Headlines in the News February 27, 2015

Take Your Money And Run!! Global Central Bank Conspiracy Exposed Paranoia And Purges For Venezuela As Oil Misery Continues
This Is What Happens To Gold In A Hyperinflationary Currency Crisis: Ukraine Edition
Consumer Comfort Falls to 2015 Low as View of U.S. Economy Dims
David Stockman- The Pathetic ‘Talk Therapy’ Of Janet Yellen
100 Reasons Why Janet Yellen Is Freaking Out About ‘Audit The Fed’
The Mandatory Dash Cam Is Coming
Charges Dropped Against 72-Year-Old NJ Man With Flintlock Pistol
U.S. Military Using Giant Blimp To Surveil Movements Of Maryland Residents
Quiet Change Expands ATF Power to Seize Property
Cell phone video saves innocent man from lying police set-up.
It's official: America has deflation
John Deere discusses layoffs
Senate edges away from Department of Homeland Security shutdown
Still Eying Triple-Digit Silver | Kitco News
Housing Crash in China Steeper than in Pre-Lehman America
IRS Begins Rule-Making for Tax on ‘Cadillac’ Plans
Can helicopter money be democratic?
Lawsuit forces a Nevada county to return innocent people's money illegally taken through civil asset forfeiture
Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis: We’ll Do Everything to Stay in Euro Zone
What the Latest Payroll Data Really Means for the Labor Market
Obama Dares GOP: Go Ahead, ‘Have a Vote on Whether What I’m Doing Is Legal…I Will Veto’
Plunging gas lowers US consumer price index 0.7 pct., but excluding energy and food, costs up
Citi urges Europe's CEOs to follow U.S. share buyback trend
The Winners And Losers Of Net Neutrality
China’s Love for Gold: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet
Pew study: Americans still stressed despite improved economy
Fannie Mae: Strong job growth could boost economy
Wal-Mart CEO: 'We have ears and we care'
Department Store J.C. Penney Tumbles After Posting Surprise Loss in Q4
You’re About to Pay Up for Obamacare
Reforming the Fed: Who’s Right; Who’s Wrong?
Puerto Rico seeks protection of federal bankruptcy code
Why Should the Government Deliver Mail?
USDollar/USDX Index
DJIA
Full Scale Simulation: New Study Reveals Where To Go When Civilization Collapses: “Head For The Hills”

Headlines in the News February 27, 2015

Take Your Money And Run!! Global Central Bank Conspiracy Exposed Paranoia And Purges For Venezuela As Oil Misery Continues
This Is What Happens To Gold In A Hyperinflationary Currency Crisis: Ukraine Edition
Consumer Comfort Falls to 2015 Low as View of U.S. Economy Dims
David Stockman- The Pathetic ‘Talk Therapy’ Of Janet Yellen
100 Reasons Why Janet Yellen Is Freaking Out About ‘Audit The Fed’
The Mandatory Dash Cam Is Coming
Charges Dropped Against 72-Year-Old NJ Man With Flintlock Pistol
U.S. Military Using Giant Blimp To Surveil Movements Of Maryland Residents
Quiet Change Expands ATF Power to Seize Property
Cell phone video saves innocent man from lying police set-up.
It's official: America has deflation
John Deere discusses layoffs
Senate edges away from Department of Homeland Security shutdown
Still Eying Triple-Digit Silver | Kitco News
Housing Crash in China Steeper than in Pre-Lehman America
IRS Begins Rule-Making for Tax on ‘Cadillac’ Plans
Can helicopter money be democratic?
Lawsuit forces a Nevada county to return innocent people's money illegally taken through civil asset forfeiture
Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis: We’ll Do Everything to Stay in Euro Zone
What the Latest Payroll Data Really Means for the Labor Market
Obama Dares GOP: Go Ahead, ‘Have a Vote on Whether What I’m Doing Is Legal…I Will Veto’
Plunging gas lowers US consumer price index 0.7 pct., but excluding energy and food, costs up
Citi urges Europe's CEOs to follow U.S. share buyback trend
The Winners And Losers Of Net Neutrality
China’s Love for Gold: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet
Pew study: Americans still stressed despite improved economy
Fannie Mae: Strong job growth could boost economy
Wal-Mart CEO: 'We have ears and we care'
Department Store J.C. Penney Tumbles After Posting Surprise Loss in Q4
You’re About to Pay Up for Obamacare
Reforming the Fed: Who’s Right; Who’s Wrong?
Puerto Rico seeks protection of federal bankruptcy code
Why Should the Government Deliver Mail?
USDollar/USDX Index
DJIA
Full Scale Simulation: New Study Reveals Where To Go When Civilization Collapses: “Head For The Hills”

