[BigGlen]

May 18 is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 227 days remain until the end of the year.

Pre-1600
332 – Emperor Constantine the Great announces free distributions of food to the citizens in Constantinople.
872 – Louis II of Italy is crowned for the second time as Roman Emperor at Rome, at the age of 47. His first coronation was 28 years earlier, in 844, during the reign of his father Lothair I.
1096 – First Crusade: Around 800 Jews are massacred in Worms, Germany.
1152 – The future Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. He would become king two years later, after the death of his cousin once removed King Stephen of England.
1268 – The Principality of Antioch, a crusader state, falls to the Mamluk Sultan Baibars in the Siege of Antioch.
1291 – Fall of Acre, the end of Crusader presence in the Holy Land.
1302 – Bruges Matins, the nocturnal massacre of the French garrison in Bruges by members of the local Flemish militia.
1388 – During the Battle of Buyur Lake, General Lan Yu leads a Chinese army forward to crush the Mongol hordes of Tögüs Temür, the Khan of Northern Yuan.
1499 – Alonso de Ojeda sets sail from Cádiz on his voyage to what is now Venezuela.
1565 – The Great Siege of Malta begins, in which Ottoman forces attempt and fail to conquer Malta.
1593 – Playwright Thomas Kyd's accusations of heresy lead to an arrest warrant for Christopher Marlowe.

1601-1900
1631 – In Dorchester, Massachusetts, John Winthrop takes the oath of office and becomes the first Governor of Massachusetts.
1652 – Slavery in Rhode Island is abolished, although the law is not rigorously enforced.
1756 – The Seven Years' War begins when Great Britain declares war on France.
1783 – First United Empire Loyalists reach Parrtown (later called Saint John, New Brunswick), Canada, after leaving the United States.
1794 – Battle of Tourcoing during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition.
1803 – Napoleonic Wars: The United Kingdom revokes the Treaty of Amiens and declares war on France.
1804 – Napoleon Bonaparte is proclaimed Emperor of the French by the French Senate.
1811 – Battle of Las Piedras: The first great military triumph of the revolution of the Río de la Plata in Uruguay led by José Artigas.
1812 – John Bellingham is found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging for the assassination of British Prime Minister Spencer Perceval.
1843 – The Disruption in Edinburgh of the Free Church of Scotland from the Church of Scotland.
1848 – Opening of the first German National Assembly (Nationalversammlung) in Frankfurt, Germany.
1860 – Abraham Lincoln wins the Republican Party presidential nomination over William H. Seward, who later becomes the United States Secretary of State.
1863 – American Civil War: The Siege of Vicksburg begins.
1896 – The United States Supreme Court rules in Plessy v. Ferguson that the "separate but equal" doctrine is constitutional.
1896 – Khodynka Tragedy: A mass panic on Khodynka Field in Moscow during the festivities of the coronation of Russian Tsar Nicholas II results in the deaths of 1,389 people.
1900 – The United Kingdom proclaims a protectorate over Tonga.

