Things that don't deserve their own thread

[tabascoboy]

and again

[Biffer]

Call me a nerd but I love these kinds of discoveries:

Archaeologists find stone tool marks on 21,000-year-old Glyptodont bones in Argentina, challenging traditional dates for human settlement in South America

Abstract: The initial peopling of South America is a topic of intense archaeological debate. Among the most contentious issues remain the nature of the human-megafauna interaction and the possible role of humans, along with climatic change, in the extinction of several megamammal genera at the end of the Pleistocene. In this study, we present the analysis of fossil remains with cutmarks belonging to a specimen of Neosclerocalyptus (Xenarthra, Glyptodontidae), found on the banks of the Reconquista River, northeast of the Pampean region (Argentina), whose AMS 14C dating corresponds to the Last Glacial Maximum (21,090–20,811 cal YBP). Paleoenvironmental reconstructions, stratigraphic descriptions, absolute chronological dating of bone materials, and deposits suggest a relatively rapid burial event of the bone assemblage in a semi-dry climate during a wet season. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the cut marks, reconstruction of butchering sequences, and assessments of the possible agents involved in the observed bone surface modifications indicate anthropic activities. Our results provide new elements for discussing the earliest peopling of southern South America and specifically for the interaction between humans and local megafauna in the Pampean region during the Last Glacial Maximum.

The initial peopling of South America is a topic of intense archaeological debate. Among the most contentious issues remain the nature of the human-megafauna interaction and the possible role of humans, along with climatic change, in the extinction of several megamammal genera at the end of the Pleistocene..... Our results provide new elements for discussing the earliest peopling of southern South America and specifically for the interaction between humans and local megafauna in the Pampean region during the Last Glacial Maximum.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/artic ... ne.0304956

That’s actually massive in terms of the movement of humans across the globe. Way earlier than thought into South America.

[SaintK]

Must have had a sweet tooth. Hope he's got a dentist!

A shoplifter who stole 798 Cadbury's Creme Eggs has been jailed for eight months.
Portsmouth Magistrates' Court heard on Friday that Layton Richards, 29, from Brownlow Close in Portsmouth, had been charged with 24 shoplifting offences.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said he had stolen the chocolate between 6 January and 18 April.
Richards targeted 19 shops across Hampshire, Dorset and West Sussex, and took £3,463.96 worth of produce and products.

[Biffer]

Bill and Ted to do Waiting for Godot on Broadway

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/thea ... =url-share

[Sinkers]

[media][/media]

I do like living in the Countryside !

I just wandered up to the back of my garden to get something from the shed, & as I was opening the door I noticed the young fox I've seen lately rooting around in my compost heap, only 3m meters away; he looked up, I said hello, & he re-commenced rooting for food

I christened him "Hollywood" when I first spotted him, as he has film star good looks, he's straight from central casting.

And last night I was looking thru the footage on my wildlife can, & among all the clips of Hollywood, I spotted a Pine Marten skipping thru the garden

I think this place saved my sanity during Covid

I'll pop up some photos up once I copy the files off the SD Card

I love foxes - we get one in our garden who just lounges about.

I gather they're not so great when you get them breeding, but so far he's been on his own.



Image quality a bit crappy as shot through a window

We have a small wild herd of these Sambar deer fellas living in our central nature reserve. World's 2nd largest deer species apparently. Pretty amazing for such a small, urbanized country. I was on the expressway the other morning going up to training and a young buck was casually standing by the side of the road at the forest edge grazing. Awesome sight.

[Sandstorm]

[Sandstorm]

Would I get off murder charges for killing the farmer who decided to muck his fields on the first cool evening in a week, so I can’t have the windows open?

[Niegs]

[Guy Smiley]

try typing 'cats', 'dogs' or 'elephants' into google and click on the paw symbol, then anywhere on the page.

[Sinkers]

Golden Oldies having their big global festival shindig here in SG next year. Expecting that to be a lot of fun!!