Energy Stories in the News Feb 27

Cash-Strapped Russia Eyes Giving China Control of Major Oil Fields
Oil Bargains for Asia Stretch to Mexico as Ships Set Sail
Oil's not well: UK industry in crisis as pressures continue to mount
Oil train wrecks increase pressure for tougher rules
LNG oversupply in Asia
U.S. gas exporters eye Baltic region, Poland as Asian LNG boom fades
Ukraine struggles to keep natural gas flowing from Russia
UK Dragon LNG import terminal booked just two cargo arrivals from 3rd part shippers
Coal from China Could Become a Major Source of Lithium
Glencore to cut Australian coal production by 15 mil mt in 2015
Japan's Largest Nuclear Power Station Moves to Center of Reactor Restart Efforts
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Market And Molten Salt Solar Energy Thermal Storage Shares, Strategies, and Forecasts

Less work, more sustainable, means your better prepared, perennial food forest

As a homesteader, back to lander, prepper we are always learning and realizing that it can be a lot of work.  I am sure if you have been doing this for any length of time you know you cannot "buy" your salvation in the form of preps.  It just won't happen.  And I am sure if you haven't come to this conclusion yet you soon will! LOL  So many of us learned to start thinking "how would the pioneers and natives of this country have done it?"  The more we dive into that line of thinking the more we start to look at what is available in our environment and how can we not only use it, but encourage the beneficial things we see and need.  Most of us have figured out that we have to build gardens.  Gardens can be a lot of work, especially if you use conventional wisdom of digging soil, preparing ground, planting, watering, weeding, and all the various things that goes with that.  It quickly grows out of control.  There are lots of things you can do, but first of them is to get rid of your tiller, and learn how to work with what you have, and what to add and do to encourage the kind of ground you need for great gardens.

But this post isn't about all the ground prep and those things to make your gardening easier from that perspective.  This post is to encourage you to look beyond "annual" gardens.  What do I mean?  Perennials, these are plants that will come back year after year, producing things you need... All you have to do is provide a healthy climate for these things to reseed and regrow from.  No time is spent digging, planting, and all of that work.  You just encourage these plants to come back year after year.  There are lots of perennials to consider based on your USDA plant hardiness zones.  The idea is to transition as much of our growing space as we can to a food forest.  Fruit and nut trees, bushes, perennial plants that just keep coming back like strawberries, asparagus, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, apples, pears, plums, peaches, apricots, nectarines, serviceberry, pawpaw, mulberry and the list just goes on and on.  Unconventional plants that fall in the wild edibles area can also be grown like Good King Henry, miners lettuce, sorrel, mache and so many more.  I will post a video below from One Yard Revolution sharing his evolution into more and more perennial plants and how it reduces the amount of work and time spent in the garden. 

Those of us who are working to homestead and do as much as we can ourselves know how much work it can be.  It only makes sense to leverage those things that will reduce that work, provide good healthy food with minimal work.  This diversity will provide you with more food and more choices.  Who doesn't want to get more for less?  If you haven't already made the shift to perennial food crops on your homestead maybe it is time?  Many of these things take time to establish and get to the point they are producing food for you so I wouldn't wait.  Trees, bushes, and vines planted this year will likely take 3-5 years to really start producing.  So no time like the present to diversify!

Precious Metals Stories in the News Feb 27

Feb 27 Precious Metals: Slow Stokes Oscillator Breakout  Morris Hubbartt 321gold   
Feb 27 A Salvo in the Battle for the Gold Standard  Keith Weiner MM   
Feb 27 Gold Miners at Last Line of Defense  EAG   
Feb 27 Greece now faces a political and economic mess  BI   
Feb 27 Stop Lying  m-t   
Feb 27 Bernstein of Watergate on CIA Control of Media  AE   
Feb 27 Ukraine crisis: House of Lords criticises EU and Britain for 'sleepwalking into crisis' as Moscow and Nato remain on diplomatic collision course  Independent   
Feb 27 Mysterious metal globe 'may be proof aliens are watching us and created life on Earth'  Mirror   

Headlines in the News February 25, 2015

The Day the ATMs Run Out…
Goldman Sachs Acts as Economic Hitman Against Public School Districts
Is Another Recession Looming for the U.S.?
Banks Face U.S. Manipulation Probe Over Metals Pricing
Oil Rebounds After Libya’s Largest Field Shuts Down
European Commission Accepts Greek Economic Measures After Review
The Modern Survival
Antique Trader â€" Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide
Tremors
Blast From the Past
Pakistanis face a deadline: Surrender fingerprints or give up cellphone
Anything that is scarce, or perceived as expensive, will be stolen FedEx Refuses to Ship a Digital Mill That Can Make Untraceable Guns
Flow Hive Honey on Tap Directly From Your Beehive
Not Enough Evidence Cops Who Shot Unarmed Man 16 Times As He Lay In Bed Acted With ‘Malice’
Janet Yellen: Too many Americans aren't making it
Gold vs Fed debt shows fair price today is $1,800
U.S. Justice Dept questions JPMorgan over auto lending practices
Americans get an 'F' in understanding taxes, study finds
It's Clear Why Gold Should Be Better - Jim Grant
U.S. Economic Confidence Index Back in Negative Territory
Viacom is preparing for a round of job cuts following ratings and ad sales declines
California Taxpayers Billed $40,000 for Events
ISIS kidnap at least 90 people from Christian villages in Syria
Why Deflationâ€"and Not Inflationâ€"Is the Main Concern Right Now
Greece on course for bailout extension
Obama vetoes Keystone XL pipeline, leaving it in limbo
The Church of Wal-Mart
Forget FedEx and UPSâ€"Waffle House it
ECB's supervision head on bank capital
How 14,000 Workers Managed to Slow Down the Entire Economy
Surprise: Poorest Obamacare Enrollees Face $530 IRS Tax Bill
J.P. Morgan to start charging big clients fees on some deposits
U.S. Homeownership Rate Hits 20-Year Low
Fed Remains Dovish, No Indication of Interest Rate HIkes
The Fed’s Own Stress Tests Aren’t as Stressful as Its Tests of Banks
Vladimir Putin: War with Ukraine would be 'apocalyptic' but unlikely
Shocking Disney World Price Inflation
USDollar/USDX Index
DJIA
The Controllers Are Terrified of a Federal Reserve Audit: “Too Important to Be Influenced by the People”
Shock Report: Domestic Black Sites Now Operational: “When You Go In, No One Knows What’s Happened To You”

