Global food production is being hit from seemingly every side.  Thanks to absolutely crazy weather patterns, giant locust armies in Africa and the Middle East, and an unprecedented outbreak of African Swine Fever in China, a lot less food is being produced around the world than originally anticipated.  Even during the best of years we really struggle to feed everyone on the planet, and so a lot of people are wondering what is going to happen as global food supplies become tighter and tighter.  The mainstream media in the United States is so obsessed with politics right now that they haven’t been paying much attention to this emerging crisis, but the truth is that this growing nightmare is only going to intensify in the months ahead.

In Australia, conditions have been extremely hot and extremely dry, and that helped to fuel the horrific wildfires that we recently witnessed.

And everyone knew that agricultural production in Australia was going to be disappointing this year, but it turns out that it is actually going to be the worst ever recorded…

Australia’s hottest and driest year on record has slashed crop production, with summer output expected to fall to the lowest levels on record, according to official projections released Tuesday.

The country’s agriculture department said it expects production of crops like sorghum, cotton and rice to fall 66 percent — the lowest levels since records began in 1980-81.

The continent of Australia is considered to be one of the breadbaskets of the world.  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2018/19 Australia exported over 9 million tons of wheat to the rest of the world.

But thanks to relentless crop failures, Australia has started to import wheat, and that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

So instead of helping to feed the rest of the world, Australia is now relying on the rest of us to help feed them.

And what is happening this year didn’t just barely break the old records.  In fact, one senior economist says that this will be the worst summer crop production the country has ever seen “by a large margin”…

“It is the lowest summer crop production in this period by a large margin,” Peter Collins, a senior economist with the department’s statistical body ABARES told AFP.

Of course if the rest of the world was doing great we could certainly survive a downturn in Australia.

Unfortunately, that is definitely not the case.

Right now, billions upon billions of locusts are voraciously devouring farms in eastern Africa and the Middle East.  As I detailed the other day, giant armies of locusts the size of large cities are traveling up to 100 miles per day as they search for food.  When they descend on a farm, all the crops can be consumed literally within 30 seconds.  It is a nightmare of epic proportions, and UN officials are telling us that this crisis is only going to get worse over the next couple of months.

In Uganda, the army has been called out to help fight this locust plague, but it is making very little difference…

Under a warm morning sun scores of weary soldiers stare as millions of yellow locusts rise into the northern Ugandan sky, despite hours spent spraying vegetation with chemicals in an attempt to kill them.

From the tops of shea trees, fields of pea plants and tall grass savanna, the insects rise in a hypnotic murmuration, disappearing quickly to wreak devastation elsewhere.

The most effective way of fighting these locust swarms is to spray insecticide on them from the air, but even that only produces very limited results.

However, at least it is better than doing nothing.

The UN is trying to raise a lot more money to get more planes into the air, because if nothing is done the number of locusts “could grow up to 500 times by June”…

The U.N. has said $76 million is needed immediately. On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a visit to Ethiopia said the U.S. would donate another $8 million to the effort. That follows an earlier $800,000.

The number of overall locusts could grow up to 500 times by June, when drier weather begins, experts have said. Until then, the fear is that more rains in the coming weeks will bring fresh vegetation to feed a new generation of the voracious insects.

Overall, these locusts are affecting nations “with a combined population of nearly 2 billion”, and the amount of food that these locusts are destroying is unprecedented.

Meanwhile, China has been dealing with the worst outbreak of African Swine Fever in history.

African Swine Fever does not affect humans, but it sweeps through herds of pigs like wildfire.  There is no vaccine, there is no cure, and once African Swine Fever starts infecting pigs in a certain area the only thing that can be done is to kill the rest of the pigs to keep it from spreading anywhere else.

Unfortunately, China has not been able to get this outbreak under control, and the losses have been staggering.

According to the New York Times, the number of pigs that have been wiped out in China already is equivalent to “nearly one-quarter of all the world’s pigs”…

The disease was first reported in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, in early August 2018. By the end of August 2019, the entire pig population of China had dropped by about 40 percent. China accounted for more than half of the global pig population in 2018, and the epidemic there alone has killed nearly one-quarter of all the world’s pigs.

But of course China is not the only one dealing with African Swine Fever.

In fact, cases of African Swine Fever have now been identified “in 50 countries”, and U.S. pig farmers are deathly afraid of what would happen if this disease starts spreading here.

As a result of this crisis, pork prices in China have gone through the roof, and many families are no longer able to eat pork at all.

Never before in the modern era have we seen so many major threats to global food production emerge simultaneously.

There are more than 7 billion people living on our planet today, and we need to be able to grow enough food to feed everyone.

If we aren’t able to do that, food prices will start to get really high, and people in the poorest areas simply will not have enough food to feed their families.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

The post Global Crop Failures Continue: In Australia This Is Going To Be The WORST HARVEST Ever Recorded appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

We still don’t know if this coronavirus outbreak will become a horrific worldwide pandemic or not, but what we have seen so far is definitely very alarming.  People have literally been dropping dead in the streets, the Chinese government has locked down major city after major city, and the virus kept spreading very rapidly on a cruise ship off the coast of Japan even though a strict quarantine was instituted.  Scientists that have studied the virus are telling us that it “could be 20 times more lethal than the flu”, and it binds to human cell receptors much more easily than the SARS virus did.  Unfortunately, because the epicenter of this crisis is on the other side of the globe, most Americans are simply not paying much attention to it.  In fact, most of the people that my wife and I have been talking to and hearing from don’t think that the coronavirus is much of a threat to the United States at all.

And if the coronavirus does start to become a problem in this country, a new survey has found that most Americans are quite confident that the government can handle it…

More than three in four Americans say they are very confident or somewhat confident in the US federal government’s ability to handle a coronavirus outbreak, a Gallup poll has found, a higher level of confidence than in previous health scares.

Gallup said the results were from a February 3 to February 16 poll that began just days after the Trump administration announced it would suspend entry of foreign nationals who had been to China in the previous two weeks.

Hopefully this coronavirus outbreak will not explode in North America and our normal lives will not be disrupted.

But considering what is happening over in Asia, it would definitely be prudent to take some precautions.  Unfortunately, most Americans are not really doing much of anything to prepare for a potential pandemic at this point.

If a pandemic does not materialize, that won’t be a problem.  But if this virus starts spreading like wildfire in the U.S., we are going to have a massive crisis on our hands.

The time to stop an outbreak from happening is at the very beginning, and the lack of urgency about this virus that we are witnessing from local health officials around the country is absolutely stunning.

According to NBC News, there are thousands of Americans that are currently “under voluntary self-quarantine”.  These individuals have either recently traveled to China or they have recently had contact with someone that was infected.

