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Lost in translation

Consistency, the hobgoblin of small minds

How cats came to rule the world.

Ancient DNA reveals role of Near East and Egypt in cat domestication

KU Leuven

DNA found at archaeological sites reveals that the origins of our domestic cat are in the Near East and ancient Egypt.

Cats were domesticated by the first farmers some 10,000 years ago. They later spread across Europe and other parts of the world via trade hub Egypt.

The DNA analysis also revealed that most of these ancient cats had stripes: spotted cats were uncommon until the Middle Ages.

Five subspecies of the wildcat Felis silvestris are known today. All skeletons look exactly alike and are indistinguishable from that of our domestic cat. As a result, it's impossible to see with the naked eye which of these subspecies was domesticated in a distant past.

URI group investigates impacts of diet, exercise on development of dementia

Disciplines from across University, community partners bring new perspectives to research

Carol McCarthy

Faculty, staff and graduate students from a broad range of disciplines at the University of Rhode Island are taking on one of society’s most vexing health challenges: how to prevent or slow the onset of dementia through changes in diet and exercise.

What sets the Lifestyle Interventions Group apart is its inclusion of disciplines beyond the typical confines of brain science, as well as its engagement with organizations, communities and individuals from around the state. 

This holistic perspective expands and enriches avenues of investigation, with the objective of providing the scientific underpinnings to support practical changes in behavior that can improve people’s lives, said William Renehan, associate director of the George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience at URI and a founder of the group.

The idea that simple changes in behavior could reduce the risk of developing dementia intrigues Renehan, who noted that separate studies by the National Institutes of Health and the Alzheimer’s Association looked at the role of exercise and diet in the context of dementia and reached starkly different conclusions. 

Flying Will Get More Complicated If The Dept. Of Homeland Security Gets It’s Way

Just when you didn’t think flying could get any worse, it very well may.

By Naydeane May 

It is possible in the near future your electronic life is going to be more difficult when you fly the not so friendly skies.  

The Department of Homeland Security announced that they are thinking about expanding the electronics ban to more than 371 airports. 

 The idea is to extend the ban to Europe, Africa, and maybe some domestic airports.  So far no other country has an electronic ban, however Britain is talking about one.

Homeland Security secretary John Kelly told a House of Representatives panel that they are looking at an additional 71 airports. 

CNBC reported that Kelly will be attending a conference next week in Malta  “to present what we think are the minimum increased security standards … and present those to people to say if you meet these standards we will not ban large electronics.” Homeland security refused to say which were the 71 airports under consideration.

So what will happen if the airports do not cooperate with the US?  They will be put on an “affected airports” list.

State Police interview owner of George’s of Galilee for threat against state Senator

Durfee’s statement to State Police conflicts with Durfee’s “apology” e-mail.

By Bob Plain in Rhode Island’s Future

Server is sick? Tough! Work or don't get paid.

A pair of public documents contain conflicting theories about who sent state Senator Maryellen Goodwin a threatening email this week concerning earned sick time legislation that said, in part, “The more you meddle with the hand that feeds you, the more you risk getting bit. We are fucking fed up and extremely close to violent opposition.”

Kevin Durfee, owner of George’s of Galilee, concedes he owns the email address the threatening message came from, but in a subsequent email to Goodwin he said he “did not write the email nor do I agree with what was written.”

A State Police report filed a day before Durfee sent Goodwin the second email suggests otherwise.

In the report, provided to several news organizations by House Spokesman Greg Pare, the man police “identified as the sender” told them “he was upset with the upcoming legislation that would have an effect on his business” and “apologized for the email that he sent,” according to the report.

The police report says “he will send the Senator an apology letter immediately.”

The email to Goodwin does not contain any apology.

Both the email and the narrative from the police report are pictured below.

Wingnuts of the Weekend

At the Charlestown Gallery, starting July 1

The Really BIG Summer Group Show 2017 25 Artists Paintings, Sculpture, Photography You are invited to attend an artists reception: Saturday, July 1st / 5:30 - 8:00PM Over 100 new works of art Showing from July 1st - July 31st Charlestown Gallery 5000 South County Trail, Charlestown RI (401) 364-0120  charlestowngallery@cox.net charlestowngalleryri@cox.net

Be careful around wildlife

DEM reminds public to avoid contact with young wildlife that appear abandoned

Photo by Will Collette

At this time of year, people may observe wildlife such as fawns that appear abandoned, as their mothers are out foraging for food.

Homeowners may also notice snapping turtles laying eggs on their property. People should avoid approaching or disturbing these animals.

Unless a dead doe is found nearby, fawns are not considered abandoned. 

During the first week following birth, fawns are incapable of following their mother and will often lie in a curled position on the ground hidden in grass or sparse brush.

Typically the mothers are nearby and will come to the fawn a few times during the day or after dark for feedings.

Anyone who observes a fawn in this condition should leave it alone, as the doe will return.

They are also advised to:

Dog of the week

Meet Popo

Animal Rescue Rhode Island

Polo is a very sweet, medium sized dog who loves to play!

He knows how to entertain himself, but he would much rather share his adventures with you.

Stop by ARRI and meet this wonderful boy today!

Please stop by our shelter located at 506B Curtis Corner Road in Peace Dale or call 401-783-7606 for more information about Polo or our many other adoptable pets waiting for their new forever homes.

You can also visit our website at www.animalrescueri.org.

And don’t forget our furry friends at the Charlestown Animal Shelter.

Trump ‘Simply Does Not Care’ About People With HIV/AIDS

6 members of Trump’s task force on HIV/AIDS quit, saying Trump doesn’t care 

By Naydeane May 

Almost 25% of the President-appointed task force on HIV/AIDS resigned last week in frustration over President Trump’s policies. 

The resignation was announced by an open letter sent to Newsweek. Scott Schoettes, counsel and HIV Project director at Lambda Legal, wrote that there is no strategy, no input from experts to formulate policy, and the worst: promotes policy that harms people with HIV/AIDS, and halts or reverses gains in the fight against the disease. The board members feel that Trump just doesn’t care.

Most concerning, Schoettes wrote that:

As advocates for people living with HIV, we have dedicated our lives to combating this disease and no longer feel we can do so effectively within the confines of an advisory body to a president who simply does not care.

A good deal of the reason the board members resigned was over the AHCA (American Health Care Act) pushed by Republicans. The bill would make it very difficult for people with AIDS, make it more difficult to receive adequate healthcare, and possibly keep them from getting treatment.

Straight talk on Trumpcare

From the guy who got us Obamacare

President Barack Obama

Our politics are divided. They have been for a long time. And while I know that division makes it difficult to listen to Americans with whom we disagree, that’s what we need to do today.

I recognize that repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act has become a core tenet of the Republican Party.

Still, I hope that our Senators, many of whom I know well, step back and measure what’s really at stake, and consider that the rationale for action, on health care or any other issue, must be something more than simply undoing something that Democrats did.

We didn’t fight for the Affordable Care Act for more than a year in the public square for any personal or political gain – we fought for it because we knew it would save lives, prevent financial misery, and ultimately set this country we love on a better, healthier course.

Nor did we fight for it alone. Thousands upon thousands of Americans, including Republicans, threw themselves into that collective effort, not for political reasons, but for intensely personal ones – a sick child, a parent lost to cancer, the memory of medical bills that threatened to derail their dreams.

Trumpcare, summarized

You don't have to be Einstein, though it helps