After a long day in the sun paddling the Missouri River, I hopped off the canoe, walked along the sandbar, and began to set up my tent. As I unfolded the poles, I began to hear the clinking and clanking of knives chopping vegetables and metal spoons hitting the side of a mixing bowl. Soon, the crackle and smoke of fire began to spread over the campsite, and I got my first inkling that something tasty for dinner was on the way. I walked over to the fire with my camp chair in hand, and took a seat to watch…
Violent crime is down across the country, and that’s a very good thing. Our homicide rate hitting record lows is something that we should all be celebrating, and we’re on pace to see it even lower this year. Again, a very good thing. However, the only acceptable number of homicides is zero, and that means there’s always work to be done. We need to be realistic, though, which is why gun control is still a non-starter.But maybe the answer is to not let dangerous people walk around on our city streets? I’m just putting that…
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has dropped its fight against a court-imposed ban on its policy of limiting what professors can publicly say and write. Tim Bakken, the school’s longest-serving law professor, brought the original suit, claiming the academy’s policy violates his constitutional right to freedom of speech. He challenged West Point’s policy implemented in early 2025 that barred faculty members from publishing papers, speaking at conferences, or even appearing on a podcast without first seeking approval from higher-ups in their department. The faculty speech rule appeared to be in response to President Donald Trump issuing an executive…
Is summer over yet? Doesn’t look like it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start gearing up for fall. After all, many kids and young adults are already heading back to school, and many of the daypacks featured this week are tailor-made to transition seamlessly from the classroom or workplace to the trail or bike path. So there’s plenty of fun stuff to peruse, especially the new offerings from beloved backpack brands like Gregory and Cotopaxi. But there are also some interesting alpine-specific packs from Berghaus and the “dry out your wet phone” options from a brand named (you guessed…
CAIRO (AP) — Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks this week, escalating the conflict between them and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces and raising fears of a wider regional conflagration. The attacks have killed dozens of civilians and troops and also targeted Saudi tankers in transit from Red Sea ports through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait out to the Gulf of Aden and the rest of the world. Though less significant than the Strait of Hormuz, around 12% of the world’s trade, including a fourth of global container traffic, once passed through Bab el-Mandeb, moving between Europe…
The Air National Guard is offering members a $7,500 bonus if they reenlist for three years. The “Summer Surge Incentive” comes as part of the Air Guard’s recruitment drive to hire 8,842 Airmen by the end of Fiscal Year 2026, which puts the heat on the service considering that the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30—providing potential candidates with roughly 50 days to make decisions. Payments will be made immediately, and there is no cap on the total number of available bonuses. Those interested must sign the three-year enlistment contract by that Sept. 30 deadline. “It is all part of…
Support us! GearJunkie may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More It can be tricky to find a reliable pair of hiking shorts — especially for women like me. In fact, I’ve been trying for years to find a pair of outdoor shorts with the right fit. I have bought, tried on, and returned so many pairs of women’s shorts on REI’s website that I wonder if I’m flagged in their system. My body isn’t proportional between my hips, waist, and butt, and women’s clothing sizes are wildly inconsistent across brands, making it close to impossible…
A former Army recruiter in New Jersey whose office was trusted with the personal information of incoming service members has been charged with bank fraud and identity theft after getting caught trying to retrieve roughly $266,000 in loans and lines of credit. Court documents obtained by Military.com show that Jane Crosby, 35, of Jersey City, N.J., sought multiple credit union loans and credit card accounts. She was charged by the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey with trying to use the identities of seven recruits to open credit union accounts and take out nearly $266,000 in loans and…
Iranian lawmakers are debating the wording of a proposed deal with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. President Donald Trump insisting an agreement is getting closer. Trump said the talks are “moving along” and gave no additional comment when asked about progress by White House reporters late Thursday. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said earlier this week that an understanding with Oman had been reached “in principle,” and state TV cited one lawmaker on Friday as saying the final text and details of an agreement with Muscat will be announced “soon.” Some Iranian politicians are pushing for…
