#and research is ongoing. As more studies are conducted

[reasonsforhope]

"[There is] fantastic news for species conservation after new populations of the gorgeous ‘Skywalker’ gibbon, known to science for only 6 years, were recently found living in the politically chaotic nation of Myanmar.

Also called the hoolock gibbon, this dainty vocalist was first described in 2017 living in the extreme south of China on a mountain in Yunnan. Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, the population was estimated to number a paltry 150 individuals, but others were believed to live in Myanmar.

Even before the recent military junta usurped the president and plunged the country into civil war, Myanmar [was a difficult place to conduct field studies, especially extensive or ongoing ones, due to ongoing conflict.]

[Although they are] now in open revolt against the military junta, [the Myanmar states of Shan and Kachin] were nevertheless destinations for an intrepid team of scientists from the Nature Conservation Society Myanmar, Fauna & Flora International–Myanmar Programme, the IUCN’s ape specialist group, and field researchers from universities in England, China, and the US.

Together, they conducted acoustic surveys, collected non-invasive DNA sampling, and took photographs for morphological identification at six sites in Kachin State and three sites in Shan State. With the help of the Myanmar conservationists, the team also interviewed locals dwelling in rural forested areas, small conservation programs, and timber companies about the frequency of sightings and the hunting pressure.

Population estimates of unknown quality and scientific rigor conducted in 2013 suggested there might be 65,000 hoolock gibbons in Myanmar, but the matter became much more complicated after the classification of the Skywalker gibbon as a separate species from the eastern hoolock gibbon—where before they were confused as the same.

“We were able to genetically identify 44 new groups of Skywalker gibbons in Myanmar,” said senior author Tierra Smiley Evans, research faculty at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and contributing author. “This is a huge resource and success story for Myanmar.”

These gibbons sing to each other at dawn for around 22 minutes, and consume 36 different plant species; choosing fruit first, and flowers later. They seldom sleep in the same tree two nights in a row to avoid predation, and can’t swim so are often confined to territories by river systems.

The team that discovered them in China in 2017 loved Star Wars, and called them tianxing which is Chinese pinyin for “heaven movement;” a nod not only to their favorite sci-fi franchise, but also to China’s ancient history. In the famous Book of Change [aka the I Ching] of the Zhou Dynasty [1046 BCE to 265 BCE], a divination poem refers to gibbons specifically, and uses tianxing as a verb to describe their movements.

The interviews were a source of great data for the scientists. For starters, nearly all individuals in both the Kachin and Shan states could identify a Skywalker gibbon by sight and by playback of its singing, lending the exercise a good degree of reliability...

“Biologists did not believe Skywalker gibbons could live in the small remaining patches in Southern Shan State before we started this project,” Pyae Phyo Aung, executive director of Nature Conservation Society Myanmar, told the UC Davis press.

“I am delighted with our field team members who have done an excellent job, within a short period of time, building community trust for further conservation actions. This area is degraded forest. It is really important for Myanmar and China to consider extending conservation approaches for the Skywalker gibbon to this new geographic area.”

Nearly 32,000 square kilometers, or around 8 million acres of forestland in Eastern Myanmar are suitable gibbon habitat, and while existing forest reserves like Paung Taung and Mae Nei Laung are quite large, they remain unprotected. For this reason, the survey team recommended they remain considered ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List until habitat protections improve."

-via Good News Network, February 21, 2024

[preservationofnormalcy]

ITEM FILE #2213

ITEM: "Glycon's Grove"

ITEM HISTORY: Broadcast from 1987-1996, Glycon's Grove was a children's puppet show that debuted on public television stations accessible in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa. After three episodes, the anomalous properties of the show were confirmed, and access to public television wavelengths was restricted. An agreement with Glycon's Grove production team (Oddy See) and the Office was reached wherein Oddy See would receive funding and distribution through OPN-approved channels, while all scripts, dialogue, and visuals were sent to the Parafiction Department for approval and study. After a brief interruption, Glycon's Grove was then broadcast nationwide (and in Canada and Mexico through agreement with RCOE and SER) on thaumic wavelengths decryptable by "analog augury"-compatible television sets, cable TV packages catering to the extranormal community, and distributed via VHS consumer hardware.

Glycon's Grove centered around the adventures of the titular Glycon, referred to as a "snake" despite his crude sock-puppet appearance. Glycon, often the energetic but patient voice of reason, would counsel his friends during common children's show storylines of the time, teaching lessons such as manners, the importance of reading and creativity, and honesty. The idea of snakes as "important, friendly creatures" was a common recurring topic. The show took place in the Grove of Olympus, with the rest of the cast being more typically-constructed puppets of a minotaur, hydra, cyclops, aquatic creatures, and in later seasons, a large "Cerebus" requiring multiple puppeteers to operate. Every few episodes, one of "the gods" (played by one of the human puppeteers in costume) would enter the Grove and provide the cast with that episode's challenge or conundrum. "Dio" was portrayed by actor Kenneth Young as a "surfer dude" always holding a family-friendly can of grape soda. "Heff" (Baker) often cajoled the cast into trying his new inventions, while "Arty" (Brown) asked for help in locating her lost pets.

Numerous interviews and investigations conducted by the Office concluded that while each other puppet in the cast (a list in the image above) was credited to and clearly played and voiced by a human puppeteer, Glycon's puppeteer, if they existed, was never credited or seen at any point. When interviewed, other members of Oddy See insisted that Glycon was "just Glycon" and did not acknowledge any puppeteer. During studio tours, Glycon was observed to move around the studio in ways that would be challenging for a human-puppeted character, EG, in one room and suddenly another, manifesting on multiple parts of a sound stage in rapid succession, always behind a barrier that could have reasonably obscured a human puppeteer from any Office observer. Attempts to isolate all visual angles in a given room often failed, resulting in Glycon appearing from a loose ceiling panel or other improbable locations.

