Sixteen Year Old Solves 350 Year Old Problem

Shourryya Ray, a sixteen year old living in Germany, solved two problems first set, 350 years ago, by Sir Isaac Newton.

Ray has been awarded a research award for his work solving the two equations, that no one had been able to solve til now. Even computers had struggled to solve the equations.

His solutions allow exact calculations of a trajectory under gravity and subject to air resistance. In other words, an item's flight path can be calculated and predictions can be made about how the object will hit and bounce off a barrier.

Math experts are now throwing around the word genius in conjunction with Ray. He denies he is one, but his solving the equations definitely show that the title is earned.

Fires Continue to Burn Across The US

The Whitewater Baldy Fire in New Mexico continues to grow thanks to the help of dry, hot, windy weather. Already having burnt over 152,000 acres, it is expected to beat the record for New Mexico's largest fire, by the end of the day. That record was set just last summer by the Las Conchas fire, which burned 156,593 acres.

However firefighters are hopeful, as they've been able to prepare lines in advance of the fire. So far the fire has burned a dozen structures, most of which were summer cabins. Firefighting resources from all over the United States are being used to fight it.

Two fires are burning in Colorado. The Sunrise Mine Fire, near Paradox and the Utah border has forced evacuations of campers. Thanks to seven aircraft, six engines, and eighty fire fighters the fire is about thirty percent contained.

Another fire is burning near Pagosa Springs, Colorado. This one is not contained at all, but firefighters are preparing a fire line north of the fire. They are also lighting small fires in front of it to burn out any possible fuel.

In Michigan, the Duck Lake Fire is nearing 22,000 acres. Two hundred and thirty-two firefighters are battling that one. The fire is mostly contained, and expectations are for it to be over with soon. Michigan is learning a lesson from this fire, as they were extremely unprepared for any fires. The state had dropped from one hundred and thirty fire crews, down to seventy.

Arizona is dealing with several fires. The Sunflower Fire, near Payson, has burned over 17,500 acres.. Fifty firefighters have it eighty percent contained. Near Flagstaff, the Mormon fire is being spurred on by winds, but firefighters are hoping to knock it out today or morrow. Over 16,000 acres have been burned by the Gladiator Fire. In the middle of the Prescott National Forest, it has prompted evacuations of three communities, but it is up to sixty percent containment now. By Thursday, firefighters hope to have the Toadlena Fire completely contained. It burned about 1,000 acres in the Navajo Nation.

Thoughts on This Memorial Day

All weekend I struggled over what I should write about for Memorial Day. So many ideas came and went, but none of them felt quite right. An article reminding everyone about the importance of remembering? Yes, for far too many it's simply a day to mark the beginning of summer by eating barbeque and drinking. Could be good, but almost cliche.

I began to think of not writing one at all, just writing the other articles on my list. O, of course I would make some Facebook and Twitter status mentioning how thankful I am to everyone who has or is serving. But honestly that feels pretty hollow to me today. How can you seriously thank someone enough, in just a few words, who did things you could never understand? There's truly no way to.

A day of silence to honor them? Ooops, too late for that, and there's already too much silence about it. Silence is all that those who don't care have, and I already dismissed doing nothing. Silence, whilst golden, is also one of the evils of the world. If our soldiers had remained silent, what form of tyranny would we be under? And so I started writing my thoughts.

All this led me to thinking of my family that's served. Past my grandparents, a lot is just stories handed down. I don't know many specifics about who, when, or where; but as far back as can be remembered ancestors bled mostly fighting against and possibly whilst wearing British colors. We were present during the Revolution, the Texas war for independence, and in the south during the Civil War.

My dad's dad was Royal Canadian Air Force, career. He served before, during, and after World War II, Korea, and the beginning of Vietnam. I never got to meet him, not from war loss, but from death caused by smoking his whole life. From what I've been told John Sangster ended up the highest level of Chief Warrant Officer, the highest level of non commissioned officer there is. No one but high ranking officers actually told him what to do. O, others could, but they didn't. Grandpa ran bases, nothing happened without his okay. Officers checked with him before they did things. He was the power behind the Colonel, or sometimes General.

