Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Reader A.S. wrote to mention that he liked a piece by novelist Matt Bracken, posted over at the WRSA web site: Bracken: The CW2 Cube — Mapping The Meta-Terrain Of Civil War Two. Please don’t mistake his comments on racial demographics as racism. Matt Bracken is not a racist. He is a realist.    o o o Chicago Times – Cops love iPhone data trail – Evidence Never Deleted. Here is a quote: “Every time an iPhone user closes out of the built-in mapping application, the phone snaps a screenshot and stores it. Savvy law-enforcement agents armed with search warrants …

Ron L. sent a link to a “how to” video on making nifty aluminum can alcohol stoves. These stoves were mentioned once before in SurvivalBlog, but this clever design deserves a repeat.    o o o Laurence W. forwarded a link to an article about a new mesh communication system. I predict that in another few years, fully distributed mesh networks will transform both telephony and our current conception of the Internet. “They can’t stop the signal!”    o o o Reader Tony B. spotted this: Emergency Response to a Disaster – from a paramedic viewpoint    o o o …

F.J. sent us this item: Risk of Earthquakes in the U.S. Midwest May be More Widespread Than First Thought    o o o E.M. sent a link to a surprisingly even-handed New York Times video piece about an Appleseed shoot.    o o o Matt S. suggested a site with farm and building plans. This is the North Dakota State University farm plans service. It has plans for all kinds of buildings for farm, camp, residential and storage buildings. All plans are available to look at or download in PDF format, and you can also buy copies of the plans …

Reader Mike P. forwarded a link to this BBC News article: Greek police clash with hauliers amid crippling strike. Mike’s comment: “The truckers’ strike is in its fourth day, gas stations are empty, and the government is implementing emergency measures originally intended for wartime or natural disasters. Does any of this sound familiar?” Reader Tom G. sent a link to a fascinating companion article: Greece Haulier Strike – Your Experiences.    o o o Some charming news, courtesy of reader R.F.J.: Rats Overrun Manhattan Park    o o o Also from R.F.J. comes a link to an Instructables article: How …

Kevin S. forwarded a link to a piece on building with compressed earth bricks (CEBs) (Also called compressed earth blocks.)    o o o Reader Joshua H. sent this: Tight budgets and fewer cops; time for citizens to ‘arm up’    o o o Ready Made Resources now has just one or two full mil-spec AN/PVS-14 Gen 3+ weapons sight monoculars remaining on hand, in their special sale. These are autogated and complete with military issue monocular head mounts, manuals, sacrificial lenses, mil-spec soft nylon carry cases, et cetera. The price is just $2,995, which is less than most dealers …

Remember what I wrote about cross-border threats in my book “Rawles on Retreats and Relocation”? Well here it is, even before TEOTWAWKI, folks: Mexico Drug War Spills into U.S. (A hat tip to B.B., for the link.)    o o o Phil K. sent this item: Power grid upgrades could pose security risks, experts says. And meanwhile, we read: Power grid hacking fear grows as industrial-targeted virus emerges. (Thanks to B.B. for the link.)    o o o National Guard troops to head to border states August 1st. (A hat tip to John B. for the link.)    o o …

Reader R.F.J. recommended this article, over at Instructables: How to Freeze Blueberries. “High in antioxidants, blueberries are considered a ‘super fruit’. In order to reap the health benefits of these tasty little berries all year, while taking advantage of seasonal prices, freezing is an easy way to preserve them.    o o o A short but vicious thunderstorm on Sunday evening left three dead in the Washington, D.C. region. Some residents won’t have electricity restored until Friday. As of Tuesday, there were still 150,000 households without power, most in Montgomery County, Maryland. Montgomery County is one of the richest counties …

David R. relayed this article: Warren Pollock Warns Of Emergency Drug Shortage as EMTs Told to Go to “Alternate Protocols“    o o o If you like the Multicam camouflage pattern, then check out this home-based business, that makes Multicam clothing and packs, all reasonably priced: BadMoonRizing.com    o o o F.G. sent this: Desperate cities try giving away land, to get any taxes later. Here is a quote: “Around the nation, cities and towns facing grim budget circumstances are grasping at unlikely — some would say desperate — means to bolster their shrunken tax bases. Like Beatrice, places like …

Reader R.F.G. recommended an Instructables piece on rain water collection barrels. R.F.G.’s comment: “Sometimes all you need is a few pictures to make something ‘brain dead’ simple.”    o o o G. &K. suggested this news article from Kentucky: Growing number people growing their own groceries.    o o o Nancy Tappan very kindly sent me a review copy of her fledgling magazine, The New Pioneer. It is subtitled “The Complete Guide to Self-Reliant Living.” I am very impressed with the magazine. The articles are well-written and fit the back-to-the-land/prepper audience very well. The premier issue was a hefty 128 …

Reader S.A. came across a Tropical Plant Database. he described it as: “a well-laid out professional-looking web site that lists medicinal uses of herbs, shrubs, flowers, trees, etc. Easy to use and read including common plants such as mimosa, stevia, epazote, ageratum, artichoke, mango, nettles, passion flower, and so on.”    o o o Alpha Innovations has introduced several new products: the Single Finger Nuck (an inconspicuous looking keychain decoration that doubles as an impact weapon ), the Alpha Scraper, and the Saf-T-Wrench another impact tool that doubles as a wrench ). Also, until August 15ht, they are selling our …

Several readers mentioned this: Report Blasts Military For Not Being Nuke-Proof.    o o o Tam over at the View From The Porch blog provided a link to an interesting news segment on Navy SEAL riverine training on the Pearl River in Mississippi. Tamara wryly notes: “We now know where NAVSPECWAR conducts the crucial ‘Sunglasses Selection Phase’ of training.”    o o o Seed For Security is offering a promotion that will run through the end of August, 2010. They will be enclosing one free pint of Rye grain and a free packet of Bloomsdale spinach seeds with every order …

Chris in Virginia sent a link to a site with information on oil presses. Chris notes: “The ability from seeds grown on your own property should be of interest to many who want independence. Based on the data provided on line, a patch of sunflowers could provide significant amounts of oil for both culinary and fuel usage.”    o o o JRH Enterprises is sponsoring started a new survival message board/forum: SurvivalAndPreparedness.com. Check it out!    o o o Reader J.S. mentioned that even Yahoo now recommends stocking up. J.S. notes: “The comments following are even more enlightening.”    o …

B.B. wrote to tell us that the second season of The Colony will air this summer on The Discovery Channel, starting July 27th.    o o o Reader J.F.R. mentioned these: Spiral Eye Needles    o o o K.S. sent this: PC giant warns of hardware trojan horse

Greg M. spotted an article that underlines the vulnerability of SCADA systems: New virus targets industrial secrets    o o o The folks at Ready Made Resources now have a special sale in progress on a very small quantity of full mil-spec AN/PVS-14 Gen 3+ weapons sight monoculars. These are autogated and complete with military issue monocular head mounts, manuals, sacrificial lenses, mil-spec soft nylon carry cases, et cetera. The price is just $2,995, which is less than most dealers charge for a standard Gen 3 scope. (And again, these are the much more sought after Gen 3+ variety.) I …

Trent H. was the first of several readers to mention this: Second Act: Jay Shafer; Ten years ago, Jay Shafer downsized to an 89-square-foot house and reinvented both his lifestyle and career in the process. Not much room for storage food, but this illustrates that minimalism has its advantages.    o o o Paul B. sent us a link to some more Gibbonesque musings: Has civilization gone full circle?    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent this piece about some implications of deferred maintenance, parts obsolescence, tight budgets, and lean “Just In Time” spare parts …