1901-present
1912 – The first Indian film, Shree Pundalik by Dadasaheb Torne, is released in Mumbai.
1917 – World War I: The Selective Service Act of 1917 is passed, giving the President of the United States the power of conscription.
1926 – Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappears in Venice, California.
1927 – The Bath School disaster: Forty-five people, including many children, are killed by bombs planted by a disgruntled school-board member in Michigan.
1927 – After being founded for 20 years, the Government of the Republic of China approves Tongji University to be among the first national universities of the Republic of China.
1933 – New Deal: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs an act creating the Tennessee Valley Authority.
1944 – World War II: Battle of Monte Cassino: Conclusion after seven days of the fourth battle as German paratroopers evacuate Monte Cassino.
1944 – Deportation of Crimean Tatars by the Soviet Union government.
1948 – The First Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China officially convenes in Nanking.
1953 – Jackie Cochran becomes the first woman to break the sound barrier.
1955 – Operation Passage to Freedom, the evacuation of 310,000 Vietnamese civilians, soldiers and non-Vietnamese members of the French Army from communist North Vietnam to South Vietnam following the end of the First Indochina War, ends.
1965 – Israeli spy Eli Cohen is hanged in Damascus, Syria.
1969 – Apollo program: Apollo 10 is launched.
1973 – Aeroflot Flight 109 is hijacked mid-flight and the aircraft is subsequently destroyed when the hijacker's bomb explodes, killing all 82 people on board.
1974 – Nuclear weapons testing: Under project Smiling Buddha, India successfully detonates its first nuclear weapon becoming the sixth nation to do so.
1977 – Likud party wins the 1977 Israeli legislative election, with Menachem Begin, its founder, as the sixth Prime Minister of Israel.
1980 – Mount St. Helens erupts in Washington, United States, killing 57 people and causing $3 billion in damage.
1980 – Students in Gwangju, South Korea begin demonstrations calling for democratic reforms.
1990 – In France, a modified TGV train achieves a new rail world speed record of 515.3 km/h (320.2 mph).
1991 – Northern Somalia declares independence from the rest of Somalia as the Republic of Somaliland but is not recognized by the international community.
1993 – Riots in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, caused by the approval of the four Danish exceptions in the Maastricht Treaty referendum. Police open fire against civilians for the first time since World War II and injure 11 demonstrators.
1994 – Israeli troops finish withdrawing from the Gaza Strip, ceding the area to the Palestinian National Authority to govern.
2005 – A second photo from the Hubble Space Telescope confirms that Pluto has two additional moons, Nix and Hydra.
2006 – The post Loktantra Andolan government passes a landmark bill curtailing the power of the monarchy and making Nepal a secular country.
2009 – The LTTE are defeated by the Sri Lankan government, ending almost 26 years of fighting between the two sides.
2015 – At least 78 people die in a landslide caused by heavy rains in the Colombian town of Salgar.
2018 – A school shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas kills 10 people.

[HogwartsExpress]

B.C. creek fills with foam after laundry powder applied to nearby rooftops to control moss



The City of Abbotsford is investigating after residents witnessed large pillows of foam floating in a local creek a few days after laundry powder was spread on the rooftops of a nearby townhouse complex.

Tom Ulanowski, who has lived at the complex at 4401 Blauson Blvd. on the side of Sumas Mountain for five years, said he's concerned the foam will harm wildlife in and around Clayburn Creek.

"I was quite shocked and concerned," he said. "Literally, there were piles of foam eight feet high in some areas."

Officials with the province's Ministry of Environment said they, along with the City of Abbotsford and Environment Canada, are monitoring the situation, but confirm the substance causing all the foam is Tide powdered detergent.

Using laundry detergent to deter moss from growing on roofs is a remedy easily found through an online search, but it also comes with warnings that the technique can be dangerous, damage roofs, and potentially the environment.



Health Canada regulates pesticides in Canada. Tide laundry detergent does not specify on its label that it can be used as a herbicide. Detergents contain surfactants and bleaches to break up stains that otherwise wouldn't dissolve in water, according to ingredient listings.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said in a statement that it "takes pollution incidents and threats to the environment very seriously."

The federal department says it has opened a file on the creek foam in Abbotsford and is responsible for enforcing provisions against pollution in the federal Fisheries Act, which prohibits the deposit of harmful substances into waters frequented by fish.

"If ECCC enforcement officers find evidence of an alleged contravention of the Fisheries Act, appropriate enforcement measures will be taken," said the statement.



Ulanowski hopes the saga will serve as a warning to other property owners who may think it's a good idea to use laundry detergent as treatment for moss on roofs.

source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british- ... 3Dsharebar

[lush]

6 Strangest World Championship Competitions
Posted on May 13, 2021*

• Where there’s a skill, there’s also probably a competition to see who’s the best at it.

If there’s one thing people love more than competing, it’s being the best. But becoming the world champion in conventional games and sports requires years and years of hard work – and even then there might be someone better.

It’s no surprise, then, that people have come up with some pretty weird competitions to prove that they’re better than other – no matter how obscure that something is. Let’s take a look at some of the strangest world championship competitions from all around the globe.



1) Rock, Paper, Scissors
We’ve all resolved playground disputes with Rock, Paper, Scissors. But if you’re looking to go hardcore, then you better start training for the World Rock, Paper, Scissors Championship.

