Iceland's volcanic eruptions are renowned, as well as its exotic nature. Iceland is known for its cronyism and shady dealings.
What happened to Iceland, jailed icelandic banks, Fallout 4's biggest secret
Iceland has an extraordinary history. When I visited Iceland for the very first time a year back, I was instantly fascinated. I found that despite its small size, it's very much a big world in microcosm, and that conflicts of ownership are just as prevalent in small countries as in large ones.
The nation's financial sector thrived on a bubble which burst after the 2008 global recession. This is an example of "crony capitalism" where banks reward those with high salaries, power and unsustainable debt with unsustainable amounts of debt.
In Iceland, the banks piled up billions of dollars in loans to shady entrepreneurs who took advantage of the country's small but powerful government. Fraud and illegal business transactions have led to the collapses of Iceland's largest banks Glitnir Kaupthing Landsbankinn.
Many citizens blame the financial leaders of the country for what happened, even as they try to recover. Over the years, more 20 bankers who mismanaged money and committed fraud have been sent to jail. Although the justice system in this country is hailed as a model for the developed world it has been criticized by some for its lack of prosecution.
Some bankers involved in the crimes have sued their former employers for allegedly ignoring their legal right. Some bankers have taken their case to the European Court of Human Rights claiming they were unfairly treated and tried.
All of these bankers received lengthy sentences after being convicted by the courts in 2008. Several have also fled the country or been expelled.
They manipulated the market and used their wealth to make other people rich, then tried to get back all that money from investors, including many foreigners.
This was the bank that created an enormous bubble in Iceland. And when it popped, it caused worldwide banking crises. Icelandic banks were hailed before the crash as symbols of their country's budding economy, but now they are being held accountable for their actions.
Bankers have almost always been innocent. However, their actions were reckless. The bankers took on debts that they knew they couldn't repay and, in some cases made bets that they couldn't afford.
Some of them also planned to create another currency which would have been even more unsustainable. The currency of the country is extremely weak.
A new currency, which is more stable and less volatile than the old one, was introduced in 2011. This has helped to reduce the pressure on bankers. But it's unclear how long this will be the case.
FAQ
Which is the most secretive city in the world?
It may surprise you to hear the answer. You might be uncomfortable with the truth of it, as it may challenge your perception of reality. But there is a reason that this place exists. It isn't what you would expect.
The ancient Greeks called it the City of God. It was also known as the City of Destruction according to the Bible.
It's known in India as Kashi (Kashmir). It is called Novgorod (Russia).
Here in America, however, it is called The Village That Disappeared.
One small community in western New York State with 1,200 residents vanished without a trace. It was abandoned without any remains, including no bodies, cars, or houses. The only thing that survived was a road sign, which pointed to its former location.
This little town disappeared, leaving no clues about where it went or when. Some say it was swallowed up by the Earth. Others claim that a meteorite hit destroyed it. Some claim that it was destroyed by a meteorite strike. Others still believe it was stolen away by aliens.
The people of this once-thriving community, however, are positive that the town won't disappear forever. They just moved to another city.
A website is available to track the disappearance and recovery of Zugspitz, which was lost in the Great Depression.
So where is this town? It's in Switzerland.
Zugspitze is situated on the border between Germany und Austria. Just beyond the summit of the mountain is a huge lake called Lake Zugspitze.
It's always fascinated me how so many towns disappear, yet others remain. Is it possible that some towns disappear and others are preserved? I decided to investigate.
I wanted to know more about the mysterious disappearing towns. What causes a community to disappear? What makes a place disappear?
It turned out that there are many theories about disappearing towns. One theory holds that a town disappears if all its buildings are demolished. Another theory says that the town just moves. The third theory is that the town was never actually there.
Theories aside, the fact remains that dozens of towns around the globe have been swallowed up by the ground. This video examines the history and current status of these places.
Five interesting facts about your liver.
The liver is responsible for breaking down toxins and storing vitamins and minerals. It helps to regulate blood pressure and keep our bodies temperature stable.
How often do we hear someone say, 'I feel sluggish today' or 'my head feels heavy'? These symptoms may be a sign of liver disease.
You may notice symptoms such as dark urine, yellowing skin and fatigue. But these aren't the only warning signs. If you are experiencing any of these signs, it is important to consult your doctor right away.
The liver is a vital organ. It is an important organ that plays a vital role in detoxification.
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The average adult human liver is approximately 1,400g.
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At birth, the liver of a baby can be half as big as an adult's. It grows to be about four times bigger by age three than an infant's.
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The liver can be found on the left side of your abdomen, just below the lower rib cage.
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The liver has 16 main lobes, with many smaller lobules within the lobes.
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Red blood cells make up approximately 10 million of the liver's total.
What is the most mysterious location on Earth?
Antarctica is the most mysterious continent on Earth.
Why do we find this place so intriguing? Because it is unlike any place on Earth.
It is difficult to access because it is remote and extremely isolated. But there is more to this site than meets the eye.
This natural wonder is also home to some of the strangest wildlife species.
