Fort San Juan, found near Morganton, NC:
Before the “Lost Colony” at Roanoke Island, before the Jamestown settlement in Virginia, there was Fort San Juan in the North Carolina foothills.
Archaeologists studying a ceremonial mound from a Native American town called Joara last month discovered the first inland fort built by Europeans in the New World near present-day Morganton.
For nearly three decades, researchers worked at what’s known as the Berry archaeological site knowing that it could reveal clues about the presence of one of six Spanish forts from the 16th century. But they lacked the evidence for any of the fortifications until now.
Click the link to read the rest.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Quote of the Day
It is said, and it is very true, that the moment when vice becomes the custom marks the death of a republic, for the dissolute person ceases to be considered loathsome, and all baseness becomes normal. - - Arturo Perez-Reverte, Spanish novelist.
"Weiner confirms more inappropriate messages."
It should be noted that the new Weiner allegations stem not from the period of his original indiscretions, but after he was caught and resigned his seat as a member of the House of Representatives.
"Weiner confirms more inappropriate messages."
It should be noted that the new Weiner allegations stem not from the period of his original indiscretions, but after he was caught and resigned his seat as a member of the House of Representatives.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Hey, Billy Connolly Got His Meter!
"The 'sting-o-meter' that tells you which insects cause most pain (by researcher who's been stung by just about everything)"
Most of us get stung by an insect occasionally and grumble about it for a couple of minutes before forgetting about it.
Not so for one researcher from Arizona.
Justin Schmidt, from the Southwestern Biological Institute, has been stung so many times that he decided to create a pain scale to rate the insects’ stings.
Here's the list:
Fire Ant - one (pain lasts two to four minutes)
Honeybee - two (pain lasts up to ten minutes)
Bumblebee - two (pain for up to five minutes)
German Yellowjacket - two (pain lasts four to ten minutes)
Velvet Ant - three (pain for up to 30 minutes)
Harvester Ant - three (pain for one to eight hours)
Paper Wasp - three (pain for five to 15 minutes)
Warrior Wasp - four (pain for up to two hours)
Tarantula Hawk - four (pain for three minutes)
Bullet Ant - four (pain for 12 to 24 hours)
Comedian Billy Connolly, of course, envisioned such a pain scale - - and a meter to measure it - - in his classic skit Stonefish, or The Worst Pain Known To Man:
Most of us get stung by an insect occasionally and grumble about it for a couple of minutes before forgetting about it.
Not so for one researcher from Arizona.
Justin Schmidt, from the Southwestern Biological Institute, has been stung so many times that he decided to create a pain scale to rate the insects’ stings.
Here's the list:
Fire Ant - one (pain lasts two to four minutes)
Honeybee - two (pain lasts up to ten minutes)
Bumblebee - two (pain for up to five minutes)
German Yellowjacket - two (pain lasts four to ten minutes)
Velvet Ant - three (pain for up to 30 minutes)
Harvester Ant - three (pain for one to eight hours)
Paper Wasp - three (pain for five to 15 minutes)
Warrior Wasp - four (pain for up to two hours)
Tarantula Hawk - four (pain for three minutes)
Bullet Ant - four (pain for 12 to 24 hours)
Comedian Billy Connolly, of course, envisioned such a pain scale - - and a meter to measure it - - in his classic skit Stonefish, or The Worst Pain Known To Man:
Meanwhile, Down In Rock HIll, SC...
...a drunk woman was arrested after pole-dancing with a lamppost.
Maybe she's secretly a superhero:
By day a mild-mannered restaurant waitress...when a cry for help goes out, Jessica Smith runs outside and begins grinding on the nearest lamp post, and transforms into...STRIPPERGIRL! Bullets just bounce off of Strippergirl's invulnerable implants! Able to crack the most powerful villain's head LIKE A WALNUT between her VICELIKE THIGHS! She blinds men with the argent radiance of her peroxided hair! Don't anger her, lest she take you to the CHAMPAGNE ROOM OF CERTAIN DEATH!
Maybe she's secretly a superhero:
By day a mild-mannered restaurant waitress...when a cry for help goes out, Jessica Smith runs outside and begins grinding on the nearest lamp post, and transforms into...STRIPPERGIRL! Bullets just bounce off of Strippergirl's invulnerable implants! Able to crack the most powerful villain's head LIKE A WALNUT between her VICELIKE THIGHS! She blinds men with the argent radiance of her peroxided hair! Don't anger her, lest she take you to the CHAMPAGNE ROOM OF CERTAIN DEATH!
