[AnNahar] For those who believe in the yeti, the news can only be described as, well, abominable.
Science has cast its methodical eye on samples of hair reputed to have been left by the Himalayan snowman of legend... and determined they came from a bear or a goat.
Bummer. Another mystery turns out not to be so mysterious after all.
Similarly crushing disappointment lies in wait for those who believe in Big Foot, the yeti's North American counterpart; in the almasty, the elusive man of the Central Asian wastes; and in the orang pendek, a bipedal hominid reputed to roam the mountainous forests of Sumatra.
The evidence, reported in the British journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, comes from DNA testing of hair samples attributed to "anomalous primates," a neutral term for these creatures of legend.
The probe added the firepower of biotechnology to a debate that has been raging for decades.
"On the one hand, numerous reports including eye-witness and footprint evidence, point to the existence of large unidentified primates in many regions of the world," its authors said.
"On the other, no bodies or recent fossils of such creatures have ever been authenticated," they said. "Modern science has largely avoided this field."
- Missing humans? -
Theories for "sightings" of yeti and co. have ranged from surviving Neanderthals and other minor branches of the human family tree, to a species of giant ape, Gigantopithecus.
The Sherlocks, led by University of Oxford genetics professor Bryan Sykes, sent out a request in May 2012 to museums and individual collectors -- including renowned mountaineer Reinhold Messner -- with samples of hair that reputedly came from "anomalous primates."
They received 30 hair samples in good enough shape to allow gene sequencing.
Three were said to be from yetis.
One of these was found to have come from a Southeast Asian goat called a serow (Capricornis sumatraensis).
The other two -- one from Ladakh in India and the other from Bhutan -- threw up an intriguing link in the DNA bank with... Ursus maritimus, or the polar bear.
The hairs likely came from a distant descendant of the polar bear or a local cross with a brown bear, the scientists suggested.
"If these bears are widely distributed in the Himalayas, they may well contribute to the biological foundation of the yeti legend, especially if, as reported by the hunter who shot the Ladakh specimen, they behave more aggressively towards humans than known indigenous bear species."
Eight samples attributed to the almasty came variously from the brown bear (Ursus arctos), or from cows, horses and racoons.
A single sample thought to have came from an orang pendek was traced to a Malaysian tapir (Tapirus indicus).
The 18 "Big Foot" samples were found to have a wide range of real world sources, ranging from the American black bear, raccoon and cow to a porcupine and either a wolf, coyote or dog.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment was a "Big Foot" tuft in Texas which turned out to have come from a hairy human -- a European, judging by the genetic match.
The authors throw down the gauntlet to the "cryptozoology community" -- those who believe in the existence of fabulous, hidden creatures -- to throw up more convincing evidence to back their assertions.
"The techniques described here put an end to decades of ambiguity about species identification of anomalous primate samples and set a rigorous standard against which to judge any future claims."
#4
I remember reading that one Bear species identified was thought to have gone extinct about 200,000 years ago.
Additionally his postulation that Zana could be from a relict, as opposed to modern, human group which migrated into the Caucasus 10k+ years ago is also intriguing.
Whatever the case, at least he had the eggs to bring his reputation and access to technology to the subject.
#12
Actually I suspect that it's another form of stalking, it's a reverse-psychology thing. I think I'll just continue to spend another decade nonexistant for tax purposes.
[ARABNEWS] Violence in South Sudan's civil war including the execution of scores of hospital patients is the worst seen for decades and is an "affront to human dignity," Doctors Without Borders said Tuesday.
"The conflict has at times seen horrific levels of violence, including against health care facilities," said Raphael Gorgeu, South Sudan chief for Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, MSF).
"Patients have been shot in their beds, and lifesaving medical facilities have been burned and effectively destroyed. These attacks have far-reaching consequences for hundreds of thousands of people who are cut off from medical services," he said
"The violence carried out against the maimed and sick, and against those seeking shelter in hospitals and against medical facilities themselves, are not only violations of international laws and humanitarian principles, but an affront to human dignity," MSF said in a report that examined the situation in six months.
"Throughout its 30-year history in the country, MSF has repeatedly witnessed violence against staff, patients, vehicles, compounds and health care facilities," MSF said, noting that at least 58 people were killed in the grounds of four hospitals.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/03/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
"He's dying"
"No, He just has a cold"
*blam*
"He's dying....a lot"
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/03/2014 16:30 Comments ||
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West African states lack the resources to battle the world's worst outbreak of Ebola and deep cultural suspicions about the disease remain a big obstacle to halting its spread, ministers said on Wednesday. The outbreak has killed 467 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since February, making it the largest and deadliest ever, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
West African Health ministers meeting in Ghana to draw up a regional response mixed appeals for cash with warnings of the practices that have allowed the disease to spread across borders and into cities.
Abubakarr Fofanah, deputy health minister for Sierra Leone, a country with one of the world's weakest health systems, said cash was needed for drugs, basic protective gear and staff pay.
