Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Lee M. mentioned this fascinating web page: Worldometers.    o o o An interesting blog on penny-pinching, gardening, and couponing: One Hundred Dollars a Month.    o o o The latest ultralight flying video from Ttabs, in eastern Washington: Pterodactyl Terror – Trike Flying – Elk. Eastern Washington seems to be greening up early, this year.    o o o CAN’T WE END ALL THE SHOUTING? Here is an editing tip that I learned from Patrice Lewis (of the excellent Rural Revolution blog): There is a handy tool available at ConvertCase.net to automagically convert those ALL UPPER CASE SHOUTS into …

More media attention: Doomsday ‘preppers’ are getting ready for the end of the world. It is notable that the journalist quotes Shane Conner of KI4U.com–one of our advertisers.    o o o Jim K. recommended this very basic how-to video: How To Make a Secret Compartment in Your Wall, as well as this more elaborate procedure: How to Make a Secret Door to a Room or Closet, and this one: How to Build a Secret Underground Room, this one: Hidden-Pivot Bookcase Door, this one: Secret Passage Behind A Custom Built In Bookshelf, and lastly this one: Hidden Door Walkthrough.    …

B.B. sent this from a Buffalo, New York newspaper: ‘Preppers’: Ready for anything. The article mentions Shelf Reliance, Emergency Essentials, and even JWR.    o o o Tip H. sent this article from Wazoo: Yellowstone “Super-Eruption” less super, more frequent than thought    o o o Another WWII fighter plane mystery unearthed: “In March a Polish team out in the Western Desert [of Egypt] came across a P-40 aircraft which had apparently made a forced landing, in which the undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft identity has yet to be confirmed but is believed to be from 260 Squadron RAF and its …

Another Self Reliance Expo will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado on May 18-19, 2012. There should be a half-dozen SurvivalBlog advertisers with booths there.    o o o Tim J. suggested this article: More families building their own tornado shelters    o o o Courtesy of Chris M.: Lockdown–The coming war on general-purpose computing, by Cory Doctorow    o o o Seed for Security has announced a new bonus offer. You will receive a free Garden Bean Collection with the purchase of two Garden Bean Collections. This is a $14.99 value. Included in this collection (all seed counts are …

There will be a new Survivalist Show held in Mesa, Arizona, on May 19th. This one-day show will be held at the Commemorative Air Force Museum, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the museum. As a bonus, attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the war bird museum at no extra charge. For information, call Lance Baker at: (480) 229-5691.    o o o Rhonda T. mentioned an interactive summary of state self-defense laws that was posted by CNN: Expanded self-defense laws    o o o Our newest advertiser, Be Prepared Now, has a kit of …

An update from Dr. Bob at Surviving Healthy: Change is Good? (The Missouri State Pharmacy Board has been hounding him, so he now must see each patient in person in Branson, Missouri.)    o o o Tim J. sent this article on post-Schumer aftermath: For 22 murder victims, Los Angeles Riots leave legacy of justice eluded.    o o o Anti-Bullying Speaker Curses Christian Teens. JWR’s Comment: Sounds like a bully to me…    o o o Reader Joe K. mentioned a survivalist novel called “A Distant Eden” available as an e-book, through Amazon.com. Joe’s comment: “For 99 cents this …

File under Emerging Threats: Inside The Ring–The Brotherhood Threat. They are now seriously talking about terrorist use of compact non-nuclear EMP weapons.    o o o James C. suggested this instructional video: How to Make Pinhole Glasses.    o o o Yet another biased study: What is the the Most Peaceful State in the Country? “The report assigned a ‘peace index’ to each state based on tabulated data that looked at the number of reported homicides, violent crimes, citizens serving time in prison and police staffing levels. It also measured the ability to access and purchase small guns.” JWR’s Comments: …

