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A new species of tarantula was discovered in the southwestern African nation of Angola. What’s most intriguing about this new spider, called Ceratogyrus attonitifer, is the horn-like appendage protruding from its back. It belongs to the genus of Ceratogyrus (horned baboon spiders), yet scientists haven’t seen anything quite like this new species. The researcher who discovered the horned tarantula, John Midgley, showed photos of the arachnid to Ian Engelbrecht, an expert on spiders, and he didn’t believe the pictures were real at first. “I knew then we had discovered a new species,” Midgley told National Geographic. “It’s rare to know...

"The highest winds, greatest storm surge and heaviest rain may occur east of where Cristobal makes landfall, so not only is the Louisiana coast at risk, but also Mississippi, Alabama and well into the Florida Panhandle," said CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen.

The Weekly Gardening Thread is a weekly gathering of folks that love soil, seeds and plants of all kinds. From complete newbies that are looking to start that first potted plant, to gardeners with some acreage, to Master Gardener level and beyond, we would love to hear from you. If you have specific question about a plant/problem you are having, please remember to state the Growing Zone where you are located. This thread is non-political respite. No matter what, you won’t be flamed, and the only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked. It is impossible to hijack the...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Organizers have scrapped plans to mandate social distancing during President Donald Trump’s appearance at a July 3 Mount Rushmore fireworks display and won’t limit the crowd due to coronavirus concerns, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Thursday. The Republican governor said the National Park Service is dolling out 7,500 tickets via lottery for the event, which marks the first time in a decade that fireworks will be set off at the memorial in recognition of Independence Day. “There will be no better place to celebrate our independence,” Noem said. “We are excited that President Trump...

A local resident has interrupted a press briefing by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to complain that onlookers were trampling on his recently reseeded lawn.

June 1 (UPI) -- A Virginia brewery announced it is seeking a "Chief Hiking Officer" who would be paid $20,000 to spend five to seven months hiking the Appalachian Trail and drinking beer. The Devil's Backbone Brewing Co., based in Lexington, said it is accepting applications from people who "love hiking and beer" to take on the unique job. The winning applicant will be granted the "Chief Hiking Officer" title and be flown out to the trail head in 2021 for a 2,200-mile hike. The hiker, who would tackle the trail between May and September 2021, would be outfitted with...

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana’s first election to feature widespread mail-in balloting concluded Tuesday with long lines in Indianapolis delaying the closure of in-person voting locations. Nearly 550,000 voters requested mail-in ballots - more than 10 times the number cast during the 2016 primary - after coronavirus concerns prompted officials to delay the primary by four weeks from its original May 5 date. Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden easily won Indiana's delegates in their respective primaries. Indianapolis voters faced waits of an hour or more at several voting locations throughout the day as Marion County had 22...

Curfews have been issued across the country in the wake of protests, both peaceful and violent, against police brutality following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last week. In Los Angeles, the curfew is the harshest since the riots in 1992 following the acquittal of the officer who beat Rodney King. On the East Coast, New York City has enacted the strictest curfew since the race riots of 1943. **SNIP** The county of Los Angeles, the nation's most populous county with approximately ten million residents, enacted a 12-hour overnight curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. starting Monday night....

As protests against police brutality spread across the country, President Trump looked impotent, unable to offer anything reassuring and tweeting angrily from inside a White House under siege. But Trump has hit on a solution: designate “antifa” a terrorist organization, to make it look as if the protests have been taken over by radical terrorists, and to create the impression that he’s getting fearsomely tough in response. In an interview with us, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told us that the designation itself, which has no legal basis, appears to be a “characteristically political act." Schiff, the chair of the House...

As states across America being to reopen, some scientists are voicing fears about so-called "superspreaders" who may be responsible for larger numbers of coronavirus cases through airborne transmission. Although many businesses are reopening with stringent social distancing guidelines, those practices vary significantly from state to state and even from city to city within various states. Kimberly Prather, an atmospheric chemist at University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, wrote in a recent perspective paper in Science that a review of existing literature provides evidence that the new coronavirus can linger in the air, perhaps even for hours, before...

The Minneapolis riots. ...