[Niegs]

Golden Oldies having their big global festival shindig here in SG next year. Expecting that to be a lot of fun!!

I thought about signing up this year. I'm not sure if they have a tour upcoming, but they do take off every couple of years or so (Japan has been a destination / visitors). But I'm now three months into a niggly achilles issue from basketball in May. :( Bike to work each day, walking isn't bad, but can't do more than a trot. Can I wear the purple shorts at 45?

[fishfoodie]

See this is what pisses off the Irish !

Lee Carsley is expected to be the interim manager of the England men's senior team when they play their Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland next month.

Carsley led England Under-21s as they won the European Championship in 2023 for the first time in 39 years.

Gareth Southgate resigned as England manager two days after defeat by Spain in the 2024 Euros final last month.

The path from under-21s manager to caretaker boss of the senior team is well trodden, with Howard Wilkinson, Stuart Pearce and Southgate all stepping up after taking charge of the Young Lions.

Southgate went on to secure the job permanently and led the side for eight years, reaching a World Cup semi-final in 2018, a World Cup quarter-final in 2022 and Euros finals in 2021 and 2024.

The Football Association have been conducting a search for a replacement and a job advert was published on their website.

The FA has not commented on the search for Southgate's replacement but have always made clear they have had an "interim solution in place".

Carsley, 50, is a former Premier League midfielder who played for clubs including Derby and Everton in a 17-year career.

He moved into management and took charge of Coventry, Brentford and Birmingham on a caretaker basis before joining the England set-up in 2020.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/arti ... gj2rlpjwyo

Not a single mention of Lee being a former Irish International, & being offered the Irish job, & understandably turning it down.

If it was a former English International player, they'd have mentioned how many Caps, etc etc, but not this time.

[inactionman]

See this is what pisses off the Irish !

Lee Carsley is expected to be the interim manager of the England men's senior team when they play their Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland next month.

Carsley led England Under-21s as they won the European Championship in 2023 for the first time in 39 years.

Gareth Southgate resigned as England manager two days after defeat by Spain in the 2024 Euros final last month.

The path from under-21s manager to caretaker boss of the senior team is well trodden, with Howard Wilkinson, Stuart Pearce and Southgate all stepping up after taking charge of the Young Lions.

Southgate went on to secure the job permanently and led the side for eight years, reaching a World Cup semi-final in 2018, a World Cup quarter-final in 2022 and Euros finals in 2021 and 2024.

The Football Association have been conducting a search for a replacement and a job advert was published on their website.

The FA has not commented on the search for Southgate's replacement but have always made clear they have had an "interim solution in place".

Carsley, 50, is a former Premier League midfielder who played for clubs including Derby and Everton in a 17-year career.

He moved into management and took charge of Coventry, Brentford and Birmingham on a caretaker basis before joining the England set-up in 2020.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/arti ... gj2rlpjwyo

Not a single mention of Lee being a former Irish International, & being offered the Irish job, & understandably turning it down.

If it was a former English International player, they'd have mentioned how many Caps, etc etc, but not this time.

I appreciate some press can be a bit parochial, but it feels a little like you're trawling for offence here.

I'm not sure he'll hold onto the role permanently, although he's got a shot. I'm just glad the FA are appreciating a development pipeline (of sorts) for managers. Just being an ex-footballer who is good with the media isn't good enough. There was an unhappy time when the likes of Redknapp would have been serious contenders.

[fishfoodie]

See this is what pisses off the Irish !

Lee Carsley is expected to be the interim manager of the England men's senior team when they play their Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland next month.

Carsley led England Under-21s as they won the European Championship in 2023 for the first time in 39 years.

Gareth Southgate resigned as England manager two days after defeat by Spain in the 2024 Euros final last month.

The path from under-21s manager to caretaker boss of the senior team is well trodden, with Howard Wilkinson, Stuart Pearce and Southgate all stepping up after taking charge of the Young Lions.

Southgate went on to secure the job permanently and led the side for eight years, reaching a World Cup semi-final in 2018, a World Cup quarter-final in 2022 and Euros finals in 2021 and 2024.

