May 20, 2017


News and Views

THINGS ARE CHANGING IN BRITAIN AS ONE AFTER ANOTHER MARRIES OUTSIDE THE INHERITED ROYALTY AND PEERAGE, AND THOSE CHANGES ARE BASICALLY GOOD.
I WILL MISS THE BEAUTY OF THE OLD TRADITIONAL WAYS, HOWEVER.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pippa-middleton-marries-james-matthews-in-almost-royal-wedding/
AP May 20, 2017, 8:36 AM
Pippa Middleton marries James Matthews in almost-royal wedding

Play CBS News Video

ENGLEFIELD, England -- Pippa Middleton, radiant in a custom-made gown, has married a wealthy financier as members of the royal family, including her sister, looked on.

She and hedge fund manager James Matthews married Saturday at a church in rural England, west of London.

The wedding party included Prince George, a page boy at 3, and 2-year-old Princess Charlotte, a bridesmaid. Both wore special outfits when they arrived with their mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, Pippa's sister.

Photograph -- ap-17140434032395.jpg, Pippa Middleton and James Matthews smile as they are joined by Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, right, after their wedding at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England Saturday, May 20, 2017. KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH / AP
Prince William and Prince Harry arrived together wearing formal suits.

Middleton came to the church accompanied by her father Michael in a vintage convertible. She wore a custom wedding gown designed by Giles Deacon, a long veil by prominent hat-maker Stephen Jones, and a tiara.

Photograph -- ap-17140442201914.jpg, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, right, smiles at her daughter Princess Charlotte, after the wedding of her sister Pippa Middleton to James Matthews, at St Mark's Church in Englefield, England Saturday, May 20, 2017. JUSTIN TALLIS / AP

Father and daughter had a quiet moment together before entering the church.

Tennis star Roger Federer and his wife were among the guests.

Well-wishers and hordes of reporters gathered outside the church grounds on a day of sporadic rain mixed with periods of sunshine.

Pippa Middleton
23 PHOTOS

The ceremony was at St. Mark's Church in Englefield, west of London, to be followed by a private reception at the bride's parents' estate in nearby Bucklebury.

The bride's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, had an elaborate glass marquee built on the grounds of their estate for the reception. Guests were advised to bring two outfits so they could change after the wedding ceremony.

The airspace above both villages was closed to prevent intrusive press crews from flying overhead or launching drones to get video footage.

There was speculation Harry will bring his American girlfriend, actress Meghan Markle, to the reception. Their relationship has become serious in recent months, with Harry speaking out to ask the press to respect their privacy.



I’M GLAD TO SEE THAT THE US MAY ACTUALLY COMMUNICATE WITH IRAN IN A NON-HOSTILE WAY. THAT’S THE ROAD WE NEED TO BE ON ALL AROUND THE WORLD. I WONDER HOW THAT SQUARES WITH THE ARTICLE BELOW ON TRUMP’S DEAL WITH SAUDI ARABIA TO FIGHT ISIS AND INCREASE THE SAUDI’S BALANCE AGAINST IRAN.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/saudi-arabia-tillerson-hints-at-possibility-of-direct-talks-with-iran/
By KATHRYN WATSON CBS NEWS May 20, 2017, 1:53 PM
In Saudi Arabia, Tillerson hints at possibility of direct talks with Iran

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said he's never shut off the phone to Iran -- or to any country that wants a "productive conversation" -- in a joint press conference Saturday in Riyadh with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir.

Tillerson made the comments moments after President Trump signed a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, Iran's adversary, to combat terrorism in the Gulf Coast region and counter Iran. The agreement, as well as the president's selection of Saudi Arabia as his first country on his first foreign trip, mark a strengthening relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.

"In terms of whether I'd ever pick the phone up, I've never shut off the phone to anyone that wants to talk or have a productive conversation," Tillerson said of Iran, asked if he was shutting off diplomatic contact with that country.

Photograph -- gettyimages-685977868.jpg, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrive for a press conference following a bilateral meeting in Riyadh on May 20, 2017. FAYEZ NURELDINE / AFP/GETTY IMAGES

"In all likelihood, we will talk, at the right time," he continued.

Tillerson said the arms agreement signed moments before, which will provide Saudi Arabia with border security and counterterrorism tools, cyber security capabilities and air and missile defense equipment, "reduces the burden" on the U.S. to provide those same tools and "lowers the demand on our own military." Tillerson also emphasized the deal will create jobs in the U.S. defense sector.

Mr. Trump's first trip abroad comes at a time of turbulent politics at home. Moments after Air Force One took off, the New York Times reported that the president told Russian diplomats firing "nut job" FBI Director James Comey relieved great pressure on him, and the Washington Post reported a current White House senior adviser is a significant person of interest in a law enforcement probe of any connections between Russians and Trump associates.

