Category: Odds ‘n Sods

If you do web searches, you’ll find that there are some very inexpensive retreat properties available, like this parcel 6o miles out of Rawlins, Wyoming. But of course remember: Land is often inexpensive for a reason, such as when the access is poor, power lines are distant, the climate is severe and water wells–if available at all–must be drilled very deep. That one in Wyoming looks like it might qualify as “all of the above”, on those detractors. For some more realistic retreat-worthy parcels in more hospitable climes, see our spin-off web site: SurvivalRealty.com    o o o During the …

Lisa sent this: Food Prices Rocket in North Korea. Lisa’s comment: “The article says the prices change by the hour.” Can another famine be coming to North Korea?    o o o Reader John G. passed along two URLs for government surplus auctions: GovDeals.com and GovSales.gov. John notes: “I have seen more items listed lately. I guess the states are trying to recoup their deficits.”    o o o From Nanny State California: Santa Clara County: Supervisors ban toys with fast-food meals    o o o Survivalblog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson flagged this piece: Making a Wooden Bicycle. …

UAE eyes three-month food stockpile. JWR Notes: It is noteworthy that nation states don’t launch into expensive ventures like this, sua sponte. Catch a clue, and stock up, folks! (A hat tip to Bob G. for the link.)    o o o Simon J. sent this technology development news: New Inexpensive Material Will Turn Night Into Day    o o o Rich at KT Ordnance forwarded this one: Agents of Incompetence: ATF Dodges FOIA, Still Has Seized BB Guns (Part IV)    o o o Nick S. flagged this bit of nuttery from Nanny State Britannia: Boy banned from eating …

Eric S. sent this bit of NOAA prognostication: Warming in America; Mass migrations, water wars, and insect plagues. How will climate change reshape the electoral map? Even without “abrupt” climate change, economic and demographic shifts dictate that times will likely be difficult, for decades to come.    o o o Gary and Marie K. were the first of several readers to send us this piece that originated from Lancaster, Pennsylvania: Prepping for the worst    o o o Ay, ay, ay: Two Illinois lawmakers ask governor to deploy National Guard to help quell gun violence in Chicago. (Hat tips to …

Life in the Big City: Multiple Pedestrians Ignore Dying New York Hero. No comment necessary! Draw your own conclusions about where you choose to live.    o o o Anyone interested in getting ready for a post Peak Oil world should check out Transition US Social Network. Much like the excellent LATOC Forums (which I’ve mentioned in SurvivalBlog many times), there is some lively discussion there. They even had a big discussion about the legitimacy and motives of Survivalists, early last year.    o o o K.S. suggested this article: Crisis, Martial Law, and Black Market Operation – which in …

Andrew B. suggested this analysis from the folks at Stratfor: Dirty Bombs Revisited: Combating the Hype    o o o Reader Bret F. flagged this: Death of ‘Caveman’ ends an era in Idaho. Oh, and here is a link to a video clip about him: Diggin’ Dugout Dick in Idaho. OBTW, I highly recommend the book Last of the Mountain Men by Harold Peterson, about Sylvan Hart (aka “Buckskin Bill”) who lived up in the River of No Return hinterboonies. Sylvan Hart epitomized true self-sufficiency, and was a genuine character. I would have liked to have met him.    o …

Yes, our modern global society is now very inter-twingled: Volcano Ash Cloud Sets Off Global Domino Effect; Lack of Flights Entering, Departing Europe Stalls Africa War Crimes Investigation, Halts Japanese Auto Production. (Thanks to Robert B. for the link.)    o o o Chris Y. suggested this article at Trailspace: Human Waste Disposal in the Backcountry.    o o o I just found a very interesting blog that relates to personal privacy: The TechnoFascismBlog.    o o o Paul D. sent this: Police: 89-Year-Old Fires Gun At Intruder. Commenting on the police kindly reloading the revolver for the old woman, …

“Hobo Matt” sent us this: Time, Water Running Out for America’s Biggest Aquifer    o o o By way of Tamara over at View From the Porch comes this link: Not Your Typical CCW Class. (JWR’s comment: That makes sense to me!)    o o o Eric S. flagged this piece from The Albuquerque Journal that illustrates how folks can survive in an austere environment: On a Dusty Mesa, No Water or Electricity, but Boundless Space. But of course, without gasoline for vehicles to haul cistern water, they’d be in for some deep drama.

Judy T. sent these links: Oil rig explodes off Louisiana coast and Transocean Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion shows new risks    o o o Thanks to L.J. in England for spotting this: Rabbit meat is enjoying a renaissance in the UK.    o o o Reader “MadMarkie” sent a note that might be of interest if you have an Outdoor World store nearby. Outdoor World currently has the Marlin Model 795 semi-auto .22 cal. rifle on sale for $99.94 after a mail-in rebate. Normal retail is $149.99, on sale for $124.94 and comes with a mail-in rebate coupon for …

RBS sent this from China Daily: Shelters part of long-term civil defense plan    o o o Rick pointed me to HomeFirefightingSystems.com, in Pollock Pines, California. They sell pumps, foam, gel, tanks and equipment that would be appropriate for retreats.    o o o Josh flagged this bit of Hoplophobic Political Correctness stupidity: Student suspended after finger gun incident.    o o o I found this linked at the Drudge Report: Mission Impossible: Escape from Europe. (Read between the lines, vis-a-vis Getting Out of Dodge, in other crises.) Meanwhile, we also read: Get ready for decades of Icelandic fireworks, and …

Hunter in Alaska spotted this blog article: The Whiskey Standard (by way of Instapundit).    o o o Our thanks to R.B.S. for sending this: Copper thieves dismantle office building’s roof.    o o o Crime Prediction Software is Here and It’s a Very Bad Idea. (Thanks to F.G. for the link.)    o o o Ferd liked this Lifehacker article: Make a Waterproof Fire Starter Out of Dryer Lint (and Some Other Trash)    o o o Brian B. sent this: Rallies supporting the United States’ 2nd Amendment were held across the country Monday

Yishai sent this Instapundit item: U.S. Military Warns of Oil Shortage by 2015.    o o o Reader Damon S. suggested a web site with some free plans for building beehives.    o o o Matt B. mentioned a clever “stealth” house built into a grain silo.    o o o David R. was the first of several readers to mention this: MIT Student Develops Cutting Edge Low Cost Healing for the Developing World

 The latest from Nanny State Britannia: Caravanner, 61, prosecuted for having Swiss Army knife in his glovebox… to cut up fruit on picnics.    o o o Meanwhile, in the Land of the Free, we read these two news items: Heat builds on both sides of open-carry gun debate and Arizona to allow concealed weapons without permit.    o o o J.D.D. sent this: Single Mom Uses Straw to Build This Week’s Greenhouse for $500.    o o o Ferd forwarded this: Earthquake in Tibet – Amazing Photo Gallery

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 …