And He Didn't Even Kill Anyone!
George Zimmerman goes to the help of a family whose car overturned.
George Zimmerman helped save the lives of a family of four that were involved in a single-car accident.
According to a Seminole County Sheriff’s Office report, the family was driving in a Ford Explorer SUV when it went off the road and rolled over in Sanford last week.
A responding deputy reported that when he arrived Zimmerman and another man helped the two parents and two children out of the vehicle.
The report states that Zimmerman was not a witness to the crash and left after making contact with the responding deputy.
You see, it is possible to interact with George Zimmerman and not be profiled or killed. /sarc
h/t Bob Owens.
George Zimmerman helped save the lives of a family of four that were involved in a single-car accident.
According to a Seminole County Sheriff’s Office report, the family was driving in a Ford Explorer SUV when it went off the road and rolled over in Sanford last week.
A responding deputy reported that when he arrived Zimmerman and another man helped the two parents and two children out of the vehicle.
The report states that Zimmerman was not a witness to the crash and left after making contact with the responding deputy.
You see, it is possible to interact with George Zimmerman and not be profiled or killed. /sarc
h/t Bob Owens.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Maybe He Was Just...
...choking his chicken?
A Charlotte firefighter is in Gaston County jail after being accused of several crimes early Saturday -- including strangulation and cruelty to animals.
Bryan Carlton Barfield, 29, was being held in Gaston County Jail Sunday afternoon with no bond. He’s charged with two felonies: assault by strangulation and cruelty to animals.
He’s also been accused of three misdemeanors: communicating threats and two counts of assault inflicting serious injury.
A police report on the charges was not immediately available. A spokesman for the Gaston County Police Department did not return calls seeking details on the arrest. And it’s unclear if Barfield had an attorney Sunday night.
A Charlotte firefighter is in Gaston County jail after being accused of several crimes early Saturday -- including strangulation and cruelty to animals.
Bryan Carlton Barfield, 29, was being held in Gaston County Jail Sunday afternoon with no bond. He’s charged with two felonies: assault by strangulation and cruelty to animals.
He’s also been accused of three misdemeanors: communicating threats and two counts of assault inflicting serious injury.
A police report on the charges was not immediately available. A spokesman for the Gaston County Police Department did not return calls seeking details on the arrest. And it’s unclear if Barfield had an attorney Sunday night.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Sturgeon Stocks In Cape Fear River Rebounding
Although, if you read the article, you realize that the fish may not have been endangered to begin with, just poorly understood.
It's probably that way with much of science; even when research and study is lacking, God-like pronouncements very often aren't. I agree, though, that it is best to err on side of caution when ignorance is a factor. Caution, however, is not the same as the-sky-is-falling Chicken Littlism.
It's probably that way with much of science; even when research and study is lacking, God-like pronouncements very often aren't. I agree, though, that it is best to err on side of caution when ignorance is a factor. Caution, however, is not the same as the-sky-is-falling Chicken Littlism.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Arrival
Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum, 5.5" barrel. Because I don't currently have a nice big-bore single action. I'm not enamored of those Hogue grips on the beast, but damn, are they comfortable. And being that this is a .44 Magnum - - the most powerful handgun in the world, and will blow your head clean off - - you got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel comfy? Well, do ya, punk? DO YA?
Life-Saving Abdominal Tourniquet
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
Treasure Blog: Gold Doubloons, Florida Coast
From the 1715 treasure fleet, wrecked by a hurricane off Florida's east coast.
Pic:
When I was a teenager in Florida, in love with the idea of pirates and buried treasure, I discovered an advertisement for coins from the 1715 fleet in the back of a coin magazine, and sent off for their catalog. The prices were such that all I could afford as an unemployed teenager was a 1-real (pronounced "ray-all," meaning "royal") coin for around $75. (The centerpiece of the catalog collection was a gold ring set with emeralds, for which they wanted $15,000). Anyway, all these years later I still have that tiny coin, here it is:
Pic:
When I was a teenager in Florida, in love with the idea of pirates and buried treasure, I discovered an advertisement for coins from the 1715 fleet in the back of a coin magazine, and sent off for their catalog. The prices were such that all I could afford as an unemployed teenager was a 1-real (pronounced "ray-all," meaning "royal") coin for around $75. (The centerpiece of the catalog collection was a gold ring set with emeralds, for which they wanted $15,000). Anyway, all these years later I still have that tiny coin, here it is:
This'll Pucker Your Sphincter
"Daredevils perform stunts on Troll's Tongue in Norway – in pictures."
