Briefcase of old photos rescued from trash at New York park, returned to family



A New York man who found a briefcase filled with old photos in a public park trash can was able to reunite the photos with family members of the owners.

Dimitri Romanenko said he was walking in Elmwood Park in Syracuse when he spotted an old briefcase thrown into the trash.

Romanenko discovered the briefcase contained what appeared to be a family's photos and personal documents from the 1930s-1960s.

Romanenko posted photos of his discovery on Facebook in the hopes of finding someone who recognized the people in the pictures.

A TV news report on the photos came to the attention of Dorothy Cooper, who recognized the photos as belonging to Geraldine Neary and Robert "Bob" Hunt, her deceased aunt and uncle.

"It just brings back a lot of memories and I'm sure once everybody else looks at these pictures, they'll bring back memories for them too," Cooper told WSYR-TV.

Cooper said her family does not know how the photos ended up in a public park trash can.

"I think it was a shame that someone would just abandon pictures like this because you cannot replace these," Cooper said. "These are irreplaceable and I just think it's a tragedy that they would just discard somebody else's property like this. Who did it? I have no idea."

https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/06/17 ... 623956285/

How playing video games could get you a better job

By David Molloy
Technology of Business reporter

Still from Fortnite gameimage copyrightEpic Games
image captionIf you're a hit at playing Fortnite, why not add that skill to your CV?

The gaming industry is larger than films and music combined, yet few of us are likely to put our Fortnite playing achievements on our CVs. But why not? Businesses are waking up to the skills gamers can bring to the workplace.

One start-up is convinced that the skills learned playing games - hard-won through years of training and battle - can be applied to real-life work situations.

And Game Academy reckons its belief is backed up by hard data.

Do you enjoy unusual puzzle games like Portal, or tower defence games like Defense Grid? The team has found that IT workers play those more than average.

But if you prefer Civilization, Total War, or X-Com, where strategy and resource management are key, then you might have more in common with managers.

Game Academy's idea is simple: analyse gamers' habits from their online gaming profile, and offer courses in valuable skills that reflect their aptitudes - skills they can practise and refine in-game.

And there is already a growing acceptance that gaming skills are transferable.
Man playing video gameimage copyrightGetty Images
image captionThe stereotype of the antisocial gamer is being challenged by new evidence

Even the military is hiring gamers.

"The ability to assimilate information, react swiftly and co-ordinate actions whilst remaining calm under pressure are often attributes of people that are good at gaming," a Royal Air Force spokesperson tells the BBC.

Those skills are part of what the RAF is looking for "in a variety of roles".

"Skills acquired through gaming can be very relevant to certain areas."

"There are plenty of soft skills that gamers can utilise in a professional setting, such as teamwork, problem solving and strategic planning," says Ryan Gardner, a regional director with Hays recruitment.

But does that really mean your top 100 ranking in Overwatch should go down on your CV?

"It's about how you either make it relevant to the job you are applying for, or how it makes you more interesting as a potential employee," Mr Gardner says.

Two years ago, a Glasgow University study made headlines for suggesting gaming could make students more successful.

But "the research hasn't really changed minds, at least not yet," says one of the authors of the study, Dr Matthew Barr. He's now writing a book on the topic.

"For now, I think the stigma around games means that telling someone you're a hardcore gamer is more likely to harm your chances of getting a job.

"But if someone can articulate how they've led a team in an online game, for example, they may be able to persuade an employer that this is useful," says Dr Barr.

Playing games casually - without thinking much about the skills you're using - is unlikely to help your career prospects.

But part of Game Academy's pitch is to transform casual gamers into "conscious" ones, applying critical thinking to developing their skills.
David Barrieimage copyrightGAME ACADEMY
image captionGame Academy founder David Barrie thinks gaming skills are relevant to many businesses

"We see gameplay as a resource of talent," says co-founder David Barrie. "Social talent, competitiveness, or strategic talent."

"Why can't we put on our CVs our gaming victories and achievements?" he asks. "If they say they want leadership - why can't I point to my years of leading World of Warcraft raids?"

There are already plenty of gamers out there who know that their hobby has made them who they are.

Earlier this year, Matthew Ricci told gaming site Kotaku: "If you're playing EVE Online you basically already have an MBA [Master of Business Administration]".

