MAY 16 DUNER'S BLOG 500TH POST IS THE LAST

After ten years of weekly blogs, the DUNER BLOG is officially retiring.
No, it has nothing to do with the COVID19 Pandemic!
This is our 500th post, and we had previously decided this landmark would be our last.

THANK YOU READERS! Here are the statistics from the DUNER BLOG from Blogspot:

All time Pageviews:  303,219. On the average, 606 people read each post.

Most popular blog:  Moose Deaths Soar in Alaska. 43,765 views. We were a link on the Alaska State Troopers website.

Global Audience: United States. 149,891 pageviews. Americans account for 49% of readers. Only four nations (N. Korea, Sierra Leone, Togo and Equatorial Guinea) have not posted a visit.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Leave a comment below and the DUNER BLOG staff will get back to you.

MAY 9 NEOM: SAUDI ARABIA'S CITY OF THE FUTURE

MAY 9  NEOM: SAUDI ARABIA'S CITY OF THE FUTURE

Uh-oh! The Saudis are accused of murdering another activist. This time it's Omar bin Abdulaziz al-Howitat. He's a lesser royal in the former Howitat Kingdom. They famously assisted T.E. Lawrence during World War I. For the last 100 years, they've been largely ignored by the House of Saud. That was before Crown Prince bin Salman decided he wanted to build his dream city on their land. When Omar refused, he was unexpectedly killed. We've posted many angry blogs about Saudi rights, so this time let's investigate NEOM.

THE NAME. You know the prefix. 'Neo' is Greek for new in Arabic as well. The 'M' stands for Mostaqbal, which translates as 'future.' Doesn't the Middle East already have a city of the future? True. For decades, Riyadh has jealously watched Dubai morph into a modern metropolis. The conservative kingdom wants to mirror Dubai, but not with all the immorality. NOTE: NEOM is always capitalized.

THE LOCATION. NEOM is found on the westernmost point of Saudi Arabia. It's close to the border: Jordan, Egypt and Israel are only 40 miles away. It's on the coast of the Red Sea, not the populous Persian Gulf. The region has amazing potential as a tourist destination. Ten miles across the sea is Egypt's Sharm El-Sheikh. This popular resort attracts millions of visitors to its pretty beaches and awesome snorkeling.

THE COST. Are you sitting down? It will cost $500 BILLION DOLLARS to construct a metropolis in a remote corner of the Arabian Desert. Even the Crown Prince bin Salman agrees, calling it "the world's most ambitious project." Fortunately for him, he has direct access to the Public Investment Fund, which has trillions dollars from oil revenue to invest.

THE TECH. Fasten your seat belts! To power NEOM, the world's largest solar and wind plants are being built. To light NEOM at night, scientists are creating a giant artificial moon. To provide water for NEOM, meteorologists will employ cloud seeding to make it rain. To entertain guests, sand on NEOM beaches will glow in the dark. Yes, we saved the best for last. To get around NEOM, people will drive flying cars.

THE UPDATE. Construction on Phase One is nearing the third year. The first project is...logically...the airport. It's only got one runway and only serves commercial flights from the capital. But it has an official code: NUM. Otherwise, development is centered on NEOM BAY. It's a futuristic seaside city modeled after Singapore. The biggest obstacle doesn't involve construction: It involves negative press from murdering opposition. This thwarts foreign investment.

MAY 2 LIST OF VICE PRESIDENTS WHO TOOK OVER MIDTERM

MAY 2  LIST OF VICE PRESIDENTS WHO TOOK OVER MIDTERM

Earlier this week, presumed Democratic Party nominee Joe Biden presented his new Vice-President Selection Committee. Don't laugh: This group could very well shape US History. At 77 years old, Biden would be the oldest US President ever. It's entirely conceivable that Joe will not complete his term. Knowing this, they'll choose the most capable person, right? Wrong. They'll select someone who can get Joe elected in November. Let's examine the ten VP's who took over mid-term and you'll see this repeating trend:

THE WORST: Andrew Johnson. Not mentioned in many history books is how insanely unpopular Lincoln was during his presidency. Although the Union eventually won, his first two years were grim. Over 30,000 Union soldiers had died...yet the Mason/Dixon still held. To gain popularity nationwide for his re-election, he made a bold move. Lincoln dumped New Yorker Hannibal Hamlin and ran with Tennessee Governor Andrew Johnson instead. Everyone knows what happened next. When suddenly thrust into the Oval Office, Johnson proved to be the wrong man to heal our nation. His questionable policies towards re-admitting the Confederate States netted himself America's first impeachment trial.