As you might assume, a “voluntary self-quarantine” is not mandatory.  Instead, NBC News says that it is “strongly encouraged”…

Self-quarantining isn’t mandatory, but it is strongly encouraged.

It’s up to the state and local health departments to decide how to manage residents under self-quarantine.

So anyone that doesn’t want to participate can feel free to mix with the general public as much as they want.

Isn’t that great?

And since it is “up to the state and local health departments to decide how to manage residents under self-quarantine”, there is no single set of standards that is being followed.

In other words, state and local health officials are free to make things up as they go along.

We aren’t talking about a small number of people either.  In fact, more than 5,000 people are under self-quarantine in California alone…

The California Public Health Department said there are more than 5,400 such people in the state. In Washington state, 745 people have been asked to self-quarantine. Georgia health officials identified about 200 travelers.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said more than 300 people were referred for monitoring.

All it takes is a couple of “super spreaders” to get a real good outbreak going, and to see such a lack of concern about preventing the spread of this disease is quite disheartening.

And this lackadaisical attitude has even extended to actual victims that have been confirmed to have the virus.  The CDC specifically warned against putting infected people on the same flight with non-infected people, but the U.S. government did it anyway…

Fourteen Americans who tested positive for the Coronavirus were flown back to the US on a flight with over 300 people who were not infected, despite objections from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The flight was filled with people who were evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, which had been quarantined due to an outbreak of the virus.

Reading this sort of thing makes you want to tear your hair out.

Despite such extreme negligence, hopefully everything will be okay.  But it should be noted that the CDC is telling hospitals that now “is the time to open up your pandemic plans and see that things are in order”…

“This is the time to open up your pandemic plans and see that things are in order,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, a top official of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, urged hospitals last week as an outbreak of a deadly new coronavirus ravaged much of China.

“For instance,” she continued, health-care providers need to plan for a “surge at a hospital, the ability to provide personal protective equipment for your workforce, the administrative controls and so forth that you might put place in a health care setting.”

Anyone that assumed that this crisis would be largely confined to China has been proven wrong.  At this point, we have already seen significant outbreaks erupt in several other countries in Asia.  In fact, there are now six other nations where “community spread” is taking place…

• Japan
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Vietnam

Perhaps the most notable outbreak on that list is in South Korea.  According to the Guardian, 31 brand new cases were announced on Thursday…

The South Korean city of Daegu was facing an “unprecedented crisis” after coronavirus infections that centred on a controversial “cult” church surged to 38 cases, accounting for nearly half of the country’s total.

The city of 2.5 million people, which is two hours south of the capital Seoul, was turned into a ghost town after health officials said the bulk of country’s 31 new cases announced on Thursday were linked to a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.

If we don’t want the same thing to happen here, we need to take this virus very seriously.

Unfortunately, that is simply not happening, and all of us could end up paying a great price as a result.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

The post Most Americans Are Not Taking This Coronavirus Outbreak Seriously, And That Is Potentially Very Dangerous appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Is the state of Idaho going to get a whole lot bigger?  A group known as Greater Idaho is pushing for rural counties in Oregon and northern California to secede and become part of the state of Idaho.  In fact, as you will see below, this effort has actually been endorsed by some of the top Republicans in the Oregon legislature.  Today, the Oregon state government is completely and utterly dominated by the left, and due to the demographics of the state that is not likely to change any time soon.  So conservatives in rural areas that are deeply upset over the direction of the state essentially have just two options.  They can either move to a more conservative state, or they can attempt to redraw state lines.

Of course attempting to redraw state lines is a very complicated process, but at this point conservatives in Oregon are so fed up with the state legislature that they have decided to push ahead with this effort.

In fact, it is being reported that signatures are being collected right now in order to “put the proposal on ballots in November”…

Frustrated by liberal policies, some Oregon residents petitioned to leave the state – by moving the border with Idaho westward.

The movement secured initial approval from two counties and aims to get enough signatures to put the proposal on ballots in November, according to the group called Greater Idaho.

This is a very viable political movement, and it will be quite interesting to see where this goes.

For years, rural counties in Oregon have felt shortchanged by a state legislature that is dominated by the Portland area, and things have finally come to a breaking point.  One of the chief organizers of this movement, Mike McCarter, says that this secession push “is our last resort”…

“Rural counties have become increasingly outraged by laws coming out of the Oregon Legislature that threaten our livelihoods, our industries, our wallet, our gun rights, and our values,” Mike McCarter, one of the chief petitioners, said in a news release. “We tried voting those legislators out, but rural Oregon is outnumbered and our voices are now ignored. This is our last resort.”

Initial efforts are focused on just a few counties, but eventually the goal of Greater Idaho is to get dozens of counties in Oregon and northern California to secede.

The following comes from Greater Idaho’s official website…

We are trying to change the present borders of Idaho, Oregon & Northern California so that certain counties & communities presently in Oregon & Northern California will become part of the State of Idaho.

Out of Oregon’s existing 36 counties, only 14 would remain in the state if Greater Idaho is able to achieve their goals, and a big chunk of northern California would become Idaho territory as well.

But getting this accomplished will not be easy.  Approval would be needed from the state legislatures of Oregon, California and Idaho, and that would be a real challenge.

On top of that, the U.S. Congress would have to approve any plan, and getting that to happen would probably require a miracle.

But one thing that this movement has going for it is the fact that it has been endorsed by some big name state lawmakers in Oregon, and that includes the top Republican in the state Senate…

The Republican leader in the state Senate, Sen. Herman Baertschiger, supports the idea and told CNN he’d even help write the secession legislation.

“Democrats should be paying attention to how unhappy these Oregonians are with the current regime to seek secession from Oregon. I would welcome the idea to serve on the Greater Idaho legislature!” he said.

And Representative Gary Leif actually has a map of “Greater Idaho” hanging in his office…

Rep. Gary Leif, a Republican in the Oregon House of Representatives, has a poster of the “Greater Idaho” map hanging in his office.

“The Greater Idaho would then be the only West Coast state that is a conservative red coastal state. We would then truly be representing conservative values with rural constituents,” Leif explained.

It is certainly encouraging to see people take a really big idea and try to run with it.

But of course the liberals in Oregon are not exactly thrilled with the idea that most of their state could be ripped away from them and given to someone else.  And as long as they are in firm control of the state legislature, it is going to be exceedingly difficult for this plan to get too far.

A similar scenario is playing out in Virginia.  The Democrats have taken control of the state government, and the state continues to drift left with each passing year.

Obviously many of those living in rural Virginia counties do not like this one bit, and the recent attacks on Second Amendment rights brought things to a boiling point.

