Category: Odds ‘n Sods

Reader Vlad mentioned: “If you and your family have bicycles, you may wish to buy airfree tires. I’ve used them for six years and now would use [traditional] pneumatics only in extremis.   o o o The Financial Post reports on those wacky Gold Bears.    o o o I suppose that it was inevitable that the recently announced cancellation of the Jericho television series would inspire a petition drive. They gathered 27,000 electronic signatures in just the first day!    o o o The Housing Tipping Point. 3 Factors That Will Burst the Bubble: The Negative Wealth Effect, Negative …

In reference to my recent mention of the recently-introduced Arctic Cat diesel ATVs, reader Keith in Texas reminded me that several other makers also produce diesel engine “Utility/Side By Side” ATVs. These include Bobcat (the Toolcat 5600 B-Series), Club Car (the XRT 1500), Kubota (the RTV 900) and John Deere (the Gator HPX 4X4). Many of these models have hydraulic-powered attachments which can add to their versatility. And it is noteworthy that the Kubota three cylinder diesel engine used in several of these models is known for its reliability.   o o o Any readers that own a Saiga (AK) …

Countrytek mentioned: More mass fish kills, in the upper Midwestern states. Viral hemorrhagic septicemia is blamed.   o o o KT sent us a link to video from Taurus, hyping their “Judge” .45 Colt/.410 shotshell revolver. This revolver might sense for folks in bear country. And bear country is also often grouse or ptarmigan country. So this whompin’ big revolver might be practical in several ways. I certainly wouldn’t want to make it my primary self-defense handgun (versus two-legged predators), but it does offer some interesting possibilities. As for the Taurus marketeer’s suggestion of using The Judge as a counter-carjacking …

The U.S. recession is here: Wal-Mart posts worst sales ever as US retail figures slump   o o o Hawaiian K sent us this web link with more on CCD: One beekeeper claims that using smaller comb foundations shows success in fighting Varroa and Tracheal mite infestations.    o o o KT found us this article: Council on Foreign Relations on U.S. Dollar: “An Absurdity… Supported Only by Faith”    o o o Rob at $49 MURS Radios told us that he has created a page detailing how to use an external antenna to increase the range of both MURS …

Holly Deyo’s analysis of the 2007 U.S. tornado season. It’s already a bad year! Meanwhile, we read Kansas tornado disaster renews National Guard debate   o o o All states except six: Allstate Insurance to stop insuring California homes. Allstate has also stopped writing new homeowners policies in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida and New Jersey as well as in eight coastal New York counties. Perhaps they should rename the company “MostStates”.    o o o Commentary from Recombinomics: Qinghai H5N1 Evolution Revolution    o o o Terror Close to Home: In oil-rich Venezuela, a volatile leader befriends bad actors from the …

The Mogambo Guru speaks: Elements of the Dollar’s Death Knell   o o o Signs of the times? Fish die offs in the American southwest and in Idaho.    o o o From financial commentator Darryl Schoon: Depression, not a Recession, expected.    o o o A hospital emergency room in Atlanta, Georgia: “We’re at the Breaking Point.”

From Steve Quayle’s site: Additives Across Asia Feed Fears. In related news: Concerns raised on China’s global health disclosures   o o o Calls for increased U.S. defense spending, as China’s defense budget rises 17.8%.    o o o Reader Luke F. recommended this commentary from David Kopel: A World Without Guns

Two readers mentioned this article: National Guard May Be Needed to Enforce Quarantine in Flu Pandemic. This is more evidence that every family needs to have a three month supply of food and essentials on hand in case they have to “hunker down” in self-quarantine. A good start on this can be found in the family provisioning details included in my “Rawles Gets You Ready” preparedness course.   o o o Reader Jason in North Idaho sent us this story Supreme Global Warming Derangement: Having Large Families ‘Is an Eco-crime’ Jason’s comment: “This is the same rubbish I have heard …

The Secret Squirrel mentioned this great gardening and woodworking tool supplier: Lee Valley Tools.He particularly recommended their U-bars for gardening. (These were also recommended by the late Carla Emery.)   o o o Floods and drought: Insurance giant Lloyd’s of London assesses climate change. Meanwhile a study examining the national security consequences of climate change has been released by a senior U.S. military advisory board.    o o o RBS mentioned a fascinating book available for free download, The Upside of Down:Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization, by Thomas Homer-Dixon

Six Islamic ethnic Albanians have been arrested in a plot to attack Fort Dix, New Jersey.   o o o Michael Z. Williamson sent us this link to a site for a company that supplies parts for 6×6 and 8×8 amphibious all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)–the ones that you’ve seen advertised for 30+ years in the back of outdoors magazines. . (Such as ATTEX, ARGO, HUSTLER, MAX, AMPHICAT, SIERRA TRAIL BOSS, SCRAMBLER, COOT, CAMEL, JIGER, STARCRAFT, TERRA JET, TERRA TIGER, CUSHMAN TRACKSTER, CHAPPARAL, RIM, and SWAMP FOX. They have lots of parts for discontinued ATV models    o o o 150,000 U.S. …

Frequent blog content contributor Michael Z. Williamson found this article: Vigilante squads impose their form of peace in Brazil. The article begins: “For as long as anyone can remember, the cracked asphalt soccer field in the Roquete Pinto slum was off-limits to children – “reserved” by gangs selling marijuana and cocaine. Then, a few months ago, a mysterious squad of beefy men with submachine guns started patrolling on foot, and the drug dealers disappeared.” Mike’s comment: “This is a disturbing trend, which Dr. Jerry Pournelle discussed in his CoDominium series.”    o o o More troubling news on the “gun …

Ready Made Resources has introduced a “hot” new product: the Solar Spark Lighter–a pocket size solar lighter. It is a stainless steel parabolic mirror designed to focus the sun’s radiant energy to a precise focal point that can reach hundreds of degrees. This great fire starter is perfect for backpacking, boating, hiking and as a survival tool. Measures about 4.5″ diameter.    o o o Kara pointed out this news story: Air Conditioning Units Stolen For Copper   o o o Alfie Omega spotted this article: 20 million chickens now on farms may have had bad feed    o o …

A new low-cost firearms training organization is up and running: The Western Rifle Shooters Association. Check out their blog site. They have lots of free resources, such as downloadable rifle training videos, and training manuals in PDF.    o o o S.F. in Hawaii and RBS both sent us this one: Man dies of thirst during survival test    o o o RBS also mentioned these two articles US Housing Bubble Meltdown: “Is it too late to get out?”, and Hedge fund risks worst since ’98 crisis, Fed says   o o o When a reader sends me a link, …

Sid mentioned the Space Weather web site, which had been mentioned at least once before in SurvivalBlog. This site has great information on close-call asteroids, solar flare predictions, and so forth.    o o o Rookie found a link to an interesting story about firearms ownership in Switzerland: An Armory in Gun-Shy Europe. Rookie’s comment: “It’s good to know that in at least one country it’s considered normal to keep a high power defensive rifle in your closet. And that the government gives it to you for free, for life! Of course, it’s no surprise that the Washington Post spun …

“The Wrench Spinner” sent us the link to a British government web site from “The Respect Task Force”. Mike’s comment: “How Orwellian can we get.?” My comment: The Brits are incredibly naive to think that their bureaucratic system of ASBOs will keep the yobs in check. Law and order is clearly breaking down n England. Disarming the citizenry, and making self defense a crime has been wholly counterproductive.   o o o Michael Z. Williamson pointed us to this “report card” web page from The Brady Bunch on state firearms laws. Note that California and New Jersey both have “A-” …