THE DO-NOTHINGS: Fillmore, Arthur, Coolidge. Each time, these VP's were chosen to balance the ticket for election day...Not for their leadership. New Yorker Millard Fillmore was needed to balance Zachary Taylor's Louisiana slaveholder image. It happened again in 1880, when cosmopolitan Chester A. Arthur was needed to offset the Midwest farmer Garfield. Governor Calvin Coolidge was popular in Boston, where Ohio governor Harding was not. What happened when forced to take over? Not much. Fillmore failed to add Cuba. Arthur slept while Robber Barons took over. Finally, "Silent" Cal's nickname says it all.

THE BUMBLERS: John Tyler, Gerald Ford. Tyler became US President after the death of William Henry Harrison. It was the first time this had happened in American History. Unsure of how to treat the first chief-of-staff who wasn't actually elected, the press nicknamed Tyler "The Accidental President." Gerald Ford had the added distinction of being the only president who wasn't even on the ballot. Both men stumbled through many speeches and press conferences.

THE WINNERS: Teddy Roosevelt, Truman, LBJ. Not surprisngly, when the above seven men finished their terms, none were re-elected. There are the three midterm VP's who succeeded. When eccentric showman Roosevelt was paired with popular incumbent Bill McKinley, the press warned that Crazy Ted was "one heartbeat away" from leading our nation. They were correct, but he proved to be a great leader. Missourian Harry Truman and Texan Lyndon Johnson were also chosen to balance tickets, yet they too became worthy presidents.

APR 25 RAVEN CHICKS HATCH AT TOWER OF LONDON

APR 25  RAVEN CHICKS HATCH AT TOWER OF LONDON

With the Coronavirus pandemic dominating headlines, the DUBER BLOG searches the globe for uplifting stories. This week, we head to London. The Tower of London to be precise. Here, three raven chicks were hatched. Proud parents Huginn and Muninn will oversee the first month of their lives. Ravens grow quickly and quadruple in size in just weeks. Chris Skaife, Tower Ravenmaster, is thrilled: "We're pleased the bloodline is secure. Good news for the Kingdom!"

Are you confused? Let's review the legend. It's said that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, the Kingdom of England will fall. Apparently, the Welsh attribute ravens with the powers of protection. When the Northeast turret was built in 1078, the superstition was followed. Ravens roamed the White Tower to guard against another French invasion.

For centuries, the ravens thrived. They even survived the Great Fire. Then everything changed in the year 1675. That's when astronomer John Flansteed complained about the ravens the King Charles II. The birds were interfering with his observations and pooping on his telescopes. At first the King agreed, but then advisors warned him of the superstition. He changed his mind and wise King Charles II took it a step further: A Royal decree was issued demanding at least six ravens be kept in the tower at all times. It was also decided to move all astronomers to Greenwich.

Insuring a raven population in the tower wasn't an issue at the time. The native species were welcome scavengers in dirty Tudor London and flourished. Yet as the city urbanized, the large birds found less and less territory to habit. The last wild one was spotted in Hyde Park in 1826. To keep the raven tradition alive, a Ravenmaster was appointed to the Tower of London to tend to the flock. His biggest test came during WWII. German bombing raids scared the birds to death. Literally. Thankfully, one lived. Gripp survived and the Kingdom continued.

Nowadays, science has helped ensure that if England falls...it won't be raven's fault. In 1987, a captive breeding program was launched. Vets clip one of their wings. This painless process throws off their balance and they can't fly far. Even if they do, they are micro-chipped. Most ravens don't want to leave, because they eat so well. Their diet consists of six ounces of raw meat and biscuits soaked in blood. Once a month, they eat an entire rabbit: Fur helps a raven's digestion.