Mr Ricci tells the BBC he stands by the sentiment - and Eve players might understand why. Often made fun of in gaming circles as a "spreadsheet simulator", the economy of the fictional Eve universe is driven by real market principles.

If you want to build a new spaceship, the raw material has to be mined by another player. Manufacturing costs come into effect, and commodities fluctuate in price based on demand and haulage distance.

Mr Ricci, who had always dreamed of being the boss of his own company, ran an in-game corporation comprising hundreds of players.

Eventually, he realised he could transfer his skills to real-life business - instead of doing it for free.

He restructured Zentech, once a taxation vehicle for his father's business, and it is now in its fourth year helping international brands enter the Canadian market.

Eve teaches skills like creativity, leadership, organisation, and conflict resolution, he maintains.

He credits his success to his family, his obsession with running his own business - and "a damn good company in Iceland that made a damn good game".
Mia Bennettimage copyrightMIA BENNETT
image captionMia Bennett believes the stigma attached to gamers is disappearing

Digital entrepreneur and business consultant Mia Bennett says: "In more traditional settings, gaming is still imagined to be the pursuit of teenage boys - a waste of time."

But there are some links to skills like "decision-making, the ability to anticipate and scenario planning," she says.

"It also helps with meta-skills - learning how to learn, experimentation, and creative thinking."

Twelve years into his career, Mark Long, a radiotherapy physicist with the NHS in Surrey, doesn't get as much gaming time as he used to.

"I would love to say that my gaming skills allow me to obliterate cancer using linacs [linear accelerators] like photon blasters, but that's not quite the reality."

Instead, he credits old-school games like Palace of Magic, on his father's Acorn Electron, with exposing him to computers. Every new gaming upgrade improved his knowledge of how they worked.
Mark Long looking through laboratory equipmentimage copyrightMark Long
image captionRadiotherapy physicist Mark Long says his gaming helps him solve work challenges

Gaming also encouraged a competitive streak - and that, he believes, translates.

"When creating treatment plans, the aim is to optimise the radiation dose to the tumour and restrict it as much as possible to healthy surrounding tissue and organs," he says.

It's about "repeating the process, but each time doing something slightly different to improve the result". Not unlike achieving a high score or a perfect run.

"Most videogames are essentially puzzles to solve," he says. "And problem-solving is a big part of my job."

Over at Game Academy, Mr Barrie is aware they still have a mountain to climb.

"The employer community will need the science," he says, but confesses he only became a true believer when he started asking players about their biggest in-game achievements.

"The scale and scope of their answers were staggering," he says. "But ask them the same about their work, and they don't know".

"The engagement and empowerment that people get playing a game - why can't work be like that?" he asks.

[goldie0608]

Grad honors parents with photos in fields where they worked



Photos a recent California college graduate took with her parents in the fields where they worked as migrant farm laborers went viral this week, after her school shared the images and the story of her journey on their Facebook page.

Jessica Rocha graduated from the University of California, San Diego, with a degree in sociology on Saturday. In the post, Rocha said her parents came from Michoacán, Mexico, and that while she was growing up, they had her work in the fields alongside them to "understand how important it was to pursue a higher education."

She started working in the fields in high school after classes and cross country practice, she said in the post. She would work overnight with her father and plant strawberries, finishing around 2 or 3 a.m. and waking up at 5 a.m. to get ready for the city bus for school.

"I admired the workers because they kept working despite backaches while flies, mosquitos and bugs kept roaming their faces, getting into their eyes," she said. "Nobody thinks about nor sees what happens behind a vegetable you grab at the grocery store. But behind it is someone who breaks their backs every day working in the fields."

She said she continued to work in the fields on weekends and school breaks even after she left for college and had a job with the University of California Police Department. She credited her parents for the motivation.

"Many times I wanted to give up, but my parents and their pieces of advice and support were the reason I kept going," Rocha said. "If it wasn't for how my parents raised me I don't know who I would be today."

One of the images from the photoshoot showed Rocha and her two parents holding her graduation cap over bell pepper bushes, all locking eyes on the hat. Other pictures showed Rocha carrying a bucket on her right shoulder.

Many online praised her for her work ethic and wished her congratulations on the feat.

"Working in the fields builds and molds a different type of character," Rocha said. "A character that does not give up, and one with resilience and strength to withstand the hazards that come from that job."

