Category: Odds ‘n Sods

M.E.W. spotted this: India Confronts ‘Untreatable’ Tuberculosis    o o o Here is a video that sums up my reply to all those who claim that my children are “deprived of social interaction” by being homeschooled. Is this the crucial “socialization” that they are lacking? If so, then I’m glad that they are missing out.    o o o After a long delay while the manufacturer’s supplies were tight, Camping Survival finally has some WaterBOB bathtub water containment systems back in stock.    o o o Kevin S. spotted this: Brace for the Apocalypse! Surviving the Worst in an Inland …

Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) sent a link to a useful “Thumb Saver” device for M1 Garand owners.    o o o Also from Mike: 5.56 vs .223 – What You Know May Be Wrong    o o o Yet another expo: Doomsday-Learn-Prepare-Survive Convention and Expo at the Cal-Neva Hotel and Casino, near Reno, Nevada, June 28-30, 2012. (Thanks to Robert S. for the heads-up.)    o o o AmEx sent this: Deadly Bird Flu May Be Five Steps From Pandemic Potential    o o o Don’t Drink The Water: Study Warns Drinking From Garden Hose

Reader Pierre M. mentioned: Hyundai’s Zombie Apocalypse Survival Car. [JWR Asks: This zombie marketing is getting out of control. I see that MTM is already marketing Limited Edition Zombie Ammo Cans and Hornady is selling a new line of ZombieMax ammo from .380 to 12 Gauge. What’s next? Zombie Apocalypse collector Slurpee cups? Will Collins make special Zombie Slayer logo machetes? How about a Zombie Slayer ice cream flavor from Ben & Jerrys? Or a Zombie-theme political fundraiser? Oh, but wait, we’ve apparently already elected several Senators-For-Eternity that will keep getting elected long after they’ve assumed room temperature. And speaking …

Composting 101    o o o SurvivalBlog reader Ed. M. recommended the training seminars by author Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, titled “Bullet Proof Mind for the Armed Citizen.” Ed M. notes: “I’m a 35-year veteran Park Ranger and this was without a doubt one of the top 10 training sessions I’ve ever attended. Colonel Grossman has given this training to our and international military and law enforcement personnel for years, this was the second time the training had been provided for civilian patriots. I strongly recommend that SurvivalBlog readers attend his great training if he comes to your area.”    o …

Another Self-Reliance Expo will be held in Dallas, Texas, July 27-28, 2012. Their most recent event (in Colorado Springs, Colorado), was a huge success. OBTW, wear your SurvivalBlog T-shirt or hat and see who you meet.    o o o Michael R. suggested this scholarly piece in Science magazine: Generic Indicators for Loss of Resilience Before a Tipping Point Leading to Population Collapse    o o o David Nash of the excellent Shepherd School web site wrote to mention that their extensive free reference library (thousands of military and firearm manuals) has just been revamped to make it better organized. …

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