Letter Re: Bug Out Boats

Good Morning Hugh,

I’ll begin a reply, but I don’t really know where it will ultimately lead.

GS’s comments this morning (1/26/16) ought to be enough to take the wind out of anyone’s sails regarding bug-it boats! Although he makes some valid points, the overall tone is so negative he’ll put folks off the idea. But if you’re not already into boating/sailboating that may be for the best. It is a learned skill set.

Some random thoughts:

  1. You don’t have to cross an ocean to ‘escape. There are many places much closer that would probably suffice. As mentioned previously, I would probably head for coastal British Columbia and the Inside Passage (to Alaska). There is a LOT of really remote territory up there, relatively friendly ‘folk for the most part, fresh water, game/fish aplenty. Resupply would be challenging but doable. Hunkering down in some isolated cove will be cold, but it might even include establishing comfortable base camps ashore.
  2. True, a boat isn’t your best fighting platform. That said, if you’re in a remote area what is the actual probability of having to fight-off the hordes? As mentioned previously, the idea of having two or three boats for mutual support could be a life saver. With a few like-minded companion boats and carefully chosen sites, defensive tactics would be much more effective, plus supplies and spare parts could be coordinated. Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork….
  3. Study the folks who lived in BC/SEAK centuries ago. Choose your bugout locale very carefully. The native/First Nation people remained along the water for a reason; they found that surviving (even thriving) was quite possible. They often had a summer camp AND a winter camp; learn why they did that.
  4. Spend the summer(s) preparing for the winter(s). There is a lot of work necessary to prepare for long winters; plan your strategy. Learn to catch/cure resources for the winter. It’ll keep you busy and be good for the soul. The good news is the summer days are long; you can even have a spectacular garden (if you have the right preps).
  5. Back to choosing a boat…. Find one you’re comfortable with that’s not too big and not too small, just right! Relatively small can be GOOD; it’s easier to maintain, heat, and anchor. Frankly, I wouldn’t want a fifty-footer (even if I could afford it!). They’re too ungainly, and it shout’s: “here’s money and good stuff”. Remember: simpler can be better, and less is often more. My choice would be a pilot house sailboat in the 28-32′ realm, with overly large tankage (mostly for fuel) and a good (non-inflatable) dinghy or kayak.

There are countless other items that could be mentioned, these are just some items off the top of my head. It’s interesting and makes me daydream of times gone by. – C.C.

Economics and Investing:

Items from Mr. Econocobas:

Peter Schiff: Clueless in Davos – While I agree with Schiff, I however don’t agree that this is just misguided policies, rather it is intention in my view. Also, not sure many foreign currencies will rise either.

Why A Former Fed Official Fears A Global Meltdown

Video: Bill Holter- This Is It, The Collapse Is Here – Bill is always interesting, and I am not deep enough into the derivatives world to know there are defaults happening, but it is worth the watch/listen.

Items from Professor Preponomics:

US News

Bank Mortgage Settlements Total $144B: Where Did It Go? (Contra Corner) Excerpt: “Surely after losing track of TARP funds, you’d have put some sort of mechanism in place somewhere so we could keep a better count than we did last time when we went… 1, 2, 3, 4… 9 trillion, and then it was all lost. We did better than that this time though, didn’t we. Say we did, I need to hear it.”

Too Big to Tax: Settlements are Tax Write-Offs for Banks (Newsweek) Excerpt: “At the Justice Department, senior officials like to congratulate themselves on the headline-making, big bucks settlements they have imposed upon banks and lenders for their part in causing the 2008 mortgage meltdown that sparked the biggest American financial crisis since the Great Depression. But wait a moment. Those settlement figures are not quite what they seem.”

Only the Wealthy are Building Homes and They’re Bigger Than Ever (Market Watch) Excerpt: “It isn’t that all Americans, in general, are clamoring for huge homes. Rather, it’s mainly the wealthy that are building right now, and they’re building big—skewing the overall average. Meanwhile, buyers between the ages of 25 and 34 are basically absent from the new-home market.”

Puerto Rico’s Debt Crisis Just Got Worse (CNN Money) Excerpt: “The island has even less money than everyone thought….”

International News

Smuggling Soars as Venezuela’s Economy Sinks (Reuters) Excerpt: “Driven by a deepening economic crisis, smuggling across Venezuela’s land and maritime borders – as well as illicit domestic trading – has accelerated to unprecedented levels and is transforming society.”

