Generator’s carbon monoxide kills eight in Maryland

A man and his seven children, age 6 to 16, were found dead on Monday in a home in Princess Ann, Maryland.
Police believe the deaths were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Rodney Todd Sr., 36, and his seven children were found dead inside the locked house and no foul play was suspected. The house had no power and a generator that had run out of fuel was found inside.
While researching to find more information about this tragedy, it was heartbreaking to find so many similar incidents. Carbon monoxide poisoning is without a doubt the silent, cold weather killer.
Always remember:
1)NEVER run a generator indoors. No matter how cold it is, there’s no excuse. It will get you killed along with the rest of your family.
2)Get a CO alarm installed immediately if you don’t have one already. The Kidde Carbon Monoxide Alarm goes for $19.57 in Amazon. Don’t hesitate, your family sure is worth 20 bucks. A smoke detector alone will not work. Get a proper Carbon Monoxide Alarm.

3) Always err on the side of caution when you have any open-flame device. Camping cookers and stoves, propane and kerosene heaters, you always need to make sure you have proper ventilation. When operating unvented heaters crack the window open a couple inches. Personally, I prefer not to run one when sleeping. I’d rather warm up the area and turn it off just before going to sleep, better safe than sorry. Some kerosene heaters and the indoor propane heater Mr. Heater F232000 do have a Low-oxygen safety shut-off feature but this is a second layer of protection and it does NOT replace a dedicated carbon monoxide alarm.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.

Benchmade Griptilian‏: Opinion after Using it for 12 years

Fernando—
You reviewed your favorite EDC folding knives, including the one I have carried for 12 years—the Benchmade Griptilian.
Having lived with this knife for so long, I have some positive and some negative opinions about it:
1. The size and the contours of the knife are very acceptable for EDC in whatever pocket I want to carry it in. The two-position tip-up pocket clip allows me to carry it left- or right handed. The “jimping” or serrations on the top and bottom of the handle give it good gripping characteristics. The blade is plenty big for a convenient pocket-carry knife, and the dual thumb-studs make it easy to use left- or right-handed.
2. The edge holding is less than desirable. It has 154CM steel in the present blade, but it just does not live up to the claimed edge retention characteristics of this steel. The knife originally had another blade (partial serrations) which also did not hold an edge very well. I sent it back to Benchmade and had them replace the blade for that reason—and at the time opted for a plain-edge blade. If you have suggestions for a brand + blade steel that holds an edge under normal casual use—that would be nice to learn.
3. The pocket clip has the same drawbacks as most of those on the market—It is sturdy and works well at keeping the knife in the pocket, but it catches on things I don’t want to get damaged (door frames, furniture, car seats), and it is awkward when it does snag something in public places. The solution I have used to soften the clip and to “round” its corners is to apply two layers of electrical heat-shrink tubing to it.
4. The Axis Lock is smooth, and it seems to be sturdy and lock up very well. However, the blade can swing open whenever the knife is moved through certain ranges of motion such as if it is dropped accidentally or if it is pulled out of the pocket quickly and at certain angles. I have come close to grabbing the knife when the blade was in the process of coming open from inertia—and could have been cut if I had not been careful.
Bottom line, I would prefer a knife that has this size and contour, has a different closing mechanism that reliably prevents the blade opening accidentally under normal use, and has a steel that retains a good edge during everyday use around the house. And if it came with a furniture-friendly pocket clip—that would be a bonus.*
Larry
*Note: The original Spyderco Endura and other knives had an integral molded plastic clip on the handle. While it (like any) clip could catch and rub on things, it would not hang up as much as a flat metal clip, and it would not do as much damage to furniture etc. The drawback was that the plastic clip tended to weaken over time and potentially break, it could not be repositioned for alternate carry modes, and it was not replaceable.
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Benchmade Griptilian Knife $93.25

