Category: Odds ‘n Sods

JLM sent us the link to this Washington Post article: Switching To Biofuels Could Cost Lots of Green   o o o MWR flagged this article: Drought now covering more than one-third of the continental USA.    o o o CountryTek e-mailed us with a reference to a piece about a method discovered by MIT researchers for the wireless transmission of electrical power via materials resonance. His comment: “So far, they’ve been able to power a 60 watt bulb from about seven feet away. This non-technical article doesn’t talk about transmission efficiency, but the implications are huge.”

As noted at NewsMax.com: Al-Qaeda’s American Recruit Releases Something Entirely New   o o o The “Where’s he Fence?” anti-illegal immigrant amnesty campaign picks up speed. Meanwhile, the immigration bill (including an amnesty provision) is stalled in the Senate. Could they be feeling the heat and seeing the light?    o o o A Canadian Member of Front Sight Purchases 100 Lifetime Memberships for Deserving US Marines

“Yabba-dabba-do!” Hawaiian K. forwarded us a link about some transportation improvisation in Prague. (The intact bark makes me think that this was a prank rather than an economy measure.)   o o o Simon in England sent us this gem from the British press: a serving soldier (Private Christopher Trussler) has been charged with the illegal possession and sale of ammunition in late May. The private’s arrest followed “a three-month investigation.” His arrest followed an operation into the sale of 9mm ammunition in the Chichester area of West Sussex. The Metropolitan Police said the move followed a “proactive intelligence-led investigation …

There is an interesting thread of discussion on caching in progress over at The Claire Files.   o o o The recent mention of the Kill-a-Watt power meter prompted reader RBS to send us a link to a discount supplier on the Internet.    o o o Peter Schiff comments on the economy, at Gold-Eagle.

President Bush Defends Missile Defense Shield   o o o DHS Wants Cell Phones to Detect Chemical, Radioactive Material    o o o Global Warming: They call this a consensus?

Kurt mentioned a video with a very good practical demonstration of a Faraday cage suit.   o o o Reader M.P. found a web site for a company that makes a potable water storage bladder insert that fits in most bathtubs.    o o o Rob at Green Mountain Gear reports that deliveries are continuing on the SurvivalBlog Group Buy for M16 30 round magazines. Because of delays by the manufacturer, they still haven’t received all of the thousands of magazines that were ordered. But rest assured that they are being shipped as soon Green Mountain Gear receives each batch, …

Ex-Airport Worker Plots Massive Attack On New York’s JFK Airport   o o o A SurvivalBlog reader mentioned to me that he is selling his five acre off-grid retreat in a remote area of northwestern Colorado. The home there is a two story, 24′ x 32′, post and beam cape style. There is a spring on the property that puts out 300 gallons a day into a 110 gal cistern which is then pumped by a Honda high pressure water pump to a 300 gallon holding tank in the house. The water is pressurized through the home with an RV …

Economist Bill Fleckenstein’s commentary: A Fourth Turning Economic Winter is Coming   o o o Dwindling of Rare Metals Imperils Innovation    o o o You may recall that we recently mentioned DiBlasi folding motorbikes in SurvivalBlog. I just heard from Vic at SafeCastle that they have secured a dealership from the North American DiBlasi distributor–noteworthy because Safecastle is their first and only web-based dealership. Vic has listed the Di Blasi motorbike in his SafeCastle Royal Buyers Club. (Where members get 20% off, and free shipping.)

Israel’s Home Front Command to get public ready for ‘all-out war’   o o o US on Mad Cow Disease: Don’t Test All Cattle    o o o From The Mogambo Guru: Forced to Eat Higher Food Prices

I noticed that spot silver and gold have broken out of their narrow trading ranges. It is unusual for metals to make a big move like this at this time of year. (Summer has traditionally been a quiet time for the precious metals markets.) So this move might foreshadow a frantic market this coming Fall. As I often say: 1.) Silver will considerably out-perform gold in this bull market and 2.) Buy on the dips!   o o o The new Western Rifle Shooters organization is having their first rifle training event in Kooskia, Idaho on July 7-8.    o …

Australian Researcher warns about Mass Human Extinction from Global Environmental Collapse   o o o Radio ‘Screams’ Forecast Dangerous Solar Storms    o o o Reader Michael W. mentioned that he will be running one of the lines at the RWVA Appleseed in Bloomington Illinois this weekend. (June 2-3, 2007.) He said that he’d love to meet any SurvivalBlog readers who can attend. This is a great opportunity to learn to shoot an MBR well, or increase your score on the AQT if you are already a rifleman. The cost is just $70 for the weekend, free camping and genuine …

A web search yielded this useful video on tactical movement for concealed carry. This gent’s foot work suggestions make sense. They certainly beat just blind “back-pedaling.”   o o o From southwestern Oregon: Pitiful percentages for community-sustained agriculture (CSA) and heavy dependence on petroleum-based fertilizers. This does not bode well for local sustainability in any future disasters.    o o o Florida tries to wipe out cat-sized African rats    o o o Some implications of the continuing decline of the US Dollar versus foreign currencies

There is an interesting thread over at the Claire Files Forums on plastic versus steel gas cans.   o o o Reader Bruce C., recommended some commentary by Victor Davis Hansen: Is The Sky Falling on America? Bruce’s comment: “While this article does not present a rock solid case for TEOTWAWKI, it provides an important framework for “survivalists” and “preppers” to maintain as they wonder why the Schumer has yet to hit the fan.”    o o o Fred the Valmet-meister sent us this link on provisioning, Alabama style: Boy Bags Wild Hog Bigger Than ‘Hogzilla’    o o o …