Tomorrow begins Ramadan.  For those who don't know what is Ramadan, I will on Sunday provide some history.  As such, there was hope for peace in the Gaza Strip by the end of today.  Apparently,   not going to happen , for both the Hamas and Israel are not backing off on must requirements.  While both have their points, I think the biggest source of irritation is PM Netanyahu, who wants to totally obliterate any future terrorism against Israel.  Even a long cease fire will threaten his leadership. What about aid to Ukraine?  Well, still no progress in the House.  However,  looks like something will be worked out by March 22 , when the Republicans again play brinksmanship about closing down the Federal government. Tonight is when you need to spring forward, that is, this is Spring, so you must set your clock forward an hour.  Which means you will have one less hour of sleep.  Why we continue to do this back and forth every year remains confounding.  Daylight saving time has been arou

  It is Friday in Japan, so this must still be Thursday in the USA.  I've bypassed anything linked to Covid for weeks because it is not newsworthy enough these days.  However, thought I'd touch on it today.  First, though, a few other topics: It is becoming clear what new Speaker Mike Johnson and his Republican House will be doing, for they are now cherry-picking topics to support their priorities, while insisting that the budget be balanced with cuts to the IRS now, and social programs later, to pay for necessary expenditures.  Both the White House and the Senate scoff at this tactic.   Read the details . If you've lost track of Donald Trump's assorted indictments and court trials,  here is a summary . As I erroneously indicated that the U.S. ended daylight savings time this past weekend, here is the correct information.  When you go to bed  this coming Saturday night , the nation at 2AM falls back one hour on Sunday, November 5, meaning you will have an extra hour to

First, though: Maine shooter  Robert Card is dead , self-inflicted. Are we headed to war with Iran?   The Hamas-Israel War and Syrian incidents were all orchestrated by Iran.  What about Russia and China? Before you go to sleep Saturday night, turn back your clock one hour.  By a  63% to 16% majority , Americans don't like to do this, and statistics show these two changes/year are just not good for society.  Congress is attempting do something, and, if anything, will keep it always at daylight savings time.  Hawaii, and a few other locations in the U.S., don't make any changes. When is Halloween Night?  Every year it is observed on October 31, which is a Tuesday this year.  The celebration marks the day before the Western Christian feast of All Saints, or All Hallows Day, from where comes Halloween.  Goes back to the Celts and the festival of  Samhain , mentioned in the earliest Irish literature from the 9th century. Not much to say about our Honolulu to Tokyo flight because we

  First some newsworthy items: New COVID-19 cases are shifting to the Orient.  Yesterday (new cases/million population): #1   South Korea  139,615 (2722) #2  Russia  106,920 (732) #3  Germany  95,396 (1136) #4  Vietnam  94,385  (955) #5  Turkey  64,275 (747) #6  Japan  63,703 (506) #7  USA  32,918 (99) California  5,231 (132) New York  1,999 (103) Idaho 2,526 (1403) Hawaii 142 (101) World  1,110,611 (141) Singapore  13,544 (2257) Bahrain  2577 (1431)...a small island country in the Persian Gulf Estonia  2278 (1752) Luxembourg  1274 (1990) French Polynesia (3986) Brunei  (9223)...a small country on Borneo in the South China Sea Gazing at those numbers, the USA has a new cases/million rate only 1% of Brunei.  Not only did we survive the pandemic, but if fully vaccinated and boosted, much safer than from the seasonal flu.  Further, this  Omicron subvariant BA.2  is more contagious, but only kills those who are unvaccinated. For a variety of reasons, March is one of my favorite months.  Sp