Glycon "himself" always agreed to interviews, providing they could be done on Oddy See studio property, citing his "bum leg" as an inability to leave the property. He was at once forthcoming and evasive, simply repeating that he was "a puppet" when asked about his state, and that he "needed a new gig" as one of the reasons he started Glycon's Grove. Interviewers commonly reported Glycon as "charming" or "funny".

Parafictional research into Glycon's Grove and similarities to a mytho-folkloric figure of the same name are ongoing to this day.

[blueiscoool]

A Lost 4,400-Year-Old Tomb Found With Ancient Egyptian Mummy Inside

Archaeologists have rediscovered a lost tomb that contains the mummy of an ancient Egyptian official.

The tomb belonged to Ptahshepses, who lived around 4,400 years ago during the 25th and 24th centuries B.C. Archaeologists with the Czech Institute of Egyptology at Prague's Charles University said this week they located the tomb near the archaeological sites of Abusir and Saqqara in 2022 by using satellite imagery and studying old maps. Further excavations were conducted at the site this year.

The tomb was partially exposed almost 160 years ago by the French scholar Auguste Mariette, who uncovered an intricately decorated false door with a lintel, or a kind of supporting beam. But not long after the discovery, the tomb disappeared under the desert sand.

The false door and lintel contain information about Ptahshepses' official career, telling the story of his education at the court of Menkaure, an ancient pharaoh who was born in 2532 B.C. and died in 2504 B.C.

According to the information on the false door, Ptahshepses married the daughter of Userkaf, a pharaoh who reigned for a short period in the early 25th century B.C.

This reference itself indicates that Ptahshepses is the first known official of non-royal descent in Egyptian history who was given the privilege of marrying a royal daughter," the Czech Institute of Egyptology said in a Facebook post.

In addition, on the lintel there is a reference that is one of the earliest attestations of the deity Osiris, the god of fertility and the embodiment of the dead.

"This makes the official Ptahshepses even more unique because he can be credited with the idea of introducing the famous god of the Egyptian afterlife into the Egyptian pantheon," the Facebook post said. "Given Ptahshepses' political, historical and religious significance, the tomb is one of the most remarkable discoveries of the recent periods in Egyptian archaeology."

Excavations at the site uncovered an extensive, 137-foot-long and 72-foot-wide superstructure of the tomb. It includes a relatively well-preserved chapel with painted decoration in the entrance and a long access corridor.

This past spring, archaeologists examined the burial chamber, which appeared to have been robbed in antiquity. Nevertheless, it still featured some original funerary artifacts (including pottery), the remains of votive offerings, jars and a mummified fish.

In addition, researchers found a partially opened sarcophagus with the complete mummy of Ptahshepses inside.

Examination of the mummy by Egyptian anthropologists has provided important new data on the evolution of mummification during Egypt's Old Kingdom, which lasted from around 2700 B.C. to 2200 B.C.

One of the researchers, Miroslav Barta, said in a statement: "The tomb of a man who changed the course of Egyptian history has been rediscovered, representing one of the expedition's greatest recent discoveries. The research is still ongoing, and further discoveries will likely be made to shed new light on his family and times."

By ARISTOS GEORGIOU.

[sadly-in-active]

when you have time could you do a vampire reader x butter roll? I feel like he'd be really excited about it for "some" reason xD

Butter Roll Cookie x Vampiric Reader hcs

Summary: You, a vampire, had been searching for a new victim for quite some time. However, you didn't expect your next meal to be a scientist named Butter Roll. Strange name, but you happily followed him back to his place. Unfortunately, you didn’t realize he already knew you were a vampire. Well, he was a mad scientist, so of course he was clever. He proposed a deal: you let him study you, and you get to drink his blood. Totally normal, right? Just try not to mind that he can be... a bit vocal while you drink his blood.

TW: Obvious blood, vampire stuff, you guys NEED to get a room with soundproof walls because all the other researchers can hear you two, bickering, nothing is proofread and I forgot to save so now I have to redo this entire thing omg-

Right from the start, Butter Roll makes it crystal clear: you're essentially his test subject, and this arrangement heavily favors him. He's never encountered a real vampire before, just read about them in books, so he's eager to learn how you came to be. Prepare for a barrage of questions.

During the day, you're confined to his private study while he conducts his experiments. But at night, the real "fun" begins—though it's a stretch to call it that. You're only permitted out three times a week, so make each blood-drinking session count.

When it's time to feed, he casually places you on his lap, seemingly unfazed. Expect him to ramble about the future of science while you drink, and afterwards, he meticulously records the effects and quantity consumed. And let's not overlook his ongoing commentary, especially when you playfully lick the remaining droplets from his neck and shoulder. He insists it's for "research," but who's to say he isn't just messing with you?

“Oh, y/n, are you sure that you’re eager for the blood? Or, are you just savoring it all because it’s me? I know you like to lick for more then you have to…”

“Shut up…”

“Is that a new reaction? Oh! Do I have to write ‘gets flustered and tightens grip’ after some harmless teasing?”

After the sessions, things usually quiet down. You often appear drunk from the blood, and he's equally drained. Wrapping up his notes in his journal, he gently wipes away any drool and blood from your lips before carrying you to his bed. Since he doesn't typically sleep, he lets you rest there while he continues his work at his desk.