Energy Stories in the News Feb 25

Oil prices mixed ahead of US supply report
China slows oil demand growth UK oil production revenues fall by £24b in 2014
With Downgrade, No One Excited About Petrobras' Oil Finds Anymore
Iran to spend up to $4.8 bln from sovereign fund on oil development
EU to Seek Safer Gas Supply, Cleaner Power in Energy Plan
Egypt to receive first import of LNG cargo
RPT-Australian project sells 2 LNG cargoes, diversions to Europe eyed
THERMAL COAL-Prices ease after early 2015 rally
UPDATE 1-Colombia gov't forecasts 10 pct increase in 2015 coal output
US coal production increases in 3Q 2014, exports, imports down
Japan's former Prime Minister will warn Wales to learn from Fukushima disaster and stay nuclear-free
Israeli PM warnings on Iran nuclear at odds with Mossad, leaked cable shows
SunEdison Sees Installations Doubling as Solar Grows
Wind energy in Peru: There is US $ 2,000 million to invest in wind power projects
Gasoline Plunge Wipes Out Profits for U.S. Ethanol Makers

Precious Metals Stories in the News Feb 25

Feb 25 The Bull Case For Gold This Year, and the Bear  Sam Kirtley 321gold   
Feb 25 What To Do While Waiting to End the Fed  Mises   
Feb 25 Bird Doo; Yellen Goes to Congress  BIIWII   
Feb 25 Even If Current Talks Are Successful, Grave Greek Problems Remain  TDB   
Feb 25 Why Does Fiat Money Seemingly Work?  acting-man   
Feb 25 Doctors & Lawyers Peaking with 2015.75 – The Crash & Burn  AE   
Feb 25 The revival of the American debt machine  MB360   
Feb 25 French Media Documents Israeli Reporter's Fraudulent Paris Walk on Muslim "Wild Side"  RS   
Feb 25 Limpet teeth found to be strongest natural material  Guardian   

Headlines in the News February 24, 2015

Rent walkouts point to strains in U.S. farm economy
Local banks against Fed audit
Greece’s Leaders Face a Revolt at Home as They Try to Appease Creditors
Greece Misses 1st Commitment: Delays Reform List Delivery Until Tuesday
9 Countries Have Debt-To-GDP Over 300%
Look Who’s Living on The Financial Edge
BIG BLOW FOR SHALE ENERGY: Chevron Terminates All Shale Gas Exploration In Europe
Departments Now “Having Hard Time” Finding People Who Want to Be Police Officers, Blaming Social Media
Secrecy around police surveillance equipment proves a case’s undoing
Building the 3 Element Tape Measure Beam
HUGE Solar Blast Incredible 5 Year Timelapse Photography of The Sun
Wal-Mart's Minimum Wage Breakdown
The Government Bundle: Would You Like War with Your Health Care?
Ex-Employees Claim Intuit Let Fraudulent TurboTax Returns Through For The Money
A Student-Debt Revolt Begins
Galbraith, Magnus: Greece cannot pay debts, Europe ad hoc + dysfunctional
Greek bank deposit outflows rose to 3 billion euros last week: JP Morgan
Politician used campaign money on private jets, massages and a Katy Perry concert
West Coast ports up and running again
Gas Prices Inch Higher After Months of Decline
Slumping Oil Prices Spur Talks Of Emergency OPEC Meeting
Greece Delays Submittal of Its Overhaul Plans
Central Banks: Market Dependent
How Dirty Money Gets Into Banks
Rent walkouts point to strains in U.S. farm economy
Is Another Recession Looming for the U.S.?
Why Europe should worry about ISIS in Libya
Local Bankers Prepare to Fight Audit the Fed Bill
Texas Governor: Since Jan. 1, 'We Have Had More Than 20,000 People Come Across the Border'
Why American students are struggling with small debts
Gold Just Needs More Time
The wealthy are walling themselves off in cities increasingly segregated by class
Profit from the Greatest Unwind in Economic History
Obama’s Department of Homeland Security Spent Nearly $150M on Office Furniture and Makeovers
USDollar/USDX Index
DJIA
Economic “Contagion” Threatens “Impending Crisis”: Exposure to Falling Oil Prices Driving Global Defaults and Slowdown
Drones Now Collecting Your Mobile Data to Create Targeted Ads: “With Drones, It Becomes So Much Easier”

