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Goblin Speculative Evolution #02
“Once endemic all around the African continent, the Tokolotshes are today relegated mostly to the South African area.
This member of the family is the grandad, or one of the grandads, of the cave Goblins and their genetic relatives. Why not just the only grandad, you ask? Recent studies found out that the DNA of the Tokolotshe is fairly similar to one of the Nakki, an aquatic relative that we’ll explore in the future, and they also pointed out that the the inbreeding between the two species make fertile offsprings that share a lot of genetic patterns with the more advanced members of this branch such as the lake goblins and the cave goblins.
To keep it simple, cave goblins and their cousins most probably evolved from the inbreeding that took place during the mediterranean and north africa expansion phases, not directly from the Tokolotshe. A specific entry to expand about this specific issue will be done after the description of Lake goblins and Nakkis.
Anatomically, this creature is really similar to chimpanzees and that’s one of the main reasons why this species is so endangered and elusive. More skittish in nature than the big chimps, this creature tends to spend a lot of time in the trees, especially if near a cave they can find refuge in. Their natural smell and lack of hair helps them to look ill to predators less complex than chimps and to avoid their hunger, even in case of predators that usually hunt chimps and humans.
Their diet is similar to the one of chimpanzees, but they rely way more on scavenging and never actually hunt.
The name Protocallidus means first-to-be-intelligent and that’s because even if the thumb of this goblinoid is not highly evolved, his problem solving skills are really fascinating. Often the Tokolothse is smarter than cave goblins, weirdly enough. Even if they feel extremely stressed outside the forest, rarely do they go into human settlements. They naturally fear humans and their adaptation to climb tree branches makes it really hard for them to climb on smooth furniture and walls.
They’re natural scavengers and act mostly at night to avoid confrontations with other chimps. As any other goblinoid, the big nose is actually the location of a part of the neural network. Really exposed network, but at the same time helps them to have a highly specialized sense of smell and touch. Weirdly enough, Tokolotshe neural network has an incredible amount of parts connected to locomotion, even if they’re extremely clumsy. This is explained once you notice how silent they can be while moving, even in the forest... They look clumsy while they walk just because every step is instinctively made to avoid the most amount of noise. Their quadrupedal waking cycle is a weird mix between chameleon and chim ones. They’re communication system also is based not on noise, but on something more similar to sign language (not as complex as ours, but still impressive).
That’s why for many traditions this creature is considered almost a spirit of the forest. You can barely see one of them and for sure you can’t hear them. And if you catch one of them in the night, crawling in the house for food, it will disappear out of nowhere without a sound”
______________________________________________________________ Second entry is inspired by the water spirit/goblin-like entity of South African folklore: the Tokolotshe! At least 80% of the entries will get the name of a mythological creature, I already have most of them in mind, but please write down any creature you may think it’s fun enough to include in the tree!
#goblin
#speculative evolution
#characterdesign
#creature
#science
#fantasy
#monster
#dungeonsanddragons
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Laura upgraded to Category 4 hurricane (CNBC) Hurricane Laura, a major Category 4 storm, is set to hit near the Texas-Louisiana border on Thursday morning as local officials scramble to evacuate thousands of residents. The storm’s rapid intensification shocked scientists and prompted forecasters to issue warnings of “unsurvivable storm surge” in Texas and Louisiana. “Unsurvivable storm surge with large and destructive waves will cause catastrophic damage from Sea Rim State Park, Texas, to Intracoastal City, Louisiana, including Calcasieu and Sabine Lakes,” the National Hurricane Center said on Wednesday. “This surge could penetrate up to 30 miles inland from the immediate coastline.” The storm battered the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Haiti over the weekend, knocking out power for more than 1 million people, collapsing some homes and killing at least 23 people. Laura is headed toward an area that comprises more than 45% of total U.S. petroleum refining capacity and 17% of oil production, according to the Energy Information Administration. As of Tuesday, producers shut down roughly 84% of offshore production in the Gulf as many refinery plants along the Texas and Louisiana coasts shutter in anticipation of life-threatening storm surge.
Extreme weather (Washington Post) Across the United States, there are signs of climate disaster. In California, two of the worst wildfires in the state’s history took place simultaneously, scorching more than a million acres of land, including a beloved forested national park. On the Gulf Coast, residents of Louisiana and Texas braced for an unprecedented double-hurricane event churned up by exceptionally warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico. In other parts of the Northern Hemisphere, the summer has already seen its toll of heat waves and heavy rains. Record-breaking temperatures in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad this July had my colleagues blistering their hands simply by touching the handle of an office door. The coastal Indian metropolis of Mumbai experiences seasonal flooding every year, but was hit by a year’s worth of rain in the space of a month this summer. Higher-than-average rainfalls in the past weeks led to an arc of destruction from central Europe to the Turkish Black Sea coast to southern China, where, in a grim omen, rising waters submerged the toes of a towering Tang dynasty-era statue of the Buddha that has stood for more than 13 centuries. “This year’s flooding has unfolded not as a single natural disaster, with an enormous loss of life and property,” noted the New York Times, “but rather as a slow, merciless series of smaller ones, whose combined toll has steadily mounted even as official reports have focused on the government’s relief efforts.” Experts are broadly convinced that a steady uptick in extreme weather events of recent years is at least in part the result of man-made climate change. “It seems like every year re-ups the previous year in terms of pushing the envelope, in terms of how much fire we’re seeing in the landscape and how severe that fire is,” Neil Lareau, an atmospheric scientist, told the Guardian about the California wildfires.
Lawyer says Blake paralyzed, protests erupt for 3rd night (AP) Jacob Blake, the Black man shot multiple times by police in Wisconsin, is paralyzed, and it would “take a miracle” for him to walk again, his family’s attorney said Tuesday. The shooting of Blake on Sunday in Kenosha—apparently in the back while three of his children looked on—was captured on cellphone video and ignited new protests over racial injustice in several cities, coming just three months after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police touched off a wider reckoning on race. Some demonstrations devolved into unrest, including for a third night in Kenosha, where three people were shot and two people were killed during the protests overnight, according to Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth.
US crackdown on nonessential border travel causes long waits (AP) A Trump administration crackdown on nonessential travel coming from Mexico amid the coronavirus pandemic has created massive bottlenecks at the border, with drivers reporting waits of up to 10 hours to get into the U.S. An employee at a company that provides support for businesses with Mexican operations saw the huge lines Sunday night from his home in Tijuana, Mexico. A U.S. citizen, he lined up at midnight for his 8 a.m. shift Monday in San Diego and still arrived 90 minutes late. U.S. citizens and legal residents cannot be denied entry under a partial ban that the Trump administration introduced in March to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Going to work, school and medical appointments are deemed essential travel but going to shop, dine or socialize is not. The crackdown comes after U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it surveyed about 100,000 travelers coming from Mexico by car or on foot and found 63% of U.S. citizens and legal residents traveled for reasons that were not essential.
Mexico struggles to get in shape (AFP) With martial arts training on rooftops, virtual exercise classes and outdoor workouts, Mexicans are getting creative as they try to slim down during the pandemic in one of the world’s most obese countries. Mexico has the world’s third-highest coronavirus death toll—and the government says poor diets and health problems including obesity, hypertension and diabetes are partly to blame. Social distancing measures mean gyms remain closed in much of the country six months after the outbreak began, posing a major hurdle to efforts to get Mexicans in shape. “It’s incredible that the bars are open and exercise is almost going underground, because there are gyms that open secretly,” Romero, a 27-year-old physiotherapist, tells AFP. Mexico has the world’s highest obesity rate among children and the second-highest among adults, according to the government.
German Town Fears Ruin by U.S. Effort to Stop Russian Pipeline (NYT) Sitting on the Baltic Sea, the small eastern German town of Sassnitz has been working for years to revive its enormous port, including taking on a role supporting a Russian pipeline being laid offshore to deliver natural gas to Germany. But the port, one of the last great infrastructure projects undertaken by the former East Germany, now finds itself caught up in a geopolitical competition between the United States and Russia, a clash that local officials and residents say is threatening the town and region with economic ruin. At issue are so-called secondary sanctions being proposed by powerful U.S. senators to target companies doing business with Russia and the Kremlin-controlled gas giant Gazprom to finish the pipeline, Nord Stream 2, which is 94 percent complete. The port would fall under the sanctions because of the role it plays supplying provisions to a Russian pipe-laying ship involved in the project. The penalty, if the sanctions are imposed, would mean being cut off from the United States “commercially and financially,” and effectively excluded from the global financial system. The port would essentially be turned into an international pariah, with all its business drying up—not just its work supplying the Russian ship. To German officials and residents in Sassnitz, the sanctions against the port and the company that owns it, Fährhafen Sassnitz, are puzzling and infuriating. They threaten to turn Sassnitz into collateral damage as the town struggles to create enough jobs to keep young people from leaving. “They are firing their cannons at sparrows,” said Edgar Taraba, as he unloaded a morning’s catch of flounder and sole from his dinghy. “There is nothing left here to take.”
Greece battles coronavirus resurgence after early success (AP) Workers in bright yellow vests stand on the dock in Greece’s main port of Piraeus, greeting hundreds of masked ferry passengers with fliers and the occasional temperature check. “Would you like a coronavirus test? Yes, it’s free. Right over there, in the white structure, you’ll see the signs,” they tell disembarking passengers. Free on-the-spot tests for travelers returning from Greek islands where outbreaks have occurred is the latest in an arsenal of measures authorities are using to tackle a resurgence of COVID-19 in a country that has so far managed to dodge the worst of the pandemic. New localized restrictions, including a midnight curfew for bars, restaurants and cafes and a ban on large gatherings have been imposed, mainly in popular tourist destinations such as the Aegean Sea island of Mykonos. The number of confirmed virus cases and deaths in Greece remains lower than in many other European countries, but have been increasing.
