Idiot of the Week: Lawmaker Posts Violent Civil War Meme

Idiot of the Week (AGAIN) Iowa Rep.Steve King

This guy has been featured before as an "Idiot of the Week" and he is just not getting any smarter.
You'd think that he would understand that social media goes all over the world... C'mon, Iowa, you can do MUCH better than Steve King).
  Anyway, here's the latest idiotic and offensive thing this white supremacist / politician posted... this is from the Sioux City Iowa Journal, Newspaper on March 19:

Steve King posts Civil War meme showing Iowa and other 'blue' states getting punched

SOURCE: Sioux City Iowa Journal 

SIOUX CITY -- U.S. Rep. Steve King in a social media post speculated that red states, with "about 8 trillion bullets," would win a hypothetical Civil War against Iowa and other "blue" states that do not "know which bathroom to use."

The post was made on King's official campaign Facebook page Saturday, where he topped a meme image of a combination of red and blue states lined up into the rough forms of two people squaring off in a fight.

That image had the wording, “Folks keep talking about another Civil War ... One side has about 8 trillion bullets, while the other side doesn’t know which bathroom to use.” The post was completed with King writing on top, "Wonder who would win....," then adding an emoji smirk.

In the image, Iowa is among the blue states, which is the category for Democratic-leaning. The amalgamation of red states, which connotes Republican-leaning, is into a person shown to be striking the blue states in the midsection.

(IMAGE RIGHT: This meme image was shared by U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, on his Facebook account on Saturday.)

The reference to states not knowing "which bathroom to use" appears to be a reference to places that support transgender people having gender-neutral options.

King’s campaign office did not immediately respond Monday to a Journal inquiry on the post.

King, a Republican from Kiron, represents the Iowa 4th Congressional District.

He is a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights, and speaks against gun control measures. His Facebook page has other posts related to guns, including two Sunday, one of which shares the post of another person who said President Donald Trump is not responsible for the Friday shooting in which 50 people were killed in two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Unlike in the U.S., mass shootings are almost unheard of in that nation. The gunman obtained five firearms, including two military-style weapons, and reportedly killed people at the mosques over 35 minutes.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, "I can tell you right now our gun laws will change," she said.

King's year as a congressman in 2019 has been much different than his 16 prior years of representing Iowans.

In January, King was stripped of all his committee assignments for the next two years, following a national uproar over King's quote in a New York Times story in which he asked, "White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive? Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?"

At a February town hall meeting in Rock Rapids, Iowa, King again took issue with the story, saying the reporter "at best" misquoted him. His office has sent other releases recently describing ways the Times reporting was flawed.

Skin Care Chemicals Part 1: What is Salicylic Acid

A Salicylic acid product

Recently, an in-depth article about skin care and the types of products appeared on the Huffington
Post, and provided a good overview of the types of chemicals and their uses. Over the next couple of blogs, I'll present the article in small pieces, focusing on one thing at a time.


Skin Care Acid Guide: When And How To Use Glycolic, Lactic And More
 ByJulia Brucculieri 03/18/2019 05:45am ET
SOURCE

 Theere are two main types of acids found in skin care products: alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs). Both classes of acids help exfoliate the skin, but they aren’t exactly the same.

The main difference between them is their chemical structure, which affects how each type of acid penetrates the skin. For example, AHAs are water-soluble and they exfoliate by breaking down the outer layers of dead skin cells. (Our skin is made of mostly water, after all.) Meanwhile, BHAs, like salicylic acid, are oil-soluble, so they can penetrate deeper into pores and help unclog them.

Among those two acid classes, Greenfield said the most popular acids in skin care are salicylic, a BHA, and glycolic, an AHA. But there are are few others out there, which makes choosing products both difficult and confusing. To help provide some clarity, we had dermatologists break it all down.

Salicylic Acid

What is it? Salicylic acid is a member of the BHA family. It’s really good at penetrating deep into the pores, according to both Greenfield and Dr. Robyn Gmyrek, a board-certified dermatologist with Union Square Laser Dermatology in New York City.

“As it penetrates, it can loosen dead skin cells, helping alleviate clogged pores and blackheads,” Gmyrek said via email.

Salicylic acid is also “really good at breaking apart the top layer of skin cells,” which makes it an effective acne treatment, because it can help break down pimples and comedones, according to Greenfield. Additionally, as it helps to dissolve dead skin, it promotes a more radiant, bright skin appearance, Gmyrek said.

Who should use it?  Gmyrek noted that salicylic acid is especially useful for people with oily skin or who are acne-prone. She also clarified that salicylic acid is a salicylate, which puts it in the same family as aspirin.

