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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When the Whitaker family members aren’t bluewater sailing around the world, they’re in Montana, prepping for societal disruption: Sailing Zatara: Prepping — Learning how to survive off grid! JWR’s Comments: Please remember that when running a chainsaw, always wear eye and ear protection as well as Kevlar saw safety chaps. Remember one of our key mottos: All The Gear, All the Time (ATGATT).
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SurvivalBlog reader D.S.V. suggested this article: Get Out! Daylight Boosts The Immune System’s Ability To Fight Infections.
JWR’s Comment: Note that this trustworthy article was posted by an untrustworthy media outlet. I believe that to be more properly descriptive, The Conversation should be re-named The Leftist Scolding Lecture.
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K.C.P. wrote to mention: “A good resource for chainsaw repair and maintenance, as well as other small engine maintenance and repair, is Chickanic.”
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E-Bike Explodes, Sets Fire To Building At Gas Station In Somerset County. This article begins:
“An electronic bike was parked and charging when it caught fire and exploded at a Hillsborough gas station on Wednesday night, according to Hillsborough Twp Station 37 Fire.
At 10:28 p.m., Hillsborough Police and Firefighters were called for a reported electronic bike fire at the BP Gas Station, 414 Route 206.
“Reports continued that the bike was on fire, exploded, and the structure was on fire where it was parked while charging,” said the fire department.
Firefighters found the E-bike was still smoldering with high heat seen on Thermal Cameras. Battery parts fell from the bike and continued to ignite, releasing sparks, heat, and toxic gases, said the fire department.
Police officers were able to put out the flame with a fire extinguisher, said Hillsborough Police Captain Scott W. Mc Carthy.”
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Reader Tim J. suggested this Brownell’s video: Tech Tip: The Best Way To Clean Guns.
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U.S. Ice Cream Makers Say They’ll Stop Using Artificial Dyes by 2028. A pericope:
“Ice cream makers representing about 90% of the U.S. supply of the frozen treat have pledged to remove artificial dyes from their products in less than three years, federal health officials said Monday.
The move is the latest voluntary effort by food manufacturers to heed calls from the Trump administration to remove synthetic dyes over concerns about potential health effects. In recent weeks, companies including Nestle, Kraft Heinz and General Mills said they would pull artificial colors from their foods, too.”
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My old friend Pete in Switzerland sent this (auf Deutsche): Apokalypse: Ein Schweizer Unternehmen baut riesige Luxus-Bunker, damit Ultra-Reiche im Falle einer Katastrophe überleben. You can read a rough English translation here.
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The Utah government has provided this budget-friendly web resource: Make a Plan: Family.
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There is a fairly comprehensive online resource for would-be home owner-builders.
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Reader H.L. sent this: Report: Stricter Gun Control States Lead in Adolescent Firearm Deaths. Here is an excerpt:
“A report from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) shows that states with stricter control lead other states in adolescent firearm deaths.
NSSF based their findings on a June 2025 study published in the Journal for American Medical Association Pediatrics (JAMA Pediatrics).
The title of the study is, “Firearm Laws and Pediatric Mortality in the US,” and its authors categorized states into three groups, “Strict,” “Permissive” and “Most Permissive.” The authors then claimed, “…permissive firearm laws contributed to thousands of excess firearm deaths among children living in states with permissive policies; future work should focus on determining which types of laws conferred the most harm and which offered the most protection.”
Establishment media outlets like the New York Times, ABC News, and CNN ran with the authors’ claim, leaving NSSF to note that the outlets never asked why the “study’s authors manipulate the data by using estimated, predicted and crude-rate adjusted figures instead of analyzing the real incidents.” NSSF responded by noting that a simple look at raw Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data tells a completely different story.”
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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.