Category: Odds ‘n Sods

The saber-rattling continues. We read: US Raptors Deployed to Japan, and (some crude gray propaganda from North Korea)Nuclear War Is Kim Jong-il’s Game Plan and, US General: North Korea, Iran Joined on Missile Work, and South Korea sends more troops to North Korea border.    o o o Glenn Reynolds posted this over at Instapundit: Mark Steyn on William Forstchen’s One Second After. Why worry about an EMP attack?    o o o FG. sent this: Rural Michigan counties turn failing paved roads back to gravel. F.G.’s comment: “Don’t swap out that truck for a gas sipping micro car just …

The full length version of this show: Bizarre Foods Survival Special will air on Tuesday, June 16th, at 10 p.m. Eastern/Pacific time, and immediately after (11pm ET) Andrew will be doing a live chat with viewers.    o o o F.G. sent this: Round Up Hate-Promoters Now, Before Any More Holocaust Museum Attacks. I don’t suppose that there is any point in mentioning the deep irony of this to the author. (After all, the reason that a Holocaust Museum even exists is that some seven decades ago, a national government went along with public demands that certain people be “rounded …

A USCCA Video Tip of the Week: Carrying Extra Magazines.    o o o Reader T.M.N. sent a link to an article that gives new meaning to the term “efficiency apartment”: Man turns closet into living space. The space efficiency achieved is laudable, but that doesn’t leave much room for prep logistics. (FWIW, the food storage shelves for my family in JASBORR take up more cubic feet than his “apartment”.)    o o o Steve in Philly mentioned that a six-part Gunsite video on Tactical Carbine handling and marksmanship is now available on YouTube. (I’m dubious about its copyright status! …

Florida Guy mentioned an insightful essay that expands on Anthropologist Jack Weatherford’s book, Savages And Civilization: Who Will Survive?    o o o Crusher recommended a site with sets of plans and descriptions for a home-made ethanol still.    o o o FJ sent: Poor Man’s Guide to Rain Barrels    o o o A Nanny State update from Sodom By The Sea: San Francisco Makes it Illegal Not to Recycle

More about the proposed ban on one-hand opening pocket knives. The U.S. Government is Trying to Take Away Your Pocket Knives! Also see this summary comes from WorldNetDaily. The only thing worse than Nanny State meddling in your city, county, or state is the same nonsense promulgated at the Federal level. At least with state-level laws, you have the opportunity to “vote with your feet”. After a thousand small abuses, who will go so far as to emigrate? A special note: If this new law “interpretation” is enacted, crossing state lines with one of these knives will be considered a …

From my old friend “John Jones”: Solar Storm Threat Assessment    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson spotted this video clip. Bobcat wood splitter. Wow! As my dad always said: There’s nothing like power tools!    o o o Christopher T. flagged this: Texas company offers ethanol mini-refineries The folks at Ready Made Resources, mentioned that they just received a limited supply of genuine made in the U.S.A. stainless steel surgical hemostats. These are not made in Pakistani, (some of which will rust in an autoclave) .Still sealed in original packages $17.95 for a pair, in …

Steve G. sent this: Save Money (and Water!) With Rain Barrels. Coincidentally, F.R. sent this: Set Up a Rain Barrel to Save Money and Water    o o o KAF sent this: Real Life Hobbit House    o o o Also from Steve G.: Formulas to get rid of insects in your home

KAF found this: Hey Homebuyers, Beware A False Bottom Before You Make That Bid    o o o Bob at Ready Made Resources mentioned that they are offering special pricing on their photovoltaic (PV) power systems. They offer systems scaled for all budgets. Since I expect that the Federal 30% tax credit on alternative energy systems will soon be cancelled, I most strongly encourage SurvivalBlog readers to go ahead and install a PV power system soon.    o o o I noticed that the 2008 movie Defiance has been released on DVD. This film was based on the book Defiance: …

Grandpappy (a past prize winner in our writing contest) has posted a timely new article on low-cost ammunition at his site.    o o o Not surprisingly, this news story comes from Madison, one of Wisconsin’s most liberal meccas: Wisconsin City Cracks Down On Fake Guns. “Madison police are starting to tell children as early as first grade that the fake guns are dangerous and put both the holder and officers in dangerous positions.”    o o o JHB flagged this: Obama Now Wants Your Pocket Knife. Let’s nip this in the bud. Germany now has a ban on “ein …

Several readers mentioned this piece at the Lew Rockwell web site: Preparation, by Michael Gaddy    o o o Cheryl sent this: Where The Frugal Mommy Bloggers Are    o o o Also from Cheryl: Betting The Farm (Higher crop prices ahead?)

We were thrilled to attend Maker Faire, in San Mateo, California, last weekend. It is an amazingly educational and inspirational gathering, and I highly recommend it, if you ever have the opportunity. (Maker Faire events are also held in Newcastle, England and in Austin, Texas.) These annual events, sponsored by Makezine, bring together an eclectic and often wacky group of creative geniuses. Among the huge roster of exhibitors, I saw lots of practical displays and demonstrations there that have applicability to preparedness–including steam engines, gasifier experimenter kits (GEKs), umpteen human-powered machines (including a way-cool pedal-powered rail car, made with box …

Just one day left! Safecastle‘s 25% Off Mountain House storage food sale ends tomorrow, June 5th. Members will get a free copy of the novel One Second After by William R. Forstchen if they purchase four or more cases of Mountain House foods.    o o o Has Twilight Come to the Sun Belt?    o o o Richard at KT Ordnance mentioned this essay: When Guns Are Outlawed … Only Government Will Have Guns    o o o Marketers Fear Frugality is Here to Stay

Safecastle‘s semi-annual 25% Off Mountain House storage food sale ends on June 5th. Members will get a free copy of the novel One Second After by William R. Forstchen if they purchase four or more cases of Mountain House foods.   o o o Cheryl and Brett both sent this: Study: Global Recession Making World More Violent, Unstable    o o o More news from Cousin Kim’s Proletarian Paradise of Paranoia: North Korea Nuke Progress Sign Of “Dark Future”, and North Korea Preparing to Fire ICBM    o o o Reader “OSOM” mentioned that Gary North has just launched a free …

Lorraine sent us a link to an informative video clip on how to use a Food Saver to vacuum pack mason type jars. The creative part is in the second half of the video. Don’t miss it.    o o o The Risk of Coastal “Pop-up” Hurricanes . (Thanks to Roy D. for the link.)    o o o Seth sent us a link to an interesting PDF: Freedom Rankings of 50 States

The recent AP wire service article on survivalism certainly has grown some long legs. To date, it has been featured on CBS, ABC, MSNBC, Breitbart, Yahoo News, the Drudge Report, NPR, the Huffington Post, newspapers in more than 40 states, at least a dozen television news web sites, and even overseas in The Jerusalem Post.    o o o NOAA Issues New Solar Cycle Prediction. (Thanks to Paul B. for the link.)    o o o From reader R.M.: Ideas For Self Sufficient Living During Financially Turbulent Times    o o o Jim W., a missionary, recommended a visit to …