Table of contents for February/March #59 2024 in RECOIL OFFGRID

As AI-generated content becomes increasingly sophisticated, the blurring of lines between human and machine creativity raises important questions about accountability and trust. In a world where information shapes opinions and influences decisions, the inability to discern the origin of content challenges our fundamental understanding of authorship and the ethical considerations tied to it. The ethical responsibility to disclose the involvement of AI in content creation becomes paramount, as transparency fosters trust and enables individuals to navigate an increasingly complex landscape of digital information with informed judgment. The previous paragraph was not written by a human. It was written by ChatGPT, a free and easy-to-use AI-powered language model. Now, take a look at the cover of this issue — that was generated by another free tool called Playground AI based on…

Don’t believe everything you see on the internet. This is one of the fundamental rules of using the worldwide web, and it dates back to the earliest days of dial-up. In the ’90s, chain emails spread hoaxes like wildfire, but those of us who weren’t entirely gullible knew to question anything we received with “FW: FW: FW:” in the subject line. The rise of chat rooms and social media made it even easier to spread misinformation to thousands of strangers. Around the same time, photo editing software was becoming vastly more powerful and accessible, so we began to see the spread of Photoshopped hoax images across the internet. Much like chain letters had morphed into chain emails, this type of hoax was nothing new, but the advancement of tech made…

Concealing a handgun in a backpack is relatively straightforward, since a pistol, holster, and spare mags can fit in even the smallest packs with ease. However, if you’re looking to conceal a long-gun, choosing your pack carefully becomes a much higher priority. Large backpacks can hold a rifle easily, but they practically scream there’s a gun in here — that may not be the message you want to send when you’re walking through a hotel lobby, parking lot, or other public location. Smaller packs may not fit your rifle or may look awkward and bulky once they’re loaded with a weapon. The setup seen here was designed as a happy medium between these extremes, with priority placed on carrying a fully concealed, multi-role folding carbine. Vertx has been a key name…

“Success in creating AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilization. But it could also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks.”– Stephen Hawking Throughout history, humanity has witnessed the effects of several technological revolutions. These periods of rapid innovation forever altered the way we live and work, and in every case, they have had far-reaching benefits and drawbacks. The first Industrial Revolution of the late 1700s brought machine manufacturing and the rise of factories. The second Industrial Revolution of the late 1800s brought instant telegraph communications, cross-country railroads, and widespread natural gas, water, and sewage systems. The third Industrial Revolution of the late 20th century, also known as the Digital Revolution, gave us home computers, the Internet, and smartphones. Many scientists…

Step 1. Remove the battery and peel back the protective film in the battery compartment to expose the circuit board. Step 2. Identify the soldered jumpers (4th and 5th from the left) underneath the cutout on the PCB. Step 3. Use your heated soldering iron and soldering wick to loosen and remove the jumpers, and make sure that everything is cleaned up. Step 4. Replace the covering and battery. Step 5. Reset the microprocessor by holding down the [mode], [0], and [V/M] buttons simultaneously while powering on the unit. Step 6. Press the [F] key when prompted to do so. If you have any pre-existing channel settings, this will wipe them out, so you’ll need to reload them with your programming software. However, at this point in time, you’re good…

“The final weapon is the brain, all else is supplemental.”– John Steinbeck Tracking is a skill that’s often applied to wilderness locations. Hunters use it to follow wild game, search and rescue personnel use it to find lost hikers, and law enforcement personnel use it to track fugitives. In previous issues, we wrote about tracking and counter-tracking lessons learned from Greenside Training classes in the forests of northern Michigan and the Arizona desert. Although these wilderness-oriented skills are important, more than 85 percent of Americans live in urban or suburban areas. So, how does tracking translate to the concrete jungle? This is the question that led Freddy Osuna, former USMC Scout Sniper and founder of Greenside Training, to develop his Grayside Hunter course. It began with a refresher on tracking…

Howling winds and bone-shattering waves crash against the moonlit shore. Trees bend and uproot from the earth. Power lines snap, and the city plunges into darkness. This narrative is a reality for those who have lived through a hurricane or a similar natural disaster where devastating storms wipe out entire sections of the power grid. With critical infrastructure such as cell towers and internet service provider nodes gone, how can first responders or prepared citizens stay connected to assist rescue operations and inform others about what’s happening in the area? Enter the Tactical Assault/Awareness Kit (TAK). Over the past decade, you've probably seen photos online of Samsung Galaxy phones used by our military. Usually, you'll see them encased and mounted on their body armor. The app loaded on those devices…

Humans are apex predators, but you’d never know it by looking at us. In comparison to other predatory species, we’re feeble, slow-moving, and physically defenseless. We don’t have the strength and resilience of a bear, the flesh-ripping claws and teeth of a tiger, or the speed and agility of a hawk. Most importantly, our senses are extremely limited. Our sense of smell pales in comparison to nearly all apex predators, as does our hearing. Even our eyesight, which is quite sharp compared to other mammals, becomes nearly useless in dark conditions. But our true superpower — intelligence — has allowed us to overcome every one of these weaknesses through technological advancements. In previous issues, we’ve discussed a variety of magnified optics that help us see further, and night vision devices…