Category: Odds ‘n Sods

M.R.L. sent us a link to some fascinating details on the 1859 Carrington Solar Storm event, and some dire predictions for future similar events.    o o o Rob B. was the first of several SurvivalBlog readers that sent us this: [Low path] Bird flu found on Kentucky poultry farm Expert says strain poses little risk to humans; 20,000 chickens euthanized    o o o Greg and Kat were the first readers (of more than a dozen) that sent this Wall Street Journal article link: Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated by Spies    o o o Feld sent us this: …

Italy quake toll rises amid hunt for victims    o o o Michael H. suggested stockpiliing some candy, as a small supplement to a family food storage program–just as a bit of psychological first aid. (In my experience, hard candy such as lemon drops have the best storage life.)    o o o Cheryl (the Economatrix) recommended this article: Survivalists 2.0: Regular people get ready for the worst

Army Fields New [Thermal and Light Amplification] Night Vision Goggles    o o o DGT sent this news headline from Nanny State Britannia: Personal web data to be stored for a year, New law forces service providers to record all your calls and emails    o o o Tom T. recommended this Bible-based lecture series: The Men’s Fraternity.

David B. sent this from a Texas newspaper: Dallas-Fort Worth’s ‘modern survivalists’ are ready for layoffs — or war    o o o After an 18 year hiatus, during which prices rose from $700 to $4,000, the Steyr AUG A3 has finally hit the US market in a rail-topped US-made variation. The first few have already been popping up on Buddy’s Board and GunBroker.com. My advice: By one or more, if only as an investment. There may be very few sold before another Federal “assault on our rights” ban is enacted, and hence they will likely double in price.    …

From Cheryl: 2012 May Bring the Perfect Storm: Solar Flares, Systems Collapse    o o o Oni sent us a link to a follow-up story about those $20 gold pieces is Utah: Woman suspected of stealing gold coins arrested. So now the sin count is up to three: A bank teller’s covetousness, FDR’s grand larceny, and a woman’s thievery.    o o o Canada Moves to End Gun Control, Calling it an Ineffective Measure Against Crime. (Thanks to KT for the link.)    o o o Fitzy in Pennsylvania mentioned this YouTube video clip from a very bright young man …

Ah-ha! Just as I suspected: The Myth of 90 Percent: Only a Small Fraction of Guns in Mexico Come From U.S. (Thanks to Ryan at the TSLRF blog for the link.)    o o o From Cheryl:: There Was Ammo on These Shelves…    o o o Bill N. flagged this: Conservative activists detained and harassed by TSA for merely carrying cash

G.G. was the first of more than ten readers that sent this article from The Detroit News: To urban hunter, next meal is scampering by, about a 69-year old retiree who hunts raccoons for a living in Detroit. Her is a quote: “Today people got no skill and things is getting worse. What people gonna do? They gonna eat each other up is what they gonna do.”    o o o D.S. sent us this link, on how farmers made tools over 100 years ago.

Reader MPS in Nevada sent this: The True Queen of Frugal    o o o SurvivalBlog’s Editor-at-Large, Michael Z. Williamson’s latest science fiction novel, Contact with Chaos pits two competing groups from the Freehold of Grainne (that you’ll remember from his novel Freehold ) and Earth against each other during a “first contact” with a sentient species in another solar system. It is now available at Amazon.com. Knowing Mike’s previous work, this promises to be good!    o o o I just heard that Sturm Ruger is now producing 30-round Mini-14 magazines, available to the general public. Ruger’s sales of …

Cheryl (aka The Economatrix) found this: Demand for Ammo is Causing Supply Shortages    o o o Tamara, in her View From the Porch blog had some biting criticism of the Flint, Michigan mayor’s suggestion that abandonded neighborhoods be cordoned off and denied police and fire department protection    o o o Collecting Rain Water is Now Legal in Colorado. (Thanks to John L. for the link.)    o o o Damon sent this article: Sen. Kerry makes push for tighter gun control. My question: If these AKs are being bought at American gun shops and gun shows, then why …

Our Editor at Large, Michael Z. Williamson, sent us a news story of Nanny State Britannia Run Amok. I was dumbfounded by the descriptions of police holding back neighbors that wanted to bring ladders to rescue the family. This is the same country where homeowners have been charged with felonies for defending their own homes from armed intruders. The whole “only trained professionals” mindset infuriates me. It diverges 180 degrees from the Rawlesian Survivalist view. I believe that all adult citizens should be prepared, trained, willing, and able, to act promptly and decisively in emergencies. Seeing this article reminded me …

Semper Cynicus sent us this gem: Chechen soldiers’ Flinstonian phone charger. My father’s often quoted the old “Dollars to Sweat Ratio”. Assuming that hand tools were used, this is obviously a prime example of the “high sweat” end of the scale!    o o o I just heard that Ready Made Resources. now has just nine of the Warrior Aid and Litter Kits left on hand. If you need one of these very comprehensive medic kits for your retreat, order it soon!    o o o From FloridaGuy: Urban coyote attacks on the rise, alarming residents    o o o …

John C. set this this from Yahoo’s Green Home page: Twelve amazing shipping container houses    o o o Reader Rick D.sent this about detergent smugglers Spokane residents smuggle suds over green brands    o o o From FloridaGuy: More and more city folk are raising chickens    o o o Also from FloridaGuy: Toy-gun sales ban advances to Arkansas House. FloridaGuy’s comment: “‘Your sons will play with dolls.’ This is just more nanny-state foolishness.”

In the “Why am I Not Surprised?” Department: Clinton targets assault weapons. “US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she’ll be arguing for tougher gun controls as part of efforts to help Mexico fight violent drugs cartels.” Okay, so let me get this straight: Hitlery says that we should give up our Second Amendment rights in order to stop drug gangs from misusing guns in Mexico. What is next? Giving up our First Amendment rights, in order to stop libel and slander in Canada? (They might use American-made typewriters and bullhorns, dontcha-know…) OBTW, here is the none-too-subtle spin on this …

Cheryl noticed this over at Steve Quayle’s site: Growing Food in Times of Scarcity    o o o Thanks to regular content contributor HPD for sending this: America’s Abandoned Cities    o o o Vasiilly e-mailed me to mention the Still Tasty web site, where there is lots of data on the shelf lives of various foods.    o o o Currie sent a link to an interesting PDF at a web site in Canada that describes how to used cooking oil for fuel.

Just when you thought that you had all the eventualities covered: Komodo dragons kill Indonesian fisherman. (A hat tip to Tamara’s View From The Porch blog, for the link.)    o o o I was recently contacted by a producer with GRB Entertainment. She wrote: “We are currently looking for a travel expert/adventurer/survivalist who might be interested in hosting a television series. We need someone who is very outgoing and social while also having knowledge in survivalist skills. They can have a military background or just knowledge in the field and we’re preferably looking for a male around the age …