Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Several readers sent this: Foreign insects, diseases got into US    o o o “PapaBeagle” wrote to mention that Amazon.com now has some good quality Facet fuel transfer pumps back in stock.    o o o Jeff W. recommended a great article from The Small Wars Journal: One Team’s Approach to Village Stability Operations. Ponder it as future history for a post-collapse United States.    o o o From Nanny State Europa: Children to be banned from blowing up balloons, under EU safety rules. Meanwhile, French multicultural do-gooders are re-writing history. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)    o o …

F.J. suggested this money saving tip over at Lifehacker: Slice Your Own Steaks    o o o You’ve heard me mention a family in north Idaho that has a home-based business making washable feminine pads: Naturally Cozy. (Avalanche Lily says that they are very comfortable and very durable even after many washings, and that she uses them regularly.) I just heard that the company recently added two different types of washable incontinence pads for ladies. If there is a lady in your family that currently “Depends on Depends”, then please order them a set of these pads. Someday you may …

If you don’t already have a copy, then I highly recommend that you get the book The Prepared Family Guide to Uncommon Diseases. (The author is “Enola Gay” of the excellent Paratus Familia blog.) Some of the diseases described may become a lot more common, in the a major grid-down disaster, because sanitation will likely be pitiful–especially in the cities and suburbs. So get a copy for your bookshelf. Oh, and I’ve got to mention: Ironically, just a few months after publishing the book, the author’s own family contracted an uncommon disease: Whooping Cough. After this happened, Enola Gay quipped: …

Dan T. sent this news story from Colorado: Welder goes into the Armageddon business.    o o os I just finished reading the near-future action adventure novel Castigo Cay, by Matt Bracken. It was a great read and I highly recommended it. Bracken is really hitting his stride as a novelist. As with his previous novels, you will also find that there are some useful tips woven into the storyline. Although there were some adult situations described in the novel, the author refrained from obscenity or and vulgarity beyond a few coarse words. (But given the violent situations, it is …

Bill N. sent a news story that has a pointed lesson. Bill notes: “A homicide suspect was killed when officers set up ambushes on trails. This reminded me of something that the [fictional character] ROTC cadet Doug Carlton mentioned in the novel “Patriots“: ‘Trails are for people that like to get ambushed.’”    o o o SurvivalBlog’s G.G. flagged this: Tuvalu Goes Dry    o o o Gunwalker: Fast Leaks, Furious Congressmen. (Thanks to Thomas F. for the link.)    o o o I just “bumped into” the forums at the small but growing BumpFire.net. You will find some interesting …

Absolute OPSEC Stupidity: Hiding Gold in All the Unusual Places. A reader in Nevada wrote to mention that he found Chad Venzke’s home address in Wisconsin in less than a minute with an internet search. Even worse than waking up to find his yard dotted with holes would be waking up to see a pistol in his face, and a demand to “Take a little walk, with a shovel.”    o o o For anyone that is considering moving to North-Central Idaho, be sure to check out the latest ultralight flying video by “ttabs”. It looks like most of it …

F.J. spotted this: Better Sterno Alternative    o o o Idaho Bowhunter Reportedly Kills Charging Wolf. Moral of this story: Don’t mess with an Idaho Granny that packs a .44 Magnum.    o o o David O. wrote to mention a “Horse of a Different Color”: Oilfield Camouflage. With oilfield workers up in “The Oil Patch” in North Dakota now often making $300 to $500 a day, I suppose some of them have a budget for this… In related news: Double your salary in the middle of nowhere, North Dakota    o o o Rex B. sent this: ATF officials …

Another Self Reliance Expo will be held this weekend (October 7-8) in Salt Lake City. The last one (in Denver) was great. Don’t miss it.    o o o I noticed some interesting discussion threads in progress over at the PreparedSociety.com forums.    o o o Freeze Dry Guy has announced an October special: 60 Serving Real Meat “Bug Out” Buckets with Freeze Dried Beef and Chicken. They are offering a special pre-order price of $109, with free shipping in CONUS, and a $20 “Survival Bucks” bonus.    o o o Steve M. sent this gem: Don’t Rob A Convenience Store …

