samhexum

Ironically, I just watched this 2 nights ago...

Historic thunderstorms that lashed the United Arab Emirates — dumping the heaviest rain ever recorded in the country in just a matter of hours — may have been self-inflicted by a weather modification technique, some meteorologists claim. As the desert nation attempted to dry out Wednesday from the rare torrential storm that flooded out portions of major highways and Dubai’s international airport, several meteorologists alleged that “cloud seeding” could be to blame. Cloud seeding, a technique frequently implemented by the UAE government, involves flying small planes through clouds with burning salt flares in a bid to increase rainfall due to the nation’s limited groundwater. Multiple reports, including Bloomberg, cited meteorologists at the country’s National Center for Meteorology saying the agency had flown six or seven cloud seeding flights in the lead-up to the storm. A rep for the agency, however, denied any cloud seeding operations had been carried out mid-storm. “One of the basic principles of cloud seeding is that you have to target clouds in its early stage before it rains,” Omar AlYazeedi, deputy director general of the NCM, said in a statement obtained by CNBC. “If you have a severe thunderstorm situation then it is too late to conduct any seeding operation.” The agency didn’t immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment on whether any cloud seeding flights were carried out prior to the storm. The rains began soaking Dubai late Monday with some 0.79 inches of rain, according to meteorological data collected at Dubai International Airport. The storms then intensified Tuesday morning and continued throughout the day, dumping more rain and hail on the overwhelmed city. By the end of Tuesday, more than 5.59 inches of rainfall had been dumped on Dubai over a 24-hour stretch. An average year sees roughly 3.73 inches of rain at Dubai International Airport – the world’s busiest for international travel. Scores of flights were halted Tuesday night as water lapped on taxiways and passengers struggled to reach terminals as floodwaters engulfed surrounding roads. Dubai International Airport acknowledged Wednesday that the flooding had left “limited transportation options” and affected flights as aircraft crews couldn’t reach the airfield. “Recovery will take some time,” the airport said in a tweet. Emirates said the airline had halted check-in for passengers departing from Dubai until midnight Wednesday. Meanwhile, authorities sent tanker trucks out into the streets and highways to try and pump away water. Schools were shuttered and the government instituted remote work again for Wednesday as communities assessed damaged and cleared debris.

Jaw-dropping penis mystery finally solved It’s an X-rated question many of us have pondered at some point when wandering around a museum: why do men in Greek statues all have a small penis? While the anatomy of Greek gods depicted in marble and bronze have never been modest, in recent years, many have wondered why their manhoods don’t match up to grandeur of their chiselled abs and bulging biceps. Countless historians have also been struck by the modest nature of the phalluses that feature in the iconic statues, including Michelangelo’s David and the Artemision Bronze, thought to represent the god of the sky, Zeus. So why do the men honoured in Greek sculptures all have minute manhoods? As it turns out, it’s not an unfortunate coincidence. Historian Paul Chrystal conducted research into the ancient titbit, sharing his findings in his 2016 book In Bed with the Ancient Greeks. “The small penis was consonant with Greek ideals of male beauty,” he said. “It was a badge of the highest culture and a paragon of civilisation.” While in contrast, depraved and undesirable figures in ancient mythology were “rendered with very large, erect genitals, sometimes almost as tall as their torsos.” “Big penises were vulgar and outside the cultural norm, something sported by the barbarians of the world,” Chrystal explained. This jaw-dropping fact about male beauty standards back in 400BC was recently shared by TikTok user Ruby Reign – and the video explaining the research quickly went viral. “What I wasn’t aware of was that the Greeks often presented their enemies, the Egyptians, the satyr creatures, and even fools in comedies as having large appendages – so it was quite a negative thing to have,” she shared. “Having a smaller package was considered a sign of virtue, of civility, or self control or discipline. “Meanwhile, having a bigger one was a sign of lustfulness, of gluttonous appetites and barbarism, which is quite interesting because it’s different to today.” Social media users were left quite surprised by the interesting revelation, with some sharing hilarious responses to the unexpected discovery. “We definitely gotta return to our roots,” one joked. “I was really born in the wrong generation,” another laughed. As one said: “Remember lads we were on top, now the Barbarians have taken over.” One guy also remarked the fact would come in handy, revealing it was something he’ll share with “almost every woman” he could.

