Free Markets Might Not Mean Freedom After All

"Over the last several decades, a new idea about freedom has, slowly, eroded our beliefs about what freedom really means. [...]They tell us that free markets and personal freedom are, actually, the same thing [... and] restricting or regulating markets just prevents people...

The employer that created a town may now be killing it.

"Somerville, Texas, a sleepy, one-­stoplight town 90 miles northwest of Houston, is home to a massive wood-treatment facility, which for more than 100 years churned toxic chemicals into the atmosphere while manufacturing phone poles and bridge supports. ...It was also...

FAA Whistleblower Received Death Threats

"The FBI is investigating death threats to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector who informed Congress about a breakdown in FAA oversight of Southwest Airlines ... The threat came in the form of an article delivered to Mr. Boutris' wife, which discussed how a woman...

Privatized Public-Assistance Program Turns Into a Fiasco.

"The [Texas] Legislature and Gov. Rick Perry slashed the payroll of the state's welfare offices and ordered a shift of many screening duties to four privately run call centers. ... The Texas call-center experiment was supposed to make it easier for the needy to get...

Cheerleaders Beat Classmate for 30 Minutes While Videorecording the Attack

"Six teen girls lured a former friend to a home and ambushed her, taking turns pounding on her face and body for 30 minutes until she was unconscious as someone videotaped the violence ...As the videotape rolled, a girl's voice is heard yelling "There is only 17 seconds left;...

Lobbyists play major roles in campaigns

"The deep involvement of lobbyists in campaigns may look dubious. ... But the law can't deter lobbyists from playing major roles during campaigns ... [where they] spend millions to shape legislation, influence regulation and compete for ...

Clones for Dinner

"So, was anyone surprised that the FDA told us cloned livestock is okay to eat because, "it is beyond our imagination to even find a theory that would cause the food to be unsafe," on the very same day they also pointed out that, "currently, it is not possible to draw any...

A fifth of your genes belong to someone else

"the U.S. Patent Office has given various labs, companies and universities the rights to 20% of the genes found in everyone’s DNA — with some disturbing results. Many U.S. labs won’t perform certain genetic tests because of patent restrictions or fees. One company that...

Mayor Giuliani Says Freedom Means Authority

""Freedom is about authority. Freedom is about the willingness of every single human being to cede to lawful authority a great deal of discretion about what you do." Asked later about his remarks, Mr. Giuliani said governmental authorities in American society had fallen into...

Canada & Greece have best privacy record, U.S. & Russia the worst

""The general trend is that privacy is being extinguished in country after country," said Simon Davies, director of Privacy International. "Even those countries where we expected ongoing strong privacy protection, like Germany and Canada, are sinking into the mire."...

Topless Woman Entraps Man in Police Sting

"An off-duty 42-year-old firefighter was walking in Berliner Park in Columbus, Ohio, in May when he saw a woman sunbathing topless under a tree. He approached her and they started talking and getting comfortable, the woman smiling and resting her foot on his shoulder at one...

Innovation? How About Just Taking Out the Trash?

"500 million tons of electronic trash is generated worldwide every year and the earth is starting to strangle on all this electronic detritus. [...] It’s got a cute name: e-waste [...,] but it's a particularly malignant form of pollution, with high levels of toxins."

Guns Beat Green: The Market Has Spoken

"If you are looking for a sure bet in a new growth market, sell solar, buy surveillance; forget wind, buy weapons. [...] The idea that capitalism can save us from climate catastrophe has powerful appeal. It gives politicians an excuse to subsidize corporations rather than...