European Regulators Pressure Big Banks to Increase Capital (Wall Street Journal) Excerpt: “European regulators are turning up the pressure on large banks to raise more capital, as authorities globally are trying to fix a financial system still ailing from the crisis six years ago.” Note: The Wall Street Journal requires subscription access for some content.

Deutsche Bank to Cut 2015 Bonuses After Record Losses (Reuters) Excerpt: “…expects to post a record loss for the year on writedowns, litigation charges, restructuring costs and tough trading conditions….”

Personal Economics and Household Finance

Financial Planning and Your Emergency Fund: Understanding the Importance of Cash (Innovative Wealth) Excerpt: “If you want to figure out what your optimal emergency fund amount should be, here are a few steps to take…”

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Readers’ Recommendations of the Week:

A SurvivalBlog reader wrote in to recommend three novels by Ken Gallender: Jernigan’s War and Porter’s Run (a sequel to Jernigan’s War). Based on a collapse of society with the United States under siege from an invading army and biological warfare, they provide an excellent entertaining adventure.

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Reader P.M. wrote in: “One of my all time favorite movies is ‘Ride With The Devil,’ a Civil War era film about bushwackers and jayhawkers. It is a side of the war that is seldom discussed, and never from the Southern perspective. The production values are excellent, as is the cast. It is an Ang Lee film, was set for national release until it was discovered that one of the main characters was a black man fighting for the South. Down the memory hole it went, and has survived only by word of mouth. Highly recommended!” (Editors note: Rated “R”)

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I have just finished a novel that I believe your readers would enjoy very much. The book is Joshua by John Wilson, and it is about a man and small boy traveling across the U.S. after a major economic meltdown. It has been compared to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, and there is a vague similarity. I have read both and must say I enjoyed Mr. Wilson’s book much more. It certainly has a better ending! I believe that your readers that like survival type fiction will enjoy it too. – J.K.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Writing from his retirement home, the former press secretary to Democrat Governor Cecil Andrus (and biographer of the four-term governor) penned this diatribe: Serious questions about American Redoubt. This septegenarian Democrat did his best to sling mud, but he had difficulty finding a handful to toss. He sounded downright disappointed that the American Redoubt movement is anti-racist. In a fit of convoluted logic, he even implied that somehow we would be racists if the demographic situation were different. Sorry, sir, but that is not the case. (It is the statist leftists who are famous for situational ethics–not us constitutional libertarians.) In summary, all I can say is thanks to Chris Carlson, who has given the American Redoubt movement some publicity. Despite his best efforts, the Redoubt movement has a reputation for being level-headed, anti-racist, and liberty loving that remains untarnished. The extra publicity that his column generates will only serve to help the movement grow. Thanks again, Mr. Carlson. – JWR

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Have you ever stopped and looked around at the political scene, remembered what it used to be like, and wondered “what happened?” Do you find it strange that today’s conservative is oftentimes more progressive/liberal than yesterday’s liberal was? All-Of-A-Sudden. Sent in by A.L.

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Back on January 17th, 2016, an article ran in the Associated Press that stated that Maryland attorney general had issued an opinion that found that the governor had the authority to ration life-saving ventilators if a flu epidemic ever hit Maryland. That seemed kind of “out of the blue”. Yesterday we get word that a “flu” epidemic is sweeping the Ukraine. Up to 80 are dead and the schools are closed. You might want to make sure your preparations are in place for protections against the “flu”. – R.G.

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An excellent article posted on the dangers of calling a constitutional convention: Another Constitutional Convention: An Idea Whose Time Has Not Come – A.A.

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Feds not liable for truck damaged during botched drug sting. Apparently, the Feds can commandeer your truck, without your permission or knowledge, use it for a drug sting operation, and when it gets shot up and damaged they don’t have to pay for it. – T.P.