The annual competition is organized by the World Rock Paper Scissors Association. According to them, Rock, Paper, Scissors is the oldest game in the world and has a completely level playing field – everyone can compete, no matter their age or experience.

You might think that Rock, Paper, Scissors is purely a luck-based game and winning the championship isn’t an indication of skill. But couldn’t you say the same about poker?

This year’s competition dates and venue haven’t been decided yet, so if you want to compete, keep an eye out!

2) Wife Carrying

You might be a master at obstacle races, but will you perform as well while carrying your wife? If you want to find out, go try your luck at the Wife Carrying World Championships.

This strange game comes from Finland, where it’s known as “eukonkanto.” During the competition, male competitors carry their female teammate (marriage is not required) through a 270-yard obstacle course to see who can do it the fastest.

Competitors can carry their teammate in any way they wish. In addition to the fastest team, special awards are also handed out to the best costume, the most entertaining couple, and the strongest carrier.

The competition takes place in Sonkajärvi, Finland. Last year’s race was canceled due to the pandemic, but this year wives are being carried again on July 30-31.

If you can’t fly to the frozen wastelands of Northern Europe, don’t worry. There are separate competitions also at least in the UK and the U.S.

3) Cherry Pit Spitting

Do you like cherries? Then why not go try your luck at one of the various cherry pit spitting championships?

The idea behind the competitions is simple – just spit a cherry pit farther than anyone else. But there’s sure to be some stiff competition, since the current official world record stands at 93 feet and 6.5 inches.

There used to be the annual International Cherry Pit Spitting Championship in Eau Claire, Michigan, until 2019. Unfortunately, this tradition came to an end when the farm housing the competition was sold and no one could find a replacement venue.

Luckily, there are many similar competitions organized around the world, particularly in cherry growing regions. That means any prospective cherry pit spitting champions can still go put their mettle to the test.

4) Chess Boxing

If regular chess isn’t challenging enough for you, give chess boxing a go. Like its name implies, this hybrid sports combines chess with boxing.

The game is played in 11 three-minute rounds. Each round of chess is followed by a bout of beating the snot out of each other as competitors engage in the ultimate challenge of brains and brawn.

The world championship competition for the sport is organized by Chess Boxing Global. It’s not currently clear whether the event will take place this year.

Currently, the heavyweight chess boxing champion is Russian Nikolay Sazhin, with Sven Rooch of Germany and Leonid Chernobaev of Belarus dominating the light and middle weight categories. Think you got what it takes to beat them?

5) ClauWau

ClauWau is also known as the World Santa Championships. In this Santa-themed competition, contestants test their skill to determine who’s the holliest and jolliest of them all.

Past competitions have included activities such as after-skiing, climbing various structures, and sled racing. The event is organized each year when the Samnaun winter resort in Switzerland opens.

This year’s Santa competition will take place on November 26. It’s a special event to boot, marking the contest’s 20th anniversary.

6) Worm-Charming

Being unnaturally attractive to worms is an ability that most people probably wouldn’t want. If worms tend to congregate around you, though, good news – you could become the world’s worm-charming champion.

The World Worm-Charming Championships are hosted at Willaston Country Primary School in Willaston, England. Each year, enthusiastic three-member teams of “wormers” flock to the small village to see who can gather the largest haul of earthworms.

The competition dates back all the way to 1980. Since then, winning teams have developed various – and often very effective – methods for getting worms to rise up from the ground.

It sounds weird, but have ever actually tried luring worms up to the surface? It takes some serious skill, and we tip our proverbial hats to the most prolific worm-charmers.

[PennySerenade]

Curious Canine Who 'Flunked Out' of Service Dog Training Is an Ace at Sniffing Out Arson Fires


After leaving service dog training because he was too distracted by scents,
Sheldon the Labrador retriever/golden retriever mix became an arson detection
dog with Texas' Saginaw Fire Department

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again — and that's exactly what Sheldon did.

Several years ago, the Labrador retriever/golden retriever mix started service dog training with Paws With A Cause in Wayland, Michigan, but "flunked out" for being too distractable, per State Farm. Sheldon specifically had a strong drive to find things by sniffing them out, which prevented him from learning his service dog training tasks.