Tillerson said he didn't have any information on who the person of interest in the White House might be.

"I do not have any information or knowledge regarding the person of interest that's been referenced," Tillerson told reporters.

After visiting Saudi Arabia, the president and his team will travel to Israel, the reported source of the intelligence the president shared with Russian diplomats last week.


I DO HOPE SAUDI ARABIA DOES USE THOSE WEAPONS AGAINST ISIS, AND NOT US. BIN LADEN AND ALL OR MOST OF HIS FOLLOWERS ARE SAUDI.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-signs-110-billion-arms-deal-with-saudi-arabia/
By KATHRYN WATSON CBS NEWS May 20, 2017, 10:46 AM
Trump signs $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia

Photograph -- President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud take part in a signing ceremony at the Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh on May 20, 2017. MANDEL NGAN / AFP/GETTY IMAGES

President Trump signed a multi-billion-dollar arms and economic deal with Saudi Arabia Saturday in a move intended to strengthen the U.S.-Saudi Arabian alliance against ISIS on the president's first foreign trip.

The agreement is worth $110 billion effective immediately and $350 billion over 10 years, in an effort to equip Saudi Arabia and Persian Gulf partners in the fight against ISIS. The agreement will provide fighter jets, tanks, combat ships and anti-missile defense systems and create defense-sector jobs in the U.S., according to the White House. The deal includes additional private-sector agreements and a joint vision statement with Saudi Arabia, one of the world's largest oil producers.

"That was a tremendous day," Mr. Trump told reporters. "Tremendous investments in the United States."

"Hundreds of billions of dollars of investments into the United States and jobs, jobs, jobs." he continued.

President and first lady start overseas trip in Saudi Arabia
Play VIDEO
President and first lady start overseas trip in Saudi Arabia

The agreement signals a strengthening relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, and distances the U.S. from Iran, Saudi Arabia's adversary. Mr. Trump is reportedly preparing to announce his support for an "Arab NATO" to counter a growing Iranian influence in the region.

White House economic adviser Gary Gohn told reporters traveling with the president that the deal will "invest a lot of money in the U.S. and have a lot of U.S. companies invest and build things over here."

"They're going to hire U.S. companies ... a bunch of infrastructure related things," Cohn continued, adding that the deal means "big dollars."

Saudi Arabia is the first country Mr. Trump is visiting on his first-ever foreign trip as president. The president is scheduled to give a speech about Islam and host a Twitter forum with young people in notoriously closed Saudi Arabia Sunday. After visiting Saudi Arabia, Mr. Trump will head to Israel, followed by a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The final portion of his trip will include a NATO meeting in Brussels, Belgium, and a G-7 economic summit in Sicily, Italy.

President Trump attends ceremony at Royal Court
Play VIDEO
President Trump attends ceremony at Royal Court

Mr. Trump's first foreign trip comes amid turbulence back at home.

Moments after Air Force One took off Friday, reports broke that the president told Russian diplomats firing that "nut job" FBI Director James Comey relieved pressure on him, and that a current senior White House adviser is a person of significant interest in a law enforcement investigation into possible ties between Russia and Trump associates.

That was just Friday. Earlier in the week, reports emerged that Mr. Trump told Comey to drop his investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, and that the president revealed potentially highly classified information about ISIS to the Russians.

CBS News White House and senior foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan contributed to this report.



NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC USED TO BE A MAGAZINE AND A TV CABLE CHANNEL, AND NOW IT’S A NEWS SERVICE. GREAT, AS LONG AS I DON’T HAVE TO PAY A FEE TO USE IT. GO TO THE WEBSITE TO VIEW THE DOZEN OR MORE ARTICLES THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS OF INTEREST AND CONCERN. THE FIRST ONE IS BELOW.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/03/how-trump-is-changing-science-environment/
EXPLAINER
A Running List of How Trump Is Changing the Environment
The Trump administration has promised vast changes to U.S. science and environmental policy—and we’re tracking them here as they happen.
By Michael Greshko
PUBLISHED MAY 10, 2017

Photograph -- Mounds of unsold coal stand above ground at ERP Compliant Fuels' Federal No. 2 mine near Fairview, W.Va., April 11, 2016. With Donald Trump's win in the race for the White House, scores of regulations that have reshaped the contours of corporate America over the last eight years suddenly seemed vulnerable.
PHOTOGRAPH BY LUKE SHARRETT, THE NEW YORK TIMES/REDUX

The Trump administration’s tumultuous first months have brought a flurry of changes—both realized and anticipated—to U.S. environmental policy. Many of the actions roll back Obama-era policies that aimed to curb climate change and limit environmental pollution, while others threaten to limit federal funding for science and the environment.

