Category: Odds ‘n Sods

A “Strong To Severe” geomagnetic storm is expected for up to 36 hours, starting tonight. Get ready for some pretty aurorae. Disconnecting the power cords and antennas for your primary radios and full Faraday cage protection (trash can with tight-fitting lid) for your spares would be wise. This is good practice, if nothing else…    o o o F.J. found this gem: Box food dehydrator    o o o Camping Survival’s Paracord Giveaway ends soon. Describe your favorite paracord project, or list some of your favorite uses for paracord and how you execute them, and you can win a 1,000 …

John R. spotted this: Hay The Latest Target For Thieves As Prices Skyrocket    o o o P.L. recommended an informative firearms article by Grant Cunningham: Lubrication 101    o o o Allie in Montana mentioned an amazing truly “minimalist” Kydex holster: The Zacchaeus Concealment Holster, made by Dale Fricke Holsters. It is particularly useful for those that like “Mexican Carry”, but that don’t want a gun to slip too deep down their pants. (That can be embarrassing, not to mention unsafe!) Having the triggerguard fully enclosed is particularly important for pistols that lack a thumb safety lever (and with …

Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) sent this: So much for “Secret” Data Centers.    o o o Jonathan B. sent this sad news from Nanny State Britannia: A gamekeeper fined and gun permits revoked – risks losing his livelihood…why?  Because he fell asleep while cleaning his guns!    o o o F.J. mentioned that Lew Rockwell re-posted a useful article from the 2009 archives of The Art Of Manliness: How to Build Sturdy Basement Shelves    o o o More about prescription drug shortages, from a Florida television reporter: Local doctors prepared for drug shortage    o o …

Reader W.E.P. mentioned this: Feds tracking articles that include “zombie apocalypse”. [JWR’s Comment: Of course “zombie apocalypse” is often used as to describe other disasters. This leads me to ask: Are the spooks looking for clues or cues for socioeconomic collapse?]    o o o Reader D.V. and Stephen F. both recommended this article over at KK* Cool Tools: Homesteading Alone. (It is three book reviews, in one.)    o o o F.G. flagged this bit of bureaucratic nincompoopery: OTC inhalers to be phased out to protect ozone layer    o o o Greg C. mentioned Reason # 948 to …

Reader Rick B. wrote to mention: “The most important factor in determining when to plant a certain type of vegetable in your garden is the ‘Last Freeze Date’ in the spring, and the ‘First Freeze Date’ in the fall for your area. See the state-by-state charts of these dates, with city specific data, collected over a 30 year period by the National Climatic Data Center.”    o o o F.G. flagged this: Why Middle-Class Americans Are Turning to Dumpster Diving    o o o K.A.F. mentioned: Extended Interview with Fast and Furious Whistleblower    o o o Did you cancel …

Jeremiah S. and Ed. B. both sent me the link to this article from Wyoming, New York: Old bomb shelter, supplies harken back to Cold War days    o o o Andre D. sent this: The Secret Lives of Solar Flares    o o o In a four-day period that included Labor Day weekend, there were 67 people shot in the streets of New York City. Not content with the manifold lack of success of some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country, Mayor Michael Bloomberg called for the enactment of more gun control laws! He was quoted: …

K.T. mentioned a piece over in the new Survival and Prosperity blog about Nanny State Massachusetts: Boston Businesses May Soon Need A License To Sell Knives    o o o Drew W. spotted this: How to Survive a Gunshot Wound    o o o Nathan A. suggested this: Life After An EMP Attack: No Power, No Food, No Transportation, No Banking And No Internet    o o o Nichole R. mentioned this: Infographic: How Big a Backyard Would You Need to Live Off the Land?    o o o Secret recordings raise new questions in ATF ‘Gunwalker’ operation

Gail H. recommended this over at The Art of Manliness: How To Shave Like Your Grandpa    o o o Jonathan B. was the first of several readers to send this: Farmers flee as world’s deadliest volcano rumbles    o o o Another sign of the times: Father and daughter burned in alleged electrical theft.    o o o F.G. sent this: Smoking Bans Are No Match For New Yorkers    o o o Jasper recommended some practical advice over at Lew Rockwell’s site: Journey to the U-Pull…

Five Minutes and Twenty Nine Seconds of Terror: Dramatic New Video of Japan Tsunami    o o o Greg C. sent this: China Consolidates Grip on Rare Earths. Greg C. notes that China now dominates the world’s compact fluorescent bulb market, so they can charge what they’d like. And, by law, we will must buy these more expensive bulbs–we will no longer be able to buy traditional incandescent bulbs. Further, the fluorescent bulbs will contaminate our landfills with mercury. Doesn’t it feel great to be a part of the Green Revolution?    o o o File Under: “Most Ethical Administration …

Jonathan B. sent: Seeds of Discontent–Code enforcement targets urban garden.    o o o Homemade Toothpaste Recipes Put to the Test. (Thanks to K.A.F.for the link.)    o o o K.A.F. also sent a link to a piece by Michelle Malkin: Fast and Furious update: More guns, more stonewall    o o o Yet another link courtest of K.A.F.: Huge Defunct Satellite Falling to Earth Faster Than Expected, NASA Says

Margaret G. mentioned this bit of Philippine barrio ingenuity: Solar Water Bottle “Light Bulbs”.    o o o Floyd sent this link: Viewpoints: The ultimate fear of ‘Contagion’ tests trust in health care    o o o And just for fun, for any of you who are The Blues Brothers fans: Frostie Dancing To “Shake Your Tail Feathers”. (My dear sweet Mom sent me the link.)    o o o Does this remind you of a book you’ve read? Cash-strapped adults hunker down, bunk up    o o o A bit more of the truth comes out: White House received …

  Alt-Market’s Safe Haven State Project has selected Montana as their prime destination. And not coincidentally, Brandon Smith (the founder of Alt-Market) recently relocated to northwestern Montana. Congrats! If you aren’t familiar with it, Alt-Market is an information and community web site that has an emphasis on sound money, preparedness, and barter networks. Check it out.    o o o Argentina: Surviving without money. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the link.)    o o o Steve M. sent this: Gun store owner had misgivings about ATF sting. This whole fiasco has a rotten stench…    o o o Tamara (of …

Blackouts ahead? Texas’ power provider closing units over EPA rule. A tip of the hat to Marilyn R. for the link.)    o o o F.J. pointed me to this: Tiny Houses and Indoor Air Quality Part 1    o o o Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) sent this : Wichita Police Score New Guns.    o o o Double-Murder Charges Dismissed Under Florida ‘Stand Your Ground’ Self-Defense Law. (Thanks to Steven in Texas for the link.)

The excellent five-minute ultralight flight “Patriots” locales video that I mentioned debuted last week has already had more than 3,600 views. It is available free, via YouTube. As I mentioned before, this gent’s well-edited footage really captures the look and feel of some of the key locales in my novel. And in it you can see how pretty the Palouse Hills region is at harvest time. It is a High Definition (HD) video, so be sure to watch it at “full screen” size. Dan Fong lives!    o o o A reader in Gallup, New Mexico wrote to ask what …

K.A.F. flagged this: Antique Apples Getting a New Life.    o o o For those living in or near Denver, there is a Self Reliance Expo scheduled for September 16th and 17th. They will have a lot of great exhibitors. SurvivalBlog will have a staffer there walking the show floor, to do a write-up. One of the exhibitors at the expo will be a new company called Pantry Paratus. Their web store will soon be launched. They have a great line of preparedness products, with an emphasis on do-it-yourself food processing and storage. Their broad line of products includes a …