The Daily Drift

Welcome to Today's Edition of Carolina Naturally.

The Wisdom of  Kids ...! 

 

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Today in History

425		Theodosius effectively founds a university in Constantinople.
1531		German Protestants form the League of Schmalkalden to resist the power of the emperor.
1700		The Pacific Island of New Britain is discovered.
1814		Napoleon‘s Marshal Nicholas Oudinot is pushed back at Barsur-Aube by the Emperor’s allied enemies shortly before his abdication.
1827		The first Mardi-Gras celebration is held in New Orleans.
1864		The first Union prisoners arrive at Andersonville Prison in Georgia.
1865		Confederate raider William Quantrill and his bushwackers attack Hickman, Kentucky, shooting women and children.
1905		The Japanese push Russians back in Manchuria and cross the Sha River.
1908		The forty-sixth star is added to the U.S. flag, signifying Oklahoma’s admission to statehood.
1920		The United States rejects a Soviet peace offer as propaganda.
1925		Glacier Bay National Monument is dedicated in Alaska.
1933		The burning down of the Reichstag building in Berlin gives the Nazis the opportunity to suspend personal liberty with increased power.
1939		The Supreme Court outlaws sit-down strikes.
1942		British Commandos raid a German radar station at Bruneval on the French coast.
1953		F-84 Thunderjets raid North Korean base on Yalu River.
1962		South Vietnamese president Ngo Dinh Diem is unharmed as two planes bomb the presidential palace in Saigon.
1963		The Soviet Union says that 10,000 troops will remain in Cuba.
1969		Thousands of students protest Nixon‘s arrival in Rome.
1973		U.S. Supreme Court rules that a Virginia pool club can’t bar residents because of color.
1988		Debi Thomas becomes the first African American to win a medal at the Winter Olympics.
1991		Coalition forces liberate Kuwait after seven months of occupation by the Iraqi army.

What is time – and why does it move forward?

An astrophysicist explains: What is time – and why does it move forward?

Six Of The Most Embarrassing Historical Artifacts Ever Discovered

When archaeologists uncover historical artifacts they're hopeful their find will be noteworthy and tied to a well known figure or civilization, or at very least something they can be proud to share with the world.

But dedicating your life to archaeology means sometimes you dig up King Tut's mummified erection instead of his treasure, and your important discovery is a bit embarrassing to announce to the public.

However, archaeologists know amazing discoveries are surrounded by hundreds of crappy ones, and the trick is recognizing the well used toilet seat from the Roman Empire you found near Hadrian's Wall in Northern England as the diamond in the dung that it is!

See The 6 Most Embarrassing Historical Artifacts Ever Discovered at Cracked

How the Shopping Cart Revolutionized the Way We Shop

A century ago, grocery shopping in America was very different from the way that it is now. Customers approached clerks who worked behind counters and asked for specific items. The clerks measured out the desired goods, then handed them to the customers, who placed them in handbaskets.

This necessarily created a limit on how much money a customer could spend because he could carry only as much as he could hold in a basket.

Late one night, Sylvan Goldman, a grocer in Oklahoma, suddenly had an idea for a solution: what if you stacked two baskets on top of each other and put them on wheels?

Goldman built a dozen carts and placed them in his grocery stores. They were, though practical, not popular. Women protested that they already had enough of pushing carts--that is, baby carriages--around. Men took the idea that they needed help carrying heavy loads as an affront to their masculinity.

Goldman found a solution: he hired attractive-looking actors to walk around his stores with shopping carts. This made using them socially acceptable. Zachary Crockett explains at Priceonomics, where he traces the history of this invention:

Finally, Goldman enlisted his own employees (and hired a team of actors — both men and women) to push the carts through his stores with beaming smiles, picking items off shelves with ease. Before long, herd mentality took hold: shoppers gradually began to accept and cherish the cart.
Once his stores were thriving with merry cart-pushers, Goldman filmed his success and showed it to other grocers. Soon, the carts were in high demand: Goldman sold them for $7 each, and quickly amassed a two year backorder.

