NOV 30 AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE (ATM) GIVES AWAY $100 BILLS

NOV 30  AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE (ATM) GIVES AWAY $100 BILLS

Bank of America customers in a North Houston suburb got an early holiday gift earlier this week. An ATM (Automated Teller Machine) mistakenly began to dispense one hundred dollar bills instead of tens. Anyhow, word spread quickly over social media and dozens of folks hurried to the rogue bank machine. Soon, Harris County Sheriff's deputies stepped in to guard from any more use until it could be fixed. Although BofA hasn't stated how much money was lost, they did announce yesterday that all those who received extra cash can keep it.

We know what question you must be asking: What kind of ATM gives ten dollar bills? Only recently have American ATM's dispersed anything other than twenties. Interestingly enough, although the coveted twenty is the most used bill in the US, it comes in third place as the most dispersed currency note worldwide. Atop that list is the 50 Euro note, followed by the 100 Yuan bill. The first ever note taken from an ATM was ten pounds from Barclay's in London in 1967.

As you might have guessed...there are a gazillion ATM's worldwide. Okay, actually, it's estimated there are three million such devices on the planet. If you do the math, that means there is one ATM for every three thousand people. (The highest density is in the gambler's paradise of Macao.) They're found in stores, bars and on street corners. Somewhere on earth's seven continents, a new ATM opens up every three minutes!

Seven continents? Yep...there are two ATM's in Antarctica. They're found at the McMurdo Station, the largest science base in the South Pole. It's operated by Well's Fargo and only dispenses American money. At any given time, there are around 1,000 people there conducting research. And they need cold, hard cash! Fortunately, it's located indoors...unlike the highest-altitude ATM on earth. It's found in a roadside stop near the Khunjerab Pass in Pakistan. It's at 15,397 feet and can withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees Celsius.

Back to the ATM in Houston. While the employee responsible for loading the wrong cassette into the machine must feel horrible, at least it wasn't as bad as a similar snafu last year in nearby Corpus Christi. A bank employee inadvertently locked himself inside the machine while servicing. And...here's the terrifying part...he left his cellphone in the truck. However, he did have a low tech item that saved him: A pen. He scribbled a note on a receipt. When a customer read it, he was saved. ATMs are wacky indeed!

NOV 24 NOAH'S ARK FOUND IN IRAN

NOV 24  NOAH'S ARK FOUND IN IRAN

Big news out of the Islamic Republic of Iran this week. Bob Cornuke, president of the Bible Archeology, Search & Exploration (BASE) team, announced that there is "strong evidence" his unit has discovered the remains of the legendary Noah's Ark. It's located on the tip of Takht-e-Suleiman, a 13,120 foot high peak in Northern Iran. Although historians and scientists alike call quests to find items like the Holy Grail, the Tower of Babel and Noah's Ark 'pseudoarcheology,' Conrnake is confident he's proven the doubters wrong.

Let's review the specifics. BASE has unearthed an enormous artifact. They've found 400 foot long beam-like pieces of petrified wood. This fits the descriptions of the Ark's dimensions in the Bible. Genesis 6:14 states the Ark was constructed with "gofer wood planks, 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high." Since a cubit (an ancient unit of measurement) is about 19 inches, this means it's clearly the correct length. It also follows that it's located high on a mountain peak: The first dry land to appear near Babylon after the flood.

While these findings are impressive, BASE is hardly the first expedition to claim they've discovered the legendary Noah's Ark. The Roman Empire, under the direction of Biblical scholar Eusebius, tried in vain to locate it. A thousand years later, around 1208, Marco Polo mentions its location as parts of his journeys. On his Ark expedition, Czar Nicholas II claimed to have found "a large object as long as a city block." In the 1900's evangelical groups like BASE have taken up the cause. Yet, as James Irwin explains, "the Ark continues to elude us."

There is one place where everyone believes this new Ark discovery is complete nonsense: Armenia. According to Genesis 8:4, the Ark "came to rest on the mountains of Ararat." This 16,854 high peak is simply enormous, with parts falling into four separate nations: Armenia, Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan. But it's most visible in Armenia, where it dominates the capital city of Yerevan. Its summit is a permanent ice cap, and the Ark is frozen inside. At least that's what the Armenian Church says, and they forbid anyone to go to the top of their sacred mountain. It's even on the national seal!

