Monthly Archives: July 2017

Ancient tower of skulls found in Mexico City – New York Post

Posted: July 4, 2017 at 7:44 am

A tower of more than 650 human skulls has been unearthed in Mexico City.

Reuters

As the Jets get close to training camp, I am...

This ones a real head-scratcher.

A tower of more than 650 human skulls including the craniums of women and children has been unearthed deep beneath the heart of Mexico City, according to a report.

The shocking find has raised new questions about sacrifice in the ancient Aztec Empire, as historians had believed Mesomaerican cultures mostly used the severed heads of captured warriors to adorn tzompantli or skull racks, Reuters reports.

We were expecting just men, obviously young men, as warriors would be, and the thing about the women and children is that youd think they wouldnt be going to war, biological anthropologist Rodrigo Bolanos told the agency. Something is happening that we have no record of, and this is really new.

Archaeologists discovered the skulls caked in lime in the cylindrical edifice near the site of Templo Mayor one of the main temples in the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, which later became Mexico City, according to the report.

The tower likely formed part of the Huey Tzompantli, a massive array of skulls that terrified Spanish conquistadors when they captured the city under Hernan Cortes in 1521, the news outlet reported.

Andres de Tapia, a Spanish soldier who accompanied Cortes, mentioned tens of thousands of skulls in his account of the conquest, archaeologist Raul Barrera said.

The skull tower is almost 20 feet in diameter, and stands on the corner of the chapel of Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of the sun, war and human sacrifice, according to the report. Its base has yet to be unearthed.

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Get Ready. The Tesla Model 3 Goes on Sale This Week. – Futurism

Posted: at 7:43 am

In Brief The Tesla Model 3 is about to hit the streets. CEO Elon Musk announced via Twitter that, after passing all regulatory requirements, the first series of Model 3s could be out by Friday this week. Arrival of the Tesla Model 3

When it comes to Elon Musks ventures, it seems like theres alwayssomething to look forward to. This past weekendSpaceX launched itsthird mission in nine days which came after their historic doubleheader last weekend.Then theres the progress on MusksBoring tunnels under L.A.But the most recent announcement hadmore than 400,000 peoplein wait; those who have signed up for pre-orders for the Tesla Model 3.

In a tweet Sunday night, Musk said that the Model 3 has already passed regulatory hurdles.

He expects that the serial number 1 (SN1) for Teslas electric vehicle will be finished by the end of this week. Musk also said in a second tweet that the handover party for the first 30 Model 3 customers will take place on the 28th of this month.

Musk was clearly pleased to make the announcement, and hed done the legwork ahead of potential questions, too. He also shared on Twitter just how manyModel 3s are expected to berolled out by the end of 2017. Continuing on in his Twitter thread, the Tesla CEO said that they expect 100 cars by August and over1,500 by September. By December, Tesla hopes to be producing20,000 Model 3s per month.

It should come as no surprise that Tesla has ramped up production for the Model 3. Previous reports revealedtheModel 3 production line runs onwhat Musk called an alien dreadnaught of Kuka robots. This was certainly the right move,considering the amount of pre-orders Tesla received for the Model 3 was staggering.

While the Model 3 is Teslas most affordable EV yet, the energy company isnt going cheap in terms of its design and capabilities, which will includeTeslas self-driving Autopilot software.

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Dubai Announces Accelerator to Solve the 21st Century’s Most Pressing Challenges – Futurism

Posted: at 7:43 am

A Hub of Ideas

Dubai is already leading the world in a number of innovative conceptsthey have plans for a Hyperloop system, a robot police force,a store that changes shape,self-driving electric vehicles,flying taxis,a space agency that will work towards getting people to Marsand this is just the beginning.

Now, its looking to continue that trend through a unique and innovative program that gathers the worlds industry leaders with key figures in government in order to solve some of humanitys greatest challenges.

The Dubai Future Accelerators is an intensive nine-week program that aims to connect the most innovative companieswith partners in the government in order to bring to life viable futuristic prototypes at a city-wide scale. Their goal is to actually testthe technologies that could be the solutions to some of thechallenges that plague modern society.Our mission is to imagine, design and create the future by facilitating partnerships between forward-thinking entrepreneurs and the government using the city of Dubai as a living testbed, the programs website notes.