Goldman and other inventors refined the shopping cart design to include telescoping baskets that fit within each other, thus saving space. The shopping cart became ubiquitous across the country and the world. Eventually, it became literally iconic of consumerism:

America's Rural Renaissance

How Local Food Is at the Heart of America's Rural Renaissance

7 Times Mathematics Became Art And Blew Our Minds

While maths might seem like a purely formulaic pursuit, the patterns and ratios it produces can help create some of history's most striking works of art. Just take a look at Leonardo Da Vinci's geometric sketches or M. C. Escher's mathematically accurate prints.
But it's not just historically - even today, mathematicians and artists are bringing their skills together to create some truly beautiful works. And with the help of computers, they've taken things to a whole new level. Here are 7 recent adventures in maths and art.

Big hands art hazard moved from path due to texting people bumping into them

An artwork consisting of a massive pair of clasped hands has had to be moved away from a cathedral path due to people bumping into them. The 20ft tall (6m) sculpture, called The Kiss, was positioned at Salisbury Cathedral, inviting people to walk in-between the wrists.
But it has been shifted off North Walk as a decision was taken that it was not well enough illuminated in the dark. Artist Sophie Ryder said that people were "walking through texting". Some had "bumped their heads", she said.
Ms Ryder posted on Facebook: "We had to move 'The Kiss' because people were walking through texting and said they bumped their heads! Oh well!!"Canon Dr Robert Titley, the cathedral treasurer, said the clasped hands "form an arch which positively invites you to walk underneath". "That was working fine, at least during the day," he said.
"We then picked up a couple of signals that during the hours of darkness one or two people had bumped into it. We could see how, if you didn't see too well in the dark, this could be a hazard. So we've moved it a few meters onto the grass." The artwork is part of an exhibition by the British sculptor which began a week ago and runs until 3 July.

Heroin Trade Helped Defeat the US in Afghanistan

Why the Heroin Trade Helped Defeat the US in Afghanistan

Police Officer Who Just Got Convicted For Manslaughter Blames Victim For His Own Death

Peter Liang still says Akai Gurley was responsible for his own death.

‘Christian’ Website Offers Tips On ‘How To Help Women Learn Their Place’

Want to know how to teach a woman ‘her place’ the good ‘christian’ way? Look no further.

Continue Reading 

Wingnut moron threatens to squash Charlotte's pro-LGBT law to protect city from 'deviant actions'

Wingnut moron threatens to squash Charlotte's pro-LGBT law to protect city from 'deviant actions'

The only "deviant" actions are those of the wingnut itself.

Wingnut Wants To Make The Poor Take ‘Self Reliance’ Training To Get Benefits

But he doesn't want to come up with what the training would entail himself.

John Oliver absolutely destroys wingnuts whose restrictive anti-abortion laws go ‘too fucking far’

John Oliver absolutely destroys wingnuts whose restrictive anti-abortion laws go ‘too fucking far’

Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver devoted the majority of Sunday’s broadcast to a devastating exposé of Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers laws, cobbled together by anti-choice lawmakers.

‘Small-government’ wingnut wants to dictate what cuts of meat poor people can eat

‘Small-government’ wingnut wants to dictate what cuts of meat poor people can eat

Ritchie (R-Oswegatchie) introduced a bill Wednesday that would place additional restrictions on purchases made through the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

A tiny Arkansas cult just wanted to stay out of politics — but now this candidate wants them arrested

A tiny Arkansas cult just wanted to stay out of politics — but now this candidate wants them arrested

“We aren’t trying to endorse candidates, we’re trying to walk with dog.”

Firefighters rescued two-year-old girl who locked herself in bank's safe

Firefighters were called to a branch of the UniCredit bank in Vicenza, Italy, on Thursday morning, after a two-year-old girl managed to lock herself inside a safe.

The girl was visiting the bank with her mother but became bored and crawled away while her mother was talking with the cashier. The mischievous tot clambered into an open time-lock safe that was kept on the bank floor, shutting the door behind her.
Unfortunately for the child, the safe was set to lock itself automatically and, once closed, could not be opened for 40 minutes. As soon as the girl's mother realized what had happened, panicked bank staff called the fire brigade to try to free the child as quickly as possible.

YouTube link.

