This 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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Our Editor-At-Large Michael Z. Williamson suggested this 2011-dated CDC report: Noise and Lead Exposures at an Outdoor Firing Range. Here is a key quote from the report:
“The only potentially effective noise control method to reduce students’ or instructors’ noise exposure from gunfire is through the use of noise suppressors that can be attached to the end of the gun barrel.”
Mike’s Comment: Hey, liberals! We should follow the science!
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Matt Christiansen’s latest: On the Senate’s Massive Spy Bill Lindsey Graham Didn’t Even Know He Co-Sponsors — The Restrict Act.
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Bill Buppert’s recent podcast (Chasing Ghosts: An Irregular Warfare Podcast) that centers on the 1984 movie Red Dawn, is worthy of your attention.
“The brilliant John Milius helmed this production in the thick of the cold war waning with the USSR. This will be the first episode where we examine the collision between irregular warfare and popular culture.”
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Reader C.B. sent this: Dennis Quaid documentary ‘Grid Down, Power Up’ explores dangers of sudden electric grid failure.
Reader S.W. sent a practical note about buried caches:
“I had a cache buried near my house for several years containing valuables and ammo. I had need to dig it up earlier this month. I live in the northern plains and as most know, winter isn’t over here yet. Of course, the ground is still hard frozen. The top of the cache was a foot below the surface, but digging down to the top wasn’t enough. I had to loosen the frozen clay around it too. It took several days of back-breaking work in freezing temperatures to get that cache out of the ground. I ended up using a corded rotary hammer drill with a chisel bit. To make it even more difficult, the top 2 inches of soil softened to sticky mud during daytime warming and snowmelt filled the hole, which turned to ice at night. What a nightmare.
If I had needed instant access to the cache for a quick flight it would have been impossible.
When placing a buried cache, consider the consequences of hard frozen ground in case you need access during extended cold periods. Hard frozen clay is only slightly less dense than cured concrete.
I’ve considered materials to backfill with that would be easier to dig up when frozen, but have not come up with any ideas. Anything that can soak up groundwater will freeze hard. Any ideas?
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Federal judge rules Minnesota’s under-21 carry ban unconstitutional.
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Reader D.J. wrote to ask:
“I was just reading the article by 3AD scout about what he anticipates when war comes. He discussed the probability of government regulating the food production and distribution of small farms and homesteaders. This has been a topic of discussion in my home and at work with other like-minded individuals.
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Tim J. suggested this video: How to build an Autonomous UAV for Long Range FPV & Autonomous Missions.
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Several readers suggested this: Federal judge strikes down Minnesota law banning 18-20-year-olds from obtaining gun permits.
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SaraSue sent this snippet:
“What an insane week of happenings. One thing after another after another. All bad news in the world, both locally (the Nashville shooting), nationally (indictment, bank failures, garbage politics), and abroad (wars and rumors of wars). And tornadoes, to boot. Enough to make you crazy. Our country is littered with mentally unstable, violent, individuals who have “protected status” for political reasons. The Devil is running wild. We need to be armed mentally, physically, and spiritually. Modus Operandi: Be calm. Pray. Rebuke Satan. And keep working. As much as my dear friends warn me to slow down, I feel the urgency to keep working. At my age (they don’t call me Gramma for nothing!), I do have to rest, and trust me, I’m forced to. The garden got prepped (half was plowed and half was covered in a sturdy ground cover, some parts trellised), potatoes and cold hardy seeds went in the ground. My sweet potatoes have rooted and are growing slips; I have at least 20 tomato and cucumber starts that are doing well in the bay window. I stocked up at the Amish Market and Costco. Got some more cash. Repairs are mostly completed. Projects moving forward as planned. Prayer is my constant companion.”
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At WND: Report estimates death toll of 300,000 from COVID shots. (Thanks to reader B.C. for the link.)
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From left-wing CNBC: Biden blocks sales of inefficient lightbulbs, reversing Trump-era policy.