The Football Association have been conducting a search for a replacement and a job advert was published on their website.

The FA has not commented on the search for Southgate's replacement but have always made clear they have had an "interim solution in place".

Carsley, 50, is a former Premier League midfielder who played for clubs including Derby and Everton in a 17-year career.

He moved into management and took charge of Coventry, Brentford and Birmingham on a caretaker basis before joining the England set-up in 2020.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/arti ... gj2rlpjwyo

Not a single mention of Lee being a former Irish International, & being offered the Irish job, & understandably turning it down.

If it was a former English International player, they'd have mentioned how many Caps, etc etc, but not this time.

I appreciate some press can be a bit parochial, but it feels a little like you're trawling for offence here.

I'm not sure he'll hold onto the role permanently, although he's got a shot. I'm just glad the FA are appreciating a development pipeline (of sorts) for managers. Just being an ex-footballer who is good with the media isn't good enough. There was an unhappy time when the likes of Redknapp would have been serious contenders.

If it was a once off, or the article was written by some junior Journo in the village paper I wouldn't care; but it's the BBC, its the English International Job, (even temporarily, & well done to him if he does get it), & in 10 seconds they could have consulted his Wii !

Lee Kevin Carsley (born 28 February 1974) is a former professional footballer who is head coach of England U21.

In a playing career lasting 17 years, he is best remembered for his spells as a midfielder in the Premier League and Football League with Everton and Derby County. Born in Birmingham, England, Carsley represented the Republic of Ireland at international level. After retiring from playing in 2011, Carsley entered coaching with Coventry City. He held youth roles with Coventry, Brentford, Manchester City and Birmingham City, serving each club (bar Manchester City) as interim first team manager. Carsley joined the England youth setup as a specialist coach in 2015, before being appointed head coach of England U20 in 2020 and then being promoted to England U21 in 2021 and leading them to victory in the European Championship in 2023.[3]

[Uncle fester]

40 caps so not exactly insignificant.

[inactionman]

Some sad news, Jack Karlson (if that's actually his name) has passed away.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... ad-aged-82

A hell of a way to be remembered.

[Blackmac]

[media][/media]

I do like living in the Countryside !

I just wandered up to the back of my garden to get something from the shed, & as I was opening the door I noticed the young fox I've seen lately rooting around in my compost heap, only 3m meters away; he looked up, I said hello, & he re-commenced rooting for food

I christened him "Hollywood" when I first spotted him, as he has film star good looks, he's straight from central casting.

And last night I was looking thru the footage on my wildlife can, & among all the clips of Hollywood, I spotted a Pine Marten skipping thru the garden

I think this place saved my sanity during Covid

I'll pop up some photos up once I copy the files off the SD Card

I love foxes - we get one in our garden who just lounges about.

I gather they're not so great when you get them breeding, but so far he's been on his own.



Image quality a bit crappy as shot through a window

Despite warnings, a friend of mine started feeding a stray fox in her garden. Now she has a whole litter to look after and they are completely fearless and have ventured into her house a few times when she has obviously not been quick enough with the freebies.

I hate foxes, nasty, sleekit wee bastards of animals.

[inactionman]

[media][/media]

I do like living in the Countryside !

I just wandered up to the back of my garden to get something from the shed, & as I was opening the door I noticed the young fox I've seen lately rooting around in my compost heap, only 3m meters away; he looked up, I said hello, & he re-commenced rooting for food

I christened him "Hollywood" when I first spotted him, as he has film star good looks, he's straight from central casting.

And last night I was looking thru the footage on my wildlife can, & among all the clips of Hollywood, I spotted a Pine Marten skipping thru the garden

I think this place saved my sanity during Covid

I'll pop up some photos up once I copy the files off the SD Card

I love foxes - we get one in our garden who just lounges about.

I gather they're not so great when you get them breeding, but so far he's been on his own.



