Category: Odds ‘n Sods

I was pleased to see that Mel Tappan’s hard-to-find book Survival Guns has gone back into print, by Paladin Press. Although the book is now a bit dated, it is still a great reference. His subsequent book Tappan on Survival (published shortly after his death) has also been back in print for about a year. The new edition has an introduction penned by Bruce D. Clayton.) I have often mentioned that Mel Tappan had a profound influence in the development of my preparedness philosophy.    o o o Clifford D. May’s piece in National Review Online, titled The Sun Also …

Reader “P.S.” sent this article from an Arizona newspaper: City won’t let homeowners live with solar power    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large, Michael Z. Williamson, mentioned an interesting privacy-related article over at Tech Republic: GoogleSharing: A way to prevent tracking by Google    o o o F.R. sent us this link: How to Survive a Fall Through Ice    o o o Chris S. sent a link to a video that illustrates why you should not buy a cheap light-gauge gun vault. As I’ve often said: There is no substitute for mass. Buy a proper vault with …

Our Editor At Large (Michael Z. Williamson) wrote to mention that there have been several new “underground homes” added to the 20th Century Castles (aka MissileBases.com) web site. JWR Notes: These are far beyond my budget, but interesting, nonetheless.    o o o I was pleased to see that the Atlas Trekker blog is now getting frequent updates. They’ve had some great posts on vehicular gear.    o o o Some folks seem that think that pump action shotguns are obsolete. I beg to differ. Courtesy of Michael Bane, here is a video of a reloading technique for advanced shooters …

Reader Brian B. sent us a link to some news from near Machu Picchu, Peru: The folks in Aguas Calientes are in hot water. Brian’s comments: “Mudslides have blocked all roads and the train tracks leading to the area, stranding up to 2,000 tourists. Locally, some 10,000 residents have been affected and 2,000 homes have been destroyed. Poor weather has hampered rescue and relief efforts. Food and fresh water are becoming increasingly difficult to locate which has led to price gouging ($3.50 for a bottle of water).”    o o o Chuck M. flagged this article from a British newspaper: …

Wayne P. alerted me that Canary Islands Press now offers a free downloadable PDF of an older edition of J.J. Luna’s privacy book “How To Be Invisible”. It has a lot of useful tips. I’m not sure how long it will be available, so download your copy soon.    o o o The Baker sent this article that illustrates what I like to call A Neighborhood Watch on Steroids: In the midst of Haiti’s devastation, a community of strangers comes together    o o o SurvivalBlog reader “N.” mentioned that there is a wealth of free manuals available online at …

F.R. highlighted a post over at The Sipsey Street Irregulars blog that has a link to a PDF from a 1960s military journal, article, titled “Organized Looting.” Here is the Sipsey Street editor’s comment: “This article by Leo Heiman, a veteran of the Rossokovsy Brigade of Russian Partisans, from Military Review, February 1965 discusses some of the uncomfortable logistics issues guerrillas must face. Read it, consider which of its lessons apply to you and redouble your caching efforts.” JWR Adds: FWIW, the same thing went on in communist revolutions worldwide, throughput the 20th Century, and may explain why so many …

Mike The Blacksmith wrote to mention that BBC America will start to broadcast the new post-pandemic Survivors series (an updated version of the 1970s Terry Nation series, first aired in 2008) starting February 13th at 7 p.m. Central time. Like the recent “After Armageddon” docudrama, this should serve as a motivational tool. (But like most television envisionings of an inimical future, don’t expect to pick up many useful survival tips.)    o o o Matt T. recommended this book: Living the Martial Way: A Manual for the Way a Modern Warrior Should Think. Matt’s comments: “While it was written for …

CBS News commentator Rebecca Solnit crosses the line into justifying the looter mentality, in this piece of editorial excess: When the Media is the Disaster. (A tip of the hat to reader Bill W. for the link.) A word of warning to Mrs. Solnit: If you advocate looting, then don’t be surprised if someday a group of low lifes comes to loot your house, whether or not you are at home. And when they do, try not to “judge” them! For that matter, don’t be judgmental about their preference for light or dark meat.    o o o I’ve been …

Entire Town of Wenden [Arizona] Underwater After Storm. (Thanks to FJR for the link.) Floods don’t happen often in Arizona, but when they do, they often crete some deep drama.    o o o Steve G. and Dane B. both mentioned this LifeHacker article: Use the Universal Edibility Test to Find Food in a Survival Situation. JWR adds this proviso: This “universal” test is not foolproof! It will not \detect many toxins, including micotoxins. And you must consider that the quantity of some plants such as poison hemlock that you ingest in “testing” might be enough to kill you!    …

Wisconsin Senate passes bill allowing people to can food without a license. Only high acid foods, and no more than $5,000 worth. (Thanks to GG for the link.)    o o o Reader Art A. wrote: “Some time ago you stated that people would use Google Earth to find things worth stealing. You were right Here is proof: high tech koi thieves.”    o o o A truncated version of my review of the movie “The Road” just ran in The Guardian newspaper in England: The Road to Ruin

Bill S. mentioned this article from a Dallas newspaper: Stockpiling food, water in case of emergency is smart, not paranoid    o o o Nanci wrote to tell me that Dolly Freed, the author of the recently re-released book Possum Living: How to Live Well Without a Job and with (Almost) No Money, has launched her own blog, also called Possum Living.    o o o Sri sent me a link to an interesting older article at Bill St. Clair’s site by Mike Vanderboegh that predates my launch of SurvivalBlog in 2005: What Good Can a Handgun Do Against an …

Luddite Jean recommended the Aquagear water filter, available in the U.K. She commented “I have used these, and have drunk some very dodgy-looking creek water with no ill-effects after being filtered through this bottle. Best of all, it’s instantaneous. It’s not meant for large-scale water purification, but as a back up, and for G.O.O.D. situations, it will save carrying potable water. I have one per family member at the moment, and will be buying extra the next time I see them at show prices.”    o o o Also from Luddite Jean comes this from The Daily Mail, Wife went …

From Reader RSR mentioned that Reliance Aqua-Tainer seven gallon containers are presently on sale for $8 each at Wal-Mart stores. I just saw the same containers for $17 each at an REI store. And speaking of water containers, Walgreens pharmacies now have 25 ounce “Green Canteen” brand stainless steel water bottles on sale for $4 each. They are out of stock at their online stores, but many individual brick and mortar stores still have them on hand. OBTW, beware that they are made in mainland China.    o o o We were sent two interesting, if impractical items from ImpactLab: …

Sandy in Illinois sent a link to a post from a missionary outside Port au Prince in Haiti.    o o o Harold M. mentioned a gent selling complete ALICE packs for $30: CJLEnterprize.com.    o o o Possible garden seed shortages in 2010? Thanks to Bob W. for the link.    o o o The ultimate bug-out vehicle? Chris M. sent this story from RD Mag: Street-legal airplane made possible with new rules, new software.

From Discovery.com: Laminated Linen Protected Alexander the Great    o o o Mike M. flagged this US Geological Survey PDF: Consequences of an Earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone    o o o Lynch mob beats to death a looter and drags his body through the streets as Haiti descends into anarchy. A tip of the hat to GG for the link.