At
a cave of northern Thailand, a "dragon"-like creature with "long" legs
moved across the rock wall to reach a potential mate. The pair blended
in with the stone but not quite enough to avoid detection.
Visiting scientists found the mating animals - and discovered a new species.
A
team of researchers visited Pha Daeng Cave in 2024 as part of a project
to survey wildlife "in unexplored areas of (Thailand), especially
karst" rock habitats, according to a study published Oct. 14 in the
peer-reviewed journal Tropical Natural History.
During
their fieldwork, researchers climbed up some rock formations and found
dozens of unfamiliar-looking millipedes on the walls and in crevices,
the study said. They took a closer look at the animals and soon realized
they'd discovered a new species: Desmoxytes chaofa, or the princess
dragon millipede.
Princess dragon millipedes have about
20 body segments and can reach just over an inch in length, researchers
said. Their antennae are "slender," and their legs are "long." Each of
their body segments has several bumps and a pair of "wing-like" spike
structures.
Each discovery enriches our understanding and impacts how we see the world. That's why I do not get Chump and his attacks with Dogpatch Linda McMahon on education. The goal should always be to learn but clearly knowledge frightens the right-wing.
One
of the most complete sea monsters on record had been discovered along
the UK’s Jurassic Coast, being perhaps the world’s most complete reptile
fossil dating back to the Pliensbachian period. The rare and impressive
specimen offers unprecedented insight into a period of time we know
little about, and bridges a gap in our understanding of a strange and
complex faunal turnover that was occurring at the time, around 190
million years ago.
The
new-to-science species is an ichthyosaur nicknamed the “Sword Dragon of
Dorset”, and its scientific name is equally impressive: Xiphodracon
goldencapensis. It's estimated to have been 3 meters (9.8 feet) long in
life, and was discovered by fossil collector Chris Moore, who you may
remember from that enormous pliosaur skull discovery a little while back.
In
most ichthyosaurs, the bones often become flattened and fairly two
dimensional, but this had stayed completely in three dimensions.
Chris Moore
“I
spotted a section of tail vertebrae sticking out and then covered it up
and got permission to dig in and have a look at what was there,” he
said. “I followed the vertebrae and which carried on, and then found the
rear paddles, and it carried on going: the rib cage was there, the
front paddles, and then I got to the skull.”
“I
hit this hard object, which turned out to be the skull, and it was
preserved in three dimensions. In most ichthyosaurs, the bones often
become flattened and fairly two dimensional, but this had stayed
completely in three dimensions. The skull had the two eyes either side,
and then this massive, long, sword-like rostrum with hundreds of tiny
needle teeth.”
That excellent preservation is a
trademark of the region that used to be a shallow tropical sea that was
teeming with life. As well as being home to a lot of ichthyosaurs'
favorite foods like ammonites, fish, and belemnites (hence why so many
are found here), it also had a mostly anoxic seabed. That meant when
animals died and sank to the bottom, they fell into poisonous mud where
there was nothing to disturb their remains. A top tip if you want to
become a fossil.
Archaeologists
have recently made a remarkable discovery in South Africa: a
200-year-old rock painting that may depict a creature unknown to modern
science. This creature, if it indeed existed, is believed to have gone
extinct around 250 million years ago.
The
discovery of this rock painting is not just a significant archaeological
find, but it also opens up a new avenue of inquiry into the history of
life on Earth. The painting’s depiction of a creature that supposedly
went extinct millions of years ago challenges our understanding of the
timeline of life on our planet. It also raises intriguing questions
about the knowledge and understanding of the indigenous people who
created the painting. Did they have access to information about extinct
species, or is the creature a product of their imagination or cultural
mythology?
The rock painting was uncovered under unique
circumstances. Archaeologists were conducting a routine excavation in a
remote region of South Africa when they stumbled upon this intriguing
artifact. The painting, etched on a large rock surface, immediately
caught their attention due to its peculiar subject matter. The location
of the discovery has not been disclosed to the public, likely to protect
the site from potential vandalism or theft.
Upon
closer examination, the archaeologists estimated the age of the rock
painting to be approximately 200 years old. This estimation was based on
the style of the painting, the materials used, and the weathering of
the rock surface. The age of the painting suggests that it was created
by indigenous people of the region long before European colonization.[
The
discovery of the rock painting has sparked a flurry of interest and
speculation in the scientific community. The painting’s unique subject
matter and its potential implications for our understanding of
prehistoric life have made it a subject of intense study. Researchers
are now working to decipher the painting’s meaning and to determine
whether it truly depicts an extinct species. This involves a detailed
analysis of the painting’s style, technique, and iconography, as well as
a comparison with other known rock paintings and with fossil records.
