SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”. Today, we focus on digital home invasion–sadly by both hackers and by our own NSA.
Parliament’s Brexit Betrayal
D.S. sent us a link to the latest from commentator Mark Steyn (who you might have heard filling in for Rush Limbaugh): Exit Brexit. D.S. included a brief excerpt:
“Last night, sixteen days before Britain supposedly leaves the European Union in accord with the people’s vote of three years ago, their elected representatives voted by 312 to 308 to rule out a “no-deal” Brexit – i.e., a straightforward walkaway – ever.”
Perrenials for Prepping
DSV flagged this one: How to Plant a Perennial Food Garden – 20 Fruits & Veggies That Will Keep Coming Back Year After Year.
SPLC Sacks Its Own Founder
Several readers sent us this news: Southern Poverty Law Center Fires Founder Morris Dees, Suggests Misconduct. Since I might eventually be part of a class action lawsuit against the SPLC, and since I certainly don’t want to get sued by the SPLC, I will refrain from commenting on this article.
Seattle is Dying
Peter forwarded this: KOMO News Special: Seattle is Dying
Digital Home Invasions
Jim L. sent this one: ‘Why are you looking at me? I see you watching me.’ Smart devices like Nest getting hacked in digital home invasions. A pericope:
“The Lake Barrington, Illinois, family’s Nest cameras and thermostat had been hacked.
“I felt like I (was) trapped in an episode of ‘Black Mirror,'” Arjun Sud said, referring to a television series that explores the darker aspects of technology. “All these devices you’ve put in there to safeguard yourself, to protect your home, your family, (are) now being used maliciously to turn against you.”
Nest users across the country have reported similar incidents in recent weeks, but the Google-owned company has insisted that it was not breached. Instead, Nest has said that affected customers could have done more to protect their devices. And on Wednesday, Nest sent an email to users telling them what they can do to “get the most out of” its security features.
In an interview with the Tribune, Google spokeswoman Nicol Addison said the company automatically rolls out updates to its software and stays on top of security and safety measures. Addison declined to comment on specific hacking incidents.
The smart home devices Americans are increasingly installing — which connect to the Internet and can be controlled and monitored remotely via smartphone app — are ushering in unprecedented convenience for homeowners on the go, but they also represent one of the new frontiers when it comes to internet hacking.”
NSA Still Snooping on Phones Domestically
And speaking of digital invasions, there is this from DSV: Whistleblowers Say NSA Still Spies On American Phones In Hidden Program. The following is a key quote:
“There are three different forms of [NSA Special Access Programs, known by the acronym] SAP, Tice said: acknowledged, unacknowledged, and “Ghost” black programs. ‘Acknowledged’ programs are known to Congressional and Senate representatives sitting on the defense and intelligence committees.
In contrast, ‘unacknowledged’ black programs are known to a select number of representatives — the top majority and minority chairs and members in the defense and intelligence committees. On rare occasion, a single select member of the House might come to know by invitation only.
Then there are ‘Ghost’ black programs which the Pentagon and intelligence agencies “hide from all of Congress,” said Tice. “Many of these programs involved cutting edge technologies that are extremely expensive. I was an advanced technology analyst for many of these programs that included applications in space technology.”
More Knife Control Insanity in England
Over at FerFAL’s blog: Tory MP says every knife sold in UK should have GPS tracker ‘fitted in the handle’. (Our thanks to G.P. for the link.)
U.S. Navy Ship Gets Quarantined
At CNN: US warship quarantined at sea due to virus outbreak. (Thanks to Jon C. for the link.) A snippet:
“Twenty-five sailors and Marines aboard the USS Fort McHenry amphibious warship have been diagnosed with parotitis, which causes symptoms similar to mumps, according to US military officials.
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You can send your news tips to JWR. (Either via e-mail of via our Contact form.) Thanks
All good info. You might want to link Michael Oberndorf’s article on the RENEW AMERICA web site (The Enemy Within) as a must read for every Prepper.
God Bless
It appears we have lifetime lying politicians on both sides of the Atlantic. The failure of Brexit reminds me of the recent republican majorities in both the house and the senate who promised, promised, promised to kill 0bama care and fix the immigration crisis at the border, among numerous other things… they’ve done nothing.
The only reason I vote for any ‘repuplicrat’ right now is because it’s a vote against the opposing (democrat) party.