“If you are allergic to aspirin, you should avoid salicylic acid,” she said. “However, like aspirin, salicylic acid also has anti-inflammatory properties which can calm the skin and minimize irritation.”

Many labels for acid-based products display the percentage of acid used (i.e., 2 percent salicylic acid), informing consumers of a product’s supposed strength.

Gmyrek suggested salicylic products should contain at least 1 percent salicylic, and Greenfield noted that salicylic acid is typically available in low percentages because it’s strong, so you don’t need to use as much.
 e issues.

Found! King John's royal charter (from the 1200s) found in Ushaw College Library

History is fascinating to us, and we love the way the BBC News in the United Kingdom reports on historic finds. This is one of those findings about King John, who reigned from 1199 until 1216!

 

Ushaw College Library is regularly used by visiting scholars

King John royal charter found in Ushaw College Library

 BBC News March 26, 2019 

A rare original royal charter from the first year of King John's reign has been discovered in Durham.

The document carries the seal of John, who reigned from 1199 until 1216, and was issued in York on 26 March 1200 - exactly 819 years ago.

It was found in the archives of Ushaw College Library, which is managed by Durham University.
Fewer than a dozen original charters have survived from the first year of King John's reign.
Dr Benjamin Pohl, a senior lecturer in Medieval History at Bristol University, came across the charter by chance while examining medieval manuscripts at Ushaw College.
He said the document was carefully prepared and written in what was known as a "court hand", probably by a member of the king's government department or chancery.
 Dr Pohl said: "Discovering the original charter is extremely exciting, not least because it allows us to develop a fuller picture of the people who were present at York on 26 March 1200 and eager to do business with the new king.

"Medieval charters are important not just because of the legal acts they contain, but also for what they can tell us about the society and political culture at the time.

"Our charter might best be described, therefore, as a kind of 'who's who' of Northern England at the turn of the 13th Century."

(PHOTO: Image copyright Dr Benjamin Pohl Image caption The charter was found in the library of Ushaw College)
 

The document confirmed the granting of possessions in County Durham, namely the two hamlets of Cornsay and Hedley Hill, to Walter of Caen and Robert FitzRoger, Lord of Warkworth and Sherriff of Norfolk and Suffolk.

Walter and Robert were nephews of Simon, a chamberlain of Durham who had originally received the grants from his bishop, Hugh de Puiset, sometime before 1183, but who later decided to part with the bequests in order to provide for his two younger relatives.

Prof David Cowling, pro-vice-chancellor for arts and humanities at Durham University, said: "For one of our visiting fellows to identify an item from the collection as a previously uncatalogued medieval royal charter is a wonderful example of the benefits and advances that can be made by working and exploring our archives together."
The bishop's charter, recording the original grants to Simon, is also held at Durham, allowing the two original documents to be compared and studied side-by-side for the first time.

Free Classes in Maryland to be a Severe Weather Spotter for the National Weather Service

As a meteorologist, I always encourage people to learn more about the weather, and the National Weather Service in Baltimore/
Washington is offering free classes to learn how to be a severe weather spotter for the SKYWARN program.  Classes, dates and locations are below. - Rob

 

National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington

SKYWARN ®

To Submit a Weather Report

RAIN/SNOW/ICE REPORTS: LWX Spotters: you can now submit heavy rainfall (1"+), as well as snow and/or ice reports
at: https://goo.gl/forms/9617O51NiDXOvYwD2

Flooding, hail, wind or tornado reports: Call 1-800-253-7091
Other reports can be emailed to: lwx-report@noaa.gov

Upcoming SKYWARN® Classes
These classes are free and open to the public!

