Researchers at UC Berkeley say they recently uncovered at least four outbreaks of sudden oak death caused by a different genetic lineage of the fungus-like pathogen that was previously known to propel the disease in California. Early thinking is that the new source of the disease may be hastened by the warming climate. #California #climatechange #nature #disease #forest https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/sudden-oak-death-trees-19925571.php and Archive link: https://archive.ph/PYEJw

They then decided to introduce a wasp that would kill the scale bug...the scale bug produces honeydew which the ants consume. You deny the ants food which would control their population and subsequently make the crab's life much better. #invasivespecies #nature #biocontrol https://www.forbes.com/sites/scotttravers/2024/11/22/this-wasp-was-brought-to-christmas-island-in-2017-7-years-later-a-struggling-species-thrives/

Christmas Island is known for its annual red crab migration as millions of them cover large swaths of the island as they make their way to the ocean. Somewhere along the line Yellow Crazy ants were inadvertently introduced into the island. It took a several decades for these ants to multiply and severely impact the crab population. Scientists first tried ant poison but it got to be expensive and toxic to fish. 1/2

Phillips 66 faces federal charges, accused of polluting LA sewers with 790,000 gallons of wastewater. #pollution #wastewater #oil https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/phillips-66-faces-federal-charges-accused-of-polluting-la-sewers-with-790000-gallons-of-wastewater/

Anyone remember the 4 children (one of them was an 11 month old) that survived for 40 days in the Amazon jungle of Columbia after a plane crash? Netflix's "The Lost Children" documentary is an excellent visual summary of the ordeal. #nature #survival #documentary https://youtu.be/mTmSaHTVRPo

@HopeNotWorry...what happens when your spinach has spoiled with radiation. Putting this film in the same category as Killer Klowns From Outer Space. #CoSoMovies

#InNewsoftheAbsurd Another fervent GOP member and dedicated tfg supporter pays the price for their cult-like behavior. Peggy Judd looks back at the vote that upended her life. The Republican supervisor was indicted for delaying certification. #politics #humor #comedy https://azmirror.com/2024/11/22/as-cochise-county-certifies-election-peggy-judd-looks-back-at-the-vote-that-upended-her-life/

@TheNewsOwl There really should be a religion of #CalvinandHobbes. There are lifelong believers of its philosophy, soul searching insights, and zeal for life and adventure. What better way to convert nonbelievers than through a child. Wait...you telling me that Calvinism is already taken up? Dang it. #religion #humor #comedy

Well, everything that tfg touches turns to shit. One good thing that tfg has ever done and it was to get Gaetz out of Congress. Who would'a thunk to ever praise him for unintentionally doing something worthy.

Matt Gaetz says he doesn't plan to rejoin Congress after withdrawing as Trump's pick for attorney general...even after being reelected. #politics https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/matt-gaetz-says-doesnt-plan-rejoin-congress-withdrawing-name-attorney-rcna181378

@JazzCrafter Apathy is and will continue to be a killer of democracy. Russians are known for their gloomy outlook of life and have basically given up on changing their government and have grown accustomed to having "strong" leaders. Don't think that US is at this stage but voter apathy may give a hint as to where it is going.

@JazzCrafter The premise of the documentary "Join or Die" as well as the book was to understand why social capital has declined--which is a more recent (after the 1960's) issue. It also looks at the consequences of the decline of civic engagement and how it affects governments and specifically democratic governments where voting is a civic duty. There were a few ideas as to how this trend might be reversed and possibly save a democratic government or at best, make the government better.

When people do not participate in politics there is a higher tendency for people to be dissatisfied w/ how the government works. This map displays the large number of people that decided to not vote in the 2024 Presidential election. Robert Putnam wrote "Bowling Alone" & it describes America's decades-long decline in community connections that may hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis.Netflix's documentary "Join or Die" https://youtu.be/XKgQr6fhbxE is a good summary.#politics #voting

@AskTheDevil You saying she'll be the White House Madam?

@VelvetDuchess @WordsmithFL the competency of tfg's actual lawyers is really questionable...ratings between bad, horrible, inept, amateur and so on. So much so that a few of them have been indicted, prosecuted, and/or disbarred.

@WordsmithFL tfg is not known for long term thinking. Instantaneous gratification is more of his liking and probably why he's gone the bankruptcy way. Doubt that he'll be criminally prosecuted while in office and don't think he'll live to see the end of this coming term...

Someone that has already saved his buttocks and done his bidding...wondering why Judge Cannon has not been nominated for AG. #tfg #politics