Odds ‘n Sods:

Six months ago, one of my consulting clients bought a newly-manufactured Amish-made Blizzard brand propane upright freezer. He reports that the freezer (which has 18 cubic foot capacity) works quite reliably, with the temperature always staying within two degrees from where he first set it: 10 degrees, Fahrenheit. (The freezer came with an Accu-Rite wireless digital thermometer–something by the way that I recommend for all freezers. You simply leave the “outdoor” sensor-transmitter inside the freezer.) He noted, however, that since the freezer is equipped with two burners, it does consume a substantial amount of propane. These freezers are perfect for off-grid houses, or to prepare your on-grid house for grid-down situations.

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It was interesting to see that Camping Survival has added canned green coffee beans to their product line. As discussed at length in SurvivalBlog back in 2006, it is better to store the beans green, and roast them in small batches, as needed.

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Matt Bracken: Night Fighting 101. (Thanks to Jim W. for the link.)

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Michael Z. Williamson (SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large) sent a link to a fascinating article on mammalian instincts on mineral nutrition. This might also explain the old-time Southern (and Asian) practice of dirt eating.

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Chris G. was the first of a dozen readers to send this news item: The survivalist: Roscoe Bartlett prepares for a threatened future.