OCT 26 LIST OF WORLD MONARCHS AT EMPEROR NARUHITO'S ENTHRONEMENT

OCT 26  LIST OF WORLD MONARCHS AT EMPEROR NARUHITO'S ENTHRONEMENT

Japan has a new emperor! With new clothes! On Tuesday in Tokyo, Naruhito and Empress Masako were formally enthroned in a lavish and lengthy centuries-old ceremony. Since then, he's attended dozens of banquets and balls in his honor. The guest list was over 2,000 people from 180 countries. It included a flabbergasting number of the world's monarchs. Here's the list:

Belgium: Queen Mathide. Always elegant, the Belgian queen represented her nation's people at the formal reception. Since Leopold I took the throne in 1831, Belgian monarchs have quietly been present at similar coronations.

Bhutan: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Descendants of dragons, this tiny Himalayan nation is home to one of the world's oldest royal houses. Since 1616, Dragon Kings have ruled Bhutan. They have only recently been present at such events.

Britain: Prince Charles. Looking dapper, Charles put on his best face and represented the United Kingdom. Why so glum? From Holland to the Vatican to Tokyo, elder monarchs have been abdicating to let younger royals assume formal duties. Prince Charles must be wondering: "Why won't my mum?"

Denmark: Crown Prince Frederick. Danes are fiercely proud of their monarch. Rightfully so. Tiny Denmark has endured multiple invasions from her larger neighbors. Yet Germany, Sweden and Norway could never topple the Danish crown.

Luxembourg: Grand Duke Henri. While Luxembourg was a big-time player in the days of the Holy Roman Empire, since then this micro state has struggled to exist. The current house dates back to Napoleonic times.

Malaysia: King Abdullah Pahang. Japan and Malaysia have had a historically rocky relationship. However, when Malaysia created an Islamic constitutional monarchy in 1957, Tokyo formally recognized the new king.

Monaco: Prince Albert. C'mon! This one is a no-brainer! This tiny principality lives for occasions like this. In fact, the House of Grimaldi has been present at coronations, royal baptisms and papal christenings since 1160!

Netherlands: King Willem-Alexander. Yes, he's on the Dutch throne. But all eyes are always on Queen Maxima. Best dressed yet again! Like Princess Di, she impresses fashionistas worldwide with effortless style and grace.

Spain: King Felipe VI. Similarly, this king also gets over-shadowed by his equally glamorous wife Queen Letizia. However, standing tall at six foot-three, King Felipe casts a long shadow in many ways. It's astounding that someone from the House of Bourbon is still on a throne.

NOTE: There are no monarchs in the Western Hemisphere. Likewise, Africa has many regional kings, but only Morocco and Swaziland are an actual countries

OCT 19 WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR HALLOWEEN CANDIES?

OCT 19  WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR HALLOWEEN CANDIES?

Halloween is a mere twelve days away! And you know what that means: Women wearing inappropriate costumes to work, way to many pumpkin flavored foods and...of course...CANDY! When shopping, you want to buy the type that will please trick-or-treaters the most. Thankfully, the DUNER BLOG found a recent survey to answer this important question.

#1 REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS. 36%. There is just something magical about mixing chocolate and nuts. Each is good alone, but when combined they become glorious. Contrary to the "You got your chocolate stuck in my peanut butter" commercial, H.B. Reese did not come up with the idea by accident. Nope, the Hershey employee experimented with raisins, mint, toffee, coconut, etc. before finally deciding upon peanut butter.

#2. SNICKERS 18%. The most famous product from the famed Mars Family also combines chocolate and peanuts...but this time with caramel. Named after a horse in the Mars stable, Snickers owes a large part of its appeal to aggressive advertising. Hungry? Why wait? It's So Satisfying! Over the past 50 years, Snickers has partnered with NASCAR, FIFA, The Olympics, Super Bowl and even Mr. T.

#3. M&M'S 11%. The second-most popular candy from the Mars Company employs one of the most basic principles of marketing: People are drawn to bright colors. Forrest Mars got the idea from the similar British candy Smarties, which has chocolate covered in a colorful candy shell. In 1941, he designed an oval shaped version. Each one is stamped with a lower-case 'm.'

#4. HERSHEY BARS. 6% America's iconic chocolate bar owes its success to never changing. First produced in Central Pennsylvania in the year 1900, Hershey's secret is using fresh milk from the plentiful dairy farms in the area. This gives it that creamy flavor and that fluffy consistency. They also have stayed true to the same shape, size and packaging. If it ain't broke...

#5. SKITTLES 5%. The lone non-chocolate based is fruit-flavored Skittles. Trying to capitalize on the popularity of M&M's, Mars developed a similar candy, replacing the chocolate center with some odd sugar ball. Instead of an 'M', Skittles have an 'S' on their equally colorful shell. The coolest moment Skittles ever had was when NFL running back Marshawn Lynch ate them to celebrate a touchdown.

