MARCH 15 IT'S THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROTESTANTISM

MARCH 15  IT'S THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF PROTESTANTISM

Aside form Jesus Christ, only one person has an American holiday bearing his name: Martin Luther King, Jr. It's not just this one day, either. Over 900 streets, 200 buildings, 100 schools and two historical sites are also named after him. While MLK is deservedly enshrined in America's hearts and minds, very few of us know about the man he was named after. Since 2017 is the five-hundredth anniversary of Martin Luther's most famous act, we here at the DUNER BLOG want to use this opportunity to remember the original legend.

The Thunderstorm. Born in Saxony to wealthy parents, Martin Luther was well educated for someone living in the 1400's. He graduated from the University of Erfurt in 1502 specializing in law. However, he shunned his father's firm. Instead, he followed the faith. Why the sudden change? One Autumn evening, a horrible storm struck Eastern Germany. Luther's cottage was struck by lightning. The young man feared for his life. Like many terrified people, he got down on his knees and prayed. "I was besieged by the terror and agony of sudden death," wrote Luther. His pledge: If God let him survive the thunderstorm, he would return the favor by becoming a monk.

Johann Tetzel. Luther rose in the ranks of the church. He was rewarded for his diligence by being selected to take a pilgrimage to Rome. Once there, he was stunned by the opulence of Pope. Upon return, he was stationed at the Wittenberg Cathedral. It was there he received instructions from Johann Tetzel, a local friar. He received from Tetzel a blank 'Letter of Indulgence.' This piece of paper is for sinners to buy from the Catholic church, thus assuring forgiveness. The notion of purchasing salvation infuriated Luther. He knew that Pope Leo X was building St. Peter's Basilica and did not approve of these fundraising methods. "Why doesn't the Pope use his own money rather than the money of poor believers to build it?" he asked.

95 Theses. One day, whilst seated on the toilet, Luther came up with the idea to make a formal protest on the matter. (Archaeologists in 2004 discovered his bathroom had a heated floor--Maybe he did spend a lot of time there!) Anyhow, on October 31, 1517, Luther gallantly walked up to the Wittenberg Cathedral and proudly nailed his famed 95 Theses on the twenty-feet high wooden doors. Despite the lack of an Internet, Luther's ideas instantly spread over Central Europe. Many were also displeased about the Indulgence Practice and a grass-roots Protest(ant) movement was born.

Diet of Worms. Back in Rome, Pope Leo was none too pleased about Luther's criticism. He fired back and had Luther ex-communicated from the church. Not smart. Leo should have tried to work out a compromise. Instead, his rash reaction would change Christianity forever. Emperor Charles V didn't like the Pope calling shots in his empire. "No German will be convicted without a proper hearing," he roared. The Diet of Worms (a Diet is also a convention, not an odd food choice) convened in April of 1521. After months of debate, the sentence was upheld. Luther was imprisoned in Wartberg Castle. For the next 120 years, Central Europe would be ravaged by the Wars of Religion.

Renaissance Man. Perhaps saddened by the carnage he released by his 95 Theses, Luther changed course later in life. His first project was an enormous one: Translating the New Testament from Latin to German. Luther felt if average citizens could read the Bible, they could see for themselves there is no mention of indulgences. In doing so, he became the first person to standardize grammar in the fractured German language. Next, he focused on music, writing dozens of hymns. (You've likely sung his version of the Lord's Prayer.) Luther was released from prison and led a quiet remainder of his life. He died in 1546 at age 62.

All in all, Luther changed the Christian World forever, and a branch of the faith bears his name. Today, Lutheranism has 80 million followers worldwide. Unfortunately, there is one huge blemish on Martin Luther's resume: His anti-Semitism. Many historians link his rhetoric to that of the Third Reich, 400 years later. NOTE: Martin Luther King Jr. did not approve of this aspect of his namesake!

MARCH 9 LIST OF TRUMP TOWERS WORLDWIDE

MARCH 9 LIST OF TRUMP TOWERS WORLDWIDE

Adam Davidson, an investigative reporter for the New Yorker, printed a bombshell article this week. A week prior to assuming the office of the Presidency, The Donald quietly pulled out of construction of Trump Tower Baku. Although almost completed, the 25-story building was mired in problems. The largest is the subject of Davidson's piece. It seems Trump's partners, the Mammadov Family, have direct links to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. It comes as no surprise: Azerbaijan is one of the world's most corrupt nations. How bad is it? Last year, President Aliyev appointed his wife as Vice-President...and no one cared. Let's look at how the other five overseas Trump Towers are doing.

Trump Towers Istanbul. Another enormous financial venture with an Islamic nation, this unique structure is actually two buildings in one. Architects conjoined two skyscrapers in diagonal fashion, creating one of the city's most noticeable buildings. One side is for offices, clocking in at 40 stories. Next door are 38 levels of luxury apartments. A five star restaurant boasts the largest wine cellar in Turkey-16,800 bottles. Trump's anti-Islamic rants have hurt business lately and President Erdogan has requested his name "be removed immediately" but it remains in place today.

