[ozswede]

Japanese man who spent more than $20,000 to become a dog has taken his first walk

A Japanese man who spent more than $20,000 to become a dog has finally taken his first walk and immediately made some canine friends.

Known only as Toco, the man spent two million Yen (A$22,000) on a hyperrealistic rough collie costume to fulfil his lifelong dream of “becoming an animal”.

In recent updates shared with his almost 30,000 YouTube subscribers, Toco was seen playing in his backyard on all fours and performing tricks in exchange for treats.


A Japanese man known as Toco has a lifelong dream of becoming an animal.

But now he has ventured into public for the first time to reveal his new look.

In a pair of surreal videos posted to his YouTube channel ‘I want to be an animal’, Toco was seen being taken out for a walk on a leash, sniffing at other dogs in a park and rolling around on the floor.

Toco’s grand debut — which was captured while he was filming a segment for a German TV station — seemed to be well-received by passers-by and other dogs, who appeared curious. It wasn’t clear whether they realised Toco wasn’t a natural-born dog.

“I became a collie, fulfilling a dream I had since I was a little child to be an animal!” subtitles at the beginning of the video read.


He recently embarked on his first public walk.


He met other dogs and passers-by on his adventure.

In an introduction to his YouTube channel, Toco explained via a series of written notes translated from Japanese (he doesn’t speak in the videos, since he wants to be a dog): “Nice to meet you. I became a rough (sic) collie because I wanted to be an animal … Please let me know your request for the video you would like to see in the comments!”

Toco says he hides his human identity because he doesn’t want to be judged by people he knows.

“I don’t want my hobbies to be known, especially by the people I work with,” he told reporters last year.

“They think it’s weird that I want to be a dog. For the same reason why I can’t show my real face.”

“I rarely tell my friends because I am afraid they will think I am weird,’ he said in a separate interview.

“My friends and family seemed very surprised to learn I became an animal.”


Toco performs tricks in exchange for treats.

In a clip of his first outdoor walk, which took place in September in his backyard, rather than in public, Toco said he felt “nervous and a little scared”.

“I’m very nervous,” he said in the video.

“Do you remember your dreams from when you are little? You want to be a hero or a wizard.

“I remember writing in my grade school graduation book that I wanted to be a dog and walk outside.”



Japanese company Zeppet, which makes costumes for TV commercials and films, spent 40 days making Toco’s $22,000 outfit.

A spokesperson for the company said: “Modelled after a collie dog, it reproduces the appearance of a real dog walking on four legs.”

Man who spent $14K to transform himself into collie steps out for first-ever walk in public



The dog days are just beginning for this man.

A Japanese native has transformed himself into a canine after forking out more than $14,000 for a custom-made collie costume.

The private citizen, who goes only by Toco online, says the unusual garment has helped actualize his dream of “becoming an animal.”

Footage shared to Toco’s YouTube channel, where he boasts more than 32,000 subscribers, shows him clad in the costume as he frolics on a lawn, rolls on a floor, and plays fetch.

Toco has even uploaded a video of himself venturing out in public as a dog for the very first time.

Bystanders appeared to be in awe of the man’s doggy debut as he paraded down a busy street in the viral clip, which has racked up 1.7 million views.
His hyperrealistic dog costume cost $20,000.

The $22,000 costume created by Zeppet.The $12,000 costume was created by Zeppet and took 40 days to create. YouTube

Toco completed the costume with a harness strapped around his furry abdomen, but admitted he was “nervous” and “scared” of venturing out in public.

Japanese engineer Toru Ueda likes to wind down from a busy week with a drink just like anyone else. But rather than heading down to the local watering hole, he likes to entertain at home — dressed up in a giant wolf in a suit worth $23,500.



I paid $23K for my wolf suit — now I’m free of human relationships

“Do you remember your dreams from when you are little? You want to be a hero or a wizard,” he wrote in the clip, describing his life-dog dog dream as seemingly “unrealistic.”

“I remember writing in my grade school graduation book that I wanted to be a dog and walk outside.”

As an introduction to his unusual hobby, Toco answered a series of questions in a video posted last year, admitting he always “had a vague dream of becoming an animal” ever since he was a child.

“When I fulfilled that dream, this is how it turned out,” he wrote in the clip, adding that he chose to become a collie due to the negligible size difference between the breed and humans.

He recently embarked on his first public walk.He recently embarked on his first public walk.YouTube

Toco performs tricks in exchange for treats.Toco performs tricks in exchange for treats.YouTube

Man spends $15K on high-tech dog costume to fulfill his lifelong dream

Zeppet, the company that manufactured Toco’s collie costume, says it took 40 days to create the furry fashion item, which cost a cool $2 million Yen (USD $14,161).

“Modeled after a collie dog, it reproduces the appearance of a real dog walking on four legs,” the company’s spokesperson told news.com.au.

Despite garnering online fame with his puppy pursuit, Toco conceals his unusual proclivities from most of his friends and family.

“I rarely tell my friends because I am afraid they will think I am weird,’ he said in a separate interview with the Mirror. “My friends and family seemed very surprised to learn I became an animal.”

Meanwhile, the Japanese man said last year that most of his colleagues are also unaware that he dresses as a dog outside of work.

“I don’t want my hobbies to be known, especially by the people I work with,” he told the Daily Mail.