For the program, they are focusing on seven key opportunities of the 21st century. This includes the application of cutting edge technologies like AI and robotics, genomics, 3D printing, distributed ledgers, biomimicry, and biotechnology, as well as new business models and ways of working, notesthe programs organizer, the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF).

Together, these focal points represent the most pressing sectors that could accelerate society into a new age of efficiency,productivity, and abundance. Each of the seven sectors act as umbrellas, housing a number of opportunities for innovation beneath them.

Applications for the third run of the program, which will go from October 1 to November 29, are already open. Interested companies have to be familiar with the challenges defined by the DFFs government partners and then choose one theyd like to focus on before filling out the application form.

The challenges come from a number of Dubais government offices, including the Roads and Transport Authority, the Dubai Police, the citys Health Authority, and the Department of Economic Development.

In the official release, Maha Khamis Al Mazeina, Project Manager at Dubai Future Foundation, noted that the program is really all about setting a course and tone for the future: The Dubai Future Accelerators program embodies the strategies set by the UAE as the country aims to lead the global charge to build the future, focusing on the strategic sectors that most affect peoples lives in the UAE and abroad.

To that extent, the program is doing a lot more than uniting governing officials with tech execs. They are inspiring the coming generations. For example, events held by the Dubai Future Accelerators will include members of the community, such as their Masterclass a series of interactive workshops that are meant to provide a comprehensive introduction to some of the technologies of the future and how to use them to benefit society.

Other events will be less like classes and more like discussion panels, where individuals can come together to ask the best and brightest about their ideas regarding how to build a better tomorrow. Such sessions will be hosted by international experts and participants in the Accelerators program, and they will explore the impact that these latest trends will have (and are having) on people today and tomorrow.

This is not a traditional accelerator. This isnt about how to write a business plan or how to pitch your startup. Its not about coding languages or search engine optimization. We arent going to tell you how to run your business or how to develop your website, the DFF says.This is about changing the world. Today.

So, if youthink that you might be able to help address one of the problems listed above, consider applying at the website by sending along a proposal,and if selected, you could be heading toDubai to help usher in a better tomorrow.

Disclosure: The Dubai Future Foundation works in collaboration with Futurism and is one of our sponsors. This post was not paid for or edited by DFF.

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Ray Kurzweil: There’s a Blueprint for the Master Algorithm in Our Brains – Futurism

Posted: at 7:43 am

In Brief Ray Kurzweil, Google's chief engineer, is a famous futurist who's always banked on the coming of the singularity when artificial intelligence overcomes human intelligence. For that to happen, however, we need to figure out the master algorithm.

Todays artificial intelligence (AI) systems are, no doubt, considerably advanced. There are now intelligent machine learning algorithms capable of driving vehicles, assisting doctors, or even engaging in art and in almost-human conversation. However, despite AI programmed as artificial deep neural networks, these are still far from actually mimicking what the human brain is capable of.

Renowned futurist and Google engineer Ray Kurzweil thinks that the key to human-level AIis a master algorithm, and he believes that the brain holdsa blueprint to this. The famous inventor and thinker, known for his mostly accurate predictions about future technologies, said that the brains neocortex that part of the brain thats responsible for intelligent behavior consists of roughly 300 million modules that recognize patterns. These modules are self-organized into hierarchies that turn simple patterns into complex concepts.

Despite neuroscience advancing by leaps and bounds over the years, we still havent quite figured out how the neocortex works. Kurzweil argued that these multiple modules all have the same algorithm, he said in the video by the Singularity Universityposted above. The mathematics of thinking, I think, is being understood, Kurzweil added, but I would not claim that we understand it fully. But were getting more and more hints as we learn more and more about the human brain.

Perhaps soon enough, well figure out that master algorithm and understand our brains better. Then well either be able to make better AI or AI thats better than us. Its worth finding out.

