Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Although the “No Code” Technician license is often suggested for novice ham radio operators in the U.S., it is important to go ahead and learn Morse Code. It takes very little power to enable good communication over long distances. There are many propagation situations where voice is unintelligible, but Morse can still get through. The folks at Code Quick have one of the best teaching methods. They’ve had great success in teaching most folks in just two weeks.    o o o R.F.J. sent this gem: IKEA Hack: MALM with Storage Boxspring. This is great way to create a hidden …

Anyone considering buying any British or NATO military surplus uniforms, hats, or boots will find these charts useful.    o o o JRH Enterprises is having their annual Black Friday sale beginning now, with sale prices on many items including new Third Generation AN/PVS-14 night vision units as low as $2,895. We have one of these at the Rawles Ranch (a Gen3+) and we absolutely love it.    o o o For the “Why Am I Not Surprised?” Department: Obama Taps Chicago ATF Official to Lead Agency. Of course he’s from Chicago. Of course Chicago is hardly a Lily White …

I’m scheduled for a two hour interview on the EMPact Radio podcast on Wednesday. That should be interesting.    o o o Something tells me that there will be some bargain prices soon: Solar Panel Makers Face Supply-Glut `Armageddon’: Chart of Day. Thanks to reader Chris S. for the link.    o o o Seen over at Paratus Familia: A novel concealment holster for women.    o o o J. in the Great White North recommended this five minute video: You Can Eat Dandelion    o o o I just finished reading Jerry and Sharon Ahern’s new sci-fi novel, Written …

I was doing some web wandering and found this: British national builds a ‘tsunami-resistant house,’ powered by solar energy    o o o Reading this synopsis, I would surmise that the script writer for the upcoming “modest budget” guerilla film Remnants must read SurvivalBlog. Watch the latest trailer. Oh, and their clip of “Merle’s Basement” may strike a chord. (Thanks to C.H. for the link.)    o o o Scott F. recommended this web page for some details on suturing: Operational Medicine 2001 Field Medical Service School Student Handbook.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson …

Following some very expensive lobbying, S.510 passed a cloture vote in the U.S. Senate earlier this week. What a huge disappointment to see this bad legislation will probably be passed. The big question is: How will that bill and the considerably different H.R. 2749 (the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009) from over in the House be reconciled? Please contact your congresscritters and ask them to do their best to get this legislation stopped.    o o o Reader Ron L. noted: “What happens when you have a displaced populace? Disease. Then unrest. It’s happening now in Haiti.”    o …

Reader P.D. notes: “Emergency Essentials appears to be temporarily out of stock most of their super pails. Meanwhile, Walton Feed just went from one week wait to a two-to-three week wait on food orders. Shortages seem to be progressing.” JWR Adds: The long term storage food industry is small and easily overwhelmed by macro level events. It is wise to stock up now. If you wait until after the next crisis, then you may be out of luck. If you are asking: “What crisis?”, then you haven’t been paying attention. The chance of a big financial meltdown in the near …

The folks at Everlasting Seeds have added a new product. They call it their “EverGreens” assortment, specifically prepared for sprouting, although they could be used for planting just as easily. The “EverGreens” assortment two pounds of Organic Alfalfa seed, a half pound of Organic Waltham Broccoli seed, and a half pound of Organic Radish seed. They are running a special just for SurvivalBlog readers for only the next week: A 10% discount for the new “EverGreens” product, and a 5% discount on all their other products. This EverGreens assortment is not yet described at their web site, so either e-mail …

F.G. spotted this video clip: An overview of the deFNder™ Medium Station — a remote-controlled .50 Browning Machinegun. Makes me wish I was wealthy…    o o o A reader sent a link to a farmer that has an interesting approach to home-made biofuels: Farm Grown Diesel Fuel. This gent has a lot of do-it-yourself ingenuity, but he desperately needs a spell checker…    o o o Pegging the Absurdity Meter: Taurus Tactical Operator. Are they serious? Methinks this is the ideal gun for someone who is totally ignorant about .410 shotshell ballistics. Crud, when I have to lug around …

Our friend Tam over at the View From the Porch blog pointed to one of her favorite TFL threads: Reasons to Own a Buncha Guns. This hilarious thread dates back to 1999. Oh, that mention of time travel reminds me: I’m presently just 81 pages into reading Jerry and Sharon Ahern’s new novel Written in Time, and I’m hooked!    o o o I recently received a sample of Choate’s newest telescoping AR-15/M16 stock with battery storage tubes at the cheek positions. This is a cleverly designed five-position telescoping stock that has two storage compartments with O-ring seal threaded caps. …

Jason M. forwarded this collection of photos shows what a combination of resourcefulness, desperation, and stupidity can do: Are you getting the maximum use out of your vehicle? BTW, this sort of vehicular improvisation is not solely a Third World practice.    o o o Rick H. mentioned: In an exclusive interview with CNN, Dr. August Hanning, a former head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, said intelligence indicated that al Qaeda had already started planning to launch Mumbai-style attacks in the United States. Any bets on whether American gun grabbers like Chuck Schumer will start shouting for “more gun control” …

Nick in Indy mentioned Pastor Ken Blanchard’s recent podcast #186 “Christianity and Guns.”    o o o The Prepper Podcast show has some archived discussions of interest to SurvivalBlog readers.    o o o Kevin S. sent a link to a handy Reference Index for Biblical and Hebrew Terms.    o o o Five minutes of culture in the City of Brotherly Love: The Opera Company of Philadelphia breaks into “Hallelujah!” at a department store. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.)

Frequent content contributor F.G. sent us a priceless OK Go music video clip demonstrating effective camouflage. The Ghillie suit band members start to join in at 51 seconds into the video.    o o o Yorie sent this: Meet the Israeli Unmanned Ground Combat Vehicle – AvantGuard    o o o Alan sent me a link to a Dmitry Orlov lecture at UC Berkeley.    o o o Steve K. liked this video: Why Can’t Chuck Get His Business Off the Ground?

Le emperor sans culottes: Texas Governor Rick Perry correctly opined “…Social Security is bankrupt and is a Ponzi scheme, and if you’ve got a young 20-something-year-old, they know for a fact that they’re not ever going to see that.”    o o o Joshua S. pointed us to a good reason why you should be prepared everywhere you go — even on vacation: Hungry Ship Passengers Told to Eat Tic-Tacs    o o o Yet another member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns is facing criminal charges, this one for wife beating: Mayor’s wife takes stand to accuse Bradley of domestic …

Reader M.B. recommended a classic book that is available on-line: Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in 1816 by Corréard and Savigny. M.B. notes: “This is a fascinating true story about a group of people who were placed in what today could be referred to as “The End of the World as They Knew It.”. The book is in the public domain. Such lessons from the past are relevant to those today in a preparedness mindset.”    o o o B.B. flagged this: Americans on Food Stamps Reach New High    o o o Reader Karl W. suggested a source …

Reader John E. mentioned a video of a stealthy-quiet solar powered battery powered log splitter, and from the same inventor: a Suzuki motorcycle converted to a diesel yanmar type engine.    o o o The Growing Threat of Food Insecurity in America    o o o Reader M.G. recommend two books: Nature’s Garden and The Forager’s Harvest, both by naturalist Sam Thayer. Here is M.G.’s description: These books provide amazing, in depth, first hand accounts of how to identify, harvest, and prepare different wild foods.  I have a dozen other wild food books, but these two are by far the best.  …