The stakes are enormous. The Trump administration takes power amid the first days of meaningful international action against climate change, an issue on which political polarization still runs deep. And for the first time in years, Republicans have control of the White House and both houses of Congress—giving them an opportunity to remake the nation’s environmental laws in their image.

It’s a lot to keep track of, so National Geographic will be maintaining an abbreviated timeline of the Trump administration’s environmental actions and policy changes, as well as reactions to them. We will update this article periodically as news develops.


THIS ONE IS BOTH SHOCKING AND FASCINATING. UNLESS YOU ARE UNABLE TO TOLERATE THE VISUAL IMAGE OF THIS POOR UNFORTUNATE GOAT, READ WHAT IT SAYS. THERE IS A LIZARD CALLED THE TUATARA WITH THE MYTHICAL “THIRD EYE,” ONLY THIS ONE IS REAL. TO READ ABOUT IT, GO TO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuatara. THOSE, HOWEVER, ARE A SPECIES AND NOT AN ABNORMALITY. WHAT FASCINATES ME ABOUT IT, THOUGH, IS THE FACT THAT A PORTION OR THE MAMMALIAN BRAIN IS, LIKEWISE, LIGHT SENSITIVE AND IS INVOLVED WITH SOME VERY INTERESTING THINGS.

MANY DOCTORS IN THE PAST AND SCIENTISTS OF TODAY REFER TO THE MEDULLA OBLONGATA, WHICH CONTROLS MOST OR ALL OR OUR AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM – HEART, ETC. – SO ARE THE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY PARTS OF THE BRAIN.

SEE THE WIKI ARTICLE ON THE THIRD EYE. THE FOLLOWING IS AN EXCERPT.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_eye.

. . . .

Physical basis[edit]

The biological foundation of the mind's eye is not fully understood. Studies using fMRI have shown that the lateral geniculate nucleus and the V1 area of the visual cortex are activated during mental imagery tasks.[8] Ratey writes:

The visual pathway is not a one-way street. Higher areas of the brain can also send visual input back to neurons in lower areas of the visual cortex. [...] As humans, we have the ability to see with the mind's eye – to have a perceptual experience in the absence of visual input. For example, PET scans have shown that when subjects, seated in a room, imagine they are at their front door starting to walk either to the left or right, activation begins in the visual association cortex, the parietal cortex, and the prefrontal cortex - all higher cognitive processing centers of the brain.[9]

The rudiments of a biological basis for the mind's eye is found in the deeper portions of the brain below the neocortex, or where the center of perception exists. The thalamus has been found to be discrete to other components in that it processes all forms of perceptional data relayed from both lower and higher components of the brain. Damage to this component can produce permanent perceptual damage, however when damage is inflicted upon the cerebral cortex, the brain adapts to neuroplasticity to amend any occlusions for perception. It can be thought that the neocortex is a sophisticated memory storage warehouse in which data received as an input from sensory systems are compartmentalized via the cerebral cortex. This would essentially allow for shapes to be identified, although given the lack of filtering input produced internally, one may as a consequence, hallucinate - essentially seeing something that isn't received as an input externally but rather internal (i.e. an error in the filtering of segmented sensory data from the cerebral cortex may result in one seeing, feeling, hearing or experiencing something that is inconsistent with reality).

Not all people have the same internal perceptual ability. For many, when the eyes are closed, the perception of darkness prevails. However, some people are able to perceive colorful, dynamic imagery. The use of hallucinogenic drugs increases the subject's ability to consciously access visual (and auditory, and other sense) percepts. The Mental Imagery article goes into more detail.

Furthermore, the pineal gland is a hypothetical candidate for producing a mind's eye; Rick Strassman and others have postulated that during near-death experiences (NDEs) and dreaming, the gland might secrete a hallucinogenic chemical N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) to produce internal visuals when external sensory data is occluded.[10] However, this hypothesis has yet to be fully supported with neurochemical evidence and plausible mechanism for DMT production.

