Syrian Violence Continues as Government Mines Borders

Violence continues in Syria as the government continues shelling it's people. In Homs alone, another 47 were said to have been killed. The United Nations estimates that 8,000 people have been killed since last March. A figure a few thousand lower than that given by many humanitarian groups.

Nearly a month ago, it was estimated by most, that the death toll was nearing 10,000. With just the city of Homs seeing near fifty die daily, it isn't hard to imagine that the total could be at least 12,000 by now.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and British Foreign Secretary William Hague spent Monday trying to finally get the UN to act, and remove Syria's President Bashar al Assad from power. China continues to demand that the world not try to nation build in Syria., while Russia and Iran continue to actively support the Syrian government.

Meanwhile, Turkey and Lebanon decried that Syria has been laying mines along paths that refugees have been using to escape the country. "Any use of anti-personnel landmines is unconscionable," Steve Goose, Arms Division director at Human Rights Watch, said. "There is absolutely no justification for the use of these indiscriminate weapons by any country, anywhere, for any purpose."

Egypt's Lower House Votes to Expel Israeli Ambassador

Egypt's lower house of parliament has voted to expel the Israeli ambassador. The move comes as Israel finds itself under assault by a rain of terror rockets from Gaza.

The vote also calls for the recall of Egypt's ambassador to Israel and the halting of gas exports to Israel. The text voted on also stated, "Egypt will never be the friend, partner or ally of the Zionist entity which we consider as the first enemy of Egypt and the Arab nation." And that the Egyptian government must "revise all its relations and agreements with that enemy."

The military council is still in charge of Egyptian, and they are unlikely to approve such a motion. But it is a sign of the time and even more proof that Islamic Jihad has taken over much of Egypt. It is unclear how long the peace will last, once the military gives up it's power to the parliament, as it is supposed to do, sometime this summer.

Rain of Terror Against Israel

The past few days have seen over 200 rockets and mortars fired out of Gaza towards Israel. Luckily there have been no deaths caused by them. Israel has continued to defend itself by sending in guided missiles to target the precise locations of the attackers.

The retaliatory airstrikes have killed around 25 militants. Unfortunately the Gazan terrorists have taken to hiding amongst populated areas, and some civilians have been injured and killed as well. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the use of these human shields.

The rain of terror has caused schools and other places to be closed, all over southern Israel. Other parts of the country have prepared for the attacks to spread as well. Hospitals across the country have sped up their program of fortifying themselves. Concrete walls are being thickened, and special coating is being placed on windows to keep them from shattering.

The Iron Dome, ground to air missile batteries, have been almost entirely effective so far. And plans for the program to be expanded, with more batteries brought into being.

Normally such attacks out of Gaza are the work of Hamas. Until now it seemed that Gaza was controlled almost entirely by Hamas, but these attacks have made it clear that Hamas no longer has the power it once had. Hamas has in fact ordered multiple cease fires and attempted to reach a truce with Israel, but the militants have continued to ignore them. They have even now ignored an Egyptian brokered truce as well. Islamic Jihad, which is heavily supported by Iran, is thought to be running the show now.

This has led to the Israeli Defense Force to begin discussing sending ground troops in, so that the rain of terror can be stopped. IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Yoav Mordechai stated, "The IDF is prepared for any development, including a situation where we are forced to launch a ground operation. We have everything we need and are ready to step it up if needed. There are many measures that we haven't employed yet. There is no effective control in Gaza, and no clear distinction between the political and military wings of Hamas… we are prepared to turn it up a notch."

Buckley AFB Explosive Alarms Set Off

The South gate of Buckley Air Force Base was briefly closed Monday as a delivery truck set off explosive detector devices. Possibly explosive chemical residues were found on the steering wheel and door handle.

Bomb sniffing dogs were brought out, but found nothing. Eventually the driver and truck were cleared.

Aurora police did have to be called, to deal with the traffic backup that the closure caused.

Buckley Air Force Base has not released information on what chemicals were being delivered or what was detected.

It is good to see that the base's security was vigilant and prepared for any possibility. The base is the primary landing site for government officials, including the President, when coming to Denver.

FEMA Denies Harrisburg, Illinois Disaster Relief After Tornado

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that it will be denying Harrisburg, Illinois federal disaster relief. Harrisburg lost seven people as an E4 tornado destroyed a large part of the town, on February 29th. FEMA is also denying aid to the rest of Illinois that was hit by storm.

The same storm damaged parts of Indiana and Kentucky. Not a county or town in either of those states was denied funding by FEMA.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is appealing the decision, and is massively supported by the mayors and state senators and representatives of the effected areas. Harrisburg Mayor Eric Gregg has personally invited President Obama to visit the town, in hopes of getting his approval for aid.