Energy Stories in the News Feb 24

Oil rigs fall idle after global crude prices drop
Oil back below $50 as OPEC hopes fade
Shell shelves 200,000-bpd Pierre River oil sands mining project
'Squabbles' over Lebanon sea oil reserve
Gazprom Limiting Gas to Ukraine for Lack of Payment, Miller Says
Lithuania energy minister to seek natural gas imports from US
Coal fired power units in India fail to meet global efficiency standards, says study
Russia opens its largest coal mine
Russia talks up chances of Iran nuclear deal
France Warns of Nuclear Industry Shake-Up After Areva Loss
Solar power set to become cheapest source of energy over next decade
India Plans Association Of Top 50 Solar Power Nations
Iran's refinery to produce premium gasoline, jet fuel

Headlines in the News February 23, 2015

Americans are having more trouble paying off their student debt than their houses
Is the EU Finally Breaking Free of Russia’s Energy Grip?
Obama wants to tax your retirement accounts
DANGER AHEAD FOR U.S. & WEST: Shown In These Gold Charts
Investors Have No Choice But To Own Gold After This Latest McKinsey Chart
The simple secret to surviving any crisis
Christian Persecution
You Had One Job, Lenovo
Bombshell Interview: Cop Reveals That “Planting Evidence And Lying” Are Just “Part Of The Game”
Bosnia war survivor warns of things to come in collapse of America
Largest oil refinery strike in 30 years expands
Sears Can’t Afford Worker Pay Raise
Greece debt deal: Reforms will 'combat tax evasion'
Millions of low-income people struggle to pay their heating bills
India Cuts Its Gold Import Tax â€" A Smart Move
ISIS following ‘end-of-days scenario’
Girl Scout cookie makers fear firings over forced OT
Al-Shabaab threatens malls, including some in U.S.; FBI downplays threat
John McCain: "Ashamed of my country" over Ukraine response
Why Gold Is Looking Lustrous Once Again
Most Americans Are Slaves And They Don’t Even Know It
Why Hong Kong Might Lose Its No. 1 Spot on the Index of Economic Freedom
Rudy Giuliani says he’s received death threats over Obama remarks
Yellen to shed light on market's biggest mystery
CAT CEO: Inequality is 'an urgent thing to solve'
Wal-Mart just put pressure on McDonald's
The Fed's Major Problem Is The Simple Ignorance Of Economists
Madoff Victims to Get $1.45 Billion After Trustee’s Victory
Why Walmart raised wages
Labor secretary: 'Damage done' by port dispute
When Pot Goes From Illegal To Recreational, Schools Face A Dilemma
HSBC says CEO Stuart Gulliver holds Swiss account
Target leaves other companies in the lurch as they liquidate
USDollar/USDX Index
DJIA

Energy Stories in the News Feb 23

India should use cheap oil to boost balance sheet - RBI deputy
INSIGHT-US shale oil's crash diet likely to bring forward output dip
Oman targeting maximum oil output as global price rout seen over
Top African oil producer Nigeria's economic growth slows
Iran in talks to revive gas exports to UAE
Saudi Aramco extends bidding for work on unconventional gas
Obama embraces natural gas exports to drive job growth despite likely domestic price hike
Australia cyclone spares coal miners, farmers
Qatar-Japan consortium seeks Turkey coal production
European Commission May Axe Hungary-Russia Nuclear Plant Deal
Areva Has $5.6 Billion Loss on Delays, Weak Nuclear Demand
Ireland's Energy: We need to debate the nuclear option honestly
Israeli solar power plant to generate electricity day and night
Why India Could Be the World's Most Important Solar Market
Gasoline cargoes redirected from New England to Florida: sources

Precious Metals Stories in the News Feb 23

Feb 23 Gold Market Update  CliveMaund   
Feb 23 SSSSS This past week in gold  Jack Chan 321gold   
Feb 23 Swimming with the Sharks...  Ellen Brown WoD   
Feb 23 Gold, Pigs, PIIGS, Bye-Bye Baro ... and QE-IV?  Demeadville   
Feb 23 Greece deal: We won the battle, not the war - Tsipras  BBC   
Feb 23 Global economic outlook – update  GoldMoney   
Feb 23 WSJ: Subprime Consumer Debt Soars to 7-Year High  NewsMax   
Feb 23 American Officials Silent on Israeli Abuse of Palestinian Children  CP   
Feb 23 Divers stumble across Israel's biggest ever discovery of gold coins  CNN   