Toco sits with a sign that reads "I'm human."Toco sits with a sign that reads “I’m human.”YouTube

“They think it’s weird that I want to be a dog. For the same reason why I can’t show my real face.”

https://nypost.com/2023/07/28/toco-the- ... in-public/

Ancient Glass Workshop Discovered in Czech Republic May Have Hosted Sacred Rituals, Archaeologists Say



An ancient glass workshop with Celtic coins and glass, sunken huts, and a possible sanctuary have been identified by archaeologists more than 20 years after the initial discovery of an Iron Age settlement at the Němčice site in Moravia in the eastern Czech Republic.

According to this latest study, published in Antiquity last month, this is the earliest known glass workshop in Transalpine Europe or present-day France, Belgium, parts of Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The site dates to the La Tène Age, between roughly 250 BCE and 150 BCE.

Previous excavations had yielded “semi-finished products and rejects of glass beads and production waste” within the same circular area. While the team believed that glass was being produced at the site, they hadn’t identified evidence of a glass workshop until now.

Traces of production features and equipment were found that, according to the study, have lent new insight into early production methods.

A mysterious square structure was also explored by archaeologists. Ritualistic spaces of this kind have been found at comparable sites. They believe that this sanctuary could have been used for similar purposes, making the site both a hub for commerce and production and, perhaps, for sacred rituals.

More than 2,000 Celtic coins dating to the first and second centuries BCE were also found in previous surveys of the site, along with glass bracelets, beads, and various bronze artifacts.

Němčice would have been part of a larger infrastructure of Central European settlements along the Amber Road, a notable trade route that linked the Baltic coast with the Adriatic region.

[goldie0608]

Couple breaks Guinness World Record for longest habanero pepper kiss



This couple isn’t afraid of getting hot and heavy.

Mike and Jamie Jack, from Ontario, Canada, spiced up their relationship by breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest habanero pepper kiss.

On 25 February, the husband-and-wife team each ate a habanero pepper before locking lips — reveling in the heat of the moment for 15 minutes, 6.5 seconds.

“The best part was that we got to kiss each other for 15 minutes,” Mike Jack told Guinness World Records.

Mike Jack already had several pepper-eating records under his belt, including for devouring Carolina Reapers and Bhut Jolokia.

Jamie Jack, meanwhile, had to build up a tolerance by eating a habanero every day for about a month before they attempted the hottest kiss of their life.

“We had 30 seconds to each eat a habanero and then we put our lips together for as long as we wanted,” Mike Jack told Guinness.

Habaneros boast a scorching 100,000 to 350,000 Scoville heat units, compared to jalapeños’ paltry 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville heat units, according to PepperScale.com.

The couple, however, is already looking to take their relationship to the next level, and have applied to attempt the record for the longest Bhut Jolokia chili pepper kiss, which can pack over 1,000,000 Scoville heat units.

[HogwartsExpress]

Bear spotted cooling off in a jacuzzi during Southern California heatwave

Police in the city of Burbank found the unexpected visitor taking a refreshing dip as the state and rest of the US Southwest baked by prolonged high temperatures.


With one paw resting casually on the side of the pool, a bear looked quite at home as he cooled his furry frame in a backyard jacuzzi during a summer heatwave in Southern California.

Responding to a call, police in the city of Burbank found the unexpected visitor taking a refreshing dip.

After a short bathe, the bear climbed over a wall and headed for a tree.

They released a video of the animal in the residential neighbourhood, which is about 10 miles (16km) north of Los Angeles, near the Verdugo Mountains.

Police have warned homeowners to avoid bears and to keep all rubbish and food locked up to discourage the animals from approaching their properties.

The unusual encounter came as the state and rest of the US Southwest bakes in prolonged high temperatures, although there are signs the scorching weather is beginning to abate, with chances of cooling monsoon thunderstorms.

Just as in countries across the Mediterranean, firefighters have been battling wildfires in California.

src; https://news.sky.com/story/bear-spotted ... e-12930379

[Fatima99]

An Infinitely Recyclable Bio-Plastic Could Solve World’s Pollution Problem



Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new infinitely recyclable plastic that could be the answer to the world’s growing pollution problem.

They’ve engineered microbes to make the ingredients for a sustainable alternative to the 90% of plastics that can’t currently be recycled, many of which use finite, polluting petrochemicals as the building blocks.

The California research team has successfully engineered microbes to make biological alternatives for the starting ingredients in an infinitely recyclable plastic known as poly(diketoenamine), or PDK.

“This is the first time that bioproducts have been integrated to make a PDK that is predominantly bio-based,” said project leader Dr Brett Helms.

“And it’s the first time that you see a bio-advantage over using petrochemicals, both with respect to the material’s properties and the cost of producing it at scale.”

He explained that, unlike traditional plastics, PDK can be repeatedly deconstructed into “pristine” building blocks and formed into new products with no loss in quality.

PDKs initially used building blocks derived from petrochemicals, but those ingredients can be redesigned and produced with microbes instead.

Now, after four years of trying, the researchers have manipulated E. coli to turn sugars from plants into some of the starting materials – a molecule known as triacetic acid lactone, or bioTAL – and produced a PDK with roughly 80 percent bio-content.