[mrvictor]

Scientists name frog found in Ecuadorian Andes after Led Zeppelin

Pristimantis ledzeppelin is discovered in Cordillera del Cóndor, which straddles Ecuador and Peru



Researchers in the misty mountains of the Ecuadorian Andes have discovered a new species of terrestrial frog and named it after the pioneering British rock band Led Zeppelin.

Pristimantis ledzeppelin, known in English as Led Zeppelin’s Rain Frog, was found by the scientists David Brito-Zapata and Carolina Reyes-Puig in the Cordillera del Cóndor, which straddles south-east Ecuador and north-east Peru.

The small frog, which has coppery-red eyes and a mottled, yellow, brown, black and orange skin, is a member of the huge and rapidly expanding Pristimantis genus. The genus comprises 569 species – 28 of which have been described in Ecuador in the past two years alone.

The new discovery is reported in the Neotropical Biodiversity journal and on the website of the Ecuadorian government’s National Biodiversity Institute.

Brito-Zapata and Reyes-Puig said all the specimens had been found “on shrub vegetation surrounding streams inside mature forest, where they perched on bush leaves”, between 1.7 metres and 3 metres above the water. Males of the species grow to about 2.4cm long, while one adult female was found to measure 3.6cm from snout to vent.

“The name honours Led Zeppelin and their extraordinary music,” the pair explain in the journal. “Led Zeppelin was a British rock band formed in London in 1968, one of the most influential bands throughout the 1970s, and progenitors of both hard rock and heavy metal.”

They warn that Pristimantis ledzeppelin risks being trampled underfoot as the rich biodiversity of its habitat is endangered by farming, logging, mining, disease and the climate emergency. They also note the species is unlikely to move elsewhere and will need protection.

“Due to the high endemism of the Cordillera del Cóndor, the new species here described is likely to be found only in this restricted area, therefore it is important to consider new long-term initiatives for small vertebrate conservation actions,” the researchers write.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/ ... d-zeppelin

[lush]

Kitten Born Without a Butthole Gets One Grafted in Surgery
Posted on June 16, 2021*

• Shudder in terror as you imagine what your life would be like without a butthole.



Dora is a little black-and-brown tortoiseshell kitten from Toronto, Canada, who was born sometime in April. She just has one little problem – she has no butthole.

At least, she was born without one. And as you may be aware, having an anus is kind of important for some pretty basic bodily functions.

The rescued kitten was being taken care of at the Annex Cat Rescue in Toronto. Her caretakers soon noticed something concerning – Dora was showing signs of severe constipation and vomiting.

According to the rescue’s foster program coordinator Jacqueline Chan, it’s not unusual for rescued kittens to initially refuse to poop.

“Normally, that would be something that wouldn’t be super uncommon and something that there are medical treatments for,”Chan said.

Dora’s condition continued, though, and on June 9, Chan took her to see a vet. She probably expected to be handed some laxatives or something, so the doctor’s reaction took her by surprise.

“When the veterinarian was examining her, looking for her anus to take a rectal temperature, she turned to me and said: ‘Jacqueline, I don’t think this kitten has an anus,’” recalled Chan.

And indeed, where there should’ve been a butthole, there was none. Chan was flabbergasted.

“It was a first for all of us. It’s not something that we see here at the clinic, and it’s not something that Annex Cat Rescue has seen in our 25 years,” she said.



Canadians Are Nice, Proven Once Again

It’s honestly a small miracle that Dora survived the first eight weeks of her life. Passing a bowel movement is kind of important – for example, going just three days without pooping can be dangerous to a human.

It was clear that urgent measures were needed to save Dora’s life. The good news is that there was a way – the vets could give Dora surgery and graft her an anus of her very own.

The bad news is that this kind of unusual surgery was expensive. Too expensive for the rescue to afford.

So, Annex Cat Rescue did the only thing they could think of. They opened up a case on CanadaHelps, a charity fundraising website, and asked their fellow cat lovers for help.

The charity set a goal of about $5,300 that would get Dora a butthole, remove the “painful and life-threatening amount of fecal matter built up in her colon,” reroute her intestines, and fix an internal tear. To the charity’s surprise, they didn’t meet that goal.

They didn’t meet it – they absolutely crushed it. Something about a butthole-less kitten must’ve tugged the Canadian heartstrings, because in just a couple of days the rescue raised nearly $10,000.

