Violence Between Buddhists and Muslims in Myanamar Leaves Dozens Dead

Violence in Myanmar has caused government officials to declare a state of emergency.

It has been centered in the city of Meikhtila, between Buddhists and Muslims.

Dozens have been killed, over the last few days, as thousands have fled the area.

On Wednesday, an argument between a Muslim shopkeeper and a Buddhist customer spread into a street brawl.

During the brawl a Buddhist monk was killed and then mobs began roaming the streets.

Security forces have all but abandoned the city, fearful to attempt placing themselves between the two sides.

Fears are that it will erupt into a new wave of violence, as was seen last year, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds.

Sangster's Thoughts: Conservatives End Your Hypocritical Stances and Unite, or Fall Divided

I'm so sick and tired of people who try and blame all their problems on others. Conservatives especially come off hypocritical when they do this. Aren't we all supposed to be about personal responsibility? Start acting like it, not just whining that you wished others were. Placing the blame on others just makes you look like a weak minded fool, or at the very least emotionally incompetent.

I'm specifically sick of "conservatives" placing all the blames on Californians. Yes, I consider myself a Coloradan now, but I will also always be a Californian. That is the state of my birth, and I'm proud to be from there. It once was the greatest state in the country. Too many "conservatives" just like to throw the blame at Californians, for all the troubles of this country. As if it's the only place that the problems have come from. Please! No single state can be blamed for all the troubles that this country has. Stop being willingly ignorant.

"Conservatives" with that mindset make it all the harder for actual conservatives to be successful in California, and other states. First, they don't provide any support, whether that be emotionally, verbally, or simply prayerfully. Second, it keeps others from even showing their faces, as why would they want to be attacked by their own side. Third, neutrals see one side always attacking their own, while the other side shows a united front. Which one is more appealing to you? If you hadn't chosen a side yet which would you lean towards? Fourth, the divided nature of the "conservative" movement makes it so much easier for the left to pick off those who are isolated.

What it comes down to is stop being so divided and divisive. If you truly want to win this country back, then unite. Be the United States, not the finger pointing, unfortunately sitting next to each other association of government organized bodies. Keep up the internal bickering and there is no hope. Start swallowing your insults for your ninety-five percent like minded neighbors and focus on defeating those who you are in complete disagreement with. They need to be the focus of your ire. Only together can we preserve the American idea.

Let's not get lost in arguing what the American idea is. It is the belief that everyone deserves to be free and able to live life as they alone see fit, as long as they aren't hurting others, in doing so. That's the American dream. The ability to pursue your own unique view of what happiness is, without imposing on others. The American dream is not about the government handing out happiness. Life isn't easy, it's a struggle. It is the pursuit of happiness. The only thing in life that is freely given is God's grace. And even that would be legislated if the government could figure out a way to.

"Conservatives" often wave the flag saying 'Don't tread on me'. Yet, they then go and spend so much time treading on others. Which is it? If you want to truly have a nation that doesn't tread on you then you need to stop treading on others. Start loving one another as yourself. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is something that conservatives need to take to heart. It's a way of life they profess, but very few of them actually live. Is that anything but the description of a hypocrite? The time has long past come for walking the talk. Only once "conservatives" start living what they preach can they become united. Once united can they resuscitate the country back to glory.

Chicago Closing 54 Schools

On Thursday, Chicago Public Schools announced that they will be making closures to decrease their budget deficit.

Fifty-four programs and sixty-one school buildings will be shut down, after this school year.

The move will affect thirty thousand children, and result in over a thousand teachers and staff being fired.

CPS faces a deficit of more than one billion dollars, this summer, while their planned closures will save them one hundred and thirty-seven million, over the next ten years.

This is the same district that agreed to increase teacher's raises, in September, in order to end a strike.

House Passes Ryan's Balanced Budget Proposal

With a vote of 227-201, the House of Representatives passed Paul Ryan's budget proposal.

It marks the third year in a row that the Republican controlled House has passed a budget that would guide the government to a balanced path.