Image quality a bit crappy as shot through a window

Despite warnings, a friend of mine started feeding a stray fox in her garden. Now she has a whole litter to look after and they are completely fearless and have ventured into her house a few times when she has obviously not been quick enough with the freebies.

I hate foxes, nasty, sleekit wee bastards of animals.

The kids are under strict instructions to not go near it and not to try to feed it. Mostly as they'll end up getting nipped, but also as I don't want it settling and breeding here.

As you'd expect it's only in the garden when we're in the house, as soon as open doors it disappears.

[sockwithaticket]

Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna cancelled over an ISIS plot

https://www.theguardian.com/world/artic ... a-concerts

Had more or less forgotten about the fuckers tbh. At least being reminded they exist comes as a result of a foiled attack rather than a successful one.

[Biffer]

[media][/media]

I love foxes - we get one in our garden who just lounges about.

I gather they're not so great when you get them breeding, but so far he's been on his own.



Image quality a bit crappy as shot through a window

Despite warnings, a friend of mine started feeding a stray fox in her garden. Now she has a whole litter to look after and they are completely fearless and have ventured into her house a few times when she has obviously not been quick enough with the freebies.

I hate foxes, nasty, sleekit wee bastards of animals.

The kids are under strict instructions to not go near it and not to try to feed it. Mostly as they'll end up getting nipped, but also as I don't want it settling and breeding here.

As you'd expect it's only in the garden when we're in the house, as soon as open doors it disappears.

Nipped here meaning 'have your fingers off'

Foxes are bastards.

[inactionman]

Despite warnings, a friend of mine started feeding a stray fox in her garden. Now she has a whole litter to look after and they are completely fearless and have ventured into her house a few times when she has obviously not been quick enough with the freebies.

I hate foxes, nasty, sleekit wee bastards of animals.

The kids are under strict instructions to not go near it and not to try to feed it. Mostly as they'll end up getting nipped, but also as I don't want it settling and breeding here.

As you'd expect it's only in the garden when we're in the house, as soon as open doors it disappears.

Nipped here meaning 'have your fingers off'

Foxes are bastards.

I'm half-wondering if there's some backstory here.

Anyway, just to make us all sleep more comfortably:

Sellafield has apologised after pleading guilty to criminal charges relating to a string of cybersecurity failings at Britain’s most hazardous nuclear site, which it admitted could have threatened national security.

Among the failings at the vast nuclear waste dump in Cumbria was the discovery that 75% of its computer servers were vulnerable to cyber-attacks, Westminster magistrates court in London heard.

Information that could threaten national security was left exposed for four years, the nuclear watchdog revealed, and Sellafield said it had been performing critical IT health checks that were not, in fact, being carried out.

Late last year, the Guardian’s Nuclear Leaks investigation revealed a string of IT failings at the state-owned company dating back several years, as well as radioactive contamination and toxic workplace culture.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/ar ... gs-nuclear

[fishfoodie]

I'm half-wondering if there's some backstory here.

Anyway, just to make us all sleep more comfortably:

Sellafield has apologised after pleading guilty to criminal charges relating to a string of cybersecurity failings at Britain’s most hazardous nuclear site, which it admitted could have threatened national security.

Among the failings at the vast nuclear waste dump in Cumbria was the discovery that 75% of its computer servers were vulnerable to cyber-attacks, Westminster magistrates court in London heard.

Information that could threaten national security was left exposed for four years, the nuclear watchdog revealed, and Sellafield said it had been performing critical IT health checks that were not, in fact, being carried out.

Late last year, the Guardian’s Nuclear Leaks investigation revealed a string of IT failings at the state-owned company dating back several years, as well as radioactive contamination and toxic workplace culture.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/ar ... gs-nuclear

BNFL is a fucking money pit, & whole swathes of Sellafield appear to be not properly surveyed, or the risks understood.

Not long ago they discovered that one of the ancient storage ponds was in a shocking state of repair, & they had to scramble to triage it. In those circumstances IT will always get bugger all attention, even if it is technically critical !