Mum's dad served in the US Army during WWII. He fought in the Pacific, on islands such as Okinawa. Bill Dodson would earn his stripes before being honorably discharged. I grew up with his stories, at first when we lived next door, and then later whenever we got to visit. Those stories taught me so much, and I treasure them. This past fall, I was able to do a road trip, the focus of which was a weekend with him at the family reunion. I'll be forever grateful for that trip, as he would die three weeks later at the age of 91.

During Vietnam, my mum's brother and dad's brother both served. My dad volunteered, but was rejected by the USAF, based on his Canadian citizenship. Garth Sangster fought in the USMC at the beginning of the conflict. He was there at the very start, when they weren't even allowed to carry their weapons. Dennis Dodson served as a mechanic in the Army. Though I've not had the chance to hear many of their stories, they both have shared stories of being under fire without ways to fight back.

I've friends who served as far back as Nam, and others who currently do. I'm thankful beyond measure for their sacrifices. Their stories are as varied as their backgrounds, but the one thing that is the same between them all, they fought for their country. Most in the hopes, that they could keep the world's troubles far from the shores of the USA. Some simply because they were drafted, and had no other choice.

I was not allowed to serve, a rare genetic liver disorder, that's on the military's lists, keeps me out. But that does not mean that I'm not grateful for everything that our soldiers, as well those of our allies, have done. Given the chance I would've fought by their sides, but that was not meant to be. Instead I'm left with writing about them.

In their eyes you can see the pain, and sorrow. Innocence lost, friends to mourn. They suffered, saw greater yet, and still feel the pain in the memories of what happened and was seen. Some is too painful even to share. Regrets they may have, wishes to change things here and there definitely.

And let us not forget all those who have died in service. So many have died, in so many far away places. Our country still scours the earth for those lost in wars over the last century. Their families have not gotten back someone at all. Often receiving only a box and a flag. It is called the ultimate sacrifice for a reason.

Soldiers doing what needed to be done, fighting for in many cases simply survival, are what has kept us from having to fight ourselves. They are the reasons we get to have a day in the summer where we can simply sit around and eat that barbeque and drink. Their struggles have maintained our freedoms.

Don't just remember them, honor them.

Oil Throughout The Americas

Companies from all around the world are putting money and resources into the search for oil in Argentina. They're finding so much, that the country could become one of the world's top producers of oil.
However, production is being hampered ever since last month when President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's government took control of the largest energy company, YPF. A company which had not just been a public one before then, but owned by a Spanish company.

Since then, production is actually down, despite all the new finds. Companies continue to be willing to search for the oil, but very few are willing to work the fields and risk having Argentina take over their sites. Argentina had already been a slightly unfavorable place for energy companies due to price controls and restrictions on imports and exports.

Analysts warn that Argentina may be headed the way of Mexico and Venezuela. Both of those countries had started to see booms in oil production, but they nationalized any successful finds. That led to a pull out by all foreign oil companies, and their money, which all but ended the industry. Some point with hope to the Mexican presidential election on July 1, as well as the illness of the Venezuelan leader.

Canada, Brazil, and Colombia seen as bright spots for oil production in the Americas. All of them are encouraging the growth of the industry. Companies are much more willing to produce there, where there's no threat of nationalization. Colombia has some security issues, but with more money coming in, stability seems to be following.

The Falkland Islands is another area being searched heavily for it's possible oil resources. Unfortunately, Argentina has seen that as reason to start up their old threats against the Islands, which are part of the United Kingdom. Thirty years ago the two countries fought a war over them, after Argentina invaded. British soldiers won back the islands.

Many questions surround the United States, and what it will do with it's own oil resources. The Obama government has repeatedly blocked companies from using the fields, which may very well be the largest in the world. In fact, several states alone could have more than Saudi Arabia.