Notes for Tuesday – January 26, 2016

January 26th, 1945 is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Soviet Army. Established in 1941, Auschwitz was composed of a group of three large and 40 smaller camps used for slave labor, unethical medical experiments, and monstrous killing grounds where prisoners were gassed and cremated. As the Soviets headed for Auschwitz, the German Gestapo began a murder spree and began destroying the facility in an attempt to hide the evidence of their crimes. When the Soviets arrived, they encountered 648 corpses and more than 7000 starving camp survivors along with storehouses filled with hundreds of thousands of dresses, suits, and shoes that the Germans did not have time to burn.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 62 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $12,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Tactical Self-Contained 2-Series Solar Power Generator system from Always Empowered. This compact starter power system is packaged in a wheeled O.D. green EMP-shielded Pelican hard case (a $1,700 value),
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate that is good for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,195 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chrome-lined barrel and a hard case to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel, which can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Gun Mag Warehouse is providing 20 Magpul PMAG 30-rd Magazines (a value of $300) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt; (an equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions),
  6. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  7. The Ark Institute is donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package (enough for two families of four) plus seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate (a $325 retail value),
  8. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  9. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304, and
  10. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value).

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw Code Red 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  4. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. A pre-selected assortment of military surplus gear from CJL Enterprize (a $300 value),
  8. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site, and
  9. Safecastle is providing a package of 10 LifeStraws (a $200 value)

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A $245 gift certificate from custom knife-maker Jon Kelly Designs, of Eureka, Montana,
  3. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  4. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  5. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  6. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit,
  8. Montie Gear is donating a Precision Rest (a $249 value), and
  9. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).

Round 62 ends on January 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.

Perhaps The Most Overlooked Skill For TEOTWAWKI, by LDW

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I am pretty new to SurvivalBlog, but I daily look forward to reading what’s new and how some folks are preparing for hard times and perhaps the end of the world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI). I believe in being prepared for disruptions in everyday life, both for the short term and long term. I have lived all my life in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where we expect ice storms, snow drifts, and power outages that may last up to a week at a time. Folks here still raise a garden, have chickens and maybe a hog, hunt and fish, and can and preserve; most everyone has wood stoves for heating and also cooking, if need be. To many of us, it’s just our way of life and nothing special. I’m a contractor and have a small generator for the business, but I don’t generally use it at home during power outages in the winter months, unless the power is off several days. One year when our daughters were young, an ice storm took out the power for about a week. After a couple of days, the girls were really “suffering”. We had heat, kerosene lanterns, lots of canned produce from the garden as well as canned venison and fresh water for us to drink and use to flush the toilets; our refrigerated items were outside on the carport in great shape, the kids were out of school, and Mom and I were home from work for a while. I LOVED IT! However, we didn’t have electric lights, television (which they really never cared much about anyway), showers, microwaves, or the gadgets we have come to believe we can’t live without. Twenty miles away, Granny had power and the kids begged to go, so I took them. Life was good again. A few weeks later I was out in the shop when the girls came in and for the first time noticed a piece of equipment that had been there for quite some time, but they apparently hadn’t noticed it before. “Dad what is that?” my oldest asked. “Well, that’s a generator.” The look on her face was priceless; it was a mixture of anger and unbelief. “You had a generator the whole time the power was out and we didn’t use it?” It makes me laugh every time I think about it. So what was different about how Mom and I handled no power and how our girls handled it? It was just one word: contentment. We were content with our situation without power for a few days; they were not. They were not just merely discontent; they were miserable. They were not prepared mentally for a disruption in their daily routine.

Perhaps one of the most overlooked skills that will be needed if TEOTWAWKI happens will be contentment. TEOTWAWKI means the end of the world as we know it. It’s not going to be the same. I have read that folks are buying generators and storing gasoline for a grid down situation, and then they’re buying a backup generator for the backup generator along with more gas and parts so that they can continue on with the standard of living they have come accustomed to no matter how bad things get. Eventually, if the grid is down long enough, the gas will run out, the generators will break down, and you will have to find other ways to survive. I am not against having a generator; as I said, I have one myself, but can we still be content when it stops running, someone steals it, or we just run out of gas? Folks, if TEOTWAWKI happens, things may never be the same. Are we prepared mentally to do without some things, if it gets as bad as it could? If we run out of the finest in freeze-dried food, will we be able to eat what we refer to today as “road kill”? Will we be able to deal with no air conditioning, no central heat, no microwave, no cell phone, no 30-minute shower or any shower at all for that matter, no big screen TV, no fast food, or no refrigeration? The list goes on and on. Most of these things have been around less than 100 years and are not available worldwide to all people today, but most of us feel we can’t live without them.

In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul writes about contentment. Chapter 4 verses 11 and 12 say “…… for I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. I know how both to be abased, and I know how to abound, everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”

Most of us know about abounding and being full but have yet to experience hunger, real hunger, or suffer need. We all may be in for a crash course in the future.