So
many things we're learning of late. It would be nice to be able to sit
back and reflect on what they mean. But each day we have to deal with
the crazed monster in the White House and what law he's broken and how
The Crooked Court works to protect him -- not the Constitution, not We
The People, they just work now to protect the Convicted Felon.
The
barn swallow is truly one of nature's most efficient mosquito hunters,
and it's a bird that can be found in all 50 states. With their striking
blue and rust-colored plumage and acrobatic flying skills, barn swallows
are not only a joy to watch but also an incredible asset in the battle
against pesky mosquitoes. Imagine having a natural, winged ally that can
consume more than 800 mosquitoes a day, keeping your yard more
comfortable during the warm months!
In this
article, we'll explore the habits and behaviors of barn swallows,
including how you can attract these beneficial birds to your property.
Whether you're a bird lover or simply looking for a natural way to
control mosquitoes, learning more about barn swallows will make you
appreciate these little creatures even more. Let's dive into the world
of barn swallows and discover why they're so valuable to our
environment!
Barn swallows
are known for their graceful, darting flight patterns as they catch
insects on the wing. These birds are incredibly agile, and their ability
to swoop and glide through the air is a key factor in their
mosquito-hunting prowess. They are most active during the day,
especially in the early morning and late afternoon, when mosquitoes and
other flying insects are abundant. Their diet primarily consists of
insects, with mosquitoes being a favorite snack, making them a natural
pest control solution.
Barn swallows are also
highly social birds, often seen flying in flocks and nesting in
colonies. They prefer open areas like fields, meadows, and bodies of
water where insects are plentiful. Their aerial acrobatics are not only
mesmerizing to watch but also an essential part of their hunting
strategy. By understanding these behaviors, you can appreciate just how
effective barn swallows are at keeping insect populations in check,
particularly mosquitoes.
Attracting barn swallows
to your yard can be a great way to naturally reduce mosquito
populations. These birds are drawn to open spaces with plenty of
insects, so if your property has areas of open lawn or is near water,
you're already on the right track. To further entice them, consider
adding a pond or birdbath to provide a water source, which will attract
not only swallows but also the insects they feed on.
One
of the best ways to encourage barn swallows to take up residence is by
providing suitable nesting sites. Barn swallows typically build their
nests in sheltered areas like under eaves, in barns, or on ledges. You
can create an inviting environment by installing a simple ledge or shelf
under the eaves of a building. They construct their nests from mud and
grass, so having a small patch of bare soil nearby can help them with
nest-building materials. Once they've established a nesting site, barn
swallows are likely to return year after year.
I had never heard of barn swallows before coming across that article.
Thursday, October 16, 2025. As Chump's shutdown continues his 'peace
plan' implodes as though it was the American economy, the Young
Republican hate chat,
As we noted yesterday, Donald Chump was trying to take a
victory lap -- one. He's still trying today. He's made it about half
way round the track. You've seen his body, you know how much weight
he's hauling. He may never complete that lap. Even with people
cheering him on -- even with people who know better (Dan Abrams, I'm
looking at you) cheering him on.
But
it doesn't matter at this point.
Now you go your way, baby, and I'll go mine Now and forever, 'til the end of time I'll find somebody new, and baby, we'll say we're through And you won't matter anymore
-- "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," written by Paul Anka, first covered by Linda on her HEART LIKE A WHEEL album
As Linda Ronstadt sang, "And you
won't matter anymore." That's where we are now with Donald Chump. That's because the crowd has drifted, the
stadium is empty and it's just a fat and wobbly man trying to complete
that lap as he huffs and puffs, sweating causing his orange foundation
to drip onto the track.
No one even cares enough to holler, "Come on, fat boy, you can do it!"
And
less than 24 hours after Donald announced this “everlasting peace”,
Palestinians were still being killed in Gaza, aid trucks stopped from
going into Gaza and a row broke out about the failure of Hamas to return
the bodies of dead Israeli hostages.
All of these grim, and sadly all too predictable factors, threaten to topple the whole ceasefire process.
Again,
cease-fire. Not a peace plan. A lot of lying and fooling, shaking and
baking took place. There was never a peace plan -- thanks to the
British press which pushed back on that lie repeatedly. Pablo O'Hana (UK's METRO) observes,
"It’s a shallow 20-point ceasefire and hostage agreement, devoid, in my
view, of any meaningful content. This isn’t a peace deal. It isn’t
even a peace process."
