It Wasn't Raining When Noah Built The Ark!

Published: Fri, 04/26/13

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In This Issue:
Emergency Planning Can Save Your Family’s Life: Part I By Richard C. Young
Rush on Martha’s Vineyard By E.J. Smith
VIDEO: Let The Chips Fall As They Will– Glenn Beck The Editors
It Wasn’t Raining When Noah Built The Ark! By Richard C. Young
“Never Let A Crisis Go To Waste” By Richard C. Young
Survive in a World Without Ammunition The Editors
The Wakeup Call for Americans! By Richard C. Young
Running Off The Rails The McCain/Graham/King Way By Richard C. Young

Young Investments Client Letter: Sign up to get the letter emailed directly to you by clicking here .
March Client Letter: The Search for Yield
With yields of less than 1%, high-grade short corporates have become less appealing. To offset the lower yield, we are seeking areas of the lower-rated (BBB and below) corporate bond market. We have an especially favorable view of high-yield bonds. With a shortage of yield in the bond market and rising risk appetite, a 6-7% yield from high-yield debt looks attractive. To gain exposure to high-yield bonds, we recently began purchasing—Find out what fund we’re buying by clicking here!

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Emergency Planning Can Save Your Family’s Life: Part I

Emergency planning comes in many forms. The most recent blue-chip report on emergency planning I have read followed the recent terrorist bombings in Boston. For years I lived just up the street from the blast zone. As the article Emergency Planning Speed Saved Lives after Boston Marathon Attack explains, “The efficiency of the rescue reflected careful planning. Within five minutes of bombs detonating Monday afternoon near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, most victims had been wheeled to a massive medical tent…. Rescuer reaction was so instantaneous that it appeared to be rehearsed, and it was…. Two years ago, a citywide drill required Boston police, fire-department workers, hospitals and emergency medical service personnel to react as if bombs had been detonated across the city.”

It is hoped that you and your family will never be involved in such a catastrophe. Unfortunately catastrophes can rarely be predicted, but you can be prepared and have a master plan in place to protect my family from a worst-case scenario. To be honest, adequate planning is difficult to effect to the fullest. Inertia works against us all. Time, reading and not inconsiderable expense are involved. I have been working on my emergency plan for a long while, yet I still have more to do. I have found that most people decry such effort, so it’s an up hill battle in terms of support.

Early on I decided to divide my complete plan into phases from the easiest and least expensive grouping first, ending with the most difficult and expensive. To get you started here is a menu of five simple tasks that will get you off on the right foot.

(1) I keep my cars and motorcycles full of gas. And I have located a handy local gas station that has a generator, so that when the juice goes off, as it does often here, I can refuel if needed and fill up any of my many five-gallon gas containers that may require topping off. Keep your vehicles gassed up!

(2) When the juice goes off, cash becomes king as ATMs and credit card machines will not function. Safely stash away a store of fives, tens and twenties. How much is an individual issue, but having too much cash beats too little.

(3) Fresh water security is a list topper. In my case, I have installed a well and a manual pump. To be honest, the whole affair has been a royal pain and certainly not cheap. Talk about fighting inertia. I am fortunate to live near a quasi-fresh water source. As such, I have in place water carriers and storage containers as well as plenty of Clorox to help with water purity. Boiling water is always a useful strategy. Thus I have an outdoor wood fire grill and plenty of wood.

(4) Solar lanterns, cell phone chargers and a solar/crank radio are all an easy security add on for everyone.

(5) A satellite telephone—fully charged at all times—is a must. I have had to use mine on a few occasions and have been darn happy that I was prepared. In one uncomfortable setting—with no cell service available—I was the only one of a fairly large group with such a phone. What a blessing and comfort it was.

Coming next, my second five must have list. In advance, you will benefit from How to Survive The End Of The World As We Know It by James Wesley Rawles, Made From Scratch by Jenna Woginrich, and Eat Where You Live by Lou Bendrick.

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Rush on Martha’s Vineyard

I was 10 years old the first time I heard the band Rush. I remember it like it was yesterday. We were on a sailing trip with our friends the Gracias, staying on a mooring in Martha’s Vineyard.

