Category: Odds ‘n Sods

James M. found a free 36 hour video permaculture course available online, from the good folks at the LATOC Forums.    o o o Lee C. was the first of several readers to mention a brief BBC article about US preppers.    o o o Jeff sent this: Military Cartridge Brass Destruction 2010 – Round 2    o o o There is an interesting thread of conversation in progress, over at the AR15.com (“ARFF”) Forums: National Emergency, will parents be able to get their kids from Public Schools?    o o o I recently did some research for a consulting …

North American Bees Are in Even More Trouble After a Bad Winter. (Thanks to Damon for the link.)    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson sent us this: This Turk shows one good way of defending oneself against multiple attackers, when unarmed. “Mike’s comment: Nice movement. Keep them coming singly and hit hard, while keeping a good block up.”    o o o Chester wrote me about RJR’s recommendation on Gentex 1030A active hearing protectors. (“Wolf Ears”). Here is a review of several types of hearing protection that Chester found on the net.    o o …

SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson forwarded this: Record numbers now licensed to pack heat; The “right-to-carry” movement has succeeded in boosting the number of licensed concealed-gun carriers to about 6 million. Mike’s favorite quote from the article: “Because the gun death rates parallel an overall drop in crime, Hemenway suspects that the decline ‘has nothing to do with concealed-carry laws.’” Mike’s comment: “Did a PhD actually say that?”    o o o Attention Coloradans: Reader P.M. in Colorado suggested a “private party” sales venue where he has both sold and purchased guns. Note that interstate sales of post-1898 …

Kyle was the first of several readers to mention this: Poll: Most Americans Fear U.S. Economy Could Collapse    o o o UN: Polluted water killing, sickening millions    o o o My Coast to Coast AM interview inspired a talented photographer to create this: Beans, Bullets, and Band-Aids.    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor At Large Michael Z. Williamson found a link to a YouTube video showing a nifty sandbag tool. Mikes’s comment: “Very clever. It fills them with enough slack space left for a fold or tie.”

Reader Greg C. wrote to mention that Wiggy’s is continuing their 20% off sale on sleeping bags, with free shipping. Order soon, since they rarely extend their sales into the backpacking season!    o o o Frequent content contributor Brian B. sent this: There’s a new buzz in gardening; With honey bees in decline, stacking-tray ‘condos’ attract mason bees that will pollinate fruit trees    o o o “Oxy” sent us this from The Wall Street Journal: Cartel Wars Gut Juárez, a Onetime Boom Town

More than 20 SurvivalBlog readers forwarded the link to a New York Times article on potential cyber attacks on the US power grid: Academic Paper in China Sets Off Alarms in U.S. Meanwhile, we read: Electricity disruptions a growing threat. (Thanks to Brian B. for the latter link.)    o o o Observations from the mainstream media on societal decline and collapse: In the Soviet suburbs of Hell and the blasted avenues of Mogadishu, I saw what our society could become.    o o o Smoky the Bear Big Brother: US Forest Service admits putting surveillance cameras on public lands. …

Rufus sent us this: San Diego Searches For Ways To Deal With Hoarders. No, not the sort of” hoarders” we usually think of, but just leave it to the vagaries of government to someday soon misapply such laws to to people that prudently build up larders.    o o o Rourke sent us this YouTube music clip: Meet You At Menards – Original Apocalyptic Ukulele Song. Rourke described it as “So cheesy that it’s actually funny.”    o o o Rebellion in America heats up as fifth state exempts guns. We also read in The New York Times: States’ Rights …

There is “suspicion of wolves’ involvement in Ms. Berner’s death.” (Suspicion? I guess those enormous red paw prints the snow might have been a clue.)    o o o Man Spends Four Days Stuck in Car in Snowbank. (A Cadillac would not be my first choice for an off-pavement vehicle.)    o o o Thanks to Kevin S. for sending this link: Psychopaths’ Brains Wired to Seek Rewards, No Matter the Consequences. (Thankfully, only 1% of the population is psychopathic, and perhaps 4% is sociopathic. But taken together, that is around 15 million people in the United States. Got ammo?) …