The US spent billions & billions on Hanford, & they're still finding horrors buried there; the UK has spent button on Sellafield in comparison considering its history.

If some bad actor could get in, they could potentially open values, or turn off pumps, & cause immense damage, but what the hey

[inactionman]

Any of our Edinburgh cohort able to recommend anything they've seen at the festival, ideally early evening for kiddies?

Grandad's up for the week and took my girls to Tweedy's Massive Circus on the Meadows - they enjoyed it, I think partly because grandad got dragged into some participation. I'm glad I left that to him.

It's been on a week and I've not even looked at it yet.

[Slick]

Any of our Edinburgh cohort able to recommend anything they've seen at the festival, ideally early evening for kiddies?

Grandad's up for the week and took my girls to Tweedy's Massive Circus on the Meadows - they enjoyed it, I think partly because grandad got dragged into some participation. I'm glad I left that to him.

It's been on a week and I've not even looked at it yet.

We are booked in for "101 ways to annoy your parents and other really old people" next week with the kids.

My wife is appearing in "In Pour Taste" for the adults - comedy and wine tasting. Saw Jason Byrne on Wednesday which was very, very funny and definitely not for kids.

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Any of our Edinburgh cohort able to recommend anything they've seen at the festival, ideally early evening for kiddies?

Grandad's up for the week and took my girls to Tweedy's Massive Circus on the Meadows - they enjoyed it, I think partly because grandad got dragged into some participation. I'm glad I left that to him.

It's been on a week and I've not even looked at it yet.

We are booked in for "101 ways to annoy your parents and other really old people" next week with the kids.

My wife is appearing in "In Pour Taste" for the adults - comedy and wine tasting. Saw Jason Byrne on Wednesday which was very, very funny and definitely not for kids.

I'm appearing in the Fringe as part of the acapella chorus I sing with...

[Blackmac]

Any of our Edinburgh cohort able to recommend anything they've seen at the festival, ideally early evening for kiddies?

Grandad's up for the week and took my girls to Tweedy's Massive Circus on the Meadows - they enjoyed it, I think partly because grandad got dragged into some participation. I'm glad I left that to him.

It's been on a week and I've not even looked at it yet.

My granddaughter, aged 4, throughly enjoyed Mr Sleepy Bum.

[Sinkers]

Any of our Edinburgh cohort able to recommend anything they've seen at the festival, ideally early evening for kiddies?

Grandad's up for the week and took my girls to Tweedy's Massive Circus on the Meadows - they enjoyed it, I think partly because grandad got dragged into some participation. I'm glad I left that to him.

It's been on a week and I've not even looked at it yet.

My granddaughter, aged 4, throughly enjoyed Mr Sleepy Bum.

To be fair, that sounds like something I might quite enjoy also

[inactionman]

Any of our Edinburgh cohort able to recommend anything they've seen at the festival, ideally early evening for kiddies?

Grandad's up for the week and took my girls to Tweedy's Massive Circus on the Meadows - they enjoyed it, I think partly because grandad got dragged into some participation. I'm glad I left that to him.

It's been on a week and I've not even looked at it yet.

We are booked in for "101 ways to annoy your parents and other really old people" next week with the kids.

My wife is appearing in "In Pour Taste" for the adults - comedy and wine tasting. Saw Jason Byrne on Wednesday which was very, very funny and definitely not for kids.

They already know about a million ways to do it, what's another hundred or so. It does look good fun.

I'm struggling to find any shows in early evening, we can't easily manage daytime and they;'re back to school next week in any case. It doesn't leave much space for the festival.

Hope you all enjoy the wine tasting!

[Guy Smiley]

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/09/trav ... index.html

Its perfectly preserved streets and still-standing houses provide a unique opportunity to see how people lived nearly 2,000 years ago. A visit to the ancient city of Pompeii, frozen in time when it was covered by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE, provides memories of a lifetime.

But memories weren’t enough for one British tourist, who was caught this week engraving the initials of himself and his family into one of the city’s 2,000-year-old houses.