Headlines in the News February 20, 2015

Why The Stock Market Likes Cheap Oil
Debt Heaven Fallacy, not on Earth
If You Were Bankrupt
Income Investors Beware: The Fed Will Raise Rates
Greece Rejects Bailout Deal â€" Deadline To Avoid Financial Chaos In Europe Is March 1st
A Moral Code For The Post-Collapse World
Victory in Tripoli: Lessons for the War on Terrorism
Officials Declare ‘Eating Healthy’ a Mental Disorder
Raging Rudy Giuliani “What Is Wrong With Our President?!”
Wal-Mart Wage Hike Gets Mixed Reaction
Rudy Giuliani: Obama doesn't love America
How Germany Is Blowing Up The European Union
Experian: Auto loan balances hit record $866B in Q4
Biden: Middle Class 'In Worst Shape Since 1920', Is Currently 'Being Killed'
Number of Corporations in U.S. Hit Lowest Level Seen in 40 Years
Postal Service and union open talks on new contract
Why the big freeze turns economics upside down
As port dispute drags on, labor secretary urges 'immediate agreement'
Jobless claims fall sharply, boosting job market cheer
Is Cheap Oil a Complete Plus for the Economy?
Intuit & Apple Have Changed The Rules For TurboTax Users
Immigration advocates press Obama to act quickly
Central Bankers' Worst Nightmares Are Unfolding in Greece
Best Buy's new attraction and...Dyson robots?!
Frederick’s of Hollywood shutting a third of its stores
Why Greece's euro zone bail-out negotiations are more tense than ever
Bank customers still prefer banks to online banking
Americans Haven't Had A Raise In 35 Years, But Something Else Is Plaguing Them Most
Give Millennials a Bailout
Obama Anti-terrorism “Jobs for Jihadists” Concept Is a Marxist Idea
What Will Americans Sacrifice for a Vacation?
This WILL Happen! All pegs break!
LA Teachers Threaten Strike, Demand $800 Million
USDollar/USDX Index
DJIA
Ignoring America’s Safety, Homeland Security Vows: “Government Should Give Voice to Plight of Muslims in this Country”
Landing Strips, Farms and Hideaways: Secret Escapes of the Elite: “The Rich Are Worried and They Should Be”

Energy Stories in the News Feb 20

US oil workers reject Shell's contract offer prolonging strike
More U.S. oil service firms cut jobs on oil decline
World's biggest PR firm calls it quits with American oil lobby – reports
As Rig Count Falls and Production Rises, Oil Prices are Anyone's Guess
Japan delegation in Iran for gas talks
LNG Shipping Rates Fall to Lowest Since 2010 in Boon for Traders
Natural gas drilling is causing earthquakes in Europe too
Global thermal coal futures trim gains and market refocuses on oversupply
Coal mining in Canada to 2020: Underutilised assets
SA's nuclear deal with Russia is far from done
Brazil disconnects nuclear power plant
Vestas Wind signs MoU to develop pilot wind projects in Pakistan
Are Solar Farms Declining in the United States?
Gasoline-powered cars are here to stay ... deal with it
New USDA report shows increased corn use for ethanol, less sorghum

Precious Metals Stories in the News Feb 20

Feb 20 Gold: Range Trade Charts Analysis  Morris Hubbartt 321gold   
Feb 20 John Kaiser proposes a new system for financing junior miners  CEO   
Feb 20 ECB risks crippling political damage if Greece forced to default  Telegraph   
Feb 20 A New Gold Standard In The Making  BS   
Feb 20 Is Washington Fabricating the Economic Data?  MDN   
Feb 20 A demographic tsunami looms  MB360   
Feb 20 Obama's Force Authorization is a Blank Check for War Worldwide  TDB   

Headlines in the News February 19, 2015

Federal benefit programs to support Apple Pay
Rothschild vs. Rothschild
David Stockman: The Global Economy Has Entered The Crack-Up Phase
I May Get Out of US Stocks: Nobel-Winner Shiller
With Clock Ticking, Greece May Ask for More Time
Why The Alarms Over A Slight Rate Hike?
has been posted
NJ Cops Arrest Gun Owner for “Creating a Risk of Widespread Injury or Damage”
Little Ice Age, Here We Come
Man sues after police turn off dashcam during arrest
Edible Weeds.
Jihad v. Crusades The Economic Ruination of Greece
Are You Ready For Total Currency War?
How Big a Hit Will Caterpillar Take From SEC Probe?
$10 a Barrel Oil Is Absolutely Possible
Beer Sales Spike As Food Stamps Hit
Will Obamacare Join Tax Season Chaos?
U.S. crude prices fall sharply as inventory grows
Obama: Extremists Have "Legitimate Grievances"
HUD Paid $37 Million in Rent for Deadbeats
Keiser Report: Puny Tax Evasion
Comex Gold Open Interest Numbers Show Massive Manipulated Gold Hit In Progress
Hedge fund billionaires bail on Alibaba
The Chilling Thing Devon Energy Just Said About the US Oil Glut
A labor dispute slowed America’s ports to a halt. But there’s an even bigger problem.
Andrew Hoffman-Gold & Silver Record Demand-Supply Falling
Falling Energy Prices Lead To Steep Drop By U.S. Producer Prices
American student loan debt has surpassed the GDP of Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland combined
What Would Happen if the Department of Homeland Security Shut Down?
HSBC Geneva office raided
Illegal Immigrants Eligible for Earned Income Tax Credit, Other Benefits
Google warns of US government 'hacking any facility' in the world
RadioShack Creditors Question Bankruptcy Timing
Japan exports roar ahead in January, trouncing forecasts
USDollar/USDX Index
DJIA
Greece Is Just the Beginning. ISIS and Ukraine Are Skirmishes: “The Real War is Economic and Currency Related”