Shortly after leaving the service dog school, Sheldon learned to turn his need to use his nose into a beneficial quality. The sharp-sniffing pooch was taken in by the State Farm Arson Dog Program, where he quickly excelled at sniffing out the accelerants and fuel used in arson fires.



Off-duty, Sheldon lives with Tadlock as a beloved pet and works on his training daily at home. When he retires from his arson detection duties, Sheldon will live at Tadlock's house full time, enjoying his golden years surrounded by loving friends.



At work, Sheldon helps the greater Fort Worth area track down arsonists by sniffing out the presence of accelerants at fire scenes. He and Tadlock recently completed their annual certification under the State Farm Arson Dog Program, according to Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and are looking forward to many more years of working together.

The State Farm Arson Dog Program started in 1993 and has trained more than 425 dogs. Currently, 100 human-canine arson teams are operating in North America.

In 2019, Sheldon was placed with Lieutenant John Tadlock of the Saginaw Fire Department in Saginaw, Texas, as the department's first accelerant detection canine. The pair formed an instant connection in their first days of training together, a spark that has grown into a special friendship.

[hija]

The refugees who started a music scene in the Sahara



In Mauritania, just a few miles away from the ongoing war in Mali, the huge Mbera camp hosts some 62,000 refugees. Here, families put up with the merciless desert heat in exchange for a degree of security. But despite the harsh conditions, something extraordinary is happening here.

Thanks to a group of Tuareg and Arab musicians, a musical scene has sprung up. They play traditional instruments, violas, tambours, modern guitars and self-built gear, making the most of the spare parts and the few resources that lie around. They sing about their land, about revolution, love, nostalgia, life and death.

Intersos, a humanitarian aid association, asked the Italian music producer Khalab to travel to Mbera to listen to, record and document their music. And to make known to the world this unique sound of hope.

M’berra, an album by Khalab and musicians from Mbera, is out now on Real World Records

[goldie0608]

‘World First’ as Vet Saves Eye of a Tiger in Operation



In a world first, a veterinarian performed surgery to heal an ulcerated cornea on the eye: of a tiger.

If one can withstand the insufferable puns, they might be pleased to note that 17-year-old Sumatran tiger Ratna at Shepreth Wildlife Park in England made a full recovery after the surgery that successfully restored her eyesight.

Having had a cataract removed from her left eye in 2017, Ratna developed another problem in her conjunctiva, the pink part of the eyeball. Staff noticed her eyeball deteriorating, eventually turning bright red as if containing a fractured blood vessel.



Surgeon Dr. David Williams, from the Queen’s Veterinary School Hospital at the University of Cambridge, performed an operation which is not uncommon in domestic cats and dogs, and was completed in much the same way—aside from needing “a lot more anesthesia.”

It is believed to be the first “hood graft” surgery done on a big cat.

Williams hypothesized that Ratna must have stuck her eye on a shard of bamboo in her enclosure.

After two months of careful post-surgery monitoring, including daily eye drops, he declared Ratna as fully recovered.

Ratna, who moved to Shepreth with her daughter in 2019, was known to enjoy sitting on the top platform of her enclosure—but once her cornea became worse, her coordination went, and getting up and down became a struggle.

Describing her patience for human hands on her face as “fantastic,” Williams the vet told the BBC she is now “absolutely fine—you’d never know anything had been wrong.”

The only bad news from the ordeal is that none of the staff, nor Dr. Williams, managed to report to the BBC that Ratna was “watching us all with the eye of the tiger.”

Unauthorised mystery cameras installed around Tyrone vanish after police alerted

May 18 2021 10:40 AM

A number of mystery cameras were installed in parts of Co Tyrone before vanishing after concerns were raised with police.

Members of the public spotted the devices at Cashel Bridge, Crockanboy Road, Aughnamirigan Road and Greencastle Road.

Some were fixed to telegraph poles and other similar structures, all without permission.

More were reported in areas of Strabane.

There are strict rules around the installation of such devices, laid out in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).

Such activity requires authorisation because the gathering of information or data can infringe on human rights.

After being made aware of the cameras, local independent councillor Emmet McAleer contacted a number of public bodies, none of which had any knowledge of the devices or knew who was responsible.

