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. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters.
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Fox News: Top health official: New York treating polio case as ‘tip of the iceberg’.
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In the Stars & Stripes: One year after Afghanistan, spy agencies pivot toward China.
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Taiwan dominates the world’s supply of computer chips – no wonder the US is worried.
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SaraSue sent this snippet:
“I processed 40 pounds of tomatoes and 20 lbs of cucumbers that I purchased from the local Amish. Made a couple of pounds of soft cheese with fresh milk. The dairy cow was inseminated, but I may have just missed the “right time” and won’t know for 17 days after insemination. I’m learning to recognize her heat cycles. There is a new roof on the house now and while I didn’t appreciate the expense, I’m glad it’s done and won’t have to stress it for a very long time. I don’t think I’m going to be able to get a fall garden in. It’s been one maintenance issue after another including the Air Conditioning units. I finally faced the fact that I cannot manage this farm by myself, not that the realization will stop me. I’m in process of hiring more help that should be temporary, just to get the big things done. My dogs tore up the irrigation lines within a day of them being buried in the ground – not deep enough – so they’ll have to be re-done in a more permanent fashion. Unfortunately, I’m still hauling water out to the animals. A very exhausting few weeks. The political situation this past week sent me over the edge if I wasn’t already having fits. I continue to pray, prep, and remain calm. Amen.”
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Missouri’s Attorney General Eric Schmitt sent a positively scathing letter to the FBI, in response to their request to “audit” the state’s CCW permit holder records. (A hat tip to Ken in Missouri, for the link to that PDF.)
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From Reader H.L.: Woke Airline Policies Threaten Safety, Workers Say.
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Another from H.L.: Farmers stand firm vs Golden Rice: ‘Our land, our food, our rice!’
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Reader S.W. wrote:
“Regarding additive manufacturing, it should be remembered that it is possible to print an item, and then use it to make a mold for sand casting in metal (pot metal, bronze, aluminum, etc.). Finer detail would be possible with wax filament and lost-wax casting in plaster. The item can be over-dimensioned to account for shrinkage as the metal ‘freezes’, and the resulting casting can then be finished (machined) in the normal ways. This process not only allows making replacement parts, but items that cannot be reasonably manufactured by any subtractive machining process (e.g. rocket motors). For replication of existing parts, it would be interesting if the article could cover 3D scanning input into the software.”
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China Bought $6.1 Billion in US Real Estate Last Year.
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Reader P.C. wrote to suggest this food storage tip for those who plan to revert to campstove cooking, in the event of a disaster:
“Store pancake mix, peanut butter, and jelly for easy P.B.&J. sandwiches. Make two pancakes, put peanut butter on one, and jelly on the other. This creates an easy no-bread sandwich. Kids will love it!”
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H.L. sent this link: Fagradalsfjall volcano erupts in Iceland just eight months after its last eruption.
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Reader C.B. spotted this: WHO to rename monkeypox to avoid discrimination and stigmatization. JWR’s Comment: My recommendation for a new name would be this novel acronym with its roots in 16th Century England: APUTTIBOB. That stands for: “A pox upon thee, thou insuppressible buggerers of boys.” Oh, I’m sorry, that might sound insensitive, judgmental, and non-inclusive, in the oh-so-woke 21st Century.
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K.B. sent this one: Amazon Buys Roomba Company, Will Now Map Inside of Your House.
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And, finally: CBS News Censors Its Own Documentary Exposing How 70% of US Funding of Ukraine is Wasted. The subhead: Announces “we are updating our documentary” after pressure.
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.