France joins military exercises in east Mediterranean (Reuters) France is joining military exercises with Italy, Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean amid a worsening dispute between Turkey and Greece over energy resources in the region, Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Wednesday. Tensions between Turkey and Greece escalated after Ankara sent its Oruc Reis survey vessel to disputed eastern Mediterranean waters this month, a move Athens has called illegal. “The eastern Mediterranean is turning into an area of tension. Respect for international law must be the rule and not the exception,” Parly said on Twitter, adding that it “should not be a playground for the ambitions of some.” Relations between France and Turkey have soured in recent months over Ankara’s actions in NATO, Libya and the Mediterranean.
Army helicopters to pluck people from flooded Karachi city (AP) Pakistan’s military said Wednesday it will deploy rescue helicopters to Karachi to transport some 200 families to safety after canal waters flooded the city amid monsoon rains, displacing scores of people, officials said Wednesday. Although rains have lashed many parts of Pakistan, the southern port city of Karachi, located near the Arabian sea, has been the hardest-hit. Streets were flooded Tuesday with sewage water. Sewage and drainage systems in the city are outdated.
Indian lawyer in court over critical tweets (Foreign Policy) Prashant Bhushan, a prominent public interest lawyer from India, was due to be sentenced yesterday over two tweets he posted criticizing the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In one tweet, Bhushan accused Chief Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde of hypocrisy after he posed with a motorcycle without a mask, despite having put the Supreme Court in lockdown due to coronavirus concerns. In the other post, he said the Supreme Court’s recent activity showed “how democracy has been destroyed in India” under Modi. The Supreme Court has called the tweets a “calculated attack on the very foundation of the institution of the judiciary,” but the case is emblematic of the authoritarian slide India has taken since Modi first assumed power in 2014.
Russian Evangelicals Fined for ‘Missionary Activity’ During Pandemic (Christianity Today) Anatoly Chendemerov was handing out tracts that said “You must be born again!” in the Volga Federal District in southeastern Russia. He was fined 6,000 rubles, the euqivalent of about $80. Sergey Krasnov was passing out Christian newspapers and New Testaments in Krasnodar, a city in the South. He was fined 5,000 rubles, or about $65. Seo Jin Wook, a South Korean, met with about 10 people in a private home in Izhevsk, in the Western Ural Mountains, to talk about the good news of Jesus Christ. He told the people they should come back and bring friends. He was fined 30,000 rubles (about $400) and deported. More than 40 people have been charged with violating a Russian anti-missionary law in the first six months of 2020, according to a new report from Forum 18, a religious liberty news service based in Norway. Government lockdowns and pandemic stay-at-home orders did not substantially slow the multiyear crackdown on unauthorized religious activity. Russia passed a 2015 law that said all religious meeting places needed to be registered and followed it in 2016 with an anti-missionary law. The bill was labeled as anti-terrorism legislation, meant to prevent foreign extremist from exerting influence in the country. Local police, sometimes supported by the Federal Security Service, have fined roughly 100 religious people per year for practicing their faith. Baptists distributing tracts and Muslims teaching people the language skills necessary to read the Qur’an are prime targets, alongside ongoing efforts to completely rid the country of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
US-China trade disputes (South China Morning Post) China should weaponize its exports of medicines and drug precursors if the US cuts the country’s access to computer chips, a prominent Chinese academic and government adviser says, as supply chain security emerges as a key theme in the upcoming American presidential election. The United States is heavily reliant on imported medicines from China, something both US President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden have vowed to address after the coronavirus pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in the nation’s pharmaceutical and medical device supply.
With Hacks and Cameras, Beijing’s Electronic Dragnet Closes on Hong Kong (NYT) To get onto his Facebook account, the police used Tony Chung’s body. When officers swarmed him at a Hong Kong shopping mall last month, they pulled him into a stairwell and pinned his head in front of his phone—an attempt to trigger the facial recognition system. Later, at his home, officers forced his finger onto a separate phone. Then they demanded passwords. “They said, ‘Do you know with the national security law, we have all the rights to unlock your phones and get your passwords?’” Mr. Chung recalled. Emboldened by that new law, Hong Kong security forces are turning to harsher tactics as they close a digital dragnet on activists, pro-democracy politicians and media leaders. Their approaches—which in the past month have included installing a camera outside the home of a prominent politician and breaking into the Facebook account of another—bear marked similarities to those long used by the fearsome domestic security forces in mainland China. Not accustomed to such pressures, Hong Kong lawmakers and activists, and the American companies that own the most popular internet services there, have struggled to respond. Pro-democracy politicians have issued instructions to supporters on how to secure digital devices. Many have flocked to encrypted chat apps like Signal and changed their names on social media.
Workations in Japan (Nikkei Asian Review) Workations are a reliable way that Japanese companies are getting workers to relax in a new environment on the company dime, and also support a tourist industry that’s been devastated by national shutdowns. The Japanese government launched a 1.3 trillion yen ($12.6 billion) travel campaign, angling to get people moving around the country which saw a 99.9 percent year-over-year decline in foreign visitors in the four months leading up to July and business down at travel companies 92.9 percent in June. One solution has been basically a surge in corporate retreats, where companies will send groups of employees to work on the beach on the cheap to lift morale while encouraging some R&R, and the government is actively encouraging it. Japan’s domestic tourism industry struggles because most people tend to travel at specific times—summer and year-end—and workers take the fewest paid holidays of 19 countries and regions and just half their allotted vacation on average.
Outbreak in Gaza (Washington Post) The Gaza Strip has been under degrees of lockdown since 2007, when Israel and Egypt imposed blockades after the militant group Hamas took control of the impoverished Palestinian territory. The same conditions that make life a daily struggle there, and that have obstructed even the most basic preparations for the looming threat of a coronavirus outbreak, have perhaps made it harder for the virus to find a toehold. That could be about to change. The coastal enclave’s few points of entry were largely shut in March. But Tuesday, the territory of nearly 2 million people imposed a 48-hour lockdown after authorities reported the first four confirmed cases of the virus in the general population. For months, aid agencies have warned that the silent spread of the virus through the conflict-weary strip could be calamitous. Gaza has one of the densest populations on Earth, a collapsed health-care system, and small supplies of electricity and clean water. Health-care workers are bracing for further signs of a wider outbreak among already vulnerable communities.
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What are the top things to do in Mallorca?
Mallorca is a Spanish island which is situated in the Mediterranean. This place has turquoise blue waters, golden dunes, green foliage, rugged mountains, villages, and a beautiful capital city named Palma. It's capital city Palma is known for its beaches all over the globe and is one of the most famous summer destinations. This place has many luxury hotels and villas. Mallorca has become one of the sailing hotspots. It is also famous for its local food and wines, and traditional cuisine. On this island, there are plenty of historical sites to visit and explore the culture of Mallorca. Currently, this place in Spain has become one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world.
If relaxing is what you want, then you can grab a sun lounger at this beach, there are many supermarkets to shop in Palma. You can explore the theme and water parks with your whole family, as well as adventurous water-sports. There are thousands of other things to do in Mallorca. If you are a party person there are many incredible bars in Mallorca.
What are the things to see in Mallorca?
Mallorca is one of a popular tourist island destination of Spain. If you want to explore Mallorca, then do add these things to your list.
Palma de Mallorca town
Palma de Mallorca is famous as a medieval town and there are plenty of things to see and do in Mallorca. This place was founded by the Romans, and after some time it was reconquered by the Byzantines. Palma for long has been a port town and is famous among tourists. The center of the town is home to many small churches, like the Gothic Cathedral of Mallorca. In Palma, there are many luxury hotels to stay, good restaurants to eat, and amazing bars and cafes.
Palacio Real de La Almudaina
The Palacio Real de La Almudaina is also famous as the Alcazar. It is a Moorish fortified palace. Muslims built this palace after the Arab conquest in the 11th century. After some time it was rebuilt in 1309 by James II of Mallorca. It is also the royal palace of the Kingdom of Mallorca. But after some years it was passed to the Crown of Aragon. It has a well-designed courtyard which was built in the 14th century. It also has a garden that was renovated in the 1960s.
What are the unique things to do in Mallorca?
Mallorca offers many unique experiences and exciting activities to participate in. Here are some of them.
Hit the roads on a motorbike in Mallorca. There you can get rental bikes easily, there are some places on the island where you can also hire a vintage or classic motorbike to explore the beautiful island. Mostly they allow their bikes for a maximum of five hours for the tourists. You can explore its themed villages, beautiful beaches, and cafes.
Walk with donkeys in Tramuntana Sierra
Tramuntana Sierra is located on the north-western side of the village of Deia. This is the most amazing spot for the drink lovers and even for dinner on the terraces, which is surrounded by aromatic roses and with the green landscape. You can do many activities there like ceramic classes in the onsite studio, or you can go for a group walk with your family or friends into the mountains accompanied by the donkeys. This could be a luxurious picnic for your family or friends.
What is the most popular food to eat in Mallorca?
In the Mediterranean, this place offers different varieties of finger-food. These are some of the famous food of Mallorca.
Trampo
Trampo is a very well-balanced dish of Mallorca. It consists of tomato, some green peppers and their special onion, and olive oil. This is healthy as well as delicious food to eat in Mallorca. It is also famous for its coca de trampo that is trampo placed on pizza dough and it tastes amazing.
