Costco now has truncated book sections at only 100 of their 600 stores.

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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This article was posted back in December: Costco now has truncated book sections at only 100 of their 600 stores. JWR’s Comment: The good old days of book shopping at Costco (as pictured above), are over. I suppose this change explains why Costco did not place a repeat order for my book The Ultimate Prepper’s Survival Guide from Thunder Bay Press, even though the first printings sold out very quickly. That book was primarily sold through Costco.

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Over at the WRSA site: Buppert Sends: Memo To DOGE. (Thanks to SurvivalBlog reader Tim J. for the link.)

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Legal Victory Secured for Young Adults in Pennsylvania Open Carry Case.

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PayPal Admits Freezing Account Over Covid Mandate Criticism. JWR’s Comment: Personally, as someone who was de-banked without any explanation or warning by my regional bank (headquartered in Las Vegas), I can relate to the experiences of those who were targeted by PayPal. De-banking is beyond just inconvenient. It is stifling!

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Blog reader D.S.V. suggested this: Limiting Ultra-Processed Foods This Year? Experts Recommend Starting With These Three.

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SaraSue sent us this snippet:

“In farm news, as I get ready for calving, milking, egg laying, and egg hatching season, gardening, etc., I am cleaning out the storage room, reorganizing, and have purchased the supplies I need for the year: new incubator, 250 egg cartons, 100 half gallon glass milk jars and lids to add to the 100 jars I already have, etc. Once Spring has sprung, there will be no rest. 10 more garden beds are going in this week. I decided to have them built by a neighbor rather than purchase more of the metal beds. I will have mushroom compost delivered by the truckload since I used up the barn compost last year. It takes a year for the barn waste to compost.

In anticipation of receiving a used truck from family members, I found and purchased a 12-13’ stock trailer that a neighbor had in their barn for a super reasonable price. It’s been sitting unused but in really good shape. I have never hauled a trailer so I’m very nervous. But, just like everything else, I can learn. I remember when I was terrified of those big dairy cows, and those pigs, but I learned and am now 100% confident with the livestock. I just need to turn that determination towards driving a truck and hauling livestock.

I had given a small flock of sheep to a neighbor and he is now enlarging his flock after tending to them for a year. I was so excited and asked if I could purchase Lamb from him in the future. It will be nice to have that source rather than raising them myself. I will be able to haul animals to the processor by myself with the truck/trailer combination (I hope!)

The worst of our winter weather is over. It’s still in the teens though and I still have to break up ice in the water troughs every day. I have so appreciated the winter break and am ready to get back at it this Spring.”

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Signature moves: are we losing the ability to write by hand?

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This new listing at SurvivalRealty.com caught my eye: 40 acres with spring and well Nevada survival oasis.

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‘This Flag is Not Coming Down. You Can Fine Me All You Want’.

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Those 51 Lying Spies Trump Left Out in the Cold.

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Reader L.E. wrote:

“One thing that people forget about is–even after TEOTWAWKI there will still be a need for prizes/gifts/awards for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, and special events. To that end, this is a list of small needful things I stockpile, that could serve as stocking stuffers, prizes, and small awards:

1 – Playing cards, several decks (there are some beautiful sets of cards out there,. Search under “Bicycle luxury cards”.

2 – Floursack fabric tea towels at least 24″ x 24″. These can serve as emergency menstrual pads, baby diapers, broken arm slings, headscarves, bandages, jam fruit juicers, furoshiki carry bags. (Get several at the Joann fabric stores before they close).

3 – Aluminum foil. Not only will you be able to line your shirt and hat with it to ward off “the rays of Zaydar”, but “tinfoil” can be used to carry emergency “leaky” food that may need to be reheated, like sandwiches, bacon and eggs, or as emergency cooking vessels to bake potatoes, biscuits. etc. It can be saved, washed, and reused multiple times. It can also be used as a shiny fishing lure. (Twist a little piece above a hook).

4- Kitchen matches-get the large boxes of a couple hundred. This will last about a year if you only use one to light a woodstove fire and a lantern or candle. You’ve heard of the expression “so thrifty she would split a match to save a penny”.

5- Salt. Everything tastes better with it, and it is necessary to pickle or ferment anything. A weak solution can wash the grit from your eyes. You can never have too much salt.

6- Sets containing small scissors, black and white thread, packet of sewing needles.

7- Magnifying glasses. When your one set of reading glasses breaks or is misplaced or stolen, you will be mighty glad you can still read the small print on anything, and can also be used to fry ants and start small fires.

8- Rolls of Lifesavers hard candy. I like the butter rum flavor, and a hard candy placed in a cranky child’s mouth will keep them quiet.

9- Vicks ointment. For chapped lips, chest rubs, can place a dab into each nostril for stuffy noses, a glob placed down the throat will help the pain of tonsillitis/strep throat. Also for athlete’s foot.

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Video of some Finns who prove that it is not just Americans that take fireworks to excess: 6,000 Fireworks Fired at 3,000 Rockets – ABSOLUTE MAYHEM! My favorite quote from the narration: “Now it is just beautiful chaos.”

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And lastly, also just for fun, Avalanche Lily recommends this video: Different Sports Players, When They’re at Home. (Compilation).