I'm sure I sound cynical, however I was a bit perturbed at the whole tradition of the President pardoning the Thanksgiving turkey. It wasn't so much that, but then after the ceremony, the two turkeys that were pardoned, were being flown first class to Disney World so that they might participate in the Thanksgiving Parade. I mean, would the American people really be upset if the turkeys flew in the cargo hold like all the other animals who fly? All of this is just tradition, and there's... Read Full Story

I focused in on the Democratic Presidential Debate last night. I think I was again surprised at the amount of mudslinging against each other and President Bush. I felt that the Presidential candidates, Democrat and Republican, knew that the American people would like more of a bipartisan run government. However, the Democratic candidates couldn't even get along with each other. And sure, most of these debates are for show to familiarize the American people, but I felt like a little kid - give... Read Full Story

If you have been following the news in Somalia, then you have somewhat of an understanding of what all the violence is about. As with most conflicts in African countries, it's a bit complicated. Here's a run down. The country of Somalia hasn't had any stable government presence since 1991. Warlord clans overthrew the president and provided a somewhat stable ruling party in the country. One of Somalia's neighbors, Ethiopia, has no desire to be neighbored by a country that is being ruled... Read Full Story

Most still remember the 1994 Rwanda genocide and basically how the rest of the world turned their heads to the atrocities happening therein. I’m now reading that tensions are back high in the Democratic Republic of Congo, right next door to Rwanda. After the genocide the Tutsi were put back into power of Rwanda which caused the Hutus to flee to the neighboring DR Congo. As a result, the Tutsi living in DR Congo have not felt all that safe being ‘protected’ by the very Hutu militants... Read Full Story

A 24 year old physics undergraduate in Nigeria has taken to building helicopters in his backyard from spare parts.  Mubarak Muhammad Abdullahi takes pieces from cars and crashed planes and builds his own helicopters.  His hobby is financed by money he makes from computer and mobile phone repairs in addition to a donation made by his father who teaches at Bayero University.  Abdullahi hopes tha the Nigerian government would take notice and place orders with him rather than western... Read Full Story

Most still remember the 1994 Rwanda genocide and basically how the rest of the world turned their heads to the atrocities happening therein.  I’m now reading that tensions are back high in the Democratic Republic of Congo, right next door to Rwanda.  After the genocide the Tutsi were put back into power of Rwanda which caused the Hutus to flee to the neighboring DR Congo.  As a result, the Tutsi living in DR Congo have not felt all that safe being ‘protected’ by the very Hutu militants... Read Full Story

I read an article in this month’s Newsweek entitled ”How to Heal the World (Or at least make a difference)”.  The article focused on four different people who are working independent of each other, but working towards the same cause.  A doctor, engineer, scientist, and banker spread across the world are all fighting to get a successful vaccine for for the HIV virus.  A vaccine would be more affordable and easy to get to most of the villages spread out across Africa’s rural areas.  They all... Read Full Story

What is it to be American?  We’re the ‘home of the free and the brave’.  But we don’t really live according to these ideals anymore.   We take advantage of the fact that we’re free and bravery has turned into a cockiness.  As Americans we feel that we are entitled to the biggest and the best of everything with little thought to our environment. What is it to be American?  In time of national disasters, we pull together as if we were one.  Our heartstrings are pulled and tugged at when we are... Read Full Story

The World Bank recently released a study stating that corruption in African countries was on the downfall in comparison to other countries around the world.  The report measured the quality of government in over 200 countries from 1996 to 2006.  “Legitimate and effective political authority in managing society’s affairs is crucial to eliminating poverty and lifting the [...] Read Full Story

Muammar Gaddafi, Libya’s leader, has called for African countries to become unified and form a Pan-African government.  The African Union Summit, held in Ghana this year, has had their focus on coming up with ways to unite the entire continent of Africa and end the countless civil wars plaguing its countries. There are many leaders, however, [...] Read Full Story