Precious Metals Stories in the News Feb 19

Feb 19 The Catastrophic Costs of Extend-and-Pretend Are About to Crush Europe  OfTwoMinds   
Feb 19 Neil Adshead Calls for Platinum Squeeze – We're Early But the Trend Will Play Out  Sprott   
Feb 19 Are You Ready For Total Currency War?  TDB   
Feb 19 This chart shows Grexit would send gold price to $2,000  Mining   
Feb 19 Ironman Varoufakis's Revolutionary Plan for Europe  CounterPunch   
class="highlight"> Feb 19 Gold Canyon [web] New Sponsor, Welcome Back  GCU   
Feb 19 To Schaeuble: Please Go F Yourself  m-t   
Feb 19 Greece Isn't Really The Problem  DC   
Feb 19 Cometh the Censor  Fred Reed FOE   
Feb 19 Meet the furry Jurassic period critters that outwitted the dinosaurs  WP   

Energy Stories in the News Feb 19

BP says 2014 oil output at Azeri projects slightly down, gas up
Saudi Oil Output Rising Amid Fight for Market Share
First Libyan oil exported in a week from Hariga storage
Futures flat, but crude oil sharply lowerReuters - 28 minutes agoGreek bailout extension request a positive sign: European CommissionReuters - 30 minutes agoMyanmar urges China prevent rebel attacks from across their borderReuters - 32 minutes agoTurkey t
Low oil price to hit African exploration groups
Top US natural gas supplier to start imports in October
Natural gas to become most important source of power in next decade, says BP
China's LNG import terminals half-idle in 2014
Japan leading charge for cleaner coal
UPDATE 1-Russia's Mechel sells U.S. coal asset back to original owner
Poland to seek EU approval this month for state aid to coal mines-PAP agency
India's nuclear energy safety measures receive thumbs-up at IAEA meet
Sri Lanka and India ink nuclear cooperation deal
China could build 200 nuclear reactors in the next 15 years
UAE inaugurates micro grid solar plants in Fiji
UK team serves up solar shells
Solar Really Can Be Cheaper Than Coal
Sweden dwarfs Norway in new wind power, but not for long
REFILE-UPDATE 6-Blast at Exxon refinery in Calif. could hike gasoline prices

Headlines in the News February 18, 2015

Silver & Gold Dealers To Be Shut Down? Update On Operation Chokepoint How much debt does your state have?
U.S. Companies Can Avoid Venezuela Devaluations by Taking One Big Hit
Risk of Greece Leaving the Euro Increases
As Bank Run Accelerates, Greek Depositors Pray To Saint Mario
John Williams-Odds High Hyperinflation Begins in 2015 â€" Greg Hunter USA Watchdog
The Weed Cookbook: Naturally Nutritious â€" Yours Free for the Taking!
Dirt-Cheap Survival Retreat: One Man’s Solution
Things to Come
True Grit
the BATFE’s proposed ban of “green tip” M855 5.56mm NATO ammunition
‘Beware of New Jersey’: 72-Year-Old Man Facing 10 Years in Prison Over an Antique Gun
‘Surviving the End’ by James Jay Carafano
Moscow-Based Security Firm Reveals What May Be The Biggest NSA “Backdoor Exploit” Ever
Pennsylvania Judge Sentenced to 28 Years In Prison for Selling Teens to Prisons
US Household Debt Nears $12 Trillion
Blizzard mania costs U.S. over $1 billion
JPMorgan tops list of risky banks: government study
US to Allow Export of Armed Military Drones
Sweden goes negative
A New Gold Standard In The Making
What would happen if Greece quits the euro?
Port fight costing us $400,000 a day: CEO
Census Bureau: 30.3% Millennials Still Living With Their Parents
'We Can't Kill Our Way Out': State Dept Cites 'Lack of Jobs' for Rise of ISIS
Gold Videocast: America’s New "Job-Sharing" Economy
How Billionaires Run Solar Plant Scams
Largest trove of gold coins in Israel unearthed from ancient harbor
The Skills Gap: America's Young Workers Are Lagging Behind
The Robots Are Coming for Your Paycheck
Is Japan Preparing For War?
US port strikes continue and Paul Craig Roberts on Greece
Why a major backup at West Coast ports could cost the retail industry billions
Some 11.4 million Americans have enrolled in Obamacare: White House
Money Is Bailing Out of Canada
If Greece Leaves The Euro, Gold Adds $200 - Frank Holmes
Intel: ISIS planning attacks on U.S. soil
The 25 Highest Paying Jobs With High Levels of Openings
USDollar/USDX Index
DJIA
Collapse Survivor Explains Strategic Savagery: “You Have Two Choices – Fight To The Last or Run”