“We’ve demonstrated that the pathway to 100 percent bio-content in recyclable plastics is feasible, said Jeremy Demarteau, a project scientist on the team. “You’ll see that from us in the future.”

He said PDKs can be used for several products—including adhesives, flexible items such as computer cables or watch bands, and even building materials.

Researchers were surprised to find that incorporating the bioTAL into the material expanded its working temperature range by up to 60 degrees Celsius compared to the petrochemical version.

They say that opens the door to using PDKs in items that need specific working temperatures, including sports gear and automotive parts such as bumpers or dashboards.

“We can’t keep using our dwindling supply of fossil fuels,” said Professor Jay Keasling, senior faculty scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Biosciences Area. “We want to help solve the plastic waste problem by creating materials that are both biorenewable and circular – and providing an incentive for companies to use them.

“Then people could have the products they need for the time they need them, before those items are transformed into something new.”

The study, published in the journal Nature Sustainability, also builds on a 2021 environmental and technological analysis, which showed that PDK plastic could be commercially competitive with conventional plastics if produced at a large scale.

Corinne Scown, a staff scientist in Berkeley Lab’s Energy Technologies Area, added: “Our new results are extremely encouraging.

“We found that with even modest improvements to the production process, we could soon be making bio-based PDK plastics that are both cheaper and emit less CO2 than those made with fossil fuels.”

[PennySerenade]

93-Year-Old Man Summits Yosemite's Half Dome with Help of Son and Granddaughter



A 93-year-old California man just summited Yosemite’s Half Dome thanks in part to his son and granddaughter.
Everett Kalin, of Oakland, Calif., successfully completed the strenuous hike in three days last week, becoming one of the oldest, if not the oldest, person ever to climb the iconic piece of rock, according to SFGate.

“I didn't fully realize how tricky it would be, especially at my age,” Everett told the outlet about the effort, which starts out with a difficult subdome ascent — without cables — in which son Jon, 57, and granddaughter Sidney, 19, held on to him for support.

“He’s stubborn as a mule. When he sets his mind to something, he’s going to do it,” Jon told the newspaper. “He kept proving me wrong every step of the way."



“When you hit your 90s, you think, ‘What would be some things I’d like to do?’” added the nonagenarian. “I guess Half Dome was the thing that most popped into my mind.”

Known as an extremely difficult hike, the steep trail covers about 16 miles, according to the park's website.

Hikers gain 4,800 feet of elevation, passing highlights including Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall before steel cable handrails and wooden planks help them across the mountain's granite domes, per the website.
For his part, Everett prepared by climbing stairs in his 17-story apartment building and taking daily walks around Lake Merritt, he told SFGate.



After setting out on the trek, the family was able to reach the summit and come back down to their campground on the second day after 13 hours of total hiking, according to ABC affiliate KFSN-TV.

"I was pleasantly surprised that when I got up there, I did not feel like I was huffing and puffing so much. As we went up, it felt pretty good," Everett told the outlet.



Added John, "It was spectacular for the three generations of us to be together enjoying it all at once."

“I just feel so very grateful to the people that made it possible,” the former theology professor, who has no idea what his next adventure will be, told SFGate. “I’m actually feeling great."

[Misstee]

"Super Sturgeon Moon" is coming to your skies in two days
ByChrissy Sexton
Earth.com staff writer




August 2023 will offer stargazers the opportunity to see two supermoons. First, we have the “Super Sturgeon Moon” on August 1, coupled with the appearance of an elusive blue moon later in August.

A supermoon occurs when the full moon’s orbit positions it nearest to Earth. NASA clarifies that the moon’s path around our planet doesn’t form a perfect circle. Instead, it resembles an extended oval, known as an ellipse. This causes the moon to oscillate between closer and farther distances from our home planet as it completes its orbital cycle.

The moon travels to its farthest point from Earth, known as the apogee, where it sits at an average distance of 253,000 miles away. Conversely, the moon reaches the point known as the perigee, where it is closest to the Earth at roughly 226,000 miles away.
Close approach causes supermoons

It’s at the perigee stage that a supermoon occurs, when the full moon aligns with the moon’s closest approach to Earth. When observed from the Earth, supermoons tend to appear larger and brighter than a regular full moon, although the difference is slight.

This year’s supermoon cycle is particularly special because the four occurrences are happening consecutively. The first of this year’s supermoons appeared on July 3, and the final supermoon of this series will occur on September 29.
The Super Sturgeon Moon

The first of these, also known as the Sturgeon Moon, will occur on Tuesday, August 1, with the moon reaching its peak at 1:33 p.m. EDT. We call this the “Super Sturgeon Moon” because of the moon’s close proximity to Earth on August 1.

The name “Sturgeon Moon” comes from some Native American groups, primarily those in the Great Lakes region of North America, who found that sturgeon were most abundantly caught during this month.

Sturgeons are prehistoric-looking fish that have been around for over 130 million years. Many species of this fish have developed globally, with some finding a habitat in the Great Lakes.

Different cultures and societies have different names for the full moons throughout the year. For example, for Algonquins, the August full moon is also referred to as the “Grain Moon”. This is due to the prevalence of grains during the period.

Other names for the August full moon include the Green Corn Moon, the Barley Moon, or the Fruit Moon. These alternate names often reflect the various crops and foods that become ripe and ready to harvest during this time of year.
What is a blue moon?