All this matters little to Bob and the BASE findings. They hope to dispel the myths surrounding Christianity and prove science wrong. See, there is no geological evidence for a gigantic flood. Nor could the earth ever produce enough water to flood itself. But a finding like this will show that Biblical events are historical events that actually occurred. While we here at the DUNER BLOG are skeptical, we salute people who chase their dreams. Bravo, BASE!

NOV 9 WHO ARE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES?

NOV 9  WHO ARE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES?

The final results from Tuesday's midterm elections are in. While the Senate remained mostly the same, the House of Representatives saw a host of changes. It was a banner election for women, minorities and Muslims, who smashed through stereotypes and stigmas to claim new seats. However, there was one group who was completely shut out of the House once again: Third Party candidates. Of the 435 seats in the House, absolutely zero are from political parties other than Democrat or Republican! This got us here at the DUNER BLOG wondering: What are the most successful third parties in US History?

WHIG. By far the most accomplished party, the Whigs dominated US politics from 1840 to 1860. They won two presidential elections in 1840 and 1848. Although the portraits of William Henry Harrison and Zachary Taylor aren't found on any US bills, they succeeded in forwarding important legislation. With compromise legend Henry Clay in Congress, they passed numerous Anti-Slavery laws. Also noteworthy for the Whigs was a young Representative from Illinois named Abraham Lincoln. He, like most other Whigs, joined the new Republican party when the party disbanded in 1860.

SOCIALIST. Although the slightest mention of the word 'Socialist' is political suicide today, in the early 1900's Socialism was a respected movement. They flourished on the mayoral level. Milwaukee alone had four Socialist mayors between 1910 and 1956. On the national front...however...Socialist candidates sputtered. Eugene V. Debs ran for president four times, peaking with 6% of the popular vote in 1912. Sadly, the unpopular rise of Soviet Socialism proved fatal for the party. Insane notions like equitable wealth distribution would disappear from the American political landscape forever.

GREEN. Another party with a brief moment in the spotlight was the 'earth-first' Greens. Founded by Petra Kelly in Germany in the 1980's, they championed the idea of a politician with the environment as their top priority. The movement quickly spread to the US. It peaked in the year 2000 when Ralph Nader received 3% of the vote in his second run for president. Dems blamed the Greens for Al Gore's defeat, further complicating the purpose of a third party.

PROGRESSIVE. In 1910, once close buddies Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft got in a nasty spat. The result was Teddy left the Republicans and formed a new political party called the Progressives. (or the 'Bull Moose.') The two parties had similar platforms, but Progressives were adamant about getting lobbyists out of Congress. (What an outrageous idea!) Although they garnered a handful of Congressmen, the Progressive movement fizzled out after Roosevelt retired from politics in 1920.

LIBERTARIAN. This party began in 1971 in the living room of David Nolan. The Coloradan was sick and tired of big government spending his money. Soon, his grumblings gained momentum and the Libertarian Party was born. Their platform is to shrink government, broaden civil rights and to stop fighting expensive wars in countries most Americans have never heard of. It's currently the largest third party in the country, with half a million registered voters. But...as we said... none of them are in Congress.

NOV 1 BTS AND THE RISE OF K-POP

NOV 1  BTS AND THE RISE OF K-POP

In case you...like...haven't heard. The hottest Boy Band right now is totally BTS. They are favored to beat both Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez for the People's Choice Award's 'Best Artist' next weekend. The band is a regular on Jimmy Fallon and their videos have billions of YouTube views. Okay, for those of our readers who are...like...clueless on Korean Pop Music, here's a quick DUNER BLOG primer.

How did K-Pop start? Our story begins in Post-War Japan. In addition to wacky game shows and silly Godzilla movies, Tokyo also became a center for Pop Music. With teen girls as a target market, a new industry emerged. Pop idols like Yumi Matsutoya were promoted as more than just singers. She had a carefully constructed image of beauty, charm mixed with idiosyncratic lyrics. The formula worked: Yumi has sold over 42 million records. It was only a matter of time before neighboring South Korea tried the concept as well and K-Pop was born.

What does K-Pop sound like? You won't hear any acoustic guitars in this genre. Nope, this field is dominated by EDM (Electronic Dance Music). Throw in some auto-tuned vocals, a bit of Hip-Hop and you've got 'Fake Love,' BTS's first U.S. Top Ten hit. Most of the lyrics are in Korean with English words and phrases occasionally tossed in. "Told You" and "Loser" are the about all an English speakers can understand in an average K-Pop song.