Occasionally, you become a bit clingy afterward, attempting to coax him into bed. Initially, he brushes it off with a laugh, pushing you away. However, as these encounters become more frequent, he eventually gives in and joins you. Sometimes, witnessing your blissful, intoxicated expression as he climbs into bed with you makes him feel…almost attached, in a way. But then again, you were merely a part of an experiment...right?

...right?

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week - February 13, 2023

Hello there! Welcome to another edition of ‘Feel Good Newsletter’. I'm so glad you're here. Every week, I scour the web for the most uplifting and heartwarming stories to bring you a little bit of joy and inspiration. So, sit back, relax, and let's dive in!

1. Minnesota House passes "universal" school meals, providing free breakfast, lunch to students

The Minnesota House of Representatives is considering a bill that would provide universal school meals to all students in the state, regardless of their families' ability to pay. The goal of the bill is to ensure that all students have access to nutritious meals and are better equipped to learn in the classroom.

If the bill is approved, Minnesota would become the second state in the country, after California, to offer universal school meals. The bill has the support of education and anti-hunger advocates, who argue that it would help to address food insecurity and improve student health and academic performance.

2. Ukraine succeeds in bringing back 128 children forcibly removed to Russia

Ukraine has succeeded in bringing back 128 children forcibly taken by the invaders to Russia.

Source: Yuliia Usenko, Head of the Department for the Protection of the Interests of Children and Combating Violence of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine, quoted by Ukrinform

Quote: "We have managed to bring 128 children back to Ukraine. More than 50 of them, together with their parents or guardians, are currently in EU countries.

3. Putting solar panels in grazing fields is good for sheep

A study found that installing solar panels in grazing fields is beneficial for sheep. The study was conducted in the UK and found that sheep were more likely to spend time in areas with solar panels than in areas without. This is because the panels provide shade and shelter from the sun, wind, and rain.

The researchers believe that this could help to improve the welfare of sheep, as they are more likely to seek out shade in hot weather, which can reduce the risk of heat stress. The study also found that the solar panels had little impact on the growth and health of the grass, which is important for the sheep's diet.

4. Dad takes toddler son for a manicure after teacher says it's 'only for girls'

The father and son were at a "Daddy and Me" event, where fathers were encouraged to spend time with their children doing various activities. The father chose to take his son to get a manicure, but was told by the teacher in charge of the activity that it was only for girls. The father was reportedly surprised and upset by the teacher's statement, as he felt that it was important for his son to be able to express himself however he wants, without gender stereotypes getting in the way.

The article notes that the incident highlights the ongoing issue of gender stereotypes and the importance of promoting gender equality and inclusivity, especially in children's activities.

4. More than half of new U.S. electric-generating capacity in 2023 will be solar, and only 14% will be using fossil fuels

Information Administration (EIA), energy production in the country increased for the fourth consecutive week. The EIA data showed that the output of oil, natural gas, and coal rose by 1.6%, 2.2%, and 3.2% respectively. The increase in energy production is due to a combination of factors, including improved drilling techniques, favorable weather conditions, and rising global demand for energy.

5. Deforestation in Brazil falls by 60% in first month under Lula

Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil fell for the first time this year, according to a report by Reuters. The decrease is attributed to increased enforcement of environmental regulations and increased monitoring of illegal logging activities. The Brazilian government has implemented several measures to reduce deforestation and preserve the Amazon rainforest, which is a critical component of the global ecosystem.

6. Cat returned to NJ shelter for being 'too affectionate' now happy in his new home

A cat named Bruno surrendered to a shelter in New Jersey and was eventually adopted by a new family. Bruno, who was described as a friendly and affectionate cat, is now happily settling into his new home. The story of Bruno's adoption serves as a reminder of the importance of animal shelters and the work they do to find loving homes for abandoned pets.

7. A doggy day care was on fire. Neighbors helped save all 115 dogs inside.

A fire broke out at a doggy daycare and resort in Seattle, causing significant damage to the building. No dogs or employees were injured in the fire, but several dogs had to be temporarily relocated to other facilities. The cause of the fire is under investigation, and the resort is working to make repairs and get back to serving the community's four-legged friends as soon as possible.

- - -

That's it for this week. If you liked this post you can support this newsletter with a small kofi donation:

Buy me a coffee ❤️

Have a great week ahead :)

[cuddles-with-dragons]

EVEN MORE SHENANIGANS

Fives, with his hands cupped over each other: I found a cool spider! Crosshair: Oh? Lemme see! Fives, opening his hands to see nothing there: …hm. Hunter: …where’s the spider. Fives: *looks troubled and stares at their hands* Crosshair: Oh no. Hunter: FIVES, WHERE’S THE SPIDER?!

Crosshair: Where have you been all day? Fives: Oh, just dealing with things way beyond my maturity level.

Crosshair: *looks over Tech’s shoulder at their laptop* What the fuck? Tech: *slams screen shut* It’s just research! For something I’m writing about! I swear that’s it! Crosshair: Why the hell would that involve the breeding habits of frogs? Tech: It’s not just “frogs”, it’s the Surinam Toad. And it’s not “breeding habits”, it’s how they raise their young. This is important information my audience needs to know! Crosshair: That doesn’t change the fact this is for one line in a fanfiction. Tech, offendedly: You don’t know that! Crosshair: I hear no denial.