That was more than enough to pay for the surgery. The extra money went towards Dora’s sorely needed aftercare – she must be monitored 24/7 for signs of any complications.

On June 11, a successful surgery took place. Dora finally had a butt.


A Dump to Remember

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the story. Dora might’ve now had an anus, but that’s not going to do her much good if stuff can’t pass through.

And that was just what happened. It turned out that not pooping for two months keeps packing excrement into the colon until it hardens to an impenetrable mass.

Dora needed another surgery to get things moving along, and that cost more money. The charity turned back to their fellow Torontonians and they dug deep once more.

The charity’s new goal of roughly $11,000 was surpassed once more. To date, the good people of Toronto have donated nearly $18,000 to save Dora’s life.

On June 14, Dora had her second, less invasive procedure to “remove more of the blockage,” Annex said in an update on CanadaHelps. After the surgery, all they could do was hold their breath and hope.

And the next day, it finally happened. Dora took her first ever dump.

“She is now demanding attention and love from her medical caregivers. At this point, she needs to stay at least another 24 hours for monitoring, but we are hopeful that she can go to her foster home tomorrow!” the rescue said on June 16.


‘A Little Survivor’

Dora’s condition is known in the medical circles as an imperforate anus. According to PetCoach.co, it’s a rare but not unheard-of congenital condition.

In the realm of atresia ani – or “congenital malformation resulting in the lack of a patent anus” – imperforate anus is the most common type. It’s a common ailment of mini and toy poodles, rottweilers, and Maltese dog breeds, but no so much with cats.

Apparently, Dora just happened to get a lousy hand when the cards of life were being handed out. Luckily, with the generous help of Canadian cat lovers, she pulled through.

“She’s still a very cuddly, sweet kitten. She purrs easily. But she certainly has a challenging road ahead for her,” said Chan, adding that Dora’s future owner will need to understand that she’ll need special care for her entire life.

“She’s a little survivor, and we’re doing everything we can to help her because she definitely wants to be here,” Chan concluded.

[Fivetide]

Woodpecker destroys nature camera at Russian nature reserve



See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0K0TEjzgo4

A nature reserve in Russia said a nature camera disguised as a piece of bark had an unintended consequence when it was destroyed by a hungry woodpecker.

The Nizhne-Svirsky Nature Reserve in Leningrad Oblast said in a Facebook post that the black woodpecker, nicknamed Zhelna by researchers, apparently was hunting for insects when it unintentionally committed "vandalism" on the camera.

The reserve shared video of the woodpecker methodically pecking away at the camera until it broke.

"Zhelna quickly discovered the camouflaged device and for several days methodically hit the camera," the post said.

The reserve said the camera has been removed for repairs and likely will be out of commission for some time.

[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
FRIDAY JUNE 18
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 -5)
2:00 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

[ozswede]

Digby the ‘defusing’ dog saves life of suicidal woman on motorway bridge

Fire service says canine was key to convincing woman to work with emergency responders


Digby has previously helped with talking therapy sessions for emergency workers who have been exposed to trauma

A dog has been hailed as a hero for helping to save a woman who was considering taking her own life on a motorway bridge this week.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said that Labradoodle Digby, a “defusing” dog, helped to calm the situation on the bridge above the M5 near Exeter on Tuesday.

The dog, who works with crews for the fire service, came to the aid of the woman, who agreed to cooperate with emergency services after meeting the canine.

In a series of posts on Twitter, a spokesperson said that the fire service had arrived at the scene as part of a multi-agency response, where police negotiators were speaking to the woman and becoming “increasingly worried” by the situation.

“One of the fire crews had the idea to bring along Digby, our ‘defusing’ dog,” they said.

The dog had previously been used to help in talking therapy sessions for emergency workers who had been exposed to trauma.

“When Digby arrived, the young woman immediately swung her head round to look and smiled,” the spokesperson added.

“This got a conversation started about Digby and his role at the fire service.

“She was asked if she would like to come and meet Digby if she came back over the railings, which we are pleased to say she did.”

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said it wished the woman all the best in her recovery.

Source

[BigGlen]

Instead of Skipping Graduation to Work at Waffle House, His Boss and Co-Workers Cooked up Miracles to Get Him There



As we all know, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry—and sometimes those of high school seniors do as well.

Timothy Harrison of Center Point, Alabama planned to attend his high school graduation. He’d even cleared it with his boss to take time off. But when the day of the ceremony dawned, Harrison found himself stranded.

