Ramaswamy Gone But Not Forgotten

Mars is a frigid desert‚ but we know in the past that it had rivers‚ lakes‚ and even maybe an ocean. Those features are still carved in its rocks today. Most of the valleys and lakes were carved before 3.7 billion years ago‚ but something that is not clear is how long these water features were around. A new study argues that the rivers flowed for only a fraction of that epoch.Previous work estimated that it took at least tens of thousands of years for the valleys to form – that's the minimum amount of time for those rivers to have flowed. But what is the maximum time? Planetary Science Institute Research Scientist Alexander Morgan has estimated just that. He found that‚ at most‚ water was carving the rocks for 100 million years‚ but it was not a constant flow."In this study‚ I used craters that predate and postdate valley systems to place maximum bounds of hundreds of millions of years on the era over which these systems formed. Previous work had only determined minimum timescales‚ so these new results provide an upper bound on the timescale over which Martian valleys were active‚" Morgan said in a statement."Given what we know about erosion rates on early Mars‚ longer timescales imply that conditions permitting rivers were highly intermittent‚ with long arid periods interspersed with brief episodes of fluvial activity."The reason why the activity appears to be intermittent is not clear. Maybe erosion was impeded by boulders and terrains that were more difficult to carve out. Or maybe‚ rivers only began to flow when the weather got warm enough‚ or after some particularly strong volcanic activity. The climate of a planet can change‚ like the changes responsible for Earth’s periodic glacial periods.The work adds some nuance to the past history of Mars. Was the Red Planet "warm and wet" with an ocean? Or was Mars "cold and icy" with massive ice sheets? It could have had its periods of warmth over longer frigid and dry epochs."Over the past decade or so we've come to realize that these descriptors are far too general‚ and it doesn't really make sense to try to condense hundreds of millions of years of climate history into a two-word description‚" Morgan said."Like Earth‚ early Mars was complex‚ and the conditions permitting surface water likely varied considerably. Earth has undergone massive climatic changes throughout its history – for example‚ 20‚000 years ago‚ the area that is now Chicago was beneath half a mile of ice – and surface conditions permitting rivers on early Mars likewise probably waxed and waned."The study is published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters.

As winter rages‚ and viruses continue to spread‚ you might find yourself wondering: Can I catch two at once? What about three‚ or four‚ or (gulp) more? And‚ perhaps most importantly‚ what happens if I do?It’s a question that was posed a lot back in 2022 when fears of a so-called “tripledemic” of COVID-19‚ flu‚ and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) were rife.“Most of what we know about virus infection‚ virus pathogenesis‚ [and] virus epidemiology is based on the one virus-one disease approach‚” Pablo Murcia‚ a virologist at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research‚ told The Scientist at the time. “And that’s not real.”Can you be infected with multiple viruses at once?Unfortunately‚ yes – you can be infected with more than one virus at a time. However‚ we know relatively little about how these viruses interact‚ Murcia added.In one 2019 study‚ Murcia and colleagues analyzed respiratory illness cases in Scotland between 2005 and 2013‚ finding that of all patients who had at least one virus‚ 11 percent also had another – some unlucky individuals harbored up to five.What happens if you are?If you do catch more than one virus at once‚ it is possible that the symptoms of one could compound the symptoms of the other‚ leaving you feeling worse off than if you simply had one virus. Although‚ not necessarily.“The best data about coinfection come from studies of more serious viruses‚ such as HIV and hepatitis‚” wrote Dr Richard Klasco in a 2018 piece for The New York Times. “These studies show that coinfection can worsen‚ ameliorate or have no impact on the course of an illness. The outcome depends on the viruses involved.”For example‚ coinfection with HIV and hepatitis C virus can result in a worse outcome‚ Klasco adds.Referring to respiratory co-infections‚ Dr Armando Paez‚ chief of the Infectious Disease Division‚ Baystate Health‚ said: “Hospitalization is often required for those suffering from co-infections due to their more serious cases of illness.”But it’s not all bad news. As Klasco mentioned‚ not all co-infections will have a negative outcome. A dual infection with influenza A and B‚ he says‚ doesn’t seem to worsen symptoms. The same is probably true of the common cold:“While you can get two colds at once‚ you probably won’t feel any worse than you would with one. The difference that you might experience is being sick for longer than you might otherwise expect.” Viral interferenceSometimes‚ viruses can block one another in what is known as viral interference. This is what‚ according to some experts‚ likely happened during the pandemic: COVID