CLASS	DATE	TIME	COUNTY	LOCATION	REGISTRATION
Basic Classes
Basic	Saturday 03/30/2019	2pm - 4pm	University of Maryland	School of Public Health Building 4200 Valley Drive #2242 Room 1312 College Park, MD 20742	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-basics-university-of-maryland-tickets-56894876106
Basic	Wednesday 04/03/2019	7pm - 9pm	Culpeper	Culpeper County Office of Emergency Services 14022 Public Safety Court Culpeper, VA 22701	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-basics-culpeper-county-tickets-56511595704
Basic	Thursday 04/04/2019	6:30pm - 8:30 pm	Anne Arundel	Anne Arundel County Office of Emergency Management 7480 Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard Glen Burnie, MD 21061	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-basics-anne-arundel-county-tickets-57749580550
Basic	Friday 04/05/2019	6:30 pm - 8:30 pm	Pendleton, WV	Franklin Community Building (Activity Room) 335 Mill Road Franklin, WV 26807	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-basics-pendleton-county-tickets-58377566874
Basic	Tuesday 04/16/2019	7pm - 9pm	Loudoun	Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Training Center 16600 Courage Court Leesburg, VA 20175	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-basics-loudoun-county-tickets-58291247691
Basic	Thursday 04/25/2019	6pm - 8pm	St. Mary's	Chesapeake Building 41770 Baldridge Street Leonardtown, MD 20650	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-basics-st-marys-county-tickets-56381693162
Flood Classes
Flood	Monday 03/25/2019	6:30pm - 9pm	Harford	Harford County EOC 2220 Ady Road Forest Hill, MD 21050	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-flooding-harford-county-tickets-55814056345
Flood	Tuesday 03/26/2019	6pm - 8:30pm	Frederick, MD	Frederick Senior Center 1440 Taney Ave Frederick, MD 21702	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-flooding-frederick-county-tickets-55814238891
Flood	Wednesday 04/03/2019	6:30pm - 9pm	Albemarle	5th Street Albemarle County Building 1600 5th Street Charlottesville, VA 22902	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-flooding-albemarle-county-tickets-56379168611
Flood	Thursday 04/18/2019	6pm - 8:30pm	Madison / Greene	Madison Fire Station 1223 N Main Street Madison, VA 22727	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-flooding-madison-greene-county-joint-class-tickets-56379882747
Flood	Thursday 04/25/2019	6:30pm - 9pm	Charles	Charles County Government Building Commissioners Meeting Room 200 Baltimore Street La Plata, MD 20646	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-flooding-charles-county-tickets-57442278401
Tropical Classes (Basics required as a prerequisite)
Tropical	Monday 05/06/2019	7 pm - 10 pm	Prince George's	Prince George’s County Office of Emergency Management 7915 Anchor Street Landover, MD 20785	https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-tropical-prince-georges-county-tickets-56982397886
Additional classes are still being scheduled. Please check back soon!

Important notes:
-Some Advanced classes require SKYWARN® Basics as a prerequisite.
-You may attend a class even if it is not in the county you reside in.
-Due to the high demand of classes we can not offer classes in every region every season.

---

What is SKYWARN®?

SKYWARN® is a national network of volunteer severe weather spotters. The spotters are trained by local National Weather Service Forecast Offices on how to spot severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail and flooding. In some parts of the country, spotters also report snowfall and ice accumulation.

 

Join SKYWARN®

How to Select Someone for Your Facebook Legacy Account (in case of emergency)

Recently, Facebook has provided an option where you can select a family member or friend on
Facebook to manage your account if you pass away. It's called a "Legacy Account." Here's how to set someone up to do that.

What is a legacy contact and what can they do?

 A legacy contact is someone you choose to look after your account if it's memorialized. Once your account is memorialized, your legacy contact will have the option to do things like:

• Write a pinned post for your profile (example: to share a final message on your behalf or provide information about a memorial service).
• Update your profile picture and cover photo.
• Request the removal of your account.

You also have the option to allow your legacy contact to download a copy of what you've shared on Facebook, and we may add additional capabilities for legacy contacts in the future.

Your legacy contact can't:

• Log into your account.
• Read your messages.
• Remove any of your friends or make new friend requests.

Learn more about memorialization and how to add a legacy contact to your account.

If you're a legacy contact, learn how to manage a memorialized profile.

Note: You must be 18 or older to select a legacy contact.

How do I add, change or remove my legacy contact on Facebook?

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You can add, change or remove your legacy contact in your account's General Settings at any time.

To add a legacy contact:

1. Click in the top right of Facebook and select Settings.
2. Click Manage Account.
3. Type in a friend's name and click Add.
4. To let your friend know they're now your legacy contact, click Send.

To change or remove a legacy contact, follow steps 1–2 above, then click Remove. From there, you can add a new legacy contact if you'd like.

If your account is memorialized, your legacy contact will be notified. Learn more about what a legacy contact can do.

Note: You must be 18 or older to select a legacy contact.

 

Tom's Netflix Recommendation of the Week: Medici the Magnificent

Tom enjoys finding good series on Netflix, and he loves historic series. That's why he highly recommends the series "Medici the Magnificent."


Tom says: This Netflix original series recounts the rise of the Medici family from their humble origins as a family of wool merchants to a powerful banking and political dynasty by the 15th century.  The plot has twists and turns, murder, revenge, and of course, hot bedroom scenes.  The recreated CGI images of Florence in the late 1400s are extremely well done. 

The portrayal of Lorenzo as this romantic, sentimental, patron of the arts rubs a bit with my misconceptions that I had always had of him. 