Perhaps the most famous blocking of oil was the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have brought oil from Canada and North Dakota down throughout the US to Texas. The Obama administration blocked it and the project died. Or maybe not, as several states have gone ahead with the sections that go through their own lands.

Other states are going their own ways as well. North Dakota continues to increase production, despite efforts by the national government to stop it. Colorado, another state that has huge amounts of oil and natural gas available, is working on ways to encourage production within it's borders.

All of this, combined, leads to a possible future where the Americas replace the Middle East as the center for oil production. Companies want to promote this, as the Western Hemisphere is a much more stable region. And with all the finds through out, it would seem that the resources of the West dwarf those of the Middle East.

Syrian Forces Use Artillery to Massacre Civilians

Saturday saw at least ninety people were killed in the village of Taldo, Syria when government troops opened fire and shelled for hours. It is possibly the single most deadly event during the fourteen month uprising in.

The shelling only goes to prove how ineffective the UN cease fire is. All UN observers could do was confirm that the attack took place.

Iranian state news, while not mentioning the bombardment, said that Al Qaeda linked terrorists were responsible for the deaths. SANA went on to call them horrible massacres.

A UN release stated, "This appalling and brutal crime involving indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force is a flagrant violation of international law and of the commitments of the Syrian Government to cease the use of heavy weapons in population centers and violence in all its forms. Those responsible for perpetrating this crime must be held to account."

Reports also have come that government infantry opened fire on crowds as they left mosques after Friday prayers. Armed civilians fired back, killing several soldiers.

New Mexico Wildfire Covers Neighboring States in Smoke

Firefighters in New Mexico are battling a huge fire, in the south west of the state.

The fire is a result of the combination of two fires, that were created by lightning strikes.

Closing in on 100,000 acres, and being spread by winds, the fire is nowhere near contained.

Winds are spreading ash and sparks from the fire, more than thirty miles ahead of the current lines, making fighting it nearly impossible.

Smoke from the fire has spread to cover not just New Mexico, but Arizona, Colorado, and parts of several other states.

Health officials are warning people in the smoke affected areas to limit their outside activities due to the potential health risks.

US State Department Joins Al Qaeda Sites

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton bragged that the State Department had begun campaigning on Al Qaeda websites.

They specifically targeted Al Qaeda websites in Yemen, that were heavy with anti American messages.

Joining the sites was simple, and they even listed themselves as members of the US government.

After doing so they began posting message after message showing all the damage that Al Qaeda had caused in Yemen.

The State Department's Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications was begun at the beginning of 2010, but this is their first big mission.

Hopes are high for them to continue success in combating Al Qaeda, in their own forums, all around the world.

Most notable about this group is that they are non hackers, nor ever will be. Hacking is the domain of intelligence agencies.

Okay Quebec Student/Faculty Protesters; Enough is Enough!

Student protests, in Quebec, began on February 13, 2012, over 100 days ago. At the time they were over the increases to university tuition. The current tuition cost is $2,168 and is to be raised to $3,793 by 2017. This averages to an increase of $325 per year. Quebec (23.6% of the Canadian population) has the lowest rate for tuition in Canada and is a "have-not" province which means it receives equalization payments from the Federal Government, money paid by the "have" provinces.

Where do these students think the money is going to come from to cover the costs? The Province of Quebec is currently on a spending spree (subsidized daycare, etc.) and there is only so much money to go around. Education is a privilege not a right; no one is forcing them to go. They go to university to get the degree to get the better paying jobs.

So why do students assume that they should not have to pay slightly more for this education? How long do they think that things can continue the way they are before the province would have to increase the fees? Students pay nowhere near what the cost of the education really is. Do they expect staff to cover these costs if they don’t pay the increase? Do they expect other provinces to pony up more money for Quebec transfer payments? If they expect the 1 percenter's to pay more taxes to help pay for this, do they not realize that with their university degrees, many of them have the possibility of becoming a 1 percenter (making over $360,000) themselves.

