MAYEGBA'S BLOG ™ ̷̐ ̈́ ̈́ ̈́ ͂ ̷̐ ̈́ ̈́̈́ ͂ ̐

For more than five decades, the black-and-white image of Irene Garza has haunted the town of McAllen, Tex., her story painfully recounted again and again. She was a 25-year-old dark-haired former beauty queen, her high school's first Latina drum majorette, the first in her family to graduate from college. She was named Miss All South Texas Sweetheart, and worked as a teacher for disadvantaged children.   But at the center of Garza's life was her Catholic faith. In a letter to a friend in April 1960, she wrote about how she was no longer afraid of death. "You see, I've been going to communion and Mass daily and you can't imagine the courage and faith and happiness it has given me," she wrote in the letter, according to Texas Monthly.   And so when Holy Week came, the most sacred time of year for Catholics, Garza decided to go to confession. On the eve of Easter, she drove to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen.   She never came h...

Princess Masako and Crown Prince Naruhito attend the celebration for the New Year at the Imperial Palace on January 2, 2015 . Japan's much-loved Emperor Akihito will stand down on April 30, 2019, becoming the first Japanese monarch to abdicate his post in two centuries. The decision was made at a meeting of the Imperial House Council and announced by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday. Crown Prince Naruhito, who has already assumed some of his father's duties, will take on the role on May 1, 2019, becoming the 126th Emperor to ascend to Japan's Chrysanthemum Throne. "I will do my upmost to ensure that the Emperor's abdication and the ascension of the Crown Prince will proceed smoothly with the blessing of all of our citizens," Abe said. In Tokyo on Friday locals expressed their sadness at the loss of their Emperor but pride in how he'd help mold the country in his image. "He became emperor when Japan was looking for a ne...

Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn, in Bangkok, Thailand, pieces of porcelain adorn the temples and the mythological creatures lining the facade. SAN DIEGO - Joseph and Travis Dasilva have exposed their bums in photographs at some of the world's most well-known landmarks for their popular social media accounts. This week, a racy picture at an iconic Buddhist temple landed them behind bars in Bangkok, where they face charges that could keep them in jail for years. Immigration authorities in Thailand arrested the San Diego couple at Don Mueang International Airport on Tuesday while they "were trying to depart the country," the Bangkok Post reported. They were initially accused of indecent exposure, a criminal offense that carries a fine of up to 5,000 baht, or about $150, according to the English-language newspaper. Police officials said Wednesday, however, that the 38-year-old men will likely face two additional charges that could result in jail time. ...

The half-brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un was carrying an antidote to the poison which killed him at the time of his death, Malaysian state media reported. Malaysia's High Court heard this week Kim Jong Nam had 12 doses of atropine in his sling bag when he was allegedly swabbed with VX nerve agent in Kuala Lumpur International Airport on February 13, news agency Bernama said. Defense lawyer Hisyam Abdullah also confirmed the report to CNN. Abdullah said K. Sharmilah, a government toxicologist, told the court Wednesday she examined the drug along with several other samples provided by police. Atropine provides "primary protection against exposure to chemical nerve agents and insecticide poisoning," according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). "If you know someone is coming after you with a nerve agent, atropine is a key drug you would want to carry," said Nial Wheate, a senior lecturer in phar...

CONOR McGREGOR A judge in Ireland ripped into Conor McGregor on Thursday for his "disrespect to the court" after the famous fighter showed up tardy to pay a speeding ticket. McGregor had previously failed to show up twice for his court appearance over the ticket, and it was looking like he was going to make it a third time before he finally showed. In the time that she was waiting for him, judge Miriam Walsh of the Blanchardstown District Court vented about the disrespect the fighter was showing. "I'm getting nothing but fingers from Mr. McGregor. If he's making a case he has to be here," Walsh said to McGregor's solicitor, via The Mirror. "This is absolute disrespect to the court. I am very annoyed with Mr McGregor." McGregor apologized for being late once he did show. He pleaded guilty and paid his fine. As he left the court, McGregor was captured saying, "come and get me" to TV cameras. Conor McGregor @The...

Prince Harry's Engagement To Meghan Markle Barely breaking the rules: Meghan Markle didn't wear pantyhose to her engagement announcement with Prince Harry on Monday. She hasn't even married her prince yet and Meghan Markle has already committed her first royal fashion faux pas — she went bare-legged in public! The 36-year-old "Suits" star showed up sans pantyhose to her engagement announcement with Prince Harry on Monday, and apparently that's a something of a royal no-no, reports The Cut. While the rule isn't exactly set in stone in some strict royal-family style book, enthusiasts of the monarchy note that Queen Elizabeth herself has worn pantyhose in public for the past, oh, 91 years. Kate Middleton, too, famously wears pantyhose. In fact, many credit the stylish duchess, who usually wears glossy, sheer tights in public, with bringing hose back in vogue for younger Brits. 10 Royal Kisses Caught on Camera Gallery courtesy of T...

North Korea said the new missile reached an altitude of about 4,475 km (2,780 miles) - more than 10 times the height of the International Space Station - and flew 950 km (590 miles) during its 53-minute flight. Images released by North Korea on Thursday appeared to show it has succeeded in developing a missile capable of delivering a nuclear weapon anywhere in the United States and it could be only two or three tests away from being declared combat ready, U.S.-based experts said on Thursday. North Korea released dozens of photos and a video after Wednesday's launch of the new Hwasong-15 missile, and leader Kim Jong Un declared the country had "finally realized the great historic cause of completing the state nuclear force". U.S.-based experts, some of whom have been sceptical about past North Korean claims to have put all of the United States in range, said data from the latest test and the photos appeared to confirm North Korea has a missile of suffici...

                    Jose Ines Garcia Zarate was found not guilty in the killing of Kate Steinle.                                               San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, left, answers questions after a verdict was reached in the trial of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017, in San Francisco. A jury on Thursday found Garcia Zarate not guilty on possible charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the 2015 death of Kate Steinle on a popular pier. Jurors did find Garcia Zarate guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Latest on the trial of a Mex...

British Prime Minister Theresa May. Prime Minister Theresa May blasted Trump for crossing a line by posting the inflammatory videos on his Twitter page Wednesday — and then warning May to essentially mind her own business and focus on Islamist terrorism instead of him. But officials were careful to note that ties with the United States are stronger than the current flare-up with the White House. "It's increasingly clear that any official visit from President Trump to Britain would not be welcomed," tweeted London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim to hold the office. Khan has repeatedly called for Britain to withdraw an invitation for Trump to visit — and his stance appeared to gain backing amid the outrage against the president. In a sign of the disruptive wake unleashed by Trump, British Home Secretary Amber Rudd had to remind Parliament and the public that Britain's relationship with the United States was bigger than one president — and t...