SPOILER:  Although Lorenzo begins to shed this image at the end of season 2 with the horrific murder of his brother Giuliano in the Duomo.  Unlike other recent historical fiction series, this one remains pretty much true to the historical record.  I wish that I had known more of their story before our recent trip to Italy.  I think that I would have had an even deeper appreciation for some of the places we visited.  I can't wait for Season 3. 

 

  Netflix's Medici: The Magnificent Trailer (Sean Bean, Daniel Sharman) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPfyeomkQRk

An Excellent Mystery: Murder, She Wrote: A Date with Murder

Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher in Murder She Wrote

My all time favorite mystery series is the "Murder, She Wrote" series. There are now 47 books in the series, including the latest paperback "A Date with Murder" by Donald Bain and Jon Land, which I just thoroughly enjoyed.
   If you like the television show from the 80s and 90s, you'll love the books. All of the characters that we enjoyed from the television shows appear throughout the books. Donald Bain authored the other 46 books in the series, and I wondered why Jon Land co-authored... only to learn Donald Bain passed away in Oct 2017. I was crushed! - The book, however, was amazing... and it was such an odd mystery with a complex ending. This is another 5 of 5 stars mystery.
   To learn about the story...ABOUT THE BOOK: Jessica Fletcher investigates a friend's murder and a dangerous dating service in the latest entry in this USA Today bestselling series...

Jessica Fletcher takes up the case of her good friend Barbara "Babs" Wirth after Babs' husband Hal suffers a fatal heart attack that Jessica has reason to believe was actually murder. At the heart of her suspicions lies a sinister dating site Hal had used while he and Babs were having marital issues, a site that may be complicit in somehow swindling him out of millions.

Jessica's investigation reveals that Hal was far from the only victim and when his former business partner is also killed, a deadly pattern emerges. Jessica teams up with a brilliant young computer hacker to follow the trail but as she gets closer to the truth, two near misses force her to realize that she may very well be the next victim.

The stakes have never been this high as Jessica finds herself being stalked by the killer she is trying to catch. She must now set the perfect trap to avoid her very own date with murder.

Part 3: 2020 Democratic Presidential Hopefuls: Andrew Yang, John Dulaney, Tulsi Gabbard.

  In Part 3 of this BBC News Article you'll learn about

2020 Democratic Presidential Hopefuls: Andrew Yang, John Dulaney, Tulsi Gabbard.
 (Since you already know Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, there's no need to include them)

Andrew Yang

Political opinion surveys show that most Americans don't know who Andrew Yang is. Those are the polls that ask about Mr Yang at all, which are few in number.
The technology entrepreneur had a small room in Austin but filled it. And, due to his moderator's cancelled flight, he had to interview himself. That he managed to pull it off was a testament to his ease at public speaking, which if he manages to make it onto a Democratic debate stage later this year, may turn some heads. He's developed a loyal online following and has garnered more than 57,000 individual donations - on a pace to hit the 65,000 mark that is one of the Democratic Party's criteria for qualifying for the first debate.

His big idea: Mr Yang's entire campaign is centred around one big idea -a universal basic income. He proposes guaranteeing every American a $1,000 monthly payment funded by a value-added tax, which he calls the "freedom dividend." He says it is necessary to cushion the American public for the coming upheaval created by automation and artificial intelligence.
"This economy is going to go from punitive to savage very quickly," he says. "The next downturn, the knives are going to come out." Everyone from call centre operators to truck drivers will be on the chopping block. "There's no magical realignment that's going to happen," he says. A basic income will ease the blow.
His biggest obstacle: To a man with a hammer, every problem can look like a nail. For a one-issue candidate like Mr Yang, the basic income is a salve for all ills. Climate change? A basic income would free people to focus on the environment instead of making ends meet. Small-town decay? The money would let people move back and start businesses. Mr Yang says critics who call his plan socialism get it wrong. The reality, however, is Mr Yang is never going to be elected president. His obstacle is finding a way to get enough attention to inject his income proposal into the conversation. It's not an impossible goal.
Reception:

Yes, we're grading on a curve here, but the people who showed up for Mr Yang's event were buying what he was selling. (He was selling free money, of course.)

