Further evidence that Asians colonized the Americas long before Europeans did
Contrary to the claims of a recent study, the multiregional model, which states that modern humans evolved from several different groups of hominids (including Neanderthals) that interbred at some point to produce modern humans, fails to explain the genetics seen in modern humans, Neanderthals, and early modern humans. The biblical model (stating that humans arose from one lineage from a single geographic location) still fits all the data better than the multiregional model. Previous anatomical studies have cast doubt on the likelihood of Neanderthals being the ancestors of modern humans. These studies showed differences in Neanderthal's hands, the brain case, and numerous other features of the Neanderthal skull. Recent genetic studies comparing the hypervariable (subject to a higher than average mutation rate than usual) region of mtDNA of Neanderthals to that of modern humans, suggest that they were probably a separate species from modern humans. ...Rich Deem
Dating AKB48: the J-pop cult banned from falling in love
2inShare Jump To Close A Japanese pop idol, hair freshly shaved to the skin, takes to YouTube and bursts into tears as she begs for mercy over her transgression. Minami Minegishi had just been accused of having a boyfriend. "As an original member of AKB48, I am supposed to set an example for the junior members," she continues. The article in question came out in the Shukan Bunshun magazine last week, and showed alleged photos of Minegishi leaving the house of boy band member Alan Shirahama. Such "scandals" are common in Japan; despite the flagrant marketing of J-pop idols as sex symbols, any hint of them engaging in an actual relationship is harshly frowned upon. Minami Minegishi just turned 20 years old. Make no mistake — taking over Japan is exactly what AKB48 has achieved in recent years. Songs like "My School Uniform Is Getting in the Way" play off sexuality and innuendo The concept behind the group was to create stars that fans could not only relate to, but actually meet.
Andrew Niccol
Andrew M. Niccol (born 10 June 1964[1]) is a New Zealand screenwriter, producer, and director. He wrote and directed Gattaca, S1m0ne, In Time, and Lord of War.[2] He also wrote and co-produced The Truman Show, which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay in 1999 and won a BAFTA award for Best Screenplay. Biography[edit] Filmography[edit] Awards[edit] Wins[edit] Nominations[edit] 1998 Paris Film Festival: Grand Prix Award for Gattaca1999 Academy Awards: Oscar Award for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen The Truman Show1999 BAFTA Awards: BAFTA Film Award for Best Film The Truman Show (*Shared with Scott Rudin, Edward S. References[edit] External links[edit]
Learned Optimism: Martin Seligman on Happiness, Depression, and the Meaningful Life
by Maria Popova What 25 years of research reveal about the cognitive skills of happiness and finding life’s greater purpose. “The illiterate of the 21st century,” Alvin Toffler famously said, “will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” Our outlook on the world and our daily choices of disposition and behavior are in many ways learned patterns to which Toffler’s insight applies with all the greater urgency — the capacity to “learn, unlearn, and relearn” emotional behaviors and psychological patterns is, indeed, a form of existential literacy. Last week, Oliver Burkeman’s provocatively titled new book, The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking, prompted me to revisit an old favorite by Dr. Seligman begins by identifying the three types of happiness of which our favorite psychology grab-bag term is composed: The optimists and the pessimists: I have been studying them for the past twenty-five years. Share on Tumblr
10 Bizarre Death Rituals from Around the World
I'm surprised that the historic funerary rites of the Iroquoian peoples aren't on here. The Wendat (also known as Hurons) would bury their dead twice. The first time was when the person died. They would then be buried again during a ritual known as The Feast of the Dead. removed, and wrapped in beaver furs before being re-interned along with grave goods in a mass grave pit known as an ossuary. In 1636, Jesuit Missionary Jean de Brébeuf, was invited to a large Feast of the Dead outside the village of Ossossané, near what is now Elmvale, Ontario. Then in 1947 and 1948 the Ossuary at Ossossane was excavated by archeologists from the Royal Ontario Museum. In 1999, the descedants of the Wendat came to Wendake (an area of Southern Ontario between Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe) from the various parts of North America were the ended up (Ontario, Quebec, Michigan, Missouri and to rebury the remains, along with the grave goods that had been found in the pit.
The Most Isolated People in the World
The part of the Indian Ocean encapsulated by the eastern shore of India and the shores of Bangladesh and Myanmar (Burma) is called the Bay of Bengal (map). The eastern edge of the Bay of Bengal is defined as a set of islands called the Andaman Islands, an archipelago, most of which are under control of India. North Sentinel Island, a small dot of land, is part of the Andaman Islands. North Sentinel Island is set just west of the larger islands in the group, as seen as the red area in the map at the top. (For further context, the island is flagged on the map here – be sure to zoom in.) Between 50 and 400 people are estimated to live on North Sentinel Island. In 1967, Indian authorities began their first meaningful attempt to engage the Sentinelese by leaving coconuts as gifts on the island’s shores. More recent events strongly buttresses that this decision to cut off hopes of contact is just fine with the Sentinelese. What do we know about the Sentinelese?
Teaching ate me alive
It wasn’t one single incident that made me quit teaching in a public middle school. It was the steady, moldy accumulation of dehumanizing, lifeless, squalid misadventures of which I was a part. Like that time with “Carlos,” to pick an incident more or less at random. I can’t even remember what it was that happened between Carlos and me. The next day I saw my friend the Dean of Students. My friend the Dean of Students had diplomatically suggested that Carlos’ father and a couple of his uncles accompany him to his office, where the matter could be discussed at leisure. “Mission accomplished,” I said. So, I have to leave the Los Angeles Unified School District. The end of winter break came last January, and my wife saw the state I was in, and she said, “You’re not going back.” In the final analysis, I’m too sensitive for a public, inner city, “high-needs” middle school. That was not what I had envisioned. But, heck! The kids — most of them are fine; after all, they’re just kids.
British have invaded nine out of ten countries - so look out Luxembourg
The analysis is contained in a new book, All the Countries We've Ever Invaded: And the Few We Never Got Round To. Stuart Laycock, the author, has worked his way around the globe, through each country alphabetically, researching its history to establish whether, at any point, they have experienced an incursion by Britain. Only a comparatively small proportion of the total in Mr Laycock's list of invaded states actually formed an official part of the empire. The remainder have been included because the British were found to have achieved some sort of military presence in the territory – however transitory – either through force, the threat of force, negotiation or payment. Incursions by British pirates, privateers or armed explorers have also been included, provided they were operating with the approval of their government. Among some of the perhaps surprising entries on the list are: * Cuba, where in 1741, a force under Admiral Edward Vernon stormed ashore at Guantánamo Bay. Andorra Belarus
