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Scientists confirm water extraction helped trigger deadly 2011 quake in Spain

“The investigation adds to anecdotal evidence that human activities, ranging from exploration for shale gas, quarrying and even water reservoirs, can cause quakes. ‘Our results imply that anthropogenic [man-made] activites could influence how and when earthquakes occur,’ said the study. In a commentary, Jean-Philippe Avouac, a geologist at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) said water extraction at Lorca probably accelerated a natural process of stress accumulation rather than unleashed the earthquake by itself.” Continue reading →

Another Eurozone Country Bites The Dust

“What’s unique in the collapsing housing bubble in Cyprus is a title-deed scandal of unimaginable proportions. And it has embroiled waves of foreign buyers. The banks aren’t talking. And they aren’t writing down their assets to reflect the layers of mortgages that are worthless. Developers are going bust. The money they pocketed has disappeared. Expat homeowners who don’t hold title deeds are terrified of losing their homes, even if they paid cash. There are no legal processes in place to resolve this. Estimates of the missing money range from €3 to €6 billion—enough to take down all Cypriot banks.” Continue reading →

Human rights advocates raise concerns over increased police Taser use

“Taser use in England rose by 45% in 2011 and the numbers are expected to continue to increase as more weapons are given to rank-and-file officers. The stun guns were fired by police at 27-year-old Dale Burns in Barrow, Cumbria, last year, who later died. In the US, where they are more regularly used, there have been hundreds of deaths. Before 2008, the use of Tasers was restricted to firearms officers, but their use has increased in recent years as more frontline officers have access to them.” Continue reading →

Lew Rockwell & Joe Salerno: War, Terror, and Banking

“Joseph Salerno talks to Lew Rockwell about our enemies, and practical ways to fight them.” Continue reading →

No-Fly List Strands Man In Hawaii

“The 34-year-old from Gulfport, Miss., was stranded in the islands this week after being told he was on the FBI’s no-fly list during a layover for a military flight from California to Japan. The episode left Hicks scrambling to figure out how he’d get home from Hawaii without being able to fly. How could someone on a list intelligence officials use to inform counterterrorism investigations successfully fly standby on an Air Force flight? He wasn’t told why and wondered whether his controversial views on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks played a role. Hicks said he disagrees with the 9/11 Commission’s conclusions about the attacks.” Continue reading →

TSA removes X-ray body scanners from major airports

“The Transportation Security Administration has been quietly removing its X-ray body scanners from major airports over the last few weeks and replacing them with machines that radiation experts believe are safer. The TSA says it made the decision not because of safety concerns but to speed up checkpoints at busier airports. The United States remains one of the only countries in the world to X-ray passengers for airport screening. The European Union prohibited the backscatters last year ‘in order not to risk jeopardizing citizens’ health and safety.'” Continue reading →

Italy’s Political Scandals Rattle Public Trust

“Many of the current scandals have their origins in a 2001 law meant to promote greater federalism and, theoretically, more local accountability. The measure, which handed out generous state financing without requiring that the regions raise much money on their own, backfired badly, fostering reckless spending throughout the country. With the creation of Italy’s provinces in 1970, and especially in the years after 2001, the cost of regional governments exploded. The salaries of Italy’s 1,113 regional lawmakers expanded as well, to $4,000 to $6,500 a month, and often double that with added benefits.” Continue reading →

Why Firing a Bad Cop Is Damn Near Impossible

“All of these Rhode Island cops, and many more like them across the country, were able to keep their jobs and benefits—sometimes only temporarily, but always longer than they should have—thanks to model legislation written and lobbied for by well-funded police unions. That piece of legislation is called the ‘law enforcement bill of rights,’ and its sole purpose is to shield cops from the laws they’re paid to enforce.” Continue reading →