First, some news summaries: Looks like the U.S. Congress, mostly the fault of the House, will not by Friday provide stopgap funding for some of our Federal agencies, thus partially shutting down certain departments. Big deal?  Not particularly, as this  has happened 10 times since 1981 . Also, the offices affected are not so crucial.  The important ones need funding by March 8.  But even then, "essential" employees, including the president and the Congress, will continue to work and be paid under any circumstance. The longest shutdown was during Trump's reign, when functions stopped for more than a month. Chances are that something will happen next week to again, temporarily, re-open our government. By the time you read this,  moon lander Odysseus might not be working,  a few days earlier than planned.   Not a great mission, for the lander tipped over on landing, preventing full use of the solar panels. Watch a video  of what happened. Sent a few great photos. About that

On Saturday, my posting was entitled,  Here We Go Again , referring to Vietnam in 1975.  Today, NBC News reported: U.S. to send 1,000 more troops to Kabul in scramble to evacuate Video: Panicked crowds descend on Kabul airport after Taliban take city Afghan women fear 'dark' future, loss of rights as Taliban take over 'Blood on his hands': Republicans criticize Biden   Analysis: Afghans were promised the U.S. would not abandon them. Now they have .   Man and nature can indeed be cruel.  Yesterday I reported in this blog that a 7.2 earthquake struck Haiti.  While this was twice as strong as the 7.0 that devastated the already poorest country in the Americas in 2010, killing 220,000, this time "only" 1200 or so died, although there surely will be more.  However, Grace makes landfall today.  Fortunately, she is now "only" a tropical depression, not the Category 5 Hurricane Matthew that creamed the nation in 2016. Finally, been swimming lately?  7-year o

I've recently been fixated on global adventures, so on this Sunday, what about spiritual sites?  Here are a few prominent locations to consider, going west from Honolulu: Cape Reinga, New Zealand, sacred to the Maori people. Uluru, Australia:  home of the aboriginal people, one of the oldest civilizations, the plateau rises to 1,142 feet. Ubud, Bali:  Hindu harmony, plus spiritual Monkey Forest. Kyoto, Japan :  was Japan's capital for over a thousand years, and is the cultural heart of the country.  This would be the start from which you can go to Shikoku to visit 88 temples , a trek of 746 miles by foot, although there is a bus tour. Bhutan:  said to be the last Shangri-La, this is a tiny Buddhist country, measuring prosperity in terms of Gross National Happiness. Angkor Wat , Cambodia:  goes back to the 12th century and Hindu mythology, with Buddhist enhancements. Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka:  7500 feet tall, where a five-foot depression in the rock at the peak is a footprint