Tumbet
It is a traditional vegetable dish in Mallorca. You can eat this dish at every local restaurant on the island. It is served with fish or meat, and with the top covered with the vegetables. It also contains sliced potatoes, red bell peppers, and are fried in olive oil. You can also ask to add some zucchini to the mixture as it will enhance the flavour of your dish.
Frito Mallorquin
This dish is very famous among the local people and tourists of Mallorca. It is a fried meat and vegetable dish. Its preparation is done with the use of lamb, onions, mashed potatoes, red pepper, garlic, some fresh peas, onion, olive oil, and their famous baby leaf.
Top Wellness retreats in Mallorca 2020
Wellness retreats in Mallorca allow you to take full advantage of the island’s natural beauty. If you wish, you can also stay in some beautifully restored Fincas as they provide a touch of luxury with their wellness programs. Here are some of the best wellness retreat in Mallorca.
Ananda Mallorca
It offers retreats to its visitors in a truly magical way. It is located in the Sollar’s lush valley. It also offers an incredible view of the UNESCO-protected surroundings of the Tramuntana Sierra. They offer many programs which you can choose according to your needs. Workshops are also held, and they mainly focus on diet and is designed to rejuvenate body and mind. There is a separate place given for the kids' section, where they can play and practice tennis, and fruit-gardening or yoga as well. The main purpose of all the retreats is to focus on nutrition balanced, healthy, and good meals, and freshly prepared on-site by the best chefs.
Ashtanga Mallorca Retreats
This is situated on the northwestern part of the island. It is a traditional stone farmhouse that is surrounded by a huge swath of approx. 200,000 square meters of forest. These retreats are yoga-focused. They organise two sessions of yoga practices daily, a more physical and difficult one in the morning, and in the afternoon they practice one which is more centered on philosophy and alignment. This retreat is suitable for the vegans. There are plenty of other activities to do like cycling, hiking, and water-sports.
Escapada Health
They have chosen a beautiful place which is 500-year-old Finca for organizing their retreats. It is located outside the Capdepera on the easternmost area of the island. It has a farmstead with a total of seven adjoining houses set among the olive and almond orchards with beautiful views of the hills. Their summer retreats are combined with yoga and fitness, nutritious food, and a perfect blend of Ayurvedic traditions. This retreat is alcohol-free and is vegetarian. You can also hire professional guides for hiking in the mountains.
Visit the best beaches in Mallorca
Plan your vacation to Mallorca with our list of the best beaches to visit in Mallorca.
Cala Mesquida
Cala Mesquida is one of the long and wide beaches in Mallorca. It is very popular among people who like to play in the water. The sea of Cala Mesquida is shallow. This makes it good for water sports. There are many resorts on one side of the beach, one of the popular ones is Viva Cala Mesquida Resort and Spa. They have many casual cafes on the white sand where you can spend some time and refresh yourself. You will also get the opportunity to see nature reserve, full of pine trees and dunes.
Es Calo del Moro
It is situated on the island's southern coast. Calo del Moro is a beautiful beach which is located near to the town of S'Almunia. This is also famous as the Blue Flag Beach. The water of this beach is turquoise in color, and with a sandy beach surrounded by high mountains. There is a walk of 5 mins to access the beach, so it will be better if you wear sneakers. During the summer weekends, you can find the beach crowded and busy.
What are the unusual things to see in Mallorca?
Mallorca is also famous as Majorca. It is the largest island of the east coast of Spain in the Mediterranean region. It is mostly known for its beaches and nightlife but, there are many unusual things to see in Mallorca.
Necropolis of Son Real
It is a graveyard and the local belief is that it was used by the Son Real Necropolis from the Iron Age until the Roman period. It has an area over 8,600 square feet and is one of the oldest tombs. The tombs contain weapons and many potteries, they also contain many jewels, shells, and many musical instruments. By this, you can guess that it has been used by several cultures, each one of them following their funeral traditions. This place was rediscovered in 1957. The government bought this place in 2002 and began its preservation program.
Cova de Coloms
If you want to try something unusual, then plan a trip to Cova de Coloms. It’s one of the best islands of sea caves. You can access this cave only by swimming and is best for the water lovers. Everything will be provided by the safety guards, you don’t need to carry things by yourself. They only check if you are healthy and can swim for at least 200 m.
You can also explore the maze of lakes and chambers. It’s an incredible place to visit on the island.
Do some shopping in Mallorca
The capital city, that is Palma, is the major hot spot for shopping on the island. There are many shops to buy things of every kind. Here are some of the best shopping markets in Mallorca.
Palma
For shopping seekers, the size of Palma is a big advantage. The main areas for shopping that you must visit in the city are Avinguda Jaume III, Passeig des Born, and the cobbled streets. There are many ancient passageways around the Placa Major and also in Placa Cort.
There are many weekly supermarkets. It is famous for its beachwear clothes. But the other shops sell every sort of fruit, antiques, wooden stuff and other essentials. There are many cafes and food counters around this market, you can grab some food there and explore the beauty of the local cafes.
El Corte Ingles
There are two stores, which are located in Palma. If you want to spend more, then this is the best market to do that. There is a range of known international designers in each store. One of the markets is situated in the Avinguda Jaume III. The other market is big and is located near Palma’s main transport hub.
Try the adventure sports in Mallorca 2020
There is a collection of adventure activities to do in Mallorca. It is suitable for all levels and ages. Here are some of the best ones.
Windsurfing
Here you will get the opportunity to feel the breeze of the Mediterranean. This is one of the challenging sports activities, but this will surely give you a good adrenaline rush. If you get tired you can stop near to the island's beach and have some food there.
Coasteering
It involves many kinds of activities like swimming, climbing, diving, and scrambling. This is a great way to explore the crannies of Mallorca's beautiful coastal cliffs. It is mostly offered by the local activity which companies on the island and it can also be practiced by the whole family.
Visit the most famous historical monuments in Mallorca
Enjoy the culture of Mallorca by visiting the most famous historical monuments in Mallorca.
Cathedral de Mallorca
Cathedral de Mallorca is also famous as the La Seu. It is a Gothic cathedral built in the 14th-16th century and later rebuilt with additions of different styles. The incredible rose window and works from Gaudi and Barcelo is truly a worth visit. You can also explore the Cathedral museum.
The Roman City of Pollentia in Alcudia
The Ciutat Romana de Pollentiais is located on the southern part of the historical quarter of the Alcudia. Here you can find different excavation sites, which will allow you to discover aspects of life in this beautiful city. It also hosts the houses of the forum, La Portella, and the Roman theatre.
Where are the best museums in Mallorca?
This place has so many things to offer to those who enjoy visiting the art galleries and museums. Here is the best selection of the museums on the Mallorca island.
Sculpture Park, Yannick & Ben Jakober Foundation in Alcudia
This is a new addition to the Sculpture Park, it delights both the adults and children’s. It is home to many artists. There are many monumental sculptures of animals, including a dog, rams, horse, hippo, horse, and elephant. This is one of the striking sights in Mallorcan island. It’s worth visiting and exploring the beauty of the rose garden. You can visit this place on Tuesdays, and it is free of charge.
CCA Andratx in Andratx
This is located in Andratx and is dedicated to the exhibition and creation of modern art. It is famous for its paintings which are made by local and international artists. You can buy paintings if they are on sale. It also offers a unique artist programme. It is closed on Mondays and on other days the entrance fee is 8 euros.
So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and leave for the most exciting destination pf Mallorca and come back with a bag full of memories. Do not forget to consider this guide so that you don’t miss any tourist destinations in Mallorca.
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5 Reason why you should visit my dream destination
There can be a lot of reasons why you would like a destination. It could be food, its culture, its architecture or its climate. But this place really just has it all. You will be wondering what could the place be. Paris? London? Tokyo? No. The place I’m talking about is Spain. It is located in extreme southwestern Europe.
Now, I have never been there but I’ve always grew up admired this place from watching movies, vlogs and etc. I first thought this is just another “wants” and the obsession will slowly just fade away. But that never happened instead I only kept exploring more and more interesting things and places. It has always fantasized me and its so amazing how a place can be this beautiful yet simple. Its has almost every mouth-watering dish to deadly adventurous sports you can try. In this blog, I will share you 5 reasons why you should visit Spain.
Awe-inspiring landscapes
Spain is full of beautiful, unspoilt natural landscapes with many still relatively undiscovered. A country full of natural wonders, stunning geological scenery, lush forests, dry deserts, volcanoes, lakes and impressive mountains. Spain may be renowned for its beaches and sunny climes, but it is a country of diverse landscapes. Its mountains are majestic, from the northern Pyrenees and the Picos de Europa to the Sierra Nevada in the south the Mount Teide volcano on the Canary Island of Tenerife. Spain is home to Europe’s only desert, Cabo de Gata in Almería, which inspired Hollywood spaghetti westerns, many of which were filmed in the area.
Amazing adventure activities
Spain is ripe for adrenaline-fuelled adventures, not limited to rock climbing, hot air balloon ride, steep, deadly walkways in Caminito del Rey, and caving. There are simply more adventurous things to do in Spain��that travelers can discover while visiting this European country. Whether engaging in extreme water sports, riding horses, jumping off a bridge, and other wild excursions, tourists can have a memorable and unique experience. From the one of the world’s scariest footpaths to a zip line between Spain and Portugal, the opportunities are endless in Spain if you want an adrenaline kick. Skiing and snowboarding, scuba diving and hiking are all world class, while Spain’s northern coastline plays host to annual surfing competitions.