He began with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, which confirmed the planning department was unaware of the cameras and that planning permission had neither been sought nor approved in advance.

BT and the PSNI responded in the same way.

Police requested information on the device locations to investigate if any criminal offence had been committed.

The Crown Estate advised the cameras were part of a traffic survey in connection with a 40km powerline planning application filed by Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIEN).

Mr McAleer said: “Valid questions remain as to who instructed the installation of these cameras and with what relevant legal or planning permission. What detail/information has been gathered and stored, and by whom? It is worrying that, to date, none of the statutory bodies contacted appear to know anything about these spy cameras.”

The Crown Estate has since confirmed it had no involvement in the incident and the NIEN application was separate.

BBC Local Democracy put a number of questions to police to establish if the devices were erected on behalf of the PSNI or a private initiative.

The force was also asked if device installers had RIPA authorisation.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news ... 39109.html

[johngriffen]

I sometimes get REALLY DEPRESSED reviewing the news these days.
It's always about a global pandemic threatening life as we know it,
protests around the world, stupid politicians, natural disasters,
or some other really bad story.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Welcome to The mobi weekly news magazine
IN OTHER NEWS
WEDNESDAY MAY 19
What is it?
Here is your chance to become an "ACE REPORTER" for our weekly news magazine.
It is your job to fine weird, funny or "good feel" stories from around the world and share them with our readers in our weekly magazine

How do you play?
Just post a story that you have come across that made you smile, laugh, feel good...
BUT NOTHING DEPRESSING

EXAMPLE POST

​Naked sunbather chases wild boar through park after it steals his laptop bag

A naked sunbather was seen chasing wild boar through a park after it stole his laptop bag.
Amusing photographs from Germany show the man running after the animal to try and claim the plastic bag back.
But the cheeky boar and its two piglets appear to be too quick for the sunbather, who can't keep up with their speedy little trotters.
As the incident unfolds, groups of friends and family sat on the grass watch on and laugh.
Heads are seen turning in surprise and amusement in the hilarious photographs.
The incident happened at Teufelssee Lake - a bathing spot in the Grunwell Forest in Berlin, Germany.

Rules:
Each Edition of IN OTHER NEWS will be open for 7 days...
You can post as many stories as you like, but you will only get paid for One Story in any 24 hour period
So in other words, you can only earn WRZ$ once a day.
Each news day will start when I post announcing it
OR at:
9:00 AM CHICAGO TIME (UTC -5)
2:00 PM GMT (UTC -0)
on those days I space out and forget to post or can't due to Real Life
Stories may be accompanied with images - but No big images, please! 800x800 pixels wide maximum
Videos are allowed, but please keep them short, and post a short summary for those that don't like to click on videos
No Duplicate stories - Where a post has been edited resulting in duplicates, then the last one in time gets disallowed.
And please limit this to reasonably family friendly stories

Reward:
Each news story posted that I feel is acceptable (must be a real story, too few words or simply a headline are not considered acceptable) will earn you 50 WRZ$
If you post multiple stories on any given day, you will only earn 50 WRZ$ for the first story of the Day
All payments will be made at THE END of the weekly news cycle.
Special Bonus - Each week I will award "The Pulitzer Prize" for the best story of the week
The weekly winner of the "The Pulitzer Prize" will receive a 100 WRZ$ bonus
It's just my personal opinion, so my judgement is final

So help bring GOOD news to the members of mobi, and join our reporting team...

IN OTHER NEWS

[Fatima99]

Mother cat and kittens found in Amersham bird's nest in tree



A cat has been found living in an old bird's nest in a tree to raise her own three kittens.

The Cats Protection charity said the family in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, was also being watched over by a tomcat, which was "very unusual".

The cats now have bird-inspired names and have gone to a fosterer.

The clan was discovered after a week of searching by charity volunteer Ruth Goller, who said she was "so glad to have found them".

The mother, named Oriole, the male called Willet and kittens Bran, Jay and Lori were discovered after rescuers were alerted to cats living on an industrial estate.





Ms Goller, from Cats Protection's Chiltern branch, said the charity spent a week searching gardens, leafleting and setting up cameras to try to trace the family after a new-born kitten was found dead.

