Category: Odds ‘n Sods

America’s Most Dangerous Cities    o o o The Scientific American asks: Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization? (Hat tip to KAF for the link.)    o o o Frank S. sent us: When Did Your County’s Jobs Disappear? An interactive map of vanishing employment across the country.    o o o I just noticed that Wiggy’s is continuing their 25% Off Sale for their sleeping bags. Their FTRSS sleeping bags are fabulous. When I was having back problems, I gave my FTRSS the equivalent of three lifetimes worth of use, and it performed flawlessly. Wiggy’s bags are warm, tremendously …

“Hoss” spotted this video segment: Ozark Mountain man’s ‘survival garden’ gains worldwide attention. Len Pense shows the SurvivalBlogger mentality, in action.    o o o Craig W. sent us a link to a Biogas generator demonstration. OBTW, unless you want to remove your chromosomes from the gene pool, never squirt lighter fluid from a can or bottle onto an active ignition source, as he does in this video!    o o o Reader HK sent us this article from a clever gardener up in Alaska: How does your garden grow? Former Iowa resident presents a different way to plant veggies …

Rourke sent a link to an article in the Kansas City Star: Some stockpiling to prepare should times turn perilous    o o o Thanks to MVR for this: The Geomagnetic Apocalypse — And How to Stop It    o o o California Shooting Fair Closes for Lack of Ammo (Thanks to FloridaGuy for the link.)    o o o KAF flagged this: Hardtack, Once a Staple of Sailing Ships, Still Prospers in Hawaii. It has great shelf life, especially when vacuum packed. BTW, I believe that the author is mistaken when describing the “joke” origin of the term “Saloon …

Gloria spotted this article on urban survival: Live off the land — in the city    o o o Brian H. mentioned: Striking EDF Power Utility Workers Cut Power to French Homes    o o o Courtesy of Cheryl: Basics For The Beginning Gardener    o o o When it comes to AR-15 uppers, I thought that I seen it all. There are barreled AR uppers on the market for everything from .22 LR , to 5.45×39 Russian, to 8mm Mauser Belt-Fed, to .50 Browning. But this crossbow upper surprised me. FWIW, there are a lot of things that I’d …

Hawaiian K. spotted this at Wired News: The Great Brazilian Sat-Hack Crackdown    o o o Ben M. mentioned that the NTIS is having an unusual clearance sale on some government publications.    o o o Reader G.K. sent this link: Army Sharpshooters to Get SEAL Sniper Rifle. Gee, if the US Army had adopted the AR-10 some 40 years ago, they wouldn’t now be reinventing the wheel. (It’s too bad that the AR-10 wasn’t a more mature design by the time of the T44/T48 trials.)    o o o Be sure to bookmark www.GunBlogs.org. They do a great job …

Several readers sent links to articles about a new H1N1-series variant swine flu, including this AP wire service article: Flu epidemic prompts Mexico City to suspend all school, university classes, as strain studied. The death count in Mexico is now up to 61. A follow-up article included this troubling tidbit: “Scientists said the virus combines genetic material from pigs, birds and humans in a way researchers have not seen before.” If the number of reported cases expands geometrically and the fatality rate is significant, then take the appropriate precautions. Of course, most SurvivalBlog readers already have deep larders and are …

Mat found a great Swiss Army Knife Forum, devoted to collecting and modifying the Großvater of all survival tools. The Swiss Army Knife (Schweizer Offiziersmesser) is a must for each teenager and adult family member. Unlike a Leatherman tool, they are light enough for daily pocket carry. The forum has some interesting information on outdoor survival projects such as tin can stoves.    o o o Commander Zero has some interesting commentary on the current shortage of ammunition, magazines, and primers: 1994 Versus Now. JWR’s comment: Commander Zero’s observations are spot on. It may be years before manufacturers catch up …

