Newsworthy but not its own thread worthy

[ghost2509]

Woman was ‘flashing inmates’ while standing in jail parking lot, Tennessee cops say

The Charlotte Observer
yahoo.com
Mark Price
July 28, 2023

A woman visiting an East Tennessee jail ended up being arrested herself when deputies caught her outside the building “flashing inmates,” the Washington County Sheriff’s Office says.

It happened Tuesday, July 25, at the Washington County Detention Center in Jonesborough, the sheriff’s office said in a July 27 news release.

Investigators say a witness called the county’s communications center to report seeing a woman standing in the jail’s parking, exposing herself.

“Deputies observed her beside her vehicle exposing various body parts in the direction of WCDC, and immediately took her into custody,” the sheriff’s office said.

“(She) stated to deputies that she came to the jail to visit her ex-boyfriend, an inmate at the facility.”

The 28-year-old was arrested without incident and charged with indecent exposure, officials said. Bond was set at $1,000, officials said.

The suspect, a single mother, lives about 100 miles southwest of the jail in Knoxville, records show.

Investigators did not report whether the suspect’s ex-boyfriend was watching from inside the building.

[ghost2509]

A 46,000-year-old worm found in Siberian permafrost was brought back to life, and started having babies

BUSINESS INSIDER
yahoo.com
Rebecca Cohen,Jenny McGrath
July 28, 2023

Scientists discovered a female microscopic roundworm that has been stuck deep in Siberian permafrost for 46,000 years, the Washington Post reported. When they revived it, the worm started having babies via a process called parthenogenesis, which doesn't require a mate.

According to a press release, the worm spent thousands of years in a type of dormancy called cryptobiosis. In that state, which can last almost indefinitely, all metabolic processes pause, including "reproduction, development, and repair," per the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

In a study published Thursday in the journal PLOS Genetics, scientists reported that after sequencing the worm's genome, scientists said it belonged to an "undescribed species."

Previously, Plectus murrayi and Tylenchus polyhypnus nematodes were resurrected from moss and herbarium specimens after a few dozen years, according to Live Science. This new species, however, called Panagrolaimus kolymaensis, was dormant for tens of thousands of years longer.

Deep sea biologist Holly Bik estimates there are millions of nematode species living in environments as diverse as ocean trenches, tundras, deserts, and volcanic soils. Scientists have only described 5,000 marine species so far.

William Crow, a nematologist at the University of Florida who was not involved in the study, told the Post that this worm could belong to a species that has gone extinct in the last nearly 50,000 years.

"However, it very well could be a commonly occurring nematode that no one got around to describing yet," Crow said.

The fact that the worm survived all of those years is not a shock to scientists, who have known for years that microscopic organisms, like the worm studied here, can stop their biological functions to survive even the harshest conditions, according to the press release.

"Altogether, our findings demonstrate that nematodes evolved mechanisms potentially allowing them to suspend life over geological time scales," the PLOS Genetics paper said.

[ghost2509]

A Teenage Boy Decides To Make A Difference After Seeing His Classmates Bullied For Wearing Dirty Clothes

YourTango
yahoo.com
Megan Quinn
July 30, 2023

In the United States, one in five students between the ages of 12 to 18 report being bullied during the school year, with approximately 166,000 teenagers admitting that they have skipped school due to bullying. Victims can find themselves a target due to various reasons, one of them being physical appearance and clothing.

After one high school student discovered first hand that some of his peers were feeling self-conscious about their clothing and missing school because of it, he decided to take action that would make their lives easier and encourage them to come back to school without the fear of being teased.

The high school student introduced a laundry room in the school, complete with a washer, dryer, and detergent.

In September 2022, the senior class president of Lacey Township High School, Jimmy Tomredle, learned that some of his classmates were skipping school since they had no clean clothes to wear and were concerned about being bullied.

Wanting to make a positive impact and his classmates feel more comfortable, the 18-year-old delved into some research and came across the story of West Side High School Principal, Akbar Cook, who installed five pairs of washers and dryers in the football team’s locker room so that students could do their laundry for free.

http://youtu.be/tYMoRz6jodg

Cook’s decision was inspired after he noticed students were chronically absent from school due to not having any clean clothes. Some of them were homeless and were unable to access washers and dryers.