Some Americans are slowly learning what Fred Trump sussed out in a matter of days: Donald is an all around failure. Anna Commander (NEWSWEEK) reports:
A
new poll released on Tuesday shows that 57 percent of Americans believe
the U.S. economy is getting worse—the highest percentage in over a
year.
Public sentiment about
the U.S. economy has grown increasingly negative in the closing months
of 2025. According to recent polls, a majority of Americans now believe
that economic conditions are deteriorating, a trend that coincides with a
government shutdown, inflation concerns, and widening partisan divides.
Analysts
note that such pessimism can impact consumer confidence, policy
decisions, and political outcomes in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm
elections.
Why
do they think that? Because their own eyes are stronger and far more
reliable than anything they could ever see on FOX "NEWS." Chump has
tanked the economy. Christopher Kuo (WALL STREET JOURNAL) reports:
During
a recent trip to the supermarket, Kelvin Lin was surprised to see that
the price of a rib-eye steak had jumped to $32.99 a pound.
It had been several dollars cheaper two weeks earlier, he said.
Lin,
a 33-year-old software engineer who lives in New York City, complained
to the butcher but ended up buying the steak anyway. “It feels
terrible,” he said.
Inflation
in the grocery aisle is picking up, and stinging consumers. Consumers
said they are cutting back on purchases, stockpiling certain foods or
exploring more-affordable stores.
“It’s
perturbing and upsetting,” said Mark Bookbinder, a 68-year-old engineer
who lives in Cincinnati. He has been struck by steady increases in the
prices of sliced turkey, cereal and yogurt.
Albertsons
Chief Executive Officer Susan Morris said on a Tuesday earnings call
that shoppers are choosing smaller package sizes and using more coupons
to reduce their grocery bills. She said the supermarket company is
looking to cut costs to help counter inflation.
“We
see them sticking closer to their shopping list, maybe not buying that
extra item, that extra bottle of whatever,” Morris said.
He's
a failure. He's destroyed everything. Remember his promise that his
tariffs (taxes on American consumers) would result in 90 deals in 90
days. If you're generous, he got seven deals in 90 days -- if you're generous. His failures have harmed the country. Chris Brennan (USA TODAY) explains:
China,
which until 2024 was the biggest importer of American soybeans, has
retaliated against Trump's chaotic trade war tariffs by refusing to buy
the crop from our country now, shifting its purchases to other
countries.
Farmers like Bartman watched with
dismay as China, on Sept. 23, bought 7 million metric tons of soybeans
from Argentina, a quarter of that country's crop this year, after
Argentina suspended export taxes to make the deal.
This
happened on the same day that Trump met with a political ally,
Argentine President Javier Milei, at the United Nations, just before
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a $20 billion buyout, an
infusion of U.S. dollars into Argentina's central bank to try to
stabilize that country's tumultuous economy.
And
where was Milei on Oct. 14, on the same day Bartman spoke from his
tractor? The Argentine president was being welcomed at the White House
by Trump. The two men stood for pictures, flashing big smiles and
thumbs-up gestures.
A journalist asked Trump
what his message was for the people of Argentina. His answer: "We love
them. We'll be there for them. They have a great leader, a very great
leader."
He'll be there for them. He just won't be here for you or for me or for any of the American people.
While Americans suffer for his actions, he's bailing out Argentina.
Senator Elizabeth Warren is rightly calling it out.
Chump is not serving the American people.
He lies and lies and hopes that the American people forget the lies. Robert Davis (RAW STORY) quotes US House Rep Ro Khanna stating:
He
sold the American people on lowering prices on day one. He sold the
American people that he's a business guy, that he's going to get the
economy moving, and he's done nothing for America's farmers. Grocery
prices are up. You know what I would do with that $20 billion? I
would give that money to the American people who have had a 26% increase
in coffee tariffs and coffee prices because of the irrational tariffs
on coffee. He's made food prices go up. He's hurting America's farmers,
and then he's giving the money away to Argentina. We're adding insult to
injury by then taking the business away from American farmers and
selling it to China.
Trump-tapped
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran broke ranks with the MAGA
administration and admitted that the economy is sinking under President
Trump.
Miran on Wednesday undercut the
president’s rosy view of the economy, pointing out that the labor market
has become weaker since Trump took office.
“The
economy was weaker in the first half of the year versus where it was
last year,” Miran told CNBC anchor Sara Eisen at the network’s Invest in
America Forum.
Though Miran, 42, didn’t directly
criticize Trump for the issues with the economy, he did blame the
weakened economy on factors directly caused by his administration.
“Yes,
the labor market continued to weaken in the first half of the year,” he
said. “I think part of that was due to uncertainty over policy. We
might have had the biggest tax hike in history, so maybe there were
firms that were holding off on investing until the tax hike was done.”