Wrecker: We’ve been conducting an ongoing study to see what Fives will and will not eat. Echo: Grass? Yes! Wrecker: Moss? Yes!! Echo: Leaves? Ohh, yes! Wrecker: Shoelaces? Strange but true! Echo: Worms? Sometimes! Wrecker: Rocks? Usually nah. Echo: Twigs? Usually! Wrecker: Tech's cooking? Inconclusive! Hunter: How did you… test this? Wrecker: You just hand them stuff and say ‘eat this’ and if he eats it, he eats it. Hunter: ... I don’t know how to feel about this. Tech: IS THAT WHERE ALL MY SPARE SHOELACES WENT?!

Fives: Who wants to make fifty credits? Wrecker: How? Fives: I need someone to take the fall. Wrecker: What did you do? Fives: I can't tell you. Yes or no, no questions asked. Crosshair, from the other room: Fucking hell. Fives: ... Crosshair: FUCKING HELL! Wrecker: Make it a hundred. Fives: Deal.

Hunter: What’s something you guys are better than Crosshair at? Tech: Mario Kart. Echo: Yeah, video games. Fives: Emotional vulnerability.

Crosshair: You’re my best friend, I would do anything for you. Fives: I want you to eat 3 meals a day and have a decent sleep schedule. Crosshair: Absolutely not.

Hunter: Can everyone in this godforsaken group please learn the skill called "Think Before You Speak"?

Crosshair: To everyone who has treated me poorly: I am sexier than you.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Published in May, but it's obvious many people have not read this.

Also preserved on our archive.

New comprehensive review provides strong evidence that masks and respirators effectively reduce the transmission of respiratory infections like COVID-19, based on analysis of over 400 studies from multiple disciplines.

A comprehensive new review published in Clinical Microbiology Reviews provides strong evidence that masks and respirators are effective in reducing the transmission of respiratory infections like COVID-19. The review, conducted by an international team of 13 researchers, analysed over 400 studies from multiple disciplines, including epidemiology, public health, engineering, and social sciences.

'Our review confirms that masks work, with a clear dose-response effect,' said lead author Professor Trisha Greenhalgh from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford. 'The more consistently and correctly you wear a mask, the better protected you are. Respirators, when worn continuously, provide even greater protection than ordinary masks.'

Masks, including cloth face coverings and disposable medical masks, help reduce the spread of respiratory droplets and aerosols. Respirators, such as N95 and FFP2 devices, are designed to filter out smaller airborne particles and fit more tightly to the face, providing a higher level of protection.

The team's novel contributions include re-analyses of key clinical trials and observational studies, as well as a synthesis of evidence from fields ranging from fluid dynamics to anthropology. This comprehensive approach allowed the researchers to not only assess the effectiveness of masks under experimental conditions, but also to explore the real-world factors that influence their use and impact.

While the review found no serious harms from mask-wearing, it did identify some challenges, such as discomfort, communication difficulties – for hearing-impaired people for example – and environmental waste. However, the authors frame these as opportunities for further research and improvement rather than fundamental flaws.

'We need to see these challenges as a call to action,' said co-author Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, an epidemiologist based at the University of Otago, who is herself deaf. 'By investing in better design, more inclusive policies, and clearer communication, we can optimise masks for real-world use and ensure that everyone can benefit from this powerful public health tool.'

The review also highlights the importance of clear, consistent public health messaging to support mask use and combat misinformation. While mask mandates can be effective, the authors emphasise the need for context-specific assessments that consider cultural factors and public acceptability.

'Masks are not just a technical intervention, but also a social and cultural one,' said co-author Professor Deborah Lupton from the University of New South Wales. 'To be effective, mask policies need to be grounded in an understanding of people's beliefs, behaviours, and real-world constraints.'

Looking forward, the researchers call for further studies to improve and optimise mask design, explore new technologies like nanotechnology, and develop more sustainable and inclusive solutions. They also emphasise the need for ongoing public engagement to bring about more evidence-based and constructive conversations around masks.

'This review shows that masks are a valuable tool in our pandemic response toolkit,' said Professor Greenhalgh. 'By continuing to build the evidence base, innovate in design, and engage the public, we can harness the full potential of masks to protect public health now and in future respiratory pandemics.'

Read the full article at: Masks and respirators for prevention of respiratory infections: a state of the science review Clinical Microbiology Reviews DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00124-23

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/cmr.00124-23

[transmutationisms]

How do you find the time to read all your book recs?? Also would you mind talking about your process for researching specific topics :)

i generally only make rec lists for things i have enough familiarity with to navigate the literature so, you have to keep in mind those lists are sometimes literally a decade+ of cumulative reading on my end. i do also sometimes include texts i haven't read in their entirety, or occasionally even ones i've only come across in footnotes but still think are foundational or relevant enough to warrant a rec.

as to my research process: there's no single answer here because the sort of research i do will depend on what questions i'm trying to answer. usually if i'm starting to look at a topic completely from scratch, i'll ask someone who publishes in that area what the major recent works are, then scan a few of them. i might 'snowball' those texts (read the works they cite in their footnotes) but, that strategy has limited utility because it only goes backward in time and sometimes a recent or uncited text can be incredibly valuable. so there's a fair amount of bumbling around in the secondary literature at this point. some academic journals maintain bibliographies for their subfields, which are not comprehensive but can be useful; i usually also do a certain amount of keyword fuckery in my library's database. sometimes i waste a lot of time at this point chasing leads that turn out to be irrelevant, or i discover that a question i was chasing is really better tackled from an entirely different direction. shit happens.