What are 'Concept Bands'? Although there are a couple solo artists, the vast majority of K-Pop acts are bands. And they rarely mix genders. There are BOY bands and GIRL bands. Within each band, each member has a unique theme...just like the Spice Girls. Take the girl group 2ne1. Each singer has her own persona. CL is the 'street' rapper. Bon wears pink and is the decidedly 'good girl.' Dara is the leader and Minzy is the leather-clad rebel.

Aren't the managers controlling? The only black eye in the up-and-coming K-Pop world is the extreme system of artist management. These bands don't form in High School music class. Rather, they are the result of carefully calculated auditions. Then, trainees are selected and put through strenuous singing and dancing training. Those who are selected for a highly-marketed future must first sign intrusive contracts. Some forbid members from dating and having tattoos. All forbid smoking and drug use. Social media is strictly regulated.

Can K-Pop save the world? It's true: Record stores from Guam to Germany all have specific K-pop sections these days. Most songs are uplifting, with lyrics about love, acceptance and understanding. The guys in BTS are UNICEF ambassadors. BoA promotes Korean contemporary arts and PSY hangs out at the United Nations. Yet perhaps K-Pop's biggest influence is with neighboring North Korea. Although it is banned and listening to BTS is punishable by death, somehow people manage to hear them anyhow!

OCT 28 WORLD'S LONGEST SEA BRIDGE OPENS IN CHINA

OCT 28  WORLD'S LONGEST SEA BRIDGE OPENS IN CHINA

The date is October 7, 1910. The place is Kowloon. Gathered along the waterfront are Hong Kong's most prominent businessmen. Not surprisingly, Sir Frederick Lugard is front and center. He was the catalyst in the construction of the new railway line at this morning's opening ceremony. With his top-hat and tails, Sir Lugard makes a brief speech in front of a modest train station. Everyone smiles: For the first time, the thriving port of Hong Kong is linked to the mainland manufacturing magnet city of Canton.

The date is October 24, 2018. The place is Kowloon. Gathered along the waterfront are China's top politicians. Not surprisingly, President Xi Jinping is front and center. He was a catalyst in the construction of the new automobile bridge at this morning's opening ceremony. With his utterly drab navy blue suit, Jinping gives a brief speech. For the first time ever, Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland mecca of Canton (now called Guangzhou) are linked by roads.

However, what makes this item truly blog-worthy is the bridge itself. See, Hong Kong and Macau are separated by the enormous Pearl River Delta. The former British and former Portuguese colonies are located 34 miles apart from each other. This means the newly christened Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is now the longest sea bridge in the world. (Sorry, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway...you're now #2!) This figure doesn't include the four miles of tunnel at the beginning. It's yet another staggering engineering feat accomplished by the People's Republic.

Now that the span is open to the public, the bridge will accomplish the same goal the British did a century ago: Linking the industrious Canton Province...and its 60 million people...to the industrious ports on the coast. In addition to moving commerce, the highway will help people move more quickly between the two places. Many mainlanders can now drive to the casinos of Macao and the luxury shops along Hong Kong's Nathan Road.

All of which has many Old-School Hong Kong residents concerned. They see the new bridge as yet another encroachment by the People's Republic of China into their own city's affairs. When Hong Kong was transferred from the UK to the PRC in 1997, it was supposed to remain 'untouched' for fifty years. 'One Country-Two Systems' means that Hong Kong controls its own economy, politics and judiciary. Also worrisome were the 19 people who died building the bridge. Nonetheless, the economic juggernaut known as the People's Republic continues to push forward at breakneck speed.

OCT 19 THE ARABIAN PENINSULA HAS WEALTH DISTRIBUTION ISSUES

OCT 19  THE ARABIAN PENINSULA IS A MESS

These days, it's hard to read any news website without coming across an item involving the Arabian Peninsula. From the kidnapped journalist in Saudi custody to the civilian deaths in the Yemeni Civil War to the Kardashians partying in Dubai...something happening in this land mass will be in the world's headlines. This is a recent development.  A century ago, no one cared about Arabia. The region was a forgotten piece of the dying Ottoman Empire. What changed?