‘Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil’
Americans are fed up with Washington DC!
Americans need to vote two bills into
Law.
1. term limits on all
2. All elected officials ( congress and senate) are state employees not federal and come under state benefits.
Be careful what you wish for. States that adopt term limits, such as two terms in a particular office, often wind up with legislators who are amateurs who often don’t know what they’re doing and because there is no “institutional memory.”
In addition, because legislators know that their days are numbered, they can support unwise or counterproductive programs because they know that they won’t be around to answer to the public for the consequences.
Beyond that, legislators who are termed out simply run for other offices, whether state or local, using their name recognition to help them in the new race–same politician, different job. At least that is the way the political musical chair system works in California.
I’m not saying that I have an opinion either way, but term limits are not always what they appear to be and there are unintended consequences.
Term limits for legislators??? When we have Sheriff’s like Art Acevedo of Houston Texas lying for and protecting the police that murdered Dennis Tuttle and his wife, we have need Sheriff and police term limits.
Then apply the basic term limits solution. Vote them out of office. If Texas has a corrupt law enforcement system, why would replacements will be any better?
Art Acevedo is the Chief of Police of the Houston Police Department. He is not the Sheriff and is not elected.
Add “none of the above” to the end of every list of candidates
We already have term limits. They’re called elections.
Well, that’s not exactly working out too well, is it? The longer a politician stays in office, the longer they are sucking off the public teat and the more opportunities that have to be bought off by corporate interests. Maybe the real solution is to totally revamp the educational systems in this country to create young people who are able to use critical thinking instead of social media and peer pressure to make their decisions in life.
So, how’s that working out? We just got rid of our congressman of 55 years service (or is that 59 years) about 6 years ago, and his wife got the seat. I live in a district of unthinking MORONS.
SPLC
Nicely done. That brought a smile.
I don’t know for some, but this old man took and Oath back in 1970 to Preserve and Protect the Constitution of the United States, so that’s what I plan on doing.
In God We Trust
The constitution is long dead, decades and decades long dead. The constitutionalists need to come to grips with reality. Nobody has read it, nobody knows what it says, and nobody cares. I’m not happy about this, just honest. You’re never getting your country back. It’s over. You need a new plan. PERIOD. There, now you’re free. Make your future!
If you grok that, Imagine how the Continental Congress felt when they realized that no present government worth having existed, it’s kinda exciting ain’t it?
I don’t think it is dead, though I understand your comment. Perhaps it is simply not defended as it should be. Perhaps it is time to defend it in the same ways it was long ago.
As long as you hold onto it, you will never be free. That might be paradoxical or counterintuitive or some other fifty cent word but as long you cling to a past that is dead and gone you, you and I, will never find a future worth living. It was a pretty good run, and it was. Longest standing government in history, but that part is just a lie we tell ourselves. Our government has fallen long ago. I would suggest taking your citizens rulebook or whatever copy you have of the constitution and burning it, then get on your knees, and ask Holy God; Now what?
I’ve been asking god and how ever ” Now What ?” and nobody has answered yet,
Agreed!
Again and again and again…..WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY…..and our founding fathers never intended us to be. We were, for a very short time, a Constitutional Republic. If you truly do not understand the difference then it is imperative that you deduce the difference. A simple analogy would be: If we lived on an island with 100 souls, then any resolution that received 51 votes would become law. Is that legal? Yes under a Democracy, but NOT under a Constitutional Republic. Do your homework and understand why, it is IMPERATIVE!!
JWR,
Let me be the first attorney to file your Demand Letter [for free] on your class action lawsuit on the SPLC. I promise to leave the words “assault rifle” and “armed throng of Constitutionalists surrounding your building in Montgomery, Alabama” out of the verbiage.
You’re on you own after that as this will get lengthy/costly in due process.
But standing by…
Re: Seattle. Powerful video. Liberty’s Enemy is Urban America. This 1/2 of the US population is entrenched in just 5% of the US (146 counties out of over 3,000). It holds the Commies who voted to RE-ELECT a Marxist and the Fascists of Big Corporate. And it holds liberty-crushing FedGov.
We have irreconcilable differences. Our Founders responded appropriately. Now it is our turn. We need a DIVORCE. Think New Republics, New Borders and New Articles of Confederation.