Trump Tower Manila. Perhaps the most spectacular of the Tower family, this building features curious peal-away corners. Designed by famed architect Jason Pomery, it is one of the tallest buildings in the nation. Like Baku, it too finds itself at the center of a 'Conflict of Interest' issue. See, Trump's Filipino business partners have government connectinos. This puts the US president on the Filipino national payroll. Another mess involves the neighboring businesses. Next door is the 'Mixed Nuts & Ladyboy Bar,' where greased up women wrestle and midgets box.

Daewoo Trump Towers Seoul. Towering 41 stories in the fashionable Gangnam District, Daewoo Trump Towers can be seen in the background of the famous 'Gangnam Style' video. It opened in 2002 to grand fanfare. The Daewoo Corporation had helped construct the original Trump Tower in Manhattan, and the partnership continued to flourish in Korea. The luxury apartments are sold-out with a long waiting list. The two twin towers boldly display the Trump name in 30-foot high capital letters. Koreans are not known for angry protests and there have been few disruptions since the election.

Trump Towers Panama. The only entry for Latin America, the Trump Ocean Club opened in 2011. Dominating the city's skyline, the behemoth, 70 floor hotel is just steps from the beach. From there, guests can take a quick ride to the private resort on Vivernos Island. Shaped like a sail, many noted the similarity to the iconic Burj Dubai Hotel. Donald says this is merely coincidence, and the lawsuit remains stalled somewhere. Meanwhile, the project has been amazingly successful. In addition to the private island, guests love the 600 slot machines recently installed in the Casino.

Trump Tower Toronto. The final entry might be the most impressive. Toronto's fourth tallest building is also very wide. It totals 380 condominiums and apartments, with two penthouses on top that would blow your mind. Sadly, in addition to continuous protests, the building has been besieged with financial issues. During construction, a nasty row between investors involved multiple 'breach of contract' lawsuits. Despite this, on Opening Day in 2012, 261 units were occupied. The future looks dim. JCF Capital, the firm overseeing operations, fined for bankruptcy last year. This is one investment Donald will be happy to walk away from.

MARCH 3 SAUDI KING VISITS INDONESIA IN GRANDOISE STYLE

MARCH 3 SAUDI KING VISITS INDONESIA IN GRANDIOSE STYLE

Every day, a president form one nation visits a Prime Minister from another country. So, normally, the DUNER BLOG doesn’t cover such items. HOWEVER… When the Saudi King’s flotilla of luxury jets touched down in Indonesia yesterday, we felt the need to blog. Why? Well, when the Saudi monarch travels, he travels in style. Not since Mansu Musa has any king ever traveled so lavishly. Let’s run down the details.

First of all, King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud doesn’t travel alone. More than 1,500 Saudi delegates, aides, chefs, bodyguards, advisers and servants also accompany him. (Not to mention twenty-five royal princes.) To carry this ginormous entourage, the Royal family uses seven specially-equipped airplanes. Did we mention the 506 tons of luggage? Granted, a lot of this weight is the two S600 Mercedes Benz limousines. (Bulletproof plates are heavy!) Finally, there are his clothes. We can only imagine how many robes, clocks, bishts and sandals the King and his people have packed.

Check out the interior of the Royal jet!

Next, let's review what happened when he landed in Jakarta. Naturally, the king had a couple minor requests for the Indonesian government. Immediately upon arrival, he demanded a gold-plated escalator to take him from his Airbus Dreamliner cabin to the tarmac below. Next, he needed an elevator assist him up to a royal platform. Tomorrow, he'll travel to the famed Isfiqulal Mosque (the largest in SE Asia.). Fortunately, a special VIP toilet was installed just for him...if nature calls. Oh, don't forget the luxury hotels. Four in Jakarta and five in Bali are completely taken over by the enormous Saudi delegation this week.

You’re wondering: Why are the Indonesians going so crazy for the Saudi king? Hmm. Maybe it’s the $20 billion he plans to invest into the nation’s companies and infrastructure. See, King Abdullah knows that nothing lasts forever. Hybrid cars might suddenly take over the planet, putting petroleum-based economies in peril. Naturally, Saudi Arabia is looking to diversify. In addition to the $6 billion refinery they will build in Java, they are investing in mining, textiles and manufacturing as well.

Sadly, lost in the media coverage of the Saudi’s grandiose lifestyle is the historical significance of the visit. Indonesia is the world’s largest Islamic nation. Saudi Arabia is home to world’s most important Islamic centers. Yet the two have had less than friendly relations; the last such visit was 47 years ago. Simply put, Saudis don’t like mild Indonesian Islam. Indonesians didn’t like it when the Saudis beheaded one of their maids for ambiguous crimes. But today, King Abdullah and President Widodo are putting these matters behind them. They are forging new economic ties to better both states. It just seems funny that they have to build a gold-plated escalator to start talking!

