inkbluesky

Island leopard revealed as unique species

An entirely new species of cat has been revealed. The clouded leopard found on the south-east Asian islands of Borneo and Sumatra is as genetically distinct from its mainland cousin as lions are from tigers, say scientists.

“For over 100 years we have been looking at this animal and never realised that it was unique,” said Stuart Chapman, coordinator of a WWF programme that aims to preserve the vast rainforests in a region known as the Heart of Borneo.

The new cat, now dubbed the Bornean clouded leopard and given the species name Neofelis diardi, is darker than the mainland clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa. It also has slightly different markings on its pelt. But the real differences between the two species are in their genes.

They found 40 differences between the genes of the two species. There are a few good photographs at the link. I’ve got a pretty good collection of stock animal photos at this point, but nothing as rare as this leopard.

soft river light

The stone is cast - Jerry Falwell spent a career demonizing others. Upon his death, what else could he expect in return?

One never wants to speak ill of the dead, but in the case of Jerry Falwell, how can one not? Falwell will always be remembered for his “700 Club” comment in the wake of Sept. 11: “I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America, I point the finger in their face and say ‘you helped this happen.’” Even though Falwell later apologized, the damage had been done: A sacred moment had been used for profane purpose.

And that, really, is Falwell’s legacy. To the religious life of the United States he made no significant contribution.

Have you ever been to a long term care facility for the mentally disturbed or the what is commonly referred to as the psych wing of your local city hospital. While many of those residents have serious problems and need the care they’re receiving, many of them are more coherent and and rational then Falwell ever was. Yet Falwell was not treated like as though he were unbalanced many people have and will continue to look upon him as perfectly reasonable. What is that phenomenon called where people can’t see someone for the person they really are.

Interesting examination of the national sheriff’s (Attorney General’s) testimony. Gonzales’ yearlong effort to block Comey’s testimony

In addition to blocking Comey and Ashcroft’s testimony about these matters throughout all of last year, the Bush administration — led by Bush himself — single-handedly blocked an investigation into the role played by DOJ lawyers in authorizing the NSA program by extraordinarily refusing to grant security clearances to DOJ investigators in the Office of Professional Responsibility. That investigation — had it proceeded — would have encompassed an examination of whether DOJ lawyers acted unethically in authorizing the program.

As always, the contempt which the Bush administration has for the rule of law is illustrated not only by their serial and conscious lawbreaking, but also by their extreme efforts to conceal those actions and shield them from any scrutiny or oversight of any kind. Knowing about these events in Aschcroft’s hospital room (because he was a key participant in them), Gonzales, with a straight face, insisted in February, 2006 that he would not allow Ashcroft or Comey to testify because “you have to wonder what could Messrs. Comey and Ashcroft add to the discussion.” It is impossible to express how free they are of even the most minimal constraints to tell the truth.

Good thing Alberto doesn’t have a wooden nose he would have hurt someone.