"In Liberia, our biggest challenge is denial, fear and panic. Our people are very much afraid of the disease," Bernice Dahn, Liberia's deputy health minister, told Reuters on the sidelines of the Accra meeting.
"People are afraid but do not believe that the disease exists and because of that people get sick and the community members hide them and bury them, against all the norms we have put in place," she said.
Authorities are trying to stop relatives of Ebola victims from giving them traditional funerals, which often involve the manual washing of the body, out of fear of spreading the infection. The dead are instead meant to be buried by health staff wearing protective gear. Neighboring Sierra Leone faces many of the same problems, with dozens of those infected evading treatment, complicating efforts to trace cases.
The Red Thingy Cross in Guinea said it had been forced to temporarily suspend some operations in the country's southeast after staff working on Ebola were threatened.
"Locals wielding knives surrounded a marked Red Cross vehicle," a Red Thingy Cross official said, asking not to be named. The official said operations had been halted for safety reasons. The Red Thingy Cross later said only international staff were removed.
A Medecins Sans Frontieres center in Guinea was attacked by youths in April after staff were accused of bringing the disease into the country.
Ebola causes fever, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea and kills up to 90 percent of those it infects. Highly contagious, it is transmitted through contact with blood or other fluids. WHO has flagged three main factors driving its spread: the burial of victims in accordance with tradition, the dense populations around the capital cities of Guinea and Liberia and the bustling cross-border trade across the region.
Health experts say the top priority must be containing Ebola with basic infection control measures such as vigilant hand washing and hygiene, and isolation of infected patients.
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/03/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
There will ALWAYS be money shortages in public health situations.
It's easier in every case to take the money and just leave.
Posted by: ed in texas ||
07/03/2014 7:20 Comments ||
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[NEWS.YAHOO] Students and civil servants in China's Moslem northwest, where Beijing is enforcing a security crackdown following deadly unrest, have been ordered to avoid taking part in traditional fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Statements posted Wednesday on websites of schools, government agencies and local party organizations in the Xinjiang region said the ban was aimed at protecting students' wellbeing and preventing use of schools and government offices to promote religion. Statements on the websites of local party organizations said members of the officially atheist ruling party also should avoid fasting.
"No teacher can participate in religious activities, instill religious thoughts in students or coerce students into religious activities," said a statement on the website of the No. 3 Grade School in Ruoqiang County in Xinjiang.
Similar bans have been imposed in the past on fasting for Ramadan, which began at sundown Saturday. But this year is unusually sensitive because Xinjiang is under tight security following attacks that the government blames on MoslemDeath Eaters with foreign terrorist ties.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/03/2014 00:00 ||
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#1
Bully for the Celestials. I wonder, would a few generations of intense persecution improve Islam?
#2
The problem with stamping out religious beliefs in a population, is they all still believe anyway. Look at the return of the Orthodox Church in Russia; two generations, and it popped right back up.
It's easier to believe than not, 'cause, like, who knows?
Posted by: ed in texas ||
07/03/2014 7:25 Comments ||
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#3
Ever met anyone worshiping the old Aztec Gods, Tex?
[DAWN] The United Nations ...the Oyster Bay money pit... Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director Marc-Andre Franche has contradicted the allegations of PTI chief Imran Khan ... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the brightest knife in the national drawer... regarding the interruption in its election project on May 11, 2013 polling day, saying that none of its consultants were ejected from the offices of the Returning Officers.
The UNDP Country Director also insisted that none of its computers were shut down after the victory speech of Pakistain Moslem League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf... as alleged by Khan on May 11.
Marc-Andre Franche said that none of the consultants were ejected from the offices of Returning Officers or witnessed their computers being shut down.
It may be mentioned that the Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... (PTI) chief alleged in his speech at a public rally in Bahawalpur last week that soon after the 'victory speech' of Nawaz Sharif, the data operators stopped sending computerised result copies to the Election Commission of Pakistain (ECP).
Earlier, the ECP had also denied Khan's claim that a UNDP election result gathering project was halted after Nawaz Sharif's speech on May 11 last year.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/03/2014 00:00 ||
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#2
I seem to remember that they used to have a harder hitting side arm. Something from a Mr. Browning that worked well in the Phillipines a few years ago.
.45ACP or something like that?
I've heard a couple of stories about the intro of the 9mm about it being a sop to our NATO allies or a sop to females that couldn't handle the .45.
Don't know if either are true but changing the side arm probably left lots of room for graft.
#3
I don't believe a word that Langdon clown says. I do not believe for one minute a guy can be hit eight frigging times with a .45 ACP/235 grain bullet and keep coming.
I've shot guys with a .45 and no matter where I hit them, big toe, shoulder, wrist, ankle, wherever, they went DOWN. The biggest advantage to the .45 is you do not have to be a good shot. you don't have to center punch a guy, hit anywhere on the torso and they are done. Shit man, hit a guy in the gut wearing body armor and they go down with the .45...who the hell are they trying to kid with those stupid assed comments about the .45?