As a project for his Leadership Academy of Humanities Program, Tomredle worked alongside school staff and local appliance stores to ensure that his fellow students would be able to use laundry services at the school free of charge. He composed and sent several letters to appliance stores in the area before he received a response from Anchor Appliance in West Creek, who donated a washer and dryer to the school.

After school custodians installed the appliances in the school’s community closet, “Tomredle’s Terrifically Tidy Laundry Services” was officially open for use.

The grand opening day was complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, speeches, and a turnout of over 60 people, including the school district’s superintendent, teachers, students, and Tomredle’s close friends and family.

In order for students to use the laundry room, they must make an appointment via Google Forms and a teacher must be present while laundry is being done.

Tomredle provided a few of his own laundry detergent bottles to kick off the grand opening of the laundry room, however now he has started a detergent donation drive, asking others for detergent, dryer sheets, and other laundry products.

Many students who do not have access to laundry services do not attend school due to fears of being bullied.

Tomredle’s actions have more of an impact on students than he may ever know. According to West Side High School Principal Akbar Cook, 85% of the student body at his school were missing three to five days of school a month since they did not have any clean clothes to wear.

Students reported that those who wore dirty clothes to school easily became a target of bullying, with their classmates making remarks about how they were “dirty” and that they “smelled.” One student even fought a security guard, refusing to allow him to check her backpack since she was homeless and had dirty clothes in her bag. “She was fighting for her pride,” Principal Cook told CNN.

According to a study consisting of 600 public school teachers, conducted by Whirpool, a home appliance company, the link between absenteeism and no access to laundry services is high. It was discovered that one in five students do not have access to clean clothing, and often miss school because of it.

Like Tomredle, Whirlpool is dedicated to combating bullying and encouraging students to attend school. In 2017, the company donated washers and dryers to 12 schools. After one year, 93% of students who utilized the appliances reported an improvement in attendance.

No student should have to fear that they will be ridiculed and teased because they do not have the proper means to wash their clothes.

If every school was dedicated to making their students feel safe and comfortable, they would ensure that they had access to laundry services that allow them to wash their clothes and feel confident walking through the hallways. It's time more students and school staff begin having these conversations to ensure positive changes.

[ghost2509]

Hangzhou Zoo: Our sun bears are real, not humans in disguise

BBC NEWS
yahoo.com
Adam Durbin
July 31, 2023

http://youtu.be/fr2v4327AXs

A zoo in eastern China has reassured visitors its sun bears are real rather than humans in disguise, after footage of one animal standing like a person sent rumours flying online.

Responding to a viral video of a bear on its hind legs, Hangzhou Zoo said people "don't understand" the species.

Social media users had speculated that the bear could be a person in costume.

Sun bears, the smallest bear species in the world, are generally the size of a large dog, the zoo says.

They are an endangered species native to the rainforests of South East Asia.

In the video, the sun bear is seen standing tall on the edge of its enclosure, holding its paws by its side and seemingly observing the zoo's visitors for itself.

People on social media had questioned how the bear could stand so upright on slender legs, as well as the appearance of what looks to be skin bagging around its hips - some noting the similarity to those on an ill-fitting bear suit.

In a post written from the perspective of a sun bear called Angela, Hangzhou Zoo said: "Some people think I stand like a person... It seems you don't understand me very well."

"When it comes to bears, the first thing that comes to mind is a huge figure and astonishing power… But not all bears are behemoths and danger personified."

The zoo, through the bear's voice, instead emphasised sun bears are "petite, the smallest bear in the world".

Hangzhou Zoo's post notes that the bears stand around 1.3m (4ft) tall when standing up on their hind legs, which is less than half the size of grizzly bears native to North America.

Visits were being arranged for reporters to see the bear on Monday, a zoo employee told AP news agency over the phone.

Dr Ashleigh Marshall, an expert from Chester Zoo, says the animal in the video is "definitely a real bear"- although she concedes sun bears do often "look a lot like people in their costumes".

Asked on the BBC's PM programme about the ruffled appearance of the bear's skin around its rear end, she said this is a normal and very important feature of its anatomy.

The folds help protect the bears from predators, as the looseness allows the bear to "turn around in their skin" and fight back if a large animal like a tiger were to get hold of them, Dr Marshall explained.

[ghost2509]

If you feel better near salt water, you are not making it up. It's called thalassotherapy.

INSIDER
yahoo.com
Kelly Burch
July 31, 2023

When Reina Sultan spent time in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, earlier this summer, she noticed that she felt better than anticipated.

