Category: Odds ‘n Sods

A foreshadowing of a post-collapse threat? Lions and Tigers and Bears! Deputies Hunt Exotic Animals on the Loose in Ohio. (A tip of the hat to Mary F. for the link.)    o o o K.A.F. sent this: Reid signals government jobs must take priority over private-sector jobs    o o o K.A.F. also sent a link to a scheme of genius from the Mickey Mouse State: San Francisco plan would offer tax break for hiring felons. (Yes, but will they take the next logical step and use taxpayer funds to provide free insurance for all the toner cartridges, laptops, …

This map originally posted in April is enlightening: Where to Live to Avoid a Natural Disaster. It also squares nicely with my American Redoubt locale recommendations. (A tip of the hat to Bill in Phoenix for the link.)    o o o J.B.G. sent this: Thieves, Seeking Quick Money, Steal X-Ray Film From Area Hospitals    o o o Submachine Guns, Pistols Stolen From LAPD SWAT Training Site    o o o Joe The Peacock reports: I Went To Occupy Wall Street. This Is What I Saw. (Thanks to Tim R. for the link.)    o o o Architecture Contest …

The Great Endarkenment: Detroit struggles to keep lights on: Copper thieves, aging equipment darken blocks in cash-starved city. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)    o o o Reader R.C. kindly sent this: Automotive ‘black boxes’ raise privacy issues    o o o The Womb to Tomb medicated society: Consider ADHD starting at age four, says doctor group. (thanks to Diana V. for the link.)    o o o John T. sent us this inevitable headline: New crime wave: Cooking Oil Thefts.

F.J. sent us a lesson in caching commonsense (or lack thereof), over at Commander Zero’s excellent blog: Article – Gun, weapons parts found buried in Arlington.    o o o I was asked by a consulting client what would happen if the “Occupy America” protests transition from “acute” to “chronic”. I told him that I think that the outcome might be a lot like the fate of the World War I veterans’ Bonus Army, in the 1930s. (That is, depending on the JBT proclivities of the particular States where the protests are held.) There is an old Japanese proverb: “The …

Some interesting observations from a fellow blogger: Oh Dark Thirty    o o o P.N.G. liked this article over at Electronic Design News: A super-het radio runs 5 years on a C-cell, plus a pentode radio    o o o Kyle L. mentioned a gooddeal on Federal brand .22 LR hollow point ammo from Cabela’s. I predict that .22 hollowpoints will be an ideal item for barter in the event of a socioecononmic collapse, so stock up. (BTW, they are also offering free shipping fee on any order over $150, with promo code “WOCTOBER”)    o o o FBI begins …

F.J. spotted this: 50 Simple Tools Used to Rebuild Haiti. (Those lists have applicability in rebuilding here in the U.S. of A., in the aftermath of major disaster.)    o o o Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) suggested this booklet: The Flowerpot Crucible Furnace–Build a furnace from a flowerpot and melt metal! Warning: All the usual safety provisos on high temperatures and molten metals apply! Do not experiment with this technique without all the proper safety clothing and gear, including a fire extinguisher. Also, be advised that a terra cotta crucible that is waterlogged or that has an …

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 …