Our boats were rafted together in Edgartown harbor. After dinner, the adults stayed on our boat and the kids went over to the Gracias’ 40-foot Hinckley. We were playing the card game Uno down below, listening to music.

All of a sudden, this live album came on. You could hear the crowd. Then lead singer Geddy Lee announced, “This is the spirit of the radio.” The roar of the crowd reached a crescendo. Alex Lifeson’s guitar came alive, then with Neil Peart on drums, all three came in together, slowly building the suspense, and then took off. I was blown away. “Who is this?” I asked. Karen and David, who were older than me, said, “You’ve never heard of Rush?”

When we got back to Mattapoisett, the first thing I did was buy the Moving Pictures album. I must have listened to it a thousand times. Staring at the album cover as I listened, I always used to wonder if the three members of Rush were nice guys. I really wanted them to be nice guys and didn’t want to be disappointed.

Being a drummer, I was immediately drawn to Neil Peart. “Dad, he plays drums set up in a 360, all around him, while the whole thing spins on stage,” I’d say. Then I’d play the record for him, and he’d say, “You call that music?” Rush has always had that love/hate relationship with listeners.

Last week, Rush was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A loyal fan base has kept the band relevant all these years, helping Rush sell the third-most consecutive platinum or gold studio albums behind only the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Rush is the Canadian invasion you never heard about.

I’m looking forward to watching the ceremony on HBO on May 18. On a recent flight back from Key West, I watched Dave Grohl’s documentary, Sound City. It’s about an old-fashioned analog system, called the Neve 8078, that was used to record classic albums at Sound City Studios. The Neve recorded songs the way a band wanted them to sound, warm and with a human touch, mistakes and all. It’s fitting that Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters, current torchbearers of the classic analog sound, will present Rush—one of the originals for that sound.

I’ve been listening to my 180-gram high-def vinyl Permanent Waves album through my McIntosh integrated amplifier and Klipsch speakers. Even today, I like holding the album cover and looking at it while listening, reading the credits. Neil Peart wrote all the lyrics for Rush. He was inspired by Ayn Rand to write the lyrics to the song “Anthem.” Rush has always been about the power and strength of the individual. As it turns out, nice guys don’t have to finish last. Congratulations, Rush.

Which side of the door do you want to be on when tragedy strikes? Why are underground fortresses being built to protect the ruling elite? What do they know that you don’t? For a long-term survival solution watch this video.

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“Never Let A Crisis Go To Waste”

Read on about what the Fools on the Hill are proposing.

“House minority whip Steny Hoyer pointed to the bombing as evidence that ‘we need to invest in our security’ and not ‘pursue any irrational policies of cutting the highest priorities and lowest priorities by essentially the same percentage.’ Democratic Policy Committee chairman Xavier Becerra went on to claim that the sequester had also hindered the response to the bombing (Boston).” This is an outright lie. The Boston response was monumental on every account. Click here to what I wrote about Monday.

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Survive in a World Without Ammunition

Today gun shop shelves are bare. Fear of pending legislation is driving people to horde ammo. What do you think would happen in a real disaster? You can’t be sure. Find out right now how to protect you and your family from ammunition shortages.
Known industry-wide for creating innovative, technology-driven bows and accessories, Mathews continues to function with the same drive and passion that first ignited the company over two decades ago.

Mathews’ all-new 2013 Creed
In 2012, Mathews unveiled the ultra-popular Heli^m. A 30-inch axle-to-axle showstopper, the Heli^m lived up to its name. At a featherlike 3.5 pounds, the Heli^m was a joy to tote, and archers loved its stunning technologies like the GeoGrid Lock Riser and the Heli^m Cam.

It was hard to imagine how Mathews would be able to continue to impress us. As 2013 draws closer, Mathews fanatics have already started wondering what the company will think of next. Given the phenomenal designs, groundbreaking technologies, and industry firsts we’ve seen from Mathews over the years, most Mathews fans can’t help but eagerly anticipate what will come next.

