PHILIPPINE ADVENTURES

Rogue Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte is reputed to have said ‘Andorra must be preserved.’ During his march through Andorra en route to invade Spain he was impressed with the tiny well governed country. Charles the Great or Charlemagne is believed to have granted the people of Andorra a charter of autonomy in 988 in return for their loyal service in helping him fight the Moors who occupied Spain. Continue reading →

Reader if you’ve seen the movie/read the book ‘Gangs of New York’ or viewed the current top rated BBC America series ‘Copper’ you’ll get a glimpse of the infamous Know Nothing Party (Nativist) or American Republican Party (1843-1860). This group of political head busting thugs had it in for Catholic German and Irish immigrants; they weren’t too fond of ex slaves either. Continue reading →

“Inmigración de Estados Unidos. Abre la puerta! Tenemos órdenes de deportación para…” Few things are as frightening as lightening raids conducted by armed agents of the United States immigration services. Federal agents showing up at homes, places of business appearing as if out of nowhere is enough to scare anybody out of their wits especially hapless illegal aliens hoping to evade deportation proceedings. Continue reading →

Chicken Little was right! According to NASA scientists the ‘sky’ is falling. They estimate about 90 per cent of potential planet killing asteroids have been surveyed by astronomers. Scientists further estimate 99% of asteroids aren’t large enough to seriously damage our planet though some are large enough to pulverize a city. Potential planet busters have been spotted. A European astronomer recently took pictures of a huge asteroid dubbed Apophis. Continue reading →

There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Many Americans take a casual outlook towards marijuana. The Asian attitude regarding cannabis use is at the polar extreme of the legalization debate. Punishment in some Far Eastern countries is spelled out in one word; D-E-A-T-H! When travelers enter Singapore Changi Airport there’s a large poster of a hangman’s noose warning visitors of the ultimate penalty for controlled substance use. Continue reading →

by Fred C. Wilson III
June 16, 2013
“When I was a kid I inhaled frequently. That was the point.” -President Barack Obama-
Illinois jails and prisons are filled to overflowing with people convicted for marijuana possession. 60% of all Federal inmates are incarcerated for violation of drug laws. Since 1992 approximately six million Americans have been arrested on marijuana charges, a greater number than the entire populations of Alaska, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming combined. Annual marijuana arrests have more than doubled during the 1990’s. Many of the non-violent criminals doing time for drug offenses are beaten, robbed and raped by violent inmates. Continue reading →

by Fred C. Wilson III
June 1, 2013
Let the buyer beware ‘caveat emptor’ in Latin was originally applied to property laws. In our society this saying could be useful in any business transaction. When companies inject air bubbles in depilatory tubes and cheesecakes to increase volume and dilute the product but jack up prices to rake in more profits something is wrong. Continue reading →

by Fred C. Wilson III
May 16, 2013
When I lived in San Francisco I had no problems blending in within the local citizenry. Once I moved to Chicago things changed. When I walked down streets, attended church, went to school, and shopped people would stop and stare; some hostile most curious as to my ethnicity. Continue reading →

by Fred C. Wilson III
May 1, 2013
On Income Tax Day April 15th two bombs detonated killing three people injuring over 200 others at the Finish Line of the Boston Marathon. Bloody mangled remnants that were once whole human beings littered streets, walls, and sidewalks of that historic city. What was supposed to have been a sunny Bostonian day celebrating their 116th marathon ended in carnage. Continue reading →

by Fred C. Wilson III
April 16, 2013
A few years back I did an article on my experiences in Rome. My wife and I traveled to Italy a few years ago. The trip was a gift for my 60th Birthday. During our stay we were unaware of the large number of Filipino-Italians. Had I known I would have added a section about them in my article ‘Roman Holiday.’ Rome is home to a variety of ethnic groups; the Roma peoples, Africans, Mexicans, university students, and the usual entourage of pilgrims hailing from all over the globe hoping to visit St. Peter’s Basilica and see the Pope. Continue reading →