may have taken precedence over flu and RSV‚ effectively blocking them.Similarly‚ in the autumn of 2009 during the swine flu pandemic‚ rhinovirus‚ which is responsible for the common cold‚ began to dominate in some parts of Europe‚ before swine flu took over again. That same year‚ the pandemic delayed the onset of RSV by up to two and a half months.This sort of interference can arise in a number of ways. For example‚ different viruses can target the same receptors on host cells‚ meaning that the first to gain entry can prevent other viruses from getting access. Viruses can also compete for resources once inside host cells‚ resulting in a "survival of the fittest" type situation.The best-understood mechanism of interference involves interferons – defensive molecules produced by the cells of vertebrates when they sense a virus is present. Interferons trigger the expression of genes that can prevent more than one virus from entering a cell or stop viruses that are present from replicating or exiting the cell.Although viral interference can provide short-term immunity against other viruses‚ using these and other methods‚ it’s by no means a given and it’s still very much possible to catch multiple viruses at the same time.All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current. The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice‚ diagnosis‚ or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. 

It’s heartbreaking to witness the plight of pets abandoned by their owners‚ left to fend for themselves. This story‚ however‚ shines a light on the resilience of a dog named Mama and the compassion of those who helped her. Mama‚ a pit bull‚ found herself alone in an orchard near Ducor‚ California‚ after her owners... The post Radio DJ vows to rescue abandoned pittie who’s been living alone in orchard for 15 months appeared first on Animal Channel.

MSNBC Morning Joe co-host Joe Scarborough reacted to Donald Trump’s Iowa Caucus victory on Tuesday by going on a fact-free‚ pro-Biden rant where he asserted that economy has never been better and that‚ under Biden‚ the military is now the strongest that it has been since 1945. On the economy‚ Scarborough claimed anyone with concerns is guilty of “perversion‚” declaring that “But you talked about the economy and you talked about people worrying about where things are. This is the perversion. This is the perversion of these networks that twist and contort the reality if their guy or woman is not in office. We have an economy that's stronger than ever. I've said it before that one of the most conservative columnists‚ Gerard Baker‚ said the U.S. economy was the winner in 2023.”     The most recent inflation report was worse than expected‚ but Scarborough was just getting started‚ “You have a military stronger than ever relative to the rest of the world‚ stronger than any time since 1945. Anybody who understands military strength and power will tell you that.” That is simply not true‚ people who understand military strength‚ including the military itself‚ will tell you precisely the opposite. Nevertheless‚ Scarborough kept rolling‚ “And for all of its failings‚ and elite colleges have a hell of a lot of failings‚ for all its failings‚ our educational system‚ our colleges and universities still the best in the world.” Scarborough would proceed to repeat himself on the three areas where things are allegedly going great‚ starting with higher education‚ “People send their children to America from all over the world because our educational system‚ with all of its failings‚ the best in the world. Guess what? Another really conservative Wall Street Journal writer said that last week in a column. Why? Because it's true.” Circling back to the economy‚ he proclaimed‚ “So‚ I don't understand these networks that trash America. I don't understand politicians like Donald Trump who trash America. I don't understand people who hate America when America's economy is stronger than it's been in a long‚ long time.” Returning to the military‚ Scarborough insisted‚ “Our military’s stronger than it's been in generations” before returning to colleges yet again “and yes‚ our educational system‚ with all its failings‚ with elite universities‚ still the best in the world and there's not a close second. Not a close second in any of these areas.” Finally‚ if anyone does not think things are going perfectly‚ Scarborough thinks they are a hater and a liar‚ “So‚ if people are out there preaching hate‚ talking about how America is weak‚ they are lying to you. They are lying through their teeth‚ and they're doing it for their own reasons. America is strong. America is powerful and America is great.” It is amazing Scarborough did not fall out of his chair from getting dizzy after all that spinning. Here is a transcript for the January 16 show: MSNBC Morning Joe 1/16/2024 7:30 AM ET JOE SCARBOROUGH: But you talked about the economy and you talked about people worrying about where things are. This is the perversion. This is the perversion of these networks that twist and contort the reality if their guy or woman is not in office. We have an economy that's stronger than ever. I've said it before that one of the most conservative columnists‚ Gerard Baker‚ said the U.S. economy was the winner in 2023. You have a military stronger than ever relative to the rest of the world‚ stronger than any time since 1945. Anybody who understands military strength and power will tell you that.  