Yearly Archives: 2013

UK: Fire chief told policeman to leave ‘drowning’ man in 3ft deep lake [2012]

"The father of a man who drowned in 3ft of water after emergency crews were ordered not to rescue him has hit out at health and safety rules that ‘hinder’ the 999 services. David Burgess, whose son Simon lay floating face down in a lake for more than half an hour while firemen, police and paramedics watched, said it was impossible to ‘eliminate all risk’ for the emergency services. A fire crew claimed safety rules stopped them from going more than ‘ankle-deep’ into the water [..] And a policeman and a paramedic who both volunteered to jump in were given orders not to do so by a fire station watch manager." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUK: Fire chief told policeman to leave ‘drowning’ man in 3ft deep lake [2012]

Spanish banks’ bad loan ratio rises to record in June

"The overall bad debt ratio for Spanish banks was up from 11.2 percent in May and has been steadily increasing since a drop-off at the end of last year when rescued lenders transferred toxic property assets to Spain's so-called bad bank. Spanish lenders' earnings were gutted last year by steep government-enforced provisions on properties and loans to developers, in the wake of a 2008 real estate crash. Those unable to cope were bailed-out with European funds, and most of their real estate loans were transferred to a government-backed bad bank." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSpanish banks’ bad loan ratio rises to record in June

Germany Fights Population Drop

"There is perhaps nowhere better than the German countryside to see the dawning impact of Europe’s plunge in fertility rates over the decades, a problem that has frightening implications for the economy and the psyche of the Continent. In some areas, there are now abundant overgrown yards, boarded-up windows and concerns about sewage systems too empty to work properly. The work force is rapidly graying, and assembly lines are being redesigned to minimize bending and lifting. Raising fertility levels in Germany has not proved easy, even while spending $265 billion a year on family subsidies." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGermany Fights Population Drop

School Has Become Too Hostile to Boys

"As school begins in the coming weeks, parents of boys should ask themselves a question: Is my son really welcome? A flurry of incidents last spring suggests that the answer is no. In all these cases, school officials found the children to be in violation of the school’s zero-tolerance policies for firearms, which is clearly a ludicrous application of the rule. But common sense isn’t the only thing at stake here. In the name of zero tolerance, our schools are becoming hostile environments for young boys. As our schools become more risk averse, the gender gap favoring girls is threatening to become a chasm." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSchool Has Become Too Hostile to Boys

Bill Bonner: The world’s fattest army

"Yes, dear reader, times have changed. But humans have not. Give them the opportunity, and they will turn into zombies. The late Colonel John Boyd of the US Air Force, observed that, 'It is not true the Pentagon has no strategy. It has a strategy, and once you understand what that strategy is, everything the Pentagon does makes sense. The strategy is, don’t interrupt the money flow, add to it.' Boyd was a strategist. He observed that wars were won by lean and agile fighters, who were able to improvise and innovate quickly as needs and opportunities arose. Bureaucracy does not support such warriors; it tries to get rid of them." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBill Bonner: The world’s fattest army

300 tonnes of radioactive water is worst leak yet at Japan’s Fukushima

"Some 300 tonnes of radioactive water is believed to have leaked from a tank at Japan’s crippled nuclear plant, the worst such leak since the crisis began, the operator said Tuesday. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said the leak was believed to be continuing Tuesday at Fukushima and it had not yet pinpointed the source of it. The company later said it had identified which tank was faulty but had yet to find the spot from where it was leaking. TEPCO admitted the toxic water might contaminate groundwater and flow into the Pacific Ocean 'in the longer term', but said it was working to avoid such a situation." Continue reading →

Continue Reading300 tonnes of radioactive water is worst leak yet at Japan’s Fukushima

Texas begins replacing paved roads with gravel due to lack of funding

"The Texas Department of Transportation began converting more than 80 miles of paved roads to gravel on Monday, according to the Texas Tribune. The speed limit on the new gravel roads will be reduced to 30 mph. Texas lawmakers approved $225 million for the repair of roadways and bridges within the state highway system this year. Texas lawmakers also approved a ballot measure that would provide $1.2 billion a year for state transportation projects. But the Texas Department of Transportation said $400 million was needed to repair immediate damage caused by energy sector traffic across the state." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTexas begins replacing paved roads with gravel due to lack of funding

U.S. Air Force can’t find enough people willing to be drone pilots

"The US Air Force is unable to keep up with a growing demand for pilots capable of operating drones, partly due to a shortage of volunteers, according to a new study. Despite the importance placed on the burgeoning robotic fleet, drone operators face a lack of opportunities for promotion to higher ranks and the military has failed to identify and cultivate this new category of aviators, Air Force Colonel Bradley Hoagland wrote in the report published for the Brookings Institution think tank. As of last year, the Air Force has 1,300 drone pilots, making up about 8.5 percent of the force’s aviators, compared to 3.3 percent four years [earlier]." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Air Force can’t find enough people willing to be drone pilots

Lebron James Escorted Through Oncoming Traffic To Concert By Police

"'It's unclear which law enforcement agency assisted King James in his concert commute, or whether the NBA superstar, who recently earned $56.6 million, arranged for such services himself. TMZ reports four law enforcement agencies, including City of Miami PD, Miami-Dade PD, Miami Gardens PD, and the Florida Highway Patrol have all denied escorting LeBron -- but a source with Miami-Dade Police told the site they are 'investigating' the breach of protocol.' The Young Turks hosts Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian break it down." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLebron James Escorted Through Oncoming Traffic To Concert By Police

French cops caught on video beating and tear-gassing women at traffic stop

"The driver allegedly refused to take a breathalizer exam and swung at the officers. As the video opens, one of the women can be seen behind one of the officers, while the apparent driver lies on the ground. At one point, he hits her with his baton. Radio France Internationale reported that, according to police sources, the woman was biting the officer. After the two separate, the officer grabs a can of tear gas and sprays it in her face before apparently admonishing a man standing at the scene to walk away. The officer later sprays another woman in the face. The video later shows the driver and the first woman being arrested." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench cops caught on video beating and tear-gassing women at traffic stop