Hello Larry, thanks for sharing your experience.
I know what you mean regarding metal clips catching onto stuff and scratching everything from furniture to cars! I too miss the old Cold Steel and Spyderco molded plastic clips. You never had to worry about scratching anything with those. On the other hand, removable spring steel clips are clearly stronger and can be adjusted to different positions. I prefer tip down carry myself, which prevents the type of problem you describe and eliminated the risk of cutting yourself on a slightly opened blade when trying to draw it.
When it comes to steels 154Cm shouldn’t be that bad, its supposed to be a well performing mid-range priced steel. Then again, all knives need to be sharpened after use eventually. Some hold on a bit more, but there’s no magic steel out there, they all need sharpening sooner than later. At least in my opinion, I don’t worry too much about how long it stays sharp, I ‘m more interested in toughness and to some extent I prefer a knife that is easy to sharpen rather than a hard blade that holds the edge for a bit longer, but wastes your time a lot when sharpening. If you’re looking for better steel maybe you want to try out the Spyderco Endura4 in VG-10, which should hold an edge longer although I’m sure you’ll miss the ergonomics of the Griptilian. For a fantastic steel, you want to try ELMAX powdered steel, which is one of the main reasons I like the Zero Tolerance ZT 0561 so much. The Kershaw  Knockout also has ELMAX steel.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.

Best EDC Folders of 2015 (so far...)

Ok folks, quick list of some of the best options out there. If you’ve been following this website or involved in any way in the survival and preparedness community you probably understand why you should have a knife with you at all times and since carrying a six inch fixed blade on daily basis isn’t exactly practical or even realistic for most of us, that’s probably going to be a folding knife.

Here I’d like to take a second to comment on the usefulness of pocket knives per se compared to fixed blade knives. If you can get away with carrying a machete with you on daily basis then more power to you, but if you’re limited to a folder then know there’s nothing wrong with that either. For hundreds, no, thousands of years, men have carried and used folding pocket knives. In fact, our ancestors carried knives that in most cases were significantly weaker than the ones currently available, with inferior steels, locks and construction. Still, with a bit of care and basic maintenance, those pocket knives were invaluable tools which served them well during decades of honest use.
Today, the pocket knife serves that same purpose and the offering has never been better. Folders are more practical, faster and stronger than ever. For everything from peeling fruit, eating a streak, opening mail to carving wood or even defending yourself if needed a good folder is an invaluable tool.

Throughout the years I’ve developed a standard of what I consider to be a good survival folding knife. It’s nothing very specific but I do look for certain things. First, I want quality. You can have quality at bargain prices or you can have it paying dearly for it but to me quality is important. I want a knife made by a manufacturer I know I can trust. I want a solid, reliable knife. Your folder should be able to take a certain amount of abuse, not because you plan on doing stupid things with it, but because someday it may be called upon it to do more than just cut. You may need to pry with it, maybe even fight. I also want a big enough blade. Four inches is ok. No smaller than 3.5” inches. Five inches would be better. You can easily carry a four or five inch blade folder in your pocket with no problem.
Premium steels are nice to have, but I’m happy enough with a well heat treated cheaper steel. Many times fancy pants steel are heat treated to such hardness levels that they become fragile when abused, making them great for cutting thousands or pieces of manila rope, but snapping when prying a stuck door with them while a cheaper steel may get the job done without breaking.
I want well designed handle, something that offers some finger protection and has a clip that can be adjusted at least on either side, with a four position clip being ideal. It should open single handed with ease and lock solid.
With these considerations in mind here are my top choices:

Cold Steel Voyager Tanto Large $38.81
This is the most affordable knife in the list and in all honesty maybe the best bang per buck you have today. Make no mystake, the Cold Steel Voyager is a beast of a knife. The clip point version with its full flat grind has somewhat of a more fragile tip, but you don’t get that with the saber grind tanto version. Maybe AUS8 steel isnt anything to brag about, but its works well enough and you do get the Triad Lock, which is clearly one of the strongest locking mechanisms in the market. If size isnt a problem for you, go for the XL version.
What about my favorite Cold Steel knife, the Vaquero ? That’s a beast of a knife, but more inclined for defensive use and best used along with a smaller utility multitool.

Spyderco Resiliance $39.19
The Tenacious is a beloved budget classic that has been around for several years now but forget about it and go straight for the bigger brother. The blade has a full flat grind, but it somewhat compensates that by being pretty wide and overall plain large. Opens fast, has a flat profile, G10 handle, I’d say it’s a great knife for anyone looking for a big knife but wants an easy to carry flat profile.