And for all of its failings‚ and elite colleges have a hell of a lot of failings‚ for all its failings‚ our educational system‚ our colleges and universities still the best in the world.  People send their children to America from all over the world because our educational system‚ with all of its failings‚ the best in the world. Guess what? Another really conservative Wall Street Journal writer said that last week in a column. Why? Because it's true. So‚ I don't understand these networks that trash America. I don't understand politicians like Donald Trump who trash America. I don't understand people who hate America when America's economy is stronger than it's been in a long‚ long time.  Our military’s stronger than it's been in generations and yes‚ our educational system‚ with all its failings‚ with elite universities‚ still the best in the world and there's not a close second. Not a close second in any of these areas.  So‚ if people are out there preaching hate‚ talking about how America is weak‚ they are lying to you. They are lying through their teeth‚ and they're doing it for their own reasons. America is strong. America is powerful and America is great. 

And the funny thing is‚ he didn't really mean it as an insult! On today's CNN This Morning‚ in a segment analyzing the results of the Iowa caucuses and looking ahead to New Hampshire‚ CNN commentator Jamal Simmons‚ who stuck it out for a year as Vice President Kamala Harris's communications director before bailing‚ said: "Trump is like a walking‚ talking middle finger‚ right? People think about him like‚ oh‚ this guy is the way we get back at the elites. The way we get back at the people who are in charge‚ who are leaving the rest of us behind while they continue to make more money and divide up the spoils amongst themselves. He does have this persona." In a sense‚ Simmons' description of Trump aligns with how Trump has described himself as his supporters' "retribution." Co-anchor Phil Mattingly was so taken by Simmons' line that he ended the segment by saying‚ "Jamal Simmons: huge respect. I will never see Donald Trump the same again after you called him a walking‚ talking‚ middle finger‚ which is now going to stick with me forever‚ which I give you a lot of credit for."    In another highlight‚ CNN resident wiseacre John Avlon literally laughed out loud at Lee Carter‚ a Republican strategist‚ who attributed Trump's success to the fact that he makes it about the people‚ whereas Haley and DeSantis make it about themselves. Avlon argued that Trump actually makes it all about himself‚ but that people project themselves onto him. Here's the transcript. CNN This Morning 1/16/24 6:08 am ET LEE CARTER: Republican voters are looking for a fighter. 82% of voters that voted for Donald Trump voted for him because he was a fighter. He had such a strong ground game. When you heard his‚ his caucus advocates out there talking about what it was about him‚ they were talking about‚ he cares about people like us. He's going to fight for us. That's the message that carried him right‚ right to victory here.  DeSantis and Haley‚ I think really struggled to get a a message that was about the people. When you hear what people said about Haley‚ a lot of people said‚ well‚ she's a next generation leader about her. When you hear what people said about DeSantis‚ he did a good job in Florida. It's about him. Trump has made it about the people. And as much as a lot of people don't understand how Donald Trump -- and you're laughing. JOHN AVLON: I am. CARTER: Donald Trump makes it about everybody else. It's what people feel. And that's what we're seeing in the polls. . . .  JAMAL SIMMONS: In New Hampshire‚ you may see people like‚ oh my gosh‚ Donald Trump is really coming. We've to to figure something out and so something. But remember‚ Donald Trump is like a walking‚ talking middle finger‚ right? And so‚ people are thinking about‚ people think about him like‚ oh‚ this guy is the way we get back at the elites. The way we get back at the people who are in charge‚ who are leaving the rest of us behind while they continue to make more money and divide up the spoils amongst themselves. So he does have I think what we were talking about earlier from the polls‚ he does have this‚ this persona. . . .  CARTER: I do think that‚ whatever‚ at the end of the day‚ Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley have made it all about them and not about the American people. And they're going to have to translate their value -- they do have to translate their value to themselves. Hillary Clinton made the same mistake. AVLON: I agree‚ but the irony of course being that Donald Trump‚ it is all about him‚ in terms of his world view‚ but people project themselves on him. PHIL MATTINGLY: I mean‚ look‚ we're going to get back to you guys‚ we've got a lot more to get to in this hour.  Jamal Simmons: huge respect. I will never see Donald Trump the same again after calling him a walking‚ talking‚ middle finger‚ which is now going to stick with me forever‚ which I give you a lot of credit for.