The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirmed are working to preserve a care model, rooted in love, for a growing older adult population. Since 1971, Ozanam Hall Nursing Home in Bayside has sponsored the Carmelite Sisters congregation to provide skilled, well-rounded care to seniors of all faiths through a traditional Catholic healthcare model. It is currently home to over 350 senior residents receiving around-the-clock care in their final years. Among the hundreds of employees are fifteen nuns, some visiting from other countries, who reside on the top floor. While their professional occupations include registered nurses, social workers and administrators, they are united by their pledge of poverty and service to others. Those working in the system say that their presence is a guiding force for the residents going through the physical and mental challenges of aging. The Carmelite System is currently exploring routes to preserve the footprint of the Catholic Church and grow the Catholic model of healthcare. In the process, they hope to continue serving people in need while adhering to their motto: “The difference is love.” “We continue to carry on the values and charisms of the Carmelite sisters to ensure that we really have a focus on human dignity, especially as people age,” said Patrica K. Gathers, President and CEO of The Carmelite System. She began working in Catholic healthcare in 2001, and was inspired to become a Mercy Associate. She says that one key difference between Carmelite nursing homes and others is an emphasis on comprehensive palliative care measures to address the spiritual and emotional pain that comes up towards the end of one’s life. The goal is to allow the long-term residents to lead a dignified life as they become infirm, which includes offering private rooms, a range of daily activities for engagement, and spiritual care for people of all faiths. The Carmelite Sisters congregation was founded in 1929 by Mother Angeline McCrory, who also wanted to establish a care model for the middle class. She previously served as a superior of the Little Sisters of the Poor in the Bronx but was moved by the need to serve elderly people of all socioeconomic classes. Today, the Carmelite congregation is uniquely positioned as the only post-acute Catholic-sponsored entity in the country. It offers nursing homes and assisted living without being tied to a hospital system, which has a very different business model. The congregation is found in seven states with 13 entities, including one in Ireland. “We want the residents to make sure that they understand that we are in their home, and we’re here to serve them,” said Gathers, giving an example of, “I don’t say I’m the CEO, I serve in the capacity of the CEO, I’m here to serve.” While the number of nuns is dwindling—only 115 sisters remain in the Carmelite congregation according to leaders—the quality of care they deliver to patients and fellow staff members remains unwavering. The decline in numbers can be attributed to more opportunities for women to make an impact today than there were decades ago. A 2014 report from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate found that only 1% of nuns today are under 40 and the average age of a sister is 80 years old. And since 1965 there has been a 76 percent drop in sisters around the country with less than a thousand anticipated to be left by 2042. “We all have a method of catering to others and my method is be available, be public and get the work done,” said Sister Philip Ann, Administrator at Ozanam Hall. “But everybody tries to give the best care they can.” Sister Philip arrived in Queens in 2015 after working from locations in Boston, Cincinnati, Columbus and other boroughs in the city over the years. Originally from Ireland, she took a vow of poverty at 22 and has since worked in the Carmelite System in various roles, including registered nurse and director of nurses. “We all inspire each other,” she said about her current role in Ozanam Hall. “One person’s loving attention for a resident inspires compassion for another person. When one of us is having a bad day, another pulls them out of it.” During the early days of the pandemic, when nursing homes had significantly high rates of infection and death, the sisters ramped up their efforts. Despite their ages and proximity putting them at a heightened risk, they continued their roles and filled in the gaps created by a shrinking staff. Before the pandemic government assistance came in, the St. Patrick’s Home in the Bronx was at risk of closing due to a significant decrease in the census. In an effort to save it, the Carmelite Sisters congregation gave $9 million of their own funds to keep the facility from shuttering. “They took of their own resources, their own future pension money to take care of their congregation, and they invested it to ensure that our homes were able to survive during the pandemic,” Gathers recalled. “I think that that’s a beautiful thing.” Gathers says it’s not the first time the nuns have used ingenuity and pooled resources to serve others. The history of the Carmelite Sisters is steeped with similar stories of women’s innovation and selflessness. This congregation was born during a period when the sisters were given male names so that they would be taken more seriously in a male-dominated society. Gathers says that her goal now is to maintain a sound financial and business model so that the sisters do not need to underwrite their ministry in the future, even if their compassionate natures incline them to. She hopes that the Catholic business model remains viable and continues to survive amid the changes in the modern world. “This has been a women-led business since 1929 when it was unheard of. They really have made a material impact across this country that people don’t even necessarily understand,” said Gathers. “They pulled things together, and they just did it on faith, and a lot of prayers and a lot of grit not asking for anything in return. And that’s why I’m personally committed to trying to make sure that these assets are preserved.” ‘Love is the difference’: Carmelite Sisters work to preserve Catholic care model for aging residents – QNS QNS.COM The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirmed are working to preserve a care model, rooted in love, for a...

