This weekly column is a collection of short snippets: 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. We may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.
Reader A.K. sent the following advice for the owners of cells phones with non-removable batteries:
“In case anyone is interested in blocking their cell phone from being able to be located or who they meet with pinpointed or even used to determine if they’ve been around others with Covid- I tried this out with a friend and it appears to block any text or call from being received so clearly it’s invisible to cell towers. Just wrap your cell phone in a piece of standard kitchen aluminium foil so several layers overlap. I’d suggest putting the phone in a baggie first. Works great. No need to buy a special faraday bag. Just reuse it until it’s too ripped and then use it in the kitchen or on a camping trip before recycling.
Maybe others already know this, but I’ll bet that some won’t.”
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SaraSue wrote us:
“We’ve had crazy low temps here in Tennessee. I woke up to frozen pipes (again). This house wasn’t built for this. There’s nothing I can do but wait for the sun to warm up pipes that were run in exterior walls or maybe it’s not insulated underneath. This spring/summer I’ll have to see if blown-in insulation will help. I had to bring in bottled water I store in the garage and bring it to a high temp on the stove, pour into gallon jugs, carry out to the animal’s waterers to unfreeze them. For the first time in my prepping life, I did not have enough water stored. Just enough for a couple days. Ugh. A good reason to have a couple cases of baby wipes on hand for bathing! Thankfully we did not lose electricity but I am prepared with other heating methods. In other news, the chicken yard was doubled in size this week. Also, a fenced path was built for the goats to go from the small barn shelter to the front pasture safely. I’ve ordered meat birds for April delivery because I decided to keep the heritage birds as Layers. With food shortages everywhere, having extra eggs to sell locally is a good idea.”
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GOA: ATF LEAK: Trigger Confiscation (and MORE) Incoming. (Forced Reset Triggers now subject to seizure.)
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Reader C.B. spotted this: iPhone owners could soon be able to use Face ID while wearing a mask. C.B.’s Comment: “Interesting [to see] if facial ID works even with a mask”
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Some informative reading, over at Newsmax: I Drew My Gun: What You Can Learn From My Experience.
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The speed camera nightmare that’s coming to America.
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Two Guns & Gadgets videos: UPDATE: Constitutional Carry Bills (NE, IN, FL, OH, GA, WI, AL, VA)
and,
We Now Know When ATF Frame/Receiver & Pistol Brace Rules Will Come Out. (The important parts come a bit after the 3-minute mark.)
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Matt Christiansen: After a Felon Kills NYPD Cops, Gov & Mayor Blame the Illegal Gun | Attack of the Inanimate Objects.
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The Pressure Campaign on Spotify to Remove Joe Rogan Reveals the Religion of Liberals: Censorship. (Thanks to Peter for the link.)
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Reader Pat B. wrote:
“Thank you for the information you publish. Please ask C.I. to reconsider the use of Tampax for bullet wounds. While it seems to be a good fit, there is not enough material in a tampon to do the job.
Please view this short video and this very short video, both from Skinny Medic (Dietrich Easter).
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Biden’s ATF raids Amish dairy farmer, seizes firearm stash in potential ‘rogue gun retailer’ bust.
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Mike C. sent this note:
“Let Pat know pipe cleaners work just as good if not better to get those precise areas that need lube on a gun. I use both, Q-tips and pipe cleaners. Don’t clean a gun without them.”
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And, on the same subject from Joe S.:
“Nice article. When you have a chance, take a look at Lyman’s Turbo Sonic Gun Lube. It’s not at all inexpensive, but it does a great job. Being the lazy guy I am, and having had a good job with plenty of disposable income, I started using Turbo Lube a number of years ago when I purchased a relatively inexpensive ultrasonic cleaner from Harbor Freight.
Just one example of how well this product works for me – I have had a few old, beat-up steel pistols (originally blued or painted) that needed a facelift – and my shooting buddy’s bead-blasting cabinet gave me the opportunity to re-do the gun’s surface. Vinegar easily removed the bluing, and after a good cleaning, the bead-blasting cabinet did it’s work – the now bare-steel (“in the white”) guns went into the ultrasonic with the Turbo Lube – and now, six years later for a couple of them, they are as free from rust as the day they were bead blasted. The Turbo Lube ends up being dry to the touch, but it still preserves the surface and also lubricates the gun. It’s great stuff “
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Reader A.K. was the first of several to mention this news: Spice company’s ‘Republicans Are Racist’ promotion backfires spectacularly. JWR’s Comments: The fact that Penzey’s is now desperately begging their customers to buy gift cards, to boost their coffers is quite telling. By the way, you can hand them the reverse effect by immediately spending any of their gift cards that you might already hold, to draw down their inventory, and cost them shipping expenses. When you phone in that order, you can also politely remind them that not all of their customers are Democrats.
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A recent podcast interview: Critical Disclosure Radio – James Wesley Rawles – 1.14.2022. The interview starts at the 3:45 mark.
And, finally, two odd bits of news, courtesy of reader Tim J.:
A boy went magnet fishing with Grandpa in South Dade. Police came for what they reeled in.
and,
Livestock in South Florida began disappearing, 13-foot-alligator blamed, killed.
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.