I referred to contentment as a skill because Paul said he had “learned…to be content.” All skills are learned and need to be practiced over and over. We too must learn how to be content so that if our standard of living is brought down because of some disaster on the horizon, we will be able to handle it. The amazing thing with Paul is that he was in a Roman prison when he wrote these words. He didn’t allow his circumstances to make him bitter or take away his joy. The Philippian epistle is referred to as the “joy” epistle by some Bible theologians. If things get as bad as they could, discontentment will be the root cause of a lot of the bad things that will happen– murders, thefts, suicides, et cetera. We already are seeing what discontentment can cause today. It’s in our schools, in our cities, and in our work places. Some folks are not content while having all of the good things in life. What would life during TEOTWAWKI be like for these folks? Contentment is not the only skill that will be needed, but contentment will compliment all of your other skills and make life enjoyable not just bearable. In the book of 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 8, Paul again in his writing says, “And having food and raiment let us therewith be content”. Paul is not advocating that we only acquire the very basics in life and then give up. In Philippians Paul said he knew how to abound or to have way more than he needed, but if one day the basics are all you have be thankful and be content with what you have for that day. Here, in the United States of America, we are some of the most blessed folks on the planet. We have been spoiled rotten, as my grandmother used to say. I know many are suffering even here in America, but even our poor are better off in many ways than most folks in third world countries where a Life Straw and a Luci Light is life changing. For many of those folks TEOTWAWKI will not be a big change. Their world can’t get much worse. So how hard will it be for us to give up some or most of the blessings that we enjoy, should TEOTWAWKI happen? Well, it’s going to be hard; it’s going to be very hard. So, we need to prepare ourselves now, at least mentally, so that when we only have the basics, we will be content. And we need to not just be content but be thankful.

I have not talked about the most important basic need that we have, which is a relationship with our Creator, Savior, and God– Jesus Christ. Honestly, we can never be content without Him. If we don’t have Christ, then the only things that we do have are the things that we are going to lose if and when disaster strikes. Everything in this life is only temporary– our homes, our possessions, and even the physical bodies that we have. Life is short. Even if we live to be 150 years old, this life is still going to come to an end, whether as a result of TEOTWAWKI or a natural disaster, cancer, or peacefully at a ripe old age in our bed. The question is: Where will we spend eternity? God made man with an eternal spirit. His intention is to have us spend eternity with Him. But many, if not most, reject Him. The alternative is an eternity separated from God in a place prepared for Satan and his angels– a placed called hell and the Lake of Fire in the Bible. Don’t neglect the most important “prep” of life. The great thing is that it is free, lasts forever, can’t be stolen or lost, and there is enough available for everyone. It’s not cheap; Jesus gave his life so that we can spend eternity with Him. John 3 verse 16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” If you are not prepared for eternity, read these verses in the book of Romans and prepare to meet your Creator and Savior and spend eternity with Him where there are no tears, no death, no sorrow, no crying, and no pain, (Revelation 21:4).

Romans 3:10-12, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9

Letter Re: Bug-Out Boats

Team,

Regarding Bug-Out Boats, I can answer a couple of questions and add a bit to the discussion. You would be buying the most exotic, expensive, fragile, and defenseless retreat ever. The only benefits you have going for you is utter isolation when out in blue water and the ability to go continent to continent. No sail boat or power boat is going to survive many small arms hits below the water line, even with high-end carbon fiber hulls. They are not designed like submarines or fighting ships, where water-tight bulkheads can stop the flooding. One small hole in the bow and the stern will eventually get that water. You are, in my opinion, way better off with a multi-hull catamaran than a lead keeled monohull in any situation, because the cat will continue to float on the other hull where the monohull keel will drag the boat to the bottom. The cat will probably flip over, but that other hull will float, making a great alternative to the dingy or the life boat. Good news is that most boats carry a number of wooden dowels as standard equipment, and they are used to plug through-hull holes, so just find one that fits the bullet hole and pound it in with some RTV to seal it. The dowels are not a long-term solution in any case, but you’ll still float if your bilge pumps can keep up. More good news is that the effectiveness of any bullet, even and up to a 50 cal, is severely diminished as soon as the bullet enters the water, so you are more likely to see penetration above the water line. Now if someone shoots a belt fed weapon at you, you’re probably going to Davy Jones’ locker no matter what.