News from formerly pleasant Oxfordshire, England: Mob takes emergency water supplies during Banbury shortages.    o o o Today is the last day of the three day sale: Ready Made Resources is also having a 25% off sale on Mountain House foods where they are offering a free copy of “Survivors” when you order two cases Mountain House foods. Note that this offer can be multiplied — i.e. you will receive five copies of the novel if you order 10 cases of Mountain House foods.    o o o The Los Angeles Times reports: Emails show top Justice Department officials …

Shortages Lead Doctors To Ration Critical Drugs. (A hat tip to Brian D. for the link.)    o o o Couple recovering from home bear attack. Important safety tip: Keep a loaded gun handy at all times, for both two-legged and four-legged predators! (Thanks to F.J. for the link.)    o o o Fed Plan to Consolidate Power Over Nation’s Power Highway Has States Nervous    o o o A bit more truth comes out: ATF Fast and Furious: New documents show Attorney General Eric Holder was briefed in July 2010. Meanwhile, we read: Whitehouse Document Dump Raises Possibility of …

Reader C.D.V. kindly sent me a map of the most rural counties in the U.S., compiled by Purdue University. This map is a great tool to help in selecting retreat locales. By the way, you can right-click to zoom in on the map. Do you notice a correlation with my designated American Redoubt states? Interesting. (And BTW, here is the source page and there is an accompanying Rural-Metropolitan Levels map, and here is the key for the second map. And it is also interesting to correlate that data with the Frontier designation of some counties.    o o o The …

Gun crime continues to decrease, despite increase in gun sales. ‘ Here is a brief quote: “The FBI recently released its Crime in The United States statistics for 2010. Overall, murders in the U.S. have decreased steadily since 2006, dropping from 15,087 to 12,996. Firearms murders — which made up 67 percent of all murders in the U.S. in 2010 — have followed this trend, decreasing by 14 percent.” The statists don’t like hearing that “More guns equal less crime”, but facts are facts.    o o o Generator Sales Surge After Recent Wave of Storms. (Thanks to K.A.F. for …

From October 3rd through October 5th, Ready Made Resources is offering a 25% discount on case lots of Mountain House storage foods and free shipping. They will also include a free copy of my novel “Survivors” with any orders over $500. (This also includes food packages.)    o o o I coined the term UAV-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (UAVIED) five years ago, in anticipation of a new terrorist threat. Unfortunately, my prediction has come true: Massachusetts Man Plotted to Blow Up Pentagon, U.S. Capitol Using Model Plane, Feds Say. (Thanks to Joey G. for the link.)    o o o …

Once again, the American Redoubt shines, as a safe place to live: Firearm-related crimes interactive map.    o o o S.D. sent: Meet the Zetros: Apocalypse-Ready Motorhome    o o o Reader C.K. wrote to mention an illuminating article about the Red Dawn remake controversy: Libertas Sees the ‘Uncensored’ Version of MGM’s New Red Dawn    o o o G.G. was the first of several readers to send this: As Federal Crime List Grows, Threshold of Guilt Declines    o o o The Federal Reserve Plans to Identify “Key Bloggers” and Monitor Billions of Conversations. So not only does the …

Bob G. mentioned: Flower Pot Fridge. This incredibly simple “old school” evaporative refrigeration technology could be a life saver for diabetics, to keep insulin refrigerated in the event of a grid power failure.    o o o Michael Z. Williamson (our Editor at Large) pointed me to this: Things I Learned From My Patients. Mike describes it: “Emergency Room stories of interesting, frightening, horrific, educational, creepy and even disgusting things.  Very educational.  Language safe, but certainly some very adult references.” This web page is not for children!    o o o James C. noted that a classic Army training film …