at some point i usually reach a stage where i need to look at some primary sources, because i'm oriented enough in the major issues to identify spots where previous researchers haven't made full use of historical records, or may be interpreting them in a way i disagree with. so, what exactly i'm looking for now really varies. sometimes i just want to read the primary texts that another historian is commenting on: for example, the last few months i was trawling through the french national library's archives to see what people were saying in print about a specific historical figure between about 1778 and 1862. other times i might want population data or land records: births, deaths, cholera infections, records of church property sales, &c. depending on, again, what sorts of questions you're asking, anything might have useful information to you: postmortem personal auction catalogues have given me some mileage, along with wills and personal correspondance. i have a committee member who collects and analyses postcards often being sold for pennies at flea markets out of people's grandparents' attics, and another who has an ongoing project looking at a zillion editions of a specific children's book printed in the late 19th century. along the way, as i look at primary sources, i will typically go back and forth to more secondary literature, as i find new topics that might be relevant or help me contextualise what i'm looking at. i can't ever really plan these things out systematically; i just follow what looks promising and interesting and see where it leads me.

another thing to consider is that the primary sources sometimes tell me useful information directly in their capacity as material objects. what type of paper is used, what personal or library stamps appear on the cover, who's the publisher, how many editions did it go through, are the print and typeset jobs sloppy, where was this copy found or preserved? these sorts of details tell me about how people reacted to the text, its author, and the ideas within, which can be a valuable part of whatever investigation i'm trying to conduct. sometimes i end up chasing down information on a publisher or the owner whose personal library a book or piece of ephemera came out of; there are people who research processes of preservation, printing, &c in themselves, which has yielded some fascinating studies in recent decades.

at some point, if it's a research project i'm trying to communicate to other people, i will switch to writing mode, where i try to organise ^^ all of that in my head, and form a coherent narrative or argument that i think is worth making. this might be revisionist in nature ('people have argued before that such and such was x way or historical actors thought about it like y, but what i have here indicates we should actually understand it in the context of z') or it might be more like, "hey, i found this thing i don't think anyone knows about!" or anything else. again, the way you put together a research project will vary so widely depending on what you're researching, and why, and why you think it matters and to whom.

also, i should emphasise that what i've written here isn't necessarily something that happens on a strict or compressed timeline. i'm working on a dissertation, so for that topic, i do have reasons i want to complete parts at certain times, unfortunately. but i also have research projects that i just chip away at for fun, that i've had on various backburners for literally years, that i might sometimes write about (eg, on here) without necessarily ever planning to subject them to the hegemon of academic publishing. i think knowledge dissemination is great and to that end i love to talk to people about what i'm researching and hear about their stuff as well. but, i also think research projects can be fun / rewarding / &c when they're completely for your own purposes, untimed, unpublished, &c &c. i guess i'm just saying, publishing and research conventions and rules sometimes have purposes (like "make it possible to publish this as a book in the next 5 years") but don't get so hung up on those rules that they prevent you from just researching something for any number of other reasons. there are so many ways to skin a cat 📝

[usafphantom2]

USAF B-2 bomber demonstrates ability to neutralize low-cost maritime threats

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 08/09/2024 - 16:00 in Military

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The U.S. Air Force (USAF) stealth bomber B-2 Spirit recently demonstrated a low-cost, air-released method to neutralize surface vessels during a QUICKSINK test in the Gulf of Mexico, near Eglin Air Base, Florida.

This capability is a response to an urgent need to quickly neutralize maritime threats in large expanses of the ocean around the world, USAF said in an official statement. No other details have been provided.

The QUICKSINK test, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Navy, involved a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber delivering the new capability as part of the second RIMPAC SINKEX exercise in July. The demonstration marks a fundamental advance in the naval warfare capabilities of the U.S. Air Force, highlighting a collaboration between the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the U.S. Navy and industry partners.

"This technology ensures that the United States can defend its interests, maintain freedom of action and take the initiative in large maritime areas," said Colonel Matthew Caspers, Director of the AFRL Ammunition Board.

The AFRL Ammunition Board, based at Eglin Air Base, is involved in an ongoing Marine Weapons Program together with the U.S. Navy.

The tests take place amid the increase in Iran-backed Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) reported that from December 2023 to mid-February 2024, container transport in the region decreased by 90%. Despite U.S. and European countermeasures, including Operation Prosperity Guardian and the European Union's ASPIDES mission, the Houthis carried out more than 43 attacks between November 19 and March 23, resulting in increased security costs and insurance premiums.

Tags: AFRLMilitary AviationB-2 SpiritUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[darkmaga-retard]

A major study of 48,210 healthcare workers has concluded that the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 increases dramatically after every dose of the mRNA “vaccines” that are supposed to protect people from the virus.

The study was led by Cleveland Clinic’s lead infectious disease staff physician Dr. Nabin Shrestha, MD, MPH.

Shrestha and his team of researchers at Ohio’s prestigious Cleveland Clinic have been conducting ongoing research involving healthcare workers during and after the pandemic.

The team published the findings of their peer-reviewed study in the Oxford Academic medical journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

In past studies, they found the possibility that the more participants were injected with Covid mRNA shots, the more susceptible they were to infection from the virus.

In this latest investigation, the Cleveland Clinic team studies the overall ability of mRNA injections to protect against COVID-19.

They monitored employee participants who were injected with doses of the 2023–2024 formulation of the Covid mRNA shots.

The researchers prospectively examined the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 over the following 17 weeks.

Dr. Shrestha and his research team adjusted for the tendency to get tested, age, sex, the pandemic phase when the last prior COVID-19 episode occurred, and the number of prior vaccine doses as key variables.