Petroleum! After the Great War, the world's insatiable appetite for oil would transform the Arabian Peninsula. Well...not exactly the entire region. See, places that were blessed with petroleum reserves look different today. Instead of barren desert, the land is now covered with luxury townhouses, Prada boutiques and trendy nightclubs. The places that were NOT blessed with oil fields look the same as they did a hundred years ago: Impoverished villages with no schools or clean water. Let's examine two very different Arabian nations.

In Yemen, the per capita income is a mere $449 a year...the ninth poorest nation on earth, clocking in just below Afghanistan. You'd better not get sick in Yemen. There are only three doctors for every 10,000 people. Better not get thirsty in Yemen either. Over half of the nation's 28 million people do not have access to clean water. Better not talk politics either. As the current Civil War enters its fourth year, Yemen remains divided between three powers: The capital is in a Saudi controlled area, the coast is ruled by Iranian loyalists and ISIS oversees the land in between. Yikes!

Now let's look at Qatar. It leads all nations in per-capita income at a staggering $124,000 average. That's twice the amount Americans earn! No one lives below the poverty line. Unemployment is under 1%. There are no taxes. See what owning the world's largest natural gas reserve will do for a nation! Yet one can't wonder if Qataris have gone too far. Of the three million people who live there, only 300,000 are Qatari. The remaining 2.6 million are all guest-workers from other nations. Odd...

What makes the Arabian Peninsula such a mess? After all, Yemenis, Saudis and Qatari are all united by language (Arabic) and religion (Islam). Yet despite these enormous similarities, one trait trumps them all: One's clan. Being a Wahhabi supersedes being a Saudi. Being a Hashid is more important than being a citizen of Yemen. A hundred years ago, in his benevolent effort to unite the Arabian Peninsula into one nation, T.E. Lawrence discovered this fault. Sadly, it's still present in today's Arabia...which  continues to result in the greatest wealth disparity of any place on earth.

OCT 12 WHAT IS GERMAN UNITY DAY?

OCT 12  WHAT IS GERMAN UNITY DAY?

Last week, 'German Unity Day' was celebrated across Deutschland. A new holiday, it commemorates the incredible events of 1990. Suddenly, the Iron Curtain was lifted and the lofty dream of German re-unification quickly became a reality. Gone forever were the separate nations of East and West Germany. With lightning speed, the West German capital of Bonn relinquished the title to Berlin. Six new states were instantly admitted to the nation. Maps were hastily re-drawn. Finally, the Bundestrat passed a law proclaiming October Third as 'German Unity Day.'

Yet as German Unity Day is celebrated for the 28th time, it's hardly taken shape as a beloved national tradition. "It's not marked by a lot of pomp," explained Tuya Roth, a director at a Bonn historical museum. "It's not an occasion for joy and celebration." National polls show that 29% of Germans just plan to 'sleep in' on Unity Day. Former Chancellor Helmut Kohl liked the holiday because "there is nice weather in the fall." He always chose to spend the day outside at a picnic.

Why the ambivalence? First of all, October Third wasn't actually the natural choice. The more significant day should be November Ninth. That's when checkpoints between East and West Berlin were officially opened, ushering the public destruction of the wall between. The event received worldwide media attention and the photos are now considered iconic. HOWEVER...The events of November Ninth, 1938 overshadow those on November Ninth, 1989. That was Kristalnackt, when Berliners showed a horrible lack of humanity by destroying and burning Jewish homes and businesses. Officially, the passing of Article 23 Berlin City Council on Oct. 3rd is when the nation legally became unified, so this date was selected instead.  

Another reason for the holiday's unpopularity is the dubious fate of East/West unification. Let's face it: Forty years of Soviet isolation is difficult to overcome. As expected, after reunification, many East Germans instantly picked up and moved to the modern cities in the West. As expected, they met with resistance from the established people in the West. They called them 'Ossies" (Easties), as they were easily identified by their odd accents and strange dress. It was hard for them to find jobs and housing. Statistics show they still have lower incomes than their western counterparts....28 years later!

While no one in Europe wants to see gigantic military parades goose-stepping past the Brandenburg Gate, it would be nice to see German Unity Day become something more important than an excuse for sleeping in. However.. Let's not forget: "It's a very young national holiday" reminds Roth. "It needs to develop. I feel it will grow each passing year." She's correct. It's difficult for a nation with a history as troubled as Germany to move forward with any national pride. Hmmm...Maybe sleeping in is the best idea after all!