Many students, who are not involved in the strikes, are having their education stalled and basically have become tuition hostages, if they could not complete their programs. Quebec passed the bill titled "An Act to enable students to receive instruction from the post-secondary institutions they attend", which restricts freedom of assembly, protest, or picketing on or near university grounds, and anywhere in Quebec without prior police approval.

The bill also places restrictions upon the right of education employees to strike. Many of the students and faculty were angry about the passing of this bill. They vowed to disregard the law and continue protesting. Wednesday, May 23rd saw 518 arrests, the most in one day (as of May 25th, there have been 23 injuries and 2,500 arrests).

Businesses in the area have been affected as people have been steering clear, also there are concerns coming this summer with tourist events, conventions, etc. would be cancelled further hurting these businesses. No one wants to venture into areas where there is a potential for rioting.

How long are the police/politicians going to let it go on? If they give in to the protesters where do things stop? The next group will just step things up to get what they want in a faster timeline. Riots will happen at a more increasing rate if they believe this will further their cause. The Government of Quebec needs to get a serious game plan and get it now before they set the template for further strikes, etc.

WaPo's Useless Racism Analysis

Obama lost around 40% of the vote in primaries held in Kentucky, Arkansas, and West Virginia. Of course, The Washington Compost posted a story providing useless and utterly inane analysis surrounding the reasons why the president did so poorly as the incumbent candidate. Chris Cillizza wrote:

that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt is that Appalachia and portions of the South — particularly those states without large African American populations — have long been hostile to President Obama.
There are any number of data points that make that point plainly.
During the 2008 Democratic presidential primary campaign, Obama lost Kentucky by 35 points and West Virginia by 41(!) points to then Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton even though both states voted late enough in the process that it was already clear Obama would be the nominee.
In the 2008 general election, only five states voted more Republican than they had four years earlier. Those five states were: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia. (In Oklahoma and West Virginia, Obama and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry got the same percentage of the vote but Obama got less raw votes.)
And, since a picture is worth a thousand words, here’s an amazing graphic, courtesy of the New York Times, that shows the counties that voted more Republican in 2008 than they did in 2004.

I'll save you some time with the link:

However, it may surprise some liberals that a significant amount of Democrats have conservative leanings, especially in the region Mr. Cillizza is referring to in this post.  Furthermore, Cillizza quotes

Tom Cole, a Republican House Member, dismissed the idea of race as a major factor in opposition to Obama out of hand.
Said Cole:
Obama fares poorly in states like Oklahoma, Kentucky and Arkansas because he has nothing in common with them. They are rural, he is urban. They are populist, he is elitist. And in case anyone hadn’t noticed, they are conservative while he is liberal. That isn’t just true of Republicans in these states. It is true of Democrats as well.

Well, there you have it Chris.  I can say the same for my home state of Pennsylvania, which is aptly described as Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Alabama in-between concerning the political disposition of its electorate.  In a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 1.2 million, the PA GOP were able to clinch eleven more courthouses,  thus controlling fifty-one  of the sixty-seven counties.  That is up from 40 in 2007.  As Executive Director Mike Barley noted:

Nine of these wins occurred in “blue” counties where Democrats have a registration advantage – Cambria, Carbon, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Lawrence, Mercer, Monroe and Westmoreland...in all of these counties we witnessed Republicans, Independents and even Democrats rejecting Democratic candidates, their big government agenda and President Obama, proving that great Republican candidates can compete and win even in the Democratic counties in the Commonwealth. The story lines are even more intriguing when looking at each race county-by-county and case-by-case. Consider Westmoreland County, where Democrats out-register Republicans 53% to 38%, yet Republicans won the courthouse for the first time in more than 50 years, winning two commissioners and sweeping all of the row offices... in these cases, we see conservative “Reagan Democrats” coming out in droves for Republican candidates. While each county in Pennsylvania is unique, a universal distaste for President Obama’s failed policies was found everywhere and Republicans were successful in large part because we related the ongoing national debates surrounding spending and taxes to issues at the local level.