With the help of a hydraulic wedge, the firefighters managed to force the door of the safe open in less than 15 minutes, freeing the crying, but otherwise unhurt, little girl.

Police hunt men who broke through roof into food outlet and stole keys to outside toilet

Police are hunting thieves who broke into a food outlet in Dandenong South, Melbourne, Australia, and stole a set of keys from inside the premises last month.

An unknown man removed roof tiles to gain access to the Frankston-Dandenong Road store at 3.05am on Monday 25 January.
Once inside the offender stole a set of keys which unfortunately for him will only get him access to an outside freestanding toilet.
Police believe another person was also involved as a foot can be seen in the footage pushing the plaster of the roof down whilst the burglar is inside.
You can see the CCTV footage here or here.

Computer Scientists Think They Have The Answer To Police Misconduct

Groundbreaking new tools could enhance police accountability by making once-scattered police data open to the public.

Scientists report New York police forced them to fake DNA tests to convict more suspects

Scientists report New York police forced them to fake DNA tests to convict more suspects

The crime lab was set to use a new system that would guarantee accuracy. But when the conviction rate went down, it was scrapped.

Utah man dies in police custody after being jailed for $2,400 unpaid medical bill

Utah man dies in police custody after being jailed for $2,400 unpaid medical bill

Rex Iverson was put in the Box Elder County Jail when he didn’t pay an ambulance bill. The next day, he was dead.

Woman indicted in husband's hair ball death

A grand jury in Randall County, Texas, have indicted a woman in her husband’s October strangulation death, which authorities said involved a hair ball.

On Oct. 9 last year, Amarillo police were called to Amarillo Motor Inn, on a cardiac arrest call. Samuel Cheatheam, 65, was declared dead at the motel. Investigators ruled his death a homicide after finding an “upper airway obstruction with hair wad.”
In January, Mary Elizabeth Cheatheam submitted an insanity plea in the case. The plea was struck down after a court-ordered psychologist declared her competent to stand trial. On Wednesday, she was indicted on a murder charge.
“We believe that we can prove at trial that she was the only person present at the time of his death,” said Randall County Criminal District Attorney James Farren. “We believe it is likely that he was somewhat incapacitated at the time and that she took advantage of that situation.” Mary married Sam Cheatheam in November 1998, records show.

Man in jail for theft of paintbrushes and pencils wants his Mr Froggy returned

An inmate in DuPage County, Illinois, is demanding to be freed from jail within two weeks if personal property taken from him during his July 2015 arrest, including three pairs of underwear, a "Mr. Froggy" plush animal and concert tickets, are not returned to him. Ignatius "Michael" Pollara, 50, of Tamarac, Florida, is being held on $125,000 bail on a burglary charge, accused of stealing several paintbrushes and a box of pencils from a Lombard Hobby Lobby store.

Pollara argued in court on Thursday, against the advice of Assistant Public Defender Mark Lyon, that the Oak Brook Police Department's "negligence and carelessness" in failing to safely store his items has deprived him of his due process. In a written motion, Pollara also demanded to be discharged from jail within 14 days if the items are not returned. DuPage Judge Brian Telander warned Pollara that his antics frequently come close to trying his patience. But he also asked prosecutors to try to find Pollara's missing property not considered to be evidence.
Oak Brook police Sgt. Ben Kadolph said on Thursday afternoon his department has "a lot of property" taken during Pollara's arrest, including a stuffed animal. "We have several boxes of stuff that was taken as evidence in this and possibly other cases," Kadolph said. "And we have a box of his personal property." In the motion filed on Feb. 10, Pollara identified the missing items he wants returned. Included in his list were a backpack and a suitcase, a laptop computer, several clothing items, "one Hearst Castle plush blanket," "tickets to U2 and Grateful Dead concerts" and "one stuffed 'Mr. Froggy' plush animal with tag."
Pollara chastised Lyon in court when the attorney advised him his written motion contained potentially incriminating evidence, including the part where Pollara wrote that he "decided not to pay for two paint brushes and a small box of pencils." "Are you working for me or against me?" Pollara demanded of Lyon. "Why am I here? I need to know this." Telander set the case for an April 5 status date, during which Telander will meet with prosecutors and Lyon to try to reach a plea deal. But Pollara wants out of jail sooner than that. "I think I've been here long enough for two paint brushes and a bag of pencils," he said, before being warned by a deputy to calm down and lower his voice. In Florida, Pollara is known as the "Toys 'R' Us Kid" and the "Lego Bandit" after he was convicted in a 2012 burglary spree in which he stole more than $2 million in Lego sets and toys from the Toys "R" Us chain.