OCT 11 WHO ARE THE KURDS?

OCT 11  WHO ARE THE KURDS?

It's another confusing week for international diplomacy in the year 2019. Conflicting Trump Tweets may or may not have resulted in conflict in the Middle East. This time, it's a Turkish invasion of Northern Syria. Specifically, President Erdogan is delivering on a campaign promise to establish a 20-mile wide "safe zone" along the Syrian side of Turkey's southern border. This breaks an American promise to Kurds. Most folks are hazy when it comes to this group, so let's review the basics.

Behind the Arabs, Persians and the Turks, Kurds are the fourth largest ethnic group in the Middle East. That's 35 million people. The Kurds trace the lineage back to the Ancient Medes. Kurdish Kings fought against the Roman Empire and Genghis Khan. Converts to Islam, their kingdom thrived high in the Caucasus Mountains. It all came to an abrupt end in 1501 when the Ottoman Empire invaded. The Kurds have been fighting the Turks ever since.

Correction! There was a short span when the Kurdish Kingdom rose again. Mahmud Barzanji was the monarch for two years. Why so brief? After the first World War, the sprawling Ottoman Empire was carved into a dozen new nations. Syria and Iraq made the cut, but Kurdistan did not. The Treaty of Sevres instead broke up Kurdistan and placed it into the above two nations and Turkey as well. It was a slap in the face to the Kurds...a people with a unique language and an ancient history.

In the next hundred years, the Kurds became a marginalized minority in all three nations. Conditions were the worst under Turkish President Kemal Ataturk. He re-named them "Mountain Turks" and mocked their inferior culture. A similar fate was also seen by the peoples just north of Kurdistan. Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan also lost their chances at nationhood after World War One. Instead all three became neglected Soviet Republics.

While the three other Caucasus countries gained freedom in 1991, Turkey still keeps its Kurdish population under wraps. They thwart any attempts of nationhood. Things changed in the 2000's. Civil wars in both Iraq and Syria resulted in an armed autonomous Kurdish state. Until recently, the Kurdish army served a pivotal role in liberating ISIS held areas, doing the dirty work along side US forces. The Kurds were hoping for some recognition afterward...maybe an independent nation? Nope. Abandonment again. Welcome to the confusing world of US diplomacy in 2019.
   

OCT 4 YOU CAN'T SIT ON ROME'S SPANISH STEPS ANYMORE

OCT 4  YOU CAN'T SIT ON ROME'S SPANISH STEPS ANYMORE

For many travelers, the BEST PART of going to Rome isn't stately St. Peters, the ancient Forum or tossing coins into the Trevi Fountain. Nope, for them the best the Eternal City has to offer is eating a gelato while sitting on the Spanish Steps. In addition to fantastic people-watching, the stairs offer a stunning view of the Plaza de Spagna and the Via del Corso. Yet as of last week, city authorities have banned this beloved tourist practice. The size of the crowds have made it unfeasible. Let's answer the basic questions!

Why are they called that? They're in Italy...not Spain! The 174 steps were constructed by the Spanish in 1725. At the time, Spain was part of the House of Bourbon, which also controlled Sicily and Naples. Eager to control the Papal States as well, they constructed an enormous embassy in Rome. To link it with the plaza below, a grand staircase was needed.

Aren't there hundreds of other scenic stairs in Rome? Good point, but what separates this staircase is the fact it was built by the Bourbons. As with Versailles, over-the-top opulence is a must. A unique, triangular design incorporates straight flights at different angles. Wedged in between are vistas and terraces filled with colorful azaleas. From the start, this gorgeous public space has been a popular hangout.

How did the steps become internationally famous? The first instance that comes to mind must be the 1952 movie Roman Holiday. Ridiculously charming Audrey Hepburn happily eats gelato whilst seated on the staircase. Dashing Gregory Peck approaches... 150 years prior, poet John Keats lived in an apartment overlooking the stairs. It also features prominently in the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel Tender is the Night.

What will the cops do to violators? At first, offenders will be given a verbal warning. Cards have it written in a variety of languages. But if you continue to loiter, it will be a hefty fine of €160. A second violation will cost you €400. While many feel this is unfair, the truth is it's against the law to loiter on any public staircases in Rome.

Is McDonald's to blame? Yes. There were HUGE protests back on March 20th of 1986. That's when the first ever McDonald's opened in Italy. What enraged Romans was the fact that the Fast-food giant wasn't at the airport or a shopping mall...it was right on the Plaza de Spagna. Allegations of city officials accepting bribes were not unfounded. Yet the result has been the slow-but-sure change of businesses. The square is now littered with Starbucks, Burger King and Pizza Hut! Yuck.