She eventually spotted a pair and followed them to a tree after befriending them.

"I wanted to get a closer look, so clambered on some containers and reached up into the tall tree," she said.

"That's when I saw a nest with mum feeding three kittens right in front of me.

"The male was watching from nearby."

The cats were then caught, given medical attention and handed to a fosterer.

It is hoped the mother and male can be rehomed together due to their close bond.

Branch secretary Kathryn Graves said: "It is very unusual for a tomcat to stick around after kittens have been born.

"In fact, I've never seen it before."

[ozswede]

N.C. Zoo celebrates birth of 12 critically endangered red wolf pups



ASHEBORO, N.C. — The North Carolina Zoo on Monday announced the birth of not one litter of critically endangered red wolf pups, but three litters, totaling 12 pups, born over three days from April 28 to April 30. Pups and moms are doing well, according to the zoo.

"Congratulations to the North Carolina Zoo for playing an essential part in the survival of this critically endangered species," said Secretary Reid Wilson, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, in a press release. "These births are important because many of our wolves, once matured, have been moved to other breeding packs to continue to help bring this species back from near extinction. Our hope is that more and more red wolves can soon be placed into the wild."

The zoo now has 36 red wolves, the second largest pack in the United States after Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, Wash. According to the zoo, only 15 to 20 red wolves remain in the wild, and they are all in eastern North Carolina. Red wolves are considered the most endangered canid in the world.

The births come with a couple of firsts.

This is the first time the zoo in Asheboro has welcomed three litters of pups born in a single spring.

And, for the first time in two decades, one of the litters was born on the red wolf public habitat, giving zoo guests a rare chance to view the pups for a limited time, according to the zoo. The pups most likely will be visible starting in mid-June, when they begin to venture outside of the den. The wolf family will be moved to the non-public breeding area when the pups are older and weaned from their mother, the zoo said. The other two litters were born in non-public viewing areas of the zoo.



Here's how the litters sorted out:

The parents of two females born April 28 are Denali (male) and Ayita.
The parents of two males and two females born April 30 are Solo (male) and Taylor.
The parents of six pups – two males and four females born April 30 - are Flint (male) and Sassy. This is the pack born on the public habitat.
The zoo will be announcing a public naming poll for one of the litters within the next month.

The N.C. Zoo has been at the forefront of the effort to save the red wolf. It led the successful efforts to have it become part of the Association of Zoo and Aquariums Saving Species From Extinction program, according to the zoo. As part of the program, the zoo leads in conserving the species and growing the wild population and the animals under human care. Since 1994, the zoo has successfully bred 48 wolves.

Once common throughout the southeastern United States, the wolves were driven to near extinction during the late 1960s, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began an aggressive conservation effort – the American Red Wolf Recovery Program – that led to new ways to track and protect the species, the zoo shared in the press release. Those efforts led to increasing numbers of wild red wolves in eastern North Carolina, but changes in how the recovery program was managed have resulted in the wild population again plummeting in recent years.

Source

[prokroustis]

Sea beast with 'angelic wings' washes up on beach leaving walkers stunned

Kenny Harris stumbled across the “gargoyle-like” creature while visiting North Carolina’s Outer Banks with his family. He said he's never seen anything like it before


A mystery sea-beast with angelic wings left locals stumped after its decomposing body was found on a US beach.

A mystery sea beast with angelic wings left locals stumped after its decomposing body was found on a US beach.

Kenny Harris, 42, encountered the “gargoyle-like” creature while visiting North Carolina’s Outer Banks with his family.

He said: “I went out for a morning walk alone and from a distance, I saw something in the sand.

“As I got closer I saw this dead fish that looked like some scary creature. I thought it had wings – it looked like a gargoyle!

“I’m from West Virginia and I visit the Outer Banks twice a year, and I have never seen something like this before.”


Mystery sea-beast found on US beach

When he shared his photos online, many locals were just as stumped as him.

Some said the creature was a mythical chupacabra, others a bat-fish hybrid, while several people noted the resemblance to Falkor – the dragon from the 1984 film, The NeverEnding Story.

“I have fished down there for years and I’ve never seen anything like it,” one person commented.