At least one player thinks there won't be a 2020 MLB season as players and owners dispute over money. Jon Heyman of MLB Network discussed a recent call between the league and the players association Thursday on Ordway, Merloni & Fauria (via Ryan Hannable of WEEI), relaying a message from someone involved. "The call was last night. I was getting texts. I got a text from a player—and I think they are going to get a deal, I think they are going to work it out. I can't believe they are going to blow it up over economics. But, from...

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Thursday that outdoor stadiums will be allowed to open to fans next month at limited capacity for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began. While many state leaders have discussed the possibility of reopening stadiums to professional sports teams, most have said welcoming fans inside to watch competitions will not be possible until the country achieves better containment of the virus. Abbott signed the proclamation as an expansion of another he announced last week that approved more businesses and services to reopen. While the original proclamation last Friday allowed professional sports teams to resume...

Apparently, cops don’t love doughnuts just because they taste good; but also because they make effective tools in protecting the public. For proof of this, look no further than Fort Myers, Florida. That’s where animal control officers saved helpless citizens from a menacing bear with nothing more than a box of Krispy Kremes. After a young 250-pound bear was spotted wandering through the streets of Fort Myers Tuesday morning, officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were called out to tranquilize it, says Officer Adam Brown. However, because tranquilizers usually don’t take effect right away, they felt using...

Honey-loving bear has great taste in cars. The great outdoors can be beautiful but terrifying at the same time. Luckily humans have developed the ability to shield themselves from most of what mother nature can dish out, but apparently not baby bears carjacking an unlocked Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Legendary animal conservationist Steve Irwin has been quoted as saying that baby bears are nature's number one carjackers, closely followed by the common Vervet Monkey and African Baboon. All we know is that whenever you go out on a wildlife cruise, it is imperative that you lock your doors unless you want to...

Safe Boating Tips No matter how much experience you have, it’s always a good idea for everyone to review boating safety rules before departures. Below you will find 10 basic boating safety tips to help you stay safe: 1.Be Weather-Wise Always check local weather conditions before departure; TV and radio forecasts can be a good source of information. If you notice darkening clouds, volatile and rough changing winds or sudden drops in temperature, play it safe by getting off the water. 2.Follow a Pre-Departure Checklist Proper boating safety includes being prepared for any possibility on the water. Following a pre-departure...

The vast majority of Americans approve of hunting according to Responsive Management, an internationally recognized survey research firm in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues. A recent survey in conjunction with the National Shooting Sports Foundation revealed the current approval rating of hunting by Americans 18 years of age and older is the highest it’s been since Responsive Management began monitoring approval rates in 1995. During the past 25 years, overall approval of hunting has steadily grown from 73 to 80%. During the same time frame, overall disapproval of hunting has declined even more rapidly from 22 to only 13%.

Deer, bobcats and black bears are gathering around parts of Yosemite national park typically teeming with visitors arlier this month, for the first time in recent memory, pronghorn antelope ventured into the sun-scorched lowlands of Death Valley national park. Undeterred by temperatures that climbed to over 110F, the animals were observed by park staff browsing on a hillside not far from Furnace Creek visitor center. “This is something we haven’t seen in our lifetimes,” said Kati Schmidt, a spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association. “We’ve known they’re in some of the higher elevation areas of Death Valley but as...

My wife mentioned that she'd like to watch a good nature documentary sometime. The problem is that we aren't looking for a series, just a stand alone one or two hour documentary. Also of course we don't want some lefty filmmaker lecturing us about how "man is destroying the environment and climate change must be stopped". I trust Freeper opinions. Any suggestions?

Thor Industries — one of the world’s largest RV manufacturers and owner of numerous brands including Airstream — found nearly everyone with a camper still plans to get out this year. And those plans extend further than expected. The post-pandemic world has, by in large, adapted to a life of social distancing and stay-at-home lifestyles. But that hasn’t shaken our commitment to enjoying the great outdoors again as summer nears. At least, that’s according to a recent survey of more than 19,000 current and prospective RV owners. Commissioned by Thor Industries, parent company to well-known RV brands like Airstream, Dutchmen,...