Lately‚ I’ve been hearing calls from Republican congressmen and conservative commentators for the removal of Joe Biden’s cabinet members. The person targeted most frequently in Biden’s cabinet has been Alejandro Mayorkas‚ the Department of Homeland Security secretary who has facilitated the arrival of millions and millions of illegal aliens at our southern border‚ 85% of whom have been let through. Biden and his DHS secretary have generously welcomed these foreigners‚ including drug traffickers and likely terrorists‚ and provided them with transportation into the interior of the country. The reason this Democratic administration‚ with the energetic collaboration of Mayorkas‚ has assisted in this massive invasion is obvious. Democrats are trying to create a one-party state and will attempt to enfranchise the flood of illegal aliens as soon as the occasion permits. Stop trying to remove cabinet officials‚ which wastes time and energy. Prepare for the only contest that counts: the one that will take place on November 5. Biden and Mayorkas deserve to be removed from office for such gross violations of their oath to protect the citizens of this country. But it’s unlikely to happen. Among other reasons‚ Republicans don’t have the votes in Congress to proceed beyond a preliminary impeachment inquiry. Moreover‚ neither Biden’s handlers (we may doubt that our titular chief executive is capable of volition) nor congressional Democrats will assist in removing a cabinet official whose actions they presumably support. After all‚ the obvious endgame in allowing our border to be overrun is to give their party perpetual control over the federal government. It’s the same story when Republicans demand that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin resign because neither Austin nor Biden was forthcoming about the reasons for his recent absence. We now know Austin underwent treatment for prostate cancer but hid the fact from the public and let his office go unattended during his hospital stay. Republicans have insisted that this constituted a dereliction of duty‚ given all the international crises we now face‚ largely because of the sloppiness with which the administration conducts international relations. Exactly what would be gained if those Republicans who demand these resignations got their way — which‚ of course‚ will never happen? Do these lawmakers honestly believe that those who would replace Mayorkas and Austin would be more to their taste? It is utterly inconceivable that our new DHS and defense secretaries would be politically or operationally different from the people they’d be replacing. The Biden administration makes cabinet appointments that suit its electoral needs. Whoever replaces Mayorkas would have to practice the same deceptions as the man now holding the office. That would be a precondition for the appointment. Austin has reached his present eminence because he is useful in promoting the identity politics of his party‚ which seems to be the Democrats’ strong suit with their core voters. Austin‚ as we know‚ is a black government official who is committed to critical race theory and has obligingly inflicted this doctrine on the military. If Austin goes‚ then his successor‚ in all likelihood‚ would need to fit a similar job description. Republicans must notice by what criteria the Democrats fill cabinet and subcabinet posts. They use them to virtue-signal. And even if Republicans vote down flakey nominees for subcabinet or judicial positions‚ the Democrats believe that they are still sending a message to those who fancy their identity politics. From their perspective‚ the perfect transportation secretary is the one they now have‚ Pete Buttigieg‚ an ostentatiously gay advocate for gay rights who since 2019 has been on record regretting that he said “all lives matter.” If Mayor Pete left his office‚ one could be sure that his replacement would not be a white heterosexual aeronautical engineer. Nor does it seem likely that if Biden’s press secretary‚ the first foreign-born black lesbian in her position‚ left her job‚ she would be replaced by a white-bread normie. Ditto for our gay rights-happy ambassador to Hungary‚ who obviously got his post as a gesture of defiance toward Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s conservative government. And I’m still marveling at the alacrity with which our usually bumbling secretary of state required all American embassies to fly the rainbow banner during Gay Pride Month. The proudest boast of the Biden administration is that 15% of its appointees