FEMA's stance is that Harrisburg, and the rest of Illinois, have enough state and local funding to enact their own repairs. They feel that the other states would not be able to recover on their own.

Classic Pick: The Wrong Box

Must-see of the week is the epically zany British black comedy (one of the coolest, IMO) The Wrong Box, with great stars like John Mills, Michael Caine, Ralph Richardson, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Peter Sellers (in a hilarious tiny bit, one of his best, as the weird Dr. Pratt—“I was not always as you see me now”) in this spoof of a Victorian-era “tontine”, that is, a jackpot to be awarded to the longest living, last survivor of a group of schoolboys, and the only ones left decades down the road are brothers who hate each other.

You have never met a bore half so boring as Richardson, who seems to be the foremost authority on every subject known to man, nor have you seen a butler half as old (or as good) whose grunts are so rich with meaning. This plot mixes wit and slapstick, shows you with morbidly funny detail how all the other classmates croaked, has a strangler as well as a hearse and beer wagon chase thrown in for good measure.

You have to keep your eyes glued to this gloriously absurd utter chaos to catch all the famous and then not-yet-but-destined-to-be-famous faces, and you’re certain to come away with more than one scene or quote stuck in your head for the rest of your life, and that is the Box. "That is what that is." Catch it on TCM, Wednesday 2:30pm EDT.

Remake news department: this time it's A Star is Born, with director Clint Eastwood and possibly Tom Cruise and Beyonce in the story of an aging male star who's upstaged by his younger wife. The story was first filmed in 1937, and 1954's version included arguably one of the greatest film songs ever, with Judy Garland's performance of "The Man Who Got Away."

This is cross posted from Speakeasy, where you can find further classic entertainment news and reviews.

Breathe Life Into Your Phone

One of the latest devices is the Aire Mask. The Aire Mask fits across your mouth and uses the force of your breathing to create energy for charging a phone.

Inventor Joco Paulo Lammoglia said, "I hope to bring the concept into production and reduce the carbon footprint. It can be used indoors or outdoors, while you're sleeping, walking, running or even reading a book."

The mobile advantages of the Aire Mask are quite obvious, as you'd no longer have to search for a plug when somewhere else, and especially for in use when you're out doors. The green side of it will also be very appealing for the energy conscious.

It is really an attractive device, but if you're a Star Wars fan, you likely thought what I did, does it sound like Vader. Lammoglia avoided that question, but the look is definitely there.

Gorilla Loose in Alabama

Reports in Hale County Alabama, have been a little abnormal over the last few days. The sheriff department has received calls about sightings of at least one gorilla.

Sightings have centered around Newbern, and possibly include multiple gorillas, as different sizes have been described.

It is unknown how even one gorilla could have reached the area. The nearest zoo, about 150 miles away, confirms that their one and only gorilla is still present and accounted for.

Suggestions have come in, that it is not a gorilla at all, but the ever elusive big foot.

Remembering: Anschluss

Kurt von Schushcnigg

March 12, 1938 Hitler leads German troops into Austria, as crowds cheer on. The first country Germany invaded, went without a shot or protest from the rest of the world.

A year previously the Austrian Nazi party plotted to attempt a take over of their government. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg asked Adolf Hitler to help him maintain Austria's independence, but the move back fired as Hitler pressured von Schuschnigg to appoint Nazis to his government.

On March 9, 1938 von Schuschnigg called for a vote on whether or not Austria should be annexed by Germany. But before anything could be decided Hitler upped the pressure and von Schuschnigg resigned, coerced into making a speech to the Austrian people asking them not to resist German occupation.

The next day von Schuschnigg was arrested as German troops took over the country. The Anschluss or annexation was completed peacefully. In 1945 von Schuschnigg was finally released from prison, by Allied forces, and Austria would be separated from Germany at the end of the war.

Remembering: Mikhail Gorbachev and The End of The USSR

March 11, 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev is selected to be the new general secretary of the Soviet Union. By December 1991, his reforms would see an end to the Cold War and the collapse of the USSR.

He had quickly risen through the ranks of the communist party, and was quick to take advantage of any opportunity or mentorship. Allied with the KGB there was little challenge to his power. He was passed over the first time he was eligible for general secretary, mostly due to his younger age. But the second time, there was no one who could challenge him.

Once in power he domestic reforms and changed foreign policy. He began moving the country away from socialism to a more democratic movement, without ever stating he was doing so. His policies toward the world were ones of friendliness and reducing nuclear armament.

However his reforms were too late. The USSR was already beyond saving. In December 1991, faced with a broken economy, satellites breaking free, and Soviet states seeking independence Gorbachev resigned, and the Soviet Union was no more.