Fed Chair Jerome Powell spoke Tuesday in Philadelphia to the National Association for Business Economics. Eleanor Pringle (FORTUNE) notes:
Powell
suggested the employment side had weakened further, saying: “While the
unemployment rate remained low through August, payroll gains have slowed
sharply, likely in part due to a decline in labor force growth due to
lower immigration and labor force participation. In this less dynamic
and somewhat softer labor market, the downside risks to employment
appear to have risen.”
He added that
while official data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is delayed given
the government shutdown, “available evidence suggests that both layoffs
and hiring remain low, and that both households’ perceptions of job
availability and firms’ perceptions of hiring difficulty continue their
downward trajectories.”
President
Donald Trump’s approval rating has fallen below water in every major
swing state for the first time since taking office, according to a new
set of state-level polls.
The latest Morning
Consult survey shows the president’s net approval is now negative across
all seven battlegrounds expected to decide the 2026
election—Pennsylvania (-2), Michigan (-5), Wisconsin (-8), Arizona (-2),
Georgia (-1), Nevada (-3), and North Carolina (-3).
Trump’s
slipping approval in every swing state highlights growing voter unease
in the regions most likely to decide control of Congress and the balance
of power in Washington. His declining support could weaken Republican
prospects ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Regrets collect like old friends
Here to relive your darkest moments
I can see no way, I can see no way
And all of the ghouls come out to play
And every demon wants his pound of flesh
But I like to keep some things to myself
I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn
-- "Shake It Out," written by Florence Welch and Paul Epworth, first appears on Florence & The Machines' CEREMONIALS.
Vanity Fair magazine has published an exclusive excerpt
of the forthcoming memoir of the late Virginia Giuffre, a victim of
late Jeffrey Epstein, whom she met while working at President Donald
Trump's Palm Beach country club.
Giuffre,
Vanity Fair writes, completed work on the manuscript for “Nobody’s Girl:
A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice” in October 2024.
Just
weeks before her death by suicide in April 2025, Giuffre wrote to her
collaborator on the book, Amy Wallace, “the content of this book is
crucial… It is imperative that the truth is understood and that the
issues surrounding this topic are addressed, both for the sake of
justice and awareness. In the event of my passing, I would like to
ensure that “Nobody’s Girl” is still released.”
The excerpt Vanity Fair has published takes place in 2000, when a 16-year-old Giuffre worked in the spa at Trump's Mar a Lago.
Giuffre's
father, she wrote, "was responsible for maintaining the resort’s
in-room air-conditioning units, not to mention its five-championship
red-clay tennis courts, so he knew his way around, both indoors and
out."
Giuffre got her job at the spa after passing a drug and polygraph test, she wrote. She also detailedTrump's employee handbook.
The
ones assaulted often forgotten and/or ignored by the press. Virginia
refuses to be silenced. Does Chump think she was a 'hoax'? And what
happens when Speaker of the Closet Mike Johnson is unable to stall any
further to protect Chump? What happens when he has to seat Adelita Grijalva? Annie Karni (NEW YORK TIMES) reports:
The
Arizona secretary of state on Tuesday certified the election of
Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat who won a special
election 22 days ago in her state.
But Speaker Mike Johnson is still refusing to seat her while he keeps the House out of session during the government shutdown.
So
on Wednesday morning, a group of Arizona lawmakers gathered in front of
the Capitol and accused Mr. Johnson of protecting pedophiles,
obstructing the will of voters and taking an unprecedented political
action in refusing to perform the simple ministerial duty of swearing in
an elected member of Congress.
“This delay is not procedural, it is intentional,” said Ms. Grijalva, who is poised to provide the final signature
needed to force a floor vote on whether to demand that the Trump
administration release the Epstein files. “He is doing everything in his
power to shield this administration from accountability. That is not
leadership, that is obstruction.”
Makes
you wonder what Chump has on Mike -- photos of Mike as a wedding guest
with a man kissing him on the cheek? Who knows? Senator Ruben Gallego
is quoted in the report stating, "Speaker Johnson is covering up for
pedophiles, did you guys get that? Speaker Johnson is covering up for
pedophiles."
As
we've noted for weeks now -- yes, it has been weeks, she was elected
September 23rd -- refusing to seat her is denying her district a voice
in the House of Representatives. She was duly elected. But Our Lady of
Conversion Mike Johnson refuses to swear her in. The American people
have had enough of princess' nonsense and the calls for the princess to
seat Grijalva are growing louder. Jacob Wendler (POLITICO) reports:
Arizona
Attorney General Kris Mayes threatened legal action against House
Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday for failing to seat Rep.-elect Adelita
Grijalva.
