Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Hold your horses, folks! I just noticed that my upcoming novel “Founders” has jumped from #100,000 to around #3,400 in the Amazon Best Sellers ranks. Please wait until the release date (September 25, 2012) to order your copy. By using the “Book Bomb Day” method (concentrating thousands of orders on one day), I hope to maximize the “splash” of the book, and drive its rankings to the Top 20 on Amazon.com, and to the Top 100 of the New York Times bestsellers list. Many thanks for your patience!    o o o Cheryl (The Economatrix) found this: It’s Almost Time …

Michael W. recommended this web site: No Tech Magazine. (They actually cover everything from stone age technology to high technology topics.)    o o o My recent interview with Alex Jones is now up on YouTube. We discussed Greece, bank holidays, the importance of cataloging numeric IP addresses (rather than just URLs), the Darknet, and ham radio.    o o o Some great observations from fellow blogger Mac Slavo: Why You Absolutely Must Have Food Supplies, Hard Assets And Reserve Cash    o o o F.G. sent this: Stiff winds fuel Colo. wildfire; looting a concern    o o o …

Reader J.W.G. suggested this: Panetta Warns of Cyber Pearl Harbor: ‘The Capability to Paralyze This Country Is There Now’    o o o A Primer On The Shotgun    o o o F.J. sent this: Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain    o o o David R. flagged this news headline from Oregon: Man Likely Sickened By Plague.    o o o Google, Amazon lead rush for new Web domain suffixes in bids to ICANN. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.)

Reader Troy J. suggested this article: Dr. Peter Vincent Pry: America May Never Recover From EMP Attack    o o o Greek health system crumbles under weight of crisis. (Thanks to J.B.G. for the link.)    o o o Mark T. sent this tongue in cheek: The 10 Best Vehicles To Survive The Zombie Apocalypse    o o o I see that the new Emily Bestler Books web site is has been launched. Emily Bestler Books is the imprint of Simon and Schuster that published my second novel, “Survivors: A Novel of the Coming Collapse”. In September, they will be …

We are pleased to welcome our newest volunteer foreign correspondent, Giorgio in Italy. Here is a brief biography: “I am 40 years old and lucky enough to be married to a beautiful and intelligent soul mate who is an Italian professoressa, fluent in five languages. We have been married eight years, with, alas, no children. We live 8-to-9 months a year in northern Italy, an hour from Milan, with the rest of our time spent in the States or traveling. Having traveled and, periodically, worked in much of Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, we have had some experience in dealing with diverse cultures and getting the “other guy’s” perspective. My degree …

This law goes beyond Nanny Statism: Ohio House Okays Ban on Hidden Car Compartments. So, simply wanting to hide your valuables from thieves is now presumed to be criminal intent? That is madness. Just like bans on body armor, carrying guns or edged weapons, and fortifying house doors, this shows a serious erosion of our right to defend our lives and property. OBTW, a ban on body armor goes into effect in Alberta, Canada on June 15, 2012.    o o o For just the month of June, Freeze Dry Guy has announced: 20% Back when you mix and match …

Kevin S. liked this page: Building Abundant Ponds, Chinese Wheelbarrows, and DiY Algae Reactors    o o o The fine folks at CampingSurvival.com have again outgrown their warehouse. To lighten their load before moving, they have announced an across the board sale. For the rest of June, you can use coupon code “june2012promo” for 5% off every item on their site. Please mention SurvivalBlog when you order. Thanks.    o o o I recently watched the French documentary film “Eye of Vichy“, via Netflix streaming. It is a collection of original Vichy French propaganda films. I was amazed to see …

Pierre M. recommended Rural Heritage magazine.    o o o The book X-Events: The Collapse of Everything by John L. Casti will be released today. I recently received a review copy and I can vouchsafe that it is a book worth reading. Casti is a great author, and while a couple of the scenarios are far-fetched (such as “gray goo”), many of them will be of great interest to SurvivalBlog readers. Here is a summary: “X-Events provides a provocative tour of the catastrophic outlier scenarios that could quickly send us crashing back to the preindustrial age: global financial “black swans”; …