The term blue moon does not refer to the moon’s color but rather to its frequency. A blue moon is the name given to the second full moon that occurs within a single calendar month.

Because a full moon generally appears every 29 days, and as most months are longer than this, comprising 30 or 31 days, it’s possible for two full moons to fall within the same month on occasion.

Blue moons are infrequent events that usually take place approximately every two and a half years. The most recent blue moon was visible on August 22, 2021.

This year, the month of August is set to play host to two full moons. Excitingly, both of these are also supermoons, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Closest full moon this year

August will wrap up with the appearance of a blue moon on Wednesday, August 30, reaching its peak at 8:36 p.m. EDT. This moon is not only significant for being the second full moon of the month (a blue moon), but is also classified as a supermoon.

This particular blue moon will be the closest full moon to Earth for the entire year. This adds an extra layer of astronomical intrigue to the event.

Overall, this August promises to be a magnificent time for astronomers and stargazers alike. For anyone planning to observe these lunar events, it’s best to find a location away from city lights for the clearest view. Also, using a telescope or even a good pair of binoculars can enhance the experience.

For supermoons, since they rise at sunset, looking for a location where you can see the horizon clearly will help you get the best view.
More about supermoons

A supermoon is a natural phenomenon where the full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, a point known as perigee. The effect of this coincidence creates a visual spectacle, making the moon appear substantially larger and brighter than usual.
Causes of a supermoon

A supermoon event results from the unique alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun. The moon follows an elliptical orbit around the Earth, which means its distance from our planet changes throughout the month.

At its farthest point, known as apogee, the moon stands around 405,500 kilometers away. Conversely, at perigee, the moon’s closest point to Earth, the distance decreases to approximately 363,300 kilometers.

When the moon reaches perigee at the same time as it becomes a full moon, the result is a supermoon. This is what is coming on August 1, 2023 with the appearance of the “Super Sturgeon Moon”.

This precise alignment creates a slightly larger and brighter moon. Increases are seen of up to 14% in apparent size and up to 30% in brightness compared to a micromoon, the term for a full moon at apogee.
History and naming of the supermoon

The term “supermoon” traces its roots back to astrology rather than astronomy. Astrologer Richard Nolle first coined the term in 1979 to refer to a new or full moon that occurs when the moon is within 90% of its closest approach to Earth.

However, astronomers prefer the term “perigee-syzygy” to describe this celestial alignment, where “syzygy” refers to the alignment of three celestial bodies, in this case, the sun, Earth, and moon.
Cultural significance

The occurrence of a supermoon, including the “Super Sturgeon Moon,” carries significance in various cultures. Many indigenous cultures ascribe special meaning to supermoons, and their appearance often features in folklore and mythology.

In modern times, supermoons tend to draw large numbers of spectators due to their increased brightness and size. They offer unique opportunities for night-time photography and observation.
Frequency and prediction of supermoons

Supermoons are not particularly rare phenomena, occurring roughly three to four times per year. Their predictability stems from the consistent nature of the moon’s orbit and the regularity of the lunar cycle, which spans 29.5 days from one full moon to the next. Scientists can accurately predict the occurrence of supermoons years in advance using mathematical models.

Not all supermoons are equal, though. The size and brightness of a supermoon can vary depending on the exact distance of the moon at perigee and the amount of light it reflects from the sun.

In summary supermoons are a fascinating celestial phenomenon rooted in the intricate dance of celestial mechanics. Their larger, brighter appearance compared to typical full moons has drawn interest from cultures worldwide and continues to captivate observers and photographers alike.

The predictable yet variable nature of supermoons invites ongoing observation and study. They reinforce the enduring allure of our celestial companion, the moon.
More about Super Sturgeon moons

Native American traditions gave rise to the term “Sturgeon Moon”. They used this term to refer to the full moon that typically occurs in August each year. It derives its name from the sturgeon fish. These abundant fish were most plentiful in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain during this period.
History and origin

The naming tradition originates from Native Americans, particularly those located in the northeastern and central United States.

These groups, like the Algonquin, used lunar cycles to track seasons and significant times of the year, rather than the Gregorian calendar. Each month’s full moon received a distinct name that reflected the seasonal changes or associated activities.

The name ‘Sturgeon Moon’ is believed to have been adopted because August was the month when sturgeon fish were most plentiful. The ample presence of this fish made it a crucial resource for many people. Sturgeon fish contributed significantly to their sustenance.
Astronomical significance

The Sturgeon Moon does not have specific astronomical significance in the way that a solar or lunar eclipse would. It does not affect the moon’s appearance or position.

Instead, it carries cultural and historical significance. Like other full moons, the Sturgeon Moon rises in the east around sunset and sets in the west around sunrise.
Other names

While the Sturgeon Moon is the most common name, various groups and cultures have given the August full moon different names. Each name reflects their unique observations and experiences.

For instance, some groups referred to it as the Green Corn Moon, signaling the time when corn was nearing harvest. Others called it the Grain Moon, marking the ripening of other staple crops.

In some regions, it is also known as the Red Moon. This is due to the heat haze of August, which can cause the moon to have a reddish appearance when it rises.