Several items of gun news were sent to us by Cheryl: Firearm Sales Surging Since Obama’s Election — Gun Ownership Growing, Following National Trends — Shortage of Guns, Ammo Reported    o o o Cheryl also mentioned an interesting piece over at Steve Quayle’s site: Raising Catfish In A Barrel    o o o Some encouraging news: Gary in Montana mentioned that the recently-enacted “Made in Montana” Federal gun law exemption (Montana HB 246), is now being emulated in two other state legislatures: Alaska HB 186 and Texas HB 1863. I expect this trend to continue, especially in southern and …

Even the leftist San Francisco Chronicle couldn’t deny the good news is a recent 9th Circuit Court decision: Citizens can challenge state, local gun laws. (Thanks to Skip for the link.) And speaking of guns, don’t miss this analysis of current events, over at Tamara’s blog: Some more ruminations on the ammo shortage.    o o o Thanks to KAF for finding this: Gun foes fight over assault weapons.    o o o JHB recommended this: Taking a close look at Facebook. JHB’s comment: “Don’t be paranoid but you are being watched.”    o o o FerFAL has published a …

W. in Washington recommended this blog site: Little House in the Suburbs    o o o “Goff” sent an item from a Bangor, Maine newspaper: Firepower Fever; Worried about how gun laws might change, some enthusiasts stock up and local suppliers feel the heat    o o o Fred the Valmetmeister notes: “The market for [reloading] primers is so scary. Take a look at the auctions at GunBroker.com and go to the reloading section. Look at the auctions for primers! For example: [cases of] 5,000 CCI Large Pistol primers for $340! I now see single boxes [of 1,000 primers selling] …

Hawaiian K. sent us the link to a video clip showing the Mexican Back-Country Improvised Method of Tire Bead Sealing. Don’t try this at home! (This method can leave un-burned explosive gasses inside your tire, not to mention remove your eyebrows in a flash, even if you try to be careful!)   o o o From Cheryl (aka The Economatrix) Guns: A Better Buy Than Stock    o o o Writing in The Washington Times, Ollie North asks: Who are dangerous ‘extremists’? (Thanks to KAF for the link.)    o o o Our Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent …

Warning: Don’t exhale, folks! The new and improved Obama-era EPA has declared carbon dioxide a “greenhouse gas”. Next, I suppose they’ll declare dihydrogen monoxide “a powerful unregulated universal chemical solvent.”    o o o Reader KAF flagged this: A cure for [honeybee] colony collapse–New research has proposed both a concrete cause for bee colony collapse disorder, as well as a cure    o o o KAF also sent a link to the latest commentary by political pundit Victor Davis Hanson: President of the World–The globe is hearing a deeply pessimistic view of what America was and is.

Layoffs begin at ammo plant. This article illustrates the inherent boneheaded stupidity of central planning. This decision was made four years ago.But now, with both civilian and military demand for ammunition soaring, they are closing a plant. (A tip of the hat to Florida Guy, for the link.)    o o o California: High-Capacity Magazines in the Crosshairs! Senate Bill 776, sponsored by Democrat State Senator Loni Hancock, has been introduced in Sacramento. “The bill has been assigned to the Senate Public Safety Committee and could be heard on Tuesday, April 21 or Tuesday, April 28. Simply put, SB776 would …

Cheryl sent this: It’s Possible: Imagine No Phone, Food, Fuel    o o o Larry W. notes: Montana’s Governor has now signed HB 246 the “Made in Montana” exemption law. It is pretty cool how this law classifies “sound suppressors” as mere “accessories.” Presumably, after October 1, 2009, this mean there will be no Federal $200 transfer tax applicable on a Montana-made sound suppressor “accessory” unless or until it is transferred out of Montana!    o o o Florida Guy sent this from The Wall Street Journal: Gun and Ammo Sales are Shooting Up

Cheryl sent us two items on the continuing big sales runs on guns, ammunition, reloading components,and magazines: The New US Arms Race: Americans stick to their guns as firearms sales soar and Guns And Ammo Availability Overview. JWR Adds: OBTW, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Mr. Herman included a mention of my novel “Patriots” in his article.    o o o Reader Rob A. sent some more insanity from Nanny State Britannia: Family of father stabbed to death by three thugs is denied compensation… because he tried to fight back    o o o “Snow Hater” sent this: …