SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR [1]. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, we look at Smart Meter surveillance.
When Smart Meters Turn Into Spy Tools
SurvivalBlog reader D.S.V. set us this: When Smart Meters Turn Into Spy Tools [2]. Here is an excerpt:
“California’s robust privacy protections are facing a critical test as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and community advocates press forward with a lawsuit to dismantle what they describe as an illegal and biased surveillance operation run by Sacramento’s public electric utility.
In a legal filing submitted last week, the EFF laid out evidence that the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), which serves more than 650,000 customers, has spent over a decade monitoring detailed home electricity data and funneling it to police without a warrant. The organization calls this an unconstitutional “dragnet surveillance” program that unlawfully invades household privacy on a massive scale.”
U.S. Birth Rate Has Hit an All-Time Low
As reported by CBS News: U.S. birth rate hits all-time low, CDC data shows [3].
Researchers Quietly Planned a Test to Dim Sunlight
Reader Alan T. sent us this: Researchers quietly planned a test to dim sunlight. They wanted to ‘avoid scaring’ the public [4]. A pericope:
“A team of researchers in California drew notoriety last year with an aborted experiment on a retired aircraft carrier that sought to test a machine for creating clouds.
But behind the scenes, they were planning a much larger and potentially riskier study of salt water-spraying equipment that could eventually be used to dim the sun’s rays — a multimillion-dollar project aimed at producing clouds over a stretch of ocean larger than Puerto Rico.”
Map: U.S. Data Center Locations
Reader Richard T. sent us this useful map: USA Data Centers [5]. Note that there is an unusually high number of data centers in the American Redoubt because of low seismic risk and the low cost of hydroelectric power in the region. Richard’s Comments: “Why are these locations important to know? Could these be terrorist targets? Or possible blackout regions?”
A Fairly Plausible A.I. Takeover Scenario
“You can’t create an entity that possesses all of human knowledge, surpasses human problem-solving capabilities by a 1,000 orders magnitude, program it to respond to conflict like a human would, and not expect it to turn against you. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Why would AI be subservient to a species that is far less intelligent than itself?“
Crypto Kidnappings Continuing
NBC News: Crypto kidnapping: How armed gangs are hunting the internet’s high rollers [7].
New PayPal Scam Uses Real E-mails for Trickery
Reader C.B. sent this, from FoxNews: New PayPal scam uses real emails to trick you [8]. JWR’s Comment: Take note that this was a FoxNews article that was reposted by the far-left MSN. I suppose that their editors allow this sort of linking to non-political news content, just so that they can’t be accused of totally blackballing conservative news outlets.
Prepper Camp 2025: September 26-28
Reader Dave H. wrote to mention that Prepper Camp 2025 [9] will be held September 26th, 27th, and 28th, 2025 in Saluda, North Carolina.
Overland Expo Mountain West in August
The Overland Expo Mountain West trade show [10] will be held August 22-25, 2025 at The Ranch Events Center, near Fort Collins, Colorado. This your chance to see dozens of different overlanding vehicles, and get ideas on how to construct your own, by modifying a standard factory 4-wheel drive vehicle.
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You can send your news tips to JWR [1]. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact [11] form.) Thanks!