I’ll admit that a modern sailing catamaran is one of my bug out dreams, but I just don’t think it’s practical in the long term. You can order new boats or retrofit old boats with water makers (desalinization), radar, carbon fiber masts (low probability of radar reflection), freezers, gas ovens, refrigerators, large battery banks, solar/wind/hydro power generators, autopilot, chart plotters, GPS, and everything else you could think of, but you are still floating in salt water, so all of that great stuff is going to break down, wear out, need overhaul, or fail within five years or so. You need mechanics and parts and support to keep any boat sailing, and in TEOTWAWKI they’ll all be in short supply. You’ll probably get scurvy, if you don’t have a ton of vitamin C aboard. You’ll eventually run out of fishing gear, and you can’t eat just seafood indefinitely. You could stretch your limits with freeze-dried fruit, but there’s limits to that, too. Someone is going to get sick or need medical attention. A storm is going to catch you if you can’t get marine weather reports and wreak havoc on your boat eventually. Keep in mind that the more supplies you pack on board, the slower you are going to sail too. I think that the best practical application of a boat in a TEOTWAWKI situation is to try to make a very long crossing to a continent where the root cause of the bug out isn’t present. Boats like Lagoon 52s, Gunboat 55s, Sunreef 58s, and Catana 582 can all do transatlantic or transpacific crossings with the right crew, but what then? You are now strangers in a strange land who may not be welcome. I think that for the cost of any modern sail boat, let’s say $500,000 for mid-range, you’d be much better off with a retreat in the Redoubt or a house somewhere in New Zealand or other Southern Hemisphere locale. Keep in mind that wherever you decide to go is not likely to be a-okay with you bringing four AR-15s and 5000 rounds of ammo into their port, so toss those overboard before you get there. Don’t even think about trying to hide them on board, because customs will find them and then they’ll seize your boat and toss your entire crew in jail.

You’ll also need a ton of training in order to operate one. The American Sailing Association (ASA) has courses specifically designed to teach sailors how to operate vessels in various arenas. ASA 101 Basic Keel Boat Sailing can be learned in a local lake or reservoir and takes three night classes and five days on the water to complete. ASA 103 Basic Coastal Cruising will probably take you a three-day weekend sleeping aboard the boat and learning from a captain. ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising is where you really start to learn your art and it’s another 3-day weekend. With those three classes you are still not ready to attempt a transatlantic crossing.

If you’d like to take a look at all the options you have out there, then visit yachtworld.com and search for used sailing catamarans. A used, 2009, Lagoon 420 can be had for as little as $253,000, but it will need to be re-fit before you go transatlantic with it. Older boats are even less expensive, but they’ll need new engines, sails, and hull maintenance to be done before bug out worthy. Perhaps the best advice I can give you is to talk to a yacht broker and tell them exactly what you are planning on doing. They’ll coordinate an inspection of the vessel, and that will locate any short-comings of the boat you are looking at. I can recommend the folks at catamarans.com for that. Even older models can be had for $151,200, and I’d sail any one of those from Fort Lauderdale to French Polynesia or New Zealand with the right crew and preps. Keep in mind that you’ll likely have to pass through threat zones, like the Panama Canal or the Southern tip of Africa, to get there. Also, think about what Iran did to our Navy sailors a few weeks back and that was an armed reconnaissance vessel. They’ll see your sail and go right after it.

Good luck and smooth sailing. – G.S.

P.S. Zombies can’t swim, but they can climb anchor chains!

News From The American Redoubt:

Wyoming: Proposed bill allows lion trapping

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Santa Claus sighting leads to Post Falls arrest

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What is wrong with Spokane… never mind. – T.Z.

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It is perhaps a little early to announce, but the viewpoints of the Republican candidate for governor up in Montana seem like a good fit for the American Redoubt: Greg Gianforte. – JWR

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Western Rifle Shooters Association – Malheur Link Dump – B.B.

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Grant County sheriff urges release of Hammonds – RBS

Economics and Investing:

Feds foresee $30 trillion debt, blame looming tax hikes and Obamacare – G.G.

