Immigration vs Emmigration

Breitbart reports that a new Pew survey of Mexicans says that 1/3 of Mexicans would like to live in U.S.: "...roughly a third (34%) still say they would move to the U.S. if they had the opportunity,..."

"Mexicans are overwhelmingly concerned with crime in their country – 79% of respondents said "crime is a very big problem in their country." In addition, "about seven-in-ten Mexicans also worry about corrupt political leaders (72%), drug cartel-related violence (72%), water pollution (70%) and air pollution (69%)." In addition, "just over six-in-ten say corrupt police officers (63%) are a top problem."

Meantime, in Senor Housing News, "...a Mexican development company sees opportunity in targeting American and Canadian seniors looking to retire in Mexico, particularly the widely popular tourist town of Puerto Vallarta.

"Through an agreement with the Las Palmas Hotel, Puerto Vallarta-based Front Beach Retirement converted the 225 rooms of the all-inclusive hotel into an independent and assisted living community, Front Beach Puerto Vallarta."

Assisted Living is about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the same care in the U.S.  Ain't freedom to live where you want grand?

Popocatépetl Volcano Activity 24 Aug 2014

Volcano Discovery writes, "The volcano had a phase of stronger activity this morning, but overall this remains similar to the past months. A discrete explosion ejected an ash plume approx 1 km high and a phase of strong steaming, possibly with some ash emissions, occurred this morning. "Glow remains visible from the crater at night, indicating the continued slow rise of magma to the summit."

State of Immigration in USA; the positive side

There’s a word I don’t see often: “diaspora.” One meaning of the word derived from the Greek wordsdiaspeirein to scatter, from dia- +speirein to sow, is the movement, migration, or scattering of a people away from an established or ancestral homeland. Isn’t that what is happening on our southern border which gives immigration a bad name? Over the last 30 or so years, the U.S. has experienced a huge displacement of people from Latin America. The first Amnesty Bill signed by President Reagan legalized the status of 6 to 8 million people here illegally. Drawn by our liberty, religious freedom, and jobs and higher wages, 12 to 20 million have arrived in this country from the south. The vast number are from Mexico with a lesser number coming from Central America.

Efforts to secure the border with fences and border patrol agents and deportations have not stemmed the flow. No other country allows its borders to act as a sieve. Some say that the priority in dealing with illegal immigration is a secure border first, then some solution for the immigrants already part of our society. Others, encourage the movement into the country thinking it will redound to their political power or corporate financial power.

One thing is certain. The majority of Americans will not support wholesale deportation of those here illegally and not U.S. citizens. No amount of speechifying will convince American citizens that you can rip 12 to 20 million people from their homes and be better off.

This Is Not My America

The LA Times reports, "Michael Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old who was about to begin college, was shot multiple times and killed Saturday afternoon in a confrontation with a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., a St. Louis suburb."
The police have one version of the event, eye-witnesses have an alternate story. The result was a riot and looting on Sunday and Monday and numerous arrests.

I have two major concerns. The first is the militarization of our police forces. Anymore, the police come to an incident dressed like SWAT teams exiting from vehicles that look like military assault vehicles. Martin Armstrong believes "The police are being transformed from protecting the public into protecting government from the public." That is dangerous for our liberty.

My second major concern is the lack of growth in our incomes in the last 14 years.
Zero Hedge has an article about how much of our incomes are devoted to rent. More and more people are switching from owning a home to renting. Home ownership has fallen from +69% to -65% since 2003.  The result has been rents rising against falling incomes.Financial advisers might council that housing should be around 30% of your income.
We are seeing a growing trend in this country where housing is over 50% of a family's income. What happens to our society when all you can afford is housing and food? Are we seeing pent up rage over the economy and its slow growth? Do riots like Ferguson signal that our veneer of civilization is about to tear?
I suggest Yes is the answer to all of the above!

TRAVEL + LEISURE Strangest Vacation Rentals

The Seashell House, Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Architect Eduardo Ocampo constructed the glittering, oddly beautiful “Casa Caracol” as a vacation home for his brother, famous painter Octavio Ocampo. It looks like something fantastical out of a Tim Burton movie set. But rather than some sound stage, the casa is located on a tiny island across the street from the Caribbean Sea. While generally peaceful and private despite its proximity to Cancún, the eye-catching rental attracts some oglers. As the listing notes, “Privacy is sometimes lost as tourists on golf carts notice the spectacular architecture and stop to gawk over the fence—making you suddenly understand how celebrities feel.” $225 per night with a two-night minimum; airbnb.com

Renowned 'La Isla' Shopping Center to be Built in Puerto Vallarta

Renowned 'La Isla' Shopping Center to be Built in Puerto Vallarta

The commercial project will be located on the north side of the Grand Venetian touristic real estate development, overlooking the Pitillal River.

Contemplated work would involve a comprehensive series of jobs, which includes the remodeling and renovation of Peninsula Plaza, enclosing 'The Island' property, and building a connecting bridge over the Pitillal River.

Thus the project of La Isla Puerto Vallarta would combine two areas: the Peninsula shopping plaza, which the capital business group has already acquired for an undisclosed amount, and the property on which the 'Very Mexican' mall will be built.