Let's now see how this amazing destination came to be so well-known for its mystery.
Antarctica: The South Pole
Antarctica is named for no one. Some believe it is "land of the ice". Some believe it means "land of ice". Others believe it is Greek mythology.
Antarktis, the Greek name for the island on which Zeus' twin brothers were conceived, was used in ancient Greece. According to some legends, one of these twins was born in winter. Therefore, the name antarctic.
Others think the name came from the Greek words anti, meaning against, and tropos meaning turn. This would mean land turned away from the sun.
No matter the reason, Antarctica is a place that has always fascinated people.
It is the coldest, windiest, driest and highest continent. It is too cold to support trees, plants, and animals.
Yet, life is abundant in this frozen wilderness.
About 90 percent of all living things on Earth live here. There are about 50% of the world's animal, plant and plant species.
What makes Antarctica so special? Here, water freezes and becomes ice instead of evaporated into the air.
This creates large masses of ice that float above the ground.
These floating glaciers make up 80%. These glaciers are getting larger each year.
The Antarctic ice sheet has grown 60ft since 1960.
If the melting continues, the sea level will rise by up to 200 feet. That could cause massive flooding around the globe.
But not everyone thinks this is bad news. Some scientists claim that global warming could be good for us. They say that as temperatures rise, the ice sheets might melt faster, causing floods that flush out tons of toxic chemicals from our soil and bodies.
But others warn that this theory sounds like a plot from a science fiction movie.
What is the most interesting fact about the human body?
Two eyes, two ears and two nostrils are part of our bodies. We also have four limbs: a mouth, nose, penis, and four limbs. That's right, we have more than 50 parts of our bodies, but one thing is missing. A heart.
The heart is a pump which circulates blood throughout the body. Blood travels through the arteries and veins, carrying oxygen and nutrients to the cells and removing carbon dioxide and waste products.
Each minute, the heart pumps approximately 5 liters. This is equivalent to an adult consuming 2-3 cups of coffee per day.
Blood flows throughout the heart 24 hours per day, 365 Days a Year. While sleeping, your heart beats close to 100 times per minute.
Because of the color and texture of their skin, you can tell if someone is healthy or sick. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels visible on the skin's surface. These vessels carry blood back to the heart from the large blood vessels beneath the skin. The skin becomes blue-colored or purple when blood flow is restricted.
Red blood cells are missing in people with sickle-cell disease. Their blood becomes extremely sticky and hardened, which can lead to very serious illnesses.
You can use a bandage to stop bleeding if your cut is severe. For wounds to heal properly, blood must flow. Doctors place a needle in the wound and insert it through the skin. This allows blood drainage from the injury area.
A doctor can also insert tubes (catheters), into an artery in the vicinity of where blood clots form. This helps to keep the patient alive until the blood clot disintegrates naturally.
Statistics
- It might not sound like something that's truly plausible — and it is quite rare — but according to a 2015 study published in the Asian Cardiovascular & Thoracic Annals, it's possible to hurt yourself and even break a rib just by sneezing. (romper.com)
- You spend about 10% of your time awake blinking (romper.com)
- "It is estimated that 75% of people have at least mild gum disease, with the most common symptoms being bleeding when brushing, bad breath, and dark and swollen gums," Dr. Ron Baise, a London-based dentist, tells Romper. (romper.com)
- In one 2014 study published in the Archives of Medical Science that sought to study the prevalence of these mites, research showed that 41% of the people had them hanging out in their eyelashes. (romper.com)
- According to a 2018 study published in Free Radical Biology & Medicine, this is because blood pressure is regulated by our innate circadian rhythm and internal clock. (romper.com)
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Hollywood scandals that stunned the world
Nothing is more shocking than seeing someone famous for wrong reasons. But there's also nothing worse than seeing them fall from grace.
It is amazing to see how an industry handles its mistakes. Many celebrities have used alcohol and drugs in excess. Some even died young because of it.
The worst part about this is that these same stars come out with their problems and are ridiculed by everyone. That's where we found ourselves last week.
Heath Ledger, after a long and successful professional career, finally gave in to his demons. He took too many prescription pills and died shortly after.
His family and friends were unable to accept his death, and the media was quick to criticize him.
Heath was once considered to be one of today's most talented actors. Two Academy Awards nominations went to Heath for his performance on Brokeback Mountain.
In addition to acting, Heath also wrote and directed films, including A Knight's Tale, Monster's Ball, and Iron Man 3.
Hollywood loved Heath. But he was too big for his boots. He began using drugs and drinking heavily. He ended up in rehab and became clean.
After he had gotten sober, he decided to make amends. So he made a documentary called "Room 237," which chronicled the making of The Shining. It was supposed to be released this year, but now it won't hit theaters until next year.
Heath was unsuccessful in his attempts to get back into Hollywood. He was actually arrested twice for drug charges.
Although we don't think Heath should be allowed to return to the showbiz, However, it would have been nice if he could have gotten some help before things spiraled out of control.
We hope Heath's story will serve as a warning to others who may think they can still have everything.