Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Reader L.S.C. sent us this: Army recalls 44,000 combat helmets. L.S.C. says: “File under ‘caveat emptor’ for anyone looking to buy helmets on the surplus market!”    o o o L.J. sent us the latest news from England: Parents of under-fives face ‘nanny state’ home inspections to keep children safe    o o o I just heard about very worthy non-profit charitable organization called Homes for Our Troops. They build specially adapted homes for severely wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Al lof the homes are donated to the veterans by the organization. This is their way of thanking …

Mike M. and S. both sent this piece from The Times of London: Scientists forecast decades of ash clouds    o o o Safecastle (one of our most loyal advertisers) has announced a special sale from May 16-29 only, with 25% Off All Mountain House #10 Cans, and free Shipping to the Lower 48 States. There are additional freebies, depending on the quantity that you order. (See their web page for details.)    o o o Reader M.T. sent this item: Obama Plan to Make Cheaper Coins Criticized by Businesses. Let’s face it, inflation is relentless. Sooner or later, they’ll …

Brian B. reccommednded listing to the Shrugging Out podcast. (The podcast’s name is derived from the libertarian novel “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand.)    o o o Reader RBS suggested this article: Montana FWPD Wolf Management Fiasco    o o o The Ammo Shortage Continues. (Thanks to Brian B. for the link.)    o o o S.A. liked a video at the Better Homes and Gardens web site: Fire Safe Garden.

L.J. in England sent this: Curse of the caterpillars: Residents trapped indoors as insect invasion brings asthma and allergies. Excerpt: “There’s something blowing on the breeze in West Street. And it’s not pleasant. Residents are keeping their windows and doors tightly closed, and gardens are no-go areas. Some householders even need to don full-body protective clothing – complete with breathing masks – to venture outside.It’s all because the road is under siege from an invasion of caterpillars little more than an inch long. But what the brown tail moth caterpillar lacks in size, it makes up for in its covering …

Several readers mentioned this: 20 Things You Will Need to Survive When the Economy Collapses and the Next Great Depression Begins. The writer is a bit naive, but seems to be well-intentioned.    o o o Details emerge about the new Supreme Court nominee: Clinton staff: “We are taking the law and bending it as far as we can to capture a whole new class of guns.” Kagan wrote the Clinton ban on gun imports.    o o o Ian sent us a news story link that illustrates how paper currency privacy (and ease of transport) is slipping away: Organised …

Jonathan H. suggested this article: The Failure of the Unfree Market. Jonathan’s comment: “Big changes are coming soon – the 72 year rule predicts the downfall of Social Security in 2012. It doesn’t necessarily mean a societal collapse, but definitely fundamental changes are coming, as you have been warning.”    o o o Arab World Grapples with Food Shortage. (A hat tip to Bob G. for the link.)    o o o The folks at Centerfire Antennas (one of our former advertisers) has an incentive deal for newly-licensed Hams. If you contact them with your new call sign that was …

Mountain lion confirmed in rural Greene County, Indiana (Thanks to SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson for spotting that article.)    o o o A word of warning to field foragers: Hemlock May Have Caused Tacoma Woman’s Death. (It is important to learn how to identify poison hemlock — not to be confused with the various hemlock trees.)    o o o K.L. in Alaska spotted this piece in a Prescott, Arizona newspaper about Cory Lundin: Local survival teacher gets Discovery Channel TV series    o o o You read about this first in SurvivalBlog: Could another Icelandic volcano …

JRH Enterprises has secured eight AN/PVS-14 weapon sight/monoculars that they are able to offer for $2,995 each. These are the new third generation Pinnacle Autogated units with a five year warranty. OBTW, I have a PVS-14 here at the Rawles Ranch that I bought from JRH Enterprises, and I absolutely love it.    o o o Montana lawmakers suggest Congress should be on trial in gun law dispute.    o o o G.G. sent this piece “for those who buy expensive gear and don’t know how to use it”: Aspiring sailor trying to sail round the UK circles the Isle …

This YouTube dramatization sounds like something out of SurvivalBlog, or a novel I once read wrote: The Economic Collapse. (Thank to David W. for the link.)    o o o Ash delays and reroutes trans-Atlantic flights. (Thanks to Mike M. for the link.)    o o o Mat in Tennessee suggested this: Getting Prepared for an Electromagnetic Pulse Attack. This is also apropos for massive Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) events.    o o o Allen M. flagged this: NetDISK multi-function NDAS – the ‘hack-proof’ drive

Reader D.R. pointed us to a news story with some serious implications: Fake Roadblocks in Houston, Texas.    o o o Several readers have mentioned that they’ve been impressed with their LifeSaver water filtration bottles. I just received a sample of one of the new LifeSaver filtration Jerry Cans. It looks absolutely bombproof. I can’t wait to try it!    o o o I heard about a web site with some useful field gear reviews: Canadian Wilderness Survival.

Christopher W. spotted this in Science News: New Wound Dressing Makes Bacteria Commit Suicide    o o o Several readers sent this: Dugout Dick helped make Idaho, Idaho; The death of the ‘Salmon River Caveman’ ends an era in the state’s history.    o o o Bob at Ready Made Resources mentioned a interesting new product for gardeners: Hot Pepper Wax Repellent . It is a natural pest repellent for your garden, that doesn’t have the drawbacks of insecticides. They are offering free shipping on one quart bottles.    o o o Reader R.S.R. spotted a web-based e-mail privacy tool …

Newsweek magazine quoted me about the complex interdependencies of technological societies in an article about the implications of the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Finland. But sorry, you have to read Polish. (It was Newsweek‘s Polish edition. (I was quoted on the third page of the online edition.) Well, at least they mentioned the title of my book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It”. 😉    o o o Reader RBS sent this: A swap of seeds in Boise on Saturday will tap into a practice with roots in the dawn of agriculture    o …

EMB mentioned this amazingly useful, and aptly-named web site: Radio Reference.    o o o Since early 2007, I have warned SurvivalBlog readers about the perils of “kanban” inventory control. Here is a bit of confirmation: Volcano Throws Off Ash, Just-in-Time Efforts. (Thanks to Chad S. for the link.)    o o o Lee C. flagged this: Fat Americans are a national security threat, warn generals    o o o RBS sent this: Copper thieves blamed for dangerous power surge. A comment from RBS: “Here is what could be considered another classic example of the fragility of our Inverted Technological …

Fears for crops as shock figures from America show scale of bee catastrophe; The world may be on the brink of biological disaster after news that a third of US bee colonies did not survive the winter. ( A hat tip to OSOM, for the link.)    o o o EMB suggested this Lifehacker article: Top 10 Hard Drive Upgrades and Fixes. (I don’t normally post computer tech article links, but this one has a some preparedness and OPSEC implications…)    o o o Reader “Mr. 47” sent a link to a company that makes some clever bullpup conversion stocks.

EMB mentioned this amazingly useful, and aptly-named web site: Radio Reference.    o o o Since early 2007, I have warned SurvivalBlog readers about the perils of “kanban” inventory control. Here is a bit of confirmation: Volcano Throws Off Ash, Just-in-Time Efforts. (Thanks to Chad S. for the link.)    o o o Lee C. flagged this: Fat Americans are a national security threat, warn generals    o o o RBS sent this: Copper thieves blamed for dangerous power surge. A comment from RBS: “Here is what could be considered another classic example of the fragility of our Inverted Technological …