Category: Odds ‘n Sods

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 …

P.C. insanity – Florida cop in trouble for warning others about dangerous parts of town. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)    o o o Reader G.P. sent this news article from England: Government Forces Family Living Off-Grid, Growing Own Food On Own Land to Return to Society’s Rat Race or Face Penalty    o o o F.J. mentioned an interesting compact combined solar and wind power system, primarily for shipboard applications: Solar Stik.    o o o. Illinois Lone Holdout On Concealed Carry.    o o o Raytheon’s CIRT makes punching through concrete walls easy. (They tell us that …

The Day the Law Left Town: Texas City Sends Police Packing to Cut Costs; Sheriff Plays Catch as Catch Can. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.)    o o o I heard about a small company that makes inexpensive target retrieval systems, for shooting ranges: Rogue Six. If you know anyone that operates a small public or police range, please forward the link.    o o o Directive 21 (one of our advertisers) has anounced a special that runs from July 1st to July 15th: For every purchase of a Berkey Water Purification System on their site, you will receive …

Several readers mentioned this: President Obama’s Executive Order 13575: Rural Council.    o o o Veteran SurvivalBlog contributor K.T. wrote to mention that someone recently scanned and posted Jeff Cooper’s article on Defensive Architecture from the first year of P.S. Newsletter. Note that, to the best of my knowledge, this was posted in violation of copyright. I believe that the copyright shifted from Mel Tappan to his widow Nancy Tappan, then to Karl Hess (who subsequently renamed the newsletter Survival Tomorrow), and then presumably to Karl’s heirs and assigns when he passed away. BTW, I wish that someone would republish …

I just read that Hazel Dickens passed away earlier this year. She was a great bluegrass singer who will be greatly missed. She’s singing in heaven now. Hearing about her passing reminded me of where I first heard her: KFAT in Gilroy, California. When I was in college, I avidly listed to KFAT, mainly for the bluegrass and gospel-bluegrass music. Their western swing and rockabilly music was also fun, though a good portion of that was not very edifying. (They played plenty of rowdy-honkeytonk-doper songs.) But to their credit, KFAT’s play list was truly eclectic, including: Emmylou Harris (the station’s …

Bob G. suggested this video: Faraday Cage: Garbage Can, Really?    o o o An interesting report: Liquid Sunshine Small Scale Alcohol Production in Local Communities    o o o IBD Editorial: Was Fast and Furious a Gun-Control Plot?    o o o Reader Matt H. wrote to mention this about camouflage: “I escaped the Southern California fires a couple of years age by driving a white pickup and wearing a hard hat and safety vest. Without faking logos or otherwise impersonating, I outwardly looked like any of many utility, CalTrans [highway department] or company trucks in the area. I …

Reader V.T.P. mention a new documentary coming up on the National Geographic cable television channel: Doomsday Preppers. It first airs tonight. (Monday, June 27 at 8 p.m. in the U.S.) Judging from the preview clip, it looks great. I would be very surprised to hear that the folks profiled aren’t SurvivalBlog readers.    o o o I recently bought a few olive drab MOLLE shotshell pouches from a small mailorder company in Florida called Omega Zombie. I was quite impressed with both the quality of their products and their customer service. And, BTW, I noticed that they also sell their …

New Study: Fluoride Can Damage the Brain – Avoid Use in Children. (Thank to K.E.R. for the link.)    o o o Monumental ignorance of history and logical inversion: “Chicago’s new top cop says the accessibility to firearms in America is an extension ‘of government-sponsored racism’ that goes back to the days of slavery and Jim Crow.” If this idiot knew anything about history, then he would know that gun restrictions were used by southern legislatures during Reconstruction to repress the voting rights of recently-freed slaves. He has his history absolutely inverted!    o o o Alan W. flagged this: …

Steve McC. mentioned: Earth Must Be Ready for Next Big Solar Storm    o o o Anyone who places over $150 with Ready Made Resources in the month of July will get a free copy of the excellent Urban Danger DVD. This is a great tool for people to wake others up to the dangers we face and solutions available.    o o o Steven M. mentioned a different approach to bike tire protection: Seat Belt Bike Tire Hack    o o o K.A.F. sent this: A rural life is better: Living in a concrete jungle is stressful and make …