Friday, March 6

Soldier Suicides Continue Alarming Rise

“After an alarming spike in soldier suicides in January, the U.S. Army said Thursday there were another 18 suspected suicides last month.”

U.S. Shows Signs of Opening Toward Havana

“The $410 billion spending bill that is working its way through Congress has become an unlikely platform for debate about U.S. policy toward Cuba.”

Fed Refuses to Release Bank Data, Insists on Secrecy

“The Federal Reserve Board of Governors receives daily reports on bailout loans to financial institutions and won’t make the information public, the central bank said in a reply to a Bloomberg News lawsuit.”

Police Ordered to Pay for Man's Pipe

“The Swedish chancellor of justice ruled the country's National Police Board must pay $33 to replace a man's pipe after he was cleared of drug charges.”

Mercenary King Erik Prince Resigns as Blackwater CEO

“The company formerly known as Blackwater continues its mission to bury its tarnished reputation and soldier on. Early this morning, Blackwater founder Erik Prince released a brief statement announcing he is stepping down as CEO of the infamous mercenary firm he started in 1997. A press release from the company -- which last month renamed itself "Xe" -- said Prince 'will now focus his efforts on a private equity venture unrelated to the company.'”

North Korea Threatens Civilian Planes

“North Korea has said it cannot ensure the safety of South Korean civilian flights passing near its airspace over the Sea of Japan (East Sea).”

Rove Set to Testify About Alabama Governor

Political corruption...who would have thought?

Higher Education and the Loss of Liberty

Alan Charles Kors at CPAC. Here's part 2. (Video)

A Memo to Sheriff Arpaio

“In Arizona, several thousand people marched on Saturday to protest Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement Program’s (ICE) sweeping crackdown on illegal immigrants.” (Video)

The Economics of Autonomous Zones

An interesting interview with an interesting person. (Hat tip Dan Clore of Smygo)

Students Challenge School's Gay Club Ruling

“An attorney for two gay students at a north Florida high school told a federal judge Thursday they should be allowed to form a campus club promoting tolerance toward gays, despite a school prohibition.”

Worst Job Losses in 60 Years Expected

“The Labor Department will release its latest snapshot of the job market on Friday at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. Economists are predicting nonfarm payrolls fell by 650,000 in February, the largest one-month job loss in almost 60 years as the recession tightened its grip on the economy.”

Enforcing the Drug Laws They Oppose

Rad Geek on LEAP .

Horses Were Tamed a Millennium Earlier Than Previously Thought

“New evidence, including mares milk residue in pottery, shows that horses were domesticated 5,500 years ago in Central Asia.”

Martian Volcano Could Be Reservoir for Life

“Scientists searching for extraterrestrial life might want to start digging under a Martian mountain three times as high as Mount Everest.”

Orkun Soylu

A photo blog.