The hypothesized condition where a person lacks a mind's eye is called aphantasia. The term was first suggested in a 2015 study.[11]

Pineal gland theory[edit]

In Theosophy it is related to the pineal gland.[12] According to this theory, humans had in far ancient times an actual third eye in the back of the head with a physical and spiritual function. Over time, as humans evolved, this eye atrophied and sunk into what today is known as the pineal gland.[12] Dr. Rick Strassman has hypothesized that the pineal gland, which maintains light sensitivity, is responsible for the production and release of DMT (dimethyltryptamine), an entheogen which he believes possibly could be excreted in large quantities at the moments of birth and death.[13]

Adherents of theosophist H.P. Blavatsky[14] have suggested that the third eye is in fact the partially dormant pineal gland, which resides between the two hemispheres of the brain. Reptiles and amphibians sense light via a third parietal eye—a structure associated with the pineal gland—which serves to regulate their circadian rhythms, and for navigation, as it can sense the polarization of light. C.W. Leadbeater claimed that by extending an "etheric tube" from the third eye, it is possible to develop microscopic and telescopic vision.[3] It has been asserted by Stephen Phillips that the third eye's microscopic vision is capable of observing objects as small as quarks.[


[WHAT IS AN ENTHOGEN? LSD IS AN EXAMPLE. AN ARCHAEOLOGIST WHO LET ME PARTICIPATE WITH OTHER AMATEURS IN DIGS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA TOLD ME THAT THE NATIVE AMERICANS HAD OVER A HUNDRED PLANTS WHICH THEY SMOKED OR INGESTED FOR THE SPIRITUAL EFFECTS.

en·the·o·gen
enˈthēəˌjen,-jən/Submit
noun
a chemical substance, typically of plant origin, that is ingested to produce a nonordinary state of consciousness for religious or spiritual purposes.]



[NOTE: WHAT IS THEOSOPHY? IT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE GNOSTICISM, WHICH THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS SPEAKS OF -- AN INSTINCTIVE FORM OF “KNOWING” WITHOUT EXTERNAL PROOF. WHAT I PERSONALLY THINK THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT IS WHAT I CALL “CREATIVITY.” IT IS DEFINITELY A SPECIAL KIND OF THINKING.

the·os·o·phy
THēˈäsəfē/ noun
any of a number of philosophies maintaining that a knowledge of God may be achieved through spiritual ecstasy, direct intuition, or special individual relations, especially the movement founded in 1875 as the Theosophical Society by Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott (1832–1907).]



WHEN I FIRST SPOTTED THIS HEADLINE, I THOUGHT, “WOW!” THAT WAS BEFORE I FOUND THAT CLOUD COMPUTING IS THE HORSE’S NAME. STILL, THERE’S ALWAYS THE BEAUTIFUL PHOTO OF THE HORSES STRETCHED OUT MID LEAP, CLOUD’S NOSE FIRST. IF I HAD A BILLION DOLLARS, I ALMOST CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE RACE HORSES.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cloud-computing-wins-2017-preakness-stakes-triple-crown/
CBS/AP May 20, 2017, 6:54 PM
Cloud Computing wins Preakness Stakes, dashing Always Dreaming's chances for Triple Crown

Photograph -- Cloud Computing (2), ridden by Javier Castellano, wins the 142nd Preakness Stakes horse race ahead of Classic Empire, ridden by Julien Leparoux, Saturday, May 20, 2017, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. MIKE STEWART / AP

BALTIMORE -- Cloud Computing pulled away from the competition to win the 142nd Preakness Stakes on Saturday in Baltimore, Maryland.

Ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, 13-1 long shot Cloud Computing ran 1 3/16 miles in 1:55.98.

Less than an hour before post time, Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming was the 7-5 favorite for the Preakness, as trainer Todd Pletcher looked to win his fourth consecutive race.

Exaggerator wins 2016 Preakness Stakes
Classic Empire dueled with Always Dreaming throughout most of the race before taking the lead turning for home. It looked as if Classic Empire was going to win, but Cloud Computing came after him on the outside and beat him to the wire.

Senior Investment, a 30-1 shot, finished third. Lookin At Lee was fourth.

America's Steeplechase
Play VIDEO
America's Steeplechase

Classic Empire, who finished fourth two weeks ago at Churchill Downs, was the 2-1 second choice followed by Derby runner-up Lookin At Lee at 8-1 and Conquest Mo Money at 9-1. Every other horse in the field had double-digit odds to win.

The racetrack was listed as muddy after Friday's rainstorm. After three straight days of 90-degree weather, Saturday's high was 66 degrees.

Country singer Sam Hunt and electro pop producer Zedd co-headlined the pre-race concert under cloudy skies. Good Charlotte was also on the bill.

gettyimages-686097510.jpg
Cloud Computing #2 ridden by Javier Castellano, left, beats Classic Empire #5 ridden by Julien Leparpux to win the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 20, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. PATRICK SMITH / GETTY IMAGES


https://www.foreverexcited.com/mraY48rK
Welsh Farmer Accidentally Creates World's Hottest Chili
Expertviol 22 hours ago (IN OTHER WORDS, FROM 8:19 PM EST, USA, 5/20/17)

Hot chili peppers have the best names. They sound dangerous and vaguely threatening. A warning for those stupid enough to actually try and eat one, if you will. “It’s not like we didn’t warn you,” they seem to say.