When the Sturgeon Moon is also a supermoon, many people also call it a “Super Sturgeon Moon” because of its close distance to Earth.
Modern observance

Today, many people worldwide recognize and celebrate the full moons using their Native American names, including the Sturgeon Moon. The modern observance is more of a tribute to these ancient cultures and their deep connection to nature.

Astrologers, astronomers, and moon enthusiasts often look forward to the Sturgeon Moon. They document its rise and set times, as well as its position in the sky. In some regions, festivals, events, and rituals are held under the August full moon to honor the old traditions and to celebrate the peak of summer.

In summary, the Sturgeon Moon is a part of the rich tapestry of cultural heritage left behind by Native Americans. These lunar names serve as reminders of a time when humanity’s existence was intimately tied to the rhythms of nature. By acknowledging and celebrating the Sturgeon Moon, modern societies can maintain a connection to this history and the natural world.
More about blue moons

A Blue Moon refers to an unusual occurrence within our lunar calendar. This is most commonly defined as the second full moon within a calendar month. Although the term “Blue Moon” suggests a change in color, a Blue Moon retains its normal whitish hue. This article will delve into the origin of the term, how it’s calculated, its frequency, and cultural significance.
Origin and definition of the blue moon

The term “Blue Moon” dates back to at least the 16th century in English literature, initially symbolizing absurdity and improbability. In modern usage, the phrase stands for a relatively rare event, hence the saying, “once in a blue moon.”

The widely accepted definition, indicating the second full moon in a calendar month, became popular following an error in an article in “Sky & Telescope” magazine in 1946.

This definition stemmed from a misinterpretation of the Maine Farmer’s Almanac. The almanac originally defined a Blue Moon as the third full moon in a season that has four full moons instead of the usual three. Both definitions are in use today, but the former has more widespread acceptance.
Calculation and frequency of blue moons

Blue Moons appear based on the incongruity between our calendar system and the lunar cycle. The lunar cycle, the period from one full moon to the next, spans approximately 29.5 days, while most months have 30 or 31 days. This discrepancy allows for two full moons to occur within the same month.

Based on the more common definition, a Blue Moon can occur, on average, once every 2.5 to 3 years. In terms of seasonal Blue Moons, they occur roughly once every 2.5 years as well. The year 1999 famously had two Blue Moons. One was in January and one in March, with no full moon in February.
Cultural significance

Despite no visible difference from regular full moons, Blue Moons hold cultural significance due to their rarity. They are often subjects of folklore, songs, and expressions symbolizing infrequent events or occurrences. The phrase “once in a blue moon” represents something that doesn’t happen very often.

From a scientific standpoint, Blue Moons offer no specific value. This is because they are a result of our calendar system rather than an astronomical event. Nevertheless, they provide an opportunity to engage the public in lunar observation and an appreciation for the rhythms of our natural world.

A Blue Moon, while not visually distinct, carries a unique charm due to its rarity and the myths that surround it. It is a reminder of the complex interplay between our calendar, celestial mechanics, and cultural imagination. Despite being a product of human time-keeping, the occurrence of a Blue Moon can prompt renewed interest in the night sky and the intriguing patterns that unfold in it.

—-

[lush]

Father Finds Abducted Son After 22 Years of Desperate Searching
070723*

A Chinese man who has dedicated most of the last 22 years to trying to find his abducted son finally managed to find his son in a city 560 miles (900 kilometers) away.

On October 9, 2001, Lei Wuze left his home in Yueyang, Hunan Province without knowing that it would be the last time he would see his son for over two decades. The man left his 4-year-old boy, Yuechuan, playing under the supervision of one of his neighbors. The woman later told police that they had met a suspicious man on the street who had later laid a trap for the boy and abducted him when she wasn’t paying attention. Lei was devastated, but he never lost hope of one day seeing his boy again. He immediately embarked on long trips in and around Yueyang, holding pictures of his son and stopping people in traffic to ask if they had seen him. Years passed, but Lei Wuze persisted, and this year, his resilience finally paid off.



Over the 22 years he spent searching for his son, Lei Wuze became friends with other parents just as desperate to find their abducted children. Seeing many of them reunited with their offspring gave him hope that one day he too would get to hold Yuechuan in his arms again. Despite getting older and feeling more tired with each passing year, he never gave up. Instead, he only tried harder in recent years, even turning to experimental facial recognition technology.

During the last two decades of searching for his son, Lei Wuze met more than 300 policemen, some of whom were more helpful than others, and visited hundreds of cities across China, rushing there for the vaguest trace of Yuechuan’s whereabouts. He always returned home disappointed, until this year…



Lei Wuze’s saving grace came from a cutting-edge facial-recognition software dubbed “Face Recognition 2.0 Prototype” by the Chinese press. It was used by police to find likely matches using an aging model based on photos of Lei Yuechuan as a child. Earlier this year, Wuze was informed that his DNA perfectly matched that of a 26-year-old man in Shenzen, over 900 kilometers away from where Yuechuan had been taken. A second DNA test was conducted, and the match was confirmed.

Interestingly, Wuze had been to Shenzhen several times, on one occasion even staying a few kilometers from Yuechuan’s home, but he always returned home
disappointed.



After Yuechuan’s abduction, Lei Wuze and his wife had a daughter, but they never gave up on finding their son. On his deathbed, Wuze’s father asked him to bring the boy back home, and he dedicated his entire life to this goal. He posted leaflets all over China, went on TV shows and radio broadcasts, and was always active online. Lei estimates that he dedicated over 70 percent of his time during the last 22 years to finding Yuechuan.