In a letter to Johnson,
Mayes accused the House GOP leader of violating the Constitution by
unnecessarily delaying the Democrat’s swearing-in ceremony.
“Arizona’s
right to a full delegation, and the right of the residents of CD 7 to
representation from the person they recently voted for, are not up for
debate and may not be delayed or used as leverage in negotiations about
unrelated legislation,” Mayes, who is also a Democrat, wrote in the
letter.
It is time for Johnson to stop lying and to stop hiding. Ailia Zehra notes:
House
Democrats marched through the halls to Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R‑La.)
office Tuesday evening, chanting in unison: “What is he afraid of?
Epstein!” Their protest targets Johnson’s refusal to swear in Rep.-elect
Adelita Grijalva (D‑Ariz.), despite her election being certified by
Arizona officials.
[. . .]
Opponents
point to earlier instances this year when he promptly administered the
oath to Republican members during pro forma sessions — something he has
declined to do for Grijalva.
"Is
Speaker Johnson saying Members can no longer walk in the halls of the
people's House to express our viewpoints?" Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández
(D-N.M.), the chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, said in a
statement to Axios.
"The real question everyone
should be asking is why Rep.-Elect Adelita Grijalva has not been sworn
in. Speaker Johnson keeps changing the story of why he can't swear her
in, and this is his latest attempt to distract us," she said.
"We
will keep calling attention to his failure to swear her in. We will
keep showing up in the halls of Congress demanding that we return to
work so we can address the Republican health care crisis."
A
Women's Caucus spokesperson stressed that the protest was "peaceful" and
denied the characterization that lawmakers "tore down" a poster. Video
shows Barrágan removing the poster and placing it on the ground.
Adelita Grijalva spoke with Jen Psaki last night on MSNBC.
We noted the scandal of The Young Republicans chat yesterday
that glorified Hitler, the Holocaust, racism, sexism, homophobic and
violence. Miss Sassy JD Vance always has a lie -- remember, he knew he
was lying about Haitians when confronted during the campaign. He has no
respect for the truth. He's jut a fat man in a girdle -- which Ruth
pointed out, please remember, his spanx were on display in a photo
during the campaign.
Let's
stop for a minute. The press failures. I'm just so damn sick of
them. Fir four years, Chump was president and we had to read crap
nonsense from serious outlets suggesint ght Chump's organe skin was most
likely due to some illness. No, it was make up. Only no can
mainstream press admit that. JD Vance wears eye liner. The mainstream
press didn't want to admit that during the campaign. Why can't they
just be honest?
JD Vance is
ons tage with his hands in the air and his shirt rides up revealing he
is wearing Spanx. That is news. Only Ruth covered it ("Does JD Vance wear SPANX?").
That is news. And it's news for any number of reasons including vanity
but especially considering that Chump and Vance were attacking drag
queens, cross dressers and transgender people while both 'men' were
wearing make up and JD was in a girdle.
Leaders
of Young Republican groups throughout the country worried what would
happen if their Telegram chat ever got leaked, but they kept typing
anyway.
They
referred to Black people as monkeys and “the watermelon people” and
mused about putting their political opponents in gas chambers. They
talked about raping their enemies and driving them to suicide and lauded
Republicans who they believed support slavery.
William Hendrix, the Kansas Young Republicans’ vice chair,
used the words “n--ga” and “n--guh,” variations of a racial slur, more
than a dozen times in the chat. Bobby Walker, the vice chair of the New
York State Young Republicans at the time, referred to rape as “epic.”
Peter Giunta, who at the time was chair of the same organization, wrote
in a message sent in June that “everyone that votes no is going to the
gas chamber.”
Giunta was referring to an upcoming vote on whether he should become chair of
the Young Republican National Federation, the GOP’s 15,000-member
political organization for Republicans between 18 and 40 years old.
“Im going to create some of the greatest physiological torture methods known to man. We only want true believers,” he continued.
This
isn't a one day story. JD Vance's lies alone means it's not a one day
story. Pam Bondi screeches when the entire country doesn't want to
pretend Charlie Kirk wasn't a racist. She hisses and threatens and
forgets what free speech is as did panty waist JD Vance. (I know 'panty
waist' is an insult but not sure what it means but if you're a man
wearing girdles in secret, it seems like "panty waist" is a word that
would apply to you.)
Chump and Vance cannot be allowed to succeed in their efforts to normalize hate. As Mike noted, "Those chat files are disgusting and represent the worst of America. People defending it or minimizing it are disgusting. "