Food
Spanish cuisine is among the most varied and well-known in the world. The quality of the ingredients is magnificent. Many dishes have humble origins and are simple to prepare. Through the centuries, the cultures that have inhabited the Iberian Peninsula have provided Spanish dishes with an unparalleled richness. You hear a lot about good Spanish oil, wine, cereals, fruits, recipes with pork, legumes, potatoes, eggs, and many other ingredients. It’s not surprising that the UN has put this Mediterranean diet on a pedestal, qualifying it as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Still, Spanish cuisine is much more than that.
Fantastic fiestas
Spain is a beautiful country with an even more beautiful culture. So, there are innumerable festivals and events that take place throughout the year in the country. Among Spanish festivals 2022, Tomatina is the most popular one. This is is one of the established facts about Spanish festivals. A few famous festives are La Tamborrada (Drum Festival), Las Fallas De Valencia (Festival Of Fire), Semana Santa (Holy Week), Feria Del Caballo (Horse Fair), Feria De Abril (April Fair Of Seville), Cordoba Patios Festival, Boloencierro, Saint John’s Eve, Haro Wine Festival, Benicassim Festival, San Fermin (Pamplona Bull Run), The Semana Grande, Festa Major De Gracia (Gracia Festival), Feria De Málaga (August Fair In Malaga), La Tomatina (Tomato Fight Festival)
Flamenzo
Flamenco is a style of dance, singing and guitar playing that originated from the traditional music and dance styles of Andalusia, southern Spain. The rich cultural tradition is closely linked with Spain’s Romani gypsy community, who pioneered the now world-famous style. The genre is also known for its elaborate costumes, with female flamenco dancers wearing exquisitely handcrafted dresses.
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T’ville, June 16 [1968]. Mary drove me up from the airport. [...] My Showy Lady Slippers are almost all blooming: five are in flower and bud... Bob —— is a good gardener. He has weeded out Mother’s peonies, which are splendidly blooming now, as well as the currant and gooseberry bushes – more gooseberries now than we have ever had before.
...says that the Salamanca Indians, who were driven out of their homes by the dam, now have $18,000 houses, with splendid bathrooms and sandalwood finishings, and a longhouse with many electric plugs, so that they can have radio or television or anything there.
[Edmund Wilson]
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—— was the classic architect-intellectual for the new age; young, slender, soft-spoken, cool, ironic, urbane, highly educated, charming with just the right amount of reticence,... able to mix plain words with scholarly ones, historical references of the more esoteric sort... with references of the more banal sort...
[From Bauhaus to Our House]
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During the century after Verrazzano Europeans were regular visitors to the Dawnland, usually fishing, sometimes trading, occasionally kidnapping natives as souvenirs. (Verrazzano had grabbed one himself, a boy of about eight.) By 1610 Britain alone had about two hundred vessels operating off Newfoundland and New England; hundreds more came from France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy. With striking uniformity, these travelers reported that New England was thickly settled and well defended. In 1605 and 1606 Samuel de Champlain... visited Cape cod, hoping to establish a French base. he abandoned the idea. Too many people already lived there. A year later Sir Ferdinando Gorges... tried to found a community in Maine. It began with more people than the Pilgrims’ later venture in Plymouth and was better organized and supplied. Nonetheless, the local Indians, numerous and well armed, killed eleven colonists and drove the rest back home within months.
[1491]
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Second-generation Puritans could already sense that oysters augered profound and dire portents. The first environmental protection law ever ratified in this country was passed in 1679:
To protect the destruction of oysters in South Bay, by the unlimited number of vessels employed in the same.
And oysters became central players in America’s first litigation over private property, public waterways, and government regulation.
[A Short History of the American Stomach]
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Feb. 21 [1855]. PM – To Fair Haven Hill via Cut. A clear air, with a northwesterly, March-like wind... [...] When I have entered the wooded hollow on the east of the Deep Cut, it is novel and pleasant to hear the sound of the dry leaves and twigs, which have so long been damp and silent... When I perceive this dryness under my feet, I feel as if I had got a new sense, or rather I realize what was incredible to me before, that there is a new life in nature beginning to awake, that her halls are being swept and prepared for a new occupant. It is whispered through all the aisles of the forest that another spring is approaching. The wood mouse listens at the mouth of his burrow, and the chickadee passes the news along... I see the peculiar softened blue sky of spring over the tops of the pines... The snow on the mountains has... a singular smooth and crusty appearance, and by contrast you see even single evergreens rising here and there above it and where a promontory casts a shadow along the mountains’ side. I saw what looked like a large lake of misty bluish water on the side of the further Peterboro mountain, its edges or shore very distinctly defined. This I concluded was the shadow of another part of the mountain. And it suggested that, in like manner, what on the surface of the moon is taken for water may be shadows.
I saw a train go by, which had in front a dozen dirt-cars from somewhere up country, laden apparently with some kind of earth (or clay?); and these, with their loads, were thickly and evenly crusted with unspotted snow, a part of that sugary crust I had viewed with my glass, which contrasted singularly with the bare tops of the other cars, which it had hitched on this side, and the twenty miles at least of bare ground over which they had rolled. It affected me as when a traveler comes into the house with snow on his coat, when I did not know it was snowing.
[Thoreau, Journal]
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❚make shift (third-person singular simple present makes shift, present participle making shift, simple past and past participle made shift) (dated) To contrive; to invent a way of surmounting a difficulty
Gambling houses all over the world are taking in action on whether President Trump will resign or be impeached
Mediterranean diet with virgin olive oil may... Mediterranean Diet, Olive Oil and Nuts Can Help Reverse Metabo...
Jones: J Lo Should Go to Somalia and Get Gang Raped
Carlos Santana says Beyoncé is 'not a singer' Carlos Santana has angered the Beyhive.
By any measure, Michael Flynn’s brief stint as White House national security adviser was not a success. After barely more than three weeks on the job, he resigned in disgrace late Monday thanks to reports that he had discussed lifting U.S. sanctions on Russia with a Moscow representative prior to President Donald Trump’s inauguration and then misled White House officials about the exchange.
NYTimes: Trump Campaign Aides Had Repeated Contacts With Russian Intelligence
27 years ago today, Voyager 1 took its last photos ever. Turning its cameras inward toward the sun, it captured the only portrait of our solar system. Including the famous "Pale Blue Dot".
Repeated contacts with Russian intelligence throughout the campaign, you say?
David Frum Seriously, Republican congress members: you do not want to be covering for accusations of Russian penetration of US govt.
Michael Moore What part of "vacate you Russian traitor" don't you understand? We can do this the easy way (you resign), or the hard way (impeachment).
David Frum This isn’t about the Logan Act. It’s about the appearance of payback to the Russians to reward them for tipping the election to Trump
David Frum Not a parody account, blue check mark & everything WikiLeaks @wikileaks Trump's National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigns after destabilization campaign by US spies, Democrats, press
Michael Moore Let's be VERY clear: Flynn DID NOT make that Russian call on his own. He was INSTRUCTED to do so.He was TOLD to reassure them. Arrest Trump.
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Other: FieldMuseum_Chicago.NSF_REU.BiodiversityEvolution
NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in the Evolution of Biodiversity across the Tree of Life We are looking for 8 undergraduate students to participate in hands-on research in biodiversity science and receive training in cutting-edge techniques and analysis in evolutionary biology for 10 weeks during the summer of 2017. Applications close February 10, 2017. Students will learn research techniques that include DNA sequencing and computational analysis of genetic and genomic data, morphological measurements and phylogenetic analysis, and microbiology and next-generation microbial sequencing. Scientific projects to be conducted by the students in 2017 include: Forest Canopy Response to the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) Greenhouse Event Evolution of Mitochondrial DNA in Ferns Diversity in Mediterranean habitats - insights from lichenized fungi Habitat-driven Morphological Syndromes in New Zealand Water Beetles Systematics and Taxonomy of Cichlids in the Genus Thorichthys Does diet influence the evolution of body size in ants? Morphometric analysis of the elaborate soldier head in turtle ants A Small World: Uncovering Hidden Diversity in Early Land Plants In addition students will receive career mentoring in a diversity of STEM fields, gain experiences in public outreach and science communication, receive training in ethics/responsible conduct of research, and participate in a diversity workshop to help overcome bias in science. http://bit.ly/2jnlusj http://bit.ly/2jfr6T2 Students will be provided a stipend, dormitory housing, and assistance with travel costs. Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and an undergraduate during the entire period. We especially encourage students from groups traditionally underrepresented in science to apply. To apply, please send complete the online application: http://bit.ly/2jfr6T2 Applications close February 10, 2017. Please direct any questions to Emily Hallock ([email protected]). Please share widely. Thank you, Corrie Moreau Corrie Saux Moreau, Ph.D. | MacArthur Associate Curator - Insects | Integrative Research Center | Department of Science and Education | Field Museum of Natural History | 1400 South Lake Shore Drive | Chicago, IL 60605 USA | Office: (312) 665-7743 | Fax: (312) 665-7754 | Email: [email protected] | Moreau Lab website: http://bit.ly/1Dp7CmW | FMNH website: http://bit.ly/1dLvYse | Field Museum Women in Science: http://bit.ly/1oxWQ1K [email protected] via Gmail
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A childhood of travelling Mediterranean Spain has made me a sun baby and after a decade in England, I have some serious wanderlust. Here’s my current bucket list of places I want to explore ASAP (in order of most to least desperately) and why.
1. Bali, Indonesia
I’m actually planning a trip to Bali next year and I couldn’t be more excited. To me, Bali is a dream come true: its natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and dirt cheap luxury villas spell paradise. I’m hoping to explore Ubud (made famous by “Eat Pray Love” starring Julia Roberts), Canggu, the numerous religious temples and art galleries like Anang Rai art gallery and Neka Art museum.
