Not worthy of a thread News

[nyquillyn]

'Doomsday Vault' opens to retrieve vital seeds for Syria

Svalbard, Norway -- Humanity has had to cash in on its insurance policy earlier than expected.

Deep in the side of a mountain in the Arctic archipelago is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

Known as the "Doomsday Vault," this seed bank -- operated by the Norwegian government and containing a seed of just about every known crop in the world -- is meant to be humanity's backup in the event of a catastrophe that devastates crops.

But it was not a natural disaster that has caused scientists to have to dip in and make the first significant withdrawal from the vault. Rather, it was the most preventable of man-made disasters -- war.

The bloody conflict in Syria has left scientists at an important gene bank in Aleppo -- where new strains of drought- and heat-resistant wheat have been developed over time -- unable to continue their work in recent years.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/19/europe/sv ... index.html

[Norah]

Scandinavians are the best.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Very cool. I bet it was Ragnar Lothbrok's.

A sword is probably the last thing you'd expect to find on a hike -- especially one that's more than a millennium old.

But that's what happened to a man in Norway who recently stumbled across a 1,200 year-old Viking sword while walking an ancient route.

The find, which dates from approximately 750 AD and is in exceptionally good condition, was announced by Hordaland County Council.

County Conservator Per Morten Ekerhovd described the discovery as "quite extraordinary."

"It's quite unusual to find remnants from the Viking age that are so well preserved ... it might be used today if you sharpened the edge," he told CNN.

Outdoorsman Goran Olsen made the unusual find when he stopped for a rest in Haukeli, an area known for fishing and hunting about 150 miles (250 kms) west of capital, Oslo.

The rusted weapon was lying under some rocks on a well-known path across a high mountain plateau, which runs between western and eastern Norway.

The mountains are covered with frost and snow for at least six months of the year and not exposed to humidity in summer, which contributed to the sword's exceptional condition, Ekerhovd said, adding that archaeological remains are often found along the paths.

He speculated that the sword could be from a burial site or may have belonged to a traveler who had an accident or succumbed to frostbite on the high pass.


The sword, which was found without a handle, is just over 30 inches long (77 centimeters) and made of wrought iron. From its type, archaeologists estimate it to be from around 750 AD -- making it approximately 1,265 years old -- but warn that this is not an exact date.

Swords like this were status symbols in Viking times because of the high cost of extracting iron, Ekerhovd said, and it's likely this blade would have belonged to a wealthy individual.

The artifact has now been handed over to the University Museum of Bergen for preservation work and a research expedition to the discovery site is planned for next spring.

"We are really happy that this person found the sword and gave it to us," said Ekerhovd. "It will shed light on our early history. It's a very (important) example of the Viking age."

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/22/europe/vi ... index.html

[LoathedVermin72]

That's awesome. I would have been tempted to keep it.

[E.H. Ruddock]

That's awesome. I would have been tempted to keep it.

yeah same here. I would have decorated my whole house around it with traditional viking decorations.

[LoathedVermin72]

I would kind of like to move to Norway some day.

[ABNorman]

Following #FeesMustFall

Students in South Africa protesting against massive university fee hikes in a country where most already can't afford it.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/ ... s-20151023

[Biff Pocoroba]

Trey Gowdy looked like a kid yesterday with his too big jacket and large chair.

[nyquillyn]

This is a heart-wrenching read.

Tears and Terror: The Disturbing Final Years of Mickey Rooney

He was one of Hollywood's greatest actors, someone whose estate could have been worth hundreds of millions when he died in summer 2014. Instead, he endured beatings, humiliation and poverty at the hands of his eighth wife and one of her sons.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/featur ... ars-833325

[LoathedVermin72]

This is a heart-wrenching read.

Tears and Terror: The Disturbing Final Years of Mickey Rooney

He was one of Hollywood's greatest actors, someone whose estate could have been worth hundreds of millions when he died in summer 2014. Instead, he endured beatings, humiliation and poverty at the hands of his eighth wife and one of her sons.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/featur ... ars-833325

Oh fuck, that is heartbreaking. I couldn't even open the link; the summary was enough. Shit, that's awful.

[nyquillyn]

Get your popcorn ready!

U.S. destroyer passes island in South China Sea

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/26/politics/ ... index.html

[Wendy Carlos's Twin]

A secret government blimp took out my internet connection for 6 hours today.

[Norah]

that's what you get for living in pennsylvania

[nyquillyn]

China to allow all couples two children to counter aging population

China will ease family planning restrictions to allow all couples to have two children after decades of a strict one-child policy, the ruling Communist Party said on Thursday, a move aimed at alleviating demographic strains on the economy.

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/10/29/china-co ... uples.html

[tragabigzanda]

FUCK ICE

[BurtReynolds]

I know Jared Fogle is a kiddie diddler, but he deserves so much worse for being stupid enough to tell people he is a kiddie diddler. What a fucking idiot.

[verb_to_trust]

I dont get why he confided in that woman who taped him. Did she say something that somehow earned his trust or was he just that arrogant?

[BurtReynolds]

Sounds like he just blurted it out at first. Dude's a psycho.

[E.H. Ruddock]

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/30355850/ ... rm-animals

man pimped out dog, sought sex with farm animals

[Rangi Guy]

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/30355850/sheriff-man-pimped-out-dog-sought-sex-with-farm-animals

man pimped out dog, sought sex with farm animals

That's be like Han pimping out Chewie......just no!