"Has anyone with POTS/hEDS noticed that going in the ocean makes them feel wildly better?," she wrote on Twitter. "Like i get 2-3 days of feeling like i am not chronically ill when i swim in the ocean and idk if its the salt or the pressure or what but even my joints feel better."

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (HeDS) are neurological conditions that can cause joint pain, dizziness with movement, and fatigue. The Tweet took off, with many others with chronic illnesses saying that their symptoms feel better for days after they've been swimming in salt water.

Doctors say that Sultan is onto something — a phenomenon known as thalassotherapy, or using salt water for healing, that dates all the way back to the ancient Greeks.

Salt water has physical and mental health benefits

Anecdotal stories of feeling better in or near salt water — like Sultan's experience — are common, says Stewart Parnacott, a personal trainer and nurse practitioner with Baylor College of Medicine.

"There is some scientific basis to support these claims," Parnacott said.

A 2021 scientific review found evidence that thalassotherapy is associated with improved symptoms in patients. It's particularly effective for people with certain skin conditions and inflammatory diseases, the review found.

"Saltwater contains various minerals and trace elements such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium, which are believed to have potential health benefits," Parnacott said. "These minerals may promote relaxation, reduce inflammation, and support skin health when absorbed through the skin during activities like swimming or spending time at the beach."

Being near the beach can have mental health benefits too

As anyone who enjoys a summer trip to the sea has probably realized, being near the ocean can also benefit mental health, says Dr. Elliot Dinetz, a functional medicine doctor and staff member at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

"On the mental health front, being near the ocean, a phenomenon often referred to as the 'blue space effect,' has been linked to reduced stress levels and overall mental well-being," Dinetz said.

A 2021 study that included more than 16,000 people in 18 countries found that spending time near blue spaces, including lakes, rivers, and oceans, was associated with improved well-being. Ocean sounds, like the crashing of waves, can also promote mental health and relaxation.

For the most benefit, get moving near water

While sitting on the beach or floating can be super relaxing, Dinetz says people often get the most benefit when they move their bodies.

"Activities such as swimming or walking on the beach increase these benefits by improving cardiovascular health and promoting the release of endorphins, the body's natural mood boosters," he said.

If you don't live near an ocean or salt lake, don't worry, Parnacott says. You can get many of the same benefits from visiting a lake or river — or even a pool in a pinch.

"Bodies of water, whether freshwater or saltwater, have inherent qualities that offer health benefits," he said.

Low-impact exercises like swimming or water aerobics are beneficial for joint health and cardiovascular fitness, while the buoyancy of water reduces the impact on joints, making it an ideal option for individuals with certain musculoskeletal conditions, he says.

"Both freshwater and saltwater environments can offer unique benefits for physical and mental well-being," Parnacott said. "Finding balance and taking time to unwind in nature can significantly contribute to a healthier and happier lifestyle."

[pepo-pepo]

Originally Posted by ghost2509

If you feel better near salt water, you are not making it up. It's called thalassotherapy.

If you feel better near pepo, you are not making it up. It's called halfassotherapy!



.

[Pacy]

Man arrested for throwing dog at police officer in Japan

It’s not nice to throw things, dogs included.

“Dog bites man” isn’t news, the old saying goes, but “Man bites dog” is. What’s really unusual, though, so unusual that it wasn’t even considered in the adage, is what happened recently in Kobe: Man throws dog.

The incident took place last Tuesday evening in the city’s Hyogo Ward. At around 5 p.m., a passerby on the street noticed a dog with a collar but no visible owner in the vicinity. Since the dog happened to be near a pet-grooming salon, the passerby took the pooch inside, thinking the staff might recognize the Shiba Inu. None of the workers did, though, but when they called the police to see what could be done, the officer who was dispatched had seen the Shiba before.

The same dog had been spotted unattended on the streets once before, and the dispatched officer was the same member of the police force who’d taken it into custody at that time before returning the animal to its owner. Since the officer knew who the owner was, a 55-year-old man who lives in the same ward as the salon, he went to the owner’s house and told him what had happened. They then returned together to the salon, but when they arrived, the man refused to take the Shiba back. “I aint got no need for a dog like this!” the man angrily yelled, commanding “YOU take him to the damn animal shelter!”