The previous record-holder for hottest chili in the world, the ominous-sounding Carolina Reaper, has had to officially move aside to make way for the aptly monikered Dragon’s Breath chili – a chili so hot no one has actually eaten it yet, for fear it could kill you. How? By literally burning your airways, as if you were breathing fire.

Rather charmingly, the creator of this spicy beast didn’t even set out to break records. Mike Smith, a fruit grower and competitive show-gardener from Denbighshire in Wales, was aiming for an aesthetically pleasing chili tree to enter into the UK's famous Chelsea Flower Show, where it is now in the running for Plant of the Year.

iflscience.com
“It was a complete accident but I’m chuffed to bits – it’s a lovely looking tree,” Mr Smith told the Telegraph.

The chili was, however, grown in collaboration with scientists from Nottingham Trent University, who are interested in the medicinal use of chilis as an anesthetic. It was they who verified that the Dragon’s Breath scored the highest rating ever recorded on the Scoville heat scale, 2.48 million, beating the rival Reaper, which measures 2.2 million.

The Scoville scale measures the intensity of heat in units. The 2.48 million Scoville heat units (SHU) means that one drop of oil from this chili can be detected in 2.48 million drops of water, making it basically weapons-grade hot. For comparison, pepper spray used by the US Army is 2 million SHU.

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Daily Post Wales ✔ @dailypostwales
Dragon's Breath chili - hottest in world - developed in North Waleshttp://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/-hottest-chili-world-killer-anaesthetic-13042313 …
8:12 AM - 16 May 2017
Photo published for St Asaph man develops weapons-grade chili so hot it could KILL
St Asaph man develops weapons-grade chili so hot it could KILL
Record-breaking hottest chili in world, the Dragon's Breath, will be used as anaesthetic because it is so potent it numbs the skin
dailypost.co.uk
67 67 Retweets 45 45 likes

The scientists believe that if you tried to actually eat this chili, your airways would likely close up from the burn and you’d go into anaphylactic shock and die. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a force for good, not evil.

The capsaicin oil from it is so potent it numbs the skin, giving it excellent potential as an anesthetic, especially for those allergic to painkillers, or even for use in developing countries where access to and funding for anesthetics is limited.

Chili peppers actually have a long history of medical value, from calming the gut’s immune system to helping you live longer. Just don’t eat this one.

“I’ve tried it on the tip of my tongue and it just burned and burned," Smith said. "I spat it out in about 10 seconds. The heat intensity just grows.”

Smith is currently waiting for the Guinness World Records to verify his world champion, but in the meantime, if anyone offers it to you, I'd err on the side of caution and just say no.

Via: Iflscience.Com


I JUST STUMBLED ACROSS THIS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC NEWS SITE. LOTS OF SCIENTIFIC STUFF, SPECULATIVE OR NOT. MANY PEOPLE USE “SPECULATIVE” AS A PEJORATIVE TERM, BUT TO ME, CREATIVITY, THEORIZING WHAT THE CAUSE OF A PHENOMENON IS, ETC. ARE THE BEST USES OF OUR SPECULATION SKILLS, OR AS IT IS SOMETIMES PHRASED, “THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.” TRYING TO IMAGINE HOW TO CON PEOPLE TO GET MONEY FROM THEM WHEN THEY’RE ALMOST STARVING IS THE LOWEST FORM. TOO MANY PEOPLE NEVER GO BEYOND THAT. TOO BAD.

THERE IS AN ALMOST ENDLESS NUMBER OF CURIOSITY TWEAKING ARTICLES HERE AT THIS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SITE. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO THERE FOR YOURSELVES AND READ MORE. WHEN I SEE THINGS LIKE THIS CYCLOPS GOAT, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE IS RARE, BUT NOT UNIQUE, AND WHICH I FEEL SURE GOES BACK IN TIME DOWN TO THE EARLIEST SEEDS OF OUR MYTHOLOGY, IT IMMEDIATELY TRIGGERS MY FAITH IN A DIRECTLY LINKED CHAIN OF HUMANITY WHICH IS ONE WHOSE LINKS ARE DNA, ART AND STORYTELLING. THE MYTH OF THE CYCLOPS SOUNDS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT NO, IT’S NOT. IT’S JUST USUALLY LETHAL, SO THAT IT REMAINS UNFAMILIAR TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN IT FOR THEMSELVES.

