All the news that you cannot possibly use…..at least I hope it can inform, entertain and educate my readers….
Local–The big news is those escaped monkeys and all the hype around them….but my question is if they originated at Tulane in NOLA and were bound for some site in Florida why were they in North Mississippi? From NOLA to Florida I-10 is a straight shot.
Personal–Not a whole lot happening this past week…..I eat, sleep, read and blog….then repeat.
I will start where I start most Saturdays…..with health news….
For years we have heard about these ‘superbugs’ that resist antibiotics….but is that about to change?
Scientists have found a new antibiotic that could be over 100 times more effective in fighting ‘superbugs’ than existing drugs.
The drug was found by accident when chemists from the University of Warwick and Monash University were experimenting with another well known antibiotic, methylenomycin A, which has been used to treat bacterial infections for more than 50 years.
The new antibiotic, named pre-methylenomycin C lactone, is naturally created during the process of making methylenomycin A – and was described by the researchers as “hiding in plain sight.”
When tested, the drug was shown to be almost 100 times more effective against bacterial species responsible for two major superbugs, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) – both of which plague hospital wards and pose a high risk to frail post-operative patients.
Scientists have found new pathways in the brain that could help with diseases and their treatment….
For decades, neuroscience has divided the functionally majestic yet aesthetically doubtful, meaty maze that is our brain into about 52 major regions: memory here, fear there, planning up front. It took an AI-powered tool to reveal there aren’t 52 regions after all, but roughly 1,300.
The discovery suggests we’ve been looking at the brain through a crudely magnifying lens. These newly identified regions could help us zoom in on disorders like Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, or depression with advanced granularity. It may refine how we design drugs or neural therapies to target them, and one day might even provide the deep view we need to probe how consciousness works.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a69250087/ai-unlocks-hidden-brain/
Hopefully they can find new ways to treat debilitating brain problems.
Is there a ‘sixth sense’?
Interoception is our sense of the internal state of the body. Are you hungry, sad, desperate for the loo? We know the answers to these questions thanks to interoception.
It is the process by which the nervous system continuously detects and interprets the body’s physiological signals to keep things running smoothly. Let’s say you’re hungry. An interoceptor – a sensor in a nerve cell – will receive a signal, which is then transmitted to your brain. It is processed in a region called the thalamus, which, in turn, triggers your stomach to rumble. The thalamus then sends the information to the insula to decode it – this is when you start to feel hungry. Now that you’re aware of that fact, you can act on it and find yourself something to eat.
While the five classic senses are external and require specialized sensory organs, interoception operates through a network of neural pathways that monitors, among other things, our circulation, digestion, and immunity. As a result, we are often not conscious of it, hence it has been described as our “hidden sixth sense”.
Now a look into a social issue….have heard of polyamory?
Polyamory is on the rise – but it’s not the generation you might expect that’s leading the way when it comes to embracing open relationships.
While Gen Z often gets credit for shaking up dating norms and experimenting with alternative relationships, it’s actually millennials and Gen X who are embracing ethical non-monogamy in greater numbers.
Polyamory, the practice of having multiple consensual romantic relationships at the same time, allows people to form connections that go beyond the traditional monogamous model.
https://www.indy100.com/viral/polyamory-dating-millennials-gen-z-trend-2674258549
To me this is like having more than one wife….what are they thinking?
I recall years ago to be called a ‘foodie’ meant that you were into all sorts of culinary experiences…..but times change…..
The term “foodie” may have peaked, and faded, but its spirit is now woven into American culture. Once, being a foodie meant seeking out rare cheeses, enduring hourslong lines for pastries, and knowing the backstory of every chef in town. It was a subculture powered by TV stations like Food Network and shows like Bravo’s Top Chef, which, along with the rise of the internet, gave enthusiasts a new shared language and an endless stream of content.
In the early 2000s, foodies drove the shift from elite gourmandism—once a marker of wealth—to something more democratic, per Eater. Food TV, blogs, and review sites like Yelp expanded the universe of what counted as culinary excellence, elevating street tacos and halal carts alongside fine dining. The 2008 recession and the rise of smartphones only accelerated the trend, as social media made every meal Instagrammable and every eater a potential critic.
But as the culture went mainstream, cracks appeared. The obsession with authenticity, often filtered through a white, outsider gaze, could feel stifling or appropriative. At the same time, the boys club image of rock-star chefs began to crumble amid allegations of abuse and misconduct. Foodie fandom, like any other, faced its reckonings.
oday, “foodie” has become almost an insult—a relic, like “metrosexual.” The idea that curiosity about food warrants a special label seems outdated, now that food talk saturates everything from social media to office banter. Yet, the core impulse remains: People still geek out over new dishes, track down the latest pop-up, and debate the merits of a perfect bowl of noodles. The language, and that sense of discovery, are here to stay, even if few want to claim the “foodie” title anymore.
Anyone have a comment on this?
From time to time when I am bored I watch some program about lost stuff….there was one about a ‘ghost ship’ in an African desert that was supposed to be a treasure ship….usually when that aspect is mentioned I tune out….but apparently there was something to this particular myth….
In the southern expanse of Namibia’s desolate Sperrgebiet — a restricted zone once sealed off for diamond mining — an unexpected discovery in 2008 revealed one of the most complete maritime wrecks from the 16th century ever found on African soil. The ship, later identified as the Bom Jesus, was a Portuguese carrack lost in 1533 during a trade voyage to India. It remained buried beneath layers of sand for nearly five centuries.
The vessel was part of Portugal’s expansive maritime empire at the height of the Age of Discovery. Historical records suggest it veered off course and struck the unforgiving Skeleton Coast, an area notorious for fog, surf, and shifting sands. When miners from Namdeb encountered fragments of wood and oxidized metal, they unknowingly triggered a groundbreaking excavation—one that would reframe much of what scholars know about early global trade.
Archaeologists uncovered more than 2,000 gold coins, ivory tusks, copper ingots, weaponry, and navigational tools—all in a remarkable state of preservation. The hyper-arid climate of the Namib Desert, combined with layers of wind-blown sediment, had sealed the wreck in a natural sarcophagus. Researchers believe the cargo may have been financed in part by the Fugger family, a German banking dynasty with deep involvement in 16th-century European trade, lending further historical weight to the discovery.
500-Year-Old Treasure Ship Found in Namib Desert With Gold, Ivory and Priceless Global Artifacts
Fascinating.
Finally there seems to always be a story by one of those people that is off their noodle….and there is yet another ‘time traveler’….
A self-proclaimed “time traveler” has shared a photo that he allegedly took in the year 5000.
It seems like there are many time travelers around these days, and yet none of them seem to be willing to give me the winning lottery numbers.
Anyway, we’ve once again been warned about the future, but what is it we are adding to our ever-growing list of fears?
A man named Edward says he was part of a time-travel experiment that launched him 3,000 years into the future – and he swears he has the photographic evidence to prove it.
According to Edward, it all happened back in 2004 while he was working in a lab in Los Angeles. There, he claims he was “assigned the duty to visit the future and take photographs of what he saw.”
https://vt.co/news/weird/time-traveller-has-shared-a-photo-from-the-year-5000
Another nutter to add to the collection.
That does it for me for today…..I hope everyone has a plan for this Saturday to enjoy the day….and as always….Be Well and Be Safe…..
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”