Troubled

A group of commoners liked their tea untaxed and started a revolution.

The United States of America was divided, so the country surgically cut asunder, splashing blood from coast to coast.

The nation was sick so America projectile vomited Richard Nixon.

The country is now again at that boiling point. We are a troubled people. Angry tension is forcefully being demonstrated as our Washington leaders are silent. Something or someone will be vomited out onto the consciousness of  America.

Refugees Lost

Hundreds were on a smuggler's boat that overturned off the coast of Libya. The Italian Coast Guard has said hundreds could of been lost. Eighteen ships joined the rescue attempt but only 28 survivors and 24 bodies were pulled out of the Mediterranean waters.

A survivor from Bangladesh told officials that 300 people were locked in holds below the ship. He said that many were women and children.

It takes me back in time. I was on board USS Kitty Hawk, sailing in the Mediterranean. I can still see the looks upon the faces of the refugees we picked up. They were so happy to be on a vessel.

Experience Barcelona

An article in the paper today, "Good Buy, Barcelona!" reminded me of the time when I was there. It was a good experience and great port.

The article tells of bargains to be had in this city. A 14-day stay in Barcelona can cost as much as a seven-day stay at a comparable hotel in Palm Springs. A two-day pass to ride the public transportation costs 20 dollars.

The writer of this article, Nancy Trejos, said she took a food tour with Culinary Backstreets, Paula Mourenza for 135 dollars. (It was an entire day.) To me, that sounds like a lot of fun. Some of my more memorable times were food tours in Hong Kong.

Bacon Ban

Bacon Ban

You read the title correctly: Bacon Ban. China is fighting smog by fighting pork and chicken. Those that smoke bacon and chicken over firewood will face a $800 fine and risk a raid by China’s despised Chenggang, urban management police. They are resented for rough and sometimes lethal attacks on illegal street vendors.

Other cities in China have forced cars off roads, banned fireworks and stopped people from burning the clothes of dead relatives, a funeral tradition in China.

Wang Hua, a restaurant owner says, “The real pollution comes from the chemical plants, not smoking bacon.”

Would You Give Up Everything for Mars?

Sania Van Meter, Daniel Carey and Lela Zucker are the names of three people that would give up everything to colonize Mars.

The name of the organization that could be the first to put humans on the red planet is Mars One. It would launch people into space, land them on Mars seven months later and attempt to keep them alive for the length of their natural lives. It will not bring them back.

One-way trip is possible by 2024 according to Mars One.  The organization is nearing the end of its nearly two-year selection process to narrow more than 200,000 individuals to 24.

People that want to leave a mark on our planet – by leaving our planet are lawyers, doctors, pilots, veterans and businessmen. They come from all over the world. The youngest is 18 and the oldest is 71.

Would you apply?

Furious 7 Bend the laws of Physics?

Cars dropping out of planes at a height of 10,00 feet and go right on rolling along.
A man climbs atop a jack-knifed bus as it slides off a cliff and leaps onto a vehicle racing past.
An auto flies between skyscrapers high above the Abu Dhabi.
Cars are backed out of an airplane and tumble between the clouds as they scream toward the mountain roads of Azerbaijan.
Those are a few of the scenes in the new Furious 7 movie. Can they actually happen?
Matthew Kleinban, physics expert says yes. A car could parachute out of a plane. It would reach speeds of 200-300 miles per hour and the driver would think the car is standing still. The car would hit hard but Kleinban believes the car could continue to travel once it hits the ground. There you have it.

650 Days to Go

Politicians are throwing their hats into the campaign season. The news media has put Hillary on a pedestal in these early days, while portraying republicans candidates as attackers. The positively negative season has begun.

Ben Carson is making an announcement on May 4th. If his speech is one that I hope it is he'll frame himself as a common-sense alternative to the broken policies of Washington politicians. African-American, retired neurosurgeon, Ben Carson (to me) is the best candidate so far.

Who do you like so far?

Gay Teacher is Fired

English teacher and speech team coach, Matt Eledge, confirmed that his contract at Skutt Catholic School was not renewed. He had taught at the school since 2010.

Eledge planned to marry his same-sex partner. The school did say the teacher could return to the school if he ended the relationship with the same-sex partner.

The Chancellor said that there have been single, pregnant teachers and those who've divorced and remarried outside the Catholic church who have lost their job.

Your thoughts?

Boston Marathon Bomber

Put yourself on the jury of the convicted Boston Marathon Bomber. Should Kzhokhar Tsarnaev be executed or shown mercy. His lawyer said the 21-year-old was just following in the steps of an older brother. An big brother that masterminded the crime.

The former college student looked down as all 30 counts against him were read. (17 of those counts carry the death penalty.)

Tsarnaev's bomb killed 3 people and wounded 260 people. Kzhokhar is also responsible for killing a police officer.

Should he get the death penalty?

Buko Haram in Nigeria

The new Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari vowed to root out corruption and snuff out the insurgency by Boko Haram. Buhari is a retired general and may be better placed to tackle the terrorist group head-on.

Under Johnathan Goodluck gains were made but the then President didn't make a knock out punch. President Buhari warned Boko Haram that he was coming after it. "Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our will and commitment to rid this nation of terror.

I hope he takes out the terrorist group, who has targeted Christians. This is personal to me because I've been to Nigeria and I know many Christians there. The Nigerian are wonderful people.