According to the U.S. Department of Justice, more than 2,319 people have been paid in excess of $1.8 billion since the program started in 1988. These federal websites show how to file a claim.
Switzerland issues citizens assault rifles, has low murder rate
"A gun in every closet." In Switzerland, the government admits its citizens have three guns a piece.
At one time, the Swiss government bought each citizen an assault rifle including ammunition. Now, only veterans are allowed to keep their assault rifles and bullets. Military service is required for all males over 21 years of age.
Switzerland had 47 murders last year. Its population is 8.1 million people.
Guns used in murders have been "decreasing" for 30 years
Guns used in murders have been "decreasing" for 30 years, according to Dr. Garen Wintemute. Dr. Wintemute has spent the last 30 years studying gun violence. “Suicide by firearm is far more common than homicide,” says Dr. Wintemute. "Over the past 30 years, firearm suicides have exceeded homicides even when homicide rates were at their highest in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Ozzie's mining gold in South Carolina
A gold mining company from Australia paid $856 million two years ago to mine gold in Kershaw, South Carolina. The Haile Gold Mine is 60 miles southeast of Charleston. Kershaw has 1800 people. The mine is already mining and pouring gold ingots.
The end of Florida orange juice
Orange juice supply and demand has stayed on a 15-year nose dive. This year's Florida crop is the smallest since the 1940's and may be no longer grown in Florida soon. Hurricane Irma has destroyed 70% of this year's Florida orange crop, according to the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. High winds from Irma have knocked unripe oranges from branches before they can ripen and can be sold. A plant disease called "greening", has infected every Florida orange grove. This disease has become so widespread that it may destroy the state's entire orange crop soon. There is no cure. Growers fear their orange groves may be totally destroyed before one can be found. Also, people's taste for orange juice has taken a nose dived. In the U.S., many people no longer eat breakfast, a time of the day most people are most likely to drink orange juice. Florida's main competitor, Brazil, is also experiencing major declines in sales, crop harvests, and demand. Brazil produces half the world's orange juice. In Great Britain, Brazil's largest orange juice market, coconut water has replaced 80 per cent of the orange juice market.
Half of world's recreational vehicles or RV's are made in Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart, Indiana is 90 miles east of Chicago, Illinois.
Paris building anti-terrorist wall around Eiffel Tower
Completion date is July 13th on day before Bastille Day also called French Independence Day or France's Fourth of July.
For first time, Americans drinking more bottled water than soda pop
Americans are now drinking an average of 39.3 gallons of bottled a year compared to 38.5 gallons of soda pop.
Shadow government bigger than you think
Former Deputy Director of the CIA Kevin Shipp said that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and GSA (Government Services Agency):
- has set up 1,291 secret government agencies
- owns and controls 1,931 large private corporations including Google
- have security clearances for 4.8 million of its people
- have 854,000 employees with Top Secret clearances
- and has set up more than 10,000 secret government sites since the Twin Towers demolition on Sept. 11, 2001.
Shipp is former Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
High speed trolling used for the first time on Cape Hatteras
How do the fish like it? Although fish like wahoo are being caught at this speed, more fish are being caught at the slower speed of seven miles per hour.
Robots, tablets, web sites increase sales, lower home selling costs
One California real estate company saves money by using a tablet-like robot named REX to answer 75 preprogrammed questions for home buyers. Agents rather still let buyers into the homes rather than robots.
Chinese buys, expands Smithfield, world's biggest pork producer
A Chinese company purchased Smithfield, the largest pork processing company in the world, five years ago. Since then, Smithfield has hired over 1400 new employees, reduced its debt, expanded, and increased its credit rating. Sales have also increased to over $15 billion a year.
$100 million for spy towers in NYC's bridges, tunnels
New York City's (NYC) Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) spent $50 million for spy towers in their tunnels and bridges. The silver, metallic towers are as tall as street lights, appearing as big, decorative pylons.
What are they for? Polly Trottenberg, New York City Transportation Commissioner, said that she and other board members "wish we had more details".
Joe Lhota (Low+ta), Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman said, "The base of these new items going up include whatever fiber optic items are necessary for those Homeland Security items." Anti-terror technology?
At 47 mph, Wahoo is fourth fastest fish
At 47 miles per hour, Wahoo are as faster than tuna. In North Carolina, a 40-pound Wahoo is considered a trophy fish. The fastest fish are Atlantic Blue Marlin (50 mph), Swordfish (60 mph), and Indo-Pacific Sailfish (68 mph).
Women no longer arrested for driving in Saudi Arabia
Women can finally drive a car without committing a crime in Saudi Arabia. This was the last place on earth forbidding women from driving an automobile. The law, passed yesterday, will take effect in June.
16,000 black bears in N. Carolina, most in world
Black bears walking the downtown streets of Raleigh, North Carolina is a common sight.
After 15 die, San Diego bleaches streets to kill fatal disease
An outbreak of hepatitis A, brought into this country by non-citizens, has resulted in 16 deaths in San Diego, California. The death toll has risen to 16 in San Diego County. Over 300 persons have been diagnoses with this fatal disease. The City of San Diego has established a regular schedule of street bleaching in order to control and kill the hepatitis A bacteria.
The State of Ohio's public pension systems are broke. It needs an additional $312 billion in order to pay its pension obligations. This debt increased $50 billion last year.
China admits 28,000 of its 50,000 rivers have disappeared
China's Ministry of Water Resources admits that one-quarter of its people drink polluted water and:
- 28,000 of its 50,000 rivers have disappeared over the last 20 years
- 80% of its water is polluted, unsuitable for drinking or bathing
- 25% of its water is unusable
- per capita water resources is only 28% of the world average
- is one of the nine most water scarce countries in the world
- has 20% of the world's population and only nine per cent of the world's fresh water
China, India warring over another country's drinking water
China and India are warring over Bhutan water rights.