While balancing the federal budget, over the next decade, Ryan's plan relies mostly on cuts, specifically in the form of repealing Obamacare.

Now it will head to the Democrat controlled Senate, where it is expected to be ripped apart and blocked from passing.

The Senate's Democrats are working on their own budget proposal, the first one they will make since President Obama took office.

Their proposal works almost completely on raising taxes.

Snows Cause 200 Vehicle Pileup and Other Accidents in Alberta

Over one hundred people were injured in a massive pileup near Leduc, Alberta, on Thursday.

Nearly two hundred vehicles ended up involved in the incident, which shutdown Highway 2, near Highway 13.

Three people were killed and two injured, near Flatbush, on Highway 44.

Sections of Highway 16 were closed due to various accidents, throughout the day.

In Edmonton, one hundred and thirty-three collisions were reported, nine of which involved injuries.

The snow, which is being blamed for most of the accidents, dropped between four and ten inches in the province, on Thursday alone.

Expectations are for the snow to cease by dawn on Friday.

Italy Still Without a Fully Formed Government

Three and a half weeks after the elections and Italy still does not have a government.

The vote was so split that no coalition was able to gain a controllable majority in either the house or senate.

Slowly they have been managing to agree upon minister, but they still have not been able to elect a new prime minister.

However, the deadlock hasn't kept legislation from beginning to be debated.

Adding to their troubles, the President's term is up on May 15, and Parliament has only til April 15 to begin the electoral process to fill that position.

It is doubtful if this Parliament will be able to agree on a President, since they can't agree on a Prime Minister.

EU Threatens to Cut Cyprus Off

On Thursday, the EU gave Cyprus until Monday to agree to their terms or see the EU pull it's money out of the country.

If that does happen, the Cypriot economy will collapse.

The EU went one more step when they also threatened to expel Cyprus from the community, if the deal isn't reached, so as to limit the impacts on the rest of their economies.

Cyprus previously rejected the terms, on Tuesday, in hopes of getting more favorable ones from Russia.

However, Russia will not likely agree to any deal for at least another week or so.

Suspect In Tom Clements Murder On Life Support

In Decatur, Texas, a high speed chase ended in a crash into a semi truck, and a shootout.

Initially, the suspect was pulled over by a Texas deputy, who he then shot several times. The chase and crash followed, with the suspect firing at police during the chase.

Deputy James Boyd's wounds are said not to be life threatening. The suspect, identified as twenty-eight year old Evan Spencer Ebel, is on life support for "organ harvesting", brain dead, and not expected to live. Ebel, a parolee, allegedly has ties to a prison white supremacist group, 211.

He is considered a suspect in the murder of Colorado DOC director Tom Clements, who was murdered on Tuesday.

A possible connection to the shooting of a pizza delivery driver, Nathan Leon, who was shot sometime on Sunday, possibly at a delivery in a commercial area of Denver, is also suspected.

Key Syrian Cleric Among 42 Killed in Suicide Bombing

A suicide bomber struck the Iman Mosque, in Damascus, on Thursday.

Sheikh Mohammed al-Buti was one of the forty-two victims of the attack.

Another eighty-four were reportedly injured.

Al-Buti, eighty-four, was one of the remaining major supporters for the Assad regime.

Most notably, he was also a Sunni cleric, and Sunnis have been almost completely involved in fighting against the Shiite regime.

Both rebel and opposition forces denied any part in the attack.

It is unclear if Al-Buti's death will cause a loss of support for the regime, or if they can portray him as a martyr and use his death to gain support.

Tornado Kills 24 in China

A very rare tornado struck Guandong province, China, on Thursday.

At least twenty-four people were killed and over two hundred and seventy-two were injured by the storm.

High winds, heavy rains, and egg sized hail accompanied the twister, in at part of the world that practically never sees them.

Over the last week southwest China has been dealing with winds and severe weather.

More than two hundred thousand people have been forced to evacuate, because of the storms, which have destroyed nearly ten thousand hectares of crops.