Becoming Better Neighbors
Continuing our recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, we turn our attention to the United States/Latin America foreign policy relations. As many of you probably know, maintaining a good ongoing relationship with a neighbor can be both challenging and satisfying. The same goes with countries that share a common border. These North American countries have a […]
UPDATED: Scotland’s Declaration of Independence?
At the height of the British Empire, England had rule over one-quarter of the world’s population. In the years since, some of the countries under their rule either won their independence through war (the United States and India) or through diplomatic negotiations (Canada, Australia, and New Zealand). Of its remaining fourteen territories, the citizens of […]
Patents: For the Benefit of Society
You have probably seen a copyright symbol– © –printed inside of your favorite books or on the backs of CDs. But what do you know of the patent? Both copyrights and patents protect the originators of intellectual property–any idea, process or invention that comes from a person’s mind. Patents, however, can be a very complicated […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Washington State Mud Slide Last month, the town of Oso, Washington (located approximately 60 miles north of Seattle) experienced a mudslide up to 177 feet in height and covering approximately one square mile. Officials estimate the death toll at 24, with 18 officially identified. This has been a difficult task because recovery crews struggled […]
White House Pays Tribute to France at State Dinner
Last week, President Obama hosted a state dinner, a formal affair thrown as part of a formal visit between the United States and another country. This event’s guest of honor was President Francois Hollande of France. Other guests included more than 300 politicians, influential businesspersons, celebrities and other notables. The décor for the evening was […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
“Perfect Storm” of Factors Paralyzes Atlanta A week after the Northeastern part of the United States was hit with its latest polar vortex chill, the Southern states experienced their own rare weather phenomenon. A two-inch snowfall in Atlanta, Georgia caused massive gridlock on the city’s highways, leaving thousands of motorists stranded in their cars and […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Polar Vortex Explained If you live in the northeastern quarter of the United States, then you probably spent the first of the year hunkered down waiting for the weather to change. The abnormally low temperatures are being blamed on a phenomenon known as the polar vortex. While it may sound like the name of a […]
50th Anniversary of the War on Poverty
Solving the problem of poverty is a complicated issue as well as a continuing political hot-button topic in America. In 1964 then-president Lyndon B. Johnson made this issue a priority by declaring a “war on poverty” during his first State of the Union speech. On January 8th of this year, Johnson’s daughter, Lynda Johnson Robb, joined […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
First Aid for New Health Care System Now that it’s up and running again, the most recent challenge facing the U.S. government is rolling out the new health care system created by the Obama administration. To make sure all citizens who were eligible have access to health insurance, the government set up a website called […]
UPDATED!! Debt Ceiling Squabble
Last night, the president and Congress overcame their disagreements to end the government shutdown and avoid the possible debt ceiling (also called the debt limit) crisis. Today was the deadline announced by the United States Treasury that the government would have lost its ability to borrow money, relying only on incoming taxes for revenue. The […]