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. At the top of today’s column, another dire warning on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
AI and Human Extinction
Tom Christianson sent us this, in the WSJ: A ‘Godfather of AI’ Remains Concerned as Ever About Human Extinction [2]. JWR’s Comments: I believe that the more immediate and likely threat of AI will come in the form of “convenience” rather than armies of Terminator-esque robots. There will be so many convenient things that AI can handle that people will forget how to do things for themselves. And then when a major crisis drops the power grids, the vast majority of the urbanized population will be overwhelmed. In their system-dependent helplessness, they will simply perish.
The Hole in Earth’s Magnetic Field
Tom Christianson mentioned this: Mysterious ‘dent’ in Earth’s magnetic field explodes in size [3]. The article’s intro:
“Scientists have discovered that a ‘weak spot’ in Earth’s magnetic field is growing at an alarming rate. [4]
Known as the South Atlantic Anomaly [5] (SAA), the region has expanded by an area nearly twice the size of Texas [6] since 2014, and it is also slowly shifting westward toward Africa, according to a new study released on Monday.
The SAA has increased by up to 25 percent, as it moves about 14 miles west each year.
The expansion and movement [7] are the result of turbulent flows of molten iron in Earth’s outer core, which generate unusual magnetic patterns that weaken the field in this part of the planet.”
Sweden to Begin Stockpiling Food for War Readiness
Reader Pat A. sent this: Sweden to begin stockpiling food for first time since Cold War [8]. An excerpt:
“After ending its long-standing policy of military non-alignment and joining Nato in 2024, the Scandinavian country is taking some drastic measures to ‘build strength in the new total defence.’
Its government [9] announced plans to invest £45 million (575 million kronor) – as part of the 2026 budget – to set up the grain reserves.
Civil defence minister Carl-Oskar said: ‘We are well aware that the risk of Sweden becoming completely cut off is very low, but the risk of complex supply chains being disrupted with major and unpredictable consequences in the event of war and conflict is unfortunately more likely.’
Bohlin said in a statement that the first emergency grain stocks [10] will be in the north of Sweden, a region that risks being isolated in a conflict.”
Boston ‘Street Takeover’ Ends with Police Cars in Flames
Reader H.L. mentioned this sign of the times: Report: Boston ‘Street Takeover’ Ends with Police Cars in Flames [11].
CDC: Nearly 1 in 3 US Teens Have Prediabetes
Reader D.S.V. sent a link to this article published in July: CDC finds nearly 1 in 3 US youth have prediabetes, but experts question scant data [12].
Where Not to Be in a Crisis
A fairly basic but still useful piece by Jeff Thomas that I found linked over at the Whatfinger.com [13]news aggregation site: Where Not to Be in a Crisis [14].
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