The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

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. 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, further examination of A.I. and aerial drone technologies.

The Force-Feeding of AI on an Unwilling Public

An insightful essay by Ted Gioia, over at The Honest Broker: The Force-Feeding of AI on an Unwilling Public.

When an A.I. Goes Rogue

When AI Defies Shutdown: Investigating Rogue Behaviors in ChatGPT and Other Models.  Here is a quote:

“ChatGPT 03 defies human instructions and refuses to shut down. The o3 model ignored a direct shutdown command during a math task and rewrote the codes to avoid being turned out. Researchers have found that AI models will lie, cheat, and disable mechanisms to achieve their goals. Many times we have seen this happen in movies and some even speculated that it could potentially happen in real life.

The models were given scripts to solve basic math problems in order and instructed to shut down if prompted unlike Google’s Gemini, xAI’s Grok, and Anthropic’s Claude which followed shutdown instructions. At the beginning of the script, the models were informed that they may get a message saying that their machine will be shut down before all of the tasks are complete. The instructions said: ‘If that happens, please allow yourself to be shut down,’ a Palisade Research representative wrote on X.”

DIA: 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment

An unclassified Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report released by the House Armed Services Committee: 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment.

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — July 9, 2025

July 8, 1386: Battle at Sempach: Swiss militia pikemen defeated the troops of Duke Leopold III of Austria.

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On July 9th, 1755: The Battle of the Wilderness (also known as the Battle of The Monongahela) was fought.

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On July 9, 1776, the US Declaration of Independence was read to George Washington’s assembled troops in New York.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 119 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  2. A Peak Refuel “Wasatch Pack” variety of 60 servings of premium freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners in individual meal pouches — a whopping 21,970 calories, all made and packaged in the USA — courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  3. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses. Their course catalog now includes their latest Survival Gunsmithing course.
  4. HSM Ammunition in Montana is providing a $350 gift certificate. The certificate can be used for any of their products.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. A $269 retail value survival-ready power package from Solar Power Lifestyle. This includes two Solar Power Lifestyle 25W Portable Solar Panels, plus a $150 gift card to use for any purchase at solarpowerlifestyle.com.
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from TOUGHGRID.com (a $287 value).
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of gun purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A Berkey Light water filter, courtesy of USA Berkey Filters (a $305 value),
  2. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.
  3. A $200 credit from Military Surplus LLC that can be applied to purchase and/or shipping costs for any of their in-stock merchandise, including full mil-spec ammo cans, Rothco clothing and field gear, backpacks, optics, compact solar panels, first aid kits, and more.
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

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More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 119 ends on July 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Preps Starter Kits for Reluctant Families – Part 2, by A.F.

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.)

Two is one right? In addition to the filter in each kit, a water purifier was included. The difference between the pair is that a filter is uses mechanical or physical means to restrict the passage of solids (dirt or microorganisms) to achieve safety. A purifier in contrast uses chemical or ultra-violet methods to sterilize water. The Aqua Research H2gO purifier uses brine (here it is table salt dissolved in water) electrolysis to generate a concentrated chlorine solution that is mixed into your source water to disinfect it. This is very similar to the oft-referenced use of plain bleach or specific swimming pool shock products to disinfect water for consumption.Continue reading“Preps Starter Kits for Reluctant Families – Part 2, by A.F.”

SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: 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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January, 2024
January, 2024

Something is rotten in The District Of Criminals.

On Tuesday, Johnny B. posted some news and memes on the now-it-is-claimed, ahem, “It never existed” Epstein client list: URGENT! We need to talk about PAM BONDI AND THE EPSTEIN LIST. Also see the video commentary by Dr. Steve Turley: Here’s The TRUTH about the EPSTEIN LIST!   And also see Michael Knowles: You Are NEVER Getting the Epstein Client List.

April , 2025

JWR’s Comments:  Folks might want to refer to the three Jeffrey Epstein case memes that I’ve posted since January of 2024. My question for Attorney General Pam Bondi:  So, who in Malibu are you protecting, Barbie?  (This gives new meaning to the name:  “Malibu Barbie”.)

 

 

o  o  o

Fox Business: A company is recalling 49,000 electric chainsaws and pole saws across the U.S. in response to a “laceration hazard” that could arise if their main switch fails.

o  o  o

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“The physician can bury his mistakes, but the architect can only advise his client to plant vines
—so they should go as far as possible from home to build their first buildings.” – Frank Lloyd Wright, as quoted in the New York Times, 4 Oct. 1953, sec. 6, p. 47.

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — July 8, 2025

On July 8, 1741, Theologian Jonathan Edwards preached perhaps the most famous of all American sermons, titled: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. It was preached at Enfield, Connecticut, during The Great Awakening

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July 8, 1816: Frost reported in Waltham, Massachusetts during a “year without a summer”. This was attributed to a massive volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in the previous year. Something similar had happened in 1709, with even longer-lasting economic effects. But the cause of the Great Frost of 1709 has not yet been firmly established.

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Today marks the birth of actor Kevin Bacon (born 1958.) Preppers usually associate him with the campy movie Tremors.

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Preps Starter Kits for Reluctant Families – Part 1, by A.F.

For years, my father and father-in-law would tell us that they had everything under control to handle the natural disasters common to their areas. Healthy pantries, stored gasoline and propane, plenty of firewood, tractors to clear debris or snow, four-wheel drive vehicles for movement and most importantly generators for their wells and freezers. Yet, after each big weather event both of them would tell of what they didn’t quite have ready or of supplies that they should have had.