Lei Wuze, who has been buying his son birthday presents every year, despite his absence, finally met 26-year-old Yuechan at the end of last month. It was a touching conclusion to a heartbreaking story spanning over two decades. It is unclear whether Yuechuan has any family of his own yet, and if he wants to come live with his biological family, but the simple fact that Lei finally found his long-lost son is sure to at least bring his family some much-needed closure.



A few years back, we featured the similar story of Wang Mingqing, another Chinese father who found his abducted daughter after a 24-year search.

Armless 7-Year-old Boy Gets to Finally Go Fishing–After Donation of a New ‘Hero Arm’ (LOOK)

July 30, 2023


Alexander Sparkes fishing with his new Hero Arm (SWNS)

A seven-year-old boy born without an arm has been able to hold a fishing rod with two hands for the first time.

Alex Sparkes spent birthdays ‘wishing his arm would grow’, but now he’s happily casting alongside his dad using a new ‘life-changing’ $16,000 prosthetic limb.

The Black Panther-themed arm was a gift from ‘Britain’s kindest plumber’ James Anderson, a 55-year-old who was touched by Alex’s tale.

His mother Dionne, now 33, said she’d had a normal pregnancy but Alex was born without a limb. It was heartbreaking, especially later, when the boy went to school and young kids were afraid of him because of his missing arm.

He’d been on the list of UK patients due to receive a prosthetic arm from the National Health Service before the pandemic, but three years later, he was still waiting in Lancashire, England.

After his parents attended an event by Open Bionics, which makes a robotic arm so advanced it allows wearers to pick up a pin with its fingers, they launched a crowdfunding bid to raise the £12,700 ($16,000) needed to purchase the arm, which they said would be life-changing for Alex.

When plumber James saw the online appeal he ‘fell in love’ with Alex and offered to pay for the arm.
Since receiving his Black Panther-themed arm, Alex has been able to put toothpaste on his toothbrush for the first time and will learn how to tie his shoelaces.

And Alex is ecstatic to have finally fulfilled his lifelong dream of holding a rod for the first time during a fishing trip with his dad to nearby Cornfield Fisheries.


Alexander with dad Robin Sparkes – SWNS

“With his new hero arm, he’s a lot more independent, I don’t have to be there by his side all the time with the fishing rod. He can handle the rod on his own and he’s able to catch his own fish.

“We’re realizing what he couldn’t do before, rather than what he can do now.”

Alex said the new arm they picked up last week is ‘amazing’.

“I can now pick up stuff. I feel happy when I’m fishing with two hands and I can reel the rod.”

Dionne said Alex ‘had the biggest smile on his face’ when they picked up his new bionic arm on July 24.


Alexander Sparkes with his new Hero Arm – SWNS

“Now that he’s got the arm, every half an hour he’s asking me if I can believe he’s got his arm.

GNN posted a story in 2022 about the plumber James, who runs DEPHER, the social benefit organization that normally provides free services to the elderly and others struggling with rent and housing problems.

“It’s also given him the independence of pouring a drink himself and not needing any help—and he can fully get dressed by himself.

“He could do it before, but now he’s got his arm he can do it normally.

“To me, that’s him feeling like he’s complete.”

Why Do Dogs Tilt Their Head to the Side?

by Stephanie Pappas for Scientific American



Ask your dog if they want to go to the park, and you might get an inquisitive-looking head tilt in response. This cute canine behavior is familiar to dog owners, but no one really knows why human’s best friend does it—and scientists have published just one study focusing on possible reasons for head tilting in dogs. That research suggests the animals might cock their furry noggins when processing familiar words.

“In humans, when you remember a story or something, you tilt your head to the side, and you have this mental image of something in your mind,” says Andrea Sommese, an animal cognition researcher at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary and lead author of the study. “Probably it’s the same for dogs.”

Many animals tilt their head as they encounter the sights, sounds and smells of the world. Much of this has to do with having a preferred ear (or sometimes nostril), Sommese says.

In other cases, it’s about localizing a sound, says Julia Meyers-Manor, an animal cognition researcher at Ripon College, who was not involved with the research. “Humans do it; birds do it; dogs do it,” Meyers-Manor says. “Lots of different species will do this head tilt because that changes the angle that your ears are at, and now the sound is reaching one ear faster than the other.”

Barn owls are champion head tilters, for example, and can also swivel their neck 270 degrees around. This adaptation helps them fix their eyes—which are largely immovable—on their prey, and it lets them point their sensitive ears in almost any direction, according to a 2017 study in the Journal of Anatomy.

But in at least some cases of canine head tilt, the behavior seems to be more about processing information than about collecting it in the first place. Sommese and his colleagues studied a subset of “gifted” dogs that could learn the names of many individual toys—a feat that’s nigh impossible for the average pooch. When comparing the performance of these overachieving dogs with their counterparts that couldn’t be trained to learn toy names, the researchers found the gifted dogs tilted their head 43 percent of the time when their owner said the name of one of their toys. That’s compared with just 2 percent of the time for the typical dogs.