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Assistance for Oceania athletes – Fiji Times Online – Fiji Times

Posted: July 3, 2017 at 8:41 am

FORMER Philippines runner Benjamin Cesar said a high performance centre in the Oceania region would be ideal to produce some of the best athletes for the region.

He was in the country to look for talented athletes in the 2017 Oceania Athletics Championships.

"The biggest way to improve the athletics in the Oceania region was to get a national training pool in country and for the region there should be a high performance centre,' he said.

"If you get a high performance centre then each country will give their best so the level does not only become better in Fiji but becomes better in the whole region. If the countries like Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea participate then the level will keep getting better.

"I think the talent identification is a way to find more athletes. One can identify talents but if you cannot cultivate the talent then the identification goes no where. Finding the athletes in the Coca-Cola Games and giving them a proper program to follow and to show them that the support from the Athletics Fiji will allow them to see the world will get them a better education."

He also played a leading role in helping the Fijian athletes with their outfit working for a renowned branding company.

"I have been helping Fiji athletes and I was fortunate enough to work with a clothing brand and was able to help them beginning in 2013.

"I got back in touch with Athletics Fiji in 2012 however at that time we did not see a reason to help because of the situation the federation was in. Once Joseph Rodan and Joseph Rodan Jr got involved then we agreed to help," he said.

"We met Banuve Tabakaucoro in Beijing, China so we outfitted him and wherever we saw a Fijian athlete we decided to help out and it was because of that relationship. We did not treat them differently from other athletes.

"The future is bright as long as there is a good guidance and leadership."

Cesar along with his wife and two kids took part in the Olympic Day fun run at Albert Park in Suva last Friday.

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Highlighted by Rellie Kaputin and Toea Wisil breaking Oceania Championships records – POST-COURIER

Posted: at 8:41 am

July 3, 2017

Athletics

Rellie Kaputin,Toea Wisil and Ephraim Lerkin were the outstanding performers for Papua New Guinea at the Oceania Championships in Suva, Fiji which concluded on Saturday. PNG accumulating 10 gold, 11 silver and six bronze medals in the Open Division. Kaputin continued her fine 2017 form with three gold medals in the jumps events, the highlight being an Oceania Championship record of 13.05m in the triple jump. Toea Wisil ran a championship record of 23.24 seconds in the 200m and won the 100m by a huge margin of 0.6 seconds. Lerkin ran a magnificent 400m hurdles race despite being in some pain from a chest infection which was causing him breathing difficulties. The 19-year-old Simberi Islander was determined not to let this affect him as it had in the 400m final and had the race stitched up by the half way stage, going on to clock 51.73 seconds for first place. Other gold medals were won by Simbai Kaspar (5000m), Adrine Monagi (Heptathlon); Peniel Richard (Triple jump) and Raylyne Kanam (400m hurdles). Although Monagi and Richard won their events, they were clearly jaded after a long hard season of competition, as was decathlete Robson Yinambe. Athletics PNG president Tony Green said: These athletes will now go into a recovery phase before building up for the Pacific Mini Games. It was a solid all round team effort for the senior team with Debono Paraka setting two national records and Sharon Toako also impressing in the throws. Some great results were also recorded in the mens 200m with Nazmie Lee Marai, Theo Piniau, Wesley Logorava and Nelson Stone. Poro Gahekave aquitted herself well against strong competition from Australia picking up two bronze medals and setting a personal best 4min 47.26 secs in the 1500m, added Green. All of PNGs U20 and U18 athletes made the finals in the 200m with Leeroy Kamau being the standout as he is showing the potential to break Peter Pulus junior records by next year, said Green. His 21.65 sec clocking in the 200m is a massive performance for an 18 year old, as was the all round effort of Emmanuel Wanga who doesnt turn 18 until December. Valuable international experience was gained by many emerging athletes including Roland Hure, Damien Kotou , Letisha Pukaikia, Nancy Malamut, Lyenne Nilmo, and Leonie Beu, added Green. Australia fielded two large teams and dominated the championships.

10:28 AM - Its been two-years since the Wright brothers, Liam & Lloyd stepped onto the basketball courts at the Taurama Aquatic & Indoor Centre in Port Moresby.