BBC Awarded 4 Stars

******************************************

John Delaney

Former Maryland congressman John Delaney has been running for president since July 2017, but Sunday night - in a cable-televised town hall with audience questions - was his first opportunity to bask in the spotlight.
He did... not bad. He sounded like a polished politician who knew the key to success in this type of forum is to look the questioner in the eye and make a connection. The former technology executive did what he had to make his pitch for moderation and accord. "I don't think bipartisanship is a dirty word," he said.
He ticked off six possible areas of common ground he thinks both parties could find if he's president - a carbon tax; infrastructure spending; criminal justice reform; immigration reform; digital privacy and a new national service programme.
You have to admit, he's an optimist.
His big idea: As part of his effort to find common ground with political opponents, Mr Delaney promises that as president he would hold nationally televised debates with Congress once every three months. Think of it like question time in the British Parliament, but not as often and (probably) with less creative insults.
His biggest obstacle: Mr Delaney has been campaigning in Iowa for 20 months and still barely registers as a blip in presidential preference polls there. He joked that he was unable to clear the presidential field despite his long head start. Chances are, the field will soon leave him in the dust.
Reception:

For an hour on Sunday, Mr Delaney was the star. He got real questions from real voters who treated him like a real contender. No matter what happens from here, he'll always have Austin.

BBC Awarded 3 Stars

 ******************************************

Tulsi Gabbard

The 37-year-old Hawaii congresswoman was one of the few congressional supporters of Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign, but now she's running against him.
Perhaps the most interesting moment in Ms Gabbard's Sunday evening town hall was when she was asked whether she is a capitalist. It's the kind of question every Democratic candidate has faced in the past few days, with varying degrees of success.
"So many of these labels are misused, misunderstood to the point where people don't have any idea what they mean anymore," Ms Gabbard said.
The audience applauded. Perhaps they sympathised. Just a day earlier, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told a South by Southwest audience that capitalism was "irredeemable", while elsewhere possible independent candidate Howard Schultz praised capitalism and said to understand socialism you should "look at Venezuela".
When the terms of the debate can't even be agreed upon, what's the chance of a useful answer? Democrats might want to follow the Hawaiian's lead and avoid trying to answer.
Her big idea: A central part of Ms Gabbard's campaign has been her call for an end to US-led "regime change wars" - in Syria and Afghanistan. She also condemns runaway military spending as a "new arms race". As a major in the US Army reserve and a veteran of the Iraq War, Ms Gabbard has a unique perch from which to launch her critique.
Her biggest obstacle: Her foreign policy has also been a source of controversy. In 2017 she met President Bashar Assad in Syria and has questioned the international consensus that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons against its own citizens.
"I served in a war in Iraq, a war that was based on lies," she said. "I think that the evidence needs to be gathered." She refused to label Mr Assad as a "war criminal" - a position that sets her well apart from the majority of US politicians and the American people.
Reception:

Ms Gabbard had the toughest questions from the town hall audience, which she often dodged despite moderator follow-ups. She had her supporters in the crowd, but many of those present didn't seem to warm to her.

BBC Awarded 2 Stars

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47504477

Idiot of the Week: Man Intentionally Exposes his 9 Kids to Chickenpox

KING IDIOT: Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin

There's an idiot the week, and then there is a KING Idiot of the week, and this week, it's a KING
idiot.  The Governor of Kentucky, Matt Bevin (R) intentionally exposed his nine children to chickenpox instead of vaccinating them against the disease, he said in a radio interview. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chickenpox can be serious and can lead to severe complications and death.

Here's the story about KING IDIOT:
A GOP governor doesn’t believe in chickenpox vaccines. 
He took his 9 kids to a pox party instead.


By Eli Rosenberg, Washington Post
March 20 at 10:59 PM

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) turned heads this week after saying on a radio show that he had intentionally tried to get his children infected with chickenpox and that he did not support the state’s mandatory chickenpox vaccine.

Bevin, appearing on a radio station in the state, Talk 104.1, said that every one of his nine children had come down with chickenpox — on purpose.

“We found a neighbor that had it,” the first-term governor said. “And I went and made sure every one of my kids was exposed to it and they got it. And they had it as children, they were miserable for a few days, and they all turned out fine.”

Chickenpox is less deadly in children than adults, but public health experts say it is still important to get vaccinated to prevent a small number of deaths every year and protect others with weaker immune systems. As of 2012, some 36 states and the District required children to receive the chickenpox vaccine or have other evidence of immunity against chickenpox before starting school, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seventeen, including Kentucky, allow parents to exempt their children for medical, religious or philosophical reasons.

But Bevin criticized requirements that children get vaccinated for chickenpox. “This is America and the federal government should not be forcing this upon people,” Bevin said.

MIS-INFORMED:
Public health experts said that the governor seemed misinformed.“It’s a public health hazard,” said Steven Teutsch, an adjunct professor of health policy and management at the University of California at Los Angeles and a former officer at the CDC. “One of the things that we worry about is that you know people who think these things — you’re on a slippery slope that leaves the kids and the population vulnerable.”

The CDC advises against the practice of intentionally exposing children to others who are infected with the virus, which is sometimes referred to as “chickenpox parties.”

