Open Thread - Thurs 15 June 2023 - Blank, Just Blank
Today I'm Just Blank, Blank:
It's the Open Thread, and, boy, is it open!
Roman Statue in the 'New' Forum at Leptis Magna, in Libya
The week was super full and busy, physically, emotionally and mentally too, so I didn't have time to do a deep dive into anything. Here's a couple of things I've read about recently. Other than those, what's up? I haven't had time to keep up with current happenings, so fill me in on what's going on!
Some Short Thoughts:
Back when I was studying to become an anthropologist/archaeologist, in the mid-late 1980s, we didn't yet know about a hominid species called Homo naledi. We hadn't found its remains yet, so didn't know it existed. The remains were discovered in 2013 (published in 2015) in a cave in Africa, and were thought to be a million or more years old. But scientific dating (electronic spin resonance, etc) show the finds were only 300,000 or so years old. Homo naledi was a small brained species and was thought to be 'incapable of exhibiting complex behavior'. Complex behavior was/is one of the key aspects of being human. Other 'human' aspects, like tool use, are being discounted one by one, as other species, both hominid and animal, show those same behaviors. Anyway, analysis shows the remains in the cave were intentional burials, with engraved symbols (showing ritual) on the walls. In other words, the burials were outcomes of complex behavior. These are the oldest intentional burials known, done by Homo naledi - supposedly too small-brained to do such. Guess brain size isn't always a good way of evaluating potential behavior, eh?
In England a wood carving, from the Mesolithic (6000 years ago), has been found. It's oak. It was buried 1.5 m down in a peat bog, very close to the edge of a river. There are only two pieces of carved wood found in England from the Mesolithic and this is one of them. Wonder if it was a part of a boat or canoe?
And that's all I've got for this Thursday. Thanks for reading and here's the open thread - and remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving, I'm behind on things!
Comments
Happy Thursday!
How's everyone doing? It's been cold and wet here (low to mid 60s), except for Monday when it was in the high 70s-low 80s. Some plants are happy, some are kinda pissed off and want it warmer. Glad I decided not to plant corn this year!
I spent the week prepping for and then putting on my father's 88th birthday celebration. My husband did a lot of the cooking and helped with the organizing, he was wonderful. My father's got late stage dementia. He can't talk, remember very well, can't say who I am (but he knows who I am, he does, indeed - can see it in his eyes), etc. But, dang, Dad was happy, so happy to have a meal with his loved ones. It was completely worth the effort we put into it.
Ohh, the guy in the picture of the Roman statue at Leptis Magna is my Dad. He was 23 or 24. He was serving in the Air Force, stationed in Libya and loved visiting the archaeological sites there. It was 1959. Yeesh! See, I was encouraged in the Roman archaeology direction before I was even born!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning...
The muse is fickle, come and goes, ebbs and flows.
Sounds like a nice gathering for your Dad. It is hard to watch loved ones slip away, but it is everyone's fate sooner or later. My Mom is 92 and hanging in there, but fading with time.
We've been getting some beneficial rain...an inch so far with 3 more being called over the next week. The garden is happy about it! It helps to moderate the summer heat if we get our soil moisture up before July.
we're off the the county seat 30 min or so away today to get new car tags and file for some discounts on our property tax. While we're in town we'll visit the local historical museum in hopes of learning more about a mystery resident here before our time, Mag Crockett, and to see if they have any info about a moonshiner's war that happened here about 1930, after which they blew the entrance of our cave limiting access to a 10 foot vertical drop rather than a walk in entrance.
Well happy gardening and thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Beneficial Rain is good!
The bits we've gotten recently have been very good. Yes, it's colder, most of the time, than normal, but it's not bad. Not bad.
County seat journey sounds good. Might have to do that tomorrow, myself!
And your mom is 92? That's awesome. I know we fade at that age, but we can still be! Have a great weekend and have fun doing your own gardening!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Since I am not there it is difficult to differentiate between
actual news and propaganda.
Maybe you can figure out which is likely accurate.
The worker cleaning up seems to be missing the debrisOr?
Well, the good news is
that the overall background radiation counts are undisturbed:
Source: https://www.saveecobot.com/en/radiation-maps
The one elevated spot is Chernobyl, of course.