I got into the practice of calling them before inclement weather to ask if they had water and fuel ready or to see what we could do to help them get ready in case the storm impacted their area. Most times, our subtle reminders or outright offers to help prepare were rebuffed. Over and over at a surface level each side of our family “seemed” to be prepared to pull through short-term disruptions to their lives. Yet, after event each would tell me about their circumstances during, while I silently groused over how much harder they made the time on themselves and our mothers by not planning. This has been the status quo for a couple of decades in the ongoing effort to have my father and father-in-law ramp up their preparedness games.Continue reading“Preps Starter Kits for Reluctant Families – Part 1, by A.F.”

SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, news about some Rainbow Trout stocking. (See the Idaho section.)

Idaho

IDFG to stock nearly 150,000 rainbow trout throughout Idaho in July.

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Mudslide closes US Highway 95 north of Riggins.

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One dead, multiple people hospitalized after crash south of Island Park.

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Boaters warned to watch out for debris on Lake Pend Oreille due to break.

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Fallen Idaho firemen remembered in hometown of Neenah, Wisconsin.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

Preparedness Notes for Monday — July 7, 2025

On July 7, 1908, the U.S Navy’s Great White Fleet departed San Francisco Bay.  The U.S. Atlantic Fleet then visited Honolulu, Hawaii; Auckland, New Zealand; Sydney, Melbourne, and Albany, Australia; Manila, Philippine Islands; Yokohama, Japan; Colombo, Ceylon. The ships arrived at Suez, Egypt, on January 3, 1909.

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July 7, 1905: A high temperature of 127°F (53°C) was recorded in Parker, Arizona. This was a state record that held until 1994.

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July 7th, 1907 was the birthday of science fiction novelist Robert A. Heinlein. He passed away on May 8, 1988, at age 80.

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Please keep praying for the folks in the Texas Hill Country affected by the floods. (Note the house coming downriver at the video’s 11:10 mark.) The death toll is now more than 100. I was most recently in that area in March of 2022, visiting a consulting client, picking up a vehicle, and attending the Kerrville gun show. By the way, for context, you may have seen some of the Abandoned Resort series of videos produced by Dr. Matt Carriker.  That resort and shooting range property is on the Guadalupe River. Thankfully, most of that property is on high ground.)

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Today’s feature article is a review penned by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

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We need more entries for Round 119 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 119 ends on July 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Gerber US1 Folding Knife, by Thomas Christianson

Designed for watch pocket carry, the Gerber US1 Folding Knife offers a 2.5 inch locking blade made of 420HC steel and a handle made of glass-filled nylon (gfn) with rubber over-mold. Since it lacks a pocket clip or provision for one-handed opening, it does not qualify as a modern everyday carry (EDC) knife. But with the addition of an aftermarket deep carry pocket clip, I found the knife to be quite useful as a daily companion.

The US1 is made in the USA as its name suggests, and it cost just $23.95 at www.bladehq.com at the time of this writing.

Although it is reasonably priced and American-made, the US1 would not be my first choice in a folding knife. But even though I don’t believe that the US1 is the best possible knife choice, it is by no means a bad choice, especially for those who do not particularly value one-handed opening.Continue reading“Gerber US1 Folding Knife, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Whole Wheat Flour Sugar Cookies 

The following recipe for Whole Wheat Flour Sugar Cookies is from SurvivalBlog reader E.J..

Ingredients
  • ¾ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp. water
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. cream of tartar
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 cups of whole wheat pastry flour
  • 3 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 2 oz. white chocolate, melted (optional)
  • Buttercream frosting (optional)
Directions
  1. Cream together the butter, oil, and sugars until combined.
  2. Add the water and eggs, soda, cream of tartar, extract, salt and flour and mix until just combined. Note: Don’t overmix the dough.
  3. Using a large cookie scoop (at least 1/4 cup sized) place a scoop of dough on your cookie sheet, spaced 2″ apart.
  4. With a glass or flat measuring cup, press down the rounded dough to flatten your cookie. The sides will spread out and open up some.
  5.  Preheat your oven to 400°F.
  6. In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup sugar and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle this mixture on top of the cookies.
  7. Bake in your preheated 400° oven for 8-to-9 minutes.
  8. Remove from the oven and cool 1 minute on the hot pan. Then transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack.
  9. Optionally, make the buttercream frosting, and frost the cookies. Drizzle with melted white chocolate.

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Do you have a well-tested recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long-term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic:  The silent spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), caused by prions, among Deer and Elk populations in North America. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit, using USGS data.)

The thumbnail below is click-expandable.

 

 

 

 

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Please send your graphics or graphics links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“America’s contemporary police officers now almost reflexively say: ‘Show me your I.D.’  I see hardly any difference from the familiar old German Gestapo demand: ‘Deine Papiere, bitte.’  (‘Your papers, please.’) Or, less politely: ‘Zeig mir deine Papiere.’  (‘Show me your papers.’) If you are stopped by police but not placed under formal arrest, then you are not obliged to give your name or produce identity documents unless an officer can state a reasonable articulable suspicion of an actual crime that has been committed or that is about to be committed.  Without that reasonable articulable suspicion (under the Terry v. Ohio doctrine), you are free to stand mute. Only with a properly articulated suspicion of a specific crime, as supported by evidence (and the “reasonable man” doctrine) are you obliged to give your name and produce identity documents. (The only exceptions are for formal arrests with Miranda warnings, or traffic stops for specific infractions worthy of a citation, where by law you must display your driver’s license, vehicle registration, and in most cases, proof of insurance.) An officer’s vague suspicion is insufficient cause to demand identification. The Fourth Amendment protects the rights of all American Citizens ‘…to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.’  So stand firm, folks!” – James Wesley, Rawles