seaside Heights During Sandy. The article begins: SEASIDE HEIGHTS – First responders in Seaside Heights were forced to break into an Army-Navy store during Superstorm Sandy. The Shore Army-Navy store, located on Hamilton Avenue, was broken into by first responders during Sandy. The first responders took an estimated $185,000 worth of goods, including clothing, sleeping bags, camping equipment and backpacks. Mayor Bill Akers says first responders had little choice when they were soaked and needed dry clothes. The tab has now been settled with store owner …

One of my long-time friends mentioned that he has recently been experimentally hiking with a LED Mini Maglite carried in a Nite Ize headband, and equipped with a relatively waterproof TacStar brand pressure tape switch that he can clench between his teeth.  For regular trail hiking, the light’s head can be cranked down for “continuous on” operation when the standard tail cap is installed. But when operating tactically with the tape switch tail cap installed, the light can be activated just “on demand” by clamping his teeth down on the tape switch.  He has even experimented with a wire stiffeners, …

Yes, America, sometime we do need more than just reduced-capacity (10-round) magazines: Houston woman in critical condition after pack of 15 dogs attack    o o o Of interest to archers: How to Tune Your Bow: 15 Steps to Perfect Arrow Flight. (Thanks to James W. for the link.)    o o o Yet another one of Bloomberg’s gun-grabbing mayors is thoroughly disgraced: Mayor Bob Filner taking time off for ‘intensive therapy’. (Apparently this one grabbed more than guns.) And, quite predictably, he refuses to resign from office. Bloomberg’s gang of petty tyrants is absolutely shameless, even when under felony …

Several readers sent this: Feds tell Web firms to turn over user account passwords    o o o Bloomberg’s Anti-Gun Group Imploding as 50 Mayors Leave    o o o They say that “Men are from Mars, Women are From Venus,” but it seems that California’s Democrat Senators are from Zeta Reticuli: Pelosi: Congress Must Uphold Oath to ‘Protect and Defend’ Constitution… by Passing Gun Control. (Thanks to Jeff H. for the link.)    o o o Reader “Hushboy” sent a link to a key portion of the text of Canada’s Emergencies Act. (Enacted in 1985.)    o o o A …

For anyone who might feel in a Guy Fawkes sort of mood on any day other than November 5th, here is some useful data: State Codes Related To Wearing Masks    o o o News from Nanny State Norge: Man’s Home Raided by Police for Paying Cash    o o o Joe K. sent this: Is Your PIC MetaData Giving You Away?    o o o Pierre M. suggested five web pages on the topic of camouflage: Fundamentals of Unconventional Warfare: Camouflage and Concealment 101 Chapter 34 of FM 23-10 Slide show: Camouflage for the Patriot Hyperstealth’s “Metro” pattern: utility or …