“It’s the result of toxic waste constantly being dumped into our oceans,” another said.

One more wrote: “It looks like a dementor from Harry Potter!”


Locals were left stumped over what it could be.

Eventually, however, a consensus emerged – Kenny had found an angel shark, a group of sharks classified as critically endangered.

“It was really freaky,” said Kenny.

Angel sharks were once common across the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.


But a market for fish developed in the 1980s and the population dramatically declined.

The specific type of angel shark Kenny encountered may be a Squatina Dumervil, also known as the sand devil.

However, due to insufficient data, it’s unclear exactly how endangered the sand devil is.

The species spends much of its time buried in the sediment on the ocean floor, lying in wait for its prey, including croakers, goatfishes and butterfishes.

Though not normally aggressive, it can inflict serious wounds if provoked and has a reputation for snapping at fishermen when caught.

How this particular shark died remains a mystery.

[Zbignieww]

A new species of cute but poisonous 'pumpkin' toads discovered in Brazil



A new species of tiny, neon orange toadlets was discovered in the mountains of Brazil.

This amphibian measures in at just under an inch and is a part of the pumpkin toadlet genus, a collection of tiny, bright-colored toads, according to a study published Wednesday in PLOS One.
First believed to belong to an existing species, the toadlet was first found in 2016 in the Mantiqueira mountain range of Brazil, said study author Ivan Nunes, professor in the department of biological and environmental sciences at São Paulo State University in Brazil.
The best moment as a scientist is when you are looking at something and "you are the only person who knows at that moment," he said.

Originally, it was thought that the toadlet was part of the B. ephippium species, but the study revealed there are actually multiple, similar-looking species of pumpkin toadlets, said Sandra Goutte, postdoctoral associate at New York University Abu Dhabi, who has researched toadlets but was not involved in the study.
The newly identified species of toadlets is poisonous, but their threat to humans is minimal, Nunes said.
Humans can touch them with their bare hands, but they should be careful not to touch their eyes or mouth afterward, he added.
The toadlets secrete a poison called tetrodotoxin, which is the same poison found in fugu, also known as puffer fish, Goutte said.

"Humans can get poisoned by ingesting the toadlet or if an open wound is in contact with their skin," Goutte said.
In addition to being poisonous, the creature is also fluorescent, Nunes said.
Humans cannot see it with normal light, but when the toadlets are illuminated with UV light, they glow, Goutte said. Researchers have yet to discover why these pumpkin toadlets glow, she added.

It's not known how long their lifespan is or how many are in the wild, but Nunes estimates there are a couple of hundred in the area.
He said he hopes to do further research on these bright orange toadlets to learn why they are fluorescent and to monitor them for conservation purposes.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/04/28/worl ... index.html

111-year-old Australian recommends eating chicken brains



Australia’s oldest-ever man has included eating chicken brains among his secrets to living more than 111 years.

Retired cattle rancher Dexter Kruger on Monday marked 124 days since he turned 111, a day older than World War I veteran Jack Lockett was when he died in 2002.

Kruger told Australian Broadcasting Corp. in an interview at his nursing home in the rural Queensland state town of Roma days before the milestone that a weekly poultry delicacy had contributed to his longevity.

“Chicken brains. You know, chickens have a head. And in there, there’s a brain. And they are delicious little things,” Kruger said. “There’s only one little bite.”

Kruger’s 74-year-old son Greg credits his father’s simple Outback lifestyle for his long life.

Nursing home manger Melanie Calvert said Kruger, who is writing his autobiography, was “probably one of the sharpest residents here.”

“His memory is amazing for a 111-year-old,” Calvert said.

John Taylor, a founder of The Australian Book of Records, confirmed that Kruger had become the oldest-ever Australian man.

The oldest-ever verified Australian was Christina Cook, who died in 2002 aged 114 years and 148 days.

https://apnews.com/article/australia-fd45109d627b01cb9270ad740535cb32

[goldie0608]

University Cancels $700,000 in Debt for Graduates Hit By Pandemic



Delaware State University officials are canceling up to $730,655 in student debt for recently graduated students who have faced financial hardship during the pandemic.