The gifted dogs tilted their head in the same direction no matter where their owner was standing, suggesting that the behavior wasn’t about pinpointing the sound but about processing it and matching it to a mental image, Sommese says.

“Probably it doesn’t happen in the typical dogs because typical dogs don’t associate a name to a particular toy, so they cannot recall a memory,” he says. But a typical dog might respond with a head tilt to something it does find relevant, such as the promise of a treat or a walk down the block.

Sommese and his colleagues published their findings in 2021 in the journal Animal Cognition, and they haven’t yet been able to follow up on the head-tilting aspect of canine cognition. So why might head tilting seem to help dogs process a familiar word? It could have to do with the fact that the brain is lateralized, meaning that the processing regions for certain stimuli are located on one side or the other. In humans, language processing is centered mostly in the left side of the brain. Dogs process familiar human words on the right side of the brain, according to a 2016 study published in Science, but the same concept might still hold true.

Over time, Meyers-Manor says, this could also become a social cue that could show others that you’re active and engaged in what’s going on around you. This social aspect might explain why humans interpret the doggy head tilt to indicate attentive curiosity—and why we can’t help finding it so cute.

'Loch Thames Monster' spotted in UK river as one witness 'unable to sleep at night'
The mysterious shape peering above the waters of the River Thames with a red 'eye' has been nicknamed the 'Loch Thames Monster' - while others think it could be a snake



A bizarre object in London's famous river has been dubbed 'the Loch Thames Monster' - and has left the internet divided.

One user posted the image of the strange object on social networking site Reddit last week, accompanied with a note explaining how they had spotted it in the water. They wrote: "Saw a mad thing in the Thames just now."

The photograph appears to show a large black mass peering above the water, with a curious eye-like red circle protruding towards the front of it. While it's a mystery what exactly is shown, that hasn't stopped some commenters from letting their imagination run wild as to what could be lurking in the capital's waterways.

One fearful user wrote "Ah, one more thing to add to my irrational fear collection", as another person agreed: "Well I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight." Another suggested its identity was "Baby Godzilla."

A debate also erupted as to the likelihood of an unknown sea creature lurking in one of the best-known rivers in the world, with some appearing to suggest it was simply a compelling snap of a rock or a wooden post. One curious person asked: "Was it just floating downstream like some inanimate object or did it move like something that was evidently alive?", to which a more sceptical user replied: "It's almost certainly the top of a wooden post." Someone else suggested: "A lid on a rock."

Others however seemed more ready to believe, and one Reddit user suggested that it could be the "famous Thames Anaconda" that became urban legend after an enormous snake skin was found in the river last year. In August 2022, the unexplained scaly remains were found on the shores of the River Thames in London by someone scavenging for valuable objects.

Jason Sandy was mudlarking when he came across the foul-smelling five-foot skin on the north side of the Thames close to the busy Hammersmith Bridge. It was speculated that the scaly skin could belong to a boa constrictor that had been abandoned or even escaped from its owner. The snake species is non-venomous and normally found in Central and South America.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/loch-thames-monster-spotted-uk-30592450

[johngriffen]

I sometimes get REALLY DEPRESSED reviewing the news these days.
It's always about a global pandemic threatening life as we know it,
protests around the world, stupid politicians, natural disasters,
or some other really bad story.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Welcome to The mobi weekly news magazine
IN OTHER NEWS
MONDAY JULY 31
What is it?
Here is your chance to become an "ACE REPORTER" for our weekly news magazine.
It is your job to fine weird, funny or "good feel" stories from around the world and share them with our readers in our weekly magazine

How do you play?
Just post a story that you have come across that made you smile, laugh, feel good...
BUT NOTHING DEPRESSING

EXAMPLE POST

​Naked sunbather chases wild boar through park after it steals his laptop bag

A naked sunbather was seen chasing wild boar through a park after it stole his laptop bag.
Amusing photographs from Germany show the man running after the animal to try and claim the plastic bag back.
But the cheeky boar and its two piglets appear to be too quick for the sunbather, who can't keep up with their speedy little trotters.
As the incident unfolds, groups of friends and family sat on the grass watch on and laugh.
Heads are seen turning in surprise and amusement in the hilarious photographs.
The incident happened at Teufelssee Lake - a bathing spot in the Grunwell Forest in Berlin, Germany.

Rules:
Each Edition of IN OTHER NEWS will be open for 7 days...
You can post as many stories as you like, but you will only get paid for One Story in any 24 hour period
So in other words, you can only earn WRZ$ once a day.
Each news day will start when I post announcing it
OR at:
9:00 AM CHICAGO TIME (UTC -6)
3:00 PM GMT (UTC -0)
on those days I space out and forget to post or can't due to Real Life
Stories may be accompanied with images - but No big images, please! 800x800 pixels wide maximum
Videos are allowed, but please keep them short, and post a short summary for those that don't like to click on videos
No Duplicate stories - Where a post has been edited resulting in duplicates, then the last one in time gets disallowed.
And please limit this to reasonably family friendly stories

Reward:
Each news story posted that I feel is acceptable (must be a real story, too few words or simply a headline are not considered acceptable) will earn you 50 WRZ$
If you post multiple stories on any given day, you will only earn 50 WRZ$ for the first story of the Day
All payments will be made at THE END of the weekly news cycle.
Special Bonus - Each week I will award "The Pulitzer Prize" for the best story of the week
The weekly winner of the "The Pulitzer Prize" will receive a 100 WRZ$ bonus
It's just my personal opinion, so my judgement is final

So help bring GOOD news to the members of mobi, and join our reporting team...

