Denver to Install Parking Meter Sensors

Denver plans to follow in the foot steps of cities like Los Angeles and San Fransisco, by installing sensors to parking meters that will sense when a spot is empty.

The sensors will automatically reset a clock so that no time would be left over from a previous occupant. So no more will you be able to find any extra time.

They will also keep someone from adding money, beyond a point which an area can be used for. If it says no more than 2 hours, that's it, you'll have to move.

It will also the city to know where to send officers to place tickets, as soon as time expires on a spot, increasing efficiency.

An upside, will be that the city is working on an application for smart phones which would show people where a spot is available. Of course using your phone for anything, except phone calls, is now illegal in Colorado, so it's not clear when you could use such an app to your advantage.

Oregon Bans Native American Mascots

The state of Oregon has voted to ban all Native American mascots, deeming that such things are racist.

Schools will have five years within which to comply to the new law.

Eight high schools and unknown numbers of middle and elementary schools are affected by the ruling.

Seven other high schools, and an again unclear number of lower schools, which are named 'Warriors' will have to ensure their mascots and logos do not depict any form of Native Americans.

Oregon is in no way going to help with the amount of money that the law will require the schools to spend.

This new law makes Oregon the strictest on such matters.

Wisconsin had previously been, as they required schools to prove that their Indian mascots don't promote discrimination, harassment or stereotyping if someone complains.

US House Votes to Remove Troops in Europe

A bipartisan measure passed the US House on Friday, which would bring 15,000 troops out of Europe and back to the States.

The cuts would still leave 64,000 US troops stationed throughout western Europe, mostly in Germany.

Democratic Representative Jared Polis of Boulder, Colorado and Republican Representative Mike Coffman of Aurora, Colorado led the amendment.

Polis claims that by eliminating all US troops in Europe could save over a billion dollars a year.

However, it is unclear how this specific legislation would save money, as it just moves the troops from Europe to the States. It in no way cuts total troop numbers.

Coffman points this out, and hopes to see overall troop numbers lowered.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has a goal of reducing European troop numbers in half, down to around 40,000.

The Senate is now looking at it's own version of defense spending.

Anti-Protest Laws in Quebec

Today, May 22, marks one hundred days of continuous protests, which have often turned into riots in Montreal and Quebec City.

Most of the protesters have been college students angry over various social and economic issues, but mostly over tuition increases.

On Friday, Quebec's provincial legislature voted 68-48 for a new emergency law, Bill 78.

The new law pauses the current school year at schools affected by strikes; allows for large fines on anyone who tries blocking access to a school; and limits where, how, and for how long people can protest in Quebec.

Critics were quick to speak out against the approval of the bill, calling it the worst and most abusive law ever seen. The head of the Quebec Bar Association, Louis Masson, said Bill 78 violates constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate peacefully.

Bill 78 expires July of 2013.

Around the province, legislation was also approved for various other anti protest laws, including one which makes wearing masks illegal, at protests in Montreal.

North Korea Continues Reactor

North Korea has resumed construction on their experimental light water reactor, at Yongbyon.

The work comes as the North continues to prepare for an underground nuclear test.

Work could be completed on the reactor with the next two years.

When fully operational, this facility would be capable of producing enough enriched uranium for another bomb, each year.

It is expected for this reactor to be but a prototype for later ones.

Unless China completely cuts off the country from aid, there is little more the world can do, to stop the construction.

Beer Drinking Bride Controversy

In New Zealand, a picture of a contestant at the Bride of the Year competition, raised a large controversy.

Thirty-four women were competing, but only one of them was captured drinking a beer.

To some this was unbecoming of a bride. The bride in question, Katrina Hayman, replied that no one would have cared if she had it been drinking a glass of wine.

"I mean that is just the type of person I am. I don't like to portray myself as someone I am not. A lot of females drink beer and it's just I felt more comfortable having a beer than having a wine."

As of time of this posting, an online poll showed that 62.9% saw no problem with a bride drinking beer, 13.3% said it was tacky, whilst 23.8% said it was ok, but that it should be out of a fancy glass.

Hayman ended up not winning the contest.

Preview: Men in Black 3

Black suits coming, once again, cause good guys wear black. Men in Black III is almost here.

In the third part of the series, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) disappears and, without his presence, an alien invasion is coming.

Agent J (Will Smith) finds himself the only one remembering K as having been alive since 1969, so he goes back in time to save young K (Josh Brolin) from being assassinated.

With only twenty-four hours to accomplish the mission of saving K, and restoring the timeline to save earth, the movie should be fast paced.

Expect the same comical lines and action as were in the first two movies.

Men in Black III hits American theaters this Friday, May 25.

Remembering: Lindbergh and The Spirit of St. Louis

A challenge had been placed, to be the first to fly non stop between New York and Paris, and to do so alone.

The prize of $25,000 drew many famous pilots from across America and Europe.

One of the pilots to join was a relatively unknown air mail pilot, Charles Lindbergh.

Lindbergh commissioned a small monoplane, which had designed and then named after the city of St. Louis, who had been his chief sponsor.

On May 20, 1927, Lindbergh and The Spirit of St. Louis took off, barely making it off the ground due to all the weight of gas cans that it was carrying.

His main challenge being staying awake, Lindbergh flew 3,610 miles in thirty-three and a half hours, and won the prize, becoming an international celebrity.

US Looking Into Fat Tax

The US government is looking at creating a 'fat tax' that would set a tax on any foods which have unhealthy fats in them. Currently a tax of around twenty percent is being considered.

Health researchers say that such a tax would reduce obesity, just as taxes on cigarettes have cut down on smoking. They suggest that obesity could be cut by three and a half percent.

Some European nations, such as France and Denmark, have already put such taxes in to place.

Sodas specifically would be a target of such a tax, as the sugar they contain increases appetite, instead of satisfying it.

However, according to economic studies, such a tax would hurt food industries and cause mass job loss.

Politically such a move could be dangerous as well. Any kind of tax increase could be difficult to force upon Americans who are already growing increasingly unhappy with their government's attempts to take more and more control of their lives.

Jackie Chan's Last Action Movie

Fifty-eight year old Jackie Chan announced that Chinese Zodiac will be his final action film.

He has spent seven years writing, producing, coordinating fight scenes, directing, and acting in the movie.

Jackie says retirement is coming, because his body is simply just tired from all the abuse it's taken over the years.

Chan plans on continuing to write, direct, produce, coordinate, and act.

Any future acting will be comedy and drama. "I want to show audiences I can act."

Release dates for Chinese Zodiac, have only been set for China and Hong Kong, so far.