ANYTHING AS BIZARRE AND SPOOKY AS THIS TENDS TO GET INTO THE RELIGION/MYTHOLOGY CHAIN OF THOUGHTS THAT WE HAVE TOLD OVER THE CAMPFIRES BACK TO THE FIRST HUMAN ABILITY TO USE LANGUAGE. IF YOU READ THE CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR SERIES BY JEAN AUEL, YOU WILL BE A BELIEVER THAT EVEN NEANDERTHAL MAN -- NOW CALLED HOMO SAPIENS NEANDERTHALENSIS, WHILE OUR OWN SPECIES OR SUB SPECIES IS CALLED HOMO SAPIENS SAPIENS -- MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE SUBSTANTIVELY WITH SIGN LANGUAGE. THEY ARE NO LONGER CONSIDERED SUBHUMAN BY MOST ANTHROPOLOGISTS, EITHER. I ALSO THINK THAT MOST OF THE TRIBAL DANCES TODAY ARE RELATED TO ANCIENT MYTHS, AS A KIND OF STORY DRAMA. SO HERE IS THE CYCLOPS GOAT.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/05/rare-cyclops-goat-born-india-video/
Rare 'Cyclops' Goat is Beating the Odds

Photograph -- Suffering from a rare and usually fatal condition, the “miracle” goat has attracted crowds of spectators in Assam, India.

Born on May 10 with a single, enormous eye in the center of its face, a baby goat has survived a surprising eight days in a village in Assam, India.

The goat’s condition, called cyclopia, is characterized by the developing brain’s failure to separate into two hemispheres. As a result, the skull only forms a single eye socket. (Read "This Animal's Eye Makes Up Almost Half of Its Body")

Most examples of cyclopia occur in mammals—including humans—but in 2011 a dusky shark was discovered to have one cyclops pup among several healthy pups.

Genetic defects are usually to blame, but cyclopia can also be caused by toxins ingested by the mother during pregnancy. Such was the case in Idaho, where sheep who snacked on a plant containing an embryo-stunting poison later gave birth to a decade-long rash of one-eyed lambs.

Cyclopia is often accompanied by other physical deformities. This baby goat is also missing eyelashes, eyelids, one ear, and several teeth; its jaw is severely shortened, and its nose underdeveloped. (Read "Two-Headed Sharks Keep Popping Up—No One Knows Why")

Local veterinarians aren’t certain of the exact cause of this goat’s condition. They predicted it would die within a few days, but the unnamed goat has survived a full week under the care of Mukhuri Das, its owner.

Unlike the cyclopes of Greek myth, who shared their famous trait with an entire race, modern-day cyclopes are rare individuals.

Very few infants with cyclopia survive more than a couple days, because the associated physical deformities—missing noses, underdeveloped brains—quickly prove fatal. (Read "Rare Two-Faced Calf First to Survive Past 40 Days")

Das told Caters News that the “miracle” goat has attracted dozens of daily visitors, some even trekking from neighboring villages.

“I believe this goat will bring luck to my home,” Das said.


ALIEN MEGASTRUCTURE, NO DISCOVERED RADIO SIGNALS, SO PROBABLY NOT. SIGH!!

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/05/boyajian-tabby-alien-megastructure-star-dim/
Destroyed Planet or Alien Megastructure: Why Is This Mysterious 'Star' Flickering?
A perplexing celestial body that behaves like no other star has dimmed again, opening up a window of observation for astronomers.
By Delaney Chambers
PUBLISHED MAY 20, 2017

Image: An illustration depicts what Boyajian's star may look like. The star demonstrates inexplicable changes in brightness, and one hypothesis, illustrated here, is that pieces of a broken planet are blocking the star's light. ILLUSTRATION COURTESY NASA/JPL/CALTECH

Amateur and professional astronomers alike are scrambling to figure out why the celestial body known as KIC 8462852, or Boyajian's star, is acting so weird.

First observed by the Kepler space telescope in 2015, KIC 8462852 (also called “Tabby’s star” as a nod to astronomer Tabetha Boyajian, who decoded its signature from Kepler's data), has dimmed by as much as 22 percent since Friday morning, a dramatic behavior not previously observed in stars.

Scientists now have the opportunity to observe and photograph the star’s dimming behavior clearly, which astronomers hope will shed light on its mysterious appearance.

Image -- Picture of Boyajian’s Star, An illustration depicts comets passing in front of what Boyajian's star, another theory as to what may cause the flickering.
ILLUSTRATION COURTESY NASA

Image – An illustration depicts comets passing in front of what Boyajian's star, another theory as to what may cause the flickering.
ILLUSTRATION COURTESY NASA

The star demonstrates perplexing behavior, appearing to dim and return to its original brightness, or flicker.

Theories abound as to what's going on. Among the most popular are that comets are passing in front of the star, or that a nearby planet has broken apart, blocking our view from Earth with fragments of planetary matter.