Interesting Energy Stories in the News Feb 18

Libyan Oil Exports All But Shut Off As Violence Spreads
Canada imposes sanctions on Russian oil firm Rosneft, Rostec CEO
No UK shale oil production for two decades, says BP
Russia to build first oil refinery in Uganda
Report: China to be the world's top oil consumer by 2035
U.S. natural gas market buffered against local policy intervention
SA plans natural gas import infrastructure for power
Coal price rally with legs as India overtakes China
Nigeria targets 500mw from coal-powered plant
More cracks found in Belgian nuclear reactors
S.Africa's Energy Mix Must Incorporate Nuclear
Is the sun rising on an African solar revolution?
India to create a federation of 50 solar power-rich nations: Piyush Goyal
UPDATE 1-Britain approves world's largest offshore wind farm
Amid wave of thefts, Mexico won't ship gasoline in pipelines

Interesting Precious Metals Stories in the News Feb 18

Feb 18 Failed Discipline, Failed Reforms & Grexit: Why the Euro Failed  OfTwoMinds   
Feb 18 Gold News Monitor - Gold Demand in 2014  Arkadiusz Sieron 321gold   
Feb 18 The GOLD BEAR Market IS DEAD...  Denaliguide 321gold   
Feb 18 Misconceptions About Gold  acting-man   
Feb 18 Greece Rejects Bailout Deal – Deadline To Avoid Financial Chaos In Europe Is March 1st  TEC   
Feb 18 Arianne [web] Announces a new 43-101 mineral resources estimate  Yahoo!   
Feb 18 Miraculins [web] Provides Pre-Submission De Novo Documentation to the FDA for its Scout® Diabetes Technology  MOM   
Feb 18 Extreme Overvaluation and the Inventory Problem  HussmanFunds   
Feb 18 Eurozone Issues Greece an Ultimatum; Athens Hopeful of Deal  NYT   
Feb 18 The US' Suicidal Strategy On Ukraine  PP   
Feb 18 Here's What Scientists Think is Buried Deep Within the Earth's Core  Time   

Interesting Headlines in the News February 17, 2015

If Fed raises Interest Rates… will create the greatest economic collapse in modern times
Is Washington Fabricating the Economic Data?
Stockman: Slap Handcuffs on the Fed Before It’s Too Late
Japan Q4 Annualized GDP +2.2%, Worse than Expected
How Truly Free Markets Help the Poor
Pharmacy Shelves Care in Venezuela
Cometh the Censor The FBI’s Plan To Collect Everyone’s DNA Just Got A Huge Boost From Congress
A Jew Harassed on the Streets of Paris
Call For End To Foreign Aid To Argentina As It Buys Fighter Jets From China
Nation’s Top Teacher Drops Resignation Bomb: “I Can’t Drill ‘em and Kill ‘em”
Greek debt talks collapse
Hackers' $1 billion bank theft may still impact consumers
Bank of America slashes another 250 employees
European banks' balance
Bill would force banks to maintain 'zombie' homes
Obama set to ratchet up pressure over Homeland Security funding
Oil steady as Libya, Kurdish worries offset by Greek woes
Poll: Americans Disapprove of Obama Handling ISIS, Foreign Policy
Fraud alert: What TurboTax users need to know now
Official: Ukrainian forces killed after ceasefire
Is a June rate hike coming? Traders say one thing, economists another
Many ObamaCare enrollees are finding out that they owe the IRS a lot of money
What's Needed to Sustain Japan's Growth
David Cameron Thinks Obese People Should Lose Benefits If They Don’t Try To Lose Weight
Get Ready for $10 Oil
Reckless Stock-Market Leverage Intoxicates Politicians
Misconceptions About Gold
BMO: Arizona economy will accelerate in 2015
Mosler: weak Greek position because of refusal to consider Grexit
CSX train hauling North Dakota oil derails, cars ablaze in West Virginia
Casino Revenues Surge as Gas Prices Fall
The Greeks Are Running Towards Gold As A Safe Heaven As The Retail Demand Increases By 123%
USDollar/USDX Index
DJIA

Interesting Energy Stories in the News Feb 17

Oil prices rise further but analysts expect downward correction
US oil output prevails through sinking rig counts
UPDATE 1-Mexico's Pemex to delay refinery upgrades due to low oil prices
Iran, Iraq battle over oil clients with record discounts
East coast gas market a 'slow train crash'
Kenya delays signing LNG deal with Qatar on domestic gas discovery
Coal India's e-auction: Shortage of coal pushes up prices
EU approves state aid for Czech coal mine
Nuclear plants delayed in China, watched closely by US firms
British Plans for Nuclear Power Spark European Fight
China, UK cos to invest billions in solar, wind energy
North America lags behind Europe in offshore wind energy projects
Israeli solar power plant to generate electricity around the clock Plunging oil prices squeeze producers of ethanol, lowering industry outlook

