Submitted by Gail Tverberg via Our Finite World blog,

Oil production can be confusing because there are various “pieces” that may or may not be included. In this analysis, I look at oil production of the United States broadly (including crude oil, natural gas plant liquids, and biofuels), because this is the way oil consumption is defined. I also provide some thoughts regarding the direction of future world oil prices.

North Korea have reached out to the West and asked them for help in preventing a potentially cataclysmic volcanic eruption from occurring, after one of world’s most dangerous volcano’s began rumbling again recently.  Mount Paektu, a 9,000 foot volcano on the border between China and North Korea, last erupted in 946 AD – causing one of the world’s largest eruptions in the last 2,000 years.

A group of authors claim they have evidence that proves ISIS were created by NATO and then handed over to be militarily led by Turkey, in order to destabilize the Middle East and allow Western leaders to dominate the region. According to investigative journalist Wayne Madsen, ISIS began as a rebel group under the US occupation of Iraq which then grew as they ravaged Libya and Syria. Saudi Arabia and Turkey funded the group so they could fulfil the orders coming from the US to fight proxy wars, in order to acquire oil, gas, and land for the West.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has called on Eurasian countries to join forces and unite against “western terrorism” which he says is a deliberate ploy to create instability in the Middle East.  Speaking at the Eurasia parliamentary meeting in Moscow on Tuesday, Larijani said, “If we have strong solidarity, we can stand against the West’s unfair behaviors“.

Scientists have announced that commonly used cold and flu medications, purchased over-the-counter, may cause memory loss, a decline in IQ and a shrinking of the brain.  According to a new study, popular medications used to treat colds, flu, hay fever, allergies, and heartburn all contain anti-cholinergic drugs – which can negatively alter the brain in the person taking them, with effects lasting up to a month after being used. Medications such as Zantac, Night Nurse and Nytol are among a huge list of drugs that may result in adverse reactions.