aardwolfe, Thanks for your Two Good Personal Stories on this Topic.

In the First, it's of course Preferable that such a Survival Manual be as Light and Compact as possible, with Weight, Balance, and Bulk, being as Crucially Important as they are!, in the Aviation World. The Distributed Books you speak of, Probably were. Of course I've seen some in the world of Survival and Preparedness Literature, the Gem SAS Survival Guide being the First to come to mind.

About your Second Example, You Probably are Aware that I too, have Allowed for this sort of an Extenuating Contingency, in my Post. We're Both in effect saying the Same Thing. Your Example is a Good Reinforcing Backup. Sometimes it can Get to Resorting to such Measures, Out There in the "Make It or Break It",Survival Wilds.

Hate to Have to Say It!, but that can even Occur with a Bible, if It came Right Down to It! Or God Forbid,-an American (or Other) Flag!, *-if That's the Last and Only Firestarting Material you Had Left!*, -to be "Survival Frank" about It. Even Money and Important Personal Papers you have with you. ( I Think there, concerning the Bible, God would say, " Go Ahead, -I Want you To! ")

The Same Holds True for Cases where one HAS To Resort to Cannibalism. (of course Only involving someone who has Already Naturally Passed.) I myself would have No Problem with my Survivalmates Cannibalizing on my onetime Body, were I to Naturally Pass First, in such a Survival Situation. I would Want my Mates to Do so, if there'd be such a Need.

And so in a Worst Come to Worst Scenario, Yes, It can come Down to Having to Burn some or perhaps even All!, of say a Bible or Survival / Scout Book. As you say yourself, -Only "WHEN All ELSE FAILS!"

In that case, of course, One shud Try to use and Burn the Less Important Pages First, -Title Page, Index, Table of Contents, Etc. Followed of course by the Less / Least Important or Applicable Sections ( Less or Non Applicable to your own Situation and Needs)

Now when your Hands are Pretty Stiff and Cold, and you've GOT to Soon get a Fire Going!, to Warm both Them and Yourself Up!, One might Not Tend to concern themselves so much about what pages they burn.

But even here, -Aim NOT to First Burn your Most Crucially Needed and Applicable of Pages!! It's a Good Thing those Strandees you Speak of, First READ the Section on Firestarting! -Before just Ripping Out any old pages, (perhaps ones on Firestarting), and Making a Shot in the Dark! If They'd so make the kind of Greenhorn Fire that many an Average Citizen would make.........! No, They first Availed Themselves of Mr. Olsen's wise Firestarting Advice! Granted, They were at the Mercy of the Remaining Sun, but at least they had some, and Used such Wisely.

Agreed this was such a Situation. Agreed we Don't Burn Things like Survival and Scout Books Otherwise! I Know you Feel and Agree with such, All Along / As Well.

But even here, -The Less Important Parts First! Thats an Added Suggestion I would like to Make.

( Larry Dean Olsen, -of Course, would Have Wanted them to Do so too, -in this Survival Situation.)

-But READ the Firestarting Pages!, BEFORE Burning Them or Any Other!

Thanks Again, -for your Two Great Backup Examples.

( I mean Backup of This Important and Behooved "Concept"!,-Not so much of me. You've Done so Well.) [color:"black"] [/color] [email]aardwolfe[/email]