Antonio Boyle, Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management, estimated that the average eligible student will qualify for about $3,276 in debt relief—or roughly a third of a year’s tuition. This will help more than 220 graduates, removing any delay in receiving diplomas.

“Too many graduates across the country will leave their schools burdened by debt, making it difficult for them to rent an apartment, cover moving costs, or otherwise prepare for their new careers or graduate school. While we know our efforts won’t help with all of their obligations, we all felt it was essential to do our part,” Mr. Boyle said in a statement.

The funds necessary to cancel these students’ debt became available through the federal government’s American Rescue Plan for COVID-19 relief.

University President Tony Allen explained the significance of debt relief action, saying, “Our students don’t just come here for a quality college experience. Most are trying to change the economic trajectory of their lives for themselves, their families, and their communities. Our responsibility is to do everything we can to put them on the path.”

Dr. Allen pointed out that such debt reduction is consistent with Delaware State University initiatives to keep student debt manageable. “We haven’t raised our tuition in over six years; we issue every incoming student an iPad or a MacBook; we are replacing traditional textbooks with less expensive digital editions, and our Early College High School saves the average family of nearly $50,000 in college expenses.”

Last year, the annual US News &. World Report assessment of America’s top colleges lists Delaware State University among the top 1% in Social Mobility, which is defined as “enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students.”

Dr. Allen says he is also optimistic about Senate Bill 95, which would extend the University INSPIRE scholarship from half the tuition for four years to full tuition for eligible Delaware students. Earlier this month the legislation, sponsored by Senator Trey Paradee, passed the Senate unanimously, 21–0.

“Great universities have to go a step beyond ordinary,” said Dr. Devona Williams, the Chair of the University’s Board of Trustees. “This is that kind of moment for us.”

[BigGlen]

Canadian snowbird stuck with $5,488 water bill because her toilet leaked while she was away



TORONTO -- A Canadian snowbird who spends her winters in Florida said was shocked to find out the water bill for her Toronto home was $5,500 while she was away.

Carol Burbridge has a home in Toronto but spends her winters at her condo in Florida.

She hired someone to inspect her home twice a week while she’s away and that's why she was surprised when she got the massive bill.

“I'm a senior citizen on a pension and I was shocked," Burbridge told CTV News Toronto. "They said it was probably a running toilet and I said 'I don't know I wasn't there.'"

The City of Toronto sent Burbridge a water bill of $5,488 last spring when she returned from the U.S.

She has been in a dispute for the past year about paying it.

In Toronto, water bills are sent out every four months so if you have a leaky faucet or toilet your bill could add up fast, which is why water fixtures should be checked carefully.

Burbridge said in Florida if she had a water leak causing an extremely high bill, she would have been notified within days and not months.

"In Florida if your water bill looks wobbly, they call you right away. I received no phone call and all they did was take the money out of my bank account," Burbridge said.

The City of Toronto told CTV News Toronto that of the 520,000 utility accounts it has each year, about 300 experience higher than normal water consumption.

“In some cases, where a home has faulty fixtures such as a leaking toilet or faucet, water consumption can increase by as much as 24 times what is normal,” the Director of Revenue Services Casey Brendon said.

"Property owners are responsible for maintaining their property, and for ensuring their fixtures, faucets and appliances are kept in a state of good repair to avoid these types of leaks."

The city said it can't discuss the specifics of Burbridge's bill due to privacy reasons.

“Where customers have experienced a higher than normal bill, they may contact the city and may be asked to provide documentation to verify their income, provide proof of occupancy and provide proof that any leaks have been repaired. If customers meet the criteria contained within the bylaw(s), utility bills may be adjusted to reflect normal consumption levels,” Brendon said.

Burbridge said she plans to apply to have the bill reduced.

"I am disputing this bill. I really am because I don't mind paying for water I use. I always pay my bills on time, but I don't like the way they took that much money out of my bank account," Burbridge said.

Residents are advised to keep an eye on your water meter and to check taps for leaks.

On the City of Toronto website, you can log on to ‘My Water Toronto’ to track your usage. There is also information on how to conduct a dye test on your toilet to check for leaks.

Using automatic payment plans to pay your utility bills each month can seem convenient however, you still need to monitor your bills closely to make sure there isn't a problem including a leak.