Iceland is famous for volcanic eruptions, exotic wonders and its natural beauty. But it's also known for its crony capitalism, and this week's leak of Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson's secret share sale raised a fresh wave of rage against the country's banking system.
What happened to Iceland, jailed Icelandic bankers, Fallout 4, biggest secret
Iceland is a country that has a fascinating history. I was immediately fascinated when I first visited Iceland a year ago. I discovered that, despite Iceland's small size, the country is a world in miniature, with conflicts of ownership just as common as those in larger countries.
The nation's thriving financial sector was built on a bubble that went bust when the global economy crashed in 2008. It is an example what is often called "crony capitalism," where banks reward high-paid people with power and wealth with unsustainable debt levels.
Iceland's banks gave billions in loans to unscrupulous entrepreneurs who exploited the country’s small but powerful Government. All three of Iceland's biggest banks, Glitnir Kaupthing and Landsbankinn, collapsed due to a wave of fraud and illegal transaction.
Many citizens of the country still blame their financial leaders as they attempt to recover. Over the years, more 20 bankers who mismanaged money and committed fraud have been sent to jail. However, the country's lauded justice system has been criticized because it is slow to prosecute.
Some of the bankers who were involved in the crime have even sued their former employers, accusing them of ignoring their legal rights. Others have gone to the European Court of Human Rights, claiming that they were unfairly tried and treated.
All of these bankers received lengthy sentences after being convicted by the courts in 2008. Some have even been expelled.
They then attempted to recover the money, including from many foreigners.
They were the banks who created a bubble in Iceland that caused a banking crisis around the world when it burst. 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.
They were all innocent but 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 is unclear how long that will last.
FAQ
What is your most secretive community?
You might be surprised at the answer. It could even make you uncomfortable, because it challenges how reality is perceived and lived. However, there's a reason for this place to exist. It's not what we would expect.
The ancient Greeks called it the City of God. According to the Bible, it was called the City of Destruction.
It is also called Kashi in India (Kashmir). It's also known as Novgorod in Russia.
But here in America, it goes by another name - The Town That Disappeared.
One small community in western New York State with 1,200 residents vanished without a trace. A road sign pointing to the former location of the town was all that was left, except for a few bodies and cars.
This little town disappeared, leaving no clues about where it went or when. Some say the earth swallowed it up. Others claim a meteorite strike destroyed it. Others believe that aliens took it.
Despite what may have happened, the people who lived in this once-thriving area are confident that their town will not be lost forever. They had just moved from one town to the other.
There's even a website that tracks the disappearances and recoveries of Zugspitz.
The question is, where did this place go? It's in Switzerland.
You can find Zugspitze at the border of Austria and Germany. A huge lake, Lake Zugspitze, is located just beyond the summit.
I have always been fascinated by the fact that so many towns have vanished, but some remain. Why does some vanish while others remain? I set out to find out.
I wanted to know more about the mysterious disappearing towns. What is the secret to a town's disappearance? How can one place vanish from existence?
It turns out that there are several theories about the phenomenon of vanishing towns. One theory says that a town disappears when all the buildings are demolished. Another theory suggests that the town simply moves somewhere else. A third theory claims that the town never existed at all.
Theories aside, the fact remains that dozens of towns around the globe have been swallowed up by the ground. This video examines the past and present status of these areas.
What is the most intriguing fact about the human anatomy?
Two eyes, two ears and two nostrils are part of our bodies. We also have four limbs: a mouth, nose, penis, and four limbs. Yes, more than 50 parts to our bodies. But one thing is missing. A heart.
A heart is the pump that circulates blood throughout a body. The blood moves through the arteries and veins to transport oxygen and nutrients into the cells, and remove carbon dioxide.
The heart pumps out about 5 liters per minute. This is equivalent of an adult drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee each day.
Blood flows throughout the heart 24 hours per day, 365 Days a Year. When you're asleep, your heart beats approximately 100 times per hour.
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 tiny vessels transport blood from the larger blood vessels to the heart. The skin turns blue or violet when blood flow becomes blocked.
People suffering from sickle cell disease have no red blood cells. Patients with sickle cell disease have their blood become sticky and harden, leading to severe illness.
A bandage can be used to stop bleeding if you have cut your own skin. For the wound to heal properly, blood must continue to flow. Doctors insert a needle into the injured area through the skin. This allows blood flow to the area that has been injured.
The doctor may also insert catheters (catheters), into the artery at the site of the blood clot. This helps to keep the patient alive until the blood clot disintegrates naturally.
Ever wonder how much trash gets produced each day around the world?