FEB 24 THE MOST PROLIFIC FACTORIES OF ALL TIME

FEB 24 THE MOST PROLIFIC FACTORIES OF ALL TIME

In a world where people are constantly being divided by race, religion, orientation, political views, cola preferences, etc... It is comforting to know there is one item that will always unite our planet: Our love of iPhones! Incredibly, Apple sold its billionth iPhone two years ago, and will soon pass the two billion mark. Here's the crazy part: The billions of iPhones are all made at the same factory. Wow! History is being made in China. However, there have been numerous times in human history when a new product storms onto the market and mesmerizes the planet. Here are five such products and their amazing factories:

Foxconn Assembly Plant, Zhengzhou. Twenty years ago, the city of Zhengzhou was just like the others in Henan Province: impoverished. Then, the government in Beijing announced it was selected as a site for a new venture. A state-of-the-art factory was built along the polluted shores of the Yellow River. Today, they employ over 200,000 people who churn out 600,000 phones every day. To do this, Foxconn operates 100 assembly lines that work 24/7. The international company stays mum when asked questions about salaries, hours and working conditions.

Cambridge University Press, England. Let's go back 600 years to another time Earth went bonkers over a new communication device: The Book. (For our younger readers: A book is sheets of paper with writing on them bound together on one edge.) Hand-written books have been around for centuries, but things changed dramatically when Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1440. Now everyone could have one! A century later, King Henry VIII commissioned the construction of an enormous publishing house. For the next 300 years, it churned out a million Bibles and the world lined up to purchase them.

Ford's Piquette Plant, Detroit. When this factory opened in 1908, there were less than 200,000 automobiles in the USA. The horse & buggy still ruled our roads. Then the Model T was born. Using an assembly line that only made one type of car (in one color: black), they managed to make a car for everyman. See, it cost just $2,000 ($18,000 in today's dollars) to purchase one. The automobile love story began. By 1924, it would produce 10,000 Model T's everyday. A short three years later, American tastes changed. Other companies sold cars painted different colors. The last Model T rolled off the assembly plant in 1927.

Royal Naval Dockyard, Portsmouth. Another innovation of Henry VIII was the establishment of the world's largest shipyard. Henry knew his rivals in Spain and Portugal were building bigger and better boats and wanted England to compete. His wisdom would pay off thirty years later. These modern warships would defeat the galleons of  the Spanish Armada in 1588. This would usher in a period of insane construction in Portsmouth, producing flotillas of massive oceanic vessels. Royal ships would visit every corner of the globe, leading to the phrase: "The sun never sets on the British Empire."

General Electric Plant, Boston. Nothing symbolizes American ingenuity more than Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb. People were excited. They quickly discarded their dangerous kerosene lanterns and began using this amazing, new invention in their own homes. To serve the overwhelming demand, Edison and associates established a company. General Electric was one of initial twelve to debut on the newly-created Dow Jones in 1898. (And the only one that survives today). The combination worked, and GE produced billions of bulbs, thus lighting up the world. However: Nothing lasts forever. The last standard incandescent light bulb built in the USA was in 2010.

FEB 17 MILLENNIALS ARE THE WORST DRIVERS

FEB 17 MILLENNIALS ARE THE WORST DRIVERS

A study released yesterday by the American Automobile Association (AAA) confirmed what many people already knew: Millennials are the most dangerous drivers on the road. The comprehensive study used data involving crashes and tickets and combined these with a survey taken by 5,000 people nationwide. The results painted a scary picture. Not only are millennials the most reckless drivers on our highways…they also care the least about other motorists.

Let’s look at the numbers. 35,092 people were killed in the USA while driving last year. That’s a whopping 7% increase from the year before, the largest such spike in over 50 years. The study puts a lot of the blame on millennials. They’re more likely to crash than the two age groups who normally top the survey: Teens and the elderly. (The latter actually improved their stats from last year). And it doesn’t take a genius to know the reason why.

“Millennials have an intense desire to keep eyeballs glued to screens 24/7” noted AAA columnist Matthew DeBord. In-car infotainment systems aren’t just for directions anymore. They are hooked up to smart phones and allow drivers to perform an array of unsafe activities. In addition to texting whilst driving, they also run red lights the most. It seems the concept of defensive driving is completely lost on this generation. They also speed and rear-end other motorists more than other age groups.

Perhaps the most alarming finding in the study involves millennials attitude toward the privilege of driving. Twelve percent feel it is acceptable to drive 10mph over the speed limit in a school zone and eighty percent admit to texting while driving. While they are statistically the biggest risk takers, millennials feel they are the safest. The majority feel they are superior drivers. No other age group feels this way.