Over time, the ravens have become semi-domesticated pets. They'll pose surprisingly close to the six million annual visitors the Tower receives. Despite their perceived passivity, don't forget: Ravens are ravenous. In 2004, Thor took a peck at a visiting Vladimir Putin. In 1981, Grog flew to Rose & Punchbowl, an East End pub. Just remember: If you meet the ravens, stay calm and don't lose your head like Lady Jane Grey. After her execution in 1554, the birds picked the eyes out of her severed head.

APR 18 WILDLIFE MAKES A COMEBACK DURING QUARANTINE

APR 18  WILDLIFE MAKES A COMEBACK DURING QUARANTINE

The numerous 'shelter in place' mandates worldwide due to COVID19 have created silent cities and tranquil towns. Shocking images of a deserted Times Square and a car-less LA freeways are not being photo-shopped! All this peace and quiet has resulted in an unexpected scenario. Wild animals are reclaiming their turf! Let's check out five stunning instances:

Coyotes in San Francisco. The dry chaparral that once covered coastal California isn't hospitable to much wildlife. Atop this small food chain is the crafty coyote. Over the last fifty years, suburban sprawl has forced them to live in open land reserves, regional parks and drainage gullies. Yet they continue to survive. Californians...who already know to lock up those pets at night...take note: Coyotes were spotted at the corner of Greenwich and Powell Streets.

Bears in Yosemite. Duh! There's tons of bears in Yosemite. Anyone who has ever camped in the valley knows that it is imperative to place all food in a lock box. Bears have a spectacular sense of smell and they comb campsites day and night. Boy, the bears must be confused these days! Last April, 308,000 people visited the park. This April, the number is zero. Always curious, they are investigating the empty valley. "They are literally walking down the streets" quipped a ranger. "They are having a bear party!"

Deer in Nara. According to Shinto tradition, animals are given ample land in Japan and are never hunted. This has resulted in large deer populations. In the popular medieval capital, Sika deer roam the forests that surround the famed Nara castle. Over time, they have become semi-domesticated, as they are fed rice cakes by the tourists. With the city on lockdown, the hungry deer have ventured past the park and into the city. They're not just foraging in the streets, Sika deer have been spotted in the subway!

Wild Goats in Wales. Of all the urban-animal photos we examined, the one that generated the most questions came from Llandndno, a Welsh town. It shows a herd of enormous Great Orme Kashmiri goats owning the streets. Why are their wild goats from India in the mountains of Wales? They are escaped descendants from a gift from Queen Victoria. "They are mischievous" observed Andrew Stuart as the goats ate his hedges and roses.

Dolphins in Venice. If this sounds too fantastic to be true...that's because it's FAKE NEWS. While the pictures of the crystal-blue canals is true, the dolphins are NOT. However, residents were stunned at how quickly their famed waterways changed. Venice is one island in an enormous lagoon, most of which is protected reserves. With the constant cruise ships gone, schools of fish and clusters of crabs are invading a new island in the marshlands.

APR 11 THE HISTORY OF CORONA BEER

APR 11  THE HISTORY OF CORONA BEER

Beer lovers worldwide panicked on Wednesday when Grupo Modelo announced its suspending production of Corona Extra. See, both the beer and the virus are named after the Latin word Coronam, (Corona in Spanish and Italian), which means 'Crown.' While many people initially searched on "Beer Virus," just the opposite occurred. Sales of Corona beer are up 24% from a year ago. Nope, the reason for the closure is simple: the Mexican government shut down non-essential businesses (beer isn't essential?) until April 30. All of which has many people wondering about the history of this beloved beer, so here goes:

THE ORIGINS. Ellis Island was the top port of entry during the Great Second Migration from Europe to the Americas. Yet nearly a million immigrants also came to the New World through the Mexican port city of Veracruz. These included numerous German brew-masters. They introduced a Viennese lager in Monterrey in 1890 called Negro Modelo. It was a hit. Then, in 1925 they released another popular style back home: The Pale Lager. It was called Corona Extra.