M.E.S. wrote to mention that he likes the many do-it-yourself ideas at the Penny Wise – Homemade and Handy web page.    o o o Lynn G. sent this news article from England: Carpenter Builds Incredible Egg-shaped Treehouse Hidden From View on Crown Land    o o o R.W. sent something of interest to homeschoolers: University of Minnesota Launches Review Project For Open Textbooks    o o o Richard H. liked this at LifeHacker: DIY Gravity Water Filter.    o o o This has been mentioned once before in SurvivalBlog, but bears repeating: Making a 45-day emergency candle out of …

Bob G. suggested three great how-to articles, over at Homestead Revival: Homemade Liquid Handsoap, Homemade Dishwasher Soap, and Homemade Laundry Soap.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson recommended a Woods Wise video showing a fire bow drill, using all natural materials.    o o o In case you missed this: A Perfect Solar Superstorm: The 1859 Carrington Event. (Thanks to J. McC. for the reminder.)    o o o Kana suggested Roy Underhill’s television show The Woodwright. He has done 28 seasons of entertaining traditional woodworking, including tool making. These episodes will soon be released …

Lee M. sent an interesting article and video: Time Lapse Views of Earth from Space. Lee suggests: “Take a look at the night scenes of Earth. it will give you an idea of where the major population centers are located.”    o o o One final reminder that this weekend I will be a guest speaker (via teleconference) at the Get Prepared Expo, that is being held in Springfield, Missouri on April 28 & 29, 2012. The expo is being organized by USAPrepares.com, at the Ozarks Empire Fairgrounds. My teleseminar will begin at noon, Central time.    o o o …

G.G. flagged this Reuters report: Bank of Japan likely to ease, may buy longer-dated government bonds Peter S. sent this: US home prices drop yet again Also from Peter: Greece economy to shrink another 5%   Items from The Economatrix: Outlay of $14 Trillion Hasn’t Solved Problem of Debt The Best Reason in the World to Buy Gold Unemployment Rate:  “Number Doesn’t Match Reality” German Tempers Boil Over Back-door Euro Rescues

James C. recommended a video by Mas Ayoob and Tom Gresham how to handle a police traffic stop when carrying a concealed weapon.    o o o Over at Philosophical Pilot: Connect the Dots    o o o Wonders Never Cease Department: “Cold Tracer” Glow Ammunition. (A hat tip to George S. for the link.)    o o o Mary F. suggested this: New Fashion Wrinkle: Stylishly Hiding the Gun    o o o Some reminders on our non-fiction writing contest rules: 1.) You can write on any topic related to preparedness or survival that you think would be of …

Ian R. sent this:  Crises make automakers rethink lean parts supplies    o o o News from the Philippines: Rabies kills 67 people in three months.    o o o Camping Survival just received a truckload of Wise Foods buckets. Feeling overstocked, they created an unprecedented 10% off coupon code just for SurvivalBlog readers.  The coupon code is “wiseblog“    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson forwarded this: Your computer may be at risk, FBI warns–Thousands of PCs infected by hackers could lose Net access    o o o G.G. flagged this piece about solar flares: …

Dave T. mentioned that both Facebook and Apple are locating data centers in Prineville, in eastern Oregon. Dave’s comment: “This shows that even IT folk might be able to find jobs in The American Redoubt area, and makes me wonder if survivability factors into these companies’ desire to locate there, along with considerations like inexpensive power, inexpensive land and tax incentives.” JWR Adds: Both Oregon and Washington have implemented special tax incentives to lure new data centers. Both Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Rackspace are building data centers in Morrow, Oregon, and Google set up one of theirs an hour’s …

A reminder that I will be a guest speaker (via teleconference) at the Get Prepared Expo, in Springfield, Missouri on April 28 & 29, 2012. The expo is being organized by USAPrepares.com. It will be held at the Ozarks Empire Fairgrounds. o o o A reader from Florida wrote to ask me about the prospects for paying off the National Debt. The short answer: It is mathematically impossible, unless the purchasing power of the US dollar is destroyed through mass inflation. (It worked for the Weimar Republic…) o o o My recent interview on the Alex Jones show is now …