[collapsedsquid]

That rate of fire and intensity appears to have been the main cause of the psychological issues plaguing returned troops. For the most part, the temporary fire bases Marines and soldiers used were well away from the frontlines. There were some attacks on those positions, resulting in American deaths, but U.S. troops were for the most part removed from close fighting. However, repeated exposure to shockwaves from artillery fire left many troops feeling unwell. They suffered symptoms similar to that of concussions, and over time developed issues similar to symptoms of PTSD.  The Marines conducted a study of one unit, Fox Battery, 2nd Battalion 10th Marines, to see the impacts of high artillery blasts on their health. The report, released in 2019, said that the Marines were being hurt by the shockwaves from their howitzers. More than half of the battery was diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injuries. The Marines Corps did not answer New York Times’ questions about who ordered the study. One Army blast researcher the paper spoke to said that repeated exposure to such blasts can scar brain tissue and hurt neural connections.  Those troops affected by their time in Syria and Iraq also struggled with poor response from the military and services. Many were denied care as they were not officially injured. The United States and its partners are still hunting down the remnants of ISIS. However, fighting has shifted from large efforts to retake towns and cities to smaller operations, such as helicopter raids; large artillery operations are no longer as important to coalition strategy. The Army and Marine Corps told the New York Times they are tracking artillery crews’ exposure to such sustained fire to prevent this. However the newspaper noted that Marines in the field don’t report seeing any new preventative measures.  The 2019 report highlighted an ongoing risk to troops, noting that artillery crews firing that frequently could result in troops being taken out of action “faster than combat replacements can be trained to replace them.”

Wonder how those Ukranians are doing

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Study provides a more nuanced understanding of black hole thermodynamics

A paper titled "Universality of the thermodynamics of a quantum-mechanically radiating black hole departing from thermality," published in Physics Letters B highlights the importance of considering black holes as dynamical systems, where variations in their geometry during radiation emissions are critical to accurately describing their thermodynamic behavior.

The study also suggests that extremely compact objects (ECOs) share these thermodynamic properties with black holes, regardless of their event horizon status. The significance of this research lies in its contribution to the ongoing efforts to resolve the black hole information paradox, providing a more nuanced understanding of black hole thermodynamics in quantum gravity contexts.

The research, conducted by Dr. Christian Corda, SUNY Poly Visiting Professor in the Department of Mathematics & Physics, and Dr. Carlo Cafaro (SUNY Poly Adjunct Professor in the Department of Mathematics & Physics and Associate Professor in the Department of Nanoscale Science & Engineering at the University at Albany), exploits elements of quantum physics, statistical mechanics, and general relativity.

One of the most important problems in contemporary theoretical physics is understanding what a black hole (BH) is. It is believed that classical general relativity implies that a BH is an object with a horizon, i.e. a limit surface beyond which no event can influence an external observer, and a singularity in its core, i.e. a point at which the presence of infinite implies that the laws of physics fail.

On the other hand, recent approaches, both classical and quantum, have shown that what we call BH could be an object without both horizons and singularities. Objects of this type are also called Extremely Compact Object (ECO), to distinguish them from the "traditional" concept of BH.

If, on the one hand, this approach solves some important problems, such as the removal of the singularity and the consequent restoration of physical laws, on the other it creates another: What do we do with all the BH thermodynamics, developed over the last 50 years and more years, starting from the pioneering and famous works of the late Bekenstein and Hawking, and based on an enormous number of research papers?

In 2023, Samir Mathur and Madhur Mehta gave an important answer to this question by winning the third prize in the Gravity Research Foundation Essay Competition for proving the universality of BH thermodynamics.

Specifically, they demonstrated that any ECO must have the same BH thermodynamic properties regardless of whether the ECO possesses an event horizon.

The result is remarkable, but it was obtained under the approximation according to which the BH emission spectrum has an exact thermal character. In fact, strong arguments based on energy conservation and BH back reaction imply that the spectrum of the Hawking radiation cannot be exactly thermal.

In their work, Drs. Corda and Cafaro extended the result of Mathur and Mehta to the case where the radiation spectrum is not exactly thermal using the concept of BH dynamical state.

The BH dynamic state is obtained by introducing an effective temperature. This is in analogy to several other fields of Science where the deviation from the thermal spectrum of the emitting body is usually considered via the introduction of an effective temperature which represents the temperature of a black body emitting the same exact amount of radiation as the non-thermal source.

In the BH case, the introduction of the effective temperature allows the introduction of other effective quantities, which characterize its "dynamic state," i.e. the BH state "during" the quantum transition in which energy is emitted or absorbed. This paper therefore generalizes and completes the work of Mathur and Mehta.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Ned Holstein

Published: Oct 8, 2014

A little-noticed research revolution confirms that our family courts are damaging the health of our children on a daily basis.

In 2014, three separate and independent groups of experts reviewed decades of child development research. They found that after parents separate or divorce, children do much better with shared parenting — joint custody — on multiple measures of wellbeing than with single parenting. Yet in more than eight out of 10 custody cases today, one parent (usually the mother) is awarded sole guardianship.

The negative impact on our children is dramatic. For instance, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Census Bureau, children raised by single parents account for:

63 percent of teen suicides,

70 percent of juveniles in state-operated institutions,

71 percent of high school dropouts,

75 percent of children in chemical abuse centers,

85 percent of those in prison,

85 percent of children who exhibit behavioral disorders

And 90 percent of homeless and runaway children.

Last year’s formation of Gov. O’Malley’s Commission on Child Custody Decision Making is a promising start to tackling the problem. However, much work remains to ensure that more children experience the benefits of shared parenting, which include fewer behavioral and emotional problems, higher self-esteem, better family relations and better school performance than children in sole custody arrangements, according to 2002 Maryland research. Psychologist Robert Bauserman, then of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, conducted a meta-analysis of 33 studies between 1982 to 1999 that examined 1,846 sole-custody and 814 joint-custody children and found that children in joint custody arrangements were as well adjusted as intact family children on the same measures.