Pantry Paratus has announced a discounted bonus package for buyers of All American Pressure Canners. For just $25, with the purchase of an All American Pressure Canner they will include their new “Pantry Paratus Canning Starter Kit”(a $62.90 value) that has the following in it: • 1 Box Tattler Reusable Canning Lids–Wide Mouth • 1 Box Tattler Reusable Canning Lids–Regular • 1 Package of canning labels • 1 Canning chart magnet • 1 6 piece Canning Essentials Tool Set • 1 Set, JarBOX tote Note that this offer expires on June 15th, 2012, so order soon.    o o o …

Reader O.T.S.F. sent this from the Nature web site: Mysterious radiation burst recorded in tree rings.    o o o Michael W. sent this news story from Iowa: Feet of sand leave farms wasteland after flooding    o o o Reader David T. sent this: One rural doctor decides to close shop: ‘It’s just not sustainable’    o o o News from The Redoubt: Wyoming seeks to remove grizzlies from endangered species list, opening door for future hunting    o o o Jay B. sent this one: Pentagon crackdown on free guns riles some police

Reader “Bullseye” sent this: Some Families are Choosing a More Old Fashioned Lifestyle    o o o Bob G. send this video link: Deceptive Practices of Big Food – Doctor Siegel analyzes the ingredient list of “Oatmeal To Go” bar. He found that there were lots of sugars, fats, and fat emulsifiers. Be sure to read labels carefully!    o o o Mega marketing has now reached survival expos: 2012 Survival Expo. (The event is being held in Las Vegas, naturlich.)    o o o The new Duracell has a10 year shelf life. (Thanks to Bob T. for the link …

SurvivalBlog reader S.S. in Mississippi found a comprehensive permaculture course taught by Professor Will Hooker from North Carolina State University available free, online.    o o o Nissan ‘Leaf to Home’ charger can power Japanese homes with a car battery during outages. (Thanks to James K for the link.)    o o o Chris C. bookmarked this one: Which VPN Providers Really Take Anonymity Seriously?    o o o R.C. sent this: NYT: Reducing salt consumption may be hazardous to your health    o o o One drawback of southern state retreat locales: Those nasty, tiny chiggers. (A hat tip …

Soldiers Could Go Reptilian With New Camo    o o o The often-referenced book “Primary Surgery” is now available at the University of Bonn, Germany web site (presumably with the publisher’s permission.)    o o o SurvivalBlog reader KAF asks: A little too green?    o o o V.T.P. sent this news from Norway: Gently used submarine base yours for $17.5 Million (sub not included)    o o o More Nanny Statism: New Jersey Residents Can Be Fined $1,000 for Driving With ‘Unrestrained’ Animals in the Car. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.)

Reader F.M.W. mentioned a new portable generator “that can be powered by MOGAS, diesel, JP8, isopropyl alcohol, kerosene, propane or even booze”: Power Forward Trinity Systems    o o o Louisiana’s bold bid to privatize schools.    o o o AVOW has announced that the new 2012 15th Anniversary Edition of the LDS Preparedness Manual, Version 8 is now available in both hardbound and free PDF versions.    o o o R.B.S. forwarded the link to this CNN segment that briefly profiles Oregon Freeze Dried, the maker of Mountain House freeze dried foods: The company making food to last forever. …

A good piece by Brandon Smith: The Realities of Choosing Your Survival Retreat Location    o o o “The Looting Started Right Away” – At Nigerian DC-10 Crash    o o o Another voice from industry, warning of systemic risk: The lights go out: What happens if the grid goes down?    o o o Wood Boilers. Woody Chain provides a reality check, for anyone considering buying an outdoor wood-fired home heating boiler.    o o o Scratch another country off your list of potential offshore retreat locales: Venezuela bans private gun ownership. This move is just another requisite step …