There has been a lot of talk that rural countries in Virginia could try to secede and join West Virginia, and West Virginia’s governor Jim Justice has publicly said that he would welcome those counties “with open arms”…

In an unlikely bid, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice says he would welcome neighboring Virginia counties to join his state amid Democrats’ control of Virginia’s government.

“If you’re not truly happy where you are, we stand with open arms to take you from Virginia or anywhere where you may be,” said Justice, a Republican. “We stand strongly behind the Second Amendment, and we stand strongly for the unborn.”

But once again, this effort in Virginia is facing the same sorts of obstacles that the Greater Idaho movement is facing.

Of course anything that is worth doing in life is going to require effort.  And those that are trying to secure a better future for themselves, their families and their communities should be greatly applauded for doing so.

Ultimately, this is yet another sign of how incredibly divided we have become as a nation.  In recent years we have seen multitudes of conservatives move to “red states” and multitudes of liberals move to “blue states”, and that trend is likely to accelerate in the years ahead.

It has gotten to the point where many of us literally do not even want to live in an area that is controlled by the other side, and the 2020 election is going to deepen our existing political divisions no matter who ends up winning.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

The post “Greater Idaho”: Conservatives In Oregon Want 22 Rural Counties To Secede And Become Part Of Idaho appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

Why is the mainstream media so scared of asking difficult questions about this coronavirus outbreak?  At one time the United States had the greatest investigative journalists in the entire world, but today it is very rare to see any of our major news outlets go much beyond the basic facts of a story.  In particular, the coverage of this coronavirus outbreak has been absolutely abysmal.  Other than dutifully repeating the basic information being fed to them by the CDC and the Chinese government, mainstream media coverage of this crisis has amounted to little more than assuring everyone that everything is going to be just fine.  As a result, Americans are increasingly turning to independent journalists for some honest coverage of this outbreak, because they know that they aren’t getting the whole truth from the usual suspects.

There is still so much we don’t know about this virus, and very few of our “journalists” are willing to dig deeper to find the answers we need.

The public is hungry for information, and getting to the truth starts with asking the right questions.  The following are 10 very important questions that the mainstream media should be asking about this very alarming coronavirus outbreak…

#1 The Washington State Department of Health has announced that 746 people are currently being “monitored” for coronavirus symptoms.  Are all 746 being quarantined, or are they being allowed to mix with the general public?  According to the agency’s official website, it is unclear what “monitoring their health” actually entails…

The number of people under public health supervision includes those at risk of having been exposed to novel coronavirus who are monitoring their health under the supervision of public health officials. This number includes close contacts of laboratory confirmed cases, as well as people who have returned from China in the past 14 days and are included in federal quarantine guidance.

#2 In Hawaii, a local resident named John Fukiwara recently had very close contact with a Japanese man that later was confirmed to be infected by the coronavirus.  After contacting health officials, why was Fukiwara told to “go about his normal day-to-day routine”?…

That said, the Times reporter did manage to find John Fukiwara, a local resident who said he believes the Japanese man is a friend of his whom he would not identify by name. The man recently visited the island and had coffee with Fukiwara before they exchanged gifts of chocolate.

Fukiwara then contacted a local newspaper and then reached out to state health officials, with whom he offered to self-quarantine. But amazingly, state health officials told him to simply go about his normal day-to-day routine and to be sure to report any symptoms.

#3 If this coronavirus outbreak “isn’t that serious”, then why has everyone in Hubei province now been ordered to stay at home until further notice?

The central Chinese province of Hubei escalated its restrictions to contain a coronavirus epidemic on the weekend, ordering the province’s residents – including 24 million people in rural areas – to stay home until further notice.

#4 If this coronavirus outbreak “isn’t that serious”, then why did Russia just ban all Chinese citizens from entering the country?…

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an order temporarily banning Chinese citizens from entering Russia for tourism, personal reasons or work starting Thursday, Interfax reported, citing Deputy PM Tatyana Golikova’s office.

#5 Chinese officials have just released data which show that this virus “could be 20 times more lethal than the flu”.  Why does hardly anyone in the western world know about this?…

The director of a Chinese hospital at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak became one of its victims Tuesday despite “all-out” efforts to save his life, Chinese health officials said.

The death came the same day Chinese officials released data indicating the new virus could be 20 times more lethal than the flu.

#6 Why is this virus killing 15 percent of all victims that are over the age of 80?…

The deadly coronavirus rapidly sweeping the world kills up to 15 per cent of patients over the age of 80, scientists have revealed.

Chinese health officials carried out the biggest ever study on the never-before-seen strain of the virus, using data from 72,000 cases.

#7 On the flip side, why are so few children being infected by this virus?…

Scientists are still learning about the coronavirus outbreak that has killed 1,384 people and infected more than 64,000 in China. One of the biggest mysteries is why so few children have gotten sick.

The outbreak was first reported on December 31, but no children younger than 15 years old had been diagnosed as of January 22. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine said at the time that “children might be less likely to become infected or, if infected, may show milder symptoms” than adults.

#8 What is this coronavirus outbreak going to mean for the entire global economy?  This is something that I have written about repeatedly in recent days, but the mainstream media in the western world continues to insist that this crisis will just be a small bump in the road.  Meanwhile, over in India there are warnings that there could be “massive disruptions” and “shortages” if this crisis doesn’t end soon…

Pankaj R. Patel, chairman of Zydus Cadila, said prices of medicine in India have exponentially jumped in the last several weeks, thanks to much of the medicine is sourced from China.

The Indian pharmaceutical industry is experiencing massive disruptions that could face shortages starting in April if supplies aren’t replenished in the next couple weeks, Patel warned.

#9 Why did the coronavirus continue to spread like wildfire aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship even after a quarantine was initiated?…

A top health official at the National Institutes of Health acknowledged that the quarantine aboard the coronavirus-infected Diamond Princess Cruises ship failed while discussing the decision to evacuate hundreds of American passengers – 14 of whom tested positive for the virus.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, said the original idea to keep people safely quarantined on the ship wasn’t unreasonable. But even with the quarantine process on the ship, virus transmission still occurred.

#10 The number of confirmed cases outside of China has doubled in less than a week.  If the number of cases continues to double every week, how bad will this crisis eventually become?

I’ll answer that one.

If the number of confirmed cases outside of China doubles every week, there will be a million cases just 10 weeks from now.

And once there are a million people with coronavirus walking around all over the planet, nobody is going to be able to “contain” it.

So let us hope that the measures that authorities are currently taking to control the spread of this disease will work.

President Trump believes that this outbreak will start to fizzle when warmer weather arrives, and I truly hope that he is correct.

Because right now this outbreak is getting worse with each passing day, and we definitely aren’t getting good information about this crisis from the mainstream media.

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

This article was originally published by Tyler Durden at ZeroHedge. 