THE BOTTLE. At first, the Corona brand used the same brown bottles as Negra Modelo. See, even today, most beer is placed in dark colored bottles. That's because sunlight...UV rays to be exact...damages the product. Tinted glass protects beer. Nonetheless, the brewers wanted to show off the beautiful golden color of their new lager. They bucked science in favor of marketing and the result was fabulous!

THE LIME. Even more iconic than the clear bottle is Corona beer's famous garnish: A green lime wedge inserted into the bottle's mouth. Millennial beer enthusiasts will tell you: 'The lime adds a citric zest to enhance a tart bouquet and finish.' But if you've ever drank a cerveza at a cantina in humid Jalisco, you know the real reason behind the tradition: Lime keeps flies from swimming in your beer!

THE PUSH: With government help, Grupo Modelo became the top brewer in Latin America. With breweries in the capital and Guadalajara, it looked to expand into other Mexican states. Rather than compete with popular regional brands like Victoria and Pacifico, Grupo Modelo instead just purchased the breweries. Then, in 1976, Corona Beer went viral. It crossed the border and was sold in California and Texas. It instantly became associated with surfers and nachos and was a hit.

THE MERGER. In the 45 years since, sales of Corona have never decreased. It's now available in all 50 states...and 180 countries as well. With $29 million in annual earnings, it's the ninth most popular beer on earth. In the US, it's fifth on the list. Sales for #5 Corona continue to rise, while sales for #1 Bud Light continue to slide. In response, Anheuser-Busch InBev decided: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. They purchased Grupo Modelo in 2013...much in the same manner Modelo bought up Victoria and Pacifico decades earlier.

MAR 28 A QUICK PRIMER ON U.S. COUNTIES

MAR 28  A QUICK PRIMER ON U.S. COUNTIES

While watching the Coronavirus news coverage, many Americans have noticed something different about the CDC. They show statistics based on counties. Normally, cities and states are the standard geographic units used. Wedged in between these two commonly known terms is the often overlooked entity known as the county. Most Federal agencies, including the US Census Bureau, prefer to organize operations using them. So we here at the DUNER BLOG thought we'd offer a quick primer about our curious counties!

THE NAME. The term is French in origin. A 'conte' is region of land containing towns and villages. After 1066, conte became an English word as well. A county was an area of land that was ruled by a count. The royal aspect of the word didn't stop it from becoming an American colonial term as well, and the first county was in Massachusetts. The term county seat, designating the city in charge of government, is wholly American.

HOW MANY? There are a staggering 3,142 separate counties in the United States! Naturally, smaller states have fewer and larger states have more. Delaware has but three counties, while Texas has a whopping 254. (Loving County is the smallest with only 134 people.) Also: This total number includes variant names for counties. Louisiana has 64 parishes...a throwback to the Catholic missionary days. In Alaska and New York City, they call counties boroughs.

THE LARGEST. Not surprisingly, the largest counties occupy the most desolate areas. Covering 20,105 square miles, San Bernardino County in California takes the top spot. This means one individual county is bigger than nine other US states. The vast majority is the Mojave Desert, but two million people now live in the urban south. Second place is Arizona's Coconino County. It's home the Grand Canyon. NOTE: Four Alaskan boroughs are larger in area.

THE MOST POPULATED. With over ten million people, Los Angeles County is #1. It really feels more like a continent than a county. See, there's a Chinatown and a Koreatown. Don't forget Little Tokyo, Little Armenia and Little Ethiopia as well. Next up with five million people is Chicago's Cook County. #3 is Houston's Harris County and #4 is Phoenix's Maricopa County.

THE EXCEPTIONS. As with any field of geography, there are exceptions. For example, New York City is so ginormous, it spills over into five counties. San Francisco and Philadelphia are the only counties that are just one city. Then there's Baltimore and St. Louis, which are free cities without any county jurisdiction. Finally, there's our national capital. Washington is the only district in the USA, and we still can't figure out who is really in control there!