CHICKENPOX CAN LEAD TO DEATH:
“Chickenpox can be serious and can lead to severe complications and death, even in healthy children. There is no way to tell in advance how severe your child’s symptoms will be,” the CDC says on its website. “So it is not worth taking the chance of exposing your child to someone with the disease. The best way to protect infants and children against chickenpox is to get them vaccinated.”

BEFORE AND AFTER THE VACCINE:
Before the chickenpox vaccine debuted in 1995, about 4 million Americans were infected with chickenpox, also known as varicella, every year, according to the CDC. Of that group, 10,500 to 13,000 people were hospitalized and 100 to 150 people died, the CDC said. But those statistics decreased sharply in the years after the introduction of the vaccine: The prevalence of chickenpox has decreased by an estimated 79 percent, according to a CDC study of 31 states between 2000 and 2010. In the two four-year periods the CDC studied before and after the vaccine was introduced, deaths went down 87 percent. In children and adults younger than 20, deaths declined by 99 percent over the same period, between 2008 and 2011 compared to 1990 to 1994.

What is Commonwealth Day?

If you live in the U.S., you have likely not heard of "Commonwealth Day," but it was celebrated on
Monday, March 11, 2019 in the United Kingdom and many other countries! It's all about British colonies... and there are a LOT (see list below)!
In today's blog, you'll learn what it is!

WHAT IS COMMONWEALTH DAY?
Commonwealth Day is an annual event that celebrates the Commonwealth and the nations that are in it. When it was first introduced during the early 1900’s it was called Empire Day and was used as a way of uniting the countries that came under the British Empire. It became a popular annual event and in 1925 it saw 90,000 people attend an Empire Day thanksgiving service at the newly opened Wembley Stadium. In 1958 Prime Minister Harold Macmillan announced in Parliament that it would be renamed as Commonwealth Day and would focus on celebrating the shared history between the countries. Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare

THIS YEAR'S EVENT - 
On 11 March 2019, people in Commonwealth countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe will observe Commonwealth Day.
The day will be celebrated with a broad range of activities, including faith and civic gatherings, debates, school assemblies, flag raising ceremonies, street parties, cultural events and a multicultural, multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey.

The Royal Family at the 2019 Commonwealth Day celebration. Cr: Popsugar.

THIS YEAR'S THEME - 
The theme for 2019 is ‘A Connected Commonwealth’, which offers opportunities for the people, governments and institutions of this richly diverse family of nations to connect and work together at many levels through far-reaching and deep-rooted networks of friendship and goodwill.
This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of the Commonwealth as it is configured today, with old ties and new links enabling co-operation towards social, political and economic development, which is both inclusive and sustainable.

It was then agreed in 1973 that it would be celebrated in all Commonwealth countries on the second Monday of March each year. The modern Commonwealth of Nations was formally created in 1949 to ensure that all countries were considered to be ‘free and equal’. Each year since 1995 the day has been given a specific theme such as Music, A New Generation, and The Environment. Commonwealth Day 2019 has the theme A Connected Commonwealth, which focuses on the nations coming together to engage with each other as well as celebrate the diverse cultures.

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

It was then agreed in 1973 that it would be celebrated in all Commonwealth countries on the second Monday of March each year. The modern Commonwealth of Nations was formally created in 1949 to ensure that all countries were considered to be ‘free and equal’. Each year since 1995 the day has been given a specific theme such as Music, A New Generation, and The Environment. Commonwealth Day 2019 has the theme A Connected Commonwealth, which focuses on the nations coming together to engage with each other as well as celebrate the diverse cultures.

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

THERE'S A WEBSITE! - For more information about it, visit: http://thecommonwealth.org/commonwealthday

It was then agreed in 1973 that it would be celebrated in all Commonwealth countries on the second Monday of March each year. The modern Commonwealth of Nations was formally created in 1949 to ensure that all countries were considered to be ‘free and equal’. Each year since 1995 the day has been given a specific theme such as Music, A New Generation, and The Environment. Commonwealth Day 2019 has the theme A Connected Commonwealth, which focuses on the nations coming together to engage with each other as well as celebrate the diverse cultures.

Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/11/when-is-the-commonwealth-day-service-and-how-to-watch-8878415/?ito=cbshare
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

It was then agreed in 1973 that it would be celebrated in all Commonwealth countries on the second Monday of March each year. The modern Commonwealth of Nations was formally created in 1949 to ensure that all countries were considered to be ‘free and equal’. Each year since 1995 the day has been given a specific theme such as Music, A New Generation, and The Environment. Commonwealth Day 2019 has the theme A Connected Commonwealth, which focuses on the nations coming together to engage with each other as well as celebrate the diverse cultures.

