It’s been a roller coaster week in the nation’s capital, Washington in the past week and in other states airports as thousands grapple with the no entry of immigrants from Iran, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen.
Relatives waited at airports to welcome never arriving travellers who were earlier caught up at airports around the world and airlines barring passengers from boarding their flights.
Severely hit were the more than three thousand international students, scholars, staff and families who had gone abroad on holidays and other businesses but were now unable to return.
International corporate businesses sent fliers to their stranded staff to stay put while things are sorted out and promising that they would not lose their jobs or pass over for promotion.
But things are now easing out as naturists and animal lovers have turned attention to the search of the ground hog
To explain, each year on February 1, Americans look forward to a special ground hog which is believed to signal an early spring to replace the bone-penetrating winter.
Folk tales have it that if a ground hog is seen, it is certain that there are only six weeks more left for winter and it will bring in the freshness of spring and the sprout of beautiful flowers.
However, we are yet to see a ground hog despite the holding of the Ground Hog Day festival.
February opened with the stunning news that drug addicts are now turning to anti-diarrhea medication to get high…..or stoned.
Many are taking dangerous doses of Imodium A-D, widely available gastro-intestinal medication.
The medication has growing appeal with substance abusers because it is cheap and readily available.
Loperamide, the main ingredient in Imodium, causes intestinal slowdown, which helps slow down diarrhea. But in high doses, it can have other effects as well as serious risks.
However, you have to take enormous dose of the medication to get high, said Dr Scott Krakowa, a physician who specialized in addiction disorders.
According to the study, Imodium in large dose works in the body the same way as heroin and morphine.
Excess doses of Imodium A-D can lead to heart problems, kidney and liver failure.
Although loperamide is safe when used properly, doctors need to be more aware of its abuse.
That February feeling -what do you get out of Valentine, a disputed event as to how it came about.
But lovers, first time or long time should make sure
They see their shadow before the Sun goes dim as the starting point of all achievements is desire. Remember that love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leap fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.
So the DR Congo is in grief, mourning the death of political veteran Etienne Tshisekedi who died in Brussels.
They say the revolution often eats up its pioneers and so it has come to roost. His death is unfortunate as he was a front-runner in the fight to bring democracy to DR Congo and his persistent pressure put the country into a land of no return.
The vacuum would be difficult to fill at a time when the country is about to edge out the corrupt rule of President Joseph Kabila in a constitutional reform.
The immediate question which Congolese nationals in Washington who are stunned by the death are asking, who would now head the National Transition Council! Which is to supervise the return to democratic governance of the strife torn but rich country?
How wonderful is it that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.
By Rod Mac-Johnson
Monday February 06, 2017