The efforts of one person had everyone talking as Sri Lanka set Australia the biggest run-chase in World Cup history.

Athletics Rellie Kaputin,Toea Wisil and Ephraim Lerkin were the outstanding performers for Papua New Guinea at the Oceania Championships in Suva, Fiji which concluded on Saturday. PNG accumulating 10 gold,...

10:28 AM - Its been two-years since the Wright brothers, Liam & Lloyd stepped onto the basketball courts at the Taurama Aquatic & Indoor Centre in Port Moresby.

The efforts of one person had everyone talking as Sri Lanka set Australia the biggest run-chase in World Cup history.

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Six Australians celebrate Oceania Boxing titles – Australian Olympic Committee

Posted: at 8:41 am

BOXING: Six Australians have won Oceania Boxing titles on the final day of Championship competition at Paradise Point on the Gold Coast, including Commonwealth Games silver medallist Joseph Goodall and former junior World Champion, Clay Waterman.

Another two Australians, including Rio Olympian Jason Whateley, have qualified for this years Boxing World Championships despite losing their final bouts on Thursday.

Goodalls super heavyweight title was never in doubt, the big Queenslander earning a unanimous points decision over New Zealands Patrick Mailata.

Likewise Waterman was also in complete control in his bout against another New Zealander, Jarrod Banks, in the mens 81kg.

The mens 91kg final was one of the most anticipated bouts of the day, with the 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, New Zealands David Nyika, an impressive 5-0 winner over Whateley.

Other Australian victories came for Andrew Hunt in the 69kg division over Fijis Winston Hill, Harry Garside over New Zealands Chad Milnes in the 60kg, Sam Goodman in the 56kg over Vanuatus Boe Warawara, and Alex Winwood against Papua New Guineas Maxie Mangea in the mens flyweight.

In the closest bout of the day Papua New Guineas Charles Keama defeated Australias Tyler Blizzard in a split-points decision 3-2 in the mens 52kg.

New Zealands Richard Hadlow won the mens 64kg division, beating Colan Caleb from Nauru, while teammate Ryan Scaife beat Samoas Henry Tyrell for the 75kg title.

Boxing Australia

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Kiwi boxer David Nyika retains Oceania heavyweight boxing title – Newshub

Posted: at 8:41 am

Heavyweight David Nyika has successfully defended his Oceania boxing title with a unanimous points decision win over Australian No.1 Jason Whateley on the Gold Coast.

It's the Hamilton fighter's third straight victory over the Victorian and was sweet redemption after missing out on the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

Nyika burst on to the scene at just 18, when he won gold as a light heavyweight at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games three years ago, and now feels he's completed the step up.

"I'm a fully fledged heavyweight now, which has given me a lot of confidence when I can sit and tangle with the likes of Jason, who's a good fighter," he said on Thursday.

The result means the 21-year-old has qualified for the world championships starting in Hamburg in late August.

Nyika isn't expecting an easy ride when he travels to Europe, with a number of Olympians still fighting as amateurs.

"I think most of the medallists are still hanging about as a lot of the boxers from countries like Russia and Kazakhstan don't turn professional, so they're probably just in hibernation," he said.

"We'll be ready for the best of the best and that's all we can train for."

He's also refusing to look too far ahead and the chance of winning another Commonwealth gold in Queensland next April.

"I'm not too worried about studying different opponents at the world champs," he said.

"All I have to do is keep developing like I've been doing and, if all goes well, I'll be in tip-top shape for the Commonwealth Games next year."

NZN

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Pirates of the Caribbean: Disney Making This Major Alteration to the … – IGN

Posted: at 8:37 am

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Disneyland is changing up a major scene in it Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

According to a disneyparks blog post, the scene that once saw women being auctioned off (next to the Auction, Take a wench for a bride sign ) will be replaced with a scene of villagers lining up to surrender their valuables. The sign will be replaced to read "Auction, surrender yer loot", and the red-headed woman that was once a prize in the original scene will now be among the pirate ranks as an overseer complete with rifle and feathered cap.