Michael Bloomberg isn’t making any friends in the agriculture industry, after a video of the former NYC Mayor surfaced of him describing farmers as having simple jobs that don’t require much intelligence, according to the Washington Times.

“I could teach anybody, even the people in this room” to be a farmer, said Bloomberg during a 2016 talk at Oxford University in a now-viral clip in which he called agriculture a “process”

“You dig a hole, you put a seed in, you put dirt on top, add water, up comes the corn, he added.

Bloomberg then described metalworkers similarly.

“You put the piece of metal in the lathe, you turn the crank in the direction of the arrow, and you can have a job,” he continued.

Mr. Bloomberg then said working in the information economy is “fundamentally different, because it’s built around replacing people with technology and the skill sets that you have to learn are how to think and analyze. And that is a whole degree level different. You have to have a different skill set, you have to have a lot more gray matter,” he said. –Washington Times

Billionaire Bloomberg claims he "could teach anybody to be a farmer," even implying that farmers don't have the same level of "skillset" or "grey matter" as folks in tech jobs.

So demeaning, elitist, and out-of-touch it's appalling. pic.twitter.com/Auplmdq56m

— Anna Kelly (@AnnaKellyWI) February 17, 2020

Bloomberg is also making strides with elderly voters with his casual ‘death panel’ banter.

Bloomberg explaining how healthcare will “bankrupt us,” unless we deny care to the elderly.

“If you show up with cancer & you’re 95 years old, we should say…there’s no cure, we can’t do anything.

A young person, we should do something. Society’s not willing to do that, yet.” pic.twitter.com/7E5UFHXLue

— Samuel D. Finkelstein II (@CANCEL_SAM) February 16, 2020

Not to be outdone by his efforts to appeal to… well, we’re not quite sure:

What the fuck is going on pic.twitter.com/VzQrIqLaei

— Cassandra Fairbanks (@CassandraRules) February 16, 2020

I bought the Gerber shard as an attempt at a gift. Unfortunately I couldn’t help but open it and try it out.

At first look, the shard appears to be a good solid piece of metal with a nice matte black coating.  Unfortunately that is where the shiny toy syndrome wore off.  I took the shard out to give it some real world experience and it while it did have a few good key points, this is more of a novelty key chain than a true tool.

Let’s start with the good:

The one piece solid steel body makes the pry bar very sturdy and strong.

The bottle opener is about the best part of this tool and performs as expected

The matte black coating looks good on a key chain and doesn’t stand out too much

According to Gerber, The shard is fully TSA compliant, but I have not traveled with it yet and as such cannot attest to the truthfulness of that statement

Coming in with a MSRP of 7.00 direct from Gerber (I got mine for a little over $5.00 via amazon) makes this a cheap and easy gift or stocking stuffer for anyone who doesn’t already have ten other items on their key chain.

 

The bad:

The flat head screwdrivers are much too thick to fit into most normal flat head screws.  You would have to file them down much thinner in order for them to work on standard flat head screws but seeing as these also function as the tips of the pry bar, doing so would make them much easier to break.

The Phillips head screwdriver is so thin that it will only work effectively on small Phillips head screws.  The small size of the head also makes it rather sharp and if put in a pocket the wrong way can cause a painful stab.

The lanyard hole…. REALLY?  The fact that Gerber puts this in as a feature of the product is just bad form.

The “titanium nitride” coating on this tool looks good, but started to wear off to within an hour or so of using it.

The wire strippers work better as a small nail puller as there is no edge to cut the sheath on a wire.

 

The bottom Line:

The Gerber Shard looks like it is a broken or leftover piece of a bigger and better tool. With that being said, it makes a great novelty gift and a pretty decent bottle opener.

While the pry bar may open a can of paint with ease the short stature of the tool gives it very little leverage. I have found that if you have a tactical pen or a small bolt, you can insert it into the lanyard hole and get a good deal more leverage out of it.

At its price I would recommend it as a stocking stuffer or maybe a father’s day present.  It has a quality build but needed a little more effort to be put into the multi tool aspect. I am still looking for a good key chain multi-tool.

Do you have any suggestions?

Check out these related articles from our site:

Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Pro Review

Gerber Suspension Gets the Job Done

Gerber Gator Jr Has Teeth

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Originally posted on: October 18, 2012 @ 3:45 AM

Written by Pat Henry on The Prepper Journal.

Virginia Democrats: “We’re passing the most draconian anti-gun measures in the nation!”

Arizona Democrats: “Hold my beer!”

Well, the madness (and Bloomberg’s money) has come from the East coast to try and worm its way into Arizona.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen anti-gun legislation here in Arizona, and it certainly won’t be the last. But coming on the heels of Virginia, it appears Arizona anti-Constitutionalists were emboldened by Virginia’s ‘success’ at forwarding the anti-gun agenda.

The Fight is On!

At particular interest in Arizona are Senate Bills 1624, 1625 and 1626, which are written to require government intervention in private transactions (1624), ban pretty much any firearm with a magazine (1625), and emplace red flag laws that will be used by vindictive exes to strip the law-abiding of their property.

The Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL) has been working tirelessly for more than 15 years to stop bad gun laws and promote good gun laws…they’re the people who gave us in Arizona “Constitutional Carry”, reduced training requirements and burdens for CCW permits and permit renewals and strengthened our state preemption laws.

Track legislation

AzCDL tracks gun-related bills each session, and you can see the summaries and links to all the bills currently introduced in this legislative session.

Also, there will be a Second Amendment Rally at the Arizona Capitol on Saturday, 15 Feb, 2020, from 10am – 2pm. You can get more info at www.2ndAmendmentRallyAZ.com

Don’t let Arizona become California.

The post Arizona 2nd Amendment News appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

Since 1973, magnesium bar fire starters have been around. A simple, waterproof, arguably unbreakable, fire starter that can get hot enough to light wet tinder. The bar can produce many shavings to make quite a few fires. Here though, is possibly the only downfall to the magnesium bar: making the shavings. It takes awhile and one has to be very careful not to allow all the shavings they have scraped off to scatter to the wind. Can it be done? Of course, I myself have done this many times on my bug out adventures, but it did get me thinking on how one could improve upon the design. Hence I bring you the Improved Magnesium Bar.

By Grimm, contributing author to SHTFblog and Survival Cache

With a little modification one can give their magnesium bar and themselves an edge in a dire emergency. If fire is needed as soon as possible the magnesium bar suffers. No matter what, one will have to do the proper preparations to have the materials to build a fire from a small flame, but in the case of the magnesium bar you also have to take extra time to scrape the shavings. Now what if I told you that you already had a good amount of shavings ready to go with your bar? Then you would simply set up your fire, pour out the shavings and spark them to life. This is what the improved magnesium bar does. As you will see in my video I show you step by step how you can use a few simple tools to modify your magnesium bar.

