By studying a premature aging disorder called Werner syndrome, researchers may have uncovered a key driver of normal human aging: loose, disorganized bundles of DNA. The findings were published in Science this week. People with Werner syndrome (also called adult progeria) suffer age-related diseases early in life — from cataracts and graying hair to osteoporosis, […]
I am forever being told that
prescriptive spelling is a tool of oppression.
And always, the way being defended,
just happens to be fucking American
– Tim
Every few months or so a series of memes and critiques run through the social media mill, and they all sing the same refrain: “telling people how to write or speak correctly is authoritarian and bigoted”. The impulse is correct: We’ve all seen ‘proper grammar’ used to shit on a lower class, or justify a racist position. We all know that language is full of traps to figure out ‘who belongs’. But the simplicity of the “there is no such thing as proper English” critique is going to fuel this weekly writing exercise .
Anyone who’s read three of my sentences knows I’m not picky about grammar. I doubt I could be even if I wanted—I don’t have the skills or training. But I…
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Landscape photographers are an active group within the broader photoblogging community. Here’s work from four sites we invite you to explore.
Landscape photography can evoke a broad range of emotions: from the soothing visual rhythms of rolling hills to the drama of stormy seas and sheer cliffsides. Below is a small selection of photos that recently stood out to us — and that represent a much larger community of photographers, travelers, and adventurers who capture beautiful shots every single day.
via As Far as the Eye Can See: Four Bloggers, Four Landscapes — Discover
Spoiler-Free Review
First, let’s start with some general spoiler-free thoughts. I absolutely loved the original Guardians Of The Galaxy movie, so although I was looking forward to the sequel, I was slightly apprehensive because I wasn’t sure how they would develop the characters and plot established while also fitting it into the current Marvel Cinematic Universe. Infinity War is on the horizon and I wasn’t sure how much that would affect this film.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from the plot – I follow a few comic book sources so I knew the basic background to the new characters, but I was pleasantly surprised by how the film tied itself together.
The opening credits sequence is my favourite opening sequences of all time.
Don’t forget – there are five (yes, 5) post-credit scenes, so keep watching through the credits in order to watch them all. This means you’ll also get to watch several of the credits change from ‘I Am Groot’ to various phrases as well as revealing names in different sections throughout – this was a nice touch, picking up a pop culture reference and running with it.
Overall, I’m giving the film a 5/5 for its exploration of family, the relationships of existing characters and the seamless introduction of new characters. Similar to Rogue One I have a never-ending obsession for this latest addition to the MCU and I’m honestly not complaining.
This is my review of Guardians Of The Galaxy: Volume 2. I’ve split it into spoiler and spoiler-free sections.
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For many students, the study of American History begins with Columbus wandering mistakenly into the New World, followed by a dash around eastern North America with French and English explorers, and finally settles firmly into the founding of Jamestown and Anglo-America. They may get a smattering of information on the Spanish and Portuguese explorers, as well. Most people know the story of Ponce de Leon’s fruitless searches in Florida for the Fountain of Youth, which in the best spirit of entrepreneurialism, is now touted as a tourist attraction in St. Augustine.
Students of Texas history get a somewhat more fulsome treatment of Spanish explorers, especially Cabeza de Vaca. It is part of the state curriculum. De Vaca was among the remnants of Pinola de Narvaez’s Florida expedition. Starving and fearing imminent demise, they were making for the Mexican coast on crude, hastily constructed rafts when a hurricane blew them ashore…
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So I want to have a quick look at the first round. The main thing for me is looking at how much teams have improved to be competitive for next season. For me there are two absolute standouts:
BrownsGarett, Peppers and Njoku. Not only did they pick up two great guys on Defence but then they also traded up to get the Tight End with possibly the biggest upside. There is a reason Garett was the no.1 pick, he is a beast who will be terrorising opposing QBs. In Peppers they got a great Safety to sure up their Secondary. And in Njoku they have a guy who is really young and unpolished, but who in all likelihood will also be a Pro Bowler in the future.
49ers Not only did they manage to persuade the Bears to trade up for Trubisky, meaning that they still got their guy in Thomas but…
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The enormous role played by science — especially government-sponsored science — in our everyday lives is barely appreciated.
Start with modern medicine. We, the public, paid for it through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and research universities where the medical researchers, surgeons, doctors and nurses were trained, and where tools like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) developed. Modern drugs were also developed through basic research sponsored by NIH. Modern medicine is the dividend of our investment over decades in medical science.
Next, computers. Computer science didn’t just appear. It was developed through grants from National Science Foundation (NSF) and Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARP). The Internet was developed by the Defense Department. It was originally called the Arpanet. Satellites were developed through NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Defense Department, with vast amount of new science: rocket fuels, physics, new materials for rocket shells, advances…
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