Random Links Thread

[gotbeer]

Dogs may use Earth’s magnetic field to take shortcuts

 

[Redondo]

The red handfish, a cousin of the now-extinct smooth handfish.

An unusual-looking fish with bulging eyes, a mohawk-like fin on its head and the ability to walk on the seafloor with its pectoral and pelvic fins has reached a grim milestone. The so-called smooth handfish (Sympterichthys unipennis) has been declared extinct, the first modern marine fish on record to completely vanish, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

A mere 200 years ago, the smooth handfish was so plentiful in Australia — where it basked in Tazmania's warm, coastal waters — that it was among the first fish species to be scientifically documented Down Under. In 1802, French naturalist François Péron nabbed the first specimen of the odd-looking creature with a dip net in southeastern Tasmania, a feat that worked because handfish live in shallow waters, the IUCN said in a statement.

Now, Péron's specimen (which you can see here) is the only smooth handfish scientists have left to study. It's not that researchers haven't been looking. Despite extensive underwater surveys along the Australian coastline, the smooth handfish hasn't "been sighted for over 200 years," meaning that Péron was the only scientist on record to collect one, according to a 2017 study in the journal Biological Conservation.

With the extinction of the smooth handfish, just 13 other handfish species remain alive. All of the fish live on the seafloor, where they use hand-like fins to "walk." These fish are now so rare, conservationists gleefully announced to the world that they had found a previously unknown population of the red handfish (Thymichthys politus) consisting of between 20 and 40 individuals in 2018, Live Science previously reported.

Handfish are anglerfish, meaning they're relatives of the deep-sea anglerfish, the toothy beast that has a luminous bulb dangling from its head, according to Scientific American. Though "walking" fish don't sport a glowing light, they do have another cool trick that awes scientists: Their babies don't have a larval stage. Instead, handfish give birth on the seafloor to fully formed juveniles, according to Fauna & Flora International (FFI), a conservation organization based in the U.K.

Moreover, the handfish are homebodies; they don't have a big habitat. In other words, if their areas are disturbed, the handfish have nowhere else to go.

rip-smooth-handfish-you-were-weird-and-now-youre-extinct

[Redondo]

The new Bronco. Do you like it?

 

A member of the Bronco6G fan forum came across two four-door Bronco test vehicles parked at a hotel alongside a  two-door Jeep Wrangler.

The Broncos appeared to be a base model with a disguised roof and a Badlands equipped with the off-road Sasquatch package, which includes enormous 35-inch tires. The Jeep was a Sport two-door that matched up more closely to the base Bronco, but the overall sizes and shapes make for an interesting contrast.

According to officially released dimensions, the vehicles are very close in size overall. One visually striking difference with them sitting side by side is how much more pronounced the Jeep’s front fenders are, flanking its tapered hood and canted grille, compared to the Bronco’s blunt and boxy shape. Both feature removable doors and roofs, standard 4x4 systems and a variety of powertrains.

The Jeep is currently offered with a 270 hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 285 hp 3.6-liter V6 or 260 hp 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6, while the Bronco will come standard with a 270 hp 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and offer an optional 310 hp 2.7-liter turbocharged V6.

auto/ford-broncos-caught-parked-next-to-jeep-wrangler-which-do-you-prefer

[Tank]

I'm not a ford guy but I like the look of that silver bronco.

[Blarg]

It is a really ugly design. 

[RallyMo]

22 minutes ago, Tank said:

I'm not a ford guy but I like the look of that silver bronco.

Same.

[Tank]

19 minutes ago, Blarg said:

It is a really ugly design. 

as we all know, if you put a pretty girl next to an ugly car, things immediately get better. here's an example. I mean, you hardly even notice the car in this picture.

[Blarg]

You have ruined the weekend. 

[gotbeer]

36 minutes ago, Blarg said:

You have ruined the weekend. 

I thought that was your Spitfire's job?

[gotbeer]

I don't know.  I think the 90's are calling, and they are asking Ford for their design back.

[Tank]

13 hours ago, gotbeer said:

I thought that was your Spitfire's job?

[gotbeer]

Alzheimer's blood test may detect signs 20 years before symptoms show

Horrible disease.  Right up there with cancer.  Hopefully it won't be long for the tests to be available to the public.  

[Blarg]

By the time it does we will have forgotten to get tested. 

[Tank]

1 hour ago, Blarg said:

By the time it does we will have forgotten to get tested. 

Speak for yourself, Ronald David Jonathan, fella.

[gotbeer]

5 hours ago, Blarg said:

By the time it does we will have forgotten to get tested. 

Tested for what?

[Redondo]

 

Southern California's Apple wildfire continues to spread as officials order nearly 8,000 people to evacuate

A wildfire in southern California, which has been deemed the Apple fire, has forced evacuation orders in several neighborhoods after burning more than 4,000 acres and destroying at least one home Saturday.

The fire, which started in Riverside, an area roughly 75 miles from Los Angeles, is said to be zero percent contained even though 375 firefighters, dozens of engines and air support are on the scene.