The event was being held an hour away from home. With his family members working and no one able to drive him there, much to the surprise of his manager, Cedric Hampton, Harrison showed up for his regular 7 a.m. shift at the local Waffle House.

Once Hampton heard the details of Harrison’s dilemma—not only didn’t he have a way to get to the graduation, but he’d missed out on picking up his ticket, cap, and gown—the quick-thinking manager immediately marshaled his Waffle House troops for action.

“I could see in his eyes that he really wanted to go, and I was going to get him there no matter what,” Hampton told The Washington Post. “No kid should miss their high school graduation.”

After being ferried to school to retrieve his cap and gown, back at the Waffle House, the elated senior was outfitted in a brand-new ensemble picked up and paid for by his coworkers (with a little help from some generous restaurant patrons).

“We decided we were going to step in and take care of everything for him so he could really celebrate this day. A couple customers contributed as well,” Hampton told the Post. “Within a few hours, we were able to get everything taken care of.”

Harrison was now properly attired, but they still had to get him to the three o’clock ceremony on time. It was a close call, but thanks to Hampton, the soon-to-be graduate just made it. While his co-workers weren’t able to accompany the young man inside, they couldn’t have been prouder of him.

“When I sat down in that auditorium it was the best moment of my life,” Harrison told WBRC News. “This is a memory I will cherish forever… I’m going to tell my kids about this.”

Harrison, who’s only been at his job a little over a month, nonetheless now considers his Waffle House posse like kin and credits his “work-family” patriarch Hampton for stepping in, stepping up, and being willing to go the extra mile for him.

“The old saying goes it takes a village to raise a baby,” Hampton told WBRC. “I’m just happy to be a part of that village.”

Once word of the day’s events made the local news, Harrison’s village got a whole lot bigger. Since the WBRC story aired, he was offered a full scholarship at Birmingham’s Lawson State Community College.

It was only fitting that when Harrison recently toured the college campus, Hampton was by his side. “I am his full-time mentor,” Hampton told the Post. “I feel really good about what’s about to happen next for him, and I’ll always be there along the way.”

Life may not offer any guarantees, but at least Timothy Harrison knows that should his best-laid plans ever go awry again, he’s got a village in his corner to help him get things back on track—and it doesn’t get any better than that.

[Fivetide]

Nebraska man makes 60 naked skydiving jumps in 24 hours



See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56GZmQP0I4E

A Nebraska man set a new world record by completing 60 skydiving jumps in 24 hours while dressed in nothing but his safety equipment.

Rian Kanouff of Omaha said he contacted Guinness World Records about setting the record for most naked skydiving jumps in 24 hours, and the group said he could create the new record category if he performed at least 25 jumps in the time period.

Kanouff said its an informal tradition for skydivers to perform their 100th jump in the nude, and he came up with the idea to set the naked skydiving world record as a fundraiser for a mental health charity after the recent death of a friend.

"My friend that we lost to mental health issues was about [that] close to his 100th jump," Kanouff told KOLN-TV. "Close enough that he talked about it all the time, and he didn't get to make it. So I am out here for him and a lot of other people that we lost."

Kanouff ended his attempt with 60 completed naked jumps over Weeping Water, Neb. His attempt raised money for the Movember Foundation, a charity dedicated to men's mental health and suicide prevention.

[Fatima99]

Marine engineers turn skip into a motorboat - and now plan to cross the channel in it

The pair have strapped an outboard motor to the skip before slowly lowering it into the water, and to their surprise it floated well and they were away on their test voyage

wo men have made their own motorboat out of an old 200kg metal skip - and now plan to cross the English Channel in it.

Jake Harris and Sam Newstead, both marine engineers, were enjoying post-work drinks in their yard when Sam stood in the skip and had a eureka moment.

Within 'five minutes' the pair, from Rochester, Kent, had plugged the skip's holes with wood and rags and their crane was lowering it into the Medway River on Tuesday, June 15

After they realised it would float, they attached an outboard motor to the back of it and were away - and now the duo is planning on using their new vessel to cross from England to France.



Jake said: "It took about five minutes for us to do. As long as it took to drink a can of cider. When we got out there it felt great. We just couldn't stop laughing.