Bali is a well-known holiday destination among Australians for its surf as well as its natural beauty. It’s also popular for yoga retreats, so I’m hoping to go away for some well-needed aerial yoga to practise my trapeze and silks as well as catch some waves in the sun. *sigh*
2.Thailand
Another country I’ve been gagging to explore for years. I was very jealous when my close friend went travelling across Thailand for a few months with his then girlfriend, so I’ll definitely ask for some tips when I go and hopefully it’ll be some day soon.
I get the impression that the UK is somewhat conflicted in its stereotypes of Thailand as a travel destination. With the image of numerous idyllic islands like Phuket and Ko Tao sporting dazzling beaches and rain-forests set against the image of seedy city strip joints, prostitution and dangerous, sweaty traffic, I think Thailand scares some people. This reaction fairly understandable, however wherever someone is considered rich simply from the area they come from is going to be harder on the locals than the tourists.
Pai, in the Mai Hong Soon province is a small town that is considered a bubbling goldmine of culture, beauty and cheap activities, including hot springs, markets, hammock cafes and waterfalls. It’s very laid-back. I’d also be very keen to visit Railay Beach on the west peninsula, go island hopping and visit Bangkok for a bit more of a buzz.
3. Budapest, Hungary
I was going to visit Budapest this summer for the music festival Budafest, however it clashed with Boomtown in Hampshire, UK. Budapest is widely renowned for its decadent architecture, food, as well as its rich and exciting cultural attractions. I, like anyone else, travel for three main reasons: food, nature and culture. To me, Budapest is an irresistible city, with its famous thermal winter baths, markets full of street food and bright, gothic castles.
Hungary’s mistreatment of the refugees that attempt to pass through it is very upsetting, however they aren’t the only country guilty, the UK especially have their role to play. It’s quite hard to find much information online on the the current refugee situation there now so when I go, possibly in January 2019 if I can gather the funds, I’d really like to get a picture of what’s happening.
Hungarian culture isn’t something I’m very knowledgeable on, so researching and learning a bit of Hungarian in preparation for a visit to its capital city would be a wonderful opportunity to soak up its culture and history, most of it shrouded in mystery to the average Brit.
4. Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is a really special place to me; it’s my home-city. My parents moved when I was two. I’ve only been there twice since, but it’s the coolest city I’ve ever been to. It feels like home as soon as you step off the plane. Everywhere you look you’re greeted with music, art, architecture and food. Among its most famous attractions are Gaudi’s church of the “Sagrada Família” (along his many other works), Primavera Sound festival, the Gothic Quarter known for its in tact medieval style buildings, and La Rambla walk; a renowned boulevard full of street performers and market stalls. Unfortunately, La Rambla is now famous for its terror attack in 2017, but is generally considered very safe, even from pick-pockets.
Despite Cataluña’s ongoing political conflict with the Spanish government and frequent riots, Barcelona is home to a wealthy range of different cultures and music festivals. It has become very touristy all year round which is a source of anguish for most the locals but I couldn’t recommend it more. It’d be impossible to go and not get something out of it, no matter what you go looking for. Another unmissable attraction is the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art. Also, due to it’s growing multiculturalism and university, Barcelona has become vegetarian and vegan friendly, which is uncommon for the Spanish region, even now.
5. Japan
What isn’t there to do in Japan? I’ve wanted to go to Japan ever since learned what a capsule hotel was. Of course there’s so much more to see than itty-bitty hotel pods, such as Mount Fuji, Kiyomizu-Dera temple and national parks like Hokkaido and Chubu region. Tokyo in itself, is a big attraction.
A mirror of New York or London, Tokyo is familiar and yet anything but the same. I have always wanted to try out a ramen vending machine and visit its stunning contemporary art galleries like Mori Art Museum and Tokyo Metropolitan Teian art gallery.
Japan has such a rich and varied culture that its hard to say what is most appealing. To me, it’s nature and art, for others it’s the technology and consumerism of many of its cities. Culturally, I would say it’s best attractions are Okunoshima, “Rabbit Island”, Hirosaki Castle, its gourmet sushi restaurants like Sushi Yoshino and Kamata Sushitoku and the magical Ashikaga flower park, which looks like it could be straight out of a Studio Ghibli film.
Being one of the world’s leading pioneers in technology, Japanese culture does have its dark side. A lot of tourists visit Japan for other “attractions” like Hiroshima and Aokigahara “Suicide Forest”. Similar to many Western cultures, social media and the internet as a whole takes back what it gives and many young people are becoming vulnerable to its pressures.
Japan has a very low crime rate and a fairly introverted culture, the main social problem that plagues the locals isn’t social at all: people are lonely. That being said, from a traveller’s point of view, these problems are small in comparison to most countries.
Being the birthplace of two of my all-time favourite artists Ando Hiroshige and Katsushika Hokusai, even if it didn’t have its wealth of culture and natural beauty, I still wouldn’t be able to resist it.
6. Greece
Earlier this year I was planning to quit my day job and go island hopping round Greece with my boyfriend. The dream. It ended up not happening like most of this year’s travel plans and half of the country ended up setting on fire around the time I was hoping to go anyway. Despite this Greece has been in heart for nearly a year now, ever since I set my sights on it.
Travelling the idyllic Greek islands has been a popular choice for all sorts of travellers for decades now. It’s warm, beautiful and affordable. Due to Greece’s near-collapsed economy, like Spain, it has become heavily reliant on tourism as an income. The accommodation is cheap and varied, as well as the cuisine. It’s hard not to be tempted by the dirt cheap flight prices coming up to summer especially when you start googling and see the beaches in the peak of summer.
Like Hungary, I know very little of Greek culture, but I’ve already fallen in love with the idea of backpacking round Mykonos and Crete. Many people are tempted by the ancient Greek ruins and history of Athens or the buzzing night-club culture aimed at British tourists. I mostly want to get lost in the small towns and villages of Milos, the pink beach of Elafonisi, Crete and the Messalina lake, Kefalonia. The only problem would probably be staying alive on a vegan diet, considering lamb and feta are the main components of Greece’s gorgeous dishes.
7. Norway
Norway’s current main attraction for me, is my friend Ane, a native Norwegian I used to live with in England, now residing in Oslo with her partner. Being a Nordic country, Norway seems less like travelling and more like stepping into the game Skyrim. Though maybe with less wolf attacks.
While Norway is expensive to visit, it’s more a place one would visit for its “outdoorsy” stuff. This would be its famous ‘Fjords’, Northern lights and extreme sports winter sports like snowboarding and skiing rather than shopping or clubbing. It’s hard not to be sporty in Norway, there seems little else to do apart from appreciate the country’s vast beauty.
Trondheim, Norway’s third largest town is popular to visit, containing the Nidaros Cathedral and Nidelva River, alongside which are beautiful multi-coloured waterside houses on stilts. Husedalen “Waterfall” valley and Sognefjord are also popular, the latter being Norways largest glacial sea valley. Another attraction among hikers is Trolltunga, a tough climb to reach a cliff jutting out 700 metres horizontally in midair above lake Ringedalsvatnet.
While the price of living is higher, the quality of life is much better all round, Norway has few socio-economic struggles as a nation and is is one of the world’s leading countries for renewable energy and recycling.
Norwegian culture is conservative and quiet, but one of the most advanced and forward thinking in Europe. I find the language fascinating and would love to learn more than just the commands I had to learn to walk Ane’s dog, Dokki, though I doubt I’d have the opportunity to get much practice since most Norwegians are proficient, if not fluent in English.
9. Sri Lanka
Famed for its nature and diverse landscapes, Sri Lanka has had my heart since I was a child. What appeals to most is the animal sanctuaries and conservationist opportunities, as well as the numerous Buddhist ruins like Temples of the Tooth and Dambulla Cave Temple.
A main point of interest would be Sigiriya, the ruins of an ancient city and rock fortress nestled in forest and Yala National Park. The multitude of opportunities to work in animal conservation charities like the Kalametiya bird sanctuary and Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage are unmissable.
Other landmarks are Ella Rock, Little Adam’s Peak and Pidurangala Rock; Sri Lanka is famed for it its variety of climate, ranging from rainforest to desert and home to a multitude of beautiful geological formations.
Until 2009, Sri Lanka had been stuck in civil war for over 25 years. With newfound peace, it is considered very safe to travel. Theft and violent crime is nearly unheard of, but credit card fraud and harassment from street vendors or scammers is common. It’s recommended that poorly lit beaches like Negombo and Hikkaduwa are best avoided at night by single travellers. These areas considered more dangerous for women.
Colombo, the capital city, is a diamond of culture and colour. With over 70% of the Sri Lankan population being Buddhist, there are numerous sacred and world heritage sites all over Sri Lanka, providing opportunity to learn about Theravada Buddhism, directly translating to “School of Elders” and inspired by the oldest of Buddhist scriptures; the Tipitaka.
*Edit: I originally wrote this in December 2018 but didn’t publish it. While my knowledge on these topics has expanded, I thought it would be best to leave the original text relatively untouched and do a more updated version in the weeks to come.
Thanks for reading! 🙂
Travel bucket list 2019: where to go and why A childhood of travelling Mediterranean Spain has made me a sun baby and after a decade in England, I have some serious wanderlust.
#article#blog#Culture#europe#feature#holiday#journal#southeast asia#spain#Travel#travel blog#travel journal#travelwriting#Writing
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Nobody Knows Why Hundreds of People Died at This Creepy Himalayan Lake
A small glacial lake nestled in the world’s highest mountain range is the site of hundreds of unexplained deaths spanning more than 1,000 years, according to a new study.