According to the police, during his rant the man picked up the dog, which is 60 centimeters (23.6 inches) long and weights 6 kilograms (13.2 pounds) and threw the animal at the officer, after which he was placed under arrest.

You might wonder what specific part of the penal code you’ll run afoul of if you start throwing dogs at people. In this case, the crime the man is being charged with is “obstruction of official duties.” It’s a broad offense, similar to Japan’s “forced obstruction of business” charge that’s often used in cases of harmful mischief and mayhem in shops, restaurants, and other places of business.

Neither the dog nor the officer suffered injuries in the incident. The animal showed no visible signs of physical abuse from its owner, but was taken into custody at the police station.

Source: SoraNews24.com

A personal comment as a dog owner: This guy should be banned from keeping pets for life (cockroaches and crab louse excluded). Shiba Inu are very friendly dogs.

[ghost2509]

Creatures are piling on beaches for awkward reason, Florida cops say. ‘Don’t call us’

Miami Herald
yahoo.com
Mark Price
August 2, 2023

A video from a few years ago. http://youtu.be/Jk5H66JJCdc

Mounds of writhing sea creatures are piling up on Florida beaches, and authorities are warning concerned beachgoers to avoid the embarrassment of calling 911.

It’s likely a herd of manatees, and they are engaging in very public group sex, experts say.

“Don’t call us. .... We can assure you they are more than fine,” the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post.

“Manatees actually mate in herds like these and often they are near the shore. They mate all throughout the year, but generally mating herds like these are seen in the summer months. So if you see this, there’s no need to call.”

Concern is understandable, because the manatees appear to be in distress, like beached whales, including a lot of flopping and splashing around.

However, anyone attempting to push them back in the water will be charged with manatee harassment, officials say. (Manatees have special protections as a federally threatened species.)

“In shallower waters, the effect (of their mating) can be quite dramatic with churning waters and flailing flukes and flippers,” Save The Manatee reports.

“The activity can attract onlookers who are either curious about the commotion or concerned that the manatees in the estrous herd are injured, stranded, or in distress. ... Any disturbances to the mating herd may disrupt this natural behavior and jeopardize the reproductive cycle.”

Interfering can also be dangerous for the manatees and humans. Manatees can grow to more than 13 feet in length and 3,500 pounds, and might roll on top of people standing too close, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says.

In April, a 38-year-old manatee died at Sarasota’s Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and an investigation revealed the cause was a “rip in his colon caused by a sexual encounter,” the Bradenton Herald reported.

Pinellas County is just west of Tampa, on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

[ghost2509]

These Cities Consume the Most Cannabis in the World

Men's Journal
msn.com
Story by Chris Mench
Aug 4, 2023

Ever wonder how your city stacks up when it comes to cannabis consumption? Well, Big Apple residents are a head above the competition.

New York City has the highest yearly cannabis consumption of any major city in the world, according to new data from the Center for Advancing Health (CFAH). The city consumes about 62.3 metric tons of weed in a calendar year, far ahead of No. 2 Sydney, Australia, with 45.8 metric tons.

U.S. cities take four of the top 10, with Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston also landing on the list. Rome, Prague, and Vienna represent Europe in the top 10, despite weed being illegal in all three cities. Meanwhile, Toronto represents for Canada and Tokyo is the lone representative for Asia.

Tokyo has the world's most expensive cannabis prices, at $33.8 per gram. Meanwhile, Montreal has the world's cheapest prices, coming in at $5.9. Portland, OR has the cheapest prices in the U.S., hovering around $7 per gram.

The study also found that cannabis legalization leads to lower prices, with costs falling about 11.13 percent on average.

Check out the full list below, and read more about the study on CFAH. Plus, if you're looking to take a cannabis vacation anytime soon, don't forget to check out this study that ranked the world's top weed-friendly destinations for U.S. tourists.

1. New York (62.3 metric tons/year)

2. Sydney (45.8 metric tons/year)

3. Los Angeles (35 metric tons/year)

4.Chicago (24.9 metric tons/year)

5. Rome (21.9 metric tons/year)

6. Houston (18.5 metric tons/year)

7. Toronto (16.7 metric tons/year)

8. Tokyo (16.7 metric tons/year

9. Prague (15.5 metric tons/year)

10. Vienna (15 metric tons/year)

[Love Buzz]

Originally Posted by ghost2509

These Cities Consume the Most Cannabis in the World

Another 1000 years and London might make it on that list.