The 37-year-old, who has yet to be named, is said to have made five engravings – the initials of his family and the date, August 7 – with a blunt object on the wall of the House of the Vestal Virgins.

Photos of the damage show the letters scratched in the plaster beside the entrance door, which was frescoed red nearly 2,000 years ago.

The letters “JW LMW MW” high on the wall and “MYLAW 07/08/24” further down are clearly visible.


Staff at the site noticed and called the police. According to Italian news agency ANSA, the man apologized, saying that he had written the initials of himself and of his two daughters to leave a sign of their visit to the site.

The archaeological park declined to comment to CNN. However in June, when a tourist from Kazakhstan was caught carving his initials on the House of the Ceii in the ancient city, Pompeii’s director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said that the tourist would have to pay for the restoration of the wall.

The case has been referred upwards to the local court in Torre Annuziata as “damage to artistic heritage,” a charge which carries a fine of 20,000 to 60,000 euros and a possible jail term of up to five years thanks to laws that were toughened up in January.

[Niegs]

[fishfoodie]

[Niegs]

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/09/trav ... index.html

Its perfectly preserved streets and still-standing houses provide a unique opportunity to see how people lived nearly 2,000 years ago. A visit to the ancient city of Pompeii, frozen in time when it was covered by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 CE, provides memories of a lifetime.

But memories weren’t enough for one British tourist, who was caught this week engraving the initials of himself and his family into one of the city’s 2,000-year-old houses.

The 37-year-old, who has yet to be named, is said to have made five engravings – the initials of his family and the date, August 7 – with a blunt object on the wall of the House of the Vestal Virgins.

Photos of the damage show the letters scratched in the plaster beside the entrance door, which was frescoed red nearly 2,000 years ago.

The letters “JW LMW MW” high on the wall and “MYLAW 07/08/24” further down are clearly visible.


Staff at the site noticed and called the police. According to Italian news agency ANSA, the man apologized, saying that he had written the initials of himself and of his two daughters to leave a sign of their visit to the site.

The archaeological park declined to comment to CNN. However in June, when a tourist from Kazakhstan was caught carving his initials on the House of the Ceii in the ancient city, Pompeii’s director Gabriel Zuchtriegel said that the tourist would have to pay for the restoration of the wall.

The case has been referred upwards to the local court in Torre Annuziata as “damage to artistic heritage,” a charge which carries a fine of 20,000 to 60,000 euros and a possible jail term of up to five years thanks to laws that were toughened up in January.

Could have at least taken some time to do it right!

[tabascoboy]

What's long, hard and full of seamen?

[inactionman]

[Biffer]

Love the latest Banksy revealed today

[Guy Smiley]

Love the latest Banksy revealed today

The piranha? that is amazing.


I'm a massive Nick Cave fan. Took me a few years, friends threw Birthday Party records my way back in the 80s and it was all too raucous and unseemly... but then a girlfriend got me into Henry's Dream in the early 90s and I read The Ass Saw The Angel... I've been on board ever since. He's just given an interview to the Australian ABC with one of my favourite presenters... in that uniquely Australian way with all the lights and cameras you could need and still delivering an almost brutally stripped down reveal of the man and his personality. It's well worth a watch...

[Biffer]

Love the latest Banksy revealed today

The piranha? that is amazing.


I'm a massive Nick Cave fan. Took me a few years, friends threw Birthday Party records my way back in the 80s and it was all too raucous and unseemly... but then a girlfriend got me into Henry's Dream in the early 90s and I read The Ass Saw The Angel... I've been on board ever since. He's just given an interview to the Australian ABC with one of my favourite presenters... in that uniquely Australian way with all the lights and cameras you could need and still delivering an almost brutally stripped down reveal of the man and his personality. It's well worth a watch...

No, the rhino shagging the Fiat panda

[Enzedder]

Love the latest Banksy revealed today

[Biffer]

I was talking about this one

[Guy Smiley]

Banksy's had a flurry of reveals lately... has he ever had so much new work in such a short time period before?