In a statement to The Orange County Register spokeswoman for the Disneyland Resort Suzi Brown said we believe the time is right to turn the page to a new story in this scene, consistent with the humorous, adventurous spirit of the attraction.The new scene will roll out at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World in 2018.

This is far from the first alteration to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, which opened at Disneyland Park in Anaheim in 1967. In 1997 a scene depicting pirates chasing women was altered to show them chasing women carrying trays of food, while characters from Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean films were added in 2006.

Lucy O'Brien is Games & Entertainment Editor at IGNs Sydney office. Follow her onTwitter.

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The Caribbean Culinary Cupids: Food to Put you in the Mood – All At Sea

Posted: at 8:37 am

Acouple stepped up to the counter of a local Grenada eatery to order lunch. Fried fish and a couple of bakes, the woman ordered.

What to drink? asked the smiling young girl behind the counter.

Fruit punch for me, and the women gave her husband a nudging look to answer for himself.

Whats the sea moss? he inquired. The counter girl blushed, and motioned for the chef to come out front. As he repeated the question, a big grin spread across the chefs face.

Conspiratorially, the chef leaned close to the customers ear and whispered: Try it, its good for your His deft hand motion pointing downward instantly made clear the potent powers this drink proposed.

Ill have the sea moss, said the husband.

The sensualness of the sun, sand and sea creates the mood for love 365 days a year in the Caribbean. Like other areas of the world, there are foods like sea moss and several others that legend tells can enhance Cupids powers.

Sea moss, or Irish moss, is a marine plant that grows in profusion along the shorelines of many islands. The plant is fan shaped, with finger-like prongs. It becomes translucent when first harvested, and creamy white when mixed with evaporated milk, vanilla and sugar into an invigorating drink. Island men covet this brew as their own special form of Viagra.

The sea also provides other aphrodisiacs like sea eggs and oysters. Sea eggs are the roe of the white sea urchin, which is found in the relatively shallow waters surrounding the islands. Entering through this spiny shell offers the enticing reward of a mound of soft, slightly salty tasting eggs inside. Sea eggs found on island restaurant menus are often cooked and flavored with other ingredients, but their virile powers are best when sucked down raw right off the shell. The same raw recipe stands true for the aphrodisiac powers of oysters. Global food historians tell that Casanova ate 50 raw oysters every morning in the bathtub with the lady he fancied. Island men often go one better than Casanova, for the mangrove-tree oyster of the Caribbean is a scant two inches long. It takes a great many to satisfy one appetite and spark another.

Island residents lead a spicy life, thanks to the trinity of celery, onion and garlic. This mixture is what gives most soups, stews and entrees their exotic taste. Long celery stalks, by virtue of their shape, elicit thoughts of love. But islanders will tell you that its celery seed that is even more vitalizing, especially when crushed and added to a flavorful dish. Onions take their passionate potency from their pungent fire. An old West Indian wives tale warns (or wishes) that men who make-up a paste of onion juice and honey and apply it repeatedly to an unwilling member may wind up having that recalcitrant fellow standing at attention for days. Garlics aphrodisiacal effect is rooted in its power to produce a wonderful feeling of well-being after a meal. The tomato too is also found in many Creole Caribbean dishes. Its red heart-shape has earned it the name love apple.

Some of the Caribbeans Garden of Eden fruits speak of love from their obvious, almost embarrassing, resemblance to those two anatomical founts of joy. Bananas and plantains mimic the male member. Avocados, once cut in half, look like the gentler sex. Cocoa pods are also female in their appearance. Long ago in the Mexican Caribbean, the Aztec chief Montezuma is said to have consumed over 50 cups a day of a cocoa drink made from crushed cocoa, chili peppers and snow. Perhaps it was the caffeine buzz that set him afire for the village women folk.

Back in Grenada, the nutmeg too an essential ingredient in sea moss holds Cupid powers of its own. A half-nut quantity works men up like astallion according to the lyrics of one of Jamaican-born Beenie Mans songs.

Do any of these foods really work? Who knows? However, the couple who had ordered the sea moss at the food truck said days later that theyd never tellall the while wearing big smiles.

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