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America Will Spend More on Taxes than Food, Clothing, and Housing Combined (Graphic). So much for the land of the free. We are all serfs now. – H.L

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Items from Professor Preponomics:

US News

The Fed Passes the Buck: Blame Oil and China (Mises) This is a highly recommended reading and an outstanding discussion of money supply inflation. Excerpt: “What many people today call inflation or deflation is no longer the great increase or decrease in the supply of money, but its inexorable consequences, the general tendency toward a rise or a fall in commodity prices and wage rates.”

Saudis “Will Not Destroy the US Shale Industry” (The Telegraph) An interesting story about investment strategy, the changing landscape of oil industry technology, the possible future of U.S. shale and more… Excerpt: “groups with deep pockets such as Blackstone and Carlyle will take over the infrastructure when the distressed assets are cheap enough, and bide their time until the oil cycle turns.”

Failed Talks Raise Specter of Biggest Default in Puerto Rico Crisis (New York Times) There comes a time when debt is simply too great to be repaid and creditor losses are both imminent and unavoidable. Excerpt: “Negotiations to restructure roughly $9 billion of the debt of Puerto Rico’s power company collapsed late Friday, raising the prospect of the biggest default yet in Puerto Rico’s deepening debt crisis.”

International News

Saudi Aramco Chairman Says IPO Could Be Open to International Markets: Arabiya TV (Reuters) Oil. Oil. More oil. Excerpt: “An initial public offering of Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest oil company, could be on the local or international markets but would not include Saudi energy reserves….”

Saudi Arabia Seeks Foreign Non-Oil Investors as Crude Slumps (Reuters) Excerpt: “Saudi Arabia aims to at least double annual inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) over the next 10 years by focusing on new sectors such as mining, health care and information technology….”

Japan: The World’s 3rd Largest Economy is Sliding – Badly (Business Insider) The Japanese economy is struggling. Excerpt: “Given its track record for surprising markets, along with signals from the European Central Bank that it too may loosen monetary policy in the months ahead, a further expansion to the Japanese central bank’s stimulus program cannot be ruled out given mounting disinflationary pressures at present.”

Norway’s Biggest Bank Calls for Country to Stop Using Cash (International Business Times) Excerpt: “Today, there is approximately 50 billion kroner in circulation and [the country’s central bank] Norges Bank can only account for 40 percent of its use. That means that 60 percent of money usage is outside of any control.” The article continues… “There are so many dangers and disadvantages associated with cash, we have concluded that it should be phased out….”

Personal Economics and Household Finance

16 Things People Do When They Start the Debt Snowball (Dave Ramsey) Excerpt: “Making the decision to eliminate debt from your life is one of the smartest things you can do for yourself and your family. When it gets difficult and you doubt yourself, stay the course and find encouragement by reading and listening to others who have been where you are today. Your debt-free scream is closer than you think!”

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SurvivalBlog and its editors are not paid investment counselors or advisers. Please see our Provisos page for details.

Odds ‘n Sods:

For those who thought that 3D Printing and the Ghost Gunner milling machine were cool, this is simply amazing: The Pour Freedom-15 AR-15 100 Percent Lower Receiver Mold Kit

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It’s the X-Files – for real! 20 Dead, 200 Hospitalized After Reports US Lab “Leaks” Deadly Virus In Ukraine – W.C.

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SurvivalBlog reader B.B. sent in this link to an article by Dean Weingarten profiling misconduct by Connecticut State police. Every person with a smart phone is capable of being a reporter and there is no room for misconduct. Law enforcement’s job is hard enough without this kind of garbage from within its ranks. No one should be above the law.

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Grand jury indicts pro-life investigator behind baby part videos, clears Planned Parenthood. – RBS
I’ll be waiting with bated breath for the prosecution to explain how this can be the result. I do not believe that the end can justify the means, but for no charges to be filed against planned parenthood at all? The worst holocaust of all times continues unabated.

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So you are enjoying all this fresh snow on the ground? Feeling that childhood urge to eat some? Is It Safe? We Asked Scientists from NPR. Sent in by RBS.

Notes for Monday – January 25, 2016

On January 25th, 1995, the world was minutes from nuclear annihilation. Russia’s early-warning defense radar detected an unexpected missile launch near Norway and calculated that they only had minutes before impact on Moscow. Russian President Boris Yeltsin, the defense minister, and the chief of staff were informed of the missile launch and the nuclear command systems were switched to combat mode and the nuclear suitcases were activated for the first time in the history of the Soviet-made system. Five minutes after launch Russian command determined that the missile’s impact point would be outside Russia’s borders and three minutes after that the determination was made that the missile launch was most likely not part of a surprise nuclear strike by Western nuclear submarines (only minutes before a counter-launch decision had to be reached). Later, it was revealed that the missile was carrying scientific instruments and Norway had notified 35 countries, including Russia, of the exact details of the launch, nine days before. The Russian Defense Ministry had neglected to inform the on-duty personnel at the early-warning center of the launch.

