Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke declared this week that too much borrowing and spending will eventually destroy the nation’s economy. Of course, a number of others have made similar assertions all along, but coming from the Federal Reserve chairman, who has seemingly attempted to mislead the public on the state of the economy, it is a surprising declaration.

Side Effects is a film that encapsulates the present-day world's increasing reliance on the pharmaceutical industry. It is a satirical indictment of the prescription drug culture that has permeated the past few decades and provides a warning to those who are allured by the promised benefits of such medicines. And it poses a serious question: Do psychotropic drugs do more harm than good?

As ObamaCare continues to be implemented, a number of new and surprising cost increases are being revealed in areas where consumers least expect it. According to Fox News, a provision in the healthcare law requires supermarket owners to add special labels to food, a requirement that would “overburden thousands of grocers and convenience store owners.”

The five-year-old Midland City, Alabama, boy held hostage in an underground bunker since last Tuesday has been rescued, and his abductor is dead, authorities confirmed on Monday.

Israeli warplanes targeted a truck convoy in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Wednesday, Syrian and Western sources confirmed. The attack was compelled by fears that missiles were being transferred to rebel anti-Israeli groups. The military strike comes shortly after President Obama announced that he would be sending more than $100 million in "humanitarian aid" to the rebels.

The possibility of the transfer of chemical weapons from Syria to Lebanon’s Hezbollah or al-Qaeda-inspired groups could provoke Israel to launch a preemptive strike on Syria, reports indicate. The Jerusalem Post notes that Israel is currently on high alert as the potential for such a strike looms.

According to the Washington Times, the Department of Homeland Security is reportedly training Transportation Security Administration checkpoint screeners in preparation of a mass shooting at one of the agency’s security checkpoints.

The political organization that helped secure President Obama’s reelection is being turned into a nonprofit group funded by corporate money that will help advocate the president’s second term agenda. This unprecedented move has some critics concerned at the possibility for cronyism and collusion.

Despite tough talk from self-proclaimed fiscal conservatives in the United States House of Representatives on out-of-control government spending, House Republicans passed a bill that permits the president a three-month hike in the $16.4 trillion debt ceiling. The vote on measure passed 285 to 144, with more Democrats voting against it than Republicans. The agreement has provoked anger from conservatives who believe the GOP has failed to maintain fiscal conservatism by caving on the debt ceiling, however temporary, without securing any budget cuts.

According to the New York Times, President Obama will discuss during his State of the Union address on Feb. 12 his plans to reform the U.S. immigration system, including a path to citizenship for illegals in the country.