May an Extreme Month of Weather

May is stuck on strange. Torrential downpours in Texas, leaving it with 8 inches of water, statewide - that is if the state were flat.

The word, "stuck" is the word coined by Jerry Meehl, an expert at the Nation Center for Atmospheric Research. He and other scientists say the jet stream is in a rut. It explains the extremes in Texas - flooding, India - heat wave, Alaska - also a heat wave, and the Middle U.S. - Tornadoes and U.S. East - dought.

What's the weather like in where you live?

Graduation Speeches

I love a good speech and at this time of the year, I have a lot to sample. I enjoyed via TV, President Obama's speech when he was in Watertown, SD. Hillary's little spurt about coloring her hair and not turning white in the White House was funny. George Bush's "And to you C students, you too can be president, was a classic Bush."

Here are some others:

"We all stand as one, no longer just a class." Natalie von Oldenburg

"It is what these diplomas represent that we move on to the next chapter of our lives with confidence." Andrew Bartholet

"A mustang is a living symbol of spirit. Most importantly, thought, a mustang is known to have a heart of gold and, to me, to be a mustang means to embody passion for life and its experiences. "Sara Pleasant

Cwach the Czechs

Sometimes I look around and think, "What can I write about that is unique?" That's when a thought hit me - Tyndall, South Dakota. Well, an article in the Sioux Falls Argus leader spurred the thought. Michelle Cwach, Czech, spoke about a name for their farm.

They researched their family history for a name and found John Cwach farmed in Bohemia. Then in 1867 John, his wife, Mary, and Mathias, son immigrated to America. After a struggling couple of years, they headed to the Dakota Territory. The story goes on that they bypassed Iowa because they wanted rockier ground. (Rocks made good foundations for houses.)

They are still searching for a name for their farm but on the journey they found interesting people in the pages of history.

+History

Smart House

In the Dworsky home, every time Bill or Dorthy, both 80 years old, opens the refrigerator, closes the bathroom door or lifts the lid on a pill container, tiny sensors make notes on a digital logbook.

Phil, their son, checks it daily on his smartphone. If there is no activity within a designated time span, Phil receives an email. "This is peace of mind, really," he says.

I read an article that suggested within the next few years a home will contain upwards of a thousand internet connections - small inexpensive sensors creating a "Smart House."

What part of your house would you like to keep track of?

Who are the Bandidos?

Law-abiding weekend warriors with fast bikes?
Or
Violent, meth-fueled outlaws with a thirst for drugs, guns and violence?

I suppose it's who you ask. The law enforcement of Waco, Texas would probably say the latter. Ask Edward Winterhalder, a former Bandidos and you'll get a different version. "There's no reason for anyone to be in fear of them at all. It was always about having a good time."

James Quinn, a Universtiy of North Texas professor, says this, "I wouldn't classify them as Boy Scouts. But, generally, the public doesn't have much reason to fear them."

Around 70% of them hold regular jobs.
Members are a mix of Anglo and Hispanic.

A Country is Born?

Welcome Liberland to the world and to my spell check. This possible new nation, near Croatia, and Servia is not recognized - yet.  The small, uninhabited patch of land left unclaimed after the breakup of Yugoslavia is the location of the want-to-be country according to Vit Jedlicka, a Czech politician.

But for it to be a nation, some country will have to take it serious. "Wow, I thought someone was making up a story about this," says Ana Juric, 18, from Batina, Croatia, just upriver from Liberland.
"Can they really do that?" Ruza Lukis, 33, store owner from across the Danube.

If recognized it would become the smallest country in the world, being a 3-square-mile state. The formers of this new country are using the "homestead" principle. (The 13 colonies that formed the U.S.A used this principle.)

So far, 300,000 people have applied to become citizens of Liberland.

All sounds interesting. We'll have to wait to see if a baby nation is born. (Hasn't happened since 1948 when Israel was recognized as a nation by President Truman.)

Frustrated Vets

Whether it's Obama blaming Bush or Republicans distancing themselves from the Iraq war, both are discouraging to the Armed Forces that served in the conflict.

"Do-overs don't happen in real life," says Gregory Diacogiannis, 30, who served in Baghdad trying to spot militants laying roadside bombs. "I have trouble with the question itself just because it lends itself to disregarding the sacrifices that have been made." He says that he feels a strong bond to Iraq and considers going back to fight for the country, as it has plunged into chaos since U.S. troops have left.

Thoughts?