Well, the wait is over. Mathews’ all-new 2013 Creed looks amazing and shoots even better. Measuring 30 inches from axle to axle and tipping the scales at just 3.85 pounds, the all-new Creed provides the perfect blend of maneuverability, consistency, and one of the smoothest draw cycles ever created.

SimPlex Cam
Mathews has developed an all-new cam for the 2013 Creed. Larger than many previous Mathews cam designs, the SimPlex Cam is smooth and quiet, and it delivers a good amount of arrow speed. Working in perfect harmony with the Creed’s idler wheel and Reverse Assist Roller Guard, the SimPlex Cam rolls over like velvet. As the cam rolls into action, the rubber-padded draw stop engages the inner portion of the Creed’s outside lower split limb. A firm, consistent back wall promotes a consistent anchor point, boosts confidence, and leads to increased levels of accuracy.

Letdown is also pleasing with the SimPlex Cam. Letting down while in the field is part of bowhunting. It’s nice to have a bow that you can let down without gritting your teeth and, if needed, immediately draw again.

At the shot, the SimPlex Cam produces excellent arrow speed, especially for a true single-cam bow. My 29-inch-draw, 70-pound Creed sent a 376-grain hunting arrow tipped with a fixed-blade broadhead downrange at 302 feet per second

Built to Perfection
It’s safe to say that the GeoGrid Lock Riser turned some heads in 2012. Sporting an enhanced geometric design that boosted the strength-to-weight ratio, the GeoGrid Lock Riser was a big part of the Heli^m’s incredible accuracy. Providing great balance and feel, the GeoGrid Lock Riser is back and ready for action. Showcasing a total of 30 cutouts above the grip and 20 below, the

26.5-inch riser is a big reason why the 30-inch axle-to-axle Creed has such a balanced feel at full draw. This bow doesn’t want to waver or tilt—it sits like a rock. In addition to its statue-like nature, the riser boasts a sporty flare that consumers won’t be able to overlook.

The Creed’s Rich Walnut SlimFit Inline Grip is racy, sleek, and angled to perfection. Narrow through the throat then gaining more mass in the palm-swell area, this grip simply feels great in the hand. It’s no secret that many archers formulate their opinion of a bow after handling the grip. The only thing you will be doing after picking up this bow is smiling. Giving the grip some additional flare is the traditional Mathews Solo Cam branding.

A Real Surprise
I was a little shocked when I pulled the Creed from its box. For the past few years I’ve grown accustomed to Mathews’ ultra-slim single limbs, which have been a feature of most Mathews bows (the McPherson Series Dual Cam bows being the exception). The 2013 Creed boasts not two, but four limbs. That’s right—this Solo Cam has split limbs. Resting comfortably within the confines of the Creed’s limb pockets, the all-new limb design spreads the bow’s energy throughout the limbs, boosting longevity and drowning out noise. The ultra-solid quad split limbs feature

Mathews’ Parallel Limb Design and complement the Creed in every way. Shot noise and bow vibration are virtually nonexistent, and because the limbs are cradled by a well-designed aluminum pocket, wear and tear isn’t a concern.

Read more here.

Specifications
Mathews Creed
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Axle-to-Axle Length 30 inches
Brace Height 7 inches
Mass Weight 3.85 pounds
IBO Speed Up to 328 fps
Riser Length 26.5 inches
Draw Lengths 26 to 30 inches including ½ sizes (26.5 to 29.5)
Draw Weights 50#, 60#, 70#
Color Lost Camo, Black, and Tactical

Source: Mathews Inc.

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The Wakeup Call for Americans!

Here, America’s number one foreign policy analyst shows Americans “how we are subsidizing the security of our wealthy allies who can and should defend themselves.”

As Cato’s Christopher Preble points out, “We provide for their (allies’) security while they free-ride and spend their money on everything else (including bloated welfare states). Your tax dollars at work.”

Cato Institute’s Gene Healy writes, “Americans’ odds of dying in a terrorist attack stand at roughly 1 in 20 million, which, as Michael Zenko noted recently, means we’re as likely to be ‘crushed to death by our television or furniture.’ in any given year.” Yet, as Mr. Healy points out, there is a current Republican craze for declaring America a “battlefield.”