Tonight, like many Americans, I’ll be taking in a fireworks display as I celebrate our country’s 250th birthday. This morning, though, I started my celebration with a 250-round salute to those who created this free and independent nation through both pen and powder. The words of the Declaration of Independence are timeless and elegant, but they would have been forgotten by future generations if the Continental Congress were the only men willing to put their lives on the line for freedom. Were it not for the tens of thousands of citizens who fought the British…
A few months ago, I decided to try buying a nonstick pan to make eggs. I thought I’d give it a try for convenience. I chose a well-rated, mid-priced pan. Today, after using it for a few months, I noticed pits on the surface, even though I had been careful to use only safe utensils while cooking in the pan. Having scratches and pits means the pan is already unsafe to use, as the coating can spread unwanted chemicals into your food. I ended up throwing away the pan and have decided to go back to my trusty cast-iron skillet.…
A lot of people who live in apartments take one look at their space and immediately conclude, “There is no way I can ever grow food here.” I’m here to tell you that you absolutely can. Preparedness isn’t about having a massive off-grid farm right away. It’s about building systems where you are. Apartment gardening is all about working with the space you have: vertical areas, containers, available lighting, and smart strategies to grow real food in small square footage. Whether you have a shelf under a bright window, a balcony, or a porch, you can build a mini food-growing…
Medical emergencies can happen when you least expect them. One morning, I was making breakfast for the family and was slicing a bagel. Next thing you know, the bagel knife slipped and sliced through a huge part of my left thumb. There was blood everywhere, so the first thing I did was to find gauze and apply pressure to control the bleeding. The bleeding lessened, but would not stop. I ended up driving myself to the hospital Emergency Department, where the ER doc stitched up the wound. I was glad I had that first aid kit to at least help…
I spent years overseeing the guard force security contract at the embassy in Baghdad. I know this 100+ acre compound well, and I know exactly what it means to rely on its defensive systems. There has been a recent shift in the security landscape that every preparedness-minded person needs to pay attention to. Recently, Iranian proxies launched a drone and rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. One of this world’s most critical and heavily fortified diplomatic facilities isn’t just another localized target. It signals a major change in how warfare and terrorism are conducted—and it has direct ripple…
It’s Independence Day. It’s the 250th Independence Day. It’s a special time that will be filled with celebration, family, friends, and a desperate attempt to survive the heat. I still remember the 200th Independence Day. I was small, but I made my mother bake a birthday cake for America. I mean, that’s how you celebrated birthdays, right?I’m glad to still be here for this one, and I sincerely hope that my children understand how special this is.The folks at the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms do, and they know that…
When you practice tornado drills, you account for every member of your family. You know the safest room, you have your emergency kit, and you have a plan. But does that plan include the four-legged members of your household? For many, pets are family. Ensuring their safety during a tornado requires the same level of practical, proactive planning you apply to everyone else. Animals can sense changes in weather and often become anxious long before the sirens blare. A scared pet is an unpredictable one. Without a clear plan, chaos can take over, and in those critical moments, a pet…
A Ukrainian drone attack struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg on Saturday, Russian officials said, as Kyiv presses on with bombardment of Russia’s oil infrastructure. Almost daily long-range attacks on Russian oil facilities have created a fuel crisis and heaped political pressure on the Kremlin as its all-out invasion of Ukraine stretches into its fifth year. Gov. Alexander Beglov said the city’s Kirovsky district on the Baltic Sea was hit. He also said that air defenses shot down 72 Ukrainian drones across Russia’s second-largest city and the surrounding region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as part of…
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadLife has a way of drifting off course in small steps. One day, everything feels normal. The next day, you’re thinking about current events, wondering why the world feels like it’s out of alignment. It’s rarely one big event. It’s the accumulation of little disruptions that stack up until things feel off. This is where routine can become not only a force multiplier, but in the right (or wrong) circumstances, a quiet lifesaver. I’m talking about the kind of personal routine, a simple rhythm that helps keep you on track when the rest of…
Watch full video on YouTube
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadA couple of weeks ago, I asked the Mind4Survival Facebook group a simple question: “If you could pressure-test one part of your plan this weekend, what would it be?” The answers came from several members of the Mind4Survival Facebook group—people just like you. They were all honest and thoughtful responses about the gaps they wanted to close. Four of their responses stood out, and they inspired a list of simple, effective tests you can run this weekend to strengthen your own plans. TL;DR: Test your preparedness plan by running a simple drill this weekend…
Watch full video on YouTube
