Category: Odds ‘n Sods

There has been an e-mail widely circulating, with pictures of a Zeta drug cartel camp that was found near Higueras, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. They uncovered quite the little arms cache–enough guns to make even my old friend “Dan Fong” envious. These photos were recently posted to a web page. It is noteworthy that the Zetas are just one of the many Mexican drug cartels. By the look of it, the majority of the weapons came straight from the Mexican Army. No doubt some very large stacks of cash changed hands with some Generals. And to answer one criticism: no Nancy …

Jeff E. spotted this article from Florida: Brazen home-invasion robberies stir Jupiter Farms residents to action    o o o RBS suggested this New York Post article: $7-a-gallon gas?    o o o Reader David W. wrote to mention that last week all of Intuit’s online services went down for several days. This sent much of the company’s critical accounting system, payroll and credit card business into cloudy limbo. Intuit’s President sent out this apology. David comments: “This was reportedly caused by a power failure that cascaded. But no one is talking about where or how a massively redundant distributed, …

Kevin S. flagged this: How to Survive a Solar Storm. The article begins: “Scientists at NASA have been warning for some time of the dangers of space weather affecting the earth, and particularly the danger of solar storms. With the sun due to reach the top of both its 22-year magnetic energy cycle and 11-year Sunspot cycle in 2013, there’s real danger of magnetic energy damaging electronic equipment.”    o o o Reader EMB sent me a link to very practical piece posted at Hillbilly Housewife: Homemade Sanitary Pads. If you’d rather buy them pre-made, there is prepper-oriented home-based business …

Several readers suggested this fascinating interactive map: Where Americans Are Moving. If you click on an individual move segment, it shows the average income level of those moving. As an interesting example, click on Teton County, Wyoming. Wow! Talk about Galt’s Gulch. (Could this be, because there is no personal income tax in Wyoming?)    o o o S-Gnome found a web site useful for those of your readers trying to stock up on food while surviving on a limited budget: Eating Well On $1 A Day. S-Gnome’s description: “This guy takes couponing to a whole new level and manages …

EMB suggested this discussion forum thread: My Emergency Communication Box (Ham radio)    o o o Trent H. flagged this article in an Australian newspaper: Our own extinction is forecast, but he’s going by dead reckoning    o o o The folks at Directive 21 (one of our advertisers) wrote to tell me that the recently unavailable Stainless Steel Berkey Water Filter systems are now back in stock, and back orders are being processed and shipped.    o o o The National Geographic Explorer special ‘Electronic Armageddon’ is going to be replayed this Saturday, 6/19 at 7:00 PM and on …

Here is a link to the Milo Nordyke interview on CNN that I previously mentioned. Nordyke is a proponent of peaceful uses of nuclear bombs–including the possibility of using nukes to seal off deep sea oil leaks.    o o o J.M. in Michigan sent me a link to some videos about “off grid” projects. Go to Vimeo.com and in their search box enter: emas. This takes you to about 10 pages of videos on topics like High Pressure Hand Pumps, Rain Water Harvesting, Water Storage Cisterns, Ferro Cement Tanks for Water Storage, Using the Sun to Heat Homes, Latrines, …

All that I’ve been hearing from SurvivalBlog readers thusfar about the National Geographic documentary Electronic Armageddon has been positive. It is about the effects of a High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) on the US. Check your local listings for repeat showings! For further research on this topic, I highly recommend the EMPact America web pages.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson mentioned this free NAS on-line book: Severe Space Weather Events—Understanding Societal and Economic Impacts: A Workshop Report    o o o RS.R. noted this: Green Gadgets: Nokia Unveils New Bike-Powered Phone Chargers

Mike M. highlighted this interesting article from southern California: Wealthy homeowners seeking privacy are increasingly buying adjacent properties.    o o o Reader F.J.R. sent this uber-doom prediction on an Extinction Level Event: The end of the world as we know it; Forget man-made threats – the catalyst for the apocalypse will come from outer space, warns astronomer Chris Impey    o o o For those in coral snake country: Why Snakebites Are About to Get a Lot More Deadly. (A hat tip to Damon for the link.)    o o o Another Medical Corps Field Dentistry class is now …

I just did some business with a small company that sells field gear, and I was very pleased with their prices and customer service. Check them out: Saber Tactical Group.    o o o Ready Made Resources is running another Mountain House sale, from June 15th to June 30th. Ordering any multiple of six can cases (even if mixed cases) gets you 25% off and free shipping. Partial cases are also 25% off, but $17 is charged for shipping.    o o o Paul W. liked this article: Masters of Disaster. It begins: “At Wharton’s Risk Management and Decision Processes …

Jim W. sent this article: Squatters take over South Florida. homes in what police call latest fraud in housing crisis    o o o Ethnic riots sweep Kyrgyzstan, government begs for help. (A hat tip to Mike M. for the link.)    o o o Rick in Canada mentioned a National Geographic documentary that will air on Tuesday, June 15th at 10 p.m.: Electronic Armageddon. It is about the effects of a High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) on the US.    o o o F.G. sent this one: Black Flight Hits Detroit: After 10 burglaries in seven years, a professional …

Man who dug space under home sues city; Owner says private property is being taken; crews set to start filling pit today. (Thanks to M.T.)    o o o Chaos, Anarchy to Reign if Paterson Shuts Down New York    o o o More wrath of God stuff: Worst Locust Plague in Two Decades Threatens Australian Harvest    o o o Kevin S. suggested this very useful STRATFOR article: A Primer on Situational Awareness

Brandy down in Bianchiland suggested this piece in the Los Angeles Times: Economic Slump Stirs Up Homemade Preserves Industry    o o o RNS mentioned this troubling news from Sweden: Robberies raise prospect of retail cash ban. What great logic. So if they ban water, there’d be no more drownings!    o o o Roger Y. suggested this article: Doorstep bank raids plague cash-loving Argentina    o o o One of our former advertisers, BulletProofME.com, currently has a special on their overstock of US-made Interceptor vest nylon outershells. These are in camouflage. They are just $20 each if you mention …

Judy T. suggested this: Peak Oil and Apocalypse Then    o o o Reader John G. mentioned a South Carolina proposal to criminalize hidden compartments in cars. Yikes! Talk about a legislative solution to a non-existent problem. Whatever happened to “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects…”?    o o o G.G. sent us a curious story about the owner of a “nail house” in China’s Wuhan Province: China’s Wuhan Nail House Owner Fights Forced Demolition with Home-Made Cannon. From the photos, his “block house” architecture leaves a lot to be desired. …

Reader D.T. pointed us to a Coast to Coast AM where William Forstchen discusses EMP Threats. (He is the author of the novel One Second After.)    o o o NASA reports: The Sun Has Reawakened. (Robert R. was the first of several readers to send me this link.)    o o o I heard that Noah’s Castle, a hyperinflation novel by John Rowe Townsend, just went back into print. It was written for the “young adult” market. The good editors at October Mist books in Seattle noticed that this British book from the 1970s was out of print. So …

Here is “must read” article: Societal Collapse Due to Peak Oil ‘Inevitable,’ According to Researcher. (Thanks to Chris H. for the link.)    o o o Reader RBS recommended a link to some free greenhouse plans, over at Vibration Nation.    o o o Kevin S. suggested this from New Scientist: The wisdom of herds: How social mood moves the world    o o o I noticed that even more counters have been automated at the U.S. Debt Clock web site.