Some scientists theorize that the dimming could be due to an “alien megastructure” that's orbiting Boyajian's star and harvesting its energy.

Whatever the object, observations of today’s dimming may help explain why it behaves the way it does.


MORE ON BOYANIAN’S STAR:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KIC_8462852
KIC 8462852
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

KIC 8462852[1] (also Tabby's Star or Boyajian's Star) is an F-type main-sequence star located in the constellation Cygnus approximately 1,276.6+398.2
−245.3 light-years (391.4+122.1
−75.2 pc) from Earth.[2] Unusual light fluctuations of the star were discovered by citizen scientists as part of the Planet Hunters project, and in September 2015 astronomers and citizen scientists associated with the project posted a preprint of a paper on arXiv describing the data and possible interpretations.[1] The discovery was made from data collected by the Kepler space telescope,[1][6] which observes changes in the brightness of distant stars to detect exoplanets.[7]

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the star's large irregular changes in brightness as measured by its unusual light curve, but none to date fully explain all aspects of the curve. The leading hypothesis, based on a lack of observed infrared light, posits a swarm of cold, dusty comet fragments in a highly eccentric orbit.[8][9][10] Another hypothesis is that of a large number of small masses in "tight formation" orbiting the star.[6] It has been speculated that the changes in brightness could be signs of activity associated with intelligent extraterrestrial life constructing a Dyson swarm*.[6][11][12][13] The SETI Institute's initial radio reconnaissance of KIC 8462852, however, found no evidence of technology-related radio signals from the star.[14][15][16]

. . . .

[NOTE: TO UNDERSTAND THIS ARTICLE YOU NEED TO READ A BIT ABOUT DYSON SPHERE OR DYSON SWARM, AT THE FOLLOWING SITE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyson_sphere#Dyson_swarm.]



BECAUSE COMEY HAD AN INKLING OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING, STARTED TO LOOK AT IT CLOSELY, AND STUCK TO HIS GUNS, TRUMP SAYS HE’S A NUT JOB. TRADITIONALLY, WHILE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT, THE HEAD OF THE FBI HAS A RECOGNIZED DEGREE OF AUTONOMY. HE IS NOT A PUPPET. THAT’S JUST NOT TRUMP’S IDEA OF JUSTICE.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/reports-trump-said-firing-nut-job-comey-took-pressure-off-russia-probe-white-house-official-now-person-interest-195040125.html
Trump said firing ‘nut job’ Comey took pressure off Russia probe; White House official now ‘person of interest’: reports
Christopher Wilson May 19, 2017

Two more bombshell reports published Friday afternoon delivered a one-two punch to the Trump White House regarding the investigation into its potential ties to Russia, capping off a week where each day dealt a fresh blockbuster blow to the administration.

In one story, the Washington Post reported that a law enforcement Russia probe has identified a current adviser to the president as a “person of interest,” while a New York Times story reported that the commander in chief told visiting Russian officials that the firing of “nut job” FBI Director James Comey had taken a weight off his shoulders.

“I just fired the head of the FBI. He was crazy, a real nut job,” President Trump said in a meeting with Russian officials last week, according to the Times report on a document summarizing the meeting. “I faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”

Trump reportedly added that he wasn’t under investigation, which is potentially untrue, since the president may not know the extent or specifics of the probe. The White House did not dispute the Times reporting on Trump’s quote.

The Washington Post story reported that the probe into potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russia had identified a senior White House adviser who is close to the president as a “significant person of interest.” The Post also reported that while the initial investigation was into coordination between Trump officials and Russia, sources said it has expanded to include potential financial crimes committed by those close to Trump.

President Trump meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak at the White House on May 10, 2017.

President Trump meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at the White House on May 10, 2017. (Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry Photo via AP)


Two members of the Trump campaign and transition team with reported ties to Russia — former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chair Paul Manafort — are not current White House officials, meaning the Post reporting has identified a new connection.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer commented on the Times report, reiterating the president’s recent characterization of Comey as a “grandstander.”

“By grandstanding and politicizing the investigation into Russia’s actions, James Comey created unnecessary pressure on our ability to engage and negotiate with Russia,” said Spicer in a statement to the Times regarding its story. “The investigation would have always continued, and obviously, the termination of Comey would not have ended it. Once again, the real story is that our national security has been undermined by the leaking of private and highly classified conversations.”

The conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak took place on May 10, one day after Trump fired Comey. This was the same meeting in which Trump revealed previously classified information. The White House initially said that Comey was fired following the recommendation of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, but Trump undercut that account in an interview on May 11 when he said he was going to fire Comey regardless of what Rosenstein suggested because the FBI chief was a “showboat.”


