Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Jeff B. sent this scary article link: What if a hurricane were to slam into the oil slick?    o o o Robert S. sent us the link to this charming news: Dengue Fever in Florida Portends a Growing Problem    o o o JM from Michigan mentioned the many older (out of copyright) on-line books and info that are available at Archive.org. BTW, it is also the home of the “Way Back Machine”– a fascinating web archive search tool that allows you view deleted web sites, or to see what current sites looked like in their early days.    …

Just three days left! Safecastle (one of our most loyal advertisers) is running 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 Ray B. mentioned this article in an Everett, Washington newspaper: Our volcano: Glacier Peak is the hidden threat in our back yard    o o o Beatriz mentioned this great web site on dehydrating foods at home: Dehydrate2Store.    o o o …

Reader Dan V. mentioned that a scanned copy of the scarce Operation and Maintenance Manual for the AN/PSR-1A Intrusion Detecting Set (TM-04074B-15) is now available online. You can find it linked near the bottom of this page.    o o o RBS spotted this: Why Snakebites Are About to Get a Lot More Deadly – Cost of Antivenom Production Creates Shortages    o o o Jack T. sent us a link to some good reporting from C.J. Chivers of The New York Times: A Firsthand Look at Firefights in Marja. It is refreshing to hear from a mainstream reporter that …

D.J.A. sent this article that illustrates how the mainstream is catching on: The Prepper Movement — a Growing Network Preparing for the World’s End    o o o For those of you that–like me–up until now have just been mildly bemused at the sight of people walking around with their prized Kindle readers, here is some good news: you can read Kindle books on PCs and most recently announced, on Mac desktop and laptop computers. And even better, the requisite software is a free download. Of course once you’ve done that, you can get the Kindle software editions of various …

Estimate for Nashville property damage from flood tops $1.9 billion. The eventual insurance tab may surpass the New Orleans flooding, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina!    o o o Nic mentioned that the excellent Gun Test consumer review magazine has come out with a new online magazine – Gun Reports – to cover the multiplicity of guns and gear that can’t fit in their print magazine:    o o o Savings Experiment: Where better batteries meet bargain power. (Thanks to Matt in Oklahoma for the link.)    o o o Judy T. was the first of several readers to …

GCM sent a link to this cool water, gear, and fuel storage product: Rotopax.    o o o G.G. flagged: The Closers: How the pros shut down a failing bank    o o o Reader J.A.B. suggested FindYourSpot.com, a relocation web site that finds “your spot”, based upon 40 to 50 questions are asked about your lifestyle and preferences, and you’re given (immediately) a list of 20-odd locales across America that suits your needs. At the end, they’ll be some questions pertaining to advertising, but never fear, you can click through to the selections. Some locations might be no-brainers for …

Several readers mentioned this: Fallout shelters for a new generation. I’m reserving any judgment on this particular venture (since it is only in its early stage of what has been promised). But I must say that in general I’m opposed to getting involved in large commercial shelter projects. For around $35,000, you can construct your own fully-stocked in-home underground shelter with a blast door and HEPA air filtration for a family of five. Why spend more for just one shelter space in a distant locale, and in a shelter that belongs to someone else? And what are the chances that …

Reader R.B.S. pointed me to a web site that I heretofore hadn’t heard of: Escape From America Magazine    o o o Ben L. mentioned a new electric “limb lopper” electric chainsaw. They are quiet, but of course for Grid Down situations, always keep a gas chainsaw on hand!    o o o F.S. pointed me to an interesting site: Modern Stronghold.

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 …