IN OTHER NEWS

NOTE: THE RECAP AND REWARDS WILL BE DONE LATER

[lush]

Doctors Find Whole Octopus Stuck in Man’s Esophagus
071023*

Doctors in Singapore were shocked to discover an octopus lodged in a man’s esophagus while performing a gastrointestinal examination to see what was causing him to vomit.

The unnamed Singaporean man first realized something was wrong when he started vomiting following a meal that happen to include a raw octopus. When he realized that he also had trouble swallowing, the man panicked and quickly decided to pay a visit to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital emergency room. Doctors there quickly conducted a CT scan, which revealed a super-dense mass in the man’s esophagus, but they couldn’t be sure what it was without attempting an invasive procedure called esophagogastroduodenoscopy, which involves inserting a small, flexible tube with a camera at its end down the person’s throat. That’s how they discovered that the man had a whole octopus stuck in his throat.


Photo: Moritz Kindler/Unsplash

Imagine the surprise of the doctors performing the gastrointestinal examination as they discovered the Alien-like cephalopod stuck in the passage between the man’s esophagus and stomach. Images from the endoscope camera were recently shared by the American Gastrointestinal Association (AGA) Institute, and show the eight-tentacled critter stuck in the man’s esophagus, preventing him from swallowing.

At first, doctors tried the “push technique”, which usually proves very successful, but it soon became apparent that the octopus would not go down without a fight, and applying too much pressure risked rupturing the esophagus. So they tried getting the endoscope past the octopus into the stomach and then retroflexing it. They then had to use forceps to grab the sea creature and pull it out of the esophagus.

It’s unclear why the man swallowed the octopus whole, but, luckily, he recovered very well after the gastrointestinal procedure and was discharged after two days. At least he didn’t try to eat the marine creature alive, or he could have wound up one of the six people on average who die asphyxiated every year. Apparently, the octopuses desperately glue their tentacles to people’s throats as they are swallowed, cutting off the passage of air completely.

via NY Post

[ozswede]

Queensland retiree finds sapphire worth $300,000

When Carmel Ash was caravanning in Queensland’s Gemfields in 2020, she never expected to find a stone worthy of boosting her retirement nest egg.

"I said, 'pigs will fly' that I’ll find anything that big," she said. But Ms Ash found a stone so large it became a local legend.


Carmel Ash initially thought the 424-carat sapphire was a black rock when she spotted it in Queensland's Gemfields.

Many thought it was a ploy to draw more tourists to the area until Ms Ash returned this year to set the record straight.

She named the 424-carat yellow sapphire Amazing Grace.

"It’s amazing that I even saw it because I’m half blind … it was sitting there waiting for me," she said.

When she found it in 2020, the then-69 year-old was suffering from vertigo and said it was a miracle she even spotted the gem while specking in Glenalva, a public fossicking area near Willows in central Queensland.

Specking is the practice of walking along and picking up sapphires from the ground and is commonly done after downpours, which wash away the top layer of soil.


Mervyn and Carmel Ash have been travelling to the Gemfields since 2008.

Spark of green from stone

The Maleny retiree said when she saw Amazing Grace she initially ignored it, because it looked like a black rock.

"I have to bend down to see sapphires amongst the stones these days … and the sun just shone in and a spark of green came out of the stone," Ms Ash said.

"I thought it was a big bomb but I was still excited because that was going to make me have a bigger bomb than all my friends." A "bomb" is a term used for stones not considered suitable for jewellery but still collectable.

Ms Ash's scales were too small to weigh the stone, but a local jewellery shop weighed it at 424 carats. She said it has since been valued at a maximum of about $300,000. The stone is now under lock and key in a secret secure location.


"Amazing Grace" next to a 50-cent coin.

"I was absolutely astounded," Ms Ash said. "It’s a bonus we weren’t expecting and as retirees it's just going to be a big top-up for us."

Chances to strike it rich

Ms Ash said she first visited the Gemfields region in 2008 and since then, has returned almost every winter season to try her luck.

"You'll see a bit of crystal — green or blue or yellow — and it just gives you a buzz every time you see it in the ground," she said. "It doesn't have to be a big one."

Sapphire caravan park owner Victoria Bentham said some people believed "Amazing Grace" was simply a tale to encourage gem fever.

She said there are still plenty of chances to strike it rich, but the average sapphire hunter will find smaller stones.


The Gemfields is one of the largest sapphire-bearing regions in the world.

In recent weeks Ms Bentham said a couple also found a 317-carat bomb in Sapphire.

Ms Bentham said as the peak tourism season gets underway, the town is buzzing with caravanners and retirees from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

"We try and encourage even the newbies to go out and do a bit of digging for themselves, it's nice to experience what it's all about," she said. "Doing a bag of wash, that's the easy way but you don't get to appreciate the time and effort that is required to actually go out and find a beautiful gemstone."

Ms Ash said she still visited the Gemfields regularly, but had not found any other stones as large.

"We haven't found much at all. It's very depressing but we find little tiny stuff," she said. "Amazing Grace" was named after Ms Ash's granddaughter.