Quote:New research confirms that fossil human footprints in New Mexico are likely the oldest direct evidence of human presence in the Americas, a finding that upends what many archaeologists thought they knew about when our ancestors arrived in the New World.

The footprints were discovered at the edge of an ancient lakebed in White Sands National Park and date back to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago, according to research published Thursday in the journal Science.

The estimated age of the footprints was first reported in Science in 2021, but some researchers raised concerns about the dates. Questions focused on whether seeds of aquatic plants used for the original dating may have absorbed ancient carbon from the lake — which could, in theory, throw off radiocarbon dating by thousands of years.

The new study presents two additional lines of evidence for the older date range. It uses two entirely different materials found at the site, ancient conifer pollen and quartz grains.

https://apnews.com/article/human-footpri...22810a73bf

(October 6, 2023 at 9:37 am)Thumpalumpacus Wrote:

Quote:MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal customs agents pooh-poohed the plans of an Iowa woman who wanted to make jewelry from giraffe feces she picked up on a trip to Kenya and brought back to the U.S. in her luggage.

The woman declared the small box of feces when she was selected to have her belongings inspected upon arriving at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport on Sept. 29, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The woman, who was not identified, told officials she planned to use the waste to make a necklace, as she had done in the past with moose poop.

Giraffe poop can be brought back to the U.S. with the proper permits and inspections, according to Minnesota Public Radio. The station reported that the woman won’t face sanctions because she declared the feces and gave it to Customs.

The agency’s agriculture specialists destroyed the giraffe poop.

https://apnews.com/article/giraffe-poop-...863be717d7

There’s a Japanese craft, whose name escapes me, that consists of forming dirt and water into a ball and polishing it to a high lustre. Apparently, there are people who do the same with various kinds of animal dung.

Boru

Did someone at the Federal Reserve say that this good economic news was also "troubling" economic news or did the New York Times just decide that for themselves?

(October 7, 2023 at 9:44 am)LinuxGal Wrote: Did someone at the Federal Reserve say that this good economic news was also "troubling" economic news or did the New York Times just decide that for themselves?

Your central bank is overly fixated on achieving a 2% inflation rate. Strong job growth fuels inflation.

Given that, I’d guess it was someone at the Fed.

Boru

(October 7, 2023 at 11:10 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: Your central bank is overly fixated on achieving a 2% inflation rate. Strong job growth fuels inflation.

Given that, I’d guess it was someone at the Fed.

It's more troubling news for Trump.

(October 7, 2023 at 11:13 am)LinuxGal Wrote:

(October 7, 2023 at 11:10 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: Your central bank is overly fixated on achieving a 2% inflation rate. Strong job growth fuels inflation.

Given that, I’d guess it was someone at the Fed.

It's more troubling news for Trump.

It’ll start being troubling for Trump once Team Biden gets up off the parliamentary side their collective arse and start taking credit for an overall strong economy.

Boru

Quote:JERUSALEM (AP) — Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday, killing dozens and stunning the country. Israel said it is now at war with Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza, vowing to inflict an “unprecedented price.”

Hamas militants were still fighting gunbattles inside several Israeli communities hours after the incursion began. Israel’s national rescue service said at least 70 people were killed and hundreds wounded, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in years. An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians were also seized and taken into Gaza, an enormously sensitive issue for Israel.

At least 198 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed in Israel’s retaliation and at least 1,610 wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said.

[updated]

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli airstrike has flattened a high-rise building in central Gaza City.

The 14-story Palestine Tower is home to dozens of families. But it also held offices connected to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant groups.

Israel gave inhabitants a 10-minute warning before it destroyed the building, which was evacuated. There were no injuries.

Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Hamas’ military wing, promised a harsh response.

“Tel Aviv must stand on one foot and wait for our earth-shattering response,” he said.

In past rounds of fighting, Israel has destroyed Gaza high-rises, claiming they were used by militants, but destroying offices and leaving scores of people homeless. That included the building that housed The Associated Press bureau in a 2021 war.

https://apnews.com/article/israel-palest...9284fc37d2

(October 7, 2023 at 12:19 pm)Thumpalumpacus Wrote:

Quote:JERUSALEM (AP) — Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise early morning attack during a major Jewish holiday Saturday, killing dozens and stunning the country. Israel said it is now at war with Hamas and launched airstrikes in Gaza, vowing to inflict an “unprecedented price.”

Hamas militants were still fighting gunbattles inside several Israeli communities hours after the incursion began. Israel’s national rescue service said at least 70 people were killed and hundreds wounded, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in years. An unknown number of Israeli soldiers and civilians were also seized and taken into Gaza, an enormously sensitive issue for Israel.

At least 198 people in the Gaza Strip have been killed in Israel’s retaliation and at least 1,610 wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said.

[updated]

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli airstrike has flattened a high-rise building in central Gaza City.

The 14-story Palestine Tower is home to dozens of families. But it also held offices connected to the Hamas and Islamic Jihad militant groups.

Israel gave inhabitants a 10-minute warning before it destroyed the building, which was evacuated. There were no injuries.

Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Hamas’ military wing, promised a harsh response.

“Tel Aviv must stand on one foot and wait for our earth-shattering response,” he said.

In past rounds of fighting, Israel has destroyed Gaza high-rises, claiming they were used by militants, but destroying offices and leaving scores of people homeless. That included the building that housed The Associated Press bureau in a 2021 war.

https://apnews.com/article/israel-palest...9284fc37d2

My best friend just called. Her eldest son is on holiday in Israel. He is stuck now. Flights canceled.
There is a flight to Bukarest going. My girlfriends brother lives in Bukarest. Most probably they will arrive at 2:00AM, sleep there, and tomorrow take a flight to Frankfurt, from where i can pick em up.

We are living in crazy times.

Edit: Plane just took off

(October 7, 2023 at 2:46 pm)Deesse23 Wrote: My best friend just called. Her eldest son is on holiday in Israel. He is stuck now. Flights canceled.
There is a flight to Bukarest going. My girlfriends brother lives in Bukarest. Most probably they will arrive at 2:00AM, sleep there, and tomorrow take a flight to Frankfurt, from where i can pick em up.

We are living in crazy times.

Edit: Plane just took off

Here's hoping all get safely back home.

(October 7, 2023 at 11:10 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:

(October 7, 2023 at 9:44 am)LinuxGal Wrote: Did someone at the Federal Reserve say that this good economic news was also "troubling" economic news or did the New York Times just decide that for themselves?

Your central bank is overly fixated on achieving a 2% inflation rate. Strong job growth fuels inflation.

Given that, I’d guess it was someone at the Fed.

Boru

That's newsworthy notes, not noteworthy news.