Spyderco Endura 4 $65.35
The Endura4 is the most classic of all Spyderco knives. The Endura 4 is deceivingly large and strong yet so easy to carry. Great VG-10 steel, pretty good ergonomics and four position clip. The tip manages to be fine yet very sturdy thanks to the saber grind. I would avoid the full flat version given that the saber grind is sharp enough but much stronger.

Benchmade Gryptilian $93.25
An all-time classic, functional folder. Benchmade has always been highly regarded by military personnel and the Gryptilian is particularly appreciated by those that know knives. Great blade geometry, very nice 154CM steel and a very comfortable handle. You just cant go wrong with it.

ZT Zero Tolerance 0561 Hinderer Collaboration $209.80
Crème de la crème. Made in USA, Titanium framelock construction, 3-D machined titanium and G-10 handle, premium ELMAX steel, Hinderer design, this is as good as it gets in a production knife.
What’s your favorite EDC knife and what do you use it for the most? Leave your comments below!
FerFAL

Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.

“Gulf Stream” shutdown & the New Ice Age: How worried should you be?

Maybe one of the most interesting and potentially drastic climatic events is the possibility of a “Gulf Stream” or Thermohaline Circulation shutdown. The North Atlantic Drift is the northwards continuation branch of the Gulf Stream, part of the Thermohaline circulation (THC). The North Atlantic Drift transports warmth further north to the North Atlantic, where its effect in warming the atmosphere contributes to warming Europe. Without this warmth “imported” from southern latitudes by the North Atlantic Drift , most of western Europe would be much colder than it is, similar locations at the same latitude such as Alaska, Northern Canada and Siberia. It is thanks to this current that Ireland only gets a bit of snow for a day or two along most of its coast rather than spend all winter under several feet of snow. England, France and most of western and northwestern Europe benefit greatly from it as well.
Trying to explain it in simple terms, the THC basically works thanks to changes in density and salinity in ocean waters. In the north Atlantic, low temperatures combined with high evaporation rates thanks to the strong winds increase the density of the surface water. Because of this, the surface water sinks drawing in warmer waters from the south in what is sometimes called the “ocean conveyor belt.”

So… what’s the problem?
The problem is that, by all accounts, this changing. One theory is that due to increased precipitations and the melting of glaciers in Greenland there’s a greater amount of freshwater in the northern oceans, reducing its salinity.
In November 2005, the National Oceanography Centre in the UK found a 30% reduction in the warm currents that carry water north from the Gulf Stream from the last such measurement in 1992. Also in 2005, Peter Wadhams reported in The Times of London about the results of investigations in a submarine under the Arctic ice sheet measuring the giant chimneys of cold dense water, in which the cold dense water normally sinks down to the sea bed and is replaced by warm water, forming one of the engines of the North Atlantic Drift. He and his team found the chimneys to have virtually disappeared. Normally there are seven to twelve giant columns, but Wadhams found only two giant columns, both extremely weak.
Scientists are divided on how fast this is happening or not and they are also divided on the consequences of the potential slowdown or even shutdown of the North Atlantic Drift (NAD). Some scientists claim that even if the NAD slows down or stops entirely, the effects of global warming would more than compensate for it and there would be little to no change, maybe even slightly warmer temperatures than before. On the other hand some scientists believe is could trigger a new glacial period, even a series of Dansgaard-Oeschger events with very rapid changes, temperatures dropping significantly in a matter of months in dramatic fashion somewhat similar to the movie “The Day After Tomorrow”.

A worst case scenario such as this one has happened before. It happened about 10.000 years ago, called Younger Dryas stadial, also known as the Big Freeze... yes, its the kind of thing that would ruin your weekend. In this case, the prevailing theory is that the Younger Dryas was caused by significant reduction or shutdown of the North Atlantic "Conveyor", which circulates warm tropical waters northward.