S.C.W. sent a link to an update on the Ugandan Wheat Rust: Red Menace: Stop the Ug99 Fungus Before Its Spores Bring Starvation. [JWR Adds: Given the fact that the same ship cargo holds are use to transport used for seed as well as wheat used for food, it is nigh-on impossible to stop the spread of Ug-99.]    o o o Quoting the MI5 maxim, Britain is ‘four meals away from anarchy’    o o o Brian B. suggested this troubling article: Pre-Crime Policing. If buying a number of guns or a large quantity of ammo in a short …

Reader Mark P. sent this: Busy bees, but hives are besieged, diseased; Scientists struggle to find cause — and fix — for colony collapse disorder. One particularly troubling quote: “We are close to the margin” of a viable ratio of pollinators to crops, he said. “It’s amazing to me how close we are to that line.” 1/3 of US crops are increasingly at risk from this problem as they depend on honeybees for pollination.    o o o J.D. in Virginia found this item: Backyard Bunnies Are the New Urban Chickens    o o o Jason M. sent us a …

I have long been an advocate of folding bicycles as a Get Out of Dodge Option, especially for folks that regularly commute into an urban area. The Montague and SwissBike folding bicycles sold sold by SafeCastle are probably the best bet in the U.S. and Canada. But in the UK, the more expensive–and even more compact–Brompton brand might be a viable alternative.    o o o Larry M. suggested this essay by a commentator who has “connected the dots” regarding multi-generational TEOTWAWKI: How Many Shoes? by Tom Baugh. It will take traditional self-reliant skills, not just a pile of stuff …

Lawlessness after quake in Chile fishing village. The article begins: “Rene Orellana sleeps with a shotgun in his hands. ‘I have to,’ he says, motioning towards a shattered window frame covered with a tarpaulin.” (Thanks to Alex S. for the link.) We also read: Chile May Face More Blackouts After 80% Lose Power    o o o Some excellent “old knowledge” links to references like Late 19th Century/Early 20th Century formularies were recently posted over at the LATOC Forums. I recommend archiving some of these on CD-ROMs. (Thanks to Bob G. for sending the tip!)    o o o M24 …

Richard S. liked this article on aquaculture: Dan Barber: How I fell in love with a fish.    o o o My brother Bruce (the well-known Sacred Geometry author) sent me a link to a YouTube video that has absolutely nothing to do with preparedness, but that is a lot of fun: The Ultimate Rube Goldberg Contraption. (Don’t forget that despite my rural locale, I’m still one of those semi-geeky Makezine guys that likes watching those Eepy Bird Experiments.)    o o o U.S. reverses stance on treaty to regulate arms trade. (Watch out folks: Hillary is at the helm …

John at SurvivalistBooks.com sent us a link to an interesting article on American preppers, from a French newspaper: If the sh** hits the fan, they are ready for it.    o o o Chuck sent me this: Hard Times Turn Coupon Clipping Into the Newest Extreme Sport    o o o Tomorrow is the last day in the Ready Made Resources 25% off sale on Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans. They are now offering free shipping on mixed case lots, as long as you order in increments of full cases! Get your order in by midnight, eastern …

Paul D. recommended this article from The Guardian: How food and water are driving a 21st-century African land grab.    o o o From E.M.B.: Energizer Battery Charger Comes with a Software Backdoor. Yikes!    o o o There are now just three days left in the Ready Made Resources 25% off sale on Mountain House freeze dried foods in #10 cans. They are offering free shipping on even mixed case lots. These foods are delicious, compact, and have a 30 year shelf life. Order soon!    o o o Cheryl sent this news: Wyoming Governor Signs Sovereignty Resolution. This …