Son who allegedly killed ‘possessed’ father in baptism-style execution facing trial oh, for the love of God!

Unbearably dumb idea Group snatches bear cubs out of tree just to take selfies with them in disturbing clip “We do think that the bear probably had a pretty traumatic experience.”

Life imitating art: Mariska Hargitay mistaken for real-life cop by lost child She’s a hero on and off screen.

It all started because his 9-year-old son wanted a pet. Not just any pet. An octopus. Specifically, a California two-spot octopus, also known as a bimac. So, Cameron Clifford, a 36-year-old dentist in rural Oklahoma, did what many dads would do. He made a call to a local aquarium store inquiring about getting an octopus. Little did he know, that call would eventually spawn 50 surprise octopus babies in his home, thousands of dollars in water damage and other fees as well as an epic father-son TikTok saga that has warmed the hearts of nearly 400 thousand followers. "I think there's a lot of people out there that had this crazy pipe dream when they were a kid, and then it just kind of fizzled away as they got older," he says. "I think they also really empathize with kind of this stereotypical story of a father who decides to give his child a pet, and then, of course, turns into the father almost taking exclusive care of that pet, except to the nines in this case." Clifford says his son Cal has always had deep, inexplicable love for octopuses. Since he was 2, Cal has asked for a pet octopus at every birthday, Christmas and major holiday. Clifford and his wife always thought it was a funny and adorable request − and they happily gifted him toy octopuses as presents. Never, however, did they think owning a pet octopus was a dream they could make a reality. "His ultimate dream, his cloud nine, the greatest thing that could ever possibly happen in one's life had just become a possibility, and he just broke down," Clifford recalls. "My friends and family, of course, all, as you probably imagine, said to me, 'Well, now you have to get it for him. You can't just dangle that in front of him and then turn around and just flatline that dream.' " So Clifford spent the next several weeks documenting his and his son's preparation for their pet octopus, whom they named Terrance. That meant researching, ordering and installing a proper saltwater tank and water cycling system in their home, as well as making sure they had access to an octopus' food supply. Clifford says he bought most of the materials secondhand on Facebook Marketplace and expected the whole ordeal to cost around $600 to $700. He was wrong. Terrance arrived and was bigger than expected − which meant they needed a bigger tank. When Terrance's 50 surprise babies arrived, "all bets were off," Clifford says, and he spent $300 a week to overnight food for the hatchlings. Not to mention the water damage to his house, which he says is still under repair. All in all, Clifford estimates he's spent around $3,000 to $4,000 on octopuses over the past year. "Do not get a pet octopus unless you're ready to lose sleep and your kids' college fund simultaneously," he jokes. About two months after her arrival, Terrance laid eggs, signaling the end of her lifespan. As Clifford notes on TikTok, female bimac octopuses usually live one-to-two years. When they lay eggs, they stop eating or taking care of themselves, devoting the rest of their lives to protecting their den until their eggs hatch. Experts assured Clifford that Terrence's eggs couldn't be fertilized, meaning they'd never hatch. Clifford and his family handfed Terrence as she protected her perceived young, letting her live out her final purpose according to nature, even if it was all in vain. But then to Clifford's shock, all 50 of Terrence's eggs hatched. Clifford called local aquariums and research facilities begging them to take the babies. They all declined. So he did the next logical thing: He resorted to TikTok, sharing the videos he'd only previously posted for friends and family on his private Instagram. His account exploded in popularity, and now he's in communication with major aquariums, universities and research facilities across the country interested in taking the octopuses off his hands. He's also