Also read: Survival Gear Review: Doan Magnesium Bar

The benefits of this modification are not just limited to the shavings. Having the ranger band on the bar provides a better grip on the bar. After the shavings chamber is empty the band could be used for a multitude of things. Once your fire is roaring you could even sit and shave new shavings to be stored away in the chamber and resealed with the band. Perhaps you found some new tinder and it could be stored in the chamber. Of course the ranger band doesn’t keep it fully waterproof but it is better than a pocket. Even though I have showed you one way of improving your magnesium bar I encourage you to experiment. I only drilled one chamber, but that doesn’t mean you cant have more. Having a magnesium bar is a good start to ensuring your ability to make fire but why not do a little preparation and make it an Improved Magnesium Bar?

If the coronavirus is spreading this rapidly among hospital workers, what chance do the rest of us have?  What we are witnessing in China right now is absolutely unprecedented.  Despite the lockdown of major city after major city, this mysterious new coronavirus continues to spread like wildfire, and Chinese government officials are becoming visibly frustrated.  The number of confirmed cases has nearly doubled over the past seven days, and that is extremely concerning.  But even more alarming is the unofficial information which has been leaking out of China.  According to the South China Morning Post, “at least 500 hospital staff in Wuhan” have now been infected…

At least 500 hospital staff in Wuhan had been infected with the deadly new strain of coronavirus by mid January, multiple medical sources have confirmed, leaving hospitals short-staffed and causing deep concern among health care workers.

While the government has reported individual cases of health care workers becoming infected, it has not provided the full picture, and the sources said doctors and nurses had been told not to make the total public.

There have been numerous reports that indicate there isn’t enough equipment to sufficiently protect medical personnel in Wuhan, and that is probably the biggest reason why this number is so high.

But most of these workers are not completely unprotected, and this just shows how easily this virus can spread.

Ultimately what all of these workers probably need are full hazmat suits, and right now there aren’t many to go around…

A doctor from a major hospital in Wuhan, who requested anonymity, said the development had hit morale, adding that many medical workers were “devastated” when they saw the CAT scans of colleagues who had been infected.

“That is why we have been crying out for more donations of medical supplies, especially hazmat suits,” one doctor said, describing how a quarantine area set aside for sick medical workers was now full. “We have seen too many colleagues falling ill because of insufficient protection.”

Wuhan doctor Li Wenliang was one of the first to try to sound the alarm about this outbreak, and when the virus killed him it sent shockwaves all over China.

Here in the United States a lot of people are still not taking this crisis very seriously, but over in China people are literally dropping dead day after day.

And if urgent action is not taken, the same thing could soon start happening all over the globe.  In fact, WHO advisor Ira Longini just completed a study that concluded that “more than 5 billion people” could ultimately catch this virus…

In yet another sign of the World Health Organization’s about-face on the coronavirus outbreak, a top epidemiologist and advisor to the organization said Thursday that if the virus isn’t contained soon, it could infect 60% of the global population – or more than 5 billion people – echoing projections made by a Hong Kong scientist who was once labeled an alarmist despite his pioneering work in the fight against SARS.

According to Bloomberg, that’s what WHO advisor Ira Longini said after finishing a study of the virus’s transmissibility. His estimates suggest that the virus could one day infect billions of people, far more than the ~60,000 or so cases as of earlier on Thursday.

And he is far from alone.  In fact, Hong Kong epidemiologist Gabriel Leung is also warning that 60 to 80 percent of the entire global population could become infected.

In addition, an AI-powered simulation created by a technology executive named James Ross has determined that this virus could wind up killing 52 million people.

We hope that such scenarios do not become a reality, but at this point I am greatly frustrated with those in the western world that are treating this crisis as if it was no big deal.

It is a big deal, and if we don’t get our act together it could kill an enormous number of people.

Unfortunately, so far we have seen quite a bit of incompetence.  For example, one woman that caught the coronavirus recently showed up to a hospital in London in an Uber…

The first person diagnosed with coronavirus in London turned up unannounced at a hospital in an Uber taxi after falling ill.

Two staff from Lewisham hospital in south London are now in isolation at home after coming into contact with the woman, a Chinese national who had recently arrived in the city from China.

She probably didn’t understand that she should have called an ambulance.  But the worst part of the story is that the hospital actually sent her back home “pending the results of her tests”…

The woman was then sent home pending the results of her tests. On Wednesday she was taken to another London hospital, St Thomas’, for treatment.

By not taking her case seriously, that hospital could have potentially lit the spark that will spread this virus all over London.

Here in the United States, we just learned that the coronavirus testing kits that the CDC was sending out to local communities don’t work.

In fact, they were coming up with a completely wrong result much of the time…

Earlier this week, we reported how China rushed biotech industry virus testing kits into production, compressing the normal 2-3 years of testing and validation into just 2-3 weeks. The result? The test kits are a joke, producing 50% – 70% false negatives, which means people who have the coronavirus are falsely confirmed to be virus-free.

Now, the CDC is admitting that its own test kits which were widely distributed to hospitals and clinics across all 50 U.S. states, are also failing. They producing both false negatives (missed infections) and false positives (saying people are infected when they really aren’t), both of which lead to horrific errors in deciding who should be quarantined or treated.

So there could be people running around all over the United States that “tested negative” for the disease but that are now spreading it to countless others.

That is just great.

And the cavalier attitude that many of our officials have toward potential cases is just mind blowing.

For instance, in King County, Washington those that are suspected of having the coronavirus are being put in local motels.

Please remind me never to stay in a motel in King County.

What a nightmare we are facing.  I had a feeling that this year was going to be chaotic, but I don’t know anyone that imagined that things would already be this bad in mid-February.

And a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration is warning that the number of cases that have been confirmed in the U.S. so far is just the tip of the iceberg…

The U.S. has now reported 14 confirmed cases of the deadly virus. But health experts believe the real figures are much higher as the virus can be transmitted even while undetected for 10-14 days.

Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said there are “certainly cases we don’t know about,” and that we’re only “capturing 25 percent of cases at best.” He urged the committee to expand testing and warned them to expect a wider outbreak.

Perhaps this outbreak will fizzle out eventually, but the lack of urgency that I am seeing in this country right now is deeply, deeply alarming.

If we can’t get our act together to respond adequately to a potential killer pandemic that is causing people to literally drop dead on the other side of the globe, what is going to happen when an even greater crisis is facing us?