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WHAT COUNTRIES CELEBRATE COMMONWEALTH DAY?

Countries by region

Africa

• Botswana
• Cameroon
• Gambia, The
• Ghana
• Kenya
• Kingdom of eSwatini
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nigeria
• Rwanda
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• Uganda
• United Republic of Tanzania
• Zambia

Asia

• Bangladesh
• Brunei Darussalam
• India
• Malaysia
• Pakistan
• Singapore
• Sri Lanka

Caribbean and Americas

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bahamas, The
• Barbados
• Belize
• Canada
• Dominica
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Jamaica
• Saint Lucia
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Vincent and The Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago

Europe

• Cyprus
• Malta
• United Kingdom

Pacific

• Australia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu

Tom's Netflix Recommendation: Knightfall

Tom loves Netflix and has found some good series to watch.  In today's blog, you'll read about his recommendation to watch the series called "Knightfall."

ABOUT KNIGHTFALL :  This original series on Netflix, in partnership with the History Channel, picks up in the declining days of the Knights Templar, after their defeat at Acre and expulsion from their last stronghold in the Holy Land.  

The series has all of the trappings of really good characters:  a corrupt Pope Boniface, a disillusioned protagonist Simon de La Tour Landry, torn between a forbidden love of his queen and his quest to possess the Holy Grail, a young farmer who joins the Temple to avenge the savage murder of his young girlfriend, a queen trapped in a loveless marriage is driven by her lust for the more masculine knight with whom she could never really be free to have a relationship with.  

Downton Abbey fans will appreciate seeing the return of Jim Carter (Carson) and Tom Cullen (Viscount "Tony" Foyle) to the small screen.  Gina McKee turns in yet another wonderful performance (I've always liked her since I first saw her in The Forsythe Saga). 

 Knightfall: Official Trailer | Series Premiere December 6 at 10/9c | History: https://youtu.be/F9dtepkeR0I

 

Part 2: 2020 Democratic Presidential Hopefuls: Pete Buttegieg, Julian Castro, John Hickenlooper

  In Part 2 of this BBC News Article you'll learn about

2020 Democratic Presidential Hopefuls: Pete Buttegieg, Julian Castro, John Hickenlooper

Pete Buttegieg

If elected, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, would achieve a number of presidential firsts - the youngest president, aged 37, the first mayor elected directly to the White House, the first Afghanistan War veteran and the first openly gay president.
On Sunday at a CNN event, he showed flashes of the charisma that turned heads in the party when he mounted an upstart, although ultimately unsuccessful, bid to be head of the Democratic National Committee in 2017.

In one line that has caught particular attention, he blasted Vice-President Mike Pence, the former governor of his home state.
"How can he allow himself to be the cheerleader for the porn star presidency?" he asked. "Is it that he stopped believing in scripture when he started believing in Donald Trump?"
His big idea: Many of the Democrats in the presidential field have endorsed universal government-managed health insurance by expanding to everyone the Medicare programme that provides healthcare for the elderly. Mr Buttigieg didn't go that far on Sunday night, instead opting for what he called "Medicare for all who want it". The way he described it, "you take some flavour of Medicare, you make it available on the exchange as a kind of public option, and you invite people to buy into it".
His biggest obstacle: The possible "first" are also obstacles. He's young. And the mayor's office of a small Indiana town, with its small constituency, is an unlikely seat from which to launch a presidential campaign. Mr Buttigieg will be hard-pressed to break through against better-funded, more experienced candidates. Chances are, however, he'll still be around in politics long after many of them are gone and he thinks his age is a plus. "It allows me to communicate to the country a vision about what our country is going to look like in 2054," he said. "That's the year I get to the current age of the current president."
Reception:

"I have rarely seen a candidate make better use of televised town hall," said former Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod. "Crisp, thoughtful and relatable. He'll be a little less of a long shot tomorrow." 

BBC Awarded 5 Stars

***********************

Julián Castro

The former housing and urban development secretary was reportedly on Hillary Clinton's vice-presidential short list in 2016. He was passed over for Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, but now he's angling for the top job. Or, perhaps, he's trying to make a more compelling case for the second spot on the 2020 nominee's ticket.
He said his goal is to make the US the smartest, healthiest, fairest and most prosperous nation on earth. Maybe it's his response to "make America great again", although it will be considerably harder to print on a hat.
His big idea: In an interview earlier in the day, he criticised fellow candidate Bernie Sanders for his willingness to write "big cheques" for things like healthcare or education, but being unwilling to consider reparations to African-Americans descended from slaves. The US constitution mandates that Americans be compensated if their property is taken, he noted, so why shouldn't people who were treated as property themselves also receive compensation?
"I've long believed that the country should consider reparations because of the atrocity of slavery," Mr Castro told me. "I believe that we're never going to fully heal as a country from the racial divide until we've addressed the tremendous wrong that was done with slavery."

