Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Michael M. suggested this from Popular Mechanics: Extreme Building Codes: Protect Your Home From Natural Disasters    o o o Glenn Reynolds over at Instapundit mentioned this: Edible Vertical Garden.

T.B. mentioned that a map of natural hazard mortality in the United States has been produced. The map gives a county-level representation of the likelihood of dying as the result of natural events such as floods, earthquakes or extreme weather.    o o o The Deflation flags are still flying: Wal-Mart Bets on Reduction in Prices. (A hat tip to Chad S. for the link.)    o o o Reader Brian B. sent this from The Daily Iowan: Gun Law Stirs Controversy    o o o Sometimes, the small trend indicators can have great significance: U-Haul tracking data suggests more …

SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson keyed in on this article: BOB, America’s Biggest Sodium Sulfur Battery, Powers a Texas Town    o o o Titus suggested this population density map as a good starting point for looking for retreat locales.    o o o H.A.H. suggested this WorldNetDaily article: County to feds: They’re our roads! Supervisors vote to reopen routes hit by BLM closure    o o o Randy F. liked this piece, by my hero Walter E. Williams: Parting Company.

Reader Lee C. sent this: In California, Louder Calls to Prepare for Quakes    o o o Reader RBS mentioned a 2008 news story that was recently highlighted in The Survival Spot Blog. This illustrates how even fairly large communities can “disappear”, with terrain masking and some rudimentary camouflage: Lost middle-class tribe’s ‘secret’ eco-village in Wales spotted in aerial photograph taken by plane.    o o o The WRSA says: 19 April 2010: Bring Your Sidearms and Longarms To The Banks of the Potomac    o o o From Brian B.: Cap and Trade: A License Required for Your Home.

R.R.S. sent us this YouTube video link: Army Pro Shooting Tips: How to Speed Reload a Shotgun. Those AMU shooter techniques are fast, but note that they both looked down continuously, while reloading. (Watch it twice, and count how many seconds they take their eyes away from scanning for opponents.) I do not recommend that much loss of situational awareness! Instead, learn to both reload by Braille, and the “shoot one, load one” drill. These may be a bit slower, but I think that you’ll live longer. The “by touch” reloading method is a practiced skill that will serve you …

Readers R.V.L. and S.S. both sent this good bit of news: Arizona House approves concealed weapons bill. If it is enacted, I suspect that several other western states will follow suit with Vermont-style “no-permit-required” concealed carry bills.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson forwarded this: More Air Marshalls arrested than arrests made.    o o o Jon in Wyoming sent these two articles that underscore the importance of finding a retreat locale with plentiful water: Water publication focuses on drought, and Colorado Basin nears drought tipping point.    o o o Reader J.M.S. recommended that …

GWF spotted this news article on photobioreactors from the “Grow Your Own” state: Algae the new crop harvested by home-growers    o o o Reader Ron T. suggested the Liberty Letter by Peter J. Mancus (et al), posted over at Bill St. Clair’s site.    o o o Sounds like something from a novel I once read wrote: Many of Haiti’s most-wanted on the loose after earthquake. (A hat tip to Deborah D. for the link.)

Neal spotted a web site for an interesting camping stove that has an integrated thermoelectric generator (TEG), to provide a draft. Given its design and the materials used, I have my doubts about its useful working life, but the overall concept is captivating.    o o o Israel distributes biochemical war protection kits to civilians.    o o o An expensive lesson on Big Bears and Big Government: Alaska man who fed wild bears pleads guilty. (A hat tip to RBS for the link.)

GG sent this: Ham Radio Growing In The Age Of Twitter    o o o Greg C. liked this piece by Dr. Gary North: Oldspapers and the Crisis of the Establishment    o o o These surveillance videos illustrate the enormity of the illegal immigration problem in the US: Border Invasion Pics. (Thanks to reader D.V.D. for the link.)    o o o I heard that Freeze Dry Guy has extended their freeze dried fruit special for the entire month of April. They are selling a 108-Day Fruit Unit for $170, with a free Sparkie and free shipping in CONUS. …

Christine sent a link to a fascinating article: Phones in remote Washington come at high cost.    o o o Courtesy of Richard S.: Canada set to repeal registration of hunting rifles, shotguns    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson offered this: HUD and CPSC Issue Guidance on Repairing Homes With Problem Drywall. Mike’s comment: “Yet more fine quality from Chinese slave labor.”    o o o Kevin A. spotted this: Privacy Lives Report- State of Oklahoma makes millions selling resident’s info. ” Kevin asks: “Do you think any other states might be doing this?” Oh, …

 Alan E. sent us an article about Californians envisioning “The Big One.”    o o o L.S. suggested a web site with some useful resources on Rooftop & Urban Gardening.    o o o I heard about a small company in Illinois called Eden’s Way that is selling a “weed-free” and organic raised bed gardening system that reportedly will produce as much as four times more vegetables than other garden systems.    o o o Lynn G. forwarded this piece by Ronald Kessler: EMP Attack Would Decimate America    o o o Rufus sent this: Finnish post to open love …

Reader F.J.R. liked this piece over at the Lew Rockwell site, that includes some great audio clips: Gerald Celente: What to Do in a Crisis. The video clip includes his account of surviving the recent earthquake in Chile.    o o o Felix wrote me to mention that Michael Bane’s The Best Defense: Survival! television series from 2009 is now available on DVD. The series features a number of subject matter experts, including SurvivalBlog’s own Editor At Large, Michael Z. Williamson.    o o o Mike Williamson spotted this: Hunt fraternity has new quarry in sight: a Conservative government.

Thanks to IJS for sending this: Firestorm over wolf introductions erupting throughout Western states    o o o A reader mentioned the portable photovoltaic power systems made by Powerenz.com. They look interesting, but I haven’t yet seen this gear in person.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson sent us a video clip with a warning on contaminated imported seafood.

Some good news: Christian faith: Calvinism is back. (A hat tip to Tom W. for the link.)    o o o Mike M. suggested: Urban Forager; A Bitter Green Bouquet. (Our thanks to Mike M. for the link.)    o o o This recently-posted bio was over-the-top. (I certainly don’t belong at the beginning of that list, or perhaps even on it at all, since I’m from the subsequent generation of survivalists.) I’m only posting it because it includes a clip of one of my interviews where I give some practical advice.    o o o Lisa mentioned that Breadtopia …

Michael Yon’s recent photo essay and narrative on water supplies in Afghanistan is fascinating.    o o o Dr. Dean suggested this article: Invest in Precious Metals: Gold, Silver, and Lead, by Skip Coryell    o o o I just heard about a company called BePreparedNow.net They sell non-hybrid vegetable seeds and a few other items. Check them out.    o o o G.G. mentioned this: Survivalism in the Suburbs