According to the United Nations the average person creates more than 2.5 lbs of waste daily. That adds up over 25 billion kilos of garbage every year.
The majority of this garbage ends up in incinerators or landfills. But what happens when the dumpsters become full? All that trash ends up being shipped out of country. It is then dumped in other countries, where it pollutes their ecosystems.But now, thanks to the work of one man, we know exactly where all this trash goes. Mike Sexton is his real name. He runs a company called Waste Watchers.He spends his days watching the movements of trucks transporting trash across North America. He then gives us a report on what happens next.
Sexton says he finds his job very satisfying. CNN spoke with Sexton that they have a lot fun. "You know, we see these big rigs come through town, and we'll follow them. "Sexton started following truck driver almost 20 years back.
"It's all I felt," he stated.
He loved the story of the driver who pulled into an abandoned gas station near Los Angeles. Sexton said that the man was searching for a place to store his stuff. "He drove down the street and saw this building. So he pulled over and went inside. "There were 2 large containers that had been rolled off, and they were full of stuff. The guy took everything out and started filling up the truck again. "The man looked around the area and decided to unload all of it. There were lots of old tires, rags furniture, mattresses, mattresses, cans, cans, and other items. "It was just total chaos. It had been cleaned up before he arrived. There was not a single piece of trash.
What is the explanation? This particular spot used to be a recycling center. People would drive there to recycle their trash. Sexton explained that they would bring household items and take them to the building. Then, after they were done, they would empty the containers.
You might see this happen hundreds of times a day. It could happen hundreds of thousands of times a week. The truck eventually stops running because it has become so jammed with junk. And eventually, the owner decides to abandon the vehicle.
Trash isn’t the only problem we face on the planet.
These tiny plastic particles make up the majority of the particles. Some end up in incinerators or landfills. Some end up in rivers and oceans, while others end up in fish's stomachs.
Experts warn us that we may soon face an international food shortage if things don't change. "If we keep going like we're going, we're not going to make it," one expert warned.But even though scientists agree that the world is headed toward disaster, most people don't seem worried.
Is there any Hollywood blacklist for actors?
There is a Hollywood blacklist.
But the list isn't made public. According to our knowledge, the names of these people aren't known. Here's why this matters.
The reason behind the secrecy was that blacklisted directors and actors wouldn't be able find work. This would result in studios losing money as the actors and directors would have to go out on their own. They would also cut back on their spending on movies. This would result in fewer opportunities available for blacklisted filmmakers. They would then go bankrupt.
This could result in even more victims.
If someone attempts to make an Oscar-winning movie, they may be asked to sign a contract stating that they will not speak out against their employers. The same goes for any director or producer who wants to get nominated for an award.
You hear stories of directors being pressured to remove scenes from films. Or directors threaten to walk out of projects that don’t match their vision.
This is why there is a Hollywood blacklist. If you make negative comments about your employer, it's likely that you will be unemployed. That's bad for everyone.
Many people have been wrongly accused. And they've had to fight to clear their name.
This kind of thing must stop before it can happen again. It is essential that everyone has the freedom to express their opinions.
Also, we must take down the Hollywood blacklist.
Statistics
- In fact, nearly 24% of U.S. women are affected with one or more pelvic floor disorders, according to research funded by the National Institutes of Health. (romper.com)
- Your mouth makes a lot of saliva every day It might seem like way too much, but your salivary glands typically produce anywhere from 0.5 and 1.5 liters a day, according to a 2009 study published in the Journal of Medicine and Life. (romper.com)
- 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)
- "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)
- 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 shocked the world
Nothing is more shocking that seeing someone be famous for their wrong reasons. There's nothing more shocking than watching someone fall from grace.
It's fascinating to see how industries react to their mistakes. There are many stories about celebrities who drank excessively. Some even died young because of it.
But, the worst part? When those stars openly discuss their issues and are ignored by everyone. This is where we ended up last week.
Heath Ledger died after a long, successful career. He died after succumbing to prescription drugs.
His family and his friends struggled with the news and the media went after him.
Heath was once considered to be one of today's most talented actors. His performances in Brokeback Mountain earned Heath two Academy Award nominations.
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. However, he quickly grew too large. He began to drink heavily and took drugs. He ended up in rehab and became clean.
He wanted to make amends now that he was sober. 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.
Every time Heath tried to get back into Hollywood, something happened. In fact, he was actually twice arrested for drug-related charges.
We are not suggesting that Heath should be allowed back into the show business. However, it would be nice if he could get some help before things spiral out of control.
We hope Heath’s story serves as a cautionary tale for others who think they might still be able to have it all.