Conclusion
As interesting as it may be, there’s not much practical application in debating if this is a natural event or if it’s all some conspiracy to deviate funds to eco-business. At this point from a survival perspective we should be looking more into how quickly this can all go down, if it’s a matter of centuries, decades or years, and the level of magnitude we are talking about. Based on the research published so far, I would lean towards the theory that this is all happening surprisingly fast. At the same time and on a more positive note, I don’t think we’ve seen much changes in temperatures in western Europe, at least not anything to worry much about. Other than somewhat more precipitations than usual, the peaks of both cold and warm averages and maximum are still within historic parameters. We’ve seen winters just as cold if not colder, and we’ve seen days just as warm as well. You could make a case for winters lasting slightly longer and being in average colder, and that there’s more rain and storms, but even if it is happening, so far the difference is not proportional to the reduction of the North Atlantic Drift.
I would recommend caution, but at the same time keeping an eye on weather changes in the years to come, especially in western Europe and northeastern US.
As always, having plans to eventually relocate if necessary is always a good idea.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.

When Corporations dictate laws in America

After BnL took over the goverment, the BnL logo was added in the flags of countries around the world.

What’s the scariest movie you’ve ever seen? Psycho? The Ring? Hostel?
Mine’s Wall-E. Yes, Wall-E creeps the hell out of me and it’s because of “BnL”. In Pixar's movie, “Buy n Large” is the company that made Wall-E and basically destroyed the world and controls humanity.
This is from Pixar wikia, explaining the idea behind the fictional BnL Company:

Andrew Stanton, in a commentary on the WALL•E DVD, stated his inspirations for Buy n Large were large corporations and how some people let consumerism govern how they run their lives. He stated that the people at Pixar had always pictured WALL•E as "a trash compactor" when the idea for the movie was first discussed. He reversed-engineered the idea on why WALL•E was cleaning up the planet and why the Earth was covered in trash and the idea of what if a company was the government.
http://pixar.wikia.com/Buy_n_Large

If there’s one thing we have to be careful about in the future is the power corporations have over the people. It certainly has been growing at an alarming rate and it keeps getting worse. I don’t think there has ever been a greater threat to freedom throughout history as there is now. I’m literally scared of a “Wall-E” future, where the entire human race is under the thumb of a handful of “Buy n Large” corporations. Corporations no one voted for, yet have more power than any representative, from senators to presidents, could ever dream of.

I don’t have much of an opinion either way regarding the Religious Freedom law. I like the idea of people having the freedom to exercise their religion as long as those rights end where other people’s rights begin. At the end of the day, I think the people of Arkansas or Indiana have the right to vote anyway they want regarding both laws and their representatives.
What I do find very interesting is how quickly corporations no longer sneak into the debate, but kick the door down, burst inside and dictate which laws they accept and which ones they don’t.
Notice how CNN warns us that some corporations are upset!

Careful folks! Walmart CEO Doug McMillon says the Religious Freedom Law “Does not reflect the values we proudly uphold” and directly asked Gov. Asa Hutchinson to veto the bill. First, I was surprised to learn that Walmart has “values” at all. That’s interesting. I thought it was a corporation simply looking to make as much profit as possible as their one and only “value”.
How about Apple CEO Tim Cook threatening saying the law he doesn’t approve of is “very dangerous” and “will hurt jobs and growth”. Sounds more like a threat, coming from Apple’s CEO.
Even more important though, why should we care either way about Walmart’s “values” and why does they have a right to go from the private business sector into dictating laws that address people’s religious beliefs? When was exactly Walmart’s or Apple’s CEO voted into representing any percentage of the population?
Since when does Walmart order States to veto laws they don’t like? Again, when was Walmart elected to represent anyone?

Corporations already have a lot more power than they should. We should not allow them to indirectly, let alone directly dictate which laws we can have or not.
Walmart’s CEO has a right to an opinion, sure he does, what he does not have is a right to use his economic power as extortion to change democratically voted laws he does not agree with, and this is exactly what several companies are openly admitting to.

I have this crazy new idea: How about corporations stick to running their businesses within the law, rather than trying to change the laws, and leave laws to elected law makers and representatives.
FerFAL
Fernando “FerFAL” Aguirre is the author of “The Modern Survival Manual: Surviving the Economic Collapse” and “Bugging Out and Relocating: When Staying is not an Option”.