PemexIB Times – by Meagan Clark

Mexico’s recent oil reform will open up the energy industry from a 75-year-old state monopoly to a stream of private companies, and with them, it’s expected, organized crime.

Mexico’s vast shale-based reserves are some of the world’s largest, according to a recent assessment by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. But the shale is also located in precisely the northeastern regions most heavily influenced by the Zetas organized crime group. The Zetas and rivals like the Gulf Cartel have profited from reselling stolen oil and illegal mining operations for years, pocketing about $1.13 billion from the trade in 2012 and the first nine months of 2013, according to a November report by Pemex director Emilio Lozoya. And more than half of the money came in during the last nine months, indicating gangs’ oil profits are rising.   Continue reading “Organized Crime To Profit From Mexican Oil Reform: US Department Of Energy”

Holding hands: A storm that dumped heavy snow and ice across the east coast of the United States this week is the very same weather system that battered southern parts of the UK on Friday, meteorologists have revealed in incredible satellite imageryDaily Mail – by WILLS ROBINSON

Devastating storms that have dumped as much as 40 inches of snow on parts of the United States and caused widespread flooding in the UK are combining over the Atlantic, weather experts have revealed.

Incredible satellite imagery from NASA’s Worldview shows the monster storms swirling ‘arm-in-arm’ across the ocean.   Continue reading “American and British storms are ‘holding hands’ over Atlantic: Systems that wreaked havoc on two continents are combining”

Huffington Post – by Ryan J. Reilly and Matt Ferner

WASHINGTON — The federal government issued guidelines on Friday that officials said were intended to increase the financial services available to marijuana businesses that are legal under state laws.

Guidelines announced by the Treasury Department and a memo from a top Justice Department official were intended to ease concerns that the federal government would target banks working with marijuana-related businesses that are legal and regulated on the state level. Expanded banking access will enable them to function like traditional businesses, and implementing a reporting structure will allow the federal government to take a close look at how they operate. Continue reading “Feds Move To Fix Pot Shops’ Banking Problems”

[SATIRE] A very big thanks to Michigan member M.P. who sent in this bit of humor, which was forwarded from a senior-level person at Chrysler. The date on this note was Sunday, July 19, 2009:

Monday morning, I attended a breakfast meeting where the speaker/guest was D.C., Chairman of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR and Professor at U. of M.). you all have likely heard CAR quoted, or referred to in the auto industry news lately.   Continue reading “Do You Appreciate the Laws of Physics?”

Jon Rappoport

Edward Snowden worked for Booz Hamilton, a private company, and was assigned by his employer to work at the NSA.

The infamous Carlyle Group owns a majority stake in Booz Hamilton.

Carlyle manages global assets of roughly $170 billion. The companies it invests in employ 650,000 people.   Continue reading “Snowden, Booz Hamilton, Carlyle, and the spider web”

Townhall – by Katie Pavlich

Earlier this week the Obama administration announced the Obamacare mandate for medium sized businesses will be delayed again until 2015. The announcement came after a long list of delays, 27 of them, that the White House has unilaterally made to the law without the consent of Congress. Now, the RNC has released a handy infographic to keep track of it all.   Continue reading “Obamacare Changes in One Infographic”

underground_greenhouseNatural News – by Carolanne Wright

With staggering food prices and shortages looming, there’s no better time to grow your own produce. Sadly, most greenhouses are expensive to build and impractical to heat during cold, wintery conditions. Thankfully, a solution is found with the Walipini. Developed for South American mountainous regions over twenty years ago, it allows edibles to be grown year-round – even in the most inhospitable weather. As an added bonus, it’s also outrageously inexpensive to construct.   Continue reading “$300 Underground Greenhouse Grows Produce Year-Round, Even in Severe Climates”

ABC News – by DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press

President Barack Obama will offer millions of dollars in federal aid for drought-stricken California during a visit with farmers and ranchers Friday and outline plans to seek $1 billion from Congress to help communities manage the effects of climate change.

California is in the midst of its worst drought in more than 100 years. Obama arrived Friday afternoon in Fresno, where he’ll meet with area farmers and announce more than $160 million in federal financial aid, including $100 million in the farm bill he signed into law last week for programs that cover the loss of livestock.   Continue reading “Obama Turns Attention to California Drought”

jacksThe Organic Prepper

Let the wind blow, let the snow fall, let the power go out. You’ve got it under control. You have your water, your off-grid heating method and enough fuel to see you through until spring, your food that can easily be prepared without electricity, your candles and fully charged solar lanterns. You are set to weather this storm for however long it wants to assault your area.   Continue reading ““I’m bored”: 30 Ways to Keep Kids Entertained When the Power Goes Out”

uncle-sam-retirementSHTF Plan – by Mac Slavo

This morning Reuters obtained a leaked proposal disclosing that European Union officials are looking for new and innovative ways to fund their immense debt levels. As noted by Zero Hedge, they’re no longer turning exclusively to central bankers to simply print more money as needed. Because last year’s bank bail-in forcing the confiscation of funds from average depositors in Cyprus worked so well, EU regulators and bankers have determined that they’ll use a similar method to fund their future endeavors.   Continue reading “Government Lays Groundwork To Confiscate Your 401k and IRA: “This Is Happening””