Roopkund Lake, also known as “Skeleton Lake” because it is cluttered with human bones, has perplexed visitors for decades. Located over 16,400 feet above sea level in the Indian Himalayas, it was rediscovered during the 1940s by a forest ranger. But the shallow lake was clearly known to ancient travelers, many of whom never made it out alive.
Nobody knows what killed all these people at such a remote location. Until now, the leading theory was that a brutal hailstorm pummelled all of the travelers to death at the same time around 800 CE in a single catastrophic event, which might explain the unhealed compression fractures found on some of the bones. While deadly hail may account for some of the fatalities, new evidence strongly suggests that these people met their deaths in multiple different events at the lake across the centuries.
In a study published on Tuesday in Nature Communications, a team led by Éadaoin Harney, a PhD student in evolutionary biology at Harvard University, analyzed DNA extracted from 38 skeletons. This analysis revealed that many different populations experienced mortal incidents at the lake, including one that occurred as late as the 19th century.
“We find that the Roopkund skeletons belong to three genetically distinct groups that were deposited during multiple events, separated in time by approximately 1,000 years,” Harney’s team said in the study. “These findings refute previous suggestions that the skeletons of Roopkund Lake were deposited in a single catastrophic event.”
The earliest group of deceased travellers identified by the researchers, called Roopkund_A, contained 23 men and women from a diverse range of South Asian ancestries. This population was already known to have perished some 1,200 years ago, but radiocarbon dating showed that their deaths were likely not caused by a single violent storm as previously proposed.
Some of the Roopkund_A individuals were dated to earlier ranges of about 675-769 CE, while others were dated to between 894-985 CE. The gap in time suggests “that even these individuals may not have died simultaneously,” the team said.
Even more astonishing is the discovery of a second population, called Roopkund_B, which died just centuries ago, around 1800. This group contained 14 men and women of eastern Mediterranean descent, who were most genetically similar to the people of present-day Crete, the largest of the Greek islands. The third population is comprised of a sole individual, called Roopkund_C, who was a man of East Asian descent that died at the same time as the Roopkund_B group.
“Our study deepens the Roopkund mystery in many ways,” said study co-author Niraj Rai, head of the Ancient DNA Lab at Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in India, in an email. At the same time, the team was able to rule out common “speculations about the ancestry of Roopkund individuals,” Rai said.
For instance, since the 1950s, there has been a local theory that the skeletons were left by the fleeing army of general Zorawar Singh Kahluria, who was killed in an attempted invasion of Tibet in 1841. This explanation is challenged by the new discovery of several women at the site, who were unlikely to have been included in a military expedition.
The hailstorm theory is still plausible for some of the victims, and the team plans to examine the fractured skulls in their next study, Rai said.
Still, we don’t know how these groups ended up at such an inaccessible location in the first place. Roopkund Lake lies on the route of the Nanda Devi Raj Jat, a Hindu pilgrimage, which may have been observed as early as 1,200 years ago. For now, that is the most plausible explanation for the presence of at least some of the Roopkund_A individuals, the team said.
The remains of the other populations are much harder to explain. The study concludes that the Mediterranean individuals, who did not seem to have close familial ties to each other, were probably born under Ottoman rule.
“As suggested by their consumption of a predominantly terrestrial, rather than marine-based diet, they may have lived in an inland location, eventually traveling to and dying in the Himalayas,” the team said. “Whether they were participating in a pilgrimage, or were drawn to Roopkund Lake for other reasons, is a mystery.”
“Mystery” seems to be the operative word for anything to do with Roopkund Lake. While the site has become a destination for researchers and tourists—who have lived to tell the tale of their visits—the secrets of those who never left remain largely unknown.
Nobody Knows Why Hundreds of People Died at This Creepy Himalayan Lake syndicated from https://triviaqaweb.wordpress.com/feed/
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Aesculapian snake
Aesculapian snake
The Aesculapian snake (now Zamenis longissimus, previously Elaphe longissima), is a species of nonvenomous snake native to Europe, a member of the Colubrinae subfamily of the family Colubridae. Growing up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in total length (including tail), it counts among the largest European snakes, though not as massive as the four-lined snake (Elaphe quatuorlineata) or the Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus). The Aesculapian snake has been of cultural and historical significance for its role in ancient Greek and Roman mythology and derived symbolism.
Description
Juvenile with distinctive coloration. The snakes hatch at around 30 cm (11.8 in). Adults are usually from 110 cm (43.3 in) to 160 cm (63 in) in total length (including tail), but can grow to 200 cm (79 in), with the record size being (225 cm (89 in)). They are dark, long, slender, and typically bronzy in color, with smooth scales that give them a metallic sheen. Juveniles can easily be confused with juvenile grass snakes (Natrix natrix), also having a yellow collar on their neck that may persist for some time in younger adults. They are light green or brownish-green with various darker patterns along the flanks and on their back. Two darker patches appear in the form of lines running on the top of the flanks. The head in juveniles also features several distinctive dark spots, one hoof-like on the back of the head in-between the yellow neck stripes, and two paired ones, with one horizontal stripe running from the eye and connecting to the neck marks, and one short vertical stripe connecting the eye with the 4th to 5th upper labial scales. Adults are much more uniform, sometimes being olive-yellow, brownish-green, sometimes almost black. Often in adults, there may be a more or less regular pattern of white-edged dorsal scales appearing as white freckles all over the body up to moiré-like structures in places, enhancing the shiny metallic appearance. Sometimes, especially when pale in color, two darker longitudinal lines along the flanks can be visible. The belly is plain yellow to off-white, while the round iris has amber to ochre coloration. Melanistic, erythristic, and albinotic natural forms are known, as is a dark grey form. Although there is no noticeable sexual dimorphism in coloration, males grow significantly longer than females, presumably because of the more significant energy input of the latter into the reproductive cycle. Maximum weight for German populations has been 890 grams (1.96 lb) for males and 550 grams (1.21 lb) for females (Böhme 1993; Gomille 2002). Other distinctions, as in many snakes, include in males a relatively longer tail to total body length and a wider tail base. Scale arrangement includes 23 dorsal scale rows at midbody (rarely 19 or 21), 211-250 ventral scales, a divided anal scale, and 60-91 paired subcaudal scales (Schultz 1996; Arnold 2002). Ventral scales are sharply angled where the underside meets the side of the body, which enhances the species' climbing ability. Lifespan is estimated at about 25 to 30 years.
Geographic range
Respective approximate European ranges of Aesculapian snake (green) and Italian Aesculapian snake (blue). The contiguous area of the previous nominotypical subspecies, Zamenis longissimus longissimus, which is now the only recognized monotypic form, covers most of France except in the north (up to about the latitude of Paris), the Spanish Pyrenees and the eastern side of the Spanish northern coast, Italy (except the south and Sicily), all of the Balkan peninsula down to Greece and Asia Minor and parts of Central and Eastern Europe up until about the 49th parallel in the eastern part of the range (Switzerland, Austria, South Moravia (Podyjí/Thayatal in Austria) in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, south Poland (mainly Bieszczady/Bukovec Mountains in Slovakia), Romania, south-west Ukraine). Further isolated populations have been identified in western Germany (Schlangenbad, Odenwald, lower Salzach, plus one - near Passau - connected to the contiguous distribution area) and the northwest of the Czech Republic (near Karlovy Vary, the northernmost known current natural presence of the species). Also found in a separate enclave south of Greater Caucasus along the Russian, Georgian and Turkish northeastern and eastern shores of the Black Sea. Two further enclaves include the first around lake Urmia in northern Iran, and on the northern slopes of Mount Ararat in east Turkey, roughly halfway between the former and the Black Sea habitats. V.L. Laughlin hypothesized that parts of the species' geographical distribution may be the result of intentional placement and later release of these snakes by Romans from the temples of Asclepius, classical god of medicine, where they were important in the medical rituals and worship of the god. The previously recognized subspecies Zamenis longissimus romanus, found in southern Italy and Sicily, has been recently elevated to the status of a separate new species, Zamenis lineatus (Italian Aesculapian Snake). It is lighter in color, with a reddish-orange to glowing red iris. The populations previously classified as Elaphe longissima living in south-east Azerbaijan and northern Iranian Hyrcanian forests were reclassified by Nilson and Andrén in 1984 to Elaphe persica, now Zamenis persicus. According to fossil evidence, the species' area in the warmer Atlantic period (around 8000–5000 years ago) of Holocene reached as far north as Denmark. The current northwestern Czech population now is considered an autochthonous remnant of that maximum distribution based on the results of genetic analyses (it is closest genetically to the Carpathian populations). This likely applies also to the German populations. There are also fossils showing that they had UK residency during earlier interglacial periods but were driven south afterwards with subsequent glacials; these repeated climate-caused contractions and extensions of range in Europe appear to have occurred multiple times over the Pleistocene. There are two populations of Aesculapian snake which derive from escapes in Great Britain. The older one is in the vicinity of the Welsh Mountain Zoo near Conwy in North Wales This population has persisted and reproduced for at least the last 30 years. A second, more recent population has been found in and around Regent's Park near Regent's Canal in London and said to number up to 30. It is suspected this colony may have been there some years, undetected.
Habitat
In a cherry tree in Mödling, Lower Austria. The Aesculapian Snake prefers forested, warm but not hot, moderately humid but not wet, hilly or rocky habitats with proper insolation and varied, not sparse vegetation that provides sufficient variation in local microclimates, helping the reptile with thermoregulation. In most of their range they are typically found in relatively intact or fairly cultivated warmer temperate broadleaf forests including the more humid variety such as along river valleys and riverbeds (but not marshes) and forest steppes. Frequented locations include places such as forest clearings in succession, shrublands at the edges of forests and forest/field ecotones, woods interspersed with meadows etc. However, they generally do not avoid human presence, being often found in places such as gardens and sheds, and even prefer habitats such as old walls and stonewalls, derelict buildings and ruins that offer a variety of hiding and basking places. The synanthropic aspect appears to be more pronounced in northernmost parts of the range where they are dependent on human structures for food, warmth and hatching grounds. They avoid open plains and agricultural deserts. In the south their range seems to coincide with the borderline between deciduous broadleaf forests and mediterranean shrublands, with the latter presumably too dry for the species. In the north their line of presence appears temperature-limited.
