Category: Odds ‘n Sods

“Fast and Furious” Scandal Making Cops, Citizens Furious Fast. Just one correction: This was not a “renegade operation”. It was sanctioned at the highest levels of the BATFE and the Obama Administration.    o o o I just heard about a company that makes a very clever compact fishing pole: Montana Innovative Fishing Gear. These are American-made. (Yes, I checked: They are manufactured in Spokane, Washington.) They are ideal for backpacking, or even for your “maxi” size bug out bag. These poles can be used for bait casting, trolling, ice fishing, and even marginally well for fly fishing.    o …

Here is something new for all you paracord hobbyists: BBK Paracord “Rip Cords”. It isn’t patented, so I suppose it a good candidate for reverse engineering.    o o o Just a slight tightening of the noose: Police: Internet providers must keep user logs.    o o o Dark Fireworks on the Sun. (Thanks to Frank Z. for the link.)    o o o Ready Made Resources has added the Goal Zero PV portable power systems to their product line.

Health experts warn of new tick-borne threat. (Thanks to Rick for the link.)    o o o Loyal reader R.B.S. sent this: Answer for Invasive Species: Put It on a Plate and Eat It    o o o One of my consulting clients took my advice and transitioned from using clunky cigarette lighter plugs to 30 Amp Anderson Power Pole genderless connectors. He showed me a large assortment of cable and terminal adapters, splitters, and and terminal blocks–all with Power Pole connectors. He had recently ordered these from a very reliable company called West Mountain Radio, in Wisconsin. Most of …

If they can’t do it through legislation, then they’ll use Executive Orders: Gun Stores in Border States Must Report Multiple Sales. When you consider the Gun Walker scandal, you can see that Barack Hussein Obama and his minions have used the Hegelian Dialectic masterfully.    o o o Marilyn R. suggested: The Eighth Commandment: Why You Can’t Steal Land From Ayn Rand    o o o Joe Ordinary Voortrekker sent us a link to an interesting global network of alternative currency groups.    o o o I heard about a company that makes wind turbines with primarily American-made components: Missouri …

A reminder that production will end on August 1st for the SurvivalBlog 5-Year Archive CD-ROM, so order soon. The good news is that it has been reduced to just $14.95.    o o o Reader Rod M. mentioned a web site devoted to helping doctors in rural areas who need to treat patients with wound care.  They are making their PDF books available free of charge: Basic Wound Care and Practical Plastic Surgery.    o o o G.S. in the State of Jefferson suggested the perfect vehicle for combating MZBs: The South African Marauder Mine Protective Vehicle. Ten tons for fun! …

Alan W. recommended the 2008 Emergency Guide for First Responders.      o o o Pierre M. sent this: ‘Car sleepers’ the new US homeless    o o o Tam over at View From The Porch had this commentary: You’re in the Army now… only maybe not…    o o o G.G. suggested: 10 Reasons I’m Canceling My Credit Cards    o o o I heard that Best Prices Storable Foods will be raising the price of their Red Feather canned butter once they’ve received their next shipment. But for now, they are still selling it at the current price …

Mark H. sent this from Michigan: Julie Bass of Oak Park Faces Misdemeanor Charge for Vegetable Garden    o o o Six Months After Tucson Shooting, White House Readies Gun Control Stance. Any new “controls” would erode our Second Amendment right, so please be vigilant and ready to deluge your Congresscritters with calls, letters, e-mails,a nd FAXes. Most likely, they’ll go after the mythical “Gun Show Loophole”, even though Mr. Looney Loughner bought his gun at gun shop, with all the requisite Federal paperwork.    o o o US and Russia stir up political tensions over Arctic. (Thanks to K.A.F. …

The Spin Begins! Peter P. sent two more articles about the ATF’s Gunwalker scandal: Justice Department Obstructing ‘Fast and Furious’ Gun Probe, ATF Director Says, and Democrats to spin Fast & Furious probe into gun-control rally. Included in the comments was a link to another interesting piece: Pravda on the Potomac: Washington Post Again Covers for Government on Gunwalker    o o o The moral decline of the Mickey Mouse State continues: Legislature Passes Mandatory Homosexual History Bill.    o o o Art forwarded this: Sneaky Water Reservoir in Swiss Urban Park is Disguised by Green Grass    o o …

A few folks have written to ask me if I was “the anonymous expert” in the recent National Geographic “Doomsday Preppers” documentary. I was approached by the producers when they were planning the project last year, to be a “subject matter expert”. I didn’t have a good feeling about the project, so I passed. I’m now glad that I did. Their anti-prepper bias was apparent. Through some careful editing and voice-overs, the producers made the subjects of the documentary appear to be mentally imbalanced. For the record: I was not their anonymous expert!    o o o F.G. sent this: …

Matt R. sent something of interest to M1 Garand owners: Olongapo Outfitters has introduced new Garand Cartridge Belts to their line of products.  Though based on the original M1923 Cartridge Belts, they are not reproductions like those used by historical reenactors.  Rather, they are made from modern heavy duty material and are available in O.D. Green, Coyote Brown, and Khaki with either heavy duty snaps or Velcro for closures.  Matt says: “I have bought other gear from them and their products are first rate.  The owner is a former Marine and is a pleasure to deal with.”    o o o Michael …

Derek C. suggested an encrypted phone service that makes voice over IP (VoIP) calls.  This is a free Android application called Redphone, and when both phones have registered, “secure” calls can supposedly be placed between the phones. Note that if you have Google Voice installed, you need to log out before you can either register or receive Redphone calls;  however, once registered, you can place Redphone calls while still logged into Google Voice.  Derek notes: “I installed this on my wife’s phone and my phone, so we theoretically have an emergency ‘secure channel’ for communications.   If I want to initiate …

“Dost thou value life? Then do not squander time, for time is the stuff life is made of.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanack

The Lumberman sent this: India’s rural poor give up on power grid, go solar.    o o o Freeze Dry Guy (one of our advertisers) has announced a special: 15% back in Survival Bucks on all orders for their “Bugout Buckets”. This offer is only good for the month of July, so order soon.    o o o Army’s Last Draftee to Retire After 39 Years    o o o And speaking of longevity in service: 76-year-old Army medic on fourth tour in war zones    o o o Reader Walt M. mentioned that Matt Bracken has a great new …

Jeff B. sent this: The Four Most Likely Ways You Can Die if the SHTF    o o o Bob J. found this: The Post-Apocalyptic Clownscape that Was Six Flags New Orleans    o o o Don’t forget that the deadline for the Ready Made Resources Preparedness Video Contest is July 26th. Instructional (nonfiction) videos on any topic related to family preparedness are sought. The prizes are a brand new Rock Rivers Arms (RRA) Elite Comp M4 (AR-15 series compatible ) complete Barreled Upper Receiver and a Trijicon Reflex sight with a combined retail value of more than $1,400. Please …

A possible chain reaction of dam failures? The looming Missouri dam flood. (Thanks to John R. for the link.)    o o o F.J. spotted this over at Cool Tools: Transfer Punches. These are available through Amazon.com. As with our other Amazon links, SurvivalBlog earns a small commission each time that you place an order. (That applies to all Amazon purchases, but only if you follow one of our links. Thanks!)    o o o Robert R. liked the recent National Geographic documentary “Doomsday Preppers.” A portion of it is available online.    o o o Until the end of …