Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Christopher W. spotted this in Science News: New Wound Dressing Makes Bacteria Commit Suicide    o o o Several readers sent this: Dugout Dick helped make Idaho, Idaho; The death of the ‘Salmon River Caveman’ ends an era in the state’s history.    o o o Bob at Ready Made Resources mentioned a interesting new product for gardeners: Hot Pepper Wax Repellent . It is a natural pest repellent for your garden, that doesn’t have the drawbacks of insecticides. They are offering free shipping on one quart bottles.    o o o Reader R.S.R. spotted a web-based e-mail privacy tool …

Newsweek magazine quoted me about the complex interdependencies of technological societies in an article about the implications of the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Finland. But sorry, you have to read Polish. (It was Newsweek‘s Polish edition. (I was quoted on the third page of the online edition.) Well, at least they mentioned the title of my book “How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It”. 😉    o o o Reader RBS sent this: A swap of seeds in Boise on Saturday will tap into a practice with roots in the dawn of agriculture    o …

EMB mentioned this amazingly useful, and aptly-named web site: Radio Reference.    o o o Since early 2007, I have warned SurvivalBlog readers about the perils of “kanban” inventory control. Here is a bit of confirmation: Volcano Throws Off Ash, Just-in-Time Efforts. (Thanks to Chad S. for the link.)    o o o Lee C. flagged this: Fat Americans are a national security threat, warn generals    o o o RBS sent this: Copper thieves blamed for dangerous power surge. A comment from RBS: “Here is what could be considered another classic example of the fragility of our Inverted Technological …

Fears for crops as shock figures from America show scale of bee catastrophe; The world may be on the brink of biological disaster after news that a third of US bee colonies did not survive the winter. ( A hat tip to OSOM, for the link.)    o o o EMB suggested this Lifehacker article: Top 10 Hard Drive Upgrades and Fixes. (I don’t normally post computer tech article links, but this one has a some preparedness and OPSEC implications…)    o o o Reader “Mr. 47” sent a link to a company that makes some clever bullpup conversion stocks.

EMB mentioned this amazingly useful, and aptly-named web site: Radio Reference.    o o o Since early 2007, I have warned SurvivalBlog readers about the perils of “kanban” inventory control. Here is a bit of confirmation: Volcano Throws Off Ash, Just-in-Time Efforts. (Thanks to Chad S. for the link.)    o o o Lee C. flagged this: Fat Americans are a national security threat, warn generals    o o o RBS sent this: Copper thieves blamed for dangerous power surge. A comment from RBS: “Here is what could be considered another classic example of the fragility of our Inverted Technological …

By special request from a SurvivalBlog reader, the folks at Shelf Reliance have kindly extended the 10% discount on their Food Rotation Systems. Use coupon code: SBM10. (The special discount price is not shown at their web site.) This offer now ends June 4, 2010, so order soon.    o o o Yet another local disaster shows the fragility of civility: Crews race to fix break in Boston’s water supply after major main breaks. Here is a quote: “There also were economic and social concerns: Restaurants in suburban Lexington shut down Saturday night, unable to wash dishes or serve customers …

K. in Vermont sent this Trunews link: Grasshopper plague in Plain States this summer    o o o More evidence that Peak Oil might be real: Kuwaiti study: Conventional oil to peak in 2014    o o o Niklas sent this link that could be useful in evaluating retreat locales: Preliminary Spreadsheet of Eruption Source Parameters for Volcanoes of the World    o o o How Al Gore is reducing his carbon footprint, and preparing for the dramatic sea-level rise that he predicted: Al Gore, Tipper Gore snap up Montecito-area villa; The Italian-style home has an ocean view, fountains, six …

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.