CLibertyC

Better deterrents put Somali pirates’ business under strain

"Soaring insurance premiums and the threat to crews have forced shipowners to change their ways. Ships have been made harder to attack by a range of measures known as BMP, or best management practice. They cruise faster and practise evasive manoeuvres. More than a quarter of vessels now carry armed security guards. The shipping industry used to oppose this, fearing that armed guards would escalate violence. But not a single vessel with guards has been boarded. Usually a warning shot is enough to deter the pirates. Lieut-Commander Sherrif says: 'The pirates go to sea to make money, not die in a firefight.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBetter deterrents put Somali pirates’ business under strain

Mexico’s Zetas drug cartel strikes gold in the coal business

"Mexican druglords have found an earthy new source of wealth: dirty old coal. They are mining it themselves in a coal-rich area along the US border or buying it from small mine operators, then reselling it to a state-owned company at fabulous margins that can see them make a profit 30 times greater than their initial investment. Reforma newspaper says the Zetas produce or buy 10,000 tonnes of coal a week. Selling it at their inflated prices, that means yearly revenue of $22 million to $25 million." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMexico’s Zetas drug cartel strikes gold in the coal business

Alberta Energy Minister Ken Hughes says province looking to tap U.S. military personnel to help develop oilsands

"Hughes said there are a half-million unemployed or underemployed younger military veterans in the U.S. Forecasts conducted on the labour needs of Alberta’s energy sector range greatly, with one study stating the province could be short 130,000 workers within seven years. Concerns over the welfare of U.S. military personnel returning from overseas — particularly the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — have been growing in the U.S. Among the challenges they face are homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder and unemployment in a country still struggling with an unemployment rate of around 8%." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAlberta Energy Minister Ken Hughes says province looking to tap U.S. military personnel to help develop oilsands

Still the Endorsement?: Libertarians Shouldn’t Act Like Paul Ryan Fans

Rand Paul endorsing Mitt Romney had everything to do with the liberty movement and little to do with Mitt Romney. I explained why, after it happened, here. If Sen. Paul had not endorsed Romney, I would be pretty regretful that he didn’t. The necessity of this is as clear to me now as the day [...]

Continue ReadingStill the Endorsement?: Libertarians Shouldn’t Act Like Paul Ryan Fans

Occupy hatches plot to destroy payday loan industry

"'The Debt Resistor’s Operations Manual' is 122 pages of some of the dodgiest financial advice we’ve ever seen. It’s no wonder the entire thing was published for free and written by 'an anonymous collective' of contributors. Here’s one of their more elaborate plans to upend the predatory payday lending industry, which involves finding 1,000 people from three different continents willing to commit fraud." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOccupy hatches plot to destroy payday loan industry

Walmart Goodies: retail giant goes gourmet

"'For only $7 a month, including tax and shipping, subscribers receive a gift box at their doorstep filled with five to eight hand-picked taster samples ranging from healthy and organic to artisan and ethnic,' Walmart said in a statement Wednesday. 'The new Goodies Co. box underscores Walmart’s commitment to e-commerce and its use of social innovations to create new offerings for consumers.' Goodies has been in beta testing for a few months, and now has over 3,000 subscribers, according to the company. The more popular products have a good chance at eventually being offered in Walmart stores." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWalmart Goodies: retail giant goes gourmet

Oklahoma Doctors vs. Obamacare

"Three years ago, Dr. Keith Smith, co-founder and managing partner of the Surgery Center of Oklahoma, took an initiative that would only be considered radical in the health care industry: He posted online a list of prices for 112 common surgical procedures. The Surgery Center's consumer-driven model could become increasingly common as Americans look for alternatives to the traditional health care market—an unintended consequence of Obamacare. Patients may have no choice but to look outside the traditional health care industry in the face of higher costs and reduced access to doctors and hospitals." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOklahoma Doctors vs. Obamacare

The Twinkie, a Suicide

"The snack giant endured $52 million in workers' comp claims in 2011, according to its bankruptcy filing this January. Hostess's 372 collective-bargaining agreements required the company to maintain 80 different health and benefit plans, 40 pension plans and mandated a $31 million increase in wages and health care and other benefits for 2012. Union work rules usually required cake and bread products to be delivered to a single retail location using two separate trucks. Drivers weren't allowed to load their own vehicles, and the workers who loaded bread weren't allowed to load cake. 'Pull up' employees moved products from back rooms to shelves." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Twinkie, a Suicide