Diet and predators
Their main food source are rodents up to the size of rats (a 130 cm adult specimen has been reported to have overpowered a 200g rat) and other small mammals such as shrews and moles. They also eat birds as well as bird eggs and nestlings. They suffocate their prey by constriction, though harmless smaller mouthfuls may be eaten alive without constriction, or simply crushed on eating by jaws. Juveniles mainly eat lizards and arthropods, later small rodents. Other snakes and lizards are taken, but only found rarely in adult prey. Predators include badgers and other mustelids, foxes, wild boar (mainly by digging up and decimating hatches and newborns), hedgehogs, and various birds of prey (though there are reports of adults successfully standing their ground against feathered attackers). Juveniles may be eaten by Smooth Snakes and other reptilivorous snakes. Also a threat mainly to juveniles and hatches are domestic animals such as cats, dogs, and chicken, and even rats may be dangerous to inactive adult specimens in hibernation. In areas of concurrent distribution, they are also preyed upon by introduced North American raccoons and east Asian raccoon dogs.
Behavior
Lightly colored adult. The snakes are active by day. In the warmer months of the year, they come out in late afternoon or early morning. They are very good climbers capable of ascending even vertical, branchless tree trunks. The snakes have been observed at heights of 4–5 m and even 15–20 m in trees, and foraging in the roofs of buildings. Observed optimum temperature for activity in German populations is 20-22 °C (Heimes 1988) and they are rarely recorded below 16 °C or above 25 °C, other observations for Ukrainian populations (Ščerbak et Ščerban 1980) put minimum activity temperature from 19 °C and optimum to 21-26 °C. Above around 27 °C they try to avoid exposure to direct sunlight and cease activity with more extreme heat. The snakes will exhibit a degree of activity even during hibernation, moving around to keep a body temperature near 5 °C and occasionally emerging to bask on sunny days. The average home range for French populations has been calculated at 1.14ha, however males will travel longer distances of up to 2 km to find females during the mating season and females to find suitable hatching sites to lay eggs. The Aesculapian Snakes are deemed secretive and not always easy to find even in areas of positive presence, or found in surprising contexts. In contact with humans, they can be rather tame, possibly due to their cryptic coloration keeping them hidden within their natural environment. They usually disappear and hide, but if cornered they may sometimes stand their ground and try to intimidate their opponent, sometimes with a chewing-like movement of the mouth and occasionally biting. It has been speculated that the species may be actually more prevalent than thought due to spending a significant part of its time in tree canopy, however no reliable data exist as to what part that would be. In France it is said to be the only snake species that occurs inside dense, shadowy forests with minimum undergrowth, presumably because of using foliage for basking and foraging. In other parts of the range it has been reported to only use the canopy on a more substantial basis in largely uninhabited areas, such as the natural beech forests of the East Slovak and Ukrainian Carpathians, with similar characteristics.
Reproduction
Minimum length of individuals entering the reproductive cycle has been reported at 85–100 cm, which corresponds to sexual maturity age of about 4–6 years. Breeding occurs annually after hibernation in spring, typically from mid-May to mid-June. In this time the snakes actively seek each other and mating begins. Rival males engage in ritual fights the aim of which is to pin down the opponent's head with one's own or coils of one's body; biting may occur but is not typical. The actual courtship takes the form of an elegant dance between the male and female, with anterior portions of the bodies raised in an S-shape and the tails entwined. The male may also grasp the female's head with its jaw (Lotze 1975). 4 to 6 weeks after about 10 eggs are laid (extremes are from 2 to 20, with 5-11 on average) in a moist, warm spot where organic decomposition occurs, usually under hay piles, in rotting wood piles, heaps of manure or leaf mold, old tree stumps and similar places. Particularly in the northern parts of the range, preferred hatching grounds often are used by multiple females and are also shared with Grass Snakes. The eggs incubate for around 8 (6 to 10) weeks before hatching.
Taxonomy
Apart from the recent taxonomic changes, there are currently four recognized phylogeographically traceable genetic lines in the species: the Western haplotype, Adriatic haplotype, the Danube haplotype and Eastern haplotype. The status of the Iranian enclave population remains unclear due to its specific morphological characteristics (smaller length, scale arrangement, darker underbelly), probably pending reclassification.
History
Asclepius/Aesculapius with rod and snake. The Aesculapian Snake was first described by Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in 1768 as Natrix longissima, later it was also known as Coluber longissimus and for the most part of its history as Elaphe longissima. The current scientific name of the species based on revisions of the large genus Elaphe is Zamenis longissimus. Zamenis is of unknown origin, however longissimus comes from Latin and means "longest"; the snake is one of the longest over its range. The common name of the species — "Aesculape" in French and its equivalents in other languages — refers to the classical god of healing (Greek Asclepius and later Roman Aesculapius) whose temples the snake was encouraged around. It is surmised that the typical depiction of the god with his snake-entwined staff features the species. Later from these, modern symbols developed of the medical professions as used in a number of variations today. The species along with Four-lined Snakes also is carried in an annual religious procession in Cocullo in central Italy, which is of separate origin and was later made part of the catholic calendar. The classical Rod of Aesculapius as a symbol of human medicine. The V-form as a symbol of veterinary medicine. The Aesculapian Snake with the Bowl of Hygieia as a symbol of pharmacy.
Conservation
Though the Aesculapian Snake occupies a relatively broad range and is not endangered as a species, it is thought to be in general decline largely due to anthropic disturbances. The snake is especially vulnerable in fringe parts and northern areas of its distribution where given the historic retreat as a result of climatic changes since the Holocene climatic optimum, local populations remain isolated both from each other and from the main distribution centers, with no exchange of genetic material and no reinforcement through migration as a result. In such areas active local protection is due and the snake for example has been locally classified as Critically Endangered in the German Red List of endangered species. In most other countries including France, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, Ukraine and Russia it is also under protection status. Among the key concerns is human-caused habitat destruction, with a series of respective recommendations concerning forestry and agriculture as to the protection through non-intervention of the species' core distribution centers including targeted protection of potential hatching and hibernation places such as old growth zones and fringe ecotones near such woodland areas. A significant threat also are roads both in terms of new construction and rising traffic, with a risk of further fragmentation of populations and loss of genetic exchange. source - Wikipedia Dear friends, if you liked our post, please do not forget to share and comment like this. If you want to share your information with us, please send us your post with your name and photo at [email protected]. We will publish your post with your name and photo. thanks for joining us www.rbbox.in
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Nobody Knows Why Hundreds of People Died at This Creepy Himalayan Lake
A small glacial lake nestled in the world’s highest mountain range is the site of hundreds of unexplained deaths spanning more than 1,000 years, according to a new study.
Roopkund Lake, also known as “Skeleton Lake” because it is cluttered with human bones, has perplexed visitors for decades. Located over 16,400 feet above sea level in the Indian Himalayas, it was rediscovered during the 1940s by a forest ranger. But the shallow lake was clearly known to ancient travelers, many of whom never made it out alive.
Nobody knows what killed all these people at such a remote location. Until now, the leading theory was that a brutal hailstorm pummelled all of the travelers to death at the same time around 800 CE in a single catastrophic event, which might explain the unhealed compression fractures found on some of the bones. While deadly hail may account for some of the fatalities, new evidence strongly suggests that these people met their deaths in multiple different events at the lake across the centuries.
In a study published on Tuesday in Nature Communications, a team led by Éadaoin Harney, a PhD student in evolutionary biology at Harvard University, analyzed DNA extracted from 38 skeletons. This analysis revealed that many different populations experienced mortal incidents at the lake, including one that occurred as late as the 19th century.
“We find that the Roopkund skeletons belong to three genetically distinct groups that were deposited during multiple events, separated in time by approximately 1,000 years,” Harney’s team said in the study. “These findings refute previous suggestions that the skeletons of Roopkund Lake were deposited in a single catastrophic event.”
The earliest group of deceased travellers identified by the researchers, called Roopkund_A, contained 23 men and women from a diverse range of South Asian ancestries. This population was already known to have perished some 1,200 years ago, but radiocarbon dating showed that their deaths were likely not caused by a single violent storm as previously proposed.
Some of the Roopkund_A individuals were dated to earlier ranges of about 675-769 CE, while others were dated to between 894-985 CE. The gap in time suggests “that even these individuals may not have died simultaneously,” the team said.
Even more astonishing is the discovery of a second population, called Roopkund_B, which died just centuries ago, around 1800. This group contained 14 men and women of eastern Mediterranean descent, who were most genetically similar to the people of present-day Crete, the largest of the Greek islands. The third population is comprised of a sole individual, called Roopkund_C, who was a man of East Asian descent that died at the same time as the Roopkund_B group.
“Our study deepens the Roopkund mystery in many ways,” said study co-author Niraj Rai, head of the Ancient DNA Lab at Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in India, in an email. At the same time, the team was able to rule out common “speculations about the ancestry of Roopkund individuals,” Rai said.
For instance, since the 1950s, there has been a local theory that the skeletons were left by the fleeing army of general Zorawar Singh Kahluria, who was killed in an attempted invasion of Tibet in 1841. This explanation is challenged by the new discovery of several women at the site, who were unlikely to have been included in a military expedition.