“UNSCRIPTED, DIPLOMATICALLY PERILOUS MOMENTS”

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trumps-foreign-hosts-make-unusual-preparations-his-visit
The Rachel Maddow Show / The MaddowBlog
Trump’s foreign hosts make unusual preparations for his visit
05/19/17 09:20 AM—UPDATED 05/19/17 01:19 PM
By Steve Benen

Photograph -- US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on February 17, 2017 in North Charleston, South Carolina. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GETTY

Donald Trump will embark on his first foreign trip as president, and by all appearances, no one is especially pleased with his travel plans. The New York Times reported this week, for example, that the president himself “has expressed dread about the trip,” and asked White House aides to shrink the time abroad from nine days to five.

THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW, 5/18/17, 9:18 PM ET
False denials from Mike Pence continue to stack up

The same report added that Trump’s aides aren’t looking forward to this, either: the president’s intense schedule “could produce unscripted, diplomatically perilous moments.”

And then, of course, there are Trump’s foreign hosts. The New York Times reports today that leaders abroad are “trying to figure out the best way to approach an American president unlike any they have known.” They’ve come up with a few ideas.

After four months of interactions between Mr. Trump and his counterparts, foreign officials and their Washington consultants say certain rules have emerged: Keep it short – no 30-minute monologue for a 30-second attention span. Do not assume he knows the history of the country or its major points of contention. Compliment him on his Electoral College victory. Contrast him favorably with President Barack Obama.

Do not get hung up on whatever was said during the campaign. Stay in regular touch. Do not go in with a shopping list but bring some sort of deal he can call a victory.

A related report from the Associated Press noted, “At NATO and the Group of 7 summits, foreign delegations have gotten word that the new U.S. president prefers short presentations and lots of visual aids.”

The piece added that Trump’s aides have been careful to “build daily downtime” into his schedule.

This comes on the heels of a report from Foreign Policy magazine on our NATO allies “scrambling” to tailor their upcoming meeting “to avoid taxing President Donald Trump’s notoriously short attention span.”

A source briefed extensively on the meeting’s preparations explained, “It’s kind of ridiculous how they are preparing to deal with Trump. It’s like they’re preparing to deal with a child – someone with a short attention span and mood who has no knowledge of NATO, no interest in in-depth policy issues, nothing…. They’re freaking out.”

In his interview with Time magazine last week, Trump said, “I think we have to be a strong nation. I think we were being laughed at by the world. They’re not laughing anymore.”

Oh how I wish that were true.

Postscript: Regina Schrambling joked, “[I] wonder how many copies of the Electoral College map he’s packing.” It’s a scary thought, isn’t it?

Explore:
The MaddowBlog, Diplomacy, Donald Trump and Foreign Policy


"NO. NO. NEXT QUESTION."

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-takes-big-risk-categorical-denial-comey
The Rachel Maddow Show / The MaddowBlog
Trump takes a big risk with a categorical denial on Comey
05/19/17 08:47 AM—UPDATED 05/19/17 08:55 AM
By Steve Benen

Photograph -- FBI Director James Comey prepares to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, May 3, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JIM... JIM WATSON

Towards the end of yesterday’s White House press conference, Donald Trump was asked a good yes-or-no question.
Q: Did you at any time urge former FBI Director James Comey in any way, shape, or form to close or to back down the investigation into Michael Flynn?

TRUMP: No. No. Next question.
The trouble, of course, is that James Comey wrote a contemporaneous memo, documenting a meeting he had with the president in which Trump allegedly told the then-FBI director, in reference to the Russia investigation and Michael Flynn’s role, “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.”

The existence of this memo – and others that are reportedly like it – make Trump’s direct, on-camera denial incredibly risky. The president could’ve hedged, used imprecise language, or even said he couldn’t comment on such matters because they’re part of an ongoing federal investigation, but he instead offered a categorical answer.

And that reminded me of a story about Ken Starr.

On Jan. 26, 1998, with the White House embroiled in a sex scandal, Bill Clinton famously declared in front of the media’s cameras, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.” Clinton knew at the time that there was only one other person who knew that wasn’t true, so he assumed he’d get away with it.

Nearly nine months later, Ken Starr presented Congress with 11 grounds for presidential impeachment, and the 11th specifically pointed to this Clinton comment. The independent counsel’s report said, “The President also misled the American people and the Congress in his public statement of January 26, 1998, in which he denied ‘sexual relations’ with Ms. Lewinsky.”

And that, from Starr’s perspective, was one of several reasons Clinton deserved to be impeached.

Against the backdrop of Trump’s denial yesterday, it’s something to keep in mind.

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The MaddowBlog, Donald Trump, James Comey and Scandals
In Russia scandal, Trump looks out for...Trump's foreign hosts make unusual.