This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. We may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.
The latest from Ian McCollum: SIG M5 Spear Deep Dive: Is This a Good US Army Rifle? [1]
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Deadly secret: Electronic warfare shapes Russia-Ukraine war [2].
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Mike in Alaska recommended this very portable and very versatile HF dipole antenna: Chameleon Six Band No Tuner Portable HF Antenna [3]. These are great for Field Day or for hams with compact QRP rigs. Don’t miss the review video link that is linked amongst the still photos at the bottom of the web page.
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The Top 10 Creepiest & Most Dystopian Things Pushed By The World Economic Forum [4].
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Reader A.K. suggested a new video from a familiar face, Dr. John Campbell: Famine in 2022 [5]. JWR’s Comments: This will surely have global consequences. Do you remember “Arab Spring”? That uprising, with more than one subsequent regime change, was triggered by a shortage of wheat flour and baked bread. This predicted famine could literally lead to a Third World War.
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Reader A.K. also sent this update snippet:
“Our cows are looking good nice and shiny and filling out from going through winter. I have spent four days getting the new freeze dryer up and working, had to take it apart and seal everything to stop vacuum leaks. For the price of the unit to have to take it apart and fix things is a poor way to do business, but not my first time a round with Harvest Right, in fact, looks to be normal, but a good unit when fixed.
Had a visit from mom bear and cub this morning. Our cows kept her up a tree for the morning. She would come down but not the cub. The cows would chase her around the pasture and back up the tree. We were entertained but finally moved the cows to let her make her escape with the cub.
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The Uyghurs in China now live in a giant, open air prison camp [6].
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M.J. sent this:
“I’d like to suggest adding deskside support and call center agent to your lists of depression-proof jobs:
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Pat Cascio mentioned this news: Gun Sales Top 1 Million For The 34th Straight Month [10].
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Reader Mike M. wrote this, in response to Pat Cascio’s recent S&W revolver review:
“I began policing in 1974 and my first weapon was a S&W Model 28. A heavy frame gun but would tame recoil dramatically. Most of my peers liked the Model 27. In 1976 there were rumors of unrest in our community because of the 200-year July 4th holiday and how oppressed some of our citizens felt. I purchased a Llama [M1911 clone] .45 auto for about $160. I wanted a Colt-made .45 but could not afford it. We could only qualify once or sometimes twice a year. You have to qualify with a weapon before you can carry it on duty, so I carried the .45 in my patrol car tucked away for emergency use only. I qualified with the weapon later that year and within a few years found a dealer who let me trade in the Llama for a Colt.
Okay, so I get transferred to the Narcotics Division in ’78. I was in the office early that morning about 0730 and we heard the dreaded call go out from an officer that he had a homicide suspect cornered in a business. The suspect had killed a man the previous evening and had worked for this company and sought refuge there. Upon arrival, the two officers saw the suspect with a shotgun and pursued him. Shots were fired by all persons with no injuries at that point. One officer was on the perimeter of the building and another inside. Remember, this is 1978 and before any training of value was given to officers. In today’s world, it’s a no go. Anyway out runs the suspect from a bay door with a shotgun in hand. The outside officer engaged him. He fired six rounds, missing him — emptying his weapon. The suspect ran at him while the officer was reloading behind his car and the suspect came around the end of the patrol car. Just as the officer slammed his cylinder closed with fresh rounds the suspect said, “I got you now you son of a b–ch”. The officer pulled the trigger a split second before the bad guy could get the shotgun pointed at him.
That incident was a wake-up call for our department. A department with few homicides each year and a town of good ol’ boys. The officer that shot the suspect went to a local gun shop that afternoon and bought a S&W Model 59 because it was the only hi-capacity gun available in that shop. Many officers changed [to double-stack automatics] for the same reason but a lot of us continued to carry .45 ACPs.
I love a revolver for concealed carry in certain environments, but not all. I own several and have the same Model 637 mentioned, S&W Performance Shop model. I could write a whole chapter on revolver use pro and con but will stop with a thank you to Pat. I enjoy his writings and relate to him as I policed for 44 years. I am now 73 and peacefully live in a rural setting. However, I am always and forever vigilant as I am only 20 miles from anarchy at any given moment. I’ve got to end this and go tend my garden.”
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K.B. wrote to mention this upcoming event in Vermont: Sheep Camp: 8 Days of Everything Sheep! [11]
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From reader C.B.: How many days do COVID antibodies stick around? [12]JWR’s Comments: So now, after the dust has settled, we learn that naturally-acquired immunity (in recovered patients) is good for a year and a half, but the much-touted “not-a-vaccine” mRNA jab is good for not much more than a couple of months. That is definitely not worth risking the many side effects and complications.
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Tim J. forwarded the link to this half-hour video: Natural Night Vision: An Introduction [13].
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Richard T. wrote to ask:
“Does anyone know anything more in-depth about these navigational tools than what is explained?
I did use plus codes to locate someone living where there are no addresses. I’m wondering how people use these. Thanks.”
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And, in closing, D.S.V. sent this: Benefits of Sunshine on Your Bare Skin [17].
Please Send Us Your Snippets!
Please send your snippet items for potential posting to JWR [18]. or AVL [18]. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact [19] form.