Unusual News
Using Cardboard to Fight Global Warming
Surprising as it may seem to most Americans, about three billion people still eat meals that are cooked using firewood. This adds considerably to deforestation and global warming. Introducing a solution: a cardboard box.
A Kenya-based company,... read more
Are Purses Dangerous to Your Health?
The Center for Environmental Health conducted testing on faux leather purses, wallets, tote bags, and other accessories and discovered that many of these products contain lead levels exceeding state standards in California. The testing was done on... read more
Pentagon Declares War on Insects
The big news coming out of the recently held American Mosquito Control Association convention was provided by none other than the Pentagon, which these days not only fights terrorists but bugs as well. Five years ago the Department of Defense laun... read more
The Air Force Chooses a New Coat
Just in time for spring fashions, the US Air Force is moving closer to adopting a new dress-blues coat for personnel to wear. A group of approximately 360 Air Force men and women were selected to review three different new styles of jacket—two fea... read more
Dental Tourism
In a reversal of a common trend, a growing number of Americans are crossing the border south into Mexico to take advantage of economic opportunity. These individuals are seeking dental care at costs often 70% less than those in the United States, ... read more
Who is Binge Drinking?
Of all the alcohol-related deaths in the United States, more than 50% were caused by binge drinking, which is currently defined as consuming five or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion for men and four for women. The U.S. Centers for Disease Con... read more
Facebook 5th Largest Nation in the World
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced on Wednesday that the social network has welcomed its 200 millionth user. That means that Facebook Nation now has a larger population than Brazil, and trails only China, India, The United States and Indon... read more
Is Smoking Good for the Nation’s Economy?
Congress never makes a move regarding health care without first considering the financial costs involved. But the latest twist on the cost-benefit question raises the point of whether the nation would be better off—from a purely bottom-line perspe... read more
Bright Side of Economic Downturn…Highway Deaths Plunge
While every indicator about the economy continues to look dreary, one set of statistics is downright life-preserving, thanks in large part to the recession. Last year, the fewest motorists in almost 50 years died on the nation’s highway—37, 313—re... read more
Creating Peace between Wild Animals and Cattle
Because the federal government leases public lands to ranchers to graze livestock, conflicts often develop between wild animals and domesticated cattle and sheep. Grazing leases have economic value and ranchers often sell them to one another, and ... read more
Cattle Rustlers Return
In recent years, the world has had to come to terms with the fact that pirates are not just a romantic phenomenon of another era, but still exist today. Now Americans are seeing the return of another lost category of criminals: cattle rustlers. Ca... read more
What if They Gave an Execution and No One Came?
The state of Washington now finds itself without an executioner, following the abrupt resignation of its lethal injection team. The four volunteers who administer lethal injections to death-row inmates at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla... read more
Native American Tribe Closer to Full Recognition
After a century of controversy, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, the largest Native American tribe east of the Mississippi, with 55,000 members, is on the verge of complete federal recognition. A hearing on the matter was held on March 18th in ... read more
American Way of Life Clashes with Brits in Iraq and Russians in Space
From Iraq to outer space, America’s soldiers and astronauts are having a tough time co-existing with their British and Russian counterparts. In Basra, where U.S. troops have been slowly taking over fro withdrawing British units, American GIs have ... read more
Stranded Seal Shipped Home by FedEx
A stranded young Atlantic Harbour Seal was sent from Bermuda to Newark, New Jersey, via FedEx last week. The young male seal, starving and suffering from a laceration in his neck, was found washed up on a beach in Bermuda on February 15. He was on... read more
Talk about Entourage—Obama Does the UK
President Barack Obama arrives in Great Britain today, bringing with him the customary—and gargantuan—entourage that recent U.S. presidents have been known to tow along on overseas junkets. No less than 500 officials and staff are accompanying Oba... read more