These rather embarrassing results for the president is not attributed to his race, but his failed record and liberal policies that are destroying the socio-economic health of the country.  The American people are saying "no thanks" to the president's agenda.  What's more amusing about Mr. Cillizza's piece is when he admits that race cannot be gauged in any shape or form.

simply labeling the 42 percent of Kentuckians who supported “uncommitted” over Obama or the 41 percent of Arkansas who backed Tennessee lawyer John Wolfe over the incumbent as “racists” is a major oversimplification.
Untangling or decoupling how people feel about Obama’s race from how they feel about the policies he has pursued in office and his general beliefs about the size and necessity of government is impossible. No poll or election result can divine voters’ motivations.

So why insinuate that racism was a possibility?  Yes, there are some people in America who are racist and will not vote for Obama because of his African-American roots.  However, this is not a new revelation.  And for most of them to be located in the southern and Appalachian regions; I'm stunned! Although I'm sure you can find, regrettably, plenty of like minded individuals all over the country. Think Boston in the 1970s when local schools were desegregated which led to the forced busing fiasco.

In all, for liberals, it is almost unbelievable that people don't support the president.  It is unbelievable that people don't support his policies and his far left vision for America.  If you're against him, you must be racist. That's their default position to silence the opposition.

However, as demonstrated in key battleground states like Pennsylvania, voters, especially the blue dog, conservative wing of the Democratic Party are beginning to sour on Barry for his failure to get America back on track.  Unemployment has remained above 8% for over thirty-eight months, the national debt has increased by $ 5 trillion dollars, we've ran our third consecutive trillion dollar deficit under this administration. These aren't things that drive the faithful to the polls.  His record is dismal and the people are calling him out on it. It really isn't that difficult left wingers.  A study session isn't needed for everything.

Unintended Consequences To Good Intentions

Baby Boomers, and on, have a lot of explaining to do! When did it become acceptable to expect everything to be handed over on a silver platter? What may have started as a “good intention” has evolved into “unintended consequences”. The intentions were “to not have their children have to struggle so much to get ahead in life”.

As each generation has come, more and more was being done for the children to the point where certain “wants” have become perceived rights. Things are to be given freely to them without having to do anything for it. “Society owes them” entitlement attitude is fully imbedded in today’s culture.

The more insulated from perceived harm/struggle, the less prepared for life in the real world they become. Self-esteem has replaced substance. We have created “bubble wrap” children who have no true idea of boundaries as their parents and society has insulated them. Everything is now to make sure that there is absolutely no way for a child to get any bumps or bruises, nothing to make a child feel better than any other child – everyone HAS to be the same. No keeping score (even though any child can tell what the score of their games is, even when the adults are not keeping score), you wouldn’t want little Johnny to feel inadequate because he is not as skilled as another child. Instead of getting ribbons for coming in first, second, or third place; you now get a ribbon for participating. There is no incentive for a child to become better at whatever they’re skilled at.

How many children were promoted to the next grade even though they hadn’t met the basic requirements to move to the next grade? How have we done them any favors by being more concerned about their self-esteem than giving them the tools needed to succeed in life? How many entered university without adequate educational skills to complete university? How many young people then join the workforce expecting an $80k plus job when their skill level/experience is nowhere near the market level? Flipping burgers is beneath them even it means an adequate roof over their head and food in their bellies.

It seems each generation is becoming more reliant on others for their survival. We adults have done a piss poor job at educating the younger generation. Our society has become more and more unwilling or unable to think on its own and to not swallow hook, line and sinker, what is being fed to them.

But all is not lost, there are those young people who are still able to think outside the box, not take what is said as truth without doing their own investigation and buck what society tells them. They are the young bloggers, entrepreneurs, advocates, and yes, even politicians that know what giving everything away truly costs. They are the ones holding us older folks to account for our actions or in-actions. They stand up for what they believe and are not ashamed to be public in their beliefs. They are a small force that continues to grow and inspire us all.