About the Author: I am a voice crying out for change in a society that generally seems content to stay asleep. My name is Michael Snyder and I am the publisher of The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe. I have written four books that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned) By purchasing those books you help to support my work. I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but due to government regulations I need those that republish my articles to include this “About the Author” section with each article. In order to comply with those government regulations, I need to tell you that the controversial opinions in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the websites where my work is republished. This article may contain opinions on political matters, but it is not intended to promote the candidacy of any particular political candidate. The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions. Those responding to this article by making comments are solely responsible for their viewpoints, and those viewpoints do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of Michael Snyder or the operators of the websites where my work is republished. I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.

If you’re on the hunt for a kayak but are struggling to figure out the BEST kayak for YOU – you’re in the right place.

Today, I’m going to break down everything you need to know to find the kayak that will best meet your needs.

• Maybe you’re looking for a damn good fishing kayak
• Perhaps you want a kayak to use as a rescue vehicle in a future floodwater emergency
• Maybe you’re interested in using a kayak for epic backcountry camping trips
• Or perhaps you’ve been thinking about using a kayak as a bug-out vehicle in a disaster…

But regardless of the reason why you want a kayak – I’ve got you covered either way…

Because buying a kayak should NEVER be an impulse purchase. For example, just because you see one on “sale” at a big-box retailer doesn’t mean it’s right for YOU.

Plus, there are so many kayaks to choose from today; you need someone you can trust to help you wade through the overwhelming confusion. And that’s precisely why I wrote this article.

So today, I’m going to share everything I know about kayaks and even recommend a few I feel worth an investment. Here’s what I’m going to cover:

• Top 4 Reasons Why You Should Invest In A Kayak Today
• Explaining The Differences Between The 5 Main Types Of Kayaks
• 7 Best Kayaks On The Market Today (with Video Reviews)
• Expert Tips and Advice On Gear Loading and Kayak Storage
• The 8 Fundamental Kayak Strokes Every New Kayaker Should Learn
• How To Keep Your Kayak Gear Clean and Dry
• A Brief Note On Navigating In A Kayak

Note: click any of the links above to skip ahead – but make sure to check out our 7 detailed “Best” Kayak Reviews

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Top 4 Reasons Why You Should Invest In A Kayak

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1 – Recreation / Fun

The number one reason why anyone gets a kayak is that they’re fun!

Getting out on the water is one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a beautiful day.

Whether it’s a pristine lake, calm sea, or extreme rapids, they’re a freakin’ blast!

I mean, it would be such a shame to buy a kayak and never use it. So make sure you find time every year to take yours out of the garage and get out on the water.

2 – Remote Camping

With the right kayak, you can go beyond day trips out on the water to overnight excursions.

With a kayak, you can take a lot of essential camping gear with you WITHOUT having to carry everything on your back.

I know a lot of people who love the feeling of freedom and remoteness than backpacking provides. But don’t want to hike 10+ miles with 35 lbs of gear on their back. So they’ve taken up overnight kayak trips instead.

It allows you to escape into the REAL wilderness without breaking your back.

2 – Fishing

Kayaks are becoming more popular among fishermen. Why? Because they are an incredibly lightweight alternative to the traditional aluminum Jon Boat.

I don’t relish the days of yesteryear struggling to maneuver my father’s Jon Boat in and out of the water.

Instead, with a kayak, you get much of the same fishing experience with much less hassle.

You can even go extremely lightweight with an inflatable fishing boat!

Nowadays, many inflatable kayak models are designed with fishing in mind from the ground up.

3 – Emergency Rescue Device

We’ve all heard the term “up sh*t creek without a paddle.” And typically, this famous “saying” is used to describe all sorts of bad situations – not just water-related ones.

Unfortunately, it often becomes a reality in flooding emergencies!

Did you know, in the US, the most deadly natural disasters usually involve flooding?

On average, U.S. flooding kills more than 100 people a year — more than any other single weather hazard, including tornadoes and hurricanes, according to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR).

For example, in both Houston and New Orleans, hurricane-induced surge and rain caused unprecedented urban flooding. Rising waters swamped homes, decimated businesses, and shut down entire cities.

Not to mention all the chemicals, fuel, sewage, and other dangerous pollutants that dumped into the rising water.

Many people became instantly trapped, waiting around for rescue.

But those who owned small boats or kayaks were far better off in the immediate aftermath. Why? Because they could evacuate, search for supplies, and move around as needed.

But, even much less dramatic flooding happens all across the nation – wreaking disruptive havoc and dangerous conditions.

It only takes a couple of feet of water to cause roads to be impassible for cars, SUVs, and trucks.

For example, during a recent flood in my hometown, the police asked for civilian help. They needed anyone with boats to evacuate a neighborhood due to just 18 inches of floodwater.

Kayaks, canoes, and small fishing boats saved the day.

It allowed them to get to dry land and on with their lives until the water receded.

4 – Stealthy Bug Out Transportation

In a worst-case emergency scenario, a small, discrete boat can get you off the streets and away from crowds

Moving away from danger to safety is called “bugging out.”

And even the tallest, bulletproof bug out vehicle can’t overcome deep dangerous floodwaters. But a kayak can.

A kayak is a quiet boat that requires no fuel and leaves no tracks behind.

• It slips stealthily through shallow water and floating vegetation.
• You can easily haul it up on shore when you reach a safe camp.
• It can be easily hidden from view by others on the water during a rest stop.

If you want the ultimate in stealth capability, look into duck hunting kayak setups. These kayaks are a floating blind camouflaged with netting and woven vegetation.

A well-concealed kayak blind can hide you from more than just your prey, but also anyone who might be hunting YOU!

Here’s a video of a kayak that’s been turned into a stealth machine for duck hunting. It shows you what’s possible:

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Exclusive Bonus Content – Skilled Survival’s 104 Item Bug Out Bag Checklist – the only bug out checklist worth using. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Explaining The 5 Main Type Of Kayak You Can Choose

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The right kind of kayak for YOU depends upon:

• the type of water you’ll be using in on
• how you plan to use it (whitewater, lake, fishing, bugging out)
• how much equipment you want to bring along

Here’s the deal, there are thousands of unique kayaks on the market today (making research overwhelming). But the good news is – they all tend to fit into just a few categories.

So, if you can figure out which category of kayak you want, you’ll be able to focus in on the right one for you fast.

Here’s a video that goes over each of the different kayak categories in detail (or you can read more about each category below):

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1 – Whitewater Kayaks

We’ve all seen videos of extreme kayakers dropping 100+ foot waterfalls and surviving. Chances are they’re in a very specialized whitewater kayak.

These are highly reinforced, extremely durable boats. But they’re not designed for much more than running whitewater rapids.

Why? Because They’re small (up to 7 feet long), have very little storage, and are not very comfortable in the long term. Plus, whitewater kayaks require very advanced paddling techniques and a lot of focused training.

So this is NOT your type of kayak – unless your plans include “extreme sports,” and you can accommodate these drawbacks.

