Wishing You a Peaceful 2014

Nuclear Energy

Japan is a relatively technologically advanced society. A Tsunami could have caused their Fukushima reactors to melt illustrated the inherent instability of these reactors and the danger they pose to humanity. Here is a story from RT which focuses on the sickness suffered by the first responders.

How many countries' leaders are able to mingle with common citizens?

The Chinese President Xi Jinping was able to eat in a local restaurant without heavy security. Can USA president do that?

Early summary of the world in 2013

Voting in the USA Senate

The USA parliament looks like a diseased brain, with no neural connectivity between the two halves of the brain

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Soap Mistaken For Cocaine Lands 2 People In Prison For A Month

Two people spent a month behind bars after police pulled them over in Pennsylvania and found two plastic-wrapped packages of homemade soap in the trunk that troopers mistook for cocaine. [source]

That two months would worth a lot of money for these two people. Sue, sue sue!

USA Defence Budget

How can a democratic government have a defence department which has no oversight by the congress on its spending?

My personal experience in dealing with the USA defence's finance section is simply one word - incompetent. When we sent them an invoice with all the payment details, they transferred the money to a USA bank (which they should know we are an Australian company). When we chased them up, they agreed to resend the money - to another USA bank again! This occurred at least three times. It is frustrating to a small business but shows a larger problem on their side.