But that was certainly a sizable collection of conventional explosives. What a freakin' mess.
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
Freaking Mess...
is a perfect description, I think.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Wonder what he is doing?
It certainly doesn't seem like any 'clean up' to me. But, who knows? Maybe the dirt needed sweeping, maybe it's the start, maybe it's... who knows?
I bet they were storing ammo, to sell to some blackmarket entity, in a former McDonalds... sez the realist in me.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Joe can't respond without the aid of his teleprompter. LOL
It's my Dad...
A few years ago. I knew, when Biden was running, that he was getting 'old people's' dementia, just like my Dad. He's just a few years later in the progression. I love my Dad, but there is NO WAY I would let him run a mower, never mind a country. And Biden has, and had, far fewer morals than most of us including my Dad! It's both sad and angrifying to see Biden like this. But then, I never liked the SoB.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Russian trolling...magnificent
I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish
"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"
Heard from Margaret Kimberley
That was funny!
And yes, top quality trolling. Thanks for the link!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Hola Sima.
So the pre-naledi-discovery theory is that one needs a large brain to fuck things up to the extent that they are today? Howzat work?
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Love your interpretation of that sentence!
Yes, only hominids with big brains can screw stuff up, right, right?
Great song, btw. Thanks!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
crickets - ready to eat
Hi all, Hi Sima,
Hope all is well out there!
Just a fly-by here... I saw this vid on the weather channel the other day. Grabbed a screenshot.
Here it is:
Just wanted to let everyone know, the crickets are ready to eat! I guess they come out that way?
Have a great day all!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Remember when that last sentence
only had one interpretation?
What a world.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Bugs, Bugs!
I ain't eating bugs (at least, not knowingly) even Mormon crickets! I know the powers that be want me to eat bugs, but screw that and them. I'll just eat plants, like... bugs do!
Once, when I was quite young, about 10 or so, our neighbor got some bugs, crickets I think, made into something sort of candified, from Australia. Their children offered me some, and I ate it. And puked. Nope, not eating bugs!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Dedollarisation is no longer a fantasy!
Notice the reaction of the audience.
Just wait..
Soon the US will be petitioning to join
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Closer to home.
I really hope the duopoly ...
Busts apart soon. I'm dubious, but still hopeful. I am not voting one of the two parties, that's for sure.
Btw, I wanted to thank you for all your comments/posts in this open thread. They were very informative and interesting. Thanks!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Not blank to my way of thinking, sima.
Glad your Dad's face and eyes expressed recognition and, it would seem, happiness.
I am glad the criteria of big brain has been questioned and re-thought. A classic case of science refining itself. Science doesn't have ego. It knows when it is proven to be wrong. I wish people could do that.
Thanks for the OT!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Science is constantly changing...
in detail if not in generalities. I am excited by the finds, and changes in scientific learning, since when I started so many years ago. It's fun to be part of that. And, I dunno, I've tried to learn to admit I'm wrong, when I'm wrong. But many people cannot. Wonder if that is because of a non-science background? Naw, because there are many scientists who can't seem to admit they were wrong either.
Thanks for your kind words about my father! Have a great weekend!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Nothing blank about your OT, Sima
What a wonderful and funny photo of your dad, with his head adorning the ancient figure.
I can imagine the warmth and love you feel through the expression of familiarity in your dad's eyes. How wonderful for you all to share in the simple pleasures of life.
Knowing nothing, I agree anyway with your educated guess of the 6,000 year old wood carving being a part of a canoe like vessel.
Cheers
I'm glad you liked the photo!!
Dad always had a fun sense of humor, that's for sure!
Years ago, well before the dementia took hold, Dad transferred his slides to computer images. I'm really lucky he did so, and shared those transfers with me. I should find some and post them to the Friday Photo thread, maybe.
See, two of us agree about the 6000 year old wood. So there, it's a canoe!
Thanks for your lovely comment and thoughts!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
What a nice gift your father gave you, transferring the images
If you find the time in your full day, I'd love to see more photos.
I've enjoyed the pleasure of canoeing in the past, although not that far in the past ; ).
There was something in the look of the preserved wood carving that was reminiscent of more recent Waka carvings I've seen.