Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: 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. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.
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Reader R.D. sent us this: “I started collecting them and already have over 650”: a user has been powering his home with laptop batteries since 2016. JWR’s Comment: The charging method pictured in the article has “lithium battery charging thermal runaway fire” written all over it. (Pictured above is a lithium battery fire in Moss Landing, California.)
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I heard that Stanley Ridgley — one of my old active duty Intelligence Corps pals — has published two timely books: Brutal Minds: The Dark World of Left-Wing Brainwashing in Our Universities (in 2023) and DEI Exposed: How the Biggest Con of the Century Almost Toppled Higher Education (in March, 2025). Stan’s first hitch in the Army was as a 98G linguist NCO. He spent five years stationed in West Berlin (which was then encircled by communist East Germany), and in West Germany on the Czech border. When I met Stan, in 1985, it was soon after he’d graduated from OCS. He eventually earned his Ph.D., and most recently, he has been a professor at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business.
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They grew up with smartphones. Now they’re opting for dumb phones. A Fair Use excerpt:
“Three years ago, Thurmond became worried that his smartphone use was making him less present, less social, and less productive. He traded in his Android for a Light Phone, a so-called “dumb phone” that allows him to text and make calls but doesn’t give him access to email and social media. With its simple interface and limited features, it’s built to ward off phone addiction.
The switch wasn’t totally seamless. Thurmond, a self-professed “long-winded texter,” struggled with the phone’s E Ink keyboard, which can take some time getting used to. And not being glued to his phone also meant he was slower to respond to texts, which quickly became a point of friction with his now ex-girlfriend.
But as he reduced his screen time, Thurmond realized he didn’t need his Android as much as he thought he did, and that many of the Light Phone’s inconveniences were actually “benefits in disguise.” He started calling people rather than texting, which led to more satisfying interactions. He began each morning sketching out the day’s goals on a whiteboard, rather than “just reacting to things” like emails. And instead of using his Android to unlock the Citi Bikes he uses to get around New York, he requested a $10 key from the company.”
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Simon sent us this:
“Here are some very useful YouTube videos from ‘NotARubicon’:
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- How To Unlock A New Baofeng UV-5R – Easy UV5R Jailbreak To Transmit On More Frequencies.
- Using A Baofeng UV-5R Radio For Emergency Communications – What Is Your Emergency Comms Plan?
- Using A Baofeng UV-5R Without An FCC License – Do You Need A License To Use a Baofeng?
- Baofeng UV-5R For Beginners – Menu Settings You Need To Know – Learn The Baofeng UV5R – Ham Radio.
- How To Use Baofeng UV-5R Menus & All Menu Settings Explained – For UV5R & Other Ham & GMRS Radios.
He’s a bit dry-humored, but he does know what he’s talking about.”
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Glowing gunshot residue: New method illuminates crime scene clues.
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I just learned that Angel Studios (one of our advertisers) now plans to complete eight episodes of the Homestead television series. That series should be of interest to most SurvivalBlog readers.
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Our Solar System May Indeed Have 9 Planets, Paper Finds.
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And just for the smiles: Nail trimming dramas.
Please Send Us Your Snippets!
Please send your snippet items for potential posting to JWR. or AVL. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact form.