Interesting Precious Metals Stories in the News Feb 17

Feb 17 Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Pension Fund Managers  ME   
Feb 17 The Russian Banking Crisis  Arkadiusz Sieron 321gold   
Feb 17 The Most Significant Development in Junior Resource Stocks in Years  EAG   
Feb 17 Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Hollywood Economics – and More  TDB   
Feb 17 In EPA's expected 'veto' of Pebble Mine in Alaska, foes see a vein of overreach  WP   
Feb 17 A sad story from Marissa Mayer's Yahoo shows how brutal corporate realignments can be  BI   
Feb 17 Greece is on a collision course and will not compromise  FP   
Feb 17 60% of victims of Israeli terror bombing were women, children, or elderly  TRR   
Feb 17 Dogs can tell what you are FEELING  DailyMail   

Will it take a wake up call?

I think many of us who are serious about homesteading, prepping, and being prepared do the best we can to put all of our time, energy, effort, study, and skills building toward that goal of sustainable living, life skills, back to the land,  and build our relationship with our creator.  However as serious as I would like to think that I am about all of this it only takes a wake up call to get some serious clarity, and realize just where I have fallen short and didn't have things in place that I really needed. 

So it made me ask the question why did it take a serious disruption to my life to get this clarity?  To suddenly see where I am way short of the goal, and not as prepared as I would like to think that I was.  Should it take a wakeup call before we get clear and concerned about these critical areas such as ensuring your water supply, food supply, energy and housing needs even if the SHTF and there isn't any income to support it? 

The reality is as long as we rely on "the economy" as a general system of things we are on life support.  We are like aliens just visiting the planet and we need to have air, and a hospitable environment provided for us so that we can live here.  It really does not have to be that way.   And each day we should be working toward the goal of not needing things from this "mirage" of prosperity based on a money system of debt, instability, and false promises.  We are only going to get hurt and hurt bad as we can clearly see that the music is going to stop for this mirage global economy as the printing presses lose their value and horrific events will result from it all as they try to find a way to save these global empires they have built. 

Now back to us.  Let's forget the global nonsense... You can think global, but act local... That is where the rubber meets the road.  It shouldn't have taken a wake up call in order to get clarity on what is most important and CRITICAL that I have in place.  But that is the place I find myself and seeing where I fell short and working very hard as we speak to try and correct what I can, but I realize I cannot overcome some of these things as it is just too late.  Now I get to live with the consequences of some of those choices, and lack of action.  If all goes well and I manage to land another decent paying job in my field I most certainly will have some projects lined up and an action plan that moves use quickly to fix these things that leave us in a compromised state.  If the job doesn't come along then get to learn the hard way how to become resourceful to meet these needs... Using things like Craiglist and Freecycle to reclaim and reuse things, and to barter and trade for what is needed.  One way or the other we will have to find a way to make these needed things happen.

My reason for posting this is to encourage you to ask yourself.  If your job went away today, or your retirement was suddenly wiped out or taken from you... And you had to live off of whatever you have right now could you do it?   What would you need to live off the resource you have right now?  While your thinking about it MAKE A LIST!  Where would you get your food?  Water? Energy? Heat?  The essentials to survive... What do you need to live and what do you need to do to ensure you have that? 

I know for myself I realize I am stuck in an urban environment as our off the grid location still lacks essential things like water, and a shelter that we won't freeze in during the winter.  IE some insulation, framing, and a wood stove.  So without those most basic things we have to stay put where we are in our urban setting.  Also we have not yet had the opportunity to begin planting or building garden beds.  That was slated for this year as I had been putting all my focus on our MO property and neglecting what I needed here in my urban location.  I had hoped that I could get those basics in place before anything happened... It was a bad choice in hindsight.  I was optimistic we would be able to move to MO before things got bad.  That left us unprepared in some basic ways in our urban location.  So now that my wakeup call has happened the scramble is on in our urban location to ensure that the basics are in place to bug out in place...

We talk about these things and try to prepare, but I think in some ways we get complacent and don't put the urgency and order of things together.  I should have had my stuff ready to go here in our urban location and then worked on the rural location as time and funds permitted.  So I am doing things here at the house that should have been done a few years ago such as planting fruit trees, shrubs, and bushes that take a few years to produce.  Had I done that a few years back we would have a living landscape this year to fall back on for food production.  I had every intention of doing just that and I let other things become the priority.  Funny how serious and intense things get when you suddenly realize just how much you need that. 

The morale of the story is if you don't think you have time to do all these projects it is time to think again.  If you don't think you really need to do it right now, and if everything you know right now was suddenly disrupted, would you then wish you had it done right now?   Move with a sense of urgency, and don't let anything get in your way.  Make your list of essential things you need.  Don't wait!  Tomorrow could look VERY different than today and not in a good way.  So take this serious so when your wakeup call comes your like... WHEW!  I am sure glad I took care of this stuff when I could!  I am here to tell you it sure beats struggling with the REGRET and battling to get past the areas that we fall short!

Take Care,  God Bless,
Longsnowsm