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, Data Center Power Demand.
Normalizing Martial Law in America
Reader Mark in Florida recommended this article: The Great Normalization (Nobody Declared Martial Law… Yet America Began Looking Like It Anyway)
Data Centers’ Demand is Raising Power Prices
In The NYT: Data Centers to Add Billions in Power Costs in 13 States. “A power auction conducted by a giant grid operator is expected to add $6.3 billion in additional charges to consumers and businesses because of electricity needs of data centers.” JWR’s Comment: What most people don’t realize is that most energy auctions are Reverse Auctions.
China’s Newest AI Model Triggers “Code Red” for American AI
A report at Liberty Daily: China’s Newest AI Model Triggers “Code Red” for American AI. JWR’s Comment: The clamor for “competitiveness” may make an AI takeover much more likely.
Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery Takes Priority Over Politics
From the leftist NPR: Venezuela’s earthquake recovery overshadows its push for democracy.
The Iran War’s Incredibly Lopsided Kill Ratio
17 US service members have died in the Iran war, reflecting a conflict fought largely in the air.
AI and Tech are Trying to Influence the Midterm Elections
Another news piece from NPR: AI and tech are trying to influence the midterm elections. The article begins:
“Groups tied to the artificial intelligence industry are flooding money into the midterms in hopes of shaping future AI regulation.
Around the country, groups associated with AI and tech are trying to influence elections from Senate races to local offices, even as Americans register increasing discomfort with the technology’s ramifications for jobs, energy bills and society. AI-focused super PACs have already spent $43.3 million on congressional races this cycle, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit that tracks campaign spending.”
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