25 Commonly Accepted 'Facts' That Just Ain’t So

25 Commonly Accepted 'Facts' That Just Ain’t So

NASA Finally Creates a Planetary Defense Coordination Office

In the glorious 1997 action movie Starship Troopers, insect-like aliens began their war against humanity by diverting an enormous asteroid to impact on and destroy the city of Buenos Aires, killing over 8 million people. 19 years later, the United States government is finally taking the bug menace seriously.
NASA has created and poured money into a new task force called the Planetary Defense Coordination Office. This organization is responsible for developing effective means of defending our homeworld from asteroid strikes. The Christian Science Monitor reports:

It will be a costly operation. NASA's program for tracking asteroids and other objects in near-space ran on $4 million in 2010, but it received $20.4 million in 2012, and the budget doubled to $40 million in 2014, according to a NASA statement. The 2016 US budget provides $50 million to set up a Planetary Defense Coordination Office. […]
A planetary defense system gives NASA a ready answer for the next time news reports of too-close asteroids alarm the populace.
"While there are no known impact threats at this time, the 2013 Chelyabinsk super-fireball and the recent 'Halloween Asteroid' close approach remind us of why we need to remain vigilant and keep our eyes to the sky," John Grunsfeld, an administrator for for Washington-based NASA Science Mission Directorate, said in a NASA report.

Lost Tapes Reveal Apollo Astronauts Heard Unexplained ‘Music’ On Far Side Of The Moon

"If you’re behind the moon and hear some weird noise on your radio, and you know you’re blocked from the Earth, then what could you possibly think?"

by Lee Speigel

Earth and the far side of the moon, where the Apollo astronauts encountered the strange music-like radio transmissions.

The crew of an Apollo mission to the moon were so startled when they encountered strange music-like radio transmissions coming through their headsets, they didn't know whether or not to report it to NASA, it's been revealed.

More

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NASA has said this it not true, also, "Music" is subjective. But as far as some are concerned it is totally real and to others it is totally bogus ... we'll let you make that call.

10 Amazing Facts About The New Ninth Planet

In early January, the news that an immense ninth planet likely exists beyond Pluto set the scientific community ablaze. We still have a lot to learn about this potential new solar sibling, but we do know that it's huge - at least 10 times as massive as the Earth.
The astronomers who discovered it even nicknamed it 'Fatty.' And the fact that such a huge body has gone undetected just goes to show how little we truly know about our own solar system and how much science has left to teach us.

Farmer seeks financial support from government for owners of animals with horns

A farmer from the canton of Bern in Switzerland has launched a campaign to seek financial support from the Swiss federal government for owners of animals with horns.

Armin Capaul, originally from the canton of Graubünden, confirmed on Thursday that he had collected more than 100,000 signatures for the initiative, which he hopes to put to a national vote. Only three-quarters of the signatures have been validated so far but the campaign will continue until the end of February, Capaul said.
The initiative “for the dignity of agricultural livestock” calls on Bern offer monetary help to owners of cows, bulls for breeding, goats and goats for breeding when they have horns. Currently no such subsidies are available. Capaul argues there are extra costs to owning horned animals.
In Switzerland nine out of ten cows no longer have horns. The risk of injury among animals or to humans is the principal reason to encourage most farmers to dehorn their cattle. Animals with horns require more space and specific facilities. Capaul’s initiative has won support from animal protection groups, the association for small and medium-sized farmers, Bio Suisse and ProSpecieRara.

Record 6,250 Manatees Spotted in Florida Waters

Record 6,250 Manatees Spotted in Florida Waters

Conservationists say the record reflects years of efforts to protect the marine mammals.

Animal Pictures