Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Joe Ordinary sent us the link to an amazing series of before and after flood photos, from Australia.    o o o More Nanny State Nincompoopery: Crossbows in legal cross-hairs. It seems that in Mount Prospect, they want to ban everything that might possibly be fun. That city (and Ohio as a state) sure has changed since the Blues Brothers days. Back then, we’ve been told, they sold awesome ex-police cruisers: “This was a bargain. I picked it up at the Mount Prospect city police auction last spring. It’s an old Mount Prospect police car. They were practically giving ’em …

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy’s magazine ban bill (H.R. 308) is getting a fairly chilly reception in the House of Representatives. As of January 20th there were just 53 co-sponsors who are predictably nearly all Democrats. (Bills with “popular support” often get more than 200 co-sponsors.) Meanwhile, in America’s heartland the demand for full capacity magazines is greatly outstripping supply. (Just try to find a dealer with any Glock or Springfield XD magazines on the shelf!) The gun shows this weekend are going to be packed with buyers. Mrs. McCarthy will learn that “308” has a much different meaning to American gun …

Reader Steve C. sent this: Camden, New Jersey Lays Off Half of It’s Police Force. Steve’s comment: “The second most dangerous city in the United States just laid off half its police force and nearly a third of their fire department. This is in a state where honest folks can barely own a gun without breaking the law and getting sent to prison. Anyone still in that city, if not the whole state, with any sense should vote with their feet, now!“    o o o Alex M. forwarded this: First burials as Australian flood crisis deepens    o o …

Scientists warn California could be struck by winter ‘superstorm’. (Thanks to John H. for the link.)    o o o Lily mentioned a very useful piece over at the Paratus Familia blog: TEOTWAWKI and Aging    o o o Court Victory for California Gun Owners! But meanwhile, in Occupied New Jersey, a court battle drags on: Traveling Man’s Gun Arrest Appealed to Supreme Court. (A hat tip to Ryan M. for the latter link.)

China’s control of rare-earth metals poses risk to U.S. solar future.    o o o Rourke spotted this: Inexpensive perimeter alarm. Keep in mind that those units are NOT weatherproof, so they should be installed in weatherproof enclosures, and buy plenty of spares!    o o o The Queensland Floods: Next shock will be high food prices    o o o James C. recommended this videotaped interview with Dimitri Orlov: “America Will Collapse”. It should come as no surprise to SurvivalBlog readers that Orlov predicts very high crime rates and that country dwellers will fare better than urbanites. He calls …

Pierre M. sent a link to a fascinating blog written by a wife and mother who lives deep in the interior of Alaska: The Last Frontier. Their main access to the outside world is via bush pilot flights. The blog is posted only sporadically, since they have to fly in the gasoline to run their generator. Now that is remote!    o o o Leading computer expert warns of cyber attack on National Grid. (Thanks to Dave B. for the link.)    o o o From Chris S. comes a news account of YOYO time: Brazil Mudslide Survivors Carry Food, …

#1 Son forwarded me this: In Nuclear Silos, Death Wears a Snuggie    o o o Some news from Israel for the Orchestrated Institutional Stupidity Department: IDF collecting settlers’ weapons    o o o Avalanche Lily flagged this one: “Food riots in America? You’re crazy…”    o o o P.J. sent this: Living large: Home going up in Highlandville to be one of country’s largest. This “one-family house” has some veeeery interesting specifications.

Who is guarding the hen house? Secret underground room at Border Patrol agent’s home may have hidden illegal immigrants. (Thanks to M.O.B. for the link.)    o o o Joe P. recommended this page: Homemade Firearm Cleaners & Lubricants. I’ve mentioned “Ed’s Red” in the blog before, but their site has even more formulas. I’ve added it to my Links Page.    o o o Reader Art R. liked this one, over at The Art of Manliness: An Introduction to Off-Roading.

Atlanta Stores out of food?    o o o Update from Steve Quayle: Mountain House Food Alert, None Available, 92% Dealers Cut. Please patronize SurvivalBlog advertisers first!    o o o Reader T.H. invested some time and created a map of “Potential U.S. retreat locations by distance from cities”. Then #1 Son got busy and created a corresponding map of America’s Interstate highway system. I just posted both maps to my Recommended Retreat Areas web page. T.H. included a proviso: “Note that the areas 300 miles out are shaded green. I did not include any Canadian city data, so the …

G.G. sent this item of interest, from Popular Mechanics: Rise of the Preppers: Survivalists Get a Makeover Can disaster preparedness become a lifestyle without turning into survivalism?    o o o Magnetic Pole Shift May Close Airports    o o o Peter King’s silly gun ban idea. Beyond ludicrous… How can you create an exclusion zone that moves?    o o o Just as predicted: Here They Come For Your Money – Dozens of States Are Raising Taxes in 2011    o o o Sean B. sent us another testament to the protective value of “mass”: Credit Protection: Bouncer’s cards …

<<p>Frequent content contributor C.D.V. sent us the link to an interesting (and beautiful) “heat map” which may aid is selecting retreat locales. It shows locations that are furthest in travel time from major cities.    o o o W.T. suggested this piece over at Grant Cunninghan’s site: Firearms Lubrication 101. (Thanks to W.T. for the link.)    o o o Reader Jenn. C. mentioned an article that she penned for The Sarah Connor Charm School blog site: Survival Food Strategies for Real Food Minded Modern Warriors.    o o o One Poor Harvest Away From Chaos. (Thanks to Cheryl N. …

B.B. suggested an essay by Eric Peters: Where We’re Headed…    o o o The first hand account of Air Force One pilot Col. Mark Tillman’s experiences on 9-11-01 are well worth the watch. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)    o o o Troy H. suggested this National Geographic article: Seven Billion: By 2045 global population is projected to reach nine billion. Can the planet take the strain?    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson pointed me to this new product: The Rifle Integrated Power Rail (RIPR). Mike’s comment: “I’m not a huge fan of …

Terry D. sent a link to a fascinating interactive map, based on U.S. Census Bureau data. Terry suggested using this to your data set, when judging retreat locales.    o o o My old friend Fred the Valmet-meister sent a link to a great web page: Farming in the 1920s.    o o o California’s mail order ammunition ban and fingerprinting for face to face buyers goes into effect on February 1st. One more nail in the coffin for the Citizens of a once-free state.    o o o Honey laundering: The sour side of nature’s golden sweetener. (Thanks to …

For anyone who is grumbling about the cancellation of the BBC television series Survivors, there is now a petition to get Season 3 reinstated.    o o o Another reason for OPSEC: Cop Slain for gun collection. (A hat tip to David N. in Tennessee.)    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent a useful article with relevance to EMP protection: Bonding and Grounding C4SIR Facilities.    o o o I recently got a lengthy heartfelt letter from a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employee that I’ll quote just briefly: “The number one lesson I have …

John B. flagged this: The federalization of local law enforcement    o o o “Wolverines!” It now seems there is renewed hope for the completed-but-yet-shelved remake of the movie Red Dawn. The latest news is that it will get released in 2011, after all, assuming MGM’s “exit from bankruptcy” goes well.    o o o The publisher is again offering a 10% discount for SurvivalBlog readers on the DVD Food Production Systems for a Backyard or Small Farm.  This is a comprehensive DVD tutorial on home food production available showing you how much water you need, how much land, highest …