The 9mm is just a glorified .38 special and we know how useless that round was.
Recoil? You only need one shot with the .45 so why is it a problem to put a second round on target when you've blown a hole the size of a grapefruit in his leg?
AND in close combat in jungle the .45 is a great brush cutter.
I personally think the US military should bring back the Thompson also...used one of those in Angola and no one fucked with me very long.
Posted by: Bill Clinton ||
07/03/2014 13:35 Comments ||
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#4
If you get to bring back your .45, can I bring along my R1 ?
#10
There's probably a European Union study about how a .22LR is big enough to knock down the Death Star or some such, and how it would work well with the F-35. (That's the ticket.)
Posted by: ed in texas ||
07/03/2014 14:59 Comments ||
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#11
Yeah, you can bring your R1, hell bring a G3 for all I care just leave that useless piece of crap M16 at home.
Now that we are fighting in more open country, a rifle that can reach out and touch someone at 300 or 400 meters is needed.
The M16 was a one size fits all solution which did not work based on the idea of caring more ammo and quantity over quality of rounds down range in the battle area. What we need is a weapon that can put a man down with one shot, cut brush in the jungle AND knock a bad guy off his moped at 400 yards.
When I shot with the Bundeswehr, we shot G3s at targets at 300 meters to qualify.
Alvin York would roll in his grave at how deteriorated our ability to shoot a rifle has become.
Posted by: Bill Clinton ||
07/03/2014 15:45 Comments ||
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#12
They used to say if the M1911 couldn't stop an enemy, throwing it at the enemy would.
#13
#7, the amok Moros identified the shortcoming of the existing sidearm. While the army selection process began in '06, the weapon selection board wasn't convened till 1911, beyond most of the Moro activity. Took time to 'perfect' a model to met the specifications.
#14
My Dad fired a .45 in 1944 in the Army Air Corps and told me he could be most effective with it by throwing it. Not very accurate, he thought.
Posted by: Bobby ||
07/03/2014 18:09 Comments ||
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#15
I saw a man who accidently shot himself through the leg with a .45, he didn't fall down,(He did Cuss a lot), the bull that he'd fall down Is strictly BS.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
07/03/2014 18:09 Comments ||
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#16
Posted by: good backlinks ||
07/03/2014 19:34 Comments ||
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#17
I don't know about some of you but I was very good with the 1911, shot expert the first time I picked it up. I think I shot better than that the time sappers breached our wire and tried to kill me in my hooch, I shot three of them getting out of bed and shot about six more running around in my underwear.
The .45 is a good weapon and it is accurate, it takes practice. AND a man sized target at 25 yards is a pretty good sized target...just hit them anywhere.
In my battalion we used to have contests during annual qualification and we never had an officer shoot less than sharpshooter with the .45...never had an officer or senior NCO fail to qualify.
I don't know where this nonsense about a .45 being inaccurate came from...probably from some clown that picked one up one day shot it three times and quit.
Posted by: Bill Clinton ||
07/03/2014 20:03 Comments ||
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#18
..could be. The first arms room I administered (circa early 70s) was in a HHC. There were about 60 .45s in there. At least 8 of them were M1911s, not M1911As, the mod occurred in 1924. Too many were by then 'smooth' bores. You could say we were on the bottom of the Class IX priority authorization.
#19
#15 I saw a man who accidently shot himself through the leg with a .45, he didn't fall down,(He did Cuss a lot), the bull that he'd fall down Is strictly BS. Posted by Redneck Jim
That wouldn't have been on a range on Vint Hill Farm Station would it Jim ?
#20
No,it was an expert ,and it was online, he was practicing, had a dumfuk (Pulled the trigger too soon),and was pissed. went through his leg (From a draw, at a diagonal from top to mid-thigh, went between the bones.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
07/03/2014 21:57 Comments ||
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#22
As P2k says, it depends on when and where the 1911 was. The rack (issue) 45's we used while I was shooting for the Idaho National Guard Pistol Team were so old and worn that we had frames crack and were lucky that the barrel links didn't fall off during use or cleaning. Those were NOT target guns. The National Match 45's on the other hand were a great piece of equipment.
Same comparison of rack vs National Match rifles...An M16A1 is NOT a target weapon.
When asked if he was concerned that people might stop using Facebook, Twitter and other social networks as a result of U.S. intelligence activities, Flynn answered matter-of-factly: "Yes." I have. Ditto...
#2
I remember a legion of acquaintances who emailed me invites to the various 'social' websites. However, I remembered the admonition of (then) Commodore Grace Hopper who said - automation and privacy are mutually exclusive. Never touched the stuff. So I'll leave it to the inquisitive can troll through the Rant's archive if they want to know about me.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[AnNahar] For those who believe in the yeti, the news can only be described as, well, abominable.
West African states lack the resources to battle the world's worst outbreak of Ebola and deep cultural suspicions about the disease remain a big obstacle to halting its spread, ministers said on Wednesday. The outbreak has killed 467 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since February, making it the largest and deadliest ever, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