identify as gay‚ lesbian‚ bisexual‚ or just “queer.” This administration can also boast of Rachel Levine‚ the first proudly transgender assistant secretary of health‚ who has been promoted to the rank of four-star admiral. The LGBTQ bragging rights of the Biden administration were not acquired accidentally. Wokeness is what Democratic voters and the corporate media like. If Republican political leaders are as nauseated as I am by this virtue-signaling maladministration‚ there is a way to drive it into the wilderness. Take care to win key elections and‚ as a path forward‚ ensure the Democrats are forced to keep their cheating to a minimum. If the Republicans manage to recapture the presidency in November‚ they shouldn’t hold back about replacing vulnerable Democratic functionaries and abolishing agencies the left has weaponized. Stop trying to remove cabinet officials‚ which wastes time and energy. Prepare for the only contest that counts: the one that will take place on November 5.

Just-released U.S. Capitol closed-circuit TV video clips from Jan. 6‚ 2021‚ show Capitol Police Special Agent David Lazarus gave false testimony in the Oath Keepers trial‚ Blaze Media investigative journalist Steve Baker reported.What's the background?Baker penned an analysis in October calling into question Lazarus' testimony — which helped convict the Oath Keepers — noting that time-stamped CCTV videos Blaze News observed show Lazarus in other parts of the Capitol complex at the time he said he witnessed now-former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn interacting with Oath Keepers on Jan. 6.Baker and others could view the Jan. 6 videos only on Washington‚ D.C.‚ House subcommittee terminals in a limited and restricted capacity. What's more‚ at the time of Baker's Oct. 4 analysis‚ Blaze News was permitted to publish only a single Jan. 6 screenshot of Lazarus in the Capitol after then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted the previous day‚ putting video permissions on hold.By early November‚ U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Georgia) released multiple Jan. 6 video screenshots of Lazarus' movements in the Capitol‚ telling Baker in a statement that he did so because "an allegation of a Capitol Police officer lying under oath is very serious and must be fully investigated."On Nov. 17‚ Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said nearly all Capitol security videos from Jan. 6 — nearly 40‚000 hours' worth — will be made available online to the public. Johnson's announcement followed Blaze News editor in chief Matthew Peterson's appeal to the speaker to release all the videos.On Friday‚ Baker said Blaze News finally received permission to publish the Lazarus video clips‚ which appear in a new video BlazeTV published Monday morning titled‚ "The Truth about January 6: Part III: David Lazarus: Proof of Perjury." — (@) Baker's announcement was a response to Tarik Johnson — a former Capitol Police lieutenant — who noted on X that his sources informed him that "USCP Chief J Thomas Manger has decided NOT to investigate the allegation that USCP Special Agent David Lazarus gave false testimony in the Oath Keepers trial."What about the just-released CCTV clips from Jan. 6?In Monday's BlazeTV video‚ Baker breaks down Lazarus' whereabouts in the Capitol complex in a detailed‚ minute-by-minute fashion using the time-stamped video clips recorded on Capitol CCTV cameras. While Lazarus testified that he saw Dunn with the Oath Keepers — a claim that Baker said "bolstered" Dunn's testimony — Baker reported that Lazarus "couldn't have" seen Dunn with the Oath Keepers because the CCTV videos show Lazarus "was in another building a quarter of a mile away" at that time.What's more‚ Baker said that newly released videos showing Lazarus' whereabouts were "never released" to Oath Keepers' defense attorneys at the time of the trial."This should rock the Capitol Police‚" Baker said in Monday's BlazeTV video. "We received messages from our sources at the [Department of Justice] in Washington that they were 'terrified' of this story."Then there's the screenshot Baker obtained of an internal email he said was passed between Capitol Police leadership. Baker said they "were concerned about the traction" the story was receiving. Image source: YouTube screenshotThe screenshot of the email's conclusion reads‚ "Something for us to keep an eye on to see if it develops or not."Baker retorted‚ "Now this is interesting about the Capitol Police that they're more worried about the traction of their story than they are worried about the lie that their special agent told on the stand in the Oath Keepers' trial."Capitol Police did not immediately reply to Blaze News' request for comment on the newly released Capitol CCTV videos of Lazarus.Here's BlazeTV's video‚ "The Truth about January 6: Part III: David Lazarus: Proof of Perjury": Anything else?Baker's investigative efforts also resulted in two additional analyses‚ both focusing on Dunn: "January 6 and the N-word that wasn't" and "Harry Dunn's account of January 6 does not add up. At all."