Troll's Tongue - - Trolltunga, in Norwegian - - is a famous rock outcropping with a breathtaking view of a fjord below it.
Here's a sample pic. Click the link for the rest of them:
Troll's Tongue - - Trolltunga, in Norwegian - - is a famous rock outcropping with a breathtaking view of a fjord below it.
Here's a sample pic. Click the link for the rest of them:
Sunday, July 14, 2013
WWJD?
"Murder in rural England: Pensioner 'stabbed to death protecting 88-year-old paedophile neighbour from inmate he had met in jail.'"
The 88-year old pedophile recently finished serving a jail term for his offense, which occurred 35 years ago.
Certainly the dead neighbor is now among the blessed, but can this ancient child molester be redeemed by the blood of his dead neighbor/protector?
The 88-year old pedophile recently finished serving a jail term for his offense, which occurred 35 years ago.
Certainly the dead neighbor is now among the blessed, but can this ancient child molester be redeemed by the blood of his dead neighbor/protector?
Tintypes In Afghanistan
An old photographic process makes a comeback.
Sample tintype:
Click the link to read the story and see more of the tintypes.
Sample tintype:
Click the link to read the story and see more of the tintypes.
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Like a Bad Lone Ranger Joke
A man in Haifa, Israel, was sent to the hospital after a snake bit him on the penis while he was urinating.
The Lone Ranger joke I mentioned in the post title:
The Lone Ranger and Tonto were camped out in the desert. Late in the middle of the night the Lone Ranger went to relieve himself and was bitten on the penis by a rattlesnake hidden in the sagebrush. The Lone Ranger, in great pain, ran back to the campfire. "Wake up, Tonto!" he cried. Ride into town and bring the doctor, I'm dying!"
Tonto quickly mounted his horse and rode into town, and pounded on the doctor's door. The doctor's wife came to the door and told Tonto that the doctor was sitting up with a woman who was giving birth, and couldn't come to the Lone Ranger's aid. She went back to her husband to ask him for medical advice that Tonto could use to help the Lone Ranger. "Here's what my husband the doctor says to do, Tonto," she said, upon returning. "He says you have to tie a tourniquet around the bitten limb, then cut an X across each bitemark with a knife, then suck the poison out. Do you understand all that? Tourniquet, cut, suck." Tonto, frowning, said that he understood.
Tonto quickly rode back to camp, where the Lone Ranger was curled into a ball, in obvious agony. "Where's the doctor, Tonto?" he gasped. "Why isn't he here? What did he say?"
Tonto, still frowning, looked down at the Lone Ranger and his inflamed, purple penis. "Doctor busy with childbirth, Kemo Sabe," he said. Then he though to himself, Tourniquet. Cut. Suck. He looked at the Lone Ranger's purple, swollen penis. "Doctor say you gonna die, Kemo Sabe."
The Lone Ranger joke I mentioned in the post title:
The Lone Ranger and Tonto were camped out in the desert. Late in the middle of the night the Lone Ranger went to relieve himself and was bitten on the penis by a rattlesnake hidden in the sagebrush. The Lone Ranger, in great pain, ran back to the campfire. "Wake up, Tonto!" he cried. Ride into town and bring the doctor, I'm dying!"
Tonto quickly mounted his horse and rode into town, and pounded on the doctor's door. The doctor's wife came to the door and told Tonto that the doctor was sitting up with a woman who was giving birth, and couldn't come to the Lone Ranger's aid. She went back to her husband to ask him for medical advice that Tonto could use to help the Lone Ranger. "Here's what my husband the doctor says to do, Tonto," she said, upon returning. "He says you have to tie a tourniquet around the bitten limb, then cut an X across each bitemark with a knife, then suck the poison out. Do you understand all that? Tourniquet, cut, suck." Tonto, frowning, said that he understood.
Tonto quickly rode back to camp, where the Lone Ranger was curled into a ball, in obvious agony. "Where's the doctor, Tonto?" he gasped. "Why isn't he here? What did he say?"
Tonto, still frowning, looked down at the Lone Ranger and his inflamed, purple penis. "Doctor busy with childbirth, Kemo Sabe," he said. Then he though to himself, Tourniquet. Cut. Suck. He looked at the Lone Ranger's purple, swollen penis. "Doctor say you gonna die, Kemo Sabe."
Thursday, July 11, 2013
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