Otherwise, you don’t “need” these capabilities, and a whitewater kayak is NOT the type of kayak that’s best suited for you.

2 – Inflatable Kayaks

If your kayak plans include some lake fun, gentle whitewater (not huge rapids), and fishing, then an inflatable kayak is your best bet.

These 10′-14′ foot boats are designed and built the same way as whitewater rafts, except they include several durable inflatable chambers.

These inflatable chambers provide the main structure and floor of the boat.

Most are also self-bailing, so any water that splashes in can drain out the bottom.

You can load your gear in waterproof drybags and lash it down in the bow and stern. And, best of all, they can be inflated when needed and deflated when you’re off the water!

3 – Touring Sea Kayaks

When kayaking long distances in open water (whether at sea or on big lakes), a touring sea kayak is likely your best option.

These boats are designed for efficient paddling and covering distances quickly.

The sit-inside design keeps your center of gravity low which helps to prevent tip over. Sitting low also helps to keep your lower body protected by a spray skirt. A spray skirt is a waterproof cockpit cover that fits snugly around the waist.

Many models have:

• integrated flotation
• gear tie-downs on deck for small, frequently accessed items
• sealed cargo hatches over internal large gear compartments

The long (16′ foot and up) and narrow profile makes them cruise through the water with ease. And the retractable rudders and skegs keep you tracking straight towards your destination.

One drawback of gear compartments is that everything has to be able to fit through a small hatch. So you’ll have to figure out how to pack your boat efficiently to ensure everything fits.

4 – Surfing Kayaks

Most touring sea kayaks do well with smaller surf. But not if your coastline has some bigger gnarly waves.

In such cases, a surf kayak is ideal for handling and piloting successfully through large breakers – which is vital when launching and landing in rough seas.

Surf kayaks feature a hull design that’s more agile than a touring boat. But it still maintains some cargo holds which are lacking in a traditional whitewater boat.

Again, these are more specialized models and take some specific training and techniques. So don’t expect to pick one up and be a pro the next day.

5 – Recreational Sit-On-Top Kayak

Finally, one of the most versatile types of kayaks is a recreational sit-on-top.

These have similar durability and use rotomolded plastics (similar to whitewater boats). However, rather than sitting down inside the kayak, the paddler sits on top.

That’s because the seat is molded directly into the upper deck of the boat.

Now, this seat location does have it’s drawbacks. For example, it’s not nearly as stable as other kayak styles so they are best suited for calm waters. However, the seat location does make getting in and out of the boat a breeze.

More extensive models feature internal cargo compartments with waterproof hatches.

They also include cargo areas to lash down drybags on deck, and some can even carry hundreds of pounds of gear.

There are some models with accessory attachment points. These attachment locations are ideal for adding a small electric trolling motor and fishing rod holders!

Note: Most fishing kayaks are of the “sit-on-top” variety. I’ve also seen a few decent inflatable kayaks used for fishing as well.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

7 Best Kayaks On The Market Today (with Video Reviews)

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So, what’s the best kind of kayak for you?

It depends a lot on your specific usage plans. But versatility, durability, and ease of use are all things to keep in mind.

Here are a few of the best-rated models out there and what makes them stand out:

1 – Wilderness Systems ATAK 140

The Wilderness Systems ATAK 140 is a stable kayak fishing platform with a bunch of modern features.

It’s stable enough to stand up but still agile for paddling. It has a suspension seat and large padded foot braces to keep you comfortable while paddling.

The storage options are great, including a live-well for fish!

PROS

• Stern and center mount storage
• Great, comfortable seat
• 400lb cargo and paddler capacity

CONS

• Expensive
• Heavy (95lbs)

Check Out Today’s Price

Here’s a much-watch walkthrough video of the Wilderness Systems Premium Angler fishing kayak:

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2 – Perception Pescador 10

Perception has been in the business of making kayaks for a long time, and this one lives up to their quality name.

The Perception Pescador 10 is a sit-on-top fishing kayak designed to be one of the best kayaks for the money.

This kayak includes a large open storage area, a covered dry storage box, plus two individual rod holders.

It also includes multiple gear tracks and a Solo Mount recesses to make it extremely easy to add lots of fishing accessories.

PROS

• Convenient seatback positioning
• Quick-adjust footrests

CONS

• Not as much storage space as other models
• Gear mount rails not as good as other models

Check Out Today’s Price

You’ll get a real sense of the real value of this budget-friendly fishing kayak in the following review video:

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3 – Old Town Topwater 106

Old Town is one legendary canoe and kayak maker. They’ve spent a century building a reputation of quality and craftsmanship.

This Topwater is a purpose-built fishing kayak. But the features that make it well suited to that task also make for an excellent bug-out boat.

But the standout here is the pedal drive. Being able to maneuver the boat forward and backward WITHOUT putting down the rod is a major bonus!

This feature also makes this kayak an ideal option for those with limited arm strength or mobility.

PROS

• Stable platform
• Great storage and mounting options
• Comfortable deck pads and seat
• PEDAL DRIVE!

CONS

• Very expensive

Check Out Today’s Price

The following walkthrough video does a nice job highlighting all the unique features of this excellent fishing kayak:

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4 – Lifetime Tamarack Angler

Lifetime is a newer brand on the kayak market, but they make quality sit-on-top kayaks at a reasonable price point.

The Tamarack Angler is a stable fishing kayak platform boat. But it doesn’t have all the storage options that more expensive models offer.

Yet, with a good set of drybags and some proper packing, this can be overcome.

PROS

• Inexpensive
• Quality gear lash down points
• Lightweight

CONS

• Limited internal storage

Check Out Today’s Price

The following video not only reviews the Lifetime Tamarack but provides many smart modifications as well:

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5 – Driftsun Rover 120/220

At only 28lbs, this inflatable kayak is perfect for those who want mobility both ON and OFF the water.

When rigged as a single person boat, it has more than enough storage for gear lashed down in drybags where a second person would normally sit.

PROS

• Lightweight
• Can be packed small for storage and transportation

CONS

• Can be punctured
• Challenging to pack down into a case

Check Out Today’s Price

This video shows how easy it is to grab this kayak, throw it in a vehicle and get on the water without breaking a sweat:

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6 – Riot Escape 12

The Riot Escape 12 is another excellent fishing kayak that would serve well as an emergency bug out boat, especially with a  name like “Riot Escape”!

It has all the options you’d expect on a well-rigged fishing boat. This kayak includes ample storage, mounting brackets, comfortable seats, and a stable profile.

PROS

• Great rudder system
• Five-rod holders
• Center console storage

CONS

• Doesn’t track as well as other models

Check Out Today’s Price

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7 – Pelican Argo 100XP Angler Kayak

The Pelican Argo 100XP is another budget-friendly fishing kayak.