Pat Cascio’s Product Review: Zero Tolerance 0900 Folder

Anyone who has followed my knife articles for the past 23+ years will know that I’m just not a big fan of little folding knives. However, sometimes smaller is better for certain applications. Under other conditions, bigger knives are called for. I remember when I was 11 or 12 years old the local hardware store in my neighborhood had a shipment of pocket knives coming in. To be sure, back in those days, almost every kid carried some kind of pocket knife. Sadly, that’s not true today. If caught with a knife in school, it’s a one year suspension in most schools across the country and a possible criminal charge brought against a kid. What a shame!

Now, you have to understand how the “old” neighborhoods operate in the big cities. Everyone knows everyone else and all their kids. Back then, the hardware store was simply called Simon’s because that was the owner’s name. Simon knew all of the kids in the area and went to school with our parents, as did some of the employees who worked in Simon’s store. I don’t know if this corner hardware store still exists back in Chicago, but I would like to hope so. Many of us kids would oftentimes just spend hours in there, just “hanging” out or studying all the tools, and Simon never once chased any of us out of his store. Go ahead and try that today, if you’re a kid, in any of the big box hardware-type stores; security will be all over you.

Okay, where was I? Oh, yeah. Simon’s hardware store ordered in some pocket knives, and none of us, including Simon himself, knew what the knives even looked like other than knowing he had a good selection coming to choose from. Many of us kids pre-paid for our knives ahead of time, and like some of the other kids in the “hood” we would visit and hang out at the hardware almost daily while waiting for those knives to come in. What seemed like many weeks, was probably only a few days – maybe a week at most – before the knives came in. I spotted the one I wanted; it was the largest (longest blade) of the selection, and several other kids also picked this one. It had a genuine imitation pearl handle. The knife was long; the blade was probably four inches in length and very narrow. It wasn’t until later on that I learned it was called a “fruit knife” because it was used for cutting fruit off of trees. Still, to me, it was a monster of a folding knife and one that could be used to take on the world. It was great back then, letting our imaginations take us to wherever we wanted to go. To be child-like again…

So, since that time, my brain has been etched with wanting big folding knives, and to my way of thinking a perfect folding knife has a blade 3.5–4.0 inches in length. It’s perfect for many chores around the homestead, and the blade is long enough to inflict some damage if forced to use it for self-defense purposes. So, I readily admit to my bias for longer blades on folding knives. That’s just me, I guess.

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I’m one of those people who doesn’t especially like surprises, unless Publisher’s Clearing House showed up at my front door with a check for ten million bucks. Those kinds of surprises, I like. However, most surprises aren’t my thing. Long time friend Thomas Welk, who does the PR/marketing for Kershaw Knives and their Zero Tolerance line of knives, sent me the new ZT 0900 folder. Wouldn’t you know it; it’s a small one. The blade is only 2.7 inches long and made out of S35VN steel– one of the newest super-stainless steels.

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I have to admit, I was a little disappointed when I opened the box. Well, I thought it was a big folder. It came in a big box, but a smallish folder fell out of the box. Then again, maybe this wasn’t such a “small” folder after all. This little 0900 from Zero Tolerance is one brute; we are talking tank tough. It has titanium handle scales, and this stuff is lighter and stronger than steel. The knife also has a frame lock with a hardened steel insert that helps keep the blade secured in the handle when not in use. It is a manual opening folder; however, it has a “flipper” on the blade, a nice large flipper, that is easy to hit with your index finger. And, to top it all off, it has the KVT ball-bearing system that makes the blade pivot like it’s in butter. We are talking super -smooth. It might be the smoothest opening folder I’ve handled, just might be!

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There is also a reversible pocket clip for easy pocket carry, and the knife rides just perfectly in the pocket– not too low and not too high that it sticks out like a sore thumb. The blade is stonewashed for a nice subdued finish. Excellent! Its closed length is 3.9 inches, and opened the knife is 6.6 inches with a weight of 4.3 oz, which is a bit heavier than I thought it was. To be sure, it’s made in the USA!