"I'd got the skip changed that morning and me and Sam decided to have a couple of ciders after we finished work and he stood in it. We could have swum back to shore if we had to though.



"We were going to take my little dinghy out and we couldn't be bothered in the end so thought about strapping the outboard on this skip instead.

"They have drain holes in them as well so we had to cover them with sticks and rags with a hammer. We were confident it'd work.

"We get up to stuff like this all the time. It's what we do for fun. We weren't nervous about it. It was just great fun.

"We had a bit of string tied to it at first to make sure it didn't go too far and sink but when we got about 20 yards from the wall we thought 'sod it' and untied the string and just went for it.

"Simon even said he'd get his boat to be a safety boat but by the time he'd got it we'd already launched and we were out in the middle of the river."

The pair posed for photos in the middle of the marina and returned to post their spontaneous adventure on Facebook where Jake's post has been shared more than 11,000 times.

He continued: "[The post] has gone crazy online but we didn't do it for fame or anything like that. If we'd tried to be funny it'd just been rubbish but the fact we just had a couple of tins and decided to throw it in is great.

"It's certainly cheaper than buying a boat. It was only £216 with the VAT. We took a risk but it worked out well.

[lush]

8 of History’s Weirdest Jobs
Posted on June 17, 2021*

• Think your job sucks? Just be glad you don’t belong to one of these ancient professions.



It’s not that farfetched to think that in the future most current jobs might not exist. Advancing technology is making more and more professions – especially manual jobs – basically redundant.

But that’s just the way it goes, because it’s nothing new for some jobs to disappear as society moves forward. Sometimes, though, it’s for the better. Before machinery, people had some utterly bizarre jobs because they simply needed to get done.

Here are some of the strangest jobs in history that have fallen by the wayside.

1) Nomenclator

Before we had smartphones and PDAs to remind us of people’s names, we had nomenclators. In ancient Greece and Rome, nomenclators were slaves whose entire job was to remember the names and merits of the people their masters met.

The list of people to remember could include business partners, political donors, friends of friends, and any other socially important people. When your master got high enough in society, the number of people you had to remember could number in the dozens.

There are actually still nomenclators today, but their job is entirely different. These days, they come up with new terms for dictionaries and specialist glossaries.

2) Knocker-upper


Unlike modern American slang would have you believe, you didn’t call a knocker-upper when you needed to have another kid. A knocker-upper is basically human alarm clock.

There was a time when alarm clocks didn’t exist, but people still had to wake up early for appointments. To make sure you didn’t sleep in, you’d pay a person to show up at your house at the crack of dawn and bang on your bedroom window until you woke up.

But how did the knocker-uppers wake up for their job? Was there an endless loop of people going around and waking each other up?

No, actually. According to author Richard Jones, knocker-uppers were often older people who were night owls by nature. If they were going to be up anyway, might as well make a bit of extra cash on the side.

The profession survived in rural areas of the UK until the 1970s. By then, everyone just started using an alarm clock.

3) Pharaoh’s Anus Blower

In ancient Egypt, the pharaoh was both a king and a god. But when a living god could get indigestion, and that’s when the royal anus blower was called.

The anus blower was basically a primitive proctologist. Whatever butt-related problems the pharaoh had, the anus blower would take care of it, but their most important task came about when the pharaoh had eaten more than he could digest.

That’s when the anus blower would grab a long, golden tube, fill it with hot water, and blow it up the pharaoh’s divine butthole. Yeah, it’s just what it sounds like – an enema administered by mouth.

At least there was the tube between the blower’s lips and the royal anus.

4) Resurrectionist


The resurrectionist’s job didn’t include bringing people back to life, but they sure did empty their graves. A resurrectionist would dig up freshly buried corpses and sell them to people practicing this new-fangled thing called “medicinal science.”

Resurrectionist were common in 18th and 19th century England. The common people understandably didn’t care much for them, though – they were pretty much just glorified grave robbers.

Eventually, the profession became such a nuisance that the English government allowed doctors free access to corpses. But there was a catch; the bodies had to come from poor people who died in workhouse accidents.

Baby steps to progress, we suppose.

5) Funeral Clown


In 4th century Rome, people must’ve felt that funerals sometimes got a bit too somber. We’re saying that because the profession of a funeral clown existed.

The harlequin would wear a mask of the dead person’s face and cavort about the funeral procession. He’d mock the recently deceased, with the goal of appeasing the departed spirit and to cheer up the living mourners.

