Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Grace H. pointed me to a wonderful mapping site for soil surveys.  This is an ideal tool for anyone researching retreat locales. Just type in a locale name.     o o o I was doing some web wandering and found an interesting piece: Former “Seasteaders” Come Ashore To Start Libertarian Utopias In Honduran Jungle. And from there, I found a link to this fascinating page: A Map Of Where All 7 Billion Humans Are Cramming Together. Note that the dot sizing used is counterintuitive–the larger the dots, the fewer people. (This illustration certainly adds credence to my exhortation to Go …

Texas Drought Visible in New National Groundwater Maps. (Thanks to L. M. for the news tip.)    o o o Pierre M. sent us a tale of the Hegelian Dialectic, Perfected: Documents: ATF used “Fast and Furious” to make the case for gun regulations    o o o File under Poor Choice of Targets: Mugger left bloodied after attempt on MMA fighter. (A hat tip to J. McC. for the link.)    o o o House Busters: Television Stunt Goes Awry, Sends Cannonball Rocketing Through Homes. Just because a technology is old doesn’t make it ineffective.    o o o …

Andrew Price (who is well-known for his Dryad Bushcraft and A-Z Bushcraft web sites) plans to make a film in New Mexico: TEOTWAWKI – a fictional documentary. I’ve corresponded with Andrew since before the days of SurvivalBlog, so I can vouch that this won’t be a typically Hollywood hatchet job.)    o o o Camping Survival has added a new closeout items section, with some amazing bargains.    o o o F.G. flagged this: Disaster preparedness leads the way in holiday shopping this Christmas season.    o o o Consider the recent headline from Japan about the Eight Ferrari pileup. …

Tina R. sent a link to a recent Dilbert cartoon that has a some biting commentary, presumably about the ongoing OWS protests.    o o o As Christmas is approaching, please don’t neglect worthy charities, such as AnySoldier.com. Please send our deployed troops your prayers, good wishes and tangible support. UnderArmor brand synthetic T-Shirts (made in both Army and USMC regulation colors) are a sure bet.  If a soldier receives too many, then the excess will be the ultimate barter item, in summer months.    o o o California demographic shift: More people leaving than moving in.    o o …

One of my consulting clients recently asked me: “Do you carry pepper spray, for bears?” My reply: No, I carry lead spray.    o o o This Glock ad makes it clear that widespread concealed carry by law-abiding citizens would be a very good thing:.    o o o Faster and Furiouser: D.E.A. Launders Mexican Profits of Drug Cartels.    o o o M.E.W. sent this: New Flu Strain, H3N2, Makes Health Experts Nervous.    o o o From reader J. McC.: Check Your Car for a GPS Tracker

Less than one year left to wait! The Red Dawn remake is finally scheduled for release on November 2, 2012. That’s three years after filming was completed. (That is either 7,200 Blog Posts or Two Novel Releases, in Jim Years.) That’s probably enough time for the young actors to each get married, have a baby or two, and make five or six more feature films. I can predict that the film’s premiere will seem like a class reunion to the actors.    o o o A TSA agent puts on the “Sean Penn, Full Retard” act: Teen stopped by TSA …

John G. mentioned: Digging into China’s nuclear tunnels. Without an inspection regime, we are essentially in the dark about the size of China’s nuclear arsenal. Back in my home town, this information deficit is a Z Division nightmare.    o o o Ron in Vermont mentioned a ham radio network that has been set up by the American Preparedness Radio Net in cooperation with the Catastrophe Network. Ron notes: “Sunday evening there is a digital net on 40 meters on 7.073 MHz @ 1930 EST, and a voice net on 80 meters @ 3.818 MHz. Topics vary from gardening, communications, …

Stephen F. flagged an article about a spiral pump at the The No Tech Magazine web site. They have a wealth of information and links.     o o o Rand Paul warns preppers that the government considers you terrorists. (A hat tip to Joseph R. for the link.)    o o o Furious at Latest U.S. Attack, Pakistan Shuts Down Resupply Routes to Afghanistan “Permanently”    o o o Horse meat may be back on the menu. (The number of horses already being shipped to Canada for slaughter was already huge. Ditto for the dog food trade here in the …

Cheryl (aka The Economatrix) sent this: More Women Are Canning, Becoming Domestic Homesteaders    o o o Vamoose to the Rural Retreat! Crisis-hit Greeks leave the cities for a new rural life    o o o Stephen F. sent this: Handy farm devices and how to make them    o o o Also from Stephen F.: Cable plowing, where a winch pulls the plow by cable.  (“Energy efficient because you just move the tool.”)

Another perspective on an important news item that I’ve already covered in SurvivalBlog: ‘Russian’ hackers seize control of U.S. public water system by remotely destroying pump. (Thanks to J.B.G. for the link.)    o o o K.A.F. flagged this one: Feds want secrecy on ICE facility for Wake County    o o o R.B.S. sent this: Cursive writing becoming a font memory in Idaho.

J.K. in Colorado mentioned: Another Family Lost In The Woods.    o o o Time to Stock Up on Lightbulbs. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.)    o o o G.G. flagged this: Guns Better Investment Than Gold?    o o o News from The American Redoubt: Historic Eastern Oregon hotel going to auction. (A hat tip to loyal content contributor R.B.S. for the link. His comments: “Union is cattle and natural resource area.  Yes, it would not be an easy go but if you don’t bring a Hollywood mentality with you to this part of the world, and are …

Steve M. sent a news article with this comment: “One more reason to live full-time at your retreat”: Neighbors helping neighbors—to break into vacant houses    o o o Scientists create man-made flu virus that could potentially wipe out millions if it ever escapes research lab. (A hat tip to F.J. for the link.)    o o o Jonathan B. sent this from northern California and southwestern Oregon: State of Jefferson Rises again!    o o o EPA targets families that generate heat off the grid using traditional wood-burning stoves. (Thanks to Steve M. for the link.)    o o …

“Sierra” sent this: Depicting America’s Greed: 10 Shocking Videos From Black Friday 2011 It shows all the various chaos that went down yesterday; everything from stampedes and frenzies to police attacks. Sierra’s comment: “Just imagine if those hungry masses were going after food instead of video games!”    o o o G.P. mentioned this, from a Canadian newspaper: Breaking Apart the United States: Part II    o o o Grace sent us the link to Charm City Vacancy, a growing (now 33 pages long) collection of photos of abandoned houses in Baltimore.    o o o Special discount for SurvivalBlog …

F.J. found this at The Blaze: This Hobbit house is an honest-to-goodness man-sized home. Not only does it fit a family of four, but it cost just over $4,650 to build.    o o o The Prepper Website has begun incrementally posting a review/synopsis of my novel “Survivors”. (Warning: lots of plot spoilers.)    o o o Nic recommended this video primer by STRATFOR’s Fred Burton: How to Stay Safe in an Urban Environment.    o o o Kevin A. suggested an essay by John Silveira of Backwoods Home magazine: The threat of electromagnetic pulse    o o o And …

Mat Stein’s new non-fiction book “When Disaster Strikes: A Comprehensive Guide for Emergency Planning and Crisis Survival”has been released! Yours Truly wrote the Foreword. Let’s do our best to push it into Amazon’s Top 10.    o o o I heard from Mark Baciak of PNW Arms that his company’s relocation to The American Redoubt is almost complete. They have moved their ballistics division over and should have their weapons division moved by January, 2012. They are moving to Potlatch, Idaho. They have also announced a “Black Friday” sale with a 25% discount on all in-stock merchandise. I should also …