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wnylib

wnylib's Journal
wnylib's Journal
June 7, 2022

Hybrid Neanderthal/Denisovan first generation child

DNA analysis of remains of 13 year old reveals a Neanderthal mother and Denisovan father. This is the first time that a first generation hybrid, with 50/50 DNA has been found.

The article suggests that part of the reason that Neanderthals and Denisovans no longer exist is that they were absorbed into the Sapiens population through interbreeding rather than due to disease or inter species fighting.

According to the article, everywhere in Asia and among Native Americans there is less than 1% Denisovan DNA. There is 5% Denisovan DNA in Papua New Guinea and among Aboriginal Australians.

One Denisovan legacy is a mutatin of gene EPAS1 that makes it easier for the body to access oxygen. This gene is found in 90% of Tibetans and 9% of Han Chinese.

I wonder if that gene variant accounts for the Native people of Peru where the people lived in the Andes Mountains and the Inca Empire used runners to carry messages at those mountain heights.

https://phys.org/news/2018-08-neandertal-mother-denisovan-fathernewly-sequenced-genome.html

June 3, 2022

Orange armbands to mourn victims of mass shootings?

I have been thinking about showing support for gun control by wearing an armband every day to mourn all the people killed by firearms, especially in mass shootings, in the US.

A plain orange armband, or one with a message on it, like "Stop the killings." Or, "Stop the insanity."

Initially I thought of black armbands as a traditional color for mourning, but since orange is the choice for gun control support, then orange armbands would convey the message.

An armband can be worn daily, while an orange shirt is not likely daily wear.

The point is to keep the symbol visible so that people do not forget, and to show politicians how much support for gun control there is. It would not take the place of action, but would be supplemental to working for change. A reminder to people to vote out the politicians who refuse to take action.

(NOTE: This was edited to choose orange instead of my original thought of black for mourning.)







June 3, 2022

This song from 1967 has been on my mind lately.

It is as relevant today as it was then.

Get Together, by The Youngbloods.

May 30, 2022

The need for active shooter drills is insane.

Since it is a reality today that they are needed, I am not in any way suggesting that we should not have them.

But, WTF is wrong with American society that such drills ARE necessary?

Boomers like myself can remember fire drills and air raid drills. Some regional locations might have had tornado drills. But, except for tornado drills in high risk regions, we never expected that there would be a fire or bomb. They were "just in case" drills.

Now kids not only practice active shooter drills, but can realistically expect it to happen.

May 16, 2022

Terrorist threats today in Buffalo

Buffalo NPR news is reporting that several "credible" threats have been made to Buffalo businesses today. The threats specifically named which businesses and gave a time range of between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm. The stores included two Tops locations and one Wal-Mart location as well as other businesses.

The threats say that Blacks will be the targets at those locations.

In a separate incident, yesterday, a man was arrested for making threats to a Buffalo pizza parlor and to a beer brewery. In his threats, he said that he would shoot the places up like Tops.

WTF is wrong with people?

May 6, 2022

Anti abortionists' contraception agenda

Today on NPR's All Things Considered, Adrian Florido interviewed Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee. The program's title was, "After Roe v Wade, What's Next?"

Tobias said their next issue is contraception devices that cause abortion. Asked if they will push to make contraception illegal, Tobias said that their goal is to educate people on the issue.

In other words, contraception is their next target. Does anyone doubt that "educate people on it" means push propaganda that calls for criminalizing contraception?

I have seen threads here warning about this. Today we have it in their own words. The anti abortionists (aka right to life) have contraception next on their agenda.

April 17, 2022

Happy Easter.

Heard a sermon today that said this is a holiday of hope and love. So, even in the middle of national and world events that seem to be so discouraging, keep hope and love alive and don't forget that it still exists.

March 29, 2022

Stone age brain surgery

Interview with Ira Rutkow, a medical historian, on the history of surgery. He discussed evidence of stone age brain surgery and the history of surgery from ancient times through the Middle Ages into modern times.

The interview was on NPR's Fresh Air program.


https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/03/29/1089213668/ira-rutkow-surgery-empire-of-the-scalpel

March 23, 2022

Looking for advice and recipes for shepherd's pie.

Which is better to use, ground beef or stewing beef?

Which vegetables to include? Seasonings?

March 21, 2022

Indigenous forest management and fire control in California prior to European arrival

The indigenous tribes of California practiced forest management that not only aided them in creating pathways and habitats for preferred animals, but also prevented the kinds of large scale forest fires that occur with today's hands off natural approach.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220315141837.htm

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