Evacuation warnings and orders have been set for the Potato Canyon and the Oak Glen areas, as the fire has moved into San Bernardino County, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) on Saturday.

“Approximately 2,586 homes totaling approximately 7,800 people are under evacuation orders,” the Riverside Fire Department tweeted Saturday evening.

[Tank]

Defund wildfires.

[Redondo]

We have hazy skies today.

Wondering if it's smoke from the fire

 

[Redondo]

Man loses penis to infection, doctor builds new one on arm

A British man who lost his penis to a severe blood infection now has a new one built on his arm.

Malcolm MacDonald, whose surgeons were able to add an extra two inches to his manhood, is now awaiting final surgery to transfer it to its rightful place, reports say.

The 45-year-old had a perineum infection that worsened into sepsis, and soon he saw his fingers, toes and penis turn black, according to a report by The Sun. He was “completely gutted” when his penis fell off in 2014, though his testicles were still intact, the outlet wrote.

He reportedly nicknamed the appendage “Jimmy” and can now find the humor in the situation while he awaits the final procedure.

“Of course it is mad – having a penis on your arm,” MacDonald told the outlet. “Not even I am used to it. But when you think about it, it’s actually amazing."

Professor David Ralph at London’s University College Hospital has expertise in penile reconstruction and built MacDonald’s new penis out of a skin graft from his left arm, The Sun wrote. A tube and a hand pump are said to allow for a “mechanical erection.”

The man already has two children so he wasn't worried about sex, the outlet wrote.

“It was always more about my self-confidence and simple things like using the loo," MacDonald told The Sun.

When MacDonald was due for the operation to transfer the new penis to the groin area, he was reportedly unwell and it was pushed to a later date. The coronavirus pandemic further added to the delays.

The man hopes to have the final surgery by the end of the year, he said.

[Tank]

Hey, is that a banana on your forearm or are you just happy to see me? 

[RallyMo]

On 8/3/2020 at 6:21 PM, Redondo said:

Man loses penis to infection, doctor builds new one on arm

A British man who lost his penis to a severe blood infection now has a new one built on his arm.

Malcolm MacDonald, whose surgeons were able to add an extra two inches to his manhood, is now awaiting final surgery to transfer it to its rightful place, reports say.

The 45-year-old had a perineum infection that worsened into sepsis, and soon he saw his fingers, toes and penis turn black, according to a report by The Sun. He was “completely gutted” when his penis fell off in 2014, though his testicles were still intact, the outlet wrote.

He reportedly nicknamed the appendage “Jimmy” and can now find the humor in the situation while he awaits the final procedure.

“Of course it is mad – having a penis on your arm,” MacDonald told the outlet. “Not even I am used to it. But when you think about it, it’s actually amazing."

Professor David Ralph at London’s University College Hospital has expertise in penile reconstruction and built MacDonald’s new penis out of a skin graft from his left arm, The Sun wrote. A tube and a hand pump are said to allow for a “mechanical erection.”

The man already has two children so he wasn't worried about sex, the outlet wrote.

“It was always more about my self-confidence and simple things like using the loo," MacDonald told The Sun.

When MacDonald was due for the operation to transfer the new penis to the groin area, he was reportedly unwell and it was pushed to a later date. The coronavirus pandemic further added to the delays.

The man hopes to have the final surgery by the end of the year, he said.

Fascinating, really. The arms and legs are great sources of skin for grafting. It's pretty impressive.

[Redondo]

About 166 miles away from where the atomic bomb was tested in Nevada is an unassuming multimillion-dollar home that is equipped with a 15,000-square-foot underground bunker, and it’s up for sale now.

The “doomsday” bunker at 3970 Spencer St. is made out of concrete and has 20 vertical steel beams as added support, according to the property’s listing agent Stephan M-LaForge, a real estate broker and salesman at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

“When they built it, everybody was afraid of nuclear war and the Cold War and all that,” LaForge told Fox News.

The 23-to-26-foot deep bunker built in 1978 could be a fit for a family who wants added security or could even become a potential underground nightclub if the neighborhood allowed such a business venture.

The massive underground space is decked out with sky and landscape murals, a swimming pool, a simulated yard and a special daytime lighting mode to match the bunker with the outside world. It also has a 5,000-square-foot single-story house.

Meanwhile, aboveground, the property has a fenced two-story home and a 450-square-foot guesthouse.

In total, there are five bedrooms, four full bathrooms, two three-quarter bathrooms, one laundry room and one family room with a wood-burning fireplace. Other amenities include a spa, waterfall and barbecue.

The property is two miles away from the Las Vegas Strip.

Currently, the property is listed at $18 million and furnishing is included in the price.

The unique home was previously sold for $1.15 million in 2015. Although, LaForge told Fox News that this was likely due to banks not knowing what they were selling.

“If you were to build it today, if you could build it today, it would be close to twice as much,” he said. “There are zero comparables.”

real-estate/las-vegas-home-massive-bomb-shelter

 

[Tank]

i hope they'll take a check. BRB.

[Jason]

 

[Blarg]

Nice nipples. What was she doing with the bottle?