He said that, as president, he would set up a commission to determine an inclusive way to address "the best path forward". It will be up to those who support reparations to decide whether a "commission" is the kind of bold move they had in mind.
His biggest challenge: While Mr Castro is staking out a reparations position to the left of most of the Democratic field, he's spent most of his political career talking and acting like a moderate. On Sunday he identified himself as a "progressive" - in favour of universal healthcare, universal pre-kindergarten and tuition-free college.
"I don't think that with any one candidate you're going to consistently find them in one place," he said. That may not be enough to convince progressives he is legitimately one of their own.
Reception:

Mr Castro had a bit of a home field advantage in Austin, as he is the former mayor of nearby San Antonio. He isn't a lively public speaker, but was more than comfortable with the interview format.

BBC Awarded 4 Stars

********************************* 

John Hickenlooper

The geologist turned brewpub owner turned politician turned up at South by Southwest just three days after he formally launched his presidential campaign with a speech in Denver. The former Colorado governor echoed similar themes in Austin on Saturday, preaching his ability to work with Republicans to advance progressive priorities like gun control, environmental regulation and healthcare coverage expansion.
His biggest idea: During his hour-long interview Mr Hickenlooper said that the 2020 presidential race would be a "campaign of ideas".
So, after his talk, I asked him which ideas set him out from the crowd. "I think I'm the one person that demonstrates the idea of action, of actually accomplishing things," he said.
"Action" isn't really an idea, I said.
He went on to talk about healthcare, environmental regulation and workforce training. It wasn't exactly stand-apart-from-the-crowd material.
His biggest challenge: Mr Hickenlooper's focus on co-operation may have won him political success in Colorado, but it also made him some fierce critics. Some environmentalists, in particular, weren't all that thrilled that the former oil industry scientist sat down with energy industry executives for friendly negotiations. In one particularly memorable instance, the governor drank a glass of fracking fluid to prove that it didn't harm humans.
Mr Hickenlooper explained that he was trying to gain their trust - and that the talks led to real regulation of methane emissions. "They're mad that I did stuff," he said. "We actually did stuff. So sue me." They won't sue him, but they might not vote for him, either.
Reception:

Mr Hickenlooper is an affable man, and that came across in his appearance. They have a saying about where nice guys finish, though.

BBC Awarded 3 Stars

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47504477

How A Senior Pup (Franklin) Celebrates a 15th Birthday

Franklin loved his Ice cream cone cookie

We all celebrate birthdays in our own way, and Franklin, our 15 year old red, smooth Dachshund celebrated his recent birthday this past Monday, March 18, 2019. Here's how he spent his day. 
   WAKE UP TIME: Daddy Tom gets everyone up at 4:30 a.m. but Franklin decided he could use an additional 3 or 4 minutes in his bed under a blanket.. then finally got up to go outside with his siblings. 
  SPECIAL BREAKFAST:  In additional to his dry food and carrot, he got turkey! Following that, it was a post-breakfast nap.

Walking into Petco with Daddy Tom

   Franklin's morning was filled with naps and a couple of times outside (but it was too cold to be outside too long, even with clothing to keep warm). 
  LUNCHTIME brought a nice long walk, followed by a lunchtime treat, then more napping and hugs from Daddy Rob who was teleworking.


 


 DINNERTIME: More turkey! 


 SPECIAL BIRTHDAY TRIP!  -  Every year, we've gone to Petco or Petsmart and had Franklin (and the other kids) walk around and pick out toys and treats. Since Franklin really isn't interested in toys much, he only picked out treats! In fact, three bags of gourmet treats, a special dental treat and and Ice cream cone cookie!  Daddy Tom took him around the store while Daddy Rob took pictures.   Franklin couldn't wait to eat that Ice Cream cone cookie, so he enjoyed it on the ride home. 

Franklin and Daddy Tom walking through Petco

Another treat Franklin picked out

 

Tom and Franklin waiting to check out

  SOME TRAINING: Daddy Rob worked in a little training in the living room for Franklin, Dolly, Tyler and Dash. It was "sit, stay, come" training, followed by 8pm "3 treat time!" 

  WRAP UP:  Franklin spent the evening sitting with Daddy Tom who was watching Netflix from his bed.   It was a great birthday!

Franklin looking for the front door of Petco!