Random

> POSITIVE STEPS -- "Bills have been introduced in Guam’s legislature, and also in the legislature of the Northern Mariana Islands, calling for a popular vote in each territory on whether the two should be reunified." The islands have been living in limbo for too long and they really do need each other if they are going to thrive. ~ link

> OVER INDIVIDUALIZED, Americans are suffering from a narcissistic pandemic -- and our music proves it. ~ NPR

> 'BIOSPHERE 2' -- new climate change experiments ~ Huff

> IF YOU grow citrus in your yard you might consider interplanting with white Asian guavas. A few years ago citrus growers in Vietnam observed that their trees growing near guavas did not develop citrus greening, the disease carried by Asian citrus psyllid. Apparently something in that particular variety of guava repels psyllids. And since citrus greening seems to be on an unstoppable roll in North America, the chances are that it will eventually be rolling into your Florida, Louisiana, Arizona, California neighborhood. If you can get the right kinds of guavas established in the area now your trees might have a chance later.

> THE ENGLISH ROSE Tea Room in Carefree, Arizona, just north of Phoenix, will host "the largest royal wedding celebration this side of the pond on April 29th to commemorate the nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton." Apparently, people are dressing up for this fantasy event as though they were actual invited wedding guests. I wonder if they'll bring presents. No, I'm probably not going to make that one -- not a big tea and fruitcake guy. ~ link

> COMPLAINERS GET MORE SCRUTINY at the airport -- Duh!

Arrogant complaining about airport security is one indicator Transportation Security Administration officers consider when looking for possible criminals and terrorists, CNN has learned exclusively. And, when combined with other behavioral indicators, it could result in a traveler facing additional scrutiny. ~ The Economist

But ISTM that people with criminal intent of any sort aren't going to complain. They don't want to draw attention to themselves. So they'll quietly put up with a lot of nonesense.

> "A VOLUNTEER-BASED SURVEY conducted in January shows that homelessness on Phoenix streets is down 36%..." All things considered I find that hard to believe. I suspect that their baseline of comparison was inaccurate because they changed methodologies. In the past they counted the numbers observed. This year they counted people with whom they spoke. ~ ABC15