Europe

There was an early test on Friday of the theory that there was far too much depth on this United States roster for Europe to maintain the Ryder Cup for another two years. The Europeans had held the hardware since the 14 ½-13 ½ triumph in Wales in 2010. A victory at Hazeltine would give that side – Great Britain/Ireland, now Europe – its first four-match winning streak in the 41 editions of the Ryder Cup. The first pairs off on Friday morning were the alternate-shot foursomes. Europe had won the Ryder Cup in 2014 with a 7-1 record in those matches. The ability of Europeans of lesser pedigree to figure out a way to team up for wins and halves has been incomprehensible at times. There was one of those matches at the bottom of the draw on early Friday. The first three matches a case could be made for Europe having the talent to compete. The fourth had the appearance of a walkover: Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar for the U.S. against 43-year-old Lee Westwood and rookie … [Read more...] about Europe’s ham ‘n egging doesn’t have shot vs. USA’s depth of talent

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration on Sunday warned Americans of potential terrorist threats in Europe and urged them to be vigilant in public places, including tourist spots and transportation hubs.-Matthew Lee, Associated Press Writer, On Sunday October 3, 2010 How seriously and what actions are being taken now, by local and federal officials, to secure America’s future from this same scenario now happening in Europe?   Must we wait until similar warnings are issued domestically? Should we not demand from our government “immediate and concrete” steps to avert this? WASHINGTON (AP) Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010. “The Obama administration is warning Americans about potential terrorist threats in Europe and urging U.S. citizens to be extra vigilant when they're in public places such as tourist spots and transportation hubs. The State Department on Sunday came out with a travel alert for Europe that advises U.S. citizens living or traveling there to … [Read more...] about Assessing the Terrorist Threat –Americans in Europe

The political winds are changing.  There is a storm brewing to the east, threatening to engulf all of Europe in its path.  And I wonder whether Europe, like a ship wallowing in an oceanic tempest, has the moral fortitude to right itself? Today, there is a mushrooming population growth in Middle Eastern and North African Islamic communities throughout the European continent. This increase is due to immigration and the fact that their birthrate far exceeds the native population's rate. The result, of course, is that European nations such as England, France, and Sweden, increasingly find themselves influenced by and acceding to the religious-political "sensitivities" of these growing Middle Eastern Islamic enclaves. And though we should assume that the vast majority of Islamic citizens are law abiding and peaceful, we must also recognize that extremist elements from within these Islamic communities have, through intimidation and fear, a powerful influence way beyond their … [Read more...] about EUROPISTAN, Europe turns to the East

I am planning a family trip to Italy for spring break in March 2017. My daughter’s passport is good through August. That’ll work, right? Not exactly. It is counterintuitive, but we’ll need to renew her passport before we go. Italy — like many countries in Europe — requires a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the dates of travel there. Here’s another surprise, this one a little more pleasant. The State Department is offering faster processing times through November. The wait is usually six weeks, but this month, it drops to four to five weeks for routine processing. Expedited service brings that down to two to three weeks. That’s a little present for procrastinators traveling internationally for the winter holidays. They still have time to apply for their passport. Because the number of applications will pick up in the new year, this is also a fine time for spring breakers to renew or obtain a passport. Pull yours out now to … [Read more...] about Passport is valid, but Europe won’t let you in? Here’s why