Odds ‘n Sods:

Yesterday, I mentioned using a SOPA work-around: IP-Lookup.net. Today, I noticed that Ol’ Remus at The Woodpile Report had a link to something even better: a Firefox add-on called “DeSOPA”, that provides and offshore DNS (“dotted quad”) number lookup service, in case your favorite site’s domain name gets Borged by the FedGov and you get automagically redirected to a scary-looking FBI “anti-piracy” placeholder page. (I consider that just one notch below the classic “Big Brother” image.) And BTW, and unnamed SurvivalBlog reader who is a skilled software engineer is kindly creating a more robust variant of HTOIP–an application that converts bookmarked URLs to dotted quad IP addresses. As soon as it has a GUI “front end” and is well-tested, then I’ll create a download page on my dedicated server in Sweden, and post an announcement. (You will need to know how to export browser bookmark and import the converted file that so it can be used. A document with screen shots that shows how to do this will also be posted.)

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Clever, clever hombres malos: Mexico’s cartels build own national radio system

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Massive solar storm ‘could knock out radio signals’ over next three days, warn scientists. (Thanks to G.G. for the link.)

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New laws: No caffeine in beer, shark fins in soup