Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Some good news! The US military’s “fired brass destruction” policy change turned out to be very short-lived. It has just been reversed. To begin with, the policy change was intended only for military brass that is OCONUS, not in CONUS. (If you have a fast Internet connection, then see this PDF., but was apparently over-applied ) I also got some information from Gary Marbut, president of the Montana Shooting Sports Association (by way of a SurvivalBlog reader up in Montana): “I just received a phone call from the office of U.S. Senator Tester of Montana to inform me that at …

 Last year, I featured a link to the captivating website of a retiree that had custom-built a horse-drawn “RV”. I just heard that he had an unfortunate accident. Prayers, please.    o o o From Cheryl: Many People are Raising Their Own Food to Save    o o o Our friend Bob in Tennessee mentioned a piece at the WRSA site, titled: Peggy Noonan Goes Doomer. The article references this article in The Wall Street Journal: There’s No Pill for This Kind of Depression    o o o Skip flagged this: Gun Advocates Ready for Battle on Federal Assault Weapons …

I had this piece from Cheryl slated for the Economics section, but I decided to move it down to Odds ‘n Sods since it is related to practical preparedness: Dollars From Dirt: Economy Spurs Home Garden Boom    o o o From Paul in Kentucky: World Demand for Safe Drinking Water is Rising, U.N. Warns    o o o The Los Angeles Times profiles Neil Strauss, the author of a new book on preparedness: What’s new now: He’s ready for emergencies.    o o o Several readers forwarded me the link to this article on the erosion of free speech

Germ Warfare Guru Goes Free, Why did Malaysia release Al Qaeda’s bioweapons expert? (Thanks to DD for the link)    o o o The folks at SafeCastle have added four sizes of the eminently practical Bury ‘Em Tubes to their product line. Safecastle Royal club members get 20% off, as usual–and shipping is free.    o o o N. in Michigan sent this: Gold For Bread – Zimbabwe    o o o And to close with a bit of humor, Shopping in Texas?

Given the current ammunition and reloading components shortage in the US, this news couldn’t have come at a worse time: “Effective immediately DOD Surplus, LLC, will be implementing new requirements for mutilation of fired shell casings. The new DRMS requirement calls for DOD Surplus personnel to witness the mutilation of the property and sign the Certificate of Destruction. Mutilation of the property can be done at the DRMO, if permitted by the Government, or it may be mutilated at a site chosen by the buyer. Mutilation means that the property will be destroyed to the extent prevents its reuse or …

Kurt sent this: What sells in a recession. Kurt’s comment: “Hmmm, canning and freezing supplies up 11.5%. Maybe some of the sheeple are waking up.”    o o o Simon in England suggested this: “Jericho” gets second life — as comic book. Meanwhile, there is still talk of a Jericho feature film. (You can read the latest gossip at this fan site.)    o o o Responding to my recent mention of creative “bumper attachments” that fit is standard receiver hitch channels, Johnny Utah mentioned this none-too-subtle novelty accessory.    o o o For a limited time, MURS Radios is …

Rob C. sent us a bit of good news: Vehicular open-carry expanded in Utah.    o o o HPD forwarded this item from Police State Britannia: Revealed: police databank on thousands of protesters    o o o Appleseed shoots are ramping up! There are a huge number of “shoots” scheduled all around the nation, with many on our around Patriot’s Day weekend (the weekend of April 19th). For example, Southern Arizona will be hosting its first ever Appleseed Shoot and Rifle Clinic.on April 25th and 26th, in Sierra Vista. The cost is $70 (pre-registered) for a two day rifle clinic …

Utah, Hawaii, Wyoming top ‘happiness’ poll (a hat tip to Michael H. for the link.)    o o o The folks that operate CampingSurvival,com also host an amazing collection of first-hand survival narratives. I found that the one from Hurricane Rita provided a useful glimpse into human nature, en extremis.    o o o OSOM mentioned a very good podcast on home defense at LewRockwell.com.    o o o Thanks to GG for sending this: Seed companies have a bumper crop of customers

I just noticed that Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand has jumped to #62 in the Amazon sales rankings. (Out of four million+ titles.) Not bad for a 52-year-old novel! Meanwhile, Gardening When It Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times by Steve Solomon has advanced to #316. Those statistics tell me a lot more than anything we are hearing from the cheering section at CNBC.    o o o Garret D. flagged this piece from Time: Another By-Product of the Recession: Ex-Convicts    o o o The folks from CampingSurvival.com (one of our loyal advertisers) just launched a completely re-vamped web …

More evidence that survivalism is going mainstream: Can you survive economic crisis?, Booming preparedness industry says Americans are stockpiling. (A tip of the hat to J.W.P. in California, who was the first of several readers to send that link.)    o o o KAF sent the link to a captivating article at the Global Guerillas blog on the concept of Fictive Tribes. On an intellectual and philosophical level, Rawlesian survivalists are already a tribe. Sometimes it is something as subtle as a “thumbs up” sign when someone spots your SurvivalBlog hat or T-shirt at a gun show. But often it …

FloridaGuy sent this data point: Church pastor killed during service    o o os Rex mentioned the pending “Food Modernization Act” which makes it a crime to refuse entry to government inspectors if you own “any farm, ranch, orchard, vineyard, aquaculture facility, or confined animal-feeding operation.” Rex’s comment: I especially like the wording that allows them to conduct monitoring and surveillance of animals, plants, products, or the environment, as appropriate.’ I had first assumed this was some sort of nutty Nanny-State bill that would die a quick death, but it has 39 co-sponsors!”    o o o Referring to the …

Adam W. suggested this bit of preparedness humor from Germany: Urban Camouflage    o o o Dale B. found this: How safe is your safe deposit box? And speaking of bank boxes, Dale also found in the UK’s Sun newspaper: £2.5bn safety deposit box raid    o o o Ben in Nevada spotted a good deal on Blackheart AR-15 magazines.    o o o Edward K. mentioned a piece over at the Alpha Rubicon site on how to make cloth maps for G.O.O.D. purposes.

Luddite Jean, reporting from Nanny State Britannia, tells us that eBay.UK and eBay Ireland are banning most knife sales, starting March 10th. The only exception will be some kitchen cutlery. (But not any sharp, pointy knives, those might be dangerous!) The logic of this move escapes me. Ostensibly, this is being done “…to help further protect our members…” So henceforth, law-abiding Englishmen will have to rely on just ASBOs and harsh language to fend off the yobs.    o o o J. in Northern California sent us this link to articles on some huge prisoner releases caused by the state …

William B. alerted us to an economy story from South Korea that is actually a preparedness story if you read between the lines: Empty Containers Clog South Korea’s Busan Port as Trade Slumps. We can safely conclude that it is just a matter of time before the price of used CONEX containers plummets. As previously noted in SurvivalBlog, CONEXes have potential for aboveground storage, and even conversion into housing. (On the latter, just ask any returning Iraq vet about “CHU” billets.) OBTW, the ones to look for are they type made with Corten (aka “Weathering”) steel. Just don’t make the …

Christian homeschooling advocates step up their campaign, in a video appeal to have parents take their kids out of public schools: The Call to Dunkirk    o o o Reader Jeff B. asked: “Have you addressed ATVs or especially side by side ATVs or even the more recent electric ‘Buggys’ and their pros/cons?” The Bad Boy Buggy is definitely a viable option for short distance hauling at a retreat with a large photovoltaic, wind, or micro-hydro alternative energy system. And an off-road suspension conversions to a used electric golf cart is a good low-cost alternative. Also, don’t miss this article …