cultivation 23,000 years ago

I always understood human history started something like 10,000 years ago. 

To me it is exciting to see earlier humans making the first attempts at what today we take for granted, AGRICULTURE.

Israeli archeologists find evidence of cereal cultivation 23,000 years ago

Dig at Ohalo II prehistoric site on the shores of the Kinneret uncovers 'proto-weeds' indicating hunter-gatherers tried to cultivate wild cereals 11,000 years before the onset of agriculture.

The Ohalo II prehistoric site, which over the years has become synonymous with characteristics of the hunter-gatherers, allows researchers to study the way cereals were sown, reaped and used. Researchers found the remains of 150,000 plants, including edible grains such as wild wheat, barley and oat. Remains of starch found on a grindstone at the site shows that bread was baked there.

"The grain seeds brought to the hut were processed and grinded to flour," Prof. Weiss explained. "This flour was used to prepare dough that was baked in an oven made of flat rocks that stood outside one of the huts. Surprisingly, they worked the fields and sowed crops even at that prehistoric time, even though we have no evidence that this phenomenon continued in our area. For this reason, we consider our findings as indicative of small-scale trial cultivation rather than success which led to the beginning of farming. Furthermore, since weeds are defined by botanists as plants that developed as a result of the human cultivation, we called the plants we found at the site 'proto-weeds.'"

ynetnews.com

Coffee and Race Relations

I have never known race relations in this country which couldn't be improved on. One might think that electing the first black (mulatto) president would be a plus.

Others would point out that substance is way more valuable than symbolism.

Anyway as the current occupant of the White House fiddles, a private company tries to pick up the pieces.

A noble cause to be sure, but why stop at race relations to annoy dreary eyed coffee drinkers?

WASHINGTON POST

Women in Combat?

Nothing but pure hogwash, wishful thinking which makes women suitable for military combat rolls.

Pass all the laws one wants doesn't change nature. Interesting to watch and see how standards are lowered to accomplish the illusion of qualified female soldiers.

Integrating women into combat reduces effectiveness, harms unit cohesion

As the American military prepares to open all combat positions to women by 2016, a British report found that integrating women into combat would reduce effectiveness in battle and could harm unit cohesion.

The British report, released in December, found that physiological differences put women at a disadvantage in both strength-based and aerobic fitness tests. Even women who are able to overcome the physiological disadvantage will likely get injured more easily or get tired quicker, making them easier targets and poorer marksmen in combat.

“These are about biology rather than character,” the report states.

“Every use of the word ‘mitigate’ in the [Ministry of Defence] report pinpoints a problem, not an advantage,” said Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness. “There are no benefits balancing the weight of costs and risks that detract from combat readiness and effectiveness.”

Washington Times

Eric Holder and American Fugitives in Cuba

When he wants that Obama guy can be a real easy to get along with.

The President seems to really favor Communists leaders giving them a pass as they harbor fugitives escaping justice for crimes committed in the United States.

Holder on the hot seat: Senators demand answers on U.S. fugitives in Cuba

A group of Senate Republicans are pressing Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. to explain the administration’s policy for U.S. fugitives in Cuba, including a convicted cop killer,

after President Obama’s announced normalization of relations with the communist-ruled island.

“As the nation’s chief law enforcement officer, do you support the normalization of relations with Cuba without the return of fugitives from justice for prosecution who have the blood of Americans, including law enforcement officers, on their hands?” said the three senators in a letter to Mr. Holder.

As many as 70 fugitives from U.S. justice could be living in Cuba. Several criminals on the FBI’s Most Wanted List are known to have found refuge in Cuba.

JoAnne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, fled to Cuba in 1979 after fellow members of the Black Liberation Army broke her out of prison, where she was serving a life sentence for the execution-style murder of a New Jersey state trooper.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jan/23/gop-senators-eric-holder-us-fugitives-cuba/#ixzz3Q3lPXJv6 
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

Introducing, AVERAGE MUHAMAD

We all know about the  Charlie Hebdo Shooting: 12 Killed at Muhammad Cartoons Magazine in Paris. Right now seems the murderous spree is coming to a head, Cornered Charlie Hebdo suspects 'want to die as martyrs'.

Reason that I feel it necessary to remind everybody is more than to inflame. It

is my way to introduce everybody to Average Mohamed.

It can be difficult to remember that most Muslims are not like those who commit such despicable atrocities.

Average Mohamed counters terror message with cartoon videos

Muslim-American runs website with homemade videos to combat terrorist groups' efforts to recruit young Muslims.

In the war for young people's hearts and minds, Mohamed Ahmed hopes to use cartoons to dissuade a generation raised on "The Simpsons" and "South Park" from taking up arms for the Islamic State group and other extremist causes.

Ahmed, a convenience store manager from Minneapolis, has launched AverageMohamed.com, a website offering homemade videos aimed at countering the messages and images terrorists use to lure disaffected youths.

"I don't want my children fighting this war. Let's end this in my generation," said Ahmed, a married father of four young children.

Sitting in his sparsely furnished recording studio, Ahmed, 39, said he started his videos out of frustration.

"I've decided to take on one value at a time, one item at a time, to shoot down extremist ideology and philosophy," he said. He took the moniker "Average Mohamed" because of the worldwide popularity among Muslims of the Prophet Mohammed's name.

Ynet News

I thought of the videos Average Mohamed I have so far watched, this best applies to the latests wannabe martyrs.

The Amazing USS Zumwalt

The most modern of warships, USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) probably the most

revolutionary advancement in naval ships since the USS Nautilus (SSN-571).

I realize this is an expensive platform, but in a nutshell as stated in the following comentary, 

decision may have been penny wise and pound foolish, as it leaves significant voids in the Navy’s ability to adapt to future threats. Most notably, ending the Zumwalt program in favor of buying upgraded versions of the decades-old Arleigh-Burke DDG-51 destroyers limits the Navy’s capabilities without significantly reducing costs.

Only three DDG-1000 are to be built. I expect, hope this decision to be reversed. Won't be overnight, a few years down the road.

Cancelling the DDG-1000 Was a Big Mistake
by Ben Freeman
January 2015

The U.S. Navy’s DDG-1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers are extraordinarily expensive. Since

2009, the cost of the ships has increased 34.4 percent, according to the Congressional Research Service. Each of the three Zumwalt’s being built will cost taxpayers around $3.4 billion. And, that’s on top of the more than $9 billion in research and design funding that has gone into this program.

Are they worth the price? The Navy didn’t think so in 2009 when Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced the program would end with the procurement of just three ships, down from the 32 ships the Navy had initially planned to buy.

But, now that the first Zumwalt is actually in the water, there’s growing concern that this decision may have been penny wise and pound foolish, as it leaves significant voids in the Navy’s ability to adapt to future threats.


The problem with using DDG-51s in lieu of DDG-1000s is that they are “ill-suited to providing defensive cover for LCS or helping the Navy conduct operations in a coastal environment,” says Young. 

Thus, it’s not at all clear how LCS will be able to safely operate in littoral waters given that, alone, it’s “not expected to be survivable in high-intensity combat,” according to J. Michael Gilmore, Defense Department director of operational test and evaluation.

All of these comparisons between DDG-51s and DDG-1000s belie the fact that the ships should not be competitors; they serve different, but complementary roles that are both essential for the future of the U.S. Navy. Fortunately, it’s not too late for Congress to act — the DDG-1000 production line is still hot. If we’re serious about having a Navy that can adapt to the threats of tomorrow, then we need to get serious about DDG-1000’s today. 

National Defense