First off, this fishing kayak has ergonomic carrying handles to make hauling this relatively light 41 lbs unit around a breeze.

You’ll also be thankful for its adjustable footrests and Ergofit G2 Seating System. This means it comes with an adjustable and ergonomically padded backrest and seat cushion.

Anyone who’s spent a lot of butt time in a kayak will appreciate it.

As far as storage options go – it has a convenient front Quick-Lock hatch and a rear hatch with a storage bag.

It also has an open rear tank well that’s equipped with mesh deck cover.

So with all these storage options, you’ll have plenty of room to bring along all your most critical gear.

Finally, this Pelican Argo comes with a cockpit table with compartments and a smartphone holder, as well as a bottle holder built-into the seat to keep things within easy reach.

PROS

• Budget-Friendly compared to models with similar features
• Decent overall storage options
• Lightweight kayak (41 lbs)
• Comfortable seat

CONS

• Limited amount of internal “hatch” storage options

Check Out Today’s Price

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As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Expert Tips and Advice On Gear Loading and Kayak Storage

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One of the best parts of any boat trip is letting the boat take the load rather than your back.

You can bring heavier items and some luxuries that would never fit in a backpack (such as a lightweight camp table).

Many kayaks have load ratings in the 300-500lb range, including the paddler. This extra capacity leaves you with several hundred pounds of gear storage (fishing gear, camping gear, or even survival gear).

And when you get off the water at the end of the day, you’ll still have fresh legs and not a sore back!

Think of kayak camping as car camping, but away from the vehicles! Of course, you still need to load your boat correctly to keep it balanced and stable.

There are a lot of options for loading. But in general, try to keep the heavy items low in the boat and towards the center.

This loading technique goes for both front-to-back and side-to-side storage.

If you do this right, it will help keep you from tipping while maintaining maneuverability.

Each boat design is different, so it’ll take some practice to see how everything fits.

I recommend starting with smaller loads and spend a couple of hours on the water to test it out. Then move up to weekend trips to shake down your gear and skills.

Taking shorter trips will also allow you to learn the paddling skills needed for your boat.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

The 8 Fundamental Kayak Strokes Every New Kayaker Should Learn

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There are several basic paddle strokes and rudder/skeg controls you should learn. Because paddling more efficiently will help you with maneuverability and endurance in any situation.

You can learn a lot online and take those skills to shallow, calm water for practice. But always have a friend or an instructor to help you in case of an emergency.

1 – Forward stroke

The forward stroke is the most used of all the strokes in kayaking; you’ll be using it ALL THE TIME. That’s why you’ll need lots of endurance in these arm muscles and a lot of power to keep forward motion.

You also need solid core and back muscles to do the heavy pulling that powers the stroke.

You’ll want to keep an upright body position and braced foot and knee. Maintaining the correct body position helps with both balance and efficiency.

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2 – Reverse stroke

The opposite of the forward stroke, the reverse stroke. The reverse stroke technique is essential to stop your kayak in an emergency.

It requires many of the same muscles, just applied in the opposite direction. It means pushing instead of pulling and rotating your hips and shoulders in reverse.

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3 – Sweep stroke

The sweep stroke allows you to apply a full, wide turn without a rudder.

It’s like the forward stroke, but with the paddle extended further out away from the boat to pivot.

When applied with a rudder, the sweep stroke can affect a quicker turn.

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4 – Draw stroke

Draw strokes allow you to move your boat straight to the side.

It’s particularly useful when you want to tie several boats together. Because tied together, kayaks allow for more comfortable conversations or even enjoying a communal lunch on the water.

But the stroke is just as necessary when you’re pulling up alongside a dock or steep bank landing.

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5 – Rudder Stroke

The rudder stroke is useful to keep control over the direction you’re heading.

Unlike the other strokes, the rudder stroke ends with the paddle blade, giving you indirect control over the gliding path forward between strokes.

If you plan to surf or whitewater kayak, you’ll need to use the rudder stroke. It allows you to maintain control without spending all your energy course correcting.

In fact, you can even use it if the wind is at your back and propelling you along without paddling.

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6 – Edging

Edging is a maneuver that allows you to tilt your kayak slightly to one side.

Edging lets the curve of the hull act in a carving turn. The key is to learn the balance point of your boat and not over-rotate until you capsize.

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7 – High/Low Brace

Bracing is an emergency maneuver. It helps you correct the momentum of a boat that has rolled past its tipping point.

It’s the first step in recovering a tipping boat. Bracing is also the primary technique of rolling up a kayak that has capsized entirely.

Keep in mind that it puts a lot of force on your shoulders and can cause injury if done incorrectly.

The difference between high and low braces is in hand and paddle position, but the purpose is the same.

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8 – Self Rescue (if kayak flips over)

Finally, what if the high/low brace doesn’t work and you flip? Well, you’re now in the territory of a self-rescue…

This is one technique you should master before you stray too far away from shore – as it could save your life. 

In freezing cold water temperatures, you won’t have enough time to swim to shore – unless you’re very close. So you’ll need to get back into your kayak and out of the water fast. Here’s a video showing you how:

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How To Keep Your Kayak Gear Clean and Dry

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No matter what kind of kayak you choose, it’s imperative that you keep all your gear dry and safe from water.

Saltwater is a big concern for corrosion – since salt is highly corrosive. But even freshwater can ruin your tools, food, sensitive/expensive electronics, and ammunition.

Hard cases (Pelican), as well as kayak dry bags, are the first line of defense.

Pack all your gear in waterproof containers and double wrap the critical stuff. I like to line drybags with heavy-duty trash bags, just in case a slight leak makes it into the outer bag.

Heavy-duty Ziploc bags are also invaluable inside the larger packs. These help to keep critical maps, batteries, and other supplies dry even if the compartment becomes swamped.

Quick Note On Navigating In A Kayak

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While you may have a great sense of direction on land, it’s easy to lose your bearings on the open water.

That’s why it’s crucial to practice navigation on waters you know well first — with a map/chart and compass.

Your GPS may be great (and should be your primary navigation tool), but it’s not any use if it gets dumped overboard.

Make sure your compass skills are up to the task, so you’re not stuck on the water with no backup plan.

It won’t take long to become familiar with picking out navigation landmarks from the water. You’ll discover that these techniques are like navigation on land.

Final Thoughts

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Kayaks are a fun, versatile, efficient mode of transportation in all sorts of situations. Kayaks allow you to cover marathon distances or cross murky waters with ease.

So if your idea of fun includes water travel, a kayak is a wise option to have at your fingertips.

It’s stealthy, discrete, and can carry a ton of gear and supplies without putting a strain on your back.

Think about how they can fit into your life and give kayaks a try – you might find they’re your perfect bug out vehicle!

Jason K.

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