solicited the internet for names for the babies − the punnier, the better. His favorite? InverteBrett. The experience has had its fair share of challenges, he says, but seeing the joy it's brought to Cal, as well as his 6-year-old son Lyle, has been worth it. It's also been special to see the internet − a notoriously divisive space − rally in near unanimous support for him and his family as they navigate the ups and downs of their octopus journey. "As far as regrets, there's so many," he says. "I wish I wouldn't have opened that valve that way and dumped all that dirty seawater onto my kids' white carpet. That's certainly a regret. But overall, no, it's been an absolutely fun experience, not just for me, but also for my kids." Clifford says the baby octopuses haven't been rehomed yet and are staying with "Dr. Tim," a family friend and reptile scientist. Usually only 1-5% of bimac babies survive into adulthood, Clifford says; two months out from hatching, a staggering 50% of Terrance's babies are still alive: "Every scientist I speak to is always kind of astonished by that fact that we were able to get such a high yield in a kid's bathroom." Clifford says his ultimate goal is for his TikTok followers across the country to be able to visit Terrance's offspring at their local aquariums once the babies find their new homes. "I think it would just be such a cool experience, if you had followed along with the account, (to) go to your state aquarium and see one of the babies − JaySea or BeyonSea or Swim Shady or Squid Cudi − in person," he says. He also intends to go back to his normal life, which has been disrupted by going viral. Clifford and his wife have taken strides to shield their children from knowing just how famous their family has become online. But that's become more difficult now that news cameras have entered their house. For Clifford, the wellbeing of his kids will always come first. It's something he and Terrance have in common. "Of course, with this whole social media thing, it's like I'm now missing bedtime because I'm doing some interview. And that of course then becomes counterproductive if you're like, 'OK, well, I'm documenting how great of a dad I am, and now here I am not putting my kids to bed.' So I have to be careful with it as well," he says. "It's just been a little wilder than most of the experiences we have, but my son has absolutely loved this experience." And for those wondering: Yes, Terrence is, somehow, still alive. "She's doing good. She is just living out the rest of her life in her tank by herself," Clifford says. "She will probably die in the next several weeks, although my assumptions of her have been wrong consistently." https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2024/04/12/tiktok-dad-viral-octopus-50-eggs-babies/73294427007/

I thought Serge Ibaka had retired. Years ago Griffin dated a Kardashian and there were rumors he was a terrible kisser.

She had an amazing voice, but I didn't always love her material.

Personal trainer dies from suspected mushroom poisoning from juice consumed at wellness retreat i·ro·ny /ˈīrənē/ noun the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. "“Don't go overboard with the gratitude,” he rejoined with heavy irony" a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result. plural noun: ironies "the irony is that I thought he could help me" a literary technique, originally used in Greek tragedy, by which the full significance of a character's words or actions are clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character. noun: tragic irony

Chrissy Teigen defends Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, after Keith McNally calls her ‘revolting’ Why should I care that John Legend's wife 'defended' a former candidate for a co-host position on THE VIEW regarding something somebody I never heard of said about her?

White Sox tie 1907 Brooklyn Superbas for most shutouts through 16 games who'd a-thunk they'd be relevant twice in three months?

PATRIOT MISSILE: Patriots receiver appears to post explicit photo on Snapchat

Patriots receiver appears to post explicit photo on Snapchat

You mean commuter vans to facilitate pub crawls? Interesting idea!

You have a problem with people who speak Italian?