As the International Council on Shared Parenting put it in July, “shared parenting is a viable post-divorce parenting arrangement that is optimal to child development and well-being, including for children of high conflict parents.” This represented the consensus of nearly 100 experts from over 20 countries. Similar sentiments were recently expressed by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (“Children’s best interests are furthered by parenting plans that provide for continuing and shared parenting relationships “), and by 110 experts around the world who endorsed a consensus statement published in February the journal of the American Psychological Association (“shared parenting should be the norm”).

Shared parenting is also better for parents. The claim is often made that joint custody exposes children to ongoing parental conflict. In fact, the studies in Mr. Bauserman’s review found lower levels of conflict with shared parenting, possibly by disposing of the winner-loser feelings that come with a sole custody decision. Shared parenting also gives each parent a break from continuous child care responsibilities.

Towson dad Mark Cyzyk reports that, “12 years out” his teen-aged daughter is thriving. She recently brought home straight A’s, has a good group of friends and appears well adjusted. “For as far back as she can remember,” Mr. Cyzyk said, “she’s had two homes, two extended families, and now with remarriages that’s four extended families, all of whom care for her deeply. I couldn’t be more proud of her and am lucky to have been awarded shared physical custody years ago. But I should not have had to rely on luck — nor should she.”

And neither should the other Maryland children whose parents separate or divorce. The alternative to reform in Maryland is a continuation of the one-size-fits-all tradition of giving sole custody to one parent. This is the outcome in more than 80 percent of cases, so that 35 percent of American children are being raised by only one parent, according to the U.S Census Bureau. In some cases, one parent has walked away from the children. But in most cases, the family courts have created a sole custody arrangement even though both parents are fit and both wish to remain closely involved with their children.

Governor O’Malley’s commission holds out hope that family structure after separation or divorce will become part of Maryland’s dialogue about children’s health, emotional balance, educational difficulties, substance abuse problems, bullying and violence. Family court reforms that return both parents to 35 percent of our children where possible would help them in all these realms at no cost to the taxpayer, while bringing children what they most want: two loving parents actively involved in their lives.

Dr. Ned Holstein is founder and chair of National Parents Organization, which has an affiliate in Maryland. His email is nedholstein@nationalparentsorganization.org.

[mariacallous]

China's government has used the wildly popular video-sharing platform TikTok to influence recent U.S. elections, the American intelligence community warned in its annual threat assessment on Monday.

Why it matters: The warning comes during an election year and as the House prepares to vote on legislation to force China's ByteDance to divest from TikTok or else the platform will be banned from app stores in the U.S.

Congress is pursuing the legislation over national security concerns about the Chinese government's access to U.S. user data and its ability to conduct influence campaigns through the platform.

Context: The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the head of the U.S.' 18 intelligence agencies, releases a yearly assessment on the major threats to the nation's interests around the world.

What's inside: This year's report said: "TikTok accounts run by a [Chinese] propaganda arm reportedly targeted candidates from both political parties during the U.S. midterm election cycle in 2022."

It warned that China's government may "attempt to influence the U.S. elections in 2024 at some level because of its desire to sideline critics of China and magnify U.S. societal divisions."

It said Beijing now has more capabilities to conduct covert influence operations and disseminate disinformation, and that such operations may be carried out by "individuals not under its direct supervision."

It's specifically is increasing efforts to mold U.S. public discourse around its sovereignty issues and territorial claims in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang.

Of note: The report added that China monitors Chinese students studying abroad for dissident views and has influenced research by U.S. academics and think tank experts.

The big picture: Overall, the report said the U.S. will face "an increasingly fragile global order" strained by competitive state actors — including China, Russia, Iran and North Korea — regional conflicts, other disruptive technologies and the economic toll of climate change.

"The world that emerges from this tumultuous period will be shaped by whoever offers the most persuasive arguments for how the world should be governed, how societies should be organized, and which systems are most effective at advancing economic growth and providing benefits for more people, and by the powers—both state and non-state—that are most able and willing to act on solutions to transnational issues and regional crises."

— ODNI's 2024 threat assessment

It said the fierce ongoing competition between authoritarian and democratic forms of government has damaged efforts to encourage cooperative approaches to global issues, like climate change.

It said emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and biotechnologies, will exacerbate the competition.

The other side: "We regularly take action against deceptive behavior, including covert influence networks throughout the world, and have been transparent in reporting them publicly," a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement Monday.

"TikTok has protected our platform through more than 150 elections globally and is continuing to work with electoral commissions, experts, and fact-checkers to safeguard our community during this historic election year."

Zoom out: China's government denies that it interferes in elections and typically seeks to blame the U.S. for election meddling.

Go deeper: 52 countries saw "severe" declines in freedom last year, report finds

[pokeglitchden]

Okay, so that meeting was... possibly one of the most frustrating ones I've had in a long while. While I cannot reveal every detail of the conversation that ensued I feel the need to share what I can, simply because I must ensure I've not simply gone entirely mad as a result of this process.

First was the discussion about the Decamark Trials. Which, of course, needed to be brought up I suppose. Never mind all the hours I've spent meticulously cataloging every possible safety hazard brought up by attempting to make contact with Decamarks; the hours of first hand experience that led to my recommendations to cancel the project; the damage that both I, the pokemon I engaged the Decamark with and the Decamark itself endured.

These men still had the gall to ask me if I was SURE that the Decamark project was as unsafe as I was projecting it to be.

