I was born and lived in Hawaii for most of my life, but additionally spent four years or more in California, Louisiana and the Washington, DC area, plus two six month sabbaticals in Tokyo.  I graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1972, so more than half a century has passed since I last lived in this state.  What has changed in Louisiana during this period?                                                  1972                         2026 Population:     3.76 million          4.62 million Black %                 31%                     29.5% Asian %                0.1...

 As the USA will be 250 years old on July 4 this year, I asked Google AI, how old is China? Only 76 years old as the People's Republic of China, founded by Mao Zedong on October 1, 1949. As a Unified Imperial State, 2247 years old.  Qin Shi Huang in 221 BC unified the country. However, widely cited figures trace the roots of Chinese civilization back to the semi-mythical Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, starting with the Yellow Emperor around 2698 BC.  Or 2724 years. Dating back to the Shang Dynasty, between 3200 and 3700 years old. Analyzing archeological culture, sites like Liangzhu show complex societies and evidence of rice farming in the Yangtze River valley 8000 years ago.  This was perhaps 2000 years after very early evidence.  So, 10,000 years? Oxford University considers China to be the world's oldest continuous civilization. Watch a video  suggesting wars in ancient China going back to 10,000 BC.  Thus, perhaps 12,000 years old? Then, of c...

  But first, a few Trumpy matters: The  tariff wars  against Canada, Mexico and China have begun. The result was a  stock market fall .  Not crash yet, but is that coming? President Trump will address a joint session of Congress tonight.   Should be entertaining, with surprises and made-for-TV moments.  Many Democrats will boycott, and those females who show up will  wear pink and white .  Six years ago they wore white. Trump paused military aide to Ukraine after that Oval Office skirmish.  Would have been warranted if THIS happened. Now, on to the topic of the day.  I once lived in Louisiana.  Mardi Gras was the big event for the state.  Shrove Tuesday is the last day before Ash Wednesday beginning Lent, ( the Christian fasting season when certain foods are avoided ) and is the final day to feast on rich foods like red meat.  Thus, this is also called Fat Tuesday, the culmination of Mardi Gras.  I report on this...