DEC 21 MACAU CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF CHINESE RULE

DEC 21  MACAU CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF CHINESE RULE

Unless you've been living under a rock all year long, you've heard about the protests in Hong Kong. For the last six months, a million people have taken to the streets to protest the People's Republic of China's ridiculous 'One Country, Two Systems' policy of rule. Yet a mere 65 kilometers away in Macau, this same system is thriving. This was evident yesterday, with President Xi on hand to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the handover.

Although not nearly as famous as her colonial cousin, Macau is actually much older. It was established in 1513 by Portuguese explorer Jorge Alvares...300 years before the British first sailed into Hong Kong Harbor. However, while England instituted positive policies in Hong Kong, like Common Law and self-rule...the Portuguese were different. Macau existed only as a trading center. While enterprising Brits flocked to Hong Kong, only a handful of Portuguese citizens moved to Macau.

This disparity was also on display when the two colonies were returned to the PRC in the 1990's. Hong Kong witnessed a mass migration back to the UK, with many corporations relocating as well. Meanwhile, folks in Macau welcomed the Chinese with open arms. Neglected by Lisbon for 442 years, the colony had slid economically, with a below average standard of living.

Things have changed dramatically. Today, Macau bests the third highest GDP worldwide, trailing only Luxembourg and Switzerland. How did this occur? Mega-casinos, that's how! For decades, Macau was a tough and seedy port city, lined with bars and taverns. At the heart of this was the Casino Lisboa. When the PRC took over in 1999, they decided to develop the gaming industry and the results have been stupendous.

In short, the lessons learned by the two SAR's (Special Administrative Regions) is simple. Once the seed of liberty is planted, it grows. Hong Kong was granted Common Law and individual freedoms by the British. Two centuries later, citizens refuse to give them away. However, four centuries of oppressive Portuguese rule in Macau resulted in acrimony and a desire to change. Today, the only signs of Portuguese rule are a handful of Catholic churches and street names.

DEC 14 SAUDI ARABIA GIVES WOMEN MORE RIGHTS

DEC 14  SAUDI ARABIA GIVES WOMEN MORE RIGHTS

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lifted another restriction regarding women's rights. On Monday, a press secretary for Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman announced that Saudi restaurants will no longer be required to have separate entrances for men and women. Instead of the government mandating the policy, gender separation will be up to the businesses themselves. It's big news: Now families and couples can sit at the same table when they go out to eat.

The move is one of many sweeping reforms instituted by the rigid Middle Eastern nation. Although King Salman al Saud is still on the throne, the 84 year-old monarch is too old to rule. Hence, he named his first-born son with his third wife as regent in 2017. Since then, the 34 year-old Mohammad bin Salman has instituted numerous social reforms in the ridiculously conservative country.

Last year, the Crown Prince received praise when he lifted the ban on women driving cars. Mohammad bin Salman surely must have read the DUNER BLOG on the issue and acted accordingly. In the year since, driving schools have been busy: Over 30,000 women have passed the test and are on the road. Also important: The Prince pardoned the women activists who were arrested for driving cars in protest.

In his two years as regent, Crown Prince Mohammad has instituted a flurry of social reforms. It's clear: he is trying to put men and women on more equal footing. In July, he lifted a much criticized ban as well. Saudi Women can now travel abroad without permission from their male guardian. Any woman over 21 can receive a passport. Likewise, women can now register themselves for marriage and divorce on their own.

We here at the DUNER BLOG cheer Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for reading our blog and reforming his outrageously conservative country. But let's not forget: He still has a long road ahead of him. On the UN's Gender Inequity Index, Saudi Arabia remains in the bottom ten. Women can drive a car, but they can't live alone nor can they open a bank account. Let's hope the new Crown Prince is an enlightened despot with good in his heart...and not just a worried monarch trying to grab some positive press after the shameful Khashoggi murder.

DEC 6 THE FIVE MOST FAMOUS INTERNET CATS

DEC 6  THE FIVE MOST FAMOUS INTERNET CATS

The Internet mourned the sudden and tragic loss of one its favorite felines. Lil' Bub died on Sunday evening at the age of eight. Instantly, heartfelt messages flooded Facebook. Both Good Morning America and The View (where Lil' Bub had appeared) mentioned Lil' Bub. Why the fuss over a puss? Because cats rule the Internet. Duh! Let's check out the five most famous Internet Cats of all time.

Lil' Bub. The runt of a litter of feral cats, "Aww! Lil' Bub" were the first words Mike Bridavsky said when he picked up the sad kitty. His friends in Bloomington, Indiana were looking for a home for the scraggly, tiny and unwanted runt. A vet visit yielded sad news: Lil' Bub suffered from feline dwarfism. His chin never developed. This resulted in his tongue constantly hanging out. This made for adorable pictures.

Maru. This Scottish Fold cat from Japan holds the Guinness World Record for the most YouTube views of an individual animal. Why? Because Maru absolutely loves getting into boxes. It's fascinating to watch this cat operate. His obsessive personality results in never-ending attempts to squeeze into any sized box. Followers worldwide just can't wait to see what Maru will attempt to do next. His coffee table picture book, I Am Maru, debuted atop the Japan book sales chart.

Colonel Meow. A Himalayan / Persian mix resulted in some extraordinarily long fur in this particular cat. How long? Try a stunning nine inches long...also a verified Guinness World Record! However, it can be argued it's not the shaggy fur that launched Colonel Meow into global Internet celebrity super-status. It's that angry, fearsome dictator scowl. This cat looks more like Chairman Meow to us!

Nala. Like Lil' Bub, Nala was the runt of her family. A Siamese / Tabby mix with absurdly large brown eyes, she was adopted by Varisiri Mathachittiphan. She proudly named him after a Hindu deity. At first, Varisiri dressed up her cat and just e-mailed them to friends and family. But before she knew it...BAM! Nala went viral and now has 2.3 million Instagram followers.

Grumpy Cat. Atlanta based rapper T.I. said it best: "I paved the way for you new cats today." Grumpy Cat was the first cat to dominate online and then sell merchandise. See, things were different in 2006. Back then, cats shared the Internet with adorable puppies and cute babies. Then Grumpy Cat burst onto the scene and changed everything forever. The kitty with the permanent frown was on everything from T-shirts, backpacks, a million memes and...wait for it...women's underwear.