The hailstorm theory is still plausible for some of the victims, and the team plans to examine the fractured skulls in their next study, Rai said.
Still, we don’t know how these groups ended up at such an inaccessible location in the first place. Roopkund Lake lies on the route of the Nanda Devi Raj Jat, a Hindu pilgrimage, which may have been observed as early as 1,200 years ago. For now, that is the most plausible explanation for the presence of at least some of the Roopkund_A individuals, the team said.
The remains of the other populations are much harder to explain. The study concludes that the Mediterranean individuals, who did not seem to have close familial ties to each other, were probably born under Ottoman rule.
“As suggested by their consumption of a predominantly terrestrial, rather than marine-based diet, they may have lived in an inland location, eventually traveling to and dying in the Himalayas,” the team said. “Whether they were participating in a pilgrimage, or were drawn to Roopkund Lake for other reasons, is a mystery.”
“Mystery” seems to be the operative word for anything to do with Roopkund Lake. While the site has become a destination for researchers and tourists—who have lived to tell the tale of their visits—the secrets of those who never left remain largely unknown.
Nobody Knows Why Hundreds of People Died at This Creepy Himalayan Lake syndicated from https://triviaqaweb.wordpress.com/feed/
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Day after day, Boswell treads water. His flurries of zeal at court come to little... Boswell is mostly in Edinburgh, and I, rather lost in the petty social swirl there, found no character as continuously engaging as the hero’s big toe, with its ingrown toenail; this pathetic digit, already familiar to readers of the Continental journals, makes its reappearance on April 24, 1779 (‘My sore foot was troublesome’), and inflames and remisses, is maltreated and suffered and dreamed about (‘I dreamt that I saw the cause of my toe being so painful’), and at last, to our great relief, before dinner on January 27, 1780, is decisively cut into by the shilly-shallying surgeon (‘I felt myself resolved to bear the pain, so he cut a good deal of the nail of my great toe out of the flesh. The operation hurt me much. But as soon as it was over I perceived that I was much relieved for I felt only the pain of a green wound instead of the pain of my toe irritated by the nail in it’), and henceforth slowly heals, to fade finally from notice on the 6th of May... Like doctor and patient, reader and writer grope together through a puzzling mass of symptoms and uncathartic crisis that unfold with a maddening organic slowness toward the ambiguous optimum of further survival.
[John Updike]
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The state closest to the Beni was based around Lake Titicaca, the 120-mile-long alpine lake that crosses the Peru-Bolivia border. Most of this region has an altitude of twelve thousand feet or more. Summers are short; winters are correspondingly long. This ‘bleak, frigid land’, wrote... Victor von-Hagen, ‘seemingly was the last place from which one might expect a culture to develop’. But in fact the lake is comparatively warm, and so the land surrounding it is less beaten by frost than the surrounding highlands. Taking advantage of the better climate, the village of Tiwanaku... began after about 800 B.C. to drain the wetlands around the rivers that flowed into the lake from the south...
[1491]
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T’ville, from Aug. 6, 1966. The house looks better with new screens in the windows, the roof and the back bedroom painted. [...] It was the day of the fireman’s fair and parade. Both Mary’s girls were in the parade, which went by just after we had finished dinner. Susan was playing the clarinet... The whole thing was touching and cheering. Each town had sent its delegation, and they competed with one another in music, display, drum-majorette stick-twirling and other tricks. In one, there was a girl who did flips; in another, the girl would suddenly sink to the ground, then quickly start up again.
[Edmund Wilson]
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No eaves; so that very quickly one of the hallmarks of compound work, never referred to in the manifestos, became the permanently streaked and stained white or beige stucco exterior wall.
Then there was the principle of ‘expressed structure’. The bourgeoisie had always been great ones for false fronts (it hardly needed saying), thick walls of masonry and other grand materials, overlaid with every manner of quoin and groin and pediment and lintel and rock-faced arch, cozy anthropomorphic elements such as entablatures and capitals, pilasters and columns, plinths and rusticated bases, to create the impression of head, midsection, and foot, and every manner of grandiose and pointless gesture – spires, Spanish tile roofs, bays, corbels – to create a dishonest picture of what went on inside, architecturally and socially. All this had to go.
[From Bauhaus to Our House]
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That one Holstein cow should produce 50,000 pounds of milk in a year may appear to be marvelous... But what if her productivity is dependent upon the consumption of a huge amount of grain (about a bushel a day), and therefore upon the availability of cheap petroleum? What if she is too valuable (and too delicate) to be allowed outdoors in the rain? What if the proliferation of her kind will again drastically reduce the number of dairy farms and farmers? Or, to use a more obvious example, can we afford a bushel of grain at a cost of five to twenty bushels of topsoil lost to erosion?
[Wendell Berry]
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Unlike Benjamin Rush, whose medical theories and practices have been relegated to the slops of American history, Nathaniel Hawthorne has remained one of the canonical elect, a certified literary genius... But Hawthorne was hardly isolated from the great currents of nineteenth-century American gastrosophy. His sister-in-law, Mary Tyler Peabody Mann (Mrs. Horace Mann), wrote one of the most representative books of Hawthorne’s time, Christianity in the Kitchen. [...] One of Hawthorne’s short stories from 1846 carries the epigastric title: ‘Egotism; or, The Bosom Serpent’. The story’s protagonist, Roderick Elliston, is a ‘lean man, of unwholesome look’, his complexion ‘a greenish tinge over its sickly white’. As it turns out, Elliston’s problem is more than your garden-variety dyspepsia. He is the ‘man with a snake in his bosom’. And thus Elliston’s convulsive alimentary refrain: ‘It gnaws me! It gnaws me!’
[A Short History of the American Stomach]
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SKUNK: Many investigators have made detailed food studies of skunks and have shown that their principal food is insects and most of the insects taken are injurious to plant life. When fruits are ripe and plentiful, they constitute an important part of skunk diet. Most of these are gathered from the surface of the ground, so represent waste as far as man is concerned. Mice constitute another important food item and their destruction is favorable to man. An occasionally bird is taken and not infrequently they were previously injured or already dead when taken by the skunk. Under these circumstances, this too is a service to man.
Skunks deserve much credit for digging out the June bug or May bettle in both the larval and adult stages.
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spiny restharrow | Ononis spinosa Mediterranean region, extending out Turkestan way... the root is used medicinally – its constituents include ‘glycosidic iso-flavonoids and their aglycones formononetin and onogenin, the triterpene α-onocerin, the little known ononid’... ‘Along with parsley root, licorice rhizomes and juniper berries it is an important component of diuretic herbal tea mixtures’... in the wild it is found on dry banks, forest edges, rough grasslands principally on limestone soils... is prickly... Leguminosae...
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Liatris L. spicata ‘pioneers plant succession in strip-mined spoils and in old fields’... chief pollinators are bumble bees and bee flies; the glorious flower moth (Schinia gloriosa) feeds upon it as a well camouflaged caterpillar... ants and lady bugs... sheep find numerous species tasty; deer, the opposite... voles are said to collect the corms, storing them in their pantries...
[The Book of Field and Roadside]
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❚David Frum Retweeted Sky News Australia BREAKING Sky News sources say Donald Trump was 'yelling' during his phone conversation with PM Turnbull and hung up after 25 minutes
Shy Shelter Dog FLIPS OUT After Realizing He's Been Adopted
The Trump Era Is Al Franken’s Time to Shine The Minnesota senator has emerged from the shadows to make life hell for Republicans.
Donald Trump Grabs National Prayer Breakfast By The Pussy This dumb ritual happens every year, called the National Prayer Breakfast. It’s a bipartisan shindig, where politicians on both sides of the aisle, of all faiths, can come together and agree to spend the morning praying to Jesus. It’s super evangelical, run by a creepy cult of right-wing dominionist Christians called The Family. So obviously our secular government should embrace it as a tradition, right? ANYWAY. Donald Trump got to go to his first National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning, and instead of doing like a common Obama, making nice speeches about faith and family, while the wingnuts in attendance rock back and forth and pray for the unborned babies, Trump urged everybody to pray REALLY HARD... for Arnold Schwarzenegger to get better ratings on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” because that’s what these folks really care about.
HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE MOTHERFUCKERS
Doctor, writer, and all-round polymath Thomas Browne (1605-1682) is now better known for his literary work but in his own time was legendary as the greatest – and first – scientific populariser of his day. Browne’s best-selling Pseudodoxia Epidemica, or Common Errors, debunked myths in botany, geology, geography, anatomy, and zoology, as well as history and scripture. Going through seven editions during his lifetime and translated into several European languages, it made him the first public “expert” and a pioneer of popular science. Common Errors is a landmark work of myth-busting. In it Browne tackles important questions such as: do elephants have knees? Why do we say “bless you” when we sneeze? Is the earth a magnetic body? Did Jesus have long hair? Who would win in a fight, a toad or a spider? [...] One of Browne’s most prolonged experiments involved the ostrich, acquired by his son Edward. A flock arrived in London in the early 1660s, brought by the Moroccan ambassador as a gift for the king, and immediately caused a splash – exotic animals were rare in England at the time. Edward managed to get hold of one and kept it in his stables. A frenzy of letters between father and son followed, discussing its eating and sleeping habits, the shape of its feet, and the noises it made (“a strange odde noyse … especially in the morning and perhaps when hungry”). This experiment in collaborative zoo-keeping came to an abrupt end when the ostrich died in its sleep one night, as Browne had predicted, being unused to the cold of a London January. It was immediately dissected. Browne was nothing if not thorough.
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