Yikes! Is there any good news in this blog? Yes: Millennials don't drive much. Just ask Craig Patterson, a marketing manager at Ford. "They don't have the kind of love affair with cars growing up," he explained. Also, millennials are found in urban areas, where cars are less practical. Finally, they love to use Uber and Lyft. So remember...next time a millennial is behind the wheel...buckle that seat belt and pray for the best.

FEB 10 ENTREPENEUR TO REACH THE MOON THIS YEAR

FEB 10  ENTREPENEUR TO REACH THE MOON THIS YEAR

The story of men going the moon will be confusing to future historians. It began in 1960, when President Kennedy triumphantly challenged NASA to perform the unthinkable in ten years’ time: A person walking on the moon. Nine years later, Neil Armstrong strolled on the lunar surface. Four more times, Americans would venture 252,088 treacherous miles and again set foot on the moon. Then, in 1972 everything suddenly stopped and no human has returned since. That is until entrepreneur Naveen Jain made his stunning announcement earlier this week.

“Moon Express now has all the capital it needs to land a spacecraft on the surface of the moon,” Jain told CNBC. “It will be in November or December.” Wow! While the news is exciting, let's look deeper. Moon Express is not planning a manned expedition this year. In fact, the small robotic spacecraft that will land on the moon is about the size of a dishwasher. Nonetheless, this event is more than one small step for mankind, it’s a giant leap for future exploration.

See, if all goes to plan, Moon Express plans to offer trip to the moon for people by the year 2026. Think of it! It will be the ultimate Bucket-List experience! To accomplish this, Jain is teaming up with Elon Musk’s SpaceX company. “It’s very complimentary as a matter of fact,” Naveen explained. “Elon will build the rockets and we will do the rovers.” They even have the legal go-ahead for their project: The US Federal Aviation Administration gave them permission.

You’re probably wondering: Isn’t going to be really expensive? Who will foot the bill? For starters, Naveen is sure to win the $20 million in Google’s Lunar XPrize Competition. (This reward is for the first private company to land a capsule on the moon and send back HD images to Google Maps.) Nice, but this huge operation will take billions…not millions…to fund. To secure this capital, the billionaire simply plans to mine the moon. Apparently, there are gold and platinum deposits galore on the lunar surface...as well as Helium-3, a clear and non-radioactive fuel

Wow! These are some pretty far-fetched plans. Naveen is a dreamer and he is clearly following them. While they are impressive, it is interesting to compare the motivation for the lunar expeditions of the 1960’s and today. The Apollo missions were federally funded and intended for the betterment of science and humankind. Today, we care little about silly, lofty ideals and instead have financial ambitions. We plan to use the natural resources of the moon to make people back on earth more wealthy. Sigh. We here at the DUNER BLOG would like a little more research and little less exploitation.

FEB 2 AMERICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUES AROUND THE WORLD

FEB 2 AMERICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUES AROUND THE WORLD

Super Bowl 51 is just days away! All across America, supermarkets are stocking the shelves with chicken wings and potato chips. Fans are preparing to gather around their big-screen TVs for the NFL championship game. While there are articles galore about the Super Bowl itself, we here at the DUNER BLOG want to use the occasion to educate our readers about something else: The rising number of American Football Leagues around the world. Here are three of note:

Superliga Nacional de Futebol Americano (Brazil). In the land where soccer is king, American Football is also gaining fans. With twenty teams in two conferences, all of the major cities in Brazil now have clubs. Many are owned by soccer franchises, who use their stadiums for football when the soccer teams are away. For example, Rio de Janiero’s famed Santos Club also owns the Rio Imperadores. Not surprisingly, their rivals are the São Paulo Storm. They have yet to meet in the championship game (The Brazil Bowl), but watch out when they do!

Egyptian Federation of American Football. (Egypt & Jordan). Ten years ago, football-hungry American students at the University of Cairo decided to take their scrimmages to a more formal level. Today, there are six teams spread over two nations. The majority of the players are Arabs, with only a handful of Americans brave enough to play football in the Sahara Desert. Excitiment is growing. Last year, the first Egyptian Bowl was played in Cairo. Last month, the Cairo Hell Hounds defeated the Amman Barracudas 12-10 on a 67-yard touchdown pass to Wide Receiver Seif Swailam to win Egyptian Bowl II.

Japan X League (Japan). Since the island nation took so well to Baseball, it only figures that the nation would also embrace another American pastime: Football! Unlike the Arab league, the vast majority of the players in Japan's league are from the states. Most have NFL or College Division I experience. Last December, the Fujitsu Frontiers defeated the Obic Seagulls to win Japan X Bowl XXX in the famed Tokyo Dome Stadium. Yep, they have been playing football for three decades in Japan. Over 25,000 fans attended. Wow!