(I asked them if they'd read my reports. They said No. Of course. I asked them if they would like to see details of the hospital stays that resulted from contact with the Decamark. They declined this also.)

After this they asked me if there was anyone I would recommend to head the project if it was to be attempted again in the future and if I would release my methodology so that the process could be replicated.

This I also declined. I am simply not in the business of recommending which of my colleagues should next be asked to risk life, limb and sanity over a project that was nearly doomed to fail from the start. Every piece of evidence we have points to Decamarks simply not being a chatchable pokemon by conventional means, and that attempting to do so only results in danger for all parties involved. Plus there is the unexplored side effect of the strange compulsion one may feel during the summoning of a Decamark to reach out and attempt to touch it. An act that almost certainly would result in the death of both the pokemon and possibly the person who touched it as well.

So... if this had been all. I believe I would have been justifiably angry.

It was not.

The next thing they mentioned after discussion of the Decamark Project thankfully ceased, was a further discussion of the next project our lab is to take on.

I will admit. By this point I was more gruff than I likely should have been. They informed me that our proposal was being rejected, and their cited reason was that too much of the research already had been conducted at an off site, out of region, research lab, and that their credentials could not be verified.

(Which... I do need to point out, how could a lab in Glitch City of all places be lacking the proper credentials to STUDY GLITCHES)

BUT I digress. I asked if there was anything I could do to change their minds. They said no, but that there was interest in a project our lab had been conducting that they WERE interested in. Two in fact. Which baffled me because to my knowledge our lab had ZERO ongoing projects and just a metric ton of paperwork.

They referred to the documentation work that Jo had been doing with Tress on the Glitch pokemon, FF. And the anomaly that I had chosen not to document but that had none the less HAPPENED on the job, that produced Lord Helix the Omastar.

Apparently the ability to make pokemon appear out of thin air is more important than curbing the threat of an already wide spread invasive species. I pointed out that the research on the FF had almost ENTIRELY been conducted by the same out of region research lab they'd claimed to be unable to work with only moments ago.

They declined to acknowledge this.

So now that's where I'm left. They went as far as to ask me if I would like to publish the research Jo had done so far on the FF. I pointed out it was not my research and that I had no right to publish it. They seemed surprised I'd even commented on that and assured me it wouldn't be a problem.

No problem. To steal the work of my young colleague. Just the nerve of them.

Anyway, I've got a foul taste in my mouth from all that. Not sure how to proceed in this.

I guess I'll start doing some research on the Trainer Fly state.

-Simon

[inquisitive-june]

This week’s theme is “Methods of Managing the Psychological Impact of Misogyny/Feminism”

I wanted academic sources on what the psychological impacts of misogyny were, even if they seemed obvious.  I started by looking for studies on the effects of living in fear of male violence, but with no luck. I found several sources on the intersection of psychology and misogyny, but they were too broad or unrelated. However, I started to notice trends in the sources I read.

This review (1) of the history of Positive Psychology explained how it enforces the American Dream, the nuclear family, and conservative values.  The field was male-dominated, and it was used to silence second wave feminists. For example, Phyllis Schlafly argued that if housewives were unhappy, it was because they didn’t have the right frame of mind. According to positive psychology, morals are universal, so it’s used to argue that gender roles are innate. Feminists who argued that being a housewife was oppressive were seen as having an unnatural worldview.

Another review (2) defined a type of trolling called “Gendertrolling,” which is used to silence women.  It’s different from other types of trolling in that it can last for years, spans multiple platforms (and real life), and is usually conducted by several people. For example, Rebecca Watson was asked to speak at an atheism conference on how to attract more women to the movement.  After the conference, a man she had never met got in the elevator with her and asked her up to his hotel room for “coffee” at about 4 am.  In a video, she treated it like a lighthearted story and said “Guys, don’t do that” with a laugh.  She received rape and death threats and men posted graphic photos of corpses on her Facebook page.  The campaign is ongoing.  The paper argued that this is a silencing tactic used against women who speak up against misogyny, or sometimes just speak up in a male-dominated industry.

In all of the papers I read, the common trend was silencing.  Women voiced their opinions, often about sexism, and men banded together to intimidate or gaslight them. None of the sources adequately addressed how to combat these tactics, but since the weekly topic is managing the effects of misogyny I thought I’d suggest a few.

1. We have to speak up.  The point of these campaigns is to silence us, but we must remember that if we weren’t a threat they wouldn’t bother. Speaking up allows other women to recognize and combat misogyny.  It also shows men that this behavior won’t be tolerated.

2. Support other women.  Some of the victims of gender trolling felt overwhelmed by the hundreds of rape and death threats they received.  It made them feel like everyone was against them.  We need to show that women who speak up will be supported, even if we can’t drown out the violent threats.

These two aren’t mutually exclusive.  The more women who speak up, the easier it will be to connect with one another.  The more we connect with one another, the more we will recognize and call out misogyny in our lives.

Sources

1.   McElya, M. (n.d.). JUST WEAR YOUR SMILE: THE GENDER POLITICS OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY. 21.  

2.   Mantilla, K. (2013). Gendertrolling: Misogyny Adapts to New Media. 9.  

3. Stark, C. A. (2019). Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Psychological Oppression. The Monist, 102(2), 221–235. https://doi.org/10.1093/monist/onz007  

4. Dworkin, E. R., & Weaver, T. L. (2021). The impact of sociocultural contexts on mental health following sexual violence: A conceptual model. Psychology of Violence, 11(5), 476–487. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000350  

Note: I only reference the first two sources, but the others were part of my research. I did not think they were as relevant to this topic, but I still found them useful.