Because having someone wear your grandpa’s face and tell you how much he sucked will surely cheer you up at his funeral. Right?

At least the Romans seem to think so, because funeral clowns have made something of a comeback. You can once more hire a funeral clown to ridicule your dearly departed relatives and friends.

6) Necessary Woman

“Necessary woman” was a polite name for a job that was gross but… Well, necessary.

Before the days of indoor toilets, people would do their business in chamber pots. The inglorious task of emptying them fell upon these ladies.

As unsavory as the job description might be, it came with good benefits. You usually got to stay in the mansion or castle of the lord or lady you served, and the pay was very competitive for the time.

You’d kind of expect that, though, because why else would anyone ever take this job? The popularity of the flush toilet eventually sent the profession of the necessary woman down the drain.

7) Orgy Planner

Let’s go back to ancient Rome one more time. The Romans sure loved their orgies, and while these get-togethers weren’t actually as debauched as popular culture would tell you, they were a big deal and could last up to 12 hours.

And like with any party, someone needs to plan it. Orgy planners were experts in making the necessary arrangements so that orgy-goers could enjoy their decadent luxury to its fullest.

The planner would hire the entertainment, musicians, cooks, and prostitutes. They’d plan the menu, draft the seating arrangements based on the host’s wishes, and arrange accommodations for guests.

Really, it’s not that different from a modern party planner. Just… For orgies.

8) Groom of the Stool

The title of the “groom of the stool” sounds fancy, but the job wasn’t quite as glorious as the name would imply. In spirit, the groom was an advisor to the medieval English king, but what he actually did was entertain the king while he was taking a dump.

The groom would entertain the king as he emptied his royal bowels. He’d chat with the king, listen to his worries, and offer helpful insights if he had any.

With time, though, the position grew more and more powerful. By the end of the medieval period, the groom of the stool was a trusted advisor on economic and domestic policy.

Imagine if the UK finance minister accompanied the Queen to the can. That’s basically what it was.

[PennySerenade]

Lost llama reunited with family after being found wandering on Hwy. 400


A llama was captured by OPP after being found wandering in the southbound lanes of Highway 400 near Kind Road

Provincial police say they have located the owners of the llama spotted on Highway 400 Wednesday evening.

Crews were forced to block off all lanes except the HOV of the southbound 400 approaching King Road as they attempted to catch the animal.

The llama was eventually captured and was uninjured.

OPP later tweeted the animal was reunited with its family.

‘Ryuseito’: The Story of A Meteor Sword Christened by ‘The Last Samurai’ Takeaki Enomoto


June 16, 2021

Have you heard of “meteor swords”? They really do exist.

Sometimes called a “sword from heaven,” Ryuseito is “a Japanese sword made out of meteoric material.” For most people, the name brings to mind a fairytale fantasy sword or a special weapon that appears in an anime series depicting a samurai during the Sengoku Period (1460 to 1615).

In real life, however, Takeaki Enomoto, (1836-1908), who was vassal to the shogun and then key statesman during the Meiji Era (1868-1912), is known to have owned a sword made from meteors that had fallen from outer space. It is said that he is the man who christened this type of sword for the first time.

They exist outside of Japan, too. Swords made with similar material have been reported in various places around the world since ancient times.

https://japan-forward.com/ryuseito-the- ... i-enomoto/

[hija]

Duck family waddles into New York bagel shop



June 16 (UPI) -- A New York man who helped a mother duck and her eight ducklings cross a busy road captured video of the moment the family of birds strolled into a Brooklyn bagel shop.

Doug Gordon said he and some other bystanders helped guide traffic in the Park Slope neighborhood when the family of ducks emerged from under a van and attempted to cross a busy road.

"They went right out into the street. A couple of us jumped out to stop traffic so they didn't get run over, and then they got to the other side. It was adorable, a real Brooklyn-steps-up sort of moment, New Yorkers taking charge," Gordon told Gothamist.

Gordon was filming video of the birds when the mother duck led her babies right through the door of Bagel World Park Slope.

"They were in there a couple minutes, but I didn't see what happened inside," Gordon said. "I don't know whether they decided to come out because they didn't see anything on the menu they liked, or if they were chased out."

Gordon said other witnesses to the duck family's travels reported the birds eventually made it to safety in Prospect Park.