Overall, the 0900 has a rather “boring” look to it. It’s nothing fancy. The titanium handle scales are dull looking, with a little sculpting to them. Then again, we are talking about a little knife that is build like a tank. It’s not meant to be a work of art for the eye but a work of art for the user to use under any extreme conditions.

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Zero Tolerance knives are designed especially for those in the military and law enforcement. They are designed and manufactured for hard use, simple as that. These aren’t knives meant to be held and admired for their beautiful looks. No! They are meant for folks who want hard-working knives that won’t let them down.

If you’ll notice in the pictures with this article, the 0900 isn’t a little folder, in the respect that many think of “little”. It is only “little” by the length of the blade, nothing more. This knife has a wide blade, and the handle actually fits my hand nicely. It surprised me, because it is a smallish folder. The 0900 was designed by custom knife maker Les George, who has worked with ZT on a few other of his designs.

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I think what surprised me more than anything on the 0900 is the KVT ball-bearing system that the blade runs on. I actually thought that, when I used the flipper to open the blade, it was an assisted-opening folder. I had to try it several times to realize that this wasn’t an assisted-opening blade. It did take a little bit of effort to press down on the flipper; it’s actually on the bottom rear of the blade. However, when closed, the flipper is on the top rear of the blade, sorta! You simply press down on the flipper with your index finger and the blade just “flies” out of the handle scales. It’s just something you have to experience to really appreciate. It did have me fooled for a little while, thinking it was an assisted-opening folder, but it is NOT! When you push the frame lock out of the way, so you can close the blade, you’ll feel how smoothly the blade runs on those KVT ball-bearings.

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The top rear of the blade has what I call “friction” grooves on it, for thumb placement, when holding the knife in the fencing position, which is one of the most common types of grips used for many cutting chores. When the blade is opened, the flipper acts as a guard, so your fingers can’t slip up onto the blade. There is also a groove in the handle scales, where my index finger just naturally laid in.

The ZT 0900 was put to the test around my digs cutting blackberry vines, and it easily sliced right through them, which is something many short blade folders can’t do. The blades are long enough to really slice easily; the 0900 had no problems. Cardboard was cut until I was bored. The same goes for cutting hemp rope, and I’m now out. I have to get a new supply. Poly rope, which is always a tough thing to easily slice through, was no match for the 0900. Some kitchen testing was done by my wife, who used the 0900 as something of a paring knife to slice veggies and the like. She liked it for the most part but thought it was a bit heavy for a paring knife. I reminded her that it wasn’t a paring knife!

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Many jurisdictions have restrictions on the length of a knife blade that you can carry in your pocket; many areas only allow you to carry a folding knife in your pocket with a blade three inches in length or shorter. The ZR 0900 fits the bill perfectly. However, you will believe the knife has a bigger blade than it does, because of the width of the blade and the overall appearance of the knife. It looks bigger than it is for the most part, and when you put it to work for your cutting chores you’ll believe you have a folder with a longer blade than it is.

With this “little” ZT 0900 folder, I’m starting to change my thinking on little folders with short blades. Thanks, Zero Tolerance. You are starting to rid me of my bias against folding knives with blades less than 3.5 inches, See, even an old dog can learn new tricks. Check out the 0900. I think you’ll like it. Full retail is $240, but you are getting custom quality knives from Zero Toleranace.

– Senior Product Review Editor, Pat Cascio

Recipe of the Week: Two Ingredient Biscuits, by C.P.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Heat oven to 450 degrees.
  2. Mix flour and buttermilk together to form dough. If needed, add extra buttermilk. Do not over mix.
  3. Put a little flour on counter; dump dough on counter and knead four times.
  4. Turn dough over and pat to about an inch thick.
  5. Cut out biscuits with cutter or pinch off in small balls.
  6. Place in a cast iron skillet or baking pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray or coated with a light coat of bacon grease or shortening.
  7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, depending on how brown you like your biscuits.
  8. Serve with butter and jam/sorghum, etc. or gravy.

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Useful Recipe and Cooking Links:

SurvivalBlog Reader J.C. sent in the link to this Video of making bread without kneading it: Bake A Sandwich Loaf With No Machine and Without Touching The Dough

Do you have a favorite recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? Please send it via e-mail. Thanks!