As if you need another reason to own a Tesla, results from testing the HEPA filter and the bioweapon defense mode. Makes you wonder just WTF Elon Musk is really up to, doesn't it? Oh, and because my day job sells actual military CBRNE defense materials, that the time of the test is listed in minutes, and it takes about 1 minute to drop concentrations down below 200 micrograms/meter cubed means you really won't survive. (Grokked from Annalee Flower Horne)
The temple complex at Angkor Wat appears to be more extensive than originally thought.
Reverse engineering an ATM skimmer found in the wild. Yep. (Grokked from Dan)
Dr Chris Tyler-Smith, who researched the genetic diversity of the human 23rd chromosome and specifically the Y variant, said… “Half of the Western European population is descended from just one man." That may sound astonishing, but this stems from a person who lived about 190,000 years (or approximately 9,500 generations) ago. There is also significant evidence that one in every 200 men are direct descendants of Genghis Khan and he was only 780 years (or 39 generations) ago. It's also speculated (looking at mitochondrial DNA) that all of humanity emerged from a Mitochondrial Eve who lived 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. This may be difficult to grasp until you realize that more people have been alive on this planet since the 20th Century than have ever lived since we can say Homo sapiens became a distinct species. But the most interesting quote in the original article is "In Europe there was huge population expansion in just a few generations. Genetics can’t tell us why it happened but we know that a tiny number of elite males were controlling reproduction and dominating the population." Remind you of anything happening today? (Grokked from Jeff Beeler)
Most likely water flowed on Mars in ancient times. Well, maybe not so ancient times. And it's boiling as it flows. Boiling salty water. (Grokked from Dan)
Is there a better way to pay for our schools. Not when people are bug-fucked about "new" taxes. "The achievement gap between this nation's wealthiest and poorest students is growing dramatically, not shrinking. Something's not working." And that, friends, is a recipe for not only disaster, but cultural and political extinction.
If it isn't actually a problem, make it a problem. "But… conservatives are trying to invent the problem to justify their barbaric solution. For an obvious example, look no further than designated hate group American Family Association, whose director of governmental affairs, Sandy Rios, just admitted that her organization has been sending men into women’s bathrooms at Target in the hopes of eliciting a reaction." Here's the thing, is the US we don't have police stationed outside of restrooms. It's only social convention that keeps people using the bathroom of their choice. But, because there really has never been a problem before (well, yes there was but it wasn't because of transgendered people and it was usually dealt with existing laws) the asshat idiots of the American Family Association, a nominally religious organization, has taken it upon themselves to creep on women. What a fabulous idea. So, basically, what we should take from this and the ongoing scandal of religious peoples using their positions of trust within their religion to sexually abuse children is that you can't trust religious people. (Grokked from Kameron Hurley, among others)
So, what happens when you allow the "religious freedom bills" to proliferate hate? "A dollar store chain in Louisiana is investigating – after a video spread in which an employee allegedly refuses to serve a gay woman." Yep, the dumb is contagious. It's not just about "baking cakes for gay weddings." It never was. (Grokked from George Takei)
"Established after the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, the Marine Corps’ crisis response unit is tasked to rapidly reinforce U.S. diplomatic outposts in Africa and Europe that come under attack. The Ospreys allow the Marines to arrive at hard-to-reach places in Africa on short notice." And now six of the twelve MV-22B are being redeployed back to the US. "Marie Corps Times recently reported that the mission-capable rates for Marine rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft has plunged in recent years due to budget cuts." History may not be repeat, but it strongly rhymes.
The political calculus of Marco Rubio. (Grokked from Lisa N. Morton)
"This is not how things unfolded in 1964, when prominent moderates in the party loudly protested Goldwater and everything he stood for, up until and after the GOP convention… In the end, Johnson crushed Goldwater, winning more than 60 percent of the popular vote and by a 486-52 margin in the Electoral College. It was the staggering defeat moderate Republicans had warned of, but it didn't doom the GOP to political oblivion. Nixon, who ultimately campaigned for Goldwater, won the White House four years later." And that sums it up and also exposes my worse fear about Trump. The GOP will remake itself (it's done so 4 times in my lifetime) and come back. While there are not many moderates left (and those who are called "moderates" are what would have been called "staunch Republicans" back in the 80s), the political class will reassemble and readjust the mask they've worn for so long and begin the process of duping the gullible and dog-whistling their way into office.
And as I plan a vacation that requires several flights (one connection where I have to collect my bags and recheck-in for the next flight), "TSA lines grow to 3 hours, snake outside the terminals, with no end in sight." Fuck me. (Grokked from Mary Robinette Kowal)
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