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Former President Donald Trump crushed his competition in the Iowa Republican caucuses Monday night‚ leading the runner-up‚ Gov. Ron DeSantis‚ by roughly 30 points. While the result left a smile on the 77-year-old Republican's face‚ it prompted leftist talking heads over at MSNBC to hyperventilate much in the same way as in November 2016. Rachel Maddow‚ in particular‚ appeared to have trouble processing Trump's success. The longtime exponent of the Russian collusion hoax not only concern-mongered about the rise of fascism and authoritarianism but refused to run the Republican front-runner's victory speech‚ claiming that "there is a cost to us‚ as a news organization‚ of knowingly broadcasting untrue things." "I just have to get to business just for a second. At this point in the evening the projected winner of the Iowa caucuses has just started giving his victory speech‚" said Maddow‚ apparently loath to speak Trump's name at the outset. "We will keep an eye on that as it happens. We will let you know if there is any news made in that speech‚ anything noteworthy‚ something substantive and important." Maddow added‚ "It's not out of spite. It is not a decision that we relish. It is a decision that we regularly revisit‚ and‚ honestly‚ earnestly‚ it is not an easy decision." After preventing her remaining viewers from hearing firsthand from one of the two leading presidential candidates going into the 2024 general election‚ Maddow suggested Trump might seek to bring about the kind of tyrannical state first championed in the previous century by disenchanted European socialists. The corporate host told the Biden White House's former press secretary and other advocates for the ruling power‚ "I don't mean to be‚ again‚ too dark as you said on this ... but if we are worried about the rise of authoritarianism in this country‚ if we are worried about potential rise of fascism in this country‚ if we're worried about our democracy falling to an authoritarian and potentially fascist form of government‚ the leader who is trying to do that is part of that equation." According to Maddow‚ even worse than the threat of a supposed crypto-fascist at the helm of the opposition party — whom she prophesied in a whisper will ultimately be convicted as the result of one of the cases brought against him by Democratic functionaries — is the threat posed by those who would dare support him. "But people wanting that are a much bigger part of the equation‚" continued the host. "And the American electorate is made up of two major parties. One of those parties has been flirting with extremism on the ultra-right for a very long time. They've brought them in in a way that they haven't been central to Republican electoral politics ever before‚ and I know because I've been studying this." Maddow was responding to former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki concerning her mention of a Des Moines Register/NBC poll‚ which found in December that likely Republican caucus-goers in Iowa were more likely to support Trump becuase of statements regarded as controversial by the liberal media. For instance‚ the Trump threat of "seriously looking into alternatives to Obamacare" prompted 55% of respondents to indicate they would be more likely to support him. 50% of likely caucus-goers signaled greater support for the pledge to authorize "sweeping raids‚ giant camps and mass deportations" to tackle the existential threat of illegal immigration. 43% said they were more likely to support him on account of his suggestion that "racial left thugs that live like vermin" need to be rooted out. The leftist talking head stressed further that no longer is the "MAGA movement" "the problem of one man‚" but rather it is a problem now endemic in the GOP. — (@) Trump is presently leading Biden in the polls. The latest CBS News poll has the former president leading Biden by two points. Rasmussen Reports has Trump leading Biden 49-41. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!