![npostlife:
Irish potato famine mystery solved: After 170 years, biologists identify pathogen that led to mass starvationThe Irish potato famine of the 1840s was caused by a plant-pathogen strain that was unknown until now, scientists said after examining dried leaves that were as much as 170 years old.[John Miller/AP file photo]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/90860832b3316dc5f1e489bed964e267/tumblr_mn62exgF5u1s0oiwfo1_500.jpg)
Irish potato famine mystery solved: After 170 years, biologists identify pathogen that led to mass starvation
The Irish potato famine of the 1840s was caused by a plant-pathogen strain that was unknown until now, scientists said after examining dried leaves that were as much as 170 years old.
[John Miller/AP file photo]
May 22nd 1455: First Battle of St. Albans
On this day in 1455 the Wars of the Roses began with the First Battle of St Albans in Hertfordshire, England. The wars were fought between the rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet who were competing for the English throne: the houses of Lancaster and York. The First Battle of St Albans resulted in Yorkist victory, with Richard, Duke of York defeating the Lancastrians (led by Edmund, Duke of Somerset) and capturing King Henry VI. The wars continued until 1485 and led to the founding of the Tudor dynasty, as the Lancastrian Henry Tudor (Henry VII) defeated the last Yorkist King Richard III and married a Yorkist. Richard III was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 and his remains were only recently found in 2012 under a car park in Leicester.
I don’t really understand any of that, but the pictures are cool.
Arthur Krystal (via sds)
Mostly true - although saying that I never think except when I sit down to write is a gross exaggeration. The point is better expressed in the last sentence: writing imposes discipline on thought that is otherwise rarely invoked. Because people are generally lazy.
Another fortunate little fur-pal found safe in the rubble. (twitter.com/OkCountySheriff)
MOORE, Oklahoma -
A photo of a mud-splattered pup taken by the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office takes on new significance after its owner’s body is recovered.
“Man’s best friend to the end,” the Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page Tuesday.
Deputies initially released a photo Monday of the small black dog sitting in debris following the devastating EF-5 tornado with the comment “scared, this little pup survived.”
On Tuesday they learned the dog was guarding his deceased owner whose body was recovered.
“The dog was taken to a shelter and the deputy who found the pup, if possible, plans on adopting the dog,” the OCSO tweeted on Tuesday. “Man’s best friend to the end.” (via)
Oh man.
Americans Dredge Up Last Remaining Reserves Of Grief | Full Report
Against all common sense, The Onion attempts to be funny about the Oklahoma tornado that destroyed thousands of homes and killed dozens.
It didn’t work. Bad idea. EPIC FAIL.
Re-blogging mostly for the poignant picture.
Holding the victims in my thoughts and prayers …
Doing what he can.
This picture comes from a Fox News viewer and shows hail the size of grapefruit that fell near Oklahoma City, OK. (via PHOTO: Hail the Size of a Grapefruit Falls Near Oklahoma City, OK | Fox News Insider)
YIKES!
Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Giants of Jazz. Copenhagen, 1971.
HRH Prince Harry participates in a ceremonial wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns during the second day of his visit to the United States at Arlington National Cemetery on May 10, 2013 in Arlington, Virginia.
The Tomb of the Unknowns is solemn, sacred ground and one of my absolute favorite tourist destinations since I was 10 years old. A must-see for every American.
Is this the best way to share your feelings? Yes. Yes, it is.
Philadelphia Eagles guard Evan Mathis responds to the recent IRS scandal by urinating (or fake urinating) on an IRS sign. This is how you change the world, people.
A bit on the crude side — but in this case it seems to fit pretty well.
Baseball Card of the Week:
How badass was Bob Watson? Not only could he pull off the Rainbow Stripes and was coming off a season in which he hit .324 with 18 home runs, but he was so flippin’ rad that he had to wear sunglasses for his baseball card. Which, by the way, was taken inside in the Astrodome. A place that saw no sunlight.
Watson is now Major League Baseball’s Vice President of Rules and On-Field Operations. I can only hope his number one rule for on-field operations is Always Be Cool.
(image via Number 5 Type Collection)
Good ballplayer.
SeaWorld To Discontinue Great White Shark Ride: Full Report
Photographer Satoki Nagata (via Chicago Lights Photography – Fubiz™)
