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The first remarkable person, one you know, is Queen Elizabeth II.  Next year will mean 70 years as the reigning monarch, at the age of 95.  She is Queen to the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica and Barbados.  #2 in length is Hassanai Bolkiah of Brunei...53 years  They are prepared: I'm in the midst of planning three around the world trips.  Safety and security dominate my list of absolute needs.  I will avoid the summer heat of Dubai by walking through their World Expo in December.  I'm a bit concerned about the Buenos Aires World Expo because South American is just not a safe place these days.  I live in a cocoon. Then there is Sir Ranulph Fiennes.  Where do I start? In 1984 the Guinness Book of World Records named him as the world's greatest living explorer. To begin: His father died four months before Ranulph was born in the UK during World War II.  He inherited dad's baronetcy at birth. Grew up in South Africa but returned home to graduate from Eton Colleg

I've previously expressed my views on the George Floyd case , which began today in Minneapolis.  All kinds of Black Lives Matter and police justice issues at stake.  Only police officer Derek Chauvin on trial.  The defense will prove that Floyd was on fentanyl and methamphetamine, had underlying health conditions and was a convicted criminal.  Historically, jurors usually lean in the direction of the police.  However, the times have changed.  The city of Minneapolis has already agred to pay the Floyd family $27 million.  While live on news channels, the case will last another month. Here is one news item that, finally, is appearing to be making headway: The Biden administration is developing digital “vaccine passports,”   The Washington Post reported . The Ever Given is free and again sailing through the Suez Canal.  Who is to blame?  Weather?  This container ship is Panama-flagged, Japanese-owned and Taiwan-operated. Are you a cancer victim of the weedkiller Roundup?   Here's

Passover this year began on Saturday evening, March 27, and will end April 4, Easter.  Holy Week: This is Palm Sunday, the day in 30AD or 33AD when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. Why Palm Sunday and why a donkey?   His supporters laid palm branches on the ground, and a donkey symbolized peace ( a horse...war ).  Some of these branches are then ritually burned on Shrove Tuesday to make the ashes for the next Ash Wednesday ( meaning March 22 next year ), the first day of Lent, which goes on for 46 days, as Sundays don't count.   Which means once/week on that day you don't need to fast , or can smoke, if that's what you gave up.   Ash Wednesday and Fridays are particular days of fasting and abstinence, but only for those of 18-59. In general, fasting means eat less, not don't eat. Snacking is not allowed. Abstinence has nothing to do with sex, it mostly means no meat, although fish is okay.  Apparently, there is some leeway for crustaceans if this is not enjoyed gust